Movie Review: One Spoon of Chocolate

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C-

This thriller starts strong but unfortunately falters out as it goes along. 

In this film a young black man goes to live with his cousin in a small town in Idaho after getting out of jail. He wants just to live peacefully and leave his past behind him. Unfortunately, a group of white supremacists decide to make life a living hell for him. 

After an unnecessarily gratuitously violent opening, this movie does a very good job creating an emotional connection between you and the main character. From the second you meet him you are set up to have sympathy for him. He fought for his country; he cares deeply about what is right and wrong and he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. He has been in jail for fighting a man who was beating his wife in fact. Added to this is that Shameik Moore is very charming and charismatic in the role. With our emotional connection this becomes a fairly strong if familiar drama about systematic racism, the treatment of veterans and corruption in law enforcement.

 However sadly this can't last. The movie soon becomes bogged down in an orgy of sex, violence and clichés. As the movie goes along, the violence and sex simply become gratuitous. Many scenes are not simply violent but repulsively gory for the sake of being repulsively gory. This movie would have lost nothing if it just simply cut away and left some of these gory scenes to our imagination. As the storyline and the action get increasingly over the top, the extremely realistic violence feels more and more out of place. The sex is just unnecessary. Many women are reduced to sex objects in many scenes that simply feel here to make this already very adult movie feel edgy. I am not squeamish or a prude but much of the sex and violence in this movie simply serves no purpose but shock value. Worse than this the social commentary and the characters often take a back seat to this shock value as the film continues. About halfway through this film, if not before then, everyone knows exactly what direction the story is going. However, as the film takes its time to get to the inevitable conclusion, the audience becomes impatient for what they know will happen to happen.

 I will admit though that when we get to the big, expected climax, it is quite well done though. 

It is sad when a movie that starts out quite strong, turns into something not so great. Unfortunately, that is the case here.        

Hayley Mills: Forever Young: A Memoir

 

If you love the 1960's live action Disney films as much as I do, you probably have the same fondness for Hayley Mills (who as a child acted in multiple Disney classics). To me Pollyanna (1960) still ranks as one of Disney's finest live action movies and The Parent Trap (1961) is still a comedy classic. Because of this I was eager to read Hayley Mills' memoir. 

What I found was the Hayley is just a lovely of a human being as she is an actress. She not only talks about her career and personal life but also her own personal philosophies. In a simple and unpretentious manner, she shows herself to be a very soulful and intelligent woman. You not only learn about her here, but you connect with emotionally. 

As a buff of all things Walt Disney, I of course greatly enjoyed the times when she talked about Walt himself. It is rare to be able to actually read about Walt from the point of view of someone who actually knew him. This makes me treasure every chance I get to read a first-hand account of the great filmmaker. To read Hayley writing about him with such love and fondness only increased this joy. 

She also talked greatly about some of her British films. Even if you have not seen these movies, Hayley's writing makes you want to search them out. 

Hayley also talks greatly about the effects of being a child star in Hollywood. While her life does not have the same tragedies that many child stars suffered, it did lead to much insecurity on her part. She obviously still remembers these insecurities and writes about them in a way that can feel heartbreaking to read. 

A must read for any Hayley Mills and/or Disney fan. 

Cowboy Church #266

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with their 1950 recording of May the Good Lord Take a Liking to Ya. This song was written by Peter Tunturin, who wrote songs that Roy sang in such movies as Days of Jesse James (1939), The Carson City Kid (1940), Young Bill Hickok (1940), Robin Hood of the Pecos (1941) and Sheriff of Tombstone (1941). Roy also sang this song in the movie, Trigger Jr. (1950).

This is followed by Tammy Wynette with May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You. This recording comes from her 1969 gospel album, Inspiration. 

Afterwards is Bill Carlisle with his 1936 recording of He'll Be Your Savior Too.

Then comes Ralph Stanley with Gone Away with a Friend. This recording comes from his 2005 gospel album, Will the Ages Roll On. 

Afterwards is Kris Kristofferson with They Killed Him. This song (written by Kris) pays tribute to three heroes of Kris. Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It is a shame that in this world, people who preach a message of love can often get killed for doing it. As Christians though love for others should be a major priority. After all God us love and it is through love that we can best see him.  Despite Kris writing this song he was not the first to record it. Kris would record the song in 1986, but Johnny Cash had already recorded it in 1984. In 1986 Bob Dylan also recorded the song for his Knocked Out Loaded album. 

Then comes The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Lord You Made the Cowboy Happy. This song should remind us of how blessed we truly are. It is the things we take for granted each day that are our greatest blessings. Sometimes we need to stop and simply thank God for these blessings. The narrator of this song is not thankful for any big event in his life, but rather for all the little blessing he receives every day.

Today's musical selection ends with The Chuck Wagon Gang with their 1940 recording of I Love to Tell of His Love. 

Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham.

Now for the 9th episode of The Lone Ranger TV show.

Psalm 57

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

    for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

    until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

    to God, who vindicates me.

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,

    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—

    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;

    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—

    I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path—

    but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,

    my heart is steadfast;

    I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul!

    Awake, harp and lyre!

    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

    I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again. 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #278

 Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd in To Duck or Not To Duck (1943). This cartoon is directed by Chuck Jones. At this time many of Chuck's cartoons had been slower paced and less comedy oriented, than the other Looney Tunes directors' films. While this cartoon is nowhere near as fast paced as Chuck's later films, it definitely moves faster and has more comedy compared to what he did in the past. Elmer's dog Larimore gets some of the best laughs in the film. It is also worth noting that Daffy had not become a born loser at this time yet. We will not see Elmer shooting Daffy's bill off in this cartoon. 

Now for the Max Fleischer Color Classic, Little Dutch Mill (1934). This short film features some of those incredible 3D backgrounds that appeared in Fleischer films at this time. These were created using actual miniature model sets for which animation cels were often placed in front of. The effect is still visually amazing today. This cartoon is especially a real visual treat.  

Now it is time for a silent classic, Felix Gets Broadcasted (1923). While visually this film may feel like a moving comic strip, the story and gags are very fun and creative. 

Next is Never Should Have Told You (1937), one of the Fleischer Screen songs cartoons. This film features the character Wiffle Piffle, who appeared in a few Betty Boop cartoons as well. The title song was written by Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin, who also wrote The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down, which is best known as the theme music for the Looney Tunes series. My country music loving friends might like to know that Cliff Friend co-wrote (with Irving Mills) Lovesick Blues, which would become one of Hank Williams Sr.'s signature songs. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Next comes a unique Mickey Mouse short, Minnie's Yoo-Hoo (1930). The title song was written by Carl Stalling (who would later become the main composer for the Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies cartoons) for an earlier Mickey cartoon entitled Mickey's Follies (1929). This was the first original song from the Disney studio, and it would become the theme song for the series with an instrumental version beginning every Mickey cartoon. In 1929, the same year as Mickey's Follies was released, the song would receive sheet music. Singer Len Maurice would record the song in 1930. This short presents a sing-along version of the song. The version heard here includes a second verse, that was not heard in Mickey's Follies but did appear on the song sheet that was published later the same year that it first appeared inn that cartoon. This short was made for The Mickey Mouse Clubs that appeared around the country. These were created by theatre owners and were gatherings of movie loving kids who were fans of Mickey Mouse. Walt loved this idea and while he did not start it he did all he could to expand it across the country. He also made this short so that club members could sing along during their meetings. There is very little new animation here. There is reuse of animation of Mickey and friends performing the song at the beginning that comes from Mickey's Follies. The animation of the curtain opening and closing was lifted from Fiddling Around (1930). The only original animation for this film is Mickey's address to the audience and the whole group of animals doing the "Yoo-Hoo" at the end. 

You can listen to Len Maurice's version of the song below. 

Now for the Mighty Mouse cartoon, Anti-Cats (1950). 

Next is classic World War 2 themed Merrie Melodies cartoon, The Fifth-Column Mouse (1943). This film differs from most of the World War Two propaganda cartoons of this era as there is no sign of Nazis, Hitler or Japanese soldiers. The cartoon is more of an allegory, albeit not a subtle one. While the political overtones may go over a modern kid's head (if the child is not familiar with World War 2 history) there is no doubt that movie audiences knew exactly what this cartoon was referring to upon its release. The music in this film is delightful, and I especially love the rendition of Blues in the Night.

Now to close with a song. 

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 

Resources Used

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

 Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-other-disney-cartoons-minnies-yoo-hoo/

https://www.fleischerstudios.com/ray3.html

 

 

Movie Review: Mother Mary

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An absorbing surreal drama. 

This film has a popstar about to make her debut comeback but uncomfortable with the dress she is to wear. She goes back to her old designer to have her make a dress last minute. However, the two have old wounds that still hurt.

The magic of this movie comes directly from our two main characters. Even with the supernatural elements and larger than life musical numbers, this relationship remains the main focus of the film. Though it is not clear if that relationship was romantic or a friendship, but it is obvious that their former relationship was much closer than singer and designer. One can see in each scene the pain that each of them feels as the other comes back into their life and underneath the pain, one can also see that they still care about each other in a way. At the same time this film shows how multiple people go to create the image of a popstar, yet only the popstar gets credit for this and how this can lead to division between the star and the other creatives. This emotionally complex relationship is not easy to convey but director/writer David Lowery (who I was already a fan of due to The Green Knight (2021), The Old Man and the Gun (2018) and Pete's Dragon (2016)) and actresses Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel (who often steals the show here and who also gives another great performance in The Christophers (which is also currently and theaters) capture it perfectly down to the smallest nuance. The film has many scenes focusing on just these two characters talking. In lesser hands these talky scenes could have come off as boring. However here they come off as fully gripping. 

Naturally being a film where one of the main characters is popstar, there have to be some song performances. These performances are a visual treat with excellent chorography and lighting. Many of her fans refer to the popstar's concerts as almost a religious experience. The performances do feel larger than life enough to make us understand this. The songs (co-written by popstar Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff (member of the pop-rock band Fun and a songwriter that has worked with such real popstars as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter)) would fit perfectly into playlists of real-life popstars. While this is far from my taste in music, I can definitely appreciate the artistry that went into these songs and performances. However, I do feel sometimes that these performances kind of interrupted the flow of the story for me.    

While the early scenes in this film are quite grounded, the movie does take a turn in a supernatural direction as it goes on. There are a few scenes that do a good job leading up to this, such as a dance number without music that often looks like a demonic possession, but the change to a supernatural story does lead to some less than perfect tonal shifts. This is especially true with a few (surprisingly pretty creepy) scenes that feel straight out of a horror movie. These scenes just simply feel out of place with the character driven drama that made up most of the film. 

What is very well done about the supernatural elements is that they are kept purposefully vague. They are never fully explained and have multiple ways that audience members can interpret them. All of these interpretations are equally valid. 

All in all this is an excellent, if sometimes flawed, film. 

Movie Trailer: Coyote Vs. Acme

 

Mack Sennett: He Speculates in Comedy Thunder

 There are names that anyone familiar with silent comedy knows. Along with Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, this definitely includes Mack Sennett. The legendary comedy producer not only brought us the likes of the Keystone Kops and the Mack Sennett Bathing Beauties, but he also produced the earliest films of Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand and Harry Langdon. If it wasn't for him, film comedy probably would have never evolved thew way it did. 

The following is a 1916 article about Mack Sennett from Moving Picture Classic. If you have any trouble reading it click on the pages below and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here.

The following comedy short, The Feathered Nest (1916), was produced by Mack Sennett and released the same year that article above was published. 

Now for a true masterpiece. This is a wonderful talkie short produced by Mack Sennett and starring the comedy legend W.C. Fields. Enjoy The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933).