Criterion On The Couch

Adam and Jim have finally tunneled out of their respective trash heaps to discuss the 2008 Pixar film Wall-E. SHOWNOTES Wall-E - Criterion Directing Andrew Stanton , (Writer / Director) A Bug's Life (1998) Finding Nemo (2003) Acting Ben Burtt - WALL·E / M-O Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) Elissa Knight - EVE (Also Benn Burtt) Cars (2006) U...

Join Adam and Jim as they have an old friend for dinner, and discuss the 1991 crime thriller, The Silence of The Lambs . SHOWNOTES The Silence of The Lambs - Criterion Directing Jonathan Demme , Ethan Coen (Writer / Director) Philadelphia  (1993) Something Wild (1986) The Manchurian Candidate  (2004) Acting Jodie Foster - Clarice Starling Anthony Hopkins - Dr. Hannibal Lecter Scott Glenn - Jack Cr...

A seedy Texas bar, a dangerous love affair, and a murder-for-hire gone bad. What’s there not to love? Join Adam and Jim on their examination of Joel and Ethan Coen’s first feature-length movie, Blood Simple . SHOWNOTES Blood Simple - Criterion Directing Joel Coen , Ethan Coen (Writer / Director) Miller's Crossing  (1990) The Hudsucker Proxy  (1994) Fargo  (1996) Acting John Getz - Ray Frances McDo...

Longing to get outdoors? Looking for an escape from your home office? Then head on out to the ballgame with Adam and Jim. This time they’re heading out to see the Durham Bulls in Ron Shelton’s 1988 iconic sports dramedy, Bull Durham . SHOWNOTES Pocket Casts - Addressing Racism Bull Durham - Criterion Directing Ron Shelton  (Writer / Director) White Men Can’t Jump  (1992) Blue Chips  (Writer) (1994...

Lock your doors, hide your kids, and stay inside. There’s a murderer on the loose! Join Adam and Jim as they hunt the elusive killer that has all of Berlin in a panic. In episode 23 we’re discussing the 1931 “talkie” classic from director Fritz Lang: M . SHOWNOTES Criterion on The Couch - Episode #023: M M - Criterion Directing Director: Fritz Lang Metropolis (1927) Acting Peter Lorre  (Hans Becke...

Join Adam, and Jim as they delve down the incinerator chute, on the mine car, through the tunnels to the power plant, under the steam engine and into the cistern through the intake pipe. That’s right, in episode 22 it’s time to retake The Rock along with special guest: former U.S. Navy Seal - Joe. SHOWNOTES Criterion On The Couch - Episode #22 - The Rock The Rock - Criterion Directing Director:  M...

Get out your vision boards and lock up your jewelry! In episode #21 Adam and Jim are discussing the 1981 classic heist movie, Thief . (starring James Caan and directed by Michael Mann) SHOWNOTES Thief - Criterion Directing      Director:  Michael Mann           Miami Vice (2006)           Manhunter (1986)           Heat (1995) Acting      Frank - James Caan           The Godfather (1972)          ...

School’s out for summer! Break out the 8-tracks, put on your favorite bell bottoms, and join Adam and Jim as they travel back to May 28, 1976 to get Dazed and Confused . SHOWNOTES Dazed and Confused - Criterion Directing    Director:  Richard Linklater     Where’d You Go Bernadette (2019)     BoyHood (2014 - Criterion)     Before Sunrise /  Sunset /  Midnight (1995, 2004, 2013 - Criterion)     Sla...

It’s the end of the world, and you’re all invited! Join Adam and Jim and a group of roughneck oil drillers as they travel to the edge of space (and their sanity) in order to save the Earth from Armageddon . SHOWNOTES Armageddon - Criterion Director:  Michael Bay       Bad Boys       The Rock Acting:      Harry Stamper:  Bruce Willis      Grace Stamper:  Liv Tyler           The Leftovers      A.J....

Adam and Jim are discussing The Princess Bride ? Inconceivable! Join us in episode #18 as we travel with Westley, Fezzik and Inigo Montoya across the countryside of Florin, past the Cliffs of Insanity, to rescue Princess Buttercup from the castle of Prince Humperdinck, all the while avoiding the shrieking eels, flame spurts, lightning sand and Rodents of Unusual Size. SHOWNOTES The Princess Bride...

Hazel, Dandelion, Blackberry and Clover? No, we’re not making a salad, instead we’re discussing the 1978 animated retelling of the Richard Adam’s novel Watership Down . Join us in episode #17 as we heed Fiver’s warnings and search for our new warren. SHOWNOTES Watership Down - Criterion Director - Martin Rosen     The Plague Dogs (1982)       Theme Song - “ Time and Tide ”  by Alan Price (original...

A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal walk into school… No this isn’t the beginning of a joke, it’s the opening of John Hughes trend-setting 1985 dramedy, The Breakfast Club . (starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, John Kapelos, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy). Join us in episode #16 for a memorable Saturday detention at Shermer High Sc...

Corruption? Scandal? A rigged election? In episode #15 we discuss director Alexander Payne's high school political dramedy, Election  (starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon). SHOWNOTES Election - Criterion Alexander Payne - Director     Citizen Ruth (1996)    Starring Laura Dern     About Schmidt (2002)     Sideways (2004)     Paris, je t’aime (2006)     The Descendants (2011)     Nebra...

In episode #14 we discuss Dustin Hoffman's break out role in  The Graduate . Based on the novel by Charles Webb and featuring the music of Simon & Garfunkel, The Graduate tells the tale of one young man's struggle to start the next chapter of his life while also becoming involved in a forbidden affair. SHOWNOTES The Graduate - Criterion Mike Nichols  - Director     Charlie Wilson’s War     Wit    ...

In episode #13 we discuss the 1987 science-fiction classic:  RoboCop , the original movie that spawned numerous sequels, television series, video games and reboots. Set in a Detroit city plagued by crime, officer Alex J. Murphy is a revenant cop who's been given a second chance to protect and serve. SHOWNOTES RoboCop - Criterion Paul Verhoeven  - Director Starship Troopers Total Recall Hollow Man...

In episode #12 we discuss the 1981 cerebral motion-picture,  My Dinner With André . Wallace, a struggling actor/playwright from NYC, attends an intimate dinner with his old acquaintance André. As the two catch up on lost time, their conversation shifts into the social, emotional, physical and metaphysical concerns of the modern world. At once both outrageous and grounded, My Dinner With André expl...

In episode #11 we discuss one of the most star-studded, high-flying action/comedies of all time: It's  A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World . Interrupted from a leisurely drive through the California desert, five men bear witness to the last words of a dying criminal, revealing the location of his hidden loot. What follows is a no-holds-barred-comedic-mad-dash to see who can get to the money first and claim...

In episode #10 we discuss Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-Winning masterpiece:  Pan's Labyrinth . Set just after the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia is thrown into two very different worlds; one of soldiers and violence and one of faeries and magic. Now to protect her own life and that of her mother, she must carefully navigate the border between fantasy and reality. SHOWNOTES Pan's Labyrinth - Criteri...

In episode #9 we discuss Dennis Hopper's directorial debut: Easy Rider . Wyatt and Billy are two bikers with an anti-establishment lifestyle. After netting a big score in a drug deal, the two friends set off on a cross-country journey where they'll experience the best and worst that society has to offer.  SHOWNOTES Easy Rider - Criterion Collection Directed by Dennis Hopper Written by Dennis Hoppe...

In episode #8 we discuss our second Terry Gilliam movie:  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . Raoul Duke and his Samoan attorney Dr. Gonzo embark on a drug-filled trip through Las Vegas. Based on the story by Hunter S. Thompson, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. SHOWNOTES Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection Directed by  Terry Gilliam  (who also directed  Brazil which we dis...

In episode #7 we discuss Terrence Malick's first full-length film:  Badlands . Kit, a captivating loner from "the wrong side of town" falls in love with Holly before beginning a murderous crime wave. Based on the real life story of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. SHOWNOTES Badlands - Criterion Collection Directed by  Terrence Malick  who has sever...

In episode #6 we discuss Wes Anderson's comedic drama The Royal Tenenbaums . With a star studded cast, this detailed world delves in the dysfunctional lives of the Tenenbaum family. Starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Danny Glover. SHOWNOTES The Royal Tenenbaums - Criterion Collection The  Apple Cube Wes Anderson movies: B...

In episode #5 we discuss one of Alfred Hitchcock's first major films: The Man Who Knew Too Much . On vacation in Switzerland, Bob and Jill Lawrence get caught up in a secretive world of spies and assassins. With time running out, they must follow a cold trail to save their daughter and prevent a world war. Starring Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre. SHOWNOTES The Man Who Knew Too Much - Crit...

In episode #4 we discuss the comedic dystopia " Brazil " from director Terry Gilliam. Sam Lowry, an average employee at the Ministry of Information, gets caught up in a quest to solve a bureaucratic mistake while simultaneously searching for the literal woman of his dreams. Starring Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro and Kim Greist. SHOWNOTES Brazil - Criterion Collection Terry Gilliam  directed Brazi...

In episode #3 we discuss the romantic dark comedy drama " H arold and Maude ." A young man, fascinated with death, meets a venerable woman who teaches him what life is really about. Starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort. SHOWNOTES While this movie (and episode) deals with the topic of suicide in a humorous manner, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicide please visit the National Suicide...