FS #203: Director's Cut

April 2: I was getting pretty tired of listening to reviewer after reviewer blasting Haneke for having the gall to imply that torture and violence are -- in fact -- disturbing.

First off, I understand what Haneke is saying... and I hate him for it. I didn't feel challenged. I felt violated.

That's right, it's time for another fun-filled Director's Cut/After Hours edition of Fimspotting, where we dive into the mailbag and react to listener thoughts on Michael Haneke's divisive "Funny Games," the joys of our arthouse Marathons and more.

Want to help decide what we call this show once and for all? Vote in the poll to your right.

FS #202: Funny Games / Paranoid Park / Live Flesh / Top 5 Fourth Wall Movies

March 21: This week Adam outfits Matty in requisite black sweater and beret and forces him to enjoy an arthouse double feature. Will Matty reject Michael Haneke's ultra-violent "Funny Games" and Gus Van Sant's languid "Paranoid Park," or revel in both? Plus, the boys dabble in Verfremdungseffekt for a countdown of their Top 5 Movies That Break the Fourth Wall.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre and the Pedro Almodóvar Marathon continues with a pregnant Penelope Cruz and a wheelchair bound Javier Bardem in 1997's "Live Flesh."

Music by The Nadas from their new album "The Ghosts Inside These Halls" courtesy of Authentic Records.

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Filmspotting #202
:35-12:33 - Review: "Funny Games"
12:34-20:08 - Review: "Paranoid Park"
Music: The Nadas, "Loser"
21:09-25:01 - Anthony Minghella, Notes, Polls
25:02-34:53 - Listener Feedback ('60s Movies)
Music: The Nadas, "Blue Lights"
36:11-39:36 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Josh Jenkins)
39:38-46:05 - Almodóvar #2: "Live Flesh"
Music: The Nadas, "Goodnight Girl"
46:56-50:04 - New DVDs, Donations
52:37-1:02:54 - Top 5: Fourth Wall Movies
1:02:55-1:05:50 - Close/Next Show/Outtakes

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Lest you think my No Country-ish reading of "Funny Games" is completely nuts, check out this video interview I found with Michael Haneke discussing his original "Funny Games" -- note particularly the last 45 seconds or so. "All the rules that exist to keep society functioning are nothing to them. And faced with characters like that, you don’t stand a chance. I think that’s what is so shocking." Indeed, Mr. Haneke. Indeed.

- Check out Frederick Wiseman docs on DVD from Zipporah Films.

- Alas, no "Matty's Movie Minute" this week as Matty just couldn't squeeze in another film.

- During the '60s movies feedback it was suggested that "Shampoo" was a Warren Beatty movie. Of course, Hal Ashby directed it; however, Beatty wrote it and it has his fingerprints all over it. I still say it's a bit overrated. It was also suggested that "Shampoo" was Beatty's first movie; it wasn't.

- You can find a decent plot summary for "Live Flesh" here.