PTS Proudly Presents Special Guest MARK PELLINGTON

Podcasting Them Softly

We proudly present a podcast with special guest Mark Pellington.  Mark has an eclectic filmography spanning from the MTV music video generation where he directed Pearl Jam’s JEREMY, INXS BEAUTIFUL GIRL, and U2’s ONE among a few.  Mark’s feature film are startling reflective pieces of work including GOING ALL THE WAY,  ARLINGTON ROAD, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, HENRY POOLE IS HERE and I MELT WITH YOU.   His latest work is a short musical film called LONE and NBC’s new show BLINDSPOT where Mark directed the pilot.

I MELT WITH YOU is available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

LONE is available to rent or purchase on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Vudu.

We would like to thank Mark for how gracious he was with his time, and it was an absolute pleasure to speak with him.  Please…

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Top Ten Love Stories

Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and many movie blogs and websites will be posting their own lists of “love movies”, which will more than likely consist of mainstream love stories, my list will be somewhat alternative but still, at the core of each film that I picked, the film is rooted in love. Because more times than not, love can be a very strange and wicked game. I will not be reviewing “The Vow”.

1. “True Romance” 1993. Dir. Tony Scott
   

   “True Romance” tends to be the against the grain film for most people who admire Tarantino, sighting this as their favorite Tarantino film. While he did write the screenplay, the author of this film is very much Tony Scott. The brazed love of Clarence and Alabama has been told prior in films like “Badlands” and “Bonnie and Clyde”, but the chemistry of Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette make this film the staple for tragic star crossed lovers.

   

2. “Brokeback Mountain” 2005. Dir. Ang Lee
   

   “Brokeback Mountain” is such a beautifully painful film about two men who fall in love. I have never seen a film that has demonstrated a forbidden love as well as this film, that’s directed by Ang Lee. A lot of films strive to be perfect, but “Brokeback Mountain” most certainly is.

   

3. “When Harry Met Sally” 1989. Dir. Rob Reiner
   

   “When Harry Met Sally” remains to be one of my favorite movies of all time. The impeccable comedic timing of Billy Crystal meshes perfectly with the bubbly Meg Ryan. This film is very sweet, charming, hilarious and poetic. I think most romantic comedies nowadays try and reproduce the formula that this film made great, but no film will ever achieve the heart that this film demonstrates.

   

4. “Blue Valentine” 2010. Dir. Derek Cianfrance
   

   I was blown away by this film. I was struck by the realism of a decaying, and destructive love where there isn’t a good guy or a bad guy. Things happen, things change and sometimes we can’t do anything about it. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are truly awe-some in this movie.

   

5. “Beginners” 2011. Dir. Mike Mills
   

   “Beginners” was one of my favorite films of last year. Not only did it give us the amazing turn by Christopher Plummer, but it was also a very sweet and funny movie that removed itself from the flock of romantic comedies by its brilliant screenplay and wonderful performances by the leads, including the Jack Russell Terrier, Arthur.

   

6. “Blue Velvet” 1986. Dir. David Lynch
   

   “Blue Velvet” is many things: a masterpiece, a neo noir, a really fucked up trip of a movie, but above all that – this movie is a love story. A very sick and twisted love story of what Frank Booth (Hopper) will do to hold onto the love he has for Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini).

   

7. “Wings of Desire” 1987. Dir. Wim Wenders
   

   Remade as the dreadful “City of Angels”, this film is the story of an angel named Daniel who chooses to fall from grace because of his love over a dancer. Skip the Nicolas Cage/Meg Ryan remake. It’s pretty awful.

   

8. “A Woman Under the Influence” 1974. Dir. John Cassavetes
   

   Peter Falk plays a construction foreman who is married to Gena Rowlands whose sanity has slipped beyond repair. She’s insane, but the dedication of Peter Falk shows us what true love really is.

   

9. “The Crying Game” 1992. Dir. Neil Jordan
   

   If this film isn’t about true love, I don’t know what is.

   

10. “Mona Lisa” 1986. Dir. Neil Jordan
    

    She was a tart. He was an ex con. Sometimes love really is a strange and wicked game.

So Here’s the Deal

So, the reason I abannonded this site, so long ago, was because my laziness allowed the domain name of PompousFilmSnob.com to lapse, some asshole bought it and it’s now some bullshit advertisement page.  It’s also selling on GoDaddy.com for $8,000.  I’d like to buy it back, but who am I? Mitt Romney?  So in any event, my “new” blog, http://www.exerminateallrationalthought.com didn’t take off so well, I got lazy with it.  But since, however many months later of not writing on this blog, I still get almost 200 hits a day.  So you people most really, really like me.  Or it’s just dumb luck.  Either way, in the immortal words of Paul Newman from “The Color of Money”, I’m back (fuckers).

Good. Bye.

I’m signing off here. It’s been a trip. Thank you to everyone who’s read my posts and commented.

But…

I’m over here now.

“Killer View” (aka “Snuffed”) – 2009. Dir. Brian James O’Connell

With Noah Key, Martin Moakler, Brahm Gallagher, Maija Polsley and Whitney Powell

“How could I bring a child into this world that has someone like me in it?”

 

    Well hello dear reader(s), it’s been a while since I’ve written anything on here, and while I’ve seen “Your Highness” and “Source Code” and “Thor” (and a plethora of other films) I haven’t had the urge (overkill) to write about them. Nothing about those films really gave me anything exciting to write about, you know what I mean?

    I had the fortunate opportunity to see a film called “Killer View”. I wasn’t sure what to think of this film at first. It has a very crude and graphic opening scene that I wasn’t prepared for. I was taken aback at the realistic nature of the film.

    The film itself is setup as a documentary/found footage film. I’ve always felt that “The Blair Witch Project” was the “Pulp Fiction” of low budget independent horror/thriller films. Take for example the slew of “Paranormal Activity” films, or the recent “Last Exorcism”. The whole “found footage” fad is getting remarkably old, and I roll my eyes when I read about a new film using this template.

    “Killer View” uses this template, and “Killer View” couldn’t have been a more astonishing and bold film if it had a huge budget and bankable actors. The story of “Killer View” is very original and very inventive. A young reporter Martin (Martin Moakler) is following around an active serial killer named “Ben” (Noah Key). But it’s not your normal “found footage” film, and it’s not your cliché ridden serial killer film either.

    The film does a remarkable job of crosscutting between Ben’s interview with Martin, and Ben’s actual footage of his torturing of a couple, and the husband’s mistress April (played by a remarkable Whitney Powell).

    Then the film throws a curveball at us. We find out that one of the reasons Ben videotapes his killings are because he ends up selling these films as snuff films to rich people. And Ben sometimes takes requests from the wealthy elite if it fits his current needs that he needs to fulfill.

    Brian James O’Connell masterfully writes and directs this film that treks in darker and muddy waters than most “serial killer” or thriller films are willing to go. This film is very blunt, and very unapologetic. To me, this film seemed like the perfect fusion of “Henry: A Portrait of a Killer” and Michael Mann’s masterpiece “Manhunter”.

    This film excels upon its low budget and its cast of unknown talent. Noah Key is remarkable as Ben, the killer that almost makes his killings sound plausible. You don’t condone what he does, but you can understand it. The call and cool collectiveness of Ben’s demeanor is met with a very horrific and scary persona when Ben appears on his recordings. Key brings an excellent showboat of a performance as our unapologetic killer Ben.

    Brahm Gallagher and Maija Polsley give an excellent turn as the married couple Ben has set to kill. But as the video of the couple and Ben progress, the couple may not be as innocent as we were lead to believe. The actors do so good of a job in this film, that I found myself thinking from time to time that I was actually watching found footage of a killer’s recording.

    There isn’t one instance in the film where I thought to myself that the actors were overacting, or fake screaming too much. There was none of that. This film feels incredibly authentic. So authentic is fucking scary.

    “Killer View” proves that a film doesn’t need a large budget, or bankable names, or a big studio set to distribute. This is probably one of the best low budget films I have seen in a very, very long time. I’m not sure where you, dear reader(s), would get the opportunity to see this film, but if you can find this film, steal it. That’s how good it is.

Rating: 9/10

“Scream 4” – 2011. Dir. Wes Craven

 

 

With Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Adam Brody, Anthony Anderson, with Marley Shelton and Mary McDonnell

 

    When I first read that “Scream 4” was being made, I thought to myself that it’s a dead franchise. They ended the film on a very sour note with “Scream 3” – I mean, best part of the movie is the opening where Liev Schriber gets killed off? Then, all the “Scary Movie” movies. I just didn’t really take it seriously. Then I thought about how I have always felt that Wes Craven is an overrated director, and that I don’t really like many of his movies.

    I mean, “Scream 4”, give me a break.

    I started to think about how effect the first two “Scream” films really were, and how I don’t think they are great films, I think they are great in their genre. Fuck it, I’m going to the midnight show.    

So we open the film with a fresh new cast (but not before a couple of cameos in a “Stab” movie), and some golden oldies from the first set of films. Emma Roberts (daughter of Eric Roberts) portrays Jill Roberts, cousin of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who with her bestie Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) become tormented by the Ghostface Killer.

Kirby Reed? Really. That’s a name for a girl? Oh yeah, her haircut fits the name. Seriously.

We round out the cast with Dewey (David Arquette) who is now Sherriff of Woodsboro and is still married to Gale (Courtney Cox, Arquette?) and when the killer starts killing, and she tags along with the presidents of the Horror Movie Club at Woodsboro High – Robbie Mercer (Erik Knudsen) and Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin) to try and get her career back.

All the while, ole girl Sidney Prescott is back in her home town to open up her book tour. And don’t you know it, the killings start again!

This movie is predictable, yet still manages to surprise you, and as unbelievable as it is, your still dig it. The new cast is fun, it reminds us of the cast from the original film. Wes Craven gets a pallet of actors that suit the film, the mood, and the roles perfectly.

Craven delivers a solid film from a franchise that should be all, but dead. And Emma Roberts pulls a little “Star 80” of her own.

Rating: 7.5/10

Quote of the Day

 

 

“What’s your cunt taste like?” – Larry

“Heaven.” – Alice

Larry (Clive Owen) and Alice (Natalie Portman) in Mike Nichols “Closer”

“Fish Tank” – 2009. Dir. Andrea Arnold

With Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing Rebecca Griffiths

 

“You need sortin’ out, you do.” – Connor (Michael Fassbender)

For me, “Fish Tank” was a must see. Not only did my friend Kevin highly recommend it to me, but it’s also a fresh Criterion release and it stars Michael Fassbender. Nough said. “Fish Tank” is similar to the film “An Education” – but this film is a lot darker and grittier, and it’s a lot better.

We meet Mia (the remarkable debut by non actress Katie Jarvis) from the first frame of the film. She lives in housing projects in Essex. She spends most of her days walking tall on the streets, not backing down from anyone or anything, practicing her hip hop dancing and drinking.

Everything changes when her Mother (Kierston Wareing) – who looks way too young to be Mia’s mother – brings home her new boyfriend Connor (the man, Michael Fassbender). Mia acts tough to Connor, but she’s very, very intrigued by him. She’s always watching him, watches his movements, his motions – Mia almost becomes obsessed with Connor.

Connor is unlike anyone Mia has ever met. He takes the family (which includes Mia’s foulmouthed bratty younger sister) to a hidden forest and creek. It’s unlike anything Mia has ever experienced. Everything is so bright, green – full of life. She absorbs the freshness of it all, while Connor guides her into the creek so she can feel the fish rub up against her legs.

Connor is very supportive of Mia, when she tells him that she is going to try out to become a dancer, Connor lends Mia a video camera so she can send in a tape. There is erotic tension between Mia and Connor – but it doesn’t feel wrong – it feels innocent and new.

This film not only reminds me of “An Education” but also “Lolita”. The reason it reminds me of “Lolita” isn’t because of the relationship between Connor and Mia, it’s because we are only shown things from Mia’s perspective. We only see what she does, nothing more and nothing less; just like how the only things we see in “Lolita” is from Humbert’s perspective.

Arnolds shot this film digitally and with handheld cameras painting us this gritty and raw picture of life in the projects. It’s an unapologetic film that’s masterfully directed by Arnolds. The climax of this film, between Mia and Connor is so remarkable; I can’t get the flawlessness of it out of my head.

With most things in life, nothing is ever what it seems – and this film reinforces the fact that we will never truly ever know anyone and the most complicated thing in life is our relationships with other people. Sometimes good people do bad things, and bad people do good things and we are left with no explination.

Rating: 9/10

Oscar Predictions and Statements, yo.

Best Motion Picture of the Year Nominees:

127 Hours (2010): Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, John Smithson

Black Swan (2010): Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver, Scott Franklin

The Fighter (2010): David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg

Inception (2010): Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas

The Kids Are All Right (2010): Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray

The King’s Speech (2010): Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin

The Social Network (2010): Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Ceán Chaffin

Toy Story 3 (2010): Darla K. Anderson

True Grit (2010): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

Winter’s Bone (2010): Anne Rosellini, Alix Madigan

Will Win: “The King’s Speech”

Should Win: “Black Swan”

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominees:

Javier Bardem for Biutiful (2010)

Jeff Bridges for True Grit (2010)

Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network (2010)

Colin Firth for The King’s Speech (2010)

James Franco for 127 Hours (2010)

Will Win: Colin Firth

Should Win: Jeff Bridges (look, Firth and Bridges should just swap Oscars)

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominees:

Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole (2010)

Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone (2010)

Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010)

Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine (2010)

Will Win: Annette Bening

Should Win: Natalie Portman

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees:

Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010)

John Hawkes for Winter’s Bone (2010)

Jeremy Renner for The Town (2010)

Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Geoffrey Rush for The King’s Speech (2010)

Will Win: Geoffrey Rush

Should Win: Christian Bale

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees:

Amy Adams for The Fighter (2010)

Helena Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech (2010)

Melissa Leo for The Fighter (2010)

Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit (2010)

Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom (2010)

Will Win: Hailee Steinfeld

Should Win: Hailee Steinfeld

 

Best Achievement in Directing Nominees:

Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan (2010)

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen for True Grit (2010)

David Fincher for The Social Network (2010)

Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech (2010)

David O. Russell for The Fighter (2010)

Will Win: David Fincher

Should Win: Darren Aranofsky

*** How is Christopher Nolan not nominated?

 

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Nominees:

Another Year (2010): Mike Leigh

The Fighter (2010): Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Keith Dorrington

Inception (2010): Christopher Nolan

The Kids Are All Right (2010): Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg

The King’s Speech (2010): David Seidler

Will Win: “The King’s Speech”

Should Win: “Blue Valentine”

 

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Nominees:

127 Hours (2010): Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy

The Social Network (2010): Aaron Sorkin

Toy Story 3 (2010): Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich

True Grit (2010): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Winter’s Bone (2010): Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini

Will Win: Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”

Should Win: Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”

 

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Nominees:

How to Train Your Dragon (2010): Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

The Illusionist (2010): Sylvain Chomet

Toy Story 3 (2010): Lee Unkrich

Will Win: “How to Train Your Dragon”

Should Win: “How to Train Your Dragon”

 

Best Achievement in Cinematography Nominees:

Black Swan (2010): Matthew Libatique

Inception (2010): Wally Pfister

The King’s Speech (2010): Danny Cohen

The Social Network (2010): Jeff Cronenweth

True Grit (2010): Roger Deakins

Will Win: “The Social Network”

Should Win: “True Grit”

 

Best Achievement in Editing Nominees:

127 Hours (2010): Jon Harris

Black Swan (2010): Andrew Weisblum

The Fighter (2010): Pamela Martin

The King’s Speech (2010): Tariq Anwar

The Social Network (2010): Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall

Will Win: “The Social Network”

Should Win: “Inception” (how is the strongest factor of a Best Picture nominee not nominated?)

 

Best Achievement in Art Direction Nominees:

Alice in Wonderland (2010): Robert Stromberg, Karen O’Hara

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010): Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan

Inception (2010): Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Douglas A. Mowat

The King’s Speech (2010): Eve Stewart, Judy Farr

True Grit (2010): Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh

Will Win: “The King’s Speech”

Should Win: “The King’s Speech”

 

Best Achievement in Costume Design Nominees:

Alice in Wonderland (2010): Colleen Atwood

I Am Love (2009): Antonella Cannarozzi

The King’s Speech (2010): Jenny Beavan

The Tempest (2010/II): Sandy Powell

True Grit (2010): Mary Zophres

Will Win: “The King’s Speech”

Should Win: “The King’s Speech”

 

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Nominees:

127 Hours (2010): A.R. Rahman

How to Train Your Dragon (2010): John Powell

Inception (2010): Hans Zimmer

The King’s Speech (2010): Alexandre Desplat

The Social Network (2010): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

Will Win: “The Social Network”

Should Win: “TRON: Legacy”

 

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Nominees:

Inception (2010): Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick

The King’s Speech (2010): Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen, John Midgley

Salt (2010): Jeffrey J. Haboush, William Sarokin, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell

The Social Network (2010): Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Mark Weingarten

True Grit (2010): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F. Kurland

Will Win: “The King’s Speech”

Should Win: “Inception”

 

Best Achievement in Sound Editing Nominees:

Inception (2010): Richard King

Toy Story 3 (2010): Tom Myers, Michael Silvers

TRON: Legacy (2010): Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Addison Teague

True Grit (2010): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey

Unstoppable (2010): Mark P. Stoeckinger

Will Win: “Inception”

Should Win: “Inception”

 

Best Achievement in Visual Effects Nominees:

Alice in Wonderland (2010): Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas, Sean Phillips

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010): Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz, Nicolas Aithadi

Hereafter (2010): Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky, Joe Farrell

Inception (2010): Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin

Iron Man 2 (2010): Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright, Daniel Sudick

Will Win: “Inception”

Should Win: “TRON: Legacy”

 

Pompous Film Snob Nominations!

Thanks to my blog friends, we’ve come up with our nominations for this year. I’d like to thank Kevin (The Pork Chop Express), Peyton, Castor (Anomalous Material), Heather (Movie Mobsters), Fitz (Nevermind Popular Film), Simon/Ripley (four of them), Marshall (Marshall AND the Movies), Phil (Pompous Film Snob) and M. Carter (M. Carter at the Movies).

Best Picture

• “Black Swan”
  
• “The Fighter”
  
• “Inception”
  
• “The King’s Speech”
  
• “The Social Network”
  

Best Director

• Darren Aranofsky, “Black Swan”
• David Fincher, “The Social Network”
• Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
• Christopher Nolan, “Inception”
• David O. Russell, “The Fighter”

Best Actor

• Jeff Bridges, “True Grit”
  
• Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network”
  
• Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
  
• James Franco, “127 Hours”
  
• Michael Douglas, “Solitary Man”
  

Best Actress

• Annette Benning, “The Kids Are Alright”
• Nicole Kidman, “Rabbit Hole”
• Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
• Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit”
• Michelle Williams, “Blue Valentine”

Best Supporting Actor

• Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
• Vincent Cassel, “Black Swan”
• Andrew Garfield, “The Social Network”
• Jeremy Renner, “The Town”
• Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech”

Best Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams, “The Fighter”
  
• Helena Bonham Carter, “The King’s Speech”
  
• Barbara Hershey, “Black Swan”
  
• Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”
  
• Diane Wiest, “Rabbit Hole”
  

Best Ensemble

• Black Swan
  
• The Fighter
  
• The King’s Speech
  
• Shutter Island
  
• The Town
  

Best Original Screenplay

• “Black Swan”
  
• “Blue Valentine”
  
• “The Fighter”
  
• “Inception”
  
• “The King’s Speech”
  

Best Adapted Screenplay

• “Rabbit Hole”
  
• “The Social Network”
  
• “The Town”
  
• “Toy Story 3”
  
• “True Grit”
  

Best Cinematography

• “127 Hours”
• “Black Swan”
  
• “Inception”
  
• “The Social Network”
  
• “True Grit”
  

Best Editing

• “Black Swan”
  
• “The Fighter”
  
• “Inception”
  
• “The Town”
  
• “True Grit”
  

Best Score

• “127 Hours”
• “Black Swan”
• “Inception”
• “The Social Network”
• “TRON: Legacy”

Lifetime Achievement Award (we’ll vote for one)

• Warren Beatty
• Jeff Bridges
  
• Kurt Russell
  
• Martin Scorsese
  

   

So these are OUR nominations, and if you ask me – they’re better then the Academy’s. Nice job guys.