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Post by BustedAce on Dec 22, 2010 15:54:37 GMT -5
This idea came to me today as I was listening to your episode on psychological horror films, but why this topic has anything to do with that one, I have no idea, anyway here goes (and apologies if you've already discussed this and I just haven't listened to it yet).
How about discussing films that depict a future whose date has already passed, and/or how accurately the future has been depicted on film throughout the years? For example, 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact, as well as films like 1984, Predator 2, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes all occur in years that have already passed. Other films like the original Rollerball, Blade Runner, Akira and Soylent Green are set in years that aren't that far off (set in 2018, 2019, 2019 and 2022, respectively). Just thought it might be interesting to discuss how our visions of the future as depicted on film change with the times and how accurate they turn out to be or not be.
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Post by maarow on Dec 23, 2010 14:52:38 GMT -5
How about a discussion of the role of therapists/psychiatrists in film? I just saw Good Will Hunting for the first time and it seemed to encompass the two major stereotypes: the pompous, anal-retentive, inflexible, self-important charlatans that directors use to mock therapy as a whole, and the compassionate, tortured, brilliant savior with a driving psychological need to "rescue" the main character. Then there's something like In Treatment, which still feels rather "written" at times but eschews major breakthroughs and "Eureka!" revelations for a slow and unsteady transformation that may or may not always be an improvement.
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Post by Seth H. on Dec 28, 2010 10:45:35 GMT -5
More topic suggestions from me, Dr. Suggesto:
- Falling from Grace: Good Guys who turn Bad - Seeking Redemption: Bad Guys who turn Good - The "New Hollywood" era - Movies that are deliberately anachronistic - Magic realism - The role of the producer (Challenge!) - Listener-voted Top 100 Directors (or just Top 50) - Retellings of old stories (e.g. A Serious Man/The Book of Job) - Actors and filmmakers who reinvented themselves - Reboots: Yay or Nay? - Movies that were better than they should have been - Movies that didn't live up to their potential
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Post by maarow on Jan 7, 2011 0:39:15 GMT -5
Hey, I had another idea: movies that depict the afterlife.
Within the past few weeks I've seen Cocteau's Orpheus and the Powell/Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death and it occurred to me how often the afterlife is represented as an impenetrable bureaucracy, government, or corporation. Lubitsch's Heaven Can Wait also touches on this in its portrait of Hell, and how often have we seen the Devil as a businessman?
Broadly speaking, there always seems to be a very rigid and often esoteric set of rules (as in Beetlejuice, where a running joke is that the Handbook for the Recently Deceased reads like "stereo instructions"), which occasionally exist to mask the fact that the powers running the afterlife are as incompetent and clueless as the authority figures on Earth. It is not uncommon for the dead character to realize that the beings in charge of the afterlife are not as powerful or infallible as one would assume, and subsequently use this realization to triumph over (or at least compromise with) said beings and gain a hard-fought victory (the trial in Life and Death, Lionel Barrymore outsmarting Death in On Borrowed Time). The message is usually a hopeful one, not only in that there is life after death but that it can be shaped and molded by an exceptional cunning or will.
Orpheus, by the way, is probably one of the bleakest and most depressing movies I've ever seen.
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Post by rezuktor on Jan 7, 2011 23:09:20 GMT -5
Films with very annoying characters. eg. Russell Brand's character in Get him to the Greek.
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Post by Seth H. on Jan 11, 2011 16:28:07 GMT -5
- A BP Supplement about all things The West Wing.
I, too, am currently watching through the series for the first time.
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Post by cucumberboy on Jan 12, 2011 18:56:00 GMT -5
Films with very annoying characters. eg. Russell Brand's character in Get him to the Greek. Yeah protagonists that are hard to empathaize with? How about unreliable narrators? EDIT:sent you a PM a while ago, Tyler. Check your inbox?
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Post by johnnyunusual on Jan 14, 2011 23:50:58 GMT -5
I know you've done an episode about movies based on TV, but how about an episode about the relationship between TV and movies (or at least, the theatre-going experience). After all, the emergence of television has created changes in film (Cinemascope, various fads, like 3D) and there seems to be relationship of both competition, but also sometimes using each other. I'm sure it would be a great topic the next time Paul wants to come on the show, since it would both be about TV and film history. EDIT: Oops, didn't notice that episode 199 is quite similar, though I think it could be a good topic somewhere down the line.
I think an episode about anthology films might also be really interesting. It doesn't have to be a film that's a series of sketches (that could also be it's own topic), but I do like anthology films (though it was hit and miss, I really enjoy Paris, J'Taime, especially the last bit) and I think the idea of discussing films that are composed of short films has it's potential.
And lastly, I thought of the topic of "What Could Have Been." I don't mean films about that (although that would also be a good topic) but in the sense of... well, for example the fact that Christopher Walken auditioned for Han Solo. Or the many films that were planned but never made. What if some of the great directors of the 50's hadn't been blacklisted. I know that sometimes we can't know what would have happened, but it can be fun to speculate. It can make for a different kind of episode and who doesn't like to play the "what if" game?
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Post by maarow on Jan 24, 2011 1:38:36 GMT -5
How about an episode on underappreciated actors? I watched part of Syfy's Twilight Zone marathon on New Year's and it struck me that Burgess Meredith, frequent TZ star, is really a great actor, always charismatic and watchable, but he never seems to get his due. Always Solid, Never Lauded could be a subtitle for this ep... ;D
Or maybe an episode on why some actors are remembered as complete powerhouses (Brando, De Niro, and Pacino are probably the Holy Trio), and why they are regarded as almost mythical in their talents, and what separates them from merely "great" actors. I know you've dedicated episodes to what makes acting great and who your favorite actors and actresses are, but I feel there's more to be explored in that category.
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Post by johnnyunusual on Jan 24, 2011 14:09:23 GMT -5
I always thought he was rather respected. He was in a lot of crap though (then again, Pacino has to answer for 88 Minutes. Wow, that was bad).
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Post by deadpool on Jan 31, 2011 19:21:30 GMT -5
I think there are lots of ideas you guys could do.
-Evolution of the razzies. It seems like they are done by annoyed 17 year old guys who are like "who do we hate?" Jonas brothers got worst actors in 2009 for their concert film. Thats not acting thats them being them. I'm not a fan of them but thats kind of stupid. Also revenge of the fallen getting all those awards it wasn't that bad.
-Evolution of comic book/video game adaptions. Back in the old days adatptation movies were extremely campy and cheesy ie batman, captian america, the punisher, masters of the universe. Now they are darker and more serious.
-Movies needing to have emotional cores. Why must every movie have a message. Why not just an entertaining film. What do they learn in the hangover? Nothing really but it is a good movie.
-A becomeing a screenwriter in todays movie industry.
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Post by jakehowell on Jan 31, 2011 22:32:07 GMT -5
How about movies about repression?
@jakeinside
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vulpix
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by vulpix on Feb 2, 2011 15:58:15 GMT -5
1. Why go to the movies? It's a basic question, but I think it's one well worth exploring in an episode. When it's not just entertainment you're looking for, exactly what else do you hope to get out of your movie watching experience?
2. Film analysis and interpretation. After you've watched a particularly enigmatic or thought-provoking film, is it worth the time to try to decipher the meaning behind it? What are some examples of movies that you most enjoyed dissecting?
3. Deciding which movies to see. In an earlier episode, David complained about people choosing to see popular movies just because they're popular. For him, popularity isn't the issue, but exactly what criteria is used when deciding which movie to see? Moreover, what criteria should we use?
4. Book-to-film adaptations. The phrase "the book was better" is often invoked when it comes to opining on book-to-film adaptations, but there are some instances where the movie version actually works out better. In those instances, what works?
5. TV movies and miniseries. Which of these did you enjoy most and why? How do they differ from theatrical films?
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Post by deadpool on Feb 4, 2011 12:29:58 GMT -5
How about an episode where you talk about what makes a good actor. Is it range? Is it the ability to suck you into the story. And what about very famous actors who are instantly recconisible in movies how do they deal with their own fame?
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Post by johnnyunusual on Apr 7, 2011 14:14:56 GMT -5
Some other topic suggestions I have:
Movies about survival, and what it takes. Thematically, they are interesting because they can be very optimistic, but they can also show the ugly things that people will do to stay alive.
The idea of the line between what's in the mainstream and what isn't? People talk about the mainstream, but I think what is considered the mainstream can sometimes be blurry. After all, I think that a lot of so called "indie" films are really in the mainstream, as much as any other film. And styles that aren't necessarily considered mainstream can succeed there, if you look at things like "Twin Peaks" and "The Simpsons" (which is considered very mainstream now, but before it's style became the norm it felt like animation you might have seen at one of those Mike & Spike Animation Festivals (I think that's what they're called).
And also, I'm a big fan of MST3k and I think an episode about riffing (making jokes during a movie) would be cool. Both Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic are doing quite well and it's not just limited to MST3k alumni. When does it work and when doesn't it? I think it could be good, though maybe one of the more laid back discussions. Or maybe you can get MST3k alums on (a return for Frank Conniff to discuss his craft).
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Post by Seth H. on Apr 15, 2011 12:17:14 GMT -5
I second Johnny's "survival movies" suggestion. I love a good survival story.
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Post by Seth H. on Apr 15, 2011 12:19:28 GMT -5
Also, and this comes up on the show once in a while, how about revisiting some of the topics from episodes that are no longer available? After all, many of your fans (myself included) have not heard these discussions.
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Post by Seth H. on May 16, 2011 22:46:04 GMT -5
I noticed you've never profiled an editor. Seems like it's overdue.
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Post by Seth H. on May 18, 2011 9:44:03 GMT -5
In one episode you mused about an episode on movie titles. Think it over.
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Post by Seth H. on May 23, 2011 9:41:04 GMT -5
How have you gone 4+ years without profiling an editor?
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