Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 197th Edition

Welcome to the 197th Edition of my blog. I will be paying tribute this week to the late John Hughes. I got my fantasy football team together so I'm going for that big prize this year and hope to do better than last year.

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961): Stanley Kramer directed this courtroom drama which takes place in German, three years since the most important Nazi leaders had been tried or died. Now there are four judges on trial for conducting Nazi sterilization and cleansing policies which were believed to have lead to the many deaths in concentration camps. Spencer Tracy is the retired American judge Dan Hayward is brought in with two other judges to conduct this very difficult trial and make a very important decision. Burt Lancaster is one of the judges on trial. Montgomery Clift also has a good, small part as one of the witnesses. Judy Garland, in a later role, also is very good as a very reluctant witness making it very refreshing to see her doing something so different. The all-star cast also includes Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Richard Widmark, and pre-STAR TREK William Shatner. The all-star casts really works and forces you to think your views on what should happen in a trial with lots of gray areas.

Gods and Monsters (1998): The Facebook friend I chose for this week is Ric who I was in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with. Bill Condon directed this film adaption on Christopher's Bram's novel FATHER OF FRANKENSTEIN which was a fictional account on the last days of director James Whale, most known for FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Sir Ian McKellan stars as the famed director who is long past his prime. The flamboyant director takes an interest in his new gardener Clayton Boone, played by Brendan Fraser, who he asks to model for him for a picture to be drawn and they form a very unusual friendship despite Whale's homosexuality and Boone getting uncomfortable with the advances. He also has a lot of fantasies in his mind placing people in his life as characters in FRANKENSTEIN. Lynn Redgrave plays his disapproving house maid. This was a great movie which makes lots of good references to what he has done in his career with the ups and downs in his life. This might be Fraser's best performance showing that he does not always have to try to be funny. When you watch this, take a look at some of Whale's other work, he was a very versatile director despite breaking a lot of ground into the horror genre. What I also liked her was when Clayton found out who he is, he was very anxious to check out his work and see BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN on the tv asking some of his friends to watch with him. He sat in enjoyment but his friends were laughing just seeing it as a comedy. It may not be scary by today's standards and Whale did have a strange sense of humor but it did give life to the iconic story of FRANKENSTEIN that we know today and the first known movie that was out there. Lolita Davidovich, Kevin J. O'Connor, and Jack Plotnick also co-star.

The Incredible Hulk (2008): I found this Marvel film on On-Demand when I was at my Dad's house. I had recalled seeing the 2003 Ang Lee film HULK but heard this was much better than that and I ended up agreeing. This was not a sequel to it but almost like something to make up for the 2003 flop. With the 2003 version, I just did not see much depth to it and really did not have an enemy to fight. At least here, Tim Roth was someone he had to fight while having to battle with his "disease". Ed Norton stars as Bruce Banner, who is actually a US government fugitive residing in Mexico to hide out and to try to keep from becoming the green person he did not want to be. Despite his efforts, the military led by General Ross, played by William Hurt who I would have never recognized if his name was not in the credits, catch up to him and events cause Banner to turn into what he hates. Liv Tyler stars as Betty Ross, General Ross' daughter and Banner's love interest, who rightfully blames her father for Bruce's state. Tim Roth plays Emil Blonsky who will do everything he can to catch Banner leading up to quite a fight in the end. Even the computer animation seemed more complex this time than the 2003 version which I fought looked way too cartoonish. I really actually prefer the 2003 actors Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly in the Bruce Banner and Betty Ross roles but Norton and Tyler make the most of them and have a much better script to work with. Former Hulk Lou Ferrigno has a cameo as a security guard and even does the voice of the Hulk. Look for Robert Downey Jr. in a cameo. This does not top 2008's THE DARK KNIGHT and IRON MAN for me but is part of an array of a great 2008 for comic book films.

In America (2002): Jim Sheridan directed this film which I felt was the best of 2002 and probably ranks pretty high in my favorites. This movie shows an illegal immigrant family coming into the United States and trying to make the difficult adjustment. Paddy Considine is Johnny who is a struggling actor just trying to get a part in a play. Samantha Morton plays his wife with Sarah and Emma Bolger playing their two girls which worked very well. They live in a very bad apartment complex in New York but find help through various friends that are made like their reclusive neighbor Mateo, played very well by Djimon Hounsou. The movie is seen through the eyes of the older daughter Sarah, played by Sarah Bolger, showing their financial and emotional struggles and showing how each one is dealing differently with the death of their younger brother. This is a great and realistic portrait of a family who just wants a chance and is an absolute work of art in my opinion. The four family members work very well together and Sheridan's best idea was casting real sisters to play the daughters.

An American Crime (2007): I also found this one on On-Demand while at my Dad's and this is something I want to immediately emphasize...THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. I chose this one because I saw the name Ellen Page, who I hardly see in anything but usually like her when I do, and because I saw it was something happening in Indianapolis in the 60s and I live pretty close to there. Ellen plays Sylvia Likens, whose parents pay a single mother with four kids $20 a week to take care of her and her younger sister Jennie so that the parents can work their carnival jobs. Catherine Keener plays the part of Gertrude Baniszewski, the mom of four who takes these kids in and starts a series of abuse with Sylvia which starts with hitting her with a belt but escalates into burning cigarettes into her skin to eventually imprisoning her into the basement. When in the basement she demanded that her children and other neighborhood kids torture Sylvia until she "learns her lesson" which if you google the name, you'll find it was eventually murder and the movie was based on the trial and showing flashbacks. It was very difficult to watched and admit I watched in anger for Gertrude's abuse towards her and her thinking that she is in the right for what she was doing. Keener just portrayed this person disturbingly well. I did some research on this case and it has been said "this is the most terrible crime committed in the state of Indiana" and what I found was unfortunately very accurately. James Franco co-stars Gertrude's on-again, off-again younger boyfriend and is more unlikable than usual in this movie. I would guess that the real-life Jennie Likens, Sylvia's younger sister, will not watch this if she is still alive and nor would I blame her. I do believe that child abusers should be shown this movie to get an idea of what they look like when they are doing it. In the same year this movie came out, Gregory Wilson directed a 2007 movie of Jack Ketchum's novel THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and no this is not the comedy with Elisha Cuthbert. This also is based on these events but the names were changed. I did not see that one but I know it was pretty acclaimed. This was a very well-done film with good performances with Ellen losing a lot of weight to get into the role since Sylvia was not exactly fed all the time. I think I have spoken long enough on this one, I just want to get enough warning to everyone to make the decision to watch. The movie is only about 90 minutes so it does not go overlong.

She's Having a Baby (1988): This is my tribute to John Hughes. I know he has done work more known and probably better but this is the one I already had on my Netflix queue so I figured I would give it a shot. Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern play newlyweds Jake and Kristy who then must adjust to the rest of their lives in the world of work and to decide if they want a baby which both sides of parents clearly want. Alec Baldwin plays Jake's irresponsible friend Davis. There are some pretty interesting fantasy sequences including a choreographed number with people mowing. The performances were pretty good. It probably could have stood to have about 15-20 minutes cut off but still enjoyable for me to watch especially since the one I had seen right before was the last I commented on.

Cinderella's Feller (1940): This is my short film for the week which is on the dvd of VIRGINIA CITY that I featured last week. This is an interesting early short adaptation of the classic where the title girl, her two wicked stepsisters, and Prince Charming are all elementary age children and Cinderella gets to watch the talent show with the Prince at the ball. The talent show had some very good acts and the king was quite funny. It is a very good adaptation of the classic and yes that is the same dog that plays Toto whose name is Terry, the most worked dog in Hollywood.

The Sugarland Express (1974): This is Steven Spielberg's theatrical debut fresh off directing the great 1971 tv movie DUEL. This is a true story which stars Goldie Hawn as Lou Jean Poplin, a mother very upset when her baby is taken away. She goes to break her husband Clovis, played by William Atherton, out of prison and set out on quite a journey to get their baby back from the foster home. In the process, they take officer Maxwell Slide hostage. Michael Sacks plays this part and while not happy at first, he comes to admire the couple. The longer they are on the run from all the police, the bigger of a cult following do they receive. Much of society deem them as heroes and at times get mobbed like they were big celebrities.. Goldie was great in her part as well as the others and Ben Johnson as Captain Harlin Taylor who is after them but also comes to admire them as well. This is a good road movie and the start of the collaboration between Spielberg and composer John Williams. This is a great experience to watch so get with your friends and do so.

The Dawn Rider (1935): I used some early John Wayne this week when he worked for Lone Star Productions. Here, he plays John Mason whose father is murdered and he becomes wounded. Alice does what she can to nurse him to health but things happen when John is attracted to her and Alice is engaged to his friend Ben. John then goes after the man who killed his father not knowing Ben removed the bullets. It provided pretty good entertainment. I'm really not as big of John Wayne fan as some even though I'll be using him next week.

The Richest Girl in the World (1934): I end with this romantic comedy starring a very young Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea. Hopkins plays Dorothy, the title character, who is convinced she will not fall in love due to her wealth. Dorothy's secretary Sylvia, played by Fay Wray, fronts for her in public and Dorothy poses as Sylvia. When being Sylvia, she meets McCrea and sees he might want more than money and must go through some tests. It was interesting seeing Wray in something besides KING KONG and the others are pretty good making this a pretty decent romantic comedy from that era.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you don't like and stay tuned for next week which will include John Wayne, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Sylvester Stallone.

FUN LITTLE FACTS

Burt Lancaster (Judgment at Nuremberg) was originally going to play the part of Luis Molena in the 1985 film KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN but the part would ultimately go to William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk)

Judy Garland (Judgement at Nuremberg) plays Dorothy Gale in the 1939 film THE WIZARD OF OZ. Lynn Redgrave (Gods and Monsters) voices the Wicked Witch of the East in the 2000 film LION OF OZ.

Ian McKellen (Gods and Monsters) plays Gandalf in Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Liv Tyler (The Incredible Hulk) plays Arwen in the same trilogy.

Ian McKellen (Gods and Monsters) plays Magneto in the X-MEN trilogy. Ellen Page (An American Crime) plays Kitty Pryde in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND.

Brendan Fraser (Gods and Monsters) plays Sinbad in the 2000 animated film SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL OF MISTS. Lou Ferrigno plays the part in the 1989 film SINBAD AND THE SEVEN SEAS.