Episode 205 completes our "Fish Out of Water" pairing and, once again, the fishes are from New York. This time, however, they land in a small town in Alabama, in its courthouse, and dealing with one of it's old-school judges in 1992's "My Cousin Vinny!" Directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Dale Launer, this is the film that won Marisa Tomei an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Bill (Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) are heading to college. After they stop at a store in a small town in Alabama, they are mistaken for two guys who robbed the store they stopped at and shot the clerk. In desperation, they reach out to "the lawyer in the family," Bill's cousin Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci). Vinny arrives in NY style, complete with New York fiance Mona Lisa Vito (Tomei) in tow. But when he appears before long-time judge Chamberlain Haller (Fred Gwynne), and faces off against the town DA Jim Trotter III (Lane Smith) as well as the town's head of law enforcement, Sheriff Farley (Bruce McGill), Vinny realizes that he's out of his league, but he still has family who are innocent of the charges being levied against them! A wonderful film full of real characters (in more than one sense of the word), masterful dialogue, authentic courtroom procedure, and true genius comedy! Plus, the trio reveal which classic comedy star they're paying tribute to in the next episode!
Episode 204 begins our "Fish Out of Water" comedy pairing, starting with a lesser-known Steve Martin vehicle, 1990's "My Blue Heaven!" Directed by Herbert Ross and penned by acclaimed writer-director Nora Ephron, Martin stars alongside Rick Moranis (in a rare straight-man role), Joan Cusack, Melanie Mayron, Bill Irwin, Carol Kane, William Hickey, Daniel Stern, and a cast of great character actors. Vincent Antonelli (Martin) and his wife are in federal witness protection, awaiting Vinnie's trial appearances. Rangled by FBI agent Barney Coopersmith (Moranis), Antonelli is, to say the least, a handful. He doesn't blend in, he doesn't change, he doesn't want to be there... in short, he's a nightmare assignment for Barney. This film is loosely based on the real-life of Henry Hill, the same man who was the basis for "Goodfellas." This film, however, is a comedy that starts a bit slowly but picks up along the way and comes to a very satisfying conclusion!
Episode 203 is the second in our "Movies About Movies" pairing, and the Indie-est of Indie films done on this podcast thus far, yet is also one of the mostly strangely affecting as well. Described by one of the geeks as "A romantic comedy that segues, somewhere along the line, into a romantic fantasy," 2003's "The Movie Hero" was never released theatrically, but it won several awards throughout its two-year film festival exhibition! Written and directed by Brad T. Gottfred, the movie follows Blake Gardner (Jeremy Sisto), self-proclaimed movie nut, as he navigates his daily life, all the while talking to "his audience," invisible to everyone but Blake. In his efforts to be a good movie hero for his audience, he spots a suspicious character (Peter Stormare) who becomes the problem he must solve. He then recruits a sidekick (Brian White) but, before they can head off to defeat the bad guy, Blake is arrested. He then meets his court-assigned therapist, Elizabeth (Dina Meyer), who Blake immediately decides is his love interest, and begins telling her all about his audience and why the suspicious character must be stopped. Although not a unanimously positive review, this film has more production value, and more heart, than many films with larger budgets, and is absolutely beloved of one of the trio! Plus, the geeks and G.I.T. reveal which two "fish out of water" comedies they'll be reviewing for their next pairing!
Episode 202 begins our pairing of "Movies About Movies," whether that be making them, appreciating them, or loving them the way we do! First up, it's director Christopher Guest's first feature film, 1989's "The Big Picture." Written by Guest, Michael Varhol, and Michael McKean, the story follows award-winning (in school) director Nick Chapman, newly graduated, entering the hard-to-navigate waters of the Hollywood film system. This is made all the more difficult by a couple of sharks in those waters, producer Allen Habel (J.T. Walsh) and selfishly avaricious actress Gretchen (Teri Hatcher in her first big-screen role). Their influence has Nick losing his girlfriend Susan (Emily Longstreth) and his best friend Emmet (Michael McKean), until a chance re-meeting with film school buddy Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh) sets him on a path that, strangely enough, guides him back to his roots. A film that roasts Hollywood even as it's saluting it and playing with its traditions and behaviors, plus a plethora of cameos!
Episode 201 is the 2nd in our pairing of Best Picture Academy Award-winning films that seriously underperformed at the box office when they first came out. This time, we move ahead to 1954 and a film that's considered one of the classic films to be made in the 50s, a film that was mired in controversy (and still is for some), but cemented Marlon Brando's place as Hollywood royalty: "On The Waterfront." Directed by Elia Kazan (a hero to some, villain to others, for "naming names" during the House Un-American Activities Committee pursuit of Communists in Hollywood), the film stars Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, and introduced the world to Eva Marie Saint. Perhaps an attempt to get back at Arthur Miller, perhaps an attempt to make up for his HUAC testimony, one thing is for certain: This is an American classic for all times, and netted eight Oscars in 1955! Plus, the trio reveal which two "Movies about making movies" they'll be reviewing for the next pairing!
Episode 205 completes our "Fish Out of Water" pairing and, once again, the fishes are from New York. This time, however, they land in a small town in Alabama, in its courthouse, and dealing with one of it's old-school judges in 1992's "My Cousin Vinny!" Directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Dale Launer, this is the film that won Marisa Tomei an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Bill (Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) are heading to college. After they stop at a store in a small town in Alabama, they are mistaken for two guys who robbed the store they stopped at and shot the clerk. In desperation, they reach out to "the lawyer in the family," Bill's cousin Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci). Vinny arrives in NY style, complete with New York fiance Mona Lisa Vito (Tomei) in tow. But when he appears before long-time judge Chamberlain Haller (Fred Gwynne), and faces off against the town DA Jim Trotter III (Lane Smith) as well as the town's head of law enforcement, Sheriff Farley (Bruce McGill), Vinny realizes that he's out of his league, but he still has family who are innocent of the charges being levied against them! A wonderful film full of real characters (in more than one sense of the word), masterful dialogue, authentic courtroom procedure, and true genius comedy! Plus, the trio reveal which classic comedy star they're paying tribute to in the next episode! 
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