True Stories

1-10-06 Donnie Brasco stars Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. This film is based on a true story. It’s an interesting film and all of the actors give great performances. Including Bruno Kirby, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche and James Russo. If you have not seen this film and you like crime films, I suggest you check this one out. Tonight’s feature will be Sunday Bloody Sunday. I’ve never seen this film, but the story sounds interesting.

Category 6: Day of Destruction

Category 6: Day of Destruction. This appeared to be one of those made for TV films like Aftershock, earthquake in New York. I’m realizing it will be easier to write a story about Katrina, but to have it put on film may not work well. Of course the Perfect Storm worked as well as the Titanic. Once I start to get it down on paper I can see what direction I would go. In a book you can have lots of characters, but in a film you want the audience to be able to keep up. You don’t have as much time. Category 6, stars, Brian Dennehy, Thomas Gibson, Nancy McKeon, Randy Quaid, and Dianne Wiest. There was a time when we thought these films were just someone’s imagination going haywire. Now art has imitated life or vice versa. Nature is fighting back with a vengeance. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

Cry Baby

 Last night I watched the film, Cry Baby. This is a John Waters film. Now if you’re asking yourself, who is John Waters? Well, all I can say is that you are really not a film lover. You’re definitely not fool serious. John Waters is an artist with a mind to push the envelope. John Waters is responsible for bringing such stars as Devine, and Mink Stole to the public eye. John Waters is responsible for resurrecting the careers of Tab Hunter, Joey Heatherton, Patricia Hearst and Traci Lords. Cry Baby gave John Waters a bigger budget and was able to bring in some bigger names along with his usual entourage. Johnny Depp was just becoming a star with 21 Jump Street and he took on the role of Cry Baby. Though Johnny had musical talent, he didn’t do any of the singing in the film. Thanks to the success of Hair Spray, John Waters was taken a bit more seriously as a film maker. Ricki Lake who was billed as the baby Devine, returned to appear in Cry Baby. The DVD has now added scenes that were deleted previously. There are interviews and commentaries that are quite entertaining and filled with information. As I watched the film I kept thinking this would make a great stage play. Of course Hair Spray had become successful on stage. John Waters does mention on the DVD that there is a possibility that Cry Baby will be a musical. Anything is possible. The Color Purple is now a musical. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Here is the line up for the next four nights. Category 6: Day of Destruction, Donnie Brasco, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Million Dollar Baby. See if you can find them and watch with me.

Ransom

The film Ransom stars Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Delroy Lindo, Lily Taylor, Donnie Wahlberg, Leiv Schreiber, and Gary Sinise. For most parents their worst fear is to lose their child. Your in the mall or grocery and your child decides to play hide and seek, but when your child is at a park or at school and your standing right there. You don’t imagine that your child will be taken from you. Ransom shows the mental breakdown of a father and mother who must make difficult decisions. Battling their trust amongst each other and dealing with secrets that rear their ugly head in the process. I think this is an incredible film although there are a few scenes that are just over the top. The story and characters are real. Who can you trust? In your home? To work for you? Most of us take this question for granted, but it is an honest question. If you haven’t seen this film, check it out. Here are a few of my other film recommendations. Day After Tomorrow, Coffy, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Here are the films I will be viewing this week. The Gingerbread Man, Category 6: Day of Destruction,

Claudine

I watched Claudine last night. I don't recall seeing this film all the way through. It stars Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs. Diahann Carroll is a black actress that broke her share of barriers. She was the first black woman to have her own television show and the first black celebrity to have a doll named after her character, Julia. In Claudine, Diahann Carroll plays a single mother, with six kids. She's collecting welfare and trying to keep a job on the side that pays under the table to help her survive. She meets and falls in love with James Earl Jones who plays a garbage man. Both stars show nudity, which was surprising since both stars have gone on to do such high caliber work. Even Lawrence Hilton Jacobs flashes some skin. It's an interesting film that captures a way of life that still exists. Tonights feature will be Ransom with Mel Gibson. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

Magnolia

I had seen Magnolia once in the theater and once when I bought it on VHS. Although I liked the film and wanted it in my collection. I felt the price was too high. It was an interesting film. I still haven't added Priest to my DVD collection. Either I can't find it in stores or the version that I want isn't available. I may have to just settle. I was trying to find the International version, it has 5 extra minutes. Those things happen. I remember when Showgirls came out. I ended up  with two versions of that film. I know you're saying he must be sick. Acutally I enjoyed Showgirls. It had moments and that makes a film worthwhile for me. When you really look at as many films as I do, you begin to appreciate the art. You see its a difficult task to tell and story and pull it off in film. Certain subjects carry so much territory. It's one of the reasons certain films just don't do well. Films about models, acting or musicals have to be done precisely or it doesn't work. When a film relies on it's musical numbers to carry the film you realize that they didn't have enough story to tell. Of course if the musical numbers are great then no one complains. If you haven't seen Magnolia, check it out. Tom Cruise gives a good performance as well as John C. Reilly, Julliane Moore and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Here are some film recommendations and my line up for upcoming films I'll be viewing. See if you can find them and watch along with me. Casualties of War with Sean Penn and Michael J. Fox, Claudine with Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones, Ransom with Mel Gibbson and Rene Russo, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Sugar Hill, Carmen a Hip Hopera, and Solo. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue is an interesting animated feature film. This is a thriller with lots of twists. You are not sure what you are watching. At one point it starts to get confusing which was the directors intent. The visuals are spectacular. Sometimes when you watch animation they forget to move the background. In Perfect Blue the director made sure everything was moving. He paid strict attention to detail. This film has it all, a good story, sex, violence and attracted characters that are so believeable. You almost forget they are animated. Check it out if you can find it. Here are my film recommendations for the week. Ransom with Mel Gibson, Magnolia with Tom Cruise, Casualties of War with Sean Penn, Claudine with Diahann Carroll, and Boier Room with Nia Long. Watch along with me if you can. Then we can compare notes.