The Many Rules of Film Club

Film Club Rule #932: Some times the good ol’ days were not always so good.

This week, we take a look at a few of the films from Sci-fi’s golden era, the 1950s. Forbidden Planet, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Godzilla are on the docket. A major studio picture, Forbidden Planet incorporated mid century modern design with Shakespeare’s A Tempest and set it in space. Plan 9 made no such overtures to great art, instead showing off what a little pluck and love of movie making can get ya on the smallest of budgets. Director Ed Wood’s movie is often called the worst movie of all time, but we set the record straight. Finally we discuss the classic 1954’s Godzilla and its social commentary and cultural influence.

music:bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #111: Never discount a girl named Buffy.

His father was a screenwriter for the shows Alice and The Golden Girls. His grandfather was a screenwriter for The Donna Reed Show and The Dick Van Dyke shows. Joss Whedon began his career as a screenwriter for the shows Roseanne and Parenthood. He worked as a script doctor for movies like Twister and Speed, then co-wrote Toy Story. It was during this time that he wrote the script for the film version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In 1997 he created his first television series. Now Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most studied shows in television history. He went on to create the sci-fi western space drama Firefly and the follow-up film Serenity. His wrote and directed Cabin in the Woods and the first two Avenger films, and in between those films he created a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. This week we talk about his work and the themes that he carries throughout including creating some of the strongest female leads in television and film.

Music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #666: Around Halloween, it’s good to be the king.

It’s fall. Halloween is right around the corner. What better time to look at films based on the work of America’s Best Selling horror author Stephen King? Mr. King’s reign of terror started after his first book was published and subsequently turned into a hit film in 1976. Brian De Palma’s film starring Sissy Spacek was an instant classic, and it was followed up by the book and historically great film, Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining. Kubrick’s film has become one of the most studied films of all time spawning the fascinating documentary Room 237. King’s work, however, is far from exclusively horror. His sci-fi novel The Running Man, published under the author’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, was turned into a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987. We also discuss the television series It and Under the Dome in addition to a few other films based on the author’s work as we discuss Stephen King’s place in the literary and pop culture world.

Music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #602: Reality is what you make of it.

In this episode, we look at the Sight and Sound list of the greatest documentaries of all time. The film at the top of the list is the Russian film Man With A Movie Camera. Does it belong as the top film? Does anyone in the group think the top film should be something else? After discussing Man With A Movie Camera, we look at the top ten films on the list and proceed to list our favorites. Jeff talks about The Maysels’ film Grey Gardens and its eccentric stars Big and Little Edie. Heather discusses one of her favorite documentaries Harlan County, USA, a film directed by Barbara Kopple about striking coal miners in Kentucky. Finally, Rusty brings up the iconic documentary The Thin Blue Line by documentarian Errol Morris. We also talk about the role of the documentarian and the need for media literacy.

Music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #907: There’s box office and there’s quality and often never the twain shall meet.

Not all films that flop are bad, not at all. Film history is riddled with great films that didn’t make money upon their initial release. Citizen Cane, The Wizard of Oz, Blade Runner all lost money. Heather, Jeff, and Rusty take a close look at three films, Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Martin Scorsese’s King of Comedy, and Brad Birds animated film The Iron Giant. What went wrong? What did the films get right to later be reconsidered? Was it marketing? Timing? Or maybe the film was just ahead of its time. Join us this week as we look at great films that lost money.

Music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #410: There’s good trash and there’s bad, and some people can do it better than others.

In 1970s Baltimore, a brash, young director behind a pencil thin mustache began making some of the most bizarre and shocking films anyone had seen. John Waters and his cast of misfits made Mondo Trash, Multiple Maniacs, followed by the film that would garner them the most attention Pink Flamingos. With Waters’ fame, studios began offering more money and a chance for mainstream recognition. Waters continued making subversive films that then began showing on screens all over the country. Hairspray, Cry Baby, and Serial Mom all brought Waters’ taste in trash to the suburbs. The filmmaker continued making films into the 21st century with Cecil B. Demented and A Dirty Shame.

music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #307: In space, it takes a woman to do a man’s job.

Heather, Jeff, and Rusty turn their attention to the career of Sigourney Weaver. They cover the Alien Franchise, Galaxy Quest, Working Girl, Ghostbusters, Ice Storm, and more in this episode. Though she’s earned multiple academy awards and brought in money like few other female actors, Sigourney’s career is not as lauded as other more “serious” actors. The crew talks about their appreciation for the hardworking Queen of SciFi.

music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #89: If it happened early on, and if it was ahead of the curve, it was probably French.

Heather, Jeff, and Rusty turn their attention to France in the 1960s as they examine the French New Wave. What distinguished films of this genre? What was the impetus driving these maverick directors. The American film Little Fugitive is discussed as an influence for Francois Truffaut. Heather discusses her favorite Truffaut film, Jules and Jim. Rusty brings up the early career of Jean-Luc Godard, and Jeff rounds out the discussion with a look at the musical Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

music: bensound.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/

Film Club Rule #613: Spike Lee will always do the right thing.

The films of Spike Lee are the topic this week. Jeff starts the conversation by bringing up She’s Gotta Have It. Heather starts a discussion of Spike’s tribute to New York after 9/11, 25th Hour. We move on to the documentaries of the man as both a director and cultural icon, as we look at the ESPN films Two Fists Up and 30 for 30: Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks. A discussion about the essence of what makes a Spike Lee Joint ensues.

Music: bensounds.com

The Many Rules of Film Club is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://themanyrulesoffilmclub.wordpress.com/