LAMBcast #98: Melancholia

Stunning visuals. Parent/child dynamics. A controversial director pulling an award-winning performance out of his lead. An end result that received wildly divergent reactions from viewers, from the many claiming "masterpiece" to the perhaps-not-quite-as-many screaming "terrible!"

Oh, and Melancholia is probably like The Tree of Life in any number of other ways as well. Bet you saw that coming a mile away, not unlike a certain large blue planet that was hiding behind the sun. (Did you see that one coming, too? Ok, I'll stop.)

Anyway, the LAMBcasters took to discussing Lars von Trier's latest film, which basically amounted to Dylan, Nick, Alan and newcomer Joanna teating it apart while Brian defended it to the hilt. It might not have been that bad, but I think that's how Brian felt, anyway.

Also on tap:

* Rants of the Week
* Raves of the Week
* Last LAMB Standing



If you're interested, you too can be a LAMBcaster - we love new blood! For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums. Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to dylan@manilovefilms.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.

Thanks for listening!

LAMB #1199 - Shane's Visual Cues

URL: http://shanesvisualcues.wordpress.com/
Site Name: Shane's Visual Cues
Categories: Reviews, Lists
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
To express my thoughts and reviews on movies I watch and to have them open for discussion/critique.

LAMBScores: Shame

Temple of Reviews
jdbrecords
Defiant Success
DearFilm
Reel Talk
Surrender to the Void
And So it Begins...


Love and Squalor Film
The Velvet Café


The Matinee
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews


Never Too Early Movie Predictions
The Good Dystopian
Wide Screen World
The Great Movie Project


The Critical Movie Critics


Not Just Movies

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (17 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

LAMB #1198 - The Narrative Experience

URL: narrativexp.wordpress.com
Site Name: The Narrative Experience
Categories: Reviews, General, (Other) Analysis/Theory
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
Analyzing the way stories are presented in movies.

LAMB Acting School 101: Don Cheadle

CS, of Big Thoughts from a Small Mind, here with all the submissions for our LAMB Acting School 101 feature on Don Cheadle. Huge thanks to all the sites that took the time to send in their posts.

Articles, Podcasts, Artwork, and Lists

Candice of Reel Talk included Cheadle in list of five fellas to watch in2011. He also makes her list celebrating the accomplishments of African-American actors.

Jenny, from Big Thoughts from a Small Mind, celebrates Don Cheadle’s birthday by looking at some of his memorable roles.

Never Too Early Movie Predictions takes a look at some upcoming films starring Cheadle and ponders if they will be a factor in future Oscar races?

Film Actually’s own Shane list his three favourite scenes involving Don Cheadle.

The People's Movie takes a moment to highlight Cheadle's Captain Planet spoof.

That’s…So Freaking Hollywood! gives Don Cheadle the performance of the day nod for his work in Brooklyn’s Finest.

Over at Missemmamm, Mary explores Don Cheadle's role of Buck in Boogie Nights

Reel Talk names Hotel Rwanda as one of the top 17 films of the decade.


Reviews

Talk to Me
Film Forager
Commentary Track
Surrender to the Void
Foolish Blatherings

Out of Sight
Surrender to the Void

Brooklyn’s Finest
Commenntary Track
Reel Talk
Big Thoughts from a Small Mind

Iron Man2
Commentary Track
Reel Talk
Brian vs. Movies
Foolish Blatherings
Big Thoughts from a Small Mind
Surrender to the Void
Defiant Success

Manic
Defiant Success

The Guard
Front Room Cinema
Duke and the Movies
Awesome Barnhart’s Review
Film Forager
I Luv Cinema
Cinehouse

Devil in a Blue Dress
I Luv Cinema
Wide Screen World


Boogie Nights
Duke and the Movies
Foolish Blatherings
Defiant Success
Surrender to the Void

Colors
Brian vs. Movies

Hotel Rwanda
Brian vs. Movies
Defiant Success

Ocean’s Eleven
Foolish Blatherings

Ocean’s Twelve
Foolish Blatherings

Ocean’s Thirteen
Foolish Blatherings

Traffic
Surrender to the Void
Defiant Success




Next month's LAMB Acting School 101 subject will be Joan Crawford! If you would like to see your favourite actor/actress highlighted in this series, be sure to add their name to the list in the forum section of The LAMB. or email your suggestion to bigthoughtsmallmind@hotmail.com.

Past actors/actresses featured in this column can be found in the LAMB Acting School 101 Archives.

LAMB #1197 - Flickchart: The Blog

URL: http://blog.flickchart.com/
Site Name: Flickchart: The Blog
Categories: Reviews, General, News, Editorials, Humor, Horror, Classic Film, Lists, (Other) http://blog.flickchart.com/categories
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
Supporting Flickchart with user-contributed movie news, editorials, reviews, humor, an official podcast, and more...

Poll Results; New Poll

Though the majority of voters do try to make it the theater on Christmas Day, time permitting, those of us who would fall into a turkey coma if we sat in a dark theater for two hours aren't far behind. Personally, I prefer sitting at home all day, watching the movies Santa brought me.

For the next poll I want to know how many Best Picture nominees you think will be announced on January 24th, since there are no longer a guaranteed 10. Just take a wild (or educated) guess.

LAMB #1196 - Feminising Film

URL: http://www.feminisingfilm.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Feminising Film
Categories: Reviews, General, Editorials
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
The main focus of Feminising Film, for me, is definitely to have the chance to connect with other bloggers out there on an awesome-film kind of level.

Announcement for Director's Chair #23

Event #23 starring
John Landis
January 10, 2012

Submission Deadline
10 PM on January 9, 2012

Submit all articles to...
mattehavoc@gmail.com

Hey everyone, it is D.J. Heinlein from the blog site Matte Havoc. We have hit the magical number of installment number twenty-three of The LAMBs in the Director’s Chair series (it's a personal favorite number of mine and all). Does your dedication to The Blues Brothers run deep? Can you perform every dance move from Michael Jackson’s Thriller to the tiniest of details? Or maybe you are the type of person who wears a bed sheet around your body while chanting “toga” over and over to your friends. If you admit to being a person who can identify to any of these statements then you will enjoy the next installment of the Director’s Chair series where we will take a close look at the directorial career of John Landis!

Now for those of you who have never participated in this event before I would like to present the basic list of instructions and rules for participation in the series. The golden guideline would be that all participants must be a current member of the LAMBs or at least on the waiting list for approval to become a member. The second guideline of participation in the series would be for everyone to write and publish an article about the candidate who has been selected for the event. The focus of every article must stay within the arena of the person’s career as a movie director. The third and final item on the list of guidelines is an uncompromising rule of meeting the deadline for submission. Every article that you would like to submit for the event must be e-mailed to DJ Heinlein [ mattehavoc@gmail.com ] by 10 PM the night before the first day of the event. If you would like to submit an article that you published a couple of months or years ago I will accept them for participation in the event. Make sure to include a direct URL link to every article that you would like to submit. There is no minimum or maximum number of articles that can be submitted.

On a side note I usually ignore e-mails filled with explanations and plans of publishing an article for the event. My inbox fills up very quickly with submissions for this event and I might over look a submission by accident if I am spending time deleting e-mails that are filled with explanations about future publishing instead of valid and direct links to articles that are already available online. The best way to get involved in the series is to publish the article and then submit the link by e-mail. No explanations are necessary.

If you have any questions about the event you can e-mail them to me and I will respond as quickly as possible. Listed below are a few promotional graphics that you can post on your blog site to help promote the event. Have fun and knock yourself out with your reviews and editorials.

========================================================

Banner One preview (HTML below)

Banner One code (picture above)

<a href="http://largeassmovieblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/LAMBs%20in%20the%20Director%27s%20Chair" target="blank"><img border="0" alt="Large Association of Movie Blogs" height="293" width="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ufADH8UWcX0/TvuB941hPYI/AAAAAAAAD1o/cuFvvoht3cg/s800/landis-banner1.png"/></a>

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Banner Two preview (HTML below)

Banner Two code (picture above)

<a href="http://largeassmovieblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/LAMBs%20in%20the%20Director%27s%20Chair" target="blank"><img border="0" alt="Large Association of Movie Blogs" height="276" width="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mvLn70cs730/TvuB97SLfUI/AAAAAAAAD1g/yySqcnCoens/s800/landis-banner2.png"/></a>

========================================================

Banner Three preview (HTML below)

Banner Three code (picture above)

<a href="http://largeassmovieblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/LAMBs%20in%20the%20Director%27s%20Chair" target="blank"><img border="0" alt="Large Association of Movie Blogs" height="309" width="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ow9KAdws3S4/TvuB-OjYUXI/AAAAAAAAD1w/xEp-5KivppI/s800/landis-banner3.png"/></a>

========================================================

Banner Four preview (HTML below)

Banner Four code (picture above)

<a href="http://largeassmovieblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/LAMBs%20in%20the%20Director%27s%20Chair" target="blank"><img border="0" alt="Large Association of Movie Blogs" height="129" width="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l2bO5zN3260/TvuB-6mdSJI/AAAAAAAAD2A/yq6EAzECB5w/s800/landis-banner4.png"/></a>

Last Call: LAMB Acting School 101 - Don Cheadle (Dec 29th)

CS, of Big Thoughts from a Small Mind, here reminding you that today is the last day to send in your LAMB Acting School 101 submissions!

What we need from you:

• Articles on his best performances
• Articles on his worst performances
• General thoughts (e.g. random articles, top ten lists, artwork, etc) on the actor
• Links to podcasts where you have discussed the actor’s work
• Reviews of the films the actor has appeared in
• Any material you have written in the past on this actor

Once you have the material posted on your blog, send the link to bigthoughtssmallmind@hotmail.com. As always multiple submissions are encouraged. The deadline for submissions is today.

LAMB #1195 - IanTheCool's Movie Reviews

URL: http://ianthecool.wordpress.com/
Site Name: IanTheCool's Movie Reviews
Categories: Reviews, Lists, (Other) Oscar predictions
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
The main focus of my site is my reviews of current movies. I also have other features such as Blu-ray reviews, an AFI Top 100 recap, and film club reviews which can involve a variety of different types of films. However, I also include a series of Top Ten lists as well as some board game reviews.

The next Movie of the Month will be...

The poll results are in - thank you to the 90 voters who took part. The next MOTM will be The Evil Dead, which had a pretty firm grip on the lead for the duration of the poll and held on to beat 2nd-place finisher Run Lola Run. with 20% of the votes. Here's what goes down from here:

* The first thing you need to know is that January 14th is the big day. You have about 2 1/2 weeks to watch the flick (this posting is a few days late - my apologies for that) and to write up something, then send me the link (dylan at manilovefilms.com; posting to the LAMB's Twitter account or to mine does not suffice) to either what you write or something previously written. If you're planning on doing the former, please hold the post in draft until the 14th (you can send a link prior if you have the capability to do so).

* On January 7th, we'll be recording our MOTM-themed episode of the LAMBcast, where we'll dissect and discuss The Evil Dead. If you'd like to get in on it...sorry, that show is full. But keep an eye out at the LAMB Forums to for the future shows schedule, as people often have to bail before the day arrives.


* On the 14th, the LAMBcast will be posted, as well as all of the links to anything written. In addition, I'll include a poll to decide what the next MOTM flick will be. If you have suggestions, leave them in the comments here. I typically drop off the films that receive less than 5% of the votes. That poll will run for a week, and then there'll be 3-4 weeks until the next event, and so on.

Here are the final results of the poll:



* Only The Evil Dead and Coming to America (awww) will be removed from the next poll, to be filled by suggestions.

Classic Chops: December 28th

Ho ho ho, everyone!  We’re back with a final (and expanded) holiday edition of “Classic Chops”…

Site Name: Forced Viewing

Gremlins [reviewed by the Drudgeon]

Submitted by: Forced Viewing

Site Name: Tips from Chip

Movie – In Bruges (2008)

Submitted by: Tips from Chip

Site Name: Scared Silly: Classic Hollywood Horror-Comedies

A Holiday Tradition: THE "Creeps" of Christmas - 2011 Edition

Submitted by: Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

Site Name: Brian vs. Movies

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Submitted by: Brian vs. Movies

Site Name: Another Old Movie Blog

Remember the Night - 1940

Submitted by: Commentary Track

Site Name: Wide Screen World

March of the Wooden Soldiers

Submitted by: Wide Screen World

Site Name: Kirkham A Movie a Day

Muppet Christmas Carol

Submitted by: Kirkham A Movie a Day

Site Name: Twenty Four Frames

Christmas Interlude #3 Five Traditional and Five Alternative Christmas Movies and More

Submitted by: Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

Site Name: Forced Viewing

Silent Night, Bloody Night [reviewed by Jori]

Submitted by: Forced Viewing

Site Name: My Floating Red Couch

Scrooged (or Scroogy Claus)

Submitted by: My Floating Red Couch

Next week, Classic Chops returns to its regularly scheduled posting of links to classic movies—and even though I originally set the criterion at films released in 1965 and before, I have “cheated” a little and included films after that date that I don’t think too many people would dispute are “classics.”  Simply send your submissions to classicchops@gmail.com by January 3rd at 6:00pm EST…and any questions, comments, suggestions and leftover streamers should be addressed to that same e-mail address as well.

As always…until next time…see you at the movies!

LAMB #1194 - Another Plot Device

URL: http://anotherplotdevice.com/
Site Name: Another Plot Device
Categories: Reviews, General, Editorials, Humor, Lists
Rating: R

What is the main focus of your site?
A site where I post one movie a day, preferably one that I love and just explain my love of films. Also I post trailers, reviews of recent releases and articles.

LAMB Photoshop #10: Time To Vote!

Despite some interesting controversy two weeks ago, we got a couple of submissions. And here they are:

If Jason Statham Started Making Disney Movies

The Droid You're Looking For 

Bolly Hoo Ha

Voting ends Monday, January 2nd at 11PM EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday. Just to remind what all the contestants are playing for, bought to you by LOVEFiLM.com:

1st prize - $75 Amazon voucher (American only)

2nd prize - $50 Amazon voucher (American only)

(If you're from the UK, we will offer you a UK prize pack, so don't let that worry you.)

Thanks and good luck!
-Jason

LAMB #1193 - Cine-Apocalypse

URL: http://cine-apocalypse.com/
Site Name: Cine-Apocalypse
Categories: Reviews
Rating: R

What is the main focus of your site?
To review genre films from past and present and to show that film fans can write reviews and not work for a professional company

LAMB Casting: Taxi Driver

Andrew here, yup it's Christmas and whatnot and you're probably trying to get into the festive mood. Before you commit to that, though, it's time for the next episode of LAMB Casting and we're going dark with Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. It's a gritty one, and I'm particularly interested to see how the casting works out. Ostensibly any re-casting of this will live and die by its casting of Travis, but having some good supporting players around won't hurt. I don't plan on closing entries until the first or second week in January, so you've got time to think about your options and send me an email at dangerous.liaison231(@)yahoo.com - remove parentheses - with the title LAMB Casting Taxi in the title. The characters to recast are

Travis Bicke (originally played by Robert DeNiro)
Iris Steensa (originally played by Jodie Foster)
Sport Higgins (originally played by Harvey Keitel)
Betsy (originally played by Cybill Shepherd)
Tom (originally played by Albert Brooks)
Wizard (originally played by Peter Boyle)
         
(Watch out next week for Interview with a LAMBpire where we talk with the latest LAMB Casting winner Candice.)
So, knock yourselves out. And, good luck on the casting. 

PLUG: Invasion of the B-Movies

I would like to ring in 2012 right over at Invasion of the B Movies...so I'm doing Reader Recommendations! All you have to do is read my post here and over on the right side is the poll. You pick what movies I should watch in January. The Top Ten winners will be reviewed! And you can pick multiple movies!

Fun? I know!

-Jason


Got a Press Release, something to Plug, or a Screener available for review (or some combination of the three)? Ok, don't get all crazy about it. Just click here and give me the details (what, when, where, and a link, for starters) - I'll handle the rest.

LAMB #1192 - That Fellow

URL: thatfellow.com
Site Name: That Fellow
Categories: Reviews, General, Lists, (Other) music and books
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
Mostly to talk about films and anything related to it such as awards and other news. But I also sometimes like to write about books and music that I like. I’m not really into writing reviews for films but I’d rather write my opinions or thoughts in general.

LAMBScores: The Muppets, Hugo, The Artist, My Week with Marilyn and A Dangerous Method

The Matinee
Kirkham a Movie a Day
Fogs' Movie Reviews


1001 Plus
Just Plain Something
Reel Talk
Andy Buckle's Film Emporium


Not Just Movies
Surrender to the Void
The Critical Movie Critics
Lord of the Films
Temple of Reviews
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
MoviesHateYouToo
Film Forager
Cinema Sights
DearFilm
Nevermind Pop Film


Wide Screen World
Love and Squalor Film
Okinawa Assault


Fr. Dennis at the Movies

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (22 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

Defiant Success
Surrender to the Void
Matt & the Art of Motion Pictures
PG Cooper's Movie Reviews
Awesome Barnhart's Reviews
And So it Begins...
Kirkham a Movie a Day
Nevermind Pop Film
MiNG Movie Reviews
Love and Squalor Film
HTTProductions


The Matinee
Not Just Movies
Azizas's Picks
The Good Dystopian


Wide Screen World
Fogs' Movie Reviews
Film Forager
FlixChatter
Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob


Commentary Track
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Never Too Early Movie Predictions


Temple of Reviews
Lord of the Films


Fr. Dennis at the Movies


The Critical Movie Critics


Can't Stop the Movies

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (28 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

See what our fellow movie lovers at Total Film had to say about Hugo.

jdbrecords
Big Thoughts from a Small Mind
The Matinee
Filmophilia.com
The Critical Movie Critics


Never Too Early Movie Predictions


Lord of the Films
Wide Screen World


Can't Stop the Movies

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (9 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

See what our fellow movie lovers at Total Film had to say about The Artist.

Never Too Early Movie Predictions


Surrender to the Void
Love and Squalor Film
The Critical Movie Critics
Filmophilia.com


Duke & The Movies
Wide Screen World
Fr. Dennis at the Movies


PG Cooper's Movie Reviews
jdbrecords


And So it Begins...


Can't Stop the Movies

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (12 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

See what our fellow movie lovers at Total Film had to say about My Week with Marilyn.

Reel Talk
The Critical Movie Critics


Love and Squalor Film
Row Three
Never Too Early Movie Predictions


The Velvet Cafe
DearFilm


Dan the Man's Movie Reviews

Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (8 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).