FS #284: Brothers / The Son's Room / 2009 Golden Brick Nominees

Dec. 11: This week's teaser for Filmspotting is brought to you by the same team responsible for the trailer for "Brothers," the latest film from director Jim Sheridan, starring real-life brothers Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. Basically the show opens with both Adam and Matty tearing this utter piece of melodramatic tripe to shreds; they proceed to feed the surviving vestiges of the film to their gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog, Captain Fantastic. At one point during the show, Adam locks himself in the studio unwilling to budge until "Brothers" star Natalie Portman admits to having a relationship with Matty and Captain Fantastic. The stand-off is prolonged when both Matty and The Captain heartily endorse the idea. The lads then anoint "The Son's Room," the 2001 winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or award as not only the best of their Cannes Marathon, but as perhaps the greatest movie of the decade and laud star/director Nanni Moretti as the second coming of Carol Reed, Todd Field and Todd Palin. Then the boys find time to announce the nominees for the greatest awards ever doled out by a body completely removed from any kind of authority, governance or taste. Yes, with the help of Pia Zadora, the lads list their 2009 Golden Brick Nominees -- the overlooked gems from the year in cinema.

Also on the show: Music by The Bad Plus and Massacre Theatre -- presented by Pixar Talk. This week's winner will get the Pixar DVD of their choice.


Filmspotting #284
:13-16:57 - Review: "Brothers"
Music: The Bad Plus, "Barracuda"
17:40-22:11 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: S. Milder)
22:12-25:40 - Poll Questions
25:41-35:30 - Cannes #5: "The Son's Room"
Music: The Bad Plus, "Comfortably Numb"
36:11-42:57 - New DVDs / Donations
42:58-55:34 - Top 5: Golden Brick Nominees
55:35-57:56 - Close / Next Show / Outtakes

NOTES
- "Brothers" is a remake of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish film "Brødre." She also directed "After the Wedding."
- Other Jim Sheridan movies: In America, In the Name of the Father, Get Rich or Die Tryin', My Left Foot
- Other Natalie Portman performances: Leon: The Professional, Garden State
- Other Tobey Maguire performances: The Ice Storm, Spider-Man
- Another Nanni Moretti film: Caro Diario

- Jeff Goldsmith's Creative Screenwriting Podcast can be accessed through iTunes here.

- Follow more notes and corrections at http://twitter.com/filmspotting.

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.