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My personal favorite, least favorite and hopeful films for 2019/2020.

Film and Media studies student Sophia talks the successes and failures of Joker (2019)

My next guest, film and media studies student, details her opinions on the Matrix series

Pan’s Labyrinth, Eternal Sunshine, and Coco

My guest for this week was Natali, who discusses “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. I was requested to post these pictures on this blog from her so that you could visualize the characters and scenes from our talk.

The Pale Man from “Pan’s Labyrinth”

The inspiration of the Pale Man creature from “Pan’s Labyrinth”.

This painting is entitled “Saturn Devouring His Son” by Spanish artist Francisco Goya. According to the traditional interpretation, it depicts the Greek myth of the Titan Cronus (in the title Romanized to Saturn), who, fearing that he would be overthrown by one of his children, ate each one upon their birth.

-Wikipedia

DON’T EAT THE FOOD!!! (she eats the grapes) Honestly, out of all the food who would go for the grapes?!

Natali learned in her film class that the depiction of the stacked shoes not only represents the death of the children by the Pale Man but also is a representation of the shoes removed from the victims of the Holocaust.

Clementine’ hair color symbolizes her and Joel’s stage in their relationship from Spring, Fall, and Winter.

The link will be posted above for our in-depth discussion of these films + Coco.

-Stay Golden

#AndrewWeston #Kuci #Kuci88.9fm #andtheoscargoesto #AcademyAwards #Oscars #EternalSunshineoftheSpotlessMind #PansLabyrinth #Coco

My guest, Anthony De Santos discusses his favorite movies and his not so favorite movies, including westerns as a whole.

Are Westerns Racist?!

Going down as one of the most nominated films of all time with 10 nominations without winning any, True Grit shines as the remake of the 1969 film of the same name.

Yet, my guest on the show today, Anthony De Santos a UCI student and FMS major asserts that westerns can be “kinda racist” at times. I, of course, was confused, because westerns are a period piece and therefore racist and stereotypical attitudes are bound to be shown within the film genre. However, once he mentioned the 2013 film “The Lone Ranger”.... yikes! “The Lone Ranger” was swamped with controversy when it initially was released because Johny Depp was cast as a Native American character named Tonto. Panned by both audiences and critics alike, it did not sit well with viewers. Surprisingly, the academy enjoyed it enough to give it two nominations for Visual Effects and Makeup/Hairstyling. Perhaps the studio thought that by completely covering Johny Depp’s body in makeup would distract the audience from the fact that the Kentucky born actor wasn’t actually of Native American descent. I don’t think that putting an entire crow on his head helped his cause either.

The movie doesn't have a well-constructed plot- but that's beside the point. What do you think of “True Grit” and its remake? How offensive is “The Lone Ranger”? Let me know what you think.

Listen to the link posted above to hear the entire interview where we also discuss “The Revenant” and “Room” as well!

-Stay Golden

#AndrewWeston #Andtheoscargoesto #truegrit #room #theloneranger #kuci #kuci88.9fm #oscars #theacademyawards #the revenant

UCI FMS major and international studies student Xing Tong visits the studio and discusses her love of the film Spirited Away. A lovely family friendly picture in which a little girl’s parents turn into pigs while she encounters witches, dragons, and many other spirits to guide her on her journey….after they TAKE HER AWAY! WHAT?!

I wish I was SPIRITED AWAY from this film

UCI FMS major and international studies student Xing Tong is a fan of the classic film Spirited Away. A lovely film in which a little girl’s parents turn into pigs while she encounters witches, dragons, and many other spirits to guide her on her journey....after they TAKE HER AWAY.

Not a stranger to controversy, I am not afraid to say that I do not like this film. Nope Nope Nope. Not a good time.

Change the title to Taken Away

or Taken

wait....mmmm that last one may not work.

But wait! I will give credit where credit is due. The song “The Name of Life” (Which is played in the interview) is a beautiful tune with a nostalgic feeling which beckons me to recall memories from my past with fondness. Other than that- hate the film. #HOTTAKE!

How can a film and media studies major dislike Studio Ghibli and masterclass artist Miyosoki?! Simple my young padawan, everyone has their own taste in films. I enjoy animated films. I enjoy foreign language films. I like the music from Spirited Away. However, the plot of the film is ridiculous, yet the animation is beautiful. Spirited Away appears to be either a love it or hate it film and we will see in due time if it becomes a classic or disappears, fades and is spirited away itself.

Don’t worry, the interview above is MUCH more upbeat- go check it out to hear me butcher the names of all the creators involved and get very confused over KFC chicken

We also talk about subservience in Lady Bird and the problems of nose touching in A Star is Born.

-Stay Golden

#Andtheoscargoesto #Andrewweston #Kuci #Kuci88.9fm #oscars #academyawards #spiritedaway #ladybird #astarisborn

Me and my guest this week discuss the film Roma and her personal relationship to the piece.

#Andtheoscargoesto #andrewwest #kuci #kuci88.9fm #academyawards #roma

Roma- hit or miss?

Roma is an intimate drama about the life of a housekeeper...

That’s it.

Not much appears to happen within this film. However, my guest, UCI FMS student Shirley Nieto disagrees, believing that the simplicity of the film allows for the symbolism to flourish. Although there are some intense dramatic and cinematic moments, they are few and far between. Water puddles, planes, and family dynamic are just a few of the topics we talk about in my interview this week.

(You may just want to listen in to hear about some of the interesting facts about the plane alone)

Roma is currently on Netflix if you’re interested in viewing this Academy Award-winning film.

According to Shirley, this is a film about being seen.

#Andtheoscargoesto #Andrewweston #kuci #kuci88.9fm

New York Screen Studies Student Hannah Lizalde talks about her favorite movie "Gone with the Wind" and "La La Land"

Gone with La La Land

How are we changing? This is something that producers need to keep in check with film audiences to be able to calculate a hit movie. Sometimes companies attempt to make technical films that would amaze the audience, while at other times it appears that film companies create films that are more than just a sum of their parts. The former would describe La La Land while the latter is Gone With the Wind.

My guest Hannah Lizalde is a Screen Studies major at New York who is the biggest fan of Gone with the Wind (so much so that when I played the score from the movie she started crying even though she will deny this).

However, I do NOT like this film. I mean it's just sooooo long (almost 4 hours long) and does not appeal to me. Of course, the cinematography is beautiful and the costumes are extravagant, but it's just not a film for me. Is it a chick flic? That’s something that I’ve heard before, but I was not interested in it. I can hear you now: But Andrew, how could you NOT like Gone With The Wind?! Well, the first half was good and the second half the film was not. The problem is that I wasn’t a fan of Scarlett. I don’t like the main character. She is off-putting to me and the back and forth romance was nauseating.

But what’s up with La La Land? Tisk Tisk. So much controversy. And as I’ve discussed this film with more people, the controversy appears to be justified. The protagonists’ separation is just not explained or justified. The suspension of disbelief disappears. It couldve been amazing by just adding 20 more minutes to clearly explain with REASONING why they broke up and couldnt be rogether. #stillagreatfilm.

Do you think Gone with the Wind is all that its cracked up to be? Is it the best film ever? What makes a film the best film ever? Best for me and you? If film is art then they cannot be objectively defined as the “best film” ever. This always confused me on the ‘Top 100′ or ‘Top 50′ lists. I doubt my Top 50 will match your Top 50 cause trust me...Gone With the Wind wouldn't make my personal list.

(Andrew Weston)

#SoundCloud #music #Andrew Weston #AndrewBeard #TheOscars #TheAcademyAwards #Shrek

Into the Shape of Shrek

What a funky title right? Well, that’s because this week I talked with fellow UCI FMS (Film and Media Studies) student Sophia Gonzalez about the three films: Spider-Man: INTO the Spider-Verse, The SHAPE of Water, and SHREK. Sophia plans on becoming a music supervisor for films. And of course, I had no clue what a music supervisor was and apparently, they curate soundtracks and hire composers to make original music for movies.

Sophia brought in some incredibly interesting facts about the three films and discusses her soft spot in movies for excellent soundtracks. I have a soft spot for cinematography whenever I watch films, beautiful cinematography can make a 1 a 10. Ok that's an exaggeration (we all know story comes first....right....) So it was interesting to see another perspective on what ‘gets’ people when they watch films. For Sophia, its the score and soundtracks. Hmmm... I guess I had never really paid attention to the music as I watched films, but through this discussion, I realized what can also make film greats and it all goes back to the fact that film is a collaborative medium where everyone has an important task in creating either the worst or best film ever.

So, now we're back to the films we discussed...

Three great films (debatable)

Find out which of the three films I hate by listening to the full interview I’ll have posted above.

What I wasn’t expecting going into this interview was to come out of it with a newfound appreciation of the film Shrek. I mean, c’mon everyone, its SHREK!

But nonono. Tisk Tisk...how nieve and foolish I was.

For one, it beat out Pixar’s “Monster’s Inc.” at the Academy Awards for “Best Animated Film”. Also, the humor has aged well and Sophia explains an example of one of the jokes from the film “Shrek”. There’s so much more to Shrek than just an annoying donkey and fart jokes. There are parodies, homages to other films (that are so in your face they border on plagiarism), and hilarious comedy with a stellar cast and of course....memes for days.

As for the other two films? One is great while the other is not. Hear my hot take in the above interview.

Stay golden :)

#AndrewWeston #AndtheOscarGoesTo #KUCI88.9fm #KUCI #Shrek #SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse #TheShapeofWater #TheAcademyAwards #Oscars

(Andrew Weston)

#SoundCloud #music #Andrew Weston #oscars #andrewWeston #academyawards #PaxtonWright

Cluster - Films

If you know me, you know I love organization and repetition. Every day I wake up and click my fan one speed lower (it could be Winter, I NEED my fan to sleep and survive), and eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unless I feel like treating myself to Chic-Fil-A. My closet is color coded and I lock my car door exactly five times before going inside. So when I get ready to do a show for KUCI I have my notes laid out in front of me in descending order of the films me and my guest will talk about, including relevant points I want to discuss and facts important to the show. Well..well...well... I about had a heart attack when my guest for this week, Paxton Wright, sat down and just started... talking. Imagine that. My life was flashing before my eyes as my notes became almost instantly irreverent as we went so quickly off the rails that I thought I was going to die in conversation Hell.

-This is probably an important part to know that I’m very dramatic-

BUT it turned out to be an interesting show.

We started out talking about “Annie Hall” by the ever so loved Woody Allen who can do absolutely no wrong.

...

Basically “Star Wars” was nominated the same year for best picture as “Annie Hall” but Annie Hall won and “Star Wars” diiiiiiiiiiid not. I think that I can speak for everyone when I say that Star Wars got mad robbed.

Paxton then brings up how Quint’s story from “Jaws” was based on real events, and already having an intense fear of sharks, I had to make sure there wasn’t someone behind me playing billiards.

(Please tell me you got that joke)

Pop lock and drop that award down to Annie Hall, Paxton defends the film, stating that the film was unique in its neurotic leading man character which led to shows like “Seinfeld”.

Thank you, Woddy Allen?

According to Paxton, apparently, George Lucas’s wife saved “Star Wars” by having him cut down the last 20 mins of the film because Luke Skywalker took three trips AROUND the Death Star to blow it up and missed each time. Thank you, Mrs. Lucas.

Veering off the path from “Annie Hall” we land in the world of “Mad Max” and discover one of the few movies that both Paxton and I both love! Now we’re in the boxing ring of “Mad Max” vs. the winner “Spotlight”. Who do you think should have won? The amazing visuals of “Mad Max” with practical effects vs. the true, yet although somewhat bland, story and important story of “Spotlight”.

Then Paxton casually brought up that he hates “Inception” and “The Dark Knight” I almost ended the interview. But he brought up some interesting points to defend his position which I highly suggest you listen to yourself (which I’ll have posted above).

We talked “The Favourite”... #notforme #getridofthefisheyelense

Paxton then slides into Marvel. I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A CLUSTERFILM!

Get your tea out because we talk

Greenbook.

Bring the controversy. Bring your opinions. One defending the movie, one criticizing the movie, yet will we ever know the truth? (The answer is nah).

#oscars #academyawards #andrewWeston #PaxtonWright #KUCI #andtheoscargoesto

(Andrew Beard)

#SoundCloud #music #Andrew Beard

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