The Post (2017) Steven Spielberg

At a time when journalism and the news media, in general, is under attack for delivering “fake news,” Steven Spielberg’s film The Post delivers a message on the importance of a free and separate press; the need for the truth to come out despite attacks from those in positions of power and influence.

A “Jaws” 4th of July

I can’t help but not be very surprised by the reaction from authorities in North Carolina after the recent increase in shark attacks – “The beaches will remain open.” After hearing this, the first thought that came into my head was Jaws. The local politicians and business owners in Spielberg’s classic film reacted exactly the same way. It’s the 4^th of July weekend, one of the biggest moneymaking times of the year. Closing the beaches will ruin the local economy. Public safety, sure that’s needed, but hey, business first. North Carolina has already experienced seven shark attacks this year. Add in the three attacks that occurred in South Carolina, and that puts the two neighboring states at ten. On average, the two Carolina’s combined normally have about six or seven attacks all year.

Colombo: Murder by the Book (1971) Steven Spielberg

I was never a big fan of Colombo. I did watch it. However I found the disheveled, cigar chomping, looking like he just rolled out of bed, wearing the same clothes he wore the day before, annoying. For some people, that was all part of his charm. That everydayness quality made him the guy next door.

Colombo seemed to be the kind of guy who did not have a clue. You wondered, how the heck he ever made Lt. But you soon come to realize, underneath this rough exterior, he was way ahead in the game. The sloppy clothes, the clueless look were all a façade, at least the clueless look was, all distractions to throw suspects off. That said, there were two reasons why I would watch the show. There were many episodes that rose above the ordinary TV fare and second, Peter Falk. Falk always had a down to earth quality.  Oh yeah, he also had some cool friends like John Cassavetes and Ben Gazarra (1).

Jaws (1975) Steven Spielberg

This post is part of the Steven Spielberg Blogathon hosted by Adam Zanzie of  Ice Box Movies  and Ryan Kelly of Medfly Quarantine.  Click here for the Blogathon.

                    A Look Back at the Summer of JAWS

This past summer was the 35th anniversary since the release of “Jaws,” or as some look at it as the birth of summer blockbuster, saturation booking and the death call for Hollywood’s last great era. “Jaws” has been credited or blamed for it all. If you hate the way the news media focus’ on how much a film made this past weekend giving you the top three as if that were THE requirement for a successful film then you can blame ”Jaws.” Today the media seems to be preoccupied with box office results, the almighty dollars, as an indication of a film’s greatness, more so than the movie itself. But back in the summer of ’75 that was all in the future, or so it seemed.