Just because: Grindhouse's "Thanksgiving"

Happy Turkey Day, Dwellers! Don't stuff yourselves too much...

Fletch's Favored Five: 1984 in film

Not only have I failed at regularly maintaining the Fletch's Favored Five feature, I feel like I've been sorely lacking in the list department in general. Why should everyone else get to post fun and/or genius and/or idiotic Top 5s and/or 10s? I can do that, too!

But seriously, this particular series that I'm officially starting up (doing it by year) serves a dual purpose for me. See, I have a near-encyclopedic knowledge of movies that have been released since 1993. Before then? Not so much. It's not that I didn't watch movies before then - I just have a terrible memory (and I was pretty young for much of it). Sure, I know all of the big flicks, but I have a hard time recalling the little movies, the Oscar bait, the ones that would make peoples' "Oh, this is a totally underrated movie!" lists. After thinking about this a bit, I'm starting to wonder if the explosion of truly independent movies onto big screens (hmm, right around the early 90s) doesn't play a large factor here. Do I not remember the small movies...because there just plain weren't any/many? I seriously doubt that, or at least hope that's not the case.

Thus, I'm going to use my friend Wikipedia (poor thing, always being used, rarely getting attention) to kickstart my brain, year by year, and I'll throw out a Favored Five here and there. If you want to refresh your memory in a similar fashion, just go to Wiki and type "[four-character year] in film." Here's the one for 1984. I won't pretend that Wiki is the end-all, be-all of filmic knowledge or that these yearly lists are 100% accurate, but they're an excellent place to start and a great resource.

1984
I was seven years old for most of this year, so I don't feel all that terrible for the low, low number of films that I can claim to have seen. Still, it seems like I should be aware of many more than I am. That not being the case, making this favored five list was relatively easy, since the pickings from which I have seen are so small.

Honorable Mentions: Gremlins, Police Academy, Star Trek II: The Search for Spock

5. Ghostbusters - Haven't sat down and watched this in forever, but talk about the right movie for the right time (and time of my life). Funnier than my young self could have possibly comprehended, and responsible for the hilarious homage in Be Kind Rewind.


4. Blood Simple - the film that introduced the world to the Coen brothers, and Frances McDormand. Dan Hedaya makes a great greaseball as usual, and seeing Fletch vet (of course, this was before that seminal work) M. Emmett Walsh always makes me happy.


3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - the lesser of the series until that abomination from a couple years back (yeah, I said it, Joe), TOD is still a great action-adventure, and is somehow the darkest and "kiddiest" at the same time. Invented the PG-13 rating, if I recall correctly.


2. The Karate Kid - set the standard for many copycats over the next few decades, and believe it or not, despite all of the love/mockery, it actually holds up as a good (albeit predictable) film. Who else is just dying for the latest version with Will Smith's kid? [Sees no hands being raised...]


1. The Terminator - It's not as easy to love as its sequel, but it was the beginning of an enduring franchise, the breakout of a certain Governator, and oh by the way, the special effects kicked ass (for the mid-80s). Pretty chilling, too.

The Dude That Does Stuff Movie Plot Game #7

Last Week's Results: JacksSmirkingRevenge pulled out a third straight victory, this time with 5 points.

I apologize for the tardiness this week. Busy at work and I don't feel so great. Bonus!

The concept is overwhelmingly simple; below are 15 movie plots, torn down to their basest base, and invariably involving the words "dude" and/or "stuff." All you must do is name the film. 1 point per correct answer; he/she with the most points wins. Google to your heart's content; it will do you no good. Many films might match the plots you see below, but there is only one correct answer, and that's the one that's in my head when I write it. Oh, and I've ratcheted back the difficulty quite a bit I think. Open season...

Have fun with this stuff, dudes and dudettes.

1. Dude is looking for littler dude.
2. Dude helps dudette find other dude.
3. Dudes find themselves.
4. Dude loses himself.
5. Dude loses his job. Just wants to find his family.
6. Geeky little dudes get stalked by bigger dudes.
7. Dude loses a big case. Finds a way to win anyway.
8. Dude loses an ability that's important to him.
9. Dudette loses her mind.
10. Dude finds another dude just like him.
11. Dudes lose dude.
12. Dude costars with big dude that looks a lot like his big, dead friend.

Ok, only 12 this time. I'm going to bed...

As you get them right, I'll mark them as gotten and stuff. Good luck.

Standings
JacksSmirkingRevenge - 3
Myherobobhope - 1.5
BD79 - 1
Nic Cage - .5

Correct answers so far:
1. Finding Nemo (JSR)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Fracture (JSR)
8. Liar Liar (Justin)
9.
10. Step Brothers (JSR)
11. The Hangover (JSR)
12. Lost & Found (Justin)

Candy for Your Ears

In addition to starting up the LAMBcast a couple months ago, I've taken to listening to quite a few podcasts as well. As such, here's a rundown of the ones I've taken a liking to; being the company man that I am, it just so happens that they are all produced by fellow members of the LAMB. They're listed in no particular order:

The Simon & Jo Show
Simon Columb of Entertain Me heads up this production, joined by his partner in crime Jo Gudgeon. Based out of London, the pair puts out a relatively short show (usually clocking it at around 25 minutes) that goes over the latest films that either (or both) have seen, along with a short chat about the UK's top five films at the box office and occasional snarky snippets from a significant other. They usually start the podcast out with a short introduction from a remote location (meaning outside of a studio, not Antarctica), which adds an exciting yet intimate feel to the proceedings and gives the show a different feel from most podcasts, even when they return to a more controlled environment.

The Moving Arts FilmCast
If you're familiar with (and like) the work of the Sklar Brothers, either from ESPN or (better yet) from their filling-in for Jim Rome on his radio show, then the TMA FilmCast just might be the show for you. Brothers - but not twins - Eric and Scott Armstrong of The Moving Arts share not only a similar taste and knowledge of movies, but sound alike (and a bit like the Sklars). I'm pretty new to this one, but I like what I've heard thus far.

natsukashi
This is a specialized, focused podcast if ever there was one. Host Rob R. is joined frequently by fellow LAMB Scott Knopf of He Shot Cyrus as they discuss a single film, joined by someone involved with the film - frequently, it's a co-star, sometimes the lead, director, or cinematographer. Your interest in a single podcast will likely be determined by your interest in the film they're discussing, but the movies are generally well-known and fall squarely into the nostalgia category of film love (Demolition Man, Lionheart, My Cousin Vinny and Caddyshack are some of the recent shows).

The Film Cynics
Steve Johnston and Brian Dutkewich of The Cynical Blog are more than mere podcasters; they have their own radio show! Airing on Sundays on Victoria, Canada's own C-FAX 1070, the Cynics re-purpose their show as a podcast (minus the air breaks and commercials), and I'm glad they do. Being pros and all, their podcast is one of the slickest you'll hear, and the guys' segments are clearly defined and individually entertaining, going over a featured topic, followed by picks from the vault, some high-tech talk and their DVD picks of the week.

Row Three's Cinecast
I'm relatively new to this one. Row Three's Andrew James and Kurt Halfyard deliver a long show (90+ minutes) that takes a deep, deep trip into film, covering a vast array of topics and references, maintaining a hot debate over the merits and demerits of their featured film, along with smaller chats about some other recent releases. Put your thinking caps on.

Fletch's Film Review: An Education

A whip-smart, suburban-dwelling, precocious teenager attending a private high school. A thirtysomething object of affection. Brushes with high culture and monied individuals. A heavy dose of Britain in the 60s.

Is this An Education or Rushmore?

Those similarities (and the presence of Olivia Williams, who once upon a time played Max Fischer's love interest) aside, Education stands on its own as a worthy coming-of-age story, featuring a star-making performance by Carey Mulligan and excellent supporting turns by a hilarious Alfred Molina, the elegant Williams, and Emma Thompson (in an extended cameo).

Mulligan is Jenny, a teen so bored with her current position as a London-suburb-dwelling high school student that she inserts random French phrases into her everyday speaking in order to feel more like an urban Parisian. She listens to French chanteuses and smokes behind her parents' backs.

Then she meets David. Dreamy David, who rescues her out and away from the cold and dreary teenage world into a life of jazz clubs, road trips to gay Par-ee and, despite their vast age difference, poses an immediate threat to her virginity. Jenny is smitten. Her parents are smitten. And David, perhaps not smitten, is having the time of his middle-aged life.

It's hard not to feel a certain contempt for the roads the characters go down, making all the wrong moves for the simple promise of what might be real, but director Lone Scherfig gets us invested in the whys of their motivation and delivers an entertaining look at the lessons some must learn in order to grow up.

Fletch's Film Rating:

	"Darn tootin!"

Shaky Cam Rating (details):	LAMBScore:

Stained Glass Cinema Sunday (#68)

Since J.D. currently has a 14-6 advantage over the second place player (my tally is only for the times I've stumped you all), I'm basically going to just take this game as a challenge to stymie J.D.

I think I might have you here, young man. And don't worry - it's not some obscure film.




















Standings:
J.D. - 14
Fletch - 11
Nick - 6
Wendymoon, Clive Dangerously - 5
Jason/Daniel, David Bishop, Rachel - 3
Evan Derrick, Jason Soto, BD79 - 2
Steel11Kane, TonyD, Luke Harrington, Adam Ross, Justin, Anders, Dreamrot, Dave, JLG, Big Mike Mendez - 1

Here are the altered/actual posters from last time:

TGITDNMAR (11/20/09)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
OMG Taylor! OMG Robert! OMG Kristin! OMG Kristin and Robert! OMG Look at Taylor! OMG Dakota Fanning! OMG Vampires! OMG Werewolves! OMG OMG! OMG Taylor! OMG Robert! OMG Kristin! OMG Kristin and Robert! OMG Look at Taylor! OMG Dakota Fanning! OMG Vampires! OMG Werewolves! OMG OMG!
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 0%

Planet 51
I feel like the Politically Correct Police is slacking on their job of annoying us and making sure we're aware of things that don't matter. This week, it's the fact that Dwayne Johnson, he of multi-racial descent (Black and Samoan), is doing the voice of a white character. Of course, I don't particularly care about this, save for the part where you can be certain it would be a big, fat, hairy deal were the situation reversed (The Last Airbender, anyone?). Hypocrisy?

Anyway, I haven't even watched the full trailer for this, but I'm not sure I need to; it's a clever concept, but one that can be summed up in about 3.5 words. Ought to be ripe for some decent jokes - just don't go looking for anything deep. Solid vocal cast, with Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, John Cleese, and Seann William Scott (The Rundown reunion!) on board.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 23%

The Blind Side
I'm really hoping that at some point, Sandra Bullock's Southern belle will paraphrase the iconic John Moxon and tell the disenfranchised, parentless and poor teen she has taken in, "I don't want...you to have...your life." But that's probably not going to happen.

I don't have much else to say about this one - just not interested in the slightest. Newsflash, but Sandra Bullock, as a rule, doesn't make good movies. Though is anyone else shocked that this is a Warner production and not Disney? Talk about an upset.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 6%

The Fantastic Mr. Fox
By all accounts, I shouldn't be all that excited for this. After all, it's Wes Anderson, doing a replica of his Wes Anderson thang (the major criticism of The Darjeeling Limited), only this time with stop-motion. Most of the W.A. Players are on board as well, from Bill Murray to Jason Schwartzman to Owen Wilson. And yet, I'm psyched to see it. Must be the whistle click*click - it's my trademark.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 99%

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
I suppose it's too obvious for me to ask that the title be changed to Bad Actor, right?

Truth is, despite the fact that I haven't seen the first, openly loathe Cage, and am not all that interested in Herzog's films (in general), the trailer for this makes it appear to be pretty interesting, even if the material is the kind of stuff that we've seen before. Cage (warning: compliment coming) is at his best when he's off the reservation a bit and he's clearly off it here. No theatrical viewing in my future, but I wouldn't mind a future cable one.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 11%

Broken Embraces
I'm about to hit you with some of my famous, fabulous Insider's Insight™ yet again. Are you sitting down?

Ready?

Ok, here it is.

Pedro Almodóvar thinks Penelope Cruz is hot. Like, really hot. Woody Allen thinks she's the bees knees. Whoever directed Elegy (sorry, my Insider brain can only retain so much information) thinks she's hot, too. Pretty sure Cameron Crowe agrees as well.

You know what? I f*$#ing get it. Penny Cruz is hotter than all other starlets combined. Her face is a porcelain doll come to life. Her breasts rival Venus de Milo's in their beauty. Her hair is made of fine Corinthian leather and her neck emits its own perfume whenever she desires it to.

I get it.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 2%

Survivor: Samoa Episode 10 Recap/Live Blog

One week until Thanksgiving. You know what that means, right? The evil clips show will be the next episode, if there's even one at all. A Wednesday airing is possible, but I'm gonna say unlikely. So get your Russ fix in tonight, since he won't be back for two weeks (if he's still on the show at all...).

7:01: One more reason to like Danger Dave...immediately back form Tribal Council and he comes over and congratulates Russ and the Foa Foa Four. His shocked yet bemused looks at Tribal were a good hint to his mindset (as opposed to Laura, who looked stone-cold pissed), but it was still a great display of humility.

7:05: The rat race begins early, as Russell is up at the crack of dawn - before his fellow players, of course - already looking for the latest hiding place for the hidden idol. Let the calamity begin!

7:08: Yes - tacky product placement returns! I won't say what the product is since I don't want to contribute to this behavior, but let's just say that it's a phone whose name rhymes with Calm Free. Sorry, I need to go to the Home Depot toilet now.

7:10: Why is John the team member in the lever-pulley challenge that's being pulled around by his teammates? Wouldn't you always choose the lightest person, in this case being Monica? Dumb.

7:12: Shocking - that tactical error likely cost the yellow team a victory, as the purple team had the ultra-light Natalie in their hammocky thing. Even better news for the purple team? They can now make phone calls with their schmacy Palm Pre - oops! Damn, I said it.

7:17: As if the mid-show commercial for a phone wasn't bad enough, they decide to show us "pictures" that the castaways took with their phone. Um...those pictures were not taken with that phone - at least not all of them. What's it got, a 3-megapixel camera in there, and yet it can take crystal-clear images that fill an HDTV? My ass.

7:18: So we're shown some footage of Mick, Jaison, and Monica chatting it up back at loser island about strategy and this and that and the other. !!!! Why aren't these maroons tearing up the place looking for the hidden immunity idol. Complacence and confidence are good tactics to use if you'd like to leave the game.

7:22: And so the insanity has begun. Russell tells Jaison and Mick about the clues, and within seconds flat, Laura and Dave are following him around like a puppy following its master.

7:24: If I say "he did it again," do I even need to extrapolate on that for you to know exactly what I'm talking about. Russell is on another plane of Survivor Consciousness, people. The big question now...to play it again or give it away? I say play it again - what's to stop him from getting it again?

7:26: Of course, the better plan would be for Russ to get the run of the mill Immunity Idol. I say he's due. Laura can not win it again.

7:28: I don't know about the "throwing rocks" portion of this Immunity Challenge, but John sure had a smirk on his face when the "shooting arrows" portion came up.

7:30: Seriously, how old is Brett? I know women with more facial hair than him!

7:31: Ok, I don't actually know any women with more, but I know I've seen women with more. Get that boy some testosterone, stat (Mick, you're a doctor, you do it).

7:32: Speaking of Mick - good god, a Foa Foan actually won something, as Doc took home the Immunity. Not quite as good as Russ taking it, but pritty, pritty, pritty good nevertheless.

7:35: The sensitive piano music during Shambo's heart-to-heart with Brett was priceless. That is all.

7:40: There's a lot going on, so it's hard to get my head wrapped around all of this business that Monica, Dave, and Brett are selling, but I'm pretty sure it's going to fail miserably. There's no way Sham is voting anyone but Laura, and I'm fairly certain that the Foans are more than content in playing their odds with a tie (at worst). If anyone's likely to flip, it's a former Galu player, not a Foan. And so far, it seems like John is wont to join Shambo. It really seems as though the balance of power has shifted, despite what the Galus (minus John and Shambo) think.

Oh, and by the way, I'm liking John more and more after the events of this episode.

7:48: Don't you love how the focus got shifted away from Russell's head justlikethat? He lives (barring a rock draw).

7:49: And oh by the way, I know we're getting a tie, because there's too much time left in the show. Sometimes, it's just that easy.

7:50: Tie ballgame! Even Dave Matthews loves it!

7:51: C'mon, John - this is your time to shine...

7:52: Laura...
Natalie...
Laura...
Natalie...
Laura...
Natalie...
3-3...2 votes left.
Laura...
...
...
Final vote: Laura!!!! Bless you, John - you're officially my second-favorite player. Of course, you are NOT the favorite player of Dave, Brett and Monica - they were sending tiny daggers of hate his way. The next episode ought to be full of frisky fun. See you in...two weeks? (They didn't say.)

Survivor news at Survivor.com
Survivor homepage at CBS.com

Poll results; new poll

Y'all are a bunch of bald-faced liars...or Up in the Air is gonna earn a lot more than its producers are probably expecting right now. 13-for-13? Everyone's hot for Jason Reitman's next flick?

I'm one of that baker's dozen as well, but as a Clooney fan, I voted for all three, having already seen Goats and planning on seeing Fox this weekend. I'm just shocked - I figured Up in the Air was the least accessible of the three; then again, it's the one most likely to earn high-profile Academy nods. We shall see...

New poll is all about 2012 director Roland Emmerich, who seems to have run out of earth to destroy. What's next on his slate?

Just because: Weezing the juice