“Movie Buzz Podcast” Archive
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Oh, how we hear it on this blog. How the movies today are awful. The violence. The sex. The language.
The acting. The writing. The messages being shoved down our throats.
If we were to ask the question, Do You Get Into Fights About the Movies?, this is the fight that would probably come up the fastest. (Oh, wait: It did.) Of course, this is where we Ask Movie Irv, not Ask George the Guy Who Makes These Videos, so I won't go on at length about how generally illegitimate I find those assertions to be, seeing as how they pretty much barf themselves up repeatedly the moment the members of a given generation begin waxing nostalgic about the era of cinema they grew up with (and consequently feel the most magical about) and look down their noses at whatever "those %#&$! kids" find so engrossing today. I recently read a great article—and I kick myself now for not remembering where so I could helpfully link to it—that spelled out clearly just how sex-obsessed the movies were back in the DeMille days, and also how relatively chaste they are today compared to them, or, say, to the daring films of the 1970s. And furthermore...
Oops.
Here's Irv on the question that never ceases to result in a near-uniform answer:
OK, now that that's over, let's hear it for how today's movies are lousy! And if you think this question was way too easy (or gives you too much agita), try something a little more challenging by answering Who's The Funniest of The Three Stooges instead.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Some people think M. Night Shyamalan is a genius; others think he got lucky once or twice and sank into frustrating mediocrity thereafter. Maybe you spend hours arguing over whether or not today's movies are as good as the classic films of yesteryear. What happens when someone impolitely dumps on a favorite film of yours...or overpraises a production you find to be sorely lacking?
Irv not only writes a lot about movies, he gets to talk about them a lot with people, too; what happens when he encounters disagreement?
Art generally produces arguments among those who care. Irv and I just had one such discussion about The Cabin in the Woods. We kept it civil. (Because he knows I'm right) How bad do these contentious talks get when you're involved?
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
What qualifies as a three-hankie movie for you? Old Yeller? E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial? The David Cronenberg remake of The Fly? (Yes, that last one was true for me)
Let's Ask Movie Irv what makes him all weepy in the cinema:
You're among friends. You may now freely confess what Hollywood classics left your tissues (and/or the shoulder of your moviegoing companion) soggy.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Yes, just in time for the release of a new (!) Three Stooges film—and in anticipation of the massive DVD set (well titled) The Three Stooges: The Ultimate Collection—we dared to Ask Movie Irv that controversial question: Who's the funniest of The Three Stooges?
Joe Besser fans, your panties may be about to be twisted. Curly worshipers, prepare to take to the comments to voice your shock and disapproval. No more hints, though: check out Irv's response to this mind-boggling challenge.
We await your yeas and nays (or is that nyuks)...
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Plenty of Broadway musicals have successfully made their way to the big screen, from The King and I to Tim Burton's enjoyably bloodthirsty rendition of Sweeney Todd. Occasionally, that process of adaptation happens in reverse, as we've seen with film-to-stage hits such as The Producers and Carrie.
Well, OK, so Carrie was a big-time flop (The first time. They're trying again), but The Producers was such a smash it made it all the way back to the big screen again. Now, we've got Back to the Future to look forward to...not to mention Animal House, Diner, and Rocky. Yes, Rocky. And many, many others. We may as well not fight this trend as it is likely to continue for some time...sort of like remakes, reboots, sequels, comic book movies, and so on.
Fortunately, Movie Irv is here to help producers looking for the next "sure thing" on stage pick out just the right cinema classics to adapt to the live musical format:
Has Irv got the right ideas? For every wonderfully inspired Evil Dead: The Musical, there's a Tarzan (via the Disney animated film) ready to stink up the joint. What movies will work as stage musicals? Save Broadway from itself and offer your pitches right now.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
There is a time and place to discuss and/or complain about the grotesquely high cost of snacking at the movies. In fact, that time and place can be right now if you decide to click on over to my much-earlier post about Six-Dollar Popcorn to evaluate my steadfast refusal to pay that amount for my own favorite movie snack ever again. On the other hand, I'm not so vexed by the whole high-priced snacks issue that I'd ever consider suing over it. How silly.
Before adding to that discussion, though, it's time for you to contribute to this little Dewar's Profile-style exercise by answering the question, What's Your Favorite Movie Snack? To help you get thinking about whether or not you prefer the salty snacks or worship at the altar of your dark master (the cocoa bean), let's find out whether or not Irv goes for the buttery goodness, the nacho, the chocolate-covered raisin, or some more exotic preference:
Time for you to satisfy our appetite for comments. Talk movie snacks below.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
This seems to be maybe the easiest question we could ever Ask Movie Irv, right? Until you realize (a) just how risky those in the movie business regard the "downbeat" climax to be; (b) how scarce it is on the big screen, and, paradoxically, (c) how many great, great films actually do depart from closing on the traditional happy ending. Maybe this question doesn't have such a straightforward answer after all:
Just how hard is it to make a great film with an unhappy ending? And how hard will it be for you to take to the comments section now and recommend a respectable list of cinematic classics that don't toe the line of ending on the obligatory "up" note? Woody Allen has practically dedicated his entire career to walking that fine line between sad and satisfying, so I offer up that masterpiece from the Woodman as a "gimme." The rest is up to you.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Who doesn't remember Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (or, more accurately, Mr. Newman's and Mr. Redford's stunt doubles) jumping off that cliff? Can cinema fans ever forget James Bond skiing off the edge of Mount Asgard? (Well, I did indeed forget that it was Mount Asgard, but I did the honorable thing and credited the Bond fan who helped me fix my careless mistake) And, what movie maven doesn't treasure the hair-raising work of Harold Lloyd or the (still) record-holding 220-foot freefall of the late and legendary stuntman Dar Robinson, tumbling backwards out of a skyscraper in Sharky's Machine?
With these immortal gags in mind, let's Ask Movie Irv to share what filmic feats top his list of favorite movie stunts:
Agreed? In the age of digital effects, we may have lost a little of our appreciation for the stuntperson's craft. Rectify that by adding your own memories of your favorite jaw-dropping movie moments below!
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
It's one thing to walk out on a movie before it's over (or, sometimes it's more than one thing, as you will see if you click on over to Have You Ever Walked Out on a Movie?). It's another matter entirely to get all the way to the end of a film and decide: That's it. I'll never, and I mean never, lay eyes on that again.
When it came time to Ask Movie Irv this question, I (as the man behind the camera and the one who decided on the question) figured I would get a certain kind of answer. Irv's response was not what I expected at all:
Were you as surprised as I was? And, more importantly: What's your answer?
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
We've seen a long, if mixed, record of musicians morphing into movie stars. For every David Bowie, there's a Peter Frampton. Whereas it's hard to argue Barbra Streisand hasn't enjoyed success and longevity on the big screen, Madonna's got her fair share of hits and misses. We won't get into the merits of the Neil Diamond Jazz Singer here; let's just blame all that on Lord Olivier.
Prince. Mick Jagger. Tom Waits. Mariah Carey (we're not talking Glitter, we're talking Precious). Norah Jones.
Who's next? For a while there, it looked like Taylor Swift had the inside track. Not so much now. So: Who should be the next musical artist to score on the big screen? Let's Ask Movie Irv:
Has Irv made the right discovery?
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
Sometimes, a movie question appears to present a very limited range of possible answers. Like the question, "Is Marlon Brando the Greatest Movie Actor of All Time?"
You might think the answers to a question like that would typically be limited to the following:
Yes.
Or: No.
Or: What a stupid question.
But then, you would not be a real movie fan, would you? Obsessed with estimating and re-estimating the estimable Brando's wide—ahem—range of impact and influence on the world of cinema in general, and film acting in particular. Where the star of The Godfather "places" in the annals of thespianic greatness can be, has been, and shall always remain one of "those" conversations taking place among truly dedicated film buffs. We are not talking about Charlie Sheen. Because, as we all know, Charlie Sheen Is No Marlon Brando. No, we are talking about the man who not only made A Streetcar Named Desire, but also Apocalypse Now. And Free Money. Which, uhm, also starred Charlie Sheen.
So, let's get to it and Ask Movie Irv. Was Brando, Is Brando, Will Brando Always Be...The One?
Brandophiles, wherever you are, are now free to champion or take issue with Irv's verdict.
George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz Podcast
...what movies would you make? Would they be like The Matrix...or like Martha Marcy May Marlene? It was time to Ask Movie Irv this classic question, and he has a pretty clear answer:
Now it's your turn. You've just been handed the keys to a major motion picture studio. Those of you always bemoaning the quality of today's films: have at it! Let's hear your pitches. What kinds of movies would you make?
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