Saturday, April 29, 2006
MOVIE REVIEW
By Stockton
As a movie fan, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to uncover a great film hidden amongst the crap that fills the local video joint. I discovered one particular movie many years ago and have had the opportunity to see it again recently. I forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time.
I do not recall if this film was any type of a hit in '82 when it first came out. It's a very good film so I'll assume it was a dismal failure at the box office. The film:
My Favorite Year takes place in 1954. The film revolves around a live, Saturday night comedy show modeled on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. In fact, the storyline is based, quite loosely, on the week that Errol Flynn guest-hosted Caesar's show and a young Mel Brooks was assigned to babysit the legendary rake.
In this version, Peter O'Toole plays the Flynnesque Alan Swann. O'Toole does a masterful job as Swann and one gets the feeling that he's not acting so much as playing himself. O'Toole's performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
In fact, O'Toole steals the show in what was probably designed to be an ensemble effort. The side plot involves a mob-connected union boss trying to shut down the show because of a less than flattering portrayal of the union leader. Joseph Bologna does a great job as King Kaiser (Sid Caesar) and you'll recognize many of the other cast members.
The best scene may be when Benjy Stone (Swann's babysitter) takes the legendary star to Brooklyn for a family dinner.
Like I said, there's a lot of crap out there. It's still worth the time to mine the crap mines because occasionally you'll find a gem like this.
A great nostalgia piece. Stockton gives it **** out of ***** for a comedy.
As a movie fan, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to uncover a great film hidden amongst the crap that fills the local video joint. I discovered one particular movie many years ago and have had the opportunity to see it again recently. I forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time.
I do not recall if this film was any type of a hit in '82 when it first came out. It's a very good film so I'll assume it was a dismal failure at the box office. The film:
My Favorite Year takes place in 1954. The film revolves around a live, Saturday night comedy show modeled on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. In fact, the storyline is based, quite loosely, on the week that Errol Flynn guest-hosted Caesar's show and a young Mel Brooks was assigned to babysit the legendary rake.
In this version, Peter O'Toole plays the Flynnesque Alan Swann. O'Toole does a masterful job as Swann and one gets the feeling that he's not acting so much as playing himself. O'Toole's performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
In fact, O'Toole steals the show in what was probably designed to be an ensemble effort. The side plot involves a mob-connected union boss trying to shut down the show because of a less than flattering portrayal of the union leader. Joseph Bologna does a great job as King Kaiser (Sid Caesar) and you'll recognize many of the other cast members.
The best scene may be when Benjy Stone (Swann's babysitter) takes the legendary star to Brooklyn for a family dinner.
Like I said, there's a lot of crap out there. It's still worth the time to mine the crap mines because occasionally you'll find a gem like this.
A great nostalgia piece. Stockton gives it **** out of ***** for a comedy.
