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Fishing Hole

THE FISHING HOLE: Oscars 2019

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Welp, the name of the game here at ScreenFish is MOVIES.  So the team embarked on their annual pre-Oscar chat where they discussed who WILL win and who SHOULD win on Hollywood’s biggest night!

Chris U: Alrighty! Pre-Oscar Fishing Hole Time! Who WILL win? Who SHOULD win?

Arnaldo R: Lol, I know nothing so will contribute nothing…Wakanda Forever!

Chris: I thought you saw Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Arnaldo: Nope, no interest in them. 2018 I saw probably 3 movies. And all 3 were with my daughter. Poppins, Spiderverse and Incredibles 2.

Chris: Let me call the easiest win first…Shallow will win Best Song. That race was over when the first trailer dropped.

Jacob S: I need to see Vice and Green Book.

Chris: Won’t get to see Vice. Didn’t play well out here in GOP-heavy Texas.  Wait, Arnaldo!  Didn’t you see Black Panther?

Arnaldo: Oh yeah, that one also. And Avengers. So five. LOL

Chris: So you saw 2 Best Animated Feature nominees. That qualifies!

Arnaldo: Spiderverse wins.

Chris: Agree 1000% percent, Incredibles 2 was very mediocre; hated the ending.

Jacob: Agree on Spiderverse. Disagree that Incredibles 2 was mediocre.

Chris: I felt no sense of real danger with the villain. Also didn’t buy her criminal machinations. Jack Jack and the raccoon was cute.  The Elastigirl/Mr. Incredible role switch was good. (Same thing has been going on in my house for the last 12 years).

Arnaldo: Incredibles 2 wasn’t better than the first.

Chris: Agreed.  15 year wait for a sequel have packed a much bigger punch.

Arnaldo: What were the other animation films nominated?

Chris: Isle of Dogs, Ralph Breaks The Internet, Mirai

Arnaldo: Oh yeah, I saw Ralph lol.  Spidey wins.

Chris: So, allegedly, Roma stands to win 4 Oscars for 1 person: Picture/Director/Cinematography/Producer.  Who HAS seen Roma?

Jacob: Saw some of Roma. I don’t read subtitles.

Chris: I liked The Favourite. Three women with varying degrees of wickedness and depravity…in corsets!

Steve N: Sooooo, you liked the wickedness and depravity? Or the corsets?

Chris: LOL!  Definitely not the corsets!  Although you do get an eyeful of Emma Stone! Very glad BlacKkKlansman didn’t get lost in the awards shuffle. It was on shaky ground after Thanksgiving but rebounded in the race after Christmas. Probably the pre-Christmas awards rush turned out to be wack. There are 3 $200 million + grossers on the list.

Darrel M: My expectation for best pic is Black Panther. It or Roma would get my #1 vote. I think best doc will go to RBG, should go to Free Solo, although Of Fathers and Sons is perhaps the most important. Cinematography to Cold War. Animated feature to Spidey. I hope Spike Lee gets director, but it will probably go to Cuaron. Actor Rami Malek (I’d prefer Christian Bale). Actress Glenn Close. Sup actor: Mahershala Ali.  Sup Actress: Regina King. Foreign Language: Roma, but I’d prefer Shoplifters.

Chris: They predict Spike will get Adapted Screenplay They’re also predicting Amy Adams over Regina King, which will INFURIATE me to no end.

Darrel: My choices for screenplays: First Reformed and Beale Street.

Chris: Hopefully Beale Street wins Score too.  That score was FANTASTIC.

Darrel: Yeah, I may throw things at the TV if it doesn’t get score.

LATER THAT EVENING, CHRIS U watches Roma on Netflix…

Chris: Well…the mainstream cinema has stepped up its game. The snobby, pretentious, talk AT YOU stuff that the elitists adore had to answer with vigor. Roma is the answer.

Chris: Cannot believe Black Panther is gonna lose to THIS!

Jacob: We agree on that.

Chris: Sound on this is probably insane in an Atmos equipped movie theatre.  I’ll give it that. My soundbar is capturing the ambiance.  I DO see why it will win.  Movie closed out with 4 of the saddest movie scenes of the year.  Can’t share without spoiling. But…yeah.  Legit gut punches.  But is that fair for it to win just off of 3 gut punching scenes when the rest is just an exercise in Ego Filmmaking? Best Foreign Film? I’d buy it. But Best Picture?  Green Book, Star, KkKlansman, Favourite, Bohemian AND Black Panther –  ALL better than this! But…I get it.  Awards Season -is for the elite. Roma is the type of film they eat up. It’s almost…WEINSTEINIAN!

Shelley M: Anybody seen Cold War? I’m seeing it tomorrow on recommendation of a friend – says it’s the best she’s seen all year.

Darrel: Cold War is very good. Outstanding cinematography. Great music. The story may keep the characters at arm’s length a bit..

Chris: As far as Best Picture, Roma will win.  Black Panther ABSOLUTELY SHOULD win.

Arnaldo: I want BP to win because I’m a comic guy and of course I LOVE the movie.

Chris:That movie transcended the movie screen and left an unprecedented and immovable footprint in the culture of the world. Chadwick’s acceptance speech at SAG said it all.  I don’t think I put this in my review. But halfway through the first viewing, I turned to my wife  and said “THIS IS A DAGGONE SHAKESPEARIAN TRAGEDY, not a comic book movie!”

Arnaldo: I also want it to win because I want the bath in the tears and whining of those who will say “it’s a PC SJW win and the only reason it won”

Chris: The thing about those folks. Those tears are because we live in a world that is leaving them behind. And it’s their fault for not getting on the train.

Arnaldo: Oh yeah I know their problem. Also their loss. BP was more than a comic book film! And no amount of tears will change that.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

The Fishing Hole: The Pros and Cons of Netflix

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Our staff has been involved in a heated discussion about the impact of Netflix on the world of cinema. While many of our staffers are pro-Netflix, Chris Utley remains decidedly anti-Netflix. Read the latest episode of our ongoing debate as we discuss Bird Box, Roma’s theatrical release strategy, and whether or not the label Streaming Cinema will catch on.

J Alan Sharrer: I’m just going to leave this here . . . an article about Netflix telling people to cut it out with all the Bird Box challenges.

Arnaldo Reyes: (facepalm) So much hype for a meh movie.

Alan S: Amen.

Chris Utley: And you’d rather I stay home and watch this (Bird Box) on Netflix?” (GIF of Tyler Perry’s “Madea” shaking her head)

Alan: Her swan song is March 1.

Chris:  . . . till his non-Madea movies flop. Brace up for that.

Steve Norton: No, we’d rather you stay home and watch quality television . . . lol

Chris: You lost me at “stay home.”

Steve: Ha. Well, I’m sure you could watch Netflix on your phone… 😛

Chris: It seems Netfixerization now has a name . . . STREAMING CINEMA. I love it. It differentiates. As it should.

Steve: Until Roma wins Best Pic?

Alan: I don’t know. If that goes too far, movie theaters are going to cry foul. Or they’ll have to change their names . . . Edwards Movies; Regal Movies; Maya Movies . . .

Arnaldo: Streaming Cinema . . . movie theaters “don’t call it Cinema.” (includes GIF telling us to get off his lawn)

Chris: Um . . .there are cinemas in LA LA LAND that proudly call themselves CINEMAS! And there’s Alamo . . . as in Alamo Drafthouse CINEMA.

Steve: That’s weird. They must show Netflix. That’s streaming cinema. The others are the talkies . . .

Chris: And . . . Roma has played in CINEMAS too. Netflix caved. 70MM prints to boot! (Oh my emoji)

Steve: Well, it played in theatres. That’s streaming cinema. I’ve seen movies on Netflix too.

Arnaldo: Netflix didn’t cave . . . they found another way to have their cake and eat it too.

Steve: I like cake.

Arnaldo: Smart business.

Chris: I can assure you that they did not stream a 70MM print.

Steve: Sorry. I’m in a mood.

Chris: Caving.

Steve: My tv is 52’’. That’s bigger than 70mm. I know that’s metric, to be fair. (NOTE: Steve lives in Canada)

Chris: They went from playing all their crap in 2 theatres unadvertised to striking 70MM & Dolby Atmos prints for theatres nationwide.

Arnaldo: They don’t need to stream it that way . . . they stream 4K. That’s what streaming is for. They also said, “Hey, let’s make some more money and show it in a different format.”

Chris: Caving like a mug! They can’t strream Atmos. Thank you . . . next.

Arnaldo: So you missed my point.

Chris: And you missed mine. They can run 4K. Awesome.

Steve: Points are dangerous. They hurt.

Chris: But running 4K and Atmos is exclusively the domain of . . . CINEMAS!

Arnaldo: No, I see your point; it was valid if it meant that Netflix only cared about streaming formats. They don’t.

Chris: They caved because (Roma director Alfonso) Curon made them cave.

Arnaldo: They care about getting more eyes on their film, so why not make it available in a different format? Not caving–just smart business.

Chris: That was Curon. He demanded the cinema release and the large format prints. They obliged. Yeah, it’s smart.

Arnaldo: Netflix now has bigger competition in streaming. And more competition to come. So get out in front and explore different avenues. Smart move.

Chris: Really . . . it’s my original point. No Oscar love until they respect the process.

Arnaldo: Meh. Oscars are overrated IMO.

Chris: They worked with a director who demanded they play ball with the process. Please don’t get it twisted. Netflix darn sure wants one.

Arnaldo: I’m sure they do. They all want one. Still overrated.

Chris: Heck . . . film itself is overrated to you, right? Comics first!

Arnaldo: Nope. I haven’t kept up on comics, they’ve gotten weak in writing lately.

Chris: If Roma gets screened as part of AMC’s Best Picture Showcase, I’ll see it. If it ain’t, I won’t.

Arnaldo: I’m a “let them all in” guy. If streaming is putting out better content than what’s being released in theaters then they should be recognized for it. Last I checked, Oscars were meant to celebrate the best in “Cinema” yet they don’t allow the best in.

Chris: I say give STREAMING CINEMA their own dang awards. Like I always say, you don’t see HBO TV movies in Oscar categories.

Arnaldo: They won’t, because then Oscars would lose more viewership. LOL.

Chris: Why give Netflix a pass?

Arnaldo: It’s not about just Netflix anymore. Oscars need to adapt. If Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon etc. are putting out better quality Cinema, then should recognize it.

Chris: It’s not about movie theatres anymore. I need to adapt . . .

Arnaldo: Actors, directors, writers are flocking to them . . .

Steve: Like Canadian geese.

Chris: (nope nope nope)

Arnaldo: (GIF of Kylo Ren turning to camera, looking sinister) Let the past die.

Chris: The past ain’t the past. When the Avengers reboot premieres exclusively on Disney+ in 10 years, then I’ll adapt. Till then . . . (picture of theater) Till death do us part? 4 LIFE!

Steve: I feel like this is a conversation we’ve had before . . .  LOL – I think Chris should do a 2019 challenge where he watches 5 Netflix shows and Arnaldo should do something where he watches 5 movies of Chris’ choosing.

Chris: I watched more than that last year. Stand up comedies. I already gave you the challenge, but Jacob (Sahms) vetoed it: a Google Hangout viewing of Mad Max Fury Road.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

The Fishing Hole: Aquaman and the Next Superman

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Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news. Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Chris U.: $105 million for Aquaman as of Christmas Day. Momoa stays. Wonder if WB/DC will flip Justice League 2 on its head by making Momoa and Gadot the leads. Frankly, I’d use JL2 to introduce the new Batman and Superman.

Arnaldo R.: Or, scrap JL altogether and continue developing these characters solo and not force it like they have been. (GIF of Hannibal Lecter saying, “All good things come to those who wait.”)

Chris: “But…but…Marvel is pwning us! We have to respond!!!”

Arnaldo: (GIF of a ship sailing away with the caption, “Ship has sailed!”) LOL

Chris: Seriously, I’m all for it. Especially if they can erase BvS. I heard Flashpoint is supposed to handle that.

Arnaldo: I think that’s why it’s important to narrow the focus. These two work, focus on them for a while and slowly build. Plan for Marvel fatigue rather than speeding to catch it.

Chris: I DO need a proper Superman to ditch Routh’s stalkerness and Cavill’s moodiness.

Arnaldo: (thumbs-up)

Chris: Reeve was a friggin Boy Scout. Give us THAT! None of this whiny conflicted hero crap.

Steve N.: (GIF of Russell from “Up” waving) That’s who you want as Superman.

Chris: Supes need to confidently stop a nuke, save kids from a burning bus and save a cat! And SMILE the whole damn time. (GIF of a smile) And THAT will set you up for a proper Bats conflict: The Boy Scout vs The Rich Kid Rebel.

Steve: Bah. So simplistic. Dark Knight Returns (animated) did it great, without the simplicity.

Chris: Supes propensity to keep the law V Bats propensity to bend and break it.

Arnaldo: Supes doesn’t need to smile all the time. Making him more “human” is fine. He just doesn’t need to be “Batman.”

Chris: Simplistic. Bah that!

Steve: Bah.

Chris: All of y’all and your moody *** heroes. Sucking all the fun out of cinema. Which is why they hated on Aquadude. It had the utter audacity to be…FUN!

Steve: LOL. Superheroes reflect the voice of the nation. Supes is a Christ figure but that doesn’t mean grinning all the time.

Arnaldo: Moody isn’t about it for me. I want an in between. I don’t want someone rehashing Christopher Reeves or trying to be like him.

Chris: But you need his charm and charisma.

Steve: I agree with charm, yes. Cavill can do it. But he needs a script.

Arnaldo: Think Chris Evans Cap. Not an exact copy but basically that’s what Supes needs to be in DCEU.

Chris: I just don’t want the BS “I don’t wanna be a hero; the people hate me” crap. 100%, Arnaldo! Heck..CAP’s a dang Boy Scout. Went Rogue for his bestie. Would love to see Supes go rogue for Lois like Superman 2.

Arnaldo: That’s what Supes needs to be. Strong willed, but “clean.”

Chris: And not afraid of who he is. Snyder’s downfall was in Pa Kent shaming Clark for who he was. Suppressing it out of the fear of man’s reaction. Opposite of Glenn Ford. My son’s a natural at the trombone. I spent the entire Fall trying to get the kid to EMBRACE that. He was ashamed.

He eventually embraced it and got promoted to the highest level band in middle school. Supes 4.0 needs Pa Kent embracing his gift. So when it’s time to save the day, he does it with no shame.

Steve: I agree with the Cap analogy. But he’s realistic at heart. Pure at heart but bears the weight of the world. Reeves wasn’t like that. Cavill could go there with a good script.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

The Fishing Hole: Aquaman, Spidey, and Justice League

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Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news.  Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Arnaldo R.: Soooo, I know we don’t put much stock in Rotten Tomatoes, but Bumblebee is 94%, Aquabro 68%, Poppins 77%.

Steve N.: I’m shocked that Poppins is so low considering the Top 10 lists it’s on.

Chris U.: Film criticism is about to take a turn. The disconnect between writer/audience is growing deeper with every release. Critics had us prepped for a horrifying experience w/Venom. $200 million U.S. So go figure.

Jacob S.: Venom was terrible. Just because people went to see it doesn’t mean it was any good. The critics were right.

Chris: Will Sony believe you? Or that $200 million they’re still counting? THAT’s the point.
(PS – Venom was GREAT!)

Arnaldo: I have not seen Venom…so can’t say on film itself.

Jacob: IMO it was so bad I couldn’t finish it. So, for perspective, what made it great for you? I reserve great for … much more than what I saw, so I’m curious.

Alan S: So are we really influencers?

Arnaldo: As for Sony, it depends what they internally thought it would make vs what it made.

Chris: We used to be [influencers]. Millennials are making up their own minds about such things.

Arnaldo: It’s kind of the Justice League viewpoint….did it make money…yes. should it based on characters and genre made more….also yes.

Jacob: Based on the amount of money that publicists are paying for even small options like us to go to film, talk to talent, and get review copy, the studios still think we are.

Chris: Justice League made over $200 million too.

Jacob: So will Aquaman.

Chris: But it’s recognized as a major disappointment when you consider the comps.

Arnaldo: But it should have way more is my point. And it made less than the studio hoped it would.

Jacob: I’m going to go see it, regardless of what critics say, and even though I think it looks terrible.

Chris: This was DC’s answer to Avengers. And in that regard, they took a FAT L

Jacob: But Venom – to this fanboy – couldn’t compete even though I like Hardy, because that was a story devoid of Spiderman … which is dumb.

Arnaldo: There aren’t that many villains that can carry a standalone film without their rival. Again, I haven’t seen Venom so just speaking hot air. LOL Once Venom is available to rent on Amazon I’ll watch it

Jacob: I’m reading Miles Morales comics because Spiderverse was so good. If I had gone from the movie to the comic and Morales was a white rich woman, I would’ve been frustrated.

Chris: Jacob just explained it.

Jacob: Works the same way being a fan of the comic and going to see a film that doesn’t actually carry its water.

Arnaldo: I’ve been a fan of Miles since he was released

Jacob: Sure, Harry Potter movies made a lot of money – but they’re not as good as the books

Chris: The stuff we are fans of we judge more harshly

Jacob: I had gotten to the point where I was over Spidey. Needed a new twist. Miles does that.

Arnaldo: (agrees)

Chris: About Aquadude

Jacob: Given that I follow sci-fi, comics, crime fiction, thriller fiction, tv, etc., everything that doesn’t measure up gets blasted. 🙂

Chris: He doesn’t come with high fanboy pressure to nail it

Arnaldo: I have plans to see Spidey, and an idea of an article after I see it, but I have to see it first or my article doesn’t work.

Jacob: The world didn’t need another white action figure, so I get Momoa. But they’re going to have to nail it or the underwater stuff is going to look like it was shot by us with a GoPro.

Chris: I think it’ll be fine.

Jacob: At this point, DC can’t settle for “fine”

Chris: They already have. Aquaman and WW is all they’re rolling with

Arnaldo: Aquaman has fanboys believe it or not

Chris: Supes is getting course corrected

Arnaldo: Aquabro I’m not sure of

Chris: Batty is getting course corrected. Justice League 2 is off the table for now

Jacob: I own a fair share of Aquaman comics

Arnaldo: They have to blow the Fanboys away for him to accepted, which is sad

Chris: They’re folded on the current JL path

Jacob: I was a swimmer through college… appreciate the swimming aspect

Chris: Back on their “see what sticks” hustle . . . Gal and Momoa are the only things sticking

Jacob: Momoa has carried a bunch of stuff Chris will never see . . . so they’re willing to take a risk.

Chris: Jacob . . . You know they fired Cavil from Supes, right?

Jacob: Fine with me

Arnaldo: WB is throwing darts hoping to hit bullseye or at least get close.

Chris: I know Momoa, dude.

Jacob: I didn’t mind him as much as Affleck. I meant he has all those Netflix shows

Arnaldo: You don’t green light that many different joker movies if you had an actual clue

Jacob: Small screen < big screen

Chris: Case closed. Thanks, Arnaldo. Multiple Joker movies . . . Birds of Prey BEFORE Suicide Squad sequel . . . “Throw it at the wall all over again”

Jacob: #noclue

Chris: Whatever sticks graduates to JL 2.0. Whatever doesn’t will get axed like Affleck and Cavil.

Arnaldo: I’m as tired of the Marvel comparison as the DC Fanboys are but…Marvel made a talking raccoon work. DC couldn’t make Batman and Superman work.

Chris: Because they planned for it 6 years before we saw it. Feige wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t convinced it would work. Key word: PLANNING. What, again, IS the DC plan?

Arnaldo: Who knows. Same can be asked about Sony. Are they going to stick to Spidey villains without Spidey?

Chris: 1. Pray Aquaude eeks out $250 mil
2. Hope R-rated Birds Of Prey works
3. Keep Flash on hold while we wait for JK Rowling to finish the last 2 chapters of Fantastic Beasts
4. Hope they can eke out another $100 million or so off Shazam
Did I miss anything?

Jacob: If Venom had been R-rated, I might’ve bought in.

Chris: As far as Sony, I think they’re waiting for Endgame to play out first. If Disney doesn’t lock in Spidey for another team up, he’ll be a free agent to appear in their flicks.

Jacob: Most of the Netflix Marvel stuff is better than the DC feature

Chris: It was. Reshoots. Sony chickened out at the thought of an R rated movie connected to Spidey and ordered reshoots to tone Venom down. But everyone knows, including the lying director, that R was the original plan.

Jacob: Homecoming was darker than Venom.

Arnaldo: Sony knows what Marvel’s plans are for Spidey. They don’t sign that deal without being allowed to know some small details.

Chris: Hmmmmm

Arnaldo: AKA Marvel keeps him and Sony doesn’t

Chris: That’s breaking the law. Sony owns the rights which is why Venom is here. To keep the rights spinning. If Sony abandons Spideyverse movies for a certain period of time, rights roll back. That’s why we have the Silver and Black plan. The Mobius plan.

Arnaldo: You misunderstood. I’m not talking who owns the rights. I’m saying that Sony while still holding some/most of the rights basically conceded live action Spidey to Marvel.

Chris: Not the rights. I explained it years ago.

Arnaldo: They allow Marvel to use Spidey, aka they gave the keys to the car away while still holding the title. Sony is race car owner basically. Marvel is the driver. Sony has no plans to get behind the wheel as long as Marvel continues to kill it at the box office. Sony is happy to sit back and count the money.

Chris: So why make Venom, Mobius, Into The Spiderverse if they can just sit back and eat off of Marvel?

Arnaldo: Because they want their cake and eat it too, and Marvel has no plans with those characters.

Chris: All I’m saying . . . Don’t be shocked at Tom Holland cameos after Endgame.

Arnaldo: Yet his next Solo film is after Endgame…😏 If you mean in Morbius and Venom type of films….maybe but I highly doubt it. Feige isn’t going to let Sony control part of the MCU. Sony already set it up with Miles.

Chris: It’s coming.

Arnaldo: Different universes.

Chris: Miles is animated. This is live action. We will see how it all turns out. GO AQUADUDE!

Join the conversation!  Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers?  Ready to challenge their POV?  Feel free to share in the comments!

The Fishing Hole: A Heartbreaking Avengers: Endgame Poster

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Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news.  Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Arnaldo R. – Can a picture be any more heartbreaking?

(Cue Avengers poster)

Jacob S. – What is that?

Steve N. – Endgame Poster

AR: Avengers Endgame poster by Boss Logic

Looks like Hawkeye’s farm

So safe to say/assume….Hawkeyes family turned to dust

SN: I give them full credit for creating a cultural zeitgeist with that final battle. (Not sure if everyone in here has seen it yet.)

Heather J. – That is heart wrenching.

SN: (thumbs up)

Chris U. – Oh…my…****

That poster broke me

AR: Yup

SN: I’m so heartless, I laughed

LOL

I man it’s a beautifully sad poster. And the moment is poignant.

But we all know they’re coming back

CU: We don’t know HOW

AR: We all know Jesus is coming back and rejoice in it…. his death still is heartbreaking

SN: Agree

CU: And messing with us in our grief and suspense like this is brilliantly and horrible at the same time

@AR – For the win

SN: Oh yeah it’s great marketing

AR: (Pitch perfect “BOOM” GIF)

SN: Bah. You Jesus   it

HJ: Y’all.

SN: He already resurrected

HJ: And he did it so well

SN: He isn’t dead

JS: It’s a poster.  I’m wife @SN

AR: (Moana “Huh?” GIF)

JS: I own most of the graphic novel events from the last twenty years. With the exception of Old Man Logan, they all come back.

CU: AR’s Jesus analogy was better than your BvS one

JS: Cap, Batman, Superman.

ha! Jesus is Superman. But whatever.

Now when Arnaldo shares that on the site or on FB, I’ll be impressed

SN: Two things:

CU: Uh oh

HJ: Dun dun duuuuun

SN: 1) Though the film is infinitely better (pun intended), you can’t even compare the reckoning to Supes’ death for theology. Lol

2) and this is really just a question, tbh

JS: (technically it’s a sentence or sentence fragment but go ahead)

AR: Who compared Supes weak death tho?

SN: Arnaldo, you said it was better than my BvS analogy. That was my BvS analogy. Lol

AR: I did not say that…Chris did lol

JS: Actually, Christopher said that.

CU: I SAID Arnaldo’s comment was better

SN: Haha okay. I stand corrected

AR: I simply pointed out that although we know they come back, the impact of the loss is still heartbreaking…. similar to how we feel about Christ’s death even tho he rose from the grave

 

Join the conversation!  Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers?  Ready to challenge their POV?  Feel free to share in the comments!

The Fishing Hole (Vol 1, Issue ?): The Virtues of Superheroes

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It started innocently enough. Senior Writer and Comics Afficianado Arnaldo Reyes tripped over this quote by Zach Snyder in preparation for the release of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. He posted it in our ScreenFish staff chat, and the following… happened.

Arnaldo Reyes: “[Batman] is not giving people a chance… He is more than a vigilante. He has become not only the cop, if you will, he has also become the jury and executioner.” Since when was Batman = The Punisher?

Jacob Sahms, Co-editor: He’s like Macguyver- no guns…But c’mon, Zac Snyder is an idiot.

Steve Norton, Co-editor and token Canadian: I don’t know why you’re surprised. He’s been pushing that since the beginning. Batman is old and bitter. They’ve made that clear.

Arnaldo Reyes: So was the Frank Miller Batman…but he never broke his rule.

Steve Norton: He won’t kill. That’s blowing it out of proportion.

Arnaldo Reyes: They said he’s become jury and executioner….so how is thinking him killing is blowing it out of proportion? Unless executioner in Canada means something else (winks).

Steve Norton: It’s just press. That’s all. They won’t break the rule. No way. I just like what they’re doing. It’s different. It might not work but they’re taking a risk that I respect. It’s why I’m digging Suicide Squad

Jacob Sahms: For the record, Superman doesn’t kill either…

Arnaldo Reyes: It’s okay to take risks. They can go the Frank Miller route…in fact for their world they need to. Still you gotta keep the things that make these characters iconic.

Steve Norton: That’s fair about Superman–but I still thought that was justified.

Chris Utley, Writer, Playwright, & Film Buff : Oh Lawd. The SUPERMAN DONT KILL argument. So Supes was supposed to let Zod laser eye that whole family to death?

Jacob Sahms: Supes was Kobayashi Maru-ed in the comics and always found a way around. Fly off with him, drop something heavy on him. I’m just saying that Snyder thinks he is smarter than seventy-five years’ worth of writers.

Steve Norton: (Cough) Noah (Cough).

Jacob Sahms:I know but you’ve been apologizing for him since the movie came out.

Steve Norton: It’s not an apology. You’re just saying that because I’m Canadian. I just get it.

Jacob Sahms: Look at the body of work. He has a wet dream about how something will work and then tries to write a story around it.

Steve Norton: I like something a little different.

Jacob Sahms: Dude wouldn’t know a story if it bit him. That’s fine. Batman draws a gun and it instantly becomes worthless. If eisenberg’s Luthor doesn’t kill it first.

Arnaldo Reyes: Supes has killed in the comics…but there is a reason why that is buried. He is a much more iconic figure minus that.

Chris Utley: Dawn Of The Dead is the only horror movie my wife watched from start to finish. And 300 is a modern day classic

Steve Norton: Oh I hated 300 (laughs).

Chris Utley: So I don’t hate on Snyder. He had missteps. Epic ones. Sucker Punch is one of the 5 worst movies I’ve ever seen.

Jacob Sahms: Torture porn?

Arnaldo Reyes: Snyder isn’t a bad director….but he is lazy. It was a lack of creativity in not finding something outside of he has to kill him. It was a cop out really

Chris Utley: So y’all worship the mythology of Supes?

Jacob Sahms: You mean Jesus? (winks)

Chris Utley: Not taking into account that Supes was Supes for like 48 hours…

Jacob Sahms: Superman the movie is in my. Top 5. Not kidding.

Arnaldo Reyes: I actually don’t like Superman (winks).

Chris Utley: I smell an epic brouhaha after Batman vs. Superman…

Jacob Sahms: Superman is Jesus. Too shiny and perfect. Batman is my dude.

Chris Utley: Not in this version.

Jacob Sahms: I don’t like Boy Scouts.

Chris Utley: Kinda refutes your beef.

Arnaldo Reyes: With Man of Steel, I appreciate the attempt to make him feel more human. That I liked. But I also think the essence of the character wasn’t captured.

Jacob Sahms: I’m sure Grant Morrison and Snyder are BFFs. Kill the mythos, ascend the human ladder.

Chris Utley: Which is what is happening. By the time we get to JL2, we will hopefully have the whole essence/mythology in place

Arnaldo Reyes: But will it be too late? My question is, to reach who they really are, will they have killed them to the point that audience never sticks around to JL2.

Stay tuned…

The Fishing Hole (Vol. 1, Issues 2): The Oscars

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The MartianThe following are excerpts from our staff roundtable over The Oscars highs and lows.

Sunday night (live)

J Alan Sharrer: Some iffy camera work there. This is a pretty brutal monologue.

Chris Utley: LOVE IT!

Alan: This scrolling thing makes the presentation look like Pop Up Video.

 

Darrel Manson: My picks for the first two came through….

Alan: I expect you to be like Steph Curry with these things, Darrel. [smile]

Darrel: I’m usually awful at picking winners. Or perhaps the AMPAS is bad at picking the best.

Alan: At least the orchestra is in the building…

 

Chris: Half of my party thought it was gonna be Kate [Winslet, for Supporting Actress].

Alan: Nah. Fassbender way overshadowed her in that film.

Jacob: He did overshadow her. Hateful Eight and Spotlight didn’t give those women enough to do. It was a three-way race.

Jacob: Fassbender and Cranston both deserve the Oscar Leo will get. They did more than grunt. Leo didn’t appreciate the line about how he gets a good role every year.

Alan: Mad Max – one win . . .”What another lovely day . . .”

Chris: Booo!

Jacob: Yesssss!  Best movie you saw last year [laughing].

Chris: Uh…NO.

max 5Alan: Mad Max – 2 and counting . . .

Jacob Sahms [9:25]: Leto shoulda come as the Joker.

Chris: This is gonna be a long night.

Alan: There’s a trifecta for Mad Max!

Jacob: Yeah but they won’t win the big stuff. It’s like consolation.

Chris: They will win all the tech.

Alan: There’s a BEAR! And…another bear? The Revenant gets one. It won’t be a shutout . . . [smiles]

Steve Norton [finally showing up]: What does Roger Deakins have to do to win an Oscar?

Alan: Change his name?

Alan: 5 wins for Mad Max. And then a drop off in the sound…

Arnaldo Reyes [finally showing up]: Is something going on tonight?

Alan: UFC.

Chris: A bunch of Hugh Jackman’s kinsmen are winning Oscars.

Arnaldo: As long as it’s not Hugh [grins]. Another award for Chris’ fav film.

Alan: In the half-dozen size!

Jacob: It’s gonna be sad when they win everything but the majors.

Chris: It’s all tech so whatevs.

revenantJacob: Not like Leo acted much… The water really was that cold [laughs].
Shouldn’t Straight Outta Compton have won sound mixing??

Alan: Another bear! It’s going to win something before the night is up.
Ooh! A surprise!

Jacob: They’re saving up. Don’t want to be able to say they ignored the best movie of 2015 but Inarritu is the cool kid so he’s gotta get his.

Alan [10:06]: Making the actors pay for GS Cookies? Yeah!

 

Jacob: Shaun was better than Inside/Out. Docter needs to talk to someone about his childhood.

Alan: And my house just cheered! But I think Darrel said Anomalisa was better.

Chris: Booing Jacob! Inside Out was AMAZING! One of Pixar’s best.

Alan: I’m dismayed.

Jacob: Not funny.

Chris: Exactly.

Jason Norton [finally showing up]: Shaun got rooked.

Islands of Personality - Inside OutAlan: Bring back Wallace and Gromit!

Jacob [10:17]: Bridge of Spies is the only one of the films that didn’t feel like a real BP candidate for me.

Chris: You know I disagree. Bridge of Spies was in the old fart academy voter’s wheelhouse.

Jacob: But Bridge of Spies, Spotlight, Big Short, and Mad Max all had something to say. Bridge of Spies was an old-hearted film.

Alan [10:28]: Come on, Stallone . . .

Chris: Rooting for Rylance.

Jacob: I’m rooting for Mike B Jordan. Oh wait…..

 

Alan: Go, Chris, go! Rylance wins!

Chris: Absolutely deserved.

Jacob: So humble. For the win right there.

Steve: Deserved but should’ve been Stallone

Darrel: LOUIE CK!

Alan: Mad Max wins again!

Jacob: We’ve moved into the “Darrel only” portion of the awards…[Smiles]

Alan [10:46]: The overall production has been less than stellar.

 

spotlightChris: This is the funniest hosting gig ever!

Jacob: I think Rock has killed it; less impressed by lines written for others.

Darrel: I always liked Bob Hope.

Jacob: I’m not old enough for that [laughs]. The music choices have been strange.

Alan: Lady Gaga! She makes it look effortless — Freddy Mercury-like.

Chris: They’re pulling her towards the center so she can get those Adele numbers on her next album.

Chris: This is like when Common/John Legend did Glory last year.

 

Chris: Mark the day I say this. Cause it will never be said again. GAGA WAS ROBBED!

Alan: YES. A thousand times yes.

Alan [11:36]: Director first . . . Iñárritu gets three in a row! I love that he outtalked the music!

Alan: Actress next . . . Larson hopefully wins.

room1Chris Utley: TOO! MANY!! COMMERCIALS!!!!!!!

Alan: Actor — all five are fine choices.

Chris: At last. It was his time.

Alan: Yup. He deserved it (and the bear too).
Climate change talk . . .

Jason: Get him off the stage. I fell asleep in The Revenant.

Alan [12:00 am]: Spotlight gets it!

Monday morning
Steve [9:37am]: I thought Gaga was robbed, yeah… but her song really wasn’t that great. Great message. Bad vocals. Also, did NO ONE catch the shout out to TIFF during Larson’s speech? You’re welcome, America. Most entertaining hosting gig since Jackman in 2009, I thought. Good for Vikander as well. She likely won due to her body of work last year. I’m still mad about Stallone though. [laughs]

bridge3Chris [12:13 pm] :Rylance got my loudest cheer of the night!

Steve: Yeah. He deserved it…. but….I feel bad for Stallone. He’ll never be back
Rylance likely will.

Jason: So Leo tells me they tramped around the world over and over trying to find a cold enough location. Map out that carbon footprint then tell me how you’re helping the problem.

Jacob [1:46] : I don’t get hating on max. Who can’t see that telling the story visually without having to verbally tell us every plot point is genius? And from a story perspective: 90% of stories say blow it all up and start over while the message of max is that there is something we need to fight to redeem

Chris: Jacob…it’s over.

Jacob: He grunted for too long.

Chris: LET IT GOOOO! LET IT GOOOOOOOOO!

The Fishing Hole (Vol. 1, Issue 1): Oscar Roundtable (Oscar Spotlight)

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stevejobsThe ScreenFish staff compiled some of their favorites for the top Academy Award prizes. The results were… varied.

 

trumbo2Best Actor

Chris: Leo. It’s his time.  Don’t hate.  Dude gave his guts and glory to film that puppy in freezing cold temps. That’s how it’s done, kiddos!

Darrel: This one I see as very close between Eddie Redmayne and Bryan Cranston, but Redmayne manages to exude the vulnerability of someone who was transgendered before anyone ever thought of a word for it. It is not just that he can do both genders within his character’s personality, but he does it with great sympathy. (Note: I didn’t see Steve Jobs.)

Jacob: I’ll still stick with Michael Fassbender but after seeing Trumbo, I wouldn’t be upset if Cranston won.

Alan: I’m with Jacob. It’s Michael Fassbender (In Steve Jobs, you simply couldn’t take your eyes off the guy. That movie fails to exist without him in the cast.)

Steve:  DiCaprio is not only going to win, but it’s not even going to be close.  Not only did he bring a raw, visceral quality to his performance, he also wins the (more important) ‘it’s his time’ category.  Biggest lock of the night.

 

room1Best Actress

Chris: Brie Larson.  She’s got all the momentum. What sealed it for her was the 2nd half of Room. (Spoiler alert!) The post escape aftermath was more harrowing than the confinement sequences.

Darrel: Maggie Smith (Oh, wait. she wasn’t nominated). In that case, Charlotte Rampling really had the hardest of the nominated roles, and she carried it exceedingly well.

Alan: Brie Larson (If only for the subject material and the skills necessary to pull the role off…)

Jacob: Gulp. I’m going to agree with Chris and Alan. Just so much weight on her performance.

Steve:  Brie.  Brilliant performance in a simply wild role.  Also, it’s a Canadian film so…

 

creed-movieBest Supporting Actor

Chris: Sly has the momentum for Creed.  Mark Rylance SHOULD win for Bridge of Spies.  I could feign false outrage that the Academy is gonna give an Oscar to character they had little respect for in the 80’s (Rocky Balboa).  But…in the words of the character I think should win, “Would it help?”

Darrel: Mark Rylance was amazing in every scene he was in. It was a very deadpan amazing, but amazing none the less.

Jacob: Could it happen twice? Yeah, I’m with Chris. It’s Stallone over a weak field.

Alan: Yes, it’s Sylvester Stallone with the sentimental pick. It would also potentially give him a chance to talk about the injustice of Michael B Jordan not getting a Lead Actor nom.

Steve:  I agree that Mark Rylance was brilliant in Spies and would definitely deserve it… still, we all know Stallone won’t be back in here again and he’s too respected.  Plus, his performance in Creed was one of the most human portrayals of the year.

 

hateful8Best Supporting Actress 

Chris: Since Alicia Vikander is the Flavor Of The Month, she’ll probably win. My heart is with Jennifer Jason Leigh.  When I sat in the theatre, I had a feeling Daisy (her Hateful Eight character) was gonna outsmart all the boys. Happily, I was right.

Alan: I’m going with Rachel McAdams. Spotlight is too good to not have someone win something–here’s where it happens.

Darrel: Rooney Mara. Actually, I think Carol is really Rooney Mara’s film more than Cate Blanchett’s. If it were up to me they would switch categories. But such are the politics and business of Oscar nominations.

Jacob: Just to be contrarian … Having not seen Carol, I’ll go Kate Winslet. I just wasn’t into Leigh’s performance (she grunts about the same way DiCaprio does).

Steve:  Sigh.  While I would love to see my Alicia Vikander step to the podium, momentum suggests that Kate will upgrade her resume (likely on a Mac).

 

Mad Max Fury Road MainBest Director

Chris: Inarritu will go back to back.  Like I said: genuine big screen filmmaking. I wish he could have shot that thing in 70MM instead of Tarantino!

Darrel:  Adam McKay (and co-screenwriter Charles Randolph [they should win adapted screenplay as well]) took an amazing complex issue and history and made it both understandable and entertaining.

Jacob: Puhlease. George Miller sculpted a masterpiece that’s nearly dialogue-free. There is more to unpack there than should be possible. And it’s all about Miller’s vision and direction.

Steve:  Oh, Jacob.  How very cute.  While Miller may even be the one that arguably deserves it more, Inarritu will double his wins this year.  Revenant accomplished the same feat of bringing depth to the silence… and he’s more popular right now.

 

spotlight3Best Picture

Chris: The Revenant.  My heart was with The Martian for most of the awards season but The Revenant is genuine big screen filmmaking.  And that bear scene is already legend.

Darrel: Why Spotlight (which I see as head and shoulders above the others)? It’s a well done film, but beyond that it shows how systemic evils can find ways of staying hidden without a vigilant 4th Estate. And I think it gives us a chance to consider if that vigilant press is dying off in today’s culture.

Alan: It’s The Revenant. The top three award ceremonies split their vote this year. I’m going to say, however, that Inarritu gets a second Best Picture statue to join his previous one for Birdman.

Arnaldo: Mad Max: Fury Road … but only because Sicario wasn’t nominated.

Jacob: While I preferred Fury Road in its style, Spotlight has more to say – and frankly, so did Trumbo. I’m with Darrel here.

Jason N: I’ll take Mad Max but please say it’s not The Revenant!

Steve:  I have little doubt that Spotlight will walk away with the win.  With The Big Short the only likely challenger this year, Spotlight not only gave us something to think about, it also provided a throwback to some of the classic films of the 70s like Network.