Displaying items by tag: Christopher McDonald

THE COLLECTION

US, 2012, 82 minutes, Colour.

Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Christopher McDonald, Lee Tergesen, Tim Griffin, Andrei Royo, Randall Archer.

Directed by Marcus Dunstan.

In 2009, Marcus Dunstan directed The Collector, a horror film with Josh Stewart as the central character, criminal, persecuted, but an open ending to the film.

Three years later, this sequel. The central character, Arkin, played by Josh Stewart is released from prison. There is a focus on a young woman, Elena, previously involved in a car accident, her devoted father, played by Christopher McDonald.

Elena is persuaded by a friend to go to a party, a sinister location, an abandoned area of the city. The party is very lively, crowds, Elena dancing, her friend and the young man with them. However, what occurs is a frighteningly vicious and gruesome sequence, a harvester ploughing through the dance floor, killing all the dancers

In the 2000s, many commentators referred to films with “torture porn”. And this was in the eerie era of the Saw franchise, a concealed sadistic killer, a range of victims trapped in an eerie building, all kinds of devices for torture and killing.

This is the theme of The Collection, Elena surviving but imprisoned by the masked giant killer. Arkin there, but not saving her, is injured but decides then to go back in and rescue her. In the meantime, her father has engaged a group of mercenaries, very tough and determined, to find her.

The main part of the plot, of course, is the pursuit through the vast building, its many floors, the range of torture implements throughout the building, various prisoners who have been trapped, overcome. And there seems to be a laboratory with all kinds of victims in the water cases.

As might be expected, the team is picked off one by one. The leader does his best to find Elena. Arkinis involved, under suspicion, but continuing to help. A young girl is seen, misleading the group, but viciously killed in a machine.

Ultimately, Arkin does save the day, allowing his arm to be broken again to open the catch of the cage in which they are trapped. He confronts the killer, eventually the killer toppling down into a shaft with many dead bodies.

The SWAT team arrives, Elena reunited with her father, Arkin getting physical help – but, seeing the mask of the killer lying on the ground, he realises that the killer is still alive – and the buildup to a final confrontation and a sequel.

The sequel was planned for many years, promised by the filmmakers, but not made it yet…

THE LAST RODEO

US, 2025, 116 minutes, Colour.

Neal McDonough, Mykellti Williamson, Sarah Jones, Christopher McDonald,

Graham Harvey, Ruve McDonough, Daylon Swearingen.

Directed by Jon Avnet.

The Rodeo is a great tradition of the American south and west. The raiding of the bulls, the skill of the riders, balance, control, the bulls in motion, the 8 seconds, achievement – and, those assisting, those protecting the riders after falls, and the roar of the crowd.

And, it is all here in this story of a past champion, Joe Wainwright, some flashbacks to his achievement, memories of severe injuries and care, but now a proud grandfather, encouraging his grandson, Cody, riding a bull, playing baseball, especially with the disapproval of his mother, Sally, all indicating that this will be a story of family, love, clashes about being protective and overprotective…

But, a dramatic turn – and the audience will immediately see where this will go. Which doesn’t really matter because the audience will be on side for a happy ending, no matter what the difficulties. Yes, the screenplay is emotional, perhaps at times it is manipulating our response, but this is what this kind of earnest film intends. (And one wonders whether the anti-sentimentalists would really like it to end unhappily!)

Neal McDonough has been a character actor for many years and is obviously committed to this project, taking the central role of Joe, cowriting the screenplay, and producing it with his wife, Ruve McDonough, who also appears as his wife. Graham Harvey has a solid role as the grandson, the onset of his illness, the need for surgery, his mother, concerned but having to face more realities. Sarah Jones is his mother.

So, grandfather Joe decides that he will enter the upcoming rodeo in Tulsa, enlisting the help and support of his old friend, Charlie (Mykelti Williamson), a good man, past injuries, help from Joe, a sense of humour and a strong sense of faith.

There are some difficulties along the way, especially in registration, making demands of an old friend now a manager, Jimmy Mack, played by Christopher McDonald. So, quite a number of scenes of Joe making demands, the young riders sometimes supportive sometimes scoffing, the excitement of the rides themselves, the physical repercussions for the riders, the desperate competitiveness and Joe’s single-minded determination to win and get the money to cover the surgery expenses for Cody.

This is a film from Angel Studios whose philosophy is to make films for the family and films with faith dimensions. Charlie is the man of faith here, comfortable with God-talk, with his Bible. Joe, on the other hand, is the American Stoic, the tough male, rather humourless, determined not to take charity from others because self-sufficient, but having to learn that life’s events are not just about him, but he has to think of others, appreciate others, become open to receiving help in love. To that extent, this is an Angel Studios faith film.

Somebody rightly commented that with grandfather, daughter, grandson, this is a family film for each of the generations.

1. The status of the rodeo in American culture? Texas, Oklahoma…? Skill of the riders, the popularity with the audience?
2. The title, the tone, Joe and his age, career, past champion? The family situation, his daughter and grandson, their talents and ambitions? The brain tumour, his wife, Cody, insurance, the cost of the surgery? His determination to ride and win?
3. The setting, Edna as a Texas town, homes, streets, the landscapes? The musical score?
4. The flashbacks, seeing Joe and his achievement? With Charlie, Charlie’s wife, with Rose? The happy memories? The story, the travels, Rose and her tumour, her death? Joe and his helping Charlie? Helping Jimmy Mack? Sally and her having to look after her father, his desperate injuries? Cody, no explanation of his father, his age, ambitions to ride the bull, his mother’s disapproval, baseball, the ball hitting his ear? The diagnosis, MRI, the brain tumour, the need for surgery, the cost? Not enough insurance?
5. Joe, his character, Stoic, American tough, macho male, not wanting help from others, lacking humour? Emotional investment in his grandson? The clashes with his daughter, yet love? His decision to go into the competition, having thrown away the invitation, the difficulties?
6. Sally, her age, experience, skills in the past, the death of her mother, caring for her father, her son, protective? Response to his illness, the MRI, hospital, present at the hospital, clashing with her father, yet watching his performance, phone calls, his visit with Charlie, the reconciliation, the reflections about their past?
7. Joe and his going to Charlie, their past, Charlie and his wife, happy life, his past injuries, helping Joe, Joe and not responding, the long years of silence, Charlie hurt? His response to Joe’s proposal, laughing, helping, travelling with him, camping out in the van, Joanne Charlie and the pressure on the organisers, with Jimmy Mack, past memories?
8. Joe, determination, arriving, not taking no for an answer, the registration, with Jimmy Mack, Jimmy able to organise, Jo’s acceptance, the encounter with the young riders, there disdain, Billy Hamilton and the rivalry, some hostility from the others?
9. The rodeo sequences, the various riders, the eight seconds, surviving, falling, the scores, Joe and his ride, succeeding? The buildup to the second ride and his achievement, the re-ride? The scores?
10. Joe and his behaviour, the phone call from his daughter, the lead up to the fight, the police, questions about his eligibility to ride? Joe, the pressure about Cody and another operation, Charlie and his persuading Jimmy Mack to lend the plane? The ride, the visit, the storm, the return?
11. The commentators, Jo resenting Jimmy Mack knowing about Cody? Charlie and the news, the commentators, Jimmy setting up an appeal for Cody, the crowd and the one-minute silence of prayer for Cody?
12. The final ride, Joe’s achievement, falling, concern about his welfare? And the transition to 6 months later without knowing the result?
13. Six months later, the family, Cody playing baseball, well again, Sally and her supportive presence? Joe, happy, the reconciliation? Charlie and his wife happy, Charlie getting the prize of the truck? That Joe came second, the surgery expenses covered, and his donation of the rest of the money to the hospital?
14. A film from Angel Studios, the Faith dimension, Charlie, career, talk about God, the opening of the Bible, the support of the Psalm verse, Joe and his resentment towards God, and Charlie’s telling him it was not about him but about everyone else, Joe, religious moment, the crucifix? A family film? A faith film?

HAPPY GILMORE 2

US, 2025, 114 minutes, Colour.

Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Ben Stiller, Bad Bunny, John Daley, Dennis Dugan, Haley Joel Osment, Jackie Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Margarette Qualley, Verne Lindquist, Post-Malone, Nick Faldo, Sergio Garcia, Charles Howell III, Scotty Scheffler, Lee Trevino, Bubba Watson, Seth Waugh, Will Sasso, Travis Kelce. Tim Herlihy, Richard Kiel, Scott Mescudi, Judith Sandler, Nick Swordson, Eminem, John Lovitz, Rob Schneider.

Directed by Kyle Newacheck.

29 years later! Happy Gilmore was one of Adam Sandler’s earliest comedies – very successful and he named his production company after him. In the meantime, Sandler has become a household name, critics not always favourable to his comedies but praising him in his serious roles, Anger Management, Punch-Drunk Love. In more recent years his films have gone straight to Netflix.

Sandler takes up his old character, often likeable, often unlikeable, having made a great success 30 years earlier with his golf skills, and his clashes with his arch rival, played by Christopher McDonald. As this film begins, there is an emotional and dramatic shock, Happy Gilmore has hit a stroke which has hit his wife, Virginia (Julie Bowen) and has killed her! This causes him a great deal of grief, drinking, collapse – but the opportunity for her to reappear in many ghostly supportive sequences. In the meantime, they have four rough and ready boys who are ready to mix it amongst themselves and with anybody else at an instant’s notice. But, there is also a daughter who is a successful dancer and has the prospect of going to study in Paris if the fees can be raised.

This gives a certain framework to a plot, Happy Gilmore dependent on drink, full of self-pity, memories of his wife. When he is persuaded to try again at golf, there are all kinds of comic misfires. But, we know that he will actually improve but, many hurdles and sandpits along the way.

In the meantime, his foe from the past, Christopher McDonald, has spent his years in an institution but is allowed out under the influence of millionaire, Frank who is setting up a rival golf organisation which could eliminate traditional golf (memories of the Saudi Arabian competition). Frank is played by director Ben Safdie. But, McDonald will not accept the terms and actually becomes one of the main good guys for the rest of the film.

There are a number of flashbacks to the past, including a scene with the late Carl Weathers as the coach and a tribute to him.

And, quite a number of characters from the past, substantial like Ben Stiller as the would-be councillor for AA meetings, comic glimpses of Richard Kiel and his diminutive mother, Judith Sandler. In fact, there are various members of the Sandler family appearing throughout the film. There are momentary glimpses of Rob Schneider, a comic sequence with John oevitz, Steve Buscemi as the bad neighbour. And, a modern touch, Margaret Qualley as a young golfer.

And, there are over 20 champion golf players making cameos here from Jack Nicholas to Rory Mc Elory. Which probably makes the film something of a must for golf aficionados.

The screenplay was written by Tim Herlihy with Adam Sandler, Herlihy having written 12 of Sandler’s films. His popular rector, Dennis Dougan, has a cameo role here. The present film has been directed by Kyle Newacheck, who directed Sandler in Murder Mystery.

Which means that any conversation about the film will focus on Sandler and his comedies and his reputation, memories of the first film, and sharing appreciation of all the guest comics who make an appearance and, more especially, all the golf celebrities.

And, on first release on Netflix, it broke the records!