Episode 172: We travel back to 1979 for the first of our "Forgotten Disney" films, for director Gary Nelson's sci-fantasy epic "The Black Hole!" This was the first non-G-rated film ever released by Disney studios, and it was a stunning first step away from pure children's fare! Starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and the uncredited voices of Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens, this film explores the phenomenon of a black hole and the depths one man may sink to in order to explore its reaches! Pair this story and cast with a stunning score from James Bond composer John Barry, along with truly (for the time) ground-breaking special effects, an ending that's full of nuance and sub-text, and you have a space opera for the ages (although not everyone agrees).
Episode 171: Our second episode in our listener-suggested Robert Rodriguez pairing focuses on a film unlike any other, one that transformed a graphic novel into cinematic art in a way never before seen, 2005's "Sin City!" Based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, the film was so faithful to the novel that Rodriguez insisted on a co-directing credit for Miller, along with a guest-director credit for friend Quentin Tarantino! With an all-star cast including the likes of Bruce Willis, Benecio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Michael Madson, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Powers Booth, Josh Hartnett, Rutger Hauer, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Brittany Murphy, Carla Gugino, Michael Clarke Duncan, and more, this is perhaps the greatest homage to pulp comics and film noir yet! Not to mention creating a style that is unique in film history, and carving a story out of it that gets top ratings from all three hosts! Plus, the trio celebrate International Podcast Day and talk about the new podcast documentary they're featured in that's released on September 30th! All of this, and the trio discuss the "forgotten Disney" films that will make up the next pairing as well!
Episode 170: This episode begins our listener-suggested pairing of films by independent director Robert Rodriguez, with the film that marked Quentin Taratino's first paid screenwriting job, 1996's heist-turned-horror, "From Dusk Till Dawn!" Starring George Clooney, Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Tom Savini, Fred Williamson, and Michael Parks, this film follows the infamous Gecko brothers as they flee the United States into Mexico to meet up with their latest employer and turn over all but their percentage of ill-gotten gains. Unfortunately for them, their employer picked a true den of iniquity for their meeting place. Now if they can just survive the night and still be able to conduct business when the sun comes up...
Episode 169A: In the 2nd of our pairing of "Vengeance Films," we move ahead to a date out of our normal time-period and look at the American version of the South Korean neo-noir action thriller "Oldboy" from 2013. Directed by powerhouse Spike Lee and starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen, this film follows the life of alcoholic salesman Joe Doucett who, after blowing a big deal for his firm, gets fired. As if that isn't bad enough, he's then kidnapped and imprisoned in what, at first, appears to be a hotel room. It turns out it's a gilded cage, and that's just the beginning of the story! Who's doing this to him, and why, is something he'll try to find out... if he can escape! Also starring Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli, Pom Klementieff, Lance Reddick, and a very early appearance by Remi Malek! Plus, the trio reveal the latest listener suggested pairing that they'll be doing in the next set of reviews! NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review, so if you haven't seen the movie, it's safe to listen to. A second spoiler-filled episode, which details the twist ending to this macabre tale, follows this one.
Episode 169B: Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss the twist ending of 2013's "Oldboy!" This is a FULL-ON SPOILER ALERT, so if you don't want the ending given away, don't listen to this episode until you've watched the movie!
Episode 168A: For the first of our "Vengeance Films" pairing, it's 1987's neo-noir/supernatural thriller "Angel Heart." Directed by veteran director Alan Parker, this film follows Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) who is hired by Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to find a missing crooner from WWII. His attempt to track down Johnny Favorite first sends him all over New York City, and then to New Orleans, Louisiana, where intolerance, voodoo, and black magic spin his investigation off into nightmarish situations. The film also stars Charlotte Rampling and Lisa Bonet (in her first film role, and the role that got her "excused" from the Cosby Show). NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review, so if you haven't seen the movie, it's safe to listen to. A second spoiler-filled episode, which details the twist ending to this macabre tale, follows this one.
Episode 168B: Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss the twist ending of 1987's "Angel Heart!" This is a FULL-ON SPOILER ALERT, so if you don't want the ending given away, don't listen to this episode until you've watched the movie!
Episode 172: We travel back to 1979 for the first of our "Forgotten Disney" films, for director Gary Nelson's sci-fantasy epic "The Black Hole!" This was the first non-G-rated film ever released by Disney studios, and it was a stunning first step away from pure children's fare! Starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and the uncredited voices of Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens, this film explores the phenomenon of a black hole and the depths one man may sink to in order to explore its reaches! Pair this story and cast with a stunning score from James Bond composer John Barry, along with truly (for the time) ground-breaking special effects, an ending that's full of nuance and sub-text, and you have a space opera for the ages (although not everyone agrees). 
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