November, 2009 Archive

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Reel Rumbles #11 – “The Godfather” vs. “GoodFellas”

30, Nov 2009

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godfather-goodfellas

In This Corner…

One was from a relatively young writer and director just hitting his stride. The other came from a seasoned pro, who had already given us some of the best films of all time. Drawing on a rich history of the real life mafioso’s exploits, these two films brought the stories, the characters, and the culture to life in a way that we had never seen before. The first had dazzling scope and a romanticized edge that almost glorified the ugliness despite its startlingly realistic violence. It captured the essence of some real-life mobsters, while adding a touch of glamour to the family business. The second stripped down that image and showed a raw, intense portrayal of street thug losers, who longed for the big time and would resort to ruthless, savage tactics to get there. In reality, their world was an unapologetically ugly one, but no less captivating. Talk to any film aficionado, and he or she will count both among the all-time greatest. But how do they fare against one another in the Reel Rumbles ring? It’s time to find out. So grab another cannoli, snuggle up to the fishes, and prepare to get whacked, it’s time for The Godfather vs. Goodfellas.

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Flick Fights #7 – “He Really Did Her In That Spaceship”

25, Nov 2009

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Listen Now:

Runtime: 65:47 - Download > - Subscribe with iTunes >

The Hosts

Travis Betz and Devin Barry are two movie lovers, who are also obsessed fans of the film ranking website, Flickchart. Join them as they pit movies against each other, waging verbal cinematic war while building a “best of” list on the blood of the defeated. Tune in each week with new special guests who will act as the tie-breakers for their particularly difficult matchup decisions.

Special Guest

This episode’s special guest: Greg Rice

Flick Fights On The Web

Follow Flick Fights on Twitter: @flickfights

Subscribe to the Flick Fights YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FlickFights

Become friends with Flick Fights on Flickchart:
http://www.flickchart.com/flickfights

Reel Rumbles #10 – “Donnie Darko” vs. “Memento”

20, Nov 2009

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darko-memento

In This Corner…

Like the universe itself, film is a fragile medium that can produce monumental changes with just the slightest tweaks, twists, or turns. In life, a decision to stop off for a loaf of bread and a six-pack of beer on the way home from work can mean the difference between a lonely weekend and meeting the love of your life. Likewise in film, a change of genre can result in a vast improvement over a weaker effort or a new creation of wonder and excitement equivalent to its original source. Such is the case in this week’s Reel Rumbles as two modern classics go head-to-head, each taking a previous film comedy and twisting the concepts into different genres for fresh, exciting, and provocative filmmaking. Taking its cue from the less than stellar Dana Carvey comedy Clean Slate (1994), Memento revitalizes the film noir genre with a mystery told in reverse, while a touch of teenage angst and ominous foreshadowing makes a classic like Harvey (1950) into a dark and supernatural tale of apocalyptic proportions. So question your identity, follow the clues, and leap through the time travel continuum, it’s time for Donnie Darko vs. Memento.

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Flick Fights #6 – “Roland Emmerich’s Ark”

19, Nov 2009

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Listen Now:

Runtime: 66:34 - Download > - Subscribe with iTunes >

The Hosts

Travis Betz and Devin Barry are two movie lovers, who are also obsessed fans of the film ranking website, Flickchart. Join them as they pit movies against each other, waging verbal cinematic war while building a “best of” list on the blood of the defeated. Tune in each week with new special guests who will act as the tie-breakers for their particularly difficult matchup decisions.

Special Guest

This episode’s special guest: Brian Klugman

Flick Fights On The Web

Follow Flick Fights on Twitter: @flickfights

Subscribe to the Flick Fights YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FlickFights

Become friends with Flick Fights on Flickchart:
http://www.flickchart.com/flickfights

Reel Rumbles #9 – “Heat” vs. “Ronin”

13, Nov 2009

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heat-ronin

In This Corner…

His career as a director spanned seven decades, starting in the Forties with a small job on an early religious program and ending in 2000 with the action-mystery Reindeer Games. With such meager and lifeless bookends, one might question the abilities of director John Frankenheimer, who passed away shortly after his final film at the age of 93. But as poet laureate for Generation Z Miley Cyrus so eloquently sings, “It’s the climb,” and Frankenheimer’s climb was one populated with a tense body of expertly crafted films that brought action and suspense to breathless new heights. His last great work paired him with a tight script and three brilliant actors for some of the most dizzying and fun car chases this side of The French Connection. But in this week’s Reel Rumbles, Ronin has some fierce competition out of Michael Mann, another talented director, with a film that many consider to be his finest hour. A loose remake of his previous made-for-TV effort L.A. Takedown (1989), Heat won the praise of critics and audiences alike, and built a bridge between an overlooked cadre of masterpieces and a prominent career for the director that continues today. Study the blueprints, sync your watches, and get ready for the big score. It’s time for Heat vs. Ronin.

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