Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Director:
Wes Anderson

Writers:
Roald Dahl (novel)
Wes Anderson (written for the screen by)

The second TBMN movie to feature a film based on a book by Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson's debut animation is a toned and textured tryst with a tender tide of anthropormorphic taxidermy. In a word, timeless. Mr. Anderson manages to include enough of his signature moves to keep the auteur theory kicking around more than a couple collegiate classrooms. His recognizable stamp bleeds beneath the familiar mise-en-scene into the winsome pacing, inter-personal plots and peppy dialogue. Yet somehow his persistent penchant for symmetry and out-dated portable listening devices doesn't distract us from the jubilant tale he deftly spins, flips and weaves about us until we discover we're wearing it as a tie. Mr. Anderson's devoted deference to Dahl is the bandanna that blinds us to the standard Anderson suite of charmingly conflicted characters. For the sake of the fans I hope it is not his final foray into the field of fictional adaptation.

Personal perspective to be posted promptly...

3:10 to Yuma

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Director: James Mangold

Writers (WGA): Halsted Welles and Michael Brandt

~ An unseen choice from a loved director ~

This film tumbleweeds through a time when everything could mean nothing in the blink of an eye. The power and riches of the railroad could come through and make all a man's hard work mean nothing. A keen mind and some bloodthirsty sharpshooters could make the order and efficiency of modern travel mean nothing. A neat two hundred dollars could bankrupt the law and a well-trained horse could derail the justice system. Who's worth more dead than alive -the man who's made his living shooting assholes or the only cowboy in the West who can't be bought? It's a long, hard wait for the 3:10 to Yuma before you find out.

This movie was intense! It's a good thing it showed up as a TBMN film or I probably never would have watched it. Bree cooked a DELICIOUS chicken chili, served with tortilla chips. She also made PIMMS cocktails with ginger-ale and a splash of lemon, on ice. AND FOR DESSERT, (or do I mean desert?) there was a cinnamon pepper dark chocolate bar that was SO AWESOME.

In short, Thursday Blind Movie Night has a nice way easing one into films that might not have been their own personal top pick. I'm glad we've started getting more creative with the food because the way to my heart is (clearly) through my stomach.

My pick next week and I haven't decided!! Really want to tie in beef somehow. Speaking of food, I should email Bree for her chicken chili recipe and post it here. The 3:10 to Yuma Southwestern movie night would be a totally fun thing for people to recreate in their own homes.

Just a plain old blog entry

So I just checked www.imdb.com, and Alien Autopsy is up 5% in popularity this week. It says I need to pay for IMDB Pro to find out why, but I know why. Clearly the Thursday Blind Movie Night blog is picking up, gaining momentum, and popularity.

We missed this most recent Thursday due to snow, which is tragic because Bree made brownies. They didn't tell us that part when they messaged with a "it's okay if you don't show because of the weather." Because of future travel plans the next TBMN will occur later this month. I miss it already.

So during the viewing hiatus I will continue to wonder why anyone would read this blog - and then work on giving them more and better reasons to do so. Thanks for TBMN-ing it up!

Alien Autopsy

Alien Autopsy, (2006)

Director: Jonny Campbell

Writer: William Davies (written by)

~A movie featuring Bill Pullman.~

Already a metaphor for its own existence, this fictional documentary based on a true story is the "true story" behind the fictional documentary that swept through the world in 1995, supposedly depicting the U.S. government's top-secret dissection of an alien. Whether you want to believe or you believe it's utter malarkey, Alien Autopsy is an ode to a simpler time, before YouTube, when people all over the world had to huddle together in front of their television sets to receive sensational information. The cherry on this irony sundae - I've only found this movie in online streaming formats.

Brandon got first pick out of the new crazy-hat of categories. He chose Bree's submission, a movie featuring Bill Pullman. He went with this indie flick which he hadn't yet seen. Good choice! He was originally thinking of some other Bill Pullman movie and he was going to make us food to go along with the movie. Since he had already invited us to dinner when he changed his mind, he cooked us up some chicken and black bean quesadillas, served with Bree's homemade guacamole. Everything was delicious. After the movie it was Bree's turn to pick from the crazy-hat of categories. And so it has been decreed, for the next four TBMNs the category will be "a movie you haven't seen by a loved director."

Quick Change

Quick Change, (1990)

Directors: Howard Franklin, Bill Murray

Writers (WGA): Jay Cronley (book), Howard Franklin (screenplay)

Bill Murray is the greatest comedic actor of all time. Maybe I'm saying that seriously, or maybe I'm saying that while doing my Bill Murray impression. Just watching him reminds us that there was once a time when sketch comedians didn't smirk and giggle at themselves as they read sarcastic "news" stories or flailed about under the influence of some ridiculous character. Maybe it's simply luck that his eyes droop just so, or maybe he is truly a demi-god embodiment of the sad clown. I belive screenwriter Howard Franklin says it best:

Bank Guard: What the Hell kind of clown are you?
Bill Murray's character: The crying on the inside kind, I guess.

Sad clown? Hoa, whatch me bring it around to Quick Change. Undoubtedly, it's the best movie you didn't know Bill Murray starred in. It's perched in chronology betwixt Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, What about Bob and Groundhog's Day. A great movie among classics, this flick was robbed of its rightful credit. But we're going to change all that. Us and Netfix. My first demand: email Netflix today requesting that this movie be available to you in an instant streaming format. My second demand: A monster truck. What, no hypertensive sideways suspension?

*Honk*

*Signature, good-natured Bill Murray hopeless chagrin*

And let's not forget Randy Quaid and Geena Davis. Do you think Meryl Streep can vomit on cue? And there's Tony Shaloub and Stanley Tucci and Phil Hartman too! So log into Netflix and make a Quick Change to your queue.

Oh the personal story grows and grows. This was Joe's pick, which meant we have all now provided one movie we had seen, and one movie we hadn't. On to a new category. We discussed categories and procedures enough to make your head swim. And look out, because your head forgot it's nose plug. In the end there were two drawings. The first being a blind choice of category. Four participants input four random movie requirements. I can't even describe them or make up examples of what they might be because then it would give away some of my future considerations. Brandon was next in line and he picked out "A movie featuring Bill Pullman" if that's any indication. The next drawing contains the numbers one through four and simply decides how many weeks in a row we will stick to the chosen requirement. Brandon chose "1" so we are only required to feature Bill Pullman for one week. But in retrospect, there's no reason the next choice can't also feature Bill Pullman, unless someone added a "any movie not featuring Bill Pullman" option to the requirements hat.

Oh look a stingray! Good thing your head brought its goggles.

Brandon has also just emailed about movie-based food choices and obviously it hasn't been discussed enough to be sure thing - but there's a copious amount of movies in this world that feature cheeseburgers so I am all for any food tie-ins that come up.

James and the Giant Peach

Though aunts everywhere may protest, there really is nothing worse than waking up in a cold little room every day to get out of bed and wait on your "benevolent" caretakers hand and foot. Your imagination may have cause to run a little bit wild. You may sing songs to spiders and make potato chip bag hot air balloons. You may feel a bit daffy. Well that's nothing compared to how you'll feel when a little bit of loose magic grows a giant peach in your backyard. A peach you could have hardly imagined, but that everyone can see - even your aunts!

Loads of books and movies spend heaps of time metephorizing and similizing the relationship between childhood injustice and a colorful imagination. But only one such take can claim such a vindicating finish for children (and adults like me) everywhere. Let's string up those aunts!

Whether you distinctly recollect the book, or you're just looking for a vividly colorful fantasy romp, James and the Giant Peach is quite a pleasant way to spend an evening.

"Bring it home, Randy."

Joe said that, and then Brandon shot bubble tea out of his nose. Not really - but if Rhoald Dahl wrote this, then yes, really. Randy Newman wrote the music for this musical. I picked this movie out a bit guiltily, thinking I had probably seen it and forgotten it. I do that a lot. Hence the blog. Otherwise I might just bring the same movie over every few months. (I could do that anyway) Back to point - this movie is a musical. I do not remember one stitch of singing in the preview. I think they did that on purpose. If I could pick anyone to write songs to accompany a movie based on a book by Rhoald Dahl I would pick Prince, Cyndi Lauper and Weird Al Yankovic before I picked Randy Newman. So needless to say I was a tad embarrassed and a bit exasperated as the musical numbers popped up again and again and again. And again. But did I mention how cool the animation was? It was cool. Fourteen years old, and that sh*t was still poppin'.

As aforementioned, I brought bubble tea! Bubble tea is a fast-advancing craze invented to entice Korean children into spending their allowance on colorful and sugary drinks every day on their way home from school. Bada-bing! It's not just for Asian kids anymore! So have fun making your own, though I would suggest you try a professional cup before you make your own.

Yes Man

Have you ever daydreamed about what it would be like to jump at every chance you get? A say-yes-to-everything policy might be a little impractical for the average citizen to enact in the midst of their daily grind, which is probably what prompted Hollywood to conjure up the imagined results for us. Jim Carrey started acting out our unreasonable "what if's" back in 1997 with Liar Liar and he continues to humanize outlandish scenarios 13 years later. Working as a perfect counter-balance for zany physicality, Zooey Deschanel charms the audience with her nearly implausible serenity. Together these two characters navigate a world very much like our own where it seems just a little bit easier to say "yes".

This was Bree's pick! No Harry Connick Junior! No dance teams! No one got served! I was mildly disappointed, but excited to miss out on the backlash that I had imagined would ensue. We brought a cake by, and had the usual popcorn. Brandon and Bree order their popcorn online and it all seems very gourmet. Perhaps he will comment on this post, providing a link to this veritable popcorn emporium.

Save the Green Planet!

by writer/director Joon-Hwan Jang

This South Korean comedy/horror/sci-fi/drama/thriller is wack. It's colorful. It's got aliens. You want severed limbs in neon goo? It's got those too. Like the pages of some violent and exotic comic brought to life on screen, it leaves you wondering where the line between culture shock and balls-out crazy is.

At it's heart it is a story of abandonment and loss. It's a lesson about abandonment and loss. Don't abandon people who have suffered great loss. It's a dangerous act - comparable to walking a tightrope. Look out. It could already be too late.

Brandon picked this movie and it apparently did not look to him as if it would contain any graphic violence...he showed us the preview to prove his point. It had zany music and quick MTV style editing that included a shot of someone holding an axe above his head while aiming at bound man's ankle, laid out on a block of wood. Yeah. Well I guess he assumed that a potential limb severing could also go in a non-graphic direction. Like, it could have ended in a dance number or something.

Speaking of dance numbers, Bree and I started discussing movie options that would inflict as much viewing pain on the horror lovers as on-screen torture inflicts on us. Bree envisioned something with Harry Connick Jr. while I marveled at how many dance movies there are that have the word "step" in the title, that I have not yet seen.

Well the horror lovers got very defensive and threatened to walk out and all sorts of drama. We have three more "pick a movie you haven't seen but want to" selections before we have to land on a new theme. I hope we come up with something amiable or I my have to SAVE THE THURSDAY BLIND MOVIE NIGHT.

King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

A documentary by Seth Gordon

Who IS the King of Kong? This first-class documentary highlights the subtle nuances behind the burning, first-world desire to be the absolute best at anything, even if it's something totally useless. Director Seth Gordon gently prods his subjects to evaluate what makes a world-class retro video gamer 'the best,' and to look inward to discover what compels them to strive for the title. As the crispy and delicious layers of the gamer psyche are peeled away like the petals of a blooming onion, it becomes obvious that the fame, the chicks, the mention in the Guinness Book of World Records are all superficial incentives. When we reach the core there's a tear in our eye, for we've come to realize, together, that the true King of Kong cannot be defined by a number on a screen. It is he who, through striving tirelessly for the respect of his peers, can finally achieve the ultimate goal, the respect of himself. And after he becomes the #1 placeholder in our hearts, he humbly takes his throne as the definitive King of Kong.

Joe picked this movie because HIS TWIN BROTHER WHO WE LIVE WITH COULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. Needless to say my opinions of the movie are suspected to be swayed by my previous encounters. So here's the 'rachel' run-down of King of Kong. It's entirely subjective, and based on my feelings after a single viewing of the film. I was eating popcorn at the time, but no chocolate. I also drank some delicious and relaxing tea. *Click to read my blatting*

CQ

Truly a film made for film students, CQ is a introspective daydream in the life of a cinematic hopefull who gets stuck producing a commercial ending for someone else's film by day while he wades through the shambles of his personal work by night. The writer/director Roman Coppola toys with reconciling the "Hollywood ending" with the stringent artistic standards of the purist filmmaker. When it boils right down to it the 'experienced' Italian producer, Enzo sums it up. 'There are two kinds of movies: those with an ending, and those that don't have an ending.'

My own biased ruminations aside, it unquestionably explores the winsome designs behind the adaptation of inspiration. It is an eye opening roundabout for story tellers and dissectors, and a feast of mise-en-scene for those others just along for the ride.

This was my pick! It's reception was... warm at best, which made me like it much harder and more defiantly. Lacking somewhat in self-confidence, I brought a chocolate cake to this screening to dampen any negativity that might crop up. That seemed to work pretty well. Also the stuff. This movie is so chock full of stuff that I want - from TV sets to whole apartments, and especially the campy sci-fi wardrobe.

Les triplettes de Belleville

Writer/Director: Sylvain Chomet

I heart big. I love cheeseburgers, but nothing is free. My boy scouts are fat and dutifully accommodating. My barbers are jovial Italians who will shave you on the streetcorner. In the heart of the city that has no heart I treat athletes like animals until musical geriatrics can come to their rescue. If only those euphonious biddies would stop blowing frogs out of my river every night.

A firm grasp of French is not required for one to enjoy this decadent mélange of style, language and music. The animation preys on an apparently universal sentimentality for grandmothers and fat dogs. Though the eerie atmosphere could cause one pause, the plot darkens just enough to elate the audience with the quirky, dancing light at the end of the tunnel.

The second TrBMN pick was provided by Bree, and though the closed captions were glitchy (nonexistent?) I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this animation. Joe missed this movie night. He was thoroughly berated for his negligence and moved to the back of the movie picking line. Screw him! #1st rule of blind movie night - do not FORGET about blind movie night.

The Zero Effect

Directed by: Jake Kasdan
Starring: Ben Stiller, Bill Pullman, Kim Dickens

I could tell you what the 'Zero effect' is. I'm going to tell you. In Daryl Zero's own words, to ' help solve a problem, first by observation, then by careful intervention.' What have I told you? Everything. I've given you more than the crumbs. I've fed you the whole cake. However you are not supremely objective. You've likely got a passion that clouds your precision. You probably go out to eat, pick up your own clothes at the dry cleaners and generally disapprove of the snorting of amphetamines. You can see the Zero effect summed up neatly above but you don't know the 'why'.

Why the blackmail?
Why the murder?
Why the deception?
Why are we talking on the phone?
'I told you. We can't be too careful. Two guys in an airport... talking? It's a little fishy.'

Follow the crumbs to this delightfully overlooked 90's comedy.

This was the very first film enjoyed on the very first Thursday Blind Movie Night (follow us @TrBMN). Four people, two couples, two men and two ladies will be choosing a new film each session with which to surprise, delight or terrorize the others. No one may know the chooser's choice ahead of time - hence the 'blind'. And Thursday's just seemed best for everybody.

There's popcorn, butter, chocolates, cake, booze optional. I'm enjoying my maiden post and looking forward to many TrBMN's to come.