Popcorn 'N Roses

Subject:CINEMA #81 - "Diamonds In The Rough II: Karat Cake!"

On our second annual Diamonds In The Rough show, Kim and TC each spotlight five films that you should see when you get the chance, because they're too good to miss - call it our "Put it on your Netflix queue II" show! ::see Wristcutters this week::

THE SHOW: 10 great films you may have missed that we think you should see!  Plus, The Callback, we catch up on tons of e-mail, a look at two more special "Uncut Gems" in a new regular feature, our Bonehead Of The Week (attention you Dancing With The Stars fans) and TC and Kim offer up a philosophical arguement about "Wristcutters: A Love Story", opening wide this weekend!::see Wristcutters this week::

THIS WEEK'S NOTES:

It is not too late to enter the Masters Of The Macabre Trivia Challenge - you have until this Thursday, November 8, at 6 PM to enter!  Remember, you should at least TRY - a $100 BestBuy gift card could be YOURS! ::see Wristcutters this week::

I apologize for being late this week - i've been trying to fix some of the problems that several listeners have been mentioning with the sound, and I dont' think it's there yet, but we'll get it.::see Wristcutters this week::

We've got a LOT on tap this week, and plan to attend a couple more movies this week, so hopefully we'll be able to bring you news on those on next week's show.::see Wristcutters this week::

We're also going to be making a few small changes to the site this week involving the way the sidebars are arranged, hoping to make things more asthetically pleasing and easier to use. ::see Wristcutters this week::

I get the feeling there's some subliminal campaigning going on here...somewhere...oh, well. maybe it's just my imagination...::see Wristcutters this week::

Be sure and let us know what you think of our picks for Diamonds, and of course be sure to let us know if you've seen them, and what YOUR Diamonds are at subjectcinema@popcornnroses.com!::see Wristcutters this week::

Before I forget, as I mentioned briefly above, Wristcutters:A Love Story opened nationwide this weekend, and will continue to expand over the next three weeks. I hope everyone who gets a chance to see it will go, because there are so many reasons WHY I named it my #3 movie OF ALL TIME on my Personal Pantheon list earlier this year. I cannot express how much I truly LOVE this movie, but as you listen to the last segment of the show, where Kim and I both get a bit silly about the topic, i'm sure you'll get the idea...::see Wristcutters this week::

Oh, and one more thing...::see Wristcutters this week::

See "Wristcutters" This Week!  Hee Hee Hee!

NEXT WEEK: THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST! See you then!

An indie film you do NOT want to miss...

A couple of weeks ago, New York Times writer David Carr spotlighted this fall's glut of indie films, pointing out that films that used to have the luxury of opening in New York and Los Angeles and then gaining wider exposure by word of mouth barely have that chance anymore, thanks to the number of large studios that have created "independent" marquee spinoff companies. Paramount Vantage, Fox Searchlight, Warner Independent Productions - all are owned by major studios yet are distributing films that cater to the indie fan.

Too many times those little films get lost anyway. They come to small indie theaters, usually the Landmark chain, play for a week or two, and then disappear until it comes time to release them on DVD. That's fine...sometimes.

But sometimes there's a film that nobody counts on to do well that will knock the socks off of people, whether they're casual filmgoers or film critics, and suddenly explode. The 2006 critics darling Little Miss Sunshine did that - and now there's another film that is deserving of the same thing.

Watch your local independent theaters in the next few weeks for a little gem from indie distributor Anywhere Road called Black Irish. Chances are very good you're seeing the next "little movie that could".

Shot in the summer of 2005 in Boston and the surrounding area, Black Irish follows the trials and tribulations of the middle child in the McKay family, 15 year old Colin, as played by 2006 Popcorn N Roses number one Rising Star Michael Angarano (best known as Will Stronghold from the Disney film Sky High and as Sid from Lords Of Dogtown), who yearns for the attentions of his emotionally remote father, played by Brendan Gleeson (Mad Eye Moody from the Harry Potter movies).

As written and directed by filmmaker Brad Gann, Black Irish has been one of the most successful films on the film festival circuit for the past 18 months. It has been an official selection at almost a dozen prestigious film festivals, and has taken either the official award or the audience award for best picture at FIVE of those festivals - Method Fest, Florida Film Festival, Jackson Hole Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. In addition, Angarano has picked up two best actor awards, and co-star Tom Guiry has picked up a supporting actor award for the film.

So if all this is true, and the movie is THIS GREAT, I know you're asking yourself "Why haven't I ever HEARD of this movie"?

The answer to that question is just as simple - "Because it's an indie."

Indie movies frequently don't have the kind of budget to engage in massive ad campaigns. As noted above, they rely primarily on word of mouth - and the press - to get the word out.

So...i'm getting the word out. You do NOT want to miss this film.

Black Irish is having it's official openings this weekend, in Boston and Los Angeles. After that, it will spread to the rest of the country over the next few weeks. It's a movie you'll want to take the time to seek out, because if you don't, you'll have no doubt missed one of the best movies of the year.

Popcorn N Roses will keep you up to date on openings in more cities over the next month.

On Spout: http://www.spout.com/films/319579/default.aspx

Subject:CINEMA #74 - "Underrated Incorporated"

This week, by request from listeners, we name another dozen movies we thought were underrated - movies that didn't really get a fair shake, from the critics, the public, or both!

THE SHOW: Kim and TC reveal their dozen Underrated picks for this installment of underated movies, and try to give you reasons why you should check them out. Also, TC reviews Julie Taymor's "Across The Universe", the usual stuff - Email, Bonehead Of The Week, poll results - and coverage of this past week's National Amusements "Attack Of the B-Movies" series.

THIS WEEK'S NOTES:

I'll have some more notes, and the video clip mentioned in the e-mail, up later this evening. Of course I always say that and sometimes it's a week or two later, but I PROMISE they'll be up by early Monday Morning at the latest this time!

A plea to director Godfrey Reggio - Please Bring "Koyaanisqatsi" to IMAX!

After attending this past weekend's IMAX movie for the PNR Summer Tour (see review from Monday), I started thinking about other films that would lend themselves to the IMAX format.

One movie in particular stands out to me as the perfect candidate for the IMAX treatment. It has long been one of my all-time favorite films, and its visual style was way ahead of its time.

And now, as the 25th anniversary of the film's release is looming in 2008, I think it's time to take the next logical step into IMAX. I've been saying so for YEARS and now is the perfect time for it.

The film is Godfrey Reggio's incredible 1983 visual masterpiece, Koyaanisqatsi (see Popcorn's Pix here). Backed with it's mesmering Philip Glass score, this movie is just SCREAMING to be brought to the IMAX or IMAX 3-D format.

For those of you unfamiliar with Reggio's work, Koyaanisqatsi (the title is Hopi indian for "life out of balance") is a visual and aural masterpiece about our world and how man's search for progress has affected it. In many ways, it was "An Inconvienient Truth" 24 years BEFORE that movie came out and without the presence of former Vice President Al Gore.

I have watched the movie dozens of times since it came out on DVD, and remain a strong proponent of it. I have talked it up on Subject:CINEMA several times, and there is little doubt it will be among my Top 20 Films of ALL TIME when that list is announced in June on the first anniversary edition of Subject:CINEMA.

The first part of the "Qatsi" trilogy of movies, it is the strongest and best of the three, and just the opening 15 minutes alone would make an IMAX experience unlike any other.  Think of what it would be like to see those images of the desert and sky on the humongous IMAX screen. Kim often describes this part of the movie as "What it must feel like to be flying on Superman's shoulders", and she's absolutely right.

Think of being immersed in IMAX 3-D during the time lapse flights through skyscrapers, or during the mind-blowing time-lapse traffic sequence - it would feel like the most incredible motion odyssey movie ride in history.

For those of you who have never seen the movie, it might be hard to understand, but in many ways, Koyaanisqatsi is almost a religious experience. And to me, the chance to see it larger than ever before postively makes me drool.

So I have decided to take matters into my own hands, so to speak.

I have launched the Bring "Koyaanisqatsi" to IMAX petititon over at petitiononline.com. I will be bringing this petition up to as many people as I possibly can, and hopefully the esteemed Mr Reggio will take us to heart and allow his masterpiece to be prepped for an IMAX run during it's 25th anniversary year.

It will only take you a moment or so to sign the petition and add your voice to the hopefully millions of voices that will join us in asking for one of the greatest movie experiences of all time to be brought to the most visually rich and incredible movie screens of all time in celebration of its' 25th anniversary.

You can visit the petition by clicking here - and please spread the word to your friends as well.

It is my hope that within the next 18 months or so, I can sit down in our local IMAX theater (possibly donning 3-D glasses) and enjoy the breathtaking splendor that is Koyaanisqatsi like i've never seen it before. So please - sign the petition!

YOu will NEVER regret doing so.

Subject:CINEMA #49 - Art House Confidential

On this month's Wednesday edition, TC and Kim take a look at art films, and whether or not the terms "art film" and "indie film" are interchangable. Also, complete audio reviews of "Air Guitar Nation" and "Wristcutters: A Love Story"!

THE SHOW (times may be off due to Podshow insertions):

Segment 1 (1:52) - What makes an art film; are "art film" and "indie film" interchangable?

Segment 2 (16:20) - Continuing the debate; what directors usually make art films?

Segment 3 (30:55) - Review - Air Guitar Nation

Segment 4 (46:11) - Review - Wristcutters: A Love Story

THIS WEEK'S NOTES:

Kim and I neither one considered ourselves "art house" fans until a couple years ago, and many of the movies that you can consider "art" films never make it to your local cinema. We were extremely lucky to get a chance to see the elusive "Wristcutters" and it's the perfect example of that type of film.

SATURDAY: SUPER SUMMER SNEAK PEEK!

Subject:CINEMA #22 - Diamonds In The Rough

TC and Kim turn the spotlight on some choice movies you may have missed at your local cineplex - if you blinked, chances are they were gone already, and these movies are worth finding...

The Show
Segment 1 (:30) Coming Soon
Segment 2 (TBD) Coming Soon
Segment 3 (TBD) Coming Soon
Segment 4 (TBD) Coming Soon
Segment 5 (TBD) Coming Soon

Subject:CINEMA #15 - Underrated But Never Duplicated

After spotlighting movies they thought were overrated last week, this week Kim and TC highlight a dozen movies that they think got the shaft at the boxoffice, from the critics, or from moviegoers...Our "Put it on your Netflix queue" show...

The Show
Segment 1 (:30) How we determined what an "underrated" movie is; Underrated movies part one
Segment 2 (22:00) Underrated Movies, part two
Segment 3 (40:00) - Upcoming shows, E-mail, promoing Popcorn N Roses & Marquee Mix, poll results, trivia contest,trivia winner, donations, the new toolbar, podcast promos, upcoming projects
Segment 4 (1:02:35) Kim and TC each name their top two underrated movies

Subject:CINEMA #10 - You Made Us Love You, We Didn't Want To Do It

TC and Kim discuss their "guilty pleasure" movies

The Show
Segment 1 (:30) - Guilty Pleasure movies, part one
Segment 2 (18:40) - Guilty Pleasure movies, part two
Segment 3 (40:40) - Popcorn N Roses, Honorable Mentions on TC's list - Meteor and Airport 1975, E-mail, Vote for us at Podcast Alley, Podcast Promos, Poll Results, shoutout to Larry411,
Segment 5 (1:01:55) - Two joint Guilty Pleasures