Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 974th Edition

Welcome to the 974th edition of my series.  I hope everyone is surviving this crazy weather and these crazy times.  I'm just staying in today and have that luxury of working at home for when I work in the morning.  Make plans for February and March for the Short Play Festival in Connersville.  I will be in one of the short plays in March.  My team is no longer in the playoffs so I'll just shut up and get to my selections for the week. 

American Fiction (2023):  This is part two of my Jeffrey Wright trilogy.  Cord Jefferson directed this film which is based on the novel ERASURE written by Percival Everett.  Jeffrey Wright stars as professor and struggling novelist Monk who does not like that the establishment is profiting from novels emphasizing the black race but has a hard time writing a novel that does not emphasize it.  The book producers get the idea to give him a pen name and write a book that he stands against propelling him into hypocrisy.  Skyler Wright, John Ales, Patrick Fischler, Carmen Cusack, Adam Brody, John Ortiz, Joseph Marella, Stephen Burrell, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Leslie Uggams, Keith David, and many others co-star in this film.  I suppose this is a satire on race and the portrayal of it.  There was a good blend of drama and comedy to keep our interest as well as Wright's performance.  

Inglourious Basterds (2009):  Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this film which takes place in Nazi-occupied France during WWII.  Melanie Laurent stars as Shoshanna who inherits a movie theater and is forced to put on a premier for a Nazi propaganda movie.  Brad Pitt co-stars as Lt. Aldo Raine who leads an anti-Nazi group hellbent on killing all the Nazis possible.  Christoph Waltz co-stars as the ruthless Nazi Colonel Hans Landa who slaughtered Shoshanna's family when she was younger.  These are the main elements of the film that tie together.  Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Bruhl, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard, Jacky Ido, B.J. Novak, Omar Doom, August Diehl, Denis Menochet, Sylvester Groth, Martin Wuttke, Mike Myers, Julie Dreyfuss, Rod Taylor, Lea Seydoux, Bo Svenson, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very shameless revision of history by Tarantino.  This has a lot of laughs and a lot of violence.  It also has a great homage to the German cinema in that era.  

Party Monster (2003):  This is part seven of my Culkin series which stars Macauley as the real-life Michael Alig.  Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato directed this biopic which is based on the novel DISCO BLOODBATH by James St. James, played by Seth Green.  Macauley Culkin stars as the flamboyant Michael Alig who made his mark on the New York party scene.  This would all come crumbling around him through drugs and the killing of a drug dealer.  Wilson Cruz, Diana Scarwid, Marilyn Manson, Dylan McDermott, Wilmer Walderrama, Janice Dardaris, Manny Perez, Justin Hagan, John Stamos, Chloe Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, and many others co-star in this film.  It is hard to really describe this much further.  I say just watch it and let it all unfold.  These are much different roles for both Culkin and Green.  This would also be a sort of comeback for Culkin as this is his first movie in nine years.  This is available to watch on Prime, Fawesome, Pluto TV, the CW, the Roku Channel, and TUBI.

Meet John Doughboy (1941):  This is my animated short for the week which was directed by Robert Clampett.  This features Porky Pig doing a Newsreel parody.  There is also a caricature of Jack Benny and Rochester which I suppose does not age well.  This was a part of the WWII wartime shorts from this era.  It was a pretty amusing Newsreel parody.  

Walk Cheerfully (1930):  This is my Japanese silent film for the week which was directed by Yasujiro Ozu.  Minoru Takada stars as small-time gangster Kenji who is in love with Yasue, played by Hiroko Kawasaki.  She does not like his lifestyle so Kenji looks to go straight for the woman he loves.  However, this is not an easy task.  Satoko Date, Takeshi Sakamoto, and many others co-star in this silent film.  The United States had their first "talkie" in 1927 but Japan evidently did not have that technology and would have their first in 1931.  This is a very moving story that that combines gangsters and love.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Goldfinger (1964):  Guy Hamilton directed this James Bond film which is based on the novel by Ian Fleming.  Sean Connery stars as James Bond aka 007 who goes against the gold-obsessed Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Frobe.  Goldfinger is working to contaminate with the Fort Knox gold reserve with the help of sexy pilot Pussy Galore, played by Honor Blackman.  Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Harold Sakata, Bernard Lee, Martin Benson, Cec Linder, Austin Wills, Lois Maxwell, Bill Nagy, Michael Mellinger, Nadja Regin, Richard Vernon, Burt Kwouk, Desmond Llewelyn, and many others co-star in this Bond film.  This is possibly the most iconic Bond film of all time with the lines, the characters, and the scenes in general.  There have been a lot of false rumors that Shirley Eaton died due to the gold paint on her.  She is actually the remaining cast member who is still alive today.

I Was a Stranger (2024):  Brandt Andersen wrote and directed this film which takes place in the Middle East essentially.  This starts with Syrian Dr. Amira Homsi, played by Yasmine Al Massri, who must free Aleppo with her young daughter.  This touch choice sets off a ripple effect that pulls in four other strangers.  Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis, Jason Beghe, Massa Daoud, Carlos Chahine, Ayman Samman, Thanos Tokakis, Jay Abdo, Saleh Bakri, Angeliki Papoulia, and many others co-star in this film.  I was looking for something to see in the theaters, and this sounded the most interesting to me.  This was quite the passion project for Andersen who makes his directorial debut for a feature film.  As the credits first started rolling, the director gave a statement on his views of the project.  These multiple stories of hardship are meant to convey that wherever we are from and whatever we are doing, we're really not much different.  All I can say is if you find this in your local movie theater or one nearby, this deserves our support.  

Death is a Caress (1949):  This is my Norwegian Noir for the week which was directed by Edith Carlmar and based on the novel by Arne Moen.  Claus Wiese stars as working man Erik Hauge who seems to have a pretty good life ahead of him.  He has a fiancé in Merit, played by Eva Bergh, who seems to be a pretty good person.  While working, he meets an older and wealthier woman in Sonja, played by Bjorn Riiser-Larsen, who turns out to be a Femme Fatale seducing him into a darker world.  This is the first Norwegian film to be directed by a woman, and it is Carlmar's directorial debut.  This holds its own with other American Film Noir.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Candleshoe (1977):  Norman Tokar directed this live-action Disney movie which is based on the book CHRISTMAS AT CANDLESHOE by Michael Innes.  A youth Jodie Foster stars as street urchin Casey who is recruited by con man Bundage, played by Leo McKern.  He wants Casey to infiltrate the elderly Lady St. Edmund, played by Helen Hayes, as her long-lost granddaughter and a treasure that is at the house.  Unbeknownst to Bundage, Lady St. Edmund is really flat broke with her butler Priory and the three orphans helping to keep the home afloat.  Veronica Qulligan, Sarah Tamakuni, John Alderson, Mildred Shay, Michael Balfour, Sydney Bromley, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is a pretty fun family movie and also good to see Jodie Foster when she was a kid.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

The Hours (2002):  Stephen Daldry directed this film which is based on the novel by David Hare.  Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Julianne Moore star as women in three different periods.  Kidman stars as famed author Virginia Woolf whose novel MRS. DALLOWAY affects all three generations in some way with each having to deal with suicide in some form.  Stephen Dillane, Miranda Richardson, Lyndsey Marshal, Linda Bassett, Christian Coulson, Michael Culkin, John C. Reilly, Jack Rovello, Toni Collette, Margo Martindale, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very deep film and can be hard to watch at times.  It is also a very beautifully filmed movie with great performances by the leads.  Kidman went through an absolute transformation to look as much like Virginia Woolf as possible.  This is available to watch on Paramount Plus and Pluto TV.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple weeks which so far includes Anna Paquin, Roman Polanski, Jeffrey Wright, Shelley Winters, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 973rd Edition

 

Welcome to the 973rd edition of my series and to the first one of the new year.  Later my San Francisco 49ers take on the Philadelphia Eagles so I hope for the best in that game.  Also, I would like to announce that I am part of the Short Play Festival which takes place in February and March.  There are posters at the end for both of the months.  I am not in anything for February but I will be part of the March short play THINGS MENDED.  I will shut up now and get on with my selections.

Halston (2021):  This is part five of my Culkin series which features Rory in the first episode playing the role of Joel Schumacher.  Daniel Minahan created this mini-series which is based on the novel SIMPLY HALSTON by Steven Gaines.  Ewan McGregor stars as Roy Halston Frowick who would simply be known by the name Halston.  This shows Halston's rise in the fashion empire starting from the '60s and going into the '80s.  Things would become difficult in the world of sex and drugs.  Rebecca Dayan, David Pittu, Krysta Rodriguez, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Sietzka Rose, Megan Danielle Gerald, Molly Jobe, Maxim Swinton, Deya Danielle Drake, Bill Pullman, Sullivan Jones, Eric T. Miller, Jason Kravits, Dilone, Freja Zeuthen, Rory Culkin, Mary Beth Peil, James Waterston, Vera Farmiga and many others co-star in this mini-series.  This is told in five episodes that are usually between 45-50 minutes.  McGregor plays Halston to perfection in the many eras this covers.  A lot of this is about his close friendship with Liza Minelli, played by Rodriguez.  This also goes into his success but also shows how he could be his own worst enemy.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

The Three Faces of Eve (1957):  Nunnally Johnson directed this film which is based on the book by Corbett Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley.  Joanne Woodward stars as Eve White who is a seemingly simple wife and mother.  She starts suffering from headaches and black outs.  Lee J. Cobb co-stars as Dr. Luther who finds that Eve suffers from multiple personality disorder and dedicates himself to helping Eve get her three different personalities sorted out.  David Wayne, Nancy Culp, Douglas Spencer, Ken Scott, Ken Scott, Mimi Gibson, Alistaire Cooke and many others co-star in this film.  Having watched the 1976 movie SYBIL with Carrissa a few weeks ago where Woodward plays the psychiatrist treating multiple personality disorder, I remembered this one where she has the multiple personal disorder and agreed to obtain this at some point.  This is probably one of the earlier movies dealing with this disorder.  Woodward has a great performance differentiating the personalities.  This could be a good double feature to go along with the mentioned film SYBIL.

Watch Your Left (1936):  This is my French comedy short film for the week which was directed by Rene Clement.  Jacques Tati, who also wrote, stars as the farmboy Roger who sees boxing and fantasizes about being a boxer himself, especially when one came into town.  When the boxer's sparring partner cannot continue, Roger is asked to fill in despite not knowing anything about boxing.  This is a pretty funny short of Tati possibly being inspired by Chaplin.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel. 

The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys (2002):  This is part six of my Culkin series which includes Kieran and part three of my Jena Malone trilogy.  Peter Care directed this film which is based on the novel by Chris Fuhrman.  Emile Hirsch stars as Francis Doyle who attends a catholic school in the '70s and is friends with classmates Tim, played by Kieran Culkin, Wade, played by Jake Richardson, and Joey, played by Tyler Long.  They rebel quite a bit, mostly on account of Tim.  They also dedicate their time to a comic book and create their own world of superheroes.  They get very rebellious when their comic book is taken from them.    Jena Malone co-stars as Margie who becomes the love interest of Francis.  Vincent D'Onofrio, Jodie Foster, Arthur Bridgers, Scott Simpson, Melissa McBride, Michael Harding, Yvonne Erickson, and many others co-star in this film.  This is semi-autobiographical for Fuhrman who unfortunately died before completing the final draft of the book.  This is a good look at growing up Catholic and I suppose the boredom that can come with it.  The story gets quite deep at times.  

Lifeguard (1976):  Daniel Petrie directed this film which was written by Ron Koslow.  Sam Elliott stars as Rick who is an L.A. lifeguard even into his 30s.  When at a reunion, he reunites with his ex-girlfriend Cathy and meets her five-year-old son.  He considers a life with them and also considers more "serious" work as people look down on him for his profession at his age.  Stephen Young, Parker Stevenston, Kathleen Quinlan, Lenka Peterson, George D. Wallace, Beatrice Colen, Linda Gillen, and many others co-star in this film.  I suppose this could be considered a pre-BAYWATCH film and Stevenson would go onto being in that series.  This was a pretty well-done and underrated movie.  A young Sam Elliott must decide what sort of life is best and this movie conveys it very well.  This is available to watch on Youtube.

Furiosa:  A Mad Max Saga (2024):  George Miller directed this prequel to his MAD MAX franchise which is about the young Furiosa who was made famous by Charlize Theron in MAD MAX:  FURY ROAD.  Anya Taylor-Joy plays Furiosa who is snatched from her family by a biker horde lead by the Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth.  Furiosa soon seeks revenge against those that wronged her with the help of Praetorian Jack, played by Tom Burke.  Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Larry Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Charlee Fraser, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, David Field, Rahel Romahn, David Collins, Goran D. Kleut, CJ Broomfield, Matuse, and many others co-star in this action film.  I thought Hemsworth had a very interesting villain turn while Anya Taylor-Joy perfected her own role.  

Dial M For Murder (1954):  Alfred Hitchcock directed this film which is based on the play by Frederick Knott.  Ray Milland stars as former tennis pro and London playboy Tony Wendice who tries to plot a perfect murder of his unfaithful wife Margot, played by Grace Kelly.  Robert Cummings co-stars as American writer Mark Halliday who has the affair with Margot.  The murder does not go as planned leaving Tony to try and cover himself.  John Williams, Anthony Dawson, Patrick Allen, Robin Hughes, and many others co-star in this film.  Williams plays Inspector Hubbard and reprises his role from the play.  He also won a Tony for that show.  Hitchcock brings his usual great blend of suspense and dark comedy.  This is available to watch on Plex and IndieFlix shorts with a subscription of Prime.

The King's Speech (2010):  Tom Hooper directed this film which is based on true events.  Colin Firth stars as Prince Albert but becomes King George VI who has unexpectedly ascended the throne.  The problem is that he has a speech impediment and is sure to be expected to make a few speeches in his time.  His wife Elizabeth, played by Helena Bonham Carter, hires Australian actor and speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, in hopes that Albert will overcome his speech issues.  While things get difficult Lionel and the king form an unexpected friendship while WWII was going on as well.  Derk Jacobi, Robert Portal, Richard Dixon, Paul Trussell, Adrian Scarborough, Andrew Havill, Charles Armstrong, Roger Hammond, Calum Gitins, Jennifer Ehle, Dominic Applewhite, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce, and many others co-star in this biopic.  Firth and Rush work very well together in this film.  This also shows that sometimes people in royalty are human like us.  It was a very moving film where we are all behind the protagonist.  This is available to watch on Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, and Tribeca Shortlist with a subscription to Prime.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973):  Peter Yates directed this heist film which is based on the novel by George V. Higgins.  Robert Mitchum stars as long-time criminal Eddie Coyle who is looking at very serious time for his latest offenses.  Coyle turns to ATF agent Dave Foley, played by Richard Jordan, to snitch on his friends in order to avoid a long sentence.  As we might expect, things just aren't as expected.  Peter Boyle, Steven Keats, Alex Rocco, Joe Santos, Mitchell Ryan, Peter MacLean, Kevin O'Morrison, James Tolkan, Matthew Cowles, and many others co-star in this film.  I don't really want to go any further as I might give things away.  It is a very compelling heist film that centers a lot around betrayal from more than one side.  This has gone rather overlooked through the years so maybe this will help get it out there a little bit.

No Time to Die (2021):  This is part one of a possible trilogy for Christoph Waltz who is Bond's main enemy Blofeld, and Jeffrey Wright who is Bond's main ally Felix Leiter.  I end the week with the latest James Bond film which was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.  Daniel Craig reprises his role of James Bond who out of the British Secret Service and enjoying a quiet life in Jamaica.  His peace is interrupted by Bond's long-time CIA friend Felix Leiter, played by Wright, and learns the British service are after the mysterious Lyutsifer Safin, played by Rami Malek.  Lashana Lynch co-stars as Nomi who is the new 007 with Bond gone and they must work together.  Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Ana de Armas, Rory Kinnear, Billy Magnussen, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah, and many others co-star in this Bond film.  This is as of now the latest James Bond movie and the last for Craig.  This was a really good way to end the Craig era of Bond in my opinion.  He has been my favorite James Bond from the start as I feel he brings a more emotional depth to the series and this exceeds in every way in my opinion.  There are a lot of fun references to the history of the Bond franchise.  I would suggest watching a few Bond films before getting to this one. 

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for the return of my segment "Fun and Useless Facts".  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple weeks which so far includes Jeffrey Wright, Brad Pitt, Chloe Sevigny, Sean Connery, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

I decided to bring back this segment where I look at the inter-connections of actors and actresses but none in the same movies.  I always limit it to 25 facts so I'm sure there is plenty I missed so feel free to comment.

Rory Culkin (Halston) and Kieran Culkin (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) are brothers in real-life.

Vera Farmiga (Halston) and Vincent D'Onofrio (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) were in the 2021 MCU mini-series HAWKEYE.

Vera Farmiga (Halston) and Jeffrey Wright (No Time to Die) were in the 2004 remake THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.

Bill Pullman (Halston) and Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1995 romantic comedy WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING.

Ewan McGregor (Halston) and Christoph Waltz (No Time to Die) were in the 2022 film GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO.

Ewan McGregor (Halston) and Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech) were in the 2003 film BIG FISH.

Lee J. Cobb (The Three Faces of Eve) plays Juror #3 in the 1957 film 12 ANGRY MEN.  I got to play Juror #3 in 2024 at the Rushville Regional Theatre and still believe that is the best show I did.

Jodie Foster (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) and Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1976 film TAXI DRIVER.

Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Ray Milland (Dial M for Murder) are in the 1972 B-movie FROGS.

Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Robert Mitchum (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1993 western TOMBSTONE.  Mitchum is the narrator of this movie.

Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Richard Jordan (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1993 Civil War film GETTYSBURG.  

Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa) visited a restaurant where Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) was the Chef in the 2022 horror comedy THE MENU.

Anthony Dawson (Dial M For Murder) plays Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1963 Bond film FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and the 1965 Bond film THUNDERBALL where he is uncredited and always has his back to the camera.  Christoph Waltz plays Blofeld in this week's feature NO TIME TO DIE.

Ray Milland (Dial M For Murder) and Robert Mitchum (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1976 film THE LAST TYCOON.

Guy Pearce (The King's Speech) and Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) were in the 2008 war film THE HURT LOCKER.

Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and Ben Whishaw (No Time to Die) were in the 2018 movie MARY POPPINS RETURNS.

Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and David Dencik (No Time to Die) were in the 2011 spy film TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY.

Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) were in the 1996 film THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

Michael Gambon (The King's Speech) and Ben Whishaw (No Time to Die) are uncle and nephew in the 2014 movie PADDINGTON and the 2017 sequel PADDINGTON 2.

Michael Gambon (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) were in the 2004 action film LAYER CAKE.

Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) and Naomie Harris (No Time to Die) are part of the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN franchise.

Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) are in the 2005 film MUNICH.

Derek Jacobi (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) were in 2007 movie THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) plays the Monster in the 1974 horror comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.  My Facebook friend Russ played the Monster in a 2007 version of FRANKENSTEIN at the Muncie Civic Theater where I played gravedigger Peter Schmidt.

Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) was considered for the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which would ultimately go to Chris Hemsworth.