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Nomination #19
Stingray Sam (2009, Cory McAbee)
Deadline to Watch It: August 9
Stingray Sam (2009, Cory McAbee)
Deadline to Watch It: August 9
Last edited by SpelingError; 08-07-24 at 12:23 AM.
The MoFo Musical Countdown - Group Watch
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I think this one might be kind of divisive because it's weird, but it's only an hour long. It's on YouTube, though I don't know if the video I found will work in other countries.
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
Stingray Sam
(Cory McAbee, 2009)
Like McAbee's The American Astronaut, Stingray Sam is a bizarre black and white musical space western. Where this film varies from the other though is that it is divided into 6 different "episodes" (each with its own title and set of intro and end credits), each featuring one song. It follows Stingray Sam, a convict turned lounge singer who is arrested by his old friend and fellow convict The Quasar Kid. In order to repay their debts to society, the two must join forces on a mission to rescue a little girl and reunite her with her father.
But whereas I spent much of The American Astronaut being a little bewildered by its strangeness, I settled into this one rather quickly. I do think having just watched The American Astronaut helped immensely in terms of setting expectations, but also Stingray Sam seemed a lot less convoluted and more polished than its predecessor. It also has some genuinely great songs ("Fredward" being my favorite) and I had an undeniably good time with this one. There's also no doubt that I'll vote for it, though I am docking it some points for the amount of its already very brief runtime (it's only about an hour long) that is spent on the credits.
Oh and in retrospect I have decided that I do actually like The American Astronaut, but I definitely prefer this one.
Edit: 7/20/2024
I just rewatched this and I think I love it. This time I wasn't at all bothered by its episodic structure or by the amount of time spent on the credits. It's just delightfully weird and delightfully charming, with equally weird and charming songs. I'm going to upgrade its rating from my initial 3.5 to a 4, but I could see it going even higher if I give it another watch in the future.
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
Stingray Sam
(Cory McAbee, 2009)
Like McAbee's The American Astronaut, Stingray Sam is a bizarre black and white musical space western. Where this film varies from the other though is that it is divided into 6 different "episodes" (each with its own title and set of intro and end credits), each featuring one song. It follows Stingray Sam, a convict turned lounge singer who is arrested by his old friend and fellow convict The Quasar Kid. In order to repay their debts to society, the two must join forces on a mission to rescue a little girl and reunite her with her father.
But whereas I spent much of The American Astronaut being a little bewildered by its strangeness, I settled into this one rather quickly. I do think having just watched The American Astronaut helped immensely in terms of setting expectations, but also Stingray Sam seemed a lot less convoluted and more polished than its predecessor. It also has some genuinely great songs ("Fredward" being my favorite) and I had an undeniably good time with this one. There's also no doubt that I'll vote for it, though I am docking it some points for the amount of its already very brief runtime (it's only about an hour long) that is spent on the credits.
Oh and in retrospect I have decided that I do actually like The American Astronaut, but I definitely prefer this one.
Edit: 7/20/2024
I just rewatched this and I think I love it. This time I wasn't at all bothered by its episodic structure or by the amount of time spent on the credits. It's just delightfully weird and delightfully charming, with equally weird and charming songs. I'm going to upgrade its rating from my initial 3.5 to a 4, but I could see it going even higher if I give it another watch in the future.
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I watched this a few weeks ago. I appreciate the creativity and ambition of this unusual film. Not everything works and sometimes it just feels weird for the sake of being weird. However, there are some delightfully quirky moments that are enjoyable. The songs are hit and miss for me. The performances are definitely interesting. Worth checking out for the oddness of it.
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I have a question for everyone. If someone were to nominate a musical with religious themes/messages, would that offend anyone or would you be okay with that?
Religious themes/messages in a movie aren't usually offensive. I'm not a very religious person, so I might not agree with the religious beliefs in the movie, but I probably wouldn't find them offensive.
There are some very good musicals with religious themes/messages. I have at least two on my watchlist to rewatch. (I Can Only Imagine (2018) and Jesus Christ Superstar (1973))
So I'd be okay with it.
FYI, we've already had a musical with religious themes/messages that was nominated. (Fiddler on the Roof (1971))
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Religious themes/messages in a movie aren't usually offensive. I'm not a very religious person, so I might not agree with the religious beliefs in the movie, but I probably wouldn't find them offensive...
, I mean it's Yul Brynner...he was born to play a king...a couple of times too.
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I think this one might be kind of divisive because it's weird, but it's only an hour long. It's on YouTube, though I don't know if the video I found will work in other countries.
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
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I think this one might be kind of divisive because it's weird, but it's only an hour long. It's on YouTube, though I don't know if the video I found will work in other countries.
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
I've watched it twice already in preparation for the countdown. Here's what I wrote about it:
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Stingray Sam: Did I stumble into the Infamy HOF? Thought I was in the musical group watch. Only half kidding, because movies this low on production value just rarely work for me. I supposed I’m spoiled, but I just don’t find lack of budget charming like a lot of people do. I always end up thinking if I my friend brought me a movie like this he had made in a desire to start directing, I would congratulate him and think good start he’s got some talent. But as something for an actual mass audience to watch, not up to par in my opinion.
I won’t totally just say bad budget, bad movie. There are a couple things to like. I thought the main actor was decent, he played the part earnestly so that endeared me to him a bit. The narration had its moments as well. I don’t think it’s nearly as funny as Wes Anderson writing, but I would be shocked if this guy isn’t a fan. The narration had a very similar style and tone to Anderson, and the little bit of minature work gave me that vibe too.
Overall, just couldn’t get on board, and was glad it was only an hour.
I won’t totally just say bad budget, bad movie. There are a couple things to like. I thought the main actor was decent, he played the part earnestly so that endeared me to him a bit. The narration had its moments as well. I don’t think it’s nearly as funny as Wes Anderson writing, but I would be shocked if this guy isn’t a fan. The narration had a very similar style and tone to Anderson, and the little bit of minature work gave me that vibe too.
Overall, just couldn’t get on board, and was glad it was only an hour.
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I figured you wouldn't like it, Sean. No surprise here. Thanks for giving it a try anyway.
That's writer/director Cory McAbee.
I find it much funnier than anything I've seen from Anderson, but you know how much of an Anderson fan I am anyway. 
I thought the main actor was decent, he played the part earnestly so that endeared me to him a bit.
I don’t think it’s nearly as funny as Wes Anderson writing, but I would be shocked if this guy isn’t a fan. The narration had a very similar style and tone to Anderson, and the little bit of minature work gave me that vibe too.
Last edited by Miss Vicky; 08-07-24 at 04:20 PM.
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I thought Stingray Sam was a fun movie. I like the way it's set up with short episodes, like the old serials. I thought the narration by David Hyde Pierce was great. He has such a flair when he speaks that it really puts you in the right mood for this movie.
The story was a bit strange, but the two main characters were likeable. The little girl they were rescuing was also likeable, and I really enjoyed watching the relationship she had with Stingray Sam.
Most of the songs were pretty good. My favorite was the Lullaby Song.
This movie won't make my list, but I enjoyed watching it.
The story was a bit strange, but the two main characters were likeable. The little girl they were rescuing was also likeable, and I really enjoyed watching the relationship she had with Stingray Sam.
Most of the songs were pretty good. My favorite was the Lullaby Song.
This movie won't make my list, but I enjoyed watching it.
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Most of the songs were pretty good. My favorite was the Lullaby Song.
This movie won't make my list, but I enjoyed watching it.
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Stingray Sam (2009)
Yahoo! I just had to say that as that's how Stingray Sam made me feel. I enjoyed this: I was entertained, I was engaged, I was amused and I was impressed! I liked this much better than Cory McAbee's other film The American Astronaut. I had a smile on my face through out the movie that's how quirky-fun this film was for me. I thought the movie was a breath of fresh air and showed a lot of talent from the film's writer, director, star and singer Cory McAbee. Loved the way he did world building on a tight budget. He did that with one helluva creative sci fi narrative about men having babies and economics and social class commentaries and rocket ship factories. With the wacky photo stills and David Hyde Pierce doing the voice over, the movie was able to build one heck of a cool alternative world.
This is going to make my ballot, I don't care if I have to bump an old musical to do it...I think Stingray Sam deserves a spot on our countdown.
This is going to make my ballot, I don't care if I have to bump an old musical to do it...I think Stingray Sam deserves a spot on our countdown.
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This is going to make my ballot, I don't care if I have to bump an old musical to do it...I think Stingray Sam deserves a spot on our countdown.
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Sorry for the delays. Since I've been holding off on this thread in service for the Hall of Infamy since too much is gone on right now, it's becoming harder to keep up with this thread.
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Sorry for the delays. Since I've been holding off on this thread in service for the Hall of Infamy since too much is gone on right now, it's becoming harder to keep up with this thread.
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Sorry for the delays. Since I've been holding off on this thread in service for the Hall of Infamy since too much is gone on right now, it's becoming harder to keep up with this thread.
would love to see it make the countdown. Maybe if you watch it, you might like it as much as Vicky, GBG and myself. If I said pretty please would it help!
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It's cool and I'm sure we're all glad you are running this. But you know there's one musical you might want to watch. Stingray Sam. I know you're a fan of short films and it's an hour long movie composed of six episodic short stories. Each of the six short stories has the same opening and closing credits so no need to watch those which brings the runtime down even shorter. I really, really would love to see it make the countdown. Maybe if you watch it, you might like it as much as Vicky, GBG and myself. If I said pretty please would it help!
would love to see it make the countdown. Maybe if you watch it, you might like it as much as Vicky, GBG and myself. If I said pretty please would it help!
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