Yes SC, I'd say he was my second favorite behind Fonda. I also did like Joseph Sweeney as Juror #9/Mr. McCardle.

I loved Jack Klugman in that movie. He was a very gritty NY character actor all those years before he became Oscar Madison.

Years later on THE ODD COUPLE, they kind of spoofed 12 ANGRY MEN, using Felix as the holdout juror.

Great, great movie. And not to go off topic but THE ODD COUPLE is one of the great sitcoms in television history.

I also liked Jack Warden as Juror #7 who was obsessed with making it to the Yankees/Indians game

I watched "Monster House" with my kids last night....
Not really my cup of tea to be honest although the little people (and my wife) seemed to enjoy it
This morning the kids are watching "The Princess Diaries 2" which is a pile of cack i have been forced to sit through several times already
Hence the reason i have gone next door and come on the computer

Couldn't you say that every film has a message so long as you wish to find one?

I'm watching The Towering Inferno on tv. I just love re-watching classics. It makes me very nostalgic. Any excuse to look at Paul Newman will do too. hahaha. But I'm also reminded of just how aweful some of the acting is too.

Beth, Mr. Babe and I watched that late last night. And we just rented the remake of Poseidon. It must be disaster movie week.

That is the reason I wrote 'message' instead of message. I agree with you that every movie has a message if you care to dig. Some of them are very blatant and preachy(shawshank fits in that category as well). I usually hate movies like that, with Shawshank being the exception. That is because I relate to the characters in the movie and this movie has been a huge impact on me. The first time I saw this, I dismissed it as being corny, not any longer.

I love Shawshank Redemption. I think it's done better on video than in the theaters. When I first saw the title, I had no idea what it was about, and usually passed it over. I saw it a few years ago, and have seen it a couple more times since.


TIS

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was a dud in theatres, then became one of the most rented-titles in the 1990s.

Then Ted Turner, somehow, had gotten the TV rights on the cheap. Which is why TBS/TNT basically played the movie so damn much for years...which probably is why the movie has such a dedicated following now.

It deserves it too.

I think the best thing about SR is the fact that it actually deserves its happy ending. It works to earn it. Few films do that these days.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994) - ***** - Masterpiece

I caught the tail end of STATE OF GRACE (1990) this morning and I noticed that Encore will be re-broadcasting it a couple of more times this month. I guess to coincide with St. Patrick's Day.

This was a very good movie based on the Westies and the Irish mob. It was originally released less than a week before GOODFELLAS and was in and out of theaters in about 10 minutes as a result of this ill advised release date.

Sean Penn was great as the conflicted undercover cop. Ed Harris was great as a tough guy long before he settled into "good guy" roles, like in STEPMOM. And Gary Oldman was, well, Gary Oldman. That man is the most overlooked actor in Hollywood, in my opinion. A very good, very gritty and very real take on the west side of the 1980's. I'm gonna order it on DVD.

THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE (1984) ***1/2 stars

From the DVD:

Turn up the Sinatra, put on a leather jacket, and slip intp "a rollicking, high-voltage movie that produces tears of laughter" (New York Daily News). Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts and Daryl Hannah "create emotion-charged characters who tingle with energy and play with conviction" (The Hollywood Reporter) in this modern-day classic that's as robust and powerful as Italian espresso!
In New York's Little Italy, smooth-talking hustler Charlie (Rourke) works in a restaurant and dreams of one day buying his own with girlfriend Diane (Hannah). His wiry cousin Paulie (Roberts) waits tables, skims money off checks and is always scheming to score big. But they're all about to pull a scam on the wrong guy - Bed Bug Eddie (Burt Young), the Mafia king of Greenwich Village! Now these small-time con men are in big-time trouble - trouble so big that even their mobster uncle might not be able to save them.






This is one of my all-time favorite New York movies. It's a somewhat faithful adaptation of the Vincent Patrick novel, which I HIGHLY recommend as well. This is long before Mickey Rourke became the poster boy for bad plastic surgery, Daryl Hannah went hippie and Eric Roberts became famous for being Julia's drug addled and envious brother.

This was one of those movies in the 80's that I just had to own. Do you remember paying $75 for a movie on VHS before Blockbuster and Suncoast came along ?

I highly recommend it.

Field of Dreams ***
(First Viewing)

Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his corn field tell him, "If you build it, he will come." He interprets this message as an instruction to build a baseball field on his farm, upon which appear the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series. When the voices continue, Ray seeks out a reclusive author to help him understand the meaning of the messages and the purpose for his field.

As big of a baseball fan that I am I've never seen this movie (or The Natural or Eight Men Out). Both of which I plan on vieiwng this week given the time. I definitely think James Earl Jones was the star of the film, even more so than Kevin Costner. He just commands so much pressence on screen and was humerous in many parts. Ray Liotta was also good in his pre-Goodfellas role. I didn't expect the movie to be as heartwarming as it was.

Both great movies Irish, but FIELD OF DREAMS is really special. I actually cried when I saw it in the movies in 89' and the ending still chokes me up now.

I won't ruin it for you, but believe me, you'll never play catch again without thinking of the ending of this beautifully sentimental movie.

I cried too man. It got to me too

Tokyo Drifter **
(First Viewing)

Tetsu has joined his yakuza boss in going straight, but when a rival gang threatens to bring them back into the gang wars, Tetsu must become a drifter to keep the pressure off his old boss.

Some great music in this film and I loved the final shootout in the club. The white set and the singer and our main character are dressed all in white while the "bad guys" are in dark suits. It really came out well onscreen. Other than that, I wasn't too impressed with this film.

The Pursuit of Happyness ** 1/2
(First Viewing)

In 1981, Chris Gardner was a struggling salesman in little needed medical bone density scanners while his wife toiled in double shifts to support the family including their young son, Christopher. In the face of this difficult life, Chris has the desperate inspiration to try for a stockbroker internship where one in twenty has a chance of a lucrative full time career. Even when his wife leaves him because of this choice, Chris clings to this dream with his son even when the odds become more daunting by the day. Together, father and son struggle through homelessness, jail time, tax seizure and the overall punishing despair in a quest that would make Gardner a respected millionaire.

A great performance by Will Smith and his son Jaden. A heartwarming story about hope and the never say die attitude. Unfortunately, I don't get to see much of Will's work. The last movie of his I've seen prior to this was I, Robot and the last movie of his that I throughly enjoyed was Bad Boys II (and I only say that because I thought it was going to be a horrible movie).

Ask and thy shall receive. I thought a remake of Escape From New York could be warranted and it looks as if that will come to fruition. I know it's not a movie review but it is movie news.

Butler to Escape NY?

Prior to 300 most people (aside from his rabid PHANTOM OF THE OPERA fans) weren't all that knowledgable about Gerard Butler. Now with the $70 million-plus opening of 300, I don't think Butler will have that problem anymore. Case in point: a bidding war has erupted over a remake of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK with Butler set to star. CAA put together the package with Butler starring, Neal Moritz producing and a script by Ken Nolan (BLACK HAWK DOWN). Butler would star in the Snake Plissken role Kurt Russell made famous in John Carpenter's cult classic. I'm not sure I fully support a ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake (especially one remade by Neal "STEALTH" Moritz) but if there has to be a guy to step in for Russell in Plissken's shoes, Butler is definitely that guy. Butler can be seen next in the dramedy PS, I LOVE YOU with Hilary Swank.

Source: JoBlo

Fuck that.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK is a lean, mean B-action movie with a Z-budget charm to it.

I'm sure the remake is $60 million with CGI, alot of nicely paid talented actors given garbage to work with....

But at least John Carpenter, Debra Hill's estate, and Kurt Russell are getting some cool cash from all this.

At least Tony Scott's not directing it, eh ronnie?

Oh, you would drop your pants and grill the lizard if Tony Scott decided to direct it, wouldn't you?

The Rock ***
(Second Viewing)

A group of renegade marine commandos seizes a stockpile of chemical weapons and takes over Alcatraz, with 81 tourists as hostages. Their leader, a former highly-decorated U. S. general, demands $100 million to be paid in ransom, as restitution to families of soldiers who died in covert operations and were thereby denied compensation. Otherwise, he is threatening to launch 15 rockets carrying deadly VX nerve gas into the San Francisco Bay area. An elite SEAL team, with support from an FBI chemical warfare expert (Stanley Goodspeed) and a former Alcatraz escapee (John Mason), is assembled to penetrate the terrorists' defenses on Alcatraz and neutralize the rocket threat before time runs out.

Wow, Michael Bay actually made 2 good movies. This was probably his best with the original Bad Boys being his second best. I've yet to see Armageddon but his career has gone downhill since Pearl Harbor. That in itself was a total f*cking wreck as was The Island. I did enjoy Bad Boys II but felt it was a very unnecessary remake. Really, did the world need another Bad Boys or was it just Martin Lawrence? A very noticable cast Bay was able to put together in this film and was VERY surprised to see Vanessa Marcil (I just wasn't aware she was in the movie). Cage and Connery were good but Ed Harris stole the show for me as General Hummel.

Probably I'd rather see him tackle this project than The Warriors I'll say that. I am in favor of this remake but again, I don't see the point in The Warriors remake. But I'm sure others can see things the other way too.

THE WARRIORS remake aint happening....or at least not happening with Tony Scott.

I can guarantee it.

Ransom **
(First Viewing)

Tom Mullen, rich airline owner, is shocked when his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the two million dollar ransom, but the drop goes wrong. So Tom turns the ransom money into a bounty on the head of the kidnapper.

I've never seen a parent act so recklessly with the life of their child in any movie or TV show as I did this film. The story kept going around in circles and it was the same song and dance. I was really surprised to see former New Kid on the Block star Donnie Wahlberg in the picture, as this was only his second film of his career. I still dig Ron Howard though, it wasn't his fault the script was crappy. His best work before this movie was Far and Away and after that wasn't until 2001's A Beautiful Mind.

I made an hour-and-a-half train journey yesterday to see Lynch's Inland Empire. Review coming up...

Eight Men Out ** 1/2
(First Viewing)

The great Chicago White Sox team of 1919 is the saddest team to ever win a pennent. The team is bitter at their penny pincher owner, Charles Comiskey, and at their own teammates. Gamblers take advantage of this opportunity to offer some players money to throw the series (Most of the players didn't get as much as promised.) The Sox almost come back from a 3-1 deficit. 2 years later, the truth breaks out and the Sox are sued on multiple accounts. They are found innocent by the jury but baseball commissioner Landis has other plans. The eight players are suspended for life, and Buck Weaver, for the rest of his life, tries to clear his name.

A great look at the Black Sox scandel. I'm really not surprsied as much before viewing this movie seeing how much of a tightwad Charles Comiskey was. The players just wanted their end and if the owner didn't give it to them, he had to expect they'd get it for themselves.

Monster House **
The Animation is ok, and the first half is hilarious. The fat kid, babysitter and her boyfriend are great, but the rest of the characters are not so interesting. The second half is sort of boring and feels too long. Good for kids.

The Natural ****
(First Viewing)

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league in this magical sports fantasy. With the aid of a bat cut from a lightning struck tree, Hobbs lives the fame he should have had earlier when, as a rising pitcher, he is inexplicably shot by a young woman.

One of, if not, THE best baseball movie I've ever seen. How could you not just want to stand up and cheer for Robert Redford? He had the whole good mannered, country boy routine down cold. A great performance and a great feel good baseball/sports movie.

Bull Durham **
(First Viewing)

Crash is an aging minor league ball player, brought up from another team to mature a young pitcher with maturity problems. Both of them become involved with Ann, a baseball groupie with her own perspective on the game.

Not a bad baseball comedy. Nothing outstanding but I was surprised at some of the language.