Tag Archives: Isla Fisher

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MOV111: “Oh my god… they were right. I’m a homo.”

The boys start off this week’s show with another Pride Month flick – the colorful and provocative “But I’m a Cheerleader”. They transition from hyper colors to dark and brooding when they head to the theater to check out the historically revisionist novel brought to life in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. In trailer-land, they chat about the “super-hero-ization” of some famous childhood legends in “Rise of the Guardians”. In movie news, there’s some talk about a Marvel animated film, Tron’s director nabs another band to score his new flick, and we’ve got some more Batman stuff to chat about. It’s the 111th reel of COL Movies…”Oh my god…they were right. I’m a homo.”

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The Past: But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)
Rotten Tomatoes: 34% Rotten; 73% Audience

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Director: Jamie Babbit

Staring: Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams

Trivia:

  • Cathy Moriarty asks a character if she wants to be a “raging bull-dyke.” Moriarty received an Oscar nomination for her role in Raging Bull.
  • The song that Rock is dancing to, is “Party Train” by RuPaul. RuPaul plays Mike, one of the counselors, in this film.
  • Melanie Lynskey was Jamie Babbit’s first choice to play Hilary after the director had seen her in Heavenly Creatures and Ever After: A Cinderella Story. Additionally, Lynskey had already worked with Natasha Lyonne (Megan) in Detroit Rock City.
  • Graham’s tattoo is the Chinese character for “star”.
  • When originally submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America rating board, But I’m a Cheerleader received an NC-17 rating. In order to get a commercially-viable R rating, Babbit removed a two second shot of Graham’s hand sweeping Megan’s clothed body, a camera pan up Megan’s body when she is masturbating, and a comment that Megan “ate Graham out” (slang for cunnilingus).
  • Babbit was interviewed by Kirby Dick for his 2006 documentary film This Film Is Not Yet Rated. A critique of the MPAA’s rating system, it suggests that films with homosexual content are treated more stringently than those with only heterosexual content, and that scenes of female sexuality draw harsher criticism from the board than those of male sexuality.

Talking Points:

  • General reactions?
  • Any favorite characters?
  • Trailer – red band (MPAA)

Critic Notes

  • Positives: Funny; Not a great movie, but one that will resonate with the cult movie fans
  • Negatives: Heavy handed satire; Wasted the talent of the stars

What We Learned:

  • Only lesbians eat tofu
  • Brainwashing someone is so much harder after college
  • Being born in France makes you gay
  • Foreplay is for sissys
  • real men go in, unload, and pull out

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: I’ve always loved this movie. It shows the absurdity of the so called “Sexual reorientation” programs. It also deals with people’s denial of being gay and all in good fun too. Seeing RuPaul not in drag was a little weird despite that fact that she . . . he had a spectacular performance. It’s weird calling RuPaul a he. Anyway, this is definitely proof that he . . . she . . can act, so stay away from Starrbooty. The rest of the cast was fantastic and I have nothing bad to say about this movie. You should see it. Damn, I’m having deja vu again.
Ray: A fun campy romp of a film that sometimes delves into serious territory. A great watch if you can look past the made for video look and production values.
Steve: Definitely not for everyone, but fun for what it’s worth! I never actually got Natasha as the lead – she just seems to be odd for me the entire movie.

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The Present: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Rotten Tomatoes: 35% Rotten; 62% Audience

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper

Trivia:

  • Tom Hardy was approached for the title role of Lincoln, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts with The Dark Knight Rises. Later, Eric Bana, Timothy Olyphant, Adrien Brody, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy and Oliver Jackson-Cohen were considered to play the role before Benjamin Walker was cast.
  • Joaquin Phoenix was the first choice for the role of Henry Sturgess, but turned it down.
  • Robin McLeavy was considered to play Lincoln’s wife Mary Todd, and was later cast as Lincoln’s mother Nancy.
  • The film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was first announced in March 2010 when Tim Burton and Bekmambetov, paired to purchase film rights and to finance its development themselves. The book’s author, Seth Grahame-Smith, was hired to write the script

Talking Points:

  • Tone? Too Serious? Not Serious enough?
  • I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word Illinois said so many times in one movie.
  • The “vampires”

Critic Notes

  • Positives: Imaginative and fun…it is what it is, so just enjoy it; Sure it’s full of questionable taste and choices, but it’s entertaining
  • Negatives: It tried way too hard to be serious and failed; Style over substance; Just a fail

What We Learned:

  • Common looking people are the best in the world, that’s why God makes so many of them.
  • Only the living can kill the dead
  • Plant your feet and stand firm, the only question is where to plant your feet.

Trailer:

Recommendations :
Jeff: I’m going to have to agree with the critics more on this one but not completely. It definite was not a good movie but I still enjoyed myself. Not sure how it compares to the book but this is a definite streamer for sure.
Ray: An example of style over substance… but that would be assuming that there was any substance to begin with. I feel like I could have watched this whole movie with the sound off and probably had a better time.
Steve: A fun excursion. It wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, so I just turned off the brain and watched for all of the pretty colors and fight scenes.

The Future: Rise of the Guardians

Release: November 21, 2012

Director: Peter Ramsey

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher

Summary:

The film revolves around a group of guardians – Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, The Sandman, and Tooth Fairy joining forces along with Jack Frost when The Bogeyman enacts a plan to bring “total darkness” into the world by destroying the hopes and dreams of children everywhere.

Talking Points:

  • Santa as a Russian with tats?
  • Guillermo Del Toro?

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: I’m completely on board for this movie. Santa Claus looks built. I suppose the fantasy of them all from when I was a child just makes me all giggly interested in this. Bring it!
Ray: Honestly? Do I really need to tell you my excitement levels? Bring on November!
Steve: Wow…what a retelling of tales we all grew up with. This will be very interesting!

The Past:

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The Present:

The Future:

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MOV049: “This Is Our Once A Year Day”

In the 49th reel, the boys go back in time to check out the musical about working in a 1950’s pajama factory.  Yes, that’s correct..working in a 1950’s pajama factory!  Does “The Pajama Game” still fit today?  (Ba-dum-dum)  In current film, they FINALLY check out the ILM animated feature “Rango”.  Did they find any redeeming qualities in the random cast of desert animals searching for water or should they have just died of thirst?  Lastly, the boys check out the trailer for the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”.  Is Jack Sparrow still relevant or should he just down with the ship?  All of this and movie news about remakes of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Crow” (yeah, that’s what we thought too!), along with updates on the sequels to the not yet released “Thor” and “Captain America”, and what’s going on with George Takei (rhymes with gay).  Don’t pass up this “jammy” packed episode!

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The Past: The Pajama Game (1957)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Fresh / 66% Audience

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Director: George Abbott, Stanley Donen

Starring: Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney, Eddie Foy Jr., Reta Shaw, Jack Straw, Ralph Dunn, Barbara Nichols, Thelma Pelish

Trivia:

  • 39% of the cast is from the original Broadway production.
  • The soundtrack LP, released by Columbia Records, vaulted to ninth position among “Billboard”‘s popular albums.
  • A song written specifically for Doris Day, “The Man Who Invented Love” (music and lyrics by Richard Adler), wound up on the cutting-room floor. Currently, the recording can be listened to on the soundtrack CD from Collectables, and the footage can be watched on the DVD from Warner Home Video.
  • The original Broadway production of “The Pajama Game” opened at the St. James Theater in New York on May 13, 1954, ran for 1,063 performances and won the 1955 Tony Award for the Best Musical. Shirley MacLaine was in the ensemble and was an understudy to Carol Haney. Miss MacLaine did go on for Miss Haney at least once during the Broadway run, allowing her to perform the popular songs “Steam Heat” and “Hernando’s Hideaway”. John Raitt, Carol Haney, Eddie Foy Jr., Reta Shaw, Thelma Pelish, Ralph Dunn, Ralph W. Chambers, Mary Stanton and Buzz Miller were in the original cast and recreated their roles in the movie version.
  • Frank Sinatra turned down the lead role in The Pajama Game (1957), which would have paired him up with Janis Paige, who played the role on Broadway. As a result, Paige lost out on playing the part to Doris Day, who was considered a bigger box-office draw

Talking Points:

  • What does this say about the state of society at the time it was made?
  • Undertones of Romeo and Juliet?

What We’ve Learned:

  • The second hand doesn’t understand that your back may break and your fingers ache and your constitution isn’t made of rock
  • 7½ cents doesn’t buy a heck of a lot
  • Its not ok to hit employees, but its ok to shove them
  • Not only is free beer at a company picnic acceptable its encouraged!
  • Just knock 3 times and whisper low that you and I were sent by Joe

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: There’s a special place in my heart for this movie as I had an amazing time being in the play in High School. Best shape I’ve ever been in.
Ray:I dig musicals, but this one was a no go for me.. I kept falling asleep
Steve: I am a huge fan of musicals…especially many classics in film. However, it was difficult for me to get into this one, despite knowing it was highly successful.

The Present: Rango
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Fresh / 72% Audience

Director: Gore Verbinski

Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root

Trivia:

  • This is the first animated feature produced by special effects company Industrial Light & Magic.
  • Rattlesnake Jake was modeled after Lee Van Cleef.
  • Ned Beatty based his performance on that of John Huston’s in Chinatown (1974).:
  • Johnny Depp character Rango was modeled after Don Knotts character Barney Fife from “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960).
  • The first cat that Beans talks to in Dirt is an obvious vocal impression of staple western actor Pat Buttram.
  • Spirit of the West was modeled after Clint Eastwood.
  • The wanted posters in the sheriff’s office offer rewards for “Lockjaw Smith” and “Disco Lovejoy.”

Talking Points:

  • Anyone catch the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas reference?
  • Lots of facial close ups.
  • Does knowing how this movie was filmed make you appreciate it any more or less?
  • What do you think about the animation itself?
  • Did you have a favorite character?

What We Learned:

  • If you want to find water you must find Dirt
  • The desert and death are the closest of friends
  • Cactus root is a natural laxative

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: A couple of funny reference moment, but the movie overall was just okay. Amazing animation though.
Ray: Kudos to ILM for amazing visuals… Story was ok, but I felt it went on way too long.
Steve: I thought it looked great, although some of the characters were creepy looking (Dark Crystal). Not sure that I feel it’s a kid’s movie – kind of in the vein of Nightmare Before Christmas – but I overall liked it. The voice acting was very good.

The Future: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane

Trivia:

  • The title was revealed by Johnny Depp in character as Jack Sparrow, at Disney’s D23 Expo on September 11, 2009.
  • Disney’s Head of Production Oren Aviv said that this would “hopefully be the first of another trilogy.”
  • Johnny Depp said he agreed to star in this, before “there was a script or anything”.
  • This film is loosely based on the 1988 pirate novel ‘On Stranger Tides’, by Tim Powers. The novel’s protagonist is a pirate named Jack, but his character is significantly different from Jack Sparrow
  • In May 2010, Disney announced that this movie will be filmed using 3-D cameras. The special effects, however, will be rendered in 2-D then converted to 3-D to keep the budget lower.
  • This is the only “Pirates” film to not be directed by Gore Verbinski.
  • Penélope Cruz was pregnant during the filming of the movie

Talking Points:

  • Penelope Cruz – draw or detraction?
  • Is this franchise worth our time or has it “jumped the shark”?

Summary:

When Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with the enigmatic Angelica, he’s not sure if it’s love — or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Yes, we do need another Pirates Movie. I like the idea of just making each one an individual story.
Ray: I have really no interest in this series anymore, it’s hard to get excited about it.
Steve: I am not particularly interested in the franchise anymore…but I do admit that this one looks better than any of the previous to me.

Coming Attractions

The Past
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The Present

The Future

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