Living for the Cinema Geoff Gershon

Thirty years ago we saw the release of this mystery thriller featuring three promising stars (Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman), co-written by two promising screenwriters (Aaron Sorkin, Scott Frank), and helmed by one accomplished director (Harold Becker - Sea of Love, Taps).  And THE one scene which most people remember from it happens to feature one of the stars referring to himself/herself as God....guess who that was? :) The plot revolves around a sleepy New England school for young women where students are getting murdered but wait there's more!  Also co-starring Bebe Neuwirth, George C. Scott, Tobin Bell, and Anne Bancroft.....it's time to revisit one of THE nuttier thrillers of the '90's! 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

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NORTON WEEK continues!  This is of course referring to the legendary actor Edward Norton who broke out big-time with his first ever on-screen appearance in the '96 legal thriller Primal Fear which garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Two years later in '98, he delivered two VERY memorable performances in two VERY different movies which both left their marks on any one frequenting the cinema for years to come - these two seminal films came out just about a month apart and they would make a truly BIZARRE double feature. :)

Tony Kaye (mostly before Norton took over during post, as has been reported since its release) directed a very searing portrait of two brothers Daniel and Derek Vinyard who have immersed themselves in hate and bigotry.  The older brother Derek is played by Norton in a performance which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor - he becomes the leader for a Neo-Nazi gang and is eventually sent to prison after committing a brutal murder in front of their home.  His younger brother Daniel is played by Edward Furlong who eventually joins this gang after his brother is incarcerated.  The story follows the struggles of both brothers along with their mother played by Beverly D'angelo.  Other co-stars include Fairuza Balk, Elliott Gould, Stacy Keach, Ethan Suplee, Guy Torry, and Avery Brooks.

WARNING: There are some racial epithets spoken by characters in this movie contained within clips from the movie included in this podcast.

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

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The time has come for NORTON WEEK!  This is of course referring to the legendary actor Edward Norton who broke out big-time with his first ever on-screen appearance in the '96 legal thriller Primal Fear which garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Two years later in '98, he delivered two VERY memorable performances in two VERY different movies which both left their marks on any one frequenting the cinema for years to come - these two seminal films came out just about a month apart and they would make a truly BIZARRE double feature. :) 

The first of these was this highly rewatchable poker drama featuring Norton (playing the scheming "rounder" nicknamed "Worm") as part of an extensive cast lead by Matt Damon, also including John Turturro, John Malkovich, Gretchen Mol, Martin Landau, and Famke Janssen.  Twenty-five years ago, the buzz surrounding this film helped kick-start a resurgent poker craze and it was directed by John Dahl (The Last Seduction, Joy Ride).  It's once again time to splash the pot.....

 Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Just under forty years ago, we saw the theatrical release of what many would consider to be one of THE seminal concert movies.  It featured one of the more enduring rock/funk/New Wave bands from that era.....NYC's own Talking Heads lead by innovative front-man David Byrne.  He was also joined on stage by several supremely talented musicians including Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Bernie Worrell among several others.  It was all shot over four shows over four nights performed in southern California as part of their tour to promote their most recent album "Speaking in Tongues" which would also feature what would be their highest selling single, "Burning Down the House."  It was directed by eventual Oscar winner Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) and the final product resulted in one HELL of a show which is about be re-released in the IMAX format.

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Back in the fall of '93 when this first came out, this movie felt like a big deal.  This was just a few years after star Macauley Culkin had become a household name after his 1990 starring vehicle Home Alone had taken over the world.  Culkin was the highest paid actor in Hollywood for a short time period, he was everywhere, and in typical fashion....there was already a growing backlash against him. After two Home Alone movies playing Mac's brand of violent sadism but strictly for laughs, this felt like the logical next step of course. 

Because in this movie, he plays disturbed pre-teen Henry living an idyllic life with this family at a large water-front home in Nantucket....or IS he?  Well apparently Henry is homicidal and his visiting young cousin Mark (Elijah Wood) becomes the first to realize this as he witnesses Henry commit all sorts of violent, heinous acts.....including terrorizing his own kid sister (Quinn Culkin) while pulling the wool over his parents, including the sweet-natured Susan played by Wendy Crewson.  And of course, chaos ensues!  Chaos involving young children in this enduring cult classic directed by Joseph Ruben (Sleeping With the Enemy) - don't say you weren't warned!

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Back around the era when this came out in the late '80's/early '90's it felt like there was a new heroic teacher drama (Dead Poet's Society, Lean On Me) being released every six months.  This particular inspirational drama was directed by Ramon Menendez and might be one of the best of that group.  It's based upon the true story of Jaime Escalante and his advanced math class at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles.  Escalante was a math whiz and he taught his students not only how to be math whizzes but eventually AP Calculus.  And we follow all of their stories towards clearing this difficult academic hurdle.  Edward James Olmos stars as Professor Escalante alongside Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosanna DeSoto, Andy Garcia, and several other talented young actors.

 Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 
https://livingforthecinema.com/

Facebook:
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