LAST HALLOWEEN POST OF 2019

First movie I was in as a member of The Screen Actors Guild, so had to add my middle name David because there was already another Michael Lally in SAG. It was also the last movie Gloria Grahame was in before she died, and one of John Carradine's last. 1981. Originally called THE NESTING but I found this poster with this different name online. It's in a few cult classics books.

COSTUMED

me as Sykes the pit bull owner on the set in Alaska of the movie WHITE FANG in a costume I helped pick out, with James Remar on my right and Bill Mosley behind my left shoulder 1990

YET ANOTHER LIST

Maybe posting about the movie THE RIDER recently sparked my unexpectedly making an alphabetical list of movies in my mind with titles that begin with "THE" as I fell asleep last night, here's as much as I got (and yes, I realize a few of these films have scenes or themes that are politically incorrect, and characters that are at times far from being "woke"—but they were old (mostly) favorites of the art of movie making that came to mind):

The Americanization of Emily
The Big Sleep
The Commitments
The Devil And Daniel Webster
The Equalizer
The Full Monty
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009 Swedish original)
The Hustler
The Informer (1935)
The Jerk
The Killers
The Last Of The Mohicans
The Maltese Falcon
The Naked Civil Servant
The Ox-Bow Incident
The Princess Bride
The Quiet Man
The Rider
The Searchers
The Thin Man
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg
The Verdict
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
The X?
The Young Savages
The Z?

FYI

Just a reminder that a week from today on Monday, November 4th, at 6PM, I'll be reading my poetry and Nadia Owusu reading her work at Pace University, Schimmel Theater entrance, 3 Spruce Street (a block East of City Hall), up one curving flight of stairs, then bear left to Bianco Room on right, introduced by Charles North (includes a Q&A). Free and open to the public.

NONA

Another movie I missed last year that was recommended by friends but only just caught tonight on cable, NONA is an incredibly powerful film that will open and then break your heart, and is meant too. But still totally worth watching, partly for the cinematography and writing and direction. But mostly for Sulem Calderon's performance in the title role. Exquisite work. Deserving of an Oscar.

RELEVANT QUOTE

THE RIDER

I finally got to watch THE RIDER straight through and now understand why my friends kept recommending it. It deserves every award it was nominated for and more. It's as perfect a film as there can be. Director/writer/producer Chloe Zhao uses "real people" (as opposed to previously professional actors) so well, anyone in the film could have been nominated for their performance.
And the breathtaking cinematography by Joshua James Richards only enhances the performances. But it's Brady Jandreau in the lead who carries the entire film on his shoulders, and wow is he good. A must-see film I'm sorry I waited so long to see, but know I'll be watching it again and again over the coming years,