Filmspotting #119: World Trade Center / Sullivan's Travels / Top 5 True Stories
Oliver Stone has been called a lot of things -- provocateur, muckraker, conspiracy theorist -- but he has never been accused of lacking ambition. Until now. The story of the survival and rescue of two New York City police officers (Nicolas Cage and "Crash's" Michael Pena) buried in the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11, Stone's "World Trade Center" is moving, well-acted, and respectful of its sensitive source material. But it's also remarkably straightforward -- which wouldn't be such a bad thing if Stone wasn't working in such familiar territory. Cage gives a particularly good performance and the rest of the cast is uniformly strong, but both Adam and Sam are left scratching their heads at Stone's bewildering depiction of one of the film's central heroic characters.
Also on the show, Filmspotting takes a look at the fifth entry in their six week/seven film Screwball Comedies Marathon, Preston Sturges' "Sullivan's Travels." The only consensus your hosts have found during the marathon so far has been their mutual dislike of the classic "Bringing Up Baby." With "Travels," Adam and Sam are again in agreement: Sturges' 1941 film is a smart, sophisticated and surprising movie that reaches far beyond its screwball set-up.
Plus: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre and our our Top 5 True Stories.
Music by Wilder Embry from the album "Your Sweet Heart."
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Filmspotting #119
:20-19:00 - Review: "World Trade Center"
19:01-19:51 - Audio Feedback
Music: Wilder Embry, "Light Me Up in the Dark"
20:37-23:55 - The 'Van' Explanation, Wedding Talk
23:56-28:45 - Peerflix Winner, New DVDs, Poll Questions
28:46-38:41 - Listener Feedback (Talladega Nights, Sidekicks)
38:42-39:17 - Audio Feedback
Music: Wilder Embry, "Sugar"
40:17-42:47 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Avery Oltmans)
42:48-54:18 - Screwball Marathon: "Sullivan's Travels"
Music: Wilder Embry, "Last Monday Night"
55:22-58:26 - Listener Feedback (More Sidekicks)
58:27-1:14:09 - Top 5: True Stories
1:14:10-1:18:24 - Next Show/Close/Special Extended Outtake
Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to feedback@filmspotting.net. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.
4 Comments:
Loved hearing you talk about "Sullivan's Travels."
Maybe when making the donation nicknames you could add "van" them occasionally. Just a suggestion.
-M. Robert van Turnage
Your calendar section needs updating. Lucky You has been pushed back to March 2007.
Children of Men has also been pushed to a Christmas release date.
Wow, you guys have managed to go so long without dropping the f-bomb (outside of Massacre Theater) and now you use it not once, but twice. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind, but Adam say it is like hearing Bill Cosby say it. I must admit though, it was used to perfection (all I have to say about the van title is "no"). It gave me a top 5 idea as well "PG-13 movies that have used their single F-bomb allowence to perfection" (although I'm sure you both would agree that #1 would be Anchorman).
I totally agree with your review of "World Trade Center". While it was emotionally engaging and manipulative, I thought it was ultimately a glorified made-for-television movie, and because of that, it'll probably be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
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