Risky Business

98 Minutes (1983)- Paul Brickman
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Selector: MONA

Left alone in the wealthy northern Chicago suburbs with the family house and Porsche at his disposal, Joel, through his scheming friends, finds himself entertaining to-die-for lady-of-the-night Lana. After meeting Joel's enthusiastic friends, Lana spots a business opportunity, and suggests bringing in some of her equally stunning colleagues. Joel is aghast at such an idea, at least until the Porsche accidentally falls into Lake Michigan, requiring a quick infusion of ready cash.

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The Graduate

105 Minutes (1967)- Mike Nichols
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Selector: Bubbleman

Ben, a confused twenty-one year old, has recently graduated college and is worried about his future. He does not simply want to follow the commercial path of his affluent family and their friends. His life becomes complicated when, at his "Homecoming" party, Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, has Ben drive her home. This leads to an affair between the two. The affair eventually ends, but comes back to haunt him when he falls in love with Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine.

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Do The Right Thing

120 Minutes (1989)- Spike Lee
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Selector: East Bay J

It's the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Three businesses dominate the block: a storefront radio station, where a smooth-talkin' deejay spins the platters that matter; a convenience store owned by a Korean couple; and Sal's Famous Pizzeria, the only white-operated business in the neighborhood. Sal serves up slices with his two sons, genial Vito and angry, racist Pino. Sal has one black employee, Mookie, who wants to "get paid" but lacks ambition. His sister Jade, who has a greater sense of purpose and a "real" job, wants Mookie to start dealing with his responsibilities, most notably his son with girlfriend Tina. Two of Mookie's best friends are Radio Raheem, a monolith of a man who rarely speaks, preferring to blast Public Enemy's rap song Fight The Power on his massive boom box; and Buggin' Out , nicknamed for his coke-bottle glasses and habit of losing his cool. When Buggin' Out notes that Sal's "Wall of Fame," includes no people of color, he eventually demands a neighborhood boycott, on a day when tensions are already running high, that incurs tragic consequence.

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Bad News Bears

102 Minutes (1976)- Michael Ritchie
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 Selector: MONA

Takes an unflinching look at the underbelly of little league baseball in Southern California. Former minor leaguer Morris Buttermaker is a lazy, beer swilling swimming pool cleaner who takes money to coach the Bears, a bunch of disheveled misfits who have virtually no baseball talent. Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer, the daughter of a former girlfriend, and Kelly Leak, a motorcycle punk who happens to be the best player around. Brimming with confidence, the Bears look to sweep into the championship game and avenge an earlier loss to their nemesis, the Yankees.

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