Mr. Jason
Under the Radar | Monsters
Following article is not a review, but more of a stance on why I believe Monsters is an underrated film. It does contain minor spoilers for the film, so if you would like to read a spoiler free review be sure to check out Mr. Edens’ review here. Otherwise, by all means, continue on.
Last year a small independent film called Monsters made its way on to my top ten films of 2010. It starred no “names” and was shot with no more than a crew of six people. There was no shooting script and only a loose outline was used as a guideline for the actors to understand the scene. Some were mislead. After all a film with the ambiguous, yet straightforward, title Monsters, yields certain expectations. However, director Gareth Edwards abandoned the traditional monster disaster movie extravaganza in favor of a somber character piece. With Andrew (Scoot McNairy) and Sam (Whitney Able) taking center frame, we are able to see a road film romance used as a parable for all humanity. Read the rest of this entry »
Film Clip | The Descendants
I am a huge fan of the work of Alexander Payne, plain and simple. Over the course of four films he has created a beautiful, dark, funny, and sardonic look at America. He is a master and his voice is original, while also paying homage to masters such as Federico Fellini and Hal Ashby. Unfortunately, Payne has been missing from the theaters since his 2004 masterpiece Sideways. He directed a segment of the 2006 film, Paris, Je t’aime, as well as the pilot for the HBO series Hung (which I highly recommend), but I still longed for his next project. Lucky for me (and fellow film fans), his newest film The Descendants, starring George Clooney, hits theaters December 16th. A trailer has yet to surface, but a humorous clip from the film has popped up. The clip shows next to nothing, but does offer Payne’s signature style and a good laugh. To check it out, click here.
Synopsis via IMDB
A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.
Double Feature | Eraserhead and Blue Velvet
As of late I have been diving into David Lynch and Mark Frost’s 1990 series, Twin Peaks. Soaked in vibrant characters, haunting imagery, and an idiosyncratic sense of humor, Twin Peaks is the type of storytelling that only works because of David Lynch’s unique take on the world around him. Having your mind filled with “Lynchian” imagery can be both exhilarating and trying. Picking apart his imagery and themes can also be a rewarding experience. In the following article I will be recommending two films from Lynch, his directorial debut Eraserhead and (my personal favorite) the neo-noir Blue Velvet. Read the rest of this entry »
The Stream | Lumet, Anderson, and Maddin
The Stream is back once again, and in this edition I discuss three very different films from three very different filmmakers. The late cinematic great Sidney Lumet, brooding genre filmmaker Brad Anderson, and experimental auteur Guy Maddin are all featured. Remember all films presented here are on Netflix watch instantly and I recommend checking them out. Read the rest of this entry »
RIP Sidney Lumet 1924-2011
Yesterday the New York Times announced the sad news that filmmaker and Hollywood legend, Sidney Lumet, died at the age of 86. The cause of his death was lymphoma, and I feel that all film fans can agree this is a tragic loss. Lumet is responsible for some of the greatest films of all time, such as: 12 Angry Men, The Fugitive Kind, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, The Verdict, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, and countless others. Sidney Lumet was a one of a kind filmmaker and will be greatly missed.
Via nytimes.
The Filmdogs Podcast: Episode 42 – A Podcast of Thunder
The 42nd Episode of The Filmdogs Podcast is here and this week we’re going Back to the Future!! We open by discussing the News of M. Night Shyamalan’s new Sci-fi project with Will and Jaden Smith, The Dark Knight Rises shooting in Pittsburgh, and we also offer up some thoughts on Duncan Jones’s film Source Code. Then continuing the theme it’s Time Travel Films for our Featured Topic of the Week, and what Time Travel show would be complete without a One Liner of the Week from Back to the Future? Listen in now! Time is short.
Email us with your podcast feedback or segment suggestions at filmdogspodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the podcast here, or listen in you browser. Also, you may download an enhanced AAC feed with chapter markers and artwork from iTunes on your computer or straight to your iPhone/iPod touches now! If you like what you hear be sure to write a quick review on iTunes as well. It helps us out. Thanks!
The Filmdogs Podcast: Episode 41 – 2001: A Space Podcast
The 41st Episode of The Filmdogs Podcast is here! This week Mr. Will starts things off by recounting how he got Sucker Punched by Zach Synder‘s latest film, and in the News we discuss The Bourne Legacy casting, and a Justice League film in 2013. For our Featured Topic of the Week it’s Ambitious Films from Ambitious Directors, and to close it out we have a One-Liner of the Week from Christoper Walken in Batman Returns.
Email us with your podcast feedback or segment suggestions at filmdogspodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the podcast here, or listen in you browser. Also, you may download an enhanced AAC feed with chapter markers and artwork from iTunes on your computer or straight to your iPhone/iPod touches now! If you like what you hear be sure to write a quick review on iTunes as well. It helps us out. Thanks!
The Filmdogs Podcast: Episode 40 – Dawn of the Podcast
Episode 40 of The Filmdogs Podcast is up! This week we discuss the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, trouble for the Dune Remake, David Fincher being tapped for Cleopatra, and the Captain America Trailer in the News. For our In Defense of segment we discuss the merits of Zach Synder’s Watchmen just in time for his latest film opening this weekend, Sucker Punch. It’s Straight to DVD movies in our Featured Topic of the Week, and our conversation covers the stigma surrounding these films as well the changing landscape of home entertainment. To close it all out we have a One-Liner of the Week from Synder’s most controversial film, 300.
Email us with your podcast feedback or segment suggestions at filmdogspodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the podcast here, or listen in you browser. Also, you may download an enhanced AAC feed with chapter markers and artwork from iTunes on your computer or straight to your iPhone/iPod touches now! If you like what you hear be sure to write a quick review on iTunes as well. It helps us out. Thanks!
Agent Mulder Was His Idea! | Review of Paul
As I sat down for Paul, I begin to think about the niche sub-genre of film geek road movies. Fanboys, Kyle Newman’s 2008 tribute to all things located in a galaxy far away came to mind. Kevin Smith’s übergeek comedy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and (a film I have not seen, but Mr. Will has) Free Enterprise both fit nicely into this category. Then I started thinking about where those movies fail. Is it the enclosed nature of the stories? After all, you do have to be familiar with (if not a full blown fan) of geek culture as pertaining to film. Is it the talent involved? Jay and Silent Bob was loaded with stars in roles, but they only seemed to have taken the job to cut up. So my hopes were high for Paul. A broader take on this type of material couldn’t hurt, and the film is directed by Greg Mottola (Adventureland, a recent favorite of mine) and stars two of the funniest men around, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Read the rest of this entry »
