FS #232: Happy-Go-Lucky / Mike Leigh Interview / W. / Top 5 Oliver Stone Scenes

Oct. 24: This week on Filmspotting... your hosts take a trip around London with the most chipper and ebullient tour guide ever to grace the screen, Pauline "Poppy" Jones, in the new dramedy "Happy-Go-Lucky." Will the boys be charmed by Sally Hawkins' ceaseless brand of optimism? And will Adam fall for the charms of the film's writer/director Mike Leigh? Find out as Adam sits down for an interview with the filmmaker behind "Naked," "Vera Drake" and Topsy Turvy."

Plus, our resident in-house pollsters find time to work in a few words on Oliver Stone's latest presidential opus "W.," chronicling the rise and reign of our 43rd president, starring Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks and James Cromwell. In honor of Dubya, the lads also lay out their Top 5 Oliver Stone Scenes. As always Filmspotting undauntedly asks, "is our listeners learning?"

Also on the show: Massacre Theatre and music by The Silos.

** Filmspotting is presented by spout.com. This week, Oscar buzz is cranked up as Clint Eastwood's Changeling hits theaters. Will Changeling be a serious Best Picture contender? Or is this the year a superhero movie brings home the statuette? Get the story on Oscar contenders at blog.spout.com. **


Filmspotting #232
:32-13:10 - Review: "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Music: The Silos, "Behind Me Now"
14:04-29:29 - Interview: Mike Leigh
Music: The Silos, "Never Leaving"
31:34-35:06 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: T. Torrey)
35:07-37:09 - Polls
37:10-49:20 - Review: "W."
Music: The Silos, "Tell Me You Love Me"
49:50-56:03 - New DVDs, Donations
56:04-1:10:29 - Top 5: Oliver Stone Scenes
1:10:30-1:14:01 - Close/Next Show/Outtakes

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Yes, guess I probably meant Matty was tipping his 'hand' on "W." not his 'hat.'
- Yes, guess I meant MLK and Malcolm X, of course, during Top 5 discussion.
- Re: "Bush-league" outtake... no, sadly, that pun wasn't intended.

FS Interviews Revisited: Josh Brolin / Todd Haynes / Ellen Page-Diablo Cody

March 7: Filmspotting is celebrating its three-year anniversary with a week off... Adam is spending time with the kids who no longer know his name, while Matty is acquainting himself with the filmography of Apichatpong Weerasethakul (it's about time!). But lest we leave you without a Filmspotting fix, we offer this look back at three Oscar-themed interviews from the past year -- conversations with Josh Brolin ("No Country for Old Men"), Todd Haynes ("I'm Not There") and Ellen Page and Diablo Cody ("Juno.")

Of course, it occurs to us now that rather than going with three (recent) interviews connected by Oscar, it probably would have been more fun to really dig into the vault and revisit conversations that newer Filmspotting listeners may have missed -- Richard Linklater, Todd Field and Rian Johnson, for example. There's always next anniversary... Sorry.

Note that the memorable "Transformers" voicemail was the handiwork of Greg Rice from Valencia, CA. Great stuff, Greg.

Music by Waco Brothers courtesy of Bloodshot Records.

Filmspotting is presented by Spout, a gathering place for people who love movies. Spout.com presents BUTTERKNIFE, a new generation detective series made by a new generation of filmmakers. Watch now at butterknife.spout.com!

...And by TLAVideo.com. Buy DVDs online at the Filmspotting store!

FS #185: No Country For Old Men / Josh Brolin Interview / Top 5 Coen Bros. Scenes

Nov 9: This week... Filmspotting abides. It's a special Coen Brothers Edition of the show as the boys review Joel and Ethan's new thriller "No Country For Old Men," based on the Cormac McCarthy novel and starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and a terrifying Javier Bardem. Plus, Adam sits down with the former Goonie himself, Mr. Brolin, for a conversation covering his 'breakout' year, his doomed Tarantino-directed "No Country" audition tape and more.

MINOR SPOILER ALERT: Although technically no spoilers are revealed in this review, the boys do get somewhat specific in describing a few standout scenes. It might not be a terrible idea to wait until after you've seen "No Country," if you have plans to, before listening to the review. But again, there are no actual spoilers. Thanks.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre and our Top 5 Coen Brothers Scenes. "Ya sure, you betcha."

Music by Alejandro Escovedo courtesy of Bloodshot Records.

Filmspotting is presented by Spout, a gathering place for people who love movies. Sign up for free and discuss this episode!



Filmspotting #185
:21-16:04 - Review: "No Country For Old Men"
Music: Alejandro Escovedo, "Rhapsody"
17:01-30:38 - Interview: Josh Brolin
Music: Alejandro Escovedo, "Castanets"
31:08-33:51 - New DVDs, Donations
33:52-37:56 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Amanda Hurford)
37:57-49:31 - Listener Feedback ("American Gangster," '70s Movies)
Music: Alejandro Escovedo, "I Got Drunk"
50:03-53:57 - Poll Questions
50:58-1:03:32 - Top 5: Coen Brothers Scenes
1:03:33-1:05:50 - Close/Next Show/Outtake

CORRECTIONS/NOTES
- See the only guy whiter than Adam in this classic "Larry Sanders Show" clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEPu6tUDW0k&mode=related&search=

- We forgot to mention our bet about the song "The Touch" from "Boogie Nights" and the subsequent deluge of feedback. We'll mention it next show.

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.