4:11 - 56:42 -- Paris, Texas
56:43 - 1:03:22 -- Intermission / Get to Know You
1:03:23 - 2:25:47 -- Southland Tales
2:25:48 - 2:29:50 -- Next Month / Outro
» Download MP3 (98.6 MB)
Paris, Texas (1984)Directed by: Wim Wenders
Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, Hunter Carson
» Criterion Essays for Paris, Texas
» Roger Ebert's Review of Paris, Texas
Southland Tales (2006)Directed by: Richard Kelly
Starring: Sean William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Dwayne Johnson, Justin Timberlake, Nora Dunn
» Salon Explains Southland Tales
» The Killers' "All These Things I've Done" feat. a lip-syncing Justin Timberlake at the "Arcade, Fire"
I like the Schwarzenegger comment. When I first watched Southland Tales and now re-watched it for the podcast, I couldn't help remembering Total Recall from my childhood. Both are pretty silly. At least Southland Tales didn't trick me into believing women had three boobs. Imagine my disappointment when I hit high school.
ReplyDeleteSo after listening to this show and thedirectorsclubpodcast (on Van Sant), I've decided I don't completely agree with this latest idea of "I'd rather watch an interesting train wreck than a middle of the road film."
ReplyDeleteI can't say I totally disagree and I can't say I don't want film makers to be experimental and ambitious and try new things. That said, if I absolutely can't stand a movie, I certainly would not want to watch it again over something that is at least passable in its entertainment.
For example: Finding Forester or My Own Private Idaho. Do I really want to watch the former again? Not really, but I fucking hate the latter. So even though Idaho is trying to be interesting with some new themes or whatever, I can't stand it. So why would I subject myself to that over something that at least has a little heart and soul (and Sean Connery)? Even if it's a little corny and not all that well written.
So here comes Southland Tales. After watching it a second time, I'm completely on board with most of what Jay is saying here. I have zero interest in watching this thing again. To be honest, I'd rather just watch Source Code again - or some other mediocre sci-fi thing.
Does this mean I don't give Kelly some points for trying some interesting things and going off the rails on a few ideas? No. But it doesn't mean the movie is a success or it entertains me either. Mostly it just pisses me off that he wasn't able to make something that could've been mind-bending and flat-out amazing.
BUT I did buy "Paris, Texas" on the Criterion sale yesterday sight unseen. So there's that to look forward to.
Quite enjoyed the discussion of Southland Tales. Being a huge fan of Donnie Darko (I've lost count on how many times I watched that film), I was so disappointed when Southland Tales never received a Canadian theatrical release and I actually purchased it blind when it came out on DVD.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoy the film and I agree with Kurt's description of it as satire. The soundtrack of the film is definitely awesome. So much so, I actually bought the soundtrack album.
Quick Trivia: Many of the tracks Moby used for the score were either b-sides (Memory Gospel - used at the end of the film - dated back to Play) or tracks from Hotel: Ambient (the instrumental second disc from the deluxe edition of the album).
I actually used one of the tracks used in Southland Tales to score a short film I made (http://youtu.be/cIfGS-8xqeI).
You should do Insidious and Poltergeist!
ReplyDeleteWatched Paris, Texas and went back and listened to the first part of this show.
ReplyDeleteThree things I wanted to say:
1) It's one of the best looking films I've seen in a while and really stands out as a piece of excellence for the 1980s.
2) I'm with Patrick on the ending - or at least the final hour or so. It was completely weird that Stanton took a kid from his custodial parents and went for a road trip. Essentially it was kidnapping - even if the kid did call. It was weird and a disappointing plot turn that Stockwell and wife just disappear. It sucks because they were awesome characters but also because it's just not believable.
3) Canada doesn't have drive-up bank tellers? Really?
when is the next episode coming, guys? it's been awhile!
ReplyDeleteGuess we'll have to wait a whole other year for this to take place again. Back to the old ways of waiting nine to twelve months a time, eh?
ReplyDeleteGuess we'll have to wait a whole other year for this to take place again. Back to the old ways of waiting nine to twelve months a time, eh?
ReplyDeleteDwayne Johnson is working very hard to be actor
ReplyDeleteAll i want for Christmas is a new Movie Club podcast episode :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to record a new episode before middle of December 2012.
ReplyDeleteBRING BACK MOVIE CLUB BRING BACK MOVIE CLUB
ReplyDelete