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     This week a four pack of films that were originally made by other people in other countries and then swallowed by the Hollywood machine for you viewing pleasure.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

Do a Kickflip

     This week- kids in 90s American and a con artist learns therapy is helpful.

     Roy Waller is a con artist in LA who suffers from OCD and stress induced tics. After a bad panic attack, his partner convinces him to see a therapist. The therapy convinces Roy to reach out to people from his past. Soon Roy finds himself with the biggest mark of his career and a teenage daughter he just met wanting to learn the trade. One of Ridley Scott's most overlooked films- Matchstick Men.
     Stevie finds himself drawn to the group he sees outside a local skateshop. Idolizing their daredevil attitudes, he become part of their group as a refuge from his abusive older brother. As time passes and relationships change, will the group hold together? Will their bonds prove to be tenuous and brittle? A nostalgia drenched directorial debut, Mid90s.
     All that and Tyler tries this new thing called television, Dave hunts a vampire, and Kevin tries his hand at a pastry. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 359- Do a Kickflip

Prisoners of the Whispering Sono Club

    This week we close out Japanuary with a three pack of films from auteur Sion Sono.

     Notorious criminal, Nicolas Cage... I mean HERO, is sent by the tyrannical Governor to retrieve his adopted granddaughter, Bernice, who has fled into the mysterious and terrifying Ghostlands to get away from him. Swinging wildly between frustratingly obscure and ridiculously on the nose look at how Western culture treats and uses Japanese culture and people, Prisoners of the Ghostland.
     A wave of seemingly unconnected suicides go overlooked by the public until 54 teenage schoolgirls throw themselves in front of an oncoming train. Soon Detective Kuroda is informed by a hacker of a website that is tracking and counting these suicides before they become public knowledge. The first part of a still unfinished trilogy- Suicide Club (aka Suicide Circle).
     An andriod in a small apartment styled rented spaceship on a decades long journey to make deliveries to the far flung remnants of humanity. A visual meditation, a claustrophobic critique on our isolationist tendencies, a repetitive mystery, a celebration of small moments of beauty set among The Whispering Star.
     All that and Dave refuses to explain, Tyler takes secret selfies, and Kevin picks up the slack for the rest of us. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 294- Prisoners of the Whispering Sono Club