Miracle Mile (1988)

I did not like this movie, despite the cast (Mare Winningham, Robert DoQui, Mykelti Williamson) and premise - a nuclear war/apocalyptic film set in the modern day (late 80s). At the film screening I watched it at, the programmer described this film as a movie that "put an exclamation point" on all cold-war era films, since this was pretty much the last movie that touched the subject of nuclear hysterics. The director only made a couple of other low-budget movies like this one, but this one has a number of effects and stunts that might normally be found in a slighter higher budget film.

I felt as if I was constantly being asked by this movie to suspend my disbelief, and I gave up about a quarter into the movie. The movie starts out as a cute John Hughes-esque romantic comedy (the director has admitted this) but about a quarter into the film, the main character Anthony Edwards learns about an coming nuclear attack and everyone around him panics, which spreads. I liked the scenes in the cafe/diner and was hoping the entire movie would take place there with just those characters and their lives we focus on.

That might have made for a good movie.

But instead, it becomes a horror/thriller/action film. The worst part is when Edwards runs into a gym at 5 AM and asks random people, "does anyone know how to fly a helicopter"? I suppose that could be funny, but come on. If the end of the world is nigh, wouldn't you try to call your family and friends? Maybe he didn't have any.

Chef (2014)

Chef is a new independent comedy-drama starring, written and directed by Jon Favreau, taking a break from directing blockbuster superhero movies with Robert Downey Jr (Downey Jr. has a cameo in this film, incidentally).

In a nutshell: a divorced LA chef quits his job in a restaurant and starts a food truck, all the while teaching his young son some lessons along the way. The kid also teaches his dad a thing or two.

Now, if you're think you'll like a movie with LOTS of cooking and eating, go see this movie. I was very glad I ate before the movie!

Favreau as the lead took me some getting used to. He's played an obnoxious guy  in everything I've seen him in (Swingers, Four Christmases) and he plays a similar character in this, hot tempered and all. But when he made that grilled cheese sandwich for his son, I was charmed.

I was surprised to see some big name stars in the cast. Dustin Hoffman plays the restaurant boss. Scar-Jo (Scarlett Johansson) is in it, too as the restaurant host.  The ex-wife is played by Sofia Veranga, who is good in her part. And I haven't seen John Leguizamo so good in a film since the mid '90s.

The father-son relationship is a big part of the movie. They have some some quality bonding time in a cross-country trek, as the truck makes stops in Miami, New Orleans, and Austin. The soundtrack is great, and moves the film along nicely.

Reflecting our modern day culture, there are many uses of social media in this movie, more than any film I've seen before. Many of the characters "Tweet", "text", "Facebook", and "YouTube", and even "Vine".  At one point Favreau says to his tech-savvy young son "You're the head of our Marketing team!"

All the Tweeting done in the film is integral to the story, and the way it is presented on screen is unique and clever, and will likely be imitated by others in the future.

This movie is getting good word of mouth, and is now among the "Top 10" hits in the United States this weekend.

Heat Lightning (1934) directed by Mervyn LeRoy

Last month a local revival theater (The Patio Theater) held a special screening of 1934's Heat Lightning, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. It was a 35mm print from the Library of Congress, and a special guest was in attendance: Margaret Talbot, daughter of Lyle Talbot, one of the stars of Heat Lightning. She wrote a book about her father The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father's Twentieth Century and was there to sign copies and to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterward.

Heat Lightning takes place in the hot Mojave Desert. At the start of the film, an older couple's car breaks down and stops at a diner / auto garage / motel. The wife is played by Jane Darwell (The Grapes of Wrath). We are introduced to the waitress (Ann Dvorak) and then the mechanic (Aline MacMahon).

The husband has a few choice remarks about women as mechanics, but Aline MacMahon is tough and teaches him a lesson or two when she's able to get them back on the road in no time.

Later we find out that the two are sisters, and the story becomes more interesting. Aline's a little older, and a bit overprotective of Ann, who wants to go out and have fun with a suitor that Aline disapproves of.

Though the movie feels like an ensemble, for the most part the focal point is Aline's character (and she is clearly the lead in a standout performance). I was really impressed with her performance and this film overall. I can't think of another movie with her in the lead; she's always in supporting roles.

Other characters come to the diner, for food, gas or car repair. Frank McHugh provides some comedy relief (the movie is mostly a drama) as a chauffeur to two divorcees: Glenda "Torchy Blane" Farrell and Ruth Donnelly. And there's a great night sequence where a Mexican family plays a lovely song while "heat lightning" lights up the night sky above the Yucca trees.

As I mentioned before, this movie belongs to Aline MacMahon's character, and you really get to know her in this film. Preston Foster and Lyle Talbot play a couple of criminals on the lam who think they can stay at the motel. But Aline shows them a thing or two. You have to see the movie to find out what happens.

There are a number of flirtatious remarks and and some sex scenes that were characteristic of a pre-code film (this was one of the last pre-code movies).  One scene involves Glenda Farrell taking a bath in a small little tub in the back of the motel.

Highly recommended.

Jean Gabin in La Belle Equipe / The Good Crew (1936)

Set in Paris, La Belle Equipe (The Good Crew) begins with Jean Gabin and his unemployed friends living together in a poorhouse, dreaming of a better life for themselves. In an early scene, they're all in a pub playing one of those "mechanical claw" games where you have have to move the claw around to grab a prize. Desperate for a gift for a girl, they tilt the machine to "cheat" the game into spilling out a prize, which they do successfully several times in fact. I didn't realize those machines existed in the 1930s.

One day, in an amazing stroke of luck, five of the friends amazingly win a lottery. This is followed by an amusing celebration scene where all the other tenants in the building come flooding into their apartment for a wine party.  People of all ages - including little kids - crowd the flat!

Instead of parting ways with their winnings, they decide to invest the money together to start a restaurant. They purchase an old building in the country along the Marne river and turn it into a cozy, outdoor cafe with an indoor dance hall and live music. As the story progresses, the partnership breaks up for one reason or another (one friend dies, another moves, a woman gets in the way, etc). But the remaining friends continue to persevere.

By the end of the film, the restaurant has its grand opening. Happiness and joy fills the air as Jean Gabin realizes his dreams have come true. As the boss of his own place, he walks around to each table and asks each customer if they are having a good time. It's neat to see his character evolve through all the adversity.

The ending of the film is open ended, and we're not sure if any of the former members of the group will return to help with the emerging venture.

Directed by Julien Duvivier. Recommended.

The Fellini Film Cafe in El Paso, Texas (photos)

This is a neat video store/cafe in El Paso near the college campus. I recommend stopping in if you happen to be traveling through. There is a little video rental inside with mostly foreign and art house films. The cafe is small and has an Italian vibe with red/white checkerboard tablecloths. the menu has coffee, cappuccinos and sandwiches. When I visited in May 2009 (last year), I had a caesar salad and stayed for a movie at 7 PM (the movie was Blindness). Several times a week, they pull down a screen, the lights go off, and the candles are lit on the tables. It's really cool. The staff picks the movies so you really don't always know what you are in for.

Official Website

Photo taken last time I was there, May 2009

North Carolina road trip (photos)

These are some photos from my trip to North Carolina on Labor Day weekend. I stayed in the Ashville-area for a few days and saw some interesting things. (I stopped at the Roy Rogers on the way home)

Rattlesnake summit, Ridgecrest, North Carolina (near Black Mountain, NC)

Brevard, North Carolina, about 40 minutes south of Ashville.

Interestingly, Brevard, NC was named the "3rd Coolest Small Town In America" by Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine (September 2010 issue)

I first stopped off at Rocky's Ice Cream Shoppe.

Rocky's is certainly an authentic 1950s Soda Fountain and Diner, the kind you might see in the movies. The restaurant is connected to a gift shop called "Old Bullwinkel's". Inside Rocky's were photos inside of Elvis, Marilyn, JFK, and Roy and Dale.

There used to be some "Woolworth" stores in Chicago years ago; I remember the sandwich shops that used to be in them. This reminded me of those days.

I thought about getting a chocolate malt, but what I really wanted was a scoop of Superman ice cream. Have you ever had Superman? It's just plain vanilla ice cream, but it has a buttery/nutty flavor and it's colored Blue, Yellow, and Red. This has been my favorite ice cream since I was a kid when I first had some on Mackinac Island, Michigan in 1985.

It's so hard to find; whenever I come across some I have to get a scoop or two.

Then when it melts it turns purple. Ha ha ha.

Next door is a nice little bakery and the bread in the window looks like the kind Aunt Bee might make.

Here I stumbled across a radio studio of WSQL with a DJ spinning gospel bluegrass tunes in the window; don't see that everyday. There was an old fashioned "CBS" microphone in the window, and you could hear the broadcast as you walked by the storefront.

Here is the town's little movie theater, the "Co-Ed Cinema". Nice to see veteran star Robert Duvall's name at the top of the marquee. I hear that's a pretty good movie, too.

Very Mayberry-esque downtown, evident by the "Mayberry's Soup and Sandwiches" eatery....

...and the O.P. Taylor's Toy store!!

The Roy Rogers restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio (photos)

While driving through Cincinnati on Labor Day, I came across a place I had always wanted to go. No, not the WKRP studios. A "Roy Rogers" fast food place (check out their website) I guess I'm a sucker for a fast food place named after a cultural icon.




Watch my amateurish travel log here:

(3 minutes long)

I've known about these places for years but have never been to one nor seen one.  They are mostly in the south. I think Ohio is one of the few Midwestern states with one.



I first saw the bare parking lot and dark interior. "Oh, no", I thought, "the place must had gone out of business". But to my relief they were just closed for the day. I could not resist taking a peek inside.



Thought I wasn't expecting Planet Hollywood-type costumes or props, I was happy to see the interior walls of the dining room adorned with some photos of Roy, Dale, and friends. I bet alot of kids sat in there asking their moms and dads, "Who's Roy Rogers?"





Time to get back on the road. I've got another 4 -1/2 hours to go until I'm back home...

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Related Post: Trigger Is Sold, published July 14, 2010