Cinecast #97: Cabaret/Top 5 Movies About America

Six weeks after hearing James Cagney declare himself a "Yankee Doodle Dandy," Liza Minnelli, as Sally Bowles, ends our Musicals Marathon in 1930s-era Berlin belting an ode to the decadent life of the "Cabaret." Bob Fosse's 1972 Best Picture nominee was a late addition to the marathon, but it's a fitting conclusion. Fosse's sensual, earthy choreography and "Cabaret's" violent, political story stand in powerful contrast to the fleet-foot and (mostly) carefree lives of Astaire and Rogers, Gene Kelly, and the athletic cast of "West Side Story." Having split on the last two films in the marathon ("West Side" and "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"), Adam and Sam agree that "Cabaret" is probably the single movie in the marathon that would be just as powerful -- though certainly less fun -- without any music or dance at all. Brilliantly acted (yes, Liza is, eventually, just as good as you've heard she is) and written and directed with uncommon intelligence, "Cabaret" certainly deserves its reputation as the last great musical.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, and -- tying in with Wednesday's review of "American Dreamz" -- our lists of the Top 5 Movies About America.

Music by Bobby Bare, Jr. courtesy of Bloodshot Records.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by the Honda Fit. It delivers 38 miles per gallon on the freeway! Learn more at fit.honda.com.



Cinecast #97
:37-17:48 - Musicals #6: "Cabaret"
17:49-18:30 - Audio Feedback
Music: Bobby Bare, Jr., "Things I Didn't Say"
19:35-33:30 - Listener Feedback (Movies About Money)
Music: Bobby Bare, Jr., "Your Adorable Beast"
35:14-52:00 - Top 5 Movies About America

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast #96: American Dreamz

When Cinecast asked listeners in an online poll last week which new film looked most interesting -- "The Sentinel," "Silent Hill" or "American Dreamz" -- the majority took the 5th and chose "All 3 look pretty crappy." Cinecast has no such luxury, and, despite serious reservations, chose to see "American Dreamz" based on writer/director Paul Weitz's strong track record ("About a Boy" and "In Good Company"). A movie that asks the audience to "imagine a country where more people vote for a pop idol than their next president," "American Dreamz" plays as a broad parody of contemporary American culture. And that's just about the only thing that Adam and Sam agreed on. Listen as Sam accuses Adam of walking the party line on the film (i.e., that it's a brain-dead mess), and bravely (and perhaps quixotically) defend the movie as a well-pitched, if imperfect, comedy that is smarter than it's getting credit for. That's right, folks, it's a good old-fashioned catfight.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, and a preview of this week's Top 5 ... Movies About America.

Music by Martin Sexton from the album "Live Wide Open" courtesy of Kitchen Table Records.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by the Honda Fit. It delivers 38 miles per gallon on the freeway! Learn more at fit.honda.com.



Cinecast #96
:37-17:49 - Review: "American Dreamz"
Music: Martin Sexton, "Hallelujah"
18:39-20:07 - New DVD Releases, Peerflix DVD Winner
20:08-22:52 - "American Dreamz" cont.
22:53-28:01 - Donations, Sam's Museum of Sex visit, Poll Questions
28:02-38:15 - Listener Feedback (We're sorry Josh Lucas edition)
Music: Martin Sexton, "Women and Wine"
39:11-41:28 - Massacre Theatre
41:29-47:17 - Top 5 Preview: Movies About America

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast #95: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg/Top 5 Movies About Money

It only seems fair that a week after Sam's semi-dismissal of the classic "West Side Story," Adam responds with his own semi-blasphemous take on Jacques Demy's 'film in music' "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg." The fifth film in our Musicals Marathon, "Cherbourg" (1964) is a sincere homage to the great musicals of the past, as well as a clever commentary on those films' conventions. To his credit, Adam acknowledges Demy's achievement in creating a poignant film where every line is sung; he just didn't care so much for the tune. Sam, on the other hand, comes out of the gate singing the film's praises... literally.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback (I heart New York edition) and our Top 5 Movies About Money.

Note: Like Tuesday's show, this podcast was recorded with Adam in Chicago and Sam in New York. For some reason, Sam sounds fine and Adam sounds vaguely like he's speaking into a Fisher-Price Karaoke machine. We're not sure what went wrong, but we'll be sure to correct it for next week.

Music by Bottle Rockets courtesy of Bloodshot Records.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #95
:39-18:02 - Musicals #5: "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"
18:03-19:16 - Audio Feedback
Music: Bottle Rockets, "A Living Hell"
20:09-30:26 - Listener Feedback (Audio, New York Movies)
Music: Bottle Rockets, "Mendocino"
32:14-46:36 - Top 5 Movies About Money

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 #94: Brick

It took five years for writer/director Rian Johnson to get his debut film made, and as far as Cinecast is concerned, it was worth the wait. Currently in limited release, "Brick" is burdened by a premise that's almost too clever -- Dashiell Hammett-inspired noir in a modern day high school setting -- but among the film's many pleasant surprises is just how expertly first-timer Johnson puts it all together, from the swift dialogue to the Lynchian humor to the carefully composed cinematography. It helps to have a crack cast of great young actors, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Sam Spade stand-in Brendan Frye, and Lukas Haas as 'The Pin'. Admirable for its willingness to confound, "Brick" deserves -- and rewards -- your attention.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, and a preview of this week's Top 5 ... Movies About Money. (Thanks to listener Jared Sorensen for the suggestion in honor of Tax Day.)

Notes: After 93 shows and with your hosts once again 800 miles away from each other in separate studios, it was inevitable that the audio quality of one or two shows might not be up to our usual standards. In this case, Sam sounds fine; Adam sounds vaguely like he's speaking into a Fisher-Price Karaoke machine. We're not sure what went wrong -- it's the same setup we used for shows #90 and #91 -- but we apologize and will be sure to correct it for next week ... Also, Cinecast #95 will be available a day early by visiting Peerflix's Peerblog at blog.peerflix.com. This site and our feed will be updated as usual on Friday morning, but if you're jonesing for Friday's show, you can access it over at Peerblog on Thursday.

Music by Chuck Prophet from the album "No Other Love."

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #94
:39-19:58 - Review: "Brick"
Music: Chuck Prophet, "That's How Much I Need Your Love"
20:38-23:40 - New DVD Releases, Peerflix DVD Winner
23:41-25:17 - Donations/Nicknames
25:18-29:06 - Notes, Poll Questions
29:07-34:29 - Listener Feedback (101 Greatest Screenplays)
Music: Chuck Prophet, "After the Rain"
35:04-37:49 - Massacre Theatre
37:50-42:39 - Top 5 Preview: Movies About Money

Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to cinecast@cinecastshow.com. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.

Cinecast #93: West Side Story/Top 5 New York Movies

Cinecast Takes Manhattan-Part II (Recorded in Brooklyn): Viewed chronologically, the first three films in the Musicals Marathon ("Swing Time," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and "An American In Paris") reveal a distinct evolution of the movie musical –- stories, songs, characters and choreography all become increasingly complex. By the time "West Side Story" is released in 1961 –- a decade after Vincent Minnelli's "American In Paris" –- the musical has nearly evolved into a different species. Director Robert Wise and choreographer Jerome Robbins, not to mention lyricist Stephen Sondheim and composer Leonard Bernstein –- bring a level of sophistication to the genre that simply did not previously exist. Adam and Sam agree that "West Side Story" deserves its reputation as perhaps the greatest movie musical of all time; but that didn't stop Sam from admitting that the film (ranked #41 on AFI's list of the best American movies of all-time) reminded him about why he grew up hating musicals. Adam, bravely choosing sides in West Side's deadly gang warfare, knocks the Jets for following up the Sharks' "America" with the lame "Officer Krupke." (Yeah, we know... we both say "Krumpke" during the show.)

Also on the show: Listener Feedback and our joint Top 5 list of the quintessential New York Movies.

Music by Aberdeen City courtesy of Dovecote Records.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #93
:39-19:20 - Musicals #4: "West Side Story"
Music: Aberdeen City, "In Combat"
21:09-26:26 - Listener Feedback (Satires)
26:27-32:22 - 101 Greatest Screenplays
Music: Aberdeen City, "Stay Still"
33:09-37:19 - Adam meets Elvis... Costello... sort of
37:20-50:28 - Top 5 New York Movies
50:29-53:04 - Next week tease, USA Network spot

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 #92: Lucky Number Slevin

Cinecast Takes Manhattan-Part I (Recorded in Brooklyn): When the great Sidney Lumet's new film "Find Me Guilty" was pulled from theaters earlier than expected, Adam and Sam had to resort to door number two: director Paul McGuigan's "Lucky Number Slevin." Cinecast has learned to be wary of suspiciously strong casts in films released with relatively little fanfare at the tail-end of winter. With Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu, Josh Hartnett and Sir Ben Kingsley playing prominent roles in what appeared to be a cleverly-scripted case of mistaken identity, it either meant a winning combination of Tarantino meets Hitchcock, or "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead ... 10 Years Later." Sam manages to utter two or three sentences before declaring that he "hated" the movie, putting Adam in the familiar position of having to defend a movie he didn't care for that much either.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, and a preview of this week's Top 5 ... New York Movies.

Music by Dan Bern courtesy of Messenger Records. You can download both of the songs heard in Cinecast #92 -- "Chelsea Hotel" and "I Need You" by visiting Dan's myspace page.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #92
:39-16:16 - Review: "Lucky Number Slevin"
Music: Dan Bern, "Chelsea Hotel"
17:01-25:31 - Peerflix winner, "Slevin" cont.
25:32-31:13 - Donations/Nicknames, Corrections
31:14-36:03 - Listener Feedback (Thank You For Smoking)
Music: Dan Bern, "I Need You"
36:40-40:11 - Massacre Theatre
40:12-44:40 - Top 5 Preview: New York Movies
44:41-46:33 - Next show tease, USA Network spot

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 #91: An American In Paris/Top 5 Satires

Three films into a six-part Musicals Marathon, Adam and Sam realize, to their dismay, that they’ve nearly exhausted their supply of hyperbole. Watching Gene Kelly perform Gershwin's "I've Got Rhythm" with a street-full of Parisian kids in Vincent Minnelli’s "An American In Paris" just about tapped them out. If the Musicals Marathon has proved nothing else so far, it has at the very least proved the lasting potency of great performances. Gene Kelly is only the latest addition to a Cinecast pantheon already crowded with newly discovered luminaries like Ginger Rogers and James Cagney.

Adam and Sam agree that Minnelli is some kind of directorial savant -- "An American In Paris" nearly suffocates under the force of Minnelli’s theatrical imagination; and "Paris" is -- despite a lack of chemistry between Kelly and Leslie Caron, and an impressive but interminable finale -- wonderfully entertaining. But like "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Swing Time" before it, "Paris" is truly worth watching for the performance of its star.

Also on the show: Adam's twist ending mea culpa in Listener Feedback and our Top 5 Satires, tying in with Wednesday's review of "Thank You For Smoking."

Music by Kelly Hogan courtesy of Bloodshot Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #91
:39-15:00 - Musicals #3: "An American In Paris"
15:01-15:58 - Audio Feedback
Music: Kelly Hogan, "Papa Was A Rodeo"
17:29-20:09 - Empire Strikes Back... at Adam
20:10-22:00 - "Flight 93"
22:01-28:00 - Listener Feedback (Twist Endings)
28:01-28:55 - Peerflix winner (King Kong, Brokeback Mountain)
Music: Kelly Hogan, "Between Love And Hate"
29:29-40:00 - Top 5 Satires
USA Network "Show Us Your Character" spot

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 #90: Thank You For Smoking

Spoofs, farces, even mockumentaries are common enough in theaters. But the true satire is a rare beast. And so it was refreshing to see trailers for Jason Reitman's new film "Thank You For Smoking." A satire on political correctness run amok with a strong libertarian streak (the film is based on Christopher Buckley's 1994 novel of the same name), Reitman's film has a great cast and several targets ripe for the picking. And if you ask Adam (recording from Chicago), he'll tell you that "Thank You For Smoking" is a frequently funny movie that nails the satirical tone its subject matter requires. Sam (recording from New York) calls the film "bad bouillabaisse." Apparently Sam came back from his vacation a week too early.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, the Cinecast Nickname Game, Massacre Theatre, and a preview of this week's Top 5 ... Satires.

Music by Jon Chinn courtesy of Reverbose Records ... Cinecast theme music by Age of the Rifle.

Cinecast is brought to you by Peerflix. Trade DVDs online at peerflix.com/cinecast.

And also by USA Network, where characters are welcome. You've got what it takes to be a star! Enter the 2006 Show Us Your Character Contest to find out if you're America's most unique character. Enter now at showusyourcharacter.com!



Cinecast #90
:39-15:59 - Review: "Thank You For Smoking"
16:03-16:56 - New Peerflix spot
Music: Jon Chinn, "Last Night"
18:08-23:13 - "Thank You For Smoking" cont.
23:14-29:46 - Donation/Nicknames, Cinecast Poll, NYC Meetup
29:47-38:32 - Listener Feedback (Inside Man)
Music: Jon Chinn, "Acceleration"
39:41-42:03 - Massacre Theatre
42:04-46:26 - Listener Feedback cont. (Dystopias)
46:27-51:40 - Top 5 Preview: Satires
51:53-52:30 - USA Network spot

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 #90: Delayed ... But Hear Us Out

Dear Cinecast Nation,

Cinecast #90, with our review of Thank You For Smoking, will post later this afternoon.

The fact that you will hear the show at all is a testament to the obsessive commitment we have to you, our beloved listeners. We ask not for your pity; just your patience.

And when you hear the show, please keep in mind that Adam is recording from Chicago in the This American Life studio. Yes, the very same chair, the very same microphone used by Mr. Ira Glass. (And to those who have no idea what I'm talking about: that ups Adam's cool quotient by about 1000 percent.)