Post by klep on Dec 26, 2016 10:13:24 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 12/26: The Thin Man
MERRY CHRISTMAS EDITION!
Ostensibly The Thin Man is a detective story. It's based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, it has a mystery, and a body, and crooks of assorted kinds. It has clues and suspects. Its main character is a detective. He cracks the case in dramatic fashion.
It has all the trappings of a detective story, but it's also something more than that. It's also a lightweight, comedic lifestyle porn. Released in 1934 at the height of the Depression, The Thin Man shows no signs of being aware the Depression even exists. Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) are wealthy and carefree, holding parties in their hotel suite with free-flowing booze and not a care in the world. When Nick gets involved in the case it's only partly because of his own genuine interest; it's also largely because no one else will believe he's not already involved and he's become exasperated. Even Nora is on his case about it, thinking it'll be fun.
So they quip and drink through the mystery, staying chipper despite the growing body count. It's not that they don't care, it's just that they have a great life and love each other and aren't ashamed of enjoying it. There's little true danger to either of them beyond a couple points, and those are over almost as soon as they begin. The laughter, the pranks, the quips, the adorable puppy, and the casual functional alcoholism combined with the detective story all mark The Thin Man as one of the most sheerly entertaining films ever made. Merry Christmas everyone!
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/2: Sexy Beast
NEW BEGINNINGS EDITION!
Our first Movie of the Week for the new year is Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast, a film about a man dragged back into his old life while trying to start anew. Sexy Beast is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 12/27: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Next week's podcast pairs Damien Chazelle's new La La Land with this impeccable classic from Jacques Demy. Join us next Wednesday as we talk about the bittersweet perfection of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, available on Filmstruck's Criterion channel and for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EDITION!
Ostensibly The Thin Man is a detective story. It's based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, it has a mystery, and a body, and crooks of assorted kinds. It has clues and suspects. Its main character is a detective. He cracks the case in dramatic fashion.
It has all the trappings of a detective story, but it's also something more than that. It's also a lightweight, comedic lifestyle porn. Released in 1934 at the height of the Depression, The Thin Man shows no signs of being aware the Depression even exists. Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) are wealthy and carefree, holding parties in their hotel suite with free-flowing booze and not a care in the world. When Nick gets involved in the case it's only partly because of his own genuine interest; it's also largely because no one else will believe he's not already involved and he's become exasperated. Even Nora is on his case about it, thinking it'll be fun.
So they quip and drink through the mystery, staying chipper despite the growing body count. It's not that they don't care, it's just that they have a great life and love each other and aren't ashamed of enjoying it. There's little true danger to either of them beyond a couple points, and those are over almost as soon as they begin. The laughter, the pranks, the quips, the adorable puppy, and the casual functional alcoholism combined with the detective story all mark The Thin Man as one of the most sheerly entertaining films ever made. Merry Christmas everyone!
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/2: Sexy Beast
NEW BEGINNINGS EDITION!
Our first Movie of the Week for the new year is Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast, a film about a man dragged back into his old life while trying to start anew. Sexy Beast is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 12/27: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Next week's podcast pairs Damien Chazelle's new La La Land with this impeccable classic from Jacques Demy. Join us next Wednesday as we talk about the bittersweet perfection of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, available on Filmstruck's Criterion channel and for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.