Movie-A-Day #257: Bluebeard (1972).
Happy 67th birthday to the swinging, groovilicious Joey Heatherton. Her film resume might not be very extensive, but “Bluebeard” is kind of fun, in a tasteless and tacky sort of way.
Movie-A-Day #256: Eegah (1962).
Happy 72nd birthday to the larger than life Richard Kiel. The 7’2″ actor is best known for playing Jaws in the James Bond films, but before that he starred in a variety of monster or alien roles in a long string of B-movie cheapies, where his size guaranteed him plenty of work. Among the best/worst of these is the Arch Hall Sr./Jr. vehicle “Eegah” about a rock ‘n’ roll kid who discovers a giant caveman living in the desert near Palm Springs.
Movie-A-Day #255: Brazil (1985).
Happy 80th birthday to the great Ian Holm. His face is probably more recognizable than his name, but you can’t deny his talent. He’s done everything from Shakespeare to space operas, from “Hamlet” to “Alien” and “The Fifth Element.” But he was also in “Brazil,” a brilliantly perverse movie that deserves to be revisited – in the director’s cut, if possible.
Movie-A-Day #254: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004).
Tenth anniversary remembrances of the 9/11 attacks are easy to find today, and there isn’t much I can add to them. Others have eulogized those who lost their lives that day much better and more eloquently than I can. But while we must remain vigilant that such terrorism never happens again, we also need to remain vigilant that we do not repeat the same mistakes followed that tragic day. While some important security measures were taken, fear and paranoia also gripped the nation as government surveillance was expanded to unprecedented levels and a flimsy set of lies were used to justify an invasion of Iraq. Michael Moore’s incendiary film “Fahrenheit 9/11” was widely attacked on its release for being unpatriotic. But even with some of its flaws, it proved to be prescient and as the years go by, more and more Americans are coming to realize the truth behind the nation’s poor response to 9/11.
Movie-A-Day #253: The Haunting (1963).
Today is the birthday of one of the unsung legends of Hollywood, Robert Wise. He started out as a sound and music editor, worked in special effects, worked his way up to being a film editor (he was nominated for an Oscar for editing “Citizen Kane”) and eventually a director of such classics as “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “West Side Story,” “The Sound of Music” and, my absolute favorite horror film of all time, “The Haunting.” He was also an integral part of the Directors Guild of America for decades, nurturing countless young filmmakers.
Desuko Movie Spot. 