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Name that movie!

Churn is what you do when you know the whole school has an idea about you that is false. You also know something you said as a white lie in confidence to a friend got “leaked” and the rumor mill ran with it. You know as a rational person it will fade and the rumor will be fixed but for now, everywhere you walk on campus you think people are saying to themselves, “There’s that floozy.” What’s more, you’re still a virgin.

from Damien Riley’s Blog https://blog.damienriley.com/rumor-that-makes-her-churn/
via IFTTT

Mike Leigh is a different sort of cool director. As I watched this film I kept thinking, “Something’s different about this movie.” It’s certainly a great and entertaining drama comedy but there is one big “under the hood” aspect that really makes it special.

Life Is Sweet (1990)
R | 1h 43min | Comedy, Drama | December 1991 (USA)

A waitress, her cook husband, & their twin daughters ponder their lives over a few weeks in a working-class suburb north of London.
Director: Mike Leigh
Writer: Mike Leigh
Stars: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Claire Skinner

When Mike Leigh makes a film, he hires the cast without a script. From there, he pays the actors to improv with the basic story and develop their own script which is later used for the movie. This is organic and it promises to make the film more human and realistic I think. The film doesn’t have a twist and there is no notable escalating of action. It works perfectly as is.

Seeing Jim Broadbent in this recalls Harry Potter. He is so much younger in this though. All the actors in this went on to have hearty UK roles in TV shows and movies. If you like British media, this would be a walk down memory lane for you to see these actors in their youth. We learn lessons like one parent is often a better provider than the other and there may be something wrong with a twin sister that we didn’t realize as a result of her odd behavior. She’s not just stuck in post-adolescence.

In keeping with the style of organic writing, the script is just people living their lives. You pay more attention to their wallpaper as they talk than to clues to solve any mysteries, because there are none. You do experience people who love each other and do what it takes to keep the day to day going. Isn’t that what we’re all doing, if we’re lucky?

This film was very enjoyable and I give it an 8/10.

The post Life is Sweet appeared first on Riley on Film.

from Damien Riley’s Blog https://blog.damienriley.com/life-is-sweet/
via IFTTT

Mike Leigh is a different sort of cool director. As I watched this film I kept thinking, “Something’s different about this movie.” It’s certainly a great and entertaining drama comedy but there is one big “under the hood” aspect that really makes it special.

Life Is Sweet (1990)
R | 1h 43min | Comedy, Drama | December 1991 (USA)

A waitress, her cook husband, & their twin daughters ponder their lives over a few weeks in a working-class suburb north of London.
Director: Mike Leigh
Writer: Mike Leigh
Stars: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Claire Skinner

When Mike Leigh makes a film, he hires the cast without a script. From there, he pays the actors to improv with the basic story and develop their own script which is later used for the movie. This is organic and it promises to make the film more human and realistic I think. The film doesn’t have a twist and there is no notable escalating of action. It works perfectly as is.

Seeing Jim Broadbent in this recalls Harry Potter. He is so much younger in this though. All the actors in this went on to have hearty UK roles in TV shows and movies. If you like British media, this would be a walk down memory lane for you to see these actors in their youth. We learn lessons like one parent is often a better provider than the other and there may be something wrong with a twin sister that we didn’t realize as a result of her odd behavior. She’s not just stuck in post-adolescence.

In keeping with the style of organic writing, the script is just people living their lives. You pay more attention to their wallpaper as they talk than to clues to solve any mysteries, because there are none. You do experience people who love each other and do what it takes to keep the day to day going. Isn’t that what we’re all doing, if we’re lucky?

This film was very enjoyable and I give it an 8/10.

I haven’t done a long written review on this one so I am posting the podcast I recorded. After picking this film based on its Metacritic score, I watched and learned of a unique talent in our times: Harvey Pekar (pronounced “Peek-are”). Listen to the episode below.

He was a comics artist who lived the artist’s life. I was hugely inspired by his story and specifically, Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of him in this film. I give it easily a 10/10 but be aware it is droll and sometimes very nerdy. In other words, it’s not for everyone. The film really touched me though and I talk about how at length in this episode. Thanks for listening, may Harvey Pekar rest in peace. My next film for commentary is “About Schmidt.” See you next time.

from Riley on Film https://rileyonfilm.com/ep-69-american-splendor/
via IFTTT

I haven’t done a long written review on this one so I am posting the podcast I recorded. After picking this film based on its Metacritic score, I watched and learned of a unique talent in our times: Harvey Pekar (pronounced “Peek-are”). Listen to the episode below.

//player.blubrry.com/?media_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Fcontent.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Fep69americansplendor.mp3&podcast_link=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2Fep-69-american-splendor%2F&artwork_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Famerican-splendor-505078064e0b9.png#darkOrLight-light&shownotes-ffffff&shownotesBackground-444444&download-ffffff&downloadBackground-003366&subscribe-ffffff&subscribeBackground-fb8c00&share-ffffff&shareBackground-1976d2

He was a comics artist who lived the artist’s life. I was hugely inspired by his story and specifically, Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of him in this film. I give it easily a 10/10 but be aware it is droll and sometimes very nerdy. In other words, it’s not for everyone. The film really touched me though and I talk about how at length in this episode. Thanks for listening, may Harvey Pekar rest in peace. My next film for commentary is “About Schmidt.” See you next time.

 

Title	My Rating out of 10
Gattaca	7
Out of the Furnace	8
The Vault	7
About Schmidt	7
American Splendor //player.blubrry.com/?media_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Fcontent.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Fep69americansplendor.mp3&podcast_link=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2Fep-69-american-splendor%2F&artwork_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Famerican-splendor-505078064e0b9.png#darkOrLight-light&shownotes-ffffff&shownotesBackground-444444&download-ffffff&downloadBackground-003366&subscribe-ffffff&subscribeBackground-fb8c00&share-ffffff&shareBackground-1976d2	8
La tortue rouge (The Red Turtle) //player.blubrry.com/?media_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Fcontent.blubrry.com%2Fthedamienrileypodcast%2Ftheredturtle.mp3&podcast_link=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2F5-min-film-review-red-turtle-ep-48%2F&artwork_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthedamienrileypodcast.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg#darkOrLight-light&shownotes-ffffff&shownotesBackground-444444&download-ffffff&downloadBackground-003366&subscribe-ffffff&subscribeBackground-fb8c00&share-ffffff&shareBackground-1976d2	10
Chained	7
Home for the Holidays	5
Passengers	7
Another Year	7
The Angels’ Share	7
Ghost Rider	5
Permission	6
Pieces of April	8