An appreciation of "That Thing You Do!"

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by sloaches, Dec 25, 2014.

  1. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    There's a reason they left the extra footage on the "cutting floor". It didn't fit.
     
  2. troggy

    troggy Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow

    Location:
    Benton, Illinois
    I think some of it would have fit but they probably wanted to keep the movie to about an hour and 45 minutes. They certainly didn't cut anything essential.
     
    Grant likes this.
  3. Splungeworthy

    Splungeworthy Forum Rezidentura

    I wouldn't be surprised to see a Broadway jukebox musical along these lines in the next few years. Calling Jennifer Holliday!
     
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  4. profholt82

    profholt82 Resident Blowhard

    Location:
    West Michigan
    I could absolutely see that being a huge success. Remember when John Waters' 'Hairspray' was a cult movie from the 80s that few remembered? (Well, what Waters film isn't considered a cult classic?) And now it's a huge Broadway musical and they remade the film. I could definitey see that happening with 'That Thing.' There seems to be a Broadway market for musicals based on classic pop music right now. Hanks, or someone from his camp, should write up a treatment and strike while the iron is hot.
     
  5. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    That's not a bad idea at all.
     
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  6. JFS3

    JFS3 Senior Member

    Location:
    Hooterville
    Don't know how I missed it the first time around, but while listening to The Turtles over the weekend, I realized that Steve Zahn's character was based in part on Al Nichol, The Turtles lead guitarist. As with Zahn's character, Nichol too fell off the face of the earth after the demise of his band, only to resurface years later as the manager of a casino in Nevada.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2016
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  7. cuddlytoy

    cuddlytoy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northeast Ohio
    If I had been in the test audience, they probably would have brought the medics in to hose me down! Lol

    Like many others in this thread, I love the scene when they first hear their song on the radio. To be that young and innocent again is so tangible watching it. I'd be screaming right along with them even just sitting in the theater.

    All of the songs used in the movie were pretty typical of that time period, too. I liked the soundtrack so much that I bought that too. So I would also be hard-pressed to stay in my seat and not dance, especially during "C'mon and Dance With Me Tonight."

    The movie makes me happy, and I don't find the ending to be a downer at all. Jimmy may go on to more fame, but Guy and Faye get together. I think that their being married and his having a career doing what he loves implies he's actually the more successful one. Just the romantic in me I suppose.
     
  8. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    The fake soundtrack album was terrific, and they clearly put a lot of time and effort into those faux-'60s songs.
     
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  9. MarkTheShark

    MarkTheShark Senior Member

    A few things made more sense to me once I saw the Director's Cut. First, a little more about what a jerk Boss Vic Koss was, how they got off on the wrong foot with him. Did he deliberately screw up the sound for their performance?

    Also, knowing where they got the little radios from. Though it's a little detail. Maybe scratch that, maybe we don't have to know that.

    I get where they were going re Mr. White's personal life -- he's Brian Epstein -- but did we need to know that?

    The more I'm thinking about this (I haven't watched it in a while) the more I'm agreeing with Steve, which I didn't expect in this instance.
     
  10. jjh1959

    jjh1959 Senior Member

    Location:
    St. Charles, MO
    There are reasons films get edited.
     
  11. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    Please don't ask Gary Johnson.
     
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  12. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Just watched the DC for the first time in a long time the other day.

    The DC does make various elements clearer, but I don't think we needed that clarity. Sure, it's fun to see that Guy gave everyone transistor radios, but like you imply - who cares? When I watched the theatrical, I never wondered where they got their radios.

    And the Koss stuff is fun but has no real impact on the story. I don't think he intentionally sabotaged their show - having an incompetent act on his show reflected poorly on him as well, so I don't think he'd do anything to harm his own concert.

    The biggest problem with the DC is just that it makes the movie so damned long. Almost 2.5 hours is insane for a light tale like this!
     
  13. mdm08033

    mdm08033 Senior Member

    I just watched "Leon" aka "The Professional" with my children over the weekend. My son loaded the public library loaner Blu-ray and asked which version we should watch. I suggested the tighter paced theatrical release.
     
  14. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Anyone else think this would make a great triple feature?

    -"That Thing You Do!"
    -"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
    -"A Hard Day's Night"

    The big question: in what order to watch them???
     
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  15. dirwuf

    dirwuf Misplaced Chicagoan

    Location:
    Fairfield, CT
  16. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
  17. troggy

    troggy Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow

    Location:
    Benton, Illinois
    Looks like Guy, Jimmy and The Bass Player.
     
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  18. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    Thank you.
     
  19. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    No Zahn, no peace!
     
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  20. btomarra

    btomarra Classic Rock Audiophile

    Location:
    Little Rock, AR
    I agree that the extended cut drags the film. Even the theatrical cut has footage the EC lacks: Faye counting money while Phil Horace shows up at Villipiano's. That explains his showing their record when he meets Guy.

    One clip should have been added to the theatrical edit, is Guy buying breakfast for dinging the car. Faye thanks Guy when she leaves but there's no scene it refers back to.

    And I like how the EC softens Guy's father. In the theatrical cut he yells at Guy that "we're not selling records here." In the EC, he asks Guy how big does the display need to be.

    I do like the scene with Huey Long. And the opening scene with Tina. The ending in the EC is different and less satisfying: Guy working as a disk jockey, to him being a potential jazz drummer in the theatrical edit.

    Tom Hanks, was going for a different vision possibly before the edits. Look at T.B. Player in bed with one of the Chantrellines to just having a crush on her in the movie release.
     
  21. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    I think the theatrical "softens" Guy's dad anyway - he comes around and becomes a fan of the band like everyone else...
     
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  22. MarkTheShark

    MarkTheShark Senior Member

    But watch him in the living room when the family (and Giovanni Ribisi) are watching the Hollywood Television Showcase. He has shades on and is pretending to play the drums, but it's clear he doesn't even know the song: "I'm lovin' that thing you do...I'm lovin' it..." Unless that's not an attempt at singing but rather his own declaration that he likes it?

    I always thought it was quite funny that once Guy replaced Chad in the band, Chad replaced Guy at the store and then we even see him over at their house, like he also replaced Guy in his own family!
     
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  23. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    I thought that was a way to make fun of Square Old Dad, who can't even get the song right.

    Anyway, I get your point, but I never watched the theatrical version and thought Guy's dad came across like a jerk. Heck, even when he nagged Guy about turning off the store lights and whatnot, he maintained a gruff charm - it's not like the movie made him seem like a bad person. There's an obvious comedic bent to the character even when he's "antagonistic" - it's not like Hanks made a hard-hitting domestic drama! :D
     
  24. Always liked the songs...they perfectly capture that period.
     
  25. jjh1959

    jjh1959 Senior Member

    Location:
    St. Charles, MO
    They were snappy!
     
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