A running topic on the show, and in my life in general, is the battle between universal acclaim and general hatred. When so many people qualify a film as good, its close to impossible to have a dissenting opinion. However, when it comes to films such as Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, if everyone hates it, any critique is valid. Join us for this epitaph of a review where we share our conflicting views while trying to understand why this notoriously flopped so hard.
Category: Debt to Cinema
Debt to Cinema 042: The Witches
I’m fairly critical of this widely unseen childhood horror flick, but I give my reasons. I get truly animated towards the end once we get to the film’s bullshit ending though. My problems aside, this is a fun and pretty damn spooky Roald Dahl adaptation with some great Jim Henson puppet work sure to please the kiddies come October.
Debt to Cinema 041: Odd Thomas
2016 has been a horrible year so far in terms of celebrity deaths. David Bowie and Alan Rickman are probably the most notable passings, but whereas they both had several iconic performances that made them cultural icons, Anton Yelchin was only just starting out. What better way to remember him than viewing a film about him being able to see ghosts?
Debt to Cinema 040: The Thin Man
Just a year after Prohibition was repealed, Nick and Norah Charles reminded America why they missed alcohol so badly. Between their comedic timing, romance, and scene stealing dog, join us as we decide if this whodunit romcom has enough going for it to make up for the subpar mystery.
Debt to Cinema 039: The Red Violin
What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, its the only thing there’s just too little of – especially for Classical music. That’s not the topic exactly, but it is instrumental in the main character’s creation. This is the second sabbatical episode and our first attempt at a new intro. Even if it sucks, hopefully us trying something new can get you to share what you thought.
Debt to Cinema 038: The Long Goodbye
Its pretty ironic that this film, given its title, comes at the beginning of Steve’s leave of absence from the show. He picked it (as he states in the intro) to tie in with The Nice Guys, and they are similar in a couple ways, but Elliot Gould brings a level of cool to his version of Philip Marlowe that Gosling and Crowe can’t mimic.
Debt to Cinema 037: Bulworth
With the rat race the 2016 Presidential Election has become, and more importantly, the increasing realization that all lives matter, this amazingly, sardonic Warren Beatty film is necessary viewing. Its over the top and laughably silly, but it comes from the right place. Hopefully this ep helps give it the attention it deserves now since it didn’t get it in 1998.
Debt to Cinema 036: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Last week my romance pick wasn’t quite my tempo, and this week Steve’s isn’t his. Perhaps we should start making selections for one another? For some reason, Ang Lee’s acclaimed Chinese martial arts/tragic love story, didn’t strike his fancy, but it leads to an interesting discussion on public perception of classics and the struggle of swimming against the tide of universal acclaim.
Debt to Cinema 035: Singles
I give a pretty good rundown of why I picked this film in the soft open, but if you need it in text form, I was basically just in a musical mood this week. I didn’t exactly get what I was looking for (while Steve’s expectations were surpassed), but am still keen on Cameron Crowe’s first televisual exploration in the coming weeks.
Debt to Cinema 034: Bound
Because Steve’s a dick, here’s my second review of The Wachowskis debut film within a six month span. Its criminally underseen, but hopefully their transitions will spark interest in this queer noir if only for its two gorgeous, leading ladies. Listen through the outro for my first impression (Warning: I say definitely a lot).
Dollar Reviews 