The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Richard III

"And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days."

A few years after Edward IV (Streatfeild) became the King of England, his younger brother Richard (Cumberbatch) is scheming to take the throne.  King Edward prefers their other brother, George, Duke of Clarence (Troughton), so Richard pays a soothsayer to convince the king that George is a threat.  George is imprisioned in the tower and murdered by Richard's assassins.  Richard blames Queen Elizabeth (Hawes) and her social-climnbing family and King Edward dies.

Richard is the Lord Protector for his young nephews: Prince Edward (Morley) and Prince Richard (Andrews).  As they prepare to crown Edward as the next king, Richard plots with his cousin, the Duke of Buckingham (Daniels).  They send the boys to the tower and remove/kill the opposition.  They also convince the other nobles that the boys are not legitimate heirs to the throne.  The nobility call for Richard to assume the throne and he is crowned King Richard III.  But the women in his life are not happy.  Queen Margaret (Okonedo), the widow of King Henry VI, wants revenge for the murders of her husband and son by Richard's hands, and she curses him.  Queen Elizabeth does not trust him and fears for her sons.  Her fears are shared by Richard's mother, Cecily (Dench), who despises her son.  And his wife, Queen Anne (Fox) wants no part in his life, as Richard killed her father, father-in-law, and first husband.  He also faces opposition from another claim to the throne, Richmond (Treadway), who is bringing an army.  Can Richard keep his throne?


This is the final film in the second series of the BBC's The Hollow Crown.  The first series is 4 films, based on the first 4 plays of William Shakespeare's the Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V.  The second series of three films is based on Shakespeare's 4 plays about the war of the roses: Henry VI Part 1 (which is "Henry VI, Part 1" and the first half of "Henry VI, Part 2"), Henry VI Part 2 (the second part of "Henry VI, Part 2" and all of "Henry VI, Part 3"), and Richard III.

This film is Benedict Cumberbatch in all of his glory.  From the opening moments of the film, Cumberbatch directly addresses the camera/audience and reveals his plans.  His Richard is a master manipulator, always "on" and always playing a part.  As he dresses in the opening scene, he reveals his intentions to be the villain (in the quote above), and even as you watch him plan terrible things, you can't hep but be captivated by him.  He was the best part of the previous film and does not disappoint here.  He schemes and destroys, but not by his own hand (unlike the previous film).

He is joined by an excellent cast.  Once again Sophie Okonedo is strong and captivating as Queen Margaret.  Keeley Hawes gets to do a little more in this film, and holds her own.  Judi Dench is always excellent and is wonderful as Cecily, especially as she matches barbs with Cumberbatch.

Despite the high death count, we only see one murder (although there is some blood).  It is still a fascinating story and the perfect way to end the series.

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Richard III (2016) 130 minutes
Director: Dominic Cooke
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III
Judi Dench as Cecily, Duchess of York
Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret
Keeley Hawes as Queen Elizabeth
Geoffrey Streatfeild as Edward IV
Sam Troughton as George, Duke of Clarence
Ben Daniels as Duke of Buckingham
James Fleet as Lord Hastings
Phoebe Fox as Queen Anne
Luke Treadway as Richmond
Caspar Morley as Prince Edward
Isaac Andrews as Prince Richard
Paul Bazely as Catesby
Alan David as Bishop of Ely
Jo Stone-Fewings as Lord Stanley

Caddyshack: 900th Review

900 in 10 years!

100 Monty Python and the Holy Grail  /  200 Duck Soup  /  300 Super Troopers  /   

400 Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein  /   500 The Odd Couple  /  600 Stir Crazy / 700 Tommy Boy / 800 Jack and the Beanstalk

"Ty, what did you shoot today?"

"Oh, Judge, I don't keep score."

"Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers?"

"By height."

Danny Noonan (O'Keefe) is a golf caddy at the prestigious Bushwood Country Club.  He needs to earn money for college and is trying to win the club's college scholarship.  All of the caddies want the scholarship, but only one will receive it.  To increase his chances, he starts caddying for influential club member Judge Smails (Knight).  Smails is the co-founder of the club and in charge of the caddy scholarship.  Smails enjoys his position within the club and his family: wife (Kibbee), irritating nephew Spaulding (Barmon Jr) and promiscuous niece Lacey (Morgan), use the club every day.

Danny also regularly caddies for Ty Webb (Chase), whose father co-founded the club.  Ty is a talented golfer, but he does not play with a group or keep score.  As the caddy competition heats up, Smails is distracted by the presence of new member Al Czervik (Dangerfield).  Czervik is a construction tycoon.  He is loud and abrasive and ignores the club etiquette.  His behavior is a constant irritant to Smails.  Smails' niece is also a distraction for the caddies, who vie for her attention and the scholarship, despite Smails best efforts.  Danny is also interested in Lacey, even though he is in a relationship with Maggie (Holcomb), who works in the food stand at the club.  Meanwhile, the course is being ruined by a gopher, and assistant groundsman Carl Spackler (Murray) becomes obsessed with destroying the creature.  Can Danny get the scholarship and the girl?


Caddyshack is an iconic sports film.  It was Harold Ramis' directorial debut.  Ramis served as the co-writer of the film, alongside Douglas Kenney and Brian Doyle-Murray.  The story is based on Doyle-Murray's (and others) experiences as a golf caddy as a teenager.  The film was originally supposed to focus on the caddies and their experiences with the eccentric Bushwood members.  However, Ramis encouraged improvisation and the roles of the caddies shrank as the roles of Ty, Czervik, and Carl increased (they were originally planned as cameos).

The film is popular in the golf community and with professional golfers.  It also appears regularly on top movie lists for sports and comedy films.  It appeared on 3 of the American Film Institute's (AFI) 100 Years Lists: 100 Years...100 Laughs, 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes, and 10 Top 10 in the Sports Category.  Carl's Cinderella story scene and the "Be the Ball" sequence are often quoted.  The Cinderella story was improvised by Bill Murray.

The cast is great.  This was stand-up comedian Rodney Dangerfield's first big film.  His Al Czervik is obnoxious but entertaining.  Ted Knight was an established actor, best known for his role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  His Judge Smails is pompous and ridiculous, but he keeps the character from being truly evil.  He and Dangerfield are the perfect foils for each other.  Saturday Night Live vet Chevy Chase's Ty is laid-back with a sly sarcasm that is often missed by the other characters.  Bill Murray was still on SNL while filming this, and his Carl is perfectly unhinged and off-kilter, especially concerning his obsession with the gopher.  Doyle-Murray has a small role, as the caddy's boss Lou.

All of the adult characters are eccentric and interesting and keep the zany film moving.  The teenage caddys, on the other hand, slow down the story.  Michael O'Keefe is mostly the straight-man to the comedians.  He is fine as the teen lead, but nothing extraordinary here.  Scott Colomby is much more interesting as Tony, but he doesn't have much screen time.  Cindy Morgan is eye-candy and Sarah Holcomb is annoying.  Holcomb isn't a bad actress, but her character is annoying and has an unexplained Irish accent.  The other caddys and staff members don't have defined personalities, but a few get some good lines throughout the film.

It is a zany whirlwind of a movie, and definitely lives up to the hype.

Caddyshack (1980) 98 minutes
Rating: R for sexual content, nudity, some language and drug use
Director: Harold Ramis
Starring: Chevy Chase as Ty Webb
Rodney Dangerfield as Al Czervik
Ted Knight as Judge Elihu Smails
Michael O'Keefe as Danny Noonan
Bill Murray as Carl Spackler
Sarah Holcomb as Maggie O'Hooligan
Scott Colomby as Tony D'Annunzio
Cindy Morgan as Lacey Underall
Dan Resin as Dr. Beeper
Henry Wilcoxon as Bishop Fred Pickering
Albert Salmi as Mr. Noonan
Elaine Aiken as Mrs. Noonan
John F. Barmon Jr. as Spaulding Smails
Lois Kibbee as Mrs. Smails
Brian Doyle-Murray as Lou Loomis

Florence Foster Jenkins

"She's remarkable, isn't she?"

Florence Foster Jenkins (Streep) is an heiress and music lover.  She started the Verdi Club to help others love and appreciate music.  After attending the opera with her husband, St. Clair Bayfield (Grant), she wants to resume singing lessons.  They put an ad in the newspapers to find a pianist to accompany her, and hire Cosme McMoon (Helberg).  McMoon is thrilled to work with her, especially when he learns that her vocal coach is Carlo Adams (Haig), one of the conductors at the Metropolitan Opera.  But his enthusiasm diminishes when he hears her sing.  She has a terrible voice, but is praised by both Adams and Bayfield.

Jenkins has syphilis, a condition she received from her first husband.  Her body is dying, but she remains a powerful presence.  She continues to train every day and wants to perform a concert.  Bayfield and McMoon hand-pick her audience and she is a success.  But her performance leads to a request for a bigger venue and audience.  Can Bayfield and McMoon honor her request and shelter her from ridicule?


This film is based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins.  As the film portrays, Jenkins was an heiress with a love for music.  She was an accomplished pianist, until an injury ended her career.  She turned her attention to her vocal career.  However, she didn't have talent as a singer.  That didn't stop her from performing and gathering a large following that included notable stars such as Cole Porter.

Her story / life inspired writer Nicholas Martin to write a script about her.  Stephen Frears has directed numerous films about strong women (mostly period pieces) and was the perfect choice to direct this story.  Meryl Streep has once again disappears into a role.  She does all of her own singing in the film and makes you fall in love with the character.  Despite the fact that she receives top billing, Hugh Grant is in more of the film.  Grant makes Bayfield sympathetic and interesting.  Simon Helberg plays the piano (and does all of his own playing) and displays his comedic skills as Cosme McMoon.

It is an interesting film and Streep has award-show buzz and nominations.

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) 110 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brief suggestive material
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Meryl Streep as Florence Foster Jenkins
Hugh Grant as St. Clair Bayfield
Simon Helberg as Cosme McMoon
Rebecca Ferguson as Kathleen Weatherley
Nina Arianda as Agnes Stark
Stanley Townsend as Phineas Stark
Allan Corduner as John Totten
Christian McKay as Earl Wilson
David Haig as Carlo Edwards

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Henry VI, Part 2

"Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?  Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down."

Five years after Richard Plantagenet of York (Dunbar) names himself king, the Yorks and Lancasters are still fighting.  Suffolk (Watkins) and Somerset (Miles) are killed in battle, and Suffolk's son Clifford (Soller) vows revenge.  The York's take the castle and place Plantagenet on the throne.  To spare his own life, King Henry VI (Sturridge) names Plantagenet as his heir.  He is permitted to live, and his son Ned (Archie Bradfield) will be spared but disinherited.  His sons, Edward (Streatfeild), George (Stroughton), and Richard (Cumberbatch), are not happy with the arrangement.  Queen Margaret (Okonedo) is enraged, and with Clifford and their followers attacks the Plantagenet home.  In the battle, Plantagenet is killed and his sons go to war with the Queen.  Henry goes into the battle and is driven to madness.  The Plantagenet's are victorious and the eldest becomes King Edward IV.

Ten years later, Margaret and Prince Ned (Barney Harris) are living in France.  King Edward marries Elizabeth Woodville (Hawes), a widow.  His action angers Warwick (Townsend), who journeyed to France to request the hand of King Louis' (Andrew Scott) sister for Edward.  Warwick vows his allegiance to the House of Lancaster.  Edward's actions also cause division within his family.  With French aid, who will win the war for the throne?


This is the second film in the second series of the BBC's The Hollow Crown.  The first series debuted in 2012 and was based on the first four plays in William Shakespeare's Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V.  The second series is based on Shakespeare's history plays about the war of the roses (thus the subtitle of this film).  The series is based on 4 plays, but was made into 3 films / episodes: Henry VI Part 1 (which is "Henry VI, Part 1" and the first half of "Henry VI, Part 2"), Henry VI Part 2 (the second half of "Henry VI, Part 2" and all of "Henry VI, Part 3"), and concludes with Richard III.

This film is much more violent than it's predecessors.  There is much more death, blood, and scheming.  Many of the characters from the previous film do not survive this film.  Anton Lesser is the only actor to appear in both series.  He began as Exeter in The Hollow Crown: Henry V and continued that role in this series.

Benedict Cumberbatch steals the show as Richard.  He is fascinating to watch and the best part of this film.  Cumberbatch has the best speeches (including the quote at the beginning) and speaks directly to the camera a few times.  Sophie Okonedo was the best part of the previous film, and she doesn't disappoint here.  She even gets to put on chain mail and lead her army into war.  Tom Sturridge continues to be a weak link, surrounded by extremely talented actors and actresses.  It's not that he's bad, it's just that his character is the least interesting one on the screen.

Once again I haven't read either of these Shakespeare's history plays.  I have an overall understanding of the actual events, but I don't know the specifics.  During the film, I took notes and continually checked the list of actors and the figures they portrayed to make sure I knew what was happening.  It was especially helpful since many of the characters have more than one name (especially the revolving door of kings and queens).

Of note, King Louis of France is played by Andrew Scott.  Scott and Cumberbatch play adversaries (Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes) on the BBC series Sherlock.

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Henry VI, Part 2 (2016) 123 minutes
Director: Dominic Cooke
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard Plantagenet
Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret
Keely Hawes as Queen Elizabeth
Tom Sturridge as Henry VI
Adrian Dunbar as Plantagenet
Geoffrey Streatfeild as Edward IV
Sam Troughton as Clarence
Stuart McQuarrie as Vernon
Kyle Soller as Clifford
Richard Lynch as Westmorland
Lucy Robinson as Cecily
Stanley Townsend as Warwick
Anton Lesser as Exeter
Ben Daniels as Buckingham
Ben Miles as Somerset
Jason Watkins as Suffolk
Phoebe Fox as Lady Anne
Andrew Scott as King Louis

12 Men of Christmas

"You'll be surprised to know that I haven't gotten lost once yet today."

"Well, it's not even noon yet, so..."

E.J. Baxter (Chenoweth) is a successful P.R. manager in New York.  She loves her job and has the perfect fiance, Noah (Peter Mooney).  All of that changes at the company Christmas party when she catches Noah and her boss, Lillah Sherwood (Hanson) having an affair.  She ends the engagement, quits her job, and moves in with her sister, Roz (Erin Dilly).  Lillah has her blackballed from the P.R. community, and the only job she can get is in Kalispell, Montana.

Her new job in Montana is to convince corporations to have retreats in town.  The town is far removed from the world E.J. is used to.  She can't find anything and stands out from her neighbors.  She is paired with Jan Lucas (Chlumsky), who shows her around town.  Shortly after arriving, the town makes the news when the local Search and Rescue make an incredible rescue.  She attends a bar-b-que to raise money to support the team and meets the men that risk their lives every day.  They need money to purchase a helicopter, but all of their efforts are not enough.  E.J. approaches the team, which includes Mayor Bob Baker (Eldridge), to pose for a half nude calendar.  All of the proceeds will go to the team.  Will Albrecht (Hopkins), who immediately dislikes E.J., is opposed to the calendar, but the rest of the squad agrees.  Can E.J. find love and success in Kalispell?


The story is based on two novels by Phillipa Ashley: "Decent Exposure" and "Dating Mr. December."  The name of the main character is changed from Emma Tremayne to E.J. Baxter, but the overall story is the same.

The film was made into a film for the Lifetime television channel.  The film is what you expect.  It is a decent made-for-TV movie, but it is not great overall.  And despite having the word Christmas in the title, it is not specifically a Christmas film (it is Christmas at the beginning and ending of the film).

Kristin Chenoweth is always entertaining and is very likeable here.  She works well with Anna Chlumsky, who is great but doesn't get to do much.  The rest of the cast is populated with television actors and actresses.  The film is entertaining, if predictable.

12 Men of Christmas (2009) minutes
Director: Arlene Sanford
Starring: Kristin Chenoweth as E.J. Baxter
Josh Hopkins as Will Albrecht
Anna Chlumsky as Jan Lucas
Erin Dilly as Roz Baxter
Stephen Huszar as Jason Farrar
Heather Hanson as Lillah Sherwood
Jefferson Brown as Eric
Craig Eldridge as Mayor Bob Baker
Chantal Perron as Dr. Marci Hempel
Paul Constable as Dave Hempel
Aaron Abrams as Les Pizula

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Henry VI, Part I

"My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am nor what I do."

After the death of King Henry V, his infant becomes King Henry VI.  His uncle, Gloucester (Bonneville), is named Lord Protector, and along with the Bishop of Winchester (West) and Exeter (Lesser), are charged with protecting the king and the kingdom.  Seventeen years later, Henry VI (Sturridge) is still relying on his uncle and great uncles to help lead the kingdom.

The court is divided between Richard Plantagenet of York (Dunbar) and Somerset of Lancaster (Miles).  Plantagenet was recently named the Duke of York and has a claim to the throne.  He and his followers wear a white rose, while Somerset and his followers wear a red rose.  Their disputes are put on hold when the Louis, Dauphin of France has declared himself king and with Joan of Arc (Laura Morgan) leading his army, is ready to take back the French lands that are ruled by Henry.

During the fight with the French, Somerset meets Margaret of Anjou (Okonedo), and wants to make her Henry's queen.  Henry is charmed by her beauty and marries her.  But she is bored by the king and begins an affair with Somerset.  Can Henry unite his bickering court and lead his country to victory?


In 2012, the BBC made a miniseries of the first four plays in William Shakespeare's Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V; called The Hollow Crown.  The series was massively successful, and in 2015 they decided to do a second series, called The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses to focus on the next 4 Shakespeare history plays (Henry VI Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, Henry VI Part 3, and Richard III).  But they decided to condense the Henry VI plays into 2, causing this iteration of the miniseries to have 3 parts: Henry VI Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, and Richard III.

Henry VI Part 1 is considered the weakest of Shakespeare's history plays.  For this miniseries, they chose to combine it with the first part of the Henry VI Part 2 play.  The first series was successful due to the incredible actors who played the kings, but Tom Sturridge doesn't reach their level.  King Henry VI is supposed to be weak and easily swayable in this play, and that is how he is portrayed.  He isn't an interesting character and doesn't have much to do, other than let the others make their deceptions around him.

Unlike the previous series, this time the women have a bigger part to play.  Sophie Okonedo is a powerhouse as Queen Margaret, a woman that isn't afraid to speak her mind and is more politically savy than expected.  She is firy and manipulative and fascinating to watch.

Hugh Bonneville, best known for his role on PBS' Downton Abbey, is the moral and respectable Gloucester.  And his duty to his nephew and country, are nicely contrasted with Sally Hawkins as his scheming wife, who will do anything to get the crown for her husband.  Ben Miles, who I loved in the BBC show Coupling, is sneaky as Somerset, while Adrian Dunbar is the righteously indignant Richard of York.

This film serves to setup the pieces for the next part of the series: The War of the Roses.  Anyone familiar with history (or from the Pennsylvania areas near the towns of Lancaster or York), is familiar with the overarching concept / colors (York is white and Lancaster is red).  It helps to have at least a basic knowledge of the players and the play (both parts 1 and 2 of Shakespeare's Henry VI).  Since they condensed the plays, it can be confusing to identify all of the players (especially when they are talking about each other and can go by multiple names).

It is a fascinating film and makes me excited to watch Part 2.

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses: Henry VI, Part 1 (2016) 111 minutes
Director: Dominic Cooke
Starring: Tom Sturridge as King Henry VI
Sophie Okonedo as Margaret of Anjou
Hugh Bonneville as Gloucester
Sally Hawkins as Duchess of Gloucester
Adrian Dunbar as Richard of York
Samuel West as Bishop of Winchester
Stanley Townsend as Warwick
Anton Lesser as Exeter
Ben Miles as Somerset
Jason Watkins as Suffolk
Michael Gambon as Mortimer

Central Intelligence (2016)

"You ever steal a plane before?"

"I stole some Starbursts one time."

Calvin "Golden Jet" Joyner (Hart) was the best of the best at his high school: smart, star athlete, thespian, etc.  He was named most likely to succeed and everyone expected him to have a bright future.  20 years later, he is married to his high school sweetheart Maggie (Nicolet) and is an accountant.  Maggie is excited about their 20 year high school reunion, but Calvin is ashamed of his life.  A few days before the reunion he is contacted by Bob Stone (Johnson), a former classmate.  Bob was named Robbie and was overweight and the brunt of most people's jokes.  His misfortune culminates when he is thrown into the gym naked, in front of the entire class.  He changed his name and started a strict exercise regime.

Bob and Calvin spend the evening bonding and reminiscing.  The next morning Bob reveals that he is in the CIA and needs Calvin's help.  Can Calvin survive the dangerous world of international spies and intrigue?


Kevin Hart is on a roll.  Every action comedy he touches turns to gold, including this film.  He started as a stand-up comedian, but also has a successful film career.  Hart is charismatic on screen, even when his character is not particularly compelling.  His charisma and comedic timing are matched by Dwayne Johnson.  Johnson started his career as professional wrestler in the WWF and then transitioned to acting.

Hart and Johnson work well together and are the perfect comedic foils for each other.  Hart is the uptight all-star, while Johnson is socially awkward and mysterious / keeps you on your toes.  Their physical differences add to the comedy.  Amy Ryan is the serious CIA agent that is chasing them.  Jason Batemen gets to be the snarky jerk, which is perfect for him.

It is an entertaining action flick with lots of laughs.  It isn't overly memorable, but it is mindless entertainment and an excellent summer flick.

Watch the credits for a blooper reel.

Central Intelligence (2016) 107 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Kevin Hart as Calvin "Golden Jet" Joyner
Dwayne Johnson as Bob Stone
Amy Ryan as Agent Pam Harris
Aaron Paul as Phil Stanton
Danielle Nicolet as Maggie Johnson-Joyner
Jason Bateman as Trevor Olson

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July

"If life has taught me anything is that you can't live on banana splits."

Winterbolt (Frees) is a powerful and evil wizard.  Alongside his ice dragons, he rules with an iron fist, until Lady Boreal (Nellie Bellflower) uses her magic to defeat him.  He is put into a deep sleep, and over time he is forgotten.  Many years later he awakens to reclaim his land, and is shocked to discover the presence of Santa Claus (Rooney).  As he plots, Lady Boreal transfers the last of her magic into a newborn reindeer, named Rudolph (Richards), which makes his nose glow.  She tells him that he will always have that power, unless he uses his nose for evil.

Winterbolt, with the help of his Genie of the Ice Scepter (Ravenscroft), discovers that stopping Rudolph is the only way to destroy Santa and restore his ruthless rule.  He plans to get Rudolph away from the North Pole, and enlists shady reindeer Scratcher (Sues) to lead him astray. He uses lovesick ice cream man Milton (Buttons) and the failing Lilly Loraine (Merman) circus to get Rudolph to venture out in July, along with his pal Frosty (Vernon) the Snowman.  Winterbolt gives Frosty and his family the ability to travel without melting, but there is a time limit.  Can Rudolph and his friends save the circus and stop Winterbolt?


In 1979, Rankin Bass decided to bring their two biggest stars together: Rudolph and Frosty.  Rudolph was the star of the stop-motion films Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Rudolph's Shiny New Year.  Frosty was the star of the traditional animation films Frosty the Snowman and Frosty's Winter Wonderland.  This was the only film to feature Frosty in stop-motion form.

The film featured other Rankin Bass favorites: Big Ben, Jack Frost, Santa Claus, etc.  And the main voice cast also returned: Jackie Vernon as Frosty, Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus, Shelley Winters as Crystal, Paul Frees as Jack Frost.

The villain in this film is a new character: Winterbolt, not to be confused with Winter Warlock from Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  This is a much darker tale than other Rankin Bass holiday classics.  Winterbolt has dark plans and wants to destroy the beloved characters, so this might not be the best fit for younger children.

Thankfully, the film also features some upbeat songs to off-set the darkness of the film.  Broadway star Ethel Merman gets to belt out most of the songs in the film.  The main characters get to reprise some of their iconic hits, and they also get some new songs.

Even though the story doesn't take place over Christmas, it is still featured in most classic Christmas movies.

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) minutes
Director: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Billie Mae Richards as Rudolph
Jackie Vernon as Frosty
Red Buttons as Milton
Ethel Merman as Lilly Loraine
Paul Frees as Winterbolt / Jack Frost
Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus
Alan Sues as Scratcher
Darlene Conley as Mrs. Claus
Shelby Flint as Laine Loraine
Don Messick as Sam Spangles
Shelley Winters as Crystal
Thurl Ravenscroft as Genie of the Ice Scepter

Frosty's Winter Wonderland

Frosty the Snowman (Vernon) is very lonely.  He misses his friends and is overjoyed to hear about the first snow of the year.  He rushes back to see his friends and enjoy playing with them.  But he is sad every evening when the kids have to go inside.  The kids decide to make him a wife, named Crystal (Winters).  She comes to life when when Frosty gives her a bouquet of snow flowers.

Meanwhile, Jack Frost (Frees) is jealous of Frosty and all the attention he gets.  Jack thinks that if Frosty went away, the children would love him most.  Can Frosty avoid Jack and live happily ever after with Crystal?


In 1950, the song "Frosty the Snowman" debuted.  It was written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson and performed by Gene Autry.  The song was was adapted into an animated film (Frosty the Snowman) in 1969, directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.

After the success of that film, they decided to make a sequel.  Romeo Muller returned as the writer, while Bass and Rankin once again served as the directors.  And Jackie Vernon returned as the voice of Frosty.  Other than Frosty, the only other returning character is the policeman.  Andy Griffith is the narrator.  Voice actor Paul Frees has voiced numerous Rankin-Bass characters, and shines here as Jack Frost (a role he would return to in Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July).

Like it's predecessor, this film features songs.  The big showpiece for this film is the song "Winter Wonderland," which they sing / reenact towards the end of the film.

It's a cute little film, but not nearly as fun / memorable as it's predecessor.

Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) 25 minutes
Director: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Andy Griffith as Narrator
Jackie Vernon as Frosty
Shelley Winters as Crystal
Paul Frees as Jack Frost
Dennis Day as Parson Brown

The Year Without a Santa Claus

"No fighting, you two."

"Well, if I can't have any fun I might as well leave."

Santa Claus (Rooney) has a bad cold in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  He thinks no one believes in him or cares, and decides to cancel Christmas. Mrs. Claus (Booth) enlists the help of elves Jingle Bells (McFadden) and Jangle Bells (Bolke) to change his mind.  They take young reindeer Vixen and try to find proof that people believe in Santa Claus.  Along the way they are caught in the crosshairs of the Miser brothers latest fight, and end up stranded in Southtown.  The town is in the south and too warm for Vixen, so they leave her in the shade and begin their search.  They meet young Iggy Thistlewhite (Duffy), who doesn't believe in Santa Claus.

They talk to the Mayor (Marshall), who agrees to give Santa a holiday if it snows in Southtown.  Mrs. Claus takes them to meet with Snow Miser (Shawn), who is in charge of snow and cold.  They also meet with his brother Heat Miser (Irving), who controls heat and the south.  Meanwhile, Santa discovers their plan and heads to Southtown to fix things.  Can the elves and Mrs. Claus help Santa see that he is loved and needed so Christmas is back on?


This was the fourth Christmas special made by Rankin/Bass Productions.  The company was founded in the 1960s by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.  They specialized in stop-motion animation, but later they also made traditional animated films and some live-action films.  In 1970, they introduced Santa Claus (voiced by Mickey Rooney) in the film Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

The story of this film is based on the book "The Year Without a Santa Claus" by Phyllis McGinley and illustrated by Kurt Werth.  They brought Rooney back as Santa Claus and cast Shirley Booth as Mrs. Claus.  Like it's predecessor, this is a musical featuring Christmas songs.  The film was popular and is part of the yearly Christmas movies that airs on television.  It was popular enough to get a live-action remake in 2006 with John Goodman as Santa Claus.  And in 2008, they made a sequel A Miser Brothers' Christmas, introducing the third brother North Wind.

It is a Christmas classic, especially when paired with Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  And that pairing made my Top 10 Christmas Movie List.  It is different from other Christmas films, memorable and heartfelt.

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) 48 minutes
Director: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Shirley Booth as Mrs. Claus
Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus
Dick Shawn as Snow Miser
George S. Irving as Heat Miser
Bob McFadden as Jingle Bells
Bradley Bolke as Jangle Bells
Rhoda Mann as Mother Nature
Ron Marshall as Mr. Thistlewhite / Mayor
Colin Duffy as Ignatius "Iggy" Thistlewhite

GoldenEye

"Do you destroy every vehicle you get into?"
"Standard operating procedure. Boys with toys."

James Bond (Brosnan) is trying to take down the Janus crime syndicate.  He follows Xenia Onatopp (Janssen, who works for Janus, in Monte Carlo where she and General Ourumov (John) steal a helicopter.  Nine years before, Ourumov killed Bond's best friend and MI-6 agent Alec Trevelyan.  Ourumovand Xenia travel to Severnaya, Siberia to a Soviet satellite facility.  They kill everyone in the facility except for Natalya Simonova (Scorupco), who hides, and steal a program called the GoldenEye.

M (Dench) sends Bond to Russia to find Janus and get the GoldenEye.  Along the way he picks up Natalya, since she understands the weapon.  In Russia, they meet with CIA agent Jack Wade (Baker) and enlist the help of an old rival, Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky (Coltrane).  Can they find Janus and stop the GoldenEye?


This is the 17th film in the James Bond film franchise. The series had a six year hiatus after the 1989 release of License to Kill.  With this film, they started fresh: new Bond (Pierce Brosnan), new M (Judi Dench), etc.  Dench was the first woman to play M.  The only actor who returned to the franchise was Desmond Llewelyn as Q.  Brosnan was the fourth man to portray Bond, taking over the role from Timothy Dalton.  Dalton originally signed on to star in this film, but pulled out due to the hiatus.  They used the film as a reboot for the franchise.

For the reboot, they decided to go with an original story, and not one of author Ian Fleming's Bond stories.  The screenplay was written by Michael France, with additional writing by Jeffrey Caine and Kevin Wade (who created the CIA character that is named for him).  The theme song, "GoldenEye," was written by Bono and The Edge and performed by Tina Turner.  Eric Serra was the composer for the rest of the film.  The film also inspired a popular Nintendo 64 game.

It grabs your attention with the opening free-fall and piles on the action. Not my favorite Brosnan Bond film, but it is a fascinating ride.

Golden Eye (1995) 130 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for a number of sequences of action/violence, and for some sexuality
Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Pierce Brosnan as James Bond
Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan
Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova
Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp
Joe Don Baker as Jack Wade
Judi Dench as M
Robbie Coltrane as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky
Gottfried John as General Arkady Grigorovich Ourumov
Alan Cummings as Boris Grishenko

A Lego Brickumentary

LEGOs are an iconic building/construction toy.  In the 1930s, Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen started manufacturing wooden toys.  He founded The Lego Group (taken from the phrase leg godt, which means "play well") and started manufacturing plastic toys in 1947.  Two years later they started making the iconic building block.  By the mid 1950s, Christiansen's son Gottfried Christiansen started to sell the toy internationally as a creative toy, and the late 1970s saw the introduction of the yellow figurines.

Since then, Legos have become more than just a toy for children.  They have a dedicated fanbase (called A.F.O.L.s or Adult Fans of Legos) and have inspired creativity across the globe.  They are also used by doctors, professors, and scientists, and even NASA uses them.


Like most children, I grew up playing with Legos.  I loved creating the designs on the boxes, but even more than that, I loved all of the things I could make with the pieces.  Around the same time as the release of The Lego Movie, this documentary was made.  It provides a history of the toy, along with the varied ways it has affected the world around it (or is affected by the world).

LEGOs are not just for children.  Although they were initially designed as a child's toy, there is a dedicated adult fanbases (A.F.O.L.s or Adult Fans of Legos).  Their passion has led to Lego conventions around the world, including Brick Co in Seattle, WA.  These conventions allow A.F.O.L.s to show their creative designs and compete for prizes.  The innovations of these A.F.O.L.s have lead to new branches of the Lego company (architecture models, a competition to have Lego produce their designs, etc).

Legos are also being used in other areas, which the film explores.  A doctor is successfully using Legos as an autism therapy.  They are also used in a collegiate mathematics course, and by NASA scientists.  And an artist is using Legos as his medium of choice.  It is a perfect model for stop-motion animated films.  The documentary also briefly talks about the (then) upcoming Lego Movie, and how the live-action Lego sets were created by Lego master builders (employed by the Lego Group).

It is especially interesting if you don't know much about Legos, hardcore fans may already know much of the information.

A Lego Brickumentary (2014) 93 minutes
Director: Kief Davidson & Daniel Junge
Starring: Jason Bateman as Narrator

Pride and Prejudice: A Latter Day Comedy

Elizabeth Bennet (Heskin) is a college student in Utah.  She lives with her best friends: sweet Jane Vasquez (Sola), demanding Lydia Meryton (Stables), Lydia's impressionable sister Kitty Meryton (Hamilton), and awkward Mary Lamblen (Kerwin).  She is also trying to get her novel published and works at a bookstore.  After receiving another rejection letter, her roommates force her to go to a party, hosted by Charles (Gourley) and Caroline (Holden) Bingley.

The Bingley's are wealthy, and Lydia plans to catch Charles' eye by following the guidelines from "The Pink Bible," which offers steps to find and keep a man.  But Charles and Jane are instantly smitten and dance the night away.  Elizabeth is disgusted by his best friend, Will Darcy (Seale), and spends the night avoiding the men in her life: Collins (Palmer) is awkward and thinks they are dating, while  Jack Wickham (Maguire) is a serial flirt who wants a serious relationship.

She turns down a marriage proposal from Collins and keeps Jack at arms length, content to keep him as a friend and nothing more.  Even though Elizabeth can't stand Darcy, their paths continue to cross.  Can she find a publisher for her book and sort out her messy love life?

This film sets out to be a modern retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", with Mormons.  Much like Clueless (based on Austen's "Emma") re-imagines Austen's story to a modern teen romance, this film modernizes the story and context.  However, it is necessary to understand the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) to get some of the humor.  I know nothing about the LDS Church, but I love Austen's novel.  I understood the film, but didn't pick up on all of the nuanced humor that people that know/understand the LDS would get.

The plot remains the same, but makes a few minor changes.  First, the main characters (Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, Kitty, and Mary) are now roommates, instead of sisters.  Elizabeth Bennet keeps her name, but the rest of the women have different last names.  Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are absent from the film, although they are referenced a few times.  Also, the characters of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter Anne are missing.  Darcy's sister has a slightly different name, and the role of Elizabeth's best friend Charlotte, is diminished.  The missing characters change some aspects of the story.  It also changes the futures of the characters, specifically Lydia, Wickam, Mary, and Collins.

The cast is ok, but not great.  Kam Heskin and Orlando Seale are solid leads, especially when they are bickering.  Henry Maguire plays the line between charming and jerk as Wickam.  Kelly Stables (the only cast member I recognized before watching the film) is a good Lydia, annoying but still interesting (most Lydia's are more grating than anything else).  Amber Hamilton Russo (billed as Nicole Hamilton) is an interesting Kitty, and makes the character more than just Lydia's sidekick.  Charlotte is downplayed from Elizabeth's best friend, to a classmate.  She is played by former American Idol contestant Carmen Rasmusen.  Collins is the perfect amount of awkward, as played by Hubbel Palmer.  The only character that I didn't particularly like was Jane.  Lucila Sola is beautiful, and Jane did grow on me, but she wasn't a great choice.

I prefer the BBC miniseries (with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth) and the 2005 film (with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen), but it isn't bad.

Pride and Prejudice: A Latter Day Comedy (2003) 104 minutes
Director: Andrew Black
Starring: Kam Heskin as Elizabeth Bennet
Orlando Seale as Will Darcy
Ben Gourley as Charles Bingley
Lucila Sola as Jane Vasquez
Henry Maguire as Jack Wickham
Kelly Stables as Lydia Meryton
Nicole Hamilton as Kitty Meryton
Rainy Kerwin as Mary Lamblen
Kara Holden as Caroline Bingley
Hubbel Palmer as William Collins
Honor Bliss as Anna Darcy
Carmen Rasmusen as Charlotte Lucas

Dr. No

"You believe in living dangerously. I can see that."

After the murder of one of the operatives, Strangways (Timothy Moxon), in Jamaica, MI-6 sends James Bond (Connery) to investigate.  Strangways ran the Kingston station of MI-6 and was working with the American CIA on a case.  He had hired boatman Quarrel (Kitzmiller) to take him to collect rock samples from the surrounding islands.  Quarrel also worked with CIA Agent Felix Leiter (Lord).  The last island Quarrel and Strangways visited was Crab Key.

Crab Key is a private island with tight security and owned by Dr. No (Wiseman).  Bond and Quarrel travel by night to check out the island.  In the morning, they stumble across Honey Ryder (Andress) who is collecting large shells from the beach.  Can they defeat No and his island of secrets?


This is the film that launched the James Bond film franchise.  It is based on the 6th novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series.  Fleming created the character in the early 1950s.  Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli purchased the film rights and launched two companies specifically designed to make the Bond films (Danjaq to own the film rights and Eon Productions to produce the films).

They hired Terence Young to direct the film.  Young would direct 2 more Bond films: From Russia wtih Love and Thunderball.  Monty Norman was hired as the composer for the film, and is best known for writing the now iconic "James Bond Theme".

The film also launched the career of star Sean Connery.  Connery started acting in the early 1950's in theater and TV, and started making films in 1957.  Bond was his big breakthrough role, and he played played the character in 6 more films (From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, and Never Say Never Again).  Every actor that takes on the role is compared to Connery, and how they differ from him.

It is a solid start to the franchise, introducing the suave spy to the world.  Many of the tropes of the series began with this film, but were finessed in later films (the opening credits, the "James Bond Theme", etc).  The film does not feature the gadgets found in later films and does not feature Q (Desmond Llewelyn originated the character in the sequel, From Russia with Love).  It introduced the idea of SPECTRE and Bond's CIA counterpart, Felix Leiter.

It isn't the best Bond film, but it is still a great start to the franchise that is still going strong 40+ years later.

Dr. No (1962) 109 minutes
Director: Terence Young
Starring: Sean Connery as James Bond
Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder
Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No
Jack Lord as Felix Leiter
Bernard Lee as M
Anthony Dawson as Professor Dent
John Kitzmiller as Quarrel
Zena Marshall as Miss Taro
Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench
Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny

Africa Screams

"Have you seen a short fat man and a tall thin man running through the jungle?"

"No. I don't want to either."

Stanley Livington (Costello) and Buzz Johnson (Abbott) work in the book department of Klopper's Department Store.  Buzz is always looking for an angle, while Stanley is terrified of all animals.  Stanley is approached by thugs Grappler (M. Baer) and Boots (Baer) and Buzz is approached by Diana Emerson (Brooke) about the book "Dark Safari".  They do not carry the book, but the buyers are specifically interested in a map contained in the book.  Stanley has read the book, so they hire him to draw the map.

Diana is planning a safari to Africa to find a rare animal.  Lion tamer Clyde Beatty is leading the expedition, and Buzz convinces Diana to take them along as well.  Diana and her thugs are actually looking for diamonds, but are using Beatty to make the trip look like a legitimate safari.  They also drag along Diana's butler Joe (Besser) and near-sighted hunter Gunner (Howard).  Can Stanley and Buzz survive the dangers of Africa and their own party?


I grew up watching this film, but hadn't seen it in years.  It is still enjoyable years today.

The film, written by Earl Baldwin, sticks to the usual formula for Abbott and Costello films: Abbott is the shady idea man and Costello is the bumbling fool.  This time they are co-workers and Costello's Stanley is afraid of animals and Abbott's Buzz wants to find an easy way to get rich.  They are directed by Charles Barton, who directed all of their films starting in 1946.

They are joined by Hillary Brooke, who would later star on their TV show The Abbott and Costello Show and their film Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd.  She was Costello's love interest in both.  Comedian Joe Besser also was a member of The Abbott and Costello Show.  Here Brooke is the villain, while Besser is her whiny butler.  Besser would later become a member of the Three Stooges, replacing Shemp Howard.  Howard has a small role in this film as Gunner, the near-sighted hunter.

Boxers Max Baer and Buddy Baer appear as Diana's henchmen.  Buddy Baer also appeared in Abbott and Costello's Jack and the Beanstalk as the Giant.  Lion tamer Clyde Beatty appears as himself, and provided the lions for the film.  Frank Buck was an big game hunter / animal collector and author, and occasional actor / director, and appears in this film as himself.

The film is funny and has a great cast, but the sets are low budget.  It doesn't distract from the performances, but it doesn't help the film.

Another funny film by Abbott and Costello!

Africa Screams (1949) 79 minutes
Director: Charles Barton
Starring: Bud Abbott as Buzz Johnson
Lou Costello as Stanley Livington
Clyde Beatty as Himself
Frank Buck as Himself
Max Baer as Grappler McCoy
Buddy Baer as Boots Wilson
Hillary Brooke as Diana Emerson
Shemp Howard as Gunner
Joe Besser as Harry

The Boss (2016)

"We are gonna start a brownie empire and teach these girls real business skills."

Michelle Darnell (McCarthy) is a successful and ruthless businesswoman.  She avoids personal entanglements and has written several self-help books encouraging others to do the same.  She sits at the top of an empire and is one of the wealthiest women in the world.  Her assistant, Claire Rawlings (Bell), is a single mother and over-worked.  Michelle is convicted of insider trading and sent to prison.

When she is released from prison, her reputation is tarnished and her assets are frozen.  The only person from her life that will speak to her is Claire, who has Michelle's remaining items.  Claire has a new job with a horrible boss (Cecily Strong) and a helpful coworker, Mike (Labine).  Claire, and her daughter Rachel (Anderson), invite Michelle to sleep on the couch until she finds somewhere else to live.  Her old colleagues, including her nemesis Renault (Dinklage), have shut her out.  Since she can't find a job, she is forced to accompany Rachel to a Dandelions meeting.  That inspires her to start her own troop, Darnell's Darlings, to teach girls business skills by selling Claire's homemade brownies.  Can Michelle succeed?


Fifteen years ago, Melissa McCarthy created the character of Michelle Darnell for the comedy group the Groundlings (it was her favorite character).  McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone wanted to bring the character back to life.  They wrote the screenplay, along with Steve Mallory, and served as the producers.  Falcone also directed the film and has a brief cameo as Michelle's lawyer.  Falcone previously directed McCarthy in the 2014 film Tammy.

This film has potential.  The character is funny, as are the cast, but there is something missing.  Michelle Darnell is an interesting character, it is easy to see why she worked well in comedy sketches... but she might not be the best focus for a feature film.  It would probably work better to have someone not as close to the source writing the film or directing the film.  Kristen Bell is the straight man in the act, which works here.  Tyler Labine is the love interest for Bell's character, while still getting a few laughs.  He tends to play the funny friend, so it is nice to see him do something different.  Kathy Bates is Ida, Michelle's rough-edged mentor.  Annie Mumolo is also a Groundling alum.

It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible.  There were some funny scenes and some fell flat.  Overall, unmemorable and crasser than necessary.

The Boss (2016) 99 minutes
Rating: R for sexual content, language and brief drug use
Director: Ben Falcone
Starring: Melissa McCarthy as Michelle Darnell
Kristen Bell as Claire Rawlings
Peter Dinklage as Renault
Ella Anderson as Rachel Rawlings
Tyler Labine as Mike Beals
Kathy Bates as Ida Marquette
Timothy Simons as Stephan
Annie Mumolo as Helen Kreagan

Mr. Church

One morning Charlie Brooks (Coughlin) wakes up to find a man cooking breakfast in her kitchen.  His name is Mr. Church (Murphy) and he was hired by her mother's, Marie (McElhone), late ex Richard.  Marie has cancer and only has 6 months to live, but has not told Charlie.  Mr. Church will cook and take care of them for that time.  Charlie is icy to him until she tries the food and then she can't wait to see what will come next.

Six years later, Marie's body is starting to break down.  Mr. Church is still taking care of her and Charlie (Robertson) is a high school senior.  Charlie is still best friends with Poppy (Fry) and still in love with Owen (Samuel), but her relationships at home have changed.  She can barely handle being around her mother, unwilling to watch her die.  And her friendship with Mr. Church has grown, he is her confidant, but she still doesn't know anything about his life.  After prom, her mother dies, leaving Charlie alone.  But Mr. Church continues to care for her, as they mourn the loss of Marie.  She leaves everything but her books and friendship with Mr. Church and leaves for college, but when everything around her breaks down, where is home?


This is Eddie Murphy's first feature film in four years (his last film was 2012's A Thousand Words), and he returns with a serious film.  He delivers another excellent performance, in the vein of his Oscar nominated performance in Dreamgirls.  It isn't the performance you expect from Murphy, but it is wonderful and the best part of the film.

Despite Murphy's role in this film, it was not widely publicized.  In fact, I first discovered it through Redbox.  It debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2016, and was released in September 2016.

The story, written by Susan McMartin, is told through Charlie's eyes.  She is the voice-over narration and the audience only knows Mr. Church by the things he tells her, making him a bit of an enigma.  He is a fascinating character, but we don't know much about the character.  Britt Robertson is fine as Charlie, but she isn't the most interesting character... and I would rather learn more about Mr. Church and then explore his lasting friendship with her.  Without Murphy this would be just another lackluster film.

Mr. Church (2016) 104 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements
Director: Bruce Beresford
Starring: Eddie Murphy as Mr. Henry Church
Britt Robertson as Charlie Brooks
Natascha McElhone as Marie Brooks
Xavier Samuel as Owen
Lucy Fry as Poppy
Christian Madsen as Eddie Larson
Mckenna Grace as Izzy Brooks
Natalie Coughlin as Young Charlie Brooks

Hail, Caesar!

"It's complicated."

Eddie Mannix (Brolin) is the head of production at Capitol Pictures.  He also handles the scandals of the studios stars.  His reputation leads to a job offer from the Lockheed Corporation, which he is still considering.  At the same time Baird Whitlock (Clooney), the star of the studios new epic, is missing and is halted.  He was kidnapped by a group of Communist screenwriters, who send a ransom to the studio.

Meanwhile, swimming star DeeAnna Moran (Johansson) is pregnant and unmarried.  She isn't sure who is the father and doesn't want to get married, but the studio can't handle the scandal.  And the head of the studio wants to change the reputation of singing cowboy Hobie Doyle (Ehrenreich).  They want to turn him into a leading man, and cast him director Laurence Laurentz (Fiennes) latest film.  And Mannix has to fend off feuding gossip columnists (and identical twins) Thora Thacker (Swinton) and Thessaly Thacker (Swinton).  Can he save the day and make a decision about his job / future?


Joel and Ethan Coen first imagined making a film about Old Hollywood while filming O' Brother Where Art Thou? in 1999, but didn't actually start filming until 2013.  The story, by the Coen brothers, takes place in 1951.  In was the time of the Cold War and the threat of communism was everywhere, and movies were an escape from reality.  The film focuses on a fictional movie studio that is making a grand Roman epic, an adaptation of a well-known novel, and a musical.  The main characters are reminiscent of 1950s Hollywood stars.  DeeAnna is a swimming movie star, similar to Esther Williams.  Holbie could be any number of southern actors who started in westerns.  The Thacker twins were based on gossip columnist Hedda Hopper and rival columnists / twin sisters Eppie Lederer (who wrote "Ask Ann Landers") and Pauline Phillips (who wrote "Dear Abby").  Burt Gurney is based on Gene Kelly.  And Eddie Mannix is based on MGM producer E.J. Mannix.

The film is filled with Coen regulars.  Frances McDormand, who is married to Joel Coen and has appeared in 7 of their other films (Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Man Who Wasn't There, Burn After Reading), has a small role as editor C.C. Calhoun.  This is their 4th collaboration with George Clooney (O' Brother Where Art Thou?, Intolerable Cruelty, Burn After Reading) and 3rd with Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men, True Grit).

The has promise and a great cast... but it never amounts to anything.  The best scene is Channing Tatum tap dancing in the musical.  Other moments are ok and make you think the film will be build to something great, but it never does.  It feels like a bunch of disjointed stories... Eddie Mannix is an interesting character, but they tried to throw too many characters / plots together.  It isn't terrible, but it isn't great either.

Hail, Caesar! (2016) 106 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some suggestive content and smoking
Director: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: Josh Brolin as Eddie Mannix
George Clooney as Baird Whitlock
Alden Ehrenreich as Hobie Doyle
Ralph Fiennes as Laurence Laurentz
Jonah Hill as Joseph Silverman
Scarlett Johansson as DeeAnna Moran
Frances McDormand as C.C. Calhoun
Tilda Swinton as Thora Thacker / Thessaly Thacker
Channing Tatum as Burt Gurney
Michael Gambon as Narrator

Ghostbusters (2016)

"Why am I operating the untested nuclear laser?"

"You have the longest arms."

Dr. Erin Gilbert (Wiig) was a paranormal expert and even co-authored a book on the subject.  But she gave up that dream, and her best friend / co-author Dr. Abby Yates (McCarthy), for a prestigious career in academia.  Her past with the paranormal is jeopardizing her tenure.  She goes Abby to get the book removed from Amazon, when they are contacted about a ghost.  Abby has kept studying the paranormal and now has the help of engineer Dr. Jillian Holtzmann (McKinnon).  The three witness a ghost and video the encounter.  Their experience gets them all fired and mocked, so they start a paranormal investigation above a restaurant.

Their hire actor/model Kevin (Hemsworth) as the receptionist and are called to the subway for their first official call.  Subway worker Patty Tolan (Jones) shows them the ghost and then joins their team as their New York expert.  Ghosts begin appearing more and more around the city.  Can they find a way to stop the onslaught of the ghosts and save the city?


The Ghostbusters premiered in 1984.  It was the brainchild of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.  The co-wrote the script and starred in the film, alongside Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson.  The film, directed by Ivan Reitman and co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis, was a success.  Five years later the original cast and Reitman reunited for a sequel Ghostbusters 2 (again written by Aykroyd and Ramis).  Since then fans have been asking for a third film in the series.

In 2012, Reitman suggested a reboot for the franchise.  He would direct and the original cast would cameo.  After the death of Ramis, Reitman stepped down as the director and was replaced by Paul Feig.  Feig also served as a co-writer for the film (alongside of Katie Dippold).  The surviving cast members, with the exception of Moranis (who retired from acting), all have cameos in the film.  They are not playing their characters from the franchise.  Ramis' son Daniel Ramis has a brief cameo in the film.  And there are several call-backs to events from the original series (the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man even makes an appearance).

Since Feig announced his plans to have an all female cast, the internet has been a-buzz with opinions.  Some people applauded the change and others hated the new direction of the film... these strong opinions only intensified when the first trailer was released.  I love the original films and I wasn't sure how to feel about the reboot.

I was pleasantly surprised by the film.  The cast is filled with talented comedians and it is funny.  Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Cecily Strong are (or were) cast members on TV's SNL.  Aned Melissa McCarthy has headlined many comedy films, including several successful collaborations with Feig.  The chemistry is good... and while the jokes / premise doesn't live up to the original films, it is still an entertaining ride.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016) 116 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for supernatural action and some crude humor
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Melissa McCarthy as Dr. Abby Yates
Kristen Wiig as Dr. Erin Gilbert
Kate McKinnon as Dr. Jillian Holtzmann
Leslie Jones as Patty Tolan
Chris Hemsworth as Kevin Beckman
Cecily Strong as Jennifer Lynch
Andy Garcia as Mayor Bradley
Neil Casey as Rowan North

Mascots (2016)

Every year, professional mascots vie for their spot in the Fluffy Awards.  The awards show is run by Langston Aubrey (Hitchcock) and the top 20 contestants compete for the top prize: the Gold Fluffy.  Two TV executives, Upton French (Higgins) and Jessica Mundt (Blasucci), are attending the festivities and will potentially broadcast the competition in the future.  The competition is judged by sponsor Buddy Campbell (Lake), celebratory mascot A.J. Blumquist (Begley) who wore an anatomically correct costume, and celebratory mascot turned author Gabby Monkhouse (Lynch).

Owen Golly Jr. (Bennett) is a third generation mascot.  He inherited the character of Sid from his father, Owen Golly Sr. (Jim Piddock), and his grandfather created the character.  Owen is trying to get out of the shadow of his family.  Phil Mayhew (Moynihan) is the plumber mascot for the local football team.  He hopes to win over his old high school crush and win the competition.  Mike (Woods) and Mindy Murray (Baker) are a married couple and the joint mascots for a minor league baseball team.  They don't agree on anything, including their act.  Cindi Babineaux (Posey) is the mascot at a women's college.  She loves to dance and brought along her sister and best friend Laci Babineaux (Yeagley).  Tommy "Zook" Zucarello (O'Dowd) is the bad boy of mascoting.  He is the Fist, a hockey mascot that is suspended from his team for his antics.  As the competition begins, who  will rise to the occasion and who will fold under the pressure?


Director Christopher Guest turns his attention to the world of professional mascots.  The result is a film that fits the mold of a Christopher Guest film... but isn't as good as his previous films.

The film is formatted like a documentary, with the characters speaking directly to the camera.  The characters are quirky, but there aren't many laughs.  The cast is great, and many have appeared in other Guest films.  But something is missing.

The most interesting characters are underutilized and the annoying characters have more screen time.  The competition is entertaining, but even falls flat.  Check out Best in Show or Waiting for Guffman instead.  Guest appears briefly in this film as Corky St. Clair, the character he played in Waiting for Guffman and on TV's SNL.

Mascots (2016) 89 minutes
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Sarah Baker as Mindy Murray
Ed Begley Jr. as A.J. Blumquist
Tom Bennett as Owen Golly Jr.
Maria Blasucci as Jessica Mundt
John Michael Higgins as Upton French
Michael Hitchcock as Langston Aubrey
Don Lake as Buddy Campbell
Jane Lynch as Gabby Monkhouse
Christopher Moynihan as Phil Mayhew
Chris O'Dowd as Tommy "Zook" Zucarello
Parker Posey as Cindi Babineaux
Zach Woods as Mike Murray
Susan Yeagley as Laci Babineaux

The Lion in Winter

"What family doesn't have its ups and downs?"

In 1183, King Henry II (O'Toole) of England is staging a family reunion for Christmas.  He gathers his three surviving sons and estranged wife, Queen Eleanor (Hepburn), to name his successor.  He and Eleanor do not get along and he had her imprisoned years before.  Their sons are Richard (Hopkins) the oldest son who is a soldier, scheming middle son Geoffrey (Castle), and spoiled youngest son John (Terry).  John is Henry's favorite and his choice as heir to the throne, but Eleanor favors Richard.

They are joined by Alais (Merrow), Henry's mistress.  Alais is the sister of the King Philip (Dalton)of France and is betrothed to Richard.  Henry also invited Philip to join the festivities to argue terms.  Henry is determined to hand the throne to John, while keeping Alais as his mistress.  But his decision is opposed by the rest, who all have deals and double-deals in place to get their way.  Will everyone survive the holiday?


In 1966, James Goldman wrote the play "The Lion in Winter" about King Henry II, Queen Eleanor of Aquitane, and their sons.  The play premiered on Broadway in March 1966, with Robert Preston and Rosemary Harris in the lead roles.  Harris won the Tony Award for Best Actress for the role.  Goldman adapted his play for the screen, with Anthony Harvey serving as the director.

It helps to have at least a passing familiarity with the history of these characters.  Henry and Eleanor had 5 sons: 1 died before reaching adulthood, Henry died shortly before the events of the film, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey, and John.  They also had daughters, and Eleanor had 2 daughters from her marriage to the King of France (Philip and Alias' father).  It also helps to know the events that happened later: Richard the Lionheart was the King of England during the time of Robin Hood.

Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar for her performance as Eleanor.  The film was nominated for 7 Oscars and won 3 (Hepburn for Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay for Goldman, and Best Music Score for John Barry).  Hepburn commands every scene she is in and deserved her win.  She is evenly matched with Peter O'Toole and their battles are fascinating to watch.  O'Toole played King Henry II four years before in the film Becket and he was nominated for Oscars for both performances.  The was also the film debut of Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins.  John Castle is conniving as Geoffrey, Hopkins is imposing and passionate as Richard, while Nigel Terry is juvenile and cocky as John.  Jane Merrow is annoying as Alais, and I was not impressed by the character or her performance

Despite the stellar performances of the leads, I didn't love the film.  I didn't like some of the choices of the director and thought some places dragged... but it is still a good film.

The film was remade in 2003 as a TV movie starring Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close.

The Lion in Winter (1968) 134 minutes
Director: Anthony Harvey
Starring: Peter O'Toole as King Henry II
Katharine Hepburn as Queen Eleanor
Anthony Hopkins as Richard the Lionheart
John Castle as Geoffrey
Nigel Terry as John
Timothy Dalton as King Philip II of France
Jane Merrow as Alais

The Adventures of Robin Hood

"Why, you speak treason!"

"Fluently."

In 1191, while fighting in the Crusades, King Richard (Hunter) of England is taken captive.  His younger brother Prince John (Rains) claims the throne, kicking out the regent that Richard left behind.  Prince John raises the taxes, oppressing the Saxons, to build his support.  His oppressive laws are carried out by Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone) and the High Sheriff of Nottingham (Cooper).  He also counts the Bishop of the Black Cannons (Love) among his followers.  When he travels to Locksley, he brings along Richard's ward Lady Marian (de Havilland).

Sir Robin of Locksley (Flynn) is sick of the tyranny and has given up his lands and position to live in the forest and defend the Saxons.  Known as Robin Hood, he is the best archer in England.  He is joined by minstrel Will Scarlett (Knowles), Much (Mundin) the Miller's son, Little John (Hale) who is deadly with a staff, and Friar Tuck (Pallette) an expert swordsman.  As Prince John's men continue to oppress the people, Robin Hood and his men defend and provide for the Saxons.  Can they stay one step ahead of the tyranny and protect the country until King Richard returns?


The legend of Robin Hood has been adapted to film and TV numerous times, but for me, this will always be the quintessential version.  Everything about this film works.  The cast, action, and pacing are all perfect.

Errol Flynn is effortlessly Robin Hood, and every man that has taken on the mantle since has to live up to his performance.  In fact, it is hard to picture anyone else in this role.  Olivia de Havilland is gorgeous and feisty as Maid Marian (billed as Maid Marian, but called Lady Marian in the film).  She is more than just the beautiful damsel in distress, she isn't afraid to speak her mind.  Claude Rains is perfect as Prince John, he's authoritative and cunning and a real threat.  Bail Rathbone imbues Sir Guy of Gisbourne with a menacing nobility and you can't wait to see what he will do next.  Melville Cooper makes the Sheriff a braggart and a coward, and it works.  Patric Knowles, Alan Hale, Eugene Pallette, and Herbert Mundin work well as the merry men: capable of fighting alongside Robin, and quick with a sarcastic comment.

The script by Norman Reilly Raine, Seton I. Miller, and Rowland Leigh is a swashbuckling adventure that isn't afraid to show lighter moments.  It moves at a brisk pace, but never feels rushed.  The duels were choreographed by swordmaster Fred Cavens, who paced them like a dance to add to the excitement.  Professional archer Howard Hill, who appeared in the film as archer Elwen the Welshmen, made all of Robin Hood's shots and used a specially designed bow to make a distinct sound for the soundtrack.  The score by composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold is memorable and fits perfectly with the story.  It might not be iconic, but it holds its own in the film.

Originally, the film was planned as a remake of the 1922 Robin Hood film starring Douglas Fairbanks.  However, they ultimately chose a different path.  Alan Hale also appeared in the 1922 film as Little John.  They also planned to make a sequel, after this film became a huge success, but it was never developed.

The film won 3 Academy Awards (it was nominated for 4): Best Art Direction - Color, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score (it was also nominated for Best Picture).  It has also appeared on many top film lists and several AFI top 100 countdowns.

It is a wonderful film and the best of the Robin Hood films / television series.  I grew up watching this film and loved it as a child.  Decades later it still stands as an excellent film.  Everyone should see this film.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) 102 minutes
Director: Michael Curtiz & William Keighley
Starring: Errol Flynn as Robin Hood
Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian
Basil Rathbone as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
Claude Rains as Prince John
Patric Knowles as Will Scarlett
Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuck
Alan Hale as Little John
Melville Cooper as High Sheriff of Nottingham
Ian Hunter as King Richard
Una O'Connor as Bess
Herbert Mundin as Much
Montagu Love as Bishop of the Black Canons

La Leyenda de la Llorona

After successfully defeating the Nahuala, Leo San Juan (Prado) and his friends are sent to Xochimilco to stop the Llorona.  The Llorona is stealing children from the town, including Beto (Canete), while he is trick or treating with his sister Kika (Del Carmen).  Leo is joined by his friends Don Andres (Couturier) the knight, colorful dragon Alebrije (Inclan), vain ghost Teodora (Cordeiro), and sugar skulls Moribunda and Finado.  As they approach the town by balloon, Leo is thrown out by a storm.  He falls into the boat of Kika, who is trying to find her brother.

Kika takes Leo back to her house so her mother, Rosa (Zuniga), can nurse him back to health.  Rosa tells Leo that the Llorna was a woman from the town, Yoltzin (Hernandez) who lost her children.  She refused to accept their deaths and now steals the children from the town to replace her children.  Leo is given the journal of Padre Tello (Humberto Solorzano), the priest who went missing while trying to stop the Llorona.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group crashes into the nearby forest.  They are on the island of puppets, and are condemned by Pecas (Jesus Guzman), the puppet that is in control.  With his friends in danger and Kika taken by La Llorna, can Leo save the day?

 

After the success of La Leyenda de la Nahuala, Anima Estudios and Eficine 226 produced a sequel.  The film picks up where the prior film ended: with our heroes heading to Xochimilco to stop the Llorona.


The film is in Spanish, but I watched it with English subtitles.  The story is based on the Mexican legend of La Llorona and features other important symbols from Mexico, like sugar skulls and alebrijes.  It is not necessary to know the legend (or the symbols) to understand / enjoy this film.

The animation is gorgeous and the characters are fun.  Almost all of the characters from the original return for this film, with a few additions.  Once again the sugar skulls are hilarious, without saying a word.  Leo is a strong lead, and Don Andres and Alebrije get to do more in the film.  The new characters work with the story, although Kika does get grating.  Once again, it is a funny and energetic film with aspects of horror.  Again, not for young children.

To date, they have made 2 more sequels (La Leyenda de las Momias de Guanajuato in 2014, and La Leyenda de las Momias de Guanajuato in 2016) which take Leo and his friends to tackle more Mexican legends.

La Leyenda de la Llorona (2011) 81 minutes
Director: Alberto Rodriguez
Starring: Yair Prado as Leo San Juan
Andres Couturier as Don Andres
Rafael Inclan as Alebrije
Monica Del Carmen as Kika
Erick Canete as Beto
Rosario Zuniga as Rosa
Mayte Cordeiro as Teodora
Mercedes Hernandez as Yoltzin
Rocio Lara as La Llorona