This past week we took a pop quiz to get to know each other better, discussed the comings and goings of our comic collecting, remembered disaster flicks, imagined commissions, reminisced about vacations, compared Invaders and Freedom Fighters, and shared our enjoyment of Calvin and Hobbes!
As always, we encourage you to look back at the posts if you missed any and to check out our growing sidebar for a myriad of exciting things.
COMING SOON:
This week we have tons of nostalgic fun in store, including but not limited to:
1) Rating the crème de la crème of superheroes!
2) Opening it up for another reader inspired Follow the Leader!
3) Examining some wild and outlandish sitcoms!
4) Heading back to 1974!
5) And more, more, more!
In the typical BITBA fashion, we have some surprises up our sleeves. Don't be shy - tune in, jump in, and bask in the fun.
SUNDAY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Movies: I mentioned in passing that I saw another Oscar nominated film recently... the movie Lion. It is the story of a very young boy who gets lost in India far from his home and family. His life and struggles are documented in a very touching way. The acting is tremendous, particularly from the child who plays the main character. Based on a true story, I was swept into the emotion of the piece and admired the frankness of the relationships. I do recommend it. 4 Bronze Medallions for Lion.
Music: Today I recommend the Feelies and particularly their 1988 album Only Life. I first came across the band in my college days, and I appreciate their rather low key approach while weaving in intricate rhythm and percussion. Part of the indie scene of that era, their music brings back some great memories of the times. The band had appeared in one of my favorite movies of all time - Jonathan Demme's Something Wild playing the musical entertainment at a High School reunion in a key and pivotal scene. There are a few tunes by the Feelies in that film, the best of which is their interpretation of David Bowie's Fame. I think this album is their best work and represents them well. 4 Bronze Medallions for Only Life.
Movies (again): And as an aside - 4.75 Bronze Medallions for Something Wild (1986). The seamless mix of humor and suspense grabs me every time; the change of tone seems to shift on a song transition in the scene mentioned above. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but I recommend it frequently. Ray Liotta is at his best in this debut. And Jeff Daniels plays an everyman with a twist in a subtle performance that in retrospect is quite complex. Melanie Griffith is the mystery woman. And Demme creates something experimental and fun before he became more well known for Silence of the Lambs a few years later. The story follows Daniels' character Charlie Driggs, a seemingly straight-and-narrow banker, as he goes on an impromptu adventure with Lulu/Audrey (Melanie Griffith) on a road trip to her hometown. Have a great day and as always...Cheers!
