Category: Series 25 – Focus On – John Cusack

And we come to the end of our “Focus on: John Cusack” series and a short but wild ride it’s been. Wasn’t “High Fidelity” cool? Didn’t you just love Lloyd Dobler as a character? Wasn’t the Savannah setting in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” intriguing? Yeah . . . welp, that about sums up the series, thanks for joining us! For next time . . . hm? What’s that? THIS week’s movie? 2017’s “Singularity”? Yeeeeaaahhhhh . . . right . . . that one . . . uh . . . sure, I mean, we can talk about it. If you really want to. I mean, John Cusack’s in it . . . pretty much. For some of it. He’s prominently featured in the credits and on the DVD cover, so, ok, this is technically a John Cusack movie. Um. But you know, maybe we could talk more about the actual music choices in “High Fidelity”! Yeah! That’d be cool, right? Like how many of the albums that got mentioned are albums you’ve actually listened to? Let’s do that! Oh. Really? Well, ok, if you insist. I mean, “Singularity” is kind of an interesting indicator of John Cusack’s recent career trajectory. And there’s robots in it. And . . . well, you’d better just give a listen, find out what’s going on. We do need to finish this up.

Poll question: What is your favorite filmic representation of Batman?

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And here we are, thundering along in our series “Focus On: John Cusack” with a thundering new thunderous episode featuring “High Fidelity.” Thunderously. Check out this throwback involving Mr. Cusack as a character who owns some business called a “record store” where he sells some sort of ancient music format involving pressed disks made of vinyl. Man, the past was weird. Not like we’d ever see anything like that these days . . . Of course, these “record albums” are not the only focus of the movie, no; adapted from Nick Hornby novel of the same name, the story follows Robb (Cusack) as he endeavors to determine the reason for his history of romantic failures and edges closer to the possibility that, um, maybe it’s not a failing in the women in his life but perhaps with … himself? Nah, can’t be. Also featuring Jack Black and Todd Louiso as two characters you will both enjoy and want to beat with a sock full of quarters. Marvel along with us and ask yourself: how the heck did this Robb guy ever date someone played by Catherine Zeta Jones?

Poll question: besides musicals, what movie do you think has a KILLER soundtrack? Doesn’t have to be a good movie, just a great soundtrack.

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I do declare, this series “Focus On: John Cusack” is giving me the vapors! Someone fetch me a mint julep and an invisible dog! Lord, these flies on their leashes are just everywhere. I do so love those Georgia Bulldogs. And peaches. And, um, sweet iced tea . . . ok, I’m running out of things I know about Georgia, specifically about Savannah, so it’s a darn good thing that this week’s movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is set there, in the early 80’s, based on a novel that is more or less based on a true story. Allegedly. Along with our boy John Cusack, we’ve got an almost unrecognizable Jude Law and (oh boy . . .) Kevin Spacey. Uhhhh . . . but at least the director is . . . oh dear, Clint Eastwood. Hoo boy. Not the most comfortable movie we’ve done. And the story is certainly not the most comfortable but pretty gol durn interesting. Give a listen and see what we think or if we spend the whole time tugging at our shirt collars and making inarticulate sounds of discomfort. Either way, it’s gonna be exciting . . . right?

Poll question: “Based on a true story”: what does that mean to you when you see it before a movie starts? Do you trust a movie more? Less? Hold the film up to a higher standard? Or does it matter at all?

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Leapin’ Lizards! It’s a brand-spanking-new series! (A spanking! A spanking!) Can your heart stand it? If not, please consult your physician, because we’re worried about you. This time we’re focusing on a selection from the body of work of a specific actor in three separate econo-series; Mike has chosen the first one, I’ll choose the second one, and we’d like YOU, yes YOU, to help us choose the third one! Write in, let us know what film person you think deserves a deep-dive, and maybe even suggest some examples of that person’s work. Please help us! You want me to say it? Ok, I’ll say it: we need you! We’ve always needed you! Please don’t leave us! Don’t marry Ethelbert! Or do marry Ethelbert, but please write in with suggestions!

We’re starting out with Mike’s choice “Focus On: John Cusack” because of all the Cusack’s he is, we think you’ll agree, the John-est. Mike’s leading off with an early film of Mr. C’s: 1989’s “Say Anything” starring many people, as well as a very 80’s soundtrack. Is this just another goofy teen romance or does Herr Cusack bring his A-game and level this baby up a bit? Give a listen and find out. Maybe we’ll even have Don “The Dragon” Wilson break Bumpy’s nose . . . if you’re extra good!

Poll question: what couple from a romantic movie would you most like to check in on twenty or thirty years later to see how they’re doing?

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ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/

Black Lives Matter: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 Southern Poverty Law Center: https://donate.splcenter.org/

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