Movie Review: I Love Boosters

 

Michael's Movie Grade: D-

An unfunny and obnoxious satire.

In this film, a group of women rob clothing stores and sell the clothes they steal at discount prices calling it a community service. When a clothes designer insults them on TV, they set out for personal vengeance. 

This is a strong premise that is capable of being either a fun heist film or a biting political commentary. While there are moments of both shown here, they are ultimately drowned out by an overabundance of absurdist comedy. Making this worse is that none of the humor is actually funny. Writer/director Boots Riley's approach to comedy here is to simply throw everything including the kitchen sink at the audience. The result is a film that is bizarre and surreal but never actually funny. It seems like we are supposed to find these moments funny simply because of how weird and over the top they are. It sadly does not work this way, and I did not laugh once watching this movie. The audience in the theater with me laughed a few times but were silent through most of the movie. This is a problem when there is an absurd gag nearly every second. Neither is this comedy ever well utilized in the story or the political commentary. Often times humor can make a political point stronger by pointing out the absurdity of what is happening in the world. That is definitely not the case here. The absurdist humor has little to do with the political message and more often simply distracts from it. Sometimes it seems like just when the movie is actually going to say something worthwhile, it instead hints at something profound before going back to the unrelated absurdist humor. The few times it actually says something, there is no subtlety or nuance to the way the message is conveyed. 

Another major flaw of this film is that Boots Riley seems more interested in ideas than characters or story. It doesn’t matter if these are political ideas or ideas for gags, they still take precedence over telling a good (or even coherent) story or having engrossing characters. As such it is hard to muster any emotional connection to anything happening onscreen, 

I loved Boots Riley's first movie Sorry to Bother You (2018). That movie was smart, thought-provoking, funny and wildly funny. Sadly, his sophomore effort is none of those things.    

Cowboy Church #269

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. It is important for each of us to read our Bible each and every day. The Bible is not just some book, it is the living breathing word of God. It is easy for our faith and Christian walk to become idle and stagnant and the easiest way for this to happen is to simply not read our Bible. Taking some time each day to read the Bible is the best way for our faith and our walk with God to continue growing and maturing.  This recording is the B-side of a 1955 Little Golden Record by Roy and Dale. The A-side was The Bible Tells Me So. 

This is followed by Dailey and Vincent with Moes Smote the Water. 

Afterwards is The Cox Family with There Will Be Singing. 

Then comes Ricky Skaggs with Won't it Be Wonderful There. This song was written by James Rowe in 1930. James Rowe had written thousands of hymns including some beloved classics like Love Lifted Me and If I could Hear My Mother Pray Again. This recording comes from Ricky Skaggs' 1982 album, Friends and Family. 

Next is the Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of The Touch of God's Hand. This song was written by one of the band's forming members and one of my personal favorite songwriters, Bob Nolan. 

Now for Johnny Cash with These Things Shall Pass. This song comes from his incredible 1959 album, Hymns by Johnny Cash. This was Johnny's second album at Columbia records. Earlier he had worked for Sun records where the producer Sam Phillips wouldn't let Johnny make a gospel album feeling gospel music was not making money in the way that rock and roll or country could. Johnny had dreamed of being a gospel singer for a long time, so he made sure to make a gospel album not long after leaving Sun. So, it is true to say that Hymns by Johnny Cash was a true passion project for John.

Today's musical selection ends with Hank Snow with Invisible Hands. This song comes from Hank Snow's 1965 gospel album, Gloryland March. 

Now for a message from S.M. Lockridge. 

Now for the 12th episode of TV's The Lone Ranger.

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 #281

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with the Terry Toons short, If Cat's Could Sing (1950). This is a very charming and fun cartoon. However, dogs being the house owners and cats being their pets feels weird. Oh well I guess if Minnie Mouse could own a cat, why not? This short film was directed by Eddie Donnelly. Producer Paul Terry said about Eddie Donnely, "Eddie Donnelly was a very hard worker. I remember we used to wash the cels and use them over again in [the 1930's], and Ed even used to that at night so he could make a little extra money. [He Started] at Fables, and he got to be a very good director. He was on par with Connie Rasinski, and Connie was the best." 

Next comes Pooch the Pup in King Klunk (1933). Pooch the Pup was one of the Walter Lantz Studio's earliest attempts at an original starring character (the studio started by making a series of cartoons with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit who was created by Walt Disney). The character didn't have the same lasting power as the later Walter Lantz character Woody Woodpecker. Pooch only lasted for 12 cartoons of which this was the 11th. This cartoon is a parody of King Kong (1933), a movie that was released the same year. 

Now for a classic early black and white Silly Symphony, The Clock Store (1931). Like many of the early Silly Symphonies, this movie doesn't have much in the way of plot but instead focuses mainly as a mood piece. This allows the Disney studio to do what they did best, with wonderful animation, beautiful artwork and an incredible sense of atmosphere. No other Hollywood cartoon studio of the time could have done a cartoon like this and make it turn out so well. This film is heavily helped by a truly wonderful group of artists. Johnny Cannon animates the lamplighter. Our first peek inside the clock store is animated by Cecil Surrey. Chuck Couch, an underrated Disney animator and also a cartoon writer for Disney, Walter Lantz and Hanna-Barbera, animates the cuckoo clocks. Harry Reeves, who would work as a Disney animator and story writer into the 1950's, animates the four alarm clocks. Hardie Gramatky animates the timepieces. Frenchy de Trémaudan animates the wristwatches and the dancing alarm clocks. Dan Tattenham animates the Swiss clock with the chimes. Albert Hunter animates the wonderful scene with the minuet figures. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be supervising director on the Disney features Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941), animates the grandfather and grandmother clocks. Charles Byrne animates the Dutch windmill clock. Jack King, later director for both Warner Brothers and Disney (at Disney he directed some of the finest Donald Duck cartoons), animates the Dutch dance. Rudy Zamora, who had previously been a major animator at the Fleischer Studios and would later animate on the Charlie Brown TV specials as well directing various TV cartoons for Hanna-Barbera, animates the alarm clocks fighting and the clock on the wall. Joe D'Igalo animates the crowd cheering for the fight. This film made its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on December 1, 1955. 

Next comes the silent era Out of the Inkwell short, Koko Smokes (1928). 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now for the Mickey Mouse Works cartoon, Hansel and Gretel (1999). This short would later appear on the House of Mouse episode, House Ghosts (2003) and the direct to video movie, Mickey's House of Villains (2002). This short differs greatly from the other Mickey Mouse Works cartoons by not featuring any dialogue. The use of classical music gives it a similar feel to The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1940). The classical piece used here is the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. 

Animation fans know director Friz Freleng as a master of timing and very few comedy cartoons have come close to the perfect comedy timing of his films. This can especially be seen in his cartoon, Yankee Doodle Daffy (1943). This in my mind is one of his funniest films and just a pure delight. Despite the title, this film does not have a parotitic theme or revolve around U.S. history. With the James Cagney feature, Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) having come out the year before, this pun was probably just too good for the filmmakers to pass up.  As I have spoke about Friz earlier look for a portrait of him in Porky's office. A review in The Motion Picture Daily calls this film a "Pleasant little subject." The following are Exhibitor's reviews from The Motion Picture Herald. "YANKEE DOODLE DAFFY: Looney Tunes Cartoons—This studio's cartoons lately seem to be either exiciptionally good or exceptionally bad. This is downright terrible. - W. Verricks Nevins, III, Alfred Co-op Theatre, Alfred N.Y." "YANKEE DOODLE DAFFY: Looney Tunes Cartoons—Good cartoon, but where does it get its name? - Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesdale, W. Va." "YANKEE DOODLE DAFFY: Looney Tunes Cartoons - Average color cartoon. - E.M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla." 

Up next is the Walter Lantz produced Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon, Keeper of Lions (1937). By the time this film was released Oswald had undergone a massive design change and is no longer recognizable as the same charter Walt Disney created in the 1920's.

Now let us close with a song. 

Thank you 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

Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman.

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

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald

https://lantern.mediahist.org/

 

Movie Review: Michael

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An enjoyable but overly conventional biopic. 

If you have seen any musical biopic before there is nothing about this Michael Jackson movie that will seem new to you. However, the movie can also be quite entertaining. There is no denying how great the musical moments are. The recreations of Michael Jackson's classic performances and music videos are incredibly well done. During these scenes you swear you are watching the real Michael. You have probably already heard about how great Jaafar Jackson (Michael's nephew) is here. You have heard right. He is amazing here. Not only does he look and sound like his uncle, but he is also a dang good actor. Less attention has been given to Juliano Valdi for playing Michael as a kid, but he is also very good.   

Unfortunately, as great as these aspects are they are not able to make this movie stand out among the many biopics coming out. You have seen everything here before and there is little about the story that in any way is done better than the plethora of similar films. The movie also suffers from the main fault of most biopics. That is that there is simply too much story to tell in one movie, making much of the film feel rushed. Also, the CGI Bubbles is extremely distracting. 

This is not a great film by any means, but Michael Jackson fans should still have a great time. 

P.S. With this being a Universal movie, I was amazed at all the classic Disney posters and stuffed Mickeys seen here. 

  

Movie Review: Corporate Retreat

 

Michael's Movie Grade: F

An embarrassingly bad horror-comedy. 

In this film, a young woman ends up being dragged along to a corporate retreat by her boyfriend. This corporate retreat ends up being very dangerous as it is being arranged by a mentally unstable former CEO.

For being a horror-comedy, there is not one thing about this movie that is either funny or scary. Instead, this is one of the most unpleasant movies, I have seen in a long time. It simply lingers on extremely gory scenes that have no point except to be gory. This gory is too realistic and disturbing to be any fun but the story line is too silly for the gore to add any sense of realism. All that is left is pointless scenes that are simply very disturbing and hard to watch. The movie then becomes an endurance test for audiences. I wanted to get up and leave the theater many times. Story-wise this film is no better. The plot seems like it wants to make some sort of point about corporate America. However, whatever point it wants to make is completely lost in a nonsensical story and hopelessly inept dialogue. Telling this story the movie is constantly shifting tones in such a clumsy way that you are unsure how serious or not serious you are supposed to be taking anything. Regardless of how you take it, it is impossible to have any emotional connection to anything going on. The characters are all bland stereotypes that are never likable, relatable or enjoyable. 

The closest thing this movie has to something making it worth watching is the performance by Alan Ruck as the villain. Alan Ruck seems to know he is in a bad movie here and just decides to ham it up. The result is the only thing that is somewhat fun to watch here. 

Simply avoid this.   

Video Link: The Muppets - Fever (Rita Moreno & Animal)

 

Turning a Desert into Hollywood

 Last month I posted an old vintage article about the making of the silent version of Beau Geste (1926). Here is another article about the same subject. I hope you enjoy it.

This comes from a 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. If you have any trouble reading it click on the page below and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here.