On this week's Watchcast we dive into the wild and wonderful musical world of Frank, a movie about a peculiar band and the even more peculiar man at the center of it.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 136: Frank (2014)
(00:00:36) - Intro.
(00:03:01) - Our first impressions of this week's movie, Frank!
(00:08:07) - The Frank Sidebottom connection.
(00:15:20) - What this movie gets right about band dynamics and chemistry.
(00:25:30) - Some cast chat, and our introduction to Jon.
(00:38:09) - Break!
(00:38:31) - We're back, and it's time to hook up with the Soronprfbs.
(00:43:01) - The other band members (and a brief Ednaswap diversion).
(00:46:28) - John absconds to Ireland with the band.
(01:01:13) - They finish the record, but not everyone makes it out alive.
(01:09:04) - Jon's secret agenda.
(01:15:33) - To America!
(01:22:37) - Clara's under arrest, Baraque and Nana leave, everything falls to pieces.
(01:29:43) - To Kansas.
(01:35:50) - The terrific final scene.
(01:42:30) - Final thoughts.
(01:45:37) - Housekeeping for next week's episode: That Thing You Do!
(01:48:54) - Outro.
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1:49:32
135: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 135: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
(00:00:13) - Intro.
(00:08:35) - Our histories with Metallica.
(00:19:18) - Is Lars Ulrich a good drummer? The answer may surprise you! But probably not.
(00:21:09) - Where is Metallica at before this whole thing kicks off? (Also, an aside about Guitar Hero stems.)
(00:30:48) - For Whom the Phil Towles.
(00:34:19) - How did the idea of this documentary first bubble up?
(00:44:20) - Break!
(00:44:59) - We're back, and it's time to learn more about Bob Rock.
(00:49:31) - Why move forward without a permanent bass player? (And more on Lars and his art collection.)
(00:58:08) - The first recording sessions do not go well.
(01:05:47) - The Mustaine factor.
(01:16:27) - Echobrain's grand debut.
(01:23:17) - Lars' dad rules.
(01:27:59) - James goes through rehab, and then it's back to work.
(01:30:38) - The whole Napster thing.
(01:34:50) - James goes through rehab, and the whole Napster thing.
(01:44:26) - The record is getting done, but there are still fights to be had.
(01:51:16) - A bass player emerges.
(01:55:59) - Where do things land with Phil?
(02:00:14) - St. Anger is here, and it's a hit!
(02:05:45) - Final thoughts.
(02:15:54) - Our movie next week is Frank (and Vinny's ranking for this one.)
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2:19:33
134: Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
It's a new month for the Watchcast, and with that comes a new theme of music movies! And kicking things off is the 2021 ?uestlove film Summer of Soul, a doc that unearths a treasure trove of musical performances from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 134: Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
(00:00:38) - Intro.
(00:02:32) - The times in which this festival takes place.
(00:07:05) - We love a documentary that unearths footage people haven't ever seen before.
(00:12:26) - What an insane lineup of great music.
(00:16:45) - How did this festival happen, and why did this footage disappear for so long?
(00:30:13) - Break!
(00:30:58) - We're back, and it's time to get into the festival itself.
(00:34:48) - The marvel that is Stevie Wonder.
(00:39:12) - The Chambers Brothers.
(00:40:48) - The youngest any of us have ever seen BB King look."
(00:42:46) - On jazz flute and The 5th Dimension.
(00:45:48) - A whole lot of gospel.
(00:53:15) - David Ruffin sans Temptations.
(00:55:56) - Shout out to Gladys Knight (and The Pips!)
(00:58:15) - Here comes Sly.
(01:03:37) - The broader cultural shifts.
(01:08:03) - Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln.
(01:10:06) - The power of Nina Simone.
(01:17:27) - How good this movie is at weaving its history with the performances.
(01:22:43) - Final thoughts.
(01:28:34) - Housekeeping for Alex's upcoming list, and next week's movie: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster!
(01:34:41) - Outro.
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1:35:22
133: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
We close out April on the Watchcast with the weirdest documentary of the slate, notorious street artist Banksy's examination of himself, the scene he stood at the vanguard of, and his (perhaps) unwitting hand in the commercialization of the movement, Exit Through the Gift Shop.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 133: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
(00:00:17) - Intro.
(00:00:53) - Alright, let's just get into it. Is any of this shit real?
(00:14:32) - It's time to uncover Banksy (not really).
(00:23:34) - The Space Invader connection, and the arc of Thierry's career through the movie.
(00:29:04) - Thierry films EVERYTHING.
(00:35:02) - Break!
(00:35:26) - We're back, and Thierry breaks in.
(00:47:10) - Banksy and Thierry become fast friends, and the street art scene becomes mainstream.
(00:56:52) - Life Remote Control.
(01:02:14) - Banksy becomes a filmmaker, and Thierry becomes an artist.
(01:13:05) - Life Is Beautiful (is a nightmare).
(01:21:01) - A rousing and tragic success.
(01:28:59) - What, if anything, did we learn?
(01:32:35) - Final thoughts.
(01:46:08) - Housekeeping for next month's theme: Music Movies!
(01:54:49) - Outro.
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1:55:40
132: Jurassic Punk (2022)
On this week's Watchcast Brad's documentary pick is up to bat, and he's selected Jurassic Punk, a movie that both chronicles the early days of computer generated special effects at ILM, and serves as a character study of the embittered genius that is Steve 'Spaz' Williams.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 132: Jurassic Punk (2022)
(00:00:30) - Intro.
(00:15:55) - The central figure of this week's doc: Steve 'Spaz' Williams.
(00:22:44) - Diving headlong into The Abyss.
(00:27:11) - The Terminator 2 flex.
(00:36:39) - Break!
(00:37:05) - We're back, and let's talk about the team around Steve.
(00:44:58) - A movie about some dinosaurs.
(00:51:35) - On hierarchies and Oscar speeches.
(01:00:24) - Running afoul of George Lucas.
(01:04:00) - Steve's first special lady.
(01:06:20) - Steve's post-Jurassic Park career.
(01:20:09) - Maybe the least memorable computer animated film of all-time.
(01:22:11) - Things take a dark turn.
(01:26:57) - Things do manage to improve.
(01:32:16) - A little bit of Where Are They Now?
(01:37:09) - Final thoughts.
(01:47:53) - Notes on our final film for April: Exit Through the Gift Shop!
(01:50:30) - Outro.
The Nextlander crew branches out into media that doesn't require a controller to enjoy! Join Alex, Brad, and Vinny as they watch the movies, shows, and anime they've either missed out on up to this point in their lives, or just want to revisit again.
Ireland