Movie Night with Andrew and Megan

Today Megan and I start the first volume of a (probably recurring) series where we discuss various films over the years that we think have been overlooked.

Today we count down our top 5 favorite films directed by Steven Spielberg.

Andrew is joined by special guest Megan Dupuis as they discuss their favorite movie couples.

This is the longest "Movie Night" episode so far! This started off as a Top 5, quickly became a Top 10, and then basically became a Top 15 (I had a 3-way tie for number 1). So I hope it's somewhat interesting for you guys Enjoy!

This film honestly affected my life in a big way... tune in to find out how
(Yes, this movie is still in theaters - this is my first "in-theater" commentary. You can listen to it in the theater on your iPod, or just listen to it as a stand-alone piece without the film, if you'd like. There's a 12-minute intro, and then I begin the countdown...)

It's one of the best movies from last year. But the version that's available for you to watch is inferior to the one that I first saw...
This commentary is mostly about the many changes made to the film (over 40) after it was purchased by Universal Pictures at Sundance. I think it's sort of interesting: it's basically a case study in what even simple editing changes can do to a film. Enjoy!

NOTE: Once again, this movie is rated PG-13, but because I talk a lot about the many language cuts made to avoid an R rating, the commentary should probably be considered R-rated itself.

Well, I knew I'd do it eventually... My favorite movie from last year gets a commentary from me. It's really more of an "audio essay" track than a scene-specific commentary, including some thoughts on why - for the generation in question (mine) - something like Facebook was only a matter of time. Enjoy!

NOTE: The film is rated PG-13, but this commentary would definitely get an R rating for language, so just a heads-up

AND ALSO: Since I reference it several times throughout the commentary, here's a link to the trailer for the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4

Guess what? I can read your mind right now. You're wondering, why would I do a commentary for a movie that's considered to be one of the worst movies ever? Well, I explain it all in the 10-minute intro, and you might be surprised...
(NOTE: The commentary is obviously very explicit and vulgar, since the movie is as well - so if you're easily offended, I'd stay away...)

Enjoy! Well, the commentary at least

Honestly, I think this is the best commentary I've done so far, and maybe the best I'll ever do: It's short, concise, and... personal?
Yes, that's right - in addition to the normal movie stuff, I talk about how I have some personal experience with the character's affliction in the movie, and because of that, I point out many moments that are very accurately portrayed in the film. So, enjoy!
(Note: The intro is only 7 minutes this time, guys! Not bad, eh?)

P.S. - I accidentally unplugged my mic at around the 50 minute mark, so the sound kind of changes at that point; you might have to turn your volume up a bit when that happens.

Here's the movie's trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u7aUbRyMX0

It's time to party! Well, maybe not, but it's a late-night impromptu commentary about a movie with partying kids. Close enough, right?

This is the first sort of "critical" commentary I've done, where I walk through a movie pointing out both positive and negative aspects of it, at least as I see it. I think this movie has a lot of great qualities and moments that are overshadowed by some of the lesser parts of the film, and that's basically what this commentary consists of. (And it's actually way more lively than it sounds - this is a pretty fun movie). Enjoy!

What do you get when you combine the following: An epic toothache, pain meds, and a commentary? The answer: This.

(NOTE: from the 52:32 mark until 1:31:20 - and again from 2:00:00 to 2:15:50 - I talk almost entirely about shooting on video in general, the cameras used for this film, and some REALLY technical (and potentially boring) mumbo-jumbo. Just a fair warning...)

Pull out your copy of Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark" and listen along with me as I go, well... all over the place. I start talking about the film more screen-specifically in the beginning, and then less and less so as the film goes on. By the time we hit the 52-minute mark, I'm talking about the director's other films, film and video stocks, and so on. I get back on track with about 45 minutes left in the film, but most of this commentary is 100% pure film geek stuff.

Grab your copy of "Lars and the Real Girl" (2007, starring Ryan Gosling) and listen along with Andrew as he does another film commentary.
...Here's a little secret: he actually thinks it turned out really well

Enjoy!

Today we talk about some films that we think qualify as being "experimental" in one way or another.

"Fight For Your Right Revisited" on Hulu:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/234862/beastie-boys-fight-for-your-right-revisited

And on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4280917273

Today we talk about some of our favorite foreign language films.

AND: Here's a link to the short film that we discuss at the end of the show:
http://www.archive.org/details/TheAndalusianDog

We talk about movies we've seen recently.
Movies discussed include:

Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai, Husbands and Wives (briefly), Paul, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (briefly), Alpha Dog, Last Days, Buried, American Teen, The Beautiful Ordinary (A.K.A. Remember the Daze)

AND ALSO: Here's the clip of the "American Teen" deleted scene mentioned in the episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Ub5O9kbwc

AND MORE STILL: The clip of "Last Days" mentioned in the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rShdRx2zhRs

Today we talk about some of our favorite films in the crime genre.
(Note: There are some audio problems about half way through - don't worry though, it gets better!)

You voted for it, and here it is: Today we count down our Top 5 Horror Films.

(Edit: As I post this, I realize I neglected to mention The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the show... and so, I just did.)

Grab your copy of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" and watch it along with Andrew as he openly professes his love for his favorite movie via a feature-length commentary track.

After a ten-minute introduction (where, among other things, he explains how to sync up the movie to the commentary), Andrew dives head-first into this extra-long episode, talking almost non-stop for the entire 3-hour (yes, 3-hour!) running time. He somehow finds even more to say after the movie, as well.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Stay tuned for the end of this episode, where we'll tell you how YOU can vote on what our next Top 5 will be!

(Edit: We've made it a little simpler to vote...
Just go here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Movie-Night-with-Jim-Andrew/136683446394128?v=wall
and vote on the Facebook poll... Oh, and the deadline has also been extended to Feb. 2nd by Midnight. Have fun!)

This is a little sub-section of Movie Night where we forgo the usual Top 5 and ramble on about, well, random movies.

First, Jim gives a plug for his band, The Birdseyes (http://www.reverbnation.com/thebirdseyes). Then, we get into our movie talk...

Movies discussed in this episode: Black Swan, Leonard Cohen - Live at the Isle of Wight, The Kid and I, Somewhere, Hot Tub Time Machine, Paper Heart, Youth in Revolt, Battle Royale, The Fighter, The Social Network

(On the next "Random Movie Chat" - Cyrus, You Don't Know Jack, Life During Wartime)

And now, the conclusion to our last episode, where we count down our own choices for the Top 5 directors who also write their own scripts.

There's a LOT of them out there, but this week, we count down our own choices for the Top 5 directors who also write their own scripts.

This is a little sub-section of Movie Night where we forgo the usual Top 5 and ramble on about, well, random movies. It's a shorter, off-the-cuff sort of episode that I think we'll start doing once in a while.

Movies discussed in this episode: Black Swan, I Love You Phillip Morris, The Kid and I, Once, Alan Parker's (selected) filmography, The Town, Somewhere

It's time to get angry! Today, we talk about some of the Academy's worst choices of all time.

WE'RE BACK! This week, we discuss some movies that we feel are truly underrated. (Also, this episode features our first movie clip! Wait for Andrew's #1 pick to hear it).

First, a quick discussion of the films "Moon" and "I'm Still Here". Then we get into this week's Top 5 - our favorite movies that started out on the stage and were adapted to film.

Today we count down our Top 5 favorite holiday films.

This week we talk about the best films from first-time directors.

Today we count down our Top 5 favorite Woody Allen films.
(Note: We purposely left Annie Hall and Manhattan off of our lists, because those are usually considered his two greatest films, and we wanted to talk about some other, less-discussed Woody films.)

This week we discuss our favorite music documentaries and concert films.

Today we talk about some of the best film performances by young actors and actresses.

Today we talk about some movies that really let us down.

Bonus episode! I couldn't leave it alone... I had to give some final thoughts on this category. As the title suggests, it's just Andrew in this episode - it was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, so hopefully it's not too boring with only me in this episode.
Enjoy more of my ramblings about High School movies... I talk about a few new ones, and expand a little bit on a few picks from the last episode.
Jim will be back next time, but in the meantime, enjoy this extra-special bonus podcast!

Today we discuss our favorite movies about high school and teenage life.

Today we count down the Top 5 movies about filmmaking.

Today we talk about the Top 5 films based on true events.