When A Man Shares A Bromance

How far would you go for a friend?

Tonight's marathon is centered around the theme of a bromance being shared between two individuals whether it's a human being, a whale, two men who are crime fighters, a Vulcan, or two young boys caught up in the darkest moments of World War ll. Through these story arcs, we witness some of the greatest friendships in cinematic history between two guys that run thicker than blood. This marathon was not only designed to be a fun and exciting experience but also a moving one, touching on some of the basic traits of a beautiful friendship. One of the main questions that arises through this lineup of movies is how far would you go for a friend? Tonight's marathon is an attempt to answer that question. We have on our menu for this evening:

Free Willy 1993, Toy Story 1995, Batman Forever 1995 Star Trek Into Darkness 2013, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 2008

 

 

 

 

 

As this marathon shows, there is no greater love than two friends who are willing to stick by each other's side, fight together, and ultimately give one's life for the other. That in itself is one of life's great miracles. The first movie of the evening is the 90's classic Free Willy centering around a troubled young boy named Jesse who befriends a young killer whale named Willy. Once the boy learns that the owners of the aquarium are plotting to have the young whale killed, Jesse puts everything on the line to save Willy with the help of his new foster parents. Jesse James Ritcher gives a memorable and heartfelt performance as Jesse, the troubled turn heroic young boy who shares a bromance with a killer whale, and is assisted by a strong supporting cast of Michael Madsen, Michael Ironside, Jane, Atkinson, and August Schellenberg. With Free Willy being the film that starts off the theme of a bromance between a boy and his whale, it's only logical that the perfect follow up would be a family friendly film that carries a similar style to the story arc. The 1995 animated classic Toy Story centers around two young toys named Woody and Buzz who are forced into working together to survive the clutches of a ruthless kid named Sid who enjoys destroying toys for fun. The bromance in Toy Story is stronger because Woody begins the film as being Andy's favorite toy and ends up becoming incredibly jealous of Buzz when he shows up and steals Woody's spot as being the number one toy. Desperate and jealous, Woody tries to get rid of Buzz but quickly ends up regretting his decision when the other toys exile Woody. Toy Story instead of having one friend trying to help the other has two friends working together to have each others backs in a time of need. The first Toy Story remains a benchmark for Pixar and spawned two sequels of equal brilliance and critical acclaim, making it one of the greatest animated trilogies to ever grace the screen. The third movie in the marathon is the misunderstood Joel Schumacher blockbuster Batman Forever. Taking over the reigns from Tim Burton after Batman Returns opened to less critical praise than Batman 1989 and complaints that the Batman movies have become too dark for kids, Schumacher chose to lighten up the scenery with more flashy colors in the background and giving Batman a sidekick that had young teenage boys fantasizing about teaming up with the caped crusader. Nominated for three academy awards, Batman Forever centers around the dark knight battling two classical villains named Two Face and Riddler, while trying to stray a younger man named Dick Grayson from going down a similar path that Batman/Bruce Wayne took. Batman Forever takes the theme of friendship, courage, bromance, teamwork, and puts them all together into this film with both the heroes and the villains sharing a unique friendship. Some of the films most powerful moments are when Batman and Robin end up rescuing each other from certain death. The fourth movie of the night takes the bromance even further with Star Trek Into Darkness, this time focusing on the friendship between a human named Kirk and a Vulcan named Spock. Their friendship is ultimately tested when they come across a powerful new villain named Khan, whose powers represents a one man weapon of mass destruction. The friendship theme runs rampant throughout this film with Kirk saving Spock's life much to his reluctance, and Kirk consistently asking Spock if he knows why he saved him. Into Darkness is the film that also introduces the theme of self sacrifice as Kirk makes a decision in the latter part of the film that saves the entire Enterprise crew, and makes Spock finally understand the meaning of the word friendship. The fifth and final movie of the evening centers around two young boys on the opposite side of a fence during mid World War ll. The film Boy in the Striped Pajamas centers around a young German boy of a Nazi officer befriending a young Jewish boy imprisoned in a death camp on opposite sides of the fence. Whereas society discriminates against the Jewish population, the two boys form a friendship in the ultimate act of defiance, and make the ultimate sacrifice in standing by each others side.

 

So what are these movies trying to say? Free Willy asks the question of how far would you go for a friend? Toy Story says that friends should never be jealous of another and should work together and stick by each others side no matter what. Being different should never determine the outcome of a friendship. Batman Forever says that courage and friendship can go a long way in working together to fight the forces of evil. Star Trek Into Darkness says that a brotherly love can mean that one selflessly gives his life for the other. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas final message is that no one can break the bond of two friends who will always stand by each others side.

 

Our characters for this evening:

 



 

When Society Fails On Love

Love Is A Force Of Nature

Today's marathon centers around the theme of two people of different cultures or genders crossing paths and finding this emotional attachment that ultimately becomes a force of nature for them, but also ends up being what tears them apart due to society's lack of understanding and ignorance in their respective times. These romances range from a Native American woman named Pocahontas falling for an Englishman man named John Smith, a Capulet and a Montague meeting and falling in love while the two families rift, two young lovers from two diffetent gangs called the Jets and the Sharks, a 1950s housewife falling for a black man in a racially segregated Conneticut while her husband carries on a homosexual affair with another man, and finally two gay cowboys who meet while sheepherding on Brokeback Mountain and end up sharing a lifelong connection that society looks down upon. All of these story arcs set the stage for an epic night of intense drama, and a reflection on what society fears and tolerates. We have on our menu for this evening:

The New World 2005, Romeo and Juliet 1968, West Side Story 1961, Far From Heaven 2002, and Brokeback Mountain 2005.

With the inclusion of all these films in tonight's lineup, the stage is set for an evening of utter heartbreak. Some of the most iconic and powerful love stories on film are represented in all their glory with each outcome getting more powerful as the marathon goes. Neary every major ethnicity and gender is covered in this marathon making the theme hit home to everyone with it's universal message that love can ultimately take many forms, and can't be written off. The first movie of the night is Terrence Malick's 2005 epic romantic drama titled The New World. Nominated for an academy award for best cinematography making it one of the most visually stunning and poetic romances ever filmed, this film depicts the true story of Pocahontas and John Smith meeting and forming a special bond during the English exploration of Virginia. Pocahontas is shown to have two major romances that she endures such as the one with John Smith played by Colin Farrell, which ultimately ends due to their cultural differences and pressure from both sides, and John Wolfe played by Christian Bale, who knows that Pocahontas heart still belongs to John Smith. The romance between Smith and Pocahontas is shown as one that's a force of nature but ultimately ends because of society pulling them apart due to cultural differences. The second film in tonight's lineup is Franco Zefferelli's 1968 world renowned epic titled Romeo and Juliet. One of the world's greatest love stories in literature, this story centers around two star crossed lovers meeting, one belongs to a family of Capulets, and the other a Montague, meeting and sharing a forbidden romance while the two families rift over each other. Their romance is cut short because of society failing to understand that a person's name or family ties should never come in the way of true love. Romeo and Juliet was nominated for a total of four academy awards and has become required viewing in most High School English classes due to it being written by William Shakesphere. The third film in the lineup is the 1961 musical epic West Side Story, which also follows the same formula as Romeo and Juliet. In this film, two youngsters from two rival New York City gangs called the Jets and the Sharks meet and fall in love, however tensions between their respective friends builds towards a tragedy similar to the outcome of Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story remains one of the worlds most honored pictures winning a total of 10 academy awards, and like Romeo and Juliet has become a great cinematic achievement. The fourth movie in the lineup is Julianne Moore's 2002 critically acclaimed drama titled Far From Heaven. Nominated for four academy awards, the film takes place in 1950s Connecticut where a housewife faces a marital crisis and forbidden desires as racial tensions increase in her area. It is revealed that her husband secretly lusts for men while she begins a friendship turned romance with a local African American in her neighborhood, drawing the attention of prejudiced neighbors and friends. Far From Heaven's story is the perfect lead into Ang Lee's 2005 critically acclaimed drama titled Brokeback Mountain. Winner of three academy awards including best director, screenplay, and musc, the film centers around a intense yet secretive relationship between two cowboys and their lives over the course of several years. Perhaps the most controversial and powerful of the lineup of films, Brokeback Mountain is a film that still resonates with many people today and provokes heavy discussion. It is also the film that ties all the movies together in the marathon driving home the theme of society failing on true love.

So what are these movies ultimately trying to say? The New World says that invading one persons culture rarely ever ends peacefully and that a great love that emerged from the change was ruined by society's ignorance. Romeo and Juliet says that a person's name or family association should never stand in the way of something as powerful as love. West Side Story says that whether a person is a Jet or a Shark, no one is better than the other and should accept each other for who they are. Far From Heaven says that sometimes things are not what they appear to be, and what we truly want and desire is out of our reach. Brokeback Mountain says that love and passion can endure the most difficult times and situations, and that homosexual love can be just as vital as heterosexual love.

Our heroic couples for this evening:

When A Man Loves His Adventure

Tonight's marathon deals with two iconic adventurers who go on a quest for two different reasons. the first is an archaeologist who studies ancient artifacts and seeks to bring them back to his museum for fortune and glory, and the other is an ex soldier who agrees to help a beautiful librarian in finding a deserted temple that holds an ancient mummy inside of it. These two larger than life heroes are Indiana Jones and Rick O Connell. Whether their searching for the ark of the covenant, unearthing a dead mummy or stumbling across a temple of doom, their adventures are full of excitement, terror, burning romance, sheer spectacle, and heart. we have on our thrilling menu for this evening:

Raiders Of The Lost Ark 1981, The Mummy 1999, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom 1984, and The Mummy Returns 2001

There is a beautiful story arc at work here with all four films. Not only are they very similar in terms of style but they blend together beautifully. Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Mummy work as great popcorn blockbusters with tons of rollercoaster excitement and heart. Two great male characters are introduced such as indiana jones and Rick O Connell, men who not only present themselves as being tough, competent, and the best at what they do. They also manage to wow the pants off two potential love interests in the films played by both Karen Allen and Rachael Weisz. We begin the evening with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford's dynamic trio effort titled Raiders Of The Lost Ark.  Nominated for a total of 8 academy awards including Best Picture and winner of four total, the story centers around an archaeologist and adventurer named Indiana Jones who ends up being hired by the United States government to find the ark of the covenant before the Nazis reach it first in their effort to seek control of mankind. Accompanying Dr. Jones on his journey is ex lover Marion Ravenwood, harboring not only the key to finding the ark of the covenant, but also feelings for Jones. Raiders Of The Lost Ark remains one of the cinemas most thrilling adventure films, and is a terrific start for a night of sheer spectacle and thrills. The second film in the lineup is Stephen Sommers blockbuster titled The Mummy. Nominated for an Oscar for best sound and being the first monster horror film in decades, the film centers around an American soldier serving in the French Foreign Legion played by Brendan Fraser, going on an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Hamunaoptra with the beautiful librarian Evelyn played by Rachael Weisz. While performing such a historical dig, they accidentally awaken an ancient Mummy that has the power to wipe out the world. The Mummy remains one of the best adventure films in recent times because of how it follows the same formula as Indiana Jones and executes them in a similar fashion of excitement and enjoyment. The film also contains a romance that blossoms between the two leads much like Indy and Marion. The next film brings Indiana Jones back but this time centers him around two new sidekicks named Shortround and new love interest named Willie Scott. The Temple Of Doom centers around Indiana arriving in India after a plane crash, and being asked by a local village to find a mystical stone. Seeing that the village is desperate in getting their stones back,  Indiana agrees to retrieve the stone and while doing so comes across an evil scheme being developed within an ancient temple. Generally considered to be the worst installment of the first three Indiana Jones films for reasons being too dark and supernatural, Temple of Doom succeeds in providing more of the over the top insane thrills that made it's predecessor such a huge hit, while also possessing some dark moments such as hearts getting ripped out of chests. The fourth and final movie of the night brings it all together with the second installment in the popular Mummy franchise titled The Mummy Returns. Reuniting Brendan Fraser and Rachael Weisz with the talents of Arnold Vosloo, Dwayne Johnson, John Hannah, Oded Fehr, and Patricia Velasquez, the sequel centers around the mummified body of Imhotep being shipped to a museum in London, where he is awaken once again beginning a campaign of rage and terror that involves the rising of the scorpion king. While not as fresh and inventive as the first film, Mummy Returns succeeds as a worthy sequel because of the high energy action it brings to the table, and sheer epicness of it's scope.

So what do these movies ultimately say message wise? Raiders Of The Lost Ark basically implies that some things are worth fighting for and keeping from the clutches of the Nazis. The person you would least expect could become one of the world's greatest heroes. The Mummy says that some things are not worth unearthing and crusading after because of the possible consequences that lie within raising them from the dead. The Temple of Doom says to never underestimate the power of something you don't fully believe in, and child slavery is never justified. If so then call Indiana Jones to save the day. The Mummy Returns essentially says that family is important and to never doubt your true roots. Some things are not worth unearthing....twice.

Our heroes for this evening:

When You Realize Your Own Flaws

Tonight's marathon is centered around the theme of people realizing their own flaws in regards to their own prejudices and racism, beginning a path towards their own personal redemption. Beginning with the story of Oscar Grant, a young and flawed individual who was gunned down on the platform of Fruitvale Station on New Years Day 2009, we see the story arc of several larger than life individuals who either begin their journey as criminals or racists and by the end of the film endure a transformation that begins to change their lives for the better. Three major themes that run rampant throughout tonight's marathon are racism, loss and redemption. Undeniably powerful and deeply moving, tonight's marathon consists of the following:

Fruitvale Station 2012, American History X 1999, Monsters Ball 2001, Gran Tarino 2008, and Crash 2005

As you can see, race plays a pivotal role in tonight's marathon because all of the individuals in this movie that experience change are people who either realize and confront their own racism or are being discriminated against for stereotypical reasons. The first movie of the night is the 2013 critically acclaimed drama titled Fruitvale Station starring Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, and Melonie Diaz. The film centers around a real life figure named Oscar Grant on his final day alive during New Years Eve 2009. Grant's journey is shown to be one in which he begins a realization of his own personal flaws and demons such as selling drugs, being unfaithful to his girlfriend, and letting his mother down by being in jail multiple times for criminal activities. Before the BART tragedy is shown at the climax of the film, Grant's humanity is shown as he begins a path towards becoming a better person and wanting to be there for his family. The killing of Oscar Grant is a plot device that comes back full circle at the end of this marathon. The point of Fruitvale Station is to show that even though Oscar Grant as a person was far from perfect, he began to change his life for the better and did not deserve what ultimately happened to him. The second film in the lineup is American History X starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, and Beverly D Angelo. Generally considered to be one of the greatest anti-racist films ever conceived, the movie centers around a former Neo-Nazi played brilliantly by Edward Norton being released from jail for killing two people for attempting to steal his truck. When realizing his own mistakes, he tries to prevent his brother from going down a similar path. Generally considered one of Edward Norton's finest acting achievements next to Fight Club, he gives a powerful performance of a young man who ended up in the wrong crowd, being taught beliefs and ideals which he soon came to realize were false, and fights to keep his own younger brother from following suit. American History X explores different kinds of racism and facts with one scene in particular discussing the Rodney King beating, giving two different perspectives on the matter. One can almost pretend that the incident at Fruitvale Station could be the topic their discussing in that scene and asking the question of whether it was right or wrong. The end of American History X goes in line with the end of Fruitvale Station, representing two tragedies that occur due to acts of prejudice and misunderstanding. The third film in the lineup is Monsters Ball staring Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thorton, and Heath Ledger. In this film a racist prison guard played by Billy Bob Thorton begins to reexamine his own prejudice after a personal tragedy involving his son played by Heath Ledger. He ends up falling for the wife of a man he executed on death row, going against his fathers wishes. This film is monumental not just for being a thought provoking romantic drama that centers around the issue of race but also because it presented Halle Berry with the first Academy Award for an African American woman in the best lead actress category of the Oscars. The fourth film in the lineup is Clint Eastwood's masterpiece titled Gran Tarino. This story centers around a racist Korean war veteran named Walt Kowalski who ends up befriending a Hmong teenager after trying to steal his 1972 Gran Tarino, Eastwood's character starts off as hateful and awkward to be around if you're nonwhite but as the film progresses, he begins to realize that he has more in common with the Hmong family than his own blood, and tries to protect them from their ruthless cousins. The tragedy theme def comes intruitvale Stato play here with the end of Gran Tarino mirroring the end of American History X and Fruitvale Station. Monsters Balls tragedy comes from the loss of the wifes husband and the prison guards son taking his own life, yet through tragedy it brought true love between the wife and the guard. The fifth and final film of the night ties everything together in Paul Haggis 2005 Oscar winning drama Crash. Crash centers around a group of Los Angeles individuals with vastly different lifestyles and views on race slowly coming together bringing the themes of race, loss and redemption home. One of the key figures in Crash who experience redemption is the character of Officer John Ryan played by Matt Dillon. His character is shown to be one of the worst examples of a racist police officer who ends up finding his own path to redemption through rescuing a woman he saved from a car accident, whom he sexually harrassed the night prior. Other characters that appear to have received redemption are Sandra Bullock and Ludacris characters who begin by upholding their own racial prejudices though soon learn throughout the course of the movie that their hatred is only holding them down and causing them more pain. The tragedy at the end of the movie concerning Larenz Tate's character mirrors the end of Fruitvale Station which coincidentally is the beginning of the marathon, making everything come full circle

So what's the message behind all of these films? Fruitvale Station says that no matter what flaw that Oscar Grant had, he was still a human being who was trying to better himself for his family and ultimately didn't deserve what he got in the end. American History X says that hatred is baggage and that life is too short to hold racism against someone. Your past sins if left unattended to will catch up to you one way or another. Monsters Ball says that true love has no barrier and if two people really want to be together, then nothing else matters including race. Gran Tarino is essentially a story of a racist old man who learns to love someone who is of different ethnicity, and that the people you would least expect to would ultimately have more in common with you than your own kind. The final message in Crash is that racism is a negative trait and that we all have a choice whether to reject it or create the same mistakes of the past. The most unusual experiences can also be the most life changing ones.

Our characters for this evening:

Living With The Holocaust

Tonight's marathon is designed and structured to explore the Holocaust from a psychological point of view with Bryan Singer's Apt Pupil then going backwards in time to the Wannsee Conference where the idea for Hitler's Final Solution emerged and then witnessing some of the great Holocaust stories along with watching the German side become more sympathetic to the sufferings of those at the hand of the Nazi's. This maraghon lies more on a more personal account of the Holocaust and some of the great stories that hollywood put out on the subject matter. Two major points being made in this marathon is that not only was the Holocaust such a heartbreaking experience to endure, but it also led to some remarkable tales of manipulation, survival, defiance, and guilt. Movies like Apt Pupil show that those involved in the Holocaust and look back on it in our present day either do so with remorse or feel justified in their actions like Ian Mckellens character, and Valkyrie represents that those who defied an empire did not bear the shame and stood for what's right even if it mean't their lives were over. What a great contrast from where the marathon begins and where it ends. For this powerful evening, we have:

Apt Pupil 1998, Conspiracy 2001, Jacob The Liar 1999, Life is Beautiful 1998, The Pianist 2002, and Valkyrie 2008
                                                                       

A marathon about the Holocaust needs to be epic and personal. All sides need to be brought to the table and exposed to better understand how a situation and event like this occurred and witness the fight to survive and the innocence that occurred during such a horrific situation. A good strategy that introduces the theme of the Holocaust is Bryan Singer's film titled Apt Pupil, showing the Holocaust in present day through the eyes of a young boy befriending a Nazi in his neighborhood. What first begins as blackmail into getting the old man to retell his stories about killing Jewish people in the concentration camps ultimately turns into a psychological battle for control, forcing the two people to maintain their silence. What Apt Pupil sets up for this marathon is it gives insight into the mind of a Nazi war criminal through Ian Mckellen's brilliant performance and Bryan Singer's masterful directing. It also shows how a young boy named Todd played by Brad Renfro can become sucked into the presence of evil, and want to know about how something as horrific as the Holocaust can occur through the eyes of someone who helped execute it. The second film in the lineup represents best possible introduction for the Holocaust going backwards in time to show the meeting that took place in January 1942 called the Wannsee conference in which 15 Nazi officials met at a mansion and came up with the idea of The Final Solution. The critically acclaimed HBO film titled Conspiracy deals with that Wannsee Conference meeting in great detail, showing the key players and how the conversation led towards the Nazi Final Solution phase of the Holocaust. Conspiracy utilizes the talents of Kenneth Branagh, Colin Firth, and Stanley Tucci in three key roles that show the constant struggle over this infamous decision. Conspiracy spends it's entire 96 minute duration of the film mostly in one location but holds the audience interest with the information being tossed around to the audience. The third film in the lineup begins the story arc of the Holocaust through the experience of the Jewish community. Robin William's film Jakob The Liar centers around a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob in 1944 Poland who ends up fabricating stories of the Soviets and the allies moving in on the Germans in hopes of keeping up the spirits of those living in the ghettos and preventing further suicies by the Jewish. While claiming he has a radio that gives him information on the status of the war and pretending to be listening to it in private, he befriends a young Jewish girl who looks up to him as a father figure and finds the news fascinating. The Germans soon learn about these false stories being told throughout the ghettos and seek to find the one responsible for such an act. Jakob The Liar relies on humor and wit to get it's heartfelt and inspirational story across while also leading the lineup into a similar story with even more power to it. Life is Beautiful, winner of three academy awards including best actor in a lead performance for Roberto Benigni and best foreign film, the story centers around an open-minded Jewish librarian and his son becoming victims of the Holocaust. Like Robin Williams character in Jakob The Liar, he uses will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp. Sometimes criticized for dumbing down a serious topic such as the Holocaust to being too humerous, Life as Beautiful is one of the greatest representations of hope in the face of unflinching terror.  Jakob The Liar and Life is Beautiful represent two men who basically seek to shield those they love from the harsh realities that surrounds them. The Pianist, winner of three academy awards including Adrian Brody for his unforgettable performance, centers around a Jewish musician struggling to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto during World War ll. It is here that the theme of survival begins to kick in while also showing a side of Germans that hasn't been unveiled until this film. That side is that not all Germans and Nazis that were loyal to Hitler agreed with his treatment of the Jewish people. Roman Polanski shows this through the subplot of a German soldier befriending and assisting the pianist to safety. The final film in the marathon is the one that brings it all together and is the polar opposite of where everything began with the side of the Nazis revealing that not all of them were like Hitler. Also directed by Bryan Singer who did Apt Pupil and starring Tom Cruise, Valkyrie is a recreation of the July 20th assassination plot by German army officers against Adolf Hitler near the end of World War ll. This film works as a grand finish to the theme of the Holocaust because where Apt Pupil shows Ian Mckellen's character having no sympathy for what happened except total justification, Valkyrie reveals that there were those who stood in the face of evil and ultimately refused to bear the shame.

So what are all the films trying to say? Apt Pupil says that an obsession with evil will ultimately run your entire life. Conspiracy shows that some of the most unimaginable decisions can be decided in a such a calm and unphased state. Jakob The Liar says to sacrifice yourself for the good of others. Life is Beautiful says that love will protect and save you. The Pianist says that we must hold onto hope in order to survive even the most horrific circumstances. Valkyrie says that if you know there is evil brewing, its best to stand against it and not bear the shame. Adolf Hitler was an evil person and that not all Germans believed in his idealogies and chose to stand against him.

Our main characters for this evening: