The Last Ten Films We've Seen: Lots of Sci Fi

In case you are wondering, we have an image of Cong. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) because one of the films listen here is "The Congress" with Robin Wright and Jon Hamm, as it turns out the science fiction art film has nothing to do with Washington, but we like both Cong. Clyburn and using a play on words.

The "RoboCop" (top image) film we've seen is the 1987 original, which is much more violent than we remembered. We believe the IMD lists the body count, but we are pressed for time.

Finally, "Ex Machina," which is one of three art sci fi films on the list ("I, Origins" is the other) is quite a strange which has a plot that is challenging to explain, so we will refer you to "New York Times" film critic Manohla Dargis who is an admirer of the film (we gave it a 7 out of 10 on the IMDB).

We got this idea from "Film Comment" magazine, which features exceptional articles from the likes of film experts Jonathan Romney and Amy Taubin.

Here is our last ten (as of last month, for a newer list go to to our sister blog "The Daily Vampire," see link on our home page):

1. Conrack. 1974. dir: Martin Ritt w/Jon Voight

2. Ex Machina. 2015. dir: Alex Garland

3. Army. Japan. 1944. dir: Keisuke Kinoshita

4. The Congress. 2013. dir: Ari Folman

5. Jealousy. France. 2013. dir: Philippe Garrel

6. The Host. 2013. dir: Andrew Nicol

7. I, Origins. 2014. dir: Mike Cahill

8. Brimstone and Treacle. 1982. dir: Richard Loncraine w/Sting

9. RoboCop. 1987. dir: Paul Verhoeven

10. Do the Right Thing. 1989. dir: Spike Lee

Presidential Quotes (8 of 16): FDR

Today, we quote one of America's most beloved presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, A Democrat, who was elected to four terms of office. Roosevelt is one of four presidents who died while in office. His veep Harry Truman replaced him. Roosevelt has been portrayed on film by actors such as Jon Voight and Bill Murray.

Here is his quote: "In politics nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."

Quote of the Day- Jon Voight

Today, we continue our series of quoting actors who have played real-life American presidents with a quote from the liberal-turned-Tea Partier Jon Voight, 73, who ironically played the iconic Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the film "Pearl Harbor" (2001), which starred Ben Affleck.

More recently, Voight played President George Washington in the right-win political slapstick satire "An American Carol" (2008), a film that had a plot line revolving around the very progressive documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. The film failed at the box office and did not change the shifting political winds as Barack Obama defeated John McCain for the presidency. But, it was very popular with arch conservative talk show hosts, such as Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, who actually had a cameo in the film.

Voight is also an Oscar winner for Best Actor as he won the award for his compelling performance in the touching drama "Coming Home" (1978). In recent years, Voight has renounced the film and his co-star Jane Fonda, who also won an Oscar (Best Actress) for her role in "Coming Home."

Bill Murray will also play FDR in the highly-anticipated film "Hyde Park on Hudson."

The Franklin Roosevelt Museum is in Hyde Park, NY.

Here is Voight's quote:

"There's the young Jon Voight and the old Jon Voight."

http://www.michaelmoore.com

Has It Really Been Six Years?

The short answer is 'yes.' It has been six years since I've started blogging, and apparently, there is a real Channel 6 in Omaha, Neb., but we have no idea if we are popular in that marketplace or not!

SIDEBAR: According to a short article I read in the current issue of "Film Comment," the sappy film "The Champ" (1979. Dir- Franco Zeffirelli), which starred Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway and a young Rick Schroder (he is the same age as I am) is the most depressing film ever made. Researchers at Cal-Berkeley verified this in a scientific study conducted over many years. But, my vote would go to Ingmar Bergman's downer "Fanny and Alexander" or the Louis Malle tear-jerker "Au Revoir Les Enfants."

News Desk- Moving Far, Far to the Right

There was considerable in the ensuing years after September 11th about 'September
11th Neocons,' these were people who went from being liberals to conservatives seemingly overnight as a result of the terrorist attacks.

Among those who have been most cited for this radical change of art are celebrites like Jon Voight, who won an Oscar for playing a paraplyegic Vietnam War vet in "Coming Home" (1978) (pictured here). Voight has gone from being an early global warming advocate to a Tea Partier. His "Coming Home" co-star Jane Fonda has become more politically moderate in recent years, but she has made it clear that she is still very much a progressive.

Other actors who have experienced this sea change include the since-deceased Ron Silver, Dennis Miller and James Woods as well as playwright/film director David Mamet.

But, in Europe, there are at least two people who have even more radical, draconian shifts than that.

Both of these examples are quite mind-boggling in scope. And, somehow, I imagine neocon pundit Bill Kristol would fully agree with me on this.

For starters, there is Hans Mahler, 75, who was a founding member of the militant far-left terrorist group RAF in the 1970s in then-West Germany. Today, the man who was involved with shameless plots to spread his Marxist ideals is now a far, far right Holocaust denier.

In fact, Mahler is now serving a 12-year jail sentence for inciting popular hatred and he maintains that 'he has not changed' because 'the enemy is still the same.'

Then, there is the more surreal case of Louise Frevert, 58, a lesbian who was an adult film star in Denmark during the 1970s when Scandanavia had a thriving pornographic film industry. Frevert is now a spokesperson for the far-right group Dans Foleparti.

Truth is indeed, as the old cliche goes, stranger than fiction. But, most liberals, including myself, have maintained their political views in the ten years since 9-11, and our efforts, which lead to the election of President Barack Obama, have ertainly in my view been well worth-while.

Quote of the Week- Jane Fonda

Since this past Saturday was May Day, the annual recognized by socialists around the world to recognize worker's rights, we thought we'd post some quotes from either current or former left-wing radicals.

We aren't sure that Jane Fonda is quite as militant as she was in 1968, but thank God she has not turned into a Republican like her "Coming Home" co-star Jon Voight (actually, he has moved farther to the right since we started posting this entry).

As it turns out, by random coincidence, we have learned that Jane Fonda has told the world on her blog that she is moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles as of today.

We think this particular quote will work well for patrons of The Thirsty Parrot in Colorado Springs, Colo. (yes, there is really such a place, but we've never been to Colorado Springs, yet along The Thirsty Parrot):

"If you're ever in situation where you're not getting served or you can't get what you need, just cry."

Incidentally, Fonda's first-Oscar winning performance in the film "Klute" (1971) can be streamed for free with a Netflix membership. She won her second Oscar for "Coming Home" in 1978. We think this is an image of her from "Barbarella." She was not nominated for that particular role (it is perhaps her kitschiest film, though it's been a long since we've seen "Cat Ballou.")

Quote of the Week-Jon Voight

Today, we are quoting both Jon Voight and his fellow Oscar-winning co-star Jane Fonda on our respective blogs.

Both won Oscars for their work in the 1978 political drama "Coming Home," which lost the Best Picture Oscar to "The Deer Hunter," a film that also focused on the plight of Vietnam War veterans.

Ironically while Fonda has mostly maintained her liberal political views, Voight has evolved to a very vocal right-winger. Many have speculated that his erractic relationship with his movie-star daughter Angelina Jolie may have caused the dramatic shift but there seem to be few public explanations as to why Voight's views changed, presumably during the War in Iraq which he supported.

Voight has appeared frequently on Fox News programs with the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Mike Huckabee. He has also been a key-note speaker at Tea Party rallies.

The actor who gained fame with "Midnight Cowboy" (1969) and "Deliverance" (1972) also virtually disowned "Coming Home" in a "Vanity Fair" retrospective piece about Vietnam War-era films. Voight has also criticized Fonda for 'aiding and abetting those who wish to destroy Israel.'

Yet, surprisingly enough, Voight did appear with co-star Dustin Hoffman at a 40th anniversary screening of "Midnight Cowboy," which won an Oscar for Best Picture, in Los Angeles last year.

Here is his quote of the week. We actually couldn't find one that had anything to do with politics!:

"Angelina adopted a Cambodian baby. I'm a grandfather today."