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)

182 In the past 30 years? Kiefer Sutherland, maybe. Or Tom Hardy.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
Sutherland impressed me in his first big role, that of the juvenile delinquent leader in Stand By Me. The moment I saw him on screen, too, I knew whose son he had to be. The same way you know whose son Miguel Ferrer is, and who sired both Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:13 PM (wzUl9)

183 156 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.
---

Bruce Willis is a good call. He could do the world weary Blaine, and did (demand was high)! But he had the comedy chops, and the right quirkiness to be Allnut, too, I think. It wouldn't have been the same as Bogie, of course, but it would've been watchable.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:13 PM (asXVI)

184 >>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.

moviegique, not up on Tom Hardy's work, so can't respond. Kiefer Sutherland...I'd have to think about; seen a little of his work, and could only say, maybe.

AND THIS IS HOW I STAY ON THE MOVIE THREADS!

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 09:14 PM (NcvvS)

185 @180 I forgot that early 80s made for TV movie with Tom Hanks and Chris Makepeace from Meatballs . Don't play Dungeons and Dragons, kids!

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:14 PM (6p0Jv)

186 For me, Kiefer Sutherland's best role will always be in Lost Boys .

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:15 PM (KDPiq)

187 And who can forget Man with One Red Shoe?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:15 PM (zZu0s)

188 The Burbs is a fun Tom Hanks film

Posted by: kelly at December 06, 2025 09:16 PM (bn0S5)

189 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

***
You know, I've never seen that. I have high hopes for it, as Murray seems to pick good material over some script that will just make him look good. Out of my Ten Movies I Would Change Nothing About, he's in no less than three.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:16 PM (wzUl9)

190 Or the first Splash?

Turner and Hooch.

Oh, Dragnet. Love that one too.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:16 PM (zZu0s)

191 Kiefer Sutherland

-
There's talk of rebooting 24. I don't know whether Kiefer will be back or not.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 09:17 PM (L/fGl)

192 Splash! Yes, good little movie -- or so I recall. Haven't seen it since the '80s.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:17 PM (wzUl9)

193 And I, too, have no idea what the GenPub likes, because I'm a bit of a weirdo.
---
Eris, I'm more comfortable making recommendations for you than I am GenPub. And it's not even close.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:18 PM (asXVI)

194 For me, Kiefer Sutherland's best role will always be in Lost Boys .

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:15 PM (KDPiq)

----
The Lost Boys? Off to my bunk.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:18 PM (6p0Jv)

195 Way past bedtime
Have a good night everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 06, 2025 09:19 PM (Ia/+0)

196 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:16 PM (wzUl9)

Speaking of Murray which automatically makes you speak of Groundhog Day, anyone else see and like Palm Springs with Andy Samberg.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:19 PM (KDPiq)

197 Haven't seen mention of Hanks in Splash. Been thinking it's been a long enough while we could watch that again. Hanks was okay as dumb and beleaguered, and the other comic cast members, like Candy and Levy, kept it interesting. And, of courses, yummy Daryl Hannah.

I can't imagine how bad Splash, Too must be, with neither Hanks nor Hannah. (Re TJM's latest, he should follow up with sequels we really didn't need.)

Posted by: mindful webworker - Disenchanted at December 06, 2025 09:21 PM (yqA/D)

198 I saw Sahara, the Bogart original, some years ago. I liked especially that his character is not an officer, but a sergeant. It fitted his look much better.

(Yes, I know that Bogart grew up in an upper-class family and often played light comedy playboy roles in his early stage work, and in the Universal flick he did with Bette Davis, Bad Sister, around 1931. But he always seemed more working class in his roles.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:21 PM (wzUl9)

199 War movies will never satisfy history geeks (like me), but there is a spectrum. Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Saving Private Ryan, a few others, made serious efforts to get the big things right, and also did amazing jobs of creating the cinematic experience as close to the real thing as possible.

Then you have things like the last atrocity of the Pacific War, Midway (the recent one). A very compact, understandable true story that - if told straight, would be more compelling and dramatic and tension-filled than almost any fictional script. But, no. The sadly mediocre writers and producers cannot comprehend anything apart from dumbed-down dreck following the mediocre formula they usually follow.

Ironically, the best written and acted role in the movie was Nimitz, played by the obnoxious and dumb Woody Harrelson. He nailed it, based on everything known about CinCPac.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 06, 2025 09:22 PM (U/Byj)

200 More screwball comedy . . .

WATCH: Virginia window-washers dangle from broken line before being rescued

https://is.gd/dIvstH

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 09:22 PM (L/fGl)

201 Hi! Back again! Can't quit all y'all, it seems.

ROSE SAYER IS THE ROLE KATHARINE HEPBURN WAS BORN TO PLAY.

Dorothy Parker said of one of her roles that she ran all the gamut of emotions from A to B; here, she covered a few more and found a couple of others.

And all that said, The Philadelphia Story remains my number-one favourite movie.

Ok, trying for a final goodnight; my day has hit the 18-hour mark.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 09:24 PM (NcvvS)

202 I wrote, "Haven't seen mention of Hanks in Splash," and when I catch new comments, it's mentioned twice. Of course.

Posted by: mindful webworker - splish splash I was takin' a bath at December 06, 2025 09:25 PM (yqA/D)

203 (Yes, I know that Bogart grew up in an upper-class family and often played light comedy playboy roles in his early stage work, and in the Universal flick he did with Bette Davis, Bad Sister, around 1931.

***
By the way, Davis does not play the title role in Bad Sister. She herself hated the film and her performance in it . . . and I lost interest in the movie half an hour after I started it on YooToob. It being her first movie, and the fact that Universal didn't realize what they had in Bogart and Davis and let their contracts lapse, are the historical reasons to know about the flick.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:25 PM (wzUl9)

204 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

Wasn't Jabba a fat Irish guy originally?

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 06, 2025 09:25 PM (jc0TO)

205 Woody Harrelson and Matt McConaughey were great in that first season of True Detective. I appreciated them both after that one. Well done TV.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:26 PM (6p0Jv)

206 Yes, yes he was

https://youtu.be/cw1gkNd6Z_8

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 06, 2025 09:26 PM (jc0TO)

207 . . . Dorothy Parker said of one of her roles that she ran all the gamut of emotions from A to B; here, she covered a few more and found a couple of others. . . .

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025

***
Dottie was never slow to toss out a meow about a fellow woman.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:27 PM (wzUl9)

208 There's a terrific documentary from this year called "Bogart: Life Comes In Flashes".

I don't think he was upper class, though.

https://moviegique.com/2024/12/november-movie-roundup/

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:28 PM (asXVI)

209 Yeah, it is supposedly no Jabba, han shoots first, etc.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:28 PM (zZu0s)

210 Sam Rockwell makes any movie better.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:29 PM (KDPiq)

211 Harpo Marx was my favorite member of the Algonquin Round Table. Honk honk!

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:29 PM (6p0Jv)

212 209 Yeah, it is supposedly no Jabba, han shoots first, etc.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:28 PM (zZu0s)

I liked that Han shot first. Why be at a disadvantage when someone wants to kill you?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (ynpvh)

213 This revue is of 'normal' people. I mean, there appears to be no blood, no one is disembodied or disemboweled. Haven't finished the revue but it seems to be a warm movie that the, you know, average 'normal' person would want to see.
Way to go, moviegique. I think I'm going to try this one.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (04Glf)

214 Sam Rockwell makes any movie better.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:29 PM (KDPiq)

He's good.

'Mmmm, Guy.'

'Something really bad happened here.'

'I'm just a glorified extra, Fred.'

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (zZu0s)

215 211 Harpo Marx was my favorite member of the Algonquin Round Table. Honk honk!

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:29 PM (6p0Jv)

His economic theories were much better than his cousin twice removed Karl...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (ynpvh)

216 Best true WWII story with a movie angle has little to do with heroics. During the Battle of the Bulge - and after Skorzeny's irregulars in US uniforms had induced panic and led to heightened security procedures - David Niven came to a US checkpoint. He worked for Monty's HQ organization.

Sentry asked him who won the latest World Series. Typical screening question when trying to ferret out imposters.

His reply, according to him but quite plausible - "I haven't the foggiest, but I was in Bachelor Mother with Ginger Rogers." Sentry had seen the movie, let him pass. Hard to beat that one.

Niven was in some real and interesting s**t during the war, never talked about it.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (U/Byj)

217 198 I saw Sahara, the Bogart original, some years ago. I liked especially that his character is not an officer, but a sergeant. It fitted his look much better.”

I like that movie a lot, I think it’s one of the better WW2 movies, and I’m always surprised it’s not more well known.
It’s also notable for featuring one of the only film appearances of the M3 Lee tank. It was the main American battle tank at the outset of the war, and the army was shocked when German panzers ripped it apart like it was made out of aluminum foil. By 1943 they had all been taken out of service.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 06, 2025 09:31 PM (c7Ygk)

218 Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (zZu0s)

He was great in Seven Psychopaths.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:31 PM (KDPiq)

219 I liked that Han shot first. Why be at a disadvantage when someone wants to kill you?
---

I remember being shocked. It's kind of a classic anti-save-the-cat moment.

That Bogart doc was from last year, doy.

As for Kate, I grew up with her being in these New England patrician matraiarchal (is that an oxymoron) roles that she kind of got squeezed into after "African Queen".

She had a very good range in the '30s and '40s, though.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:32 PM (asXVI)

220 I don't think he was upper class, though.

https://moviegique.com/2024/12/november-movie-roundup/
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
I believe his mother was an artist or illustrator, which might have meant she was well-paid, or that her husband was high-salaried in *his* job. She, I understood, illustrated the baby on the Gerber baby food labels, leading to the rumor that the model was little Humphrey himself.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:32 PM (wzUl9)

221 His economic theories were much better than his cousin twice removed Karl...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (ynpvh)

---
And his book 'Harpo Speaks' is much more entertaining.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:32 PM (6p0Jv)

222 I liked that Han shot first. Why be at a disadvantage when someone wants to kill you?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 06, 2025 09:30 PM (ynpvh)

It said a lot about his character at that point. He murders Greedo because he knew it was him or Greedo. And he shoots him before he knows what is happening.

That's characterization.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:32 PM (zZu0s)

223 Ironically, the best written and acted role in the movie was Nimitz, played by the obnoxious and dumb Woody Harrelson. He nailed it, based on everything known about CinCPac.

The really odd thing about Woody Harrelson, and I still have troubled wrapping my brain around this, is that he is a great actor and very versatile. Has done pretty much every kind of role and is always very good at it. I forget I'm watching dumb and obnoxious Woody Harrelson.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 06, 2025 09:33 PM (DqJmd)

224 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?
---
JSG, I read the book not too long ago.

By Bloch's description, the perfect guy to play Norman?

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:33 PM (asXVI)

225 Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:32 PM (zZu0s)

Best part of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indy shot first there too.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:34 PM (KDPiq)

226 I believe his mother was an artist or illustrator, which might have meant she was well-paid, or that her husband was high-salaried in *his* job. She, I understood, illustrated the baby on the Gerber baby food labels, leading to the rumor that the model was little Humphrey himself.
---
That rings a bell. The documentary covers this but it's been a year so mostly what I recall is Bogie & Bacall's relationship and that they started the Rat Pack.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:34 PM (asXVI)

227 Vaughn was in the delightfully bizarre The Cell.

Posted by: davidt at December 06, 2025 09:35 PM (Q+gd/)

228 Yeah, it is supposedly no Jabba, han shoots first, etc.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025

***
My memory from 1977 was that Jabba the Hutt is *mentioned* by the alien (Greedo?) -- we don't actually see him until Return -- and that we are certainly given the impression that Solo shoots first. As he should.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:35 PM (wzUl9)

229 Staggering off to do a few things before the ONT.

Okay, I'll confess. We watched My Super Ex-Girlfriend this week. Again. The shark still is about the best part. And the two super girls fighting was actually some of the best superduper action.

Posted by: mindful webworker - don't marsh my mallow at December 06, 2025 09:37 PM (yqA/D)

230 "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.
---
I have the Vinegar Syndrome DVD. It's classic bad low-budget movie in that it's a mess of slightly off decisions (or very off, like having Ireland speak like that) and limitations of budget and marketing.

There was a pseudo-sequel!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:37 PM (asXVI)

231 I believe his mother was an artist or illustrator, which might have meant she was well-paid, or that her husband was high-salaried in *his* job. She, I understood, illustrated the baby on the Gerber baby food labels, leading to the rumor that the model was little Humphrey himself.
---
That rings a bell. The documentary covers this but it's been a year so mostly what I recall is Bogie & Bacall's relationship and that they started the Rat Pack.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
I believe Humphrey was college-educated, not sure where, and that a lot of his early stage roles, he said, consisted of him strolling on stage in whites and with a racket, saying, "Anyone for tennis?" That changed when he was cast as gangster Duke Mantee in The Petrified Forest.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:37 PM (wzUl9)

232 Moviegique --

Been some time since I read Bloch's novel, but you're right re that casting. Hoffman would have been much closer to Bloch's description of Norman Bates than either Perkins or Vaughn.

Bloch did two sequels to Psycho himself, and they had nothing to do with the sequel movies. Out of print, I think, but should be fairly easy to dig up used or on interlibrary loan.

There was a hardcover omnibus years ago with all 3 of Bloch's Psycho novels, but it contained a disastrous printing error which omitted the last page of the first novel.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 09:38 PM (q3u5l)

233 227 Vaughn was in the delightfully bizarre The Cell.
---
Tarsem's breakout movie. (Tarsem Singh, but at the time just Tarsem.)

He perfected this visually arresting story-telling with "The Fall," which is all done sans CGI. And since then? Oy.

https://moviegique.com/2008/06/pride-before-the-fall/

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:39 PM (asXVI)

234 @207 Yeah, still here - comment got eaten, I'll try again

Wolfus, you know this: Katharine Hepburn was not admired for her acting chops in her early days.

Saw Sahara several times in my youth (WGN was very fond of old flicks that they could run late at night) and loved it; there was a remake in the '90's(?) with Jim Belushi. Jim Belushi is not Humphrey Bogart.

Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025 09:39 PM (NcvvS)

235 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:35 PM (wzUl9)

Yeah, in the original, no Jabba.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:39 PM (zZu0s)

236 Been some time since I read Bloch's novel, but you're right re that casting. Hoffman would have been much closer to Bloch's description of Norman Bates than either Perkins or Vaughn.
---
And Hoffman did this kind of role really well. He could look really harmless and then turn on a dime. Alas.

---
There was a hardcover omnibus years ago with all 3 of Bloch's Psycho novels, but it contained a disastrous printing error which omitted the last page of the first novel.
---
Whoops! Whoopsie!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:40 PM (asXVI)

237 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)

I first noticed Tom Hanks in Taxi. He played young Jim Ignatowski's roommate at Harvard.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at December 06, 2025 09:41 PM (0CU3H)

238 So, the thing about Gump.

It's a classic Spielberg/Zemeckis joint. Much like "Who Censored Roger Rabbit," it has little to do with the source material.

And in the book? Gump is not mentally handicapped: He's a dumb-ass. The thing is a farce. Gump's best friend is an orangutan named Sue who rides on the shuttle with him.

Steve & Rob realized: Make him genuinely (pseudo) mentally handicapped, and we're in Oscar territory.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:42 PM (asXVI)

239 Wolfus, you know this: Katharine Hepburn was not admired for her acting chops in her early days.

Saw Sahara several times in my youth (WGN was very fond of old flicks that they could run late at night) and loved it; there was a remake in the '90's(?) with Jim Belushi. Jim Belushi is not Humphrey Bogart.
Posted by: Nazdar at December 06, 2025

***
Given the right script, Belushi can convince. I'm not sure the tank sergeant would be one of those roles.

As for Kate, she had several movie flops in the Thirties and got labeled "Box Office Poison." So she went back to the stage. The story goes that she had a hit in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway. She *bought the rights,* and Hollywood had to negotiate with her -- and set her as the star -- to do the film.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:45 PM (wzUl9)

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

Donna Dixon. Possibly THE main attraction of "Bosom Buddies". Although Scolari and Hanks had good chemistry and Hanks' manic comedy reactions to Dixon were pretty good.

Alas, she and Aykroyd separated after 40 years.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:45 PM (asXVI)

241 I believe Humphrey was college-educated, not sure where, and that a lot of his early stage roles, he said, consisted of him strolling on stage in whites and with a racket, saying, "Anyone for tennis?" That changed when he was cast as gangster Duke Mantee in The Petrified Forest.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:37 PM (wzUl9)

He went to prestigious private schools but not college. He enlisted in the Navy in 1918 because he got kicked out of school.

Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (KDPiq)

242 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.
---
Dying in 2021 hasn't helped his career, either.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (asXVI)

243 Thinking of all the good flicks I need to revisit after too many years, or the ones I haven't seen yet -- and what I'm probably going to do this weekend is catch Twilight again. The one with Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, and James Garner (who steals, effortlessly, every scene he's in). Worth a watch if you've never seen it.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (q3u5l)

244
Yeah, in the original, no Jabba.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025

***
So the re-release has Jabba visible -- in that saloon scene, or was it somewhere else? How did they fit that creature into an average room? He needed a *lot* of space.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (wzUl9)

245 I like Brendan Fraser a lot and I wish his movie well.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at December 06, 2025 09:48 PM (xcxpd)

246 [Bogart] went to prestigious private schools but not college. He enlisted in the Navy in 1918 because he got kicked out of school.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025

***
I did not know that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:49 PM (wzUl9)

247 Saw Bloch on the old Tom Snyder show, Tomorrow. He based Norman Bates on Ed Gein, the serial murderer cannibal.

Posted by: davidt at December 06, 2025 09:49 PM (Q+gd/)

248
Why should the Trump Admin allow Netflix to buy WB?

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 09:49 PM (DJUFe)

249 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.
---
Dying in 2021 hasn't helped his career, either.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
He was a regular on Bob Newhart's Vermont series, the one with the surprise ending in the last episode.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:50 PM (wzUl9)

250 And outta here.

Moviegique, thanks for the thread.

Have a good one, gang.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 06, 2025 09:50 PM (q3u5l)

251
I mean, we have the power, why not wield it?
We can tell obama's Netflix to go shit in their hat.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 06, 2025 09:50 PM (DJUFe)

252 Bogart was also a pretty good chess player.

Posted by: davidt at December 06, 2025 09:51 PM (Q+gd/)

253 Saw Bloch on the old Tom Snyder show, Tomorrow. He based Norman Bates on Ed Gein, the serial murderer cannibal.
Posted by: davidt at December 06, 2025

***
Bloch is credited with the line, when asked how he can stand to write such horrifying material: "I have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:51 PM (wzUl9)

254 Hepburn wrote a book about her experience filming African Queen. She got some tropical disease and almost died, and almost the entire crew got some disease or another. She wrote that the only two who were healthy throughout were John Huston and Bogart, and in her opinion this was because the two of them never touched any water but instead hung out together and drank whiskey and gin from the moment they got up until they finally went to bed.
Their blood was probably had such a high alcohol content in their blood that no pathogen could survive there.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 06, 2025 09:52 PM (c7Ygk)

255 Confession: I NEVER liked Katherine Hepburn. Not young, not old. Not in African Queen, not in Rooster Cogburn. There is something about her that set my teeth on edge. Of the silver screen ladies, give me Lauren Bacall or ... dammit, the lady from His Girl Friday... Russell?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:52 PM (zZu0s)

256
He went to prestigious private schools but not college. He enlisted in the Navy in 1918 because he got kicked out of school.
Posted by: the way I see it at December 06, 2025

***
Right -- he'd have been about eighteen or nineteen then, as he was born in 1899 or 1900.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:52 PM (wzUl9)

257 I didn't do Netflix after they quit DVDs. But I'm an invisible person. Not sure missing my $$$ means anything to them.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:53 PM (6p0Jv)

258 I mean, we have the power, why not wield it?
We can tell obama's Netflix to go shit in their hat.
Posted by: Soothsayer

The real question is if a Judge will allow it.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 06, 2025 09:54 PM (/lPRQ)

259 Sorry... Frasier's bestest role?

Blast from the Past...

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 06, 2025 09:54 PM (mP0Kj)

260 He based Norman Bates on Ed Gein, the serial murderer cannibal.
----

Many such cases! Bates, Leatherface, Buffalo Bill AND Hannibal Lechter.

The demand for serial killers FAR outpaces the supply.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:54 PM (asXVI)

261 or... maybe.... George of the Jungle?

(are you arguing with the narrator?)

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 06, 2025 09:54 PM (mP0Kj)

262 How did they fit that creature into an average room? He needed a *lot* of space.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (wzUl9)

An inserted or deleted scene after Solo and Chewie leave the Cantina. In the hangar they find Jabba waiting for them. The CGI is horrible too. He's tiny vs his size in Return.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 09:55 PM (zZu0s)

263 Rosalind Russell. His Girl Friday. Hubby hated that one. They tried really fast I recall. She had a smart hat, I think.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:55 PM (6p0Jv)

264 Talked really fast

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:56 PM (6p0Jv)

265 257 I didn't do Netflix after they quit DVDs. But I'm an invisible person. Not sure missing my $$$ means anything to them.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:53 PM (6p0Jv)

Netflix has had a couple interesting TV series...

But... wait a year? and you can stream them elsewhere.

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 06, 2025 09:56 PM (mP0Kj)

266 238 So, the thing about Gump.

It's a classic Spielberg/Zemeckis joint. Much like "Who Censored Roger Rabbit," it has little to do with the source material.

And in the book? Gump is not mentally handicapped: He's a dumb-ass. The thing is a farce. Gump's best friend is an orangutan named Sue who rides on the shuttle with him.

Steve & Rob realized: Make him genuinely (pseudo) mentally handicapped, and we're in Oscar territory.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 09:42 PM (asXVI)

So....Kurt Lazarus's lecture in "Tropic Thunder" was actually 100% earnest and accurate advice?

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 06, 2025 09:56 PM (Lhaco)

267 Confession: I NEVER liked Katherine Hepburn. Not young, not old. Not in African Queen, not in Rooster Cogburn. There is something about her that set my teeth on edge. Of the silver screen ladies, give me Lauren Bacall or ... dammit, the lady from His Girl Friday... Russell?
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025

***
Rosalind Russell. Yes, Kate kind of an acquired taste. I wonder what Bringing Up Baby would have been like with another comic actress playing opposite Cary Grant.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:56 PM (wzUl9)

268 How did they fit that creature into an average room? He needed a *lot* of space.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:47 PM (wzUl9)

An inserted or deleted scene after Solo and Chewie leave the Cantina. In the hangar they find Jabba waiting for them. The CGI is horrible too. He's tiny vs his size in Return.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025

***
A mistake, dramatically. Part of the interest in the situation is, "What does this 'Jabba the Hutt' look like?" Keeping it a mystery until the third film was the right way to go.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 09:58 PM (wzUl9)

269 If they hadn't cast Harrison Ford in Revenge of the Jedi, the tag line could've been, "Look, Ma, No Hans!"

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 06, 2025 09:58 PM (L/fGl)

270 >>>The really odd thing about Woody Harrelson, and I still have troubled wrapping my brain around this, is that he is a great actor and very versatile. Has done pretty much every kind of role and is always very good at it. I forget I'm watching dumb and obnoxious Woody Harrelson.
Posted by: Puddleglum
--

Ed Harris doppelganger.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (04Glf)

271 Many such cases! Bates, Leatherface, Buffalo Bill AND Hannibal Lechter.

The demand for serial killers FAR outpaces the supply.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025

***
Time for a new, faithful movie adaptation of Ellery Queen's serial killer novel from 1949, Cat of Many Tails.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (wzUl9)

272 And ONT is nood

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (wzUl9)

273 Rosalind Russell may be one of my favorite actresses. She was brilliant in "His Girl Friday" and in "The Trouble With Angels". She unlike so many in Hollywood was married to the same man for about 45 and was also a Roman Catholic That may be why her Mother Superior role in "The Trouble with Angels " was so good- because she went to RC schools as a young person.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (7RYym)

274 Confession: I NEVER liked Katherine Hepburn. Not young, not old. Not in African Queen, not in Rooster Cogburn.
---
Thing is? Those are BOTH old roles. She's 44 in "African Queen"--which is way long in the tooth in 1951.

Check her out in "Little Women," "Stage Door" and "Bringing Up Baby". Oh, and she plays a pilot in one where she's quite appealing. "Christopher Strong"?

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (asXVI)

275 So....Kurt Lazarus's lecture in "Tropic Thunder" was actually 100% earnest and accurate advice?
---
YES! Which is why, you'll notice, we haven't HAD a mentally handicapped protagonist in a film since.

It'd just make people laugh and be embarrassed.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 10:02 PM (asXVI)

276 Talked really fast
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 06, 2025 09:56 PM (6p0Jv)

It was a bit faster than your average Thin Man movie. But they seemed to respect the audience more back then.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 10:02 PM (zZu0s)

277 202 I wrote, "Haven't seen mention of Hanks in Splash," and when I catch new comments, it's mentioned twice. Of course.
Posted by: mindful webworker - splish splash I was takin' a bath at December 06, 2025 09:25 PM (yqA/D)

Hanks is an OK actor... but... Hanks plays Hanks in different situations.

It's like John Wayne.... he is always John Wayne... or Clint Eastwood... same deal.

They are just themselves in different situations.

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 06, 2025 10:03 PM (mP0Kj)

278 Fast talk/overtalk was Howard Hawks' signature. Enough to where when Christopher Nyby directed his first film "The Thing From Another World," people just figured Hawks (who produced) had actually done the direction.

Thanks everybody for coming by! See you in the New Year!

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 10:03 PM (asXVI)

279 Check her out in "Little Women," "Stage Door" and "Bringing Up Baby". Oh, and she plays a pilot in one where she's quite appealing. "Christopher Strong"?

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 10:00 PM (asXVI)

I picked those two because they were movies I sort of liked. Hated old Lion in Winter too. Fuck Henry Finda and On Golden Pond.

Young, she is marginally less annoying.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at December 06, 2025 10:04 PM (zZu0s)

280 Didn't like Hepburn, wasn't fond of Russell.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 06, 2025 10:05 PM (04Glf)

281

Several of us were sitting around today, doing the BS routine. Not about anything important, simply gassing, but it turned out to be totally enjoyable. One of the things was putting bets on tomorrow if anyone would deign to comment on the 84th anniversary of that momentous day at Pearl. I say yes, from the people like me who are steadfast lovers of the most exceptional country on the planet, not so much from the left side.

Any thoughts on the matter? And thank you for letting me change the subject.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 06, 2025 10:16 PM (vFbHf)

282 It's a little late to change the subject since we got NOODed, but I think there will be recognition of Pearl Harbor tomorrow by all the usual suspects, in all the usual ways.

(Which isn't saying much, of course.)

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at December 06, 2025 10:33 PM (asXVI)

283 Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 06, 2025 10:16 PM (vFbHf)

Boomers and Gen Xers with an interest in history might mention it. If they do Millenials, Gen Z, and 100 million foreigners will just look confused.

Posted by: Ted Torgerson at December 06, 2025 10:36 PM (R86kT)

284 I rarely go to the movies anymore, not only for political reasons. Brendan Fraser is one of the few actors I still admire and happy to call myself a fan. If I see this movie on my streaming services I'll check it out.

Posted by: hadsil at December 07, 2025 10:32 AM (Xht4H)

285 I loved George of the Jungle!

Posted by: Random PJ at December 07, 2025 11:06 AM (RRCAT)

286 Saw Rental Family in the theatre, because we saw the trailer and loved it.

Great movie. Well worth the ten bucks for tickets. (Yes, my PA theatre charges 12 for tickets, 10 for seniors; they even have a Tuesday night for 7.50 tickets).

Posted by: Lou Shumaker at December 07, 2025 11:09 AM (TJ0gw)

287 "An inserted or deleted scene after Solo and Chewie leave the Cantina. In the hangar they find Jabba waiting for them."

Really? Really??? They did that???

Wow.

Loved Star Wars so much when it originally came out. Not so much, now, though I would be willing to watch the original Star Wars again...

Posted by: Lyford at December 07, 2025 04:06 PM (gb+vr)

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