Adam Selvidge's Website Blog
Man of the Year: Directed by Barry Levinson. With Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lewis Black. A comedian who hosts a news satire program decides to run for president, and a computerized voting machine malfunction gets him elected. Another step on my journey to watch (or rewatch as in this case) all of Robin Williams’ films and as I believe I mentioned last time this one came around, this is an obvious ‘what if we just elect Jon Stewart to be president” wish fulfillment story with the comedic genius of Mr Williams as the comedy host turned politician. Oddly...
I Love Trouble: Directed by S. Sylvan Simon. With Franchot Tone, Janet Blair, Janis Carter, Adele Jergens. P.I. Stu is hired to investigate the past of a millionaire Johnson’s wife who is missing. Stu finds that the wife had left her home town with an actor, went to college using a stolen identity and purloined $40,000 from a night club. Starring Franchot Tone as a slick talking private eye on a seemingly small time case that turns into something much larger and a series of some of Hollywood’s most beautiful women from the time: Janis Carter, Janet Blair, Adele Jergens,...
Beacon 23: Created by Zak Penn. With Lena Headey, Stephan James, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Natasha Mumba. A man living in the 23rd Century works at a remote “lighthouse” in space that serves as a beacon to help passing ships. I had no clue that MGM had their own streaming service and I don’t think I knew that Lena Headey was doing a hard science fiction series until about a week before it started. It’s a well done short season with one or two sets, but with multiple groups of actors, I don’t think there was a single episode where it was...
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Directed by Brian Henson. With Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson. The Muppets present their own touching rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. The gold standard for Christmas movies and in my humble opinion the very best adaptation of the Christmas Carol, a story that’s about 180 years old, being first published in 1843 by Charles Dickens with hundreds of different versions being adapted for every single type of media that you can imagine, including over 20 movies made in the last 80 years. This is by no means a neutered version of the...
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher. With Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson. When Gonzo accidentally diverts three letters to Santa, he talks Kermit and his friends into delivering them to the North Pole personally. A “made for tv movie” this isn’t the best Muppet content that I’ve ever seen, but it’s also not the worst, that sorta recent tv office comedy they did certainly takes that case. There’s a few fun guest stars and the songs are passable enough, but there’s no real bangers here like there are in the Muppet’s Christmas...
Faraway Downs: With Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, Tony Barry. An aristocrat, Sarah has a cattle station in Australia. Following death of her husband, a barons plots to take her land but she joins forces with cattle drover Jackman to protect her station. it’s been a bit since I’ve seen the original movie, but this episodic version of the story is different in great ways, like how each episode has a real focus, but worse in others, like that new theme song that you get to listen to several times over. It’s worth checking out, especially if you already...
The Great Escaper: Directed by Oliver Parker. With Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, Danielle Vitalis, Wolf Kahler. Bernard Jordan escapes from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France. Based on a true story and reportedly is Michael Caine’s final film performance, though like most actors there’s likely a few projected that he filmed previously in post production limbo or in a vault somewhere. As far as final performances go, there aren’t many as emotional and well done as this. Sidenote that I think this is the first time that I’ve ever run into a...
The Continental: From the World of John Wick: Created by Greg Coolidge, Shawn Simmons, Kirk Ward. With Mel Gibson, Colin Woodell, Mishel Prada, Hubert Point-Du Jour. Set in 1970s New York City, The Continental explores the origin of the iconic hotel-for-assassins centerpiece of the John Wick universe seen through the eyes and action of a young Winston Scott. Overladen with CGI sets, CGI action, and CGI weapons, this series is set in an uninteresting time period and featured characters that I just didn’t find interesting at all. I know that the Wick franchise relies heavily on CGI elements, particularly the...
Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff’s End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure-or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff’s End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. Arra Cynnis is the youngest child in one of the most powerful families in the wealthy district of Unicorn Precinct. When she’s found murdered, with the culprit’s identity...
Leave the World Behind: Directed by Sam Esmail. With Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la. A family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door. If you haven’t seen the internet’s buzz about the ending, I’ll say that while the ending isn’t one that the general public is going to fall head over heels for, this is still a captivating look at how people react to the strange or other wise unexpected. There’s a few really big names in the film, but Julia...
