Time To Celebrate British Actress Judy Matheson On Shocktober Day #24!

As we count down our #31daysofhalloween, I had the chance for a fun “twitter” conversation with the great cult film Actress Judy Matheson!

First, the quick backstory: as part of my #31daysofhorror #shocktober countdown of horror films, I shared a look at the classic Hammer horror trilogy that included “Lust For A Vampire”, “The Vampire Lovers” and “Twins Of Evil”…

These are great early 70’s gothic horror films, and if you want to see the original movie trailers, you can see them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/13/bloody-vampires-lesbian-lovers-naked-halloween-horror-classic-erotic-hammer-time/

I shared this link on Twitter, and got this response from Judy….read the conversation from the bottom up!

“Er, Excuse Me?” Judy Jarvis Speaks Out!

Yes, Judy Jarvis IS Judy Matheson, and after I posted my link to the story, reminded me nicely that she was in two of the films! She was gracious and funny in our interaction, but it made me want to share more of her story!

Judy Matheson has been in some great cult films: she got her start working in a variety of British TV shows before landing some great movie roles in the 60’s and 70’s:

Her first film was “The Chairman” with the legendary Gregory Peck. She also starred in “The Exquisite Cadaver” with Capucine, which was the Spanish entry at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

What I failed to notice, was that in the early ’70s, she appeared in the classic Hammer Horror films “Lust for a Vampire” and “Twins of Evil.”

These are two great Hammer horror films, as the studio was trying to “modernize” their approach to horror with more nudity and bloody violence, while still adhering to the gothic approach to their films.

Here is the trailer for “Lust For A Vampire”:

She followed her role up with “Twins Of Evil”, the last film in the trilogy…another great gothic horror film from Hammer:

It didn’t end well for July in “Twins Of Evil”, unfortunately – as you can see, she didn’t fare well at the end of the movie:

Matheson went on to star in a number of cult classics from the 70’s, including “The Flesh and Blood Show”, “The House that Vanished”, “Crucible of Terror”, and “Confessions of a Window Cleaner.”

If you don’t know these “Confessions Of…” films, they are certainly “of their time.” See more about them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/09/30/confessions-of-the-sex-obsessed-british-70s-cult-sex-comedies-are-back/

According to wikipedia, in 1981 Matheson became a TV continuity announcer for TVS (ITV for the South of England) and in 1990 she was part of the launch team for British Satellite Broadcasting, later to become BSkyB. She also worked as a continuity announcer for Carlton Television and London Weekend Television!

While she now goes by the name Judy Jarvis, she still attends film conventions and Hammer Film events, so fans can meet her and hear stories from her career.

She has recently taken part, with fellow Hammer actress Caroline Munro, in a short spoof horror film ‘Frankula’ produced by The Misty Moon Film Society, of which she is an Honorary Patron.

What a great double bill! Caroline Munro has also had a great career! If you want to know more about Munro – who was a Bond girl as well, see her story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/19/caroline-munro-from-sex-kitten-to-vincent-price-to-bond-girl-a-maniac-too/

So kudos to Judy Matheson, now Judy Jarvis…what a great collection of films!

if you are in the mood for more classic horror, then nothing beats this:

Yes, the film that made Frank Sinatra divorce Mia Farrow! Check out the story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/08/shocktober-day-8-satans-spawn-rosemarys-baby-shocks-mia-farrows-marriage/

It’s been a full “Shocktober” already, and if you missed any, head to my home page to find all of them, like this subtle shocker:

Yes, one of the cinema’s most shocking films – with very little blood! Read the behind-the-scenes stories of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

There are more subtle films as well, still effective horror films, like this one:

Legendary Actor George C. Scott brings gravitas to this great horror film, see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

If you want something more shocking, I’ve got a good for you as well:

Try this great modern horror film, “High Tension”, by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/23/shoctober-day-23-stabs-you-with-high-tension-and-a-switchblade-romance/

I love #31daysofhalloween!

The Satanict Mystery Of Jayne Mansfield!

Jayne Mansfield was one of Hollywood’s most fascinating sex kittens, an Actress who seemed to make bigger headlines off-screen than on!

She hung out with Beatles, acted in sexy 60’s comedies that showed off her body as much as personality, and was generally seen as one of Hollywood’s sexist stars…

A New Documentary Focused On “Mansfield 66/67”!

A brand new documentary focuses on the last two years of the Actress’s life, and her shocking death…

Here is the trailer:

As you can see from the trailer and this classic newspaper headline from the time, her death was shrouded in rumors and gossip – and this documentary takes an in-depth look at the facts surrounding the scandal!

There are tons of great new interviews populating the film, including Director John Waters, Actress Tippi Hedren, legendary Hollywood Actress Mamie Van Doren, “Mysteries & Scandals” Host AJ Benza, Dolly Reed, Kenneth Anger, Ann Magnuson, Mary Woronov and many more!

Many of those stars will be at a special screening on October 25 in Beverly Hills, and it opens at the Laemmle Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills on October 27 – with another star-studded event planned – if you are in LA, this is a must see!

Click here for more details:

https://www.laemmle.com/films/42844

The film will also be shown across the country, so look for it in your city as well!

Vanity Fair just gave the film a great review – here is a link to that article:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/10/jayne-mansfield-death-satan-documentary

My friend Alison Martino is an Associate Producer on the film – here’s what she told me about working on this project:

“Producing a movie on Jayne Mansfield is a Vintage Los Angeles dream come true! I grew up not too far from the pink palace and dined in her favorite restaurants. I always felt her presence close by. But the best part about producing this movie is I know that the world is going to fall in love with up Jane Mansfield again and want to see every single one of her films!”

Alison knows what she’s talking about – she has worked hard to keep Hollywood’s history alive with her terrific website “VintageLosAngeles” – and of course, Alison’s dad was one of the best singers in entertainment – the legendary Al Martino – of course, you may also know him as Johnny Fontaine in “The Godfather!”

Check out Alison’s website for great stories of Hollywood – and Mansfield was certainly one of those!

Here is the link:

http://alisonmartino.com

As Hollywood’s history continues to be dismantled, Alison has done a great job making sure these stories live on…

Jayne Mansfield was one of Hollywood’s most seductive sex kittens – you can read more about her amazing life here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/12/28/jayne-mansfield-the-tragic-life-of-hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten/

Bravo to Directors David Ebersole and Todd Hughes on their great new film, and bravo as well to my friend Alison!

Shocktober Day #29 Pays Tribute To George Romero!

Horror movies fans were stunned earlier this year when George A. Romero, Director of the seminal 1968 horror film “Night of the Living Dead” died at 77 of lung cancer.

The best way to pay tribute during Halloween season is to honor this legendary Director for his most iconic achievement!

Romero broke all the rules of low-budget filmmaking when he created “Night Of The Living Dead” – a film that has inspired filmmakers and movie lovers for decades…

The Iconic “Night Of The Living Dead!”

Take a moment to bow down to the great Director George Romero, who ushered in a new era of horror – with a film that has become one of the most beloved horror films of all time!

“Night Of The Living Dead” has grown more famous over the years, but almost never got made at all! It is a testament to the tenacity and ingenuity of Romero that he managed to get this film made! It was completed on a $114,000 budget and premiered October 1, 1968.

Here is the classic trailer:

The plot is straightforward: A shocking phenomenon has occurred: throughout the country, the dead have suddenly come back to life. A small group barricade themselves in an old farmhouse in an attempt the remain safe from these “walking dead.”

“Night of the Living Dead” is a master class in low budget filming. The script is razor sharp, the characters become clearly defined over the course of the movie, and the gore – well, let’s just say it was heavily criticized when it came out, because it was presented in a “reality” style that was shocking for its time!

The film has grown in critical stature over the years, and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, as a film deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

The lead role of Ben was played by Duane Jones. He was an unknown stage actor. It was a major gamble for Romero to cast a Black Actor in the lead; in fact, one Reviewer said that the performance depicted Ben as a “comparatively calm and resourceful Negro”!

Here’s another interesting fact: the word “zombie” is never used in the film. According to IMDB, the most common euphemism used to describe the living dead is “those things,” or “ghouls.”

Can you imagine “The Walking Dead” existing if it wasn’t for this film?

According to the George A. Romero commentary track on one of the many special edition DVDs of the film, the original working print and working elements and materials for the film no longer exist – they were destroyed as a result of a flood that filled the basement where the materials were stored (which was the same basement used in the movie).

The sequels are also great in their own way, and Romero went on to make many other films as well – but this was a revelation in low-budget horror, and it will live forever as one of the greatest Halloween films ever released!

RIP George Romero!

Behold Burbank’s Iconic Safari Inn!

Living in Los Angeles, it’s easy to take for granted some of the iconic locations in Southern California – but, as we have lost a number of them in recent years, I wanted to eyeball one of the coolest locations in “beautiful downtown Burbank”, the legendary Safari Inn!

This photo is from “San Fernando Valley Blog” – a classic shot of the Inn from years ago:

I love this shot – and I love the look of The Safari Inn, and am so glad to see it alive and well!

According to their website:

“The Safari Inn is one of Burbank’s best kept historical landmarks! This famous little Inn was built in 1955 and has managed to maintain the same style essence since its original construction. It is one of the only properties left in the city with a 1950’s retro décor and a neon sign that lights up Olive Avenue.”

You may not have ever stayed here, but you’ve no doubt seen it in lots of movies and TV shows, like “True Romance”:

As their website points out:

“The Safari Inn is well known throughout the entertainment industry as a preferred location for several scenes in films that have included Blockbuster movie titles such as “True Romance,” “Coach Carter,” “Apollo 13,” along with numerous appearances in breakthrough series such as “Six Feet Under,” “CSI: Vegas,” “Prison Break,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Monk.” The exterior of the Safari Inn has also been used in album covers for famous rock bands such as “The Wallflowers.”

Here is that album cover:

My Film Encounter!

The other day I was in the area so I drove by, always drawn by the classic neon sign:

This time, however, I notice some unusual activity going on – and a glimpse of yellow police tape:

A look up at their raised pool deck confirmed that I had wandered into a movie scene! It’s one of the best things about living in SoCal – movie cameras and palm trees!

Who knows what they were filming – at some point in the future I will see this scene and say “hey! I was there!”

If you are interested in knowing more about the Safari Inn, here is a link to more pics, history and info:

http://coastanabelle.com/safari/history/

If you like Hollywood history, and cool movie locations, then you will love this one:

The Hollywood Hightower!

This unique tower has been used in a number of movies as well, such as Robert Altman’s 70’s classic “The Long Goodbye”.

You can see a lot more about this location – and the film – by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/14/hollywoods-hightower-movie-past-vintage-los-angeles-climbs-these-legendary-stairs/

Let me know some of your favorite Hollywood movie locations as well!

Songs With An “R” Are Dramatic! Raucous! Full Of Love – Courtney That Is!

I had a great time looking at songs “with an R” because they cover a wide range of music, including one of the best songs of 2017 – so let’s get going!

“Redbone” by Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is actually the musical side project of “Atlanta” Actor Donald Glover, and this song just got nominated for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year…and for good reason – Glover is a creative force right now!

This is a funky slice of classic soul with a raspy “Macy Gray” swagger to it – here is the music video:

Bravo to Glover on his achievements, and good luck at The Grammys!

Speaking of Grammys, the next song is the title track of Bruce Springsteen’s album that was nominated for all of the major awards of 2002, which is fitting as it dealt with the aftermath of 9/11…

“The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen

In the aftermath of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen wrote songs of a nation mourning, angry and finally, rising up…

“Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life) (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life) (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
Your burning wind fills my arms tonight (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life

Come on up for the rising
Come on up lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight”

Here is the brilliant title track:

“The Rising” won best rock album, and it’s as powerful today as when it was released – a masterpiece from The Boss…read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/11/the-rising-bruce-springsteens-brilliant-911-tribute/

Time to lighten things up with a trip to The Hollywood Bowl, where one of music’s reigning Divas took the stage – by way of a swing!

Diana Ross performs on the first of two nights at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night.
///ADDITIONAL INFO: dianaross_review.dak 07/15/16 – Photo by DREW A. KELLEY, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Diana Ross – “Love Hangover”

Yes, Diana Ross was brought to the stage by a giant swing, and she captivated the audience with some of her greatest songs, in a venue that is as iconic as she is!

Diana “Ushers” In A Duet!

One of the highlights of the night was “Love Hangover”, with a cameo by Usher! Here is it:

It was a magical night at The Hollywood Bowl – see my entire review with more videos here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/19/diana-ross-hollywood-bowl-magic-ushers-surprise-duet-here-are-some-videos-and-my-review/

Next up is a short-lived but explosive band, fronted by Country Love:

“Rock Star” – AKA “Olympia” by Hole

It’s the story of a song with two titles…the band Hole only had a few albums, but they were filled with angry anthems of growing up isolated and marginalized, like this classic song – check out the lyrics:

“Well I went to school in Olympia
Everyone’s the same
And so are you, in Olympia
Everyone’s the same
We look the same
We talk the same
We even fuck the same”

Hard to argue with those lyrics…here is an audio only clip – I want you to hear the mistake at the start, followed by a giggle:

Now, here is a live version from Youtube, thanks to “floppingnoni” – the performance is from 1993, you get a sense of the rawness of the song:

Why “Rock Star” is actually “Olympia”!

Now, some backstory: the song is actually called “Olympia”, whigh is the capital of the state of Washington, about 60 minutes south of Seattle. However, the original song “Rock Star” was supposed to be on the album, but was switched out AFTER the album sleeves were printed – so “Olympia” became known as “Rock Star”!

I found this great live version from Love performed in London in 2014 – listen to the setup and then the raucous energy even now – as the entire crowd sings along!

The entire album is terrific, and on my list of “songs with an H”, I included another classic song called “Doll Parts” – you can see the video here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/07/hey-hey-get-your-musical-h-on-hole-heart-hendrix-the-brilliant-hello-its-me/

Next up, some more rock’n’roll anarchy, courtesy of The Ramones!

“Rock’n’Roll High School” by The Ramones

More anarchy related to school, thanks to this classic punk band from the 70’s, legendary for no long lasting more than 3 minutes!

“Well I don’t care about history
Rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school
Cause that’s not where I want to be
Rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school
I just want to have some kicks
I just want to get some chicks
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school”

Here is the clip from the 1979 film of the same name, as the band is introduced by the iconic PJ Soles!

This is a great film – you can see the movie trailer and lots of trivia here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

Now, did you know that my favorite Artist, Todd Rundgren, was supposed to be in the film in the Ramones role? Unfortunately, the schedule didn’t work out, but Todd’s song “A Dream Goes On Forever” is in the movie soundtrack.

Todd Rundgren – “Bang The Drum All Day”

Perhaps they wanted Todd because his music was raucous as well, as his classic “goof off” song from the 80’s shows:

“When I get older they think I’m a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks were so hot
I made the teacher want to dance
And that’s why

I don’t want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don’t want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day”

Here is Todd’s live rendition from his 2016 Beverly Hills concert:

I loved this show, and shot a few more videos as well – including his iconic “Hello, It’s Me” — you can see them all here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/07/todd-rundgren-rocks-beverly-hills-todds-2016-tour-reviewed/

Hope you enjoyed this “R” music!

Ever wonder what happens when you throw a cut of water in the air at -88 degrees?

This!

Welcome To Oymyakon, Siberia!

Welcome to the coldest village on earth – where water freezes the moment it hits the air – and the brutal cold is with you year round – I love this kind of stuff – thanks to some great reporting!

It’s an amazing story in The Washington Post titled:

“In the coldest village on Earth, eyelashes freeze, dinner is frozen and temperatures sink to -88F”

As the story notes:

“In this remote outpost in Siberia, the cold is no small affair.

Eyelashes freeze, frostbite is a constant danger and cars are usually kept running even when not being used, lest their batteries die in temperatures that average minus-58 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, according to news reports.

This is Oymyakon, a settlement of some 500 people in Russia’s Yakutia region, that has earned the reputation as the coldest permanently occupied human settlement in the world.”

Wow! And as for those eyelashes:

Here is the video of the town’s fish market from the story, titled:

“Fishing market Yakutsk. Now 49C’ below zero”:

Cold enough for you? I can’t imagine living there, but for 500 hearty souls, it’s just another day in the life…you can read the whole story, thanks to the terrific Washington Post, by clicking here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/01/16/in-the-coldest-village-on-earth-eyelashes-freeze-dinner-is-frozen-and-temperatures-sink-to-88f/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories-2_coldest-place-1114pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.8f3005067f30#comments

If you want to see more about life in Siberia, there is a terrific documentary that spends a year there:

Director Werner Herzog took a TV series from Russia about a year in the life of Siberia and cut it into a fantastic documentary called “Happy People” – and yes, when you catch a fish there, you can just leave it sit out, because it will freeze until you need it!

You can click here to see the trailer for this film, which is terrific:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/18/into-the-wild-siberias-happy-people-werner-herzogs-new-documentary/

Let me know if you are up for this kind of living!

Oscar Nominations 2017!

Yes, the 2017 Academy Award nominations were announced today, and here are some exciting things to share:

The Year Of Great Women In Front Of And Behind The Camera!

Actor/Director Greta Gerwig was nominated as Best Director and Best Screenplay for the terrific “Lady Bird”, which also received nominations for Best Picture, Actress and Supporting Actress.

“Lady Bird” was one of my top three films of the year – bravo to Gerwig, Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf for a terrific film!

Double Nominee Mary J. Blige!

Mary J. Blige was also double nominated, as Best Supporting Actress in “Mudbound” as well as for best original song. Bravo Mary!

“The Shape Of Water” led the way in 2017, garnering 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor….bravo to them all!

“The Shape Of Water” is a masterpiece, and worthy of all these honors.

Here is the trailer for the film, as well as a look at the great cast and Director Guillermo Del Toro:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/26/the-shape-of-water-guillermo-del-toros-masterpiece-the-best-film-of-2017/

Speaking of the best films of 2017:

Actor/Director Joran Peele became only the third person in Oscar history to pull of an amazing feat, as Deadline.com reports:

“Jordan Peele’s Get Out scoring noms for directing, writing and Best Picture, as well as an acting nom for star Daniel Kaluuya. For Peele, he becomes only the third person to be nommed in those categories with his first film. Greta Gerwig nearly pulled off the same feat with directing and screenplay noms for Lady Bird, though she wasn’t a producer on the A24 pic, which did get a Best Picture nom.”

The film also scored a Best Actor nomination for Daniel Kaluuya – these are somewhat unusual for a horror film, but very well deserved!

Here is a closer look at the film, along with the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/06/get-out-and-get-to-a-theater-jordan-peele-shocks-you-with-the-best-film-of-2017/

Also of note:

Christopher Plummer becomes the oldest Actor ever nominated! As Deadline notes:

“Christopher Plummer, who stepped into the role of J. Paul Getty in November following sexual allegations against Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World, was nominated this morning for Best Supporting Actor. The nomination, which — at 88 — also makes him the oldest actor ever to be nominated (Gloria Stuart was 87 in Titanic in 1998). He had been nominated before in 2012 and won for Supporting Actor for Beginners and became the oldest winner of an Oscar at 82 at the time.”

So there are some interesting nominations to share – congrats to all of the nominees…here is the complete list of this year’s nominations:

Best Picture

Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best actress

Sally Hawkins, The Shape Of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Meryl Streep, The Post

Best actor

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J Israel, Esq

Best supporting actress

Mary J Blige, Mudbound
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best supporting actor

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape Of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best director

Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan
Get Out – Jordan Peele
Lady Bird – Greta Gerwig
Phantom Thread – Paul Thomas Anderson
The Shape of Water – Guillermo Del Toro

Best adapted screenplay

Call Me By Your Name – screenplay by James Ivory
The Disaster Artist – screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H Weber
Logan – screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; story by James Mangold
Molly’s Game – written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin
Mudbound – screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

Best original screenplay

The Big Sick – written by Emily V Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Get Out – written by Jordan Peele
Lady Bird – written by Greta Gerwig
The Shape of Water – screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; story by Guillermo del Toro
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – written by Martin McDonagh

Best foreign language film

A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
The Insult (Lebanon)
Loveless (Russia)
On Body and Soul (Hungary)
The Square (Sweden)

Best original song

Mighty River, Mudbound (Mary J Blige)
The Mystery of Love, Call Me By Your Name (Sufjan Stevens)
Remember Me, Coco (Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez)
Stand Up for Something, Marshall (Common & Diane Warren, sung by Andra Day)
This Is Me, The Greatest Showman (Benji Pasek & Justin Paul)

Best animated feature

Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Best documentary feature

Abacus
Faces Places
Icarus
Last Men in Aleppo
Strong Island

Best documentary short

Edith + Eddie
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405
Heroin(e)
Knife Skills
Traffic Stop

Best original score

Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best cinematography

Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

Best costume design

Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul

Best make-up and hairstyling

Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder

Best sound editing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best sound mixing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best animated short

Dear Basketball
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes

Best live action short

DeKalb Elementary
The Eleven O’Clock
My Nephew Emmet
The Silent Child
Watu Wote/All of Us

Best production design

Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water

Best visual effects

Blade Runner 2049
Guardian of the Galaxy Vol 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for Planet of the Apes

Best film editing

Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I was driving through Beverly Hills the other day and ran into the legendary Actor/Director Richard Benjamin – which reminded me of one of two of the greatest – and most obscure – movies of all time! So, thanks to this terrific Actor, I am about to share them.

First, let’s begin with a “Hollywood Whodunnit!”

“Who did this room? Parker Brothers?”

Here is Richard Benjamin trying to solve one of the many puzzles in “The Last Of Sheila”, a terrific mystery thriller that also takes time to lampoon the catty environment of Hollywood in the 70’s!

“Psycho” Meets Sondheim!

That’s how I describe “The Last Of Sheila” – a great “Hollywood Insider” whodunnit – because it was written by two consummate Hollywood players. The plot is based on murder-mystery party games that co-authors and puzzle enthusiasts Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim wrote and performed in their homes!

Of course, Perkins became a star through his legendary performance as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film “Psycho”, and Stephen Sondheim is one of America’s greatest composers.

Check out the classic trailer:

Here is the plot of “The Last Of Sheila”: Movie Producer James Coburn invites a Director, Writer, Starlet, Agent, and a hanger on or two to spend a week on his yacht off the French Riviera. On the surface, it’s a reunion of sorts, but there is a more serious turn ahead for all of them…

One of the great things about this film is the cast – a “who’s who” of Hollywood in the early 70’s…such as James Mason, who plays a washed-up Director desperate to get back behind a camera – Mason as you know was brilliant in Stanley Kubrick’s “Lolita”…

James Coburn plays the game-loving Hollywood Producer who was married to the actress Sheila – and in mourning her death, he decides to invite his Hollywood “friends” over to his yacht for a “game”…

“The Last Of Sheila” is a great murder-mystery, and I won’t share more plot details to avoid giving anything away. But the cast clearly is having a ball making fun of real life Hollywood figures.

Dyan Cannon “Channels” Sue Mengers!

In the film, Dyan Cannon plays a powerful Agent – in real life, Cannon was married to Cary Grant in the 60’s – and she relishes her role here – if you’ve ever heard of the legendary Super Agent Sue Mengers, wait until you see Dyan Cannon’s take on her…ballsy and full of gossip!

America’s Reigning Sex Kitten!

Raquel Welch was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 60’s and 70’s – she played that part in many films, but she also wanted more respect as well, and she brings all of that to her role as the starlet who needs constant love and affection…

Raquel has rarely been better than she is here – and her scene with Dyan Cannon is a delicious tongue in cheek poke at Hollywood.

Cannon: [while suntanning] “Will you put some sunscreen on me? I have to do 25 minutes on my stomach.”
Raquel: “To make up for the 25 minutes you spent on your back last night?”

The entire “Last Of Sheila” film takes place along the French Riviera, including great locations off the coast of Cannes…

Here is some great trivia, courtesy of the movie database IMDB:

“Shooting the monastery sequence just off Cannes proved to be troublesome for Raquel Welch. Gale force winds and rain disrupted the night shoot, and Welch was reluctant to leave her Venice hotel for fear of getting stuck in the storm.”

Raquel wasn’t a fan of the weather conditions, but she hung in there like a pro.

“This glamorous picture in the wonderful sunny Cote d’Azur has turned out to be a bit of a splodge,” Welch told a journalist at the time. “This is not my idea of an enjoyable evening, but they’re paying you the money. I just go ahead and do it and don’t complain.”

Herbert Ross directed “Sheila”, and this legendary Director also directed the Oscar nominated “The Goodbye Girl”, “The Turning Point” and yes, “Footloose” too!

If you want to know more about Raquel Welch’s career, click here and see her deliciously campy performance from an episode of “Seinfeld” as well!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/18/raquel-welch-dinosaur-slayer-burt-reynolds-feud-seinfeld-catfight-a-million-reasons-to-love-this-iconic-sex-kitten/

Speaking of “Seinfeld”, here is a much more challenging film from the early 70’s that also has a “Seinfeld” connection, from iconic British Actor Malcolm McDowell!

“O Lucky Man”!

“O Lucky Man” is a brilliant, little known masterpiece from 1973 starring Malcolm McDowell, who also conceived the idea for the film.

It All Began With “If…”

Malcolm McDowell was coming off of two powerful films, beginning with his film debut.

“If…” is a searing look at class structure in Great Britian, directed by Lindsay Anderson. “If…” is a prescient look at rebellious youth, and the film was released on the eve of the real student upheavals of the late 60’s…

“If…” was an indictment of the British public school system, as we follow Mick and his friends through a series of indignities at the hands of the British school system. When Mick and his friends rebel – and rebel violently – the catch phrase, “which side will you be on” becomes quite real.

“If…” won the Palme d’Or for best film at the Cannes Film Festival during the French student riots of 1969…it was a chaotic time in history, with student protests and riots that spread around the world.

McDowell’s brilliant screen debut in “If…” caught the attention of Director Stanley Kubrick, who was in the process of casting his disturbing vision of the future: “A Clockwork Orange”.

After the success of “A Clockwork Orange”, McDowell was one of the hottest Actors in film…which led him to his most personal work ever.

After the success of “If….”, Malcolm McDowell suggested to Lindsay Anderson that they should work again. Anderson replied that good scripts “don’t grow on trees” and that McDowell should consider writing his own if he wanted to give himself a good part. Although the actor was only 30 at the time, he based the film around the concept of his own life story – and then brought it to writer David Sherwin who then crafted the screenplay.

It’s a modern day retelling of “Candide”, starring Malcolm McDowell as a young coffee salesman looking to conquer a world gone mad. Just as in the film “If…”, McDowell is named Mick. Here the young Mick is being trained in the world of coffee sales by veteran British Actress Rachel Roberts.

“O Lucky Man” is a sweeping epic of youthful ambition that runs headfirst into the moral complexities of the real world. McDowell and Director Anderson take us on a three hour trip into the surreal world of capitalism and greed – with some of the most unique images and storytelling techniques ever seen…

Here’s an example of an innovative idea in the film: the movie includes Alan Price’s outstanding soundtrack. And I mean INCLUDES IT.

What I love about the film is that you see Price performing much of the music live in the film. And the opening credits are over footage of Price singing the title track in a studio, while Director Anderson observes and then interacts with him. Here is the opening song as seen in the film:

Director Lindsay Anderson conceived the role of Alan Price’s music as a kind of Greek Chorus, commenting on the action – and eventually he becomes part of the film as well.

Also, look for Helen Mirren in one of her first roles as well, as the daughter of a wealthy industrialist…an epic, challenging film the you can own on DVD!

As for the “Seinfeld” connection: there is a powerful scene in the film that “Seinfeld” pays homage to, when Kramer thinks he sees a “pig man” in the hospital! Read that story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/22/o-lucky-man-malcolm-mcdowells-seinfeld-connection/

Let me know if you’ve seen either of these great films!

Start Your Engines!

It’s the year of the woman, and how about these empowered female action stars?

Meet “The Villainess!”

One of the best action films of all time just happens to star a woman!

“The Villainess” is the 2017 South Korean action film directed by Jung Byung-gil, starring Kim Ok-bin.

Trained to be a deadly Assassin, Sook-hee performs her duties for ten years, then starts a new life…but you know what they say, it’s tough to put old habits behind you!

Here is the trailer:

What’s truly amazing is a motorcycle chase and samurai sword battle – happening at the same time!

While in the US, female action stars aren’t the norm, Asia has a rich tradition of women going toe to toe with men – and winning!

Yes, “The Machine Girl” is one of those wild and crazy Asian cult films that I have posted about before – and don’t forget “Helldriver” as well!

The films are wild, bloody and full of nonstop action – all led by empowered women who aren’t afraid to fight back!

You can see some of the best ones here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

The tradition began in the 70’s, with such classic “pinky violence” films as these:

It’s a unique style of filmmaking and storytelling, and there are some terrific box sets that showcase the best – see the trailers here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/30/amazing-pinky-violence-cult-cinema-female-prisoner-scorpion-incredible-j-sploitation-cult-classics/

One last genre involves over-the-top stories with wildly inventive filmmaking, like this:

“Killer” Sushi!

That’s right, a film about sushi that eats YOU! And of course, only a young female Sushi Chef is smart enough to fight back…see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/01/28/killer-sushi-toilet-zombies-karaoke-terror-tasty-japanese-exploitation/

Let me know how many of these you’ve seen!

Get Ready For The “ALL Natural” Superhero, “Black Panther!”

The early reviews are superlative, and after seeing so many films coming-out over the past few years, we are LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGG overdue for an African-American Superhero….

And as it turns out, an “all natural” one at that! Let me explain:

“Black Panther” Is Getting Amazing Reviews!

The first reviews have been incredible for this new Super hero movie.

First, here’s the plot of the film:

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk.

Here is the trailer:

Wow! It’s being called one of the best Superhero films ever made, and that trailer looks it!

“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. The film is directed by Ryan Coogler – and as I said, it’s “all natural!”

The “Natural” Style Of The Film!

Among all of the interesting stories about the movie, I found one all about the look of the character’s HAIR!

Here is a short snippet from the great story at “The Cut”:

Ahead of the movie’s premiere, the Cut talked to the head of Black Panther’s hair department, Camille Friend. The movie’s hair wizard explained the month-long process of creating Angela Bassett’s wig, why Michael B. Jordan needed to wear extensions, and what it was like working on a film that celebrated natural black hair.

“There’s no press and comb in this movie. No relaxers, no nothing! That was one of the things that I really was firm about. I requested that people come with their natural hair. People were like, ‘Are you sure?’ and I was like, ‘Yes, I am sure! We have a qualified staff of hair people who are phenomenal and who are well-versed in natural hair.’”

As you can see, here are Lupita Nyong’o and Letitia Wright in their “natural” state:

And what about the amazing hair on Angela Bassett? Let’s take a look before we hear the story behind it:

Well, according to the article, Camille Friend describes it this way:

“That was the pièce de résistance wig. It was a wig we created. All of the dreads were handmade, and they were blended with four different colors. Once those were made — there were about 110 pieces of individual dreads — we sent those to the wigmaker [Natascha Ladek], and the wigmaker inserted them in the wig. That whole process took about a month.”

I plan to keep an eye on all of the “natural” look, and bravo to them for that decision!

Ashley Weatherford wrote this terrific article, which can be found at “The Cut” – check it out here:

https://www.thecut.com/2018/02/black-panther-natural-hair.html

A quick shoutout as well to David Poland, who posted the link to this terrific article on his website, “Movie City News.” It’s my “go to” place for links to terrific stories, as well as his own original features, reviews and box office updates…a great website, check it out here!

http://moviecitynews.com

While we are overdue for a new type of movie Super hero, let’s not forget that, in the 70’s, there were two African-American women who were kicking ass as well!

Pam Grier was “Foxy Brown”, and her action films are “blaxploitation” classics…this genre of film included such male stars as Richard Roundtree as “Shaft”, and Ron O’Neal as “Superfly.” But let’s not forget the other female action star of that genre:

Tamara Dobson starred as “Cleopatra Jones”, which the movie posters described as “6’2″ Of Dynamite!”

These films are terrific, and available on DVD, blu-ray or on demand, so make it a retro night at home after seeing “Black Panther” on the big screen! See more about these two “super women” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/02/foxy-brown-cleopatra-jones-blaxploitations-kick-ass-women/

Bravo to the creative team behind “Black Panther!”

Amy Schumer Is Happy!

The release of Amy Schumer’s new movie trailer brought a smile to my face, and why not? It looks really funny!

I found this online last night – watched it and can’t wait for the movie. Schumer once again takes on the subject of physical beauty and turns it on its head.

Here is the very funny trailer for “I Feel Pretty”:

I have always enjoyed Schumer’s uniquely comedic take on her life, and the huge success of “Trainwreck” made her America’s favorite Comedian…but her time at the top was short-lived.

No doubt that Schumer was due for blowback – “Trainwreck” was a huge hit, and rightly so, but then she started hanging out with Jennifer Lawrence, which led to this “dance-off” live at Wrigley Field to “Uptown Girl”, an iconic song used in the film – and yes, they danced on Billy Joel’s piano – all of this probably turned people off – you decide, here is the clip:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/28/amy-schumer-jennifer-lawrence-piano-man-see-these-uptown-girls-dance-on-billy-joels-piano-wrigley-field-dance-off/

Suddenly you saw social media going after her more than usual, and then she made another movie and the blowback was complete:

When “Snatched” came out last summer, it was met with vicious reviews and middling box office….but it’s really pretty good!

Schumer stars as a suddenly-single woman who travels with her Mom, played by Goldie Hawn, and it turns into a variation of “Romancing The Stone” – my wife and I found it funny and very watchable, certainly NOT the disaster that it was made out to be – check out the trailer:

“Snatched” is all over cable and on demand services, so check it out – it’s entertaining and very funny in parts!

So, months ahead of it’s opening, the trailer for “I Feel Pretty” is out, and it sure looks funny to me…we will see what America thinks!

Movie fans have a reason to celebrate – it was Burt Reynolds’ birthday!

As he himself would say:

“We’re about to make film history, right here… on videotape.”

Burt Reynolds was born on February 11, 1936 – he grew up in Riviera Beach, Florida, right next to Palm Beach. His father, Burt Sr., eventually became Chief of Police!

Reynolds worked as a stuntman – as well as small tv and movie roles, before starring in several TV shows in the 60’s, which led to work in movie westerns….

Then, in 1972 he starred in one of the most acclaimed and controversial films ever – and it propelled him to stardom…

Deliverance.

The story of four men who decide to take a river rafting trip through the backwoods of Georgia…with Reynolds as the “tough as nails” adventurer who doesn’t think the others are up to it:

Lewis: Can that chubby boy handle himself?
Ed: Bobby? He’s rather well thought of in his field, Lewis.
Lewis: Insurance? I never been insured in my life. There’s no risk.

“Deliverance” was one of the most iconic films of the 70′s, nominated for Best Picture, and it has the iconic movie line:

“Squeal like a pig!”

If you haven’t seen this brilliant movie, check out new blu-ray and DVD versions that have documentaries and commentary attached, and they are all worth viewing – and of course, there are the “dueling banjos!”

I posted a story recently about the casting of this film, when it was revealed that Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson were considered for it! See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/20/squeal-like-a-pig-marlon-brandos-deliverance-cult-classic-casting-coup/

His breakout performance in Deliverance in 1972 made Reynolds a star. The same year, Reynolds gained even more notoriety when he posed naked in the April issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine – a landmark moment in publishing.

Burt’s Sexy Centerfold!

Yes, Reynolds shocked the entertainment world when he posed nude in Cosmopolitan magazine – as their centerfold!

Reynolds later claimed the centerfold in Cosmopolitan hurt the chances for Deliverance at the Oscars – and the film’s stars, including himself, didn’t get Academy Award nominations because of it. Regardless, this cemented his place as a 70’s Superstar, leading to a number of huge box office hits, like this one:

The Longest Yard

This 1974 classic stars Reynolds as a pro football Quarterback who gets in trouble with the law and ends up in a grimy prison, run by Eddie Albert…

Check out the trailer:

This was a perfect role for him: not only was he the biggest star in the world at the time, but Reynolds was a great football player, first for Florida State University and then was drafted by the Baltimore Colts!

Reynolds plays Paul Crewe, a pro football player-turned-convict – who organizes a team of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. That’s right: convicts versus GUARDS!

Paul Crewe: You know what my problem has been all my life? I’ve always had my shit together. Always. My problem’s been I couldn’t lift it.

“The Longest Yard” is one of the best sports movies ever, and Burt was great.

Half A ‘Stache!

Reynolds had a great sense of humor, as evidenced when he went on The Tonight Show and shaved half his mustache off for a stunned Johnny Carson!

He was also a gifted comic actor, as evidenced by the arrow through his head – and he used that goofy humor to good box office effect in action comedies like this one:

Fuzz!

Police in Boston search for a mad bomber trying to extort money from the city. The cops in charge of finding this “mad bomber” are Burt Reynolds, Racquel Welch and Tom Skerritt.

According to IMDB, Raquel Welch did not like Burt Reynolds because of unsavory comments he made while they were filming “100 Rifles” together.

So, in “Fuzz” Welch insisted that she not have any direct scenes with Reynolds! The closest they get is during an interrogation scene. Still, the movie was a huge hit, in large part because of Reynolds and his comic ability.

See more about Raquel, Burt and their legendary catfight here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/18/raquel-welch-dinosaur-slayer-burt-reynolds-feud-seinfeld-catfight-a-million-reasons-to-love-this-iconic-sex-kitten/

Reynolds went on to star in some of the biggest hits of the 70’s, like these “good ol’ boy” action thrillers:

Both are now on blu-ray, so you can relive the wild days of the 70’s yourself! You can see more about these films, including their trailers, here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/22/suck-down-some-white-lightning-hicksploitation-burt-reynolds-gator-good-ol-boy-action-classics/

Reynolds made many hit comedies as well, like the action spectacle “Smokey And The Bandit”. During the first half of the 1990s, he was the star of the CBS comedy “Evening Shade”, for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1991).

Modern movie fans will recognize him for this masterpiece:

Now, an important word from Jack Horner!

Reynolds starred in “Boogie Nights” as Adult Film Director Jack Horner, who offered some words about how complex and expensive moviemaking can be…

Jack Horner: Before you turn around, you’ve spent maybe 20, 25, 30 thousand dollars on a movie!

Boogie Nights!

This is, quite simply, one of the best movies ever made, pure and simple – and one of Reynolds’ best performances.

“We’re about to make film history, right here… on videotape.”

Paul Thomas Anderson directed this epic look at the rise of a adult film superstar, and his journey through the changing world of porn, from the “innocent” days of the 70’s into the drug-fueled 80’s.

Inspired by the tragic story of John C. Holmes – aka “Johnny Wadd”, Mark Wahlberg does an amazing job as Eddie Adams, who is “discovered” by an adult movie Director – due to his “unique” talent – and overnight becomes porn superstar Dirk Diggler!

Adult Film Director Jack Horner Knows What Sells!

Reynolds put it all out there as the Veteran Film Director, which lines like this:

Jack Horner: I got a feeling that behind those jeans is something wonderful just waiting to get out.

Burt Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance and took home a Golden Globe Award. He was considered a front-runner for the Supporting Oscar, but ultimately lost to Robin Williams, for “Good Will Hunting”. I can watch this movie any day of the week…a masterpiece.

Time to watch some Burt and celebrate his birthday!

Nicolas Cage IS “The Godfather!”

Remember Nic’s incredible performance as Don Corleone? How about his incredible performance in “X-Men?”

Or the best ever, what about his role as Lois Lane in “Superman Returns?”

Wait, wait wait – WHAT!?!?!?!?!?

Last month, the Motherboard website told the story of a Redditor who was using deep learning technology to map female celebrities’ faces onto pornographic performers, with startlingly lifelike results. That is a troubling trend in the era of “fake news”, as apparently it’s virtually impossible to spot the fake video.

One report referred to the process as “deep fakes”.

So of course, someone did the same thing – with Nicolas Cage!

Nicolas Cage – Star Of EVERYTHING!

Yes, you can now put Nicolas Cage into “The Avenger” or frankly, just about any other movie you want!

“3 Buck Theater” posted this explainer on YouTube:

“A new deep learning software called FakeApp (or just known as DeepFakes on reddit) allows users to add Nicolas Cage (or any celebrity) to any movie they want. While the technology is in a “showcase” phase at the moment, this will go far to bring dead actors to life once again.”

Here is that video showing examples of how Cage’s face was put on Lois Lane’s body seamlessly:

So, you could actually remake “Oceans 11” with Nicolas Cage as all of the characters!

Indiewire also had a story about this new technology, and as they point out:

“By scanning a bunch of images of a celebrity’s face, the software was able to imagine what they’d look like grafted into a given video—a powerful technology being used in one of the worst possible ways. The result barrels past legal and ethical boundaries, raising a whole host of free speech issues regarding the women whose likenesses are being used without their consent. There are surprisingly few legal recourses for them, at least in America.”

You can read more about their story on “Deep Fakes” here:

http://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/nicolas-cage-machine-learning-algorithm-deep-fakes-1201923224/

I told you that one clip has Nicolas Cage as Lois Lane:

In fact, Cage was working with Director Tim Burton to play Superman! There is a great documentary that has footage from the rehearsals and wardrobe fittings:

Can you imagine how this could have turned out? Click here to see what happened to this “never shot” movie:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/26/superman-lives-nicolas-cage-is-superman-incredible-documentary-on-tim-burtons-amazing-superman-reboot-debacle/

Finally, in more Nicolas Cage news, if you were in Japan, you could have eaten him!

Unfortunately, he never signed off on this movie promotion, so the snack food maker had to apologize – see the story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/10/11/nicolas-cage-had-no-idea-he-was-being-turned-into-a-snack-food-in-japan/

Let me know what you think of this “deep fakes” trend!

Ready For A Good Movie? Or Even A “Best Worst” Movie?

Well, this cinephile is holding one of the most wildly entertaining “bad” movies of all time!

The phrase “best worst movie” is not only well known by film buffs, but the title of a terrific documentary as well!

Time For The “Best Worst Movie!”

The documentary “Best Worst Movie” celebrates one of those films – one that is “so bad its good!”

Before I tell you about this terrific documentary, and five of the “best worst” films of all time, something to explain so we are on the same page – THIS is a “best worst” film:

Director Paul Verhoeven decided to “tear the lid off” of Las Vegas with this inside look at the sordid world of “Showgirls”, and it’s a hilariously bad, ridiculous and at times offensive film, which makes it so good!

On the other hand, here is an attempt to “tear the lid off” stripping that was just A HORRIBLE MOVIE!

“Striptease” with Demi Moore was a truly awful film – it was pretentious, condescending and poorly done – even with all that nudity, it was NO FUN AT ALL!

So, with that distinction, let’s get down to some of the “best worst” films ever made – and celebrate them for the effort to be art!

“Best Worst” Movie #5 – “Troll 2!”

The terrific documentary “Best Worst Movie” tells the story of how “Troll 2” became a sensation – years after it was released direct to video!

Here is the vintage 80’s trailer – enjoy!

“Troll 2” is often mentioned as the worst film ever made…and now there is a documentary that looks at the cult that has sprung up around it!

“Best Worst Movie!”

This great documentary looks at the making of “Troll 2” in 1990, and its journey from being crowned the “worst film of all time” to a cherished cult classic.

Check out the trailer:

The “Best Worse Movie” documentary was actually made by the child actor from the movie! He interviews the cast about how the movie changed their lives. He also interviews the Director, who insists that “Troll 2” is a great film!

I chose “Troll 2” as number five only because I wanted to start with it and talk about the great documentary…but next up is a film even movie hater could love:

“Best Worst” Movie #4 – “Birdemic!”

Forget Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, THIS is the film that tears the lid off of wild and REALISTIC bird attacks like this one:

Once you see this trailer, you can never go back!

It takes a certain type of genius to make a film like this – you can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/15/birdemic-brilliant-shocker-or-worst-movie-ever-who-will-survive-watching-it/

In compiling this list, I knew there were many really awful films, including one I had to share for other reasons:

NOT A “Best Worst” Movie – “Manos, Hands Of Fate!”

I’m taking a short break to prove my point about “Showgirls” vs. “Striptease” – not all “bad” movies deserve to be “best worst” films – case in point: this is “Manos, Hands Of Fate”, widely considered one of the worst films of all time. In Spanish, “Manos” means “hands” – so this film is actually called:

“Hands, Hands Of Fate!”

It’s inept, awful in every way – including NOT being any fun to watch – it’s just awful, even with “Torgo” in a crucial role.

Yes, look for the incredible acting of “TORGO” in this trailer:

Ahem. Well, there was THAT.

You can see, just a horrible movie that gives the viewer no “inside joke” pleasure – but it is of course available on DVD, so if you want to learn more about it, go here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/22/manos-hands-of-fate-is-here-celebrate-the-worst-of-the-worst-films/

Now, back to the good stuff: a film that boldly entertains you with a film poster that declares:

“Best Worst” Movie #3 – “Confessions Of A Psycho Cat!”

With a title like that, how could it NOT be deliciously bad – and fun to boot? And guess what? It is! Not only that, the “Raging Bull” himself is in it!

Jake LaMotta Battles The Psycho Cat!

OK, Jake LaMotta wasn’t really in “fighting shape” when he took on his opponent – a rich, eccentric upper east wide woman who likes to hunt men – to death!

Folks, there is SO much to love in this film: bad acting, hilarious “wandering around lost” action sequences in Central Park, and an argument between the “Raging Bull” and THIS woman:

What’s so unusual? Well, based on how it’s shot, it’s clear they were never in the room at the same time! Oh, and at one point she gets upset at his lack of attention (no doubt because he wasn’t there!) and so she goes over to a mirror and does THIS:

Yes, she makes out with herself!

Seen enough? Of course not! Click here to see more trivia about the film, why Jake LaMotta got caught up in it, and more! It’s a celebration of the late “Raging Bull”:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/09/20/rip-to-the-raging-bull-jake-lamotta-his-psycho-cat-movie/

LaMotta always had someone in his corner when he fought, and these films always have some kind of “wing man” in the plot – or in this case:

BLUE-FACED WING WOMEN!

“Best Worst” Movie #2 – “The Body Beneath!”

Imagine a film that promotes itself for being filmed in scary places in England!

The legendarily bad film Director Andy Milligan filmed this in spooky looking places in England, and also had these ladies around to scare the guests:

Here, in all its blue-faced glory, is the trailer:

If you are wondering what the blue-faced ghosts have to do with anything, you’ll never find out by watching the film, but that’s just one reason it’s so much fun to watch!

You can read more about this inept Director – and the many classically bad films he made!

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/24/ghastly-horror-meet-the-ed-wood-of-shock-cinema-cranium-cleaving-andy-milligans-blue-faced-shockers/

Finally, it’s almost too easy to finish with this movie, but is there really any other choice?

“Best Worst” Movie #1 – Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room!”

From the movie’s poster, which is just a shot of the brooding Actor/Director/Producer/Writer Tommy Wiseau, to one of the greatest trailers of all time, “The Room” cries out to be the best worst film ever!

The trailer only hints at the majesty of this movie:

Now you can experience the greatest bad moments by watching Jame Franco tells the story of the making of the film in the new movie “The Disaster Artist”…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/03/the-disaster-artist-is-here-james-franco-pays-homage-to-tommy-wiseaus-best-worst-film-the-room/

Let me know what I left off the “best worst” list, and yes, there will be plenty of Ed Wood movies to be mentioned for sure!

Steven Spielberg’s “Empowered” Directorial Debut – With Goldie Hawn!

While his latest film “The Post” was nominated for Best Picture of 2017, it was his theatrical motion picture debut in 1974 that showcased his interest in telling stories about real people – with an “empowered female” role for Goldie Hawn that is one of her best!

After wowing TV audiences with his terrific made-for-TV film “Duel”, a very young Steven Spielberg was given the chance to make his big screen directorial debut with the 1974 action drama “The Sugarland Express.”

Here’s the plot:

A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape from prison. Once out, they make plans to get their son before he’s put into a foster home. But things don’t go as planned, and they end up taking a police office hostage – and try to outrun the law.

“The Sugarland Express” is based on a true story, and was a very dramatic departure for Comedic Actress Goldie Hawn. William Atherton co-stars, along with legendary character Actor Ben Johnson.

Here is the trailer:

It might seem an unusual choice for the Director of such big box office films as “E.T.”, “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” and “Jurassic Park”, but characters and story were always important in his films, and in this debut, he combined action, drama and emotion well, allowing time for you to care about all of the people involved.

Oh yeah – just one year later, Spielberg’s next directorial effort was released:

Talk about a dramatic leap! While “The Sugarland Express” was critically acclaimed, it didn’t do much at the box office. One year later, he made the biggest hit in movie history!

Here is a look at how “Jaws” changed cinema forever:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/06/23/jaws-42-years-ago-cinema-was-changed-forever-time-to-celebrate-bruce-the-great-white/

Let me know if you’ve seen “The Sugarland Express!”

Oscar’s “Lucky 13!”

Time to celebrate this year’s Academy Awards with the strangest Oscar trivia imaginable: the X-rated kind!

This isn’t the kind of image you equate with the Oscars, is it? Well here’s some obscure Academy Award trivia for you – there have been THIRTEEN oscar nominations associated with X-rated movies!

Talk About An “Adult” Oscar!

The history of the Academy Awards is full of great moments and trivia – and this is one of the most fascinating to me…

Time to look at the biggest awards night of the year in a different way: there was a time when Oscar not only tolerated sex in the movies, they rewarded it with some of the night’s biggest awards!

There have been thirteen Academy Award nominations tied to X-rated movies…it happened in an era when the film industry gave filmmakers the freedom to tell stories in a very adult way – let’s look at this fascinating part of Oscar lore…

Here Come The Ratings!

The ratings system for films was created in the late 60’s to help audiences cope with the onslaught of adult content in film…the sexual revolution was underway, and films like “Bonnie & Clyde” offered up much more provocative content.

What The Hell’s An “M”?

When the Motion Picture Association of America created the ratings system in 1968, there were the following designations: G, M, R, and X.

There was quickly confusion between a movie that was “mature” versus one that was “restricted”, so it was changed to “GP”, then to “PG”, for parental guidance…”PG-13″ was added later, as the heart-ripping scene in “Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom” was deemed a bit too harsh for a straight “PG” rating.

Back To The 70’s!

It was in the early 70’s that film makers began to use the ratings to push the envelope for graphic content, such as in the classic film “Straw Dogs” with Dustin Hoffman…

Soon, America’s greatest filmmakers were taking advantage of these guidelines to make adult films that dealt with the social issues of the day…and with lots of nudity and sexual content!

Oscar’s Only X-Rated Winner!

One film would soon be the first to ever win Best Picture – with an “X” rating! And it is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time! Time to head back to a much different New York City – to meet Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo!

“I’m walking here! I’m walking here!”

Midnight Cowboy

The setup to this great film is simple: young, naive Joe Buck heads to New York City to be a male hustler…check out the trailer:

Jon Voight stars as Texas greenhorn Joe Buck – a “stud” who arrives in New York for the first time. Preening himself as a real ‘hustler’, he finds that he is the one getting ‘hustled’ until he teams up with a down-and-outcast named Ratso Rizzo.

And that’s the plot: a country “hick” learns how to survive in the big city, thanks to “Ratso”, an amazing performance by Dustin Hoffman, including the legendary line:

“I’m walking here! I’m walking here!”

This is New York City at its grittiest – and to survive, you had to be willing to do ANYTHING. For Ratso, that meant crashing holiday parties to steal the food on the buffet table…and have no shame when caught:

Gretel McAlbertson: Why are you stealing food?
Ratso Rizzo: I was just, uh, noticing that you’re out of salami. I think you oughtta have somebody go over to the delicatessen, you know, bring some more back.
Gretel McAlbertson: Gee, well, you know, it’s free. You don’t have to steal it.
Ratso Rizzo: Well, if it’s free, then I ain’t stealin’.

Dustin Hoffman’s performance as “Ratso” Rizzo is ranked #7 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time. It was also an Oscar-nominated performance, along with Voight’s iconic Joe Buck:

Elvis IS Joe Buck!

But, even with such adult content, it was almost an Elvis movie! According to the great website IMDB, one studio executive sent Director John Schlesinger a memo stating, “If we could clean this up and add a few songs, it could be a great vehicle for Elvis Presley.” HA!

Presley wanted to be taken seriously as an actor, and was interested in the role of Joe Buck. Presley went on instead to do the G-rated “Change of Habit” with Mary Tyler Moore, which bombed!

It is hard to imagine that Elvis would have filmed some of the movie’s tougher scenes like this sex scene with Sylvia Miles….

It’s Raining Oscars!

The film’s cinema verite style and rough content was just what Hollywood was looking for in 1969, and the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including:

Best Actor Dustin Hoffman
Best Actor Jon Voight
Best Supporting Actress Sylvia Miles
Best Film Editing

“Midnight Cowboy” took home three Academy Awards in 1969, including:

Best Screenplay Waldo Salt
Best Director John Schlesinger
Best Picture Of The Year!

“Midnight Cowboy” is the only X-rated film to ever win Best Picture, but it’s NOT the only one ever nominated! Here’s the other:

Check Out These Provocative Opening Lines!

“There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence.”

A Clockwork Orange

2 years after “Midnight Cowboy” won Best Picture, Stanley Kubrick’s nightmarish vision of the future shocked audiences and captured four Academy Award nominations.

Check out this provocative trailer:

“A Clockwork Orange” was based on the futuristic novel by Anthony Burgess. In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge terrorizes respectable society, along with this three “Droogs”…

Once jailed, Alex volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society’s crime problem… but not all goes to plan. “A Clockwork Orange” is a brilliant movie, but very tough to watch in parts…if you haven’t yet seen it – you really don’t know what you are in for, and you have been warned.

The film was nominated for Best Picture (losing to the equally brilliant “The French Connection”) – and Stanley Kubrick was nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay – the fourth nomination was for Best Film Editing.

The Stones As Droogs!

According to IMDB, which always has terrific trivia, the novel’s Author Anthony Burgess originally sold the movie rights to Mick Jagger for $500 when he needed quick cash. Jagger intended to make it with The Rolling Stones as the droogs, but then re-sold the rights.

During the filming of the scene where Alex is forced to watch ultra-violence, star Malcolm McDowell scratched one of his corneas and was temporarily blinded. He also suffered cracked ribs during filming of the humiliation stage show.

McDowell’s next film was the equally brilliant but obscure “O Lucky Man!” – see that film’s “Seinfeld” connection here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/22/o-lucky-man-malcolm-mcdowells-seinfeld-connection/

Both “Midnight Cowboy” and “A Clockwork Orange” are brilliant movies that have stood the test of time. As ratings guidelines have loosened, both are now rated “R”R and are the same film! The last nomination for an X-rated movie came, not for Best Picture, but for the directing and acting in the equally provocative “Last Tango In Paris”.

“Go, get the butter.”

It is one of film history’s most legendary lines – spoken by one of its most controversial Actors – check out this moody, atmospheric trailer:

Brilliant Brando!

In the 1970’s, Marlon Brando made some brilliant movies – before he went off the rails in the 80’s…let’s look at his performance in this controversial, erotic drama…

While looking for an apartment, Jeanne, a beautiful young Parisienne, encounters Paul, a mysterious American expatriate mourning his wife’s recent suicide. Instantly drawn to each other, they have a stormy, passionate affair, in which they do not reveal their names to each other.

“Beauty of mine, sit before me. Let me peruse you and remember you… always like this.”

Those words are spoken by Brando to the beautiful young woman he pursues. Maria Schneider stars with Brando, and she is captivating as the young woman lost in this anonymous love affair…

Bernardo Bertolucci was nominated for Best Director (he eventually won the Award for “The Last Emperor” in 1987, which also won for Best Picture), and Marlon Brando was nominated for Best Actor.

Controversial Brando!

This nomination was just three years after Brando stunned Hollywood by winning Best Actor for “The Godfather” – and sending Sasheen Littlefeather up to reject the award, based on America’s inhumane treatment of American Indians.

Back To The Butter!

As I said, “Last Tango IN Paris” was the last X-rated film to receive Academy Award recognition…and the film has always been remembered for the moment when Marlon Brando uses butter in the film’s most notorious scene – as a lubricant in order to have anal sex with Schneider.

According to Maria Schneider, the famous “butter scene” was never in the script and improvised at the last minute by Marlon Brando and Bernardo Bertolucci without consulting her. It is one of film’s most notorious moments.

Though the sodomy act was faked, her real tears in the film testify to her surprise and her state of shock. Much later in her life, a very troubled Schneider would make many charges about how she felt violated in the filming of the scene…sadly, she lived a troubled life, and had many negative things to say about the experience of making the movie.

After the film’s release in Europe, director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Alberto Grimaldi, Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider were all indicted by a court in Bologna, Italy for making the film under the term “ultalitarian pornography”.

They were all acquitted of the charge – but Bertolucci lost his civil rights (including his right to vote) for five years.

“Last Tango In Paris” was a moody, polarizing film that shocked audiences when it came out, and is a true European art masterpiece.

So Whatever Happened To The Good Old “X”?

Now, back to the “X” rating. When the designation was assigned, the MPAA didn’t copyright it. With no registered trademark, the “X” could legally be self-applied to any film — a loophole pornography happily exploited. For example, the notorious 1972 film “Deep Throat” gave itself a tongue-in-cheek “X,” and many other adult films followed suit.

Movies Go “XXX”!

Soon after “Deep Throat” took ownership of the “X” rating, films like “Debbie Does Dallas” boasted a self-designated rating of “XXX”, promising three times the adult material! Look at the rating box with the extra “X’s” added!

While the arbitrary “XXX” rating has since become standard for the adult film industry, the damage was done to the singular “X”. An “X” rating became synonymous with “hardcore,” and mainstream advertisers and distributors stopped showing them in mainstream theaters.

Many filmmakers have protested the “X” rating, since it made artistic films indistinguishable from hard-core pornography. It was reported that “Taxi Driver” was originally given an “X” rating for its violent content, but some of the color of the blood was toned down in order to get an “R” rating.

In 1990, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar filed a civil suit over the X-rating given to “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!” Almodovar lost his lawsuit, but the MPAA soon after created the trademarked “NC-17” rating, which is still little used.

Roger Ebert’s X-Rated Past!

So there you go, have a nice night of viewing Oscar’s “X”-rated past! And what about this! Famous film critic Roger Ebert also had an X-rated past!

Take a look at the Rogert Ebert and Russ Meyer X-rated collaboration – a cult classic that is unfortunately NOT Oscar worthy!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/08/roger-ebert-teams-up-with-russ-meyer-russ-and-roger-go-beyond/

Let me know your thoughts on Oscar’s X-rated past!

Talk About A Tough Lady!

Dressed fully in black and carrying a sharp knife, this is one of the greatest action heroes that America’s NEVER HEARD OF!

Time to share a “J-sploitation” film series that combines action, violence and “women in prison” genres to terrific effect!

This classic Japanese exploitation series follows the adventures of Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion!

“Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion!”

Japanese star Meiko Kaji is Scorpion, and as you can imagine, the movie follows her travails inside a prison!

Check out the great trailer!

Here’s how one website described it:

“Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion contains everything you will find in the remainder of the series, so if you don’t like what you see, venture no further. We are talking soft-core couplings, lesbianism, slapstick prison wardens administering gleeful punishment and lots and lots of blood, usually shooting out jet-stream style from freshly severed limbs. But, seriously, what’s not to like about that?”

“Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41!”

As much fun as “Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion” is, it’s just the beginning!

The second film in the series is considered by many to be the definitive entry. In “Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41” has our heroine recaptured and placed in solitary confinement, before she plans an escape through the bowels of the prison – with six other inmates in tow!

Here is the trailer:

One website claimed that “Jailhouse 41” has even more nudity, gratuitous sadism, acid-tinged fantasy sequences – plus musical numbers and extreme martial arts as well!

Scorpion Gets “Armed!”

Next up is the third film in the series – “Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion: Beast Stable” – as our heroine is free but on the run from the law again…

Here is the classic trailer for the film, which includes her running with a severed arm!

Yes, A SEVERED ARM!

This is wildly inventive moviemaking, operating under the classic exploitation rules: these movies must feature lots of action, nudity, and over-the-top mayhem!

A Final “Grudge!”

The final film in the series, “Female Prisoner Scorpion #701: Grudge Song” has a different Director, and shows a gentler side of our Heroine…and if you want to see all four in all-new remastered editions with tons of great extras, check this out!

Arrow Video is releasing a new blu-ray box set with all four films and tons of great extras, so you can dive into the deep end of the “J-sploitation” pool!

Japanese “pinky” films were wildly popular in the 1970’s, and are legendary for their portrayal of “tough girls” in dangerous situations:

You can see some of the best of the genre here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/05/31/mutant-girls-pinky-violence-sex-fury-and-lady-snowblood-too-japanese-sexploitation-lives/

Even though these films are from the 70’s, the modern era of cinema in Japan includes the genre of “J-sploitation” as well!

One of the more recent films had a very controversial “jiggle” promo, which you can see here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/11/the-bikini-game-controversial-japanese-jiggle-movie-promo-new-j-sploitation-film/

The genre is also tongue in cheek, or in this case….

Yes, “Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead” is a classic example of the “J-sploitation” genre, see it here!

https://johnrieber.com/2012/11/06/zombie-ass-yes-japans-wacky-cinema-is-calling-what-the/

You can also check out a ton of great new japanese horror films as well:

This is an amazing genre of film, see the best here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/13/yakuza-zombies-bloody-asian-halloween-horror-2015-shocking-japanese-exploitation/

Leave me a message and let me know if you’ve seen any of the “Scorpion” films!

Ready For “Bond 25?”

Yes, that’s the unofficial name for the new James Bond 007 film, the 25th entry in this iconic series…no other details yet, except of course for the fact that Daniel Craig will return for what is expected to be his 007 swan song…

Daniel Craig’s run as Britain’s greatest Secret Agent has had incredible highs and a few “Quantum” lows, but hopefully the studio will make the 25th James Bond film the best ever…after all, it’s one of the most iconic lines in movie history:

“My Name’s Bond…James Bond.”

Whether you like hearing those words as uttered by the first James Bond, Sean Connery…or the latest, Daniel Craig, it signals the beginning of a great new adventure. Oh, and here are the 15 best utterances – all compiled for you!

Thanks to home video, we can watch any and all of these classic action films…every Bond at any time!

Equally as exciting as the movies themselves is THIS THEME SONG:

It’s a legendary opening theme – tight electric guitar, subtle horns that suddenly burst forth, and a just a touch of menace. From “Dr. No” on, this has been how the films have opened….well, except for the “Casino Royale” series reboot…shocking to fans – the theme was moved to the END of that movie!

Rock On, James!

You also have to love the James Bond theme songs…and I hope they choose wisely when picking the Artist who will tackle “Bond 25”.

A recent poll voted Paul McCartney’s “Live And Let Die” as the best Bond theme ever, and I won’t argue: incredibly catchy, bombastic, and pure Macca…

Is That The Best Bond Theme?

The answer is, obviously, YES! I love McCartney’s catchy, bombastic take on Bond, and here is a great clip of him performing it on his 1973 TV special!

McCartney captured the right amount of bravado AND subtlety in the song – Bond’s best – but there have been many others that were great as well, such as this classic:

Goldinger!

Sassy, confident, oozing with sensuality, let’s give this classic theme song a listen:

Shirley Bassey Scores Again!

Shirley Bassey’s voice was sexy, fun, menacing and provocative – just as the films themselves became pop culture sensations – “Goldfinger” was one of the first true blockbusters, and the 007 series never looked back – and Producers began to look for an iconic theme song for every film…

The very next film, “Thunderball” had Tom Jones, who was hugely popular at the time – then “You Only Live Twice” had Nancy Sinatra, Frank’s daughter – and Shirley Bassey returned to record this classic theme, “Diamonds Are Forever”:

Most fans felt Connery was walking through “Diamonds” a bit, but it is fair to hold that against the song? Speaking of which, one of the WORST Bond movies ever, “A View To A Kill”, had a GREAT theme song!

What makes this better is that you see lots of Duran Duran and you don’t see a lot of Bond! The series entered into a rut of trying to get the hottest pop act of the moment, which led immediately to the debacle of “a-ha”!

“Make It Stop”!

Ouch! What an awful theme! And there have been more as well…Sheena Easton, anyone? Chris Cornell? Sheryl Crow even delivered a bad theme…but, to me, there is one that stands above all others…

The Worst Bond Theme Ever!

Here it is, a song that has absolutely NO connection to the film, no understanding of what a 007 theme song should be at all:

Love her or hate her, Madonna delivers a theme song that IN NO WAY captures James Bond 007 – this song exists as an Artist’s effort to usurp what it means to be a Bond theme!

But as much as I hate “Die Another Day, at least Madonna got to have her song heard:

Censored Bond Music!

Did you know why this guy, Alice Cooper, is so sad – he he also wrote a Bond theme! But as you can see, he’s not to happy about how it turned out!

Alice Cooper was one of the biggest bands of the mid-70’s, and the group was asked to record a Bond theme song, and it was rejected! Read all about Alice Cooper’s “Man With The Golden Gun” debacle by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/05/adele-skyfall-new-james-bond-theme-best-bond-themes-censored-bond-music/

You see, it might be an honor to record a Bond theme song, but that doesn’t mean it gets used!

Radiohead Does 007! And Gets Whacked!

As always, it began on social media – after the release of the latest film, “SPECTRE” came this announcement from Radiohead’s lead singer:

Thom Yorke @thomyorke
“Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were”

And with that tweet, another chapter in the “censored” James Bond theme songs is written!

Radiohead fans got the greatest Christmas present ever – the band released their “Spectre” theme song on SoundCloud – yes, Radiohead recorded a James Bond theme!

Lead singer Thom Yorke announced on Twitter that Radiohead did “write a tune” for the latest film in the James Bond series, but it didn’t end up “working out”, according to him.

Fans flooded the internet with their versions of the film’s opening titles – with the Radiohead song – take a look!

Radiohead – SPECTRE Title Sequence [HD 720p] from Sketchy People on Vimeo.

Sam Smith was ultimately chosen to record the movie’s theme song, “Writing on the Wall,” which in my opinion is an AWFUL Bond song – it’s a ballad, not a theme song!

No disrespect to Sam, he did what he was told probably, but even “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” relegated their ballad to the middle of the film, NOT the theme song!

Yes, the love song from “OHMSS” by Louis Armstrong, “We’ve Got All The Time In The World” wasn’t used as the theme!

But I Need To Hear Them All!

Of course you do, but don’t worry! To help you decide the best and the worst Bond themes, here is a twelve minute compilation that includes ALL of them!

Let me know your personal best and worst Bond themes!

The Unique “Unsane!” Steven Soderbergh’s Latest Film Is Here!

As a huge Soderbergh fan, I’m really excited for his latest thriller, “Unsane!” The creative Director filmed it on three iPhone 7’s – not for budgetary reasons but to capture the voyreuristic intensity of a woman who may, or may not, be a dangerous stalker!

uns_20171205._1.106.1.tif

Claire Foy stars as a woman who may or may not be insane – as I said, this entire film was shot using iPhones, and it is getting terrific reviews! Here is the trailer:

Steven Soderbergh is an Oscar-winning filmmaker who embodies the best of the art form: he can make mass entertainment movies for everyone, and he can look at the world in a unique, independent way that pushes the art form and challenges the more discerning movie goer.

His latest film, the unique iPhone film “Unsane”, opens today. To celebrate, we are going to look at some of his best cinematic moments.

“Sex, Lies & Videotape” – 1989.

Where it all began. Soderbergh burst onto the scene with his first movie, a cultural watershed in independent film making. A sexually repressed woman’s husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything.

James Spader, Andie MacDowell and Laura San Giocomo star along with Peter Gallagher in the movie that put independent films back into the mainstream.

Andie MacDowell is Ann, the wife who is betrayed. James Spader is Graham, a new face with a unique perspective…

Ann: Nothing’s what I thought it was. John’s a bastard. Let’s make a videotape.
Graham: No, I… ahem… I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Ann: Why not?
Graham: Because I don’t think it’s a choice that you’d make in a normal frame of mind.
Ann: And what would you know about a normal frame of mind?

Beautifully written, acted and directed, this is the “Godfather of Independent Film.” Soderbergh also tackled the issue of drug trafficking on our border in the great thriller “Traffic”.

“Traffic” – Soderbergh’s 2000 Oscar!

Steven Soderbergh directed this hard-hitting look at America’s problem with drugs…and he made it the same year as “Erin Brockovich” – and was nominated as Best Director for both films in the same year. A towering achievement.

“Traffic” is a multi-layered look at America’s war on drugs – told through four separate but ultimately inter-connected stories. A conservative politician who’s just been appointed as the US drug czar learns that his daughter is a drug addict. A trophy wife struggles to save her husband’s drug business, while two DEA agents protect a witness with inside knowledge of the spouse’s business. In Mexico, a corrupt, yet dedicated cop struggles with his conscience when he learns that his new boss may not be the anti-drug official he made himself out to be.

Michael Douglas, Benecio Del Toro and Catherine Zeta-Jones lead a multi-national cast that delves deep into the sordid world of drug-running – and its relationship with governments…

Soderbergh also makes small, experimental films like this next one…

Going Underground: “The Girlfriend Experience” – 2009

Adult film star Sasha Grey gives a compelling and intense performance as a high-end Manhattan call girl meeting the challenges of her boyfriend, her clients, and her work. Here’s how she explains her job:

Chelsea: Sometimes clients think they want the real you, but at the end of the day, they say they don’t. They want what… they want what you want to be. They want you to be something else. They don’t want you to be yourself.
Interviewer: Suppose I’m that rare client that really wants to…
Chelsea: If they wanted you to be yourself, they wouldn’t be paying you.

Next up, another intimate look at one man’s revenge-filled quest to find his missing daughter:

Terrence Stamp gives a career-best performance as a man consumed with revenge – a “film noir” that is one of Soderbergh’s best films – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/14/the-limey-night-moves-classic-action-noir/

Of course, there have been so many great films, but probably his most popular was this one:

“Ocean’s Eleven” – And Then Came The Blockbuster.

In 2001, Soderbergh remade the iconic Frank Sinatra / Dean Martin Vegas heist movie, putting George Clooney and Brad Pitt in those roles. Nobody thought the original was particularly good – legend has it that Sinatra refused to do a scene more than once, and the “Rat Pack” spent all of their time enjoying Las Vegas more than they did making the movie.

The plot remains the same: Danny Ocean and his eleven accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.

Julia Robert, Bernie Mac and Matt Damon are just a few of the celebrities who show up in the film, a funny, intense and intricate heist movie.

Here is Elliott Gould, the guy putting up the money to fund the robbery, reacting to Danny Ocean’s plan:

“You guys are pros. The best. I’m sure you can make it out of the casino. Of course, lest we forget, once you’re out the front door, you’re still in the middle of the fucking desert! “

Even with so many big hits like this one, Soderbergh was tiring of the studio system, so he financed a film with his movie’s star – and it turned out to be a massive hit:

Here is a look at this fictional, yet autobiographical look at Channing Tatum’s early life as a stripper:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/06/25/magic-mike-reviews-are-in-soderbergh-scores-again/

There are many more to mention of course, like “Out Of Sight” and “Logan Lucky”, but this is a primer to get you started:

These movies reiterate what a great film maker Soderbergh is…can’t wait to see “Unsane!”

“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer”

One of California’s most notorious serial rapists and a serial killer as well – The Golden State Killer – is the subject of a fascinating story about obsession, from the late writer Michelle McNamera.

“I was married to a crime fighter for a decade,” writes Patton Oswalt in describing his wife, Michelle McNamara. “She was born with a true cop’s heart and mind… She made everything about me and everyone around her better. And she did it by being quietly, effortlessly original.” When Michelle died in the spring of 2016, she was still hard at work on her debut book.

One Writer’s Obsession…

The book is a fascinating story of obsession, not only the Authors but the Detectives trying to solve the crimes as well.

In the 70’s, a horrific serial Rapist terrorized Sacramento and surrounding areas, committing 49 rapes. Based on years of police work, he was also found to be responsible for a dozen murders in Central and Southern California, the last in 1986. Now more than thirty years later, an incredible book about the attempts to find this killer.

McNamera was married to Actor/Comedian Patton Oswalt, who is now touring to promote his late wife’s book.

McNamara died unexpectedly on April 21, 2016. Following her unexpected death, her husband explained that the book would be finished with the help of her colleagues.

Oswalt posted this on Facebook:

“She left behind an amazing unfinished book, about a horrific series of murders that everyone — including the retired homicide detectives she worked with — was sure she’d solve. The Golden State Killer. She gave him that name, in an article for Los Angeles Magazine. She was going to figure out the real name behind it…”

The Origin Of “The Golden State Killer”…

McNamera came up with the moniker, since prior to that he was known by police as the “East Area Rapist” – EAR. Police admit the lack of a catchy nickname made it more difficult to get the public’s awareness as they struggled to solve the crimes.

Oswalt worked with McNamera’s colleagues to finish the book and he is now promoting it – I saw a fascinating conversation with him recently where he discussed the case and his wife’s obsessor with it.

Here is the video from a portion of the conversation from this appearance at a “Live Talks Los Angeles” event in March:

https://www.facebook.com/LiveTalks/videos/1576548549047439/

It was a great event, one of many fascinating conversations this group puts on…you can see their entire schedule here:

http://www.Livetalksla.org

The book is riveting, and McNamera’s death was a shock to the fans of her “True Crime Diary” website, which is still open…

Oswalt is a great talent, and I posted about him before, specifically about his love of a very obscure horror film:

Yes, he loved “Death Bed – The Bed That Eats!” Click here to find out why:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

Let me know if you’ve read the terrific book “I’ll Be Gone In The Dark!”