Power Poll

It was kind of a weird week, most of the good teams beat bad teams so not a huge change. Atlanta finally nabs sole possession of first place while Vikings tumble down 5.



1.       Atlanta Falcons (4) 7-0
2.       New York Giants  (2) 6-2
3.(tie) Houston Texans (1) 6-1
3.(tie) San Francisco 49ers (3)  6-2
5.       Green Bay Packers (8) 5-3
6.       Chicago Bears (5) 6-1
7.       New England Patriots (9) 5-3
8.       Baltimore Ravens (7) 5-2
9.       Denver Broncos (10) 4-3
10.   Pittsburgh Steelers (14) 4-3
11.   Minnesota Vikings (6) 5-3
12.   Indianapolis Colts (15) 4-3
13.   Seattle Seahawks (13) 4-4
14.   Miami Dolphins (20) 4-3
15.   Philadelphia Eagles (12) 3-4
16.   San Diego Chargers (11) 3-4
17.   Cincinnati Bengals (16) 3-4
18.   Detroit Lions  (24) 3-4
19.   Dallas Cowboys  (19) 3-4
20.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (27) 3-4
21.   Arizona Cardinals (18) 4-4
22.   Washington Redskins (21) 3-5
23.   Oakland Raiders  (25) 3-4  
24.   Tennessee Titans (23) 3-5
25.   St. Louis Rams (17) 3-4
26.   New Orleans Saints (22) 2-5
27.    Buffalo Bills (28) 3-4
28.    New York Jets (26) 3-5
29.    Cleveland Browns (31) 2-6
30.    Carolina Panthers (30) 1-6
31.    Jacksonville Jaguars (32) 1-6
32.    Kansas City Chiefs (29) 1-6

My 80's Horrofest

I will admit I didn't mean to start my Halloween Horror fest as being mostly movies from the 80's but somehow that is how it happened. Once I started to realize this I just decided to go with it and watch mostly horror/suspense/supernatural movies that were all released in the 80's. With October slowly coming to an end I wanted to update what movies I have seen and a quick take on them. Hope all my readers are enjoying October and hopefully seeing a few horror movies to put you in the mood of the month.

House (1986) - As a kid I remember either seeing this movie or at least seeing the poster. The poster itself is really cool and stands out as something I remember very well from my youth. The movie itself comes from people who have a rich horror tradition. The director, Steve Miner, directed Friday the 13th parts 2 and 3 and the writer was none other then Fred Dekker the man who wrote/directed Night of the Creeps and Monster Squad (I own both movies). House is a amusing 80's romp. Pretty light on the horror but it has some scary elements to it for sure. Norm from Cheers aka George Wendt steals the movie when he appears.  Overall not a bad movie.









Children of the Corn (1984) - I have always wanted to see Children of the Corn, now I wish I didn't. This is not a scary, frightening, or in any way well done movie. I found it hard to get through even though the opening of the movie was somewhat interesting. I am not sure how or why the series has spanned six sequels! I found myself laughing out loud many times at the acting (and not just the children's acting). I find it interesting Linda Hamilton was filming this movie as the same time as The Terminator (well possibly as both were released in 1984). Overall skip this one, or maybe if you are in a mood for so bad its good type movie.

House II: The Second Story (1987) - I thought since the first one was fun enough, why not try House II! Overall this has no relation to the first movie in any way. House II is more of a supernatural movie that involves a magical crystal skull (pre-dating Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by 21 years!). This movie is very very 80's and I dig the nostalgia factor it has going for it. Once again this movie features a Cheers alum, this time Cliff aka John Ratzenberger, who like George Wendt steals every scene he is in. Overall not scary but has a certain 80's charm that appealed to me.

The Toxic Avenger (1984) - This is one pretty sick yet entertaining movie. I like the absurd ways that people get killed and the gore is at it's best in this very dark movie. I always knew of the Toxic Avenger but had never seen the first one. I feel like I now get why this movie is so talked about. The Toxic Avenger has also had a long career, i know of at least 3 sequels and even a children's cartoon that featured the hero. Overall this is a must see as a cult movie but it is not for everyone.

Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988) - Angela is back! This time played by Pamela Springsteen (yes the sister of rock legend Bruce Springsteen!). Angela is back to her usual ways of killing off tons of campers and no one really noticing. I found the movie to be amusing with some interesting kills. I like a movie  that know what it is and Sleepaway Camp knows it is a cheaply made 80's horror. They even go as far as to have Jason's hockey mask and Feddy's glove and both are used while offing a camper. Overall this was a pretty fun cheaply made flick.

Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (1989) - Angela is back...again! Watching this movie I started to wonder why it was the exact same sets as Sleepaway Camp II, and same director, same actor...then I realized they shot both movies back to back (ala Back to the Future II and III). Pretty smart for saving costs. For some reason I didn't much like part 3 though. I think they got really cheap, maybe they spent all their budget on the part 2 because this one just doesn't show much kill wise. They even go into a lengthy flashback that just made me think I would rather watch part 2 instead. Overall if you need to complete the series see this, at least it is short.

The Fog (1980) - The Fog is done by John Carpenter (Halloween) and even had the stars of Halloween 1-3 in it (Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Atkins). I found it to be a pretty good flick. I am not as high on this one as a lot of other but overall it is a good movie and should be seen at least once. I just think the ending doesn't flow that well and not a lot happens throughout the movie. Still has good music and atmosphere.

TerrorVision (1986) - I found out about this from Cinemassacre and was pleased to see it was on netflix instant watch. This movie is very unique and is like a perfect 80's movie. A lot of the movie is deep in the culture of the 80's and yet it still holds up because of the interesting premise. This is probably the most obscure 80's movie on my list, but if you like movies like Critters you will enjoy this one. Overall it may not wow you but it is worth a watch, especially if you like those 80's horror flicks.

Power Poll

1.       Houston Texans (1) 6-1
2.       New York Giants  (6) 5-2
3.       San Francisco 49ers (2)  5-2
4.       Atlanta Falcons (3) 6-0
5.       Chicago Bears (8) 5-1
6.       Minnesota Vikings (7) 5-2
7.       Baltimore Ravens (4) 5-2
8.        Green Bay Packers (12) 4-3
9.      New England Patriots (5) 4-3
10.   Denver Broncos (15) 3-3
11.    Seattle Seahawks (18) 4-3
12.    Philadelphia Eagles (9) 3-3
13.   San Diego Chargers (13) 3-3
14.    Pittsburgh Steelers (17) 3-3
15.    Indianapolis Colts (14) 3-3
16.    Dallas Cowboys  (21) 3-3
17.    Arizona Cardinals (11) 4-3
18.    Cincinnati Bengals (10) 3-4
19. St. Louis Rams (16) 3-3
20.    Miami Dolphins (20) 3-3
21.    Washington Redskins (19) 3-4
22. New Orleans Saints (23) 2-4
23.    Tennessee Titans (28) 3-4
24.   Detroit Lions  (22) 2-4
25.  Oakland Raiders  (32) 2-4   
26.   New York Jets (26) 3-4
27.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (29) 2-4
28.    Buffalo Bills (27) 3-4
29.  Kansas City Chiefs (24) 1-5
30.     Carolina Panthers (25) 1-5
31.   Cleveland Browns (31) 1-6
32.   Jacksonville Jaguars (30) 1-5

MY AMITYVILLE HORROR (2012) - a documentary about Daniel Lutz

The legend continues...

The London Film Festival screened this smartly-produced new documentary at NFT3 last night. I went in almost completely 'cold', knowing only that one of the Lutz family children was interviewed. Hoping that it would expose the original Amityville horror as a hoax, once and for all, I was in for a few surprises.

If you haven't seen the The Amityville Horror (1979) or remake (2005), here's the story so far... In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered the six members of his family that he lived with. The following year, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the same house in Amityville, Long Island. There, loud noises, swarms of flies, eerie figures (and much, much more) disrupted their lives. They only stayed a few weeks, before fleeing in the middle of the night, leaving all their belongings behind. Their short stay became national news, selling magazines, books and then a series of films - all of which blurred the real events with constant retellings. Throughout it all, George and Kathy Lutz stood behind their original story until they both passed away.

Daniel (left), George and Kathy Lutz

With interviews old and new, relevant video and audio archives interviews and carefully chosen photographs, we now hear the story from the perspective of the eldest of the three children.

Daniel Lutz, now in his forties, confirmed many of the famous supernatural events from the original book. He'd the seen the swarms of flies, he'd been thrown up a flight of stairs, he'd seen the fanged pig with glowing eyes, his bed had levitated... I was immediately confused. I'd assumed the parents had concocted the stories to get out of debt, and kept the children away from the press to leave the story-telling to the adults.

Once again, we're presented with an enigma. Someone deadly convincing that they're telling the truth. This time, with seemingly nothing to gain, no movie rights, no book to sell. Living a life where the continuing attention has only made his life harder.

With no hard evidence, we only have the witnesses. The other two children wouldn't be interviewed for this film. Every supernatural event in the house left no useful trace and no convincing photographs. As he tells it, even the dead flies conveniently, immediately disappeared.

But Daniel also has further twists and revelations to add to the tale - events from before and after he moved into the house with the spooky eyes...

Eric Walter - writer, director and courageous interviewer

Young filmmaker Eric Walter was at the screening, telling us how he'd always been fascinated by the Amityville horror story, and extensively studying the evidence of it as a genuine paranormal event, particularly in online forums. He talked about the huge divide between the believers and disbelievers that still exists today. An insightful parallel is the divide between Christians and atheists - and this viewpoint is particularly relevant in one scene in the documentary.

Walter, describes himself as an agnostic with regards to religion and takes the same stance with his approach to the Amityville house. I don't think Daniel, who contacted him through the website, would have agreed to be interviewed and filmed if Walter was a firm disbeliever. But who in their right mind would tell Daniel to his face that they didn't believe him? He's very intense and intimidating, to say the least.

Daniel Lutz as he appears in My Amityville Horror

From the moment that George Lutz entered his life as a stepfather and forced his surname on the whole family, Daniel disliked him. Arguing with and antagonising him, even running away from home. If half the things in the book are true about George's behaviour in 'that' house, being possessed and acting erratically, forcing the family to march around, ten-year old Daniel would have reason to be scared as well as angry.

My own take can only be based on intuition - Daniel may have been thrown up the stairs, smacked across the hands and knocked around his bedroom, but by George, not by demons...

I think it would be in Daniel's greater interest to expose it all as a hoax. To finally unveil the mysteries of the Amityville horror. That would be a better, more saleable story than supporting the same events over again. The mystery here is as strong as ever. He's a very convincing spokesman. But that makes no sense to me.

He's interviewed by a psychologist, a reporter who has followed the story since the beginning, and by the director (Daniel looking straight to camera), an approach that made me feel quite uncomfortable, like I'd been locked in a room with him for two hours.

After over thirty years of Amityville horror books and films, the documentary assumes that the audience knows a little about the basis for the story. It doesn't waste time telling it all over again, but may confuse newcomers a little. 

Currently appearing in festivals - it's too early to know what kind of wider release this will get in cinemas or on video. So keep following their updates...

http://www.amityvillemovie.com/

I'll talk more about my own take on The Amityville Horror phenomenon, starting back when I first saw it in the cinema in 1980, and looking at how it's been sold as "a true story"...

Man of a Million Faces - Martin Landau in conversation

Martin Landau in conversation

Q&A at the BFI South Bank, October 9th, 2012

I've been watching Martin Landau for decades in TV and film. As a teenager, I was scared by him as 'The Man Who Never Was' in The Outer Limits and impressed by his leadership of Moonbase Alpha as Commander Koenig in Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Space: 1999. It has remained a treat to see him in everything from religious epics to sleazy horrors. Even after winning an Oscar in Tim Burton's Ed Wood (1994) he's never stopped working - more recently cropping up in The X-Files movie (1998) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). A chance to see him in person wasn't to be missed...

As the closing event of the BFI South Bank's Alfred Hitchcock celebration, Martin Landau appeared in a conversation that raced through his incredible acting career. The initial reason being that his first big screen role was as James Mason's henchman in North by Northwest (1959).

But Brooklyn-born Landau had started off as a fan of comic strips, becoming an amateur artist while soaking up the wide range of international accents in his local neighbourhood. Landing a job at a New York newspaper, he could have had a cushy career caricaturing stars of the stage by attending every major opening night at the theatre. But realising that this could be a lifelong rut, he turned down the job (leaving his mother in shock) and instead turned to acting. However, he still carries a sketchpad and pens (which he flashed from inside his jacket) and continues to draw.

With James Dean

On his doorstep was The Actor's Studio where he was deemed talented enough to rub shoulders with Lee J Cobb, Elia Kazan and his new best friend the young James Dean! Even now, he still enjoys giving his time to there, now as a tutor rather than a student. He also helps choose the new faces lucky enough to be enrolled out of thousands of applicants.

Back in the 1950s, a hit play took him to the west coast of America, where Alfred Hitchcock caught a performance and cast him in North by Northwest. Landau defended the director's cheeky comment that "actors are like cattle" and praised his hands-off approach, enabling actors to flesh out roles for themselves. Open to their ideas, Hitchcock would only interject when he didn't like something.

With James Mason in North By Northwest

In the role of the sneaky Leonard, Landau wanted a motivation for his hatred of Eva Marie Saint's character, and suggested to Hitchcock that he infer that his character was gay. Subtly suggested in his performance, at a time when the subject was still relatively taboo, the tactic imperilled the sexuality of James Mason's character!

A later question from the audience tested whether Landau considered his method acting was better than Cary Grant's more traditional approach. But Landau only had praise for the star's hard work (always available for long rehearsals) and professionalism (like being generous to other actors).

Two other major roles, in the epics Cleopatra and The Greatest Story Ever Told, should have cemented Landau's movie career. But Cleopatra flopped, lambasted because of its bloated budget, and many major scenes, most of Landau's best, were cut completely when Cleopatra was reduced from two three-hour movies, down to one four-hour movie. He noted that they were hardly going to cut out anything with Richard Burton or Elizabeth Taylor, who were scandalising the world's press with an openly extra-marital affair.

With Peter Graves and Barbara Bain
in Mission: Impossible

Instead, he settled down to a long run of quality TV work. His continued enthusiasm for science-fiction started with roles in The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. But he talked about turning down the role of Mr Spock in the original Star Trek (!!!) because he didn't want to play a character who had no emotions. Also, he would have had to turn down Mission: Impossible (that also started in 1966), which gave him the chance to play two (or more) characters every week, as master of disguise, Rollin' Hand. He noted that the Tom Cruise films are nothing like the TV series, each episode resembling "a puzzle".

With Catherine Schell and Barbara Bain in Space: 1999

His other big TV series was Space: 1999 (that started in 1975). A later question from the audience prompted him to confirm that he enjoyed the first season far more. Although it was cancelled after two, he said he would have stayed on for a third season if it had returned to the hard sci-fi stories of the first, rather than the less consistent approach backed by Fred Freiberger (a producer who also oversaw the demise of the original Star Trek).

After that, roles in the 1980s weren't so good for him, with a run of low budget movies and far less TV work. This 'fallow period' was broken by his Oscar-nominated work for Coppola's Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988) and Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989). Landau finally won a supporting actor Academy Award in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.

Researching his role as Bela Lugosi, Landau surprised me with his incisiveness. Recognising that so many of Lugosi's films were available on home video, the audience might know more about the actor than him. Landau therefore watched over thirty Lugosi movies, as well as any available newsreel footage. Despite the awfulness of some of Lugosi's work (he cited the 1952 Brooklyn Gorilla), Landau praised the actor's continued dedication and seriousness in any role. He also visited all the places that Lugosi lived, noting the steady reduction in the size of the houses as his career dwindled.

A couple of hilarious clips from Ed Wood reminded us of its brilliance. Landau noted how Burton may have cast him knowing that the actor had himself been through bad times as well as good. I can't wait to see it again.

Landau provides the voice and mannerisms
of Frankenweenie's Mr. Rzykruski

He's back in London for the premiere of the new Tim Burton film. The feature-length version of Frankenweenie, Landau providing the voice for an animated character. Look out for interviews with him in the press and on TV over the next few days. This weekend he'll also appear over the weekend at Autographica at the Birmingham NEC.

Now 84, he needed a little help to ascend the three steps onto the stage, (there was no banister). He may carry a walking stick, but his energy sustained us all for two hours. He loved impersonating the actors and directors he'd worked with and mentioned many other names, to remember them rather than 'name drop'. Film clips were also shown from the Mission: Impossible pilot episode, the opening titles of the very first Space: 1999, Tucker, and Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Unusually, the interview wasn't filmed by the BFI, so don't expect a record of the event to appear on their website.

Martin Landau interview in Movieline about his role in Frankenweenie...

Power Poll

1.       Houston Texans (1) 5-0 – We will see how they handle their first Sunday night game against Green Bay and if they are really #1.

2.       San Francisco 49ers (3)  4-1 – Last two games they scored 79 points and gave up 3, they have 2 more home games in a row.

3.       Atlanta Falcons (2) 5-0 – This team won on the road and continues to impress, but not as much as the other two above them.

4.       Baltimore Ravens (4) 4-1 – The defense continues to impress, but only 9 points this week?

5.       New England Patriots (7) 3-2 – You can never count out this team with Brady at the helm. Showed Manning who’s boss and they can run this year!

6.       New York Giants  (10) 3-2 – I have an odd feeling this team is right where they want to be at 3-2, bad news is next game is against the 49ers in SF.

7.       Minnesota Vikings (13) 4-1 – The Vikings D seems legit and we know they can run the ball. This might be a playoff team.

8.       Chicago Bears (12) 4-1 – They have had a pretty easy schedule to this point but the D seems good and Cutler to Marshall is working well.

9.       Philadelphia Eagles (6) 3-2 – A tough loss in Pittsburgh knocks them down a few. Can Vick not turn over the ball so much?

10.   Cincinnati Bengals (11) 3-2 – Got taken out at home against Miami shows the youth of this team.

11.   Arizona Cardinals (5) 4-1 – They have serious O-line issues.

12.   Green Bay Packers (9) 2-3 – This team is still good, but so many injuries, they are starting to take a toll on the Pack.

13.   San Diego Chargers (8) 3-2 – Could have become an elite team with a win in New Orleans, guess they should have kept Brees…

14.   Indianapolis Colts (21) 2-2 – They are young and hungry, Luck is for real. Could push for a playoff spot.

15.   Denver Broncos (14) 2-3 – Manning is looking back in form, too bad they got down big on the road.

16.   St. Louis Rams (19) 3-2 – Rams D is showing it can play, too bad they have no one to throw the ball too.

17.   Pittsburgh Steelers (20) 2-2 – This team looks they might go on a roll with some winnable games coming up (Tennessee, Cincinnati, and Washington).

18.   Seattle Seahawks (18) 3-2 – They beat the Panthers on the road, they stay in the same spot.

19.   Washington Redskins (15) 2-3 – RGIII suffers a concussion, good thing they have another rookie QB to back up the rookie QB…really?

20.   Miami Dolphins (29) 2-3 – The Dolphins are playing hard and have been in most of the games they have played. Got to give them some credit.

21.   Dallas Cowboys  (17) 2-2 – Bye week

22.   Detroit Lions  (22) 1-3 – Bye week

23.   New Orleans Saints (25) 1-4 – This team still has a lot of talent and managed to beat a pretty good Chargers team, will the trend continue?

24.   Kansas City Chiefs (23) 1-4 – Could only manage 6 points at home.

25.   Carolina Panthers (24) 1-4 – This team has been a huge disappointment, seems like teams are figuring out Cam Newton.

26.   New York Jets (27) 2-3 - Tebow time yet? It will happen

27.   Buffalo Bills (16) 2-3 – This could be the worst defense in the league, gave up 97 points in the last two games.

28.   Tennessee Titans (26) 1-4 - To cut them some slack, they did just play two road games against the Texans and Vikings.

29.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (28) 1-3 – Bye week

30.   Jacksonville Jaguars (30) 1-4 – Bye week…just kidding…played like they were on one.

31.   Cleveland Browns (31) 0-5 – The talent on offense is coming around but the usually good defense didn’t show up.

32.   Oakland Raiders  (32) 1-3 – bye week (yet still somehow lost)

Power Poll

I got a request from a friend to do a power poll. I hope someone is actually reading this blog lately...I am sort of getting discouraged from posting. Here it goes:

NFL Power Poll - Week 5

1.     Houston Texans

2.     Atlanta Falcons

3.    Baltimore Ravens

4.     San Francisco 49ers

5.     Arizona Cardinals

6.     Philadelphia Eagles

7.     New England Patriots

8.     San Diego Chargers

9.     Green Bay Packers

10.   New York Giants

11.   Cincinnati Bengals

12.   Chicago Bears

13.   Minnesota Vikings

14.   Denver Broncos

15.   Washington Redskins

16.   Buffalo Bills

17.   Dallas Cowboys

18.   St. Louis Rams

19.  Seattle Seahawks

20.   Pittsburgh Steelers

21.   Indianapolis Colts

22.   Detroit Lions

23.   New York Jets

24.   Carolina Panthers

25.   New Orleans Saints

26.   Tennessee Titans

27.   Kansas City Chiefs

28.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers

29.   Miami Dolphins

30.   Jacksonville Jaguars

31.   Cleveland Browns

32.   Oakland Raiders