Year: 2022

Movie of the Week: ‘Scarecrow’

Jeff Mitchell

“Scarecrow” (1973) – In 1972, Gene Hackman won the Best Actor Oscar for “The French Connection” (1971), and Al Pacino just starred in the “The Godfather” (1972) that captured the Academy Awards’ top honor in 1973.  In 1973, these two thespian heavyweights found their way in a road trip picture named “Scarecrow”.  Now, director Jerry Schatzberg’s picture didn’t win Oscar gold, but it did take home Cannes’ 1973 Palme d’Or.  Well, the two lead characters in Schatzberg’s award-winning flick haven’t won anything in their lives, but Max (Gene Hackman) and…

Celebrate Alan Alda’s birthday with ‘Paper Lion’

Jeff Mitchell

Alan Alda turns 86 years young on Jan. 28, and for millions of folks, this Big Apple-born thespian is primarily known as Capt. Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce.  “M*A*S*H” (1972 – 1983) aired for 11 seasons on CBS, and this beloved comedy series sometimes wandered into categorization-no man’s land because the show frequently dealt with the drama, tragedy, and grief of the Korean War.  Meanwhile, Alda could march between gags and heartbreak with the ease of a four-star general ordering a coffee, and yes, he actually served in the U.S. Army…

Movie of the Week: ‘Children of a Lesser God’

Jeff Mitchell

“Children of a Lesser God” (1986) – Director Randa Hines’ film is not a typical love story in a couple of ways.  Romance blossoms at a school, but it’s not between two teens, and thank God, a teacher and a student are not involved. No, James Leeds (William Hurt) is a new teacher at a school for deaf students, and he meets Sarah Norman (Marlee Matlin), but she isn’t an instructor.  Sarah is a former student, but this 20-something is the campus’ janitor. Ms. Norman might tidy up the hallways…