Groundhog Day – Way Too Indie http://waytooindie.com Independent film and music reviews Fri, 02 Dec 2016 17:34:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Way Too Indiecast is the official podcast of WayTooIndie.com. Our film critics grip and gush about the latest indie movies and sometimes even mainstream ones. Find all of our reviews, podcasts, news, at www.waytooindie.com Groundhog Day – Way Too Indie yes Groundhog Day – Way Too Indie dustin@waytooindie.com dustin@waytooindie.com (Groundhog Day – Way Too Indie) The Official Podcast of Way Too Indie Groundhog Day – Way Too Indie http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/waytooindie/podcast-album-art.jpg http://waytooindie.com Post-Weekend News Roundup – April 6 http://waytooindie.com/news/weekend-news-april-6/ http://waytooindie.com/news/weekend-news-april-6/#respond Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=33772 Furious 7 cruises at the box office and plenty of other news you may have missed over the weekend.]]>

It may have just turned to spring, but as far as the movie year goes, we are officially in the summer. Furious 7 earned an estimated $143.6 million at the box office, placing it in as the 9th biggest opening of all time. Since this is proof that you were at the theater this weekend watching the latest installment in the crazy action franchise, here are some news items you may have missed:

Manoel de Oliveira 1908–2015

As announced on April 2, legendary Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira passed at the age of 106. Most known for I’m Going Home, the man made films all the way to the end, with 8 shorts and features released after his 100th birthday. de Oliveira got his start in the 1930s with documentary shorts, with this first feature released in 1941. It really wasn’t until the 2000s, though, that he really hit his stride with films like I’m Going Home, Eccentricities of a Blonde-haired Girl and The Strange Case of Angelica. He is an inspirational case that shows you are never too old to make amazing art. Richard Brody has a great remembrance of the filmmaker at the New Yorker.

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross Return to Sketch Comedy on Netflix

The biggest news for Netflix this weekend is the season 4 announcement of House of Cards, the weirdest news is the possibility of a Full House renewal, but the best news is the pseudo-Mr. Show reunion, first reported by Deadline. With Bob and David will get four, half-hour episodes and an “making of” feature. Odenkirk went on to star in a hit cable program, Cross directed his first feature this year, but the duo was better together with hilarious sketches like “Titannica,” “The Teardrop Awards” and “Mustmayostardayonnaise.”

Groundhog Day Is the Next Hollywood Hit Set for Broadway

It used to be that the biggest plays and musicals on Broadway would be adapted for big-screen Hollywood success, but recently the trend has reversed. The Evil Dead, Rocky, The Silence of the Lambs and Heathers have all made surprising turns to the stage. According to the Hollywood Reporter, cult comedy Groundhog Day will make the jump in 2017. A musical version of the Harold Ramis-Bill Murray collaboration may just work, though it is hard to see how you can present the quick-cutting jokes and intricate time loop without the use of editing. We do need a definitive song about that pesky Punxsutawney Phil, though, so that may be worth it.

Japan Rebooting Godzilla, Too

At the end of last year, Japanese production legends Toho announced that they were also working on a Godzilla reboot. Gareth Edwards’s film was met with mixed praise, but the film no doubt showed how much power the giant lizard monster still has on-screen. No plot details are set for the new Japanese version, but we now know that it will be directed by anime filmmakers Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, who are best known for films in the popular Evangelion and Titan series. A crazy, anime style action flick might be a great counter to the dower, character-based American film. The 29th version of Godzilla is set for 2016 and is expected to be released theatrically in the U.S.

Machete Will Kill Again… In Space

All good exploitation film franchises end up in space. Robert Rodriguez’s blood-soaked actioner Machete should be no different. The film that started as a spoof trailer in Grindhouse opened solidly before a sub-par sequel – taking Danny Trejo to kick ass in orbit may be the only thing that can save the franchise. In an interview with the Halloween Daily News, the immortal character actor confirmed that Machete Kills in Space will begin shooting this year. The film will be directed by its creator, Robert Rodriguez, and is rumored to co-star Mel Gibson and Lady Gaga, which makes sense given the setting.

Trailer of the Week: Amy

From the director of the amazing found-footage documentary Senna, the life and death of singer Amy Winehouse will be explored in Amy. Winehouse’s rise came quickly and was met with both popular and critical praise, but was marred by drug abuse and ultimately tragedy. The story of an unlikely star is set for a U.K. release on July 3. Check out the film’s first trailer below.

]]>
http://waytooindie.com/news/weekend-news-april-6/feed/ 0
Now Streaming: Movies to Watch at Home This Weekend – April 3 http://waytooindie.com/news/movies-streaming-this-weekend-april-3/ http://waytooindie.com/news/movies-streaming-this-weekend-april-3/#respond Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=33678 Spring is officially here, but who really needs the outdoors when you have millions of great films to stream on demand this weekend?]]>

For anyone living in the Midwest or East coast, it finally feels like spring! After another brutal winter, temperatures are coming back to a reasonable level. Baseball is coming back this weekend. But who really needs the outdoors when you have millions of great films and television shows to stream on demand? Stay inside, crack the windows, and check out the newest titles to stream this weekend.

Netflix

Kicking and Screaming (Noah Baumbach, 1995)

Just in time for Noah Baumbach’s latest, While We’re Young, his first feature is now available on Netflix. One of the best movies ever made about the post-college transition, this slacker comedy is the story of a group of friends that try at all costs to hang onto their college lives. Kicking and Screaming is heavily influenced by Richard Linklater’s Slacker, and along with Reality Bites and Singles, make up the short-lived GenX comedy genre. Before you check out Baumbach’s latest indie, see where his work started.

Other new titles new to Netflix this week:
American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000)
Approaching the Elephant (Amanda Wilder, 2014)
The Big Lebowski (Joel & Ethan Coen, 1998)
Bound (Andy & Lana Wachowski, 1996)
The Devil’s Rejects (Rob Zombie, 2005)
Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford, 1989)
Gladiator (Ridley Scott, 2000)
Open Water (Chris Kentis, 2003)
Three Kings (David O. Russell, 1999)
This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)

Amazon Prime

Groundhog Day

It may be two months past the holiday, but there is never a wrong time to watch this masterpiece comedy. Bill Murray stars as smarmy weatherman Phil Connors, in the signature role of his fine career, who gets stuck in a curious time loop. One of the most complex comedies ever written, the film has been read as Buddhist theology, a video game adaptation, time travel film, and just about everything in between. It is impeccably directed by Harold Ramis (who died just over a year ago) – he hits every conceivable joke out of this bizarre set-up. We were all a little depressed when Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this past February, but the eight weeks are gone and we can celebrate with this fine film.

Other new titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
The Better Angels (A.J. Edwards, 2014)
Death Wish (Michael Winner, 1974)
Saved! (Brian Dannelly, 2004)
Submarine (Richard Ayoade, 2010)
Tusk (Kevin Smith, 2014)

Fandor

Manuscripts Don’t Burn (Mohammad Rasoulof, 2013)

A new entry in the wonderful new Iranian cinema movement, Manuscripts Don’t Burn is a gripping thriller about one of the country’s darkest times. In the film, two men are on a mission to commit murder and cover it up as a suicide, but their plans suddenly change once the deed is to be done. The film screened Un Certain Regard at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the International Federation of Film Critics prize. It is one of the most critically acclaimed and underseen films of 2013, and now you can catch up with it on Fandor.

Other new titles new to Fandor this week:
Black Moon (Louis Malle, 1975)
The Devil and Daniel Webster (William Dieterle, 1941)
Les visiteurs du soir (Marcel Carne, 1942)
Princess from the Moon (Kon Ichikawa, 1987)
Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (Masahiro Shinoda, 1975)

Video On-Demand

Interstellar (Christopher Nolan, 2014)

The most visually ambitious film of 2014 hit DVD and VOD this week. Though it was Christopher Nolan’s least celebrated and successful film since he started making the Batman pictures, it will delight any fan of the auteur. It may not have the same impact on your home television as it did on IMAX, but the visual marvel will still play for its large landscapes and big ideas. Interstellar is perhaps his most emotional film, as well. Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain really ground the film on a human level even while the film is so fascinated with space and science. It isn’t Nolan’s best film, but in this respect the cool, clinical filmmaker turned a corner.

Other new titles new to VOD this week:
Cut Bank (Matt Shakman, 2014)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Peter Jackson, 2014)
The Imitation Game (Morten Tyldum, 2014)
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (David Douglas, 2014)
Last Knights (Kazuaki Kiriya, 2015)

]]>
http://waytooindie.com/news/movies-streaming-this-weekend-april-3/feed/ 0