Bathed in the colored glow of his modest Christmas tree, Jim admits how pleasantly surprised he was after finally seeing the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, for the first time. In this episode, Jim talks about the subtle darkness present in this otherwise uplifting film, the universal truth of George Bailey as a man of perpetual compromise, and how after almost 70 years, It's a Wonderful Life's staying power is due in part to how it can appeal to both liberals and conservatives.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...which means that if you're already complaining about stores decking their halls and that everyone's winter wonderland is your nightmare before Christmas, then you'll HATE December on I Do Movies Badly where Jim will be taking in some Classic Christmas Films! Joining him to make merry is Alonso Duralde of The Linoleum Knife Podcast, who literally wrote the book on Christmas movies ("Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas"). Alonso stops by to discuss what he loves about the season, the tropes he hates in Christmas movies, and how even the schmaltizest of schmaltz still points to universal human truths before he breaks out the eggnog recommendations: Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Brian Desmond Hurst's A Christmas Carol (1951), and Mitchell Leisen's Remember the Night (1940). Yule love them!To follow the work of Alonso Duralde:- www.linoleum-knife.com- www.thewrap.com/author/alonso-duralde- twitter.com/aduralde- "Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas" on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Have-Yourself-Movie-Little-Christmas/dp/0879103760

To follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:- [email protected] battleshippretension.com/category/idmb- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth- "Have a Lethal Gremlins French Connection Christmas: 21 non-holiday holiday movies" from The AV Club: http://www.avclub.com/article/have-lethal-gremlins-french-connection-christmas-2-228523

After two dramatic period pieces, Sweetie hits you like a slap in the face. At first, this surreal, almost slapstick comedy doesn't seem to fit Campion's oeuvre until Jim has an on-mic epiphany that suddenly puts this filmmaking debut into clear thematic focus! Also, because Jim is an idiot and forgot to mention it during the show, Sweetie is available to rent on Amazon Prime, purchase on iTunes and stream for FREE for Hulu Plus subscribers.

To follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:- [email protected] battleshippretension.com/category/idmb- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth

Bright Star would appear to be your run of the mill period piece...at first. But a closer inspection upon this dramatization of the romance between English Romantic poet, John Keats, and Fanny Brawne reveals a Campion twist on standard gender roles and one of the best visual poems I've ever seen courtesy of Greig Fraser. 

To follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:- [email protected] battleshippretension.com/category/idmb- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth

Are you in the mood for a period piece with a mute female protagonist who communicates exclusively through sign language and a piano? Neither was Jim! But Campion's multiple Oscar-winning film is more than just stuffy arthouse imagery - it's also an absolutely fascinating exploration of gender politics, positions of power and relation, and beautiful music!To follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:- [email protected] battleshippretension.com/category/idmb- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth

I Do Movies Badly is over a year old and only now covering its first female filmmaker. It's been far too long, so to help discuss the films of Jane Campion, filmmaker Lee Ann Hoover takes time out of her busy schedule to edify Jim. The pair discuss Campion's background as a painter, the significance of prominent child characters and magical realism, and how and why Campion's films would still be significant even in a world where the dream of gender equality would come to fruition. As for the recommendations (yes, in this order): The Piano (1992), Bright Star (2009), and Sweetie (1989)To follow the work of Lee Ann Hoover:- www.leeannhoover.com- twitter.com/LeeAnnHoover- www.wonderwebseries.com- twitter.com/wonderwebseriesTo follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:- [email protected] battleshippretension.com/category/idmb- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth

We wrap up October and Cronenberg month with The Fly, both Exhibit A in the argument that remakes can be excellent and an examination (in the most wonderfully horrific way possible) of what all of us bags of flesh fear most: inevitable decay and death. No big deal, I feel great, I won't lose any sleep thinking about my own unescapable demise tonight.
Happy Halloween, everybody!

To follow along on the path toward cinematic edification with I Do Movies Badly:
- [email protected]
- battleshippretension.com/category/idmb
- facebook.com/IDoMoviesBadly
- twitter.com/nolanfixesteeth

Guys and girls - I don't understand Videodrome. I'm not sure I followed the plot, I'm not sure I fully comprehend what Cronenberg was trying to say, and I'm not entirely sure how I should feel about the film. And that's okay. Because no matter what Cronenberg intended, something within this strange, sexy, violent, clairvoyant film resonated with me enough that I'll be talking about for years to come just like those who saw it more than 30 years ago and are now seeing its predictions come to fruition.
"The prescient analog nightmare of Videodrome" from The Dissolve: https://thedissolve.com/features/movie-of-the-week/556-the-prescient-analog-nightmare-of-videodrome/

Sure, there are murderous, evil dwarf children running around killing every geriatric in sight in The Brood, but that's not what's really scary. What's really scary is what The Brood represents and how its horrors are rooted in the scariest thing of all - reality. 

It's scary how late this episode is being posted! But this episode is also scary good. Better late than never (and still in time for Halloween), Jim and James McCormick of CriterionCast discuss the body horror of Canadian-born David Cronenberg. The boys discuss James's twisted childhood viewing and renting habits, Cronenberg's worldview, the necessity of viscera and pushing boundaries, and - for good measure - some Howard Philips Lovecraft en route to the recommendations: The Brood (1979), Videodrome (1983) and The Fly (1986).
To follow the work of James McCormick:- criterioncast.com- twitter.com/fistfulofmedia