Philosophilm III is on the calendar

Date: Jan. 22, 2009

Time: 6:30 pm

Place: Badger Room, Holiday Inn Express, 515 W. Verona Ave., Verona

Beverages and Snacks Provided.

Vote on January's film at meetup.com/philosophilm.

Your options: 

Groundhog Day (1993) - A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.

Signs (2003) - A family living on a farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields which suggests something more frightening to come.

There Will Be Blood (2007) - A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector ini the early days of the business.

For the Record...

This Sunday is Philosophilm II.

New location: Holiday Inn Express (Badger Room), 515 W. Verona Ave, Verona, WI.

New time: Movie starts at 6 pm, discussion to follow.

New movie: Citizen Kane.  Scroll down for a head's up on the discussion questions.

Citizen Kane Discussion Questions

In five days, Philosophilm will be viewing and discussing what many call the greatest movie ever, Citizen Kane. I sat down and watched the movie for the first time last week. Here's some discussion questions we'll be working on, some from me, some from internet gleaning:

1. The reporter Jerry Thompson said, "I don't think any word can explain a man's life." Ignoring Thompson's comment, if you were assigned the task of writing Charles Foster Kane's epitaph, what would it be? ("Rosebud" is not allowed.)
2. After viewing the movie, how do you feel about Charles Kane? Pity? Anger? Admiration? How do you think Orson Welles and the filmmakers wanted you to feel about Kane?
3. How does Charles Kane's love of power result in the alienation of his friends, family, and close acquaintances? How does it lead to his demise?
4. Despite having completely different backgrounds, what is the unifying factor for Kane's two ex-wives?
5. What did Kane want out of life? 
6. How do the movie's opening and closing scenes differ from the story of his life?

Should be another fun discussion.  Remember to RSVP on the Meetup.com site.

"Rosebud"

It's arguably the greatest movie of all time. Interestingly, I've never heard anyone make that argument, but most of my friends think Dumb and Dumber was the greatest movie of all time. The critics, AFI powers, and Hollywood reviewers put Citizen Kane at the top. 

I personally have never seen the movie and admit that it's sometimes hard to pick a film from 1941 when you have three kids crying out for Kung Fu Panda.

So this month at Philosophilm, we'll take the opportunity to view and discuss a movie that everyone says you should have already watched. That's part of the greatness of Philosophilm.  We also check things off your life's To Do List. 

Check back here in a few weeks for a few preview questions.  On Nov. 23, we'll also find out what "Rosebud" means.

Voting Is Open

Last month it was a comedic drama / dramatic comedy (The Truman Show).  This month we give you the vote (it is November of an election year).  Your options include an historical drama, a superhero movie, a sci-fi flick, and a classic.

Go to www.meetup.com/philosophilm and click on polls to vote on the film we show on Nov. 23.  While there, feel free to rsvp for the Nov. 23 Meetup.

The contestants are:

There Will Be Blood (2007) - A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.

Batman Begins (2005) - The story of how Bruce Wayne became what he was destined to be: Batman.

The Matrix (1999) - A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against the controllers of it.

Citizen Kane (1941) - Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.

Meetup #2 Is now on the Calendar

Date: Nov. 23, 2008
Time: 6 pm
Place: Badger Room, Holiday Inn Express, 515 W. Verona Ave., Verona
Coffee, soda, and popcorn provided.

Vote on November's film at www.meetup.com/philosophilm.

Discussion Questions for the Truman Show

SPOILER ALERT!!!  If somehow you don't know the premise of this film or haven't seen it, you may want to stop reading.

We're looking at a decent turnout for Meeting #1 of Philosophilm.  Interested people have found us through our Meetup site. Other non-Meetupers are coming through good old-fashioned face-to-face invitations as well as the obligatory Facebook group.

So here's some of the discussion questions I'll be throwing out there the evening of the 19th. Feel free to chime in now if you can't wait.

1. Will Truman be happier on the outside?  Should he have stayed in Seahaven?  In other words, is ignorance of reality bliss?
2. In what ways does Truman's relationship with the perceived world (Seahaven) differ from that of a normal human being?
3. To what extent are humans shaped by their environment?  What personality traits are inherent to Truman Burbank and what are products of Christof and Seahaven?
4. Is Truman free?  In Seahaven?  Outside?
5. Is Christof right when he says there is no more reality in the real world than in Seahaven?
6. Truman has an epiphany that radically changes how he views the world.  Have you ever had such a moment?

To give credit where credit is due, I'll freely admit that I ripped off a lot of these questions from sites like this.

The Truman Show

Place: Wildcat Lanes, 415 W. Verona Ave., Verona, WI - look for the signs or ask for the banquet room.  Drinks and food available for purchase.

Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 19, 6:30 PM (right after the Packers game)

What's showing?  The Truman Show - View the trailer below.

What are we discussing?

Where to start?  The first time I saw this movie, I had somehow remained ignorant of the show's premise or and had not seen the trailer.  Early in the movie when the stage light fell from the sky, I was clueless along with Truman Burbank.  Since then this film's been a gem for discussion questions like: 

• Is Truman's experience and "awakening" parallel to our own existence?
  
• Is Truman better or worse after his awakening?
  
• Are human beings controlled by their environment?
  
• Is Christof and the network similar to God?
  

And that doesn't even touch the free will / determinism themes.  Should be a fun inaugural meeting. 

Please RSVP at our Meetup.com site.

What Is Philosophilm?

The Matrix, Batman Begins, The Truman Show, Children of Men ... films are so much more than simple entertainment.

Philosophilm is a monthly gathering of film buffs, amateur philosophers, and those who appreciate the intersection of culture and philosophical thinking.  Our first film will be shown in the Banquet Room of Wildcat Lanes in Verona, WI in October of 2008.  The movie will start at 6:30 PM and will be followed by an hour (or so) of discussion.  

The event is sponsored by Living Hope Church as a way to get people talking about important things like art and life.  All are welcome.