POP ART

POP ART says FAMILY PLOTS: Yes, believe it or not, the latest episode of Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture, is now up. I can’t believe it myself, and yet…it’s true. Get ready for Episode 123.   “All happy families are happy in the same way; all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way.” Let’s see if that rapscallion Leo Tolstoy is correct. Th...

QUE SERA, SERA, What will be, will be, is what they say. However, what I say is that finally, Episode 122 of Pop Art is now up. Yes, Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture.   So get out those second amendment rights, as Jason Soto of the Rabbit Hole Podcasts and I discuss Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase in Foul Play and Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day in Hitch...

I was late for Christmas, but I made it just in time for this holiday. So, without further ado…     I HEAR MUSIC WHEN THERE’S NO ONE THERE: Episode 122, Music and Lyrics/Once     “You seem angry - click your pen!” For these two films, Richard Kirkham (of the Lambcast and A Movie a Day blog) has agreed to be my annual Valentine’s Day guest. We have chosen the two films above, both love stories revo...

A DISH BEST SERVED COLD: “One God, that I can understand; but one wife? That is not civilized” For these two films, I and a newcomer to Pop Art, Sammy Juliano (author of Paradise Atop the Hudson, Irish Jesus of Fairview, and other novels), discuss two films revolving around revenge.     Sammy and I especially had a great discussion on such topics as why revenge fascinates us. How satisfying is rev...

CHRISTMAS CAN BE CRIMINAL: Episode 120, In Bruges/We’re No Angels     “Geez, he swears a lot, doesn't he?” For these two films, I and my annual holiday guest, Jay Cluit of the Deep Blue Sea Podcast, discuss two films revolving around escaped prisoners hiding out during the holidays.     Jay and I especially had a great discussion on such topics as what is it about dark comedy that we love? Who giv...

POP ART SAYS: HAPPY HALLOWEEN. THE GIRLNAPPERS: Episode 118, 10 Cloverfield Lane/The Collector     “I’m sorry, but no one’s looking for you”. For these two films, I and my annual Halloween guest, Lisa Leahey discuss two films revolving around women being abducted and held prisoner.     We especially had a great discussion on such topics as why do abduction films seem to usually focus on women? Wha...

POP ART SAYS “WE’RE BACK”: I AM SPARTACUS–Episode 116, Total Recall/General della Rovere     “Consider this a divorce”. For these two films, I and Bubbawheat (Nate Winthrow) of the Fight Club Minute, had a great time discussing two films that ask the same question: are you who you are? Are you who you think you are? Or are you who others think you are?     We especially had a great discussion on s...

POP ART SAYS: JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE OUT–Episode 115, The Fantastic Mr. Fox/Straight Time     “Because I’m going to get caught”. For this episode, I and Todd Liebenow of Forgotten Filmcast, had a great time discussing two films in which ex-cons try to go the straight and narrow…or do they?     We especially had a great discussion on such topics as movies about ex-cons; how attitudes town ex-co...

POP ART SAYS: A METHOD TO THEIR MADNESS– Episode 114, May December/A Dream of Passion.   I am slowly getting the latest episodes of Pop Art up. There are reasons I am behind, but hopefully I will get back to normal soon.   “I don’t think we have enough hot dogs”. For these two films, I and The Vern of Cinema Recall,  had a great time discussing two films in which actors, in order to help them crea...

OH, FRABJOUS DAY. CALLOOH! CALLAY!” HE CHORTLED IN HIS JOY.     Yes, that’s right. Pop Art is back and:     POP ART SAYS: AT LONG LAST LOVE– Episode 113, Ghost/Madly, Truly, Deeply     Yes, this is the Valentine’s Day episode and, yes, it is very, very late. This is due to the good (an incredible vacation to Sydney and New Zealand) and bad (getting Covid the day we were flying back). So, thanks fo...

POP ART SAYS: Good Help is Hard to Find – Episode 112, Parasite/La Ceremonie First, this is very late and out of order, but it’s been one of those past couple of months. So apologies all around. However, welcome to a great discussion with screenwriter Jennifer van Sijll, author of the book used in classrooms everywhere, Cinematic Storytelling: ⁠The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmake...

POP ART SAYS MERRY XMAS: I know, I know, I’m coming down the chimney late on this one. I’ve been slowed down by some various health issues, and the holidays, though I’m feeling a lot better now, thanks for asking. I hope I don’t get coal in my stocking for this.   But on to Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture. It’s the podcast where my guest chooses...

POP ART 111 says SOAPY SALES: Join me and my guest Sam Homrig (attorney by day, murder mystery host by night as well as co-host of “The Cabot Cove Confab Podcast”, “The Columbo Confab Podcast”, and “The Best Picture Podcast”)   “We were just playing a game called Photography. You turn off the lights and see what develops.” Lies, deceit, adultery, murder, teen sex, drugs, abortion by proxy, incest...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN   NEW EPISODE: POP ART 110 says CURSES, FOILED AGAIN: Join me and my annual Halloween guest Lisa Leaheey as we talk The Ring and Curse of the Demon.   “Seven days.” Don’t you hate when this happens? You’re going about your day. Minding your own business. You watch a video and the phone rings telling you, you only have seven days to live. Or, someone secretly passes you a curse in r...

ANIMAL CRACKERS. Join me and screenwriter and book author C. Courtney Joyner as we talk Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Byron Haskin’s The Naked Jungle, two nature horror films.   “They're coming! They're coming!” Sharks, Piranha, Spiders, Frogs, Snakes, Wolves, Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 109 of Pop Art, where we find the pop culture in art and the...

PEEK A BOO: Join me and blogger and film lover James S. Wilson as we talk two masterpieces, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window and Krzysztof Kieslowski’s A Short Film About Love, two films about voyeurs and voyeurism.     “Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?” You’re alone in your own apartment. Doing your thing. Maybe you’ve murde...

MATCHES, MATCHES, WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING MATCHES: Join me and filmmaker Elizabeth Blake-Thomas as we talk Amy Heckerling’s classic Clueless and George Cukor’s hidden gem, The Model and the Marriage Broker.   “As if”. Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me a find, catch me a catch…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 107 of Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the...

CHILDHOOD BATTLES: Join me and filmmaker Dianna Ippolito (The Obscured), as we talk Kramer v. Kramer and Marriage Story, two films about divorce and child custody battles.   “What law is it that says a woman is a better parent simply by virtue of her sex?” Groucho Marx is said to have said, “Marriage is the chief cause of divorce”…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 106 of Pop Art, where we find the...

HOUSE HAUNTING: Join me and filmmaker Derek Wayne Johnson (the upcoming Bloodstreams, 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs), as we talk Poltergeist and House, two movies about, well, haunted houses.    First, I have to apologize to my audience and my guest. I was recording this on an old computer because my main computer got wet and couldn’t be used. I...

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   IT’S HARD TO BE THE BARD: Join me and filmmaker David Au (Eat With Me, Don’t Be Sorry), as we talk My Own Private Idaho and Chimes at Midnight, two adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Falstaff stories.   “I only have sex with a guy for money” What’s a father to do? You’re rich and powerful, maybe a king even—hey, it could...

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   TOM AND JERRIES: Join me and editor, filmmaker and blogger David Brook (Blueprint Review), as we talk Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and The Enemy Below, both films about naval vessels playing cat and mouse with each other.   “To wives and sweethearts, may they never meet.” I must go down to the seas again...

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   DEVILICIOUS: Join me and producer, writer and Chairman of Here Media, Inc., Stephen Jarchow, as we talk Chinatown and The Third Man, two noirs with two of the most memorable villains of all time.   “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown” Simon Wiesenthal once said, For evil to flourish, it only requires that good men do nothing....

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   ARMYGEDDON: Join me and podcasters and film lovers Anna Keiser and Derek Dehanke (The 80s Movie Montage) as we talk Stripes and No Time for Sergeants, two comedies about basic training.   "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do" “You’re in the army now, you’re not behind a plow, you’ll never get rich, a diggin’ a ditch,...

POP ART, WHERE WE FIND THE POP CULTURE IN ART AND THE ART IN POP CULTURE.   That’s right, it’s episode 100. I’ve reached a milestone.   WHAT A DRAG: Join me and filmmaker and podcaster Donald McKinney, III (The Real Short Box, The Blue Beetle) as we talk The Flight of Dragons and Dragonslayer,two films about young people fighting dragons.     “All hail Casiodorus Rex, dragonslayer!” Look. Up in th...

THE WRONG MANS: Join me and filmmaker, podcaster, author and film scholar, Steven Jay Rubin (The James Bond Encyclopedia) as we talk North by Northwest and Tell No One, two films about men accused of a murder they didn’t commit and have to go on the run to prove their innocence.   “You gentlemen aren't REALLY trying to kill my son, are you?” It happens to the best of us. We’re just going our m...