Filmspotting #150: Zodiac / Oscars Recap / Top 5 Movies We Need To See
March 2: Inspector Harry Callahan took down a Zodiac-like killer with a bullet to the chest back in 1972's "Dirty Harry," but that was in the movie world. In the real world, the Bay Area serial killer was never caught. Which makes the unsolved case the perfect subject for a David Fincher movie. The director of "Seven," "Fight Club" and "The Game," Fincher doesn't mind making things unpleasant for his audiences, even if that means denying them the pleasure of seeing a bad guy get what's coming to him. "Zodiac" (opens today) was one of Adam and Sam's most anticipated films of 2007. Did it meet their expectations? At least one of them thought so.
Also on the show: Sam and Adam recap Sunday night's Academy Awards and wrap up their six-week Animation Marathon with "The Harryhausens," their Best of the Marathon Awards.
Plus, Massacre Theatre and the Top 5 Movies We Need To See -- a redux of the top 5 list from Filmspotting's second episode way back in March 2005.
Music by Anne McCue from the album "Koala Motel" courtesy of Messenger Records.
Filmspotting is brought to you by Peerflix, a fun place to get movies for less.
Filmspotting #150
:19-13:07 - Review: Zodiac
Music: Anne McCue, "Bright Light of Day"
14:07-18:24 - Poll Questions
18:25-27:28 - Oscars Recap
Music: Anne McCue, "Coming To You"
28:20-30:34 - New DVDs/Donations
30:35-34:23 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Kevin Mulqueeny)
34:24-46:51 - Animation Awards: "The Harryhausens"
Music: Anne McCue, "Sweet Burden of Youth"
47:43-49:23 - Dope Sheet Contest Winners!
49:24-1:02:26 - Top 5: Movies We Need To See
1:02:27-1:03:21 - Close/Next Show
CORRECTIONS/NOTES
- Yes, there is some extra 'white noise' in Sam's audio track, especially in segments #2-4. This was our first effort recording with Sam in Milwaukee. Still working out the kinks.
- The Woody Allen clip during the Top 5 is from "Manhattan."
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.
Labels: David Fincher, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Miyazaki, Oscars, Zodiac
1 Comments:
As far as your film ignorance is concerned, I for one, have moved past denial and anger to acceptance. As far as Sam's film from the 80s is concerned, I vote for 'The 400 Blows'.
If you wanted to, though, you could do a Filmspotting Follow-Up in between each of your marathons. For example, you could do it the week after the awards ceremony and the week before you start a new marathon. Just promise to watch one of the films off your Top 5 list sometime during the marathon and report back to each other.
Just imagine…
“I just saw, ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ and, whoa, you've got to listen about it.”
“Oh yeah, well, it won’t compare with the sheer joy of ‘Meatballs’.”
If you manage 5 marathons a year, you knock out your yearly Top 5 list. Which sets up next year’s Top 5 list nicely. The Onion started running a feature last year, “Best Non-2006 Film Seen This Year.” I just remember having my eyeballs pop out in a cartoon-like fashion when I realized that Tasha Robinson had not seen 'Bridge on the River Kwai.'
Changing the subject entirely…
Zodiac was not very visually stunning because they used digital cameras in low light. Digital imagery is getting very close to film, but it is not up to snuff, especially in low light. See the fireplace scene of Attack of the Clones for some of the worst low-light digital cinematography ever. Terrible stuff.
In Zodiac, several of the shots just looked like they were playing with equipment and lighting, just to see what would happen. The opening sequence has a lot of digital noise in it, and in several other scenes, you can clearly see the actors' make-up during the close ups. All this means is that they haven't perfected the little lighting adjustments they have to do with the new cameras.
Great show! Keep up the good work.
-RT
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