Nigel introduces Francois Truffaut’s WWII drama starring Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu.
“Birdman is everything you want movies to be: vital, challenging, intellectually alive, visually stunning, emotionally affecting.”
Our first choice in our new chain is an avian link from Alan Parker’s Birdy to Alejandro Iñárritu 2015 multiple Oscar-winner.
Michael Keaton plays a faded Hollywood actor best known for playing the superhero "Birdman", as he struggles to mount a Broadway adaptation of a short story by Raymond Carver. The brilliant supporting cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts. It’s rare that Wayne whole-heartedly enjoys a recentish film, so watch his introduction below to hear him enthuse…
We’d love to hear what you think of Birdman once you’ve seen it. Leave a comment here, send us an email, Tweet us @tpfilmclub or post on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Related links
‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’ - the Raymond Carver referenced in the film
Where can you watch Birdman?
Birdman is streaming on Netflix. You can also rent it from Amazon, Apple iTunes, Google Play, Sky Store and YouTube.
Nigel introduces this overlooked gem in tribute to Alan Parker.
Nigel introduces the adventure classic in tribute to Olivia de Havilland
“One of the best jazz films ever made, this succeeds by melding French sensibilities about atmosphere with American sensibilities about the music.”
Bertrand Tavernier's 1986 film ‘Round Midnight sees real-life jazz legend Dexter Gordon play an ex-pat saxophonist in 1950s Paris. Inspired by a number of famed musicians, including Bud Powell, Lester Young and Gordon himself, ‘Round Midnight is that rare thing - a good film about jazz.
Watch Wayne’s introduction below to find out which other great musicians (and even a noted film director) appear in the film.
We’d love to hear what you think of ‘Round Midnight once you’ve seen it. Leave a comment here, send us an email, Tweet us @tpfilmclub or post on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Where can you watch Round Midnight?
You can rent ‘Round Midnight for £2.49 from a fairy obscure streaming service called Chilli. As well as a website they also have Google and Apple apps. The DVD is also very easy to find on eBay and Amazon. If you’re struggling to watch it let us know (taps nose) and we can get a copy for you.
Kate shares her love of dancing and isn’t sure which Robert Redford/Paul Newman film she enjoyed a backrow snog during.
“A Fistful of Dollars has a cult, comic-book intensity. It is the punk rock of westerns.”
In tribute to Ennio Morricone 1928 - 2020
A Fistful of Dollars was the first collaboration between Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone and Clint Eastwood. Inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, Eastwood’s laconic wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge.
Watch Nigel’s introduction below where he talks more about how Morricone and Leone worked together.
We’d love to hear what you think of A Fistful of Dollars once you’ve seen it. Leave a comment here, send us an email, Tweet us @tpfilmclub or post on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Related links
Ennio Morricone & Peter Tevis ‘Pastures of Plenty’ - sound familiar?
Where can you watch A Fistful of Dollars?
You can rent the film on Amazon and Apple iTunes. It’s also available to buy on Google Play and YouTube
Steve enthuses about a diverse range of films he’s enjoyed at film club and recalls being wowed by Steven Spielberg on the big screen.
Nigel introduces the Steve Martin comedy, in tribute to Carl Reiner
Wayne introduces Sidney Lumet’s heist classic starring Al Pacino and John Cazale.
Nigel introduces the original (and best!) in tribute to Ian Holm
Nigel introduces Ava DuVernay’s documentary about racial inequality in the United States
Our introductions to films we’ve shown at film club about race and racial inequality.
“Waiting for Guffman is a madcap gem, a movie that salutes the garishness, the shameless enthusiasm, of middle Americans whose lack of talent is matched only by their eagerness to parade it.”
In tribute to Fred Willard (1933 - 2020)
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy’s Waiting For Guffman does for amateur dramatics what This is Spinal Tap... did for rock bands. In addition to Guest and Levy, the wonderful cast of improvisers includes Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban and David Cross. Wayne’s introduction is below alongside links to where you can stream the film under the video.
We’d love to hear what you think of Waiting for Guffman once you’ve seen it. Leave a comment here, send us an email, Tweet us @tpfilmclub or post on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Where can you watch Waiting For Guffman?
You can rent the film from Amazon, YouTube, Google Play and Apple.
Adrian suggests the most esoteric link suggestion of all time and tells us what cinematic experience reduced his whole family to tears.
American ex-pat Matthias Sundberg recalls working at the Tribeca Film Festival and recommends some animation for grown-ups.
Matthias Sundberg’s recipes to each of his Film Club at Home cocktails
Nigel introduces Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning Western
Questions and answers for our lockdown quiz.
