Something's Gotta Give

So, as most of you know, I drink too much.  And most of the time that drinking takes place in my living room, in my computer chair, in front of the television.  So I got to thinking the other day that maybe I need to get rid of my television and my cable and that led me to this list.  Television shows that I am currently watching or waiting to start the next season.  This is ridiculous.

• Veep
• Game of Thrones
• The Newsroom
• True Blood
• Episodes
• Dexter
• Homeland
• Perception
• The Mentalist
• New Adventures of Old Christine (all repeats - thanks Julie)
• Raising Hope (thanks Blaine)
• Happy Endings (thanks gang)
• Suits
• Burn Notice
• White Collar
• In Plain Sight
• The Daily Show
• Colbert Report
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Community
• 30 Rock
• Parks and Rec
• The Office
• Fringe
• Tosh .0
• Justified
• Leverage
• Damages
• Prime Suspect (assuming it's coming back)
• Castle
• House of Lies
• Touch
• Mad Men
• Franklin & Bash
• Louie
• Luther
• Masterpiece Mystery (Sherlock)
• Psych
• The League
• Family Guy
• Workaholics
• Misfits (hulu)
• Whites (hulu)
• Spy (hulu)
• Buffy (through netflix -- on season 3 of 9)

What do you think?  Am I spending too much time watching television?

5 Favorite Films of Really Interesting Me

 The first two will ALWAYS be my first two but the other three are on a constant rotation.  This just happens to be how I feel right now and for some reason, they're all classics.  Sorry.

1. The General (1927) - Truly a masterpiece.  Long before special effects and fancy things like sound, Buster Keaton paved the way for generations to come with a comedy that's also a love story and an action film.  His stunts are breathtaking and all the more powerful when you realize that's actually him on a moving train.

2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - I have long contested that should aliens visit our planet, this would the be the one movie I would show them to represent mankind.  It's about family, love, heartbreak, greed, corruption and ultimately, redemption.  While maybe not my favorite movie ever made, I do believe it's the best movie ever made (and that's a whole other list).

3. 12 Angry Men (1957) - Anyone who liked the movie Crash should re-watch this movie (or In the Heat of the Night) as an example of how to make a movie about prejudice without hitting you over the head with it.  But story aside, watching the actors go toe-to-toe for an hour and a half is the real beauty of this film.  One of the best casting in a film ever (again, another list).

4. Casablanca (1942) - The best screenplay ever written.  Period.

5. Rope (1948) - I owe most of my cinematic love to P. Jenks but this will forever be the best gift he ever gave me.  I'm not gonna lie, Rear Window and Vertigo are tied for my top 3 favorite Hitchock films and since the previous two have already been used, and since I do not like to repeat, I went with this one.  But that shouldn't lessen the value of this brilliant film.  Shot as 'one take', Al Hitch made the tension so palpable you almost find yourself yelling at the screen.  In fact, I'm going to watch this today.

5 favorite films of a different me

or, Favorite 5 (plus-3) because I just can't do it, but I can be clever about it. 
Warning: the word masterpiece (and other similarly silly words) is gonna be overused, appropriately

So this one is obvious. I quote it every day. That poster is my favorite tangible item in my possesion, now or ever. No movie has entertained me more. I might remember movies where I have laughed harder or louder (different list idea), but I don't know of any that have made me laugh longer. I love movies (and I love screwball comedies), but man I wish I loved them as much as Peter Bogdanovich. And if any movie deserves to be on this list, it's the one that introduced Madeline Kahn to the world.

Peter Bogdanovich made this the year before he made What's Up Doc?, and it couldn't be more different. It's also a masterpiece, but it is one of heartbreak and nostalgia and hope and all the things that make my heart hurt and then swell. Peter Bogdanovich made Paper Moon two years later, and you can't find a better 1-2-3 by any director.

Like The Last Picture Show, this movie stirs me in a way not many others can or will, but it is also a comic masterpiece. I doubt Austen will make a list so I will steal his often-stated opinion that this movie boasts the best ending in film history. I get tears in my eyes, and smile involuntarily, just thinking about it.

It's hard to pin down the best Hitchcock film because, again, masterpieces, but for purposes of "favorites" I've always picked Rear Window. Notorious is a close second in this race, but something about Rear Window has always won out. That something might be Thelma Ritter.

I don't know if I've ever been more captivated by a movie. I picture myself from the first minute sitting in front of the screen slack-jawed, waiting and knowing something beautiful was going to happen. Robert Mitchum is beauty enough (good grief, those eyes) but Lillian Gish singing harmony on "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"? Holy shit. Everything about this movie gives me goose bumps all over. 

Plus-3:  One Repeat and Two Non-English Films

What DJ said.

Some words already used: Masterpiece. Captivated. Goose bumps. Tears. Beauty. Best love story ever.

This film is as rich as any novel, and of all the movies I have ever seen, none has made me happier to be human.

5 Favorite Films of Interesting Me

Inspired by Buzzfeed and dubbed interesting by P. Jenkins, here's a list of my 5 Favirote Films. Or, here's my favorite movie, plus 4 (in no particular order) that are always in my top 10, but today I felt like were in my top 5. 

1. Network (1976)
It’s forward-thinking and even more relevant 30+ years later, duh. BUT, even if it were totally dated, the writing is so smart and the actors are sooo good (maybe the best ensemble performance ever) that its longevity doesn’t matter. Best movie ever.

2.-5. Vertigo (1958)
Besides the intense and unexpected plot, the imagery (e.g., back alley/flower shop scene) is incredible. Also, the music is perfect.

2.-5. Chinatown (1974)
I love it for the same exact reasons I love Vertigo above. Makes me want a time machine to go back to 1930’s Los Angeles.

2.-5. Quiz Show (1994)
Combines all of my favorite things - television, history, trivia, politics – into a great story with some great dialogue and delivery (“Your name is mine!”).

2.-5. The Truman Show (1998)
A great idea for a movie (pre-reality TV, too) that could have been just tarrible, but instead it’s believable, hilarious and actually moving. Also, you wouldnt believe how many times a week I seriously ask myself, "Is this all being filmed?"

*Bonus – LOTR Trilogy
Any list of my favorite movies has to include them because not only did I watch them, but I eventually obsessed over a fantasy adventure. No fantasy movie before that or any since has been able to do that.

Notes on Krull

See the Troll 2 list for backstory. I asked Jon to watch Krull. I watched it too, and took notes.

Tidbit: I first saw Krull in the theater because my aunt wanted to see War Games but I was too scared of Russians and WWIII so I refused and made her watch this piece of shit.


Music trumpet voluntarys
Flying star
Stanford Sherman
Peter Yates!
Ate these knights saying all these things? 
Editing terrible
The offense and defense is hilarious. 
Swashbuckling!
Star wars
LOTR
Liam neeson is hot and awesome
What's with the eye fetish , this old man with his eyes closed the whole time.
Open them, you might be able to see
How are those things IN the swamp?!
Why are those two backing up?
Why did the cyclops finally talk to them?
Quicksand scene is a master class in terrible acting and editing and music.
This could not be less suspenseful. 
Power is fleeting. Love is eternal. 
"Think on it." 
He is STILL in that spider web?

Notes on Troll 2

Boxcar and I made a deal to assign each other a shitty movie and each of us would have to write up a review. I sent him my review a couple weeks ago but I have this list in my notes app on my iPad. Which I now share with you. The movie I had to watch was Troll 2. You should definitely watch it.

It starts in the middle
That hat!
I hope this kid dies soon
"Goblins don't need to justify their cruel acts." I wonder if the writers will feel the same way about this cruel plot. Torturing me. 
Peter is awfully slow.
Acting like an educational film. 
80s leotard is sexy. 
Grown man doing business in pajamas
Who vacations in nilbog?
"Cut out your liiiiil nuts and eat them." 
This girl looks like the 80s and then transitions into a prairie girl with total earnestness.
He wants to bring his friends?  
"Sing that song I like so much." Row Your Boat
They couldn't afford a third troll for the sister. 
I think this mother is an alien 
Sister keeps switching seats. 
At this time of night? It's the morning. 
The dad's sales pitch. 
Eat before we eat you. 
These inconsistent children's attitudes. 
Typical country hospitality!
They take a long time to eat. 
They've poured like 6 drinks a piece. 
Who puts icing on corn on the cob?!?
And all the sudden the dad is a drill sargesnt in charge o
Good joke with the belt
What a tackle!
The speech to the trolls
The arch of the speartoss
Why not go back downhill?
This is my house 
Her eyebrows are very emotive
Thank you for the icing sandwich!
The crazy lady is acting like she's in a different movie, only I can't decide if that movie is better or worse. 
It's a message movie!
This couple has no chemistry 
Definitely the sexiest goblin preacher in film history
The first of many questions is why I'd this movie called troll 2?
Was there a troll 1? Did it also have goblins and not trolls?
really just want it to end. 
We learn they can transport in a flash. Dissipate. Apparate. 
Best use of bologna in a film.