Tag: murder

Cinema Smorgasbord – Eric Roberts is the Man – Babylon (2022)

On this episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN we’re going all in on Damien Chazelle’s overstuffed ode to the silent era BABYLON, which stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Tobey Maguire and – of course – the man himself Eric Roberts! Filled with spewing bodily fluids, orgies, murder, rat eating and snake wrestling, it’s both an ode to the end of a cinematic era and a commentary on the current changing face of movie-going. Fun, right? I guess we’ll see! We also chat about drunk driving, guns, Michael Madsen, Guy Ritchie knock-offs and SO MUCH MORE. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Fantastica – Big Bad Wolves (2013) & Almost Human (2013)

On this episode of CINEMA FANTASTICA were traveling to the 2014 edition of the Panic Film Festival in Kansas City, Missouri! While early in the festival’s life, this year was packed with genre films and our hosts have chosen two to BATTLE TO THE DEATH. First up is the darkly comedic Israeli thriller BIG BAD WOLVES, and then we go deep on Joe Begos’ directorial debut, the John Carpenter-influenced sci-fi horror ALMOST HUMAN. WHO REIGNS SUPREME? Listen and find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Dragon Fist (1979)

After a lengthy, contentious working relationship, Jackie Chan’s time with Lo Wei finally comes to an end (sort of!) with 1979’s DRAGON FIST, a film that had been sitting on the shelf since well before Jackie’s SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW kung-fu breakthrough. The film features a very stoic Jackie attempting to get revenge for his master’s death, which all sounds awfully standard, but the plot gets a lot more twisty as it goes, including Jackie reluctantly working for a group of bad guys before going BER-ZERK in the final ten minutes. We also chat about some of Jackie’s complications with trying to get out of his contract, and his upcoming excursion to America. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Eating Raoul (1982)

On this episode of Bartel Me Something Good we’ve reached Paul Bartel’s Criterion Collected classic EATING RAOUL featuring Mary Woronov, Robert Beltran and Paul Bartel himself as Paul Bland. A darkly comedic social satire (/w cannibalism), it remains a gem in the Bartel filmography, and we’re delighted to be joined by EATING RAOUL’s editor Alan Toomayan to discuss his work on Bartel’s films, including LUST IN THE DUST and SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS. Alan also regales us with stories of his early work with New World Pictures, the guerilla filmmaking that went into Eating Raoul’s production, and his transition to becoming an editor of film trailers and featurettes. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Fearless Hyena (1979)

On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS Jackie Chan’s relationship with Lo Wei comes to an end.. sort of.. with Jackie’s directorial debut THE FEARLESS HYENA! Filled with fights (choreographed by Jackie), and featuring perhaps his best performance of the era, it’s a film that owes a lot to his recent successes (with SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW and DRUNKEN MASTER) but also shows his growing confidence and range as a martial artist and creative force. We trace the film’s history, how it affected Jackie’s relationship with Lo Wei, and go through what we’ll be covering in the first few months of 2023. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Madness (1980)

On a brand new episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, we’re going One Step Beyond with Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro in the sleaze-filled home invasion thriller MADNESS from director Fernando Di Leo. Featuring plenty of uncomfortable nudity and most of the soundtrack to Caliber 9, MADNESS has hunky Joe terrorizing a married couple (along with the wife’s seductress sister) while trying to uncover some stolen riches stashed in their fireplace. All that, a giant poster of John Travolta that looms menacingly over the proceedings. Is it any good? Listen and find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Fantastica – Bad Black (2016) & Cold Hell (2017)

On this episode of Cinema Fantastica we’re traveling to the 2017 Beyond Film Festival in Los Angeles, California and pitting the 2016 Ugandan action film BAD BLACK against the 2017 German-Austrian slasher COLD HELL. From the creators of the worldwide cult sensation WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX?, BAD BLACK has a similar mix of microbudget action, comedy and drama, accompanied by the ever-present commentary from a video joker, while COLD HELL pits a Turkish immigrant (an incredible Violetta Schurawlow) working as a taxi driver against a religious fanatic targeting women in Austria. Which film will reign supreme? Listen and find out!