CLASSIC MOVIE OF THE WEEK: SUNRISE

Sunrise (Not Rated)

1927

95 Minutes

Fullscreen: 1.33:1

Movies don’t get much nicer than “Sunrise.” The first time I saw it, I didn’t know what it was about. Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide describes the plot as a haunting saga about a husband plotting to murder his wife for another girl. But that’s only half the story, for in this film, the characters learn of redemption, forgiveness, and love in an exquisite way like no other.
Like I said before, the movie starts on a tense note as the citizens of a small village notice a sad affair. The man of the story (George O’Brien) is a farmer with a wife (Janet Gaynor) and one child. But after a happy flashback of them together, we slide to the grim future as he throws everything out the window and has an affair with a city girl (Margaret Livingston). She promises him happiness and he must believe it, because in the next scene we see them strolling along the creek, smooching (!). It seems like he just wants to have some wifeless fun with another woman, but she seriously wants him, which leads her to a powerful plot: She wants him to kill his wife. At first he’s against it, but the idea kind of grows on him. And the next thing we know, they’re in a boat on the lake and the wife has no idea of her impending doom.
A great thing about the silent era was that the actors didn’t need words to show emotions (as long as they were really good at their job). The two leads are fantastic in the rowboat. The wife seems so happy, the man seems confused, and when he’s about to dunk her, her face looks seriously hurt. He can’t do it. He rows as fast as he can back to shore, the guilt rising. And as soon as they weigh, she runs and he shouts the classic line to her “Don’t be afraid of me!” And then, something marvelous happens.
The man chases her halfway into town, and she still won’t forgive him. Finally, they go into a church and see a wedding. Listening to the vows, he begins bawling and knows that his wife deserves better. They make up and start a tour of the city, mending their love. They discover what life hold along with the romance they lost so long ago. It’s a tearjerker of a movie that needs no improvements whatsoever. It’s an important movie that will stand the test of time, so long as love lasts.

Grade: A

And that's why "Sunrise" is the Classic Movie of the Week.

P.S. I've included the first 10 minutes of the film to give you a taste. If you like it, you can see the rest on Youtube.com

FREE MOVIE OF THE MONTH: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Shopping for Christmas presents can be hard, especially when you have a list as long as mine. So, to make it easy on myself (and my tired back), I’ve gotten everyone another free movie for the month. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and have a Merry Christmas.

To see the film, click on the movie title.

TOP 8 CHRISTMAS FILMS

I’m mixing it up a little. This week, instead of getting one dinky review, you get eight miniature ones (I’m just the gift that keeps on giving!). Christmas is coming up, and that means you can pull the dusty “Home Alone” tape out of the trunk. I try to view all of my favorites before the season ends, and now you can do the same. Here’s a list of my top 8 (maybe Santa will bring me two more favorites this year) cherished Christmas films:



8. The Santa Clause

Going through a divorce, on Christmas night, grumpy Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally knocks Santa off the roof of his house. He puts the suit on and finishes the night’s job along with his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Only then does he learn that he’s become the new Claus and he must change his attitude for the better of the world, himself, and his family. It’s heartwarming Christmas fare and Tim Allen pulls his weight in his first film role.




7. A Christmas Story

To me, anecdotes make some of the best reading material, and in “A Christmas Story,” they make some great movie moments. The plot revolves around Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), a kid who wants nothing for Christmas besides a Red Ryder BB Gun. The only problem is his parents, his teacher, and even Santa Claus don’t believe he should have one (You’ll shoot your eye out, kid). He spends the rest of the season trying to find ways to get the toy. But that’s not all the movie is about. It’s about your weird family and neighbors, beating up the local bully, saying your first cuss word, and remembering your own childhood experiences as you compare them to poor Ralphie’s.



6. Elf

It seems like there are no good Christmas movies anymore. Hollywood tries to fill their movies with holiday bliss to the highest extreme, but they always just make a mess of things and the movies are neither cheerful, nor fun. Don’t believe me? Go rent “Christmas With the Kranks” or “Deck the Halls.” And in 2003, just when everything seemed hopeless, “Elf” was released and changed everything.
The story is about a baby that sneaks into Santa’s toy sack. After he’s delivered by accident to the North Pole, no one knows what to do, so the elves keep him there and raise him themselves. The baby grows up into a 6’5” man named Buddy (Will Ferrell) and his adoptive father tells him where the real Dad is located. Now Buddy, still wearing his elf tights and fuzzy cap, sets out to the big city to find his true father and teach him about Christmas spirit (Dad happens to be on the naughty list, not to mention the fact that he’s played by the terrifically grumpy James Caan).
Buddy is so nice, but diminutive, and this movie knows how to be funny and richly dramatic at the same time. Will Ferrell is great fun as are the supporting characters.



5. Holiday Inn

Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire play Vaudeville partners Jim Hardy and Ted Hanover. Jim wants a quiet life in the country, but as he fixes to leave for the farm, his fiancée dumps him for Ted. Lonely in his new home, he comes up with a great idea: He can open up the house to the public during the holidays, then write songs, perform them, and have fun and peace at the same time. After productions begin he hires Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), and they fall in love. But Ted is always around the corner, ready to spoil something.
This is a movie for any holiday, but it’s more special around Christmas. And those song and dance numbers – whoo! So many to like, plus this is where the song “White Christmas” originated, and won an Oscar.



4. Home Alone

Ah, what comes to mind when I think of “Home Alone?” John Williams’ excellent score? John Hughes’ hilariously quotable script? Macaulay Culkin screaming about a dozen times? Two burglars getting the ever-living crap beat out of them? Maybe a little bit of each.
This movie is about Kevin McCallister (Culkin), a 2nd grader who is so sick of his family, he wishes they all (even his crazy relatives) would disappear. Everyone is at the house, readying for a trip to Paris, but the power goes out night before the departure. When they wake up late and rush to the airport, poor Kevin (who had to sleep in the attic) is forgotten and left. Realizing the relatives are gone, he parties, watches violent movies, eats lots of sweets, and goes through his brother’s life savings. But it’s not all fun and games, for two slippery bandits are eyeballing the McCallister house. And while Kevin’s family is trying to get back to him, he must fend for himself, which means fighting against the bad guys (with blow torches, nails, and ice of course).
One good bit thrown in to even things out is a relationship between Kevin and the so-called town kook. It adds the sentiment, but the rest is pure comedy. And Kevin’s dopey brother, Buzz (Devin Ratray), steals every scene he’s in: “Who’s gonna feed your spider while we’re gone?” “He just ate a whole load of mice guts. He should be good for a while.”


3. The Muppet Christmas Carol

“A Christmas Carol” is one of the most famous stories of the season. It has been portrayed in theater, TV specials, and movies, probably equaling somewhere over 100 different versions of the tale. But “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is my favorite adaptation. The writers respect the story, while they fit zany Muppet humor into the film too (Gonzo the Great plays Charles Dickens. That should tell you enough).
We all know the story: Ebenezer Scrooge (a brilliant Michael Caine) is a bitter old man with a hatred for the Christmas season. One December 24th, he’s visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future to look over his life and change his views and heart. Great songs and music by Paul Williams fill the soundtrack as well, and it really puts you in the Christmas mood.




2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

The movie begins in New York City on Thanksgiving day as Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is paying a visit. I have no idea why he’s there, but he picked a good day to travel because the members of the Macy’s Day Parade are in need of a new Santa to ride in their float. Kris gladly accepts the job and pretty soon, he’s working as the store’s daily Santa too. Kris makes friends with everyone, including the daughter of a store bigwig. The girl, Susan Walker (Natalie Wood), doesn’t believe in Santa Claus and Kris makes it a goal to let her see the light. But after a few mistakes in the store, it seems as though he must make restore everybody’s Christmas faith.
Gwenn does a great job playing Santa in this Christmas classic. It’s an inspiring tale that everyone should see.



1. It’s a Wonderful Life

This is the ultimate Christmas movie. Period. Forget all of the commercialism of the season. This film is absolutely natural. It can raise spirits, inspire, and provide answers on how to be thankful.
George Bailey (James Stewart) is depressed. His friends have all been praying for him and God decides to send an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) to help. Clarence and the audience both need to know a little bout George, so his whole history is displayed. The man lives in a small town called Bedford Falls. Throughout his life, he’s worked at a bank and done nothing but help others while his own dreams were smashed. Now, after his uncle loses the bank’s funds, local curmudgeon, Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), is trying to throw George in jail. George thinks his life has been pointless and while he contemplates suicide, Clarence helps him see what life would be like if he had never existed.
It’s a scary thought and the result is a vibrant picture. The ending is a tearjerker and a joyous event at the same time. This film will be cherished for eternity.

NEW MOVIE OF THE WEEK: 3:10 TO YUMA

3:10 to Yuma (Rated R)

2007

117 Minutes

Widescreen: 2.35:1

Westerns have become lost in the ocean of movie genres and I think I know why. They’re just not cheerful like they used to be. People go to movies to escape, while the new Westerns just drag them down. Look at “The Searchers” from 1956. It’s very suspenseful, but it maintains its’ adventurous and fun aspect. The few Westerns of today are just like gritty crime stories with angry characters, only set in Brisbee instead of Detroit. This year, we have “3:10 to Yuma.” If you don’t know, it’s based on a 1957 movie of the same name, and once again, the former was better, but the new film is pretty darn good too. The reason being, although it’s gritty, it’s tense and exciting too, with a good sense of humor and an amazing finale.
Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is a poor farmer with some problems. His first is money. If he doesn’t pay a loan off quickly, he and his family will have to leave their ranch for good. His other problem is pride. His son has no respect for him, and he’s losing faith in himself as well. Trying to find some extra cash, and maybe an answer or two, he and his boys head for town. But on their way, there’s a stagecoach robbery in the desert, and the outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), is the culprit.
Ben is a great character simply because he’s so stinking crafty. Glenn Ford’s portrayal of the character is so legendary, I wasn’t sure if anyone else could pull it off. But Crowe does the part justice with that smart aleck resistance we all know and love. Anyways, Ben and his gang shoot up the coach, leaving one man alive, and it’s Peter Fonda, so you know the character will live for at least another half hour or so into the movie. Dan and his boys witness the events, so the bandits take their horses, and herd their cattle away.
As the gang rides into town, sneaky devils that they are, they tell the sheriff that a stagecoach was robbed and that they should go check it out. And while the authorities are covering that, they head to the saloon. Dan and his sons are dragging the wounded man to town when the sheriff and the group of men run into them, and the truth is finally revealed. And Ben, who just had to stay and hit on the bartender girl, is caught and arrested, but they need a group of men to lead him to the 3:10 to Yuma (Now you know what the title means!). Dan needs the money but everyone else pretty much just wants to see Ben hanged. And so the journey is made. But it won’t be easy, for Ben’s gang of cutthroat cowboys are on their trail.
The suspense fits well in this movie, and fills every minute, as does the spectacular scenery and adventures. There’s something new around every corner but one of my favorite things about the film is Ben Foster’s crazy performance as Ben Wade’s right hand man. This guy has the most trigger happy finger I’ve ever seen (with my own apologies to Martin Sheen in “Badlands”). Christian Bale does a fine job as Dan, and the subplot with his son works better than expected (you’ll see. It seems very clichéd at first). The ending is different from the original, but my job is not to compare between the two, it’s to look for the good of each film. I hope this little movie will help put Westerns back on track. And if they could add a little more joy in the future products, they’ll have it made in the shade.

Grade: B+

And that's why "3:10 to Yuma" is the New Movie of the Week.

P.S. I've included the film's trailer to give you a taste.

RANDOM CLIP OF THE WEEK

I've gone Youtube! Starting today, I'm going to have a random movie clip every week. Enjoy this bit from the original "The Postman Always Rings Twice."



Youtube.com/Themovieglutton

Myspace.com/Themovieglutton

CLASSIC MOVIE OF THE WEEK: BADLANDS

Note: Judging on seperate tastes, there will now be two movies of the week. The first will be a new film (in theaters or on DVD) and the second will be a classic. I hope you like it. Send me some feedback on what you think.



Badlands (Rated PG)

1973

95 minutes

Widescreen: 1.85:1

After watching “Badlands,” all I could do was stop, sit, and watch the credits roll. I didn’t feel like getting up, but I didn’t feel like sitting either. I was thinking about the movie and what it meant. It’s kind of like watching a nightmare, but I mean that as a compliment. It’s the story of a young couple longing for something more in life. Could it be acceptance? True existence? An adult life? Maybe they just want to have a little fun or maybe they don’t know what they want.
The boy is Kit (Martin Sheen) and the girl is Holly (Sissy Spacek). Kit is a lone 25 year old with not a clue of what he wants to do with his life. Holly says in the beginning of the film that she used to live in Texas, but after her mother died, her father drove them to South Dakota and that’s where they’ve been ever since. She and Kit first meet in her front yard one afternoon. He’s looking for something to do and asks if she wants to take a walk. That’s where their relationship starts, and that’s about as far as it goes. They call it love, but it seems more like a two person support group. Their need is for somebody to talk to.
Kit is a great character because his motivations and ideas are always a surprise. He’ll act like a normal person on the outside, but you never know what he’s thinking about inside. Example: The guy signs with two different signatures, just to be safe from forgeries. You can’t make this sort of thing up. Holly is wonder too, but she has deeper, richer emotions. She wants to know what life has in store for her, while Kit seems happy just living as long as everything works out okay for him.
Trouble starts when Holly’s father finds out she’s been dating Kit. For punishment, he shoots her dog and dumps it in the river (Yeah, he’s not your average Ward Cleaver). After a good while, Kit breaks into Holly’s house and packs a bag for her while they’re out. When she and her father return home, Kit tells him that he plans on taking Holly away. And as though this situation couldn’t get stickier, Holly’s father leaves the room to call the police and Kit shoots him dead. Neither of them seem sad or surprised at the time, but it dawns on them later. Looking for escape, they set the house on fire and scat, but not before leaving a message on a record player for the cops to find. “Just to give them a fair chance,” Kit says (Like I said, you never know what to expect in this movie).
The rest of the film follows the two as they travel through South Dakota, shooting people and trying to find their own places in the world. It’s a great character study and the story is haunting to think about. The movie can be a little slow at times, but it’s well worth the watch. And the music is stunning, especially while the house is burning.
I just found out that the story is based on a real series of murders by a guy named Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate. It’s not as freaky as the truth behind “Psycho,” but it’s creepy just the same. And the characters seem almost identical. They’ve got good minds, but there’s something crazy about each of them.

Grade: B+

And that's why "Badlands" is the Classic Movie of the Week.

P.S. I've included a trailer of the film at the bottom.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: CASINO ROYALE

Casino Royale (Rated PG-13)

2006

144 Minutes

Widescreen: 2.40:1

Movie sequels can be unpredictable. Sometimes they’re good, and sometimes they’re bad. It’s hard to imagine what the results may be until you see the trailer, and even then it’s tough to decide if you should fork out 8 bucks to watch a silver screen double dip. Some films continue a story for the good of the plot and characters: hence “The Empire Strikes Back.” Others continue for the love of money: think “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” and you’ll figure it out. The James Bond series is like playing the slot machines in Vegas. Twenty-one of the films have been made up to 2006, and at many times it’s seemed as though the spy’s material has lost its’ flavor. But not to worry, because the newest movie “Casino Royale” has restored the excitement of the classic 007 roller coaster ride.
This story was filmed before in 1967, but as a spoof instead of a thriller. Being the first of Ian Fleming’s novels, I’m curious as to why no one thought of making an official movie version before now. The first scene is about Bond’s first assignment as a double-0 agent. It’s filmed in black and white and really gets the film’s momentum going. We also get a peek of what to expect with Daniel Craig in the crafty role.
The credits lead us to Madagascar where James is hunting down a bomb expert. The amazing chase goes from a crowd, to a jungle, to a construction site, to the country’s embassy. Heck, Bond even mows down some stuff with a bulldozer! But anyways, after he guns down half the citizens, he finds a cell phone in the terrorist’s bag with a coded text message. His boss, M (Judi Dench), fusses at him for being too reckless, but he doesn’t tell her about his discovery.
Bond does some research about the message and then leaves for the Bahamas, finding information about a new terrorist operation. The plan is this: The leader of a violent pack, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), will borrow money from a wealthy Ugandan, put it all on an airline in the stock market, blow up the world’s biggest airplane, and collect multiple sums of money as the stocks rise. But Bond stops them just in time, and Le Chiffre’s goose is cooked unless he can come up with the money.
So, to pay off his debts, Le Chiffre schemes to start a big poker game and win everything back. Bond is the best cards player in his rank, so now he must match wits with his foe and destroy the terrorists’ funds. Along the way, we meet Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), fitting in nicely as the newest Bond girl, agent Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), and Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright). Anything can happen here in this casino and James learns his first lesson in the business: Never trust anyone.
The suspense is high and the cliffhangers always near, melding everything together in just the right places. A good thing about this episode is that it keeps you guessing until the end. And what would a James Bond movie be without a sly crack every now and then? Craig plays the character respectfully rough, suave, and somewhat arrogant, just the way it should be.

And that's why "Casino Royale" is the Movie of the Week.

Grade: B+

P.S. I've added the movie's trailer, just to give you a taste.