Welcome to the 957th Edition of my series. I hope everyone is doing okay in these crazy times. I don't have anything to report as of right now so I'll just get on with the selections for the week.
Monday Night Mayhem (2002): I start the week out with this TNT tv movie which was directed by Ernest R. Dickerson. This takes a look at how the long running MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL came to be back in 1970. John Turturro stars as the controversial reporter Howard Cosell who is relied on to make their vision very entertaining. Kevin Anderson co-stars as fellow MNF original Frank Gifford and Brad Beyer co-stars as fellow MNF original Don Meredith. John Heard, Nicholas Turturro, Patti Lupone, Jay Thomas, Zak Orth, Shuler Hensley, Brennan Brown, Leo Bursmester, Chad L. Coleman, Steve Schirripa, Eli Wallach, and many others co-star in this tv movie. This gets the point across well on the ups and downs of the start of MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. Turturro is very good as Cossell. This is an entertaining look at the start of something that would become very big but never matched the original MNF team.
The Protégé (2021): Martin Campbell directed this action film which was written by Richard Wenk. Maggie Q stars as Anna who was taken in by the assassin Moody, played by Samuel L. Jackson, when she was a child. Moody manages to teach her everything he knows making her into quite the assassin. When Moody is brutally murdered, Anna looks for some revenge. Michael Keaton co-stars as the dangerous and charismatic Rembrandt. David Rintoul, Patrick Malahide, Ray Fearon, Ori Pfeffer, Robert Patrick, Florin Piersic Jr., Tudor Chirila, Velizar, Binev, George Pistereaunu, and many others co-star in this action film. I say take this for what it is, a fun and entertaining action movie. I can always watch Maggie Q as assassin having recently started the tv series NIKITA. This is available to watch on Moviesphere.
A Perfect Getaway (2009): David Twohy directed and wrote this action movie. Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich star as newlyweds Cliff and Sydney. They decide to honeymoon in Hawaii and get far more than they bargained for when learning there are murderers on the island. Timothy Olyphant, Kiele Sanchez, Marley Shelton, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Ruivivar, Dale Dickey, Wendy Braun, and many others co-star in this movie. I will just leave it at the vague description. This is one that just needs to be watched so that I don't give anything away. Lots of action and a lot of twists and turns keep this thing going. This is available to watch on Max.
Young Mr. Jazz (1919): This is my silent comedy short for the week which was directed by Hal Roach. Harold Lloyd stars in this silent short where him and his girlfriend, played by Bebe Daniels, are trying to get away from her father. When their car breaks down, they end up in a dance hall run by crooks and must avoid them in addition to the father. This is a fun one-reeler and has some really good dancing. This is available to watch on both Max and the Criterion Channel.
Stage Fright (1950): Alfred Hitchcock directed this film which is based on the novel MAN RUNNING by Selwyn Jepson. This takes place among my world of theater where a murder happens. Jane Wyman stars as struggling actress Eve Gill who looks to help prove the innocence of her friend Jonathan, played by Richard Todd. He is accused of murder his wife Charlotte's, played by Marlene Dietrich, lover. Michael Wilding, Alastair Sim, Sybil Thornedike, Kay Walsh, Miles Malleson, Hector Macgregor, Joyce Grenfell, Andre Morrell, Patricia Hitchcock, Ballard Berkeley, and many others co-star in this film. Sim is very amusing as Eve's father. This is a very underrated Hitchcock film where nothing is really what it seems so it will be best just to watch this one.
Remember My Name (1978): Alan Rudolph wrote and directed this thriller. Geraldine Chaplin stars as ex-con Emily who becomes very obsessive over construction worker Neil Curry, played by Anthony Perkins. Neil's wife Barbara, played by Berry Berenson, is also in danger over her obsessive personality. Moses Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, Tim Thomerson, Alfre Woodard, Jeff Perry, Alan Autry, Dennis Franz, and many others co-star in this film. Chaplin was very good portraying very psychological issues. This is also a very underrated performance by Perkins who unfortunately is mostly known as Norman Bates. I also learned that Rudolph cast him on account of his performance in the play EQUUS which would have been interesting to watch. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on TUBI.
The Wayward Bus (1957): Victor Vicas directed this film which is based on the novel by John Steinbeck. This centers around a rather dangerous bus ride. An alcoholic wife, played by Joan Collins, a stripper, played by Jayne Mansfield, and a travelling salesman, played by Dan Dailey all must face their shortcomings. Rick Jason, Betty Lou Keim, Delores Michaels, Larry Keating, Robert Bray, Kathryn Givney, Dee Pollack, Will Wright, and many others co-star in this road trip movie. The suspense a lot of times on the obstacles of the bus trip. It also has some very well-written characters. This was written as a Mansfield vehicle and wanted to match the success of the film BUS STOP from the year before which starred Mansfield's rival Marilyn Monroe. I thought this was every bit as good and is a pretty compelling film.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025): Dean DeBlois directed this film which is based on the book by Cressida Cowell. This takes place in the isle of Berk which has Vikings and dragons who have been at war for years. Mason Thames stars as the younger Viking Hiccup who does not feel violence is needed and forms a friendship with a dragon that he names Toothless and hopes to convince his village that they can live together. Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julien Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Murray McArthur, Peter Serafinowicz, Naomi Wirthner, Ruth Codd, Andrea Ware, Anna Leong Brophy, Marcus Onilude, Pete Selwood, Daniel-John Williams, Kate Kennedy, and many others co-star in this film. With Disney capitalizing on turning their animated classics into live-action, Dreamworks finally decided to follow this lead and to much success. Butler reprises his role of Stoick from the animated film. This is a very well-done adaptation with a good message showing the price of hatred. The effects of the dragons were very good. This was a great film to see in the theaters.
Victim (1961): Basil Dearden directed this film which was written by Janet Green and John McCormick. Dirk Bogarde stars as English attorney Melville Farr who tries to reform anti-sodomy laws. He is also trying to track down a blackmailer who drove a friend to suicide when blackmailing him with a photo of himself and Farr. Sylvia Sims, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, Peter Copley, Norman Bird, Peter McEnery, Donald Churchill, Darren Nesbitt, John Barrie, John Cairney, Alan MacNaughtan, Nigel Stock, and many others co-star in this film. This was rather ahead of its time and maybe a little daring to put out in this era. This was a time when homosexuality was essentially illegal in England and just unacceptable in general. This is a really good story and had some moments of suspense with an attorney putting his career and reputation on the line. It ended up getting an X rating in the beginning. This is available to watch on Max.
Foreign Land (1995): Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas directed this Portuguez film. Fernando Alves Pinto stars as Paco who was living in a very oppressed Brazil. When his mother dies, he decides he wants to see Portugal which is where his mother lived. He cannot get there on his own and gets a mysterious package to be delivered. In the process, he meets and falls in love with Alex, played by Fernanda Torres, while being pursued by bandits in pursuit of the package. Alexandre Borges, Luis Melo, Laura Cardoso, Tcheky Karyo, and many others co-star in this film. This was an interesting Noir film which was shot in black and white. The black and white added a really gritty feel to it. This was a pretty compelling film that deserves a look.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for a couple weeks where I will have a whole edition on independent film which so far includes Roman Polanski, Christian Slater, Bruce Campbell, Donnie Yen, and many others.
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