163. 'To Live and Die in LA' (1985)
Billy Friedkin, maybe the weirdest (in a good way) major American director of his generation, almost doesn't make sense on paper; wait...the same guy directed 'The French Connection' and 'The Excorcist'? But the ups and downs of Friedkin's storied and somewhat haphazard career are what makes him one of the most interesting directors to consider. And 'To Live and Die in LA' is some kind of crazy masterpiece, punching WELL above its weight as a non-studio, non-union middling-budget (6 million dollars) independent LA neo-noir. Filled with superlative near-first-timers like John Turturro, William Petersen, John Pankow, Willem Dafoe and stellar supporting work from the likes of Steve James, Robert Downey, Sr, Darlanne Fluegel, Dean Stockwell, Jack Hoar, and Debra Feuer, TLADILA is easily consumed as genre fare...or more diligently dissected as the incredible example of top-tier filmmaking and production design and location and stunt work that it also is. Needless to say that's where I'm taking my cues! Available now on a newly restored 4K UHD and blu-ray disc, TLADILA has frustratingly not been available to stream but my plea here is that you avail yourself of the physical media and set aside an evening to appreciate this great work of FUN and ART. Buy the new release here. Listen to Wang Chung's excellent TLADILA soundtrack here.
17 Aug 20231h 21min
162. 'Barbie' (2023)
A deep-dive into the semiotics of 'Barbie' and its post-feminist critique of corporate capitalism and American mores. Just kidding, I went and saw 'Barbie' with five 12-year-olds. Six, if you count me. But seriously, this episode unpacks some of the things I found interesting about the film, its very existence, its brilliant marketing and repositioning. Also: supporting cast wins and losses, why the filmmakers missed a perfect opportunity to put the idiotic 'Barbie Girl' song to great use, and a plea for an Allan spinoff.
8 Aug 20231h 3min
161. The 'Godfather' Films W/ 'The Godfather Gang' author and 'The Offer' producer Ernest Lupinacci
I'm joined by legendary ad-man-turned brand-identity guru, author, screenwriter, and producer Ernest Lupinacci to talk all things 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather, Part II' (with a sideways glance at 'The Godfather, Part III'), including our preferences, what II gained and lost in terms of casting and production, returning Mario Puzo to center stage credit for creating this universe of indelible characters. Follow my guest Ernest Lupinacci on Instagram. Check out Ernest and illustrator Alex Ogle's excellent graphic novel about the making of 'The Godfather', 'The Godfather Gang' here. Watch the Paramount+ scripted series that about the making of 'The Godfather' here.
1 Aug 20231h 41min
160. How to Listen to Dead & Company
An episode about 40 years of fandom and learning to actively listen to music while being of an age that can appreciate the collective experience of Dead & Company's Final Tour for the singular happening it represents.
11 Juli 20231h 32min
159. 'Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny'
I went and saw the new Indiana Jones movie at the Drive-In.
7 Juli 202351min
158. Film Scores I Have Loved Before
An email from a listener got me thinking about film scores that I actually listen to and love, so this episode shares a handful of classic and contemporary scores I think are worthy of special consideration. Scores referenced in this episode: Get Carter The Taking of Pelham 123 Dirty Harry Out Of Sight Ocean's 11 Ocean's 12 Ocean's 13 Taxi Driver Koyaanisqatsi American Beauty The Social Network Blade Runner Blade Runner 2049 Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World Chinatown Heat Moneyball Gomorrah
27 Juni 20231h 17min
157. 40 Glimpses of Paul Newman in 'The Verdict'
This week's companion episode to my previous episode about Sidney Lumet's 'The Verdict' is for the craft purists, the Newman obsessives, and the acting completists out there. Much like I did with the amazing Sean Penn Spicoli scenes in my follow-up to the 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' episode, here I'm going deep on Paul Newman's brilliant, career-best performance as Frank Galvin and discussing ALL of his key scenes in the film.
13 Juni 20231h 33min
156. Paul Newman in Sidney Lumet & David Mamet's 'The Verdict' (1982)
One of my very favorite films and featuring one of Paul Newman's favorite performances, Sidney Lumet's 'The Verdict' has grown in stature and appreciation since its premiere in 1982. With a brilliantly adapted screenplay by multi-hyphenate David Mamet, a tortured development process encompassing stars like Redford and other directors named Sidney (Pollack), and a first-rate cast, 'The Verdict' is one of the greatest courtroom dramas of all time. I'm thrilled to be joined once again by author and editor Keir Graff, who once again turns in an excellent appearance as a well-prepared guest on the pod. We dive deep into the making of this film, play some iconic scenes, and discuss the nuances and joys of the performances, the writing, the directing and the production elements that make this wonderful film such a standard of the form. Keir Graff's author website. Keir's previous appearance on the Full Cast and Crew Podcast discussing "The Color of Money". Watch "The Verdict" Playlist of Official "The Verdict" clips. Watch the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward documentary 'The Last Movie Stars', directed by Ethan Hawke. Buy Sidney Lumet's indispensable guide to making movies, called, magically enough 'Making Movies'. Listen to Sidney Lumet's indispensable Director's Commentary to 'The Verdict' in podcast form.
6 Juni 20232h 5min
