The Criterion Collection, the last vestige of truly collectible DVD and Blu-Ray movies in existence. These are well produced, fancy pants editions of important and interesting films for the discerning film lover.
We continue our journey through Jim's collection of movies with...
Week 23:
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Spine Number: 175
Director: Terry Gilliam
Genre: Terry Gilliam
There are certain pieces of culture, pop or otherwise, that are tied to certain ages. If you read Tolkein for the first time as a 10-13 year old it could open up a world of possibilities in literature for you. If you read it for the first time at 25, you will be annoyed at all the mentions of buttered toast and overlong song lyrics. Did I just read the words "tra la la la la?" Fuck this book. Stephen King normally takes hold when you are in your early to mid teens. Kerouack? Probably best when you are in your early 20's.
Then there is Hunter S. Thompson. Depending on when you discover his writing, he is either a genius or just kind of annoying. Both of us discovered him at the right age, early 20's, right about the time this movie hit.
There was a certain, undeniable appeal to it. An appreciation of the drug fueled, anarchic aesthetic that made the whole thing seem a lot more important than it actually was. Thompson occupies a strange place on the border of the mainstream, too strange to fully ingratiate himself, too gifted to be completely cast aside. He stands as a cultural oddity both beloved and despised. And really, I don't believe he would have it any other way. Well, I actually think he wouldn't give a damn one way or the other.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which began as an assignment to write photo captions for a motorcycle race and spiraled into a piece of pop culture canon seems, on its surface, unfilmable. Well, unfilmable to anyone but Terry Gilliam.
So, join us and see how this perfect combination of writer and director fare in this undeniable head trip of a film.
Next week:
Spine number 186: Stolen Kisses
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http://fantasymovieleague.com/
Looks like Summer Movie League has officially become Fantasy Movie League.
It looks quite fun. Here's how it works.
You have an 8 screen theater.
Every week you pick movies and have a budget/salary cap you have to stay under.
Then you compete against other theaters in your league.
It's fantasy football for movie people.
Our league is Film Thugs 2015 and the password is Porterhouse.
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Thanks for listening, and until next week...
Jim out.
Criterion Year Week 11: Rushmore
Criterion Year Week 10: Charade
Criterion Year Week 9: Armageddon
Criterion Year Week 8: The Long Good Friday
Criterion Year Week 7: The Silence of the Lambs
Criterion Year Week 6: Hard Boiled
Criterion Year Week 5: The Killer and Old School Video Stores
Criterion Year Week 4: The 400 Blows
Criterion Year Week 3: The Lady Vanishes and The Basics of Hitchcock
Criterion Year Week 2: The Seven Samurai and its Remakes
Criterion Year Week 1: The Grand Illusion and POW Movies
Long Delayed Sequels Part 2: Finally the topic!
Long Delayed Sequels Part 1: The Episode Where We Don't Discuss The Topic
The Films of Christopher Guest: How Improv Should Be Done
Episode 21: My lying ass family of lying liars.
The Criterion Collection with Special Guest
Episode 20:Nobody asked you to be funny/ AKA: There is a time and a place for penises
War on Film: With Special Guest Host
Episode 19: How an adult should handle a birthday party
Lance Henriksen... need we say more?
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