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 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”

My Life In Film: Part Twenty Five

After the horrors of the Halloween special, it’s business as usual for my movie odyssey as I try to compile the list of films that have, in one way or another, made significant impact on me.  I’m making no excuses for some of the films that have already been featured and for the ones that are yet to come, not all of them are great classics and some will divide opinion, but for most there are specific scenes and moments that outrank the movie as a whole which is why some of the more dubious films are included.  One such film is on this list, where the movie isn’t all that great but there are some moments that have meant it has stuck with me.  Anyway, I’ll leave you to figure out which one it is.  In the meantime, we’ve got work to do…

 

BULL DURHAM (1988)

I’m not the biggest fan of sports but I do enjoy a bit of baseball, even though I have no idea of the rules or scoring.  Sports movies are a tricky thing to get right, they’re usually uplifting stories of the underdog fighting back against the odds and can often get quiet sickly and saccharine.  Sometimes, though, a sports movie comes along that is a little bit edgier.  Bull Durham is one of those.  Kevin Costner stars as an aging baseball pitcher (there’s lots of those in the world of cinema) who is brought in to help Tim Robbins‘ younger pitcher get to grips with the game.  Both men fall for the sultry Susan Sarandon, who is the team’s groupie and has a habit of hooking up with one young player every season.  It’s a hugely entertaining film regardless of whether you understand the rules of the game or not.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

GHOST (1990)

I remember going to see this film at the cinema with a friend and, once it had finished, we left the screening surrounded by people in tears.  As two fifteen-year-olds we had no idea why.  It was a pretty decent movie about a ghost with unfinished business.  It wasn’t until I was much older that I ‘got’ Ghost.  Sam (Patrick Swayze) and Molly (Demi Moore) are the perfect couple who have recently moved into their unbelievably swish penthouse and seem to have everything they need.  One night, though, Sam is gunned down in an apparent mugging where his spirit is left to wander the earth until he figures out who killed him.  Viewing this film with a more mature mind and after having gone through grief it really resonates and becomes a completely different movie to the one I originally saw.  Whoopi Goldberg provides an Oscar-winning performance as a fraudulent psychic who just so happens to be the only one who can see and hear Sam and damn near steals the whole film.

WATCH IT FOR: Whoopi!

 

APOLLO 13 (1995)

Making films about true life events can sometimes falter due to the public knowing how things turn out.  What skilled filmmakers like Ron Howard do is to tell the familiar story but from different perspectives.  Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and the late Bill Paxton star as the astronauts on the ill-fated “routine” flight aboard NASA’s Apollo 13.  There is limited media interest in this mission as the moon landing has already occurred, until something goes terribly wrong aboard the shuttle.  The drama on the ground is amplified as we get up close and personal with the astronauts in a tense situation trying to survive.

WATCH IT FOR: “Just breathe normal”

 

ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE (1994)

Jim Carrey has made a career out of playing crazy, slightly unhinged comic characters but none quite like Ace Ventura.  He’s a detective that only takes cases involving animals and the biggest case of his career has just landed in his lap.  The Miami Dolphins mascot, a dolphin called Snowflake, is stolen and Ace must investigate to find out who would steal a dolphin and why.  Courtney Cox, Sean Young and Tone Loc provide support but this is Carrey’s showcase.  It’s a riot and I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I love it.

WATCH IT FOR: Ace in Snowflake’s tank

 

STRIKING DISTANCE (1993)

By the mid-nineties, Bruce Willis had got the maverick cop act down to a tee.  In this thriller he plays Tom Hardy, a former detective, demoted to the river police, who is on the hunt for a serial killer preying on women Hardy knows.  It’s your standard action thriller fare with Willis phoning most of the film in but among the predictable stuff there are some memorable moments.  Sarah Jessica Parker provides the token female support in a boys’ own action film that also features Tom Sizemore and Dennis Farina.

WATCH IT FOR: The opening car chase

 

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the Terminator movies but there is something very special about this, the first sequel to James Cameron‘s 1984 original.  Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the cyborg (an exact lookalike of the original sent to kill Linda Hamilton‘s Sarah Connor) who is sent back from the future to prevent the murder of John Connor (Edward Furlong) by an advanced cyborg, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick).  Cameron ramps up the action and uses the then state-of-the-art visual effects technology to provide us with a breath-taking rollercoaster of a movie.

WATCH IT FOR: “Do you know John Connor?”

 

MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)

The very much-missed Robin Williams was clearly having a ball playing Daniel, the divorced father forced to dress as an old lady in order to see his kids.  The way he lives and breathes Mrs. Doubtfire shows what a great talent he was and only emphasises the sadness of his early passing.  Sally Field plays his ex-wife who has since started dating Pierce Brosnan‘s smarmy Stu.  Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence and Mara Wilson play the three kids Daniel is so desperate to see but really, this is all about Williams and his tour-de-force performance.

WATCH IT FOR: “Could you make me a woman?”

 

THE JEWEL OF THE NILE (1985)

This sequel to the 1984 original sees Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito return in an adventure to find a fabled jewel.  While not quite as good as the first film, The Jewel of the Nile does have some good set-pieces and manages to keep up the pace but it lacks the charm of the original.  It’s still good fun, though and does feature the hit song “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going”.

WATCH IT FOR: Jet Escape

 

SPACEBALLS (1987)

Not content with spoofing virtually every film genre already, Mel Brooks shifts his attention to the Star Wars universe with this cult comedy.  Bill Pullman, John Candy and Rick Moranis star in this out of this world parody.  Brooks’ skill at taking the well-known and slightly skewing it is evident here as he rips on every space movie ever made.  While not universally loved as much as his earlier classics, Spaceballs does hold up as one of the best of his forgotten films.

WATCH IT FOR: Merchandising!

 

AIR FORCE ONE (1997)

I remember watching The Late Show with David Letterman when Harrison Ford was doing the promotional rounds for this film.  Letterman dubbed Ford “Ass-Kicking President” and it’s not hard to see why in this action thriller from Wolfgang Petersen.  Ford plays President James Marshall who’s plane (Air Force One) is hijacked by Gary Oldman and his band of terrorists.  Marshall is an ex-soldier, though, so puts his military training to good use to get his plane back.

WATCH IT FOR: “Get off my plane!”

 

And, another edition bites the dust.  Certainly a couple of greats there and at least one that shouldn’t really be on anyone’s favourites list but I like it, so there!  As the nights begin drawing in my attention naturally shifts towards the festive season.  There will be a Christmas Special on it’s way, I’m just sorting out what’s going in, and a couple of extra Movie Heroes entries, too.  If you like what you see here, and have liked my previous posts, then please do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you and feel free to share the love.  Until the next time…

“Houston, we have a problem”

 

 

 

My Life In Film: Part Twenty Four

Well, it seems like absolutely ages since I gave you part twenty three of this odyssey but here we go again with another edition.  This time around there is at least one film that I hadn’t thought about for years until it just suddenly popped into my brain while trying to research another project, while the others are pretty much standard movies I’ve seen again and again but just happened to forget about until now!  Anyway, enough of me yacking on…we’ve got work to do!

 

UNCLE BUCK (1989)

The ever reliable, and much-missed, John Candy was perfect in this film from John Hughes.  Candy is Buck Russell, confirmed bachelor and all-round slob, who is forced to look after his brother’s three kids.  Hughes’ ability to tap into the mind of the American teenager was one of his masterstrokes and he does it again here.  Jean Louisa Kelly as Tia is about as dysfunctional a teen you could find while Gaby Hoffman and a pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin provide the cuteness overload.  But this is really John Candy’s film in which he showcases not only his brilliant comedic bones but also his heart.

WATCH IT FOR: “Here’s a quarter…”

 

JUST CAUSE (1995)

Sean Connery stars in this solid thriller as Paul Armstrong, a Harvard professor lured back into the courtroom after 25 years to represent a young black man who has been sentenced to death for the murder of a young girl.  Laurence Fishburne plays the local sheriff who resents Armstrong’s presence and who believes the police have their man.  Connery is, as usual, brilliantly cool and takes no nonsense from the locals as he delves deeper into this horrific crime.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)

John Carpenter made his name in the seventies and eighties as one of the leading lights of cinematic horror with Halloween, The Fog and The Thing.  Here, though, he ventures into the world of comedy, adventure and fantasy.  Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a truck driver, who arrives in San Francisco’s Chinatown where all manner of weird and wonderful things happen.  Kim Cattrall and the ever present James Hong provide solid support in this rip-roaring extravaganza.

WATCH IT FOR: The Three Storms

 

CITY SLICKERS (1991)

Three middle-aged friends – Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby – are having a mid-life crisis and decide the only way to celebrate their milestone birthday is to go on a cattle drive from New Mexico to Colorado.  Whilst there, they meet Curly (Jack Palance) who teaches them everything they need to know about being a cowboy, as well as a few things about life.  It’s a wonderful, uplifting comedy that brought the legendary Palance his only Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

WATCH IT FOR: The Secret of Life

 

MATILDA (1996)

Big screen adaptations of Roald Dahl stories haven’t always been up to the quality of the original product.  With this movie version of Matilda (a book I absolutely adore), director Danny DeVito has managed to capture the spirit and essence of the source material.  Mara Wilson stars as the eponymous heroine, a little girl who just so happens to be a genius, and the fight against her horrid family (DeVito and Rhea Perlman play her parents) and the hideous Miss Trunchbull (a delightfully wicked Pam Ferris).  As adaptations go, this is one of the best.

WATCH IT FOR: Hammer Throw!

 

BLADE RUNNER (1982)

With a sequel (Blade Runner 2049) currently in cinemas it seems only right to revisit this classic piece of sci-fi.  Based on the novel by Philip K. Dick (“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”) and from pioneering director Ridley Scott, Blade Runner is a bleak, film-noir-style thriller set in a futuristic Los Angeles where Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is on the trail of a group of replicants (androids that look like humans) who have staged a mutiny on the Off World colony.  Its a dark, brooding thriller made all the more menacing by Rutger Hauer‘s Roy Batty.

WATCH IT FOR: “Tears in the rain”

 

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (2009)

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) is a scientist who is regarded by everyone he meets as a failure.  He invents a machine that makes food fall from the sky but little does he know that trouble will soon follow.  The story has been told many times before – local laughing stock comes good – but here its given a quirky twist with giant food falling from the sky.  The animation is beautiful and the script is as witty as you like, add to this the voice talents of James Caan, Anna Faris and Mr. T and you’ve got yourself a winner!

WATCH IT FOR: Raining burgers!

 

HARVEY (1950)

James Stewart is wonderful in this film version of the hit stage play.  In it he plays Elwood P. Dowd, a man who insists that he has a friend in the form of an invisible six-foot high rabbit called Harvey.  Because of this his family and friends believe him to be insane and try to have him committed.  This is a whimsical tale, almost fable-like with Stewart giving one of his finest performances and providing cinema with one of the best fantasy comedies in history.

WATCH IT FOR: Stewart’s performance

 

GUNG HO (1986)

Michael Keaton plays Hunt Stevenson, a worker at an American car firm that has just been taken over by a Japanese company.  He must act as a mediator between his co-workers and new owners while justify the existence of his own job.  Director Ron Howard brings humour to a culture clash drama which is, in essence, slightly clichéd and mundane but its Keaton’s performance that keeps things moving.

WATCH IT FOR: Morning exercises

 

HIGH SOCIETY (1956)

As movie remakes go, High Society is a pretty good one.  Based on the 1940 romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story it sees Grace Kelly as a spoiled heiress who finds herself having to choose between three suitors, two of which are played by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.  Sure, it lacks the fizz and punch of the original but it does boast a number of glorious songs and has a fun, flighty nature about it not to mention an appearance from Louis Armstrong and his band.

WATCH IT FOR: Well Did You Evah?

 

Well, did you ever?  There goes another edition of My Life In Film… I promise not to leave it so long until the next one but, as it’s that time of year, the next entry will be a Halloween special so keep your eyes peeled for that one!  As for this edition, well I think its quite eclectic as per usual, don’t you think?  If you’ve liked what you’ve seen here then please do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.  Until the next time…

“It’s all in the reflexes”

 

 

 

 

My Life In Film: Part Eighteen

“I told you I’d be back!” – Arnold threatened to be back and he is a man of his word, as am I.  Part Eighteen already?  I thought I would run out of films to include but that’s not the case.  What I’ve found is, the further into the vaults I go the more films I remember and can’t believe they haven’t been included already.  So, in the words of Beetlejuice: “It’s Showtime!”

 

DIE HARD 2 (1990)

The original Die Hard movie was such a huge hit in 1988 that it was inevitable that a sequel of some sort would be on the cards.  Two years later and Bruce Willis is back in action as LA cop John McClane, this time trying to avert disaster in a busy airport.  Rogue military operatives have seized control of Dulles Airport in Washington at Christmas and are holding everyone to ransom.  McClane is there to meet his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) off her flight when he stumbles across the terrorists and manages to find himself “in the same shit twice”.  Director Renny Harlin, in his usual style, brings more bang for your buck to this all-out sequel and sometimes it loses its way because of this but it’s still full of the things that made the first film such a hit.  William Sadler is particularly menacing as McClane’s foe and it’s nice to see some of the original cast returning.

WATCH IT FOR: One of the spectacular action sequences – “Military funeral”

 

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (1992)

In the early nineties there was a spate of thrillers featuring the very unhinged type of character that Rebecca De Mornay plays in this film from the late, great director Curtis Hanson.  Peyton Flanders suffers a miscarriage following her doctor husband’s suicide after being accused of sexual harassment by a patient, Claire (Annabella Sciorra).  Flanders blames Claire and sets out on a plan of revenge that sees her pose as Claire’s new nanny.  The supporting cast is excellent, Matt McCoy as Claire’s husband and Ernie Hudson as a mentally-challenged odd-job man are particularly good but this film belongs to Rebecca De Mornay and her portrayal of a desperate woman looking for answers and someone to blame.

WATCH IT FOR: The trailer

 

JFK (1991)

Oliver Stone always knows how to court controversy and create a debate about films and filmmaking so it was no surprise that JFK caused great rumblings when it was released.  More than just a conspiracy theory, Stone’s movie is a work of art.  Kevin Costner plays New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison who discovers there may be more to the Kennedy assassination than everyone believes.  It’s an intense, in-depth portrayal of the turmoil that surrounded the shocking events yet still manages to walk the fine line of being a genuine Hollywood ensemble movie.  The cast list is just as impressive as the film itself with brilliant cameo performances from Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, John Candy and an outstanding Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald.  It’s a long slog to watch, clocking in at over 3 hours, but it is well worth it.

WATCH IT FOR: Trailer

 

THE BIRDS (1963)

“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it” One of my favourite Alfred Hitchcock quotes about his movies.  It’s a quote the pretty much sums up his style.  There was never that much blood, gore or violence in his horrors, only the fear of what was about to happen.  Psycho did it best, but The Birds is right up there for me as one of his finest.  Tippi Hedren plays a wealthy socialite who meets Rod Taylor in a pet shop and subsequently follows him to a small town where he stays with his mother and younger sister.  Once she arrives, though, strange things start to happen and birds of all species begin to attack the people.  There’s never an explanation as to why this bizarre occurrence happens and I think that’s part of the films charm.  Sometimes, things happen that you just can’t understand.

WATCH IT FOR: One of my favourite scenes – crows assemble in the playground

 

STAY TUNED (1992)

It seems fitting that two stalwarts of American television find themselves as husband and wife, trapped in a television set from hell and forced to take part in versions of the programmes they find themselves in.  Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy) and John Ritter (Three’s Company, Hooperman, 8 Simple Rules) are Helen and Roy Knable, a couple with run-of-the-mill jobs who are given the opportunity of a lifetime when a salesman knocks on their door with a state-of-the-art satellite TV set.  It’s basically a chance to spoof some popular TV shows of the past and see how these characters play out in each one.  It’s good fun, if a little lacklustre but to be honest, I haven’t seen it since I saw it at the cinema so my opinion might be completely different if I watched it again!

WATCH IT FOR: The trailer

 

ON THE TOWN (1949)

Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin play three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City where they hope to find fun and romance.  What sets this apart from most other musicals of that era is the fact that it went out on location to film scenes rather than use sets.  This is evident is the famous opening song-and-dance number where our three heroes take a sight-seeing tour of the city.  It’s vibrant, bold and still holds up after all these years.

WATCH IT FOR: That opening scene

 

GOLDENEYE (1995)

You could almost look at Goldeneye as a twist of fate for Pierce Brosnan.  He was originally approached to play James Bond when Roger Moore retired after A View To A Kill but lost out due to his contract on Remington Steele.  As we know, Timothy Dalton got the part and played 007 in two films until the franchise ran into legal problems, hence the six year gap between Licence To Kill and this.  Bond is assigned to retrieve stolen access codes for a top secret space weapon, “Goldeneye”, but he is hampered by a villain (Sean Bean) who anticipates his every move and has a deeper reason for wanting Bond dead.  It’s a great return for the franchise and Brosnan was always going to make a great Bond but it does fail at times to bring the humour of the original films.  This film also marks the first appearance of Judi Dench as ‘M’.

WATCH IT FOR: The breath-taking opening sequence

 

TOY SOLDIERS (1991)

A group of rebellious teens at a prestigious boarding school face off against a bunch of terrorists in this popcorn-treat of a thriller from director Daniel Petrie Jr.  I missed this one at the cinema but thanks to home video I got the chance to watch it on VHS many times and wasn’t quite sure why it wasn’t a success.  Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton lead the group of rebels against Andrew Divoff and his terrorists.  There is also fine support from Louis Gossett Jr and Denholm Elliott.  If you haven’t already, you should check it out if you can, it’s a great little action flick that deserves a wider audience.

WATCH IT FOR: The trailer

 

KILL BILL: VOL. 1 (2003)

A brash, bloody and violent tale of revenge from Quentin Tarantino.  Uma Thurman stars as ‘The Bride’ a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad  lead by her lover, Bill (David Carradine).  Once she fell pregnant she decided to leave this violent world and fled to Texas where she fell in love and, on the day of her wedding, is gunned down by a jealous Bill and his squad.  Four years later ‘The Bride’ wakes from her coma with only revenge on her mind.  Tarantino is a master at the quirky dialogue and violent action sequences and this film has plenty of both.

WATCH IT FOR: The Bride vs O’Ren – warning, there be violence!

 

THE CASTLE (1997)

This delightfully funny and touching Australian film crept under the radar back in 1997.  I first became aware of it thanks to Johnny Vaughan and Liza Tarbuck on The Big Breakfast discussing it and quoting lines from the film to each other.  We rented it on VHS and were not disappointed.  It’s quirky, very funny and instantly a cult classic.  It’s the classic David & Goliath tale of a normal, working class family forced to take on the bigwigs at City Hall who want their house for expansion.  You must watch this film at least once in your life.  It will lift your spirits like nothing else.

WATCH IT FOR: House valuation

 

In the blink of an eye, another batch of films bites the dust.  Looking back at this particular grouping and I notice most of them are from the 1990s – a prolific period of time in my cinema-viewing life.  Yet, there are still SO many more films still to come, these lists just keep getting longer after every post.  If you enjoy these blog posts, please get in touch and let me know – I really would love to hear from you.  “Get your hands off it, Daryl”