Welcome to the 187th Edition. As you see, I am now in the musical BIG RIVER which is based on the Mark Twain story HUCKLEBERRY FINN. I have not done anything since January so I look forward to returning to the theater scene. This week's edition includes three from the Random Myspace Profile selection process. Next week, I have one and that is probably it but it is subject to change. I will shut up now and get you your movies for the week.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992): I start out this week with a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this week I chose former TNA tag team champion Andy Douglas who has been a part of the tag team the Naturals. Francis Ford Coppola directed this version of the legend which was based more on Bram Stoker's novel than any other version which some may say is good and some might say it's bad, you decide. Gary Oldman stars as the title character where we actually see him when he is a warrior and declares revenge when his wife dies by becoming the famed vampire we know him as today. Keanu Reeves stars as Jonathan Harker who comes to see Dracula about selling some land and sees that his place is very strange. Dracula soon sees the picture of his fiance Mina, played by Winona Ryder, and pursues her after seeing a resemblance to his dead wife. This is where things play out, I won't go into too much detail but he is soon loose in the town and must be stopped. This movie paints a more humanistic characterization of Dracula where we see there is a reason that he became who he is today where we see more of a love story here but make no mistake, the gore is still there so please don't worry. Ford brought a lot of beauty to this film. Oldman was great as Dracula and had many different looks. Other people in this movie include Anthony Hopkins, Tom Waits, Cary Elwes, among many others.
The Great Debaters (2007): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Myspace friend Ken Bowens. Denzel Washington directed and stars in this movie based on the story by Robert Eisele. Washington plays the real-life poet and professor Melvin Tolson who in a small, negro town gets the first black debate team together defeating some of the best teams of all time. Denzel Whitaker co-stars as a young student named James Farmer Jr. who is part of the debate team and experiences a lot of ups and downs and Whitaker's performance should keep him out of the shadow of the other mentioned actor of the same first name. The very underrated Jurnee Smollett plays Samantha, the only female on the debate team. Other actors include Nate Parker and John Heard. This was a very inspirational one with mixed opinions to be expected but it took me all the way through.
Paths of Glory (1957): This is my military film of the week and was directed by Stanley Kubrick, in a much early film for him. Kirk Douglas stars as Colonel Dax in WWI, who must lead his army into a very impossible task. His men do not go all the way through with the attack and Dax must defend three of them in a trial to stop them from getting the firing squad. This was quite the anti-war film and a very daring movie for this time period. It portrays a lot of corruption and politics in the higher-ups and what they will do to protect themselves. It is a very compelling film and shows the start of a legendary director. Kirk Douglas played a big part in getting this movie made by talking United Artist's into using his studio after many people turned down Kubrick's script.
Caddyshack (1980): This is my sports comedy for the week that takes place at the golf course with many sub-plots. The main point of the movie is where Michael O'Keefe plays the caddy Danny who is trying to win a scholarship under golfer Judge Elihu Smails, played by Ted Knight, and must be caddy to the eccentric Al, played by Chevy Chase. Rodney Dangerfield is great as the new crude golfer. Bill Murray plays the groundskeeper who does everything he can to destroy the groundhog which seems to make the course worse and worse. There is on much to explain but makes a great golf comedy where the golfers are either slobs or snobs. Bill Murray's brother Brian-Doyle co-wrote the script with director Harold Ramis.
Empire of the Ants (1977): I was at my dad's house last weekend and decided to look for something on On-Demand and I wanted something from the 60s or 70s and in looking, I found my chance to show a cheesy film for a change. This is based on the book by H.G. Wells where ants are exposed to radiation poisoning and become much bigger and dangerous, I suppose getting revenge on humans. Do I really need to explain much more? The special effects were not great. This is the movie to get friends together so that you can crack jokes through it. If you are trying to find a great Sci-Fi film that is not it, but if you want entertainment, here you go.
In Cold Blood (1967): This is another On-Demand selection I made and once again I wanted something in the 60s or 70s and found this one where I figured my dad liked this and he was working on his computer. This is based on Truman Capote's famed novel which is the account of a real-life brutal murder and interviews the murderers to get the account. The movie was done in very compelling fashion where it seemed very realistic in the camerawork. Robert Blake and Scott Wilson are the killers and are told of a fortune at the house of a seemingly perfect family and end up killing them after a botched robbery. Richard Brooks wrote the screenplay and directed it and was very well done and rather disturbing showing them before, during and after the murder where they try to evade capture but eventually the authorities catch up to them. They each have different emotions as to what happened. Blake is great as Perry Smith in his best performance and Scott Wilson is also good as his accomplice who is more eccentric. Capote took on a rather unusual project of developing this type of novel and is still very recognized. Brooks lobbied to get actors who were fairly unknown for the killers and accomplished what he wanted to after much trouble.
Hell's Heroes (1930): I found this on TCM which is based on the novel THREE GODFATHERS by Peter Kyne and there would be a movie many years later of the actual name to star John Wayne. William Wyler directed this early adaptation of the biblical western where three bandits escape to the desert while trying to get away after a robbery. They come across a dying woman who they see is the wife of a man they killed in the robbery. She just gave birth and is asking them to take get her baby to Jeruselem. They develop a heart and decide to take the baby in very tough conditions. This is quite different from the movie that came out many years later. They are doing the favor but they are more human than hero and do not rise to the heroism of John Wayne many years later but still a compelling and even moving film.
Cheese Burglar (1946): This is my cartoon short for the week which has Herman the Mouse. Herman is in a house with a cat and dog that seem to always stop him from getting the cheese giving Herman 29 days of starvation. Herman does what he can to pit the dog and cat against each other so that they will kill each other believing that cats and dogs are natural enemies. It was a pretty entertaining short and an interesting ending.
A Simple Twist of Fate (1994): I got this one off Netflix which Steve Martin stars and wrote the screenplay of George Eliot's SILAS MARNER. We start with Michael, played by Martin, who is excited about becoming a father but learns the baby is not his. Years later, he is living alone and somehow a little girl gets into his house and he decides to adopt her. Gabriel Byrne co-stars as politician John Newland who is her real father but at the time did not feel it would benefit his political career by taking her in but years later decides to take challenge Michael for custody. Laura Linney plays Newland's high-class wife. This was a great acting departure for Martin who is known for his comedy. Other actors in this movie include Catherine O'Hara, Stephen Baldwin, and even Anne Heche in an uncredited role.
Saw III (2006): This is part of the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Jeremy aka wrestler Ryan Wrath. Tobin Bell reprises his role as Jigsaw and continues his game where he continues to put people in extreme do-or-die situations. In this one, along with his new protege Amanda who is reprised by Shawnee Smith, kidnaps a female doctor, played by Bahar Soomekh, who must keep Jigsaw alive to keep herself alive. The other big situation is with Jeff, played by Angus Macfadyen, whose young son was killed in a car accident and has lost everything since then due to his depression and craze for revenge. Jeff must make decisions to see if revenge is really the right thing. This is obviously not for everyone but is one of the better modern-day horror film series out there right now. Other actors include Donnie Wahlberg, Dina Meyer, and PICKET FENCES alum Costas Mandylor. Just so you know, there is a part six coming.
Well, that is it for this week. Please leave your comments on what you like and what you hate and I will return next week with the 188th Edition which as of now includes Tom Hanks and Steve Carell.
FUN LITTLE TRIVIA
Muncie Civic Theater did a version of Dracula some time ago. My facebook and myspace friend
Sean played Dracula. Karin played the role of Mina. Kevin played the role of Dr. Sam Seward. Rynice played the role of Lucy.
BIBLICAL FRANCHISE
-Gary Oldman (Dracula) was Pontius Pilate in the 1999 tv movie JESUS
-Richard Grant (Dracula) was John the Baptist in the 2000 animated film THE MIRACLE MAKER
-Monica Bellucci (Dracula) was Mary Magdelene in the 2004 film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Gary Oldman (Dracula) plays a younger Commissioner Gordan in the Christian Bale era of Batman. Dina Meyer (Saw 3) plays his daughter Barbara Gordan in the short-lived 2002 tv series BIRDS OF PREY who in this story was Batgirl but was shot by the Joker and is in a wheelchair and a mentor to Helena Kyle, daughter of Batman and Catwoman.
Gabriel Byrne (A Simple Twist of Fate) auditioned for Dracula in this week's feature of BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA which would ultimately go to Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman (Dracula) played Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale in the 1995 version of THE SCARLET LETTER. John Heard (The Great Debaters) played the part in the 1979 tv version of the same name.
Gary Oldman (Dracula) played Lee Harvey Oswald in the 1991 film JFK. My Facebook friend Kyle played the role in the production of Stephen Sondheim's musical ASSASSINS which was at Muncie Civic Studio theater.
KENNEDY FRANCHISE
-Gary Oldman (Dracula) played Oswald, who as most know was believed to have killed Presiden John F. Kennedy, in the 1991 film JFK
-Brian-Doyle Murray (Caddyshack) plays Jack Ruby, the man who killed Oswald in the same movie
-Tobin Bell (Saw 3) played David Ferrie, who was also thought to have involvement in the assassination of Kennedy, in the 1992 tv movie RUBY
DRACULA actors Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell have both played Ted Bundy
-Elwes played the part in the 2004 tv movie THE RIVERMAN
-Campbell played the part in the 2003 film THE STRANGER BESIDE ME
Cary Elwes (Dracula) was part of Tobin Bell's (Saw 3) game in the first SAW
Keanu Reeves (Dracula) and Denzel Washington were brothers in the 1993 film MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Winona Ryder (Dracula) was Jo March and Gabriel Byrne (Simple Twist of Fate) was Friedrich Bhaer in the 1994 film LITTLE WOMEN who become married.
John Heard (Great Debaters) and Catherine O'Hara (Simple Twist of Fate) were husband and wife in the first two HOME ALONE filmes.
Harold Ramis (Caddyshack director) and Bill Murray (Caddyshack) are two of the Ghostbusters in the two films and the upcoming GHOSTBUSTERS III.
Bill Murray (Caddyshack) was Steve Martin's (Simple Twist of Fate) pain-loving patient in the 1986 film LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Robert Blake (In Cold Blood) and Donnie Wahlberg (Saw 3) have both played outlaw Billy the Kid-Robert Blake played the part in the 1966 episode of tv series DEATH VALLEY DAYS called THE KID FROM HELL'S KITCHEN
-Wahlberg played the part in the 1999 tv movie PURGATORY
Stephen Baldwin (Simple Twist of Fate) turned down the role of Jack in the 1994 film SPEED which would ultimately go to Keanu Reeves (Dracula)
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