Movied: '2012' and 'Pirate Radio'

For those who don't want to watch the world fall to pieces in 2012, never fear! The release of Pirate Radio is here! Friday couldn't bring us two movies that are more different, but one thing's for sure: we'll be laughing our asses off this weekend! Here's what I'm watching in preparation:

2012

Doomsday: Brought To You by Rolland Emmerich

The Day After Tomorrow – Emmerich loves to destroy the planet and, most importantly, the U.S. (perhaps because he's not from here?). I think it's safe to say that we can call this movie 2012, Jr. Between its tidal waves, glaciers and overall state of shit in NYC, it's hard to not think of this movie while watching trailers for Emmerich's new flick.

Independence Day – Despite Will Smith saying, “WELCOME TO EARTH,” which is normally nice, warming and welcoming, he happened to be telling it to a killer alien. That's not exactly what I would call an ideal scenario. The creatures from another planet have decided to come for a visit...and kill a bunch of people while simultaneously stealing our resources. We showed those bitches.


Apocalypse vs. Woody Harrelson

Zombieland – If there's one thing Harrelson's better at doing than being a total bat-shit crazy dude on-screen, it's killing zombies. Supplied with shotgun shells, a Hummer and catchy one-liners, Harrelson quickly became our new favorite zombie hunter when this film came out. While it's mostly funny, there are a few terrifying, claustrophobic moments, which is what every zombie movie needs.

A Scanner Darkly – While this film doesn't have the usual path to dystopia, it's effective nonetheless. Instead of the world destroying itself by means of natural disaster or epidemic disease, this time around we see the harsh side effects of drug use. Harrelson, along with Rory Cochrane, Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr., is more schizoid out than ever, and it's a fascinating watch.


Wildcard

Identity – 2012's John Cusack and Amanda Peet co-starred together back in 2003 in this film, which fucking OWNS. Ten strangers become acquainted while stranded at a motel during a huge rainstorm. They all find out that they have WAY more in common than they thought as they slowly get knocked off one by one, which makes for an insanely intense movie. If you like mindfucks, pick this up.



Pirate Radio

**To see a list of great Philip Seymour Hoffman films, read this week's “Indieties”**


Rock 'N Shock Radio

Pump Up the Volume – This movie is so damn good! Even years later it holds up! Mark (Christian Slater), an awkward teenager, accidentally starts a pirate radio station and is an instant hit among other kids his own age. When one of his listeners commits suicide, he finds himself in some serious shit. This is a dark coming-of-age that can only compare to Heathers, and I think everyone should see this.

Radio Days – While I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan, I do love this movie. In fact, it was the first Allen film I saw. Not only does it have that oddball humor Allen's known for (I would argue that it's actually funnier than most of his films), but it's full of nostalgia. It's history as it really happened and how Allen experienced it, which makes the film great.

Private Parts – It's hard to mention a radio movie without mentioning the auto-biographical movie Private Parts, based on the story of Howard Stern. Whether or not you're a Stern fan doesn't matter because this movie is for those who love him and hate him. By the end of it you definitely get a better understanding of him...with a few crude jokes along the way. It's definitely entertaining!


Wildcard

Love Actually – This movie is one of a small handful of romantic comedies that I actually love. Written and directed by Pirate Radio writer/director Richard Curtis, Love Actually features intertwined vignettes of love stories that take place in and around London at Christmastime. With a cast featuring British bigwigs like Bill Nighy (who's also in Pirate Radio), Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley, it's a movie that's hard not to love, especially while watching it with someone you love!