In Memory of Joel Schumacher (1939-2020)

Joel Schumacher (1939-2020)

Hollywood film director Joel Schumacher. The man who reinvented the Batman movie series into its gaudy take, as well as directed films like "St. Elmo's Fire", "The Lost Boys", and "Flatliners", has passed away after losing his battle with cancer at age 80 on June 22nd, 2020.

This filmmaker is known for his flamboyance and brilliance. It's no wonder many people considered him the man who replaced Tim Burton and nearly killed the Batman film franchise. He had apologised for making "Batman and Robin", which he regretted instantly for the rest of his life.

Joel began as a fashion designer in New York but moved to Hollywood, where he used his design talents in doing costumes for films like Woody Allen's "Sleeper" and "The Last of Shelia". Schumacher turned to scriptwriting in films such as "Car Wash" and "The Wiz". He then shifted to directing in his first outing, "The Incredible Shrinking Woman". Schumacher's claim to fame was the coming-of-age teen drama "St. Elmo's Fire", which was an instant hit. It launched the careers of the Brat Pack, consisting of Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy. Soon after came "The Lost Boys", a horror comedy about vampires starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Kiefer Sutherland and these successes have propelled Joel Schumacher into directing more films like "Flatliners", "Falling Down", "The Client", "A Time to Kill", "8mm", "Flawless", "Tigerland", "Phone Booth", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Number 23" and "Trespass".

Beneath his accomplishments is his lighthearted and campy take on the Batman series, which instantly harkens back to the Adam West television series. The reins from director Tim Burton get transferred to Joel in handling the movie franchise as the studio wanted it to be kid-friendly, beginning with the third instalment, "Batman Forever". His first movie was a success, but the second outing, "Batman and Robin", proved to be lacklustre and hated by fans and critics. Apart from doing feature films, Joel directed two episodes from the first season of the Netflix TV version of "House of Cards" as well as music videos such as "Devil Inside" by INXS and "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal.

I feel sorry for Schumacher, considering what he has been through in making "Batman and Robin" a colossal failure that nearly killed George Clooney's acting career. I'm sad he never got to release "Batman Forever" in its extended cut.

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In Memory of Ian Holm (1931-2020)

Ian Holm (1931-2020)

I'm sure by now we've all heard the sad news that British actor Ian Holm died from complications of Parkinson's on June 19th, 2020, aged 89. Holm was an exceptionally trained and versatile actor who had been well-known in roles such as the villainous android Ash in "Alien" and the eccentric Bilbo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" series. He was born in Essex around England in 1931, then went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study drama until the early 1960s, when he ventured into film.

One of his earlier roles was the mischievous Puck in the 1968 film adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Holm even took on the role of the French conquerer Napoleon in the TV miniseries "Napoleon and Love", and in 1976, he ascended his screen presence as King John in "Robin and Marian" opposite Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn and Robert Shaw. Holm's international breakthrough role as the android Ash in "Alien" solidifies him. It wasn't long before Holm got other parts throughout his career, including "Chariots of Fire" (the former earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination). "Time Bandits" (where he reprised his Napoleon role), "Brazil", "Dreamchild", "The Madness of King George", "The Fifth Element", "eXistenZ", "The Day After Tomorrow", and "Ratatouille".

In the latter part of his career, a new generation was introduced to Ian Holm when he played the aging hobbit Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He even reprised his role in "The Hobbit" series as well. I never met him. But to me, he sounds like an incredible actor with an astonishing career, and we won't forget his acting contributions.

My condolences go to his family and friends.

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Spartacus Review

Spartacus

Release Date: 9th December 1960 - Australia

Production Companies

Bryna Productions (presents)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 184 minutes

Budget: $12,000,000

Box Office Gross: $60,000,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Born into the world of slavery, the defiant Thracian Spartacus gets sold to Batiatus, who then trains him as a gladiator to fight in the arena. Spartacus rebels against his masters and then leads a slave uprising. He went from town to town as several of his fellow slaves had joined their ranks. Under Spartacus' leadership, the slaves made their way to southern Italy. There, they would cross the sea and return to their homes.

Cast

Kirk Douglas - Spartacus
Laurence Olivier - Crassus

Jean Simmons - Varinia
Charles Laughton - Gracchus
Peter Ustinov - Batiatus

Tony Curtis - Antoninus
John Gavin - Julius Caesar
Nina Foch - Helena Glabrus

John Ireland - Crixus
Herbert Lom - Tigranes Levantus
John Dall - Marcus Publius Gabrus
Charles McGraw - Marcellus
Joanna Barnes - Claudia Marrus
Harold J. Stone - David
Woody Strobe - Draba
Peter Brocco - Ramon
Paul Lambert - Gannicus

Robert J. Wilke - Guard Captain
Nick Dennis - Dionysius
John Hoyt - Caius
Frederic Worlock - Laelius
Vic Perrin - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Stanley Kubrick
Based on a Novel - Howard Fast

Screenplay - Dalton Trumbo
Executive Producers - Kirk Douglas and Edward Muhl (Uncredited)
Producers - Edward Lewis, Robert A. Harris (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration) and James C. Katz (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration)

Historical and Technical

Advisor - Vittorio Nino Novarese

Production Designers - Alexander Golitzen and Roger K. Furse (Uncredited)
Costumes - Valles

Costumes: Miss Simmons - Bill Thomas
Director of Photography - Russell Metty

Photographer: Additional Scenes - Clifford Stine

Camera Operator - Harry L. Wolf (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator/

Stunts - Yakima Canutt (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Film Editor -

Irving Lerner (Uncredited)

Design Consultant/Main Titles - Saul Bass

Film Editor/Editorial Consultant (1991

Reconstruction and Restoration) -

Robert Lawrence

Sound - Joe Lapis, Ronald Pierce,

Murray Spivack and Waldon O. Watson

Music - Alex North

Awards

1961 Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actor - Peter Ustinov (Won)

Best Cinematography, Color - Russell Metty (Won)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -

Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom,

Russel A. Gausman and Julia Heron (Won)

Best Costume Design, Color - Valles and Bill Thomas (Won)

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Best Film Editing - Robert Lawrence (Nominated)

Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy

Picture - Alex North (Nominated)

Review

After hearing that Kirk Douglas passed away, I decided to review SPARTACUS as a tribute to his legendary acting. I have wanted to see this classic film because it's from the late director Stanley Kubrick, who directed such classics as Dr. Strangelove, 2001, etc. It surprised me that Kubrick disowned SPARTACUS when he had no creative control of this film. The movie was self-produced by Kirk Douglas as a response to not getting the title role of Ben Hur, which went to Charlton Heston.

In the all-star cast, Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis are talented in their performances. The script was good, the scenery was remarkable, and the soundtrack was incredible. The battle sequences are well-staged and choreographed, especially compared to the fight scenes in modern sword and sandal films like Gladiator.

SPARTACUS is a great classic but not one of the greatest movies. I recommend this film to anyone, including those who are cinephiles.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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50 First Dates Review

50 First Dates

Release Date: 25th March 2004 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Happy Madison
Anonymous Content
Flower Films

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime 99 minutes

Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $198,520,934 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Henry Roth, a marine veterinarian living in Hawaii, is afraid of commitment when he meets Lucy Whitmore. While she appears to be the girl of his dreams, Henry discovers that Lucy has short-term memory loss and doesn't remember him from their first meeting. He romances her every day and hopes she falls in love with him.

Cast

Adam Sandler - Henry Roth

Drew Barrymore - Lucy Whitmore

Rob Schneider - Ula

Sean Astin - Doug Whitmore

Luisa Strus - Alexa

Dan Aykroyd - Dr. Keats

Amy Hill - Sue

Allen Covert - Ten Second Tom

Blake Clark - Martin Whitmore

Maya Rudolph - Stacy

Pomaika'l Brown - Nick
Missi Pyle - Noreen
Lynn Collins - Linda

Jackie Sandler - Dentist (Cameo)
Kevin James - Factory Worker

Crew

Director - Peter Segal

Writer - George Wing
Associate Producer - Kevin Grady
Executive Producers - Michael Ewing and Jay Roach
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Daniel Lupi
Producers - Jack Giarraputo, Steve Golin and Nancy Juvonen
Co-Producers - Scott Bankston and Larry Kennar
Casting Director - Roger Mussenden

Animal Coordinator - Steve Berens
Production Designer - Alan Au
Art Director - Domenic Silvestri
Set Decorator - Robert Greenfield

Property Master - Timothy S. Wiles
Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Director of Photography - Jack N. Green

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Joseph D. Urbanczyk

Camera Operator - Stephen S. Campanelli

First Assistant Director - John Hockridge

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Adam Druxman

Second Assistant Director - Joseph J. Kontra
Second Unit Director/Visual Consultant -

Jim Bissell

Stunt Coordinator - Webster Whinery
Special Effects Coordinator - John C. Hartigan
Visual Effects Supervisor - Sheena Duggal
Visual Effects Producer - Victoria Alonso
Visual Effects Executive Producer - Debbie Denise
Film Editor - Jeff Gourson

Additional Editors - Tom Costain

and Jason Gourson

Supervising Sound Editor - Elmo Weber

Sound Effects Supervisor - Derek Vanderhorst

Supervising Sound Mixers - Jeffrey J. Haboush

and Bill W. Benton
Music - Teddy Castellucci

Music Supervisor - Michael Dilbeck

Review

What seemed to be a typical Adam Sandler movie or an average romantic comedy is nothing as I have ever seen. 50 FIRST DATES is both touching and funny. It has a terrific storyline and a wonderful setting. I know a person who has also suffered from short-term memory loss who is nothing like the character portrayed by Drew Barrymore. While it is the second film to feature Sandler and Barrymore, as they have been together since The Wedding Singer, they're qualified in their adequate performances with easy chemistry. The supporting cast is also good, but they don't usually stand out like the lead actors.

I rank 50 FIRST DATES as my new favourite rom-com. It's one of those features I wish to see again.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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