The Film Thugs Movie Show

Hey, if The Professional Bowlers Association can have a hall of fame, why can't we? This week we discuss the inaugural inductees to The Film Thugs Hall of Fame. Find out what writers, actors, directors, and musicians made the cut.

Here at The Film Thugs have a bit of a conundrum. It's one that's fairly common for film lovers these days. In short, we love the movies, but we hate going to the movies. I use to love everything about the experience, but lately something has changed. What might that be, you ask? Well, people. People have made the film going experience unbearable. You mean to say I have a choice between watching one of a few thousand movies (Thank you Netflix and Uverse Video on Demand) on my HD TV in the comfort of my own home... OR I can shell out a huge sum to watch it in a room full of inconsiderate assholes who live in a world where nobody matters but them? This week we decided to tackle a subject that was recently thrust into the national spotlight by The Alamo Drafthouse This is the same theater that began every film in it's first 5 years of operation with this... and has had actors... and politicians join in. So, here you go... our thoughts on theater etiquette.

It's hard to come up with an original story. Think about it. You have to come up with characters, you have to make something happen, you have to get people interested in it... It's a nightmare. So why not skip as much of the hard part as possible and just create a story about something that already exists. No, not a book or a play, that would involve reading. No, we are talking about TV shows, video games, board games, toys... you name it. This week we tackle the world of non literary adaptations. It's... well, it's interesting.

The only thing harder than adapting a long book into a good film is adapting a long life into a good film. How do you do it and maintain some level of factual accuracy. Good for us some movies don't have even the slightest concern for "facts" and "accuracy." Join us as we take a look at some of the best and worst movie biopics out there.

King Kelly

“Gimmick” movies are nothing new. Split screen (Timecode), real time (Nick Of Time), found footage (The Blair Witch Project), different endings (Clue), and the quandary that is 3D (We pull this out every 10 years or so… but you’re right, this time it will last… oh, and that girl who cheated on you all those times? She totally won’t do it again.). Sometimes the gimmick is just that a gimmick. It’s there because the film needs something to set it apart. It adds nothing and is accepted for what it is, a throw away attempt to get people interested in something that is not that interesting. Other times it’s more than a gimmick and actually adds something to the themes and the narrative.

“King Kelly,” by Andrew Neel is shot entirely on cell phones held by the actors. It’s an interesting idea that takes the found footage movie into a new and interesting direction. In this case the gimmick is more than just a gimmick; it’s necessary from both a thematic and narrative viewpoint.

Today’s youth are oversexed, spoiled, hedonistic, entitled monsters filled with unearned confidence and who live in a consequence free world of instant gratification. Welcome to the YouTube generation! Fame whores to the left, star fuckers to the right, and boundless self esteem for all… or something like that.

It’s a growing caricature that is no more true today than any of the other sweeping generational characterizations.

The 60’s were a time of hippies, but it was also the time of young people who hated hippies.

The 70’s were a time of drugs and disco as well as The Ramones and death to disco.

The 80’s saw greed, materialism, selfishness, and charity in equal measures.

Hell, my generation produced as many well adjusted and productive members of society as we did angst filled, overeducated poets in shitty bands.

Sadly, generations are defined by whatever slogan ready group the media can prop up, so welcome to it kids. You are now known by the worst of you.

“King Kelly” is a movie about the worst of the worst. It is the story of Kelly, a young woman (I would have guessed mid teens by her behavior, but according to the director she is in her early 20’s) named Kelly, who is known as King Kelly on her live sex webcam show.

Right off the bat I cannot think of a more loathsome, selfish, annoying, and completely awful human being than Kelly.

The only think worse than her complete narcissism and self absorbed view of the world is her aggressive and restless immaturity.

She is a child who has grown accustomed to getting her way because she is pretty. She lives in a world of selfish hedonism inhabited by living props there for her amusement. Her every thought and action can be recorded an posted for the world to see and therefore it’s important.

The story follows her through one very dark night as she tries to get back a package that she was transporting for some dangerous people. Things go from bad to worse to unimaginable as she manipulates, betrays, and uses every person she can in a quest to cover her own ass.

I have a problem with protagonists like this. She is completely unlikable and seems completely OK with that. She always gets her way so she is oblivious to the fact that her actions have consequences, both for herself and for those around her.

That is my only problem with the film, but it’s a big one. It is an inventive film that looks good and has strong performances from a young cast and the story move at a good pace and it’s an interesting descent to some pretty dark places.

But God DAMN, I cannot stress how much I hated Kelly. At every step I was waiting for someone to punch her in the face. She was such an overwhelmingly annoying, dismissive, self absorbed imbecile that it was impossible for me to wish for anything but her to get knocked down.

In the end “King Kelly” is a well made, interesting, and inventive look at a generation that is being defined by its worst elements that would have been fantastic had the protagonist shown any sign of humanity, humility, respect, or redemption. She doesn’t.