Episode 2 3
This Week in Movies #23 with David Anspaugh, Director of Hoosiers and Rudy
Sundays at 8pm PDT
Hosts
Guest
David Anspaugh, Director (“Rudy,” “Hoosiers”)
Introduction
Farrell opened the show by talking about the thrill of meeting one of her comedy heroes and celebrity crushes, Nick Offerman. (He’s Ron Swanson on the NBC series “Parks and Recreation.”)
Trailer Talk
Directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum,” “Date Night”)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly and Anthony Mackie
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson called “Steel”
Produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg
Release date: October 7, 2011
Directed by James L. Brooks (“Spanglish,” “As Good As It Gets”)
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson
Love triangle between a softball player, a baseball player (Wilson) and a corporate executive (Rudd). Nicholson plays Rudd’s dad. The film cost $120 million, $50 million of which went to pay the 4 stars
Release Date: December 17, 2010
In Theaters
Written and Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin
Based on the 1968 novel by Charles Portis which was previously adapted in 1969 with John Wayne
Lon’s review:
It’s amazing. Feels like a return to the ’90s Coens, when they were reinventing classic Hollywood genres from the inside out, mimicking their visual style while subverting expectations with anachronistic, banter-y dialogue and wit.
Farrell’s review:
She agreed that it was a great film, and noted how the Coens would include a lot of detailed information that didn’t necessarily drive the plot forward, but still heightened the tension and enhanced the fictional world of the film.
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams
Farrell’s review:
Deeply tragic but also beautiful, Farrell loved the film and noted in particular the performances by Gosling and Williams, so lived-in and real as a family going through a series of crises.
Lon’s review:
Lon also raved about the movie, calling it a really subtle, provocative movie that’s surprisingly thoughtful and beautifully shot. He also noted how well-handled the jumps in time were and the terrific use of Grizzly Bear songs on the soundtrack.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis
Farrell’s review:
Darkly beautiful, featuring a transformative, phenomenal performance from lead Natalie Portman. Enjoyable on multiple levels – as a dance film, a romance, a horror film, a psychological thriller and a drama about sacrificing for art.
Lon’s review:
Though it’s provocative, impeccably made, entertaining and surprisingly sexy, it’s only really viscerally effective as a horror film. There are a lot of scenes that are scary, a few scenes that are super-hot and a lot of other scenes that are interesting. But I wasn’t really moved. I never CONNECTED with Nina.
Hollywood Headlines
X-Men First Class plot details announced
The film, we learn, will follow a “secret history of global events” and will feature a young Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr, who later become Professor X and Magneto, as they team up to stave off the Apocalypse. (It’s unclear if the plot synopsis means the well-known X-Men villain named Apocalypse, or the end of the world by some other means.)
Tom Cruise may appear in the film of the musical “Rock of Ages”
The hosts agree that it’s time for Cruise to do a musical.
The new film from “District 9″ helmer Neil Blomkamp will star Sharlto Copley and may also feature Matt Damon in a key role. Not much is known about the film, except that it’s a violent original science-fiction story set on an alien planet.
Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis to play political candidates
The new film from Jay Roach will feature Ferrell and Galifianakis in a yet-unscripted comedy. It should arrive in time for the 2012 election.
Danny Boyle has said he may make a “Transpotting” sequel, potentially based on novelist Irvine Welsh’s follow-up “Porno,” but has not yet approached the actors about any specifics.
Farrell gave the actress props for her decision to come out as a lesbian, fearing that it may impact her career. She also was happy, in case she ever decides to experiment with homosexuality, that she now has a potential partner.
Sandler to remake French comedy
Sandler may remake the 2004 French film “The Secret Adventures of Gustave Klopp,” about a narcoleptic with an active, adventurous dream life. In the original film, the lead character’s dream sequences starred Jean Claude van Damme. No word on who will play these roles in the Sandler version.
Interview with David Anspaugh
Lon and Farrell spoke with Anspaugh about his legendary career in the film and TV industry, starting with shows like “St. Elsewhere” and “Hill St. Blues” and continuing through the blockbuster success of films like “Hoosiers” and “Rudy.” Anspaugh also spoke about his most recent project, the biographical film “Little Red Wagon” about a young man who has become an advocate for the homeless.
DVD Review
“House” (1977)
Lon’s review:
Totally insane psychedelic Japanese horror movie from ’77 that just came out on Criterion Blu-Ray. It’s a pretty standard haunted house story, but told by a Japanese director who was like ’70s Tarantino or Guy Ritchie. This combination of dazzling, ingenious technique, bizarre sense of humor and extremely amateurish effects is like watching an Evil School Play.
Closing
Farrell will be gone next week, so we’ll be doing a special “2010 in Film” episode in which Lon will count down his Best and Worst Movies of the Year. Then we’ll be back with new episodes in 2011!
