Ever Dance to ABBA in the Pale Moonlight?

     This week we take great pride in presenting three films about people who dream of starting their own businesses.

     In the summer of 1963, Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar develop a relationship. Jack, a wannabe rodeo cowboy, dreams of fixing up his parent's ranch and turning it into a success with Ennis. Ennis, a ranch hand haunted by a memory from his childhood, is desperate to not break the facade of domestic normalcy he has built with his wife, Alma, and their two daughters. Ang Lee's masterful examinations of the yearning to belong, societal expectations of normalcy, and the consequences of denying one's true self- Brokeback Mountain.
     On the first day of summer in Rome, Alba, a Spanish engineer, picks up Natasha, a Russian bride-to-be, and takes her back to her hotel on both their last night in The Eternal City. Over the next few hours, the women tease and draw each other into the open between rounds of passion. Julio Medem's beautifully shot arthouse romantic comedy about how impactful a single night can be- Room in Rome.
     After a youth with a drug-induced smile plastered on, an aspiring comedic performer gets their chance to fulfill their dream and join the cast of UCB Live. Being unable to afford the required training fee, they join with a new friend to start their own underground comedy troupe. A DIY coming of age story, one of the best superhero films ever made, a joyfully screaming satire covering an emotional story of self-acceptance- The People's Joker.
     All that and Dave keeps forgetting things, Tyler stays consistent, and Kevin makes a desperate move for his own sanity. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 419- Ever Dance to ABBA in the Pale Moonlight?

Penultimate Guitarfighter

     This week- a pair of disputes that range from the domestic to the pangalactic. Both of which were turned into off-Broadway musicals for the 2004 theater season. 

      Saloonkeeper Vienna's volatile relationship with the local yokels is quickly approaching critical. As a defensive measure she hires on a former lover and multiple discipline virtuoso, Johnny. Will this be enough to calm the waters, kept at a rolling boil by unable to deal with her feelings local rancher Emma Small? Or will this be the last duet for Vienna and Johnny Guitar?
     Alex dreams of life after the Starlite Starbrite trailer park he has spent his life in. Alex's only escapes are his dreams of college and the arcade game outside the local convenience store. When he breaks the high score, he soon learns it is all true and the Ko-Dan Armada is threatening all peaceful planets of the Rylan Star League. With only his navigator, Grig, can Alex save The Frontier and stop the power mad Xur? What hope can there possibly be when you are The Last Starfighter?
     All that and Craig almost achieves enlightenment, Kevin fills in some gaps, Dave looks down on their life choices, and Tyler feels the force flow through him- it isn't as fun as expected. Join us, won't you?

Episode 248- Penultimate Guitarfighter

West of Temptation and Power

     Bringing February to an end with a four pack of African-American directed films. 

     The film that finally gave Denzel Washington his long overdue Oscar. A film that launched a thousand cheap imitators to dominate the decade's award bait genres. Birthing AFI's 50th Greatest Screen Villain and so far two different TV continuations. Antoine Fuqua's turn of the Century crime classic- Training Day

     Previously only known for his cinematography, Ernest Dickerson slid in with a masterful assurance to deliver a standout feature at the height of the 90s urban crime wave. Starring Tupac Shakur, in only his second film role (his first being a cameo with Digital Underground in Nothing But Trouble the year before) just before the release of his landmark second album, and Omar Epps, in his film debut. Tired of being pushed around and desperate for respect, Bishop talks his friends into robbing a corner store. It all goes very wrong from there but one might still get some Juice.
     One of the most unique vampire films ever made. A minister in training finds himself at a crossroads and visits his friend in New York City. Little does he expect to be brought straight into the sights of the forces of Hell. With Temptation breathing down his neck, can his friends pull him out of its clutches or will they all be Def by Temptation. 

     A western that uses all the genre's features with the laudable goal to bring the focus on real African-American cowboys (who made up between 20-25%, Mexican vaquero accounted for 33%... 30% of Texas settlers were African-American). Tragically, it doesn't quite reach it's target. A large ensemble cast leaves too many with nothing to do and no impact on the narrative or audience. It's determined drive to try and get it's fictional hero a place among the best known Old West folk heroes leaves a lot to be desired. Mario Van Peebles' valiant but messy Posse.  
     All that and Kevin feels the feels he feels, Tyler might be cooking up something in a wheeled kitchen, and Dave has an honest heart to heart with all writers out there. Join us, won't you?

Episode 194- West of Temptation and Power

Of Gulls and Steel

     This week two tales of men and obsession.

     When a storm turns a four week temp job into an endless nightmare beans get spilled and so does some blood. Is it a brilliant work of art about humanity's most base self or a lot of bright light and fury signifying nothing? Either way there a whole lot to unpack in you take a job at The Lighthouse.

     A train carrying $400 thousand gets robbed by the best led gang in the West. Unfortunately, they get really greedy and steal a gift for the American president and murder one of it's samurai guards. Now an unlikely pair are thrown together on a quest of redemption and revenge. Three of the coolest actors of all time join forces to face the Red Sun.

     All that and Dave remembers, Kevin gets Christmasy, and Tyler suffers for art. Join us, won't you?

Episode 183- Of Gulls and Steel

 

Do Not Forsake Me

     Remake Month rolls along with a two pack of men doing what they feel is right, despite everyone around them telling them to walk away...

     Gary Cooper puts to bed the cowboy archetype he had created 23 years earlier in The Virginian. Marshal Will Kane has just married and left his the job. Tragically, as soon as his gun and star are placed on the desk, word arrives that the outlaw who once held the town in his control has been released and is coming for Kane. Covered in controversy at release, one of the first films entered into the United States National Film Registry, a constant source of endless inspiration for so much that followed it. 

     Sean Connery picks up a trucker hat and shotgun to enforce new frontier justice. Federal Marshal William O'Neil is assigned to a mining outpost on the Jovian moon Io. The environment is unforgiving, the conditions are brutal, the work is hard, the shifts are long... but the pay is significant. All productivity records are shattered under the current management. Everything appears to be going as well as possible... until the miners begin to have violent, delusional, psychotic episodes. As O'Neil begins to investigate, who will stand with him when he could hurt their profit? The first film to use Introvision, a front-projection technique which allows effect elements to be combined in camera, that would be the industry standard until the adoption of digital compositing.

     This week High Noon and its spiritual offspring thematic remake Outland. Join us, won't you?

Episode 165- Do Not Forsake Me, O Space Darlin'