Whether possessed by the devil or alien invaders the movies of the effects such things have on small towns have very some similar themes. In this podcast we are going to examine some of them, first with the new movie Jennifer’s Body and second with Evil Dead 2 and to a lesser degree Slither.
Written by J.J. Abrams & Akiva Goldsman
Directed by Akiva Goldsman
When the opening scene for the season two premiere of Fringe came on last night I’ll admit I was excited. When the episode ended, I was just as excited. Not just from what I had just watched but also from what is foreshadowed to come. Yes, that’s right Fringe has done it again! Season one ended on a pretty big cliffhanger, with Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) crossing over into another dimension and finally meeting the elusively mysterious William Bell (Leonard Nimoy). It was revealed that Peter (Joshua Jackson) had actually died as a child, and the Peter we have come to know and love was taken from that alternate reality by his father, Walter (John Noble), and brought into this one.
We have a somewhat Tim Burton Themed show this week. The first movie we reviewed is 9, directed by Shane Acker and produced by (among others) Tim Burton. Then we use the movie Beetlejuice as a spring board to discus Tim Burton’s career, comparing the movies he’s produced and the ones he’s directed. We also discuss some of themes found throughout all of his movies.
5. Lizzy Caplan – I know that “Party Down”, the Star’s comedy about a catering service, may not be the most watched show. However, it is absolutely hilarious. One of the main draws for me is Lizzy Caplan’s portrayal of comedian Casey Klein. She infuses the character with a dry whit and biting humor that provide an excellent counter point to some of the crazy moments on the show.
P.S. I know that Jane Lynch is also on this show and she is, of course, hilarious. But, everyone knows that Jane Lynch is one of the best comedians around, so I didn’t think I needed to mention it.
4. Kristen Schaal – Kristen Schaal’s portrayal of Mel on HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords” has got to be one of the weirdest things on television. There is this almost madness that Schaal infuses into Mel but it is tempered by Mel’s own shyness. She wants to go all out and be a sex crazed groupie, but she has to hold herself back. The effect is of someone wonderfully neurotic and earnest, but also fairly creepy.
3. Portia de Rossi – If you’ve ever seen “Arrested Development”, or “Better off Ted”, then you know how incredibly funny Portia de Rossi can be. She has an amazing ability to land a joke with only a tiny bit of voice inflection or even just a small glance. By the way, if you aren’t watching “Better off Ted” then you’re a fool plain and simple.
2. Kaitlin Olson – What I love about Kaitlin Olson is her willingness to commit to the joke. I know that actors are supposed to commit, but it seems as though they often get so caught up in their own image that their performances suffers. Kaitlin Olson seems to be completely the opposite. She is willing to act in any way possible to make the joke work. Check out her pathetic girl diary to see what I mean. Her portrayal of Deiandra on “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” makes her seem kind of like an undiagnosed manic depressive which, for the character, really makes sense.
1. Tina Fey – OK you probably already know why Tina Fey tops the list here, but for those who don’t I’ll explain. Not only is Tina Fey an excellent comedic actress, but she is also a very talented comedy writer. These duel skills are what shot her to the top. In addition, like Kaitlin Olson, she also has a high level of commitment to the joke or premise.
We’re trying out a different format this time around. Instead of just one movie, we’re reviewing one in theaters and a similar one that’s out on DVD. That’s two reviews for the same low price! This week we have Distrcit 9 and The Fly.