Here is something I can’t actually show you… but it’s a good something! You’re just going to have to take my word for it.

 

I recently watched a wonderful short film by Toby MacDonald called Je t’aime John Wayne on the Cinema 16: European Short Films DVD (incidentally, Rabbit was on there too – it’s a great collection). The black and white short is an homage to French New Wave (which caters precisely to my predictable taste) featuring an English chap trying to act like Belmondo in Breathless, which is doubly funny since Belmondo was a Frenchman trying to act like an American. I would love to share it with you, but it’s unfortunately nowhere to be found on the internets. All I can offer you is the Cinema 16  trailer to give you a taste:

Martin McDonagh of In Bruges fame has a priceless short in the collection, too, as does Jan Svankmajer. Netflix it, quick! It says it’s a very long wait, but I believe it will be worth it.

 

The cuckoo revolution will be televised!

Last Time in Clerkenwell, by Alex Budovsky:

I thought this looked oddly familiar, and it’s because it is the sequel to the equally worthwhile Bathtime in Clerkenwell, which was featured at the Animation Show awhile back. Via The Denver Egotist.

 

I’m a loner Dottie, a rebel.

From Gallery 1988’s Crazy 4 Cult 2: This Time It’s Personal show, which features artwork based on cult classic films:

“Woodchipper”
Erica Gibson, from Fargo

 

“Johnny Eck”
Alex Pardee, from Freaks

 

“Effervescent Pestilence”
Jesse Riggle, from Evil Dead

 

“Five Scrumdiddliumptious Youths”
Justin Degarmo, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Texas Chainsaw Massacre

 

“Believe in Nothing”
Allison Reimold, from The Big Lebowski

 

“Special People Equals Retarded”
Mike Maas, from Welcome to the Dollhouse

 

“Pee Wee and His Dog Spec: Before the Curious Incident with the Bike”
Andy Suriano, from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure

 

“Alamo Fair & Rodeo”
Ben Walker, from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure

 

“I Awoke Early the Day I Died”
Gris Grimly, from Ed Wood

 

There are many more, and nearly everything is good. Check the rest of the works out here. With that, I’ve been reminded two things:

         x. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is soooo good!

         x. Not enough people have seen Ed Wood. What is wrong with all you people
             who have not seen Ed Wood? See Ed Wood, please. 

 

Greedy, murderous children: the best.

This short animated film has the potential to ruin a part of your innocent, children’s book-lovin’ heart, or perhaps even your sunny concept of children altogether. Luckily for me, that part of my heart was ruined a long time ago and  I hate children, so I think this is the best.

Via Videogum.

 

Heist films: always good except for all of the times when they’re not any good at all.

The Brothers Bloom is the new film by Brick director Rian Johnson. It stars Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel Weisz. The proper response is excitement.

It looks like it’s gonna be just swell, irregardless of the fact that the plot happens to be just like that of all other heist films ever made ever. It must be all the quirk. Via Videogum.

 

Western Spaghetti

PES’s animated shorts are always winsome, and his most recent work, Western Spaghetti, is no exception:

Watch more PES here.

 

The Beatles are good and all, but this…

Like the Beatles, only Indian and with a slight mariachi flair. Also known as “the best.”

“We also create false promises.” Very romantic.

 

…and the dish ran away with the spoon.

Sweet Wishes is the first foray into film for painters Mark Ryden and Marion Peck. The animated short is a cautionary tale starring a doll, a baby, and a bear. Via BoingBoing.

I think it’s a bit too “easy,” but I’m judgmental. The soundtrack, however, is the best. Someone mentioned that it’s Raymond Scott (whose early electronic recordings are amazing amazing amazing, go listen now!), which would mean that Raymond Scott is the posthumous winner of my new favorite person award. Prestigious, I know.

 

It’s all George Lucas’ fault, indirectly.

The Wilhelm scream:

From Wikipedia:

The Wilhelm scream is a near famous stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. The Wilhelm’s revival came from Star Wars series sound designer Ben Burtt, who tracked down the original recording (which he found as a studio reel labeled “Man being eaten by alligator“). Although Distant Drums was the first known use of the sound, Burtt named it after “Pvt. Wilhelm”, a minor character who emitted the same scream in the 1953 film The Charge at Feather River.

Although the identity of the individual who recorded the scream (which was actually one of a series of six) remains unknown, researcher and Star Wars sound effects editor Ben Burtt uncovered documentation suggesting the scream might have been recorded by singer Sheb Wooley, who was one of the actors in Distant Drums.

I can’t believe I’ve never processed how ubiquitous this scream is, nor did I know that it has a name and a league of followers (thanks again for all that nothin’, film school). I love how some films use it multiple times – more proof, I suppose, that the general viewer isn’t really paying much attention. And that filmmakers are lazy. And that they’re all laughing at you.

 

He’s on the ten.

A new Drunk History came out this week! Hooray! 

If you happen to be unfamiliar with Drunk History, you probably have a life. That fact notwithstanding, you should probably forego that life for 20 minutes and become familiar with Drunk History, because it is the best and you are missing out. My favorite is still the first volume, which involves everyone’s favorite Bluth,  Michael Cera.

Volume 2 and Volume 2.5 are about Ben Franklin and Ben Franklin fucking, respectively. Enjoy!