On this day in music history - Saturate, by Breaking Benjamin (2002)

The album Saturate,

by Breaking Benjamin,

was released on August 27, 2002.

On this day in movie history - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu,

written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bó,

was released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on August 27, 2014.

Music by Antonio Sánchez.

 

Birdman has been in our collection for several years, but my husband and I finally sat down and experienced it the other week.

Experienced is the definitely the appropriate word.

What a ride!

As a native Pittsburgher, I'm of course a Michael Keaton fan, meeting him in person many, many years ago after a celebrity hockey game.  He was quiet and reserved, one facet of the role he plays in Birdman.

And having walked through Times Square several times, I'll never walk through it the same again after seeing this movie.  Watch it...you'll know what I mean.

Cast:

Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Kenny Chin, Jamahl Garrison-Lowe, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts, Jeremy Shamos, Andrea Riseborough, Katherine O'Sullivan, Damian Young, Keenan Shimizu, Akira Ito, Natalie Gold, Merritt Wever, Edward Norton, Michael Siberry, Clark Middleton, Amy Ryan, William Youmans, Lindsay Duncan, Paula Pell, David Fierro, Hudson Flynn, Warren Kelley, Joel Marsh Garland, Brent Bateman, Donna Lynne Champlin, Valentino Musumeci, Taylor Schwencke, Craig muMs Grant, Kyle Knauf, Dave Neal, Kelly Southerland, Roberta Colindrez, Catherine Peppers, Frank Ridley, Janis Corsair, Rakesh Shah, Bill Camp, Malachi Weir, Jackie Hoffman, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Glenn Wein, Ebrahim Jaffer, Rain Noe, Susan Blackwell, Anna Hardwick, Dusan Dukic, Helena-Alexis Seymour, Ian Finlay, Alexandra Aristy, Marshall Axt, Robbin Banx, Thomas J. Bellezza, Kevin Berrey, Paula Blum, Dave Bobb, Roger Brenner, Bryan Burton, Teena Byrd, Brian Cheeks, Kymberly Clark, Richard R. Corapi, Alan Davis, Casey Davis, Johanna Day, Madeline Farbstein, James Farley, Zach Fouche, Z. Frankie, Les Gardonyi, David H. Holmes, David Itchkawitz, Joseph Anthony Jerez, Benjamin Kanes, Kenneth Kopolovicz, Anna Kuchma, Kamron Leal, Tracy Michael Lynch, Rachael Ma, Keith Mackler, Vanessa Malanga, Alex Malaos, Raymond Mamrak, Michelle E. Mancini, Lynn Marocola, Nicholas Marocola, Chris McFarland, Chuck McMahon, Laura Merrill, Teresa Meza, Leslie C. Nemet, Thelma O'Leary, Philip Odango, Carrie Ormond, And Palladino, Stephen Payne, Raffaello Perfetto, Rich Petrillo, Joe Michael Phillips, Josephine Pizzino, Jon Douglas Rainey, Dawn Ressy, Dwayne Rivera, Charles J. Rosa, Shade Rupe, Gary Ryder, Stuart Schnitzer, Nancy Ellen Shore, Bomber Hurley Smith, Janet Stanwood, John Stepanian, Janelle Tedesco, Paul Thornton, Stella Toppan, Millie Torchetti, Wyatt Unger, Stefano Villabona, Bill Walters, Dorothy Weems, Kelli Wilcoxen.

On this day in movie history - The 13th Warrior (1999)

The 13th Warrior

directed by John McTiernan,

written by William Wisher, Jr. and Warren Lewis,

based on the novel Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton,

was released in the United States on August 27, 1999.

Music by Jerry Goldsmith.

Cast:

Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Vladimir Kulich, Dennis Storhøi, Omar Sharif, Anders T. Andersen, Richard Bremmer, Tony Curran, Mischa Hausserman, Neil Maffin, Asbjorn Riis, Clive Russell, Daniel Southern, Oliver Sveinall, Sven Wollter, Albie Woodington, John DeSantis, Eric Avari, Maria Bonnevie, Susan Willis, Yolande Bavan.

On this day in movie history - L.A. Takedown (1989)

L.A. Takedown

directed and written by Michael Mann,

was released in the United States on August 27, 1989.

Music by Tim Truman.

Cast:

Scott Plank, Alex McArthur, Michael Rooker, Ely Pouget, Vincent Guastaferro, Richard Chaves, Victor Rivers, Laura Harrington, Daniel Baldwin, Clarence Gilyard Jr., R.D. Call, Peter Dobson, John Santucci, Xander Berkeley, Juan Fernández, Tony Xauet, Sam J. Jones, J.W. Smith, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Mary Broussard, Aixa Clemente, Mike De Luna, Ed DeFusco, Robert Gammons, Donald Grant, Emmett Grennan, Al Jones, Anthony Lattanzio, Leo Lee, Mimi Lieber, Albert Michel Jr., Jan Munroe, Gilbert O. Parra, Dennis Scott, Jentry Tuvil, Daniel Villarreal, Robert Winley, Tony Winters, Rick Avery, Bud Davis.

On this day in movie history - Dead Ringer (1982)

Dead Ringer

directed by Allan F. Nicholls,

written by Al Dellentash, Meat Loaf and David Sonenberg,

was released at the Montréal World Film Festival, in Canada, on August 27, 1982.

Music by Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf.

Cast:

Meat Loaf, Josh Mostel, Alan H. Braunstein, Leah Ayres, Frederick Coffin, Burton Collins, Terry Williams, Davey Williams, Sandy Alexander, Nicole Brandon, Steve Buslowe, Cher, MacIntyre Dixon, Mark Doyle, Paul Jacobs, Davey Johnstone, Bert Kittel, Philip Kramer, John LoFranco, Brendan Manning, George Meyer, Pamela Moore, Ted Neeley, Frankie Perrone, Don Picard, Eric Troyer, Howie Weisbrod, Chuck Zito.

On this day in movie history - Dead End (1937)

Dead End

directed by William Wyler,

written by Lillian Hellman, and based on the play by Sidney Kingsley,

was released in the United States on August 27, 1937.

Music by Alfred Newman.

Cast:

Sylvia Sidney, Joel McCrea, Humphrey Bogart, Wendy Barrie, Claire Trevor, Allen Jenkins, Marjorie Main, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsly, Charles Peck, Minor Watson, James Burke, Ward Bond, Elisabeth Risdon, Esther Dale, George Humbert, Marcelle Corday.

Born on this day – Janet MacLachlan:

Actress

August 27, 1933 – October 11, 2010

Born on this day – Susan Willis:

 

Actress

August 27, 1925 – May 14, 2009

Born this day – George Montgomery:

Actor

Painter

Director

Producer

Writer

Sculptor

Furniture craftsman

Stuntman

August 27, 1916 – December 12, 2000

Born on this day – Helen Gibson:

 

Actress

Vaudeville performer

Producer

Rodeo rider

Stunt woman

August 27, 1892 – October 10, 1977

Born on this day – Ira Levin:

Writer

August 27, 1929 – November 12, 2007