Catfishing Cannibals

     This week two movies about young people trying to escape their dead end homelives only to end up in harrowing situations.

     When a nonverbal boy and beloved pet duck, Mr. Quack Quack, is threatened, the pair run away by boat. Before too long, they find themselves on a strange island. Captured by The Swampies, a group of crocodile pirates, the pair have no choice but to seek help from the island's other inhabitants, the Rare Blue Apes. A psychotronic kids musical adventure made by a 1970s exploitation porn director, The Rare Blue Apes of Cannibal Isle (aka The Pirates of Cannibal Isle aka Cap'n Krok and the Rare Blue Apes).
     Lily and Alison are best friends. Lily is death obsessed after the suicide of her father. Alison finds safety from her alcoholic father with her uncle's horses. Both girls just exist without hope or dreams of a future around their poverty stricken California town. When they meet a group of skaters passing through, they decide to follow them to LA. The first feature directed by the founder of FSU, Elgin James, Little Birds.
     All that and Tyler hangs out with a fisherman, Craig dissects a genre, Kevin reminisces, and Dave misidentifies it as both a bird and a plane. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 422- Catfishing Cannibals

Amish Paradise

     This week- Two English find something special with among the Amish and a standardization of a theme.

     After a young Amish boy sees the murder of an undercover police officer in a Philadelphia train station. Detective Captain John Book takes the case. Soon he, the boy, and the boy's mother find themselves the target of a conspiracy in the very halls of justice. Will Book be able to protect them? Will they be able to find refuge among the Swiss Anabaptists? What will be the consequence of Book's increasing attraction to an Amish woman? Peter Weir once again takes a look at the intersection of contrasting cultures in the middle of a crime thriller- Witness.

     After being caught at an illicit polka party, Al finds himself estranged from his parents but also free to pursue his life's dream- to have 20,000 people every night singing HIS words... to someone else's music. Soon he capture the interest of hitmaker Dr. Demento and starts a musical revolution. Before Al can make his happy ending, an ambitious young singer from Michigan and a notorious drug lord hatch separate schemes to use him and his music for their own ends. Will Al make amends with his parents? Will his roommates suddenly display hidden musical talents just when a band is in desperate need? Will alcohol and the pressure of fame destroy our accordioned adorned genius as it has Mozart and so many other brilliant trailblazers? The feature length version of a 2010 Funny of Die shirt that illuminates one of pop culture's most enigmatic figures- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
     All that and the guys marvel at our new theme by the also brilliant and enigmatic Linus Fitness-Centre. Join us, won't you? 

   Episode 421- Amish Paradise

Interstellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

     This week- a pair of films featuring men embracing new career opportunities. 

     Picking up a couple years after the events of the first film- Adam and Inez's relationship is falling apart from the pressure of children and adulthood. Miguel returns home after several years in prison to find his girlfriend has given birth to another man's child. Marfa Girl is struggling with connecting to her child, the lingering reminder of a brutal sexual assault. Will Adam accept his responsibilities? Can Inez find her own happiness? Will Marfa Girl get the mental and emotional help she so very clearly needs? Larry Clark's surprise sequel and his latest feature to date- Marfa Girl 2. 
     Grinding through paid appearances and fan films the cast of a cult space adventure TV series are barely scraping by. At a convention where they all find themselves at their wit's end with each other and the fans, lead actor Jason Nesmith is approached by a group calling themselves Thermians. Soon the fractured troupe will be swept up in a confrontation of species ending proportions. Will Jason and co prove to themselves they are more than washed up actors only good for openings of laundromats? Will the Thermian species survive until Tuesday? Can an actor's ego block out the sun? A homage to classic sci-fi and voted the SEVENTH best Star Trek film at Trek to Vegas 2013,  Galaxy Quest.
     All that and Dave still can't remember anything, Tyler mourns a well going dry, and Kevin learns he can't run from his problems because it makes his portable Blu-ray player skip. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 420- Interstellaaaaaaaaaaa

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?

Soggy Metal

     This week- two films about ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, ancient races of people. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...

     Deep below the waves, in the city-state of Atlantis, is a nightmare for any unfortunate surface dweller caught by their raiding parties. Either forced to fight to the death in gladiatorial combat or sent to the mines to labor until you your body gives out. A pair of siblings get to experience all the nasty sides for themselves. Meanwhile, the nefarious Sartor has finally found the blood gem that can fulfill all his ambitions. From the mind of  microbudget outsider auteur Michael J Murphy, a sword and sorcery epic that reaches from the depths of the ocean for the stars, Atlantis.

     Documentarian Marty Di Bergi gets unprecedented access to tell the history of skiffle turned British invasion turned flower power turned heavy metal legends on their 1982 tour to promote their newest album. We take a deep look at how these individuals of strong personalities still work after so many years, their artistic processes, and how the mysterious deaths of multiple drummers has effected them. From controversy to controversy, can the three core members navigate the US road or will they break like the wind? The film that kicked off one of the best output runs from any director since the birth of the medium, Rob Reiner's first classic- This is Spinal Tap.

     All that and Dave fanboys in his pants, Kevin catches his breath but can't get out all the mud, and Tyler shouts across the void. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 418- Soggy Metal

It Was A Different Time, eh?

     This week- a pair of films about young men who love beer.

     Van Wilder is in his seventh year at Coolidge College. After his father cuts off his tuition payment. Van comes up with a scheme to pay by organizing and running parties for the college's diverse social groups. Meanwhile, he is drawn into a triangle with journalism student Gwen and mean-spirited future status focused boyfriend. Will Van make it through his seventh year? Will he finally decide to put on a cap and gown and move on? Will he earn the love of Gwen an the respect of his father? The directorial debut of Walt Becker and the first feature by the writing team of Brent Goldberg and David T. Wagner, National Lampoon's Van Wilder (aka Van Wilder: Party Liaison).
     Bob and Doug McKenzie, the dim-witted hosts of cult Canadian panel show "The Great White North", debut their feature film to disastrous results. Broke, unemployed, and desperately needing beer for their father, the brothers go to Elsinore Brewery hoping to scam a case or two for free. Unfortunately, instead they stumble on a Shakespearian family drama and the plot of a power mad brewmeister. Can the brothers save the unsuspecting Canadian populace? Will they finally be able to earn their father and dog's approval? Based on a popular segment from the sketch comedy series SCTV, written and directed by lead actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, Strange Brew.
     All that and Tyler puts out the welcome mat for boys of summer, Dave suffers, and Kevin chortles nearly manically. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 417- It Was A Different Time, eh?

Synaptic Rotation

     This week- two films featuring men abusing their positions of power and the fallout from it.

     Miss Giddens is hired as a governess at Bly Manor. She is immediately taken with her young charge, Flora, and strikes an instant friendship with Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper. Despite the encouraging start, small moments of discomfort begin to poke at Miss Giddens new normal. When Miles is expelled from his boarding school, Miss Giddens finds herself caught up in the effects from the not too distant past. Based on one of the most influential horror tales ever written with a screenplay co-written by Truman Capote, taking a three week break from his magnum opus to work on it, and casting its own shadow nearly as long for itself- The Innocents.
     Lillian founds a ballet company in the name of her late husband. Her ambulance-chasing attorney, Roland T. Flakfizer- assisted by associated   Rocco and Jacques, face off against the late husband's equally conniving lawyer, Edmundo Lazlo. The legal eagles compete to sign the world's greatest ballet dancer, "The Great" Volare, and to deliver an awe-inspiring Broadway debut for the new company. Inspired by the Marx Brothers, even being filmed at the same locations as several of their most beloved films, produced by David and Jerry Zucker, and fully embracing the "they don't make them like they used to" lifestyle- Brain Donors.
     All that and Kevin enthuses, Dave forgot, and Tyler weeps in his Happy Place. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 416- Synaptic Rotation