Tag: revenge

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Bloody Payroll (aka Violent Milan) (1976)

Two gang members pull a double cross on Claudio Cassinelli’s Raul Montalbani after a bank robbery in Mario Caiano’s occasionally spirited 1976 film BLOODY PAYROLL (aka VIOLENT MILAN). BIG MISTAKE! Cassinelli spends most of the film tracking them down to get a little revenge, helped by the sympathetic sex worker Leila. It’s bookended by some terrific action (especially the car and motorcycle chases in the first thirty minutes, but then settles down into some Noir-ish score settling buoyed by a terrific, jazzy soundtrack. But what did we think? CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – The Last Outlaw (1993)

One this rootin’-tootin’ episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we’re checking out the made-for-HBO western THE LAST OUTLAW from 1993 featuring a murderer’s row of early 90s character actors: Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Keith David and – of course – Steve Buscemi! Not only that, it was written by Eric Red (who wrote THE HITCHER and NEAR DARK) and directed by THE QUIET EARTH/YOUNG GUNS II/FREEJACK’s Geoff Murphy and features plenty of ultra-violence in a (transparently) WILD BUNCH-inspired revenge tale. All THAT and the latest Steve Buscemi news!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Protector (1985)

For the final time (until his real breakthrough a decade later), Golden Harvest is trying to make Jackie Chan a star in the U.S. and they’ve signed up U.S. exploitation film director James Glickenhaus to transform Chan into a high kicking Charles Bronson in 1985’s THE PROTECTOR. Playing a hard-nosed New York City cop teamed with Danny Aiello, Chan swears and shoots through a blood revenge film, but  then – thoroughly displeased with the experience – he went and added a bunch of new scenes for the Hong Kong release. On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS we look at Jackie Chan’s frustrations, the good (and bad) of each release and WHICH REIGNS SUPREME. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Lost Bullet (2020)

One more episode beaming straight from Newfoundland (on Doug’s end) and the BOYS decide to check out the first in the epic French action trilogy currently available on Netflix: 2020’s LOST BULLET! Some great fights and plenty of practical car stunts, but how does it stack up to other international action classics of the last few years? WE’LL TALK ABOUT IT! We also get into some of our favorite French action films because WHY NOT? Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Mean Frank and Crazy Tony (1973)

One a very special REMOTE episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, Doug calls in from Newfoundland to discuss the mixed up crime comedy MEAN FRANK AND CRAZY TONY from 1973. Featuring Lee Van Cleef as a tight-lipped mobster and Tony Lo Bianco as the wannabe wise-guy who worships him, the two get into all sorts of trouble, including an impressive car chase (“Mon dieu!”), a factory shootout and more power drill mayhem than you can throw an apple core at. There’s plenty of action, Edwige Fenech and Jean Rochefort pop up in supporting roles, and you even get a horn-heavy score from Riz Ortolani. What’s not to love? Listen and find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – The Princess Bride (1987)

Our name is Praising Kane (the world’s greatest chronological Carol Kane podcast), you killed our fathers.. prepare to die! We’re finally moving into some iconic films in Carol’s oeuvre, and they don’t get much bigger than the 1987 fantasy-comedy-romance THE PRINCESS BRIDE, adapted from the beloved William Goldman book of the same name. Everyone loves it.. but did WE? Listen and find out. But before that we have a chat about the very first episode of the short-lived 1986 sitcom ALL IS FORGIVEN, featuring Carol Kane in a supporting role as the head writer of a beleaguered soap opera produced by the inexperienced Paula Russell (played by Bess Armstrong). I’m laughing already! And you’ll be laughing too once you start listening.

Cinema Smorgasbord – Further Reeding – The Brood (1979)

CANADA! DIVORCE! Are there any two sweeter words in the English language? I can think of one: CRONENBERG! On this episode of FURTHER REEDING we’re getting personal with the 1979 David Cronenberg-directed horror classic THE BROOD starring Art Hindle, Samantha Eggar and – of course – OLIVER REED! It’s a film full of complexity, autobiographical elements, (possible) misogyny and killer mutant kids so you know it’s right up our alley. Listen and hear some THOUGHTS!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – The Cynic, The Rat and The Fist (1977)

On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, Maurizio Merli is (former) Inspector Leonardo Tanzi, a retired cop constantly disciplined for his unusual (brutal) methods, which in this case involves faking his own death so he can take down the psychopathic Luigi ‘The Chinaman’ Maietto (Tomas Milian) and master criminal Frank Di Maggio (John Saxon) in Umberto Lenzi’s THE CYNIC, THE RAT AND THE FIST. Full of two-fisted action, and a “laser” wall you have to see to believe, there’s plenty to like – and be confused by – here, but is it any good? We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly (and try to decide exactly which character is meant to be the cynic/rat/fist) and will let you know. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – The Shadow Strays (2024)

On this bloodthirsty episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we’re sitting down with Timo Tjahjanto’s epic, gore-filled action film THE SHADOW STRAYS, currently streaming on Netflix! Starring actress/model Aurora Ribero as “13”, a 17-year-old assassin who gets suspended after a botched mission and befriends 11-year-old Monji. But when Monji gets kidnapped 13 gets some very, very, very blood revenge on his kidnappers while getting on the wrong side of her assassin group. UH OH! We also chat about Indonesian action as a whole because WHY NOT? Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Rulers of the City (aka Mister Scarface) (1976)

A trio consisting of fun-loving Tony (Harry Baer), the more serious minded Ric (Al Cliver) and the bombastic Napoli (Vittorio Caprioli) take on the vicious Mazari (Jack Palance) in the 1976 Italian action film RULERS OF THE CITY (aka MISTER SCARFACE), another poliziottescho classic from genre master Fernando Di Leo which includes a surprising amount of comedy amongst the usual array of car (and foot!) chases, motorcycle stunts and gunfights. Tony years for a relaxing life in Brazil but gets on the bad side of the mob, while Ric wants revenge for the murder of his father, which means they have to stay one step ahead of baddies as they play pool, have group sex and get themselves in deeper and deeper trouble. It’s fun! All of this and a little introductory summary of our experience with Italian crime films over these last few years. Check it out!