Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa consider whether it’s worth having the best-paid, part-time job in the history of movies. *** Referenced media: “Saturday Night Live” (Lorne Michaels, 1975-now)“Gran Torino” (Clint Eastwood, 2008)“A Star is Born” (Bradley Cooper, 2018)“Bohemian Rhapsody” (Brian Singer, 2018)“Green Book” (Peter Farrelly, 2018)“The Favourite” (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2018)“American Sniper” (Clint Eastwood, 2014)“Scent of a Woman” (Martin Brest, 1992)“Unforgiven” (Clint Eastwood,...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa discuss Alma, a high school girl boiling over with sexual curiosity in a small Norwegian town. *** Referenced media: “Top Gun” (Tony Scott, 1986)“The Hunger Games” (Gary Ross, 2012)“American Pie” (Paul Weitz, 1999)“American Reunion” (Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, 2012)“The Avengers” (Joss Whedon, 2012)Audio quotation: “Turn Me On, Goddammit!” (Jannicke Systad Jacobsen, 2011) “Take Me Breath Away”, composed by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock and...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa consider how Herman Melville’s novella, “Billy Budd”, was translated into a movie that the 2022 “Sight and Sound” poll of the greatest films of all time maintains is the seventh greatest ever. *** Referenced media: “Dune: Part One” (Denis Villeneuve, 2021)“Blade Runner 2049” (Denis Villeneuve, 2017)“Chocolat” (Claire Denis, 1988)“High Fidelity” (Stephen Frears, 2000)“American Psycho” (Mary Harron, 2000)“Gladiator” (Ridley Scott, 2000)“Trouble Every Day”...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa feel the weight of what really is the most intense horror story ever made. *** Referenced media: “Band of Brothers” (Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, 2001)“Eddie Murphy Raw” (Robert Townsend, 1987)“The Day After” (Nicholas Meyer, 1983)“Avatar” (James Cameron, 2009)“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (Quentin Tarantino, 2003)“Kill Bill: Volume 2” (Quentin Tarantino, 2004)“Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.” (Errol Morris, 1999)Audio quotation: “Shoah”...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa sink into the first half of what might be the “greatest” horror story ever made. *** Referenced media: “Parks & Recreation” (Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, 2009-2015)“To Be or Not to Be” (Alan Johnson, 1983)“To Be or Not to Be” (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942)“The Twilight Zone” (Rod Serling, 1959-1964), Season 3, Episode 9: “Deaths-Head Revisited” (Rod Serling, 1961)“Sophie’s Choice” (Alan J. Pakula, 1982)“Schindler’s List” (Steven Spielberg, 1993)“Monty Python...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa respond to a moody and twisted police procedural. *** Referenced media: “Sicario” (Denis Villeneuve, 2015)“La La Land” (Damien Chazelle, 2016)“The Shape of Water” (Guillermo del Toro, 2017)“Zodiac” (David Fincher, 2007)“The Sixth Sense” (M. Night Shyamalan, 1999)“Happy Days” (Garry Marshall, 1974-1984)“Little Miss Sunshine” (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, 2006)“The Elephant Man” (David Lynch, 1980)“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (George...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa mourn the decline of theatrical movie-going and celebrate sentimental entertainment. *** Referenced media: “Belfast” (Kenneth Branagh, 2021)“Don’t Look Up” (Adam McKay, 2021)“Drive My Car” (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021)“Dune: Part One” (Denis Villeneuve, 2021)“King Richard” (Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2021)“Licorice Pizza” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021)“Nightmare Alley” (Guillermo del Toro, 2021)“Power of the Dog” (Jane Campion, 2021)“West Side Story” (Steven...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa ponder old cowboys. *** Referenced media: “The Simpsons” (Matt Groening, 1989-now)“The Terminator” (James Cameron, 1984)“Barry Lyndon” (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)“Blood Simple” (Joel Coen, 1984)“Psycho” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)“Batman Begins” (Christopher Nolan, 2005)“The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan, 2008)“The Dark Knight Rises” (Christopher Nolan, 2012)“Iron Man” (Jon Favreau, 2008)“The Kingdom” (Peter Berg, 2007)“3:10 to Yuma” (James Mangold, 2007)“Eastern...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we conclude with “Summer of Soul” and Nostalgia. Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Howard Hawks, 1953)“The Seventh Seal” (Ingmar Bergman, 1957)“North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)“Midnight Cowboy” (John Schlesinger, 1969)“The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (Lau Kar-leung, 1978)“The Castle of...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Parasite” and Commentary. Future podcasts in this series: “Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Howard Hawks, 1953)“The Seventh Seal” (Ingmar Bergman, 1957)“North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)“Midnight Cowboy” (John Schlesinger,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Persepolis” and Memoir. Future podcasts in this series: “Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Howard Hawks, 1953)“The Seventh Seal” (Ingmar Bergman, 1957)“North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “The Piano” and Ideology. Future podcasts in this series: “Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Howard Hawks, 1953)“The Seventh Seal” (Ingmar Bergman,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” and Innovation. Future podcasts in this series: “The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and Exploitation. Future podcasts in this series: “Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers”...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Pulgasari” and Theft. Future podcasts in this series: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945)“The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946)“Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “The Castle of Cagliostro” and Animation. Future podcasts in this series: “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021)Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City”...

This is the final part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 1 focused on S. Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete”. Part 2 focused on Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris”. Part 3 focused on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 focused on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 focused on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 focused on Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7 focused on Spike Lee’s...

This is the seventh part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 1 focused on S. Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete”. Part 2 focused on Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris”. Part 3 focused on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 focused on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 focused on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 focused on Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 8 will focus on Dinesh D’Souza’s “2000...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” and Athleticism. Future podcasts in this series: “The Castle of Cagliostro” (Hayao Miyazaki, 1979)“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Midnight Cowboy” and Censorship. Future podcasts in this series: “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (Lau Kar-leung, 1978)“The Castle of Cagliostro” (Hayao Miyazaki, 1979)“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud, 2007)“Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)“Summer of...

This is the sixth part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 1 focused on S. Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete”. Part 2 focused on Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris”. Part 3 focused on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 focused on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 focused on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 7 will focus on Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled”. Part 8 will focus on Dinesh D’Souza’s “2000 Mules”. *** Referenced...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “North by Northwest” and Excitement. Future podcasts in this series: “Midnight Cowboy” (John Schlesinger, 1969)“The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (Lau Kar-leung, 1978)“The Castle of Cagliostro” (Hayao Miyazaki, 1979)“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion, 1993)“Persepolis” (Marjane Satrapi/Vincent Paronnaud,...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “The Seventh Seal” and Symbolism. Future podcasts in this series: “North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)“Midnight Cowboy” (John Schlesinger, 1969)“The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (Lau Kar-leung, 1978)“The Castle of Cagliostro” (Hayao Miyazaki, 1979)“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James Cameron, 1991)“The Piano” (Jane Campion,...

This is the fifth part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 1 focused on S. Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete”. Part 2 focused on Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris”. Part 3 focused on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 focused on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 6 will focus on Martin Scorsese’s “Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7 will focus on Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled”. Part 8 will focus on Dinesh D’Souza's “2000 Mules”. *** Referenced...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and Fantasy. Future podcasts in this series: “The Seventh Seal” (Ingmar Bergman, 1957)“North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)“Midnight Cowboy” (John Schlesinger, 1969)“The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” (Lau Kar-leung, 1978)“The Castle of Cagliostro” (Hayao Miyazaki, 1979)“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (Wes Craven, 1984)“Pulgasari” (Shin Sang-ok, 1985)“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (James...