Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 303rd Edition

Welcome to the 303rd Edition from my blog. I'm finally starting my rehearsals for SWEENEY TODD this week. Look forward to meeting new people since I don't really know anyone in the cast. I'm also ready for football to start as I now have my fantasy football league and hope to win again like I did last year. Last night I went to see Hoosier Pro Wrestling, expecting to be a fan but ended up becoming their last minute ring announcer. The first ring announcer job I did in street clothes but it was a lot of fun returning to the promotion which gave me my start. Next weekend on Saturday.

Goya's Ghosts (2006): This is part two of my four-part Natalie Portman series that takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. Milos Forman directs this film on painter Francisco Goya, played well by Stellan Skarsgard. Natalie Portman plays Inez, who is Goya's muse but she is arrested for heresy after the painting. Inez's father then comes to Goya who knows Brother Lorenzo, played by Javier Bardem, very well hoping that his daughter can be released. This was actually a very compelling film taking place in this era. There is an interesting scene where Inez's father goes through some very extreme measures to prove a point to Brother Lorenzo. This is one of those which can make you appreciate what we have today. Randy Quaid has a much different part as King Carlos IV. This movie is available on Instant Netflix.

Fun of Being Thoughtful (1950): This is my short film for the week and comes from those great Coronet Instructional videos which were meant to educate but just become entertaining by today's standards. This takes a look at various people who are learning to become thoughtful and how fun it can actually be. These are usually pretty fun to watch with annoying narration and people to entertain us.

'G' Men (1935): I decided to go the Cagney route this week where in these days he was known for his gangster roles, here he takes a part on the right side of the law showing the early days of the F.B.I. Cagney plays Brick Davis who starts out wanting to be an honest attorney but certain circumstances make him want to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In the FBI, he starts out with limited duties but progresses through time. This was a pretty interesting propaganda film on the FBI and a pretty violent movie for this era. Cagney was good in his role. The actual founder J. Edgar Hoover apparently did not like the movie at first the way it portrayed Davis as a rather loose cannon but the success changed his mind.

You Don't Know Jack (2010): This is part one of a two-part series on Al Pacino. This is one of two HBO movies I have for this week. No, this is not that game people play. This is a biopic on Dr. Jack Kevorkian who was known to many as Dr. Death. Al Pacino plays the doctor who did not agree with his line of work and did not want to have to save a life when someone has a terminal illness and not living well. He was known for his many assisted suicides of which he was tried many times but could not find grounds to convict him. Kevorkian was at odds with a prosecutor, the media, and others who did not agree with his methods. He also had problems with other doctors who felt he was violating the job of his oath when helping people die. Danny Huston was very good as Kevorkian's attorney Geoffrey Fieger who in real-life did a case here in Muncie where I live. John Goodman plays Kevorkian's friend and partner who sticks by him no matter what happens. Susan Sarandon plays the person providing Jack a place to do what he was doing. There are lots of mixed opinions on Jack Kevorkian, some positive, some negative, some even believe he was a serial killer. I am someone who felt that Kevorkian was trying to help people who could no longer live a quality life. I do not believe for one second he is a serial killer. When I was watching this movie, I was just into it all the way through and Pacino was really good as the doctor.

Life of Brian (1979): I decided to bring Monty Python into this one and my favorite. Graham Chapman plays the title character in this biblical satire. Brian is mistaken for a prophet and a messiah when joining an anti-Roman group. Joining are the other Pythons of Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam. There is not much that needs to be explained here except that great Python humor where all the actors play multiple characters and made quite a career of it. At the end, we get the great song ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE. This was a very funny religious satire and if you have not gotten into Monty Python, get started with their films.

Bereft (2004): This is my Showtime film for the week. Tim Daly co-directed and co-starred in this tv movie which stars Vinessa Shaw as Molly. Molly has lost her husband and is having a hard time dealing with the grief while haunted with the memory of her dead husband. Tim Blake Nelson plays Denis who is mentally disabled and is befriended by Molly. Tim Daly plays Denis' caretaker and also becomes friends with Molly. Together they understand each other in ways that her family cannot. It was a very interesting look at dealing with such grief and how the grief can rub off on others. Shaw did a really good job and I thought Tim Daly was pretty good in a more rough role than usual.

Imitation of Life (1959): This is actually a remake from a film of the same title in 1934. I have actually seen both of these movies and really liked both. The main difference is in the 1934 film, the main character focused on the pancake industry and in this one the main character was a struggling actress. Lana Turner stars as Lora who is a struggling actress and a single mother. She then meets a nice black lady named Annie, played by Juanita Moore, who also has a daughter who is very light colored and can pass as white. Annie asks Lora to take in her and her daughter in return for cooking and other things. They soon for a very strong bond and even a family. This is a movie that takes place through the years even when the kids are grown up and the struggles that Annie's daughter has in her later life. Sandra Dee plays Lora's daughter grown up and having her own struggles with a certain person she likes. This was a very good drama done very well by Douglas Sirk. I would say just get people together and watch a double feature on both the 1934 and this version. This version that is featured is available on Instant Netflix and worth a watch.

Deja Vu (2006): Tony Scott directed this film which stars Denzel Washington as ATF agent Doug Carlin who is investigating a terrorist attack on New Orleans. He then agrees to use some new technology from an FBI experimental group that allows to look back four days in the past. Doug then decides that maybe it can be used to actually prevent what was happening. Paula Patton plays a woman who was abducted by the bomber who plays an important part in the events. Doug falls in love with her as she is investigating. Val Kilmer, Adam Goldberg, and James Caviezal also co-star in this action packed film that was actually quite compelling.

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (1976): I was looking for something from this era and found this concert film. I found this on Instant Netflix and one of my first thoughts was why a concert film would be under "Mind-Bending Movies". I then saw that this was a rather strange film where in the beginning their manager Peter Grant had to call each Zeppelin member to come out for their concert. I then noticed some rather strange fantasy sequences that explained why it was in the category it was in. I will say that I like Led Zeppelin to a point but am not a die-hard fan and in fact prefer much of Plant's solo work but this still had some good concert footage to entertain. If you don't like Led Zeppelin though, this probably is not the one to watch.

Gia (1998): I end this week with this HBO biopic on 80s model Gia Carangi, played by a young Angelina Jolie, who lived fast and died very young. This shows her as a child, actually being played by Mila Kunis when she was about 11 years old, to her adult life getting into drugs and alcohol ruining her career. Faye Dunaway co-stars as Gia's mentor and Mercedes Ruehl co-stars as Gia's mother. Jolie actually was pretty good as the unorthodox model. This is a pretty good look at the fashion industry in the 80s.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and do not like. Stay Tuned for next week which so far includes more Natalie Portman, Bob Hope, Alastair Sim, Emilio Estevez, Vincent Price, more Al Pacino, and many others

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

Natalie Portman (Goya's Ghosts) and Mila Kunis (Gia) worked together in the 2010 film BLACK SWAN.

Natalie Portman (Goya's Ghosts) and Al Pacino (You Don't Know Jack) play stepdaughter and stepfather in the 1995 film HEAT. Val Kilmer (Deja Vu) also has a part.

Natalie Portman (Goya's Ghosts) and Susan Sarandon (You Don't Know Jack) play daughter and mother in the 1999 film ANYWHERE BUT HERE.

Randy Quaid (Goya's Ghosts) plays Doc Holiday in the 1999 tv movie PURGATORY. Val Kilmer (Deja Vu) plays the part in the 1993 film TOMBSTONE.

Randy Quaid (Goya's Ghosts) plays the creature of Frankenstein in the 1992 tv movie FRANKENSTEIN. My Facebook friend Russ played the part in a 2007 version of Muncie Civic Theater version of which I played evil gravedigger Peter Schmidt.

Randy Quaid (Goya's Ghosts) plays Mitch in the 1984 tv movie A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. John Goodman (You Don't Know Jack) plays the part in a 1995 tv movie version of the same title.

James Cagney (G Men) plays Lon Chaney in the 1957 biopic MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES. Terry Gilliam (Life of Brian) plays Chaney in a 1969 episode of MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS.

John Goodman (You Don't Know Jack) and Tim Blake Nelson (Bereft) worked together in the 2000 film O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU.

Eric Idle (Life of Brian) played Drosselmeier in the 2004 movie THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSEKING. I played the part in a 2006 version of THE NUTCRACKER at the Cornerstone Center For The Arts in Muncie.

Kenneth Colley plays a small part as Jesus in this week's feature LIFE OF BRIAN. James Caviezel plays the part in the 2004 film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.