Living for the Cinema

We are approaching the 35th Anniversary of what is likely one of the most celebrated and influential movies of the 1990's.  Adapted from Thomas Harris' best-selling novel of the same name, this is the story of student FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) on her first assignment: to develop a psychological profile of the infamous serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) who is currently incarcerated in Baltimore.  Of course, she also finds herself on a hidden mission as well dispatched by her superior, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) - she meets with the intimidating Dr. Lecter to also glean clues on how to best catch another serial killer who is currently on the loose, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine).  And what results is an intensely brutal and psychogical cat-and-mouse between Clarice, Hannibal, and Bill.  Not only was this film a suprise box office smash upon release in February '91 but it would also go on to win the rare "Big Five" at the Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for the late, great Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense, Something Wild).    

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

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Could this be The BEST Zombie Film EVER?  Many die-hard fans of the zombie sub-genre might say so and they might be right - this post-apocalyptic zombie epic was also directed by what most consider the creator of this genre, the late, great George A. Romero. (Night of the Living Dead, Monkey Shines, The Crazies) It focuses on two police officers (Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger) and two employees of a local news station (David Emge, Gaylen Ross) who are now on the run after a full-blown zombie pandemic in the US and eventually are able to settle at a local mall where they seem to have everything they need.....though there are plenty of zombies there too. :o We follow their adventures in surviving this dystopian situation and they TRY to have some fun along the way.....and much carnages ensues.   

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

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Just over six months after the previous entry in this franchise (28 Years Later), we return to the post-apocalyptic world of the "infected" in the UK though this time with a somewhat different focus.  This story focuses on Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) now exploring the possibility of building a bond and possibly even treating an infected "Alpha" named Samson (Chi-Lewis-Parry).  Meanwhile we are following returning character Spike (Alfie Williams) who has now found himself mixed up with a murderous cult roving through the countryside lead by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell).  And eventually these two stories intersect....directed by Nia DaCosta (2021's Candyman, The Marvels, Hedda), this definitely takes some divergent turns from the previous film, let's see if the journey is worthwhile.....

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

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When evil terrorists have hijacked a passenger plane flying through Europe filled with mostly Americans and they're headed towards Beirut...who are you gonna call?  The Delta Force! 

Yup smack in the middle of a now legendary run of B-Grade genre films (Missing In Action, Breakin', Cobra), Cannon Films decided to make a statement with this star-studded political action thriller starring Chuck Norris (The Way of the Dragon, Code of Silence, Walker Texas Ranger) and the late, great Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou, The Dirty Dozen) who lead this titular elite squad of warriors to the rescue.  Not only that but one half of the Israeli producing duo which ran Cannon - Menahem Golan (Over the Top, Enter the Ninja, The Apple) - actually decided to direct it himself. ;) When first released amidst a true glut of military-themed action films in '86, this was only a middling success but since then, it has garned a devoted cult following thanks to it likely overqualifed cast filled with former Oscar-winners (Marvin, Martin Balsam, George Kennedy, Shelly Winters) and an EXTREMELY catchy theme song created by Alan Silvestri!  Well that and we get to see Norris' McCoy dispatch bad guys with missiles from his motorcycle....

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

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“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970’s in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

The late, great Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Silkwood, Working Girl) directed this biting comedic drama about Diane, an actress Diane (Meryl Streep) struggling with drug addication and her complicated relationship with her mother (Shirley MacClaine) who was also a famous performer.  Also written by the late, great Carrie Fisher (Star Wars, When Harry Met Sally) who was adapting her own semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, this story delves mostly into Diane's frought (and often comedic) misadventures following her recent treatment at a drug clinic including her on-set struggles, her romantic life, and her attempts to carve out a new career for herself.  This quotable gem featured a stacked supporting cast including Dennis Quaid, Annette Bening, Oliver Platt, Richard Dreyfuss, and the late, great Gene Hackman. 

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

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Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) is a special effects man working on low budget movies in New York City when one day, the FBI suddenly comes calling and they have a unique assignment for him.  They would like for him to stage the fake murder of a mobster (Jerry Orbach) whom they recently arrested and will make a witness.  So Rollie takes on this assignment and everything goes as planned.....or DOES it? :o Suddenly the Feds are after HIM and the NYPD is on the trail too lead by Detective Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy).  And what results is a fun cat-and-mouse thriller with Rollie trying to evade the bad guys with his own unique bag of special effects tricks!  Directed by Robert Mandel (School Ties, The Substitute), this grew into a well-liked cult hit in the '80's eventually spawning both a sequel and inspiring a TV series of the same name. 

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

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The saga of The Sully Clan and their adventures on the far off planet of Pandora continues with this third entry in Oscar-winning director James Cameron's ongoing franchise which started in 2009 with Avatar....but do we still care? :p Well according to recent box office returns, we certainly do and much of that might due to the continued spectacle of seeing these characters fly and swim and now fight fire on-screen.  The fire apparently comes from a new threat who's the leader of an ash tribe named Varang (Oona Chaplin) and as she starts to align with Colonel Quarytch (Stephen Lang, returning from the previous two films), that threat only seems to escalate.  And stuck in the middle of this conflict is young human Spider (Jack Champion) who is still loyal to his adopted family of the Sully's but might now also present a new threat to them and the future existence of the Navi on this planet.  Once again leading this sci-fi epic are Sam Worthington as Jake and now Oscar-winner Zoe Saldana as Netyri, along with several other returning cast members including Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis.  Let's find out if Big Jim can pull it off again and if the quality of the story matches the spectacle.....

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

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From acclaimed director Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) comes yet another intense thriller....sort of....THIS time focusing on the trevails of Marty Mouser (Oscar-nominee Timothee Chalamet) who's an aspiring table tennis player working his way up the tournament circuit in the early 1950's.  Of course, his journey towards attempting to become a world-class ping pong athlete becomes increasingly complicated as Marty is so impulsive and selfish that he starts to get in his own way.  What results is a high-wire character study featuring an array of eccentric and/or dangerour characters whom Marty encounters along the way played by a VERY unique cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Tyler the Creator, Emory Cohen, Geza Rohrig, Fran Drescher, Abel Ferrara, and Kevin O'Leary.  (Yes the SAME Kevin O'Leary from "Shark Tank") 

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

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Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington) is a hot-shot young trumpet player leading his own jazz quintet who loves the music and has a way with the ladies but can't figure out how to reconcile those two things.  He's also dating two women (Joie Lee, Cynda Williams) at the same time and can't commit to either of them.  He has also a manager (Spike Lee) who's a gambling addict and a saxophonist band-mate (Wesley Snipes) who has developed a rivalry with him.  So where does he go from here?  In this sprawling romantic musical drama, we follow his complicated story and hear a lot of great music along the way!  This was Oscar-Winner director Spike Lee's immediate follow-up to Do the Right Thing and even though it was a pretty unconventional choice to come right after such a seminal film, its reputation has only grown over the past thirty-five years thanks to several sterling peformances from its leads along with a stacked supporting cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, NIcholas Turturro, Ruben Blades, Samuel L. Jackson, and the late, great Robin Harris in his last live action on-screen role. 

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

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Rest In Peace Rob Reiner

Commemorating not only the 35th Anniversary of an iconic adaptation of the popular Stephen King novel of the same name but the recent tragic loss of its director Rob Reiner who was in the middle of a sterling run of instant classics (When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me) at the time of this film's release.  It's the simple story of fictional best-selling author Paul Sheldon (Oscar-nominee James Caan) who gets severely injured and incapacitated after accidently driving off of a snow road one day in the mountains after finishing his latest novel.  Fortunately he's found by a local retired nurse named Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in the role which won her the Oscar for Best Actress) who gradually nurses him back to health....or DOES she? 😳 Well as it turns out, Annie is Paul's biggest fan and adores his novels about Misery Chastain....and she wants him to KEEP writing them even if he's run out of stories to tell.   What results is an increasingly brutal situation as Annie tries to keep Paul prisoner while he plots his escape. 

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

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