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 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”

 

 

 

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: Christmas Special

Haul out the holly, put up the tree before my spirit falls again…yes, its that time of year again! The nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air and we can ‘officially’ watch our favourite festive treats (even though some of us probably watch them all through the year anyway!).  I’ve pulled a couple of classic crackers this year including a childhood favourite that never gets repeated! It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough and got down to business…

 

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965)

I love a bit of Charlie Brown and this perennial festive treat is just the tonic for all those cynical types among you.  Feeling downhearted by the blatant commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown sets out to find the true meaning of Christmas.  He becomes the director of the school’s Christmas pageant but soon finds himself at a loss and turns to good friend, Linus, to show him the way.  Its a beautiful story without being overly sentimental (although, at Christmas, that usually works for me!) and deserves to be on everyone’s watchlist every single year.

WATCH IT FOR: The meaning of Christmas

 

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (1991)

This story is almost as old as the story of Christmas itself.  A brother and sister attempt to bring their divorced parents back together for Christmas.  Ethan (Ethan Randall/Embry) and his younger sister, Hallie (Thora Birch) are intent on spending the holidays with both parents and their wealthy grandmother, Lillian (Lauren Bacall) but pretty much every scheme they come up with goes wrong.  Hallie even has a quiet word with a department store Santa (Leslie Nielsen) to try and fix things.  What follows is your usual mix of kid-friendly slapstick moments and heart-warming saccharine.  The film works, for me at least, due to the charm of the two young leads who carry the film off and make a few wishes come true in the process.

WATCH IT FOR: Visiting Santa again!

 

GET SANTA (2014)

Santa (Jim Broadbent) crashes his sleigh and finds himself on the run from the police.  Nine-year-old Tom (Kit Connor)  finds him in his shed and convinces his father, Steve (Rafe Spall) to help Santa find his way back home.  Along the way there are a myriad of incidents (including a spell in prison for the jolly, old fat man!) which keep the pace and steer the story away from being overly sweet and keeping it real.  Also featuring a stellar supporting cast that includes Joanna Scanlan, Jodie Whittaker and Stephen Graham, Get Santa is a worthy entry into the festive canon of film favourites.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer!

 

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)

Jim Broadbent plays Santa again in this wonderful animated film from the miracle makers at Aardman studios.  Santa’s clumsy son, Arthur (James McAvoy) joins forces with his grandfather, St Nick (Bill Nighy) to deliver a forgotten present to a little girl before Christmas morning dawns.  As you’d expect from Aardman, the animation is superb and the script is witty and full of heart and laughter.  Its the perfect family film to get yourself in the festive spirit.

WATCH IT FOR: Dash Away!

 

NOEL’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS (BBC 1989-1999, SKY 2007-2012)

This was the ultimate feelgood television experience.  Long-standing BBC host Noel Edmonds would deliver once in a lifetime presents to the most deserving of people.  It was a must-watch on a Christmas Day and was one of the only times I ever saw my dad crying at the TV.  It often found recipients who were or had been extremely ill, pillars of the local community as well as those who were just deserving of something special.  I loved it.  I never missed it until Noel moved to Sky where I only caught it once or twice.  For me, though, Noel’s place was always at the BBC on Christmas Day.

WATCH IT FOR: A full episode from Christmas Day 1995!

 

THE CHRISTMAS RACCOONS (1980)

Its Christmas Eve and Forest Ranger Dan discovers someone is chopping down all the trees, including the home of three raccoons – Bert, Melissa and Ralph.  As he goes to investigate, his two children take advantage of a fallen tree and take it home to decorate for the holidays, not realising that it is the raccoons home.  Much like the series that followed, this festive special is all about protecting the environment while still being an entertainment for the whole family.  Sure, it gets a little schmaltzy but who doesn’t love a bit of that at Christmas?

WATCH IT FOR: Someone has uploaded the full thing to YouTube!

 

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)

All 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB Gun.  When he brings up the subject his mother tells him he’ll have his eye out.  This is one of those films that I’d heard about for years but never actually got around to watching until a couple of Christmases ago.  I was so glad I did as it is a joy from start to finish.  What makes it so is the combination of a brilliantly quirky script and an amazing performance from Billingsley as Ralphie.  There are so many wonderful, heartfelt moments in this film that you really have to see it for yourself to truly understand its magic.

WATCH IT FOR: Meeting Santa!

 

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN – “WITH LOVE, THE CLAUS” (1987)

If you like your Christmas treats with added sweetener then look no further than this diabetic coma-inducing festive episode from Highway to Heaven.  Jonathan (Michael Landon) and Mark (Victor French) have been assigned to stop a bickering divorced couple from using their young son as a pawn between them.  The pair also meet a department store Santa (Bill Erwin) who, disapproving of the store’s Christmas policies, gets himself arrested and needs Jonathan to defend him.  With more than a nod to Miracle on 34th Street, this is one of those episodes where you may need to cleanse yourself with some horror afterwards!

WATCH IT FOR: The full episode!

 

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS (1984)

Based on the book by John Masefield, this classic children’s fantasy adventure was shown on the BBC in six parts.  It tells the story of Kay Harker (Devin Stanfield) who, while travelling home for Christmas on the train, encounters a mysterious, yet kindly old man (Patrick Troughton) who gives him the box of delights.  Full of wonder and festive magic, The Box of Delights is a programme that I remember watching at the time but have never seen since.  As far as I’m aware it hasn’t been repeated for a long time and I think that should be rectified.  The BBC did (and sometimes still does) this kind of show very well and its a testament to the quality that its still widely regarded and talked about over thirty years later.

WATCH IT FOR: Those opening titles! All six episodes are here on YouTube as well!

 

CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS (2004)

When their daughter, Blair (Julie Gonzalo), joins the Peace Corps and heads off to Peru, Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) Krank decide to skip their usual Christmas festivities and take a luxury cruise much to the disgust of their friends and neighbours (including Dan Aykroyd).  However, their plans are put on hold when Blair unexpectedly returns home with the intention of showing her new fiancé the full Krank Christmas experience.  What you get with this film is a lot of good intention, mixed with a bit of slapstick comedy and topped off with a bit of saccharine.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it but for some it can be a little too clawing.

WATCH IT FOR: Hickory Honey Ham!

 

TRADING PLACES (1983)

Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd appear again in this, our final festive offering this year.  Here, Aykroyd plays Louis Winthorpe III, a commodities broker at a respectable firm owned by brothers Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) Duke.  The brothers wager a bet over whether a person’s hereditary of social situation can lead to their success.  As part of the bet they arrange for Winthorpe to lose his high-paid job and switch places with mouthy down-and-out Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy).  Its a role reversal that sees Valentine assume Winthorpe’s life while Winthorpe himself is tossed out on to the street with only a friendly hooker (Curtis) to help him.  Its a classic comedy from director John Landis that isn’t your average Christmas movie but still has plenty of the festive spirit.

WATCH IT FOR: Bad Santa!

 

And there you have it – Christmas, done and dusted for another year!  Its really difficult (but fun) to pick out a selection of festive goodies for you to enjoy, there are so many out there to choose from.  Don’t worry, there’s enough for next year!  If you’ve enjoyed this countdown, please feel free to get in touch – maybe offer up your own Christmas favourites that may or may not have been included before.  In the meantime, here’s hoping you all have a merry and peaceful Christmas and here’s to 2019 being slightly better than this year!

“This is Santa Claus, not Dear Abby”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Life In Film: Part Twenty Six

Well, I hope you’re all suitably feasted and rested from the Christmas activities because it’s time to get back to it.  2018 begins with Part twenty-six of my cinematic odyssey through the films that have special meaning to me.  Whether they be giants of the silver screen or the not-so-giant, these films have made an impact on me in one way or another.  This time around you can find a couple of bona fide classics as well as some that come under the “cult” banner.  Sit back, scoop up the last of the Quality Street and let’s get to work…

 

DIRTY HARRY (1971)

Cinematic superstar Clint Eastwood was already well on his way to becoming an icon with the Spaghetti Westerns of the sixties when he took on the role of maverick cop, “Dirty” Harry Callahan.  This gritty thriller sees Harry on the trail of a sadistic serial killer, known as Scorpio (chillingly played by Andy Robinson), who is terrorising San Francisco.  Dirty Harry cemented Eastwood’s popularity and ensured his longevity playing likeable but notoriously difficult to work with characters.

WATCH IT FOR: That scene

 

THE RIVER WILD (1994)

Here’s a nice, underrated thriller from director Curtis Hanson.  Meryl Streep plays Gail, an expert in rafting who decides to take her family on a trip down a notorious wild river.  Along the way they meet a couple of armed men with a secret mission of their own that requires Gail’s help to navigate the river.  David Strathairn, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly and Joseph Mazello round out the cast in a non-stop thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

BIGGLES (1986)

Apparently, everybody has a time-twin.  For New York advertising executive, Jim Ferguson (Alex Hyde-White) his just happens to be WWI flying ace James “Biggles” Bigglesworth (Neil Dickson).  Together they travel back and forth through time in order to prevent the Germans from changing history.  This is one of those fun, action adventures that populated most of the 1980s while still harking back to the classic serials from the twenties and thirties.

WATCH IT FOR: A suitably cheesy eighties trailer

 

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)

Arguably one of John Hughes‘ best films, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off sees Matthew Broderick as the eponymous hero intent on taking a sick day from school.  With the help of his girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara) and best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck) they take in the sights of Chicago unaware that their principal, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is hot on their trail.  It’s a joyous comedy full of wonderful moments and fine performances, not least from Hughes regular Edie McClurg as Rooney’s secretary, Grace.

WATCH IT FOR: “He’s A Righteous Dude”

 

FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1991)

This remake of the classic 1950 movie sees Steve Martin as George Banks facing up to the prospect of his eldest daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) getting married and leaving home.  It’s a charming, funny movie with a very Hollywood-style family unit that just about manages to stay on the right side of schmaltz.  Diane Keaton and an over-the-top Martin Short provide ample support in this family comedy that spawned a 1993 sequel.

WATCH IT FOR: Basketball

 

RUN, FATBOY, RUN (2007)

Dennis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton) at the altar five years ago.  Since then, he has tried every day to convince her to take him back.  When he discovers that she has a new man in her life in the shape of Whit (Hank Azaria), an ultra-fit, ultra-cool American, Dennis vows to do something about it.  His plan?  To run a marathon.  The only trouble is, he is extremely unfit.  This is one of those comedies from the old school – ordinary man does something extraordinary to win the girl – from director David Schwimmer (Friends).  There are some great moments, including one that makes me wince every time I see it, and it does what it sets out to do – lift the spirits.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

FOREVER YOUNG (1992)

In this romantic, sci-fi drama, Mel Gibson plays Daniel McCormick, a 1939 test pilot who asks his friend to use him as a guinea pig in a secret experiment into cryogenics.  When eventually wakes up it’s 1992 and time is running out.  His body is rapidly aging and he must find a way to survive in this new, modern world.  Jamie Lee Curtis and Elijah Wood are along for the ride as a mother and son who take him in and help his quest.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

MISERY (1990)

Adaptations of Stephen King novels and stories have had a sketchy history in cinema, some fall flat and lose their meaning while others – like this one – triumph.  Misery sees James Caan play Paul Sheldon, a successful novelist, who crashes his car on a dangerous, snowy road.  He is rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in an Oscar-winning performance) who happens to be a huge fan of his and, also, slightly unhinged.  Director Rob Reiner has created a wonderful atmosphere of tension and suspense that drags you deeper into Annie’s twisted world.

WATCH IT FOR: “I’m Your Number One Fan”

 

JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH (1986)

This fun comedy shows off Whoopi Goldberg‘s comedy talents as a low-level computer operator working for a bank who gets caught up in an espionage plot.  Throughout this she is in contact (via computer) with an unknown man calling himself Jack.  Goldberg is brilliantly manic and keeps the film moving along with a solid supporting cast.  The technology might be dated, but the humour and action isn’t.

WATCH IT FOR: Stones

 

BIG HERO 6 (2014)

Animation has gone through something of a renaissance of late with some amazing films being made.  Complex stories involving real issues are being incorporated into stunning animated movies.  Big Hero 6 continues this new tradition by dealing with bereavement, friendship and loyalty while still maintaining all the things you’d expect from a “kids” film.  Hiro and his gang of new friends, including an inflatable plus-sized robot called Beymax, take on the sinister forces that have brought havoc to their city.  Prepare yourself, there will be tears.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

I really do enjoy putting these lists together, finding the films that have fallen between the cracks of my memory along with those that are still very relevant in my mind.  Some are classics, some are not but all give me something that other films don’t.  I hope you enjoy reading my meanderings here and, even if you don’t, please feel free to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.  In the meantime, I need to make a start on Part Twenty Seven – I’ve already got part of a list and the further into my mind palace I delve I remember more.  Until next time…

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”

 

 

 

My Life In Film & TV: Halloween Spooktacular II

It’s been a couple of years since the last Halloween special so I thought it only right to resurrect it.  In keeping with my usual fare, this edition features some of the scary films and television specials that have given us sleepless nights for years.  So, get your spook on and join me as I delve deep into the crypt of nostalgia…

 

DRACULA (1931)

Bela Lugosi‘s performance as Dracula in this movie is probably the defining version that we all conjure up in our minds.  The look, the voice and the sheer presence of the man spawned countless impersonations for years to come.  Based loosely on the classic novel by Bram Stoker, this is one of the most influential of Universal’s monster movie output that also included Frankenstein and The Wolf Man.  Lugosi became typecast because of this role and struggled to shake off what had become an iconic part.  Many actors have portrayed the vampire in the proceeding years but none really ever come close to the original.

WATCH IT FOR: Intro to the film

 

THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987)

The influence of Dracula can be seen here in this slice of eighties comedy horror.  A group of friends with a fascination of all things monster must band together to save their town from Dracula and his fellow monsters.  This is one of those cult ‘kids’ movies that brilliantly blends elements of comedy, horror and action.  Written by Shane Black, it’s a hugely entertaining love letter to the classic Universal monster movies.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

HOME IMPROVEMENT – “CRAZY FOR YOU” (1993)

Home Improvement is one of my all time favourite sitcoms and I always loved their Halloween episodes.  In this spooky episode from season three, Tim (Tim Allen) finds he has an obsessive secret admirer who also happens to be attending his annual fancy dress party.  As usual its a chance for everyone to dress up, most notably the three boys – Brad, Randy and Mark who decide to go as The Three Stooges (they all wanted to be Moe!).  Without giving too much away, Tim’s admirer isn’t all she’s cracked up to be!

WATCH IT FOR: A moment between Tim and Wilson

 

MEDIUM (2005-2011)

This supernatural drama starring Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois is different to most others in that the lead character is a normal, suburban mother with a family and job.  It just so happens that she also receives messages from the dead.  Arquette is brilliant and delivers a fully rounded character in a story that is based on real life.  Some episodes were a little bit quirky and off the wall which also added to the class of the show.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (1986)

The original Poltergeist movie was such a massive hit that it was almost inevitable that a sequel would be made.  Although, with most sequels, the tone is slightly darker than the first one, it still holds up as one of the better ‘second’ films.  The Freeling family have moved from their haunted home and are now living with Diane’s mother but the terror they suffered before isn’t that far away.  The majority of the original cast returns – Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke and Oliver Robins – for what is a really strong sequel to a really successful horror classic.

WATCH IT FOR: Kane!

 

PARANORMAN (2012)

This wonderful supernatural animation comes from the same production company that brought us Coraline, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings.  It’s a delightfully spooky tale of a misunderstood boy who has the ability to speak to the dead.  Norman is approached by his estranged uncle who tells him of an age-old curse that blights the town.  Along with his best friend, Neil and an unlikely team of companions, Norman must figure out how to stop the curse and save his hometown.

WATCH IT FOR: Haunted bathroom!

 

QUANTUM LEAP – “BLOOD MOON” (1994)

Although not technically a Halloween episode, ‘Blood Moon’ does have all the elements of a spooky special.  Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) leaps into the body of well-known artist Nigel Corrington who just so happens to sleep in a coffin and has shocked everyone by marrying a homeless girl.  Nigel and his bride are entertaining Victor Drake and his lady friend, Claudia on the night of the Blood Moon where tragedy is due to strike.  Dean Stockwell as Al, Sam’s holographic partner, is suitably scared and believes Nigel to be a vampire.  ‘Blood Moon’ appears in the show’s final (and weakest) season but this episode stands out as one of the best of that year.

WATCH IT FOR: Full episode on YouTube

 

MONSTER HOUSE (2006)

The quality of modern “kids” movies is just astounding.  Monster House is one such joy of a film that has fully rounded characters in a wonderful, spooky comedy.  Three kids discover that their neighbour’s house is hiding a huge secret.  DJ, Chowder and Jenny find out that the house is actually a living, breathing monster with a taste for anything that lands in it’s yard.  This really is one of the best animated movies in recent years so if you’ve yet to experience it, please give it a try.

WATCH IT FOR: Ding, Dong, Ditch

 

STEPHEN KING’S IT (1990)

I haven’t seen the newest incarnation of Stephen King‘s classic novel (nor have I read the book!) so I only have this made-for-television film to go off.  In 1960 a group of teen misfits do battle against an evil demon who poses as Pennywise (Tim Curry), a child-killing clown.  Thirty years later the friends reunite to put a stop to Pennywise once and for all when he returns to their hometown.  Curry absolutely steals the show here and he’s clearly having fun as the malicious clown.  I remember watching it when it was first shown and being completely terrified by his performance, although I’ve recently seen it again and the horror of it has passed as the years have gone by.  From all I’ve heard, the new IT (2017) takes the fear factor and multiplies it by a thousand.

WATCH IT FOR: Tim Curry loving his job!

 

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987)

Another actor clearly relishing his job is Jack Nicholson, here playing a mysterious and flamboyant visitor to a small town where he proceeds to seduce three single women.  Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer are the three divorced women who, after a night of lamenting the lack of eligible men in their town, somehow manage to conjure up the mysterious Daryl Van Horne, the Devil himself.  It’s a fun, sometimes off-colour fantasy with great performances and a wonderful score by John Williams.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

HALLOWEEN (1978)

Halloween night, 1963.  Six-year-old Michael Myers stabs his 15-yr-old sister, Judith, to death.  Fifteen years after being institutionalised, Michael breaks out on the night before Halloween and heads straight back to his hometown followed by his psychiatrist, Dr Loomis (Donald Pleasence).  Jamie Lee Curtis stars as the object of Myers’ obsession in what has become her most iconic role (it was recently announced that she would return to the franchise in 2018).  John Carpenter has created a masterpiece of cinematic horror, that has stood the test of time and continues to scare the living daylights out of generations.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

CARRY ON SCREAMING! (1966)

Our final venture into the spooky vaults belongs to a piece of British film culture.  Carry On Screaming! was the 12th entry in the long-running franchise and featured most of the original cast, including Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims.  This time around, focussing on the classic Hammer films, Harry H. Corbett joins the ranks as a Detective on the trail of the evil Dr Watt who is kidnapping beautiful women and turning them into mannequins.  It was one of the biggest hits of the Carry On franchise and was also one of the most popular of 1966.  It’s daft, yet strangely alluring.

WATCH IT FOR: Frying tonight!

 

There you have it.  A second delve into the spooktacular vaults.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this little trip down memory lane and haven’t been too scared.  Personally, I’m not a huge fan of horror films or being terrified but I can’t resist celebrating them.  Regular service will resume shortly so, in the meantime, don’t have nightmares…do sleep well!

“You float too”