Threat Level: Breen

     This week- Craig and Dave chose violence.

     Identical twin brothers, Cale and Cade, are abducted and turned into something more than human by an entity. They are sent out to fight what the entity claims is "evil" and for some reason that means working very closely with a US black ops organization. Unfortunately, Cale is seen as defective and eventually released from his captivity... only to find his own ways of combating "evil". Has Cale gone too far? Will Cade ever question any of what he has been told his whole life? A brotherly epic by auteur Neil Breen- Twisted Pair.
     Years have passed since the, uh... events?... sure, events of Twisted Pair and the twins have not been in contact. Cade donated a large sum of money to fix a psychiatric hospital. Unknown to him, the should be condemned hospital is just a front for insane human experiments in the back room and government sanctioned human trafficking in the basement. Will Cade save these poor, unfortunate souls? Why is Cale creeping around the staff staircase?  Could they really not find an actual room to film in? The latest film from cult filmmaker, in the very loosest sense, Neil Breen- Cade: The Tortured Crossing.
     All that and Kevin has a nap, Tyler goes to his happy place, Dave finds himself full of regret, and Craig laughs manically clutching a globe. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 401- Threat Level: Breen

Work Life Unbalanced

     This week- two films about women at work and the strains it brings.

     May is an awkward and lonely woman whose only friend is a doll in a glass case. Adam, a mechanic with pretty hands, and Polly, the most aggressively predatory lesbian in a 2000s movie, enter her life she begins to take steps into the wider world. Entering a romantic relationship with Adam and endless flirting with Polly at work. When neither relationship works out as May hoped, she decides to make a friend herself. The second feature by Lucky McKee, May.
     Molly is a Yale graduate who works the day shift at a NYC brothel. Following her and her coworkers through a long day on the job. Lizzie Borden's engrossingly nonjudgmental and immaculately detailed look at the world's oldest profession, Working Girls.
     All that and Dave sees some grim grinning ghosts, Craig learns about a secret lover at a will reading, Tyler has a tough choice to make, and Kevin errs on the side of the crowd. Join us, won't we?

    Episode 320- Work Life Unbalanced

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

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

Driving Ms. Sadie

    This week- two deep friendships inspired by unusual circumstances.

     While digging through yard sales to give her yellow dull room a nice home feel, Jane buys an ancient thermos, that will make a lovely vase, from Sadie. When her perfectly clipped flowers are still too tall for the thermal vase, Jane fines ten thousand dollars in old bills inside. When her attempt to return the cash is rebuffed, Jane makes it her mission to befriend the obviously lonely elderly woman as another way to repay her debt. There's also some porn, a jealous roommate, COD playing, and high drama around a small dog named... Starlet.

     Toby has an advanced bio-mechanical device implanted in his chest. This device makes him faster and stronger than is humanly possibly. Not wanting it, he flees Hong Kong with the intention of selling the device to a company in sunny California. Unfortunately, assassins are hot on his trail. Malik is a down on his luck, having recently been tossed from his home for another man. When Tody has no choice but to take Malik hostage, the duo embark on a road trip full of odd characters and high octane fistfights. Will Toby reach his destination before being dispatched by a hillbilly commando team or biomechanical assassin 2.0? Will Malik realize that he deserves better and settle down in a small motel somewhere between LA and San Francisco? Why is this film called... Drive.
     All that and a twin in wicker, multiple noirs in fog, and old faves returned. Join us, won't you?

  Episode 282- Driving Ms. Sadie

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

Tangentially Xmas

    This week we bring 2021 to a close with a three pack of movies that are firmly winter holiday adjacent. 

     Christmas Eve 1918, a lawyer comes to visit Mrs. Allen and her three children. He brings an amazing offer that will get them out of not their squalid apartment and give them a chance to improve their lives greatly. That is, if they don't mind a few ghosts. Before they can say some cockney rhyming slang two of the kids are off on a time leaping adventure that will change their lives forever. Just don't think of The Amazing Mr. Blunden and his paradoxes.
     After a month as classifieds editor at the Los Angeles Eye and finding that she has been sleeping with the wrong reporter to get a career boost, wannabe reporter Kim takes matters into her own hands and, without editorial sanction, begins to look into a woman's strange death by spontaneous human combustion. At her very first stop, she becomes the target of a coven of lesbian witches. Crammed full of ideas cut from a previous feature, cult hero Brian Yuzna brings a tale that appropriately hates everyone but loves giant cockroaches. Who will survive Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation?
     Three odysseys across LA. Sean Baker's raw and up close ground level view of a distinctive and specific sex-trade subculture. Anchored by three phenomenal central performances and filmed with bleeding edge technique and stuffed with style, Tangerine.
     All that and Kevin get serenaded, Dave wonders if Killer Santa was inside him all alone, and Tyler learns the true meaning of Life Day. Join us, won't you?

Episode 237- Tangentially Xmas

Lunch with Jercules

    This week November brings two films that premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and Stone makes a brief pop in to deliver some pain.

     Simon, also known as John Q masked singer of  local punk band PSYOPS, needs a place to lie low for a couple days. Patty is a painfully awkward introvert with health issues and John Q's most obsessed fan. A super agro, infectiously punk anti-romcom romcom with an incredible lead performance that is sure to be a favorite of youths looking for their own voices for years to come... Dinner in America.
     Zola is a waitress and occasional dance in Detroit. When she becomes fast friends in with Stephani, dancer and part time escort, Zola gets swept up in a nightmarish weekend trip to Florida. A tale that launched a million Tweets recreated for the screen with hyper stylized visuals and walking the line between social media satire and harrowing glimpse at the economy of male lust, Zola.
     Hercules, traditionally, was a great champion of the weak whose strength and far flung adventures have been told through centuries. Renny Harlin's 2014 feature throws all of that away for bad CG, terrible fights, and a cast who shouldn't be allowed to act ever... not even in local dinner theater. Specifically brought out to cause pain of us, it does it's job and at least one is left a weeping mess. The only thing this Legend of Hercules should have left behind is a lot of dead careers.
     All that and Tyler loves to love, Kevin finally catches up on the latest thang, and Dave just can't hold it in. Join us, won't we?

Episode 230- Lunch with Jercules

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