On the BiTTE

So, we watched the newly restored version of THE DOOM GENERATION at a screening for Uncomfortable Brunch. We dragged fellow completionist Josh Martin (the facilitators of this screening) to chat about what we saw and "uncovered" in this short wrap up.

This is our 3rd year of Halloween content. Even to this day, we can't decide on what to call it. Is it "Spooky Penis Month"? Is it "Halloweiners"? It can probably be a combination of both. 

Either way, we're starting off our favourite season right with a film we're a little embarrassed to have not seen before. Yeah, it's Robert Hiltzik's cult classic SLEEPAWAY CAMP. I mean, we're glad we waited to cover this film as adults as it's easily one of the best horror films we've seen with an ending that honestly leaves you haunted but also, one of the most important scenes we've covered on this podcast. 

You honestly won't want to miss our commentary on this classic but if you have yet to see the film, please don't allow it to be spoiled for you. You have been warned!

Ah, "mumblecore". 

Films, that at the heart of them, focus on mini-budget, dialogue driven independent filmmaking, are, by virtue of their desires, INCREDIBLY respectful of your time. You'll be lucky to get one of these "mumble" films to hit over 90 minutes, so this beautiful 88 minute dive into the "mumblecore-iverse" was the perfect start. 

NIGHTS & WEEKENDS, the Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig (in, effectively, her directorial debut) star, direct and write this film about a relationship over the span of its life with a year gap in-between. This is independent cinema, first and foremost, for the 2000s, a direct development of the same principals since indies conception in the 1960's. 

We make some valid points with what is a great, polished introduction into the "mumblecore" sub-genre, and it's an area (and director) we'll be uncovering again in the future, even if some of us don't like the term "mumblecore".

Also, we're joined once again by our friend, and resident Greta Gerwig enthusiast, Josh Martin!

There's nothing like a little light-hearted solicitation to relive your lost youth and discover how amazing sex could be since your, now deceased, boring husband "missionary Martin" never gave it propa'. So, in walks gigolo Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to guide Nancy (Emma Thompson) in her search for the ever-elusive big "O". 

Just chuck some fit bloke some cash and it'll solve all your problems basically. Some procrastination here, some procrastination there, and that's what Emma Thompson as Nancy does in the sex comedy drama ("sexadramady"?) penned by Katy Brand and directed by Sophie Hyde. 

It's a weird one. At the heart of the film is a sex-positive message that has some genuinely touching moments from the inimitable Ms. Thompson. But when you come down to it, it misses the mark in giving Mr. McCormack enough meat to play with. You'll get what we mean when you give it a listen. 

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE is currently streaming on HULU in the US.

With the 4k restoration from Strand coming out in September, this felt like the perfect time to delve into the world of Gregg Araki. A seminal 90's, Gen-X, angry "fuck you" piece about 3 felons, murders, and mishaps across the desolate plains of the the United States of "whatever". 

With a twist on our original format, we've decided to use THE DOOM GENERATION to premiere our format "Missed a BiTTE", that explores films that show a little but never the full frontal we've concerned ourselves in our mainline series. 

We also bring back Josh for more disgusting references and shenanigans seeing as they're a certified screening location for this new restoration, coming to the Enzian in Maitland, Florida on September 3rd. Also, it's Ryan's birthday so come down and buy that fool a drink to ease the pain of gaining age!

We're back in the dark reaches of a pessimistic and aggressive portrayal of the world's "most beautiful place": Scotland. In Ryan's words, it can be a terrifying place. Andrea Arnold's slice of Cinema Verité inspired by the Dogme 95 aesthetic and film movement, really puts you in a scary place that is equally horrifying and mesmerizing. 

As a counterpoint to the last film we covered, this is also a film about watching people, innocently enough through the eyes of a CCTV operator, but how, through this character's trauma, how that power is easily manipulated for her personal gain. This is a fascinating piece of cinema and one of the strongest debuts from a first-time director. Enjoy this incredibly dark and uncompromising film at your own peril but you won't be disappointed. 

Oh boy...here we go. In a new segment we've decided to dub "Stream Peens" where we explore what multitude of streaming services have to offer that pertain to our interests, we've started with this one...THE VOYEURS! 

Now, at least Ryan and Laura can come to the agreement that this film is "straight trash" as by design, as an "erotic thriller", it would be a bit trashy. But a resurgence in the mainstream appeal of the genre with 'this' as its flagship? (Scratches head in sarcastic manner) Doubtful. 

On that basis, it is highly unlikely you'll be seeing anything that 'sexy' on your cinema screens anytime soon but we give this film the attention it deserves and give it the good ol' OTB treatment. Basically, one of us likes it and other hates it (for very good reason). 

We're back on that Ivory train! The Merchant/Ivory Express! Since A ROOM WITH A VIEW, we've been destined to revisit James Ivory as a filmmaker of tremendous honesty and compassion when it comes to realistic cinematic depictions of full-frontal nudity. 

In this "Clean-Up" Episode, we're covering MAURICE, another adaption from the E.M. Forster catalogue of tales and a memorable addition to the staple of gay cinema. It's a period film and one that Laura loved very much (even if it is a bit long). 

Ooft! This ended up being a long one. Our first (and certainly not last) foray into the work of Peter Greenaway and arguably his most accessible motion picture and contender for the most literal title in cinema history: THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER. It's got Michael Gambon! It's got Helen Mirren! It's got Cockney up the gills, firing at a pace so fast, you'll be screaming for subtitles (well, Laura did anyway). 

We've welcomed back Kat from Uncomfortable Brunch on her first solo mission to aid in dismantling and examining this seminal work. Strap yourself in, this is a long but ultimately definitive coverage of one of the most interesting films in the pantheon of our On the BiTTE series!

Ryan got very excited when a Don Siegel film he watched had a fairly evident full-frontal moment in the first 7 minutes of the film. His love of 50's, 60's and 70's American cinema cannot be understated as this "historically" focused episode tracks the interesting facts about Alcatraz Prison and the true story this film follows. 

Yeah, we've done something a bit different here, covering the 1979 action-adventure movie ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, starring male archetype Clint Eastwood and host of other classic character actors of the time. We recently went to San Fransisco and visited the island so watching the film with actual geographical knowledge and a sense of the conditions of the prison really set a sense eeriness and familiarity we weren't expecting. I mean, this episode could easily be an advertisement for how cool and interesting that place is so sit back, enjoy our holiday snaps and videos and watch Clint stuff a bar of soap down a man's throat for only wanting his puddin'. 

(In Clint voice) "How about you show me what you got?"