9 thoughts on “Common Movies”

1. BOB on Joel’s late partner in song
   May 27, 2021 at 11:42 am

   “Sadly since I last mentioned him on this site – I was the one who HAD to do it: nobody else was going to, the whole preoccupation from others being with Al’s song-writing junior partner! – Albert “Al” Kasha died in Sept 2020 aged 83. RIP Al.”

   The above extract is from a post that I sent to The Work Horse today on the Tom Berenger page as I think that the extract is appropriate to be placed on this page too because of the following comments from IMDB and Wikipedia:

   “Al Kasha has reached the top of every field that he has lent his talents to: as a writer, producer, composer, motivational speaker and executive working in theatre, film, television, home video, music publishing, and recording. Kasha is one of those rare artists who, as a composer/lyricist, has had hit records over the last five decades

   Kasha is most noted though for his years of collaboration with songwriter Joel Hirschhorn. The two wrote and collaborated on many nominated and award-winning songs for many music groups, movies, and musicals. The Peppermint Rainbow’s “Will You Be Staying After Sunday” is just one example of the many songs they wrote for groups during their time.”

   I know little about Al overall but from an interview that he gave a year or so ago he seemed an unassuming but gregarious guy; indeed he must have had the patience of a saint when one considers the company he kept!!!

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2. Amazing how prolific Common’s been in movies considering he started as a rapper.

   I’ve seen 16 of the 38 films on the chart. Favorites are Wanted, Suicide Squad, American Gangster, John Wick 2, Terminator Salvation, Hunter Killer, Happy Feet 2 and Now You See Me.

   Good stuff Bruce. Vote Up.

   Reply

   1. “Amazing how prolific Common’s been in movies considering he started as a rapper.”
      Fair point Steve but let’s recall the earlier trailblazers who made that journey: Sinatra/Elvis/Dina Paul Crocitii/my Doris all started as singers who made droves of movies and became Giants of the industry

      And heck The Warbling Teenager ***with her trained operatic voice auditioned on the same platform as the young Judy Garland to break into movies. [***Viewers please note it was Steve and NOT yours truly who gave Miss Durbin this nickname].

      And what about Hirsch? It should always be remembered that he was first a rock n rock singer and nightclub entertainer before he conquered the film world [at least in the eyes of some people on this site].

      Moreover Joel wrote for the screen Oscar winning theme songs such as The Towering Inferno’s We May Never Love Like This Again and also was an opera critic and was very good indeed in that medium of the critics trade. Hey! am I the only one on this site who is determined to see that Hirsch gets full recognition for ALL his achievements?

      Certainly I seem to be alone in recognizing the contribution of AL Kasha Joel’s long-time buddy and Oscar-winning songwriting partner who gets no Cogerson love whatsoever, the only AL THAT being reserved for is a fella called Leach.

      For example in part 2 of this post is a cut-and-paste of a post that I sent to Joel’s page that was TOTALLY ignored. I suppose that anybody who writes anything finds that it’s often his/her ‘masterpieces’ that get passed-over; though I did some time ago request an AL Kasha page. Ah! how we have agonized over the things that might have been but never were!

      Maybe however in relation to Hirsch, AL and this site a paraphrasing would be appropriate of director Edward Dymtryk’s chastisement of Brando on the set of The Young Lions when Ed said to Marlon who was over- milking a death scene at the end of the movie “Stop! When Monty Clift’s in a movie with you there is room for only one Jesus Christ!”

      Hope you are enjoying your weekend and hopefully we will chat again tomorrow.

      Reply

      1. Well ‘Warbling Teenager’ sounded better than ‘Trilling Teenager’ .

         Sadly I can’t take credit for ‘Mumbles’ Brando I think ‘Ol Blue Eyes’ said it back in the 50s. Frankie also mocked Elvis back in the 50s, hated Rock n Roll, they sort of became pals in the 60s and of course Elvis started dating Nancy. I wonder how Frank felt anout that?

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         1. HI STEVE;

            A lot of movie stars had pet nicknames for each other. For example Jeff Chandler ans Rory Calhoun were great friends and Rory called Jeff “Big Grey” for obvious reasons and Jeff retuned the complement by nicknaming Rory Old Smoke [because of Rory’shuge mane of jet-black hair at the time.

            Film star nicknames are often applied to people among the general public because of one oblique connection or other with a particular movie star. For example we had a local famous personality over here now deceased whose name was Jim Gray and he had a huge mop of blonde hair and in rhyme he was thus widely nicknnamed “Doris Day!

            According to recent documentaries about the British Royal Family the present Queen’s late uncle Edward Duke of Windsor [called David in Royal circles of his day] who abdicated from the Britiish throne to marry American Wallis socialite Simpson in private and behind her back referred unflatteringly to the young Elizabeth 2nd as “Shirley Temple”

            By the way The Warbling Teenager’s nickname among her contemporaries was “The Mortgage Finder” according to IMDB. I have never found whey they called her that though I have researched the matter as far as I can. If YOU ever learn why please inform me.

            Reply

3. I’ve seen 29 of Common’s films.

   Common is no longer on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000. These are the people on the 2020 list he has appeared with.

   4 MICHAEL CAINE NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   6 MARTIN SHEEN SELMA (2014)
   7 ROBERT DE NIRO New Year’s Eve (2011)
   20 MORGAN FREEMAN NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   20 MORGAN FREEMAN Wanted (2008)
   34 FRANCO NERO JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   42 TERENCE STAMP Wanted (2008)
   62 CARY ELWES BEING CHARLIE (2016)
   62 CARY ELWES New Year’s Eve (2011)
   64 JOHN MALKOVICH AVA (2020)
   75 LIAM NEESON ENTOURAGE (2015)
   75 LIAM NEESON RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   79 BRUCE MCGILL RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   80 MARTIN LANDAU ENTOURAGE (2015)
   97 NAOMI WATTS MOVIE 43 (2014)
   109 ED HARRIS RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   115 IAN MCSHANE JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   125 LIEV SCHREIBER MOVIE 43 (2014)
   139 TOM WILKINSON SELMA (2014)
   148 MICHELLE PFEIFFER New Year’s Eve (2011)
   152 WOODY HARRELSON NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   156 BRAD PITT Happy Feet Two (2011)
   159 PETER STORMARE JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   164 NICK NOLTE RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   169 GARY OLDMAN HUNTER KILLER (2018)
   176 STEPHEN LANG Pawn (2013)
   181 MATT DAMON Happy Feet Two (2011)
   202 FOREST WHITAKER Pawn (2013)
   202 KEANU REEVES Street Kings (2008)
   208 ROBIN WILLIAMS Happy Feet Two (2011)
   233 ANDY GARCIA Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   246 CHRISTIAN BALE Terminator Salvation (2009)
   246 CHRISTIAN BALE Terminator Salvation (2009)
   252 KEANU REEVES A HAPPENING OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS (2017)
   252 KEANU REEVES JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   252 NOEL GUGLIEMI STREET KINGS (2008)
   254 ANGELINA JOLIE Wanted (2008)
   261 ALLISON JANNEY A HAPPENING OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS (2017)
   264 ARMAND ASSANTE American Gangster (2007)
   281 VINCENT D’ONOFRIO RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   293 DENZEL WASHINGTON American Gangster (2007)
   297 RICHARD GERE MOVIE 43 (2014)
   309 JOHN LEGUIZAMO JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   318 TONY SHALHOUB MOVIE 43 (2014)
   320 RAY LIOTTA Pawn (2013)
   320 RAY LIOTTA Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   329 DIANE LANE EVERY SECRET THING (2014)
   336 UMA THURMAN MOVIE 43 (2014)
   346 GARY BUSEY ENTOURAGE (2015)
   347 THOMAS KRETSCHMANN Wanted (2008)
   348 WILL PATTON MEAGAN LEAVEY (2017)
   382 JUDY GREER ENTOURAGE (2015)
   390 GERARD BUTLER HUNTER KILLER (2018)
   390 GERARD BUTLER MOVIE 43 (2014)
   391 LAURENCE FISHBURNE JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)
   404 COLIN FARRELL AVA (2020)
   418 JOSH BROLIN American Gangster (2007)
   421 BILLY BOB THORNTON ENTOURAGE (2015)
   425 MARK WAHLBERG ENTOURAGE (2015)
   428 PAM GRIER Just Wright (2010)
   453 KEVIN CORRIGAN American Gangster (2007)
   457 ELIJAH WOOD Happy Feet Two (2011)
   465 STEPHEN ROOT SELMA (2014)
   472 JON POLITO American Gangster (2007)
   491 LARRY MILLER New Year’s Eve (2011)
   526 JOHN ORTIZ AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
   527 LOIS SMITH RUN ALL NIGHT (2015)
   538 HANK AZARIA HAPPY FEET TWO (2011)
   553 KATE WINSLET MOVIE 43 (2014)
   559 RICHARD SCHIFF ENTOURAGE (2015)
   570 BEN AFFLECK Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   570 BEN AFFLECK SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)
   574 CHARLES S. DUTTON LUV (2012)
   576 TED LEVINE AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
   578 DEBI MAZAR ENTOURAGE (2015)
   583 DAVID ARQUETTE ENTOURAGE (2015)
   663 JOAN CHEN AVA (2020)
   680 IOAN GRUFFUD AVA (2020)
   699 HUGO WEAVING HAPPY FEET TWO (2011)
   706 JEREMY PIVEN ENTOURAGE (2015)
   706 JEREMY PIVEN Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   715 MATTHEW BRODERICK New Year’s Eve (2011)
   718 GEORGE TAKAI ENTOURAGE (2015)
   733 MICHAEL IRONSIDE Terminator Salvation (2009)
   745 HELENA BONHAM CARTER Terminator Salvation (2009)
   794 ALEX ROCCO Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   795 WILL SMITH SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)
   798 DIANNE WIEST THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN (2012)
   804 CLIVE OWEN THE INFORMER (2020)
   832 GRIFFIN DUNNE MOVIE 43 (2014)
   833 HALLE BERRY MOVIE 43 (2014)
   833 HALLE BERRY New Year’s Eve (2011)
   850 CARLA GUGINO American Gangster (2007)
   850 CARLA GUGINO New Year’s Eve (2011)
   854 CUBA GOODING JR. American Gangster (2007)
   854 CUBA GOODING JR. SELMA (2014)
   859 BOBBY CANNAVALE MOVIE 43 (2014)
   864 BRADLEY WHITFORD A HAPPENING OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS (2017)
   867 MARK RUFFALO NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   874 TIL SCHWEIGER NEW YEAR’S EVE (2011)
   877 JOHN HAWKES American Gangster (2007)
   893 RUSSELL CROWE American Gangster (2007)
   900 DAVID MORSE THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN (2012)
   912 JOEL EDGERTON Smokin’ Aces (2006)
   912 JOEL EDGERTON The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
   929 JANE ALEXANDER TERMINATOR SALVATION (2009)
   937 RIC YOUNG AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
   941 SARAH JESSICA PARKER New Year’s Eve (2011)
   976 JOE MORTON AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)

   Common has appeared with 22 Oscar winners.

   ALLISON JANNEY A HAPPENING OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS (2017)
   ANGELINA JOLIE Wanted (2008)
   BRAD PITT Happy Feet Two (2011)
   CHRISTIAN BALE Terminator Salvation (2009)
   CUBA GOODING JR. American Gangster (2007)
   CUBA GOODING JR. SELMA (2014)
   DENZEL WASHINGTON American Gangster (2007)
   DIANNE WIEST THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN (2012)
   EMMA STONE MOVIE 43 (2014)
   FOREST WHITAKER Pawn (2013)
   FOREST WHITAKER Street Kings (2008)
   GARY OLDMAN HUNTER KILLER (2018)
   GEENA DAVIS AVA (2020)
   HALLE BERRY MOVIE 43 (2014)
   HALLE BERRY New Year’s Eve (2011)
   HILARY SWANK New Year’s Eve (2011)
   JARED LETO SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)
   KATE WINSLET MOVIE 43 (2014)
   MARTIN LANDAU ENTOURAGE (2015)
   MICHAEL CAINE NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   MORGAN FREEMAN NOW YOU SEE ME (2013/I)
   MORGAN FREEMAN Wanted (2008)
   ROBERT DE NIRO New Year’s Eve (2011)
   ROBIN WILLIAMS Happy Feet Two (2011)
   RUSSELL CROWE American Gangster (2007)
   VIOLA DAVIS SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)

   Reply

4. HI O PROLIFIC ONE!
   You’re even covering a rapper now! Gosh you are busy with the hordes of stuff you churn out NON-STOP! If asked what it is like being in close proximity to you W o C would probably give the answer that Bernie Schwartz gave when he was asked what it was like working with 1950s workaholic Burton Lancaster on 1956’s Trapeze: “It’s like being near a furnace all the time!”

   Work Horse, if Brando had put into his movies the hours that you do into yours, he’d have been asking for one BILLION dollars per movie! Indeed often when I think of you I am reminded of “The Bee Song” as sung by British comedian Arthur Askey in 1944.

   Oh, what a wonderful thing to be
   A healthy, grown-up, busy-busy bee
   Whiling away all the passing hours
   Pinching all the pollen from the cauliflowers.

   I’d like to be a busy-busy bee
   Being as busy as a bee can be
   Flying around the garden, brightest ever seen
   Taking back the honey to the dear old queen

   Oh, what a wonderful thing to be
   A healthy, grown-up, busy-busy bee
   Visiting the picnics, quite a little tease
   Raising little lumps on the maiden’s knees

   I have seen 5 of the movies in the above table. IMDB credits Common with 19 awards and 50 nominations; his net worth is said to be $45 million at present; and he has 5 movies in the pipeline – 2 at post-production stage and 3 at pre-production planning stage.

   Now don’t you go telling him that the latter 3 will likely never get made. You’ve been quite a wet blanket in that respect recently! Anyway “Voted Up!” and by the way thanks for the interesting feedback on my Tobey Maguire post and for your responses to othere recent posts of mine [long liver Sir Maurice!]. I think Lensman may have some more cowboy movies for us later today.

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5. Great UMR Page

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   1. Thanks Mike. When my son suggested him, I could not name a single movie he was in….I knew him as an actor….just could not place him in a movie. Turns out I have seen 27 of his movies….including 95% of his Top 20.

      Reply

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