Filmspotting

What was the best shot of 2014? How about the best performances by actors we take granted? Filmspotting covers all its end-of-year bases with the Top 5 "Best of the Rest" – everything Josh and Adam loves about the year in movies... except the movies themselves. Plus, a review of Paul Thomas Anderson's INHERENT VICE. :00-2:34 - Billboard / Donations 2:34-35:09 - Review: "Inherent Vice" Willis Earl Beal, "Nobody Knows" 36:28-45:35 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 45:35-1:02:19 - Top 5: "Best of the Rest" Willis Earl Beal, "Wavering Lines" 1:03:38-1:04:32 - SVU Promo 1:04:32-1:31:48 - "Best of the Rest" cont. 1:31:48-1:34:35 - Close MUSIC - Willis Earl Beal NOTES - Correction: Pretty sure Peter Sarsgaard is not the progeny of Stellan Skarsgard. LINKS - Josh on "Inherent Vice"

Josh and Adam talk fake noses. And wrestling. And murder... with their review of FOXCATCHER starring Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell. Plus, their Top 5 Discoveries of 2014 – actors, directors and others who made a fine first impression this past year – and Larsen Recommends Isao Takahata's THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA. This episode is presented by Squarespace (code FILM). :00-1:30 - Billboard / Squarespace 1:30-22:01 - Review: "Foxcatcher" Trampled By Turtles, "Ghosts" 23:06-26:15 - Squarespace 26:15-43:43 - Notes / Polls 43:43-48:23 - Larsen Recommends 48:23-1:03:01 - Top 5: 2014 Discoveries Trampled By Turtles, "Are You Behind..." 1:04:10-1:08:38 - Donations / SVU Promo 1:08:38-1:27:30 - Top 5: Discoveries cont. 1:27:30-1:30:14 - Close / Outtake MUSIC - Trampled by Turtles LINKS - Josh's review of "Foxcatcher" - SNL: Sincere Guy Stu - Timmy's Squarespace site - Nate's Squarespace site

Filmspotting gets meta and gives Jennifer Lawrence the movie star treatment in this review of the first part of the last part of THE HUNGER GAMES series. LINKS - Alison's piece on Mockingjay gender roles 

This Thanksgiving, be grateful for the movies you may have missed... Filmspotting revisits some of its favorite overlooked/underseen movies of 2014 and announces the shortlist of candidates for the coveted Golden Brick Award. This episode is presented by Shutterstock (code FILM1114). :00-1:34 - Billboard / Shutterstock 1:34-16:42 - "Blue Ruin" Music: Tweedy, "Low Key" 17:46-18:48 - Shutterstock 18:48-25:19 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 25:19-37:41 - John Michael McDonagh Music: Tweedy, "Flowering" 38:58-1:13:11 - "Starred Up" 1:13:11-1:15:34 - Close BONUS CONTENT - Nothing this week, sorry MUSIC - Tweedy LINKS - Golden Bricks Shortlist - MT winner: Sarah Blum

Josh and Adam actually recorded this way-too-friendly review of Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR three months ago – it just took a detour through a wormhole to get here. Plus, the Top 5 Movie Sacrifices. This episode is presented by Shutterstock (code FILM1114) and Harry's (code FILMSPOTTING). :00-3:27 - Billboard / Harry's-Shutterstock 3:27-36:12 - Review: "Interstellar" Brett Shady, "Hard to Leave" 37:09-39:30 - Shutterstock-Harry's 39:30-45:12 - Notes / Larsen Recs: "Memphis" 45:12-58:25 - Polls 58:25-1:11:21 - Top 5: Movie Sacrifices Simon M Harris, "Song of Heart" 1:12:21-1:16:59 - Donations 1:16:59-1:35:23 - Top 5: Sacrifices, cont. 1:35:23-1:38:45 - Close MUSIC - Brett Shady / Simon Harris NOTES -  LINKS - Josh's review of "Interstellar" - Josh's review of "Memphis"

Josh encounters some awkward moments as he tries to reconcile his cultural differences with The Dissolve's Tasha Robinson. The pair reveal their Top 5 Culture Clash Comedies, and review the provocative new film DEAR WHITE PEOPLE. This episode is presented by Squarespace (code FILM). :00-1:41 - Billboard / Squarespace 1:41-27:36 - Review: "Dear White People" Elvis Costello & The Roots, "Refuse to be Saved" 28:39-31:47 - Squarespace 31:47-42:12 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 42:12-53:58 - Top 5: Culture Clash Comedies Elvis Costello & The Roots, "Walk Me Uptown" 54:59-55:43 - Filmspotting: SVU Promo 55:43-1:12:37 - Top 5: Culture Clash Comedies, cont. 1:12:37-1:16:45 - Close BONUS CONTENT - Nothing this week, sorry LINKS - Josh's review of "Dear White People" - Nancy's Squarespace site

Vampires aren't the only crazies who come out at night. Josh and Adam stay up late to share their Top 5 Nocturnal Movies, and discuss Jake Gyllenhaal's creepy turn in writer/director Dan Gilroy's NIGHTCRAWLER. This episode is presented by Audible and Harry's (code FILMSPOTTING). :00-3:13 - Billboard / Audible-Harry's 3:13-27:35 - Review: "Nightcrawler" Music: Rural Alberta Advantage, "Runners in the Night" 28:52-33:12 - Harry's-Audible 30:53-40:54 - Notes / Polls 40:54-54:30 - Top 5: Nocturnal Movies Music: Rural Alberta Advantage, "Terrified" 55:26-59:48 - Donations 59:48-1:16:00 - Top 5: Nocturnal Movies, cont. 1:16:00-1:19:44 - Close MUSIC - Rural Alberta Advantage NOTES - Audible recs: "Night," "Live from New York," "Oracle Night" LINKS - Josh on "Nightcrawler"

Michael Phillips couldn't convince Adam and Josh to be the Chico and Harpo to his Groucho, but that didn't stop him from helping them share the Top 5 Movie Costumes they'd actually wear for Halloween. Plus, a review of BIRDMAN, starring Michael Keaton. This episode is presented by Audible. 0:00-2:01 - Billboard / Audible-Donations 2:01-29:46 - Review: "Birdman" Andrew Bird, "Tin Foiled" 31:03-33:12 - Audible 33:12-43:00 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 43:00-59:07 - Top 5: Movie Costumes (We'd Wear) Andrew Bird, "Don't Be Scared" 1:00:23-1:01:07 - SVU Promo 1:01:07-1:20:28 - Top 5: Costumes cont. 1:20:28-1:24:07 - Close / Outtake MUSIC - Andrew Bird LINKS/NOTES - Josh on Birdman - Audible rec: "We Used to Be Kings" - Josh as Indiana Jones - Listener costumes on Facebook - Vanessa as Alex DeLarge - Capt. America costume at Party City

It's the inspirational tale of a couple down-on-their-luck podcasters who make good with the help of a crusty old radio veteran. Josh and Adam share their Top Mentor-Proteges, and review a movie about a drummer driven to madness in his pursuit of musical perfection – WHIPLASH. This episode is presented by Squarespace (FILM). 0:00-1:28 - Billboard / Squarespace 1:28-33:06 - Review: "Whiplash" Herbie Hancock Quintet, "So What" 34:14-36:38 - Squarespace 36:38-51:31 - Notes / Polls 51:31-1:05:53 - Top 5: Mentor-Proteges Miles Davis, "So What" 1:07:01-1:12:10 - Donations 1:12:10-1:35:46 - Top 5: Mentor-Proteges cont. 1:35:46-1:39:02 - Close MUSIC - Herbie Hancock Quintet & Miles Davis LINKS - Josh's review of Whiplash - "Next to Her" - Peter Bogdanovich IMDb - He doesn't have the greatest track record, but he does have more than 6 feature credits. - Grace's Squarespace site

Finally, a Top 5 that Adam and Josh can relate to: Movie Narcissists. Plus, a conversation with writer/director Alex Ross Perry and actor Jason Schwartzman about their new movie LISTEN UP PHILIP. This episode is presented by Shutterstock (FILM1014). 0:00-2:29 - Billboard / Shutterstock-Donations 2:29-28:06 - Interview: Perry & Schwartzman Typefighter, "Know It's Wrong" 29:22-31:46 - Shutterstock 31:46-43:19 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 43:19-1:04:32 - Perry/Schwartzman cont. Typefighter, "Much" 1:05:32-1:06:18 - Promo: SVU 1:06:18-1:39:28 - Top 5: Movie Narcissists 1:39:28-1:43:22 - Close / Outtake MUSIC - Typefighter NOTES - MT winner: Joshua Heizer LINKS - Listen Up Philip - Josh on Listen Up Philip - Ross Perry on film vs. digital

Before email, texts, Twitter and Snapchat, movie characters had to rely on ‘The Letter’ to communicate their most heartfelt feelings to one another — or to blackmail each other. Inspired by their discussion of director David Fincher's GONE GIRL, Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Movie Missives... the love letters, ransom notes and dear johns that have played pivotal roles in film. This episode is presented by Squarespace (FILM) and Varidesk. 0:00-1:59 - Billboard / Varidesk-Squarespace 1:59-22:12 - Review: "Gone Girl" The White Stripes, "Death Letter" 22:48-25:22 - Squarespace 25:22-39:50 - Notes / Polls 39:50-54:42 - Top 5: Movie Missives Wilco, "Box Full of Letters" 55:27-59:57 - Donations / Promo: CIFF 57:57-1:17:30 - Top 5: Movie Missives cont. 1:17:30-1:22:15 - Close / Outtakes LINKS - Vulture: Gone Girl's woman problem - Josh's review of Gone Girl - Adam ranks Fincher - Josh ranks Fincher - Twin Peaks returning - Squarespace: Nobody Ordered Wolves - Visual vs. Aural in M - Adam's M foreword - Schedule for Josh's viewing/discussion series on The Decalogue

It's a Fimspotting spoiler special! Josh and Adam go long on director David Fincher's GONE GIRL. (Spoilers begin around the 19 minute mark.) 

With the 50th annual Chicago International Film Festival kicking off Oct. 9, Josh and Adam highlight some of the films worth seeking out at the fest or putting on your radar, plus reflect on their Top 5 CIFF Discoveries. This episode is presented by Audible and Varidesk. 0:00-1:55 - Billboard / Sponsors 1:55-30:24 - Chicago Film Fest Preview Gaslight Anthem, "Sweet Morphine" 31:21-39:43 - Audible / SVU Promo 39:43-53:01 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 53:01-1:09:39 - Top 5: CIFF Discoveries 1:09:39-1:14:18 - Close / Outtake MUSIC - The Gaslight Anthem NOTES - MT winner: Khristopher Marang - Audible rec: "Fosse" by Sam Wasson LINKS - Chicago Film Festival Schedule - CIFF Critics Picks Movies - Michael's Stephen Cone profile - Josh on "Artico" - Josh on "Gonzalez" - Inherent Vice trailer - Gone Girl passes - QT's New Beverly programming - QT discusses New Beverly on Treatment

With Adam out for a week, Josh found a willing accomplice in Michael Phillips for a countdown of their Top 5 Movie Manimals, tying in with their review of Kevin Smith's TUSK. Plus, Michael's recap of the recent Toronto International Film Festival and more. This episode is presented by Squarespace (FILM) and Varidesk. 0:00-1:59 - Billboard / Squarespace-Varidesk 1:59-23:01 - Review: "Tusk" Chad VanGaalen, "Cut Off My Hands" 24:11-26:12 - Squarespace 26:12-45:21 - Notes / TIFF 2014 Recap 45:21-55:36 - Polls Chad VanGaalen, "Monster" 56:37-57:13 - Promo: Chicago Film Fest 57:13-1:30:17 - Top 5: Manimals 1:30:17-1:33:49 - Close MUSIC - Chad VanGaalen LINKS - CIFF Critics' Picks Event - Soderbergh's Raiders - Michael on TIFF - Josh's review of Tusk

It's Sociopath Week at the Filmspotting Lounge... half off Pabst Blue Ribbons and nitrous oxide chasers! The perfect combo to put you in the proper frame of mind for Josh and Adam's Top 5 David Lynch Scenes. Plus, a discussion of Lynch's creepy 1977 debut ERASERHEAD — just out in a Criterion Collection Blu-Ray — and a review of THE SKELETON TWINS, starring SNL alums Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. This episode is presented by Shutterstock (FILM914), Harry's (code FILMSPOTTING) and Varidesk. 0:00-2:56 - Billboard / Shutterstock-Harry's 2:56-27:33 - Blindspotting: "Eraserhead" Peter Ivers, "In Heaven" 28:02-30:55 - Harry's-Shutterstock 30:55-41:05 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 41:05-52:24 - Review: "Skeleton Twins" Roy Orbison, "In Dreams" 53:21-58:54 - Varidesk-Donations 58:54-1:37:34 - Top 5: Lynch Scenes 1:37:34-1:40:52 - Close / Outtake BONUS CONTENT - Pre-CGI Scenes Feedback MUSIC - Soundtracks: Eraserhead, Blue Velvet NOTES - MT winner: Melissa Maillett LINKS - CIFF Critics' Picks Event - Josh on Eraserhead - Josh on Skeleton Twins