Life On the Phlipside

Closing Time

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 18:35:00 +0000

After long thought, I have decided to put this blog into suspended animation. The goal is to bring some clarity to my life, and streamlining my online presence is part of that. This blog has served me long and well, but it's not needed.

If you've enjoyed my stuff here, all of it has been migrated to my other blog. You will find all my previous posts plus new movie reviews, thoughts on the media and much more at Stories Are My Life.

Thanks for your time and attention. I hope you'll join me to continue our journey together.

Peace,

Jay

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

"Look, I Said He Was All Right"

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:00:00 +0000

More Here Than Meets The Eye

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959) – The promise of easy money from his ex-girlfriend’s criminal brother lures a disgraced college football player into a gang setting up a bank robbery. Based on an actual event, it’s one of Steve McQueen’s earliest roles.

Directed by Charles Guggenheim and John Stix

Starring Steve McQueen, Crahan Denton, David Clarke, Molly McCarthy, James Dukas

Why I Liked It – The story is interesting enough to get past the low budget dialogue and cinematography.

George Fowler (McQueen) is a disgraced football player trying to get his feet under him. The story never spells out what George Fowler and Ann did, but they both got expelled. They broke up, but her career criminal brother Gino (Clarke) recruits George to be the driver in a bank robbery. The gang leader, John Egan (Denton), isn’t thrilled about a “new guy” but they’re on a tight schedule. Along with Egan’s sidekick, Willie (Dukas), they plan the robbery down to the second. Problems arise, especially when Ann reenters George’s life.

The actual robbery that inspired the movie, the 1953 attempted robbery of the Southwest Bank in St. Louis, gets actual screen time here. A variety of folks who were in the bank on that day, play themselves here. One of the police officers who first responded to the alarm is here, as are a variety of customers. And they filmed the movie on the actual location. It’s a cool little detail.

As for the movie itself, it’s a very early Steve McQueen role. He’d gotten his first serious attention the previous year in “The Blob”, and stardom was only a few years away. He’d appear in “The Magnificent Seven” in 1960, and “The Great Escape” in 1963. The dialogue is a stumbling block for everyone. Sometimes it’s fine, and the action rolls briskly. Then it slams face first into some that is so bad it would make AI blush. Overall, the movie pushes through it’s obvious low budget with minimal issues. There’s a gritty realism that makes the movie stand out for me. It only struggles in the final twenty minutes.

I’ve seen this movie listed as “noir” in several places, and I’ll disagree with that assessment. I don’t see it hitting the minimums for things like the cynical worldview, and the sexual tension gets the kid gloves treatment. That’s because the sexual aspect in this movie is homosexual. Egan’s character lays out his relationship with Willie just prior to the robbery itself. He talks about Willie being a pretty when he got to prison, and a “mama’s boy”. Then he reminds Willie that he protected him while they were inside. Willie’s jealousy of George and possessive attitude toward Egan make sense. Egan had a problematic relationship with a domineering and abusive mother (a common “explanatory” trope for homosexuality in the ‘50s), resulting in a violent hatred of all women. Given the era, and the production standards of the day, there’s nothing overt about it. I can see the argument being made based on Egan and Willie, but George and Ann offer a more innocent counterbalance. Maybe it’s a personal issue, but it never rises to the level of noir for me.

You can stream “The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery” on a wide range of services, including Amazon Prime, MGM+, Tubi, Pluto TV, Vudu, Crackle, YouTube and YouTube TV.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Tough to find a trailer for this one. Sorry for the quality.

Great Cast, Crap Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

What A Waste

Event Horizon (1997) – Seven years ago, the spaceship “Event Horizon” with an experimental new drive, disappeared. It has reappeared near Neptune, and the “Lewis and Clark” goes to find out what happened. The missing vessel has many mysteries to reveal.

Directed by Paul Anderson

Starring Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Kathleen Quinlan

Why I Liked It – You’re joking, right?

For all its big budget visual flash, the movie lost me in the first ten minutes. Special effects dominated the first ten minutes of the movie without contributing to the story or character development. It consumed more than a third of the special effects budget. I’d want a lot more story “bang” for those kinds of bucks. Like so many science fiction movies in the age of CGI effects, the movie is more about being flashy than telling a story. There are lots of explosions, flashes of light, loud noises, jump cuts and all the techniques to keep the audience emotionally on the edge of their seats. Add a huge dose of horror movie gore and violence, and it turns out you can fill out the time of a full motion picture with very little plot.

And you get “Event Horizon”.

The “Event Horizon” disappeared on its first mission. With a space warping drive, the plan was to head Proxima Centauri, but the ship disappeared. Seven years later, it re-appears, orbiting Neptune. Captain Miller (Fishburne) and the crew of the “Lewis and Clark” are recalled from leave to investigate. With the designer of the ship (Neill) in tow, they head to the edge of the solar system. A lot of bad stuff is waiting for them.

This is a haunted house movie. Honestly, it’s a science fiction movie only because the haunted house is a spaceship. There’s some mumbled discussion of the new drive that folds space (using an explanation that I first came across when I read Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time"). Add a few mindless mentions of hell and evil, then fill in with lots of dead bodies and gore. Boom. It’s a movie!

Not a very good one, however.

Yes, I know it’s got a cult following. If you enjoy this movie, go for it. It’s visually interesting up to a point. The problem for me is that there isn’t any depth here. That’s not the cast’s fault. Sam O’Neil leads a solid group of actors. Other than flying through air after explosions and being eviscerated, they don’t have a lot to do. The movie is filled with the usual dumb things people do in both horror and science fiction films. If there’s a mysterious, liquid barrier that you’ve never seen before, naturally you stick your hand in it. Find a ship that’s filled with dead bodies, floating body parts, and recordings of hideous screams and violence of the first crew? Stick around like nothing is going on. (Seriously, no one even mentions the possibility of some infectious agent?) The level of gore was high, but the original cut was significantly higher. I guess I should categorize this as a haunted house/slasher/science fiction movie.

What I can’t do is categorize it as worth seeing.

You can stream "Event Horizon" on Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Google Play, Apple TV+, Vudu, YouTube, MGM+, FuboTV

Rating - ** Not Impressed

Here's the good news: You don't need to watch the movie after this trailer!

All the important bits are in it.

A Rose Amidst The Stench

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:44:00 +0000

Bond Meets Holmes Meets Cadfael

The Name of the Rose (1986) – An intellectual, rebellious Franciscan monk investigates a series of mysterious deaths at a Benedictine abbey. He faces inter-order rivalries, plus an old enemy from the Vatican.

Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud

Starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Ron Perlman, Michael Lonsdale.

Why I Liked It – Turns out Sean Connery is exactly the kind of monk you’d expect him to be.

There are so many interesting little things about this movie. Umberto Eco, who wrote the book, didn’t like the movie, and felt it was the least of the books that he’d written. Director Annaud cast the ugliest actors he could find for the brothers and villagers around the abbey. While visually epic, the movie is regularly disgusting. The filth of the middle ages sits at center stage, magnified by the insular, remote nature of the abbey. The truly ugly people are dressed the best. In Sherlock Holmes fashion, William of Baskerville (Connery, and yes, Baskerville) is the brilliant, iconoclastic mystery solving monk. His sidekick is Adso of Melk (played by the FIFTEEN YEAR OLD Slater), an overwhelmed chronicler who scuttles along in the great man’s wake. Along the way, William has made some enemies, especially Bernardo Gui (Abraham) of the Holy Inquisition. William struggles not only with the mysteries of the deaths, but also with questions of power and truth.

My honest reaction is that most people will either love or hate this movie. I can’t imagine too many being neutral about it. It’s long, it’s complicated, there’s a visceral, bloody aspect that can not be escaped. Some will find it challenging and cerebral, others will be bored stiff. I’m probably more on the bored side. I don’t hate the movie, but I don’t love it either. It’s too long, with unneeded complications. While theological debates about obscure points took place, the debate about whether Jesus owned his clothing offers nothing to advance the story. Likewise, the question of Adso’s sexual assignation isn’t worth the screen time. While it’s the central part of the narrator’s (Adso on his deathbed) tale, the movie shows how insignificant the event truly was. The battle between William and Bernardo is the center of the story.

Grandiose and gritty, “The Name of the Rose” fails to live up to that appearance.

You can stream “The Name of The Rose” on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Roku, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Freevee or Vudu

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Do Not Cross The Rubicon

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:48:00 +0000

This Is NOT A Christmas Movie

The Holdovers (2023) – When Christmas break arrives, five students remain at the school for various reasons. One irascible and unpopular instructor, and the manager of the school’s kitchen, remain with them to supervise. It turns into a holiday break unlike anything they’ve ever known.

Directed by Alexander Payne

Starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa

Why I Liked It – Paul Giamatti was enough to give it a look, and he didn’t let me down.

The setting is familiar- a small private school in New England. Christmas break and everyone goes home. Except those who can’t. They live too far away. Their parents have last-minute plans that leave a student alone. It’s a battle of wills between a father and a son. The insular, even inbred nature of the society at such schools has been fodder for books and movies for decades. Add in the demanding, sarcastic teacher, whose entire life has become the school and its traditions. All the characters rattle around in the echoing emptiness of the school halls. They will get on each other’s nerves, and they will either achieve a new level of understanding, or they…nah, they will. That’s what these movies always do.

I don’t feel like it is a spoiler when I tell you that not much of anything will surprise you, including the ending, in this movie. Take what I’ve told you so far and then write down what you think is going to happen. Then, watch “The Holdovers”. I predict one thing won’t surprise you and one will. You won’t be surprised by anything that happens. What will surprise you is how much you enjoy the movie.

Paul Hunham (Giamatti) was a student at Barton Academy, who returned to teach almost immediately. His entire life has been there, and he sees himself as the guardian of the traditions of the school. This makes him unpopular with the student body, their parents, the faculty and administration. With a little help from the headmaster, Hunham ends up as the teacher who will stay behind with the holdover boys, and Mary Lamb (Randolph), the school’s head cook. There are five boys to start, but only Angus Tully’s (Sessa) parents can’t be reached for a trip arranged by one of the other boy’s families. Tully is every bit as unpopular as Hunham among the student body. The student and teacher set each other on edge in every possible way. Meanwhile, Mary is dealing with the death of her son in Viet Nam. It’s her first Christmas without him, and her companions are no comfort to her.

After a really slow first half hour or so, the movie gains steam. What results is a warm, heartfelt movie about broken people finding their best selves. While director Payne rejects any idea that this is a “Christmas movie”, there are many folks who will adopt it as one. There’s a strong streak of “A Christmas Carol” here, with each character serving as the ghosts needed to create the change in the others. Each end up having their moment of discovering their personal Christmas day had arrived.

Oh, and director Alexander Payne absolutely hates when people call this a Christmas movie. You can decide for yourself.

Giamatti is a long-standing entry on my “I’ll Watch Them In Anything” list. Randolph does a great job as well, and this is the debut of Sessa, who holds his own with his more experienced cast mates. I came away from the movie unsurprised, but happy that I’d spent the time to watch. Definitely a movie that I’d re-watch, Christmas movie or not.

You can stream “The Holdovers” on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Apple TV, and Vudu

Rating - **** Recommended

Not A Classic, But Not Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000

A Fool For A Client

Hostile Witness (1969) – A wealthy barrister is a murder suspect when his neighbor is killed. Did the neighbor kill the lawyer’s daughter? Is it all a set-up? Will the barrister’s ego end up destroying him?

Directed by Ray Milland

Starring Ray Milland, Sylvia Syms, Felix Aylmer

Why I Liked It – A better than average courtroom thriller.

Have you ever wondered what difference a great director makes? Compare this movie to Billy Wilder’s classic “Witness for the Prosecution”. Both are intricate English courtroom thrillers with twists at the end. But “Witness for the Prosecution” stands a full head above this one. Milland had a series of television and movie directorial credits to his name, but he was best described as capable. His work here is solid, but the movie never grabs you the way Wilder’s did. That’s a grossly unfair comparison, because Wilder is one of the greatest directors of all times. Plus, Milland doesn’t have anywhere near the star power in his cast. There’s no Dietrich, Lancaster, or Laughton to give scenes wings. Comparisons of the two movies sprang to mind within the first few minutes of watching it. And this movie simply cannot compete.

That aside, this is a solid, better-than-average thriller. Based on a modestly successful play, it feels a little “stage constricted” to me. Milland never uses the “space” that a film screen offers for storytelling. He plays Simon Crawford, Q.C., whose beloved daughter is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Overwhelmed by grief, Crawford swears to find the man who killed her and kill him himself. Rumors spread that the guilty party may be his neighbor and friend. The police arrest Crawford when someone murders his friend in what might be a staged burglary. In trying to be clever with his defense, he nearly gets convicted. Milland is fine as the ego driven barrister, as are the members of the supporting cast. (Quick note to Dr. Who fans: Richard Hurndall, who played the First Doctor in “The Five Doctors” after the death of William Hartnell, plays Police Superintendent Eley). The story has a nice array of mistakes, and secrets which carry the move past most of its flaws. “Hostile Witness” offers a more “Hollywood ending” than Wilder’s classic, but that doesn’t rob the movie of its charm.

You can watch “Hostile Witness” on MGM+, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Sling, Roku, and Philo.

Rating – **** Recommended

I could not find a trailer for this movie.

NOT Too Good To Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Sometimes Talent Isn’t Enough

Harlem Nights (1989) – In the New York City of the Depression Era, two nightclub owners battle the competition, the police and gangsters to keep their doors open.

Directed by Eddie Murphy

Starring Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Danny Aiello, Della Reese

Why I Liked It –Other than a moment here or there, I didn’t.

It’s not that Harlem Nights lacked the talent, even the star power, it needed for success. The cast leads are pure all-stars. The supporting cast was solid. The basic idea was fine.

So, why is this movie so bad?

My theory is it’s because Murphy, who wrote, directed and starred in it, never made a final decision on what kind of movie he wanted it to be. In interviews in later years, he acknowledged that some days he was more interested in the parties than the work required to make the movie. It remains his only directorial credit. Is it a comedy? Is it a mobster movie? It tries to be everything all at once and ends up being a muddled mess. Imagine sitting with a group of writers who are brainstorming suggestions about what to do with the idea of Black gangsters in the Thirties with corrupt cops and beautiful women. You’d get ideas all over the place. Now imagine you sweep up all those ideas and slam them together into the same script.

That’s “Harlem Nights.”

There are some fun moments here. Redd Foxx and Della Reese’s characters constant bickering (Warning – it’s NSFW. But if you know the performers, that’s not a surprise), is a lot of fun. You can feel the chemistry. On the other hand, Pryor is very restrained here. His diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis may have robbed him of his usual energy. In his autobiography, he claims he never connected with Murphy during the shoot. Murphy also delivers a restrained performance. Again, that feels like even he isn’t sure what he’s supposed to be doing on screen. There is nothing restrained about Arsenio Hall’s performance. Billed only as “Crying Man”, Hall offers an emotional breakdown that would embarrass the worst melodrama ever made. I never figured out if this was a comic scene or a serious one.

Beyond that, the female cast, except for Reese, receives treatment only as window dressing and there are few things to recommend about this movie. If obscenity bothers you, this is not the movie for you. But then, if the top three billed performers didn’t let you know exactly what kind of dialogue would abound, I’m not sure what to tell you. With that in mind, I’ve always felt like Murphy missed the point of obscenity in Pryor’s work. Eddie has always pointed to Richard’s groundbreaking work as a primary inspiration for his own. For me, Pryor used obscenity for a purpose. It felt surgical to me. Murphy’s use felt like carpet bombing, saying “bad words” just for the point of saying them.

What you’re left with is a lot of great performers having some pointless fun in a movie that has no central idea. That’s such a loss in so many ways.

Rating - ** Not Impressed.

"The Greatest Shock of All Time!"

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

When You Don't Worry Too Much About The Science

When Worlds Collide (1951) – A rogue star and planet are streaking into the solar system. Collision with Earth is unavoidable. Humanity begins a race to build spaceships so some of the population can escape to the oncoming planet.

Directed by Rudolph Mate

Starring Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, John Hoyt, Larry Keating

Why I Liked It – It was amusing enough to get past the terrible science.

If you are that person who gets upset about the science in movies like Star Trek, Star Wars or whatever, you do NOT want to watch this movie. Even your humble correspondent, the liberal arts major, sat shaking his head at some of this. They are worried about the rogue sun colliding with Earth. The sun is roughly the size of Saturn. The gravitational forces would destroy us long before collision. They are concerned about the cargo/crew weight in the ship, as they should. But they randomly just shrug off adding a child, and then his dog. Let alone how a rogue sun can suddenly appear, racing at immense speed toward our solar system. Oh, and one character is chosen for the crew because she’s the boss’s daughter, and another because he is her boyfriend. Just silly stuff like that.

But then the science isn’t what the movie is about.

How do we deal with a planet killing event? How do you fight back when others insist that everything’s fine and you’re being hysterical? Does this sound vaguely familiar? An astronomer in South Africa detects the sun (Bellus) and discovers it, and its only planet (Zyra) are on a collision course with Earth. With the help of scientists and industrialists from the United States, there will be an attempt to send 44 people to Zyra in the hope that it is habitable. The scientist leaders decide the survivors will all come from the team that builds the spaceship. Meanwhile, one industrialist, who is a reincarnation of Mr. Potter from “It’s A Wonderful Life”, attempts to take over the project for his own use. John Hoyt is chilling as the wheelchair bound Stanton. The crew weight math struck me as dumb. After the livestock, supplies and fuel are onboard, there is 7,000 pound left for the 44-member crew. Some quick math says that means an average weight of 160 pounds! It was a different time.

There’s not any real depth to any of the characters. Even Stanton is a cardboard figure. But there’s enough there that the movie kept my attention. There’s a lot of unexplored ground in the story about how the crew is chosen, what specialties are needed, the real chance that Zyra is uninhabitable and that the crew may die horribly as well. That doesn’t even mention the fate of hundreds of millions of people left behind. As I noted above, that’s not what this movie is about.

“When Worlds Collide” is a shot at cashing in on the success of the 1950, Oscar nominated “Destination Moon”. Th sets off one of the greatest decades for science fiction in the movies. Not overwhelmed with special effects, and not taking itself too seriously allows “When Worlds Collide” to offer some science fiction fun with a tasty couple of “Hollywood Endings” along the way.

“When Worlds Collide” can be streamed on MGM+, Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Sling TV, the Roku Channel, Philo, Apple TV, and Vudu.

Rating - *** Worth A Look (But Only Barely)

Oh, the breathless voiceover!

The Magnificent Seven...Minus Four

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I Surprise My Self!

The Three Amigos (1986) - Three out of work silent movie stars agree to do an appearance in a small Mexican village. It turns out to be a different kind of appearance than they usually make.

Director – John Landis

Starring – Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Patrice Martinez, Jon Lovitz, Joe Mantegna

Why I Liked It – In the midst of a torrent of sight gags are some warm and amusing moments.

Here’s a movie that I was certain I would not like. Right off the bat, I’m not a Chevy Chase fan. I will not deny the quality of his work on SNL, and I have enjoyed him, at times. At the top of that (very short) list is Ty Webb in “Caddyshack”. I can not stand him in any of the National Lampoon movies. Most of the characters look alike to me, smarmy, oblivious clowns. Plus, he does the same schtick, over and over. His “can’t eat/drink properly” gag shows up here, too. I haven’t seen his entire body of work, so it is possible that there are classic performances that might turn me around. But based on what I’ve seen, it seems unlikely. Chase’s reputation as being a PITA to work with doesn’t help.

I have a similar but more muted reaction to Martin Short. There’s too much “Ed Grimsby” in a lot of his characters. That’s unfortunate, because Short has shown he can do other things. In this movie, it’s Short’s character who turns into the “action hero” for the final confrontations. He’s also done well with the over the top character he plays on “Only Murders in the Building” (also with Martin).

I didn’t like Steve Martin when he broke out as a comedy star back in the “Let’s Get Small” days. I know, I know, looking back now, I “get” the material much more than I did as a nineteen-year-old. Since then, he has impressed me with the breadth of his work.

So, the stars were-one guy I liked, one guy who was OK, and one who I didn’t care for. All in another example of what I’ve called “moron humor” before. That’s a comedy where we laugh at the main characters because they’re morons. It’s got a long history and is very popular with large portions of the audience. I have about a five-minute tolerance for it. So, no, I didn’t think much of my chances of liking this movie.

It may surprise you as much as it surprised me - I enjoyed it. It’s not a great movie, but the performances by everyone (yes, including Chevy) were…fun. Steve Martin was the closest to his “usual” character, featuring a veneer of bravado over a core of foolishness and insecurity. Martin Short had one small Grimsby moment (watch for Ed’s distinctive dance style during the celebration scene), but his Ned Nederlander character probably had the firmest grip on who he was. It’s Ned who leads the Amigos into battle. Meanwhile Chevy Chase offered a low-key performance as the innocent, shallow Dusty Bottoms. The “I don’t know how to drink properly” gag shows up here, too. Ugh. I’m not sure who that appeals to beyond eight-year-old boys.

This movie is a bare bones plot that serves to connect an endless string of silliness and sight gags. Imagine “The Magnificent Seven” as done by the Three Stooges. Yet, it works. There is enough likable about the three main characters. The scenes in the Mexican village have a heart that I didn’t expect, and John Landis does a solid job directing all the madness along the way. There was plenty of eye-rolling by yours truly. And the second part of the movie, in Mexico, was better than the Hollywood sections. As wonderful as Joe Mantegna and Jon Lovitz are as the comic Hollywood big-wigs, there’s no straight-man in those scenes. Great comedy requires a straight-man. The scenes at the start just didn’t cut it for me.

But…

I watched it to the end. Overall, I enjoyed myself. The Three Amigos became characters I cared about.

What an utterly pleasant surprise.

You can stream “The Three Amigos” on Pluto, Tubi, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Vudu

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Save The Universe!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:40:00 +0000

And Get The Girl Too!

The Last Starfighter (1984), A misplaced video game recruits a teenage boy to defend the galaxy. Does he have the courage to accept the challenge?

Directed by Nick Castle

Starring Lance Guest, Robert Preston, Barbara Bosson, Dan O’Herlihy, Catherine Mary Stewart

Why I Liked It - Old fashioned, straight ahead space opera!

I always want to call “The Last Starfighter” a “B movie”, a low budget, quickly made film designed to turn around a quick profit. But in 1984 the fifteen million dollar budget of this movie was nothing to sneeze at. It stands at the dawn of the heavy use of computer graphics for major portions of the movie (along with the original “Tron”). In this case, CGI effects were created on a Cray supercomputer. It’s some of the regular effects (called “practical effects”, it means the stuff they actually built) and the acting that gives it a cheesy feel tome. The movie was trying to capture the “Aw, shucks” appeal of the Star Wars trilogy, but comes up just a shade short. But the game graphics were beyond anything of the day, and still look pretty good to my eyes. Sadly, game tech wasn't advanced enough at the time to create the game in real life.

What’s left is some silly fun with an agreeable and able cast. The cast is interesting because there are plenty of connections between this movie and the Star Trek universe. Wil Wheaton is just barely in this movie, lol! He had lines, but they ended up on the cutting room floor. So he is fully visible in a group scene early on when Alex’s (Guest) friends pull up in a pickup truck. He is standing behind someone in the last scene with Alex at the mobile home park. If you look, you’ll find him. Beyond that there’s Marc Alaimo, Barbara Bosson, Norman Snow, Geoffrey Blake, and Meg Wylie (who was in TOS as one of the Talosians). Not to be overlooked is a beloved star of stage and screen, Robert Preston. Best known for creating the role of Harold Hill in “The Music Man”, this was Preston’s last big screen project. He’s perfect as the galactic rascal Centauri.

Alex Rogan is stuck in the trailer park that his mother manages. She works another job, so he’s the person on call when things go wrong. His dream is to get away and go to college. He’s got a pesky little brother, and a pretty girlfriend, Maggie (Stewart). While he waits for his life to change, he plays an arcade video game called “The Last Starfighter”. It’s his refuge from a life he hates. One night, he finally beats all the enemies for a perfect score. That’s where his life gets really interesting. A strange man who calls himself Centauri shows up in a strange car and offers the chance for a great adventure. Before Alex has the chance to change his mind, he’s off to the planet Rylos. What waits for him there goes from bad to worse. The story is off and running.

You won’t be surprised by a single thing in this movie. It’s silly, predictable fun. Sometimes that’s all you really want.

You can stream “The Last Starfighter” on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Proof That You Can't Turn Back Time

noreply@blogger.com (The View From The Phlipside) — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 17:10:00 +0000

It Creaks A Bit, But At The End It's Just Right

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny (2023) - An aging Indy is drawn back into the hunt for the Dial of Archimedes. Reuniting the missing piece with the one in Indy's possession may change the past forever.

Directed by James Mangold

Starring Harrison Ford, Mads Mikellsen, John Rhys-Davies, Phoebe Waller-Bridges, Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen

Why I Liked It - A solid effort with the perfect ending.

I approached this latest installment with a certain skepticism. Harrison Ford is getting too old for these kinds of action films. The last installment was barely OK (although only the second worst in my opinion), and there’s always the question of the female lead.

Let me just leap into this last topic with both feet. Not bringing back Marion Ravenwood after the first movie is one of the biggest blunders in the series, IMO. Legend has it that George Lucas thought it would be cooler if Indy had his own series of “Bond Girls”. If true, it ranks high on Lucas’s list of bonehead moves. “Temple of Doom” is the worst movie of the franchise, and it is in large part (though not exclusively) because of Kate Capshaw as Willie Scott. There is ZERO chemistry between the characters, and Scott is an ongoing shrill annoyance for the entire time she’s on screen. The character lacks the charisma and confidence that Marion exudes from the very first moment she hits the screen. The Nazi Valkyrie, Elsa Schneider (Allison Doody), is a cardboard cut-out, and I had to go back and look up who was the female lead in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. Yes, Marion appears in this one too, but it’s such a mess of a movie, and Cate Blanchett is much more the female lead. Here, it’s Phoebe Waller-Bridges who gets the unenviable slot as the latest “Indy Girl”. As she reminded me more of Belloq (Paul Freeman) in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, than Indy’s latest sidekick, Basil Shaw (Toby Jones), I’m afraid I never warmed to her.

Sigh.

Like the Dr. Strange movie I reviewed a while back, this feels like a checklist movie. It feels like the script writers received a list of iconic references from the franchise that all had to be included in this script. The snakes, the skeletons, Sallah, the blood of Kali, blah, blah, blah. They feel tacked on to me, although I welcomed the return of Sallah. He’s one of the best characters in the franchise. Rather than let the final Ford led entry to the legend stand on its own, it’s peppered with tributes to everything that went before. Surely, there were better ways to integrate them into the story. You could cut the tedious (and utterly ridiculous) chase between the high-powered sedan and the tuk-tuk by half and given yourself the time to do it right.

Having said all this, the story was comfortable. It came with the necessary touches. Ford does well enough in the action parts, and the opening CGI “young Indy” segments were not terrible. Credit where credit is due, some of those parts were very good. Best of all was the ending. As with so many parts of the script, they emphasized the wrong parts and didn’t give enough time to the really important bits. But my last memory of this movie will be a happy one.

“I heard you were back. Are you back?”

I have no idea what comes next, if anything, for this franchise. But, it provided a coda to this portion of Indiana Jones’ legend that is sufficient unto the day.

You can stream “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” on Disney+

Rating - *** Worth A Look

It's A Jungle In There

noreply@blogger.com (The View From The Phlipside) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 20:52:00 +0000

Are You Playing The Game, Or Is It Playing You?

Jumanji (1995) – An ancient game emerges from hiding in 1960s suburban America. It brings with it both chaos, and a chance to change the lives of its players.

Directed by Joe Johnston

Starring – Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth

Why I Liked It – an excellent blend of humor and scariness!

What a great surprise this one turned out to be. I had it in my mind that I’d seen this one before, but I was thinking of 2005’s “Zathura”, which is set in the same fictional universe, based on books by the same author. Right off the bat, it’s Robin Williams’ name on the cast list that grabs me. This is a careful, disciplined performance by Williams. He knew this movie would not benefit from his common freestyle ad-libbing, and still gives a wonderful performance.

Jumangi is a magical board game with a mind of its own. We see it first in 1869, when its powerful magic frightens two young men enough that they bury the game in a forest. A century later, that area is being developed and the game is revealed to a teen named Alan Parish. When Alan and his crush, Sarah, start playing the game, it pulls Alan into the wild jungle world of Jumanji. Alan remains trapped there for 26 years. The town thinks his father killed him and the family is destroyed. Flash ahead twenty-six more years and brother and sister Peter and Judy hear the Jumanji drums, and become the latest players of the game. While they will try to free Alan, there are challenges and horrors awaiting them all before they can finish the game.

It’s interesting that they marketed this movie as a “family film”. I would not recommend it for younger kids, because several of the sequences in the game are a little scary. Williams wouldn’t let his own children watch the film at its release. With that to one side, this is a movie that holds up very well. The cast is solid with veterans Williams, Neuwirth, Hunt, and David Allen Greer, creating a quality core to which young Dunst, Pierce, and Adam Hann-Byrd bring just the right energy. While a little dated, the effects are very good, with the NOTABLE exception of the monkeys. It’s a children’s game based on a children’s book, and the movie is true to its roots. Jumanji is children’s adventure story that curdles around the edges into some horror.

The latest version of the movie, 2017’s “Jumanji-Welcome to The Jungle” updates the concept (it’s a video game now) and leans more in the comedy direction. I’ve seen it, though I didn’t review it. I enjoyed both movies a great deal, but they are very different beasts.

In the end, the only way to win is to finish the game.

You can stream “Jumanji” as part of your subscription to Amazon Prime, and Sling, or for a small fee on Google Play, Apple, YouTube and Vudu.

Rating - **** Recommended

Brothers and Bicycles

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Or How To Kill Your Brother By Riding Up A Mountain!

American Flyers (1985) - Two brothers share two things-a love of bicycle racing and the possibility that what killed their father might kill them as well. Despite their conflict filled family history, the brothers decide to band together for one last race. A race that will take them to the edge of their physical and mental endurance.

Directed by John Badham

Starring Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul

Why I Liked It - A sweet story of brothers and bicycles.

Here’s a great way to begin the new year! Two of my favorite activities all at the same time. Watching movies and riding bikes! There aren’t a lot of bicycling movies, and outside of 1979’s “Breaking Away”, most people couldn’t name another. When I went looking for lists, I was amused to see people listing the classic Italian film “The Bicycle Thief”. Yes, it’s about bicycles, but not about bicycling. “American Flyers” was one of the final shipment from the Netflix DVD service. It’s been sitting on top of my DVD player waiting for me to end my period of mourning for that departed movie source. Looking at the cast list (all of the above PLUS Jennifer Gray, John Amos, and Robert Townsend), it intrigued me. Director John Badham’s career has a huge resume of solid work, including “Saturday Night Fever”, “Short Circuit”, and, a personal favorite, “War Games”. Most of the cast, except for Amos, were just at the cusp of fame. Costner had been in the off-beat western “Silverado” that same year. His career would take off in 1987. Jennifer Gray was one year away from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and two from “Dirty Dancing”. Rae Dawn Chong had gotten some notice in “Quest For Fire” in 1981, but would get a lift on the launching of the Arnold Schwarzenegger stardom rocket with “Commando” later in 1985.

So, with all that going for it, why is “American Flyers” such a weak movie?

The first culprit is the script, which is really curious given that Steve Tesich also wrote the script for “Breaking Away”! In the first half of the movie, the dialogue is awkward and lacks any flow. The basic story itself is simple and cliche. I knew the “twist” at the end before thirty minutes of the movie had gone by. Costner is by far the best performer here, but the script leaves him with an underdeveloped character prone to mood swings without foundations. He plays the older brother (Marcus) who resents his mother because she abandoned his father during his terminal illness. She couldn’t face the pain, and ran away to hide. Which is exactly what Marcus did as well. He is the high achiever in the family. David (Grant) is the laid back bike bum, who takes long rides filled with fantasy racing and eastern philosophy. He’s protective of his mother (who is a highly successful businesswoman), and spoiled by her. Marcus is mad at everyone because they don’t act the way he does. It’s both uncomfortable and predictable.

Once the racing portion of the story arrives, the movie improves. Hippy hitchhiker Becky (Paul) is cute and funny and a lift to the whole thing. Chong’s character, Sarah, is predictable as Marcus’ assistant, and ex-wife of his former racing teammate and friend. Insert the usual story-line tensions here. I’m not a racer, just a fan, but there are parts of the racing stuff that left me scratching my head. Kudos to Rae Dawn Chong for her on-camera rear wheel change that takes about ten seconds. She pulled it off to perfection. The only thing that is worse than what I’ve already listed is how the dreaded medical issue is handled. I’ve had a brain aneurysm. How they handle it must drive every doctor on the planet screaming away from the screen. They do everything wrong. Everything.

Out of all the pieces of the movie, it is the relationship between Marcus and David that saves the rest. The dialogue gets a little better, the scenery is spectacular, and the racing scenes are exciting even when they are suspect. Costner and Grant work nicely off each other, and that turns out to be enough to keep me watching.

As a cyclist, you don’t get a lot of movies to choose from, so you make the compromises you need to make. “American Flyers” is just good enough, like the ride where you never hit your zone, but you get the miles in.

You can watch "American Flyers" for free on Roku and Tubi, and for a small fee on YouTube, Apple, Google, Vudu, and Amazon.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Jumbling Things Around

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:44:00 +0000

Time To Mess Things Up Again

It's a new year and I'm feeling that itch to re-arrange the furniture again. After some research, I'm moving the movie reviews to Saturday, mid-day. It seems that's a good time, and honestly, it feels more logical. They were on Fridays at the end of the day for a long time, and have been on Mondays at the end of the (work) day for a while. I'm not sure that gives a reader the best chance to explore the review, and figure out where to find the movie if they want. So, get your Saturday morning chores or whatever done, then sit down and have a look at a possible movie choice for the weekend.

There are other additions coming, some of which will just me rambling about other stuff I enjoy. Those will be spread out during the week.

Just wanted anyone who might vaguely be a "regular" know what's up.

Hope you have a great new year!

Santa Conquers Creepiness!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:32:00 +0000

The Uncanny Christmas Valley

The Polar Express (2004) – A boy who with doubts about the existence of Santa goes on a magical train trip to the North Pole.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Starring – Tom Hanks, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari

Why I Liked It – A Christmas movie that understands what Christmas is about.

Let’s get the biggest issue with this movie out of the way. There is a major flaw in “The Polar Express”. From its first moment on the screen in 2004, people have pointed out the “creepiness” of the animation. This is the first feature film that used full digital capture for the cast. That’s the process where the actors work against a green screen while their images and movements are digitized. They overlay another character's look on top of the actors. My issue (and many, many others) is that the final effect is a little disturbing. The term you will hear in discussions like this is “uncanny valley”. It describes the feeling when something is supposed to look real, but comes up short. The resulting feeling is one of, well, creepiness.

Once you put that behind you, there is a wonderful story here. Most of the characters do not have names in the movie, so I’ll follow the naming convention I’ve run into in my research. Hero Boy is a young man who has begun to doubt Santa’s reality. Worse yet, he’s teasing his younger sister about her belief. On Christmas Eve, he’s awoken by the sound of a train outside his window. The Polar Express gathers children for a trip to Santa's village at the North Pole, where they will choose one of them to receive the first present on Christmas Day. Hero Boy has reservations about this, but the Conductor (one of seven roles played/voiced by Tom Hanks) convinces him to climb on board. There he meets Hero Girl (Gaye), and Billy (the only character with a personal name). She is a natural leader, while Billy is shy and tells everyone that Christmas never works out for him. Together, with the help of the mysterious “Hobo” (Hanks) who rides on top of the train, they will discover more about the Christmas spirit.

Visually, this is still an amazing movie. Everything around the people is glorious. The train taking some rollercoaster class hills must have been amazing on the big screen. The train itself, the snow, the beauty of the North Pole and the central square (with sky-diving elves!), are all wonderful. Watching each of the children, even the “Know-It-All” kid (Deezen), grow and find their personal goals is a great story of the season.

You can stream “The Polar Express” on

Rating - **** Recommended

Elves Are Terrible Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:09:00 +0000

Oh, That Throne of Lies!

Elf (2003) – A human baby is adopted by Santa’s elves. When the time comes, they send Buddy back to find his human father in New York City.

Directed by Jon Favreau

Starring – Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner

Why I Liked It: A heartwarming ending saves a dopey beginning.

This is a “tale of two movies” review for me. There’s a kind of dumb movie, and there’s a wonderful, heartwarming Christmas movie here.

Here’s another Christmas movie that starts with the main character being treated poorly. Yes, I know Santa and the elves adopted Buddy (Ferrell) as a foundling and raised him as one of their own. There was still some bullying that goes on, especially as Buddy arrives at his full human height (Ferrell is 6’3”). My real issue with being mean to Buddy happens when the North Pole crew decides it’s time for him to find his real family. It appears that elves are the worst parents on the planet. Buddy has the mental and emotional maturity of a four-year-old. The elves around him seem to have properly matured, but Buddy is a child. Is this a developmental issue, psychological challenge? Whatever it is, Buddy barely functions in the elven community. What genius sends this person into the human world? No preparation, no escort, no help waiting at the other end. This is child abuse (and yes, I know Buddy is at least 30 years old physically. He’s a child mentally.) Thus, much of what happens to him next is less than charming to me. I feel bad for him. Santa and his minions have set Buddy up for colossal failure. Which is how he ends up in jail.

The first half of the movie is one over the top Will Ferrell gag after another. Which will be gold for the fans of that kind of comedy. I’m not a member of that club. I call it “idiot” or “moron” humor. Don’t get offended, that’s not describing the viewer. The point of the humor is laughing at how stupid the main character(s) are. There’s a long history of this kind of humor, much of which I enjoy. The modern interpretation is too far over the top for my tastes. YMMV. It made the first half of the movie tedious and took away from the potentially interesting relationships. Most especially between Buddy and Jovi (Deschanel). There’s a serious creepiness factor in their history that just gets swept to one side. Same goes for the pivotal change in Walter’s attitude (Buddy’s father, played by James Caan). There’s no development, it just, poof, happens.

Once Buddy connects with his half-brother, Michael (Daniel Tay), a very different movie begins. The emotional connection here both makes sense and feels “real”. “Elf” keeps enough of its silliness to be fun, while giving us something that’s more about the elusive “real spirit of Christmas”. I’ve watched this movie once before, some twenty years ago. The movie pleasantly surprised me, I remember. It was better than I’d expected. Flash forward two decades, and I’m watching the first half of the movie wondering what I’d been drinking all those years before. But the second half is so much better a movie, that I understand coming away with a positive feeling about it. It’s unfortunate that Mary Steenburgen gets so little screen time, and that James Caan gets a neck-snapping change of heart overall. I want to note one over-the-top story segment that I absolutely enjoyed. The entire “Call me elf one more time” section with Peter Dinklage was pure gold.

You can stream Elf – Hulu, Max, Philo, Amazon Prime, Apple+, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube

This one gets listed as a “classic” and “one of the best Christmas movies of all time”. I can’t buy into either of those assessments. There are too many lame moments, and unsupported character changes for me. On the other hand, there is more than enough here to make this a regular part of your Christmas viewing.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

The Movie Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:12:00 +0000

You Bring The Popcorn

Time for the annual summation of the movie watching here at the Phlipside. There was a bit of a surprise waiting when I totaled the numbers. Almost half of this year’s movies ranked in the top two categories. I’m not sure that’s ever happened before.

So here are the raw numbers:

43 total movies (excluding the Christmas movies), five of them made the highest level (5 stars), while a whopping 14 made four-star status. Six movies fell to the two-star level and only one descended to the very bottom.

So, a quick look in reverse order, with my Top Nine at the end.

The sole one star movie was the fabulously awful “Llamageddon”. This move is both a technical mess and lacks the charm of movies like “The Room” or “Plan 9 From Outer Space” to become classic cult movies. I must admit, there is a tiny little llama shaped soft spot for this movie. It is ABSOLUTELY awful, but that alone makes it special. Watch at your own risk.

At the two star level, I found two movies based on stories by one of my favorite authors, Ernest Hemingway. Both “A Farewell to Arms” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” let the original material down. “Split Second” was a garbage, low-budget dystopian future (set in 2008!), “The Electric Life of Louis Wain” failed to make the main character appealing despite having Benedict Cumberbatch in the role, “They Might Be Giants” is one of the dumbest Sherlock Holmes spinoffs I’ve ever seen. Last, but certainly not least, was the huge disappointment of “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh”. Set in my beloved home city, based on a bestseller by Michael Chabon, the movie was slow, dull and lacked any appreciation of the people or the city.

With those out of the way, that brings me to my Top Nine movies of the year. With only four slots open after the five star ratings taking up most of the space, it was tough. There are movies that I LOVED that got bumped like “A Man Called Otto”. Three of the potential titles were quick eliminations – “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” was amazing, but not a movie I’m likely to watch again. The same goes for “1917”, and “Solo – A Star Wars Story”. The second title did what it was asked to do and did it well. But I don’t see going back to it. On the other hand, I watch “Armageddon” every other year or so. If I catch it streaming, I’ll stop to watch it. I’m well aware of the shortcomings of the movie, but again, it is exactly what the movie studio wanted it to be. Five titles down, five more to go. The next five all missed the list by the tiniest amounts. Those were “Dark Victory”, “Honky Tonk Man”, “House On The River”, “Shop Around the Corner”, and “Going My Way”. Any of these movies are well worth your time to watch.

But that gets us down to the final nine titles. Two of the remaining four star movies are newer, one of them is more than five decades old.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a stunning movie, unlike anything that comes quickly to mind. Two brilliant performances stand at the center of the claustrophobic story of two men trapped in a strange relationship. You’ll find it on many lists of the best movies of the 21st century so far. No argument from me.

Less known is “Get Low” from 2009. Based loosely on a real person, Robert Duvall is reason enough to watch this mix of mystery, redemption and death. Really amazing little picture.

Jumping back into the last century, we find “Life Is Sweet” which lives up to the title. The story of a working class family in London, trying to find their way through hard times. It’s sweet, and funny, and (again) not like most other movies.

Last on this part of the list, but first in my heart, is “Play Misty For Me”. An essential Clint Eastwood movie that allowed the actor to move into new directions on the screen and into directing. Radio has changed a lot since those days, but it still speaks to the DJ in my heart.

That gives us a drama, a comedy/horror, a comedy/drama, and a classic slasher movie. On to the best of the year!

“Hoop Dreams” stands out because it’s a documentary. Often slotted as the best documentary of all time, the journey of two young men pursuing a dream of basketball glory is enthralling.

There are two “classics” on the list this year. “12 Angry Men” is still an amazing ensemble performance, with Henry Fonda leading an incredible cast. Trapped in a single room, they hold a young man’s life in their hands. Meanwhile, “You Can’t Take It With You” traps the decidedly different Sycamore family in their home as they combat big industry and find love in a brilliant Frank Capra comedy.

I hadn’t seen “Amadeus” in years, but remembered that I enjoyed it. In fact, the semi-historical/semi-fantasy vision of the life of the classical music genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is almost beyond words. Tom Hulce and R. Murray Abraham are brilliant, and the music is sublime.

There was one movie this year that took me by surprise at a level that was a surprise itself. I knew nothing about “Two-Lane Blacktop” before watching it. With two music legends in the lead roles, I went into the movie with low expectations. But James Taylor and Dennis Wilson were letter perfect as the obsessed road racers. An amazing movie that has not gotten the kind of notice it deserves over the years.

Looking back, it was an amazing year for movies. I felt like I got back into my groove, and along the way discovered so many wonderful titles.

I can hardly wait to see what’s waiting for me in 2024!

Santa Sci-Fi!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 20:36:00 +0000

Something Delightfully Dumb For Christmas!

Santa Conquers The Martians (1964) - Mars decides their children need Santa! So the come to Earth to kidnap him!

Directed by Nicholas Webster

Starring - John Call, Leonard Hicks, Vincent Beck, Pia Zadora (movie debut)

Why I Liked It - Some trashy, campy, low budget Christmas fun!

Let's get the low hanging fruit out of the way. This is a TERRIBLE movie. I mean, really, truly BAD. The script is awful, the sets are worse. The robot looks like a Halloween costume built by a 4th grader. My favorite part is the "Radar Box". Inside this box are the instruments of the Martian's radar cloaking device that hides them from Earth's equipment. You know it's the Radar Box because those words are stenciled on the side of the box. A box that is big enough to hide a full grown Martian/Human (or two small human children). Apparently, all that high tech equipment takes up very little space in the very large box!

The costumes aren't any better. Martian fashions lean heavily on superhero style capes. Oh, and flexible gas pipe, like used for an oven or water heater, attached to their helmets. Which have antennae. For no apparent reason.

But there's something charming here. It took me a while to figure out but here's my theory. The actors are, in fact, actors. Professional stage actors who had worked on Broadway shows prior to the four day shoot. Yes, this movie was shot entirely in four days. The cast has a solid concept to work with (Mars needs Santa) and that's usually enough for any even modestly talented actor. They can't sell everything, but they are committed to the roles and that makes the movie bearable.

If I based my rating strictly on the movie making aspects (script, sets, direction), this would get a one or two. But with the saving grace of minimal acting, and not much beyond that low bar, I'll squeeze it up to a very low three. If you decide to add this to your movie schedule this year, go in with an open mind and a willingness to play along with the silliness.

You can stream the movie for free on YouTube, Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Vudu, and Plex.

Rating *** Worth A Look (But Only Just Barely)

A Christmas Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:02:00 +0000

That The Critics Have All Wrong

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1964) – The iconic characters from Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” comic strip come together for a Christmas Pageant. Charlie Brown struggles with his feelings about the holiday, and his role as director of the holiday play.

Directed by Bill Melendez

Starring Charlie Brown, Linus Van Pelt, Lucy Van Pelt, Schroeder, Sally Brown, Snoopy

Why I Like It – A childhood treasure that is still fabulous today. And the music!

Mr. Magoo may have led the way with an animated Christmas special a couple years before, but nothing has topped this classic. While there has been some recent criticism of the show (see below), this remains a must-see part of the Christmas season for millions of people. It reminds us of what is important at this time of year. It’s an easy, if not really simple, walk through the minefields of the holiday.

Charlie Brown finds the world to be a challenge. He doesn’t feel like he has any friends (but he does), that he doesn’t fit in, and that he can never win. Given his experience with kites, footballs, and baseball, he might have a point about that last one. When Christmas rolls around, Charlie doesn’t know how to feel. Everyone seems to know what the season is about but he just feels lost. A visit with the local “doctor” (Lucy) doesn’t help, and neither does getting roped into being the director of the Christmas play. His attempt to find the perfect Christmas tree comes up short with the other children as well.

The tree is the pinnacle of the meanness from the other children that is criticized these days. I think folks overlook one of the dominant features of Charlie Brown’s character. Through it all, Charlie Brown never gives up. He faces defeat after defeat, insult after insult, but he keeps coming back. For all of his sad sack approach to the world, Charlie Brown is a resolute optimist. He knows the kite will fly, that he’ll boot that football to the moon, that his baseball team will win. That same optimism is brought to the tree he picks. It’s sad too, but he knows it’s the right choice. Does he have a moment of doubt at his lowest point? Of course, the hero must always face an ordeal. From that ordeal, he will rise again. A story without conflict isn’t one that will stand the test of time. The “Peanuts” gang may be children on the page or screen, but they bring adult questions and answers for us to consider.

The questions Charlie Brown has about Christmas are ones that many people face. He shows us all a way forward, through the help of his friends. Schultz’s deep religious background is one display, but never overwhelms the story. In fact, it’s held in a single scene, when Linus answers Charlie Brown’s question about Christmas. The rest is an examination of the commercialization of the holiday, and the shallow traditions that grew up around it.

I can’t review this without a nod to the music. There is no more important Christmas music in the world for me than the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s legendary score. That’s the first music I play at my house on Christmas morning.

It’s warm, even gentle in its own way. Optimistic in a season that is all about that emotion.

For me, it isn’t Christmas without Charlie Brown.

Rating - ***** Highest Recommendation

The Bikini That Almost Saved Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:56:00 +0000

Except Nothing Can Save This

Christmas With the Kranks (2004) – When Luther (Allen) and Norah (Curtis) Krank discover they will be empty nesters at Christmas for the first time, Luther suggests just skipping the entire Christmas season. This results in a major conflict with his neighbors.

Directed by Joe Roth

Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, M. Emmet Walsh, Cheech Marin

Why I Liked It – Jamie Lee Curtis in a bikini.

No point in sugar coating what is to follow. This is easily the worst Christmas movie I’ve watched in years. Despite a cast of talented performers, what you get is a muddled mess. There’s a feeling of some Scrooge-like redemption story here with Luther Krank, but his transformation comes abruptly with no obvious cause. He’s called Scrooge a couple times with a few “Humbugs” thrown in, but there’s no development of the iconic storyline. The basic story is that anyone who steps away from the communal, gaudy, materialistic, consumerist version of Christmas is to be punished until they conform. All Luther wants to do is not have to spend thousands of dollars on stuff he doesn’t care about, and instead spend it on a romantic ten-day cruise with his wife.

I know, horrors, right?

The reaction of the neighbors and local merchants is outrage. They gather, like the villagers from a monster movie, on the front doorstep of the Kranks’ home demanding money, conformity, and, never to be forgotten, Frosty the Snowman. It just keeps getting worse. Christmas carolers (from a local church!) agree to become part of the campaign against this outrage, but then sing no real Christmas carols. Dan Akroyd’s character is the unofficial “mayor” of the street, whose primary role is keeping people focused on their Christmastime dystopia. There are some gratuitous cat abuse gags, and a Frosty with unexplained glowing eyes. There’s some kind of evil/vengeful thing going on here, I assume, because Luther doesn’t want to install Frosty on the roof.

It’s all idiotic.

It’s one slapstick gag after another (none of which are done as well as “Home Alone” did theirs), and a cast of quality character actors with nothing but nonsense to do. Worst of all is how Jamie Lee Curtis is wasted here. (Transparency note – I have had a HUGE crush on Jamie Lee Curtis for decades) Norah is a squealing school girl of a woman, who hides under a blanket when her neighbors come to the door for Frosty. No idea if she had fun making the movie, but as a fan,for I’m embarrassed for her. As noted above, the highlight of the movie for me is seeing her in a bikini. Which is pretty sad in a Christmas movie.

The ending is ridiculous as well. There’s an unexplained Santa storyline, an artificial happy ending that has no foundation for what happens before. Similar to "Home Alone," the movie's first ten minutes are filled with people being nasty. Bizarrely, one scene with Luther uses the cheery LeRoy Anderson composition “The Typewriter”. There is a random scene involving Botox. Equally bizarre is that this is an adaptation of a story by bestselling legal thriller author John Grisham. I’ve read a lot of Grisham, and this movie is as un-Grisham-like as I can imagine.

Rating - ** Not Impressed

An OK Christmas Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:26:00 +0000

The One Where I Ruin Some People's Christmas

Home Alone (1990) – In the chaos of trying to get two families ready for a Christmas trip to Paris, Kevin gets lost in the shuffle. While his family struggles to get back home, Kevin lives like a king, including the need to defend his home against invaders.

Directed by Chris Columbus

Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara

Why I Liked It – In bursts, it’s brilliant.

Oh, some of you are about to get really mad at me! This movie shows up with regularity as one of the great modern Christmas movies. It’s a classic according to many fans. Blah, blah, blah.

For me?

It’s just OK.

Grab your pitchfork, light the brands, label me the Grinch, I stand by the assessment. It feels like two different movies are trapped together in this script. One is a classic, heart warming story of Christmas, redemption, and love. The other is a slapstick comedy. Some sections of each story are wonderful. But the rest? It never hits the mark for me.

Let’s start with the beginning of the movie. I hope that no fan of “Home Alone” has ever criticized “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for the mean-spirited way the main characters are treated by family and friends. Because both of those shows look like “It’s A Wonderful Life” in comparison to Kevin’s family here. I watched the first ten minutes or so thinking “I thought this was a comedy”. The McCallister extended family are vicious, and the action hinges on one of those pieces of awfulness when Kevin is sent to the attic for “misbehavior”. They then appear to perform ONE check that all the kids are with them (there are 11!), then leave them unattended in Economy while the adults drink champagne in First Class. In fact, Kevin may be the only decent person in the family (his parents are inattentive at worst, I’ll grant that. His uncle should be banned from polite society). His siblings and cousins are caricatures here of brats. Arguably, the BEST thing that happens to Kevin is his nasty family leaves him alone to enjoy life for a few days.

Kevin at home could have been the heart of the warm, cheery version of the story. He discovers the sting of aftershave, sings a little song or two, faces down the evils of the basement, goes shopping. Caulkin is charming here, but the story isn’t going anywhere. It’s just filling time till the slapstick takes over.

With Pesci and Stern playing the burglars trying to rob the McCallister home, you’ve got a great set up for the mayhem to come. The script wastes time with an extended recon of the house that delays the part most fans are waiting for, the master class in strategy the eight-year-old hero has for the bad guys. That whole section is slapstick classic humor. The two adults are brilliant and you can help but root for the young defender. The problem is that the war descends into some pretty nasty stuff at times. I don’t think it ever goes over the edge, but there’s a fair amount of time spent peering over that edge.

The story line with the reclusive neighbor gets the barest of nods. It’s too bad, Roberts Blossom is wonderful, per usual. It looks and feels like a throw in, feel good subplot that neither the script nor the director was really committed to. It would have made a brilliant coda in the warm and fuzzy version of the story.

When the credits rolled, I struggled to come up with a way to summarize the movie. I came up with this: It’s a Frank Capra meets the Three Stooges movie. Sadly, it would have been so much better as one or the other.

“Home Alone” was the highest grossing domestic movie of the year. You can stream it on Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Starz, Sling TV, Philo, YouTube TV

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Ah, Magoo, You've Done It Again

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Rediscovering A Childhood Favorite

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) – The near-sighted cartoon character is on Broadway playing Ebenezer Scrooge in this musical version of the Christmas classic.

Directed by Abe Levitow

Starring – Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy, Royal Dano, Paul Frees, Joan Gardner

Why I Liked It – A childhood favorite!

Season favorites like “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are on most people’s watch list this time of year. Both of them followed in the footsteps of this one, but its been forgotten to a large degree. That’s unfortunate. My bet is that for many people in the late Baby Boomer (Jones Generation) group, this might well be our first experience of the Dickens classic. I don’t know that I would have watched it at age four in 1962, but it certainly would have been on the family television in the next couple years.

As with anything that you haven’t seen in a long time, there were some Mandala Effect moments. The biggest one for me was the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This version was my “scariest” version for many years. In my memory, the character is in black. It’s red in the version I saw. I also have no memories that this is set as a stage production with the oblivious Quincy Magoo as the star. Other than the opening song, and the closing scene where the director gets squashed by the scenery collapse caused by his star, it plays no important role in the rest of the special. I’m wondering if those bits were edited out at a later date, and I’m remembering the edited version. There was one song that I realized came from this special and had integrated deep within my memory. Tiny Tim is fascinated with something called “razzleberry dressing”, and that’s a phrase I have used all my life. I had forgotten where it came from. Honestly, if you’d pressed me on it, I would have said it was from Dr. Seuss. It sounds like something from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.

As I mentioned before, this was the first of the network holiday animated specials. Rudolph arrived two years later, Charlie Brown three years later, and the Grinch four years later. All of them “stuck” but somehow Mr. Magoo got left at the wayside. That’s puzzling since it is the first animated version of the Dickens story, and has been available on home media for decades. The distribution rights are currently the property of NBCUniversal Television. There have been versions aired on a variety of cable channels, but it has never gotten a spot in the annual holiday rotation.

Here’s a version of the greatest Christmas classic that stays true to the spirit of the original. Well worth adding to the list.

You can stream the movie for “free” with a Peacock subscription. It’s available as a rental on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play Movies, and Redbox.

Rating - ***** Highest Recommendation

Adding To My Christmas List

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:30:00 +0000

So Much Christmas To Enjoy!

I’ve decided to do some exploring in the Christmas media world this year. Over the last couple of decades, I’ve talked about my favorite, gotta-see Christmas stories. In reality, I almost never watch anything else. And there is a lot to watch! So, besides the usual suspects, I’m looking at expanding my list. The list of commonly raved about Christmas movies alone that I’ve never seen is longer than Santa’s naughty list. So I’ll keep myself busy. My goal is to add at least 3 new entries per week. I’d love to say I will watch something every day between now and Christmas, but I know that won’t happen. My hope is that three will be do-able. If I add even a few new items to my watched list (and maybe they even make my favorites list), it will be a great adventure.

I’ll get this rolling on December 1^st, with a Christmas special I loved as a child but haven’t seen in decades!

Peace!

False Hopes and Broken Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Played For The Dream or By The Dream?

Hoop Dreams (1994)- Two young men from inner city Chicago chase a dream of professional basketball as they play for two different high schools. The different expectations from coaches, family and the players themselves show all the hurdles they face.

Directed by Steve James

Starring Arthur Agee, William Gates.

Why I Liked It – Classic documentary that doesn’t soften the situation it’s documenting.

I want to explain why this movie was a bit of a reach for me. I am NOT a basketball fan. Not high school, college or the pros. A large part of that is growing up outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There’s not a lot of hoops culture there. You won’t find a great college basketball tradition in the city, and the last pro team was in the ABA, the Pittsburgh Condors. Southwestern Pennsylvania was all about football and baseball in the years I grew up. With that as background, I’m not sure what made me start this movie. Once the movie started, I was hooked.

I love a good documentary, and this one is regarded as one of the best ever. When it didn’t get a nomination for an Oscar, despite rave reviews, it resulted in major changes in the nominating process for the category. If you want to be appalled, read about the controversy over “Hoop Dreams”. It literally involved flashlights! Amazing.

In the meantime, this documentary walks through the absurd process of high school basketball and the fairy tales that are sold to player and family. I did a quick look at the number of slots in the NBA for players. In the off-season, teams can carry 20 players on the roster, during the season the maximum is 15. So, somewhere between 450 and 600 jobs at the highest level. If we’re honest, the jobs everyone wants are those 450. In the 2021/22 school year, there were just over 517,000 male high school basketball players. And that total was the lowest in years! Turning again to my calculator, that means there is ONE NBA slot for every 1,150 high school players (approximately). But we sell these kids on the idea that they have the talent level to get them into a new life. It will only be true for a tiny percentage.

The reality shown here is much grimmer. Arthur A gee and William Gates live in some of the toughest neighborhoods in the Windy City. Talented players, St. Joseph High School recruited them, a mostly white, suburban school with a good basketball team. This is where NBA great Isaiah Thomas played as a young man. It seems like a dream come true. But this dream sends each of them in different directions. Gates thrives there, but financial problems at home pushes Agee back into his local public school. Each will face their own challenges. Gates has repeated injuries to his knee, while Agee struggles with a variety of family and school issues. As graduation day approaches, Agee’s grades are an obstacle to getting a scholarship at a large school. Meanwhile, Gates has dozens of offers from big name programs.

While there is some familial pressure on playing the game, they are largely positives in the boy’s lives. It’s all the surrounding people that come off poorly here. Arthur gets booted from St. Joseph’s when his family can’t pay the tuition. The school looks bad for that move, but it gets worse when they hold Arthur’s transcript hostage in his senior year until they make the back payments up. St. Joseph’s coach is all buddy-buddy with both boys, but is a voice mostly of criticism. Even in William’s graduation “exit interview”, Coach Gene Pingatore spends most of his time telling the young man how he could have been better. Then, once William has left, shrugs and predicts he’ll have another recruit through the door at any moment. But, the coach isn’t alone in all this. The college coaches and tournament organizers aren’t any better. It’s a meat market and the “meat” has a four-year life span. You either help them win or there’s another recruit coming through the door. I understand that’s the nature of sports, but for high school kids to be treated that way sickens me.

By the end of the documentary, both young men win in their own ways. Agee sees a level of success in high school that Gates never gets, while Gates gets a good education at Marquette. Today, they co-host a podcast called Hoop Dreams The Podcast.

A gritty, enthralling look at some of the ugly sides of high school sports. “Hoop Dreams” still lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest documentaries of all time.

You can stream "Hoop Dreams" for free on YouTube, Tubi, Sling TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Plex, and Crackle.

Rating - ***** Highest Recommendation

The Mystery of How To Screw A Good Story Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Phillippi) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 21:30:00 +0000

I Always Want To Like Movies in Pittsburgh, But...

Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2008) – During the last summer before he graduates, Art Bechstein takes the easiest job he can find. While he’s there, things get complicated. A group of new friends takes his life into a new direction. A direction for which no one is prepared.

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller, Nick Nolte

Why I Liked It – Pittsburgh!

I’m still trying to figure out if there is someone in this movie I’m supposed to like. So far, no luck. Art is the main character, and he is a weak, directionless zero. Dominated by his powerful crime boss father, he lets everyone in his life push him around. Jane is a beautiful, talented, and intelligent young woman who has no center inside those traits. It truly appears she can only relate to the men in her life through sex. Whenever she tries anything else, it falls apart. Her boyfriend is Cleveland. I need to be honest here. I wanted to punch Cleveland in the face. Repeatedly. He’s an arrogant, manipulative jerk. He’s a user from the moment he gets out of bed in the morning until he collapses at the end of the day. Weak-willed people, like Art and Jane, fall easily under his sway. Neither of them can see it, even when he rubs their noses in it. They continue to throw themselves at him for his shallow impression of “love”. I was appalled to see Cleveland described elsewhere as “adventurous”. He is a classic narcissist.

All of that makes this a hard movie to like. It’s slow, it wanders. I never found a reason to be interested in the characters or what happens to them. In a few ways, it reminds me of “The Great Gatsby”. There you also find a central character without principles, another whose identity they form, and a beautiful young woman drifting along. She is more of an object than a person. The book is a fabulous piece of art about terrible people. This movie is a tepid and tedious slog about equally awful people. Which is too bad, as the original novel by Michael Chabon was a bestseller. Without the emotional connection to the characters, the ending is limp and uninspiring. We are supposed to be moved, shocked, and are left with "Is it done yet?"

Jon Foster is OK as Art. Peter Sarsgaard is fine as the odious Cleveland. They only asked Sienna Miller to be decorative and she does that, but brings nothing else to the role. Even Nick Nolte, in a classic Nolte role as the mobster father, barely raises the temperature here.

You can watch “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” on Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, and Freevee.

Rating - ** Not Impressed