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”

 

And The Oscar Goes To…

Once upon a time in Hollywood a little film from South Korea came and blew everybody away.  Yes, the big news from last night’s 92nd Academy Awards is that history was made when Parasite became the first foreign language film to win top honours.

Just like last year, the 2020 ceremony went ahead without a host to hold all the proceedings together, opting for an array of the known and unknown of Tinseltown.  Kicking things off, Janelle Monae performed a version of A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood complete with dancers dressed in costumes from some of the biggest films of the year.  What followed was a show that zipped along at pace without seeming to be too rushed.  Steve Martin and Chris Rock gave a non-host-type-monologue hitting out at the lack of diversity in the nominations, a theme that was echoed among the other presenters and winners.

On the whole there were few surprises except when it came to the end of the night and the little film that could, Parasite, beat all opposition to take Best Picture and Best Director for Bong Joon-Ho.  The film took four awards in total, the highest of the night where the rest of the honours were pretty much evenly spread among 9 other films.

 

Whether The Academy decides to continue without a host remains to be seen but, for what it’s worth, it hasn’t harmed the show as much as it could have.

2020 ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS

BEST PICTURE – PARASITE

BEST DIRECTOR – BONG JOON-HO (PARASITE)

BEST ACTOR – JOAQUIN PHOENIX (JOKER)

BEST ACTRESS – RENEE ZELLWEGER (JUDY)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – BRAD PITT (ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – LAURA DERN (MARRIAGE STORY)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – BONG JOON-HO & JIN WON HAN (PARASITE)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – TAIKA WAITITI (JOJO RABBIT)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – TOY STORY 4

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE – PARASITE (SOUTH KOREA)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – ROGER DEAKINS (1917)

BEST FILM EDITING – FORD v FERRARI

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

BEST COSTUME DESIGN – LITTLE WOMEN

BEST MAKEUP & HAIR – BOMBSHELL

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – JOKER

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – “(I’M GONNA) LOVE ME AGAIN” (ROCKETMAN)

BEST SOUND MIXING – 1917

BEST SOUND EDITING – FORD v FERRARI

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – 1917

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – AMERICAN FACTORY

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT – LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WAR ZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL)

BEST ANIMATED SHORT – HAIR LOVE

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT – THE NEIGHBOUR’S WINDOW

“Some say never meet your heroes, but I say, if you’re really blessed, you get them as your parents.”

 

‘Spook’ Oscar Predictions: 2020 Edition

Is it really that time of year again?  Awards season is upon us and, as ever, I present to you my (wild) guesses for the top prizes.  As has become tradition, I have seen very few of the current crop of films represented (probably even fewer than last year) so these ‘predictions’ are based on past form in other ceremonies and pure guess work.  Once again, the organisers have chosen to dispense with a host as they did last year which, to be fair, wasn’t all that bad.  Anyway, I’ve taken some liberties with a couple of the categories where I believe there may well be a ‘shock’ recipient and, as ever, feel free to get in touch if you think I’m way off course and talking a load of gibberish (nothing new there, though!)

 

‘SPOOK’ OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020

BEST PICTURE – 1917 or JOKER

BEST DIRECTOR – SAM MENDES (1917)

BEST ACTOR – JOAQUIN PHOENIX (JOKER)

BEST ACTRESS – RENEE ZELLWEGER (JUDY)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – BRAD PITT (ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD) or JOE PESCI (THE IRISHMAN)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – LAURA DERN (MARRIAGE STORY)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – JOKER

CINEMATOGRAPHY – 1917

EDITING – JOKER

PRODUCTION DESIGN – 1917

COSTUME DESIGN – LITTLE WOMEN

MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING – JOKER

MUSIC – JOKER

ORIGINAL SONG – “I’M GONNA LOVE ME AGAIN” (ROCKETMAN)

SOUND MIXING – 1917

SOUND EDITING – 1917

VISUAL EFFECTS – 1917 or AVENGERS: ENDGAME

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – FOR SAMA

DOCUMENTARY SHORT – IN THE ABSENCE

ANIMATED FEATURE – MISSING LINK

ANIMATED SHORT – HAIR LOVE

LIVE ACTION SHORT – SARIA

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE – PARASITE

 

What are your thoughts?  Who do you think will win?  Who should have been nominated?  How do we feel about not having a host again?  Get in touch and let me know and then join me as I tweet along with the ceremony.

THE 92ND ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS – SUNDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY 2020

Christmas Special

It’s beginning to look a lot like another Christmas special…yes, once again the tinsel has been unboxed, the lights are being checked for that one, faulty bulb and the TV channels have started showing some festive treats.  Time, then, for another delve into a seasonal stocking-ful of visual delights.  There are the usual stone-cold classics as well as the odd forgotten gem and some newer, future classics.  So with that in mind, let’s unwrap the first of the gifts…

 

THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES (2018)

One Christmas Eve, brother and sister Teddy (Judah Lewis) and Kate (Darby Camp) decide to catch Santa Claus (the always excellent Kurt Russell) on camera.  What they end up doing is something completely different!  This festive family adventure from Netflix has everything you could possibly wish for in this type of film.  Russell is superb as St. Nick and the two young leads are both likeable without being too schmaltzy.  With great music and special effects and a nice little treat at the end, The Christmas Chronicles is one to seek out if you can.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

GROUNDED (2006)

En route to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with their dad, two kids are left stranded at an airport when a blizzard grounds all flights.  They, along with a group of other unaccompanied minors (incidentally, Unaccompanied Minors is the original title for the film), are forced to stay in a basement room by the Scrooge-like airport supervisor, Mr Porter (Lewis Black).  The group bonds while creating their own makeshift holiday and avoiding Porter and his security guards.  Yes, it’s cheesy and ever so slightly ridiculous, but it’s also great fun and perfect for these dark, winter nights where all you want is to switch off for ninety minutes.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

QUANTUM LEAP – “PROMISED LAND” (1992)

It’s no secret that Quantum Leap is one of my all-time favourite TV shows so it would have been remiss of me to ignore this festive episode from the fifth, and final, series.  In it, Sam leaps into Willie Walters, Jr, one of three brothers who are in the process of robbing a bank a couple of days before Christmas.  What makes this leap interesting, though, is the town the bank is in is the same one Sam grew up in.  Having this local knowledge gives Sam all the help he needs to prevent the brothers from being shot and killed during the robbery.  As an added bonus, Sam also gets to see his father one last time.  This is the third, and final, episode of the show’s run directed by star Scott Bakula and is also a personal highlight of a season that divides fans and critics alike.

WATCH IT FOR: Sadly I can’t find any clips of this episode online so you’ll just have to trust me!

 

THE GREATEST STORE IN THE WORLD (1999)

Here’s a forgotten gem of a TV movie featuring an array of famous faces.  Dervla Kirwan stars as a homeless mum of two girls forced to spend the festive season sleeping at their local department store, avoiding the glare of the doorman, Mr. Whiskers (future Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi) and a couple of bungling jewel thieves.  Featuring a who’s who of modern British television and film including Ricky Tomlinson, Brian Blessed and the late Sean Hughes, this is one of those great family-friendly Christmas films that should really be on every year.

WATCH IT FOR: By some miracle, the whole film is available online!

 

THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (2006)

The two sequels to the 1994 original can be a little bit divisive but I love them.  In particular I really enjoy the silliness of this one.  Scott “Santa” Calvin (Tim Allen) and Carol, Mrs Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell) are happily settled into family life at the North Pole when an emergency meeting of the Legendary Figures is called.  The evil Jack Frost (a brilliantly over the top Martin Short) is running amok and must be stopped before he can put his plan to dethrone Santa into effect.  What follows is a twisty time-travel adventure (akin to the alternative timeline story in Back To The Future Part II) in which Jack tricks Santa into evoking the Escape Clause and wishing he had never become Santa in the first place.  It’s fun, frothy and completely silly but I still love watching it (along with the other two) every year.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

INSIDE No. 9 – “THE DEVIL OF CHRISTMAS” (2016)

I think I’ve made it quite clear that Inside No. 9 is one of the finest pieces of television of all time.  Constantly surprising the audience with it’s twisted narrative, this particular “festive” episode from 2016 starts out as a retro-feel seventies drama but soon turns into something a hell of a lot creepier.  Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are joined by Jessica Raine and Rula Lenska for this dark tale that has everything you could possibly need from any of the best No. 9 episodes.  The final moments are a masterclass in rug-pulling.  Seek it out.

WATCH IT FOR: Alas, no clips available online so you’ll just have to take my word for it!

 

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY (2016)

Normally I’d avoid films such as this like the plague but I was happy to be proven wrong on this one.  When Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston), an uptight CEO, threatens to cancel the company’s Christmas party, the manager, who also happens to be her brother, Clay (TJ Miller), decides to throw an epic shindig with the help of his Chief Technical Officer, Josh (Jason Bateman).  The only trouble is, the party gets way, way, way out of hand.  Like I said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this silly, outlandish film and was also pleased that it overly sentimental, despite the festive theme and strained family dynamics.  It’s one to try at least once, in my humble opinion.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

8 SIMPLE RULES – “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS” (2002)

This is one of those American sitcoms that could have had a much longer run had it not been for the untimely death of it’s star, John Ritter in 2003.  Based on the novel 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, this comedy series brought the family sitcom back in vogue and, for a while, looked like it was here to stay.  In this festive episode from the first season sees Ritter’s character, Paul, and his wife Cate (Katey Sagal) deciding to make this Christmas the best ever while trying to pacify their three children, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), Kerry (Amy Davidson) and Rory (Martin Spanjers) and keep up with the neighbourhood Christmas lights competition.

WATCH IT FOR: Sadly, no decent clips of this episode online so you’ll just have to trust me!

 

THE SNOWMAN (1982)

It’s hard to believe that this staple of Christmas television is closing in on forty years old.  A very simple tale based on the bestselling book by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman is a delightful animation about a boy who makes a snowman only to find it come to life on Christmas Eve and take him on a magical flight to the North Pole.  Not only is it a perennial favourite but it also brought us the classic festive song ‘Walking In The Air’ and made Aled Jones a household name.

WATCH IT FOR: Walking In The Air

 

A VERY MURRAY CHRISTMAS (2015)

In this festive Netflix special, Bill Murray plays a version of himself who is worried that nobody will turn up to perform on his TV show due to a storm that has brought New York to a standstill.  This is not your average Christmas special, sure, there’s music, dancing and laughter, but also a saccharine-free story of triumph over terrible weather. Featuring a host of guest stars, including George Clooney, Miley Cyrus and Paul Shaffer and co-written and directed by Murray’s Lost In Translation collaborator, Sofia Coppola, this is a very traditional, non-traditional Christmas treat.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

SCROOGE (1951)

Widely regarded as the definitive cinematic version of the classic Charles Dickens story, this adaptation sees Alastair Sim take on the role of the bitter miser.  Featuring a veritable who’s who of British stage and screen stars, its no wonder why everyone keeps coming back to this version.  Sim is magnetic as Scrooge, forced to face up to his past when visited by the spirit of his late business partner, Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern), not to mention the three spectres of his Christmas past, present and future.  It is a delightful rendition of a famous (and much-loved) story that is guaranteed to defrost even the coldest of hearts.

WATCH IT FOR: Scrooge and Marley

 

And there you have it, another Christmas special all done and dusted! A couple of classics mixed in with some new pretenders to the festive crown all wrapped up with a nice, red bow! If you like what you see, please feel free to spread the word and stay tuned for more #MyLifeInFilm posts in the new year.  Until then, may I wish you all the very best for the season and try not to get too egg-nogged this year!

 

Halloween Spooktacular IV

Do you like scary movies?  I’m not the world’s biggest fan but can’t help but be drawn to the odd horror film every now and then.  I guess we all like to be scared sometimes, and what better way than with a bit of celluloid terror? Switch off the lights, lock all the doors and check under the bed…

 

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (2012)

It’s rare these days to find a horror film that doesn’t rely solely on blood and gore to get its kicks.  Even more rare to find a genuinely chilling horror film that has such a known history as The Woman In Black.  Based on the novel by Susan Hill and following a 1989 TV Movie, this version comes from classic horror film studio Hammer and stars one-time Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe as solicitor Arthur Kipps, a grieving single father sent to a remote village to check on the documentation of the eerie Eel Marsh House.  Whilst there, Kipps discovers that he is far from alone in this mysterious manor.  Full of suspense at creepy atmosphere, this is ideal for those long, dark nights.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

SCREAM (1996)

From the master of horror Wes Craven, this nineties teen chiller pretty much reinvented the genre and spawned a series of sequels and pale imitations.  With an all-knowing self awareness of itself, Scream brilliantly reminds us of the great scary movies of yore.  With a stellar line-up of up-and-coming teen stars including Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard as well as some more familiar faces, this is the film that launched a thousand spoofs and has since become a somewhat forgotten benchmark of what a truly clever horror movie should be.

WATCH IT FOR: The formula

 

HIGH SPIRITS (1988)

Peter Plunkett (Peter O’Toole) owns a dilapidated Irish castle-turned hotel.  It is on the verge of repossession and so decides to spice things up a bit by having his staff pretend to haunt the building.  When a bus load of tourists arrive, including Jack (Steve Guttenburg) and Sharon (Beverly D’Angelo), they also happen to bring along some real ghosts.  Things get complicated when Jack finds himself falling in love with one of the ghosts (played by Daryl Hannah).  From director Neil Jordan, this light-hearted (and pretty naff) comedy is enough to see you through a wet Sunday afternoon.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

AMERICAN HORROR STORY (2011-present)

I arrived very late to Ryan Murphy‘s (Glee, Pose), frankly, bat shit-crazy anthology series.  I’d heard so much good about it that I felt it was time to see for myself.  I’m glad I did.  This is one of those TV shows that leads you down one particular path only to sideswipe you several times along the way and leave you breathless.  From season one’s ‘Murder House’ right through to the current incarnation, ‘1984’, what AHS does is to tap into our darkest fears and emotions and then ramps them up to the nth degree.  Featuring an outstanding ensemble that includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Denis O’Hare and the imperious Jessica Lange, this has enough scares and horror to keep even the sanest of people up at night.  Long may it continue.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer (‘Freak Show’)

 

INSIDIOUS (2010)

On the surface this appears to be your average paint-by-numbers horror film about a “perfect” family living in a haunted house.  Scratch underneath and things are a little more sinister.  Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) Lambert move into a new home along with their two sons, Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and Foster (Andrew Astor).  Soon after, Dalton falls into a mysterious coma…and then the really freaky stuff begins.  Director James Wan (Saw) creates enough suspense and terror in the first of a successful franchise.  With supreme support from Lin Shaye as Elise, the medium who holds the key to solving the mystery, Insidious is not one to watch alone in the dark (like I did!).

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

INSIDE No. 9 – “DEAD LINE” (2018)

Just when you thought Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton couldn’t make their genius anthology show any better they brought us the wonderful sideswipe that was last year’s live episode.  This show is known for pulling the rug from under the audience’s feet on many occasions, as well as tugging the odd heart-string along the way but what they achieved with Dead Line was just outstanding.  The audience was wrong-footed from the off and the whole story took us down a completely different route than any of us was expecting.  The fact that it was also live and interactive via social media made the whole experience that bit more special.  Inside No. 9 is one of the finest pieces of television ever to grace our screens and I can’t wait to see what further delights they have to offer.

WATCH IT FOR: You should just watch it (if you get the chance) – no clips available online so here’s an interview Reece & Steve did to promote the episode!

 

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (2018-present)

When I started to watch this Netflix chiller I thought it was going to be another bog-standard haunted mansion ghost story but it is something altogether more ingenius.  Centered around a group of siblings, each with differing and complex story arcs, who grew up in the notorious Hill House.  They each return to their childhood home when tragedy strikes and must face up to their demons and the mysteries that are held within the mansion walls.  While some episodes do focus more on the drama of the family, there are some brilliant moments scattered throughout as well as some genuinely scary jumps that leave the heart racing. Its innovative, spine-chilling and compelling and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

I’ll be honest, when I first saw this film (many years later) I wasn’t overly impressed.  I’ve since grown to appreciate just how powerful a film it is.  Based on the best-selling novel by Thomas Harris, it sees trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) tasked with questioning notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) about the behavioural patterns of another killer known as “Buffalo Bill”.  What follows is a chilling cat and mouse game of wits between the two leading to an astonishing showdown.  This cinematic phenomenon became only the third film in history, after It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), to win the Top Five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (the late, great Jonathan Demme), Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress and sent Hopkins into super-stardom as well as spawning countless, albeit less-effective, sequels.

WATCH IT FOR: Hopkins!

 

HAPPY DEATH DAY (2017)

There have been many takes on the, now, classic Groundhog Day-style storyline wherein the main character must relive the same day over and over until they figure out the reason its happening.  This one, though, is a pretty witty (and violent) version starring Jessica Rothe as Tree, who is murdered on her birthday only to wake up at the very start of her day as if nothing has happened and dying a different way each time.  Her only way out is to find out who killed her and hopefully put a stop to the neverending time loop.  Director Christopher Landon has brought us a modern classic and a sequel soon followed.

WATCH IT FOR: Welcome to the Pleasuredome!

 

GHOST STORIES (2017)

Here’s an absolute gem of a film.  Based on the West End play by Jeremy Dyson (who also co-writes and co-directs the film with star Andy Nyman), Ghost Stories is one of the most cerebral and enjoyable British horror films in recent years.  Nyman plays Professor Phillip Goodman, a skeptic who follows the stories of three unexplained paranormal encounters. What he discovers will test his belief to the limit.  Featuring Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse and a brilliant performance from Alex Lawther, Ghost Stories is one of those films you need to watch carefully and then watch again.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

And there you have it, another Halloween special done and dusted.  I hope you find something here you like and maybe haven’t seen before.  If you do like what you’ve seen please feel free to get in touch, I’m happy to hear from you.  My usual #MyLifeInFilm is taking a little hiatus at the moment but, fear not, another festive special is in the pipeline!  Until the next time…sleep tight!

“Well, Clarice – have the lambs stopped screaming?”

My Life In Film: Part 37

As the dust settles on The Academy Awards for another year, it’s time, once again, to take another trip into my cinematic archive.  I know I say this every time but this edition of My Life In Film… really is quite eclectic.  Disasters, epics, romance and yutes all convene to bring such varied movie treats.  So, without further ado, let’s get down to business…

 

MY GIRL (1991)

After the huge global success of Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin was one of Hollywood’s hottest properties.  In the space of just a couple of years he made some of the biggest well-loved films including this one where he plays Thomas, best friend to Anna Chlumsky‘s Vada Sultenfuss, a bright, intelligent girl prone to being a hypochondriac.  When her mortician father, Harry (Dan Aykroyd) hires a new secretary in the form of Shelly (Jamie Lee Curtis) life in their small town will never be the same again.  The two young leads are superb as they navigate their tricky early adolescence in a film that could quite easily have turned into a sickly melodrama.  Be warned, though, there may be tears by the end.

WATCH IT FOR: She’s My Best Friend

 

THE FISHER KING (1991)

Jeff Bridges plays Jack, a popular New York talk radio DJ who, during one of his shows raging against the rise of the Yuppie, inadvertently inspires a man to go on a rampage in a local bar. Feeling dreadful remorse for the incident, Jack descends into a spiral of drink and pity where he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Parry (Robin Williams), a former professor who became mentally unbalanced and homeless after witnessing his wife being gunned down in the bar attack.  Parry believes himself to be on an important quest to track down the Holy Grail, a quest that Jack finds himself assisting with as a way of seeking his own redemption.  Director Terry Gilliam brings his dazzling visual style to this modern fable and delights us with fine performances from the two leads as well as an Oscar-winning turn from Mercedes Ruehl as Jack’s girlfriend.

WATCH IT FOR: Grand Central Station

 

EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987)

Based on the autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, Empire of the Sun is the story of Jim Graham (Christian Bale) who has his life turned upside down with the Japanese invasion of December 1941.  Living a privileged life, Jim soon finds himself separated from his parents, captured and interred in a concentration camp where he finds a new way of living and surviving.  Steven Spielberg has expertly crafted a stunning visual epic that takes a different look at the war and the people involved.  With a supporting cast that features the likes of John Malkovich, Nigel Havers, Leslie Phillips and Miranda Richardson, this is one of Spielberg’s more underappreciated films that, given the scale and depth of it, should really be given more love.

WATCH IT FOR: Cadillac Of The Sky

 

THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979)

In this slice of seventies paranoia Jane Fonda plays Kimberly Wells, an opportunistic television reporter who stumbles across a huge cover-up at a nuclear power plant. While covering a story on the use of alternative energy sources at the plant Wells, and her cameraman Richard Adams (Michael Douglas) are witness to an accident.  Keen to publicise the incident, Wells and Adams come up against the full weight of corporate power in the shape of Richard Herd‘s Evan McCormack who wants to silence the whole thing.  With Jack Lemmon and Wilford Brimley as workers at the plant providing solid support, The China Syndrome is as bleak and relevant today as it was back then.

WATCH IT FOR:  Trailer

 

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

It’s the end of summer, 1962 in a small town in Southern California.  A group of friends gather for one last night before they each head off to college.  Director George Lucas brings us a love letter to a golden age of Americana with drag racers, drive-ins and the end of the rock ‘n’ roll era.  Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams and a then unknown Harrison Ford remind us of a happier, more carefree time when the only problem a kid had was finding a way out of their dead-end town.  Add in to the mix a spectacular soundtrack of classic hits and you’ve got yourself a bona fide cult smash.

WATCH IT FOR: “Must Be Your Mama’s Car”

 

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)

In the 1970s there was a wave (pardon the pun!) of big budget epic disaster movies including this absolute classic.  Concerning the final voyage of a majestic cruise ship on New Year’s Eve that takes a different route thanks to an undersea earthquake, The Poseidon Adventure throws everything at you.  Of course, you’d expect nothing less from producer extraordinaire Irwin Allen.  A huge, all-star cast that includes Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Ernest Borgnine and Roddy McDowall must battle against the elements as the ship is turned upside down in the middle of the ocean and the remaining passengers strive for power and survival.

WATCH IT FOR: The Ballroom Floods

 

MY COUSIN VINNY (1992)

In this courtroom comedy from director Jonathan Lynn, Joe Pesci stars as Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, an inexperienced lawyer who has never been to trial, who is called upon to represent his cousin, Bill (Ralph Macchio) and Bill’s friend, Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) when they are arrested for murder in rural Alabama.  Vinny clashes with the locals as well as Judge Haller (the brilliant Fred Gwynne in his final screen role) as he desperately tries to get to the bottom of the case.  Aided by his brash girlfriend Mona Lisa Vito (an Oscar-winning Marisa Tomei), Vinny soon finds that he might need some help.

WATCH IT FOR: Two “Yutes”

 

GROSSE POINTE BLANK (1997)

Martin Q. Blank (John Cusack), a freelance hitman who has recently developed a conscience, is advised to attend his high school reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  Coincidentally, he has been contracted to kill someone in this very suburb.  As he tries to justify not killing, he is pursued by the FBI, one assassin who wants to kill him and another assassin who wants to recruit him.  All the while trying to reconnect with the girlfriend he left behind.  It’s sharp, funny and has a brilliant soundtrack to boot.  This film (and, indeed Cusack) deserves more love and appreciation.  Get on it, people!

WATCH IT FOR: Work Less, Make More

 

THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS (1978)

There may be some that would disagree with this particular version of John Buchan‘s classic novel being included, especially when Hitchcock‘s (perhaps) definitive version has already been featured.  I say to you, that I don’t care.  It’s my list and I do what I want!  That being said, it is far from being the best-loved of Richard Hannay’s adventure through wrongful arrest, murder, intrigue and espionage but I love it.  Robert Powell takes the reins as the hero fighting his way through the quagmire of lies and deception that takes him to the highlands of Scotland and ends with a spectacular denouement in London.  Featuring a veritable who’s who of British acting greats, this is great fun for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

WATCH IT FOR: Big Ben

 

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969)

If you’re only going to play James Bond once, you might as well make it one of the best films in the franchise.  George Lazenby takes over the role in one of the most Bondian of Bond films as he travels to Switzerland to face off against Blofeld (Telly Savalas) one more time.  Going undercover, Bond discovers the real reason behind Blofeld’s allergy clinic high above the mountains and even falls in love with Tracy (Diana Rigg).  The action zips along and there are some spectacular set pieces but it is the romance between Bond and Tracy that really ignites this film.  A romance that, we know, is doomed but is, ultimately, worthwhile.  For whatever reasons Lazenby only made this one film, it remains a titan among the fold and still holds up today, fifty years on.

WATCH IT FOR: Blofeld

 

And that, as they say, is that.  Another fine batch of films for your viewing pleasure and, once again, quite eclectic.  I hope that this blog inspires you to seek out some of these films to watch, maybe for the first time or, perhaps, for the hundredth.  Whatever your feelings, I’d love to hear from you.  Feel free to get in touch and let me know what you think.  My door is always open.  Until the next time…

“This never happened to the other fella”

 

 

 

And The Nominees Are…

It’s that time of year again, kids!  Time to get your tuxedo dry-cleaned, stock up on munchies and try and stay awake.  Yes, it’s The 91st Academy Awards.  In recent years, the ceremony has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons with this year being no exception.  Following the appointment and later departure of the Academy’s compere of choice, Kevin Hart, it has been announced that, for the first time in thirty years, the show will go on without a host.  Add to that the controversy over the proposed new “Popular Film” category (which, thankfully, was ‘postponed’) and the news that four of the categories will have their winners announced during the ad breaks (a decision that has since been reversed), this year is already shaping up to be quite a story.  So, without further a do, here are my predictions for this year…

 

STEVE’S ‘SPOOK’ OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2019

BEST PICTURE – ROMA

BEST DIRECTOR – ALFONSO CUARON (ROMA)

BEST ACTOR – RAMI MALEK (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY)

BEST ACTRESS – OLIVIA COLMAN (THE FAVOURITE) or GLENN CLOSE (THE WIFE)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – MAHERSALA ALI (GREEN BOOK)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – RACHEL WEISZ (THE FAVOURITE)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – THE FAVOURITE (DEBORAH DAVIS, TONY McNAMARA)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – BLACKKKLANSMAN (CHARLIE WATCHEL, DAVID RABINOWITZ, KEVIN WILMOTT, SPIKE LEE)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – ROMA (ALFONSO CUARON)

BEST FILM EDITING – BLACKKKLANSMAN (BARRY ALEXANDER BROWN)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – THE FAVOURITE (FIONA CROMBIE, ALICE FELTON)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN – THE FAVOURITE (SANDY POWELL)

BEST MAKEUP/HAIRSTYLING – MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (JENNY SHIRCORE, MARC PILCHER, JESSICA BROOKS)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – BLACK PANTHER (LUDWIG GORANSSON)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – “SHALLOW” (A STAR IS BORN)

BEST SOUND MIXING – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PAUL MASSEY, TIM CAVAGIN, JOHN CASALI)

BEST SOUND EDITING – A QUIET PLACE (ETHAN VAN DER RYN, ERIK AADAHL)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – READY PLAYER ONE (ROGER GUYETT, GRADY COFER, MATTHEW E. BUTLER, DAVID SHIRK)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – FREE SOLO

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT – LIFEBOAT

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM – LATE BEHAVIOUR

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT – SKIN

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE – ROMA

 

As per usual, these predictions are based purely on my own thoughts, the runners and riders, the scoresheet from previous award ceremonies, my years of watching the show live every year and (in the case of Best Actress where I’ve sat on the fence) my hunches.  Also, once again, I’ve seen very few of the nominated films so, as in most things in life, this is purely guess work!  What are your thoughts?  Who do you think will take home the top prizes this year?  Who is missing from the nominations list? Let’s find out together on Sunday 24th February (it’ll be the early hours of Monday 25th here in the UK).  I’ll be tweeting along once more, high on coffee and biscuits and hoping the show doesn’t suck too much without a host!

The 91st Annual Academy Awards – Sunday, 24th February 2019

My Life In Film: Part 36

Welcome back to another eclectic mix of cinematic choices from yours truly. With 2019 now in full swing and everyone chatting about the awards season, its comforting to know that there’ll be no such talk around these parts. Not yet, anyway. There’s plenty of time for that sort of thing. In this fun-packed selection you’ll find more than your average amount of classic oldies as well as one very up-to-date, modern classic that dominated last year’s awards season…

 

TANGLED (2010)

In recent years, Disney have really been at the top of their game when it comes to animated movies. As with most of their classic films, Tangled is based on a famous fairy tale, in this case ‘Rapunzel’ by The Brothers Grimm. In it, Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) with her magically-long hair, has been locked in a tower, away from the outside world. That is, until runaway thief Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) stumbles upon her. Its full of all the magic and wonder you’d expect from the House of Mouse, including sublime animation, music and songs. Not to mention its a lot of fun to watch, too!

WATCH IT FOR: When Will My Life Begin?

 

THE SHAPE OF WATER (2017)

Here’s one of the more recent films in the whole countdown from master storyteller Guillermo Del Toro (The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy). It’s one of those films that I was a little wary of to begin with, having heard little snippets of the storyline, but I’m happy to say that, on viewing for the first time, it blew me away. This is a beautiful romantic fantasy in the style of Old Hollywood, with glorious set design, camera movement and a delicious score from Alexandre Desplat. Sally Hawkins gives a mesmerising performance as a lonely, mute janitor at a top secret research facility who forms an unique relationship with an unlikely partner. I implore you to watch this film, it is stunningly beautiful and gloriously rich in tone and emotion. You will not regret it, nor will you ever forget it.

WATCH IT FOR: Lab Encounter

 

TRUE LIES (1994)

Here’s another one of those films that I absolutely hated when I first saw it but have since warmed to. From director James Cameron comes this non-stop, all-out action yarn. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Harry Tasker, a no-nonsense secret agent who, while in the middle of tracking, finds out that his bored wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been seeing another man, namely Bill Paxton‘s slimy used car salesman. Soon both his worlds collide in what is, arguably, just a dumb action flick. There are elements to enjoy, though, as the couple navigate their marriage while being oblivious to what’s going on around them and the set-pieces are, as you’d expect from Cameron, epic!

WATCH IT FOR: Bathroom Fight

 

WILLOW (1988)

You can also add this film to the “I once hated it by now kinda like it” list. I watched it again recently for the first time in years and have a new found love for its charm. It’s a fantasy adventure with a story by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard. Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) a dwarf farmer and magician, sets out on a quest to protect a baby girl from an evil queen. Along the way he meets Madmartigen (Val Kilmer) and Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) who help him defeat the queen and her monsters. This is a good, old-fashioned adventure romp with exciting action sequences and a fair smattering of romance.

WATCH IT FOR: Snow Chase

 

MURDER SHE SAID (1961)

Here we have the first of four big-screen outings for Margaret Rutherford‘s version of Agatha Christie‘s Miss Marple. I’ve always loved these films as they were firm favourites of my mum so it was almost inevitable that at least one of them be included. Based on Christie’s “4.50 from Paddington”, Miss Marple reports witnessing a murder through the window of a passing train but is dismissed as just another doddery old woman. She begins her own investigation which finds her taking up service at Ackenthorpe House. While Christie wasn’t keen on the adaptation, the film scored big at the box office and cemented Rutherford as one of the greatest Miss Marples.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

THE LAVENDER HILL MOB (1951)

In this classic Ealing comedy, Alec Guinness plays a meek bank clerk, in charge of overseeing shipments of bullion, join forces with Stanley Holloway, Sid James and Alfie Bass to steal the gold bars and then smuggle them out of the country in the shape of miniature Eiffel Towers.  It is such a delightfully English comedy about ordinary people dreaming of an extraordinary life.  This should be on everyone’s watch list.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

CLOCKWISE (1986)

Brian Stimpson (John Cleese) is an obsessively punctual headmaster at an English comprehensive school.  He sets out on a journey to the annual Headmaster’s Conference but time, and everything else, conspires against him.  This is one of those British films that has, sadly, been forgotten about which is a shame because it is actually pretty good. I have a memory of watching this at school during a Film Appreciation class and loving Cleese’s manic performance as the uptight headmaster.  It hasn’t been shown on TV for an absolute age which needs rectifying immediately.  If you can, seek this one out.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailers

 

THE COURT JESTER (1955)

Here’s one of those great Hollywood musical fantasies that, while often gets neglected, is also fondly remembered.  The always utterly magnificent Danny Kaye stars as Hawkins, a hapless carnival performer who must masquerade as a court jester in order to overthrow a tyrannical ruler.  Whilst crossing swords with Basil Rathbone, he must also contend for the hearts of both Glynis Johns and Angela Lansbury in a fun, musical tongue-twisting comedy.

WATCH IT FOR: The Flagon With The Dragon

 

A VIEW TO A KILL (1985)

Picture the scene.  I’m ten years old and at a schoolfriend’s birthday party that gets rained off (we were due to go to the local park) when we are suddenly whisked off to the cinema to watch the latest blockbuster.  That film was A View To A Kill and it was the first Bond film I saw on the big screen.  It has remained a firm favourite, even though it is one of the weakest of the franchise (you never forget your first love), despite Roger Moore being far too old (even at that point) to play the secret agent going up against the manic Christopher Walken and the even more manic Grace Jones.  But, in all honesty, none of that matters because, as a film fan and, more importantly, a James Bond fan, I love everything about it and always will.  

WATCH IT FOR: Dropping Out!

 

THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965)

In this adventure drama, James Stewart is the pilot of a cargo plane that crashes in a sandstorm in the Sahara.  On the plane are less than a dozen men, including one (Hardy Kruger) who tells the other survivors that he is an airplane designer and that they can make a flyable craft from the wreckage.  Despite the inclusion of Richard Attenborough, George Kennedy and Peter Finch, the film underperformed at the box office but has since become one of those cult classics about fighting adversity, judgement and true grit.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

And there you have it, another batch of films bites the dust in this epic troll through my cinematic odyssey.  A couple of classics mixed with a modern fable all combine to show my varied taste (and that I’ll pretty much watch anything!).  If any of this has taken your fancy and you’d like to get in touch, please do, I’d love to hear from you.  In the meantime, I’ve got some Oscar predictions to make so, until the next time…

“You contrived to introduce arsenic into my curry – which I find unforgivable, by the way”

 

 

 

My Life In Film: Part 35

Welcome back fellow movie fans to a brand new year of My Life In Film… posts. I hope your festive season went smoothly and without incident and that you are now ready to face 2019 with fresh and positive eyes. Or, failing that, stumble into the new year with the same old attitude you’ve always had…just like me! Anyway, Part 35 has arrived and, with it, a slew of classic films to savour. Without further a do, let’s get down to business…

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (1993)

This is one of those great family comedies that just doesn’t seem to get the love it truly deserves. Thomas Ian Nicholas plays Henry Rowengartner, who has always dreamt of playing professional baseball just like his late father. When he breaks his arm, he finds that, once the tendons have healed too tightly, he can throw pitches over 100mph! He’s soon drafted to play for the Chicago Cubs where he comes up against some strong opposition. While this film might not have been in the running for any major awards, it does have something that the majority of films don’t have – heart! The directorial debut of co-star Daniel Stern, Rookie of the Year is a great feel-good yarn full of hope and optimism, not to mention plenty of baseball action plus support from Gary Busey and John Candy!

WATCH IT FOR: The Have To

 

THE LION KING (1994)

With a brand new, live-action/CGI version on the way, what better time is there to revisit this classic, Disney original? Smashing all kinds of box office records on its release and scooping dozens of awards along the way, The Lion King is an outstanding achievement in cinema. The story of a young lion cub, Simba, who grows up believing he is responsible for his father’s death. Fleeing the pride, Simba goes on a journey to discover his place in the world and, along the way, makes friends and falls in love. With music by Hans Zimmer and songs by Tim Rice and Elton John, The Lion King proves that, while sometimes they falter, Disney quite often triumphs.

WATCH IT FOR: Stampede

 

THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993)

Another directorial debut here, this time from action movie hero Mel Gibson. This tender drama sees Gibson cast himself in the lead role as Justin McLeod, a troubled teacher who befriends an equally troubled young boy, Chuck (an excellent Nick Stahl) and nurtures his potential to follow his dreams. McLeod, disfigured from an automobile accident in which another young boy was killed and for which he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, faces hostility from the locals when Chuck befriends him. Its a brave choice to make a film that is so against type but it works, mostly due to Gibson’s then ability to strike gold with almost everything he touched. You should really seek it out if you haven’t already.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

SPIES LIKE US (1985)

Emmit Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) and Austin Milbarge (Dan Aykroyd) are two low-level government types who are chosen by the CIA for a top secret mission. They believe they are being employed as spies but, in reality and due to their incompetence, they are sent in as decoys. It is one of those really (really) silly films that you either get or you don’t. Chase and Aykroyd are, as you’d expect, just on top form as their 80s personas and, with direction from John Landis, Spies Like Us is all about the escapism!

WATCH IT FOR: Training!

 

48 HRS. (1982)

Here’s another one of those classic 80s actions flicks that pairs two unlikely stars together to form an explosive partnership. In this case we see Nick Nolte‘s gruff, veteran cop Jack Cates forced to buddy-up with Eddie Murphy‘s convict, Reggie Hammond as they go on the hunt for a killer. Director Walter Hill keeps all fires burning in this loud, action-packed comedy thriller. While some of the language used may offend some, it certainly didn’t deter from producing a sequel eight years later. Its dated, for sure, but it still packs a punch.

WATCH IT FOR: I Hate Rednecks

 

THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991)

Another unlikely buddy partnership here with this action thriller from director Tony Scott and writer Shane Black. Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is a down and out private detective who teams up with down and out ex-quarterback Jimmy Dix (Damon Wayans) to investigate corrupt politicians and a crooked football team owner. As you’d expect from Scott and Black, the action and dialogue comes thick and fast and the chemistry between Willis and Wayans jumps off the screen. Its an underappreciated action flick that, I feel, deserves more attention.

WATCH IT FOR: Fifth Street Shootout

 

COOL RUNNINGS (1993)

The much-missed John Candy stars here, in one of his final movies, as Irving Blitzer, a disgraced bobsleigh coach who gets a second chance to prove himself when the son of a friend comes to him with a crazy idea. Derice Bannock (Leon) is disqualified from the Olympics and turns to Irving to help coach him and his friends to become a great bobsleigh team. Based on the true story of a team from Jamaica hitting the icy slopes of Calgary, Cool Runnings hits all the marks as a triumph over adversity and human redemption story. And with Candy on board, you can bet there are plenty of laughs, too!

WATCH IT FOR: First Training

 

LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)

In an edition that has already featured a couple of debuts, it seems fitting that this, the first appearance of Roger Moore as James Bond, should also be included. For the eight movie in the franchise, and following the departures of both Sean Connery (twice) and George Lazenby, the producers turned to Roger Moore to bring an altogether different approach to the role. With several agents dying, 007 is sent to New Orleans where he comes up against a powerful drug baron (Yaphet Kotto), a sexy tarot card reader (Jane Seymour) and some dangerous sidekicks (Geoffrey Holder, Julius Harris). Out of all of Moore’s Bond films, this is, perhaps, the darker and most loved. Here on in, the tone gets lighter, the tongue sits firmly in the cheek and Moore’s eyebrows raise the bar.

WATCH IT FOR: Meeting Mr Big

 

TIMECOP (1994)

Jean-Claude Van Damme takes centre stage in this slice of sci-fi nonsense from director Peter Hyams. JCVD plays Max Walker, security officer for an agency that regulates time travel. He comes up against Ron Silver‘s shady politician who has some sinister plans for the time technology. This is one of those films that I absolutely hated when I first saw it but have since grown to love it for all its faults.

WATCH IT FOR: A suitably cheesy trailer!

 

TOUGH GUYS (1986)

Here’s a treat for you. Two legends of the golden age of Hollywood together again. Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster play elderly gangsters who, after being released from prison, find that they no longer fit in and so decide to show the world just what they’re made of. Its been a while since I saw this film so I can only go off what my memory tells me but I seem to recall really enjoying seeing these two old guys butting heads and taking no guff from anyone. Reportedly, the pair didn’t speak to each other on set but you can’t tell.

WATCH IT FOR: Foiling A Bank Robbery

 

And there you have it. Another ten films to add to the ever-growing list. A nice little collection, even if I do say so myself. Congratulations if you spotted the Bruce McGill connections as well. If you like what you see here, please do feel free to get in touch, comments are always welcome! Until the next time…

“He always did have an inflated opinion of himself”