I have created the spiritual sequel to this show. It’s called WATCH THIS TONIGHT. It’s a fancy version of this show, part of the Voyage Media podcast network, and it releases twice a week (Wednesday and Friday). Each episode is a carefully curated pick for something great to watch at the end of the night when you’ve got about an hour before you fall asleep. Look for it anywhere you listen to podcasts. If you like this show, I think you will really enjoy my new podcast.
I review all of Ray's movies that I have seen in brief, and also briefly discuss the movie I produced that he was in. RIP to a legend who had so much more to give. What a loss.
I wanted to tell you about a new true crime anthology podcast I produced, which features Michael Emerson (LOST), Jonathan Frakes (STAR TREK) and more actors and tells wild, crazy, scary, compelling true crime stories. There's a new crime in every episode. You can find the show by going to allegedlytruecrime.com or searching for "Allegedly Voyage Media" anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Yup, it's a scripted crime drama presented as found audio from an FBI surveillance operation. It's called MAHALO WITH A BULLET. Dean plays a hitman sent to Hawaii to murder someone. While in Hawaii, he has a change of heart and questions his entire life. It's a fun, fast, listen, Dean is excellent in it, and we may be producing more of it in the future. You can find links to listen on your preferred podcast platform here: https://www.voyagemedia.fm/show/mahalo-with-a-bullet/ If you listen, let me know what you think!
JOHN WICK creator Derek Kolstad returns to the show for the 100th episode to talk MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III. My case: the best film of the series, JJ Abrams’ best film as a feature director, and the best villain of the series with Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Screenwriter Nathaniel Nauert joins the show, and I make the case that THE OTHER GUYS is the best film in the filmography of both Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, as well as a career high point for Mark Wahlberg. I’m a peacock, you gotta let me fly!
Film scholar Jackson Boren joins the program for JUDGEMENT NIGHT. A real hidden gem, this gorgeous-looking movie has a sharp, compelling setup and a great cast in their fresh-faced days. Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr, Denis Leary, Stephen Dorff, Jeremy Piven, and Peter Greene star in this crime thriller. Stephen Hopkins directed the film. This one has a ton of interesting behind-the-scenes production information that Jackson and I break down (originally written on spec by Kevin Jarre, who wrote TOMBSTONE, offered to Samuel Jackson and John Travolta, rewritten at one point by John Carpenter). Fascinating 90s era largely (and unfairly) forgotten thriller.
Screenwriter Jay Thornton joins the show to discuss perhaps one of the best picks for this series, RETURN TO PARADISE. A movie even I hadn't heard of, this is a total unheralded gem. It was well-reviewed upon release, but was not a huge box office hit, and is not something I've heard talked about before. Great director (Joseph Ruben, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY), great cast (Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix, Anne Heche) and maybe one of the best moral premises in any movie, period. I watched this at 3am and was riveted and had to get to the end. Major recommend if you dig adult dramas.
Fellow VFS graduate and screenwriter Philip Clarke joins the show to break down a true movie we love that no one talks about, Christopher McQuarrie's THE WAY OF THE GUN. Starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, James Caan, Taye Diggs, and Nicky Katt, this is the movie McQuarrie cashed in his THE USUAL SUSPECTS chip for, and it shows. It's bold to an extreme. It's not for everyone. But it is purposeful, and if you stick with it, the payoffs are there. It's also a great crime film, period.
The writers of this film Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, who (along with director Karyn Kusama) previously made THE INVITATION, join the podcast to discuss the Nicole Kidman 2018 bad cop LA sunlight noir film DESTROYER. This is a wild movie, combining shades of William Friedkin, Michael Mann, and Phil, Matt and Karyn's distinctive creative DNA to emerge with something new, that surprises moment-to-moment with unexpected choices, inventive structure, and a commitment top-to-bottom from a very game cast. The movie is currently streaming on Hulu.
Literary manager Jeff Portnoy joins the show to discuss this cult classic film, a bizarre midnight movie starring Emilio Esteves and Harry Dean Stanton. Directed by Alex Cox, this has been a frequent request for the show. I highly suggest watching it at 2 am while under the influence of some kind of substance. It's out there and totally unique, but if you're in the mood for something different, it should hit the spot.
Michael Shannon is perfectly cast in this slow burn freak out of a movie with Jessica Chastain in one of her first roles. Jeff Nichols directs. One of the great “oh sh*t” endings in independent film cinema. Retuning guest Nick Oleksiw and I dive in.
The director of this thriller, Eugenio Mira, joins the show. Scripted by Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH, LA LA LAND), starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack, this is effectively WHIPLASH crossed with SPEED. A wild high-concept premise is executed with great style by Eugenio Mira. This would be one of Brian De Palma's top 5 movies if he directed it, a great watch for fans of Damien Chazelle, Hitchcock, and De Palma.
Dropping some of our original music from my new podcast series, OTZI THE ICEMAN MUST DIE, starring Ethan Suplee (Remember The Titans, American History X, Wolf of Wall Street, Hulu series CHANCE). Really proud of how this turned out. We're basically doing THE REVENANT as an audio drama, but with our own true story basis. Otzi is a real person found perfectly preserved in the Italian Alps, who was murdered 5,300 years ago. An autopsy of his body showed exactly HOW he was murdered, but we wanted to know WHY. This series answers that question, from the perspective of the man who killed him, played by Ethan Suplee. First 2 episodes are up now. Here's a link, you can find listen buttons for your preferred podcast platform here: https://www.voyagemedia.fm/show/relic-otzi-the-iceman-must-die/episode-1/
Two people who know Jackie Chan, literally and figuratively, are my guests this week. Mike Leeder was on set of DRUNKEN MASTER II. He is a fixture in the Hong Kong action scene. Mike did stunts on THE RAID 2, fighter casting on the MAN OF TAI CHI, Hong Kong casting for THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS, he was the Asia Casting Director for RUSH HOUR 3, and on and on. My other guest is Joshua James, who wrote the Jean Claude Van Damme film POUND OF FLESH, Josh is a screenwriter and martial artist. The three of us have a wide-ranging discussion about the entire career of Jackie Chan on this week's episode, with remarkable behind-the-scenes insight from Mike, who has been in and around many of these films in one way or another for decades. Check out Mike's distribution company 88 Films - they have released a bunch of the Jackie Chan movies on Blu-ray with commentaries and special features at https://88-films.myshopify.com You can also read more about martial arts and movies in Josh's sub stack at https://joshuatoddjames.substack.com/p/coming-soon
Director James Foley (GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS) rejoins the show to discuss his film Roger Ebert adored and Variety called “near-perfect”, the Jim Thompson noir adaptation AFTER DARK, MY SWEET, starring Jason Patric, Rachel Ward, and Bruce Dern.
Film executive DJ Holloway (Bron, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH) joins the show to discuss Spike Lee's under-seen hang-out jazz drama... effectively this is Spike's MEAN STREETS or SWINGERS or FRIDAY, a movie where great actors like Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito get to play music, crack jokes, go through love triangles, and generally just play into the vibe of the film. As DJ says in the episode, this movie is a vibe.
The writer of this film, Gary Young, joins the show. Michael Caine plays effectively the older UK version of Denzel in MAN ON FIRE, but in a plot that's distinctively UK. Ably-supported by about half the cast of GAME OF THRONES in supporting roles, this is a great character study and a compelling genre film with a stellar lead performance from Michael Caine.
I know you haven’t seen this movie. I know you might think it’s old and outdated. It’s not. It’s stellar. It plays like it could have come out last week. It’s THE STAR CHAMBER, a movie about a secret group of judges that mete out justice to criminals who get off on technicalities. Michael Douglas, Yaphet Kotto, Hal Holbrook. It’s on Amazon. Joe Aliberti and I explain why it’s incredible on this week’s episode.
Screenwriter Sean Ryan joins the program for one of Liam Neeson’s most underrated action films, written by MARE OF EASTTOWN's Brad Ingelsby. Great concept, slick direction, stellar cast, featuring Ed Harris, Boyd Holbrook, Joel Kinnaman, and Common. This movie is legitimately good and was the victim of an inexplicable release schedule.