Hello, hello, hello! Film and Book Club is the newest club at WSUM. We meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7 pm and alternate weekly between being a movie-watching club and book club! We also talk about our favorite movies/books, hot takes, rank things on lists, and so much more.
We don’t require or ask members to read/watch certain books/movies, just bring yourself and whatever you are reading and talk about whatever you like to watch.
We cannot wait to see you next Tuesday, and here are some updates from us!
Our Current Comfort TV Shows:
- Abbot Elementary
- Arrested Development
- Gilmore Girls
- Adventure Time
- New Girl
- West Wing
- Ghost
- Modern Family
Our, Collective, October Reads:
- The Marrow of Tradition
- If We Were Villains
- I heard you paint houses
- Braiding Sweetgrass
- The Communist Manifesto
- Great Expectations
- Klara in the Sun
- All This Could Be Different
- Remnants of the Day
- Frog and Toad
- Driving in Cars with Boys
- The Development of an Artist
Album of the month: Songs, Adrianne Lenker
Hot take debate of the month: Is candy corn… actually good?
Let’s Talk about Fantastic Mr. Fox (screened on 10/4)
If I could describe Fantastic Mr. Fox in three words it would be “Fantastic,” “Mr.,” and “Fox” in that order. The 2009 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story uniquely exists as a pretty movie to play in the background as well as an extremely thought-provoking movie if you pay attention to the themes.
I first saw this movie when I was 8 years old when it came out in 2009, and I liked it because the animals were scruffy and cute, but watching the movie again in 2022 I noticed a few things. This movie drifts away from the children’s story by giving Mr. Fox insane depth. This husband/father is shown as being selfish by constantly making decisions that could become detrimental to his family and himself making the audience question whether or not he’s as fantastic as we’re told he is.
In addition to being a beautifully made movie, this is a Fantastic must-see (or re-watch) for the fall season.
– Lauren Hicks
When I think of a film that is the perfect combination of youthful nostalgia and thought-provoking themes, I think of Fantastic Mr. Fox. Based on the children’s novel by Roald Dahl, this stop motion movie follows Mr. Fox, a retired thief who, after growing tired of his journalism job and “feeling poor,” decides to go on a big heist of the three major farmers of his area: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Mr. Fox giving into his animal instincts creates a wild chain of events that puts his neighbors, friends, and family right in the middle of his hijinks. The combination of colorful theatrics, unique animation, and a star-studded vocal cast of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Willem Defoe, Bill Murray, and more keeps the audience engaged from the beginning to the end of the film. While this film might not be the first that comes to mind when you think about fall movies, Fantastic Mr. Fox’s heartwarming story with stunning visuals gives off the perfect autumn vibes and should be added to your fall watch list this year.
– Paige Barber
An unofficial ranking of the Fall months:
- October
- November
- September
- August
Best “Fall” Movies:
Halloween
Nightmare on Elm street
Nightmare Before Christmas
Paranorman
Halloweentown
Twitches
Dead Poets Society
Donnie Darko
Knives Out
October Sky
Little Women
When Harry Met Sally
Coraline
Hocus pocus
Fantastic Mr. Fox
We watched Dead Poets Society (screened on 10/18)
A Silly Ranking of Book to Movie Adaptations:
Farewell:
We hope you enjoyed hearing from us. Watch a fun movie, read a cool book and come say hello!
Happy November!
Xoxo
Film/Book Club
