Welcome to the 129th Edition of my series. It's been quite a week and it's just a matter of time before I return to the stage. I appreciate everyone who reads this blog so I will get on with the picks but don't forget your Netflix and Blockbuster Queues before you start.
Mask (1985): First, check the year, this is not that movie with Jim Carrey. Peter Bogdanovich directed this moving film. This is based on a true story of a teen named Rocky Dennis, played by Eric Stoltz, who had a rare disease which resulted in facial deformity. Cher plays his wild mother Rusty who despite her drinking problems does what she can to make Rocky feel he is no different and also has her biker friends who also help raise him. Sam Elliott plays an estranged boyfriend of Rusty's who returns and becomes a father figure to Rusty. What made this work the most was the chemistry between Cher and Eric Stoltz as the mother and son who must help each other. Laura Dern plays Rocky's blind love interest.
Ratatouille (2007): This is part 5 of my long-running Disney series which will run at least two more weeks. Brad Bird directs this Pixar film which revolves around a rat named Remy, whose beliefs differed from his familys'. He did not like eating from the trash and had a gift for cooking. He discovers that his cooking idol has died and meets his ghost who advises him to go save his restaurant which goes from 5 stars to 3 stars. Now, enter a garbage and cleaning boy named Linguini and with the help of Remy, makes a very good dish. Now, Remy has control of Linguini who make a pact with each other. This was a very fun Disney film showing that rats and humans can co-exist and may be Pixar's best.
The Transporter (2002): I watched this movie one night at my friend Rhonda and Jeff's home along with many other friends and my friend Doug brought over this movie and I had no idea what to expect. Corey Yuen and Louis Letirrer directed this movie written by Luc Besson. Jason Statham stars as the title character whose name is Frank and whose job it is to transport packages with no questions asked. Things start to get complicated when he finds a package moving and violates his rules only to see a beautiful, bound and gagged girl, played by Shu Qi. That is when all the action starts and he must save his life and chooses to help her which make for some great action scenes, especially the scene with spilled oil which he uses to his advantage. All you need to do is suspend your disbelief for a while and enjoy the movie.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): Alfonzo Cuaron directs the third installment of the novels written by J.K. Rowling. I will apoligize in advance if anyone reading this feels that Harry Potter is satanic. If you do, just go to the next movie and express your dismay in my comments. Daniel Radcliffe reprises his role as the titled Wizard in his third year at Hogwarts and must now deal with a prison escapee named Sirius Black, played by the underrated Gary Oldman, and must prepare to fight him. Not much else really needs to be said here except that Gary Oldman is in this one. Also, look for Emma Thompson in a very amusing role.
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967): Guys, remember next year on Valentine's Day, this is the perfect movie for you and your sweetheart to watch, well maybe not. This is Roger Corman's take on the infamous day in 1929 where Al Capone's gang, dressed as cops, guns down people in the gang of Bugs Moran. Here, we have the events which lead up to the moment. One issue was with Jason Robards as Capone. I just had a hard time believing he was Al Capone but it did give some good insight to some of the people in both gangs and also look closely for a very young Jack Nicholson. It was interesting how in some ways they make Al Capone into a sort of anti-hero.
One Survivor Remembers (1995): This is my documentary short of the week which features an interview with Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein who speaks of the times before, during and after the war and shows some very disturbing photos. All you get here are insights from a survivor. You won't get any beautiful musical score or anything, just a moving story from someone who survived some horrible times.
The Philadelphia Story (1940): George Cukor directed this raunchy, well at least for that time, comedy. We start with a family where Tracy, played by Katherine Hepburn, is about to marry the respectable George Kittridge, played by John Howard. Just a week before the wedding, Tracy's ex-husband Dexter, played by Cary Grant, and a couple tabloid reporters show up enciting a lot of chaos and making Tracy question if she is doing the right thing. James Stewart is the standout as Mike, who is one of the reporters. Not much else can be said but that this is one hilarious film with great performances from the leads.
The Old Dark House (1932): James Whale directs this black-comedy which reunites him with his FRANKENSTEIN star Boris Karloff where before the movie had a disclaimer assuring everyone that it is the same person from FRANKENSTEIN. Some travellers seek refuge and find a house which is run by some strange people. Gloria Stuart, who many know from TITANIC, also stars as one of the travellers. The patriarch of the family is played by a woman in a very funny scene. Charles Laughton, Raymond Massey, and Melvyn Douglas also star in this film which is hard to really explain except that the house is run by a creepy family and that Karloff is the manservant and entertaining.
Last Tango in Paris (1972): Bernardo Bertulucci directs this very controversial film which stars Marlon Brando as an American living in France and make no mistake, this is not AN AMERICAN IN PARIS which stars Gene Kelly. This was quite a year for Brando because earlier that year, he had one of his other great performances in THE GODFATHER and I am pretty sure that this was made after. Brando plays a very depressed man whose wife has committed suicide and meets an equally unstable girl much younger than him played by Maria Schneider. They form an anonymous relationship wither Brando does not want to know anything about her past or her name. This movie is still quite provocative and was rated X but went down to R, though my version was NC-17. Both people give very in-depth performances. An interesting fact here was that in the "butter scene", it was a last-minute improvisation by Brando without Schneider's knowledge. This movie is obviously not for everyone so use your judgement but it is very compelling and a work of art.
She Shoulda Said No (1949): This is the start of a three-part Marijuana series where each will show the horrible and devastating facts on pot and no REEFER MADNESS will not be one of them as it has already been featured. I have other insightful films ready to watch. Like the one mentioned, this had a big disclaimer on all the horrible things marijuana can do and how this movie saved a couple lives. Any movie that can save a life is good to me. Here we have a singer named Anne, played by Lila Leeds, who just wants to put her brother through college and she meets a pot dealer who guarantees more money and that she will be so happy. She then goes off into the dark world of selling the horrible drug only to get arrested and must see women just like her who smoked that horrible drug and are not themselves and Anne must deal with the consequences of her actions. Apparently, Lila Leeds was cast because of an arrest in 1948 for Marijuana possession along with Robert Mitchum and luckily he did not have to get punished like her. Lyle Talbot also stars as a police officer determined to stop the horrible menace known as pot. Many may remember him from many Ed Wood movies. Now just stay tuned for my next two movies that will scare many of my readers away from Marijuana.
Well, that is it for this week, I will be back as always so just hang there and leave your comments, tell me what you like, what you hate and so on. Also, keep on reading because I'm not done yet.
HONORABLE BOOK MENTION
Mando Lucha A Go Go: The Bizarre and Honorable World of Wild Mexican Wrestling by Dan Madigan: This obviously is a book on the world of Mexican wrestling which charts the history of the Lucha and of many wrestlers. Mexico is very big on wearing masks, though not all do and are known for their high-flying style which has inspired many people in Japan and America. This also looks at many of the legends in the world of Lucha like El Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras, and many others and even talks about some of their movies made between the 50s to 70s.
CONNECTION TIME
-Cher (Mask) and Maggie Smith (Harry Potter) were in the 1999 film Tea With Mussolini
-Cher (Mask) and Jack Nicholson (St. Valentine's Day Massacre, uncredited) were in the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick
-Sam Elliot (Mask) and Brian Dennehy (Ratatouille) were in the 2000 tv movie Fail Safe
-Sam Elliot (Mask) and Gary Oldman (Harry Potter) were in the 2000 film The Contender
-Sam Elliot (Mask) and David Thewlis (Harry Potter) were in the Coen Brothers hit film The Big Lebowski
-Eric Stoltz (Mask) and Brian Dennehy (Ratatouille) were in the 1993 tv movie Foreign Affairs
-Eric Stoltz (Mask) and Gloria Stuart (The Old Dark House) were in the 1981 tv movie The Violation of Sarah McDonald
-Richard Dysart (Mask) and Brian Dennehy (Ratatouille) were in the 1989 tv movie Day One
-Richard Dysart (Mask) and Julie Christie (Harry Potter) were in the 1968 film Petulia
-Richard Dysart (Mask) and George Segal (St. Valentines Day Massacre) were in the 1974 film the Terminal Man
-Harry Carey Jr. (Mask) and Cary Grant (The Philadelphia Story) were in Howard Hawks' 1952 film Monkey Business and and they were in the 1957 film Kiss Them For Me. Note that Harry Carey Jr.
-Harry Carey Jr. (Mask) and James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story) were in many westerns together which include John Ford's Two Rode Together in 1961, John Ford's 1964 western Cheyenne Autumn where Carey is uncredited and Stewart plays Wyatt Earp which I had no idea he played that role until now, the 1965 western Shenandoah where Carey has a bit role, the 1966 western The Rare Breed, and in the 1968 western Bandolero. Note that the first two I mentioned were from John Ford and the rest were directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
-Harry Carey Jr. (Mask) and Raymond Massey (The Old Dark House) were in the 1961 film The Great Imposter
-Laura Dern (Mask) and Bruce Dern (St. Valentines Day Massacre) are real-life daughter and father but have never been in any movies together
-Ian Holm (Ratatouille) and Gary Oldman (Harry Potter) were in the 1997 film The Fifth Element. Also note that Luc Besson, who wrote the Transporter wrote and directed this film.
-Ian Holm (Ratatouille), David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Julie Christie (Harry Potter) were in the 2000 animated film The Miracle Maker. Holm and Christie were also in the 1982 film The Return of the Soldier.
-Iam Holm (Ratatouille) and Warwick Davis (Harry Potter) were in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits. Note that Davis is uncredited
-Ian Holm (Ratatouille) and Maggie Smith (Harry Potter) were in the 1969 musical Oh! What a Lovely War
-Ian Holm (Ratatouille), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter), and Emma Thompson (Harry Potter) were in Kenneth Branaugh's 1989 Henry V, also Ian Holm and Robbie Coltrane were the Hughes Brothers 2001 film From Hell
-Ian Holm (Ratatouille) and George Segal (St. Valentine's Day Massacre) were in the 1990 tv movie The Endless Game
-Peter O'Toole (Ratatouille) and Warwick Davis (Harry Potter) were in the 1996 tv movie Gulliver's Travels
-Peter O'Toole (Ratatouille) and Julie Christie (Harry Potter) were in the 2004 blockbuster Troy
-Peter O'Toole (Ratatouille) and Katherine Hepburn (The Philadelphia Story) were in the 1968 classic The Lion in Winter
-Peter O'Toole (Ratatouille) and Gloria Stuart (The Old Dark House) were in the 1982 movie My Favorite Year
-Janeane Garofalo (Ratatouille) and Alan Rickman (Harry Potter) were in Kevin Smith's 1999 film Dogma and the 2001 film The Search for John Gissing
-Janeane Garofalo (Ratatouille) and George Segal (St. Valentines Day Massacre) were in the 1996 film The Cable Guy
-Qi Shu (The Transporter) and Julie Christie (Harry Potter) are in the upcoming New York, I Love You
-David Thewlis (Harry Potter) and Jason Robards (St. Valentines Day Massacre) were in the 1993 film The Trial
-David Thewlis (Harry Potter) and Marlon Brando (Last Tango in Paris) were in the 1996 remake of the Island of Dr. Moreau
-Michael Gambon (Harry Potter) and Marlon Brando (Last Tango in Paris) were in the 1989 film A Dry White Season
-Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter) and Jason Robards (St. Valentines Day Massacre) were in the 1993 film The Adventures of Huck Finn
-Jason Robards (St Valentine's Day Massacre) and Katherine Hepburn were in the 1968 Sidney Lumet film Long Day's Journey into Night
-Jack Nicholson (St. Valentines Day Massacre, bit role) and Boris Karloff (The Old Dark House) were in two Roger Corman films in 1963 which include The Terror and The Raven.
-Jack Nicholson (St. Valentines Day Massacre, bit role) and Marlon Brando (Last Tango in Paris) were in the 1976 western The Missouri Breaks which I stated last week because they were in this last week too.
-Cary Grant (The Philadelphia Story) and Melvyn Douglas (The Old Dark House) were in the 1948 classic Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
-Cary Grant (The Philadelphia Story) and Charles Laughton (The Old Dark House) were in the 1932 film Devil and the Deep
-Cary Grant (The Philadelphia Story) and Raymond Massey (The Old Dark House) were brothers in Arsenic and Old Lace and Massey was a Boris Karloff (The Old Dark House) look-alike in this movie
-Katherine Hepburn (The Philadelphia Story) and Melvyn Douglas (The Old Dark House) were in the 1947 film The Sea of Grass
-James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story) and Melvyn Douglas (The Old Dark House) were in the 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy
-James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story) and Raymond Massey (The Old Dark House) were in the 1962 western How the West Was Won
-Ruth Hussey (The Philadelphia Story) and Melvyn Douglas (The Old Dark House) were in the 1941 film Our Wife
-Ruth Hussey (The Philadelphia Story) and Raymond Rassey (The Old Dark House) were in the 1973 tv movie My Darling Daughters' Anniversary
-Ruth Hussey (The Philadelphia Story) and Gloria Stuart (The Old Dark House) were in the 1938 movie Time Out for Murder
-Boris Karloff (The Old Dark House) and Marlon Brando (The Old Dark House were never in any movie together, however they have both played the role of General Kurtz. Most people know of Brando playing the role in Apocalypse Now but some do not know that about 20 years before Brando played the role, Karloff was playing that role on stage which was Hearts of Darkness, the title of the novel Apocalypse Now is based upon.
Those are the ones that I find. If you know of something that I have missed, please leave your comments and just think of whatever connection you want, I don't really care. One of my reasons for doing this is to get future ideas, plus just to keep this interesting.
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