Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

Our second "Steampunk'd Classic" turns to the work of Alexandre Dumas and his rousing tale of a trio protectors who guard the King of France. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, 2011's "The Three Musketeers" is the traditional tale but with a twist: Davinci's designs work! After stealing one particular design from Davinci's vault, Athos (Matthew MacFadyen), Porthos (Ray Stevenson), Aramis (Luke Evans), and Milady de Winter (Milla Jovovich) return to celebrate a successful heist, only to be betrayed by Milady, who steals the plans and hands them to the Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom). Meanwhile, D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) departs his small town for Paris to become a Musketeer. Unfortunately for him, they've been disbanded. Further complicating matters is that D'Artagnan ends up scheduling duels with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. When they gather to fight, however, they're accosted by dozens of Cardinal Richelieu's (Christoph Waltz) guards. Add in bad blood between D'Artagnan and Captain Rochefort (Mads Mikkelsen) and the introdcuction of Constance (Gabriella Wilde), and the battle is wild and intense! But when the Duke arrives for a state visit in a shining blue airship, and a plot is hatched to destroy the queen's reputation, the musketeers and their new sidekick must swing into action to safeguard the queen's honor and remove Buckingham's military superiority! Plus, the guys reveal which pairing of international films, suggested by one of their Patreon supporters, they'll be reviewing next!

Steampunk is our focus for this pairing, the alternate world where Davinci's inventions worked, but made of brass, and gears, and steam! We're looking at steampunk versions of classic tales, starting with an different version of the work of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous detective! Under the steady hand of director Guy Ritchie, 2009's "Sherlock Holmes" introduced audiences to a different pair of detectives! Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) is engaged to Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), and is preparing to move out of the flat he has shared for some time with Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.). The arrival of Constable Clark (William Houston), summoning Holmes for Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) pulls Watson back into an investigation. They arrive in the nick of time to save a woman from being sacrificed by Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong). But his resurrection after being hanged, and the arrival of a former love of Holmes', Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), finds the pair dragged inexorably deeper and deeper into a mystery that blends the supernatural and advanced (for the time) technology, and a race to save Parliament, all while working to thwart a hidden opponent who's been influencing events from behind-the-scenes the entire time!

The second film in our pairing focusing on great actors playing against the type of role they were known for features a quartet actors giving wonderful performances! Directed by John Houston, 1961's "The Misfits" was a change of pace for Marilyn Monroe. Unfortunately, it would aslo be her last completed film acting job. The film follows Roslyn Taber (Monroe), a recent divorcee who, along with her friend Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter), meets Guido Delinni (Eli Wallach), a truck driver who had come to tow in Taber's wrecked car. Later on, the two women run into Delinni in a casino, where he introduces them to Gay Langland (Clark Gable), an itinerant cowboy who's preparing to leave town. Langland and Taber begin a relationship, but both Delinni and a down-on-his-luck rodeo rider, Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift), they pick up along the way, also have designs on her as well. As Taber and the three men try to figure out their lives, tempers fray and alcohol releases anger and insecurity, causing rifts in their various relationships. Also starring Kevin McCarthy, James Barton, and Estelle Winwood! Plus, the gents unveil which two classic stories, done with steampunk sensibilities, they'll be reviewing next!

This pairing is a tribute to amazing actors who surpassed expectations by choosing roles outside their normal comfort zones! First up, action star John Wayne chooses a quirky romantic comedy, set in 1920s Ireland, in a film that would net director John Ford his fourth Academy Award for Best Director. In 1952's "The Quiet Man," Wayne plays Sean Thornton, an ex-boxer who has hung up his gloves to return to his homeland. Hoping to reclaim his ancestral home, he runs across Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara) and her older brother Squire 'Red' Will Danaher, who also has designs on the property. After the Widow Sarahy Tillane (Mildred Natwock) chooses to sell the property to Thornton, Red declares that never will he allow his sister to be courted by the American. Thus begins a conspiracy that involves the entire town, all with the end goal of seeing Sean and Mary Kate married with her full dowry! Also starring Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, and Arthur Shields.

Our second film is another independent production, but one that reaffirms the idea that you can make a great film without a major studio behind you or a huge budget! Written and directed by, and starring, Jon Favreau, 2014's "Chef" tells the story of famous chef Carl Casper (Favreau), who heads up the kitchen in a restaurant run by the unadventerous Riva (Dustin Hoffman), who resists Carl's attempts to bring new items to the menu. After being talked out of a special menu for visiting food critic Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), Carl, and his assistants Tony (Bobby Cannavale) and Martin (John Leguizamo) capitulate to Riva's demands and cook up the standard menu, which is then completely panned by Michel. After issuing a challenge for Michel to return for a different menu, Carl ends up quitting when Riva won't allow him to fulfill his promise. Carl then travels to Miami with is son Percy (Emjay Anthony) and ex-sife Inez (Sofia Vergara). There, after eating some truly inspiring Cuban food, Inez convinces him to meet up with her other ex-husband, Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.), who sets Carl up with a food truck. After Margin flies down to join him, Carl, Martin, adn Percy renovate the truck and set off back to L.A., with a side-trip to New Orleans at Percy's request. Along the way, Carl and Percy bond in a way new to both of them while Carl teaches Percy everything he knows about loving and preparing great food. As they finally head back to L.A., things are changing for both Carl and Percy, but what happens when they arrive is a surprise to all involved! Also starring Scarlett Johannson and Amy Sedaris! Plus, the trio unveil their pick for a film pairing reaturing actors who, while famous for a certain type of role, stepped outside their comfort zone to give a radically different performance!

This time around, our pairing focuses on great food, and the people who make and love it! We're starting with a lovely story about two brothers, Italiam immigrants both, who have opened an authentic Italian cuisine restaurant! Directed by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci, and written by Tucci and Joseph Tropiano, 1996's "Big Night" tells the story of love, family, food, and unbridled competition. Set in the 1950's, Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Tucci) own a small Italian restaurant, where Secondo tried to keep the doors open while Primo cooks up family recipes, regardless of whether the restaurant's customers want, or understand, them. Across the street, a flashier but less authentic place, run by Pascal (Ian Holme), does a much better business by ignoring tradition and simply catering to the American palette. While Secondo also juggles two women, Phyllis (Minnie Driver) and Gabriella (Isabella Rossellini), Primo is shyly in love with fellow merchant Ann (Allison Janney) who runs a nearby flower shop. After Pascal offers to invite famous singer Louis Prima to Secondo's restaurant, the brothers, and helper Christiano (Marc Anthony) prepare a special dinner menu and invite friends, the press, and loved ones to join them in their big night! Also starring Liev Schreiber and Pasquale Cajano!

The second film in our horror pairing is, as Jeff describes it, "the best non-Hellraiser Hellraiser film yet!" Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, and written by Phillip Eisner, 1997's "Event Horizon" takes place entirely in space. Dr. Weir (Sam Neill) is in mourning for his late wife when he is ordered to report to the rescue ship Lewis and Clark. On board, he meets Captain Miller (Lawrence Fishburn) and his crew: Peters (Kathleen Quinlan), Starck (Joely Richardson), Cooper (Richard T. Jones), Justin (Jack Noseworthy), D.J. (Jason Isaacs), and Smith (Sean Pertwee). They have been called off leave to travel out to Neptune because the ship "Event Horizon" has reappeared after disappearing seven years earlier, and since Weir designed the ship, he's been assigned to accompany them on their rescue mission. When they arrive, however, their rescue mission quickly turns into a recovery mission as there are no survivors from the original crew. But things begin to take a darker turn once the crew of the Lewis and Clark board the ship, and make discovery after discovery that suggest the ship has actually been in another dimension... and has brought some of what it encountered back with it! Also, the gents reveal which two films about chefs they're including in their next pairing!

We're returning to the horror genre for this pairing, starting with the OG British horror franchise of the modern era! Written and directed by original author Clive Barker, 1987's "Hellraiser" introduced the world to a very different kind of "Hell's Angels!" Husband and father, Larry (Andrew Robinson) brings his wife Julia (Clare Higgins) back to his family home in an attempt to revitalize their marriage. Larry has also invited his daughter from a previous marriage, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) to come and life with them. Unbeknownst to the three, Larry's ne'er-do-well brother Frank (Sean Chapman, then Oliver Smith), a seeker of dark seductive delights, perished in the attic of the house after one of his attempts at furthering his experiences went horribly wrong. After a bloody mishap while moving in, and after Larry bleeds on the floor of the attic, Frank begins to horribly regenerate, prompting him to force Julia to bring him fresh kills so he can absorb their flesh and blood and further return to normal. Unfortunately, the creatures who killed Frank in the first place also come looking, led by the Lead Cennobite (Doug Bradley), resulting in a race for survival between Frank, Julia, and Kirsty!

Our second Keanu Reeves film is, arguably, the one that made him the mega-star he is today. Written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 1999's "The Matrix" follows Thomas Anderson (Reeves), corporate computer drone by day, hacker by night, who spends his off-work time as "Neo," creating illicit software for a variety of buyers and searching for the mysterious "Morpheus" online. After a strange message appears on his computer, he meets Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) who warns him that he's being watched. The next day, he gets a phone delivered to him at work, which rings immediately after he slips it out of the package. On it, Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) introduces himself and warns Neo that "they" are coming for him. After Neo fails to elude Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) and his cronies, he's released after some disturbing hallucinations. The next day, he's contacted again my Morpheus, who wants to meet. He is picked up by Trinity and two of her partners, where he discovers that at least one of his hallucinations was real! He then meets Morpheus, who promises to show him the truth of "The Matrix" and gives him a choice to see that truth or forget all of this ever happened. He chooses to learn the truth, and thus begins his descent down a terrible, dark rabbit-hole into a world he could never have prepared for! Also starring Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Julian Arahanga, Matt Doran, Belinda McClory, and Anthony Ray Parker! And one of the geeks reveals which two horror masterpieces the G.I.T. will have to endure for the next pairing!

It is Keanu Reeves that we turn for this particular pairing, thought long-overdue by at least one of the geeks! And the pairing begins with a film that has become something of a forgotten success! Directed by Alfonso Arau, 1995's "A Walk in the Clouds" is something of an anomaly in the catalog of films Reeves has done. A solder, Paul Sutton (Reeves), freshly returned from World War II, reuinites with his wife, Betty (Debra Messing in her first film role), who he met and married in the last few days before heading off to fight. Their reunion is frisky but somewhat strained. Paul, at her behest, returns to his job selling chocolates and is headed by train for San Francisco. On board, he meets Victoria Aragon, a young woman traveling home to her family's vineyard in the Napa Valley. After accidentally swapping tickets, Paul finds himself on a bus to complete his journey, where he meets up with Victoria again. After saving her from two rude and dangerous men, he's kicked off the bus and must walk until he can find another ride. He comes across Victoria, sitting on her luggage, and crying. It turns out she's pregnant by a man who would not commit to her, and is terrified of returning home and telling her family, who are very traditional. Paul volunteers to pose as her husband for a day, then "leave her" and continue to San Francisco. Victoria's family, apart from her Father Alberto (Giancarlo Giannini), welcomes Paul with open arms, especially Alberto's father, Don Pedro (played by the amazing Anthony Quinn). As Paul and Victoria's lives begin to truly intertwine, Paul finds it more and more difficult to leave, but he refuses to betray his wedding vows. It will take a miracle to actually unite the two... but will such an event occur? Also starring Angelica Aragon, Evangelina Elizondo, and Freddy Rodriguez!