Living for the Cinema

The son of Odon returns in his fourth movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe once again starring Chris Hemsworth as the titular her and directed for the second time (after the previous one, Thor Ragnarok) by Taika Waititi.  This time, he has a dangerous new enemy who is out to kill ALL gods (himself included) played by Oscar winner Christian Bale.  He is also reuniting with a former love – returning from the first two films is Oscar winner Natalie Portman playing the earth-bound scientist Jane Foster, only this time she seems to be in possession of Thor’s favorite hammer.  Also joining us for this new adventure is Oscar winner (!) Russell Crowe as Zeus who….well the less said, the better.  What results is a mad-cap adventure with heart which spans several different planets including ours where New Asgard is located – gratefully New Asgard is overseen by returning character Valkyrie, still played winningly by Tessa Thompson. So the gang’s all here (minus Loki) as has the fun returned as well?  Let’s find out and at least, we get to hear a lot of Guns & Roses along the way…..

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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RIP to James Caan, one of the more legendary American actors to emerge from the stellar crop of the 1970’s. ☹ He has delivered many a strong performance in many strong movies including The Godfather where he played Sonny Corleone.   Over his impressive 50+ year acting career, his starring role as the eponymous thief in this crime drama is considered by many (himself included) to be his best overall performance.  

He plays Frank, a seasoned safe-cracker living in Chicago looking for that one “last big score” and he just have found it…..working with local crime boss Leo (the late great Robert Prosky) which might present more issues than just pulling off a difficult caper.  All the while, Franks is also trying to build a relationship (and family) with Jesse (Tuesday Weld) while also trying to help his mentor Okla (Willie Nelson) who’s still in prison – needless to say, Frank has a LOT going on and various complications ensue.  This was also the feature film directorial debut of Michael Mann who would eventually go on to direct several CLASSIC dramas including The Last of the Mohicans, Collateral, and…..one of my personal favorites, Heat. 


Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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For the week of July 4, 2022, we will be taking a break due to the holidays and to get our proverbial batteries recharged - we'll be ok and be back to releasing new episodes next week! ;)  In the meantime, enjoy this remastered episode of my review of a comedy classic.....

This movie was directed by the late, great comedy legend Ivan Reitman who would give us Ghostbusters a couple of years later.  This movie also stars two comedy legends – Bill Murray and Harold Ramis – as two shlubby dudes who decide to join the army to be all that they can be before they turn 30. 

How does the humor hold up?  Is it actually as subversive as it seemed at the time?  Let’s enlist and find out!  

Host: Geoff Gershon  

Producer: Marlene Gershon    

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Elvis Presley remains one the most popular rock and roll performers since the inception of rock and roll – his music dominated the pop music landscape in the 1950’s and he remained a rock & roll icon through his unfortunate death in 1977.  His life has been dissected, discussed, and of course has been portrayed in several movies going back decades.  

Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Buz Luhrmann (Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge) directs this latest version, an epic biopic about the rise and fall of the man known to many as “The King” who is played by up-and-coming young actor Austin Butler.  Tom Hanks also co-stars as “Colonel” Tom Parker who would become Elvis manager throughout most of his career.  And what results is 160 minutes of high energy insanity featuring tons of memorable music – Elvis has ENTERED the building!  

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Happy 30th Anniversary to this classic fictionalized sports drama about the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) which was started in 1943 during World War II as a temporary replacement or Major League Baseball as most players were serving overseas at the time – it featured several great female athletes from account the country who had never had the opportunity to play baseball at this level before.  Geena Davis starts as the catcher Dottie Hinson with Lori Petty as her sister Kit who’s a pitcher – they play for the Rockford Peaches who are being managed by Jimmy Dugan played by Tom Hanks in a performance which earned him an Oscar nomination.  The stacked cast also includes Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, and it was directed by the late great Penny Marshall.  Just in time for July 4th, let’s revisit this tale of America’s Pastime….albeit from a somewhat different angle. 😉   

And be sure to learn about "The Madonna Rule" at 7:25!

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Forty years ago, this sci-fi horror thriller was released as director Carpenter’s follow-up to Escape From New York and Halloween, both of which were quite popular and pretty groundbreaking for the time.  It was a remake of the horror classic The Thing From Another World directed by the late great Howard Hawks – it has a top-flight cast of veteran actors lead by Kurt Russell including Keith David, Wilford Brimley, Richard Masur, Donald Moffett, and Alan Dysart among others.  It also featured state-of-the-art special effects from modern master Rob Bottin, a hummable score from the legendary Ennio Morricone, and crisp visuals from one of the best cinematographers of this era, Dean Cundey.  

Everything about this film was top-of-the-line…..so WHY was it so disliked when it first came out? :o Reviews were relatively bad as was the box office – however over time, this film has become a genuinely beloved cult classic now considered among John Carpenter’s best films.  Let’s go back to that isolated scientific facility to find out why....

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Luca Guadagnino directs this touching coming of age drama about a 17 year old aspiring musician named Elio (Timothee Chalamet) living with his parents in Italy who falls in love with Oliver (Armie Hammer) the archeological grad student who is staying with them for the summer.  The film is set during the Summer of 1983 and we are treated to sequences of dancing, swimming, bicycling, sumptuous meals, lovely people…..you’ll almost want to be there vacationing alongside them. 😊 This film was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture and ended up winning Best Adapted Screenplay which was written by the legendary James Ivory.  Michael Stuhlbarg also co-stars as Elio's father in this beautiful story of love and heartbreak. 


Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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What’s the BEST way to capture vital information from a renowned terrorist who’s currently in a coma with the only potential source being his extremely paranoid brother?  Well if you’re living within the heightened world of this crazy action thriller directed by John Woo, the most obvious suggestion would be for you to surgically swap faces with that terrorist who’s in the coma. :o As wild as this premise seems, now imagine the two faces involved being those of John Travolta and Nicholas Cage at the height of their powers. :o  

What results is likely one of the most deliriously entertaining AND meme-worthy blockbusters of the ‘90’s or any decade for that matter!  Joan Allen, Gina Gershon, Alessandro Nivola, and Dominique Swain also co-star in this wild action thriller which is about to turn 25. 

WARNING: PROFANE LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT FILM CLIPS

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Just when you thought it was safe to try to interact with genetically developed prehistoric creatures….here’s another sequel to this long-running franchise to maybe pour some more cold water on that idea.  Yes we are back in the world of raptors, T Rex’, and Chris Pratt looking manly which he certainly does.  And every one else is back too from the original 1993 movie including Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum to try to get to the bottom of what seems to be a global ecological disaster that might be emanating from one corporation…..and there MIGHT even be dinosaurs involved too! :o Bryce Dallas Howard and B.D. Wong also return from previous Jurassic films and Colin Trevorrow directs this brand new dino-epic.

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff & Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Two trashy urban thrillers from the 1990’s are about to turn 30 and gratefully, they feature top-flight talent! In Unlawful Entry, Kurt Russell and Madeline Stowe play a mild-mannered couple who become the focus of an increasingly unhinged police officer played by Ray Liotta – RIP. ☹ And in Single White Female, Bridget Fonda stars as fashionable Manhattanite who just broke up with her cheating boyfriend and is now seeking a new roommate in her swank apartment – enter Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Hedra who at first seems nice but proves increasingly……let’s say clingy. :o 

Both films pretty much follow a time-tested formula around this time which we also saw in movies like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and Sleeping With the Enemy….and yes ALL of these types of thrillers were trashy but several of them were also fun. 😉 Unlawful Entry was directed by Jonathan Kaplan and Single White Female was directed by Barbet Schroeder. 

WARNING: PROFANE LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT FILM CLIPS


Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff & Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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