One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!***
141. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Directed by Eric Appel)
The Movie: Young Al Yankovic (Richard Aaron Anderson) wants to play the accordion. His father (Toby Huss) who works at The Factory, doesn’t want his son to be involved in music, he wants him to work at the Factory too. His mother (Julianne Nicholson) encourages him to follow his dream of “arguably the most famous accordion player in an extremely specific genre of music!”
One day and accordion salesman (Thomas Lennon) appears at the Yankovic’s door and after he is nearly beaten to death by Al’s father, his mother decides to buy Al an accordion and promiser not to tell his father.
We flash forward to Teenage Al (David Bloom) who one-night sneaks out of his home to go to a polka party! There he is challenged to the accordion and blows everyone away with his incredible playing skills. After the cops bust the party up, an ashamed Al returns home and gets into a fight with his parents, causing him to leave.
Let’s now join Al (Daniel Radcliffe) in California with his roommates, Steve (Spencer Treat Clark), Bermuda (Tommy O’Brien) and Jim (Jack Lancaster). He tells them that all he wants to do is take a song that someone else has already written and change the lyrics, while making his roommates bologna sandwiches, The Knacks’ “My Sharona” plays on the radio. In a bolt of genius, Al writes the immortal “My Bologna”. Soon his song is a massive hit and Al steps out to try his songs and accordion out in the real world.
In a biker bar, Al performs “I Love Rocky Road” to an appreciative crowd, and learns that his roommates are all accomplished musicians. Al also catches the eye of Dr. Demento (Rainn Wilson) who takes the young Yankovic under his wing. But first, Al needs a stage name, thus “Weird Al” is born!
Al finds himself at a pool party, where the guests are dismissive of Al. Wolfman Jack (Jack Black) challenges Al to prove he is no fluke by demanding a parody of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”. Al feels the pressure as the guests include Andy Warhol (Conan O’Brien) and Queen’s bassist John Deacon (David Dastmalchian). Al launches into “Another One Rides the Bus” blowing the minds of Pee-Wee Herman (Jorma Taccone), Tiny Tim (Demetri Martin), Alice Cooper (Akiva Schaffer) and more.
After appearing on Oprah (Quinta Brunson) and explaining the “Yankovic Bump” where artists want Al to parody their songs. Dr. Demento wants Al to expand as an artist and come up with an original song, Al refuses but after he eats guacamole laced with LSD, he comes up with his 100% original song, “Eat It”.
Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood) wanting a piece of the “Yankovic Bump” pursues Al which leads them to a torrid love affair, with Madonna introducing Al to drugs and alcohol. Before Al is about to perform one night he learns Michael Jackson has parodied “Eat It” with “Beat It”. Al in enraged that people will assume “Eat It” is a parody of “Beat It”.
After suffering a near-fatal car accident, Al awakens from a coma in a burst of energy and writes “Like A Surgeon”. Al leaves the hospital and performs “Like A Surgeon” and is arrested for lewdness.
After Al is released from jail, he confides in Madonna that he’s hurt everyone he knows and she is all he has left. While at a diner, Madonna is kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s (Arturo Castro) men. After Al kills them, he goes on a mission to save Madonna. Al saves Madonna, kills a bunch of drug guys, including Pablo Escobar and asks Madonna to return with him. Madonna refuses and becomes a drug lord.
Al returns home and works in The Factory. Al’s father confronts his son and says the factory was never for him. Al’s father revels to him that he was once Amish and he was excommunicated for playing accordion. Al learns about his father’s song “Amish Paradise” which he performs at an award show. Al wins an award and is then assassinated by Madonna’s henchmen.
Why I Love Weird: The Al Yankovic Story: I grew up loving “Weird Al”. I still love “Weird Al”. I still go to his concerts and listen to his music. The idea of Al making a 100% true story of his life sold me.
In all seriousness, the way the film touches on all the cliches of a music bio-pic is awesome. It is funny, and the jokes come at you a mile a minute. Daniel Radcliffe is amazing as “Weird Al”. Radcliffe understands that in films like this you must 100% commit to the script seriously. Don’t oversell the dialogue, treat it like a serious piece of cinema and the results speak for themselves. Leslie Nielson really honed this in his Police Squad! and Naked Gun days, and Radcliffe proves he is just as good.
It’s also a movie that is really fun to see with a crowd. When I saw this in theaters, every celebrity cameo got a huge reaction and the audience was fully invested in the film.
I also love the darker humor in it. My favorite “Weird Al” songs are his originals as most of them have a hint of darkness to them.
From a funny look at “Weird Al’s” “life” to the unusual actin movie/revenge thriller in the final act, Weird: The Al Yankovic story is a gut busting look at one of the biggest music acts ever in an extremely specific style of music.