Following

The Night Of The Following Day
$14.98
Universal Pictures presents "THE NIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING DAY" (19 February 1969) (94 mins/Color) (Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Marlon Brando is the leader of a gang of ruthless kidnappers --- Some intense scenes and conversations between his co-stars Richard Boone (Leer) and Jess Hahn (Wally) that he wants out of the kidnapping --- Boone is an out of control psycho that will stop at nothing to fill his desires of doing harm to the girl Pamela Franklin they've kidnapped --- Rita Moreno is Wally's sister who has a bad drug habit and is Brando's love interest --- But many of the scenes are Hahn's as he gives the performance of down on his luck wanting this to be the last job person --- This overlooked film has some classic moments, but also does nothing to keep this a Brando and Boone gem.

Under the production staff of:
Hubert Cornfield - Director & Screenwriter
Robert Phippeny - Screenwriter
Lionel White - Screenwriter
Hubert Cornfield - Producer
Jerry Gershwin - Producer
Elliott Kastner - Executive Producer
Al Lettieri - Executive Producer
Stanley Myers - Original Music
Willy Kurant - Cinematographer
Gordon Pilkington - Film Editor

BIOS:
1. Marlon Brando
Date of Birth: 3 April 1924 - Omaha, Nebraska
Date of Death: 1 July 2004 - Los Angeles, California

2. Richard Boone
Date of Birth: 18 June 1917 - Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: 10 January 1981 - St. Augustine, Florida

3. Rita Moreno
Date of Birth: 11 December 1931 - Humacao, Puerto Rico
Date of Death: Still Living

4. Hubert Cornfield
Date of Birth: 9 February 1929 - Istanbul, Turkey
Date of Death: 18 June 2006 - Los Angeles, California

the cast includes
Marlon Brando ... Chauffeur
Richard Boone ... Leer
Rita Moreno ... Vi
Pamela Franklin ... Dupont's daughter
Jess Hahn ... Wally
G���rard Buhr ... Gendarme
Jacques Marin ... Cafe's owner
Hugues Wanner ... Dupont
Al Lettieri ... Al - Pilot (as Al Lettier)

Check out the Marlon Brando 4-Movie Collection (The Ugly American / The Appaloosa / A Countess from Hong Kong / The Night of the Following Day)
also available on this Amazon site:
http://www.amazon.com/Collection-American-Appaloosa-Countess-Following/dp/B0007RTBA6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1248618787&sr=1-2

Looking fit and trim Brando gives an emotionally charged performance, Richard Boone as a sadistic and fiendish killer Jess Hahn as hard-luck and pitiful Wally, Rita Moreno as drug-addicted sister of Wally and Brando's girl-friend is pure acting on the cuff --- Must mention Pamela Franklin as the victim who is kidnapped turns in a truly abusive role --- But don't be fooled, as some of this film drags a bit, but gets going again with a raw and brutal finish --- The Night of the Following Day is a toss up between quirky and brilliant, you be the judge.

Total Time: 94 min on DVD ~ Universal Pictures ~ (05/11/2004)

Memento / Following
$23.95
MEMENTO is one of my favorite films. Seeing Chris Nolan's earlier and equally intricate storyline in FOLLOWING is highly enjoyable. That film is definitely worth seeing on its own merits.

The Machinist
$14.98
This is a story of a man whose life is deteriorating. Even his body is showing the effects of deterioration. Christian Bale lost a lot of weight for this role and the director took good advantage of this, using lighting to highlight every bone in his ribcage. Nicely done, although probably not good for Bale's health!

The color scheme in this movie lends a hand in illustrating how bleak this man's world has become. All the scenery around him is in bland gray tones. The only things in vivid color are the things he needs to pay attention to -- like the red car that keeps popping up out of nowhere, the red route 66 sign, the blue car that hits him.
But instead of paying attention to these signs, he instead chooses to see them as a threat...becoming paranoid with each encounter, thus driving away the people who care for him and driving himself crazy in the process.

The lighting in this movie also lent a hand in illustrating mood. I perceived the lighting to be too harsh -- especially at the machinery and at the airport -- and likened this to the sensation of being asleep and suddenly having the lights turned on. The blinding light shocks you awake...just like every time he tries to sleep, something keeps him staying awake.
And for good reason.

This is a strange movie that I don't see appealing to a wide audience. I know there were some parts that still confuse me, but overall, I still liked it. I enjoyed Christian Bale's performance as well as the overall mood of the film. There's a good lesson in here that shows what happens when you take the wrong path...and what happens when you stay there.

Following Her Heart
$6.99
Following Her Heart is the inspiring story of one woman's choice to chase her dreams. Ann-Margret gives a touching performance as Ingalill Lundquist, a musically-talented, newly-widowed housewife with a stifling marriage finally behind her. With nobody to impress and nothing to lose, she heads to Nashville via bus tour to take a chance on country music. Along the way, Ingalill discovers the power of real friendship, the excitement of new love, and the magic that unfolds when you courageously live a dream.