CoStar in Lost in Space

Actor Mark Goddard has passed at 87. He was a costar of the TV scifi classic Lost in Space as Major West. I met him at the 2010 MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention. Nice guy.

The Humanity in THE CREATOR

 

The Creator is director/cowriter Gareth Edwards’ (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) science fiction epic that is an ambitious, visual feast with a compelling story that should be seen on the biggest screen.

In the near future, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) community has developed into highly sophisticated, lifelike bots. When Los Angeles is attacked and devastated, AI is blamed. Over the years, U.S. and western forces hunt the AI while targeting their ‘creator’.  Joshua (John David Washington) is an agent with a painful past who leads the forces to eliminate the creator until he discovers a young girl with a special gift who could be the key to everything and may hold answer to his trauma. Meanwhile, western forces are on the brink of exterminating AI with an ultimate weapon, NOMAD.  

This sweeping tale is partly a love story that bridges the importance of family ties.  For most of the story, it is essentially one long, extended chase that follows Joshua and his companion to New Asia where the future of AI is at stake.  Divided into four chapters, the film sets up an intriguing premise that eventually pulls together plot threads into an emotional ending.  Major themes explore love and sacrifice, making amends with the past, and whether AI is capable of experiencing emotions.  Much of the film’s concepts involving biotech versus humanity will seem familiar from other genre classics like Blade Runner, Westworld, The Matrix, and even District 9.

It is notable that Edwards shot much of the production in actual locations and employed practical, non-CGI effects, and the results are impressive and realistic. With able support from Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, and Allison Janney, it’s an intelligent, relatively simple tale, beautifully realized, nothing more, nothing less.

**** of ***** stars (for sci-fi fans)

An Orioles Legend

 

Orioles great Brooks Robinson has passed at 86. Dubbed "°the human vacuum cleaner", he was one of the greatest baseball players and certainly the best defensive third basemen with 16 Gold Gloves and 2697 putouts. (No third baseman ever had more than 2500 putouts.)
His entire career was with The Baltimore Orioles 1955-1977. He was Most Valuable Player in 1964 and He was part of 1966 and 1970 World Series championships. The latter series showcased his greatness with memorable plays and MVP of the series. He was an 18 time All Star and 92% first vote Hall of Famer.
I had the honor to meet him decades ago and had seen him play at Memorial Stadium numerous times. He was a Baltimore legend.

Illya Kuryakin

 

Actor/musician David McCallum has passed at 90. A veteran of movies and TV, he memorably played on a classic episode of the original The Outer Limits, The Sixth Finger. He was part of large casts in The Great Escape and The Greatest Story Ever Told. He shot to super stardom on the popular spy show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as agent Illya Kuryakin. Most recently, he has spent two decades as the medical examiner, "Ducky" Mallard, on the action hit, NCIS, and when a character asks Gibbs what did Ducky look like when he was young, he responds, "Illya Kuriakin".

A HAUNTING IN VENICE Channels Mystery and Horror

Director Kenneth Branagh (with screenwriter Michael Green) has previously adapted mystery writer Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile), but he takes her novel, The Hallowe’en Party, and makes bold choices in plot and mood to create a winning who-done-it that has elements of horror.

It is 1947, and retired detective, Hercule Poirot (Branagh), is approached by mystery writer and friend, Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), to debunk a psychic (Michelle Yeoh) in Venice, Italy. It seems that a host wants to communicate with her deceased daughter who died under tragic circumstances involving spirits. A skeptical Poirot and assorted guests (including Jamie Dornan and Kelly Reilly), who have ties to the girl, attend a séance where strange things happen leading to a deepening mystery and even murder! While Poirot subsequently interviews the gallery of suspects, he learns of each person’s connection, and hidden secrets are revealed as unscrupulous motives emerges. Attempting to uncover the truth, he experiences disturbing sounds and visions that point to the supernatural. Can he find the killer before he or anyone else becomes another victim?

This engaging story shows Branagh in control with well-placed shots and steadily building narrative.  Patient, mystery lovers will appreciate the deliberate pacing and clues hiding in plain sight that reward them with surprising twists and betrayals.  It functions primarily as a splendid mystery with detours into psychological horror. The ultimate question posits if Poirot is really being confronted by ghosts, and whether he can solve the murder(s) and explain the bizarre events.

Perhaps the best of his Poirot trilogy of films, by making liberal changes with the source material, Branagh may be on the right path for future adaptations to tantalize and intrigue mystery lovers.

**** of ***** stars (add ½* for mystery fans)

MidAtlantic Nostalgia Closes Out Delta Hotel

 

The MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention concluded with lots of happy fans who got to meet some TV/film celebs from the past. There was a woman who played the opening victim in Jaws. There were James Bond women. Donna Pescow (Saturday Night Fever) and Karolyn Grimes (It's  a Wonderful Life) were there too. Tim Matheson and organizer Martin Grams posed for pictures. I met actor George Hamilton (Where the Boys Are, The Godfather Part 3, Columbo), a bona-fide movie star from the golden age and asked if he really did the disco dancing in Love at First Bite and he confirmed it and even said he participated in Dancing with the Stars before an injury sidelined him. I also met actress Diane Baker (Marnie, Diary of Anne Frank, Silence of the Lambs) and asked how she got the role as House's mother on TV. She said she got a call while working in Europe and flew to the states for one day of shooting and flew back to Europe! She took the time to converse and was such a sweet, warm person. It was the first time I cut things short with a celeb out of deference  for people behind me. Vendors sold memorabilia including DVDs, magazines, comics, and movie posters. As the Delta is closing next month, this event will continue next year in another venue, bigger and better for sure. Thanks to Martin Grams and his hard working team.  

Day Two of The MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention

 

Day 2 of the MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention was busier and fun. Organizer Martin Grams and his team always pull off   the logistics of celebs and numerous vendors. Stars included Tim Matheson (Animal House), Lynn-Holly Johnson (Ice Castles), Hal Linden and Max Gail (Barney Miller). The event concludes Saturday with larger crowds expected.

Day One of The MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention

 

The MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley began with celebs and vendors. Diane Baker (Marnie), George Hamilton (Love at First Bite), and Hal Linden (Barney Miller) were some of the stars signing autographs. The event runs through Saturday.

The Music of Gary Wright

Musician Gary Wright has passed at 80. This artist scored hit songs Dream Weaver and Love Is Alive and my personal favorite, Really Wanna Know You.

THE EQUALIZER 3 and Its Avenging Angel

 

Director Antoine Fuqua (Olympus Has Fallen) and frequent collaborator, Denzel Washington (Training Day), complete their trilogy of the avenger in The Equalizer 3, a solid, efficient thriller based on The Equalizer TV series (in turn inspired by TV’s Have Gun Will Travel!)

In Sicily, Italy, retired CIA assassin Robert McCall (Washington) executes a bloody crime scene and cryptically leaves a trail for a young CIA operative (Dakota Fanning) to follow. He ends up in a small town where he finds timely refuge and support from the townspeople who open their hearts to him. Increasingly, he observes his adoptive town being menaced by a ruthless Mafia gang, and when they physically threaten the residents, McCall must emerge from the shadows to take decisive, uncompromising action even as the CIA is closing in.

Washington always commands the screen as the iconic lead and never disappoints whether in quiet, contemplative moments or lethal takedowns against seemingly overwhelming odds. Against a picturesque background, the action is swift and abrupt, and yes, as before, he still has his watch to time out his violent responses. While you almost wish there was more to learn about his past life, it’s the details of his character that are interesting including his principals, compulsive habits, and powers of observation. Although the narrative is straightforward, a couple of characters are given short shrift, but the filmmakers know to keep focus on McCall.  (There are also moments that recall The Bourne Identity, A History of Violence, and even Spartacus.) 

Fans will be pleased as the film ends on an emotional note with a surprising connection to the previous films, and if this is his last film as the enigmatic McCall, Washington ends it in fitting style.

**** of ***** stars (for fans)

Margaritaville Artist Sublime

Musician Jimmy Buffett has passed at 76. This legend of pop rock made island tunes into an industry singing about the tropics to adoring fans and 'Parrotheads'. His greatest hits album became a big hit, and his concerts built a phenomenon. He even dabbled in film and TV recently making numerous appearances on the revival of Hawaii Five-0.

I have been blessed seeing many pop artists, but Buffett was one I did not have the pleasure of experiencing.The closest I got was visiting San Diego decades ago and a friend taking me to Buffett hangout, The Belly Up Tavern. For me, his music brings comfort and a smile.

TV Game Show Host Supreme

 

TV host Bob Barker has passed at 99. This fixture of television spent many years on the game show, Truth or Consequences, before landing the game show revival of The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007 an all time hosting and game show record during which he won 19 Emmy Awards as host and producer.  He championed animal rights and responsibility. Barker, a real life black belt, also had a  memorable fist fight with Adam Sandler in the film comedy, Happy Gilmore. He also hosted Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants as well as the Tournament of Roses Parade for many years. He was a TV icon.

 

Vengeance and Desire in OLD BOY

 

Director/co-writer, Park Chan-wook, is enjoying a renaissance with the rerelease of his 2003 Korean film, Oldboy, an intense, masterful thriller that keeps you guessing until its stunning, extremely unsettling ending.

Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) ends up arrested and drunk, but when released, he is taken captive and subjected to isolation and unimaginable suffering by a mysterious keeper. Years go by, and he becomes embittered and full of rage when he wanders back to the real world on a quest to exact revenge.  He also meets a young woman, Mido (Kang Hye-jung), who takes interest in him, and the two are conjoined to unravel his mysterious past fraught with misdirection and often violent confrontations. The answers are buried deep in the past, and when the truth emerges, it goes deeper than Dae-su can imagine as he is pushed beyond his limits. 

During his captivity, Dae-su questions his reality not knowing who to trust, and whether he is losing his sanity. His decent into madness foments an inner rage for retribution, to discover his tormentor. This raises questions like what has happened to his family and past life, and what purpose is he being trained for- a specific task or being manipulated as part of a larger conspiracy?  

With dazzling camerawork augmenting and juxtaposing nightmarish visuals and beautiful images, this film (with a nod to Brian De Palma’s Obsession) appears to have influenced TV’s Daredevil (single take hallway fight), John Wick Chapter 3-Parabellum (Vivaldi accompanied action scene), and the films of Quentin Tarantino. The mood is foreboding and dark while violent moments are sudden and uncompromising.  It’s a diabolical, complex plot about past sins and unimaginable consequences so convoluted and devious, it defies expectations, and though it may be upsetting, it’s a film that is continually fascinating.

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

A Seventies Master Director

 

Director William Friedkin has passed at 87.  This veteran of TVs golden age was influenced by European New Wave cinema and made his mark in the 1970s with The French Connection, with multiple Oscar wins including Best Picture and his direction and containing one of the most hair raising car chases in screen history. He followed up with arguably the greatest horror film of all time in his adaptation of The Exorcist which scored many Oscar noms and box office gold. He was not afraid to tackle controversy with the films The Boys in the Band or Cruising and although he had personal projects that didn't catch on like The Sorcerer, he would remind the public of his prowess with To Live and Die in L.A. He dabbled in a memorable, updated Twilight Zone episode The Nightcrawler, TV projects like the excellent C.A.T. Squad TV movies and his last forthcoming film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. A top filmmaker who knew how to generate tension.