Good Call: Interstellar Edition

Welcome to our shiny new segment where we try and slip pass the zeitgeist to discuss and explore the truly important elements of recent films. We're talking about stuff that takes true courage to talk about. Stuff that gets us shouting "good call" in no particular direction, and at people who can't actually hear us. But perhaps, if we shout at the right wavelength and through the fifth dimension, they'll go "hey, what the hell was that?"

Noop: Mr. Two For, if you could pick only one thing you absolutely loved about Nolan's Interstellar, why would it be Topher Grace?

Two For Grace: Funny thing, you'd think with my namesake being what it is I'd be a huge fan of The Topher. But the truth is mama and papa Grace bestowed the name on me a good decade and a half before Topher came to fame. Any similarities are entirely coincidental (and legally food).

What nightmares are made of for all the wrong reasons

If I'm being completely honest I've never been a big fan of the guy. Rarely could I sit through more than 5 minutes of "That 70s Show" without getting completely annoyed, and I'm pretty sure when Sony was making Spiderman 3 they told casting "hey, ahhh, finda guy dats da least like Eddie Brock in dose comic books. Nobody reads dose tings anyways." I'll let you try and figure that accent out on your own time.

That said, Topher was actually pretty excellent in Interstellar. That isn't to say he couldn't have been substituted with many other actors, the character was pretty background- to the extend he could have probably not existed and the story wouldn't have changed, nor my high regard of the film. But he didn't take away from the film in any way either. It was very pleasant not having a movie use romantic love as a central focus, but does use it in the background, mostly off camera. It adds humanity to the characters. They have real lives off screen, falling in love and paying taxes and brushing teeth between ears of corn.

Great job, Nolan, for including Topher Grace in a film and not it any way making me cringe! That man (Nolan, that is) can really do no wrong!

What's your "good call," Noop? Was it the solidified clouds? Or perhaps when that rectangle turned into an asterisk? 

Noop: All this Topher Grace talk makes me want to make like an elephant in the savanna and go watch Predators. 

Sean Bean 2.0?

While that asterisk was beyond dope, my shout out goes to Wes Bentley. First those poison berries in Hunger Games, now death by Waterworld? At this rate and with that kind of deathversity the guy might be the new Sean Bean. On top of that, Nolan is apparently working his way through the cast of the vastly under appreciated film, The Four Feathers. We already had Ledger as the Joker. Now there's Bentley. And my knee caps are telling me that Matthew McConaughy was only cast because Kate Hudson was unavailable, after all, they are only one degree removed (I'm talkin' How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, people). As the old saying goes, share a rom com lead, you basically have the same pee. 

I'm on to you Nolan. Although casting Djimon Hounsou or Michael Sheen in your next film wouldn't exactly be a bad thing. Good call, Topher (Nolan, not Grace.) 

Favorite Thing of Last Week (1/2/14- 11/8/14)

NOOP!: No Flash this week, Supernatural is building up tension for their 200th, and Agents of Shield is off so I've chosen the wrong week to quit not watching TV.

First off. Shout out to Gotham for having a spectacularly cathartic sequence for Jim Gordon this week. That scene of him and Harvey on the attack and finally on the same team was uber refreshing. It's that point where two seemingly opposite people realize they work great together (a la The Heat, Hot Fuzz, and literally every other buddy cop comedy.) "Penguin's Umbrella" had the culmination of all those tasty crumbs the show's first few episodes laid out. Det. Jim Gordon out for blood. Totally awesome. Last week had their best individual case with Spirit of the Goat which shot right into this monster of an episode.  However it is not my number one. 

(Two Four Grace: Forewarning for our readers (we know you're out there)- When we speak of "Winston's World" we are referring to the show commonly known as "New Girl." The show that pulled us in with Zooey Deschanel, hooked us with Schmidt, and keeps us watching because Winston is one of the most brilliantly written characters in comedic television history. Seriously Deschanel could leave the show for all I care.)

NoOp: Next up is indeed this week's Winston's World. My favorite thing this week goes to Duquan Feldman lighting it up at the end. "Big Brother Wimston's World" (that's a double change, New Girl became Winston's World which was adapted to Duquan's monologue commencing exclamation) slamming home joke after joke this week. Every single male character was absolutely incredible. Really putting the HA into BackgrHAound Checks.

Winston Bishop- Favorite Thing of Our Lives

TFG:  It truly was a great week for Winston humor, with lines like:

"I'm pretty sure they call her the fish because she's tough, but fair. Just like most fish I've interacted with."

-and-

"You guys are like rubbing alcohol. You sting me in the now but you save me in the later."

-plus-

"Like I always say you can't put peanut butter and jelly on the same shelf and expect them not to mix, heh heh. Because somebody gotta eat a sandwich."

Of course out of context line reading it does no justice to Lamorne Morris' expert delivery, so you should really just go ahead and watch the episode. This would probably be a good place for a clip but there is a severe lack of "Best of Winston Bishop" videos on the Youtube and, well, I'm not very adept to making video compilations.

NOop: BOOM! (I think)

Still nOOp: I'm also really glad they are giving Winston a respectable story line. He's insane, yet the other character's lives are the ones that are pathetic. Homeboy's gonna be a cop!

He puts the POINT in GRACEPOINT.
As in, you know, he's the whole point
of watching that show.

TFG: A lot of the shows I watch took a break this week, so I guess this would be a good one to bring up some Gracepoint. Still not what I'd call spectacular, but interesting enough (and Tennant enough)...
(Noop: Tennant to the max!)
TFG: ...to keep me watching. My favorite thing of this week is going to go the awkward failed sexual passes seen on Gracepoint this week. Starting with co-star Anna Gunn's character (Detective Miller) getting a drink request from unnoticed background character- crime scene investigator Hugo ("I'm happily married" "lots of people are... happily married, though"). Followed soon after Detective Carver (Tennant) asking Gemma Fisher (Sarah-Jane Potts) if she wanted to "relax... in bed with me here tonight." Is this show about a small town murder investigation or my failed attempts at relationships in high school?

NoOP: Hugo was actually a bearable character until that hilarious massacre of a scene, one of the few left as nearly every character is stupidly and detrimentally hiding something. Guess he's hiding his nature as a total creep. 

Carver's supremely awkward and out of nowhere pass at Gemma (who, by the way, after seeming oddly familiar, was learned to be the sister of Primeval's Andrew Lee Potts), I'd say that's a slightly less off putting situation as neither really seemed to be too affected by it or into it after both acknowledged their mistakes. Also I keep thinking they are great for each other as they're both British until I remember that Tennant is doing a phenomenal job as an American.

Was it me or did both of those scenes seem like none of the actors wanted to be a part of them?

My stab at determining the killer is that I no longer care as every character is a jagbag, but I do hate that crazy, friends-with-rapist lady the most. I don't hate Carver yet and Tennant is still enough to keep me fully invested in this passable The Killing-esqe drama. 

Did you notice Nick Nolte quoting King Theoden while looking like the Maine version of King Theoden. What do you call people from The Pine Tree State? Mayonnaise? A Mayonnaise King Theoden. 

TFG: Wicked beard: ☑ Tragic loss of son: ☑. Okay I'll give you that one. If this show accomplished anything it's the first time I've ever truly mourned the end of a Nick Nolte role. His was a very interesting and well executed story line. Now we only have to look forward to how the whole crazy lady story pans out (or, if we're lucky, she dies and embarrassingly horrible death next episode).

TFG final thought: One more thing I wanted to address before posting this already late Favorite Thing of (last) Week: Constantine. It's the Doctor (as in Doctor Who) of the supernatural world, amiright? Okay time to take out the nifty check marks again-
whimsical and lovable brit ☑ genius in the world the show takes place (Supernatural as opposed to DW's Time and Space sci-fi) ☑ female companion joins as newcomer to said world to provide a compass for the audience ☑ AND NEW FROM THIS PREVIOUS EPISODE: Has psychic paper (or Tarot Card to fit the nature of the show) that appears to viewer whatever they need to see so the Doct... er... Constantine can get where ever he needs to go to progess the story ☑

Noop: Lets take it one step further and one show deeper. Not only does Constantine deal with the supernatural, it might as well BE Supernatual, as in the show. It not only looks like the same world, they say the same Latin demon banishing spells. Constantine is not only the Doctor, he is both Winchester brothers. 

TFG: Oh and I can't forget, Constantine is in the possession of Doctor Fate's helmet. Doctor Fate.

Geronimo

Adaptations (Not featuring Nicholas Cage)

Two For Grace: Noop! For the sake of spiting all the annoying people who have to interject that "the book was better" every time you speak of a movie adaptation (I've been one of those annoying people, to be honest), tell me- what is an adaptation you enjoy more than the source material?

Noop Gingrich: Excluding tentpole comicbook films, there's still so many! To oppose those annoying people, I've been able to deem a bunch of films better than the source material. I try to stand on a massive horse if possible when making these proclamations. 

Noop: Stardust, Wanted, all the Harry Potters, Scott Pilgrim. Keeping in mind that the order someone takes the material in can change the way they perceive it, I'll look at Hitchhikers Guide with a bit of depth. I love the film version. It's basically the genesys of my sense of humor. That franchise started as a radio series, became a book, was then a TV show, then a movie (then a remade radio show). But the way I was introduced to it was with the film first. Because of that, I love the movie more than the other forms even though the movie may not have all the cogs turning in the same way as its predecessors. With that franchise it's like eating frosted Cheerios before honey nut and never even really bothering with regular Cheerios. I freakin love frosted Cheerios. Too much actually, I had to cut myself off.

Come on, Hollywood! How did this not make
it to the silver screen?

TFG: I think the only true disagreement I have with those choices (other than the use of the non-word "genesys") is Wanted, but I probably need to see Wanted again. The only thing I remember is that it lacks any super villain made entirely of poop.

Noopjection: [as in "Noop interjection," not to be confused with Nooprection which stands for Noop rejection and surprisingly not what you were thinking, I should probably change that one.] The medium of film is truly ripe for a poop super villain. I actually will do a flip on Wanted now that you mention that. Totally forgot how strange that comic was. Really that whole story is like Harry Potter with tons of violence and for that, the movie may have been more apt.

Noop: And let's not forget the big potato in the room. I enjoy the Lord of the Rings movies more than the books and a big part of that has to do with Fellowship being my gateway to every single other interest I've ever had since.

TFG: I would never fully agree that The Lord of the Rings films are better than the books, but definitely a different experience. I have read those books a few times now and each time enjoy the journey it takes me on, but sometimes it is nice to take an express pass into that world in the form of film, skipping excruciatingly detailed accounts of Longbottom leaf and Gamgee cooking habits that Tolkein loved to indulge in. Though the movies have a severe lack of addressing such charming characters as "Fatty Bolger" and fanciful beasts such as "Fatty Lumpkin." Honestly, fiction these days doesn't have enough characters named "Fatty."

Aragorn: "You have my sword"
Legolas: "And my bow"
Fatty (pictured above): "*huff* and my *wheeze* one month free trial of Weight Watchers if you want it"

Noopjection: The phrase "express pass" to describe adaptations is spot on. Sometimes you want to spend an hour and a half in a world rather than a week to a month. Now that I've taken the obvious answers, your move. 

TFG: My superior film adaptation pic goes to Big Fish. Not only was it one of Tim Burton's last great films, it is the only reason I finished what I felt was a painful book I would liken to playing with an unwelcome canker sore. It was as if John August and Tim Burton said "Hey, crazy idea, what if we turned the characters in this book into likable people." It also was my introduction to Billy Crudup before seeing his big blue wang in Watchmen. Oh and speaking of, while I will always hold the Watchmen comic book series in the highest regard, the movie did do a good job capturing the essence of Dr. Manhattan's big blue wang.

Noop: I've never read Big Fish but that is a great movie. And I doubt the book has Pearl Jam playing as you read the back cover. Glad you brought up Watchmen, I thought about peppering it in but, and I think you may agree, it wasn't exactly better as it was just as good for one key reason. The small story alterations the film brought about, along with the big blue wang, are all canceled out by just how perfect Rorschach was. Speaking of story changes, the film version of Stardust, which is a movie I can watch on repeat, made quite a few and they all cohesively felt like they made the story better than the one in the book. That may also be the case for Wanted. Can you think of any movies that made crazy changes from the story in the books and came across better to you? 

TFG: I know The Hobbit movies get a lot of grief from bookies (as in book lovers and not the people I owe $3000 to. I promise, Freddy, you'll get your money soon. You will. Please let me keep my fingers), but truthfully I am enjoying a lot of the big changes. Between giving screen time  to the book's only-mentioned-here-or-there Radagast, creating the cohesive pale orc (the driving force that Darth Maul should have been in Star Wars ep. 1 - 3), and a change I absolutely love: giving the dwarves a dramatic history and and noble drive more than just "we want gold." I'm not saying that I like these changes more than the book, but I am glad they were made. I mean The Hobbit is on my bookshelf and I can indulge in it's greatness anytime. I like having a different story in the film, or else, you know, what's the point?

Any film adaptations you like more than the source material? Any of our opinions too bold for your liking? Feel free to comment below. Be as cross as you like, we probably deserve it.

Favorite thing (10/26/14-11/1/14)

Two For Grace: Hey Noop. Anything tickle your fancy (or tickle anything else for that matter) on the television this week?

Noop Gingrich: Didn't see much tickling on TV this week, another disappointing seven days for borderline inappropriate physical contact. But I'll tell you what, it's a great time to be a slow motion aficionado.  (That's Spanish for "tornado of affection.") My favorite thing of this week is just that. There was a ton of great television the past few days but this week had copious amounts of slow-mo. 

Wentworth Miller: Only slightly less
absurd a name than Leonard Snart?

The Flash's fourth episode "Going Rogue" was easily the best yet and the only reason it's not the FTAW is because I'm connecting dots here!

For "Going Rogue," the hour was robust with slapstick humor ("wanna see how fast I can run backwards,"), launching subtle joke after subtle joke (The bit with Leonard Snart's name, "nobody goes through the tour twice," "really bad diarrhea."), there was splendid character development, a crossover, and more frames per second than Peter Jackson's butt hole! Slow Motion showed up right away in the initial heist, again in the first showdown with Captain Cold, and then tastefully one last time in the attack on the train. 

Quick shout out to Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold. He may barely have a forehead but man was he menacing, brutal, and made a lasting impact. I also like the goofy way they name the villains. The cherry on top was how Iris and her boyfriend are scolded at and made fun of the entire time. 

TFG Interjects Himself: Flash's rogue gallery is one of, if not the best. In the comics there is a very interesting comradery where these villains actually care for each other (as opposed to rogues in different titles who form only shaky alliances at best), with Captain Cold being a "mother hen" of sorts.

Noop: Then we had Agents of Shield. Another solid episode as their now compelling story rumbles on, but the moment that stood out was Adrienne Palicki's Mockingbird spin moving through the dust of a disintegrating Hydra agent to smack the crap out of another Hydra agent. 

There was also Broadchurch aka Tennant in America! A serious crime drama about a town falling apart. Serious but not enough for me to ignore the pointless slow motion they snuck into the episode this week. It was just a family kicking a soccer ball but damn was it slowed down. 

I may have cheated but I can't help but love overused slowmotion! Ok, Two For Grace, you're up. Where is your plus-one landing?

Rope Dart Knife: You might have better luck winning the
 lottery than not stabbing yourself with one of these.

TFG: Oh we haven't talked about Gracepoint yet (a.k.a. Broadchurch USA). The show that gets better as the characters get worse. Runners up for my favorite moment of the week are Walking Dead, which featured the "tainted meat" scene, one of my favorite moments in the comic and presented very nicely on television. SHIELD, continuing to be my favorite show of the season, didn't make my #1 this week, though it did include a knife-rope (also known as the "Rope Dart Knife", apparently). You know, a rope that has a knife at the end of it that no one in real life could actually use without instantly stabbing themselves. As ridiculous as it was, very fun to watch in action.

Noop: 100% agree with you on knife-ropes. They're the real life equivalent of lightsabers. Not only can they actually exist (a kindergartner with access to a kitchen could muster one up accidentally) but also that it will most definitely be landing in an eye socket.

TFG: My pick of the week, though, goes with this clip on the daily show in which Danny Trejo portrays (in traditional Danny Trejo fashion) the threat Latino immigrants present to our nation starting at the 4:20 mark in the following video:

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Noop: That  Daily Show segment was fantastic. Madrigal might be the best correspondent they have at the moment. I'd also like to point out that there is a healthy load of slow motion in that hilarious clip as well. All in all, a truly spectacular week for television!

Time for a list! Illusion and/or Treat Edition

Let's put down 10 horror/thriller comedies that are essential viewing. (5 each, alternating, no rank) In addition, give the least memorable part of the film. Remember, these are highly recommended, must-watch films.

Noop Gingrich: Cabin in the Woods

Least remembered for explaining how elevators work.

Two For Grace: Army of Darkness
Least Remembered for actually being called "Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness"

Noop: Shaun of the Dead
Least remembered for momentarily reminding you about sheep. 

TFG: Zombieland
Least remembered for the dude who played Ned Schneebly in School of Rock getting eaten while taking a dump.

Noop: Beetlejuice 

Least remembered by its other name Alpha Orionis. 

TFG: Ghostbusters

Least remembered for not featuring a song by Huey Lewis and the News

Noop: Slither 

Least remembered for helping stop the spread of slug lovers. 

TFG: Bubba Hotep

Least remembered for being a movie. Seriously, it's a damn shame more people don't remember it.

Noop: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Least remembered for also starring Tyler Labine. All the glory always goes to Tudyk and really, we can't blame people for that.

TFG: Young Frankenstein
Least Remembered for being a visual account of the progression from Gene Wild to Gene Wilder and ultimately Gene Wildest (unaccredited).

Guess Who? Asking the right questions

Is your person white?

Two For Grace: Noop! Ever play the game Guess who? What are some uncommon but essential questions one should be asking their opponent?

Example: Does your person look like a worn out, single mother?

Noop Gingrich: Would your person be miscast as Beast from X-Men?

TFG: Is your guy racist?

Noop: Can your person be classified as currently "detoxing?"

TFG: Does your person like The Black Eyed Peas? Be honest.

Noop: How is your person? Like, no, really, how are they?

TFG: Do she got the booty?

Noop: I can't tell, the picture ends at the...no, yeah you right, that's mostly booty.
Will your person be randomly selected at an airport? 

TFG: If I saw your person right now, would I be able to fight the urge to punch them in the face?

Noop
Would your person qualify as obese?

TFG: Does your dude watch Glee?

Noop: Can your person tell the difference between Zathura and Jumanji? 

TFG: Do they still quote Austin Powers? Yeah, baby, yeah. Oh behave.

Noop: Is your person ice cream? Before you blatantly lie to my face, I already know that they are, the real question is what flavor of ice cream are they?

Have they personally insulted Angela Merkel?

TFG: Does s/he look like s/he was a completely silent character in a Wes Anderson film?

Noop: Would your person be best describled as quarantinable?

Favorite Thing of the Week! (10.18.14 - 10.25.14)

Two For Grace: What was your favorite thing on the TV this week?

Noop: I have yet to watch the full slate for the past few days but its turning out to be a tough choice this week. There was a stellar Key and Peele skit about a massage, Jensen Ackles in Supernatural's third episode was zoned in, and Flash had the line "It's been a while since I watched you sleep" delivered in possibly the only context where it's not creepy. 

Constantine also premiered and as I had hoped, it was visually like the movie but without Keanu. (We'll discuss the sames and unsames of the two in an upcoming post. Let's let the show get some more eps in.)

Out of all of those Ill anoint the look-both-ways-slam-dunk of a line from the Flash as my favorite thing of the week. 

TFG: It was a fine week. Flash is certainly turning out to be a good choice for favorite things. I love/hate this previous episode's wonderful portrayal of Dr. Snow's (Danielle Panabaker) tragic backstory with added relationship development between her and Barry. Love because it was so well done, hate because I realized how much I don't care for the show's actual love interest, Iris West.

(Noop: Barry should man up and realize that Iris is basically his sister. You can't call her dad your dad, Barry! Also, like the rest of the world, I've been in love with Danielle Panabaker since Sky High.)

TFG: But my favee thing from this past week was from Doctor Who- Flatline (not the episode that just aired due to late bloggeria). I just want to highlight a character who defeated the Doctor's classic psychic paper (blank paper that portrays what the viewer thinks they should be seeing) by simply being not creative enough. That's right, the Doctor experienced a slight defeat because someone was literally too boring. Oh that episode also featured the doctor sticking his regular sized hand out of a miniature TARDIS, causing Adams Family cousin Thing hilarity.

Noop: I'm only all Capaldi episodes behind in Doctor Who. So much shame I'm bringing unto my family that doesn't realize all the shame they've been untooed. 

TFG: Good stuff. To close this week: list some other contexts you might hear the line "It's been a while since I watched you sleep", good or bad.

Noop: Good - Telling it to your insomniac family member whose bed is in the living room.

Bad - Telling it to literally any nonrelative. For example, a librarian saying it to an avid but often tired homeless man who may have not come by the library in a while. Actually that might be good.