Blades of Glory (2007)

 Starring Jon Heder as Jimmy and Will Ferrell as Chaz, they are rival individual figure skaters who gets into a fight and are stripped of their gold medals.  They have to go get terrible jobs, but a superfan discovers that they are still eligible to compete as Pairs figure skaters.  Two men in an event traditionally done by a man and a woman.

A bit of a spoof (Karate Kid, Rocky) but a lot of originality with cameos by Olympic figure skaters, good stunts and a slightly homoerotic vibe.  Maybe that would not fly as well now, but it was still funny.  Laugh out loud in some points - a rare occurence these days.

Co-written by Busy Phillips, there a strong resemblance to Pitch Perfect (2010) which she was also involved in.

* * * * *  (highest!)

Jason Bourne (2016)

 Like Mission:  Impossible, this series just keeps chugging along.  Matt Damon is Jason Bourne/ David Webb, struggling with his origin story.  The CIA led by Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) wants him gone and has Agent Lee (Alicia Vikander) and "The Asset" looking to rub Bourne out, or "have him come in".

It jumps around to various European locations before landing in Las Vegas.  This movie was done before the Route 91 Harvest Festival killings on October 1, 2017 and so it is not so fun to watch scenes of snipers killing, crowds rushing in fear.  Makes you think that movies might have more to do with violence than we would care to admit.

* * * * 

Gentlemen Prefer Blonds (1953)

An early starring role for Marilyn Monroe, she play Lorelei, who is a musical performer with Dorothy (Jane Russell).  Directed by Howard Hawkes.

Lorelei and Dorothy are looking for men, Dorothy is looking for a good time and true love, while Lorelei is strictly in it for the money.  They take a voyage across the Atlantic to Paris where they meet all sorts of potential love interests.  The rich baron, Mr. Pink, the Olympic rowing team, the caddish Malone (Eddie Reed), even Mr. Spofford.

There's  a thin plot to hold together the singing and the dancing.  Reminded me of the many Astaire/Rogers movies of the day.  Also the wackiness of a Marx Brothers movie. 

Contains the hit Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.  Based on a successful Broadway musical.

* * * * 

They Were Expendable (1945)

My good friend Glenn Good told me that this movie was based on the life of his old skipper in the US Navy, Admiral John Bulkeley, who won the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Phillipines.  So I found it on TCM and watched it this past Friday night.

An early "based on true events" story, Robert Montgomery is "Brick" and John Wayne is Rusty, two lieutentants in charge of a Torpedo boat squadron in the Phillipines in World War II.  Things are not going  well, and the general theme of the movie is one of Retreat, with an underlying Live to Fight Another Day theme.

So while there is heroism and brief successes, the arching story is how the sailors are dealing with orders they don't understand and a general sense of loss.  Deep thought for the time.

Directed by John Ford, one of his early collaborations with John Wayne, who would both go to great movie heights.  Also starring Donna Reed.

* * * * * 

When I woke up this Saturday, I got the news that Glenn had died at age 87.  Divine timing that I saw the movie on that same day. 

Insomnia (2002)

Directed by Christopher Nolan, it's an early view of some of his themes:  A twist on reality, a complex plot, a likeable villain.

An old retread, Al Pacino, plays Will, a detective sent with his partner Hap (Martin Donovan) up to Alaska to investigate a local murder over the heads of the small town police.  They are escaping from internal affairs scrutiny for their planting of evidence in Los Angeles.  Hap wants to take a plea, but Will doesn't want to concede.

As they investigate the local murder, Will  starts getting calls from someone who knows so much that he must be the killer, right?  That wily Walter is a local author, played by Robin Williams.  It's a small town so they meet soon enough, and there is a definite  Heat vibe between the cop and the robber.  Walter gets into Will's head and the bad craziness is acerbated by Will's lack of sleep in the always daylight of Alaska summer.

Meanwhile the local young detective Ellie (Hillary Swank) is trying to do her best to do some independent  investigation.  All three converge at the end to solve the mystery.

A good story and camera work in the Alaska scenery.

* * * * 

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Starring Sidney Pointier and Rod Serling, this movie is about a black man in a white town, during a time of virulent racism.  Viewed through today's mores, it is over the top, but the sad truth is that is was probably an accurate reflection of many, many years.

Pointier is Virgil Tibbs, a detective from Philadelphia passing through Sparta, MS.  When a leading citizen is found dead, the deputy rounds up this black stranger for the crime.  When Chief Gillespie finds out he is a homicide detective, he grudgingly allows Tipps to help in the crime investigation.  They form an unlikely and delicate bond.

A great plot, and the racial boilings really add to the suspense.  The cinematography is excellent as well.  But again, be forewarned- it's not an easy watch.

Academy Award for Best Picture - 1967!

* * * * *

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

A real popcorn flick, directed by Brad Bird, it's got a "Why So Serious" vibe.  Starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg