It's back to the 70s, and back to Blaxploitation films for the next pairing! First up, it's August of 1972 and a new phrase becomes part of the vernacular: Super fly. But why? Well, because a movie with a message, a philosophy, and an amazing soundtrack introduced it to everyone! Priest and his partner, Eddie, want to get out of the cocaine-dealing business, so they plan one last major score to set them up for their retirement! Directed by the legendary Gordon Parks Jr., and starring Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, Sheila Frazier, this movie features a soundtrack/ score written by musician extraordinaire Curtis Mayfield! A classic early example of the genre, and such a good film considering the tiny budget it was made from!
The second film in our tribute to Penny Marshall is one of her lesser-known films, not as successful as "Big," but no less deserving attention. "Renaissance Man" from 1994 was directed by Marshall, and stars Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar, Ed Begley Jr., Lillo Brancato, Stacey Dash, Kadeem Hardison, Richard T. Jones, Khalil Kain, Peter Simmons, Gregory Sporleder, Mark Wahlberg, and Cliff Robertson. It's the story of Bill Rago, an unemployed advertising executive who gets assigned to teach comprehension on an Army base. Stuck trying to figure out how to teach the course, he inadvertently interests his students in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and transforms his students while transforming his own life as well! If you're a teacher, or know a teacher, or have ever had a good teacher, you'll appreciate this film! Next up, the aforementioned second look at Blaxpoitation films!
Actor and director Penny Marshall passed away on December 17th, 2018 at the age of 75. Because her impact on film was so entertaining and so profound, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff decided to push back their second look at Blaxploitation films. Instead, this episode looks at Penny Marshall's first "big" hit, with 1988's "Big!" Directed by Marshall and starring Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Jared Rushton, Jon Lovitz, and Mercedes Ruehl, this film follows 13-year-old Josh who makes a wish on a strange arcade fortune teller, and gets it when he wakes up the next day big... in an adult's body. This film features some stellar performances, none the least of which are the child actors! Truly a classic in the history of film, and deservedly netted Tom Hanks an Oscar nomination for Best Actor!
Happy holidays from Buddy, Chad, and Jeff! For the second film in our "Twisted Christmas" pairing, we move ahead five years to Disney's first full-length stop-action animated film! From the mind of Tim Burton, directed by Henry Selick, and featuring the music and vocal talents of Danny Elfman, it's 1993's "The Nightmare Before Christmas!" Starring Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington (although the singing Jack is Danny Elfman) and co-starring the voices of Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix (of "Beetlejuide" fame) Paul Reubens, and the incredible vocal talents of Ken Page, this is the story of what happens when the leader of one holiday discovers that there are others, and decides to try to do a different one better than it's been done before! With amazing animation, a truly imaginative story, and flat-out fantastic music, this became an instant classic! Plus, find out what year the trio is going to focus on for their "New Year's" pairing!
Happy holidays from Buddy, Chad, and Jeff! It's the first of our "Twisted Christmas" pairing and it starts with 1988's Bill Murray-led "Scrooged." Directed by Richard Donner, and starring Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait, David Johansen, Carol Kane, and Robert Mitchum, this is a modern re-telling of the story of Scrooge, but this time with a lot of laughs to go along with the normal pathos-filled morality tale! It's a practical-effects smorgasbord combined with a delightfully creepy-yet-christmas-y score by Danny Elfman and some top-notch acting performances that combines to be the gift everyone wants for their holiday season (even if someone doesn't quite agree)!
It's back to the 70s, and back to Blaxploitation films for the next pairing! First up, it's August of 1972 and a new phrase becomes part of the vernacular: Super fly. But why? Well, because a movie with a message, a philosophy, and an amazing soundtrack introduced it to everyone! Priest and his partner, Eddie, want to get out of the cocaine-dealing business, so they plan one last major score to set them up for their retirement! Directed by the legendary Gordon Parks Jr., and starring Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, Sheila Frazier, this movie features a soundtrack/ score written by musician extraordinaire Curtis Mayfield! A classic early example of the genre, and such a good film considering the tiny budget it was made from! 
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