Greetings everyone and welcome to FC’s most awesome podcast. Today Patrick Prifogle is sick and can not attend the recording of our podcast. Instead we have Christian DiMartino, our resident movie expert. We talk about Iron Man 3 and give a little teaser of prom. So please enjoy the glorious sound of our voices.
Click here to listen to JT and Patrick’s very eighth podcast.
By Christian DiMartino
Title: Magnolia
Genre: Drama
Release Date: December 17, 1999
Film Rating: R
Leads: Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
In the opening sequence of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, the narrator (Ricky Jay) tells three very bizarre tales of murder. At the end of this scene, the narrator leaves the audience with a question: Does fate really exist, or does everything happen out of coincidence? This is actually the film’s main theme, and it leaves the viewer with this thought the entire way through.
Magnolia revolves around a group of people living in San Fernando Valley, California. On one very rainy day, each of the character’s lives is changed, for better or for worse. Some are seeking happiness, some are seeking forgiveness, and some, simply, are dying. Even though the characters have already been classified, they can be more specifically surmised.
The characters are thrown into three main classes: the do-gooders (John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman), the evil-doers (Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall, Jason Robards), and those traumatized as children (Melora Walters, William H. Macy, Tom Cruise, Jeremy Blackman). Each of these characters is connected in some way, and all of it is leading up to a climax that will leave you saying, ”Huh?”
Let’s start off by saying that Magnolia is an amazing movie. Each of these stories and characters is more fascinating than the next. Jon Brion and Aimee Mann’s constant tunes help these three hours flow by gracefully. There is not a boring second in this contraption. Each scene is funny, very powerful, or very sad. It is difficult choosing which scene is the best.
The three hour length may be off-putting to some, but I have watched Magnolia almost religiously for months. That said, some things still do not quite add up (The story involving “the worm”; the climax, which will only make sense if it is Googled) and it is a little long. But even with its flaws, Magnolia is one big, ambitious masterpiece. It is Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterpiece. I love his other films too, but none of his previous films (Hard Eight, Boogie Nights) or later (Punch Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood, The Master) have quite matched this level of perfection. Anderson is arguably one of the greatest living directors, and even he agrees that Magnolia is the best of his work.
It is also an achievement for some of its actors. The acting alone in this movie adds to its perfection, but there is mainly one actor of the bunch that truly stands out: his name is Tom Cruise. Before seeing this movie, I was not a believer of Tom Cruise. He seemed a little wacko (still sort of does). But after seeing this movie, he has developed a fan.
He plays a guru named Frank T. J. Mackey, and basically his expertise is teaching guys how to seduce women. He is amazing in this movie. It is, without a doubt, his best work. It does not take very long to be convinced. Within a minute of Cruise’s presence on screen, it will leave you floored. The same goes for the rest of his scenes. It is bizarre how here he is in a supporting role and does better work here than ever before and after.
Cruise won a Golden Globe for his work here. He was also nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules, probably because, well, Michael Caine is Michael Caine.
Caine is great, but in other movies. Cruise should have won. Deep down, it is obviously true.
It also got two other Oscar nominations, for Original Screenplay (Anderson) and Original Song (Mann). That is it. Really? There is so much to admire here. It should have been nominated for Best Picture, Director, Editing, and probably a few acting nominations. I understand it not winning screenplay (American Beauty won). But the Best Picture (American Beauty won that too) snub is the most outrageous, considering it blows some of the nominees of that year away (The Cider House Rules is dull, The Sixth Sense is special for nothing more than a good twist).
Magnolia is the best movie of 1999. I will even go as far as to say that it is the best movie of the 1990s. Obviously, not many will agree, and that is fine. It is a beautiful, thought-provoking, powerful piece of work. One that only got three Oscar nominations, and that is why it is a film that got away.
Summer is the season that I wait for year after year. Not just because school is out. I am talking about the movies. Most of the big blockbusters come out in the summer, and it is drawing near. To get in the spirit, here are the five movies I am dying to see this summer.
5. Man of Steel (June 14, PG-13)
I have honestly never been a fan of Superman, but I am open for surprises. Man of Steel is produced by a master, Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception) and judging from the trailer, it seems like he has brought some of that Dark Knight-ness to this movie. If Nolan is involved, I am there.
4. World War Z (June 21, PG-13)
After nearly six years in development, World War Z is finally coming to the big screen. I honestly do not know anything about this movie other than that it is about zombies. On another note, this is bound to be one of the more ambitious movies of the summer, so for that I am interested to see Brad Pitt and director Marc Forester (Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace) pull it off.
3. Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17, Not Yet Rated)
After being pleasantly surprised by director J.J. Abrams previous Star Trek movie (I was a non-believer , and ashamed), I have been patiently waiting for the sequel. Well, it is coming very soon to a theater near me, and I cannot wait. I am interested to see Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch go really bad. I like my movies with a bit of darkness in it, and judging from the title and the trailer, I doubt that Star Trek Into Darkness will disappoint.
2. Iron Man 3 (May 3, Not Yet Rated)
The first two Iron Man movies were pretty light, but it seems like Iron man is in real trouble this time, and that is just what I like. What a better way to kick off the summer movie season than with a movie that looks as stunning as this. With Robert Downey Jr. in it, it may not be as dark as it seems. But hopefully it is the perfect blend of light and dark. This might be The Dark Knight of the series. But let’s not go that far.
1. The Great Gatsby (May 10, Not Yet Rated)
Summer is the time for big budget blockbusters, but yet Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby looks better than all of the big blockbusters combined. The trailer is so dreamy and enchanting I am mainly curious to see just how Luhrmann pulls it off. Luhrmann, who also directed Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, is a visionary, and is the perfect choice to direct this. Initially meant for release last Christmas, Warner Bros. pushed it back mainly to avoid the clutter of Oscar season (Les Miserables, Django Unchained, and Zero Dark Thirty were all released around that time), because they felt it was worthy. That alone is a sign of greatness. DiCaprio seems perfect for this role also. By the end of the summer, The Great Gatsby will probably not be the most successful. But it will be one of few with purpose.
This summer seems like a promising ones. Sure, there are a few that the world could do without ( Is Fast and the Furious 6 and The Smurfs 2 really necessary?), but then again there are some that did not even make the cut(the apocalypse comedy This is the End and Johnny Depp doing his thing in The Lone Ranger.) Summer could not get here faster.
By: Christian DiMartino
Title: The Purple Rose of Cairo
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy
Release Date: March 1, 1985
Film Rating: PG
Leads: Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Dianne Wiest
Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Before controversial filmmaker Woody Allen won his fourth Oscar for his charming and enchanting screenplay for Midnight in Paris back in 2011, there was only one other time when Allen experimented with fantasy. That film is 1985 The Purple Rose of Cairo, an original, funny, and magical romantic comedy which displays what Allen is best at. Allen is the master when it comes to romantic comedies, and The Purple Rose of Cairo is Allen at his near best.
Mia Farrow, Allen’s one time partner and muse, plays Cecelia, a lonely woman stuck in a dead marriage living in Depression era New York. After a series of unfortunate events, she ends up doing the one thing that makes her happy: Going to see The Purple Rose of Cairo, a film that she truly loves. She mainly loves it for the film’s main character, a goofy guy named Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels).
Not only does she see it once; she sits there and watches it over and over again. Until one day, something unexplainable and unexpected happens: Tom begins speaking to her. Then, he steps out of the screen, and Tom and Cecelia run off together, causing two worlds to collide, and nothing but happiness with a hint of chaos.
As a viewer, the film is a little difficult to adjust to. Like Midnight in Paris, the unexplained magic may leave some skeptical and wanting to give up. I too questioned what I was seeing, but I hung on. I am sure glad that I did. This is a wonderful movie from start to finish.
The acting is just one of its many qualities. Having seen Daniels in movies like Dumb and Dumber, it did not seem possible for something like this to be pulled off. But he nails this role. He is wonderful in the dual role of both the naïve movie character and Gil Shepard, the actor that plays Tom. Farrow does a fine job, but this is mainly Daniel’s show.
The Purple Rose of Cairo is a funny and delightfully enchanting romantic comedy that is an example of the romantic comedy genre in top form. Allen really put his heart into this one, and the unique story is just something that cannot be ignored. What can be ignored is the fact that the magic involved is not explained. To enjoy this movie, throw caution to the wind and just go with it. It seems like a romantic fantasy, but in the end, it is nothing more than a slice of life.
Most Woody Allen fans would say that their favorite of his movies would be something like his 1977 best picture winner Annie Hall or 1979 Manhattan. But he begs to differ. His personal favorite is 2005’s Match Point, followed by this one. I could not agree more.
Match Point is his best movie, with this movie right behind it. His career is a blend of light and dark. The Purple Rose of Cairo is as light as it gets. It is his most wonderful movie of all.
The Purple Rose of Cairo received only one Oscar nomination, and that was for Best Original Screenplay. It did not win. Can screenplays get more original? Where was the love for Jeff Daniels, or the movie itself? This is one of those rare Woody Allen gems that you cannot find anywhere, and that is why it is one that got away.
By Christian DiMartino
Hopefully, just hopefully, Spring Break will be nice and fun, but hopefully not too much fun if you know what I mean. But the weather has been dreadful lately, and what is there left to do on such long, miserable days? Watch a movie. Or two. Or three. Maybe five will do. Here are five movies guaranteed to make your rainy day a better one.
5. Die Hard (1988) – Nobody knows about being trapped in a boring building for a day better than NY cop John McLane (Bruce Willis). But try being stuck in a building with a group of German terrorists taking hostages. Die Hard is basically a guy playing cat-and-mouse with a lunatic for two hours. But those two hours are quite an adventure. The presence of Willis and Alan Rickman (the bad guy) is key.
4. Airplane (1980) – Airplane is a comedy that simply never grows up, and that is what is awesome about it. Even with repeated viewings, it always remains consistently entertaining and hilarious. So why should a rainy day be an exception? It is dumb, possibly the dumbest movie of all. But it is guaranteed to slap a smile.
3. Back to the Future (1985) – This is the epitome of a rainy day movie. Back to the Future will be entertaining whether it is on an airplane, in a house, or in a Delorean, It is a smart, fun, and sort of creepy (the main character’s mom falls in love with him). But it is funny in the way that it is creepy. All it takes is a Huey Lewis song, and the mood to watch this movie will suddenly increase.
2. Titanic (1997) – Rainy days feel like the longest days. So it seems like the perfect time to commit to James Cameron’s big, romantic, three hour disaster epic. It is amazing how this film still has such an influence on us today. Cameron went on to make Avatar 12 years later, but that is not this movie. Titanic is groundbreaking for its time. It is big, it is adventurous, and it will and has left people talking for years. Titanic, we will never let go.
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Imagine the adventure that can happen on a sunny day. Well, it is supposed to be a rainy day, so that option is out. But instead, join Indiana Jones on his first and best adventure, which is arguably the best adventure of all. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the definition of adventure, and since this is a list of rainy day movies, no adventure will entertain more than this one. It is a sure thing.