movies

For Frosty Die-Hards who Actually Love Wonderful Xmas Stories

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By John Lyle Belden

As we proceed into December, it’s time we put aside our worries over politics and international strife to consider truly important questions, such as:

  • Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie – I mean, it absolutely is, right?
  • Does “Prancer” still count?
  • And, can we get ever get enough Jimmy Stewart?

Explore these vital issues with folks who clearly have issues – in “A Very Phoenix Xmas: It’s a Wonderful Die Hard Life Story Actually,” directed and curated by Claire Wilcher. It’s like the beloved performer and intimacy expert worked on an in-depth project on holiday television and cinema, but she took one of those Siberian Santa mushrooms (see the show for context).

Our up-for-anything cast of Matthew Altman, Paige Neely, Devan Mathias, Zachariah Stonerock, and Kelsey Van Voorst take on a series of skits by Wilcher, Jeff Clawson, Steve Moulds, Zack Neiditch, KT Peterson, Mookie Harris, Steven Korbar, Bennett Ayres, and the return of Mark Harvey Levine’s “A Requiem for Shermy,” one of the best tributes to the Peanuts Christmas Special. In video bits between scenes, Wilcher joins in on some classic holiday movie moments.

This show gets a little spooky at times, a lot funny throughout, and just one degree from Kevin Bacon. We’ve seen Mathias and Van Voorst deliver the silly before, and they are at the top of their game here, as well as charming Neely and ever-fabulous Altman; meanwhile Stonerock excels at Pythonesque straight-man delivery, as well as the task of doing likely the most imitated-for-laughs voice in Hollywood history.

Looks like the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre’s holiday tradition is here to stay (through Dec. 22) and in good hands. It’s on the mainstage at 705 N. Illinois St., downtown Indianapolis; get tickets at phoenixtheatre.org.

‘Ship of Dreams’ surfaces again

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By John Lyle Belden

December of 1997 saw the release of a film that at the time of its premiere was heralded as possibly the most expensive, overwrought flop ever to come out of Hollywood. But to everyone’s shock, it somehow failed to fail, breaking box office records, taking in billions of dollars, and winning numerous awards.

This sure-fire bomb didn’t sink despite its numerous production issues and cost-overruns, bladder-testing length, whining earworm of a featured song, exploitation of over a thousand deaths to deliver an improbable romantic plot, and even the presence of Billy Zane. It is suspected the movie was buoyed by past and eventual Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and the incomparable Kathy Bates, but I believe a lack of talking dolphins is to blame.

Fortunately, local hero Paige Scott and her Working Class Socialite company have risen from the depths of the Indianapolis comedy/improv scene to finally present James Carmeron’s “Titanic” as the absurd farce it was meant to be. Revised and expanded from its 2023 IndyFringe Festival premiere, “Ship of Dreams” sails (and sinks) again!

Courtney McClure and Elysia Rohn portray old and young Rose, Hannah Boswell is Jack, Shelby Myers is Ismay, Meg McLane is Billy, Tracy Herring is Kathy, Ariel Laukins is the First Mate, and Brittany Magee is Rose’s Mom, the Iceberg, and in an Award-Worthy Performance, the ship’s Propeller. Jason Adams gives us The Captain and all the visual effects you will ever need (where’s his Oscar?).

You’ll laugh; you’ll cr-, I mean laugh some more; you’ll not give a cuss about the room-on-the-door meme because there is just too much other weird and silly stuff going on to care. Still, in its near-faithful (though mercifully 90 minute) ultra-low-budget recreation of the major beats of the film (plus swipes at Leo’s other roles and such) Scott and friends slip in a bit of a tribute to what made this wreck of a movie such a magical event a little over 25 years ago.

Warm up the Model T (clean the backseat first) and head over to the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre at 719 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis for performances Thursday through Sunday, April 18-21. Get tickets at indyfringe.org.

The movie-themed game for everyone

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With Christmas gift shopping hitting its peak, we’re providing some reviews of games we’ve discovered.
Double Feature game
By Wendy Carson

“Double Feature” is THE must-have game for any party or gathering.

While many movie games require you to know specific details and trivia of films, all you need here is to be able to name the title of a movie that has two items in common. Even if you haven’t seen many movies, you can still play along.

The rules are very basic: You have seven sets of cards representing different categories: PROP, LOCATION, CHARACTER, SCENE, a THEME or GENRE, SETTING, and PRODUCTION. Two different category cards are then turned over, and the first player to name a movie that contains both of the listed elements wins a card. Another card is played to replace the awarded one and the game continues.

An example of game play would be: CHARACTER, “Lions, Tigers or Bears,” and PRODUCTION, “Musical” – answers can range from “The Lion King” to “The Wizard of Oz,” or you could argue the film of “Les Miserables” for the sung line “…the tigers come at night…”

What makes this game such a hit is that you can’t help but participate. Every time I have played it, someone always says they “just want to watch,” and they always end up playing along. In fact, I have seen people just walking past the table during a game who have jumped in and played as well. Even the most game-averse people have enjoyed playing. Also, I have never seen this game not continue until all of the cards were used.

Plus, it is easy to understand and fun for young or old alike. Once you play it, you will have to get your own copy so that it’s always available to enliven any gathering. If you give this game as a gift, don’t be surprised if you end up playing it through at least once before you are finished unwrapping the other gifts.

Published by Renegade Game Studios, “Double Feature” is available at game shops and major retailers. For information, see www.renegadegamestudios.com.