THiNC. Movie Spotlight #12. THiNC. runs with the help of a number of volunteers and all around wonderful people. And over the years I have been lucky enough to get lots of help from many of you that like to hurl advice and run. Others of you enjoy egging my house in the pattern of movie recommendations. And I’ve even been left notes on my pillow at night telling me I’ve screwed up on this or that movie recommendation. The advice and hurled insults are touching, and shows me just how much I am loved by all of you. But for the last few years, there is one individual whose help has outstripped all other “assistance” I have received on the site, and that is by, the one, and only, CY.
She has been religiously editing my atrocious writing for year after year now. (You’ll see her initials at the bottom of every post she has touched… and it’s a lot of posts.) Now, regularly, I get questions about whether or not CY even exists. Could it be that CY is just a Fight Club subconscious thing going on? Well, we actually have strong, verifiable proof as to the fact that she does exist. How? Well, if you beat her to a post that I have written, and then see how much better it gets after she swings through, we KNOW that it’s not me writing. Because I suck at it. See? She exists.
Now, normally, the THiNC. Spotlight picks are put together by a few regulars – Chris, Lisa, Erika, Nancy, etc., etc., etc. Thanks guys. Your help is always appreciated. But this week? CY has a list of dark comedies she lobbed my way. And the list was so good I decided to hijack a spotlight and let CY have her say.
Ice Harvest – American – 2005 – The winning starts with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. But his partner, a strip club owner, might have different plans for the cash. CY says that this one is a black as ice comedy. Literally one of the absolute best of all time. Oh, and by the way… she says, “THE GOLF CLUBS!!!” Watch it on Youtube.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – American – 2005 – Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, with Shane Black writing and directing “Po-perfect hell!” Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he’s flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). This deadpan, affectionate parody of film noir tropes is named for film critic Pauline Kael’s influential 1968 collection of film reviews and essays. (Which, the setup totally reminds me of the series, Get Shorty… which I absolutely loved with Ray Ramano.) Watch it on Prime.
You Kill Me – 2010 – CY says, Ben Kingsley – Best drunk hitman in the business until AA comes along. Great movie! An alcoholic mob hit man, Frank Falenczyk (Ben Kingsley), is forced into rehab by his boss (Philip Baker Hall). To clean up he gets a sponsor (Luke Wilson) who helps him enroll in a 12 step program. Frank eventually takes a job in a mortuary and begins a new life, falling in love with Laurel (Téa Leoni), a women he meets via a funeral . Frank’s idyllic new life is threatened when old associates with bad attitudes and worse intentions start looking for him. Watch it on iTunes.
Woman, A Gun, & A Chinese Noodle Factory – Chinese – 2009 – The owner of a Chinese noodle shop’s scheme to murder his adulterous wife and her lover goes awry. CY says, “Chinese remake of Blood Simple; director of House of Flying Daggers & Hero; great scenery.” Watch it on Prime.
Wasabi – French – 2001 – In Japan for the funeral of his long-lost love, a tough French detective learns that he also has a teenage daughter and that her life is in danger from the Yakuza. “Jean Reno, Ryoko Hirosue, Gerard Krawczyk-d Love this film!” And, Taylor here again, anything with Reno in it will always be a favorite of mine, so I’m definitely in for Wasabi. Watch it on Prime.
The Guard – Irish – 2005 – I watched this just yesterday, and loved it. The film is racist in stretches, but I think Don Cheatle was good at calling it out and handling it well. But, hey, I’m a white guy, so I’m happy to be educated if I’m wrong on this one. But I thought Brendon Gleeson was a gem in this movie. Loved it. Watch it on Vudu.
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Look, again… we don’t certify these movies like I do with my in depth walk-throughs. They don’t come with a money back guarantee. But you are grownups here. Right? Check them out – if you watch any of them, let us know here, and tell everyone reading what you thought of them. We’ll be better off for your guidance. And if you’d like to read more of our THiNC. Spotlight recommendations, you can do it right here.
Edited by: CY
