EFC II #240 – Audition (1999)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#240 – Audition (1999)
Dir. Takashi Miike
Starring: Eihi Shiina, Ryo Ishibashi, Jun Kunimura, Tetsu Sawaki, Miyuki Matsuda

The two hundred and fortieth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Takashi Miike’s startling and unsettling slow-burning thriller, Audition.

Recorded in August 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: No. It didn’t work for me.

Luke: Yes, it’s a very well made film with quite a unique shift in tone that really makes it stand out.

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EFC II #239 – Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#239 – Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Wolf Kahler

The two hundred and thirty-ninth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s classic action adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Recorded in August 2018.

Oscar Wins: Best Film Editing (Michael Kahn), Best Visual Effects (Richard Edlund, Kit West, Bruce Nicholson, Joe Johnston), Best Art Direction (Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Michael D. Ford), Best Sound (Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Roy Charman), Best Sound Effects Editing (Ben Burtt, Richard L. Anderson)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yes, it’s a classic.

Luke: Yes, it’s one of the all time great adventure movies, maybe even the greatest.

EFC II #238 – A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#238 – A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Dir. Charles Crichton
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin

The two hundred and thirty-eighth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, John Cleese’s wacky heist movie, assembling both British and American comedy actors, A Fish Called Wanda.

Recorded in July 2018.

Oscar Wins: Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Kline)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yeah, it’s a really entertaining film and a film I’d want to show to people.

Luke: My initial thought was no, it’s very good but not a must see, but reflecting on it with Connie, and compared to other comedy films in the book, I changed my mind to yes!

EFC II #237 – Badlands (1973)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#237 – Badlands (1973)
Dir. Terrence Malick
Starring: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates, Ramon Bieri

The two hundred and thirty-seventh installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, the debut feature from director Terrence Malick, Badlands.

Recorded in July 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, I think so. While I had a few issues with it, Badlands is undeniably special and worth seeing for anyone who enjoys good movies.

EFC II #236 – Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#236 – Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey

The two hundred and thirty-sixth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Steven Spielberg’s timeless science fiction classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Recorded in July 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Ummmmmmmmm, if you want to see where that music came from… yes.

Luke: Definitely, as an adult I enjoyed and appreciated this film on a much bigger scale, a wonderful film!

EFC II #235 – All About Eve (1950)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#235 – All About Eve (1950)
Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Thelma Ritter, Marilyn Monroe

The two hundred and thirty-fifth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, the multiple award winning Hollywood classic, All About Eve.

Recorded in July 2018.

Oscar Wins: Best Picture (Darryl F. Zanuck), Best Director (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Best Screenplay (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders), Best Costume Design – Black and White (Edith Head, Charles LeMaire), Best Sound Recording (Thomas T. Moulton)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Absolutely! One of the best films listed in the book so far, almost a quarter of my way through. Just an outstanding drama with wonderful performances.

EFC II #234 – To Have and Have Not (1944)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#234 – To Have and Have Not (1944)
Dir. Howard Hawks
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan, Dolores Moran, Hoagy Carmichael

The two hundred and thirty-fourth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, a classic Hollywood romance born both on and off screen, in To Have and Have Not.

Recorded in July 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Not really, I enjoyed this film so much, and the real life romantic chemistry between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart really shines through, but overall it’s not an outstanding film per se.

EFC II #233 – Body Heat (1981)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#233 – Body Heat (1981)
Dir. Lawrence Kasdan
Starring: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, Mickey Rourke

The two hundred and thirty-third installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Lawrence Kasdan’s smouldering directorial debut, Body Heat.

Recorded in July 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, it’s the best film noir I’ve seen that was made way past the prime of the film noir heyday.

EFC II #232 – A Day in the Country (1936)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#232 – A Day in the Country (1936)
Dir. Jean Renoir
Starring: Sylvia Bataille, Georges D’Arnoux, Jane Marken, André Gabriello, Jacques B. Brunius, Paul Temps, Gabrielle Fontan

The two hundred and thirty-second installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Jean Renoir’s abandoned and apparently unfinished short film, A Day in the Country.

Recorded in July 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: I don’t think so, it’s a very strong short, with some great writing, cinematography and performing, but it ultimately feels incomplete.

EFC II #231 – Ghostbusters (1984)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#231 – Ghostbusters (1984)
Dir. Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts

The two hundred and thirty-first installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, the classic 80s comedy, Ghostbusters.

Recorded in June 2018.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yes.

Luke: Yeah, it’s a comedy classic.