The Essential Films Podcast

Oh yahh, You betcha! Adolfo and Mark discuss The Coen Brothers' 1996 black comedy thriller, FARGO! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

We're back! On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark record a commentary track for the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock classic: NORTH BY NORTHWEST, accompanied by other movie discussions. To skip right to the commentary, go to the 30:10 mark. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Taking a look at Quentin Tarantino's 2009 modern classic INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

When CIA operative Felix Leiter is left for dead by vicious drug kingpin, Sanchez, James Bond makes it his personal vendetta to take him down… going so far as becoming a rogue agent.Links:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adolfojacosta/ Substack: https://adolfoacosta.substack.comTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adolfojacostaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssential...Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kOLC5r...Linktree: https://linktr.ee/adolfoacostaWebsite: https://essentialfilmspodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONWe're back! After an unplanned hiatus, we are back on your podcast app of choice. On this week's adventure Adolfo and Mark discuss John Ford's THE GRAPES OF WRATH.On Today's Show:* Mark’s Hollywood Journey* Mark wins an Oscar!* Walt Disney Archives* How to properly hold an Oscar* The glory days of VHS* “A Very Special Epsidoe”* The heaviness of The Grapes of Wrath* Watching the movie instead of reading the book for school* The differences between the movie and the novel* Quick turnaround from the novel’s publishing to the release of the film* Very socialist messaging, which is odd in the times of communist scapegoating* The Great Henry Fonda* “Just following orders”* Tom’s family thinking he broke out of jail* Heartbreaking shots* Grandpa’s medicine* Holding out hope for meager rewards* The brotherhood of the working class* Giving Grandma the Weekend at Bernie’s treatment* The dwindling of the family* Movie is clearly pro-Union* The Company Store scam* Tom’s sense of dignity, duty and self respect won’t allow him to be bullied* The government working camp is good for them, but it only lasts temporarily* Tom’s sacrifice for his family and following his calling to do good* Is tom a christ figure?* “We’re the people”* The power of the work and anti corporation - basically tenets of communism* Grapes of Wrath was woke before woke was a thing* Grapes of Wrath’s Academy Award nominations and wins, stealing the Best Director from Hitchcock who never got an Oscar* An inspirational but depressing movie* Will AFI update their lists?Films Referenced:* Rebecca (1940)* The Philadelphia Story (1940)* The Ten Commandments (1956)* White Wilderness (1958)* Some Like it Hot (1959)* The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)* The House That Dripped Blood (1971)* On Golden Pond (1981)* ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)* Return of the Jedi (1983)* Punky Brewster (TV Series, 1984-1988)* Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series, 1978-1986)* Full House (TV Series, 1987-1995)* ​​Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990)* Dinosaurs (TV Series, 1991-1994)* Boy Meets World (1993-2000)* Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003)* Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)* Beau Is Afraid (2023)Links: Substack: adolfoacosta.substack.comYouTube: youtube.com/@adolfojacosta Website: essentialfilmspodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Are you the podcast whose coming was foretold to me? On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark play Podcast Hosts of Christmas Past as they look at the long history of screen adaptations of Charles Dickens' immortal classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL!  Movies discussed include: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938), SCROOGE (1951), SCROOGE (1970), SCROOGED (1988), THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) and many more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the wonderful weirdness of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark return to discuss the 1953 Academy Award winning FROM HERE TO ETERNITY! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Better late than never! On today's podcast adventure, our long-delayed Christmas episode is out, as we review THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. We also spend some time discussing the careers of the late Peter Bogdonavich and Ivan Reitman. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Life finds a way...  On today’s prehistoric adventure, join us as we discuss the 1993 blockbuster JURASSIC PARK! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Happy Halloween! On today’s terrifying adventure, no one can hear us scream as we discuss the 1979 Ridley Scott classic ALIEN (1979)!Films Referenced:A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)TO CATCH A THIEF (1955)NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)BANANAS (1971)PHANTASM (1979)POSSESSION (1981)CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)POLTERGEIST (1982)FLASHDANCE (1983)GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)DUNE (1984)PRETTY IN PINK (1986)ALIENS (1986)HELLRAISER (1987)GHOST (1990)ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)ALIEN3 (1992)PULP FICTION (1994)CLERKS (1994)ALIEN: RESURRECTION (1997)THE QUIET AMERICAN (2002)ALIEN VS PREDATOR (2004)ALIEN VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM (2007)MARTYRS (2008)I SAW THE DEVIL (2010)PROMETHEUS (2012)JODOROWSKI’S DUNE (2013)HAPPY DEATH DAY (2017)ALIEN: COVENANT (2017)HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021)DUNE (2021) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

We're walkin' here!!! On today's podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark examine the 1969 Academy Award Best Picture winner: MIDNIGHT COWBOY. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Happy Halloween! Midnight Cowboy has been delayed, so please enjoy this special episode: 31 Essential Films to watch this Halloween! From PSYCHO to THE WITCH and all monsters in between, this episode will give you a wicked watchlist for the spookiest time of year.YOUTUBE:youtube.com/adolfojacostaSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilmsSOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilmsINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/essentialfilmspodcastMusic Courtesy of Marc v/d MeulenOfficial Website: https://www.marcvdmeulen.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzzv...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QFHz...AudioJungle: http://audiojungle.net/user/marcvdmeulen This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On today’s adventure, we celebrate the life and career of Richard Donner.Films Discussed:X-15 (1961)THE TWILIGHT ZONE: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (TV Episode, 1963)THE OMEN (1976)SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)SUPERMAN II (1981)THE GOONIES (1985)THE GOONIES ARE GOOD ENOUGH (Music Video, 1985)LADYHAWKE (1985)LETHAL WEAPON (1987)THE LOST BOYS (1987)SCROOGED (1988)LETHAL WEAPON 2 (1989)TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Dig That Cat... He's Real Gone (1989) (TV Episode) TALES FROM THE CRYPT: The Ventriloquist's Dummy (1990) (TV Episode)TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Showdown (1992) (TV Episode) LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992)RADIO FLYER (1992)FREE WILLY (1993)MAVERICK (1994)ASSASSINS (1995)CONSPIRACY THEORY (1997)LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1998)X-MEN (2000)16 BLOCKS (2006)SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT (2006) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On today’s adventure, Adolfo & Mark will take "No Prisoners!" as they discuss the David Lean Academy Award-winning LAWRENCE OF ARABIA! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

Never you mind honey. On today’s Podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark head to Anarene, Texas to look into the lives and loves of its local citizens in Peter Bogdonavich’s coming of age classic, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Plus: Adolfo and Mark discuss the recent AMC stock bonanza.Films Referenced:RED RIVER (1948)THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA (1949)FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950)WINCHESTER ‘73 (1950)KISS ME DEADLY (1955)HEAD (1968)TARGETS (1968)PLANET OF THE PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1968)BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)EASY RIDER (1969)THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (Series, 1970-77)DRIVE, HE SAID (1970)FIVE EASY PIECES (1970)THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS (1972)THE GODFATHER (1972)YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)WONDER WOMAN (Series, 1975-79)THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)HISTORY OF THE WORLD, PART I (1981)TRADING PLACES (1983)THE SIMPSONS (Series, 1989-)TEXASVILLE (1990)THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1993)BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD DO AMERICA (1996)FAMILY GUY (Series, 1999 -)BAD SANTA (2003)TWO AND A HALF MEN (Series, 2003-2015)THE OFFICE, Episode “Stress Relief” (2009)RAISING HOPE (Series, 2010-14)BOB’S BURGERS (Series, 2011- )THE CROODS (2013)WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020)THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020)MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)LINKS:America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/769-america-lost-and-found-the-bbs-story) SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilmsINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/essentialfilmspodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On this Bonus Features episode, we go further into Mark’s adventures into exploitation films.NOTE: Bonus Features episodes are raw and unedited, with little production.Films Referenced:THE BIG GUNDOWN (1966)THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS (1966)MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE (1966)NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970)THE CAT O’NINE TAILS (1971)BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)DEEP RED (1975)TAXI DRIVER (1976)ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978)CALIGULA (1979)CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980)CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)NEW YEAR’S EVIL (1980)CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)THE BEYOND (1981)THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981)PIECES (1982)TENEBRE (1982)SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)PHENOMENA (1985)SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2 (1987)THE DEUCE (Series, 2017-2019)ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On this Bonus Features episode, we discuss how HBO MAX and Warner Media are radically changing the industry by releasing the entire 2021 slate on HBO MAX as well as theaters. Is this the future of movies? Plus Mark discusses his adventures into exploitation films in the month of December. And some Criterion and blu-ray talk to top it off.NOTE: Bonus Features episodes are raw and unedited, with little production.Films Referenced:AND GOD CREATED WOMAN (1956)DR. NO (1962)THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)GOLDFINGER (1964)SHELAKO (1968)THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1970)THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970)DEEP RED (1975)SALÓ, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975)DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)ZOMBI 2 (1979)FRIDAY THE 13th (1980)DON’T GO IN THE WOODS (1981)COME AND SEE (1985)NO WAY BACK (1992)THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)THE DEUCE (Series, 2017-2019)ROMA (2018)THE IRISHMAN (2019)MARRIAGE STORY (2019)WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020)TENET (2020)MANK (2020)THE MANDALORIAN (Series, 2019-2020)MATRIX 4 (2021)THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021)MORTAL KOMBAT (2021)THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (2021)GODZILLA VS KONG (2021)LINKS:Grindhouse Movie DataBase (gcbd.com) Sleazoid Express Book https://www.amazon.com/Sleazoid-Express-Mind-Twisting-Through-Grindhouse/dp/0743215834Dawn Of The Dead 4K Set https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26880 Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema: https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1427-ingmar-bergman-s-cinema SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS! On today’s adventure, we celebrate Christmas with Dudley, Henry and Julia as we discuss the 1947 holiday classic, THE BISHOP’S WIFE! We go into the original cast of the film, who was originally supposed to play the angel, the initial box office failure (and how the studios sought to fix that), guaranteed Christmas royalties, Hallmark Christmas movies, Christmas classics, the wacky trailer, and much more!Films Referenced:IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)THE EXORCIST (1973)SCARFACE (1983)MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1994)JINGLE ALL THE WAY (1996)DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009)SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER: @EssentialFilms, @FPMoviePodcast, @Sportsguy515FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheEssentialFilms This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com

On today's adventure, Adolfo & Mark discuss the 1974 noir thriller, CHINATOWN. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adolfoacosta.substack.com