by Lani
Gene Kelly could do it all. He could dance, that's for sure. He could also make you laugh one moment and tear up the next. He sang some of the most iconic songs in movie history. He not only starred in movies, he directed them. His choreography was exciting, athletic, and endlessly inventive.
Born in August 23, 1912, Gene Kelly would be 100 years old today. He first appeared on the screen in 1942's For Me And My Gal. Ten years later, he received an honorary Oscar for "his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography for film." Throughout his career he starred in some of the best musicals of Hollywood's golden age, including the back-to-back triumphs of An American in Paris in 1951 and Singin' in the Rain in 1952. You can see both those films, as well as 10 more classics, during Turner Classic Movies' day-long tribute to Kelly. Click here to see the line-up.
One of the things I love about Kelly's films is his unique choreography. With each project he seemed to take the opportunity to push the boundaries of dance on film. Here are some of the dances that make me say "Wow!" every time I watch them.
In 1944’s Cover Girl,
Kelly and Stanley Donen devised an ingenious number in which Kelly and his “alter
ego” dance together through the streets of New York.
It may not seem amazing to us now, but Gene’s duet with an
animated Jerry the Mouse in 1945’s Anchors
Aweigh was a cinematic first. This dance was another collaboration with Stanley
Donen and Kelly admitted that without Donen “calling the shots” the sequence
could not have been filmed.
Kelly takes a squeaky board and a sheet of newspaper and
makes them his dance partners in this solo set to “You, Wonderful You” from
1950’s Summer Stock.
The “I Like Myself” number from 1955’s It’s Always Fair Weather is an heir to Kelly’s iconic title dance from
Singin’ in the Rain. In both dances
Kelly expresses the joy that comes with new romance, but now he’s upped the
ante and put the dance on rollerskates.
But Kelly didn't always need innovative choreography to make jaws drop. In this clip from The Pirate (1948) the most amazing features are Kelly's bare legs - Yowza! If you needed proof that dancing requires strength and athleticism, just watch this. (The "sexy Gene Kelly Pirate ballet dance hot legs" of the video's title start at about the 4 minute mark.)
I hope you'll join me today in celebrating one of the true shining stars of dance, theatre, and film by enjoying a Gene Kelly film (or at least these film clips). It will definitely make you smile, and possibly make you say "Gotta dance!" yourself.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Total Recall Review
by A.J.
The irony of this year’s Total Recall being produced by a company called Original Film is not lost on me. The 1990 version of the film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by Paul Verhoeven, and the 2012 version are based on a Phillip K. Dick short story called We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. The story concerns a clerk, bored with his life, who goes to a company to get the memory of an exciting trip to Mars implanted in his memory. We Can Remember It For You Wholesale is concise, explanation heavy, and has a twist ending like an old Twilight Zone episode.
It’s hard not to compare a remake to the original, and that’s not how you should critique a movie. But it’s especially hard not to when the original was so good at what is set out to do and holds up very well. In the 1990 movie, the Earth scenes were shot in Mexico City, the time was the discernible near future where there were TV screens in your wall, full body X-rays at public transportation hubs, video phones everywhere, TV ads on the subway… you get the drift. The future-scape of the new version is CGI, of course, but it is also such a “standard” vision of the future that it is forgettable and dull. Everything in the future is shades of gray and other dark, muted colors. With the original you could read the plot anyway you wanted and it worked: whether you thought it was all real, or just a dream Quaid purchased. The 1990 Total Recall was a thrilling adventure. The new one is an unrelenting chase, and when it is over not much different than before. Think for a moment and ask yourself, which would you rather pay for?
The irony of this year’s Total Recall being produced by a company called Original Film is not lost on me. The 1990 version of the film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by Paul Verhoeven, and the 2012 version are based on a Phillip K. Dick short story called We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. The story concerns a clerk, bored with his life, who goes to a company to get the memory of an exciting trip to Mars implanted in his memory. We Can Remember It For You Wholesale is concise, explanation heavy, and has a twist ending like an old Twilight Zone episode.
In a moment of audience participation with the confused main character Quaid, you get the distinct feeling that you’ve seen this movie before, even if you haven't seen the original. Each film version has its own idea of how to expand on the short story, unfortunately 2012’s Total Recall seems to be so concerned with not being influenced by the original that, except for some winks and nods, it mostly borrows from every other sci-fi and action movie from the past 30 years: floating cars from The Fifth Element, fighting style from The Bourne Identity, cityscapes of Blade Runner and Minority Report, a weightless action scene from Inception, even a little bit of The Matrix.
The biggest difference between the two films is that this one does not go to Mars. Mars is mentioned in passing (one of those winks). In the world of this Total Recall, the earth has been scorched by chemical warfare and the only inhabitable locations are The Colony (Australia) and the United Federation of Britain (Britain… I think, the movie isn’t too good about distinguishing location despite showing us a map at the beginning). Colin Farrell plays Quaid, an assembly line worker who longs for something more than his life of routine. He, like most of the public in this movie, commutes from The Colony to UFB via an elevator through the center of the earth. This tunnel is demonized by a rebel organization as a symbol of the oppression of The Colony under Britain led by Chancellor Cohaagen.
After a trip to the fake memory company, Rekall, which here is like a seedy opium den but was a respectable business in the earlier film, Quaid finds himself being pursued by robot police machines and his wife who is really a government agent. But maybe this is all just part of the memory adventure he bought from Rekall? This movie doesn’t seem too concerned with that question. It doesn’t seemed too concerned with anything other than sci-fi action, which is in itself pretty good. But why should I care? Quaid’s resistance contact played by Jessica Biel doesn’t seem too concerned about Quaid and neither does anyone else except for his wife (Kate Beckinsale) who has the singular goal of killing him. In the original, Quaid was easy to sympathize with and feel for; so many characters cared about him. Even Cohaagen cared about Quaid since they were friends before Quaid joined the resistance and he hoped they could be friends again.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Classic Movie Picks: August 2012
by Lani
Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)
It's the 10th anniversary of TCM's Summer Under the Stars when each day of the month is devoted to the films of one classic actor or actress. To celebrate 10 years of star power, I've chosen my top 10 stars of the month: 4 redheaded ladies and 6 unique gentlemen. And for each star I've selected one "top pick" plus two others for further viewing, because when you're given 24 hours with your favorite star why stop at just one?
8/5: Claude Rains
9:30 PM - Mr. Skeffington (1944)
8 PM - The Invisible Man (1933); 12:15 AM - The Unsuspected (1947)
Bette Davis plays a vain society beauty who marries Claude Rains' Skeffington for his money and only comes to love him much later in life. For his marvelously understated performance as Job Skeffington, aptly named as he is patience personified, Rains received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
8/8: Rita Hayworth
2 AM - You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
4:45 PM - You'll Never Get Rich (1941); 12 AM - Gilda (1946)
Though she's known as one of the screen's great beauties (and deservedly so), Rita Hayworth was also one of classic cinema's best dancers. She's one of the most natural dancers I've ever seen - an opinion shared by none other than Fred Astaire. He starred with Rita in two films, You Were Never Lovelier and You'll Never Get Rich, and later named her as his favorite on screen dance partner.
8/9: Toshiro Mifune
2:45 PM - Yojimbo (1961)
9:15 AM - Seven Samurai (1954), 12:45 PM - Throne of Blood (1957)
Toshiro Mifune starred in many Hollywood films, but he was proudest of his work with director Akira Kurosawa in Japan. Their biggest hit, Yojimbo, is a samurai tale modeled on classic Westerns. Mifune plays a traveling samurai who saves a divided town by pitting its leaders against each other. You may recognize that plot from Sergio Leone's "spaghetti Western" A Fistful of Dollars, which was inspired by Yojimbo.
8/10: Lionel Barrymore
10:15 PM - Night Flight (1933)
3:15 PM - The Return of Peter Grimm (1936); 8 PM - You Can't Take It With You (1938)
Lionel Barrymore was known among his fellow actors as an inveterate scene-stealer; and none knew it better than his brother and co-star John Barrymore. You can see the sibling rivalry in action in Night Flight, which was consigned to the vaults until 2011 and is being shown for the first time on TCM. Based on a best-seller by former aviator Antoine de Sainte-Exupery, the film depicts the dangerous flights of an Argentinian air mail service. It also features Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Helen Hayes, and Robert Montgomery.
8/11: James Mason
8 PM - Lolita (1962)
5:30 PM - Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959); 3:30 AM - Mayerling (1968)
James Mason stands out in every one of his films, whether he's the lead or a supporting player. However, for better or worse, Mason's signature role will always be aging academic Humbert Humbert, brought to ruin by his obsession with the decidedly underage Lolita.
8/13: Deborah Kerr
6 AM - Vacation From Marriage (1945)
3:30 PM - The Sundowners (1960); 8 PM - Black Narcissus (1947)
I saw this film 12 years ago and have been waiting for it to appear on TCM again, so I was delighted to see this film on the schedule this month. Vacation From Marriage was directed by Alexander Korda, co-stars Deborah Kerr and Robert Donat, and boasts an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, but you'd be forgiven if you've never heard of it. It's a unique love story about a married couple separated by war, who find themselves reluctant to reunite. Donat and Kerr are both wonderful, delicately conveying the changes that have occurred in each spouse during their time apart.
8/15: Lillian Gish
8 PM - Intolerance (1916)
6 AM - Broken Blossoms (1919); 1 AM - The Night of the Hunter (1955)
One of cinema's treasures, Lillian Gish is one of the greatest actresses of any era. She is best known for her films with director D.W. Griffith during the silent era. Intolerance is an epic in every sense - grand themes of good and evil, gigantic sets depicting ancient Babylon, and an extra-long running time of 198 minutes - however, it's an essential for any film buff.
8/18: Freddie Bartholomew
10:15 PM - Kidnapped (1938)
8 AM - The Devil is a Sissy (1936); 8 PM - Captains Courageous (1937)
Freddie Bartholomew was simply one of the finest child actors in movie history and one of the few who could truly carry a film on his own strengths. (And somehow you don't totally hate him, even when he's playing spoiled brats.) In this adventure-filled film, Freddie's evil uncle arranges for him to be kidnapped and sent out to sea in order to steal his inheritance.
8/24: Irene Dunne
6:15 PM - My Favorite Wife (1940)
11 AM - The White Cliffs of Dover (1944); 8 PM - The Awful Truth (1937)
My Favorite Wife, co-starring Cary Grant, is quintessential Irene Dunne - witty, poised, confident, and able to carry off some truly ridiculous hats. She's the type of woman that any man would want to marry and any girl would like to grow up to be. In this film, lucky Cary is already married to Irene...until she is shipwrecked and presumed dead. Of course, she reappears just in time to disrupt Cary's plans for remarriage and prove why she's the superior mate.
8/25: Tyrone Power
8 PM - The Razor's Edge (1946)
12:45 AM - Witness for the Prosecution (1957); 2:30 AM - A Yank in the RAF (1941)
With a face and name (yes, that's his real name) tailor-made for the movies, Tyrone Power seemed destined to make an impression on screen. In The Razor's Edge Power showed dramatic depths that proved he was more than just a pretty face. The film (and novel by W. Somerset Maugham) popularized the idea of "finding" one's self. That's what the main character sets out to do by taking a trip to India, thus inspiring countless spiritual journeys which in turn gave us everything from the late 60s output of The Beatles to Eat Pray Love.
Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)
It's the 10th anniversary of TCM's Summer Under the Stars when each day of the month is devoted to the films of one classic actor or actress. To celebrate 10 years of star power, I've chosen my top 10 stars of the month: 4 redheaded ladies and 6 unique gentlemen. And for each star I've selected one "top pick" plus two others for further viewing, because when you're given 24 hours with your favorite star why stop at just one?
8/5: Claude Rains
9:30 PM - Mr. Skeffington (1944)
8 PM - The Invisible Man (1933); 12:15 AM - The Unsuspected (1947)
Bette Davis plays a vain society beauty who marries Claude Rains' Skeffington for his money and only comes to love him much later in life. For his marvelously understated performance as Job Skeffington, aptly named as he is patience personified, Rains received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
8/8: Rita Hayworth
2 AM - You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
4:45 PM - You'll Never Get Rich (1941); 12 AM - Gilda (1946)
Though she's known as one of the screen's great beauties (and deservedly so), Rita Hayworth was also one of classic cinema's best dancers. She's one of the most natural dancers I've ever seen - an opinion shared by none other than Fred Astaire. He starred with Rita in two films, You Were Never Lovelier and You'll Never Get Rich, and later named her as his favorite on screen dance partner.
8/9: Toshiro Mifune
2:45 PM - Yojimbo (1961)
9:15 AM - Seven Samurai (1954), 12:45 PM - Throne of Blood (1957)
Toshiro Mifune starred in many Hollywood films, but he was proudest of his work with director Akira Kurosawa in Japan. Their biggest hit, Yojimbo, is a samurai tale modeled on classic Westerns. Mifune plays a traveling samurai who saves a divided town by pitting its leaders against each other. You may recognize that plot from Sergio Leone's "spaghetti Western" A Fistful of Dollars, which was inspired by Yojimbo.
8/10: Lionel Barrymore
10:15 PM - Night Flight (1933)
3:15 PM - The Return of Peter Grimm (1936); 8 PM - You Can't Take It With You (1938)
Lionel Barrymore was known among his fellow actors as an inveterate scene-stealer; and none knew it better than his brother and co-star John Barrymore. You can see the sibling rivalry in action in Night Flight, which was consigned to the vaults until 2011 and is being shown for the first time on TCM. Based on a best-seller by former aviator Antoine de Sainte-Exupery, the film depicts the dangerous flights of an Argentinian air mail service. It also features Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Helen Hayes, and Robert Montgomery.
8/11: James Mason
8 PM - Lolita (1962)
5:30 PM - Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959); 3:30 AM - Mayerling (1968)
James Mason stands out in every one of his films, whether he's the lead or a supporting player. However, for better or worse, Mason's signature role will always be aging academic Humbert Humbert, brought to ruin by his obsession with the decidedly underage Lolita.
8/13: Deborah Kerr
6 AM - Vacation From Marriage (1945)
3:30 PM - The Sundowners (1960); 8 PM - Black Narcissus (1947)
I saw this film 12 years ago and have been waiting for it to appear on TCM again, so I was delighted to see this film on the schedule this month. Vacation From Marriage was directed by Alexander Korda, co-stars Deborah Kerr and Robert Donat, and boasts an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, but you'd be forgiven if you've never heard of it. It's a unique love story about a married couple separated by war, who find themselves reluctant to reunite. Donat and Kerr are both wonderful, delicately conveying the changes that have occurred in each spouse during their time apart.
8/15: Lillian Gish
8 PM - Intolerance (1916)
6 AM - Broken Blossoms (1919); 1 AM - The Night of the Hunter (1955)
One of cinema's treasures, Lillian Gish is one of the greatest actresses of any era. She is best known for her films with director D.W. Griffith during the silent era. Intolerance is an epic in every sense - grand themes of good and evil, gigantic sets depicting ancient Babylon, and an extra-long running time of 198 minutes - however, it's an essential for any film buff.
8/18: Freddie Bartholomew
10:15 PM - Kidnapped (1938)
8 AM - The Devil is a Sissy (1936); 8 PM - Captains Courageous (1937)
Freddie Bartholomew was simply one of the finest child actors in movie history and one of the few who could truly carry a film on his own strengths. (And somehow you don't totally hate him, even when he's playing spoiled brats.) In this adventure-filled film, Freddie's evil uncle arranges for him to be kidnapped and sent out to sea in order to steal his inheritance.
8/24: Irene Dunne
6:15 PM - My Favorite Wife (1940)
11 AM - The White Cliffs of Dover (1944); 8 PM - The Awful Truth (1937)
My Favorite Wife, co-starring Cary Grant, is quintessential Irene Dunne - witty, poised, confident, and able to carry off some truly ridiculous hats. She's the type of woman that any man would want to marry and any girl would like to grow up to be. In this film, lucky Cary is already married to Irene...until she is shipwrecked and presumed dead. Of course, she reappears just in time to disrupt Cary's plans for remarriage and prove why she's the superior mate.
8/25: Tyrone Power
8 PM - The Razor's Edge (1946)
12:45 AM - Witness for the Prosecution (1957); 2:30 AM - A Yank in the RAF (1941)
With a face and name (yes, that's his real name) tailor-made for the movies, Tyrone Power seemed destined to make an impression on screen. In The Razor's Edge Power showed dramatic depths that proved he was more than just a pretty face. The film (and novel by W. Somerset Maugham) popularized the idea of "finding" one's self. That's what the main character sets out to do by taking a trip to India, thus inspiring countless spiritual journeys which in turn gave us everything from the late 60s output of The Beatles to Eat Pray Love.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Classic Move Picks: July 2012
by Lani
Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)
7/10: Leslie Howard + Bette Davis
8 PM - The Petrified Forest (1936)
9:30 PM - It's Love I'm After (1937)
11:15 PM - Of Human Bondage (1934)
Star of the Month Leslie Howard is featured every Tuesday in July, but I'm especially interested in tonight's line-up co-starring Bette Davis. The two actors reportedly did not get along well off-screen; however, their work together on-screen is in perfect harmony. Englishman Howard first held a grudge against American Davis for getting the lead in Of Human Bondage, a role he felt should have been played by a British actress. That was to be Davis's break-out role and two years later she would again star opposite Howard in The Petrified Forest. Davis was reluctant to do her third film opposite Howard, It's Love I'm After, since their relationship during Forest had run hot and cold. However, this time Davis was left alone; Howard's off-screen attentions were focused solely on beautiful co-star Olivia de Havilland.
7/12, 9:45 PM - Stormy Weather (1943)
This film is significant in history as one of the first big-ticket Hollywood films to feature an all-black cast; however, it is truly notable for its glittering musical numbers starring some of the top talents of the 40s. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson stars as an aspiring dancer in love with singer Lena Horne. The title song would become Horne's signature tune. The two stars are also joined by Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and The Nicholas Brothers. (Personally, I hate to miss any opportunity to see the marvelous Nicholas Brothers perform.)
7/15, 12 AM - The Films of Georges Melies (1896)
Marvel at the ingenious special effects of early filmmaker Georges Melies in this collection of restored silent shorts, including A Trip to the Moon.
7/19: A Day in Prison
Spend a day behind bars with 9 films set in or around prisons. In the "classic" era, prison films were generally B-grade, but often ripe for campy fun. These are the three that caught my eye:
6 AM - Ladies They Talk About (1933) - A young Barbara Stanwyck stars as a bank robber who becomes boss of the cell block.
4 PM - House of Numbers (1957) - Jack Palance plays opposite himself as twins - one imprisoned, the other trying to break his brother out.
5:45 PM - Convicts 4 (1962) - In a rare leading role, Ben Gazzara stars as real-life convict John Resko, who discovers a talent for art while behind bars. Ray Walston, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Timothy Carey (also a prisoner in House of Numbers) play the three other convicts of the title.
7/20: More Vampires
2 AM - Near Dark (1987)
3:45 AM - The Fearless Vampire Killers; Or, Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are In My Neck (1967)
Since Dracula first stalked the screen, vampires have never really gone out of fashion. Right now you can see them on TV in True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. On the big screen, The Twilight Saga continues, Johnny Depp dons pointy teeth in Dark Shadows, and even Abraham Lincoln has been dubbed a vampire hunter. But if all those don't satisfy your hunger, TCM is showing these two very different vampire movies from directors Kathryn Bigelow and Roman Polanski. The blood suckers of Near Dark resemble a family of filthy drifters rather than the aristocratic Count Dracula or shiny, happy Cullens (in fact, the word "vampire" is not used in this film). This family, led by Lance Henriksen and a scene-stealing Bill Paxton, also draw far more blood than you're likely to find in Dracula and Twilight combined - you've been warned. In contrast, Fearless Vampire Killers is played for comedy, telling the story of a bumbling professor on the track of vampires in the wilds of Eastern Europe.
7/67: Dick Tracy
8 PM - Dick Tracy (1990)
9:55 PM - Dick Tracy Special (2009)
10:30 PM - Dick Tracy (1945)
11:45 PM - Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
1 AM - Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)
Some of you may remember The Great Dick Tracy Marketing Blitz of 1990. I was but a child, yet I remember it well. In anticipation of the release of Warren Beatty's big-budget movie based on a 1930's comic strip, Dick Tracy merchandise was everywhere you looked. I may have owned the most pathetic piece: a plain, pink zippered pouch, meant to be worn around your wrist, with plain, black iron-on letters spelling out "DICK TRACY." I'm not sure if it was even official merchandise, or the product of someone capitalizing on the Dick Tracy mania then sweeping the country. Well, the movie came and went; it won Oscars for its striking art direction, makeup, and Best Song. But the film itself hasn't had much of an afterlife. Except for the Dick Tracy Special, filmed 19 years later, in which Leonard Maltin interviews Beatty, in costume as Dick Tracy, about the history of the character on film. I'm not sure if anyone was asking for this to happen, but it did, so there you have it. Tonight TCM is showing it all - Beatty's film, the special, and three Dick Tracy movies from the 40s. Perhaps we can recapture the rush of Dick Tracy fever again, if only for one night.
Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)
7/10: Leslie Howard + Bette Davis
8 PM - The Petrified Forest (1936)
9:30 PM - It's Love I'm After (1937)
11:15 PM - Of Human Bondage (1934)
Star of the Month Leslie Howard is featured every Tuesday in July, but I'm especially interested in tonight's line-up co-starring Bette Davis. The two actors reportedly did not get along well off-screen; however, their work together on-screen is in perfect harmony. Englishman Howard first held a grudge against American Davis for getting the lead in Of Human Bondage, a role he felt should have been played by a British actress. That was to be Davis's break-out role and two years later she would again star opposite Howard in The Petrified Forest. Davis was reluctant to do her third film opposite Howard, It's Love I'm After, since their relationship during Forest had run hot and cold. However, this time Davis was left alone; Howard's off-screen attentions were focused solely on beautiful co-star Olivia de Havilland.
7/12, 9:45 PM - Stormy Weather (1943)
This film is significant in history as one of the first big-ticket Hollywood films to feature an all-black cast; however, it is truly notable for its glittering musical numbers starring some of the top talents of the 40s. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson stars as an aspiring dancer in love with singer Lena Horne. The title song would become Horne's signature tune. The two stars are also joined by Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and The Nicholas Brothers. (Personally, I hate to miss any opportunity to see the marvelous Nicholas Brothers perform.)
7/15, 12 AM - The Films of Georges Melies (1896)
Marvel at the ingenious special effects of early filmmaker Georges Melies in this collection of restored silent shorts, including A Trip to the Moon.
7/19: A Day in Prison
Spend a day behind bars with 9 films set in or around prisons. In the "classic" era, prison films were generally B-grade, but often ripe for campy fun. These are the three that caught my eye:
6 AM - Ladies They Talk About (1933) - A young Barbara Stanwyck stars as a bank robber who becomes boss of the cell block.
4 PM - House of Numbers (1957) - Jack Palance plays opposite himself as twins - one imprisoned, the other trying to break his brother out.
5:45 PM - Convicts 4 (1962) - In a rare leading role, Ben Gazzara stars as real-life convict John Resko, who discovers a talent for art while behind bars. Ray Walston, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Timothy Carey (also a prisoner in House of Numbers) play the three other convicts of the title.
7/20: More Vampires
2 AM - Near Dark (1987)
3:45 AM - The Fearless Vampire Killers; Or, Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are In My Neck (1967)
Since Dracula first stalked the screen, vampires have never really gone out of fashion. Right now you can see them on TV in True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. On the big screen, The Twilight Saga continues, Johnny Depp dons pointy teeth in Dark Shadows, and even Abraham Lincoln has been dubbed a vampire hunter. But if all those don't satisfy your hunger, TCM is showing these two very different vampire movies from directors Kathryn Bigelow and Roman Polanski. The blood suckers of Near Dark resemble a family of filthy drifters rather than the aristocratic Count Dracula or shiny, happy Cullens (in fact, the word "vampire" is not used in this film). This family, led by Lance Henriksen and a scene-stealing Bill Paxton, also draw far more blood than you're likely to find in Dracula and Twilight combined - you've been warned. In contrast, Fearless Vampire Killers is played for comedy, telling the story of a bumbling professor on the track of vampires in the wilds of Eastern Europe.
7/67: Dick Tracy
8 PM - Dick Tracy (1990)
9:55 PM - Dick Tracy Special (2009)
10:30 PM - Dick Tracy (1945)
11:45 PM - Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
1 AM - Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)
Some of you may remember The Great Dick Tracy Marketing Blitz of 1990. I was but a child, yet I remember it well. In anticipation of the release of Warren Beatty's big-budget movie based on a 1930's comic strip, Dick Tracy merchandise was everywhere you looked. I may have owned the most pathetic piece: a plain, pink zippered pouch, meant to be worn around your wrist, with plain, black iron-on letters spelling out "DICK TRACY." I'm not sure if it was even official merchandise, or the product of someone capitalizing on the Dick Tracy mania then sweeping the country. Well, the movie came and went; it won Oscars for its striking art direction, makeup, and Best Song. But the film itself hasn't had much of an afterlife. Except for the Dick Tracy Special, filmed 19 years later, in which Leonard Maltin interviews Beatty, in costume as Dick Tracy, about the history of the character on film. I'm not sure if anyone was asking for this to happen, but it did, so there you have it. Tonight TCM is showing it all - Beatty's film, the special, and three Dick Tracy movies from the 40s. Perhaps we can recapture the rush of Dick Tracy fever again, if only for one night.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Best of 2012, So Far
by A.J. and Lani
It's about halfway through the year, so a recap of the cinematic highlights so far feels appropriate. 2012 had a slow start, and though we haven't been to the movies as often as usual, there have still been some pretty good ones, such as:
A.J.: The previous film from writer-director Whit Stillman, The
Last Days of Disco, was released in 1998, and at last after 14 years his 4th
film, Damsels in Distress, made its way to theaters in April. I had been
eagerly awaiting this film for quite some time and even with all that built up
anticipation Damsels in Distress did not disappoint. It follows
a group of girls at a college in the Northeast that are trying to raise the
level of sophistication of the other students. It takes place in a world that reminds
me of movies from the 30's and 40's. Violet, played by Greta Gerwig, thinks
that best way for her to change society for the better is to create an
international dance craze. There's off-beat but substantial characters, Fred
Astaire references, smart comedy, and not one but two dance numbers at the end.
This is movie is simply a great time.
21 Jump Street
It's about halfway through the year, so a recap of the cinematic highlights so far feels appropriate. 2012 had a slow start, and though we haven't been to the movies as often as usual, there have still been some pretty good ones, such as:
21 Jump Street
A.J.: I went
to see 21 Jump Street in part because I had not been to the movies in so long
that I just needed to go, and this big screen comedy version of an 80s TV show
seemed like the best bet. I was expecting a dumb but funny movie, but what I saw
was a pretty solid comedy. I laughed out loud many, many times. Jonah Hill is
funny as you might expect, but Channing Tatum is the real comedic stand out
here. You might think that adults going back to high school in disguise has
been done a lot, and it has, but as the characters quickly learn a lot has
changed since the start of the millennium, like which clique is the popular one
and which ones are looked down on.
Lani: Richard Linklater's latest film uses a semi-documentary style to tell the story of Bernie Tiede, a funeral director in small-town Carthage, Texas, his friendship with a local widow, and her shocking murder at Bernie's hand. The film is based on true events; however, this is not The Thin Blue Line. Bernie is played by Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine plays the widow Mrs. Nugent; however, many of the characters are played by actual residents of Carthage. Their often hilariously candid thoughts are captured in talking-head segments which make up a good portion of the film. Linklater smartly realized that this is the kind of stuff you just can't make up and the town's genuine love of Bernie and dislike of Mrs. Nugent comes across loud and clear. Bernie, while dealing with a dark subject, maintains a light tone in keeping with the sunny personality of its title character.
A.J.: I was skeptical, but intrigued by the premise of Safety Not Guaranteed. A journalist takes two interns to investigate a classified ad seeking a partner for time travel. Aubrey Plaza is one of the interns and though her character doesn't stray too far from the moody-outsider she's played before, this role does let her play a more realized character. She finds and befriends the person that placed the ad, played by Mark Duplass, and as they train for a journey back in time she begins to wonder if his claims about time travel might be serious. Safety Not Guaranteed is a funny, offbeat character movie that doesn't fall into the traps that stunt so many other indie movies.
The Five-Year Engagement
Lani: When I heard the title of this film I groaned a bit. Great, another romantic comedy about people who can't "commit," perhaps my least favorite film cliche of recent years. However, this film surprised me by portraying a couple who were so comfortable in their commitment that they weren't afraid to cancel their wedding, often the mark of death for a movie couple. After their engagement is announced, Tom and Violet (played by Jason Segel and Emily Blunt) find that a cross-country move, the rigors of a post-doctorate program, and other family events prevent them from planning their perfect wedding. In our culture obsessed with elaborate weddings, the couple becomes completely overwhelmed by party planning and loses sight of what they really want--just to be together.
Lockout
Lani: As the resident action connoisseur around this blog, I have to give some love to Lockout, a fun and scruffy film which doesn't take itself seriously for a moment. Guy Pearce plays former CIA agent Snow, who is tapped to break in to a maximum security prison in space, rescue the President's daughter, and do all this in the middle of a massive prison riot. Pearce is delightfully wry, never missing an opportunity to crack a joke whether he's under interrogation, performing first aid, or beating up crazed killers. Among the overblown action films this year based on comic books & board games and pseudo-intellectual sci-fi bores, Lockout stands out for knowing exactly what it is (a fun 90 minutes at the movies) and getting the job done.
The Five-Year Engagement
Lani: When I heard the title of this film I groaned a bit. Great, another romantic comedy about people who can't "commit," perhaps my least favorite film cliche of recent years. However, this film surprised me by portraying a couple who were so comfortable in their commitment that they weren't afraid to cancel their wedding, often the mark of death for a movie couple. After their engagement is announced, Tom and Violet (played by Jason Segel and Emily Blunt) find that a cross-country move, the rigors of a post-doctorate program, and other family events prevent them from planning their perfect wedding. In our culture obsessed with elaborate weddings, the couple becomes completely overwhelmed by party planning and loses sight of what they really want--just to be together.
Lockout
Lani: As the resident action connoisseur around this blog, I have to give some love to Lockout, a fun and scruffy film which doesn't take itself seriously for a moment. Guy Pearce plays former CIA agent Snow, who is tapped to break in to a maximum security prison in space, rescue the President's daughter, and do all this in the middle of a massive prison riot. Pearce is delightfully wry, never missing an opportunity to crack a joke whether he's under interrogation, performing first aid, or beating up crazed killers. Among the overblown action films this year based on comic books & board games and pseudo-intellectual sci-fi bores, Lockout stands out for knowing exactly what it is (a fun 90 minutes at the movies) and getting the job done.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Classic Movie Picks: June 2012
Each month, I scour the Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for upcoming films that I can't miss. The highlights are posted here for your reading and viewing pleasure! (All listed times are Eastern Standard, check your local listings or TCM.com for actual air times in your area. Each day's schedule begins at 6:00 a.m.; if a film airs between midnight and 6 a.m. it is listed on the previous day's programming schedule.)
A few weeks ago, disaster struck. I spilled a full glass of iced tea on my copy of Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for June. How could I make my picks without the guide? It was surely an omen that this month's post would be a challenge. And sure enough, as Now Playing lay drying on the fireplace, my mind was diverted by work, houseguests, and attempts to knit one blasted sock (at this rate I should have a matched pair sometime next spring). Yesterday, when I received the July issue of Now Playing and realized that I still hadn't written my post for June, I considered taking the month off, but that felt too much like quitting. If I can't bring myself to finish typing up some movie suggestions, how will I ever finish that sock!
6/3, 2 AM - A Man and a Woman (1966)
An unprecedented hit with American audiences, this romantic drama from France won two Oscars, Best Screenplay and Best Foreign Film. This type of story was a staple of classic films - a glamorous romance between two mature adults (almost anything seemed more glamorous in a classic movie). Romances like Now, Voyager, An Affair to Remember, or A Man and a Woman which all deal with characters well past the blush of youth don't seem to get made as much anymore.
6/6, 3 AM - Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989)
Part of TCM's June spotlight on the immigrant experience, this comedy about Chinese families in New York is directed by Wayne Wang and based on a novel by Louis Chu. The story is set during the 1940s following the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act which prevented immigrants from bringing their families to the U.S. I really enjoyed Wang's film The Joy Luck Club, another literary adaptation which also deals with the experiences of Chinese immigrants in America. However, Eat a Bowl of Tea takes a more straightforwardly comedic approach to issues like arranged marriage and the politics of a Chinatown community.
6/7, 6:30 AM - The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957)
Speaking of romance...here we have the legendary love story of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, an invalid held back by her overbearing father, and Robert Browning, the dashing fellow poet who gave Elizabeth the strength to break free from her family. This is the Metrocolor remake of MGM's 1934 black & white version starring Norma Shearer, Fredric March, and Charles Laughton. The 1957 version was shot on location in England with mostly British actors, including Bill Travers as Browning and John Gielgud as patriarch Edward Moulton-Barrett. Jennifer Jones leads the fine cast as Elizabeth Barrett.
Fans of Virginia Woolf's Flush: A Biography will be happy to know that Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel has also been well-cast. Flush even merited a mention by critic Bosley Crowther in his New York Times review: "played to perfection by a charming spaniel not named in the cast."
6/17, 8 PM - Rio Bravo (1959)
You know what's a pretty good little movie? Rio Bravo.While not officially part of this month's Teen Idols programming, this is probably the best film Ricky Nelson ever made. Rio Bravo is also part of TCM's Essentials, Jr. series this summer, so why not watch with the whole family.
6/30, 9:45 PM - Christmas in July (1940)
It was actually radio which made me a Dick Powell fan. Like many movie stars of the 40s and 50s, Dick Powell also appeared in radio dramas. I was born several decades too late to hear these shows on the radio; however, I'm grateful to the dedicated fans who have made old-time radio shows available via podcast. I especially enjoy the detective shows and Powell's apperances on Rogue's Gallery and Richard Diamond: Private Detective are some of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that he usually finds an excuse to sing at the end of each episode, either. I'm also on a bit of a Preston Sturges kick after watching Sullivan's Travels and The Palm Beach Story in May, so this film directed by Sturges and starring Powell sounds like a winning combination.
(Visit RelicRadio.com for lots of old-time radio goodness.)
A few weeks ago, disaster struck. I spilled a full glass of iced tea on my copy of Turner Classic Movies Now Playing guide for June. How could I make my picks without the guide? It was surely an omen that this month's post would be a challenge. And sure enough, as Now Playing lay drying on the fireplace, my mind was diverted by work, houseguests, and attempts to knit one blasted sock (at this rate I should have a matched pair sometime next spring). Yesterday, when I received the July issue of Now Playing and realized that I still hadn't written my post for June, I considered taking the month off, but that felt too much like quitting. If I can't bring myself to finish typing up some movie suggestions, how will I ever finish that sock!
6/3, 2 AM - A Man and a Woman (1966)
An unprecedented hit with American audiences, this romantic drama from France won two Oscars, Best Screenplay and Best Foreign Film. This type of story was a staple of classic films - a glamorous romance between two mature adults (almost anything seemed more glamorous in a classic movie). Romances like Now, Voyager, An Affair to Remember, or A Man and a Woman which all deal with characters well past the blush of youth don't seem to get made as much anymore.
6/6, 3 AM - Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989)
Part of TCM's June spotlight on the immigrant experience, this comedy about Chinese families in New York is directed by Wayne Wang and based on a novel by Louis Chu. The story is set during the 1940s following the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act which prevented immigrants from bringing their families to the U.S. I really enjoyed Wang's film The Joy Luck Club, another literary adaptation which also deals with the experiences of Chinese immigrants in America. However, Eat a Bowl of Tea takes a more straightforwardly comedic approach to issues like arranged marriage and the politics of a Chinatown community.
6/7, 6:30 AM - The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957)
Speaking of romance...here we have the legendary love story of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, an invalid held back by her overbearing father, and Robert Browning, the dashing fellow poet who gave Elizabeth the strength to break free from her family. This is the Metrocolor remake of MGM's 1934 black & white version starring Norma Shearer, Fredric March, and Charles Laughton. The 1957 version was shot on location in England with mostly British actors, including Bill Travers as Browning and John Gielgud as patriarch Edward Moulton-Barrett. Jennifer Jones leads the fine cast as Elizabeth Barrett.
Fans of Virginia Woolf's Flush: A Biography will be happy to know that Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel has also been well-cast. Flush even merited a mention by critic Bosley Crowther in his New York Times review: "played to perfection by a charming spaniel not named in the cast."
6/17, 8 PM - Rio Bravo (1959)
You know what's a pretty good little movie? Rio Bravo.While not officially part of this month's Teen Idols programming, this is probably the best film Ricky Nelson ever made. Rio Bravo is also part of TCM's Essentials, Jr. series this summer, so why not watch with the whole family.
6/30, 9:45 PM - Christmas in July (1940)
It was actually radio which made me a Dick Powell fan. Like many movie stars of the 40s and 50s, Dick Powell also appeared in radio dramas. I was born several decades too late to hear these shows on the radio; however, I'm grateful to the dedicated fans who have made old-time radio shows available via podcast. I especially enjoy the detective shows and Powell's apperances on Rogue's Gallery and Richard Diamond: Private Detective are some of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that he usually finds an excuse to sing at the end of each episode, either. I'm also on a bit of a Preston Sturges kick after watching Sullivan's Travels and The Palm Beach Story in May, so this film directed by Sturges and starring Powell sounds like a winning combination.
(Visit RelicRadio.com for lots of old-time radio goodness.)
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Film Adaptations We'd Like to See
by A.J. and Lani
This weekend, Hasbro - the company which brought Transformers, Transformers 2, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon to the big screen - releases another film based on one of its classic toys, Battleship, a.k.a Transformers: Gone Fishin'. This summer we'll also get the G.I. Joe sequel no one asked for, followed by several more toy-based films over the next few years including Candy Land (possibly starring Adam Sandler), Ouija, Stretch Armstrong, and a Monopoly movie produced by Ridley Scott. But what about the tried and true source material for hundreds of great films - books? Here are our picks for books which we'd like to see adapted to the screen.
A.J.'s Picks
April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik
Like most Americans, I thought that the Civil War ended with Lee surrendering to Grant at Appomattox. Then I saw a History Channel special called April 1865: The Month That Saved America, and learned that the War actually ended a few weeks later after continued fighting in the Carolinas and even a Confederate victory at Galveston. While it never fully escapes being a history lesson, the book on which the special was based tells a very interesting story full of key players, such as Cofederate General Joe Johnston, that I don’t think many people know about.
I’m not afraid to say that Gettysburg (based on the historical novel The Killer Angels by Michael Sharra) is the best made-for-TV movie out there. Gettysburg’s production values, casting, and dialogue far outdo its big screen prequel Gods and Generals and I would like to see April 1865 get at least the same treatment that TNT gave to Gettysburg. The most important role in April 1865 would be Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He was the son of a Revolutionary War hero, his wife was a descendent of George Washington, he was the first choice to command the Union army, and far more important to the Confederacy than its president, Jefferson Davis. The other lead roles would be Union generals U.S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. Grant and Sherman had seemingly opposite personalities (Grant was shy, Sherman was volatile) and a complex friendship. I didn’t imagine actors when I read the book since the characters are oft-photographed historical figures. After seeing what British director Tom Hooper did with the John Adams mini-series on HBO it would make sense to hire him; or perhaps Christopher Nolan, who’s shown us he knows how to focus on character, but also handle a big production. Having a British director would give an objective distance to the story of how the United States went from being a union of states to a single nation.
Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker
A.J.'s Picks
April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik
Like most Americans, I thought that the Civil War ended with Lee surrendering to Grant at Appomattox. Then I saw a History Channel special called April 1865: The Month That Saved America, and learned that the War actually ended a few weeks later after continued fighting in the Carolinas and even a Confederate victory at Galveston. While it never fully escapes being a history lesson, the book on which the special was based tells a very interesting story full of key players, such as Cofederate General Joe Johnston, that I don’t think many people know about.
I’m not afraid to say that Gettysburg (based on the historical novel The Killer Angels by Michael Sharra) is the best made-for-TV movie out there. Gettysburg’s production values, casting, and dialogue far outdo its big screen prequel Gods and Generals and I would like to see April 1865 get at least the same treatment that TNT gave to Gettysburg. The most important role in April 1865 would be Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He was the son of a Revolutionary War hero, his wife was a descendent of George Washington, he was the first choice to command the Union army, and far more important to the Confederacy than its president, Jefferson Davis. The other lead roles would be Union generals U.S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. Grant and Sherman had seemingly opposite personalities (Grant was shy, Sherman was volatile) and a complex friendship. I didn’t imagine actors when I read the book since the characters are oft-photographed historical figures. After seeing what British director Tom Hooper did with the John Adams mini-series on HBO it would make sense to hire him; or perhaps Christopher Nolan, who’s shown us he knows how to focus on character, but also handle a big production. Having a British director would give an objective distance to the story of how the United States went from being a union of states to a single nation.
Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker
Known as a master of horror, Clive
Barker's work in print and on film is admittedly not for everyone. However, his near-700 page novel Coldheart
Canyon, which has the tagline “A Hollywood Ghost Story,” sets its fantastical elements in the familiar (to movie fans) world of Hollywood moviemakers, making it a very accessible story.
After a simple plastic surgery goes wrong, Todd Pickett, an action star whose best days and films are behind him, moves into a secluded mansion in a forgotten part of Hollywood called Coldheart Canyon. The mansion’s previous owner, silent film actress Katya Lupi, once held decadent parties there with other movie stars of the time. Todd discovers that Katya still lives in the mansion and has not aged. There is also a mysterious room where the walls, floor, and ceiling are a single-tiled painting that seems to come to life. It would be a very ambitious, and therefore unlikely, book to adapt to a movie given the real-life silent movie star names used; the debauched and perverted acts that Katya hosted at her mansion; and the monstrous, fantastical creatures still lurking there. While Barker has directed three movies adapted from his own work, the director that would be perfect to bring this phantasmagoric and highly sexual story to screen is David Cronenberg. Coldheart Canyon would be right in line with his films like Shivers (They Came From Within), The Brood, Videodrome, and Crash. He’s the one to hire if you want to effectively portray the repulsion and attraction of the body and sexuality.
Lani's Picks
Jennifer Government by Max Barry
In this satirical look at a world in which the free-market rules, American government has been privatized; employees take the last names of the companies they work for; and The Police and NRA are publicly-traded security firms. When the hapless merchandising underling Hack Nike unwittingly agrees to assassinate teenagers in order to build up street cred for a new sneaker line, he sets off a chain of events involving The Police, the NRA, and eventually the feared government agent of the title.
The film rights were originally bought by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney's production company. However, a film adaptation has been "in development" for a decade, but doesn't seem to be getting any closer to being made. The casting of Jennifer could be a challenge; she is a tough, experienced investigator, but also a loving mother to her young daughter. Right now my choice might be Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Adjustment Bureau). She's never played a character like this before, but she has the face of a stone-cold killer. In light of the recent rise of the "Tea Party" in American politics and the ongoing debate over government programs vs. privatization, this story of capitalism in the extreme seems increasingly relevant.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
I can't be the only person who'd like to see this unique story of magic during the Napoleonic Wars brought to the screen. The book follows two magicians (the only ones left practicing in England, if not the world), first as teacher and pupil, then as rivals. At the time of its publication, Clarke's novel received numerous accolades and the idea of a "Harry Potter for adults" seems too good for anyone in Hollywood to pass up. However, the story is also extremely complex with important characters numbering in the double digits and a large special effects budget would be required for many of the magical set-pieces. With such a large cast of characters, there are juicy roles for scores of actors. (One of the joys of reading the book was imagining which actors would be best suited for which character!) I always imagined the secretive, arrogant Mr Norrell as portrayed by Ian Holm and I could see Benedict Cumberbatch (TV's Sherlock) or Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Jane Eyre) as Strange, the younger magician who finds himself drawn towards ancient dark magic. My fantasy cast also includes Paul Bettany, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hollander, Richard E. Grant, and Rhys Ifans. Because Jonathan Strange is such a dense novel (this is a story which includes numerous footnotes after all), it seems almost better suited for a cable mini-series than for a conventional film.
So, which books would you like to see adapted for the screen?
After a simple plastic surgery goes wrong, Todd Pickett, an action star whose best days and films are behind him, moves into a secluded mansion in a forgotten part of Hollywood called Coldheart Canyon. The mansion’s previous owner, silent film actress Katya Lupi, once held decadent parties there with other movie stars of the time. Todd discovers that Katya still lives in the mansion and has not aged. There is also a mysterious room where the walls, floor, and ceiling are a single-tiled painting that seems to come to life. It would be a very ambitious, and therefore unlikely, book to adapt to a movie given the real-life silent movie star names used; the debauched and perverted acts that Katya hosted at her mansion; and the monstrous, fantastical creatures still lurking there. While Barker has directed three movies adapted from his own work, the director that would be perfect to bring this phantasmagoric and highly sexual story to screen is David Cronenberg. Coldheart Canyon would be right in line with his films like Shivers (They Came From Within), The Brood, Videodrome, and Crash. He’s the one to hire if you want to effectively portray the repulsion and attraction of the body and sexuality.
Lani's Picks
Jennifer Government by Max Barry
In this satirical look at a world in which the free-market rules, American government has been privatized; employees take the last names of the companies they work for; and The Police and NRA are publicly-traded security firms. When the hapless merchandising underling Hack Nike unwittingly agrees to assassinate teenagers in order to build up street cred for a new sneaker line, he sets off a chain of events involving The Police, the NRA, and eventually the feared government agent of the title.
The film rights were originally bought by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney's production company. However, a film adaptation has been "in development" for a decade, but doesn't seem to be getting any closer to being made. The casting of Jennifer could be a challenge; she is a tough, experienced investigator, but also a loving mother to her young daughter. Right now my choice might be Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Adjustment Bureau). She's never played a character like this before, but she has the face of a stone-cold killer. In light of the recent rise of the "Tea Party" in American politics and the ongoing debate over government programs vs. privatization, this story of capitalism in the extreme seems increasingly relevant.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
I can't be the only person who'd like to see this unique story of magic during the Napoleonic Wars brought to the screen. The book follows two magicians (the only ones left practicing in England, if not the world), first as teacher and pupil, then as rivals. At the time of its publication, Clarke's novel received numerous accolades and the idea of a "Harry Potter for adults" seems too good for anyone in Hollywood to pass up. However, the story is also extremely complex with important characters numbering in the double digits and a large special effects budget would be required for many of the magical set-pieces. With such a large cast of characters, there are juicy roles for scores of actors. (One of the joys of reading the book was imagining which actors would be best suited for which character!) I always imagined the secretive, arrogant Mr Norrell as portrayed by Ian Holm and I could see Benedict Cumberbatch (TV's Sherlock) or Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Jane Eyre) as Strange, the younger magician who finds himself drawn towards ancient dark magic. My fantasy cast also includes Paul Bettany, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hollander, Richard E. Grant, and Rhys Ifans. Because Jonathan Strange is such a dense novel (this is a story which includes numerous footnotes after all), it seems almost better suited for a cable mini-series than for a conventional film.
So, which books would you like to see adapted for the screen?
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