SIFF Sighting: THE LITTLE DEATH (comedy; Australia)

Tassoula reviewed THE LITTLE DEATH, which screened at the 41st annual Seattle International Film Festival this evening.

You can read her review on her blog.

Cinebanter #108 - THE IDES OF MARCH

The mp3 of this show can be found here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula get their political junkie fix, as they review THE IDES OF MARCH. In the Last Five®, both hosts explore new music documentaries about two of their favorite bands. They also respond to feedback about their most recent show. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Discussion of THE IDES OF MARCH

• Break

• 17:19 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 18:02 The Last Five®

• Break

• 47:50 Listener Feedback (Anonymous in Sacramento)

• 57:25 Credits

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: STRAW DOGS (1971), CIRCUMSTANCE, PEARL JAM TWENTY, DRIVE and MONEYBALL. Tassoula's Last Five were: MONEYBALL, THE BEAVER, IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE, GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD and THE DOORS.

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins, and also Vincent Do, for providing the original music in this episode.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Reviews and/or notes of movies Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Cinebanter #106 - TABLOID

The mp3 of this show can be found here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula rejoice in the return of documentarian Errol Morris, as they review his latest film TABLOID. In the Last Five®, the hosts disagree about a movie playing in theaters now. They also respond to a Listener Last Five® and Listener Feedback. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Discussion of TABLOID

• Break

• 13:34 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 14:14 The Last Five®

• Break

• 48:25 Listener Last Five® (Eric from San Mateo) & Listener Feedback (Chris)

• 57:09 Credits

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: THE UNFORGIVEN; CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE; RESCUE DAWN; TOUCH OF EVIL and 28 DAYS LATER. Tassoula's Last Five were: ALL OR NOTHING; CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE; HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2; THE HELP and GONE WITH THE WIND.

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

Special thanks to Vincent Do, Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the original music in this episode.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Reviews and/or notes of movies Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

SIFF Sighting: THE FREEBIE (comedy; USA)

A Mumblecore film can command an organic, thoughtful audience experience or exhibit such a level of pretentious arrogance that it destroys itself. The Freebie thankfully leans more toward the former, but to say that it was a perfect movie wouldn't be true.

I went into this film expecting a comedy (as its billing would indicate), and sure, I laughed a few times, but the subject matter wasn't really funny.

Darren (Sean Nelson) and Annie (Katie Aselton—also the film's director) are a normal married couple with friends whom they see regularly, a home nicer than their careers would allow, and no children to complicate things. Pretty great life, except they're having challenges in the bedroom. It's not that they've fallen out of love: they're clearly still very much in love, but they don't seem to connect physically anymore and neither seems to care.

When they realize it's been months since they last made love, they launch into a marathon discussion (literally a fourth of the movie) about how they're not worried about their lack of sex, but hypothetically it may be a good idea to sleep with other people to recharge the relationship batteries.

Compelling concept and certainly something that many couples have contemplated, with one another or not. We know the instant they begin discussing it, the pair will take the conversation one step further. To allow each other one "freebie" on the same night, and pledge to ask no post-extramarital-sex questions.

What happens next is a predictable roller coaster complete with dangerous flirtations, satisfying actions, double standards, hurt feelings, anger, remorse and confusion. And these parts of the film are the strongest.

If Aselton, who also wrote the feature, had begun the story with "that night" she would have had me at hello. Instead, I was forced, along with my fellow viewers, to endure pointless establishing shots and directionless chatter (granted, some may call that a hallmark of mumblecore), which only resulted in a few glances at the watch.

The Freebie screened at the 36th annual Seattle International Film Festival.

Cinebanter #76 - 500 DAYS OF SUMMER

The MP3 of Cinebanter #76 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula spend 500 hours talking about 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, creating their longest show ever recorded. And in The Last Five®, Michael catches up with a bromance comedy, while Tassoula discovers an Australian classic. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 500 DAYS OF SUMMER Discussion
• Break
• 51:48 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 52:13 The Last Five®
• Break
• 1:27:36 Credits & Outtakes

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: LORNA'S SILENCE, SWEPT AWAY, LIES, I LOVE YOU, MAN and THE BOURNE TRILOGY. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI, ORPHAN, THE SWEETEST SOUND, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and AFTER INNOCENCE.

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

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Want to donate to the show and help with production costs, server fees, etc.? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the original music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!