Actor/Director Albert Brooks posted this note on Twitter, letting fans know that The Criterion Collection is releasing a new, expanded blu-ray edition of his 1985 comic gem “Lost In America!”
“You couldn’t change your life on a hundred thousand a year?”
The film includes this great line about changing your life…and so much more!
Prior to making “Lost In America” in 1985, Albert Brooks was well known in the 70’s for his short films that aired on “Saturday Night Live” – he was also a Standup Comedian, Writer, Director and Actor. His first film was “Real Life”, a parody of the groundbreaking PBS documentary-series about the Loud family…
This prescient comedy imagined an era when camera crews invaded your house and captured your entire life – without being “intrusive”…so the Camera people wore them on their heads!
For his second film, Brooks told the story of a couple who decide to “drop out” of society and travel across America by Winnebago…
“Twenty-two, twenty-two, come on back to me, come on back to me!”
Julie Hagerty is incredible in the film, exhibiting perfect comic timing, especially when she has a “hunch” on the number twenty-two at the Roulette table…
While their journey to “touch Indians” is a fiasco, the film is a hilarious look at Reagan-era Yuppies who want to drop out, but still need their big salaries – as the Employment Director in a small town says to him:
“You couldn’t change your life on a hundred thousand a year?”
Bravo to Monica Johnson, who co-wrote the script. Here is what’s on the Criterion Blu-Ray:
DIRECTOR-APPROVED EDITION:
New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New conversation with director Albert Brooks and filmmaker Robert Weide
New interviews with actor Julie Hagerty, executive producer Herb Nanas, and comic writer and director James L. Brooks
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic Scott Tobias
I can’t wait to see this again, and check out all of the supplements…
If you aren’t familiar with Brooks, you are missing out on terrific movies like this one and “Defending Your Life” with Meryl Streep – and Brooks is a great Actor as well:
Brooks is great in “Drive” with Ryan Gosling from a few years ago…as well as “Broadcast News” and “Out Of Sight” – check out more of his great performances here:
Helen Mirren has become well known for such films as her Oscar-winning turn in “The Queen” and recent hits like “Eye In The Sky” and “RED”. But did you know she got her start in a more “natural” film?
There he meets a young Helen Mirren, who ends up becoming his model, and his muse…check out the trailer, which tries a bit too hard to make this movie far more salacious than it is:
Mirren captures the innocence of a young girl who is on the verge of becoming a woman, and the film is clearly “of its time”…legendary Director Michael Powell’s last film.
Mirren went on to co-star in my second favorite film of all time:
Mirren co-starred with Malcolm McDowell in an amazing film from 1973 called “O Lucky Man”, which was written by McDowell and directed by Lindsay Anderson.
Mirren is his loyal wife who is trying to keep her husband alive in a rapidly changing world – she is terrific in the movie, one of the best gangster films ever…read more about this great film here:
The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign – he gives his horse political office and humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him. He also sleeps with his sister, organises elaborate orgies and embarks on a fruitless invasion of England before meeting an appropriate end.”
Here is where the story of “Caligula” gets even more fascinating: there are various versions of the film, ranging from the “R”-rated version which was heavily edited to remove a lot of sex and graphic violence…
There is also the legendary 160-minute “hardcore” version of the film, where xxx-rated sex scenes were added to the movie long after production had finished!
ROMAN ORGY SCENE IN THE FILM – CALIGULA (1979) 01/05/1979 CTD11873…Scarborough…North Yorkshire…England…Group Shot
The film was always intended to be a graphic look at this controversial leader, and the film’s original Director Tinto Brass had a long history making “software” erotica – but this went even too far for him!
What happened was this: Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione added hardcore sex scenes into the movie – long after the original cast had finished filming – they had no idea it was being done!
Acclaimed writer Gore Vidal did not want credit for his work on the screenplay, and legendary Actors Peter O’Toole and John Gielgud claimed to have been unaware hardcore sex footage was being shot for the film.
“Despite popular beliefs, Gore Vidal and Tinto Brass did not disown this film because Bob Guccione inserted hardcore sex and graphic violence sequences and changed the point of the film.
In reality, only five or six minutes of the 156-minute version of the film was part of Guccione’s reshoot – that five or six minutes consists of the lesbian tryst in the secret room, and several inserts in the imperial bordello scene.”
“Everything else was shot by Brass. Vidal disowned the film because Brass and lead actor Malcolm McDowell changed the point of view of his screenplay. Brass disowned it because Guccione locked him out of the editing room (some in the industry suspect it was because Brass didn’t want to use Guccione’s hardcore inserts) after assembling the first 40 minutes (which was probably disassembled shortly afterward).
Guccione then proceeded to edit the film himself, but he often chose shots that were never meant to be included (the many zooms, out-of-focus shots, etc.), and also cut up certain scenes and put them in the wrong order.”
Now you can hear exactly what happened here, by some of the stars involved!
In 2007, Image Entertainment released a 3-disc special edition known as the Imperial Edition. It features two cuts of the film, the 156-minute print and a new edit created from an alternate pre-release version which re-arranges some scenes and does not include most of the explicit sexual inserts added by Guccione (a few shots were left in by mistake and various outtakes from Brass’ shoot and a handful of 16 mm behind-the-scenes footage were used to fill in for the deleted material).
Both Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren take part in a full-length audio commentary, discussing the non-hardcore, pre-release version of the film – the film they THOUGHT they were making…the DVD also includes interviews with Tinto Brass, who discusses the film’s hectic production and botched editing; and Penthouse Pet Lori Wagner, who discusses the addition of the hardcore footage, including the lesbian sex scene in which she participated.
There is also a booklet included with the 3-disc set includes a discussion of the many different versions of the film, and states that a significant amount of footage remains unaccounted for – this movie should be studied in film school as a classic example of “crazy gone wild” – and with so much behind-the-scenes information and commentary, here is a ton to study!
Mirren of course has gone on to make many great movies and TV shows, but these early films showcased her beauty, talent and passion for performance that have stayed with her ever since!
My alphabetical countdown of my favorite movies – the 26-part “Movies A-Z” – continues with the letter “E” – another letter full of incredible cinema – as always, I have tried to find some mainstream choices as well as cult cinema and eclectic movies that may not be on your radar!
Remember, this is not a countdown, I am just listing ten great films in no particular order, so let’s get started – with a black comedy that shows how corrupt elections can be – and what certain candidates will do to win – whatever the cost – sound familiar?
Reese Witherspoon starred with Matthew Broderick in this 1999 black comedy about a high school election that spirals wildly out of control, and how the campaign changed both of their lives forever.
Check out the trailer:
This is a great movie from Director Alexander Payne, who also made the terrific “About Schmidt” and “Sideways”. “Election” is a really funny, acerbic and timely film!
Now, I want to share one of cinema’s most original journeys ever!
This is a challenging and hypnotic film – from a Director who has made such controversial films as “Irreversible” and “Love”. They are provocative films that will immerse you in darkly troubled worlds, and in this case, with a visual style that is mesmerizing:
“Enter The Void: is one of the most unique movies you will ever see – it’s one of three very challenging films that I focused on recently – take a look here at all of them:
I love movies, and so does Tim Burton – in fact, he loves the story of Hollywood, especially those who struggle to make it in the business – case in point: Director Ed Wood, widely considered to be the worst Director of all time!
Was he Hollywood’s worst Director? Who cares, he made his movies like “Plan Nine From Outer Space” – and for that we should applaud him – as Burton did with this terrific bio-pic starring Johnny Depp in a terrific performance – check out the trailer:
I love this movie. Johnny Depp gives Wood a warmth and empathy – and he wears a pink Angora sweater very well! Bill Murray is terrific in a supporting role as well…
Martin Landau’s amazing portrayal of Bela Lugosi won his the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor….RIP to Landau – you can see more about this great Actor here:
This 1973 film is a gritty action drama that took place during the depression – and the title was so confusing to people – expecting a film about Santa Claus – that they shorted the title after the film was already released!
“Emperor” was directed by Robert Aldrich, who also made “The Dirty Dozen” and “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane.” It the story of a hobo, Lee Marvin, who attempts to ride the “north Pole” train, while sadistic guard Ernest Borgnine stalks him! Here is the trailer:
These two legendary Actors take each other on in a brutal series of fights on the moving train – while there are moments of quiet reflection, this really is a classic action thriller – one of many that Lee Marvin starred in during his career – here are more:
Marvin was a Hollywood legend, and so is Julia Roberts – perhaps for different reasons, but she won her Oscar for a dynamite portrayal of a woman who put her life on the line to discover the truth!
Director Steven Soderbergh made a dynamite film that year – called “Traffic!” That’s right, he was nominated twice in 2000 for directing that film as well – and that is the one he won the Oscar for, while Roberts took home the acting award for “Brockovich”!
Director Sam Raimi gathered a bun of friends, went into the woods, and created on of cinema’s most iconic horror films! Check out the original trailer:
Bruce Campbell became a star thanks to this 1981 film, which had two sequels that are equally as beloved, especially because “Evil Dead 2” is as much a comedy as a horror film!
See more about this and other classic independent horror films here:
Cronenberg made two great films with Mortensen – “A History Of Violence” and then in 2007, this great crime drama.
A Russian teenager living in London who dies during childbirth leaves clues to a midwife in her journal that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.
What can you say? It’s one of the greatest films of all time – directed by William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair as the 12-year old girls possessed by Satan – or is she?
Here is a look at the filming of the movie – with lots of great trivia:
Bruce Lee became an international superstar because of this film, which showcased his amazing physical ability – none of his scenes were sped up – this was Lee in real time! Check out the trailer:
Bruce Lee died soon after this film became a success – what a loss – he was one of cinema’s most dynamic characters – if you don’t believe me, check out this clip of him playing competitive ping pong – using nunchucks!
Robert Blake starred as a Highway Patrolman who uncovers a murder conspiracy – check out the trailer – and pay attention to the musical score over the beginning:
Robert Blake is terrific in the film, but the music is also unique – it was produced by the film’s Director James William Guercio, who was the Manager of the band Chicago, who performs it!
What a powerful photo: poverty-stricken Chinese farmers working in the shadow of one of the world’s greatest bridges – a bridge that is so expensive to cross they will never do so in their lifetime!
“Squinting up from a dirt road below, Gu Tianyong, a 66-year-old farmer, pondered the colossus, which is a shortcut linking southwestern China with the east coast.
“The government wouldn’t have built it if it was useless,” he said. “It does nothing for me, but must be useful for the country.”
That quote is from a terrific investigative piece in The New York Times that looks at China’s building boom, particularly bridges that don’t seem to be needed!
“…fewer than a third of the 65 Chinese highway and rail projects he examined were “genuinely economically productive,” while the rest contributed more to debt than to transportation needs. Unless such projects are reined in, the study warned, “poorly managed infrastructure investments” could push the nation into financial crisis.”
The New York Times does a great job putting these mega-bridges in perspective, explaining how China has a long history of massive construction projects:
“In the country that built the Great Wall, major feats of infrastructure have long been a point of pride. China has produced engineering coups like the world’s highest railway, from Qinghai Province to Lhasa, Tibet; the world’s largest hydropower project, the Three Gorges Dam; and an 800-mile canal from the Yangtze River system to Beijing that is part of the world’s biggest water transfer project.”
The reason I subscribe to the digital New York Times is because they are still doing in-depth, investigative reporting like this, which we need now more than ever – here is the entire article:
“the 26.3-mile long Jiaozhou Bay bridge opened in China. It links the “eastern port city of Qingdao to an offshore island, Huangdao.” Now that it’s done, it will cut the time to drive from Qingdao to Huangdao by 20 to 30 minutes.
According to Xinhua, China’s official news agency, the span cost $2.3 billion. It’s long enough that it could span the English Channel at its narrowest point, with about six miles to spare, the BBC says.”
I want to visit China one day, partly to see mage-structures like that – and to walk on a glass bridge, like this one:
The iconic Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Blvd announces that you are at the center of the entertainment universe…the streets surrounding the hotel are lines with palm trees and movie stars:
Yes, this beautiful house in Beverly Hills has a Hollywood history, because there is a story behind this door – it’s a story of sex, betrayal – AND MURDER!
Lana Turner was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars – and she was dating reputed Mobster Johnny Stompanato – in fact, the great film “L.A. Confidential” includes a scene with Turner and Stompanato at The Formosa Cafe in Hollywood:
Turner’s love affair was quite scandalous at the time, since Stompanato’s mob ties were well-reported – and it was allegedly a volatile relationships well – in fact, it was so volatile that it ended with the mobster dead on Turner’s floor!
“On April 4, 1958, at age 14, Cheryl Crane stabbed her mother’s boyfriend Johnny Stompanato to death. It was said that she was defending her Mom, and Johnny ran into the knife.”
Yes, the daughter was holding a knife to protect her Mom, and Stompanato ran into it!
The case immediately became a huge Hollywood scandal – a big star, a dead Mobster – the headlines wrote themselves! Ultimately, the case went to trial – here is Turner discussing the murder weapon on the witness stand…
This is a fascinating true Hollywood story, and there is a lot of back story here as well, like this trivia – it turned out that Stompanato was a very jeolous guy, and he didn’t like his movie star girlfriend kissing 007!
“Stompanato was well-known to have been abusive, extremely jealous of Turner and had previously pointed a gun at actor Sean Connery, her co-star in ‘Another Time, Another Place’, only to have Connery “take the gun from him, beat him and force him from the movie set” and “Scotland Yard had him deported”!
Wow! What a scandalous altercation for the young Actor who would become the first James Bond 007 a few years later!
A new book suggests that Stompanato was murdered – by Turner!
In “Lana Turner: Hearts and Diamonds Take All”, Author Darwin Porter reveals interviews with some of the case’s key figures, including detective Fred Otash, which tell a different story.
Before his death in 1992, Mr Otash apparently admitted rearranging the crime scene with Miss Turner’s lawyer, Jerry Giesler. He also said Mr Giesler – whom Miss Turner called before police – urged his client to let her daughter take the blame because, as a minor, she would not face a trial. The book claims Mr Otash said: ‘I was the one who wiped the fingerprints off the knife in Lana’s bathroom sink. I was a naughty boy doing what I’m not supposed to do.’
Beverly Hills Sex Kitten Yvette Vickers is another Hollywood tragedy – she was found dead in her home after living in seclusion for years! Read the story here:
“Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” not only has the greatest movie title ever, but it parades a bevy of buxom women across the screen – living hard and loving hard as well – that’s what Meyer was known For!
Check out this campy trailer:
Meyer’s films are low budget classics, and this is without a doubt his most memorable. See more about the cast of “Pussycat” here!
This 1989 musical drama tells the story of two brothers – The Fabulous Baker Boys – who perform together in Seattle bars, wedding receptions, or wherever they can book a gig for “piano duos.”
They decide to hire a singer – and their world changes forever – check out the trailer:
Michelle Pfeiffer is terrific as the “singer with spunk” who quickly shakes things up between the brothers – who are played by real life brothers, Jeff and Beau Bridges….
Robert Mitchum gives one of his great, late career performances as Eddie Coyle, a “worker bee” in the world of Boston mob life, who is facing prison time and quickly running out of options…check out the classic movie trailer:
Criterion has a great new blu-ray with a pristine copy of the film – a great action drama – and if you want a full night of “mobster middle men”, this makes a great double bill with Al Pacino in “Donnie Brasco” – see more about that here:
John Travolta plays an FBI Special Agent trying to find a biological weapon placed in Los Angeles by a sadistic terrorist-for-hire and criminal mastermind, played by Nicolas Cage.
You know when they say it’s “so crazy you can’t make it up?” Well, this movie is that! And as terrific as John Travolta is in the film, he’s no match for the “subtle” acting of Nicolas Cage, who chews up the scenery in the most wildly entertaining way!
I love Nicolas Cage as an Actor because he will put it all out there – and I really do wish that Tim Burton’s Superman film starring Cage had become a reality:
In 2002, Director Todd Haynes told the story of a frustrated housewife in the 50’s – who befriends a black man as her own husband discovers Conneticut’s gay underground:
Director Haynes evokes the tone and style of a classic Douglas Sirk 50’s melodrama, as he tackles the issues of sexuality and racial tension in a bucolic northeast town:
Julianne Moore is, as always, dynamite in the film – a great drama in the classic 50’s style…now, if you want to celebrate movies “of their time”, then how about this!
“Fuzz” is good, old-fashioned 70’s movie fun, with offbeat humor that winks to the audience – along with fun action scenes.
Allegedly, Raquel Welch hated Burt Reynolds at the time and refused to do scenes with him! Here is more about the movie and about Raquel, who has an incredible body of work!
Gene Hackman also won an Oscar as Best Actor for his portrayal of the NY Cop Popeye Doyle, who tries to break up a french drug ring!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The action centerpiece involves a car chasing a subway train – and Director William Friedkin operated the camera from inside Hackman’s car because it was too dangerous to ask the Director Of Photography to do it!
“Body Heat” is a great film noir, smoldering and sensual, with a script that darts and weaves as the net around William Hurt closes. Here are more of my favorite “B” movies as well:
If you want to learn more about the phenomenon that was “GLOW” before you dig into the TV series, Netflix is also airing a documentary made five years ago about the real TV show!
Here is the trailer for the documentary:
The documentary is fascinating, hilariously funny and very honest, with candid interviews from the women who participated as characters in the TV show – it is a must see!
Then, after watching the documentary, you can start streaming the TV show!
A fire broke out at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market Thursday – and firefighters have spent hours bringing it under control – here is the latest from The Guardian:
“Dozens of firefighters have battled a fire at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market, an area packed with tiny seafood vendors, sushi restaurants and tourists.
Efforts to bring the fire under control continued late into Thursday evening.
Clouds of gray smoke and orange flames rose from a row of wooden stores in an area called “the outer market.” The street outside was filled with fire engines. Pedestrians walked briskly by, covering their noses and mouths with towels.
The Tokyo fire department said no one was injured or trapped because the fire broke out after the shops closed.”
For those who have been playing along, I’ve been looking at great films that begin with the same letters – so far I’ve gone from “A” to “F”…highlighting great movies like these:
The concept is simple, but it’s a fun way to share ten movies from each letter – in no particular order, but I did try to mix up genres so there were blockbusters and cult gems as well.
Of course, I missed some great ones – I mean, how could I leave this out of the “B” list?
“Broadcast News” is a great film, a prescient look at television news in a time to great social change. Here are more of my favorite “B” movies as well:
I also posted a list of ten films that began with the letter “D” – a few ere big hits like “Disclosure” with Michael Douglas – and some were more offbeat, like this one:
Yes, it was nominated and deservedly so, it’s classic pulp cinema that Hollywood does better than anyone! Oh, the boiled bunny was real, too! Read more here:
Listen Up! My “A-Z” Celebration OF Cinema Continues With “G”!
Lean in closely, because I’ve got ten great films that begin with the letter “G” – if they are good enough to get Don Corleone’s attention, then they should be good enough for you!
As always, this is NOT a countdown, just ten movies from a variety of genres that capture what make cinema so great – although this list does happen to end with my favorite movie of all time!
Let’s begin with a movie that showcases some of our greatest Actors!
James Caan is terrific as a gambler who just needs one more score to pay off his debts. Here is a great scene with James Woods as a banker who disrespects Caan’s Mom:
This is a terrific film about gambling addiction, and of course James Caan is perfect in the role as a guy who is on the edge…it’s one of then great “Wrath Of Caan” movies, and you can see the others here:
As I said, I want to hit all kinds of movie genres with this countdown, so how about an offbeat British thriller from the early 70’s with a very strange title?
A teenage girl and her brother play strange parlor games with the men who visit their house – and while “Girly” isn’t that strange of a title, you have to celebrate a neglected horror movie that had the audacity to originally be called:
“MUMSY, SONNY, NANNY AND GIRLY!”
Oh yes, it did. Here’s a spanish language trailer for the film, and guess what? Even in spanish you can see EXACTLY what it’s about!
As you can see, Girly and her brother have plans for the guys who come to visit…this is a quirky goofy British horror film from the early 70’s – one of those obscure films that has been rescued by the home video market.
You can see more funny trivia about the movie here:
Now, I am listing ten great “G” films, trying to mix and match so that I am hitting on all sorts of genres….thanks to my wife, I can share an example of pure 80’s filmmaking:
Full disclosure: I had never seen this film – but my wife did when she was young – and so now we own it, I’ve watched it, and let’s be honest – it’s kind of fun!
While on vacation, he meets the sexy Linda Fiorentino, who gets him involved in a real-life game of espionage. It’s a fun 80’s movie and turned Florentine into a sex symbol!
Next up is a serious look at high school reunions, highlighted by this line:
Yes, it’s a terrific “high school reunion” film from 1997, “Grosse Pointe Blank”, starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver and an inspiringly wacky Dan Aykroyd!
This film is dark, violent, and very funny, a deadly high school reunion with laughs and romance as well! It’s part of a classic “reunion” double bill you need to watch now. Here it is:
Jordan Peele wowed Critics and audiences alike with his terrific thriller about a black man who goes into the country to meet his white girlfriend’s family – yes, it a horror version of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner!”
The setup for this early 70’s London gangster film is simple: Michael Caine returns to town and want to find out what happened to his brother – and nothing will stop him from getting answers…check out the trailer:
John Travolta and Rene Russo head a terrific cast, including Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, James Gandolfini and Dennis Farina – from a novel by Elmore Leonard, it’s one of the best “movies about movies” – here are five more:
What can you say? The Best Picture of 1972 is a masterpiece, the story of Don Corleone and his family – with a cast headed up by Marlon Brando, James Caan, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton.
What can you say about this film – well, aside from the fact that Marlon Brando didn’t like memorizing his lines, so Robert Duvall wore them off camera!
Yes, it was nominated and deservedly so, it’s classic pulp cinema that Hollywood does better than anyone! Oh, the boiled bunny was real, too! Read more here:
The world’s most famous “floating city” is an urban paradise – but there is a BIG BIG BIG problem lurking – more on that in a moment, but first, here are some amazing fun facts to share.
For example, Venice is 160 square miles – but only 3 feet above sea level!
All of these pictures are from websites that promote the beauty of the city, but underneath this facade is a very big problem that threatens to sink Venice for good.
You may have read many times about the fact that the city is slowly sinking back into the sea, but that’s not the biggest problem facing it right now…here are some pictures that are very unsettling:
“Earlier this month an estimated 2,000 Venetians marched against a tourism industry they argue has eroded their quality of life, that is damaging the environment and driving residents away: Venice’s population has fallen from about 175,000 in the post-second world war years to 55,000 today.”
My wife and I visited Venice a few years ago, and we were told that many locals can no longer afford the city – and the overwhelming impact of tourists is negative.
As The Guardian reports:
“Luciano Bortot, who was born here, is feeling anything but serene. “You’re asking me what it’s like to live with this crap?” he said. “It used to be wonderful, we had lots of artisans … the problem now is the mass tourism, the people who come for just a few hours and see nothing – it’s as much of a nightmare for them.”
So the impact of tourism has made the city more crowded, more expensive, and more deserted of locals – a bad trend.
Venice is magical in so many ways – so I hope they can come up with solution to the population decline, the sinking city, and the mega cruise ships that are clogging the city and depriving it of life…read the entire story here at TheGuardian.com:
“A clown-themed motel next to a reportedly haunted cemetery is going up for sale in rural Nevada, with the owner insisting the 600 clown figurines, mannequins and paintings, and his employees, get to stay.
After 22 years, the Clown Motel owner Bob Perchetti says it is time to find someone else to look after the clown figurines, mannequins and paintings spread throughout the building in Tonopah, about 250 miles northwest of Las Vegas.”
So, less than four hours away from Las Vegas, and you have all of this inside!
“Perchetti said he hopes to sell the motel in a month, but he is insistent the clowns stay.
“I’m not going to let them change the clown motif,” he said. “That’s going to be part of the contract.”
The motel was built around 1985 by siblings Leona and LeRoy David, Perchetti said. LeRoy David already owned the L and L Motel in town, but wanted to build another next to the cemetery where his father was buried.
The two thought it was the perfect place to house their small clown collection.”
Well, we also love it because of great Actors like George C. Scott, shown here being “choked out” a bit – and guess what: Scott shows up TWICE on my “A-Z” countdown of great movies that begin at the letter “H”!
In addition to George C, we have angry cowboys, bad breakups, chainsaw hookups AND shamefully mis-titled Hookers!
As always, this is not a countdown – all ten films are equal in my book – so let’s get to counting – with an incredible action movie starring a hospital full of babies!
I want to begin with this 1992 movie, directed by John Woo, because it has some of the most incredible action sequences ever put on film, including an extended climax that takes place inside the baby ward of a hospital!
Chow Yun Fat is outstanding as a Cop who won’t back down – even when the mob storm a children’s hospital – this is one of the most action-packed sequences ever captured on film.
“Hard Boiled” brought Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung to American audiences – it’s an amazing action film – check out this trailer, which is basically 3 minutes of incredible action scenes set to music!
this film takes no time to mesmerize: in the first five minutes, you meet Chow Yun Fat when he literally wipes out a whole room full of gangsters – while sliding down a bannister!
If you haven’t seen this film, search it out now – it is incredible! Read more about this genre of Hong Kong action film here:
I am a fan of westerns: classics with John Wayne, more modern versions with Clint Eastwood and everything in between, which takes us to this gritty 1971 oater:
Oliver Reed is the outlaw who wants to learn to read, and Candace Bergen is the school teacher he kidnaps to teach him – except she’s also the wife of cattle baron Gene Hackman – who rustles up a “Hunting Party” and begins to pick off the bad guys one by one.
There is lots of grindhouse violence here, but kind of interesting to watch a B-movie being acted out by some well-known “A”-list Actors. This came out the same year that Hackman won Best Actor for “The French Connection!”
Mia Farrow and Barbara Hershey are also outstanding – a film with heart, humor and a lot of emotion. Woody Allen won the Oscar for his screenplay and the film was nominated as well for Best Picture.
Now, another Oscar-winning Actor in a very powerful role:
Paul Schrader directed Scott and Season Hubley in this gritty thriller about a father searching the porn districts of LA and San Francisco, looking for his runaway daughter.
The movie was shot in the real XXX-rated theater districts of those two cities. It’s a powerful film, and you can see more trivia about the making of it here:
This blend of comedy, violence and good clean “naughty fun” is a real treat – and I found a clip of pre-movie star Greg Kinnear at the film’s premiere!
Paddy Chaefsky wrote the screenplay, which skewers the health care industry – he would go on to the do the same to television five years later with “Network.”
Welcome to the amazingly inventive genre of film known as “Japanese exploitation” – widely imaginative and eye popping – here is a trailer that offers up a ton of proof!
These movies always feature young women who have been wronged – and they always exact bloody revenge…this is a great example of the genre, and you can see more o them here:
Have you ever seen a movie that had been re-titled? Who knows why – perhaps the first name didn’t resonate – but here is one with THREE DIFFERENT NAMES!
I love the “Queen Of Artsploitation” Christina Lindberg. In the early 70’s she shocked American audiences with her performances in european art films that were full of sex and nudity. Here is the classic “double bill” trailer for one of her movies:
There is just one problem: “Hookers Revenge” was the third title for the movie – it had already been released TWICE before in the US!
Yes, the film was originally released as “Thriller: A Cruel Picture”, then a year later as “They Call Her One Eye” – and finally years after that as “Hookers Revenge” – and it was the same movie!
Jamie Lee Curtis was dubbed America’s greatest “Scream Queen” because of this film, and it has influenced horror films ever since…see the trailer and a ton of movie trivia here:
Aside from being the most expensive house in the US, the estate was featured as the Clampett mansion in the classic TV show, “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
The mansion was originally built in 1933 by architect Sumner Spaulding, and most recently owned by entertainment mogul Jerry Perenchio, who purchased the estate in 1986. He recently died, and the house is now for sale!
The Formosa Cafe is one of Hollywood’s great haunts, and people were devastated when it closed recently – but it looks like it will be saved – here is the story:
What a great title for a movie! This new Amazon release was directed by Marc Webb and stars Callum Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, Cynthia Nixon and Jeff Bridges.
Alex and I are looking forward to seeing this film, because it’s not only a great movie title, it’s actually a classic Paul Simon song that was written as a protest against his singing partner Art Garfunkel!
Simon & Garfunkel – And The Movie That Broke Them Up!
One of the great musical duos of all time were Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel – Simon wrote classic songs like “Mrs. Robinson”, “The Sound Of Silence” and “Homeward Bound”, and Garfunkel had the voice of an angel.
Simon and Garfunkel concert Ohio University 10-29-1968
But as you can see from this picture, there was a distance between them – and by the time they created their greatest masterpiece, a movie broke them up!
In 1970, Simon & Garfunkel delivered a masterpiece – and a swan song as well.
The brilliant “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was only their 5th studio album, and it was to be their last: filled with classic songs like “Cecelia”, “The Boxer” and “El Condor Pasa”, along with the seminal title track. That song won five awards at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971, including Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Here they are singing the song together in their famous Central Park concert:
There is a terrific article about the album at “UltimateClassicRock.com” – and it goes into the tension behind the scenes that led to their breakup.
Here is what Art Garfunkel said about “Bridge”, which Paul convinced him to sing solo:
“I was very pleased to hear such a rich song intended for me. I always felt he did some of his best writing when it came in the form of a gift. When people get outside of themselves and say, “This is for you,” it taps the better part of themselves,” Garfunkel told Paul Zollo years later. “And I loved it.”
Calling the song “something of a mystery to me,” Simon recalled:
“Nothing prompted me to write it. I was listening to a lot of gospel quartets, particularly the Swan Silvertones and the Everly Brothers album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. I was stunned and I thought, ‘that’s a lot better than I usually write.’”
So, a brilliant album, an iconic song – and a disaster unfolding behind the scenes!
It all started to unravel for Simon & Garfunkel when Art Garfunkel took a role in Director Mike Nichols’ film of the classic anti-war novel “Catch-22”:
The movie had an all-star cast including Alan Arkin, Richard Benjamin, Jon Voight, Martin Sheen, Bob Newhart, Orson Welles and Charles Grodin – so Garfunkel was in heady company.
Although his part was small, filming stretched stretched out for months, leaving Paul Simon to sit and stew alone in New York, waiting to record the “Bridge” album…prompting him to write a song about his frustration with “Tom”…
When Simon and Garfunkel began singing together, they were known as Tom & Jerry – so Paul wrote a song to him – here are the opening lyrics for “The Only Living Boy IN New York”:
“Tom, get your plane right on time
I know your part’ll go fine
Fly down to Mexico
Do-n-do-d-do-n-do and here I am,
The only living boy in New York”
Yep, Paul was chastising Art for not leaving the film set and coming home…leaving him to wait to record the album!
“Garfunkel admitted that his row with Simon over Catch-22 was really just a symptom of a much larger problem. “We weren’t having a good time. We weren’t enjoying ourselves. We were tired of working together. We wanted a break from each other,” he told SongTalk. “We were not getting along particularly well, and there were a lot of conflicts that were unpleasant conflicts. … I remember thinking, ‘When this record’s over, I want to rest from Paul Simon.’ And I would swear that he was feeling the same thing, like ‘I don’t want to know from Artie for a year or so.’”
This is a great article, as it points out the divisions that had grown between the two over the years:
“The catch, supposed Garfunkel, was that it ended up being his absence rather than Simon’s edict that put the brakes on their work — and so instead of a hiatus, it turned out to be a split. “I was in love with Simon & Garfunkel. I thought we were a neat act. I didn’t want to tip that over, I just wanted to take a rest from it,” Garfunkel insisted. “And here, with the help of Mike’s offer, I wanted to enrich my side of the group with this acting role. Well, Paul couldn’t abide by these things. They were evidently threatening. So, in his mind, waiting for Artie is something he couldn’t do. Now, I was waiting for Paul to write the tunes all the time, before we’d go in the studio.”
Simon admitted, in a talk with Rolling Stone, that “it was very hard work, and it was complex. I think Artie said that he felt that he didn’t want to record, and I know I said I felt that if I had to go through these kinds of personality abrasions, I didn’t want to continue to do it. We didn’t say, ‘That’s the end.’ We didn’t know if it was the end or not. But it became apparent by the time the movie was out, and by the time my album was out, that it was over.”
The song lyrics continued to press Garfunkel to let his “honesty shine” and come home – but clearly, by that time the damage was done and the song was Simon’s way of telling his friend goodbye…
“Half of the time we’re gone but we don’t know where
And we don’t know where
Here I am
Half of the time we’re gone, but we don’t know where
And we don’t know where
Tom, get your plane right on time
I know that you’ve been eager to fly now
Hey, let your honesty shine, shine, shine
Like it shines on me
The only living boy in New York
The only living boy in New York”
The song is beautiful, by the way, melancholy and reflective.
Here is a gorgeous live version from Paul Simon in 2012:
Was the movie worth it to Garfunkel? Well, “Catch-22” was a box office bomb when released, but has grown in stature over the years. Director Steven Soderbergh recorded a commentary track with Nichols for the home video release and it’s amazing:
One Of Hollywood’s Legendary Movie Palaces Is At Risk!
This is the interior of Hollywood’s famed Warner Hollywood Theater, which was opened originally in 1928 on Hollywood Boulevard.
Photographer Matthew Lambros captured all of these terrific pictures inside the massive theater – he was given access recently to show the beauty of the abandoned theater.
This is a beautiful movie palace, even though it’s obviously in disrepair, and “Curbed LA” has a great story about the status of the theater. While it looks beautiful on the inside, outside is a different matter:
The Warner Hollywood Theater suffered damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and it closed soon after. It has sat vacant for years now.
According to Curbed LA:
“The venue has been in limbo since about 2013, and the uncertainty about its future has some preservation advocates and local stakeholders nervous.
The property’s owner, Robertson Properties Group, has said that too much work needs to be done on the building, and that restoring it isn’t financially viable, says Kerry Morrison, the executive director of the Hollywood Property Owners Alliance. Many, including the Los Angeles Conservancy, fear that the property is at risk of demolition.”
Bravo to “la.curbed.com” for the great story – see more pics and details here:
My “Movies A-Z” countdown continues with a great letter – “I”! There are classic comedies, riveting dramas, Oscar-winning best pictures, and some really offbeat stuff as well, so let’s get going.
Remember,this is NOT a countdown, just ten great movies to share with you, beginning with one of Asia’s darkest revenge thrillers:
Choi Min-sik stars as the serial killer who plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with a young Police Detective. He’s best known for his starring role in this brilliant film:
9 – “I Saw What You Did (And I Know Who You Are!)”
Legendary Actress Joan Crawford is top-billed, but she’s not in the film much – but it’s a great 50’s thrill ride – as you can see by this classic trailer:
It’s a great premise: making crank calls – until you call a killer! It’s surprisingly fun to watch all these years later – and Joan Crawford has made a great comeback thanks to the new TV series “Feud”:
In 1998, Von Trier used his “Dogme” style of filmmaking – no microphones, no lights, no sets – to tell the story of a group of adults who spend their time seeking their “inner idiot” to release their inhibitions.
Check out the trailer:
This is a challenging film to watch – there are moments that are brilliant – but amazingly uncomfortable as well – adults acting like mentally disabled people…as I said Von Trier is no stranger to controversy:
This masterpiece from Frank Capra tells the story of George Bailey, who needs to hit bottom to realize that he does, indeed have a “Wonderful Life” – here is the trailer:
There are so many moments of brilliance int he film, which is also very dark as well – a meditation of “Good” versus “Evil” thank to Mr. Potter – luckily George has “Zuzu’s Pedals” to protect him – there is lots of great trivia about this movie, which you can see here:
Downsizing has been a big topic in the US for the past few decades, as older workers are pushed out for younger blood – and here is a good film that tackles the issue:
Dennis Quaid has a new boss: Topher Grace, who sees Quaid as a washed up Executive – until he meets his daughter, Scarlett Johansson – check out the trailer:
The movie is a romanic comedy/drama that strikes the right balance throughout, and the acting is terrific…now, how about a comedy starring the biggest stars in the world – and a LOT OF THEM?
This 1963 comedy was produced and directed by Stanley Kramer and starred movie legend Spencer Tracy – along with an all-star cast including Edie Adams, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, Terry-Thomas, and Jonathan Winters.
Check out the trailer:
It’s a wild chase for $350,000 in cash – whoever gets there first gets it all! While overblown and bloated in places, it’s a great example of an “all-star” cast going all out for fun!
Another incredible cast took home Oscars for the Best Picture of 1967:
Sidney Poitier was also nominated for his role as Detective Virgin Tibbs of Philadelphia, who confronts this racist town as he investigates a murder…recently, there was a 50th anniversary screening – see that story here:
In 1978, Donald Sutherland starred in the remake of the 50’s sci-fi-fi classic, about aliens who come to earth and take us over – from within – here is the trailer:
This is a dark, moody film that is worth seeking out…and speaking of that, I want to share a very obscure film from 1972, directed by the legendary Robert Altman:
Susannah York stars as a woman who is engulfed by terrorizing apparitions. As she kills them, we don’t know if these demons are figments of her hallucinatory imagination – or real people.
Susannah York won Best Actress at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival for her work int he film, with is a classic Altman movie: great images, a dreamlike nature to it, and a raw honesty – all wrapped up in a murder mystery…or is it?
According to IMDB, Susannah York once said of this film:
“It seemed a whole string of incidents with nothing to link them together into a meaningful whole. In fact, I would have turned down the part, only Bob [Altman] rang me up from Los Angeles. Imagine trying to hold a conversation with somebody in America from a telephone box in a Greek village cafe! I couldn’t hear very much, but I gathered he wanted to fly over to Greece to talk things over with me. I was trying to say . . . well, is it really worth your while to come all that way, because I’m not very keen”.
Well, as you can see Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend are over the moon with excitement about this new post. Take a moment to be impressed with just HOW HIGH Townsend leaps during his guitar playing!
For many, “classic rock” is the greatest genre of music ever thanks to The Who and many other bands. Classic rock consists of timeless songs like “Layla”, “Freebird”, “Smoke On The Water” and many, many more…but what is the greatest rock anthem of all time?
Look at that: in just six years, The Fab Four would go from clean-cut suits in classic black’n’white photos to the greatest single concert event ever captured – their London “rooftop” performance of all new material for the documentary “Let It Be”.
It would be, of course, the last time they ever performed together – and it’s an amazing experience to see – in fact, the “Let It Be” documentary was briefly released on VHS, and I have a copy – see some of the great moments here:
“Hey Jude” begins as a soft ballad, slowly building before exploding into an audience participation chant of the chorus – it was the longest single ever released at that time.
Here is the amazing “promo film”, introduced in the studio by David Frost, and it begins with a minute of goofiness before the camera cuts to Paul’s closeup, and he awaits his cue to begin:
WOW.
That video has been viewed more than 64-million times! That’s tough to beat, right? You can see all of the promotional films recorded by the band on their incredible new music video release:
Jimmy Page was one of rock’s greatest Guitarists, and along with Singer Robert Plant, they wrote one of the most mystical songs of all…lyrics like this:
“And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.”
Well, these lyrics are known by every rock fan – from what is widely referred to as the greatest rock song of all time – the incredible musical suite known as “Stairway To Heaven”:
The song is from Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, known as “Zoso” or “Runes” – it’s a masterpiece, from the opening song “Black Dog” to the brilliance of “Rock And Roll” and straight through to the end – but one song immediately reached iconic status:
It’s a brilliant song with some of the most-known lyrics of all time:
“There’s a lady who’s sure
All that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh ooh and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.”
Here is the band performing the song live in 1975 from Earls Court in London – with the great Robert Plant ad-lib in the middle of the song:
“do you remember laughter?”
WOW. What an incredible performance by the greatest hard rock band of all time.
The slow build, the dramatic shift to hard rock, and the softly sung final lyrics…amazing.
All of the band’s music has been remastered with tons of extras – massive box sets that include rehearsals and alternate takes, plus great music videos as well – see more detail here:
Before any title is bestowed upon The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, I want to make a case that The Who really nailed the rock anthem in 1971 with their classic “Won’t Get Food Again”!
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
No, no!”
Pete Townsend wrote the song, a epic statement about youth, rebellion, revolution and acceptance – eight minutes of rage, anger and energy that reaches a crescendo with what is, without a doubt, the greatest howl in rock history:
Pete Townsend is famous for his powerful guitar work – and circular assault on the instrument – throughout the song – but the lyrics are just so incredibly powerful – match by the energy of the entire band – here is an amazing performance of the song live from 1977 – one of the greatest live rock songs of all:
The Who continue to perform 50 years on, and you can still see them with the same youthful energy and passion for music as always – here is a look at their 50 year anniversary:
42 years ago, Bruce the Shark terrorized movie audiences in a way that had never happened before: it was the first time in cinema history that a film opened in thousands of theaters across the country on the same day!
Here is the trailer for the suspense masterpiece they saw:
From the moment crowds lined up across America, movie distribution changed forever…”Jaws” was also a monumental achievement for its young Director, Steven Spielberg.
The movie stands the test of time as well, and 42 years later, people still respond to the shark, the music, and of course, THAT LINE:
Cameron Crowe directed this great romantic comedy about a disgraced Sports Agent with one shot at redemption – check out the trailer:
Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Renee Zellwegger has never been better as the only person who supports – and then falls in love – with Jerry.
A terrific movie with Tom Cruise at the top of his game.
What a great action thriller! Keanu stars as John Wick, who just wants a quiet life – but then someone made the mistake of messing with his dog…here is the trailer:
Reeves is an accomplished martial artist, and the fight scenes in this film are brutal and real – and yes, this is one bloody ride!
Reeves has been making a wide range of films lately, so I also want to recommend a film he directed just a few years ago:
Joan was my friend, so I can include her on a “J” list! This incredible documentary is honest, candid and of course hilariously funny, because she’s Joan Rivers! Here is the trailer:
Peter Boyle starred in this very controversial 1970 film about a man who was fed up with a changing world.
Here is the trailer:
Boyle plays a blue collar worker who sees the “hippies” taking over, and decides to fight back – it struck a chord at the time, as you can see by the advertising they took out to promote the controversy.
The “women in prison” genre has many great titles, but Actress Yvette Mimieux gives this film a certain gravitas – she plays a woman who is falsely arrested and then….well, see for yourself in the trailer:
This Tokyo sushi bar costs hundreds of dollars for a single meal, you are fed in twenty minutes, and the Chef may or may not want you to look at him – and it’s so popular you can’t get in – here is the trailer:
Jiro is a Sushi Master, but this is also a touching and poignant story of an obsessive Chef who doesn’t quite know how to communicate with his young son…a great documentary about food and family – see more here:
There’s a look at ten great movies beginning with “J”, and if you missed any of my previous posts, you didn’t see this classic film – that begins with a “B”:
Before Paddy Cheyefsky wrote the brilliant “Network” he tackled medical malpractice with “The Hospital” – just one of ten great films that begin with “H” – see them all here:
I was working in Atlanta two years ago, and took a day to explore a local park – and with no idea what I was going to see, I ended up deep inside Georgia’s past.
Made up of more than 3,200 acres just outside Atlanta, Stone Mountain is a popular attraction with more than fifteen miles of trails and nature to explore.
The park houses a number of relics from a different era: like a “Grist Mill!”
In 1965, this century-old mill was moved to the Park from its original site near Ellijay, GA, and is currently located on Robert E. Lee Blvd. on the east side of the mountain.
Here is where confederate history takes over my tour. You see, the centerpiece of the park is the actual “Stone Mountain”, which you can hike a mile to the top…but it’s the side of the mountain that overwhelms your senses…
Stone Mountain is the site of a giant carving commemorating the military leaders of the Confederacy…led by General Robert E. Lee…his statues across the south have been at the center of the recent controversy in our country.
Stone Mountain is “the largest high relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving, depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. The entire carved surface measures three-acres, larger than a football field and Mount Rushmore.”
In the large park in front of the carving, each state of the confederacy has a small area with information about their involvement in the civil war – with plaques, photos and other items that take you back to that horrific time…
After the tragic Charleston church shooting in 2015, Stone Mountain was the subject of a political debate related to the removal of symbols of the Confederacy.
According to wikipedia, “a proposal was made to remove the Confederate carving from Stone Mountain Park. However, according to Georgia state law, no one is allowed to alter the figures carved upon the stone face. Any changes within the state park would require approval by the state legislature.”
I’m not a fan of pretending the past never happened – because an awareness of these horrific events in our past can help us make smarter choices in the future – still, it was disconcerting to see a memorial for a war that tore us apart as a nation, with imagery that continues to provoke emotions today…
There is an even more sobering exhibit at Stone Mountain…
Stone Mountain also houses this replica of a southern plantation estate – here is how they describe it on their website:
“Historic Square at Stone Mountain Park is a collection of original buildings from around the State of Georgia, built between 1793 and 1875. Each structure was moved from its original site and carefully restored to preserve its authenticity and historical value.Take a self-guided tour and enjoy the sights and smells of the working cookhouse and garden.
This fascinating area also houses the most extensive collection of period furniture and decorations in the south, reflecting the diverse lifestyles of 18th and 19th century Georgia residents. “
Yes, the state flag includes a portion of the confederate flag as well…
Mississippi is the last state flag to feature the Confederate battle emblem. Critics say the symbol is racist. Supporters say it represents history.
Mississippi has used the flag since 1894, displaying its red field and tilted blue cross dotted with 13 white stars in the upper left corner. In 2001, state residents voted to keep it as is…
Many cities and towns have chosen not to use this version of the flag, and it continues to be controversial – but it’s just one example of the past you will find in Jackson – as I discovered when I visited – here is my trip to this southern town:
Travel Writer Paul Theroux spent a year on the back roads of the south, and his new memoir is an insightful and incisive look at the people of the south, and how the past has influenced how they live today…read more about the book here:
I want to understand this part of our country so I can understand why people act the way they do – how the history they were immersed in can impact how they see their world.
With all of the controversy surrounding memorials for Robert E. Lee today, I remembered this trip to Stone Mountain…it’s a very sobering time for our nation…
Image may be NSFW.
