Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 90: X-Men: Days of Future Past, Maleficent, and Edge of Tomorrow

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

X-Men: Days of Future Past. If you’ve been looking forward to seeing the Sentinels on the big screen—you might have to keep on looking.  Like every other X-Men movie, this one devolves into a predictable showdown with Magneto.

Maleficent. Forget about fantasy violence and frightening images, why doesn’t the MPAA warn audiences about gratuitous pixie action?

Edge of Tomorrow.  In his latest sci-fi epic, Tom Crusie has the ability to reset time, but since audiences seem to assume this film is Oblivion 2, it’s unlikely Edge of Tomorrow will be a career reset for Cruise.

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Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 85: Lone Survivor, RoboCop, and The Monuments Men

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

Lone Survivor.  Both Steve and Lou support this film version of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell’s harrowing true-life story of survival.  Jim, however, remains the “lone dissenter.”

RoboCop.  Surprisingly, this remake turns out to be more than just a soulless, mechanical re-animating of an 80s hit.  While retaining and updating the original’s high-tech effects, it also manages to hold onto some of it’s heart and brains.

Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 84: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, American Hustle, and The Wolf of Wall Street

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  Mitty is an anonymous everyman who uses fantasy as a way to escape from his… important and creatively rewarding job at LIFE magazine?  And his… understanding and supportive mother?  Not to mention his…new girlfriend who thinks he’s terrific?  Wait a minute.  Is this Mitty’s real life or one of his fantasies?

American Hustle.  It’s less about Abscam than the bad hair decisions made by men in the 70s.  Bale has an elaborate comb over, Cooper sports a self-administered perm, and Renner tops off his head with an impressive pompadour.  It’s a regular rogue’s gallery of unfortunate hairstyles.

The Wolf of Wall Street.  Even though Martin Scorsese’s stock soared with Hugo, creatively he now finds himself in a bear market with The Wolf of Wall Street.
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Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 83: Saving Mr. Banks, Her, and August: Osage County

6 ‘n 90. Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

Saving Mr. Banks.  Not even a spoonful of sugar can get the Misfits to swallow this film.

Her.  It doesn’t take place in a dystopian future.  The frame isn’t filled with high-tech CGI effects.  And humanity hasn’t managed to all but wipe itself out.  What kind of science fiction film is this, anyway?  The kind that can surprise and move you.

Cinema Misfits, Episode 81: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Out of the Furnace, and Rush

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in 90 seconds.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  While not quite a bullseye, Catching Fire is far from being a “bouncer.”  In this segment, Katarina Aguilar joins the Misfits to discuss the film adaptation of the second book in The Hunger Games series.

Out of the Furnace.  It’s less about revenge and bare-knuckle fighting than it is about Christian Bale stoically emoting.

Rush.  Ron Howard’s new film is a flag to flag winner.  Great story, great characters, and great racing action from beginning to end.

Thanks for listening! We’ll be back in three weeks.

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Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 80: Nebraska, The Book Theif, and Frozen

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

Nebraska.  Even though Nebraska is in black and white, most things in life aren’t–except maybe the Misfits opinions about Alexander Payne’s new film.  Two of them loved it, and two of them hated it.

The Book Thief.  This quote from Flaubert could be used as the tag line for The Book Thief:  Do not read to amuse yourself, or for the purpose of instruction.  No, read in order to live.

Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 79: Thor: The Dark World, Enders’ Game, and 12 Years a Slave

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds!

Thor: The Dark World.  Hollywood has its own version of the Asgardian Convergence.  Every so often the availability of A-list actors aligns with a confused script, two hundred million dollars, and a green light, resulting in a blockbuster motion picture.  Portals open at movie theaters all over the world, and huge amounts of money are sucked into the studio coffers.

Ender’s Game.  Given the success of this film, it’s not likely to end here, and that’s a good thing—both for fans of the book and movie-goers.

Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 78: Escape Plan, The Counselor, and About Time

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

Escape Plan.  Even though Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone can get out of a high-tech prison that’s sealed off from the world in an enormous cargo ship, they are unable to escape from the Misfits’ enthusiasm for their new film.

The Counselor.  Forget about legal counsel, maybe Ridley Scott should have consulted with a different writer than Cormac McCarthy before making his latest movie.

Bonus Twofer Somali Pirates Episode: Captain Phillips and A Hijacking

Captain Phillips and A Hijacking are as different in execution as they are similar in subject matter.  Captain Phillips, although presented in a straightforward, almost documentary style, still embraces many of the Hollywood conventions in terms of character and structure.  A Hijacking, on the other hand, presents a more fragmented, dispassionate story, the moments of repressed fear and anger resulting in a steady, building, cumulative intensity, which is both involving and sometimes frustrating for a viewer.  The Misfits weigh the pros and cons of these two filmmaking approaches, and also ask the question, “Who is the captain?” and wonder, “Does anyone really want to be the captain?”

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Cinema Misfits Podcast, Episode 77: Carrie, Room 237, and Gravity

6 ‘n 90!  Da Man reviews six films in ninety seconds.

Carrie.  Watching the remake of Carrie is a bit like being locked in a closet with a bunch of dull people for ninety minutes.

Room 237.  If Stanley Kubrick had wanted to make room 237 in The Shining really scary, he would have filled it with film critics and conspiracy-theory nuts arguing about the meaning of his film.