Monday, November 30, 2015

November 30 - Moonstruck

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy with a scene that happens on November 30. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

MOONSTRUCK

Widowed Italian-American Loretta Castorini is an accountant who lives with her parents, Cosmo, a plumber and Rose, his wife. Loretta’s boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri proposes to her before he flies back to Sicily to see his dying mother. He asks Loretta to invite his estranged younger brother Ronny to their wedding. On November 30, 1993 [18:45 – 47:33] Loretta meets Ronny who is estranged from his brother because he blames him for the accident that cost him part of his hand. After an argument Ronny and Loretta end up having sex. The next day Loretta tells Ronny they can never see each other again. He agrees if she will go to the opera with him that night and she agrees. After attending the opera Loretta learns her father is in fact having an affair, a suspicion that her mother had disclosed to her earlier. Johnny returns from Sicily, where his mother had a miraculous recovery and breaks his engagement to Loretta since he believes their marriage would cause his mother’s death. Ronny then proposes to Loretta and she accepts. Cosmo agrees to end his affair after Rose confronts him.

The poster at 1:06 shows Monday, November 15, meaning the film takes place in 1993. The next full moon in that year happened about 1 am on Nov. 29 as seen at 12:20, so the day she meets Ronny is the 30^th.

Producers - Norman Jewison and Patrick Palmer

Director - Norman Jewison

Screenwriter - John Patrick Shanley

Awards – The film won the Best Actress (Cher), Best Supporting Actress (Dukakis) and Best Original Screenplay Oscars. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Bnet Supporting Actor(Gardenia) and Best Director at the 60^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 42 minutes

Released – December 16, 1987

Starring –

Cher as Loretta Castorini

Nicolas Cage as Ronny Cammareri

Olympia Dukakis as Rose Castorini

Vincent Gardenia as Cosmo Castorini

Danny Aiello as Johnny Cammareri

Julie Bovasso as Rita Cappomaggi

Louis Guss as Raymond Cappomaggi

John Mahoney as Perry

Feodor Chaliapin, Jr. as Grandpa Castorini

Anita Gillette as Mona

Sunday, November 29, 2015

November 29 - Something the Lord Made

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on November 29. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

SOMETHING THE LORD MADE

Vivian Thomas, an unemployed African-American carpenter, who dreams of going to medical school is hired by the white Dr. Alfred Blalock, a medical researcher at Vanderbilt University to perform menial tasks. Thomas impresses the Doctor with his intelligence and dexterity and eventually becomes a junior partner in his research into the causes and cure of traumatic shock. Thomas experiences set backs in his plan to go to college when he loses all his money in a bank failure. When Blalock is made head of surgery at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical School, he takes Thomas with him. Blalock decides to work with Dr. Helen Taussing on finding a cure for “blue baby” syndrome, where the body does not get enough oxygenated blood due to a heart defect. Blalock becomes so dedicated to this research that he ignores his family, while Thomas has to deal with the subtle and not so subtle racism that permeates the society of the time. Thomas devises a way to create the condition in dogs. Blalock gets Thomas more money and promotion. Together they devise a surgical plan to cure the condition. On November 29, 1944[1:09:34 to 1:20:00] the pair performs the first “blue baby” open-heart surgery. Thousand of parents whose children have the condition invade the school, but Thomas gets no recognition for his work, since he is black. Thomas quits working for Blalock for a time but eventually returns. When Blalock is invited to Columbia University, he asks Thomas to join him, but he declines. Thomas stays at Johns Hopkins and trains generations of surgeons. He is eventually honored with an honorary doctorate.

Producers - Robert W. Cort, David Madden, Eric Hetzel, Julian Krainin and Mike Drake

Director - Joseph Sargent

Screenwriters - Peter Silverman and Robert Caswell

Awards – This film won the Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Emmys. The film was nominated for Outstanding Casting for a Mini-Series, Movie or a Special, Outstanding Directing for a Mini-Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or a Movie (Def and Rickman), Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing For a Mini-Series or a Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special at the 56^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Released - May 30, 2004

Runtime – 1 hour 50 minutes

Starring – Alan Rickman as Dr. Alfred Blalock, Mos Def as Vivien Thomas, Kyra Sedgwick as Mary Blalock, Gabrielle Union as Clara Thomas, Merritt Wever as Mrs. Saxon, Clayton LeBouef as Harold Thomas , Charles S. Dutton as William Thomas, Mary Stuart Masterson as Helen B. Taussig

Saturday, November 28, 2015

November 28 - About Last Night

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy with a scene that happens on November 28. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT …

Danny and Debbie are two twenty–something singles who live in Chicago. They meet at a softball game. The post-game celebration at a bar leads to a one-night stand. However, this ultimately develops into a long term relatiuonship.Debbie and Danny move in together. They say that they love each other. Danny quits his sales job because he hates his boss. Friction develops between them on Thanksgiving, November 28, 1985, when Debbie feels Danny does nothing to help her with the domestic chores [1:02:02 – 1:05:54]. On New Year’s Eve they break up when Debbie thinks Danny is not committed to her and he, in a moment of anger says he does not want to be tied down and that he does not love her. Debbie moves out. However, Danny quickly regrets his words and tries to get back with Debbie. On Saint Patrick’s Day, Danny finally professes his real love to Debbie, but she rebuffs him. They meet at another softball game and implicitly commit to trying to work things out between them.

Producers - Jason Brett and Stuart Oken

Director - Edward Zwick

Screenplay - Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue

Runtime – 1 hour 53 minutes

Released - July 2, 1986

Starring –

Rob Lowe as Danny Martin

Demi Moore as Debbie Sullivan

James Belushi as Bernie Litgo

Elizabeth Perkins as Joan

George DiCenzo as Mr. Favio

Robin Thomas as Steve Carlson

Megan Mullally as Pat

Rosanna DeSoto as Mrs. Lyons

Tim Kazurinsky as Colin

Kevin Bourland as Ira

Catherine Keener as Cocktail Waitress

Friday, November 27, 2015

November 27 - The Sound of Music

Today’s movie is a musical with a scene that happens on November 27. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Maria is a probationary nun at a convent near Salzburg, Austria in the 1930’s. She is often in trouble because she does not conform to the expected modes of behavior, preferring to roam the hills above the city instead of praying in the chapel. The mother superior decides to send her to be the governess for the widower Captain Von Trapp and his seven children. The Captain tries to run his house like a navy ship, and is cold and distant to his progeny. This causes the children to bitterly resent the succession of governesses sent to take care of them and they play cruel practical jokes on them. Maria’s refusal to tell their father about the pranks they play on her and her truly caring attitude win the children over. The eldest girl Liesl is in love with Rolf, the telegraph delivery boy, who is a member of the Austrian Nazi Party. When the Captain goes to Vienna, Maria takes the children on outings into Salzburg and teaches them to sing. When the Captain returns from Vienna with his enamota, Baroness Schrader and their friend Max Detweiler, a musical booking agent he is outraged at what Maria has done and fires her, but relents when he sees that the children have charmed the Baroness with their singing. The Captain enjoys a musical puppet show put on by the children, but rejects Max’s idea that they should form a singing group. After a ball given by the Captain, the Baroness, who has noticed the attraction between the Captain and Maria, uses subtle psychology to manipulate Maria into fleeing back to the convent. However, the mother superior tells her she should return to the Von Trapps and not try to hide from the world in the convent. The children are very saddened by her departure. The Captain is also, but tries to hide it and announces his engagement to the Baroness. However, when Maria returns, the Captain breaks it off with the Baroness. He and Maria finally express their true feelings for each other and become engaged. On November 27^ththe Captain and Maria are married at the Abby Cathedral in Salzburg [2:15:03 to 2:18:52]. While they are on their honeymoon, the Germans annex Austria. The Captain who is an ardent Austrian nationalist and anti-Nazi gets an invitation to join the German navy. Taking advantage of the Captain’s absence, Max has entered the children in the Salzburg Music Festival as a group. When the family tries to flee they are caught and have to go through with their cover story of going to perform at the festival. They win first prize, but they have snuck off to hide in the Abby. Rolf betrays their hiding place, but the nuns help them evade the Gestapo. The family escapes across the border to safety.

One of the better musical films. Entertaining family fare from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The storyline is good, even though it does take a great many liberties with the actual facts of the Von Trapp family’s history. As entertainment and not history it is a great film.

Memories Before and After The Sound of Music: An Autobiography by Agathe von Trapp (Harper, NY, 2004) at page 88 gives the date of their wedding

Producer - Robert Wise

Director - Robert Wise

Awards – The movie won the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Musical Score Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Actress (Andrews), Best Supporting Actress (Woods), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction and Best Color Costume Oscars at the 38^th Academy Awards.

Screenplay - Ernest Lehman

Runtime – 2 hours 54 minutes

Released – March 2, 1965

Starring –

Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp

Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp

Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa von Schrader

Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler

Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp

Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp

Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp

Duane Chase as Kurt von Trapp

Angela Cartwright as Brigitta von Trapp

Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp

Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp

Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess

Anna Lee as Sister Margaretta

Portia Nelson as Sister Berthe

Daniel Truhitte as Rolfe

Ben Wright as Herr Zeller

Marni Nixon as Sister Sophia

Thursday, November 26, 2015

November 26 - South Pacific

Today’s movie is a musical romance with a scene that happens on November 26. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

SOUTH PACIFIC

In the South Pacific during the early part of World War II, some US Navy Seabees lead by Luther Billis, lament that there are no women on their island, since the French planters sent their wives and daughters to the nearby island of Bali Ha’i, which is off-limits to all but officers. Lt. Joseph Cable arrives to recruit Frenchman Emile de Becque for a secret mission as a coastwatcher on a Japanese occupied island. However Emilie has fallen in love with Nellie Flatbush, an army nurse stationed on the island and declines to go on the mission. Lt. Cable, with nothing to do goes with Billis to Bali Ha’i where he meets and falls in love with Liat, daughter of the Vietnamese Bloody Mary, who sells souvenirs to the sailors. Nellie breaks it off with Emilie after he reveals he has two mixed race children from his earlier marriage to a Polynesian woman. Cable tells Liat he cannot marry her due to her race. On November 26., 1942 [1:48:30 – 2:09:13] Nellie performs in the Thanksgiving follies. Nellie refuses Emilie’s request to reconsider her rejection, so he decides to join Cable on the mission. The pair successfully land behind enemy lines, thanks to the unplanned assistance of Billis. They radio back reports that will allow a new offensive to succeed, but Cable is killed and Emilie goes missing. Liat is distraught and Nellie regrets her decision. When the offensive begins, Emile is rescued and is reunited with Nellie.

The date is given in the film at 1:48:32

Producer - Buddy Adler

Director - Joshua Logan

Screenwriter - Paul Osborn

Awards – The film won the Best Sound Oscar. It was also nominated for Best Original Score and Best Color Cinematography at the 31^stAcademy Awards.

Runtime – 2 hours 51 minutes

Released – March 19, 1958

Starring –

Rossano Brazzi as Emile de Becque

Mitzi Gaynor as Ensign Nellie Forbush

John Kerr as Lieutenant Joseph Cable, USMC

Ray Walston as Luther Billis

Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary

France Nuyen as Liat

Russ Brown as Captain George Brackett

Ken Clark as Stewpot

Floyd Simmons as Commander Bill Harbison

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

November 25 - Grumpy Old Men

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy with a scene that happens on November 25. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

GRUMPY OLD MEN

John Gustafson and Max Goldman were friends until John stole ‘stole’ May away from Max and married her. Max later married Amy and had a son Jacob who is now running for mayor of their hometown, Wabasha, Wisconsin. The two men are now frenemies who insult each other and play practical jokes on each other whenever possible. John now owes $57,000.00 to the IRS, a problem he tries to ignore, avoiding the IRS agent who hounds him. Then free spirit college professor Ariel Truax moves from California to the house across the street. On November 25, 1993 [28:01 to 39:12] John’s daughter Melanie who is separated from her husband brings her daughter to spend Thanksgiving with her father and discloses to Jacob Goldman that she was attracted to him when they were growing up. Chuck, the owner of the bait shop is the first to have a sexual encounter with Ariel. Max invites himself over to her house, but Ariel later sneaks into John’s house and cooks dinner for him, leading to a sexual encounter. Max thinks John has ‘stolen’ his woman again and pushes John’s ice fishing hut out onto thin ice. They end up having a fistfight. Max shames John into giving up Ariel. On Christmas Eve John is upset that his daughter has decided to give her husband another chance. John and Max meet at the local bar. Max realizes John really loves Ariel and heads after him, saving John, who has had a heart attack. Max tells Ariel what happened and she and John are reconciled. Max blocks the IRS ‘s efforts to sell John’s house to pay his back taxes. John and Ariel get married. As a wedding gift, Max reveals he was able to talk the IRS into agreeing to accept the base amount of John’s taxes of $13,000.00, an amount John can pay. Max heads to the DAR dance at the VFW while Jacob and Melanie spend an evening together.

Producers - John Davis and Richard C. Berman

Director - Donald Petrie

Screenwriter - Mark Steven Johnson

Runtime – 1 hour 44 minutes

Released – December 25, 1993

Starring –

Jack Lemmon as John Gustafson Jr.

Walter Matthau as Max Goldman

Ann-Margret as Ariel Truax

Burgess Meredith as John Gustafson Sr.

Daryl Hannah as Melanie Gustafson

Kevin Pollak as Jacob Goldman

Ossie Davis as Chuck

Buck Henry as Elliott Snyder

Christopher McDonald as Mike

Steve Cochran as Weatherman

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

November 24 - Tower Heist

Today’s motion picture is a crime caper film with scenes that happen on November 24. Watch and enjoy this movie tonight.

TOWER HEIST

Josh Kovaks is manager of the Tower, a luxury apartment. Other staff members include Charlie Gibbs, the concierge and Josh’s brother-in-law, Enrique, new elevator operator, Lester, the doorman and Odessa a maid, who is an illegal immigrant from Jamaica. Then Arthur Shaw building resident and board member is arrested for securities fraud. Josh tells the employees that he had asked Shaw two years ago to manage their pension funds and it is all gone. Josh goes to Shaw’s apartment and bangs up his 1963 Ferrari that used to belong to Steve McQueen with a golf club. Josh, Charlie and Enrique are fired. FBI agent Claire Denham tells Josh that Shaw probably has hidden away $20 million somewhere. Josh thinks he knows where: in a secret wall safe in Shaw’s apartment. Josh talks Charlie, Enrique, former Tower resident Mr. Fitzhugh, petty criminal Slide (who Josh knew as a child) and Odessa whose family background as locksmiths has given her the skills to open the safe into a team to steal the money for the employees. Charlie is hired to replace Josh and Denham tells Josh a hearing has been set for Shaw on Thanksgiving to avoid publicity. On November 24, 2011(Thanksgiving) [1:01:43 – 1:36:43] Slide tries to get to the safe first, but Odessa gets the drop on him with her gun. The team has snuck in the building using the distraction of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as cover. The safe is empty, but when Slide and Mr. Fitzhugh struggle over the gun, a bullet hits the Ferrari, revealing the bodywork is solid gold. They decide to steal the car by lowering down to Mr. Fitzhugh’s former apartment and then lowering it down the elevator shaft. Charlie rejoins the caper team. Josh finds Shaw’s ledger book of his illegal transactions in the car. The FBI returns with Shaw and discover the car gone. Since Shaw didn’t report the safe he has violated his house arrest and goes to jail. The team is arrested but the FBI can’t find the car. Josh trades the ledger book for freedom for everyone else and a two-year sentence for him. The car was hidden in Shaw’s rooftop pool. The team cuts it up and mails the pieces to the employees as compensation for their lost pensions. Shaw changes his plea to guilty and both he and Josh go to jail.

Producers - Brian Grazer, Eddie Murphy and Kim Roth

Director - Brett Ratner

Screenwriters - Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson

Released – November 2, 2011

Runtime – 1 hour 44 minutes

Starring – Ben Stiller as Josh Kovaks, Eddie Murphy as Slide, Casey Affleck as Charlie Gibbs, Alan Alda as Arthur Shaw, Matthew Broderick as Mr. Fitzhugh, Téa Leoni as Claire Denham, Michael Peña as Enrique Dev'reaux, Gabourey Sidibe as Odessa Montero, Judd Hirsch as Mr. Simon, Stephen Henderson as Lester

Monday, November 23, 2015

November 23 - The Hunt for Red October

Today’s movie is an espionage action thriller with a scene that happens on November 23. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

Marko Ramius has been given command of the Red October, a new Soviet missile submarine equipped with a silent caterpillar drive and it leaves port to participate in war games. Ramius murders the political officer and heads the boat for America to defect with the officers (but not the crew) in on the plan. Jack Ryan works for the CIA and learns at a meeting on November 23, 1984 that the Soviet navy has been deployed to stop Ramius who (unknown to Ryan) sent a letter with his intentions to Soviet naval command to burn his bridges and prevent any of the officers from changing their minds. The US naval command thinks Ramius has gone nuts and plans to launch a nuclear first strike. Only Ryan deduces he might be planning to defect. [33:12 to 50:24] The US navy is ordered to sink Red October. The caterpillar drive is sabotaged and the crew is evacuated. Ryan gets on board and contacts Ramius and his officers. They are attacked, both by a Soviet sub and a stay behind Soviet agent who Ryan prevents from detonating a missile. With help from a US sub, the attacking Soviet vessel is destroyed by one of its own torpedoes. The crew of Red October believe and report back that the Red October has been destroyed. The Red October reaches the US.

Although it takes a long time to get there the payoff is excellent in this suspenseful film. You’ve got to pay attention though. You can’t doze off here. Every minute contributes to the build up. One of the best sub films ever.

Date given in the film at 00:22 and 38:34.

Director - John McTiernan

Screenplay - Larry Ferguson and Donald Stewart

Awards - The film won the Best Sound Effects Editing Oscar. It was also nominated for the Best Film Editing and Best Sound Oscars at the 63^rd Academy Awards

Running Time – 2 hours 14 minutes

Released - March 2, 1990

Starring -

Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius

Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan

Scott Glenn as Commander Bart Mancuso

Sam Neill as Captain Vasily Borodin

James Earl Jones as Vice Admiral James Greer

Richard Jordan as Dr. Jeffrey Pelt

Courtney Vance as Sonar Technician 2nd Class Ronald "Jonesey" Jones

Gates McFadden as Caroline Ryan, M.D.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

November 22 - Parkland

Today’s movie is a historical drama film with scenes that happen on November 22. Watch and appreciate this film tonight.

PARKLAND

On November 22, 1963 [1:17 – 1:03:05] President John F. Kennedy arrives in Dallas, Texas. While traveling in a motorcade through the city he is shot. This is filmed by Abraham Zapruder, a local businessman. Kennedy is rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where Doctors Carrico and Perry try unsuccessfully to keep him alive, but ultimately the President is declared dead. The Zapruder film is developed. Robert Oswald learns his brother Lee Harvey has been arrested for killing the President. The Secret Service violates Texas law by stealing President Kennedy’s body and taking it back to Washington. At Dallas police headquarters, Robert Oswald talks to his brother and his mother. FBI agent James Hosty takes heat because Lee Harvey Oswald had delivered a letter threating to blow up the FBI office two weeks ago to him. The next day the Zapruder film is screened and he sells the rights to Life magazine. Then Lee Harvey Owsawld is shot and the same doctors try to save in him the same room where they worked on the President. Agent Hosty is asked by his boss to destroy the letter Oswald delivered. JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald are buried.

The date is given in the film at 1:00

Producers - Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Nigel Sinclair and Matt Sinclair

Director - Peter Landesman

Screenwriter - Peter Landesman

Runtime - 1 hour 33 minutes

Released – September 1, 2013

Starring –James Badge Dale as Robert Edward Lee Oswald, Jr., Zac Efron as Dr. Charles James "Jim" Carrico, Jackie Earle Haley as Father Oscar Huber, Colin Hanks as Dr. Malcolm Perry, David Harbour as James Gordon Shanklin, Marcia Gay Harden as Head Nurse Doris Nelson, Ron Livingston as James P. Hosty, Jeremy Strong as Lee Harvey Oswald, Billy Bob Thornton as Secret Service Agent Forrest Sorrels, Jacki Weaver as Marguerite Oswald, Tom Welling as Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman, Paul Giamatti as Abraham Zapruder, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Lillian Zapruder, Bitsie Tulloch as Marilyn Sitzman, Brett Stimely as President John F. Kennedy, Kat Steffens as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Gil Bellows as David Powers, Sean McGraw as Lyndon B. Johnson, Rory Cochrane as Earl Rose, Mark Duplass as Kenneth O'Donnell, Jimmie Dale Gilmore as Reverend Saunders, Matt Barr as Paul Mikkelson, Jonathan Breck as Winston Lawson, Gary Grubbs as Dr. Kemp Clark, Bryan Batt as Malcolm Kilduff, Glenn Morshower as Mike Howard, Armando Gutierrez as Officer Glen McBride, Austin Nichols as Secret Service Agent Emory Roberts, Gary Clarke as Admiral George Burkley

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015

November 20 - The Iron Lady

Today’s movie is a biography with a scene that happens on November 20. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

THE IRON LADY

In 2008 an elderly Lady Thatcher, suffering from dementia prepares to dispose of her deceased husband’s personal effects. She talks to a vision of her deceased husband Denis. Her relationship with both her children is strained. She thinks back on growing up as the daughter of a grocer who told Margaret Roberts to ‘go her own way’. She wins a scholarship to Oxford. Breaking into the male dominated Conservative party she is selected to run for Parliament, but loses. On her second try, after marrying Denis Thatcher she is elected. She fights her way into the all male cabinet and is selected as Secretary of State for education. Thatcher later becomes leader of the Conservative Party and in 1979 is elected Prime Minister, after a series of strikes. Shortly before her election an IRA bomb kills her mentor Airey Neave. After her election she works to break the unions. Thatcher leads the country through the Falklands War and survives the IRA’s attempt to kill her in the Brighton Hotel Bombing. She later institutes the very unpopular poll tax, works to end the Cold War and opposes European integration. On November 20, 1991[1:26:28 to 1:27:20] whiling dining at Versailles, Thatcher is deposed by her own party. Back in the present she tells the vision of Denis goodbye.

This is very mixed-up film. The constant flashbacks and forwards make for a very confusing movie. If you didn’t know anything about Thatcher, you’d be no more knowledgeable about her at the end. However, Streep as usual does a fantastic, spot–on job with her portrayal.

Margaret Thatcher: The Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1993) at pages 842 – 844 gives the date of this dinner.

Director - Phyllida Lloyd

Awards – The film won the Best Actress (Streep) and Best Makeup Oscars at the 84^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 44 minutes

Released – December 26, 2011

Starring –

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

Alexandra Roach as young Margaret

Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher

Harry Lloyd as young Denis

Iain Glen as Alfred Roberts

Olivia Colman as Carol Thatcher

Anthony Head as Geoffrey Howe

Nicholas Farrell as Airey Neave

Richard E. Grant as Michael Heseltine

Thursday, November 19, 2015

A Year of Movies is published!

Got the word that my book, A Year of Movies has been finally been published by Rowman & Littlefield. Received my author copies by UPS.

November 19 - Sherlock Holmes

Today’s movie is period mystery film with a scene that happens on November 19. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson stop Lord Blackwell from completing a sixth ritual murder of young women. Three months later, Holmes has become a recluse. Watson introduces him to Mary Morstan, his fiancée. Blackwood meets with Holmes and warns of three more deaths that will change the world. Blackwood is hung and declared dead by Dr. Watson. Holmes is visited by his former foe and romantic interest, Irene Adler, who asks him to find a missing dwarf, Luke Reordan. He learns she is working for a professor. It is reported that Lord Blackwood has risen from the dead. Holmes and Watson find a lab where Reordan was doing something for Blackwood. They have to fight off the attempt by Blackwood’s men to destroy the lab, but this results in Holmes and Watson being arrested. On November 19, 1891 [55:18 to 1:03:04] Lestrade gets Holmes out of jail. Holmes is taken to a clandestine meeting with the heads of the Temple of Four Orders, a secret magical society, headed by Sir Thomas Rotheram, the Lord Chief Justice, Standish, the American Ambassador, and Lord Coward, the Home Secretary. They ask him to stop Blackwood, a former member of their order and Rotheram’s son. Lord Rotheram is killed and Holmes inspects a secret room he discovers at the scene of the murder. Lord Coward gets Lord Blackwood elected as head of the Temple after Standish is killed, apparently by magic. Holmes and Watson go to a slaughterhouse and rescue Irene Adler, but explosions injure Watson. Holmes studies the Temple’s rituals and concludes that Blackwood’s next target is parliament. Holmes, Watson and Irene slip into the sewers beneath Parliament, where Blackwood has set up a machine to flood the chamber with cyanide gas, killing everyone except his supporters to whom he has given the antidote. Irene flees to the incomplete Tower Bridge. There Holmes confronts Blackwood and explains Blackwood’s scientific tricks that he used to create apparent magic. Blackwood is killed and Irene warns Holmes about Dr. Moriarity.

A different take on Conan Doyle’s master detective. This version drifts into steampunk at times. Holmes is very manic in this version and Watson wants to get away from him.

Date given in film at 58:27

Producers - Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin

Awards - The film was nominated for the Best Original Score and Best Art Direction Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards

Screenplay - Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg

Director - Guy Ritchie

Runtime – 2 hours 8 minutes

Released – December 25, 2009

Starring –

Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock Holmes

Jude Law as Dr. John Watson

Mark Strong as Lord Henry Blackwood

Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler

Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan

Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade

Hans Matheson as Lord Coward

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

November 18 - The Bourne Ultimatum

Today’s movie is an espionage thriller with a scene that happens on November 18. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

Jason Bourne escapes from the Moscow police and has flashbacks to his induction into the Treadstone program. The CIA decides to keep looking for Bourne. Simon Ross, an English reporter meets with a source inside the CIA in Turin. Noah Vosen, CIA deputy director orders the agency to investigate Ross. Bourne reads an article Ross has written about him and arranges a meeting with Ross at Waterloo station. In spite of Bourne’s best efforts, an assassin kills Ross, but Vosen thinks Bourne killed Ross. Bourne retrieves Ross’s notebook from his body. Ross’s source flees. On November 18, 2006, [29:52 to 48:39] Pamela Landy is brought in to track Bourne. She soon identifies Ross’s source as Neal Daniels, CIA station chief. Bourne, using Ross’s notes identifies an address in Madrid. Bourne goes to this address, revealed as Daniels’s office. There he takes out a CIA team and meets Nicky Parsons. Instead of turning him in she leaves with him; tells him of his past and hints she and Bourne had a romantic attachment in the past. Nicky and Vosen track Daniels to Tangier. Vosen sends a hitman to kill Daniels. Nicky gives a new phone to Desh, the hitman so Bourne can follow him to Daniels. Vosen learns of Nicky’s involvement and orders Desh to kill her next. Desh kills Daniels with a bomb and then starts tracking Nicky. Bourne escapes the Tangier police and kills Desh before he can kill Nicky. Bourne sends Nicky away and out of danger. Bourne travels to New York City and calls Pam Landy. They arrange a meeting. Vosen follows Landy, but Bourne sneaks into Vosen’s office and steals the Blackbriar files from his safe. Bourne gives the files to Landy, who faxes them out. Bourne accosts Dr. Hirsch, who was the psychiatrist who ran the behavioral modification program for Treadstone and Blackbriar, but decides not to kill him. A CIA hitman chases Bourne to the roof. Vosen shoots at him as Bourne leaps from the ten story building into the East River. In an epilogue, we learn that Noah Vosen and Ezra Kramer, the CIA director have been arrested for starting and running the Treadstone and Blackbriar programs. Nicky gives a big smile when she hears that Bourne’s body has not been found. Bourne survived the fall and swims away.

A fantastic conclusion to a great trilogy. A lot of action, but a few loose ends are left.

At 33:12 a computer screen gives the date of Ross’s flight to Turin and back, which is the day he meets Bourne at Waterloo. Landy starts the search the next day.

Producers - Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley and Paul L. Sandberg

Awards – The film won the Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing Oscars at the 80^thAcademy Awards

Screenplay - Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi

Director - Paul Greengrass

Runtime – 1 hour 56 minutes

Released – August 3, 2007

Starring –

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne

Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons

David Strathairn as Noah Vosen

Paddy Considine as Simon Ross

Joan Allen as Pam Landy

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

November 17 - At Bertram's Hotel

Today’s motion picture is a mystery film with scenes that happen on November 17. Watch and enjoy this movie tonight.

AT BERTRAM’S HOTEL

On November 17, 1958 [00:45 to 28:19] super detective and spinster Miss Jane Marple arrives for a stay at the posh Bertram’s Hotel. Also staying there is the adventuress Bess Sedgwick and a forgetful clergyman, Canon Pennyfather. By coincidence Col. Luscombe brings his ward young Elvira Blake, who is the daughter Bess Sedgwick abandoned years ago to stay there. Both Elvira and her mother are involved (unknown to each other) with the racecar driver Ladislaus Malinowski. Elvira meets her mother, who again rejects her. Jane Marple overhears conversations Bess Sedgwick has with the commissionaire, Michael Gorman and with Ladislaus. Elvira, who also overheard the conversation with Gorman sneaks off for a day. Canon Pennyfather discovers he should have left for his conference the day before. Chief Inspector Davy is suspicious of the happenings at Bertrams. Canon Pennyfather apparently returns to the hotel and then vanishes. The Irish mail train is robbed. Elvira learns about her money and then has a meeting with Ladislaus, which is observed by Miss Marple, who tells Col. Luscombe. The police begin investigating Canon Pennyfather’s disappearance, but he turns up after a witness saw him at the scene of the train robbery. Canon Pennyfather reveals he saw his doppelganger when he returned to the hotel before being knocked out. Mickey Gorman is killed. Inspector Davy and Miss Marple confront Bess Sedgwick, who confesses that she, in conjunction with Ladislaus, led a group of criminals who impersonated the well-known guests at Bertrams to commit robberies and used the American guests to smuggle the proceeds to America. She also confesses to killing Michael Gorman. She tries to flee and is killed in a car crash. Elvira Blake, who really killed Gorman after discovering that her mother had been married to Gorman years ago, is arrested. She feared that since her parent’s later marriage was invalid as her mother and Gorman never divorced, she wouldn’t inherit the money her dead father had left her.

Miss Marple Meets Murder by Agatha Christie (Nelson Doubleday, Inc., Garden City, NJ, 1980) at page 343 gives the date of Miss Marple’s arrival at Bertrams.

Producer – George Gallaccio

Director – Mary McMurray

Screenwriter – Jill Hyem

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes

Released – January 25, 1987

Starring – Joan Hickson as Jane Marple, Caroline Blakiston as Bess Sedgwick, Joan Greenwood as Selina Hazy, George Baker as Chief Inspector Fred Davy, James Cossins as Col. Luscombe, Helena Michell as Elvira Blake, Irene Sutcliffe as Miss Gorringe, Preston Lockwood as Canon Pennyfather, Brian McGrath as Michael Gorman, Robert Reynolds as Ladislaus Malinowski, Peter Baldwin as Mr. Humphries

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 16 - Infamous

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on November 16. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

INFAMOUS

On November 16, 1959 [4:20 to 5:44, 7:05 to 9:35] Truman Capote, flamboyant New York homosexual writer and bon vivant, reads an article in the New York Times about the murder of the Clutter family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. For some reason the story intrigues him and he decides to write a magazine article about the reaction of the people in the town to the murders. He persuades his childhood friend and fellow author, Nell Harper Lee to accompany him as his assistant. However his exotic and abrasive persona rubs the townspeople the wrong way. A chance encounter results in an invitation to the home of the prosecuting attorney for Christmas dinner. There Capote regales them with stories about the Hollywood stars that he knows. This leads to invitations from dozens of residents. Then two men are arrested for the murders and Capote uses his contacts to finagle access to the suspects. One of them, Richard Hickock quickly agrees to cooperate with Capote. The other, Perry Smith refuses in spite of Capote’s appeal to a shared interest in Tennessee Williams and Humphrey Bogart. Harper Lee returns to New York and Capote follows her to be questioned by his friends about the case and his book. Capote sends pornographic magazines to Smith who writes and says he wants to be exposed to truth and beauty during the time he has left, so Capote sends him copies of his own books. Smith writes and says that he does not want to talk to Capote because in his books Capote was unkind. Capote goes to see Smith and a break through is achieved when Capote reveals that his mother, like Smith’s committed suicide. Smith tells him about his childhood as the son of rodeo riders who divorced leaving him wanting to be rescued by his absent father, just like Capote. Smith becomes extremely upset when he learns the book’s title is to be In Cold Blood, thinking that depicts him as a heartless killer and he assaults Capote in his cell during a visit. Capote eventually calms Smith down enough so that Smith finally tells Capote what happened the night he and Hickcock killed the Clutters. Smith and Hickcock are convicted but their appeals drag on for four years, during which Capote cannot finish the book. Finally he is present when the two are hung. Smith leaves his possessions to Capote.

A gritty biopic. This is no Hollywood biopic of the 1940’s but a tough, warts and all look at some brutal stuff. This is a very serious film and not a piece of fluff.

Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke (Carroll & Graf, NY, 1988) at page 317 and the film at 4:30 give the date Truman Capote read the article about the murders

Producers - Christine Vachon and Jocelyn Hayes

Director - Douglas McGrath

Screenplay - Douglas McGrath

Runtime – 1 hour 58 minutes

Released – August 31, 2006

Starring –

Toby Jones as Truman Capote

Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee

Jeff Daniels as Alvin Dewey

Lee Pace as Richard Hickock

Daniel Craig as Perry Smith

Peter Bogdanovich as Bennett Cerf

Hope Davis as Slim Keith

Sunday, November 15, 2015

November 15 - The World Is Not Enough

Today’s movie is an espionage thriller with scenes that happen on November 15. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

On November 15, 1999 [00:26 to 4:31] James Bond 007 is in Bilbao, Spain to retrieve money that Sir Robert King had paid for a report stolen from a dead MI6 agent. The banker is killed, but Bond gets away with the cash. Back in London the funds are returned to King. Too late Bond figures out the money was booby-trapped. It explodes killing King. Bond chases the assassin, but she kills herself. The money is connected to Renard, an anarchist who had previously abducted Sir Robert’s daughter, Elektra for ransom. Bond goes to Azerbaijan to protect her and saves her from a hit squad in paragliders. Bond kills Davidov, Elektra’s head of security who is tied in with Renard and impersonates a Russian nuclear scientist at a former nuclear site in Kazakhstan. Renard steals a bomb, but Bond and American nuclear scientist Christmas Jones escape. A bomb in Elektra’s pipeline is revealed not be a nuclear bomb, but Elektra is in league with Renard and kidnaps M. Bond learns from a former associate Valentin Zukovsky that he has supplied a nuclear sub to Elektra. Jones deduces that Renard plans to cause the sub’s reactor to go critical, blocking the Bosporus and increasing the value of Elektra’s pipeline. Bond and Jones are captured. Jones is taken to the sub while Elektra tortures Bond. Zukovsky frees ond as he is dying. Bond frees M and kills Elektra. He boards the sub, frees Jones and together they stop Renard.

The date is given in the film at 1:29

Producers - Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli

Director - Michael Apted

Screenwriter - Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Bruce Feirstein

Runtime – 2 hours 8 minutes

Released – November 8, 1999

Starring -

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, 007

Sophie Marceau as Elektra King

Robert Carlyle as Renard

Denise Richards as Christmas Jones .

Robbie Coltrane as Valentin Zukovsky

Judi Dench as M

Colin Salmon as Charles Robinson

Desmond Llewelyn as Q

John Cleese as R

Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny

Serena Scott Thomas as Dr. Molly Warmflash

John Seru as Gabor

Saturday, November 14, 2015

November 14 - We Were Soldiers

Today’s film is a war movie with a scene that happens today. Watch and enjoy this motion picture tonight.

WE WERE SOLDIERS

A decade after the French lose their war in Vietnam, the United States gets involved. Lt. Col. Hal Moore is selected to test a new strategy of using helicopters to create airmobile forces and he moves his large family to Fort Benning Georgia to do so. After extensive training Col. Moore and his men are sent to Vietnam. On November 14, 1965 [40:30 to 1:12:51] the 2^nd and 3^rd air combat battalions of the US Army land by helicopter at Ia Drang in enemy occupied territory. They are immediately attacked by the Viet Cong and have to create an emergency-landing zone for the helicopters bringing in troops and supplies and taking out the wounded. They are split into two groups, but a reporter, Joseph Galloway flies into the combat zone. Meanwhile, back at Fort Benning, Julia Moore, the Colonel’s wife assumes the responsibility of delivering the casualty telegrams to their recipients. A night attack is repulsed, but an all out offensive the next day leads to the command almost being overrun. In response Col. Moore orders a “Broken Arrow”, where airplanes deliver bombs in support. This repulses the attack, but causes several American deaths as friendly fire. The Vietnamese plan a final assault, but Moore’s men attack first and with the support of helicopter gunships, overrun the Vietnamese base. They are then evacuated. Moore eventually returns home to his family.

We Were Soldiers Once … And Young: Ia Drang – The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway (Random House, New York, 1992) at page 55 gives the date of the airdrop.

Producers - Bruce Davey, Stephen McEveety and Randall Wallace

Director - Randall Wallace

Screenwriter - Randall Wallace

Runtime – 2 hours 18 minutes

Released – March 1, 2002

Starring – Mel Gibson as Colonel Hal Moore, Madeleine Stowe as Julia Moore, Greg Kinnear as Major Bruce P. Crandall, Sam Elliott as Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley, Chris Klein as 2nd Lieutenant Jack Geoghegan, Luke Benward as David Moore, Taylor Momsen as Julie Moore, Devon Werkheiser as Steve Moore, Keri Russell as Barbara Geoghegan, Barry Pepper as Joe Galloway, Mark McCracken as Ed Freeman, Đơn Dương as NVA Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Hữu An, Ryan Hurst as Sergeant Ernie Savage, Marc Blucas as 2nd Lieutenant Henry Herrick, Jsu Garcia as Captain Tony Nadal, Jon Hamm as Captain Matt Dillon, Clark Gregg as Captain Tom Metsker, Blake Heron as Sp4. Galen Bungum, Desmond Harrington as Sp4. Bill Beck, Brian Tee as Pfc. Jimmy Nakayama, Robert Bagnell as 1st Lieutenant Charlie Hastings, USAF

Friday, November 13, 2015

November 13 - Dante's Peak

Today’s motion picture is a disaster film with a scene that happens on November 13. Watch and enjoy this movie tonight.

DANTE’S PEAK

On November 13, 1985 [00:21 to 5:08] Nevada del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts, killing Marianne, the partner of vulcanologist Dr. Harry Dalton. Four yeas later Harry is sent to Dante’s Peak, Washington to investigate the dormant volcano near the town. While on an outing with Rachel Wando and her kids, Harry finds evidence of heat buildup inside the mountain. Harry convinces his boss to send a team to conduct further studies, but they initially find nothing until on the eve of their departure it is discovered that the town’s water supply has been contaminated by volcanic residue. Both Harry and his boss Paul agree that an eruption may be imminent and the town is ordered evacuated. The volcano erupts and Harry discovers Rachel and her kids have gone to rescue her mother, who lives near the crater. Their efforts are ultimately unsuccessful as she stays behind after being injured during the rescue attempt. Harry, Rachel and her kids reach the town after everyone else has left, just before a final cataclysmic eruption. However, they find safety in an abandoned mine and are rescued days later.

Volcanoes:Crucibles of Change by Richard V. Fisher, et. al. (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1997) at page 272 gives the date of the eruption.

Producers - Gale Anne Hurd and Joseph Singer

Director - Roger Donaldson

Screenwriter - Leslie Bohem

Runtime – 1 hour 49 minutes

Released – February 7, 1997

Starring –

Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Harry Dalton

Linda Hamilton as Mayor Rachel Wando

Charles Hallahan as Dr. Pauljoseph "Paul" Dreyfus

Elizabeth Hoffman as Grandma Ruthleen "Ruth"

Jamie Renée Smith as Lauren Wando

Jeremy Foley as Graham Wando

Grant Heslov as Gregory "Greg"

Arabella Field as Nancy

Tzi Ma as Stanley "Stan"

Bill Bolender as Sheriff Turner

Peter Jason as Norman Gates

Kirk Trutner as Terry Furlong

Brian Reddy as Lester "Les" Worrell

Susie Spear as Karen Narlington

Walker Brandt as Marianne

Thursday, November 12, 2015

November 12 - The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

Today’s movie is a biography with a scene that happens on November 12. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS

Gladys Aylward comes to London in hopes of becoming a missionary in China, but the mission society says she is not qualified. However, they do get her a job as a second maid with Sir Francis Jamison. She buys a ticket to China via the Trans-Siberian Railway in installments. She starts secretly reading Sir Francis’s books about China. When he learns about this, instead of firing her, Sir Francis writes to Jeannie Lawson, a friend of his in China. After a long and difficulty journey, she arrives at Jeannie Lawson’s mission in Yang Cheng. Lawson has bought an inn that she plans to run and tell Bible stories to the guests. Gladys works hard to become assimilated, then Miss Lawson is killed in a fall. The missionary society wants to close the inn, but she refuses to go. At the suggestion of the Eurasian Captain Lin Nan, the local mandarin appoints Gladys as the inspector to ensure that the law against foot binding is obeyed. She becomes almost fully assimilated and is called Jin Ai (The One Who Loves People) by the Chinese. She gains great face among the Chinese when she goes into the local prison during a riot and diffuses the situation. Jin Ai and Col. Lin Nan tour the villages and their attraction grows. Jin Ai starts taking in orphans. Word comes that the Japanese are preparing to attack China. The Japanese bomb the city. The city is evacuated and Jin Ai is left behind. Col. Lin Nan finds her when his men reach the city after a temporary Japanese retreat. Impressed by her bravery and compassion the Mandarin converts to Christianity. She stays behind with the orphans when the city is permanently evacuated. She leaves with 100 orphans for the city of Sian. She brings the orphans through difficult terrain and avoids the Japanese. On November 12, 1938 [2:32:56 to 2:37:27] Jin Ai and the orphans reach the safety of Sian.

A truly inspirational story. However, Bergman looked nothing like Aylward and a romance was added to the storyline. Still, as entertainment and not history, it is a decent film.

Date given in film at 2:33:21-22

Awards – It was nominated for Best Director Oscar at the 31^stAcademy Awards.

Producer - Buddy Adler

Director - Mark Robson

Screenplay - Isobel Lennart

Runtime – 2 hours 38 minutes

Released – December 11, 1958

Starring –

Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward

Curt Jürgens as Captain Lin Nan

Robert Donat as The Mandarin

Michael David as Hok-A

Athene Seyler as Jeannie Lawson

Ronald Squire as Sir Francis Jamison

Moultrie Kelsall as Dr. Robinson

Richard Wattis as Mr. Murfin

Peter Chong as Yang

Tsai Chin as Sui-Lan

Edith Sharpe as Secretary

Joan Young as Sir Francis' cook

Lian-Shin Yang as Woman with Baby

Noel Hood as Miss Thompson

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

November 11 - Die Another Day

Today’s movie is an espionage thriller with scenes that happen on November 11. Watch and enjoy this film tonight.

DIE ANOTHER DAY

James Bond 007 British MI6 agent infiltrates North Korea in an attempt to stop Col. Tan-Sun Moon from trading weapons for conflict diamonds. However, he is exposed. Bond apparently kills Moon, but is caught and tortured for a year. Finally he is traded for Zao, a subordinate of Moons. Bonds 00 status is revoked as he is suspected of spilling classified info while imprisoned. Bond escapes from detention and with Chinese help tracks Zao to Cuba. On November 11, 2002 [39:36 to 49:28] Bond visits a clinic in Cuba, where DNA therapy allows people to change their identities. NSA agent Jinx Johnson blows the place up, but Zao escapes. Bond finds diamonds that he ties to Gustav Graves, a mysterious billionaire, who has found diamonds in Iceland and has Miranda Frost, MI6 agent and former Olympic fencing champion as his aside. After he wins a fencing match with Graves, Bond is invited to Iceland to witness a scientific demonstration. Bond is restored to 00 status. Graves reveals his satellite Icarus that can concentrate solar energy in a small area. Frost seduces Bond while Jinx infiltrates Graves’s lab, but is captured. Bond rescues Jinx and learns Moon used gene therapy to alter his appearance and become Graves. Frost reveals herself as a traitor who betrays Bond, but he escapes with Jinx. Bond and Jinx infiltrate North Korea, stowing away on Graves cargo plane. There Graves reveals his identity and his plan to his father, a North Korean general of using Icarus to destroy the minefields in the DMZ, so the North can invade the South. The General tries to stop his son, but Graves kills him. Bond and Jinx defeat Frost and Graves and escape the burning plane, which Jinx had programmed to fly through the Icarus beam. They disable the beam and have a tryst in a hut surrounded by Graves’s cache of stolen diamonds.

The date is given in the film at 42:59

Producers - Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli

Director - Lee Tamahori

Screenwriters - Neal Purvis and Robert Wade

Runtime – 2 hours 13 minutes

Released – November 20, 2002

Starring – Pierce Brosnan as James Bond 007., Halle Berry as Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson, Toby Stephens as Gustav Graves, Rosamund Pike as Miranda Frost., Rick Yune as Zao, Judi Dench as M, Will Yun Lee as Colonel Moon, Kenneth Tsang as General Moon, John Cleese as Q, Colin Salmon as Charles Robinson, Ho Yi as Mr Chang, Rachel Grant as Peaceful Fountains of Desire, Emilio Echevarría as Raoul, Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny, Michael Gorevoy as Vladimir Popov, Lawrence Makoare as Mr. Kil, Michael Madsen as Damian Falco, Joaquin Martinez as an elderly cigar factory worker

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

November 10 - Nebraska

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on November 10. Watch and enjoy this movie tonight.

NEBRASKA

David Grant decides to drive his father Woody to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect on a sweepstakes win, even though he knows that the contest is a scam, a fact his father refuses to recognize. After Woody injures himself while on a bender, David talks his father into going to see family in his hometown of Hawthorne, Nebraska. On November 10, 2013 [1:02:25 – 1:12:10] after a family dinner they watch the Bears vs. Lions game. They run into Woody’s old business partner, Ed Pegram who threatens legal action over money he says he is owed and Peggy Nagy, a former girlfriend of Woody who is planning on doing a newspaper story about Woody and his fake contest win. Woody’s wife Kate and David’s brother Ross come to visit. David and Ross try to steal back the air compressor they think Ed Pegram stole years ago from their father. There is a confrontation with Woody’s family about money each claims the other side owes. After Ed Pegram finds the letter and reads it aloud in a bar to embarrass Woody, David punches him out. Eventually Woody and David reach the sweepstakes office, where all Woody gets is a hat. David sells his car so Woody can drive “his“ new truck through Hawthorne.

Producers - Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa

Director - Alexander Payne

Screenwriter - Bob Nelson

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Picture, Best Actor (Dern), Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Squibb), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Screenplay Oscars at the 86^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 54 minutes

Released – May 23, 2013

Starring –

Bruce Dern as Woodrow T. "Woody" Grant

Will Forte as David Grant

June Squibb as Kate Grant

Bob Odenkirk as Ross Grant

Stacy Keach as Ed Pegram

Mary Louise Wilson as Aunt Martha

Missy Doty as Noel

Angela McEwan as Pegy Nagy

Rance Howard as Uncle Ray

Devin Ratray as Cole

Tim Driscoll as Bart

Melinda Simonsen as the Receptionist in the contest office