Best Picture Nominee: Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But hilarity ensues when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

Trivia: Mercedes-Benz asked that its logos be removed in scenes taking place in the slums. The company, according to Danny Boyle, did not want to be associated with the poverty-stricken area, fearing that that might taint its image. Director Danny Boyle placed the money to be paid to the 3 lead child actors in a trust that is to be released to them upon their completion of grade school at 16 years of age. The production company has set up for an auto-rikshaw driver to take the kids to school everyday until they are 16 years old. The current exchange rate for 20,000,000 Rupees (the grand prize on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire") is USD$411,600. This movie was almost released straight to DVD instead of getting a theater release.

It is refreshing to see Hollywood respond to a movie that has no American Superstars in it, a movie that can survive and actually thrive on a well written story, a movie that is intelligent. Everyone in this movie did a great job. If you haven't seen it yet I highly suggest that you do. You might even be surprised come Sunday night.

Best Picture Nominee: The Reader (2008)

Middle aged German barrister Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) recollects to himself his lifelong acquaintance with Hanna Schmitz, (Kate Winslet) a relationship with whom he never disclosed to anyone close to him. Young Michael (David Kross) first met Hanna in 1958, when he was fifteen, she thirty-six. Hilarity ensued as the two had a turbulent summer long love affair, dictated by Hanna that their encounters would begin with him reading to her followed by lovemaking. Michael next encountered Hanna in 1966, when Michael, now a law student, attended the Nazi war crimes trial of five female former S.S. concentration camp guards, one of whom is Hanna. Through listening to the testimony, Michael comes to the realization that he is in possession of information which could save Hanna from a life in prison, information which she herself is unwilling to disclose. In deciding what to do, Michael is torn between his differing views of justice.

Trivia: Stephan Daldry's first choice for the lead role was Kate Winslet, who originally turned down the offer due to a scheduling conflict with Revolutionary Road. When Nicole Kidman accepted the role, the producers built in a hiatus in order to allow her to finish filming Australia. However, by the time Kidman was set to begin her scenes on the film, she withdrew because of her pregnancy, vacating the role. Winslet, who was now available, agreed to replace Kidman. Producers Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella both died before the completion of the movie. As the film was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the Academy made an exception from their rules not to name more than three producers as nominees because of this rare circumstance. In the end the two producers Donna Gigliotti and Redmand Morris who took over duties were nominated as well as the posthumously honored Minghella and Pollack. The shooting took a break for David Kross to turn 18 so the love scene could be shot.

The movie is divided into two parts. The Affair, and The Trial. I think Winslet does a good job portraying Hanna in both parts of her life. Winslet is nominated for Best Actress which is curious because she was nominateed for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for the same role.

Oscar Month Twofer: The Visitor (2008)

Hilarity ensues when a widowed college professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) returns from school to his home in New York and finds a couple living in his apartment. Tarek Khalil (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira) have been staying there for a few months. Tarek is a musician and street performer and Zainab makes jewlery. Vale lets them stay and Tarek starts to teach him how to play the African Drum. Tarek is stopped by police and detained on a missunderstanding but it turns out that they are illegal immigrants.

Trivia: The parking lot in which Walter parks is car after arriving in New York--on East 11th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue--was torn down shortly after the film was released.

Richard Jenkins is nominated for Best Actor in this small film. He does a wonderful job of a professor just going through the motions until he meets Tarek and his love of music is awakened. Then his concern over Tarek's situation shows through. It is a touching film and Walter and Mouna (Tarek's mother played by Hiam Abbass) romance is tender. It is a nice quiet movie worth seeing.

Oscar Month twofer: Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Hilarity ensues when you realize the star of the picture Anne Hathaway is not Rachel and she is not getting married. She is actually Kym, Rachel's (Rosemarie DeWitt) sister and Kym just got out of rehab. Kym has had issues all her life which culminated in an accident and a death while she was inder the influence of Percocet. Kym has gotten out of rehab just in time for her sister's wedding. The wedding is being held at the family home so much choas abounds. Rachel just wants the wedding to be good and to have it be her day, but she feels Kym's selfishness is butting in. The family is pretty disfunctional to begin with but add the wedding plans, an over protective father following Kym's every move, the rehearsal dinners where Rachel meets her fiancee's family for the first time just adds to the drama. Friction builds between Kym and Rachel. Will it push Kym over the edge?

Trivia: Jenny Lumet spent about 7 weeks writing the script. It was her first to be made into a film, even though it was the writer's 5th screenplay. The dishwasher scene was based on an actual event involving Sidney Lumet and Bob Fosse.

Overall this was a good little film. Anne Hathaway has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar and the performance deserves it. This could be her break out role. Most of her filmography involves bubblegum Disney type roles with little ability needed to accomplish. (See The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Get Smart, The Devil Wears Prada, Bride Wars). In this she plays an addict with a tormented past struggling to cope with something she did. Nice job. Also I was relieved to see that the film did not fall into the cliche of the Maid Of Honor falling for the Best Man and living happily ever after.

Oscar Month: Revolutionary Road (2008)

It's 1955. After seven years of marriage Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But hilarity doesn't seem to ensue, and they're not happy. April has given up her dream of becoming an actress. Frank, on the other hand, has never found his dream, he hates his job and puts very little effort into it. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris as a means to rejuvenate their life and get out of their unhappy existence. April's plan: she would work, you would be amazed at how much money a secretarial job in an embassy makes. Frank would then have free time to find himself and discover his passion. Initially skeptical, Frank ultimately agrees to April's plan. When circumstances change around the Wheelers, April decides she will do whatever she has to to get herself out of her unhappy existence.

Trivia: This is the first film collaboration between Kate Winslet and husband Sam Mendes. First movie Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have worked on together since Titanic (1997). Kathy Bates is also a Titanic veteran. The rights to adapt the book into a movie were bought in 1967. Child actors Ryan Simpkins and Ty Simpkins, who play Frank and April's children, are real-life siblings.

Well, the Oscars are fast approaching so for the next couple of weeks, we are Oscar talk all the time. All of the movies this month will be Oscar Nominees. Today's film is Revolutionary Road. To say this film is depressing is an understatement. There are no likable characters in it. April is a stilted unsatisfied housewife who feels like she is being imprisoned in her own home. Frank is an angry unsatisfied man having to work at a job he hates at the same company his father languished in for 20 years just so he can take care of his obligations (also known as his wife and children). They fight constantly. The neighbor has a secret crush on April. The real estate agent (Kathy Bates) looks to the couple as a way to revitalize the neighborhood. The lone bright spot is Bates's son John (played by Michael Shannon). John is mentally ill. He also doesn't sugarcoat anything and acts as the conscious of the film pointing out how everybody is pretending to be happy while in reality they can't stand each other. Shannon parleyed this 5 to 10 minute role into a Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination. Too bad he will be up against Heath Ledger.

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seusne ytiraliH. (okay okay, I'll go back to normal) "I was born under unusual circumstances." That is how Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) describes his birth. You see, when he was born his body was that of an 80 year old. The thing about Benjamin is that as time went by he grew younger, but like all of us, he is not able to stop the passage of time. The story follows his diary as he lives his life in New Orleans (abandoned by his father and taken in by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) who runs an old folks home), and his adventures into the world. Along the way he meets a lot of people, including Elizabeth Abbott (Tilda Swinton) the wife of a diplomat and spy in Minsk, Russia, Captain Mike (Jared Harris) a tug boat Captain, and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) the young granddaughter of a resident of the old folks home, and his life long love.

Trivia: Filmmakers worked closely with Levi's to obtain clothing items from their Levi's Vintage Clothing collection to authenticate various time periods captured throughout the film. Principal photography was targeted to last a total of 150 days, excluding the time it would take to create the visual effects for the metamorphosis of Brad Pitt's character to the infant stage. Brad Pitt stated it took 5 hours each day to complete the make-up required for the role. The second Hollywood feature film, after Denzel Washington's Deja Vu, to film in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Well this is the first and maybe only shoo-in for a Best Picture Oscar nomination this year. It definitely is the type of movie that Oscar loves, a dramatic and romantic love story that stretches over years and years. But does it have a chance? Well, in a word, yes. This is a solid movie with a solid cast. Brad Pitt. He does a great job with the different ages that he plays, you feel his struggle to live his life. Cate Blanchett. She is at her loveliest in this role, and she gets to dance. Tilda Swinton. She is only in the movie for about 10 minutes out of almost 3 hours but she ends up stealing her scene from Pitt. The makeup and special effects. They were awesome. We all have seen age makeup where an actor looks older then they really are, but it was the younger look that was so impressive. At one point Pitt looked like he had just finished Thelma and Louise the day before not 17 years before. Blanchett also gets the youth treatment. It is a good film and is considered by most as the Oscar frontrunner. We shall see.

Hayao Miyazaki Double Feature

Kaze No Tani No Naushika (1984)

(Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

In the far future, a thousand years after a nuclear war left the Earth as a nuclear holocaust. The Valley of the Wind, a small kingdom ruled by King Jil struggles for survival as the community tries to defend the Valley from gigantic Ohm creatures and toxic plants that live beyond the Valley in the Sea of Decay, whilst Jil's daughter and heiress to the throne, Princess Nausicaa tries to understand and feels it is wrong to destroy the toxic jungle. The Valley is attacked by the Tolmekian people who plan to destroy the Sea of Decay by using the giant warriors that started the holocaust. After Nausicaa is taken prisoner, she escapes and goes beneath the Sea of Decay where she discovers the toxic plants are not poisoning the air but are purifying the world by draining the air of radiation and toxins. With everything at stake, Nausicaa unites with the Ohms and set out to the Valley to foil the Tolmekians plan of unleashing the Great Warrior before they start another holocaust. Hilarity ensues.

Trivia: After the original, heavily re-written and edited 1980s release of this film in the United States (as "Warriors of the Wind"), which substantially changed the movie, Hayao Miyazaki demanded that any new licensor for his films be contractually bound to do no edits whatsoever aside from a straight translation and dub. Disney (who bought the rights to all of Miyazaki's films except Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro (1979)) has honored this stipulation. Nausicaä is the name of a character in Homer's Odyssey. Ohmu means "king of the insects" in Japanese. The "Nausicaans" from Star Trek: The Next Generation were so named because the Star Trek writers were big fans of Japanese manga and anime, and Nausicaa in particular.

This one of Miyazaki's first features and it is a wonderful little film. There are normally three things you can count on in a Miyazaki film. Nature overcoming man, flying machines, and very strong female characters. You get all of these in Nausicaa. The princess, Nausicaa is a warm, kind hearted person adored by all of her fellow countrymen. She is strong, smart, daring, beautiful, and tough. Her compassion for all things living is amazing. She flies a glider with great skill, and the other humans all fly planes. The flying sequences are so vivid and beauitful. The forrest with it's defending insects and deadly spores really is a good way to show what could happen after we destroy our world. This is a wonderful movie and I would highly recommend it and Miyazaki's other movies...and speaking of his other movies...

Kurenai No Buta (1992)

(Porco Rosso)

In Early 1930's era Italy, air pirates, bounty hunters and high flyers of all sorts rule the skies. The most cunning and skilled of these pilots is Porco Rosso, a man cursed with the head of a pig after watching the spirits of the pilots killed in the last air battle he fought in rise to the heavens. He now makes a living taking jobs, such as rescuing those kidnapped by air pirates. Hilarity ensues. Donald Curtis, Porco's rival in the air and in catching the affections of women, provides a constant challenge to the hero, culminating in a hilarious, action packed finale.

Trivia: Porco Rosso was originally planned as a 30-45 minute in-flight movies for Japan Airlines. Director Miyazaki eventually expanded it into a feature-length production. The name of the production studio (Ghibli) is embossed on the engine Piccolo installs in Porco's new plane. Marco Paggot (Porco Rosso's real name) is named after an Italian animator who had worked with Hayao Miyazaki earlier in his career. Miyazaki mentioned in a chat room that the ghost plane scene was inspired from a passage in a Roald Dahl story. Hayao Miyazaki has stated that he prefers the French language cast (in particular Jean Reno as Porco Rosso) over the Japanese cast.

Wait, I bet you are saying, "Will, you just said Miyazaki movies normally have 3 things, that nature stuff, airplanes, and strong female characters. I only see the airplanes." And that is mostly true. Porco Rosso is just about the only exception on the nature vs man part, but...Miyazaki frequently works in pigs as a show of the dark side of man and Porco Rosso is no exception there. Miyazaki does a good job in showing the callous nature of Porco, but on the other hand, he also shows a soft side to Porco. As for the strong female characters? Well, it has them too, in the forms of Gina, an old flame who isn't quite out, and Fio, the 17 year old daughter of Rosso's Italian friend and who redesignes Rosso's plane and, with the help of her many female relatives rebuilds the plane as well.

Balls Of Fury (2007)

In the unsanctioned, underground, and unhinged world of extreme Ping-Pong, the competition is brutal and the stakes are deadly. Down-and-out former professional Ping-Pong phenom Randy Daytona (Dan Folger) is sucked into this maelstrom when FBI Agent Rodriguez (George Lopez) recruits him for a secret mission. Randy is determined to bounce back and recapture his former glory, and to smoke out his father's killer - one of the FBI's Most Wanted, arch-fiend Feng (Christopher Walken). But, after two decades out of the game, Randy can't turn his life around and avenge his father's murder without a team of his own. He calls upon the spiritual guidance of blind Ping-Pong sage and restaurateur Wong (James Hong), and the training expertise of Master Wong's wildly sexy niece Maggie (Maggie Q), both of whom also have a dark history with Feng. All roads lead to Feng's mysterious jungle compound and the most unique Ping-Pong tournament ever staged. There, Randy faces such formidable players as his long-ago Olympics opponent, the still-vicious Karl Wolfschtagg (Thomas Lennon). Can Randy keep his eye on the ball? Will he achieve the redemption he craves while wielding a paddle? Is his backhand strong enough to triumph over ensuing hilarity?

Trivia: Jason Scott Lee who plays the role of Eddie also played the role of Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story which included a scene where Bruce Lee has to fight to defend his teaching of martial arts to white people. The scene is recreated when Daytona has to play the Dragon because Wong is teaching him, a white man, ping pong.

For some reason I thought this movie would try to be funnier. In saying this I mean, I thought they would pack it full of site gags and stuff like that ala The Naked Gun (which was good) or Meet The Spartans (which was not). It didn't. It was a straight up parody of Enter The Dragon with Ping Pong taking the place of Martial Arts. As with all parodies, it really helps the movie if you have seen the original, you get a lot more out of it if you do. I have and it was very funny. Two of the actors really stand out to me. James Hong has been in a ton of stuff. Wong's charatcer was written specifically to Hong's unique style and cadence. It was hilarious. And then there is the one and only Christopher Walken. This man could probably carry a whole movie be himself. He definitely stole every scene he was in.

Top 250: WALL·E (2008)

What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL*E discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL*E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, hilarity ensues as WALL*E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets an adventure into motion. Joining WALL*E on his journey across the universe is a cast of characters including a pet cockroach and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

Trivia: The main character's name is actually an acronym, standing for Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth-Class. EVE stands for Extraterrestial Vegetation Evaluator and M-O stands for Microbe Obliterator. Most of the predominantly robot cast of characters (including WALL*E and M-O) are voiced by Ben Burtt through mechanical sounds of his creation. The film contains numerous references to Apple computers: -when WALL-E is fully charged by the sun, he makes the same "boot up" sound that Apple computers have made since the earliest Macintosh system -WALL-E watches his favorite movie every night on the screen of an iPod -The villainous Autopilot's voice is provided by Apple's text-to-speech system, MacinTalk -EVE's sleek design as an evolution of WALL-E's parallels the sleek iMac design having evolved from the boxy, beige Apple IIe. Steve Jobs, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer, was CEO of Pixar until its acquisition by Disney in 2005, and as a shareholder and member of the Disney Board of Directors is still actively involved with the company. WALL*E collects numerous objects from the 60's-80's including a VCR tape of Hello, Dolly! (featured prominently in the film), a Rubik's Cube, and even an Atari 2600 with the game Pong. Despite the film taking place over 800 years after these objects were created, all the objects are still in working condition. The name of the ship that the humans are living on is "The Axiom." In logic and math, an axiom is something unquestionable or taken for granted. Director Andrew Stanton explained why he used excerpts from Hello, Dolly! in an interview: "When I got to 'Hello, Dolly!' and I played 'Put On Your Sunday Clothes,' and that first phrase 'Out there...' came out, it just fit musically... I finally realized, 'You know what, this song is about two guys that are just so naïve, they've never left a small town, and they just wanna go out in the big city for one night and kiss a girl. That's my main character.' And then my co-writer, Jim Reardon, said, 'You know what, he could actually discover an old tape in the trash, and that's how he got inspired by it, and it's a great way to show that he's got a romantic slant.' So we started looking at the movie, and when I found the other song, 'It Only Takes A Moment,' and saw the two lovers holding hands, I realized 'That's a perfect way for my main character to express the phrase 'I love you' without being able to say it.'"

I am sure that if you know me at all you know that I am a huge PIXAR fan so WALL*E was a very highly anticipated release for me. They just have a talent for telling a compelling story. From the very beginning you feel a friendship with this lonely little robot left alone on Earth for 700 years. His personality is quirky, his house is endearing and he has a cockroach as a friend, how cool is that. Then EVE shows up and you can sense the feelings that WALL*E has for her from the start. By the way, if you have never heard of Ben Burtt, I will bet you anything that you have heard his work. Ben Burtt is a sound designer, but not only that, he is an Oscar award winning sound desginer that is responsible for among many other things, the voices and sounds for the aliens and droids of Star Wars, the rumbling sound of the gigantic boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the sound of the lightsabers.

Hairspray (2007)

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), an overweight teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes) run home to watch the show and drool over the hot Link Larkin (Zac Efron), much to Tracy's mother Edna's (John Travolta) dismay. Hilarity ensues after one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins (James Marsden) holds auditions to see who will be the next person on the Corny Collins show. With all of the help of her friend Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow) and her mother Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer). Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah), her father (Christopher Walken) and Edna, she's going to integrate the show.....without denting her 'do!

Trivia: Jerry Stiller, who played Wilbur Turnblad in the original film version of Hairspray, appears as Mr. Pinky in this version. It took John Travolta four hours to put on the fat suit and make-up required for him to become Edna Turnblad. To facilitate filming for the "Run and Tell That" dance number, the production cut up a 1957 GMC transit bus into 9 pieces. There are 5 gel-filled silicone prosthetic appliances for parts of Edna's face. One day, while the cast was waiting between takes, John Travolta began singing "Summer Nights" from his first musical, Grease. Co-stars Amanda Bynes and Zac Efron were so excited that they immediately began sending text messages to their friends about what was happening. Amanda Bynes' character, Penny, is seen constantly eating lollipops. Her father, who is a dentist, became very worried for Amanda's dental health, as it was estimated she ate about 40 lollipops a day. Amanda told him that she wasn't really eating all of them, when in reality she ate them all. In a classroom scene a teacher mentions that Everest is not Earth's highest geographical point. She asks what the actual highest point is and there isn't time for an answer before the bell. The answer is Mt. Chimborazo in Ecuador, which is the furthest point from the Earth's center, but closer to local sea level than Everest. (The Earth bulges at the equator.)

Okay, I get it, these ladies are fat. I understand that the movie is about the discrimination show to large women. I expected a lot of fat jokes. But I expected them from the "bad guys", the evil ones, the ones were are not supposed to like. I also understand that this is a comedy and as such there are stereotypes that get exploited and stuff but really. The movie lost a lot of my respect when Motermouth Maybelle was able to persuade Edna to let tracy stay and dance with the black kids. How did she do it? By pulling Edna over to the side and explaining that they were big and beautiful and that they should stand up against oppresion? Nope, she showed her the buffet. Visually the movie was bright and cheerful and the music and dance numbers were fun to watch. Amanda Bynes as Penny is probably my favorite character. Christopher Walken was fun too. And then there is Nikki Blonsky. She was upbeat, she was fun, she could dance, she was the star, the movie was about her, she made the movie. But this was her first role and because of that if you look at IMDb.com she is listed second? Third? Try eleventh behind Allison Janney who was on screen in about three scenes. Now let's talk about the character that didn't work. Edna. Everytime I saw her the first thing that went through my head was "hey, that's John Travolta". He never sells the character. You do need a little background on Edna though. She is always played by a man. It is traditional. The original Broadway Edna was Harvey Fierstein and it was Devine in the 1988 movie. I will admit that I have not seen either in character but I have always associated Devine with cross-dressing and I am pretty sure Harvey Fierstein could pull it off. Edna is meant to be played up and a little over the top, okay, a lot over the top but it just doesn't seem to work for me with Travolta.

Don't forget this weeks quiz. Get your answers in soon or regret it for the rest of you lunch break.

Enchanted (2007)

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Andalasia, a beautiful young maiden named Giselle (Amy Adams) lives in a cottage in the forest. But before she can marry the dashing Prince Edward (James Marsden), hilarity ensues when Giselle is sent tumbling down a magical well - and finds herself in the non-animated, extremely disenchanted world of modern-day New York City. There, she befriends a cynical divorce lawyer, Robert (Patrick Dempsey), who isn't so sure that her prince is coming to rescue her. Giselle's spontaneous singing and fairy-tale demeanor enchant everyone around her as she waits for Prince Edward. But she's about to discover that love in the real world isn't always as easy as sharing a single True Love's Kiss - and that she'll need courage, spunk and maybe just a little enchantment if she's ever going to find her own happily-ever-after.

Trivia: The bus driver's hair is shaped like Mickey Mouse's ears, as well as the green pepper slices on the pizza Robert and Giselle are served at the Bella Notte restaurant. In the scene where Prince Edward is standing on top of a moving bus, billboards for Hairspray (the Broadway Production) and Superman Returns are visible. James Marsden, who plays Prince Edward, stars in Superman Returns, and the movie, Hairspray, based off the Broadway Production. In the scene where Edward is on top of the bus, the people riding on tour buses next to him laughing and pointing at him weren't extras, but actual real tourists. The actresses who provided the voices for three previous animated Disney princesses make appearances in the film: Jodi Benson (‘Ariel’ in The Little Mermaid), Paige O'Hara (‘Belle’ in Beauty and the Beast), and Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas). Also, Julie Andrews, who starred as the title character in Disney's live-action Mary Poppins, provides her voice here as the Narrator. Cathleen Trigg's character's name is Mary Ilene Caselotti. This is a tribute to Mary Costa, the voice of Disney's Sleeping Beauty, Ilene Woods, who did the voice of Disney's Cinderella, and Adriana Caselotti, the voice of Disney's first princess, Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The law firm where Robert works is Churchill, Harline and Smith, the surnames of the songwriters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Two of the elderly men dancers appeared together in West Side Story. One of the elderly men dancers appeared in Mary Poppins as a chimney sweep.

What can I say? As an admitted Disneyphile, this movie just called to me. I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters so it garnered a top spot on my netflix queue. What I love about it is how it can have fun with itself. It doesn't take itself seriously and how could it? Andalasia is pure Disney charm. Amy Adams works well as the out of place princess and you couldn't help but like her. James Marsden is hilarious as Gisselle's prince charming (um...I mean Prince Edward). Three of the songs were nominated for Oscars this year and each had the Disney magic behind them. The "Happy Working Song" is pure Disney (I keep saying that) with Amy Adams accompanied by pigeons, rats, and coachroachs (relax, it is actually pretty charming). "So Close", the romantic dance near the end was just beautiful. But it was "That's How You Know" that was the best. It was a full on production number in the middle of Central Park. It blended the fairytail feel with a live music feel if that makes any sense. Disney is at it's best when it isn't trying very hard to be anything else but just trys to be Disney.

Don't forget to send in your answers for this weeks quiz.

August Rush (2007)

This is a story of a music prodigy named Evan. Lyla (Keri Russell) a renowned and beautiful cellist and Louis (Johnathan Rhys Myers) a bass player in club meet at a party and fall in love on a beautiful night under the stars. Hilarity esues as circustances keep them apart. Lyla has an accident and thinks she loses the baby but Lyla's father gives the baby to an orphanage without telling her for the sake of her career. Both Louis and Lyla give up their music career. Eleven years later, poor little Evan (Freddie Highmore) believes that their parents are waiting for him and goes to New York to find them. In New York, his music gift leads him to success but also gives him some trouble. A monger (Robin Williams) uses Evan to make money by playing on the sidewalk and working for handouts. Meanwhile, Lyla's father tells her the truth and Lyla heads to New York to find Evan. Lious decides to find Lyla and eventaully makes it to New York. Evan eventaully is given a chance to study at Julliard and he is granted an opportunity to play his music in the central park in front of thousands of people. Evan, going by the name of August Rush is the headliner. The beginning act is a guest cellist named Lyla Novacek.

Trivia: James Morrison was offered the part of Louis Connelly and turned it down to concentrate on his music. Liv Tyler and Claire Danes were each considered for the role of Lyla Novacek before Keri Russell was cast. Robin Williams' performance as "Wizard" was reportedly inspired by rock star Bono.

Over all it was a good movie but I do have some issues with it. I know he is a prodigy and all but you would think that living in a boys home for 11 years would have prepared him at least a little for a life on the streets. Also Freddie Highmore seems to sleepwalk through this movie. He's just there, nothing special. The music is great all around and is what made it a good movie. I love the way Evan heard music everywhere in life and his guitar solos were totally awesome. It has gotten to the point in recent years where I am really skeptical about a movie that has Robin Williams in it. He isn't the same as he used to be like in Dead Poet's Society and Good Morning Vietnam. He seems to be at his best playing serious characters that have a lot of humor in them. I hope I am not letting the cat out of the back now but Keri Russell is beautiful.

Paris, Je T'aime (2006)

Paris, the City of Love. Hilarity ensues as 18 filmmakers bring their own unique styles to five minute stories centered in and around Paris (and no, it isn't Paris Hilton, thank God.) 1) A man parks his car on a Montmartre street and muses about how the women passing by his car all seem to be "taken". Then a woman passerby faints near his car, and he comes to her aid. 2) A young man, hanging out with two friends who taunt all women who walk by, strikes up a friendship with a young Muslim woman. 3) A young male customer finds himself attracted to a young printshop worker and tries to explain that he believes the man to be his soulmate, not realizing that he speaks little French. 4) An American tourist (Steve Buscemi) waiting at the Tuileries station becomes involved in the conflict between a young couple after he breaks the cardinal rule of avoiding eye contact with people on the Paris Metro. 5) A young woman sings a Spanish lullaby to her baby before leaving it in a daycare. She then takes an extremely long commute to the home of her wealthy employer (whose face is not seen), where she sings the same lullaby to her employer's baby. 6) A beauty products salesman makes a call on a Chinatown salon run by a woman who proves to be a tough customer. 7) Prepared to leave his marriage for a much younger lover, a man instead decides to stay with his wife after she reveals a terminal illness - and rediscovers the love he once felt for her. 8) A mother (Juliette Binoche), grieving over the death of her little boy, is comforted by a magical cowboy (Willem Dafoe). 9) A boy tells how his parents, both mime artists, meet in prison and fall in love. 10) An older man (Nick Nolte) and younger woman meet for an arrangement that a third person ('Gaspard'), who is close to the woman, may not approve of. It is eventually revealed that the young woman is his daughter, and Gaspard is her baby. 11) An American actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal) procures some exceptionally strong hashish from a dealer. 12) An African man, dying from a stab wound in the Place des fetes asks a woman paramedic for a cup of coffee. It is then revealed that he had fallen in love at first sight with her some time previously. By the time she remembers him, and has received the coffee, he has passed. 13) An aging couple (Bob Hoskins and Fanny Ardant) act out a fantasy argument for a prostitute in order to keep the spark in their relationship. 14) A young backpacker tourist (Elijah Wood) falls in love with a vampiress. 15) While visiting Pere Lachaise Cemetery, a young woman breaks up with her fiance (Rufus Sewell), who then redeems himself with the aid of advice from the ghost of Oscar Wilde. 16) After mistakenly believing that his girlfriend, a struggling actress (Natalie Portman), has broken up with him, a young blind man reflects on the growth and seeming decline of his relationship with the actress. 17) A separated couple meet at a bar (run by Gerard Depardieu) for one last drink before the two officially divorce. 18) An American woman tourist, a letter carrier from Denver, Colorado on her first European holiday, recites in rough French what she loves about Paris.

Trivia: The original intention of the film was to represent each of the 20 arrondissements of Paris but this idea was abandoned together with filmed segments by directors Christopher Boe and Raphael Nadjari. The one with Nick Nolte (Parc Monceau) was shot in a single continuous shot. When the characters walk by a video store, several posters of movies by the other directors of Paris, je t'aime are visible in the window.

With directors like Joel and Ethan Coen, Alfonso Cuaron, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, and great directors from France, Austrailia, Japan, Brazil, Germany and Canada how could this movie go wrong? I really like the concept of different short films with one unifying theme and place. In this we had comedy, drama, live action cartoons (the mimes), Sci-Fi (vampires), even a little western thrown in (a cowboy riding a horse through the streets of Paris), just about everything you would want in a movie, well, except for explosions. And it was nice to see some of the International actors mixed in together, some actors we, as Americans, do not get to see very often. They are currently doing one for New York and one for Shanghai. My favorite segments were probably (as I numbered them above) #2, #5, #9, #12, and #16.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Pride and Prejudice is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the Georgian era. Mr Bennet (Donald Sutherland) is an english gentleman living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing wife. The Bennets 5 daughters; the beautiful Jane (Rosemund Pike), the clever Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), the bookish Mary (Telulah Riley), the immature Kitty (Carey Mulligan) and the wild Lydia (Jena Malone). Unfortunately for the Bennets, if Mr Bennet dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependant on the daughters making good marriages. Hilarity ensues after the arrival in the neighbourhood of the rich gentleman Mr Bingley (Simon Woods), who rents a large house so he can spend the summer in the country. Mr Bingley brings with him his sister and the dashing (and richer) but proud Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Love is soon in the air for one of the Bennet sisters, while another may have jumped to a hasty prejudgment. For the Bennet sisters many trials and tribulations stand between them and their happiness, including class, gossip and scandal.

Trivia: Emma Thompson did an uncredited and unpaid re-write of the script. She receives a "Special Thanks" credit at the end of the film. Joe Wright was not initially keen on Keira Knightley playing Elizabeth, believing her to be too attractive. He changed his mind upon meeting her, deciding her tomboyish attitude would be perfect for the part. Keira Knightley was preparing for her role in Domino while she was filming this, and had already cut her hair. She had to wear a wig during the last few weeks of filming and long sleeves to hide her muscles. The actresses who make up the Bennett family (Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Talulah Riley, and Carey Mulligan went to the Bennett house location, in Kent, before the crew, and played Sardines (similar to Hide and Seek in America) in order to get better acquainted with the house and each other before filming began. The US version has a different ending: after Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth's conversation, a scene follows where Darcy and "Mrs. Darcy" are at Pemberley talking about their happiness (the Sixteen Candles ending). Although never mentioned in the film, Mr. Darcy's first name is Fitzwilliam. At the beginning of the movie, Elizabeth is shown reading a novel titled "First Impressions" - this was Jane Austen's original title of her novel before she altered it to "Pride and Prejudice".

One of the things I like about movies is that they can provide a common experience for people. This movie has become one for me. A couple of weeks ago my sister-in-law Kara mentioned to my brother that she didn't have Pride & Predjudice on DVD and should have told somebody because it was her favorite film (she loves Jane Austen). Well, I just happened to hear her say that and since I had yet to get her something for Christmas I got her that. Now, I had not seen the movie before, although I don't know why since I like Keira Knightley (I mean who can't like that infectious smile?). So I planned on telling her that we had to watch it together. Well, I told her I had not seen it and the first thing she said was we had to watch it. Fortunately we were at my parent's house and they have a brand-spanking new 40 inch HD TV so naturally we had to watch it on that. I have known Kara for over 10 years, she is married to my brother, she has given me a beautiful niece and two wonderful nephews. I am the godfather to one of her children. As far as I can remember this is the first time we have done anything where it was just me and her alone. Of course it made it so much better that she was so excited about getting the movie. It will be a movie experience I will remember for a long time. The movie was good, the companionship was better. Thank You Kara.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are a married couple, both John and Jane are living unexciting lives and they have both been attending marriage therapy, as their lives haven't been passionate since they got married. But what they don't know about each other is that they are both professional assassins working for two rival agency's. John's latest assignment is to eliminate Benjaiman "Tank" Danz, but it all becomes complicated when Jane is also assigned to eliminate the same target that John has been assigned to kill. Learning that they are both assassins and failing to eliminate the target, both of John and Jane's employers decides that they they should try to take each other out (John kill Jane, Jane kill John) as hilarity ensues. Engaged in a deadly game, John and Jane try to take each other out while learning more about each other's secret lifes.

Trivia: The script reportedly went through over fifty drafts. Brad Pitt left in the middle of shooting for three months to shoot Ocean's Twelve. Near the end of the story, when Benjamin is being interrogated by the Smiths, he is wearing a Fight Club shirt. Brad Pitt starred in Fight Club. When Jane and John are discussing past assassinations, John refers to Jean-Luc Gespar, which was the real name for the character LaMarc in Ocean's Twelve. After the Smiths discover each other's identities, Jane speeds away in the car and John is running after her. He ends up tripping and crashing through a fence, and his gun goes off. The trip was a mistake, and Brad Pitt's reaction, as well as his following ad-lib, "Oh dear God," are genuine.

There is a little joke over at FilmWise.com (the movie forum I frequent) that Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the "Best Movie Ever". Well, it isn't but it is pretty fun to watch. It has all the cliches of an action spy shoot 'em up type thriller, especially in the climactic shootout. Brad and Angeline wear bullet proof vests...vests...as in only covering their torsos. These vest stop probably 50 to 60 shots each, with the rest of their injuries being nicks and cuts and scrapes. But the bad guys, all 20 or so seem to also be wearing bullet proof vests, but our intrepid duo takes them all out fairly easily with one of two shots. The interaction between Brad and Angelina is really what makes the movie for me. Their banter is playful and funny. The trailer, however is a little misleading as it shows Mrs. Smith in several slinky costumes and situations that are not in the movie, she does wear some slinky costumes but only some of the time *wink*.

Born Yesterday (1950)

Uncouth, loud-mouth junkyard tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) descends upon Washington D.C. to buy himself a congressman or two, bringing with him his mistress, ex-showgirl Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday). Brock hires newspaperman Paul Verrall (William Holden) to see if he can soften her rough edges and make her more presentable in capital society. But Harry gets more than he bargained for as Billie absorbs Verall's lessons in U.S. history and not only comes to the realization that Harry is nothing but a two-bit, corrupt crook, but in the process also falls in love with her handsome tutor and allows hilarity to ensue.

Trivia: Judy Holliday, who played Billie Dawn on Broadway, was the third choice to play Billie after: Jean Arthur and Rita Hayworth. The part of Billie Dawn was written by Garson Kanin for Jean Arthur. A couple of nights before the play was due to open, Arthur abruptly dropped out and Judy Holliday was drafted in, having to learn the part in three days. She ended up playing it on Broadway for 4 years. To help facilitate shooting, George Cukor decided to rehearse "Born Yesterday" as if it were still a stage play. For two weeks, the cast worked on their lines while a construction crew built a 300-seat mini-theater within one of the studio's sound-stages. It was there that Judy Holliday, William Holden and Broderick Crawford gave six performances in front of a live audience so that Cukor could precision-time the pacing of the film's jokes.

After watching this and reading that Judy Holliday almost didn't get the part I am aghast. I can't see this movie working quite as well without Judy and her unique voice. It really lends to her dumb blonde feel. Those of you who do not know Judy Holliday, you would probably recognize her if you heard her, her voice is one of the most unique in the business. William Holden is quickly becoming one of mine favorite actors. He just has a certain bearing that makes like him.

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)

Adam (Howard Keel), the eldest of seven brothers, goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly (Jane Powell) to marry him that same day. Music ensues. They return to his backwoods home. Only then does she discover he has six brothers -- all living in his cabin. Music ensues. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth siblings, who are anxious to get wives of their own. Dancing ensues. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers' loneliness . . . kidnap the women they want! Hilarity ensues.

Trivia: The film was basically shot twice in two separate formats, the widescreen cinemascope format and the standard format. This was done so that the theaters that did not have cinemascope available could still see all of the movie. This required the action to be choreographed for both formats. Scenes for the widescreen version were shot in the morning and, for the normal ratio, in the afternoon. According to director Stanley Donen despite the fact that it cost more than the widescreen version to make, the other version was never used. MGM considered this a B movie - they had higher aspirations for the more expensive "Brigadoon". For this reason, they slashed the budget on "Seven Brothers", forcing Stanley Donen to use painted backdrops instead of location filming. The censors weren't too happy about the line in the song "Lonesome Polecat" where the brothers lament "A man can't sleep when he sleeps with sheep". By not showing any sheep in the same shot as the brothers, the film-makers were able to get away with it. Rehearsals for the barn-raising sequence took 3 weeks. For the brides costumes, designer Walter Plunkett went to the Salvation Army, found old quilts and turned them into dresses. Because there was no way of distinguishing between them and the Town Suitors, MGM decided to make all the Pontipee Brothers red-headed.

MGM was the studio of musicals in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Only in a musical would a group of men be able to kidnap six girls and end up, well...I guess you will have to watch it. The dances were well done and very colorful, the barn dance sequence was fun to watch. Umm...what can I say, you pretty much know what to expect with an MGM musical.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)

Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton) brings her fiance, Dr. John Prentice (Sidney Poitier), home to sunny San Francisco to meet her affluent parents (Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn). Hilarity ensues as their liberal persuasions are now put to the test, for although the young man is an ideal choice (he's highly and internationally respected in the medical field, and he's impeccably mannered, handsome, well dressed and of a respectable California family), he's black. The film, which covers one busy day in the Drayton home, is essentially a drawing-room comedy, a series of cross-conversations between the young doctor and the girl's parents. But just when you think it can't get any worse, guess who's coming to dinner. The simple dinner is extended to include the doctor's parents, who fly up from Los Angeles for the evening, and the crusty but benevolent old Irish priest, a friend of the family.

Trivia: Spencer Tracy died 17 days after filming was completed. Katharine Hepburn had to use her salary as backing in order to make this movie because Spencer Tracy was so ill that the studio didn't think that he would make to the end of the picture. Due to Spencer Tracy's health, the cast was always working from two shooting scripts, one with Tracy, one without. Typically, Katharine Hepburn brought Tracy in the morning, they worked until she decided he was too tired, then Tracy and Hepburn left. Sidney Poitier, who already had received a Best Actor Oscar for Lilies of the Field, was intimidated by working with two legends, and preferred to perform to empty high backed chairs. Katharine Hepburn never saw the completed movie. She said the memories of Tracy were too painful. Katharine Hepburn's character's daughter is played by Hepburn's actual niece Katharine Houghton. The three-inch bronze sculpture of Spencer Tracy featured in the film was created by Katharine Hepburn herself and was one of the items that were included in her estate auction in 2004. The bust was the most sought-after item and fetched the most money--it sold for $316,000, whereas pre-auction estimates were in the neighborhood of $3,000-$5,000. Spencer Tracy's glasses have no lenses throughout the film.

Welcome to Classic Month September. I have a backlog of old mostly classic movies and I have decided to dedicate the whole month to them. First up a little gem of a movie. I mean really, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier? What a powerful cast. Three Oscar winners that dominate the screen, and even though Poitier was intimidated, he sure held his own. One of my friends mentioned this and I agree with him...the film makers really try to make Poitier smart, gentle, well respected, well mannered, and all that to make sure the main conflict is the fact that he is black and she is not, then they make him 1) 14 years older then her, and 2) they only met 10 days ago and already want to get married. This really submarines the whole race issue because both of these points would be valid issues to a parent to want to disapprove the marriage. So, how did they confront these two points? Well, as for the age issue, nothing, they completely ignore it, I think it was only mentioned once in passing. And the 10 days, they all but ignore it, there is a little mention of it, but that is about it. I mean I understand why they did it, the age difference gives him the time to become the respected doctor, but also keeps the parents younger and if they had had more time there wouldn't be a need for the parent to have to decide in one day if they approve which would effectively eliminate the conflict. But this is all beside the point, the movie was fantastic as were Poitier, Tracy, Hepburn, and Houghton.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

When a new princess is born to King Stefan & his wife, the entire kingdom rejoices. At a ceremony, three good fairies - Flora, Fauna & Merryweather - bestow gifts of magic on the child. But an evil sorceress named Maleficent shows up, and because of a rude remark by Merryweather, she places a curse on the princess - that she will die on her 16th birthday after touching a poisoned spinning wheel. Merryweather tries to undo the damage by casting a spell that will allow the princess - named Aurora - to awake from an ageless sleep with a kiss from her true love. The fairies take Aurora to their cottage in the woods to keep her away from the eyes of Maleficent, and raise her as their own child, named Briar Rose. On her 16th birthday Aurora meets Prince Phillip, the son of a king whose own kingdom will soon merge with King Stefan's - and falls in love. Maleficent manages to kidnap the Prince and her horrible prophecy is fulfilled when she tricks Aurora into touching a spinning wheel created by Maleficent herself! Realizing that the Prince is in trouble, the 3 good fairies head to Maleficent's castle at the Forbidden Mountain, and spring the Prince loose. But the Prince soon finds himself up against Maleficent's army of brutes, and the power of Maleficent's evil spells - which include a thorn forest as thick as weeds around King Stefan's castle, and a fight against Maleficent when she turns herself into a dragon! Is the Prince strong enough to withstand the powers of the evil sorceress? Will hilarity ensues? (Well, this is Disney)

Trivia: Art direction for this movie was inspired by medieval painting and architecture. Live actors in costume served as models for the animators. The role of Prince Phillip was modeled by Ed Kemmer, who had played Commander Buzz Corry on television's "Space Patrol" five years before Sleeping Beauty was released. For the final battle sequence Kemmer was photographed on a wooden buck. All the live actors' performances were later screened for the animators' reference. When the fairies discuss how to help the king and queen, notice Merryweather magically create cookies, they are the shape of Mickey Mouse. Disney Studios has no record as to who provided the voice for the queen, Briar Rose's mother. Much of the musical score is based on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet "Sleeping Beauty". A flame thrower was used to create the dragon breath sound effect for the climax of the movie. Castanets were used for the sound of its snapping jaws. The elaborate background paintings usually took seven to ten days to paint. By contrast, a typical animation background takes one workday to complete. Second only to Dumbo (who didn't speak at all), this Disney title character has very few lines of actual dialogue throughout the entire film (well, she was sleeping from half of it). In fact, Briar Rose/Aurora says nothing at all in the film's second half. The Disneyland castle was named for this film, even though the park opened four years prior to the film's release. Princess Aurora's long, thin, willowy body shape was inspired by that of Audrey Hepburn. Briar Rose is the Sleeping Beauty's name the German fairytale. Princess Aurora is Sleeping Beauty's name in the Italian version.

Ah, Disney, for some reason I haven't watched a Disney film in a while so when my niece and nephew watched it this weekend, I joined in. What really struck me with Sleeping Beauty is the whole sense of art. The backgrounds are tremendous. They look like watercolors. Each Disney film has it's own visual style which is why they are so good. Maleficent is truly one of the most evil of Disney villians (why are most of the best Disney villians women?). I liked her design, she looks like the dragon she turns into in the end.

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970)

A hip and happenin' all girl rock group head to LA to claim lead-singer Kelly's inheritance and make it (and make it) in LA. They immediately fall under the spell of rock'n'roll Svengali, the 'Teen Tycoon' of rock Ronnie 'Z-Man' Barzell, and other rapacious Hollywood party types as lustful porno actress Ashley St Ives, ravenous lesbian Roxanne and shady lawyer Porter Hall. Soon the girls fall into a morass of drugs and deceit as their recording success soars and hilarity ensues. It takes several tragedies to make them stop and think...but is it too late?

Trivia: Director Russ Meyer once said he considers this film to be his "most important". Budgeted at a modest $900,000 (approximately $4.5 million in 2005 dollars), the film grossed ten times the amount in the US market, qualifying it as a hit for the beleaguered 20th Century-Fox. Though tame by modern standards, "Dolls" was slapped with an "X" rating, and there was much negative publicity generated by the fact a major studio had allowed a "pornographer", Russ Meyer (labeled "King Leer" by the mainstream press at the time) to make a Hollywood film under its aegis. Grace Kelly, who was a member of the board of directors of Fox, was outraged and lobbied to have the studio's contract with Meyer terminated. After his next Fox film, The Seven Minutes (1971) flopped at the box office (possibly due to its LACK of nudity and titillation), the studio terminated its relationship with Meyer. He never made another film for a studio. Two women wear costumes in the film inspired by another hit production of 20th-Century-Fox, "Batman" (1966). The character of Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell was based loosely on legendary record producer Phil Spector. While neither Russ Meyer nor Roger Ebert had ever met Spector, they were told by acquaintances of his that they'd caught his essence very well. Hmm...Phil Spektor as a homicidal maniac who kills two women with gunshots to the head (as well as killing two men with a sword)? I thought this was fiction.

Even if you have never heard of this movie, you have probably heard of the screenwriter, Roger Ebert, movie critic for the Chicago Sun Times and his TV show. I watched this now because over at FilmWise.com we have a little game that we play where we recast movies and replace the real actors with FilmWise Forum regulars and I was cast in this one as Otto. Since I had not seen it I was curious (by the way, Otto is the Z-Man's bartender for private parties). This is what I would consider a good example of an early seventies sexploitation film. It is probably the best known example, I mean, I had heard about it a long time ago, way before I was this much into movies. The plot was pretty straight forward in its convoluted hook-ups and gratuitous nudity (very tame by today's standards, no way this movie gets an X rating today) and it had some nice music too.