That Thing You Do!

1996

Director: Tom Hanks

Composer: Howard Shore

Distributor: Fox Movies

Key Elements: Lines – Characters – Message – Music

My Review:

I grew up on oldies so when this movie came out, I was stoked. Amazingly all the original songs in the movie SOUND like they belong to the time they were written for. Well done.

Also, I had a huge crush on Liv Tyler’s character, Faye – so that helped my enjoyment of the film.

The story tracks a band as it goes from garage obscurity to wild success to an ultimate breakup. It’s a great ride along the way as we get to know the characters – Lenny’s quips especially are hysterical.

But the message of the movie comes from the interesting juxtaposition between Jimmie and Guy.

Jimmie is truly talented and we are told he goes on to be wildly successful in the music industry. He is driven, but his drive leaves him, in the end, alone and unhappy.

Guy on the other hand is also talented, but he is less driven. His interest is not for the success, but for the music itself. We see his genuine love for the music throughout - from his late night solo drum sessions to his awe of meeting and jamming with his idol, soulful Jazz musician Dell Paxton. Though Guy finds some success as a musician, it never matches Jimmie’s. All the same, in the end, Guy is in love and happy.

The message is about being genuine and not selling out. Jimmie was a sell out – though he got what he thought he wanted, he wasn’t happy. Guy on the other hand was genuine, and he got everything he wanted – the music AND the girl.

Interesting note: The film’s fictional record company, Playtone, became the name of Tom Hank’s production company after this film was made.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Hey, wasn't that our fan?
• You mean actually make a record? A record record, record?
• Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Gimme a pen, I'm signin'! You're signin'! We're all signin'!
• You guys look great in black, have I told you that?
• You guys look great in gold, have I told you that?
• You guys look great in red, have I told you that?
• You see, we're not "The Wonders" right now. We're "Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters"
• It is very important that you don't stink today.
  - Hey, I make no guarantees.
• Where was I? Oh yeah, playing songs on my guitar.
• She told me never trust a label. And I'm beginning to believe her.
  - Well, sure. I mean, come on. They put us up in a first class hotel, all expenses paid, while our record climbs the charts; bunch of lyin' snakes.
  Sorry I'm buggin' you! I guess I'm alone in my principles.
  - Oh come on. Oh, there he goes off to his room to write that hit song "Alone in my principles."
• I have wasted thousands and thousands of kisses on you - kisses that I thought were special because of your lips and your smile and all your color and life. I used to think that was the real you, when you smiled. But now I know you don't mean any of it. You just save it for all your songs. Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight.
• Shoulda dumped you in Pittsburgh! …Which one of you butts said we were engaged?
  - The same person who said you had class, Jimmy.
• But we still have a hit record.
  - Yes, you do… The one-hit Wonders - A very common tale.
• You know, Horace was right about you, Guy; you are the smart one. Lenny is the fool, Jimmy is the... talent, and Faye is... well, now, Faye is special, isn't she? And you are the smart one. That's what I think, anyway
• Was she a good kisser?
  - Yeah.
  Yeah?
  - It would be ungentlemanly of me to elaborate. Gentleman. I'd forgotten what you guys looked like.
• When was the last time you were decently kissed? I mean, truly, truly, good and kissed?

Stills:

Band of Brothers

2001

Director: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg & various others

Distributor: HBO

Key Elements: Message, Visuals, Concept, Lines, Characters

My Review:

This dramatization of Stephen Ambrose’s book follows the 101st airborne Easy Company from it’s training at Curahee to the Normandy invasion to Bastogne to Hitler’s Mansion.
Each episode opens and closes with footage of interviews with surviving troops from Easy Company giving the story eerie realism.

With amazing visuals and a heartbreaking narrative, this is a tour du force of war drama. Excellent in every aspect.

Intro:



Quotes:

• “From this day to the ending of the world we in it shall be remembered. We lucky few, we band of brothers. For he who today sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.”
• We're paratroopers, Lieutenant, we're supposed to be surrounded
• "They got me." You believe that? You believe I said that?
• Once we get into combat, the only people you can trust is yourself and the fella next to you.
• That night, I thanked God for seeing me through that day of days and prayed I would make it through D plus 1. I also promised that if some way I could get home again, I would find a nice peaceful town and spend the rest of my life in peace.
• You know why they volunteered? Because they knew that the man in the foxhole next to them would be the best. Not some draftee who's going to get them killed.
• …What if you'd won? Don't ever put yourself in the position where you can take from these men.
• Remember boys, flies cause disease, so keep yours closed!
• It's called wounded, Peanut. Injured is when you fall out of a tree or something.
• Maybe that's because Tertius knew there was some value to the men thinking he was the meanest, toughest sonofabitch in the whole Roman Legion.
• We're all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function. Without mercy. Without compassion. Without remorse. All war depends upon it.
• How do I feel about being rescued by Patton? Well I'd feel pretty peachy, except for one thing, we didn't fuckin' need to be rescued by Patton. Got that?
• Hey Janovek, what ya reading?
  -An article.
  No shit. What's it about?
  -It's about why we're fightin' the war.
  Why are we fighting the war, Janovek?
  - It appears the Germans are bad, very bad.
  You don't say. The Germans are bad, huh? …Hey Frank, this guy is reading and article, that says the Germans *are bad*.
• Hey this guy says he's not a Nazi. All of Germany and I haven't met one Nazi yet.
• Hey, you! That's right, you stupid Kraut bastards. That's right. Say hello to Ford, and General fuckin' Motors. You stupid fascist pigs. Look at you. You have horses. What were you thinking? Dragging our asses half way around the world, interrupting our lives. For what, you ignorant, servile scum. What the fuck are we doing here?
• I treasure my remark to a grandson who asked, "Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?" "No", I answered, "But I served in a company of heroes".

Stills: