Here at Le Puzz, we’re big on nostalgia. We love to cozy up for summer nights with a classic puzzle and classic flick featuring a few of our favorite 90’s leading ladies.

First and foremost, we have Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. When we started working with Little Troop (our designers) on Le Puzz branding, they gave us a long list of questions to fill out. One was, “If Le Puzz were a movie, what would it be? “. Our answer? Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. A classic coming-of-age movie where Christina Applegate is forced to grow up quickly and get a job when her babysitter dies unexpectedly, and her mom is gone all summer. It combines high-school life, family values, and slightly dark humor perfectly. “The dishes are done, man” — our favorite movie quote that no one ever understands out of context.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We both rented this one countless times growing up. We were mutually obsessed with Kristy Swanson and her badass-in-a-cheeleader-uniform energy! As a kid, we didn’t know what Blueberry Schnapps was but thought it sounded delicious, fantastical, plastic, and maybe insufficient?! This movie both scared and fascinated us as kids, resulting in countless re-watches during long lazy summer afternoons at home. Bonus points: PeeWee plays an evil vampire!

Clueless. I mean, need we say more? As if!! This movie is a perfect time capsule for 1995 Americana. The Beverly Hills aesthetic that we were all obsessed with. The cast was archetypal, but the computerized closet was next-level iconic. Wished we’d known it was based on Emma at a younger age!

Drop Dead Gorgeous deserves an Oscar. A mockumentary of a beauty pageant that takes place in Montrose, Minnesota. Between Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, Kristy Alley, Amy Stewart, and Brittany Murphy, this cast was overflowing with hilarious and gorgeous women poking fun at pageant culture.

Death Becomes Her. A love triangle for the ages! Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn & Bruce Willis with a side of Isabella Rossellini. A true classic is full of dark humor that never gets old.

BONUS TV SHOW:

Please Like Me: It turns out we like you! I’m still going through this iconic cult comedy out of Australia from 2013. Highly highly recommend it. Don’t sleep on this one!

Le Puzz Blurb: We’re Le Puzz, and we love jigsaw puzzles! We collect them, do them with friends and family, and give them away and trade them when finished. We especially love collecting vintage puzzles from the 60s, 70s, and 80s with an odd sense of humor.

Superman (1978)  

Remains the best superhero movie ever made, and Christopher Reeves is the best Superman. Periodtt!!

Beat The Devil  (1954)

Summer is for Laffs – why not start on the sweltering Italian coast – Beat The Devil is, if not a laugh riot, funny, innovative & original. Written as it was filmed on location by Truman Capote & John Houston, daily churning out pages for an all-star cast including Humphrey Bogart, Gina Lolobrigida & Peter Lorre as a subtle spoof on The Maltese Falcon, a hit from 10 years earlier – the movie always feels adult & on edge, like last year’s Triangle Of Sorrow — or even Airplane! Or Top Secret –  maybe that’s a stretch, but pop them into this Summer when in need of clocking straight-up maximum Laffs per second.

Cast Away (2000) 

Summer is for Young Love & The Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields & Christopher Atkins is where to find it. If you were 13-year-old me, you could not get enough of the young golden Mr. Atkins & would soon advance to multiple repeated viewings daily of The Pirate Movie on Prism (early Philadelphia cable) & then, of course, graduating to A Night In Heaven, where Christopher Atkins actually plays an exotic male dancer. Still, The Greatest American Movies transcend even the world’s Greatest Movie Stars — tug at you – hold you – why only a monster does not well up with tears when Sean Penn hugs Michelle Pfeiffer exclaiming ‘My Lawyer For Free – My Lawyer For Free’ in I Am Sam. Cast Away might have been dismissed without its star power. Still, it’s a testament to Tom Hanks, Robert Zemeckis & writer Broyles Jr that the movie puts each of us alone on a deserted island & then quite literally delivers us to our own crossroads.

Nashville (1975)

Every Summer has its own playlist & movies have always been a part of the soundtrack. The Summer of 1978 had both Thank God It’s Friday & Grease playing in my town & 10 year old me was gay Gay GAY with delight! But an argument can be made that the Donna Summer disco-themed trash classic Thank God It’s Friday, which takes place over one zany night in an LA Disco rooted just three years earlier in Robert Altman’s star-studded masterpiece Nashville & if you have not seen it, layers & layers of wonderment, delight & horror await you as dozens of seemingly unrelated lives intersect over one hot summer day In Nashville. If you haven’t explored the joys & depths of Robert Altman movies, start here. 

Mad Max Fury Road (2015)

Summer is for Popcorn Movies that propel you through time and space into a universe all of its own. Buckle in tight – This is one of the best. No need for 3D or 4D — Mad Max Road of Fury never lets up, never stops moving & will leave you breathless.

Marty Sokol is a producer, writer & nightclub owner in Los Angeles, CA.

Thank you so much, Marty!!!

Until next time!

This week I decided to take a break from the blog to offer a chance for my friend Jonathan to contribute to the blog. Please enjoy! 🙂

“Pouring your heart into your work is crucial in my daily life. When I am in a space, I envision a lifestyle, a person, an aspiration that drives me to embody that into my space.

I take a steamer and steam the ready-to-wear I will place on my group of mannequins, ensuring no wrinkle is left behind.

Perfectly steamed tweed suits and chinoiserie are placed on a cart as I undress the mannequins out of wide-leg chinos and silk puff blouses as a new trend emerges.

Clothed in pink tweed and chinoiserie, I take out my secret weapon of satin pins and begin to tighten the suit skirt, gently folding and placing the pins in the back of the mannequin to contour the tweed suit.

I then imagine the space and grab pink and sparkly bags, rose candles, and pink crocodile leather makeup brush holders. We are going out tonight and need all the sparkle and Glitz.

By this time in the morning, I am starting to need more inspiration; I go into my phone and say

“Hey Siri, play Barbie Girl by Aqua” I get back in the spirit and grab a fragrance to elevate my space and create an atmosphere.

I look back, and I smile. A work of art has been created, displays of pink feminine tweed and rose sweaters captivate my eye, and fresh rose fragrance fills the air; the display has been completed.

This is the life of a visual merchandiser; every day is a day to spark creativity to evoke emotion into our displays so that others may marvel at the sensory spectacle.

Embodying your trends helps you understand the client you are attracting. It enables you to connect personally and speak through the fashion, scents, and lighting created within the space that can get clients to invoke nostalgia and passion for a brand.

The most satisfying part of setting space is seeing customers gravitate towards your table and discovering candle fragrance or a customer asking for a different size of that pink sweater on your table.

My passion is on display for everyone; I will continue to adapt and envision bright displays and creative atmospheres to inspire clients and create conversation in a room.

The life of a visual is creative and ever-changing; it’s a brush that I wield and will continue to create and compose.”

Thank you so much for your contribution, Jonathan!!!

In part 3 of our summer movies to watch. I asked fellow friend @wetboxx for their summer movie selections:

WAKE IN FRIGHT (1971)

“The existential summer film from hell. I dare you to drink a beer after this one.”

Friday the 13th (1980)

“There is something about the cabins, the woodsy landscape, a dark blue lake, and a bunch of young camp counselors messing around that makes me pine for summer and the great outdoors. “

Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)

“The ultimate childhood summer film for me. I can’t imagine how many times I watched this on HBO as a kid.

As an adult…It struck a different chord: while others go to the beach during the summer, most of us have to work all summer.”

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

“The hottest, sweatiest film ever made. You can feel the TEXAS heat and smell the cattle in the air.”

Return of the Living Dead (1985)

“An obligatory watch every July 3rd since I was a teenager.

There’s nothing better than watching punk teens hang out in a cemetery on a hot summer night before a regular army fuck up!

@yetihideout (Eric Weber) loves Match Game, Louise Lasser, and cats! Here is his list of five summer movies:

Piranha (1978) – “People eat fish, Grogan. Fish don’t eat people.” Directed by the always reliable Joe Dante (Gremlins) and a lot more fun than Jaws! Good mix of laughs and scares and some surprisingly sentimental scenes in this spoof of nature-gone-amuck and 1950s monster movies. Featuring a great score by Pino Donaggio (Dressed to Kill) and appearances by cult movie legends like Barbara Steele, Paul Bartel, and – best of all – Dick Miller.

Uncle Sam (1996) – Deliciously tacky and weird horror/comedy by director William Lustig (Maniac) and writer Larry Cohen (It’s Alive) about the zombified and psychopathic “Uncle” Sam Harper who returns from the dead during July 4th festivities to kill anyone who dares commit any “anti-American” acts such as flag-burning, draft-dodging or mangling the National Anthem! The fun cast includes Robert Forster, P.J. Soles, and Isaac Hayes. The film is dedicated to legendary Italian horror director Lucio Fulci (who passed away the same year).

Rear Window (1954) – One of Alfred Hitchcock’s most absorbing thrillers. Being a nosy neighbor has never been so much fun! Unforgettable and jaw-dropping indoor sets recreate an entire apartment building (and courtyard), allowing for glimpses into various characters’ lives. Other highlights are a typically sassy Thelma Ritter and the beautiful and ethereal Grace Kelly. Based on a short story by crime author Cornell Woolrich that’s also recommended.
 

Summer School (1987) – Adorable 1980s time capsule starring Mark Harmon as a charming gym teacher forced to instruct summer school to a batch of oddball students. I saw this in the theater at 12 and hoped that high school would be this much fun. The cast is wonderful – everyone is dandy (especially the dog)! Also memorable are the characters “Chainsaw” and Dave and their obsession with horror movies and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
 
Club Dread (2004) – Horror slasher comedy by Broken Lizard, the guys that brought you Super Troopers and Beerfest. Pleasure Island – owned by Coconut Pete (a parody of Jimmy Buffet marvelously played by the late, great Bill Paxton) – is plagued by a series of gruesome murders, and it’s up to the quirky staff of the resort to solve the mystery. Lots of fun and better than it has any right to be!

If you would like to learn more about Eric. His Instagram is @yetihideout

THANK YOU, ERIC!!!!!! 🙂

Fellow friend @kristianminglefive selected five summer movies.  

“I’m a full-time pop culture-holic. I love everything 70s and 80s. Having grown up a gay kid in the 80s, I feel my tastes are warped in just the right ways. “- Kristian.

Last Summer (1969) – Beautifully told and filmed story of three teenagers vacationing on Fire Island who “befriend” an outsider. Their motives become questionable, and the entire movie takes a sociopathic turn that will change lives forever. Barbara Hershey and Catherine Burns are outstanding as the two lead teenage girls. 

The Other (1972) – Haunting story of twin brothers in 1935 who spend their summer pulling pranks on neighbors and family members. This movie has such a great twist which has always stayed with me and an ending that is just horrifying.  

Little Darlings (1980) – Two of my favorite actresses, Kristy McNichol and Tatum O’Neal, star in this movie about summer camp and the loss of innocence. Making a bet to see which of the two can lose their virginity first becomes a soul-searching and life-changing summer for both girls. 

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) – I wasn’t even a teenager when I first saw this classic film about standing up for what’s right against all odds. A great soundtrack drives this fun summer adventure of teenagers trying to prove that Fair is Fair while running from a crime they didn’t commit. 

Kalifornia (1993) – A riveting story with some great set pieces about a photographer and his girlfriend who unexpectedly end up on a hot and bloody cross-country car trip with a serial killer. Very underrated, with a solid cast and a solid script. 

If you would like to know more about @kristianmingle please refer to the Instagram account or email address: igotsnewshoes@gmail.com

I added two movies from Kristian list to watch because I have never seen them. Which ones are you interested in? Comment below!

Thank you so much, Kristian !!!

This week’s movie of the day is Silkwood (1983), directed by Mike Nicholas and starring Cher, Meryl Streep, and Kurt Russell.

Based on the true story of Karen Silkwood who was working at a nuclear facility in Kerr-McGee Cimarron Fuel Fabrication Site in Oklahoma.

The facility made plutonium pellets and Karen was part of the team making them. She also became the first woman on their union’s negotiating team. She voiced concerns of the safety of herself and the workers who were dealing with the plutonium. She noticed numerous safety violations and various amounts of tampering x-rays of the workers who were expose to this plutonium.

She also told her observations and findings about the facility in the 1974 Atomic Engenry Commission in Washington D.C. Such as fuel rods were being remade very badly, and when someone was contaminated they just make them take a shower. Karen and some of the workers while working came into physical contact with radiation and the heads of the plant blame the workers for their exposure. After some time of collecting evidence, Karen is en route to talk to a New York Times journalist and gets into a car accident that fatally killed her. Many people believed that it was no accident and that the killing of Karen Silkwood was a message to those in the facility to not talk.

The making of the five took about nine years to get off the ground. Jane Fonda was supposed to play Karen Silkwood and be produced by Warner Brothers. However, there was an issue when one of the producers named Buzz Hirsch.

He was subpoenaed by a judge in Oklahoma City. The judge wanted Buzz to discuss where did he get all of his information regarding this subject. It was later overruled by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The movie was then acquired by ABC Motion Pictures and had Mike Nicholas attached to direct the movie and Meryl Streep to star in the leading role.

If you would like more information about Karen Silkwood story. Here is a show from the History Channel discussing it:

Until next time!

Sources: Youtube.com, IMDb.com