SIX FINGERS OF FILM
Know these words, and live by them. When it doubt, do what Emily does. She swiped this from Lazy Eye and I'm swiping it from her.
This stems from the New Beverly's series of film festivals programmed by famous folks, like Edgar Wright, Diablo Cody and, I believe they have Seth Green coming up. The exercise here is, what is my personal six night film fest going to be like. Following the model of double features, each set being linked somehow, I've culled together this array.
Call this Red Right Hand's Six Fingers of Film.
Fight Club
V For Vendetta
Cause summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the street. Fight Club, it's no secret, is my favorite film. It captured, and of course Chuck's book, captured a certain mindset, a certain subset and several other sets all of which I fit into. It spoke to me in a language that I understand. It stood up and it hit things. V for Vendetta does so as well. To me. The original graphic novel was very influential to me and the film version, while not the same, I think manages to hit several of the same notes, especially the idea of a need for change and that if that change does not come, violence will ensue...one way or another.
A Few Good Men
The Caine Mutiny
Some people like courtroom dramas, I go a step more specific. I'm into court martial dramas. Military courts, even drumheads. I first saw The Caine Mutiny when I was, I dunno, 12 or 13...and and taped it. I wore that tape out. It and the sole Sorkin in the film festival make it very clear, you can do the right thing and you can still get crushed for it. The rules are not your friend.
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
My heroes have always beencowboys insane. And really, Batman is insane. Batshit, one might say. It's the freedom from the rules of society that allow him to become what he is. We want someone to save us, but we won't let anyone do it. We restrict, block, legislate, etc. We even sue good Samaritans...not me or you personally, but it happens. And in The Dark Knight, we get a new take on what it really means to be the guy who steps up.
The Great Escape
Escape From New York
Another of my favorite subgenres. Prison breaks. I found The Great Escape around the same time I found The Caine Mutiny. My mom, I think brought it home from the rental joint. I watched it a lot. C'mon...Steve McQueen. The intricacy of planning...the unexpected obstacles...freedom within reach. And, both have Donald Pleasence.
Bring It On
Mean Girls
Welcome to genre-swerve night. I don't discriminate against movies based on genre or even intended audience...much. So, yeah...here's the chick-flicks clearly aimed at females 13-25 that I dig. Both come from writers of note, Bring It On being by Jessica Bendinger, formerly of Sex and the City and writer of one of my favorite episodes of that "My Motherboard, My Self." (yes, I have a favorite SATC, suck it) And there's Dushku in it. I like it because it takes it's own course and doesn't adhere to what you think it should be or how it should go. Even it's acts are unique in comparison to typical act characterisations. Mean Girls...The Fey. That simple.
The Enemy Below
Hunt for Red October
The last of my favorite sub genres. Pun most absofuckinglutely intended. To me there is no other type of film that can so clearly capture respect among adversaries in just a two hour movie. It's a theme I've tried to capture in some of my TV writing, but I have a hard time with it. Some of the best examples comes from long continuities, TV series, comics...but in sub movies, you can get it in a two hour bite and, frequently, without the adversaries ever coming face to face. Brinkmanship, my boy.
This stems from the New Beverly's series of film festivals programmed by famous folks, like Edgar Wright, Diablo Cody and, I believe they have Seth Green coming up. The exercise here is, what is my personal six night film fest going to be like. Following the model of double features, each set being linked somehow, I've culled together this array.
Call this Red Right Hand's Six Fingers of Film.
Fight Club
V For Vendetta
Cause summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the street. Fight Club, it's no secret, is my favorite film. It captured, and of course Chuck's book, captured a certain mindset, a certain subset and several other sets all of which I fit into. It spoke to me in a language that I understand. It stood up and it hit things. V for Vendetta does so as well. To me. The original graphic novel was very influential to me and the film version, while not the same, I think manages to hit several of the same notes, especially the idea of a need for change and that if that change does not come, violence will ensue...one way or another.
A Few Good Men
The Caine Mutiny
Some people like courtroom dramas, I go a step more specific. I'm into court martial dramas. Military courts, even drumheads. I first saw The Caine Mutiny when I was, I dunno, 12 or 13...and and taped it. I wore that tape out. It and the sole Sorkin in the film festival make it very clear, you can do the right thing and you can still get crushed for it. The rules are not your friend.
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
My heroes have always been
The Great Escape
Escape From New York
Another of my favorite subgenres. Prison breaks. I found The Great Escape around the same time I found The Caine Mutiny. My mom, I think brought it home from the rental joint. I watched it a lot. C'mon...Steve McQueen. The intricacy of planning...the unexpected obstacles...freedom within reach. And, both have Donald Pleasence.
Bring It On
Mean Girls
Welcome to genre-swerve night. I don't discriminate against movies based on genre or even intended audience...much. So, yeah...here's the chick-flicks clearly aimed at females 13-25 that I dig. Both come from writers of note, Bring It On being by Jessica Bendinger, formerly of Sex and the City and writer of one of my favorite episodes of that "My Motherboard, My Self." (yes, I have a favorite SATC, suck it) And there's Dushku in it. I like it because it takes it's own course and doesn't adhere to what you think it should be or how it should go. Even it's acts are unique in comparison to typical act characterisations. Mean Girls...The Fey. That simple.The Enemy Below
Hunt for Red October
The last of my favorite sub genres. Pun most absofuckinglutely intended. To me there is no other type of film that can so clearly capture respect among adversaries in just a two hour movie. It's a theme I've tried to capture in some of my TV writing, but I have a hard time with it. Some of the best examples comes from long continuities, TV series, comics...but in sub movies, you can get it in a two hour bite and, frequently, without the adversaries ever coming face to face. Brinkmanship, my boy.