The Film Thugs Movie Show

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 7:

The Silence of the Lambs

Spine Number: 13

Director: Jonathan Demme

Genre: Psychological Thriller/Serial Killer

Movies and TV shows love to feature serial killers. Just love them to bits. And why shouldn't they? I mean, from a writing standpoint, it's kind of a slam dunk. Someone is killing a bunch of people, the killer has an identifiable modus operandi (or M.O. in movie/TV speak), and there is a built in ticking clock. Plus, it allows you to work with criminal profilers. Those people are basically magic. They can look at a crime and know everything about the killer and through their, often dangerous, mental journeys into the abyss they will find a way to stop the killer and save themselves from the demons within. I mean... the genre has everything.

Well... it does if you don't really sweat things like "accuracy."

The truth is, serial killers don't fit into neat little boxes. Yes, they have patterns that they follow, but they aren't grandiose and showy. Yes, some have been, but by and large a serial killer is driven by a need, a compulsion, and their killings are more of a symptom, to quote Hannibal Lector the killings themselves are "incidental."

Profilers on the other hand are far from magic. They are highly trained behavioral scientists who function to narrow the field. They don't magic psychic the information, rather they analyze the facts and get the basics of who the killer is in an effort to find them. White male, no steady work, physically powerful, owns a home, has an abusive background, has probably tried to get gender reassignment surgery... that sort of thing. They look at the behavior and figure out what "type" of person would commit the crime in question so that resources can be focused.

The Silence of the Lambs bu Thomas Harris is the second in a series of serial killer/criminal profiler books and movies that introduced the world to Hannibal Lector, a pure psychopath who "fits no known criminal profile." A brilliant surgeon and psychiatrist who tortured, killed, and ate countless victims. He's a fascinating character rendered... almost maudlin in some of the adaptations.

Not here.

Here is the portrayal that not only made the character iconic, but elevated Anthony Hopkins to the stardom he enjoys today. It is one of three films to win the big five awards at the Oscars (actress, actor, picture, director, and screenplay).

So, join us as we discuss how serial killers and profilers are portrayed in film, and the world of Thomas Harris's FBI in The Silence of the Lambs and beyond.

Next week:

Spine Number 26: The Long Good Friday

Also, check this out.

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.

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 6:

Hard Boiled

Spine Number: 9

Director: John Woo

Genre: Hong Kong Action

John Woo defined Hong Kong cinema in the late 80's and early 90's. His over the top action scenes and hyper cool protagonists set the tone for much of what modern action movies have evolved into. The Killer, in many respects, is the most artistic film he made, as we discussed last week. But Hard Boiled... damn. No action move comes close to what Woo achieves here. It's more than just violence, it's poetry in motion. In a genre known as "bullet ballet," and "heroic bloodshed," Woo was somehow able to reach a completely different level than anyone was accustomed to.

So join us in the beautiful violence that is Hard Boiled.

Next week:

Spine Number 13: The Silence of the Lambs

Also, check this out.

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.

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 5:

The Killer

Spine Number: 8

Director: John Woo

Genre: Hong Kong Action

There was a time when I thought America knew how to make an action movie. We had some great one, really we did. Little did I know that on the other side of the world there was a group of insane visionaries who were churning out some of the most amazing, gorgeous, violent works of cinema imaginable. Names like Woo, Lam, Hark, Chan, Li, Jing, and Fat were working on movies that would, for a certain group of filmmakers and film lovers, define the aesthetic of what action/crime movie would soon become.

They were The Beatles for a generation of filmmakers. You might not know or like their music, but your favorite band... they do. Or your favorite band's favorite band. In some way the work that was don in Hong Kong in the mid to late 80's and into the 90's is a fundamental part of the DNA of modern American film making. You like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction? Then you like Ringo Lam and John Woo. You like El Mariachi and Desperado? Then you like John Woo and Tsui Hark.

If you knew about these movies and people before... congratulations, you're one of us. You had a local video store that wasn't a Blockbuster of Hollywood Video that was a huge part of your life. You knew the satisfaction of watching a hard core bootlegged video that still had the "play" and "record" graphics on the beginning of it. You have watched movies that had ads for soy sauce and karaoke machines instead of previews. You were there, man!

So, join us in our first of two weeks of exploring the wonder of John Woo and the video store culture that is so sorely lacking from today's landscape.

And join us next week for some totally over the top, ape scat action that you are not ready for!

Next week:

Spine Number 9: John Woo's "Hard Boiled"

Also, check this out.

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.

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 4:

The 400 Blows

Spine Number: 5

Director: Francois Truffaut

Genre: French New Wave

Some movies change the world. At least... they change the world of film. Francois Truffaut was a respected and feared film critic in France when he decided to take a shot at making a movie.

What he produced, in his first attempt at a feature was one of the most revolutionary pieces of film making ever produced. It was a personal, emotionally raw, and thoroughly engrossing portrait of child with no map, no guideposts, and no mooring trying to find himself. The 400 Blows was one of the foundation films of the French New Wave movement and has gone on to be one of the most influential and respected films of all time.

So... join us as we discuss the beginnings of the Antoine Doinel series with the landmark "The 400 Blows."

Next week:

Spine Number 8: John Woo's "The Killer"

Also, check this out.

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.

The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectable 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 3:

The Lady Vanishes

Spine Number: 3

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre: It's Alfred Goddamned Hitchcock!

The Master of Suspense. That's a hell of a label to throw on a person. I mean... The Master of Suspense? Think about it. That's like when they call Wayne Gretzky "The Great One." There is no attempt to mince words here. Hitchcock is the man. There really is no debating this, at least not with Jim...

Yes, that is a real tattoo.

The Lady Vanishes was one of Hitchcock's last films before moving to Hollywood and becoming Alfred Hitchcock. It was a huge hit and laid the foundation for the type of filmmaker Hitch would become. He set the standard and has yet to be surpassed.

So join us on our Hitchcockian journey through "The Lady Vanishes."

Next week:

Spine Number 5: Francois Truffaut's The 400 Blows

Also, check this out.

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.