A Buggy Eyes and a Big Butt Report: Movies #1-17

I am attempting to watch 366 movies this leap year. The behind-the-scenes particulars are in the Q&A introduction. The documentation of my progress begins below. You will see my top three suggestions of this particular batch at the bottom.
- rob.

Ratings key:
★★★★★ = I can’t see giving anything that I’ve seen once five stars
★★★★ = get to the theater / move it up in your queue
★★★ = “three stars is a recommendation” - The Empire [magazine] Podcast
★★ = if the remote is too far away, you could do worse
★ = if the remote is too far away, get someone to move it closer then throw it at the TV

001
The Death of “Superman Lives”: What Happened? (2015) ★★★    
stars: Tim Burton, John Peters, Kevin Smith
writer/director: Jon Schnepp

Tim Burton directs Nicolas Cage as Superman. It almost happened. It could have been great. Insane, but great. Maybe. The doc is strengthened by Burton’s involvement. If only Cage said yes, too. His costume test footage is a nice consolation.

double feature pairing: Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

002
The Hateful Eight (2015) ★★★★
stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
writer/director: Quinten Tarantino

A blizzard interferes with a bounty hunter’s transport of his prisoner, forcing them to take shelter in a surprisingly overcrowded way station.

I love movies that take place in one location, largely or in total. Despite some questionable story elements, I still enjoyed it a lot. It is worth seeing a second time to watch the characters react in ways unnoticeable before.

double feature pairing: Wind Chill

003
The Winding Stream (2014) ★★★
stars: Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash
director: Beth Harrington    

The story of The Carter Family.

Turns out what I thought was The Carter Family was actually The Carter Sisters. Ol‘ A.P. Carter swiped hisself a whole bucket full o‘ songs from dem dar hills. I’m guessing he never went back to pass out royalties. A good documentary. (Never mind the animation of the old photos that turned the Carter’s into the Chuck E. Cheese house band.) I only wish the commentary track of the two old men behind me could be heard by all. I pictured them sitting on a porch, sharing whatever came to their minds...

“Would you look at those clodhoppers he’s got on.”
“I’ve been to that grave.”
“Johnny Cash [gave that interview] before he died.”

double feature pairing: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

004
The Revenant (2015) ★★★
stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleason
director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Bear attacks dude. Other dude kills dude’s kid. Dude left for dead. Dude crawls back for Revenge!

That’s fucking it. Very little else happens in in two hours and forty minutes. It looks amazing and should be seen in the theater. But, man, what a grind to sit through. Tom Hardy is great as Other Dude. He's doing more than crawling on the snow and grimacing.

double feature pairing: The Edge

005
Capricorn One (1978) ★★★★    
stars: Elliott Gould, James Brolin, Hal Holbrook
writer/director: Peter Hyams     

So your mission to Mars isn’t feasible, and your funding is in jeopardy. What do you do? If you’re NASA, you fake it and hope everyone plays along.

1970‘s conspiracy in full effect. Holds up pretty well after nearly 40 years. Some great car chase POV shots and a dogfight finale that’s a sight for tired CGEyes.     

double feature pairing: Wag the Dog

006
13 Sins (2014) ★★
stars: Mark Webber, Ron Perlman, Pruitt Taylor Vince
director: Daniel Stamm

Elliot receives a phone call telling him if he completes 13 tasks, he will receive six million dollars. If the tasks didn’t escalate, then we wouldn’t have a story. Horrible things are in store for Elliot.

This movie’s fault lies with it expanding the game into a larger conspiracy. It’s better to keep the circle small. That’s what Cheap Thrills did right, in addition to being funnier and better.

watch Cheap Thrills instead

007
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) ★★★
writer/director: Kurt Kuenne

Judging by the interviews Kuenne collected of friends and family members about his friend Andrew, we all should have instinctively felt the moment he died. He was murdered by his girlfriend, pregnant with his child. Then it got worse.

double feature pairing: something to remind yourself there is still good in the world

008
The Americanization of Emily (1964) ★★★
stars: James Garner, Julia Andrews, Melvyn Douglas.
director: Arthur Hiller
writer: Paddy Chayefsky (screenplay, based on William Bradford Huie’s novel)

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Edward Madison is a coward. He says so himself. It’s why he got a job as a gofer to Adm. Jessup to get through WWII. It's because of this position that he meets Emily and the focus of Jessup‘s desire for battlefield glory.

Garner and Andrews are charming in this military satire that fights the idea that dying in battle is a glorious death.

double feature pairing: Birdy

009
Monte Walsh (1970) ★★★★
stars: Lee Marvin, Leanne Moreau, Jack Palance.
director: William A. Fraker

The Old West is disappearing. Time for cowboys to decide how to live the rest of their lives.

An interesting examination of a changing landscape and some people's inability to change with it. Lee Marvin is great in this. Didn’t know he was anything more than action-tough.

double feature pairing: Unforgiven

010
Child’s Play (1972) ★★★.5
stars: James Mason, Robert Preston, Beau Bridges
director: Sidney Lumet

A former student returns to his alma mater as a teacher to find his former instructors still at each other’s throats and the student body in a violent state.

To me, Sidney Lumet means solid acting and meaty characters. This one doesn’t change that.

double feature pairing: Heaven Help Us

011
The Station Agent (2003) ★★★★
stars: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale
writer/director: Tom McCarthy

A friendship is formed among three people living in isolation, two by choice, the other by circumstance. Can’t pepper the story up more than that. Sometimes a sweet story told calmly is just that simple.

double feature pairing: Trees Lounge

012
Mean Streets (1973) ★★
stars: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro
director: Martin Scorsese

Charlie is in line for more responsibility within the “organization.” Johnny Boy, his cousin and best friend, is the anchor that could keep him from rising through the ranks. 

I’m guessing in ’73 this was a movie that demanded you remember Martin Scorsese’s name. Had I seen it then I probably would feel differently about it. Now, it’s like watching a first draft of a great filmmaker.

watch Goodfellas instead

013
Spotlight (2015) ★★★.5
stars: Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo
director: Tom McCarthy     

“I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for those meddling reporters!”
- many Catholic priests.

To witness the acting chops of a great cast is the reason to watch this horrific example of institutionalized religion run amok.

double feature pairing: Shattered Glass

014
Ride Along 2 (2016) ★★
stars: Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Oliva Munn
director: Tim Story

guh, the movies I see for friends. It’s like the first one but in Miami, and Olivia Munn is in it. I liked the first one OK. There was nothing funny in this one, except for a line reading or two. Well, the gag with the bulletproof vest was funny when I saw it in the trailer. The way the audience howled at it they must not have seen the trailer. Hard to believe. The other big laugh from the crowd was the ceiling fan gag. Again, in the trailer.

watch Another 48 Hrs. instead

015
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) ★★★★
stars: Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn
director: David Lean

Yes, I’d never seen the story of T. E. Lawrence banding together the Arabic tribes to fight the Turks during WWI. Since I didn’t watch it in the theater, some say I still haven’t. Still, I could appreciate it’s beauty. The mirage at the watering hole is mesmerizing. The attack on Aqaba is breathtaking. We watch from a hill as horses and camels race into the city, filling the streets and pouring onto the shore. If made today, it would have been a computer composition, filling me with nothing more than “that looks OK, I guess.” The Gateway Film Center will be showing this in 70MM later this year. Maybe I will see it after all.

double feature pairing: Sahara Hare

016
Urban Cowboy (1980) ★
stars: John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn
director: James Bridges

Bud moves from the ranch to the big city. He quickly marries Sissy, who he met at the biggest shit-kickin’ bar you’ve ever seen. She has an opinion and wants to ride the mechanical bull too, so he fucks off with another woman, and she shacks up with an ex-con cowboy.

You know Bud is the good guy because when he smacks his woman he doesn’t leave a mark. Bud eventually misses his wife and says his jealous days are over, so he enters the mechanical rodeo to win her back. A movie of its time, for sure.

“Looking for Love” came from this movie's soundtrack. I’ve only known the Buckwheat version, “Wookin‘ Pa Nub.”

watch The Cowboy Way instead

017 -- Sisters (2015) ★★★
stars: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler
director: Jason Moore

Maura and Kate’s parents are selling their childhood home. There’s a house party. 

Funny things happen. Formulaic things happen, too, but it’s funny so who cares. People walked out during the end credit gag reel. Who does that?! People who spit on comedy tradition, that’s who!

double feature pairing: House Party

Counters:
17/366 movies
1/52 movies directed by women

THE TOP THREE

Monte Walsh

Q&A Intro, 1-17, 18-36, 37-51, 52-66, 67-74, 75-87, 88-103, 104-120, 121-131, 132-152, 153-173, 174-187, 188-221, 222-255, 256-287, 288-314, 315-341, 342-366, Index

Buggy Eyes and a Big Butt: A 366 Movies Project

My friend Rob is going to watch 366 movies this leap year. I asked him questions about it. -Colin G.

What inspired you to take on this project?

Listening to the Doug Loves Movies podcast, mostly. Doug Benson took this challenge last year. He made it seem fun. I’d heard of people doing it before for blog content. But one movie a day felt like a chore. However, I watched 157 last year without trying. With a little focus and planning, 366 movies in as many days isn’t out of the question.

What is your strategy? One a day? Weekend marathons?  

It’ll be a mix of both. I decided to do this a week or two ago, so there was some catching up to do. In doing so I learned a valuable lesson: Don’t follow a double feature with a 4-hour movie. The 4-hour movie goes first, then more if I feel like it.

A new rule! Do you have any others?  

When watching at home, the phone and tablet are set out of reach. The point is to watch the movie. Not have it playing in the background. 

Are you counting new movies only or also ones you choose to re-watch?  

Only ones I haven’t seen will count. This is an opportunity to see movies I’ve been meaning to see, “classics” I probably should have seen by now and whatever else crosses my path. I’m looking forward to my Netflix queue getting cut down in a substantial way. Now all the “I’d like to see that” titles will stop collecting dust. 

Is Netflix your main source outside of the movie theater?  

Mostly, yeah. The rental and streaming service. There are a few on my initial list that aren’t available in either form but can be rented from Amazon digitally. The Hulu stream has many movies from the Criterion Collection. Though, being Criterion, I think they prefer I call them “films,” but either way, I got plenty of movin’ pi’tures ta take a gander at. [laughs hysterically]

[stares blankly] Getting back to strategy, is your initial list mapped out to the day?  

No, it’s whatever I feel like at that moment. I think forcing a schedule would take the fun out of it. If I don’t get to a title after this, chances are I wasn’t too keen to watch it in the first place.

Are you planning any themes, spotlight a particular director or performer? 

A few days ago I came across a pledge to watch 52 movies made by women. I’ve got room for that and more. There are four lists of great suggestions at womeninfilm.org. Beyond that, nothing officially planned.

Finally, we’re almost through January. How are you doing?  

I’m on pace. Might even be a movie ahead. 

What has been you favorite so far? 

Monte Walsh. Lee Marvin and Jack Palance are cowboys at a crossroad. The Old West is becoming The Settled West. They have to decide to settle with it or contiune with the only life they’ve known. It’d make a great double feature with Unforgiven. 

Sounds good. Will you keep us updated on your progress?

Yeah, I'll check in every couple weeks or so.

Cool.

Q&A Intro, 1-17, 18-36, 37-51, 52-66, 67-74, 75-87, 88-103, 104-120, 121-131, 132-152, 153-173, 174-187, 188-221, 222-255, 256-287, 288-314, 315-341, 342-366, Index

Hang On Sloopy: The Movie - An Interview with Producer Dave Whinham.

Remember how disappointed you were when Coupon: The Movie finally hit theaters? I knew I was. The actual coupon was so great but the movie never had the same spirit. In fact, it was one of the biggest failures in cinema history. (Click here to learn more)

I'm happy to report that Hang On Sloopy: The Movie has no such problem. Against all odds, it's a highly entertaining ride well worth the attention of both Bucknutz and just fans of a good documentary. I highly encourage you to give it a look. Sloopy Producer Dave Whinham was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about how he pulled it off. (trailer below)

- It's such a crazy idea for a movie yet somehow you totally make it work. And not just for Buckeye fans, it works on many levels. Was there a single moment of inspiration when you remember thinking, "I am going to make this movie."

YES. LIKE YOU, (AND EVERYONE) I QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WAS ENOUGH OF A STORY THERE TO DO A DOCUMENTARY. A BRIEF PIECE SURE, BUT A MOVIE? WELL, THERE CAME A POINT IN OUR RESEARCH WHERE IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT EVERYWHERE SLOOPY WENT, SHE MADE FRIENDS AND FANS. THE SONG HAS BEEN A HIT AROUND THE WORLD IN A WIDE VARIETY OF GENRES. IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHNG MAGICAL ABOUT WHAT THIS SONG HAS DONE AND CAN DO. THEN I HAD TO DO IT.

- When you first told people about Sloopy: The Movie, did everybody think you were nuts?

YES. BUT I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO NOT TO SHARE MY DREAMS WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE, SO MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE CLOSE TO ME, AND ALREADY KNEW I WAS NUTS.

- Was there a moment during shooting when you knew you had "the moment" and that this was going to be a worthwhile film? 

I THINK WHEN OUR CO-PRODUCER/DIRECTOR BRIAN GRADY WAS SETTING UP THE STADIUM SHOTS WITH THE CREW FOR OUR SLOOPY PRODUCTION FOR GAMEDAY AT OHIO STADIUM WITH THE MIGHTY OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND. AT FIRST, IT WAS KIND OF A FIRE DRILL, DURING THOSE REHEARSALS LEADING UP TO GAMEDAY, BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE PRETTY COOL.

- Is there a scene or two that you enjoy re-watching the most ?

I REALLY LIKE THE STUFF ABOUT THE RECORD INDUSTRY/MUSIC SCENE IN NEW YORK IN THE 60's...THE BRITISH INVASION WAS COMING AND THE OLD GUARD WAS TRYING ALL SORTS OF CRAZY THINGS TO COMBAT IT. I ALSO LIKE TO WATCH THE THE EPILOGUE.

- Was there anything that surprised you most digging deep into the history of this song?  

YOU KNOW THE WAY IT HAS ENGRAINED ITSELF INTO OUR CULTURE HERE IN OHIO IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, "HANG ON SLOOPY" WAS JUST ANOTHER POP SONG FROM AN ERA THAT PRODUCED THOUSANDS OF THEM. YET SOMEHOW THIS SONG ABOUT A GIRL FROM A VERY BAD PART OF SOME TOWN, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY PARTICULAR PLACE, HAS BECOME TO OHIO WHAT "SWEET HOME ALABAMA" IS TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA. AS WE LOOKIED INTO IT, WE REALIZEDTHAT IN SOME WAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN GERMANY, HONG KONG AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. LIKE I SAID, THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT SLOOPY.

- Tell us Buckeye fans the best way to pick up a copy before Christmas?

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GREAT PLACES ALL AROUND CENTRAL OHIO: WORLD OF BEER, MIKEY'S LATE NIGHT SLICE, COLLEGE TRADITIONS, SPOONFUL RECORDS, LOST WEEKEND RECORDS. YOU CAN CHECK OUT WWW.HANGONSLOOPYTHEMOVIE.COM TO SEE ALL OF THE RETAILERS OR TO ORDER ONLINE.

And I've course I will have some copies available at Colin's Coffee too. - Colin G.

Click here to learn more and how to purchase Hang On Sloopy: The Movie

Director Wes Orshoski Talks to Brian Phillips about The Damned and Lemmy

Tomorrow night - Wednesday, August 19th - for the Reelin' and Rockin' film series at the Gateway Film Center we're screening Wes Orshoski's new work "The Damned: Don't You Wish We Were Dead." The "Lemmy" director shot me a call recently to chat about the film. In making the movie Wes unearthed some cool stuff I did not know, most notably how close The Damned came to being produced by noted recluse Syd Barrett. 

The reviews have been across the board excellent. Listen to the interview over on CD1025.com (or just click below) and then join us for the screening! Happy hour at 7pm in the Torpedo Room. Movie begins at 8. $5 admission, proceeds to CD1025 for The Kids.

Colin here, full disclosure: Wes is a longtime friend of Watershed, going back to the almost underage beer-drinking days at Frankie's in Toledo. He was hanging around rock clubs with a camera back when you had to use this thing called "film." I can personally vouch for his rock n roll bona fides. Nobody is more legit and it's no surprise critics the world over now rave about his movies. I'm a fan. Brian is a fan. Bono is a fan. Lemmy is a fan. And if you aren't already, you are going to be a fan of Wes Orshoski. Dig it.

Click here to listen to Brian interview Wes about his acclaimed rock n roll movie filmography. 

Hard Core Devo Live @ the Gateway Theater Reelin' & Rockin' Movie Series This Wednesday - by Ricki C.

I never really had a lot of fan involvement with Devo.  One Friday night in 1976 a couple of my reprobate Service Merchandise buddies & I made a road trip to Akron to catch ‘em at a bar after I read a feature about them in New York Rocker (my rock & roll Bible after the sad, slow demise into irrelevancy that Creem magazine began in 1975 or so).

The Mothersbaugh & Casale brothers were all right that night, but included a synthesizer in the set, and I think our final conclusion was: “They’re kinda art-y.”  “Kinda art-y” was a kiss of death pronouncement in our West Side rocker eyes.  We were guitars ‘n’ drum boys.  

I will say this, though: in our current era of mega-bands like The Who and The Rolling Stones criss-crossing America playing their Greatest Hits to the classic-rock throngs in gynormous arenas & stadiums, I have to admire Devo for making a film of themselves playing their LEAST POPULAR SONGS from 40 years ago.  It's a pretty interesting and impressive concept.  (Although it is still "kinda art-y.")  

You can learn everything you have ever wanted to know about early Devo – before they became, in Colin’s words “just another pop band on MTV playing ‘Workin’ In A Coal Mine’ and wearing red flowerpots on their heads” – at this month’s Reelin’ & Rockin’ at the Gateway presentation of Hard Core Devo Live, this Wednesday, June 17: happy hour at 7 pm, movie to follow at 8 pm.  Be there or be a mongoloid.  (That is a Devo reference, do not send us PC letters at Pencilstorm.) – Ricki C. / June 13th, 2015

It's not gonna come as a surprise to anybody who reads Pencilstorm that Ricki C. is a grouchy, 62-year old who hates synthesizers (and art) with a passion.  That does not mean this Devo movie isn't great.  Give it a chance. - Colin G.

Available at http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD6523D Devo, captured live in Oakland, performing early experimental tracks written between 1974 and 1977, prior to any label deal or public success. No matter how messy, beginnings are exciting. Especially when what happens next endures the test of time. For Devo, the beginning happened in the basements and garages of Akron, Ohio.

Reelin' and Rockin' @ the Gateway: "Revenge Of The Mekons" by Ricki C.

The Mekons have been around since 1977, and yet I don’t really know that much about them: which is why I’m really happy that Colin and Brian Phillips are bringing the documentary feature “Revenge of The Mekons” to the Gateway Film Center this Wednesday, April 15th at 8 pm as this month’s Reelin’ and Rockin’ @ the Gateway presentation.  

I do know this much about The Mekons:

1) Their 1989 album “The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll” is one of the most fiercely intelligent punk-rock records of all time.  For those of you scoring at home, the Ricki C. acid test for whether something is genuine punk-rock is if it makes me wanna break stuff when I listen to it real loud, and – by those standards – “The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll” is right up there with The Clash’s first record Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ “This Year’s Model.”  (Also, I find it cool and appropriate that The Mekons fall right beside The MC5 in my vinyl collection, speaking of fiercely intelligent rock & roll.)  

2) I saw The Mekons live at Stache's in 1989 when they were touring that record, and talk about packing A LOT of magic into a really small space: Langford, Timms, Greenhalgh & company blistered the paint off Dan Dougan's walls.    

3) I know that The Mekons’ “Ghosts Of American Astronauts” (see video below) showcases one of the most subversive lyrics and simultaneously one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in all of rock & roll; from a punk band.  Go see the movie.  Make a new friend, love an old band.  – Ricki C. / April 11th, 2015   

Reelin and Rockin' @ the Gateway admission is $5 (CHEAP!) and  benefits CD102.5 For The Kids children's charity; happy hour begins at 7 pm in the Torpedo Room bar, "Revenge of The Mekons" follows at 8 pm.

Mekons video

The Mekons Album: The Mekons Rock 'N' Roll Song: Club Mekon When I was just seventeen Sex no longer held a mystery I saw it as a commodity To be bought and sold like rock and roll Day by day I plunged deeper Into a world of cheap sensation This

Mekons video