The Descent
After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition. Their adventure soon goes horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep underground and they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate struggle to survive the creatures and each other. (IMDB.com)
Suspiria
A young American dancer travels to Europe to join a famous ballet school. As she arrives, the camera turns to another young woman, who appears to be fleeing from the school. She returns to her apartment where she is gruesomely murdered by a hideous creature. Meanwhile, the young American is trying to settle in at the ballet school, but hears strange noises and is troubled by bizarre occurrences. She eventually discovers that the school is merely a front for a much more sinister organization. (IMDB.com)
Peeping Tom
As a boy, Mark Lewis was subjected to bizarre experiments by his scientist-father, who wanted to study and record the effects of fear on the nervous system. Now grown up, both of his parents dead, Mark works by day as a focus-puller for a London movie studio. He moonlights by taking girlie pictures above a news agent's shop. But Mark has also taken up a horrifying hobby: He murders women while using a movie camera to film their dying expressions of terror. One evening, Mark meets and befriends Helen Stephens, a young woman who rents one of the rooms in his house. Does Helen represent some kind of possible redemption for Mark - or is she unknowingly running the risk of becoming one of his victims? (IMDB.com)
Feast
In a remote bar, costumers are advised by a newcomer to seal the place since hungry monsters will attack them in a couple of minutes. The man is immediately devoured and the clients organize a strategy to defend the place under siege of deadly creatures. (IMDB.com)
Frailty
Fenton Meeks, comes forth to tell the FBI that his brother Adam may be the serial killer who calls himself God's Hands, who the FBI has been searching for. The film uses flashbacks to show Meeks' childhood with a father who believed he was on a mission from God to destroy demons that inhabit human bodies. Fenton saw his dad as evil, while Adam saw him as a hero. (IMDB.com)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
September Film - Call Northside 777
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Doors open 7:00. Films starts at 7:30.
Capital City Bar and Grill
Springfield, IL
Capital City Bar and Grill
Springfield, IL
Call Northside 777
When a woman places an ad in the Chicago Times offering a $5,000 reward for information that will exonerate her son, the newspaper assigns report P.J. McNeal to look into case. He learns that 11 years earlier, Frank Wiecek was convicted of killing an on duty police officer in a speakeasy and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. McNeal is quite skeptical as to his innocence and only slowly comes to realize that there was a miscarriage of justice. The real question is whether he can find evidence that would convince the pardon board and obtain Wiecek's release. (IMDB.com)
When a woman places an ad in the Chicago Times offering a $5,000 reward for information that will exonerate her son, the newspaper assigns report P.J. McNeal to look into case. He learns that 11 years earlier, Frank Wiecek was convicted of killing an on duty police officer in a speakeasy and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. McNeal is quite skeptical as to his innocence and only slowly comes to realize that there was a miscarriage of justice. The real question is whether he can find evidence that would convince the pardon board and obtain Wiecek's release. (IMDB.com)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
September - Movies that have had a scene based in Springfield
Trying to come up with new and interesting themes for Movie Geeks Club, I thought about how Springfield has fit into films I have seen. Then I wondered if there were even five films that did portray Springfield in some way. There are at least five that I can find. Note: I didn't have to put Legally Blonde 2 in the mix because it was shot here but not portrayed to be in Springfield. Thank goodness for that. Of the five films nominated, amazingly all of them are high quality films.
Only two of the five films were actually shot in Springfield that I know of. Of course, The Informant! had a couple of scenes that were shot and portrayed here in 2008. And the other, Call Northside 777 was most likely filmed here. I have never heard anything to support that but the director was meticulous about shooting on location. So I suspect Jimmy Stewart was in Springfield at some point to shoot some scenes. I hope someone could shed some light on that.
Call Northside 777
When a woman places an ad in the Chicago Times offering a $5,000 reward for information that will exonerate her son, the newspaper assigns report P.J. McNeal to look into case. He learns that 11 years earlier, Frank Wiecek was convicted of killing an on duty police officer in a speakeasy and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. McNeal is quite skeptical as to his innocence and only slowly comes to realize that there was a miscarriage of justice. The real question is whether he can find evidence that would convince the pardon board and obtain Wiecek's release. (IMDB.com)
The Informant!
Mark Whitacre has worked for lysine developing company ADM for many years and has even found his way into upper management. But nothing has prepared him for the job he is about to undertake - being a spy for the FBI. Unwillingly pressured into working as an informant against the illegal price-fixing activities of his company, Whitacre gradually adopts the idea that he's a true secret agent. But as his incessant lies keep piling up, his world begins crashing down around him. (IMBD.com)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Covers the period from Lincoln's early years as a Kentucky woodsman until his election to the Presidency in 1860. Included are his first love, his marriage, the Illinois law practice and his debates with Stephen Douglas. (IMBD.com)
Young Mr. Lincoln
Ten years in the life of Abraham Lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. He moves from a Kentucky cabin to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his law practice. He defends two men accused of murder in a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend Ann, courts his future wife Mary Todd, and agrees to go into politics. (IMBD.com)
White Heat
Cody Jarrett is the sadistic leader of a ruthless gang of thieves. Afflicted by terrible headaches and fiercely devoted to his 'Ma,' Cody is a volatile, violent, and eccentric leader. Cody's top henchman wants to lead the gang and attempts to have an 'accident' happen to Cody, while he is running the gang from in jail. But Cody is saved by an undercover cop, who thereby befriends him and infiltrates the gang. Finally, the stage is set for Cody's ultimate betrayal and downfall, during a big heist at a chemical plant. (IMDB.com)
Only two of the five films were actually shot in Springfield that I know of. Of course, The Informant! had a couple of scenes that were shot and portrayed here in 2008. And the other, Call Northside 777 was most likely filmed here. I have never heard anything to support that but the director was meticulous about shooting on location. So I suspect Jimmy Stewart was in Springfield at some point to shoot some scenes. I hope someone could shed some light on that.
Call Northside 777
When a woman places an ad in the Chicago Times offering a $5,000 reward for information that will exonerate her son, the newspaper assigns report P.J. McNeal to look into case. He learns that 11 years earlier, Frank Wiecek was convicted of killing an on duty police officer in a speakeasy and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. McNeal is quite skeptical as to his innocence and only slowly comes to realize that there was a miscarriage of justice. The real question is whether he can find evidence that would convince the pardon board and obtain Wiecek's release. (IMDB.com)
The Informant!
Mark Whitacre has worked for lysine developing company ADM for many years and has even found his way into upper management. But nothing has prepared him for the job he is about to undertake - being a spy for the FBI. Unwillingly pressured into working as an informant against the illegal price-fixing activities of his company, Whitacre gradually adopts the idea that he's a true secret agent. But as his incessant lies keep piling up, his world begins crashing down around him. (IMBD.com)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Covers the period from Lincoln's early years as a Kentucky woodsman until his election to the Presidency in 1860. Included are his first love, his marriage, the Illinois law practice and his debates with Stephen Douglas. (IMBD.com)
Young Mr. Lincoln
Ten years in the life of Abraham Lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. He moves from a Kentucky cabin to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his law practice. He defends two men accused of murder in a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend Ann, courts his future wife Mary Todd, and agrees to go into politics. (IMBD.com)
White Heat
Cody Jarrett is the sadistic leader of a ruthless gang of thieves. Afflicted by terrible headaches and fiercely devoted to his 'Ma,' Cody is a volatile, violent, and eccentric leader. Cody's top henchman wants to lead the gang and attempts to have an 'accident' happen to Cody, while he is running the gang from in jail. But Cody is saved by an undercover cop, who thereby befriends him and infiltrates the gang. Finally, the stage is set for Cody's ultimate betrayal and downfall, during a big heist at a chemical plant. (IMDB.com)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
July Movie Nominations - 90's
Random 90's Films
A small time thief from Belfast, Gerry Conlon, is falsely implicated in the IRA bombing of a pub that kills several people while he is in London. Bullied by the British police, he and four of his friends are coerced into confessing their guilt. Gerry's father and other relatives in London are also implicated in the crime. He spends 15 years in prison with his father trying to prove his innocence with the help of a British attorney, Gareth Peirce. Based on a true story. (IMDB.com)
Senator Jay Bulworth is facing speculation-induced financial ruin, so he puts out a contract on his own life in order to collect a large, new insurance policy for his family. Living each moment on borrowed time, he suddenly begins spouting raw, unfiltered--and sometimes offensive in word but satirical in spirit -- thoughts to shocked audiences and handlers in the speech of hip-hop music and culture. His newfound uninhibitedness and new relationship with Nina carry him on a journey of political and spiritual renewal. (IMDB.com)
When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes. They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is whacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries. (IMDB.com)
A biopic of the life and work of the legendary 'worst director of all time', Edward D. Wood Jr., concentrating on the best-known period of his life in the 1950s, when he made Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955) and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), and focusing on both his transvestism and his touching friendship with the once great but now ageing and unemployed horror star Bela Lugosi. (IMDB.com)
Times are tough in a New York real-estate office; the salesmen (Shelley Levene, Ricky Roma, Dave Moss, and George Aaronow) are given a strong incentive by Blake to succeed in a sales contest. The prizes? First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado, second prize is a set of steak knives, third prize is the sack! There is no room for losers in this dramatically masculine world; only "closers" will get the good sales leads. There is a lot of pressure to succeed, so a robbery is committed which has unforeseen consequences for all the characters. (IMDB.com)
Monday, June 28, 2010
So Long and Good Luck, John Anderson
Left, Micah Roderick; Right, John AndersonMovie Geeks Club:
John Anderson, the idea man behind the Movie Geeks Club and co-founder has left Springfield today, with his wife Aubrey, to start a new life in Richmond, VA. The idea of a movie club was conceived about 4 years ago when John and I began looking for more creative endeavors after getting our television show up and running. John pressed on with the idea and finally made contact with the guys at Capital Bar and Grill who had just recently renovated the old theater next door.
We held our inagural Movie Geeks Club with Run Lola Run on January 30, 2007. Since then, we have shown films that range all time periods and genres. Some good, most great. John and I never knew where this "Club" was going when we started but we knew we weren't going to quit until we were asked.
I will continue to try to provide the same caliber of films that were shown in the John Anderson era but I have also brought in some help from a long time Movie Geek, Bart Rogers. He will assist in nominating films and other duties as not assigned.
John will be greatly missed in Springfield but I'm sure Richmond will gain something interesting and fun. We just don't know what that will be yet. I can say this, I'm glad John left us the Movie Geeks Club for all of Springfield to enjoy.
Good Luck John and Aubrey!
On behalf of all the Movie Geeks in Springfield, you will be missed.
Micah
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