February Newsletter

     Welcome to February. How's your year going? Has our new president gotten around to insulting your demographic yet? Don't worry, this is not going to turn into a political rant. I'm sure you're just as tired as I am of hearing about this. Unfortunately, we still have three years and eleven months of Shit My President Says in real time.

     We are two games into the new season of home team roller derby. The Dorothys are so far undefeated and The Knock-Outs are still looking for a win. I think the Knock-Outs might actually pull off a miracle in the next game (February 18th, Memorial Hall). They play The Susans who just blew out The Vixens. It makes for a more exciting game if you have the team who hasn't won a game in over a season going up against a team that just broke the number one teams win record.

     I just published my story on the game so all of this is still fresh on my mind. I'm still digging the fact that I'm now a self contained unit when it comes to The Wheel Press (kcrollerwarriors.com). I'm still trying to find content for the fb page but, I'm sure that'll pick up as we get deeper into the season.

     Breaking news for those of you who were fans of Notes Of A Drunk Whisperer, I'm looking into starting a new project so stay tuned to my fb page for news on that. If you don't see anything in a few  weeks, you'll know that the idea went nowhere.

     In other writing news, my novelization managed to inch along a little bit this past month. I know it's not much but considering that it had stopped dead for a bit, this is big news. My other script is still in the stopped dead pile for the moment. I feel the inspiration and write down a couple of lines and then the inspiration leaves again. There's an idea for a serial that keeps nagging at me so I keep making notes. I'd like to get one of these things completed before jumping into a new project. Why are there only 24 hours in a day?

     It feels like there was something else I was going to tell you, but I can't think now of what that is. I guess it's time to tell you all about the books, movies and t.v. shows I've been watching. Not that I think you folks actually care, Sometimes I run across good stuff and want to share it or warn you away from it. 

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens- This is one of the first books Mr. Dickens wrote. It definitely shows his journalism background as it is a story that centers around a man who started a journalistic society. The book is intended to be the collective narrative of said society. I enjoyed it and do recommend it, and on a personal note, I'll say to my fellow Dickens fans, I didn't enjoy it as much as Great Expectations but I do like it better than A Tale Of Two Cities.

Groucho And Me by Groucho Marx- I have been a fan of Groucho's since at least when I was in first grade. I'm surprised it's taken me this long to read his autobiography but now it's off my bucket list. If you get the chance, you should read it. He talks all about his early years in show business and how he and his brothers rose from Vaudeville to Broadway to the movies. If you're into show business stories you'll dig it.

Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger- Whether you like the guy or not, this is an incredible story. Here's the story of an Austrian farm boy who got into bodybuilding, became a multiple title holding champion in the sport, came to America, became a leading man in movies while amassing a fortune in real estate investments, going to school to learn English and get a business degree and eventually became a governor. Did I leave anything out? Probably. You'll just have to read the book to fill in the gaps. If you enjoyed Arnold: The Education of A Bodybuilder, you'll love this one. It's more informative and motivational and inspirational than the nuts and bolts and how-to that Arnold was. Definitely seek this one out. Bonus story-there's a really good interview with him in Cigar Aficionado this month. Check it out if you're interested.

Boss Nigger- Written, produced by and starring Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, this movie was made in 1975 in the heyday of the Blaxploitation period. A bounty hunter (Williamson) and his partner (D’Urville Martin) become the local law enforcement of a small town as they await the arrival of a man they’re hunting (William Smith). It plays very much in the Spaghetti Western genre with Williams playing the anti-hero. It’s more than just a counter culture movie or a Black film, it really took the Western genre and broke with a lot of the traditions that are so common. It’s worth a look if you get the chance. You’ll probably find it under it’s more politically correct title, Boss or The Black Bounty Hunter. There’s a bit on the dvd where Williams explains the title and how he used it for marquee value, much like the Nigger Charlie movies he’d made a couple of years before. There are a couple of interviews on there as well that are interesting.

Captain America: Civil War-      There were only two movies I saw more than once theatrically last year and this was one of them. I’ve really enjoyed what Marvel Studios has done with Captain America and look forward to another movie if they keep telling me a good story.

     There is so much going on in this movie that you almost have to see it twice. They introduce The Black Panther and Spider-Man, they bring back General Ross, there’s dissension within The Avengers, and they bring in Baron Zemo (sans fur collar and purple mask). If you’ve enjoyed the Marvel films so far then definitely check this out. If you just want to watch the three Captain America films, that’s cool too. The movies are a lot like the comic books, they make the most sense if you watch all of them but if you only follow one character, you can still play along at home.

Don't Play Us Cheap- Melvin Van Peebles originally wrote this for the stage but when he started shopping it around for investors, he discovered that people were having two different visions of the story. One group was on board with the idea of a Broadway musical, the other group thought he was making a movie. In need of funding, he agreed with both groups and came up with a great marketing plan. He built the sets and rehearsed it as a Broadway musical and then shot it as a movie just before opening. It went over big for a few months. When things were starting to cool down, he released the movie and rejuvenated the Broadway box office with new interest. The story deals with devil bats that were sent to Earth to spread misery and despair. The first thing they encounter is a party in Harlem. It's fun and worth a look if you're a Van Peebles fan.

How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company (and enjoy it)- This is a documentary on the life of Melvin Van Peebles. You'll notice a theme running through my movie watching habits this month. It seems like every time I go to the library, they have a new film of his on display. This guy has an amazing tale to tell. One of the stories I found most interesting (and able to relate to this section) was how he got into film making. He went to Hollywood but couldn't get work because he's Black. So, he went to France and started writing. While there, he discovered a clause in French law that says that a French writer can get a directors card to direct an adaptation of his own work. He went on to publish five books in French, which made him a French writer, so he got his card and made Story Of A Three Day Pass which was one of his books. When the festivals started buzzing about the film, Hollywood took notice and invited him out. He went on to make Watermelon Man for Columbia. Check it out, it's amazing.  

In A Valley Of Violence- I'm not going to say too much about this movie because, admittedly, the plot line is not too deep and I want you to have the same opportunity I did to be entertained. It stars Ethan Hawke as a drifter and John Travolta as a Marshal in a small border town. It's worth a look.

Mean Johnny Barrows- Fred Williamson produced, directed and starred in this 1976 two- fisted action movie. It's a great example of independent film making. He managed to get Roddy McDowell because they had the same agent. He got Stuart Whitman, R.G. Armstrong because they were friends and he got Elliott Gould because they met on M*A*S*H and he used to play football with Mike Henry. It can be all about who you know. The assassin in the movie is his martial arts instructor who was also his fight choreographer. You just have to take their showdown with a grain of salt. Check it out if you're a fan.

My Favorite Year- I will unabashedly recommend  this movie to anybody who likes comedy. It stars the great Peter O'Toole as a matinee idol who is due to appear on a t.v. show where Mark Linn-Baker is the junior writer. Because of his reputation as a drunkard and womanizer, O'Toole is put under the care of Linn-Baker to make sure he gets to the show on time. This was a first time directing effort from Richard Benjamin as well as Linn-Bakers first film role. See this now!

Operation Petticoat- Blake Edwards directs Carey Grant and Tony Curtis, hilarity ensues. Make time for this if you haven't seen it in a while.

The Professionals- Before The Expendables there were The Professionals. Mexican bandit Jack Palance took Claudia Cardinale from railroad baron Ralph Belamy. To get her back, he's hired Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Woody Strode. There's only one man tough enough to lead this bunch on a mission like this-Lee Marvin. If you liked The Wild Bunch then you'll love The Professionals. See it today!

Pumping Iron- After reading Schwarzenegger's autobiography, I decided to go back and revisit this docu-drama after hearing about all the behind the scenes goings on. I've always enjoyed it and knowing what I know now makes me enjoy it a little more. Check it out after you read the book and you'll see what I mean.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story- I am first generation Star Wars fan. The very first movie came out when I was in third grade and, of course, I went ape-shit crazy over it. The next two came out and I was there multiple times. In 1998, when the Special Editions came out, I was curious but optimistic that those movies could be improved. A New Hope got bogged down with new footage. The Empire Strikes Back did actually get improved with the picture enhancements, so I can't say it was a total waste. Return  Of The Jedi was altered in an attempt to set up the next three movies, which should have tipped me off to the rocky road that lie ahead. The following year, I saw Episode I and my inner third grader felt betrayed and let down. I sat through the next two movies more out of a sense of obligation to complete the story than anything else. At the end of Episode III I felt like I had just completed a journey when I should have felt like running home and watching Episode IV to see what happens next. My lightsaber had long been hung up and collecting dust by the time Episode VII came out. I had no desire to see it at all. The only reason I finally did see it was because my mom suggested it. I don't get a chance to see movies with mom much and the fact that we saw the very first one together seemed kind of fitting. It was what it was but the best part was when we looked at each other after it was over and said we never have to do this again.
     That was the mentality I had when I heard about Rogue One being made. Now that the mouse is in charge, I realize that we're going to have a new Star Wars movie every other year until the end of days. Just like The Fast And Furious and Star Trek movies.
     I was on the phone with my friend and business partner catching up on things since the  holiday break and he kept going on about Rogue One. He's one of the last hold outs I know that still likes these movies. I told him my views and said I had no interest in the movie. He told me something that I will tell you, in case you're still on the fence. He said that this was the movie you wished Episode III would have been, this is the one we deserved. Knowing this would come up in future conversations and being a little intrigued, I finally broke down and saw a matinee. I'm glad I did. He was right, it's what I wished Episode III would have been. I actually felt like going home and watching Episode IV to see what happens next. I'm still done with the franchise and I have no desire to see any further installments but this was the movie that finally made my inner third grader happy. I'm recommending it if you're interested.

Sing Street- I've enjoyed John Carney's other films, Once and Begin Again, but this feels like the one he's been building up to. Set in Ireland in the mid 1980's, it tells the story of a high schooler who meets a girl and invites her to be in his band's music video. She agrees and he's walking on air that he's going to get to hang out with this object of affection. Now all he has to do is form a band and write a song so they can make a video. No problem, right? Maybe it's because I went to high school in the '80's or have contemplated doing foolish things like that, but I enjoyed the hell out of this movie  and definitely recommend it.

Story Of A Three Day Pass- Written and directed by Melvin Van Peebles (I told you I'd talk about him again) and based off a book he wrote, this tells the story of a young Black soldier serving overseas and on the verge of a promotion. As a reward, his C.O. gives him a three day pass and he goes into town and has a series of adventures and meets a woman. It's reminiscent of the French New Wave films that were coming out in the early to mid 1960's, although that was not it's intent. Van Peebles was just telling a story that he wanted to see and wanted to make a movie. Check it out!

Wrong Is Right- A political satire in the vein of Dr. Strangelove: or how I stopped worrying and learned to love the bomb and Wag The Dog. Written and directed by Richard Brooks (see also The Professionals) and starring Sean Connery along with an all-star cast, this tells the story of a broadcast journalist who gets caught up in a story about a government cover up concerning two missing suitcase nukes. It's worth a look.

     Finally, for all of my t.v. watching friends out there, I recently rediscovered a couple of nuggets from days gone by-
All In The Family- I started season 1 last month and I think I forgot to tell you about it. Any way, the writing in the first season is incredible. The second season feels like the writers were reading a few notes from the network but still trying to make a quality show. The third season was where Norman Lear left to focus on the spin-off, Maude, and the production value was a little lacking, not bad, just not where it was. Season 4 saw the show still in it's stride, still dealing with the issues of the day but Archie Bunker just seems to be the butt of every joke. It's a little disappointing after being so cutting edge in the first season to now just being a buffoon. The seasons are short and the laughs are plentiful and solid so it's hard to criticize too harshly. If you get the chance, check it out.

Good Night And Good Luck: The Edward R. Murrow Television Collection- Broken up into four parts and hosted by Charles Kuralt, Mike Wallace, Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. One disc deals with just his biography, another is the best of See It Now, one of the original news magazine programs, another is about his struggle against Sen. McCarthy and the final one is his broadcast of Harvest Of Shame about the migrant workers in the south. If you're a fan of journalism or just Murrow, check this out, it's amazing.

     Well, I thing that's about it for this month. I just got a notice about a rent increase slipped under my door yesterday so the next time you hear from me it may be from a new address. I keep having to remind myself that I have other obligations and can't just sell everything and roam the country like Jack Reacher or Christopher McCandless. Not until after November at least and maybe not even then. The search for decent housing begins. See you next month.

January Newsletter

     Welcome to 2017! Congratulations on surviving 2016! What a crazy year that was, huh? We lost a lot of artists, had race riots, The Chicago Cubs beat The Cleveland Indians in The World Series and Donald Trump is president. Tell me that’s not a sign of a coming apocalypse. Speaking of impending doom, how about the Nunes-Rousey fight? So much for the comeback. It should be interesting to see what she does now. There’s always The Expendables 4.

     I’ve been working my ass off since November so I don’t really have a lot of new stuff to talk about outside of don’t take your holiday aggressions out on your grocery clerk, it’s not his fault your life sucks and your kids are a flaming pain in the ass. Luckily, things should start to ease up a little before we have to deal with Super Bowl parties. The Roller Warriors home season will be starting in about a week. There were thirty some-odd new rookies so this should be an interesting season. Will The Vixens go for a third year victory? Will The Knockouts get out of the basement? Only time will answer these questions. Tune in to The Wheel Press at kcrollerwarriors.com to follow the action. I am now senior correspondent, editor-in-chief AND publisher this season so things will be updated in a timely manner. Look for The Wheel Press on facebook to get live updates on game day. I’m still trying to figure out what kind of bonus material I can put up there to hold your attention between games.

     My reading habits of late have been all over the place. I’m either working my way through an omnibus of early Thor stories or catching up on a magazine subscription or listening to 25 disks of The Pickwick Papers. I’m on disk 24 so you’ll have to wait until next month to hear about it. I’m going to the library on Monday so next month promises to be interesting.

     Being the holiday season, I have a list of holiday favorites that maybe you enjoyed, haven’t seen in a while or just never knew about. There are a few thrown in just for the fun of it because there are only so many holiday films you can sit through.

3 Godfathers- The 1948 Christmas classic directed by John Ford starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz and Harry Carey, Jr. in the title roles. Three bank robbers are on the run from a posse when they encounter a dying woman who asks them to look after her newborn child.

Christmas Cottage-I stumbled across this one at the library. It’s a feel good movie based on real events and kind of plays out like a big budget Hallmark movie but, there is one redeeming thing about this sugary sweet Christmas cookie of a movie and that is the great Peter O’Toole. I’m painting it in a much harsher light than it deserves so I’ll just wrap this one up by saying if you happen to run across it, watch it and enjoy. 

Die Hard- With the passing of Alan Rickman, this seemed especially fitting this year. The Alamo played it on the big screen so I got to see it in all of its big screen glory this year. I was a little surprised they didn’t play it as a double bill with Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence but, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth. There may be some kind of problem with Mr. Lawrence because I couldn’t even find it for home viewing.

District: B-13- Every so often I get the urge to watch this and this was one of those times. I still remember seeing this theatrically with seven other people. I took a chance on it when I saw Luc Besson’s  name attached to it. When K2 and his guys kick in Leito’s door, my life changed. Cyril Raffaelii was the stunt choreographer as well as one of the stars and, along with David Belle, introduced the world to Parkour.

The Edge Of Seventeen-I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the target demographic for this movie but something in the preview made me decide to give it a chance. I’m glad I did, it was actually enjoyable. It helped that I saw it early in the day in the middle of the week so I was the only one in the theater! It is a story about being a seventeen year old girl in high school but, mercifully, it is not just aimed at seventeen year old girls. It really does a good job of capturing that universal feeling that everybody at that age went through. That’s not always an easy thing. I tried it about two months ago with a short story. Apparently, it didn’t come off as well as I thought it did because the reception was less than luke warm. Oh well, enjoy the movie, I’ll keep trying something else.

Fletch-I love this movie. It’s one of Chevy Chase’s best roles. The filmmakers managed to capture the spirit of Gregory McDonald’s novels without turning it into a complete parody by letting Chevy have room to move. Chase plays an investigative journalist who’s working on a story when a millionaire philanthropist asks Chase to kill him. Now, there are two stories, and that’s not the whole story. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it or if you’ve never seen it, go now and track it down. It’s one of Gena Davis’ first movies and Richard Libertini has a great supporting role as Fletch’s editor. I have a quick personal anecdote to throw in, if you’ll indulge me. When Richard and I were thinking of a dream cast for Order 86, I always envisioned Libertini as one of our supporting protagonists. From the inception of the character and through all of the rewrites, he was the one I always saw in the role. This was a slight point of contention between us as he had always envisioned somebody else and couldn’t see Libertini in it at all. It wasn’t worth going to the mattresses over since we were only talking hypothetically at that point. Of course, in the spirit of 2016, cancer resolved our differences about a week later when I read that Libertini had passed away. Despite all of my preconceived ideas, I have to admit that Josh Busick came in and nailed it.

Heat-One of Michael Mann’s finest films and a great crime drama to boot. The characters are well written, the cast is outstanding, what can I say about this movie that you don’t already know?

The In-Laws-I hadn’t seen this movie in many a year and I’m happy to see that it still stands up. Arkin and Falk are great together. Richard Libertini plays a Mexican dictator with several screws loose. It’s hilarious. Criterion released a new dvd earlier this year with a commentary track with Alan Arkin, writer Andrew Bergman, Peter Falk and director Arthur Hiller. There are also a couple of supplementary interviews with Arkin and some of the supporting cast. Check it out.

Iron Man 3-Christmas time is Shane Black season although, I have to admit that this is not one of his stronger films. I have a few problems that I won’t air here out of the spirit of peace and goodwill, but those of you who have had this conversation with me know what they are.

Joyeux Noel- Inspired by true events during World War I, this movie tells the story of what happened on one Christmas Eve when a platoon of French, German and Scottish soldiers looked across their stretch of the 100 yards of No Man’s Land and asked each other, will it affect the outcome of the war if we don’t shoot at each other for one night? I won’t tell you much more about it outside of check it out.

Kelly’s Heroes-It’s a war movie, it’s a heist movie, it’s a comedy, it’s a…it’s one of my favorites that I can’t recommend enough, go check it out.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang-This is definitely one of Shane Black’s best films. Robert Downey, Jr. plays a burglar who gets mistaken for an actor and winds up in Hollywood to star in a murder mystery movie but finds that reality is providing enough of both to keep him busy. The dialogue is brilliant, check it out.

Krampus-We all know about the jolly old fat guy that comes around and brings presents to the good boys and girls but whatever happens to the naughty children? That’s where Krampus comes in. If you’ve seen it, then you already know how good it is, if you haven’t, go check it out.

La La Land-This is another movie that I’m surprised I liked. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I enjoy it. It’s a musical comedy but it’s not like My Fair Lady or even Everyone Says I Love You, which is kind of what I was expecting. It’s a simple story of a not so simple subject of boy meeting girl and trying to make their dreams come true in the city of Angels. It reminds me of another boy meets girls story that happened at that theater several years ago. I had met this girl while making a movie and we decided to go see movie later that week. Common interests, right? I forget the movie, it might have had Anthony Hopkins in it, it’s not important. As we’re leaving the theater there was this guy playing a guitar. He was just practicing while waiting for something. The two of them are really connecting, trading e-mail addresses, I think they even knew some of the same people. I just bookmarked the moment because I knew exactly where this was going. We saw each other for about another three weeks or so for lack of anything better to do, I guess. Some circumstance came up that gave us a good chance to say good bye. About another month later, somehow we were talking on the phone and she’s telling me all about this new guy and then she remembers that I know him too, it’s the guy with the guitar. I’m sitting there listening, feeling like the old sage on the mountain as everything I saw coming is being told to me. As memory serves, I think I met somebody else either right before or right after the phone conversation. That lasted about three months. The girl and the guitar guy could still be together for all I know, we haven’t spoken in years. This isn’t musical comedy folks, go see the movie.

The Last Boyscout-If there’s a Christmas filled with mayhem, murder and mystery it must be a Shane Black film. He wrote this one and Tony Scott directed it. I still remember the first time I saw this movie, I was working at a movie theater and had to go in after hours and screen it to make sure it ran through okay. In the course of passing time, I called this girl I was dating at the time and we ended up getting into a(nother) fight. Why aren’t we still together? No big surprise there. Anyway, I was able to identify with this movie right off the bat and it really cheered me up. I’ve been a fan ever since. It’s well written and looks great. Check it out.

Lethal Weapon-Shane Black’s writing debut about an experienced homicide detective and a narcotics sergeant who have to work together to solve the biggest case of their careers. Richard Donner directed this one and if you track it down on home video, there is a director’s cut that’s about seven minutes longer and feels more complete than the theatrical version. Check it out.

The Nice Guys-I feel like I’ve already told you so much about this movie before since I mentioned it when it played theatrically and then I told you about the book and now it’s on home video. About the only thing new I can say about it is that it does get better with each viewing. Go and enjoy.

Rocky IV-Not your traditional Christmas movie, I’ll grant you, but when Rocky Balboa gives up his title, goes into a hostile land to avenge his friends death and ends up becoming an emissary of peace on Christmas day, isn’t that really what the holiday is all about?      

Santa’s Slay-This is a great holiday horror comedy. One thousand years ago an angel of the lord bested the son of Satan in a game of curling. As a result, he had to change his ways for a thousand years and be good. Time’s up and Santa’s on the rampage. Check it out.

Scrooged-Richard Donner’s other Christmas movie is this retelling of the classic Charles Dickens cautionary tale of a man who lets material gain obscure his view of his fellow man. I’ve always enjoyed this movie but I never fully came to appreciate it until I saw A Christmas Carol live on stage a couple of months ago. I was really taken with this production and somewhere in the back of my head I entertained the idea of enhancing it somehow. The character of Tiny Tim is iconic but if you stop and think about him, you really don’t get to know him. His parents have a few lines of dialogue about him and that’s about it. He evokes sympathy because of his age and his condition. When Scrooge and the spirits visit and there’s mention of a lonely crutch in the corner, of course you don’t want the little sick kid to die but, unfortunately, that’s what sick kids did in the nineteenth century, they died. What if you could give Tim something more to do to flush out his character? Let the audience get attached to Tim and not just a young sick boy. Wait a minute, what am I saying?! Rewrite Mr. Dickens?! Isn’t that punishable by a thousand paper cuts and the breaking of all of my writing instruments? But, how else do you build his charac-wait, of course, less is more. When his father was killed, the boy pulled a Tommy and stopped speaking. The other characters speak for him and you get a genuine sympathy for the character. You don’t want to see him wind up in the padded room so when he delivers his big line at the end, it is the Christmas miracle.

Silent Night, Deadly Night- The original Killer Santa movie that is often imitated but nobody got it right like Michael Hickey and Charles Sellier, Jr. If you get the chance, go check it out.

The Thin Man-Mayhem, murder and mystery at Christmas, is this another Shane Black film? No! It’s Dashiell Hammett. Well, okay, it’s W.S. Van Dyke to be more precise. William Powell and Myrna Loy star as Nick and Nora Charles. He’s a former private investigator who hung up his trench coat when he married a socialite and started running the family businesses. You can’t keep a good detective down when an old client goes missing and everybody is looking to Nick Charles for answers. For all you murder mystery fans, this is one of the first movies to use the device of somebody-in-this-room-is-the-killer-and-I’m-going-to-show-you-who-it-is. Definitely check this one out.

     That’s about all I have for now, hope you enjoyed the read. I’ll be back next month with a new list of books, movies, stories about roller derby and who knows what else. Hope you all have a happy and safe new year!

A Slight Case Of Obsession

     Stay warm, isn't that what she told him, he wasn't sure, his heart was pounding in his ears at the time. His tech theater teacher said there would be extra credit given if they went to the local production of some holiday play. He could think of a few other ways to spend his time but his grades were slipping so every little bit helped. No way he was going to summer school or repeating his last year.
     He made some mental notes on the scenery and costumes and had to admit that it held his attention but then...she came in. She was an angel, literally and figuratively. She was playing some kind of Christmas angel but she was more captivating than the whole play itself. His whole attention was devoted to the stage and he hoped she'd come back in the second half. She didn't until the curtain call. The cast asked the audience to join them in the lobby for some refreshments so he stuck around.
     What's her name? He searched through his program to find it. Was she Angel #1 or Angel #2? Shit, he thought, she's right there, what now? Be cool, he told himself, just be cool. Please, God, do not let my voice crack or anything fly out of my nose for the next twenty minutes.
     He tried to smile and say hi. He had seen an old movie once where Carey Grant introduced himself to a woman and she told him her name. It worked, thanks Carey! He was feeling every one of his seventeen years as he tried to make small talk and compliment her on her performance. She smiled, said thank you and hugged him. After another brief exchange she said she had to go and change and hugged him again and probably said stay warm.
     His head was filled with day dreams as he turned up his collar to the North wind and walked back to his moms car. It wasn't until he got in that he realized he could still smell her perfume on his coat. He just sat there for a minute and breathed it in. He had no idea how to get in touch with her but he knew he wanted to see her again. He didn't want to roll down his window when he went to the drive-thru window of the fast food place, but he had no choice. Besides, he'd have to air out the car anyway. Two rules of the mom mobile-no food and no girls. He breathed in one last time and rolled the window down to place his order.

December Newsletter

     It's the last month of the year, the home stretch. I would like to take a second and wish you the happiest of whichever holiday is your choosing and congratulate you on making it this far in 2016. We lost another icon. Mr. Leonard Cohen is no longer with us. It seems as though all of his press releases over the last few months have been about accepting his mortality and embracing the next step so it's hard to say that it's a complete shock but it always sucks when someone who's music and writing has been a part of your existence is now absent. I'm Your Man is one of my desert island albums, which one is yours?  I wonder how many times we'll hear Black Star, Bad Magic and You Want It Darker as we get closer to the end of the year.
     On a more cheerful note, Ronda Rousey is getting back into the octagon against Amanda Nunes on December 30th. I've always wanted to see her fight live but considering that it's taking place in Vegas ($$$) and the nosebleed seats are $95.00 with prices going into five digits the closer you get ($$$$$), this is not going to be that time. I'll just watch it on t.v. like everybody else.
     Do you have a reader on your gift list? Are you just looking for something interesting to get you through the day? Here's what I've read lately, maybe you'll get some ideas-

The Enemy by Lee Child- Do you remember last month when I said that the next novel after Persuader could only get better? Thankfully, I was right. This one is set in the late 1980’s as The Berlin Wall is coming down and the army is on the verge of downsizing. It’s a little disappointing that Child had to resort to the prequel (it’s a personal thing. I’m nostalgic for the days when adventure series just moved ever forward. Fleming never did a prequel, just saying) but it’s such a refreshing return to form that you take the bitter with the sweet. My only other criticism of this book is that I listened to it on cd and the narrator has this slow east coast-esque cadence to his voice that would be great if he were reading a Brett Halliday novel but it’s hard to imagine Jack Reacher speaking in this manner. Reacher is a man of few words, his sentences are short and clipped. I admit, it’s nit -picky, the story is still good, pick up the book and listen to whoever’s voice you want to.
 

Joyland by Stephen King- Not your typical Stephen King novel, this is published by Hard Case Crime. It’s told in flashback as a man recounts his days of working through school as a carnie in North Carolina in the early 1970’s. As you might have guessed, there’s a crime that’s been committed and because it’s King, there’s also a ghost involved. If you like King or just good slow burning mysteries, check it out.

A Life In Parts by Bryan Cranston-  Back in October I had the chance to attend his…well, I’m not sure what to call it…book signing/interview/speaking engagement (?). It was presented by a local bookstore and the price of admission paid for a copy of his new autobiography that he was promoting. He didn’t sit at a table and sign each book as people filed by which is why I’m hesitant to call it a book signing. He did, however, sign 100 copies beforehand and they were interspersed throughout the piles. When you take into consideration the number of people that The Uptown Theater holds, 100 is about a handful. I was just happy to be there and get a book, no sense in getting my hopes up. The bookstore owner interviewed Mr. Cranston who would then give very elaborate answers to the audience. The whole experience was rather unique and informal. It was fascinating to listen to him tell of his early days (he worked on Alligator(!!) as a special effects p.a.) and, of course, his time on Malcolm In The Middle and Breaking Bad. I was hoping to hear more about Trumbo but I guess that’s another story for another time.

     The book is written in a series of short vignettes so it’s perfect if you’re at work or a bathroom reader. It covers his childhood through his Tony Award winning performance in All The Way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Cranston fan (you will be by the end) because the book is not just about him but the journey of an actor exploring his craft. I really recommend it.

     After the show, as I looked out across the sea of humanity being herded out the exit where three volunteers were passing out books as fast as they could, I’d almost forgotten about the hundred signed copies. I guess that’s how Charlie felt about his golden ticket. They had us moving like paratroopers, only instead of static lines there were books handed out before crossing the threshold into the dark American night. I walked back to my car and it wasn’t until I was home that curiosity finally nagged me enough to open my gift bag and discover that sensation of relief and excitement that 99 others felt that night.

One Shot by Lee Child- The storytelling is still on par and Jack Reacher is back in the present (well, the early 2000’s when the book was published). This is the one Paramount based the movie Jack Reacher on. It’s similar in storyline but still different enough to keep you interested. On a good note, the narrator of the cd is the same guy from The Enemy but, he got it a little closer this time. If you’ve enjoyed the other books in the series, don’t stop now!

     My movie list is considerably shorter than last month since I've been working more than watching but, since man cannot live on the written word alone, here's something you might want to check out-
Ashby-This movie came out last year and probably made its way through the festival circuit. Mickey Rourke plays a retired hitman who's neighbor is high school kid that just moved in. The kid gets a school assignment to talk to an older person and find out their story. I'll set up the premise for you, but you'll have to watch the movie to find out the rest. I really enjoyed it.

Doctor Strange-Wow! Have you seen this yet? The visual effects are incredible and need to be seen on the big screen so don't dawdle. I've been a cursory Doctor Strange fan since I was a kid. One of my cousins introduced me to him but I was always more of a Captain America and Daredevil fan to get into the mysticism of the good doctor. Here again, I'm not going to give away all of the plot points of the film, I'll just say go see it and enjoy.

Hacksaw Ridge-Say what you will about Mel Gibson, I enjoyed this movie. He branched out and tried some new things stylistically and you hardly recognize it as a Gibson film. I'll let history provide the spoilers and just say go check it out.

Home For The Holidays- This has kind of become a Thanksgiving tradition at my house. An all-star cast, each playing at least one of your relatives. If you get the chance, read the short story by Chris Radant.

Juggernaut- This has been a favorite of mine for a while. Richard Harris, Omar Sharif, Anthony Hopkins and Ian Holm in the same movie about a mad bomber who'll blow up an ocean liner if he doesn't get his money! If you've seen it then you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't seen it then remedy that now!

A Perfect Day- Benicio Del Toro, Tim Robbins, and Olga Kurylenko are overseas aid workers in The Balkans. It's a dramatic comedy that kind of reminds you of No Man's Land ('01). Watch and enjoy.

Pieces Of April- Thanksgiving is not complete until you've seen this movie. This is probably my favorite Oliver Platt role. The whole cast is good, don't get me wrong. It really gives a little pull on the heart strings.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles- John Hughes set the gold standard for Thanksgiving films with this classic. Steve Martin and John Candy are great together.

Rambo: First Blood Part II- Every so often, I'll take these off the shelf and remind myself of how good they are. I usually start with First Blood but anymore that's just one I enjoy more in December or, at least the winter months. I'll keep this short or else I'll just go on for paragraphs about the whole series. It's everything I shouldn't like in a movie but do- the first one is based on a novel and it went on for three more sequels...and I love them all.

Rambo III- Oh how the times have changed. Once the Mujahadin were our allies and our all-American fighting machine helped them defeat the Ruskies. Ignoring the dated politics of this film, it's still pretty fun. I have a guy that I rent prop weapons from who was an extra rebel horseman in the climactic finale. He'll tell me all kinds of on set stories, most of them are cautionary since he broke his leg when his horse went down in a scene. The Ultimate Edition dvd has a few deleted scenes.

Rambo- Our boy is a little older and a hell of a lot more jaded in the fourth chapter. The blu-ray has a directors cut that also has a director commentary. About the only noticeable difference in the directors cut, aside from pieces expanded a little here and there, is that you find out what "is". Personally, I think it completes the scene a lot better, not really sure why it was cut aside from time restraints.

     A quick note for you t.v. watchers- if you get the chance, check out Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I'm currently in season five and the show is incredible.

     That's about all I have for this month, again I'd like to wish you all a happy holiday and hope to see you in the new year!

  

November Newsletter

     Greetings all, I see we've survived another year without finding razor blades in the apples and needles in the Tootsie Rolls. Were you tricked or treated? My big holiday plans consisted of working and laundry with a staged reading of Ghostbusters thrown in the middle. For those of you in the KC area, check out The Buffalo Rooms calendar for these staged readings, they come around about once a month and they're amazing. It was a great way to ring in the holiday and wrap up the month. Here in November I'll be throwing myself more into my writing since I have two scripts and a book that have been long neglected. It's time for Jack to become a dull boy.
     I guess you could call this writing season. The other production companies I work with are either editing or looking to the next project. That's about status quo for us at Merry BanD. I've been in research mode lately as we cut our way through this jungle called editing. There have been technical aspects as well as subtle nuances that surfaced that we're working through. I would say that we're on schedule but we haven't really set a schedule so I'll just say that every day is progress.
     There was a lot of letting my geek flag fly last month as you'll soon see. The book list is short but if you're looking for a movie suggestion or five, read on.
     Without Fail by Lee Child-This is the sixth book in the Jack Reacher series. I've enjoyed them all and recommend them to anybody interested. The first book is called The Killing Floor and it's amazing but, not to diminish the rest of the series, being the first, it's the passion project, the one he could take his time writing and get everything perfect. That's why I'd say read the first two books to get a fair gauge of the series. In Without Fail, Reacher is hired by the Secret Service to do an audit on their security of the Vice President elect. The only spoiler I will give you, the jaded reader, is to give up thinking like Stephen Hunter and just go with it.
     Persuader by Lee Child-Yes, this is book seven and yes, 3/4 of this book starts to feel like Child is feeling the pressures of a contractual obligation. It holds your interest, don't get me wrong, but it just kind of wanders around. The series is currently on book nineteen or twenty so I know that it picks back up because the general public will only put up with mediocrity for about three books before it sees the pattern develop and moves on. Two other things give me hope for the next book, though. One is the last 1/4 of the book. It may start off slow but it comes back around fast. The second is that I'm one book away from the one they based the first movie on. Somewhere in the next book Child gets his groove back. I'll get around to it soon.
     Okay, here's the movie list I promised you. There are a couple of duds and a couple of surprises but hopefully you'll find something of interest.
     3 Days Of The Condor-How can you not think this movie is cool? I've been a fan for a while so when I started doing research for my spy thriller, I looked to a favorite. Robert Redford (you'll see this name again in this section) is a C.I.A. analyst (code named Condor) who is on the run after his section gets taken out by a hit squad. If you're a first timer or a veteran viewer, check this out, it's worth it.
     99 Homes-If you blinked, you missed it in theaters. It came out earlier this year but it's set during the housing collapse a few years ago. Michael Shannon gives a great performance (as usual) as a realtor trying to survive in its wake and Andrew Garfield is a man who loses his family home but then becomes part of the system that screwed him over. It almost feels like Wall Street for the housing market. It's worth your time just for Michael Shannon.
     After. Life- I picked this up at the library because it was in the horror genre and the cast intrigued me. Liam Neeson is a mortician who has a gift for communicating with the dead and Christina Ricci plays a school teacher who recently died in a car wreck. Justin Long plays her boyfriend. I'm not going to tell you too much in case you actually see it. The film is well made but it's not one you have to rush out and track down.
     All The Presidents Men-Robert Redford (there's that name again) produced this movie and as a result, ended up starring in it as Bob Woodward. Dustin Hoffman plays Carl Bernstein and together they write a series of stories that eventually brings down a presidency. This is another long time favorite that I don't have enough good things to say about. If you can find the two disk version, get it. There's a commentary track by Redford that gives a lot of insight to the making of the film as well as supplemental material that covers everything from behind the scenes of the movie to Watergate and the history of investigative journalism. Check this one out!
     Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story-A found footage movie about found footage... The story had some potential but the execution (no pun intended) is poor. A news magazine crew is doing a story about what happens to houses after the owners have been evicted (the dark side of 99 Homes?).They come across a house that isn't like the rest. There's still furniture, food in the fridge, even a child's homework still on the kitchen table. It's like the family just dropped everything and left. You always saw this scenario in horror films so I thought it was interesting to see the after math through a different lens. Unfortunately, it starts a downward spiral from there. For journalists, they suck at research. They manage to get just enough information on the family that occupied the house but then they stop. What about the mysterious figure in the videos they found? Who is he? What happened?  When did he first appear? Where did they study journalism? The movie has its moments but they a few and far between. I picked it up in the spirit of the holidays but now that it's over, I'm going to say don't waste your time.
     The American- This came out six years ago to a limited release and lukewarm reviews. I don't understand why. This movie is pretty good. George Clooney plays a gunsmith for hire who's work takes him to a small Italian town. It's hard to talk about without giving away too much so I'll just say go watch it.
     American Graffiti-The one movie George Lucas got right the first time. This played as a revival at the first of the month. It's always great to see this one on the big screen although the sound mix is a little off since they converted it to digital. It's like they couldn't decide what to put through which channel so they just took turns with it. The movie's still enjoyable though. The boom shadow at The Hop and the reflection in the roof of the car just seem to add to the charm that you forget about on the small screen. One of these days I'll have to take a field trip to Van Ness, just to check out the diner.
     Quick relevant story-about 17-ish years ago, Candy Clark and Bo Hopkins were at a car show signing autographs. I went, got autographs, listened to the stories about the movie and when the crowd thinned out I started asking them about Tentacles (I don't think Hopkins enjoyed making this as much as I enjoyed watching it) and Blue Thunder. It was a fun afternoon.
     American Ultra-It creeps me out sometimes how similar this is to Order 86. We finished the script before it came out so I know there's no plagiarism or power of suggestion, there are just so many ways you can tell a spy story and I'm sure we all had the same influences. That being said, it is a fun movie and if you get the chance, check it out.
     Annie Hall-Early Woody is still the best. Check it out, you'll enjoy it.
     Argo-Ben Affleck's opus. This movie really gave me a whole new respect for the man. His attention to detail is incredible, the story is based on fact and having lived through that time when the hostages were being held, I found it interesting. It's the story Ted Koppel didn't tell you. Quick media nerd fact-Nightline on ABC started as a recap of special reports about the Iranian hostage crisis. Quick film geek fact-Affleck based his C.I.A. interior lighting on the newsroom lighting in All The Presidents Men. Visually, it works but when you find out why Pacula lit the newsroom the way he did, it seems a little odd thematically.
     The Assassin Next Door-This is a 2009 import from Israel that i think may have lost a few things in translation. It stars Olga Kurylenko, who's big claim to fame is Quantum Of Solace. It centers around the friendship that grows between two women as one is trying to get out of an abusive marriage and the other is trying to distance herself from being a trigger man for the mob. It's very okay.
     The Beaver-Jodie Foster directed and starred in this film about a man who suffers from depression and learns to express himself through a hand puppet. Unfortunately, this movie got a bad shake when it was released because it also stars Mel Gibson and this was right after his notorious arrest. Hopefully, he'll take a couple of more roles as the villain and people can exorcise their hatred on his dying corpse as the hero rides off into the sunset and then, after all of the Haterade has passed, he can get back to doing movies like this. I guess we'll just have to see how Hacksaw Ridge does. Whether you love him or hate him off screen, on screen the guy's great and I miss seeing him in roles like this. Check it out, it's pretty good. It'll make a good companion piece to Foster's holiday classic, Home For The Holidays.
     The Big Easy-The sleeper hit of 1987 is back, well, on this list anyway. The classic murder mystery set in the city of New Orleans with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin! I enjoy the shit out of this movie. I've been a Quaid fan ever since Breaking Away. The film also has Ned Beatty and John Goodman who was still working his way up from Foot Locker commercials on his way to oh-yeah-that-guy status. Been a while since you've seen? Do yourse'f a favor 'cher and make you up a pot o' dat gumbo and take a look.
     The Bourne Ultimatum-I shouldn't enjoy this movie as much as I do but dammit, it's just a good spy thriller. Back when there were only three Bourne films, they had the sense to wrap up the trilogy and give you all of the answers that they had been dangling in front of your face for two previous films. Plus, the action sequences are bigger and better than the last two because they had expectations to meet. The first two films aren't bad but this is the one I keep coming back to. The Waterloo Station scene alone is worth your price of admission. Fun random fact-while I couldn't do anything as elaborate as The Waterloo Station scene in Order 86, I did have a similar idea sparked by a different Ludlum novel that could have worked if only we'd had more extras...that's showbiz.
     Captain America: The First Avenger-The first time they actually made Cap work outside of the comic book. There was a serial, there were a couple of made for t.v. movies that made Reb Brown a household name but that's about all they did, and another failed attempt in 1989 that eventually turned up on cable. Chris Evans really did a good job of bringing the character to life and it's one of the few times you get to like Neal McDonough.
     Captain America: The Winter Soldier-With the origin story out of the way and after The Avengers team up, Cap finally gets his own story. It's a great spy thriller that also takes the Marvel Universe and shakes it up. We meet Nick Fury's boss (Robert Redford, him again), HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD, we meet The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Dr. Zola, mercifully, is portrayed in a more realistic fashion. It's just an all around great movie. I should probably break down and buy the trilogy seeing as this is the second time I've checked it out from the library. Sometimes the mood just hits.
     Charade-Here's another great film that Order 86 owes a few things to. I never blatantly stole from it, but most times during re-writes I couldn't help asking myself, what would Peter Joshua do? Track down the Criterion edition, there's a commentary by Stanley Donen and Peter Stone.
     The Crazies-Made in 1973 by George Romero, this is an example of guerrilla film making in its natural habitat. What it lacks in production value, it had to make up for in story. This film was plagued with financial problems but still managed to get made. Ultimately, I think, the low budget quality almost gives it a documentary look. It's not great but well worth a look if you're a Romero fan.
     Cul-De-Sac-This is an early film from Roman Polanski that almost captures the spirit of the French New Wave films of the early 1960's. It's filmed beautifully in black and white and star Lionel Stander, Donald Pleasence and Francoise Dorleac. I know most people go ga-ga over it but I thought it was pretty good. I loved the technical side of it but the story line didn't really grab me. Still, it's worth a look.
     Dracula A.D. 1972-What's Halloween without a Hammer film? Christopher Lee reprises his role with Peter Cushing playing the grandson of his arch nemesis. If there can be descendants of the Van Helsing line, why can't there be descendants of Dracula's familiars? Johnny Alucard (get it? Spell it backwards) has the vial of the counts ashes that his forefathers gathered 100 years ago and now, with the help of Van Helsing's great grand daughter, he will bring Dracula back to have his revenge. High art? Hardly, but it's a lot of fun. If you were a fan of Marvel's Tomb Of Dracula, you'll see a lot of similarities, so it works on a nostalgia level.
     Idiocracy-It's hard to believe that in ten years Mike Judge's parody film is almost a documentary. Luke Wilson is part of a military experiment where he was  supposed to be cryogenically frozen for a year but due to budget cuts, he got warehoused and wakes up in the 24th century to discover the world has become stupid. Check it out, it's funny because it's true.
     In Like Flint-The last movie in the Derek Flint series. Both movies are just so much fun. James Coburn plays the ultimate spy who has to save the world again and take on women's lib. Despite being part of our mantra while making Order 86 (it's not that kind of movie), I felt the urge to revisit it just because of that mid-'60's Cinemascope look that both of the movies had. I don't know that we ever had that many lights at our disposal to make our film look like that.
     Jack Reacher- At the time this came out, it was a glass of fresh, cool water. The movie is intelligent and you love it for that. Tom Cruise is the polar opposite of the character in the book but he gets into the character and makes it work. I still enjoy this movie.
     Jack Reacher: Never Go Back-If you haven't seen it yet, go now. It's different from the first one and in a good way. I'm not going to spoil it, I'm just going to say go.
     The Magnificent Seven ('16)-I was luck enough to see this for free so I got my moneys worth out of it. It's not as bad as I thought it might be but it sorely lacks the character development that is essential to this story. Given the option, I'd say go see any of the other variations on this story and you'll be happy.
     Our Man Flint-Set up as a parody of the super spy genre, these movies are fun. I remember seeing them as a kid and enjoying them more than James Bond. Derek Flint made me thirst for knowledge. To be able to get a chemical analysis of a poison dart and narrow down which region of Europe the would be assassin came from because of a bouillabaisse recipe, was amazing to me. Of course, I knew it was just a joke, but it got me thinking, what if somebody could be that smart? Like Sherlock Holmes? Between Derek Flint and Buckaroo Banzai, I learned that you can pursue all of your interests and put them to work.
     Shin Gojira- A Japanese Godzilla movie?! Yes, please! Earlier in October, there was a one night run of this movie in a couple of local theaters. It's been sixteen years since Toho has put out a Godzilla movie and this one doesn't disappoint. I'm usually a bigger fan of his movies when he actually goes up against another monster but in this one he just invades Tokyo and the Japanese have to find a way to stop him. It seemed only appropriate that I take my Godson to see this since we saw Godzilla 2000 together. Of course, this time we didn't have to fake a dentist appointment to get him out of school early. Oh, don't look at me like that, the boy turned out just fine. He went on to graduate college AND he's a Godzilla fan, my job here is done.
     Straight-Jacket-'Tis the season for a William Castle movie and this one has Joan Crawford in it. Written by Robert Bloch, it tells the story of a woman who comes home 20 years after being in an asylum for killing her husband (Lee Majors in his first movie). People start winding up dead when she's around...hmm....is mother having a relapse? Far be it for me to cast dispersion's on Bloch's work, a friend of mine says I tend to repeat themes in my work, but if you're thinking you might have seen this in Psycho II, I'm not going to say you're wrong.
     Thunderbolt And Lightfoot-I ran across this one at the library and I'd always thought I'd seen it on t.v. but the synopsis wasn't ringing a bell so I picked it up. It's Michael Cimino's first movie and it's really good. That was a rare treat to find an early Clint Eastwood movie that i hadn't seen before. If you get the chance, definitely check it out.
     Well folks, it looks like I've run out of things so I'll just sign off here and say have a good holiday and I'll see you next month.      

October Newsletter

     We are now in October. The temperatures start dropping, the leaves will soon be changing colors and falling to the ground and everything starts turning orange and black in anticipation for the upcoming holiday. Pumpkins and candy sales rise and the t.v. is filled with horror films. That's always my personal favorite. Of course, it's a little bitter sweet because I enjoy watching the old classics and the contemporary classics and realize that without the Whales and Brownings there would not be the Carpenters and Cravens, but where have we come since then? Eli Roth's torture porn? Franchises and remakes? Recently you've had The Green Room and Don't Breathe but these are few and far between. At least Lionsgate has kind of woken up to the fact that they've made the same movie about a dozen times with a different title and the public doesn't give a damn or a dollar any more.
     One of the main problems with the horror genre is that once upon a time you could go into a darkened room with a group of strangers and share an experience of having the shit scared out of you by a chainsaw wielding escaped mental patient chasing co-eds through the dark woods or abandoned house but now, in the times we live, that seems like Club Med. One man (or woman, insanity doesn't discriminate) with one objective-to kill you. They may be hiding in the attic or the basement, closet or even under the bed, but if you're vigilant and well armed, you can make it through until morning.
     Now, you can get shot standing on a street corner, blown up in a bar or poisoned by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The random shit happens-ness of life has been amped up to ear bleeding levels, so what are you going to show people that will scare them and hit them where they live?
     It would have a small demographic so it would have to be shot on the cheap bu I've had an idea running around my head where the electricity goes out and there's no internet and people have to talk to each other and leave their homes in order to communicate. Those of you over thirty are just thinking, yeah...and? Those of you under twenty-five are thinking oh my God, no wait, I'm showing my age, OMG, I'd be in the fetal position on the floor of my closet waiting for the wolves to get me.
     Every time I think about writing a horror film, I'm haunted by Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon. It was written and directed by Scott Glosserman and it is brilliant. I kick myself regularly for not writing it. He doesn't necessarily re-invent the wheel but he does put one hell of a hubcap on it and take it to a creative place. Check it out, you won't regret it.
     Speaking of movies and moving on to cheerier subjects, Order 86 now has a rough cut! It's two hours and thirty-three minutes so, needless to say, we have some editing to do. Our ideal length was ninety minutes so the cuts will be many and brutal if we are to hit that objective. Local bureaucracy is forcing us into a Sophies Choice moment about the scene where a car blows up. Maybe in the next movie...whatever that may be.
     In other movie news, IX Productions adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream has wrapped and they will be editing that and hope to have it in a festival near you by next year. Keep an eye out for it.
     I guess we've reached the point where I pass along some reading suggestions, so in the spirit of Nick Hornby, let's get started-
     Taliban Shuffle (a.k.a. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) by Kim Barker- This is the memoir of a journalist who, while working for The Chicago Post, was a foreign correspondent in the Middle East in the early 2000's. It's a great journey of self discovery as well as the political scene in Afghanistan and Pakistan. If you liked the movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (the first Tina Fey film I've actually enjoyed), then you will love this book. Think of it as a directors cut or, in the language of my people, a direct quote from a reliable source.
     Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs-In the fifth installment of the adventures of the ape-man, Lord Greystoke finds himself in financial dire straights so he straps on his loincloth and hunting knife and is off in search of treasure. Unfortunately, during a cave in, he gets slammed in the head with a chunk of marble and reverts back to his early youth. Will Tarzan realize who he really is in time to save Jane from being sold into a sultans harem and save the family estate? Sorry, no spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to find out. If you liked the first four, you'll enjoy this one.
     Jungle Tales Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs- This book is exactly what the title implies, a collection of short stories that mainly focus on Tarzan's life in between events of his earlier life as depicted in the first book. It kind of feels like a cross between Burroughs emptying out his attic and a contractual obligation. The stories hold your attention but, personally, I expected a little something more since he was dealing with the short story method. If you take some of the novels and boil away all of the getting up and going to work and hard luck situations that make for a good serial, you'd have a really exciting short story. These just seem to wander around a bit, luckily, they're only about 10 to 13 pages long so by the time you get bored, they're over. Worth a look if you're a fan.
     By-line: Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway-This is a collection of articles that he wrote spanning various wars and his time in Cuba. Pretty fascinating stuff from a master wordsmith, especially if you're into journalism or Hemingway.
     The Revenant by Michael Punke- This is the mostly true story of Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who was attacked by a grizzly bear while in the service of a trapping company. He was abandoned by his companions to die but he did not oblige them. There was a movie by the same name (it's really good) but, comparing the book and the movie is kind of like comparing the Benchley and Spielberg versions of Jaws. If you want to read a great tale of the determination of the human spirit, read this book.
     I feel like I've been slacking on the movie watching scene lately but here are some recommendations that maybe you haven't seen in a while or haven't seen at all-
     48 Hrs.-You can't go wrong with early Walter Hill. The story telling was great, the casting was spot on and he has this really cool editing style that he started using in The Warriors and perfected by Streets Of Fire. He used a subtle variation in Johnny Handsome but managed to get away from it before it became cliche. If it's been a while, check it out, it's still good, just avoid the sequel.
     Batman v. Superman-The Ultimate Edition-I hated Man Of Steel but the sequel is actually enjoyable. The only reason this movie wound up on my watch list is because DC was using it as a spring board for their Justice League film. On that level, it kind of fails but as a narrative story that brings the two icons together, it works. You don't have to see Man Of Steel to enjoy this one but for those of us who endured the first one, there is some pay off. If you have no interest in this or any of the DC Universe films, don't bother, but if you missed it theatrically now's your chance to see the whole movie.
     Days Of Wine & Roses-I've seen this movie about a dozen times. It's awesome! It makes my list of all time great films. When I saw that there was a version of the DVD where Blake Edwards did a commentary, I snatched it up in a heartbeat. To hear the maestro talk about one of his finest films...I could barely sit still. To hear about how certain scenes were constructed and what went on behind the scenes, to find out from the man himself about the ending he felt so strongly about that he sent Lemmon and Remick out of the country so the producers couldn't re-shoot it...these and more questions were about to be answered! Unfortunately, Edwards hadn't seen the movie since it came out in 1962 so he spent most of his time reacquainting himself with it. This would be cool to be in the same room with him as it happened but on an audio commentary, it's a little south of cool. There were a few stories so it's not a complete waste of time and energy but it would have been better if this were his second viewing. Worth a look (or listen).
     Don't Breathe- What happens when the "ideal score" goes wrong? Three small time burglars think they've found the big heist when they discover that a blind man has a safe full of money. Unfortunately, he's not your average blind man and ends up hunting them throughout the house. It's an interesting film with some really good moments but the film makers really sold themselves short on tension building by relying on score over sound effects. Slightly disappointing but still worth a look.
     Hell Or High Water- This movie is incredible, go see it, that's all I'm going to tell you.
     Man On A Ledge- Don't look it up online, don't read the synopsis, just watch it. I'm not going to say Wow, it's great! but it is worth your time and the less you know going into the better off you are.
     Red Heat-Another Walter Hill film, this one from 1989. I remember seeing this theatrically and enjoying it but, even then, I remember the wonder wearing off by the following week. That's not to say that this movie is bad, it just seems muddled, like there were too many chefs in the kitchen. It's worth a look if you're a fan but this is one of his lesser works (but still better than Another 48 Hrs.)
     Finally, for my television watching friends, there is Daredevil season 2. If you thought season one was good, wait until you see this one. I know I'm behind the curve on this for most of you since I don't have Netflix, but on the off chance you haven't seen this yet, check it out. There's even one of the great moments of television in one of the episodes where Daredevil takes on a biker gang. You'll know it when you see it and you'll go daamn, what just happened? and rewind it and watch it again.
     That's all I have for now. I'll sign off and get back to the editing. Have a good month!

September News Letter

Greetings all,
     We're in the home stretch for the end of summer so make the most of it! Why is summer always the shortest season? I'll have next month to wax poetic over the seasons, for now, let's enjoy it and talk about the good times.
     I'm still enjoying my new job. It's still kind of a jet lag to work all day and still have time to do something besides run home and catch a few hours of sleep before heading out to the next job. The fact that I have benefits like health insurance and a 401k just amuses me. When did I become this guy? Will they realize that I'm an impostor and ask me to leave? Like summer, just enjoy it while it lasts.
     The big news of the day-Kansans experienced their first earthquake! Thanks to the fraking in Oklahoma, we got the aftershock of a man made earthquake. It was my second and it felt pretty much like the first. The only difference is that when I was in California the experience was "Huh, so that's an earthquake?" This time the experience was more like "Wholly shit, how did a large dog get into my apartment and under my bed?" Living in the midwest, you're first thought is not earthquake.
     Ever since George Kennedy passed away in February, I've been dreading the day that we'll need somebody with experience to save us from natural disasters. Irwin Allen, Charlton Heston, Lorne Green, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen are all gone. Robert Wagner taught a generation to be suave and debonair while solving mysteries but his attempts at rescue went up in flames, literally.
     Sure, Roland Emmerich has blown up the world a couple of times but the all-star cast just finds a way to rebuild from the ashes. What if the only people left to save us in the face of  a natural disaster are Dwayne Johnson and O.J. Simpson? I think I may have just stumbled across Roger Corman's next movie, or mine. I'll need a lot of Kickstarter money for that cast, not to mention the special effects. Dragons and horses are nothing compared to a natural disaster.
     At least I've been putting my off time to good use and reading. It's always good to expand your mind.
13 Hours: The Inside Account Of What Really Happened In Benghazi by Mitchell Zuckoff with the Annex Security Team. I found this little gem on audiobook. It's read by the author and is the tale of what happened on September 12th, 2012 at the U.S. Lybian consulate. This is a great read (or listen) and is one of the few books that I've read that captures the chaos of the moment and even afterwards, doesn't have an explanation of all of the facts. If you're interested in history, check this one out.
     I'd like to take a second here to address any readers that may be under 25 (Ha! Like I have readers of any age, but I digress). I'm not encouraging or discouraging your future plans but if you want to go where the money and excitement is, think about the armed forces. The Navy has The SEALS, the Army has the Green Berets, the Air Force has The Para-Jumpers and the Marines have Recon. You'll have to do your own research on The PJ's and Recon but I know that The SEALS and Green Berets will put money in your pocket. You get your base pay (admittedly, it's not much but it improves with rank), jump pay, demolition pay, dive pay, language pay, hazardous duty pay, overseas pay and there's probably a couple of other pay checks I'm forgetting about. Here's where you're planning for your future, while you're in and getting all of this training and money, one of the fringe benefits is a top secret clearance. Six years or more go by, maybe you stay in for the full twenty to collect the pension, now you take that training, experience and top secret clearance and go to work for one of the civilian contracting services. With the downsizing of the military, these guys are more in demand than ever. Now you're really rolling in money. It won't be easy and it won't always be fun but if you like travel and can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's something to think about.
     Carsick by John Water-This is another one I picked up on audio, partly because I needed something to listen to in the car and mostly because it's read by the author. I saw him in a live show not so long ago (even wound up on the cover of a local newspaper while waiting in line for an autograph, but that's another story for another time) and he was talking about the book since he had come through Kansas while writing it. The book is about his adventures hitchhiking I-70 West from Baltimore to San Francisco. It's broken up into three parts as he talks about the best possible rides, the worst and finally, what really happened. If you're a fan, you'll love it. I found it a little inspirational for the next time I visit my folks in California. I'd never get a book deal out of it (Potential Pitch Meeting-Me: I have this manuscript about my adventures while hitchhiking to California. Publisher: Yeah right, I read it fifty years ago when Kerouac wrote it, come back when you have a good idea.) but it might make for an interesting story in a news letter. I guess I have some time to figure it out.
     The Return Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs-I'm still working my way through this series. The ape-man has left the jungle in pursuit of civilization but manages to find himself back in Africa as an Envoy. If you enjoyed the first book, give this one a chance.
     The Beasts Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs-Chapter Three in the saga of the lord of the jungle. This time he has fallen victim to a plot of vengeance and must do what he can to reunite himself with his wife and child.
     The Son Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs-Following in his old mans footsteps, young Jack Clayton finds himself in Africa and up to his neck in trouble. You can definitely tell that Burroughs was a serial writer. If you've made it through the third book, give this one a look. It's a little reminiscent of the first book but in a good way.
     Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein- I've been trying for a while to make it through this classic, which, for one reason or another I'd start only to set down after a few chapters. If this has happened to you, go ahead and pick it back up and finish the damn thing, you'll thank me later.
     Order 86 by Alex Paxton- Yes, I'm still working on the novelization of the movie. I have developed a whole new respect for Sylvester Stallone's work ethic. Fresh off of Rocky, he finally gets a green light for an earlier script that he wrote, Paradise Alley. He directed and starred in the movie as well as sang the opening title song AND did the novelization. As Paradise Alley is being released, he's filming Rocky II that again, he wrote, directed, starred and did the novelization all while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered in pre-production (this is how he got the inspiration to make Rocky fight right handed). Kind of puts life into perspective, doesn't it?
     Of course, I've also managed to sneak in a few movies. One of the downfalls of summer is that most of the good movies wait until fall to come out. Here are a few I've seen recently.
Anthropoid-This is based on the true story of the assassination of SS General Reinhard Heidrich, Hitler's third in command. It came out in limited release and probably won't get recognized for anything but it's an interesting story and worth your time.
     The Finest Hours-I had intended to see this when it hit theaters earlier this year but missed the chance. It's an above average Taco Bell movie. If you've seen the preview then you pretty much know what you're getting into. The parts that keep you watching are what you don't see in the preview so I won't spoil that if you happen to see this.
     Foreign Correspondent- A Hitchcock classic about an American newspaper man who stumbles across a plot by enemy agents to further the war effort for Germany. It's really good and I highly recommend it, especially if you can find the Criterion edition of the DVD which has a second disc of bonus features which are pretty interesting.
     Hunt For The Wilderpeople- It's almost a comedy of errors that find a young boy and a man at first stranded then on the run in the New Zealand outback. Directed by Taika Waititi, it's not as comedic as Things We Do In The Shadows but it's still really good and worth your time. I'll be curious to see what he does with Thor: Ragnarok.
     Jason Bourne- I saw this one out of morbid curiosity since it's a spy film. It's very okay. I didn't hate it, I just don't feel that it brought anything new to the table. The first three films built a story and moved it forward with each chapter. These last two have just been flat. I think it's safe to say that this is another franchise that I'm done with.
     Lost In Translation- I haven't seen this movie since the theaters and I'm happy to report that it's still damn good! Check it out the first chance you get.
     The Pink Panther- The 1963 Blake Edwards classic that started it all. If it's been a while since you've revisited this movie, do yourself a favor and track it down. It even has Robert Wagner. The special edition DVD has some cool behind the scenes stuff as well as a commentary by Edwards.
     Planet Of The Apes- There's a 4k digital edition that currently making it's way around the country. When it comes to your town, check it out. There's a reason it's a classic. Seeing it on the big screen is one of those rare treats that you just can't duplicate at home. There's also an interesting sound mix. The Goldsmith score is great to hear played through a theatrical sound system but it's the subtle things that happen when there's no score. There are actually some quiet moments that just don't seem to find their way into contemporary films. It's even more interesting to see how far backwards the MPAA has come. There are three naked men, Chuck says "damn" about three different times and you see people getting shot on screen and the movie is rated G. Hey hey MPAA, how many films have you censored today?
     Suicide Squad- I've heard a lot of people knock this film and I have to say that it's not that bad. It's not exceptionally good, either. Margot Robbie is definitely the saving grace of the movie. I want her for my next movie, no matter if it's the comedy or the natural disaster film. Wait for home video, maybe they'll do a directors cut like Batman vs. Superman.
     Order 86-Richard is still hard at work editing his fingers to the bone. I've seen part of it and it's looking good. This is what Oliver Stone was talking about when somebody asked him about the film making process and he replied, "inch by mother fucking inch." We're still waiting to blow up the car.
     Well, that pretty well sums up my month. Hopefully you haven't been too bored with it, maybe it even brought the slightest trace of a smile. My job is done here. See you next month.