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

Bye Demon

      A pair of comedy classics to chill with.

      One of the most successful anthology series in television history makes the jump to features. Jeryline is just trying to get through work release when one day a drifter barges into her church turned flophouse with The Collector hot on his heels. Soon everyone there will be facing the forces of darkness and fighting for their souls, desperately trying to hold out until sunrise. Will anyone survive Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight?
     Craig Jones, recently fired on his day off, spends the day hanging around the neighborhood with his best friend and small-time herb salesman, Smokey. Before too long, the threat of death hangs over the pair by 10:00 PM if they can't pay off the money Smokey owes Big Worm. A modern classic that first showed that there is more to hood life than the violence and menace Hollywood was happily playing up in the flood of crime films at the time. Friday has become an enduring genre staple and one of the most important films of its decade.
     All that and Dave celebrates, Kevin wonders, and Tyler does whatever it is Tyler does. Join us, won't you?

Episode 193- Bye Demon

12-String & Basketball

     This week the final feature film from a groundbreaking genius and the directorial debut of an underappreciated talent.

     A biopic on one of the most influential voices in American musical history. The debatably true story of Huddie Ledbetter and the events that would make him emerge as Lead Belly. From his early days touring Northern Texas with Blind Lemon Jefferson to his recordings for Lomax. Part legend building in it's own right, part contextualizing the life that gave the world so many enduring works. One of the best but least seen musical biographies ever made- Gordon Parks's Leadbelly.
     Two connected and mirroring lives examined through the sport they love in four segments. Approaching the character's lives not just through romance but through one's desire to follow her single dream, the other's struggle to find their own path, and their mutual love for basketball. A film that has fully earned it's cult status and continues to grow it's reputation to this day- Gina Prince-Bythewood's Love & Basketball.
     All that and Tyler survives a localized artic gale, Kevin makes good on his monthly delivery of disappointing heartbreak, and Dave dreams of the future onboard a Korean space hauler. Join us, won't you?

Episode 192: 12-String & Basketball

Caat Kune Doh

      This week Kevin makes Tyler's happy happy and Craig roundhouse kicks everyone in the teeth.... or would if his leg could lift higher than a shuffle.

     At long last the world of Harmony Korine is unleashed upon us. In the tornado devastated town of Xenia, Ohio a pair of point and laugh redneck kids stumble around killing cats and grannies. Meanwhile three sisters and a guy with a bunny hat and shorts lead a parade of different looking people who are there for you to point and laugh at... Gummo.

     From Nepal comes wannbe action hero and all around blighted sponge on the memory of Bruce Lee- Shuny Bee. What happens if you take a real life Johnny Lawrence and his students make a film around him? Basically this but even less competent and head up the ass pretensions and desperate than you are imagining. Don't join the Fight of Fury.

     All that and Dave forgot his brainwash, Kevin tries to shame us all with his classy, and Tyler is in a happy place trance. Join us, won't you?

Episode 191- Caat Kune Doh

Grudge Match

     This week we bring Japanuary to a close with an overview of theatrical released Ju-On films.

     Seven people all wonder into the wrong house for various reasons and regret it pretty quickly. Kayako and Toshio unleash their brand of revenge in Ju-On: The Grudge (2002).

     Seeing the potential there, Hollywood was quick to get their own but wisely decided to bring the original creator along with a bigger budget and a fistful of CW actors in The Grudge (2004)

     Some times you lose sight of why a series works and make really bad follow ups in a new continuity... Like what happened with Leatherface seventy times. Ju-On: The Beginning of the End (2014).

     Finally who doesn't love a good tag team match? Sadako vs Kayako (2016) breathes new life into two of the century's most dominant nightmares.
Join us, won't you?

Episode 190- Grudge Match

Necro Firearm Escape

      This week the last hand painted film, the most recent war blockbuster, and our third Asami film!

      A pair of assassins drive through the dessert. To cover the hours one tells the tale of a doctor who becomes a revenge focused mastermind when his wife is murdered. The doctor buys a woman, an addict sex worker, and molds her into the ultimate killing machine. An amazing physical lead performance drives this exploitation action fest. As the blood flies and the nipples expose, can anything stop Gun Woman?

     British and French forces are pushed to the northern beaches and surrounded in the town of Dunkirk. Looking at the evacuation from land, sea, and air, Christopher Nolan wrangles a large ensemble cast between epic war story of Dunkirk.

     Prestigious Ginei Studios has gone bankrupt and shut it's doors for the last time. In celebration of it's glorious past television interviewer Genya and his cameraman Kyoji have a life spanning interview with the studio's biggest star, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who disappeared from the spotlight thirty years earlier. A surreal work from one of Japan's undisputed masters of animation, Millennium Actress.

     All that and next week we bring Japanuary to a close with a look at the seminal J-horror series JU-ON. Join us, won't you?

Episode 189- Necro Firearm Escape

Criminal Activities

     This week multiple masterminds make mischievous misfortune for moral masses and mobbed moneylenders.

     Now that his son is getting to the point of fleeing the nest, widower Shigeharu looks to connect with a woman in hopes of wifing a nice younger woman. Instead of turning to the normal methods of bars and matchmakers and online profiles, he and his producer friend decide to hold a fake casting call. Because nothing says "I am looking for love" like a light Weinstein session. His eye is caught by Asami and he worms his way in.... unfortunately he doesn't notice the corpses strewn about. Takashi Miike's first international breakthrough film, which lead the early 2000s J-horror boom and inspired the Hostel style US body horror trend, based on a novel by Ryu Murakami... Audition.

     Underground black and white Japanese cyberpunk from cult filmmaker Shozin Fukui shows how much you can do with nothing but determination and stuff stolen from your neighbor's garage band. A pair of rogue scientists perform psychic drug experiments on people grabbed off the street. Subjecting them to brutal tortures that end in horrible deaths and failure... until their final project yields even more terrifying results. Sex, drugs, Speedos, and a whole lot of high concept insanity are crammed in Rubber's Lover.
     One of the best action film directors to ever command a set, one of the most unlikely romantic heroes of the 1970s, a bank robbery gone wrong, a hitman on their trail, and only one way out. Don Siegel delivers another tough and cynical film with a stellar cast, anchored by the great Walter Matthau, in the mostly overlooked gem that is Charley Varrick.
     All that and Kevin moves his command center to a new underground bunker, Dave knows that two actors in that movie were in popular ST roles but he wanted to go easy on them, and Tyler loves like only loving lovers love. Join us, won't you?

Episode 188- Criminal Activities