Movie-A-Day #202: Destination Moon (1950).
Neil Armstrong took his small step (and giant leap for mankind) 42 years ago today. The Apollo moon landing was the high point of the American space program up to that point – and, unfortunately, after all this time it still is. It was the first time that humanity had ventured beyond the orbit of the Earth, and it seemed to be the start of a great age of space exploration. But after just five missions in three years, the manned moon landings were over and we have not left our home planet since. And now in 2011, even the Space Shuttle program has ended, with nothing planned to replace it. It’s a big change from the heady days before the moon landing, when both the scientific community and the general public were giddy with the idea of exploring the “final frontier.” Robert Heinlein’s “Destination Moon” was a good expression of that excitement and it even managed to accurately predict many aspects of space travel, a full decade before Yuri Gagarin made is pioneering flight and nearly two decades before the moon landing.
Movie-A-Day #201: Freeway (1996).
The first major section of the Arroyo Seco Parkway – the nation’s first freeway, connecting downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena – was opened on this day in 1940. Although it is better known now as the Pasadena Freeway (Route 110), it was the precursor to the interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. It still exists, almost unchanged, despite the fact that its design is completely outdated. When traffic is light enough to move at highway speeds, it can be a pretty harrowing experience with its narrow lanes, high walls and abrupt exits. Almost as harrowing as the journey in “Freeway.”
Movie-A-Day #200: The Sweet Hereafter (1997).
Today is director Atom Egoyan’s 51st birthday. His films can be baffling, opaque, philosophical or pretentious, depending on your viewpoint. But the devastating “The Sweet Hereafter” is probably the best of the bunch.
Movie-A-Day #199: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010).
My son turns 6 years old today. So, in his honor, this is his current favorite movie. I’m not sure what appeal “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” has for him. Maybe he can relate to the struggles of a small, nerdy kid trying to navigate the perils of middle school and an overbearing older brother because it reminds him of life with his sister? Or maybe he just thinks the Cheese Touch is funny? I don’t know, but happy birthday anyway, buddy.
Movie-A-Day #198: Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979).
Happy 61st birthday to P.J. Soles. Her performance as Riff Randell, rock-n-roller, in “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” was the best of a string of late-1970s, early 1980s roles that should have broken her out as a bigger star. That didn’t happen, but she’s been working steadily in plenty of smaller projects since then. Somebody give this woman a high profile job, please!
Desuko Movie Spot. 