Ray Schillaci

Ray Schillaci

Ray Schillaci

Ray Schillaci is a professed film enthusiast whose wife thinks he’s downright obsessive. She insists he loves film more than her, their kids and their dog. Not true, he loves that dog!

He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and has over 25 years experience in the motion picture and television industry. The last five years he shared duties running one of the major unions in Hollywood, and was a director on the Motion Picture and Television Fund. He went onto be a V.P. of Sales and Marketing for a small Burbank production company, and later became an advertising executive for Republic Media. During his time in the studios, he also did a brief three-year stint on the comedy circuit working along side Arsenio Hall, Fritz Coleman and Jenny Jones, to name a few.

After quitting comedy, he decided to put all his efforts into writing. His first script, a coming-of-age horror flick, nabbed him an agent. Subsequent scripts later received option deals but have not been produced yet. He continued to write with a great deal of help from his mentor, Karl Schanzer, an old Roger Corman protégée. The man was a producer, a high profile executive at Fox and worked with a variety of talent from Coppola to Cameron. He was also the co-author of the industry book, American Screenwriters and would be an invaluable sensei for Ray.

Schillaci was also a contributor (movie critic and film commentary) to FRED Entertainment (formerly known as Quick Stop Entertainment) since 2007, and recently finished his long in the making first novel, a supernatural spaghetti western. He is also the Film Presenter Coordinator for the Phoenix Film Festival and International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival. His tastes vary and he appreciates commercial as well as independent film. His only beef is boredom, re-treads and a story that has nothing to say. His credo; life’s too short not to be entertained.

LINKS TO RECENT WORK
REVIEWS:
Marmalade
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Killer
Dangerous Waters
The Longest Yard
Cobweb
Sisu
Talk to Me
Oppenheimer
Evil Dead Rise
John Wick: Chapter 4
Scrap
Search the ARCHIVES links at the footer of this page or use the search tool for Ray’s reviews.

ARTICLES:
Barbie – Why the Controversy?
Oscar’s Trifecta of Excellence
Oscars, Why Bother?

RAY’S PIC OF THE WEEK:

PIC of the Week – The Longest Yard

Article Series by Ray Schillaci

Cinephiles have struck pay dirt with Kino Lorber’s release of the brilliant sports comedy 1974’s The Longest Yard. Why a studio even attempted to do a remake in 2005 of this movie replacing Burt Reynolds’ smarmy charm with Adam Sandler’s typical one-note character is beyond me. Then to add insult to injury, to replace a seasoned veteran of cinema like director Robert Aldrich famous for The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? with director Peter Segal, known for…what? The Get Smart movie? The third Naked Gun remake and the listless Grudge Match? The studio couldn’t find anybody else after they hired Sandler? Whatever, this is one of the gripes I have about remakes that should never be attempted.

Producer, Albert S. Ruddy, Robert Aldrich and Burt developed a story full of grit and bawdy humor. It was both dramatic and laugh out loud funny while delivering a Rocky-type ending that had people cheering and chanting “Mean Machine!” in the theater in the last twelve minutes of the film. The casting is pitch perfect with Burt as former star pro football quarterback, Paul Crewe, who was accused of shaving points off a game causing his team to lose, Eddie Albert (The Longest Day, The Heartbreak Kid, Green Acres) as despicable Warden Hazen, Ed Lauter (Cujo, Trouble with the Curve, Seabiscuit) as the tough-as-nails Captain Knauer, also coach of the prison guard football team, and a great cast of character actors that you will recognize instantly.

Paul Crewe has been living the high life off of his rich bitch of a girlfriend in Florida until they get into an ugly fight. In the end, he insists on taking her Maserati for a spin. Not the best idea, because she reports him to the police. Crewe drives crazy with drink on hand as the police chase after him. As soon as he loses them, he drives the Maserati off a pier just out of spite. He then walks off to the nearest bar where two police officers approach him and once again, that smarmy charm starts to work with the officers laughing. Eventually, it becomes no laughing matter when Crewe takes a swing at one of them.

Crewe is sentenced to eighteen months in Citrus State Prison where no one is too pleased with him for the rumor of shaving points. The convicts don’t like him. The guard have no use for him. The only one that is happy to see him is Warden Hazen who is looking for a professional to coach his guard football team to win the championship against the other prisons. But, before the warden meets up with Crewe, Captain Knauer roughs him up while he is shackled and handcuffed and gives him a warning not to accept the warden’s offer. Knauer is the Captain of the guard’s football team and he doesn’t want an outsider taking away his glory.

Once Crewe turns down the offer and Knauer is threatened by the warden to change Crewe’s mind, Knauer beats him up again and sends him in for swamp detail. After the abuse of the detail and some of the crazier convicts, Crewe finally agrees to take up the warden’s offer. He checks out the prison guard team and suggests what they need before the big game is to play a game with an underdog team that they can beat real bad and boost their confidence. But, there is a time crunch and the warden has no idea where to find such a team. Crewe suggests using the prisoners. Warden Hazen finds the idea brilliant, so much that he wants Crewe to coach and play quarterback for the prisoners. Crewe finds this a near impossible task because he hasn’t played in so long and does not want to get hurt. On the warden’s insistence, Crewe begrudgingly accepts.

This is where the real fun begins with the development of the self-proclaimed Mean Machine. Football practice and the actual game has never been this mean, violently funny and incredibly exciting. Just about every player stands out with all their unique quirks that had me laughing throughout.

This 4K UHD release by Kino Lorber could not be any cleaner. For a movie that was made in the early ’70s, the picture is brilliant. This presentation is so crisp and sharp you would think it was made a couple of years ago. The reason for this is because this new HEVC-encoded 2160p transfer is sourced from a new Dolby Vision HDR master. There is virtually no grain as you would expect from a film of this era. Colors are so bright and detailed. this is a vast improvement over the DVD and Blu. Especially towards the third act when director Aldrich delivers multiple screen shots at the same time of plays, players and attendees at the game.

The DTS-HD MA 2.0 track is a far cry better than what the original DVD had to offer. Dialogue is balanced well with the soundtrack and background ambience. The real difference with this track is the sound effects of the actual plays; the crunching, punching, tackling and the roar of the crowd. And, Frank De Vol’s exciting score is more pronounced than ever.

Bonuses are scarce, but the banter between producer Albert S. Ruddy and Burt Reynolds is very enjoyable and interesting, especially one tidbit where Reynolds talks about the scene that he was most concerned with – the fight between him and the girlfriend. He thought it was too violent and would have the audience hate his character. Ruddy assured him that his charm would override that. When they previewed it (and this was back in the ’70s), the audience cheered and Burt was stunned.

There is also a second commentary by film critics Alain Silver and James Ursini, authors of Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich. A fascinating commentary discussing the development of The Longest Yard and the special characters created for the film. They also go into great detail about director Aldrich’s career.

Kino Lorber has given us every reason with this release to invest in 4K. The Longest Yard is one of Burt’s best films and performances, right up there with Deliverance, Boogie Nights and The End. This two-disc set comes with a Blu as well. The only thing I would have asked for was a blooper reel which would have been priceless with this particular film. Other than that, this is definitely one to add to your library.

Lowest Price – $25.63 – Walmart

Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
 

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FELL FOR IT HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

Movie Review – Marmalade

Review by Ray Schillaci

Writer/director Keir O’Donnell’s debut may have delivered the sleeper of the year with his wild, sweet and at times aggravating film. But, no matter what, by the time the end credits roll you cannot resist loving Marmalade and you will want to watch it over again with friends and some discerning family. It’s part updated version of a goofy Bonnie & Clyde mixed in with a little Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona and Jonathan Demme’s cult hit Something Wild.

I only mention those films to try and get a grasp of Marmalade. The script feels fresh, funny and, as mentioned, aggravating in the beginning. I’ll get to why in a moment. The movie and its cast is so quick-witted that you can’t come out of it without a sh*t eating grin.

In the beginning we see Baron, a young soft-spoken, half-wit, innocent from a small town stepping into a penitentiary. Fresh meat to all the prisoners. The first thing that comes to mind is what could he have possibly done to get in here. Well, that story eventually comes out to his bad ass cellmate, Otis, who actually has some pity for the poor fool because they both have mommy issues.

But, what really prompts Baron to tell Otis his tale of woe is that aside from his other felonies, he has broken out of three separate jails and already has plans to leave the one they’re in. Baron tells him that if he helps him out as well, he has $250,000 he will gladly give to him just so he can reunite with the love of his life…Marmalade.

This all sounds very suspect and Otis being the street person he is doubts the kid until he unravels the whole story. Baron relays to him how he lost his job at the post office for not cutting his long hair, how he couldn’t find other work, the cost of his bedridden mother’s drugs that she relies onto live have skyrocketed and he was behind on everything.

He went to the park and laid on the grass, looking up at the sky, feeling like it was the end until an angel hovered over in a fancy car, stepped out, grinned with a big beautiful smile and wild pink hair. Had he died and gone to heaven? Cause she was the prettiest thing he ever laid eyes on. No, he was very much alive and she stopped by to see if he was dead. It’s a funny and awkward moment, one of many as Marmalade invites the sweet innocent Baron into her wild, carefree life style.

She takes a liking to him. Wants him to show her around town. He takes her to a rock quarry and they swap life stories. Marmalade relays how she was a victim of the foster care system and basically has no one. Baron talks about caring for his sick mother, who is all he has. This touches Marmalade.

She decides to show him how much fun it is to be spontaneous and not have a care in the world. Baron falls hard for her, especially when she tells him she wants to meet his mother, Eda. Mother can barely communicate, but we can tell that she’s not too happy about this scruffy wild thing in her son’s life and in her house. Since Marmalade has nowhere to stay, Baron offers his place and that begins the intensity of a very fast paced romance.

But, there is always the lingering part about the dim future ahead for Baron and his mother. He tells Marmalade that he’s trying to figure out a way to make money. He thinks of renting his room, but then where would Marmalade stay? Instead, Marmalade quite convincingly suggests robbing a bank. She promises no one will get hurt and she can help him plan it all out.

Throughout the planning stages it seems as if Baron’s heart is not into it. He keeps having second thoughts and hilariously messes the plans up, causing setbacks. To keep him in track, Marmalade keeps asking him if he truly loves her and that what they’re doing is what’s best for his mom. She is a total manipulator.

That’s the part that is aggravating in the beginning, how dim-witted Baron is. His Southern drawl, the way he carries himself with no confidence, he is the ultimate sad sack. He’s almost painful to watch. On the other hand, Marmalade is a ball of fire. You have no idea what she’s about to do next. She’s also a whirlwind of pain and emotions, and actress/model Camila Morrone (Daisy Jones & The Six) pulls it all off beautifully. Half way through the film as we watch Baron struggle with the morality of it all, the aggravation dissipates and he eventually wins our heart, thanks to a brilliant performance by Joe Keery from Stranger Things.

Their are so many enjoyable twists and turns in Keir O’Donnell’s script that there are several times when you think the film is going to end and then he throws in a gotcha moment. Also, the character of Otis is so well written and played by Aldis Hodge. He is street tough, down-to-earth, wise and has a subtleness all his own helping us along with this fantastic ride that Marmalade provides for us.

Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com

Directed by: Keir O’Donnell
Release Date: February 9, 2024
Run Time: 100 Minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Distributor: Signature Films/Tea Shop Productions