Month: October 2017

State of the Race: The Gotham Independent Film Nominations

http://filmmakermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Gothams.jpg
(image: Filmmaker Magazine)

As we all know, Oscar season is a year-round affair. The first domino dropped on October 19th, with the first film award nominations coming – these were for the Gotham Independent Film Awards. These are given annually from the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) “the largest membership organization in the United States dedicated to independent film” and the awards were founded in 1991.

A group of people decide on the nominations and awards, limiting the scope to films that could be considered independent – so big budget movies and big studio ones are ineligible. So we wouldn’t expect to see Dunkirk or Wonder Woman here. But independent film has dominated the Oscars for the last 20 years anyway – the last four years have been indie winners for Best Picture, for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Birdman (2014), Spotlight (2015) and Moonlight (2016) – all of which were nominated for Best Feature in the Gothams.

Let’s show the actual nominees first and then see what it means:

Continue reading “State of the Race: The Gotham Independent Film Nominations”

Talkie Talk # 54: Horror Genre Talk

Talkie Talk
Talkie Talk
Talkie Talk # 54: Horror Genre Talk
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HORROR! In October, we get horror-crazy in our watching habits, so we’re breaking down the Horror Genre – the sub-categories, what works and doesn’t, and everything. We end up figuring everything out. Or do we? … This podcast is coming from… INSIDE THE HOUSE!

> Direct podcast RSS feed: here! 
> Contact: email, Facebook (movies, TV, games), and Twitter!
> Check out The Media By Us Facebook Page too!
> Review us on iTunes, Google Play, or anywhere!

Main Topic: Horror Genre Talk (1:43)
What makes a horror movie?
How do you break down horror sub-genres?
Do horror movies need a supernatural element?
The use of jump scares in horror
Personal favorite horror movies
Horror versus Thriller (Silence of the Lambs)

Warning: Some mild language. Some language is picante.

> Intro theme courtesy of The Willow Walkers
> Outro song “Extemporaneous  Birth” courtesy of Boo Reefa

Talkie Talk # 53: The Watchlist / Survivor / A Ghost Story / News – 10/18

Talkie Talk
Talkie Talk
Talkie Talk # 53: The Watchlist / Survivor / A Ghost Story / News - 10/18
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We talk about our Watchlists, spend some time on the divisive A Ghost Story (featuring Casey Affleck wearing a sheet), Survivor talk about Episode 3 , and a little bit of Breezy on the Streets (week’s news in film, TV and games).

> Direct podcast RSS feed: here! 
> Contact: email, Facebook (movies, TV, games), and Twitter!
> Check out The Media By Us Facebook Page too!
> Review us on iTunes, Google Play, or anywhere!

The Watchlist (1:47):
Brent: Colossal (1:47), American Made (3:10), George Harrison: Living in the Material World (4:45), American Gods, Season 1 (6:38), American Vandal, S1 (10:20), Survivor “My Kisses Are Very Private” (12:53)
Chris: Cuphead (18:10), Blade Runner 2049 (21:28), A Ghost Story (25:52), #REALITYHIGH (36:25), Lady GaGa: Five Foot Two (38:09), Rock Dog (40:04), The Last Word (42:35), The Ticket (43:21)
TJ: Spielberg (44:23), Song to Song (46:01)
Breezy on the Streets (50:51):
51:10 – New Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer
54:46 – Microtransaction controversies in monetizing games
58:29 – Best Bet this Weekend: The Snowman?

Warning: Some mild language. Some language is picante.

> Intro theme courtesy of The Willow Walkers
> Outro song “Extemporaneous  Birth” courtesy of Boo Reefa 

Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)

Now Streaming on Netflix
Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson

Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (yes that’s the full title) is the next high profile original movie from Netflix, after the Bong Joon Ho helmed Okja. It’s almost fitting that this is coming out in horror friendly October – but instead of jump scares, we have the jump cringes of Baumbach comedies. It’s a horror show, how self involved and petty these people are, and the suffering that they endure. But it’s also pretty good and pretty funny.

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Colossal (2017)

Now streaming on Hulu
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis

Gloria (Anne Hathaway) gets dumped and evicted by her boyfriend (Dan Stevens) after too many alcohol-fueled all-nighters, so she returns to her childhood home and reconnects with her old friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis). Sounds pretty simple, right? Also, there’s a kaiju attack on South Korea that she finds out she is unwillingly controlling. Yep.

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American Gods – Season 1

Network: Starz
Showrunners: Bryan Fuller & Michael Green
Main Cast: Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Crispin Glover, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Pablo Schreiber, Ian McShane

Continue reading “American Gods – Season 1”