#295: The Ghost Writer / The Shop Around the Corner / Top 5 Films of 1998
In honor of Filmspotting’s discussion of Roman Polanski’s "The Ghost Writer," this week’s show description is being ghostwritten by long time Filmspotting fan and regional Boggle champion, Linnea Knutsen of Yankton, South Dakota:
Greetings all! This week’s show gets off to a rousing start as Matty beautifully articulates his take on Polanski’s new thriller, saliently dissecting the film’s strengths and weaknesses, rousingly bifurcating cinematic wheat from chaff. Robinson’s dulcet musings linger long after the show’s close, as though the ghost of Manny Farber might actually be whispering in your ear. Matty waxes just as elegantly on the finer points of Ernst Lubitsch’s "The Shop Around the Corner," the penultimate film in Filmspotting’s Ernst Lubitsch Marathon. Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan light up the screen in the legendary romantic comedy; they’re almost as great as Matty’s hilarious take on this week’s Massacre Theatre challenge. Casting directors should be lining up to sign this emerging talent, this prince of new media. Seriously, Matty’s agents would love to hear from you. Anyone? But I digress, the intelligent and ever-so-handsome Matty closes out the show with his controversial picks for the Top 5 Films of 1998. Adam appears on the show too.
Also on the show: Brand new music by David Ford and Massacre Theatre -- presented by Pixar Talk. This week's winner will get the Pixar DVD of their choice.
Filmspotting #295
:13-17:08 - Review: "The Ghost Writer"
Music: David Ford, "Panic"
18:12-22:11 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: M. Dancer)
22:12-28:52 - Notes, Polls
28:53-40:25 - Lubitsch #3: The Shop Around the Corner
Music: David Ford, "Making Up for Lost Time"
41:03-48:13 - New DVDs / Donations
48:14-1:07:36 - Top 5: Films of 1998
1:07:37-1:10:11 - Close / Next Show / Sorry, no outtake this week!
NOTES / CORRECTIONS
- Win an admit-2 pass to an advanced screening of "Mother" - details here.
- Register for our Billy Wilder class at the University of Chicago's Graham School
- Allison Bagnall co-wrote "Buffalo '66" with Vincent Gallo.
- Jeff Goldsmith's Creative Screenwriting podcast can be accessed through iTunes here.