Comedy Director Extraordinaire

 

TV comedy director Jay Sandrich passed at 89. You may not know who he was, but maybe you've heard of some of the shows he helped to direct or produce like Get Smart, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Cosby Show getting nominated for 11 Emmy Awards winning four. He started as an assistant on I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show and helped usher the pilot episodes of The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Empty Nest, and The Golden Girls. He directed episodes of hit shows like Soap, The Odd Couple, and more recently Two and a Half Men. Quite a resume.

The Harsh Realities of BLUE BAYOU

 

Writer/Director Justin Chon fashions a highly effective, emotional drama in Blue Bayou, and in doing so makes a very personal statement about the plight of resident immigrants.  This labor of love features strong performances and shows a triple threat filmmaker in command. 

Antonio (Chon) is a Korean who was adopted as a child amid ambiguous immigration laws and grows to have an interracial family with his wife Kathy (Alicia Vikander), her daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske is adorable), and their new baby on the way. With little formal education, he works at a tattoo parlor and struggles to make ends meet.  When Kathy’s ex-husband scuffles with him, Antonio must face deportation due to outdated immigration rules. Meanwhile, he befriends an Asian woman who takes an interest in his life. As the threat of losing his family looms, he must face his hidden, traumatic past and look to his family for support and love.

This is Chon’s film all the way as he enhances mood and atmosphere with some striking shots of the Louisiana bayou.  His Antonio is an affecting, complex character who may have had past scrapes with the law yet maintains his principals when helping a dying tattoo client. Vikander is in fine form even doing an appealing vocal of the tile song.

It is the relationship between father and stepdaughter that forms the centerpiece of the narrative.  When other films could have wrapped up a satisfying ending, Chon bravely opts for turning this into a cautionary tale with a distinct message that elicits a strong response and a call to action.  It’s an impassioned plea that mirrors real life families documented in the end credits. It’s a story worth viewing and makes one look forward to Chon’s next project.

***1/2 of ****stars

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE and the Rise and Fall of the Bakers

Those who grew up watching Jim and Tammy Baker on late night television in the 1970s may be fascinated by The Eyes of Tammy Faye, based on the documentary of the same name. Directed by Michael Showalter, it features impressive performances led by Jessica Chastain.  

Drawn to the church as a little girl in the 1950s Midwest, Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) attends Bible College where she meets and marries Jim Baker (Andrew Garfield), a dynamic presence driven to lead and preach to the masses. Together, they inspire each other with his teachings and her singing to build an empire of lavish wealth by exploiting the power of television evangelism and garnering massive viewer pledges. When their exorbitant lifestyle exposes improper use of funds, their world comes crashing down amid marital infidelities. Through it all, Tammy Faye maintains her love for people with an indomitable spirit.

Tammy Faye is portrayed as a sympathetic, compassionate figure whose empathy for all people including gays during the AIDS epidemic runs afoul of powerful, religious leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson who hold sway and influence on viewership and politics. Chastain’s transformation is a remarkable display of makeup and acting while convincingly emulating her speaking and even singing voice. 

Vividly recreating TV sets and styles from the 1970s, this film is one version of an American tragedy and the love story of a couple who had it all and then lost it.  In fact, Chastain and Garfield could have easily fallen into caricatures or a parody of the Bakers.  Here, they do not. You may not change your opinion about the Bakers by film’s end, but you will understand them better.

*** of **** stars (add ½ * for Chastain)

THE CARD COUNTER and Tortured Memories

 Writer/Director Paul Schrader wrote Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. As such, his films are darker, and their male protagonists are tortured souls ready to burst at the seams. In The Card Counter, (a perfect companion piece to his recent, great First Reformed) this theme meshes with military abuse and the thirst for vengeance. It also features a splendid, tightly wound performance by Oscar Isaac.

Bill (Isaac) is an ex-convict living a solitary existence roving from one casino and motel to the next. He regularly wins at blackjack and poker and quits before attracting attention. You see, he has mastered the art of counting cards while in prison. This attracts the attention of La Linda (Tiffany Haddish is effective in a dramatic role), who represents interested high roller investors.  Bill also attracts the company of a young man, Cirk (Tye Sheridan), who has an agenda that involves a figure from Bill’s dark past. As a card tournament commences with huge stakes, Bill must confront his past that will forever alter his future.

Isaac conveys a man (who could easily be a young Robert DeNiro) haunted by his past actions and who is on a mission to mentor and help Cirk.   He is supported by a marvelous cast including Willem Dafoe. When Isaac and Haddish get together, there are sparks.

The film details the intricate, mathematical odds of beating the dealer; it’s a fascinating world. The motive of revenge weighs heavily in the narrative and, as in many of Schrader’s characters, there builds a level of intensity that foreshadows an ominous foreboding of violence.

This seemingly simplistic film ultimately becomes a complex study in obsession, compassion, forgiveness, and love as exemplified by the memorable final shot.  Fans of Schrader will not be disappointed.

***1/2 of **** stars

Powell Was MGM Musical Star

Hollywood star Jane Powell passed at 92. One of the last of Golden Age actresses who was a darling at MGM's heyday, her highlights included Royal Wedding and the classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She continued to act and sing in films, stage and TV and was a guest host on TCM for Robert Osbourne. Her voice landed her on music charts too.

The Acerbic Wit of Norm MacDonald

 

Comedian Norm MacDonald passed away at 61 after a private nine year battle with cancer. He wrote for Roseanne and The Dennis Miller Show, and his biggest fame was on Saturday Night Live from 1993-1998 especially anchoring the news and his spot on impression of Burt Reynolds. He continually did stand up shows with his sharp humor and appeared frequently in late night shows particularly on David Letterman who he revered. Comedian Seth Rogan and director Edgar Wright are among those who paid tribute to the talented wit.

What If...? and Some Mind Boggling Scenarios

 

Disney Plus is showing Marvel's What If...? animated series, and it takes what we know and love about these superheroes and tweaks it to create a new, mind blowing dynamic. Last week was Dr. Strange in a sad repeating loop to save his love which may have connections to the upcoming films. This week involves zombies in a terrifying scenario that is both horrifying and amazing. In most cases the original actors voice their iconic roles especially the late  Chadwick Boseman. These half hour nuggets keep things interesting as we hopscotch each new movie release. 

Family Bonds in SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

 

An Asian cast and director (Destin Daniel Cretton) begin a new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the film adaptation of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a rousing, action packed adventure that focuses on family ties and legacy.

‘Shaun’ (Simu Liu) leads a normal life with his friend Katy (Awkwafina), but his past catches up to him in the form of his powerful father (Tony Leung).  Forced to confront his destiny that involves the powerful ‘Ten Rings”, Shang-Chi begins a journey of self-discovery and a battle with a mystical evil that threatens the world.

There are strong connections to Dr. Strange, and the superb martial arts set pieces recall fond memories of Hong Kong actioners and the magical aura of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Indeed, there are vibes that echo the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings films.  Striking the right balance of sentiment and action, the film is about embracing one’s identity and family whether it be brother and sister or son and father. It also represents female empowerment as exemplified by a number of strong actresses (including Michelle Yeoh in fine form).  Aside from Liu’s terrific turn as a new superhero, the supporting cast (and a welcome cameo from the past) is excellent especially the veteran Leung, who etches one of the very best Marvel villains. 

The narrative is told with cultural authenticity (as portions of the film are in Chinese with subtitles), and although it finishes with a battle royale that leans heavily on visual effects, the film’s inclusivity expands the scope of Marvel much as Black Panther did.  It’s a splendid origin story.  Two portentous scenes are in the end credits.     

***1/2 of ****stars (add ½* for martial arts fans)

The Epitome of Cool Has Passed

French movie star Jean-Paul Belmondo has passed at 88. This superstar of French New Wave and European cinema in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s could have easily pivoted to Hollywood, but he mainly stayed in his comfort zone working with the top directors (Truffaut, Chabrol) and leading ladies (Catherine Deneuve, Sophia Loren). He achieved worldwide fame in a couple of memorable films, Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard and co-starring Jean Seberg, and the Oscar nominated That Man from Rio. He was the epitome of cool.

Mega-Emmy Winner Asner Has Passed

 

Actor Ed Asner has passed at 91. This veteran of TV and film had an extensive, award winning career that also involved leading the Screen Actors Guild. He hit it big with seven glorious years on The Mary Tyler Moore Show followed by five years on Lou Grant winning a slew of Emmy Awards. He guested in shows like The Outer Limits, Police Story, and Hawaii Five 0 (both versions) and collected more Emmy hardware for his roles in Roots and Rich Man Poor Man. He had key roles in films like El Dorado, JFK, and as Santa Claus in Elf and experienced a career resurgence when he voiced the lead character in Up. I met him at the 2013 MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention and had so many questions in mind and blurted out that I appreciated his work. He smiled and rolled his hand in a fist and bumped my leg. What else could I say?

MidAtlantic Nostalgia Continues

The recent MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention just ended, and it was a miracle it happened at all amid Covid and the air conditioning broken.  Martin Grams and his hard working team put together a wonderful, responsible convention with most of the vendors selling TV and movies memorabilia and related items. Past and present celebs included Mary Badham (To Kill a Mockingbird), Parker Stevenson of The Hardy Boys, Kathy Garver from Family Affair, Mariel Hemingway (Manhattan), Barbara Carrera (Never Say Never Again), and more.. There were Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow from TVs Leave it to Beaver and Oscar and Emmy winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. I asked him if he trained in martial arts for his role in An Officer and Gentleman, and he said he studied it before the film. Nice guy too.

I picked up some stills and comics and was a happy camper. Helped daughter Laura with her booth of creative items too.  Looking forward to an even bigger event next year. 

The Brilliance of THE SUICIDE SQUAD

 

Writer/Director James Gunn brings a similar spirit and sense of camaraderie from his Marvel sensation, Guardians of the Galaxy, to DC Comics and his redux of The Suicide Squad. (Gunn was given creative rein at DC when he was temporarily fired from Marvel, and he makes full use of it.)  The result is a no holds barred action film with deliriously bold, profane humor, explicit violence, and a lot of heart.

An eclectic band of powerful, talented prisoners is given a deadly mission in exchange for reduced prison sentences. The ‘volunteers’ are also compelled by explosive implants in their heads controlled by the ruthless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). The group, which includes Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie shines again as the DC icon), and a man-shark named Nanaue (a hoot as voiced by Sylvester Stallone), must depend on one another to complete a daunting task that becomes increasingly dangerous and convoluted.  When things goes awry, the remaining members must regroup and face a formidable menace that threatens the world.

Accompanied by his trademark pop score, Gunn adds an imaginative, visual style at once gross and beautiful to a narrative whose template is a hybrid of The Dirty Dozen and Mission Impossible with a Deadpool sensibility. He cleverly imbues his characters with psychological trauma, and part of the fun is watching this myriad of tortured souls coalesce and function as a team amid extreme adversity. The film actually has a moral compass that never loses focus, and you start to care about these misfits and their redemption. 

It’s unlike any super hero movie you’ve seen, and though graphic, it has moments of bravery, sacrifice, betrayal, and yes, pathos. Gotta love those rats! (There are two end credit scenes.)

**** of **** stars (for comic book fans)

Pat Hitchcock Was Daughter of Master of Suspense

     

Pat Hitchcock, daughter of director Alfred Hitchcock, has passed at 93. She acted on occasion on TV and films particularly Psycho and Strangers on a Train. I met her at a Fanex event in 2000 in Virginia where she was promoting a new book detailing her dad's  British Years, and there was not much of a crowd at her table. There should have been. She was very nice, and I wish I had spent more time with her.

The Lilting Joys of SCHMIGADOON

If you are a fan of SNL and movie musicals, Schmigadoon might just be the tonic. This exuberant valentine to Broadway tunes and beyond stars Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple who go hiking to rekindle their relationship when they come upon and become trapped in the magical town of Schmigadoon (a play on the musical Brigadoon). There they meet eclectic characters played by Fred Armisen, Jane Krakowski, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, and more. 

The snappy dialogue is full of humor, and the songs and dancing are full of exuberant energy and homage. You will easily pick out inspirational reworking and parodies from Oklahoma, The King and I, The Sound of Music, and others. There is one showstopper where Kristen Chenoweth does a female variation of "You've Got Trouble" from The Music Man and it's all done in one unedited take. Amazing. Directed with spirit by Barry Sonnenfeld (Pushing Daisies), the sixth and concluding episode premieres on Apple TV+ Friday. Looking forward to a smashing end.