June Newsletter

     Greetings all! It’s hard to believe we’re half way through this year. Where does the time go? I was asking myself that recently as one of my favorite movies celebrated its 40^th anniversary. Really, it was forty years ago that Smokey and The Bandit was released? Hal Needham made his directorial debut with that film. In the course of those forty years we’ve lost Jackie Gleason, Hal Needham, Jerry Reed and Pat McCormick, but their work will live on. I’ve written about the dream it inspired and how it finally came true at http://therealalexpaxton.blogspot.com , those of you who are interested can click and read. Of course, now that I’ve done what they say can’t be done for Smokey and The Bandit, what am I going to do for the fortieth anniversary of Hooper next year? Smokey and The Bandit evoked a dream but Hooper sparked a passion! Maybe this is the time to do a full body burn or maybe a high fall, better yet, a high fall while on fire! Has anybody ever done that before? I feel like I’ve seen it done but I can’t place where. Oh well, I’ve got some time to figure it out.

     So, we’re almost into the summer reading season, what have you read lately? Here’s what I’ve read for the month, you may want some suggestions-

Bad Luck And Trouble by Lee Child- This is book eleven in the Jack Reacher series. If you’ve enjoyed the series up to this point, then you are going to love this one. Frances Neagley (you might remember her from Without Fail) is getting the unit back together after two of the members wind up missing. Read the book to find out what happens next. It’s definitely worth your time.

Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going and Where The Hell Are My Keys? by Billy Crystal- Crystal talks about his childhood and how he got into comedy and acting, along with how he’s gotten older and how he views life now. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy it. If you get the chance, track down the audio book. Crystal reads it and there are parts that they recorded in front of an audience because it felt more like a performance piece than an autobiography. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Bucky F*cking Dent by David Duchovny- Set in the late ‘70’s, this story follows a sons’ struggle to make his father comfortable in the decline of his life. The father is determined to live long enough to see The Yankees get into The World Series. Check it out, it’s pretty good.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby- A rock star who’s been a recluse for the past twenty years seems to have a ripple effect on everybody he comes in contact with after his “new” album is leaked to the internet groupies. It’s light and makes for a pleasant read.

The Mark Of Zorro by Johnston McCulley- Originally serialized in a magazine in 1910, this is the Zorro story that started it all. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re sitting there scratching your head trying to figure out who Zorro is, please, read this book and send me an mail letting me know what you thought.

Loitering With Intent-The Apprentice by Peter O’Toole- The second volume of his autobiography mainly focuses on his years at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the start of his acting career. If you enjoyed The Child, then you really should read this one.

But Enough About Me by Burt Reynolds- Like most memoirs by your favorite actors, he goes on about the things you didn’t know just long enough to keep it interesting and then brushes over your favorite movies so that you’re left wanting more. If you’re a fan of Mr. Reynolds (and who isn’t?), then you’ll really like this book. If you’re just interested in a good human interest story, well, there’s something in here for you too.

     I didn’t make it out to too many movies this month, but, with one exception, what I saw was pretty good.

Ambushed- Dolph Lundgren is a federal agent trying to shut down a cocaine ring. Randy Couture is a dirty local cop intent on seeing to it that the drug business continues to do business and Vinnie Jones is the head of the cocaine distribution. All three have been in better movies and done better work. Even Benny Urquidez (stunt coordinator) has done better work. I’ve seen worse but there are better ways to spend 96 minutes.

American Psycho- I am a fan of Bret Easton Ellis and while this may color outside the lines of the book just a little, it is a lot of fun. It’s also one of my favorite Christian Bale roles and he’s always fun to watch. A local theater got a hold of a 35mm print so I was able to get off work early, cancel my reservation at Dorsia and make the late show. It’s still good.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 2- Maybe it was that I knew what to expect but I warmed up to this movie faster than the last. I guess you could call it faithful in its adaptation since I never got in to the comic books either. If you enjoyed the first one, check it out, it’s a lot better than the previews make it out to be.

Smokey And The Bandit- To say that I enjoyed this movie would be an understatement. It was really cool to see it with a crowd of enthusiastic fans after 40 years of countless viewings. If you ever get the chance to see this movie, take it!

Last, but not least, I have a couple of things my t.v. watching friends might enjoy.

American Horror Story season 1- Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott play a couple who move across the country with their daughter to make a fresh start of things. Unfortunately, the house they just bought has other plans for them. Jessica Lange does a great job as their neighbor. Watch it if you dare!

The Andy Griffith Show season 1- I was feeling a little nostalgic and looking for a sitcom when this happened into my field of vision. It’s pretty light but makes an entertaining way to spend 26 minutes.

     I guess that about wraps it up. Tune in next month as I’ll tell you about my travels to most points west as well as the usual list of books and movies. See you then.

Smokey and The Bandit and Me

 
      If this were a movie, you'd be watching an opening flashback sequence right now. The year would be 1978 and there would be a young boy sitting on a living room floor in front of his grandparents console television anxiously awaiting ABC's Sunday Night Movie. This particular week it happened to be the broadcast premier of Smokey and The Bandit. Two hours later, the seed would be planted that would take forty years to come to fruition.
     The next day, the scene would pick up where he was at school and found out that his friends had watched the movie as well. Scenes would be reminisced, favorite lines quoted, dreams to one day own a Trans-Am made, as if they needed another reason to appreciate that vehicle. Your bike was no longer a mere two wheeled mode of transportation, it was just a way to get around until you had enough money and a drivers license. People always said that owning The General Lee was impractical because there were no windows, what do you do when it rains? Owning a motorcycle like Evel Knievel wouldn't work either, what happens when you wreck? Remember Caesar's Palace? But a Trans-Am, they sold those at the dealership just down the street. You knew people who owned one. It wasn't impossible.
     The montage would continue through the years. The annual showings on t.v., the invention of video tape and the popularity of cable television, finally the evolution of DVD. After every viewing you'd see the far away look in the eyes of the young boy who grew up. He thought back to those days on the playground, the vicarious journey he'd just taken courtesy of Mr. Hal Needham. He would look at the current state of his life and see that he was too busy to take time off or couldn't afford to take time off or didn't have a mode of transportation that would get him that far. Something always enabled him to come up with an excuse for doing it at another time.
     Last year, the dream came the closest it's ever been to coming true. The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas was playing The Bandit on the big screen. This is a documentary about the making of Smokey and The Bandit that played on Country Music Television. I don't have CMT and neither do any of my friends so this seemed like the perfect opportunity, especially because they were playing three of Hal Needhams' other films. They were billed as "Mystery Films" but if you read between the lines, you had a pretty good idea it was going to be Smokey and The Bandit, probably Part 2, and then either Hooper or Cannonball Run. I planned out and budgeted the whole excursion and presented the plan to my best friend who shared the dream so long ago on the playground. His response-"You're crazy, I'm not doing that. I have to be at work on Monday morning." I had factored that in and had us back easily by 6 a.m. at the latest. Plenty of time to get ready and be at work by 9. I even had him driving the first shift so he could get some sleep before he went to work. Still, the answer stood and there was no moving him. Unfortunately, there was no way I could do this by myself without meth amphetamine so I let it slide by. I even had an idea about renting a theater and a print of the film and inviting all of my friends. It wasn't impossible, just expensive. I decided to give it a couple of years and wait for a landmark anniversary. I figured there would be at least one cool theater in Atlanta that would play it. The movie has always been huge down there.
     Flash forward to February 2017. I start doing an internet search for theaters in Atlanta and then I start to contact them. Getting no response after a few days, I realize I have to get proactive. Go to the Googles and type in theaters in Atlanta playing Smokey and The Bandit. An ad for TCM's Fathom Events screening shows up. Click here, it says. I click. Type in your city to find a theater, it says. I type in Atlanta. A list pops up and I scroll through it. McDonough Stadium 16 shows up in the list. McDonough is technically outside of Atlanta but, there were parts of the movie filmed there and I have a cousin there. It might be easier to talk him into going if he doesn't have to drive that far. McDonough Stadium 16 it is! I now have a theater and a copy of the movie and haven't spent a dime yet. The production budget on this project is getting more manageable with every keystroke. I have a date, time and location. After a couple of text messages, my cousin says he's on board. When will you be in town?, he asks... I won't have a timetable until a couple of days before the movie. Chaos factors make that impossible too far out.
     In movie terms, I have my location, I've established local contacts, the budget is set and the light is blindingly green. Now for the casting. I draw up the plan and present it to my friend. I'm expecting a little apprehension but with two months out, he has time to put in for vacation and explain to his wife that he's just going on a beer run and then seeing a movie, don't wait up. The same day I sent the message, I get a response, "Sure, sounds good." The dream is coming to fruition, everything is falling into place. The Bandit and The Snowman together again, and this time we weren't just pedaling to the mall. In the original time frame, my place of employment was supposed to be closed for remodeling in May so I didn't have to worry about anything. When that schedule got pushed back I ended up just putting in for time off. This has been forty years in the making, I'm not letting their schedule stand in the way.

     Three weeks out and the ripples of potential storms start to roll in. I have a friend who travels some time and always has some really entertaining posts on her facebook page. I was enjoying a series she had written about another car that she happened to be following for several miles when I mentioned that I was taking a road trip would love for her to come along. I didn't expect anything to come of it but then she seemed agreeable to the idea. I asked her for her thoughts on Smokey and The Bandit and after a few minutes she replied that she had to Google it because she hadn't seen it. Suddenly, taking her along felt like a duty. How could somebody go for this long and not have seen this movie? This travesty must be rectified! That's what friends are for, right? Unfortunately, there was a scheduling conflict so now we were back to two. That's okay...but still...wouldn't it be cool to share this with somebody who's never seen the movie? Remember when you saw Jaws  for the hundred and umpteenth time with somebody who hadn't seen it before? You got to rediscover the movie through new eyes. Okay, who do I know who probably hasn't seen the movie and I could be incarcerated in a small car for twenty plus hours with and still remain friends with? That is a mighty short list and they were both busy that weekend, although, one of them did let me borrow her cooler.
     Two weeks to go and there is no Frog. Not a problem. When I brought the trip up to "The Snowman" and mentioned Georgia, we suddenly had a problem. He had somehow missed that part of the message and thought I was talking about a late show at a local theater. He also missed the part about vacation time and got himself scheduled on the day of the movie. I think I might start posting dirty pictures in my messages to get him to scroll through the whole thing. The schedule would be grueling but not as impossible as the Texas run if I left early on Saturday. Besides, I still had a back up plan.
      He didn't have the time in service seeing as how his parents were just barely out of Kindergarten when this plan was conceived, but my Godson has never seen this on the big screen and I think he'd have a good time. Of course, when I ask him, he says he's working. He seems to work eight days a week. It's great to see him working after being without a job for so long but our schedules just don't match up at all any more. Well, the cat's in the cradle with that one...
     I was going on this trip regardless. I had all of the costs covered and the schedule seemed to be loosening up so that I wasn't getting 47 minutes of sleep in two days. Still, somewhere in the back of my mind, I started to entertain some strange ideas. Burt Reynolds went to Universal with the idea to cast Sally Field. They said, "What? Are you crazy? You want to cast The Flying Nun? She's not sexy." Burt replied with, "She's talented, and talent IS sexy." We know how that turned out but that discussion got me thinking about who I could call next. What if I just facebook posted the shit out of this trip like my friend did? She has a better knack for that kind of thing than I do but what if I could get a local public figure? Now my producer side was starting to take over. I know plenty of sexy and talented actresses but, are they available and do they want to spend the weekend being the subject of a series of facebook posts? Let's face it, this is not a career maker. Okay, I should probably just drop it before I end up putting out a casting call. Before the door completely closed on that thought, one name slipped out. She wasn't an actress but she is a local celebrity as well as a sports hero of mine. How surreal would that be, even without the postings, to finally see this thing happen and you look in the seat next to you and see JessiKa Boom? It's like a dream where you're walking down the street and suddenly find yourself on a boat with Wayne Gretzky...wake up before you wreck the car. Just because sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best ideas, I did send Boom a message to see if there was any interest. The worst she can say is no, like everybody else, right? No surprise, she was busy. Looks like it's just me.

     The big day came and I was up early, 4 a.m. Gassed up and loaded the cd player (But Enough About Me by Mr. Burt Reynolds) the night before so all I had to do was stop off at Quik Trip for a cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito and I was heading down the road. I've been to Georgia a lot and Texas a few times but I'd never taken this route that would lead me through Missouri and Arkansas. The Arkansas mountains are really something to see with the mist covering them. I made my first stop for gas and coffee in Arkansas. I think I may have found the last business in America that still takes checks. Next stop would be Texarkana, Texas. It felt so good to be out on the open road.
     In 1977 (well, let's just say before the '80's), Texarkana, Texas was one of the last places that far south you could buy Coors beer because there were no preservatives in it and they didn't have refrigerated trucks back then. Any place East of Texas was just too far to transport beer for safe consumption.
     When Hal Needham was working as the stunt coordinator on Gator, one of his team members brought a couple of cases with them while filming in Georgia. It wasn't anybody's intention to bootleg, they just brought some of their favorite beer with them so they wouldn't have to leave the location and track down a liquor store. Hal noticed that his supply in the motel mini fridge kept dwindling a little at a time. Eventually, he figured out it was the maid. She only took it because it wasn't sold in Georgia. It was this event that gave him the idea to write Smokey and The Bandit.
     There was an E-Z Mart over on the Texas side of Texarkana that sold gas, ice and Coors. One stop shopping! With the tank, the cooler and a coffee cup all filled, I was East bound and down! The first leg of the trip completed in about 9 hours. The next stop would be Birmingham, Alabama to see a buddy from the army.

     I had not eaten since Missouri so a trip through the DQ drive thru on the Arkansas side of town was in order and then I was back on the great American highway after throwing a double cheeseburger down my neck. It didn't take long to get to Louisiana. The scenery is beautiful in that part of the country. Mississippi went by without difficulty. I had never been through it so the chance to see something new was exciting.

 I'd never been to Alabama either. Luckily, there was still enough daylight to see most of it. Shortly after it got dark, I pulled off for some go go juice in a place called Livingston. I think the town may have consisted of only the three gas stations that were just off the highway. The one I went to seemed like something out of a comedy film. It was a truck stop with gas pumps and all the things you're used to seeing. There was a restaurant attached, which is not uncommon, except that this happened to be an Indian restaurant. The thought of getting Tandoori chicken and naan at a truck stop in the middle of Nowhere, Alabama made me chuckle. If  I wasn't on my way to eat with an old friend, I probably would have tried it. But, I had to keep movin' on.
     I sent messages every hundred miles or so to update him on my progress but hardly got a response. These weren't really messages that warranted a response so I just figured he was calculating time and distance and would meet me when I got there. He probably fell asleep because I rolled into town, had The All-Star breakfast at Waffle House, eating slow, and then got a large coffee to go and didn't hear from him. I guess I have to wait for another time.

     My cousin called me around midnight. I know I should be used to the technology by now but every time my phone rings and I'm far from home, somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking, who in the hell knows I'm here? We guesstimated that I had about an hour or so left, not counting the time zone change. He said he'd leave the door unlocked for me. I figured I'd sneak into the house, relax on the couch with a couple of beers and relish in the fact that I did what they say can't be done in a little over 19 hours. Twelve hours later I would be seeing one of my favorite movies on the big screen for the first time and not long after the credits rolled I'd be back on the road, homeward bound.
     The rain varied from a light sprinkle to a heavy downpour and people in Georgia don't seem to function when it's wet. I'm used to slow drivers but these people would randomly brake for no reason or just take their foot off the accelerator. At least brake lights give you a warning. When you're two car lengths behind someone and they suddenly start coming at you as you maintain the same speed, it will wake you up. This happened more than once. One minute they're in front of you and suddenly you have to change lanes and they're now just pinpoints in your rear view. Crazy, man, crazy.
     It was a light rain as I pulled into his driveway. I wasn't expecting him to wait up for me but there he was, in his garage. We hadn't seen each other in ten years. That may be the most time that's ever gone by between visits. We grew up together and after my aunt and uncle moved the family down to Georgia, there were always yearly visits between my mom and my grandparents somebody was always going down there or they'd come up here. It was great to see him after all that time. We hung out on his front porch drinking bootlegged beer and talking about whatever came to mind. By the time we called it a night, I had been up for 24 hours and was ready for bed. He lives out in the middle of nowhere so with that much quiet I just dropped right off.
     Later that morning, he fixed breakfast for everybody (his wife, daughter and my aunt who drove down for the occasion). There was some more catching up and a little leisure time before we had to leave for the theater. His wife and daughter would end up pooping the party and not going but nothing phased me at this point. I had had so many cancellations that this just rolled right off.
     In the summer of 1977, I was visiting Georgia with my mom. I don't recall where my younger cousin and uncle were but our moms wanted to get us out of the house so it was decided we would go see a movie. I had only seen Star Wars once but was willing to go again. That was vetoed. My cousin wanted to see something called Smokey and The Bandit. The movie did not have a national release at that time so being from the mid west, I had no idea what he was talking about. In fact, when it was first released, Universal played it at Radio City Music Hall because the test audiences loved it. Well, those test audiences were clearly not from New York because the movie bombed the first week. Universal was annoyed and ready to write it off when Hal Needham went to them and asked to take it to Georgia. That was where they filmed it, that was where most of the publicity had been, it's where they tested it. New York was the wrong crowd, Georgia would do better. It did and spread out from there. The only other movie to make more money that year was Star Wars.
     His suggestion was vetoed as well since our moms hadn't heard of it either, they were apprehensive. The compromise ended up being Smoky. It's a story about a horse. I remember the movie being okay, nothing great. You'll notice how there were no 40th anniversary screenings of that one. It took us forty years but we were finally here, watching the right movie.
     There are some movies you see on the big screen and it really adds another dimension, like Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. When you see that movie on the big screen, it really comes alive in ways that just don't happen on the small screen. Easy Rider is in a similar vein. It's great to see on the big screen but if you can see it at the drive in, it'll change your life. Smokey and The Bandit doesn't have the aspect ratio of Butch Cassidy or the cinematic flair of Easy Rider but when you can see it on the big screen with a crowd of enthusiastic viewers, you really get that full movie experience. There were no cell phones going off, nobody talking like they were in their own living room, just a theater full of people who want to be there to see what's on the screen. They laugh and cheer in all the right places and it was really just a communal experience. Everybody stuck around through the credits and after when Ben Mankowitz came back on with his closing remarks. They even applauded when it was over.

     After all was said and done, we went back to my cousins house, had lunch and said our goodbyes. My aunt had about an hour drive ahead of her and mine was about 13 hours with another planned stop in Nashville. I left behind a six pack of bootlegged contraband as a parting gift and also a barter payment. This is quite possibly the most expensive movie I've ever seen... but worth every penny.
     The trip home went well. I had David Duchovny (Bucky F***ing Dent) and Nick Hornby (Juliet, Naked) as traveling companions along with some various other cds. The scenery in Tennessee was amazing. I managed to get there before the sun set.
     I was going to meet another friend who migrated to Music City, U.S.A. but he had warned me earlier that he might be working. I sent him updates on my location but never heard back so when I stopped for food and didn't find him, it was no big surprise. He was coming to town in a couple of weeks so we'd just catch up then.
     The drive from St. Louis to KC seems to get longer you're tired. The clock says four hours but it feels like nine. I could barely keep my eyes open as I pulled into my parking lot at 5 a.m. I had to be at work noon so I had just enough time to get a couple of hours of sleep and grab a shower until it was back to reality...until the next adventure.

May Newsletter

Greetings all,
     Welcome to May. Publishing the last one so late really threw off my clock so I hope you didn't think I forgot you. I've been putting in the hours at the grocery store. They say that a man who enjoys what he does never works a day. If that's true then I've been working a lot. I'm between movies so I tend to spend my down time at home. I've had a few ventures to the theater, it's always good to support the arts, it keeps my friends employed and off the streets. I saw Not With A Bang But A Whimper, it's an enjoyable dark comedy about the end of the world. There was also the staged reading of Weird Science. I only got to see the tail end of that because of work but it had the dream cast of Richard Burt, Evan Lovelace, Alice Pollack, Rebecca Ralstin and Curtis Smith. I'm sure I've forgotten a couple of people from the curtain calls but these were the folks I saw and wanted to see more of. I haven't seen Curtis on stage since March and Rebecca's appearance was the best kept secret since she moved out of town last month. Speaking of best kept secrets, I finally got to attend The Burlesque Festival on Friday. This was their seventh and every year past I've been busy, working or just broke. Puss N Boots (Kat Kimmitz) was there! She moved to New York by way of London a few years ago and I had given up hope of ever seeing her perform live again. She is amazing. She's the one who turned me on to the burlesque scene in KC. We met through work and she told me about a show that was going on. Thinking the burlesque scene died off years ago, I went out of morbid curiosity. I'd seen a few acts here and there over the years but nothing all that memorable. The other ladies in her troupe were good, there is a sense of professionalism about them, they're not just exhibitionists who were too overweight to cut it in a strip club. This had class and style. She came out and did a routine to Venus In Furs by Velvet Underground and I've been a fan ever since. She played Frank N. Furter in a Rocky Horror send up one year and stole the show.
     On the sports front, the home season came to a close for The Roller Warriors. Any guesses as to who took home The Cup? If you said The Black Eye Susans, then you would be correct. They played The Dreadnought Dorothys, who only lost one game all season, they just lost the wrong game. The Knock-Outs came in third, beating out last years champions, The Victory Vixens. It was cool to see them win, they've been the underdog all year since the train wreck that was last season. Xcelerator announced her retirement again, I think she means it this time. She's been with the league for 10 years. She was voted MVP back in '07 after they won The Championships. We had such a good team back then. This years team is almost as good, it's better than it's been in a while. We're currently undefeated, hopefully we can say the same thing after Besterns in June. Jess Decker announced her retirement as well. At least X is going to finish out the season with The All-Stars but Decker is done. Track Rat is another who is retiring. Some good-byes just hurt.
     Moving on to happier things, maybe you have some travel plans in the near future (I know I do) and you're looking for a good book to while away your time in a plane, train or automobile, I have a couple of reccomendations for you-
The Hard Way by Lee Child- Jack Reacher finds himself in New York, just enjoying a cup of coffee at a local cafe, when he is then recruited to put his skills as an investigator to work for the leader of a group of mercenaries whose wife has been kidnapped. If you're a fan of the series, you'll definitely enjoy this one.
My Lucky Life In And Out Of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke- This is a really interesting autobiography if you're a fan. He talks about the early days, the Air Force years, his t.v. years, what was going on behind the scenes, all the news that's fit to print. This is totally worth your time.
Keep Moving: And Other Tips And Truths About Aging by Dick Van Dyke- If ever there was a how-to book on making the most of your golden years, this is the one. He wrote this when he turned 90 and while he talks about some stories from the old days (some of which were in his first book), it's really just a collection of advice and outlooks from someone who's been there. It's a good read.
     I haven't seen as many movies as I'd like but, here's what I've seen lately, maybe something will strike your fancy-
4 Got 10- A man regains consciousness in the desert surrounded by dead bodies and vehicles. He's been shot but he can move. He has no memory of why he was there or what he was doing. One of the vehicles has a lot of cocaine, the other has a lot of money. He gets in the money van and finds a gps that he manages to follow backwards to the point of origin in hopes of finding some answers. Things don't always turn out as planned. The movie has an interesting premise but some of the character development falls a little flat and their story gets so overly complicated that they end up explaining everything to the audience in the last five minutes. It has Dolph Lundgren, Michael Pare and Danny Trejo but they've all been in better movies. Watch it if you're curious.
Colossal- I'm a fan of Ann Hathaway but when I saw the preview for this, I had some serious doubts. I had a chance to see it for free so, since there was nothing else out at the time, I decided to go see it. I'm glad I did. The premise sounds dumb but there is a story that turns out to be really good. I was impressed and definitely recommend it.
Eyewitness- I never saw this when it first came out because the critics killed it. Peter Yates was the director and it stars Sigourney Weaver as a reporter trying to get information out of William Hurt, who witnessed a murder, or did he just say that because he has a crush on her? I'm not going to say much outside of check it out, definitely worth a look.
Free Fire- I'll admit to going into this looking for a new guilty pleasure. Maybe if I had kept my expectations lower, I might have enjoyed it more. As it was, I thought it was just okay.
The Graduate- I've got one word for you, plastics. Cinemark played this for a couple of days to commemorate its anniversary. Any time you can see it on the big screen, do it. Hearing the soundtrack through a theater sound system is incredible.
How To Steal A Million- Audrey Hepburn stars as the daughter of an art counterfeiter who enlists cat burglar Peter O'Toole to steal a piece her father did from a local museum before it gets appraised by an insurance company. The cast is great and it's a fun heist movie so check it out.
Logan- Have you been burned by every other X-Men movie to the point where you just don't give a damn anymore? Me too. But, I still enjoyed this movie. They don't waste time talking about "the impending war between humans and mutants" and actually manage to tell a story that's not just a set up for the next movie. This movie is as good as everybody says it is.
Se7en- A local theater played this on the big screen so, of course, I had to go check it out. This is one of my favorites and it's the best movie David Fincher has directed. Go see it any chance you get.
     I recently got Netflix so I've been catching up on some t.v. shows.
Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3- If you've enjoyed the last two seasons then you'll like this one. S.H.I.E.L.D is rebuilding after the Hydra attack of last season. There is a big story arc with The Inhumans that makes you wonder why they don't just call in The Avengers and end this shit in 15 minutes, but over all it's enjoyable.
     Well, I guess this is the end because I'm running out of things to talk about. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next month.    

April Newsletter

     So, did you all think I'd forgotten about you? Things have been busy over here on my side of the screen. To start at the end of March, I had a birthday. Nothing landmarkish, just another trip around the sun. I celebrated in the usual way, worked all day and then filmed most of the night. IX Productions has a new project in the works, a web series called That Space Show. Look for it online, the promo trailer is currently on youtube. They go into production later this month.
     That was Thursday so that means I spent Friday working and packing. Saturday, the 1st, I moved most of the day and then had a derby game that night. The home teams are in the home stretch before The Rink of Fire in May. It looks like The Dreadnought Dorothys will be taking on The Black Eye Susans for The Tim Warder Cup and The Victory Vixens and The Knock-Outs are fighting it out for third. After the game, more moving.
     Sunday, a little cleaning before going to Wichita for The Junior Warriors pre-season game against ICT. They held their own for a while but started to lose control in the second period and ended up losing. They have a decent team, just need some more practice. Next season will probably be a building season since most of the veterans are about to age out. After the game, I was able to have dinner with my dad. That was nice. Back home to more last minute moving and a deep cleaning of an empty apartment. I probably got enough sleep over three days to count on two hands but it was worth it to be done with that place and get my security deposit back.
     Somewhere in that blur of a week, I managed to start the unpacking process, do the write up for Saturdays game, have a second birthday dinner and get to work.
     Friday, the 7th, as part of the Kansas City Film Festival, IX Productions had the premier of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was cool to see it on the big screen and hear my hard work coming through theater speakers. The audience laughed in the right places and had questions during the q&a. Look for it at a film festival near you because it has been submitted to several. Hit the after party, go home, pass out, resurrect thy self at the alarm and move on to Saturday.
     Worked until 7 and managed to make the 7:30 performance of Tennessee Playboy. The story line is a little disjointed but the performances were good. Hit a KCFF after party with some of the cast and networked until my eyes glazed over. Lather, rinse, repeat and we're now into Sunday.
     I went to see Return To Forbidden Planet in Independence. It's a musical. The story line wandered around and characters seemed to go through the motions just because the script said they had to. I was there to support a friend who had choreographed his first fight scene. Given the circumstances, it turned out well. Everybody involved was inexperienced, one of the actresses had a costume that limited her range of motion and it was set to music and done on the fly since he was brought in as a last minute replacement. Everybody walked away and was able to complete the show so I chalk that one up as a win. All those years of Richard and I killing him and kicking his ass had paid off.
     The rest of the week is filled with waking up and going to work but there is a derby tournament this weekend between KCRW, Omaha and Tulsa. Tickets are available now, get yours today! If you're not in KC then tune in to The Wheel Press' facebook page for coverage. This will be the first time I've tried to do a running commentary in real time so tune in, it'll either be cool or a shit show.
     What's a newsletter without a few book and movie suggestions? Without any further ado-
In A Deadly Vein by Brett Halliday- Mike Shane and his wife are on vacation in a small Colorado mining town that is playing host to a theatrical festival (I had no idea how coincidental this story line was when I picked it up). While waiting for the opening night festivities to begin, they run across an actress they know from New York. While they are talking, she sees her long lost father through a window. She goes after him and turns a corner just in time to see him murdered and the killer run away. Later that night, she ends up dead as well. The local police are baffled and it's up to Shane to get to the bottom of things before more people wind up dead. It's worth your time to read this.
Loitering With Intent: The Child by Peter O'Toole- If you're expecting a book filled with great stories like the ones you've always heard Mr. O'Toole tell over the years, this will disappoint you a little. This is narrative prose. The stories are interesting, once you learn the language. When he talks about his early childhood, he uses a lot of cockney slang that's difficult for those of us from the colonies to follow at times but over time, as he grows up and moves around and begins school, the language gets a little clearer. There is a parallel with Adolph Hitler that runs throughout the book. He became obsessed with Hitler because he was terrified as a child during the war. It's worth your time if you're a fan but it may not be everybody's cup of tea.
Face The Music: A Life Exposed by Paul Stanley- This book is amazing. If you get the chance, listen to the audio book, it's read by Paul and it's unabridged. His story and struggles are really interesting. I related to a lot of what he was talking about and that always fascinates me when I hear about the struggles of people that I admire. When I was a kid I always thought it would be cool to be Paul Stanley or Arnold Schwarzenegger, After hearing their stories, it turns out I wasn't that far off. We just took different career paths. Even i you're not a KISS fan, I think you'll enjoy the book. It's more about the musician than the music. Of course, if you are a fan, then you will have a lot of questions answered as he just lays it out there, warts and all. Check it out, I think you'll like it.
The Autobiography of Mark Twain parts 2 and 3 by Mark Twain- True to form, Mr. Clemens delivers the goods, even 100 years later. His approach of moving from subject to subject at the speed of thought really keeps things interesting. If you like part one, then keep going, you won't be disappointed.
Adventures In Babysitting-I hadn't seen this movie in years but I ran across it at the library so I decided to take it home. It still holds up. I found myself laughing at the parts I'd forgotten about and even the jokes I did remember were still funny. Say what you will about The Karate Kid or Call To Glory, this was definitely the movie where I became a mouth breathing, moist handed fan boy for Elisabeth Shue. Check it out.
Blazing Saddles- I was definitely strolling down memory lane last month. What can I say about this movie that you don't already know? Check out the dvd, Mel Brooks has a "select scene commentary" which is a fancy way of saying his commentary runs through most of the movie but not all of it. Once he's done, that's it. He tells some really interesting stories about the making of the film so it's definitely worth your time.
Brutal Beauty: Tales Of The Rose City Rollers- I'm watching a documentary about a roller derby team? That's so unusual. This was made a couple of years ago and it chronicles The Rose City Rollers as they make their way to The Championships. It's pretty interesting, managing to spend just enough time on each player tat it doesn't just get overwhelming. I've always considered doing a documentary on The Roller Warriors but we had a tv series so anything else just seems kind of pale in comparison. Check it out if you enjoy sports documentaries. You don't have to be a derby fan to appreciate this, but it doesn't hurt.
The Cannonball Run- Sometimes you just want to watch a movie for the sheer fun of it and that's what this movie is, just a lot of fun. It has an all-star cast and it's directed by Hal Needham. If you get the dvd, you'll also get to hear his commentary track with the producer. Well worth your time. It ties with The Villain as my third favorite Needham movie.
Conan The Barbarian- After reading Schwarzenegger's book and learning about everything that went on behind the scenes with this, I had to watch it again. I love this movie. If you haven't seen it in a while, check it out. if you've never seen it, run, don't walk, to your local library or video store and get it now!
Inspector Bellamy- This was Claude Chabrol's last film. Gerard Depardieu is great in the title role as a retiring detective who has his time divided between an estranged brother and a murder case. The performances are incredible but the story just fades out. Not one of favorite Chabrol films but worth a look for the curious.
The Narrow Margin- Charles McGraw is a police detective who is on the longest rain ride of his life as he tries to get a mobsters widow, Marie Windsor, from Chicago to Los Angeles to testify. Check it out, I think you'll enjoy it. William Friedkin does a commentary track which is interesting but, you keep asking yourself, why is Friedkin doing the commentary? Check it out.
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream- It's hard to be objective considering how close i am to the material and the resources that went into this but, I can say without prejudice that one of the things that drew me into this project was the fact that it's unabridged. Even on set, there was always some body on book and if an actor put a "the" or "thou" in the wrong place or omitted it all together, we were going for another take. If you're a fan of ambitious independent projects then, by all means, check this out. If you're a big Shakespeare nerd, you'll love it.
All In The Family seasons 7, 8, 9- I'm glad that i finally made it through all of the seasons. I had not seen many of these since I was a kid and the stuff from the later seasons I didn't remember at all. If you start watching the series, stick with it. It doesn't fall apart like most shows that last past season five. I'm not saying it was perfect, but it remained consistently good.
     That's all I have for this month. Tune in next month to see what I've had a chance to watch. My schedule has been so chaotic that I don't even have time to watch tv. Sometimes I think this is a good thing, other times it feels exhausting. I'm trying to reconnect to people again so maybe it's not so bad. Until next month.
   

March Newsletter

Greetings all,
     Welcome to March! It's hard to believe we're three months in to the new year already. The president hasn't pushed the button...yet, and we haven't invaded anything. So, as long as we're just maintaining the status quo of fear and paranoia, what say we move on to cheerier subjects?
     As I mentioned last month, my nomadic tendencies are flaring up again and I'm on the move. The hardest part is over, I found a place, now it's on to Phase Two-packing. I take possession in April so my next broadcast will be from my new place. I'll be happy when all of this is over since lately it seems like my days have just become one long to-do list. Thankfully, I have some travel therapy coming up. I feel like I've just stagnated over the winter; I don't like it. California peeps, get ready, because next month I'm invading your state!
     On the subject of travel, I did recently have a chance to get out of town for a day. I took a trip to Atchison, Kansas. Okay, it wasn't much of a trip and Atchison's not much of a town but, at Benedictine College they had a David Mamet double feature. The matinee was Speed-the-plow. I had never read this or seen it performed so the material was new to me. That was kind of refreshing considering that it's an early work. I don't know how it's escaped me through the years but now I've seen it. I enjoyed the story and I'm trying not to be too harsh on the actors but when college kids are trying to play mid-forties, you can't help but wonder what they're basing that performance off of. There was also a poorly staged fight scene but that's just me picking nits. I'm sure the rest of the audience bought into it, especially when the blood capsules came out.
     The second play was Oleanna. This one I have read and seen the movie but it was a treat to see it on stage. I will admit to a slight bias just because a friend of mine, Mr. Andy Penn, was in the role of the teacher. He was age appropriate for the role, so that wasn't a distraction. That's the only grace I had to give him, the rest of the praise he brought on with his own merits. It was great to see it performed live. Mamet is a lot like Shakespeare in that regard. Reading it only goes so far. I still remember working at a theater when the movie came out and people would have some really heated discussions over which character was in the right. Sometimes it was as entertaining as the film, other times you just wanted to herd them out the door and let them fight it out on the sidewalk.
     Surprisingly, the play did not bring this kind of heated debate. I was a little surprised given that I was on a college campus. Later, a thought struck me upon reflection since I also walked out of it with a different feeling than when I read it or saw the film. In the 1990's, when it came out, by the time you reached the end, you were pretty sure the girl was some kind of demented, up and coming feminazi. Here in the new millennium, when everybody screams assault and makes a federal case out of a sideways glance, you could see both sides and his reactions don't feel as justified. You still understand them, but were they as justified as they were twenty years ago? I later found out that the director slightly changed a couple of things to blur the lines of fault but, I still can't help but wonder if society has changed so much that this play has lost it's cultural impact?
     I haven't read many plays as of late but, I have been tearing through some good autobiographies and a little sword and sorcery fantasy just to keep the imagination active. Maybe you've read some of these or maybe you're just looking for a recommendation, either way, here's what I've read lately-
White Line Fever by Lemmy Kilmister- Regardless of if you're a Motorhead fan or not (yeah, right, like anybody is not a Motorhead fan), this is a damn fine read. If you have an interest in the music industry and like the behind the scenes stories, this is for you. The book was published in 2002 so if you're looking for the insight from beyond the grave, there might be some magazine articles out there but you won't find it here. What you will find is some insight into the industry, the perils of forming a band and a lot of interesting and funny stories from the road (which he refers to as Motorhead's natural habitat). Definitely worth a read.
The Ring Of Ikribu by David C. Smith & Richard Tierney-     This is the first installment in a series of books featuring Red Sonja. She is a mercenary swordswoman in The Hyborian Age (a creation of Robert E. Howard for Conan). Sonja hires on with an exiled monarch to help reclaim his kingdom from an evil wizard who searches the land for a ring of untold power. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read the book. If you’ve read Howard’s stories and enjoyed them then check this out. If your only exposure to the sword and sorcery fantasy genre has come in 400 page chunks with entire chapters dedicated to the history of forests and the lineage of Hobbits, then definitely check this out. Enjoy! 
The Autobiography of Mark Twain Volume One by Mark Twain- When I first saw this pop up on the shelves of the local bookstores, I was apprehensive. I figured it was some sort of reprinted compilation that somebody had strung together in order to make a few bucks off of the Twain name. For some reason, I never saw volumes two or three show up until I saw them on the library shelf. Feeling this was no longer a hoax, I decided to pick it up. It's on disc and runs about 20 per volume. I figured if it turned out to be crap I can hit the eject button and be done with the whole mess. It turns out that this really is a work by Mark Twain. He left behind several manuscripts as well as instructions that the book not be published until 100 years after his passing. Well, as time has marched on since 1910, The Mark Twain Society has sifted through a few hundred thousand pages of manuscript and notes to faithfully construct this book into what is the best guestimation of how Twain would have wanted it. There is not a clear running timeline but a wandering monologue as natural thought patterns and conversations tend to go. The audiobook is narrated by Grover Gardner, although, I was a little surprised they didn't get Hal Holbrook. After seeing his stage show about ten years ago, you really feel like he is Twain. I definitely recommend the first volume, more later on the next volumes.
     In between books, there are always movies. I feel like I haven't seen as many movies this month but I'm hoping that will change with the weather.
     Duck Soup- The four Marx Brothers are at it again! I was just looking for a good laugh and happened to run across something timely in these politically turbulent times. It seems the country of Freedonia has fallen on hard times. An heiress can save the country with a loan but, before that happens, she wants somebody new in power because she has lost faith in the leadership. Who is this man, you ask, to lead the country out of this depression and protect its borders? Rufus T. Firefly (played by Groucho)! His adversaries have sent their best spies (Chico and Harpo) to infiltrate Firefly’s palace and keep them aware of his actions. Zeppo plays the captain of the guard who leads the troops into battle against the rival nation that is attempting a coup. If you’re looking for a good laugh, definitely check this out.
Grudge Match- Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone in a movie together supported by Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger and Kevin Hart! A sure fire hit, right? Not really. The acting is good, the script is competent but it just feels like a contractual obligation. Each of these actors have been in better movies, if you've seen all of those then go ahead and watch this one. It's not a complete waste of time.
Hercules In The Haunted World- This was the second movie that Reg Park did in his Hercules series. It came out in 1961 and was made in Italy. Christopher Lee plays an evil wizard who has cast a spell on Hercules' fiancee. In order to save her, Hercules must travel to Hades to retrieve an artifact that will allow him to break the spell. It's good ol' Saturday matinee fun the way sword and sandal films are supposed to be. I've always felt a connection with this particular film since screening one of the five remaining prints. We managed to get it for one showing before it was sent to California where they made the video transfer that you see today.
John Wick-  If you wrote this off as just another action film with Keanu “whoa” Reeves, then you’re really missing out. Once you buy into the alternate comic book-esque world of this movie, it’s really a lot of fun. I will freely admit that I wasn’t expecting a lot from this movie the first time I saw it. In fact, I think I was just looking for something to do after work. Man, was I ever surprised. The plotline is solid, the supporting cast is awesome and the fight scenes are incredible! Check this out, especially since we now have…

John Wick: Chapter 2-  If you thought the first one was a thrill ride, strap in and hang onto something because this is going to get crazy. If you liked the first one, definitely check this out, you will not be disappointed.   
Lethal Weapon-  I can keep this brief because I just talked about this back in January. This does slide in on a technicality though, because it’s the theatrical cut. A local movie theater recently revived it for one showing and I was there! It was in 35mm and the print looked great. I don’t know what it is about this movie that makes me enjoy it so much. Yes, it was ground breaking and became the gold standard for action movies, but that was thirty years ago. The scenes inside the Murtaugh house always feel like an editor trying to salvage a story out of missing footage. But yet, the writing still holds up, the characters are incredible and nobody has come up with a fight scene as cool as the Riggs/Joshua fight at the end. I’m sure I’ll still be watching this movie thirty years from now and still feeling that same excitement. I just chalk it up to the magic of movies.
My Bloody Valentine- What better time to watch a movie about a disgruntled miner wreaking vengeance on a small town than on Valentines Day? This 1981 holiday classic had a directors cut released a few years ago where they put in the footage that got cut on its initial release. The movie now makes more sense. Censorship at the expense of story, who benefits? If you haven't seen it in a while, check it out. The early 1980's was the golden age of the slasher film and this one does not disappoint.
A Night In Casablanca-With the latest manager of a posh hotel in post-war Casablanca murdered, the call goes out to find a replacement. The man for the job-Ronald Kornblow (Groucho). It seems that there are Nazi spies about and a hidden treasure that an Allied army officer is intent to find to clear his name. Another classic from The Marx Brothers that I would recommend.
Red Shoe Diaries-Zalman King came up with a great pilot for his Showtime series. It stars David Duchovny as a successful architect whose life gets shattered when his fiancee commits suicide. As he is gathering up her belongings, he comes across her diary. What he finds inside leaves him with more questions than answers as he tries to come to grips with what he reads. If you've enjoyed King's other films then this will not disappoint. His obsession with Anias Nin and his ever present themes of tragic romance are at an all time high. Unfortunately, it also has one of the top five cringe worthy lines ever uttered in filmdom but, hey, nothing's perfect. Check it out and let me know what you think.
That Man Bolt- Universal Pictures was looking to start a franchise with this movie. It was a Shaft meets Bond kind of thing that never really took off in their eyes. Too bad, because Jefferson Bolt (played by Fred Williamson) could have really taken off as a character. He was the predecessor of Frank Martin (who got four movies and a short lived series) in that he was an international courier who uses his wits as well as his muscle to get the package where it needs to be when it needs to be there.  He has the suave sophistication of Bond and the street wise toughness of Shaft (as well as having a better fight choreographer than Mean Johnny Barrows). It’s worth a look, if you get the chance you should check it out.
Used Cars- Written by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, directed by Zemeckis, produced by John Milius and Steven Spielberg and starring Kurt Russell and Jack Warden. With a pedigree like this it's hard to believe that the movie never caught on bigger than it did. It is a definite cult classic in the vein of D.C. Cab that you either get into and enjoy or you don't. There's very little middle ground. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.
     Finally, for my fellow tv watchers-
All In The Family Season 5- This was the season where The Jeffersons moved on up and the Stivics moved on out. This also saw the 100th episode where Henry Fonda hosted an hour long retrospect. It's interesting to see Mike grow as a character due to his freedom from under Archie's roof.
All In The Family Season 6- The writing is still solid for the most part. That's a rarity when you get much past season 4 anymore. The Bunkers become grandparents and the writers start to explore the couple moments of Edith and Archie now that they're alone. The directors also come up with some new angles to film the house in. It's amusing to think back on how the raspberry was the pop culture catch phrase right before "may the force be with you."
     That's about all I have for this month. Don't forget about The Roller Warriors games coming up March 11th and April 1st. The Dreadnought Dorothys have a lock on things so far, but that can change. If The Knock-Outs win their next four games, they might take home a trophy. Everybody loves an underdog. Tune in next month when I'll be another year older and living in a new place. Until next time.

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!