Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 844th Edition

Welcome to the 844th Edition of my series.  MURDER AT CAFE NOIR is coming along very well.  If you are in or near the area, come out for some laughs.  I will get more ticket info as time goes on but the theater could use some donations so if willing, go to https://pulseoperahouse.org/ and there will be info there.  No football now so I'll just get on with my selections.

Definitely, Maybe (2008):  This is part one of a possible five-part Rachel Weisz series.  Adam Brooks wrote and directed this romantic comedy.  Ryan Reynolds stars as political consultant Will Hayes who is getting a divorce and whose 10 year old daughter Maya, played by Abigail Breslin, is very intent on her father explaining his past relationships.  Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks, and Isla Fisher co-star as Will's past relationships leading Maya to figure out which one turns out to be her mother.  Daniel Eric Gold, Adam Ferrera, Derek Luke, Liane Balaban, Annie Parisse, Nestor Serrano, Kevin Corrigan, Kevin Kline, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is a pretty fun comedy with Reynolds and Breslin working well together as father and daughter and the discussion they have on Will's past.  This would be a really good date night movie.

Sunlight (1957):  This is an early work from Melvin Van Peebles who is likely most know for his work in the Blaxploitation genre.  This takes place in San Francisco where a black man commits a petty crime out of love.  This looks at the poverty and injustice that many black people suffer and remains relevant today.  This is the start to a very good career and the baby was Melvin's son Mario Van Peebles who would go onto have a really good career in his own right.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel as well as a lot of other works of Melvin Van Peebles.

La Grande Illusion (1937):  This is my French film for the week which was directed by Jean Renoir which is centered around WWI.  Jean Gabin and Pierre Fresnay star as French soldiers who end up in a German POW camp.  When there, they become friends with the other prisoners and look to organize an escape.  Dita Parlo, Erich Von Stroheim, Julien Carette, Jean Daste, Gaston Modot, and many others co-star in this film.  This has a lot of antiwar messages but also has many humorous moments of dialogue to go along with it.  This could be a good double feature to go along with THE GREAT ESCAPE.  

American Folk (2017):  David Heinz wrote and directed this independent film.  Mucicians Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth stars as Elliott and Joni who are strangers that meet in California right after 9/11 happens.  They take a road trip in a beat up van to get to their destinations of New York and discover they have similar tastes and talent in music.  They rely on their music and the kindness of strangers to get through all their obstacles.  David Fine, Bruce Beatty, Elizabeth Dennehy, Miranda LaDawn Hill, Emma Thatcher, Holger Moncada Jr., Julian Gopal, Lawrence A. Mandley, Michelle West, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very good homage to the world of folk music.  It is also a very moving film set after such a tragic event.  This is available to watch on imdb tv and Tubi.  Also, look into these talented musicians.

The Lion in Winter (1968):  This is part one of a possible four part Anthony Hopkins series.  Anthony Harvey directed this royalty film which is based on the play by James Goldman who also wrote the screenplay.  Peter O'Toole stars as Henry II who announces his successor to the throne and wants his son John, played by Nigel Terry, to take the throne.  His estranged wife Eleanor, played by Katherine Hepburn, has other ideas and wants their son Richard, played by Anthony Hopkins to take the throne.  A young Timothy Dalton makes his film debut and co-stars as Philip II who looks to take over the kingdom.  John Castle, Jane Merrow, Nigel Stock, O.Z. Whitehead, and many others co-star in this film.  This takes place around Christmas so I wish I had known that or I might have put this in one of my December editions.  This is a pretty compelling and authentic film on a royalty power struggle.

Borg vs. McEnroe (2017):  Janus Metz directed this sports film that is based on a true story.  This looks at Wimbleton in 1980 and looks at the rivalry between Bjorn Borg, played by Sverrir Gudnason, and the volatile John McEnroe, played by Shia LeBeouf.  On the surface, it would seem they have nothing in common but in reality, they both had similar childhoods and had different ways of handing their anxiety.  Stellan Skarsgard, Tuva Nuvotny, Jackson Gann, Ian Blackman, Robert Emms, David Bamber, Mats Blomgren, Julia Marko-Nord, Jane Perry, and many others co-star in this sports film.  Borg's real-life son Leo Borg plays the younger Bjorn Borg.  This is a really good look at these two tennis legends and was mostly an individual look until their very intense matchup at Wimbleton.  The actors played the title roles very well.  This can be enjoyed by tennis and non-tennis fans and yes I can be serious.

The Racket (1951):  This is part two of my possible Robert Mitchum trilogy.  John Cromwell directed this film based on the play by Bartlett Cormack.  Robert Mitchum stars as Captain Thomas McQuigg who is one of the few non-corrupt people on the force must look to take down political corruption as local crime boss Nick Scanlon, played by Robert Ryan, looks to get a corrupt district attorney elected as judge.  Lizabeth Scott, William Talman, Ray Collins, Joyce Mackenzie, Robert Hutton, Virginia Huston, William Conrad, Walter Sande, Les Tremayne, Don Porter, Walter Baldwin, Brett King, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty dark and violent film but also enjoyable.  Mitchum and Ryan have a great rivalry as they are both very dedicated to their side of the law.  

I Think He'll Be Alright (2021):  I decided to use another short film for the week.  Jeffrey Scott Richards directed this documentary short which is his own video diary.  Richards documents his own health anxiety as well as getting the Covid vaccine.  He also does some thorough research on the vaccination as well and is very open about his own personal experience.  I have avoided Covid selections but Jeff and his wife Jenny, who is also featured, have been long time supporters of this and I knew he had good intentions about it.  This was very informative while also being entertaining.  This is available to watch at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ithinkhellbealright?fbclid=IwAR0tfSsS4s07SlaknrvqVT-WnNORe0M9H9GVowBAuBeotxpxufh35hSLP68 and is about 30 minutes long.

All Screwed Up (1974):  This is my Italian film for the week which was written and directed by Lina Wertmuller.  A group of immigrants from the south of Italy in Milan while facing all the everyday struggles.  Luigi Diberti, Giuliana Calandra, Isa Danieli, Claudio Camaso, and many others co-star in this film.  This is an ensemble film and a statement of the struggles going on at this time and likely now.  It is a comedy within all the serious situations.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Oh, Hello On Broadway (2017):  I end the week with this live special which was directed by Michael John Warren and Alex Timbers.  Nick Kroll and John Mulaney play the elderly Gil and George.  This is essentially a stand-up comedy routine with these two men in various situations.  This was an act popularized on Comedy Central's KROLL SHOW.  I honestly don't know a lot about these guys but what they did in this show was quite funny with an amusing cameo from Steve Martin.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Rachel McAdams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Fred Astaire, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 843rd Edition

Welcome to the 843rd edition of my series.  As most of us know, tonight is the Super Bowl.  I am one of the few that watch it for the football.  I am looking forward to the halftime show and I'm sure I'll enjoy some commercials but football is the most important part.  I am a little sad that my team the 49ers fell short last week against the Rams.  They beat the Rams twice in the regular season but unfortunately third time was a charm for the Rams.  Tonight, I root for the Bengals but a close game will be good enough as well.  I also learned this week that I am going to need to look for another vehicle as the repairs that my van need are beyond being sensible to get repaired.  It's been good to me but I must let my friend go.  I am still in rehearsals for MURDER AT CAFE NOIR.  This is fixing to be a really fun show and hope people will come check it out.  I will shut up now and get on with my selections.

Batman (1989):  This is part three of my Michael Keaton trilogy where in the first two selections, he played the villains and now he is the hero.  Tim Burton directed this superhero film which stars Michael Keaton as the caped crusader Batman aka Bruce Wayne.  Jack Nicholson stars as the maniacal Joker and has a lot of fun with that role.  Kim Basinger co-stars as reporter Vicki Vale who is out to do a story on Batman and has a relationship with Bruce Wayne in the process.  Billy Dee Williams co-stars as district attorney Harvey Dent who we know as Two-Face.  Apparently, had Burton continued the franchise, we would have seen Williams as Two-Face but everything was scrapped when Burton left, or got fired I really don't know.  Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, and many others co-star in this superhero film.  This was a pretty groundbreaking superhero film where for the first time we see a darker take toward Batman.  This would give way to the very popular animated series.  Prince's soundtrack in the movie would also play a significant part and it was a co-star in and of itself.  This is available to watch on Hulu.

Born to be Blue (2015):  This is my music biopic for the week which was directed by Robert Budreau.  Ethan Hawke stars as jazz legend Chet Baker who agrees to play himself in a movie about himself.  He forms a relationship with his co-star Jane, played by Carmen Ejojo, who tries to help him with a comeback despite his drug problems.  Callum Keith Rennie, Tony Nappo, Stephen McHattie, Janet-Laine Green, Dan Lett, Kedar Brown, Kevin Hanchard, Tony Nardi, Barbara Mamabolo, Charles Officer, Katie Boland, Janine Theriault, Joe Cobden, Natassia Halabi, Barbara Eve Harris, Eugene Clark, and many others co-star in this film.  This has been described as "semi-factual, semi-fictional" and as a re-imagining of a comeback for Chet Baker.  Hawke plays Baker very well and is a good film centered around the jazz world.  This is available to watch on IFC Films Unlimited and AMC + subscriptions with Amazon Prime.

White Boy Rick (2018):  I follow the week with another film based on a true story in Detroit which was directed by Yann Demange.  Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt star Richard Wershe Sr. and Richard Wershe Jr. who do what they can to survive.  Richard Jr. becomes an undercover informant of the FBI and would later deal drugs for them and would ultimately be betrayed by his handlers.  Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry, Rory Cochrane, RJ Cyler, Jonathan Majors, Eddie Marsan, Taylour Paige, Bruce Dern, Piper Laurie, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very dark and gritty story of an extremely dysfunctional family.  Behind all of that is also a rather moving film.  This is available to watch on Tubi.

Boat Builders (1938):  This is my animated short for the week.  This consists of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy trying to work together to make a boat where the instructions say "so simple a child can do it", but the trio runs into all kinds of problems trying to put it together.  I think everyone can just imaging Mickey, Donald, and Goofy trying to work together and how funny that would be.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Finger of Guilt (1956):  Joseph Losey and Alec C. Snowden directed this Film Noir that centers in Hollywood.  Richard Basehart stars as film editor Reggie Wilson who seems happily married to Lesley, played by Faith Brook.  He starts to get intimate letters from another woman claiming they had a past and he claims to not know her.  Constance Cummings, Roger Livesey, Mervyn Johns, and many others co-star in this Film Noir.  This is hard to describe any further as I might give a lot away.  It is a very compelling story with a nice twist.  This is available to watch on Prime.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972):  This is my disaster movie for the week which was directed by Ronald Neame and based on the novel by Paul Gallico.  This centers around a cruise ship that is flipping over leaving a group of people to fight for survival and each other at times.  Gene Hackman leads the crew as Reverend Scott who is a preacher that does more than just preach.  Joining him are Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowell, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, and Eric Shea.  Leslie Nielsen also co-stars as the Captain of the ship.  This is a guilty pleasure in some ways but it is also a good action film.  It also has some fun characters that must band together no matter how much they don't get along.  This is ranked as one of the best disaster movies and is available to watch on HBO Max.

Don't Look Up (2021):  I finally decided to give this one a look that is based on truly possible events and was directed by Adam McCay.  Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star as astronomers Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky who come across a very deadly comet that will destroy Earth.  They try to convey this information but cannot get anyone to listen as everyone obsesses with themselves through the social media.  Meryl Streep co-stars as the corrupt President Orlean whose only concern is reelection and has her own son Jason, played by Jonah Hill, as her chief of staff.  Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Chiklis, Tomer Sisley, Paul Guifoyle, Robert Joy, Jack Alberts, Ting, Lance A. Williams, Shimali De Silva, Hettienne Park, Rafael Silva, Liev Schreiber, Sarah Silverman, Jon Glaser, and many others co-star in this film.  Schreiber has a voiceover role in this movie.  This is satire of media obsession and most notably the social media where we must get all the likes possible.  This is really funny and a bit alarming.  This reminds us we need to live in the real world more.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

El Dorado (1966):  This is my western for the week and part one of a possible Robert Mitchum trilogy.  Howard Hawks directed this western based on the novel by Harry Brown.  John Wayne stars as Cole Thornton who is a gunfighter for hire and joins forces with his old friend Sheriff J.P. Harrah to take on corrupt rancher Bart Jason, played by a young Ed Asner.  A young James Caan co-stars as Mississippi who is a younger gunfighter helping out Wayne and Mitchum.  Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Arthur Hunnicutt, Michele Carey, R.G. Armstrong, Christopher George, Marina Ghane, Robert Donner, John Gabriel, Johnny Crawford, Robert Rothwell, Adam Roarke and many others co-star in this western.  This has some really great action and is very fun.  Caan is great in his early role of Mississippi and works well with Wayne and Mitchum.  This is available to watch on Hulu and Paramount Plus.

All That Heaven Allows (1955):  Douglas Sirk directed this love story of people in different societies of class falling in love.  Jane Wyman co-stars as the widowed Cary Scott who lives an upper-class life. Rock Hudson stars as Ron Kirby who owns a nursery and trims Cary's trees in the spring.  They meet and fall in love and people in Cary's, including her grown kids, life object to her falling in love with someone that does not fit in well in their world.  Agnes Moorehead, Conrad Nagel, Virginia Grey, Gloria Talbott, William Reynolds, Charles Drake, Hayden Rorke, Jacqueline deWit, Leigh Snowden, Donald Curtis, Alex Gerry, Nestor Paiva, Forrest Lewis, Tol Avery, and many others co-star in this film.  This takes us to some very deep emotional levels and hits us at every feel.  This is a great look at the importance of going with your heart.

The Ledge (2011):  Matthew Chapman wrote and directed this Neo-Noir.  Charlie Hunnam stars as Gavin Nichols who meets his neighbors Joe and Shana Harris played by Patrick Wilson and Liv Tyler.  Joe is a fundamentalist Christian and Gavin and Shana start to have an affair.  Joe then goes to extreme measures in his vengeance.  Terrence Howard co-stars as Detective Hollis Lucetti who tries to help the situation.  Jacqueline Fleming, Christopher Gorham, Maxine Greco, Geraldine Singer, Dean J. West, Jillian Batherson, Mike Pniewski, Katia Gomez, and many others co-star in this thriller.  This is a very intense film to say the least.  Wilson was very good as a subtle villain.  There is just no other way to describe this except to say it is availalbe to watch on IFC Films and AMC+ with a subscription to Prime.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Rachel Weisz, Jean Renoir, Katherine Hepburn, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 842nd Edition

Welcome to the 842nd Edition of my series.  We had some pretty crazy weather for a couple days but we got through it.  Luckily, I work at home so I did not have to get out though I really wanted to get out.  Unfortunately, my 49ers came up short in the conference championship against the Rams.  I will just move on and look forward to next season while still watching the Super Bowl.  I am starting to promote the play I am in more which is MURDER AT CAFE NOIR at the Pulse Opera House in Warren, Indiana and below is the dates.  It looks like we will finally be able to start rehearsing this week.  I have rambled on long enough so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

Pacific Heights (1990):  This is part two of my Michael Keaton trilogy where he plays a very uncooperative tenant.  John Schlesinger directed this psychological thriller.  Matthew Modine and Melanie Griffith star as couple Drake and Patty who become landlords.  Most of them are fine except for the mysterious Carter Hayes, played by Keaton, who is able to manipulate his way into the complex and making life difficult for the couple.  Mako, Nobu McCarthy, Laurie Metcalf, Carl Lumbly, Dorian Harewood, Luca Bercovici, Tippi Hedren, Sheila McCarthy, Guy Boyd, Jerry Hardin, Dan Hedaya, James Staley, Miriam Margoyles, O-Lan Jones, Dabbs Greer, Tracey Walter, D.W. Moffatt, Beverley D'Angelo, and many others co-star in this film.  Keaton is great as the psychotic tenant.  If my friend Rusty aka Dr. Love was the landlord, Carter would have never gotten in there without his rent.  

Please Give (2010):  Nicole Holofcener wrote and directed this character driven film.  Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener star as married couple Alex and Kate who own a vintage furniture store and have a teenage daughter named Abby, played by Sarah Steele.  They plan on expanding their apartment when their elderly next-door neighbor Andra, played by Ann Guilbert, passes away.  Rebecca Hall and Amanda Peet co-star as Andra's granddaughters where the families try to bond with one another.  Elizabeth Keener, Josh Pais, Elise Ivy, Scott Cohen, Lois Smith, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Amy Wright, Sarah Vowell, Jason Mantzoukas, Kevin Corrigan, and many others co-star in this film.  Each character has some sort of issue in their life they they are trying to deal with.  It has a good blend of comedy, drama, and some slice of life.  

Jesse Stone:  Benefit of the Doubt (2012):  Robert Harmon directed this tv movie which is based on characters created by Robert B. Parker.  Tom Selleck reprises his role as Paradise police chief Jesse Stone who was in involuntary retirement but is brought back after his replacement is blown up.  Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Gloria Reuben, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, Robert Carradine, Jeremy Akerman, Christine Tizzard, Jeff Geddis, Saul Rubinek, William Devane, John McLaren, and many others co-star in this tv movie.  This was a series of tv movies where Selleck plays the functioning alcoholic detective.  This is the eighth and the last of this movie series.  This is a pretty dark and gritty series of film and are all available to watch on Crackle.

Zorgon:  The H-Bomb Beast from Hell (1972):  This is my short film for the week which was directed by Kevin Fernan.  There are reported monster attacks in a local community so a posse comes to town in hunt for it.  This was a college assignment for Fernan when he was a Pasadena City College.  This is shot like a silent movie thought it has no music.  It does work for the nine minutes though.  Make-Up artist Rick Baker co-star in this short film.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The Real Glory (1939):  Henry Hathaway directed this war film which is based on the novel by Charles L. Clifford.  This takes place in 1906 Philippines where a group of American soldiers train rural tribesman to defend themselves against Muslim radicals.  Gary Cooper stars as Dr. Bill Canavan who is the doctor but takes charge.  David Niven, Andrea Leeds, Reginald Owen, Broderick Crawford, Kay Johnson, Russell Hicks, and many others co-star in this war film.  This has a lot of good action for that era.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952):  Now I get a little lighter with this comedy which was directed by Douglas Sirk.  Before she would become more famous for being an extremely overprotective mother, Piper Laurie did play the romantic lead some.  Charles Coburn stars as aging and heir-less millionaire Samuel Fulton who looks to give his fortune to the family of his first love.  To evaluate the family, he poses as a poor tenant named John Smith.  Rock Hudson stars as loyal soda jerk Dan Stebbins who really likes Millicent, played by Piper Laurie, but her mom would rather her go with the wealthier Carl, played by Skip Homeier.  Gigi Perreau, Lynn Bari, William Reynolds, Larry Gates, Paul Harvey, Paul McVey, Gloria Holden, Frank Ferguson, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Look for James Dean in a cameo before he would co-star in GIANT with Hudson.  This is a good look at appreciating what you have and not to let things get to your head.  This could very well be Coburn's best role.  I also thought the younger sister, played by Perreau, stole the movie a lot of times, especially in her scenes with Coburn.  This is a pretty underrated movie in my opinion and deserves a look.

Spencer (2021):  Pablo Larrain directed this biopic which is based on Princess Diana Spencer.  Kristen Stewart takes the helm of Diana and really makes the role her own.  This is based in the time period where Diana is burned out from the marriage with Prince Charles, played by Jack Farthing, and becomes very serious about leaving but finds it will not be easy.  Timothy Spall, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry, Sean Harris, Stella Gonet, Richard Samuel, Elizabeth Berrington, Amy Manson, Sally Hawkins, and many others.  This takes a look at many sides of Diana and I honestly have not really looked into fact vs. fiction as I'm sure liberties were taken.  I always feel Stewart gets a bad rap and in this movie she gave it everything she had to prepare for this role.  

He Walked by Night (1948):  Alfred L. Werker directed this film-noir that is shot in a semi-documentary style.  This centers around the murder of a police officer where officers Marty Brennan and Chuck Jones, played by Scott Brady and James Cardwell, are assigned to investigate the murder.  This also looks at the killer Roy Morgan, played by Richard Basehart, as he tries to cover his tracks and has no criminal past so no reason for anyone to have any suspicion.  Whit Bissell, James Cardwell, Jack Webb, Dorothy Adams, and many others co-star in this film.  This is loosely based on the crime spree of Erwin "Machine Gun" Walker whose actual story seems very interesting.  This also inspired Webb to create his popular show DRAGNET.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime and Paramount Plus.  

The Wonderful Land of Oz (1969):  Barry Mahon directed this movie based on the novel by L. Frank Baum.  The director's son I assume, Chan Mahon stars as a young boy named Tip who runs away from his evil guardian Mombi, played by Zisca Baum, after being threatened to be turned into a statue.  Along the way, he meets Jack the Pumpkinhead, played by George Wadsworth, who many might know for the later RETURN TO OZ.  They set off to Emerald City and encounter meets General Jinjer, played by Caroline Berner, who wants to take over Oz and seems to be for fashion reasons.  Along the way, we see our beloved characters like Scarecrow and the Tin Man though no lion for some reason.  Allen Joseph, Michael R. Thomas, Gil Fields,Hilary Lee Gaess, Joy Webb, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is not something to watch if you want something that at least halfway lives up to our 1939 classic.  In fact, I watched this through Rifftrax which is the most enjoyable way of watching it.  This is to be looked upon as a B-movie and to just laugh at it.  The Rifftrax version is available to watch on Youtube as well as a lot of other Rifftrax viewings.

Hitchcock (2012):  This is part two of my two-part Anthony Hopkins series.  I end the week with this biopic which was directed by Sacha Gervasi and based on the book ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO by Stephen Rebello.  As the title indicates, this is based on the troubles of Hitchcock, played by Hopkins, getting this movie that he was very determined to make no matter how many people would say no to him.  It also looks at the relationship of Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville, played by Helen Mirren, who was a very important part to a lot of Hitchcock's films.  Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlberg, Michael Wincott, Jessica Biel, James D'Arcy, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith, Ralph Macchio, Kai Lennox, Tara Summers, Wallace Langham, Paul Schackman, Currie Graham, Spencer Garrett, Jon Abrahams, Judith Hoag, and many others co-star in this biopic.  This is a pretty compelling look at Hollywood in this era with some artistic liberties taken.  The beginning was shot like an episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS which was pretty fun.  I am always up to see my favorite of the Hustons in Danny Huston.  I hope you all have a good evening.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Kim Basinger, Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Shelley Winters, Meryl Streep, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 841st Edition

Welcome to the 841st Edition of my series.  I would like to announce that in March, I am making my debut at the Pulse Opera House in Warren, Indiana.  I will doing the comedy MURDER AT CAFE NOIR which is a tribute to the '40s film noir.  This will be in March and I will have more details in the coming weeks.  Also today, my team the 49ers look to advance to the Super Bowl in a couple weeks so I will be cheering them on to get there.  I think I've said enough so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

Mystic Pizza (1988):  I start the week out with this coming of age movie that helped get the careers going of some of these actors and was directed by Donald Petrie.  This takes place in Mystic, Connecticut and centers around three employees of the local Mystic Pizza.  Annabeth Gish and Julia Roberts star as sisters Kat and Daisy and Lili Taylor stars as their friend and co-worker Jojo.  All three are having their issues including love and the baggage that comes along with it.  Vincent D'Onofrio, William R. Moses, Adam Storke, Conchata Ferrell, Joanna Merlin, John Fiore, Gene Amoroso, Janet Zarish, John Cunningham, Suzanne Shepherd, Matt Damon, and many others co-star in this film.  The pizza place being depicted is a real-life pizza place which I learned a couple years ago when I was in a show and saw someone wearing a shirt.  Damon makes his theatrical film debut and Roberts would have her big breakthrough.  This was a pretty moving film and I think what I like most about it is how the employees were like a family and willing to help one another.  Ferrell co-stars as the owner of the restaurant and is a positive mother figure to the girls working there.  This is available to watch on Tubi and Pluto TV.  

C.S.A.:  The Confederate States of America (2004):  Kevin Willmont wrote and directed this mockumentary which takes a look at alternate history as though the south won the Civil War.  This is shot like a documentary on PBS.  There is a lot of history that was rewritten rather cleverly.  There is also a lot of parodies of pop culture of movies depicted at this time like an obvious parody of D.W. Griffith's A BIRTH OF A NATION.  It also has parodied commercials as though they had been promoted by the south and some of these products were real.  This is a satire and is not for everyone.  It is offensive and politically incorrect which is to be expected in my opinion.  I think the best way to take this is as a "what could have been".  This is very funny at times and even a bit disturbing at times.  This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to AMC+ or IFC Films Unlimited.

Stage Fright (2014):  This is an homage to Meat Loaf as most of us know recently left us.  Jerome Sable directed this horror comedy musical and co-wrote the music with Eli Batalon who also co-stars.  This centers around a musical theater camp where Camilla Swanson, played by Allie MacDonald, dreams of following in the footsteps of her late mother Kylie, played by Minnie Driver, as a musical theater star.  Instead, she is working at the camp for her stepfather Roger, played by Meat Loaf.  She finally gets her wish but there is a killer at the camp.  Douglas Smith, Brandon Uranowitz, Ephraim Ellis, Melanie Leishman, James McGowan, Steffi DiDomenicantio, Adrianna Di Liello, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is essentially a parody on the world of high school musical theater and on the slasher movie.  This is fun if you like musicals and are okay with gore.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and on Prime with a Magnolia Selects subscription.  It is also available with ads on Tubi and Pluto TV.  

Baseball Bugs (1946):  This is my animated short for the week which was directed by Fritz Freleng.  This features Bugs Bunny, voiced by Mel Blanc, who is forced into a baseball game against the Gashouse Gorillas by himself and is underestimated by the Gorillas.  I liked seeing Bugs getting involved in the sports world and playing baseball the Bugs Bunny way.  This is available to watch on HBO Max as well as other Looney Tunes cartoons.  

Zouzou (1934):  This is my French film for the week which was directed by Marc Allegret and based on a novel by G. Abatino.  Josephine Baker stars as the title character Zouzou whose childhood friend Jean, played by Jean Gabin, has been framed for murder and tries to help him prove his innocence.  Pierre Larquey, Yvette Lebon, Ila Mecsery, Palau, Madeleine Guitty, Marcel Vallee, and many others co-star in this film.  This is mostly of worth to see Baker who was American born but found she could get better roles in France that go beyond the servant roles that were mostly the only roles for black actors in this era.  She shows a lot of musical and comedic talent in this film.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel until tomorrow as well as other Josephine Baker movies leaving that streaming service.  It is also available to watch on Tubi.

One Way Ticket to Love (1960):  This is my Japanese film for the week which was wrote and directed by Masahiro Shinoda in his debut.  This centers around a group of night club performers including a saxophone player, a dancer, and a singer being presented as a Japanese Elvis.  All of them are being manipulated by those that run the nightclub.  This was inspired by Neil Sekada's song ONE WAY TICKET which was a big hit in Japan in 1959.  This is the start of a great career for Shinoda and an interesting look at the music scene in Japan in this era.  This is considered as part of the Japanese New Wave movement.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Spider-Man:  Homecoming (2017):  This is my superhero film for the week which was directed by Jon Watts.  Tom Holland gets his first solo movie as Spider-Man fresh off the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA:  CIVIL WAR.  The teenage Peter Parker struggles to balance his personal life and his life as his alter-ego Spider-Man under the watchful eye of Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr.  After playing a superhero many years ago, Michael Keaton takes the villain route as Adrian Toomes who becomes Vulture and threatens everything Peter holds dear.  Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Donald Glover, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyne Daly, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Kenneth Choi, Selenis Leyva, Angourie Rice, Michael Chernus, Jennifer Connelly, Chris Evans, Kerry Condon, Tiffany Espensen, Martin Starr, and many others co-star in this film.  In this movie, Peter Parker is still learning what it is like to be Spider-Man and Holland does a great job as the awkward teenager.  Batalon is also very amusing as Peter best friend Ned.  We may love out SPIDER-MAN:  NO WAY HOME but it starts here.

Citizen Kane (1941):  This is part five of my five-part Joseph Cotten series and the movie that made his career.  Orson Welles directed and co-wrote this film with Herman Mankiewicz and also stars as publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane.  Kane has just died and uttered the word "rosebud" as his dying word making a reporter investigate the meaning of this word by interviewing people close to Kane.  Through this, we get to know Charles Foster Kane in his rise and the ups and downs of his personal and professional life.  Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a movie that has been regarded as the best movie of all time which makes others look down on this film.  Getting this movie made is a story in and of itself as William Randolph Heart, who Kane is based off of, fought against having this movie released.  I try to look at the movie in general and I really like the story and execution of this film and favor this over a lot of movies from this era.  Welles and many others in his group make their film debuts.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

The Mystery of Chess Boxing (1979):  This is my Hong Kong martial arts film for the week which was written and directed by Joseph Kuo.  The deadly Ghost Face Killer was thought to be dead but is very much alive and out for vengeance against the martial arts masters that opposed him.  Yi-Min Li stars as the young Ah Pao who wants to learn to fight in order to avenge the murder of his father but has a lot to learn.  He agrees to learn chess and is kind of like years later would be "wax on, wax off".  Hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan used a lot of inspiration from this movie including one of them being named Ghostface Killah and have a song called DA MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXIN'.  This also has some really good fight scenes and is a pretty good martial arts movie from this era.  This is available to watch on Tubi.  

The Father (2020):  This is part one of a possible four part Anthony Hopkins series.  Florian Zeller directed and co-wrote this film on a man slowly showing signs of dementia.  Anthony Hopkins stars as Anthony who does not want assistance from his daughter Anne, played by Olivia Colman, and begins to question his world around him.  Mark Gatliss, Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell, Ayesha Dharker, and many others co-star in this film.  This is taken from the point of view of Anthony's mental decline where we are also left to sort out what is real and what is fantasy in his world.  It can be sad at times as I'm sure there are many who can relate to this movie with their own loved ones.  Hopkins is great in his role and brings us right along as he must make sense of his world.  This is available to watch on Starz.

Well, that is it for this week but I am returning with my segment "The Bookworm Corner".  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.

THE BOOKWORM CORNER

Butts in Seats:  The Tony Schiavone Story by Dirk Manning and Tony Schiavone (2021):  This is a graphic novel on the story of current AEW commentator and podcast co-host Tony Schiavone.  This starts with his beginnings on how he got into wrestling as a fan.  It then goes into his early days in radio and eventually getting hired for the National Wrestling Alliance that would become World Championship Wrestling where Tony would be the voice of many a childhood.  Other contributors of this graphic novel include Marianna Pescosta, Scott James, Joshua Werner, Justin Birch, Drena Jo, Mike Dockins, and Travis McIntyre.  Tony has had quite a career and his podcast WHAT HAPPENED WHEN where he co-hosts with the Podfather Conrad Thompson is one of the podcasts I listen to while I work.  He has also a big fan of comic books and decided he wanted his story to be told this way.  This is a very fun and informative look at the voice of our childhood.  Check out WHAT HAPPENED WHEN with Tony Schiavone and Conrad Thompson where they do very comedic watch-alongs on wrestling ppvs and others wrestling shows.