Month: April 2012

Straw Dogs (2011) #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Straw Dogs (2011), a thriller that brings the high school cheerleader that left the small town to make it big in Hollywood, return to the small southern town with her city slicker husband, who is a writer for movies.  Tension arises from reconnecting with an old flame, and the stereotypical idea of what the writer has about the natives and what the locals have about the writer.  Alcohol fueled anger and jealousy culminate in a brutal rape and home invasion.  This is a remake of a 1971 movie but I did not see that version so I can not compare.  In this version (2011) some of the acting was trite by Marsden and (I hate to say it ) James Woods, as the retired football coach, alcoholic.  It felt like Marsden was too understated and Woods too over the top.  Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) was good as the leader of the red necks, he played it cool when needed and intense when needed.  Overall I enjoyed it and will look up the older version so I can compare.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

MST3K #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

ROBOT ROLL CALL:  Cambot, Gypsy,  Tom Servo, Crooooow! Mystery Science 3000 is a show that aired for ten seasons.  The show had a man with robots to keep him company trapped on a space station (the Satellite of Love) forced to watch bad movies.  The beginning of the show has a funny segment called the invention exchange which segues into the cheesy movie.  MST3K aired mostly on the then Sci-Fi channel.  By the end of its run it did not include any of the same cast from the origin of the program.

If you have never seen an episode of MST3K, go now!  You will become a fan and watch more.  If you are a fan already, go now and watch more MST3K on Netflix instant viewing.

What are you watching?

The Pitch #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

On Monday April 30th,   AMC TV will have the premier of a show called The Pitch.  The premise is that two advertising agencies will compete head to head for an advertising campaign.  What does this have to do with Netflix?  Netflix instant streaming has had the first episode available to watch for about a week now.  I did watch it today, the episode has two agencies trying to get the business of Subway for a campaign to promote the breakfast sandwiches that they offer, specifically targeting 18-24 year old’s.  This was one of the ideas: Subway Rap Video

I did find the show very compelling.  Not only is the subject matter interesting in seeing how a campaign is created behind the scenes, the “characters” are also interesting, in that they are very driven, competitive and creative.  So not only are the two agencies competitive to get the business, the employees of the firms are competitive with each other as well.  Both teams came up with great ideas, but only one team was chosen.

Watch to find out who.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Dead Zone. #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Dead Zone: Stephen King and Christopher Walken…….’nuff said.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Life #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Life is an NBC cop procedural that aired two season.  Damian Lewis plays a cop that was convicted of a crime and given a life sentence but is exonerated after twelve years, given a large settlement fund and his old job back.  I felt that when this show was on it was an original take on a police show having an “ex-con” as a police detective.  His partner, Sarah Shahi, played the partner and her father may have had something to do with the original crime that sent the cop to prison.  The show, in my opinion was canceled too soon and did not have the best ending, due to all the hints and clues that were given through out the series.  I do feel that this is a good series and should be seen.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Nine Dead #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Nine Dead is a movie that has nine people handcuffed in a room with a masked gunman ordering them to figure out the connection that the seemingly random abducted people have in common.  If they figure it out the gunman stated that he will let everyone go and turn himself in to the police.  Melissa Joan Hart leads the handcuffed victims.  Do they figure it out in time? Who dies first? If you want to know I could tell you, or you could watch, there are worst movies to watch, this was an average thriller type movie due to predictability and low production.  Not a bad movie, just not great.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Frauds #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

While scanning through the instant selections on Netflix, I came across Frauds, a movie about a prank/insurance fraud gone bad.  The movie was made in 1993, looked a little dated and almost skipped over it.  I noticed that the two leading actors was Hugo Weaving (Matrix) and Phil Collins (Phil Collins).  I had to watch it just to see the Genesis front man/drummer was at acting.  Phil Collins was great basically playing a boy in a mans body torturing Weaving’s character and his wife in a very playful manner.  Collins nails his part and thoroughly enjoy the film.  The music in the film also plays a larger part than just background noise.  I found myself very engaged, the director found different ways to incorporate the sound track with the different scenes of the movie that made you notice it instead of just filtering out.  This is not something that I would usually notice or comment about but it was that good.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Tapeheads #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

This week I heard John Cusack on the Howard Stern Show  (which was a great interview, surprised he has not been on prior to this week?) speaking about his new movie The Raven, a fictional Edgar Allen Poe adventure.  Cusack is one of my favorite actors (Say Anything, Grosse Pointe Blank, One Crazy Summer, Better Off Dead, and many many others).  Today I watched Tapeheads with Cusack and Tim Robbins (Shawshank Redemption).  The movie centers around the duo of wanna be film/video makers trying to get into a business that they feel that they could be great in but is hard to get into.  Their first and second and third chance they get is to create music videos on “spec” which means for free until they get a big break.  The film is dated but is fitting for an ’80’s type movie.  Overall this is an entertaining movie that has some very funny and imaginative scenes (Roscoe’s Chicken commercial)

If you have only heard of a pencil thin mustache in song and want to see a great example check out Tapeheads and Cusack with a mighty fine stache.  What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Outcast #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Outcast is a chase film set in Edinburgh, UK (Scotland).  Mother and son relocate from Ireland after being chased by a man using supernatural means (witchcraft) to hunt the duo.  So the movie starts as a chase/thriller, turns into a West Side Story/Romeo & Juliet, with a side of witches, and in the back ground there is a monster movie.  It seems like a lot and is at times, but the movie did hold my attention until the end.  If you watch closely you can see Karen Gillan (Dr. Who) in a couple scenes.  Overall I do recommend Outcast, what are you watching?

#SeanSpeak

Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid #Netflix365

Posted on by Sean Gatcomb

Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid is the only Queen concert aired in its entirety.  There are not enough positive adjectives in the English language to express how great this band is and how fantastic this concert in Montreal was.  In 1981 Queen rocked Montreal for Live Aid.  All the standards were played (We Will Rock You, We are the Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody, etc.)  I would have to say my favorite of the concert were Keep Yourself Alive, with its awesome guitar riff and galloping cadence of vocals and music, and Under Pressure (apparently this is the only time Queen performed this live).

If you are a fan of Queen watch this, if you are a fan of rock, watch this, if you are on the fence of whether you like Queen or not watch this, you will be a fan.  If you have never heard a Queen song ever, watch this and prepare for your mind to be blown.

What are you watching?

#SeanSpeak