Two-Movie Tuesday: The Thing You Do!
Welcome to Two-Movie Tuesday, where every Tuesday you get succinct mini reviews (500 characters or less, count ‘em!) of two different movies with a rating out of 10 for each. Nothing more, nothing less. You might learn a bit about the movie or you might not. They’re less informative overviews or recommendations than they are tiny little journal entries I spend an agonizing and confusing amount of time on after the credits roll. But enough talking about the thing, let’s do the thing:
The Thing (1982)
Here’s the thing (sorry not sorry), this would’ve been a good movie even without those glorious and gutsy practical effects: the slow-burning plot of discovery and suspicion, the freezing Antarctica setting, the simmering tension and subtle chills of the ambiguous ending (“Why don’t we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?”). But then you add in a cavity with teeth (hah), a spider-head (“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding”), and an octopus dog and The Thing goes from good to great.
8
That Thing You Do! (1996)
It has low stakes and little weight, yet that thing it does where it applies the typical biopic rise and fall narrative to a fictional one-hit wonder band, some of whom don’t even get names, never mind character depth (we love you, TB), is uniquely engaging in its paradigmatic plot. It’s easy watching and funny in a very fun way (mostly thanks to goofball Lenny), and even has a sudden and poetic dramatic moment that somehow fits (“Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight”).
6
Would love to hear your own thoughts on this week’s pair of movies:
Until the next time I do this thing.
The Thing is astonishing! And is the kind of horror movie that will always be scary. Its power won't wane over time.
This'll rank at, like, 2/10 on the surprise scale, but my favorite part of "That Thing You Do!" is the music. Adam Schlesinger was musical savant.