Episode 266: Shout-outs, movies (Stennie: The Artist), What’s Up With That?, New Favorite, Earworm of the Week, Thing That Doesn’t Fit, Fuck Offs and You Rules, PSA’s (Creepy and Otherwise).
Music: “The Hucklebuck,” performed Otis Redding, Lee Rocker and Frank Sinatra; “Movies” bumper by Duke, “New Favorite” bumper by Krizzer.
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Please, NO SPO’LERS re: The Artist!
BTW: this might be a good time to recommend OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, a charming international-espionage send-up featuring the Hazanavicius/DuJardin/Bejo team. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that nobody rocks a fez like JDJ. It’s on Netflix streaming.
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148460545/why-that-song-gets-stuck-in-your-head?sc=fb&cc=fp – A little article on Earworms that popped up on NPR recently.
And in term of PSA’s, I watched so little television growing up (my shows were on Nickelodeon – Mr. Ed, You Can’t Do That on Television, and Mr. Wizard) since my parents limited my watching time. However, I do remember the “Who Broke My Window!?!?!” musical PSA/Commercial from the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) – they did the first Mormon Musical, before “The Book of Mormon” was ever on Broadway! I remember watching this and singing the entire “score” with my friends in 5th grade…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNaHUxi6H-U
I’m always a fan of the Mental Hygiene/Safety shorts of the 50’s and 60’s (which were kind of the grandparents of modern PSA’s). MST3K has some of the best ones, and Rifftrax has some on hulu.com to watch for free. This one is one of my favs: “One Got Fat,” a bicycle safety short. Don’t watch while high, it will mess you up: http://www.hulu.com/watch/261354/rifftrax-shorts-one-got-fat-bicycle-safety#s-p2-so-i0
*SPOILERS FOR THE ARTIST*
And as to “The Artist,” I enjoyed it, but ThePete less. We both loved the structure, the execution, the acting, etc. However, some of the character dynamics weren’t fleshed out. I wanted to know why he and his wife were having problems – it wasn’t made clear, and was kind of the crux of his emotional arc. And I understood that Pride was the sin he was battling, but I wasn’t on his side throughout the movie – he was kind of a jerk. I “got it” logically, but not emotionally, and we walked out not truly “effected”. It’s not a movie I would see again for entertainment, but to watch scenes to clue myself how to capture the era and acting style. But I LOVED the idea, the cool play with dreams and sound, and most of the music. I didn’t like the use of “Pennies From Heaven” (I didn’t want to hear any lyrics throughout the movie!), and the Bernard Herrmann music from “Vertigo” took me out of it for a few minutes.
American’s don’t know Maggie Smith?? OUTRAGEOUS!! OK, what movie? “Sydney….I think I saw your privates!!” – Maggie Smith
Comments for show #265: I was still wondering what the Girl Scouts’ policy was on LBGT stuff. Sten, I don’t think you’re right on the thought that “a lot of people” are so out of touch with reality enough to believe Santorum’s “Christianity under attack” line. I’m sure there are people, but enough so that they’re worth courting their votes? I truly hope that’s not the case. And any Republican candidate is going to be hilarious to watch because they’ve all said such seriously batshit insane stuff that there’s no way they could get enough votes without seriously backtracking. They might as well be honest and say “all that crazy shit? I just said it to get the nomination. I’m really not that crazy.”
They’d still lose to Obama though.
Must disagree with Bet and most folks on “The Artist”. It was fine, but not as good as everyone says, imho. More on “The Artist” later… I also enjoyed “True Grit”. Si and I watched both within a few days of each other and I don’t think we could decide which we liked better (for different reasons). We both couldn’t quite accept Jeff Bridges, though. Sorry, Sten.
Ep #266: I don’t love Tom Hanks. Got nothing against him, but nothing for him. Seems cool enough, I guess. Can’t remember the last movie I saw him in that I liked. Paul Giamatti is a man actor I like.
Regarding “The Artist”: I felt the lead character wasn’t that sympathetic beyond his insane handsomeness. The story wasn’t tragic–because there was no point in his bad choices–they just functioned for the plot. Since it wasn’t tragic I found it a little shrugworthy. Sierra tried to explain/defend the “punchline” of the film to me but I didn’t get it. Regarding Bet’s hinkiness, why don’t you guys do a special, 20-30 minute, spoilerific episode of the HB, where you just talk about “The Artist”?
I think we should be able to rate other people’s reviews. Seriously. There are some utterly unhelpful reviews out there. I do agree that rating the box is a bit absurd.
My favorite Kirk Cameron moment has to be that banana video. Hilarious stuff. I’m glad he didn’t go druggie, though, he’s much more entertaining this way. 🙂 I’m quickly becoming a very snobby atheist (lower case “a”) since Believers (upper case “b”) are getting more and more vocal about their more harder-to-prove beliefs, like that claim Cameron made about God defining marriage. Hey, Sten–didn’t you read the Bible cover-to-cover? How did that work out?
Holy crap–enough commenting from me!! Sorry!! Shutting up now!