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For this pairing of a film and its sequel, 25 year went by between the two films! It's to the world of the pool hall shark and con artists in general we go, starting with 1961's "The Hustler." Directed by Robert Rossen, the film follows the tale of Eddie "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman), an up-and-coming pool hustler. Felson feels he's ready for the big time and challenges reigning master pool shark Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). After losing to Fats, more because of character than talent, Felson meets Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie) in a bus station diner. After running into her again later on, the two end up together. Fats' partner, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) shows up and invites Eddie to become his partner too. After turning him down, Eddie is attacked and made unable to play pool for some time. When he recovers, he agrees to Bert's proposition and goes on the road with Sarah in tow. Unfortunately, things go badly on the road, and a tragedy occurs, but it completes Eddie's growth of character enough that he can once again challenge Fats. Also starring Myron McCormick, Murray Hamilton, Stefan Gierasch, and boxing legend Jake LaMotta!

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Film number two in our look at Neo-Noir films comes from 2006. Director Allen Coulter and writer Paul Bernbaum tackle the story of what, exactly, happened to actor George Reeves (Ben Affleck), star of the first television series featuring Superman. The film starts just after Reeves' death, as private detective Louis Simo (Adrian Brody) investigates what, at first, appears to be a suicide. Hired by Reeves' mother Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), he begins to uncover the life of the actor, and the various directions his career had taken. Reeves was involved with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), wife of MGM studio head Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Eddie has a mistress, so it's ok with him for Toni to have a lover we well. But after Superman is cancelled, George and Toni separate and Reeves takes up with a younger woman, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) who his mother doesn't approve of at all. As Simo gets closer and closer to figuring out if it was suicide or murder, his own life begins to come apart. It doesn't stop him from trying his best to solve the case, however. Plus, the trio unveil which film, and its twenty-five-years-later sequel, will make up the next pairing!

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Neo-Noir films make up this pairing, both films having been suggested by a friend of Chad's. First up, to Tinseltown we turn, and the sprawl of humanity that exists around in in director Curtis Hanson's 1997 film "L.A. Confidential." The film follows three LA police detectives: Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), Bud White (Russell Crowe), and Ex Exley (Guy Pearce). Vincennes works with a yellow journalist, Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito) exposing drug-related busts for the publicity, while Jack works as a technical consultant to a popular TV show, "Badge of Honor." White has used his badge as a means to pursue any and all men who abuse women and he deals with them in some rather illegal ways. Exley is a young cop with political ambitions who doesn't care who else on the police force is upset by the way he plays the game. All three find themselves dealing with an organized crime vacuum after a powerful local mobster is taken off the board. It's a twisting tale of assumptions, manipulation, backstabbing, and exactly how far over the line each of our detectives is willing to go in order to solve the case and seek their own personal goals! Also starring Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Ron Rifkin.

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Moving into the 21st century from our last film, we also move across the Atlantic to the country of Norway for our second film. Directed by Tommy Wirkola and written by Wirkola and Stig Frode Henriksen, 2009's "Dead Snow" combines zombie lore with that of the ancient Norse myth of the draug (undead who spend their afterlife protecting their treasure, usually ill-gotten). A group of medical students head to a remote cabin for a weekend away from their studies. Owned by their friend Sara (Ane Dahl Torp), Erlend (Jeppe Beck Laursen), Hanna (Charlotte Frogner), Chris (Jenny Skavian), Martin (Geir Vegar Hoel), Roy (Stig Frode Henriksen) and Vegard (Lasse Valdal) get as close they can by car, then snowmobile or hike 45 minutes to the cabin. That night, a mysterious hiker appears at their door and tells them the story of a group of German Nazis who, back in WWII, subjugated and abused a nearby town, stealing all their valuables. Supposedly, the Nazis were especially fierce in their desire to keep their plundered gold. The next day, Vegard goes off in search of Sara (who has yet to turn up), while the rest at the cabin find a box with gold and jewelry beneath the cabin. This discover, however, triggers an attack by the Nazis, now undead, who still believe the treasure is theirs and are willing to eat anyone trying to take it! A truly unique dark comedy that includes some knowledge of horror tropes on the part of the characters, making for some rather stunning scenes! Plus, Chad reveals which two films, suggested by a listener and friend of his, will make up the next pairing!

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