Armored Tales

     This week- two films about people driven to extreme measures to try and grab a small bit of happiness.

     A Queen is desperate for a child but jealousy overtakes her love. An older woman is pursued by an oversexed king and drives her sister to an extreme. A King is obsessed with his pet and neglects his familial duties. An epic Italian-UK-French co-production recounting stories from Giambattista Basile's Pentamerone- Tale of Tales (Italian title: Il racconto dei racconti)
     A criminal mastermind plots his biggest heist yet. A low-level crook obsesses over his ex-wife. A burlesque dancer prepares to escape. A trio of cops bumble around the City of Angels on everyone's trail. An early film from Richard Fleischer who would spend the next three decades making tentpole star vehicles- Armored Car Robbery.

     All that plus Craig gets philosophical while Dave and Kevin burn. Join us, won't you?       Episode 475- Armored Tales

Interpretive Rants

     This week- two films about damaged psychologically manipulative men and the women entangled with them.
     In 1996 a virus wiped out the majority of humanity and forced the survivors underground. Now in a desperate attempt to salvage some future, volunteers are sent back in time in the hopes to trace the virus origin and obtain a sample of it in its purist form. James Cole, a prisoner traumatized from seeing a man murdered in a airport in his youth, is accidentally sent 6 years too early and sets off a chain of events with devastating consequences. Terry Gilliam's feature adaption of Chris Marker's 1967 short film, 12 Monkeys.
     The police investigate the murder of Laura Hunt, killed with a shot to her face in the doorway of her apartment. We the  a young, beautiful, and highly successful advertising executive killed by her sardonic newspaper columnist friend, her parasitic playboy fiancé, her jealous wealthy socialite aunt, or her well intentioned maid? Is there a twist in this knot of boiling jealousies? Directed by one of the most influential directors of the Noir Era and 1999 inductee to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, Laura.
     All that and Kevin has trouble reintegrating into society, Tyler tries new baked goods, Dave is invited out, and Craig fails to rise above it all. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 440- Interpretive Rants
 

Catastrophic Corrosion

     This week two movies about people making violent choices. 

     The body of a young woman is dumped on Hampstead Heath. It falls to Police Superintendent Hazard, the only not massively racist cop in London, to find the killer. Before long, he and his casually racist Inspector look through jazz clubs and middle class workshops for who might have murdered the biracial victim and realizing that "Hey, there's a lot of racism, isn't there?". Winner of the 1960 Edgar Award for Best Foreign Screenplay, Sapphire.
     Following in her missing mother's footsteps, Sam works as an assassin for shadowy global dominating organization, The Firm. Tragically, Sam overindulges in a murder spree and accidentally kills the son of a rival group's leader and is offered up by her bosses to make amends. Fortunately, her mother suddenly returns and her mother's librarian friends help. Neon and sugar and homages, Gunpowder Milkshake.
     All that and Dave resumes the Great Work, Kevin refuses to go anywhere without proper noir levels ambient lit of fog, and Tyler realizes that his apple didn't fall far from Papa T's tree. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 334- Catastrophic Corrosion

Rothrocking and Judo Rolling

     This week- a pair of Hong Kong martial art noirs. 

     Prosecutor Ha is was as by-the-book as they came. Until his mentor was gunned down in broad daylight and the vital witness in his current case is murdered with their entire family. Now Ha is taking matters into his own hands. Senior Inspector Cindy Si is a dedicated investigator with a strict view of justice. They find themselves in a deep conspiracy with roots in the very heart of the system they have both dedicated their lives to. Corey Yuen's Righting Wrongs.
     Depressed alcoholic and karaoke bar manager, Sze-to Bo, turned his back on his champion judo career for reasons no one knows. Current judo champion and competitive fighter, Tony, only want a fight with Bo. A singer, Mona, seeks refuge in the bar from her evil manager. Old and frail Cheng, with his dementia suffering son Ching, seek to restore their dojo to its former glory. Johnnie To's Throw Down. 
     All that and Tyler comes out of hiding, Dave watches a doc, and Kevin finally learns to read. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 284- Rothrocking and Judo Rolling

Varying Degrees of Peril

    This week a women in varying degrees of danger and distress.

     Biker Ako joins Mei and her all girl gang, The Stray Cats/Alleycats, for a knife fight. Meanwhile, Mei's boyfriend is so desperate to join the right-wing nationalist Seiyu Group. He takes the assignment of talking an old boxer friend into taking a dive. Things do not go as planned, which places Mei and the girls firmly in the group's sites and on the run through the youth corridors of Shnjuku, Tokyo. What will happen to Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss (aka Alleycat Rock: Female Boss)?

     Mr. Wilson works for the US government hunting a Nazi war criminal, Franz Kindler, who erased all records of his existence. Following a known associate of Kindler's to Connecticut his path will soon intersect with those of Mary Longstreet, daughter of a Supreme Court Justice, and her fiancé Charles Rankin, prep school teacher and clock enthusiast. The first feature to use real Holocaust concentration camp footage. What secrets will be unearthed by The Stranger?

     After a tragic accident bereaves them of a child, Rachel and Anthony take their surviving child halfway around the world to the Finish town Anthony grew up in. Soon unusual things begin happening to Rachel and her son. Does something demonic and evil lurk under their feet? You will probably figure it out early and have to endure the remaining 70 or so minutes with teeth gritted. Better yet- just do not watch The Twin.
     All that and Dave paints a letter while Kevin learns just how long he can sit before his butt goes numb. Join us, won't you?

Episode 256- Varying Degrees of Peril