Welcome to the 985th Edition of my series.  I hope everyone is doing okay in these crazy times.  I hope the fathers out there had a good Father's Day.  I don't really have a lot to say so I'll just shut up and get on with my selections for the week.

Super Size Me (2004):  I start the week out with this documentary which was directed by Morgan Spurlock.  Spurlock decided to explore the obesity problem in the United States and how the fast food industry could be connected.  He then decided to take on his own experiment by eating food at McDonald's for 30 days and that consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner each of those days.  We see his pre-checkups and communication with doctors while on this experiment.  This is very entertaining and eye-opening.  We must also consider personal responsibility versus the temptation that is put in front of us.  This is available on Prime, TUBI, Pluto TV, Plex, the Roku Channel, and the CW.

Emily (2022):  Frances O'Connor wrote and directed this biopic on author Emily Bronte in her directorial debut.  Emma Mackey stars as author Emily Bronte who was rather rebellious for her era and would go onto write the famous novel WUTHERING HEIGHTS.  This focuses on an alleged relationship with William Weightman, played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen.  It also has a focus on the relationship with Emily and her sister Charlotte, played by Alexandra Dowling, who would go onto write her own classic novel in JANE EYRE.  Fionn Whitehead, Amelia Gething, Adrian Dunbar, Gemma Jones, and many others co-star in this film.  A lot of this was from speculation and I guess some documentation from Charlotte.  Mackey does very good as Emily Bronte and is a pretty compelling period piece.  I admit, I never really put two and two together about the authors of such famous novels were sisters.  This is available to watch on TUBI, Pluto TV and Plex.

The Overnighters (2014):  Jesse Moss directed this documentary.  This features North Dakota pastor Jay Reinke who tries to help migrants out looking for a job.  Many desperate people from the United States go to North Dakota in hopes of working in the oil fields of the state.  It is not always that simple where some end up homeless and Reinke decides to use his church parking lot and for some to stay in the church.  The problem is that the church is not really made for people to stay and Reinke lacks the resources.  While Reinke had good intentions, there was still a lot of red tape to deal with as well as his own issues.  This is a very fascinating story and a look at the difficulty of employment in the country.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (1938):  This is my Disney animated short for the week.  Graham Heid directed this animated short which was part of the "Silly Symphonies" series and based on a poem by Eugene Field.  This features three babies of the title name who are in a boat trying to catch fish with candy canes.  I guess this is a little unrealistic but the animation was great along with the music in it.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Pocket Money (1972):  This is my western for the week which was directed by Stuart Rosenberg and based on the novel by J.P.S. Brown.  Paul Newman stars as down on his luck cowboy Jim Kane who gets mixed up in some shady dealings with crooked ranchers.  The otherwise honest man must come up with some money and teams with his old friend Leonard, played by Lee Marvin, and pursues some get rich quick schemes in Mexico.  Strother Martin, Wayne Rogers, Hector Elizondo, Christine Belford, Kelly Jean Peters and many others co-star in this western comedy.  There is also the title song which is sung by Carole King and might be the star of the movie.  This is not a typical western and a more modern western.  This is a fun Saturday afternoon film to see something more unknown for the stars.  This is mostly driven by their performances as it is more character driven than anything.

A Boy Named Joe (1943):  Victor Fleming directed this fantasy romantic comedy, and Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay.  Spencer Tracy stars as WWII pilot Pete Sandige who is very good at his job while also having a relationship with Dorinda, played by Irene Dunne.  Pete ends up getting killed while flying and ends up in a heaven for pilots who become guardian angels for other pilots.  He soon sees after the pilot Ted Randall, played by Van Johnson, who becomes acquainted with Dorinda making Pete a little jealous.  Ward Bond, James Gleason, Lionel Barrymore, Barry Nelson, Esther Williams, Henry O'Neill, Don DeFore, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is some unknown Spencer Tracy and is a rather clever film.  This combines fantasy with romantic comedy and a bit of a love triangle.  This is available to watch on Kanopy.

Obsession (2025):  Having heard such good things about this, I decided it was time to go check it out in the theaters.  Curry Barker directed and wrote this horror film which I suppose has the theme "be careful what you wish for".  Michael Johnston stars as Bear who has always had a crush on Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, who he has always been friends with.  Bear comes across a device called a "One Wish Willow" which is said to grant one wish after it is broken in half.  The wish seemingly works but Nikki displays some very disturbing behavior.  Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter, Haley Fitzgerald, Darin Toonder, Anthony Pavone, Justice, Anthony Casabianca, Chloe Breen, and many others co-star in this horror film.  This was a great one to see in theaters.  This has a great combination of dark comedy and horror with jump scares.  They always know the right place to get us.  Navarrette puts on a great performance in her very complex role.    

From Russia With Love (1963):  Terence Young directed this Bond film which is based on the novel by Ian Fleming.  Sean Connery reprises his role of James Bond in the second Bond film.  007 is on the search for a Russian decoding machine with the help of defecting Russian girl Tatiana Romanova, played by Daniela Bianchi, and goes after the evil SPECTRE.  This includes the very strong Grant, played by Robert Shaw, and agent Rosa Klebb, played by Lotte Lenya.  Pedro Armendariz, Bernard Lee, Eunice Gayson, Walter Gotell, Francis De Wolff, Nadja Regin, Lois Maxwell, Aliza Gur, Martine Beswick, Vladek Sheybal, Anthony Dawson, Desmond Llewelyn, and many others co-star in this Bond film.  This is Llewelyn's introduction into the franchise as Boothroyd who we would later know as Q where he has more of a cameo in this one.  Dawson plays Bond's main rival Blofeld where we can't see his face, that would come later.  Connery has declared this as his favorite of the Bond films.  I feel this does not have the notoriety as some do but this is still a very good Bond film in my opinion.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Sullivan's Travels (1941):  Preston Sturges wrote and directed this showbiz film.  Joel McCrea stars as Hollywood director John L. Sullivan who has only really known the fluffy comedies.  He decides he wants to make a film about the real-life harsh times of society and decide to become a homeless person in order to gain perspective of what is he wanting.  Veronica Lake, Robert Warwick, William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn, Porter Hall, Byron Foulger, Margaret Hayes, Robert Grieg, Eric Blore, Torben Meyer, and many others co-star in this film.  This kind of goes in different directions where it seems like a comedy, but it goes pretty deep at times in his Hollywood satire which I suppose is also a commentary.  I also thought it had a very interesting way of ending the film.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and might give us a better appreciation of what we get in the way of film.

Muscle Shoals (2013):  I end the week with this music documentary which was directed by Greg Camalier.  This documentary celebrates the life of music producer Rick Hall who founded FAME studios in the small town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  A lot of big singers and bands got a lot of their music produced their and many cited the preference of going there as opposed to a place in New York.  When the place got founded, this was a time of racial tension, but segregation did not exist at the studio.  Interviews include Rick Hall, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, Jerry Wexler, Bono, Jimmy Cliff, Candi Staton, Clarence Carter, and many others.  Hall has since died but FAME studios still lives on through his son.  This is a great look at music history and an unlikely place to have careers take off.  This is available to watch on Kanopy, Dox, and Magnolia Selects.  Dox and Magnolia Selections require a subscription with Prime.

Well, that is it for this week but I have my segment "Father's Day Madness to celebrate last week's holiday Father's Day.  I will be back in a couple weeks which so far includes Sigourney Weaver, Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey, John Wayne, Sissy Spacek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Faye Dunaway, Marilyn Monroe, and many others. 

FATHER'S DAY MADNESS

I decided to do a little celebration for the holiday.  I don't have really any reason for the selections except they were on my list and looked for a father no matter how significant setting on ten selections.

Neighbors (2014):  The father in this selection is Seth Rogen who is the father of a newborn baby.  Nicholas Stoller directed this comedy which was written by Andrew Jay Cohen.  Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne star as married couple Mac and Kelly Radner who also have a newborn baby.  They get new next-door neighbors who happen to be a fraternity, lead by fraternity president Teddy Sanders, played by Zac Efron.  They try to make a peace agreement, but when the agreement is broken, a neighborly war begins.  Brian Huskey, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Dave Franco, Halston Sage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jerrod Carmichael, Craig Roberts, Ali Cobrin, Kira Sternbach, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Adam Devine, Jason Mantzoukas, Lisa Kudrow, Randall Park, and many others co-star in this raunchy comedy.  This is a pretty ridiculous movie but I laughed through it all.  I suppose it also makes fun of the ridiculousness of fraternities and some of the rituals they have for initiation.  The Robert De Niro party scene makes it all worth it in my opinion.  

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Avengers:  Infinity War (2018):  The father in this selection is Josh Brolin who plays Thanos and has a couple daughters in Gamora and Nebula and may not have the best kind of father-daughter relationship.  Anthony and Joe Russo directed this superhero film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Brolin stars in this film as Thanos who is looking to get the Infinity Stones in order to create his own world.  This calls for all hands on deck including the Avengers, the Guardians, and all other allies in order to stop Thanos from what is he trying to do.  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Idris Elba, Danai Gurira, Peter Dinklage, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio Del Toro, Chris Pratt, William Hurt, Letitia Wright, Carrie Coon, Winston Duke, Kerry Condon, and many others co-star and some provide the voice in this superhero epic.  This is essentially the story of Thanos and has a great character development arc.  This was a very well-done film and where I am on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline binge.  Something I don't agree with are those who side with Thanos who essentially is looking to commit genocide as far as I am concerned.  Other than that, this was a great way to feature all the significant characters.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.  For those interested in doing a timeline binge, the website is Marvel in order: How to watch MCU in chronological and release order.  

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Elvis (2022):  The father in this selection is Richard Roxburgh who plays Vernon Presley, the man who would bring up Elvis.  Baz Luhrman directed this biopic on the music legend Elvis Presley.  Austin Butler stars as Elvis which looks a lot at the relationship with his producer Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks and his relationship with Priscilla, played by Olivia DeJonge.  The movie is seen through the eyes of Tom Parker.  Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr., David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Luke Bracey, Dacre Montgomery, Leon Ford, Natasha Bassett, Xavier Samuel, Adam Dunn, Alton Mason, Shonka Dukureh, and many others co-star in this film.  This looks at the ups and downs of Elvis's career, and it does center a lot around the Colonel which might take away some from Elvis.  We also get the Baz Luhrman treatment of Elvis which has some surrealistic moments at time.  Butler does a great job as Elvis and is Elvis, not some impersonator.  This could be a good double feature to go along with BUBBA HO-TEP.

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Lean on Pete (2017):  The father in this one is Travis Fimmel who is more of an absent father.  Andrew Haigh directed this film which is based on the novel by Willy Vlautin.  Charlie Plummer stars as the fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson who is trying to find a little purpose in life.  He finds work with a horse trainer in Del, played by Steve Buscemi, and his jockey Bonnie, played by Chloe Sevigny.  Charley forms a connection with Del's fading racehorse Lean On Pete.  Amy Seimetz, Julia Prud'homme, Jason Rouse, Lewis Pullman, Justin Rain, Steve Zahn, Allison Elliott, and many others co-star in this film.  This movie never really goes the direction one might think it is supposed to go.  I also believe that the less known, the better.  It has an unpredictable nature that one just has to experience.  This is available to watch on Prime, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.

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Hearts Beat Loud (2018):  The father in this one is Nick Offerman who is the single father to a musically inclined daughter.  Brett Haley directed and co-wrote this film along with Marc Basch.  Nick Offerman stars as single father and record store owner Frank Fisher who is preparing to send his daughter Sam, played by Kiersey Clemons, to college.  Frank is able to talk Sam into one of their jam sessions which results in an unexpectedly good song which Frank puts on Spotify to unexpected success.  Blythe Danner, Toni Collette, Sasha Lane, Ted Danson, and many others co-star in this film.  This is one of those great indie gems and a great father/daughter story.  This has some good performances and is a very touching story.  This is available to watch on TUBI, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.

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Repo!  The Genetic Opera (2008):  The father in this one is Anthony Head who is the father to Shilo and harbors a dark secret.  Unfortunately, he joins the BUFFY alums to have left this world recently so RIP Anthony.  Darren Lynn Bousman directed this rock musical which is based on a play by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich.  This takes place in a not-so-distant future where body organs are purchased and meant for repossession of they are not paid.  Alexa Vega stars as Shilo Wallace who is a sheltered girl looking for a cure to her rare disease and does not know that her father Nathan, played by Buffy alum Anthony Head, is a repo man.  Zdunich, Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, Sarah Power, Briana Buckmaster, and many others co-star in this musical.  I really liked seeing Head in a more starring role and getting to show off his singing talent.  Brightman is most known as Christine in the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and makes her first film appearance.  Please don't run for the hills when seeing the name Paris Hilton.  She does pretty good in her relatively small role.  This is not for everyone, but has some pretty good rock oriented music numbers and some great imagery.  This is a musical I would love to be in someday.  This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Pluto TV, and Plex.

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Spirited Away (2001):  The father in this one is Michael Chiklis who provides the voice of Akio in the American version who is the father Chihiro who is the protagonist in this Studio Ghibli film.  Also, Daveigh Chase who voiced Chihiro in the American version has recently left us at a very early age so RIP Daveigh.  Hayao Miyazaki directed and wrote this Studio Ghibli film.  The 10-year-old Chihiro must move to the suburbs with her parents and she is not happy with it.  They stop along the way and find themselves in a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits and the parents have turned into pigs.  Chihiro must find a way to save them and encounters a lot of strange beings along the way.  Jack Angel, Dee Bradley Baker, Bob Bergen, Rodger Bumpass, Susan Egan, Lauren Holly, Jason Marsden, John Ratzenberger, Tara Strong, and many others provide their voice in the American version.  This is a very beautiful story and one of the most iconic anime films.  It is hard to really describe beyond what I did but is really worth a watch, just like any Studio Ghibli films.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

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Nope (2022):  The father in this one is Keith David who is the unfortunate victim of the unknown objects in the sky.  Jordan Peele directed and wrote this sci-fi horror film.  Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as siblings O.J. and Emerald who try to continue their late father's ranch.  They are also trying to prove video evidence of a UFO that they believe it wreaking havoc on their town.  Brandon Parea, Michael Wincott, Steven Yuen, Wrenn Schmidt, Keith David, Devon Graye, Terry Notary, Barbie Ferreira, Donna Mills, Osgood Perkins, Eddie Jemison, Jacob Kim, Sophia Coto, Jennifer Lafleur, Andrew Patrick Ralston, Lincoln Lambert, and many others co-star in this sci-fi film.  This has elements of a few classic sci-fi films like CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, WAR OF THE WORLDS, and even SIGNS.  Peele manages to make this his own and is a very compelling film to watch.  It also has a good homage to classic film and television.  I understand though that some might just say nope to watching this movie with it being horror and all.  

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The Father (2019):  This is my Bulgarian film for the week and the father in this one is Ivan Savov.  Kristina Grozeva and Peter Valchanov co-directed and co-wrote this film.  Savov stars as Vasil who has lost his wife Valentina.  Vasil becomes convinced that he can still contact her and seeks the help of a well-known psychic in hopes of contacting his wife.  Ivan Barnev co-stars as Vasil's son Pavel who struggles to get his father to come to his senses.  Margita Gosheva, Maria Bakalova, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a really good story about dealing with grief and a good look at a father and son struggling to have a close relationship.  This is available on the app Klassiki which is perfect for foreign film buffs.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024):  The father in this one is Santiago Cabrera who is ghostly father to Astrid.  Tim Burton directed this sequel to the 1988 classic comedy.  Winona Ryder reprises her role of Lydia whose daughter Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.  With everything going on, Lydia must turn to Beetlejuice, reprised by Michael Keaton, to help her save Astrid.  Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Nick Kellington, Santiago Cabrera, Burn Gorman, Danny Devito, Mark Heenehan, and many others co-star in this sequel.  I thought this was a fun continuation film years after the original.  I loved Defoe's comedic performance as an Afterlife character.  This is O'Hara's final live-action role before her death in 2026.  This is one that the original needs to be watched in order to understand what is happening so why not make a double feature night.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

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Welcome to the 984th Edition of my series.  I hope everyone is doing okay in these times.  On June 19th and 20th, New Castle has a Juneteenth celebration.  On the 20th, Guilty By Affiliation Wrestling is having a free show at 7:30 where I will be ring announcing.  I may have another announcement when I get back in a couple weeks but until then I will get on with my selections for the week.  

Law and Order True Crime:  The Menendez Murders (2017):  I start the week out with this mini-series which was created by Rene Balcer.  This centers around the murders Jose and Kitty Menendez, played by Carlos Gomez and Lolita Davidovich, whose own sons kill them citing the abuse that has happened through the years.  Miles Gaston Villanueva and Gus Halper star as Lyle and Erik Menendez who use the abuse defense in hopes of acquittal.  Edie Falco plays attorney Leslie Abramson who dedicates herself to the defense of the brothers and deals with a lot of red tape from the judge and prosecution in Los Angeles.  Chris Bauer, Sam Jaeger, Dominic Flores, Constance Marie, Josh Charles, Heather Graham, Elizabeth Reaser, Molly Hagan, Anthony Edwards, James DuMont, Julianne Nicholson, Larry Cedar, Mark Moses, David Warshofsky, Harry Hamlin and many others co-star in this film.  This is the first mini-series from the LAW AND ORDER franchise and so far the only one.  This is based on the years long trial of the Menendez brothers and the media circus it would become.  This takes a good look into the events and some of it was dramatized as the opening would always say.  Falco does a great job as Abramson.  This is available to watch on AMC + and Britbox with a subscription of Prime.

A Zookeeper's Wife (2017):  Niki Caro directed this film which is based on the novel by Diane Ackerman and is based on true events.  Jessica Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh star as married couple Antonina and Jan Zabinski who run a zoo in 1939 Poland.  Unfortunately, it was being run by Nazi German in WWII and Antonina leads an effort in hopes of saving the Jews.  Daniel Bruhl, Efrat Dor, Iddo Goldberg, Shira Haas, Micahel McElhatton, Matha Issova, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very uplifting and heartbreaking film.  The most heartbreaking part was seeing the zoo getting destroyed.  This conveys a lot of the heroism from this era with a very emotional performance out of Chastain.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

I Love Boosters (2026):  Boots Riley directed and wrote this dark comedy.  Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, and Naomi Ackie star as Corvette, Mariah, and Sade who are known as the "Velvet Gang".  They like to shoplift from the Metro Designers fashion chains which are run by Christie Smith, played by Demi Moore, and then sell the items at a more reasonable price.  LaKeith Stanfield, Mahdi Cocci, Rachel Walters, Kara Young, Adam Devine, Don Cheadle, Robin Thede, Melissa Haas, Hannah Alline, Jason Ritter, Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Elaine, Elza Gonzalez, Will Poulter, Eric Andre, Poppy Liu, and many others co-star in this film.  Mortensen is a narrator of a documentary within the film so we get his voice.  I have really only scratched the surface in my description.  It is a satire on green and inflation in what I got out of it.  I felt Cheadle, Moore, and Poulter were the most entertaining parts of the film in their much different roles, especially Don Cheadle.  There are also some very interesting sci-fi elements.  This was worth a trip to the theaters.

Jefferson Circus Songs (1975):  This is my animated short for the week which was directed by Susan Pitt.  This features stop-motion animation with a carnival sort of world.  This shows cardboard cutouts interacting with children clad in clown wigs, monkey masks, and princess costumes.  This is mostly of note for the animator Pitt who was known for a handful of independent animated shorts, possibly ASPARAGUS being the most known.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on Youtube.

L'Atalante (1934):  Jean Vigo directed and co-wrote this French film.  Jean Daste and Dita Parlo star as the newlywed couple Jean and Juliette.  Jean is a ship captain, and Juliette must join him in the river life which proves to be a very difficult adjustment.  Michel Simon, and Louis Lefebvre co-star in this French film.  This shows a lot about working through issues in a marriage.  This also has some great cinematography.  Vigo had a very short-lived but very influential career as he died at the age of 29 of Tuberculosis.  This still remains a very popular French film and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Desk Set (1957):  Walter Lang directed this film which is based on the play by William Marchant.  Katharine Hepburn stars as Bunny Watson who works for a big TV network.  She starts to become a bit concerned when the mysterious Richard Sumner, played by Spencer Tracy, has come to computerize the office.  This has people fearing for their jobs and starts a bit of an attraction between the leads as one might guess.  Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Sue Randall, Neva Patterson, Henry Ellerbe, Nicholas Joy, Diane Jergens, Merry Anders, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy.  This is the eighth of nine films between the iconic duo of Tracy and Hepburn.  This is a good look at the early days of computerization and the concern that has lasted through the modern days.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The Woodsman (2004):  Nicole Kassell directed this film which is based on the play by Steven Fechter.  Kevin Bacon stars as Walter who has been released from prison after 12 years for being a child molester.  He is able to find a job and finds unexpected solace with his co-worker Vicki, played by Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick.  Through it all, it becomes impossible for him to escape his past.  Yasiin Bey, David Allen Grier, Eve, Benjamin Bratt, Carlose Leon, Michael Shanon, Kevin Rice, Hannah Pilkes, and many others co-star in this film.  They tacked a very taboo subject matter as described.  This is a character study to the core and shows the human element of someone like Walter.  Bacon does a great job in this film in such a controversial sort of role without really making him into a monster.  This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Plex, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel.

Twentieth Century Oz (1976):  Chris Lofven directed this adaptation to the L. Frank Baum story which takes place around the world of rock and roll.  Joy Dunston stars as the 16-year-old Dorothy who after a van wreck, she finds herself in an alternate world.  She sets out to see the last concert of the Wizard, played by Graham Matters, and is accompanied by three unusual men who are the equivalent of the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man.  She is also being pursued by a thug whose brother Dorothy accidently kills with the van.  Bruce Spence, Michael Carmen, Gary Waddell, Robin Ramsay, Ned Kelly, and many others co-star in this movie.  I guess this is Australia's answer to THE WIZARD OF OZ.  It mostly follows the movie we know, just in a much different way.  Curiosity got the best of me when I came across this on Kanopy where it is available to watch.

Not Wanted (1949):  Elmer Clifton directed this film which was based on the screenplay by Paul Jarrico and Ida Lupino.  Sally Forrest stars as Sally Kelton who hooks up with the charismatic piano player Steve, played by Leo Penn, and runs away from her unhappy home.  She has a fling with Steve, but he soon heads to the next town.  When forming a relationship with Drew, played by Keefe Brasselle, who just can't win Sally's heart away from Steve.  She also becomes pregnant by him making her life more difficult.  Wheaton Chambers, Ruth Clifford, Ruthelma Stevens, Virginia Mullen, and many others co-star in this film.  This is Clifton's last film and Ida Lupino would take over directing duties after Clifton suffered a severe heart attack.  This is at a time where motherhood out of wedlock was very taboo and I guess I'm dealing with a couple very taboo topics this week.  A lot of this film centers around Kelton's guilt of the pregnancy and how her judgment was very clouded by the decisions she made.  This is available to watch on Kanopy, Prime, and Plex.

Tightrope (1984):  I end with this dark thriller which was directed and written by Richard Tuggle.  Clint Eastwood stars as Detective Wes Block who is going after a serial killer and rapist while getting too close in his investigation.  Wes also struggles to balance his job and his single fatherhood with his daughters who also become a target.  Genevieve Bujold, Dan Hedaya, Alison Eastwood, Jenny Beck, Marco St. John, Rebecca Perle, Regina Richardson, Randi Brooks, Jamie Rose, and many others co-star in this thriller.  I see I have a lot of very dark subject matter this week.  This is a very intense and disturbing film and a darker one for Eastwood I would say.  I watched this just as Eastwood announces his retirement from film though this was always planned.  Thank you Clint, I wish you the best in your retirement years and thanks for all the great movies you have given us through the years.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and I will back in a couple weeks which so far includes Paul Newman, Spencer Tracy, and many others.

Welcome to the 983rd edition of my series.  I hope everyone is doing well in these crazy times.  For those of you in and around my area, I'm competing in Downtown Idol in Downtown Muncie during Muncie Artswalk on Thursday.  It starts at 5:30 so I don't really know when I will be going.  I will shut up and get on with my selections for the week.  

Living Proof (2008):  Don Ireland directed this Lifetime tv movie which is based on a true story.  Harry Connick Jr. stars as Dr. Dennis Slamon who dedicates his life to looking for a cure for breast cancer that goes beyond chemotherapy.  When finally developing something that he thought would finally be progressive, he must deal with his superiors.  Tammy Blanchard, Amanda Bynes, Jennifer Coolidge, Angie Harmon, John Benjamin Hickey, Regina King, Swoosie Kurtz, Paula Cale, Amy Madigan, Bernadette Peters, Trudie Styler, Bruce McKinnon, Jackson Hurst, Tom Nowicki, and many others co-star in this tv movie.  This is a very feel-good movie and is rather inspirational.  It is a true story about not giving up and making progress to curing cancer.  

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997):  Roger Spottiswoode directed this Bond film which is based on the character created by Ian Fleming.  Pierce Brosnan reprises his role of James Bond in his second outing of 007.  Bond teams with Chinese agent Wai Lin, played by Michelle Yeoh, and must go after the corrupt media mogul Elliott Carver, played by Jonathan Pryce, who is making his own news coverage in hopes of starting a war between Britain and China.  Teri Hatcher, Ricky Jay, Gotz Otto, Joe Don Baker, Vincent Schiavelli, Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn, Samantha Bond, Colin Salmon, Geoffrey Palmer, Julian Fellowes, Terence Rigby, Cecilie Thomsen, Nina Young, Gerard Butler, and many others co-star in this Bond film.  This is a lot of high-octane fun with a great Bond girl in Yeoh.  The previous film GOLDENEYE was criticized some for having a lack of gadgetry and they make up for it in full in this one.  

Emily the Criminal (2022):  John Patton Ford wrote and directed this independent film.  Aubrey Plaza stars as Emily who is struggling in with her high student debt and has a hard time finding a good job due to her criminal record.  She comes across work where she becomes a "dummy shopper" and buys goods with a stolen credit card.  Theo Rossi co-stars as Youcef who is the middleman of the criminal scheme.  Bernardo Badillo, Janice Sonia Lee, Wesley Han, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Brandon Sklenar, Amje Elharden, Jonathan Avigdori, and many others co-star in this film.  Plaza puts on a great performance as a struggling young adult.  It is also a very well-written script on the struggle for someone in debt and someone with a criminal record.  This is available to watch on TUBI.

Ars (1959):  This is my French documentary short for the week which was directed by Jacques Temy.  This takes a look at Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianny who was the pastor of Ars in Auvergne who had very strict habits.  Demy narrates this short talking about Vianny's extreme measures as a priest and trying to understand him.  This would also be the start of a great career for Temy who did some short films first.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The General (1926):  Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton directed this silent comedy.  Keaton stars as train engineer Johnny Gray and he loves his Annabelle Lee, played by Marion Mack.  This takes place in the Civil War times where it was every man's duty to fight in the war.  When trying to enlist, Johnny is rejecting with the thought that he was too valuable in his work to join leaving Annabelle to believe he is a coward.  He gets brought in anyway when Union spies take his train "the General" with Annabelle on board.  Glen Cavender and Jim Farley co-star in this comedy.  This is one of the most popular silent films of all time.  Keaton gives lots of funny moments within a very serious situation.  

Ten Little Indians (1974):  Peter Collinson directed this movie which is based on the novel by Agatha Christie.  Oliver Reed, Elka Sommer, Richard Attenborough, Stephane Audran, Gert Frobe, Herbert Lom, Maria Rohm, Adolfo Celi, Alberto de Mendoza, and Charles Aznavour are all invited to an isolated desert in the Iranian desert by someone named U.N. Owen, voiced by Orson Welles.  When there, a cassette tape plays and accuses each of them of a crime they got away with where they die one by one.  They finally realize that the killer is one of them and must figure out who they can trust.  This is a pretty good adaptation of the popular story.  I believe this story inspired the SAW franchise and even CLUE.  Where can we go wrong with a couple Bond villains from the Connery era.   This is available to watch on Kanopy.

Song Sung Blue (2025):  Craig Brewer directed this biopic which is based on the 2008 documentary of the same name by Greg Kohs.  Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as married couple Mike and Claire Sardina who form a Neil Diamond cover band called Lightning and Thunder.  They would become rather successful, even getting the attention of Eddie Vedder, played by John Beckwith, who would have them open for Pearl Jam.  They would go onto have a lot of triumph but also a lot of heartbreak along the way.  Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley, King Princess, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Mustafa Shakir, Jayson Warner Smith, Cecelia Riddett, Sean Allan Krill, Jim Conroy, Kena Anae, Darius Rose, Shyaporn Theerakulstit, Chacha Tahng, and many others co-star in this biopic.  I feel this was a tribute to the cover bands that are out there today.  I also believe this is the first biopic to be based on a cover band.  This also took a really deep look into mental health with some issues Claire was having.  Jackman and Hudson made a great duo in this film.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

The Deadly Trap (1971):  Rene Clement directed this film which is based on the novel THE CHILDREN ARE GONE by Arthur Cavanaugh.  Frank Langella and Faye Dunaway star as married couple Philippe and Jill who are living in Paris with their two children.  They are having issues where Frank is troubled at work to do illegal activities and Jill is mentally unstable.  The children go missing making it more difficult for Jill and leaves questions for her mental state.  Barbara Perkins, Maurice Ronet, Gerard Buhr, Jill Larson, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a slow burn sort of thriller.  It is hard to explain beyond what I already did.  Dunaway puts on a great performance as the unstable mother.  This is available to watch on Prime.

The Great Dictator (1940):  Charles Chaplin directed and wrote this very thinly veiled satire on the Holocaust.  Chaplin stars in a dual role where he plays the dictator Adenoid Hynkel who has an awful lot of resemblance to Adolf Hitler and he plays a Jewish barber who is trying to avoid persecution.  His role of the barber is more like his typical role of the Tramp while playing Hynkel was quite different.  Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Billy Gilbert, Grace Hayle, Carter DeHaven, Maurice Moscovich, Emma Dunn, Bernard Gorcey, Paul Weigel, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This was a very daring film at the time as Hitler was still in power and even banned it in German and all Nazi-occupied countries though he is said to have obtained a copy and watched it.  At the end, there is a great speech which still resonates today.  This is available on HBO Max, Plex, Pluto TV, and Indieflix shorts which requires a Prime subscription.  

52 Pick-Up (1986):  I end the week with this film which was directed by John Frankenheimer and based on the novel by Elmore Leonard who also co-wrote the screenplay.  Roy Scheider stars as L.A. construction magnate Harry Mitchell who has an extramarital affair with a stripper named Cini, played by Kelly Preston.  A tape surfaces from three blackmailers lead by Alan, played by John Glover, who has a lot of monetary demands.  Ann-Margret co-stars as Harry's wife Barbara who gets caught in the middle of the blackmail.  Vanity, Robert Trebor, Lonny Chapman, Doug McClure, Clarence Williams III, Alex Henteloff, and many others co-star in this action film.  If anyone has experience with Elmore Leonard novels, they will know they are always rather complex in the story and in the characters and this is no different.  Glover might be one of the most despicable villains of all time.  The story could get a little convoluted at times but it kept my attention.  This comes from Cannon films which always managed to put out some interesting works.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel, MGM +, TUBI, and Pluto TV.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike I will be back in a couple weeks with the next one which so far includes Julianne Nicholson, Jessica Chastain, Demi Moore, Katherine Hepburn, Kevin Bacon, and many others.