Welcome to the 955th Edition of my series. I would like to wish the fathers out there, including my own, a happy Father's Day. This is for the biological, step, animal, and whatever other fathers out there. I have made a special section of selections dealing with fathers of some sort. I will shut up now and get on with my selections.
Val (2021): This is part four of my four-part Val Kilmer series. Ting Poo and Leo Scott directed this documentary on Val Kilmer. Through the years Kilmer filmed himself a lot for his personal life and on the movie sets. This takes a look at his film career up to the point where he got throat cancer which changed his life a lot. It also takes a look at the extreme preparation he does for his roles including his role as Jim Morrison in THE DOORS and of Doc Holiday in TOMBSTONE. One thing I was not aware of until watching this was his one man show where he portrays Mark Twain on Broadway in the production CITIZEN TWAIN. With Kilmer not able to talk well, his son Jack Kilmer provides the narration as Val as he has a very similar voice. Most of know that Kilmer recently left us, but this was a great way to keep his memories alive and to see his passion for life. This is available to watch on Prime.
Day Night Day Night (2006): Julia Loktev directed and wrote this independent film. Luisa Williams stars as a young woman who prepares to be a suicide bomber in Times Square. This takes a look as she prepares for the event with fear and anticipation along with hints of doubt at times. Josh P. Weinstein, Gareth Saxe, Annemarie Lawless, and Nyambi Nyambi co-star in this film. Williams does a great job in the lead role as the cameras essentially are just filming her for a 48-hour period as she prepares for an unspeakable act. It is left to our own interpretation as to why she is willing to do what she is agreeing to do. I suppose this also shows how we never know the people that we walk by on the streets and what their movies are in the end.G
Waves (2019): Trey Edward Shults directed this independent film of a family becoming broken from tragedy. Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as high school senior Tyler who is on the verge of a becoming the best wrestler on his team but gets injured, among other things going on in his life. While being injured, he keeps it secret from his family including his domineering father Ronald, played by Sterling K. Brown. Things start spinning out of control and Tyler goes off the deep end causing his life to change forever as well as his family. Renee Elise Goldsberry and Taylor Russell co-star as Tyler's mother and sister. Alexa Demie, David Garelik, Justin R. Chan, Joshua Brockington, Clifton Collins Jr., Vivi Pineda, Holland Hayes, Ruben E.A. Brown, Lucas Hedges, and many others co-star in this film. This will hit pretty hard at times but is also a story of hope and forgiveness. This is one that is best to just watch the movie and let it unfold. This is available to watch on TUBI, Pluto TV, and Plex.
The Chaney Vase (1955): This is my short film for the week which is technically a season one episode of the anthology series ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. Robert Stevens directed this episode which was written by Robert Blees. Darren McGavin stars in this episode as Lyle Endicott who is fired from his job at an art museum. He soon hatches a plan where he befriends invalid Martha, played by Patricia Collinge, who has an heirloom worth a lot of money, and he plans to take advantage of Martha to get it. Carolyn Jones, George Macready, Kathryn Card, and Ruta Lee co-star in this episode. Like all episodes, Alfred Hitchcock hosts it as he introduces the episodes and takes jabs at the sponsors. McGavin is probably most known as the old man in A CHRISTMAS STORY so it was good to see him in something like this. It will be a good evening as Hitchcock always says. This is available to watch on Prime, Peacock, TUBI, and The Roku Channel.
Another Thin Man (1939): W.S. Van Dyke directed this installment of the comedy series which is based on the novel THE FAREWELL MURDER. William Powell and Myrna Loy reprise their roles as Nick and Nora who are now parents. They are also called to the estate of Colonel MacFay, played by C. Aubrey Smith, who believes someone is trying to kill him which ends up happening so Nick and Nora try to solve the mystery along with their trusted dog Asta. Virginia Grey, Otto Kruger, Ruth Hussey, Nat Pendleton, Patric Knowles, Tom Neal, Phyllis Gordon, Sheldon Leonard, Don Costello, Harry Bellaver, and many others co-star in this mystery comedy. Look for stooge Shemp Howard in the birthday party scene. This was made in the "Golden Year" of cinema and is the third of six in the THIN MAN series. This has a great blend of comedy and mystery in this film along with some funny scenes of Asta trying to adjust to the baby.
Deep End (1970): Jerzy Skolimowski directed and co-wrote this provocative coming of age film. John Moulder-Brown stars as the 15-year-old Mike who takes a job at Newford Baths where he forms an infatuation with colleague Susan, played by Jane Asher. He even stalks Susan and his fiance in hopes of breaking up their relationship. Karl Michael Vogler, Christopher Stanford, Diana Dors, Louise Martini, Erica Beer, and many others co-star in this film. This is controversial to the core and hard to really explain further. This is essentially about a teen very out of place where he works and tries to deal with his obsession. This is available to watch on Criterion Channel and Plex.
His Three Daughters (2023): Azazel Jacobs directed and wrote this film about an estranged family dealing with their dying father. Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen play sisters Katie, Rachel, and Christina who come together to deal with their dying father and try to repair their broken relationship. Their very different personalities make it hard to work through their differences. Rudy Galvan, Jose Febus, Randy Ramos Jr., Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, and Jay O. Sanders co-star in this film. This was very tense at times and also very touching at times. The three worked very well as estranged sisters trying to work through the differences and their different sort of personalities. It takes place mostly in the apartment with scenes where they might go outside but it caught the tension very well with the limited set. This is rather underrated in my opinion. This is available to watch on Netflix.
It Happened Tomorrow (1944): Rene Clair directed this fantasy comedy. Dick Powell stars as reporter Larry Stevens who learns he get the paper for the next day. This starts to bring a lot of problems, especially for his new girlfriend Sylvia, played by Linda Darnell, who is part of a phony clairvoyant act. Jack Oakie, Edgar Kennedy, George Cleveland, Sig Ruman, George Chandler, Eddie Acuff, Edward Brophy, Paul Guilfoyle, and many others co-star in this comedy. I saw this as a TWILIGHT ZONE movie before that show even existed that maybe Rod Serling saw and got an idea. It also has shades of the tv series EARLY EDITION which has a very similar premise. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel, Prime, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
End of the Road (1970): I did not know I was about to pay homage to Harris Yulin who recently left us. I feature another strange movie from 1970. Aram Avakian directed this film which is based on the novel by John Barth. Stacy Keach stars as Jacob Horner who has a catatonic episode and ends up in an insane asylum run by the eccentric Doctor D, played by a young James Earl Jones. When he is out, he takes a job as an English lecturer while having an affair with Rennie, played by Dorothy Tristan, who is married to Jacob's colleague Joe, played by Harris Yulin. Grayson Hall, John Pleshette, Graham Jarvis, James Coco, Oliver Clark, M. Emmet Walsh, and many others co-star in this film. I don't think Boys II Men based their song of the same name on this movie. This was a very bizarre film essentially showing one man's odyssey I suppose. I feel it was most worth seeing a very over the top James Earl Jones where he was just out there more than I have ever seen. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and there is a copy on Youtube.
The Reward (2009): I end the week with this short film which was directed by Lucy Patrick Ward and written by Joel Harwood. Anotol Yusef and Phoebe Waller-Bridge star as Felix and Charlotte who are a couple of alienated New Yorkers who unite over Felix's lost dog. They find common ground with one another through a tragedy. This is about 15 minutes long and is a pretty touching film. This is available to watch on Youtube.
Well, that is it for this week but read on for my segment "Father's Day Special". Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for my return in a couple weeks.
I decided to feature a few selections of movies that somehow involves the world of fathers. I did go all out on this one with the selections so read on a little more. I tried to include a little of everything.
Interview with the Vampire (1994): Brad Pitt plays a father figure as Louis to young Claudia who he takes in as an orphan. Neil Jordan directed this film which was adapted from the classic vampire novel by Anne Rice. Brad Pitt stars as the vampire Louis who is about two centuries of age and is about to do an interview with reporter Daniel Malloy, played by Christian Slater. He reflects on his times of being turned into a vampire by the charismatic but dangerous Lestat, played by Tom Cruise, and the father/daughter type relationship he had with Claudia, played by Kirsten Dunst. Antonio Banderas, John McConnell, Thandiwe Newton, Stephen Rea, and many others co-star in this vampire film. This is one of the best vampire films of all time. Anne Rice loved the adaptation of her novel. Pitt and Cruise work very well together even if they apparently didn't get along well on the set. This could be a great double feature to go along with BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA.
Hereditary (2018): Gabriel Byrne plays the patriarch of his family trying to keep it all together through all the strange happenings going on in his home after his mother-in-law passes away. Ari Aster directed and wrote this horror film. Toni Collette stars as Annie whose mother has died. Gabriel Byrne co-stars as Annie's husband Steve and Alex Wolff and Milly Shapiro co-star as their kids Peter and Charlie who all become affected by cryptic and terrifying secrets about their family ancestry driving Annie to insanity. Steve does what he can to keep the sanity in his family but may not be able to outrun a possible sinister fate. Christy Summerhays, Mallory Bechtel, Jake Brown, and many others co-star in this film. This has a legitimate creep factor in it. This is not one big happy family and we continue to see A24 working out really well. Aster makes a great directorial debut with this film.
Whiplash (2014): Paul Reiser plays the concerned father to a promising young drummer in Andrew. Damien Chazelle wrote and directed this film that takes place in the music world. Miles Teller stars as Andrew Niemann who wants nothing more to be the greatest jazz drummer in the world and in a league with Buddy Rich. He enrolls in the Shaffer Conservatory of Music run by a very ruthless instructor in Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons, who is not one to settle and gets to the point of being abusive. Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Chris Mulkey, Damon Gupton, Susanne Spoke, and many others co-star in this film. This has become a favorite of mine with Simmons and Teller having a great dynamic between each other. This can make one cringe at times with the character of Fletcher and even with Niemann's own self-righteous personality. I really love the climax of this film and is really worth a look.
Around the Bend (2004): Christopher Walken is the most notable father in this one. Jordan Roberts wrote and directed this film which features four generations. Josh Lucas stars as Jason Lair who was recently separated and is now living with his grandfather Henry, played by Michael Caine, and his son Zach, played by Jonah Bobo. Christopher Walken co-stars as Turner who is the estranged father of Jason and things get more complicated when he comes into the picture. They end up all going on a road trip which was essentially arranged by Henry in hopes his son and grandson can work through their fractured relationship. Glenne Headly, David Eigenberg, Gerry Bamman, Jean Effron, David Marciano, Norbert Weisser, Laurie O'Brien, Kathryn Hahn, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty fun road movie which promotes KFC a lot. These are also very well written characters with clear flaws that are easily relatable.
Hot Rod (2007): The father for this one is a hard to impress stepfather played by Ian McShane. Akiva Schaffer directed this comedy which was written by Pam Brady. Andy Samberg stars as a Rod Kimble who is a wannabe stunt man and craves the respect of his stepfather Frank, played by McShane. Frank ends up needing an operation, Rod hatches a plan to set a school-bus-jumping record on his moped to get the money to save his stepfather. Isla Fisher, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell, Britt Irvan, and many others co-star in this comedy. I laughed a lot at this film and can usually laugh no matter what Samberg is doing with this movie being no exception. This is Schaffer's feature-film directorial debut and was a good one. I'm sorry to those who might think they are watching a movie about wrestling legend Roddy Piper. This is available to watch on Paramount Plus.
The Lipstick Stain (2013): This is a short film which was written and directed by Dagny Cooper. Sophia Lillis stars as the 10-year-old Addie whose mother has abandoned her. She ends up staying with her estranged father Dennis, played by Devin Kawaoka, in the Ozarks where he runs a funeral home. Unfortunately, her family there does not prove to be much better. This is a bit unsetting but worth a few minutes to see the debut of Sophia Lillis who does a good job and has come a long way since this short film. This is available to watch on Youtube.
Infinitely Polar Bear (2014): Maya Forbes directed this film which is loosely based on a true story. This takes place in 1970s Boston where Mark Ruffalo stars as the bipolar Cam Stuart. He lives with his wife Maggie, played by Zoe Saldana, and their two daughters Amelia, played by Imogene Wolodarsky, and Faith, played by Ashley Aufderheide. Cam has a mental breakdown and is institutionalized while also losing his job. When he gets out, Maggie decides to go for an MBA which requires her to move to New York for 18 months and must ask Mark to take care of the daughters while she is gone. Nekhebut Kum Juch, Keir Dullea, Georgia Lyman, Wallace Wolodarsky, and many others co-star in this film. Ruffalo puts on a great performance where we get to see some of his good days, but we also see his bad days when dealing with his mental issues. We also get to see a lot of the family struggles and triumphs like we are there. This is a very moving film and is available to watch on the Roku Channel.
Desert Bloom (1986): The father emphasized is a troubled and alcoholic stepfather played by Jon Voight. Eugene Corr directed and co-wrote this coming-of-age story. Annabeth Gish stars as Rose Chismore who recalls her youth in 1950s Nevada, which is full of ups and downs. Jon Voight co-stars as Rose's alcoholic stepfather Jack who is a veteran suffering from PTSD. Ellen Barkin co-stars as Aunt Starr who was a more pleasant part of Rose's memories, but her behavior is detrimental to the family. This centers around atomic testing in Vegas which is another source of Jack's problems. JoBeth Williams, Jay Underwood, Allen Garfield, Ann Risley, and many others co-star in this film. Gish makes her film debut and does a great job in her debut. Voight also does a good job working through all his emotions of someone with PTSD. This is not always an upbeat story but does a good job conveying a dysfunctional family trying to work through problems. This is available to watch on TUBI.
People Like Us (2012): This centers around a late father. Alex Kurtzman directed and co-wrote this film. Chris Pine stars as Sam who is a salesman and has a sale go extremely wrong to the point there may be legal consequences. While dealing with this, he learns his estranged father has died. While there, Sam discovers his father had an affair and that he has a sister from that affair in Frankie, played by Elizabeth Banks, who is a struggling single mother. Michelle Pfeiffer co-stars as Sam's mother Lillian and Olivia Wilde co-stars as his girlfriend Hannah. Michael Hall D'Addario, Mark Duplass, Sara Mornell, Philip Baker Hall, Dean Chekvala, Barbara Eve Harris, Gabriela Milla, Jon Favreau, and many others co-star in this film. This is a really good film of connecting and reconnecting with people in a life. It also does a god job of people trying to work on their flaws.
The Flintstones (1994): The fathers in this one are the cavemen Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. Brian Levant directed this live-action adaptation of the popular animated series. This centers around the Flintstone and Rubble family. John Goodman and Rick Moranis star as best friends Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble who both work at Slate and Company. A new promotion at work leads to take an aptitude test which Fred gets because Barney switched tests returning a big favor. The newfound authority starts to go to Fred's head while slowly seeing he is being set up to be a fall guy in an embezzlement scheme. Elizabeth Perkins and Rosie O'Donnell co-star as their wives Wilma and Betty. Halle Berry, Kyle MacLachlan, Elizabeth Taylor, Dann Florek, Richard Moll, Jean Vander Pyl, and many others co-star in this live-action adaptation. This is a fun adaptation of the animated series mostly meant to be a family movie. It has good special effects from that era to capture the modern-day stone age. Goodman was perfect as Fred Flintstone. This is available to watch on Prime.
The Meyerowitz Stories (2017): There are fathers in both Dustin Hoffman and Adam Sandler, and I feature another estranged family. Noah Baumbach directed and wrote this comedy-drama. Adam Sandler stars as Danny who is unemployed and going through a divorce. He goes to see his parents along with his daughter Eliza, played by Grace Van Dien, who is starting college and Danny is moving back with his parents Harold and Maureen, played by Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. It is also a celebration of Harold's artwork. Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Marvel co-star as Danny's siblings who also have their own troubles. Danny Flaherty, Adam David Thompson, Ronald Peet, Judd Hirsch, Rebecca Miller, David Cromer, Josh Hamilton, Adam Driver, and many others co-star in this movie. Sandler has a good and is more low-key than usual. It is hard to really describe any further except that it is essentially about three siblings trying to reconnect with their father. It also has multiple family stories as the title implies. This is available to watch on Netflix.
Cold in July (2014): Jim Mickle directed this film which is based on the novel by Joe R. Lonsdale. Michael C. Hall stars as the protective father Richard Dane who shoots an intruder in his home. He is not proud of what happened, he visits the grave of the man he shot only to be confronted by the victim's father Ben, played by Sam Shepherd, who makes indirect threats toward Richard. Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw, Ken Holmes, Nick Damici, Brogan Hall, Rachel Zeiger-Haag, Lanny Flaherty, Kristin Griffith, Happy Anderson, Wyatt Russell, and many others star in this Neo-Noir. What I described is mostly the beginning plot. This movie goes in many directions, and it is best to just watch it all unfold. This is a very compelling film and quite dark. This is available to watch on AMC +, Sundance Now, TUBI, Pluto TV, Plex, and the CW.
Gun Hill Road (2011): Rashaad Ernesto Green directed this film. Esai Morales stars as ex-con Enrique Rodriguez who comes home to his home in the Bronx after a stint in prison. He has trouble reconnecting with his wife Angela, played by Judy Reyes, and finds that his son Michael, played by Harmony Santana, is now a trans female going by the name Vanessa. This does not sit well with Enrique who is determined to raise a manly man for a lack of a better description. Enrique must try to overcome his bigotry and hypocrisy with Vanessa. Robert Salzman, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Rumierk, Felix Solis, Flaco Navaja, Franky G., Isiah Whitlock Jr., and many others co-star in this film. This is a character study to the core. The characters are very realistically portrayed in this film. It is not a by the numbers film and is really worth a look. This is available to watch on TUBI.
Mulan (1998): Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook directed this Disney classic. Ming-Na Wen voices the title character of Mulan, sung by Lea Solanga, whose aging father Fa Zhou, voiced by Soon-Tek Oh, is called to the army for the war against the Huns. Mulan decides to replace her father and pose as a man in the army lead by Shang, voiced by BD Wong and sung by Donnie Osmand, where she slowly begins to fit into the army. Eddie Murphy is very amusing as the voice of the dragon Mushu who is trying to mentor Mulan. Miguel Ferrer, Harvey Fierstein, Freda Foh Shen, June Foray, James Hong, Miriam Margolyes, Pat Morita, Marni Nixon, James Shigeta, George Takei, Gedde Watanabe, and many others co-star in this Disney film. The '90s period of Disney is my favorite time for Disney and maybe animation in general. This has a lot of really good music numbers including I'LL MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU which is one of my favorite songs to karaoke. This is also a good homage to the Chinese dynasty. There is not a lot more I need to explain. This is available to watch on Disney Plus.
Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008): I will end with this musical that is just perfect for Father's Day. Darren Lynn Bousman directed this rock opera which was written by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich. BUFFY alum Anthony Head stars as Nathan who is a repo man for the company Geneco which repos body organs and pay a high price if they cannot pay. Nathan has the thankless job and must also try to save his sick daughter Shilo, played by Alexa Penavega. Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Bill Mosely, Kevin Ogilvie, Zdunich, Sarah Power, and many others co-star in this violent musical. This is not for the weak of heart or those with a weak stomach. Also, please do not run because you see the name Paris Hilton in the cast and she really held her own in her role. Brightman is known for Broadway, most notably as the original Christine in the musical version of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and makes her film debut in this one. This has become a favorite of mine through the story and the music. I would love to see this performed on stage one day and maybe star as Nathan. This is available on TUBI, Fawsome, Pluto TV, the CW, and Plex.
