The MacGuffin

In honor of The Lorax, Spencer and Greg discuss children’s books turned into films. Then they look at characters in over their heads, before giving DVD picks.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Brandi share their top 5 child performances.

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.

Here is my list of the top 10 films of 2009.  Spencer and I go into more detail on these films in Episode 27.  Below you will find a list of all of the films I’ve seen that were released theatrically in the U.S. in 2009.  This is followed by the top 10 and honorable mentions.

Spencer and John share their favorite films of 2009. Additionally, they give their DVD Picks of the week of January 26.

I’ll admit, I’m one of the only people in the world who has never read Where The Wild Things Are. Yes, I understand there are very few words in it and it’s for kids, but I’ve never read it. So I really didn’t know what to expect going in when M. Giant asked me to go to it. A little boy gets into a fight with his mother when he’s being a pain in the ass. He runs away and has an imaginary adventure (or is it?). He sails to an island inhabited by these giant creatures who take him in as their king. He tries to organize things on the island so everyone is happy, but ends up pissing off one or another of them all the time. He learns some life lessons and decides to sail back home to his mother.

Spike Jonze is easily the most adventurous filmmaker working in Hollywood.  His success has allowed him opportunities to take chances on projects that movie studios might otherwise reject.  It might even be possible to argue his success on unconventional projects in part inspired the studios to tackle projects like a Facebook movie or a Battleship movie.  Thankfully, Spike Jonze has never caved to studio pressure to repeat his films successes by making sequels, though I’m sure there was interest in Being John Malkovich 2, etc.