Saturday, November 21, 2015

Weekend Open Thread

Micro is macro. Small is big. Up is down. I’m a clown. Digital.

For those of us in the U.S., it's the week of Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate or not, what movies and movie stuff are you thankful for?

42 comments:

  1. I'm thankful for all of the streaming services and need for constant entertainment. We may get one too many reboots/remakes of old franchises but thanks to the many different areas of movie and TV a lot of good stuff has been slipping thru the cracks and into our laps. Also Star Wars Force Awakens in less than a month wooo!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm thankful for having been able to expand my movie horizons a lot lately, which being a member of this site has helped enormously. I used to live in the "mainstream" (a stupid word but there you go), and to me Oscar season was the highlight of the year. These days I go to genre festivals and call myself a horror fan, which I'd never have done a couple of years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm thankful for my local library. I've found so many great movies there and it's really helped expand my film knowledge. It's amazing when you hear about a movie that you think there is no way the library will have this and you look it up and they miraculously do. The most recent example of this is I found out they had the entire Lone Wolf and Cub series which I'm so excited to watch. Sometimes I take it for granted but I'm thankful that there's a place I can go that has tons of classic movies that they will let me watch for free.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not movie related buy has anyone been watching Jessica Jones? I'm on episode 6 and I really freaking love it. David Tennant is such a nasty prick in it, he's a great villain. I also watched all of Aziz Ansari's new show Master of None which is so funny and surprisingly sweet and real. I loved every episode and was very sad when it ended. Highly recommended it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only three episodes in, but I'm really liking it. Kilgrave/Purple Man was a really scary villain in the Alias comics (the title that introduced Jessica and her history with Kilgrave) and looks like the series does a good job of bringing him to the screen.

      Delete
    2. Loving Master Of None so far. Excited to dive into Jessica Jones.

      Delete
  5. As always, I'm thankful for everyone here in the FTM family. Dominic Toretto's got nothing on us. Intelligent, civil discussion centered around the best movie podcast/website on the internet. I haven't had enough time to participate much lately but I'm still reading it all every day and enjoying all of it. Also, regarding the Scary Movie Challenge: y'all are some truly sick, FUNNY mother-eff-ers. So much great stuff. It's been an unbelievably rough year on a personal level, and having FTM to escape to has done me more good than I can ever put into words. I've been donating monthly to try to express my gratitude, but it'll never be enough. Thank you all, from the people on the podcast to the people (like me) who barely have time to comment, it's ALL appreciated and it all contributes to how much I love it here. Every one of you, thank you.

    As for just-plain-movie-related stuff, I'm thankful that even though the year is almost over there's still SO MUCH to anticipate: Creed, The Hateful Eight, Star Wars...so many things to get excited about. Enthusiasm is a beautiful thing.

    Happy Thanksgiving, F-Heads! (For those who don't celebrate Thanksgiving, have a happy one anyway! I'll save you some turkey)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a Thanksgiving guy, but 'gobble gobble' to you too. :-)

      Delete
  6. I'm thankful that I live and work (starting a new job Monday morning, hooray! :-D) in New York City, where every day there are movie-going options that complement the streaming and home video options we all have access to. Earlier in the week I watched a 35mm screening of White Savage, a 1943 star vehicle for 'Queen of Technicolor' Maria Montez that's as absurd (German bad guy wants to steal pool made of gold bricks with diamonds at the bottom) as it is both charming and politically incorrect (Sidney Toler as comic relief recycling his Charlie Chan act). Also on 35mm: Luis Buñuel's Él, a 1953 Mexican movie that packs more subversiveness into what it implies between the lines than most filmmakers today explicitly show. It's Buñuel's version of "Scenes from a Marriage," but with a scathing and hilarious look at how male vanity, insecurity, jealousy and mistrust of women is both encouraged, tolerated and profited upon by the Catholic Church. "Él" showing a priest kissing young boys' feet is more powerful than the entirety of "Spotlight."

    Other random stuff I saw in theaters:

    Mustang (2015) at IFC Center: France's entrance for the Academy's Best Foreign Language category captures the joy and sadness of five Turkish sisters locked from the outside world by their rural family to ensure their purity for marriage. It's basically "The Great Escape" pitting the dwindling-as-they-get-forced-to-marry sisterhood versus an outdated social way that's looked as both monstrous and a kids-vs-parents spat, except here the girls really mean it when they say 'our family will kill us.' Why can't American movies focused on other cultures be this good?

    Mondo Cane (1962) at AFA: the original 'shockumentary' has dated badly and made my blood boil with rage at its clearly-fake scenes of blodshed and 'black man is savage' stereotypes. As he did with "Cannibal Holocaust," though, Riz Ortolani delivers a theme song far, far above the subject matter the tune's attached to.

    Yambaó (1957) at AFA: A torrid Mexican movie set in the Afro-Cuban setting of 1850's tropical slavery. Nonsensical plot about witches, curses and master-slave relationships, basically a 'PG' "Mandingo." But damn, when star Ninón Sevilla shakes her booty (which is often) the movie stops cold to let us all enjoy the "exotic" spectacle.

    The best of the bunch was yet to come, though. Friday night I attended the theatrical premiere of the 4K restoration of John Huston's FAT CITY (1972). Twilight Time just released it as an overpriced Blu-ray limited run, which scored a rare perfect 100 score from DVD Verdict. My God, what an amazing movie that could only have been made in the 1970's. It's the perfect marriage of old and new Hollywood with European arthouse sensibilities, not to mention the best boxing movie I've ever seen. Career-best work from Stacey Keach and Jeff Bridges (no joke), the best John Huston direction (understated and seemingly casual, but with a purpose and always at the service of the story and characters) I've ever seen, and a screenplay by original novel author Leonard Gardner that's as fat-free and finely-toned as some of the fighters (not a false move or wasted scene from start to finish). All that and a melancholic-without-patronizing peppy score by Marvin Hamlish and a Best Supporting Oscar winning performance by Susan Tyrell ("From a Whisper to a Scream") as one of the funniest drunken barflies to ever appear in movies. Like "The Sopranos" at its best, "Fat City" is a top-tier drama that's funnier than most comedies.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm thankful for the first time we heard that voice say, "Chewie," then the cut to our heroes Han and Chewbacca where Han finishes with, "We're home." I can't remember the last time I was more excited to see a movie.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Watched "Entertainment" (2015) I wasn't impressed. It was dull, boring and a chore to get through. Came across really pretentious to me.

    Also watched "Crumbs" (2015) the surreal Sci-Fi Ethiopian and Spanish co-production. I liked it. At 68 minutes it's the perfect run time for this type of film.

    Watching "#Horror" (2015) tonight. Worst f-ing title on the planet but we shall see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whoa, whoa, whoa. I gotta eat crow on my preconceived thoughts on "(pound sign) #Horror" (still, the worst fucking title ever) but, Holy crap, this film impressed me. Yes, it's super flashy, almost MTV-ish which would usually turn me off but for whatever reason it worked for me on all levels. I have stated before that sometimes I LOVE style over substance ("The Town That Dreaded Sundown") and this film looks f-ing amazing. Actress and now first time director Tara Subkoff really brings something here to the genre and makes a very in your face statement on social media and the kids of the upper class. Surprisingly, the substance is in there with the style as well. I really liked the script and although the characters are defined from the start, they all make their point and the film is a slow burn which was super unexpected and makes perfect sense. It's a very interesting movie as it's not a "Horror" in the traditional sense that you would expect from this kind of film. Timothy Hutton kills it in this, the kids are really, really good and everyone else is too. It really touches on some serious things that young girls are going through and I thought it handled it quite well. I also love that there wasn't really some silly "twist" at the end. All in all, I think this film is pretty great, maybe because it's interesting in being a new entry to the genre and even with it's flashy-ness, I dug it.

      Delete
    2. Hmm, I saw a trailer for "#Horror" at IFC Center (where its playing theatrically) Friday afternoon and it didn't do too much for me. But your enthusiasm and review are making me see the trailer in a new light. Tempted but... I don't know. ;-)

      Delete
    3. Like I said, it's interesting. I expected some bullshit "Unfriended" kind of movie (sorry folks, I know there is a lot of love for that film but I think it's one of the worst "Horror" films of all time) but was really surprised with what I saw. I don't know if I can recommend it, especially to a casual Horror fan, but I think it's a very different movie that I thought it would be which was really refreshing.

      Delete
    4. ill bite, you got me hunkering to see it!

      Delete
    5. Did anyone end up watching this? Dennis, Vargas, Patrick? I'm curious to hear other thoughts.

      Delete
    6. No. Not yet. Its on my list to see. Is it avaliable on Vod? I did not see how you saw it? Its not playing near me

      Delete
    7. Yeah man, VOD Amazon here in the US.

      Delete
    8. I watched it last night based on your enthusiasm for it, Chaybee. I envy your enthusiasm for it.

      Delete
    9. I'm reading that as you weren't feeling it. Are you going to review it at all? If so, I'll wait for that but if not I would love to hear some thoughts.

      Delete
    10. Oooh dear. Polarising. I'll still give it a go ;)

      Delete
  9. I don't love Point Break (it's a decent movie) and I think the remake looks good. Am I a terrible person?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never seen Point Break. Does that make me a terrible person?

      Delete
    2. See it, then decide. Lori Petty sucks but I still love it.

      Delete
    3. Zaavi do the coolest limited edition Bluray steelbook of Point break, I own it and love it, great Artwork


      http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/point-break-zavvi-exclusive-limited-edition-steelbook/10847255.html

      Delete
    4. You know, I probably won't see Point Break in theaters (despite how adorable Teresa Palmer is), but I may just to support it. One of my favorite things right now is the cries of "there's no original movies anymore" juxtaposed by the constant coverage of IP movies. You can't complain about original ideas when all you do is cover Marvel and Star Wars movies. I'm sure if you asked Screen Junkies or whatever they'd tell you "well, that's what drives views, and this is a business." And they're right, but that's exactly why studios are doing what they do.

      My point (that I'm making in a roundabout way), is that if we're all going to obsess over sequels and remakes that we do want to see, then we have to put up with some we may not.

      Delete
  10. I'm currently thankful that a nearby theater will be getting a 70mm print of "The Hateful Eight."

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm thankful that the character you referenced in the header is based in reality: Shingy.com. Long live Bob and David.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the best. I love the new series. It's too brief, but I heard David Cross say they'll make more when schedules permit.

      Delete
    2. I liked the new episodes but I don't think they are as memorable as some of the classics from before. I'm not complaining though - any Mr. Show is good Mr. Show. I did think it was classy to not reuse any of the characters from before although I would have loved some more Senator Tankerbell! I was lucky enough to catch "Hooray for America" at the Warner Theater in DC when they toured. It was a lot of fun!

      Delete
    3. I was underwhelmed at first, but after letting it sink in and rewatching I'd say the high points are right up there. Jealous you got to see the live show.

      Delete
  12. I gotta say im thankfull for Ash vs Evil dead, I never thought I would get some more Ash

    Yo Granny, lets Tango!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here. For 30 minutes every Saturday night, you couldn't get the smile off my face with a chainsaw.

      Delete
  13. Thankful for the best comedy of 2015 in The Night Before.

    If I said this comedic odyssey was my favorite movie of the year, I'd be lying, but not by much. It's a journey I didn't want to end or stop laughing at. It's got a tremendous amount of heart that it earns and treats friendship about as genuine as it gets for these comedies, or really any film dealing with the passing of time and the different roads we take. It's Rogen at the top of his abilities and charismatic charm. Michael Shannon plays a character I know in real life and says things I've heard just in the past few months from breathing characters akin to his. It is a Christmas movie that feels like one, and one I'll be revisiting for years to come.

    ReplyDelete