Better Than Speed

Good things come in twos! Join us on the safari for a very special bonus episode devoted entirely to Predator 2. The lions, the tigers, the bears... oh my. No spoilers, but there's a lot to celebrate on this week's surprise podcast as we welcome new members to the BTS club.

As the brutal summer of 2018 comes to a close, we celebrate everything Sandy with a rundown of the best (and worst) films in the Sandra Bullock catalogue. Plus, a ratings bonanza as we fire off verdicts left and right. Will any Sandra movies dethrone Speed? Next episode, we'll discuss Clouzot's Quai des Orfèvres.

When he sees someone rich both his thumbs start to itch and he has to pick a pocket or two. The wonderful Morgan Hanner-Morfesis joins us to discuss Robert Bresson's transcendental meditation on love and loss, PICKPOCKET. Drinking game: take a shot every time we mention Paul Schrader. This episode's film selection PICKPOCKET is available on FilmStruck, and they have a 14-day trial if you wanna sta...

It's an unwritten rule: never pull a boner in front of Cary Grant. But rules were meant to be broken. Join us for a perilous excursion into the Howard Hawks adventure film where bonds are tested, planes demolished, and friendships forged. With special guest Matt Maddox, editor of the upcoming Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder film DESTINATION WEDDING . If you didn't get the chance to watch this episod...

Would you like me to tell you the little story of right-hand / left-hand? The story of good and evil? The story of Mitchum vs Hopper? Tonight, three bros get in touch with their dark side and ride down the river of hate with Charles Laughton's expressionistic masterpiece THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. You can find it streaming on Amazon if you want to join in on the fun. Shoutout to Radio Raheem, Chuck...

Finally: it's time for some Keanu on Keanu action as we explore Gus Van Sant's street hustler and Shakespeare smash up. Special guest Chad Concelmo helps us determine if River Phoenix's greatest role can still stare down Speed.  

The distinguished actor Beth Grant joins us to share amazing behind-the-scenes secrets from her role in the film Speed. Before throwing herself in the line of fire, she wasn't afraid to ask the big question: "What about the rest of us?" Plus, Sandra does the salsa, Keanu does the cockroach, and Alan Ruck gets stuck in every actor's nightmare. We hope you're as delighted as we are with this excitin...

Editor Julio Cesar Perez IV (It Follows, Under the Silver Lake) turns Speed HQ upside down with his controversial film selection in an unprecedented episode filled with twists and turns and double crossings. However you choose to pronounce it, Le Corbeau is a barn burner. But do its explosive themes burn brighter than Speed? The film selection for our next episode is Gus Van Sant's My Own Private,...

We dive headfirst into the murky waters of biographical criticism with our most challenging episode to date. Special guest Greg O'Bryant bravely forges through the marsh with us as we examine Roman Polanski's debut film. Content warning: there is a brief discussion of Polanski's notorious past, so be prepared for some difficult subjects which we do our best to address tactfully. If you're interest...

Che bello! Director Matt Tyrnauer (Valentino: The Last Emperor, Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood) joins us for a tour through Fellini's career and the specters that haunt his art.   Juliet of the Spirits and next episode's selection, Knife in the Water, are both available streaming on FilmStruck .

It's no shame to have a dirty face, honey baby. The shame comes when you keep it dirty. Robert Blake makes short order of all the Charlie Potatoes who dare cross him in the Richard Brooks adaptation of In Cold Blood . We're joined by photographer and documentary filmmaker Jessica Schilling to track all the rain drops and beautifully lit silhouettes that haunt this relentlessly unsettling film. Wan...

Hype! Glamour! The Best Films of 2017! Plus, we hand out cheap gold watches to all the stinkers. Hundreds of millions of movie lovers tune in each year to the Speedademy Awards ceremony to learn who will receive the highest and lowest honors in filmmaking.   betterthanspeed@gmail.com

John Woo woos the crew with his extravagant Hong Kong action pageant Hard Boiled. Director Stewart Hopewell joins us to compare apples to apples, and helps us issue a verdict on this film's worthiness next to Speed. Hard Boiled is not available on most streaming services, so if you'd like a chance to win a Blu-ray copy, leaves us a review on iTunes , or simply mention us on the internet to your fr...

Jean Renoir enters the ring to take on the undefeated heavyweight champ SPEED! If you'd like to view the internationally beloved anti-war classic GRAND ILLUSION, you can find it streaming in beautiful high definition on Amazon Video . You can also find THE GREAT ESCAPE and SUNSET BOULEVARD on there too. Erich Von Stroheim's four hour silent film GREED is available on FilmStruck , as well as Jean R...

If you'll permit us a bit of verse, the Devil whispered behind the leaves: "It's pretty, but is it better than Speed?" Special guest Morgan Hanner-Morfesis throws down on tricksters, hoaxes and forgeries in the extravagant Orson Welles swan song F For Fake. Wanna watch along before listening? You can find F For Fake streaming on FilmStruck , where they offer a 14-day free trial of their Criterion...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the bus,   Not a creature was speeding, not even us;  The explosives were hung by the gas tank with care,  In hopes that Keanu soon would be there; Dennis Hopper was nestled all snug in his bed,  While dreams of retirement danced in his head  And Sandra in her 'kerchief, and Ortiz in his cap,  Had narrowly avoided a longshoreman's nap, When out on...

Where there were eyes there's only space, as a mad doctor attempts to heal his daughter's broken face. Special guest Alex Gootter hops aboard the Speed bus to dissect Georges Franju's eerie horror gem EYES WITHOUT A FACE. You can watch all three Franju films we discuss on this episode, including JUDEX, EYES WITHOUT A FACE, and BLOOD OF THE BEAST on FilmStruck , who are offering a 14-day free trial...

Czech it out! Get ready for a deep dive into the feminist Czech New Wave classic DAISIES (aka Fucking With Dudes and Putting Them on Trains). Documentary filmmaker Jessica Schilling joins us to debate its merits against the bus that couldn't slow down. Plus, Daniel mounts a spirited yet unsuccessful defense of the disastrous Tom Hanks vanity project FORREST GUMP. You can watch a whole host of Czec...

Never cross the Yakuza. The cherubic cheeked Joe Shishido stands his ground against a Japanese crime syndicate with a thirst for revenge in this action-packed and surprise-filled episode. From Tokashi Nomura to Seijun Suzuki and beyond, we yak it up about the Nikkatsu Noir crime genre and finally answer your burning question: Is A COLT IS MY PASSPORT better than shooting up a speed ball? You can w...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! The BTS crew dissects Brian De Palma's slasher sendup Blow Out, with the help of special guest Morgan Hanner-Morfesis. It's a battle between two Jacks, Travolta vs Keanu. No matter who wins, we all lose. *Spoiler Warning and Violent Content Advisory* We talk about EVERYTHING. You can watch Blow Out through Amazon Prime's Starz streaming service. Plus, Pauline Kael's excellent essa...

In this spectacular inaugural episode of Better Than Speed, your hosts David Holland, Daniel Morfesis, Jessica Schilling and Matthew Walden tackle the legendary Polish film Ashes and Diamonds, directed by cinema heavyweight Andrzej Wajda. If you'd like to watch Ashes and Diamonds too, you can find it streaming at  http://filmstruck.com/  where they have a free 14-day trial. Make sure to join us ne...