Good Night, and Good Luck. 2005 Warner Independent Pictures.
Starring: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels
Director: George Clooney
Buy Good Night, and Good Luck at Amazon.
This is a decent portrayal of the issues between journalist and host of the CBS program See it Now host Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn) and U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy after he began making claims about the supposed large numbers of Communist Party members and Soviet sympathizers in the U.S. government and elsewhere. McCarthy is represented in the movie only through archived footage. Murrow defends Milo Radulovich, and is accused by McCarthy of being a communist, as well as a member of a leftist union.
Knowing full well that they could find themselves dealing with unfounded accusations from McCarthy in retaliation, Murrow and his coworkers at CBS press on, helping set the ball in motion for the senator's downfall.
This movie was a blind buy after it came out on DVD, and I only heard nothing but positive reviews for it. I did enjoy viewing it for the first time. Recommended.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Singles
Singles. 1992 Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring: Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, Bill Pullman
Director: Cameron Crowe
Buy Singles from Amazon, still in its attractive old school WB snapcase!
In Seattle during the early '90s, two young couples (Fonda & Dillon, Sedgwick & Scott) grapple with their own romantic problems as well as the love lives of their friends and other associates. The entire film takes place during Seattle's grunge explosion, and members of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden do make brief appearances during the film. (Notably absent is the involvement of the members of Nirvana or any hint of their music; also, Kurt Cobain said he hated this film)
Chances are, you're probably more familiar with the soundtrack than the film itself.
Singles also prompted Warner Bros. to attempt to turn it into a television series. Crowe objected to this, so some slight changes were made, and the end result was Friends.
Cute movie. I probably would've flipped over it had I actually seen it during high school!
Starring: Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, Bill Pullman
Director: Cameron Crowe
Buy Singles from Amazon, still in its attractive old school WB snapcase!
In Seattle during the early '90s, two young couples (Fonda & Dillon, Sedgwick & Scott) grapple with their own romantic problems as well as the love lives of their friends and other associates. The entire film takes place during Seattle's grunge explosion, and members of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden do make brief appearances during the film. (Notably absent is the involvement of the members of Nirvana or any hint of their music; also, Kurt Cobain said he hated this film)
Chances are, you're probably more familiar with the soundtrack than the film itself.
Singles also prompted Warner Bros. to attempt to turn it into a television series. Crowe objected to this, so some slight changes were made, and the end result was Friends.
Cute movie. I probably would've flipped over it had I actually seen it during high school!
Johnny Dangerously
Fargin' iceholes! Time for the latest review:
Johnny Dangerously. 1984 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Peter Boyle, Danny DeVito
Director: Amy Heckerling
Buy Johnny Dangerously at Amazon.
This is a parody of gangster movies from the 1930s in the vein of Airplane! or many of Mel Brooks' films. Michael Keaton is Johnny Kelly, a kind and well-meaning paperboy who only enters the world of organized crime to keep paying for his mother's (Maureen Stapleton) numerous surgeries and health ailments. Johnny eventually takes control of the gang he joined as a youngster, while his younger brother Tommy graduates from law school, helped along by big brother. Tommy says he's going to work for the District Attorney's office, which prompts Johnny to "go legit", but another health scare from his mother sends him back into crime. Johnny is framed for murder, and goes to death row, but escapes just in time to save Tommy from being murdered by an old childhood rival.
This is a very funny, and underrated film. If you've never heard of it before, seek it out.
Johnny Dangerously. 1984 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Peter Boyle, Danny DeVito
Director: Amy Heckerling
Buy Johnny Dangerously at Amazon.
This is a parody of gangster movies from the 1930s in the vein of Airplane! or many of Mel Brooks' films. Michael Keaton is Johnny Kelly, a kind and well-meaning paperboy who only enters the world of organized crime to keep paying for his mother's (Maureen Stapleton) numerous surgeries and health ailments. Johnny eventually takes control of the gang he joined as a youngster, while his younger brother Tommy graduates from law school, helped along by big brother. Tommy says he's going to work for the District Attorney's office, which prompts Johnny to "go legit", but another health scare from his mother sends him back into crime. Johnny is framed for murder, and goes to death row, but escapes just in time to save Tommy from being murdered by an old childhood rival.
This is a very funny, and underrated film. If you've never heard of it before, seek it out.
MST3K #511: Gunslinger
In honor of the death of B-movie actress Beverly Garland, we'll take a look at one of her (ahem) classic roles, directed by Roger Corman:
Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment 511: Gunslinger.
Originally aired October 9, 1993.
Part of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, volume 6.
Beverly Garland is Rose Hood, who takes over as sheriff of a small town in the Old West after her husband, the previous sheriff, is murdered. Rose kills both of the gunmen, including one at the funeral, and sets out to clean up the whole town. Through the film, Rose feuds with saloon owner Erica Page (played by Allison Hayes), who is also buying up land in town hoping to attract a railroad. She also hires Cain Miro (John Ireland) to kill Rose, but the tables are turned when Miro falls in love with the sheriff.
This was the first western featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and it's a very good episode. The highlight of the episode is Joel and the bots mocking the placement of the door leading into Miro's room, which swings out instead of inside, giving the impression that Miro is rooming out in a hallway.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment 511: Gunslinger.
Originally aired October 9, 1993.
Part of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, volume 6.
Beverly Garland is Rose Hood, who takes over as sheriff of a small town in the Old West after her husband, the previous sheriff, is murdered. Rose kills both of the gunmen, including one at the funeral, and sets out to clean up the whole town. Through the film, Rose feuds with saloon owner Erica Page (played by Allison Hayes), who is also buying up land in town hoping to attract a railroad. She also hires Cain Miro (John Ireland) to kill Rose, but the tables are turned when Miro falls in love with the sheriff.
This was the first western featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and it's a very good episode. The highlight of the episode is Joel and the bots mocking the placement of the door leading into Miro's room, which swings out instead of inside, giving the impression that Miro is rooming out in a hallway.
Meatballs
Are you ready for the summer?
Meatballs. 1979 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Russ Banham, Chris Makepeace
Director: Ivan Reitman
Buy Meatballs at Amazon.
Meatballs is Bill Murray's feature film debut as a wacky camp counselor named Tripper Harrison. He befriends and bonds with a shy and timid camper named Rudy (Makepeace), encouraging him to try his best at the upcoming Camp Olympic games between Camp North Star and their rivals at Camp Mohawk. The film is a feel good one, largely due to Murray's over the top hamming it up on camera.
Hell, Meatballs made me wish I had gone to a summer camp when I was a kid, which was probably the last thing I ever wanted to do.
Highly recommended.
Meatballs. 1979 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Russ Banham, Chris Makepeace
Director: Ivan Reitman
Buy Meatballs at Amazon.
Meatballs is Bill Murray's feature film debut as a wacky camp counselor named Tripper Harrison. He befriends and bonds with a shy and timid camper named Rudy (Makepeace), encouraging him to try his best at the upcoming Camp Olympic games between Camp North Star and their rivals at Camp Mohawk. The film is a feel good one, largely due to Murray's over the top hamming it up on camera.
Hell, Meatballs made me wish I had gone to a summer camp when I was a kid, which was probably the last thing I ever wanted to do.
Highly recommended.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Diner
Diner. 1982 MGM/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser
Director: Barry Levinson
Buy Diner at Amazon.
In Baltimore, 1959, a group of college-aged friends struggle with the imminent passage into adulthood while spending a lot of their evenings (and overnights) at their favorite hangout, the Fells Point Diner. Largely adlibbed by the primary cast, and presented more as a series of skits rather than a traditional narrative, Diner serves up one hell of a good time.
Recommended!
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser
Director: Barry Levinson
Buy Diner at Amazon.
In Baltimore, 1959, a group of college-aged friends struggle with the imminent passage into adulthood while spending a lot of their evenings (and overnights) at their favorite hangout, the Fells Point Diner. Largely adlibbed by the primary cast, and presented more as a series of skits rather than a traditional narrative, Diner serves up one hell of a good time.
Recommended!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey (Criterion #114). 1936 Universal Pictures.
Starring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon
Director: Gregory LaCava
Buy My Man Godfrey (Criterion Collection #114) at Amazon.
My Man Godfrey was the first motion picture to be nominated for Academy Awards in all four acting categories, in the first year that supporting categories were introduced. It's also the only movie in Oscar hustory to receive a nomination in all four acting categories and not get a nomination for Best Picture. Unfortunately, the movie won no Oscars.
William Powell plays Godfrey, a drifter living in a city dump who is hired by a snooty socialite named Cornelia Bullock (Patrick) to be her "forgotten man" in a scavenger hunt. Godfrey accepts after talking it over with Cornelia's sister Irene (Lombard), and soon is offered a job as the Bullock family butler, which he accepts.
The Bullocks are pretty hard on their hired help, so Godfrey's surprising competence at his new job thrills Irene, but aggravates Cornelia. Soon after, one of Godfrey's friends from the city dump, Tommy (played by Alan Mowbray), greets him as an old friend, and Godfrey quickly makes up a story about being Tommy's valet at school. Tommy makes up a non-existant wife and five children for Godfrey, distressing Irene, who impulsively announces an engagement with someone else.
Irene attempts to frame Godfrey by planting her pearls under his pillow and calling the police, but the plot backfires. Next, she claims that Godfrey is attracted to her, and not Irene, which prompts Irene to "faint" into Godfrey's arms, leading to the famous shower scene. Godfrey resigns his position, but it's revealed that he had secretly saved Mr. Bullock's (Pallette) business, which had been on the brink of failure. Godfrey also opens his own nightclub in the city dump where he had been found, and ends up marrying Irene.
A true screwball comedy classic. Highly recommended.
Starring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon
Director: Gregory LaCava
Buy My Man Godfrey (Criterion Collection #114) at Amazon.
My Man Godfrey was the first motion picture to be nominated for Academy Awards in all four acting categories, in the first year that supporting categories were introduced. It's also the only movie in Oscar hustory to receive a nomination in all four acting categories and not get a nomination for Best Picture. Unfortunately, the movie won no Oscars.
William Powell plays Godfrey, a drifter living in a city dump who is hired by a snooty socialite named Cornelia Bullock (Patrick) to be her "forgotten man" in a scavenger hunt. Godfrey accepts after talking it over with Cornelia's sister Irene (Lombard), and soon is offered a job as the Bullock family butler, which he accepts.
The Bullocks are pretty hard on their hired help, so Godfrey's surprising competence at his new job thrills Irene, but aggravates Cornelia. Soon after, one of Godfrey's friends from the city dump, Tommy (played by Alan Mowbray), greets him as an old friend, and Godfrey quickly makes up a story about being Tommy's valet at school. Tommy makes up a non-existant wife and five children for Godfrey, distressing Irene, who impulsively announces an engagement with someone else.
Irene attempts to frame Godfrey by planting her pearls under his pillow and calling the police, but the plot backfires. Next, she claims that Godfrey is attracted to her, and not Irene, which prompts Irene to "faint" into Godfrey's arms, leading to the famous shower scene. Godfrey resigns his position, but it's revealed that he had secretly saved Mr. Bullock's (Pallette) business, which had been on the brink of failure. Godfrey also opens his own nightclub in the city dump where he had been found, and ends up marrying Irene.
A true screwball comedy classic. Highly recommended.
Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky. 1977 Cinema 5 Distributing, Python Films, Umbrella Films.
Starring: Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell
Director: Terry Gilliam
Jabberwocky at Amazon (discontinued).
Michael Palin (the nicest Python) plays Dennis Cooper, a failed cooper who is disowned by his dying father, moves from his village to the city hoping to change his fortunes. Things in the city aren't much better, as the top merchants in town are profiting nicely from the fear that the Jabberwock dragon is causing the local residents. In time, Cooper finds himself on a quest along with King Bruno the Questionable's "champion" to slay the Jabberwock. Dennis unwittingly slays the beast and gets everything he could possibly want as a reward...the problem is, it's not what he was looking for to make him happy.
This is Gilliam's first motion picture as a solo director, and there are some Pythonesque touches with Palin in the lead role, along with appearances by Terry Jones and Neil Innes.
Jabberwocky has its moments, but it really isn't a movie I'm going to go out of my way to see, despite the presence of Michael Palin. Maybe next time, I'll watch the film with the commentary from Palin and Gilliam turned on.
Starring: Michael Palin, Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell
Director: Terry Gilliam
Jabberwocky at Amazon (discontinued).
Michael Palin (the nicest Python) plays Dennis Cooper, a failed cooper who is disowned by his dying father, moves from his village to the city hoping to change his fortunes. Things in the city aren't much better, as the top merchants in town are profiting nicely from the fear that the Jabberwock dragon is causing the local residents. In time, Cooper finds himself on a quest along with King Bruno the Questionable's "champion" to slay the Jabberwock. Dennis unwittingly slays the beast and gets everything he could possibly want as a reward...the problem is, it's not what he was looking for to make him happy.
This is Gilliam's first motion picture as a solo director, and there are some Pythonesque touches with Palin in the lead role, along with appearances by Terry Jones and Neil Innes.
Jabberwocky has its moments, but it really isn't a movie I'm going to go out of my way to see, despite the presence of Michael Palin. Maybe next time, I'll watch the film with the commentary from Palin and Gilliam turned on.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Office Space
A decent American comedy that inspired more than a few people to pursue their lifelong ambitions of "doing nothing", and encouraged people to hang onto those red staplers:
Office Space. 1999 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Baker, Stephen Root, Gary Cole
Director: Mike Judge
Buy Office Space at Amazon.
At Initech, just another software development company overrun by excessive management and the typical insanity that thrives in every office cube farm, Peter Gibbons (Livingston) and his friends go through the motions every day, trying hard not to get downsized out of their positions. Peter, in particular, is tired of everything, especially his job, his girlfriend, and the therapy sessions that he was asked to attend. After his therapist unexpectedly dies of a heart attack through the session, Peter changes, and decides that he's going to pursue his ambition of "doing nothing", topping off his first day of his new (ahem) career by asking out a waitress named Joanna (played by Aniston).
Despite his new attitude, Peter is promoted while his two friends Samir (Naidu) and the unfortunately named Michael Bolton (Herman) are fired. They decide to get even by quietly embezzling from Initech, but before they are discovered after accidentally stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, the troubled Milton (Root) finally snaps, setting the office building on fire.
A funny, dark comedy deserving of its cult status ever since its debut on the home video market. Highly recommended.
Office Space. 1999 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Baker, Stephen Root, Gary Cole
Director: Mike Judge
Buy Office Space at Amazon.
At Initech, just another software development company overrun by excessive management and the typical insanity that thrives in every office cube farm, Peter Gibbons (Livingston) and his friends go through the motions every day, trying hard not to get downsized out of their positions. Peter, in particular, is tired of everything, especially his job, his girlfriend, and the therapy sessions that he was asked to attend. After his therapist unexpectedly dies of a heart attack through the session, Peter changes, and decides that he's going to pursue his ambition of "doing nothing", topping off his first day of his new (ahem) career by asking out a waitress named Joanna (played by Aniston).
Despite his new attitude, Peter is promoted while his two friends Samir (Naidu) and the unfortunately named Michael Bolton (Herman) are fired. They decide to get even by quietly embezzling from Initech, but before they are discovered after accidentally stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, the troubled Milton (Root) finally snaps, setting the office building on fire.
A funny, dark comedy deserving of its cult status ever since its debut on the home video market. Highly recommended.
MST3K #504: Secret Agent Super Dragon
Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment 504: Secret Agent Super Dragon.
Original airdate: August 7, 1993
Buy this episode at Amazon, as part of the 12th MST3K collection.
This was my "gateway" MST3K episode, as I never thought too much of the show before I watched this one. Before then, for a long time, I knew very little about MST3K, aside from that it followed episodes of the original Whose Line is it Anyway? on Comedy Central during my high school years.
As for the movie...a suave secret agent (Ray Danton) is coaxed out of retirement after a friend is killed while investigating an international drug ring, who is peddling a drug called Synchron that they use to drug college students after lacing candy and bubble gum with it.
The host segments are pretty good too, especially the opening where Joel is introduced to a new robot constructed by Crow and Tom Servo, which quickly becomes very, very annoying. Later in the show, the gang performs a jazz rendition of music in the film, but Joel ruins it by "adding some spice".
It isn't the best episode of MST3K, obviously, but it's still a landmark episode to me. Recommended.
Original airdate: August 7, 1993
Buy this episode at Amazon, as part of the 12th MST3K collection.
This was my "gateway" MST3K episode, as I never thought too much of the show before I watched this one. Before then, for a long time, I knew very little about MST3K, aside from that it followed episodes of the original Whose Line is it Anyway? on Comedy Central during my high school years.
As for the movie...a suave secret agent (Ray Danton) is coaxed out of retirement after a friend is killed while investigating an international drug ring, who is peddling a drug called Synchron that they use to drug college students after lacing candy and bubble gum with it.
The host segments are pretty good too, especially the opening where Joel is introduced to a new robot constructed by Crow and Tom Servo, which quickly becomes very, very annoying. Later in the show, the gang performs a jazz rendition of music in the film, but Joel ruins it by "adding some spice".
It isn't the best episode of MST3K, obviously, but it's still a landmark episode to me. Recommended.
Go West
Go West. 1940 MGM/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo), John Carroll, Diana Lewis
Uncredited Writer: Buster Keaton
Director: Edward Buzzell
Buy Go West with The Big Store at Amazon.
This is the movie that made me fall in love with the brothers Marx a few years ago, and it's not even their best one.
Groucho plays S. Quentin Quale, a confidence man looking to make his way out west, only to get duped by the brothers Joseph and Rusty Panello (Chico and Harpo) in a hilarious scene at a train station where the con man loses every penny. The Panello brothers are also looking to "go west", where they hear that you can literally pick up the nuggets of gold off the streets.
The main plot of the film involves a place called Dead Man's Gulch, whose main value is not gold, but a decent territory for an expanding railroad to build through, and how the fate of the land will affect the feud between two families, the Wilsons and the Turners. Not only that, but Dan Wilson and Eva Turner are deeply in love, making things even more complicated, and Dan hopes that the sale of Dead Man's Gulch will end the feud for good.
Go West ends with a hysterical chase scene involving a train. I have read elsewhere that the last fifteen minutes of the movie were sold separately in the early days of the home video market. The scene is actually worth the price of the film itself.
Very highly recommended. Back soon!
Starring: The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo), John Carroll, Diana Lewis
Uncredited Writer: Buster Keaton
Director: Edward Buzzell
Buy Go West with The Big Store at Amazon.
This is the movie that made me fall in love with the brothers Marx a few years ago, and it's not even their best one.
Groucho plays S. Quentin Quale, a confidence man looking to make his way out west, only to get duped by the brothers Joseph and Rusty Panello (Chico and Harpo) in a hilarious scene at a train station where the con man loses every penny. The Panello brothers are also looking to "go west", where they hear that you can literally pick up the nuggets of gold off the streets.
The main plot of the film involves a place called Dead Man's Gulch, whose main value is not gold, but a decent territory for an expanding railroad to build through, and how the fate of the land will affect the feud between two families, the Wilsons and the Turners. Not only that, but Dan Wilson and Eva Turner are deeply in love, making things even more complicated, and Dan hopes that the sale of Dead Man's Gulch will end the feud for good.
Go West ends with a hysterical chase scene involving a train. I have read elsewhere that the last fifteen minutes of the movie were sold separately in the early days of the home video market. The scene is actually worth the price of the film itself.
Very highly recommended. Back soon!
Nashville
Viewed and reviewed December 4th:
Nashville. 1975 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: lots of people! (Henry Gibson and Lily Tomlin both receive top billing on the DVD package)
Director: Robert Altman
Buy Nashville at Amazon.
Over the course of a long five-day weekend in Nashville, twenty four different personalities, mostly musicians, political figures, and others, gather in Nashville, eventually coming together as an unseen Presidential candidate representing the so-called "Replacement Party" seeks to become a visable player by seeking out the endorsement of some of Nashville's most powerful musicians. The movie is well written, and everyone involved performs decently.
Recommended, although some might find the movie's length (160 minutes) a chore to sit through.
Nashville. 1975 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: lots of people! (Henry Gibson and Lily Tomlin both receive top billing on the DVD package)
Director: Robert Altman
Buy Nashville at Amazon.
Over the course of a long five-day weekend in Nashville, twenty four different personalities, mostly musicians, political figures, and others, gather in Nashville, eventually coming together as an unseen Presidential candidate representing the so-called "Replacement Party" seeks to become a visable player by seeking out the endorsement of some of Nashville's most powerful musicians. The movie is well written, and everyone involved performs decently.
Recommended, although some might find the movie's length (160 minutes) a chore to sit through.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Stand By Me
Stand By Me. 1986 Columbia Pictures.
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Buy Stand By Me at Amazon.
Ah yes, the wonderful story of Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern and their coming of age weekend trip to go see the dead body of their friend Ray Brower, who met his end after being struck by a passing train. Our heroes nearly meet the same fate while crossing a trestle over a river, which seems to be the one scene from the movie that everybody seems to remember best.
Great film. Recommended.
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Buy Stand By Me at Amazon.
Ah yes, the wonderful story of Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern and their coming of age weekend trip to go see the dead body of their friend Ray Brower, who met his end after being struck by a passing train. Our heroes nearly meet the same fate while crossing a trestle over a river, which seems to be the one scene from the movie that everybody seems to remember best.
Great film. Recommended.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Here's a Woody Allen film that I've yet to watch...
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask). 1972 United Artists.
Starring: Woody Allen, John Carradine, Louise Lasser, Lynn Redgrave, Burt Reynolds, Gene Wilder, Tony Randall
Also featuring: Erin Fleming
Director: Woody Allen
Buy it at Amazon (discontinued).
In a sketch film consisting of seven chapters (similar to Monty Python's The Meaning of Life for sake of comparison), Allen loosely adopts portions of Dr. David Reuben's 1969 bestseller of the same name. Two highlights are Gene Wilder playing a doctor who falls in love with a sheep, and John Carradine's hysterical performance as a mad researcher engaging in sexual experiments who unwittingly unleashes a giant runaway breast that terrorizes the countryside.
The movie also has an appearance by Erin Fleming (who I did not recognize), best known as Groucho Marx's caretaker/promoter during the final years of his life. Fleming has been criticized by some people for exploiting Groucho in his last years (allegedly using him as leverage in a failed attempt to land a prime sitcom role) and pushing him into performances and public appearances when he was in poor health.
All in all, this was an enjoyable picture, and I felt that Wilder and Carradine in particular stole the show with their performances. Recommended for a rainy afternoon, or any kind of afternoon.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask). 1972 United Artists.
Starring: Woody Allen, John Carradine, Louise Lasser, Lynn Redgrave, Burt Reynolds, Gene Wilder, Tony Randall
Also featuring: Erin Fleming
Director: Woody Allen
Buy it at Amazon (discontinued).
In a sketch film consisting of seven chapters (similar to Monty Python's The Meaning of Life for sake of comparison), Allen loosely adopts portions of Dr. David Reuben's 1969 bestseller of the same name. Two highlights are Gene Wilder playing a doctor who falls in love with a sheep, and John Carradine's hysterical performance as a mad researcher engaging in sexual experiments who unwittingly unleashes a giant runaway breast that terrorizes the countryside.
The movie also has an appearance by Erin Fleming (who I did not recognize), best known as Groucho Marx's caretaker/promoter during the final years of his life. Fleming has been criticized by some people for exploiting Groucho in his last years (allegedly using him as leverage in a failed attempt to land a prime sitcom role) and pushing him into performances and public appearances when he was in poor health.
All in all, this was an enjoyable picture, and I felt that Wilder and Carradine in particular stole the show with their performances. Recommended for a rainy afternoon, or any kind of afternoon.
Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume 6 (Disc 4)
I just finally picked the sixth, and apparently final installment of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection [buy at Amazon], and I decided to watch the fourth disc, the most requested one-shot cartoons.
What's on it?
Horton Hatches the Egg, directed by Robert Clampett, 1942. (Wiki?)
Lights Fantastic, directed by Friz Freleng, 1942.
Fresh Airedale, directed by Chuck Jones, 1945.
Chow Hound, directed by Chuck Jones, 1951. (Wiki?)
The Oily American, directed by Robert McKimson, 1954.
It's Hummer Time, directed by Robert McKimson, 1950.
Rocket-bye Baby, directed by Chuck Jones, 1956.
Goo Goo Goliath, directed by Friz Freleng, 1954.
Wild Wife, directed by Robert McKimson, 1954.
Much Ado About Nutting, directed by Chuck Jones, 1953.
The Hole Idea, directed by Robert McKimson, 1955.
Now Hear This, directed by Chuck Jones & Maurice Noble, 1962. (Wiki?)
Martian Through Georgia, directed by Chuck Jones, Abe Levitow & Maurice Noble, 1962. (Wiki?)
Page Miss Glory, directed by Tex Avery, 1936.
Norman Normal, directed by Alex Lovy, 1968. (Wiki?)
Bonus shorts:
Bartholomew Versus the Wheel, directed by Robert McKimson, 1964.
Punch Trunk, directed by Chuck Jones, 1953.
Sleepy Time Possum, directed by Robert McKimson, 1951.
Wild Wild World, directed by Robert McKimson, 1960.
Thoughts: This is a hell of a way for Warner Bros. to end their "Golden Collection" series of DVDs with the final disc featured semi-obscure cartoons that haven't even been seen in years. I remember a few of these from my youth, but the majority of the fourth disc are ones I've never seen at all.
Fun fact: Norman Normal is billed as a "Warner Bros. Cartoon Special", as opposed to Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies. I'm looking forward to this one when it finally comes up.
You can't go wrong with Looney Tunes, of course. Recommended.
What's on it?
Horton Hatches the Egg, directed by Robert Clampett, 1942. (Wiki?)
Lights Fantastic, directed by Friz Freleng, 1942.
Fresh Airedale, directed by Chuck Jones, 1945.
Chow Hound, directed by Chuck Jones, 1951. (Wiki?)
The Oily American, directed by Robert McKimson, 1954.
It's Hummer Time, directed by Robert McKimson, 1950.
Rocket-bye Baby, directed by Chuck Jones, 1956.
Goo Goo Goliath, directed by Friz Freleng, 1954.
Wild Wife, directed by Robert McKimson, 1954.
Much Ado About Nutting, directed by Chuck Jones, 1953.
The Hole Idea, directed by Robert McKimson, 1955.
Now Hear This, directed by Chuck Jones & Maurice Noble, 1962. (Wiki?)
Martian Through Georgia, directed by Chuck Jones, Abe Levitow & Maurice Noble, 1962. (Wiki?)
Page Miss Glory, directed by Tex Avery, 1936.
Norman Normal, directed by Alex Lovy, 1968. (Wiki?)
Bonus shorts:
Bartholomew Versus the Wheel, directed by Robert McKimson, 1964.
Punch Trunk, directed by Chuck Jones, 1953.
Sleepy Time Possum, directed by Robert McKimson, 1951.
Wild Wild World, directed by Robert McKimson, 1960.
Thoughts: This is a hell of a way for Warner Bros. to end their "Golden Collection" series of DVDs with the final disc featured semi-obscure cartoons that haven't even been seen in years. I remember a few of these from my youth, but the majority of the fourth disc are ones I've never seen at all.
Fun fact: Norman Normal is billed as a "Warner Bros. Cartoon Special", as opposed to Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies. I'm looking forward to this one when it finally comes up.
You can't go wrong with Looney Tunes, of course. Recommended.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)