MetaFilter posts tagged with movie

"I am an American as you can see from my shirt."

Pope Guilty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:59:44 -0800

Ya'll remember Johnathan "The Impaler" Sharkey, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate for the Vampires, Witches, and Pagans Party? Of course you do. But have you seen Impaler, the documentary about him? hulu

This post will get you through times of no movie better than the movie will get you through times of no dope.

not_on_display — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:43:03 -0800

Looks like The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers have been slated to star in their own stop-motion animated movie, Grass Roots: The Movie, produced by bolexbrothers! Here, the Freaks' creator, Gilbert Shelton, talks about the movie. In true stoner fashion, though, it's been "in production" since 2006, but you can watch a teaser here. While you're waiting for the movie to be made, here's the youtubed version of bolexbrothers award-winning stop-motion feature length film, The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

No ordinary informant

MuffinMan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:18:06 -0800

The movie adaptation of Mark Whitacre's story, Steven Soderbergh's The Informant, based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald was released last month. Whitacre's life belies easy explanation: a hugely important corporate whistleblower, at some point during the five years he spent informing on agribusiness behemoth Archer Daniels Midland Whitacre embarked on a massive embezzlement scheme that would see him imprisoned for nearly eight and a half years. To this day, the FBI remain divided on whether he is more hero or villain. What is perhaps interesting about the movie, over and above the extraordinary details of Whitacre's downfall into mental illness and susbsequent release to resume married life as a successful businessman in the biogredients business, is that Soderbergh - who started work on the movie in 2001 after Ocean's Eleven - plays it as a comedy. According to Soderbergh, at least, Whitacre likes the movie. See previously on the blue. And also here.

Coming to a T-shirt near you

philip-random — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:08:43 -0800

Chaos Reigns! The unlikely catchphrase hails from Lars von Trier’s arthouse horror movie "Antichrist" and is fast on its way to becoming this year’s "I drink your milkshake!" A few months ago in Southern France. The scene with the fox. (Not-Suitable-For-Breakfast)

CGI-brows short mockumentary

planetkyoto — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:04:40 -0800

CGI-brows (link goes to video on Vimeo which contains a naughty word but is otherwise SFW.) A short mockumentary about extreme emoting through SFX by RocketSausage (Dir. Andrew Gaynord) which has won the Virgin Media Shorts People's Choice Award for 2009.

Damn, there's too much static.

flatluigi — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:03:58 -0800

No Signal - A montage of cellphones in horror movies. _{(link via waxy, who has an archive of more montages like these here)}

Pogue Mahone, ya Nipple Erectors

filthy light thief — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:51:20 -0800

Shane MacGowan is the face and name most often associated with The Pogues. Unraveling Shane's psyche would require a book-length study but the crux of his identity lies somewhere in that conflict between English experience and Irish heritage. The abbreviated story of his life starts with his birth in England, but he was raised in Ireland, and moved back to England some years later. He won a scholarship to the renowned Westminster School, where he was possibly enrolled alongside Thomas Dolby and other notable people. MacGowan was involved with drugs and publicized hooliganery before being in a band, the first of which was The Nipple Erectors in 1977. In the short life of the band, the line-up shifted a number of times, the name was changed to The Nips, and their sound ranged from rockabilly to a punkish R&B, and softer pop. The band in one form or another released four singles, and got as far as to send a demo to Polydor Records in 1980, but the band broke up before the end of that year. MacGowan joined up with another group, The Millwall Chainsaws, who formed in 1979 with Spider Stacy, where Stacy sang and MacGowan played guitar. Inspired by The Dubliners (previously), they renamed themselves The New Republicans, with Shane as the lead singer. "Singing Irish rebel songs was a really good way of sticking up two fingers at the establishment," says Spider. The band shifted a bit, changed their name, and coined their own battle cry: "We are the Pogue Mahone/Fuck The Clash and The Rolling Stones", and began to blaze a trail across the bars and venues of north London. "We just wanted to do something that nobody else had ever done and take it as far as it would go," says MacGowan. "We, knew that people didn't want retro-punk. They wanted fast dance music with good tunes, something they could whoop and scream and cry to. And what fits the bill better than Irish music?" The Pogues had begun. Pogue Mahone initially playing old Irish folk tunes like Waxie's Dargle and Poor Paddy, alongside new compositions like Streams Of Whiskey (here on Old Grey Whistle Test) and The Old Main Drag (BBC Radio Session). In 1984, the band released their first single, Dark Streets of London, and received serious airplay until a Gaelic-speaking producer on BBC Radio Scotland heard the band's name and realized what was being said, and it was banned in Scotland and frozen by Radio 1. The band changed their name to The Pogues, and in October 1984 they released their next single and their first studio album, Red Roses for Me. Their view of The Clash changed enough that they opened from the band's 1984 tour, and Joe Strummer became a friend and accomplice to the band. The band continuing to gain renown, opening for Stiff Records label-mate Elvis Costello in 1985. That same year, Costello produced their second studio album, Rum Sodomy & The Lash, which has been included in a number of "greatest albums" lists. In 1986, band released Poguetry In Motion, a four-track EP that was also produced by Costello, though it was considered "hardly a collection of leftovers." There were strains on the band in this time. The long-time bassist, Cait O'Riordan, left the band and married Elvis Costello, leading to the first major change in the band's line-up, and Shane MacGowan was increasingly erratic and unreliable. The group survived to make their third studio album, If I Should Fall From Grace With God, which came out in January 1988. This effort included more than the Irish folk/punk sound of the past, including middle-eastern influences, a Spanish-inspired party song, and a Christmas ballad (previously, twice), featuring vocal accompaniment from album producer Steve Lillywhite's wife, Kirsty MacColl. The band's fourth album, Peace and Love, is the first to be without a single cover of a traditional Irish song, and includes songs of London, more Spanish influences, even opening with some instrumental jazz of a sort. Unfortunately, Shane MacGowan's drinking and drug abuse worsened, and he failed to turn up for opening dates for the band's 1988 tour, and hindered the band's effort to promote their fifth studio album, Hell's Ditch. This album shifted farther from the Irish folk roots of the past, and included Asian themes and more Spanish influences that were gained in part from the band's time in Spain while shooting Straight To Hell, an action-comedy homage to Spaghetti Westerns (clip). (Director Alex Cox wanted to put on a tour to raise money for Nicaragua, but instead shot this film in Spain and made what one critic called "A Fist Full of Nothing".) The soundtrack includes covers and exclusive tracks. Finally the band dropping MacGowan in 1991, and two Pogues compilations were issued that same year: Essential Pogues and The Best of The Pogues. Another compilation was issued in 1992, The Rest of The Best, as if to mark the end of the band. But The Pogues lived on, with Joe Strummer filling in for vocals until Spider Stacy took over and returned to his old role of lead vocalist, and giving other band members a chance to write songs for the group. In 1993 they released Waiting for Herb, their second album without a traditional cover. Even though the band was without their iconic frontman, they still had their first top 20 single since Fairytale of New York, with Tuesday Morning (YouTube). The band line-up changed dramatically between their 6th and 7th album, Pogue Mahone, which even the band members considered "a less ambitious, rather conservative Pogues album, all in a well-established Pogues style." Reviewers were less forgiving: "No angst. No identity. Nothing memorable." In 1996, the remainder of the band called it quits, but this wasn't the end. Various members of the band went on to their own side projects or to form new groups. In October 1995, Jem Finer (one of the original Pogues) started to work on Longplayer, the one thousand year long musical composition (previously). Spider Stacy, Darryl Hunt and Andrew Ranken formed The Vendetta (initially named The Wisemen, not Stacy's idea), and had half an album written before The Pogues reunited. Ranken also performed with Nigel Burch and the Flea-Pit Orchestra. James McNally released a solo album and joined Afro-Celt Sound System. Jamie Clarke formed Perfect in 1997. Shane MacGowan formed The Popes in 1994 after parting ways with The Pogues, releasing two studio albums in the 1990s, only to reunite the band in 2001 and again in 2004, then in 2006 and 2008, though no new studio material has been recorded. The Popes live on, without MacGowan. They released a studio album from the new line-up in 2000, then released a 2-disc Best-Of compilation and a live album in 2002 from their time being fronted by MacGowan. The Popes released another studio album in May 2009, featuring a more orderly Shane MacGowan. More Pogues Media BBC Radio 2 documentary - Pogue Mahone: The Story of the Pogues Written summary and and streaming in Real Media The Story of Fairytale of New York (2005), from BBC Three 6 parts on YouTube: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6 The Pogues: Live at the Town and Country on St. Patrick's Day in 1988, one of the official live video recordings (also available via unofficial media, as listed on the highly detailed database of live audio and video recordings of The Pogues and related bands) and YouTube, from the Japanese LaserDisc:

Intro 1. The Broad Majestic Shannon 2. If I Should Fall From Grace With God 3. A Rainy Night In Soho 4. Thousands Are Sailing 5. Fairytale Of New York (with Kirsty MacColl) 6. Lullaby Of London 7. Dirty Old Town 8. London Calling (Joe Strummer vocals) 9. Turkish Song Of The Damned 10. Fiesta 11. The Irish Rover 12. Worms 13. A Message To You, Rudi (Lynval Golding vocals) 14. The Wild Rover and end credits

Demos on YouTube Dark Streets of London (1983 demo version) Fairytale of New York (2nd demo of the song, with Cait O'Riordian dueting with Shane) Playlist with another 10 or so Straight to Hell, the movie, as a 9-part YouTube playlist. Viewable in scaled up HQ, but with a wonky display ratio either way.

Since when does Hollywood shy away from controversy?

zarq — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:25:39 -0800

The Producer Cites Religious Controversy. The Director points to a recessionary trend against "serious" movies. A new film about Charles Darwin's life ("Creation") is reportedly having difficulty finding a US distributor. ( Creation: IMDB / Official Site / Trailer / Spoiler-laden review from Roger Ebert / LA Times review // Darwin: Previously on MeFi).

Harmony Korine's Trash

philip-random — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:02:33 -0800

Trash Humpers A film unearthed from the buried landscape of the American nightmare, TRASH HUMPERS follows a small group of elderly Peeping Toms through the shadows and margins of an unfamiliar world. Crudely documented by the participants themselves, we follow the debased and shocking actions of a group of true sociopaths the likes of which have never been seen before. Inhabiting a world of broken dreams and beyond the limits of morality they crash against a torn and frayed America. Bordering on an ode to vandalism,it is a new type of horror; palpable and raw.

I'm voting for Hank the Angry Drunk Dwarf

scalefree — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:57:53 -0800

What is The Institute for Human Continuity? Are you The One? Find out about the E.A.R.T.H. Initiative & Operation Safe Haven. Farewell Atlantis - fiction meets fact? As always there's another perspective. Oh yeah, and don't forget to see the movie.

Nay!

blue_beetle — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:20:29 -0800

Movie Award Leftovers (SLYT) from FatalFarm

Inside a bloody cultural tradition.

kanuck — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:49:49 -0800

TV star. Amusement park attraction. Mine sweeper. Stew meat. Funded by SGI & Netscape founder James Clark, award-winning documentary The Cove goes undercover for an inside look at the brutal slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese town of Taiji. Previously.

10 KICK-ASS MOVIE PREACHERS

Brandon Blatcher — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:32:32 -0800

In the name of the Smith and Wesson and Glock.

END OF LINE.

Afroblanco — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:06:51 -0800

There's a new Tron movie coming out, and it promises to be kind of rad. In other news, the trailer seems to mash-up perfectly with Michael Jackson's Beat It. Yeah, I've been trying to stop re-posting Kottke, but this one was just so tasty and delicious I couldn't resist.

where the wild love is

philip-random — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:53:11 -0800

We Love You So is a blog, hosted by filmmaker Spike Jonze (among others) which has been established to help shed some light on many of the small influences that have converged in the soon to be released feature film rendition of Maurice Sendak’s classic story, Where the Wild Things Are. Previously. A visit with Maurice Sendak murals terrible yellow eyes Tanyth Berkeley's Girls the Pink Project Disco Project an interview with filmmaker Ray Tintori future merchandise and much more on the topic of wildness, and things in general.

But do they play Sam & Dave while you wait?

zarq — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:14:53 -0800

Is Your Soul Weighing You Down? Store It! Or, if you're tired of your own soul, try a new one on for size! Er... uh oh. Company fans can follow on Twitter and Facebook. Reps have been passing out flyers all over NYC. Movie tie-in. More.

Now, If I were you, I'd just take a few minutes and plan my escape route.

filthy light thief — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:27:12 -0800

55 years ago, Brown v. Board of Education was decided, which lead to the controversial court-ordered school integrations in the South. Four years later, the prolific Charles Beaumont wrote his only solo novel, The Intruder, based on a true story but set in a fictitious small southern town of Caxton that is riled up by a mysterious man from out-of-town who wants to halt the school integration. The novel was turned into a movie by the same name in 1962, produced, directed and financed by Roger Corman, starring a charismatic William Shatner as the mysterious intruder, some 4 years before the start of his iconic role in Star Trek. Shot on location, using locals who were not fully aware of the plot of the movie, the whole film was made for $80-$90,000, and was Corman's only film to lose money at the box offices. The production was banned in some Missouri cities because the local people objected to the film's portrayal racism and segregation. The film finally saw a profit after its re-release on DVD in recent years. (Previously discussed as part of this 1970s Shatner post; video links inside) For reasons not entirely clear, The Intruder turned up on various "public domain" lists in the early '80s and showed up on different cable channels specializing in such fare, but it was never actually out-of-copyright, though you can watch the full movie at the Internet Archive or on YouTube. Also on Youtube: interview segments with Corman and Shatner, which seems to taken from a longer interview (no video link).

ScriptShadow

alby — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:06:38 -0800

ScriptShadow reviews the latest screenplays from Hollywood, usually with links to the screenplays themselves.

Geisha Missile. Geisha Dance. Geisha Army. Geisha Transfrom. Fried Shrimp.

youarenothere — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:39:16 -0800

Geisha is robot.

Bloop Bleep Bloop Bleep Bloop Bleep Bloop wee wee wee wee CRSSHHH!.... ok that's a wrap.

geos — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:36:27 -0800

Asteroids... the movie?

Double the action! Triple the excitement! One man. One Solution. Arnold Schwarzenegger this summer is. . .Little Tortilla Boy!

Ndwright — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:41:29 -0800

ifc.com's Top Fifty Movie Trailers Highlights include: 48. The Man Who Wasn't There, "a dreamlike, semi-abstract distillation of the genre (noir) to its core elements." 36. Spider-Man, featuring a surprise reveal of the superhero-nature of the film pulled early because of its prominent usage of the twin towers prior to 9/11. 24. Schindler's List, underscoring the idea of the film being more about the Holocaust itself than its actors or director 19. Unbreakable, a spellbinding trailer far, far better than the actual movie. 10. The Shining, no more needs to be said 7. Dr. Strangelove, appropriately surreal 4. Miracle on 34th Street, one of the earliest meta-trailers and finally, 1. Alien, whose trailer perfectly encapsulates its respective film

if everything is terrible, then nothing is

philip-random — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:19:11 -0800

Everything is terrible Apparently, it's now some kind of movie.

Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla

filthy light thief — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:29:44 -0800

A Horror Film that will Stiffen You with Laughter! The jungle is jumping, with gals, gags, and goofs! And a gorilla! It's not the set-up for an awkward joke, but an honest to goodness motion picture, starring Bela Lugosi as a mad scientist, and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo as themselves, though in roles approximating Martin and Lewis. It was the comedy duo's only movie (possibly due to the cease and desist request to Sammy Petrillo from Jerry Lewis), and was one of Bela Lugosi's last movies. Some classify this movie as a z-grade budget film, while others claim it to be staggeringly unfunny. But don't take their word for it. You can watch it all online, or download it from the Internet Archive.

They've got printers in the basement you can use

outlier — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:16:02 -0800

Followup-filter: Previously, we discussed the strange case of After Last Season, the strange, deadpan trailer for a film that provoked curiosity around the 'net. Hoax? Comedy? Performance art? After Last Season has just made its (4 city) premier and the first reactions are in ... "It's not a joke, it's not viral marketing. It's 100% real." "That trailer is 100% accurate." "This has to be a joke." "It's about a lot of blank walls and paper and furniture." "So genuinely and startlingly bad that a movie cult will undoubtedly form around it." Perhaps it can be explained by the directors unique approach to assembling a film, as revealed in an interview with the lead actor and in a Facebook entry.

Goodbye, Mr. Han Man!

bwg — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:38:16 -0800

You probably knew him as the evil drug kingpin, Mr. Han in Enter the Dragon. In Hong Kong he was an action movie legend. Sadly, the amazing Shek Kin, a true martial artist, is dead at 96.