Movie-A-Day #217: Hairspray (1988).
“American Bandstand” made its television debut on this date in 1957. Beyond introducing Dick Clark to the world, it also helped spread the popularity of rock ‘n’ roll music around the country. And by bringing the music out of its chaotic and sometimes questionable local roots, the show also helped tame it and make acceptable to the “grown ups.” But “American Bandstand” and the scores of similar local shows were also must-see TV for teenagers at the time and a cultural focal point. John Waters’ “Hairspray,” about an unpopular girl’s drive to integrate a local dance show was inspired by an actual incident in Baltimore in the early 1960s.
Movie-A-Day #216: Sling Blade (1996).
Happy 56th birthday to Billy Bob Thornton. After all these years and all these roles, “Sling Blade” is still probably the best thing he’s ever done. Next to “Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town,” of course.
Movie-A-Day #215: Watermelon Man (1970).
Happy Watermelon Day! It’s the favorite summer fruit of a lot of people, so someone somewhere decided that today was a good day to celebrate it. Of course, watermelons also have certain historical and cultural connotations, which Melvin Van Peebles explores in “Watermelon Man.”
Movie-A-Day #214: Marihuana (1936).
On this date in 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act was passed, marking the first significant step in criminalizing cannabis in the United States. The law was the result of mounting public pressure about the dangers of the drug, stoked by church groups, crusading journalists and hilariously goofy roadshow propaganda movies like “Marihuana” and the legendary “Reefer Madness” (which has already gotten the Movie-A-Day treatment).
Movie-A-Day #213: Josie and the Pussycats (2001).
MTV turns 30 years old today, which is positively over the hill for such a youth-oriented institution. The music video channel quickly became a pop cultural phenomenon, drastically changing the music industry (and the larger culture) forever. But over the past couple of decades they have drifted farther and farther away from music in favor of reality crap like “Jersey Shore” and “Jackass.” “Josie and the Pussycats” is a great satire of the old MTV – when it was still king of the music world – that works because it spoke the same language as the kids targeted by MTV’s programming. It seems a little quaint now, given how much pop culture has changed in the past decade thanks to everything from 9/11 to YouTube and Twitter, but it’s still a fun film.
Desuko Movie Spot. 