Stay Gold

     This week- two movies about relationships... with ourselves and with others. 

     Nicky, a small time gangster, stole from his boss. With nowhere else to go, he calls his old friend Mikey, also employed by the same local crime boss. Together the two drift through the city at night with a hitman not far behind. An anxiety inducing melodrama about male friendship and cruelty driven masculinity, with a pair of staggeringly brilliant performances, a sharply witty script and equally edged direction from Elaine May- Mikey and Nicky.
     An intersex sex worker goes on the run after a mobster dies in his company. On the way he takes a hard look at his life, relationships, challenges with his own identity, and if any of it is what he wants. An incredible script, written by lead River Gallo, driving a bus full of strong performances and stylishly assured direction in a film that that deserves far more eyeballs than it has received so far- Ponyboi.
     All that and Kevin feels feeling inside, Dave suffers in more ways than one, and Tyler guzzles the sweet sweet wine of victory. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 450- Stay Gold

Ventre

     This week- two films about men who live violently and do crime. 

      After a long absence from his native Sicily, Tony Aniante finally returns to settle some old debts. Soon the two families that control the area begin to compete for his services. Services rendered in brutal and bloody fashion. Will Tony get the closure he desires? Will the local families realize what really motivates Tony? How long can they keep the higher ups from discovering the tangled web they have made? The third feature from one of Italy's huge stable of 70s exploitation filmmakers, Cry of a Prostitute (original title Quelli che contano, lit. The One That Matters). 
     Tommy "Buns" Bundy and his lifelong friend Sincere move from robbery into drug transport after a nightclub robbery ends violently. As Buns is pulled deeper into a brutal world, Sincere tries to find a way to get his family out, and a betrayed associate plots revenge. Will Sincere be able to start the new life he dreams of? Will Buns go beyond the point of no return and lose his humanity to the hustle? Or will both men become just another data point in year end statistics? The only feature from music video auteur Hyper Williams that has become an urban crime drama cult classic, Belly.
     All that and Dave fights the Gregorian calendar, Tyler damages his vision with blacklights, and Kevin laments missing time with other film buffs of a higher quality. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 431- Ventre

Is That a Baton in Your Pocket

     This week someone attempts to subvert a democratic process and a weekend trip goes very wrong.

     When Big D, a candidate for Wo Ling Shing triad's biennial chairman election, refuses to accept the outcome things take an immediate turn to the violent. Loyalties shift quickly and without warning as the two sides search desperately for the dragonhead baton, the symbol of the chairman's authority. Can Lok, the winner of the Uncle's vote, bring them all together or will everything rupture under him? Will Jimmy, a triad member with dreams of legitimacy, be able to do what needs to be done to end the fighting in the streets? The first chapter in Johnnie To's epic saga of unchecked greed and ambition seething under a show of pomp and tradition, Election.
     After Jennifer has her history of justified retribution mocked and derided by a law professor on the first day of classes, she decides to blow off higher education for a long vacation in a cabin in the woods with her friend Sam. Just a couple hours after hitting town, Jennifer will live through another nightmare encounter with a local Conway Twitty impersonating gas station attendant and his slow witted but homicidal friend. Will Sam take heed of the stranger danger lessons of her teen years? Can Jennifer just have a nice weekend by a lake without an assault happening? Donald Farmer's unauthorized sequel to a late-70s cult favorite, that so gleefully crossed the line he was sued by the original filmmakers, Savage Vengeance.
     All that and Dave's frozen corpse is retrieved and revived by a humanist organization, Kevin learns many valuable things that he hadn't thought to explore, Craig plans revenge on the worlds third largest fire alarm manufacturers, and Tyler faces some difficult choices that may fundamentally change the very nature of his sense of self. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 338- Is That a Baton in Your Pocket?

Windows

    This week one man dreams of a life and a town celebrates its people and their eccentricities.

     Ivan is unable to follow in his father's footsteps. He flees Russia, trading the organized crime organization he was meant to one day inherit for the sunny skies of California. Soon he makes friends, meets a girl, and everything starts to look optimistic. Unfortunately, back home, his Uncle has made moves to take control which have put Ivan in the center of his sights. The feature length debut of an infamous disasterpiece auteur. Can you find hops when you are Born into Mafia?
     Virgil, Texas is having a week long run to its sesquicentennial celebration. A stranger has come to witness the proceedings and get a glimpse at those who make it what it is. A celebration of eccentricity and individuality with a great soundtrack and more sets of twins than you could shake a stick at. Roll up for some True Stories.
     All that and Tyler practices his disappearing act, Kevin plans an escape, Dave lets the water hold him down, and Craig plots future acts of violence. Join us, won't you?

Episode 274- Windows

Larcenist Odyssey

     This week unauthorized visitors to vaults and spring formals. 

     Frank has set up his life as he wanted it, a pair of successful businesses to front for his more lucrative jewel theft enterprise, and has finally decided to take the next step in his life by starting a family in a relationship that is open and honest about his life. Tragically, at the same time, his long term associate and fence is killed for skimming off the top by a Chicago Outfit boss. Not wanting to let an asset of Frank's value get away, he is approached by the boss with a deal he just can't pass up. Michael Mann's feature debut with a career defining performance from James Caan, Thief.
     A guitar shaped spaceship sails majestically through the heavens as its crew search for the source of the sounds that give their lives meaning... rock and roll music. Finally having pinpointed Earth, the crew and their robot 1359, visit the little town of Speelburgh and meet singer Dee Dee. Dee Dee catches the eye of the alien commander but, tragically, she's the girl of local Rock band leader, Frankie. Toss everything you might find channel surfing through late night 80s TV and you have... Voyage of the Rock Aliens.

     All that and Tyler gets lost in New Raccoon City, Dave feels under the weather, and Kevin observes the totality of the multiverse. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 269- Larcenist Odyssey

Let Sleeping Pods Lie

    This week two films about the loss of one's soul in the quest to conform with one's social peers.

     The small town of Santa Mira is having a transient Capgras delusion epidemic. Town physician, Dr. Miles Bennell, is urgently called back from his vacation to try and deal with it. Before long, the good doctor and his suddenly divorced former girlfriend are caught up in a plot of intergalactic origin and just one short catnap away from being consumed by the first film version of modern fiction's most versatile metaphor- Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
     John LeTour, a delivery boy for a high class dealer, is having a midlife crisis. Consumed with feelings directionless with increasing loss of perspective as his boss contemplates moving from pharmaceuticals into cosmetics, he suffers from insomnia and uses his nights filling up composition notebooks journaling his adrift memories. One night, when dropping off a little something for a connection, he runs into his former lover as she maintains vigil over her dying mother. Soon John will be caught up in a murder investigation, a reignited obsession, and the ever piling garbage. Light Sleeper.
     All that and Dave's gotta go fast, Tyler gets an upgrade, and Kevin surprises everyone. Join us, won't you?

Episode 253- Let Sleeping Pods Lie

Riding the Starfish

      This week joyrides both across a country and the void of space.

     When Nanae comes back into Rei's life, it kicks off events that will change everything. Soon they are on the run with only each other and their complicated history as support. Based on the influential manga, Gunjō. Will they find some kind of peace with each other and their past? Will they be able to forge a new future? Will they Ride or Die?
     Japan's first science fiction film shot in color. A rogue planet is hurtling towards a blissfully unaware Earth while strange visions of  giant starfish begin terrifying fishermen. At the same time Dr. Matsuda has just made a huge breakthrough in his work on a new nuclear bomb and Professor Isobe takes in a woman his son found floating down stream. Will the waterlogged woman be able to deliver her urgent Warning from Space in time for humanity to survive?
     All that and Tyler has to adjust his list, Dave starts a new starfish cult, and Kevin spoils a party. Join us, won't you?

Episode 239- Riding the Starfish

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