Category: Movies

The Best Alien Movies – Have You Seen Them?

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Margaret David at /Film came up with her list of 20 Movies About Aliens That You Definitely Need To Watch.  Using just her list, here are my top five (in alphabetical order) and my thoughts on each.

10 Cloverfield Lane: I was glad to see 10 Cloverfield Lane make the list.  While it’s not the first movie to come to mind when most folks think of “alien” movies, it surely qualifies.  I love how it starts as one thing, turns into another and then ends up as a definite alien movie.  I need to see it again!

Alien Nation:  Alien Nation is under-rated. If you haven’t seen it you should.  This is another one I need to rewatch.

Contact:  I’m a big fan!  Contact is another under-rated gem.  Plus Jodie Foster!

They Live: John Carpenter mixes a social message with alien overlords starring Roddy Piper and it works!

Thing, The: John Carpenter dared to remake the classic The Thing from Another World and in the process created what some consider his best movie.  I saw The Thing in a nearly empty theater on it’s initial theatrical release.  The Thing was not highly thought of at the time by most fans and critics, but has gone on to develop a following and is considered a classic in the genre.

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The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers didn’t make David’s list, but would have made mine and well ahead of the 1978 sequel (which did make her list).

The All-Time Best Western Movies

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Liam Gaughan at /Film created his list of The 20 Best Westerns of All-Time and it is a good one.  Using just his list here are my top five (in alpha order):

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid:  The right mix of humor and action paired with Newman & Redford = a near perfect film experience.

Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The:  The movie that made Sergio Leone a household name in the US and Clint Eastwood a superstar.

Searchers, The: Some parts of the movie don’t play as well with today’s sensibilities, but The Searchers remains a classic.

Stagecoach: I love this film more and more with each viewing.

Unforgiven: Eastwood waited until he felt he was the right age to make this film.  A great capper to his western movies!

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I’m surprised that The Outlaw Josey Wales didn’t make Gaughan’s list.  It sure would have made mine.

RIP: Ed Asner

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Ed Asner, the actor best known for playing Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970 – 1977) and Lou Grant (1977 – 1982), died today at the age of 91.  Mr. Asner is one of the few actors to play the same character in a comedy and a drama.  He also is the male actor to have won the most Primetime Emmy Awards with seven.

Mr. Asner began his career with uncredited roles on the series Studio One in 1957.  His IMDb resume now contains over 400 acting credits with several that were lined up for the future.  That shows amazing popularity in a career lasting over 60 years. The demand for Mr. Asner’s talents had not diminished despite him being over 90!

Before his career defining role as Lou Grant, Ed Asner regularly guest starred on popular tv series such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Route 66; The Untouchables; The Outer Limits; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; The Rat Patrol; Gunsmoke; The Fugitive; The Wild Wild West; The Invaders; Mission Impossible; and many, many others.

In 1970, Ed Asner shot to fame for his role as the gruff but loveable, Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  Mr. Asner and his character were popular to earn a spin off series moving from a half hour comedy to a full hour drama titled Lou Grant. His portrayal of Lou Grant earned Ed Asner five of his seven Emmy Awards.  Mr. Asner also played Lou Grant on two other series (Rhoda and Roseanne).  Mr. Asner’s other two Emmy Awards were for his work on Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man.

Ed Asner also appeared in feature films with his best known probably being the lead voice actor on Up or the bad guy in El Dorado starring John Wayne.  Mr. Asner was in high demand for voice work and he did quite a bit of it as well.  

When not acting, Mr. Asner was involved in activities that he felt strongly about.  He twice served as President of the Screen Actors Guild and was involved with many non-profit organizations and charities.

Watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a weekly family event and a large (no pun intended) part of that was Ed Asner as Lou Grant.  Everyone was able to play off of him and his reactions were classic.  I was impressed at how easy it was for his character to move from an award-winning 30 minute comedy to an award-winning 60 minute drama.  That couldn’t happen without an excellent actor. 

I think what I loved most about Ed Asner was his attitude toward life.  He spoke up for his beliefs, was positive in his posts (yes, at 91 he was active on Twitter!) and was able to stay popular and relevant in an ever-changing world!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans. 

 

The All-Time Best Zombie Movies!

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Audrey Fox at /Film created her list of The 20 Best Zombie Movies Of All Time.  Using just her list here are my top five (in alpha order):

28 days later: Purists will argue that this isn’t a true zombie movie.  Instead of arguing, I’d just watch it again!

Dawn of the Dead (2004): Has one of the best opening scenes of any zombie movie (except for World War Z) and I love that Fox acknowledges that in her article!

Night of the Living Dead: The original by George Romero that kickstarted the zombie renaissance.

Overlord: Zombies and WW2 mash-up.  Another that some will argue isn’t a true zombie movie.  Again, I say, “Rewatch  instead of arguing.”

Train to Busan:  A modern classic.  More people should see this film!

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Some films on her list that didn’t make mine but are good: Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland and The Dead Don’t Die.  They’re funny and worth a view, but when the dead start to rise, I prefer scary to funny. (I still want to see Little Monsters!)

I haven’t seen Blood Quantum but want to.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Greatest Films

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Fiona Underhill at /Film came up with her list of Alfred Hitchcock’s 15 Best Films Ranked.  Using just the films in Underhill’s list, here is how our top 5 compared….

Underhill

Zablo

1. Rebecca (1940)

1. North by Northwest (1959)

2. The Birds (1963)

2. The Birds (1963)

3. North by Northwest (1959)

3. Psycho (1960)

4. Notorious (1946)

4. Rear Window (1954)

5. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

5. Rope (1948)

I would have included Lifeboat in my list at #6 and it didn’t make Underhill’s top 15.

“Old Henry” – The Posters and Trailer are Here!” You Can’t Bury the Past”

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We’ve seen a few western posters and trailers lately.  While some of them look like they may be worthy of a viewing, none of them looked like something that I would want to rush to see.  Old Henry is a western that I want to see ASAP.

I love both posters (the first a bit more than the second) and the trailer sold me.  I truly hope Old Henry doesn’t let us down.

Old Henry is an action-Western about a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide whom to trust. Defending against a siege of his homestead, he reveals a talent for gunslinging that surprises everyone, calling his true identity into question.

“Live at Mister Kelly’s” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like both the poster and trailer for Live at Mister Kelly’s.  Plus it has a great tag line: The World’s Biggest Stage was a Small Nightclub in Chicago.  I look forward to this documentary.  Save me a seat.

The iconic Mister Kelly’s, once called a “supernova in the local and national night life firmament,” illuminated legendary Chicago’s Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put unknown, controversial voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ’70s.

Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George’s son David and director/screenwriter, Theodore Bogosian, go on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Herbie Hancock, Dick Cavett, Tim Reid, Fred Willard and Ramsey Lewis.

The film will portray through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment’s great proving grounds.

Jack Nicholson – His Most Iconic Roles!

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Layla Halfhill at /Film posted Jack Nicholson’s 15 Most Iconic Roles Ranked.  Her list is a good one.  Truth be told, I think when you’re talking about Jack Nicholson’s most iconic roles, they can be boiled down to three. Before you click over to Halfhill’s article, here are my picks and rationale for my choices…

3.  Randal McMurphy, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – This is the movie that made people sit up and take notice of Nicholson’s acting.  For the longest time it was his most iconic role.

2.  Colonel Nathan Jessup, A Few Good Men – I chose this as Nicholson’s second most iconic role and it all boils down to the “You can’t handle the truth” scene.  While the role is not as iconic as my choice for #1, I’ll bet that the A Few Good Men line is quoted more often than “Here’s Johnny!”

1.  Jack Torrance, The Shining – Most people think of this role whenever Nicholson’s name is mentioned. Although Stephen King would argue, he was great in the role for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.

“Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan” – The Trailer is Here!

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I’ll say it again, Netflix comes up with interesting documentaries.  I hope that Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan is as good as the trailer below.  Deal me in.

Have you ever seen someone change personalities right in front of your eyes? Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan is only on Netflix September 22.

RIP: Marilyn Eastman

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Marilyn Eastman, best known for her role in George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead, died yesterday at the age of 87.  No cause of death was given.

Ms. Eastman not only co-starred in Night of the Living Dead, she was also one producing partners of Image Ten – the company formed to finance the movie.  It’s interesting to note that Marilyn Eastman played Helen Cooper, the wife of Harry Cooper played by Karl Hardman, who was her real-life business and life partner.  In addition, Ms. Eastman also worked on make-up, props and assisted with the editing for Night of the Living Dead.

After filming of Night of the Living Dead, Marilyn Eastman returned to work at Hardman/Eastman, Inc., the production company she and Karl Hardman had created prior to the making of the horror classic.  Ms. Eastman would continue to make and/or appear in commercials and industrial films for the rest of her career.   In addition, Marilyn Eastman had roles in an episode of Perry Mason in 1960 and the movies Houseguest (1995) and Santa Claws (1996).

The only film/tv show I ever saw Marilyn Eastman act in was Night of the Living Dead.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve see it, but I do know I’ve spent more time watching Ms. Eastman on screen than many, movie/tv stars with dozens more credits.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marilyn Eastman’s family, friends and fans.