Guilty Pleasures vol. 2
The term guilty pleasure is a term we use to protect ourselves. God forbid if we like something that maybe everybody else did not like. Why are we embarrassed by this? we are heard animals so any deviation from the norm causes us some anxiety. To protect ourselves we identify some of the cheesier fare with the term guilty pleasure. When in reality we should feel no guilt whatsoever. So, without further ado here are five more of my guilty please movies.
So, we have a movie from nineteen eighty. It stars Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly. It has music by ELO and Jeff Lynne. It also focuses on a fad of the time, Roller Skating. What’s not to love about Xanadu. I loved this movie when I was like ten years old, and it seemed to play on HBO a lot back then. I loved HBO when I was kid. It seemed like there was always a movie to be watched. Not all were good.
We have a disillusioned artists who wants more from art than simply recreating album covers to be hung outside of record stores. I often wondered did they really have people panting these things or were they using some sort of industrial printer to turn them out. You know like giant billboards. The artist is played by Michael Beck who you know from the Warriors and Mega Force.
What to do when an artist is no longer feeling the art? Well, you send him a muse of course. Olivia Newton John is that muse. She comes to life from a mural painted in an alley way to inspire our artist. Her and all eight of her sisters are now loose in Los Angeles, but we only focus on her. Not only will she make our artist fall in love with art again, but she will once again inspire some one from her pasts dream as well. you know Olivia Newton john from Grease, two of a Kind and of course all her hits from the eighties.
Gene Kelly plays a land developer who was once in a swing band during the war. He now wants to open up an old-style supper club with a band stand and everything. All he needs is a place to do this. We meet him sitting on the rocks at the beach playing clarinet.
I honestly think the last time I saw this movie I was ten years old and loved going to the roller rink. It was in the early eighties, so you went as much for the roller skating as you did for the video game arcade. I was never very good at skating; I could maybe go back ward if did not think about it and just did it.
Very simple plot structure here. It really feels like an MTV movie with each scene essentially being its on music video for a series of songs. Mostly Olivia newton john singing ELO style songs which is no surprise with Jeff Lynne doing the music for the movie.
We got a down on his luck artist, michael Beck, painting album covers for a day job, but he really wants more from the job than he is getting. His artistic style is at odds with the simple paint by numbers of recreations he is being asked to do. then one morning on his way to work a girl, Olivia newton john, runs into him on roller skates and kisses him then just vanishes. Once he arrives at work the new album cover, he is to paint has a picture of the mysterious woman who kissed him. So off he goes to find her. He checks with payroll, the photographer any one around the office he can think of before heading back out to the roller-skating walkway where he first saw her. Easily distracted he hears some one playing clarinet and ventures down the beach to find where the music is coming from.
This is where he meets Gene Kelly. They bond over music a little bit as they walk and talk. Our artists spot the young lady skating by and borrows a moped from some people just sitting there. Love movie logic as long as you promise to bring it back people will loan you anything. She eventually loses him, but he finds the building from the album cover. A back door is open, so he ventures in to see if she is in there. This is where we get the darkened run-down building, with perfectly skateable flooring and just enough light to make out the nicely designed rink blocked up by boxes. They follow each other around as he tries to learn more about her.
Now we are back at the day job hanging up the enlarged album covers outside of the music store. Our artist runs into gene Kelly who has just thought a benny goodman album set. We learn Kelly played with goodman, and all the greats. There is even a picture of our muse in the inset. The two decide to open a club of their own and that is where the magic really starts to happen. Now I do not want to give away everything here. Suffice it to say if you are a fan of Olivia newton john or roller skating you have probably already seen this. If you want to see this you are going to have to rent or buy it from all the usual suspects, VUDU apple tv, google play so on and so forth.
This is probably one of my favorite tropes in movies and television. The everyman to hero or sword in the stone idea. Thinking I am meant for something more than this sort of day in day out existence I think is appealing to all of us on some level. Like the tv show chuck, which I am currently re-watching, the harry potter series, or even the movie wanted.
When I was twelve, I was obsessed with this concept. I used to daydream about being plucked from where I was and thrown into a world where I was the hero. I used to play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons so that is no real surprise to have this as a fantasy world. Not necessary the D&D thing but the hero fantasy. I wonder how many have that as a recurring daydream
Movies seem to try and capture any and all fads before they go away, at least they used to. I am looking at you Breaking 2 Electric boogaloo. When video games appeared, it seems like every movie was trying to feature the arcade or games in some way. You had Tron where we got sucked into the game itself. All the cool visuals and the pushing of what we understood of CGI to the very limits. Last starfighter is no different. The CGI is definitely beyond its prime here, but at the time I remember it being so realistic looking. I mean it looked like the video game he was playing, and it actually looked like a game you could play in an arcade. Maybe the graphics were a little bit better than that of the actual games in the arcade, but it was what we were imagining.
The long and short of this film is it is a video game movie. The game’s opening message really sums up the movie
Alex Rogan, our hero, played by Lance Guest who you will know from jaws the revenge Halloween 2 and the patient, lives in a small trailer park owned and run by his mom. He is really sort of the handyman for the complex. He wants more than this existence is offering him. He misses a trip to the lake with his friends because he has work around the community to do. His only real escape, well one that we see, is playing the video game star fighter at the local store in the trailer park. He eventually beats the game, and the entire park turns out to see him do it. It is a moment for him, and we see the community rally around him. Seems trivial but to have this kind of support was nice to see. As night falls and everybody disperses Alex gets a visit from a man name Centauri, played by Robert Preston, who you know from the music man and victor Victoria. Centauri is the one who has developed this particular gaming machine. It serves as a test of ability. Apparently throughout the galaxy everyone wants to be a starfighter. This test shows your ability in being a starfighter. Essentially Centauri kid naps Alex and is going to force him to fight. Figuring that once he arrives at the main base he will relent and become a star fighter. Once at the base it is discovered that Alex is not interested, and he is returned to earth. Of course, now he has to deal with the fallout from the android that was left in his place and all the issues that has caused in his life. Meanwhile the word of a starfighter from earth has gotten out and now a bounty hunter is looking for Alex. I do not want to give away too much, but Alex does eventually volunteer to be a star fighter. He and his pilot Grigg, played by Dan O’Herlihy who you know from Robo Cop and Halloween 3 season of the witch, have to take on the entire Kodan Armada by themselves. I do not want to give too much away here but I bet you can guess how this plays out.
This is always a fun one and I do watch this every couple of years. If you want to see it, you will need pay for it at VUDU and all the usual suspects. It might be worth it if you liked this as a kid.
Give My Regards to Broad Street
Ever wondered what it was like to spend a day as a rock star? Well wonder no further Paul McCartney has you covered with his film Give My Regards to Broad Street. With this fun little romp, we spend a day in the life of Paul McCartney.
We start off stuck in traffic reviewing the numbers in the back seat. What numbers? Who knows as it does not take long for us to devolve into a daydream. Away we go from the traffic and rain to a sunny country road. All alone in our hot rod. The call comes in and we have to get to the office. So, we engage the supercharger and off we go to the office.
Turns out our master tapes never made it to…. Well, wherever we send those sorts of things. Were they stolen? Was our courier Harry not as trustworthy as we thought? Did he sell them to a boot legger, was he robbed? all we know is he, and the tapes, are missing. If we do not get the tapes back the corporate interest will be taking control. All of this is conveyed by the quiet older gentlemen who sits menacing in the meeting room.
Busy day for Paul as we now head to a recording session where we hear a medley of Beatles songs as well as the new track Wanderlust. I really like it. this ends that session and now we are off to meet with Harry’s girlfriend who is just as perplexed as the rest of us about his where abouts. No rest for the weary as we then head to rehearsal for the video shoot. The song is ballroom dancing, another one I like. It’s a big ball room and groups of kids playing out portions of the song with Paul giving direction. After this we go to the rehearsal studio where we get another new song, I’m not Such a Bad Boy. We also meet with a member of the crime world who, I am guessing, specializes in bootlegging records. Such an eighties story line.
I do not want to give away too much, but all of this is going to be a loose story to tie together a series of performances. This is like under graffiti bridge or pure country. This is a movie to promote the album. If you like McCartney, then you will like this. it is shot like an MTV special for the release of Paul’s new album. This is a moment in time for me. I watch it and I am instantly back in middle school as a Beatles fan and loving anything new from any of them that I could get. I have this soundtrack on vinyl, and I am surprised I have not yet worn it out. The music here is a mxi of older Beatles classics, here there and everywhere and Eleanor Rigby, mixed with the new stuff, No More Lonely Nights, and Ballroom Dancing. If you have not seen this and want, I think you can find a copy on YouTube, but it is nowhere else I could find.
The missing courier’s Girlfriend is played by Tracy Ulman if you blink you will miss her. You know here from the Tracey Ulman Show, Jumping Jack Flash, and I love you to Death. A great Comedic actor but here her role is more dramatic.
The reporter interviewing Ringo and then hanging around is played by his wife, Barbara Bach. You may remember her from Caveman, the Spy Who Loved me, and up the academy.
Paul’s longtime friend and drummer is played by, well, Paul’s longtime friend and drummer Ringo Star. He is in a few scenes here but not a focus. You will know Ringo from his music work with the Beatles as well as starring in Caveman, and the narrator from Thomas and friends.
McCartney’s manager is played by Bryan Brown. He always walking through very concerned and moving Paul away from people to handle the business end of things. You will know Brian Brown from FX, Cocktail and Gods of Egypt.
Our star is of course Paul McCartney. Yes, you know him from his time in the Beatles. You know him from the Beatles movies. You know he is the reason we are watching this whole movie. Just to see him perform the old songs and the new songs.
This is one of my absolute favorite movies. I think I saw this when I was a little too young to fully appreciate it. I am talking about FM
My dad was in radio for many years and let me tell you this film nails that experience. I used to love sitting there listening to all the on-air personalities telling stories of all the stations that they worked at and all the crazy hi jinx that would occur. It sounded like a fun business to be in. with FM it gives me that feeling. The entire thing flows like a single story someone would tell.
First off, we got this little station that is more interested in being number one with the fans than it is in making money. Michael Brandon plays station manager Jeff Dugan. You will know him from Captain America the first avenger, Thomas and friends he was the Narrator, and an episode of St. Elsewhere. He wants to keep commercials to a minimum. More commercials mean more money but also more of a chance the listener will turn the dial elsewhere. This is his whole focus, and why they make number one in the ratings book.
There is an entire cast of characters here. Eileen Brennan from Clue, Private Benjamin and Jeepers Creepers, plays Mother. The soft voiced late-night music to fall asleep to. She is of course disillusioned with the business, and the creeps that call her. She is on the verge of quitting.
Cleavon Little plays the overnight Jock with the R&B to get you through the early hours. You know Cleavon Little from Blazing Saddles and Once Bitten. He actually opens the movie by calling Jeff Dougan and telling him he is leaving and putting on a long cut for him.
Eric Swan is a character you will see at every radio station. This is temporary until he hits for something on tv. He has an agent. He is actively auditing. He is trying weird new stuff on air trying to be more than your average Jock. Martin Mull nails this roll. You know Martin Mull from the short-lived series Dads, Clue, and My Bodyguard.
The story itself centers around this station, Q-SKY FM, they have hit number one and now the corporate owner wants to increase ad revenue. Like I said this is an ongoing battle at most radio stations. Many are playing upwards of twenty minutes of ads an hour. This is what our cast wants to try and prevent. The main new sponsor is the US Army. They are looking to buy adds every hour for a large amount of money.
Our on-air personalities stage a protest. Remember this is late seventies and early eighties so protests from the sixties are very fresh in the mind. They take over the station and draw a crowd out front. Refusing to play commercials, just the music. Of course, the whole thing gets out of hand. Now I do not want to give too much away here so I will stop here.
I watch this and smile from ear to ear every time. The bigger draw for this one is the soundtrack. This movie did not do well at the box office, although I believe anyone who worked in radio loves this one, but the soundtrack sold over a million copies. Great songs from Bob Seger, Steely Dan, Jimmy Buffet and Linda Ronstadt to the eagles, the Doobie Brothers and Queen. The music carries this story more than the story. If you want to see this one you will have to rent or buy it at Apple TV.
I love this film. It was my first adult film, not like that. this was a movie that was more talky talky. No action, not animated, and no Star Wars. yes some of the comedy was a little slapstick but a lot of the jokes were language based. It also had some adult themes as well. My Favorite Year always takes me back to being a ten-year-old in 1982.
the show centers around a variety show, think Saturday night live in prime time. The cast here is a couple of that guys and one really big star. First up is Bill Macy. He plays the head writer for the show. Always threatening to quit but never does. You know him from Maude, the Jerk, and Analyze This.
King Kaiser is the big star of our fictional show. He is in all the sketches and its his name on the logo. Played wonderfully by Joseph Bologna who you know from Transylvania 6-5000, Big Daddy, and Coupe Deville. He plays this character to perfection. Always sees himself as above everyone but never quite sure what he is doing, or even what exactly is going on.
Our lead, Benjy Stone, is played by Mark Lin Baker, you know him from Perfect Strangers, She Hulk and Noise off. Benjy Stone is just trying to make his career happen. Rather young and hungry writer who has put it all on the line for his childhood idol.
Alan Swan is a washed up British actor who did a ton of those swashbuckling movies. Knights and pirates seem to be what he has always played. Now he has a drinking problem and has not really worked in quite a while. The show stealer is played by Peter O’Toole, you know him from The Stuntman, King Ralph, and Club Paradise.
The premise of the movie is simple. Benjy Stone has finally got the show to book his childhood idol as the special guest star for the week. When Swan Arrives, he is drunk and passes out on the table in the middle of the writers room. Benjy is assigned the duties of keeping Swan under control, a seemingly impossible task.
We get him back to the hotel. Benjy and the chauffeur converse on how much Swan has fallen as swan gets himself together for an evening out. They have done their best to get all the bottles of booze hidden in the suitcase and jacket pockets, but somehow swan has a small bottle in the bath with him.
A dinner out with your celebrity idol sounds like a wonderful time; until Benjy succumbs to the star power of Mr. Swan and ats as a diversion to allow swan to steal the date of a gentlemen in the restaurant.
This movie is very much a collection of comedic sketches strung together. There is a dinner in Brooklyn with Stone’s mom and step Dad, that no one was to know about. By the end of the dinner the entire building has shown up to meet the celebrity.
We get these two attempting to repel from the roof a building to impress a girl. All while swan is clearly drunk. Every time we see him he is clearly drunk and some how functioning better than most people sober, albeit his ideas are not the most sound or sane but they work. Almost in line with Jack Sparrow from the pirates of the Caribbean movies. He just seems to trip his way through.
Of course, we learn he has daughter he is estranged from in Connecticut. He disappears to see her, but never even gets out of the car. He returns to the studio in time for the show this week. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, until he learns the show is live. This sends him spiraling for a drink.
While all of this is happening there is an understory about a recurring sketch that makes fun of a local mob boss which is causing some friction between King Kaiser and mob boss. There is a meeting where these two are throwing each other’s belongings out a window and causing accidents on the road bellow. It all comes to a head in the opening sketch for this weeks show, it is the end of the movie so I will not spoil it for you.
This one has a special place in my heart like I said it is my first grown up movie, or as close to it as a ten year old could sit through. There were two that year I saw like this but this one has stuck with me all these years. My aunt took me to see this in the theater. Not exactly the kind of movie you’d take a ten-year-old to, but I am glad she did. I made my oldest watch this with me and I think he enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed passing this along. If you want to see it you will need to rent or buy it over at VUDU, Google Play, or any of the usual suspects. I can honestly say, for me, this is worth the rental fee. It is a heart warming look back at a simpler time.
There it is my list of five more guilty Pleasures. Did I miss yours? Let me know on social media with #thatadnadollarpodcast. Be sure and follow us on twitter at @thatandadollar. We are also on Instagram a @a_guy_named_chuck. Also don’t forget to join our Facebook group, that and a dollar podcast.
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