[RobKnapp]

ORANGE
is the new
BLACK
Season 1-7 DVD

This series explores the recurring characters and themes. The corrupt prisoner/guard relationship is further examined along with the corporate exploitation of prison facilities and private sector attitudes to profit and cost cutting. Former wardens roles change along with their relationships. The inmates as they navigate there lives being incarcerated.

Wonderful job creating character development . The power dynamics and complex relationships of the many characters are so well-written. The show delivers a perfect balance between comedy and drama . If you are going to go down the TV series "rabbit hole" this show will have you running the emotional gamut. 9/10
Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Selenis Leyva, Yael Stone, Josh Segarra, Jackie Cruz, and in Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Jackie Cruz and Diane Guerrero in Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Danielle Brooks in Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Laura Prepon and Taylor Schilling in Orange Is the New Black (2013)

 

[RobKnapp]

Laura (1944)
Turner Classic Movies​

Drama, Film-Noir, Mystery

Director: Otto Preminger
Writers: Vera Caspary (novel), Jay Dratler (screen play)
Stars: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb Vincent Price

Dana Andrews = Dude

It's hard to believe Otto Preminger never won an Academy Award. The resume of films he directed is so vast and so memorable that it's unfathomable the Academy didn't recognize his work. Long considered one of his best. "Laura" has withstood the test of time and garnered many accolades through the years as one of the best film noir out there.

Gene Tierney, as always, was just beautiful in this film but it is Dana Andrews and the great Clifton Webb who are the real stars here. Preminger had to fight Zanuck tooth and tong to get Webb but he got him and it is one of Clifton Webb's finest and it won him the nomination for Best Supporting Actor. There are few actors who were as adept at playing the villain as Clifton Webb was and he was superb here. I've seen this film dozens of times, just viewed it again on TCM tonight, and it is still as enthralling as it was for me decades ago. This one is truly an "essential" for all lovers of good films! 8/10

Gene Tierney = Dame

 

[RobKnapp]

The North Star (1943)
First Time View​

NORTH STAR, THE (aka: ARMORED ATTACK) Great Film.

Director: Lewis Milestone. Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston, Ann Harding, Erich von Stroheim, Jane Withers, Farley Granger, Walter Brennan.

This is such an interesting movie because of it's significance in history. Yes, today this movie seems odd. The characters calling each other comrade and praising the Soviets seem like a crime, but in 1943, when this movie was made, it made sense. It's all context. The war was in full swing in 1943 and the Soviets were our allies. Now the gore and realism of this movie is beyond its time. It's incredibly harsh, which might have helped it become an obscure movie. However, it was incredibly interesting because of the harsh reality the movie choose to show. The war and what it caused was not glossed over.

Kolya (Dana Andrews), Dr. Kurin (Walter Huston), Damian (Farley Granger, film debut), and Marina (Anne Baxter) are cheerful members of a utopian farming collective in the Ukraine known as the North Star. When the Nazis invade by air and armor the peaceful village, we follow the heroic activities of the villagers to repel the Nazis as some take to the hills as guerrilla fighters.

Dramatic battle sequences in WW2 . Russia marred by uninteresting stretches until German von Stroheim matches wits with village leader Huston. Good performances all around; script by Lillian Hellman. Academy Awards, USA 1944 Nominee Oscar,Best Writing, Original Screenplay,Best Cinematography, Black-and-White,Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White,Best Sound, Recording,Best Effects, Special Effects,Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Aaron Copland 8/10

 

[RobKnapp]

Gremlins (1984)
|SteelBook| 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

'Don't expose him to bright light.
Don't ever get him wet.
And don't ever, ever feed him after midnight."

Zach Galligan and Mushroom and Gizmo in Gremlins (1984)

​

Billy (Zach Galligan) inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.He then learns that breaking the rules makes the Mogwai turn evil. Billy, Gizmo, and Billy's girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) quickly learn that they must save the town from a hoard of mischievous monsters.

Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain, Judge Reinhold
Executive producer Steven Spielberg

​

This is an excellent film and should be a staple of any 1980's time capsule. Gremlins still retains its splendid appeal with sadistic humor, dazzling animal-tronic effects and a critique of consumer culture that feel fresh and relevant today. Come on, man! It's Gremlins by Stephen Spielberg! Of course it's a 10/10. Gremlins is a minor classic.

Spoiler

🎃 October 31 days of Halloween viewing 🎃
1. Becky (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
2. Cat People (1982) F.T.V. 8/10
3. The Lodge (2019) F.T.V 9/10
4. Gretel & Hansel (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
5.Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) 9/10
6. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) 8/10
7. The City of the Dead (1960) 8.5/10
8. The Grudge (2020) F.T.V. 6/10
9. Phase IV (1974) F.T.V. 8/10
10. The Hunt (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
11. The Blood on Satans Claw (1971) F.T.V 8/10
12. The Entity (1981) F.T.V. 9/10
13. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 8/10
14. fear dot Com (2002) F.T.V. 8/10
15. The Turning (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
16. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) F.T.V 8/10
17. Proxy (2013) F.T.V. 9/10
18. The Bad Seed (1956) F.T.V. 7/10
19. Laviathan (1989) 9/10
20. The Abyss (1989) 8/10
21. DeepStar Six (1989) 8/10
22. Deep Rising (1998) 8/10
23. The Uninvited (1944) 8/10
24. Snatchers (2019) F.T.V. 7/10
25. Gremlins (1984) 10/10

Spoiler

 

[RobKnapp]

THE
UNINVITED
1944
The Criterion Collection Blu-Ray

​

A pair of siblings (Ministry of Fear's Ray Milland and The Philadelphia Story's Ruth Hussey) from London purchase a surprisingly affordable, lonely cliff-top house in Cornwall, only to discover that it actually carries a ghostly price; soon they're caught-up in a bizarre romantic triangle from beyond the grave.

Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, and Gail Russell in The Uninvited (1944)

Rich in atmosphere, the film was nominated for an Oscar. Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. The way cinematographer Charles Lang uses shadows in many scenes, sometimes so they seem to have a life of their own, also works well in helping to create the right atmosphere. The Uninvited, directed by Lewis Allen (Suddenly), was groundbreaking for the seriousness with which it treated the haunted-house genre, and it remains an elegant and eerie experience, featuring a classic score by Victor Young (gorgeous tune Stella By Starlight, which became a hit three years later). The film also introduces the young, talented Gail Russell (Stella Meredith) an incredible doe-eyed beauty who presented a screen image of great innocence and vulnerability.

A tragic family past, a mysteriously locked room, murky melodrama, revenge, scenes of seance, cold chills, bumps in the night-this Gothic Hollywood classic has it all. 8/10

There is a sad postscript to The Uninvited​

Sad trivia about the beautiful Gail Russell. There is a sad postscript to The Uninvited, one that involves the young actress Gail Russell. She suffered from an intense and almost crippling stage fright which she began to combat with alcohol. The Uninvited was Ms. Russell's second movie, with her being a very shy 19-year-old girl at the time of production. To cope with her lack of confidence, she drank on the set. She didn't have trouble finding work after The Uninvited, but alcoholism had taken a firm hold of her life, to the point where she was once photographed by a paparazzi minutes after drunkenly driving her car into the front of a coffee shop in Los Angeles.In 1961, at the age of 36, she died alone in her apartment of chronic alcoholism, an extremely fatty liver and terminal aspiration of stomach contents all while surrounded by empty liquor bottles in her small studio apartment in Los Angeles, California. Sad very sad .

Spoiler

🎃 October 31 days of Halloween viewing 🎃

Spoiler

1. Becky (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
2. Cat People (1982) F.T.V. 8/10
3. The Lodge (2019) F.T.V 9/10
4. Gretel & Hansel (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
5.Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) 9/10
6. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) 8/10
7. The City of the Dead (1960) 8.5/10
8. The Grudge (2020) F.T.V. 6/10
9. Phase IV (1974) F.T.V. 8/10
10. The Hunt (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
11. The Blood on Satans Claw (1971) F.T.V 8/10
12. The Entity (1981) F.T.V. 9/10
13. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 8/10
14. fear dot Com (2002) F.T.V. 8/10
15. The Turning (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
16. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) F.T.V 8/10
17. Proxy (2013) F.T.V. 9/10
18. The Bad Seed (1956) F.T.V. 7/10
19. Laviathan (1989) 9/10
20. The Abyss (1989) 8/10
21. DeepStar Six (1989) 8/10
22. Deep Rising (1998) 8/10
23. The

Spoiler

Uninvited (1944) 8/10

 

[RobKnapp]

The HUNT
(2020)
Blu-Ray
First Time View

Mired in controversy and steeped in critical despise this film was a day one pre-order purchase for me to see what the buzz was all about . I really wish I got to see The Hunt in the cinema, it is an extraordinary movie ! Loved it.

Director:Craig Zobel
Writers:Nick Cuse, Damon Lindelof
Stars:Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz , Emma Roberts


Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are -- or how they got there. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, ruthless rich liberal elitists gather at a remote location to hunt rural conservatives humans for sport. But their master plan is about to be derailed when one of the hunted, Crystal, turns the tables on her pursuers.

The Hunt is first and foremost a horror action thriller. It is also a savvy social commentary roast of a film that pokes fun (politically) at just about everyone and everything it can. Pure unadulterated satire. This film is supposed to be offensive. Those who acknowledge these issues but still agree with how ridiculous things have gotten in recent years should have a fun with it. As long as you can take a joke and remember it's just film - there's a great time to be had.

The acting here is splendid all around, two time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank who's a surprise inclusion in this film is fabulous. Gary (Ethan Suplee), Yoga Pants (Emma Roberts), and Don (Wayne Duvall), Amy Madigan all playing a caricature of certain ideologies are hilariously fun. Betty Gilpin's "Crystal" was the scene-stealer as she played her character with such cynical wit. Every time she's onscreen you look forward to seeing how she outsmarts her pursuers.

The five minute fight sequence with Gilpin vs Swank is worth the price of admission.

​

Darkly funny, very surprising, and violent. With first class prosthetic make-up and practical effects that add an excellent dash of gore. The Hunt is a success. If you're just looking for some fun death sequences and a few laughs, it'll be right up your alley. 9/10

​

 

[RobKnapp]

The Philadelphia Story (1940)​

Hepburn's Ferocious ( Box office poison) Comeback !

Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Roland Young, John Halliday, Virginia Weidler, Mary Nash, Henry Daniell, Hillary Brooke. Talky but brilliant adaptation of Philip Barry's hit Broadway comedy about society girl who yearns for down-to-earth romance; Grant is her ex-husband, Stewart a fast-talking reporter who falls in love with her. Entire cast is excellent, but Stewart really shines in his offbeat, Academy Award winning role. Donald Ogden Stewart's script also earned an Oscar. Later musicalized as HIGH SOCIETY.

 

[RobKnapp]

The First Power (1990)
Kino Lorber Blu-Ray
First Time View

​

Director:Robert Resnikoff
Writer:Robert Resnikoff
Stars:Lou Diamond Phillips, Tracy Griffith, Jeff Kober

A dedicated L.A. police detective and a female psychic must stop a demonic serial killer the Pentagram Killer, one of Satan's disciples, possesses the First Power; the powers of resurrection, teleportation and possession.

The First Power is a pretty entertaining cops vs. serial killer movie with some interesting supernatural/Satanic twists. Resnikoff paces the movie quite well and keeps the action moving along at a good clip. The film also builds quite well to a pretty satisfactory conclusion that proves to be effective.

The film also has an appropriately dark look to it .Resnikoff slowly introduces more horror elements into the picture. There's good use of some interesting shadowy locations and the cinematography and lighting teams do an impressive job of balancing shadow and light in clever ways to create an eerie neo-noir atmosphere .

I was impressed by Lou Diamond Phillips (Logan), he finds comfort in this serial killer thriller, completely convincing as a cop on the edge, tracking an elusive madman with ties to Satanism.

Beautiful Tracy Griffith (Tess) is good as a professional psychic driven to stop when she starts seeing the pentagram killer after his death. She's a proactive character and a good foil for Logan. Tess doesn't come across as some kind of New Age flake, but a grounded person who speaks matter-of-factually about the spirit world.

The real scene stealer in the movie, however, is Jeff Kober as the Pentagram killer . He's obviously having a good time with the part and does a great job of creating some palpable menace with his character. The work of the three leads, combined with a few decent supporting efforts and the right balance of action, horror and suspense make The First Power is an entertaining thriller and a supernatural neo-noir ; a fine way to kill an hour and a half . 8/10

There is a 32 minute interview with Lou Diamond Phillips, 17 minute interview with Jeff Kober, and the original trailer. The interviews are excellent, and are full of behind the scenes details.

Spoiler

🎃 October 31 days of Halloween viewing 🎃

Spoiler

1. Becky (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
2. Cat People (1982) F.T.V. 8/10
3. The Lodge (2019) F.T.V 9/10
4. Gretel & Hansel (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
5.Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) 9/10
6. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) 8/10
7. The City of the Dead (1960) 8.5/10
8. The Grudge (2020) F.T.V. 6/10
9. Phase IV (1974) F.T.V. 8/10
10. The Hunt (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
11. The Blood on Satans Claw (1971) F.T.V 8/10
12. The Entity (1981) F.T.V. 9/10
13. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 8/10
14. fear dot Com (2002) F.T.V. 8/10
15. The Turning (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
16. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) F.T.V 8/10
17. Proxy (2013) F.T.V. 9/10
18. The Bad Seed (1956) F.T.V. 7/10
19. Laviathan (1989) 9/10
20. The Abyss (1989) 8/10
21. DeepStar Six (1989) 8/10
22. Deep Rising (1998) 8/10
23. The Uninvited (1944) 8/10
24. Snatchers (2019) F.T.V. 7/10
25. Gremlins (1984) 10/10
26. Horror of Dracula (1958) 8/10
27. A Nightmare

Spoiler

on Elm Street (1984) Live Cinema Showing 10/10
28. Night of the Lepus (1972) 8/10
29. The First Power F.T.V. (1990) 8/10

 

[RobKnapp]

Wrong Turn (2021)
Cinema Showing

​

Rating R Runtime 2 hr 4 min Release Date Limited Jan 26, 2021 I Wore my Mask went to an evening showing . This film is awesome.

Fathom Special Events, Horror, Suspense

Good Action and the Gore is great. Gore and blood looked practical no CGI ! You have a couple of gay guys, an interracial couple, a prototype Alpha and his hippie-esque girlfriend. This is the type of cast you need when you visit a hillbilly town; Let's freak out the locals. Charlotte Vega is awesome . She was in Warrior Nun . Horror fans should be excited.

Don't miss the final scene!

The ending does have quite a lot going for it! The actual final scene of Wrong Turn 2021 happens during the end credits, so do pay attention! The movie doesn't really end until this point, which is when you'll find out exactly what direction a sequel might take.

Backwoods terror and never-jangling suspense meet when Jen (Charlotte Vega) and a group of friends set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Despite warnings to stick to the trail, the hikers stray off course-and cross into land inhabited by The Foundation, a hidden community of mountain dwellers who use deadly means to protect their way of life. Suddenly under siege, Jen and her friends seem headed to the point of no return- unless Jen's father (Golden Globe® nominee* Matthew Modine) can reach them in time.

If you cant see it in the Cinema Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release on Blu-ray Mike P. Nelson's Wrong Turn (2021), starring Matthew Modine, Emma Dumont, Charlotte Vega, Daisy Head, Valerie Jane Parker, and Adain Bradley. The release will be available for purchase this February.

 

[RobKnapp]

Peaky Blinders (2013)
Blu-ray region A

In 1919, the notorious 'Peaky Blinders' are one of Birmingham, England 's most feared criminal gangs. Named after their practice of sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps, the "Peaky Blinders" have interests in illegal betting, protection and the black market. Former war hero and brains behind the operation, Tommy Shelby, is eager to safeguard his family's success by making the business legitimate. But when he's offered a consignment of stolen arms, Tommy comes into direct conflict with Chief Inspector Campbell, a tough Belfast policeman who's been charged with recovering the guns at any cost.​

Directors: Colm McCarthy, Tim Mielants, Otto Bathurst, Tom Harper, David Caffrey
Writer: Steven Knight
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Paul Anderson (XVIII), Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Annabelle Wallis, Sophie Rundle

Helen McCrory, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Natasha O'Keeffe, Kate Phillips

​

This show is one of the best crime drama series.The actors,the premise and the direction is really top notch.This show will transport you to England in the aftermath of World War I. And yeah Cellian Murphy is the best part of this show.The actor is great while portraying Thomas Shelby,the head of Peaky Blinders. A real treat for fans.

Cillian Murphy Peaky Blinders (2013)

 

[RobKnapp]

I Know
What You Did
Last Summer (1997)
Out of Print Blu-Ray

Four young friends bound by a tragic accident are reunited when they find themselves being stalked by a hook-wielding maniac in their small seaside town.
Directors: Jim Gillespie, Danny Cannon
Writers: Lois Duncan, Kevin Williamson
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Muse Watson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Brandy Norwood
Producers: Stokely Chaffin, Erik Feig, Neal H. Moritz, William S. Beasley

Like many hip glossy horror films that came in late '90s (The Faculty, Urban Legend, Halloween H20, Bride of Chucky, et. al), I Know What You Did Last Summer followed the blueprint created by Scream to a T. It polished the 'meta' slasher formula with a popular, young cast of TV stars, self aware dialogue, lots of popular music on the soundtrack, big cordless phones, ****** 90s cars and sleek production value.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

A good portion of its success can be attributed to the script. While the studios were telling every writer to make their horror scripts more like Scream, Columbia went out and got Scream's writer Kevin Williamson (screenplay). That said, it's not a mere rehash filled with meta dialogue; Williamson actually wrote this script prior to Scream.

​

I Know What You Did Last Summer is among the most successful films of the post-Scream era in terms of both revenue and fan base. Jennifer Love Hewitt is is a knock-out to the 20th power, I watched it mainly for Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar, who at the time were coming into their own as two of the biggest teen stars.

I enjoyed I Know What You Did Last Summer for what it was - an 80s slasher polished with 90s nu-ness. It holds up surprisingly well. It has some good gore effects. Jennifer Love Hewitt . The direction by Jim Gillespie is solid. The acting isn't too bad. And the story, while cliche, works well enough to be memorable.I still find a lot to like about this film - even if it isn't anywhere close to horror perfection.

Spoiler

🎃 October 31 days of Halloween viewing 2020 🎃
1. Becky (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
2. Cat People (1982) F.T.V. 8/10
3. The Lodge (2019) F.T.V 9/10
4. Gretel & Hansel (2020) F.T.V. 7/10
5.Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) 9/10
6. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) 8/10
7. The City of the Dead (1960) 8.5/10
8. The Grudge (2020) F.T.V. 6/10
9. Phase IV (1974) F.T.V. 8/10
10. The Hunt (2020) F.T.V. 9/10
11. The Blood on Satans Claw (1971) F.T.V 8/10
12. The Entity (1981) F.T.V. 9/10
13. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 8/10

Spoiler

 

[RobKnapp]

Pandora
and
the
Flying Dutchman
(1951)

​

Absorbing , dreamlike and beautiful. This rare film was stupendous !

Director:Albert Lewin
Writer:Albert Lewin (story and screenplay: suggested by the Legend of The Flying Dutchman)
Stars: James Mason, Ava Gardner

Pandora and the flying Dutchman is told as a flashback. When the movie starts two bodies are discovered on the beach after a big storm.
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman stars Ava Gardner as the siren of a small Spanish town, the type of woman men kill and die for. She has never fallen for anyone until the arrival of the mysterious James Mason, the actual Flying Dutchman condemned to sail the seas until he finds a woman who would die for him.

Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

​

If you perhaps feel that there is a deeper-dimension to this story than the tale of two lovers, then the tale of the Flying Dutchman will begin to resonate for you. It is the absence of trust which provoked the murder of the Dutch Captain's wife and it is his quest for redemption and forgiveness because of this misjudgment that creates and carries the story.

The story becomes a magical, thought provoking melding of the legend of the Flying Dutchman and eternal love. We are guided through the story by one of the characters - Geoffrey Fielding (Harold Warrender) - who provides some background and commentary about the story. James Mason and Ava Gardiner were at the peak of their careers when making this film and, although it may not seem likely, they are well cast as lovers. Pandora and the Flying Dutchman is a beautiful film, dreamlike in the words of Martin Scorsese. Ava Gardner cast a spell .

 

[RobKnapp]

Funny Face (1957)
Blu-ray /Prime Video

Audrey Hepburn is beautiful in this one!

An impromptu fashion shoot at a book store brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk.

Director: Stanley Donen
Writer: Leonard Gershe
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson

This movie is beautiful, stylish, funny, romantic and great music, too! Astaire, for his part, felt it might be the only chance he would ever get to work with Hepburn. Di-spite their age gap Astaire took on the role. It doesn't bother me that Astaire is a bit older than he should be in this role - who cares? Think viewing it through the haze of rose-colored glasses. It's Fred Astaire! Not to mention behind the scenes supporting players fashion designer Hubert Givenchy and American fashion photographer Richard Avedon, plus very much on-screen Paris! A stylish and stunning musical. Astaire is a photographer who turns Hepburn's bookworm into a model, Hepburn is a talented dancer with a sweet voice. The Oscar-nominated sets, costumes and photography, along with Gershwin's music make the dance sequences between Hepburn and Astaire glow. Charming film .

Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn​

At one point Fred Astaire gets into the very cool car and drives away .
1956 VELAM was a French automobile manufacturer that made VELAM microcars under the licence of the Isetta from the Italian Iso. Powered by a 236 cc engine. How fun is that?!!

Bohemian Dance

​

Audrey Hepburn & American fashion photographer Richard Avedon

Avedon and Hepburn's artist/muse relationship was showcased in the 1957 musical Funny Face, a whimsical homage to the world of fashion.

Avedon himself was a consultant on the film, which sees Hepburn through a series of photo shoots in romantic Paris locales, dressed impeccably in Givenchy couture. The movie was truly a case of art imitating life; one year before Funny Face was released, Avedon shot Hepburn's first cover of Harper's Bazaar in April 1956.

As arguably the world's most recognizable actress, Audrey Hepburn participated in plenty of photo shoots. However, it was with Avedon that she felt truly comfortable - an unspoken trust between model and photographer that becomes clear in the finished portraits. Robert Wolders, her partner in later years, once revealed, "She often said that working with him was like having a conversation with a good friend."

Hepburn made a rare public appearance in January 1989 to present Avedon with a CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award. In her speech, she expanded on her experiences with the gifted photographer:

"For Richard, I've happily swung through swings, stood in clouds of steam, been drenched with rain, and descended endless flights of stairs without looking and without breaking my neck.... Only with Richard have I been able to shed my innate self-consciousness in front of the camera. Is it his sweetness? Is it his sense of fun? The assurance that you know you're going to end up looking the way you wished you looked?"

For his part, Avedon was equally enchanted with the actress, stating, "I am, and forever will be, devastated by the gift of Audrey Hepburn before my camera."

 

[RobKnapp]

The Illusionist (2006)
Blu-ray

​

In turn-of-the-century Vienna, the illusionist Eisenheim (Edward Norton) uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.
Director:Neil Burger
Writers:Neil Burger (screenplay), Steven Millhauser (short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist")
Stars: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell

Philip Glass's spellbinding music and Dick Pope's shadowy, Oscar nominated cinematography enshroud this intriguing tale of love, power and magic. "The Illusionist" is a unique film that combines two of my favorite genres into something fresh: the lush romantic period piece and the mystery thriller.

There is a lavish attention to the set designs and costumes, here representing late nineteenth century Vienna. Visually in terms of locations,this movie was stunning .The story weaved fluidly through these locations and seemed to make the locales a vital part of the story.

Edward Norton in his role is excellent and and Jessica Biel is mesmerizing she is very believable and stunningly beautiful. Rufus Sewell as the tyrannical crown-prince and Paul Giamatti as the chief inspector are both splendid in there villainous roles .The music of Philip Glass fits the scenes and add just the right amount of tension.

​

This film has a lot going for it ; romance, suspense, star crossed lovers and supernatural illusions.A compelling and beautiful film.

 

[RobKnapp]

Groundhog Day (1993)
25th Anniversary Edition / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Director:Harold Ramis
Writers:Danny Rubin (screenplay), Harold Ramis (screenplay)
Stars: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

The pacing and development just hits the right note every time in a synopsis that on first reading seems to have limited comedic appeal but the cast and direction just win you over. The film is also am excellent character study.
Funny but poignant film. Phil Connors is a weatherman for Channel 9 News Pittsburgh and covers the Groundhog Day festival at the small town of Punxsutawney for several years now. Phil is a cynical and bitter man, dislikes the small town atmosphere, and just wants to get back to Pittsburgh as soon as possible. However, when he discovers that he begins to relive February 2nd everyday over and over he believes he losing hid mind .

As such, the minor holiday becomes the single-most worst day of his life and as Connors continues to relive Groundhog Day. To his advantage, he uses it to woo cheerful producer Rita Hanson (MacDowell) into a romantic relationship.

Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott in Groundhog Day (1993)

​

Murray's performance doesn't only elevate the film to a completely different level but also elevates the work being put in by the rest of the cast. Intelligent movie. It really lives to its reputation, which is overwhelmingly positive. A lot of substance, all understated, some laughs, respects its audience and delivers a great Romantic comedy.

 

[RobKnapp]

The Bad and the Beautiful
(1952)
WBShop : Blu-ray

A movie that embraces the Hollywood studio machine while putting a harsh criticism of it.

An unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director and a writer to achieve success.
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Writers: Charles Schnee (screenplay), George Bradshaw (story)
Stars: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon , Dick Powell , Gloria Grahame, Barry Sullivan

An unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director and a writer to achieve success. This film shows via flashback the stories of three famous movie people whose lives were forever changed by their association with a manipulative, ruthless movie producer Jonathon Shields. The three come together at the producer's request; he wants them to work together on mutually hated Jonathon Shields newest big-budget production

The Bad and the Beautiful took home a quintet of Oscars from 1953's ceremony.
Best Writing, ScreenplayCharles Schnee ,Best Cinematography, Black-and-WhiteRobert Surtees ,Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-WhiteCedric Gibbons, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White Helen Rose . In its title alone we have possibly the greatest ever description of Hollywood. Gloria Grahame won an Oscar . Best Actress in a Supporting Role .

Gloria Grahame in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

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Kirk Douglas shows here what a unique and powerful actor he really is and Lana Turner also shines as the gorgeous looking actress and Shields love interest. Bottom line, when it comes to movies about movies, this one remains the best more than 65 years after it's initial release. Highly recommended.

Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Lana Turner

 

[RobKnapp]

Anon (2018)
Netflix​

Slow-burning film but I enjoyed trip. Especially as an Amanda Seyfried fan.

Amanda Seyfried in Anon (2018)​

Director:Andrew Niccol
Writer:Andrew Niccol
Stars:Clive Owen, Afiya Bennett, Morgan Allen

In a world without anonymity or crime, a detective ( Clive Owen) meets a woman(Amanda Seyfried) She has no identity, no history and is invisible to the cops. Sal realizes this may not be the end of crime, but the beginning.

Owens and Seyfried are excellent in this sci-fi indie noir . I found "Anon" thought provoking. A strong twist on psychological --- sociological fiction that Writer: Andrew Niccol does so well. Absolutely a slow-burning film but I enjoyed trip. Especially as an Amanda Seyfried fan.

 

[RobKnapp]

Are you afraid of being called a punk, wimp, or sissy?
I am not .
Real men watch chick flicks
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Blu-ray

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Director:Gary Winick
Writers:Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa
Stars:Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer

On the surface, "13 Going on 30" is another movie in the "Big" tradition, in which an adolescent is magically transformed into an adult while retaining a child's consciousness.

Occasionally I need what is commonly known as a chick flick as an antidote to a stressful day. 13 Going on 30 is clever, charming, funny, and heartfelt. For the guys, it's among the better of its kind to watch. I ran across this charmer about a nerdy girl ( Jennifer Garner) who wishes to skip her teen angst years and become fabulous and thirty instantaneously. A sprinkle of magic dust does the job, and waking up one morning, she finds herself having everything she dreamed of - a lovely apartment in Manhattan, a job in the magazine she adored as a girl, a boyfriend who's a professional hockey star and a stuffed full of goodies walk in closet.

Sadly, however, she is shocked to discover she is not a very nice person. Putting the wisdom, idealism and enthusiasm of her unspoiled inner thirteen year old to good use, she rectifies the situation with the help of her best childhood friend (Mark Ruffalao ), reconnecting with her parents, and finding true love along the way.

Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30 (2004)

Garner's first co-starring film role was in the action movie Daredevil (2003), in which she played Elektra to Ben Affleck's Daredevil. The physicality required for the role was something Garner had discovered "an aptitude for" while working on the film.

Jennifer Garner is indeed a charmer, she is in incredible shape and is stunningly gorgeous .Jennifer Garner is superb in her role as Jenna Rink. She does a terrific job of acting, particularly in the early scenes when she appears as a completely discombobulated 13-year-old inhabiting an adult version of herself. She handles the smallest of nuances very well to sell the audience on her sudden and traumatic experience; she tries to fit in as an adult, but retains several charming adolescent qualities, like asking to be excused for a restroom break in the middle of a business meeting. Mark Ruffalo also delivers a splendid performance as Matt, a man who is shocked and confused by the sudden re-emergence of the Jenna he once knew and, perhaps, even loved, and dealing with his rekindled emotions while preparing for his own wedding to another woman.

Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30 (2004)

The film also incorporates plenty of 1980s flair in the soundtrack - the 80s music heard throughout the movie sounds fantastic. Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield", Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" starring Jennifer Garner as she recreates and dances to the song. Jennifer is great very athletic.

13 Going on 30 nudges a solid life lesson into its story, conveying the importance of being true to oneself and living not necessarily for the moment, but for the whole of life; making smart decisions; and never forgetting what true friendship is all about. Don't misunderstand; this isn't groundbreaking or even classic cinema, but it's just incredibly good at what it tries to be. That's high praise for this sort of movie. It's time to acknowledge that a well-done Romantic Comedy isn't just for the girls.

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[RobKnapp]

Miss Congeniality (2000)
Blu-ray

An F.B.I. Agent must go undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent a group from bombing the event.

Director:Donald Petrie
Writers:Marc Lawrence, Katie Ford
Stars:Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen , William Shatner , Heather Burns

A tough cop who makes an ugly-duckling transformation in order to go undercover at a beauty pageant. Bullock never for a second looks less than a Hollywood A list star, even when made up to look like a dog. Which is hard to do as Sandra is a knock-out. But who wants believable when there's fun to be had?

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical Sandra Bullock
Best Original Song - Motion Picture Song: "One in a Million"

This fluff gimmick comedy, about a tough female FBI agent who goes undercover at a beauty pageant, would not be anything noteworthy were it not for Sandra Bullock's performance, who comes across as quite genuine and therefore elicits our sympathy. Michael Caine also does a fantastic job, adding some class to the proceedings. The script does the rest, which is funnier than it has any right to be.

Sandra Bullock's facial expressions, physical comedy, comedic timing, really lift this film above the mediocrity of the genre ,it is a very fun film. Sandra Bullock is a very funny actress. Miss Congeniality was quite the pleasant surprise.

"Miss Congeniality" - Sexy Blue Dress - HD

 

[RobKnapp]

The Nuisance (1933)
Turner Classic Movies

PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD 1930 -1934, WHEN MOVIES WERE SEXY, SMART, COMPLEX AND A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN.

Madge Evans and Lee Tracy in The Nuisance (1933)

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An ambulance-chasing lawyer gets tangled up with a female investigator out to end his shyster ways.

Director:Jack Conway
Writers:Chandler Sprague (story), Howard Emmett Rogers (story)
Stars:Lee Tracy, Madge Evans, Frank Morgan

The fast-talking Stevens plays every trick he can against the "soulless corporations" on behalf of the downtrodden whether it is ethical or not until he is ensnared by a beautiful woman. Now can he become honest or will he lose her?

The great Lee Tracy stars in one of his best roles in The Nuisance - a fast-paced, cynical comedy (with doses of drama) about a shrewd (and none-too-honest) ambulance-chasing lawyer who has refined the business of obtaining large settlements for accident claims into a science. The fast-talking Tracy is, of course, the lawyer in question, and he's brilliant in the part. But don't overlook the presence of Frank Morgan (in the days before he became the Wizard of Oz) as his drunken doctor cohort or the great Charles Butterworth as a professional victim. It's all bright, funny and hard as nails.

Frank Morgan, in The Nuisance (1933)

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Lee Tracy was unique. No one talked as fast as he did, and certainly no one ever backed that talk up with such eloquent and fascinating hand gestures. The experience of watching a Lee Tracy performance is like witnessing a strangely graceful machine gun going off. The film ,I suspect because of its lackluster title , isn't one of Tracy's better-known movies, but it's still one of his best.

There are some very good supporting turns in the film. Frank Morgan's perpetually pickled doctor manages to be both funny and tragic , and his fate is actually disturbing. The great Charles Butterworth has a nice role as a man who specializes in faking accidents. The underrated Madge Evans , stands out here where she's given something worthwhile to do.

Madge Evans in The Nuisance (1933)

The Nuisance is a solid comedy, a triumphant story of using American cunning to repudiate corporate greed with wits and verve- and very pre-Code in just how far it goes to show such an anti-hero succeed so admirably. It's very funny and brash, and if any of this sounds like fun, you're in for a treat.

The Nuisance 1933 DVD

https://www.wbshop.com/products/the-nuisance-mod

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