Remakes American Style

     This week a four pack of films that were originally made by other people in other countries and then swallowed by the Hollywood machine for you viewing pleasure.

     Seth is an angel. One of thousands just hanging out in the Los Angeles Public Library and occasionally going for walks around to witness people at their most stressed. Dr. Maggie Rice is a surgeon. She just lost a patient through no fault of her own. This causes Maggie to collapse because she is played by Meg Ryan. Will Seth be able to comfort Maggie in the way he increasingly wants? A remake of the German film Wings of Desire whose whole existence might be just to sell copies of the soundtrack, City of Angels.
     Count Thilbault Malefete is about to wed the beautiful Princess Rosalind. Tragically, a sly plan is enacted by the Earl of Warwick which results in Thibault being arrested and awaiting execution for Rosalind's murder. Fear not as his loyal serf brings a wizard to help. The plan is to slide our daring French Count back in time to save the day. Unfortunately, the spell goes wrong and Thibault finds himself, with his serf, in 2001 Chicago. Assisted by his descendant, who looks shockingly like Rosalind, Thibault must navigate turn of the century America to get back home. A remake of an all time highest grossing French film and retaining the original stars and writer-director, The Visitors.
     Mattie is worried about her ex-boyfriend and hacker, Josh. When she goes to finally check on him, he hangs himself with an ethernet cable. Soon ghostly visitors and impossible webcam feeds begin appearing all over the city. If one of the ghosts, who travel through wi-fi and cellular signals, touches you, you lose your will to live. Now Mattie and a new hunk she just met are on a race against time to stop a virus Josh accidentally unleashed. Can Mattie stop this techno terror before it consumes the world? A remake a wonderful warning about isolation in the digital age by the brilliant Kiyoshi Kurosawa and done in the way only Hollywood can, Pulse.
     When a wealthy businessman's beautiful but terrifyingly accident prone daughter disappears in Mexico, he spares no expense in the search. When a month passes without and progress, despite the endless supply of cash and top tier professionals sent in, he finally agrees to the most ridiculous of ideas. Why not send in someone equally accident prone based who just might stumble their way on to her trail? To accomplish this accountant Eugene Proctor is partnered with hardnosed investigator Raymond Campanella and let loose on an unsuspecting country. One of nine US remakes based on films by Francis Veber, Pure Luck.
    All that and Dave screams on the inside, Tyler tries to pull off a trifecta, and Kevin ignores this pain for Noir. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 388- Remakes American Style

All the World's a Stage

     This week an unusual adaption of a classic novel and a TV special through the mind.

     Sissy St. Claire is hosting her first ever TV special! It promises to be an evening of entertainment for all to enjoy! Sissy is ready to deliver whatever it is you want right to you directly through the screen. Assuming what you want is a nightmarish tour through her personal insecurities and nightmares. A unique work of period dressed existential terror from writer-director Amanda Kramer, Give Me Pity!
     Prison escapee Moose Malloy is looking for his old girlfriend Velma and fear for anyone who might be in his way. After killing a nightclub manager, freelance investigator The Falcon is on Moose's trail. Will The Falcon find Velma before Moose does? Will the gorgeous young reporter be an asset or a distraction? An unexpected adaption of a classic mystery novel by Raymond Chandler and the third of sixteen films in RKO's Falcon series, The Falcon Takes Over.
     All that and Dave is lost on the moor, Craig has a glow about him, Tyler wallows, and Kevin tries to keep us from sinking. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 387- All the World's a Stage

Shallow Noise

     This week a pair of films with recording methods used for devious purposes.

     Harry Caul is the best wiretapper on the West Coast. His skill is almost as widely known as his intense privacy, complete professional detachment, and closed off nature, born from the guilt after a previous job that resulted in the multiple murders. When Harry pulls of the impossible and captures a complete conversation in an open and crowded square, he finds his professional standard wavering as his fear of repeating the past begins to grown. Widely acknowledged as one of Francis Ford Coppola's best films and one of the best films from the 1970s, The Conversation.

     Mark is a journalist who needs a break from war zones and is assigned to interview Steve and John, the Canadian makers of an internet sensation and cultural breakthrough porn site. When the original deal is upended by the subjects, they pick up Beth and her friend, and Mark suddenly finds himself on a ride along he never would have imagined. Instead of cheap adult content, he finds himself caught in a revenge plot and driven out into the woods. Will Mark make it home to see his new born child? Does Steve actually possess the golden gift of gab he has built his brand on? Just who is this Beth and what is her connection to the site? The first film from Jeffery Andersen, a rape revenge thriller in the Norther Vancouver woods, Deeper: The Retribution of Beth.
     All that and Kevin attended a fancy event, Dave fears the creeping tinnitus, and Tyler faces the toughest choice of his life. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 386: Shallow Noise

Fragaria Townhouse

      This week a pair of films about women with big dreams and vastly different methodologies.

     In the town of Small Hope, New Hampshire Suzanne Stone, an ambitious and beautiful young woman, dreams of being a world-famous broadcast journalist. She starts a passionate affair with the son of a local restauranter who swears to support her career ambitions. With a foundation secured, Suzanne starts working as an assistant at a local cable station, with hopes of climbing the network ladder, and eventually, with unwavering persistence, forces her way into doing weather reports. With her foot finally in the door, she begins working on a docuseries about teenagers and quickly takes three losers under her wing, just as her husband begins to pressure her into giving up her dreams to work at the restaurant and start a family. How long until Suzanne begins to see her husband as a impediment? Just what plans does she have for her small town flunky trio? Gus Van Sant's darkly comic broadly targeted satirical drama about antisocial personalities and ambitions that are To Die For. 
     In the not too distant future, increased surveillance on the public at large has gotten to the point where even dreams are recorded and taxed. Dream Auditor James Preble travels to the rural home of reclusive artist, Arabella Isadore, who has never filed a single dream tax. There Preble finds decades of dreams recorded in an outdated format, in Arabella's dreams he finds a colorful world that is nothing like his own off brand digestive aid pink dreams of corporate ads delivered by a jovial bearded man.  Will Preble awaken to the reality of his world? Will he be consumed by the forced consumerism that invades global dreams? Does he have even a hint of Sam Lowery in him? The second feature from writing/directing team of surreal fantasist, Albert Birney, and Southern mubblecore dramatist, Kentucker Audley, Strawberry Mansion.
     All that and Dave forgets to remember something important maybe, Tyler enters his Cobra Commander era, and Kevin goes on a road trip to see someone of dubious reality. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 385- Fragaria Townhouse