SMC Podcast Season 2!

Here's your Rapture, baby. The Second Coming of the SMC Podcast is has begun.

Episode One of Season Two brings back our hugely popular Summer Movie Preview countdown just in time for, you guessed it, summer. Sit back, pour yourself a stiff one, and enjoy the High Life.




Download it here.

THOR

Thor is what you want out of a great superhero film. Great actors, great action, great fun, funny scenes, unexpected heroes, great effects. Any problems would be too much set up for the Avengers...too much secret agent stuff gets in the way of the story between Asgard and Thor's purpose...get the Hammer, get your powers back and kick some Frost Giant ass.

The best surprise has to be the thing I feared the most..I heard that Loki would be the bad guy in Avengers...whatever...whatever?...Heck yes...Tom Hiddleston is the most complex, complete, clear bad guy I can remember...he is a great actor in this film and sets up great for a bad guy from this point on...the Loki character is just amazing...Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, and Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, and Chris Hemsworth are all amazing..the effects at certain times looks either like they ran out of money or it was for a 3D effect...I saw 2D...the town they all are in through the film is super small...feels like a set (it is) and reminds me of the town in Superman 2 when Zod and crew burn snakes and flip cars.

Thor is solid...better then Iron Man 2...better then Spiderman 3...better then any Hulk film so far...I just hope Captain America is good (it looks great)...and I don't need to see an Iron Man 3...just go into the Avengers full force...no more Agent Colson...just Nick Fury and the superheroes teaming up and kicking serious ass...I feel it might be a whole film trying to get the superheros together and having infighting....just get together and kick ass...with a great story...is that too much to ask? PLUS

SPIDER

Short by Aussie Director Nash Edgerton (Brother of Joel Edgerton: Animal Kingdom and soon to open Warrior)...10 minute short about Jack and Jill...they are driving she is pissed about something he did....he tries to make up for it and attempts a humorous prank at the same time...the twists are jarring and crazy...and worth checking out.

Video: SFW Porn

This is all the good parts from porn movies. The non-dirty sex parts. You're welcome.



Pause it @ 3:50. Is that Willem Dafoe?

Devil

One of my first SMC posts was about John Erick Dowdle's excellent horror remake, Quarantine. At the time, I was disappointed that I would have to wait so long for his follow-up. This. Which sounded promising enough at the time: it's about people trapped in an elevator with the Devil. Then I saw that it was being produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Then I got worried.


Little did I know it would be the worst film of 2010. That actually would have been a momentous occasion, or at the very least, a fortuitous bit of foresight. Then again, Vinny H-L did tell me not to see it. But I saw it. Definitely not the high life.


I don't want to pick apart the story, which is one of these simpleton thrillers delusioned into believing it's some sort of grander mystery exploration. It's literally about the Devil and about how people do bad things and they shouldn't do bad things because the Devil will come and do bad things to them. It's grade school religious mumbo-jumbo that's intellectually and artistically insulting. So much so that I watched the whole thing just to get madder. That's how bad it was. What that says about me is a whole other post. MINUS

Video: A Spike Jonze Joint

We'll take any new Spike Jonze we can get. You throw in Yo Yo Ma and, well, whoo-ha.

Blue Valentine

One day, new film fans are going to seek this out in order to see two of the best actors of this era--Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams--sharing the screen early in their careers. Like watching Nicholson and Streep in Ironweed, only better. Better because I think this is a very good movie--one of the best of 2010. As well it should be, considering director Derek Cianfrance spent over 12 years trying to get it made. The script is very well structured, juxtaposing the rise and fall of a relationship in graphically honest terms. It's a love story, but one that keeps going after the romantic comedy cameras stop rolling. PLUS.

Hold on. I did have one question. How did Gosling's character age so badly in three, four tops, years? Or did he just want to go all actor and look that way? He seems like the type. He also seems like the type that may be hard to stomach in real life. Ok, that's based a little on the fact that he used to date Rachel McAdams, but I don't think I too far off. That's why I want to learn as little about him as a person. We know way too much about actors and athletes, so much that it distracts from the only real reson they should even be factors in our lives. I can't help disliking some douche celebrity and having that trickle down to my professional opinion of them. That's just how people work. Like, I was recently won over by the boxing prowess of Manny Pacquiao. He's undeniably talented and really a wonder to watch. He's also a congressman in the Philippines. And he says stuff like this. TMI. Just box. Just act. And let me judge you when you're dead.

ZMC: Most Horrifying Zombie Death Scenes

Haven't gone all zombie on you in awhile. Sorry. How about the, well, look up at the post title so I don't have to type it again.

And here's the link.

Hereafter

Classic Eastwood film: Interesting, thoughtful, slow, and a bit too long. The sci-fi angle, which intrigued me enough into listing it as a movie to watch last autumn, turned out to be more spiritual, afterlife nonsense (I know, the title, right?) Still, I didn't dislike it and found myself wanting to find out how the three intersecting storylines played out. Matt Damon is his usual solid self, but I was pleasantly surprised by Bryce Dallas Howard who I can't seem to figure out. Do I like her? I didn't even realize it was her at first. I think I associate her too closely with Shyamalan, but I'm willing to let that go.

So, there you go. Not a ringing endorsement of the movie, but a recommendation if you're in a patient mood. PLUS

Our Boy, Charlie

Lifetime Movies: 2004

Winner: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Hold on...what? In maybe the biggest upset since my stomach the morning after The Distillery dared me to eat all that saurkraut, I have immortalized a Jim Carrey film in the ranks of my Lifetime Movies. Now, a lesser man could credit this film's success to a brilliant Charlie Kaufman script. Or visionary direction by Michel Gondry. Or another exquisite performance by Kate Winslet. Or any number of reasons besides that assclown  Carrey. But I am not that lesser man. I'm a different lesser man that has nothing to do with movies. No, as much as it pains me to say, Carrey was good here, Yes, that half-hearted compliment hurt. I avoided this movie for years mainly because I didn't want to like it. Sigh. Not even my innate bitterness could stand in the way of one of the best movies I have ever seen. Yes, that's what I said.

What else? This may be the year of the decade.

Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake may have surpassed the original which itself is considered by many to be the best zombie movie. And then there's Shaun of the Dead, which if you know me you know I love. Not that anyone can ever know me.

And there is the far and away best football movie ever, Friday Night Lights.

And the deepest comedy year of the decade featuring Napoleon Dynamite, Mean Girls, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, Anchorman, and Team America. And Kung Fu Hustle, which was as cool as it was funny.

And Fahrenheit 9/11, which despite your political or Michael Moore leanings, was easily the most important film of the year and maybe the decade.

And The Notebook.

And what Vin said.

Video: Kill Bill Remix

Since there's been so much talk of Kill Bill around the SMC bunker lately:

Everything Is A Remix: KILL BILL from robgwilson.com on Vimeo.

Discussion Q: When does an over-reliance on pop culture references cross over into unoriginality? That's not necessarily about Tarantino, but in general. Go.

Lifetime Movies: 2004

Best Film of 2004: Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny


This is it. for me this is an easy choice and a controversial choice. I feel like I have to defend this film over and over again (well to the imaginary friends I have in my head). Critics panned it at Cannes...Ebert and Gallo had a terrifying verbal battle that actually resulted in Ebert getting the cancer that Gallo wished on him. Gallo added to it by having a billboard made in LA with Chloe Sevigny blowing him...Look Gallo is an actor I love...he is quirky...he is actually very good in funny films...but lets face it...he is not historically been in very good films and the acting has been bad...I have tried to see all his films...they are hard to come by but Netflix has done me well...what other actor can play a masturbating astronaut on Mars and make it seem sooo sad? So I bought the brown bunny on DVD...it took me 2 sittings to watch all the way through...it is slow slow slow...but then I started watching it while wrapping Christmas presents one winter night...and let me tell you my mind starting to absorb the film as a genuine and honest look at male fragility that I at least have never seen on film...guys are tough and macho...and never show that vulnerable side...we all have had that moment...breaking up with a girl and pouring over notes and poems to the one that broke our heart while listening to Black Sabbath over and over again...telling our friends while drinking many beers about how you miss her...Cameron Crowe usually does this best in mainstream films...but this is Gallo...this is low tech across country 3 man crew...with no talent not even actors as characters in Gallo's road movie...the music is great...the places he shoots is great (I once emailed him for the route so I could travel one day and have a "Brown Bunny experience tour"...he gave me the directions). From the New Hampshire raceway, to a Chinese diner in St Louis, to the Utah Bonnevile salt flats and on to Los Angeles...this is a minimalistic epic sad story of lost love and a mans tortured and guilty soul opening in front of us...Gallo is excellent in this...to add I bought straight from his vgmerchandise web site the Japanese import of Brown Bunny...I converted it to English and spent weeks copying it onto a DVD so I could listen to the Gallo Commentary..its awesome its honest and I listen to it often...I love this film...its one I feel I have to champion...its not for everyone and I cant wait till Gallo's "Promises Written in Water" comes out...also check him out in Buffalo 66.

Others in Contention this year:

Sideways
I know I have to see more Alexander Payne films...this one is great...what a chemistry by the leads...what a great love story similar to the male honest hurt of Brown Bunny...but this film is fun...funny...sad..and just great...the commentary on the DVD with Church and Giamati is very funny...but you need a PHD to keep up with the two of them...I know Giamati went to Yale...and it shows...he uses big words but Church must have read a dictionary or be smart too...because the both of them have this back and forth high brow comedy going on during the commentary...its like the exact opposite of the Orgazmo DVD commentary

Collateral
Micheal Mann uses the grainy camera to show a life lived in one night in the streets of LA...Tom Cruise is a bad ass and on fire in this role...my only complaint is that Jaime Fox has no skill, is a taxi cab driver and he gets the balls to all of a sudden take out this trained killer by the end...way to over the top for that...that part is unbelievable...but its still one of the best by Mann

Kill Bill 2
Slower then 1...the story has a conclusion and should stay there...I do agree with SMCO that Uma always seems like she is doing coke or something with her nose...I guess the Pulp Fiction scenes just have stuck with her

Spiderman 2
Probably the best one...I like the villain the best and the Doc Oc in the hospital scene is sooo Sam Raimi

The Machinist
I always think I am going to see this one again and again...its great...you would never guess it was shot in Spain...the director Brad Anderson I thought would go on to make other great films...but has not...Christian Bale is amazing..the weight loss in crazy...he wins...for years we thought DeNiro was the champ for Raging Bull...but no its Bale...amazingly his next role was batman Begins...so he had to gain tons of muscle and came into preproduction from machinist with too much muscle mass...The Machinist kept me guessing the whole time...it seems like a dark horse film...like an early Chris Nolan film.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Charile Kaufman, script...maybe way too much Jim Carrey for Frank...but Kate Winslet is great...the side characters are great...the story is way confusing...the effects are natural and a funhouse style of cinema art that whiz kid Gondry handles well...while not one of my favorite Kaufman scripts, it still Kaufman and the emotion and skill of Jim Carrey is great...I loved him in Man on the Moon and this is right up there as far as acting.

Primer
Shane Carruth made this film with little money and no other film credits...its so amazing you may never even know its amazing or by the end understand what you just saw...Carruth supposedly is trying to finance his next film (Yes its been 7 years) which is called "A Topiary"...the film is a time travel, business spy type deal.

Anchorman
I think I liked this...but again with comedies...who knows...once I saw this I thought it was great...then saw it about 3 more times...comedies are easily replaceable...easily digested then we move on...you ever really go back and watch comedies from when you were a kid?...today's kids dont get it...Caddy Shack, Vacation, The Blues Brothers...I can go on and on...even Animal House may be dated and that was a period piece...Anchorman had its time...it was one of the best of 2004 but I would not rank it on best all time...even Borat...I mean has anyone watched that since the hype died down?

OK next year 2005...its a toss up year for me but I got to go with the beginning of a franchise over the end of a franchise

BOOM

Lifetime Movies : 2003

Time has started running forward again. Aught three, here we go.

Winner: Old School

Wait, did I just give away the winner of another aborted list? You'll have to stay tuned and hope I finally get back to reborting it. In the meantime, I have to invoke the rewatchability clause in this little exercise and if there's one film from this year that I can sit through over and over, it's this one. It's probably the closest we've come to replicating the vibe of those late 70s/early 80s comedy classics like Caddyshack and Vacation. (And in keeping with tradition, Old School has  inspired countless inferior knockoffs, most of which have seemed to star Vince Vaughn.) Plus, the decade gets its hallmark frat comedy, following the vomit-stained path of Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, and PCU, an underrated 90s gem. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish this post and get to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if  I'll have enough time. 


Films of Note:
Big Fish: The last great Tim Burton movie and one that always gets something in my eye at the end. Bonus: features one of the last great Pearl Jam songs.

The Cooler: The requisite indie sleeper. Big fan of Maria Bello.

Kill Bill Vol. 1: Tremendous fun, but I have trouble considering it as a stand alone film. Call it a technicality.

The Last Samurai: Say what you will, but I thought this was very well done and said a lot about men and honor in the face of change. Plus, you know, samurai.

Lord of the Rings 3: I already said I wasn't going to consider any of the LotR sequels, even though this actually won the Oscar. Truth be told, I thought this went on way too long. Now, before you claim they were only being loyal to the source material allow me to say that Tolkien's ending went on way too long. I don't know why so many people consider these books to be religious texts. Either way, the best film-for-film trilogy ever made. On an completely unrelated note, the Matrix sequels also came out this year.

Love Actually: Whatever. But it could be the romantic comedy of the decade. Don't know. Haven't really thought about it before that last sentence.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Pirates of the Caribbean: What a year for Johnny Depp. Two terrific characters in two terrifically entertaining movies. Disney marketing scam or not, Jack Sparrow is genius.

Lifetime Movies: 2003

Well I am back for now...the fans have spoken and so I will post this latest edition...maybe I was sad to see this column come to an end...speaking of ends...that is a hint to my favorite film of 2003...So here is a list of good films that I considered first and some quick thoughts about them.

Finding Nemo: One of the first Pixar films I saw once I actually had a child...it's a great film...that may be actually a little too long in the end...but also very simple now looking back and seeing what Pixar has done since.

Big Fish: a Tim Burton film that strays a bit away from his "expected" films...it's not dark and goth and sad looking...this is a fun romp of tall tales and a torn relationship...it's refreshing and I can see watching this one for years to come

Elephant: I love these Gus Van Sant films...the ones that go under the radar, go to Cannes and I have no real idea what they are about...and then BOOM...it's a film that will make my list for best "Nap Time Films"...it is slow and you are hypnotized (or fall asleep) by the lazy day pace...then Blamo...stuff happens...I will not say what happens...but Gus is Great

Elf: Probably my favorite Will Ferrell character except for Frank the Tank...see later film...fun, has a great sense of itself...like an old school Christmas family film brought into a new generation...the end is predictable and not as great as the first 2/3rds...but it is solid

Old School: The Frat Pack starts here?...what a great beginning to a string of wannabe films..the team of actors is great ...too bad Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson have not made a better film since (maybe Idiocracy)

X2: Could have won...it's a great film...with so many things happening and so many characters and plot movements that it winds up hurting it in the end...these films for me have not lasted with the years...although better then Iron Man and other superhero films...I thought I would have thought more fondly of this film with the years behind it...but I don't...I could not even tell you what it's about...I remember the characters...but all I wanted to see was more Wolverine and less bald guy sitting in a wheel chair thinking real hard.

Only 2 films left as the best of the Year:

Kill Bill Vol 1: Please don't make a KBV3...I want this to be the end and have Tarantino go on to other things...to me before Inglorious Basterds I could 98% say that the Kill Bill films are the best of Tarantino...I love Pulp Fiction and the others...but this is glorious and hard to just separate the two films...this one is a bit faster then the Vol 2...but the juxtaposition of the 2 are amazing...and this one sets up the second perfectly...a revenge film of epic proportions...Tarantino is a master.

The Winner is:

The end is the best...the three years, one after the other was a great experience...there is possibly no way to recreate the experience...unless The Hobbit can repeat this...I had no idea about anything of the Lord of the Rings before I went into the theater in 2001 to see Fellowship...like nothing...I went with a friend who said I had to see it...I literally knew nothing...since then I have seen these films many many times...the extended cuts are the only way for me to see them...and yes it takes close to 11 hours to see it all in a row...once I walked out of the theater I was hooked...I read the books and bought the toys and love the story of JRR TOLKIEN...so I picked the last one because the action is best...it ends the film story...Viggo is kick ass and it is the Best film of 2003...

Clues for 2004?...Well the winner certainly is not about Easter...

1st Time Director...ME

Monkeycide: A look at how Monkeys learn to become Human.

I uploaded this to YouTube to see if I could do it...my "handle" on there is MRCrowbarclutch...so see if you can check it out and get me some views so I can be rich and famous and on Tosh.O or something

This started out to see if I could use Windows Media Live...and started to be a funny montage of monkeys doing people things which I love...but then turned very dark...very fast...so let me know what you think of my first directorial job...my "Source Material" if you will.