Last night my wife and I were looking for a movie to watch. I went on to Amazon Prime Video and searched through the popular movies that are currently included with a Prime membership, and I came across Vanilla Sky. Released in 2001, this is a movie I’ve always been aware of but knew nothing about. After watching part of the trailer, we both agreed that it was worth giving a go. Read on for my thoughts on Vanilla Sky.
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The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily my favorite. I’ve watched it several times and it still makes me cry. That’s how powerful it is — I know what’s coming, yet the tears always flow. This riveting cinematic experience chronicles professional wrestling legend and founder of DDP Yoga Diamond Dallas Page helping his mentor, friend, and fellow wrestling luminary, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, topple addiction over the course of 18 months. It’s a perilous journey with disheartening lows and unimaginable highs. What I love most about The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is how it perfectly captures the triumph of the human spirit. Not only does DDP inspire Jake to turn his life around, he also gets Scott Hall — another one of pro wrestling’s ticking time bombs — to move in with them at the Accountability Crib so he can also transform his life for the better. Keep in mind that these are the two pro wrestlers that people thought were going to wind up dead at any given moment. Both of these men are friends who helped Dallas get his big break, and he never forgot what they did for him. Rather than have their lives cut short by self-destructive behavior, DDP stuck out a hand and helped Jake and Scott rise above the maelstrom of sadness and pain their lives had become so they could achieve their full potential and find true happiness.
Michael Des Barres has carved a path through show business and life like no other. He has played rock stars and been a rock star. He’s been a fictional DJ, and a real DJ with millions of listeners on Sirius XM. A singer with record deals over the course of five decades and an actor in over a hundred TV and movie appearances, chances are you know him and don’t know it. Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me To Be? allows Michael, the son of a junkie aristocrat and a schizophrenic showgirl, to tell viewers his story from its very high highs to its very low lows (and some very high lows too). A host of eyewitnesses including Gabriel Byrne, Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols), Don Johnson, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Allison Anders, Ed Begley Jr., Pamela Des Barres, and Steven Van Zandt all join in to corroborate Michael’s wild tale. This documentary is an excellent encapsulation of a life well lived, and I highly recommend that everyone see it.
In March 2019 I met Joe Bob Briggs, the wildly popular authority on drive-in movies who currently hosts horror movie marathons on Shudder, as well as The Last Drive-In: a weekly double-movie marathon featuring Joe Bob’s hilarious and insightful musings, Darcy “The Mail Girl,” and special guests. Speaking of which, Season 2 of The Last Drive-In airs this Friday at 9 p.m. ET and it features guest co-host Chris Jericho. Read on for my interview with the legendary Joe Bob Briggs, where we discuss horror movies, wrestling, books, and more.
A Shudder original, Cursed Films is a five-part documentary series which explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions. From plane accidents and bombings during the making of The Omen, to the rumored use of real human skeletons on the set of Poltergeist, these stories are legendary amongst film fans and filmmakers alike. But where does the truth lie?
Cursed Films reveals the real-life events that haunted these productions through interviews with experts, witnesses and the cast, directors and producers who lived through them. Were these films really cursed, as many believe, or just the victims of bad luck and bizarre circumstances?
Scream Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street is the best documentary I’ve seen this year and in a very long time. This film sets the record straight about the controversial sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street, which both launched and ended Mark Patton’s acting career. This film is about him attempting to make peace with his past and embrace his legacy as cinema’s first male scream queen. Scream Queen! also finds Mark confronting the Freddy’s Revenge cast and crew for the first time, including co-stars Robert Rusler, Kim Myers and Clu Gulager, as well as Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.
I just watched a movie that I feel compelled to review: The Fanatic starring John Travolta. Released on August 30, 2019, The Fanatic didn’t have much of a fighting chance. It had a limited theatrical run, followed by a release on digital platforms. Here’s the film’s description: “On the grimy streets of Hollywood, a celebrity-obsessed man feels slighted by his favorite movie star and embarks on an unhinged quest to get a response – leading to a home invasion and a very long night that changes both men irreparably.” This premise fascinated me, primarily because I’m a passionate fan of all forms of entertainment. Not only have I had the pleasure of attending countless concerts, movies, and star-studded events, I’ve interviewed almost all of my celebrity heroes and befriended a few of them along the way. So, a film starring John Travolta as a fan that takes things too far was something I couldn’t pass up. I’m glad I finally watched it because it’s the best film I’ve seen this year and, in my opinion, John Travolta’s greatest dramatic performance to date.
Thanksgiving is almost here, which means December is right around the corner. With a new month on the horizon, Shudder is gearing up to end the year strong with a bevy of holiday gifts for one and all. Joe Bob’s Red Christmas and several of Wes Craven’s films—including the highly entertaining Shocker—will be available, as will The Lost Boys and Mick Garris’ Sleepwalkers. And what would Christmas be without some holiday-themed slashers? You can enjoy Black Christmas, Christmas Evil, and Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, just to name a few. Below is the full rundown of what to expect from Shudder in December.
Doctor Sleep, the new movie directed by Mike Flanagan, is coming out November 8. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this is a sequel to The Shining. I was invited to attend an advance screening of this movie last night, so I jumped at the chance to see it.
Just when I thought I had my fill of horror anthologies, Holiday Hell comes along. This Christmas-themed film stars the wonderful Jeffrey Combs as a shopkeeper who entertains a curious customer with the terrifying tales behind specific items he has for sale. Collectively, these stories comprise this entertaining movie. Aside from Combs, Joel Murray steals the show with his incredible performance as an alcoholic who is down on his luck in a variety of ways. I was completely enthralled by his performance, which was nuanced and emotive. Murray is an exceptional actor who deserves much more attention for his stellar work.
