Newsies

"My father taught us not to lie."
"Well, mine told me not to starve; so we both have an education."

Sometimes all it takes is a voice, one voice that becomes a hundred, then a thousand, unless it's silenced.
When the world listened to newspapers, New York was run by two newspapermen Mr. Pulitzer (Duvall) and Mr. Hearst. While trying to outdo each other they begin to lose profit. To make up for this loss they decide to make their delivery boys: the newsies, pay an extra 10 cents for papers. These newsies are poor orphans living on the streets. They can't afford to pay the extra money.

Inspired by the strike of the Trolley Workers, two boys take a stand. Jack Kelly (Bale), who everyone calls Cowboy, is the self-appointed leader of the newsies. Everyone knows him and the story of his miraculous escape from the Refuge (a prison for children). While Jack is a charismatic leader, he is nothing without his pal Davey (Moscow), the walking mouth. David is well educated and knows about strikes and unions. David's words and Jack's mouth inspire the rest of the crew to act. They have a motley crew: Crutchy (Belafsky) is a gimp with a lot of heart, Racetrack (Casella) likes to gamble although he doesn't have good tips, Kid Blink (Parker) who wears an eye patch, Spot (Damon) the leader of the newsies in Brooklyn and his slingshot, Mush (Lohr) and Boots (Lowe), and David's brother Les (Edwards). But they are not afraid...come the fuzz, the Delancy brothers, or the scabbers to take their jobs. They don't trust any adults, accept for a reporter, Denton (Pullman) and the owner of the dance hall Medda (Margaret). Will they break the big boys, or will they all end up in the refuge, black and blue after the Delancey's beat them up?


A period musical (based on actual events), all of the boys sing and dance their way into your hearts. The director (who recently directed the popular High School Musical films) also choreographed the entire film. I love the music in this film, "King of New York" and "Seize the Day" are show stoppers and the other songs are equally memorable...plus any movie that has Christian Bale sing and dance has to be amazing, am I right?
Overall the story is good and even the minor characters are entertaining. All of the newsies have personalities that work well together and make you laugh. Robert Duvall is the perfect villain. My only problem is Ann-Margaret. Yes, shes gorgeous and has a lovely voice, but I don't really watch the two scenes she's in...her songs completely take me out of the movie, so I don't watch them. No offense to her, but she wasn't necessary, except for the Rally scene, and even then she didn't need to sing. And the part of Sarah...not really necessary, except to have a love interest for Bale. She is o.k., but her part isn't all that important. But the male parts all work. Great job boys, carry the banner!!

Dude, it's quotable: the songs are catchy and AMAZING, and there are many funny lines
BUY IT NOW!: o.k., maybe thats a bit much, but you can't just watch this once. See it once to learn the story and fall in love with the characters, then watch it to learn the songs, then watch it for the little lines by the minor characters (they have some of the funniest throw-away lines, but you have to pay attention) and then watch it so you can sing along and even quote random sections!!

Newsies (1992) 121 minutes
Director: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Christian Bale as Jack "Cowboy" Kelly
David Moscow as David Jacobs
Luke Edwards as Les Jacobs
Max Casella as Racetrack
Gabriel Damon as Spot Conlon
Marty Belafsky as Crutchy
Arvie Lowe Jr. as Boots
Aaron Lohr as Mush
Trey Parker as Kid Blink
Bill Pullman as Bryan Denton
Ann-Margret as Medda Larkson
Ele Keats as Sarah Jacobs
Robert Duvall as Joseph Pulitzer
Michael Lerner as Weasel

Zoolander

"Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?"

People always say that blondes and models are stupid...I wouldn't say Zoolander glorifies these beliefs, but it doesn't exactly refute them either.

Derek Zoolander (B. Stiller) is a famous male model. Aside from that he is a complete idiot, loveable, but not too intelligent. This is all apparent when he is interviewed by Matilda (Taylor) for Time Magazine. Zoolander is again nominated for the Male Model of the Year Award, but he loses out to the newest model, Hansel (Wilson), "Hansel! He's so hot right now!". As Derek ponders his future in male modeling, he loses his best friends/roommates in a "freak gasoline fight accident" and retires from his chosen career.
He tries to return to his roots in New Jersey mining country, but his family is ashamed of him and he no longer fits into their world. With no other choice, he lets his agent Maury (J. Stiller) talk him into working for the biggest designer, Mugatu (Ferrell). But Mugatu has his own evil plans for Derek...so it's up to Matilda and the last-person-you'd-expect-to-help, Hansel, to say the day.


Ben Stiller is a comic genius...sometimes he just doesn't know when to stop. Thankfully, this is one film where Stiller shines. Derek is so oblivious and innocent and many other fascinating qualities...it just works. Will Ferrell is another comic who tends to be hit-or-miss, but his Mugatu is spot on! The cast is great, including some small roles like the funny casting of the other Zoolander men: Jon Voigt as his dad, and, Vince Vaughn and Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) as his crazy haired brothers. I don't know much about the real world of models (other than America's Next Top Model contestants)...and I'm afraid I didn't really learn anything new by watching now. I love the banter between his roommates and much later the relationship between Hansel and Derek. Overall this is a funny film and you can't help but ask people if there really is more to life than being "really, really ridiculously good looking" or hope that David Bowie shows up to judge a walkoff or any other gag they manage to pull off. The cast is truly fabulous and they manage to make every gag work.

Dude, it's quotable: and more importantly than that, where else will you find a film that has break dance fighting?
Rent it!: yeah it sounds dumb, but honestly what comedy sounds good/reasonable when you talk about it? See it, totally worthwhile.

Zoolander (2001) 89 minutes
Rating: PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and drug references
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander
Owen Wilson as Hansel
Christine Taylor as Matilda
Will Ferrell as Mugatu
Milla Jovovich as Katinka
Jerry Stiller as Maury Ballstein

The Meaning of Life

Front end: "Don't shoot...don't shoot. We're not a tiger. We were just...um..."
Ainsworth: "Why are you dressed as a tiger?"
[Various random answers]
Rear end: "All right, all right. We are dressed as a tiger because he had an auntie who did it in 1839 and this is the fiftieth anniversary"
Front end: "No we're doing it for a bet"
Rear end: "God told us to do it"
Front end: "To tell the truth, we are completely mad. We are inmates of the Bengali psychiatric institution and we escaped by making this skin out of old cereal packets"
Rear end: "Actually, It's because we were thinking of training as taxidermists and we wanted to get a feel of it from the animals point of view"

It took God six days to create the earth, and Monty Python just 90 minutes to screw it up.

The "Meaning of Life" is various skits with the premise of the cycle of life...connected not by an overall story or character, but by random characters or scenery between scenes. Told in 7 parts here is an overview (and don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, you'll still have no idea what is in store in the ending).

The Crimson Permanent Assurance (Part 1):
Old men who are being oppressed in the Permanent Assurance company rebel and take over the company...and become pirates complete with handmade swords and hooks for hands. They use a desk as a plank and sail their building away to attack other similar companies.
Part 1: The Miracle of Birth
Two doctors (Chapman and Cleese) deliver a baby in a room full of expensive machinery, including the "machine that goes 'Ping'!" The father is ordered out of the room, and the mother is scolded for wanting to know the sex of the baby, because it's too early to be assigning roles.
Part 1: The Miracle of Birth in the 3rd World (Yorkshire)
A Catholic man (Palin) with 63 children sings the song "Every Sperm is Sacred" complete with dance number, to explain to his children that he can no longer support them and will be selling them to science, while his Protestant neighbors watch.
Part 2: Growth & Learning
At a Catholic school for boys the Chaplin leads mass with the theme "Please don't Burn Us". Then the Sex Ed teacher does a live demonstration of sexual techniques with his wife while the students look bored. Ends with allusions to war.
Part 3: Fighting Each Other
Military flubs...a company in war would rather celebrate their commanders birthday than escape to safety...and then in the Zulu War the officers search the jungle for one officers leg, which apparently was taken in a Tiger attack (although they are in Africa...and the officer doesn't know how he lost his leg). The above quote is from this scene.
The Middle of the Film: "Find the Fish"
Weird and Trippy
Part 4: Middle Age
Restaurant conversation between a married couple about the Meaning of Life...but they can't come up with anything, so they ask for a new conversation.
Part 5: Live Organ Transplants
Pretty much self-explanatory...they kill a reluctant (he's fighting for his life) donor, and sing to his wife. Then the Crimson Permanent Assurance tries to take over the film...but they are taken care of.
Part 6: The Autumn Years
Mr. Creosote (Jones) is an incredibly fat, gross man who orders everything on the menu, then eats a wafer-thin mint and explodes. Lots of vomit and nastiness
Part 6 B
Monologues about the meaning of life by a racist cleaning lady (Jones) and then by a waiter (Idle) who takes the camera on a trip
Part 7: Death
Man (Chapman) who makes "gratuitous sexist references in a film" is killed in the manner of his choosing: he is pursued by naked women...and over a cliff. Then Death (Cleese) attends a dinner party to collect all their souls (with a performance by Gilliam looking normal..not under tons of makeup)
The End of the FilmThe real meaning of life.


Overall this film is the most ridiculous of the Monty Python films...and being their last one, it seems to make sense. There are some very funny scenes, and some truly horrible scenes. Way too much nudity and discussion of sex. Otherwise it is alright. "Every Sperm is Sacred" is a funny scene, as is the Military scenes. The Mr. Creosote scene is horrible...but highly memorable. I was glad to not be eating at that point. It was hard to find good quotes or pictures from this film, but I did enjoy it, overall.

Dude, it's quoteable: it may take awhile, but there are some great lines / conversations in this film
Rent it once: it can't hurt to see it once...hell, it's Monty Python, you NEED to see it for that reason alone!

Monty Python's Meaning of Life (1983) 107 minutes
Rating: R for nudity, sexuality, language
Director: Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
Starring: Graham Chapman as Fish 1 (and others)
John Cleese as Fish 2 / Grim Reaper (and others)
Terry Gilliam as Fish 4 (and others)
Eric Idle as Fish 3 (and others)
Terry Jones as Fish 6 / Mr. Creosote (and others)
Michael Palin as Fish 5 (and others)
Carol Cleveland as Heaven greeter

Life of Brian

"I'm not the Messiah"
" I say you are Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few."

A motion picture destined to offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world. And severely annoy the other third.

Brian Cohen (Chapman) has suffered from mistaken identity all his life. He was born in the stable next to Jesus and the Wise Men visited him first thinking he was the Messiah, but then took back their gifts. As an adult he actually hears Jesus (Kenneth Colley) speak, but he and his mother Mandy (Jones) are too far away to actually hear him, " I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers"."

Brian hates the Romans and joins the Peoples Front of Judea (not to be mistaken with the Judean People's Front, splitters!). Their leader Reg (Cleese) sends Brian on an important mission: the write "Romans go home!" in Latin in the square. As Brian writes it he is interrupted by the Centurion (Cleese) who corrects his Latin grammar and makes Brian write "Romans go home" in Latin 100 times before daybreak, to teach him a lesson. Of course this gets him into trouble. He is thrown in jail and taken to see Pontius Pilate (Palin). Pilate has difficulties saying his "R's" and makes his guards laugh hysterically everytime he tries to say something with an "r".

After escaping from Pilate (the guards were on the floor laughing) he tries being a stand-up prophet and gains an enormous following (even though he doesn't want them). They all believe he is the Messiah, although his mother tells them "He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy!" Will Brian outshine the real Messiah? Will his followers find more objects to carry around for him (they have a sandal and a gourd)? Will he have to haggle for more items? Will groups of women dressed as men try to stone him? Will the crowds ever take Pilate seriously?


Very funny. I can understand why this film was not as commercially successful as it's predecessor "The Holy Grail (see my review)". There are 3 different nude characters, it mocks followers (of really anything, but particularly people who can't think for themselves and blindly follow "Messiah's"), and there is more swearing... However, it is still funny. The best scene is the stoning. Women are not allowed to attend the stonings, so they buy beards and attend the stonings. However, they get a bit overzealous and starting throwing stones at whoever says Jehovah, including the Centurion who is presiding over the event. It is quite obvious they are women, but when the Centurion asks if there are women present they all deny it. The funniest part is all of these women are played by men...so its men, acting like women, pretending to be men. And Terry Jones is wonderful as Mandy, Brian's mother. I watched this film with a friend who didn't realize Mandy was a man until I mentioned who was playing her. Also, this film has the best ending of a Monty Python film. I love the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and it is particularly excellent in this film. The scene with the Gladiator is also noteworthy and so is the Latin grammar scene (which I mentioned in the actual review).

Dude, it's quotable: "Cast off the Shoes, follow the Gourd!" O yes, it's funny!
Rent it: Not quite as good as "The Holy Grail" it is still hysterical. And watch for the numerous times they discuss Crucifixion (it's not too bad). And the scenes with Pilate are funny because the guards were instructed not to laugh no matter what Palin says...which he did not know. The names he uses to get a laugh are the best!

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) 94 minutes
Rated: R for nudity and language
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus (and others)
John Cleese as Reg / Centurion (and others)
Terry Gilliam as Jailer (and others)
Eric Idle as Stan (Loretta) / Mr. Cheeky (and others)
Terry Jones as Mandy Cohen / Simon the Holy Man (and others)
Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate / Ex-Leper (and others)

Monty Python & the Holy Grail (100th review!!)

FRAY'S 100TH MOVIE REVIEW

"Can we come up and have a look?"
"Of course not. You're English types."
"What are you then?"
"I'm French. Why do you think I have this outrageous accent, you silly king?"
"What are you doing in England?"
"Mind your own business."

The film that 'Makes Ben Hur look like an Epic'.

Everyone knows the story (thanks to countless books and films), a poor boy, in England, pulled a sword from a stone and became the king. And his name was Arthur. If that is all you know about Arthurian legend, that is plenty to enjoy this film.
King Arthur (Chapman) is an unusual hero. Instead of riding a horse (like regular knights) he gallops around on foot, holding invisible reins while faithful servant Patsy (Gilliam) bangs two coconut halves together to mimic the sound of the horses hooves. Arthur and Patsy want to find men to join his band and become a knight of the round table. The first knight they encounter, the Black Knight (Cleese) who refuses to join and fights Arthur. Then they meet up with Sir Bedevere (Jones) who is trying to show the locals how to tell if a woman is a witch. Impressed by his obvious intelligence Arthur asks Bedevere to join his band. They also recruit the brave Sir Lancelot (Cleese), the "innocent" Sir Gallahad (Palin), the chicken Sir Robin (Idle), and the aptly named Sir Not-Appearing-in-this-Film (Palin's infant son).
The knights receive a mission from God (Chapman): they are to find the Holy Grail. And now the adventure begins. They are taunted by French Knights (see above quote). Tempted by the Castle Anthrax. Struck with fear by the Knights Who Say Ni. And attempt to rescue the feminine Prince Herbert (Jones), who they think is a girl. Are led astray by a host of crazy characters. Will they find the Grail? What is the deal with the Old Man from Scene 24 (Gilliam)? How many times will Robin wet himself? How many people will Lancelot kill? Will Galahad give in to almost-certain-temptation? And more importantly does any of it matter?

This is the best know, and most widely popular Monty Python film...and for good reason. In fact, I remember watching this film in high school when we studied the Middle Ages! There are so many classic quotable lines from this film...there isn't enough time and space to divulge them here, sigh. Monty Python itself has quite the following, but this film has a cult following (similar to Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Princess Bride, both of which are excellent films which I highly enjoy). I find Monty Python in general to be inspirational, whenever I am in a literary slump watching anything by them just makes the creative juices flow (and no, its not nearly as disgusting as it sounds). If you want to laugh your ass off, watch this film!

A few years ago Eric Idle (ex Python, not ex-parrot) turned this film into a Broadway Musical called "Spamalot". There are some new twists and turns and parts. The music is fabulous. Check it out at http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/

Dude, it's quotable: such an understatement. You could spend hours just quoting this film
Buy it....NOW!: any film collection missing this film is obviously lacking!

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 91 minutes
Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Starring: Graham Chapman as King Arthur / Voice of God (and others)
John Cleese as Sir Lancelot the Brave / Tim the Enchanter / The Black Knight (and others)
Terry Gilliam as Patsy / Old Man from Scene 24 (and others)
Eric Idle as Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Launcelot / Roger the Shrubber (and others)
Terry Jones as Sir Bedevere / Prince Herbert (and others)
Michael Palin as Sir Galahad the Pure / Dennis (and others)
Connie Booth as the Witch
Carol Cleveland as Zoot / Dingo
Neil Innes as Various

Evita

"And as for fortune, and as for fame... I never invited them in, though it seemed to the world they were all I desired."

Movies about political figures are tricky. Everyone has their own opinion about politicians...so who do you listen to?

This is the story of Argentina's Eva Peron (Madonna). The films opens with her death and is narrated by Che (Banderas), a worker who is somewhat cynical about Eva's actions. He proceeds to show how she grew up poor, but fell in love with a musician named Magaldi (Nail) who took her to Buenos Aries. Once in the BA (as she calls it) she is abandoned and left to find her own way. She begins a series of affairs that help her become an actress. Eventually she meets millitary man Juan Peron (Pryce). Peron has political aspirations, so they team up. They marry and she helps him gain the presidency. Eva speaks for the people, and their adoration skyrockets her to superstardom. But we all know the price of fame...


Apparently the story is based on a book by an anti-Peronian (if that is a word), so while the story is about Eva and we are asked to identify with her, we take that story with a grain of salt. The character of Che adds snarky comments and continually questions her motives, which causes the audience to do the same. I don't know anything about Eva so I cannot speak to that knowledge. However, I do enjoy this musical. Like all Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, this is a rock opera (no spoken words)...and it works.

Madonna does an excellent job singing her way through Eva's life, but I prefer the character of Che. Banderas steals the scenes he is in and seamlessly flits between being both in and out of the story at the same time: able to clearly explain the events while still taking a step back and remarking on them. Pryce is cold and hard to read, but that could be in part to the way the character is written. Overall it is a decent musical. I prefer Joseph (the only ALW show I've seen, so far)...but it isn't bad. The costumes are impressive (especially considering all of Madonna's clothes are based on actual outfits worn by Eva). I don't think this version of Eva is entirely likeable. I had a hard time caring about her shortly after the dark-haired Madonna enters the scene. If it wasn't for the presence of Che, and the songs which I already knew, I would have stopped the film then and there!

--: the music is lovely, albeit repetitious (but what ALW music isn't?)
--: if you have the ability to see it on television, or for free then go for it, this isn't a movie I would buy or pay money to see...but it's not bad


Evita (1996) 134 minutes
Rated: PG for thematic elements, images of violence and some mild language
Director: Alan Parker
Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Starring: Madonna as Eva Peron
Antonio Banderas as Che
Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron
Jimmy Nail as Magaldi

Jaws

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Jaws: one of the most recognizable images...(introductory) music...and lines in American cinema (see above). But even more than that...Jaws is a scary movie, with death and blood...but not to the nth degree like modern horror. It does what many have tried...but few succeeded: it stays with you. Like Hitchcock's Psycho, Jaws can be identified by its soundtrack and it's ability to scare you no matter how many times you've seen it.

Everyone knows the story. Its a beautiful night, a young girl and boy run along the beach, she strips down and dives into the water. Everything seems fine (other than the music), and then she is attacked and when the boy finally catches up she is gone. Shark attacks continue on Amity Island, including during a busy beach day. The local chief of police, Chief Brody (Scheider) wants to shut down the beaches, but it is tourist season and not possible. As people continue to die the local fishermen, armed with spears and guns begin their own bounty hunting missions to rid their shores of the sharks...

Brody eventually teams up with the only people who know how to find the correct shark (the locals killed a shark, but it wasn't the correct kind or size): Hooper (Dreyfus) a young oceanographer and Quint (Shaw) a shark-hating, boat owner who offers to kill the shark. Brody is afraid of the water, but his son was in the water during one of the shark attacks (in close proximity). Quint knows first hand what shark attacks look like. Hooper also knows first hand about what sharks can do. While the men disagree about everything they agree to sail together, and then Brody delivers the best line of the film "You're gonna need a bigger boat!"


Less-is-more is definitely the motto of this film. During the shark attacks the audience is shown the perspective of the shark (at the water level). We see the effects, but not the cause, for the majority of the film. And when the shark finally appears, he does not disappoint. I know the main reasons for this are mechanical issues, but showing the shark more would take away from the film. And then there is the score, those ominous tones that herald the approaching shark...gives me chills. The cast is excellent but for different reasons. Scheider is easy to identify with and is very honest in his actions. Shaw and Dreyfus also lend themselves to the characters they play, taking them over the top (Shaw) and intelligent enough (Dreyfus) to justify traveling with them. Looking at it now, even with all of the CGI and other technology, it is still fresh and relevant and that is the mark of a classic! Many "classic" films are overrated, but Jaws keeps its edge. It made a generation afraid to go in the water, and spawned numerous forgetable sequels (I haven't seen any...but I didn't see Jaws until a few years ago). With Scheider's death just yesterday it seemed to be the perfect time to talk about this film. Don't go in the water!!

Dude, it's quotable: who doesn't know the boat line? Come on now...
Rent it multiple times: yeah it's intense, but you can handle it...just don't watch it before you go to the beach

Jaws (1975) 124 minutes
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody
Robert Shaw as Quint
Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper
Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

"There was no F name in the Bible, so Ma named him Frankincense, because he smelled so sweet."

It's the 1800s, in a small western town. There is a severe shortage of women in the community, this is most apparent to the Pontipee men. Adam (Keel) the oldest, sets into town to do some trading and to look for a wife. He looks high and low until he finds the woman of his dreams: she can cook and she's a hard worker, Milly (Powell). The whole town knows who he is...and his family history, except for Milly. They marry immediately and return to the family farm where she meets his 6 brothers, who all live on the farm as well. Milly seeks to civilize the family and set up the boys with some local gals.

At the town barn raising the brothers, Benjamin (Richards), Caleb (Mattox), Dan (Platt), Ephraim (d'Amboise), Frank (Rall), and Gideon (Tamblyn) meet the women of their dreams...but have to get past the city boys who they are currently dating. They charm the women, but don't stand a chance until Adam reads them a passage from Plutarch's "Life of Romulus" and the brothers go get their women.


This is my all-time favorite musical. As I watch it for the ump-teenth time I still know all the words to the songs and the majority of the dialog. The scenes at the barn raising are my favorite: the big dance number and the actual barn raising. The cast is amazing. Four of the seven brothers were professional dancers and Tamblyn was an acrobat (with some dancing skills). The two oldest brothers: Richards (a former baseball player turned actor) and Keel were cast for their acting/singing skills while the others were hired for their dancing abilities. I love Howard Keel and this was my introduction to his career and my favorite of his films (although I do love many of his others). The scenery isn't much to look at...and some of the song lyrics are a tad corny (they needed them to rhyme, so there are some fascinating pronunciations), but overall it is great. I love the "Lonesome Polecat" and "Sobbin' Women" songs. I would totally marry any of these men (well I would marry their characters because they are way too old for me).

**fun tips...look at the differences between the Pontipees and the rest of the cast (hint: hair color), in order for the audience to faster distinguish them; along with clothing choices (colors). And watch the staging...I never noticed until recently (i.e. this viewing) how they stage the dance sequences (Benjamin is always in the back because he isn't a dancer) and the songs (some of them don't sing solos at all)**

Dude, it's quotable: I laugh every time I watch this film...and I've seen it live a few times as well...the lines are hysterical if you pay close attention to them, and the songs are catchy
Rent it!: oh yes, it's a classic. How many musicals have manly men? that dance (without seeming gay)? "West Side Story" tried...but those are supposed to be gangs and they failed pretty badly there (although Tamblyn was in it, and he is my favorite character in that film).

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) 102 minutes
Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Howard Keel as Adam
Jane Powell as Milly
Jeff Richards as Benjamin
Russ Tamblyn as Gideon
Tommy Rall as Frankincense (Frank)
Marc Platt as Dan
Matt Mattox as Caleb
Jacques d'Amboise as Ephraim
Julie Newmar as Dorcas
Nancy Kilgas as Alice
Betty Carr as Sarah Kine
Virginia Gibson as Liza
Ruta Lee as Ruth
Norma Doggett as Martha

The Pajama Game (100th post)

Happy 100th Post

"Married life is lots of fun, two can sleep as cheap as one"

The Sleep Tite Pajama company is in a bit of a bind. The workers want a 7 1/2 cent raise but Old Man Hasler (Dunn), the boss, won't give in. He hires Sid Sorokin (Raitt) to be the new superintendent and keep the peace with the workers, but Sid has his eye on the head of the Grievance Committee, Babe Williams (Day). With Hasler holding out the workers take matters into their own hands with Sid and Babe torn apart by their loyalties.

Trying to keep the workers in line is Hinesie (Foy Jr.) the efficiency expert, who is in love with the boss' secretary Gladys (Haney). And Mabel (Shaw), Sid's secretary who tries to tone down the madness and be a mother to everyone.

The film (and Broadway show) were choreographed by the great Bob Fosse, who became famous for his choreography in the show. Carol Haney was Fosse's favorite dance partner and she steals the show in her musical numbers and the comic scenes that follow are classic, and it is hard to watch anyone else. The rest of the cast does a good job as well, especially Eddie Foy Jr. as Hinesie. Watch out for the show stoppers of "I'm Not At All in Love," "Hernado's Hideaway," and "Seven and a Half Cents." Watching this makes me want to see it live.

--: the lyrics really stick in your head. And over 30% of the cast was also in the Broadway production!
Rent it: its a good, old musical

The Pajama Game (1957) 101 minutes
Director: George Abbott and Stanley Donen
Starring: Doris Day as Babe Williams
John Raitt as Sid Sorokin
Carol Haney as Gladys Hotchkiss
Eddie Foy Jr. as Vernon "Hinesie" Hines
Reta Shaw as Mabel
Barbara Nichols as Poopsie
Thelma Pelish as Mae
Jack Straw as Prez
Ralph Dunn as Mr. Hasler

Oscar Picks 2008

Once again I have not seen all the films...or know all the actors, but I might as well put in my vote (especially if they don't even have the show...sigh...)
I even got a few right last year (not that I remember which ones...)

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
*Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

...who will win... Ruby Dee or Cate Blanchett
Dee won the SAG award...but Blanchett is the favorite
...who SHOULD win... Cate Blanchett
 I haven't seen any of these films...but based on what I've seen...Ronan is too young, Ryan is too vile (her character has quite the mouth), Swinton might be a contender but Michael Clayton was in theaters too long ago. Dee is adorable and all that...but I think Blanchett will win it. People love Bob Dylan, and she was Bob Dylan, so why not? But Dee is the oldest contender and that could sway some votes. I'd like to see Blanchett win...even though she already has an Oscar. Dee didn't impress me with her speech at the SAGs but it might be cute if she wins (especially if she looks as surprised as she did...and she gets a standing ovation)

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
*Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

...who will win... Javier Bardem
...who should win... Javier Bardem
Again, I haven' see any of these films but Bardem is the only one that people really have talked about. Yeah it would be cool if Affleck won, but it won't happen. Hoffman already has a Oscar for Best Actor (Capote), Holbrook's film hasn't been hyped enough, and I haven't heard much about Wilkinson. Bardem won the SAG and probably the Golden Globe (I don't know who won any of the Globes)...and he his performance seems solid...plus he gave a nice speech at the SAGs.

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: the Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away from Her
*Marion Cotillard, La Mome
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

...who will win... Julie Christie
...who SHOULD win... probably Julie Christie...but I want Ellen Page to win
Guess what? I didn't see any of these. Critics (and viewers) hated Elizabeth so Blanchett has no chance. Cotillard's film didn't have a strong following. Other than reading "Entertainment Weekly" I hadn't heard anything about the "Savages" so I'm assuming it didn't hit many theaters, and destroy Linney's chances (plus, I don't want her to win...well at least not now). That leaves us with Christie (who won the SAG) and Page. Christie will probably win. Her name leads the pack, and popular opinion, however "Juno" is "the little movie that could" so Page could be the underdog...and I like to root for the underdog. Either way I won't be too upset.

Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
*Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

...who will win... Daniel Day Lewis
...who SHOULD win... probably Daniel Day Lewis
Elah was a dud (at least in the box office) so I don't think Jones is in the running. Mortensen probably isn't either. If Depp wins I plan to laugh...loudly and for a very, very, very long time. It isn't that I think he should win or he doesn't deserve it...I just think it would be ironic if a dark/disturbing musical beat out it's serious contenders and I plan to celebrate that (and buy the movie because it will be an Oscar winner). Clooney may put up a good fight (and who wouldn't want to look at him while he gives an acceptance speech), but Lewis won the SAG and this is supposed to be his greatest performance...plus he talked about Heath Ledger in his SAG speech, so he's going to win. And I will secretly love him for doing so (and then I may see the film).

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
*Ethan & Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Jason Reitman, Juno
Julian Schnabel, Le Scanhandre et le papillon

...who will win... the Coen's?
...who SHOULD win... Jason Reitman
Honestly, this is a tough one! Schnabel probably made a beautiful film, but I don't really see him winning. Gilroy might have a chance, but it's doubtful. It will either be Anderson, the Coens, or Reitman. Since I think "Blood" and "No Country" will sweep the other awards, lets spread the love and let Reitman (or Gilroy) win. I think "Juno" has a better shot at Best Original Screenplay...but I still want it to win. And if it doesn't win anything I'll be as annoyed as the year "Million Dollar Baby" won every single award and I refused to watch that film for over a year! (also the reason I didn't want Clint Eastwood to win anything last year).


Best Animated Film
Persepolis
*Ratatouille
Surf's Up

...who will win... Persepolis
These are the films I have actually seen (ok, so I've only seen Ratatouille). Persepolis will win...and if it doesn't win then I will be disappointed. But if Surf's Up wins I will stop watching the show (like when Happy Feet won...stupid penguins). I liked Ratatouille, but Persepolis looks mildly more interesting.

Best Film
Atonement
Juno
Michel Clayton
*No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

...who should win...No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood
It's hard to tell. Atonement won't win. Juno probably won't as well since it's a comedy. Clayton could...but it is not likely. I believe it will be No Country for Old Men...but what do I know.

I think I should spend the rest of the time between now and the Oscars watching all these films so I can have more of an opinion, because honestly as long as Juno wins something and one film doesn't sweep the awards, I don't really care what happens. Oh yes, I want the glitzy show not some boring report. Come on Hollywood, get it together!

4/7 (* signifies a win)...and I did think Diablo Cody would win Best Adapted Screenplay, so I'll count that as well
I have seen 31 of the 70 films which have won the Oscar for Best Film

Kiss Me Kate

"Wonder of wonders, a gentleman in Verona desires you in marriage."
"Then he best go back there."

Pay attention, this is complicated...
Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" is the play... and reality mimics the stage. Fred (Keel) is directing a musical version of the Taming of the Shrew, with music by Cole Porter (Randell). He will play the lead [Petruchio], with his ex Lilli (Grayson) playing his romantic opposite [Katherine]. They are still in love with each other, but can't seem to make things work. He is seeming dance hall girl Lois (Miller) who is also in the show as the sister [Bianca]. Lois is in love with her dance partner, Bill (Rall) who plays her suitor [Lucentio]. Bill has a gambling problem, but signs Fred's name to his IOU, so the night the play opens Lippy (Wynn) and Slug (Whitmore) come to collect.


As I have previously stated, I love musicals and this is no exception. Keel and Grayson have wonderful chemistry. The best part are the dance numbers, choreographed by Hermes Pan. The best sequences are the dances for "From This Moment On", watch for the third solo dance with Bob Fosse and Carol Haney. This was choreographed by Fosse and marks the beginning of his wonderful career with choreography. The mobsters steal the show and get the best song of the play "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", although if you are familiar with the stage version they have removed some lines to make it less scandalous.

Dude, it's quotable: the songs are excellent, the dances unbelievable, and the cast stellar...what more could you want?
Rent it: it is just a fun musical

Kiss Me Kate (1953) 109 minutes
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Kathryn Grayson as Lilli / Katherine
Howard Keel as Fred / Petruchio
Ann Miller as Lois / Bianca
Tommy Rall as Bill / Lucentio
Keenan Wynn as Lippy
James Whitmore as Slug
Bobby Van as Gremio
Bob Fosse as Hortensio
Ron Randell as Cole Porter
Willard Parker as Tex
Claud Allister as Paul
Ann Codee as Suzanne