Director Made Mark with Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Director Tobe Hooper passed away at 74. He was a good director of the horror genre and universally admired by top filmmakers and artists for his ground breaking The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 which opened up a generation of more explicit films (even though his classic was more suggestive and tension filled). He was the director of record when Poltergeist came out with the fingerprints of Steven Spielberg all over it (much like The Thing had Howard Hawks' influence though not officially as director). He directed the grossly underrated scifi vampire film Lifeforce and made one of the scariest Stephen King adaptations on TV with Salem's Lot. He will be remembered for his contributions to an ever popular genre.

A Worthy Start to THE DEFENDERS

I had seen a sampling of episodes of the (Netflix) Marvel heroes, Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and The Iron Fist (Finn Jones). These represent an eclectic bunch of urban heroes with enhanced powers that are more grounded in reality with a dash of mysticism.  As each series introduced its hero and cast, there was a thematic arc that linked them together, an evil organization called The Hand.  Led by Alexandra (a deliciously good Sigourney Weaver) and her powerful allies, an insidious plot emerges that threatens New York City.  Can the Defenders defeat The Hand and save their beloved city? Part of the fun is watching the interaction and quips among the different heroes, and things do not start well even as evil strikes. The series benefits from the appearance of the respective supporting casts of each Marvel show as they are thrown into the mix, and there are surprise appearances from past characters. It takes a couple of episodes before the quartet is united, and while the final battle is not quite the cool spectacle for a generation raised on the scale of Marvel’s The Avengers, the heroes do take care of business (the fight scenes are entertaining) and there are open plot threads for each character to follow in their respective series. It’s a good beginning for hopefully even better, future reunions.
*** of **** stars

The King of Comedy

Jerry Lewis is gone at 91. All I ever knew about him was watching him on TV (and his Muscular Dystrophy telethons) and movies as a zany, silly comedian and a master of pratfalls.

He teamed with crooner Dean Martin in the 1940s for a series of popular comedy films until a legendary split only to have Frank Sinatra reunite them decades later in an emotional scene.  He grew into a director and producer of his films (not all were good or funny especially in the later years) and an interesting thing developed at the peak of his career; he found poignant moments for his characters that would tug at your heart. Yes, I shed a tear when Jerry bonded with a Japanese boy in the Geisha Boy, or when he is befriended by a talking puppet in The Errand Boy, and who could forget the moment of truth in The Nutty Professor? No wonder he was revered by French critics who saw past his slapstick, and his brand of humor influenced superstars like Jim Carrey and Jerry Seinfeld.

A young Steven Spielberg took film classes from him, and Martin Scorsese cast him brilliantly in The King of Comedy as a character not far removed from his real life persona.  One of the last stars from Hollywood’s Golden Era, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars.

For me, he was at his best when he would execute a cartoonish sight gag like any number of scenes from The Patsy, Cinderfella, and especially Who’s Minding the Store (which includes the classic ‘Typewriter’ skit.)

He was not everyone’s cup of tea with his lunacy nor his personality, but for those who laughed out loud at his manic expressions and situations, and later moved by his pathos, he was truly the king of comedy.

BAND OF BROTHERS and an Unbreakable Bond

I finally saw the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers which debuted in 2001 on the heels of Saving Private Ryan. Producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks reunited behind the scenes to chronicle the World War II European exploits of Easy Company of the 101 Airborne Division culling the personal recollections of reports, interviews with veterans, and based on the best seller by Stephen E. Ambrose.  

Damian Lewis (pre Homeland) portrays real life hero Major Richard Winters who leads his men through major events including D-Day in Normandy, Operation Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of concentration camps. Although some characters are composites and certain events were tweaked for the screen, it is compelling in the earnest performances and its intimate stories of strangers who form a bond in the most adverse conditions. Part of the fun is recognizing supporting actors who have gone on to stardom including Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and even Jimmy Fallon in a bit role!

The series’ ten episodes are a labor of love, and its details of the historic battles and combat strategy are a refreshing change from clichéd and stereotypical war films.  I got so caught up in the narrative that I almost wished it would not end, hence an early series worthy to binge.  It seems fitting with the lauded release of Dunkirk that Band of Brothers was on my radar (thanks to a friend’s generosity).  Lavishly produced, it won multiple Emmy Awards including Outstanding Miniseries and garnered widespread acclaim.  Now I understand why.   It’s a landmark in television programming and presentation.

**** of **** stars