Episode 197.5: We thought that, with everything going on in the world, it might be worthwhile to examine how cinema has dealt with various types of plagues and pandemics. The thought was: It's got to be worse than what we're currently experiencing with the COVID-19 outbreak... and we were right! Buddy, Chad, and Jeff each review two pandemic films: "Carriers" (2009) directed by David and Alex Pastor, "Blindness" (2008) directed by Fernando Meirelles, "28 Days Later" (2002) directed by Danny Boyle, "The Omega Man" (1971) directed by Boris Sagal, "Contagion" (2011) directed by Steven Soderbergh, and the remake of the George Romero film "The Crazies" (2010) directed by Breck Eisner. For each film, we've got a breakdown of the cast and plot, the trailer, and then a bit about how much the reviewing individual can recommend the film. Remember: These films are supposed to make you feel better, because what's going on in the world today isn't as bad as what's depicted herein. If you're someone who's already anxious, or a major germaphobe, please use your own discretion when viewing these movies!
Episode 197: The second film in a pairing of movies about who the real monsters are is radically different from the first, but just as clear in its message. Clive Barker (of "Hellraiser" fame) wrote and directed 1990's "Nightbreed," based on a story he wrote entitled "Cabal." It tells of a young man, Boone (played by Craig Sheffer) plagued by nightmares of a place called Midian. His girlfriend Lori (played by Anne Bobby) suggests that he return to see the psychiatrist he'd gone to before, Dr. Decker (played by horror director David Cronenberg). The film also features "Hellraiser" alum Doug Bradley in a tale about a group of "Nightbreed," creatures many would call monsters, who simply want to live their lives, but who end up being hunted by the police and a serial killer, and only the chosen one can save them! Plus, find out what two classic 60's musicals the trio will be examining for the end of their second hundred reviews!
Episode 196: Sometimes the monsters are who you least suspect! That's the theme of our pairing this time around, and we're starting with what very well may be John Carpenter's best film, 1988's "They Live!" Written, directed, and scored by Carpenter, this film features wrestler Roddy Piper in the lead role, and he proves once and for all that (at the time) WWF wrestlers are as talented as Hollywood actors as he turns in a heartfelt performance! Then, you pair him with legend Keith David, and you have pair of protagonists who lead us through a film truly unique amongst all of the other movies made! Piper plays Nada, a homeless man searching for a job and a place in a world that increasingly doesn't seem to care. He meets Frank (David) on a construction job, and Frank shows him to a homeless camp near a church, where he can sleep and get some food. After going into the church, he stumbles on a box of black sunglasses, one of which he takes with him. But when he decides to put them on, he sees the truth of the world, a truth almost no one else can see. This is a unanimous high recommendation from our trio, and rightly so, for a film that stands out among any other Hollywood film yet made!
Episode 195: The second film in this computer espionage pairing simply couldn't be remade today with the same cast... it would cost too much money! We're talking about the second film penned by the team of Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes, with a little help from director Phil Alden Robinson, 1992's "Sneakers!" Starring Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Timothy Busfield, Eddie Jones, Mary McDonnell, Donal Logue, George Hearn, Ben Kingsly, Stephen Tobolowsky, and James Earl Jones, this is the story of a group of "Sneakers," hackers-for-hire who find a businesses security holes and report it to them. When they're approached by the NSA to retrieve a mysterious "black box," they embark on a mission that results in their acquiring something so valuable, any government on the planet would happily kill them all just to take possession of it! In fact, it's too valuable to hand to the NSA, so they have to figure out what to do with it, and how to survive until they do! Plus, the trio reveal which "movies about who the real monsters are" they're featuring for their next pairing!
Episode 194: It's computer espionage this pairing, along with two films written by the team of Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes! We begin with a film that was a major hit and introduced the world to a very young Matthew Broderick, 1983's "WarGames," directed by John Badham. The story follows David (Broderick), a young computer hacker, who inadvertently finds his way into the NORAD mainframe while looking for some new games, but also to impress Jennifer (Ally Sheedy). Unfortunately, the game he starts also begins a real build-up to nuclear armageddon, which Systems Operator Mr. McKittrick (Dabney Coleman) and General Beringer (Barry Corbin) must deal with! After discovering David and Jennifer's part in starting up the war game, the military take them into custody, then loses them as they head out to find the original programmer of the computer, Professor Falken (John Wood). Although over 35 years old, this film still holds up today and is a fun, exciting thrill ride through to the very end!
Episode 197.5: We thought that, with everything going on in the world, it might be worthwhile to examine how cinema has dealt with various types of plagues and pandemics. The thought was: It's got to be worse than what we're currently experiencing with the COVID-19 outbreak... and we were right! Buddy, Chad, and Jeff each review two pandemic films: "Carriers" (2009) directed by David and Alex Pastor, "Blindness" (2008) directed by Fernando Meirelles, "28 Days Later" (2002) directed by Danny Boyle, "The Omega Man" (1971) directed by Boris Sagal, "Contagion" (2011) directed by Steven Soderbergh, and the remake of the George Romero film "The Crazies" (2010) directed by Breck Eisner. For each film, we've got a breakdown of the cast and plot, the trailer, and then a bit about how much the reviewing individual can recommend the film. Remember: These films are supposed to make you feel better, because what's going on in the world today isn't as bad as what's depicted herein. If you're someone who's already anxious, or a major germaphobe, please use your own discretion when viewing these movies! 
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