Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 863rd Edition

Welcome to the 863rd edition of my series.  I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend however celebrated.  I have gotten to be among friends so I will call it a good weekend for me.  I don't have much else to report so I will just get on with my selections for the week.

The September Issue (2009):  I start the week out with this documentary which was directed by R.J. Cutler.  This takes an inside look at the fashion magazine Vogue and their editor in chief Anna Wintour.  This shows Wintour and her team trying to get together their much important issue for September which I learned is like their Super Bowl and Wrestlemania.  This is a pretty good look inside the crazy world of the fashion industry and can be enjoyed by fans and non-fans of the fashion industry.

Top Gun:  Maverick (2022):  Last week, I featured the one which started it all, then I went to the movie theater to see this long-awaited sequel.  Joseph Kosinski directed this sequel to the '80s classic.  Tom Cruise reprises his role as Pete Mitchell but is most known as Maverick.  He is brought in to train a group of young pilots which includes Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, played by Miles Teller, who is the son of Maverick's best friend Goose.  Jennifer Connelly, Bashir Salahuddin, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Glen Powell, Jack Schumacher, Manny Jacinto, Kara Wang, Greg Tarzan Davis, Jake Picking, Raymond Lee, Val Kilmer, and many others co-star in this film.  First of all, the 1986 movie must be seen before this movie, second, I ended up liking this one a lot more.  I found myself very emotionally invested in this film.  Maybe the nostalgia of this movie made it that way for me.  Maybe I felt that Maverick was getting the closure he needed.  It was not a rehash sequel by any means and just more of a continuation.  I would suggest seeing this in a theater while it lasts.

The Truce (1997):  Francesco Rosi directed this film based on the autobiography by Primo Levi.  John Turturro stars as Levi who was in a concentration camp and released but must still embark on a long and dangerous journey to get home.  Rade Serbedzija, Massimo Ghini, Stefano Dionisi, Roberto Citran, Andy Luotto, Agnieszka Wagner, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a rather underrated film and a very touching story of friedship and not giving up.  It is also difficult to explain beyond what I did so just give a look.  This is available to watch on Tubi.

Now Hear This (1962):  This is my animated short for the week which comes from Looney Tunes.  This is a much different short than usual as it is very abstract.  A British man who is hard of hearing finds a red horn not knowing that it is a lost horn from the devil's forehead.  All the sounds effect him in different ways.  This is available to watch on the Looney Tunes collection on HBO Max.

Raffles (1939):  Sam Wood directed this crime comedy based an 1899 short story collection called THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN by E.W. Hornung.  David Niven stars as cricketer A.J. Raffles who is also a safecracker.  He reunites with Gwen, played by Olivia de Havilland, who he was infatuated with a decade before and starts falling in love with her again.  Raffles spends the weekend at the home of Gwen's parents where he is tempted by a necklace but also has the Scotland Yark police investigating.  May Whitty, Dudley Digges, Douglas Walton, E.E. Clive, Lionel Pape, Peter Godfrey, Margaret Seddon, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Niven is charming as always and de Havilland works well with him.  This has a lot of funny moments and is available to watch on Prime.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953):  Howard Hawks directed this musical comedy that introduced us to DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND.  Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell star showgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw who are on a ship going to Paris.  On board they encounter a private detective investigating Lorelei for her fiance, a rich, enamored man, and a male gymnast team.  Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, George Winslow, Marcel Dalio, Taylor Holmes, Norman Varden, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Marilyn and Jane play off each other well through their different philosophies of men and has some great songs and one-liners.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.  

The Quick and the Dead (1987):  This is my tv movie for the week which was directed by Robert Day and based on the novel by Louis L'Amour.  Sam Elliott stars as the mysterious Con Vallian who helps a married couple, played by Tom Conti and Kate Capshaw, and their son.  Con must help fight off a gang after the family lead by Dob Shabitt, played by Matt Clark.  Patrick Kilpatrick, Del Shores, Kurt D. Lott, Hardy Rawls, Larry Sellers, and many others co-star in this western.  This has nothing to do with the 1995 western of the same name that stars Sharon Stone.  This has the classic western feel to it and Elliott rises to the occasion.

The Bad News Bears (1976):  This is my baseball movie for the week which was directed by Michael Ritchie.  Walter Matthau stars as former minor league player Morris Buttermaker who takes the job of coaching a group of elementary kids.  Morris finds that his team has little to no talent in baseball and recruits Amanda, played by Tatum O'Neal, who is the daughter of an ex-girlfriend and is a good pitcher.  He also comes across a juvenile delinquent in Kelly Leak, played by Jackie Earle Haley, who he discovers can play baseball.  Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Alfred Lutter III, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Matthau is hilarious as the lazy alcoholic coach.  This is a great movie for misfits.  I believe this could be a good double feature to go along with THE MIGHTY DUCKS.  This would also start a bit of a franchise that include a couple sequels, a sitcom, and a remake.  This is available to watch on Cinemax.  

The Smallest Show on Earth (1957):  This is my British comedy for the week which was directed by Basil Dearden.  Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna star as married couple Matt and Jean Spenser who inherit a movie theater from a late uncle.  They expect a really nice place but learn it is very run down with some comically incompetent employees played by Peter Sellers, Margaret Rutherford, and Bernard Miles.  Despite the condition of the theater, they set out to make it better.  June Cunningham, Sidney James, George Cormack, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Sellers is great playing a much older person that he was at the time.  It is also a really good homage to movie theaters with a lot of funny moments.  This is a very underrated British comedy that really deserves a look.  It is also called BIG TIME OPERATORS.

How Can I Ever Be Late (2017):  I end the week with this short film which was Kevin Jerome Everson and Claudrena Harold.  This features some African-American students of the University of Virginia who greet the band Sly and the Family Stone at the airport in 1973.  This is more like a music video but is still an entertaining five minutes.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Patricia Arquette, Marisa Tomei, Rachel McAdams, Charles Chaplin, Al Pacino, Lauren Bacall, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 862nd Edition

Welcome to the 862nd Edition of my series.  I hope everyone is managing in these crazy times.  I don't really have a lot to say so I'll just get one with my selections.

The Suspect (2013):  Stuart Connelly wrote and directed this film on racial stereotyping.  Mekhi Phifer and Sterling K. Brown star as a couple of social scientists who rob banks in predominantly white towns to show how blacks are quickly profiled as suspects.  Their latest town under Sheriff Dixon, played by William Sadler, goes awry.  Derek Roche, James McCaffrey, Rebecca Creskoff, Lizzy DeClement, Bernadette Quigley, Luke Robertson, Marisa Brown, and many others co-star in this film.  This has a pretty interesting premise that is probably not a very good idea for trying to prove a point.  This does have a nice series of twists and turns.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and on Prime with a subscription to the Urban Movie Channel.  It is also available on free apps TUBI and Pluto TV.  

Capernaum (2018):  Nadine Labaki directed and co-wrote this Lebanese film.  Zain Al Rafeea stars as the 12 year old forced to grow up fast.  He is in prison for a violent crime and decides to sue his parents essentially for giving birth to him.  From there, we see what happens in his life as he explains to the courts.  Like the first selection, this takes a look at social injustice.  This is a very authentic looking film of the hardships in the area.  It is hard to describe this any further but this foreign film really deserves a look. 

Identity (2003):  This is part five of my five-part Ray Liotta series.  James Mangold directed this psychological thriller.  Ten strangers end up at a desolate Nevada hotel on a stormy night and are getting killed off one by one.  Liotta, John Cusack, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vance, Rebecca De Mornay, Carman Argenziano, Marshall Bell, Leila Kenzle, Matt Letscher, Bret Loehr, Holmes Osborne, Frederick Coffin, and many others co-star in this film.  This is Kenzle's last role before concentrating as a therapist.  This is a very well crafted psychological thriller that continues on the twists and turns.  This is a very intense film with well-written characters.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

Keeping Clean and Neat (1956):  This is my short film for the week.  This features a couple of middle school kids and instruction on how to keep clean and neat but overdoes is quite a bit.  Keep in mind, this was riffed by the MST3K folks.  This is best watched when riffed and is part of MST3K feature I have later on this edition and the Rifftrax side has done it as well.  This is also available to watch on TUBI on MST3K shorts.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934):  Alfred Hitchcock directed this crime film.  Leslie Banks and Edna Best star as British married couple Bob and Jill Lawrence who are vacationing in Switzerland with their daughter Betty, played by Nova Pilbeam.  They became caught up in a case of international intrigue when Betty is kidnapped by spies plotting a political assassination.  Peter Lorre, Frank Vosper, Hugh Wakefield, Pierre Fresnay, Cicely Oates, George Curzon, and many others co-star in this film.  This is some earlier Hitchcock and I'm one that prefers his later American work.  This is still a very intriguing film and is Lorre's first English language movie.  It would be remade in 1956 by Hitchcock himself and would be a good double feature.  This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription for Filmbox, HBO Max, and the Criterion Collection.  It is also available on free streaming apps Plex and Pluto Tv.

Thank God It's Friday (1978):  Long before we enjoyed out TGIF on ABC every Friday we had this movie that was excited for Friday.  This centers around the Disco bar the Zoo that had various subplots, mainly that the Commodores were to perform but someone needed to bring their equipment.  Music legend Donna Summer co-stars as Nicole who dreams of being a Disco star as she mostly plays herself.  Valerie Landsburg, Terri Nunn, Chick Vennera, Ray Vitte, Mark Lonow, Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, John Friedrich, Paul Jabara, Mews Small, Chuck Sacci, Hilary Beane, Otis Day, Phil Adams, the Commodores, and many others co-star in this movie.  This gave way for Summer's hit song LAST DANCE.  This did not achieve classic status but is still a fun movie in the Disco bar

High Sierra (1941):  Raoul Walsh directed this film based on the screenplay by John Huston and W.R. Burnett, whose novel this is based upon, so quite the team there.  Humphrey Bogart stars as Roy Earle who has been released by prison due to some connections by aging gangster Big Mac, played by Donald MacBride, despite Roy's reluctance.  Bic Mac wants Roy in on a robbery at a California resort hotel and to lead some of the younger criminals.  Ida Lupino, Alan Curtis, Arthur Kennedy, Joan Leslie, Henry Hull, Henry Travers, Jerome Cowan, Minna Gombell, Barton MacLane, Elizabeth Risdon, Cornel Wilde, Paul Harvey, Isabel Jewell, Willie Best, and many others co-star in this film.  This is what put Bogart more into leading man status.  This is a pretty decent gangster film with a really good climax.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Top Gun (1986):  Tony Scott directed this classic action drama.  Tom Cruise stars as Pete Mitchell whose codename is Maverick.  He gets accepted into Top Gun where he must compete with other Navy pilots including Iceman, played by Val Kilmer.  Maverick's brash ways threaten to get the best of him personally and professionally.  Anthony Edwards co-stars as Maverick's best friend and wingman Goose and Kelly McGillis co-stars as Charlie who is the astrophysics instructor and Maverick's love interest.  Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, Rick Rossovich, Tim Robbins, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Whip Hubley, James Tolkan, Adrian Pasdar, and many others co-star in this film.  This is one of Cruise's most iconic roles and one of the most iconic movies of the '90s.  It also boasts a great soundtrack and some quotes.  This is available on Prime and must be watched before the sequel that is in theaters now.

The Sinister Urge (1960):  This was an episode of MST3K of this movie directed by Edward D. Wood Jr.  There is a serial killer out there and the police suspect it is related to a smut picture racket.  This is also Wood's last movie before transitioning into softcore porn and maybe this movie gave him the idea about the porn industry.  I would recommend watching this with MST3k commentary.  That's about all I can say about this.  This is available to watch on Pluto TV, TUBI and Shout! Factory TV and found the MST3K episode on Youtube.

The Good, the Bart, the Loki (2021):  I end the week with this animated short that features the longest running family in the history of television I believe.  David Silverman directed this animated parody of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Loki, voiced by Tom Hiddleston, is banished by Odin, voiced by Maurice LaMarche, to the town of Springfield.  This features all our friends in Springfield presented as Marvel characters and Lisa, voiced by Yeardly Smith, taking the helm of Loki.  Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, and Dawnn Lewis provide their voices in this short.  I thought this was a pretty fun few minutes.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for my new segment "The Kaotic Movie Theater".  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Jennifer Connelly, John Turturro, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.

THE KAOTIC MOVIE THEATER

Dr. Giggles (1992):  This came up in discussion a few weeks ago when I was hanging out with Carrisa around the bonfire when she stated how she saw it when she was around 10 year old or so.  I had not heard of it so I looked it up and I was intrigued, especially when I saw my CHARMED girl Holly Marie Combs was in this.  I came across this when I was getting dvds at the library and asked Carrisa if she wanted to check it out and agreed.  Manny Coto directed and co-wrote this horror comedy.  Larry Drake stars as the so-called doctor that you might guess giggles when killing.  This comes after escaping a mental institution and going to a small town where his father was killed and starts killing people of the town while becoming infatuated with Jennifer, played by Holly Marie Combs, who has a heart condition.  Cliff De Young, Glenn Quinn, Keith Diamond, Richard Bradford, Michelle Johnson, John Vickery, Nancy Fish, Sara Melson, Zoe Trilling, Darin Heames, Deborah Tucker, Doug E. Doug, Patrick Cronin, and many others co-star in this film.  Unfortunately, the Dr. Giggles character has not gone down in history the way others like Freddy, Jason, Chucky, Michael, Leatherface, and others and this never became a big franchise.  This has a lot of funny medical puns, some clever ways of killing with medical equipment and a really bizarre scene involving childbirth.  This would be good for a horror night.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 861st Edition

Welcome to the 861st edition of my series.  Last Friday, I got see a great concert in Tears for Fears with Garbage as the opening band.  Both bands still got it and was a great night with the bestie Stephanie.  I would also like to with the fathers, stepfathers, and father figures a Happy Fathers Day.  Today is also the holiday of Juneteeth so I hope everyone enjoys the holidays however celebrated.  That's about all I have for now so I'll just get on with the selections.  

Something Wild (1986):  This is part four of my five-part Ray Liotta series where he plays one of his first leading roles.  Jonathan Demme directed this romantic crime comedy that at times is a bit of a psychological thriller.  Jeff Daniels stars as businessman Charles Driggs who meets and hooks up with the wild and sexy Lulu, played by Melanie Griffith.  He agrees to go along with her and things get complicated when Lulu's psychotic ex-husband Ray Sinclair, played by Liotta, comes into the picture.  Margaret Colin, Robert Ridgely, Kenneth Utt, Adelle Lutz, Charles Napier, John Sayles, John Waters, and many others co-star or have cameos.  This is a pretty fun ride that literally combines comedy and drama.  Daniels, Griffith, and Liotta make a very good trio.  This is available to watch on TUBI and Pluto TV.  

My Life as a Zucchini (2016):  This is my animated feature for the week which was directed by Claude Barras.  Erick Abbate stars as the nine year old Courgette who goes by the name Zucchini.  After losing his mother, he ends up in an orphanage where at first he struggles to find his place but soon learns a lot about friendship and love.  Nick Offerman co-stars as the good-hearted cop police officer Raymond who befriends Zucchini and stays in touch.  Will Forte, Amy Sedaris, Elliot Page, Clara Young, Susanne Blakeslee, Finn Robbins, and many others provide their voice in this film.  This has a pretty deep subject manner to it and can be challenging to watch at times.  It is also a very moving and even inspirational story of friendship.  

Tabloid (2010):  This is my documentary for the week which was directed by Errol Morris.  This centers around Joyce McKinney who was at one time a Miss Wyoming in the '70s and had a lot going for her.  Her life changed when getting involved with a man of the Mormon faith and while they were going to get married, he disappeared.  She felt that he was brainwashed by Mormon elders and kidnapped so she went for a rescue which in turn made accused of kidnapping leading to "the Mormon Sex in Chains Case".  This is an extremely complex case which I cannot explain any further, it just has to be watched.  McKinney interviews about her side of the story along with other interviews.  This is available to watch on Prime but must have a subscription to AMC+, Doc Club, or IFC Films Unlimited.  It can also be found on Plex.

Beauty and the Beast (1934):  This is my animated short for the week and comes from Merry Melodies so a very early one and not the same thing we all know today.  This centers around a little girl being in Toyland, thanks to the Sandman, no not the Sandman from ECW, and must contend with the Beast from BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.  This is entertaining and good for historical purposes including that is it the second animated short to be in Cinecolor.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.  

Five Graves to Cairo (1943):  Billy Wilder directed the Nazi WWII thriller which is based on a play by Lajos Bird.  Franchot Tone stars as British soldier Corporal John J. Bramble who is a long soldier in German headquarters and poses as a German to survive.  The guest of honor that night is Erwin Rommel, played by Erich Von Stroheim.  Anne Baxter co-stars as French chambermaid Mouche who plays a significant part of the events in the film.  Akim Tamiroff, Peter Van Eyck, Fortunio Bonanova, and many others co-star in this film.  Wilder was possibly the most versatile director of all time.  Von Stroheim was usually a director but came through a lot as Rommel in this Nazi thriller.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

A Raisin in the Sun (1961):  Daniel Petrie directed this film based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry and felt it would be fitting to the Juneteenth holiday.  Sidney Poitier stars as Walter Lee Younger who is trying to make a better life for himself and his family.  His mother Lena, played by Claudia McNeil, is getting an insurance check that could make or break the family.  Ruby Dee co-stars as Walter's wife Ruth who is trying to keep things together for the family but struggles.  Diana Sands, Ivan Dixon, John Fiedler, Louis Gossett Jr., Steven Perry, Roy Glenn, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very good look at a poor black family from this era.  Poitier is very complex as Walter and remains relevant today.

Miss Juneteenth (2020):  Channing Godfrey Peoples wrote and directed this Independent film which is a perfect selection for the day.  Nicole Beharie stars as Turquoise who is a former winner of the local Miss Juneteenth contest and as her daughter Kai, played by Alexis Chikaeze, comes of age, she enters her into the contest even though she is not every excited about it.  Kai has other interests but is not understood much by her mother who is determined for her to win Miss Juneteenth.  Liz Mikel, Kendrick Sampson, Jaime Matthis, Lisha Hackney, Akron Watson, Margaret Sanchez, Lori Hayes, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a really good coming-of-age film which applies to both the mother and daughter.  This may not have a big name cast but still works very well.  This is a real-life contest in Texas.

Barefoot in the Park (1967):  Gene Saks directed this comedy which is based on the play by Neil Simon.  Robert Redford and Jane Fonda stars as the newlywed couple Paul and Corie Bratter whose personalities could not be any different.  Paul is the conservative attorney and Corie is the more free-spirited and adventurous one.  It also does not help that their apartment is on the fifth story and there is no elevator which lends to much of the humor in this comedy.  Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick, Herb Edelman, Mabel Albertson, Fritz Field, Ted Hartley, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This was a breakthrough role for Redford and worked very well with Fonda.  While this is a comedy, it is also a good look at a newlywed couple trying to adjust to that part of their life.  This is available to watch on Pluto Tv.

Detour (1945):  This is my Film Noir for the week which was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.  Tom Neal stars as nightclub performer Al Roberts who is hitchhiking to Hollywood and finds the person driving him has died.  Fearing the cops will suspect him of murder, he keeps it a secret and meets femme fatale Vera, played by Ann Savage, who blackmails him.  Claudia Drake, Edmund MacDonald, Tim Ryan, Esther Howard, and many others co-star in this Film Noir.  This is a very classic low budget film that still holds up today.  It also has one of the most memorable endings of all time.  Savage remains one of the top femme fatales of all time.  This is available to watch with Prime, Epix, Paramount +, Fandor, and the Criterion Collection.  It is also on free streaming apps like Tubi and Pluto Tv.  

Call of Cuteness (2017):  I end the week on this animated short which was written and directed by Brenda Lien.  I think this is inspired by the popular cat videos that people watch these days.  This consists of a cat that is slowly being devoured due to society.  That's about the best I can explain it.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Well, that is all for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes William Sadler, Clea Duvall, Alfred Hitchcock, Jeff Goldblum, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 860th Edition

Welcome to the 860th Edition of my series.  I hope everyone is doing what they can to hang in there with everything going on in this world and country.  I have not had to raise any prices for people to read this movie blog and will do what I can to keep it that way.  I am pretty excited, this Friday I get to see Tears for Fears in concert with Garbage opening.  It has been a long time since I saw a concert of this size but decided it is time.  That is about all so I will get on with my selections for the week.

Playing for the Mob (2014):  This is technically an episode of the ESPN documentary series 30 FOR 30 but you know my rules.  This is also part three of my Ray Liotta series.  Cayman Grant and Joe Lavine directed this documentary in which Liotta narrates.  This takes a look at the late '70s when Boston College was involved in a point-shaving scandal orchestrated by mobster Jimmy Burke and was helped by Henry Hill who gets interviewed in this documentary.  Liotta is the perfect choice to be the narrator as he plays Hill in the 1990 classic film GOODFELLAS in which De Niro played the much talked about Burke.  I believe the movie more references this event but this is a very informative look and interviews many involved.  Hill died shortly after being interviewed for this documentary.  I would watch GOODFELLAS first and then follow with this one.  This is available to watch on ESPN+.

Dark Horse (2015):  I follow up with another documentary which was directed by Louise Osmond.  This centers around Wales barmaid Jan Vokes and her husband Brian who decide to breed a racehorse and get funding help from the community.  This horse is named Dream Alliance and fought the odds to become a good racehorse.  This is a feel-good and inspirational documentary of a town coming together.

The Kindergarten Teacher (2018):  Sara Colangelo directed this film which is a remake of a 2014 Israeli movie of the same name.  Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Staten Island Kindergarten teacher Lisa Spinelli.  She becomes obsessed with her student Jimmy, played by Parker Sevak, who she believes is a prodigy and puts her job and marriage on the line.  Gael Garcia-Bernal, Ato Blankson-Wood, Libya Pugh, Michael Chernus, Anna Baryshnikov, Rosa Salazar, Daisy Tahan, Haley Murphy, Sam Jules, Carson Grant, Samrat Chakrabarti, Ajay Naidu, Stefaniya Makarova, and many others co-star in this film.  As described, this is not some fun movie about a bunch of cute kids.  This is a pretty intense film with Gyllenhaal giving a very understated but very good performance.  I might just have to check out the 2014 film soon.  This is a really good look at unhealthy obsession and is available to watch on Netflix.

Cockaboody (1974):  This is my animated short for the week which was directed by John and Faith Hubley.  This features their children Emily and Georgia whose conversations they recorded and made animation out of the conversation.  This was some very clever animation and John and Faith Hubley have gone onto become very underrated independent animators.  This is available to watch on Criterion Collection.

Poil de Carrotte (1932):  This is my French film for the week which was directed by Julien Duvivier and based on the novel by Jules Renard.  Robert Lynen stars as the young boy named Francois whose nickname is Carrot Top due to his red hair. His mother is abusive to him and while his father is a lot better, he is also very distant.  This drives Carrot Top to having suicidal thoughts.  Harry Baur, Louis Gauthier, Claude Borelli, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a sad but very moving story with a really good climax.  I feel this is a bit underrated among the French cinema and is one of the better French films I have seen.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and was really worth a look.

Dishonored Lady (1947):  Robert Stevenson directed thi sfilm based on the play by Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes.  Hedy Lamarr stars as Madeleine Damien who is a successful fashion editor of a magazine and seems to have it all but her work and personal life aren't what they are cracked up to be.  She sees a psychiatrist, played by Dennis O'Keefe, who insists that she relocates and use another identity.  She is doing better but her past comes to haunt her.  John Loder, William Lundigan, Morris Carnovsky, Natalie Schafer, Paul Cavanagh, Douglass Dumbrille, Margaret Hamilton, and many others co-star in this film.  This is another one that has gone a bit overlooked over the years and a very underrated performance out of Lamarr.  This is available to watch on Prime, Paramount +, Epix and free streaming apps like Tubi and Plex.

Shiva Baby (2020):  Emma Seligman wrote and directed this independent film.  Rachel Sennott stars as Danielle who is Jewish and bisexual and really has no direction in life.  Her parents talk her into going to a Jewish funeral where she runs into her ex-girlfriend Maya, played by Molly Gordon, and the married man, played by Danny Deferrari, she is having an affair with.  Fred Melamed, Polly Draper, Glynis Bell, Cinda Shaur, Jackie Hoffman, GLEE alum Dianna Agron, and many others co-star in this film.  This started out as a short film of the same name and turned into this feature.  This is both a comedy and drama and is mostly centered around its script and characters.  It is surprisingly really compelling and was a very good watch.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

The Boys from Brazil (1978):  Franklin J. Schaffner directed this film based on the novel by Ira Levin.  Laurence Olivier stars as aging Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman who stumbles upon a very bizarre and disturbing Nazi plot lead Dr. Josef Mengele, played by Gregory Peck.  James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Uta Hagen, Steve Guttenberg, Denholm Elliott, Rosemary Harris, John Dehner, John Rubinstein, Ann Meara, Jeremy Black, Bruno Ganz, Walter Gotell, David Hurst, Wolfgang Preiss, Michael Gough, Joachim Hansen, and many others co-star in this Nazi thriller.  This is a fictional story even though some of the people depicted were real.  It is still a very interesting and bizarre film that could have been real.  We also can't dismiss the cool trio of Olivier, Mason, and Peck.  This is available to watch on Peacock and free streaming apps like Freevee, Plex, TUBI, and Pluto Tv.

Loan Shark (1952):  Seymour Friedman directed this Film Noir.  George Raft stars as ex-con Joe Gargen who infiltrates a loan shark ring that preys on factory workers after his brother-in-law dies.  This comes at a price as he cannot tell anyone what he is doing.  Dorothy Hart, Paul Stewart, John Hoyt, Helen Westcott, Russell Johnson, Margia Dean, and many others co-star in this Film Noir.  This is some later work from Raft and a more rare starring film.  This is a pretty decent B-movie which makes Raft shine really well.  This a pretty gritty film that still holds up today.  This is available to watch on Prime and on Tubi.  

Catherine the Great (2005):  I end the week with this PBS documentary which was directed by Paul Burgess and John-Paul Davidson.  This takes a look at this historical figure of royalty who started out as a German Princess and become empress of Russia in the 1700s and be known as Catherine the Great, played by Emily Bruni.  This would happen after she would overthrow her husband and second cousin Peter III, played by Dan Chiriac.  Diana Dumbrava, Claudiu Bleont, Emanuel Parvu, Bogdan Dumitrescu all co-star as some of the historical figures within the documentary.  This is a two part documentary both being episodes of about an hour.  This is a very well-done and informative documentary making good use of the actors portraying the historical figures to the point of interviewing.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Ray Liotta, Elliot Page, Sidney Poitier, and many others.