Author: Richard Mattox

100 Movie Challenge: #97 Blade Runner

Richard Mattox 7 Comments

B+

Blade Runner 1982
Blade Runner 1982

I know this might ruffle some feathers. Members of the Blade Runner cult are sharpening their pitchforks at the fact that it is not our first A+, and perhaps with good reason.  After all, the 1982 dystopian sci-fi holds a special and influential position in the film history hierarchy.  The concept is phenomenally inventive, the characters are extremely compelling and oddly relatable, the visuals are stunning and progressive, and the theme is one that leaves you questioning your worldview as you exit the theater.  Blade Runner is one of the first films to reach beyond the suffocating tropes of the science fiction genre and use it as a viable and effective means for telling a poignant story.  At this point, I have almost convinced myself that I rated it too low.

The story follows Deckard (Harrison Ford), a retired police officer who is forced to accept a mission to eliminate several illegal “replicants” (bioengineered humanoids).  The journey that follows combines thrilling action with a very compelling question: what does it really mean to be alive?

However, while all of the elements seem apparent, there is just a whiff of something missing for me.  It was the second time I’ve watched Blade Runner and, for whatever reason, I find the conversations that occur after watching to be far more enjoyable than the actual viewing experience.  I know I may be claiming my own private island here, but it can be slow at times

Daryl Hanna as replicant Pris
Daryl Hanna as replicant: Pris

and failed to keep me fixed to the edge of my seat. And it seems I’m not alone!  Blade Runner is one of a few members of the AFI List that struck out entirely at the Academy Awards, winning 0 Oscars out of only two nominations.  Now, this is not a perfect indicator of the film’s quality, especially since 1982 was simply a great year for movies (#91 Sophie’s Choice, #69 Tootsie, and #24 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial from our list were all released that same year); but it seems as though much of the appreciation for Blade Runner has come in retrospect.

Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard and Sean Young as Rachel
Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard and Sean Young as Rachel

Still, it’s one of those movies you just have to see.  No film junkie’s vernacular is complete without the occasional reference or parallel to Blade Runner, and its impact on the future of film is extremely apparent.  For that, Blade Runner earns a solid B+, and a Liberty Rating of 7 for its commentary on the ways in which outside forces influence individual freedoms.  I won’t question it’s inclusion on the list, I just can’t say I’m as blown away as some of my peers.  Maybe I’m missing something.

Alrighty.  Are you keeping up?  Next is #96, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

  • 100. Ben-Hur
  • 99. Toy Story
  • 98. Yankee Doodle Dandy
  • 97. Blade Runner
  • 96. Do the Right Thing

Okay, bring it on.  How do you feel about Blade Runner?  Can you help me see the light? Or are you equally underwhelmed by the hype?  Let us know!

To see the rest of the list click here.

Something Wicked-ly Awesome This Way Comes

Richard Mattox 1 Comment
Complete Works Premieres on April 23 on Hulu
Complete Works Premieres on April 23 on Hulu

Shakespeare on television? Could it be true? Not since BBC Television Shakespeare has the bard’s work been packaged for your episodic viewing pleasure.  But Hulu’s new show “Complete Works” brings Shakespeare to modern day.  The show follows Hal (played by Joe Sofranko, who also wrote and directed the series alongside Adam North), a nerdy, Shakespeare-obsessed finalist in the National Shakespeare Competition.  Sofranko’s creation of the character is likely based on his own life, having been crowned champion out of over 16,000 competitors in the 2004 National Shakespeare Competition.

As a bit of a Shakespeare junkie, I’m geeking-out in anticipation of the show, which looks extremely well done.  All episodes are set to premiere on April 23 (William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday) and I will definitely be tuning in.  Click here to watch the trailer, it certainly got me interested; as did the recently released teaser. Friends, Shakespeare fanatics, those of you who are intellectually condescending, lend me your ears! Catch “Complete Works” on April 23rd.

The Cast of Complete Works
The Cast of Complete Works

100 Movie Challenge: #98 Yankee Doodle Dandy

Richard Mattox 7 Comments

B

Only three movies in and we’re already at our first movie musical!  As a huge fan of musicals, it is rare to find a one that I don’t appreciate.  Add one of the greatest film actors of all time in James Cagney and you get the 1942 classic Yankee Doodle Dandy.  So how could the 

Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942
Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942

cosmic combination only amount to a B rating?

As much as I hate to say it, the film’s downfall resides with its star, James Cagney.  One of the all-time greats, known primarily for founding the classic gangster archetype, Cagney plays the role of George M. Cohan, a lovable song-and-dance man.  Based on a true story, the film follows Cohan as he goes from blossoming child star to blacklisted prima donna to Americana stage icon.  Despite his infectious showmanship and superb dancing throughout the movie, Cagney’s performance falls short because he simply doesn’t sing!

The film is extremely reminiscent of classic non-integrated musicals (meaning musicals where the characters themselves are performers and, rather than breaking into spontaneous song, do all of their numbers on stage in front of an audience). It reminds one of some of the great Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers pictures (The Astaire-Rogers hallmark Swing Time is #90 on our list).  Yankee Doodle Dandy is lighthearted and captivating, but the element it lacks is Astaire’s light baritone.  Instead, Cagney, a big name not known for his singing voice, sort of speak-sings all of the tunes.  The lack of musicality from our main actor keeps the numbers, which are otherwise spectacular, from really taking off.

Now, it goes without saying that Cagney gives an otherwise compelling performance (he

George M. Cohan's Famous Stair Descent
George M. Cohan’s Famous Stair Descent

won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as George M. Cohan), and that his lack of musicality does not fully detract from what is otherwise a delightfully enjoyable picture.  The film is worth seeing if not for the dance numbers alone, where Cagney does demonstrate a remarkable amount of skill.

Despite my qualms, the enchanting nature of Yankee Doodle Dandy earns it a B, and the somewhat nostalgic sense of patriotism that permeates the film leads to a ranking of 7 on the Liberty Scale.  In my opinion, it’s the sort of movie you just can’t dislike.  Like me, you may not walk away considering your life permanently changed, but you likely won’t walk away regretting the two hours you invested in the life of George M. Cohan.

We’re moving right along.  Next is the science fiction masterpiece Blade Runner.

  • 100. Ben-Hur
  • 99. Toy Story
  • 98. Yankee Doodle Dandy
  • 97. Blade Runner

Do you disagree?  Do you feel worse-off for having invested time in Yankee Doodle Dandy?  Or did you find the film refreshing and nostalgic?  Were you a fan of Cagney’s speak-singing song style?  Let us know!

To see the rest of the list click here.

100 Movie Challenge: #99 Toy Story

Richard Mattox 8 Comments

A

Okay, I may be a little biased on this one.  Of any film ever made, none has affected me more than the 1995 Pixar masterpiece, Toy Story.  I was Woody for countless Halloweens, I collected dozens upon dozens of the authentic toys, and, to this day, have

Toy Story 1995
Toy Story 1995

a set of Toy Story bed sheets on my bed at my parents’ house.  I even went through a phase where I was convinced my toys were alive.  I’ve seen it 50 times, I can quote it effortlessly, and I still get choked up at the end.

But that’s because it’s simply a magnificent movie.  Like #100 Ben-Hur, which we talked about last week, Toy Story had an ENORMOUS impact on the future of film;  only, in my opinion, Toy Story‘s innovation is almost unmatchable. The bold choice to do an entire film exclusively with computer animation has led to an absolute revolution not only in the world of animation, but in the world of film at large.

The amazing part is, that may not even be the most noteworthy aspect of Toy Story.  It was the first animated movie ever to be nominated in the category of Best Original Screenplay, which is a no-brainer when you consider the magnificently original concept, the superbly witty comedy style, and the highly compelling character development, something we had not seen much of in “children’s films.”

Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks as Woody
Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks as Woody

Toy Story also set the standard for a series of terrific Pixar scores.  Composer and songwriter, Randy Newman was nominated twice for Toy Story, and began a trend of these beautiful images being accompanied by beautiful music. (The first time I cried in a movie was in Finding Nemo; not because of the initial tragedy, not when the family is finally reunited, but in the opening title sequence.  The music combined with the images of the coral reef overwhelmed me to the point of tears).

Toy Story is an A movie, also earning a 6 on the Liberty Scale with a plot that revolves around competition.  If, for whatever reason, you have yet to see the story of what happens when Woody, Andy’s favorite toy, has his status challenged by the new-coming, hi-tech space figure, Buzz, I could not more highly recommend it.  For both young and old, it is a brilliant story of friendship and fantasy.

That’s two movies in the books.  Next for us is the 1942 Cagney musical Yankee Doodle Dandy.

  • 100. Ben-Hur
  • 99. Toy Story
  • 98. Yankee Doodle Dandy

How about you?  Do you love Toy Story as much as I do, or is the Pixar film debut highly overrated?  Let us know!

My Life Ends Today (And I Couldn’t Be Happier)

Richard Mattox 1 Comment
It's Finally Opening Day
It’s Finally Opening Day

That’s right.  It’s Opening Day!  The great ballparks across the US are opening up today and we’re finally getting baseball back.

So here’s what my productivity level is going to do:

Richard Mattox: Productivity During Baseball Season
Richard Mattox: Productivity During Baseball Season

All other aspects of my life will be put on hold from 4-10 pm every night.  They will be replaced by gallons of useless knowledge about who has a great BABIP and which midseason minor league call up has the best potential.  Some people say the nation’s pastime is falling away, but to me there’s still nothing that makes me feel more American.

My O’s (that’s Baltimore Orioles) made a few late signings this offseason and look poised to make noise in a competitive AL East division.  We’re all just praying Chris Davis’ 53 homer season wasn’t a fluke.

Chris "Crush" Davis: 53 HRs
Chris “Crush” Davis: 53 HRs

How do you feel about Opening Day? Have you been counting the days since October? Or do you find baseball to be unbearably slow? What are you looking forward to most in the 2014 season? Let us know!

100 Movie Challenge: #100 Ben-Hur

Richard Mattox 9 Comments

B+

We begin our journey through filmmaking history with the 1959 epic, William Wyler’s Ben-Hur, starring Charlton Heston in his Oscar-winning role as Judah Ben-Hur.

Ben-Hur 1959
Ben-Hur 1959

To this day, Ben-Hur maintains the record for the most Academy Awards for a single film (now tied with Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), winning an unprecedented 11 Oscars out of 12 nominations.  This then begs the question, how could the most decorated film of all time only strike the list at #100?

It’s a good question.  Like the two other films tied for the Oscar record, Ben-Hur effectively melds a wonderful story and great acting with a superbly high production value (the $15+ million budget was the most ever seen at the time of production).  The film follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince on a quest to rescue his mother and sister from unjust slavery.  The story is paralleled with the story of Christ, including a climactic scene at Jesus’ crucifixion.

Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur in the famous Chariot Scene
Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur in the famous Chariot Scene

While Ben-Hur certainly holds up over time, it is admired now primarily for its influence on the future of film.  The stunning biblical/historical epic defined a genre and re-established the bar as to what was possible in the world of film.  Scenes like the infamous “chariot scene” or the naval battle are as realistic today as ever, despite being made over 50 years ago (which is definitely some rare praise).

Ben-Hur earns a solid B+.  Perhaps it isn’t quite the life-changing movie now that it once was, but without it, films like Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, and, the upcoming biblical epic, Noah, may never have existed.  And on the liberty scale, Ben-Hur earns a walloping 9.5 out of 10.  The entire story is centered around the dream of attaining freedom, which is perhaps what makes Judah’s quest so noble.  For him, nothing compares to the notion of being truly free; a theme that rings just as true today as 2000 years ago.

Wyler’s masterpiece continues to prove why it holds a place as a film history juggernaut.  My only regret was not being able to see it on the big screen.  My tiny Macbook screen probably doesn’t do justice to the originally intended epic-widescreen experience.  (If you, for whatever reason, have the opportunity to see this in 35mm, do not, I repeat DO NOT miss that chance).  So why only #100?  I suppose that remains to be seen.  We’ve got a lot of movies to go.

That’s one down.  Next up: Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story.

  • 100. Ben-Hur
  • 99. Toy Story

What did you think of Ben-Hur?  Were you totally blown away?  Or were you snoring by the start of hour 3?  Let us know!

 

Mystery Science Theater Returns to Television

Richard Mattox Leave a comment

That’s right!  Stop jumping up and down for a second so you can get the details.

The National Geographic channel has invited MST3000 alumni Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (as Tom Servo), and Bill Corbett (as Crow T. Robot) for an April Fools Day special.

Tom Servo, Mike, and Crow
Tom Servo, Mike, and Crow

The gang, known for poking fun at poorly made B movies, will reunite to “riff” on some of National Geographic’s own classic segments.  The special, entitled Total Riff Off, will fittingly air on April 1st.

For those of us who are already members of the MST3K cult, it will be a great time to light some candles around our television sets and re-live the glory days.  And for those of you who missed the Mystery Science Theater heyday, you’ll have an opportunity to finally understand why watching other people watch movies can be so brilliant.

In my book, this has to be considered the most anticipated TV event of the year.  I’ve been watching and re-watching every episode I can get ahold of (there are dozens on both Hulu and Netflix), but to see the riffers, who have been busy riffing  via their new project, RiffTrax, back on television will be like witnessing the second coming.

The AFI 100 Movie Challenge

The AFI 100 Movie Challenge

Richard Mattox 4 Comments

The Academy Awards happened recently; a night where most of the country gathers around their TVs to celebrate the one thing we all have in common: a love for the movies.

However, for as much as I pride myself in film knowledge, the famous Oscar montages tend to inform me as to how few of Hollywood’s greatest pictures I’ve actually seen.

This led me to a challenge; an attempt to tackle 100 of the greatest films of all time.

Every 10 years the American Film Institute revises what they assert to be the list of the top 100 films ever made.  Here it is: 100 Years 100 Movies 10th Anniversary Edition.

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Space Jam 2: Replacements for LeBron

Space Jam 2: Replacements for LeBron

Richard Mattox Leave a comment

The news recently broke that Warner Brothers is in the early stages of development for Space Jam 2; a sequel to the ’90s’ cult classic that starred Michael Jordan alongside Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang.

It was rumored that the sequel would star modern-day basketball superstar: LeBron James. Recently, James has denied the rumors; stating publicly “Obviously I don’t want to be on there…”

So with the “King” apparently  unwilling to share the screen with the lovable cast, Warner Brothers has been forced to seek out a new star for the film from amongst the notable players of the National Basketball Association.  Some interesting names have been proposed, but for various reasons, they have each proven unbefitting to take on the role.  Here are some of the most noteworthy players Warner Brothers has approached, and the subsequent reasons why they were not cast.

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