Aspect Radio #53: DRIVE, MONEYBALL, TIFF 2011 recap

Ben and Corey strap in for director Nicolas Winding Refn’s superb, violent character study “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan.

Both agree “Drive” is one of the best films of 2011 so far, and if it’s any indicator of how the rest of the fall season will shape up, we’ve got plenty of good things to anticipate.

With FilmNerds.com editor Matt Scalici, Corey takes an early look at Bennett Miller’s “Moneyball,” an adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book about Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) who used Sabermetrics to evaluate baseball players and build a winning franchise.

Rounding out the show is an interview with Time Magazine editor and entertainment writer Gilbert Cruz, who recaps his experience covering the Toronto International Film Festival. The festival now serves as the go-to launchpad for likely Oscar contenders.

At this year’s festival were Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia,” George Clooney’s “The Ides of March” and several other buzzed-about films.

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Aspect Radio #52: CONTAGION, WARRIOR, Top 5 Steven Soderbergh Movies

After a two-week hiatus thanks to the Sidewalk Film Festival and Labor Day, Ben and Corey catch Steven Soderbergh’s CONTAGION, starring an A-list cast taking on a deadly worldwide virus in what Ben calls one of the year’s best so far.

The guys also step into the octagon for Gavin O’Connor’s mixed martial arts family drama WARRIOR, with Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. Joining this discussion are new show producer Andrew Richardson and friend to the program (and Anniston Star entertainment columnist) Bobby Bozeman.

They also share their Top 5 Steven Soderbergh movies. Will CONTAGION make the leap to either’s list?

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Aspect Radio #51: TREE OF LIFE, SENNA, When to Let Your Kids See R-rated Movies

Director Terrence Malick rarely wastes a frame with whatever puts on the screen, especially in his latest feature film “The Tree of Life.”

Ben and Corey, joined by Ben’s dad Steve Flanagan, dissect Malick’s exploration of childhood, memory, loss of innocence and existence. Deep stuff, we know.

The film brought home 2011’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or and still finds itself in the Oscar discussion this year. You can bet it will end up on plenty of top 10 lists later this year, perhaps including those made by this show’s hosts.

Ben’s brother Graham then joins the show to talk about “Senna,” a documentary about three-time world champion Formula One racer Ayrton Senna.

Rounding it out, the panel discusses parenting and movies, specifically what goes into the decision-making process of when to let a child see R-rated movies or more mature content.

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Aspect Radio #49: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, MEEK’S CUTOFF, BELLFLOWER, Spoilers

Ben and Corey are just as pleasantly surprised as the rest of American audiences who thought “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” looked downright stupid.

The concept may still be, but the result is a gripping science fiction story that may be the best of the overloaded series, with respect to the great Charlton Heston, and one of the best films of 2011 so far. It at least helps us forget about that awful Tim Burton remake from 2001, so that’s a plus.

Ben and Corey then caulk the wagon and ford the river to discuss neo-realist auteur Kelly Reichardt’s Oregon Trail film “Meek’s Cutoff,” a challenging and deliberately paced study of lost pioneers in dire need of water and guidance.

The guys also welcome Ben’s brother Graham from New York to talk about “Bellflower,” a buzz-worthy indie release that caused a stir at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

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Rounding it all out is a discussion on movie spoilers delivered via film studio marketing or leaked set photos online. Are we seeing too much before we see the actual movies?

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Aspect Radio #48: COWBOYS & ALIENS, Trailer Talk, Top 5 Alien Invasion Movies

Corey and guest host Phil Owen take on the latest in cowboys fighting aliens movies, ahem, “Cowboys & Aliens,” director Jon Favreau’s big budget adaptation of the lesser known graphic novel.

While the film looks great and is packed with star power and special effects, it just doesn’t seem to deliver on its promising concept of mixing the two beloved genres of westerns and science fiction.

Also on tap are new trailers for Peter Berg’s board game adaptation “Battleship” and producer/co-writer George Lucas’ Tuskegee Airmen adventure “Red Tails.”

Finally, the guys unveil their top five alien invasion movies, which include “Independence Day,” “Mars Attacks!” “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and John Carpenter’s “The Thing.”

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Read Ben’s interview with Bama Art House film series curator Andrew Grace!

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Aspect Radio #47: CAPTAIN AMERICA, PROJECT NIM, Directs Who Need Comebacks

Ben and Corey get all patriotic and stuff for Marvel’s latest origin story (and franchise starter) “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring a more than capable Chris Evans.

The guys liked the movie overall, as well as the little nugget that comes after the credits…[spoiler-ish]…a teaser trailer for “The Avengers.” So stick around.

Also on tap is a review of the documentary “Project Nim” with Ben’s brother Graham Flanagan.

Rounding it out is a discussion on active filmmakers who need a comeback in a major way. Among those listed are John Carpenter, Michael Bay, Francis Ford Coppola and Jonathan Glazer.

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Read Ben’s interview with Bama Art House film series curator Andrew Grace!

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Podcast: HARRY POTTER/TRANSFORMERS reviews, BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK, Best of 2011 so far

Ben and Corey visit Hogwarts one more time for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” the final chapter in the top grossing film franchise of all time.

The guys dig the last hurrah so much, they put it up there with the best of director Richard Yates’ superb contributions along with the series’ other best efforts.

They also discuss Michael Bay’s latest obscure character study, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” which follows the subtle and sensible formula the thoughtful director stuck to the first couple of times.

Joining the show is Ben’s brother Graham, who shares his thoughts on the “Bill Cunningham New York,” a documentary about the New York Times fashion photographer.

Ben and Corey then talk about their favorite movies of 2011 so far and new trailers of major releases due later this year and next, including Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion” and Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo.”

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Read Ben’s 2011 Summer Movie Preview!

Some of these already came out, but take a look at Ben’s 10-movie summer preview on al.com!

Bridesmaids

Midnight in Paris


The Hangover Part II


Super 8


Bad Teacher


X-Men: First Class


Captain America: The First Avenger


Cowboys & Aliens


30 Minutes or Less

Horrible Bosses

A brief return w/ what we’ve seen in 2011, plus our favorites

Aspect Radio’s absence may be abhorrent, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to be here. We do! And we will return in the capacity and format in which we once existed. We only ask that you please be patient.

In the meantime, we give you what we’ve seen and would have discussed had we been doing shows in 2011.

Below are the films we’ve seen this year in the theater (AHEM), our ratings (out of four stars) and our favorites of the bunch.

You may notice a slight disparity. When the podcast is away, Ben follows suit from the theater. Corey, who must have the most patient wife on Earth, seems to spend little time anywhere else.

Enjoy, and WE WILL BE BACK.

BEN:
Bridesmaids (***)
Fast Five (***)
The Lincoln Lawyer (***)
Your Highness (***)
Hall Pass (**½)
Source Code (**½)
Scream 4 (**)
The Dilemma (**)

COREY:
Win Win (****)
Meek’s Cutoff (****)
Hanna (****)
Source Code (***½)
The Lincoln Lawyer (***½)
The Adjustment Bureau (***½)
Hesher (***½)
The Other Woman (***½)
Bridesmaids (***)
Insidious (***)
Fast Five (***)
Sucker Punch (***)
Vanishing on 7th Street (***)
Everything Must Go (***)
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (***)
Your Highness (***)
Black Death (***)
Unknown (***)
Paul (***)
Rango (***)
Cedar Rapids (**½)
Super (**½)
The Green Hornet (**½)
Ceremony (**½)
The Rite (**½)
Rio (**½)
Gnomeo & Juliet (**½)
Thor (**)
Limitless (**)
Rubber (**)
No Strings Attached (**)
Every Day (**)
Hall Pass (**)
Scream 4 (*½)
The Beaver (*½)
Drive Angry (*½)
The Mechanic (*½)
The Dilemma (*½)
Just Go With It (*)
The Roommate (*)
I Am Number Four (*)
Battle: Los Angeles (½)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (½)
Passion Play (BOMB!)

Podcast: 127 HOURS review, Oscar predictions

Ben and Corey endure and enjoy Danny Boyle’s latest best picture nominee “127 Hours,” the gripping tale of adventurer Aron Ralston’s unbelievable survival after getting his hand caught in a boulder in the canyons of Utah in 2003.

Best actor nominee James Franco delivers arguably his best performance to date as Ralston, an adrenaline junkie and amateur wilderness guide who struggles to decide whether or not he has anything worth living for once in the predicament. The film has six Oscar nominations.

The guys also talk about the Oscar nominations, including what got snubbed and what will and should win at this month’s ceremony.

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The show will no longer air on 90.7-FM. We thank the WVUA directors for their support and hospitality.