Tag: Liam O’Donnell

Cinema Smorgasbord – Serpent’s Tail: The Films of Kiyoshi Kurosawa – Kandagawa Pervert Wars (1983) & Bumpkin Soup (1985)

It’s the PREMIERE episode of our new limited series SERPENT’S TAIL: THE FILMS OF KIYOSHI KUROSAWA and on this episode we discuss why we chose the filmmaker as our subject, our (limited) experience with his work, a bit about his background and dive into his first two features: 1983’s KANDAGAWA PERVERT WARS and 1985’s BUMPKIN SOUP (aka THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DO-RE-MI-FA GIRL). Both films have a unique mix of eroticism and surrealism, and are a world away from the films we most closely associated with Kurosawa. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – You Don’t Know Dick – Rock All Night (1957) (/w Alan Cerny)

On this long-awaited episode of YOU DON’T KNOW DICK we’re joined by film critic extraordinaire Alan Cerny to discuss the life and career of actor Dick Miller, starting with a cut sequence (directed by Joe Dante) from the film AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON featuring Dick as a beleagured ventriloquist, and finishing up with a lengthy look at the 1957 Roger Corman classic ROCK ALL NIGHT! We discuss its soundtrack (featuring The Platters and The Blockbusters), the attempted remake by Quentin Tarantino and Dick Miller’s incredible performance as guy with the biggest chip on his shoulder imaginable. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Superman (2025)

You will believe a pod can cast on a brand new episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT where our mild-mannered hosts go deep on Superman lore, our favorite Superman comics and films and – of course – having a nice chat about James Gunn’s new SUPERMAN film, and the launching of the new DC cinematic universe. There’s lots to get angry about, so look up to the sky.. it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s time to LISTEN!

Cinema Smorgasbord – JodoWOWsky Part 17 – The White Lama (1988 – 1993) & The Borgias (2004 – 2010)

We’re lost in the stacks in this long-awaited episode of JodoWOWsky, not only covering half a year of Alejandro Jodorowsky news but tackling two of his most beloved – and complex – comics works, starting with his masterwork collaboration with the legendary Georges Bess THE WHITE LAMA and finishing with the lush, grotesque historical narrative THE BORGIAS, created with the equally legendary Milo Manara. There’s plenty of wild, obscene, confusing and bizarre material to chat about, so let’s get started!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Eric Roberts is the Man – Saved By The Light (1995) (/w Lance St. Laurent)

On an inspiring episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN we’re joined by author, teacher and Jeopardy champ Lance St. Laurent to do a deep dive into the 1995 made-for-TV film SAVED BY THE LIGHT, based on a TRUE STORY where town jerk Dannion Brinkley was hit by lightning, died, and came back with MYSTERUOUS POWERS – including a heap of predictions for the future that just might have come true! WOW! Anyway, it’s a bunch of hooey, but let’s talk about it anyway. We pair that with all the latest Eric Roberts news (including an upcoming collaboration with Kevin Spacey (ugh) and some Killer Tomatoes (yay!)). It’s a packed show, so check it OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

On a smoky new episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we’re slamming java and puffing darts with Jim Jarmusch in the all-star black and white anthology film COFFEE AND CIGARETTES. Spun off from a series of previous caffeine-drenched shorts (several of which are included here) from as early as the mid-80s, you get interesting collections of actors and musicians (RZA & GZA & Bill Murray! Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina! The White Stripes! Cate Blanchett!) pontificating about a variety of subjects while downing the titular combo. It’s all good fun, and you get to hear us talk about it, along with the latest Steve Buscemi news. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – George Kennedy is My Copilot – The Dirty Dozen (1968) (and Murder on Location – Part 1)

George Kennedy wrote a book! In fact, George Kennedy wrote THREE books, with two being mystery novels featuring him playing himself and on THIS episode of GEORGE KENNEDY IS MY COPILOT we’re talking about the first half of 1983’s MURDER ON LOCATION featuring intrigue, suspense and lots of dialogue about BOOBS. Then we’re going long on Robert Aldrich’s classic 1968 men-on-a-mission WWII classic THE DIRTY DOZEN featuring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and a dozen convicted criminals sent on a suicide mission. Filled with tough guy character actors and lots of bros being bros. Any good? LET’S FIND OUT.

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – My Lucky Stars (1985)

We’re taking a brief respite from American films on WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS to return to Hong Kong (and Japan!) for the sequel to the wildly popular WINNERS & SINNERS, it’s the even MORE wildly popular MY LUCKY STARS from 1986! Starring the 5 Lucky Stars (minus John Shum, but with extra bonus Eric Tsang), it’s bookended with some wild Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao action sequences and the meaty center is full of silly comedy – and lots of uncomfortable stuff because of course there is. How does it stack up to the first film, and exactly how much Jackie do we get in this one? LISTEN AND FIND OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Further Reeding – Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

FURTHER REEDING (the world’s finest Oliver Reed-themed podcast) returns with Oliver Reed’s first starring role: the 1961 Hammer horror classic CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF! Despite Reed’s starring credit he doesn’t appear until the half-way mark of the film, but within minutes he shows his potential for stardom.. and that’s before he turns into a hairy, drooling monster! A much different werewolf tale than the Universal classics, it’s filled with pathos and sadness, but still gives you plenty of carnage in the final twenty minutes or so. LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Out of the Dark (1988) & Amazing Stories “Gershwin’s Trunk”

After a lengthy break, your favorite Bartel-casting comrades return with BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD, featuring the second episode of the Steven Spielberg-produced anthology series AMAZING STORIES directed by Paul Bartel, as well as the 1988 slasher comedy OUT OF THE DARK, produced by Bartel and featuring a wild cast including Karen Black, Bud Cort, Geoffrey Lewis, Tracey Walter, Divine, Tab Hunter and – of course – Paul Bartel! It’s a packed episode, so check it out!