On this week’s Unknown Penguin Podcast we discuss movies you stop and watch when they’re on TV from The Bourne Trilogy to Coming to America.

Chris Mathieu from Unknown Penguin’s Festivale (David Johnson) and The Rochambeau Kid (Johnny Cobra) as well as ComedySportz LA.

Burl Moseley from Unknown Penguin’s FringeNYC production of Untitled Masterpiece as well as the Fox series 24.

Wes Whitehead from IAMA Theatre Company.

FEATURED FILM

The Fugitive (1993, Andrew Davis) Harrison Ford; Tommy Lee Jones; Joe Pantoliano; Julianne Moore  *Patrick Owns It*

MOVIES DISCUSSED

The Bourne Identity (2002, Doug Liman) Matt Damon; Franka Potente; Chris Cooper; Brian Cox; Clive Owen *Patrick Owns It*

The Bourne Supremacy (2004, Paul Greengrass) Matt Damon; Franka Potente; Brian Cox; Julia Stiles; Joan Allen *Patrick Owns It*

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007, Paul Greengrass) Matt Damon; Julia Stiles; Joan Allen; David Strathairn; Scott Glenn; Albert Finney; Paddy Considine *Patrick Owns It*

Casino Royale (2006, Martin Campbell) Daniel Craig; Eva Green; Mads Mikkelsen; Judi Dench; Jeffrey Wright; Giancarlo Giannini *Patrick Owns It*

Coming to America (1988, John Landis) Eddie Murphy; Arsenio Hall; Shari Headley; James Earl Jones; John Amos; Eriq La Salle; Samuel L Jackson

Demolition Man (1993, Marco Brambilla) Sylvester Stallone; Wesley Snipes; Sandra Bullock; Nigel Hawthorne; Denis Leary; Glen Shadix

Die Hard (1988, John McTiernan) Bruce Willis; Alan Rickman; Bonnie Bedelia; Alexander Godunov; Reginald VelJohnson; Paul Gleason *Patrick Owns It*

Die Hard 2 (1990, Renny Harlin) Bruce Willis; Bonnie Bedelia; William Atherton; Dennis Franz; Reginald VelJohnson; Franco Nero; William Sadler; John Amos; Fred Thompson *Patrick Owns It*

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995, John McTiernan) Bruce Willis; Jeremy Irons; Samuel L Jackson; Larry Bryggman; Graham Greene; Colleen Camp *Patrick Owns It*

Forrest Gump (1994, Robert Zemeckis) Tom Hanks; Robin Wright; Gary Sinise; Mykelti Williamson; Sally Field

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, George Armitage) John Cusack; Minnie Driver; Dan Aykroyd; Jeremy Piven; Alan Arkin; Joan Cusack *Patrick Owns It*

Jurassic Park (1993, Steven Spielberg) Sam Neill; Laura Dern; Jeff Goldblum; Richard Attenborough; Joseph Mazzello; Ariana Richards; Martin Ferrero; Bob Peck; Samuel L Jackson; Wayne Knight *Patrick Owns It*

The NeverEnding Story (1984, Wolfgang Petersen) Noah Hathaway; Barret Oliver; Tami Stronach; Moses Gunn; Patricia Hayes; Thomas Hill; Deep Roy

The Shawshank Redemption (1994, Frank Darabont) Tim Robbins; Morgan Freeman; Bob Gunton; William Sadler; Clancy Brown; Gil Bellows; James Whitmore *Patrick Owns It*

ADDITIONAL MOVIES MENTIONED

The Client (1994, Joel Schumacher) Susan Sarandon; Tommy Lee Jones; Brad Renfro; Will Patton

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, David Fincher) Brad Pitt; Cate Blanchett; Taraji P Henson; Julia Ormond; Tilda Swinton; Mahershalalhashbaz Ali; Jared Harris; Jason Flemyng

The Dark Crystal (1982, Jim Henson & Frank Oz) Stephen Garlick; Lisa Maxwell; Billie Whitelaw; Barry Dennen; Michael Kilgarriff

Diamonds are Forever (1971, Guy Hamilton) Sean Connery; Jill St John; Charles Gray; Lana Wood; Putter Smith; Bruce Glover; Norman Burton; Bernard Lee; Desmond Llewelyn *Patrick Owns It*

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, Mike Newell) Hugh Grant; Andie MacDowell; James Fleet; Simon Callow; John Hannah; Kristin Scott Thomas; David Bower; Charlotte Coleman; Rowan Atkinson; Anna Chancellor; David Haig; Sophie Thompson *Patrick Owns It*

From Russia with Love (1963, Terence Young) Sean Connery; Daniela Bianchi; Lotte Lenya; Robert Shaw *Patrick Owns It*

Goldfinger (1964, Guy Hamilton) Sean Connery; Shirley Eaton; Gert Fröbe; Honor Blackman; Harold Sakata *Patrick Owns It*

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008, Steven Spielberg) Harrison Ford; Cate Blanchett; Karen Allen; Ray Winstone; John Hurt; Jim Broadbent; Shia LaBeouf

Labyrinth (1986, Jim Henson) Jennifer Connelly; David Bowie; Toby Froud

Lethal Weapon (1987, Richard Donner) Mel Gibson; Danny Glover; Gary Busey; Mitchell Ryan; Tom Atkins; Darlene Love; Grand L Bush; Steve Kahan *Patrick Owns It*

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996, Renny Harlin) Geena Davis; Samuel L Jackson; Patrick Malahide; Craig Bierko; Brian Cox; David Morse; G D Spradlin; Tom Amandes; Yvonne Zima *Patrick Owns It*

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969, Peter R Hunt) George Lazenby; Diana Rigg; Telly Savalas *Patrick Owns It*

Poltergeist (1982, Tobe Hooper) Craig T Nelson; JoBeth Williams; Beatrice Straight; Dominique Dunne; Oliver Robins; Heather O’Rourke

Pulp Fiction (1994, Quentin Tarintino) John Travolta; Samuel L Jackson; Uma Thurman; Bruce Willis; Harvey Keitel; Tim Roth; Amanda Plummer; Maria de Medeiros; Ving Rhames; Eric Stoltz; Rosanna Arquette; Quentin Tarintino; Christopher Walken *Patrick Owns It*

Quantum of Solace (2008, Marc Forster) Daniel Craig; Olga Kurylenko; Mathieu Amalric; Judi Dench; Jeffrey Wright; Giancarlo Giannini

Quiz Show (1994, Robert Redford) John Turturro; Rob Morrow; Ralph Fiennes; David Paymer; Paul Scofield

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Steven Spielberg) Harrison Ford; Karen Allen; Paul Freeman; Ronald Lacey; John Rhys-Davies; Denholm Elliott; Alfred Molina *Patrick Owns It*

The Ref (1994, Ted Demme) Denis Leary; Judy Davis; Kevin Spacey; Donna Holgate *Patrick Owns It*

Regarding Henry (1991, Mike Nichols) Harrison Ford; Annette Bening; Mikki Allen; Bill Nunn

The Secret of NIMH (1982, Don Bluth) Elizabeth Hartman; Derek Jacobi; Dom DeLuise; John Carradine; Arthur Malet; Hermione Baddeley; Peter Strauss; Paul Shenar; Shannen Doherty; Wil Wheaton

Swimfan (2002, John Polson) Jesse Bradford; Erika Christensen; Shiri Appleby; Clayne Crawford; Jason Ritter; Dan Hedaya

Thunderball (1965, Terence Young) Sean Connery; Claudine Auger; Adolfo Celi; Luciana Paluzzi; Rik Van Nutter; Desmond Llewelyn; Bernard Lee *Patrick Owns It*

Trading Places (1983, John Landis) Dan Aykroyd; Eddie Murphy; Ralph Bellamy; Don Ameche; Denholm Elliott; Jamie Lee Curtis

U.S. Marshals (1998, Stuart Baird) Tommy Lee Jones; Wesley Snipes; Robert Downey Jr; Joe Pantoliano; Tom Wood

Witness (1985, Peter Weir) Harrison Ford; Kelly McGillis; Lukas Haas; Danny Glover; Jan Rubes; Josef Sommer *Patrick Owns It*

{The following is brought to you by Countrywide Beatnik Hard Liquor: “Drink to forget.”}

Greetings one and all. In these troubled times [drink] we turn to the movies, to the TV, to the Interwebs and hope to borrow surcease of sorrow. I saw 277 feature length films last year [7 non-fiction, 9 animated, only 6 foreign (sorry, dad)]. And since no one asked me, here is what I think of the Oscar nominations and the best movies of 2008.

This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (and most other Awards shows) have nominated five films that most haven’t seen and (mostly) aren’t all that spectacular (this is called “drawing the audience in with controversy”). Is the Academy out of touch? To quote my friend Keith Powell: “Who cares?” Well said, sir.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a masterpiece of digital technology but in terms of story, interest, and pathos, it is less-than. I felt no connection to the characters and no interest in their stories. On a side note, I am not a fan of the story-within-a-story device of a character telling the story of their life during the movie (Forrest Gump). It doesn’t add anything to the story, and in this film’s case it actually took away from my enjoyment.

Frost/Nixon is a very enjoyable and tense thriller. It is also an example of how to adapt a work from stage to screen. Ron Howard does what may be the best work of his career and uses the camera to aid the characters. Instead of “opening up” the play he closes in and lets us really get up in these characters’ faces, one thing a play cannot do.

I did not enjoy Milk as much as I was hoping to. Top shelf acting from the whole ensemble and the parallels between California then and now are startling. However, it didn’t grab hold of me as most Gus Van Sant films do. It didn’t challenge me as much as I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it but it hardly blew me away.

I did not enjoy The Reader. I found it pedantic, didactic, and other snooty words. Kate Winslet is good, of course (she always is), but the rest of the cast in uninspired and I wasn’t at all sure what I was supposed to take from it if anything. On a side note, Winslet should not be up for Lead Actress but rather Supporting Actress since her character is very much a supporting role in the story.

Slumdog Millionaire is the best of group by far. Danny Boyle’s direction is top-notch and I’m glad he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. The acting is quite good as well. The story didn’t blow me away and I think we’ve all seen this movie before. But the more I think about this film, the more I like it.

“Patrick, what were your favorite movies of the year?” Good question, plebeian reader. In alphabetical order, here are the ten best movies I saw this year.

The Bank Job
(Roger Donaldson) Set in the 70’s, Martine (Saffron Burrows) offers Terry (Jason Statham) a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London’s Baker Street. But Terry and his crew don’t realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal. Based on a true story.  This is a masterful heist film. Donaldson manipulates us and his characters with true excellence. He also handles the very complicated story with true talent. You trust him from the start, so although you may be lost for a moment, you never feel out to sea. Statham gives his best performance since Snatch.

Burn After Reading (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent (John Malkovich) ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees (Frances McDormand & Brad Pitt) who attempt to sell it.  This movie devided a lot of critics and friends of mine alike. As a self-confessed Coen Brothers lover, I must admit I’m biased. But, c’mon, how can you watch this film and not have a great time. A great cast (including the always wonderful J K Simmons) take you through this insane world with glee. No one does chaos like the Coens, no one does stupidy like the Coens, and no one makes you laugh quite like the Coens. If you liked The Big Lebowski, you’ll like Burn After Reading (the opposite is also true).

The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan) Batman (Christian Bale), Lt Gordon (Gary Oldman), and D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) deal with the chaos unleashed by an anarchist mastermind known only as The Joker (Heath Ledger).  Okay. So, I assume that you’ve either seen it or aren’t going to see it (or have young kids and will see it later). Many have said to me they found it long, many have said to me they liked the first one better, to them I have all said the same thing: I have seen this movie three times and would go again if you asked. Nolan, Bale, Oldman, Eckhart, and Ledger blend in a compelling and fascinating way. It’s not the best movie ever, it’s not the best movie I’ve seen this year, but it is amazing to watch (and I think better than Batman Begins). Ledger deserves the Oscar he’s going to win. There I said it.

Happy-Go-Lucky
(Mike Leigh) A look at a few chapters in the life of Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a cheery, colorful, North London schoolteacher whose optimism tends to exasperate those around her.  Most movies are not what you’d call realistic. Some movies claim to be realistic but are really just boring as hell. But every now and again a movie like Happy-Go-Lucky comes out and really “holds the mirror up to life” in a genuine way.  And if you’re lucky, it’s half as good as this movie is.  Mike Leigh’s “kitchen sink realism” has been evidenced in films like Vera Drake and Naked but not since his 1999 film Topsy-Turvy has it been so compelling and startling. Nothing really happens in Happy-Go-Lucky, there are no major revelations, deceptions, betrayals, etc. The characters go about their lives much as you imagine they would in “real” life. But they (the characters) are so complete and so compelling that the experience is magical. What’s best is this movie really is for everyone. I highly recommended to anyone and everyone. It’ll just make you feel good.

In Bruges
(Martin McDonagh) Hold up in the Belgium town of Bruges after a difficult job, two hit men (Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson) begin to differ on their views of life and death as they become used to local customs.  I loved, loved, loved this movie. McDonagh crafts an interesting morality fable about the wages of sin and theories of hell. Beautifully shot in the simultaneously bleak and beautiful Bruges, this is one for the books. Farrell & Gleeson are as good as Travolta & Jackson as philosophical hitmen (though McDonagh’s hitmen are probably more realistic). Ralph Feinnes is masterful as their gang leader. I can’t say enough good things about In Bruges.

Rachel Getting Married
(Jonathan Demme) A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years (Anne Hathaway) returns home for her sister’s wedding.   There have been many hand-held, shot-on-video, family dramas over the last several years. And while some have been better than others (Pieces of April is quite nice), none of them comes anywhere near the beauty or sophistication of Rachel Getting Married. Jonathan Demme and Jenny Lumet (daughter of Sidney) find a perfect harmony as director and writer respectively that is reminiscent of Juno’s Jason Reitman and Diablo Coby (or Network’s Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chafesky). The acting is first rate (especially Bill Irwin as the father of the bride) and the sheer simplicity of the storyline make you feel like this is really unfolding before your eyes. Excellent, excellent stuff.

Slumdog Millionaire
(Danny Boyle) A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums (Dev Patel), becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and is arrested under suspicion of cheating. While being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.  Again, really good.

The Visitor
(Thomas McCarthy) A college professor (Richard Jenkins) travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment.  Thomas McCarthy’s first film, The Station Agent, was a heartbreaking study of people out of step with the world finding their own family. The Visitor is about a man who has removed himself from the world finding his way back in. Both are brilliant. Jenkins gives what will surely be the performance of his career. One which should be studied for its subtlety and intricacy. And I ask you (after you’ve seen it) who is “the visitor?”

WALL·E
(Andrew Stanton) In the distant future, a small waste collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.  I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that WALL·E might be the most beautiful animated movie ever made. Pixar used 7 time Academy Award nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins to consult on shot design and the results are amazing. On top of all of that, WALL·E is one of the best characters Pixar has ever presented. Is the message heavy-handed? I don’t care, it’s great stuff.

The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky) Drama centered on retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) as he makes his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival.  It’s a hard movie to watch and it isn’t for everyone but it is (in my opinion) the best movie of the year. Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) strips all the frills away from filmmaking and presents a barebones and heartbreaking story. Rourke is electric as is Marisa Tomei as an over-the-hill stripper and Evan Rachel Wood as Randy’s estranged daughter. Heartbreakingly wonderful.

Other very good movies I saw this year and would recommend are: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Smart, Gran Torino, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Iron Man, John Adams, My Boy Jack, Rambo, Redbelt, and Tropic Thunder.

“But, Patrick, who do you think is going to win at the Oscars this year?” Calm down now, I’m getting there.

I did manage to see all of the domestic, feature length, fiction films nominated for Oscars this year but I found the effort more taxing than normal. Just not as many exciting films out there.

Best Motion Picture of the Year
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire
SHOULD WIN: Slumdog Millionaire
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Happy-Go-Lucky, WALL·E, and The Wrestler should replace The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, and The Reader.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
WILL WIN: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
SHOULD WIN: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino / Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
WILL WIN: Kate Winslet, The Reader
SHOULD WIN: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
WILL WIN: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
SHOULD WIN: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight [there, I said it again]
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky / Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
WILL WIN: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona [goin' out on a limb here]
SHOULD WIN: Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Evan Rachel Wood, The Wrestler

Best Achievement in Directing
WILL WIN: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
SHOULD WIN: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
WILL WIN: Milk, Dustin Lance Black
SHOULD WIN: In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: Rachel Getting Married, Jenny Lumet

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
SHOULD WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy

Best Achievement in Cinematography
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, Anthony Dod Mantle
SHOULD WIN: The Dark Knight, Wally Pfister
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: The Wrestler, Maryse Alberti

Best Achievement in Editing
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, Chris Dickens
SHOULD WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, Chris Dickens
SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED: The Wrestler, Andrew Weisblum

Best Achievement in Art Direction
WILL WIN: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Achievement in Costume Design
WILL WIN: The Duchess

Best Achievement in Makeup
WILL WIN: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Achievement in Music Written, Motion Pictures, Original Score
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire, A R Rahman

Best Achievement in Music Written, Motion Pictures, Original Song
WILL WIN: WALL·E, “Down to Earth,” Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman [I think the two Slumdog Millionaire songs will split.]

Best Achievement in Sound
WILL WIN: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
WILL WIN: WALL·E

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
WILL WIN: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
WILL WIN: WALL·E

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
WILL WIN: Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Best Documentary, Features
WILL WIN: Man on Wire [the one about the indomitable human spirit]

Best Documentary, Short Subjects
WILL WIN: The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 [the Civil Rights one]

Best Short Film, Animated
WILL WIN: Presto [the Pixar one]

Best Short Film, Live Action
WILL WIN: Spielzeugland [the Holocaust one]

Below is a list of all the movies I saw this year and recommendations [+] or not [-]. Hugh Jackman’s hosting Sunday, how many times will they mention Australia?

Good night, everybody.

Fiction:
Appaloosa
Australia
Baby Mama
The Bank Job [+]
Body of Lies
Burn After Reading [+]
Cadillac Records
Cassandra’s Dream
Changeling
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight [+]
Defiance
Definitely, Maybe
Doubt
Eagle Eye [-]
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Four Christmases
Frost/Nixon [+]
Frozen River [+]
Get Smart [+]
Gran Torino [+]
Hancock [-]
The Happening [-]
Happy-Go-Lucky [+]
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay [-]
Hellboy II: The Golden Army [+]
In Bruges [+]
In Search of a Midnight Kiss [+]
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [-]
Iron Man [+]
John Adams [+]
Leatherheads [+]
Milk [+]
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
My Boy Jack [+]
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Pineapple Express [-]
Quantum of Solace [+]
Rachel Getting Married [+]
Rambo [+]
The Reader
Recount
Redbelt [+]
Revolutionary Road
Righteous Kill [Uncle John movie of the year]
Semi-Pro
Slumdog Millionaire [+]
Traitor
Tropic Thunder [+]
21
27 Dresses
The Visitor [+]
W.
The Wrestler [+]
Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Animated:
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
WALL·E [+]

Non-Fiction:
The Black List: Volume One
Public Enemies: The Golden Age of Gangster Film
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired [+]

Debuting this week is the new theme song/opening sequence of the AfterEllen.com chat show Cat on the Prowl starring Cat Davis. And who directed and edited said video? Well it was The Unknown Penguin. Performing the song is the duo That’s What She Said. Check it out at AfterEllen.com .

This week we get ambitious and decide what are the best movies of the year. We go around the room for what movies everyone loved, answer some e-mails, and wrap up with a discussion of this year’s Best Picture nominees. Joining Patrick at the table are:

Matt Hartman from Unknown Penguin’s Festivale (Carl) & the FringeNYC production of Untitled Masterpiece, as well as Sprezzatura’s The Bad News Bearer and ComedySportz DC.

Chris Mathieu from Unknown Penguin’s Festivale (David Johnson) and The Rochambeau Kid (Johnny Cobra) as well as ComedySportz LA.

Burl Moseley from Unknown Penguin’s FringeNYC production of Untitled Masterpiece as well as the Fox series 24.

FEATURED MOVIE

BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR
E-MAILS TO PODCAST@UNKNOWNPENGUIN.COM

have you really not seen showgirls?
i’m listening to your podcast and i feel like i saw it about a hundred times during college, so i can’t believe you escaped viewing the dolphin sex scene. you haven’t seen goonies! i don’t think i trust your film opinions anymore :0 i wasn’t allowed to watch dirty dancing, but i finally did in college. oh well. I haven’t seen any of the movies you guys don’t like, so I’m going to give up on this one, but I’ll keep tuning in

Catherine in Chicopee [Gmail Chat]

**********

I just listened to your podcast (episode 009) and it is tremendous.
Very very funny stuff. I am very much looking forward to your next
episode.

Had I been on there I would not have contributed except one thing: In
the “action hero vehicle” section I would have professed my love for
The Patriot and told the story about you and I and the girl who said
“Daddy, don’t go. I’ll say anything.” That would have been
fun/embarrassing.

J R King, Man of the People

**********

Alright, so I just listened to this and there are a few movies that I would have liked to have seen mentioned.

1.) Starship Troopers…I mean come on, with the teeth and everything. classic
2.) Spawn…which is a movie I saw on my 13th birthday and I mean it’s awesome, but also perhaps not critically acclaimed as such.
3.) Almost Heroes…which is the only movie I’ve walked out of, it’s chris farley’s last movie and it was directed by Christopher Guest, and’s it’s horrible. Like not even good enough for TBS or TNT bad.
4.) Troy…I really enjoyed the movie, despite it’s lack of either historical or literary accuracy; but I just really enjoy that Achilles (brad pitts) unbeatable fighting move is to stab while jumping, apparenlty in the acient greece area thats just to much.
5.) Dragonheart…just cuz
6.) Any James Bond movies, I haven’t seen them all but License to Kill is pretty bad from my recollection
7.) Valkyrie…I don’t know if you saw it, but I really liked it and I feel like people hated it.

Thats my list of things. I did enjoy the podcast though…of all you’ve done, actually this was the one I felt qualified to comment on given my taste in movies and the fact that I still buy and read comic books; which some how seems relivent.

Mike the Policy Analyst

2008 BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

OTHER MOVIES MENTIONED

AMAZON RENTAL STORE

We launch our new podcast format with a discussion of Bad Movies We Love from Showgirls to Rocky IV to the The Room. Joining Patrick at the table are:

Matt Hartman from Festivale (Carl), the FringeNYC production of Untiled Masterpiece, as well as Sprezzatura’s The Bad News Bearer and Comedy Sportz DC.

Chris Mathieu from Festivale (David Johnson) and The Rochambeau Kid (Johnny Cobra) as well as Comedy Sportz LA.

Burl Moseley from the FringeNYC production of Untiled Masterpiece as well as the Fox series 24.

Listen as they debate bad cinema from Showgirls to The Room.

FEATURED MOVIE

The Room (2003, Tommy Wiseau) Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero, Philip Haldiman, Carolyn Minnott
OFFICIAL SITE
*Patrick Owns It* / *Matt Owns It*

BAD MOVIES WE LOVE

Showgirls (1995, Paul Verhoeven) Elizabeth Berkley; Kyle MacLachlan; Gina Gershon

Commando (1985, Mark L Lester) Arnold Schwarzenegger; Rae Dawn Chong; Dan Hedaya; Alyssa Milano
</p> <p><b/>The Last Action Hero</b> (1993, John McTiernan) Arnold Schwarzenegger; F Murray Abraham; Austin O’Brien; Art Carney; Robert Prosky; Anthony Quinn; Mercedes Ruehl; Ian McKellen; Joan Plowright<br /> <iframe src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0800177975&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” mce_src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0800177975&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” scrolling=”no” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ frameborder=”0″>
*Matt Owns It*

The Postman (1997, Kevin Costner) Kevin Costner; Will Patton; Larenz Tate; Tom Petty; Giovanni Ribisi
</p> <p><b/>Assassins</b> (1995, Richard Donner) Sylvester Stallone; Antonio Banderas; Julianne Moore<br /> <iframe src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=6304602871&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” mce_src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=6304602871&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” scrolling=”no” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ frameborder=”0″></p> <p><b/>Sgt. Bilko</b> (1996, Jonathan Lynn) Steve Martin; Dan Aykroyd; Phil Hartman; Glenne Headly; Max Casella; Austin Pendleton; Chris Rock<iframe src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0783227353&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” mce_src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=unknopengu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0783227353&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr” style=”width:120px;height:240px;” scrolling=”no” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ frameborder=”0″>
*Matt Owns It*

Point Break (1991, Kathryn Bigelow) Patrick Swayze; Keanu Reeves; Gary Busey; Lori Petty; John C McGinley

Superman III (1983, Richard Lester) Christopher Reeve; Richard Pryor; Jackie Cooper; Marc McClure; Annette O’Toole; Robert Vaughn; Margot Kidder

*Matt Owns It*

Rocky IV (1985, Sylvester Stallone) Sylvester Stallone; Talia Shire; Burt Young; Dolph Lundgren; Brigitte Nielsen; Carl Weathers

The Matrix Revolutions (2003, The Wachowski Brothers) Keanu Reeves; Laurence Fishburne; Carrie-Anne Moss; Hugo Weaving; Jada Pinkett Smith

*Matt Owns It*

Cocktail (1988, Roger Donaldson) Tom Cruise; Bryan Brown; Elisabeth Shue; Gina Gershon

UHF (1989, Jay Levey) “Weird Al” Yankovic; Victoria Jackson; Kevin McCarthy; Michael Richards; David Bowe

*Patrick Owns It* *Matt Owns It*

Meatballs (1979, Ivan Reitman) Bill Murray

*Matt Owns It*

Death to Smoochy (2002, Danny DeVito) Robin Williams; Edward Norton; Catherine Keener; Danny DeVito; Jon Stewart

*Patrick Owns It*

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966, Harold P Warren) Harold P Warren; Tom Neyman; John Reynolds; Diane Mahree

*Patrick Owns It*

Plan 9 from Outerspace (1959, Edward D Wood Jr) Gregory Walcott; Paul Marco; Tor Johnson; Dudley Manlove; Bela Lugosi; Criswell

*Patrick Owns It*

OTHER MOVIES WE MENTIONED

AMAZON RENTAL STORE

You can now watch all Five Acts and both bonus episodes of Keith Powell Directs a Play on one YouTube Playlist.

Starting later this week, the Unknown Penguin Podcast is switching to Movie Talk for a very serious conversation about . . . something, we’re working on it. More to come!