FS #240: The Reader / Top 5 Lead Performances of 2008

Jan. 9: Oddly enough, the 2008 cinematic holiday season sported quite a festive National Socialism theme. Given the choice, Adam and Matty probably preferred spending time with Kate Winslet's sexy ex-Nazi Hanna Schmitz in "The Reader" more than they did Tom Cruise ("Valkyrie") and Daniel Craig ("Defiance"), but they still took issue with several aspects of director Stephen Daldry's latest effort. Miss Winslet's performance was good enough to land her ... wait, wait, oh no, Mean Gene, is that Randy the Ram's intro music? That can mean only one thing, it's time for Filmspotting's thespian royal rumble. Steve Prokopy from Ain't Cool News will join our in-house tag team duo to list theTop 5 Lead Performances of 2008.

Plus: Massacre Theatre, Listener Feedback, and music by Chuck Prophet from the album "Soap and Water."

** Filmspotting is presented by Spout.com. Check out year-end lists like the best movies that played in theaters, the best movies that didn't, and the best music videos, all on blog.spout.com. **



Filmspotting #240
:24-10:54 - Review: "The Reader"
Music: Chuck Prophet, "Small-Town Girl"
11:46-15:14 - Mass. Theatre (Winner: S. Schwarz)
15:15-26:51 - Voicemail, Polls, Feedback
Music: Chuck Prophet, "Freckle"
28:47-47:40 - Top 5: Actors of 2008
Music: Chuck Prophet, "Let's Do Something Wrong"
48:34-58:36 - New DVDs, Donations
58:37-1:12:17 - Top 5: Actresses of 2008
1:12:18-1:15:13 - Close/Next Show/Outtakes

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Movie City News' Top 10 Scoreboard

- "Why 'Doubt' and 'Frost/Nixon' work better as plays"

- We didn't see "I've Loved You So Long" because Adam has managed to misplace the DVD screener we were sent. Yes, he feels bad about it.

- Matty's Top 25 (and Bottom 10) Movies of 2008

- Our guest Steve Prokopy gets a shout-out in this edition of Roger Ebert's "Movie Answer Man."

FS #219: The Dark Knight / Top 5 Performances of the Year (So Far)

July 18: Biff! Bam! Pow! It's here. It's finally here. The podcast you've been waiting months to hear has arrived... Adam and Matty, wait for it, count down their Top 5 Performances of the Year (So Far) with some help from Steve Prokopy (aka Capone) of Ain't It Cool News. Oh, and the boys squeeze in a couple minutes discussing director Christopher Nolan's latest epic Batman saga, "The Dark Knight," starring Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, and the late Heath Ledger. Will a movie that couldn't possibly live up to its advanced billing do just that? Or will it leave Filmspotting's own Dynamic Duo asking, "Why so serious?"

Tune in next week for a special Spoiler Edition review of "The Dark Knight" with special guest Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune.

Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre and music by Utah Carol.

** 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. **

CONTEST
Congratulations to Re-cast "The Matrix" grand prize winner jdamer83 and runner-up wadetown! Re-cast "Reservoir Dogs" now for a shot at great prizes!



Filmspotting #219
:24-13:57 - Review: "The Dark Knight"
Music: Utah Carol, "Kimberly Smiles"
14:52-18:48 - Voicemails, Polls
18:49-26:51 - Feedback (Hellboy, Teach An Alien, Creatures)
Music: Utah Carol, "Sam's Ranch"
27:20-31:46 - New DVDs, Donations
31:47-35:26 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Dan Krahn)
35:27-53:41 - Top 5 Female Performances
Music: Utah Carol, "The Northern Skies"
54:01-1:01:23 - Contests
1:01:24-1:14:45 - Top 5 Male Performances
1:14:45-1:17:22 - Close/Next Show/Outtake

NOTES/CORRECTIONS
- Check out Steve's interview with "The Fall" director Tarsem here.

- "Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day" is actually out on DVD 8/19.

- Saleh Bakri is the actor who is so good in "The Band's Visit" (one of many).