This week’s Banshee episode starts with one of the best choreographed fight scenes in TV history. Bank on that. You can’t get more of an intense fight than the photo below, and that’s saying a lot considering how well Banshee fights are staged. We say it every week, but Banshee is the best thing on TV right now, and if you haven’t been watching, then you should drop everything and immediately get caught up on it. Unless you’re holding a baby. Don’t drop the baby.
Not a lot of box office points this week but some lucky slugs scored in other ways. Julianne Moore continued her award domination by adding a SAG, ScarJo and NotATwin Olsen showed up on the cover of Empire, Streep and Emma Stone scored an Entertainment Weekly cover, and there was some owed nudity points for the sexy ex-wife/assassin/hot as shit, Ivana Milicevic in Banshee. There’s a month left in the league and it’s going to be tough (impossible) to catch Said so start planning for year two. Hit the link below for the full spreadsheet or memorize the picture so I can stop thinking of stupid things to say here.
Ammon and Jack have issues with the Superbowl this upcoming weekend so there’s no better place to work things out than here. The boys shit talk each other and come up a devastating wager that nobody is happy with (except Law) in order to end the Seahawks/Patriots match-up.
Kupka and Moreno call in to talk about Banshee and be drunk.
TV Round-Up covers Justified, Banshee, and Magnum PI & MacGyver for some reason.
What Did You Watch has tales of AMERICONS, EVERLY, INTERSTELLAR, THE JUDGE, INHERENT VICE, THE MAZE RUNNER, BRICK MANSIONS, THE RIOT CLUB, and TURTLES FOREVER.
Stay tuned this week for our Banshee commentary and other drunk bullshit.
This time last year, as FX was leading up to releasing their new TV show based on the hit 90s movie FARGO, doubts were had all around. A TV show based on a movie? What, are you crazy? That sounds like a horrible idea! I don’t know if I went as far as calling it blasphemous, but the word ‘pointless’ definitely rolled off my tongue. Seriously, you’ve run out of original ideas your remaking movies for TV now? But FARGO pulled through and it turned out to be one of the best TV series of the year. Yes, the year, and hell… maybe even of the last few years (save for BREAKING BAD and GAME OF THRONES, of course).
SyFy decided to follow the same formula with 12 MONKEYS: a new TV show based on the ’90s movie. And is the result as successful as FARGO? Of course not. I checked the first episode out this week and while they sort of hit the concept just fine, the idea of sitting through the Bruce Willy dude traveling to a different time each episode in his quest to find the Army of the 12 Monkeys and save the world… the whole thing makes me tired. For a few reasons (the biggest being that it’s a remake of the movie rather than doing its own thing):
1) There isn’t enough story for a full 10 episodes (10 hours) of TV. There just isn’t. It’s a 2 hour movie, and they’ve already extended the hell out of it for the first episode. I see maybe 3 more episodes until even the most devote 12 MONKEYS fan taps out. And you KNOW they’ll want to keep making more and more seasons of this shit.
2) The dude playing Bruce Willis (or James Cole if you want to be a dick about it). Some joker named Aaron Stanford–this dude lacks the leading man charisma that a show like this so desperately needs… because the whole show revolves around him! If you don’t give a fuck about this dude, you don’t give a fuck about this show. And guess what? This dude can suck a BabaDIIIIICK!
3) The whole Time Travel story device. One episode deep and there are just too many issues and problems with the time travel time lines that I can’t imagine anyone using their brains will be able to ignore.
On the plus side, the production value is fantastic, a dude from THE WIRE appears to be part of the recurring supporting cast, and the main chick / scientist is ridiculously hot (unbelievable, yes, but nice to look at none-the-less). Otherwise, skip this trash. Just revisit with Terry Gillium’s masterpiece (yes, I said masterpiece) and relive the good ol’ days when Willis gave a shit and Brad Pitt acted his balls off.
I will say in all confidence that this might be one of the sillier/sexier/dumber commentaries for Banshee that we’ve done. And like Proctor watching his girlfriend/niece kill a guy, I couldn’t be more proud. Things that we love about this episode: the Amish trying to cure cancer with butter and cold juice, military guy’s unit/dick is impressive and looks like a battle tested shark, every chick is hot and has amazing hair, and if Chayton ever got turned out in prison, he’d turn into Job.
In catching up with the award nominees/winners over the past few weeks, I hadn’t realized I worked up such a craving for some genre stuff. Granted, it has turned out that most of the movies up for nominations this year are pretty stellar across the board, but still, I like to bring it back and get my fan-boy fix to keep myself grounded. Cue What We Do In The Shadows, a spoof of The Real World, only with vampires in modern-day Wellington, New Zealand, that plays as the heir apparent to the best Christopher Guest has to offer. Basically, part of the comedy nucleus behind Flight of the Conchords, Jermaine Clement, and one of his writing partners Taika Waititi, put together a pretty fantastic little comedy-spoof that, for me, hits all the right tones. As is the case with a lot of comedies, the characters are what sell this, and between Vlad, Viago and Deacon, you’ve got three distinctly different, absent-minded and hilarious vampires. This is the kind of flick that, to me, is right in line with stuff like Bubba Ho-Tep as a small genre flick with a lot of originality and wit. This is an easy 8 on 10 for me and rewatchable as fuck.
Not only was I blindsided by the fact that Parks & Rec was starting back up this week, but you can imagine how stoked I was when Werner Herzog showed up in a bit part. This show has to be the most consistently funny sitcom of the past decade. There are so many moments, characters and story arcs that make me chuckle just in thinking about them that I can’t help but appreciate everything these writers throw at us. Add to the fact that despite his star turn in Guardians of the Galaxy that I can still see Chris Pratt as the moronic Andy Dwyer and I’m all in. Great start to the season and I’m anxious to see where they take us, especially in reference to the mysterious “Morningstar”…
71 hours later I completed my first run of Dark Souls II. The verdict? This is easily my favorite medieval RPG of all time. The challenge this game gives you and the deep customization/effect you can have on the game world is fantastic. I will admit at times I’ve been scratching my head, trying to figure out what the FUCK I’m supposed to do next/how to kill said boss/why the controller won’t let me jump to THE OTHER FUCKING PLATFORM, etc. But for all the frustration, I can honestly say this game has everything I want from it. The combat is fantastic and engaging. The challenge is consistent and rewarding. The story, while sparse and impossible to digest in a lot of ways, is mysterious and really fantastic. I know I’ve fifed over this a few times before but seriously, stop being a bitch and play this.
What, did you think I’d go through an entire article without mentioning my ultimate pride? I’ve posted that pic above and to the left here before but the one on the right was taken following the New England blowout of the Ponies. Look, I like and respect Pagano and Luck a lot. Pagano, with all his personal and health issues and Luck with his respect, patience, intelligence and reverence to the sport and his colleagues are both incredibly admirable people to have in your organization. The owner might be a drunk, but that’s not my point. My point is, Manning plays for the Broncos, so I’m ok with the Colts. Especially since the last four times we’ve played them they have been absolutely spanked. All that being said, sorry not sorry. If you can’t capitalize throughout the game and your quarterback is making bad decisions on the field, you deserve to be embarrassed. Hopefully Luck learns from this and improves his game, because as I said I’d like to see him improve and become a really solid quarterback. I’ve been lucky to see two AFC Championship games. I understand the time I’m living in. My grandfather lived to 78and never saw the Sox win once in his entire lifetime, so I do understand that as a fan I am completely spoiled by this team. But I’ll tell you what, seeing Brady get the team fired up on the sideline in the third quarter was fantastic. Belichick giving a rare grin after the win was pretty awesome. Gronk dancing with the team (unfortunately for me with his pants ON) was a lot of fun and the atmosphere was electric. I can’t wait for the Super Bowl. Ammon and I will commence some shit talking, but we will find the right time and place for it (hopefully a podcast sometime in the next two weeks).
Also, I’d just like to take a moment and bring light to something that’s currently making the rounds on NFL media. The whole Deflate Gate thing is, in my mind, completely retarded. Also, isn’t it on the refs to notice something like that as it happens? Also, why did it take the refs so long to actually get the proper ball on the field? Also, doesn’t temperature change have something to do with ball inflation? Also, why is is that every great Patriots win has to be questioned on a level that no other team has to deal with? Also, is the entire NFL butthurt that no one could stop us again? I think the last question has everything to do with the previous ones. You’re witnessing the GOAT, stand up and pay your respects.
Keep an ear out for some fresh commentaries and shows this week and, as always, Binge On!
We’re getting closer to the end of our inaugural season (ends Feb 22, after the Oscars) and it looks like it’s going to be hard to catch Said Helal. There were a shitload of points given out this week as Banshee returned with nude scenes for it’s two main hotties. The Shailene Woodley nudity has finally been confirmed. Golden Globe Winner points came through for Julianne Moore and Amy Adams. SAG nominees were added. Oscar nominees were added. All that said, the only thing I’m left hoping for is that Ammon comes in last. If that happens we’re all winners. Except Ammon. Click the link below for the entire spreadsheet or stream the pic to your 60 inch plasma TV and show your neighbors how much of a creep you are through the window.
Our lists are finished, the booze is chilled, and the final BOYHOOD argument is primed and ready to explode. Come join Moreno, Ammon, and Law as they lay out their 20 favorite films of 2014. There’s some surprises, lots of bickering, shots of moonshine, and very last minute editing.
But that’s not all. TV Round-Up holds tales of Banshee, Marco Polo, and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. What Did You Watch delivers reviews for A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, WILD, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, STILL ALICE, BOUND, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, WHAT’S IN THE BASKET, INHERENT VICE, AMERICAN SNIPER, JOHN WICK, THE DOUBLE, and PREDESTINATION. This leads into an epic conversation about who would win in a fight between THE EQUALIZER and JOHN WICK. It’s all about location, location, location.
Stay tuned this week for the Banshee commentary, The Binge Game Cast, The Binge After Taste, and maybe even an After Show / Blaster Crast as we couldn’t stop talking last night and recorded until 4 in the morning.
Welcome to the January 18th edition of Working the Weekend with Luke. I apologize for not writing a column last week, but the flu has been kicking my ass over the last week or so. I’m still not at 100%, but I wasn’t going to let another week go by without getting something out. The plan today is to start a series of articles that will continue over the next few weeks leading up to the 87th Academy Awards ceremony a little over a month from now on February 22nd. Each week, I’ll try and chat a little about a few of the movies that were nominated (or not nominated), ultimately leading up to my final picks. So let’s kick this off with one of the frontrunners in this year’s Oscar race, with six overall nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
I finally sat down and watched Boyhood on Friday night, and I don’t know if it was all the hype or what, but I just can’t see how this is considered one of the best movies of the year. Don’t get me wrong, it’s got a lot of positives to it, but the best film of 2014? Come on, let’s get real with this. The only reason that people are really digging on this movie is because it’s a novelty. I’m impressed with the whole twelve year thing, I really am. It’s probably going to get Richard Linklater an Oscar, and maybe it should. It does take a lot of commitment to stick with a project for that long. You have to have your actors really buy into what you’re trying to accomplish. But what exactly was that? Because in my mind, all I really saw with the boy himself was just another “art” student that drinks and does drugs in high school and then continues that as a college freshman. The end. The early parts of the film were really great, but as it goes on, I just lost interest after a while, as it’s easily 30 to 45 minutes too long.
Maybe my focus was a little off, but I wasn’t able to connect with the boy himself. My connection came with the parents, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, who I thought were both absolutely fantastic. I’ve always been big fan of Ethan Hawke and maybe it’s because I’m a divorced parent, but it was very easy to connect with this character. It really was beautiful to see the progression as the years go along. And the same goes for Patricia Arquette’s character. This is easily some of the best work to ever come from that family and she’s pretty much got Best Supporting Actress locked up, and deservedly so.
Again, overall I’d say that I like the movie, but it certainly doesn’t deserve a place in the upper echelon of cinema history. I applaud the effort, but for a twelve year project, I suppose I expected a bit more.
Now this is a movie that I feel could have taken one of the two open slots in the Best Picture category. Gone Girl was one of my favorites of 2014 and I feel may have been slighted a bit. Rosamund Pike certainly deserved her nomination in the Best Actress category (she won’t win though), but I think the more surprising thing is what the nominations we didn’t get from this movie. Hey, I get it, but it’s a tough year in a lot of categories. David Fincher was left out of the Best Director race. Gillian Flynn was left out of the Best Adapted Screenplay race. But perhaps one of the most surprising snubs of this year’s Oscars was that of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross not getting a nomination in the Original Score category. The music makes up so much of this picture and it was really surprising not to hear their names called last week. But is this the biggest snub of the year? Not quite. So what is?
How in the hell did The Lego Movie not receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature? Not only was it the best animated movie of the year, but it was one of the best movies of the year period. I watched it again last night with my girls and it only fueled my anger. Okay, maybe that’s taking it a little too far, but seriously, it doesn’t make any sense. I’ve been asking the same questions that Law did on Friday night in his Oscar predictions. Were there too many live-action minutes for it to be considered? I won’t pretend to know the criteria, but whatever movie wins next month (if not this, then How to Train Your Dragon 2 deserves it) should have an asterisk next to it until the end of time. And how great was the reaction from co-director Phil Lord? “It’s okay. Made my own!”
That’s what I’ve got for you this week. We’ve got a lot of weekends before February 22nd, so we’ll be digging deeper into the big categories as the next month goes on. Until then, feel free to comment below or you can always follow me and tweet @THElukenorris.