Episode 21, December 20th, 2011

Highbrow! Lowbrow? brings another fresh episode of Jesse and Shaun chopping it up about movies. As we do every week, we review the Top Box Office Earner and Best Picture Academy Award Winner of the same year to see who was right: the critics or the masses. This time we aren't going too far back as we look at the year 2001 and its films, A Beautiful Mind (Highbrow) and Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (Lowbrow).

A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard, is an autobiographical story of Nobel Peace Prize winning mathematician John Nash (played by Russell Crowe) who seeks to do something truly great while battling his inner demons. Nash eventually falls in love with Alicia, a former student played by Jennifer Connelly, who stands by her man against all odds. Both Crowe and Connelly have a somewhat difficult time pulling off these roles, Crowe, a manly man, being a nerdy scientist, and Connelly, being a beautiful woman interested in an awkward and somewhat mean mathematician. There are some fascinating twists and turns to the story that really alter how you see John and his interactions with the world, culminating in a poignant ending both tragic and triumphant. The director Ron Howard has been critiqued as manipulative and his stories saccharine, and for the most part, this film had enough quirks to avoid those pratfalls, however occasionally you do feel the film push you in a certain direction. Overall, this was entertaining throughout, a compelling story about an interesting individual aided by Ron Howard's crowd pleasing direction.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, directed by Christopher Colombus, is the 1st installment of the Harry Potter franchise, based off the adventures of Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, and his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson) as they learn to become wizards while fighting off the evil forces of Voldemort. This film sets up the tenets of the series, establishing the wizard world and introducing us to the main players of the story. Though some of the cgi effects can feel dated, overall this film has a very fantastic, majestic and epic feel due to the sweeping castle shots, nuanced special effects, and imaginative art direction. We both thought that the acting of Grint and Watson were strong, Watson giving a intelligent female hero and Grint hamming it up just enough. But we disagreed on Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, where Shaun thought Radcliffe was wooden and awkward, Jesse embraced such traits as a part of his nerdy charm and his growing acceptance of this new world. One of the bigger critiques of the film was that it was overlong, taking too much time to get to the arc of the story, a good 10-20 minutes could have been shaven for a leaner and more focused film. Ultimately, t's a worthy 1st installment for the Harry Potter series, combining elements of fantasy, mystery and honor to tell a magical and epic story.

So what film did we end up siding with? The magical adventures of Harry Potter in Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (Lowbrow) or the tragic trials of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind (Highbrow)? Tune in to the next Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out!

Episode 20 November 23, 2011

Highbrow! Lowbrow? is back from its month hiatus with a fresh new episode, episode 20 breaking our way into a whole new set of podcasts. As always, we review the Academy Award Best Picture Winner and the top box office earner to try and figure out who was right: the critics or the masses. For this episode, we go back to the year 1961 for our selections: Westside Story (Highbrow) and 101 Dalmatians (Lowbrow). We also take a look at the past 10 episodes and make our picks as to what films really made the cut and what films didn't.

West Side Story, directed by Jerome Robbons and Robert Wise, written by Ernest Lehman and Arthur Laurents and with music by Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim, is a modern retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story, set in 1961 New York. Two star struck lovers, Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) are caught between the Sharks and the Jets, two gangs with a vicious rivalry. Also starring are Russ Tamblyn as Griff, leader of the Jets, George Chakris as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, and Rita Moreno as Anita, girlfriend of Bernardo and best friend to Maria. Although this film had a lot of great moments due to the great song and dance numbers, the two main characters, Tony and Maria, were just unlikable and their songs were bland ballads, the film's greatest fault. The two gangs brought many of the memorable moments of the films with songs such as "Officer Krupke," "Cool" and "Jet Song", but they were hard to take seriously as they fought via dance. Other notable songs were "America" with Rita Moreno delivering a strong performance, and "Tonight" providing a strong ensemble performance leading into the intermission. Despite the movie's flaws and it's unwieldy length, West Side Story remains entertaining and enjoyable because of the exciting dance numbers and catchy tunes.

101 Dalmatians, directed by Clyde Geronimi, is another Disney animated classic, featuring Pongo, a dalmatian, and his girlfriend, Perdita, as they try and rescue 99 other dalmatians from the aptly named Cruella De Vil. Featuring the songs of Mel Leven and the voice talents of Rod Taylor, J. Pat O'Malley, and Betty Lou Gerson. The Disney hit making machine brings catchy tunes, memorable characters, and great stories to this film, continuing it's long standing tradition. The film also benefits from it's brief runtime, a svelte 79 minutes, that keeps the pace well without overdrawing the movie. That's not much else to say except that it's a classic disney film with all the elements that only Disney could execute so well, not to mention a great film for kids.

So what film did we end up choosing: 101 Dalmatians or West Side Story? Tune in and check out the latest episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out. Also stick around to see what we choose for our favorite picks over these past 10 episodes.

Episode 19 October 9th, 2011

Welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the movie review podcast where Shaun and Jesse compare the Top Box Office Earner and the Best Picture Academy Award Winner of the same year. We take a look at the critical consensus and the mass appeal to try and get to the heart of what makes a movie really great. The year we look at is 2006 and the films we discuss are Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Lowbrow) and The Departed (Highbrow).

The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, stars Matt Damon and Leonardo Dicaprio as two sides of the same coin, both young up and comers in the police department. However, they both are insiders on opposing organizations, Damon an informant for the gangster Frank Costello (played by Jack Nicholson), Dicaprio a snitch for the undercover unit lead by Queenan (played by Martin Sheen). There are a lot of big performances in this film, most notably Jack Nicholson as the devilish Frank Costello, who revels in his debauchery. Dicaprio is able to keep up with everyone else by playing the heart of this movie with a fiery passion. Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen all deliver strongly in this film with strong characters and big attitudes. Matt Damon plays a convincing foil to Dicaprio, a more leveled and cool character, who portrays his conflict underneath, trying to justify his role in all the mayhem. Scorses finally scored the Best Picture Award for this film, more of a recognition of his storied career. Despite the movie clocking in at 151 min, the time isn't felt due to the deft editing and exciting pacing of the story. This is yet another strong outing from a legendary director who brings all the elements together to make a truly great film that can be enjoyed by many.

Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, directed by Gore Verbinski, has Captain Jack Sparrow, played famously by Johnny Depp, searching for the heart of Davy Jones to control the seas, while William (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley) try to reunite and live happily ever after. Though Depp plays Sparrow with a classic zeal, this movie still feels like more of the same. The plot can be pretty convoluted and hastily explained where you're left wondering what really is going on. To make up for the that, they pile on the effects and the action to almost a ridiculous level, but at a certain point you just begin to tune out. Although there are fun action sequences and impressive effects, the lackluster story and overloaded visuals are wearisome.

So what film did we end up siding with? The visual effects feast of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest or the gritty crime thriller The Departed? Be sure to tune in and check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.

Episode 18 September 27th. 2011

Here's another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the movie review retrospective, taking a look at the Top Box Office Earner and the Best Picture Academy Award Winner of the same year. With each episode, we seek to figure out who was right that year: the masses or the critics. This time we're hitting the Lowbrow pretty hard with Billy Jack up against the Highbrow but gritty crime thriller The French Connection, both from 1971.

The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin, stars Gene Hackman as rough cop Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle together with Roy Schneider as Det. Buddy Russo on the chase of drug czars with a french connection. This film was expertly directed by Friedkin as he brought a real rawness keeping the camera handheld throughout and shooting guerilla style (without permits). It really adds to the intensity of the most memorable scene of the movie the car-train chase, in which Hackman barrels through New York chasing a subway train through traffic. Hackman as Doyle is fantastic, a true badass, but really calls into question the idea of bad cop. The French Connection is a great action thriller that can be enjoyed viscerally but has enough layers to be stimulate intellectually.

Billy Jack, directed by and starring Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack, a half Indian, hapkido expert and Green Beret who roams the land protecting the local school for outcast children from the evil backward ways of the townspeople. This movie is the definition of a so bad it's good film, with unintentional comedy abound. Tom Laughlin is on a quest to spew his message of peace and love while also getting to kick butt in this film. From the hippie school doing improv acts to the redneck bad guys, it's all just a train-wreck of free love and people power. If your a fan of films such as The Room or Plan 9 From Outer Space, be sure to check out Billy Jack.

So what film ultimately won our hearts in the end? The bounty of treasures that is Billy Jack or the no nonsense gruffness of The French Connection? Check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out!

Reds

"Reds" is an epic, and it's hard not to admire the sheer ambition on display in this production. But it feels like a vanity project. The majority of the film is comprised of people sitting around tables yelling at each other. This does not appeal to me. Particularly when they're mostly shouting about the Bolshevik revolution and worker's rights. Hard to follow, and hard to be entertained. Nonetheless, Beatty is a tremendous actor and he managed to corral a lot of notable talent for the film. But all in all it's too preachy and self-righteous for me.


Written 9/2/10

A Prophet

As brutal and harrowing as you'd expect a prison drama to be. I had to turn my eyes away from the action several times. Tahar Rahim is brilliant as the wide-eyed young prisoner trying to find his way in life. The supporting cast is also excellent. "Un Prophète" is not for the faint of heart!


Written 8/25/10

Up in the Air

The time flew by watching this. George Clooney is a king of smug banter. He seems to float through each scene. In other words, he plays emotional detachment exceedingly well. The lead character in "Up in the Air" is perfectly tailored to his strengths. Minus a couple of weak interludes that strain believability, this is a strong film chock full of themes snatched from the daily lives of working men and women everywhere.


Written 8/25/10

The Documentaries of Louis Malle: Vive Le Tour / Humain, Trop Humain / Place de la Republique

"Vive Le Tour" is brilliant, but the other two documentary features included on the disc are overly long and boring. "Place de la Republique" in particular suffers from a lack of narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed Malle's revealing glimpse into the annual Tour de France. You may want to steer clear of the other two.


Written 8/13/10

Facing Ali

It is highly entertaining hearing all these old-timers reminisce about facing Muhammad Ali, one of boxing's all-time greats. There are a surprising number of poignant moments, too. Particularly affecting is the footage of Joe Frazier, a sweetheart of a man who still bears scars from the verbal abuse and taunting Ali leveled at him. There's no doubt Ali had a dark side. "Facing Ali" is a documentary filled with remarkable men and remarkable stories.


Written 8/13/10

The Documentaries of Louis Malle: God's Country

"God's Country" is a charming documentary that does well to capture just what it was like living in the small midwestern town of Glencoe, MN in the 1970's. A synopsis of the film may lead one to believe that the ending will be grim, but I didn't see it that way. Times change, and people must remain adaptable. Filmmaker Malle is bright, cheery, and curious throughout - indefatigable to the end, as though wishing to permanently lift the mood of his subjects.


Written 8/3/10

Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening

Aziz's best bits kill, but on the whole this filmed set is uneven. It is refreshing to encounter a comic from a "non-traditional" ethnic background. Ansari lampoons his Indian-American ethnicity frequently. Probably the funniest bits involve anecdotes about his naive cousin. One wonders how well some of these jokes will age. Ansari's repeated references to Facebook and "emoticons" probably won't translate in 10 years' time. We'll probably be on to other technology-based diversions by then.


Written 8/3/10

The Room

"The Room" fits squarely into the "so bad, it's good" camp. I could watch Tommy and his screen buddies pass around their football at extremely close range all day. But I probably don't need to see any more shots of his naked arse. Let's be honest: this film is terrible and incoherent. But it's so flawed that it's actually entertaining to watch. Every viewer will rightly question everything they are seeing and wonder aloud, "Why, Tommy? Why?".


Written 8/3/10

Burma VJ

Another film that will make you thankful to live in the United States. This is harrowing viewing. The Burmese monks prove themselves a force to be reckoned with. Their appearances en masse in "Burma VJ" are exhilarating. The military regime in Burma is shown in all its oppressive ignobility. One hopes that this brave documentary, shot by endangered Burmese citizens, will bring truth to light for a wide, global audience.


Written 7/13/10

A Serious Man

Once again, the Coen brothers have created a world. In "A Serious Man" that world is a mid-1960's midwestern town populated by neurotic Jewish people. I loved every minute of this film. It's an imaginative spin on the Bible's book of Job. More understated and less populist than other films in the Coen's oeuvre. Certainly not everyone, but I was engaged the entire way.


Written 7/13/10

Mean Streets

"Mean Streets" is a love letter to director Martin Scorcese's youth in New York City. It has its thrilling moments, but for me it was mostly hollow. Perhaps I've seen too many that are influenced by or rip off "Mean Streets". Thus now its impact is dulled. Juvenile characters committing juvenile acts, with an oppressive Catholic sheen. It was amusing to see Robert De Niro sporting long hair in this youthful role. Unfortunately, one can perceive the ending to this story from miles away. No one's smiling by the time the credits roll.


Written 7/13/10

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Spotty and uneven. Kind of a drag to watch people throwing their lives away in the pursuit of drugs and illicit financial gain. There is a great movie in here somewhere, but the execution is sloppy. Nicolas Cage is eminently unlikable here, so I guess he played the "Bad Lieutenant" role very well indeed. There are a few gripping moments, but on the whole this is grotesque, unnecessary filmmaking.


Written 6/29/10

Badlands

"Badlands" is atmospheric and unpredictable. The gritty side of the story is hard to take at times. Murder upon murder are depicted onscreen. But director Terence Malick's filmmaking is always imaginative. What might be an everyday story of two young lovers on the run from the law is instead here a tone poem, vast and mutable as the horizon.


Written 6/29/10

Episode 17 September 7th, 2011

Welcome once again to the movie retrospective that is Highbrow! Lowbrow? Every two weeks or so, Jesse and Shaun review the top box office earner and Best Picture Academy Award Winner of the same year to see what really lies behind the idea of a "highbrow" movie and a "lowbrow" one. We've got another double hitter with the year 1994 and the film, Forrest Gump, which claimed both titles of Best Picture and Top Box Office Earner.

Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis, stars Tom Hanks as the titular character, Forrest Gump, a "slow" man trying to make his way through life during the 60's, 70's and 80's of America. Tom Hanks does an amazing transformation as Forrest, giving him both a strong believability in his disability but also suggests a real purity of spirit to the character. Sally Fields has a strong stint as his mother, a loving and wise woman that brings humor with her practical and frank attitude towards things. Gary Sinise provides a real intense counterpoint to the mother, some one whose lost faith in the world. The story is quite expansive going through practically all of Forrest's life, but that fits the earthen majesty this film presents. The sweeping landscape shots and the grandiose music create a real epic saga, but it doesn't make you feel laden with it. At times however, the constant acknowledgement of the period Forrest is in, via the songs and the historical references, can be distracting, taking you out of the story. Overall though, this movie is a magical yet simple adventure that can both entertain a movie goer and challenge a critic.

One of the more beloved aspects of Forrest Gump but also one of the most dubious, the historical references made throughout the film brought fond memories to everyone's mind and a little doubt. From Forrest helping create the "Have A Nice Day" smiley and him inspiring John Lennon's Imagine, you can't help but question the coincidence that Forrest just happened on these cultural landmarks. The visits made to the White House and the interaction with the presidents were technically amazing back in 1994, but the special effects are up for debate now. Regardless, the presidents served the moment and brought a comic moment to the film, despite their believability. This movie is probably deeper than we think, only after we had viewed Midnight Cowboy from 1969 did we catch Captain Dan and Forrest doing their own version of Ratso and Joe Buck to "Everybody's Talking At Me". Who knows what other cultural phenomenon was referenced that was forgotten? Though a savvy movie goer may feel these moments manipulative or corny, at the end of the day, they are appreciated because they connect you with the American past.

Since Forrest Gump won both titles for Highbrow and Lowbrow, there is no film to compare it to. But honestly, what film can? This is a grand heartwarming story that most can enjoy on several levels, and if you get a chance, give it another watch. Check out the podcast to hear our full review and keep on listening to Highbrow! Lowbrow?

An Education

"An Education" is stunning. The screenplay and director deftly execute what would have been a maudlin story in lesser hands. The cast is brilliant and believable throughout. Peter Sarsgaard is especially strong. Methinks this film deserves all the accolades it has received.


Written 6/14/10