The Vern goes on an “Adventures in Babysitting” with Elizabeth Shue (well actually he only reviews the movie)

 

Adventures in Babysitting. 1987

Cast: Elizabeth Shue, Keith Coogen, Penelope Ann Miller

Writer: David Simkins

Director: Chris Columbus

When I was a kid I remember this being a fun light-hearted family feature.  After  watching it again, it remains very sweet natured and fun, but I forgot about how dark and violent this movie can get.  The film also has some scenes that today may appear to be racist and homophobic.  It’s a movie clearly written by white people who don’t have a clue about other races or cultures outside their own suburban homes that it becomes kind of sad , but also part of its weird charm.  ”Adventures in Babysitting” is not as squeaky clean as you thought it would be but at the same time it can very heartwarming and charming especially when most of it comes from lead actress Elizabeth Shue.

Criterion Corner: Rosemary’s Baby. 1968

The Criterion Collection for years have been releasing the best versions of movies on DVD and Blue Ray. They are hands down the ultimate praise a film can receive,and while many claim the Oscar to be the ultimate recognition. Having the work and praise that goes into a Criterion edition. Shows that it was put together by film lovers for film lovers. This section is going to be dedicated to some of the great movies in this growing collection.

Rosemary’s Baby. 1968

Cast: Mia Farrow, John Cassavettes, Ruth Godon

Writers: Ira Levin(Novel) Roman Polanski(Screenplay)

Director: Roman Polanski.

***SPOILERS*****.

The Following review may contain spoilers.

All Time Classics: Manhattan. 1979

Manhattan.

Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway.

Writers: Marshall Brickman, Woody Allen

Director: Woody Allen

Many have stated before that Woody Allen directs the same movie over and over again.  This is both true and false.  Yes it is true that he usually casts himself in the same type of roles.  His usually neurotic nervous persona has been a shtick of his ever since his stand up days, and it’s just a part of his personality.  If he tried to do anything else it would seem weird and out-of-place.  The part where  it become false is to say that each one of his movies are exactly the same.   Compare “Purple Rose of Cairo” to “Midnight in Paris“.  Both involve characters going into other dimensions but both have way different results.  We could also  include two of his dramas with “Crimes and misdemeanors” and “Match Point” because both feature characters who refuse to feel guilty about the crimes they have  committed.    After the success of “Annie Hall” Mr Allen decided for his next project he would do a more serious drama. “Interiors” went on to be nominated for 5 Academy Awards, but many of his fans wanted another comedy like before.   So when himself and Marshall Brickman(co writer on “Annie Hall“) got together, many thought they would be getting another movie similar to that other one, but instead they got something completely different and also  something really wonderful .

Criterion Corner: Sweet Smell of Success 1957

The Criterion Collection for years have been releasing the best versions of movies on DVD and Blue Ray. They are hands down the ultimate praise a film can receive,and while many claim the Oscar to be the ultimate recognition. Having the work and praise that goes into a Criterion edition. Shows that it was put together by film lovers for film lovers. This section is going to be dedicated to some of the great movies in this growing collection.

Sweet Smell of Success.  (1957)

              Cast:  Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harris

Writers: Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman

Director: Alexander Mackendrick

It’s a really good thing that the internet and blogging came about, because trying to get a story published in the late ’50′s was really tough.  The main character in this tale goes through a lot and puts people he knows into things that shouldn’t be done in order to become a success.   Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is a press agent who makes a deal with a very popular newspaper columnist, J. J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), to help him break-up his sister Susan (Susan Harris) from jazz musician Steve (Martin Milner).  In return JJ will make sure that Sidney’s clients are listed in J. J.’s publication.  . What follows next is Sidney’s quest to become just as successful and as morally questionable as Mr. Hunsecker himself.

Sorority Girls from Hell: The Vern Reviews Alpha Girls.

Alpha Girls.

Cast: Falon Joslyn, Beverly Rivera, Victoria Guthrie

Written and Directed by: Johnny Zito, Tony Trov

People don’t make exploitation or B Movies much anymore. Back in the late 70′s all the way up to the 2000′s they were tons of these genre pictures being released. You could go to your local video store and see these off the wall titles being displayed amongst the big blockbusters on the shelf. That is one thing I miss most about these places becoming obsolete is that you lose your chance at being surprised. It was always great for me to go into a store with one title in mind but come out with two other movies I have never seen before. I do admire filmmakers greatly who want to do these types of movies because they are doing it for the love of cinema. Yes it’s true that they want to get paid,but for the most part they are making these movies strictly for just the fun. The concept alone about a group sorority girls who make a pact with the devil and begin killing people is a really good one and trailer seems to sell this as a silly but fun slasher movie filled with tons of gore and T&A. What we get instead is one that is a bit more serious than it should have been.  It’s fun, don’t get me wrong, but not as fun as I would have liked.

The Vern takes a trip on the “Yellow Submarine”. 1968

Note*** This review previously appeared on my other site,but I thought it looked much better on this one

Yellow Submarine

Cast:  John Clive, Paul Angelis

Writers:  Lee Minoff, Al Brodax, John Mendlsohn Erich Segal

Director:  George Dunning

Forbidden Hollywood: The Divorcee 1930

Before the Hayes code was put in to effect as the early ratings system in 1934. Movies around that time had rougher subject matter and showed a lot of things that were considered to be taboo. The ones from this era reminds me of the films of the seventies. Filmmakers were a bit more risky and took more chances. Yes we have a few filmmakers  like that now, but not as many as before.

The Divorcee

Cast: Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel

Director: Robert Z Lenoard.

The material that was controversial back in the early 30′s would barely make a priest blush if it was told today.  The Divorcee told the story of a woman who turns the table on her husband for having an affair. I’m sure this did ruffle some feathers back then because it showed a woman on-screen having sexual thoughts about other men that were not her husband.   It was a bold statement for women everywhere but unfortunately it ends up throwing dirt right back at their face.

Spoilers Below.  You have been warned.

The Vern reviews Canada’s version of Crash.

Crash (1996)

Cast:  James Spader, Holly Hunter

Writers: J.G. Ballard (Novel)  David Cronenberg (Screenplay)

Director: David Cronenberg.

One of the most controversial films of the 90′s, David Cronenberg’s “Crash“, was met with a lot of  backlash and heated debate when it first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.  It’s based on the 1973 novel by J.G. Ballard (“Empire Of The Sun” Yes, the same one by Steven Speilberg).  This one told the tale of how one car accident’s victims became seduced by a group of  fetish thrill seekers who become sexually excited when they are involved in a crash.

All Time Classics: His Girl Friday. 1940

His Girl Friday. 

Cast: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Belamy

Writers: Ben Hecht, Charles MacArtur(“The Front Page”)    Charles Lederer(Screenplay)

Director: Howard Hawks

In the screenplay for Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction“.  He writes that the couple who robs the resteraunt at the start speak in a rapid fire style ala “His Girl Friday“.  After seeing this movie, its clear that this did more than just influence one filmmaker.  There are many genres mixed into this feature that have been used in others since.  It’s kind of cliché to say this, but yes “His Girl Friday” has drama, suspense, and comedy all throughout it’s 90 minute time length.   The story is so well structured and the rapid dialogue is so original that it’s only been remade once as “Switching Channels” back in 1988.   It should also mentioned the movie itself is an adaptation of the stage play and 1931 film “The Front Page“. The main difference between the two is that in the original there were no female lead characters, and there certainly was  no comedy either.

Criterion Corner: Being John Malkovich 1999.

 The Criterion Collection for years have been releasing the best versions of movies on DVD and Blue Ray.  They are hands down the ultimate praise a film can receive,and while many claim  the Oscar to be  the ultimate recognition.  Having the work and praise that goes into a Criterion edition.  Shows that it was put together by film lovers for film lovers.  This section is going to be dedicated to some of the great movies in this growing collection.

 

Let’s start this review off by stating for a fact that “Being John Malkovich” is one of the most creative and inventive movies ever released.  Music video veteran Spike Jonze knocks his feature-length debut out of the park with a movie that could have easily been misread as a one note joke.  Something that would be good for a quick laugh as a skit on Kids in The Hall or Monty Python.  Although this has been labeled as a comedy.  The tone of it is played like a serious drama.   This makes the characters appear more realistic, and the laughs that happen more genuine.