An Eclectic Film Career

Considering the idea of a true ACTOR since blurbing a snippet about Leo G. Carroll - it comes to mind that being an actor, developing characters and only performing for the love of the work is much more pervasive than we can imagine. The recent loss of the lovely Clarice Taylor (September 20, 1917-May 30, 2011) brings this idea to fruition.......

"Play Misty For me" (1971) - Intelligently creepy, Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this stalking film. Clarice Taylor plays her small role with a sense of humor. 

 "Sommersby" (1993) - What is with Richard Gere remaking incredible French films? The story of Martin Guerre is compelling because its true...I'm not sure a translation to the American Civil War does it justice........Clarice Taylor has only moments,  I don't think it does her justice either....

"Smoke" (1995) - Based on a novelette by Paul Auster, this quirky major actor film is fun and just weird enough to remind you of characters from your own childhood neighborhood.........Clarice is delightfully well placed with this group. 

Leo G.Carroll is a spy and I dream about Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan, top of the line in hardboiled private eyes and stern but fatherly Military men, was in my dream. One of those that leaves such a spooky yet comforting effect that pictures of it linger through your brain for days. Now I can't shake him off because I saw him in at least 3 films over the weekend just by flipping channels. 


Leo G. Carroll turned up in this weird documentary style mystery about spies, the FBI and telegrams from J.Edgar Hoover.......(who is being played by Leo DiCaprio in a new film, now why couldn't I have dreamed about Leos???) ......But now the song, "Science Fiction, Double Feature" won't leave my head  because there is a line about Leo G. Carroll in it......I'm listening to it through head phones trying to dispel the spell....


"Clash by Night" (1941) - oh its a good day when you can write about a movie and slip in a Marilyn Monroe moment ..Interesting character study about seriously dysfunctional relationships, with Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan, Marilyn and Paul Douglas.....Robert is especially smarmy in this one. 


"The Bad and The Beautiful" (1952) - Leo G. Carroll is the character you are waiting for when you don't even know you are waiting for some one.......As he enters the scene its like a tiny breeze of fresh cool air on still humid night....just for a few moments there is something refreshing you think has passed by ....


"Tarantula" (1955) - This is a must see movie for many reasons, now I've added an extra- Leo G. Carroll...have fun! 

I'm Putting on my Top Hat

Dancing! A joyful way to spend time is with a dancing movie. What else can make you want to twirl, prance and leap but leave you riveted into a seat? While "Dancing with the Stars" might have folks delighted to take ballroom lessons, its those incredible athletic dancing actors that one could never never emulate that really get an audience's heart pounding to the rhythm.....


"Shall We Dance" (1937) - Full of everything we want Fred & Ginger to be. One of the best of their series of films. 


"White Nights" (1985) - In the genre of dance film the combination of Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov is nothing short of phenomenal- thankfully the film is well written and directed- but with the focus on dance numbers, one truly doesn't care.. 


"Stormy Weather" (1943) - The dancing gets lost among the heights of incredible talent shoved into one film- but watch it again- focus on the Nicholas Brothers and be wowed. 

Should this ever be a film?

Great books turn into amazing films or complete duds, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. ....Its an awkward transformation, one that must not be taken lightly and so often doesn't  work as hoped. While I've enjoyed the Harry Potter films - the books are resoundingly better entertainment. Rebecca was a terrific adaptation as was Wuthering Heights (but perhaps that was the era of film making?)    Its a relationship between the fantasy visualization of hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of  thousands of people and a filmmakers interpretation, not possible to match.  Its a great (okay, HUMONGOUS) risk to attempt such a thing. 


So it must be asked, what of your favorite books should never be a film? What book are you sorry became one? We should include graphic novels, short stories as well as novels. 


Here are my three: 

"Confederacy of Dunces" (John Kennedy Toole, 1980) - Yes, fellow readers, a movie is once again being tossed around - This time its Will Farrell as Ignatius ...Too many lovable intricate characters, too much heart felt sadness - This just won't play as a film. Don't attempt it. 

"Hello Kitty Must Die" (Angela S. Choi, 2010) - Fabulous, sneering, sarcastic and witty - Until audiences will accept a truly amazing woman in complete rejection of her 'role' and like her, this film can't be made. To stay true to the characterization as written by Choi, our heroine must be left to our own inner world. Its the novel representation of things you think but never say out loud. 

"Geek Love" (Katherine Dunn, 1989) - Too many elements, characters and grossness, not easy translated to a visual medium. It might be impossible for film makers to leave the complete emotional bankruptcy intact. They might attempt to create a hero or cutesy development to this dark comedy and that would just not do. Leave this wonderful, enchanting Circus family to its twisted mind bending words across the page for readers to imagine for their own wicked selves. 

Happy Birthday Bobby Zimmerman

Bob Dylan songs are like mini movies, they tell you a story - help flesh out pictures in your head and give you that emotional connection through senses that most music doesn't touch. Wishing the Happiest 70th Birthday to Mr. Dylan.......








"Masked and Anonymous" (2003) - Great music, terrific actors - much more of a  surreal cult indie film than a big motion picture. Dylan is not an actor, but allows the ones around him to do their thing. Not for your average movie goer, but music and film maven's need to see it. 


"I'm Not There" (2007) - You haven't seen anything until watching Cate Blanchett BE Bob Dylan - its eerie....Amazing and incredibly interesting- move this to the top of your list. 


"Don't Look Back" (1967)- What can be said? Iconic. 

Man oh Man ......

Yep, its a theme week...Men. 


John Wayne: When you are named Marion in American culture you either quickly change it or become uber macho...Mr. Wayne did both. The epitome of a man's man John Wayne struts, spits, smokes, drinks and loves like a cowboy. If he were acting now, would he be the lovable Dad guest star on some hot TV show? 

"Stage Coach" (1939) - As an ensemble cast member John Wayne jumps out as the sweet faced edgy cowboy. He pulls the camera eye towards him and refuses to let it go. and is a pretty decent film too. 

Bruce Willis: When Bruce sang, "Here she comes just a walk'n down the street" in the TV series "Moonlighting" the TV audience swooned. He was sweet, snarky, cute and oh so badly good. Over the years he has used that smarky attitude to defeat some awesome bad guys. It just seems like he is having too too much fun being the action hero. 

"12 Monkeys" (1995) - Who cares if the set up is confusing and ultimately lost in the story? Terry Gilliam directs this sci-fi greasy action pic with BIG moments and little asides, creating a fun fast moving intricate picture. Its one of the only films to recommend with Brad Pitt, so enjoy!! 

Danny Trejo: Okay, I must confess- since "Desperado" I've had a mad crush on Danny Trejo and for some reason get such a kick out of his acting even in really super bad films. Plus he did a stint on "Y&R" and any macho dude doing a soap is just adorable right?

"The Replacement Killers" (1998) - What fun to be able to pick this one, because Chow Yun Fat was almost my third macho man to write about! A terrible, mindless film, with way to much movement attempting to compensate for the script. However, I've watched it more than once and enjoyed it. Like most action for action's sake pics its just fun and loud.

If its going to rain all day in the Midwest .....

we should be watching ..............


"Blade Runner"(1982)- It rains off and on the entire day/night in this film- but you don't care because its that good. The atmosphere collides with the action which overlaps the conversation and twists the quirky characters into people who are more interesting when they aren't really people. 


"Hard Rain" (1998) - More like a great TV mystery movie than a major motion picture- its fun, its action packed, its raining. 


"Rain Fall" (2009) - I haven't seen this, but will head to the video store later to find it......May showers bring June Flowers?