Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)

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🎙️ EPISODE 300: 01.24.2021 *Review starts @ ~ 2:48:00 I'm having serious problems deciphering my feelings on this film. On the one hand (inside the puppet head), it's a fine documentary about a rock band: a great many people (some of them famous, and unpredictable, like Frank Black) are interviewed about how awesome They Might Be Giants are. But strictly as a historical artifact, it’s not that effective; it left me, super fan, wanting more from the backstory, etc. What it does do a good job of is dissecting the 'nature' of their songs, and trying to pick apart what it is exactly that makes them so interesting. Not that easy of a task, and so for that I give filmmaker AJ Schnack all the credit. The answer to what makes TMBG so awesome is noteworthy because they are kind of an all or nothing band in terms of fandom, and I don't mean to shortchange that effort. It's just that the movie is trying to do that (which is suprisingly complicated) AND tell you their origin story… so the results are somewhat disjointed.

Also, kind of a major bummer: I found the cuts of the modern day live show to be really bad. The one camera angle in the back of the room lends it a high school video feel, and the venue (wherever it is) is the blandest in history. Seriously, this room looks like a soundstage and the crowd like paid extras. There are plenty of cool old band photos, but not nearly enough old live footage, which is understandable. I just wish they’d have captured the current live experience better to make up for it.

I don't mean to be so tough on the movie. If you're a fan of TMBG, you should definitely see it–it's not an insult to your fandom or a waste of time or anything. There's a lot of love and good intentions here. Maybe it's because I like the band so much that I feel I can be extra picky.

*** part of THE BIG EPISODE 300 EXTRAVAGANZA wherein I reviewed 36 movies, mostly live reads of critiques I wrote between 2009-2012. The finished product above is a highly edited version of the truly embarrassing one that was read during the five-hour podcast recording. I guess this is growing up. ***

THE 36 MOVIES REVIEWED DURING EPISODE 300

30 MINUTES OR LESS • ALEX BAG: UNTITLED FALL '95 • AWAY WE GO • BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD • BEING ELMO • BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM • THE BROTHERS SOLOMON • A BUCKET OF BLOOD •
THE CAMPAIGN • THE CENTER OF THE WORLD • CHRISTMAS ON MARS • THE CHRISTMAS TREE • CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. • (500) DAYS OF SUMMER • A FIELD IN ENGLAND • FUNNY PEOPLE • GET HIM TO THE GREEK • GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS) • INCEPTION • JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME • LEAVE NO TRACE • MAN ON WIRE • MIDNIGHT IN PARIS • MONEYBALL • MOON • MUTUAL APPRECIATION • POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD • RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES • SLEEPWALK WITH ME • SOME DRINKING IMPLIED • TIM AND ERIC'S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE • TRANSIT • TO ROME WITH LOVE • THE WICKER MAN • WINTER'S BONE • YOUTH IN REVOLT

CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ EPISODE 300U - (YOU ARE HERE) - EPISODE 300W ⫸

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