4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Hollywood Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More 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, we pay tribute to Hollywood with 4 shots from 4 films!

4 Shots From 4 Films About Hollywood

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Fred J. Koenekamp)

Hollywood Boulevard (1976, dir by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante, DP: Jamie Anderson)

Mulholland Drive (2001, dir by David Lynch, DP: Peter Deming)

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Robert Richardson)

Live Tweet Alert: Join #FridayNightFlix for Fear City!


As some of our regular readers undoubtedly know, I am involved in a few weekly watch parties.  On Twitter, I host #FridayNightFlix every Friday and I co-host #ScarySocial on Saturday.  On Mastodon, I am one of the five hosts of #MondayActionMovie!  Every week, we get together.  We watch a movie.  We tweet our way through it.

Tonight, at 10 pm et, I will be hosting #FridayNightFlix!  The movie?  1984’s Fear City!

If you want to join us this Friday, just hop onto twitter, find Fear City on Prime or Tubi, start the movie at 10 pm et, and use the #FridayNightFlix hashtag!  I’ll be there happily tweeting.  It’s a friendly group and welcoming of newcomers so don’t be shy.

See you there!

 

Music Video of the Day: Lemon Pound Cake by Afroman (2022, dir by ????)


In 2022, sheriff’s deputies in Adams County, Ohio raided the home of rapper Afroman.  According to the warrant, they were doing so on suspicion of drug trafficking and kidnapping.  They found neither drugs nor kidnapping victims but they did find and seize over $5,000 worth of Afroman’s money.  The money was later returned, with $400 of it missing.  During the raid, they also damaged the front gate, blew up a door, and illegally turned off the house’s security cameras.

Afroman responded with several songs and videos about the raid, all utilizing the footage that security cameras recorded before being shut down.  The deputies attempted to sue, claiming that the videos were an invasion of their privacy.  The judge eventually threw out their lawsuit though another lawsuit, claiming that the video and the songs “defamed” the deputies was allowed to proceed.  Yesterday, Afroman also won that court case.

So, I guess that means that we can  now safely share Lemon Pound Cake.

Enjoy!

Song of the Day: Under the Boardwalk, performed by Bruce Wills and The Drifters


Today is the birthday of the legendary Bruce Willis.  Here he has in the 80s, performing Under The Boardwalk with The Drifters.  It’s also our song of the day.

Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof
And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire proof
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby is where I’ll be

Out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be havin’ some fun
(Under the boardwalk) People walking above
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be fallin’ in love
(Under the boardwalk) Yeah (boardwalk)

From the park you hear the happy sound of the carousel
You can almost taste the hot dogs and french fries they sell, yes you can
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby is where I’ll be

Out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be havin’ some fun
(Under the boardwalk) People walking above
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be fallin’ in love
(Under the boardwalk) Yeah (boardwalk)

Yeah, under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby is where I’ll be

Out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be havin’ some fun
(Under the boardwalk) People walking above
(Under the boardwalk) We’ll be fallin’ in love
(Under the boardwalk) Yeah (boardwalk)

Songwriters: Arthur Resnick / Kenny Young

Scenes I Love: Bruce Willis and Dennis Franz in Die Hard 2


I’ve always enjoyed this confrontation from 1990’s Die Hard 2. 

I think it accurately reflects how most cops and security people would react to having John McClane in their town (trouble does tend to follow him!) and both Bruce Willis and Dennis Franz seem to be having fun trying to irritate each other.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Bruce Willis Edition


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, Bruce Willis turns 71.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Bruce Willis Films

Die Hard (1988, dir by John McTiernan, DP: Jan de Bont)

Pulp Fiction (1994, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Andrzej Sekuła)

12 Monkeys (1995, dir by Terry Gilliam, DP: Roger Pratt)

Last Man Standing (1996, dir by Walter Hill, DP: Lloyd Ahern II)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Luc Besson Edition


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, we wish a happy birthday to director Luc Besson.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Luc Besson Films

Nikita (1990, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

Leon:  The Professional (1994, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

The Fifth Element (1997, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

Angel-A (2005, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

Song of the Day: Baba O’Riley by The Who


Enjoy Teenage Wasteland!

Okay, just kidding.  I know the name of the song is Baba O’Riley.  But seriously, there are thousands of people out there who think that this song is called Teenage Wasteland and, way back when I first wrote the first draft of my review of Summer of Sam, I was so exhausted that I actually referred to it as being Teenage Wasteland but, fortunately, Jeff pointed out my mistake before I hit publish.  Pete Townshend, who wrote the song, later said that the reference to a “teenage wasteland” was inspired by the audience Woodstock and it was not meant to be complimentary.

I love Roger Daltrey’s voice.

 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Kurt Russell Edition


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, we wish a happy birthday to the great Kurt Russell!  Last year, we pretty much reviewed every Kurt Russell films that we could find.  It was a great day.  This year, we cannot let the day pass without offering up….

4 Shots From 4 Kurt Russell Films

Used Cars (1980, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Donald M. Morgan)

Escape From New York (1981, dir by John Carpenter, DP: Dean Cundey)

The Thing (1982, dir by John Carpenter, DP: Dean Cundey)

Tombstone (1993, dir by George Pan Cosmatos (and Kurt Russell), DP: William Fraker)