Different Slants

By your cinema slave, Robert M. Katzman 

Thoughts, ideas and suggestions from a guy who sees 200 movies a year and loves the thrill of discovering a truly great film.

Rick knows about this addicting lifelong passion of mine and suggested I post here the steady stream of movie recommendations I send to him and others who view movies as God’s gift to popcorn manufacturers. So, with no pattern or plan, I’ll be surfing thru time with some worthy ideas:

Groundhog Day and Scrooged, two Bill Murray classics that would make a great double feature.   So here’s an interesting actress trivia note: 

Carol Kane, an extraordinary but mostly unheralded actress ( born in 1952) who played a very funny (and savage) flying Avenging Angel in Scrooged also played the shy young prostitute in Jack Nicholson’s Last Detail; the smart but jilted Jewish wife who immigrates from Russia to be with her philandering idiot husband in the obscure and classic film Hester Street; the red-hot mama character who “makes all the frozen food melt” in the grocery store, in My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin; was a minor character in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall; in Princess Bride she played a very heavily disguised ancient Yiddish wife to Billy Crystal’s equally hysterical old Yiddish husband (both with authentic accents) ; and lastly, she was the looney music teacher in the smash new Disney teeny-bopper hit High School Musical (1).  

She is a great example of a terrific actress whom almost no one knows by name.  Check her out.  She’s a gem.

For younger Western fans, and I sure hope there are still some  of you left who appreciate a story where a man sleeps with his horse, by choice, here’s a couple of good ones. Older guys like me (57) already saw them over and over.

Warlock–Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn. Fonda’s very, very fast with his brace of very fancy matched guns and doesn’t know that his tough, grim and older back-up guy, Quinn, is stuck on him. Great story.

Witness–Harrison Ford.  Kind of a Mid-Western really, but any movie that features a half-naked Amish woman and dancing in a hay-loft in a wooden barn to “What A Wonderful World” is worth your time.  Harrison Ford in the barn-raising scene is no act on his part.  He was a carpenter for years before he made it in Hollywood.  I love that part, since I am also someone who builds things out of wood.  Oh, and Danny Glover dies in a silo.  Watch out for those Amish!!

Rosewood–90 years ago, something terrible happened Down South. True story.  A great, mostly unknown, black cast, including Ving Rhames as a World War I veteran. Don’t mess with him (even if his real-life first name is…Irving).  He’s very impressive as someone who embodies just barely contained volcanic power and anger. With Don Cheadle and John Voight. 

No, it’s not in Texas or Arizona, but I keep it with the Westerns in my collection.  I can do whatever I want, you know. It has the feeling and characteristics of a good tense Western with clear heroes, horses, suspense, terror and courage.

A currently playing and emotionally very tough film to watch  …but ultimately worth it, is:  The Savages, about two dysfunctional siblings and their dying father. 

Laura Linny and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, superlative in anything they choose to do, are the adult children. Try not to miss seeing it in a theater.  With Phillip Bosco, who was the suave and wealthy father in Working Girl.

Feel free to post your thoughts, responses and fave films. Five at a time seems about right for me, otherwise, people who visit this site may become overwhelmed and hide in a closet.

See you, under the flickering light…

Soon.

Bob Katzman

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Robert M. Katzman, owner of Fighting Words Publishing Company, with four different titles currently in print and over 4,000 books sold to date, is seeking more retail outlets for his vivid and non-fiction inspirational books: 

 

Independent bookstores, Jewish and other religious organizations, Chicago historical societies or groups, English teachers who want a new voice in their class who was a witness to history, book clubs, high schools or museum gift shops.  I will support anyone who supports me by giving readings in the Chicago Metro area.  I have done this over 40 times, and I always sign my books, when asked.  Everyone, positively everyone, asks.  I was amazed, at first, by that.

 

Individuals who wish to order my books can view the four book covers and see reviews of them at www.FightingWordsPubco.com 

 

There are links to YouTube and podcasts, as well.  Or, anyone can call me directly at (847) 274-1474.  Googling my name will also produce all kinds of unusual results.  That other Robert M. Katzman, now deceased, whose name will also appear and who also published, was a doctor.  He actually bought one of my books!  Such a nice man.  Rest in peace, Dr. Katzman.

 

There will be short poems, stories and essays published in this space every two weeks by either myself or my co-blogist Richard G. Munden, or both.  If you find our postings thought provoking, moving or even amusing, please tell others to come view this site.  We will find our strength in your numbers.

 

 Next year, I will publish my fifth book, a collection of my best poetry and essays, called,

                                         

        I Seek the Praise of Ordinary Men

 

Individuals who know of independent bookstores that might be interested in a rough-hewn guy like me, who ran a chain of newsstands for 20 years in Chicago, please tell them about my books, will you?  I am partial to independent bookstores, having owned two, myself, until my last one was killed by the giant chains, in 1994. I still miss it. 

 

I’m also looking to find someone who would want to make a play out of some of my stories in the Chicago area, so I could go there and do some readings sometimes.  I think there’s enough honest sex, drugs and rock n’ roll to hold anyone’s interest, as well as a lot of authentic dialogue from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.  I think the plays would work anywhere, frankly, in some intimate theater with talented actors.