Fortunately, they don't make a lot of bad movies, they make a lot of good movies, and that's what makes it such a fine art. It's not like music, where you have a lot of bad songs.
— Gregg
| On Cinema at the Cinema | |
| Season | 4 |
|---|---|
| Episode | 6 |
| Hosts | Gregg Turkington |
| Guests | Larry Turman |
| Released | February 12, 2014 |
| Films reviewed | Girl on a Bicycle (2013, 96 mins.) Endless Love (2014, 105 mins.) |
| Popcorn Classics | Medicine Man (1992, 106 mins.) |
| Segments | Popcorn Classics |
| Runtime | 6 min. 14 sec. |
| Video link | YouTube |
Gregg keeps the host seat warm with Tim away, and wastes no time delving into refined foreign film criticism with a very esteemed guest.
After a brand-new intro, Gregg appears wearing his popcorn-butter-yellow On Cinema polo shirt, sitting in the host seat in place of Tim, who is out today for medical reasons. His special guest is fellow film buff and expert Larry Turman, a film professor at the University of Southern California, and an Academy Award-nominated producer.
They jump straight into the reviews, starting with Girl on a Bicycle, a German romantic comedy. Gregg reads the cast and synopsis as per usual, remarking that the “international” cast members are “no Harrison Ford, but they'll do.” He describes the film as “a ménage à trois, as they say in foreign films,” and says it is not as good as Bond film, but he still enjoyed it and awards it five bags. Larry only gives it three bags. He remarks that he would give Woody Allen's film from the previous year (referring to Blue Jasmine) five bags. Gregg tells Larry about his interview with Joe Estevez about Woody Allen, prompting Larry to ask if the show is about personalities or movies. Gregg makes clear he wants to return the show to its “real roots” of film criticism.
Next up is Endless Love, a romantic drama. Gregg describes it as “a fun movie, a little painful at times.” This seemingly contradictory review elicits an acerbic comment from Larry about Gregg's critical insight. Gregg, caught a bit off guard, jumps straight into Popcorn Classics.
His selection is Medicine Man, a Sean Connery film. Larry says he doesn't remember the film, but Gregg describes it as “unforgettable” and “an instant classic at the time.” This causes Larry to question Gregg's legitimacy as a film expert, and Gregg responds by showing him a list of the films he has watched in his 500 Movies in 500 Days campaign. Unimpressed, Larry says he only wants to see good movies, and Gregg concurs, opining that “they don't make a lot of bad movies,” unlike other art forms such as music.
Larry doesn't know what to make of that statement. He suggests Gregg make movies like he has for 40 years. Gregg replies that he doesn't feel qualified to do so, but Larry says he is talking as if he is. Gregg interprets that comment as a compliment, and insists he is qualified to review movies, but Larry interrupts him to demand he explain what makes him qualified. Gregg offers that he has “one of the biggest video libraries in the state,” and shows Larry the coding label on the Medicine Man tape, explaining his VHS Coding System. Larry says he is impressed, and calls Gregg an expert- in filing. Gregg chooses not to engage further, and closes the show by criticizing Tim's usual non-film-related activities.
Girl on a Bicycle (2013, 96 mins.)
Gregg: 5 bags of popcorn
Larry: 3 bags of popcorn
Endless Love (2014, 105 mins.)
Gregg: 5 bags of popcorn
Larry: No rating given