Favorite Scene Friday! A Fish Called Wanda: Harvey Manfredjinsinjin

Before I say anything else, let me get this out in the open: I. Love. This. Movie. It’s probably my favorite comedy of all time. This is just one scene of many that will bust your gut (and possibly kill you).

Wikipedia

Now then. This scene is absolutely bonkers and you really need a little backstory to get it. Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Otto (Kevin Kline) are part of a team of thieves. George, one of their accomplices, has been arrested after stealing and hiding some diamonds, and he’s being defended by John Cleese’s character, Archie Leach (Cary Grant's real name!). Wanda is trying to seduce Archie to find out where the diamonds are (theorizing that George may have told him).

Otto drops by Archie's house to make sure Wanda doesn’t “touch his dick”. Archie’s wife and daughter have supposedly gone to see the opera but have returned while Archie was out getting some champagne. You have to keep in mind that Archie has no idea that his wife is home, let alone sitting in the room in which he left Wanda moments earlier. His gobsmacked reaction when he realizes it’s her is outrageous.

If Archie was confused when he returned to find his wife in place of Wanda, he’s completely dumbstruck when Otto - whom he's never met - enters the picture as “Harvey Manfredjinsinjin”. I love everything about Kevin Kline in this scene. From his outfit to his mustache to his improvised fake name (which Archie's wife repeats perfectly). There’s a reason he won an Academy Award for the role.

Let’s talk about John Cleese. His crazy reactions to everything lends the appropriate sense of mania to the scene. The confused expression on his face when Otto and his wife are talking is priceless. I'd pit Cleese's performance in this movie against any of his other roles - he's that funny here.

Rounding out the scene is Jamie Lee Curtis. She's sexy as usual and quite funny. Note how she struggles to get back off the couch after Otto pushes her down at the beginning of the scene.

Does anyone else love this movie? I feel like it isn't talked about as much as it should be. Anyway, thanks for tuning in! Enjoy the scene, drop us a comment (any other favorite scenes from Wanda?), and have a great weekend.

Don't Call Me Stupid
A Fish Called Wanda — MOVIECLIPS.com

Behind the Toilet: The ABCs of Death

A large crowd is gathered in a dank warehouse. A few whisper to each other but most sit silently. Many stare blankly at their smart phones. A man in a bright red suit stands up.

Producer: Thank you all for meeting us here. We’re very excited about the prospect of The ABCs of Death. It was difficult to find 26 directors that would go with us on this wild ride, but we’re confident that you’re the ones. I trust that my associate filled you in on everything?

Andrew Traucki: We were told that we’d be participating in an anthology film filled with ridiculous, baffling stories disguised as a horror movie.

Producer: That’s right - no horror films. Just come up with the most pointless, juvenile, disgusting shit you can think of. That’s what we want.

Banjong Pisanthanakun: But why? What’s the point?

Producer: It doesn’t matter. I’m sure everyone will just assume its edgy and different.

Noboru Iguchi: I was assigned the letter “F”. Can I make my short film about farting? Just literally, the whole fucking thing would be about farts? I’ll even just fucking call it “F is for Fart”?

Producer: That’s perfect! That’s the kind of shit we’re looking for. That leads me to my next question. Would anyone be interested in incorporating toilets into their short films?

Like, literally six directors anxiously raise their hands.

Ti West: I’ve been looking for a way to incorporate more toilets into my films and I think I’ve got some really good ideas.

Anders Morgenthaler (smiling and rubbing his hands together): I’ve got something I think you’ll love!

Gareth Edwards: Who’s gonna edit this thing?

Everyone falls silent.

Gareth Edwards: I mean, isn’t there an inherent problem with 26 directors all having complete control over their own micro-films? Think about it - the story that represents “A” - which is being made by a director with complete creative control - will have to be followed immediately by the story that represents “B” - also made by a director with complete creative control. We’ll have no power over how one story feels placed next to another story. Also, what’s with half of the other directors wanting to make short films about toilets? What the fuck is this shit?

Producer: Get that guy out of here! Security!

Gareth Edwards is escorted from the meeting and moves on to bigger and better things.

Producer: Now, last question: Would any of you like to direct a short where a hideous anthropomorphic bulldog fights a hideous anthropomorphic Nazi fox stripper? It’ll just be cartoonish and all over the place. I mean really, any semblance of self-respect or coherence...just leave that shit at the door.

Thomas Malling: Where do I sign up?

Everyone laughs and, somewhere, the spirit of horror cinema dies just a little.

Batch o’ Hatch: Thoughts on Creature from the Black Lagoon, Pacific Rim Watch Update, and One Badass "Film Map"

Man, it’s been a while since we’ve had a fresh Batch! Enjoy this particularly strong brew and feel free to leave us a comment!

Thoughts on Creature from the Black Lagoon at Sun-Ray Cinema

Saturday was a special night, since Sun-Ray Cinema screened Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D. Star Julie Adams - accompanied by her son - introduced the film and stayed on to answer some questions and sign some autographs.

The film looked great. Compare it to a newer 3D film featuring a lot of underwater scenes like Piranha (which was post-converted to 3D) and it's like apples and oranges. Something like the latter looks dark and muted due to the post conversion process. Anyway, that sounds right.

The film has actually aged pretty well. Sure, effects and makeup have come a long way, but Gill-man still looks pretty good. There was a little too much laughing from the audience in certain scenes (as I recall, mostly when the fossilized Gill-man hand was being excavated and examined) but, all in all, the film held up.

Julie Adams is still awesome. She kicked the evening off with a playful “Welcome to the Black Lagoon.” If you’re unfamiliar with her (hell, Creature is the only thing I’ve seen her in, despite a very impressive filmography), picture the precursor to Jennifer Connelly and you’re on the right track.

IMDb

Thanks to everyone that participated in our contest - a fella named Brian Andrews walked away with the Gill-man and the Sun-Ray gift card. Keep your eyes peeled for more contests here on the site - they’re going to become more of a regular thing.

Pacific Rim Watch Update

Couple updates for you Pacific Rim fans. JoBlo.com posted this piece about a few new pictures that have been released. Even this is enough to excite me.

Also, not so much of an update as a weird observation. I recently re-watched all of Undeclared (Judd Apatow and company’s excellent one-season show about freshman Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel) and his pals as they navigate college - seriously, watch it) and realized that Steven’s British roommate on the show is none other than Pacific Rim star Charlie Hunnam! Holy crap! He looks completely different now!

One Badass “Film Map”

So your friend and mine Tiff McEscapehatchenstein got me a sweet-ass “Film Map” for my birthday (this was back in December...I guess I’ve been busy).

Anyway, the map is basically a load of movie titles placed like landmarks on a map. You’ve got locations such as “Lake Placid”, “The Temple of Doom”, and “Phantom of the Opera”. “Shutter Island” is a brisk swim from “The Island of Dr. Moreau”. You can pay your respects at “Pet Sematary” and then catch a few winks at “Hostel”. Basically, it’s one of the coolest things ever made. Peep a few pics below.

"We're gonna make a fortune with this place."

Miscellaneous News

It's French Toast Sunday's third anniversary today! Congrats, guys!

International Trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness - via JoBlo (this movie just looks better and better)

The World’s End Moved up to August - via Badass Digest

Bootleg Teaser for Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man - via JoBlo

Tweets from Twitter

Awesome review of The Exorcist by Ruth from ...let’s be splendid about this...

shitfuck, the Exorcist was a good'un
— Ruth(@RuthElizabeth_R) January 11, 2013

Pat talkin’ ‘bout Bullet to the Head. Did anyone even see that?

When I watch the trailer, I wanna put a "Bullet to the Head".
— I'veJustGotToTellYou (@deltamonkeyfan) February 1, 2013

Jay making a good point.

It's obviously not the LAST Exorcism if there's a sequel. #horror
— The Sexy Armpit (@sexyarmpit) February 7, 2013

George knows me. He gets me, you guys.

@zerbert Trailer for Wan's The Conjuring!!! ow.ly/i7mUb Thought you'd appreciate that. via @rhinoshorror
— George Bell (@CallMeSirPhobos) February 28, 2013

Couple great tweets about that Kick-Ass 2 trailer.

Just saw Kick-Ass 2 trailer and two words: JIM FUCKIN' CARREY. Okay, three. Whatever.
— Dan O'Neill (@DantheMan610) March 13, 2013

@zerbert EXACTLY what I thought!!
— Nicholas Rehak (@TheRehak) March 13, 2013

Chatting with Linds about InAPPropriate Comedy.

@zerbert I STILL CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT & PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO. #CAPLOCKSTWEET
— Lindsay Street (@lindsay_fts) March 20, 2013

That’s all for now! Thanks for reading!

Tune in Tuesday's: Show Some Love

Hi Guys, welcome to this week’s edition of Tune in Tuesday’s, where we discuss upcoming releases in the entertainment world.  Let’s start by reviewing our Old TiTs:

Old TiTs:

David Bowie – The Next Day; I’m sad to say that this one is laugh.  I mentioned last week that I read a quote describing it as a “rock album” but this one is far from a decent rock album.  It’s boring, mundane, and not the least bit thrilling.  It may be getting decent reviews from critics, but I did not enjoy it.  I found it to be more electronic than rock and as I mentioned before, I’m not into the electronic scene.  I prefer my music to come from instruments, not devices.  I’d pass on this one, guys.  I think it might be time for Bowie to hang it up, musically speaking.

Eric Clapton – Old Sock; another snoozer here, folks.  If I hadn’t heard the stuff so often already, there might be a few points of interest on this album, but much like Bowie, it seems Clapton just shelled this one out because he had nothing better to do.  Much like the title of the album, the music felt like an old sock:  nothing new, nothing surprising, and nothing exciting.  Oh well, I guess both artists (Bowie and Clapton) have had their days in the sun and we shouldn’t expect much more out of them.  What they’ve given us does more than just stand the test of time.

Didn’t get a chance to watch any of the movies mentioned last week, so bid your time, as I continue to do the same.

New TiTs:

Music – Love for Levon, Palma Violets, Rival Sons, and Phosphorescent

Love for Levon is a tribute album to one of the greatest drummers of American Music History, Levon Helm.  Helm played with The Band and if you’re not familiar with their music, then you should be ashamed of yourself.  One of the most iconic American groups to ever grace the stage, The Band gave us such hits as “The Weight,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “When I Paint My Masterpiece” (this one was written by Bob Dylan, but performed wonderfully by The Band – easily my favorite of theirs), “Ophelia,” and “Acadian Driftwood.”  If you don’t have them already, go ahead and download each of these, they’re fantastic!  Love for . . . features the artists, My Morning Jacket, Jakob Dylan, John Mayer, Ray LaMontagne, Joe Walsh, Bruce Hornsby, Greg Allman, Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane fame), Roger Waters, Grace Potter and more.  I’m looking forward to checking this one out & I’ll let you know which tracks are best (I intend on just picking out a few from iTunes – probably won’t pick up the entire album).

 

Palma Violets are set to release their debut album, 180, here in the states today (it was released in February in UK).  I checked this one out on Spotify and was pleasantly surprised.  With a sound sort of similar to the Japanroids, this album is a loud, fun listen and will surely be among my collection.  If you have Spotify, go ahead and check them out (if you’re into that sort of thing) and let me know what you think.  I don’t have any standout tracks as of yet, but then again, I thought the entire album was good.  

                                                 

Rival Sons will be releasing their third album, Head Down, in the states today as well (why does the UK get releases sooner than we do?).  It was released in 2012 overseas and has garnered mostly positive reviews.  I have their sophomore album, Pressure & Time, and it is awesome.  Infusing the Blues with pure Rock~n~Roll is right up my alley and these guys do it justice to say the least.  I haven’t had a chance to listen to their debut album, Before The Fire, but I’d like to (obviously) as I assume it doesn’t disappoint.  Hopefully I’ll find this release in a store nearby and have the chance to own it without waiting impatiently for an Amazon delivery, but who knows, the music stores in Jacksonville, FL are a joke and that sad fact brings me down every time.

 

Finally, we have singer/songwriter, Phosphorescent, releasing his sixth studio album, Muchacho.  I’ve only recently discovered Phosphorescent and have been in love ever since.  I discovered his fifth album, 2010s Here’s To Taking It Easy, by listening to the track “The Mermaid Parade” – great title, great song, great lyrics, and great album.  The guy is the epitome of “laid back” and I applaud him for it.  While listening to . . . Taking It Easy, I couldn’t help but to envision Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski as a musician, because this surely would be the type of music he’d make.  I know for a fact that I will not see this one in a nearby store, so I’ll probably just buy it from iTunes as I did with . . . Taking It Easy.  I intend on becoming fully acquainted with all six albums (and his EP) in the near future and once that happens, I’ll fill you in on what’s better and what’s best out of his body of work.  Check this guy out if you have the chance, but only if you feel like chilling out and taking it easy.                                                     

Movies – The Hobbit, This Is 40, Zero Dark Thirty, Les Miserables

The Hobbit was a great, fun film.  More on the children’s side, regarding content, etc, then The Lord Of The Rings, but still a thrilling adventure that kept me wanting more by the film’s end (much like the first two LOTR movies).   I had a blast being taken back to Middle Earth and seeing some of my old friends (Frodo, Gandalf, etc.) and absolutely adored how the beginning of the movie is basically the beginning of The Fellowship Of The Ring – SPOILERS!!!  The movie opens with Frodo telling Bilbo that he’s going to meet Gandalf on the wizard’s way into The Shire, which is exactly how we’re introduced to the savior of Middle Earth in FOTR.  I thought that move alone was worth the ticket price.  What a genius scene/opening.  Kudos, Mr. Jackson!  The rest of the movie is quite enjoyable as well, we’re introduced to new characters, reintroduced to old characters, and given a big tease of a dragon.  Now call me crazy, but I’m much more amped to witness Smaug (the dragon) in action then the dragons we were given in LOTR, don’t get me wrong, those dragons were cool, but my expectations for Smaug are much higher than what I’ve already seen in LOTR.  I’m fully looking forward to this December and next December for the respective sequels.

This Is 40 is a movie I wanted to see in the theater, but alas I never made it.  I have it on good authority though that it is a good, funny movie.  Plus, I am a big Paul Rudd fan (and I still think Megan Fox is HOT, regardless of her acting career/choices) so I’m looking forward to watching it.  It may be a more relevant film to me in ten years’ time, but it may also do me some good to know what to expect (I’m 30 in case you’re wondering).  I’ve been an Apatow fan ever since Freaks and Geeks, and even thought Funny People wasn’t as bad as others claim it to be.  Not his best, by far, but a decent enough movie.  I think I’m going to have to do a movie night with this, Life of Pi and Smashed (see last week’s TiTs!).

Zero Dark Thirty and Les Miserables were big Oscar contenders and that might appeal to some people, but not to me.  I really have no desire to watch either of these films, but have heard nothing but good things about both.  I just tend to ignore what the masses praise, I guess.  I include these in my TiTs listing only because A) Robert, Pat, and Tiff all loved Zero Dark Thirty and B) Les Miserables is my best man’s favorite novel, so here’s to you guys.  Cheers!

Alright, guys, that’s all for me.  Enjoy your week and FYI, there will be no TiTs for next week and I’m sorry about that, but I’ll be in the midst of a pseudo-honeymoon (the real one comes this summer) and won’t have the drive to post anything.  Miss me while I’m gone and check back in two weeks for the next edition of TiTs!

Escape by Checking the Laundry Room: Identity

**spoilers ahead!**

It’s probably safe to describe Identity - a tale about 10 strangers trapped at a motel during a thunderstorm - as an overlooked horror film. Directed by James Mangold and released in 2003, Identity sports a twist ending and came out at the tail end of a period when many other films did as well (The Sixth Sense (1999), Fight Club (1999) The Others (2001)).

Wikipedia

If Identity was or is written off because of its ending, it really isn’t fair to the film. It possesses a well-crafted creepy vibe throughout (the scenes that feature the little "As I was going up the stair" poem that bookend the film are pretty chilling), a superb cast and a capable director in Mangold.

The film begins with a quick explanation that a convicted psychopathic murderer named Malcolm Rivers (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is about to get a new trial the night before his scheduled execution due to new evidence. Elsewhere, ex-cop Ed (John Cusack) and nine others become stranded one-by-one at a motel during a thunderstorm. A cop (Ray Liotta) shows up transporting a violent prisoner (Jake Busey), and soon all hell breaks loose. Basically, everyone starts dying.

So yeah, the twist. Everything at the motel is in the mind of Rivers, the psycho set to go on trial. Cusack and all of the other characters are actually divergent personalities of Rivers' and his psychologist (played by Alfred Molina) is trying to get Rivers to find out which of his personalities is a killer.

The film has a great spin on the “every character has to die” rule. It’s explained that all of the characters at the motel are “dying” because they’re actually just Rivers' personalities being wiped out as part of a conscious (subconscious?) effort by the madman.

The rest of the plot isn’t that important, or at least, the plot inside Rivers' mind. Stuff happens, but it’s just kind of filler (if there’s one thing wrong with the movie, the dialogue might be a bit better in some spots and the story flow could have used a little improvement [okay, two things]).

I might be a little biased because this film actually did quite well in theaters. Maybe it was just me that was sick of twists at the time of its release (I actually liked it a bit more this time around). In conclusion, while overlooked, Identity is a great horror thriller that plays with the genre and keeps its audience entertained and guessing.

This review is part of The Large Association of Movie Blogs' Movie of the Month Blogathon for March 2013.

Favorite Scene Friday: Animal House

Although I was never in a fraternity, I'm not the frat boy type, it didn't stop me from enjoying my fair share of keg parties and making very regrettable decisions during my extended time on campus. To be honest, my college didn't recognize Greek life, but that didn't stop the off campus parties from taking place and like every campus, at every school, in every city and town, my college had the guitar guy at each one.

Guitar guy? Yes the guy who would stroll up to the party carrying the acoustic guitar his mommy and daddy bought him one summer because they felt guilty for not spending enough time with him. It wasn't always the same guy at every party but there was always at least one guitar guy, except during those rare instances when they would forget to coordinate and two of them would show up. Talk about uncomfortable. I can just hear them in the bathroom:

Guitar Guy #1: "Dude, what the fuck! I told you I was coming to this one.
Guitar Guy #2: "Sorry man. I was so baked the other night when we talked. Plus Amy is here."

I recall a scene from Family Guy that took a swipe at this d-bag. He was strumming away, singing pointless lyrics all the while surrounded by a group of doe eyed young girls. The point of the skit was to show how guitar guy ruined the guitar.  Anyways enough about him, let me set today's scene.

It comes from the classic fraternity movie, Animal House. It's toga night and guitar guy has shown up to lure the vulnerable ladies. He's sitting on a flight of stairs encircled by a group of co-eds when John "Bluto" Blutarsky, played by John Belushi, descends towards them. Yes the same John Blutarsky that gave the inspiring speech about the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor. Well as Bluto gets closer to this wanna be crooner, he stops to take a listen and decides that he's not impressed. Then he does something that I think anyone who has ever crossed paths with guitar guy has wanted to do. I won't spoil it, but it's pretty satisfying, probably because subconsciously I'm jealous of guitar guy because I can't even play a good shitty note. I hope you had a great Friday and why don't you go get yourself green pissed drunk this Sunday. Look for me. I'll be the one with the guitar.

TiTs: It's Tuesday and You Know What That Means!

OH, HI READERS!” 

Welcome back to TiTs, totheescapehatch’s newest weekly post about the best upcoming releases in the entertainment world.  Last week, I brought to your attention the new CD releases by Jimi Hendrix and Josh Ritter.  I hadn’t heard either at the time of the post and I am happy to report that neither album let me down, not even in the slightest.  I’d encourage you to pick them both up (or download them, whatever) as soon as you can, you will not regret it.  Alas, I’m getting ahead of myself though, so let’s officially go over last week’s additions, or Old TiTs, as I like to call ‘em:

Old TiTs:

Hendrix – People, Hell and Angels;

It’s very apparent that these 12 tracks are “works in progress” but that in no way, shape, or form should detract you from them.  Although “works” for sure, they can/do standalone just fine.  The 12 tracks are a grab-bag of various songs, including a few electric instrumentals (Easy Blues and Inside Out – easily my favorites from the entire album), a couple where Hendrix is backing a different singer (Let Me Love You and Mojo Man), as well as condensed (or different) versions of tracks we’ve heard before (Villanova Junction Blues and Hear My Train-A-Coming).  The album fits in nicely with his (ever-increasing) body of work and stands-out much more than 2010’s Valleys of Neptune did.  I’m already looking forward to the next release.

Ritter – The Beast in Its Tracks;

Much like I had anticipated, this 7^th album by Josh Ritter is his Blood On The Tracks swan-song.  The lyrics are undoubtedly full of loss and despair, but the accompanying music is as lifting as ever.  You wouldn’t know it upon first listen that this album stemmed from a brief marriage that did not end happily (keep in mind, I’m assuming with this comment as I really have no idea what or how it went down), but then again, such tracks as Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, and Buckets of Rain don’t seem to be downers either . . . but once you really listen to those lyrics, you might have a change of heart.  I applaud Ritter for making this album and making it as good as he did.  He doesn’t come off as whining or mean unlike that other pop-star (who can’t even take a joke without bitching about it) and her ENTIRE catalogue and that’s respectable in my book.  Maybe that pop-star can take a note or two, but then again, I doubt she will.  Standout tracks:  all of ‘em!

 

New TiTs 3/12/2013:

This week’s new releases run along the same path as the majority of other releases/weeks so far this savage year of our lord, 2013.  That is to say:  There ain’t much to get excited over.  Fear not though, the week is not a total loss . . .

Music: Bowie & Clapton

                                                 

 

 

 

 The best music releases this week come from a couple of oldies, but goodies:  David Bowie and Eric Clapton.  I feel relatively the same about these two artists inasmuch as I love their work prior to approximately 1975.  Okay, well Clapton I can get on board with for a little longer, one of my favorite songs of his is, I’ve Got a Rock ~n~ Roll Heart, off of the 1983 album Money and Cigarettes (the rest of the album is pretty “blah”).  I think it’s safe to say, both of these guys have already hit their respective peaks and anything new out of them doesn’t impress much nearly as much as when I was first introduced to their early stuff.  That being said, you’ve got to respect the guys for still putting out music, and in Bowie’s case, new music.  One of the reasons I fell off of Bowie’s release radar is his diving into electronic-esque music, leaps and bounds away from the Awesome Instant Classic, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.  I fully encourage artists to take their music in different directions, so for all intents and purposes, I respect this guy to the nth degree, it’s just sad for me to say that electronic-esque music isn’t really my bag . . . baby.  On the other hand, I read (only in Wikipedia, so don’t get too excited) that this album “is quite the rock album”, so who knows.  I’ll check it out on iTunes once the whole thing is available and I’ll be sure to let you know.  I have to admit though, the quote alone has intrigued me and now I’m devilishly curious about just how “rock” it actually is.  Another note in the right direction can be noticed by the track names:  Dirty Boys, I’d Rather Be High, Dancing Out in Space, and (You Will) Set the World on Fire.  The album is Bowie’s first one since 2003 and is officially his 24^th studio album.  It’s called The Next Day.  I wonder if it will be his last.

 

Eric Clapton doesn’t slow down very much.  Like Bowie and his 24^th album, Old Sock marks Clapton’s 20^th studio album, although unlike Bowie, the 12 track album only contains 2 originals.  Much like most other Clapton albums, I’m sure the Blues will be incorporated throughout and the only negative thing I could possibly say about that is, yeah – it’s the same old Blues.  I love the Blues.  A lot.  But after hearing Further On Down The Road (it’s track 1 on this album) for the 101^st time, I’ve got to say Mr. Clapton, gimmie something new already!  That being said, I’m sure the album will be good.  If you like Eric and his styling’s, then you’ll no doubt find yourself comfortably at home.  The man is a living legend and his guitar speaks for itself . . . Incendiary.  I doubt I’ll find myself exploring this album any further, but if you think you’d like it or are already in line to pick it up, drop me a line and let me know how it is, in the meantime I’ll probably just throw it up on Spotify while I’m typing away at work.

Movies – Life of Pi, Willow, Hitchcock, Smashed, and The Blob (Criterion Collection)

 

 

I’ve technically only seen two of the mentioned five movies, but I enjoyed them both and I would really like to see the other three.  I missed out on the chance to see Life of Pi before the Oscars came and went, but judging by the preview, and I guess obviously Best Director winner – Ang Lee, the movie looks to me to be incredibly powerful.  It’s been a little while since a movie has spoken to me on the level that I anticipate this one will.  I’m looking forward to that hearty day when the Redbox rental will be carefully stowed away in my PS3 like a long lost loved one finally returned home.  I may be pushing myself toward disappointment (Lee isn’t very high on my list of great movie director’s), but it’s good to hope and dream every once in a while. 

And speaking of “long lost loved ones,” Willow is getting the Blu-ray upgrade, kiddies!  Who else out there is excited about this?  I loved this movie when I was a kid and it still holds up . . . at least according to eight years ago when I last watched it.  Before The Lord of the Rings blessed our little hearts, this one was the end-all, be-all, even beating out the ‘really not all that bad’ Legend, with Tom Cruise and the wonderful Tim Curry, in fantasy movies.  Legend aside, no other fantasy held a candle to this one.  After the amazement that is LOTR, I can only wonder what could’ve been made from this film given the special effects that exist today and ten years ago.  I’ll own this one for sure, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day I’ll enjoy it in beautiful high definition.  On a side note:  didn’t Val Kilmer used to kick all kinds of ass back in the day?

The only other movie I’ve seen from this short list is Hitchcock.  It’s an enjoyable film for what it is:  a comedy-drama based on Alfred Hitchcock and the making of the beloved, Psycho.  Never a huge fan of the huge man myself, my better half adores his work, hence I may not have even bothered with the movie.  The make-up donned upon Anthony Hopkins is impeccable, not to mention the make-up of both Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel as Janet Leigh and Vera Miles respectively.  All three actors looked like performers they were portraying and that was pretty cool.  The plot however was a little drab.  It’s got its laughs and, to my surprise (I didn’t inquire too deeply in the plot prior to watching), its marital drama and the quirky behavior of the big man himself, but at the end of the day I can’t foresee myself wanting to watch it again anytime soon.  It’s a good one-timer.

Smashed, starring Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and the beautiful Mary Elizabeth Winstead, has been on my radar for a little while now.  The plot revolves around a married couple who love to drink, but when one decides to get sober, the drama kicks in.  My first thought goes to Blue Valentine with Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling and I’m a little scared that it will be a tad similar.  Not on every level mind you, just the destruction of the marriage idea.  I’ve read various good things about it and it’s got an 84% on the ‘ol tomato meter, so I’m who knows?  I’ll have to let you know on this one at a later date.  If you’ve seen it, drop me a line and let me know how it holds up.  The Blob Criterion Collection Blu-ray is the last on our list of releases.  If you’re anything like me, you collect the Criterion Collection, and you’re wondering why in the hell it’s taking so goddamn long to get The Life Aquatic on Blu-ray Criterion.  Seriously, what’s going on out there?  Anyway, I’ve never seen this original classic (1958) so I’m aiming to be a little surprised.  My dad enjoys it so I gather it’ll hold some sort semblance in my repertoire.  And hell, Steve McQueen is in it, so how bad could it be? 

Alright guys, happy shopping, if you’re into that sort of thing, and check back next week for all the goods in Tune in Tuesday’s.  Have a good week and don’t forget to check out the upcoming FSF and our Creature From the Black Lagoon Prize!

 

 

Music Video Monday!: The Antlers - Drift Dive

If Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog, Band of Horses and The Lumineers aren't enough to pique your interest in the Shaky Knees Music Festival, I give you yet another reason, The Antlers. Ever since I heard the songs "In the Attic" and "The Universe is Going to Catch You", from the 2007 album, In the Attic of the Universe, I've been a fan and they are definitely highlighted on my Day 2 line-up. The Brooklyn based band has kept it consistent and now four studio albums later we're still reaping the benefits.

Most of you are probably familiar with their break out, 2009 release Hospice, which gave us the singles, "Two", "Bear" and "Sylvia", but they've since released Burst Apart, which blessed us with, "I Don't Want Love", "Putting the Dog To Sleep", "French Exit", "Parentheses" and "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out". Last summer they released the EP Undersea which is where today's song can be found.

"Drift Dive" like many of The Antlers' songs is dreamy and the video is much of the same. It'd be cool to watch it at a planetarium as it kind of has that same Pink Floyd feel to it. If you like what you hear, I suggest you take a dive of your own into their catalog. I promise you won't be disappointed. Hope you had a great Monday and as always remember to live your soundtrack out loud.

"Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out"

Favorite Scene Friday! The Social Network

Happy Friday, Hatchlings! It's time for another special guest to do the Favorite Scene Friday honors and we've got none other than French Toast Sunday Grand Poobah Lindsay Street! Lindsay is, as her bio states, "kind of a big deal". She founded French Toast Sunday and runs it with pals Jess, Rob, Will, Marc, and Nick. When not writing reviews and columns like "The Gore Report"(yup, a feature on all things horror), Lindsay co-hosts the French Toast Sunday Podcast with her aforementioned buds. 

You can find Lindsay on Twitter @lindsay_fts.

frenchtoastsunday.com

It was a difficult task trying to pick a movie moment to be a part of the prestigious Favorite Scene Friday feature. With no set genre or category to choose from, my head was running wild with ideas. But much like deciding what restaurant to eat at or T-shirt to wear, I figured it would be best not to over think my choice. I pulled from a film that I recently purchased on Blu-ray (about a year too late) that is one of my favorite films of the last decade. The engrossing masterpiece from director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin: The Social Network. To briefly gush, this is a high stakes film to begin with. One of the most talented working directors collaborating with a screenplay king on a project about the world's youngest billionaire. It wasn't exactly "the Facebook movie" most people coined it early on. It was an achievement of filmmaking at every possible level from direction to script to performances to editing to score to ... you get the picture. I'm a big fan.

The part of the film I chose to highlight might be a semi-obvious selection to some, but it's an impressive moment nonetheless. Setting the scene: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) is currently in the middle of two lawsuits surrounding the creation of the website. In this scene, he's in a deposition for the lawsuit filed by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, two twins that claim Mark stole their idea of a networking website based on exclusivity. Their lawyer has just made a point that Mark was increasingly aloof in communicating with the Winklevoss brothers about his lack of involvement in the site they contracted him to code. It's been a long day and Mark is fed up with sitting in a boardroom trying to even out fact from fiction. This happens:



FUCK. In a sea of verbal attacks throughout the film, nothing stings quite like this one. Again, all the film's elements are working at full force. The score creeping in is built to menacing perfection thanks to the now Oscar winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Unfortunately, there isn't interaction with the perfectly acted side characters but it's Eisenberg's show and he nails it. He is amazing throughout the film and this scene is a brilliant sneak peek at that. Of course, Aaron Sorkin’s writing shines as Mark delivers the classic "smart guy being a smart ass" lines that Sorkin uses frequently. The pays off is huge. I could have chosen any number of scenes from this film. There are so many well-crafted ones and others that I personally love, but this is an easy favorite. The bite left by Mark’s caustic statement gets me every time, no matter how many viewings I sit through. The setup and then Mark's delivery serve as a brilliant sucker punch to the audience. And did I mention that damn finger point?! I mime that shit right along with Jesse every single time.

Tune In Tuesdays

Hi there, welcome to Tune In Tuesdays here in totheescapehatch, or TITs, as we like to refer to it.  This is the first installment of what will hopefully be a weekly post along the same vein as our Music Video Mondays, MVM, and Favorite Scene Fridays, FSF, where we bring you all the best new releases from around the entertainment world; music, movies, books, etc.  If you’re anything like me, you find yourself scouring Amazon.com for new releases in movies and music when you’ve exhausted all of your porn … er, “other” searches.  So I thought we’d do you one better and leave out all the shit that’s being released and instead turn you on to only the good stuff.  That being said, not much in the way of movies was released today, but we finally have some music to look forward to:

Music – Jimi Hendrix and Josh Ritter; a bit of old with a bit of new . . .

2013 hasn’t been the most prolific concerning new albums, at least not so far anyway.  Local Natives sophomore album, Hummingbird, is well worth a pick-up, but aside from that, I’m afraid it’s been bare bones and cold out there.  That is, until today.  Today, March 5, brings us yet another 12 tracks of “previously unreleased studio recordings” from the greatest guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix, on the new album People, Hell and Angels.  The name of the album alone gives me chills, but in an electric kind of way, if you catch my drift.  About half of the 12 tracks represented you’ve undoubtedly heard other versions of before, if, like me, you’re diehard fan, but according to the liner notes, none of us have been granted the pleasure of the “studio” versions.  In the short time that Jimi was with us, he gave us some of the greatest Classic Rock tunes ever recorded and based on this release, as well as 2010’s Valleys of Neptune and the slew of Live performances released/being released lately, he’s still not done.  Don’t get me wrong, I have no doubt in my mind that Jimi is dead (how could it keep releasing new material???), but it amazes me that his family is still making money off of these “unreleased recordings” (oh, I see).  Gotta love greed, right?  I guess I can’t complain too much though, because I really did enjoy Valleys of Neptune in, more or less, a nostalgic way (clearly wasn’t his best, but then again why would it be?) and I can’t wait to get ears on People, Hell and Angels . . . chills again.  What do you think, should we finally let Jimi rest in peace or are you all for new “old” releases?

Another big release in my mind (but apparently not in the rest of the four Jacksonville music stores) is the release of Josh Ritter’s new album, The Beast in Its Tracks.  Ritter is far and away one of the best songwriters making music today and I’m delighted as hell for this release.  I read that the album came about upon the disillusionment of his short marriage so I’m expecting some sad stuff, but then again, Blood on the Tracks is one of the penultimate Bob Dylan albums out there and it came about from a split/divorce of his own, so my hopes are quite high for this one.  To be fair, my excitement is a little on the “huh, what?” side being that I’ll be married in two and a half weeks, but I keep going back to Blood … and how some of the best music is created out of heartbreak.  I’m sure this one will remain fresh and relevant for quite some time to come.  We’ll see I guess.  The Beast … is Ritter’s seventh album and I encourage you to pick them all up and see him live every chance you get – he’s a very personable, down-to-earth performer, as I’m sure both Robert and Tiffany can attest.  Every album has its standout tunes, obviously, but so far, 2010's So Runs the World Away is my favorite.  What about you?  Have you heard his stuff/have a fav?  Let me know and check back next Tuesday for TiTs here in totheescapehatch.