Mexican Sausage

    This week- four films from Mexico.

     Immediately before setting off to Europe for an extended trip, Doctor Alejandro Mangino stumbles on a former lover, Lucia, posing as a nude art model. His time on the other side of the Atlantic becomes a fog of booze as the good doctor begins to obsess over his former flame. Upon his return, he discovers Lucia has married his good friend Ricardo. Can the good doctor find his way out or will he be claimed by Crepúsculo (aka Twilight, 1945)?
     Elena is murdered by her husband, an act divined by destiny despite her witchy godmother and housekeeper Sara's pleas to the dark forces. Soon the homicidal husband bring home a new wife, Deborah. Deborah instantly takes a liking to the room where the previous partner took residence but soon vengeance from beyond the mortal veil will attempt to get justice. Will Elena find peace? Will Deborah find the right size bandages? Will Sara get her revenge with El espejo de la bruja (The Witch's Mirror, 1962)?
     Jenkins is a sadistic outlaw. Emiliano is the best bounty hunter in Mexico. But when a local bruja warns Emiliano not to take the bounty, he decides to party it up with his lady Eva instead. Soon outside reasons force Emiliano's hand and he finds himself having to track down Jenkins while a mysterious third party is hunting the hunter. Why is Jenkins still hanging around the area after weeks? Why is torturing snakes the only recreational activity this town has? There are no answers in Víbora caliente (Hot Snake, 1976)
     Working-class Julio, his best friend upper-class Tenoch, and Luisa, the Spanish wife of Tenoch's cousin, set off on a road trip to a beach the boys made up while trying to impress Luisa at a family social event. With only a rough idea of where to go, the trio set off through rural Mexico. The film that brought director and screenwriter Alfonso Cuarón international acclaim, Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too, you know I've never heard it referred to by the English title, 2001)
     All that and Tyler puts sugar in the tank of the sheriff's car, Kevin slashes the deputy's tires, Craig takes the pesos, and the id card Dave hands the Board Guard says he's Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the United Federation of Planets. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 319- Mexican Sausage

Better Than Scarlet Diva?

     This week a pair of European movies about women finding themselves.

     Anna Battista, a young and beautiful award winning actress, is desperate to spread her creative wings. Tragically, everyone tries to keep her down despite everyone around her totally seeing how brilliant she is and how great her movie would be. Even more tragically, Anna has a taste for massive amounts of recreational narcotics, a penchant for racism, and is quick to obsess over the worst musicians she can find. The semi-autobiographical directorial debut from Asia Argento, Scarlet Diva.
     Diane lives with her younger brother and single father. Being a lonely teen with raging hormones, she tries to unsuccessfully explore her burgeoning sexuality with a local boy. Fortunately, a wild new neighbor is happy to drag Anna along on her casual sexual adventures. Will Diane embrace her friend's ways or forge her own path? Some call it an oedipal complex but the French call it Puppylove.
     All that and Kevin waxes lyrical, Dave takes a secret nap, Craig has a fistfight with a hairstylist, and Tyler tries to prove that he's the only man who will love her more than her father.
     Join us, won't we?
   Episode 318- Better Than Scarlet Diva?

Hill Street Boos

    This week- a couple of scam artists and a fistful of cops.

     Rookie cop Roy reports for duty in East LA. He is partnered with Andy, a veteran quickly approaching mandatory retirement. Roy thinks he will only be a cop long enough to make it through law school but, for some, the job becomes their all consuming obsession. Based on the novel by Joseph Wambaugh, The New Centurions.
     George and Kathy Lutz, with Kathy's three children, move into a beautiful home with enough room for all, a massive yard, and private lake access. It's perfect... and shocking affordable, due to one of the previous residents killing their whole family. Soon after they move in, strange things begin to happen. Is the house haunted? Will George reenact the horrific events of the previous owners? Will the priest ever get Ma Bell to fix his phone? The Amityville Horror.
     All that and Dave changes shape, Tyler rolls in something, and Kevin starts betting on internet cat fights. Join us, won't you?

     Episode 317- Hill Street Boos

Tunnel of Swole

     This week- two movies with surprise orgies and appreciations for the male form in different sizes.

     Simon is a cold call scam employee in a dying relationship without any direction or joy. His last ditch effort to change his life trajectory is to join a gym and try and reclaim his body from desk degradation. He soon meets trainer Terry and everything changes. Centered by a powerhouse performance from Craig Fairbrass in a pitch black comedy about toxic masculinity and how far one can be pushed, Muscle.
     In the not too distant future, the world as we know it is over. The remains of humanity live in caves and scavenge to survive. When young David kills one of the tribe's leaders, he and his friends are banished to soon die in the wilds. Luckily they stumble on a solar powered city from the past and its two last residents. Larry Clark's entry in a series of AIP remakes with creature designs by the legendary Stan Winston Studios, Teenage Caveman.
     All that and Dave keeps skipping someone, Kevin gets life from a box set, Craig surfaces from the wastes to rasp out a warning, and Tyler indulges. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 316- Tunnel of Swole

Behemoth Meat

     This week a pair of grounded fantasies with people living their own realities.

     An Italian noble uses mercenaries to retake his city. In order to spur on his troops, he promises them 24 hours free reign to plunder as they see fit. Being as that is a stupid promise, it doesn't go well and soon the noble has the mercenaries routed from the city without their promised loot. Lost and without direction, some of them reform into a bandit group led by Martin and a statue of St. Martin. Soon they will have new home, riches, and the betrothed of one of their betrayers. As tensions rise soon nothing will stop the Flesh and Blood (stylized Flesh + Blood) from running through the streets in Paul Verhoeven's first English language film.
     Justin Playfair has spent his life fighting the system's abuses as a judge. After the death of his wife, he begins to believe himself Sherlock Holmes. In order to gain control of Justin's money, his brother tries to have him committed under the care of Doctor Mildred Watson. Soon the pair find themselves racing through New York in a desperate effort to stop the king of crime, and probably only imaginary, Moriarty. A rich cast of character actors and the makers of The Lion and Winter wonder if They Might Be Giants after all.
     All that and Dave forgets things, Kevin looks in on his favorite archeology professor, and Tyler has dreams about a nail salon. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 315- Behemoth Meat