film

The Wes Anderson Episode (Anyway, That’s All I Got)

wes anderson

This week on Anyway, That’s All I Got, we decided to tackle Wes Anderson’s entire filmography in a broad, chronological overview. We start in 1994 with the original Bottle Rocket and work all the way forward to the newly-released Isle of Dogs. We all have a variety of strong opinions on his filmography, so this discussion takes some very interesting turns.

Question for you: Are you a Wes Anderson fan? If so, why? If not, why not? Also, do you enjoy our weekly recommendation segment?
Let us know in the comments or email us at ataigpodcast@gmail.com with your feedback.

Go on…The Wes Anderson Episode (Anyway, That’s All I Got)

Jon in Theory: What Makes a Movie Character Likable?

Have you ever heard a film critic or general film-loving person tell you the characters in a movie were “likable?” I’ve done this too many times to count in reviews and podcasts, but what does it really mean? What do different people mean when they invoke “likable” characters?

I’m not sure if I thoroughly tackle the topic, but hopefully this quick recording lays out a guideline for how I think we should talk about movie characters in ways that are more useful for others. Whether you’re talking to a coworker about the latest Marvel movie or writing a think piece about Midnight Cowboy (which, admittedly, has some seriously unlikable characters).

My main point, which goes beyond general film discourse, is to stop assuming people understand what you mean when you say something that’s commonly said. This applies to basic communication on a whole range of topics, but when recommending a film or telling people what you dislike about a film, this can be especially useful to keep in mind. We all want to be likable ourselves, right?

Hope you enjoy the video, and you can find the Twitter thread I mentioned right here, as well as the video essay thread I brought up and the Marvel Symphonic Universe video.

 

Cinemaholics Review: Ready Player One

ready player

Ready Player One. It’s the movie people can’t stop talking about, one way or another. Half consider it an enjoyable romp worthy of Steven Spielberg, and the other half considers it a hellscape of boredom, maybe even bad intentions. Hyperbole aside, I sat with Will Ashton and Maveryke Hines to discuss the new film, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, and comparisons to the source material.

But that’s not all. For Mini Reviews this week, Will and I finally chatted about Barry, the new show on HBO starring Bill Hader. This pivoted into a discussion about Alex Inc., a somewhat similar new show (circumstantially) starring Zach Braff. From there, we ended up talking about Scrubs for a solid 10 minutes, and you know what? I’m glad we did. The rest of the show contained a bizarre personal story about James Acaster and his new Netflix comedy special Repertoire, followed by a brief review of Best F(r)iends, a new movie starring Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau of The Room fame.

Question for you: Which Steven Spielberg movie sums up his talent as a filmmaker in your mind?

Go on…Cinemaholics Review: Ready Player One

Cinemaholics Review: A Wrinkle in Time and Thoroughbreds

wrinkle

On the show this week, Will Ashton and I review A Wrinkle in Time, the new Disney family film based on the classic novel. The film opened at around Disney’s box office expectations, second only to Black Panther (which is still breaking records), but it’s become a divisive topic among critics and fans who found the adaptation disappointing while also championing the film’s representation.

For the most part, Will and I are on the same page with Wrinkle. It’s complicated. Later in the show, we take a look at Thoroughbreds, plus we opened this week’s episode with some discussion about the Oscars and ongoing coverage over at SXSW Film Festival. It’s a useful talk if you’re curious about some upcoming genre films set to release in 2018, just remember to take these early film reviews with a grain of salt. The rest of this week’s reviews include Atlanta Season 2, Jessica Jones Season 2, and Will Ashton’s reactions to Love, Simon (which guest Kimber Myers reviewed for us last week).

Question for you: Where do you stand on A Wrinkle in Time?

Go on…Cinemaholics Review: A Wrinkle in Time and Thoroughbreds

The Shape of Water: The Past is the Key to the Future

the shape of water

Watching The Shape of Water, I expected a wholly original story based on a simple premise. A woman falls in love with a merman. Instead, Guillermo del Toro’s film has a surprisingly familiar set of themes and ideas. Its originality lies in how it blends three core messages for the viewer to internalize.

The first message: the past is the key to the future. This scaly, unpredictable creature found in the Amazon is implied to be an ancient force of nature far removed from the technological advances of 60s Baltimore. Yet every character wants to use this creature as a device for unlocking the future. A competitive future. A future of scientific discoveries. Even a future of artistic expression.

The second message: the people who will unlock the future are the silent. The unseen. The meek will indeed inherit the earth. Finally, the third message: love is the purest way to unlock the future, bringing about our greatest talents. Love is our purpose.

Go on…The Shape of Water: The Past is the Key to the Future

Cinemaholics: Winter Movie Preview 2017-2018

winter movie preview

On the show this week, I sit with Will Ashton and Maveryke Hines to discuss our most anticipated films of the Winter season. We each picked three specific films to highlight, listed out a few honorable mentions, and agreed to “share” our excitement for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which we’ll be able to review in full next week.

We also got a chance to briefly discuss some movies we’ve seen over the last week, though we didn’t have enough time for Mini Reviews. I brought up what’s become one of my favorite films of the entire year, Bad Genius, which is available for rental on VOD. I heartily recommend it, along with The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro’s new film hitting a wider release this month.

Go on…Cinemaholics: Winter Movie Preview 2017-2018

Last Flag Flying: When Loving Country is as Easy as Hating It

last flag flying

We’re dependent on the government. We’re dependent on the military. We’re dependent on our soldiers. So when you put your faith and trust into the very entities that hold the key to your survival, it stings all the more when you experience the ugly side of America and war. Especially if you’re a soldier.

Richard Linklater has directed some of my favorite films of all time, so I didn’t hesitate to catch a viewing of his new film Last Flag Flying. It’s a spiritual sequel to The Last Detail, in that it tells a simple road trip story about three aging Vietnam War veterans in 2003.

One of those veterans (“Doc,” played by Steve Carrell) has recently lost his son to the horrors of the Iraq War. His fellow former marines (Sal, played by Bryan Cranston and Mueller, played by Laurence Fishburne) embark on a quest to help Doc bury his son at home in New Hampshire instead of at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C.

“I’m not going to bury a marine,” Doc says. “I’m just going to bury my son.” If that sounds unpatriotic to you, then Last Flag Flying has you on its allegorical mind.

Go on…Last Flag Flying: When Loving Country is as Easy as Hating It