April 9, 2014 // The Sound of Noise // Ben

UPDATE: We'll be watching "The Sound of Noise" instead since I was the last person on Earth to see "The Cabin in the Woods" (a situation now remedied).  See you tomorrow!

I hate horror movies.

I mean it.  Being scarred is not a good feeling, so why would anyone want to watch a movie whose primary purpose is making them physically feel bad.  It's like a reverse porno or something.  It makes no sense.

On the other hand, Netflix thinks I will give this five stars, and I have heard a lot of good things about it, and I would be watching it in a room full of people who would probably protect me if a monster tried to eat me while we were watching this movie.  Also, when I was little I thought I hated roller coasters, like for years.  I refused to even think about getting on one.  Until one day someone tricked me into going on a roller coaster, and you know what?  I loved it.

So who knows, maybe I don't even know what I like, and by then end of this I'll be watching back-to-back Saw marathons every TMN.  Or maybe you will all get to see me cry.  I guess we'll find out next Wednesday at 7:00 PM (House Garry).

-bg

p.s.  I know this was a big popular movie, so I don't know if most people have already seen this.  If you have, please note so in the comments.  If most of us have already seen it, I have a backup pick (not scary) that we'll watch instead.

March 27, 2014 // The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover // Caroline

Trillsters,

Get ready for a mouthful (try saying The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover five times fast). This is a British-French film from 1989 that is a bizarrely dramatic piece of art. Everything about it is really intense and over-the-top... the characters, their wardrobe, the camera angles, the relationships, THE NUDITY (prepare to blush). Let's just say Helen Mirren leaves it all on the stage (AND THEN SOME, amirite?!). The story is that of romance and crime, though there have been critics and articles that attempt to link it to 1980s British domestic politics/Thatcherism.

It was premiered at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and shocked audiences. Due to the controversy of its content, it opted out of the rating system rather than receive an X rating from MPAA. It was directed by Peter Greenaway and is one of his most famous (infamous?) films.

Run time is right at 2 hours (so maybe not time for Dawsons, but that will really just leave us wanting more for the next time, right?).

House Garry
Thursday, March 27
7:00pm
Pizza will be served (if you don't lose your appetite first)

Return From the Ashes (1965) and more! - Springer

March 13, 2014
7:00 PM
Casa de Springer - Apt 2903
Pizza will be provided

Post World War II Paris, a sexy x-ray technician, an affair with a stepdaughter, insurance fraud, plastic surgery, chess, a guy named "Stanislaus"....basically Return From the Ashes seems to have everything!






I found this on a list of "50 Amazing Films You've Probably Never Seen" and it sounded cool. I haven't seen it, so we'll take this "journey into the diabolical" together! It stars Maximilian Schell and was directed by J. Lee Thompson, who also directed "The Guns of Navarone" and the original "Cape Fear."

Something has been gnawing at me since the last get together.  Was anyone else pretty sure that last week's DC episode was building toward a steamy lesbian scene between Tamara and Dawson's mom? We should have time to watch an episode this week and see if I was right!

See you Thursday.

Thursday, March 6 // The Killers // Rory

Dear Trillsters,

As previously discussed, we'll be taking a break this week but we'll be back at it the following week. On Thursday, March 6 Caroline & Ben will be hosting.

In an effort to dig a little deeper into one of my favorite styles / genres of film, I was looking at a list of the classic era (1940-1958) film noirs included in the National Film Registry and noticed that The Killers (1946) is one of the few that I haven't seen yet. So let's go on this ride together. 

 The Killers was directed by the German-born Robert Siodmak. It was Burt Lancaster's debut film and, although it was not Ava Gardner's debut, it was her first major role. The Killers was adapted from a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was a critical and commercial success and received Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The opening sequence is supposed to be especially noteworthy. After getting a "very long wait" message for The Killers on Netflix, I tried Weirdo Video and they got it for me in about a week. It's 105 minutes so perhaps we can sneak in a DC episode (or two) afterwards.

7:00 start time. Pizza provided. Bring your own beverages.

February 20, 2014 // Peeping Tom // Bjorn

This Thursday night at 7pm I will be showing the 1960 British thriller "Peeping Tom". It is a thriller in every sense of the word-- it is the first mainstream movie about snuff films, and features a serial killer, psychological experiments on fear and its effect on the nervous system, pornography, prostitution and a killer camera. 

It was an extremely controversial film upon its release and most British film critics found it disgusting and perverted (which to me is a glowing recommendation). Incidentally, the also said much the same about "Psycho" which was released in the same year. This movie literally ended the career of director Michael Powell, and was later rediscovered by critics and is now considered "a classic work of voyeuristic cinema" 
So join me at Springer's place at 7pm for pizza, beer, and a killer camera!

February 11, 2014 // Mutant Girl Squad // Ben

!!!NOTE THE DAY CHANGE (AGAIN)!!!

Two Words:
Ass Chainsaw

Two More Words:
Nose Gun

Three Words This Time:
Acid Breast Milk

Back To Two Words
Be There

7pm @ House Garry

Pizza provided, but if you barf it up you have to clean it up.

bg

60's Space, or 70's Race?

What's happenin' jive turkeys?
I'm having a really hard time making up my mind about what movie to watch this Thursday (since The Vault STILL ISN'T FUCKING FINISHED), so I thought I'd check and see if anyone has already seen either of these:
"For All Mankind" is widely considered the best space documentary ever made. It follows the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. It's really well done, not cheesy, and tells the story of human spaceflight in a pretty straightforward way. On a selfish level, I've kind of been wanting to show this so that when I talk about space or my job or whatever, you'll have a frame of reference for what I'm talking about.
On the other hand, the instant cult-classic "Black Dynamite" is really fucking awesome. Essentially a spoof of 70s era blacksploitation films (made in 2009), I think of it as the black Big Lebowski. The music fucking rules, it's hilarious and very self-aware, and uses a lot of famous black actors and porn stars. It's way better than I'm describing and a lot of fun to watch. Tons of subtle nods and homage.
/ /
So, have any of you seen either? What are you in the mood for?
Either way, I'm drinking a 40 with my pizza.
House Havican Thursday at 7.