Blockbusters and Birdwalks

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) “Rasho...

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 Rosselli...

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&qu...

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,...

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)...

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...

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 Marti...

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/V...

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...

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 Spik...

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” (...

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 Sa...

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...

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...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Rashomon” and Experimentation. Future podcasts in this series: “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 Cagliostro” (H...

This is the fourth 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 5 will focus on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 will focus on Martin Scorsese’s “Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “The Killers” and Ambiguity. Future podcasts in this series: “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...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we begin with “Rome, Open City” and the birth of the Atomic Age.  Future podcasts in this series: “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,...

This is the third 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 4 will focus on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 will focus on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 will focus on Martin Scorsese’s “Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7 will...

This is the second part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 1 focused on S. Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete”. Part 3 will focus on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 will focus on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 will focus on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 will focus on Martin Scorsese’s “Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7 wil...

This is the first part of an eight-part series about difficult movies.  Part 2 will focus on Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris”. Part 3 will focus on Don Edmonds’s “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”. Part 4 will focus on Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct”. Part 5 will focus on Terry Jones’s “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. Part 6 will focus on Martin Scorsese’s “Last Temptation of Christ”. Part 7 w...

"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders. You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now."

"Half my life is over and I have nothing to show for it. Nothing. I'm a thumbprint on the window of a skyscraper. I'm a smudge of excrement on a tissue surging out to sea with a million tons of raw sewage."

This is the sixth part of a six-part series about American movies from 1976.  Part 1 focused on John G. Avildsen’s “Rocky”. Part 2 focused on James Fargo’s “The Enforcer”. Part 3 focused on Michael Ritchie’s “The Bad News Bears”. Part 4 focused on John Cassavetes’s “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie”. Part 5 focused on Brian De Palma’s “Obsession”. *** Referenced media: “King Kong” (Merien C. Cooper...

"It looks like we're up chocolate creek without a Popsicle stick!"