FS #239: Top 10 Films of 2008 / Frost/Nixon / Gran Torino / Seven Pounds

Dec. 19: We interrupt your regular podcasting program to bring you Filmspotting's 'End of the Year Holiday and Winter Extravaganza' sponsored by Braniff Airlines and featuring special guests Ruth Buzzi, Paul Lynde, and reviews of the latest Holiday offerings -- including a breakdown of Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon" with Frank Langella, Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino," and "Seven Pounds" starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson.

Plus, Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune and the AV Club's Scott Tobias stop by to offer up a soulful duet version of The Christmas Song and find time to help Adam and Matty name their Top 10 Films of 2008. So warm your chestnuts by our open fire and enjoy a very special Rankin/Bass edition of Massacre Theatre, and watch as Señor Wences and Topo Gigo drop in to help little Matty discover the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of daily showering.


Music by David Ford from the album "Songs for the Road."

** Filmspotting is presented by Spout.com. The best movies not coming to theaters and the top 5 music videos of the year have been decided. Check them out on blog.spout.com. **



Filmspotting #239
:25-8:06 - Review: "Frost/Nixon"
8:07-14:07 - Review: "Gran Torino"
14:08-18:26 - Review: "Seven Pounds"
Music: David Ford, "Decimate"
19:55-23:34 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: J. Walters)
23:35-41:11 - Top #10-6 Films of 2008
Music: David Ford, "Go To Hell"
43:47-58:21 - Top #5-4 Films of 2008
58:22-1:06:28 - Poll, New DVDs, Donations
Music: David Ford, "Song For the Road"
1:06:54-1:27:50 - Top #3-1 Films of 2008
1:27:51-1:30:28 - Close/Next Show/Outtake

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Continuing my (Adam's) "Few Good Men"-"Frost/Nixon" comparison... yes, Kevin Bacon basically plays the same role in both.
- Steve Prokopy aka Capone will be back on the show in a few weeks to countdown the Top 5 Performances of 2008.
- No, I 'didn't get' "Alexandra" -- but we also weren't reviewing it and weren't going to take the time during our #10-6 to discuss it in any detail.
- Was "American Teen" left off my honorable mentions? Definitely should have been said.
- Check back for Matty's Top 25 Films of 2008 as promised.

FS #233: Zack and Miri Make a Porno / Changeling / Top 5 Scariest Scenes

Oct. 31: Halloween always reminds me about the tragic story of Filmspotting: Adam and Matty were just two healthy, happy-go-lucky kids backpacking through the mountains of Chicago when they stumbled upon an abandoned radio studio. It's been more than a year since that fateful day when they first turned on that cursed microphone... and they haven't been seen since! But it's said, if you listen closely, every Friday, their voices can still be heard giving out ghoulish movie reviews and singing the praises of director Kevin Smith's "Zack & Miri Make a Porno," and the performances of stars Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks and Craig Robinson.

The legend also goes that if you say AdamandMatty three times into your iPod, you're immediately haunted by a review of Clint Eastwood's latest period drama "Changeling" starring Angelina Jolie (and the ghost of Billy Bob Thornton's career). But, most importantly children, if you ever see Adam and Matty floating outside your window, you must promise me NOT to let them in, as they will regale you with their terrifying Top 5 Scariest Scenes until you bleed from your ears! Happy Halloween!

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre and music by Fever Marlene.

** Filmspotting is presented by SpoutBlog and the FilmCouch podcast. Find out why The New York Times says, "SpoutBlog's got it all," at blog.spout.com. **


Filmspotting #233
:24-13:47 - Review: "Zack & Miri"
Music: Fever Marlene, "Won't Let You Down"
14:32-17:38 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: S. Lane)
17:39-29:08 - Review: "Changeling"
Music: Fever Marlene, "Oh Berlin"
30:09-37:51 - Voicemail, Polls, Notes
37:52-47:44 - Feedback (Breakthroughs)
Music: Fever Marlene, "Lemon King Mahoney"
48:30-52:45 - New DVDs, Donations
52:46-1:06:50 - Top 5: Scariest Scenes
1:06:51-1:10:04 - Close/Next Show/Outtakes

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Point of fact: It's actually been 10 years since I was in film school in Chicago, not 6. Yikes.

- Michelle from Chicago... actually, I'm not sure we did meet her at the Filmspotting Chicago Meetup.

- Geraldine Page is great in Woody Allen's "Interiors." And probably never been described as creepy. She has, however, been dead since 1987, so she is not in "The Orphanage." That would be Geraldine Chaplin.