AURORA: Freedom, Pain, Responsibility (July 20, 2012)

July 20, 2012

 It is a dark day for Americans.  The Aurora, Colorado theatre shooting is a horrifying reminder of the dark side to freedom.  The price we pay for living with few boundaries is that the best of us will sometimes cross paths with the worst of us.

Chances are good that I spend more time in movie theatres than you.  I have already been asked multiple times today if today’s violence will impact my movie going. The answer is a resounding ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Very few of us live our lives as hermits … locked away in a Safe Room or shelter. What makes our society so wonderful is our ability to hop in our car and head off to a sporting event, a musical production, a religious ceremony of our choice, a restaurant of our choosing, and even a grocery store with its endless supply of fresh produce.  Every morning, we pack our kids’ lunches and send them off to learn in a building with a few hundred or thousand other kids.  We do these things because we live in a society with freedom of movement and freedom of choice.  We trust the society will work as it is designed.

There is inherent risk in a free society.  We depend on others to do the right thing and make proper decisions.  The vast majority of us do.  Most of the time, this system of trust works beautifully. When it doesn’t, and some lunatic snatches our freedom in an instant, it frightens us beyond belief … sometimes crushing our spirit. We can’t believe the horror of another person making the decision to purposefully hurt others, for no apparent reason.

Inevitably, someone who knows this accused shooter, will state that something just didn’t seem “right” with him.  This is the responsibility we have to each other.  Your parents probably taught you to trust your “gut feeling” about people.  We owe it to each other to pay attention and do something when our internal alarm is alerted … or would you rather be the one on TV saying “I knew something wasn’t right about that guy.”?

The documentary filmmaker Michael Moore issued a statement today saying that “historians will look back on us and simply conclude that we were a violent nation”.  I for one, vehemently disagree with him.  We are a nation of citizens who sometimes forget the responsibility that comes with our freedom … a freedom that allows the rare lunatic amongst us to make a horrible decision that jolts and pains us.  We are also a resilient lot who will now pay a bit more attention to the guy who “just doesn’t seem right”.   So, yes, it is a dark day.  A very dark day. But know that each of us is responsible for bringing back the light.

3 Comments | Articles | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

2012 – FIRST HALF RECAP

July 13, 2012

Greetings again from the darkness. The halfway point of 2012 has just passed, so it’s time to take note of any significant movies released between January and June.  This mid-year analysis is an annual feature because it’s so easy for first half films to be forgotten once the 4th quarter Oscar marketing campaigns start rolling. 

Beginning in late 2010, the experts were calling 2012 the year of the blockbuster thanks to the inordinate number of big name franchises, and many of those tentpoles are finding some success at the box office.   Unfortunately, as we have learned many times through the years, a big budget does not guarantee a rewarding movie experience.   A perfect example is Disney’s John Carter, which is among the biggest box office flops in history.  Since my focus is not on tickets sold, let’s discuss which of these early-in-the-year movies are really worth seeing.

By leaps and bounds (sorry), The Avengers is the runaway success of the first half. Not only did it play to packed theatres, but director Joss Whedon assembled (sorry again) a nice cast and an interesting script, delivering a very impressive comic book all-star action fest.  The Hunger Games seemed to satisfy its huge (mostly teenage) fan base, while sci-fi lovers were split over Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.   We also had a duel between Snow White films with Kristen Stewart’s version being superior to Julia Roberts’ cackling wicked queen.

Actually, independent films provided a wealth of entertainment across a wide variety of genres, including Moonrise Kingdom, the latest gem from Wes Anderson, who is now a genre unto himself.  Fortunately, my hometown of Dallas has a few theatre options for indie films, and I take advantage as often as possible.  For those who miss the limited theatrical releases of these films, they make really nice evenings for Netflix, Redbox, cable or streaming.

The most enjoyable part of my first half movie-going this year has been the number of classic films that I have taken in on the big screen. In 6 months, I have been treated to theatrical showings of thirteen movie classics including The Godfather I and II, Cool Hand Luke, Double Indemnity, and Wings (from 1927, the first Best Picture winner).  Though it’s an unfair comparison, it does bring light to the fact that I sit through many “non-classics” each year in the never-ending hope that the next one might be an instant classic at the level of one of the true greats.

Here is a breakdown of the first half of 2012 (each category is in alphabetical order):

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

The Avengers (the best and most fun action movie)

The Intouchables (an engaging indie from France)

Marley (best documentary so far)

Moonrise Kingdom (a gem from Wes Anderson)

RECOMMENDED MAINSTREAM:

Dark Shadows, The Grey, The Hunger Games, Prometheus, Ted*

RECOMMENDED INDIES and/or WORLD CINEMA:

Bernie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Footnote (Israel), Headhunters (Norway), My Way (Korea), The Kid with a Bike (Belgium), Safety Not Guaranteed, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

CRINGE-INDUCING (not in a good way):

Carnage, Mirror Mirror, Rock of Ages, This Means War, Ted*

*Depending on your tastes, Ted fits into one of these two categories

 

Here is a quick PREVIEW of upcoming movies for the second half.  Get your popcorn ready:

Anna Karenina

(Keira Knightley in many costumes for Tolstoy classic )

The Bourne Legacy

(Jeremy Renner beats up people while Matt Damon rests)

The Campaign

(Will Farrell and Zack G run opposing political campaigns. Not a Documentary)

Cloud Atlas

(Tom Hanks and Wachowski bros, and Hugh Grant as a killer)

Cosmopolis

(more Cronenberg creepiness)

The Dark Knight Rises

(Batman by Nolan and Bales.  The End in IMAX)

Django Unchained

(Quentin Tarantino for Christmas)

Dredd

(futuristic, ultra-violent chaos … this time without Stallone)

The Expendables 2

(Action film sponsored by AARP)

Frankenweenie

(Tim Burton’s classic short had me in stitches)

Gangster Squad

(period mafia drama, great cast)

The Great Gatsby

(DiCaprio plays Redford… wait)

The Hobbit

(Tolkien by the creator of Lord of the Rings)

Hope Springs

(Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones get marriage counseling )

Hyde Park on Hudson

(Bill Murray as FDR cheating on Eleanor. Surprise!)

Kathryn Bigelow’s unnamed film on the Bin Laden siege

(not a mystery or comedy)

Lawless

(bootlegging brothers battle corrupt authorities)

Les Miserables

(lots of sad songs from Wolverine, Catwoman, and Maximus)

Life of Pi

(another Ang Lee head-scratcher)

Lincoln

(Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis, no vampires)

Looper

(sci-fi with Bruce Willis playing  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and vise-versa)

The Master

(Philip Seymour Hoffman as L Ron Hubbard, no Cruise cameo)

On The Road

(Kerouac’s beatniks search for “It”)

The Paperboy

(Cusack on death row. McConaughey drawls)

Seven Psychopaths

(great title, cast, director)

Silver Linings 

(who is more nuts? David O Russell or Bradley Cooper)

Skyfall

(Bond, James Bond … plus Bardem!)

Taken 2

(more particular skills from Liam Neeson)

This is 40

(Judd Apatow and cronies laugh about getting older)

Total Recall

(sci-fi remake without Ah-nuld or Sharon Stone)

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

(end of the road! Until the reboot)

GET YOUR POPCORN READY!!!

 

Leave a Comment » | Articles | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

ANDY GRIFFITH remembered (1926-2012)

July 3, 2012

 It was announced today that Andy Griffith (1926-2012) had passed away.  Tributes that come too late are kind of sad, but it’s important to discuss what a multi-talented, beloved and influential performer he was for over 57 years.  Very few entertainers are talented enough and fortunate enough to have success in one category, much less many.  Andy (it just feels right to call him that) had success in comedy, with music, on Broadway, in movies, and of course, on TV.

 Thanks to syndication, most everyone recognizes him as Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show”, which ran from 1960-68.  Not only was the theme song iconic … you are probably whistling it now … but Andy taught life lessons to many of us through his folksy, down home wisdom.  He was a surrogate father for us as he taught his son Opie (played by Ron Howard, the successful movie director) right from wrong, and how to treat people.  Andy also recognized the comic greatness of Don Knotts’ Deputy Barney Fife (one of TV’s best ever characters), so he made the artistic decision to play the straight man as Knotts received the accolades.  The show (itself a spin-off from “Make Room for Daddy”) was responsible for numerous spin-offs and Griffith remained lifelong friends with both Howard and Knotts.  Howard is one of the few surviving actors from the show, along with Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Jim Nabors (Gomer), and Clint Howard (Ron’s brother).

The other TV show many know Andy from is “Matlock”, which ran from 1986-95.  He played the titular character, who was a colorful, folksy, frumpy old time attorney who had an amazing ability to win cases against all odds … all while sporting a wrinkled, sky-blue seersucker suit.  The ratings were huge as viewers embraced the man who seemed to have a knack for justice … doing the right thing.  Sound familiar? This persona is why Griffith was always so popular.  He made us believe we knew the real him … that’s an audience connection most performers never experience.

 What many don’t know is that Andy got his start with music and stand-up comedy on early TV shows like “The Steve Allen Show” and “The Ed Sullivan Show”.  His comic routine “What it was, was Football” was an early comedy classic and had success on the charts.  He also was a Tony nominated performer on Broadway for “No Time for Sergeants”.  He later reprised his role for the film version, and on the set is where he first met Don Knotts.  Griffith’s film debut was for A Face in the Crowd (1957, pictured left), directed by Elia Kazan (A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, East of Eden).  Many who see this film for the first time are stunned at the Griffith performance.  The familiar folksy style that we immediately recognize, actually hides a power-mongering personality that was used to highlight the power and danger of TV, when used by the wrong people (still an issue all these years later). I believe TCM will include this film in its day of tribute to Andy Griffith later this month, so if you haven’t seen it, please give it a look.

 Andy Griffith once said that Sheriff Andy Taylor was “a better man than I am”.  This humble statement sells himself and his influence quite short.  Most of his career was spent playing characters whom we could trust and learn from.  We trusted him so much that when he told us everything tastes great on a Ritz cracker, we believed him… and sales spiked.  The ultimate test of a man is his loyalty to his friends.  Despite his own personal challenges, Griffith found his way clear across the country for one last visit with his friend Don Knotts, before Knotts passed away in 2006.  While it’s an unfair burden to place on anyone, I will remember Griffith as a very talented performer, but more importantly, as one who taught me some basic tenets in being a better man.

There were just too many classic scenes to choose from, so will close with this:

Leave a Comment » | Articles | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

NORA EPHRON remembered (1941-2012)

June 27, 2012

 Nora Ephron passed away yesterday from complications related to Leukemia.  She was 71.  Ms. Ephron will be mostly remembered for her success in the Romantic Comedy genre thanks to the brilliant When Harry Met Sally … (1989), and others like Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You’ve Got Mail (1998).  That description would be selling her talents short.

Born to two screenwriter parents, Ephron’s career included time spent as a reporter, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and film director.  She was a famed humorist and described by her friends as very generous with her time and advice, and clearly a confident person as she succeeded in a male-dominated industry.  She was thrice-married: to novelist/screenwriter Dan Greenburg, to Watergate investigative reporter Carl Bernstein, and for the past 20 years to writer Nicholas Pileggi (pictured left, known for Goodfellas, Casino).  It was well known within the film industry that Ephron was often asked to help fine tune scripts … and she always refused screen credit.  She was especially likely to offer career guidance and assistance to women trying to make it in the business.  Katie Goodman wrote a blog entry just yesterday discussing Ephron’s recent generosity to her.

Her film career is what made her famous and When Harry Met Sally … was her crowning achievement.  The script is brilliant and insightfully captured the male/female struggle with friendship vs. relationship.  She worked closely with director Rob Reiner and the actors Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to ensure we could relate to the ongoing struggles of these two everyday people. The script was one of the three Oscar nominations she received.

 Ephron wrote the screenplay for Silkwood (1983) and it remains one of her most underrated efforts. Based on a powerful, true story, it’s a film I highly recommend almost 30 years later and is another example of how she was attracted to strong women – both real and imagined.  I have always had a bit of a problem with Ephron’s next two biggest hits.  Sleepless in Seattle was really an updated version of An Affair to Remember (1957) and You’ve Got Mail was a re-working of The Shop Around the Corner (1940). Proper credit was never really given to the original works.  Her directing career never really matched her writing success, but her final film Julie & Julia (2009) was well made and captured Ephron’s lifelong love of food … which she often wrote about in her essays.

So when you hear the name Nora Ephron, remember that she was more than queen of the Rom-Com.  She was a multi-talented, creative and generous woman who influenced the life and career of many others.

In what may be her best written sequence – the last 5 minutes of When Harry Met Sally … – she captures the essence of male and female psyche.  If you have never seen the film, make a point to.  If you have seen it, re-visit those glorious last 5 minutes:

2 Comments | Articles | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

BIZARRO STEPFORD: No Town Left Behind

June 3, 2012

Note: this is quite a detour from the movie commentary one normally finds on this site.  Recent personal experiences and observations provided the motivation to veer from the typical content.

 Rural America is often fodder for entertainment writers.  The best, such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, provide such clear insight that we find ourselves connected to the characters and believe we understand the fabric of the community.  “The Andy Griffith Show” ran for more than a decade, stressing the humanity, humor and nuances of small town life.  Movies such as Deliverance, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Children of the Corn offer a glimpse into the dark side of those who are shut off from mainstream society.  The results, though often exaggerated by Hollywood, are often quite grisly.

My son recently lost his campaign bid to become District Attorney in a rural Texas community.  This is not a rant about his loss … it was a close race … but rather some observations about the wide chasm that exists with the citizenry, and why “community” is a misnomer when describing this area.  While our largest cities are celebrated for their convergence of varying cultures and multitudes of special interest groups, small towns thrive only if the community strives to keep up with the times, and not remain isolated from societal advancements.  To paraphrase … No Town Left Behind.

There are plenty of colorful debates to be had on whether a District Attorney, or even a Judge, should be a populace-elected position.  At the core, these are positions designed to uphold the existing laws, not draft or amend.  Logically, the optimal choice would be the best qualified candidate, not necessarily the best known.

Logic, objectivity and reasonableness seem to be the factors that divide this particular rural community.  There is certainly the group that pays attention to things such as experience, personality, endorsements, campaign platform and overall approach and vision.  This is the group that consists of individuals with whom most of us would enjoy conversing, even debating issues of substance.  Unfortunately, this group doesn’t make for interesting observatory writing.

 The “other” group is the one that so fascinates me.  What matters to these people, and why? Above all else, “one of us” is the top priority in selecting a candidate.  This was most evidenced in the State Representative race which had four candidates.  The local candidate dominated voting in this, his home county.  After all, he is “one of us” … as is his dad and his dad’s dad.  Despite his local landslide, this candidate received almost no support in the sixteen other counties that comprise this district, and did not qualify for the run-off.

What’s next on this community’s priority list?  Try church membership. Forget what you think you know about separation of church and state.  The strongest campaigning and political fundraising occurs within the church. This unspoken sphere of political influence could be exposed with minimal effort, and the sham of tax-free status would be gone for the offending church. How strong is the church bond?  When a local woman was arrested for murdering an infant by violent shaking, her fellow church members came out in mass support during the trial claiming she was a “good Christian woman”, and attended church regularly.  Of course, the jury also included some of her church members.  Do you think those jurors were strong enough to stand up to that almighty peer pressure?  Hardly.

 Surely experience and campaign issues are up next, right?  Stop thinking logically.  Next up would be marital status and procreation success.  In this area, you dare not be over age 18 and still single, lest the whispers begin about your sexual preference.  Unmarried translates into some type of character flaw to this side of the chasm. It matters not if you spent 7 frivolous years in college and law school.  The winning candidate in the DA race actually ran with his family as his campaign platform … well that, and a Dr. Seuss quote.  His obedient wife (by his side, one step behind) and four daughters were on public display and all the evidence many needed to determine he was worthy of a vote.  This despite his quoted importance of offering “a helping hand” to criminals who sometimes make a mistake.  Oh, I failed to mention that this is a FELONY-only DA position.   Second chances are fine for those with speeding tickets, but how many of us are in favor of lending “a helping hand” to those who sexually molest our child or murder our brother?

This area is filled with tough, strong people.  People who have survived tough times caused by the collapsed economy, the wrath of Mother Nature, the loss of farming and ranching income, and just an overall “land that time forgot” feeling.   Some in the area have found success by selling oil and mineral rights to their land.  Others manage to scrape out a living one way or another … or even multiple ways.  There is a group that has managed to maintain an ability to think and make mature decisions, while this other side wallows in closed-mindedness and refuses to consider any hint of progress. Drugs, especially Meth, have created an economy of their own. Luckily for those dealers, “a helping hand” is on the way.  It appears some small towns actually vote to be left behind … as long as it’s with one of their own.

Leave a Comment » | Articles | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE GODFATHER (1972) revisited

March 3, 2012
 Black screen. Cue the lone trumpet’s haunting opening notes of Nino Rota‘s theme.  Close up of a suffering man.  “I believe in America.” That, my friends, is a powerful opening to a truly great film.
 
It’s been 40 years since it’s original release, and this latest remastering looked and sounded amazing on Cinemark’s largest screen. Following those opening moments, we get our first look at Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone. On this screen, it was almost like seeing him for the first time … a disquieting figure that oozes power and commands respect.
 
There is no need for another review of this truly classic American film.  Instead, this will offer a few observations (possible spoilers) and notes of interest … combined with the highest possible recommendation to watch this one again!
 
At its core, author Mario Puzo‘s story is about power, loyalty, trust and family.  We witness what happens when one is viewed as having too much power. Loyalty is rewarded, and disloyalty brings the harshest possible penalty.  Trust is gained over time, but lost in a flash. And family is the most complex subject of all.
 
 Over the years, there have been a few movies with more star-studded casts, but it’s difficult to imagine a more perfectly selected cast: Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino, John Cazale, Sterling Hayden, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Abe Vigoda.  Each of these actors have graced the screen in numerous roles, but for this three hour film, they become Corleones, associates, enemies, etc.  
 
There were a few things that jumped out at me during this viewing.  The use of oranges (the fruit) contradicts the health benefits preached by the medical profession. Every time we see a bowl of fruit, a fruit stand or someone peeling, eating, or selecting an orange, a scene of doom (usually quite violent) is soon to follow.  Carlo is even wearing an orange suit when Sonny (James Caan) shows up and paints the sidewalk with him. Don’t miss the billboard featuring oranges that Sonny drives by just before he pulls up to the toll booth. Brando’s final scene is preceded by him playfully scaring his grandson with an orange peel.  I understand the importance of Vitamin C, but I think I’ll stick with supplements!
 
 It’s very interesting to note the camera angles throughout the movie.  In an unusual approach, director Francis Ford Coppola uses an “eye-level” camera almost exclusively.  This gives the viewer the feeling of being part of the scene, especially during the small group meetings within Corleone’s dimly lit office.  The few exceptions are the overhead shot of Corleone being gunned down, the Los Angeles cityscape, and a couple of shots at the wedding to emphasize the scale of the event.
 
The famous “Mattress Sequence” was put together by George Lucas (Star Wars fame) for his friend Coppola.  This is the segment after the Louis Restaurant shooting where we get a montage of B&W crime photos and newspaper headlines. These are real life crime photos and one of the shots is of Frank Nitti, Al Capone’s trusted enforcer.
 
It’s quite fascinating to recognize how many “classic” lines of dialogue sprung from the movie, especially when you notice the minimalistic approach to dialogue used by Puzo and Coppola.  Much of the communication is non-verbal body language, glances, nods and shrugs … Brando, especially, is a master at this.
 
 One of the more remarkable facets of the film is the transformation of Michael (Al Pacino).  We first see him as a dashing war hero relaxing at the wedding with his girlfriend (a baby-faced Diane Keaton). He is very laid back and kind of cocky with the thought that he can rise above the dirty family business. He sees himself as better than that. Watch the subtle changes in his appearance … his hair, his posture, his eyes, even his hat!  As great as Brando is as the Don, it’s Pacino’s performance that really takes the film to an unprecedented level.  It’s really fun to compare Michael’s even-keeled, calm processing approach to the high-strung, act-now-think-later approach of his brother Sonny.
 
 The final note involves actor John Cazale. Here (and in part 2) he plays Fredo as a frightened, insecure puppy who is desperate to find his place.  Imagine your father being Vito Corleone and your brothers are Sonny and Michael.  It’s to be expected that you might be overlooked and overpowered in conversation. The really interesting note about Cazale is that this was his feature film debut.  He went on to make 4 more films before cancer took his life in 1978.  Cazale made 5 films and all 5 were nominated for Best Picture (both Godfather films, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter).  He was engaged to Meryl Streep at the time of his death.
 
So the real point here is that if you ever doubt the magic and power of movies … shut off your phone, close the blinds, take the cannoli, and let The Godfather absorb your thoughts.  While you are at it, remember … it’s not personal, it’s business (only you shouldn’t really believe that).
 
Thanks to Cinemark for making me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

1 Comment | Articles, Classics, Drama | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE MONKEES – a tribute

March 1, 2012

 Hey, Hey … When the announcement came down that Davy Jones had passed away on Wednesday, fond memories flooded back for many in my age group (the optimal demographic of 20 to 85).  For the last 4-5 years, my “ideas” list has included writing a tribute to The Monkees, and I feel guilty that it took this sad event to motivate me to finish.  Despite my procrastinating, this story deserves to be told, as their impact should not be ignored (yes, I am serious).

Going back to the mid-60’s, there was an entertainment revolution occurring that impacted TV and music.  In 1964, the Beatles while at their chart-topping peak, released their first movie … A Hard Day’s Night.  Caught up in Beatle-mania, producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson were inspired to capture that same frenetic pace for a TV show, with comedic elements enveloped by pop songs.  Schneider later produced Easy Rider, and Rafelson directed the 70’s classic Five Easy Pieces.  With this idea, the “pre-fab four” was born as The Monkees, what some people call the first boy band.  After a huge casting call, three Americans (Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork) and one Englishman (Davy Jones) were cast as the musical group.

 The series had strong ratings and ran for three years (1966-68) in Monday primetime.  Re-runs then became a fixture on Saturday morning TV until 1973, keeping the group in front of an audience for eight total years.  James Frawley directed 28 of the 58 episodes, and the series would lead to 11 albums (over 65 million sold), a TV special, a feature film (Head 1968), and numerous reunion tours.  It all began with the ground-breaking TV series that really clicked with kids.  The offbeat series seemed to prove that different personalities could do more than co-exist.  Mickey was the class clown.  Mike was the quiet, soulful one.  Peter was the hyper-dork.  Davy was the cool popular one.  This disparate group managed to have fun as friends and make great sounding music together.  Kids could relate to these misfits and it provided hope, as well as some  popular music.

Ahh … the music.  The music is what caught everyone by surprise. The four lads had limited musical backgrounds, so the plan was to use mostly studio musicians.  What music producer Don Kirshner discovered was that, at least vocally, there was plenty of talent in the group.  With harmony groups very popular at the time (The Beatles, Beach Boys, Crosby Stills Nash, The Hollies), The Monkees created a smooth, distinctive sound without the edge or political statements that were all over the radio. Despite being surrounded by the constant claims that they weren’t real musicians, their first album “The Monkees” (1966) stayed number one for 13 weeks, and was the first of four consecutive number one albums for the group.  Here is a brief recap of the four actors:

 DAVY JONES was born in England and at 5’3, had intentions on become a jockey.  He stumbled into stage acting and was nominated for a Tony, as The Artful Dodger in a Broadway production of “Oliver!”.   As a matter of fact, when The Beatles made their U.S. debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964, Davy Jones was also on that same show as a member of the acting troupe performing a scene from “Oliver!”   Jones had four daughters and continued acting and singing throughout his life.  He had performed just two nights prior to his fatal heart attack.

 MICKY DOLENZ was a child star on the TV series “Circus Boy” (1956-58).  When he was cast in The Monkees, he learned the drums well enough to play on some of their albums.  He has since managed to grind out a pretty successful showbiz career with acting, singing, voice acting (cartoons), directing, and even as a radio DJ.  Toni Basil’s 1982 hit “Hey Mickey” was named after Dolenz, as she had choreographed The Monkees’ movie Head (1968).

 MICHAEL NESMITH was a self-described “do-nothing” teenager. He was very involved in the production of music for The Monkees, and was the driving force behind the group’s break with music producer Don Kirshner. After leaving the group, Nesmith invented and sold the concept of 24-hour Music Television to Time Warner, and it eventually evolved into MTV.  His mother, Bette, invented Liquid Paper, from which stemmed a $50 million inheritance for Michael when she passed away.  Nesmith has stayed active in music production and has even written a couple of novels.

 PETER TORK – was a Greenwich Village folk musician and Stephen Stills’ roommate prior to being cast in The Monkees.  He was the most gifted musician of the four and played multiple instruments across various music styles.  Peter was diagnosed with a rare form of head and neck cancer, and in 2009 had successful surgery to remove the growth from his tongue.

After the series ended, Rafelson teamed with Jack Nicholson (credited as co-writer) to create a feature film with The Monkees.  Head was released in 1968 and featured cameo/pop-in performances by such well known personalities as Annette Funicello, Dennis Hopper, Teri Garr, Victor Mature, Sonny Liston and Frank Zappa. Though not a box office success, the film has developed quite a cult following, and the soundtrack has fared very well with critics over the years.  Nesmith still claims the movie was designed to “kill off” The Monkees.

 Throughout the years since, there have been numerous incarnations of reunion tours and special appearances that featured 2-4 of the original group.  The 1996 “Justus” album was the first since 1968 on which all four members performed, produced, wrote and played all instruments (thus the name Justus = Just Us).

The Monkees’ music remains a staple on “oldies” radio, and has been recorded and covered by numerous bands over the years, including: Run DMC, Smash Mouth (for Shrek), The Replacements, and Susan Boyle.  Many of their songs were written by the Boyce-Hart team, but also such well known songwriters as Neil Diamond, Carole King and Harry Nilsson.  Despite all the controversy, the group has numerous songs that have held up well over 45 years.  Their influence is clear and they deserve a place in TV and musical history.

**NOTE: The rumor that Charles Manson auditioned for the show was false, as he was in prison at the time.

Here is a list of some of The Monkees’ finest songs.  Some of these are live links so you can see the early music videos while you listen to the pleasant sounds of The Monkees:

A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You

Daydream Believer

Girl

I’m a Believer

I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone

Last Train to Clarksville

Listen to the Band

Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)

Mary Mary

Monkees theme

Pleasant Valley Sunday

Shades of Grey

She

Sometime in the Morning

The Day We Fall in Love

Valleri

When Love Comes Knockin’ at Your Door

Your Auntie Grizelda – Ok, not one of their best, but certainly one of the funniest

Your Auntie Grizelda

Leave a Comment » | Articles, Musical | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OSCARS recap (2012)

February 27, 2012

Greetings again from the darkness.  Well the 84th Academy Awards came and went with very few surprises, a plodding pace, and (mostly) safe show from Billy Crystal, back for his 9th time as host. The ceremony began with the expected video montage/mash-up/spoof with Crystal appearing in key scenes from the year’s top films … including a hospital bed kiss from George Clooney (as his character from The Descendants).  That opening would have been fine, but then we were subjected to another Crystal tradition – the musical medley of all nine Best Picture nominations. Additionally, the opening provided the first of at least three cracks about the removal of Kodak’s naming rights to the theatre (“Ch. 11 Theatre”).

Two things became clear as the evening progressed: there was a concerted effort to “sell” the magic of movies, and the shuffled order of awards did not work so well.  The “talking head” shots played throughout had numerous actors (and moms) talking about the impact of movies on their lives; an obvious reaction to the down year at the box office in 2011.  The funniest part of these interludes was the multiple appearances by Adam Sandler the day after he received a record 11 Razzies nominations. He has made plenty of big box office movies, but has never been what you would call an Oscar favorite.

 The Artist and Hugo were the top winners of the evening with 5 Oscars each.  As expected, the black & white silent film won the biggies: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor.  The wins for Hugo were more technical: cinematography, sound, visual effects.  There were only a couple of winners that could be termed a surprise, and what many thought would be the closest race (Best Actress) went to 17 time nominee, and now 3 time winner, Meryl Streep, for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.  As for my personal pre-Oscar predictions, I got 18 of 24 categories correct.

In no particular order, here are some of my random observations and thoughts:

Christopher Plummer became the oldest Oscar winner at age 82 (for Beginners), and I wish he had pulled out a guitar and sang “Edelweiss”

Meryl Streep is an amazing actress … maybe the best ever …but her acceptance speeches are wretched.

Did anyone ever imagine that P Diddy (producer of Undefeated) would win an Oscar before Viola Davis or Glenn Close?

The Academy Awards technical team could not, given 3 hours, fix the audio problem on the stage microphones?

Chris Rock was very funny talking about voice acting. Now that is comedy talent.  He should be hosting.

Emma Stone brought energy and goofiness to an evening in need of life-support. Were she and Ben Stiller riffing on James Franco and Anne Hathaway or was that just my imagination?

Iran, Pakistan and France were all winners.  There has to be a punchline there somewhere.

The Scorcese drinking game has gone viral thanks to Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy.

The Worst Precedent: allowing Sacha Baron Cohen to walk the red carpet as the character from his upcoming movie.  At future Oscar ceremonies, should we expect super heroes, cartoon characters and movie dogs … maybe studio-sponsored gowns?

Christopher Guest’s band of comedy misfits was pretty funny in the “Focus Group” bit revolving around The Wizard of Oz and flying monkeys.

Cirque du Soleil performers are incredibly talented and athletic … much more daring than Angelina Jolie’s exposed right leg.

You know how you can tell things aren’t all bad … Flight of the Conchords got some recognition!  Congratulations to Bret McKenzie for his “Man or Muppet” Oscar.

Winner I would have liked to have seen: God is the Bigger Elvis for Short Documentary. That would have given actress-turned-nun Dolores Hart her moment on stage

Interesting red carpet moment: Prince Albert of Monaco attended as a guest of Disney.  He is the son of Grace Kelly, who died 30 years ago.

Most Inspirational: breast cancer survivors Robin Roberts and Giuliana Rancic were working the red carpet for ABC and E! Network, respectively.

 This year’s Academy Awards will receive some of the same criticism it receives every year.  However, it should be remembered that, at its core, this is an awards ceremony.  That means announcing nominees, handing out trophies, and giving the winners a chance to say thanks.  Some of those winners are as humble and touched as Octavia Spencer, and that’s good enough for me.  So whether you love or hate the Oscars, don’t confuse that with the magic of the movies.  It seemed appropriate to end on a sales pitch for movies!

12 Comments | Articles | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OSCAR PREDICTIONS (2012)

February 21, 2012

 Greetings again from the darkness.  It’s Oscar time again!  Ballots for the 84th Academy Awards were due today.  The only real question remaining is just how many gold statues The Artist will win.  It has ten nominations and some are predicting it could win as many as nine!  Me??? I mostly scratch my head at this fascinating juggernaut that appears to be unstoppable.  Don’t get me wrong, I found the movie to be quite entertaining and, being a cinephile, I appreciated the historical nod to early Hollywood … just wouldn’t be my choice as the Best Picture of the year. 
 
Every year, there are at least a couple of surprise winners, but unfortunately it doesn’t appear that The Help edging out The Artist will be one of them.  You will have to uncover those shockers in the lesser categories.
 
This week we learned that Academy voters average 62 years of age and are over 95% Caucasian.  That can be valuable data as you are filling out your Oscar ballots.  And in keeping with that theme, Billy Crystal is back as host of the ceremony and there will be a performance from Cirque du Soleil.  This is Academy’s response to the controversy surrounding the original team of host Eddie Murphy and director Brett Ratner. 
 
As is my tradition, you will find both my PREDICTION and my PREFERENCE for each of the 24 categories.  While there are a couple of “no brainer” picks this year, there are enough “two horse races” that I expect a final score of 17 or 18 would win most office contests.  When in doubt, pick The Artist!

BEST PICTURE

  PREDICTION: THE ARTIST.  One of the no-brainers I mentioned … it would be a shock if The Help could pull an upset.  The Descendants was an early favorite, but even Hawaii pales in comparison to the black & white artistry.

PREFERENCE: THE TREE OF LIFE.  The favorite movie for me and many critics.  It was the most moving cinematic experience of the year, but too divisive to actually win the award.

BEST DIRECTOR

 PREDICTION: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist.  The only chance for an upset comes from Martin Scorcese for Hugo, and his visionary use of 3D in an entirely new genre. 

PREFERENCE: Martin Scorcese

 

BEST ACTOR

 PREDICTION: Jean Dujardin, The Artist.  George Clooney (The Descendants) was the odds-on favorite until the juggernaut known as The Artist got rolling.  A win for Clooney would now be considered an upset.

PREFERENCE: Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The consummate actor for so many years, his nuanced performance had me mesmerized during this intricate film.

BEST ACTRESS

 PREDICTION: Viola Davis, The Help.  She was the foundation of the film and never once over-played a scene.  Meryl Streep was stunning as Margaret Thatcher, but once again will probably have her performance taken for granted.

PREFERENCE: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady.  While I loved Viola Davis’ performance as part of an impressive ensemble, Streep was the epitome of a leading lady carrying a film and making it better than it would have been.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 PREDICTION: Christopher Plummer, Beginners.  This is another of the no-brainers, and one of my favorite performances in one of my favorite movies of the year. Some think Max von Sydow can win for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but the movie was just not well received.  Either would be the oldest Oscar winner in history.

PREFERENCE: Christopher Plummer, Beginners.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

 PREDICTION: Octavia Spencer, The Help. The number one no-brainer of the night. Her performance was funny, painful and insightful, and brought depth to what could have been a mess in less capable hands.

PREFERENCE: Octavia Spencer, The Help.

ANIMATED FEATURE

 PREDICTION: Rango.  The most complex and entertaining and oddball animated film of the year.

PREFERENCE: Rango.

 

 

DOCUMENTARY

PREDICTION: UNDEFEATED.  One of the toughest categories to call this year and the only one where all five nominees have a chance.

PREFERENCE: PINA. More tribute than documentary, it’s a fascinating look at the brilliant choreographer through the eyes and performances of her dance company.

BEST SCORE

PREDICTION: THE ARTIST. Hey, there were (almost) no words, so the music was vital … at least that’s the argument.  And I can’t wait to hear Kim Novak’s reaction should it win!

PREFERENCE: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  Haunting, jazzy mood music in a film with almost as little dialogue as the juggernaut.

BEST SONG

 PREDICTION: “MAN OR MUPPET”, The Muppets, Bret McKenzie.  There are only two nominees so everyone has a 50-50 chance!

PREFERENCE: “Man or Muppet”, The Muppets, Bret McKenzie.  Are you kidding?  One of the “Flight of the Conchords” could win an Oscar?  That is so awesome!

CINEMATOGRAPHY

PREDICTION: Guillaume Schiffman, The Artist.  Getting more attention than (in my opinion) the far superior work by Emmanuel Lubezki in The Tree of Life

PREFERENCE: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life

ART DIRECTION

PREDICTION: HUGO, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo.  However it could be a victim of The Artist juggernaut

PREFERENCE: Hugo, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo (a husband and wife team)

COSTUME DESIGN

PREDICTION: Mark Bridges, The Artist.  Outside shot for Hugo.

PREFERENCE: Michael O’Connor, Jane Eyre.  Underrated film with realistic costumes

FILM EDITING

PREDICTION: Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist.  This award usually goes to the Best Picture winner, though Thelma Schoonmaker is probably more deserving for Hugo.

PREFERENCE: Thelma Schoonmaker, Hugo

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

PREDICTION: GOD IS BIGGER THAN ELVIS.  Interesting story of the actress-turned-nun who gave Elvis his first on screen kiss.  Another tough category to predict, and it could go to The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom.

PREFERENCE: God is Bigger Than Elvis. 

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

PREDICTION: THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR MORRIS LESSMORE.  Horrible title, great little film.  Close competition from A Morning Stroll

PREFERENCE: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore.  I really didn’t want to type it again, but it was clearly the best to me.

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

PREDICTION: PENTECOST.  Funny usually wins this category.

PREFERENCE: The Shore. Beautifully shot with a terrific script and top notch acting

MAKE-UP

 PREDICTION: The Iron Lady.  This could be the chance for the Academy to recognize the splendor of the Harry Potter franchise.

PREFERENCE: The Iron Lady.  Old person make-up that actually worked.

SOUND EDITING

PREDICTION: Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, Hugo.  Could be a nod to Spielberg’s War Horse.

PREFERENCE: Hugo

SOUND MIXING

PREDICTION: Tom Fleishman and John Midgley, Hugo.  Could be a nod to Spielberg’s War Horse

PREFERENCE: Hugo

VISUAL EFFECTS

 PREDICTION: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.  With Hugo, it is the most deserving … but another category where Harry Potter could get rewarded.

PREFERENCE: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but I would be happy with Hugo as well

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

PREDICTION: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris.  Great dialogue in spite of Owen Wilson.  The Hemingway stuff alone is worth the price of admission.  Competition from The Artist, of course.

PREFERENCE: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

PREDICTION: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants. Competition from Academy favorite Aaron Sorkin for Moneyball

PREFERENCE: The Descendants

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

 PREDICTION: A SEPARATION.  One of the best films of the year … too bad I saw it after my “Best of” list was published.  In Darkness could surprise.

PREFERENCE: A Separation

If you missed my “Best of 2011”, here is the link:

https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/annual-bests-2/best-of-2011/

Leave a Comment » | Articles | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS – Live Action and Animated (2011)

February 15, 2012

Greetings again from the darkness. Every year I mention how the Magnolia Theatre in Dallas presents one of my favorite movie events … the Oscar nominated short films. Three hours of quality filmmaking! It’s also a reminder of just how frustrating it is that so few people actually get to see these interesting short films.  Why aren’t they screened periodically throughout the year in association with major film releases?  Pixar manages to do this successfully, so it only makes sense that others could follow suit.  With all of that being said, I must regrettably report that this year’s batch didn’t light the fire for me the way past years have.  The quality of the filmmaking was present, but the creative storytelling fell a bit short.

Below is my recap by category, and in order of preference:

LIVE ACTION

 THE SHORE (Ireland) directed by Terry George.  This one is probably the most mainstream/accessible because it tells a story that is easily relatable.  Ciaran Hinds stars as a man returning home to Ireland after 25 years.  He has his grown daughter (Kerry Condon) in tow, and she is much more anxious than he to reassemble the pieces of his past. As he reconnects with his former best friend and fiancé, we learn they have each harbored secrets and guilt since last they saw each other.  Watching how it plays out is actually quite touching, and includes some humorous moments as well.

TUBA ATLANTIC (Norway) directed by Hallvar Witzo.  Our lead character is an elderly man who has been told by his doctor that he has six days to live.  He is then visited by a self-described Angel of Death – a teenage girl volunteering to spend time with him, and help him through the stages of dying.  Their time together involves her causing him to lose one of his six days thanks to sleeping pills.  She also joins in on his personal vendetta against the local sea gulls, who clearly have been a menace for years. We also see the giant tuba that brings him some peace.

TIME FREAK (USA) directed by Andrew Bowler. One of the two characters has invented a time travel machine for the purpose of realizing his dream of visiting ancient Rome. Instead of visiting Caesar, he jumps off-track due to his inability to get over the minutae of life.  We also get the best Oceanography reference since “Seinfeld”.

PENTECOST (Ireland) directed by Peter McDaniel. We are dropped into 1977 Ireland as a young alter boy makes a critical mistake during mass.  His punishment forces him to miss his beloved futbol team’s big game. Given a second chance, we witness quite a funny pep talk by the local priest.  The sports analogy is impossible to miss, but the young man proves he may be a bit more hard-headed than first thought.

RAJU (Germany) directed by Max Zahle. A young couple travel to India to adopt an orphan boy. What they soon discover is that they are mere bit players in a human trafficking scam.  We see how differently the two people react and how self-interest can sometimes cloud one’s judgment.

ANIMATION

 THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR MORRIS LESSMORE (USA) directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. Despite a title that is impossible to remember, this little film was my favorite of the day. In a pretty creative way, it touts the impact that books can have on our lives. It has a tribute to Hurricane Katrina and The Wizard of Oz while it reminds us of the role books can play in providing hopes and dreams.  Humpty Dumpty and Pop Goes the Weasel both play a key role as we see books spring to life, and bring color to the world of kids and adults.

LA LUNA (USA) directed by Enrico Casarosa. This category wouldn’t be complete without the latest gem from Pixar. We see a young boy being introduced to a most unusual family business run by his father and grandfather. His real challenge is finding a way to keep them happy while still making his own mark. He succeeds in very dramatic fashion.

A MORNING STROLL (UK) directed by Grant Orchard. A NYC street scene plays out in three widely different eras: 1959, 2009, 2059.  The twist here is we see a chicken doing the same thing in all 3 time periods, while the people he confronts, and the environment, shift each time.

DIMANCHE / SUNDAY (Canada) directed by Patrick Doyon. A boy is searching for something interesting to do while his family carries on with their Sunday visit.  Things involved include a house-rattling train, 3 crows that mimic the old men, a “mounted” bear and a bunny rabbit.

WILD LIFE (Canada) directed by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby. An English gentleman settles into a simple cabin in the harsh Alberta frontier in 1909.  His letters home paint a rosier picture than what reality dishes. The film compares his plight to that of a comet, replete with burnout.

Leave a Comment » | Animation, Articles, Short film, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »