Living for the Cinema

This was one of 2022's most acclaimed films and is now apparently one of the frontrunners in the current Oscar race. Among its nominees are Todd Field (In the Bedroom, Little Children) for both writing and directing, along with two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett for Best Actress for her memorable performance as the eponymous Lydia Tar. Tar is a renowned American composer/conductor leading an orchestra in Berlin - she's a worldwide celebrity with an impeccable reputation as a musical genius. But her life soon becomes engulfed in both scandal and a looming sense of danger.....and we follow her on this admittedly wild ride! The film also stars Noemie Merlant and Nina Hoss - let's see if it lives up to the hype.
Host: Geoff Gershon
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon
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Thirty-five years ago, this raunchy comedy directed by Charles Crichton took the world by storm featuring a melding of British and American comedic talent at the peak of their powers - it even got some Oscar love including Kevin Kline winning the rare Best Supporting Actor for a full-on comedic role. Kline co-stars as former CIA assassin Otto who has been brought aboard the crew of a diamond heist in London recruited by his "sister" Wanda played by Jamie Lee Curtis who is also in on the heist. The heist apparently goes off without a hitch....until one key assailant George (Tom Georgeson) gets arrested and ONLY he knows where the diamonds have been hidden? Or DOES he?
Throw in Monty Python vets John Cleese playing his attorney and Michael Palin playing his animal-loving co-conspirator and what you have is one nutty British/American farce featuring loads of inappropriate gags involving stuttering, animal murder, and other nasty subjects! And of course, at the center of this story is.....A Fish Called Wanda. (A goldfish actually.)

Host: Geoff Gershon
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
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In honor of Memorial Day, let’s revisit one of the earliest films from a true titan of cinema, the late great Stanley Kubrick – this was only the third feature film he directed, and it came three years before what many consider his true breakout film, Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas. Douglas stars in this as well as a Colonel in the French Army during World War I who is ordered to lead his battalion into an untenable situation right at the edge of the European Front, though No Man’s Land.
What results is a tragic incident involving many deaths that only gets more tragic as some surviving soldiers are to be held accountable for what happened – Douglas’ Colonel Dax also takes it upon himself to defend these men in court. This film is part war drama, part courtroom drama, and ALL compelling! It also stars Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, and George Macready in one of THE greatest anti-war films ever made and from the same filmmaking master who would go on to direct A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove, and 2001: A Space Odyssey...among several other classics.

Host: Geoff Gershon
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:
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RIP to James Caan, one of the more legendary American actors to emerge from the stellar crop of the 1970’s. ☹ He has delivered many a strong performance in many strong movies including The Godfather where he played Sonny Corleone. Over his impressive 50+ year acting career, his starring role as the eponymous thief in this crime drama is considered by many (himself included) to be his best overall performance.
He plays Frank, a seasoned safe-cracker living in Chicago looking for that one “last big score” and he just have found it.....working with local crime boss Leo (the late great Robert Prosky) which might present more issues than just pulling off a difficult caper. All the while, Franks is also trying to build a relationship (and family) with Jesse (Tuesday Weld) while also trying to help his mentor Okla (Willie Nelson) who’s still in prison – needless to say, Frank has a LOT going on and various complications ensue. This was also the feature film directorial debut of Michael Mann who would eventually go on to direct several CLASSIC dramas including The Last of the Mohicans, Collateral, and.....one of my personal favorites, Heat.
Host: Geoff Gershon
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
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Happy 30th Anniversary to this classic fictionalized sports drama about the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) which was started in 1943 during World War II as a temporary replacement or Major League Baseball as most players were serving overseas at the time – it featured several great female athletes from account the country who had never had the opportunity to play baseball at this level before. Geena Davis starts as the catcher Dottie Hinson with Lori Petty as her sister Kit who’s a pitcher – they play for the Rockford Peaches who are being managed by Jimmy Dugan played by Tom Hanks in a performance which earned him an Oscar nomination. The stacked cast also includes Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, and it was directed by the late great Penny Marshall. Just in time for July 4th, let’s revisit this tale of America’s Pastime....albeit from a somewhat different angle. 😉
And be sure to learn about "The Madonna Rule" at 7:25!
Host: Geoff Gershon
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/