The Film Thugs Movie Show

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Criterion Year Week 57: The Wages of Fear Dec 04, 2016

Show notes

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...

The Wages of Fear

Spine Number: 36

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

Genre: Drama

Movies need to set and manipulate a certain mood in order to be effective. It is hard to do. Tension is one of the most difficult to really maintain. There are things that people can do that add tension in obvious ways, but those tend to leave you flat once they're done. Jump scares and "here comes the bad guy" music can only go so far.

With that in mind... damn! "The Wages of Fear," is tense as hell. Clouzot delivers one of the most incredible instances of building and maintaining tension throught. Its a simple story with complex detail. A group of people trapped in a remote part of Venezuela without the means to get home are offerd the opprotunity to make an incredible amount of money. All they have to do is transport two literal truckloads of nitro glycerine across an unpaved, remote and desolate road.

That set up alone... damn!

This film is incredible. I mean... it takes an hour before they are even in the trucks! It's important that you see what life is in this small outpost. You understand the desperate circumstances that force people to do such... just insane things.

This was remade by William Friedkin in the 70's with the baffling title, "Sorcerer," which is actually a pretty damned good film. I recommend both very highly.

So, relax if you can and enjoy our thought after watching "The Wages of Fear."

Next week,

Spine number 600: Anatomy of a Murder

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 56: High and Low Nov 20, 2016

Show notes

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

High and Low

Spine Number: 24

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Genre: Drama

So, we take a jump back in the spine numbers because this is a new addition to the collection, and damn... what an addition it is.

There is an inherent and undeniable drama to the kidnapping/ransom genre. I mean, a child is missing and there is no question that they are in harms way. But just having the drama doesn't automatically make the story powerful or compelling or, for that matter, good. It takes so much more.

And, since we are talking about Kurosawa, High and Low delivers so much more.

On the eve of a massive business deal, a self made millionaire gets a phone call. His child has beeen abducted and the ransom is 30 million yen. The amount is absurdly high, and will cause not just his deal to fall through, but also completely ruin him financially as he has leveraged everything he has for the deal.

The kicker... the kidnapper got the wrong child, grabbing his chauffers kid instead. Now, Kingo Gondo (played masterfully by Toshiro Mifune, becuase that's the only speed that man posessess) has a choice to make. Does he risk the financial well being of his family to save someone elses child.

A movie that works as a series of tightening nooses, High and Low is one of the most complete films in this genre. You get the tension of the parents, you get the amazing ransom delivery, you get the intense investigation, you get the kidnapper trying to stay one step ahead... basically you get Kurosawa at his best.

So, join us again for another look at one of the greatest of all time.

Next week,

Spine number 36: The Wages of Fear

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 55: On The Waterfront Nov 13, 2016

Show notes

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

On The Waterfront

Spine Number: 647

Director: Elia Kazan

Genre: Drama

Some movies are iconic without a lot of people even realizing it. "I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender." That is one of those lines that you hear all over the place. It's, arguably, one of the greatest lines in film history, which is it's kind of everywhere. But a lot of people who use it don't even know where it coes from.

Well, it comes from "On The Waterfront."

Released in 1954, "On The Watefront" would go on to win 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan's second directing Oscar), Best Actor (Brando's first), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Maria Saint in her first on screen role),and get three Best Supporting Actor nominations (Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, and Rod Steiger).

It's a movie about working class people struggling with corruption in the only industry many of them know, or have known for several generations. How do you survive in an area that depends on union jobs when the union is unabashedly corrupt? How can you be decent and honest when the institutions that govern every part of your life are fundamentally broken? Sound familar. Yeah, these problems have been around forever.

Brandow is amazing as Terry Malloy, dockworker, former boxer, and right hand man/enforcer to the corrupt union boss. Eva Marie Saint is captivating as Edie Doyle, sister of a murdered dock worker. Malden kills it as the honest priest trying to help the workers. Steiger is perfect as Terry's older brother and bookkeeper for the corrupt union. And Lee J. Cobb steals the show as Michael J. Skelly, aka "Johnny Friendly" the cold hearted and ruthless mob connected union leader.

This movie is fantastic and damned near plays like a beautifully shot documentary. It's a stunning portrait of working class life struggling against unimaginable corruption.

So, check it out with us. Oh, and we also talk about the election and stuff.

Next week,

Spine number 24:High and Low

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 52: Following Nov 06, 2016

Show notes

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

Following

Spine Number: 638

Director: Christopher Nolan

Genre: Drama

We have never hid our love of Christopher Nolan on this show. Ever since he hit the scene with "Memento," he has stood out as one of the most distinctive and unique filmmakers in the industry. He holds the unique distinction of never having directed a bad movie. Everything he's done might not be perfect or great, but he has yet to make a movie that is bad or boring.
Before he played with the idea of liner narration, before he completely changed everyones idea of a "comic book movie," and before he said, "A dream heist movie? Why not?" he made "Following."
This is one of those rare first films that really shows you who the filmmaker is. Everything that defines Nolan as a filmmaker is here. The blind spots, the non-linear story flashes, the twist that wasn't really a twist, all of it is here. Nolan has refined who he is as a filmmaker, but he sprung pretty much fully formed with this thing.
If you haven't seen it, check it out. It's only 70 minutes long and well worth your time.

Next week,

Spine number 647: On The Waterfront

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 53: The Game Oct 30, 2016

Show notes

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

The Game

Spine Number: 627

Director: David Fincher

Genre: Drama

David Fincher is a hell of a fine filmmaker, and "The Game" is a damn fine film. Just need to say that up front, because this show... well... it's hard to describe.

We spend a lot of time talking about how the titular "game" could have gone wrong, and how fundamentally screwed up the entire idea of this thing is.

But, it is a damned good time.

This episode is the closest you will get to what it's actually like to watch a movie with us. We are irreverent, profane, and just trying to make each other laugh.

But, it is a damned good time.

Next week,

Spine number 638: Following

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 52: Harold and Maude Oct 23, 2016

Show notes

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

Harold and Maude

Spine Number: 608

Director: Hal Ashby

Genre: Comedy

Making a movie, even a bad one, is an almost impossible task to undertake. So many things have to line up just to get a go ahead, and once you get going so many little things can go wrong that every day becomes, essentially, an uphill battle. So movies that are great, truly great, are rare and magical things.

But what about perfect movies? I mean, is it possible for a movie to be perfect?

The short answer is, yes. It is possible for a movie to be perfect. So many things have to go right for this to happen, but it is possible. These things do exist, there just aren't many of them.

Well... this week, we discuss a perfect movie.

Harold and Maude. Damn.

Clarkson summed this up perfectly several years ago. "I don't know anyone who doesn't like 'Harold and Maude, and I don't want to."

Harold and Maude a simple, unconventional love story between a young man with no moorings or place in the world who can only find some sort of connection by faking elaborate suicides for his mother's "benefit," and attending the funerals of strangers. On the surface, he has everything. He's from a VERY rich family and doesn't seem to have a care in the world. But, under that surface he is a lonely and isolated.

Enter Maude. The exact opposite. An older woman with out a lot of material possessions, but with an unending love and enthusiasm for life.

We follow their friendship over the course of one week, and see how much of an impact the right person can have at the right time in someones life.

There are so many ways this movie could go wrong, but at every point it stays the course. Change any aspect of it, and it falls apart. One change in casting, one song removed or replaced, one scene longer or shorter and this movie might not work. But, as it stands, everything about it is perfect. The cast could not be better, the visual aesthetics are flawless (and Wes Anderson should be paying royalties to this movie), the music is superb... everything is perfect.

So, join us for a discussion that is almost completely on topic! Yes, we do discuss the cult film phenomenon and spend a bit of time talking about Highlander and The Boondocks Saints, but aside from that... we are all about Harold and Maude.

Next week, a new year begins with...

Spine number 627: The Game

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 51: The Killing Oct 16, 2016

Show notes

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

The Killing

Spine Number: 575

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre: Heist

Author James Ellroy one said that the distance between getting a screenplay or book optioned and having a green light on actually getting the movie made is about the same as the distance between first kiss and 50th monogamous wedding anniversary. Yes, people do it, but it is by no means an easy prospect. Hell, it's so difficult that it borders on the impossible. It is entirely possible to literally spend years on a project and never actually get a frame of it shot, and even if you do get it filmed... there is no guarantee it will ever be released.

That's why director's first film is very telling.

What do you do when you actually get a shot at this?

A lot of people play it safe. That's completely understandable and absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. But some people decide to just go for it.

Stanley Kubrick was definitely one of the latter.

Although technically not a first film (he had two features under his belt before making this, but few people actually count those), The Killing was absolutely the beginning of Kubrick's career, and he was about as Kubrick with it as one could possibly be.

The Killing is, first and foremost, a heist movie. It has all the necessary elements, but Kubrick took it a step beyond that.

What could have been just another by the numbers crime film is instead one of the ballsiest debut features ever made. Kubrick plays with the very idea of film narrative. Not only is it not chronological, you repeat the same space of time over and over again from different angles. The film describes itself as a jigsaw puzzle, and that is the perfect metaphor. There are many different pieces, and you have no idea how any of them fit into the picture until the final image comes together. The narrative is stark and tight, and the pieces combine so perfectly that, although in retrospect, the plan is crystal clear you still get the joy of discovery as it unfolds.

So, join us as we discuss one of the most impressive debut films ever from one of the true masters of the art form.

We reach the end of year one with...

Spine number 608: Harold and Maude

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 50: Blow Out Oct 09, 2016

Show notes

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

Blow Out

Spine Number: 562

Director: Brian De Palma

Genre: Drama

Brian De Palma is a bit of a quandary. He is undoubtedly one of the most important directors in the New Hollywood movement of the 1970's. His work has always been very slick and very Hitchcock inspired.

But, therein lies the problem. You see, when you set yourself up for comparison with one of the unquestioned masters of your art form, you inevitable end up looking a little... lacking.

His career is littered with classics and disasters, but then... most people don't even have the classics.

Which brings us to...

While not explicitly based on anything, "Blow Out," is essentially a reworking of "Blow Up," but instead of a photographer finding evidence of a murder in the background of one of his photos, a sound engineer accidentally records a political assassination.

This is one of the best Hitchcock inspired thrillers out there. The plot is tight, the action moves along, the omnipresence of evil is showcased beautifully, the performances are outstanding, and the camera work is absolutely beautiful. It works on every level.

Performance wise... man. Travolta has never been better. Nancy Allen is heartbreaking. John Lithgow is absolutely perfect. Dennis Franz is just brilliant.

There really isn't much more to be said here. This is a solid. often overlooked film that really deserves much more praise than it receives. So, join as as we talk about this fantastic piece of work.

In two weeks, we continue our run of movies that Clarkson will be seeing for the first time ever with...

Spine number 575: The Killing

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 49: Sweet Smell of Success Sep 25, 2016

Show notes

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

Sweet Smell of Success

Spine Number: 555

Director: Alexander MacKendrick

Genre: Drama

If you've followed this show for any length of time then you know that Jim and Clarkson are really into news and media. Not just watching, but actually looking at how our news media functions as an entity. The manner in which information is desciminated is as important as the information itself. Style has become substance, and substance has become lost.

How did this happen?

Well, as hard as it is to believe, there was a time when a handful of people could sway public opinion with little effort. It might seem like that same thing exists today, but it really doesn't. At least not like this. Back when there were three TV channels, a few radio stations, and a handful of newspapers available in each town, the people wrote the news had a lot of power.

It makes sense. I mean, people want to know about what's happening in the world, and when there are only a handful of outlets reporting on what's happening, each one has a lot of power. Not like today, when the 24 hour news cycle has become more of a 96 quarter hour news cycle. There are more news and information outlets than you can count, and each one is looking for a way to get your attention.

But there was a time...

Which brings us to "Sweet Smell of Success."

Tony Curtis plays an up and coming press agent. Burt Lancaster plays the most influential columnist/media personality in New York. Curtis needs Lancaster for his clients, Lancaster needs Curtis to do his dirty work.

It's a fascinating, stylized look at how the people who control information use it to control everything around them. This is a movie about power, corruption, and the desire to come out on top, and what that does to a man.

So, join us as we take a discuss this fascinating look at media culture and talk about how it is as relevant today as the day it was made, if not more.

In two weeks, we continue our run of movies that Clarkson will be seeing for the first time ever with...

Spine number 562: Blow Out

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.

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.

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...

Criterion Year Week 48: Five Easy Pieces Sep 18, 2016

Show notes

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

Five Easy Pieces

Spine Number: 546

Director: Bob Rafelson

Genre: Drama

It's hard to imagine, but there was a time when Jack Nicholson was just an actor. Sure, he's still an actor, but he isn't just an actor. I mean, can a man who has been nominated for 12 Oscars, 17 Golden Globes, 7 BAFTAs, and basically every other award you can imagine, and who has won 3 Oscars, 6 Golden Globes (as well as the C. B. Demille Lifetime achievement award), be called just an actor.

Yes, he is an actor. But he's more of a movie star, icon, and general embodiment of Hollywood royalty at this point.

But there was a time...

After spending years as a supporting actor he finally broke through with his first Oscar nomination for his role in "Easy Rider," which led to "Five Easy Pieces," which was, incidentally, his second Oscar nomination. From there he instantly became a Hollywood institution, an awards show mainstay, and the subject of more horrible impressions than Christopher Walken.

But really, it all started here.

This is the kind of movie Hollywood just doesn't make any more. It's a low budget drama about an emotional train wreck of a man. There is no happy ending, there isn't really even a hero, it's just the story of a man running away from everything, all the time. A man outrunning everything but himself, who is determined to pull people in, just so he can push them away.

Because Jack has become JACK, it's easy to forget how incredible an actor he is. This may or may not be him at his best, but this performance definitely falls in his top five.

So, if you haven't seen it, check it out. If you have, take a listen and see what we think about it.

Next week we begin a run of movies that Clarkson will be seeing for the first time ever with...

Spine number 555: The Sweet Smell of Success

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.

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.

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...

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