Bald Move Prestige - Sully (2016)

It’s rare that a disaster movie comes out that isn’t completely over wrought, or sensationalized, much less one that is wholly positive and uplifting, but Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks at his Tom Hanksiest, is just such a movie. Even our podcast’s automatic pilot system, Jim Jones, was moved by the depiction of the sort of everyday heroism that can save 155 souls, and unite a country in a sense of admiration and gratitude. Plus, we talk crap about new trailers and the unruly elderly audience we enjoyed this film with.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Special thanks to the intrepid crew of Bald Move Commissioners who banded together to make this podcast happen; Keith Alejandro, Jen, Alex M, Matt DeRemer, Stephen, mydeardeadly, Andy G, Jefferson B, cocoa2mc, Gary Turco, Jasmyn P, Andrew K, Conner B, Martin K, and Geoffrey Bowser. Possibly the deepest commissioned roster we’ve had so far. And they had us review one of the greatest of the Coen Brothers productions, 2007’s No Country for Old Men.

Bald Move Prestige - Seven (1995)

Special thanks to our community commissioners Fernando Rodriguez, Flash Gordon, Jefferson B, Katie Gutierrez, cocoa2mc, pooljedi, Martin K, shockg11, Keith Alejandro, Ryan L, and jmyjnstn67 for coming together and making this podcast on the 1995 David Fincher helmed “Seven” possible. Neither Jim nor I had seen this movie in it’s entirety, though some of us were more spoiled than others. We were surprised at how well the movie held up and managed to entertain despite the various exposure to spoilers. We discuss the film, it’s message, our own bleak/positive worldviews, and much more.

Bald Move Prestige - Magnolia (1999)

Special thanks to Lauren, Anne, and Rick who chipped in to commission this podcast on Magnolia for Alex Myers as a Christmas (!!!) present. Jim and I had never seen Magnolia, the Paul Thomas Anderson classic before now, and wow is it a doozy. Starring greats such as William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, to name just a few, it involves a day in the life of a dozen or so characters on a collision course with fate and coincidence, and what they’ll learn about themselves and each other along the way. Fueled by raw emotion and melodrama, we were intrigued by the complex tale being woven before our eyes. If you haven’t seen it, check it out before we spoil it for you on this podcast, because it’s an amazing film.

Bald Move Prestige - Donnie Darko (2001)

Special thanks to Dr. Brandon Devito for once again commissioning another great movie for us to gab about, this time the amazingly deep 2001 sci-fi/noodle bender, “Donnie Darko”. Or… is it that deep? Maybe it really is just totally straightforward, but so batcrap crazy you’re just not prepared to deal with it’s frankness? In this podcast, we sort the Manipulated Dead from the Manipulated Living, as we try to get the Artifact back to the Tangent Universe before it’s too late. We think.

Bald Move Prestige - Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Dr. Brandon Devito has commissioned us to watch the 1997 comedy/thriller mashup, “Grosse Pointe Blank”, starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver. It tells the tale of a hitman with a troubled conscience, or maybe just a feeling of ennui that has him returning to his home town for his tenth high school reunion and coincidentally reuniting with his old sweetheart. The action is surprisingly great, the sound track is fantastic, the fashion is decidedly 90’s, and the tone is quirky and all over the place, but it only hit one of us in just the right place.

Bald Move Prestige - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Special thanks to Dr. Ken for the gutsy call to have us do a commissioned podcast for a black and white 60’s Western film, “The Man Show Shot Liberty Valance”. Directed by the great John Ford, and starring John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, this movie is both insanely fun to watch and, believe it or not, serves as a great primer on American politics. It might just be the tonic you need during an especially intense political season. And I can’t stress this enough, this film is crazy entertaining. If you care at all about Westerns or classic Hollywood film-making, and haven’t already, make the time to watch this film.

Bald Move Prestige - Zulu (1964)

Special thanks to Glenn Seubert for commissioning this podcast on the 1964 British film “Zulu”. Directed by Cy Endfield and starring Stanley Baker and a very young Michael Caine, it depicts a fictionalized version of a real life stand off between 100 British soldiers and 4,000 Zulu warriors in the battle for South Africa. The film is gorgeous in it’s look and especially color palette, and the lead performances by Baker and Caine are interesting as two soldiers vying for power and making tough decisions under an extremely daunting challenge. We both cry out for more cultural and historical context for this film, and while Jim had problems with some aspects of the film being dated, I enjoyed it for the throw back to a classic age of cinema that it is.

Bald Move Prestige - The Man from Earth (2007)

Thanks go to Dan G, perhaps better known as the forum denizen DancesWithWookies, has selected the 2007 minimalist sci-fi/philosophic film “The Man from Earth” for his commissioned podcast. Directed by Richard Schenkman and written by the late Jerome Bixby, it asks us to entertain the idea of a 14,000 year old paleolithic man who has managed to adapt and survive to our modern day. His winding tale through history may intrigue or infuriate you, depending on your appetite for detail or willingness to engage with the ideas and concepts of the film, and move beyond the limitations of it’s budget and construction

Bald Move Prestige - Once Were Warriors (1994)

Jude from New Zealand shows some homeland pride by selecting the incendiary Kiwi film from 1994, “Once Were Warriors”, for her commissioned podcast pick. Directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Temuera Morrison and Rena Owen, it features a soul destroying portrait of life for a Maori family living in the slums of Auckland. The picture pulls no punches, and yet manages to be thought provoking, sympathetic, and even uplifting and hopeful, assuming you calibrate your definition of “uplifting” and “hopeful” to David “The Wire” Simon settings. We simply are blown away by the performances of everyone in this film, particularly Morrison who plays the extremely charismatic, extremely violent Jake “the Muss”, and are intrigued by the examination of domestic violence, crime, and racial issues as seen through the very distinct lens of New Zealand.