Filmically Perfect

John Huston's entry into the stable of post-war films about desperate losers is this grimy, tough-as-mails crime drama which would seem much more at home at Warner Bros. than the high-falutin' MGM studio. Nevertheless, it is a great work, enlivened by brilliant portrayals from Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe, Marc Lawrence (particularly wonderful as the swarthy "Cobby"), Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Louis Calhern and the blonde gal seen below--I wonder whatever became of her?

Between West Side Story and The Sound of Music, director Robert Wise created what is arguably one of the best ghost stories ever put to film. A horror film that emphasizes the scariest part of life--just being human.

Brian De Palma's ode to the problems of puberty. Sissy Spacek's career-making portrayal of the tortured Carrie White is one for the ages, going from pathetic, to blissful, to "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." And now, some thirty years hence, the film is also a time capsule of just how groovy the 1970's really were!

Take a measly $300,000, a simple story told in a beautifully simple, albeit scary, fashion and what do you get? One of the major cash cows of film history and a film that has a lot to answer for!! John Carpenter's little thrill show helped begin the teens-in-peril films (along with the much lesser Friday the 13th) and created a genre that has been copied, aped and ridiculed to death!

As a bonus, stay tuned as the Film Guys and Niki talk about how YOU, our loyal listeners, can help out Filmically Perfect!

Let's do the Time Warp Again--and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again --and Again--and Again--and Again--and Again, etc.

Alfred Hitchcock had fallen upon hard times, successfully speaking, so he put every effort into making sure that THIS FILM was a hit. We think he succeeded and gave Robert Walker, so often cast as "the nice guy" arguably the best role of his career as the lovable sociopath Bruno Anthony. As an added attraction, watch oddly attractive Farley Granger get out-acted by a cigarette lighter!

A raucous comedy with meaning from the creator of “Beavis & Butthead?” What is the world coming to?! Mike judge hits oh so many nails on the head with this little gem that once you’ve seen it, you’ll never look at your cubicle the same again!

An Italian film that pays homage to all that the American West was--or at least the white man’s expansion via the railroad. Sergio Leone’s fourth and arguably finest foray into the wild west featuring perennial nice guy Henry Fonda as the baddest SOB on the screen, trading glances and bullets with some of the Cinema’s greatest faces--Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, and Claudia (sigh!) Cardinale.

Who woulda thunk it? John Waters, the “enfant terrible” of mondo trasho cinema gaining acceptability?! And to top it off a major Broadway musical and then a musical remake of one of his films? Will wonders never cease? Or is it a sign of the end times? Either way, the original 1988 Hairspray is still tacky, still fun, and still manages to put forward a good message about diversity.

Filmically Perfect takes a break from our onslaught of Perfect Movies to listen to the Voice of the People! Thanks to all those who called and apologies to those we didn’t get to talk to! We hope to do this on a more regular basis and will let you know well in advance!