Welcome to the 984th Edition of my series. I hope everyone is doing okay in these times. On June 19th and 20th, New Castle has a Juneteenth celebration. On the 20th, Guilty By Affiliation Wrestling is having a free show at 7:30 where I will be ring announcing. I may have another announcement when I get back in a couple weeks but until then I will get on with my selections for the week.
Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders (2017): I start the week out with this mini-series which was created by Rene Balcer. This centers around the murders Jose and Kitty Menendez, played by Carlos Gomez and Lolita Davidovich, whose own sons kill them citing the abuse that has happened through the years. Miles Gaston Villanueva and Gus Halper star as Lyle and Erik Menendez who use the abuse defense in hopes of acquittal. Edie Falco plays attorney Leslie Abramson who dedicates herself to the defense of the brothers and deals with a lot of red tape from the judge and prosecution in Los Angeles. Chris Bauer, Sam Jaeger, Dominic Flores, Constance Marie, Josh Charles, Heather Graham, Elizabeth Reaser, Molly Hagan, Anthony Edwards, James DuMont, Julianne Nicholson, Larry Cedar, Mark Moses, David Warshofsky, Harry Hamlin and many others co-star in this film. This is the first mini-series from the LAW AND ORDER franchise and so far the only one. This is based on the years long trial of the Menendez brothers and the media circus it would become. This takes a good look into the events and some of it was dramatized as the opening would always say. Falco does a great job as Abramson. This is available to watch on AMC + and Britbox with a subscription of Prime.
A Zookeeper's Wife (2017): Niki Caro directed this film which is based on the novel by Diane Ackerman and is based on true events. Jessica Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh star as married couple Antonina and Jan Zabinski who run a zoo in 1939 Poland. Unfortunately, it was being run by Nazi German in WWII and Antonina leads an effort in hopes of saving the Jews. Daniel Bruhl, Efrat Dor, Iddo Goldberg, Shira Haas, Micahel McElhatton, Matha Issova, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very uplifting and heartbreaking film. The most heartbreaking part was seeing the zoo getting destroyed. This conveys a lot of the heroism from this era with a very emotional performance out of Chastain. This is available to watch on Peacock.
I Love Boosters (2026): Boots Riley directed and wrote this dark comedy. Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, and Naomi Ackie star as Corvette, Mariah, and Sade who are known as the "Velvet Gang". They like to shoplift from the Metro Designers fashion chains which are run by Christie Smith, played by Demi Moore, and then sell the items at a more reasonable price. LaKeith Stanfield, Mahdi Cocci, Rachel Walters, Kara Young, Adam Devine, Don Cheadle, Robin Thede, Melissa Haas, Hannah Alline, Jason Ritter, Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Elaine, Elza Gonzalez, Will Poulter, Eric Andre, Poppy Liu, and many others co-star in this film. Mortensen is a narrator of a documentary within the film so we get his voice. I have really only scratched the surface in my description. It is a satire on green and inflation in what I got out of it. I felt Cheadle, Moore, and Poulter were the most entertaining parts of the film in their much different roles, especially Don Cheadle. There are also some very interesting sci-fi elements. This was worth a trip to the theaters.
Jefferson Circus Songs (1975): This is my animated short for the week which was directed by Susan Pitt. This features stop-motion animation with a carnival sort of world. This shows cardboard cutouts interacting with children clad in clown wigs, monkey masks, and princess costumes. This is mostly of note for the animator Pitt who was known for a handful of independent animated shorts, possibly ASPARAGUS being the most known. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on Youtube.
L'Atalante (1934): Jean Vigo directed and co-wrote this French film. Jean Daste and Dita Parlo star as the newlywed couple Jean and Juliette. Jean is a ship captain, and Juliette must join him in the river life which proves to be a very difficult adjustment. Michel Simon, and Louis Lefebvre co-star in this French film. This shows a lot about working through issues in a marriage. This also has some great cinematography. Vigo had a very short-lived but very influential career as he died at the age of 29 of Tuberculosis. This still remains a very popular French film and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Desk Set (1957): Walter Lang directed this film which is based on the play by William Marchant. Katharine Hepburn stars as Bunny Watson who works for a big TV network. She starts to become a bit concerned when the mysterious Richard Sumner, played by Spencer Tracy, has come to computerize the office. This has people fearing for their jobs and starts a bit of an attraction between the leads as one might guess. Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Sue Randall, Neva Patterson, Henry Ellerbe, Nicholas Joy, Diane Jergens, Merry Anders, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy. This is the eighth of nine films between the iconic duo of Tracy and Hepburn. This is a good look at the early days of computerization and the concern that has lasted through the modern days. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
The Woodsman (2004): Nicole Kassell directed this film which is based on the play by Steven Fechter. Kevin Bacon stars as Walter who has been released from prison after 12 years for being a child molester. He is able to find a job and finds unexpected solace with his co-worker Vicki, played by Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick. Through it all, it becomes impossible for him to escape his past. Yasiin Bey, David Allen Grier, Eve, Benjamin Bratt, Carlose Leon, Michael Shanon, Kevin Rice, Hannah Pilkes, and many others co-star in this film. They tacked a very taboo subject matter as described. This is a character study to the core and shows the human element of someone like Walter. Bacon does a great job in this film in such a controversial sort of role without really making him into a monster. This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Plex, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel.
Twentieth Century Oz (1976): Chris Lofven directed this adaptation to the L. Frank Baum story which takes place around the world of rock and roll. Joy Dunston stars as the 16-year-old Dorothy who after a van wreck, she finds herself in an alternate world. She sets out to see the last concert of the Wizard, played by Graham Matters, and is accompanied by three unusual men who are the equivalent of the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man. She is also being pursued by a thug whose brother Dorothy accidently kills with the van. Bruce Spence, Michael Carmen, Gary Waddell, Robin Ramsay, Ned Kelly, and many others co-star in this movie. I guess this is Australia's answer to THE WIZARD OF OZ. It mostly follows the movie we know, just in a much different way. Curiosity got the best of me when I came across this on Kanopy where it is available to watch.
Not Wanted (1949): Elmer Clifton directed this film which was based on the screenplay by Paul Jarrico and Ida Lupino. Sally Forrest stars as Sally Kelton who hooks up with the charismatic piano player Steve, played by Leo Penn, and runs away from her unhappy home. She has a fling with Steve, but he soon heads to the next town. When forming a relationship with Drew, played by Keefe Brasselle, who just can't win Sally's heart away from Steve. She also becomes pregnant by him making her life more difficult. Wheaton Chambers, Ruth Clifford, Ruthelma Stevens, Virginia Mullen, and many others co-star in this film. This is Clifton's last film and Ida Lupino would take over directing duties after Clifton suffered a severe heart attack. This is at a time where motherhood out of wedlock was very taboo and I guess I'm dealing with a couple very taboo topics this week. A lot of this film centers around Kelton's guilt of the pregnancy and how her judgment was very clouded by the decisions she made. This is available to watch on Kanopy, Prime, and Plex.
Tightrope (1984): I end with this dark thriller which was directed and written by Richard Tuggle. Clint Eastwood stars as Detective Wes Block who is going after a serial killer and rapist while getting too close in his investigation. Wes also struggles to balance his job and his single fatherhood with his daughters who also become a target. Genevieve Bujold, Dan Hedaya, Alison Eastwood, Jenny Beck, Marco St. John, Rebecca Perle, Regina Richardson, Randi Brooks, Jamie Rose, and many others co-star in this thriller. I see I have a lot of very dark subject matter this week. This is a very intense and disturbing film and a darker one for Eastwood I would say. I watched this just as Eastwood announces his retirement from film though this was always planned. Thank you Clint, I wish you the best in your retirement years and thanks for all the great movies you have given us through the years.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and I will back in a couple weeks which so far includes Paul Newman, Spencer Tracy, and many others.
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