PTA DVD Pick: Breaking Away (1979)

It's been quite some time, but longtime readers of the site will remember a semi-regular feature at Cigs & Vines called "PTA DVD Pick" wherein we would feature a film Paul had recently recommended for optional viewing/purchase. (This was, of course, started well before the existence of Blu-rays but you get the idea.) Thanks to the interview with Sirius XM, we have a few new ones but we'll start with "Breaking Away" (1979). The Peter Yates ("Bullitt") directed drama stars a young Dennis Quaid, Jackie Earle Haley and Daniel Stern and the synopsis reads: a small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl. Paul calls it "essential viewing."

MA:  Is there an old classic that you think is essential viewing?

PTA:  That's a long list, too.  Something that may be off the beaten track.  I don't know if this is a classic or essential but I was thinking of a film yesterday that just popped into my head that I haven't seen in a few.  Breaking Away.  Does anyone remember that film ?

MA:  Paul Dooley.

PTA:  That's right.  Paul Dooley.   And Dennis Quaid.  Jackie Earle Haley.  I think Peter Yates made that film.  And, God, what a great film.  What a terrific film.  That popped into my mind for whatever reason the other day.  Yeah, I was thinking about it because the son comes out and the Italians have just made him crash.  And he comes and he's crying and Paul Dooley says, "What's the matter?  Did you lose your wallet?"  And it made me laugh out loud walking down the street.

MA:  Great movie.

If you haven't seen it or think it's time for another look, the film is available on DVD (but not Blu-ray) and can be purchased at Amazon (or streamed) and is also available from Netflix. You can Check out all PTA's DVD Picks here.

Enter our Gone To China Contest to win a copy of the soundtrack & a poster!

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates. 

PTA DVD Pick: ‘White Heat' (1949)

Another bit of new old news here while we pass the time. We recently came across this link that revealed Paul introduced an Academy screening of the James Cagney classic "White Heat" last year in LA. In lieu of an official DVD pick (if anyone has a transcription of what he said during his intro that would be great), we thought we'd pass that recommendation along here. Synopsis below (via Amazon):

This superb 1949 crime drama takes elements of plot, character, and theme familiar from '30s melodramas and orchestrates them as an existential tragedy noir. James Cagney, in a towering performance, is Cody Jarrett, a transparently psychotic robber with a molten temper, feral cunning, and mercurial charm that are finely calibrated extensions of the doomed gangsters he played a decade before, this time coiled not around a Depression-era impetus of greed or class rivalry, but an Oedipal bond. Cody's beloved, calculating "Ma" (Margaret Wycherly) is the compass for his every move, her iron will and long shadow acknowledged not only by Cody but by his gang, his bored, restless wife (Virginia Mayo, radiating sensuality and guile), and the undercover cop (Edmond O'Brien) planted in Jarrett's path.

In other news, actor Jonah Hill recently joined Twitter and made "Punch-Drunk Love" his Movie Of The Day. You'll remember he also had "Boogie Nights" in his Top 5 so it looks like he's officially a fan.

As always, you can get the latest news on Cigarettes & Red Vines on Twitter and Facebook. Tell your friends.

Exclusive Paul Thomas Anderson DVD Picks

A page has been created in the multimedia section for all of our exclusive content we've received from PTA over the years including interviews, updates and the ever popular "PTA DVD Picks."

I've started by compiled all of the DVD recommendations given to us over the years and conveniently linked each one up to a revenue sharing account with popular webstore amazon. please consider helping to support the site by clicking through the links provided should you see something to your liking.

August 21, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

In some better late than never news, Ghoulardi's JoAnne Sellar will produce the new film for Fine Line entitled The Anniversary Party. It was co-written & will be co-directed by close PTA friend, Jennifer Jason Leigh. The ensemble cast may include John C. Reilly among others & should hit theaters in early 2001. Click here for the full press release.

Fiona Apple's latest import CD single for Paper Bag includes all three PTA directed music videos from her When the Pawn... release. These videos are playable on your PC & MAC. Here's the front & back cover.

The August PTA DVD Pick of the Month is now available to your left. Of course, this month, we would focus on the long overdue 70's classic Nashville. This is the first time it's been available in widescreen & includes a Robert Altman interview & commentary track. It's a can't miss. Just click on the cover, if you would like to order it from Express.com (a new affiliate of the site, if you can't tell...).

I'll return on Wednesday with a cleverly written "false" PTA news story & more!

July 14, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

I am pleased to introduce a new feature to site today, PTA's DVD Pick of the Month! Around the middle of each month (Can anyone guess what August's DVD will be?), I will highlight a release along with some quotes from PTA on that particular film & why he likes it. This will be located at the top of this page with a link to where you can purchase the title.