Here are the movies I managed to squeeze in despite being glued to the TV to see the Olympics in July. Numbering picks up from the rest of the year. Movies marked with an * are ones I had not seen previously. All films rated on a scale of 1 (not so good) to 5 (really great) tuna cans.
76. Jones Beach Boys* (2007) – This documentary is a salute to the boys of summer – the lifeguard corps who patrol Jones Beach, New York. Ron Colby, the producer/director/writer of the movie and himself a former Jones Beach lifeguard, returns to the beach to visit his old lifeguard buddies, many of whom have been on the job for 30+ years. Some are teachers or coaches, while others are dentists, doctors, firemen and police officers. All are drawn to the beach and to the camaraderie of people who take pride in their jobs and are thrilled to save lives. When New York State decided in 1971 to terminate any lifeguard over the age of 35, the corps went on strike. When the scabs hired to replace them performed so badly that people drowned, they were rehired. Each year they are required to pass a rigorous test to pass muster. Some of the lifeguards are second generation, and some now are women. The film focuses on the stories of some of the “old” guards in their 50s to 80s and their devotion to their jobs – which, by the way, are much tougher than you might think. I’ve never been to Jones Beach, but it is comforting to know this coterie of lifeguards is dedicated to making sure everyone who does go has a great time and stays safe. 3½ cans.
77. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011) – It was crazy and stupid and I loved it, even though I saw it last year and knew the plot twists. An appealing cast, led by a schlubby Steve Carell (who plays schlubby with the best of them), a near-perfect Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Julianne Moore, who can cry with the best of them. Throw in Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon and the kid who plays Carell’s son, add the babysitter and you have the right people in the right parts for a funny and bittersweet story. Gotta love Crazy, Stupid, Love. If you haven’t seen it yet, slap yourself and get on with it. 4½ cans.
78. Joyful Noise* (2012) – Despite my sister’s assurances that “you can’t go wrong with Queen Latifah,” I have to say the queen does not come through royally here. She is promoted to choirmaster of the church when the previous choirmaster (Kris Kristofferson, who was probably grateful for the brevity of his part) dies, over the disappointment of his widow, a nipped and tucked Dolly Parton. The choir is rehearsing to compete in the nationals – shades of “Glee” here, folks – and Latifah’s character and Parton’s character clash over the music and the growing relationship between the former’s daughter (Keke Palmer) and the latter’s bad-boy grandson (Jeremy Jordan). They exchange pithy barbs and Southern platitudes as Latifah, a nurse supporting her two kids, exerts her creative control over the choir and Parton fights back with threats to withdraw her financial support. The little town in Georgia loves the choir, which is good, since it is about the only thing the economically depressed area has going for it. The music is good – everyone gets a solo – and the last performance is enough to make you want to stand up and dance, or cheer – or even sing. I wanted to like this movie so much more (sorry, Nan), but the clichés weighed it down. I will say that Queen Latifah makes a great mother, and there is a scene/stand-off with her daughter that all mothers should take lessons from. But overall, this was more noise than joy. 2½ cans.
79. To Rome With Love* (2012) – This series of stories is Woody Allen-lite, bereft of the sardonic and sharp wit of the Allen of old and rife with an eagerness to entertain that seemed forced. I won’t even try to summarize the plots, but I will admit the performances by stars Alec Baldwin, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page and especially Robert Begnini were excellent. While I found the movie modestly entertaining, it seemed more like Woody just continuing on his escape from New York to see other cities and make movies while traveling, this time to Rome. I didn’t think much of “Midnight in Paris,” but that seems much better in retrospect compared to this effort. Woody himself plays a role here, and his neuroses have not aged well. 3 cans.
80. Wages of Spin: Payola* (2008) – You might have to be of a certain age to be familiar with Bandstand – not American Bandstand, but its first iteration, Bandstand – the Philadelphia-based music show which started in 1952 on the radio and eventually landed on ABC-TV. By the time Dick Clark took over the show in 1956, it was well-established and popular, and the boyish Clark only enhanced its popularity. However, Clark, an astute businessman, added to his haul as host money by venturing into music publishing, artist management and even manufacturing records. This nostalgic look at the thriving Philadelphia independent-record scene indicts Clark for making backroom deals – some of which were not illegal at the time – and for profiting by playing and promoting records that he either owned publishing rights to or by artists he worked with. Ultimately, Clark testified before Congress on the payola scandal and denied any wrong-doing. This documentary leads the viewer to conclude otherwise. It is hardly an objective look at the industry, and, while Clark certainly seems complicit, you have to admire his business acumen. He was never indicted or convicted of anything, and let’s give him credit (although the movie does not) for introducing America to many Black artists who had no forum for their talents. I give it a 75 – the beat was very repetitive. 3 cans.
81. Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002) – If you were a teenager in the 60s, chances are that Motown was the soundtrack of your youth. And while you were well acquainted with Smokey and Stevie and Martha and the Vandellas, you probably didn’t know much about the Funk Brothers, the studio musicians who laid down the grooves that made Motown Hitsville USA. An eclectic collection of mostly jazz musicians, the Funk Brothers played keyboard, drums, bass, guitar, tambourine – you name it – as studio musicians and made up the bands that toured with Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and countless other acts. They brought their special creativity and are as responsible for the Motown sound as Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson and the songwriters. This documentary pays tribute to the largely unknown Funk Brothers, a tight band of brothers whose soul music defined a generation. The documentary also features Chaka Kahn, Joan Osborne, Gerald Levert and Ben Harper recreating the Motown classics, accompanied by the remaining Funk Brothers. How sweet it is. 3½ cans.
82. For Your Consideration* (2006) – This Christopher Guest-Eugene Levy satire skewers Hollywood and the gossip surrounding the making of a small (and incredibly bad) movie called “Home for Purim.” The usual Guest-Levy troop shows up to play the leads in the movie, has-been actors, gossip columnists, TV “reporters,” PR people, etc., and includes the reliable Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Fred Willard – along with Guest and Levy. I liked this picture better than “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind.” The scenes from the movie, focusing on a Southern Jewish family celebrating Purim, were priceless, as the “actors” pronounced “mitzvah” and “oy vey” with Southern drawls, all while succumbing to rumors about possible Oscar nominations for the cast. Clever, witty and fun. 3 cans.
83. Dirty Dancing (1987) – Has it really been 25 years since the late Patrick Swayze dirty danced his way into our hearts? Here he is Johnny Castle, a dance instructor at Kellerman’s Catskills Resort, when he meets Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey), the do-good daughter of a doctor (Jerry Orbach) who is vacationing with her family. When she fills in for his dance partner (Cynthia Rhodes), she learns more than the mambo from Johnny, who, despite his bad-boy swagger, is really a good guy at heart. And oh, how he could dance. I had the time of my life watching this movie again, and I even viewed the last dance scene twice. 4 cans.
84. Blazing Saddles (1974) – This Mel Brooks classic is on the top of my favorite movie comedies of all-time, right up there with “Animal House.” When I think of Mel Brooks, all I can say is “inspired lunacy.” Stars include Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey (“that’s Hedly, Hedly Lamar”) Korman, and the wonderful Madeline Kahn as a Marlena Dietrich-like character. Whenever I am tired, I always break out into her song: “I’m tired, tired of being admired…Let’s face it, I’m pooped”). I laugh so much watching this movie that it is hard to hear every line, but by now I know them all and I watch anyway. 5 cans of beans and a campfire.
84. Animal House (1978) – Faber College, 1962. The delightfully devilish deeds of the deeply demented Deltas are on full display in this collegial comedy brought to you by the lunatics from the Lampoon. If you went to college or even lived near one in the 1960s and 1970s, you probably went to some fraternity parties like the ones depicted here. John Belushi, in his first and best movie role, shines as perennial student Bluto (“seven years of college down the drain”), given to starting food fights and peering into rooms at the sorority house. Tim Matheson (“Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you”) never looked better. Throw in Kevin Bacon as a pledge for the clean-cut rival Omega fraternity, Peter Reigert (Boone), Karen Allen (Katie), Bruce McGill (D-Day), and pledges Pinto (Tom Hulce) and legacy Flounder (Kent Dorfman, played by Stephen Furst) and you have a bunch of actors who looked like they were enjoying every mapcap moment. I know every line in this movie, which, along with the aforementioned “Blazing Saddles,” shares top billing on my list of all-time favorite comedies. Knowledge is good. Comedy is fun. 5 cans.
85. Edison the Man* (1940) – Spencer Tracy lights up this portrait of eccentric inventor Thomas Edison, whose desire to invent the incandescent bulb burns brightly throughout the movie (Spoiler alert: He succeeds). Truth be told, I have had a “thing” for Edison since my 5th grade class took a trip to his lab in West Orange. I have always admired his ingenuity and am a big fan – like most of us – of his inventions. After all, if it weren’t for his inventing motion pictures, how could I see so many movies or write this blog? I remember seeing the sequel or prequel to this movie, the “Young Tom Edison” film starring young Mickey Rooney, but this one was new to me. As a film I’ll give it just 2 ½ cans, but as an inventor, Mr. Edison rates 5.
86. Terms of Endearment (1983) – James L. Brooks’ first big film explores the relationship between an overbearing, difficult mother Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her underachieving and disappointing daughter Emma (Debra Winger) with humor and pathos. Clearly, they love each other, but they find it difficult just to get along. This movies is about love in its many forms – between parents and their children, married couples, unmarried couples, friends, would-be suitors – as depicted by Jack Nicholson and his killer smile as the astronaut next door who has a brief relationship with Aurora, Jeff Daniels as Emma’s husband, Flap, and Lisa Hart Carroll as Winger’s best friend. This funny and moving movie is in my top 5 of all time, and it was one of the movies my mother loved as well (we saw it together). MacLaine is outstanding and Winger completely believable in their love-tolerate relationship. As always, I found it endearing and heart-wrenching. 5 cans, and 5 tissues, too.
87. Marty (1955) – The recently deceased Ernest Borgnine won the Oscar for his portrayal of lonely butcher Marty in this poignant movie. Everybody’s got a beef with Marty – his customers and his mother tell him he should ashamed that at 34 he isn’t married yet, while all his kid brothers and sisters are married. His best friend just wants to find something to do, and no one thinks the nice girl he meets at a dance is good-looking enough. But Marty likes her, and they talk long into the evening on the night they meet. Marty is a good guy, living with his mother, listening to his buddies and hard-pressed to imagine himself actually happy. Borgnine brings pathos to his role and is matched by Betsy Blair as Clara, the nice girl he meets. This movie is considered a classic – it won the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Director – and if you haven’t seen it, you should. Marty may seem like a loser, but the movie is a winner. 4 cans.
88. About Face: Supermodels Then and Now* (2012) – This HBO documentary is a series of interviews with well-known supermodels, most of whom are still working in fashion. Ranging in age from their 40s to one in her 80s, these still stunning women talk about the trials and tribulations of making a living off your looks. They include Beverly Johnson, Carol Alt, Paulina Porizkova, Christy Brinkley, Jerry Hall, Christy Turlington, Cheryl Tiegs and Marisa Berenson. The stories they share shed new light on the life of a supermodel, rife with eating issues, dips in self-confidence and self-esteem and legitimate concerns about longevity and cosmetic surgery. The oddest part is Isabella Rossellini, who appears dressed in a man’s suit and tie and looks strangely like Peter Campbell on “Mad Men.” 3 cans.
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