My Life In Film: Part 39

Welcome to the #Lockdown edition of #MyLifeInFilm.  Hope you’re all keeping safe and well and that this weird situation we find ourselves in hasn’t taken its toll on you too much.  Me?  Nothing’s changed, apart from my lack of motivation to get anything done, hence the delay in getting this out.  But we’re here now, so let’s do this…

 

JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963)

This classic sword-and-sandals epic used to be the centrepiece of every Christmas or Bank Holiday television schedule.  As a kid I remember being mesmerised by the skeletons and monsters but not really ‘getting’ it.  As an adult, however, I am able to appreciate the majesty of Ray Harryhausen‘s work.  Based loosely on the stories of Greek mythology, Jason (Todd Armstrong) leads his team of intrepid adventurers in a dangerous quest to find the Golden Fleece.  Exemplary special effects for the time period and non-stop adventure, Jason and the Argonauts is joyously camp, cheesy and wonderful cinema.

WATCH IT FOR: Skeleton Fight!

 

DUEL(1971)

Starting out life as a made-for-TV-movie, Duel’s director, Steven Spielberg, was called back to add further scenes to create a 90-minute film that was suitable for a cinema audience.  Dennis Weaver plays David Mann, a businessman travelling through the desert for an appointment with a client who is harassed by a sadistic truck driver following an innocent altercation.  Pursued across the desert, Mann finds himself increasingly at odds with the unseen driver, culminating in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase to a deathly climax.  Spielberg’s impressive big-screen debut is full of the trademarks that we’d all come to know and love in his later films, complete with a magnetic lead performance from Weaver.

WATCH IT FOR: Phone Booth

 

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994)

This is the film that launched the worldwide career of Hugh Grant.  It was also responsible for a string of copycat romantic comedies that failed to live up to the magic of this one.  Written by Richard Curtis and directed by Mike Newell, the film follows confirmed bachelor Charles (Grant) as he and his friends attend various functions, contemplate life and love while trying to find the perfect companion for themselves.  The film was a massive success on its release, breaking records and stealing hearts across the globe and its not hard to see why.  Its funny, heartwarming and, at times, truly heart breaking.

WATCH IT FOR: Best Man’s Speech

 

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983)

This beautiful, heartfelt comedy drama from James L. Brooks showcases the staggering talents of its stars Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson.  Following the often fractious relationship between MacLaine’s Aurora and her daughter, Emma (Winger), the film manages to make you laugh, cry and, ultimately, care about all those involved.  I’ll be honest, this isn’t my usual kind of film to watch, I thought it would be maudlin and depressing but it wasn’t (all the time). It is uplifting, despite some of the more sombre moments, and lives on because of the strength of storytelling and character.

WATCH IT FOR: “You do bring out the Devil in me”

 

SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON (1964)

Myra Savage (Kim Stanley) works as medium, holding weekly seances from her home while her devoted, out of work husband, Billy (Richard Attenborough) supports her.  Her plan to raise her public profile is simple; kidnap the daughter of a wealthy couple and, using her psychic ability, help the police locate her. The couple soon begin to crumble under the pressure of hiding the child while still maintaining a level of normality within society. What is great about this film is Kim Stanley’s heart-breaking portrayal of a mother, still grieving for her still-born son and her slow descent into a spiral of depression.  Director Bryan Forbes brings out the very best of his cast in a film that will stay long in the memory.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

CUBAN FURY (2014)

What the world needs right now is some honest-to-goodness feelgood pleasure.  Cuban Fury might just be the way to find it.  Based on an original idea from leading man, Nick Frost, it sees the rebirth of a put-upon everyman who finds his mojo and rekindles his first love.  As a teenager, Bruce Garrett was on the verge of greatness at the UK Junior Salsa Championships but, following a traumatic incident, he hangs up his heels and vows never to return.  That is until Julia (Rashida Jones), his beautiful new boss, arrives and stirs his passion once more.  Frost is wonderful as the adult Bruce, regaining his confidence and proving he’s more than just comedy buffer material.  Solid support from Ian McShane and Chris O’Dowd raises this above the usual romantic comedy fare and provides us with something to really enjoy and love.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

THE NEVERENDING STORY (1984)

I remember first seeing this on VHS when I was a kid.  At the time, even though I enjoyed it, I didn’t really like it all that much.  Over time, though, it has become one of those films that resonates with a certain part of childhood where the line of fantasy and reality are blurred and all you had to do was believe.  Bastian (Barrett Oliver) is your typical 80s child – bullied at school and living in a single-parent household where he feels invisible.  One day, while on the run from the bullies, he hides in a bookshop where he finds a mysterious, old book that he soon ‘borrows’.  Hiding in the school attic, Bastian is soon immersed in the mythical world of Fantasia which is in need of a hero to save it from annihilation.  Magically entwining the modern world and that of Fantasia, the film takes us on a wonderful ride, meeting curious creatures, adventurous heroes and evil villains.

WATCH IT FOR: The Power of The Nothing 

 

ARACHNOPHOBIA (1990)

Frank Marshall dons the director’s hat for the first time with this hark back to classic B-movies.  A large, deadly spider from the jungle of South America finds its way into cargo headed for America where it mates with a local spider.  Soon, local residents are disappearing and spider bites are on the rise.  Dr Ross Jennings (Jeff Daniels) and his family are soon infested and call on the help of exterminator Delbert McClintock (John Goodman) to stop the spread.  This is a fun adventure with enough scares to frighten even the hardiest of spider lovers.

WATCH IT FOR: Delbert

 

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

As epic as a movie could get, Lawrence of Arabia garnered 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for David Lean.  It has everything the Academy loves about films of this scale – brilliant camera work, breathtaking scenery and a beautiful score. The performances are outstanding, especially Peter O’Toole as the eponymous hero and Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali who, along with Lawrence, rebels against the orders of Lawrence’s superiors and endures an arduous camel trek across the desert to attack a heavily-guarded Turkish port. It is a hefty watch (almost four hours) but well worth it to see how majestic can really be.

WATCH IT FOR: Ali’s Well

 

ROAD HOUSE (1989)

This film is so 80s it hurts!  Patrick Swayze stars as Dalton, a cool as you like bouncer with an expertise in martial arts.  His reputation is well-known and so, is hired by the sleazy club The Double Deuce to clear out the riff-raff.  Complete with dodgy businessman, Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara) and local doctor, Elizabeth (Kelly Lynch), Road House has all the hallmarks of a classic, cult eighties action flick.  Add it to the ‘so bad it’s good’ pile.

WATCH IT FOR: “You’re too stupid to have a good time”

 

Well, it’s better late than never! Part 39 of #MyLifeInFilm done and dusted.  Another eclectic mix, don’t you think? Hopefully it won’t be as long until the next one arrives – all depends on whether my mojo sticks around long enough! If you like what you’ve seen here today please feel free to get in touch.  That goes for if you didn’t like it as well, I’m not prejudiced – I won’t reply to you, but just know that you’re also welcome!  Until the next time…

“Having a luck dragon with you is the only way to go on a quest”

My Life In Film: Part 38

Just when you thought it was safe to open your internet browser… #MyLifeInFilm is back, back, back!  It hasn’t all been wasted time, though, as you were ‘treated’ to my regular Halloween and Christmas specials.  But now it’s time to get things going again, sharing those films that I’ve loved, or that mean something special to me.  This time around there will be swords & sandals, psychos & psychics and at least one mermaid!

 

BLUE STEEL (1990)

Here’s a truly underrated gem of a thriller from writer/director Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, The Hurt Locker) and starring the fabulous Jamie Lee Curtis.  Megan Turner (Curtis) is a rookie cop who, on her first day with NYPD shoots and kills a supermarket robber.  When it subsequently transpires that the robber had no weapon and the witnesses couldn’t corroborate Turner’s story, she is suspended from active duty.  She is temporarily reinstated, this time as a homicide detective, when a bullet turns up at another scene with her name on it.  Enter commodities broker Eugene Hunt (the magnificent and much-missed Ron Silver) who shared a date with Turner when she was suspended and has developed a dangerous obsession with her.  Silver plays the bad guy so well and is the perfect foil for Curtis’ rookie cop.  Sure, it’s a pretty paint-by-numbers thriller but the performances elevate it above the mundane.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

TRON (1982)

Tron is one of those films that, while gloriously failing at the box office, has since gone on to become a cult classic.  Most of that can probably be traced back to the ground-breaking special effects combined with the boom in computer games.  Jeff Bridges plays arcade owner/computer hacker Flynn who is transported into the world of computer games by the villainous software pirate, Master Control (David Warner).  Whilst there, Flynn, along with his friend, Alan (Bruce Boxleitner), must participate in gladiatorial games in order to escape.  As you’d expect for a film that is almost forty years old, it has dated quite a lot but there’s no denying the film’s appeal, so much so that a sequel was made in 2010 with Bridges and Boxleitner reprising their roles.

WATCH IT FOR: Light Cycle Battle

 

THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997)

After the monster successes of Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List, director Steven Spielberg took a rare break from making movies.  Four years later and we are treated to a Jurassic sequel.  But how do you follow a behemoth like that?  Answer: with more dinosaurs!  Yes, The Lost World is everything you could want from a sequel, complete with at least one returning character, double the action and roughly 50% more dino action than the original.  Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm and joins Julianne Moore, Vince Vaughn and Pete Postlethwaite on an island eight-seven miles away from the original site to research and document the liberated animals.  Unfortunately, the greedy types at InGen have sent a separate team to capture and transport the creatures to San Diego.  What could possibly go wrong?  While not on the same level as the first film, The Lost World has plenty going for it including some fine set pieces and, of course music by John Williams.

WATCH IT FOR: Over The Cliff

 

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (1992)

In the early nineties there were a number of films classed as ‘psycho thrillers’.  Depicting damaged characters as crazy killers.  Single White Female portrays a very broken young woman, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, who infiltrates the life of Bridget Fonda leading to all manner of dangerous situations.  Allison (Fonda) places an ad in the paper for a Single White Female to share the rent now that she’s ditched her boyfriend.  When Hedra (Leigh) answers the ad, all seems perfect.  Until it isn’t.  For the most part this is your average run-of-the-mill ‘psycho thriller’ but if it weren’t for the two leads, this would be a made-for-TV affair.  Both Fonda and Leigh are magnetic together in a film that will make you think twice about renting a room to a stranger!

WATCH IT FOR: Worried Sick

 

SPARTACUS (1960)

It seems fitting that Spartacus should appear in this edition as we say farewell to a true cinematic icon, Kirk Douglas, who passed away recently at the grand old age of 103!  This is, perhaps, his most famous role among dozens of outstanding performances and its not hard to see why people love it so.  Stanley Kubrick‘s monumental epic follows the rise of Douglas’ slave, Spartacus as he leads a revolt against the Roman Republic including Charles Laughton and Laurence Olivier.  Douglas is superb as the reluctant hero alongside Tony Curtis and a gallery of who’s who in Hollywood.

WATCH IT FOR: I’m Spartacus!

 

BLITHE SPIRIT (1945)

After the success of his play in the West End and on Broadway, Noel Coward was inundated with offers from Hollywood to turn it into a film.  Instead, Coward took the project to his friend, David Lean, who made some alterations to the original play to which Coward was not best pleased.  For this big screen adaptation, Charles (Rex Harrison) and his second wife, Ruth (Constance Cummings) are being haunted by the spirit of his first wife, Elvira (Kay Hammond).  They soon decide to enlist the help of local medium, Madam Arcati (Margaret Rutherford) to try and exorcise Elvira from their lives but things don’t go to plan.  It’s a wonderfully witty and wry comedy with a stand-out turn by Rutherford. Its hard to believe that, on its initial release, this film tanked on both sides of the Atlantic!

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

DEAD CALM (1989)

Here’s another example of a damaged character being used as the villain in this stylish thriller from Philip Noyce.  John (Sam Neill) and Rae (Nicole Kidman) are taking a sailing trip in the Pacific in order to escape a terrible tragedy.  While out on the open sea they discover a ship in distress with one survivor, the disturbed Hughie (Billy Zane), who is not all that he appears to be.  What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse with all the claustrophobia of the best of Hitchcock.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

SPLASH(1984)

Director Ron Howard brings us a modern-day fable starring the soon-to-be-worldwide-treasure, Tom Hanks.  As a kid, Allen (Hanks) is rescued from drowning by a young mermaid.  Years later and he finds himself back in the same spot and, after falling into the water, is rescued once again by the mermaid, Madison (Daryl Hannah).  They go their separate ways but Madison sets out to find him in New York City.  Once they meet up again, they fall for each other but the course of true love never runs smooth.  Featuring support from John Candy, Splash is one of those delightful romantic comedies with a fishy twist.

WATCH IT FOR: What’s Your Number?

 

FRANTIC (1988)

This is a stylish mystery thriller in the vein of the classic film noirs of old.  Harrison Ford stars as Dr Richard Walker who, along with his wife, Sondra (Betty Buckley) are in Paris to attend a medical conference.  When Sondra disappears in mysterious circumstances, Walker is plunged into the murky underworld of drugs and espionage.  Director Roman Polanski cranks up the tension while Ford is at his best as the distraught husband caught up in a web of intrigue.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

VERTIGO (1958)

I’ve made mention this edition of Hitchcockian moments in modern thrillers, well here’s the man himself doing what he does best.  James Stewart stars as former San Francisco police detective John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson who becomes dangerously obsessed with Kim Novak in a suspenseful tale of betrayal and deception.  While the story takes a backseat, the real treat for the viewers (apart from Stewart and Novak) is the visual style, the use of the camera and, of course, Bernard Hermann’s atmospheric score.  Rightly regarded as one of Hitch’s classic thrillers, Vertigo may feel a little leaden at times but in the reliable hands of Jimmy Stewart, it almost zips along.

WATCH IT FOR: Scottie’s Nightmare

 

And there you go, another fine batch of cinematic classics that have, in one way or another, made some sort of impact on me.  It’s good to be back and I’m looking forward to bringing you plenty more examples of celluloid gems very soon.  If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen here today, feel free to get in touch, I’m always open to chatting with new people, especially with a love of film.  Until the next time…

“Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and um, screaming”

 

My Life In Film: Part 34

As the pumpkins begin to decompose, the sound of fireworks fill the air and thought, inevitably, turns to Christmas – wait! Back the sled up, its a little too early for that kind of talk (even for me!).  No, we have at least one more edition of My Life In Film… to take care of before the lights go up at Greenscreen Towers.  This time around, and I know I say this quite a lot, there are some absolute gems of movies to savour including two massive Oscar winners, a ground-breaking Disney classic and a couple of legendary comedies.  Grab yourself a blanket and warm yourself up by the glowing fire of Part 34…

 

LOCAL HERO (1983)

I hate to admit that I was very late to the Local Hero party.  I’d heard so many great things about it but never got around to watching it.  Thankfully, I’ve rectified that and can honestly say it is one of the best British films.  It is a beautiful story about a man shedding his hi-tech skin in favour of the cool, serene surroundings of Scotland.  Writer/Director Bill Forsyth has created a truly memorable modern fable about finding peace in nature.  With a stunning cast including Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi and Burt Lancaster, Local Hero is a must for any true movie fan.  It will warm your heart and calm your soul.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

SMALL SOLDIERS (1998)

A toy company uses the latest military technology to ‘improve’ their product which enables these two sets of action figures (the Gorgonites and Commando Elite) to talk and think for themselves.  With the help of two kids – Gregory Smith and Kirsten Dunst – the Gorgonites must protect their home from the enemy.  Director Joe Dante brings his unique style to this wonderful family adventure which features some of the remaining cast of The Dirty Dozen adding their voices to the toys.  Its packed full of action, comedy and dazzling special effects and is a must watch!

WATCH IT FOR: “I’m pretty messed up”

 

MY FAIR LADY (1964)

Already a smash-hit Broadway play, My Fair Lady was a cinema sensation.  Keeping original theatre lead Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins who makes a wager that he can take a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Dolittle (the mesmerising Audrey Hepburn) and transform her into a cultured member of high society.  Its a truly magnificent spectacle with some outstanding song and dance numbers matched with the sheer scale and look of the film that saw it scoop eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Harrison.  It is one of the most beloved Hollywood musicals and rightly so, for everything about it just shines and its a film that you’ll never forget.

WATCH IT FOR: Classic trailer

 

FLETCH (1985)

In this comedy, Chevy Chase plays Irwin M. Fletcher, a newspaper reporter who is offered a large stash of money to help bump off a supposedly dying millionaire.  Fletch’s nose for a story gets him into trouble, though as he’s also working undercover to help expose a drug ring that may or may not have ties to this case.  Chase is perfectly cast as the reporter with the gift of the gab who has the ability to talk his way in and out of trouble while using a series of elaborate disguises.  Chase reprised his role a few years later in a less impressive sequel.

WATCH IT FOR: Autopsy Assistant!

 

A PERFECT WORLD (1993)

Clint Eastwood directs and co-stars as a gruff Texas Ranger in pursuit of two recently escaped convicts, Butch (Kevin Costner) and Terry (Keith Szarabajka).  During their escape, the pair kidnap a young boy, Philip (TJ Lowther) and flee across country.  Eastwood’s Ranger is joined by criminologist Sally Gerber (Laura Dern) in the race to bring back their bounty.  Its a beautifully shot, engaging movie with a solid performance from young Lowther who manages to hold his own along with a very impressive Costner.  This is a film that sometimes gets overlooked by some of Eastwood’s other, more popular, movies but it really is worth seeking out.

WATCH IT FOR: Trick or Treat

 

MARS ATTACKS! (1996)

This is one of those films that, on first viewing, I really didn’t enjoy at all.  At the time I thought it was a mess and I was confused by what it was supposed to be.  Its only on repeat viewings that I’ve come to appreciate the majesty of Tim Burton‘s manic alien invasion movie.  Its a huge movie, not just in scale but in the sheer size of cast.  You watch this film and forget just how many people are actually in it.  Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Michael J. Fox, Tom Jones, Martin Short, Pierce Brosnan and Rod Steiger to name just a few.  Its bizarre, colourful and, at times, really weird but that’s the kind of thing you expect from a Tim Burton movie, right?  Sure, its still a bit messy and confusing but, with older eyes, its a better watch than the first time around.

WATCH IT FOR: “They blew up Congress!”

 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)

Prior to The Academy Awards introducing a Best Animated Feature category, this magical Disney film was the first fully animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture (losing out to Silence of the Lambs) and the first to win a Golden Globe for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy.  Its not hard to see why everyone took this film to their hearts.  Harking back to the classic Disney movies of the past, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a selfish prince, cursed to spend the rest of his life as a monster unless he can fall in love with a beautiful girl he has as a prisoner.  Full of wonderful animation, majestic songs and forging a path for some of the greatest Disney movies every made, this is a joyous adventure and one of my mum’s favourites!

WATCH IT FOR: Ballroom

 

THE ABYSS (1989)

I’m usually hyper-critical of James Cameron films, the majority of which are absolute nonsense, but this sci-fi epic is one of the exceptions.  When Cameron gets it right, his vision is truly stunning.  A civilian diving team, lead by Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Cameron regular Michael Biehn, is enlisted to help the search for a missing nuclear submarine but find themselves fending off danger from an unlikely, alien species.  Featuring ground-breaking special effects and, quite often, fear-inducing underwater scenes, The Abyss is a slow-burner of a film.  More cerebral than most, yet still managing to bring enough scares and adventure to keep you watching.

WATCH IT FOR: “I think it likes you”

 

COPYCAT (1995)

This tense, psychological thriller from director Jon Amiel pits agoraphobic psychiatrist Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) and tough detective M. J. Monahan (Holly Hunter) against a dangerous serial killer who is copying the most notorious killers from the past. Weaver and Hunter are, as you’d expect, magnificent as are the rest of the supporting cast but, for me, the real stand-out performance here is Harry Connick Jr. as the antagonist of the piece.  His creepy and downright sadistic portrayal of serial killer Daryll Lee Cullum stays with you and proves to be a worthy opponent for the two leads.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)

Movies don’t come much more epic than this one from David Lean.  A stunningly beautiful romance starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie and set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution.  Lean’s films are always full of sweeping, majestic imagery and you are treated to some of the most iconic scenes here, courtesy of legendary cinematographer, Freddie Young.  Add to that the most luscious score from Maurice Jarre and you have a truly wonderful piece of cinema.  At over three hours, it is a long haul but you are carried away by the sheer brilliance of all involved.

WATCH IT FOR: Somewhere My Love

 

And there you have it, the thirty-fourth instalment of this epic odyssey of cinema.  I hope you liked it.  I think you’ll agree that, once again, it was quite eclectic and just goes to show my tastes in film is as varied as the Hollywood output itself.  Please feel free to get in touch if the mood takes you and let me know what you think.  The next time we meet we’ll be decking the halls with festive favourites!  Until then…

“I could grow to love this place”