Living for the Cinema

Over the past 40 years since his breakout starring role in the 1983 comedy Risky Business, one of our most enduring movie stars has been Thomas Mapother IV….otherwise known as Tom Cruise.   Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Cruise film each month – each from a different era of his career – culminating with the July 14th release of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning….Part 1.

This month's entry will be this racing drama starring Cruise as Cole Trickle, a mysterious driver from California working his way up the NASCAR circuit.  This was very much modeled on the formula of Top Gun which came out four years prior - it was even considered by many to be a pseudo-sequel to that smash hit as both were directed by the late, great Tony Scott.  Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, and Michael Rooker also co-star in this eminently quotable sports movie which was a mild commercial disappointment upon initial release but has since garnered a devoted following.  

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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This caps off a trilogy which kicked off in 2012 with the release of Magic Mike which was a surprise international hit - it was directed by Oscar-winner Stephen Soderbergh as a somewhat experimental tribute to male exotic dancers, which was star Channing Tatem's career before becoming an actor.  After having his former editor direct the previous sequel, Soderbergh has return to direct this one along with Tatum returning.  Our hero Mike has fallen on hard times recently no longer working as a dancer, mostly as a bartender....until while tending bar in Miami, he meets the wealthy and beautiful Max played by Salma Hayek.  They have one "magical" night together where he shows his dancing acumen....and they're OFF to London where she has recruited him to direct and reconfigure a stage play at a venue owned by her.  It's a goofy, whirlwind romantic musical filled with impressive dancer numbers....let's find out if it's romantic as well. 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Valentine's Day is almost upon us and what better time to revisit a romantic comedy from just over twenty years ago?  This one stars Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs as two childhood friends who initially bonded through their love of hip-hop music and have remained best friends through adulthood while also both working in the world of hip-hop.  But now as they both live in New York City, their lives are getting a bit more complicated as one of them is about to be married....and wouldn't you know it, they MIGHT want to be more than friends.  This rom-com - which blends of elements of When Harry Met Sally and Jerry Maguire - was directed by Rick Famuyiwa and also stars Mos Def and Queen Latifah.

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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M. Night RETURNS....with this latest psychological thriller starring Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, and Jonathan Groff among a few others.  A tight-knit family is having a relaxing vacation at a remote cabin when suddenly some one comes knocking....lead by Bautista's Leonard, the visitors are a group of four strangers armed with medieval weapons and a truly uniquely disturbing task for this family of two dads and their adopted daughter: willingly sacrifice one member of your family OR the world will end. :o It's a darkly intriguing premise adapted from the 2018 novel, "The Cabin At The End of the World" written by Paul Tremblay.....and it's the first adaptation of previously written material from M. Night Shyamalan in more than a decade.

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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RIP to Anna Mae Bullock otherwise known as Tina Tuner who was one of the greatest rock stars to ever perform.  She sold millions of records while selling out thousands of concerts thanks to her powerful voice and legendary musical instincts.  She also performed in just a few select movies including  Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome yet left a memorable impression each time! Tina passed away at the age of 83 after living an extraordinary life and her legacy will live on....

We kick off Black History Month with a stirring musical biopic that came out thirty years ago AND an even more probing recent documentary on the same subject.  That subject would of course be the legendary pop singer Tina Turner who is not only among the highest selling recording artists of all time but has also lead quite the extraordinary life.  The early part of her career was linked with her ex-husband Ike Turner who while also a talented musician in his own right, also became famous albeit for much darker reasons....mainly his abusive relationship with Tina.  

The documentary (directed by Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin) aired on HBO two years ago and was mainly based upon Tina's autobiography along with the broadway musical "I Tina" which inspired it.  Angela Bassett stars as Tina Turner in the narrative feature (directed by Brian Gibson) in a role which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress - Lawrence Fishburne plays Ike Turner, also in a role which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.  Both films delve into the life of the gifted artist who delivered such memorable pop hits as "Simply The Best" and "We Don't Need Another Hero." 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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This was one of 2022's most acclaimed films and is now apparently one of the frontrunners in the current Oscar race. Among its nominees are Todd Field (In the Bedroom, Little Children) for both writing and directing, along with two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett for Best Actress for her memorable performance as the eponymous Lydia Tar.  Tar is a renowned American composer/conductor leading an orchestra in Berlin - she's a worldwide celebrity with an impeccable reputation as a musical genius.  But her life soon becomes engulfed in both scandal and a looming sense of danger.....and we follow her on this admittedly wild ride!  The film also stars Noemie Merlant and Nina Hoss - let's see if it lives up to the hype. 

 Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Continuing this weeks's run of collaborations between Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro, we are now approaching the 40th Anniversary of likely the most obscure film which they worked on together.  Scorsese returns to direct DeNiro in a completely different sort of role from his more recent tough guy ones in movies like Taxi Driver - this time he plays Rupert Pupkin, an "aspiring comedian" living in early '80's New York City who has only one dream.....to get a stand-up gig on "The Jerry Langford Show" which is the most popular night-time talkshow in the country, loosely modeled on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" at the time.  Langford is played by legendary comedian Jerry Lewis in a very different type of actor's turn for him.  Pupkin becomes OBSESSED with getting on Jerry's show and in the process starts to stalk him....and hilarity ensues! :) Well at the very least some pretty funny satire......

 Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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What can be said about one of THE most iconic movies of the past 50 years which hasn't been said already?   Well you probably know that it was directed by Martin Scorsese, one of our greatest living American filmmakers.  And you probably also know it stars the legendary Robert DeNiro in one of his most iconic roles playing Travis Bickle, the titular taxi driver.  You might also know that it was also written by the renowned writer/director Paul Shrader who would go on to craft other iconic films including American Gigolo and Affliction, along with several other collaborations with Scorsese.  You probably already have an idea that it tells the story of an Vietnam veteran, disgruntled cab driver who eventually finds himself on a mission to "clean up the streets" of mid '70's New York City in his own unique way of course. 

Whatever you might know regardless,  it's never a bad time to revisit this classic film which has inspired millions of imitators since its release......all pretending to be tough staring in a mirrow, uttering, "You talkin' to me??"

 Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Thirty years ago, this urban thriller came out to mild acclaim and pretty strong box office - it stars one of our biggest stars of the time, Michael Douglas, in what would be one of his most iconic roles generally known as "D-Fens."  He plays a recently divorced, disgruntled former defense engineer stuck in traffic one humid morning in LA when he suddenly decides....that he has just HAD it!  He walks away from his car and starts to venture by foot into greater Los Angeles encountering his share of strangers who are either dangerous or scared of him.....and things get increasingly violent as the day progresses on.  On his trail is Robert Duvall as a LAPD detective on his last day before retirement....or will he?  Eventually their stories converge in a one o the more controversial thrillers of the '90's - this was directed by the late, great Joel Schumacher who had previously directed movies like The Lost Boys and Flatliners.

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Director Todd Phillips (The Hangover) takes us through an alt-world origin story for the titular comic book villain from DC Comics.  In this version, he's a struggling comedian/street clown in early '80's Gotham City named Arthur Fleck played by Joachin Phoenix in a role which won him the Oscar for Best Actor.    

Three years ago the hype for this movie was deafening, the early acclaim was forceful, the critical backlash was fierce, and the box office was HUGE - it ended up being the first (and only since then) R-rated film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.  Since its initial release, it has been beloved by many and absolutely despised by a loud contingent online.  But......was it actually good??

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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