64 response about Cinecast Episode 105: Assaninity »

1. 

   [...] And with that I give you Cinecast Episode 105: Assanity [...]

   Pingback by Row Three Cinecast | Where the Long Tail Ends — December 10, 2008
2. 

   And while not a movie, Patrick Stewart on Extras is easily the best actor playing themself moment ever captured on celluloid.

   Comment by Matt Gamble — December 10, 2008
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   I’m partial to Ms. Winslet and her phone sex (the bit where she ‘hangs up the phone gesture’ is simply priceless), moreso than Stewart and his tit fetish. But it’s all good really, Extras was a pretty good show.

   Comment by kurt — December 10, 2008
4. 

   And pretty much any cameo on Curb Your Enthusiasm…

   Ted Danson
   Richard Lewis
   Ben Stiller
   Wanda Sykes
   Julia Louis-Dreyfus
   Mary Steenburgen
   Michael York
   Mel Brooks
   David Schwimmer
   Martin Scorsese
   Jason Alexander

   …. the list goes on and on.

   Comment by Andrew James — December 10, 2008
5. 

   Great debate on Happy-Go-Lucky gentlemen. I previously had no interest in this film, but thanks to you I just might go see it tomorrow…

   Stewart and Winslet are great in Extras, but I think my favourites are Orlando Bloom, Daniel Radcliffe, and David Bowie on that show. Also David Bowie in Zoolander. Actually David Bowie in any movie makes it worth watching. Even Godawful crap like The Prestige and The Hunger.

   I saw Neil Patrick Harris at the McDonald’s in Times Square in 2002. This was before his comeback with H&K or How I Met Your Mother. I didn’t even know who he was, but my best friend with me recognized him and noticed he had the same order as she did. We were too freaked out to talk to him though. That same day we met Alan Rickman outside his show Private Lives, and I asked him if he liked Dunkin Donuts, purely on the basis that his character does in two films. What a sad little idiotic teenager I was.

   Comment by Ashley — December 10, 2008
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   I definitely think there needs to be a special mention of John Malkovich playing himself.

   Comment by Rusty James — December 10, 2008
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   Oh, never mind. My apologies to Andrew.

   Coffee & Cigarettes has some great ones. I would single out Iggy Pop and Tom Waits.

   Comment by Rusty James — December 10, 2008
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   Billy D Williams in LOST.

   Comment by Rusty James — December 10, 2008
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   Carl Weathers in Arrested Development

   Comment by Matt Gamble — December 10, 2008
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    Ashley: Thou shalt not bash either THE PRESTIGE or THE HUNGER, both great films in their own way. I’ll go on record saying that THE PRESTIGE is a better film than THE DARK KNIGHT.

    Comment by kurt — December 10, 2008
11. 

    Yea, Andrew & I had an unwritten rule that we wouldn’t use TV cameos in this list, but fun choices folks.

    Comment by kurt — December 10, 2008
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    I think the Ian McKellen Extras bit is the one to go to. “No scripts on the night”? Classic. The second season is definitely vastly superior to the first, both in terms of regulars and cameos.

    “I’ll go on record saying that THE PRESTIGE is a better film than THE DARK KNIGHT.”

    Such courage.

    Comment by Henrik — December 10, 2008
13. 

    saw JCVD today. It was awesome. Possibly top 10 list awesome, but would just barely squeak in. For the most part its simply a very good movie, with a couple scenes and additional moments that are among the best of the year that drive it just within the awesome zone. More than any movie I can think of in recent memory it makes you want to meet and hang out with the star…

    I want my picture taken with JCVD too dammit!

    Comment by Goon — December 10, 2008
14. 

    I’m surprised that Hulk Hogan didn’t get a mention for Gremlins 2, or Leonard Maltin for that matter.

    Comment by Aaron — December 10, 2008
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    @Aaron – this is gone into ‘depth’ during the Movie Club Podcast.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 10, 2008
16. 

    And in case people want to watch “The Duel”

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 10, 2008
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    I’ll be going to The Day the Earth Stood Still this weekend, primarily because Anna is dragging me as she has recently developed a fixation on Jon Hamm (also known as Don Draper from Mad Men). So we’ll see how well that works out for us. Since I dragged her to Punisher it seems only fair.

    And if I had stayed my Top 5 would have been:

    5) Bruce Springsteen – High Fidelity
    4) Andy Dick – My Date with Drew
    3) Tencious D – Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny
    2) The Muppets – The Muppet Movie
    1) Take your pick – The Player

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 10, 2008
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    whatr about Tenacious D in Bio Dome ?

    the Tenacious D movie was quite disappointing overall, they should have made it more of a non stop musical and bit the bullet and used songs from the first album too. oh well. it still has its moments. of all things i get a kick of Tim Robbins’ failure to scootch over on the stool. The commentary track is good.

    If i see The Man Who Fell to Earth, it will be because I’m going to be stuck in Edmonton, and pretty much NOTHING is playing there that I want to see except for Milk, which is probably still too far out of the way of where i’ll be. Every theater has the same lineup. Oh boy, do I see Four Christmases, Twilight or Australia? WHEE.

    Comment by Goon — December 10, 2008
19. 

    btw a tip to Torontoites, if you want a 5.00 copy of Gremlins 2 theres a place near Dundas Square selling a shitload of DVDs for 5 bucks each in a rented out store near the American Outfitters. I picked up a bunch of things I wouldnt otherwise get, and still might get some more. I may have to pick up Ripley’s Game and the Limey there tomorrow, for example.

    Comment by Goon — December 10, 2008
20. 

    Billy Dee Williams was in LOST!?

    Comment by Andrew James — December 11, 2008
21. 

    Just got home from MILK. I pretty much agree with Kurt’s analysis. It’s excellently directed and acted. The thrust of the story isn’t all that hard hitting when you already know everything about the issue and the outcome of this particular story. The personal relationships aspect of the film barely interested me at all.

    I would almost like this movie better if the main character was not Milk, but someone else in the community – his constiuents, so to speak, that were being persecuted. The kid in the wheelchair who calls from Minnesota is maybe the most interesting thing here. I would like to know more about THAT story.

    As I said though: excellently directed. There is a scene with Penn and Luna in bed and the way the scene is shot is gorgeous [insert joke here].

    Though for my money, I’d rather Van Sant was doing his other, more experimental stuff. While I pretty much hated Gerry from start to finish, I think it’s much more interesting work. LOVED Elephant and planning on visiting “Last Days” as soon as my Christmas project has concluded.

    Comment by Andrew James — December 11, 2008
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    Goon: Definitely pick up RIPLEY’S GAME, one of the most over-looked films of the last 10 years. Seriously.

    Comment by Kurt — December 11, 2008
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    Goon, I think we’re Torontonians, not Torontonites.
    But thanks for the tip, I’ll be sure to check that store out!

    Kurt: I really wanted to like The Prestige, I really really did. Nolan, Bale, Jackman, Bowie, how could it go wrong? I came out of the theatre thinking “well that part was good,” and “I liked that scene,” but overall I had a hard time embracing it, and as time has passed, I’ve pretty much started to resent the movie. The two lead characters were incredibly vengeful, and not in the wicked-fun way like the Joker was in The Dark Knight. There was no one to cheer for. I hated both of them.

    Comment by Ashley — December 11, 2008
24. 

    Gotta agree with Ashley on this one. Between Illusionist and Prestige, I’ll take Illusionist. Bowie was great in the Prestige and the cinematography is amazing, but the story is severely lacking. Then the “Primer” plot device at the end comes out of nowhere and really lost me.

    Comment by Andrew James — December 11, 2008
25. 

    Andrew, you are killing me with these drive-by spoilers… I do not think it is common knowledge who kills the guy in Dear Zachary, I never heard it before…

    and then you spoil the Prestige ending…

    What kind of monster are you?

    

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
26. 

    and there are two types of people: the people that think that the Illusionist is the superior film, and people who think that the Prestige is the superior film…

    I think they run parallel with the people that would find Poppy from Happy-Go-Lucky annoying and not annoying.

    for the record and I am a pro-Poppy, pro-Prestige kinda guy.

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
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    I liked the Prestige and the Illusionist, but I remember almost everything about the Prestige and little to nothing about the Illusionist.

    Comment by Goon — December 11, 2008
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    but you like them equally? they approach the same subject matter from pretty different directions.

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
29. 

    Having watched both again recently, I’m not really partial to either film. The performances in Illusionist are superior in my opinion. Maybe they’re just a bit showier, so they catch my attention. Giamatti, Sewel and Norton are all personal favorites of mine, while I really am not a fan of Jackman or Johnasson. So maybe I’m biassed that way.

    As for Zachary, I guess it could be a spoiler technically, but you find out who kills him in the first ten minutes of the movie, so. Is it a spoiler to say that Gabriel Byrne is killed in “The Usual Suspects?” It happens right away, so it’s not like I’m ruining much.

    BTW, Harvey Milk is shot and killed as well.

    Comment by Andrew James — December 11, 2008
30. 

    Andrew, you are killing me with these drive-by spoilers… I do not think it is common knowledge who kills the guy in Dear Zachary, I never heard it before…

    Its in the trailer so it isn’t some big secret.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 11, 2008
31. 

    I thought it would be obvious I prefer the Prestige based on what I wrote there. All I remember about Illusionist right now is that after it was over, I felt like it was an entirely different movie with different motives and that comparing the two is a disservice to both, I mean its like comparing Unforgiven and Tombstone.

    Comment by Goon — December 11, 2008
32. 

    I avoided the trailer for Dear Zachary, and even if that information happens ten minutes in, thats something you didn’t know about nine minutes in…

    I tend to avoid trailers for documentaries altogether, with a regular film you can work your way around the details of the plot to make something grab you, but documentaries, or at least talking heads documentaries, they are giving you the exposition, and there is an added need to show the best bits because its a documentary, people need coaxing, and inevitably they give away some of the best stuff…

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
33. 

    I contrast the Prestige and Illusionist because they are both on the same subject matter, but more importantly their approaches are different… I contrast them, not compare necessarily.

    to like the Prestige is to like a certain complexity to your storytelling, and the Illusionist is very conventional that way, one could even say there is something of conservative versus liberal attitudes at work on how one enjoys these films.

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
34. 

    Rot. Rot. That last sentence is a dangerous one.

    The Illusionist is comfort food. The Prestige pushes the envelope in nearly every way. And people get hung up on the ’somewhat obvious’ plot twist, which is almost completely besides the point in The Prestige (and that is necessary for The Illusionists ’story-driven’ nature). My favourite part of The Prestige is the delving into the collective psychology of a time when Electricity, Air-Flight, Telephone and Radio were all hitting society in rapid-fire. Inventions so marvelous that they seemed like magic. And that these inventions had consequences, many of them deadly, is nicely illustrated by the ‘disappearing bird’ trick which is really the entire focus of the film. Certainly in the past few years of big-budget blockbusters, this is a bonafide “Great Movie”.

    Comment by Kurt — December 11, 2008
35. 

    Is it out of line to say that socially conservative opinions aspire to conformity and conventional thinking?

    likewise, socially liberal opinions aspire to variety and complexity?

    maybe the danger is assuming that to be the same with one’s film tastes? I guess… but the same motivations to one’s political preferences are not exclusive to aesthetic preferences.

    there is a reason that rural factory workers like Tim Allen movies. I say this from experience.

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
36. 

    Rot. I can’t think of a response to that does not make me look like a bad person…so I’ll refrain.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 11, 2008
37. 

    I am not being judgmental with those statements… I am distinguishing patterns that I notice… My whole family falls into the conservative political/aesthetic category.

    Actually, maybe I haven’t stated it here before but I am conservative in some ways, I see the benefits of both, but aesthetically I do lean towards things that challenge me and work outside of a comfort zone, value is not added because they conform to something, but value is added if it extends beyond familiar territory (so long as it is a means not an end).

    This is why I do not get quite as excited as everyone else here about genre films, and film geek hipsterism, unless, like I said, it is used as a means, not an end.

    Comment by rot — December 11, 2008
38. 

    The Prestige is pretentious bullshit. It has some allright moments, I loved the old chinese guy and his trick, but it fucked itself in the butt when it turned to real magic. Maybe Christopher Nolans auteurism consists of convincing his audience that the worlds his movies exist in are based in reality, when rational thinking clearly leads to the opposite conclusion.

    I liked The Illusionist better because it had better acting, better music and was more concerned with characters than plot.

    Comment by Henrik — December 11, 2008
39. 

    Well since it seems perfectly acceptable to toss off grandiose opinions and treat them as facts I might as well play along.

    Anyone who elevates The Prestige above its simplistic and purposely obvious nature is simply advertising their gullibility.

    This game is fun. Wheeeee!!!

    BTW – I didn’t love either. Which pretty much ruins this whole ridiculous exercise.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 11, 2008
40. 

    I didn’t love either, either.

    Comment by Henrik — December 11, 2008
41. 

    I thought The Illusionist was just plain boring. In fact, I think it put me to sleep.

    But I did get out to Happy-Go-Lucky today. Thanks again Andrew and Kurt, I’m going to listen to your debate again tomorrow, now that I know what you’re talking about. I can’t decide if I loved the movie or not. I definitely liked it more than I thought I would. But I wanted to slap some sense into Poppy in many scenes, and that final scene ticked me off. Sally Hawkins reminds me of Rachel Griffiths, with more talent. The physical resemblance is uncanny. I started to like her about half way through, but I also wonder how Hawkins was able to get into that frame of mind, especially when her character did really stupid things.

    Comment by Ashley — December 11, 2008
42. 

    “Well since it seems perfectly acceptable to toss off grandiose opinions and treat them as facts I might as well play along.”

    It’s a fun game. The Prestige still rocks my boat. It’ll age better than the somewhat wonky editing of The Dark Knight. It is also a little less clumsy with its themes and message-mongering.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 11, 2008
43. 

    “It’ll age better than the somewhat wonky editing of The Dark Knight.”

    Bob Dylan (and M. Night Shyamalan) would have a bone to pick with you.

    Comment by Henrik — December 11, 2008
44. 

    “Well since it seems perfectly acceptable to toss off grandiose opinions and treat them as facts I might as well play along.”

    Roman Polanski raped me…

    in my opinion, anyways.

    Comment by Goon — December 11, 2008
45. 

    “George Bush hates black people”

    Even the most gradiose of opinions can have a kernel of truth nestled in them.

    and Matt, I bet you are the kind of guy that would let Tarantino’s grandiose opinion slide, that there are two types of people in the world, those who love Elvis and those who love the Beattles.

    That said, in retrospect Prestige/Illusionist do not have enough of a contrast to work in the way was thinking, and it is not about ‘loving’ one over the other, its about preference, but there is enough in Prestige to still like it despite its stylistic ambitions, a better analogy would be one where its harder to get around those ambitions.

    I assume that was the grandiose opinion being challenged, not the parallel between political and aesthetical preferences, because I am willing to defend that one. Living in a town of 14,000 for some fifteen years, with one theater, its not a coincidence the sort of films that caught the imagination of this very conservative rural town, and the absence of films with any hint of challenge.

    Comment by rot — December 12, 2008
46. 

    I really don’t think the Illusionist delves into character that much, especially in comparison to the Prestige. Prestige gives you somewhat basic, but interesting, characters to work within a mystery plot. I’m getting kind of sick of the random plot bashing, as if there’s something wrong with puzzles and bizarre situations. Character based movies are fine, but when Henrik pulls out the “WITOUT ZEE COMMYOUNEEKAYSHUN YOU ARE WORTHLESS” shit I just want to slap the taste out of his emotionless face.

    Comment by Goon — December 12, 2008
47. 

    anyone else notice a similarity to that picture of Henrik and the close-up picture of Ledger’s Joker? Just add make-up, or maybe I am subconsciously associating the philosophies underlying both.

    Comment by rot — December 12, 2008
48. 

    “when Henrik pulls out the “WITOUT ZEE COMMYOUNEEKAYSHUN YOU ARE WORTHLESS” shit”

    Once again, you dumbfound me with your attack. I have no idea what to say to this, I don’t understand what it is I have done.

    I usually hate plots. The more complicated they are, the worse they are. Unless they are constructed with brilliance and surprise you, like Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories or the play Dangerous Liaisons where the story becomes utterly unpredictable, it’s a snoozefest. Sorry if you get tired of that Goon. Well, sorry for you mostly, but we’ve been there.

    I think I in many ways have been coerced into playing an agent on chaos on this website rot, so it’s an obvious association. The Joker is violent though, which will ultimately be his downfall. I refuse to let my person be defined by physicality.

    Comment by Henrik — December 12, 2008
49. 

    I don’t see it, and maybe its because the Joker is fun

    Comment by Goon — December 12, 2008
50. 

    It’ll age better than the somewhat wonky editing of The Dark Knight. It is also a little less clumsy with its themes and message-mongering.

    Come on Kurt, you gave TDK 4.5 stars and were comparing it to No Country and Zodiac. A “thinking man’s comic book film” you said, which is the kind of blatant classism that you and rot fallback on time and again when defending films you enjoy. As if only educated and enlightened individuals can like the movies you do, and anything else is beneath you.

    Which begs the question, why don’t the two of you share the same opinions on films as the equally enlightened Henrik?

    and Matt, I bet you are the kind of guy that would let Tarantino’s grandiose opinion slide, that there are two types of people in the world, those who love Elvis and those who love the Beattles.

    Nope. I think anyone who would rather simplify and stultify individuality by trying to process it into easy to digest compartments is missing the entire point. It is a rigid and conforming outlook that I simply do not subscribe to.

    Hell, Mad Men does a similar thing by claiming every woman is either a Marilyn or a Jackie, but then quickly admits that the entire exercise falls apart with even the tiniest bit of effort or knowledge because the whole concept is dumb.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 12, 2008
51. 

    and in nearly the same breath Matt utters an attack of classism to the survey of the reviews by both Kurt and I, but does not ’subscribe’ to compartmentalizing opinions.

    Here’s the thing Matt: EVERYTHING IS A GENERALIZATION. we are all talking shit if you want to get down to the nitty gritty, particularly when talking about issues of taste, anytime you use the word ‘they’ you are undermining individuality, so please, spare me the lecture.

    I like to say grandiose things because it gets reactions, people’s ears perk up when someone actually marks a line in the sand, it gets people talking… my tactic is to start off with something grandiose, let people get hot and bothered, and then break down the issues, discuss them, refine them. It wasn’t a coincidence the best discussion about gay rights came from David’s divisive opinions… we wouldn’t of had any conversation without someone sticking their neck out and having an opinion, dare it be a contrary opinion.

    I would have thought you knew this is how it works, you are one of the instigators, or are your opinions untainted by rhetorical flourish?

    but getting back to the class thing:

    I am an out and out egoist, I have never hid that, I trust my opinions, particularly aesthetic tastes. I prefer movies that give me something new, that challenge me, that shake me from my comfort level. Its not so much intellectual elitism, its being bored with familiarity. Different people have different thresholds, my threshold is pretty high.

    Comment by rot — December 12, 2008
52. 

    I feel the reflexive need to defend Tarrantino. I that generalization was a line in one of his films. And he ended up taking that scene out because he thought it was cheezy.

    If we could modify the style sheet so the text in the comment box were darker against the light background it would be great.

    Comment by Rusty James — December 12, 2008
53. 

    @ Matt: Come on Kurt, you gave TDK 4.5 stars and were comparing it to No Country and Zodiac. A “thinking man’s comic book film” you said, which is the kind of blatant classism that you and rot fallback on time and again when defending films you enjoy.

    Maybe it sounds like I’m bashing TDK more than I am, because I’m comparing it directly to THE PRESTIGE. I think TDK isn’t going to age as well. But as comic book movies go, yea TDK is one of the best. Period.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 12, 2008
54. 

    Maybe it sounds like I’m bashing TDK more than I am, because I’m comparing it directly to THE PRESTIGE.

    I like the all caps emphasis. It makes you sound even more unhinged for liking that movie as much as you do.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 12, 2008
55. 

    Heh. Well, we all have our foibles, as you well know. (I also like Southland Tales.)

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 12, 2008
56. 

    Well. That Zoolander clip has just convinced me never to watch that film. Ever.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 12, 2008
57. 

    That’s too bad. Zoolander is hilarious with a great cast. The cameo by Duchovny is particularly great.

    Comment by Andrew James — December 12, 2008
58. 

    I just found that clip to be insanely unfunny. (To be fair, there were several moments in Tropic Thunder where I had the same reaction). Yet i have very fond memories of THE CABLE GUY (connection: All directed by Ben Stiller).

    Duchovny does give good cameo (as in FULL FRONTAL). But David Bowie was flat (I do see the Zane awesomeness, but Stiller and Wilson were too idiotic (even by their standards) to really get the comedy. Just not my thing.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 12, 2008
59. 

    Zoolander = Two of the most brilliant disguises ever for breaking into a high security building.

    Comment by Andrew James — December 12, 2008
60. 

    a scene like that is funnier watching the movie, being in the groove of the wackiness thats going on and having it show up. Watching a clip from a comedy online or something isn’t a great advertisement, no matter what it is. It’s not about context, its about getting into that zone.

    I love Zoolander. I mean its not the funniest movie of all time or anything, but its one of those rare cases of a modern movie being funny without having to rely on a lot of swearing or crude humor. It actually is pretty innocent. Way back when Jay and Sean had a radio show in St. Catharines, they were reviewing it and Sean was so-so about it, and I drove right up to their (then) studio at Brock radio to defend it. Was kind of a weird lame thing to do, but I was that bored. It happened. This was wow, 7 years ago now.

    I definitely liked it a hell of a lot more than Tropic Thunder. Zoolander definitely has Owen Wilson’s best non-Wes Anderson comedy performance.

    Comment by Goon — December 12, 2008
61. 

    You’re probably right Goon. I love trailers, but I tend to doze when watching full clips from a film. But Zoolander is simply not my taste in comedy.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 13, 2008
62. 

    Also looked like Owen was wearing the same ‘cowboy jacket’ in that scene as he does in Royal Tenenbaums.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 13, 2008
63. 

    Zoolander was filmed before Tenenbaums.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — December 13, 2008
64. 

    @Matt: Interesting there were filmed side by side, I thought Tenenbaums was first.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — December 13, 2008

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