cinema fix

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Just in time for Oscar night, it's the first part of Cinema Fix's look back at the best and worst movies of 2013! In this part, Andrew and Monica count down their Top 10 films of the year, plus some honorable mentions. What made 2013 such a good year for movies? What gems have people overlooked? And is Blue is the Warmest Color really all that great? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:04 - Honorable Mentions
7:10 - Top 10 of 2013
54:38 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's been a month since the last Cinema Fix episode, but don't worry! Andrew and Monica are back with a vengeance to discuss over a dozen movies that were released over the holidays. They talk everything from potential Oscar winners to movies that January forgot: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Her, American Hustle, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Saving Mr. Banks, 47 Ronin, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Inside Llewyn Davis, August: Osage County, The Legend of Hercules, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and The Wolf of Wall Street.  What's worth seeing? What should you avoid? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:55 - Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
6:16 - Her
9:35 - American Hustle
15:40 - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
18:50 - Saving Mr. Banks
23:50 - 47 Ronin
28:04 - Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
32:40 - Lone Survivor
36:23 - Inside Llewyn Davis
41:28 - August: Osage County
45:35 - The Legend of Hercules
50:42 - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
56:40 - The Wolf of Wall Street
1:07:27 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Are the odds in Catching Fire's favor? In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the difficulties of adapting a series like the Hunger Games books to the big screen, and how the film industry by its nature ends up undermining the themes of the film. Is Katniss a good feminist figure? Does the film effectively convey the book's critique of the media? Do these films practice what they preach, or are they just another example of Capitol-esque propaganda? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
2:28 - Katniss as a feminist figure
9:40 - Media critique, performances
13:35 - The ending (or lack thereof)
18:02 - Action direction, playing it safe
23:14 - Creative liberties and the adaptation process
28:50 - No feeling of danger
34:37 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts on the second installment of the Hunger Games film adaptations. Does Catching Fire improve upon the first film in any ways? Does it live up to the book? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
1:55 - Feedback on 12 Years A Slave
6:20 - General thoughts on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's time for another spoiler-filled talk about a slavery movie, so you know what that means... Craig Lindsey! Craig returns to Cinema Fix to discuss whether 12 Years A Slave is worth the hype. Is it an "important" film? Is McQueen's style too distancing? Does he make suffering too photogenic? Why aren't there more movies about the hierarchy among slaves? Are any of the slave masters "good" or are they all evil? Tune in to find out. Plus, a tangent about twerking.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
6:48 - Craig's general thoughts on 12 Years A Slave, whether it's "important"
12:54 - The appropriate distance from the subject?
19:40 - Racism as institutional and systemic
24:43 - Is William Ford good or bad?
32:49 - The depiction of religion
37:08 - Is there a "proper" way to depict slavery, aesthetically?
54:00 - Alfre Woodard and slave hierarchy; also, twerking
1:06:18 - How it will be remembered
1:10:52 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Sometimes it's hard to figure out the context in which to critique a film that's deemed "important" for whatever reason, but Andrew and Monica do their best. Is Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave the great film about slavery we need? Is that even a fair question? Tune in to hear their general thoughts on the film.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:00 - General thoughts on 12 Years A Slave
14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Cinema Fix Overdose is back with an extra bonus set of reviews! Monica and Andrew discuss a variety of films both old and new, and offer some recommendations for films that were released on DVD/Blu-Ray during the month of October. Plus, they also get into a small discussion about target demographics and how to treat a film aimed at a group to which you don’t belong. Titles discussed include: The Naked City, Baggage Claim, Instructions Not Included, Rush, The Canyons, Masters of Sex and a whole lot more!

SHOW NOTES:

1:42 - Intro
3:23 - Naked City (buy it)
5:58 - Baggage Claim
12:45 - Instructions Not Included
17:05 - After Tiller
22:20 - Before Sunrise (watch it)
26:43 - The Canyons (buy it)
30:33 - The Rep (watch it)
34:50 - Rush
39:00 - Abuse of Weakness
41:50 - Masters of Sex
45:47 - DVD/Blu-Ray Recommendations
56:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Charlie Nash stops by to help Monica argue with Andrew about Kimberly Peirce's version of Carrie. Is the film really a total waste of time? How is Carrie different in this version? What are the main themes it's exploring this time? Are the supporting characters better drawn in this version or the original? Tune in to find out. NOTE: There's a lot of talk about the De Palma film, so beware of a few spoilers if you haven't seen it!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
4:06 - Comparisons to Let Me In
11:40 - On remakes in general
14:53 - Carrie as a character
35:48 - Margaret's rape, themes of blood and trauma
43:57 - Supporting characters and their development
1:01:12 - YouTube and Tommy's demise
1:04:09 - Tuxedos!
1:06:42 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

There have now been three screen adaptations of Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie, most notably a 1976 version from director Brian De Palma. The latest one is directed by Kimberly Peirce and stars Chloe Grace Moretz in the role famously performed by Sissy Spacek. How does this version compare? Is it even fair to judge it in light of the De Palma movie? Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
1:47 - Listener feedback/question
4:57 - General thoughts on Carrie
13:15 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica are joined by special guest Kenji Fujishima from In Review Online to discuss how Captain Phillips depicts true events and the degree to which an artist should be judged for how a film touches on (or doesn't touch on) real-life issues. Is Paul Greengrass' approach an objective one? Is not taking the stand actually a stand itself? Does the film fully humanize all of its characters? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 - Intro and clip
4:05 - Kenji's thoughts on Captain Phillips
7:36 - Paul Greengrass' style and approach to real events
12:44 - Basic attempts to humanize the pirates
17:20 - Is it biased?
21:40 - The final scene
26:26 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give some spoiler-free thoughts on Captain Phillips, the new film directed by Paul Greengrass that stars Tom Hanks as a commercial shipping boat captain whose vessel is hijacked. Does it do the real-life story justice? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:46 - General thoughts on Captain Phillips
12:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica analyze the different themes running through Gravity. There's a lot of religious symbolism and rebirth imagery. Does that fit with the primary arc? Is it a movie about hope or coming to terms with death? Is there such a thing as too intense? Tune in to find out. Plus, they pitch some pretty artsy ideas for a sequel in Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:20 - Too intense? Not knowing how it will end
5:50 - The primary character arc
9:29 - Themes of rebirth and evolution
13:26 - All alone
15:54 - The guy on the radio
19:38 - Regaining confidence, really intense moments
25:25 - Reboot This!
30:32 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Film critic Simon Abrams from RogerEbert.com joins Andrew and Monica to discuss the original Kick-Ass comics and how the film adaptations compare. Does Millar succeed in making a satirical point? Is the film version of Kick-Ass 2 an improvement in any way? What's up with the class warfare allegory? And is Hit Girl an example of a strong female character? Tune in as they try to find the answers to all these questions and much more. Plus, you'll definitely want to hear what Simon pitches for a prequel in Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
4:44 - Simon's overall thoughts on the film and comic
12:58 - Hit Girl trying to be popular
21:30 - Allegory for class warfare
29:50 - Cutting things for the big screen; too safe?
33:40 - Use of music during action to make a point... or not
38:05 - Comparisons with the satire of the first film
42:17 - Differences with the comic: Chris' uncle, Kick-Ass' girlfriend
46:24 - Hit Girl and depictions of "strong" women
53:43 - Reboot This!
57:56 - Comic book recommendations and show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica discuss the racial politics of Hollywood and how an interesting script can sometimes get lost in the execution in their spoiler-filled analysis of 2 Guns. What's up with Paula Patton's character and her decision to do nudity? How is the relationship her character has with Denzel's one of the more tragic in recent memory? And is the movie's depiction of Mexicans offensive or just a symptom or a larger institutional problem?  Tune in to find out. Plus, Hollywood would be wise to take note of their ideas for a sequel in Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
2:37 - Awful title
3:48 - Paula Patton, nudity and female characters
8:56 - Denzel's tragic relationship history
11:18 - How the ending betrays its anti-institution themes
15:50 - Supporting actors that chew the scenery
19:49 - The chicken scene
21:43 - Racist against Mexicans?
29:13 - Reboot This!
33:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!