Neill Before Us

     This week we take a look at four films starring one of the most versatile chameleons of the last half century- the always brilliant Sam Neill.

     John Trent has had a rough couple of weeks that have lead to him being committed in a psychiatric facility. As he opens up about the eldritch horror he witnessed, only one question remains... Do you read Sutter Cane? John Carpenter's 16th feature film and still one of the best cosmic horrors ever made- In the Mouth of Madness.
     Paige and Leo's newlywed life  is torn apart when Paige loses her memories of the last five years after an accident. Paige tries to resume the life she remembers, without even caring about the glaring questions, and Leo tries to hold on to their marriage, demanding an instant connection and resisting her  need for space. Inspired by a real life story- The Vow.
     After a tragedy, Rae and John Ingram try to heal and connect with an extended trip on their boat. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean they come upon a sinking schooner and find Hughie, who claims to be the sole survivor of a severe food poisoning accident. When John goes to check out the situation, he finds the boat is salvageable and the others on board have all been mutilated. A surehanded thriller in the middle of a vast blue nowhere- Dead Calm.

     A potential general strike looms as violence and gas rationing expand. The prime minister doesn't waste a moment making a fascist power grab. As the country continues to divide and a resistance movement grows, Smith finds himself separating from his wife after learning of her affair with Bullen. Taking to a quiet island, Smith soon finds himself framed for a terrorist attack, arrested, and forced to join a fight he wanted nothing to do with. Roger Donaldson's sharp and suspenseful first feature and Sam Neill's powerful breakthrough performance- Sleeping Dogs.
     Join us, won't you?
   Episode 476- Neill Before Us

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

Helmets Save Lives

     This week two movies with two wheeled action. Sorta. 

     Idiosyncratic Australian auteur Brian Trenchard-Smith gets deep into the heart of what all kids wanted in that mystical time between the Atari crash and the rise of Nintendo.... BMX bikes and walkie-talkies. A bank robbery crew loses their brand new walkie-talkies to a trio of young race maniacs two days before their biggest haul ever. The young race maniacs are desperately trying to find ways to raise the money to open Sydney's own BMX track facility. The police just want everyone to clear their emergency channel... which appears to be the only one used in Australia. Will the thieves get their hands on the kids before their deadline? Can the kids make enough money to bring BMX to the people? Can the police actually leave the station and do the smallest amount of actual policing? Can anyone stop the BMX Bandits?
     One of the greatest comic book adaptions based on the long running UK cult series that somehow tanked so painfully hard in the box office that some of us will never recover from this disappointment. On the streets of Mega-City One, he is the law. Until he finds himself locked in the 200 story Peach Trees high-rise completely controlled by the vicious gang behind a new drug called Slo-Mo. In Peach Trees, Ma-Ma believes she is the law. Which is right and how many rounds will be fired in the proving? Can anything, except the terrible lingering Stallone aftertaste, stop Dredd?
     All that and Tyler experiences a new warm fuzzy feeling, Dave monster mashes through Hong Kong, and Kevin likes to watch... through the window. Join us, won't you?

Episode 199- Helmets Save Lives