Episodes
Sunday Mar 27, 2016
Criterion Year Week 28: Ikiru
Sunday Mar 27, 2016
Sunday Mar 27, 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...
Ikiru
Spine Number: 221
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Genre: Drama
When you say Akira Kurosawa to most people, if they've hear of him at all, it's because of Seven Samurai. Which is understandable. I mean... it's an unquestioned masterpiece. Beyond that, people normally still think of Samurai movies. This week, we take a break from that and look at, what was at the time, a contemporary piece.
Ikiru, translated "To Live," is the story of a mid level government bureaucrat who is faced with his own mortality. It asks, essentially, "how does a man who has refused to live face death?"
It's impossible to overstate how beautiful this movie is. From the typically brilliant cinematography to the simple and elegant story to the amazing performances... this is everything we have come to expect from Kurosawa, but with less violence and a much more evident heart.
So, enjoy our take on a truly remarkable and life affirming film.
Next Week:
Spine number 249: The Battle of Algiers
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 Mar 20, 2016
Criterion Year Week 27: The Rules of The Game
Sunday Mar 20, 2016
Sunday Mar 20, 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...
The Rules of the GameSpine Number: 216
Director: Jean Renoir
Genre: The most French of French
Before we even get started let me say one thing. We neither understood nor cared for this film at all. It just did nothing. We tried, and it wouldn't meet us halfway. So if you're worried about having to see this first... don't sweat it. We kind of tap dance around it.
Few films have ever come with a more daunting and lofty pedigree than Jean Renoir's "The Rules of The Game." For several decades Sight and Sound Magazine has published a list of what are considered the best films ever made. For ages Citizen Kane has held the top position. However, before Kane's ascension, what film was considered the "greatest film of all time?"
This one was. Jean Renoir's comedy of manners that is said to contain a "scathing critique of corrupt French society."
Something must have been lost in translation. Cut to the chase... we didn't really care for it. Well, maybe that's not the right way to put it. This thing made little to no sense. Perhaps there is a greater base of knowledge about French society on the eve of World War II. But, as it stands... we didn't consider this to be a good movie. Yes, it looks good, and there is most certainly something going on behind the scenes that we are just not familiar with, but... honestly. It doesn't translate.
But what we found was... that's ok. It's fine to not love a movie that is held up as a classic. As long as there is some thought going into your critique and you aren't just disagreeing to disagree, it's completely fine to look at something that everyone swears is important and say... eh, not for me.
So, join us in our look at this beloved masterpiece and our discussion of why dissent is just fine.
Next Week:
Spine number 221: Ikiru
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 Mar 06, 2016
Criterion Year Week 26: Throne of Blood
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
Sunday Mar 06, 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 26:
Throne of Blood
Spine Number: 190
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Genre: Samurai Shakespeare Adaptation
You know what? I am well aware that "Samurai Shakespeare Adaptation," is not, strictly speaking, a genre. You know what else? I don't care, because it damned well should be.
I am rarely happier than when we get to watch a Kurosawa movie. The absolute mastery he displays is genuinely humbling. Clarkson commented while watching this that being a filmmaker while Kurosawa was working must have been miserable. No matter what you did, no matter how expertly you crafted a scene, how perfectly lit it was, how delicately staged, no matter how mind blowing it was to you, you knew that whatever Akira was doing at that moment was better.
Side note, did you know that Akira Kurosawa has as many Oscar Nominations as Melissa McCarthy? No disrespect to Melissa, but evidently shitting in a sink gets you as much respect as being possibly the greatest film maker of all time. So... the Oscars can screw off.
But I digress...
Throne of Blood, first of... the most metal name for a movie ever. How can you possibly top that title, you ask? Simple. Make the movie you give that name to Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of Macbeth.
Let me repeat that.
This movie is Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of GOD DAMNED MACBETH!!!
How good is it? Not to oversell, but it's better than everything else that has ever or will ever exist. It's Toshiro Mifune playing Macbeth directed by Kurosawa. I cannot stress this enough,
IT'S KUROSAWA DOING MACBETH!!! Why are you reading this when you could be watching Kurosawa's MACBETH?
We also discuss all the bullshit that our political process has devolved into, and talk about the men's rights dildos and why they are so angry all the time.
Next Week:
Spine number 216: The Rules of The Game
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.