CineSavant & Trailers From Hell: Comfort and Joy For Film Fans and Movie Buffs

If you’re a passionate film fan like me, you probably don’t just watch movies, you very likely purchase your favorite films on physical media. These days multiple versions of new and classic movies are regularly being issued and re-issued, often as special editions, imports and in limited runs by “boutique” labels such as Arrow Video and Powerhouse Indicator. It’s hard to keep them all straight, much less make an informed choice about which version you should add to your library. One of the best places to get in-depth information about films and their disc releases is the ongoing column by the one and only CineSavant, aka DVD Savant. That’s the non de plume of Glenn Erickson, a film industry veteran who’s been writing about movies for many years now. His current home is that essential website for discerning cinephiles, Trailers From Hell.

Glenn always provides absorbing and entertaining analyses of the films he reviews in his twice-weekly column, which runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  He supplies comprehensive coverage of the latest and greatest Blu-ray and DVD releases. It’s always a pleasure to read his illuminating, fascinating and informative work. He writes about movies in a variety of genres, and often includes a fact or detail that even die hard film fans like myself may not have known. From the James Bond movies to 1950s science-fiction flicks, to foreign films, little known independent features, film noir, and back through to Hammer horror and Toho’s Godzilla series, CineSavant provides thoughtful and accurate reviews. If there have been multiple disc releases of a film, Glenn will let you know the pluses (and occasional minuses) of each version, and how they differ, from picture quality to special features. The CineSavant page also features excellent guest writers like Charlie Largent, who maintain the site's high quality when writing about their genre of specialty.

In a field where many writers and bloggers claim to be experts, CineSavant is the real deal. Glenn has also released two excellent books compiling his work, DVD Savant and Sci-Fi Savant. Both are worth seeking out. I’m happy to say that I own a copy of Sci-Fi Savant, and this spectacular collection of science-fiction film reviews spanning the cinematic decades of the genre is one of my go to references on the subject. Sitting down to read Glenn’s indispensible writing is always one of the highlights of my week, and I’m very glad that he has found a home at Trailers From Hell, the website of choice for cool and in the know film buffs. Not only is Glenn’s work hosted at the site, you can check out other talented writers like Dennis Cozzalio and Randy Fuller. 

At Trailers From Hell, you can view trailers for a wide variety of films featuring commentaries by filmmakers like Allan Arkush, Mick Garris and John Landis. While you're there, you also can find links to episodes of the fantastic (and absolutely addictive) podcast The Movies That Made Me, hosted by screenwriter Josh Olson and director Joe Dante. In each episode, the dynamic cinematic duo talk with a variety of actors, directors and writers about the moves that inspired them. I’ve written about both Trailers From Hell and Cinesavant in the past, but in these unprecedented times we live in, it’s nice to celebrate positive things that bring you joy, and Cinesavant and Trailers From Hell never fail to brighten my day, week, month or year.  I strongly encourage you head on over to https://cinesavant.com and https://trailersfromhell.com, and dive into a world of cinematic wonders that will delight and enthrall you.

"The Turning": In Search of an Ending

Henry James' classic novella The Turn of the Screw has been adapted for both the big and small screen multiple times. The most famous cinematic version of the story is probably The Innocents, the chilling 1961 film starring Deborah Kerr. This year, two adaptations of the story were released. One was the Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor, from writer-director Mike Flanagan, which was very well received by critics and viewers. The second version of the story that came out in 2020 was The Turning, a big-screen adaptation of the story starring Mackenzie Davis. The project was originally conceived in 2016 as a horror film based on The Turn of the Screw entitled Haunted, to be produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. The script was by Chad Hayes and Gary W. Hayes, and Alfre Woodard was set to star in the film.

Shortly before filming was set to begin, the project was cancelled. Spielberg was reportedly unhappy with a rewrite that had been done by Scott Z. Burns, which significantly changed the original concept. Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Burns were let go, and the film was restarted with Floria Sigismondi behind the camera, and a new script by Jade Bartlett, based on the the original draft by the Hayes brothers. Mackenzie Davis of Halt & Catch Fire, Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things, Brooklynn Prince and Joely Richardson were cast in the movie, now entitled The Turning. The film was released to theaters in January of this year. The movie was not a success at the box office, and got terrible reviews, many of them pointing out the film's confusing ending.

The Turning is set in 1994, and tells the story of Kate Mandell, a young woman who becomes the governess to Flora and Miles Fairchild, a pair of orphaned children living at a large estate with the house's caretaker, Mrs. Grose. The previous governess, Miss Jessel, left suddenly, and Flora is worried that Kate will leave her as well. Kate assures her that she won't do that. Right from the start, odd things are happening, and both children act strangely. Miles continually challenges Kate's authority, and Mrs. Grose tells her he had been under the negative influence of Quint, the estate's riding instructor, who recently died. Kate begins to see strange apparitions, and experiences nightmarish moments. Are the ghosts real, or is it all in her mind? Kate's mother is in an asylum, and the prickly Mrs. Grose suggests that maybe Kate is going mad as well. When she learns the truth about what happened to Quint and Ms. Jessel, Kate has to decide if she can save both the children and herself from the house's evil influence.

The movie is stylishly filmed and features some fine cinematography by David Ungaro, who shot the film on location in Ireland. The choice of songs used on the soundtrack is excellent, and the score by Nathan Barr is appropriately eerie. The cast is strong, with Brooklyn Prince and Finn Wolfhard giving standout performances as Flora and Miles, and Mackenzie Davis doing an effective job portraying Kate's downward spiral. The problem with The Turning is that the script feels muddled, and the direction and characterizations are inconsistent, throwing off the tone of the film, despite the fine work of the cast.

Where the movie really falls apart is the ending. In order to avoid spoilers, I'll just say that we're given one climax to the story, and then there's a sudden reversal which turns that ending on it's head, and goes in a direction that makes the story feel incomplete. I'm all for endings that defy audience expectations and provide a cool twist. But even an ambiguous ending has to make some sense, and the one we're provided with in The Turning isn't really a conclusion at all. The odd end credits sequence doesn't offer us any help, either. It's a shame, because the film had potential, and could have been a cool modern version of a classic story. If you're looking for a really good adaptation of The Turn of the Screw, I'd stick with The Innocents, or take a deep dive into Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix. For more on that series, you can check out my review of that excellent show here: http://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2020/10/bly-manor-ghost-story-love-story.html. Here's a link to the trailer for The Turning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fw2h8P8MGg. 

Celebrate the Holidays with New Music from Nick Piunti and Grey DeLisle

As we wind our way through another holiday season, it's nice to have some new music to help us celebrate. JEM Records recently released "Christmas Morning," a fantastic new single by Nick Piunti and The Complicated Men. This past May, the group released their album, Downtime, a terrific collection of power pop infused rock and roll, featuring such excellent songs as "Upper Hand" and "Bright Light." Piunti is a long-time staple of the Detroit music scene, and the hook-filled tunes and the band's outstanding musicianship combined to make Downtime one of the best power pop releases of the past year. 

Featuring terrific vocals, jangling guitars, groovy bass and even a glockenspiel, "Christmas Morning" is a rocking holiday tune in the classic tradition of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Darlene Love. Just try not to smile and sing along as Piunti and The Complicated Men celebrate the real joy, and of Christmas: spending time with the people you love. Piunti had the first verse and chorus of the song finished for some time, but recently got together with the band to finish it and record the tune, which has been issued as this year's JEM Records holiday single. It's a marvelous tune that gets better every time you hear it, and if there's any justice in the world, it'll become a Yuletide rock and roll staple with a prime spot on your holiday playlist. You can find "Christmas Morning" wherever you download or listen to digital music, including Amazon and Apple Music.

Another fine release this holiday season is Grey DeLisle's cover of the holiday classic "O Holy Night," recently issued by Regional Records. DeLisle is a Grammy winning performer who has released several acclaimed albums. She's also a veteran voice-over artist whose work has been featured in series such as The Fairly Odd Parents, and as Daphne in the Scooby Doo franchise. Regional Records will be releasing her new album in 2021.

DeLisle's stunning take on "O Holy Night" is one of the best ever versions of this timeless song celebrating the birth of Jesus, which was composed way back in 1847 by Adolphe Adam. "O Holy Night" has been recorded by artists like Mariah Carey, Josh Groban and Celine Dion, but DeLisle's low-key, heartfelt rendition, arranged by the artist and Marvin Etzoni (formerly of Lone Justice) is extraordinary. To check out the wonderful video for this unforgettable version of a holiday classic, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmy1EU09R30&feature=emb_title.

Hunky Dory: David Bowie In Transition

David Bowie was one of the most talented and eclectic musicians ever to perform onstage stage, or grace a recording studio. His chamelionic qualities and innate gifts as a songwriter allowed him to create music in a variety of styles, and to inhabit several characters including the iconic Ziggy Stardust. Just before he introduced the world to his Ziggy persona, he recorded his fourth album, Hunky Dory, in 1971. The record includes such now-classic tracks as "Changes"and "Life On Mars?" At the time, Bowie had not yet achieved superstar status. While his previous releases had garnered some critical acclaim, the albums had not sold well, and he was essentially best known for his hit single, "Space Oddity." For the Hunky Dory sessions, Bowie gathered a stellar group of musicians,  including Mick Ronson, Woody Woodmansey and Rick Wakeman. The album would act as a transitional record and a turning point for Bowie. Hunky Dory would kick off one of the most fruitful and creative periods in Bowie's long and successful recording history, and helped cement his status as a rock legend.

Ken Sharp has recently re- released his excellent book Kooks, Queen Bitches and Andy Warhol: The Making of David Bowie's Hunky Dory. It's a comprehensive oral history covering the sessions for the landmark album. The book features interviews with producer Ken Scott, Mick Ronson, Rick Wakeman, Woody Woodmansey and the Thin White Duke himself. Hunky Dory is the record where you start to see the “modern” Bowie begin, leading to future classics such as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Aladdin Sane and Pin Ups. This is the period where Bowie really began his series of personal and professional metamorphoses. Sharp's detailed coverage of the album's production gives you real insight into Bowie's creative process, and the ways in which he involved the band in the recording of the songs.

This compelling look at Hunky Dory features some marvelous and entertaining inside stories about the making of this now classic record. If you’re a Bowie fanatic, the book is a must read. Even if you're a casual fan, you’ll find this marvelous work endlessly fascinating. The in-depth portraits of the album sessions, as well as Bowie and his band members is lovingly crafted by author Sharp, whose passion for his subject matter is clearly evident in this perceptive, exhaustively researched, well-written work.

Kooks, Queen Bitches and Andy Warhol: The Making of David Bowie's Hunky Dory can be purchased wherever ebooks are sold, and you can get more information about Ken's many other fine books about artists such as Cheap Trick, Elvis Presley, KISS and The Raspberries by heading over to www.kensharp.com. While you're at it, you can also check out some of his fantastic power pop music at www.bandcamp.com as well. As both an artist and a writer, Ken's work is indispensable and highly recommended.

The History of James Bond at the Movies

The words are instantly recognizable: "the name is Bond...James Bond." The character created by author Ian Fleming has been appearing on the big screen since 1962's Dr. No, and has been played by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan in the official movie series from Eon Productions. Current Bond Daniel Craig will return to the role for the fifth (and final?) time in No Time To Die, which is currently set for release in 2021. There have been a number of books written about the 007 films, including Bruce Scivally and John Cork's James Bond: The Legacy, and Stephen Jay Rubin's The James Bond Films. One of the more recent attempts to outline the ongoing saga of the Bond series is Some Kind Of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films, by Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field. Originally published in 2015, and later updated in 2018, the book covers the 007 series from its inception to Craig's last Bond film, Spectre, released in 2015.

The book is an exhaustive history of the films, and feature interviews with many of the actors, directors and writers who worked on the iconic series. It all starts with a brief look at Ian Fleming and the creation of the literary Bond, and the initial attempts to bring the Bond character to the big screen. Every film gets its own chapter, which covers the making of each entry in the series from pre-production planning to its eventual release. There's even coverage of Never Say Never Again (1983), the non-Eon Productions remake of Thunderball, which marked Sean Connery's return to the role. There's an in-depth look at the legal battles which allowed that film to be produced, which date back to Ian Fleming's original novel, and the complicated rights surrounding that book, which was originally filmed in 1965 as part of the official series.

The book contains a wealth of information about the production of each film, including details about the creation of the many iconic moments and spectacular stunts featured in the series, and coverage of scenes that were either cut from the final versions of the movies, or never filmed. The interviews with the many actors, writers, directors, musicians and technicians that worked on the Bond films are compelling and fascinating. There are some interesting comparisons between the plots of the original Bond novels and short stories, and what portions of those literary Bond adventures made it into the movies. This isn't a critical history of the 007 series, but rather an exhaustive and detailed look at the making of each film. Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field have done an outstanding job of looking at the entire history of the series in this compulsively readable work.

There are a ton of books out there about the James Bond films, but if you're a fan, this lovingly detailed work is well worth reading. Some Kind Of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films is an entertaining, enjoyable look at the long running 007 franchise. The authors are clearly fans of the films, and you may find yourself re-reading some of the chapters to digest a nugget of information you missed, or to go back over the interviews regarding your favorite film in the series. The book is now available in paperback or as an e-book. The only minor issue here is that some of the information on No Time To Die is out of date, as there were changes to the production after the book was released. So if you want to immerse yourself in James Bond movie lore, check out this marvelous look at the history of the cinematic 007. 

Etzioni’s Exceptional “What’s The Mood”

Rock and roll music can accomplish many things. At its best, it can thrill us, move us, teach us, uplift us, and allow us to be carried away by its rhythms. When an artist can accomplish all of those things on one record, it's a very special occurrence. Marvin Etzioni, a founding member of Lone Justice, does just that on his latest solo release, What's The Mood Of The Country Now?, an exceptional record that defies categorization. The album is a masterful musical melting pot of rock, soul, folk, poetry and roots music, which shines a light on important social issues, and manages to both entertain and inspire us as listeners.

The album opens with Etzioni chanting the words "Every breathing soul needs to live in peace" which sets the tone for a terrific collection of songs that include the one-two punch of "God Bless The Homeless" and the stark title track. On the folk-tinged "Here Comes America" Etzioni and singer-songwriter Sy Smith sing that the "future of freedom is in your hands." These powerful songs examine and illuminate the state of the world we live in right now. Throughout this remarkable record, Etzioni provides us with a musical call to action, asking us to be more empathetic to the problems of our fellow human beings, and take a closer look at ourselves. There's never been a better time for self examination than right now, in these insane and unprecedented times.

One of the highlights of the album is the innovative "Abide In My Love" which features an innovative spoken word duet between Etzioni and the recorded voice of Anais Nin, effectively combining the innate talents of both artists. "Cover Your Bamboo" and "The Last Weapon Left Is The Heart" are offbeat (and lyrically unique) love songs which also feature vocals by Sy Smith, whose extraordinary work complements Etzioni’s throughout the record. There are also top notch contributions from Etzioni on guitar and mandolin, David Leach on percussion, Zach Baird on Moog bass and synthesizer and Gustavo Santaolalla, who provides marvelous backing on the ronroco (a 10-stringed mandolin) for the stirring and powerful "We Belong In America."

While some of the songs on the album focus on the darker side of the world as we know it, the record also manages to strike a hopeful note, and point us in a more positive direction with the hard-driving, soulful "Wheels of Freedom" and the joyous, celebratory "(There's Gonna Be A) Jubilation." Marvin Etzioni, who also produced the album and wrote or co-wrote most of the songs, has worked with artists like Peter Case, Toad The Wet Sprocket and Counting Crows. With What's The Mood Of The Country Now? he provides us with some of his finest work to date. This superb album is just the kind of music you need to be listening to right now. It's one of the best records of the past year. You can get more information on the album, and some other recent releases, at Marvin's label, Regional Records, at https://regionalrecords.net.

Film Noir Flashback: 99 River Street

Evelyn Keyes and John Payne

Ernie Driscoll (John Payne) is a former prizefighter who was forced to quit the ring after a permanent injury to his eye. He’s eking out a living as a cab driver in New York City. Ernie’s wife Pauline is not thrilled with their bottom dwelling lifestyle. He may think he’s got it rough right now, but Ernie doesn’t know just how bad things are going to get in 99 River Street, a tough as nails thriller directed by genre veteran Phil Karlson. This hard-hitting film takes place over the span of one fateful night, as Ernie learns just how far his spouse will go to escape her low-rent existence.

Pauline has hooked up with a criminal named Victor Rawlins, who’s just pulled off a diamond heist. She plans to skip town with him, and find herself a better life. That decision will have deadly consequences. When Victor goes to see Christopher, his fence (with Pauline in tow) the man isn’t too happy that a woman is involved, or that Rawlins killed the owner of the diamonds. The fence tells the thief to scram. Victor later kills Pauline and frames Ernie for his wife’s murder. Meanwhile, Ernie’s gotten mixed up with the good-hearted but ambitious Linda James, an aspiring stage actress who tells him she’s killed a man and needs his help. But there’s more to Linda's story than meets the eye, and it doesn’t bode well for Ernie.

Things go from bad to worse as the police hunt for Ernie in connection with Pauline’s murder, as well as a scuffle that he got into with the producers of Linda’s show. Both Ernie’s pal Stan, who runs the cab company and Linda try to help him evade the cops until he can find out the truth about his wife’s murder. Meanwhile, Victor Rawlins has forced Christopher (at gunpoint) to give him cash for the diamonds, and is now planning to flee the country by boat. But the fence doesn’t plan to let Rawlins get away that easily. Everyone comes together at the title address, located at the docks, as their fates intertwine one last time. Who will survive the climactic meeting at 99 River Street?

John Payne turns in a good performance as Ernie, who just wants a chance at a better life, and is thwarted by circumstances beyond his control. There are some familiar faces in the strong supporting cast, including Brad Dexter as Victor Rawlins, Frank Faylen as Stan and Jay Adler as Christopher. But this film really belongs to the ladies. Peggie Castle as Pauline and Evelyn Keyes as Linda manage to steal the movie right out from under their male co-stars. Castle is perfect as Pauline and brings some real nuance to the standard role of the scheming wife. Keyes is equally good as Linda, whose heart is in the right place, even when she makes some bad choices. She gets a great scene late in the story when she has to charm the slimy Rawlins at a dive bar.

This swiftly paced noir is well directed by Phil Karlson, who also worked with star Payne on Kansas City Confidential and Hell’s Island. The excellent cinematography is by Franz Planer, who imbues the film’s night-time NYC settings with a real sense of menace. The screenplay by Robert Smith manages to sneak a couple of decent twists into a relatively by the book crime thriller. While 99 River Street isn’t an iconic or ground-breaking noir like Double Indemnity, The Killers or Out of the Past, it’s an enjoyable 83 minute ride for fans of the genre. The film is currently available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber home video, featuring an audio commentary from Eddie Muller, the host of Noir Alley on Turner Classic Movies. You can take a look at the film's trailer at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYY48zTTsDk.