Welcome to the 931st Edition of my series. Last week, I got to make quite the debut in Rushville for 12 ANGRY JURORS as Juror #3. The show went very well and one of my favorite shows I have done. I don't have much else going on right now so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.
The Accused (1988): Jonathan Kaplan directed this legal film which was written by Tom Topor. Jodie Foster stars as Sarah Tobias who is just wanting to have a fun time at the bar but ends up getting gang raped by three men. Kelly McGillis stars as district attorney Kathryn Murphy who looks to help Sarah bring these men to justice as well as some who cheered it on. Bernie Coulson, Leo Rossi, Ann Hearn, Carmen Argenziano, Steve Anton, Tom O'Brien, Peter Van Norden, Terry David Mulligan, Woody Brown, Scott Paulin, and many others co-star in this film. This is based on a real life case of Cheryl Aroujo from what happened to her in 1983 and is someone to look up. This is a good look at a "blame the victim" culture of this time period. It is not always easy to watch, most notably the scene at the bar. This is available to watch on Prime, MGM+, and Paramount +.
Cuban Fury (2014): I started out a little serious so now I get more comedic. James Griffith directed this comedy which was written by Jon Brown and based on an idea by Nick Frost who also stars. Frost stars as Bruce who as a kid had a lot of potential as a salsa dancer but let bullying make him decide to abandon it. Now, he is an unhappy and overweight employee with nothing going on for him until he meets his new boss Julia, played by Rashida Jones. Bruce discovers she likes to dance and decides to try dancing again and turns to his eccentric teacher Ron, played by Ian McShane, to reclaim his groove. Chris O'Dowd, Olivia Colman, Ben Radcliffe, Isabella Steinbarth, Steve Oram, Alexandra Roach, Rory Kinnear, Tim Plester, Kayvan Novak, and many others co-star in this comedy. Also, look closely for Frost's frequent co-star Simon Pegg in a cameo. Frost does well as the comedic lead in this comedy that also has a pretty good message on bullying and not letting it decide what you want to do in life. This is available to watch on Starz and Tubi.
Cinema Paradiso (1988): Giuseppe Tornatore directed and co-wrote this Italian film that pays homage to the importance of the movie theaters. A filmmaker named Salvatore, played by Jacques Perrin, returns to his small Italian town when learning an old friend dies and recalls his childhood. Salvatore Cascio plays Salvatore in the childhood years and Marco Leonardi plays him in his teenage years. As a child, Salvatore was very fascinated by the movie theater and forms a friendship with the projectionist Alfredo, played by Philippe Noiret, which would last through the years. Salvatore would learn a lot through Alfredo about film and just life in general. Enzo Cannavale, Antonella Attili, Isa Danieli, Leo Gullata, Pupella Maggio, Agnese Nano, Leopoldo Trieste, Tano Cimarosa, Nicola Di Pinto, Roberto Lena, Nino Terzo, and many others co-star in this film. I watched this when I was visiting my dad who named this as his favorite movie, even over CITIZEN KANE which is saying something for him. This was a really good coming of age story that centers around the homage to local movie theaters. Tornatore based this film on his own life experiences. This is available to watch on MGM+, Paramount +, and Prime.
Fly the Unfriendly Skies (1972): This is my short film for the week which is technically the pilot episode of THE BOB NEWHART SHOW and is part three of my trilogy of Bob Newhart who recently left us. Newhart plays psychiatrist Dr. Bob Hartley who has a fear of flying group that his wife Emily, played by Suzanne Pleshette, joins after confessing she is also afraid to fly. Peter Bonerz, Bill Daily, Patricia Smith, Marcia Wallace, Noam Pitlik, Florida Friebus, and Jack Riley co-star in this episode. Penny Marshall has a guest appearance as a Stewardess. I had never seen this show before, but I know it is very popular. Newhart essentially plays the straight man and does a great job as he did in his career in general. He was also surrounded by a lot of very comedic characters to start a very long-running series.
The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936): Lothar Mendes and Alexander Korda directed this fantasy film which is based on the novel by H.G. Wells. Roland Young stars in this film as George McWhirter Fotheringay who is just an ordinary man that finds himself able to make things happen just by what he says. After a while, George gets in over his head and those around him decide he must be stopped. Ralph Richardson, Edward Chapman, Ernest Thesiger, Joan Gardner, Sophie Stewart, Lady Tree, Lawrence Hanray, George Zucco, Wallace Lupino, Joan Hickson, Mark Daly, George Sanders, Torin Thatcher, and many others co-star in this film. This had some pretty funny moments and is a very interesting story that holds up well today. This is available to watch on TUBI and Fandor which requires a subscription for Prime.
Female on the Beach (1955): Joseph Pevney directed this film which is based on a play by Robert Hill. Joan Crawford stars as Lynn Markham who moves into her late husband's beach house after former tenant fell from the cliff or was there a little more to it? When getting there, she wants to keep to herself, but her neighbors aren't letting that happen including Drummond Hall, played by Jeff Chandler, whose advances she can't resist even if she believes they are scheming against her. Jan Sterling, Cecil Kellaway, Judith Evelyn, Charles Drake, Natalie Schafer, Stuart Randall, Marjorie Bennett, and many others co-star in this film. This does have quite a bit of suspense and Crawford plays her role in the way only she can play it. This would be a good watch on a Saturday afternoon. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024): Shawn Levy directed this latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and worked these characters into the timeline. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role of Deadpool whose universe in in Jeopardy and recruits a variant of Wolverine, reprised by Hugh Jackman, to help him save it. I don't want to go too far into this as I am sure there are many out there who haven't gotten to the theaters yet and still want the element of surprise. All I will say is this is a lot of fun with the usual Deadpool humor. There are also a lot of other fun Marvel cameos. This is still in theaters and Deadpool fans should get there as soon as possible.
Cairo Station (1958): Youssef Chahine directed this Egyptian film. Chahine also stars Qinawi who sells newspapers and is rather slow-minded. He also forms an unhealthy obsession towards as vender Hanuma, played by Hind Rustum. Farid Shawqi also co-stars in this film. This is a very dark and intense film with a very good performance from Chahine. This has gotten recognition through the years but deserves a little more in my opinion. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Johnny Got His Gun (1971): This is part three of my five-part Donald Sutherland series where he makes more of a cameo as none other than Jesus Christ in some dream sequences. Dalton Trumbo directed this film based on his own novel. Timothy Bottoms stars as WWI soldier Joe Bonham who is so badly injured that death would be preferred. He loses his arms, legs, mouth, ears, and eyes and only has his mind left as he lies in bed hoping to die. There are also a lot of flackback and dream sequences from Joe. Marsha Hunt, Jason Robards, Charles McGraw, Sandy Brown Wyeth, Don "Red" Barry, Peter Brocco, and many others co-star in this film. The scenes involving Jesus Christ were written by Luis Bunuel. The band Metallica's song ONE is based on this film, and it also helped the movie's popularity. This is a very powerful movie that deserves a look. This is available to watch on Prime.
Short Circuit (1986): John Badham directed this sci-fi comedy. Steve Guttenberg stars as Newton Crosby who helps to develop military robots. Number 5, voiced by Tim Blaney, is electrocuted and develops his own intelligence and escapes from the military base. Ally Sheedy co-stars as Stephanie Speck who meets the Number 5 and tries to help keep him from going back to the military base. Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, Brian McNamara, Marvin J McIntyre, and many others co-star in this film. When watching this, I felt this was kind of a pre-WALL-E. This was a lot of '80s fun and has gone onto be one of the more underrated films from the era as well as the Number 5 robot. This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and is a must watch robot comedy.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for my next edition in a couple weeks which so far includes Hilary Swank, Harold Lloyd, Donald Sutherland, Henry Fonda, Michael Keaton, Burt Lancaster, Christina Ricci, and many others.
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