For many years now I’ve become a fan of A24 and have loved so much of their content. Have their titles all been winners? No, but their output of above level films that managed to mix mainstream sensibility with arthouse appeal as been amazing. For many years they’ve given us absolutely incredible films that have allowed filmmakers that normally wouldn’t be seen to final garner some respectable platforms. They’re not low budget or indie like Troma but they’ve allowed some unique artists to give us gems like “The Zone of Interest,” “The Whale,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” Ti West’s “X” movie series, “Midsommar,” “Skin” and so much more.
Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
After being thrown a bone by Warner being able to bring his version of “Justice League,” he’s announced that these versions of his alleged “Star Wars Killers” known as “Rebel Moon” as more or less unofficial. They’re still movies in a sense, but not in his mind. He’s allegedly planning to release Director’s Cuts for both films, which includes potentially longer scenes and alternate takes on various scenes. So what is even the point of this whole shebang? Snyder is less an auteur and feels so much more a brand manager trying to figure out an algorithm for a great movie–and he can’t quite synthesize the formula. He seems to base so much of his films around focus groups and buzz rather than instinct which make him such a terrible filmmaker through and through.
The Bootleg Files: Our Town
BOOTLEG FILES 862: “Our Town” (1955 television musical production starring Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint).
LAST SEEN: On YouTube.
AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.
REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It’s complicated.
CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.
One of the most prestigious and ambitious series in the history of American television was “Producers’ Showcase,” which ran from 1954 to 1957 and offered live 90-minute plays starring A-list talent. The series aired every fourth Monday of the month and a total of 37 episodes were created.
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Monolith (2022) [Female Filmmaker Friday]
On Blu-ray April 23rd and currently on Digital from Well Go USA
A newly unemployed journalist starts a podcast and investigates large stones that have been showing up suddenly in random people’s lives.
BOB (2022)
Inspired by a true story, Drew Bierut’s romance comedy is one of the most charming tales of fate and random scenarios I’ve seen in a long time. Although the movie posits itself as this bizarre concept, it amounts to a surprisingly funny, engaging and warm romance comedy that explores how sometimes we can end up meeting our perfect person in the most unlikely places. Everything about “Bob” is so well conducted from the direction, top notch performances, and ace comic timing, I just loved it.
Five Favorite Music Videos Tied to Big Movies
Will Smith, Dru Hill et al for “Wild, Wild West”
With the advent of music videos going completely out of style with introduction of music streaming, a long time element of music fandom died. While there are still plenty of music videos, they no longer make or break the popularity of a single or music album. One of the best things about being a movie and music fan is that there was almost always a music video attached to the movie itself. Whether it was the movie’s theme song, or a music video directly reflecting the movie content, there was always a guarantee of a music video for a movie.
Whether it was Chad Kroeger’s “Hero,” Dokken’s “Dream Warriors,” Space Jam’s “I Believe I Can Fly,” Ray Parker’s “Ghostbusters,” or 45 Grave’s “Party Time,” there was a massive plethora of movie related music videos.
Here are five of my absolute favorites.
Hunting for the Hag (2023)
A small group of friends head out to investigate a witch known as The Hawthorne Hag in an effort to catch her on camera.