Saturday Evening Movie Thread [moviegique]: Rental Family

If he hadn't had his career derailed by a series of mishaps and downright evil, Brendan Fraser would be alongside Tom Hanks in terms of being the modern equivalent of a Golden Age actor like Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda. The difference between the two is that I will go see a movie just because Brendan Fraser is in it, which is not at all true of Hanks.

The excesses of The Whale aside—and its director, Darren Aronofsky, whom Ken Russell calls from the grave to say "Settle down"—Fraser was terrific. A well-earned Oscar.

This is probably a double-edged sword in that we probably permit a character played by Fraser to get away with things he really shouldn't. In fact, despite the very strong marks for Rental Family, all I could see as the movie started rolling, was all the many, many ways this movie could go bad.

Gaijin on the train.

Fraser plays Phillip Vandarploeg, an American who moved to Japan seven years prior after becoming a sensation as the star of a toothpaste commercial, has fallen on hard times when he's called by his agent to play—well, I'm not going to say what, exactly, because while this movie doesn't have really big twists or surprises, the ones it does have shouldn't be spoiled. Despite not doing very well at the gig (because he's completely unprepared) he's approached by Shinji, the owner of a company called Rental Family. They need a token American.

Philip is obviously used to this, although I can't help but note that he's not a token at all.

You see, the business that Shinji has is that he supplies people to act out parts in other people's lives for various reasons. One of their most popular jobs is euphemistically called "Apology Services", where a woman (Aiko, played by Mari Yamamoto) pretends to be a man's mistress and apologizes to his wife for having an affair.

This is the important thing about this job: He's lying to someone, and he has considerable issue doing so. The first job he has seems relatively harmless. And he has a kind of nice one where he plays video games and acts friendly toward a shut-in. But the first big job he gets is pretending be a girl's father.

The girl's mother is trying to get her into an elite private school, and the school isn't interested in single mothers. The mom doesn't want to force the child to have to lie, so instead has Philip pretend to be her father to her.

Philip's inability to FAKE attachment is very American, and of course why we like him.

This, and another job, where Philip pretends to be a journalist interviewing an old, forgotten actor (played by Akira Emoto, who has over 700 credits to his name) are the ones where you can see the train wreck coming. As light a touch as the movie has, you just wanna yell "Don't do it! You're not cut out for this, Brendan Fraser!"

Because there are two main ways you can go with a story like this, right? You can pull a Rain Man and have your Tom Cruise character be a semi-sociopath/narcissist who learns a little something about being human.

But Philip is alone in Japan. He has no family. The only people we see him interact with are his agent (on the phone) and a prostitute. Professional relationships, in other words.

You know, immediately, that Philip is going to end up caring too much, and possibly caring in ways that are culturally inappropriate.

The director (the mononymic Hikari) handles this with a deft touch: Very light, very Japanese, able to clearly communicate the issues that arise from arrangements like these without being moralizing or heavy-handed. This might not be "true" on some level, I wouldn't know. But it makes for a pleasant and emotional experience that still manages to avoid being mawkish.

This gig, which happens immediately after Philip accepts the job, made me a bit nervous about what might come next.

Seriously, I look more for (and celebrate) movies avoiding pitfalls these days than achieving high aesthetic points. This does both. The cinematography of Japan is perfect in that sense: It shows lovely shots of Tokyo and the countryside—but it isn't a fairy tale like (e.g.) Amélie. The wonderfully scrubbed and saturated views of France worked perfectly for that film: This one looks like a Tokyo you could actually go visit.

Terrific acting. Good story structure. Strong ending. Highlighting the issues with these arrangements but still managing to pull out a happy ending.

It's an increasingly rare "general recommendation". If you like movies about people with humor and drama, the only negative (for the average moviegoer) is the use of subtitles. I would argue the film excels at that, too, though because there are just enough subtitles to make you remember where you are. There are a lot of excellent touches that enhance the fish-out-of-water feel, like Fraser being 6'3" and having a pot-belly. (Although Takehiro Hira is six-feet tall, Fraser is always bigger and taller and paler than everyone else.)

It probably won't get a lot of award nominations, but it should.

Oh, there is a theoretical negative that filled me with dread: The idea that somebody would remake this movie, but base it in America, and have it star, I dunno, Kevin James and Adam Sandler. Or Vince Vaugh and Chris Pratt.

One of the best movies of the year and a rare mix of award and box office bait. You know, what used to just be known as "a good movie". And one of three in 2025 I would recommend for general audiences—which, honestly, is two or three more than I'm able to recommend in the past few years. The other two are Mission: Impossible 8 - The Final Reckoning and The Naked Gun reboot.

Destined to be crushed by Wicked, Zootopia and Five Nights at Freddy 2, and to under-perform Bugonia, Heart Eyes, Chainsaw Man, the re-release of Wicked—all of which serve as a challenge of my ability to estimate what "general audiences" will go for.

It's nice to see small businesses thriving in Japan. Even if they're fundamentally very weird.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I am your host, Mr. Roarke.

Welcome to the Saturday Evening Movie Thread.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 07:31 PM (asXVI)

2 That great Celtic man, Ricardo Montalban.

(I don't care, but I think it's funny.)

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 07:32 PM (asXVI)

3 I loved The Mummy, more that I expected to.
The chemistry between him and Rachel Weiss was amazing. (And Rachel Weiss was so hot…wait til you see her in a snug, tight plaid pencil skirt…

Anyways, this was the one and only time I remember seeing Brendan Frasier in a movie.

Posted by: Cow Demon at December 06, 2025 07:35 PM (4786I)

4 Damn autocorrect…has it never heard of Rachel Weisz? Really?

Posted by: Cow Demon at December 06, 2025 07:35 PM (4786I)

5 They're talking sequel to that franchise. I would be down for it, if ... nervous.

Check out Fraser in "Blast from the Past". Hell, he's good in "Encino Man," which is just a goofy, dumb teen comedy.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 07:37 PM (asXVI)

6 I like Brendan Fraser more than I will ever like Hanks.

Forrest Gump was the only thing Hanks was remarkable for in his appearance and he just seemed a natural.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 06, 2025 07:38 PM (w6S0H)

7 Yeah with fraser it comes almost as innocent

Sort of a variati9n on lost in translation

Hos integral rachel was to rhe plot wss when they replaced here with maria bello for the third film

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:40 PM (bXbFr)

8 Adam Sandler's Uncut Gems is the train wreck you see coming movie I found hard to watch though it was written, acted and directed fantastically

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:41 PM (KDPiq)

9 That's a good summary of "Uncut Gems".

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 07:42 PM (asXVI)

10 I, too, like Brendan just because he seems like a nice guy. He has an open face. Which probably limits the kind of rolls he can take.

And I, too, have no idea what the GenPub likes, because I'm a bit of a weirdo.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:44 PM (kpS4V)

11 I used to sort of liked Tom Hanks at the beginning of his career but started not to care for his acting or able to suspend belief seeing him as a leading man.

Though I think Nothing in Common with Jackie Gleason is an underrated Hanks film.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:45 PM (KDPiq)

12 With hanks after a point, its like they were forcing us to like him

Fraser is more like chris pratt to which chsrm comes natural

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (bXbFr)

13 "If he hadn't had his career derailed by a series of mishaps and downright evil, Brendan Fraser..."

What does this mean?

Posted by: Lyford at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (gb+vr)

14 Loved Fraser in Bedazzled

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (SRRAx)

15 Fraser was great in the TV sitcom , Scrubs for the 2 or 3 episodes he did playing the brother of Dr Cox's wife.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:47 PM (KDPiq)

16 8 Adam Sandler's Uncut Gems is the train wreck you see coming movie I found hard to watch though it was written, acted and directed fantastically

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:41 PM (KDPiq)
----

I had the exact same reaction. You could not derail this bulletin train of bad choices.

I tried to see it first in a theater but the volume was cranked to Monsters of Rock levels and I had to flee, thinking I hated the film. I later saw it at home and liked -- well, admired -- the story.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:47 PM (kpS4V)

17 I like movie but I do not know movies.

PS 2.17.26 there will be a release of a remastered Star Wars.

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 07:48 PM (gbOdA)

18 I thot 50 First Dates was great.
It has about 50 layers.

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 07:50 PM (gbOdA)

19 There are some evil people in hollywood

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:50 PM (bXbFr)

20 And apparently there's gonna be a third Mummy movie and Brendan and Rachel Weisz are penciled in.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:50 PM (kpS4V)

21 Apollo 13 and Road to Perdition were good Hanks movies that could have been just as good or better (Perdition) with a different actor.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:51 PM (KDPiq)

22 Promethius

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 06, 2025 07:52 PM (Kt19C)

23 Over on Kickstarter, there's a campaign for a documentary about "The Final Sacrifice," an old, indy-produced Canadian movie. The film is best known for being featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and, in my humble opinion, it made for the single best episode in the 13 seasons of MST3K! It had the best of both worlds; there was a competent script and memorable characters, so the story of movie is enjoyable in-and-of itself, but the lack of budget and just the oddness of some of the characters made the movie eminently mock-able!

Anyways, the reward tiers for the documentary are a little bit steep, but....considering how often I've watched that movie, I don't have too much hesitation throwing a bit of cash their way.

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 06, 2025 07:52 PM (Lhaco)

24 Good evening everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 06, 2025 07:52 PM (Ia/+0)

25 He played kind of an antihero in that dc version of the avengers

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:53 PM (bXbFr)

26 Alien earth (retired thr prize)

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:53 PM (bXbFr)

27 I honestly haven't seen much of Brenden Frasier, but The Mummy was better than it had any right to be, and he's a star just based on that performance!

It's nice to see him have a career resurgence, even if I'm not terribly interested in the new movies he's making.

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 06, 2025 07:54 PM (Lhaco)

28 ROWZDOWER!!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:54 PM (kpS4V)

29 Loved Fraser in Bedazzled
Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (SRRAx)

Yes. Wife and I love that movie.

And the two Mummy movies. As someone mentioned, he and Rachel Weisz had crazy chemistry. A rare thing in cinema.

Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at December 06, 2025 07:55 PM (0aYVJ)

30 Speaking of Adam Sandler , one of his other serious movies that I think is really good and would recommend is Funny People. I even liked Seth Rogen a lot in the movie which is very unusual for me.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:56 PM (KDPiq)

31 The film is best known for being featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and, in my humble opinion, it made for the single best episode in the 13 seasons of MST3K!
---

It's great, but it's no "Space Mutiny" or "Alien From L.A.". I do love all the hockey hair and Canuck jokes.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:56 PM (kpS4V)

32 Yeah that was a good one with liz hurley

Some what less plausible than the original with dudley moore

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:57 PM (bXbFr)

33 So many many years ago my best friend had to work and his sister (1 year and 1 grade older) wanted to go see
a movie she had won tickets to.
So low and behold I am at his house with duct tape hemming up he Gloria Vanderbuilt jeans (she had bought that day) to go see Bee Gees St Peppers.
North Park Mall Dallas Tx must have been summer of 78.

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 07:57 PM (gbOdA)

34 Castle Guy at 27

I'll second that.

If memory serves, Fraser starred with Michael Caine in a remake of The Quiet American. Never saw either version, but heard good things about both -- will get to them Real Soon Now.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 07:58 PM (q3u5l)

35 Both Vaughn and Sandler have more range than just comedy. It's just that few of the projects they are on bother to use that range.

Posted by: ravenshrike at December 06, 2025 07:58 PM (16udA)

36 Speaking of Adam Sandler , one of his other serious movies that I think is really good and would recommend is Funny People. I even liked Seth Rogen a lot in the movie which is very unusual for me.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:56 PM (KDPiq)

Me too. Very well done.

Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at December 06, 2025 07:58 PM (0aYVJ)

37 there will be a release of a remastered Star Wars.
Posted by: r hennigantx

With the true story of Solo shooting first!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at December 06, 2025 07:59 PM (z/7Ah)

38 I even liked Seth Rogen a lot in the movie which is very unusual for me.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 07:56 PM (KDPiq)

Me too. Very well done.
Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at December 06, 2025 07:58 PM (0aYVJ)

I am taking a lot of rhino penis
please dont call me that in public

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 07:59 PM (gbOdA)

39 Yes rogen should be taken in small doses like idocaine

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 07:59 PM (bXbFr)

40 Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 07:57 PM (gbOdA)

I liked The Bee Gees a lot and don't hate the Beatles but that movie was really bad Earth Wind and Fire's Got to Get You Into My Life was the only saving grace.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:00 PM (KDPiq)

41 With the true story of Solo shooting first!
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at December 06, 2025 07:59 PM (z/7Ah)

original

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 08:00 PM (gbOdA)

42
Tom Hanks is kinda hated, yes?

He's no James Stewart.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:00 PM (DJUFe)

43 I liked The Bee Gees a lot and don't hate the Beatles but that movie was really bad Earth Wind and Fire's Got to Get You Into My Life was the only saving grace.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:00 PM (KDPiq)

I think the fifth beatle played that one too.

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 08:01 PM (gbOdA)

44 Phrasing (or perhaps not)

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (bXbFr)

45 Evenin', all,

I'm back from the Christmas (Weihnachten) fair at the local German-American Center. No National Socialist night, but lots of outdoor booths with crafts -- mostly for women and children -- and some food and mulled wine. Miss Linda got a pic with Krampus, her favorite Christmas icon.

The good: The city has paved the road in front of the center, and the live band, w/ Xmas music of course, was not ear-shatteringly loud. The bad: the prices! $8 for a cup of mulled wine, $5 for a big pretzel, and one booth wanted $15 for a loaf of Stollen bread. And they wanted $5 to park in their lot. (I dodged the last two.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (wzUl9)

46
He's no James Stewart.
Posted by: Soothsayer
Can't hate a Brigadier general.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (z/7Ah)

47 Is this going to be the original version of Star Wars with no CGI Jabba the Hutt?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (kpS4V)

48 Both Vaughn and Sandler have more range than just comedy. It's just that few of the projects they are on bother to use that range.
Posted by: ravenshrike at December 06, 2025 07:58 PM (16udA)

Vince Vaughn was awesome in Brawl in Cell Block 99.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (KDPiq)

49 13 "If he hadn't had his career derailed by a series of mishaps and downright evil, Brendan Fraser..."

What does this mean?
Posted by: Lyford at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (gb+vr)

He was blacklisted after accusing the head of the HFPA of sexual assault after the guy groped him at a luncheon.

Posted by: Jeff Weimer at December 06, 2025 08:03 PM (gUs21)

50 Wolfus, I've sent out Krampus cards for Christmas,

My favorite has a cute Krampus glowering and saying "You. In the bag".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:04 PM (kpS4V)

51 from what I read pure star wars

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 08:05 PM (gbOdA)

52 Been a while since I watched it, but I don't recall Vaughn being bad in Dragged Across Concrete either. And yes, he was awesome in Brawl in Cell Block 99.

I didn't even think Vaughn was all that bad in the van Sant remake of Psycho. Not up to Perkins maybe, but who would have been?

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 08:05 PM (q3u5l)

53 Tom Hanks is kinda hated, yes?

He's no James Stewart.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025

***
No, nor is he a Jack Lemmon. But he has taken the *kind* of roles that JL would have during his career, going from light comedy to drama and back again. I can imagine a 1960 Jack doing a film like Cast Away, for instance, or You've Got Mail, in his case w/ Shirley Maclaine. And Hanks in a film like The Apartment -- though I'm not suggesting he would be as good as Jack was.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:06 PM (wzUl9)

54 Vince Vaughn was awesome in Brawl in Cell Block 99.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:02 PM (KDPiq)
----

Also in "Dragged Across Concrete", which is great but a tough film to watch, like "Bone Tomahawk".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:07 PM (kpS4V)

55 If he hadn't had his career derailed by a series of mishaps and downright evil, Brendan Fraser would be alongside Tom Hanks

---

"George of the Jungle" was bad, but evil? Come on now.

Posted by: Lemmiwinks at December 06, 2025 08:07 PM (kDHiw)

56 Vince Vaughn was awesome in Brawl in Cell Block 99.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025

***
He always surprises me -- in a good way -- when I see him in a film.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:08 PM (wzUl9)

57 I didn't even think Vaughn was all that bad in the van Sant remake of Psycho. Not up to Perkins maybe, but who would have been?
----

The trouble was, Vaughn seemed quietly psychotic from the get-go. Not like that nice young man Anthony Perkins!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:09 PM (kpS4V)

58 Speaking of Adam Sandler , one of his other serious movies that I think is really good and would recommend is Funny People. I even liked Seth Rogen a lot in the movie which is very unusual for me.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025

***
I didn't go to see Just Go With It for him, or Jen Aniston either, but for Nicole Kidman. But both Adam and Jen did well and had nice chemistry.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:09 PM (wzUl9)

59 And Hanks in a film like The Apartment -- though I'm not suggesting he would be as good as Jack was.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:06 PM (wzUl9)

Agree . I think Hanks would have been a good casting choice if they had done a remake.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:09 PM (KDPiq)

60 Another example of on-screen chemistry is Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer.

Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at December 06, 2025 08:10 PM (0aYVJ)

61 >>11 I think Nothing in Common with Jackie Gleason is an underrated Hanks film.

It was a path Hanks could have taken to become a serious actor. He didn't. That said, in spite of its myriad appalling flaws, Joe vs the Volcano is a wonderful flick.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:11 PM (NcvvS)

62 Forrest Gump was the only thing Hanks was remarkable for in his appearance and he just seemed a natural.

----

I actually didn't think Hanks was that good in Forrest Gump; Gary Sinise was really good in that one. I did think Hanks was great in Apollo 13 though.

Posted by: Lemmiwinks at December 06, 2025 08:13 PM (kDHiw)

63 Speaking of mummy movies, The Mummy's Tomb is on Svengoolie.

Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:13 PM (vFG9F)

64 I first noticed Hanks, like a lot of people did, when he was in the TV sitcom Bosom Buddies. I'd thought it would be a one-joke show, but it was written quite well and was often very funny.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:13 PM (wzUl9)

65 Yeah that one rang thrue and still holds up

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:14 PM (bXbFr)

66 Another example of on-screen chemistry is Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer.
Posted by: Pug Mahon Knows Stuff at December 06, 2025 08:10 PM (0aYVJ)

You reminded me of one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Actually I think it's really good and don't feel guilty.

Blended.

And as you say the chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore is great.

Speaking of Drew Barrymore, if you're looking for a RomCom to watch, I would highly recommend Going the Distance.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:14 PM (KDPiq)

67 Maybe because of the ensemble

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:15 PM (bXbFr)

68 I never got over Tom Hanks in a dress.

Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:15 PM (vFG9F)

69 Maybe fraser might be able to do what cruise did with top gun maverick

His mummy film wasnt god awful like hatbours hellboy but it wasnt good

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:17 PM (bXbFr)

70 Flash Gordon is the greatest movie ever

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 06, 2025 08:17 PM (Jj1OR)

71 I liked Tom Hanks in 'Road to Perdition'. A very un-Tom Hanks movie. It's not the best gangster flick ever, but it's good.

Kind of like Kevin Costner in 'Mr. Brooks'. He plays a serial killer. He actually does creepy normal very well. Again, not the best serial killer movie but a good one. (Citizen X and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer are the best ones)

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (DqJmd)

72 68 I never got over Tom Hanks in a dress.
Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:15 PM (vFG9F)

I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone

Posted by: r hennigantx at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (gbOdA)

73 I never got over Tom Hanks in a dress.
Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025

***
His character and Scolari's only wore the female getups when entering or leaving the residential hotel for women they had been forced to live in -- everything else in NYC, even in 1980, was too expensive, was the setup. They didn't dress as The Girls at work, for instance.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (wzUl9)

74 70: the soundtrack was great anyway.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (DqJmd)

75 Hanks did a good job playing Mr Roberts in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (KDPiq)

76 What was the film with Sandler and Tea Leoni? Was that Blended?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:19 PM (wzUl9)

77 Neil Breen has a new one

https://dire-duplicity.com/

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 06, 2025 08:20 PM (f0sNM)

78 31
It's great, but it's no "Space Mutiny" or "Alien From L.A.". I do love all the hockey hair and Canuck jokes.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 07:56 PM (kpS4V)

"Alien From LA"? There's an episode that doesn't get talked about much...I do enjoy it (how can I not, with Kathy Ireland as the star?!) but it's not on my list of favorites. Ironically, I wanted the miner guy (Gus?) to be a bit more over-the-top and a bit more featured...Basically, I thought the movie/episode would have been better had he been more like Rowsdower!

As for "Space Mutiny," I have nothing bad to say about Space Mutiny! It is easily on my Top-10 list, but I just personally love "The Final Sacrifice" more.

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 06, 2025 08:21 PM (Lhaco)

79 Without a doubt

The camp factor was dialed to eleven

Its a whole de laurentis held the studio afloat for so long

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:21 PM (bXbFr)

80

I like Bad Monkey tv series, a lot, and I think it got a 2nd season.

But if you don't like Vince Vaughn, you will hate Bad Monkey, because it's Vince Vaugn being Vince Vaughn the whole time -- he never lets up.

(btw, I still hate fucking monkeys, and this show does not change that fact)

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:21 PM (DJUFe)

81 With the king kong remake and fjnally dune

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 06, 2025 08:21 PM (bXbFr)

82 Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:18 PM (DqJmd)

I thought Road to Perdition could have been much better with someone other than Hanks. I liked it anyway though I could not see Hanks as a tough guy gangster.

Mr Brooks was really really good and Costner nailed the role. Demi Moore is who almost ruined it.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:22 PM (KDPiq)

83 What was the film with Sandler and Tea Leoni? Was that Blended?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:19 PM (wzUl

Blended was Drew Barrymore

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 08:23 PM (KDPiq)

84
NOBODY looks back at ANY Tom Hanks role and thinks fondly or warmly at that character. He is not, nor will he ever be a "George Bailey."

Not even Forest Gump, which is not a great movie. It's okay. I was original, I'll say that. Forest is not some lovable character -- he's a pathetic dolt in which the audience feels pity, mostly.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:24 PM (DJUFe)

85 "His character and Scolari's only wore the female getups when entering or leaving the residential hotel for women they had been forced to live in --"

Oh yeah sure they were totally not gay.

Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:24 PM (vFG9F)

86 77 Neil Breen has a new one

https://dire-duplicity.com/
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 06, 2025 08:20 PM (f0sNM)

Well, well, Merry Christmas to everyone who has a YouTube channel devoted to watching/reviewing B-movies!

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 06, 2025 08:24 PM (Lhaco)

87 OT, For Shame Ohio State. Street punk tackle on Indiana QB.
Game should be forfeited. A real coach would take them home.
Lousy crooked cheating SOB's.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 06, 2025 08:25 PM (zdLoL)

88 For several work-and-recreational reasons, never saw Bosom Buddies. The movies Hanks did during the mid-to-late 80's were pretty good. He was not ever going to be James Stewart, but would like to come up with a comparable actor who did light/romantic comedy and historical fiction, with some drama included in the mix. He was never going to be Lord Olivier, but he was capable within his realm.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:26 PM (NcvvS)

89 "His character and Scolari's only wore the female getups when entering or leaving the residential hotel for women they had been forced to live in --"
*
Oh yeah sure they were totally not gay.
Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025

***
Not sure about Scolari's character, but Hanks's was besotted with the tall Marilyn-like blonde. (The actress later married Dan Aykroyd.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:26 PM (wzUl9)

90
Speaking of "great" actors...

that goofy idiot Gene Simmons is receiving a Kennedy Center award from Our Favorite President, tonight.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:27 PM (DJUFe)

91 NOBODY looks back at ANY Tom Hanks role and thinks fondly or warmly at that character. He is not, nor will he ever be a "George Bailey."

Not even Forest Gump, which is not a great movie. It's okay. I was original, I'll say that. Forest is not some lovable character -- he's a pathetic dolt in which the audience feels pity, mostly.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025

***
What about the film, can't think of the title, where he plays a young boy cast into adult form? There's a scene or several at F.A.O. Schwarz.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:28 PM (wzUl9)

92
livestream of Kennedy Center honors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPgHy7hpr1I

rewind 10 minutes for Skillvester Skallone

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:28 PM (DJUFe)

93
What about the film, can't think of the title, where he plays a young boy cast into adult form? There's a scene or several at F.A.O. Schwarz.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

BIG?

Yeah, it was okay.
Don't know if it stands up today.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:29 PM (DJUFe)

94 And Wolfus said at @53 what my thoughts were - only more cogently. *doffs cap* sir.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:31 PM (NcvvS)

95
President keeps saying "tape" instead of film.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:31 PM (DJUFe)

96 What about the film, can't think of the title, where he plays a young boy cast into adult form? There's a scene or several at F.A.O. Schwarz.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
*
BIG?

Yeah, it was okay.
Don't know if it stands up today.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025

***
That's it. For some reason I was thinking the title was Restless!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:32 PM (wzUl9)

97 The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, and Road to Perdition were also good Hanks movies.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 08:32 PM (L/fGl)

98 that goofy idiot Gene Simmons is receiving a Kennedy Center award from Our Favorite President, tonight.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:27 PM (DJUFe)
----

LOL I momentarily conflated him with spastic imp Richard Simmons.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:33 PM (kpS4V)

99 I can't watch more than the first 30 minutes of Saving Private Ryan anymore, Hanks doesn't help it

Posted by: Skip at December 06, 2025 08:34 PM (Ia/+0)

100 The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, and Road to Perdition were also good Hanks movies.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025

***
I think I've seen the first (and read King's novel), but not the others.

Hanks has had good luck -- his costar Peter Scolari was as talented when they were on Bosom Buddies, but he hasn't had the big-screen fortune that Hanks has. And since he became a big name, TH has picked good material on the whole.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:35 PM (wzUl9)

101 NOBODY looks back at ANY Tom Hanks role and thinks fondly or warmly at that character. He is not, nor will he ever be a "George Bailey."

Not even Forest Gump, which is not a great movie. It's okay. I was original, I'll say that. Forest is not some lovable character -- he's a pathetic dolt in which the audience feels pity, mostly.

Posted by: Soothsayer

---
Tom Hanks peaked during Bosom Buddies. I hated Forrest Gump. He was a producer of Band of Brothers which I really like and a worthwhile program.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 08:35 PM (6p0Jv)

102 Never saw Big, but saw trailers for it when his 'colleague' wanted to sleep with him, Hanks wanted the top bunk. :-)

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:37 PM (NcvvS)

103 Lo these many years ago, I saw Hanks in the screwball comedy Bachelor Party and he was good.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 08:38 PM (L/fGl)

104 The soccer ball was more charismatic than Hanks in whatever movie that was.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 08:38 PM (6p0Jv)

105 The Green Mile was a bit too long. It was OK.

Saving Private Ryan, after the first 20-30 minutes, was meh.

Road to Perdition was pretty good. Hanks was good in a non-Hanks like role. Paul Newman was great. I believe it was his final role before he died.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:39 PM (DqJmd)

106 I never knew mummies were such good climbers.

Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:41 PM (vFG9F)

107 Bachelor Party as screwball? Kinda/sorta farce, okay...

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:42 PM (NcvvS)

108 I was trying to thinknof movies to defend Hanks and am having a tough time.

His roles are all right, but he kind of floats through them.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:42 PM (zZu0s)

109 I haven't seen The Whale yet but have always thought Brendan Fraser was a great actor.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 06, 2025 08:43 PM (SwYQF)

110 Hanks is our equivalent of Jack Lemmon, as Harrison Ford was our Bogart. Neither is the equal of the original, but they handled the same *kinds* of roles.

Chris Pratt could be another young Ford -- but Hollywood has lost its way in the PC Forest and doesn't know how to make movies like Raiders any more. Otherwise CP would have donned the fedora, jacket, gun, and whip years ago for a couple of period-piece Indiana Jones movies.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:43 PM (wzUl9)

111
Back to Brendan Fraser...

Always liked him...until he got weird in the last few years.
Really Low-T guy.

The Mummy is one of favorite movies, which means I re-watch it. Rewatchable movies means they are great. I never had the urge to rewatch Forest Gump, Saving Ryan's Privates, or Lost.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:43 PM (DJUFe)

112 The scene [in Bachelor Party] where the nude Tracy (Monique Gabrielle) seduces Rick was cut out of mainstream TV broadcasts. Gabrielle said they also shot a TV version where she wears a negligee with one strap lowered, but it was also cut out of broadcasts because it showed too much cleavage.

-
I don't understand the phrase "too much cleavage."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 08:44 PM (L/fGl)

113 The soccer ball was more charismatic than Hanks in whatever movie that was.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 08:38 PM (6p0Jv)

Castaway. I saw a ewetub blurb that was trying to intimate that whatshername was already cheating on him before the plane crashed but passed as the movie always annoyed me. Guys plane crashes, everyone in his life moves on. The End. Thanks movie.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:44 PM (zZu0s)

114 Very obscure movie trivia, but I think 'Vandarploeg' is the alias Jeremy Iron's character Simon Gruber uses when he visits the Federal Reserve in Die Hard with a Vengeance.

Posted by: Citizen Cake at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (CwhoI)

115 Anybody seeing "Kill Bill Parts 1 & 2"?

There's a couple movies I want to see but I'm lazy and it's cold outside.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (kpS4V)

116
I even recently downloaded Blast From The Past because I like it -- but that dummy Alicia Silverstone said some dumb things recently and ruined it for me.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (DJUFe)

117 I'm trying to recall any Brendan Fraser movies that I've seen that are not 'The Mummy' +sequels. I'm drawing a blank.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (DqJmd)

118 I'm currently watching the series"Rabbit Fall" on Amazon Prime. Think of a low budget version of "Twin Peaks" made in Canada, for Canadians. It was made in 2007, but follows the Kathleen Kennedy model of "put a chick in it and make her lame and gay!"

Well, at the end of Season 1, she isn't gay, yet. I will continue to watch, keeping score of the plot twists that are telegraphed. I'm betting there will be a "Luke and Leia are what!?!?" moment coming up soon.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (znQHQ)

119 I loved The Mummy, more that I expected to.
The chemistry between him and Rachel Weiss was amazing. (And Rachel Weiss was so hot…wait til you see her in a snug, tight plaid pencil skirt…

Anyways, this was the one and only time I remember seeing Brendan Frasier in a movie.

Posted by: Cow Demon at December 06, 2025 07:35 PM (4786I)

------------

The first time we saw him was at a drive-in theater -- in Santa Cruz with my teenaged step-daughter and her friend -- with Pauly Shore in Encino Man.

I had low expectations, but it was pretty funny ... and I loved The Mummy and its sequel.

I forget what "evil" like him being blackballed for some reason happened to his career (I do remember some controversy) -- and will have to search for the details.

I'll be back ...

Posted by: ShainS -- The Neo-Jacobins: Anarcho-Terrorism & Assassination Culture Since 1789 at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (My0zW)

120 I don't understand the phrase "too much cleavage."
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025

***
Not in that order, anyway. "Cleavage too?" "Much" would work fine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:46 PM (wzUl9)

121 Harrison Ford is NOT our Bogart. He'll, I think Bruce Willis is closer.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:46 PM (zZu0s)

122 I remember Tawny Kitaen was in Bachelor Party also. Later to dance across the hoods of cars in Whitesnake videos. And she is an illustration of Rule No. 1 for the Morons.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 08:46 PM (6p0Jv)

123 I can't watch more than the first 30 minutes of Saving Private Ryan anymore, Hanks doesn't help it
Posted by: Skip

Watched it again recently .. they did more stupid shit than I remembered.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 06, 2025 08:47 PM (/lPRQ)

124 When I think of Brendan Fraser, my mind goes to Blast from the Past (watched so often) and Bedazzled (re-watched recently), and I see him now and think, whatever happened to the poor guy? Of course, those movies were a quarter-century ago. How tempus fugits! Only other thing I ever saw him in was Doom Patrol, where he really didn't look good. (Robot suit.)

Posted by: mindful webworker - we all were so much older then, I'm younger than that now at December 06, 2025 08:47 PM (yqA/D)

125 I enjoyed “Money Pit” , but mainly because it felt like a documentary of my attempt at completely redoing an old house.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 06, 2025 08:47 PM (c7Ygk)

126 [1 of 2 -- per Brave "AI":]

Brendan Fraser's career experienced a significant decline in the late 2000s and early 2010s, following a period of major success in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly with the The Mummy franchise.

His absence from major Hollywood films was attributed to a combination of personal and health-related challenges. Fraser has publicly discussed suffering from severe injuries sustained during stunt work, particularly while filming The Mummy series, which led to multiple surgeries, including a laminectomy and a partial knee replacement, and a vocal cord repair.

He also revealed he was in and out of hospitals for nearly seven years due to these injuries.

Posted by: ShainS -- The Neo-Jacobins: Anarcho-Terrorism & Assassination Culture Since 1789 at December 06, 2025 08:47 PM (My0zW)

127 I'm trying to recall any Brendan Fraser movies that I've seen that are not 'The Mummy' +sequels. I'm drawing a blank.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025

***
Wasn't there one where he plays a young man who grew up with his parents in a well-equipped 1960s bomb shelter, and when he emerges he's gobsmacked by the 1980s?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:47 PM (wzUl9)

128 Very obscure movie trivia, but I think 'Vandarploeg' is the alias Jeremy Iron's character Simon Gruber uses when he visits the Federal Reserve in Die Hard with a Vengeance.
Posted by: Citizen Cake at December 06, 2025 08:45 PM (CwhoI)

Vanderflug?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:48 PM (zZu0s)

129 People in Palmer and Wasilla are posting about things that are blowing into their yards, like, "If this is your shed, please wait until the wind stops and then come and get it."

Hurricane force winds in the valley this weekend, along with serious ice from last week.

We are staying in, thanks.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 06, 2025 08:48 PM (6Bc88)

130 [2 of 2 -- per Brave "AI":]

In addition to physical health issues, Fraser faced profound personal losses, including the death of his mother from cancer in 2016, and the emotional toll of a difficult divorce from his wife Afton Smith.

He has also spoken about being sexually assaulted in 2003 by Philip Berk, then president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), an incident he claims led to a period of depression and a belief that he was blacklisted from Hollywood.

Fraser stated that after making the allegation public in a 2018 GQ interview, his career phone calls stopped, and he questioned whether he had been ostracized.

Posted by: ShainS -- The Neo-Jacobins: Anarcho-Terrorism & Assassination Culture Since 1789 at December 06, 2025 08:48 PM (My0zW)

131
Incidentally, I recently downloaded a 1992 B-movie titled Nemesis. Set in 2027.

I don't remember it, but it has all the greats, such as Tim Thomerson, Brion James, and boobies.

IMDB description:
Alex, a burned out LA cyborg cop, is forced by commissioner Farnsworth to find his former cyborg partner and lover Jared who's about to deliver sensitive data to cyborg terrorists who wish to wage war against humans. Is he being played?

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:49 PM (DJUFe)

132 Oh, wait. The Burbs. I love that movie. Carrie Fisher and Corey... Haim?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:49 PM (zZu0s)

133 Wolfus, Hanks has never had Lemmon's manic vibe. Hanks has no equivalent the 50's-70's that would resonate. Hanks could never have been a believable Ensign Pulver in Mr Roberts. If he'd been in the film, he'd have been one of the (probably featured) EMs (Dolan, maybe?).

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 08:49 PM (NcvvS)

134 Tom Hanks plays himself in every movie. So boring. He was not even funny in Bachelor Party. I do not understand his appeal at all.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 06, 2025 08:50 PM (93/YK)

135 Wasn't there one where he plays a young man who grew up with his parents in a well-equipped 1960s bomb shelter, and when he emerges he's gobsmacked by the 1980s?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Yes. 'Blast from the Past'. I haven't seen it. Heard it's ok though. (and I'm not 100% on the name of the movie but I know which one you're referring too)

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 08:50 PM (DqJmd)

136 Harrison Ford is NOT our Bogart. He'll, I think Bruce Willis is closer.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025

***
Maybe so. But I can picture Bogart as an Indy Jones-like character in a 1943 thriller set in the Andes or the mountains of Mexico. And Ford did play Bogart's role in the remake of Sabrina, right? A very different interpretation, from what I gather -- I've never seen either film all the way through -- but the same basic role.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 08:51 PM (wzUl9)

137
I think what "blacklisted" Fraser is he's emotional, and nobody wanted to work with him. He simply wasn't worth the trouble. It's obvious, isn't it?

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:52 PM (DJUFe)

138 I like both Sabrina's but both... have issues.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:53 PM (zZu0s)

139 A Boy Scout troop walks though 1944 Normandy

Tawny did OJ for awhile

Posted by: Skip at December 06, 2025 08:53 PM (Ia/+0)

140 I hesitate to admit what movies I saw this week. Sometimes I just impulsively watch something that shows up on the YooToob sidebar recommendations instead of sifting through the library to see if I'd rather watch something else.

Well, I'll admit to watching Star Trek: First Contact. Had its moments. Wanted to see Zefram Cochran at the end say, That'll do, pig. 🙄

Posted by: mindful webworker - make it sew at December 06, 2025 08:54 PM (yqA/D)

141 I think what "blacklisted" Fraser is he's emotional, and nobody wanted to work with him. He simply wasn't worth the trouble. It's obvious, isn't it?

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:52 PM (DJUFe)

His career did seem to suddenly stop after being in many movies at the same time he claims he got assaulted.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:54 PM (zZu0s)

142 Bogie was Bogie whatever role. Harrison Ford was Indiana Jones or Han Solo.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 08:54 PM (6p0Jv)

143 Therefore the Mummy movies, then Blast from the Past, also that George of the jungle thing.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:55 PM (zZu0s)

144
two Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving movie recommendations:

Sleepy Hollow
Dark Shadows

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 08:55 PM (DJUFe)

145 Honestly Ford seemed to forget how to play Solo after Empire. Or just didnt care to.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:56 PM (zZu0s)

146 And I can believe the claims of gaybsexual assault. Fuck, Terry Crews got assaulted.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 08:57 PM (zZu0s)

147 Big is worth a watch mainly for Robert Loggia. I remember nothing else about the flick.

And if I had to pick a Hanks picture to revisit, it'd be The Money Pit. Not so much for Hanks himself, but the never-ending disaster of trying to fix up that wreck of a house. Joe Mantegna doesn't get a ton of screen time, but is quite funny. Alexander Godunov (sp?) too.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 08:57 PM (q3u5l)

148 So this mummy walks dragging one foot but he climbed that trellis to the second floor no problem. Excellent upper body strength I suppose.

Posted by: fd at December 06, 2025 08:57 PM (vFG9F)

149 Speaking of screwballs . . .

Sleepy Joe FORGETS the name of his former Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

BIDEN: "When I took office I promised to have an administration that looked like America... not just for the community, but my Press Secretary 'KAREEM.'"

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 08:57 PM (L/fGl)

150 Tom Hanks was pretty good in "Last Man Standing"
He was perfect for his character

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 06, 2025 08:58 PM (/lPRQ)

151 Great Escape is on UToob at the moment. Holds up fairly well. Think there's a "making of" video also on that platform that is interesting. McQueen and Garner's characters didn't exist, but producers reasonably figured US audiences would be much more interested in based-on-real events flick with Americans inserted into it. But there was a fair amount of dedication to accuracy in certain things, especially by the standards of the time.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 06, 2025 08:59 PM (U/Byj)

152 Bogie was Bogie whatever role. Harrison Ford was Indiana Jones or Han Solo.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025

***
His Capt. Queeg was very different from his Sam Spade, or Roy Earle, or Fred Dobbs. But you're right in that I could not see Ford playing any of those roles, except maybe Spade.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:00 PM (wzUl9)

153 Why in the world is Creepy Joe speaking in public at all?

Posted by: I gotta ask at December 06, 2025 09:00 PM (XQo4F)

154 Weird that the two actors that have made the most movies I like got their big break playing Stoners and not considered great actors.

Keanu Reeves and Matthew McConnaughey

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:01 PM (KDPiq)

155 Actually went to the theater last week to see Sarah's Oil, filmed right here in Land of the Red Man. Did a fair job of showing Oklahoma in the early oil boom wars. Really liked the young actress who played Sarah.

Local theater will be showing Scrooged on the 16th. We first saw it in first-run theater, large audience. The end where Murray breaks the fourth wall and addresses the theater audience works much better with a theater audience.

Posted by: mindful webworker - lives in the Cherokee Nation at December 06, 2025 09:01 PM (yqA/D)

156 Calling it a night, all, but consider: is there an actor from the last 30 years who could do Rick Blaine in Casablanca and Charlie Allnut in African Queen? Maybe Bruce Willis in the 90s. Maybe.

Thanks, moviegique, for the thread!

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 09:01 PM (NcvvS)

157 My sister rented Saving Private Ryan when it came out on VHS so my father could see it. When it was over, I'm told that his comment was, "Now let me tell you everything they got wrong in that one." He was WWII 82nd Airborne and knew whereof he spoke.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 09:02 PM (q3u5l)

158 Tom Hanks was pretty good in "Last Man Standing"
He was perfect for his character
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 06, 2025

***
He was in that? The lead was Bruce Willis, wearing a fedora a shade too big for him.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:02 PM (wzUl9)

159 I enjoyed Fraser during early career. I'd probably like him again, but he's just not making movies that interest me so far. He seems weird. But I can't tell if he's weird because of whatever happened, or he overreacted to whatever happened because he's weird. I've never really understood what happened either.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at December 06, 2025 09:03 PM (MIvVV)

160 Bogie was Bogie whatever role
---

Bogie had the characteristics of a genuine movie star which put limits on what he could do as an actor. But it surely wasn't lack of capability. He's radically different in "Caine", "African Queen", "Sabrina", etc. He has a very fey turn in "Falcon" that makes you cringe but not from being unconvincing.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:03 PM (asXVI)

161 I do like Bogart movies

Posted by: Skip at December 06, 2025 09:04 PM (Ia/+0)

162 Bogart always played the bad guy early in his career. But his acting is so good you forget he's not the best looking or toughest looking or stereotypical lady's man actor.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:04 PM (KDPiq)

163 Calling it a night, all, but consider: is there an actor from the last 30 years who could do Rick Blaine in Casablanca and Charlie Allnut in African Queen? Maybe Bruce Willis in the 90s. Maybe.

Thanks, moviegique, for the thread!
Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025

***
Excellent point, Nazdar! Willis could certainly do both.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:04 PM (wzUl9)

164 ***
He was in that? The lead was Bruce Willis, wearing a fedora a shade too big for him.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Just joking.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 06, 2025 09:05 PM (/lPRQ)

165 Key Largo was also one of my favorite Bogart roles.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:05 PM (zZu0s)

166 Nazdar,

Elliot Gould had a good turn with "The Long Goodbye" but mostly by NOT being Bogie. Besides being the '70s. I mention it only because the thought of Gould in that role really turned me off so much that I didn't see that movie until the 2010s.

In the past 30 years? Kiefer Sutherland, maybe. Or Tom Hardy.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:05 PM (asXVI)

167 Relative got bumped up to first class on a flight to Hawaii many years ago. Movie being shown (days of one screen, not little ones in every seat) was Money Pit.

Fairly young infant was in tow, young enough that mom kept him on her lap. When she needed to hit the facilities, she got up, and was hesitating to wake the sleeping husband. Another passenger - Tom Hanks - quickly says to her he'd be glad to watch the kid while she's gone. "Oh, I'm in this movie". There was another well known actor, woman, forget her name, she sauntered over and they both entertained the kid while mom was away.

Apparently Hanks was a very nice guy, and unsurprisingly was good at being goofy to entertain a toddler. So there's that.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 06, 2025 09:06 PM (U/Byj)

168 His Capt. Queeg was very different from his Sam Spade, or Roy Earle, or Fred Dobbs. But you're right in that I could not see Ford playing any of those roles, except maybe Spade.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:00 PM (wzUl9)

-----
Thank you for putting it better than I did. Bogie is a favorite. A classic. Perhaps it's because he is of my great grandparents generation. He was in so many classic movies. Some stinkers, but some truly greats.

Hans Solo and Indiana Jones are of my childhood. Those are the only two roles I think of when you say Harrison Ford.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:07 PM (6p0Jv)

169 Key Largo was also one of my favorite Bogart roles.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:05 PM (zZu0s)

In my top ten films. I'm not a Bogart fan boy but he happens to have 4 of the movies in my top ten .

The other three are Casablanca, Sahara and Caine Mutiny.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:08 PM (KDPiq)

170 Bogie had the characteristics of a genuine movie star which put limits on what he could do as an actor. But it surely wasn't lack of capability. He's radically different in "Caine", "African Queen", "Sabrina", etc. He has a very fey turn in "Falcon" that makes you cringe but not from being unconvincing.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
His Queeg is the definitive version of the character. Lloyd Nolan (look him up) played Queeg in the Broadway play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial w/ Henry Fonda as the defense attorney, and I'll bet Nolan was great. But Bogart is the man.

As for HB's Sam Spade, he makes the line from Gutman (Sydney Greenstreet) believable when the latter says that one never knows what Spade will do or say next.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:08 PM (wzUl9)

171 >>145 Honestly Ford seemed to forget how to play Solo after Empire. Or just didnt care to.

Have to throw this in, and thank you, Wolfus (looking forward to you joining us in Kentuckiana!):

Ford was told to make Han Solo a buffoon. Only way to explain him in Return of the Jedi.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 09:08 PM (NcvvS)

172 Bogart's last movie, Harder They Fall is very good.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:09 PM (KDPiq)

173 148 So this mummy walks dragging one foot but he climbed that trellis to the second floor no problem. Excellent upper body strength I suppose.
---

Well, sure, he had to make up for the bum leg.

I think Fraser's claims of harassment are legit to the extent that the guy doing it said as much. Or, wait, no, he said, "Sure I grabbed his taint. It's a joke!"

I suspect his wife was the bigger problem, tho'.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:09 PM (asXVI)

174 The African Queen is great, even with the insufferable Katharine Hepburn, who is actually great in the movie.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:09 PM (6p0Jv)

175 Think Sahara is also on UToob now, or was as of last week.

Desert films shot just east of here in Borrego, I believe. Ironically, not that far from the actual desert training grounds Patton used for armor work.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 06, 2025 09:10 PM (U/Byj)

176 What does this mean?
Posted by: Lyford at December 06, 2025 07:46 PM (gb+vr)

He was blacklisted after accusing the head of the HFPA of sexual assault after the guy groped him at a luncheon.
Posted by: Jeff Weimer

Thanks very much Lyford for asking that and Jeff Weimer for answering! Was very much wondering too.

Posted by: jocon307 at December 06, 2025 09:11 PM (EuROc)

177 I got issues with the Money Pit.

Touchstone was so sleazy. It was almost like Eisner said, "We're gonna make non-family movies," and that was the equivalent of saying "As sleazy as they can possibly be."

And I love "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House".

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:11 PM (asXVI)

178 More controversy.

Special Needs Community Demands People Stop Comparing Them To Tim Walz

-
From the Bee.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 09:11 PM (L/fGl)

179 Great story Rhomboid!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 06, 2025 09:12 PM (kpS4V)

180 Mazes and Monsters.

Posted by: davidt at December 06, 2025 09:12 PM (Q+gd/)

181 The Harder They Fall is a terrific Bogart picture -- nice double feature if you like grim is to catch that one back to back with Requiem for a Heavyweight with Quinn, Gleason, & Rooney.

In a Lonely Place ain't too dusty either.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 09:12 PM (q3u5l)

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