On this day in movie history - Surrogates (2009):

Surrogates

directed by Jonathan Mostow,

written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris,

based on the comic book The Surrogates by Robert Venditti,

was released in the United States on September 25, 2009.
Music by Richard Marvin.
End credits song: I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin.

Cast:

Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Francis Ginty, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames, Jack Noseworthy, Devin Ratray, Michael Cudlitz, Jeffrey De Serrano, Helena Mattsson, Michael Philip, Danny F Smith, Brian Parrish, Jennifer Alden, Shane Dzicek, Andrew Haserlat, Justin Goodrich, Lisa Hernandez, Kirk Hawkins, Rachel Sterling, Meta Golding, Taylor Cole, Jordan Belfi, J.L. Highsmith, Nicholas Purcell, Max Murphy, Victor Webster, David Klefeker, Dorothy Brodesser, Valerie Azlynn, Michael O'Toole, Chad Williams, Mike Randy, Tyson Eberly, Michael DeMello, Ron Murphy, Genevieve Johnson, David Conley, Bruce-Robert Serafin, Cody Christian, Ian Novick, Todd Cahoon, Ella Thomas, Gabriel Olds, Eamon Brooks, Rodney Weber, De'Lon Grant, Matthew Souris, Trevor Donovan, Brock Gloor, Rick Malambri, Paul Richard Yarborough, Christine Mascott, Ari Mostow, Nathan Mostow, Taylar Eliza, Edward McCabe, Anya Monzikova, Brett Ainslie, John Amato, Stanis Krista Ames, Melissa Barker, Greg Berney, Joshua Brown, Nicole Burch, Shannon Carter, Chemi Che-Mponda, Desiree April Connolly, Kelly Dempsey, Amanda Dixon, Shannon Mary Dixon, Frank Durant, Shawn Fogarty, Sari Gagnon, Una Green, Barbara Guertin, Brett Gustafson, London Hall, Lauren Hayes, Quincy Heath, Haley Higgins, Jordan Johnson, Kate Jurdi, Haytham Kandil, Petar Kirilov, David A. Kirsch, Jennifer Lazea, Anne Lockhart, Christopher J. Long, Evalena Marie, Dan Marshall, Robert Masiello, Rana Morrison, Jason Mulcahy, Robert Nuzzie, Valerie Parker, Dominic Prietto, Ali Raymer, Derrick Redford, Baylee Ricci, Floyd Richardson, Joe Sobalo Jr., Vyvian B. Stevens, Amanda Wall, Mike Wendt, Jamie Christopher White.

On this day in movie history - Give ‘Em Hell, Malone (2009):

Give ‘Em Hell, Malone

aka Malone,

directed by Russell Mulcahy,

written by Mark Hosack,

was released in the United States on July 25, 2009.
Music by David Williams.

Cast:

Thomas Jane, Ving Rhames, Elsa Pataky, French Stewart, Leland Orser, Chris Yen, William Abadie, Gregory Harrison, Doug Hutchison, Eileen Ryan, David Andriole, Thomas Olson, Mark Hosack, Melody Deatherage, Bart Heimburger, Patrick Treadway, Armand Jalayeri, Gary Pierce, Dane Farwell, Devon Graves, Brandon O’Neill, Gretchen Oyster, Jhon Goodwin, Kent Kimball, Katrina McKinley, Candy Richardz, Aaron Fink, R.J. Hampton, Dominic Salvatore, Randy Weatherbee.

On this day in television history - Kojak (2005):

Kojak

based on Kojak by Abby Mann,

was released in the United States on March 25, 2005,

and ran for one season until May 22, 2005.
Music by Mark Snow.

Cast:

Ving Rhames, Chazz Palminteri, Roselyn Sánchez, Chuck Shamata, Sybil Temtchine and Michael Kelly.

On this day in movie history - Dawn of the Dead (2004):

Dawn of the Dead

directed by Zack Snyder,

written by James Gunn,

based on the novel by George A. Romero,

was released in the United States on March 19, 2004.
Music by Tyler Bates.
Songs on soundtrack include:
Have A Nice Day by Stereophonics.
The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash.
Down With The Sickness by Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine.
People Who Died by The Jim Carroll Band.
Down With The Sickness by Disturbed.

Cast:

Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell, Michael Kelly, Kevin Zegers, Michael Barry, Lindy Booth, Jayne Eastwood, Boyd Banks, Inna Korobkina, R. D. Reid, Kim Poirier, Matt Frewer, Louis Ferreira, Hannah Lochner, Bruce Bohne, Ermes Blarasin, Natalie Brown, Zack Snyder, Scott Reiniger, Tom Savini, Ken Foree.

Jacob’s Ladder (1990) – A nightmarish final struggle:

Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

A nightmarish final struggle

 

Jacob’s Ladder (1990), directed by Adrian Lyne, released in the United States on November 2, 1990, and based on the screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin, is a rarity of the genre: an intelligent horror story.

Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a traumatized Vietnam veteran.

He works for the Post Office, and shares a cramped apartment with his girlfriend and co-worker, Jezebel (Elizabeth Peña), in a dilapidated block in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1970s.

Suffering from PTSD, Jacob is haunted by flashbacks from his time in the war, his pain compounded by the grief of losing his son in an accident.

His waking hours are invaded by bizarre and terrifying hallucinations of a locked underground subway station, and demons that stalk him wherever he goes.

He has disorientating periods when he awakes to find himself in an alternate reality where he is still married to his wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember).

In these sections, his son Gabe (Macaulay Culkin) is still alive.

Jacob attempts to discover the truth about his condition and uncovers a conspiracy involving a failed drug experiment.

The title: Jacob’s Ladder, is a Biblical reference, from Genesis 28:10-21, in which a spiritual staircase, flanked by angels, provides a bridge between Heaven and Earth.

In the latter part of the movie, the chemist, Michael Newman (Matt Craven), describes the enhanced drug as: The Ladder.

Afflicted with back pain, Jacob visits his Chiropractor, Louis (Danny Aiello).

Louis is also his friend and confidante.

When Jacob confides his hallucinations, Louis offers solace and reassurance by quoting the 14th-century German theologian and philosopher, Meister Eckhart:

LOUIS:

Eckhart saw Hell, too. You know what he said? He said: ‘The only thing that burns in Hell, is the part of you that won't let go of your life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you,’ he said. ‘They're freeing your soul’ … So, the way he sees it: ‘if you're frightened of dying and – and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But, if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth.’ It’s just a matter of how you look at it, that’s all.

Bruce Joel Rubin’s screenplay, available in paperback, is an essential read for anyone who appreciates the movie.

It provides a wealth of insight and background information on the development of the story, including the inspiration and meaning behind some of the movie’s most stunning and disturbing images, particularly the visions of the “vibrating” men Jacob glimpses.

The book includes deleted scenes, with reasons why they didn’t make the final cut of the movie.

The acting is understated and flawless.

The strong supporting cast includes excellent character actors: Jason Alexander, John Capodice, Matt Craven, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Eriq La Salle, Ving Rhames, Brian Tarantina, Anthony Alessandro, Brent Hinkley, S. Epatha Merkerson, and John Patrick McLaughlin.

Adrian Lyne, like Ridley Scott, knows how to use light to powerful and atmospheric effect.

Maurice Jarre’s soundtrack sets a melancholic and haunting tone.

So many movies rely too heavily on the jump-shock moment to compensate for lack of plot, or character development.

Jacob’s Ladder doesn’t make that mistake.

The script and plot structure have been carefully thought out.

Jacob Singer is the main character, but in no way heroic.

We feel Jacob’s pain, bewilderment, and terror.

He fights when he has to, particularly in the scene where he is abducted from the street and forcibly strong-armed into the back of a car.

Jacob’s demeanor is, for the most part, quiet, friendly and affable, making his mounting fear and vulnerability more believable.

The quieter sections of the story are emotionally involving enough to make the moments of jarring horror nightmarish and chilling, with a final reveal that is both subtle and moving.

Jacob’s Ladder succeeds on many levels: as part war story, tragedy, drama, horror, mystery, hallucinatory nightmare, and theological thriller, giving the viewer much to think about and discuss.

It’s a disquieting and unforgettable experience that improves with repeat viewings, compelling the viewer to examine reality, existence, and the question of what comes after.

Life is fleeting.

Death is a certainty.

One day, we all have to climb that spiritual ladder.

Ascend … or descend?

Heaven … or Hell?

Which direction and destination will be yours?