The MacGuffin

If screenings of clips from Star Trek Into Darkness and Fast & Furious 6 weren’t cool enough, we still had two days worth of studio presentations (Disney, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate) at CinemaCon 2013. Generally the presentations went two ways: either the presenters would briefly mention a bunch of projects but not show anything from them and then show more extensive clips from a few select projects, OR they would show brief clips (or trailers) for many different projects.

In honor of the release of Oblivion, Spencer and Greg discuss Morgan Freeman.

Two days into CinemaCon—the convention formerly known as ShoWest—the studio presentations have been full of action and surprises. CinemaCon is the yearly convention for the National Association of Theater Owners, but it has also become a platform for the major studios to showcase their upcoming lineups. I’m going to give a taste of the sights and sounds, but try to keep as much of the mystery box intact as possible.

Spencer and Greg give their DVD rundown for March 26th, 2013. In this episode they discuss Lincoln, Killing Them Softly, Veep, and From Beyond.

In honor of the release of Mama, Spencer and Greg discuss Jessica Chastain.

In honor of the release of Killing Them Softly, Spencer and Greg discuss Ray Liotta.

Since 2000, writer/director Andrew Dominik has made only three films: Chopper (2000), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), and now Killing Them Softly. Twelve years with only three films, but they are three painstakingly detailed and surprisingly heady, thought-provoking films. Chopper tells the story of an Australian criminal who, while in prison, writes a memoir of his life in crime that becomes a national bestseller, which helps make a strong commentary for the case of the Son of Sam laws that exist here in the United States. The Assassination of Jesse James is a poetic meditation on the effects a life of crime has on a person and their surroundings, and comes off as something closer to a Terrence Malick film than the tight, visceral impact of Chopper. The film approached its narrative like that of a novel: many characters weaving in and out, all surrounding the central figure who provided the story’s through line.

In honor of the release of Lawless, Spencer and Greg discuss outlaw films.

In honor of the release of The Watch, Spencer and Greg discuss Jonah Hill.

In honor of the release of Safety Not Guaranteed, Spencer and Greg discuss time travel movies.