Quarantine Watch #12: L'enfant (2005)

This is another Palme d'Or winner that I’ve meant to watch for bit, but I knew nothing about it going into it. The plot of this one is so simple and it goes by so fast, but in a good way. It’s a slice of life that I haven’t seen portrayed in this way before. It’s about a guy who sells his child he can’t connect with for money, which devastates the wife he loves, so he forgoes the consequences and gets the kid back, not caring about anyone he’s going to piss off in the process. The ending is really poetic for the film and for the characters.

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Quarantine Watch #11: A Field in England (2013)

This film was recommend to me by Anne Hathaway at a screening of COLOSSAL back in 2016. It’s been on my radar ever since. I put it off for so long mainly because Ben Wheatly’s other film FREE FIRE disappointed me and because I have epilepsy which can be an issue during the strobing scenes. This a movie that is meant to be watched stoned out of your mind, but even if you’re not you will experience the trip. I’ve never seen a movie like this, but despite it’s unique visuals I thought it was only okay.

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Quarantine Watch #9: Four Lions (2010)

I only recently found out about this one and I wish I saw it when it first came out. A comedy about radicalized wannabe Islamic terrorists seems like it can’t be as funny as it is, but man is it hysterical. Riz Amed is so charming and funny as the leader of these dummies. The whole thing devolves into a Three Stooges-esque farce. The humor is witty, but you are mostly laughing at how silly and dumb these guys are. On top of all that — it’s also emotional at times since there is a brotherhood between the men and when one of them dies you feel the impact on the group.

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Quarantine Watch #8: Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

This is not what I was expecting going into it. It’s really meditative while also being unnerving with the score/sound design. Full disclosure: I was super stoned when I watched this one, which I felt was very appropriate. There is something creepy that’s hard to put a finger on. The film also really lingers with you. I thought about it all the next day. It’s about a group of school girls going missing in 1900 Australia. I’ve liked all the Peter Weir films I’ve seen and I’m glad I got to see this one.

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Quarantine Watch #7: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (2007)

The first and most important thing about this film is that Anamaria Marinca is a treasure. She is magnetic and just an amazing actress. I can’t stop watching her even if that includes a long static shot of her sitting at a table during a dinner where she is completely removed mentally. This film seems to move in one fluid motion yet it cuts a lot. It is a tough story of a girl helping another girl get an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania. I had been meaning to see it for a long time (mainly because it won the Palme d'Or) and I’m upset I’ve waited this long to see it. Găbița is one of the most annoying characters I've seen in film, mainly because she is so helpless, naive, and lacks common sense. Still it’s amazing to see what Otilia is willing to do to make sure she does what needs to be done. It hurts at times and you feel as exhausted as these women by the end of it.

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Quarantine Watch #6: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)

This is probably the most interesting out of all of the things I’ve watched so far. It’s considered one of the oldest animated feature films still left in existence. While silent it retells stories from Arabian Nights including the Aladdin story. It didn’t grip me as I’m sure it got people back in the twenties, but it is really something to see. I’m at a loss at how they were able to make this so well. Mixing different styles including playing around with experimental filmmaking and making beautiful silhouettes to tell the story.

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Quarantine Watch #5: Hillary (2020)

I didn’t have the opportunity to see this one at Sundance and frankly I’m glad I watched in episodes on Hulu. I was mostly fascinated by the Monica Lewinsky stuff and how Hilary and Bill reconciled that. I think that was what everyone was thinking about. It was edited well and I liked learning about a lot of stuff I just didn’t know. I don’t know why people don’t like Hilary Clinton — she is very smart and likable. I think my only concern with the piece is that because of how heavily involved all the Clintons are with the film, it’s hard for me to think that there are some biases the filmmakers had during editing. That being said, it also could have been a little shorter. I still dug it though.

Quarantine Watch #4: The Piano (1993)

Before it left Criterion Channel, I had to check out this one. I never had the chance to see it on TV and it never was something I was able of rent back in the day. It actually turned into something I didn’t expect it to be. My favorite part had to be the end when [SPOILER ALERT] Holly Hunter let’s her foot get caught as her piano falls to bottom of the sea. We get that awesome final image of her dead dangling above her piano. The rest of the film was way more romantic than I thought it would be. Harvey Kietel really is being a creep throughout, but yet we’re somehow on his side and realize how Holly Hunter can love him while she has no feelings for Sam Neill. Anna Paquin is also spectacular in this. I was first introduced to her in X-MEN. I think I would have looked at her differently if I had seen this one first. This was also my first Jane Campion film that I’ve seen. I had seen TOP OF THE LAKE, but I think I need to start digging into her filmography more as this really showed a world no one ever gets to see. It’s so specific it shouldn’t work, but it does.

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Quarantine Watch #3: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Wow. Just… wow. That’s what you get when you watch this silent film. It’s probably the best silent film behind Chaplin’s CITY LIGHTS, Harold Lloyd’s SAFETY LAST (directed by Fred C. Newmeyer & Sam Taylor), and even rivals F. W. Murnau’s own NOSFERATU. I remember seeing the scene where the Man meets the Woman From the City near the lake in freshman year film school, but I honestly put it out of my mind for the last ten years. The film really is majestic in what it puts on camera as we watch this couple fall back in love with one an other despite the husband initially planning to murder her so he can be with his mistress.


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Quarantine Watch #2: Withnail and I (1987)

This one has been on my list of a long long time and I’m not sure why it took me this long to watch it. I really only knew it was associated with Richard E. Grant. Watching these two guys meander about, drinking lighter fluid, and musing about nothing while they are stuck in an uncomfortable situation is enjoyable at times and taxing at others. Still there is no way to watch this and not see the sheer talent that Richard E. Grant has as an actor. It’s not something I’d watch again, but it’s something that did make me laugh from time to time. It’s also always interesting seeing Harry Potter actors pre-HP (I’m looking at you Vernon Dursley).

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Quarantine Watch #1: Bone Tomahawk (2015)

As I start my quarantine, I begin watching with S. Craig Zahler’s BONE TOMAHAWK a Western/Horror/Thriller hybrid that doesn’t pull any punches. Like all of Zahler’s films, it is a little too long, but I guess he wants us to really live with these characters.

It is always interesting watching any actor at anytime. Even smaller roles are filled with top notch actors like Evan Jonigkeit as the Deputy, Sid Haig as our opening death, and Zahn McClarnon (an actor I genuinely love seeing in anything) as a local refined Native American scholar. Like most films set in the west, the Native Americans are not treated as well as they should be and are constantly referred to as, "savages," which helps feed into the true savagery of the types of cavemen they are up against.

Kurt Russell acts just as good as Kurt Russell usually does and gives a little taste of how he will be in THE HATEFUL EIGHT three years later. While there is extreme graphic violence witnessed here, based on how people hyped it up I honestly expected it to be even more graphic. Still, despite its length, I enjoyed it.

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Quarentine Movie Watching

I haven’t written on here in a very long time. That is about to change. Like with everyone I have been locked inside due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most people I am spending this time watching movies and television. Due in part to streaming services adding things for people to watch and with help from the Criterion Channel I have been able to watch a lot of older, foreign, and just all around interesting films that I have been putting off for some time. I’m going to take anyone who comes to this website on my adventure through moviegoing as I work my way through a lot of films. I hope you enjoy the,

This on That - Hiatus

Hey everyone! For all of our fans who listened to us throughout the years, you have probably noticed that there hasn't been a new episode in some time. As of now our schedules have not been syncing up. We are not ending the podcast, but there will be an indefinite hiatus. We hope to be back to you guys with new interviews with awesome people as soon as possible.

For everyone who listened, from the bottom of my heart, it has meant the world to me. 

I hope you keep subscribed so that way when new episodes do come out you will be the first to know. 

- Mike Sellari

This On That: 28 Spencer Grammer on Technology

Spencer Grammer (GREEK, RICK AND MORTY) comes on the show to talk about a whole mess of stuff concerning Technology. We get into so many things including SEX AND THE CITY, getting off social media, apps, video games, arcades, being a mom with other moms, doing nice things, pictures, Mike's Christmas presents as a kid, Spencer's dream game room, and Chad's missed opportunity to join The Lonely Island.

This on That: 27 D.C. Pierson on Grandparents

DC Pierson (Derrick Comedy, MYSTERY TEAM, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLIDER) comes to the Nerdist booths to talk about his grandparents allowing us to reflect on all of our grandparents. Other things that come up include thinking about the future, tattoos, grandparent adoption, death, names, and getting lost in all of our collective family trees.

THIS ON THAT LIVE!: Matt Barr on '90s Action Movies

Recorded live at the Nerdist School in Los Angeles as apart of Podcast Punchout, Matt Barr (THE LAYOVER, SLEEPY HOLLOW, HATFIELDS & MCCOYS, and CASTLE!) joins Mike and Chad in front of an audience to geek out about all the awesome action movies from the 1990's that you've rewatched time and time again. We get deep in to DEMOLITION MAN, CON AIR, DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, FACE/OFF, BROKEN ARROW, POINT BREAK, THE MATRIX, and many more.

This on That: 25 Neil McNeil on Women in Marvel

THIS ON THAT: 24 George Watsky on the Sea

Rapper, slam poet, author, and actor George Watsky comes on the show to talk about the sea. We get into crazy sea stories, science, scuba and deep sea diving, surfing, localism, animals, whale teeth, beaches, sea shanties and songs, the romanticism of the ocean, George working on the 4th season of Arrested Development, and most importantly Waterworld. George's new tour xInfinity dates have been announced. Get tickets here.