Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations

Welcome to the 180th Edition of my long running blog. I didn't have nearly as hard of a time as I did last week but last week did get good response and seemed worth the wait to most. This week are another group of mostly unknowns so get out your Netflix and Blockbuster queues and read on.

Drumline (2002): My mom actually recorded this one on the DVR because she saw that it was Nick Cannon that was the star. He is the new host for AMERICA'S GOT TALENT replacing Jerry Springer so I met him when I went and auditioned for the show. We really wanted to see Jerry though but that is not important, I must now get on with the movie. This was one of those very formulaic movies and this one was on the marching band. Nick Cannon stars Devon Miles, who is recruited for a high-profile marching band at a college but gets at odds with the teacher and the leader of the marching band with his cocky personality. You're not going to have much suspense here but I thought it was a pretty enjoyable look at a marchign band. I really liked seeing MAD TV alum Orlando Jones play a more serious role as the very traditional band leader.

Closely Watched Trains (1966): This is my Czech film for the week that takes place during World War II where a young man who is oblivious to the horrors around him and sets off for a journey of sexual reawakening. The cinematagraphy is great in here and many great scenes making this a must for foreign film buffs and movie buffs in general as long as you tolerate subtitles.

My Left Foot (1989): This was a Co-Op selection for Travis' weekly film viewing. Jim Sheridan directed this movie which is based on the life of artist Christy Brown, played very well by Daniel-Day Lewis. Brown had Cerebral Palsy and used his most working body part of the title name and produced some great art. This was a very beautiful movie which shows the hardships of Christy Brown in his childhood and his rise as an artist. Daniel Day-Lewis was phenomenal and played the role to perfection.

Blood Feast (1963): This is a slection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this week I chose Agnetha. This was an exploitation horror film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis where a caterer murders women to use their body parts to bring back to life an Egyptian Goddess. It is just as it sounds, you either want to see it or you don't but it was worth about 60 minutes to watch.

The Most Dangerous Game (1932): I found this on TCM and I can't believe this got by in those days, it was pretty unusual, especially for then. Leslie Banks stars as psychotic hunter Count Zaroff, who seems to find the killing of animals too easy and creates games to hunt humans. Joel McCrea stars as one of the hunted who must survive and meets a girl played by Fay Wray who has been held captive and tries to protect her as well. This was pretty violent for 1932 but also quite compelling. Robert Armstrong also stars as Fay Wray's brother and they would go onto bigger success in 1933 for KING KONG.

Velvet Goldmine (1998): This was another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Just Another Iris Group. This was a pretty interesting movie about the Glam Rock scene. Christian Bale plays reporter Arthur Stuart who was a big fan of glam rock star Brian Slade and was assigned many years later to find the reclusive star who many years before faked his death in his peak. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers plays Brian Slade whose footage mostly includes the flashbacks to the concerts and some pretty good stuff. His voice reminded me a bit of Pink Floyd. Ewan McGregor plays Curt Wild, who was idolized by Slade and had quite a relationship. This was before he became the star he is today. I see AMERICAN PSYCHO as what really put him into the mainstream and this was something good to see him in. Toni Collette and Eddie Izzard also have good parts.

Super High Me (2007): With it being a holiday week, 4/20, I am not a pot smoker but I really don't condemn people who do smoke it so I figured I would celebrate just by watching a movie about someone getting high. Comedian Doug Benson who does a lot of pot humor got this obvious idea from Morgan Spurlock's SUPER SIZE ME where Spurlock wanted to show the effects of eathing McDonalds for 30 days straight. He decided to not smoke pot for 30 days and then start to smoke it for the next 30 to show the physical effects of smoking it. I prefer the Spurlock film but this makes some pretty good points including the medical uses and even talks about states where it is legal medically but still hard due to the federal law. Sarah Silverman has an amusing appearance.

Open Range (2003): The Facebook friend I chose for this one was Tom, who I went to school with from elementary up to graduation from high school. This was a western which Kevin Costner directed and starred in making this one of Costner's best. I never regard him as a bad actor, just someone who chooses the wrong parts but this was not one of them. He plays Charley and is part of a group of four freegrazers, all of which have a pretty dark past, are wanting to get through but a corrupt lawman gives them trouble and realize they must get back into the game. Robert Duvall plays Boss, Abraham Benrubi is Mose, a gentle giant, and Diego Luna plays the 16 year old Buttons. The movie has a nice slow pace that does not bore and then has quite a showdown at the end and very realistic where shooting is not always accurate. Annette Bening is also very good as a doctor's sister.

Bee My Honey (Unknown): This was an animated Three Stooges from my animation shorts and cannot find any information on this one. It was pretty amusing to see them as barbers but the live action was better.

Back to Bataan (1945): I decided to use John Wayne for the week in this WWII movie which also starred Anthony Quinn and they lead a group of Filipinos against a Japanese group by orders of General MacAurthur. I don't really have much to say here except it seemed different than the typical John Wayne so I kind of liked seeing that. This was pretty good war propaganda.

Well, that is it for this week, please leave your comments telling me what you like and what you hate and stay tuned for next week.

FUN LITTLE FACTS

Joel McCrea (The Most Dangerous Game) plays Wyatt Earp in the 1955 film WICHITA and Kevin Costner (Open Range) plays the role in the 1994 film of the title name.

Christian Bale (Velvet Goldmine) give Robert Duvall (Open Range) quite a bit of trouble in the 1992 film Newsies

Robert Duvall (Open Range) plays outlaw Jesse James in the 1972 film THE GREAT NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA RAID and Lawrence Tierney played the role in the 1946 film BADMAN'S TERRITORY and the 1951 film BEST OF THE BADMEN

Robert Duvall (Open Range) plays Captain Frank Burns in the 1970 film MASH and my facebook and myspace friend Bill played the part in a production at Lee's Theatrical Productions.