The Film Thugs Movie Show

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Informed film discussion for the unrefined connoisseur.

Episodes

Sunday Jan 03, 2016

Criterion Year Week 19: Sullivan's Travels

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.

Sunday Dec 20, 2015

Criterion year Week 18: Withnail and I

Sunday Dec 20, 2015

We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...

Week 18:

Withnail and I

Spine Number: 119

Director: Bruce Robinson

Genre: Comedy

Some movies just feel like they were made for you. The characters make a different kind of sense on a certain level, they are just bizarre enough to make complete sense, and the dialogue hits on all cylinders. When you find one of these movies you wonder how you managed to miss it for all of those years because it was clearly made just for you.

Withnail and I is such a film.

I purchased it sight unseen based off the suggestion of a college friend and just assumed that Clarkson had seen it and had the entire thing memorized. Turns out, he'd never heard of it. So, one Saint Patrick's Day around 11 years ago, we sat down with a large amount of alcohol, Withnail and I, The Long Good Friday, The Boondock Saints, Michael Collins, In The Name of The Father, and The Departed. Yes, it was a lot of movies to watch in one day, but we didn't really have anything else to do, and that beer and whiskey wasn't going to drink itself.

So, I got to share this amazing film with someone else who would find it just as oddly captivating as I did.

The dialogue is fantastic, the characters are hilarious, and the performances... good GOD! Top to bottom this thing is full of scene stealing performance after scene stealing performance. Richard E. Grant's Withnail dominates every scene he's in, unless Richard Griffiths is on screne (in which case he takes complete ownership), Paul McGann gives an understated performance that just highlights the madness around him, Ralph Brown originating the character he would play again in Wayne's World 2... it's just... well, to quote Danny, "That's politics, man."

So check it out with us. If you've never seen it, grab a drink and njoy, if you have seen it, do the same. A good time will be had by all.

Next week:

Spine number 118: Sullivan's Travels

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.

Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.

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.

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 Nov 15, 2015

Criterion Year Week 16: The Rock

Sunday Nov 15, 2015

We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...

Week 16:

The Rock

Spine Number: 108

Director: Michael Bay

Genre: It's a Michael Bay movie.

Before the giant space rock and giant space robots made Michael Bay all the money in the world he was somehow able to get recent Academy Award winner Nic Cage and Sean GODDAMNED Connery to appear in one of the most gloriously decadent action movies of all time.

Actually, that's selling it short. This is a pretty decent movie. The plot is somewhat logical and coherent, the bad guy, if you want to call him that, has a point of view and a fairly noble goal, and there is more amazing action in the first 30 minutes than most movies can fit in their entire run time.

Welcome to The Rock!

What can you say about this thing. It's balls out action done the way it should be. Balls out from beginning to end. Not a breath is spared through this thing. It's amazing.

So, shut up and watch it, then listen to us go off about it and whatever else we feel like. It's good to be back.

Next week:

Spine Number 115: Rififi

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.

It will also be on iTunes as soon as the feed is verified.

Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.

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.

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 Nov 01, 2015

Criterion Year Week 15: Gimme Shelter

Sunday Nov 01, 2015

We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...

Week 15:

Gimme Shelter

Spine Number: 99

Director: Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin

Genre: Documentary

It can be argued, quite reasonably, that the documentary is the oldest form of film making in existence. The first films ever made were simply documenting things that happened every day. Be it a train pulling into a station or women leaving their jobs at a factory film began by simply recording things that happened. The early Thomas Edison films were largely recreations of things that regular people wouldn't have had a chance to see in person. From Annie Oakley to Jim Corbett, people would go and simply do what they were known for and a larger segment of the public would be able to see it.

Over the years, this genre has been corrupted and perverted. Simply presenting something as it occurred was no longer sufficient, people began using the format to prove a point or propagate an idea. The simple act of showing something wasn't enough. People had to manipulate the events to support a thesis or to sensationalize the events so they would reach a wider audience. The framing and presentation of "reality" became another tool for persuasion.

However, there were some people who had an ethical commitment to keeping this form of film making pure. Few people were as dedicated to this idea than the Maysles brothers. They were dedicated to the idea of simple observation and presenting what they observed. Their films "Grey Gardens" and "Salesman" in many ways set the standard for American documentary film making.

But it was their film "Gimme Shelter," detailing the Rolling Stones disastrous free concert at the Altamont Motor Speedway that went above and beyond what the genre had done in the past.

In addition to documenting the complete lack of planning that went into the show, it highlighted the total lack of organization at the grounds, and ultimately kept a man from going to jail for murder.

This film gives a fly on the wall look at one of the most important cultural moments in American history, the moment where, as many would say, the '60's died.
It's simple, sparse, direct, and to the point. This is documentary film making at its purest.

Jim will be out of town next week for a wedding, but we are not leaving you with nothing. Beginning on Thursday the 5th we will be presenting another week with The Life Masters, so get ready for some life coaching, because you are gonna get it.

In two weeks:

Spine Number 108: The Rock by Michael Bay (yes, that "The Rock.")

Also, check this out.

Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.

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.

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 Oct 25, 2015

Criterion Year Week 14: Sanjuro

Sunday Oct 25, 2015

We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...

Week 14:

Sanjuro

Spine Number: 53

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Genre: Samurai

Good sequels are hard to come by. The act of making a movie, let alone a good movie, is an insane balance of such completely disparate elements, many of which are completely beyond anyone's control, that getting a film finished counts as a minor miracle. If that film does well, many times a filmmaker is expected to go back to the same well and try and capture lightning in a bottle a second time, sometimes more. Few people can pull it off, even fewer can pull it off well.

Well, somehow, Akira Kurosawa is one of those who can pull it off, which is surprising to precisely no one. Sanjuro follows the hero of Yojimbo as he continues to help those who cannot help themselves. He stumbles upon a group of young, idealistic samurai who want to stamp out the corruption in their ranks. Being young, naive, and too quick on the trigger they are pretty much destined to fail. Enter Sanjuro, our nameless ronin with an unflinching code of honor and sense of right and wrong.

Simple, streamlined, and absolutely gorgeous. Sanjuro continues Kurosawa's tradition of accessible, fluid story telling and absolutely unparalleled eye for framing and composition.

Join us as we continue our Odyssey through Jim's Criterion Collection with another Kurosawa masterpiece.

Next week:

Spine Number 99: Gimmie Shelter (The Maysles Brothers documentary on The Rolling Stones' "Nightmare at Altamont.")

Also, check this out.

Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.

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.

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.