Dan's Discs 4/9/13--DVD GIVEAWAY CONTEST!

Okay, this edition of Dan's Discs is gonna be a little different.

Why is Benny The Jet here? 

Read on.

There is only one major DVD release today:

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON

I missed this one in the theater, so I will probably check it out on Redbox or Netflix.

It stars the incredible, Bill Murray, as President Franklin Roosevelt.

So you know, it's got that goin' for it:

Now for the Giveaway Contest:

If you read Dan's Discs 2 weeks ago, you'll know THE SANDLOT came out on Blu-Ray.

I had just bought a new DVD copy of it a few months ago, before the Blu-Ray came out.

So it's time to do the first giveaway in the (short) history of North/South!

I've got a brand new DVD of THE SANDLOT for the first reader to answer my question.

Googling, IMDBing and Ask Jeevesing is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN! 

Let's see if anyone really knows their shit:

Question:

In THE SANDLOT, there is a scene that is an homage to a Famous Film.

THE SANDLOT may reference more than one film and probably does.

In the scene I'm talking about, the characters speak dialogue directly from the Famous Film.

For a copy of one of the greatest Baseball Movies ever:

What Famous Film Does THE SANDLOT reference?

Get at me on Twitter or in the Comments Section with the correct answer.

Good Luck!

Best of 2000-NOW: The Elite 8

We are down to The Elite 8 in our Tournament to determine the Best Film of 2000-Now.
The above photo (click to enlarge) has all the Round 1, 2 and 3 Winners.

64 Films were cut to 32.

You can read Part I of the Round 1 Recap here.
You can read Part II of the Round 1 Recap here.

32 films were then cut to 16.
You can read the 32 to 16 Recap here.

Now, 16 Films have been chopped down to 8.

Vote on The Elite 8 in the Comments Section.

Dan (The North) is writing in italics.

Chris (The South) is writing in normal.

Sweet 16 to Elite 8 Recap:

Aronofsky/Scorsese Region:

The First Match of the Sweet 16 was a Best Picture Winner Crime Drama Showdown:

#1. THE DEPARTED vs. #4. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

This match really began when these films won Best Picture Oscars in consecutive years. 

Both are epic dramas dealing with the law, the underworld and the personal ties of society. 

Each had a director previously nominated for an Oscar and a cast full of big time actors.

I figured the hardest part would be comparing two, almost equally, incredible films. 

However, some people took hard stances in one direction or the other. 

I had a 30 minute conversation with a reader about the high points and meanings of each film.

In the end, I think he decided on DEPARTED because of the importance of the soundtrack. 

Another was outraged that we were even taking votes: He had NO COUNTRY in a shut out.

The opinions of The North and The South were briefly split as well. 

But in a Tournament, one film moves on and one gets the old compressed-air gun to the dome:

THE DEPARTED works overtime to oust NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

I liked NO COUNTRY, but I think the film suffers from being an adaptation of a beloved novel.

Every adaptation has the "it wasn't as good as the book" detractors. 

That's because a movie is not a book. 

Great books can be bad films (THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES).

Bad books can be great films (THE GODFATHER (the book wasn't terrible, but not great)).

I think NO COUNTRY is probably a great novel and a good film.

Watching it for the first time, I liked it, but had the feeling I was missing a lot of something.

Wide open spaces in films and novels are just different, I guess.

Marty does his thing (so well) and moves on to The Elite 8.

Next up was #2 Iron Man versus #3 Requiem for a Dream. 

Both great in their own way, but two films that could not be on more opposite ends of the film spectrum. 

Released way back in 2000, Darren Aronofsky's Requiem barely made the year cutoff to be included in the tourney, but it is showing tremendous staying power. I guess a movie that intense and memorable has a way of sticking with you (or haunting your nightmares is more like it). 

Then there is Iron Man, a somewhat surprising hit from 2008. There are few movies that are a better example of why casting is so crucial. Could you imagine anyone else as billionaire-playboy-turned-superhero Tony Stark than Robert Downey, Jr.? But most imporantly, Iron Man can be credited with launching the entire multi-billion dollar Marvel/Avengers film universe, the now gold-standard for Hollywood franchises. 

But when you weigh the merits of each film, Requiem for a Dream is clearly superior. The voting showed the same opinion, and Aronofsky's film advances. His reward is showdown with Scorsese, in a match-up for the championship of the region named for them.

Click Read More For The Rest of The Sweet 16 to Elite 8 Recap

Double Dose of Gosling: ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ and ‘Only God Forgives’

Okay, I (Chris aka South) will admit it. I have a bit of a man-crush on Ryan Gosling. I mean, c’mon, how could you not? With stirring performances in Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl, Blue Valentine, Drive, and other films, it is clear that he is one of best talents in Hollywood today - a modern day Steve McQueen - raw and bad-ass, but also more than capable of displaying a range of emotions and even humor. Plus, that “Hey girl” meme is hilarious. Again, I ask, c’mon, how could you not?

So if you enjoyed 2011, aka The Year of Gosling, which saw three big films from the in-demand actor (Drive, Crazy Stupid Love, The Ides of March), then you are certainly in for a treat this year as well, with one film already out (Gangster Squad) and he brings two more highly-anticipated films to theaters soon - The Place Beyond the Pines and God Only Forgives.

Thank You Mr. Ebert

Dan here:

Yesterday was a rough day for film.

Roger Ebert loomed so large in our world, many had taken for granted he would always be there.

We thought surely he would be there to give us the Thumbs Up or Down.

He would be there for the Four Star Reviews and to make additions to the Your Movie Sucks File. 

He was going to tell us which movies we should run to theaters to see. 

Which ones we could wait for until home video,and which ones we should never, dare sit through. 

He was constantly giving us his opinions, while simultaneously forming our opinions, for us. 

He was an entertainer and an educator. 

A member of the film elite, but an everyman, anyone could agree or argue with. 

He left us too soon, but it's what he left behind that will carry on his legacy, which will never die.

Last night, tears were shed, stories were told and most importantly a great man was celebrated.

Celebrated not only for his accomplishments, but for giving so many people so much joy.

I spent the night Re-Tweeting dozens, possibly hundreds of Tweets from members of the film world. Whenever you want to spend time with Roger, go here.

In the Tweets from 4/4 to 4/5, there are a life's worth of stories, pictures, videos, reviews, thoughts and thank yous to man that many attribute their chosen careers and passions to.

In some way, it was a great day for film.

It may seem odd to call somebody a friend if you've never met them.

I think anyone can be a friend if you get to know them.

Over the course of his life and career many of us got to know Roger Ebert through his work.

He gave so much of himself and gave me so much personally, it would be odd for me to call him anything but a friend.

One of the first posts I did for this blog was Past Ebert.

This was the opening:

Here at North/South, we worship at the movie-reviewing altar of Roger Ebert.

Not only is he the greatest film critic ever, he is one of the greatest, American writers of our time. His reviews, essays and blog posts are something I always look forward to reading, re-reading, digesting and dissecting as time passes. At The Movies, was my third favorite TV Show as child, ranking only behind WWF Wrestling and Entertainment Tonight. There is nobody I agree with more often, when it comes to film, than Ebert. For that reason, I try to expose his genius as often as possible. This will be a recurring column where I will post past Ebert essays, reviews and videos to remind people of the film giant, that walks among us. The links will take you to the article in his archives, which is a film rabbit-hole from which few ever return. 

Past Ebert was a Thank You from me to Mr. Ebert.
In my life, no one person has done more for my love of film than Ebert.
I used to tape 'At The Movies' and/or watch it on my black and white with the rabbit ears.
Before the internet, 'At The Movies' and 'Entertainment Tonight' were my sources for film news.
Because of my love for those shows, I was dubbed "Movie Man Dan".
The combination of my opinions, and re-appropriating (or blatantly repeating) Ebert's opinions, was pretty much the basis for all my film arguments with peers and even when I was a kid, adults.
I don't know if I'd be writing about film without Roger Ebert, but I'm glad I don't have to find out.


We will always have Past Ebert, but we will never get past Ebert.

Thank You for everything, Mr. Ebert.

I will always, see you at the movies.

Dan's Discs--THAT THING YOU DO/MARVEL PHASE I

Well this week there is one Blu-Ray everyone should buy and one that concerns only a few.

First, something for everybody:

I love Tom Hanks' writing and directorial debut, THAT THING YOU DO!.

I think this is an ultimate Saturday TV Movie.

You turn this on randomly and it's getting watched.

It could be 10 minutes in or 10 minutes remaining and it's got you.

There's plenty of music-industry stuff and great actors everywhere, all in 1960s USA.

Fun movie with a super-high, re-watchability factor.

This Blu-Ray has the extended, Hanks Cut, which if memory serves me, has more Charlize Theron.

I'm cool with that.

It's $14, but I'd bet The Oneders Wonders end up at $10 eventually.

Okay, now one for the fan-boys:

For the Marvel Universe Die-Hards with $150 in their pocket:

A 10-Disc, 6 Film Collection that will keep you inside all summer!

I thought this thing had come out months ago, but apparently there was a lawsuit and a long delay.

The timing worked out fine because this is now being used as big promotion for IRON MAN 3.

It looks awesome and has some cool tie-in materials, but I already own all the movies.

The cannon came out piece by piece and I bought it that way.

With great special features on the Blu-Rays I already have, I just don't have the desire to buy this set.

However, for younger movie fans, the Marvel Phase I series may be their STAR WARS.

This set will definitely turn some small-Avengers into this kid:

That's all for this week.

See you next Tuesday.

Follow Us On Twitter:

@NorthSouthFilm

Internet Item of the Week 4/1/13

Dan here.

That my friends, is a Tom Hanks Autographed Baseball Bat.

It's for sale on Ebay for $300.

Hanks played an ex-ballplayer in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, so it makes sense.

Directly below it, I saw this for sale:

It's a different Tom Hanks Autographed Baseball Bat from the same seller.

Problem is, it really doesn't look like the other one!

Okay so the "Tom" seems to be  pretty similar on both bats.

Except that the crosses of the "T" go in opposite directions.

Also, the "O" loop is different.

But the "Hanks" are completely different.

Look at that long flourish on the second bat!

In the first picture, the"Hanks" looks like Japanese Script.

This second one looks like it was singed by Tom "Hel"!

Where are the other letters?

The only other picture in the listing doesn't give us any answers:

We'd need Carl Hanratty from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN to decide if these are legit or not.

The seller has a great user rating, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

If they did meet Hanks, I just wish they asked if Dottie dropped the ball on purpose: