With the release of “Vintage Erotica Anno 1960,” Cult Epics unleashes twelve underground 16mm short porn films that not only show the free wheeling fun loving of the early sixties but the evolution of the porno film before our very eyes. As the smut and taboo material of threesomes and orgies became ever more frequent in the underground smut circuit, we saw the beginnings of the classic porn formula where it was less about voyeurism and teasing the audience as it was about rough hardcore sex.
Jackass 3D (2010)
“That’s the story of Jackass there! Pissing in the wind!”
Sure, “Jack Ass” May have stumbled with the first film which was just so many layers of pure awful.
Knoxville (pictured) getting mauled. For fun!
But with the sequel, Johnny Knoxville and the guys sort of learned their lesson in spite of its success and turned their antics in to performance art of a sorts. They’ve taken the art of acting like morons and turned it in to a form or pre-orchestrated and carefully planned nihilism that is both very funny and always has something of a point to make.
Take for example the sheer ludicrousness of Knoxville dressed as an old man making out with his under aged (an obviously aged actress pretending to be a teen) grand daughter and no one at all reacting to the display of the two kissing and nearly dropping down to the floor humping. It’s insane how by now Knoxville has figured out that he’s never going to be anything but the man behind “Jackass” so he’s taken that and made it in to a form of art where it’s often a new kind of silent film.
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The Town (2010)
Ben Affleck impressed with his debut as director for “Gone Baby Gone,” a criminally underrated film. And he manages to impress yet again with “The Town,” a film about crime becoming a way of life, and death just another consequence for a profession. When is enough finally enough for someone? This is examined with Doug McRay, a man who has resorted to robbing banks for a living after a descent in to drugs. He’s mastered bank robbing down to a fine art, and one he specializes in that keeps him and his group of gun toting guns for hire constantly on the verge of being murdered on the job. As examined by the prologue, crime is often a way of life for folks in their city, and with Charlestown being the number one source for bank robbers, Doug only knows how to commit crimes, and is a veteran of such an common trade that he can barely remember what life was like before it.
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (DVD)
From Anchor Bay Entertainment comes the much touted adaptation one of the most groundbreaking comic books of the new millennium. A thinking man’s horror comic book and teeming with literary value and mainstream appeal, “The Walking Dead” was a series begging to be made in to a big screen version from issue one. Thankfully AMC Networks latched on to the Frank Darabont led production and turned it in to a television series.
What began as a gamble on the horror genre and on a mostly underground comic book, has become a juggernaut that has benefitted the horror community for the better. The highest rated AMC network premiere of all time, and charged by a plethora of seasoned character actors from Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden and Andrew Lincoln and up and comers like Emma Bell, Jon Bernthal, and Steven Yeun, “The Walking Dead” has been an unstoppable pop culture force.
Voiceovers: Everything You Need to Know About How to Make Money With Your Voice [Paperback]
Terri Apple’s non-fiction guide to the art of voice over is one of the most surprising books I’ve read all year. Even as someone who can respect the art of the voice over and the respect voice actors lack in their profession, it was pretty shocking to see the struggle it takes to read through one disclaimer. Author Terri Apple makes the wise decision of including exercises with the end of every chapter allowing the reader an almost classroom-like vibe with their read, and with the hefty “Voiceovers” you’ll find yourself mastering the art of voice overs in no time.
Young People Fucking (2007)
One thing about “Young People Fucking” that I detested was that it’s really just pseudo mumblecore, when all is said and done. And if there’s one thing I hate it’s mumblecore. I hear enough people blathering on about nonsense day in and day out, I would actually like dialogue with purpose in films. “Young People Fucking” is pseudo mumblecore that really explores the plight of the young hot blond sexy folks of California. Oh no, they’re a dying breed, aren’t they?
The PC Thug: R.I.P. Dwayne McDuffie
Dear Dwayne McDuffie,
Ever since hearing about your death, I can’t help but think what a huge loss the comic book and pop culture world has suffered. No really, I think it’s no understatement that the news of your death is leaving a giant hole in the comic book world, and since the announcement of your death my mind has shifted from “Oh that’s pretty sad… wait… man that sucks… wait… wow, that’s shitty… oh god… we’re fucked.” Because let’s face it when was the last time we had someone like Dwayne McDuffie say “Hey! Wouldn’t it be cool if minorities weren’t cliches and stereotypes?” And yes, wouldn’t it be amazing if our minority heroes weren’t secondary sidekicks or poorly promoted rehashes of the same old formula we’ve seen day in and day out?