Welcome to the 979th Edition of my series. I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend however celebrated. I would also like to remind everyone of the wrestling show Guilty By Affiliation which happens on April 25th at the Boys and Girls Club. I have a flyer at the bottom of the times and ticket prices. Also, in the first couple weekends in May, I am in the play GEORGE WASHINGTON ATE MY HOMEWORK at the Imagine Performing Arts on May 1-3 and May 8-10.
The Wrecking Crew! (2008): Denny Tedesco directed this documentary on the music industry. This was as group of studio musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew" who would perform in the studio for some of top bands of the '60s and '70s including the Monkees, the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, and many more. This includes interviews from Brian Wilson, Dick Clark, Cher, Glen Campbell, Nancy Sinatra, Jimmy Webb, Carol Kaye, Bones Howe, Hal Blaine, Don Randi, Lou Adler, and many others are interviewed for this documentary. Tedesco's late father Tommy Tedesco was a part of the Wrecking Crew and this was dedicated to him. This was a great documentary to take a look at a very unknown part of the music industry, and they get their much-deserved exposure. They are some of the unsung heroes of Rock 'N Roll. This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
Slow West (2015): John MacLean wrote and directed this western. Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as the young Scottish man Jay Cavendish who is in search of the woman he loves in Rose Ross, played by Caren Pistorius. He is joined by the bounty hunter Silas, played by Michael Fassbender, who unbeknownst to Jay is after Ruby who is wanted along with her father. Silas's intentions start with using Jay to get to them but things change along the way. Madeleine Sami, Ben Mendelsohn, Brian Sergent, Edwin Wright, and many others co-star in this western. This has a really good slow-burn to lead to a really good ending. It is also a different sort of western which I guess that is to be expected when A24 produces.
King of New York (1990): This is part one of a possible Christopher Walken trilogy. Abel Ferrara directed this gangster film which was written by Nicholas St. John. Walken stars as mobster Frank White who has just been released from prison. White becomes determined to get control of his drug empire while also trying to help a local hospital. He is going against other drug dealers and rogue cops in his quest to get back on top. David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Calderon, Steve Buscemi, Theresa Randle, Leonard L. Thomas, Roger Guinveur Smith, Vanessa Angel, Harold Perrineau, and many others co-star in this action film. This is as violent as it gets and is very full of style. There is also a lot of dark comedy to the action film. Walken is all kinds of fun in the lead role. This is available to watch on Prime, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
The Victorian Cross (1912): This is my silent short for the week which was directed and written by Hal Reid. Edith Storey stars as Ellen Carson who volunteers to serve with Florence Nightingale, played by Julia Swayne Gordon, in the Crimean War. While there, she witnesses the charge of the light brigade. Nightingale is one of the historical figures featured in the upcoming play described in my opening paragraph. This is available to watch on Youtube. Unfortunately, the copy has no music so maybe get your keyboard or piano and create a score.
The War of the Worlds (1953): Byron Haskin directed this sci-fi classic which is based on the novel by H.G. Wells which is another historical figure featured in my play. An alien invasion occurs in a small town where they townspeople must band together. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson star in this film and look to find a way to stop those aliens. Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio, Lewis Martin, William Phipps, Vernon Rich, and many others co-star in this classic film. This is one of the best sci-fi films from that era and still holds up pretty well. Orson Welles is known to have put on a radio play to scare many out of their mind. This was probably the inspiration for a lot of other alien invasion movies that include MARS ATTACKS and INDEPENDENCE DAY. This is available to watch on Pluto TV.
The Model Couple (1977): William Klein wrote and directed this French film. Andre Dussollier and Anemone star as married couple Jean-Michel and Claudine. They agree to live in a modern-day household for a televised experiment. They get monitored by unfriendly associates Zouc and Jacques Boudet. This is an early look into the world of reality television. This is an interesting satire of consumerism. This is both funny and disturbing at the same time. It is hard for me to really provide much explanation except just to give it a watch. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Hamnet (2025): Chloe Zhao directed this film which is based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell who also wrote the screenplay. Jessie Buckley stars as 16th century healer Agnes who meets a young William Shakespeare, played by Paul Mescal. This focuses on their life and the tragedy they must deal with due to the loss of a child. Zac Wishart, James Lintern, Joe Alwyn, Justine Mitchell, Eva Wishart, Effie Linnen, Emily Watson, David Wilmot, Freya Hannan-Mills, Dainton Anderson, Louisa Harland, and many others co-star in this film. This mostly centers around Agnes and trying to deal wither her sensitivity. It also serves as the making of HAMLET. This is a rather tragic but still very moving film. Buckley brings us in very well through her performance. This is available to watch on Peacock.
The Outside Man (1972): Jacques Deray directed and co-wrote this action film. Jean-Louis Trintignant stars as French hit man Lucien Bellon who fulfills a job in Los Angeles, only to be targeted himself by another hitman. Roy Scheider co-stars as Lenny who is the hit man hired to take out Lucien. Ann-Margret, Angie Dickinson, Georgia Engel, Felice Orlandi, Carlo De Mejo, Michel Constantin, Umberto Orsini, Ted de Corsia, Jackie Earle Haley, and many others co-star in this film. Haley makes his debut in this film before he would be known for THE BAD NEWS BEARS. This is a very stylized action film of two hit men going at it with each other. Ann-Margret brings a lot to the film with her character Nancy. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Romance on the High Seas (1948): Michael Curtiz and Busby Berkeley directed this musical. Janis Page stars as socialite Elvira Kent who suspects her husband Michael, played by Dom Defore, has been fooling around with other women. She hires nightclub singer Georgia Garrett, played by Doris Day, to pose as her on a cruise to keep an eye on her husband. Michael has also hired detective Peter Virgil, played by Jack Carson, to keep an eye on his wife. Oscar Levant, S.Z. Sakall, Fortunio Bonanova, Eric Blore, Leslie Brooks, William Bakewell, and many others co-star in this romantic musical. Doris Day makes her acting debut in this film which lead to a long contract with Warner Brothers with her popularity in the film. This is a movie full of fun and misunderstandings and gave us the famous Doris Day song IT'S MAGIC. This is good for those looking for musicals and romance.
The Piano (1993): I end the week with this more dramatic love story as opposed to the one before. Jane Campion directed and wrote this period piece from the mid-19th century. Holly Hunter stars as the mute Ada McGrath who is to move to New Zealand for an arranged marriage to the farmer Alisdale Stewart. She is soon lusted after by the unhinge farm worker George Baines, played by Harvey Keitel. Anna Paquin co-stars as Ada's daughter Flora who usually helps her mother through communication and won an Oscar for her performance. Kerry Walker, Ian Mune, Pete Smith, Cliff Curtis, Rose McIver, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very deep film to say the least with a lot of symbolism revolving around this piano. This leaves us with a lot to think about and I will just leave it at that.
Well, that is it for this week but I did return with my segment "Tube Time" so read on for that one. I will be back in a couple weeks which so far includes Christopher Walken, Richard Dreyfuss, Scarlett Johansson, the Rock, Jason Robards, Mickey Rourke, and many others.
TUBE TIME
Daredevil (2015-2018): With the second season of DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN coming and having finished this season on my Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline binge, I thought this would be a good time to feature this Marvel series. Drew Goddard created this series of the blind attorney Matt Murdock who by night is the vigilante Daredevil who cannot see but all his other senses are enhanced. With the help of his friends Foggy Nelson, played by Elden Henson, and Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll, he tries to fight crime in the Hell's Kitchen part of New York where he grew up. Matt mainly deals with town gangster Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D'Onofrio, as well as the group the Hand and Benjamin Poindexter aka Bullseye, played by Wilson Bethel. He must also deal with the ruthless vigilante the Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, and his former lover Elektra, played by Elodie Yung. Royce Johnson, Geoffrey Cantor, Jay Ali, Stephen Ryder, Ayelet Zurer, Peter McRobbie, Amy Rutberg, Toby Leonard Moore, Joanne Whalley, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Bob Gunton, Rosario Dawson, Scott Glenn, Deirdre O'Connell, Clancy Brown, Annabella Sciorra, Carrie-Anne Moss, William Forsythe, Lesley Ann Warren, and many others co-star in this series. This was the first of the Marvel series on Netflix which also consists of JESSICA JONES, LUKE CAGE, and IRON FIST. This show has three seasons and after season two, I would recommend THE DEFENDERS where he teams with the other characters and leads to season three of the series. I have always enjoyed the dark and gritty feel this series brings. The source I use for the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline binge is from the link Marvel in order: How to watch MCU in chronological and release order. This is available to watch on Disney Plus.
