Episode 84 – Forgotten Gems? – What Happened Was… (1994)

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On Forgotten Gems we look at festival favorites that have been cast aside or fallen out of favor. On this episode we’re looking at the 1994 Sundance sensation WHAT HAPPENED WAS…, which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival. Directed, written and starring Tom Noonan it examines one painfully awkward date between two co-workers (the other played by an amazing Karen Sillas) and the confrontations and revelations that occur throughout their evening. Spoiler alert: our two hosts have VERY differing opinions on the qualities of this movie! Check it out.

What Happened Was is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

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Episode 83 – Wild In The Streets – Almost Human (1974)

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We’re getting Wild In The Streets with Umberto Lenzi’s gleefully exploitative 1974 crime thriller ALMOST HUMAN (aka THE DEATH DEALER, aka Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare). Featuring a stand-out slimy performance from Tomas Milian, the film follows small-time scumbag Giulio Sacchi as he goes on a spree of murder and mayhem throughout Milan while tough cop Walter Grandi (Henry Silva) is hot on his trail. It’s filled with chaos and bloodshed, but is it fascist? Let’s talk about it.

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Episode 82 – Cinema Fantastica – Giallo (2009) & Macabre (2009)

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On this episode of Cinema Fantastic (a trip to the genre film festivals around the world) we’re traveling to the 2009 London Frightfest film festival in London, England to check out two ultra-violent heavy-hitters: Dario Argento’s GIALLO and The Mo Brothers’ MACABRE. The tenth anniversary of Frightfest, 2009 marked a big expansion in terms of the festival, which featured plenty of unique, international offerings. Was Argento’s Adrien Brody-starring thriller a return to form? Did The Mo Brothers (Killers, Headshot) succeed with their Indonesian spin on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? Who reigns supreme? Let’s find out!

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Episode 81 – We Do Our Own Stunts – Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin (1978)

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On a landmark episode of WE DO OUR STUNTS we continue our chronological look at the career of Jackie Chan with his first great movie: 1978’s SNAKE & CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN! Directed by Chen Chi Hwa (who would later collaborate with Jackie on POLICE STORY), the film is about a marital arts student (played by Jackie) who is guarding “Eight Steps of the Snake and Crane”, a martial arts manual. Filled with excellent choreography and a sarcastic sense of humor, we’re inching ever closer to the combination of kung-fu and comedy that would turn Jackie into an international star. Check it out!

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Episode 80 – Eric Roberts is the Man – Just What the Doctor Ordered (2021) (/w Mike Paulshock)

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It’s not only the return of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE (bad word) MAN, it’s also the return of the STALKED BY MY DOCTOR SERIES with 2021’s JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. A return to the heady days of the original STALKED films, this time we have Dr. Albert Beck hiding out in an abandoned house.. but not for long! We also talk at length about a newly launched Eric Roberts-related podcast that WE ARE ANGRY ABOUT, the latest Eric Roberts tweets, and SO MUCH NEWS. We’re joined on our journey by musician and podcaster Mike Paulshock, who discusses his love for the STALKED series and its lead actor: ERIC ROBERTS. Time to start listening!

Check out Mike’s band SUN GOD at https://sungodpa.bandcamp.com/, and don’t forget to check out his Whine & Cheese podcast here https://cinepunx.com/podcast-episodes/whine-cheese/

You can also follow Mike on Twitter @ThePaulShark

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Episode 79 – You Don’t Know Dick – The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) (/w Scott Weinberg)

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On YOU DON’T KNOW DICK we look at the films and TV work of the beloved character actor Dick Miller! On this episode we’re joined by writer, producer and podcaster Scott Weinberg to discuss the legendary Roger Corman cheapie horror-comedy THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS! We look at the history of the legendarily threadbare production, the various remakes and tributes (including the celebrated musical!), and – of course – the flower-chomping performance by Dick Miller! CHECK IT OUT!

Follow Scott Weinberg on Twitter @ScottEMovieNerd and check out his newest podcast OVERHATED on his Patreon right here: https://www.patreon.com/scottEweinberg

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Episode 78 – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Billy Bathgate (1991)

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What’s Steve Buscemi up to in the 1991 star-studded gangster film bomb BILLY BATHGATE? Not much! Despite a big budget, an incredible cast (Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis and.. uh.. Loren Dean!) and Tom Stoppard handling the script, it’s a lifeless and predictable slog. On this episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we try to work out what went wrong, the moments we liked and, of course, we look closely at the Steve Buscemi content. CHECK IT OUT.

 

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Episode 77 – Forgotten Gems? – Maria Full of Grace (2004)

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On the latest episode of FORGOTTEN GEMS? we’re traveling back to 2004 to check out Joshua Marston’s much lauded (particularly for its lead performance by Catalina Sandino Moreno) drug smuggling drama MARIA FULL OF GRACE. But aside from that dynamite lead, does the film hold up to our older – and somehow even MORE cynical – eyes? And does it even matter? Lots of talk about the drug war, hypocrisy, and all that good stuff. Check it out!

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Episode 76 – Praising Kane – Valentino (1977)

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Ken Russell tackles the life of “the great lover” Rudolph Valentino in 1977’s VALENTINO, an occasionally inspired bio-pic that fixates (and speculates) on the silent film star’s much-debated sexuality. On the latest episode of PRAISING KANE we’re looking at the film, its stars, and whether or not it’s Ken Russell-y enough to deserve rediscovery. Of course we also look at the performance of the great Carol Kane as Valentino’s first wife (and Fatty Arbuckle beau) Jean Acker. CHECK IT OUT.

As mentioned on the episode, here’s the 2021 Big Slick Virtually Talented Show

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Episode 75 – Whatever Happened To Vic Diaz? – Firecracker (1981)

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Billed as “the screen’s first erotic kung-fu classic”, FIRECRACKER stars RAW FORCE’s Jillian Kesner as a butt-kicking karate expert who travels to Hong Kong (actually the Philippines) to track down her journalist sister who recently vanished. Featuring topless fight scenes, stick fighting and, of course, Vic Diaz as “Grip”. Essentially a remake of TNT JACKSON (which director Cirio H. Santiago would remake again in 1992 as ANGELFIST), FIRECRACKER is extremely silly, but is it any fun? Listen to the latest episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ and find out!

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