Episode 8
This Week in Movies #8 with director Noah Harald
Sundays at 8pm PDT
Our guest this week is writer/director Noah Harald. Reviewed films include the graphic novel adaptation“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” the literary adaptation “Eat Pray Love” and the low-budget indie thriller “The Killing Room.”
Introduction
Farrell announced that she was dressed like a bohemian hippie in honor of “Eat Pray Love.” She then announced that director Jake Goldberger, whose film “Don McKay” was discussed by the hosts the previous week, would be a guest on an upcoming episode.
Trailer Talk
Tinch took a look at the trailer for the experimental French drama“Enter the Void,” from director Gaspar Noé.
The film follows the wandering spirit of a teenager who was murdered in Japan, and is shot entirely in a first-person POV style. Tinch, who say the film at the Sundance Film Festival, described it as visually stunning, though provocative and even troubling. He recommended seeing the film theatrically to get the full effect of Noé’s use of first-person perspective, visual effects and sound design. The film opens in the US on September 17, 2010.
In Theaters
Clip: “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”: Hey!
Opinions diverged on “Pilgrim.” Tinch and Lon both had a lot of fun with it, noting in particular director Edgar Wright’s use of visual effects and mixed media to combine the worlds of cinema, comic books and video games. Farrell found the film obnoxious and nonsensical, and didn’t come to care about any of the characters or their emotional journeys.
Trailer: “Eat Pray Love”
Farrell was the only one who saw “Eat Pray Love” this weekend, and had a lot of praise for the film. She enjoyed the Julia Roberts performance, and enjoyed how deeply the actress seemed to lose herself in the role. She also admired the direction of Ryan Murphy, particularly his use of lighting and color to highlight the beauty and wonder of Liz Gilbert’s journey around the world. She felt that all the male actors, save Richard Jenkins, were miscast and did not believe that Gilbert’s character would have been married to Stephen (played by Billy Crudup).
Lon, who has not seen the film, criticized what he felt was a trite take on self-fulfillment, realized through exotic world travel and adventure rather the more realistic struggle most people need to endure in order to improve their lives.
News
Zsa Zsa Gabor Asks for Last Rites
During the broadcast, news was breaking that actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, 93, had requested a priest to administer her last rites at an LA hospital.
Dev Patel Says Asian Actors are Stereotyped
The “Slumdog Millionaire” star told the Mail on Sunday that he has been offered stereotypical roles like “goofy Indian sidekick” and terrorist since venturing to Hollywood.
Lost “Return of the Jedi” Footage Shown at Celebration V
The Internet was buzzing this week about a missing scene from “Jedi” where Luke Skywalker is seen tinkering with his lightsaber while on Tattooine that was screened for the first time at Star Wars Celebration V.
Montana Fishburne Sex Tape and Messy Past
The hosts discussed the troubled life of actor Laurence Fishburne’s daughter, Montana, including the sex tape that she’s self-releasing and allegations that she roughed up her boyfriend’s ex.
DVD
Roger reviewed this low-budget film, which takes place largely in a single room, starring Nick Cannon, Clea DuVall, Chloe Sevigny and Peter Stormare.
Clip: “The Killing Room”
He felt that the movie, about a mysterious psychological research study involving four unsuspecting subjects, did a good job of maintaining tension and that it ends particularly well. He also praised all of the performers.
Interview with Noah Harald
Harald has directed a number of short films, including a spoof of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” that was nominated for an MTV Movie Award.
He discussed his plans for the upcoming film “Yossel,” based on a graphic novel about a Jewish uprising in WWII Poland. The screenplay is currently being written by “3000 Miles to Graceland” scribe Richard Recco.
Harald also discussed some of his recent favorite films, including “Inception,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “A Prophet” and “Animal Kingdom.” He’s a particular fan of crime dramas.
The Unrentables: Solar Crisis
The Unrentables segment is generously made possible by Laser Blazer, LA’s best destination for DVDs and Blu-Rays, both for rental and purchase. Visit the store at 10587 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, or call at 310-475-4788.
This week’s film, available for rent at Laser Blazer for over a year that has NEVER BEEN RENTED, is 1990′s “Solar Crisis,” directed by Richard Sarafian (under the assumed name Alan Smithee). It stars Tim Matheson, Charlton Heston, Peter Boyle and Jack Palance.
Trailer: “Solar Crisis”
The opening crawl informs us that the Sun is about to cast a colossal mega-flare that will CREMATE THE PLANET! To retaliate, humans have placed an anti-matter bomb on an asteroid called “New Trinity.” The spaceship Helios is tasked with taking the bomb to the sun. It’s filled with the kind of sci-fi movie characters who make a lot of random space references to let us know we’re in the future. “I don’t give a Martian’s ass about this damn space buggy. You could send it to Jupiter 2 for all I care.” Like the Jetsons, but more sarcastic and with fewer visual gags.
Closing
Farrell ended the show with a preview of some upcoming guests in the next few weeks. Next week, August 22nd, the hosts will be joined by James Gunn, the director of “Slither,” creator of the web series “PG Porn” and the author of films including “The Specials,” “Scooby-Doo,” the 2004 “Dawn of the Dead” remake and “Tromeo and Juliet.”
The following week, on August 29th, the hosts will be joined by Matt Lanter of the TV series “90210″ and the upcoming “Twilight” spoof “Vampire’s Suck.”
