Episodes
Monday Jan 18, 2016
Criterion Year Week 21: The Royal Tenenbaums
Monday Jan 18, 2016
Monday Jan 18, 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...
Week 21:
The Royal Tenenbaums
Spine Number: 15
Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy
Some talent seems to spring into the world fully formed, like Athena emerging from Zeus' skull. This really feels apropos when talking about Wes Anderson. Bottle Rocket, which will be discussed in depth at a later date, was a solid quirky little indie, but everything you really need to know about Wes is there. Rushmore really nailed down what he was all about.
But The Royal Tenenbaums...
Damn.
Few films are as solid, as effective, as heartfelt, as meticulously and flawlessly executed as this one. Every aspect of it is perfect. Every character is perfectly cast, every performance is nuanced and heartfelt, every beat, be it dramatic or comedic, lands with a precision that is virtually unmatched. Rushmore was a home run, and somehow Anderson and Wilson followed it up with a grand slam.
So join us as we discuss a movie that is a genuine pleasure to watch. If by some strange chance you haven't seen it yet, please do yourself a favor and correct that immediately.
Next week:
Spine number 163: Hopscotch
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.
You can also click on one of our sponsor links below and THEY will pay us. That's right. You won't have to pay a PENNY extra, and Amazon/Onnit/Teefury will give us a little taste.
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...
Jim out.
Sunday Jan 10, 2016
Criterion Year Week 20: Traffic
Sunday Jan 10, 2016
Sunday Jan 10, 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...
Week 20:
Traffic
Spine Number: 151
Director:Steven Soderburgh
Genre: Drama
One of the most annoying things in the world, to me at least, is when someone addresses a complex issue as if it only has one facet and a simple solution. People do this all the time. Basically, it's the height of egotism. This problem really wouldn't be a problem if people just looked at it the way I did and did this one thing to fix it.
The simple fact of the matter is that most issues are far more complex than we think they are and they don't have easy answers or quick fixes. In fact, most of them don't really have a single fix at all.
Traffic addresses one of the most contentious issues of our time. The war on drugs.
We see multiple points of view from different points along the supply chain. We see how the good guys deal with things from the front lines to the White House. We see how the bad guys do thing, and how they will be able to continue operating. To quote The Wire, "This isn't a war. Wars end."
This is the type of issue that we love to talk about. It's complex, misunderstood, and handled in the most incompetent and wrongheaded way imaginable (from a policy point of view).
We discuss what can be done to fix a problem that doesn't have a solution. How do you keep people from doing something that people have done as long as people have existed?
Next week:
Spine number 157: The Royal Tenenbaums
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.
You can also click on one of our sponsor links below and THEY will pay us. That's right. You won't have to pay a PENNY extra, and Amazon/Onnit/Teefury will give us a little taste.
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...
Jim out.
Sunday Jan 03, 2016
Criterion Year Week 19: Sullivan's Travels
Sunday Jan 03, 2016
Sunday Jan 03, 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...
Week 19:
Sullivan's Travels
Spine Number: 118
Director: Preston Sturges
Genre: Comedy
Important.
That word gets used a lot when it comes to movies. Watch any awards show and you will see just how seriously the entertainment industry takes itself. Actors and directors are always going on about how "brave" or "courageous" they were in taking a large sum of money to play a part or make an important movie. Stories of grand importance which make lofty and high minded statements and give voice to the voiceless are seen as the highest achievement in art.
But are they?
Really, are they? What makes a movie important?
That question lies at the heart of this amazing film by Preston Sturges.
Who are you speaking for, and do you have the authority to speak for them? Do they even want you to?
This week we go very in depth to talk about what makes art important, and what gives someone the authority to present these "important" stories.
So, join us as we get to the heart of the question, 'What good is art?"
Next week:
Spine number 151: Traffic
A genuinely wonderful comedy classic.
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.
You can also click on one of our sponsor links below and THEY will pay us. That's right. You won't have to pay a PENNY extra, and Amazon/Onnit/Teefury will give us a little taste.
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...
Jim out.