Welcome to the 237th Edition of my long running series. GUYS AND DOLLS plays on Friday, June 4th and Saturday June 5th at 8 pm at the Belfry Theater in Noblesville, IN. Check out http://ibelfry.com for information on reserving tickets to see the show. I think it will be very good and I have a good part as Harry the Horse. This week I return with the Random Myspace Profile selection process with one selection. Next week will have at least one but not sure yet on any others. I also pay tribute to the late Lena Horne and Frank Frazetta. One more note before I get on with my selections. My dad has had a tough 2010 so far as he broke his ankle at work. He recently had to have a second surgery to get the bolts taken out and to deal with an infection in his ankle which I believe was the main reason for the surgery. His wife has stuck by him and helped him every step of the way. Through all this, just please keep my dad in your thoughts and prayers to finally get better again. However, I know if he reads this he would probably just say "shut up and get on with your selections for the week" or something like that so let's get on with my selections.
Stormy Weather (1943): I start the week out with my tribute to the late Lena Horne who recently left us. Andrew L. Stone directed this musical which features many high-profile black entertainers from the era. Lena Horne stars as singer Selina Rogers and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson stars as aspiring dancer Bill Williamson. They meet and fall in love but their careers keep them apart and Selina does not want to "settle down" but must choose which most know the kind of choice I would make. This is one element of film I don't like when someone wants someone they love to leave what they are doing but since I don't know love very well I guess I would not know. All that being said, this had a lot of great musical numbers and co-stars Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Doolie Wilson, and a showcase a black talent that should have had better careers if it was not for the beliefs of the era. Bill Robinson and Fats Waller make their last appearances in this film.
Manhatton Melodrama (1934): This movie will always hold its place in history as the one that John Dillinger saw in Chicago at the Biograph Theater. When leaving, Dillinger was gunned down by the FBI. Clark Gable stars as Blackie Gallagher and William Powell stars as Jim Wade. They are friends in childhood but in adulthood they take different paths in life but love the same woman, played by Myrna Loy. Blackie Gallagher becomes a racketeer and murderer while Jim Wade becomes a prosecutor. Jim Wade decides to run for governor but must prosecute his friend for a murder which affects Wade's political career and has a tough time with ethics. I am sure that nowadays, they would assign someone else due to conflict of interest but this movie moved very well and kept my attention all the way through with great performances from the leads. Mickey Rooney plays Blackie Gallagher in the beginning of the film. An underrated gem in the career of Mr. Gable.
Movie Crazy (1932): I know bring you a talkie from the third silent genius Harold Lloyd. Lloyd stars as Harold Hall who is very accident prone and has no acting experience but is determined to enter the film industry. He leaves his small town heading out to Hollywood where he immediately causes trouble with his clumsiness but catches the eye of a beautiful actress who comes to like his nice personality. It is a very funny movie of Hollywood of the era and good talkie from Lloyd whose movies I really enjoy the most of "The Big Three" which obviously includes Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton so bring the heat those of you that disagree with me.
Toy Story (1995): I have had this one sitting on my shelf for a couple months before finally getting to it. This is one of the first feature-length computer animated films and the first of many greats from Pixar. Tom Hanks is a toy cowboy named Woody and the leader leader of Andy's toys who come to life when no one is looking but must remain froze when humans are around. Woody has been Andy's favorite for many years but finally develops some jealousy when Andy gets space ranger Buzz Lightyear, voiced by HOME IMPROVEMENT alum Tim Allen, who believes he is a real space ranger and not a toy. An argument between the two makes Buzz accidentally fall out of the window and the other toys believe Woody tried to kill Buzz. When trying to find each other, they must then deal with the neighborhood bully Sid who is every toy's worst nightmare. This was a great family film which also had voice talents of Jim Varney, CHEERS alum John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Don Rickles, and many others. It also contains a lot of Randy Newman songs including YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME. I admit I have not seen part two but it is on my list on Netflix.
Frazetta: Painting With Fire (2003): This is my tribute to the late artist Frank Frazetta who recently left us. This is a documentary which focuses on his childhood, his struggles and rise as an artist and what he is doing now. His paintings feature a lot of fantasy art which looks amazing. It has interviews with many people he has worked with including Ralph Bakshi who worked with Frazetta on his film FIRE AND ICE. His art has inspired a lot of the fantasy work we all love today so look this guy up. I was able to get this through Netflix and is very informative. Many people have used him for their movie covers, comic strips, and many other things. People should Google the name Frank Frazetti and check out some of his great works of art.
Wanted (2008): The Facebook friend I chose for this week is Roger who I met in my younger days at Ivy Tech. James McAvoy stars as Wesley Gibson who is an office worker who hates his job. He then meets the sexy Fox, played by Angelina Jolie, who informs Wes that his father was a professional assassin in a group called Fraternity and was killed by a man named Cross who betrayed their group. Morgan Freeman heads this organization. They then train Wes to become an assassin and avenge the death of his father but he is not sure who to trust. There is not much more to say here. It is a good action film to watch to get your mind off things. I may catch some heat for this selection and if you are looking for a moving story and great plot this is not it but has some good action scenes plus I want to accomodate to each person's movie tastes in some way or another. This is based on a comic by Mark Miller.
Friday the 13th (1980): This is my selection for the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Lewis. Sean Cunningham directed this slasher classic that made way to many sequels and one of the movies that started the slasher genre. We go to Camp Crystal Lake which is being reopened many years after the drowning of a young boy who the counselors were not paying attention. This was not the best idea as many counselors are being murdered by an unknown assailant. A young Kevin Bacon plays one of the campers. This is a very important part of horror movie history and has some pretty creative murder scenes.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008): Woody Allen wrote and directed this film but did not feature himself as an actor. Rebecca Hall plays Vicky and Scarlet Johansson plays Cristina. They are two friends that spend their summer in Italy. They meet an artist named Juan Antonio, played by Javier Bardem, who is separated from his wife who he has a very destructive relationship with. Cristina forms an immediate liking to Juan Antonio but Vicky is far more cautious. Cristina then moves in with Juan Antonio but is soon joined by the ex-wife Maria Elena, played very well by Penelope Cruz, where an unusual friendship forms between Vicky, Juan, and Maria. This is pretty much a character study and had some good performances. It was interesting to see these characters of Vicky who thought she found herself with her engagement but starts to question what she wants and Cristina who just does not know what she wants. Some of the best scenes are the dialogue between Cristina, Juan, and Maria. There is really not much more I can explain for this one.
No Way Out (1987): Joseph Mankiewicz co-wrote and directed this film which stars Sidney Poitier in his feature film debut which was one of many films where he plays a non-stereotypical black man and in some ways broke the color barrier in the film industry. In this movie, he plays Dr. Luther Brooks who just graduated medical school and is now working in the prison ward. We then see two brothers who were shot in a robbery. While trying to treat one of them, the brother dies after Luther does everything he can. Richard Widmark plays the surviving brother Ray Biddle who is very racist and is determined to prove that Luther is guilty of murder. Stephen McNally plays Luther's very soulful boss who does not care what Luther's skin color is as long as he knows how to do the job. There is some use of the N-word in this film as well. It does take a look at racism on both sides as Luther's friends and family have a hard time with his colleagues and the person he is treating. This was a pretty suspenseful film, especially towards the end. This had to be very controversial in the era and might not get by in today's politically correct society but very groundbreaking and underrated.
A Plantation Act (1926): I guess I am focusing a lot on African-American cinema where in this short film we see Al Jolson doing his usual Blackface and sang a few music numbers which were "mammy" numbers. Blackface was acceptable in this era where Jolson made quite a career of it but did not do it out of racism and was pretty respectful in his portrayals of black characters. If you can get past the blackface element that would never survive today, this might be pretty enjoyable and it is only about 10 minutes long as it is my short film for the week and is part one of two for an Al Jolson series.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you do not like and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Mel Gibson, more Al Jolson, Julianne Moore, and many others.
HONORABLE TV MENTION
Lost (2004-2010): We recently saw this show come to an end. This is a show where we see a plane crash on an island and for those who survive life will never be the same. Matthew Fox plays Dr. Jack Sheperd who becomes the leader of this group of survivors who are looking to leave the island and also see what the island is all about. Each episode uses flashback, and many other things to talk about what a character was like before they went to the island. This is a character study towards many diverse characters who we all tuned in every week to see and there just won't be another show like it. I was always amazed by how each season managed to introduce some new group of people to the island. Anyone who tried to watch it with me and had never seen the show were just like what the title says and even I was what the title says a lot but it had some great characterizations and interesting story elements of supernatural on this island. I really don't need to explain much here. The first five seasons are available as instant on Netflix but you'd better start with Season One.
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