Cinecast #50: Biography of a Winchester '73

"Winchester '73" & Top 5 Biographical Portrayals: According to Adam, Jimmy Stewart looks uncomfortable in denim. These and other profound insights into Anthony Mann's claustrophobic Western "Winchester '73," the seventh film in our eight-part Western-a-Week Marathon. Plus, a very special John Hughes Memorial Listener Feedback segment and our Top 5 Biographical Portrayals.

Music by Richard Buckner courtesy of Bloodshot Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #50
:31-12:30 - Listener Feedback/Voicemails: Top 5 Soundtracks
12:31-20:16 - Western-a-Week Marathon: "Winchester '73"
Music: Richard Buckner, "Do You Want To Go Somewhere?"
21:07-36:47 - Top 5: Biographical Portrayals

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast A/V #2: Overlooked DVD Picks (Biographical Portrayals)

In the second installment of Cinecast A/V, Adam gets in touch with his inner basket case, while Sam finds his inner thug in order to bring you two films featuring standout performances by lead actors portraying real people.

The next edition of Cinecast A/V will be Thursday, Nov. 10. Every other Thursday, Sam and I will reveal our Overlooked DVD Picks of the Week on a separate dual-format podcast. As a regular Cinecast subscriber, you'll get the audio version of Cinecast A/V delivered the same way you get our Tuesday and Friday shows.

If you're one of the fortunate few currently in possession of a new iPod video, you can subscribe via this separate feed -- http://feeds.feedburner.com/cinecastav -- and have the video version automatically downloaded to your player. Of course, if you don't have one of the new iPods, you can still subscribe and watch the show in iTunes. Or, just visit cinecastshow.com every week and watch it here (see 'Watch A/V' image/link above).

Please email any feedback to cinecast@cinecastshow.com.

Cinecast #49: Good Night, Better Luck Tomorrow

Good Night, and Good Luck: Perhaps a victim of unfairly heightened expectations, director George Clooney's new film about Edward R. Murrow's on-air battle with Senator Joseph McCarthy never quite reaches the level of excellence that it seems to promise. Clooney's ensemble is strong, with David Strathairn giving an intensely focused performance as Murrow. But the film is more history lesson than narrative. Sam didn't find the film as preachy as Adam did; but Adam did find "Good Night" more compelling overall. An admirable disappointment, "Good Night" should prove immensely popular with teachers of 20th century history.

Also on the show, Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, and a look ahead to Friday's Top 5 Biographical Portrayals.

Music by Anne McCue courtesy of Messenger Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #49
:33-15:02 - Review: "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Music: Anne McCue, "Crazy Beautiful Child"
16:19-23:09 - Cinecast Notes/Corrections
23:10-32:24 - Listener Feedback (Re-casting "Elizabethtown")
Music: Anne McCue, "Tiny Little Song"
33:30-35:56 - Massacre Theatre
35:57-44:20 - Top 5 Preview: Biographical Portrayals

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast #48: A Fistful of Soundtracks

"A Fistful of Dollars" & Top 5 Soundtracks: Who would be the last man standing in a steel-cage match between Western heroes John Wayne and Clint Eastwood? Adam and Sam weigh in on this burning question and more during their discussion of the sixth movie in the Western-a-Week Marathon, Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" -- and no, they don't agree. Plus, Adam sneaks 10 movies onto his Top 5 Soundtracks list, while Sam finds another platform to wax poetic about Wes Anderson's "Bottle Rocket."

Music by Wilder Embry ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #48
:30-12:05 - Western-a-Week Marathon: "A Fistful of Dollars"
Music: Wilder Embry, "Light Me Up in the Dark"
13:26-16:24 - Kirsten Dunst in "Elizabethtown" - Yes or no?
16:25-30:08 - Top 5: Soundtracks

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast A/V #1: Overlooked DVD Picks (Soundtracks)

Admit it. You've got a fever. And the only prescription is more Cinecast. Well, the doctors are in. Every Thursday, Sam and I will reveal our Overlooked DVD Picks of the Week on a separate dual-format podcast. As a regular Cinecast subscriber, you'll get the audio version of Cinecast A/V delivered the same way you get our Tuesday and Friday shows.

If you're one of the fortunate few currently in possession of a new iPod video, you can subscribe via this separate feed -- http://feeds.feedburner.com/cinecastav -- and have the video version automatically downloaded to your player. Of course, if you don't have one of the new iPods, you can still subscribe and watch the show in iTunes. Or, just visit cinecastshow.com every week and watch it here (see 'Watch A/V #1' link/image directly below).

On this debut edition, Sam and I promote two films that just missed qualifying for our respective Top 5/10 Soundtracks lists. As always, we look forward to your feedback -- cinecast@cinecastshow.com.

Cinecast #47: Almost Great American Road Trip

Elizabethtown: Never has the absence of John Cusack been felt more profoundly. Writer/director Cameron Crowe's newest film comes 20 years too late for perfect casting, but despite this -- and many other -- flaws, "Elizabethtown" never quite fails to succeed at being 'a Cameron Crowe film'. Heartfelt, honest, and filled with great music, Crowe may over-reach at times, but there's no denying his unique ability to capture the bittersweet rhythms of life.

Also on the show, Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre -- presented by Movies Passions.com -- and a look ahead to Friday's Top 5 Soundtracks.

Music by Neko Case courtesy of Bloodshot Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #47
:34-17:18 - Review: "Elizabethtown"
Music: Neko Case, "Thrice All American"
18:36-23:23 - Cinecast Notes/Corrections
23:24-29:24 - Listener Feedback (Wallace & Gromit, Child Protagonists)
Music: Neko Case, "We've Never Met"
30:28-32:57 - Massacre Theatre
32:58-39:30 - Top 5 Preview: Soundtracks

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast #46: Claydreamer

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: It's not uncommon for Adam and Sam to disagree with each other now and again. But it's a rare feat indeed when your Cinecast hosts come across a movie that has them disagreeing with every critic in the world. Animator extraordinaire Nick Park's five-years-in-the-making "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is impressively imagined and assembled. So why were Adam and Sam shifting in their seats and checking their watches?

Also on the show, a quick look at Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo," the fifth of eight films in our Western-a-Week Marathon. Plus, Listener Voicemails and the Top 5 Movies with a Child Protagonist.

Music by Bobby Bare Jr. courtesy of Bloodshot Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #46
:34-6:50 - Review: "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"
6:51-14:37 - Western-a-Week Marathon: "Rio Bravo"
Music: Bobby Bare Jr., "Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)"
15:25-21:17 - Listener Voicemails, "In Her Shoes"
21:18-35:41 - Top 5: Movies with a Child Protagonist

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

iTunes Problem/International Mailbag

As many of you have probably noticed, our latest show -- Cinecast #45, below -- is coming up with an error message when you try to download using iTunes. I can't really provide an explanation, but I can provide a solution:

1) If you see "New movie reviews and insightful film talk" as the show description, unsubscribe from Cinecast (right click and select Clear).

2) Re-subscribe by clicking the iTunes chicklet above (next to Feed), or by going to Advanced--Subscribe to Podcast and enter our feed -- http://feeds.feedburner.com/cinecast

3) You will now see a version of Cinecast with the description that matches what is on our site -- "A twice-weekly Film Podcast..." Our logo isn't showing up for some reason (you'll see a broken chain image instead), but from what I understand this is a fairly common problem right now. In any event, you will be able to get Cinecast #45 with no problem and you will get shows much faster in the future. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.

* * *

Mailbag time, International edition...

Hi, this is Stewart from Paris. I can't believe you guys never even mentioned Ben Kingsley in all the talk about the greatest actors. I would rate him up there with Daniel Day-Lewis. After all, this is the guy who portrayed both the real Ghandi and the fictional Don Logan (from Sexy Beast). Two more contrasting characters one is unlikely to find in all of movie history, and yet Kingsley was utterly convincing as both.

Apart from that, I'm new to the show but really enjoying it, probably more so when I don't agree with your comments. And as for up and coming British actors, keep an eye out for a guy called Daniel Craig.

Thanks for the great programme.

Great to hear from you, Stewart. First off, Daniel Craig is on our radar. I liked him very much in "Sylvia" as Ted Hughes -- or should I say, I disliked him very much as Ted Hughes. And we reviewed "Layer Cake" way back on Cinecast #15. Sam and I are both big fans of Ben Kingsley. You can hear Sam, especially, rave about Kingsley's theatrical turn as Fagin in "Oliver Twist" in our latest show. And Don Logan made my Top 5 Badasses list in Cinecast #34.

I think Kingsley was probably left off our top 5 [...10...20] simply because he hasn't really been in a lot of movies either of us love. "Sexy Beast," "Schindler's List," "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Death and the Maiden" ... I like and respect all of these films and Kingley's performances in them. But if I ask myself that question -- will I go see a film based solely on the fact that Ben Kingsley is in it? I have to say the answer is no. Talent-wise though, you can't argue with Kingsley as one of the greatest actors going.

Okay, I finally got a chance to see "Network" the other day at a special screening with members of the Icelandic media. All I can say is that the film completely blew me away. Even though it's almost thirty years old, the film's message is just as vital today. Everyone in the media that was present completely agreed on its impact and greatness. And how can I not mention Faye Dunaway, an actress I've up to now hated. I recall somebody calling the role emotionless, but I thought it fitted the characted quite well. With so many great preformaces in one movie, the one I rembember most vividly was Ned Beatty. I thought he was the best thing about "Deliverance" and I was stunned by his scene.

Anyway, I probably woudn't have dragged my girlfriend to see this on a Saturday night if it weren't for Adam's ramblings about it, so thanks for that.

Ari Gunnar, Reykjavik, Iceland

You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Ari, and I won't have it. Is that clear? Yes! Beatty is great; Dunaway is great; the movie's message is just as vital today. Sam is an idiot.

-Adam

P.S. Forget the Chicago Film Fest, what are the chances the Icelandic media would give us a media credential?

Cinecast #45: Dickens Straight Up, With A Twist

Oliver Twist: Despite approaching the film with some trepidation that it would be an uninspired addition to the Roman Polanski flimography, Adam and Sam both found the director-in-exile's "Oliver Twist" to be as faithful and exciting an adaptation of the Dickens classic as you're likely to find. Though the action flags a bit when the story strays from its young protagonist, Polanski's film shows great respect for Dickens' imagination -- and is all the better for it. The film also features a great performance by Sir Ben Kingsley as the devilish Fagin, making this more than just a must-see for high school English teachers.

Also on the show, Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre -- presented by Movies Passions.com -- and a look ahead to Friday's Top 5 Movies with a Child Protagonist.

Music by Martin Sexton courtesy of Kitchen Table Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #45
:33-14:49 - Review: "Oliver Twist"
Music: Martin Sexton, "Freedom of the Road"
16:10-21:54 - Cinecast News & Notes
21:55-30:36 - Listener Feedback
Music: Martin Sexton, "Candy"
33:27-35:50 - Massacre Theatre
35:51-41:30 - Top 5 Preview: Movies with a Child Protagonist

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Flight Delay

I swear, I've never missed a flight in my life ... until today. I'm stranded in New Haven, CT, until Tuesday morning, which means Cinecast #45 won't be available until Tuesday night Central Time.

Thanks for your patience!

Tuesday (pm): "Oliver Twist" review, Listener Feedback, and Massacre Theatre.

Friday: "In Her Shoes" review, Western-a-Week: "Rio Bravo," and Top 5 Movies with a Child Protagonist.

Cinecast #44: My Darling Clementine/Top 5 Actors

In a feat of mathematics equalled only by whatever the hell Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhall were blathering about in "Proof," Adam and Sam manage to squeeze nearly 30 names into their list of Top 5 Actors. Did we miss any? I'm not sure it's possible.

Also on the show, the Western-a-Week Marathon continues with John Ford's gunfight at the OK Corral classic, "My Darling Clementine." Plus, our Overlooked DVD Picks of the Week and listeners share their Top 5 Actresses.

Music by Splitlip Rayfield courtesy of Bloodshot Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #44
:33-10:14 - Western-a-Week Marathon #4: "My Darling Clementine"
10:15-15:41 - Overlooked DVD Picks of the Week
Music: Splitlip Rayfield
16:49-21:25 - Listener Feedback: Top 5 Actresses
21:26-32:40 - Top 5 Actors

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast Mailbag (10/6)

Friday's show will be posted around noon CT ... to the Mailbag ...

Please, how can you call Laura Linney over-rated and accuse her of taking herself too seriously, and then go on to praise Gwyneth "I named my poor kid APPLE" Paltrow in the same breath?! She is, IMHO, the most over-rated actress of her generation. She over-emotes, has a one-size-fits-all injured, naive look, and her apparently flawless English accent fluctuates from Cockney to Upper Class and back again within the same scene in Emma, Sliding Doors and Shakespeare in Love.

Meanwhile, Renee Zellwegger and the gloriously unpretentious Cate Blanchett get completely over-looked. If you want to see real acting and a flawless Brit accent, check out Shekar Kapur's Elizabeth.

Shame on you! --Sabina from London

Thanks for the email, Sabina. Are Renee Zellwegger and Cate Blanchett really overlooked? Both have Oscar nominations; Zellwegger has a win (for Supporting, I know). [Edit: Actually, they both have Supporting Actress wins. Blanchett won for "The Aviator" last year. Thanks to Hannibal6152]. But I suppose I should point out that it's Sam who hates Laura Linney, and I'm the one who is fond of Gwyneth Paltrow. Sam seems to regard Paltrow about the same as I do Linney, which is to say that we find them each merely "good." One thing that should probably be clarified though... when Sam rips on Laura Linney for taking herself too seriously, he means it as a performer -- on screen. Off screen, I'm not sure Sam has an opinion about Linney, nor should he. I mention this because you threw in a jab about Paltrow naming her kid "Apple" (a name, for what it's worth, I kind of like). You seem to have good reasons for disliking Paltrow beyond any pretentiousness she may have as a person, but I still find it odd whenever such concerns become part of the discussion. I've heard numerous people express their disdain for Russell Crowe -- as an actor, mind you -- because they think he's a jerk in real life. Excluding the fact that his behavior off screen is irrelevant to his behavior on screen, the most troubling part is that, of course, they don't actually know what Crowe is really like. All they know is his tabloid-fueled persona. Anyway, I stand by my Gwyneth selection!

Hi guys, I thought the most recent episode's anecdote [in Cinecast #43] regarding the George Clooney quote about the montage cut from his new film was very interesting. I see his point completely. One film in which I saw such a montage, as the last several minutes of the film, where it probably rendered the rest of the movie irrelevant was in Spike Lee's Bamboozled. The movie is only mediocre overall, but the final montage showing a historical timeline of film and TV content of the depiction of black people in America was heartbreaking, sad, and extremely powerful.

I almost always agree that subtlety and thought-provoking are better qualities than hit-you-over-the-head thematic points, but this Spike Lee movie is an example where four minutes at the end of the movie is most likely much more worthwhile than the rest of the movie. How can fiction played as farce be more real than what was actually produced and distributed as entertainment. I think that this speaks so much more. In this case, anyway.

Just wanted to point out this film which most people, including Spike Lee viewers, probably haven't seen. Worth checking out to see if it alters your strong agreement of the Clooney point. I was applauding Clooney, as you did, until I recalled this film.

Best,
Rod Akizuki

Interesting comparison, Rod. I agree with you about a few things here -- that "Bamboozled" is overall mediocre and that Lee's montage at the end is pretty effective. But Clooney should still be applauded. It's not important to Sam or me that Clooney cut a montage, specifically, from his film. What matters is that he cut something significant from his film that would have been manipulative and patronizing to his audience. To some extent, Lee probably commits the same sin. But I think the difference is that Lee is always pretty blatant and in your face with his message, so the montage is consistent with the rest of the film.

That said, it occurs to me that maybe the reason we both like the montage at the end of "Bamboozled" is because it's actually far more subtle and provocative than the rest of the film. The "sad, powerful" images make the point much more effectively than the rest of the film does. It adds something to the experience rather than being redundant, which I think the Clooney montage would have been.

Cinecast Mailbag (10/5)

Return of the mailbag, with some gentle chiding from one listener who wants to point out some gaps in our Top 5 Actresses list. Oh, and some Faye Dunaway bashing ... which is always fun.

Sam, Adam -
Before I say anything else, I've got to get this out of the way. Faye Dunaway is a double decker ham and cheese sandwich. Subtlety is a word absent from her dictionary....The only range she has sits in her kitchen. That said, there can be a time and place for such performances. It works beautifully in "Mommie Dearest" or "Network," where the shallowness of the characters leaves no room for unnecessary claptrap such as vulnerability or doubt. She can play one note, can play it cleanly and can play it pretty loud. But one note does not a virtuoso make. Enough said. What surprised me most about your recent list of Top 5 actresses was the exclusion of three very reliable, accomplished actresses.

First is Susan Sarandon. Smart, strong, sexy, funny, vulnerable. She is the actress that Faye Dunaway wants to believe she is. Hell, I'd rather watch one of Sarandon's make-up commercials over any Dunaway performance. She can take the worst movie (can you spell S-T-E-P-M-O-M?) and make it enjoyable. And how many actresses can make you want to sin at the altar of baseball ("Bull Durham") and then pray for absolution from your sins at the altar of God ("Dead Man Walking") with equal conviction and authenticity? If for no other reason, she deserves to be on the list for her absolutely stunning performance in George Miller's "Lorenzo's Oil," in which she portrays a mother watching her child basically disintegrate in front of her. Her exclusion from your lists is unforgivable.

Second is Frances McDormand. Known mostly for her work in a number of Coen Bros films, she is one of the single most reliable actresses working. Does this woman ever give a bad performance? From her work in "Almost Famous" to "Wonder Boys" to "Mississippi Burning," her work is never less than believable and interesting. Add in the Coen's films, and it leaves one question: Naomi who??

Finally, I have to include Dame Maggie Smith. The woman brings a sense of class to anything she works on. Equally adept at playing Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, and Neil Simon comedy, she is truly one of the most gifted actresses out there. Her moments as the older Wendy in Spielberg's "Hook" held the only moments of magic the movie could muster. Hell, I even sat through "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" solely for her work in the film. I just hope to see her more often than the occasional Harry Potter film every year or so.

Well, as always, keep up the great work -- Stuart Kazanow, Reisterstown, MD

Stuart -- great e-mail. Thanks for doing my dirty work re: Dunaway. I'll try and remember your "the only range she has is in her kitchen" line the next time Adam mentions "the most overrated actress in the history of cinema." Onto your picks for actresses overlooked by Adam and I on Cinecast #42...

#1: Susan Sarandon. I don't know. You make a great point about her ability to play, with conviction, the saint and the sinner; but I always felt she took herself (and her character) too seriously in "Dead Man Walking" and as iconic a performance as hers is in "Bull Durham," I'm not totally sold on her ability to really cut loose. She's never really given a performance that's really excited me. (On a side note, I recently watched "Bull Durham" again for the first time in a while, and maybe it's because I've gotten a little older, but I found Annie Savoy to be more annoying than sexy. Maybe it's blasphemy to suggest it, but she reminded me of a lot of the hyper-literate and condescending women I'd met in my life that I've learned by now to steer clear of. Apologies to any hyper-literate, condescending women in the Cinecast audience.)

#2: Frances McDormand. OK. I'm not going to argue this one. Frances McDormand is a very good actress. She's smart and she knows what she's doing. My problem is that she seems to know exactly how good she is. And I see that in some of her performances. Particularly "Fargo." She seems to comment on the character as she's playing it. She gets all the details right. The accent. The behavior. The tone. But there's an emotional distance between McDormand and her character that bothers me. That being said, check out John Sayles' "Lone Star." It's a great movie that's worth seeing all on its own; but Frances McDormand has a single scene (playing Chris Cooper's ex-wife) and it is just astounding. A must-see if you're a McDormand fan. [Adam chimes in: "So let me get this straight, you LOVE Frances McDormand playing an over-the-top one-note role, but Faye Dunaway isn't subtle enough? Sure.]

3. Dame Maggie Smith. You're preaching to the choir on this one, Stuart. She's amazing. I definitely considered her for my list, but just hadn't seen enough of her work to justify her inclusion. It does give me an opportunity, however, to mention a favorite film of mine -- Robert Altman's "Gosford Park." A lot of people I know don't care for it. I like it more every time I see it. Great ensemble acting, a great script, and impeccable, invisible direction from Altman. And one of the greatest things about this movie is the performance of Dame Maggie Smith. As the stuffy widow who's short on cash, Smith steals scene after scene with bitterly funny one-liners.

- Sam

Cinecast #43: Fuzzy Math

Proof: An intricately constructed story about math and madness adapted from the award-winning play by David Auburn, director John Madden's "Proof" has all the elements of great high-brow entertainment. The story is compelling enough, but Auburn (and co-screenwriter Rebecca Miller) seems more taken with the play's clever plotting than with the characters caught up within it. Auburn's story and Gwyneth Paltrow's lead performance were enough to keep Adam mildly interested; Sam was turned off by the play's exploitation of madness for entertainment's sake.

Also on the show, Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre -- presented by Movies Passions.com -- and a look ahead to Friday's Top 5 Actors.

Music by The Pale Pacific ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.



Cinecast #43
:31-15:19 - Review: "Proof"
Music: The Pale Pacific, "Tied To A Million Things"
16:33-31:16 - Cinecast Corrections, Listener Feedback
Music: The Pale Pacific, "Fortune Folds"
32:54-35:42 - Massacre Theatre
35:43-43:16 - Top 5 Actors Preview

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send us an e-mail at cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.