Top 5: Films within films

5) They’re Filming Midgets (working title) – In Bruges

Despite Colin Farrell’s initial reaction to the film set, this film in production actually sounded very interesting. Somewhere between a pastiche of and a homage to Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, complete with Lynchian midget-filled dream sequence. I can see it at Sundance.

4) Angels With Filthy Souls – Home Alone

Not only does this film look like a classic of the mob movie genre from the short clip we see, but it’s dialogue is so true and so sinister that it can both provide a young boy with free pizza AND protect him from dangerous criminals. I would donate at least a fiver to the kickstarter for this film, and they can keep the change on the filthy animals.

3) Simple Jack – Tropic Thunder

It was the film which destroyed Tugg Speedman’s (Ben Stiller) career, and by the looks of it for good reason. Simple Jack is terribly written, horribly acted and extremely insensitive. But overall, I think its hilarious. I would watch Simple Jack if it was on TV. Interestingly, the titular character bears a striking resemblance from another completely terrible film I love—The Lawnmower Man.

2) Nation’s Pride – Inglourious Basterds

For a piece of Nazi propaganda, Nation’s Pride actually looked remarkably well shot. A real piece of history, if it was an actual film and not part of a subplot for a Tarantino film, it would be a mandatory watch in history courses. But I would probably give the screening a miss.

1) Birdman Returns – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Birdman was undoubtedly a great film, but the titular Birdman franchise may have been even better. While he may have Batman, I for one would love to see a feature length superhero movie featuring Michael Keaton dressed as a giant bird. I don’t know why he never made Birdman 3.