Much Ado About Nothing

Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Reed Diamond, Clark Gregg, Tom Lenk

After directing Marvel’s The Avengers, Joss Whedon could have made any movie he wanted – and that’s exactly what he did. Instead of diving head-first into another big-budget, special effects blockbuster, Whedon decided to shoot a black-and-white adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Shot in 12 days at Joss Whedon’s house, this film adaptation uses the original text while putting a contemporary spin on the classic story, making extensive use of actors from the Whedon universe.

Much Ado About Nothing stars Amy Acker (Angel) as Beatrice and Alexis Denisof (Dollhouse) as Benedick, sparring lovers caught in a dark, sexy, and sometimes absurd contest of love and romance. The film also stars Fran Kranz (Cabin in the Woods) as Count Claudio and newcomer Jillian Morgese as Hero, his would-be bride.

Upstream Color
Director: Shane Carruth
Screenwriter: Shane Carruth
Cast: Amy Seimetz, Shane Carruth, Andrew Sensenig, Thiago Martins, Kathy Carruth, Meredith Burke

Synopsis: A young woman is abducted and seemingly brainwashed via an organic material harvested from a specific orchid. She later meets a man and after the two fall for each other, they come to realize he may also have been subjected to the same process. The two search urgently for a place of safety within each other and struggle to assemble the fragments of their wrecked lives as they are unknowingly drawn into the life cycle of a presence that permeates the microscopic world, moving to nematodes, plant life, livestock, and back again.

Shane Carruth‘s Upstream Color premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to an abundance of hype. Carruth’s follow-up to his fantastic 2004 time travel film, Primer, Upstream Color screened as part of SXSW‘s opening night festivities at The Stateside Theatre and ran the gauntlet of audience reaction. As moviegoers left the screening I heard “brilliant,” “profound,” “confusing,” and “fucking atrocious” within seconds of each other – a divisive, peculiar film that feels equal parts Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life), Mike Cahill (Another Earth), and Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko).

Last Time on Skull-Face Island: Faithful robotic butler Mar-10 took Adam on a magical, mysterious journey to Austin, TX, to fulfill his destiny by visiting the South by Southwest Film Festival. David, worried that he may had inadvertently killed Adam using a voodoo doll, is searching the island for his lost companion. During all of this, Tim was drunk and hallucinating after drinking two-too-many Skull-Face Island Iced Teas…

Today’s Episode: We find Adam safe and sound in Austin, TX, where he is attending movies at SXSW. Mar-10 left to take care of some robot business, but gave Adam a special two-way radio to communicate with Tim and report his experience.

We join Adam now as he contacts Tim with mini-reviews of Evil Dead and V/H/S 2. We’ll also check-in on David’s Adventure: The Mystery of the Missing Adam…

Hey Bartender
Director: Douglas Tirola
Screenwriter: Douglas Tirola
Cast: Dale DeGroff, Dushan Zaric, Jim Meehan, Sasha Petraske, Julie Reiner, Steve Schneider, Steve Carpentieri, Graydon Carter, Danny Meyer, Amy Sacco

Synopsis: Two bartenders try to achieve their dreams through bartending. An injured Marine turns his goals to becoming a principal bartender at the best cocktail bar in the world. Featuring the world’s most renowned bartenders and access to the most exclusive bars in New York, this is the story of the comeback of the cocktail and the rebirth of the bartender. — 4th Row Films

“The culture of drink endures because it offers so many rewards… above all the elusive promise of friendship and love” — Pete Hamill

At Employees Only in New York City, craft bartender Steve Schneider concocts fancy cocktails like the Mata Hari: Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac shaken with Chai-Infused Italian Vermouth & Pomegranate Juice, served straight up. Here the bartender is the royalty of the working class – a mixologist and mad scientist held in the same regard as the top chefs in the city.

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Hello There! This is Adam Frazier and you are listening to Skull-Face Island, the official movie podcast of Geeks of Doom! As always I’m joined by the Sandworm to my Beetlejuice, David Allen… and the Island’s 2013 Men’s Doubles Tennis Co-Champion, producer Tim Grant.

Today on the Show: We’ll discuss the latest news regarding Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, and the 2013 South by Southwest Film Festival. As you know, we typically review a new release thanks to the amazing treehouse technology at our disposal – but due to unforeseen circumstances (tropical storm), our satellite dish has been knocked out so we had to dig into the archives for a Retro-Review. This week’s movie: Ron Underwood‘s immortal classic, TREMORS.