Cravenly

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Bad Gary Judge Bubby

     This week a rogue selection brings PET.... JUST-ICE! and a normal pick plumbs the depths of psychological mental abuse in the way only Australia can.

     Having been kept his whole life in a room with only his mother and Jesus for company, convinced the outside world is poison, he is totally unprepared to be tossed out into the wide world. But that's the consequence for being a Bad Boy Bubby.

     Delivering justice for domesticated furry friends as only he can... with surreal asides and dives towards the edge of madness that is built on strong emotions of love and anger. Gary Busey: Pet Judge 

     All that and Craig asks the big questions about the nature of man, Tyler decides that there is no true justice, Kevin wonders if the social agreements that we call justice will ever reach a point of the fairness and equality that we like to pretend it has, and Dave forgets which sewer he left his third secret family in. Join us, won't you?

Episode 161- Bad Gary Judge Bubby

She's All Matt

     Everything's coming up Tyler as we dive into two films he deeply loves. Because we might hate ourselves a little.

     A late 90s teenage romantic comedy that makes eyes at being self-aware and having something to say but then dodges all of that by embracing the tropes without hesitation or thought. It's possible She's All That but the movie probably isn't.

     The second feature from a director of singular vision. In a world where the elite are safe on a space station and everyone else lives in a Mad Maxclone if it was made by Paul Schrader, a lone white guy will rise up to save the day for all the... you know... I get it means well but there's some problematic shit here. Movies like this thinking they are saying something is why humanity will never run the fields of Elysium.
     All that and Dave weeps again, Tyler tries to convert you to his doomsday cult, Kevin takes up dance instruction for seniors, and Craig gleefully plots against us all. Join us, won't you?

Episode 161- She's All Matt

Murder Most Fowl

     This week the return of a prolific auteur and Disney's latest butchery of a beloved modern YA classic.

     Travel back with us to 1989 when David  DeCoteau had a still nice but much smaller house. The days when he would invite scream queens and their friends over to make movies in a weekend. Okay, he still totally does that but this is before he found his true niche. It doesn't make a lot of sense how Lyle Waggoner is there. Help us try to find the why of Murder Weapon.

     The House of the Mouse has a long history of buying and then completely messing up well loved and known YA properties. After the ear fucking they gave Ella Enchanted trying to make it Shrek and the long weekend they kept Percy Jackson and the Olympians locked in Goofy's sex dungeon until poor Percy lost all sense of self and tried desperately to be "Harry Potter Jr"... they finally unleash their version of Artemis Fowl. SPOILERS- Your kid will hate you for making them watch it and you will hate yourself for having Disney+.... remember when everyone loved that Baby Yoda and thought signing their life away to Mickey was the best idea ever? 

     All that and Kevin lets his classy habits go to his head, Tyler makes his own private oasis in Idaho, Dave wonders what sin against her agent could Judi Dench possibly have committed, and Craig finally gets a Texas catheter. Join us, won't you?

Episode 160- Murder Most Fowl

Five by Spike Lee

     This week we pay tribute to one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Spike Lee. Always bold, never subtle, often brilliant with a command of visual language that is unmatched. 

     Jungle Fever takes a look at an interracial affair and the ripples it creates in the lives of all those around them, including a breakout performance by Samuel L Jackson. Flipper Purify is a successful architect and happily married with a young daughter. When his firm hires Angie Tucci as a temp to be his secretary... one late night at the office they start a tumultuous relationship.

     Crooklyn is a casually plotted but deeply personal semi-autobiographical tale in the summer of 1973. 9 year-old Troy Carmichael learns some hard lessons from her tough mother, naive father, and rowdy siblings.  The project originated as a television pilot and was co-written by two of Lee's siblings.

     He Got Game takes a hard look at sports culture, its inherent predatory exploitation, father-son dynamics, and acceptance of on'es past. Jesus Shuttlesworth is the top prospect in the country. His father, Jake Shuttlesworth, is given a week out of prison and the promise of possible early release if he can convince his son to sign a letter of intent to the governor's alma matter.

     Da Sweet Blood of Jesus is a remake of Bill Gunn's Ganja and Hess shifts the focus more on religion. Wealthy anthropologist and art collector Dr Hess Green is stabbed with an ancient African dagger by his assistant and becomes addicted to blood. As he settles into his new situation, his assistant's ex-wife decides to drop in. 

     Da 5 Bloods explores the complicated relationship between African-American soldiers and the military, the lasting effects for both sides that continue, and PTSD. An African-American squad from the US Army 1st Infantry Division secure a crashed CIA plane and it's cargo- a locker full of gold bars to be used as payment for the Lahu people. Deciding that the gold is as much rightfully theirs as anyone's the squad bury their treasure, only to lose it and their leader in the ensuing counter attack and napalm strike. Years later the surviving members return to search the recently rediscovered area. 

Join us, won't you?

Episode 159- Five by Spike Lee

Auteurist Openings

     This week- the first films from a pair of visionary directors. 

     John Singleton wrote and directed a film that would serve as the blueprint for a whole genre the 30 years since its release. Filled with amazingly naturalistic performances, assured direction, and made with an honesty that is still rare in studio films. Boyz n the Hood set a lasting mark on film.
     Melina Matsoukas created some of the best music videos the medium has ever offered. After years working in that area, she made her feature debut with Queen & Slim. A beautifully acted, amazingly filmed, and perfectly scored story of a couple who are forced to go on the run after accidentally killing a cop. It ranks with the best of the decade and is easily the best film of 2019.

     All that and Craig ghosts, Tyler might have gotten a little too excited, Dave overflows with love, and Kevin readiest himself for a showdown in the Punderdome. Join us, won't you?

Episode 158- Auteruist Openings

Fastened Nitroglycerin

     Michael Jai White's blaxploitation parody/homage is as upper echelon as the genre is capable. A film that should be spoken of in comedy film groups with the same reverent tones as anything by ZAZ or Guest. The hard hitting, endlessly quotable, strange science, never interrupt his kung fu... I should really put a rhyme here- Black Dynamite

     The second directorial work from Jordan Peele. What if there are clones of everyone underground, somehow psychically linked to you? What if one day they decided to kill you and take your place? Great performances and very important themes but is it enough for Us?
     All that and Dave deep dives but only shallow discusses, Tyler runs out of flavor comparisons, and Kevin finally gets corporeal. Join us, won't you?

Episode 157- Fastened Nitroglycerin