Author Archives: Lisa Marie Bowman

Scenes That I Love: William H. Macy in Fargo

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Fargo (1996, dir by the Coen Brothers, cinematography by Roger Deakins)

Today, we wish a happy birthday to one of the great character actors, William H. Macy.

Today’s scene that I love comes from the film that I feel features Macy’s greatest performance, 1996’s Fargo.  In this scene, hapless car salesman-turned-wannabe-criminal mastermind Jerry Lundegaard (played by Macy) discovers that his get rich quick scheme has one major flaw.  Absolutely no one, not even his fearsome father-in-law, wants to give Jerry a dime of money.  In this scene, you can’t help but feel sorry for Jerry, even though most of his problems are his own fault.

Retro Television Review: Malibu CA 2.5 “Off The Deep End”

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Welcome to Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past!  On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Malibu CA, which aired in Syndication in 1998 and 1999.  The entire show is currently streaming on YouTube!

Yes, this is from the first season. I don’t care. I refuse to waste my time looking for a second season advertisement.

This week …. well, we’ll get to it in a minute.

Episode 2.5 “Off the Deep End”

(Dir by Gary Shimokawa, originally aired on November 6th, 1999)

Well, this is embarrassing.  I sat down, ready to face my weekly chore of watching the next episode of Malibu CA, and I promptly discovered that the fifth episode of season two has never been upload to YouTube.

Now, to be honest, this isn’t exactly a tragedy.  I don’t particularly like this show and it’s not like my reviews of an obscure sitcom from the 90s are responsible for much of this site’s daily traffic.  It does bother me as a completist.  If I ever find a free copy of this episode, I’ll review it.  But, to be honest, I’m not going to spend that much time looking.

Here’s the plot summary, via the imdb:

Peter has been ignoring Scott’s swim meets and now only three are left before the Olympic trials. Fearing that he’s doing the same thing to Scott now that he did to him when he was younger, Peter now tries to get as involved as possible. He’s taking care of Scott’s diet, hiring a masseuse, and making Jason do all the chores.

It’s tempting to try to review this episode without even watching it.  I’ve seen enough of these Peter Engel-produced teen sitcoms that I can imagine almost everything that probably happens in the episode, from Scott getting angry at Peter for being overbearing to Peter apologizing for not having been there for Scott in the past to Jason coming up with some crazy scheme to try to get Murray to do all the chores for him.  I’m pretty sure all of this happened to someone on Saved By The Bell: The New Class as well.

But no, I have my ethics.  I’ll wait until I can actually watch the episode and I say that with the full knowledge that I may never see the episode.  And I’m kind of okay with that.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Henry Hathaway Edition

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens celebrates director Henry Hathaway, born 127 years ago today!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Henry Hathaway Films

Kiss of Death (1947, dir by Henry Hathaway, DP: Norbert Brodine)

Call Northside 777 (1948, dir by Henry Hathaway, DP: Joseph MacDonald)

Niagara (1953, dir by Henry Hathaway, DP: Joseph MacDonald)

True Grit (1969, dir by Henry Hathaway, DP: Lucien Ballard)

 

Monsters Will Return Next Week

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Much as with my Love Boat reviews, I am preempting my review of the next episode Monsters until next week so that I can focus my energies on our upcoming St. Patrick’s Day/Kurt Russell’s birthday extravaganza.

Monsters, “our favorite show,” will return next week with a review of a Monsters take on A Christmas Carol.

A Blast From The Past: The Velvet Underground in Boston (dir by Andy Warhol)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

 

In the late 60s, The Velvet Underground often performed at the Boston Tea Party, a concert venue in — you guessed it! — Boston.  Lou Reed described the Boston Tea Party as being the band’s favorite place to play and the Velvets’ performances at the venue would eventually become legendary.  The Velvet Underground would attract an audience made up of bikers, Harvard students, MIT Students, Northeastern Students, celebrities, and a young Jonathan Richman.

In 1967, artist Andy Warhol attended a performance and filmed the show.  He got 33 minutes of footage, one that doesn’t quite work as a concert film but which does work marvelously as a time capsule.  While the music itself is often distorted (and this is not the film to watch if you’re wanting to hear your favorite songs performed live), Warhol’s camera does capture the feel of the psychedelic 60s, complete with strobe lights, sudden zoom shots, and an audience that alternates between moving to the music and standing still in a state of stoned contemplation.  Warhol films like someone who has just gotten his first camera and can’t wait to experiment and see what it can do.  The end result is actually rather likable, even if it is often incoherent.  The enthusiasm and the excitement of filmmaking and capturing history comes through.  When you’re first learning and experimenting with film, there’s nothing cooler than a sudden close-up or a sudden pull back to reveal the size of the crowd.  The film finds Warhol having fun with the camera and the footage is ultimately rather hypnotic.

It’s a true time capsule.  Here is The Velvet Underground in Boston.

 

 

Song of the Day: The Love Boat Theme, performed by WDR Funkhausorchester

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Though I may have had to preempt this week’s review of The Love Boat, I can still express my love for the show with today’s song of the day!  As this performance shows, the Love Boat really does have something for everyone.

The Love Boat Will Return Next Week

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi, everyone!  I’ve been doing weekly reviews of The Love Boat for a while.  I really enjoying the series but I’m going to have to hold off on posting my next review until next week.  That’s because the next episode is a two-hour musical spectacular and, as I’m busy getting things set up for our big St. Patrick’s Day/Kurt Russell’s birthday celebration on the 17th, I’m not going to have time to watch the whole thing until next week.

So, The Love Boat is preempted this week but it will return next week!  We’ll set sail then!

 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special 1972 Edition

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Since we already highlighted Cabaret today, here are a few the classic films that we released the same year.

4 Shots From 4 1972 Films

The Godfather (1972, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973, dir by Norman Jewison, DP; Douglas Slocombe)

Deliverance (1972,dir by John Boorman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972, dir by J. Lee Thompson, DP: Bruce Surtees)