Living for the Cinema

"Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?"

That's not only the tagline for this movie but for the fictional experimental drug which is offer to our main protagonist.  Demi Moore (Ghost, Indecent Proposal) plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a middle-aged actress/fitness guru who has been fired from the TV show she hosts on her 50th birthday.  She feels rejected, cast aside, and fearful of losing more of what made her a star.  And then comes a mysterious invitation to try a black market drug called "The Substance" which offers her a seemingly enticing opportunity to reverse the aging process.....or does it? :o Of course she decides to partake in this experiment and what results is in fact a younger version of herself played by Margaret Qualley (Drive Away Dolls, Poor Things) who names herself Sue.  However based on several specific rules laid out for the titular substance , BOTH versions are not scientifically able to walk and breathe at the same time.  And needless to say as those rules are NOT followed to the T, several complications ensue.....several NASTY complications. 

Winner of the Best Screenplay Award at this year's Cannes Film Festival, this film has received a lot of buzz and acclaim since then.  Directed by Coralie Fargeat as a follow up to her cult hit from 2018 named Revenge, this nutso satirical thriller might be best described as Death Becomes Her meets The Fly meets Requiem for a Dream....NOT for the squeamish. ;) 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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When this erotic mystery was first released in the Fall of '89, it was looked upon as a comeback vehicle for legendary actor Al Pacino who stars as beleaguered NYPD detective Frank Keller who is struggling with both alcoholism and the fallout from his recent divorce.  And then Frank unearths a new case which catches his interest.....a series of murders which are all linked to dates set up in personal ads AND the classic '50's song, "Sea of Love."  He teams up with a fellow detective played by John Goodman to set up a sting to catch this killer....but setting up a series of dates answering similar ads.  And wouldn't you know it, Frank meets some one who catches his fancy.....the mysterious Helen played by Ellen Barkin.  Only she might be a suspect too. :o And further intrigue results within this generally well-liked throwback thriller directed by Harold Becker (Malice) and written by Richard Price (The Color of Money).

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Thirty years ago, this inspiring prison drama based upon a short story by Stephen King was released to thunderous acclaim and weak box office.  Over time via strong video/DVD sales and steady play on cable, it built up a very devoted following to the point where it is now ranked #1 among all films rated on IMDB.  It's a beloved story focusing on two convicts at Shawshank Prison named Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) who become very close friends over several decades.  Directed by Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead, The Mist), it was also nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture.  You either get busy living for get busy dying....

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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SOMEBODY....STOP HIM!!!  Of course we're referring to Stanley Ipkiss played by Jim Carrey once he puts on that mask, the titular mask for this Summer '94 blockbuster smash which was based on a graphic novel of the same name.  Directed by Chuck Russell (Eraser) this was released amidst a breakout year for Carrey, smack between blockbusters Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber.  But THIS was the one where he got to stretch a bit....LITERALLY. :) Carrey plays a mild-mannered banker who one night finds a mysterious mask in the dock of the fictious Edge City where he lives.  He soon finds out that once he puts on that mask at night, it transform him into a cartoonishly green party animal who can sing, dance, and do impressions with the best of them!  Also starring in this comic book adapted comedy is Peter Greene, Peter Riegert, and in her big screen debut Cameron Diaz.  It's time to P-A-R-T-Y.....WHY?  Because he's GOTTA!!! ;) 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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The Ghost With The Most is BACK!  More than thirty-six years after the original cult smash Beetlejuice was released into theaters, director Tim Burton returns along with Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Michael Keaton in the titular role.  New additions to the cast include Jenna Ortega (Scream 6, Wednesday), Monica Bellucci (Irreversible, Matrix Reloaded), and Justin Theroux (The Leftovers, Mulholland Drive).  The plot?  Well....let's just say that there are lots of thrills, chills, laughs, and....disco music? :) 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN?

Thirty years ago this past summer, director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander, Ricochet) presented the answer to that question with a heavily hyped, lavish adaption of the popular radio show and comic strip of the same name from the '30's and 40's.....and audiences didn't seem to care, neither did critics for that matter.  However over time, this art-deco fantasy action thriller has garnered a bit of a cult following thanks to it very strong cast, catchy score (from the late, great Jerry Goldsmith) and some undeniably fun images and set pieces.  Alec Baldwin stars as Lamont Cranston, millionaire playboy who also moonlights as....The Shadow, fighting crime and getting to the bottom of evil conspiracies throughout his home city of New York.  John Lone co-stars as the main villain Shiwan Khan (a distant descendent of Genghis Khan), Penelope Ann Miller also co-stars as mysterious psychic Margo Lane, along with Sir Ian McKellen as her father Dr. Reinhardt Lane.  The stacked cast also includes Tim Curry, Jonathan Winters, and Peter Boyle.  It's time to find out.....what THE SHADOW knows..... :o   

See below for a link to the official Taylor Dane video of a truly original song performed for this film's soundtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXpWfd1BNkQ

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Seventy years ago, Alfred Hitchcock....the Master of Suspense....gave us the ultimate low-key, low-stakes paranoia thriller focusing on laid-up photographer L.B. played by the late great James Stewart.  L.B. has a broken leg and is stuck in his non-air-conditioned New York apartment where he has apparently has nothing better to do than.....watch.  Watch his neighbors that is as he lives in the middle of a open courtyard surrounded on all sides by other apartments....especially one apartment across the way where he THINKS he might have witnessed a murder. :o And not only does he keep watching, he ropes in others into this pseudo-investigation including his caretaker played by Thelma Ritter and his girlfriend played by Grace Kelly.  What results is a highly influential masterpiece which remains one of Hitchcock's biggest successes....let's see how well it holds up!

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Thirty years ago, this in-your-face violent satire of murder and media consumption was released to a mixture of acclaim and controversy.  Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street) presented us with the story of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis), two crazy lovers who are on a murder spree across the country.  What results is not only a national manhunt for them leading to incarceration at a prison lead but a brutal warden (Tommy Lee Jones) but a full-on media circus, with the host (Robert Downey Jr.) of a popular true-crime show at the center of it.  What results is a nutso movie which divided both critics and audiences alike, while also remaining a time capsule of one particular era when the likes of Joey Buttafuoco or Lorena Bobbitt became household names. 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Once Upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France....

A beloved filmmaker (Quentin Tarantino) directed his first epic period piece just LOOSELY (very loosely) based upon true events....meaning World War II.  We follow several different characters all within France at the time including Shoshanna (Melanie Laurent) a Jewish movie theater owner, Lt. Aldo Raines (Brad Pitt), the leader of a small roving grope of Allied soldiers known as "The Basterds," Archie Hickock (Michael Fassbender) a sharp British soldier on a very dangerous spy mission, and the evil Colonel Hans Landa who is hunting for all of them.  Landa is played by Christoph Walz in a breakout performance which would win him the first of two Oscars.  (He would win his other for a supporting performance in the next Tarantino film.)  As their stories converge, we witness plenty of treachery, deceit, and a generous share of Nazi scalps along the way. :o This film came out fifteen years ago this month, was a box office smash, and was nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture.

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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It has been more than seven years since the last entry in the long-running franchise was released....and lord knows how long has it been since we actually saw a GOOD Alien film? (Just one person's opinion) Well the xenomorph is BACK and the titular creature has brought its friends including several "face-huggers."  :o And they're ALL after a rag-tag group of young colonists who just want to escape their dreary mining colony for a better world where there is actually daylight.  Their ticket to finding a new home is apparently on a nearby decommissioned (and seemingly abandoned) space station floating nearby in space....but not just ANY space station.  It's a massive ship called The Romulus and it happened to be run by The Company....and there happened to be some very questionable experiments occurring on-board....with some VERY questionable alien life forms.  Needless to say, things get hairy for every one on board lead by Rain played by Cailee Spaeny (Civil War) and her "synthetic" adopted brother Andy played by David Jonsson (HBO's "Industry").  Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) directs this sequel/prequel and once again let's find out once again as to whether....in space.....NO one can hear you scream....

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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