Ryan McNeil
When you listen to this episode (note “when”…not “if”), you might notice my energy level being a little bit lower than usual. For that, I must blame a few pints of Fosters, coupled with an early morning call. I think it’s a sure sign you’re getting older when it only takes a bit of beer and an early morning to throw you off.
Still, the results are solid. This one runs a little bit long…but when you get me talking comic books and movies, it’s a little tricky to shut me up. It all works nicely though, as evidenced in the Roberto Alomar episode.
This episode has been archived, but it can be made available on request.
if you’d like to listen to it, please email ryanatthematineedotca
Runtime58 minutes, 27 seconds
Up for Discussion
1. My brief introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY – Q & A with this episode’s guest, Heather Roddy of Movie Mobsters. (1:32)
3. COME TALK TO ME – Listener feedback on Episode 11’s summer movies question (5:05)
4. WHAT’S GOIN’ ON – The Avengers assemble for Joss and Robert’s drinking Pennyroyal Tea? (8:44)
5. THE NEW SLANG – Review and reaction of KICK-ASS (14:45)
6. BEST OF YOU – Heather and Hatter count down their top five comic book movies. (29:27)
Note – As mentioned at the end of the podcast, this incarnation of my podcast is taking a bit of a hiatus. In its stead, look for podcasts over the next few weeks providing coverage of my experience at Hot Docs. Matineecast Classic should return in mid-May
Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.
Enjoy!
Matineecast 12, they really are coming thick and fast. Another long response for you.
Firstly I have to say, Heather Law Abiding Citizen is utter crap!
Last Days is a mess of a movie but Michael Pitt was really good in it. Kurt Cobain would hate a movie about himself and would be embarrassed by a star playing him but as you say it probably won’t happen.
I really think The Avengers is a bad idea but as Heather says if anyone can make it work it is Joss Whedon.
Interesting you talk about the rating for Kick-Ass, it has been given a 15 rating here. I have mentioned a few times in recent reviews that the BBFC have been more liberal recently.
No surprise I agree on your number one pick. I have blogged about comic book movies several times take a look at this and this for my best comic book movies of the past two decades and Link text for my “comic book Oscars”.
Unless they are Michael Moore, documentaries don’t get much of a look in at the cinema over here so I tend not to see them until they make it to TV. As they don’t have much of a DVD market they do make it to TV pretty quickly though.
12? Man it feels like forever ago when I did #3! Fun times. Been a while. Keep 'em coming! Now for my comments:
The only problem with the Aerosmith song for Armageddon is that it was played 500000 times per minute on the radio. I knew that song by heart… and I never know songs by heart. I'm a king of mumbling everything but the chorus.
To be honest I miss about 90% of documentaries because they just never make their way to me (physically or via word of mouth). I maybe watch 1 to 5 documentaries a year…
For comic book movies I hate that with Batman Begins and Dark Knight it's become almost common place for people to jab the original Burton duo a lot. I still love those two. Oldboy would definitely make the list. I love Sin City so that may sneak into the list.
Superman 2 is my preferred Superman, that's just that.
Does Men in Black count? It's a loose comic series adaptation :). I love American Splendour, so that might also be a noteworthy entry.
Still, solid lists both of you. Wouldn't argue against any :).
another good podcast, now I got to steal Heather to com eon my show. 🙂
You've been tagged on that weird meme thing going around the movie blogs. Check out more details on my post: http://www.finalgirlproject.com/?p=1864. MUAHAHAHAHAHHA. Do my bidding. <3
YAY HEATHER… can't wait to listen tomorrow. Could you do like 3 of these a week cuz I have to drive an hour and a half to work each way these days and would enjoy the Matineecast more frequently to compliment Creative Screenwriting and the /filmcast!
@ Fandango… Thanks for the notes as always. Your reaction is starting to be my favorite part of posting these!
I think the Cobain movie will happen, eventually, I just hope upon hope that whoever actually makes it can get it right.
OK, explain to me the restrictions (if any) that a 15 rating brings.
@ Univarn… Radio?? Why do I get the suspicion that it's the highest played track on your iPod and you're just trying to play respectable???
I do like the Burton Batman's, "Returns" more so, and appreciate what they tried to do. It's just that in many facets – especially in their endings – the Nolan Batman films found that extra footing that give them an edge as movies, not just as "comic book movies".
@ Big Mike… Sure…go ahead and have her as a guest. She's a good one.
I'd probably be a good guest too by the way.
Just sayin'….
@ Sasha… Slightly off-topic but what the hey. I responded to the meme on the DOTM facebook page. Go take a look won't ya?
@ Kai… Well thank you so very much for including me in the company of my podcasting idols. All I can say is soak it up because after Hot Docs I will be more than happy to get back down to my every-other-week rotation. Takes up a lot of a weekend to record/edit/post these suckers on the fly ya know!
Regardless – thanks a million for listening. I'll get you to guest on an episode as the summer gets going.
Thanks for having me as your manic java induced guest. You were even kind enough to let me go on my own nonsensical tangents every now and again.
and Big Mike? I'd love to! Just let me know when.
While Cage's characters I guess did possess some quirky tics that you'd expect from one of his roles (Matchstick Men, Adaptation, even The Rock) I still think he really brought Big Daddy's character to life. I agree with Hatter — he really did have me during that comic book sequence. I liked the fact that he talked as if it was a comic book throughout the movie. Just like he told Marcus, the police officer, he made it a game to cope with their life and what he felt needed to be done.
For me, I think Cage's character was actually my favorite.
"You know who owe's her a childhood? FRANK. D'AMICO!"
He delivered that line so well it put chills in my spine!
Hatter: 15 very simply means you have to be 15 or over to get in. A film like this a few years ago would have got 18 (need to be 18 or over to get in). The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) have really lightened up recently. A couple of years ago the downgraded 12 to 12A, now under 12’s can see a 12A if accompanied by an adult (over 18). As we are talking about Batman,12 was intruded in the first place for Tim Burtons Batman as the BBFC felt it wasn’t suitable for PG but 15 was to high and may put off a lot of the target audience.
You would be right Mad, except for one thing: I don't own an iPod… nor any other mp3 portable player. I know I know, I'm so behind the times…. oh well 🙂
@ Heather… It was my pleasure. I like it when my guests do the heavy lifting, sorta the reason why I choose them, y'know? heck, even when I'm editing it, and I think the conversation is starting to run long, I have a mantra:
"When in doubt, cut Hatter out".
You ruled. Now when you go on Mike's show, take a dive…so our show looks better and his hosting skills look weak in comparison.
@ Casey… Couldn't agree with you more. While Cage wasn't quite bringing the best of Cage for this part (see LEAVING LAS VEGAS or BRINGING OUT THE DEAD), he was at least able to keep his hamminess at the appropriate level, and likewise play a believably loving father.
@ Number Six… Cripes! No way in hell is this film a 15. What has merited a harsher rating lately?
@ univarn… You have no idea what you;re missing!
Thanks, Hatter… that would be cool!
Now that I've heard the new one, let me say this… first off, I saw Ghost World in the theater! Second, Dick Tracy should not be allowed as it was a strip and not a book… but the rest of Heather's list was so awesome, I'll forgive it!
As far as Persepolis, I too hear great things but just cannot get in the mood to pop it in the ol' Blu-Ray player!
Re: Your question for the week… I watch around a half dozen docs a year though I've seen 4 this year all ready so this year will probably be more. I've only seen 2 in theaters… Faranheit 911 & Bowling for Columbine. For docs, I need a subject that interests me… that's all.
I'm looking forward to that one we talked about briefly: Exit Thru the Gift Shop. Just saw one called Collapse that might be full of ess but was completely riveting… have also recently watched The Cove, Food, Inc., Zoo… that's it… and that's a long comment!
Sorry this is going to be long:
Censorship in the UK is a minefield when you look into it. There was a government act in the mid 80’s as video took of. It created the British Board of Film Classification previously British Board of Film Censors who where only responsible for cinema releases. They got a bit over zealous and refused to give certificates to The Exorcist and Straw Dogs resulting in them being removed from sale. Around the time the Department of Public Prosecutions had list of movies they tried to ban under Obscene Publications Act (that dated back to the 50’s) there where 70 odd movies (known as “video nasties”) on the list around half where successfully prosecuted and banned. Amongst some low budget trash there were some classics live The Evil Dead. Then things started to relax a little but in then in the mid 90’s a two year old boy was abducted and murdered by two ten year olds. It was mentioned in a police report that their was a video of one of the Childs Play movies in the home of one of the ten year olds and they MAY have watched it at some time. The tabloid press got hold of that and ran with it and the all of a sudden the term video nasties was in use again and they where responsible for everything that is wrong with society. Reservoir Dogs was shown at the cinema but couldn’t get a video certificate for a couple of years. Things gradually settled down but in the last year they has been a real softening on gore and violence with lots of films that would have gotten an 18 now getting 15. In the case of Kick-Ass it accepts that the movie is based on a comic book and the violence isn’t real but movies like Repo Men (that is utter shit by the way) got an 18 (our highest rating) because they dwell on the violence and in one scene sexualise gore. Daybreakers that came out earlier in the year also got a fifteen; there was enough blood for it to have been 18 in previous years. Whist they are very pragmatic about violence they are still very prudish about sex and nudity, Wynter at CinemaScream has mentioned it a few times if you ever read his reviews. For a film to get an 18 these days it tends to be for sex or “strong language” rather than violence unless the violence is very excessive.
As for Kick-Ass they said:
“The film was passed ‘15’ for strong language, one use of very strong language and strong bloody comic violence”
And their explanation for the thing that has got everyone talking:
“Although some people might be offended by a child using this type of language, the predominant effect is comic. The young girl in question possesses incredible strength and agility and manages to dispatch a large group of adult male villains immediately after making the remark to them. The remark is delivered in a throwaway fashion rather than aggressively directed and the unexpectedness and incongruity of the use provides a comic justification for its inclusion.”
Another great 'cast, as always. Still haven't seen Kick-Ass (maybe this weekend) but I really enjoyed the comic book film lists.
The only one I disagree with is Ghost World. I didn't like the film at all (except for Buscemi and Enid's wardrobe) because the protagonists were just bitches. I found Enid and Becky to be social outcasts by choice, who thought they were better than everyone else, and that really bothered me because I've known real people like that. I could understand if they were bullied by the other kids at school, but they weren't. I didn't really see any redeeming qualities in either of them, thus making my enjoyment of the film an impossibility.
great show.
I love documentary film just as much as narrative filcks.
I find that it's the one genre(?) where the content supersedes the visuals. (see Overnight). However, when get a doc that is handled cinematically (see Mr. Death or Thin Blue Line) it moves me that much more.
I'll watch "American Movie" several times a year.
As a filmmaker myself, I find it inspiring and it gets me pumped on the filmmaking process.
I'm especially fond of "making of" docs included as special features. I'll often buy discs just for those, even if I wasn't in love with the movie they accompany. (see Collateral & Rob Zombie's Halloween).
Jason from Cine-kill.com
@ Kai… If I let Megan get away with using THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST as a bio-pic, I have to let Heather get away with using DICK TRACY as a comic film.
Now go grab PERSEPOLIS and prepare to be dazzled.
@ Number Six… Wow, that's enlightening. Sounds almost like censorship in The UK is a hevaily swinging pendulum!
Anytime I hear about censors getting their dander up over language and sex while giving violence a pass, I always get visions of the South Park film.
@ Rachel… Yeah, I know exactly the sort of people you're talking about – I've met a lot of them. Really for me the whole thing picks up when Seymour shows up since he's such a loveably pathetic schlub. Kinda like a skinny harvey Pekar in a few ways – they even both have an affinity for vinyl!
Still, you raise a good point – I think I need to watch it again since it's been so long.
@ Jason… Thanks for listening and for the comment! If you dig on docs, hopefully you'll find some of my Hot Docs coverage enlightening. Make sure to keep an eye and an ear out since I'll be talking about some really great films in the next few weeks!
haha… fair enough!
Awesome show guys! I really enjoyed Heather's input! Your comic book lists were superb, and I was really glad to see so many non-superhero additions from you Hatter!
And it's nice to hear you're not freaking out about the Kurt Cobain/Robert Pattinson thing. I too am pretty sure it's the kind of thing that wouldn't really come to fruition, so I'm not going to worry.
Hmm as for documentaries… I really don't watch as many as I feel I should, and there's no particular reason for that. I've seen so many trailers for potentially riveting docs that I just never get out there to see, often influenced by the fact that none of my movie-going friends ever express interest. Therefore I'll mainly see the ones that reflect my personal tastes and those of my close friends, which basically means I've seen a lot of documentaries about art and music. My favorites include In The Realms of the Unreal (about outsider artist Henry Darger), The Rape of Europa (about Nazi looting of art in WWII), and Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten.
I think a lot of documentaries employ similar tactics in their structures and storytelling techniques, and that has led to a certain stigma attaching itself to the medium. There are only so many subjects that I find engaging enough to sit through several interviews from people whose names and affiliations I'll quickly forget, set against slow-zooms of photos. I'd like to find more documentaries utilizing experimental animation, such as Waltz With Bashir.
Waltz With Bashir was amazing. I don’t really like animation but that was a movie that really couldn’t have been told as successfully in any other medium.
@ Andy… I've had that on my "to-see" list for a century. Time to move it up the queue.
@ Alex… Thanks for the comment. Give a listen to the latest episode "Life in Technicolor" where we discuss your feedback.