J-Jz Movies

J. Edgar (2011)  Biopic of J. Edgar Hoover told by Hoover as he recalls his career for a biography. Early in his career, Hoover fixated on Communists, anarchists and any other revolutionary taking action against the U.S. government. He slowly builds the agency's reputation, becoming the sole arbiter of who gets hired and fired. One of his hires is Clyde Tolson who is quickly promoted to Assistant Director and would be Hoover's confidant and companion for the rest of Hoover's life. Hoover's memories have him playing a greater role in the many high profile cases the FBI was involved in - the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the arrest of bank robbers like John Dillinger - and also show him to be quite adept at manipulating the various politicians he's worked with over his career, thanks in large part to his secret files.

Well done movie about a powerful, narcisstic man who was often cruel in his use and abuse of power.

The Jackpot (1950)  When Bill Lawrence wins a radio-program's $24,000-valued jackpot, the lives of he and his family are turned upside down. They are showered with everything from a pony to a washing machine; a female French portrait painter and a very effeminate interior decorator. The situation turns into a domestic crisis when an internal-revenue agent informs him that he will have to pay income tax on all of the prizes.

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)  Jason has been prophesied to take the throne of Thessaly. When he saves Pelias from drowning, but does not recognize him as the man who had earlier killed his father, Pelias tells Jason to travel to Colchis to find the Golden Fleece. Jason follows his advice and assembles a sailing crew of the finest men in Greece, including Hercules. They are under the protection of Hera, queen of the gods. Their voyage is replete with battles against harpies, a giant bronze Talos, a hydra, and an animated skeleton army, all brought to life by the special effects wizardry of Ray Harryhausen.

While filming footage of the Argo off the coast of Italy, shooting was interrupted when a replica of the Golden Hind sailed into view. The British television series Sir Francis Drake happened to be filming in the same location. Producer Charles H. Schneer shouted, "Get that ship out of here. You're in the wrong century!" at the British crew, dispelling any tensions that arose from both shots being lost.

I saw this movie at Goose Bay, Labrador when I was at Goose Air Base.  The skeleton fight scene is amazingly good considering the state of FX at the time.

Jaws (1975)  In the beautiful quaint beach resort of Amity Island, something hideous, something so deliciously evil has vanquished the tranquility and shattered the peace. First, it violently took the life of a young girl, leaving her mangled remains rotting on the beach, her echoed screams cursing the night skies. Next, it moved its attention to the children, ripping and tearing as blood turned the calm waters red. Then, just when they thought it was safe to go back in the water, it struck again, mercilessly rampaging in the estuary and attacking the piers where the fisherman unknowingly sat waiting for a catch. Now, something must be done, before it returns to feed. With the Amity tourist board and town Mayor Larry Vaugn determined to keep the beaches open for the Summer Season, its up to Police Chief Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper and colorful fisherman Quint to hunt down the 200 Pound White Death and put an end to the bloodshed. They are going to need a bigger boat. In the beautiful quaint beach resort of Amity Island, something hideous, something so deliciously evil has vanquished the tranquility and shattered the peace. First, it violently took the life of a young girl, leaving her mangled remains rotting on the beach, her echoed screams cursing the night skies. Next, it moved its attention to the children, ripping and tearing as blood turned the calm waters red. Then, just when they thought it was safe to go back in the water, it struck again, mercilessly rampaging in the estuary and attacking the piers where the fisherman unknowingly sat waiting for a catch. Now, something must be done, before it returns to feed. With the Amity tourist board and town Mayor Larry Vaugn determined to keep the beaches open for the Summer Season, its up to Police Chief Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper and colorful fisherman Quint to hunt down the 200 Pound White Death and put an end to the bloodshed. They are going to need a bigger boat.

Intense and well done.  Takes the viewer into a primal fear.

The Jerk (1979)   Navin is an idiot. He grew up in Mississippi as adopted son of a black family but on his 18th birthday he feels he wants to discover the rest of the world and sets out for St. Louis. There everyone exploits his naivety, but then a simple invention brings him a fortune.

Jerry Was a Man (2007)  A wealthy couple come into possession of an anthropoid named Jerry. Based on a story by Robert Heinlein.  Season one, episode 3 of Masters of Science Fiction. 

Robots will be a part of our future.  However, they might just be specially designed clones.  There will be many ethical issues to debate.  We should begin that debate now, but we won't.   Asimov, Heinlein and others have dealt with this in the SciFi world.  The problem is that technology changes at so rapid a rate that the future is closer than we realize.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)  Based on a concept album project written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and the subsequent long-running Broadway performance, this film tells the story of the final 6 days in the life of Jesus Christ through the troubled eyes of Judas Iscariot. Too often mis-labeled a musical, this film is a "rock opera."

Jewel of the Nile (1985)  This is the sequel to "Romancing the Stone" where Jack and Joan have their yacht and easy life, but are gradually getting bored with each other and this way of life. Joan accepts an invitation to go to some middle eastern country as a guest of the sheik, but there she is abducted and finds her- self involved with the "jewel". Jack decides to rescue her with his new partner Ralph. They all go from one adventure to another... What is the story of this "jewel"?

Not a great movie.  Has most of the problems all of the movies that come after "Happily Ever After."  Relationships are hard work.  It is hard to sustain the energy level during the pursuit.  Even when it does work, it does not make for an exciting movie.

The actors playing the tribesmen Arak, Barak, Karak, Sarak and Tarak were the members of the juggling troupe the Flying Karamazov Brothers.

John Adams is a truly undervalued American.  Brilliant, direct and often a pain in the ass, still he created much of the government we have come to value.  This miniseries is well done.  Read the book for a much better flavor.

John Goldfarb Please Come Home (1965)  The Crown Prince of Fawzia gets dropped from the football team at Notre Dame; and his father, King Fawz (Peter Ustinov), demands that the US ambassador get Notre Dame to play an exhibition game in Fawzia. Meanwhile, a daring investigative reporter (Shirley McClaine) goes undercover in King Fawz's harem. To make matters worse, U2 pilot and former Notre Dame player, John Goldfarb (Richard Crenna), has crash landed in Fawzia. In return for covering up the blunder, Goldfarb has to coach the Fawzia University (FU) football team, and the CIA has to guarantee that Notre Dame loses the upcoming game. I think you get the picture. Wilfred Hyde-White puts in a great performance as the King's principal advisor.

In 1964, I was finishing up my Air Force career at Edwards Air Force Base.  The football game was played in the middle of Rosamond dry lake which is mostly on the base.  One day while driving home from work (I lived in the City of Rosamond) I noticed a large green patch on the lake bed.  I drove across the lake towards it.  There was football sized piece of sod in the middle of a lot of packed dirt.  I talked to a care taker who explained that they were making a movie.  Too bad I didn't get involved as an extra.   Not a very good movie although some star power and a bit of a spoof on U2 incident from the Eisenhower administration.  I think it is funny and worth seeing.  Norte Dame university sued to keep the movie from being released.  It did portray the University in a bad light.

When the football scenes were finished, the crew packed up the sod and re-layed it at the astronaut training center on Edwards.  The idea was good but the place stood out like a sore thumb.  All the other buildings grounds were trimmed with colored gravel or natural desert plants.

Joy Luck Club (1993)  Through a series of flashbacks, four young chinese women born in America and their respective mothers born in feudal China, explore their past. This search will help them understand their difficult mother/daughter relationship.

This is a very good film about mother-daughter relationships.  This crosses all cultural boundries.  Amy Tam is an awesome writer.  Read the book.

Junebug (2005)  A dealer in outsider art threatens the equilibrium of her middle-class in-laws in North Carolina. Madeline is a go-getting art gallery owner from Chicago, recently married to George, a near-perfect Southern beau. When Madeline needs to close a deal with a reclusive North Carolina artist, George introduces her to his family: prickly mother Peg, taciturn father Eugene, cranky brother Johnny, and Johnny's pregnant, childlike wife Ashley, who is awe-struck by her glamorous sister-in-law. Madeline's presence exposes the fragile family dynamics as hidden resentments and anxieties surface.

Good coming home to a dysfunctional family movie.

Juno (2002)  Sixteen year-old Juno MacGuff is the type of girl that beats to her own drummer, and doesn't really care what others may think of her. She learns that she's pregnant from a one-time sexual encounter with her best friend, Paulie Bleeker. Juno and Paulie like each other, but don't consider themselves to be exclusive boyfriend/girlfriend let alone be ready to be a family complete with child. Although she would rather not be pregnant, Juno is fairly pragmatic about her situation. Although there, Paulie really leaves all the decisions about the baby to Juno. Initially she decides that she will have an abortion, but that's something that she ultimately cannot go through with. So she decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption. But first she has to tell her father, Mac, and stepmother, Bren, that she is pregnant. Although they would have preferred if Juno was on hard drugs or expelled from school, Mac and Bren too are pragmatic about Juno's situation. The next step is to find prospective parents for the yet unborn child. In the Pennysaver ad section, Juno finds Mark and Vanessa Loring, a yuppie couple living in the suburbs. Juno likes the Lorings, and in some respects has found who looks to be a kindred spirit in Mark, with whom she shares a love of grunge music and horror films. Vanessa is a little more uptight and is the one in the relationship seemingly most eager to have a baby. On her own choosing, Juno enters into a closed rather than open adoption contract with the Lorings - meaning she will have no contact with the baby after she gives it up. During the second and third trimesters of Juno's pregnancy which she treats with care but detachment, Juno's relationships with her family, with Paulie, and with the Lorings develop, the latter whose on the surface perfect life masks some hidden problems.

Very well told tale; well worth watching.