Movie Review: Broadway Danny Rose (Blu-ray)

Review By: Mike Heenan

Perhaps it was the use of black and white film stock or the natural lighting of the recently deceased cinematographer Gordon Willis, but in many ways Broadway Danny Rose feels like a classic 70’s Woody Allen film. I’ve always believed his decline began around the time of the Soon Yi scandal, and he’s never really recovered the early magic of his 70’s output since, with the exception of a few films like Small Time Crooks and Midnight in Paris.

The film begins with comedians in a deli reminiscing over the olden days and agent Danny Rose, played by Allen, comes up in conversation.  They all trade stories about their dealings with him, and one comedian (Sandy Baron who you all may remember from Seinfeld as Jack Klompus), tells the “ultimate” end all story of Rose.  Rose is a loveable agent, the kind who sticks up for the underdog - the one who’ll never truly make it anywhere, just like Rose himself.  Rose takes to representing washed up crooner Lou Canova, a one hit wonder in the 50’s.  Rose gives Lou his everything in terms of representation and truly believes he’s on the cusp of a major comeback.  When Lou has money issues, Rose offers to defer his salary.  He also constantly gives Lou pep talks and bolsters his confidence.

Movie Review: The Blue Max (Blu-ray)

Reviewed By: Mike Heenan

Years before entertaining us all on the small screen as Hannibal Smith on the A-Team, George Peppard enjoyed a great career on the big screen with additions to his resume such as the Carpetbaggers, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and How the West was Won.   In the Blue Max, his role took his career on a different turn from the perennial pretty boy to the tough guy we’ve all come to associate him with.

Peppard plays German pilot Bruno Stachel, born into the middle class and destined for the trenches until he is inspired to greatness in the air in World War 1.  Most pilots were of a higher class and Peppard’s uncomfortableness with his upbringing is evident when questioned about his father’s background.  He emphasizes that his father ran a hotel with five rooms, but the rest of the pilots joke how he must have simply been a lowly janitor.  Stachel is on a quest to receive the Blue Max, an award given to pilots with 20 confirmed enemy downings of their aircrafts.  Several of Stachel’s early downings are questioned due to lack of witnesses and he arrogantly argues for the victory, even going so far as to go back to the scene of the crime for evidence.  Surely enough his tally of downings begins to rise as does his ego and his fellow pilots begin to become wary of him and his attitude.

Movie Review: The Front (Blu-ray)

Review By: Mike Heenan

With all the recent media attention and personal attacks on Woody Allen from his crazy ex, it’s hard to remember that at one time he was actually a respectable filmmaker, writer, and in the case of The Front, an actor.  It was the first film that he didn’t have any control over writing or directing and was simply just an actor.  Allen was quoted as trusting director Martin Ritt as Ritt had survived the McCarthy years of the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee), as did co star Zero Mostel.

Allen stars as Howard Prince, who works as a cashier in a diner and is a bit of a con artist and gambler. One day one of his old friends Alfred Miller, played by Michael Murphy, stops by to tell Howard that he’s been blacklisted from his industry, of which Howard assumes to mean he has some sickness.   Over a game of chess, Miller comes up with a scheme to present to Howard that apparently has worked in the past, which is a “front”.  The blacklisted writer would write his scripts, but use an unknown person to be the public writer of the script.  Howard easily accepts his cut of 10% of the sales due to his many gambling debts.

Movie Review: Zulu (Blu-ray, Twilight Time)

Reviewed by: Mike Heenan

Years ago, at the height of my 35mm collecting I got an unused dye transfer Technicolor trailer for Zulu.  Never having seen it before but knowing Michael Caine was in the film, I was excited to see it projected and when I finally did, I was hooked.  The colors simply just popped off the screen.  The film content itself looked very interesting as I’m a big fan of older epic films, but I never managed to see it until receiving Twilight Time’s amazing Blu-Ray release.

The film is a true life account of a regiment of British troops led by Stanley Baker and Michael Caine who are stationed in Africa at a missionary depot.  They are warned by traveling missionaries that a large group of Zulu warriors, having achieved mighty success earlier on against another regiment, are headed their way.  The regiment fortifies the mission and Stanley Baker pleads with no luck to traveling Boer horsemen to stay and fight with them.  In the vast distance appears 4,000 Zulu warriors, ready to battle against the 150-something troops.  The warriors initially attack with rifles.  The British are surprised at this and guess the warriors must have claimed the weapons from the earlier defeated regiment. The battle rages on in droves and the British manage to maintain their hold on the depot.

Movie Review: Khartoum (Blu-ray, Twilight Time)

Reviewed by Mike Heenan

By the mid 1960’s, the days of the epic roadshow were on its way out the doors of cinemas.  Mutli-plex cinemas were on the horizon, and 3 hour epics with intermissions no longer being show in large single screen cinemas for weeks on end.  Charlton Heston was the star of many epic films, such as Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, The Agony and Ecstasy, and Wayne’s World 2.  It is fitting to have him take the title role in Khartoum, an Ultra Panavision epic shot on location throughout Egypt.

Cinema Head Cheese Visits Amy's Baking Company!

Reviewed By: Mike Heenan

If you're reading this, chances are you've already seen the Kitchen Nightmares episode featuring Amy's Baking Company.  After their Facebook meltdown, the owners closed up shop for a week and hired a PR firm to rebuild their reputation.  The PR firm put out a notice on Facebook for reservations to their re opening, and I was one of the lucky ones to get in on opening night.  Allegedly, they had over 1000 reservations, so they decided to span the re opening the entire week.

My reservation was for 8:30pm, but I live near by the restaurant, so I decided to drop by early at 7pm to see if there was any drama going on outside.  There were about 20 people lingering around, and several trying to get in the place, but they were turning away anyone who didn't have a reservation.  I went up to check my status and saw there were empty tables inside, and the girl said I could go in at that point or I could wait until 8:30pm.  I decided to go in and was promptly seated at the back.  Samy was working the tables, and I noticed about four wait staff as well.

Cinema Head Cheese: The Podcast! #23 - Oh Hi, Denny!

This week, Jeff and Kevin introduce a Q&A session shot by CHC filmographer Mike Heenan.

The Q&A happened before a screening of the cult hit The Room, and it featured co-stars Juliette Danielle (Lisa) and Philip Haldiman (Denny).

Good times and plenty of laughs were had in this very candid conversation.

Click here to listen or right click and choose "Save Link As..." to download.

Click on any of the links above to purchase at Amazon.com and support Cinema Head Cheese and Abnormal Entertainment!

Mike Heenan

Video Filming and Editing