Soggy Metal

     This week- two films about ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, ancient races of people. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...

     Deep below the waves, in the city-state of Atlantis, is a nightmare for any unfortunate surface dweller caught by their raiding parties. Either forced to fight to the death in gladiatorial combat or sent to the mines to labor until you your body gives out. A pair of siblings get to experience all the nasty sides for themselves. Meanwhile, the nefarious Sartor has finally found the blood gem that can fulfill all his ambitions. From the mind of  microbudget outsider auteur Michael J Murphy, a sword and sorcery epic that reaches from the depths of the ocean for the stars, Atlantis.

     Documentarian Marty Di Bergi gets unprecedented access to tell the history of skiffle turned British invasion turned flower power turned heavy metal legends on their 1982 tour to promote their newest album. We take a deep look at how these individuals of strong personalities still work after so many years, their artistic processes, and how the mysterious deaths of multiple drummers has effected them. From controversy to controversy, can the three core members navigate the US road or will they break like the wind? The film that kicked off one of the best output runs from any director since the birth of the medium, Rob Reiner's first classic- This is Spinal Tap.

     All that and Dave fanboys in his pants, Kevin catches his breath but can't get out all the mud, and Tyler shouts across the void. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 418- Soggy Metal

Synaptic Rotation

     This week- two films featuring men abusing their positions of power and the fallout from it.

     Miss Giddens is hired as a governess at Bly Manor. She is immediately taken with her young charge, Flora, and strikes an instant friendship with Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper. Despite the encouraging start, small moments of discomfort begin to poke at Miss Giddens new normal. When Miles is expelled from his boarding school, Miss Giddens finds herself caught up in the effects from the not too distant past. Based on one of the most influential horror tales ever written with a screenplay co-written by Truman Capote, taking a three week break from his magnum opus to work on it, and casting its own shadow nearly as long for itself- The Innocents.
     Lillian founds a ballet company in the name of her late husband. Her ambulance-chasing attorney, Roland T. Flakfizer- assisted by associated   Rocco and Jacques, face off against the late husband's equally conniving lawyer, Edmundo Lazlo. The legal eagles compete to sign the world's greatest ballet dancer, "The Great" Volare, and to deliver an awe-inspiring Broadway debut for the new company. Inspired by the Marx Brothers, even being filmed at the same locations as several of their most beloved films, produced by David and Jerry Zucker, and fully embracing the "they don't make them like they used to" lifestyle- Brain Donors.
     All that and Kevin enthuses, Dave forgot, and Tyler weeps in his Happy Place. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 416- Synaptic Rotation

Down and Dirty

     This week- a pair of comedies.

     When two high schools are consolidated a senior, Alan Musgrave, dedicates his life to making sure a new schoolmate, Barbara Ann Greene, gets everything she desires. From sweaters to matricide, Alan is happy to oblige. A buckshot satire of 1960s pop culture directed by one of the era's best comedy writers, Lord Love a Duck.
     When two con men, Lawrence Jamieson and Freddy Benson, find themselves at odds with each other, they settle it the only way they can- with elaborate schemes in a race to be the first to relieve an heiress of $50,000. From royals in exile to grannies desperate for an operation, Lawrence and Freddy are happy to steal from the rich and give to themselves. A 1980s comedy classic from a group of absolute legends writing and directing, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
     All that and Craig swears the fire alarm has chirped its last, Kevin finds a light to brighten up the noir, Tyler double dips in public, and Dave finds a nice quiet corner to read. Join us, won't you?

  Episode 337- Down and Dirty

Party by Gaslight

     This week- a missing child might never have existed and a deadly game that could destroy the global economy.

     Ann and her daughter have just moved from New York to London to be close to the only family they have, Ann's brother Steven. Tragedy strikes when Ann goes to pick the child up from her first day at pre-school but her child is nowhere to be seen. To make things worse, it seems no one but the family claims to have ever even seen the girl. Soon a tangled web of mental illness and jealousy will ensnare the Lakes. A mystery from a master- Bunny Lake is Missing.
     Shelly Kornpett is a dentist in Manhattan. He leads a nice calm existence and is happily looking forward to his daughter's wedding with a fine young man. All that changes when, only days before the young lovers exchange vows, he meets Vince Ricardo, father of the groom and teller of ridiculous tales. After being urged by his wife and daughter to be more open to this odd man he will soon be related to, Shelly happily obliges when Vince asks a favor the very next day. A favor that will lead him thousands of miles from home and on the run from a parade of gunmen. A classic double team comedy- The In-Laws.
     All that and Kevin watches from a bush, Tyler gets marked, and Dave gets wet. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 322- Party by Gaslight

Diagnosis: Samurai Night Fever

     This week two films about Chinese-Americans and cross cultural experiences. 

     Billi maintains a close relationship with her Nai Nai (paternal grandmother), despite there being half a planet between them. When Nai Nai is diagnosed with late stage terminal lung cancer, which the rest of their family have decided to keep secret from Nai Nai. The whole family gathers under false pretenses to have The Farewell.

     Jo and Steve are purchasing their taxi medallion. Their friend, Chan, volunteers to be the transactional go-between. Unfortunately, Chan has disappeared, along with the money. The two men begin a search for their friend in San Francisco's Chinatown population. Wayne Wang's second feature and part of the US National Film Registry, Chan is Missing.

    Join us, won't you?
  Episode 309- Diagnosis: Samurai Night Fever

Prestidigitation Automation

     This week- a whole bunch of people who are in questionable states of mind. 

     When Gallico, an aspiring magician and underappreciated inventor of death defying stage effects, is stopped in the middle of his professional debut by his employer he might finally be pushed too far. With his brilliant mind for tricks and make up, Gallico begins a path of revenge in glorious 3D. Can anyone stop The Mad Magician?
     Young-goon refuses to eat, believing she is a cyborg. After trying to plug herself in to recharge, an action interpreted as a suicide attempt by all around her, she is institutionalized. Il-soon is an anti-social kleptomaniac, who believes he can steal other's attributes and skills, with a penchant for rabbit masks. Will Young-goon waste away, can Il-soon steal her sympathy so she can get revenge on the "men in white"? Either way I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK.
     All that and Tyler gets stuck burning through the witches ditches, Dave finds a hidden treasure, and Kevin gives up speech for interpretive dance. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 299- Prestidigitation Automation

Ad Wrassle

     This week a satire from the 1960s and a sports comedy of more recent vintage. 

     An advertising firm accidently votes its only African-American member as the new chairman-of-the-board. He quickly changes the name and starts claiming to be forging new paths. Their ads make all their clients wildly successful. Meanwhile, the President of the United States and an auto executive plot to force them to break their stated no cigarettes, alcohol, and war toy policy. Will the powers that be win or can nothing break the integrity of Putney Swope?
     Danny is a trucker who dreams of winning the arm wrestling championship. Melanie is a recently divorced, heavily repressed, bakery owner. When Danny is sabotaged by her worst rival, she turns to her old friend Melanie to help her get victory. Can Melanie embrace parts of herself long denied? Will Danny feel the sweet sweet taste of victory? Will the yoga woman ever just eat the scone? All will be revealed through the power of a Golden Arm.
     All that and Dave plays a game, Tyler gets slippery, and Kevin looks down on them both through his golden monocle. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 297- Ad Wrassle

Rural Bags of Dirt

     This week- two unreported sexual assaults, six rapists, and two male leads who make everything about themselves... 

     When Paul, a greasy kid from a small Midwest town, is accepted to NYU on an academic scholarship. The university rooms him with 3 roofie slinging serial rapists from the city who resent his polite and hardworking ways. Soon Paul finds himself sleeping in the back of a strangely always empty veterinarian's office. When, for more reasons that are impossible to discern, his former roommates talk him into letting them throw a party at the vet's while he's out at a concert. Coming home he finds a classmate, hardworking and studious Dora, overdosed and abandoned on his toilet. Romance ensues? Some people have a lot of nostalgia and love for Amy Heckerling's Loser. 

     An American applied mathematician, David, and his English wife, Amy, move to the small Cornish moorland town she grew up in. Taking residence in the isolated and dilapidated Trechers Farm, David hires a few local men to fix the garage and take care of the rat problem. Soon tensions with the locals grow over David's aloofness and cracks in his marriage spread. When David takes in an injured man and refuses to give him over to vigilantes, it all boils over in a rush of violence. Is a civilized man pushed too far, is this the inevitable beast inside a man all along, or is this an inadvertent criticism of the toxic masculinity the filmmaker thought he was celebrating? There are no easy answers in Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs.

     All that and Dave sees a doc, Kevin finally turns on a light, and Tyler ate a lot of pie. Join us, won't you?

  Episode 286- Rural Bags of Dirt

Cloak & Glamour

    This week four people fighting against oppressive structures. 

     When Noxeema Jackson and Vida Boheme tie in the competition for New York City's "Drag Queen of the Year" they set off for Hollywood and the "Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant", with their protégé Chi-Chi, in a 1967 Cadillac DeVille. Soon they are taking refuge in Snydersville waiting for a replacement car part with a bigoted, but fairly inept, sheriff on their trail. Endlessly quotable, stuffed with cameos, and always dressed on point- To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
     Recently unemployed accountant, Morgan Sullivan, is bored. Not wanting to wait for a pity opening at his wife's father's firm, he secretly takes a position in corporate espionage for Digicorp. Taking the alias Jack Thursby, he infiltrates conventions to secretly record and pass confidential reports to his bosses. His life of excitement doesn't last long as he soon meets Rita Foster and is shown that there is far far more going on than he was led to believe. Morgan isn't recording information from other companies, he is having his own identity and sense of self pulled away and replaced with a Digicorp sleeper agent. A hasty deal with Rita's shadowy and dangerous boss may be his only hope of survival. Can Morgan figure out this tangled puzzle of double crosses and plots or will he be crushed in the corporate cogs of an unsolvable Cypher.
     All that and Dave sees a doc, Tyler goes to his happy place, and Kevin starts to glitch. Join us, won't you?
Episode 262- Cloak & Glamour

A Natural Bluish Hue

    This week- two films about doctors being less than ethical. 

     Pharmaceutical giant, Roritor, is in need of something new. In his desperation to save his lab, Dr. Chris Cooper will overstate the readiness of his antidepressant, GLeeMONEX. Chemically, the drug reaches into your brain and unlocks on to your happiest memory, chemically, and makes your happy happy, chemically. The drug sweeps the world, quickly caught up in Roritor's plans to make it readily and immediately available to all and an unforeseen side effect makes itself known. A cult classic from the director of Tiger Claws and one of the greatest sketch comedy troupes of all time Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy.
     Jack is a sad boi with mother issues. April is a singer at a club with child abandonment issues. When they meet, Jack's health takes a turn for the worst. Only Dr. Bergman may be able to save him but the good doctor is holding something back. Will Jack succumb to his sad boi? Will April ever get back into skating? What blackmail does the Australian government have on Hugo Weaving? How long until your patience is Expired (aka Loveland)?
     All that and Dave talks about high literature, Kevin overdoses on TV series box sets, and Tyler dresses all emo and shiz. Join us, won't you?

EPISODE 261: A NATURAL BLUISH HUE

WYLD FELYNES

     This week- the filmatic embodiment of poptimisim and brutal psychic preteens in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

     When The Great Ones' destiny is about to take a most heinous turn to catastrophe, a line to the Circuits of Time open up and a most triumphant undertaking of timeline restoration begins. Will they fix what went wrong and put their futures back on track or will advanced knowledge of their destinies disrupt them and send it all spiraling out of control decades later? Either way, it is Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
     Ida and Ana move to a new apartment complex. They befriend two of the neighborhood children, only to discover that three of them have low level psychic abilities. Playtimes of mind toss and long distance telephone fill a few summer days. Soon the gaggle of psychic kids find they are stronger together, and one of them is shockingly strong alone and has no issues with extreme measures. How long until they tear themselves and each other apart? They might look it but don't think they are The Innocents.
     All that and Kevin sells out, Dave tries to comfort watch, and Tyler plots true evil. Join us, won't you?

    Episode 260- WYLD FELYNES

The Chilean Epistle

     This week- two films about reaching out to the wide world through the written word.
     It is the last issue of the Eunni-sur-Blazé bureau of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Star. Take a look at the final articles to ever roll off those presses and the lovingly crowd sourced obituary of its managing editor and co-founder. A parody tribute to the gone 1950s glory days of The New Yorker. A film that takes many of that publications best contributors and twees them to maddening levels. A film so Wes Anderson that if it's ever screened with any of this other films it may rip apart our reality... The French Dispatch.
     Daniela is eager to explore her sexuality despite the oppression of her heavily Protestant family. She starts a blog to share her exploration with others in similar circumstances. Before long she finds herself in a precarious position at home and questioning everything she was raised to believe while also perusing relationships with two coworkers at her religious television internship. Will she return to her faith? Will she pick the religious boyfriend or the secular girlfriend? How many different lives can she juggle before they all collapse upon her? How long until her mother discovers her blog? Will Daniela settle or remain Young & Wild (Joven y alocada)?
     All that and Dave becomes the night, Tyler forgets something, and Kevin makes peace with visitors from beyond the sky. Join us, won't you?

 
Episode 254- The Chilean Epistle

Fields of Dream

     A student's unique part-time job and a man's odyssey to fulfill his dreams.

     When his uncle dies, New Jersey grocer, Harold Bissonette comes into enough money to move his family across country and buy a California orange grove. Will his dreams of an improved life come true or will his wife and children send him into a spiral of alcoholism and despair? Maybe It's a Gift after all?
     Lucy works two jobs and a side hustle being a test subject to pay her tuition and rent. When a highly paid opportunity appears, she jumps at the chance. When that leads to a better paid but without a regular schedule job, Lucy finds herself flush. The job just happens to be voluntarily drugging herself to sleep and spending the night being groped by men. A different version of Sleeping Beauty.
     All that and Craig suffers, Tyler becomes the night, Dave gets a clue, and Kevin considers running away to join the circus.

Episode 249- Fields of Dream

Love Spectrum

     This week a three course shot of amour celebrating less than usual couples.

     Sandra has always had an attraction towards death. While studying to become an embalmer, she begins a torrid affair with Matt, a med student who can't quite grasp why she can't open up to him as she does her dead lovers. Sandra refuses to stop her rigor rides. Matt gets a little overwhelmed. How far will he go to be Kissed?

     A love triangle in The City by the Bay. A tale as old as the invention of the printed circuit board. Boy buys a computer, girl meets boy, computer becomes sapient when champagne is spilled in it, computer romances girl, boy gets credit, computer tries to kill and replace boy. We have all heard this story a thousand times... but this one also has multiple music video breaks. Will the always be together in Electric Dreams?
     While wondering through the worst security hospital in the hemisphere, Danny meets super powered hypnosis killer Byron Volpe and sleeping beauty Laura. So taken by the young woman, Danny decides to kidnap her and keep her as a pet in his totally unprepared apartment where she is sure to slowly starve to death OR, maybe, choke as he tries to shove bran down her snoring throat. Volpe doesn't take kindly to this and soon orchestrates events to a show down crammed with imagery ripped wholesale from dystopian surrealist Beksinski. Will Laura rouse beyond her dream or will her Parasomnia envelop them all?

     Episode 246- Love Spectrum

Betting on Red

     This week a gambler risks it all and everything comes up cookies.

     Cosmo Vittelli owns a night club on the Sunset Strip and has just paid off a 7-year debt to a loan shark. He decides to take his favorite girls out to celebrate and digs a new hole to the depth of $23,000. Forced to sign over his club as collateral, Cosmo looks for anyway to get his head back above water without losing his cherished burlesque. That is when a gangster acquaintance, Morty, arrives with a deal. All Cosmo has to do is kill a low level bookie who works for a rival group. Is it worth The Killing of a Chinese Bookie?
     Phyllis has been left by her philandering husband. In an effort to maintain a relationship with her daughter during the combative divorce, she takes the reins of the unruly local Wilderness Girls troop. Despite lacking the skills most troop leaders hold dear, Phyllis instead teaches the girls how to survive in the wilderness of their social swamp. Soon she will have a target on her back from a staunch traditionalist in the organization. Will she be able to save Troop Beverly Hills?
     All that and Kevin takes a trip through time, Dave almost dies, and Tyler will always know what Craig did the summer before the summer before the summer after last summer. Join us, won't you?

Episode 213- Betting on Red

Dog the Bounty Blunter

      This week three tales of dogged determination. 

     Michael wants to be a professional skater. His father wants him to go to college. He sets about to follow his dream but it comes with consequences. Will he succeed? Will Michael's dreams crash and he will wake up on the job with his father mixing cement? Will he ever escape the confines of North Hollywood?
     A very good doggy in a town of very awful people. Found on the side of the road, Red Dog is brought to the Australian mining community of Dampier. From there he would become a legend and great unifier of the people. Years later, the men celebrate their doggy companion and his unswerving loyalty and endless sacrifices for their vanities... all while ignoring that one of them most definitely murdered him.
     Bounty Hunter Jack Walsh is hired to bring in an embezzling mob accountant known as "The Duke" before his bond defaults in five days. What should be an easy Midnight Run becomes a series of misadventures in one of the world's favorite buddy comedies. Will Jack make it in time? Will the mob catch up with them and make The Duke disappear? Is this secretly connected to The Score? Probably, possibly, I hope anyway.
     All that and Dave fears getting old, Tyler doesn't do much of anything, and Kevin once again rubs our noses in the mess we left on the carpet. Join us, won't you?

Episode 209- Dog the Bounty Blunter

Mark of Iglesia

     This week we pay homage to cult Spanish filmmaker 'Alex de la Iglesia.

     When Perdita meets up with Romeo, it's not long until they find themselves why over their heads with the DEA hot on their trail, a pair of tourists to be sacrificed, a trailer full of frozen fetuses (or foetuses if you are British), and their employer looking to clean up loose ends. Based on Barry Gifford's third book in the Sailor and Lula series. Who leads Perdita Durango in her dance with the devil?

     An America student at Oxford wants a notorious professor to advise on his thesis. In order to make that happen, he takes up residence at the home of an old friend of the professor's, begins dating a former fling of the professor's, stalks his lectures, and before either knows it they are dragged into a a murder mystery that might be taunting the professor. In between killings there's a lot of talk about concepts that no one involved with the movie understands while standing around in fairly dull English sitting rooms. Who will be the next victim of The Oxford Murders?

     Javier is a sad clown. He works with happy clown Sergio, who is also a violent sociopath one drunk night away from murdering his girlfriend, Natalia. Hard violence, black humor, sharp social satire and a sad trumpet ballad play out The Last Circus.

     The antichrist is coming and Angel, a Basque priest, is going to do as much evil as he can in his attempt to thwart it. Joined by a heavy metal loving record store clerk and an occult TV host, Angel will try to stop The Day of the Beast in anyway he can.

     All that and Tyler suffers, Kevin demands hunky boys, and Dave flees a psycho cop. Join us, won't you?

Episode 207- Mark of Iglesia

Harold and Yuki

      This week Dave takes it upon himself to amend two grievous oversights. After learning about gaps in cohost viewings, and making some small sacrifices to Meiko Kaji for guidance, a vision was given unto Dave and he cheated the random pick pull to bring everyone to deliverance.

     Born to avenge her family, trained through her entire childhood, finally unleashed and hell bent on gory revenge. Yuki seeks out those who killed her father and brother and spent days raping and torturing her mother. Raising standard samurai exploitation to the highest of visual poetry, not even death can keep Lady Snowblood from her satisfaction.

     Harold is bored and the only thing that keeps him entertained is a light spot of dramatic suicide. His mother, uncle, and therapist don't understand him and he can't live the life they proscribe for him. Then one day, at another crashed funeral, Maude drifts into his life. A dark comedy about existential anxiety and what might be found when you embrace it. One of cinema's greatest love stories, Harold & Maude.
     All that and Kevin gets dirty in Cape Town, Tyler spirals in nostalgia, and Dave runs out of places to hide his sacrifices. 

Episode 205- Harold and Yuki

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

Bye Demon

      A pair of comedy classics to chill with.

      One of the most successful anthology series in television history makes the jump to features. Jeryline is just trying to get through work release when one day a drifter barges into her church turned flophouse with The Collector hot on his heels. Soon everyone there will be facing the forces of darkness and fighting for their souls, desperately trying to hold out until sunrise. Will anyone survive Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight?
     Craig Jones, recently fired on his day off, spends the day hanging around the neighborhood with his best friend and small-time herb salesman, Smokey. Before too long, the threat of death hangs over the pair by 10:00 PM if they can't pay off the money Smokey owes Big Worm. A modern classic that first showed that there is more to hood life than the violence and menace Hollywood was happily playing up in the flood of crime films at the time. Friday has become an enduring genre staple and one of the most important films of its decade.
     All that and Dave celebrates, Kevin wonders, and Tyler does whatever it is Tyler does. Join us, won't you?

Episode 193- Bye Demon