Honey, You Should Watch This.

I'm Gonna Get You Sucka

In this episode, Greg and his special guest, James, introduce Susan to one of their favorite late 80s comedies, Keenan Ivory Wayans' "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka."

 

The blacksploitation parody stars Wayans with actors of the blacksploitation genre: Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas, and Isaac Hayes. Other actors in the film are Kadeem Hardison, Ja'net Dubois, John Witherspoon, Dawnn Lewis, Damon Wayans, Clarence Williams III, John Vernon, and Chris Rock.  

 

While Greg and James reminisce about the many times they've watched this highly-quotable movie, Susan explains the movie's origins and how it almost did not see the light of day and surpassed the studio's expectations for it. Greg throws us off the conversation more than once when he learns Susan didn't like the movie "Twins," the film against which "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" opened. Susan also flags this movie as another Roger Ebert one-star review as the group reacts. As always we select, our top three moments from the film.

 

Resources referenced in the episode:

 

Keenen Ivory Wayans discusses "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

 

Roger Ebert Review of "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" - December 14, 1998, 

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/im-gonna-git-you-sucka-1988

Harold & Maude

There are a million things to do. You know that there are. One of them is watching Susan's suggested movie for Greg: 1971's "Harold and Maude." Directed by Harold Ashby, the coming of age dark comedy features an unlikely friendship turned romance between 20-year-old Harold (Budd Cort), who is obsessed with death, and 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon), who embraces life. (Warning: this film deals with themes of suicide.)

 

The couple discusses Harold's outlandish staged suicides in contrast to Maude's free-wheeling (if not criminal) approach to life. Greg talks about his aversion to Cat Stevens, who is exclusively featured in the soundtrack. And how the film derives its humor from bizarre and uncomfortable situations and subverting expectations as well as the message at the heart of the movie. Trivia about the movie is also discussed. 

 

Sources referenced in this episode:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/10/burt-cort-harold-and-maude-blessing-and-curse

The Abyss

Susan gets a tad bit NSFW as she and Greg "dive into" 1989's "The Abyss."  The couple discusses James Cameron's convoluted Cold War-era plot while Susan tries to figure out just how to peg this movie. Is it a thriller? A drama? Sci-fi?  Who can say?

 

In addition to talking about the performances of the film's principal cast members: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn, Susan and Greg explore the stories behind the complicated and troubled production of "The Abyss."  

 

Sources referenced in this episode:

Under Pressure: The Making of THE ABYSS -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZTSNQve0rk

Hereditary

Susan brings the nightmare fuel when she introduces Greg to 2018's "Hereditary": Ari Aster's first feature-length film. While Greg has issues with the pacing and the "reality-building" of this slow-burn horror, he and Susan agree that the performances of its principal cast - Toni Colette, Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne, and Milly Shapiro - are superb. Susan dives into the many ways that Hereditary can be interpreted. Both discuss the fantastic details of the production and Aster's unique way of preparing Wolff and Shapiro for their roles. For our "I Have Questions" section, Greg has so many he pushed Susan to the brink.

 

Sources referenced: 

 

Everything Wrong with Hereditary in 13 Minutes or Less, Cinema Sins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8sMeoHWBcY

 

Alex Wolff & Milly Shapiro Talk About The Horror Film, "Hereditary," Build - https://youtu.be/aLH34eBnt_k

 

Hereditary Hot Take, Nyx Fears - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGLDKVUJbkw

 

Ari Ater on Hereditary - Toronto International Film Festival - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6TEhIA84xM

 

Toni Colette Interviewed About New Movie "Hereditary" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3bpYrPrpTEHereditary

First Blood

Don't deny John Rambo a meal. Just don't.

 

In this episode, Greg has Susan Watch 1982's "First Blood." The two discuss the fine line this film skates between a serious 1970s style film about how we treat Vietnam veterans and an extreme 1980s action flick.

 

Susan and Greg also discuss the performances of Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, Brian Dennehey as Sheriff Teasle, and Richard Crenna as Colonel Trautman along with trivia regarding the original casting choices, script direction and more.

 

Sources referenced:

First Blood: Understanding the Themes & Subtext of an Action Masterpiece (Analysis) - Story Drive: https://youtu.be/elbsS6VDNNc 

 

First Blood Actors Interview: https://youtu.be/ZePH9o8w3ss

Split

Greg, Susan, and their friend, Barb, have a disjointed conversation about M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 film, "Split." The suspenseful tale about a Kevin Wendell Crumb - a man with disassociative identity disorder (DID) who has 23 distinct personalities and kidnaps three girls to sacrifice to an evolving 24th personality known as the beast, stars James McAvoy, Anna Taylor Joy, and Betty Buckley. 

 

They talk about McAvoy's mesmerizing performance,  including the seven personalities into who he transforms throughout the film. They also discuss Buckley's character - Crumb's psychologist, whose intense devotion to her patient causes her to make the wrong moves.  Anna Taylor Joy's riveting performance as Casey Cook is also explored. 

 

While Shyamalan's work can polarize audiences, the group does acknowledge the fantastic detail work  he can put into films like "Split."

The three also talk about Split's connection to the other films in the Eastliner 177 Trilogy: "Unbreakable" and "Glass" in between more than a few awkward pauses, dissing on some poor impressions, and general razzing on each other.

 

Sources referenced in the episode:

The Science of Split, https://youtu.be/NFuawQOyY0k

42 Things You Missed In Split (2016),  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USMH5cOX52s

Tombstone

Miss this episode? You're a daisy if you do!

 

This week, Greg introduces Susan to 1993's "Tombstone."  The film is loosely based on events in Tombstone, Arizona, including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride, during the 1880s.  

 

"Tombstone" boasts a superstar cast of Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday, Sam Elliot as Virgil Earp, and Bill Paxton as Morgan Earp.  It also features Dana Delany, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley, and Thomas Haden Church and early appearances by Michael Rooker, Billy Bob Thorton, and John Corbitt.

 

Susan and Greg discuss the film and what in the film matches the historical events that occurred in Tombstone and what was changed to make the movie more dramatic. The two also identify which characters they would have liked to see the film explore in more depth and highlight their favorite scenes.

Young Adult

In this episode, Susan has Greg watch "Young Adult," written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman. The stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary - an alcoholic and emotionally-stunted divorcee. Mavis heads back to her hometown to win back her old high school flame (Patrick Wilson) after she receives an emailed birth announcement from his wife (Elizabeth Reaser). The movie contains a stellar performance by Patton Oswalt, who plays Mavis' former classmate, Matt Freehauf. Matt, who was brutally attacked during high school by a bunch of jocks and left permanently disabled, becomes the former prom queen's drinking buddy and semi-reluctant confidante and conscience while she's in town. 

 

Greg and Susan disagree on whether or not the film should be considered a comedy. The two also explore the film's unlikeable main character and how the film masks itself as a Rom-Com but subverts expectations. Oswalt's performance is also discussed along with trivia about "Young Adult" and its box office performance.

 

Referenced sources:

https://industrialscripts.com/genius-character-reveals-young-adult/

 

https://industrialscripts.com/genius-character-reveals-young-adult/

 

https://youtu.be/1Nl6kZS2xsUYoung Adult

Team America: World Police

If you don't throw in your buck o' five for freedom, who will? That's the question Susan, Greg, and special guest James ask as they discuss Greg's pick, "Team America: World Police." This puppet and insanity fueled movie is equal parts satire, parody, and farce - brilliantly woven together by the makers of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

 

The Greg, Susan, and James talk about the movie's artistry and layered humor that lies underneath Stone and Parker's trademark crude humour on the surface. They also discuss the strain the film put on Stone and Parker, and the duo's battles with censors over its rating.

 

Resources referenced in the episode:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_America:_World_Police

 

South Park vs. Mainstream Media: LGBT Representation

https://youtu.be/J1ix93_HR4c

Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary

Greg and Susan tackle their first documentary when she picks "Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary." 

 

The 2019 documentary explores how "Galaxy Quest" explores how science-fiction comedy -- a love letter to sci-fi movie and television and their fandom --  became an enduring fan favorite.  

 

Susan and Greg discuss the documentary and the movie and share bits of trivia: from the documentary and other sources.  They also discuss some of the stories and insights shared by the cast, including Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shalhoub, Missi Pyle, Rainn Wilson, and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, along with director Dean Parisot, writer Robert Gordon. Never Surrender;