The MacGuffin

The Academy Awards are rapidly approaching. This is an event I’m always excited to watch, even if it’s controlled by so much politics and sometimes the ceremony is a genuine snooze fest. It’s still fun because it has the veneer of respectability. The Golden Globes are decided by a small amount of people who seem easily open to influence or bribes. The Grammys have so many oddly fractured categories it’s hard to keep track of them all. Not to mention you rarely walk away from them feeling that the right people won. The Tonys award some great talent, and that charming NPH has been doing a bang-up job hosting awards shows, but unless you live in New York it’s unlikely you’ve actually seen any of the shows being celebrated. It’s hard to root for a team you can never watch. So, sports fans have the Superbowl, I have the Oscars.

Re-entering society after being in jail can be a monumental struggle for some ex-convicts. Integrating back into a world that has certain rules and prejudices can be overwhelming. It can be a very lonely prospect, too. Often just getting into a daily routine is a challenge for the newly released. Making that adjustment is the focus of the low-budget independent movie Francine.

Gangster movies have long been a staple of the film industry, dating back to pretty much the beginning of cinema. Traditionally they have been a platform for great characters and stories, and are no stranger to awards. One of the more creative directors to burst onto the scene in the last few years is Ruben Fleischer, so it only feels appropriate that he gave the genre a shot with his latest movie, Gangster Squad. While colorful and entertaining, it isn’t destined to be timeless.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Ed share their top 5 non-holiday movies to watch at the holidays.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Ed share their top 5 opening scenes.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

In honor of the release of That’s My Boy, Spencer and Greg discuss fathers & sons in film.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Edward share their top 5 film scores.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

The annual festival of Hollywood-types congratulating each other for their ability to play make-believe really well while flaunting a garish display of uniquely American excess is rapidly approaching. Of course I’m talking about the annual Academy Awards. As a concept, and looking at the amount of import it is often met with, the entire affair can be seen as somewhat ludicrous. Wealthy people handing out statues while displaying millions of dollars in gowns, tuxedos, and jewelry can be seen as paling in comparison to really important things. Teachers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, social workers, Peace Corps volunteers, parents, and thousands of others toil away in professions that, it can be argued, deserve much more praise. They do REALLY impactful work for far less/no money with often little thanks. So yes, the Oscars can be seen as yet another example of our out of whack priorities. Much like the carnival that surrounds sports figures or models or reality TV stars or musicians, the Oscars elevate a group that already gets plenty of rewards for their toils.

Despite all of that, I love them anyway.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Brandi share their top 5 anti-heroes.

This segment is also available on Stitcher and iTunes. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

In honor of Twilight, Spencer and Greg tackle literary series adaptations. Then they talk dysfunctional families in movies and give DVD picks.