Jun 15 2015
Every Monday, each of us will suggest a film that we feel too few people have seen.
Melissa’s Pick of the Week: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Those of you that appreciate a great documentary will appreciate this one. I don’t even like Metallica very much, and I think this film is fantastic. Back in the early 2000s, VH1 sent in a film crew to make a reality show about the band making their St. Anger album. Unfortunately for VH1’s plans, the band was so dysfunctional during this period that they nearly broke up. The record company finally sent in a psychiatrist that specializes in sports teams in an effort to keep the band together. What the film crew wound up capturing is 1,600 hours of footage about aging rockers learning how to cope with one another after all these years. VH1 dropped the plans for a series, but in a moment of wisdom, Metallica themselves paid the film crew to finish the shoot and eventually edit the footage to a single film. The result is a dense, 140 minute film about fame, aging, collaboration, new media, and the nature of art.
Windy’s Pick of the Week: Strictly Ballroom
Do we all remember Baz Luhrmann? Like a meteor he sparkled across the sky and now seems to have faded. But my goodness, the sparkles! Especially in this, his debut film. The style is campy, the plot is predictable…but the emotion still rings true. Scott Hastings should be a ballroom champion, but he finds himself stifled by the staid structure of traditional ballroom. When he dares to dance his own steps, he gets firmly stepped on by the dancing community. But teaming up with misfit Fran, Scott pursues his own course. You know exactly what’s going to happen, but I challenge you to resist the charms of this technicolor fever-dream.
Jun 11 2015
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This week, dear listeners, we have rejoined with North Star Rollergirl Kate Cornish (aka She Coli) for an episode all about the films of Rian Johnson! So if you have never seen Brick, Brothers Bloom, or Looper, we hope to steer you to a better life.
If you would like to drink along, we recommend Bodega Tamari Reserva Malbec, because it’s Argentinian, and we like Argentinians.
Show notes behind the cut!
Jun 08 2015
Every Monday, each of us will suggest a film that we feel too few people have seen.
Windy’s Pick of the Week: Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness)
“It’s all about loving your parents.” This Bollywood extravaganza stars the manly trifecta of Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Kahn, Amitabh Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan. This supersized epic (at 210 minutes) has a flashback so long that I forgot it was a flashback. This is not Bollywood for the first-timer, but if you’ve got at least one under your belt (I recommend Kal Ho Na Ho as a good beginner), then you should not miss the modern classic of the Indian cinema. Shah Rukh is Rahul, adopted son of Amitabh – who wants him to follow tradition and marry the bride chosen for him (and hey, it’s an old family friend that he’s actually fond of, so not too bad really). But Rahul unexpectedly falls in love with someone else and it tears the family apart. Years later, second son Rohan is sent by his mother to find his brother and help the family heal. Chock full of epic melodrama, crazy shenanigans, and Bollywood production numbers, you’ll find yourself deeply satisfied by the end.
Melissa’s Pick of the Week: Cannibal! The Musical
If you have ever enjoyed South Park (or anything else by Matt Stone and Trey Parker), you owe it to yourself to check out their first full-length film, Cannibal! The Musical. Made on a miniscule budget, the film is a musical comedy adaptation of the true story of Alferd Packer, a gold prospector who turned cannibal during an ill-fated expedition. (Really!) The filmmaking lacks the skill and polish of later Stone/Parker productions, but what does work really works, and it’s easy to see how they quickly gained fame in comedy. Bonus: if you get the DVD, listen to the commentary track. It’s one of the best (and drunkest) commentary tracks I’ve ever heard.
Jun 04 2015
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Dear listeners, remember all those weird, dark live action Disney movies from the mid-60s to mid-80s? Well, buckle up for our episode all about Disney Urban Fantasy Movies! For this episode, we are joined by Cetius Scotchbringer, who brought both this week’s subject matter and plenty of scotch for us to sip.
If you would like to drink along, we recommend any and all of the following: Macallen 18 year single malt scotch, Aberlour 16 year single malt scotch, Summer’s Bee Hard Apple Cider.
And if you like scotch, you might be interested in Cetius’ podcast: Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch.
Show notes behind the cut!
