Don’t Push Pause

Episode 57 : That Thing You Do!

By writing, directing and co-starring in THAT THING YOU DO!, Tom Hanks committed himself to create a solid film about a band’s rise and fall in the music industry. Offering up a sincerely charming, what-if story, Hanks combined one heck of a formidable cast with a driving, inspirational story and an unforgettable soundtrack. No matter what decade in which the film is set, it continues to still strike a chord with audiences over 25 years later.

 

▶️Synopsis: Set in the 1960s, The Wonders are a small-town band who unexpectedly hit it big after a new drummer joins the group. Faced with an exciting journey ahead, the band doesn’t look back, but find strong personalities and sustainable success are a difficult combo.
⏩⏩Discussions include: Hanks’ inspiration for the film, approach to storytelling, personal connection, placement in his career and being an actor’s director; the original music behind the movie; character breakdowns with an impressive, chemistry-driven ensemble cast; the formation of The Wonders and realistic depictions of being in a band; importance of the supporting cast; and the extended cut vs. the theatrical release of the film.

**Starring Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Tom Hanks. Directed by Tom Hanks.**

 

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick, THE MONEY PIT (1986): After a young couple buys a suspiciously affordable, fixer-upper mansion, they discover the problems go deeper than ever imagined.

**Starring Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov. Directed by Richard Benjamin.**

—Justin’s Pick, SUBURBIA (1996): Wasting most of their days away, a group of teens have their world affected when a hometown friend becomes a rock star and comes to visit.

**Starring Jayce Bartok, Amie Carey, Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn. Directed by Richard Linklater.**

 

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: How Billy’s 2015 film ROCK THE KASBAH helped motivate positive change through music.

 

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: The rumored inspiration behind “Del Paxton” of THAT THING YOU DO! and Ethan Embry’s embarrassing on-set sickness.

 

▶️NEXT UP: PRETTY WOMAN (1990)!

Episode 56 : Tremors

Over the last 30 years, TREMORS (1990) has remained an impressively hair-raising monster movie, having garnered a steady following and still inspiring contemporary sequels. It’s one big mutha which appeals to any age and warrants going behind-the-scenes to understand why its boldness sets it apart from other films of the creature-feature genre.

▶️Synopsis: Physically barred from leaving town, two small town handymen stumble upon mysterious deaths and begin to link the grotesque killings to unprecedented, massively monstrous creatures living in the ground.
⏩⏩Discussions include: The origin story of TREMORS and how a writing duo’s friendship rolled into a directorial feature debut; crafty and gooey practical effects, miniatures, puppetry, evolution of the Graboid creatures and strength of the script; humor, tone and creation of a small town vibe living a terrifying reality; a deep dive into character dynamics and this solid ensemble cast; favorite scenes, marketing, audience reception and the TREMORS franchise.
**Starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire. Directed by Ron Underwood.**

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick, RAISING CAIN (1992): This stylish, melodramatic thriller weaves together multiple personality disorder and clinical experimentation on children for a true psychological mind warp. **Starring John Lithgow, Lolita Davidovich, Steven Bauer. Directed by Brian De Palma.**

—Justin’s Pick, THE RELIC (1997): After a series of grisly murders, a detective and a biologist must track down a mythical monster stalking and killing people in the Chicago Field Museum. **Starring Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore, Linda Hunt. Directed by Peter Hyams.**

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Cutting to the root of Billy’s love for beloved musician, John Prine.

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: The two different scores for TREMORS and the film’s effect on Bacon’s career.

▶️NEXT UP: THAT THING YOU DO!

Episode 55 : Welcome To The Dollhouse

No other film captures the truthful pain of adolescence as well as Todd Solondz’s WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE (1995). By showing us harsh realities through heartbreaking humor, writer/director Solondz gives us a darkly comedic, layered look into the provocative world of Dawn “Wienerdog.” The universal appeal of this film is undeniable and gives a voice to the kids who go unseen.

▶️Synopsis: Plagued by bullying at school and being the forgotten middle child at home, an awkward pre-teen, Dawn Wiener, falls for an unattainable hunk while also carrying on a secret relationship with her main tormentor at school.

⏩⏩Discussions include: Solondz’s inspirations for DOLLHOUSE, how it was made and where it fits in with his other films; recurring themes and the impact of jarring slurs; the complexity of the characters and gifted performances by a predominantly young cast; story layering and Solondz’s use of dark humor; critical reception, lasting effects on the film’s main star and Dawn becoming an icon for underdogs. **Starring Heather Matarazzo, Brendan Sexton III, Matthew Faber, Eric Mabius. Directed by Todd Solondz.**

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick, HAPPINESS (1998): This extremely dark and bold, uncomfortable comedy intertwines three sisters’ lives, each diving into subplots involving unfulfillment, boredom and perversion. **Starring Jane Adams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Dylan Baker, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Directed by Todd Solondz.**

—Justin’s Pick, STORYTELLING (2001): Split into disconnected stories, this dysfunctional dark comedy involves a female college student victimized by her professor and a high school boy being followed by a documentary filmmaker. **Starring Selma Blair, Mark Webber, Leo Fitzpatrick, Paul Giamatti. Directed by Todd Solondz.**

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: How Billy plays the Defender of the Bullied as Tripper in MEATBALLS (1979).

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: How DOLLHOUSE helped Matarazzo realize her real-life gayness, the film being a perfect introduction to Solondz’s other films, some favorite scenes involving Dawn Wiener and the importance of music in the film.

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