Movie Bones

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into "Dangerous Crossing" (1953) and talk about... - *Wanting* to be noir without understanding it. - (Re)-cycling of plot elements taking priority over character development. - Red-Herrings galore! - Nothing much changes, except the man she's with. - Foghorn accuracy. - Next week's film: "King's Row" (1942) Did we get the movie wrong? Tel...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into "The Great Dictator" (1940) and talk about... - Revealing the juvenile nature lurking under the violence of fascist authoritarianism - Chaplin's passion project: "Hitler must be laughed at" - Machismo: the ultimate hot air balloon - Comedic value vs. dramatic value - Resisting fascism without incurring hatred - The lesson of false hopes and w...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into "Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster" (1965) and talk about... - A movie crudely spliced together from spare parts at visible seems? That tracks. - That stubborn habit of mislabeling the character named "Frankenstein" - What exactly was the need for NASA to make android "Frank" look human... - and burying the lede of just *having made a...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into "The Pink Panther" (1963) and talk about... - Don't make opening credits like they used to, or at all, really... - How it holds up compared to the rest of the franchise - Clouseau as a neat party trick side-character - Justin goes deep on the Stradivarius joke - "Flanderization" of long-running characters - David Niven makes the film work - a...

This week, Justin and Ryan drill into "Cactus Flower" (1969) and talk about... - The magical mink coat that destroys everything good - Exploring inter-generational differences through relationships? Nah. - Screenwriter to women: "See the problem isn't his lying, it's that you have standards..." - Why didn't Toni and Stephanie just team up with each other against Julian?...

This week, Justin and Ryan join the hunt for "Moby Dick" (1956) and talk about... - "Call me Ishmael" ... if you can find me. - Bringing to mind SpongeBob and Muppet Treasure Island - Tackling translation of theme and Shakespearian-like drama from source material - "*From hell's heart...*" Who does it better? - Animating diorama miniatures and other SFX that just *work*...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into whatever Alec Guinness was on, in "The Ladykillers" (1955) and talk about... https://archive.org/details/the-ladykillers-1955_202310 - Alec Guinness playing Alistair Sim, playing Professor Marcus - The undoing of evil with innocence - Twisting hardened criminals to play music for your old-ladies social club - The humor in old-people perpetrating violence...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig into "Pimpernel Smith" (1941) and talk about... - A few comparisons to two modern iconic fictional characters - The Flat-Arc character done well - Propaganda - not always a bad thing! - How being the victim of war brings clarity - The 'idiot foil' for the hero. - That speech! - Justin implants an idea into Ryan's brain - Our Verdicts - Next week&#...

This week, Justin and Ryan dig up Count Dracula (1970) , and talk about... - When an adaptation betrays its source faithfully. - Zero thematic translation achievement unlocked! - Van Helsing having a random stroke with no connection to plot or character. Wut? - The most life-like portrayal being the one undead guy. - Justin getting educated on the differences between the novel and screen versions...

This week, Justin and Ryan set sail for adventure in the footsteps of "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963) and pass the time talking about.. - The drama of these fickle gods: where is it? - The motives of Greek/Roman gods - Distinguishing between fulfilling the purposes of mythmaking & the purpose of storytelling/filmmaking. - When sticking to the story-as-told hurts more than helps - Why...

This week, Justin and Ryan have a conversation that won't end the way "Strangers on a Train" (1951) does. But they will talk about... - The awkward conversations we've all had - Chance conversations and the origins of Movie Bones - Assessing our experiences with Hitchcock films overall - "We don't talk about Bruno" - Hitchcock's mid-film rug-pulling - Holding the mi...

This week, Justin & Ryan try to keep from losing our teeth playing rugby and watching "This Sporting Life" (1963 ), and afterward, talk about... - "Kitchen Sink" dramas - Playing with perception of time - Male disillusionment. Are we ready for a resurgence of films in this niche? - Self-knowledge as precursor to success or failure in relationships - A film / TV show connection...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out what it takes to climb the ladder to becoming a Duke in "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) as they discuss... - That very British sense of humor - Why doesn't anyone tag this guy as a suspect? - Louis, the force of fate / destiny. - Where there's room for more character growth - Whether or not 8 versions of Alec Guinness is truly enough - Weathe...

 This week, Justin & Ryan discover "The Hidden Fortress" (1958) , and discuss... • The connections to Star Wars... • Toshiro Mifune as Obi Wan - what could have been... • The intensity he brings to all his roles... • The potential polarizing effect of the "bickering observers" framing device... • Something that never happens in these movies that happens this time, and we love i...

 This week, Justin & Ryan try not to get in-between "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1966) , and discuss... • The epic... running time... • Justin waxing poetic on 'the spirit of the west' • Just what 'good' means in the context of this film • The visual storytelling • The changing of westerns in the 60's and the continuing influence of spaghetti westerns • The fi...

 This week, Justin & Ryan go on assignment in "Foreign Correspondent" (1940) , and discuss... • Just how many genres can you jam into a film? • Hitchcock's attitude towards filmmaking • Teasing the audience with almost-meaningful moments • Some really impressive practical effects • Being remembered for visuals and effects over story... • ...with the inevitable comparison to Jim Cam...

This week, Justin & Ryan explore the liminal space within the "Carnival of Souls" (1962) , and discuss... • autophobia and scopaesthesia • the horror and unease of dealing with the concept of dying • whether the film should've explained more about itself • did the low-budget production help or hurt? • the 'dangerous youth' genre and horror-heroine tropes • an unusual market...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane"(1962) , and discuss... • Blending "Misery" with "Sunset Boulevard" • track record of forgotten child stars • needless undermining twists • Betty Davis' stand-out performance • Creative decisions and pet-peeves that made us go 'hmm'. • Our Verdict • Next Week's Film: "Carnival of Souls...

This week, Justin & Ryan see if the "Keeper of the Flame"(1942) should just snuff it out, as they discuss... • breadcrumb trials in the script... they go where?!? • waiting patiently for the reveal when plot and characters stand still • the reality of advancing fascism vs. how its treated here • filling in the blanks the script leaves open with our own ideas • reporters who seem to be...

This week, Justin & Ryan go on strike "On the Waterfront"(1954) , and discuss... • Some under-the-radar sililarities between Terry and Johnny Friendly • How struggle can sometimes end up as entitlement • Some neat bits of social psychology and morality around group dynamics • Fr. Pete: How to give a sermon in a movie and make it good • The value of 'not ratting on yourself' • W...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out all about melodrama from "The Strange Woman"(1946 ), and break down... • Melodrama - what is it? • Everyone is horrible (almost) • Skeevy older men marrying WAY below their age • The film's view of women in general • Dropping dramatic 'bombs' every five minutes • Can you commit to a plot direction... • ... and if you can't, can that be...

This week, Justin & Ryan bet $1,000 they can live through one night at the "House on Haunted Hill" (1959) , and pass the time talking about... • Why is this guy here? • Weird architecture choice • Someone criticize your taste in wine? Install a vat of acid in your basement! • Cheesy haunted-house tour guide characters • Scooby Doo, but with less plot and more guns • Making one unrelate...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out just what happens when Jack Lemmon isn't around in "The Apartment" (1960) , and break down... • The way corporate culture uses people • Paralleling that use with direct insinuations of prostitution • The subtlety of the screenplay • Waking up someone who's OD'd on sleeping pills • Forerunner of movies highlighting a predatory Wall Street me...

This week, Justin & Ryan get under the skin of a psychopathic gold-digger in "Cast a Dark Shadow" (1955) , and they'll analyze... • "Teddy's" mental state • A twist that caught us off guard • Two really awesome leading lady roles • Nice complementary antagonisim • Justin learns about "Criminal Minds" and psychopaths • Wanting more of a good thing • An alternate-...

This week, Justin & Ryan will not try to beat the filibuster record as they talk about "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) , but they will discuss... • The optimism of a long speech changing a vote • A recent real-life example of a record-breaking, traditional filibuster  • Levels of patriotism vs. propaganda • That state whose name we do not speak... • Justin's problems with the...