Getting ready for a creepy Krampus Christmas at the movies

It may feel too soon to talk about Christmas movies but then again, I just spotted some holiday cookies on display at my local retail drugstore(not far from the Halloween candy already out with the back to school supplies by August) and we just had quite the Yuletide themed film trailer put out recently.

Krampus stars Toni Collette and Adam Kay as members of a family gathered together for the holidays,whose less than harmonious celebration of the season has incurred the wrath of the title creature.

A "krampus" is a legendary demon who arrives at the homes of naughty children in lieu of Santa, causing a wake of terror and destruction(not unlike Black Friday shoppers) and while there does seem to be a humorous vibe within this trailer, the fear factor is clearly the sinister selling point here:

Now, I think this movie looks like good twisted fun for the right audience but I can't help waiting for the other shoe to drop here. So far, the trailer has been out online(and might even be in theaters as we speak) but when the commercials for Krampus hit TV, a wave of protest is bound to follow.

Since Krampus has a December 4th release date to boot, plenty of overly concerned folks who will invoke "think of the children!" are sure to say something. Holiday horror movies are nothing new, with the prime example being the 1984 slasher flick Silent Night, Deadly Night, who showed their ads for the film during daylight hours, shocking school kids and parents alike.

If the goal of the filmmakers was to make a tidy sum, they succeeded as the controversy brought them a lot of free PR that helped the movie rake in an opening weekend total that beat out Nightmare On Elm Street(which was a big money maker that year). Silent Night, Deadly Night has a strong cult following to this day, due in part to the pop culture fury that it awakened within concerned audiences and critics alike:

Christmas is one of those holidays that are so sentimental and commercialized that people with a mischievous streak can't resist tweaking a bit in either the humor or horror direction.

The trick is to combine both elements in a smartly satisfying way without out and out alienating a mainstream audience. A good way to do this is by adding a strong dose of fantasy into the proceedings,along with down playing your seasonal setting in your advertising. It also helps if your movie is not scheduled to open around Christmas time.

Gremlins came out the same year as Silent Night, Deadly Night and while it did receive criticism for it's violence(which hurried along the PG-13 rating), the Christmas themes in the film pretty much went under the radar there. The movie was a summer release, which kept it a good way away from being connected to the holiday. In fact, some critics even thought Gremlins should've been a Christmas release!

What Gremlins did show was that you can have your subversive Christmas cake and eat it, too, just as long as you balanced the terror out with some sort of cuteness and promise that the good guys will win out in the end:

By the 1990s, slipping in Christmas to certain adult themed films was more accepted as hits like Die Hard and Batman Returns made that theme a casual yet central element to their story telling.

Even today, one of our most popular holiday films is 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton's stop motion salute to both Halloween and Christmas, a pair of holidays that children of all ages delight in.

ANBC has had theatrical re-releases over the years and is even a featured attraction at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion that runs throughout the holiday season. Not to mention all of the movie tie-ins products that still sell strong(I should know, I own a few myself), this twisted take on Christmas is pretty much beloved, right up there with Charlie Brown and Ralphie's leg lamp:

So, how will Krampus fare in this category? Hard to say, as it doesn't appear to be scary sweet like Gremlins or TNBC and we are close to an election year with a lot of loud mouth types looking for any excuse to cause attention getting trouble, so there's that.

Krampus could be a lot of freaky fun for an older audience who needs a break from the relentless holiday cheer that is heavily promoted(and looks to be satirizing, judging from the opening shots in the trailer) these days. Don't get me wrong, I like Christmas yet like sugar or salt, a little goes a long way while a lot kills the palate.

Maybe Krampus will be overlooked by the busybodies and make it's mark with moviegoers without any controversy, that is a possibility. If it does occur some righteous minded protest, maybe we should remind those people that there are much worse things out there to worry about, not to mention watch as your holiday cinematic treat. Much, much worse as Jim Carrey's Grinch proved in coal in your stocking abundance:

Holding out for some superhero shows in the fall TV season light

With the fresh new season of TV watching almost upon us, awaiting both old and new shows can be hard to bear and yet, anticipation does tend to spice things up a little. One of my favorite genres is the comic book based one, focused on those caped and cowled figures of justice that is growing almost as big as their cinematic counterparts are.

As superhero themed series are on the rise, so are the villains in the second season of Gotham, due to start up again on September 21. As Oswald Cobblepot  takes his crimelord throne, other bad guys and gals are making their moves also and some of the new batch of evil doers include Mr. Freeze, The Mad Hatter and Clayface.

Also, we will be seeing much more of Jerome,our future Joker, and Barbara Kean, who is now an official villianess as she and other potential Arkham residents are being recruited by a brother and sister act named Galavan for upcoming mischief making in town. I know that plenty of people became quickly disillusioned with the first time around for Gotham but you may want to reconsider a return visit as season two does look rather inviting indeed:

Worlds will truly collide on season two of The Flash, as Barry's whirlwind solution to saving his reality opens up the door to Earth 2(yes, it's an alternate universe deal) with new friends and foes dropping in to make more trouble.

One of those potential allies is Jay Garrick, E2's version of The Flash but one of his closest friends on Team Barry may become the frozen menace Killer Frost sooner than we think. I really like how this show is not afraid to play with the established comic book characters and world building here, making October 6 an early seasonal treat to savor:

Let's not forget Marvel, who is launching season three of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D  on September 29,with an eye towards the Inhumans War. With Skye now taking up the name Daisy and taking the lead on finding her fellow Inhumans, we are definitely going to see some serious super powered action.

There is talk of a crossover with Agent Carter(whose second season might begin early in 2016) but how that's going to work out, given the very different time periods for each show, I don't quite know. It will be interesting to see both series pull this off.

No word yet on any other possible tie-ins to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for MAOS but I think that Coulson and company will have rather heaping plates of trouble stew to handle without that added bonus, not to mention an unexpected guest or two at the door:

And now we have to deal with Supergirl, starting her series run on October 26.  I still have a truckload of doubts regarding this take on Kara and friends but in the interest of fairness, will watch at least two episodes before ultimately deciding yes or no-go here.

Since this show will be airing on Mondays opposite Gotham, I may have to check it out either via replays or on demand viewings. Some of Superman's enemies are going to be featured here, such as Livewire and Reactron ,which should be interesting, along with a character who may become the Toyman.

I don't want to hate this show but that early trailer really put me off. However, Supergirl is being developed by the same team that put Arrow and The Flash on the CW map, so maybe that first impression was merely a mistaken one:

Well, there will be more fall fantasy goodies to enjoy as Sleepy Hollow, iZombie and The Vampire Diaries promise to return to the tube, Yet, superheroes and their respective villains are that special flavor of fun that's hard to resist, especially when they come straight out of Gotham:

Having a good time with The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray

I have to confess that the intense fascination that many people have for Bill Murray amazes me. The man is talented and everything, don't get me wrong but I've grown so used to him over the years that seeing him do well in anything doesn't surprise me.

Then again, I grew up with Bill Murray, metaphorically speaking. From his days on Saturday Night Live to hit movies such as Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters and Groundhog's Day and nowadays to his almost regular appearances in Wes Anderson's films, Murray has become a constant mainstay in the pop culture arena. Particularly odd, considering his random public appearances and legendary difficulty to contact directly.

Perhaps the upcoming literary tribute to him, The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray by Robert Schnakenberg, is pop culture perfect for both old fans like me and the new ones just catching up. The book is a biographical encyclopedia that covers nearly every aspect of Murray's life and times, with a mixture of fact and anecdotes about the man that is Murray. And yes, there is a special entry for one of his most famous SNL characters, Nick the Lounge Singer, who he first created during his time at Second City and is loosely based on a real life entertainer:

Not only are there detailed entries for each of his films(with a special ratings system that defines the "Murray" level of excellence in each performance), the book also highlights casting opportunities that he missed or refused like The Witches of Eastwick, Toy Story and Philadelphia(yes, that Tom Hanks movie).

It also reminds you of other TV shows that he showed up in, such as an episode of the cult classic sitcom Square Pegs where he played a fun substitute teacher. I totally adored that show back in the day and can't believe I forgot all about this one!:

 The book also covers Murray's less than successful cinematic choices like Garfield(which he originally mistook for a Coen Brothers film), Ghostbusters II and his attempt at a dramatic debut in 1984's The Razor's Edge.

The Razor's Edge was a personal passion of his, using the early buzz from the first Ghostbusters movie to get the studio to back the project. The backlash from both fans and critics made him retreat from the movie industry for about four years, which in some ways was a smart decision and a needed refresh for his career.

The film has gotten better reassessments as time goes on, yet Murray feels that the whole thing was a mistake. Personally, I don't think it was that bad but then again, I did pay to see Scrooged twice when it was in theaters(and I don't regret that!):

It's to author Robert Schnakenberg's credit that he doesn't shy away from the more volatile side of Murray's personality. From persistent pranks such as a certain phone call he makes every time Road House is on to fights with Martin Mull and Chevy Chase(who both earned the insult "medium talent"), Murray's charms do not wear well with everyone.

That can also work for him,however as the movie What About Bob? proves in abundance. Richard Dreyfuss's preference for theater style acting clashed with Murray's freewheeling approach, making their on screen friction all the more believable and entertaining to watch:

The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is not something that can be read in the usual straightforward manner. It's a handy reference guide to the wonderful weirdness of the man that shows you something new about Murray every time you open it up.

The book will be released on September 15 and while many people will be adding it to their holiday gift lists, this is a fun gift to give to yourself.

In roaming the pages of The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray, I found myself pleasantly engaged in recalling those past moments of fun that Murray has given us over the years and makes me look forward to more of his particular brand of mirth as time goes on. I can now understand why to some fans, a guy like Bill Murray is truly a one of a kind that deserves to be sitting in a special spotlight and that we should appreciate him all the more for refusing to get stale:

Going Gaga for vampires on American Horror Story: Hotel

A new season of American Horror Story will begin next month, this time set in a hotel with some very unusual guests. One of those residents will be played by Lady Gaga and the speculation about her character was running wild indeed.

Most of that mystery has been revealed in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, where we learned that her AHS persona is named The Countess and yes, she is an immortal drinker of blood. According to producer Ryan Murphy, there will be "no capes, no fangs" as her blood lust is meant to tie into the show's central theme of addiction.

First off, I'm not completely surprised since based on Gaga's EW cover alone, she has the look of a chic vampiress that Catherine Deneuve possessed in abundance when she starred in The Hunger, a 1983 adaptation of Whitley Strieber's novel.

In that story, Deneuve played Miriam Blaylock, a natural born vampire whose formerly human lovers never lasted long. She and her on his way out mate John(David Bowie) used ankh amulets with blade bottoms to drain their victims, much like Gaga's Countess has her razor tipped gloves for the same purpose.

Not sure if AHS:Hotel will have the same vampire rules as The Hunger but there's clearly an inspiration connection there, no doubt about it:

 Having a vampire as a metaphor for addiction is nothing new, as one of the film trends of the 1990s was to make vampirism stand either for that or the fear of certain blood born diseases.

A notable movie in the "vampire addict" subgenre was actually called The Addiction, a very arthouse look at those creatures of the night, courtesy of director Abel Ferrara. Lili Taylor starred as Kathleen, a college student bitten at a party and struggles to figure out the meaning of her new existence.

She does find a mentor of sorts in Peina(Christopher Walken) but even that bit of guidance is not enough to quench Kathleen's endless thirst or deal with the guilt of giving into her dark desires:

That addiction theme has been recently revived in vampire films with 2013's Only Lovers Left Alive as Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are Adam and Eve, a separated immortal couple so afraid of blood poisoning that they avoid  feeding directly from humans.

They buy "the good stuff" from dealers but when even those sources are tapped out and their stash is depleted by a greedy relation, the need for a fix brings them together for better or worse.

OLLA wasn't a mainstream hit but it did do well with critics and on the film festival circuit. Like The Addiction, a well known indie director,Jim Jarmusch, was the driving force for this film and the type of artist that Gaga would see as an influence, so I'm sure that she might take a few cues from here for her AHS performance:

Gaga's story line won't be the only one in focus on AHS:Hotel, as we also have Hypodermic Sally(Sarah Paulson) on board, along with the ghost of the hotel's former owner(Evan Peters) and a search for a serial killer known as The Ten Commandments Killer.

However, a good number of folks will be checking in to check out Gaga and having her play a vampire is another sure fire way to draw in horror fans.

While Jessica Lange will be sorely missed, as her roles in the series were truly riveting high points for each one, Lady Gaga taking her turn on this scary stage should be a gruesomely good time had by all.

Speaking for myself as a vampire fan who also adores Gaga's style and substance, I am looking forward to AHS:Hotel as the perfect Halloween treat and I know I'm not alone in that. Until then, my fellow monsters!:

Why are college students afraid of comic books?

With Banned Books Week coming up later this month, the focus on literary censorship is mainly on grade school and/or high school level reading, which happens more often than we'd like to see.

However, there seems to be a lot more calls for blocking books from students that is coming from college these days. And, sadly enough, these protests are coming from the students themselves. To make things even more odd, the books in question are graphic novels, which many consider to be the more grown-up version of the comic book.

One of the targets has Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, an autobiographical look at a father-daughter relationship in which both of them find that they share more than hair and eye color. As Alison realizes that she is gay, her father's closeted sexuality comes to the surface but not in time to prevent his untimely death.

Both freshman students at Duke University (who had this book as an optional title on their recommended reading list) and Crafton Hills College in California have raised objections to Fun Home, complaining that the book is "pornography" and shows "naked women". Trust me, kids, if you think this is that graphic, you have lived very sheltered lives indeed.

I happen to have read Fun Home earlier this year(part of my goal to read more comics) and this book is a humorously heartfelt story about growing up and learning that your parents are less than perfect yet that's what makes them and you a full human being.  Not only is Fun Home an award winning title, the Broadway musical adaptation has just won top honors at the Tony awards. You are depriving yourselves of a wonderful reading and visual experience, you know that thing a college education is supposed to be all about?

The Crafton Hills complaint also includes an objection to Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, one of the four graphic novels assigned to the incoming English class. The student spearheading this campaign to get these books removed has been quoted as saying "I expected Batman and Robin, not pornography."

Well, first off, Batman comics are much deeper and darker in content than you might think there, young lady(the Christopher Nolan films alone should have clued you in on that one) and for another, who do you think you are to dictate to your other classmates what they should and shouldn't read?

The irony of you claiming that Persepolis is offensive, when that particular memoir has as one of the struggles that it's female protagonist going through is trying to get an equal and decent education in a repressive society, just floors me:

The other two titles on the Crafton Hills College hitlist are Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn and Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: The Doll's House, both of which are sci-fi/fantasy titles with complex story telling and sociopolitical elements, all of which are subjects that one would reasonably expect to explore in a college course.

Is that these stories are being told in comic book form, where the artwork brings the inner workings of the characters to vivid life along with the actions of the plot, or that you just don't like books that make you think? If so, then perhaps college is not for you. Believe it or not, the works of Neil Gaiman and Brian  K.Vaughn are heralded as ground breaking material and if you are quick to dismiss them simply due to format, you are not as smart as you think you are:

 Back in my bookseller days, we did order books on a regular basis for a local English Lit course and that professor assigned both volumes of Art Spiegelman's Maus every time.

The only complaint that I or any of my bookstore co-workers got regarding that duo was the price and why didn't we buy back books(that wasn't something we did there)? So, having graphic novels as assigned reading for college classes is nothing new.

Look, if you don't want to read these books, you do have the option of dropping the class. And don't give me that nonsense about not being warned about the material, I know full well that those reading lists are handed out way ahead of time before the first day of class begins. There's no shame in switching courses but it is shameful for you or any other student to demand changes to the assigned reading based on your own personal bias.

The freedom to read also includes the freedom to be taught properly as well and by hindering other students, both present and future, you are abusing that privilege. This protest does not make you sound like an adult, instead you're coming across as a playground bully. So, reassess your educational priorities there and keep in mind that there are more scarier things to deal with both in and out of college than a book:

A sinister salute to Wes Craven and his legacy of cinematic horror

It was truly sad to hear of the passing of director/writer Wes Craven last night, who at the age of 76 had to take his final bow due to brain cancer.

Known to some as "the father of Freddy Kruegar", Craven already had made his mark in the horror film genre early on with the likes of 1972's The Last House on the Left and in 1977 with The Hills Have Eyes.

His unique vision did get him both an audience and positive critical response but it was that particular nightmare come to life via a certain deadly dream man that brought Craven into the mainstream.

A Nightmare on Elm Street became the starting point for one of the most enduring horror film franchises in Hollywood history, making New Line Studios "The House That Freddy Built", and for good reason. Not only this take on dreams make a significant change in the teen terror trend of the 1980s, it also launched the career of actor Robert Englund, the man who gave Craven's monster vividly frightening life:

Craven only directed two other films in the NOES series, each time making exciting new twists to his original terror tale. His last word on the whole Freddy phenomenon was neatly done in Wes Craven's New Nightmare, where the actors from the first movie were being haunted in the real world by the dream demon they helped to create.

That movie was vastly underrated by the fans when it arrived in theaters but critics gave it sterling reviews and it has turned into a cult classic of sorts. With it's meta story line and amazing visual tricks, Craven really breathed new life back into the almost formulaic Freddy:

  Craven did venture outside of the horror realm, with thrillers like Red Eye and the 1999 drama Music of the Heart, which was the only one of his films to receive Oscar nominations.

However, some of his stand alone horror films did offer interesting insights into sociopolitical fears such as The Serpent and the Rainbow(which had the backdrop of Haiti's dictatorial government at the time in it's zombie story) and The People Under The Stairs, that took aim at the Reagan years.

The plot follows a young man named Fool who enters a notorious house in his neighborhood seeking treasure, only to find a gruesome twosome that called themselves "Mommy" and "Daddy" who were far from the ideal parents of TV sitcom land.

The metaphors for the class warfare and exploitation of minorities during that time period(which still holds up today, sadly enough) is neatly folded into the journey into an all too real heart of darkness for both Fool and the young girl he encounters, Alice. One of the hallmarks of Craven's writing is that he created flesh and blood characters for his audience to care about, not just stick figures ready to be gorily knocked down:

 Most of this current generation of movie goers know Craven from the Scream series of films that flipped the slasher genre on it's head and into a meta knife wielded by the ever changing Ghost Face Killer. The film has been turned into a TV series, which is doing well enough to have a second season greenlit already.

Most of the Scream movies(with the pointed exception of Scream 3, a badly done entry indeed) made slick statements about not only how we perceive the cliches of any fictional formula but how it changes our outlook on reality as well. Take for example, the opening kill of Scream 2, set in a movie theater where a hapless audience member gets more than she bargained for.

 At the time, no one thought of a movie theater as a dangerous place but, sadly due to real life, this scenario is more terrifying now than perhaps it was back then. The obliviousness of the engaged audience is what adds to the terror and while I'm not trying to trigger anyone, it is telling that this was a nightmare that people thought could only happen in a movie:

Granted, not every Wes Craven film hit the ball out of the park. For every horror home run, he did have his fair share of swings and misses, with the likes of Shocker, Vampire in Brooklyn and most recently, My Soul to Take.

However, the man did have a sense of humor about himself and his work, judging from the cameo appearances he made in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back  and Castle. Also, Craven's misfires were for the most part, attempts to do something different creatively. That's not something Hollywood often encourages anyone working in any genre to do and you have to give the man kudos for trying there.

The work of Wes Craven did inspire many of his fellow artists and will continue to do so long after his departure. He may have had doubts about his mark upon the genre yet many of us out there who appreciated the intelligent approach that Craven took to his films will make sure that those who come after us don't forget. Sorry to see you go, sir, but best wishes on your new adventure, which should be a wonderful dream come true in a better world:

What Show Me A Hero says about the past and present of a city

Having Yonkers as my hometown was a major reason that my family and I started watching the HBO miniseries Show Me A Hero, which airs it's final chapters this upcoming Sunday night. The six part story,based upon Lisa Belkin's nonfiction book, tells the tale of the housing fight in the city that took place in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

The city of Yonkers had been found guilty of deliberately keeping both public housing and public schools apart by racial lines(in more than one court) and were dragging their feet in dealing the court ordered compliance to build housing on the mainly white east side.

Attempting to take hold of the situation was Nick Wasicsko(Oscar Issacs), a young politician who ran for mayor using an anti-housing campaign at first but upon being elected, soon realized that all of the legal options had been exhausted to stave off the inevitable.  In a way, opponents of the housing thought he was their "Great White Hope", due to his past experience as a police officer and a lawyer but once they realized that he wanted them to deal with the reality of the situation, that good will was gone in a flash:

Wasicsko not only had to deal with City Council meetings that were dominated by raging protesters, he also had to negotiate with resistant council members(some of whom refused to even consider a compromise) for spots in their districts for the housing,including an agreement for Catholic church owned property that was quickly reneged on.

On top of that, he tried to deal with the anger of Judge Sands, who was so fed up with Yonkers' stubborn refusal that daily fines that threatened to bankrupt the city were imposed. All of this lead to a losing re-election with his main political rival on this issue, Henry Spallone(Alfred Molina) who was pretty much the Donald Trump of that campaign:

The whole series isn't just about the political fight, it also deals with the regular citizens on both sides of the conflict.

 From east side resident Mary Dornan(Catherine Keener) who begins to have doubts about the direction of the housing resistence to Norma(Latanya Richardson Jackson), a retired home care worker whose own health problems are being ill served due to where she lives, how this legal battle does and doesn't speak to them over time is an important part of the story.

The casting here is incredibly solid, ranging from Bob Balaban as Judge Sands to Winona Ryder as former councilwoman Vinni Restiano, plus Ilfenesh Hadera as single mother Carmen, torn between raising her children in the relatively stable environment of her home town in the Dominic Republic yet needing the better financial opportunities available in New York,despite being able to only afford the less than safe for her kids housing in Yonkers. Kudos to all involved for keeping the humanity of the situation a vital component here:

 A good portion of SMAH was filmed in Yonkers, which gives me and my family a weird sense of nostalgia as we try to figure out where certain scenes take place in. We also remember little things like the local newspaper of the day, The Herald Statesman(which has been long gone, we now have The Journal News).

The housing fight took place during my late teens and the school integration had already affected me as I was a member of the last graduating class of my high school. To be honest, I had no idea that we weren't already integrated as the part of town that we lived in was diversely populated(and still is). That is how divided the city of Yonkers was at the time, that there were young people like me who had not clue one that we were racially divided.

I say "in those days" but it's eerie to hear some of the arguments being presented in SMAH still having echoes in the racial conflicts of the present day. From "those people will ruin our way of life!" to "why isn't anyone asking our opinion about this?", some of these same debates are happening all over the country, from small town meetings to huge political rallies.

True, many things have changed for the better but some are getting worse and in looking back at the sad social history of Yonkers, you can see that the old saying "those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them" is being proven true yet again. This should feel like an old fashioned story of a time thankfully long gone by and yet, SMAH feels like a fresh slice of modern life.

As the final episodes of Show Me A Hero are about to air, I feel that this series has done well by this story and remained true to what happened in Yonkers back then. It may not be the pretty picture that some would like to see of this city but then again, the truth never is.

Yonkers may sound like a terrible place to live and it's not a bed of roses at the best of times. However, like just about any other city in America, it has some moments of unity, neighborly good will and hope for a better future. Show Me A Hero gives us a chance to look back both in anger and in the promise of a new day. For that, we have to thank producer David Simon and his cast and crew for highlighting such a turbulent  time period that may perhaps offer some perspective on the way we are now:

Female Friendly Flicks abound in the Fall Movie Trailer Park

It may not be easy to find films with strong female leads and story lines just about any time of year but sometimes, the fall season does offer more opportunities for such movies to make their presence known at the box office.

For example, literary adaptations are very fall friendly and we have at least two of them on the way with solid leading ladies at the helm. Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, is based upon Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt, which recounts a budding romance between a young department store clerk and an older woman.

Set in New York of the 1950s, director Todd Haynes is practically picture perfect for this film, which has already won two prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, with one going to Rooney Mara for Best Actress. The book is said to semi autobiographical and seeing an adaptation of Highsmith's work that isn't a murder mystery should be interesting. Also, it would be nice to see Blanchett and Mara get a matching pair of Oscar nominations out of this:

Saoirse Ronan is the headliner in Brooklyn, adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Toibin's award winning novel. She plays Ellis Lacey, an Irish immigrant seeking a better way in that particular borough of New York in the fifties who finds herself having to choose between new loves and old loyalties.

She's backed up by a set of fine supporting players such as Julie Waters and Jim Broadbent , not to mention that this story seems to have the look of a big budget film done with some indie flair.

 I haven't read any of Toibin's work but his reputation is a good one and if this movie is an indication of the quality of his story telling, I won't be the only one seeking Brooklyn out at my local book seller:

 For something a bit more modern day, Julia Roberts stars in Secret In Their Eyes, where she plays Jess a FBI agent stunned by the murder of her daughter and then outraged when the local DA Claire(Nicole Kidman) has to let their best suspect go due to a technicality.

Years later, Jess is estranged from her former partner Ray(Chiwetel Ejiofor), who nevertheless comes back to town with a fresh lead on the case. However, a major secret that involves more than one person could be unleashed with devastating consequences. Jess's only goal,naturally, is to get justice for her child no matter what.

While this is an American remake of an Argentinian film(which won Best Foreign Film at the Oscars in 2010), many people are going to see this with fresh eyes. Comparisons will be undoubtedly made between both films but hopefully, this one stays true to the intent of the source material(the 2005 novel by Argentinian author Eduardo Sacheri) as well as the first film did:

For a laugh, we have another onscreen double team of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey in Sisters, as a pair of dippy siblings who have been summoned to clean out their former childhood bedrooms so that their parents can finally sell the house.

Not thrilled with that idea, the girls decided to throw a farewell party in order to make the best of things. There's quite the cast of comedians here, including Samantha Bee, Maya Rudolph and Rachel Dratch, along side actors like John Leguizamo, Dianne Wiest and James Brolin(who happen to be co-starring in a new TV series called Life in Pieces this fall) and for some damn reason, John Cena shows up, don't ask me why.

Don't get me wrong, I like Amy and Tina but this may be a take it or leave it kind of movie. Might be fun but it would help if the trailer didn't give away so many of the jokes there:

For sheer Oscar bait,however, I do think that Suffragette fits the bill nicely. Carey Mulligan is one of the major stars in this story about the women's rights movement in England during the late 1900s and early 20th century, which was pretty brutal at times.

Meryl Streep is on board as Emmeline Parkhurst, one of the influential leaders of the movement while Helena Bonham Carter plays Edith, one of the more radical members.Turns out that Bonham Carter is a descendant of H.S. Asquith, who was Prime Minister during 1908-16 and a huge opponent of the suffragettes. Nice bit of irony in that.

The movie will be in limited release this October in the US and probably in wider distribution after the Academy Award nominations are out but I hope that we don't have to wait too long for something this awesome looking to be readily available.

Doubts aside, we do have some films on the way that focus on women to look out for at the multiplex and if any or all of them do well with both critics and audiences, our cinematic blessings this season will be great indeed:

Bad Movie Month lets Marky Mark show us the meaning of Fear

For our finale in this year's Bad Movie Month theme of Sorry Singers On Screen, we turn to Mark "Marky Mark" Wahlberg in 1996's Fear, his first leading role in a film.

Marky Mark played David, a twenty something guy that is dating slightly rebellious Nicole(Reese Witherspoon), who is only sixteen. David and Nicole's developing relationship is troubling her dad Steven (William Peterson) , who is rightly suspicious of his daughter's seemingly polite and sincere new beau.

Early on, the dynamic that places Nicole in the middle of a very twisted love triangle between David and Steven is established in a secret car on the side of the road confrontation scene as Marky Mark reveals his dark nature to dear old dad. The undercurrent of competition between these two is especially creepy, as Nicole almost seems to be simply an excuse for the two of them to show off their alleged manliness there:

It takes Nicole awhile to catch on that David's bad news, even when she witnesses him beating up her platonic male friend Gary out of supposed jealousy and gets a black eye herself in the bargain.

That does cause a riff but as soon as Steven forbids her to see David, she immediately rushes back to him. Only when Nicole spies on David at the house he shares with a pack of sleazy looking dudes(one of whom is dating her gal pal Margo,played by Alyssa Milano), that she buys a clue about just how messed up her misunderstood Romeo is.

That leads me into the female relationships in this movie, which are absolutely terrible. Not only do they fail the Bechdel test, as nearly every conversation between any of the female characters involve either David,Steven or both, but a strong amount of slut shaming goes on here.

 From Nicole's stepmom(Amy Brenneman) who critiques her step daughter's make-up as "slutty" and then later on bonds with her by helping to cover up that black eye from David, believing the lame excuse that the injury came from volleyball during gym(which she truly buys, based on some later dialogue). Yeah, great parenting skills there, lady!

Worst of all, Nicole peeks into David's house and sees her friend Margo getting high on the lap of her grimy looking boyfriend(and I do mean grimy, he looks like a pile of oily rags come to life) and then David forces Margo to say she wants him, which ends up with him throwing her over his shoulder in cave man fashion and taking her off to his lair.

Nicole is naturally upset at seeing this and quickly breaks things off with David. However, she also gives Margo the cold shoulder and when confronted by her, accusing Margo of "betraying" her! Now, I would buy this a lot better if Nicole had found out that Margo and David had been together via a third party but she saw the whole damn thing!

 Yes, you could make a case that women in these situations do tend to turn on each other rather than the guy(as daytime court shows provide proof in abundance of that) but I really don't see the need for that to be in this way for the story,such as it is, to work. Since the screenplay had some uncredited co-writing help from director James Foley, I wonder if that choice was decided upon the visual impact on screen rather than the right emotional development for the characters involved.

Anyhow, back to Marky Mark, who starts going off the deep end at this latest rejection. From carving "Nicole 4 Eva" on his chest(which he never shows off to the object of his obsession, something that I think a demented suitor might want to do) to stalking his former lady love in a bathroom stall, it's clear that we are now in the Fatal Attraction portion of the film:

Steven, while concerned for Nicole, seems more upset when he finds his car trashed by David, who leaves a note saying "Now I popped both of your cherries!"- yeah, not too subtle with the symbolism there, dude.

This leads to Steven trashing the already trashy house that David and his funky bunch(who are some sort of criminal gang) and then a full on assault on Steven's home, which is supposed to have the best in security, ensues. Too bad that Nicole didn't mention that she gave David the code to the alarm way before he and his boys started storming the castle!

Yep, we've got a little Straw Dogs mixed into this mess, which doesn't make things any better but does provide a special scare moment for David at the front door peephole, which I think we all know all too well by now:

Despite the bad reviews, Fear did very well at the box office and still has a bit of a cult following to this day. Nevertheless, the underwritten characters and cobbled together plot points do make it a solid stinker.

 Marky Mark has gone on to bigger and better acting gigs( better is pretty debatable, as his stints in The Happening and Ted 2 can attest to) but his over the top performance in Fear is a noteworthy step on his cinematic career ladder.

Thank you all for checking out Bad Movie Month with me and yes, there are possible plans for the 2016 theme in the works, but let's see how things go in the new year. As we say farewell, our last Sorry Singer musical number is the infamous roller-coaster scene, set to the tune of "Wild Horses" by Sunday.

 Marky Mark did have one of his rap songs featured briefly in the movie but this is the song that everyone remembers. Yeah, nothing says true love like holding hands on an amusement park ride, even if it's not exactly another hand being held:

Filling up your fall backpack with some September/October new reads

With back to school season nearly upon us, the time to shop for new pencils and notebooks is now and what better to hold all of that scholarly loot in than a new backpack?

For those of us who simply need an excuse to buy seasonal items, picking up some of the new literary releases due out this September and October is more than enough of a good reason.

Those hardcovers do get heavy, after all, not to mention having a book on hand during the the cold days to come will be a great way to keep your mind warm with thought:

MAGICAL PAGE TURNERS:

Many of us became fans of Gregory Maguire from his series of novels about the Land of Oz, starting with Wicked. However, in his upcoming new work, After Alice, Maguire takes on Lewis Carroll's beloved heroine by seeing the effects of her strange trip upon two other characters.

When Alice's older sister realizes that she's disappeared, the search for her lost sibling turns more than one world upside down. Meanwhile, a friend of Alice's named Ada winds up following her down that rabbit hole and having her own set of odd adventures while trying to keep up with her.

Maguire's knack for turning well known tales into amazingly original stories makes the promise of this new look at Wonderland sound like a true treat for readers and fantasy fans alike(October):

 Ellen Herrick's debut novel introduces us to The Sparrow Sisters, residents of a small seaside town in New England where the witchy ways of Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are mostly tolerated by the locals.

Patience's skills as a healer seemed to be affected by the arrival of a new doctor, whose mysterious past draws her to him. When a mix of her special herbs is blamed for a local tragedy,along with a bout of blight spread around the area, hints of an old school witch hunt threatens the fate of all three of the Sparrow women.

Perhaps with the help of some of the town women, Patience can brew up a solution to all of their troubles but will that help her chance for romance with the doctor? An enchanting mix of heart felt drama and mystical energy should make this dose of practical magic taste seasonally sweet(September):

RIDING THE MURRICANE:

 Comedian and actor Bill Murray has become the stuff of pop culture legend these days, with legions of new admirers devoted to just about every aspect of his life and times.

To that end, writer Robert Schnakenberg has put together The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray, a biographical encyclopedia of the man's contributions to the real world and unreal realms of Hollywood.

Filled with stories about his numerous pranks(such as a special phone call he's compelled to make whenever he watches Road House), detailed analysis of his films and insights from friends and foes alike, this handy tome is the perfect ticket to ride for anyone willing to know more about the cultural impact of what some call "the Murricane"(September):

 PORTRAITS OF LADIES OF HISTORICAL FICTION:

 In Alexandra Curry's debut novel, The Courtesan, a legendary figure from Chinese history is brought back to fictional life once again. Jinhua becomes an orphan at the age of seven when her father is executed for supposed treason and is sold to a brothel to prepare for a much lower position in life than she was going to have.

As soon as she is old enough, Jinhua is made a concubine to a government official whose travels to Europe expose her to a wider world of possibilities. That new perspective helps her to gain some independence but the  looming threat of the Boxer Rebellion may be both a blessing and a curse.

Sui Jinhua has been the subject of plays,ballets and opera in China and having her story told for a brand new audience should be a true show stopper:(September)

 Sara Donati takes us to a bygone age in New York with The Gilded Hour, as a pair of cousins attempt to use their medical talents to improve the lives of the downtrodden in their midst.

Dr. Anna Savard is determined to protect a quartet of orphaned siblings from being pulled away from each other while her cousin Sophie's practice is hindered by prejudice from her biracial background and the political ambitions of Anthony Comstock, whose morality campaign also threatens to put Anna's work at risk as well.

Donati(aka Rosina Lippi) is best known for her Into The Wilderness series and while this new book has a slight connection to that saga, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone work. Invoking that "age of innocence" with a fresh narrative, The Gilded Hour promises to make many hours of reading this book a glorious experience indeed(September):

 A backstage look at old school Hollywood is the spine of the story told in All The Stars in the Heavens, as Alda Ducci leaves the convent life behind and lands a job as secretary to actress Loretta Young.

Young's career is on an upswing when she is cast along side Clark Gable in the 1935 adaptation of Call of the Wild, sparking a illicit affair(due to his being married already) that lasts for years. While Alda is happy to help Loretta in any way she can, doubts concerning this secret romance make her job that much harder for her.

Adriana Trigiani does have a gift for weaving the elegant atmosphere of the past into a vibrant new narrative and this take on silver screen legends and those who follow in their wake is right up her literary alley(October):

HAIR IS AS HAIR DOES:

 There is one concern that all women, regardless of age,race or social status, have in common and that is hair. From worrying about the length to the need to dye or not to dye or the appropriateness of one style over the other, hair is a defining issue for females whether they like it or not.

Author Elizabeth Benedict has gathered together twenty seven stories that make up her new collection Me, My Hair and I, from a wide variety of fellow feminine authors such as Adriana Trigiani, Marita Golden, Jane Smiley and Bharati Mukherjee. Each story offers a very different take on hair that shares the joy, sorrows and sometimes laughs about dealing with hair.

Hair might seem trivial to some, but struggling with the social norms that mark certain types of hair "good" or "bad" has a lot more impact on people that you might think. This book certainly ought to make both beauty parlor and barber shop talk a bit more insightful there(September):

These should be enough to get you started on your backpack book packing but don't forget to make room for more along the way. There's no point in making your reading bundle fit together oh so right if you leave out something important there. Just be mindful and remember, any excuse to read is a good one!: