A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of lab rats racing through a maze to get the "cheese" much like society racing to get ahead financially. The term is commonly associated with an exhausting, repetitive lifestyle that leaves no time for relaxation or enjoyment.
The Disaster Artist
The Disaster Artist, starring James and Dave Franco, is a movie with many, many layers. It is a film based on a book of the same title which is based on the making of a different film, called The Room. If that sounds familiar to you, it’s because The Room has a massive cult following and is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made.
You don’t need to have seen The Room to appreciate The Disaster Artist as a piece of cinema, but it certainly helps. The director and writers packed the film with countless references to the events of the film, going as far to remake the most iconic scenes shot for shot and showing those scenes side by side with the original source footage. It’s especially fun to see how the cast and crew reacted some of the more outlandish things that happened on the set.
Part of what give The Disaster Artist its charm is that it is absolutely stacked with comedy veterans. Pretty much every role is filled by someone who is hilarious and recognizable, including James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan, Paul Sheer, Nathan Fielder, Jason Mantzoukas, Alison Brie, Hannibal Burress, Sharon Stone, June Diane Raphael, and Zac Efron among many, many others.
James Franco, in particular, gives an amazing performance as Tommy Wiseau, the enigmatic writer, director, producer, and star of the film equivalent of The Titanic. For the uninitiated, Tommy Wiseau is a bizarre character that in all likelihood may be an alien sent from outer space to document humanity, as he has a very… distinct look and way of talking and refuses to disclose where he comes from or how old he is. James Franco clearly put in hours of work as he captures Wiseau’s unique way of speaking and carrying himself.
Overall, The Disaster Artist is really a love letter to all of the fans of The Room and a completely solid movie in its own right. Will it sweep the Academy Awards? Probably not, but it’s safe to say that this movie has solidified itself in the annals of comedy history due to its stellar cast and faithful depiction of the subject matter. This movie cannot be recommended highly enough.
SOTW: Foundings Fathers
This is all 100% factually true.
Ross and Roberts Manufacturing
The gang went on another urban exploration excursion. This time they went into the sleepy suburbs of Connecticut and plumbed the strikingly beautiful depths of Ross and Roberts Manufacturing. Check out their photos below.
Keith
Mick
Taylor
NTWON: Saving Capitalism
This month's Nothing to Watch on Netflix is a documentary called Saving Capitalism, which follows former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
This documentary gives viewers an inside look as Reich travels across the country promoting his book, which is also titled Saving Capitalism, in addition to speaking with "real" average Americans about their opinions of the current economic system and how it affects their day to day lives.
In spite of the title, this movie is very critical of the present way we have organized our society. Armed with a wealth of easily digestible statistics, Reich makes a strong case for reform across a wide swath of fields including lobbying, campaign finance, and inequality.
Reich works hard to reach people of all kinds of ideologies. He meets with average working stiffs, hardcore conservatives, and even sitting politicians. No matter who he meets, everyone agrees that the current system does little to benefit the average American voter and that there needs to be a change made soon before everything falls apart.
In spite of the wholly depressing subject matter, the film has a very positive tone and Reich seems confident that the system can be reformed so that it works for the average person instead of moneyed interests. It's up to the individual viewers to examine the proof and decide for themselves whether or not reform is possible.
Paradoxical - Christian Miller
While he was visiting Erector Square, Mick met the artist Christian Miller and fell in love with his haunting and visceral paintings. He was so impressed that he invited Christian to share more of his work on ALSO THAT.
“The task of the artist is paradoxical by nature. He strives to create all at once the essence of an emotional moment to be recreated endlessly in the viewer’s mind. In this sense the artist is defining the moment of the present to be recreated infinitely as far as the mind can imagine. Capturing as a photo captures a precise moment of joy, despair, harmony or discord, the artist expresses the event and at the same time conveys the sense of that event.
”
Erector Square Open Studios
A few weeks back, the talented artists of Erector Square Art Studios in New Haven, CT opened their studios to the public. Mick took some pictures of the occasion.
SOTW: If Jesus Returned
Jesus probably should have gone to JFK instead.
Veteran's Day
Though it may be belated, Mick read his poem Veteran's Day to celebrate the holiday.
November has come in a cloak of gray
and amid the harvest and proud display
of leaves changing and falling away
the town has gathered with no delay
to honor their son who's found his way
back from the battlefield- let us pray
and honor him on this Veteran's Day.
That's my boy, look at him
there in uniform proper and prim.
I can't forget the day he answered the call
to shoulder the burden and fight for us all.
I was scared but proud to see him go.
Even happier when I learned he was coming home.
He was met with pomp and revelry
but he's quieter than he used to be.
I'm not worried, war's made him a man
and men avoid talkin' as much as they can.
That's my boy shaking hands with the mayor.
That's my boy in front of everyone there.
My boy is a hero through and through.
I bet his blood runs red, white, and blue.
And he stood before them tall and proud
And listened to their cheers so loud
And tried to smile to please the crowd
But could not see through the swirling cloud,
of thoughts marauding through his brain un-cowed,
the words he would never speak aloud:
I am not a hero.
I'm just a guy with a job,
possibly the hardest job in the world.
I am not a hero.
Just a kid who wanted to get out
of his hometown and see the world.
It's hard to feel heroic
when I've seen my friends
get pulverized into hamburger
while standing by,
trying to keep my lunch down and
not get blown to bits myself.
I came marching home,
but what about Darius, Diego, or Sue
or the rest of Uncle Sam's children?
Instead of draping their arms
around their families,
they draped a flag
over the last place
they'll lay their heads.
I came marching home but
I'm not whole anymore.
I traded a piece of myself
for a head full of nightmares.
It could be worse-
I could have been like my brothers and sisters, who
lost eyes, thumbs, entire limbs as
they did their patriotic chore.
Even as I shake the mayor's hand and stand
before my family, my community, and
the watchful eyes of God,
I do not feel like a hero.
All I feel is gratitude–
They have not seen what I have seen.
They have not done what I have done.
And that is its own reward.
SOTW: The Face Shop
Better to have no face than be an uggo.
A Day in the Life - Taylor Raj
Taylor Raj shares his first solo photo set here on ALSO THAT. When he's not exposing the secret lives of skeletons, he's also a key player in Skeleton Assembly.
“This collection shows what skeletons are doing the rest of the year, when not being put on display for Halloween.”
SOTW: Eggplant
Eggplant is the new cheese.
NTWON: Sleeping with Other People
Instead of watching something spooky and creepy for the spookiest and creepiest month of the year, top minds at ALSO THAT figured it would be a good idea to watch Sleeping with Other People, starring Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis.
The premise is simple: Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie are terrible at dating. After losing their virginities to each other in college, they reconnect in adulthood to find that their respective romantic lives are blazing dumpster fires and agree to become friends with no benefits.
While this may sound like a recipe for every other basic-ass rom-com you've ever heard of, the thing that really sets Sleeping with Other People apart from other movies in the genre is the supporting cast. Tons of comedy veterans show up in this movie and add a personal touch to their scenes. Jason Mantzoukas and Andrea Savage kill it as the supporting couple, bringing a fresh new approach to a Rom-Com classic. Adam Scott, in addition to sporting a ridiculous porn stache, brings an understated and straightlaced energy to his role as well.
The thing that's really great about this movie is that in addition to breaking common conventions in the romantic comedy genre, the director also works hard to create a visually interesting movie as well. One particular scene stands out where Alison Brie is attempting to teach a group of children to dance while rolling on ecstasy and the world slows to show her change in perspective.
Overall, this is a light and fun movie to throw on when you're trying to relax with your significant other. Check it out!
Give Me 5 Stars - Tyrone Shoelaces
The genre-busting four-piece (with a TON of other supporting musicians in the mix) shares their new single Give Me 5 Stars right here on ALSO THAT. This song focuses on the current obsession with imaginary internet ratings and how that's probably not a great thing for humanity.
Vist their website here.
Check out their Soundcloud here.
Like them on Facebook here.
“Gimme Five Stars, which features a reggae/disco/ska beat, was written in response to the episode Nosedive, from the Netflix hit series Black Mirror. It has an unmistakable stand up and
move your feet beat that cannot be missed & reminds people of classic ska and reggae bands from the 70’s and 80’s like The Specials. It was mixed and mastered by 3 time Grammy winner Phillip Magnotti.”
In addition to their new single, Tyrone Shoelaces has brought along two other hot new tracks for you to jam out to. Give them a listen below!
SOTW: The Life of Death
Hey, it's a living.
Nobody Loses All the Time
Mick reads another poem. This time, he brought to life "Nobody Loses All the Time" by ee cummings.
nobody loses all the time
i had an uncle named
Sol who was a born failure and
nearly everybody said he should have gone
into vaudeville perhaps because my Uncle Sol could
sing McCann He Was A Diver on Xmas Eve like Hell Itself which
may or may not account for the fact that my Uncle
Sol indulged in that possibly most inexcusable
of all to use a highfalootin phrase
luxuries that is or to
wit farming and be
it needlessly
added
my Uncle Sol’s farm
failed because the chickens
ate the vegetables so
my Uncle Sol had a
chicken farm till the
skunks ate the chickens when
my Uncle Sol
had a skunk farm but
the skunks caught cold and
died and so
my Uncle Sol imitated the
skunks in a subtle manner
or by drowning himself in the watertank
but somebody who’d given my Uncle Sol a Victor
Victrola and records while he lived presented to
him upon the auspicious occasion of his decease a
scruptious not to mention splendiferous funeral with
tall boys in black gloves and flowers and everything and
i remember we all cried like the Missouri
when my Uncle Sol’s coffin lurched because
somebody pressed a button
(and down went
my Uncle
Sol
and started a worm farm)
SOTW: Being Pretty
Gotta weed out the uggos somehow, right?
Don't Watch This Shit Sponsor Shout-Out
Don't Watch This Shit is going on a little hiatus, so we wanted to send off the podcast with a bang. Also, we wanted to milk our advertisers for a lil extra money. Listen to the ads below.
Shout-out to our sponsors:
Dill Does Dildos Dildo and Sex Toy Emporium
Fartex
Euphoric
Speedking starring Rob Schnieder
Straws!
Nasty Jake's Smut Emporium
Big Bob's Foot Palace
The Washington Jews
Burt Reynold's Used Car Lot
Fisticuffs
Don and Bill's Discount Liquor Store
SOTW: If I Was God
If I was God, you'd better believe there wouldn't be such a thing as white pizza.
GreenHaus
Keith, Mick, and Taylor are back at it again with more urban exploration. This time they visited an abandoned greenhouse and nursery in the backwoods of suburban Connecticut. Check out the pictures below!
