Wilhelm & the MacGuffin

This week we’re looking at movies centered around a “perfect” crime that isn’t Strangers on a Train [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/] (1955). We start with French crime à trois Les Diaboliques [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046911/] (1955) by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Next up is difficult to sympathise with Gwyneth Paltrow, married to Michael Douglas with a side helping of Viggo Mortensen in Andrew Davis’ A Perfect Murder [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120787/] (1998). We finish with Olivia Cooke explaining “the technique” to Anya-Taylor Joy in Cory Finley’s Thoroughbreds [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5649108/] (2017), thick with horsey metaphor. Also: French 50’s Chad. The 2CV [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2CV]. Diabolique [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116095/] (1996). Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap]. Bound [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115736/] (1996). Dial M for Murder [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/] (1954). Aragorn has no dump stat. Nefarious or Douchebag? Basic Instinct [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/] (1992) minus the sex. Yorgos Lanthimos [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0487166/] and The Favourite [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083738/] (2018). Chekov’s meat thermometer. Anton Yelchin [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0947338/]’s swansong. Heavenly Creatures [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110005/] (1994). Emma. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214832/] (2020). The New Mutants [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4682266/] (2020). Me, Myself & Irene [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183505/] (2000). We play a game of “You Son of a Bitch, I’m In!” Music: Sahara - Magnus Moone (license #09GJ)

This week we’re looking at second attempts at what Disney is now calling the “Marvel Legacy” universe. We start with James Mangold’s bloodier edit of The Wolverine [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/] (2013). Next up is The Rogue Cut of X-Men: Days of Future Past [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877832/] (2014) which restores an entire subplot involving Anna Paquin’s character, Rogue. We finish with the PG-13 edit of Deadpool 2 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/] (2018) - Once Upon a Deadpool - with Fred Savage standing in for us as a captive audience. Also: The Snyder Cut [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_Snyder%27s_Justice_League] (2021). Simon Bisley [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Bisley]. Yeeting Stormtroopers. Altered Carbon [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2261227/] (2018). Olivia Munn [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1601397/], Attack of the Show! [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_of_the_Show!] Comic superfan vs. cartoon casual. Conservation of Ninjutsu [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ConservationOfNinjutsu]. Evil Sexy Disco Catsuit. Legion [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5114356/] (2017). Anna Paquin [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001593/] made bank. Wanted [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/] (2008). Poochie [https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Poochie]. Lobo [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobo_(DC_Comics)]. John Ottman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ottman]. The New Mutants [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4682266/] (2020). Bill Sienkiewicz [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sienkiewicz]. The Techno-organic virus [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno-organic_virus]. Mr. Sinister [https://x-men.fandom.com/wiki/Mr._Sinister]. We play a game of “With Great Power, Comes No Backstory” Music: Sahara - Magnus Moone (license #09GJ)

This week we’re looking at big angry houses with guns. We start with the star-studded World War II caper Kelly’s Heroes [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/] (1970), behind enemy lines, chasing $16m in gold. Next up is a stranded Russian T-55 crew isolated on the hostile terrain of Afghanistan and learning about the Pashtunwali honor code in The Beast [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094716/] (1988). We finish with a day in the life of Percy Jackson as he joins the grizzled veterans of Brad Pitt’s Sherman crew in Fury [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/] (2014), killing Tigers and SS troopers. Also: White Tiger [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2318405/] (2012). Come and See [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091251/] (1985) and The Painted Bird [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1667354/] (2019). Where Eagles Dare [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065207/] (1968). Joe does Lalo Schifrin [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006277/]. The Italian Job [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064505/] (1969) and Edge of Darkness [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090424/] (1985). Waterworld [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114898/] (1995). Charlie Wilson’s War [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/] (2007). Erick Avari [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0042805/]. The Best Baldwin. Dale Dye [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0245653/]. What shot JFK? End of Watch [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1855199/] (2012). Jon Bernthal [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1256532/] - intense sadboy. La cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-Mer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial]. Greyhound [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6048922/] (2020). 86ed. We play a game of “For You Tommy, Ze Var is Over” Music: Sahara - Magnus Moone (license #09GJ)

This week we’re joined once again by Carlos Boellinger of Tin Cowboys Productions [https://www.tincowboys.com/] on the eve of the cinematic release of Clay’s Redemption [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8894442/] (2020), a future noir fantasy film shot guerrilla style on the streets of London; so we’re discussing future noir films. We start with James Cameron’s The Terminator [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/] (1984). Next up is Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/] (1987). We finish with Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/] (2002). The future looked pretty dark 30 years ago. Also: Total Recall [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009CEAHLM/] the autobiography. Alex Cox [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007182/]. Harlan Ellison [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_Ellison]. The Terminator comics [https://digital.darkhorse.com/series/6/the-terminator]. Skynet needs a better calendar. Starship Troopers [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120201/] (1997). Dredd [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/] (2012). Broken glass budgets. Soldier of Orange [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076734/] (1977). Showgirls [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114436/] (1995). Minority Report [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4450826/] (2015). Spoilers for Brazil [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/] (1985), Total Recall [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100802/] (1990) and Repo Men [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053424/] (2010). Ubik [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubik]. I, Robot [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/] (2004). Dinner for Schmucks [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427152/] (2010). Paycheck [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338337/] (2003). Streets of Fire [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338337/] (1984). Music: Sahara - Magnus Moone (license #09GJ)

This week we’re looking at America’s favorite pastime: baseball. We start with John Badham’s The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074207/] (1976) featuring Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones reclaiming the means of production. Next up is Barry Levinson’s The Natural [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087781/] (1984) with Robert Redford and Glenn Close in an American fairytale. We finish with Bennett Miller’s Moneyball [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/] (2011) with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill proving that instincts can’t beat statistics. Also: Sneakers [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105435/] (1992). Satchel Paige [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satchel_Paige]. Lovecraft Country [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6905686/] (2020). Margaret Bourke-White [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Bourke-White]. Jackie Robinson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Robinson]. 42 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/] (2013). Silver Streak [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075223/] (1976). Fanfare for the Common Man [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgk6G0lekQ]. Eddie Waitkus [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Waitkus]. Joe Don Baker [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000833/]. Homer at the Bat [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_at_the_Bat]. Fever Pitch [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332047/] (2005). Billy Beane [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Beane]. David Justice [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Justice]. Michael Lewis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lewis]. SABR [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_American_Baseball_Research]. Perry Mason [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077823/] (2020). Wes? Anderson? Fire in Babylon [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727790/] (2010). We play a game of “Let’s play, Sportsball!” Music: Sahara - Magnus Moone (license #09GJ)