Tag: Ronald Reagan

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 7 – Phil Hartman

The ultimate utility player in a golden age on the show, Phil Hartman’s eight years were filled with terrific impressions and delightfully oddball original characters. His comedic bonafides are undeniable. A Groundlings alum, he co-wrote Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure before joining SNL and would later provide iconic voices on The Simpsons.

Hartman excelled at impersonating two Presidents (Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton) and one First Lady (Barbara Bush). His bit as Clinton visiting McDonald’s is rightfully considered one of the all-timers. A Reagan sketch where he’s shown to be the man behind the curtain unlike his reputation is also a classic. Other memorable impressions include Frank Sinatra, Phil Donahue, Charlton Heston, Johnny Cash, Andy Griffith, and Ed McMahon’s to Dana Carvey’s Johnny Carson. That’s merely skimming the surface.

Fresh creations included Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and Eugene, the Anal Retentive Chef. Hartman was a genuine glue guy on SNL who was often the highlight among many talented costars. #6 will be up soon!

Phil Hartman

Years on the Show: 1986-94

September 6-8 Box Office Predictions

The autumn cinematic season looks to spook up a massive debut with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton’s long in the works sequel to his 1988 classic with Michael Keaton reprising his iconic role. My detailed prediction post on it can be accessed here:

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Box Office Prediction

In order for Beetlejuice to set the all-time domestic September opening record, it would need to eclipse the $123 million achieved by 2017’s It. That could be a tall order but it is achievable. For second place, topping the $91 million earned by It‘s 2019 sequel is the assignment. My forecast gives Burton and company those bragging rights with room to spare.

The rest of the top five will belong to summer holdovers with Deadpool & Wolverine sliding to second. Spots 3-5 should be a close call between Reagan, Twisters, and Alien: Romulus. I have them in that order though the figures are basically interchangeable.

Here’s how I have it shaking out:

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Predicted Gross: $115.7 million

2. Deadpool & Wolverine

Predicted Gross: $9.8 million

3. Reagan

Predicted Gross: $4.8 million

4. Twisters

Predicted Gross: $4.7 million

5. Alien: Romulus

Predicted Gross: $4.5 million

Box Office Results (August 30-September 2)

A rather dull Labor Day weekend greeted multiplexes as Deadpool & Wolverine, in its sixth frame, stayed in first with $19.5 million. That’s a little more than my $18.3 million prediction as the MCU heavy hitter is up to $603 million.

Alien: Romulus was second with $11.6 million, under my $13.7 million prediction. The franchise’s latest entry is nearing the century mark at $91 million after three weeks.

The bright spot of the holiday for theaters was Ronald Reagan’s reemergence with Dennis Quaid playing him. Biopic Reagan was a solid third with $10.3 million, easily surpassing my meager $5.6 million take.

Fourth place belonged to Twisters with $9.8 million. It blew past my $6.8 million forecast in week 7 to bring its tally to $260 million.

It Ends with Us rounded out the top five with $9.3 million (I went with $10.2 million) for a pleasing four-week gross of $135 million.

Faith-based drama The Forge was sixth with $6.5 million (I said $7.2 million) for $16 million after two weeks.

Also in its sophomore frame, Blink Twice grossed $6.1 million for seventh. That’s in range with my $6.3 million projection and it has $16 million in its coffers.

Finally, Blumhouse horror flick AfrAId was DOA in ninth with just $4.4 million. I was kinder at $7.4 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Reagan Box Office Prediction

As the nation is focused on who will be the 47th President of the United States, distributor ShowBiz Direct hopes moviegoers watch a biopic about the 40th over Labor Day weekend. Sean McNamara directs Reagan with Dennis Quaid in the title role and Penelope Ann Miller as First Lady Nancy. Costars include Nick Searcy, Robert Davi, Lesley-Anne Down, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Dillon, Mena Suvari, and Jon Voight. Heck, we even have Creed frontman Scott Stapp as Frank Sinatra (?!?).

Political pics fave challenges breaking through at the box office. I’m not sure audiences will greet this with arms wide open. Shot in late 2020, it has taken some time to find its way to the big screen. Reagan is catering to a conservative audience as evidenced by the politics of some of the cast.

Perhaps older viewers will turn out, but I’m skeptical the MAGA crowd shows up in force. With the caveat that this could outperform, I’ll say mid to maybe higher single digits is where this lands over the four-day holiday.

Reagan opening weekend prediction: $5.6 million (Friday to Monday prediction)

For my AfrAId prediction, click here:

AfrAId Box Office Prediction

James Bond and the U.S. Presidency: A History

A fascinating factoid is out now that the U.S. Presidential Election of 2020 is in the rearview. As fans of the James Bond franchise are aware, we are now approaching the 60th anniversary of the series in 2022. The release of No Time to Die will mark the 25th official feature in the 007 canon when it (hopefully) debuts in 2021. As you are likely aware, the fifth and final Daniel Craig appearance as the British super spy was originally slated for April 2020 before its COVID-19 related delay.

Why am I saying all of this as it relates to the election that just happened? Well, it turns out that the Trump presidency will be the first since the series began in which no James Bond picture was released. That means there have been 10 U.S. Presidencies in a row where 007 appeared on the silver screen… from Kennedy to Obama. Until now. This will clearly resume when No Time is released in plenty of time for when Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office.

Based on this interesting little nugget of trivia info, I thought it might be fun to run through the movies that were released under each former POTUS and take stock with how their administrations matched up with Bond’s adventures onscreen:

The Presidency of John F. Kennedy

The Bond Pictures: Dr. No (1962)

It seems more than appropriate that this franchise started under JFK’s tenure. President Kennedy was a self-professed fan of the Ian Fleming novels. The producers of Bond actually chose From Russia with Love to be the second in the series because JFK singled it out as a favorite book. Sadly, the last movie the President ever watched at the White House was From Russia (months before its actual US release, though it was out in the UK). That was on November 20. Two days later is when Kennedy took the fateful trip to Dallas.

The Presidency of Lyndon Johnson

The Bond Pictures: From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967)

I would say it’s hard to argue that Johnson’s time in the White House isn’t the most impressive when it comes to the 007 catalogue. This was, of course, the heyday of Sean Connery’s time in the role which turned him into an international superstar. The first two titles on the board are often cited as the greatest of the bunch (my personal favorite is Russia).

The Presidency of Richard Nixon

The Bond Pictures: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973)

Nixon wins having the most Bonds during his time in office. There were three as his Presidency marked George Lazenby’s one off in Service, Connery’s return in Diamonds, and Roger Moore’s first outing with Live. I would also say the trio is all somewhat underwhelming to a degree (though I know the Service diehards will not appreciate that statement).

The Presidency of Gerald Ford

The Bond Pictures: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Pretty slim picking for Mr. Ford with Moore’s second go-round as 007. This is deservedly considered one of the weakest in the franchise.

The Presidency of Jimmy Carter

The Bond Pictures: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979)

The best of times and worst of times for Roger Moore matched with the Carter Administration. I would easily call Spy the finest Moore pic in his run while Moonraker is the low point.

The Presidency of Ronald Reagan

The Bond Pictures: For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), The Living Daylights (1987)

It’s appropriate that some of the titles here incorporate the Cold War activities happening in Reagan’s 1980s era. The list here includes two solid Moore outings (yes, I think Octopussy is quite good) and the middling finale of View. It also marks Timothy Dalton’s fairly pleasing debut in Daylights. As a side note, while not considered an official Bond pic in the canon sense, Sean Connery returned to his signature part with 1983’s Never Say Never Again.

The Presidency of George H.W. Bush

The Bond Pictures: Licence to Kill (1989)

The last one term President until now had just one 007 flick. I maintain that Licence may be just the most underrated one of the whole series. It was Dalton’s swan song for his brief tenure.

The Presidency of Bill Clinton

The Bond Pictures: Goldeneye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999)

The Clinton Era matches with the Pierce Brosnan era as the franchise was revitalized financially with these three blockbusters which were all decent in quality.

The Presidency of George W. Bush

The Bond Pictures: Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008)

A mixed bag. I consider Brosnan’s finale of Day to be the worst James Bond adventure of all time. On the other hand, Daniel Craig’s emergence in Royale is second only to From Russia with Love in my opinion. Quantum was just OK and the weakest of the Craig pics.

The Presidency of Barack Obama

The Bond Pictures: Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015)

Bond reached a billion dollars in the Obama era with Skyfall, rightfully considered one of the strongest of the two dozen pictures. Spectre didn’t match its quality, but was still pretty good.

The Presidency of Donald Trump

As I said… nada. No Time to Die would have been the one Trump time release if not for the pandemic. It will instead be unveiled when President Biden is in office and there could be even be a new 007 under his Presidency depending on how quickly the studio casts a new spy.

 

This Day in Movie History: January 20

Rarely does politics blend in on my blog but today we’ll make a rare exception. On This Day in Movie (and Political) History 34 years ago, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States. He’s the one and only POTUS who happened to be a movie star as well. 43 years prior to becoming the most powerful man in the world and the conservative icon that he is today, Reagan had his first film role in 1937’s Love Is on the Air. He would costar with Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis in Dark Victory. Perhaps his most iconic role came as George Gipp in Knute Rockne, All-American. It was this picture that gave President Reagan one of his most enduring nicknames – “The Gipper”. His final film role came in 1964’s The Killers. Two years later he would be elected Governor of California and the rest was history.

As for birthdays, Rainn Wilson is 48 today. Known best for his role as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s “The Office”, Wilson starred in the 2008 comedy The Rocker, in addition to parts in Galaxy Quest, Sahara, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Juno, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Stacey Dash in 47 today. You may know her best from her costarring role in 1995’s hit Clueless or alongside Damon Wayans in Mo’ Money. Other credits include Renaissance Man and View from the Top.

As for Six Degrees of Separation between the birthdays stars:

Rainn Wilson was in My Super Ex-Girlfriend with Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman was in Be Cool with Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito was in Renaissance Man with Stacey Dash

And that’s today – January 20 – in Movie History!