Author Archives: Alice Thirteen

Avatar + Greener Grass

Avatar + Greener Grass

Another world, where things never made sense to begin with. A bizarre world. A more relatable world. Michael is a dog, now, and Double Feature leaves Earth to cover Avatar and Greener Grass. Bending elements. Tweet Michael if you’re not listening from Earth. Doing weird without having to suspend disbelief. James Cameron’s Avatar is one of few films younger Alice [redacted]. The plot of Avatar is not unique. 3D is gone. Mall goth scoffing. Personal mythmaking. The silliness of promoting the technology used to create art. Secret Papyrus correction. Was Greener Grass written by an A.I.? Michael watched Greener Grass in a roomful of people who didn’t know what they were in for. Assuming a film was executed as intended. Finding the things a film did well. Anti-art and anti-film. Filmmaking influences. Fans who will seek out films with no advertising or budget. My kid is a dog as a Continue reading

Barking Dogs Never Bite + Mother

Barking Dogs Never Bite + Mother

A much deserved look at the work of Bong Joon-ho. An update on virtual cinema! Barking Dogs Never Bite as a dark comedy. Investigating the theme of personal frustration and the ways in which individuals cope with their own limitations and failures. The story of a college professor who becomes increasingly desperate and unhinged as he attempts to solve the problem of a neighbor’s barking dog. A series of absurd and humorous events that ultimately reveal the darker! Mother examines the theme of the relationship between a parent and a child and the lengths to which a parent will go to protect their offspring. The film tells the story of a mother who is determined to clear her son’s name after he is accused of murder, and raises questions about loyalty, justice, and the corrupting influence of power.

The Shock of the Future + TFW NO GF

The Shock of the Future + TFW NO GF

Amazon’s SXSW 2020 Film Festival Collection. An isolation Double Feature provides a look into one of the early attempts to recreate some of the film festival experience as most of the world remains on COVID-19 lock down. Le Choc du Futur as a film that celebrates the process of creating electronic music, particularly in the late 1970s. Locked inside, experimenting with new sounds and working on songs. The detailed process of creating music, including false starts, repetition, and distractions. Electronic music as a revolutionary and forward-thinking art form. Vintage electronic equipment and an enveloping orange-brown color palette. Ah, TFW NO GF. Involuntarily celibate men who have rejected societal norms and often engage in violent rhetoric against women and people of color. The perspective of incels, who feel misrepresented by the media and misunderstood by society. A collection of edgelord tweets and 4chan screen grabs. Disaffected and disconnected from society. “Economic opportunities”? Social isolation, economic disenfranchisement, and a lack of positive role models.

The House by the Cemetery + Three Colors Red

The House by the Cemetery + Three Colors Red

A final trip to to the loose-trilogies of Lucio Fulci and Krzysztof Kieślowski. A showcase of how the past can shape the present. The House by the Cemetery delves into the theme of how the past can come back to haunt us, literally and figuratively, and how it is often difficult to escape its grasp. Three Colors: Red focuses on the idea of how the past can shape and define our relationships and how it is possible to connect with others despite our individual histories. Two films that deal with the theme of personal growth and the realization of one’s own limitations and flaws. Finding the ways in which the past can shape and influence present life.

Zombi Child + Extra Ordinary

Zombi Child + Extra Ordinary

Exploring Virtual Cinema with a stay inside and do a virtual séance double feature. What is virtual cinema? How virtual cinema differs from VOD in both spirit and practice. The unspoken blow to independent film in the time of COVID-19. Film Movement releases Zombi Child through arthouse theaters. Other Bertrand Bonello picks. A fresh take on zombies through a very personal and emotional examination of Haitian zombie lore. Zombi Child in the context of French cinema. France’s relationship with horror. Drafthouse brings the Alamo Stay-at-Home experience to Extra Ordinary. What is it like to attend the Alamo Drafthouse? Pre-show and Q&As. The visual and stylistic comedy of Extra Ordinary.

Contagion + Demolition Man

Contagion + Demolition Man

Shelf life. How movies fall in and out of touch with society. Relatability is a circle. Alice’s new film Antrum is the deadliest film ever made and also the number one trending movie on Amazon Prime! In Contagion there’s a global pandemic caused by a deadly virus and people can’t stop watching it. Fear, isolation, and the human cost of scientific advancement. The ways in which the spread of a deadly disease can bring out the best and worst in humanity. Demolition Man as a science fiction action film set in a future society where crime has been virtually eliminated. The film explores the theme of the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom. As the main character, a cryogenically frozen police officer, tries to adjust to a world where all forms of dissent are suppressed, he becomes increasingly aware of the dark side of a seemingly perfect society.

Vanya on 42nd Street + The Village

Vanya on 42nd Street + The Village

David Mamet and Roger Deakins reconvene as Double Feature looks at the guiding hand. A complete deconstruction of what it even means to “write” a film. Also: the secret holy trinity of horror cinematography. In the podcast episode discussing the films Vanya on 42nd Street and The Village, the theme of isolation and its impact on the human psyche will be examined. Both films focus on small communities that are isolated from the rest of the world, either by choice or by circumstance. Through the experiences of the characters, the podcast will delve into the ways in which isolation can lead to both psychological and emotional isolation, as well as how it can foster a sense of community and togetherness. The podcast will also explore the role that the external world plays in shaping the internal experiences of the characters, and how their sense of self is impacted by their isolation. By examining the themes of isolation and community in these two films, the podcast aims to provide a deeper understanding of the human experience in relation to the world around us.

Raging Bull + American History X

Raging Bull + American History X

Tragic masculinity examined as Double Feature covers movies people have actually heard of! Two films that both explore themes of violence and its consequences. Raging Bull follows the story of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose tumultuous personal life and penchant for violence lead to his downfall. American History X tells the story of a former neo-Nazi who grapples with the aftermath of his violent actions and works to reform himself and his ideology. Both films examine the cycle of violence and its impact on individuals and society. Two films that explore themes of redemption and the possibility of change.

The Hunt + Emma

The Hunt + Emma

EMERGENCY EPISODE. Film in the time of Coronavirus. Universal sends their theatrical releases straight to VOID as the country joins a world-wide shut down for COVID 19. Modern and period pieces on class are left in the past by a world wide pandemic.

Uncut Gems + Lowlife

Uncut Gems + Lowlife

Low-fi crime day. Two films with an odd relationship to comedy. Contrasting personal relationships in the lives of similar characters. Why Double Feature is shelving the pandemic for a special emergency episode.