Films That Matter
Stealers Wheel
A film noir with some eccentricities, The Big Steal (1949), directed by then third time film maker Don Siegel (who would go on to make such greats as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dirty Harry, and Escape from Alcatraz), plays like a long chase within a longer chase, while the meeting between gent and femme is something akin to a will they/won’t they screwball comedy. The usually laconic Lt. Duke Halliday (Robert Mitchum) is in quite the conundrum, as he has been robbed of a U.S. Army payroll totaling a whopping three hundred grand by swindler Jim Fiske (Patric Knowles). On the lam in Mexico (a rather rare noir location, also think Ride the Pink Horse and Touch of Evil), Halliday is on his trail... but the problem is, so is his superior – Captain Vincent Blake (William Bendix), who, of course, thinks it was actually the Lieutenant who ran off with the money.
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Go Go Godzilla
GodzillaOctober 13, 2016From a modern perspective, it may not be immediately recognizable that the classic 1954 monster movie Godzilla was, in many ways, a product of its time. Highlighting the anxiety of the nuclear age at the height of The Cold War, the gargantuan reptile first appears after a hydrogen bomb test in the middle of the ocean. Even this occurrence that starts off the film is based on reality, as the United States tested a giant nuclear weapon on March 1st, 1954, under the code name Castle Bravo. Fishermen, who were outside of the radius, were hit by the fallout from the blast, being covered with copious amounts of coral and radioactive ash. One man died following the event, creating an onslaught of international press that questioned these tests (though, other articles impugned the men on the vessel, suggesting that they were spies).
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Star Pick with Mike MacDonald
Young Frankenstein Never Grows OldYoung FrankensteinOctober 4, 2016I recently sat down with famed comedian Mike MacDonald, who has had much success touring North America over the past several decades. The popular comic has done it all, including performances of his stand up on Late Night with David Letterman, The Arsenio Hall Show, having comedy specials on Showtime and the CBC, as well as being a staple at the ‘Just For Laughs’ comedy festival in Montreal. He has even starred in a few movies. After his sidesplitting performance at The Port Theatre in Cornwall, Ontario (on August 19th, 2016), the funnyman was kind enough to sit down with me, telling me about some of his favourite films. He immediately referenced the parody as being his preferred type of motion picture. He eloquently and succinctly highlighted a key aspect in creating a successful parody: "when you want to piss on something, it is good for a two or three minute sketch. But to parody something for ninety minutes, you have to love the subject".
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All That Glitters is Not Gold
The Magnificent AmbersonsSeptember 30, 2016Depicting the slow decline of a wealthy family, Orson Welles’ follow up picture to Citizen Kane, 1942's The Magnificent Ambersons, provides us with a melancholic reflection on how the more simple life of the nineteenth century transitioned into a more hurried, less enjoyable one as the new century was ushered in. We are transported into the socialite world of the Ambersons, a well-to-do American family living in the then small city of Indianapolis. Residing in a gargantuan mansion, the family sit at the top of the food chain when it comes to the pecking order in the area. Welles provides the voice-over narration as he introduces us to the family, including Isabel (Dolores Costello), daughter of patriarch Major Amberson (Richard Bennett), a young lady who is being courted by the thoughtful Eugene Morgan (Joseph Cotten). After a disastrous attempt at performing a serenade for her, the romantic man is shunned by the young debutante – she sees his failure as an ominous sign.
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Star Pick with Matt Sobb
Don’t Skip This Hughes’ ClassicFerris Bueller's Day OffSeptember 27, 2016It is hard to fathom that Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is thirty years old. Written and directed by John Hughes, it is one of the seminal comedies of the 1980s – having influenced so many future films that look at the lives of bored yet rambunctious teenagers. Not too long ago, I chatted with MonkeyJunk drummer Matt Sobb. An integral part of the three piece Juno Award winning swamp rock/blues band, the percussionist narrowed his favourite films down to two – strangely enough, both were released in 1986: Stand by Me and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (which will be discussed here today). Providing me with two very well rounded and in depth answers, check out his response down below by clicking on the video interview. The band has been busy of late, having spent much time on tour throughout Europe and the United States – they are now making their way through Canada just prior to the release of their new album, Time to Roll. Make sure to check them out if you get a chance.
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Ring of Lies
The Set-UpSeptember 24, 2016Containing two of the big time film noir players, 1949's The Set-Up follows down and out boxer Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan) as he prepares for his next bout. Ryan, who starred in 15 film noirs throughout his career, perfectly encapsulates the aging veteran, with his domineering height, craggy athletic look, and pained eyes that show the seemingly endless struggles he has had in the ring. His long suffering wife, Julie, is played by Audrey Totter. The dame, who passed away back in 2013 at the age of 95, took on 14 very different roles in the bleak genre. The attractive blonde is less femme fatale in this one, this time showing her range as the pained woman who can no longer watch her husband take beatings night after night.
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Star Pick with Chris Slade
Classic Western EnsnaresThe Magnificent SevenSeptember 20, 2016With the remake of the 1960 classic The Magnificent Seven coming out this week, I thought that it would be a good time to go back and revisit the original motion picture – though perhaps some will be surprised to find out that The Magnificent Seven is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic Japanese movie Seven Samurai. A while back, I was fortunate enough to chat with Chris Slade, the current drummer of AC/DC (who also performed with them during the years 1989 to 1994 – recording three albums with the high octane rock band: The Razors Edge, Live at Donington and AC/DC Live). Born in Wales, the percussionist has had a long and illustrious career, being the original drummer for fellow Welshman Tom Jones (and part of his first six records), as well as being a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (recording eight albums along with Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers and Colin Pattenden from 1971 to 1978).
