Posted on October 23, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Aware Guide is a terrific resource for “life-changing media,” with documentaries about the environment, consciousness, health and wellness, social issues, and causes, some free.
It’s a very intriguing collection of films you won’t see at the multiplex.
Posted on October 19, 2013 at 10:31 am
Washington DC’s National Portrait Gallery is one of my favorite museums, and yesterday I had the great treat of visiting a special exhibit on the history of dance with photos, paintings, drawings, and video. Josephine Baker’s famous banana dance shows that the inspiration for Miley Cyrus goes back almost 100 years. Clips showed the Nicholas Brothers in “Stormy Weather,” John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever” and Beyoncé singing “Single Ladies.” One wall had QR codes linking to YouTube videos, including a “Thriller” dance at a wedding with over 17 million hits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPOoDq82IwAnd Slate has a nice tribute to dancing in the movies, featuring John Travolta (again) in “Pulp Fiction,” Elvis Presley in “Jailhouse Rock,” and Channing Tatum and his wife Jenna Dewan in “Step Up.”
Posted on September 27, 2013 at 8:00 am
In honor of this week’s release of “Rush,” based on the real rivalry of Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, take a look at these movies about racing, some featuring actors who raced cars off screen as well.
Winning
Days of Thunder
The Love Bug series
The Cannonball Run
Heart Like a Wheel
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Will Ferrell stars in this spoof of racing films, co-starring John C. Reilly, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Leslie Bibb.
Le Mans
Grand Prix
Driven It’s not a good movie, but writer/director Sylvester Stallone manages to put some exciting car action on screen.
Posted on September 13, 2013 at 3:59 pm
In honor of this week’s release of “The Family,” check out some of these movies about characters in the witness protection program. And no, I am not going to suggest the movies starring Tyler Perry, Larry the Cable Guy, or Dax Shepard.
“My Blue Heaven” Steve Martin is a wiseguy who has some problems adjusting to life in the suburbs in this neglected gem from Nora Ephron — and inspired, I’m sure, from her husband’s work on the non-fiction book that became “Goodfellas.”
“Goodfellas” This masterpiece from Martin Scorsese is based on the real-life gangster-turned-informant Henry Hill.
“Hide in Plain Sight” James Caan stars in this fact-based story of a man whose ex-wife took their children with her into witness protection. He sues the government to get his children back.
“Sister Act” Whoopi Goldberg plays a nightclub performer who goes into hiding as a nun while the cops track down the man who is trying to kill her.
Posted on September 2, 2013 at 8:00 am
In honor of the people who brought us the 40 hour work week, weekends off, and major advances in workplace safety and all those who work to contribute to society and care for their families:
Harlan County, U.S.A.
Up in the Air One of the few companies flourishing in this economy is one that helps other companies fire people.
Matewan
Executive Suite
In Good Company Dennis Quaid plays a middle-aged executive who finds himself working for a man young enough to be his son (Topher Grace) in this takeover-era story about the tension between revenues based on buzzwords and spreadsheets and revenues based on relationships and trust.
Blue Collar
The Company Men Three executives lose their jobs in this recession-era film by John Wells, starring Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, and Ben Affleck.
The films of Frederick Wiseman Pioneering documentarian Frederick Wiseman has produced the definitive series of films about work in the United States, covering everything from a high school, to a mental hospital, a high-end retail store, a ballet company, a hospital, a boxing gym, a racetrack, the military, a court, and a welfare office.
And be sure to check out my previous list, including classics like “9 to 5,” “The Pajama Game,” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
