About the 13th monkey

The 13th monkey is a collaboration between Jack Foley, Steve Farrell, and John Moxon, three friends who spend most of their time arguing about movies anyway.

Jack Foley-I’ve been accused of being a movie snob, but the truth is I have a driving obsession with heist movies. I’ve got to see all of them, even if I know they are going to suck. National Treasure? Yep, saw it just because of the heist of the Declaration of Independence. That was what, 5 minutes total of the movie? No, I don’t like Nick Cage movies.

Since I’ve seen every heist on celluloid in the past 20 years as well as all the classics, I’m now going back and watching all the old, obscure, not-so-good ones in between. Which is frustrating, because I hate old movies. And bad movies. It’s going to be frustrating for you too, because you’re going to get stuck with my reviews of some obscure heist film from 1972 or a straight-to-dvd 80’s clunker starring Kim Basinger as a master jewel thief. Sorry about that.

Favorite tv shows- Firefly, Sports Night, Studio 60- they all got killed off quickly. God I wished more smart people watched tv so all the good shows wouldn’t get cancelled.

Apparently I’m too lazy to actually get out to see movies these days, so Netflix is critical. Yeah, that mean’s I’m behind the curve on some movies, but I do get out to see the big ones. No, that does not include Transformers.

Steve Farrell - like Jack’s obsession with heist movies, I too have an obsession with certain film genres: robot movies and time travel movies. Being a big fan of these subjects, you can imagine my perpetual disappointment at the dearth of quality treatments of them. Still, like Jack, I’ll see any robot movie (Yes, that does include Transformers) or time travel movie, no matter how much it’s going to suck.

I’ve been accused of being bitter, but I do offer praise when deserved. Netflix also plays a big role in my movie life, mostly because Jack is too lazy to actually get out to see movies these days. That’s why we place such an emphasis on Netflix here at the 13th monkey.

I don’t tolerate the following: nepotism, dumbing down of smart plot ideas by Hollywood, excessive sequels, and screaming kids in movie theaters. As long as those things don’t happen, I’m a happy man.

John Moxon - For whatever reason, I love movies, and especially ones with fantastic elements - sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book movies. I want stories full of stuff I’d never think of myself. But unlike Jack and Steve, I’ll skip one of these films if I know they’re bad. For example, I intend to go to my grave without ever having seen Catwoman.

I’m not a big fan of time travel - I’ve seen too much Star Trek. I’m also done with holograms and blue lightning shooting out of a wizard’s fingers. Robots are great, but tricky to do well. I, Robot did them well. Virus did not.

I like being scared, but have no love for dead-teenager slasher flicks or torture porn. Unexpectedly, I have developed a soft spot for zombie movies.

I love animation, but am too old to go see Shrek 3 by myself. It would look creepy, and my own kid is way too young to bring. I think Pixar is going through a sad, sad lull. Cars was boring, and Ratatouille looks worse.

I will totally see Transformers.