Friday, October 28, 2022
Second Service
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matthew K. Lane John Green Coral Fiedler Natalie Ghoulson R. Scott Purdy Bradford Guinness Guy Wicke Hodges Shane Rhoades Tim Thompson Jennifer Cheung Evelyn Max Fabian Greasy Dude Erin Ellagood Cheating Wife William Ellagood Cheating Husband Vito Glazers Accountant Kat Bäckstrom Receptionist Serge Bodnarchuk Man with No Taste
Here's a link to the FilmiFeed write-up of the film. Wikipedia doesn't have a write-up of it, yet.
Release Date: 2017
Directed by Serge Bodnarchuk.
Labels: §5, detective1, dramedy3, goflexB
Thursday, October 27, 2022
The Fourth Protocol
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Michael Caine John Preston Pierce Brosnan Major Valeri Alekseyevich Petrofsky/James Edward Ross Ned Beatty General Pavel Petrovich Borisov Joanna Cassidy Irina Vassilievna Julian Glover Brian Harcourt-Smith Michael Gough Sir Bernard Hemmings Ray McAnally General Yevgeny Sergeyevich Karpov Ian Richardson Sir Nigel Irvine Anton Rodgers George Berenson Caroline Blakiston Angela Berenson Joseph Brady Carmichael Matt Frewer Tom McWhirter
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by John Mackenzie.
Labels: §5, goflexA, michael-caine, ned-beatty, nuclear, spy, thriller3
The Stepford Wives
- Commentary: Roger Ebert did not like this movie (his review is linked to the title of this post). That delights me, because I love this movie! Roger Ebert didn't like this movie because he was a man. Men almost never get it. It doesn't occur to them that this movie isn't about Joanna Eberhart or Bobbie Markowe. It's about the men in the movie, all of them. And, not only was it about 1975 men, it's about men, now. Unfortunately. But, undeniably.
I have more to say, but I think I'll wait until I view this movie once again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Ross Joanna Eberhart Paula Prentiss Bobby Markowe Peter Masterson Walter Eberhart Nanette Newman Carol van Sant Tina Louise Charmaine Wimperis Carol Rossen Dr. Fancher William Prince Ike Mazzard Patrick O'Neal Dale Coba Carole Mallory Kit Sundersen Toni Reid Marie Axhelm Judith Baldwin Patricia Cornell Barbara Rucker Mary Ann Stavros George Coe Claude Axhelm Franklin Cover Ed Wimperis Robert Fields Raymond Chandler Michael Higgins Frank Cornell Josef Sommer Ted van Sant Remak Ramsay Mr. Atkinson Mary Stuart Masterson Kim Eberhart Ronny Sullivan Amy Eberhart
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by Bryan Forbes.
Labels: feminist, goflexB, horror2, me-favorite4, psychological2, satire3, thriller3
Six String Samurai
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jeffrey Falcon Buddy Justin McGuire The Kid Stephane Gauger Death Lex Lang Voice of Death
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Lance Mungia.
Labels: §5, apocalyptic, comedy3, goflexB, nuclear, satire3
Special Bulletin
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ed Flanders John Woodley Kathryn Walker Susan Myles Christopher Allport Steven Levitt David Clennon Dr. Bruce Lyman Rosalind Cash Frieda Barton Roxanne Hart Megan Barclay David Rasche Dr. David McKeeson Lane Smith Morton Sanders Ebbe Roe Smith Jim Seaver Roberta Maxwell Diane Silverman George Morfogen Dr. Morse Mansfield Michael Madsen Jimmy Lenox
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1983
Directed by Edward Zwick.
Labels: §5, goflexB, michael-madsen, nuclear, tragedy2, TV3
Planet of the Humans
- Commentary: Under construction.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Jeff Gibbs.
Labels: documentary2, goflexB, michael-moore, survival
When the Wind Blows
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Peggy Ashcroft Hilda Bloggs John Mills Jim Bloggs Robin Houston Radio 4 Announcer James Russell Additional Voice David Dundas Additional Voice Matt Irving Additional Voice
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1986
Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami.
Labels: §5, animated, apocalyptic, goflexC, nuclear, tragedy2
Saturday's Warrior
- Commentary: Under construction.
No, I'm not a Mormon, nor anything religious, for that matter, but I am always curious about religious movies, including those that are promotional. Although I haven't yet seen this one, from what I've read about it, it is surely promotional of the LDS faith. That should be fun! Of course, I'll report back.
BTW, although the review attached to the title of this post is of the 2016 remake of the original play and this movie is a filmed version of a 1989 stage production, the review is interesting and revealing about the play, regardless of how it was made. It was also the most complete review I could find, and, a big plus, it's by a querulous Mormon.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Erik Hickenlooper Jimmy Cori Jacobsen Julie Davison Cheney Tod Bart Hickenlooper Wally D.L. Walker Harold Greene Marianne Thompson Pam Marvin Payne Dad Gay Parvis Mom
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Bob Williams.
Labels: §5, goflexB, popcorn-and-soda7, religion2
Ruby Gentry
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jennifer Jones Ruby Gentry Charlton Heston Boake Tackman Karl Malden Jim Gentry Tom Tully Jud Corey Barney Phillips Dr. Saul Manfred/Narrator James Anderson Jewel Corey Josephine Hutchinson Letitia Gentry Phyllis Avery Tracy McAuliffe Herbert Heyes Judge Tackman Myra Marsh Ma Corey Charles Cane Cullen McAuliffe Sam Flint Neil Fallgren
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1952
Directed by King Vidor.
Labels: §5, charlton-heston, goflexB, karl-malden, melodramaB, romance5, southern-gothic, tragedy2
Resurrection
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ellen Burstyn Edna Mae McCauley Jeffrey DeMunn Joseph McCauley Roberts Blossom John Harper Eva Le Gallienne Grandma Pearl Lois Smith Kathy Sam Shepard Cal Carpenter Richard Hamilton Reverend Earl Carpenter Richard Farnsworth Esco Brown
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1980
Directed by Daniel Petrie.
Labels: §5, ellen-burstyn, goflexB, lois-smith, psychological2, reflective, religion2, sam-shepard
Paula
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Loretta Young Paula Rogers Kent Smith John Rogers Alexander Knox Dr. Clifford Frazer Tommy Rettig David Larson
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1952
Directed by Rudolph Maté.
Labels: §6, goflexB, women's-movie2
Mass
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Reed Birney Richard Ann Dowd Linda Jason Isaacs Jay Perry Martha Plimpton Gail Perry Breeda Wool Judy Kagen Albright Anthony Michelle N. Carter Kendra Michael White Piano Teacher
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2021
Directed by Fran Kranz.
Labels: goflexA, psychological2, reflective, tragedy2
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Cradle Will Rock
- Commentary: Under construction.
Keep in mind, this movie could be said to have "a cast of thousands". That, of course, is an exaggeration: It only has a credited/uncredited actor cast (over at IMDb) of 140, or thereabouts. It is, as well, more than a movie. It is an attempt (some say successful, some not) at an historical and contemplative presentation of the fate of the depression era Federal Theater Project production The Cradle Will Rock. At any rate, in the table below I've included actors/roles that seem to me to be important in the play, those I recognize and those who play themselves. Take a deep breath. This could take awhile.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Hank Azaria Marc Blitzstein Rubén Blades Diego Rivera Joan Cusack Hazel Huffman John Cusack Nelson Rockefeller Cary Elwes John Houseman Philip Baker Hall Gray Mathers Cherry Jones Hallie Flanagan Angus Macfadyen Orson Welles Bill Murray Tommy Crickshaw Vanessa Redgrave Countess Constance La Grange Susan Sarandon Margherita Sarfatti Jamey Sheridan John Adair John Turturro Aldo Silvano Emily Watson Olive Stanton Bob Balaban Harry Hopkins Jack Black Sid Kyle Gass Larry Paul Giamatti Carlo Barnard Hughes Frank Marvel Barbara Sukowa Sophie Silvano Steven Tyler Lehman Engel John Carpenter Power - William Randolph Hearst Gretchen Mol Marion Davies Ned Bellamy Paul Edwards Lynn Cohen Silvano - Mama Dominic Chianese Silvano - Papa Gregg Edelman Blitzstein - Dream Larry Foreman Carrie Preston VTA - Administrator Karen Lynn Gorney Dancer (uncredited) Tim Robbins Voice On Film Reel (uncredited) Franklin D. Roosevelt Self (archive footage) Haile Selassie Self (in pith helmet)
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by Tim Robbins.
Labels: §6, goflexA, historical4, john-turturro, paul-giamatti, period7, political5, tim-robbins
A Carol for Another Christmas
- Commentary: Under construction.
Considering its inavailability for decades (it was originally broadcast in 1964 and then shelved for nearly 50 years, finally being revived by TCM in 2012), I consider myself lucky to have a copy of this movie. I have never seen it, but I checked it for version information. There are, apparently, two versions making the rounds. The original features Henry Mancini's music. The second removed Mancini's music and replaced it with recordings of children singing Christmas carols. The copy I own is of the original broadcast.
Aside from the review I've attached to the title of this post, I've linked, as well, to several reviews written about the movie, below. Each review, whether short or long, contains some interesting tidbit (or, in the case of the one linked to this post title, many tidbits) containing considerations of and facts about the production and impact of this film:
Bureau 42 Review
Emanuel Levy Review
Films Graded Review
TCM Article/Review
Spooky Isles Review
Most of the reviews contain a plot summary, some of which are quite detailed, so be forewarned, but, keep in mind, you already know this story, as it is a retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Percy Rodriguez Charles Sterling Hayden Daniel Grudge Ben Gazzara Fred Barbara Ann Teer Ruby Steve Lawrence Ghost of Christmas Past Eva Marie Saint WAVE Lt. Gibson James Shigeta Doctor Pat Hingle Ghost of Christmas Present Robert Shaw Ghost of Christmas Future Peter Sellers Imperial Me Britt Ekland Mother Joe Santos Number 32
It is astonishing to note that every single one of the actors listed in the table above either was or became well involved in the entertainment industry, well known, if only by face recognition, and well loved. And, of course, it was written by Rod Serling, and, by the way, look who directed it. This was not meant to be, nor was it (even though it was disappeared for quite a while), a slouch of a production.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1964
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Labels: §6, apocalyptic, Christmas, goflexA, nuclear, pat-hingle, TV3
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
By Dawn's Early Light
- Commentary: Under construction.
This movie is about the idea-muddle within which a globally destructive nuclear war could happen.
Established film critics seemed reluctant to review this TV movie released by HBO, maybe because it is a TV movie, so I connected the title of this post to the Cinafilm write-up, which hosts anyone who wishes to review any particular movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Powers Boothe USAF Major Cassidy Rebecca De Mornay USAF Captain Moreau James Earl Jones USAF General "Alice" Martin Landau U. S. President Darren McGavin U. S. Sec. of Interior "Condor" Rip Torn Colonel Fargo Jeffrey DeMunn USN Admiral "Harpoon" Peter MacNicol USN LCDR Tom Sedgwick
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Jack Sholder.
Labels: §6, goflexA, nuclear, war3
The Mad King - Ben Glieb
- Commentary: Under construction.
Very little background information about this special. The link in the title above is to a video interview about the special that is actually longer, by about 20 minutes, than the special itself, and features, as one of the interviewees, Ben Glieb.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up about the comedian.
Release Date: 2022
Directed by Scott Montoya.
The Ages of Man
- Commentary: Under construction.
One actor spoken word recitation of Shakespeare quotations.
Actor: Sir John Gielgud.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1966
Directed by Paul Bogart.
Labels: §6, goflexA, john-gielgud, shakespeare