Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 570th Edition and the Madness: Week 2

Welcome to the 570th Edition of my series and the second week of the Madness.  In the last weekend of October, I am in THE BAD SEED at the Commons Theater in Alexandria, Indiana.  When I am done with that show, I am going straight into rehearsals for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE in Marion, Indiana where I make my debut there as Mr. Gower.  This is the second week of the Madness so after I am done with the recommendations portion, continue on to the Madness.

The Bible (2013):  I start the week out with this mini-series from the History channel which is on many stories of the bible.  It consists of ten episodes that include biblical figures like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samson, Delilah, King Saul, David, Mary, Jesus, and many others.  Keith David narrates this series and co-stars Diego Morgado, Darwin Shaw, Amber Rose Revah, Roma Downey, and many others co-star in this mini-series.  I do not claim to have a lot of knowledge on the bible.  I did think this was pretty well done though but I'm sure there is certain thing left out.  I believe this is watchable for the religious and the non-religious and is available on Instant Netflix.

The Evil Dead (1981):  Sam Raimi wrote and directed this horror film or I guess horror comedy.  Bruce Campbell stars as the iconic Ash who is with a few friends to take a trip to a cabin but one can guess that a cabin trip in a movie never goes right.  When discovering a book and audio tape, an evil is released which takes them one by one when fighting for survival.  Ellen Sandweiss, Richard Demanincor, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly are the co-stars in addition to Campbell.  This was a film that made the careers of both Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell which went onto have two sequels, a remake, a stage musical, and a tv series.  With this, I will also recommend the book IF CHINS COULD KILL:  CONFESSIONS OF A B MOVIE ACTOR by Bruce Campbell which is a great autobiography and goes in depth on the difficulty of these guys filming the movie and even after they were done their efforts in distribution which was equally as difficult.  I hope that one day, the Muncie Civic Theater will pick this up as a musical in the studio theater.  Year ago they were going to do it but their rights got taken away leaving my dreams in smoke.  This is a perfect movie for the October series and the start of greatness.

Batman:  The Killing Joke (2016):  This is part three of my Mark Hamill series.  This is an animated film and the first of the DC Universe as far as I know to get an R rating and it did earn that rating.  This is based on a graphic novel by Alan Moore and far more intense than most comic stories.  Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return to voice Batman and the Joker.  In this story, the Joker escapes Arkham Asylum and targets the Gordon family in Commissioner James Gordon, voiced by Ray Wise, and Barbara Gordon, voiced by Tara Strong, aka Batgirl in what he says is to prove a point to Batman.  This also goes into a back story of the Joker before he became the deranged clown prince.  Conroy and Hamill did not disappoint in reprising their roles.  Hamill even has a great musical number as the Joker.  This is very dark and intense, even hard to watch at times.  This is by no means a family film.

Back to the Woods (1937):  This is my short film for the week which stars the legendary trio of the Three Stooges which in this one are Moe, Curly, and Larry.  This is set in colonial times where the stooges are banished from England into the American colonies.  It is there, they encounter some Indians and when using their woods to hunt, the Indians chase them.  This would be considered racist today and hardly any of the Stooges' films would work in our PC society of today.  This is still great fun from three guys who got a lot of laughs for hitting each other a lot.

The Jazz Singer (1959):  This is part three of my Jerry Lewis series.  Technically this is an episode of the show STARTIME.  Jerry Lewis stars as Joey Robinowitz though his stage name is Joey Robin during his comedic career.  Joey disappoints his rabbi father by choosing an entertainment career instead of going the religious route.  This is the third of four versions that I am aware of.  The first one was in 1927 and it made history by being the first talkie.  Their was another film version in 1952 which I really know nothing about.  After this, there was that famous 1980 flop which stars Neil Diamond and Laurence Olivier.  Honestly, this is more of interest to see Jerry Lewis who makes the most of what he had in my opinion.  I never really liked the message of the story anyways and I feel the only reason people talk about the 1927 version is its historical significance of being the first to be a talkie, though most of the talking are Al Jolson's musical numbers.  It was still worth an hour look and is available on Amazon Prime.

THX 1138 (1971):  This is part three of my Sid Haig series and a different selection after the exploitation and blaxploitation I have been using.  George Lucas wrote and directed this sci-fi film which was developed from his 1967 student film ELECTRONIC LABYRINTH:  THX 1138 4EB.  This takes place in a Dystopian future where the government controls peoples' thoughts with the use of mandatory drugs.  Robert Duvall and Maggie McOmie star as THX and LUH and they look to escape their setting into freedom after LUH starts to change the drugs.  Donald Pleasance, Don Pedro Colley, Ian Wolfe, Marshall Efron, and many others co-star in this film.  This was made before George Lucas started his iconic space opera STAR WARS and before Duvall really became famous in THE GODFATHER.  At first, this had a lot of mixed opinions but has gotten more popular through the years, especially after the success of STAR WARS.  I really liked the white background that was used for much of the film and the camera angles of it.  Not always easy to watch with its dark story but still very intriguing.

Alice Sweet Alice (1976):  Now I bring a more psychological horror film from director Alfred Sole.  Paula E. Sheppard stars as the withdrawn 12 year old Alice who lives with her mother Catherine, played by Linda Miller, and her younger sister Karen, played by a young Brooke Shields in her film debut.  Karen gets murdered during her first holy communion where all suspicions point to Alice and as more murders happen, we must question if Alice is really capable of these murders.  Lillian Roth and Patrick Gorman also co-star in this film.  This has a more atmospheric feel to it.  The murder scenes were also very well shot.  Pretty good and underrated chiller that deserves a look if into the psychological thriller genre.

The Last House on the Left (2009):  I now bring the remake of the 1972 horror classic from Wes Craven produced this film so evidently this had his approval.  Dennis Iliadis directed this remake which stars Sara Paxton as the teen Mari who is visiting the lake house with her parents.  She decides to meet up with her friend Paige, played by Martha MacIsaac, where they befriend a teen named Justin, played by Spencer Treat Clark, where they go to his place to get some pot and him not knowing his really mean father was returning.  Mari and Paige are soon brutally assaulted by Justin's father Krug, played by Garret Dillahunt, Francis, played by Aaron Paul, and a girl named Sadie, played by Riki Lindhome.  They take refuge in the home of John and Emma, played by Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter, not knowing they are the parents of the victim and learn they are a very resourceful couple.  Michael Bowen and Josh Coxx also co-star in the beginning.  I have seen both versions and both are very good for the genre.  This is still shot in a low-budget way and goes for scares and brutality.  Obviously not for everyone but one of the better horror remakes out there.

I Married a Witch (1942):  Rene Clair directed this comedic witch film that manages to make a good comedy out of a rather serious situation.  This starts during the era of the Salem Witchcraft Trials where father and daughter witches Daniel and Jennifer, played by Cecil Kellaway and Veronica Lake, were burned at the stake by puritan Jonathan Wooley, played by Fredric March who also plays his descendants through the years.  Jennifer places a curse on the descendants of Jonathan to marry the wrong woman and be miserable.  In the modern era which we'll assume around the time this movie was made, the tree in which their souls were entrapped is struck by lightning and freeing them making them able to go into human form where Jennifer goes after up and coming politician Wallace Wooley, still played by March, and looks to make him fall in love with her before his wedding to his fiance.  Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward, Elizabeth Patterson, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy.  This is a pretty good twist to the romantic comedy which uses a little bit of witch history leading into the modern era.  This was an inspiration to the popular '60s sitcom BEWITCHED and does kind of show.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999):  I end the week with this movie based around the SESEME STREET characters and centered around Elmo, voiced by Kevin Clash.  In this movie, a tug of war of Elmo's beloved blanket with his friend Zoe, voiced by Fran Brill, sends it to the world of Grouchland where Oscar the Grouch, voiced by Carroll Spinney, is from sending Elmo into an all-out journey to find his blanket where he learns lessons of sharing and loyalty.  Mandy Patinkin plays a human role as Huxley who is the featured leader of Grouchland and Vanessa L. Williams plays the Queen of Trash.  Bert and Ernie, voiced by Frank Oz and Steve Whitmire, are the hosts and they have some very funny elements.  It never dawned on me until this movie that Bert and Ernie have always been the same voices as Fozzy the Bear and Kermit the Frog, being Jim Henson in the early days.  All the other puppets and humans make appearances.  This is a really good one for families that have younger children and good to see our friends from Seseme Street again but still no one really able to tell me how to get there.  It also has a few musical numbers.  This is available on Starz On-Demand.

Well, that is it for this week on this section so continue on to check out week 2 of the Madness.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Christina Ricci, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, Ben Affleck, Jerry Lewis, Federico Fellini, Chris Hemsworth, and many others.

THE MADNESS:  CLOWNS WEEK 2

BRUCE CAMPBELL

Bruce is someone who is a wild card every year and rightfully so.

Army of Darkness (1992, 96 minutes, 666):  This is the conclusion of the EVIL DEAD trilogy where Ash is not trapped in medieval 1300 AD where he looks to retain the Necronomican to get home.  Possibly the best medieval film of all time.

Crimewave (1985, 83 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is an early comedy directed by Sam Raimi and written by the Coen Brothers.  Bruce plays Renaldo the Heel.  This combines cartoonish violence with a murder mystery.  Pretty funny and underrated one from these people.

The Evil Dead (1981, 83 minutes, 666):  Bruce's star making film and the creation of Ash.

Evil Dead (2013, 91 minutes, 666):  This is a remake of the horror classic though I don't know I call it a remake, I think just more of a continuation.  If anything, this one might have done better in the character development part.  Bruce may not be in this one but is a producer.

Evil Dead II (1987, 84 minutes 666 1/2):  I suppose this is more of a reimagination of the first one.  The premise was similar but had a lot of different, if not better moments.  In the first one Ash was rather timid and this one he is clearly experienced and more of a badass.

Oz The Great and Powerful (2013, 130 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is a prequel to the famous 1939 classic THE WIZARD OF OZ and how the wizard got on the rise.  Bruce plays the Winkie Gate Keeper.

JERRY LEWIS

I continue with this year's wild card whose movies count for this contest.

The Jazz Singer (1959, 50 minutes, 66):  Another loophole from Jerry Lewis.  He does portray a clown and I feel his look is that of a hobo clown.  See photo in the recommendations section.

JOKER

The Joker is an actual wild card this year so decided to feature these movies.  I was hoping for Mark Hamill and/or Heath Ledger for wild cards but will settle.  The photo above is a painting from my friend and karaoke partner Brittany.

Batman:  The Killing Joke (2016, 76 minutes, 666):  Possibly the most intense Batman with the return of Mark Hamill.  Also should be some bonus points with Joker going on a violent rampage.

The Dark Knight (2008, 152 minutes, 6666):  This is probably my favorite Batman film.  The Heath Ledger Joker should get me some bonus points for killing, I believe that will be the only bonus points I can get.

Lego Batman:  The Movie- DC Superheroes Unite (2013, 71 minutes, 66):  The Joker is in Lego form where he teams up with Lex Luther to destroy Batman, Robin, and Superman.  Joker does hurt some people so hopefully that counts for something, also has Harley Quinn.

JOSH COXX

Josh is not a wild card but found I have a couple movies with this guy so thought I'd make a category for him.

The Last House on the Left (2009, 110 minutes, 666):  Coxx was one of the unlucky cops in the beginning and this film needs no explanation to qualify.

Thor (2011, 110 minutes, 666):  Josh plays the frost giant Hailstrum.  This Marvel Universe entry should count having someone who is a god, the ice giants, and so on.

KEITH DAVID

Keith is another that is not a wild card but found him for a couple selections that fit the Madness.

The Bible:  Episode 6:  Hope (2013, 48 mintues, 666):  This episode has Satan so this should count.  Keith is the narrator

The Bible:  Episode 9:  Passion (2013, 48 minutes, 666):  This episode has Satan.

Pitch Black (2000, 109 minutes, 666):  This was a more significant selection last year in our Fear of the Dark category which had both Radha Mitchell and Vin Diesel as wild cards.  Still should count as sci-fi horror though with those creatures they were trying to fight.  Keith plays Abu.

MUPPET TIME

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999, 73 minutes, 66 1/2):  I believe I can justify this as a creature feature with puppets like Elmo, Oscar, Cookie Monster, Zoe, and many others.

The Muppets Wizard of Oz (2005, 104 minutes, 66):  This take on the L. Frank Baum classic should count with the witches.

PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

Alice Sweet Alice (1976, 98 minutes, 666):  This psychological one is billed as horror and should be counted for this contest.

SID HAIG

This year, any movie with Sid Haig counts so I continue into this week with him.

THX 1138 (1971, 88 minutes, 666):  This may not count in terms of being conventional sci-fi but does count thanks to Mr. Haig.

WESTERN MADNESS

Back to the Woods (1937, 19 mintues, 66 1/2):  This is a western so should count in this year's western category for the Madness.

WITCHES

Bewitched (2005, 102  minutes 6 1/2):  This updated version of the classic sitcom in which the below movie inspired falls quite flat but the witches of the movie should make this count.

I Married a Witch (1942, 77 minutes 666):  This may not be horror but has a witch as a main character so I say it counts.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- week 2 and the Madness: Clowns- week 1

Welcome to the 569th Edition of my series and week one of the Madness.  Right now we are in the annual contest of the Madness where for the first year I am a captain of my team which I don't really know what that means but I'll do my best.  Rehearsals are coming along pretty well for THE BAD SEED which is at the Commons Theater in Alexandria, Indiana on October 28th, 29th, and 30th so if anyone in the Madness can make it out, you will get points for attending.

Mama (2013):  This is part two of a two-part Jessica Chastain series.  Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star as married couple Annabel and Lucas.  Lucas learns that he has two nieces named Victoria and Lilly, played by Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nelisse, who have lived alone for five years.  As they are in the house, they soon learn they may not have been alone and are dealing with a deadly force that only the children seem to know.  Javier Botet plays the ghostly title figure and understand that much of the movement was his own which had limited CGI effects.  This had a pretty creepy feel to it and did like the effects that were used.  It is hard to explain but worth a watch for the horror crowd and for the month of October.

Batman Beyond:  Return of the Joker (2000):  This is part two of a three part Mark Hamill series.  This is based on the animated series BATMAN BEYOND where Bruce Wayne, voiced by Kevin Conroy, is in his later years and a mentor to his successor Terry McGinnis, voiced by Will Friedle, who is the new Batman.  Bruce's old enemy the Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill, returns to Gotham City thought to be dead.  This goes into flashback of the last battle between the Joker and Batman when he was Bruce Wayne.  In the modern day, Terry is in the fight of his life after the Joker injures the aging Bruce Wayne.  Angie Harmon, Dean Stockwell, Teri Garr, Arleen Sorkin, Melissa Joan Hart, Michael Rosenblum, Frank Welker, Henry Rollins, Rachael Leigh Cook, and many others provide their voices to the movie.  This is a pretty good animated movie and you can never go wrong with Hamill as the Joker.  This was an uncut version that I saw that I understand is more violent than the original cut.

Maleficent (2014):  Robert Stromberg directed this adaptation of the 1959 classic SLEEPING BEAUTY which is a bit of a different take to that Disney film.  Angelina Jolie stars as the title character who in the 1959 film places a curse on an infant princess known as Aurora, played by Elle Fanning, to be placed in a sleep on her 16th birthday and can only be awaken by the kiss of true love.  In this film, it gives a backstory on what lead Maleficent to her actions and a little different take to what we know.  Sharlto Copley Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Hannah New, Isobelle Malloy, Michael Higgins, Ella Purnell, Jackson Bews, and many others co-star in this film.  This was pretty well liked but I know it had some mixed opinions.  I think some just wanted Maleficent to be portrayed as the way she was in the original movie.  I never really see anything as black and white so I was quite intrigued on how this was done.  It might be a good idea to have seen the 1959 film first, then follow up with this on a double feature.  I am aware that a sequel is in the works at some point so interested to see what that will entail.

The Great Train Robbery (1903):  This is my short film and western for the week.  As everyone will see, this is a very early film.  Broncho Billy stars as the leader of a gang holding up a train only to find that a posse is after them.  This is one of the first credited western of all time.  It did have some really good moments and there was a shot fired in which audiences actually panicked not knowing anything about film at the time.  It is a great to watch for historical purposes.

Corridors of Blood (1958):  This is part two of my two-part Christopher Lee series.  Robert Day directed this horror film which is kind of crime horror, atmospheric maybe.  Boris Karloff stars as 1800s surgeon Dr. Bolton who is a surgeon in a time when there was no Anesthesia and is looking to make surgery easier for his patients.  He is able to develop a form of Anesthesia to make it happen but forms an addiction.  To get the chemicals necessary, he falls in with a den of murderers including Resurrection Joe, played by Lee, to get what he needs as long as he signs false death reports.  As far as I know this is the only time the Lee and Karloff have worked together and was a pretty decent teaming.  This is a pretty good atmospheric chiller and a good look at the medical industry during this era.

Savage Sisters (1974):  This is part two of my four-part Sid Haig series.  Like last week, it is another exploitation movie so take it for what it is worth.  It is a women in prison movie and one with revolutionaries in the Philippines.  Not much to report except a tough cop, played by Gloria Hendry, and a couple female prisoners teaming up to take on the bandit leader Malavasi, played by Haig who clearly had a good time in the role.  Enjoyable if not taken too seriously though I believe THE BIG BIRD CAGE is the best of those women in prison movies from the '70s but was hard to find so I settled on this one that is on Amazon Prime.

The Wall:  Live in Berlin (1990):  This is part two of my two-part Tim Curry series where he plays the prosecutor in this live performance of Roger Waters' THE WALL and I would not have known who he was if I did not know he was going to be in it.  This was a 1990 benefit concert in support of the War Memorial Fund for Disaster Relief.  Roger Waters leads the way from Pink Floyd's THE WALL which includes actors and musicians The Band, Tim Curry, Thomas Dolby, Marianne Faithfull, Albert Finney, Bryan Adams, Jerry Hall, Cyndi Lauper, Ute Lemper, the Scorpions, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, and Rupert Everett.  It is mostly a live version of the 1982 film PINK FLOYD:  THE WALL.  It is a very well done concert that was really worth watching.  I know most prefer DARK SIDE OF THE MOON but I have always favored this work of Pink Floyd.

The Sad Sack (1957):  This is part two of my three part Jerry Lewis series.  Lewis stars as Private Meredith Bixby and is very bumbling as one might guess with Jerry Lewis.  Major Shelton, played by Phyllis Kirk, is assigned to make a good soldier out of him so Dolan and Wenaslawsky, played by David Wayne and Joe Mantell, who both have a score to settle with him and get into a lot of mishaps leading to assignment in Morocco.  Peter Lorre has a cameo as one of the Moroccans and has some pretty funny moments with Lewis.  Nothing great but harmless fun with some funny gags.

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971):  This is my psychological thriller for the week in the realm of Italian horror known as Giallo.  Lucio Fulci wrote and directed this film.  Florinda Bokan stars as Carol who is having bizarre dreams that involve murdering her neighbor.  Soon, the murder becomes true in the way she describes and must figure out if she actually did it or was framed for it.  Stanley Baker, Jean Sorel, Leo Genn, and many others co-star in the film.  This was a very disturbing film and a good murder mystery.  I also read that Fulci had to go on trial being accused of animal cruelty with scenes looking very believable and crew members had to testify that no animals were harmed during the filming.

The Secret Life of Bees (2008):  I end the week with this inspiration film and probably the first time in my blog series where I have featured both Elle and Dakota Fanning in the same week.  Gina Prince- Bythewood directed this film based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd.  This takes place in the '60s where Dakota Fanning stars as Lily who is a teen girl haunted by the memory of mother, played by Hilarie Burton, and decides to run away to learn more of her mother and to get away from her abusive dad, played by Paul Bettany.  She is with her friend Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson and finds the home of August Boatwright, played by Queen Latifah, who she knows has a connection to her mother.  The extremely compassionate August takes them in while teaching Lily their work with the bees.  Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo co-star as August's sisters June and May.  Nate Parker, Tristan Mack Wilds, Bill Oberst Jr., and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very well done film that show the horrid times of racial segregation and how family does not have to be blood.  I admit I was moved to tears at times watching this one.

Well, that is it for this part but continue on for my results of the Madness.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Mark Hamill, Jerry Lewis, Sid Haig, Tony Goldwyn, Mandy Patinkin, and many others.

THE MADNESS:  CLOWNS WEEK 1

This is the first week of our annual contest which we have been doing for many years.  This year I was a possible alternate judge.  I did not get it which is okay and for the first time, I am a captain of the team I am in.  For those who do not know, this is a contest which involves watching Halloween oriented movies, tv shows and live events.  Every year, there is a different theme and this year the theme is clowns as well as carnival horror.  This was announced over the summer so this was being done long before this "creepy clown" thing that apparently going on and I'm still not buying into this.  Also every year, there is a list of names that are wild cards in which you can watch any of their work and it does not have to be the required genre.  I have always taken advantage of the wild card names and have been known as "The King of the Loophole" in which through the years I have made movies like THE GODFATHER PART 2, ROCKY, TITANIC, GLADIATOR, and many others count.  I have this mostly categorized with names that include this year's wild cards, last year's wild cards, and names in which I manage to have more than one.  Otherwise I have separate categories if I do not have a name to use.  I hate doing ratings but am required to do so and will go by the four 6 system that I have always used.  Now I will get on with my selections.

BILL OBERST JR.

This actor is a wild card this year due to playing a clown in CIRCUS OF THE DEAD and I found a good loophole for him.

The Secret Life of Bees (2008, 114 minutes, 666):  It is selections like these that make me "The King of the Loopholes" in the Madness.  Oberst plays Sheriff Gaston and is a wild card this year for the Madness.

CHRISTOPHER LEE

He is not a wild card though I hoped he would be but he is a horror icon and a wild card for last year.

Corridors of Blood (1958, 86 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is more like psychological horror but is considered horror.

Sleepy Hollow (1999, 105 minutes, 666):  This is more a horror murder mystery involving a headless horseman.  This Burton/Depp collaboration should go without saying.

CLIVE BARKER

Clive is not a wild card but a known horror writer and was able to find multiple works for him.

Hellraiser (1987, 94 minutes, 66 1/2):  Not much explanation needed for this horror film that Barker directed his own horror novel which lead to having a franchise in film.

Quicksilver Highway (1997, 90 minutes, 66):  This is a horror tv movie and it combines two short stories which are CHATTERY TEETH by Stephen King and THE BODY POLITIC by Clive Barker who also has a small part as the anesthesiologist in his story.  More comedy than horror but Christopher Lloyd was very enjoyable.  Murderous plastic chattering teeth and murderous hands should qualify this particular selection.

EMILY PERKINS

Emily was a wild card last year so I decided to feature her in my only selection which is a horror one.

Ginger Snaps (2000, 105 minutes, 666):  This is one where one of two sisters is bitten by a werewolf.  Emily is the younger sister trying to cure her older sister of the curse coming on after bitten by the wolf.

ENNIO MORRICONE

Ennio is a composer of film scores.  There was some talk about him being a wild card this year due to our western category but never came to be though found multiple movies on my list that count for the Madness.

The Cat 'O Nine Tails (1971, 112 minutes, 666):  Pretty good psychological thriller from Giallo icon Dario Argento.  This is billed as horror so should count.

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971, 95 minutes, 66 1/2):  Ennio Morricone wrote the music score and the movie qualifies as essentially psychological horror.

Red Sonja (1985, 89 minutes, 66):  Fantasy film with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielson.  I believe this is dark enough with the evil Queen Gedren and the Talisman.  I was not aware this was a Marvel comics character.

JERRY LEWIS

Yes, Jerry Lewis is a wild card this year due to his unreleased film THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED which I had not ever heard of until the Madness announcements.  I will be using him as a wild card a lot this year.

The Delicate Delinquent (1957, 101 minutes, 66 1/2):  I never thought I would see the name but Jerry Lewis is a wild card for the madness so I included his first film without Dean Martin.

The Sad Sack (1957, 98 minutes 66):  This qualifies because of our Madness wild card Jerry Lewis

JESSICA CHASTAIN

Jessica is not a wild card this year but found multiple movies on my list for this contest so decided to make a category for her.

Crimson Peak (2015, 119 minutes, 666):  This one involves a ghost and other creepy elements to qualify for the Madness.

Mama (2013, 100 minutes, 666):  This also had a ghostly figure and creepy little girls so absolutely qualifies for the Madness.

JUNO TEMPLE

Juno is not a wild card this year but like others, found multiple movies on my list so decided to make her into a category.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012, 164 minutes, 666):  This is the last of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.  Juno plays the part of Jen who is kind of a sidekick to Selina Kyle.  Batman counts at any time.

Horns (2013, 120 minutes, 666 1/2):   Juno plays the murdered girlfriend in this rather clever murder mystery that stars Daniel Radcliffe as the suspect and soon grows horns on his head, realizing that people tell the truth which he uses to find who killed them.  This is billed as horror.  I know a lot of people say that "Daniel Radcliffe will always be Harry Potter to me" and I say let him move on with his career so we get movies like this one

Maleficent (2014, 97 minutes, 666 1/2):  Juno plays the fairy Thistlewit.  With the fairies, dragon, and the enchantress that Maleficent is, I say this qualifies for the Madness.

MARK HAMILL

There was discussion for Mark to be a wild card due to his voice work as the Joker but named the character the wild card instead but did find multiple movies of Mr. Hamill.

Batman Beyond:  Return of the Joker (2000, 76 minutes, 666):  Mark Hamill voices his most iconic role in the Joker in this animated movie.  This is a selection that plays more to our theme of evil clowns and the Joker being "The Clown Prince of Crime".

Castle in the Sky (1986, 125 minutes, 666):  Mark Hamill provides a voice in the American version of this Studio Ghibli animated film.  This might need a little argument.  Maybe I can justify it with high adventure even though I never really understood what that meant no matter what explanation I was given.

SARAH PAULSON

Sarah is a wild card this year, I believe on account of her work on AMERICAN HORROR STORY.  I decided upon a tv show for her and a good loophole.

Grey's Anatomy:  Season 6, Episode 15 (2010, 43 minutes, 666):  Sarah Paulson is a guest on this episode where in a flashback plays Dr. Ellis Grey, the mother of Meredith.  I have never really watched this much but was a good episode of doctors reflecting on past work that helped get them where they are in a conference.

SHORTS OF MADNESS

The Alphabet (1968, 4 minutes, 66):  This is very early David Lynch and is a pretty creepy four minutes.

The Great Train Robbery (1903, 11 minutes, 666):  Westerns count this year in the Madness.

Lenore:  The Cute Little Dead Girl:  Episode 1:  The New Toy  (2002, 666, 2 minutes):  This was a really weird animated series that I assume was an internet one based on the graphic novels.  Lenore went to a pet store looking for a toy.  These are available on Youtube and are very interesting.

Salad Fingers Episode 1:  Spoons (2004, 66 1/2, 2 minutes):  This was another internet animated series of Salad Fingers.  I don't really know who or what he is except that he loves rusty spoons and loves caressing them.  One of those where I'm just thinking wtf but still rather intrigued for some reason.  I think the creepy factor is there and should count for a little points through all these shorts.

SID HAIG

Having a clown categoy, Sid obviously needs to be a wild card and was one of the first named wild cards due to his work as Captain Spaulding.

The Big Doll House (1971, 95 minutes, 66 1/2):  Nothing like a women in prison film as a loophole for Sid Haig.

Savage Sisters (1974, 86 minutes, 66 12):  Counts on account of wild card Sid Haig

SUPERHEROES

Batman vs. Robin (2015, 80 minutes, 66 1/2):  I guess this is the sequel to the 2014 movie featured in this movie where Bruce Wayne's loose cannon son Damian who as Robin has a hard time with Batman's no-kill rule after being raised by Ra's Al Ghul.  He is sought after by a secret society called the Court of Owls and must make a decision on where his allegiance lies.  I started noticing that when Nightwing in in these animated movies that he kind of acts as the middle man.  I'd like to see more animated movies centered around characters like him and maybe one all about Batgirl.  I suppose this is the start of those vs stories that came about this year like with Batman and Superman, Daredevil and Punisher, and Captain American and Iron Man.

Justice League (2015, 76 minutes, 666):  This is a much different take on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in both the looks and personality.  If you are all about tradition, then this might not be for you, also not one for the family.  This was an interesting take on these characters where they even have different names though other familiar names make appearances like Lex Luthor, Ray Palmer, Lois Lane, Victor Fries, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, and many others.  Those who hate the Superman for being a boy scout, this is a much different and darker portrayal.

Son of Batman (2014, 74 minutes, 666):  I don't know enough of the comic book story to dislike it on account of the story.  I check this out and enjoyed this movie more centered around Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul so also the grandson of the League of Assassins leader Ra's Al Ghul.  Easily counts on account of Batman.  Also, a good look at other characters like Nightwing and Deathstroke.

TIM CURRY

Tim was a wild card last year and is one of the first people announced this year obviously for his role as Pennywise in Stephen King's IT.

Annie (1982, 127 minutes, 66 1/2):  This version of the musical counts this year with Tim Curry playing the con artist Rooster.

Legend (1985, 89 minutes, 666):  This was the movie that last year mostly centered around and Tim Curry is a wild card for the second year in a row.  Would count either way I know.

The Wall:  Live in Berlin (1990, 115 minutes, 666):  Last year I included concert film STOP MAKING SENSE from the Talking Heads and this year I get to feature this live concert from Roger Waters that includes a cameo from Curry.

TOD BROWNING

Tod Browning is a legendary director known for his directing in Universal Horror like for the 1931 film DRACULA and is a wild card likely due to his carnival film FREAKS.

The Devil-Doll (1936, 78 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is a classic horror movie involving miniature humans so easily qualifies for the Madness.

WESTERN

The Gunfighter (1950, 90 minutes, 666 1/2):  Again, westerns count so this psychological western gets a place this year in the Madness.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 568th Edition

Welcome to the 568th Edition of my series.  Today, our annual contest of the Madness kicks off.  I have never actually won one of these contests but I always enjoy being part of this community.  It is a contest that includes watching Halloween oriented movies and tv shows.  Through, the years, I have come to be known as "The King of the Loophole" as each year there are various names in which I can use any of their work so I usually take full advantage of what I can in order to keep up my variety themes that I always use.  You'll see what I am talking about in the coming weeks and will see a mixture of Halloween oriented and non-Halloween oriented films.  I got my first win of the NFL season in my fantasy league and I won a very small cash prize from Draft Kings and while it was not much, it gives me confidence I can continue to improve.  I will get on with my selections for the week.

Sleepy Hollow (1999):  This is part one of a two part Christopher Lee series.  I start the week out with this adaptation of the Washington Irving novel. I will say first that I really don't know anything about this novel and just focused on the movie. Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane who is a detective in the late 1700s who is assigned to investigate murders in a town of the title. Ichabod has some new age beliefs in detective work that are quite ahead of its time. He soon learns that the murders consist of the victims being decapitated and is told by the locals that it is the work of the Headless Horseman. He is at first skeptical but then witnesses it happening and becomes a believer and is determined to stop the murders. Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Christopher Walken, Christopher Lee, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough, Lisa Marie, Peter Guinness, Martin Landau, and many others co-star in this atmospheric film. I have found that the 90s are my favorite period for the many Burton/Depp collaborations and this was no different.  This for the record is their third collaboration.  The cinematography worked very well and the action scenes were very good. It also has great use of flashback sequences. I won't give too much away accept that it moves very well and keeps people guessing but is not for everyone's taste if you have a hard time with violence.

Legend (1985):  I follow with this classic 80s fantasy which was mostly what last year's Madness centered around but I decided to wait until this year to watch it.  Ridley Scott directed this film which stars our favorite Scientologist Tom Cruise as Jack who looks to stop the Lord of Darkness, played by Tim Curry, who is essentially the Devil and is looking to have eternal night by killing the last of the unicorns.  He must also save the woman he loves Princess Lili, played by Mia Sara, who inadvertently sets off the events that cause a unicorn to get a poison dart.  David Bennett and Billy Barty co-star in this film.  I really enjoyed this entry into the fantasy genre.  I thought it had a good love story within the film.  Curry plays a great villain and is quite unrecognizable.  I also really like the music score from Tangerine Dream.  The characters are also very enjoyable.  I also liked the special effects from this film that beat many other more modern effects in fantasy like in the LORD OF THE RINGS films.

Crimson Peak (2015):  This is part one of a two-part Jessica Chastain series.  Guillermo Del Toro directed and co-wrote this Victorian era horror film.  Mia Wasikowska stars as Edith Cushing whose mother died when she was young.  She become enamored with Thomas Sharpe who is a mysterious stranger is town and forms a relationship with him eventually marrying him.  She moves into their old mansion along with Thomas's sister Lucille, played by Jessica Chastain.  When moving in, she begins to find that the house is haunted making her investigate what happened and what secrets her husband and sister in law could be holding.  Charlie Hunman, Jim Beaver, Burn Gorman, Leslie Hope, Doug Jones, Jonathan Hyde, Bruce Gray, Emily Coutts, and many others co-star in this film.  This does have some gore but focuses more on the mystery and suspense.  It has some really good visuals with a good performance out of Wasikowska.  I found that this is more of a dark love story where ghosts are kind of secondary.

The Alphabet (1968):  This is my short film for the week and some very early work for David Lynch.  His then wife Peggy Lynch stars as a girl in a very surrealistic dream where the alphabet comes to life and in a very bizarre way even for an alphabet coming to life.  Lynch had some pretty strange short films in his career, mostly animated with some very abstract art.  It's hard to really explain any more on this than what I already have and believe Lynch really wants more of your own analysis.  This can be found on Youtube and is also part of The Short Films of David Lynch collection.  It is a start to a great career and a much different filmmaker than most.

The Devil-Doll (1936):  Tod Browning directed this early horror film.  Lionel Barrymore stars as escaped convict Paul Lavond who along with this friend Marcel, played by Henry B. Walthall, escape from Devil's Island prison.  Paul discovers Marcel's experiments of working on a way to reduce humans to a very small size.  It turns out, he was successful along with this wife Malita, played by Rafaela Ottiano, in their experiements which were supposed to be for the good of mankind.  Marcel dies but Paul decides to use the experiment in order to get his revenge on those that wronged him.  Maureen O'Sullivan co-stars as Paul's estranged daughter.  This was a rather clever camp film and seeing Lionel Barrymore in disguise as an old lady to get his revenge was quite worth it.

The Delicate Delinquent (1957):  This is part one of a five part Jerry Lewis series.  Don McGuire wrote and directed this comedy which stars Jerry Lewis which is his first solo movie without his comedy partner Dean Martin.  Lewis plays his usual character and this time plays bumbling janitor Sidney Pythias who is in the wrong place in the wrong time when he gets mistaken for a member of a gang when they get picked up by cop Mike Damon, played by Darren McGavin who is probably most known as the old man in A CHRISTMAS STORY.  Damon looks to get to know Sidney and learns that Sidney has a secret ambition to be part of the police force so he helps him get through the police academy with some pretty funny results.  Martha Hyer co-stars in this comedy.  Not the best Lewis film but still a good start to his post Dean Martin projects.

Hellraiser (1987):  Clive Barker made his directorial debut which is a screenplay based on his own novel.  Clare Higgins stars as Julia who has been an unfaithful wife and soon encounters her dead lover Frank, played by Sean Chapman, who is in a zombie form and escaped a sadomasochistic underworld lead by the iconic Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley.  Frank can also get his body back through human sacrifices so Julia reluctantly agrees to help him by murdering other men while trying to keep him away from the Cenobites.  Andrew Robinson, Ashley Laurence, Nicholas Vince, Simon Bamford, Grace Kirby, and many others co-star in this film.  This is actually the first time I have ever delved into this franchise.  I guess I cannot judge whether Barker did a good job of adapting his novel but it was all up to him what was done.  It is a pretty clever story that produced a horror icon in Pinhead who is pretty known even if one has not seen one from this franchise.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

The Big Doll House (1971):   This is part one of a four-part Sid Haig series.  This is my exploitation film and prison film for the week.  Roger Corman produced this women's prison movie which Jack Hill directs.  The prison is run by a very sadistic female warden.  Five of the women plot an escape which includes Pam Grier in her first big film role.  Sid Haig also co-stars as one of the fruit vendors looking to score when delivering to the prison.  Before watching this you must remember that Roger Corman produced, women in prison, and Pam Grier which is all I really need to say.

The Gunfighter (1950):  This is my western for the week which was directed by Henry King.  Gregory Peck stars as legendary gunslinger Jimmy Ringo who is trying to put his past behind him but cannot go anywhere without being recognized and having a young up and coming gunslinger trying to make a name off of him.  He goes back to his old town hoping to see his estranged lover Peggy, played by Helen Westcott, and his son who he has not gotten to see.  He finds trouble right away as he is looking to avoid the brothers of a man he killed in the previous town and deals with the young Hunt Bromley, played by Skip Homeier, who is a cocky youngster wanting to pick a fight with Jimmy.  He must also deal with a bit of a media circus when everyone hears he is in town.  Karl Malden, Richard Jaeckel, Millard Mitchell, Jean Parker, Verna Felton, Ellen Corby, and many others co-star in this western.  Westerns are not usually a genre I'm extremely into but if I had to come up with a top ten for the genre this would be in there.  This is more of a psychological western in which killing is more the concern.  The media circus from this era was also very well shot and had some good discussions on who the fastest gunslinger was including Wyatt Earp.  This is loosely based on notorious gunslinger Johnny Ringo.

Castle in the Sky (1986):  This is part one of a three part Mark Hamill series.  I end the week with some anime.  While I have never really been a die hard Anime person, I do tend to enjoy the Studio Ghibli films and this was no exception.  A young boy named Pazu encounters a girl literally falling from the sky named Sheeta.  He takes interest in her and learns that she is on the run from pirates, the army and the government.  Together, Pazu looks to help Sheeta learn who she is in life and encounter all kinds of things like a floating castle.  This was directed by Hayao Miyazaki.  It is a very beautiful story with a lot of really fun characters.  James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Richard Dysart, Jim Cummings, Mandy Patinkin, Andy Dick, and many others lend their voices to this version of the film.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Jessica Chastain, Mark Hamill, Angelina Jolie, Christopher Lee, Sid Haig, Tim Curry, Jerry Lewis, Dakota Fanning, and many others.