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Informed film discussion for the unrefined connoisseur.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 22, 2016
Thursday Dec 22, 2016
We are taking a break from our Criterion Year to take a look at an... interesting Christmas film.
Let's not split hairs here... this is one of the worst films ever made. Honestly, this thinkg barely qualifies as a movie. Yes, it is moving image and sound, and there is a story after a fashion. But more than anything, this is an unparallelled display of unchecked ego. Kirk Cameron, one of the biggest figures in the evangelical Christian scene, and one of the smallest figures in the critical thought scene, presents a poorly written, poorly acted, and just all around mess of a "movie."
So, in the spirit of the season, we do one of our progressive commentaries. We watch a little, talk a little, then watch a little more. If you haven't seen this, you should do yourself a favor and bask in the illogical condescention and absolute denegration of faith that is "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas." Take a deep dive into the shallow end.
Sunday Dec 04, 2016
Sunday Dec 04, 2016
The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.
We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...
The Wages of Fear
Spine Number: 36
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Genre: Drama
Movies need to set and manipulate a certain mood in order to be effective. It is hard to do. Tension is one of the most difficult to really maintain. There are things that people can do that add tension in obvious ways, but those tend to leave you flat once they're done. Jump scares and "here comes the bad guy" music can only go so far.
With that in mind... damn! "The Wages of Fear," is tense as hell. Clouzot delivers one of the most incredible instances of building and maintaining tension throught. Its a simple story with complex detail. A group of people trapped in a remote part of Venezuela without the means to get home are offerd the opprotunity to make an incredible amount of money. All they have to do is transport two literal truckloads of nitro glycerine across an unpaved, remote and desolate road.
That set up alone... damn!
This film is incredible. I mean... it takes an hour before they are even in the trucks! It's important that you see what life is in this small outpost. You understand the desperate circumstances that force people to do such... just insane things.
This was remade by William Friedkin in the 70's with the baffling title, "Sorcerer," which is actually a pretty damned good film. I recommend both very highly.
So, relax if you can and enjoy our thought after watching "The Wages of Fear."
Next week,
Spine number 600: Anatomy of a Murder
Also, check this out.
The Life Masters is now it's own show with its own site and own dedicated feed. That's right, we have two completely different shows!
Right now check it out at www.thelifemasters.podbean.com.
You can also drink in our brilliance on Youtube for both The Film Thugs and The Life Masters.
http://fantasymovieleague.com/
Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.
It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.
You have an 8 screen theater.
Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.
Then you compete against other theaters in your league.
It's fantasy football for movie people.
Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.
And remember, you can be a part of the show any time you wild like. How's that? All you have to do is call or e-mail us. If you live in the US, or any place that makes calling the US easy, just dial 512-666-RANT and leave us a voicemail. We will read the Google Voice transcript and play your message. It's both funny AND informative.
If you live outside the US you can call us on Skype at The_Film_Thugs. You can leave a message, or someone might actually answer.
E-mail us at thefilmthugs@gmail.com and we will read/play whatever you send us, or you can e-mail thugquestions@gmail.com to be part of an upcoming "Ask the Film Thugs" show, where we answer questions on any subject without having heard them first.
Also, we are on twitter @thefilmthugs and on Facebook and Vine.
Also, be sure to check back often for our new endeavor The Life Masters, where we answer questions to other advice columnists.
Thanks for listening, and until next week...
Sunday Nov 20, 2016
Sunday Nov 20, 2016
The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.
We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...
High and Low
Spine Number: 24
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Genre: Drama
So, we take a jump back in the spine numbers because this is a new addition to the collection, and damn... what an addition it is.
There is an inherent and undeniable drama to the kidnapping/ransom genre. I mean, a child is missing and there is no question that they are in harms way. But just having the drama doesn't automatically make the story powerful or compelling or, for that matter, good. It takes so much more.
And, since we are talking about Kurosawa, High and Low delivers so much more.
On the eve of a massive business deal, a self made millionaire gets a phone call. His child has beeen abducted and the ransom is 30 million yen. The amount is absurdly high, and will cause not just his deal to fall through, but also completely ruin him financially as he has leveraged everything he has for the deal.
The kicker... the kidnapper got the wrong child, grabbing his chauffers kid instead. Now, Kingo Gondo (played masterfully by Toshiro Mifune, becuase that's the only speed that man posessess) has a choice to make. Does he risk the financial well being of his family to save someone elses child.
A movie that works as a series of tightening nooses, High and Low is one of the most complete films in this genre. You get the tension of the parents, you get the amazing ransom delivery, you get the intense investigation, you get the kidnapper trying to stay one step ahead... basically you get Kurosawa at his best.
So, join us again for another look at one of the greatest of all time.
Next week,
Spine number 36: The Wages of Fear
Also, check this out.
The Life Masters is now it's own show with its own site and own dedicated feed. That's right, we have two completely different shows!
Right now check it out at www.thelifemasters.podbean.com.
You can also drink in our brilliance on Youtube for both The Film Thugs and The Life Masters.
http://fantasymovieleague.com/
Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.
It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.
You have an 8 screen theater.
Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.
Then you compete against other theaters in your league.
It's fantasy football for movie people.
Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.
And remember, you can be a part of the show any time you wild like. How's that? All you have to do is call or e-mail us. If you live in the US, or any place that makes calling the US easy, just dial 512-666-RANT and leave us a voicemail. We will read the Google Voice transcript and play your message. It's both funny AND informative.
If you live outside the US you can call us on Skype at The_Film_Thugs. You can leave a message, or someone might actually answer.
E-mail us at thefilmthugs@gmail.com and we will read/play whatever you send us, or you can e-mail thugquestions@gmail.com to be part of an upcoming "Ask the Film Thugs" show, where we answer questions on any subject without having heard them first.
Also, we are on twitter @thefilmthugs and on Facebook and Vine.
Also, be sure to check back often for our new endeavor The Life Masters, where we answer questions to other advice columnists.
Thanks for listening, and until next week...
Sunday Nov 13, 2016
Sunday Nov 13, 2016
The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.
We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...
On The Waterfront
Spine Number: 647
Director: Elia Kazan
Genre: Drama
Some movies are iconic without a lot of people even realizing it. "I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender." That is one of those lines that you hear all over the place. It's, arguably, one of the greatest lines in film history, which is it's kind of everywhere. But a lot of people who use it don't even know where it coes from.
Well, it comes from "On The Waterfront."
Released in 1954, "On The Watefront" would go on to win 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan's second directing Oscar), Best Actor (Brando's first), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Maria Saint in her first on screen role),and get three Best Supporting Actor nominations (Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, and Rod Steiger).
It's a movie about working class people struggling with corruption in the only industry many of them know, or have known for several generations. How do you survive in an area that depends on union jobs when the union is unabashedly corrupt? How can you be decent and honest when the institutions that govern every part of your life are fundamentally broken? Sound familar. Yeah, these problems have been around forever.
Brandow is amazing as Terry Malloy, dockworker, former boxer, and right hand man/enforcer to the corrupt union boss. Eva Marie Saint is captivating as Edie Doyle, sister of a murdered dock worker. Malden kills it as the honest priest trying to help the workers. Steiger is perfect as Terry's older brother and bookkeeper for the corrupt union. And Lee J. Cobb steals the show as Michael J. Skelly, aka "Johnny Friendly" the cold hearted and ruthless mob connected union leader.
This movie is fantastic and damned near plays like a beautifully shot documentary. It's a stunning portrait of working class life struggling against unimaginable corruption.
So, check it out with us. Oh, and we also talk about the election and stuff.
Next week,
Spine number 24:High and Low
Also, check this out.
The Life Masters is now it's own show with its own site and own dedicated feed. That's right, we have two completely different shows!
Right now check it out at www.thelifemasters.podbean.com.
You can also drink in our brilliance on Youtube for both The Film Thugs and The Life Masters.
http://fantasymovieleague.com/
Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.
It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.
You have an 8 screen theater.
Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.
Then you compete against other theaters in your league.
It's fantasy football for movie people.
Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.
And remember, you can be a part of the show any time you wild like. How's that? All you have to do is call or e-mail us. If you live in the US, or any place that makes calling the US easy, just dial 512-666-RANT and leave us a voicemail. We will read the Google Voice transcript and play your message. It's both funny AND informative.
If you live outside the US you can call us on Skype at The_Film_Thugs. You can leave a message, or someone might actually answer.
E-mail us at thefilmthugs@gmail.com and we will read/play whatever you send us, or you can e-mail thugquestions@gmail.com to be part of an upcoming "Ask the Film Thugs" show, where we answer questions on any subject without having heard them first.
Also, we are on twitter @thefilmthugs and on Facebook and Vine.
Also, be sure to check back often for our new endeavor The Life Masters, where we answer questions to other advice columnists.
Thanks for listening, and until next week...
Sunday Nov 06, 2016
Sunday Nov 06, 2016
The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.
We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...
Following
Spine Number: 638
Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Drama
Next week,
Spine number 647: On The Waterfront
Also, check this out.
The Life Masters is now it's own show with its own site and own dedicated feed. That's right, we have two completely different shows!
Right now check it out at www.thelifemasters.podbean.com.
You can also drink in our brilliance on Youtube for both The Film Thugs and The Life Masters.
http://fantasymovieleague.com/
Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.
It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.
You have an 8 screen theater.
Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.
Then you compete against other theaters in your league.
It's fantasy football for movie people.
Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.
And remember, you can be a part of the show any time you wild like. How's that? All you have to do is call or e-mail us. If you live in the US, or any place that makes calling the US easy, just dial 512-666-RANT and leave us a voicemail. We will read the Google Voice transcript and play your message. It's both funny AND informative.
If you live outside the US you can call us on Skype at The_Film_Thugs. You can leave a message, or someone might actually answer.
E-mail us at thefilmthugs@gmail.com and we will read/play whatever you send us, or you can e-mail thugquestions@gmail.com to be part of an upcoming "Ask the Film Thugs" show, where we answer questions on any subject without having heard them first.
Also, we are on twitter @thefilmthugs and on Facebook and Vine.
Also, be sure to check back often for our new endeavor The Life Masters, where we answer questions to other advice columnists.
Thanks for listening, and until next week...