Blockbusters and Birdwalks

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa consider how Herman Melville’s novella, “Billy Budd”, was translated into a movie that the 2022 “Sight and Sound” poll of the greatest films of all time maintains is the seventh greatest ever. *** Referenced media: “Dune: Part One” (Denis Villeneuve, 2021) “Blade Runner 2049” (Denis Villeneuve, 2017) “Chocolat” (Claire Denis, 1988) “High Fidelity” (Stephen Frears...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa feel the weight of what really is the most intense horror story ever made. *** Referenced media: “Band of Brothers” (Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, 2001) “Eddie Murphy Raw” (Robert Townsend, 1987) “The Day After” (Nicholas Meyer, 1983) “Avatar” (James Cameron, 2009) “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (Quentin Tarantino, 2003) “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (Quentin Tarantino, 2004) “...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa sink into the first half of what might be the “greatest” horror story ever made. *** Referenced media: “Parks & Recreation” (Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, 2009-2015) “To Be or Not to Be” (Alan Johnson, 1983) “To Be or Not to Be” (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942) “The Twilight Zone” (Rod Serling, 1959-1964), Season 3, Episode 9: “Deaths-Head Revisited” (Rod Serling, 19...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa respond to a moody and twisted police procedural. *** Referenced media: “Sicario” (Denis Villeneuve, 2015) “La La Land” (Damien Chazelle, 2016) “The Shape of Water” (Guillermo del Toro, 2017) “Zodiac” (David Fincher, 2007) “The Sixth Sense” (M. Night Shyamalan, 1999) “Happy Days” (Garry Marshall, 1974-1984) “Little Miss Sunshine” (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Fari...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa mourn the decline of theatrical movie-going and celebrate sentimental entertainment. *** Referenced media: “Belfast” (Kenneth Branagh, 2021) “Don’t Look Up” (Adam McKay, 2021) “Drive My Car” (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021) “Dune: Part One” (Denis Villeneuve, 2021) “King Richard” (Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2021) “Licorice Pizza” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021) “Nightmare Alle...

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa ponder old cowboys. *** Referenced media: “The Simpsons” (Matt Groening, 1989-now) “The Terminator” (James Cameron, 1984) “Barry Lyndon” (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) “Blood Simple” (Joel Coen, 1984) “Psycho” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) “Batman Begins” (Christopher Nolan, 2005) “The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan, 2008) “The Dark Knight Rises” (Christopher Nolan, 2012) “...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we conclude with “Summer of Soul” and Nostalgia. Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945) “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 C...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Parasite” and Commentary. Future podcasts in this series: “Summer of Soul” (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 2021) Past podcasts in this series: “Rome, Open City” (Robert Rossellini, 1945) “The Killers” (Robert Siodmak, 1946) “Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950) “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Howard Hawks, 1953) “The Seven...

In this idiosyncratic history of post-World War II movies, we continue with “Persepolis” and Memoir. Future podcasts in this series: “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) “Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950) “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (...

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...