Friday, January 26, 2018

Film Buff Friday: Basket Case


What's in the basket...???



THE TENANT IN ROOM 7 IS VERY SMALL, VERY TWISTED, AND VERY MAD.

The feature debut of director Frank Henenlotter (Brain Damage, Frankenhooker), 1982's Basket Case is perhaps his most revered - a riotous and blood-spattered midnight movie experience, now immortalized in a lavish new 4K restoration by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Duane Bradley is a pretty ordinary guy. His formerly conjoined twin Belial, on the other hand, is a deformed, fleshy lump whom he carries around in a wicker basket. Arriving in the Big Apple and taking up a room at the seedy Hotel Broslin, the pair set about hunting down and butchering the surgeons responsible for their separation. But tensions flare up when Duane starts spending time with a pretty blonde secretary, and Belial's homicidal tendencies reach bloody new extremes.

Filmed on a shoestring budget against the backdrop of 1980s New York (where the movie would become a staple of the infamous 42nd Street grindhouse circuit), Basket Case has clawed its way from its humble origins to become one of the most celebrated cult movies of all time.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
Presented from a brand new 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative by MoMA
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original Uncompressed Mono Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck
Basket Case 3-1/2: An Interview with Duane Bradley - Frank Henenlotter revisits Duane Bradley decades after the events of the original Basket Case
Seeing Double: The Basket Case Twins - a brand new interview with Florence and Maryellen Schultz, the twin nurses from Basket Case
Brand new making-of featurette containing new interviews with producer Edgar Ievins, casting person/actress Ilze Balodis, associate producer/effects artist Ugis Nigals and Belial performer Kika Nigals
Blood, BASKET and Beyond - a brand new interview with actress Beverly Bonner
Belial Goes to the Drive-In - a brand new interview with film critic Joe Bob Briggs
Outtakes Featurette
In Search of the Hotel Broslin - archive location featurette
Slash of the Knife (1972) - short film by Frank Henenlotter
Belial's Dream (2017, 5 mins) - brand new Basket Case-inspired animated short by filmmaker Robert Morgan
Behind-the-scenes of Belial's Dream
Trailers, TV Spots and Radio Spots
Extensive Still Galleries
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

FIRST PRESSING ONLY
: Collector's booklet with new writing on the film by Michael Gingold

Order on MVDshop.com or Amazon

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Michael's Musings

Fighter
Michael Shinafelt
" 'Cause it makes me that much stronger, Makes me work a little bit harder, It makes me that much wiser, So thanks for making me a fighter" - Fighter, Christina Aguilera 

We've all got battles to pick and choose from on a daily basis. Your strategy is always different for each one you plan to fight.


Pick wisely and make sure you know WTF you're doing grasshopper. 


Time to let the sh!t fly!


When I'm in the mood for International I expect to be delighted


My favorite RHOBH quote of the season thus far: "Dorit is a bottomless pit of bullshit" - Camille Grammer


Let a prick enjoy their bagel & mimosa in peace!


Speaking of pricks, Donald Trump. Yeah I know it was an easy shot, but I couldn't resist


No matter what, no one wants your pity boner


Just when you thought DSL was an acronym that referred to your computer, along comes Dick Sucking Lips to confuse the F#ck out of you. Beware the next time someone uses DSL it may not mean what you think...


Create art, destroy monotony 


I spoke to a customer service rep this past week named "Sunshine" 


It looks like Allison Janney is a shoo in for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for I, Tonya

Too bad Margot Robbie won't win, I thought she was brilliant as Tonya Harding


I tend to wake up at 4 am on my own. The more you know.


Cloned Monkeys would have never enabled a government shutdown


On that note: "Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love."


Here I am at
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

"Smiles Everyone, Smiles..."

You Get A Star!
l-r
Mickey Mouse, Katy Perry & Minnie Mouse
Do you know where the quote in my byline comes from today? If you do, then you are old. It comes from the TV show Fantasy Island which premiered January 14, 1977. The line was uttered every week by the character Mr. Roarke played by the late Ricardo Montalban

This quote popped into my head (yes, I am old(er) not old) when I spotted this photo of Katy Perry attending Minnie Mouse's star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mickey Mouse was there too, naturally.

Minnie has been playing the Hollywood game for 90 years it's about time this ageless beauty got honored, she's more than earned it!

Honestly I have no other reason for posting this today than whimsy and smiles.

So there!

As Mr. Roarke would say "Smiles Everyone, Smiles..." may you have an enchanting day!

Minnie on Wikipedia:

Monday, January 22, 2018

The Woman Behind The Mask

Peek-A-Boo
Guess Who?
Here is a pic of one of last night's SAG Award nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Mini Series or Television Movie.

She posted it to her Instagram page with the caption: "Who's ready for the SAG Awards? #sagawards #biglittlelies

The nominee also went home empty handed. If you guessed Laura Dern, you guessed correctly. What's that? Do you win something? Uh, no.

While I did not watch the award show, I do enjoy seeing the photos post all the pomp & circumstance. 

Particularly of celebrities preparing for their big night who do not shy away from making themselves look silly. 

Thus my SAG Award for Best Instagram pre-show selfie goes to Ms. Dern!

Keep on doing you Ms. Thang!

Laura on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lauradern/?hl=en

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Fashion, Turn To The Left...

Designing Duo
Heidi Klum & Adam Lambert
Fashion it inspires, it's creative and it can make for some interesting bedfellows. Case in point, behold this capture of Heidi Klum enjoying the company of Adam Lambert at Morais Collection 6 Fashion Show in the City of Angels.

Both from very different sectors of the Entertainment world yet their paths crossed all in the name of fashion

Heidi is looking rather low key for her in this photo and Adam is looking low key for him as well, but yummy nonetheless. 

Now the real question is, what did these two exchange sound bites about? I will venture a guess and say they exchanged tips about...fashion!

Heidi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/heidiklum/?hl=en

Adam on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adamlambert/?hl=en  

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Gotta Serve Somebody


Bob Dylan, he's a poet and you know it...

Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan
Coming to DVD and digital formats February 9th

Features an intense performance from Bob Dylan, plus performances from Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, and many others during behind-the-scenes making of the Grammy-nominated compilation "Gotta Serve Somebody" released 15 years ago

"The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix."
The New York Times
Marking the fifteenth anniversary of GRAMMY-nominated album Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan, MVD Entertainment Group will reissue the film of the same title. Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan features an intense Bob Dylan performance from 1980 of "When He Returns" as well as powerful performances and interviews with Aaron NevilleShirley CaesarFairfield FourMighty Clouds of Joy, and Dottie Peoples, reflecting on their faith and connections to Dylan's Christian music.

Now, with the November release of Columbia Records' "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981," a further exploration of that period has taken place, which began with this album and film. "It was an honor to have made an impression on the great artist himself with these recordings," said the film's producer Jeffrey Gaskill. From 2009 to 2011, Bob Dylan opened 40 concerts around the world with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (his Grammy-nominated new version re-written and recorded for Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with Mavis Staples.) in concert halls in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Adelaide and this performance in Tel Aviv (video HERE).

Just a month after his recording with Staples he would kick off a new tour in Stockholm Sweden and perform Solid Rock (what many consider the theme song to his gospel era concerts) for the first time in over twenty years. Dylan would continue to perform this rousing song as well as other gospel era songs at numerous concerts across Europe and beyond. The two-time Grammy nominated compilation would be released on Sony/Columbia one year later on April 1, 2003 (video HERE).

"This gospel music was Bob Dylan's ultimate rebellion, and it took much more courage than strapping on an electric guitar," said Gaskill. The film offers historical insights into this Bob Dylan era provided by Jim Keltner, Fred Tackett, Spooner Oldham, and Regina McCrary - all of whom performed and recorded with Dylan at the time. Famed record producer Jerry Wexler, who produced the records, and music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light, also disclose insights.

Pre-order at the MVD Shop or on Amazon

TRACK LISTING
Arlethia Lindsey - Every Grain of Sand
Bob Dylan - When He Returns
Sounds of Blackness - Solid Rock
Shirley Caesar - Gotta Serve Somebody
Dottie Peoples - I Believe in You
Aaron Neville - Saving Grace
Helen Baylor - What Can I Do For You'
The Fairfield Four - Are You Ready
Great Day Chorale - In the Garden
Mighty Clouds of Joy - Saved
Chicago Mass Choir featuring Regina McCrary - Pressing On
Rance Allen - When He Returns