UNDERRATED SPIKE LEE - SPIKE RETURNS TO BROOKLYN FOR A TALE ABOUT A PREACHER FORCED TO CONFRONT HIS PAST IN "RED HOOK SUMMER" (2012)

 

Ok, so let's get the bad news about this unique picture over with - it has to do with a preacher and child molestation. You know this is Spike so he's rarely light-handed about his feelings and that makes the curve ball that comes about 3/4 of the way through feel like it hit you in your temple. It's the all-time anti-spoiler as it's better you know this ahead of watching the picture. 

It doesn't help that the film is centered around a church and a pastor - put it all together and this becomes Spike Lee's one sheep in his herd of films that's way over to the side by itself, it's up to you to approach. I've read things like "a hot mess" and "Spike's worst film" but this is simply not true. It has all the structure of his other work and many of the famous Spike tropes are here like actors on the back of camera dolly, the music, loaded dialog and great actors.

Really great actors, the two kid leads are spot-on, Clarke Peters has never been better and the film's real high points go to the dearly departed Thomas Jefferson Byrd who appeared in seven Spike Lee Joint's, this being his second-to-last. 

If you can approach this film with an open mind and more objective posture, you should enjoy this film. It's definitely under-rated and under-appreciated imho and was shot in three weeks guerilla style so I would also watch this if you're in film school and try and find the featurette. Available VOD, basically his only low-budget feature since his first.    2.75 stars/2.75

KICKING OFF THE SUMMER SEASON WITH "STOLEN SUMMER" (2002) + THE BENEFICIAL AND ENTERTAINING 'PROJECT GREENLIGHT: SEASON ONE'

 

Greetings All - The summer season is upon us and sure to be an exciting one. Below is my original post on Stolen Summer, a fine suitable-for-the-whole-darn-family drama. A boy is on a quest to help people get to heaven, his father (Aiden Quinn, excellent here,) a hard-working fireman isn't too crazy about the idea. 

We have also added the first season of Project Greenlight which shows how this movie was made. If you've never seen this critically acclaimed show by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and you're interesting in learning how a movie gets made from start to finish, then this is a must-watch. And I'll warn you, an addicting binger. If you like it, then check out Season Two, almost as good. Three wasn't bad either. 

Another one that's hard to believe coming up on twenty years old already. For what little amount of money it took to make and keeping in mind it was born from within a reality series, Stolen Summer really isn't a bad movie. A Catholic kid is on a summer "quest" to try and convert Jewish people so they can "get in heaven faster." The boy cast as the main character was a perfect choice and helps carry the comedic end of things. Kevin Pollack and Aiden Quinn are both terrific in their parts. Give this one a chance, it's a decent summer flick and suitable for whole family. 2.5 stars/2.75

Director Steve Jones with the two wonder boys.

NICOLAS CAGE GETS 6-MINUTE STANDING OVATION AT CANNES FOR HIS NEW MOVIE PLAYING "THE SURFER" (2024) - AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE TO COME OUT

 

Too bad it's going to be put out by Netflix... 

Nicolas Cage's Sun-Bleached, Rat-Munching Mind-Bender 'The Surfer' Makes Waves at Cannes With Six-Minute Standing Ovation

Nicolas Cage soaked up the applause as his new trippy psychological thriller "The Surfer" scored a six-minute standing ovation at a Cannes Film Festival midnight screening on Friday night. Cage appeared to be having a ball, beaming from ear to ear and waving across the room as cheers erupted around the Palais for the film, ...

Director Lorcan Finnegan Talks 'The Surfer': 'You Can't Surf if You Don't Suffer'

'The whole thing with the dead rat wasn't exactly scripted. He became very attached to it, liked to keep it in his pocket,' Finnegan says.

'The Surfer' Review: Nicolas Cage Goes Full Cage in a Trippy Slapdash Comic Nightmare

He plays a desperate dad who squares off against Aussie surf jocks in a midnight movie that grows increasingly surreal.

'The Surfer' Review: Nicolas Cage Goes Entertainingly Mad in Fun, Flashy Australian Thriller

Nicolas Cage stars in Lorcan Finnegan's 'The Surfer' as a man whose surfing plans are thwarted by menacing thugs and even more menacing wild animals.

Nicolas Cage Is at His Maniacal Best In The Surfer

Nicolas Cage is at his maniacal best in 'The Surfer,' Lorcan Finnegan's sunburnt thriller-comedy which premiered at a midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

REPOST WEEK! - THE RUM DIARY (2011) - BASED ON A HUNTER S THOMPSON BOOK SET IN PUERTO RICO 1960, JOHNNY DEPP IS A MISGUIDED NEWSPAPER REPORTER

 

Here we go again - a movie most people found convoluted and incoherent I land up liking. And surprisingly I've watched it a few times now and kind of dig it. Depp plays a reporter just starting off in San Juan and his first day doesn't go too well - his new boss (Richard Jenkins, excellent here) has already called him out as an alcoholic, the newspaper is on it's way down the chute and it's check-out time on his paid hotel room. At the same time a local wealthy property developer (Aaron Eckhart) offers Depp another opportunity writing copy for brochures. The developer's girlfriend (Amber Heard) lands up being Depp's downfall, imagine that. 

Michael Rispoli is outstanding as Depp's new roommate and coworker and the always incredible Giovanni Ribisi kills it as a moonshine-demented local, quite funny. The film's decked out in light torquise blues and lipstick pinks which makes for a really cool look. Sure, it's a simple dramedy trying to pose as a rom-com...but we like it. Currently streams free on Tubi and Pluto.  3.0 stars/5

Editor's note, 5/17/24 - In a very rare move, I'm actually going to change the rating on this to 3.5 starts/5

Editor's note - 5/17 - Currently, The Rum Diary is only available on VOD outlets.

REPOST WEEK! - DANNY GLOVER, STEVE ZAHN & LEELEE SOBIESKI ARE ALL ABOARD THE "NIGHT TRAIN" (2009) WITH A DEAD BODY AND A MYSTERIOUS TREASURE BOX

 

A sort of Christmas death train as these main characters are all headed home for the holidays, or so they think. An old man dies and leaves a mysterious little box that whoever looks into it sees something they wish for like jewels, etc. The three main characters start to pit against each other for the box and eventually Sobieski's character becomes a total psychopath with Glover the laid back conductor (hey, that rhymes) and Steve Zahn, a pushy and slightly nerdy salesman. 

Done on a super low budget and released straight to DVD, the movie has a pretty nice look to it considering it's obvious the interiors are cheap set pieces and exteriors models. The three leads all more than carry their weight and it's these things working together that makes it a pretty entertaining watch. I will warn you however, the ending is frustrating and mentioned the most with movie goers as what they disliked. Night Train currently streams free on Tubi.   2.75 stars/2.75

Editor's note - As of 5/16, this movie is available to watch on Freevee, Plex, or included w/ Prime.

REPOST WEEK! - KEVIN SPACEY IS A POT-SMOKING BURNT-OUT HOLLYWOOD PSYCHOLOGIST, A JADED THERAPIST TO THE STARS IN "SHRINK" (2009)

 

Merely a blip on most people's screens, this indie that premiered at Sundance stars Kevin Spacey in an excellent performance. The film's basically an interweaving characters drama with Spacey at the center as he tries to solve his own problems along with his patients. Most notable among the large supporting cast is Dallas Roberts as a neurotic talent agent. The only one that doesn't fit, strangely enough, is Robin Williams. He's not so much miscast in his role as he is just out of place with the other actors. Even the scenes with him and Spacey lack chemistry. 

Having grown up in the Hollywood Hills, I loved the scenery in this, there's some great spots including Griffith Park and the Hollywood Sign. 

If you're looking for a good indie, this one's worth checking out folks. 3.25 stars/5

Editor's note - as of 5/15/24, Shrink is available on Plex, Freevee, Roku and good ole Tubi

REPOST WEEK! - A BUNCH OF OLE GEORGIA BOYS PURCHASE A DC-4 AND MAKE A MOVIE BASED ON THE ACTUAL HISTORY OF THE PLANE SMUGGLING DRUGS IN "POLK COUNTY POT PLANE" (1977)

 

Coming in for a landing between trees on a makeshift runway top of a hill, one-fifth of the usual landing distance. 

Gather ye around B-movie youngsters while I tell you the story of the "Polk County Pot Plane." 

Once upon a time some real drug smugglers purchased a World War II retired Douglas DC-4 with the express purpose of transporting huge amounts of marijuana from Columbia to Georgia. On only their second run, they had the bright idea of landing it on top of a small hill at night during bad weather on a makeshift runway a fifth of it's proper length for that plane. Realizing they couldn't take off again, they split with their pot in trucks and were all busted later thanks to the abandoned plane. 

Nobody could figure out how to get the plane down and eventually it went to auction where a politician and movie maker named Jim West bought it. Then he had to buy the hill as well so he could do what he needed to do which was extend the runway to it's proper length and fly the plane out. After that, what else was there to do except gather a bunch of friends and make a movie based on the plane's sordid history!

Essentially one long chase movie, these guys all performed their own stunts and there's a few doosies including a camper trailer that jumps right though an entire house while it's being transported. About some of the worst acting you'll ever see next to a Ted V Mikels movie but somehow that's part of the charm. Also known as "In Hot Pursuit," a bit hard to find, there's a couple of mediocre ups on YT, the only other option is Millcreek's Drive In Movie Classics 50 Film Set  2.75 stars/2.75

FULL MOVIE

REPOST WEEK! - THE THREE WONDERFULLY SUBLIME DRAMAS OF VICTOR NUNEZ - RUBY'S PARADISE (1993) ULEE'S GOLD (1997) & COASTLINES (2002)

 

One of the greatest directors that no one ever heard of, Victor Nunez has carved his niche with deep character driven dramas usually based in South Florida, his homeland after Peru. An actor's director, his character's feelings are his arena and focal point. He's only made six films in four decades, three of which he wrote and directed and form a trilogy of his best work, all set in the Panhandle. For the types of film lovers that I would imagine visit this blog, all three should be a must-watch. 

Nunez also edited Ruby In Paradise, a near flawless indie about a young woman (Ashley Judd) trying to find herself after moving from Tennessee to Florida and taking a job at a big gift store. She meets two men - the store owner's son, a dickhead, and a very responsible but overly conservative fisherman played beautifully by Todd Field who would go on to make the impeccable movies In The Bedroom and Little Children, only to seemingly vanish into obscurity. Judd is perfect, it's really hard not to like this movie. Appropriately, it won Grand Jury for drama at Sundance. Streaming free on Tubi. 4.0 stars/5

In 1997 Nunez got what is probably the best performance of Peter Fonda's career as a beekeeper suddenly confronted with a family problem involving his son who is in prison and his two accomplices still on the outside and believing there's hidden loot still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Ulee is also tasked with taking care of the son's drugged-out wife. A slow burner of a drama but just what Nunez is so great at and another Sundance winner. Streams on Amazon Prime.  3.5 stars/5

Josh Brolin, Timothy Olyphant and Sarah Wynter, holy crap. 2002's Coastlines also made it to Sundance but didn't fare nearly as well and in fact didn't find a distributor until four years later. Shame! Much more obscure but just as good as the other two, I have turned many a movie lover onto this one and hope that you'll check it out, currently streaming free on Plex. Olyphant plays an ex-con who comes home and tries to reestablish friendship with his best friend, a cop (Brolin) and his wife (Wynter.) At the same time he's being courted by his ex drug dealer to get back in the biz (William Forsythe, holy crap again) and starting to see a new love (the always enjoyable Angela Bettis) Did I say I love this cast? Also has the best cinematography of the three. Highly recommend. 3.0 stars/5

Note - as of 5/13/24, Ruby's Paradise is free on Plex, Ulee's Gold is on Tubi, Freevee and Pluto, Coastlines is on Roku channel. 

Coastlines Trailer (2002)

Trailer for Coastlines. Sonny Mann, (Timothy Olyphant), an ex-con returning home from prison, creates a new dynamic for both friends and enemies with his arrival. The local power...

ROGER CORMAN PASSES AT AGE 98 - RIP TO THE B-MOVIE GIANT

 
Editors Note, 5/16, featured blog A Wasted Life has a great expose on Corman HERE>

Thanks for all the great films, have a nice ride. You can read about it HERE>

VHS FLASHBACK - "THE LAST OF THE GLADIATORS - EVEL KNIEVEL" (1986) REMAINS BEST VIDEO BIOGRAPHY OF THE FAMOUS DAREDEVIL

 
Greetings all - here's another VHS tape I pulled off the shelf recently - what I personally still consider to be the best video biography (of many) on Knievel. Why? Besides being narrated and overseen by Evel and showing his life at the time, more importantly it covers every single jump, successful or not, in nice linear fashion. 

It also contains the best (by far) sequence on the Snake River jump in 1974 which is a really important episode in his career. This is the only version that perfectly illustrates just how back up against the wall with promotors and investors the man was, not only for this impossible jump across the Snake River canyon but at that stage of his career in general. 

It's the most honest portrait of his life from the man himself who that was so important to. It was only produced on VHS in 1986 and 1988 and is considered obscure. The only version I could find on YT is below, you'll have to deal with the timecode. Enjoy!  2.75 stars/2.75

My original song "Evel Knievel" from 2006 album Fairly Twisted Logic >

NEW "MEGALOPOLIS" (2024) TRAILER - ADAM DRIVER IS JUMPING OFF THE TOP OF MY BELOVED CHRYSLER BUILDING, HOLY S!

 

Those of you that may know my fascination with the movie Q and going to the top of the Chrysler Building can imagine my utter shock when I saw this trailer. I had no idea this was a location in the movie, be it physical or allegorical - majorly cool. 

Suddenly I have a little more faith in this much talked about spectacle of a movie. Coppola's off to Cannes soon with it, this is going to get interesting!

 

BLAST FROM THE PAST >> In 2013 urban explorer Moses Gunn did the bold, daring and, to some, enviable stunt of climbing to the top of the crown (but not inside the needle) something that would probably be near impossible to pull off today. 

THE UNOFFICIAL 4th COLORIZED VERSION OF "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD" (1968) - AND NOT A BAD ONE AT THAT

 

Greetings all - If you love all things Night Of The Living Dead related like I do then you might be interested in this new version produced by a place called Lost & Found. 

I rather like it and it has a lot of improvement over the Off-Color produced version which was the 3rd colorized and is most widely available on Tubi, etc. 

The farmhouse interiors on this new version are vastly superior to the old ones. One of my biggest complaints about the Off-Color version has been the ugly unnatural blues and pinks all over the interior shots but this one they're gone. However, and it's a big however - whatever software/system this guy used the hues are changing a lot more than they should. The shots where characters don't move around a lot are lovely but when there's lots of movement the hues change. It's going to depend on your eye whether that bothers you or not but I found it not to be a dealbreaker, you can be the judge! 

And as a bonus/comparison, here's the very first colorized version which was done literally the first year that VHS tapes started hitting the mass market, about 1986. It's not very good lol. 

UNDERRATED SPIKE LEE - WESLEY SNIPES IS HAVING AN INTERRACIAL AFFAIR IN "JUNGLE FEVER" (1991) - MEANWHILE HIS OLDER BROTHER SAMUEL L IS ON CRACK

 
Jungle Fever is a film I take off the shelf probably once every five or seven years yet it becomes more and more enjoyable. It's deep exploration of interracial tensions in love as well as elsewhere should now be considered legendary. Watching it last night on the original VHS reminded me of how poignant these truths remain today and how far we still are from remedies. 

The cast in this is off the chart with the best talent out there at the time and a lot of these are early performances (and great ones at that) from A-listers - Samuel L, John Tuturro, the dearly departed Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Tim Robbins, Halle Berry and the list goes on. Good ole Debi Mazar is even in this!

It's one hearty slowburn of a drama with Spike using super long takes and letting the actors and story breathe through. Add in songs from Stevie Wonder sprinkled throughout the soundtrack and you've got one beautiful film that deserves to be revisited again and again. The basic premise is still true to this day - color has all of us still messed up.     

Jungle Fever is not currently available in the streaming world, only Blu-ray or DVD.  4.5 stars/5

An early Samuel L Jackson & Halle Berry