Zebras In America

Returning guest and friend of the pod Noah joins Scott and John to discuss the 1967 classic 'Cool Hand Luke' (hey, a 1967 film for our 67th episode! Serendipitous!). They get into Luke as a Christ figure, how the film demonstrates the dehumanizing control prisons have on prisoners, and the role religion plays in prison life.

In the midst of autumn, we're all in the mood to celebrate the Fall Classic and America's pastime! And on Popcorn Eschaton, that also means interrogating worker exploitation! Scott and John discuss John Sayles's 1988 adaptation of the Eliot Asinof book 'Eight Men Out,' using it as a springboard to talk about gambling in sports, why we love sports movies, and how sports can be great unifiers. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Song at the end is "Harry Caray performing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Oh no! Using a Chicago Cubs icon as a tag to a movie about the Chicago White Sox! Sacrilege!

The brilliant Jon Laubinger joins Scott and John to discuss an unlikely pairing of films that deal with animal cruelty and the question of sentience: James Gunns's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' and Robert Bresson's 'Au hasard Balthazar'! They dive into the disturbing imagery in both films and how each filmmaker uses animals to help us find empathy with our fellow humans. Song clip at the end is from Warren Zevon's "Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse," available on Zevon's 'Mutineer' album and his 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Anthology.'

Scott and I return to the world of animation and Studio Ghibli! What a treat! We take a look at the exceptional and underrated film from director Hayao Miyazaki, 'Porco Rosso'! We discuss fascism, survivor's guilt, and the pleasure of allowing a story to remain ambiguous. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Song at the end is "Fio ~ Seventeen" by Joe Hishaishi, available on the album 'Porco Rosso' original score

It's time to exalt kindness! On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John discuss the most recent cinematic iteration of Superman. They explore James Gunn's perspective on the Man of Tomorrow, the impeccable cast, and how Superman has been a politically aware character since his creation in 1938! Also: a lot of comics talk. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Song at the end is "The Max Fleischer Cartoon" by Randy Miller and Orchestra, available on the album 'Superman: The Ultimate Collection.'

The fantastic Carmelita Valdez McKoy returns to Popcorn Eschaton to discuss a pair of films about addiction: Ermanno Olmi's 'The Legend of the Holy Drinker' and Louis Malle's 'The Fire Within.' Carmelita, Scott, and John explore how these films deal with addiction, the possibilities of treatment, and if joy is possible even while experiencing despair. These are depressing movies so it was wonderful to have such a thoughtful guest guide us through this challenging topic! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Clip at the end is from "Heavy Drinker" by Spiritus Mortis, available on the album 'The God Behind the God,' released by Firebox Records

Due to technical difficulties, Popcorn Eschaton had to pivot guests, topics, and even host! But because we try to go with the flow as best we can, and are blessed with wonderful friends, we march on! On this episode, John is joined by friends of Zebras Eschaton, Elana Levin and Frank Smith, as they pay tribute to the legendary metal icon Ozzy Osbourne. They discuss the cultural and musical legacy of Ozzy and Black Sabbath, their blue collar and class consciousness roots in Central England, and their invocation of religious imagery, both hellish and heavenly. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) You can find Elana's excellent podcast, Graphic Policy Radio, here: https://graphicpolicy.com/radio/ Clip at the end from Ukandanz's cover of "War Pigs" on the album 'Evil Plan (የክፋት እቅድ),' available here: https://ukandanz.bandcamp.com/album/evil-plan

What could be more Popcorn Eschaton than pairing Jim Jarmusch with Star Trek? On this episode, Scott and John head west to explore the poetic violence and self-discovery of 1995's 'Dead Man,' then they return to The Final Frontier as they join the Enterprise crew on their resurrection quest in 'The Search for Spock'! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Clip at the end from "The Round Stones Beneath the Earth..." available on the 'Dead Man' original soundtrack by Neil Young.

On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John embrace living in liminal spaces as they journey through death and the boundaries between this world and the next. First, they explore Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2010 spiritual drama 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,' then they discuss Pedro Almodóvar's 2024 meditation on friendship and choosing how we meet our end, 'The Room Next Door.' Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Clip at the end is Pali Chanting In The Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery

Popcorn Eschaton welcomes the brilliant Carmelita Valdez McKoy to discuss medieval mythology and Catholic/Pagan sycheticism! The conversation dives into 'Excalibur,' John Boorman's classic of Arthurian myths, Dark Age Disco costumes, as well as personal and political morality! It's got a cast full of future British acting legends acting out the foundational legends of Britain! Amazing stuff. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music clip at the end is from "Create Art, Though the World May Perish " by Anaal Nathrakh, available on the album 'Endarkment.' https://anaalnathrakh.bandcamp.com/album/endarkenment

On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John tackle one of the most discombobulating, bravura, and labyrinthian science fiction movies ever made: Richard Kelly's 'Southland Tales'! They discuss how the film succeeds and fails in reflecting America in a post-9/11 world and why a strange, unfinished piece of art should be enjoyed on its own terms. Maximalism ahoy! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music clip at the end is from "Broken Hearted Savior" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, available on the 'Southland Tales' soundtrack

Scott and John are joined by the brilliant writer and podcaster Spencer Seams! They discuss the emblematic race film from 1941 'The Blood of Jesus,' as well as Jacques Rivette's harrowing 1966 examination of institutional abuse within the Catholic Church, 'The Nun.' They discuss misogyny, giving voice to unheard voices, and the importance of community. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Spencer's Dark Habits podcast can be found here: https://darkhabitsalmodovarpod.podbean.com/ Music clip at the end is "Generator" by Turnstile, from the 2018 album 'Time & Space,' available from Roadrunner Records.

It's CONCLAVE time! It was inevitable that Scott and John would cover this stylish thriller about hermetic power, faith vs. certainty, conservatism vs. generosity, and how utterly terrifying it would be to have Isabella Rossellini disappointed in you. In times of such despondency, it was a privilege to be able to discuss a film that so elegantly addresses how the instruments of power can be changed to become mechanisms for kindness and empathy. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music clip at the end is "Take Up My Bones" by Arð, from the album of the same name, available here: https://ardnorthumbria.bandcamp.com/album/take-up-my-bones The visual novel/game mentioned in the podcast is available here: https://sneckoil.itch.io/delectatio-morosa

Scott and John welcome the brilliant Heather Drain to Popcorn Eschaton as they discuss the Japanese cult animated feature 'Belladonna of Sadness!' They explore the difficult subject matter of the film, the wildly stylized and beautiful animation, the exuberant musical score, and how the events of the film presage both Joan of Arc and the French Revolution. Trigger warnings for sexual assault, mutilaion, religious abuse, warfare Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music clip at the end is from "Kanashimi no Belladonna" by Mayumi Tachibana and Masahiko Satoh Heather's Patreon can be found at: https://www.patreon.com/c/mondoheather

On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John dive into the infinite morass that is the American health care system, as seen through cinema. First, they look at how public policy is interwoven with corporate interests, as well as how journalism is supposed to be safeguarding us from those interests, with Michael Mann's brilliant 1999 thriller 'The Insider.' Then, they shift focus and tone to 'The Big Sick,' a comedy co-written by its star, Kumail Nanjiani, along with his wife, Emily Gordon, about how a medical emergency can both upend and forge personal relationships. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/)

Scott and John are joined by the world's greatest Ingmar Bergman advocate, the brilliant Becky D'Anna, to discuss 1957's 'The Seventh Seal'! They dive into the collision of medieval religious traditions with the cinema of the mid-20th century, the reputation of Bergman vs. the reality of his art, and the multifarious ways we can interpret the imagery of the film. Becky's writing, Top Ten lists, and podcast appearances can be found at: https://beckydanna.com/ The Film Baby Film podcast mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://beckydanna.com/site/media/2023/01/FBF_31_SeventhSeal.mp3 Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music sample at the end is a recording of "Dies Irae" from 'Requiem and Funeral Rites,' recorded by the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf choir

"This Land is Your Land" is an anthem to community and the rights all humans have to the earth they walk on, but what truths are there for us in the life of the song's composer, the legendary Woody Guthrie? On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John continue on the Hal Ashby train as they explore the 1976 sprawling biopic (of a kind), 'Bound for Glory'! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music at the end is a sample from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' cover of "This Land is Your Land," available on the album 'Naturally,' released by Daptone Records.

It's the 50th Popcorn Eschaton! For this special occasion, Scott and John pick their respective favorite movies and reflect on how they came to start this spiritually cinematic journey. John's pick for his favorite is 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' and they discuss how fun it is to see Nazis getting punched and how wholesome it is to watch a father and son embrace each other with love. Scott's pick is Hal Ashby's "Being There,' a beautifully shot, humanist satire that looks at politics and white/wealth privilege in America. (Although this conversation is a lot of fun, we do discuss some heavy topics, in the films themselves, in the lives of the filmmakers, and in the current state of the world. These topics include self-harm and suicide, the Holocaust, and discrimination against trans people) Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Music at the end is an arrangement of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Eumir Deodato, available on the B

Because we at Popcorn Eschaton love the immortal spirit of David Lynch so very much, we just wanted to talk about him some more! Let us journey to a small town out of time, the liminal suburbia that is the Lumberton of 'Blue Velvet'! We are joined by the brilliant Elana Levin (of Graphic Policy) to discuss voyeurism, Roy Orbison, and how the film intersects with both feminine archetypes and feminism! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Elana's podcast, Graphic Policy Radio, can be found at: https://graphicpolicy.com/radio/ "In Dreams" clip is by Roy Orbison, originally released in 1963 on the album of the same name by Monument Records.

With the passing of the one-and-only David Lynch, Scott, John, and Marcus wanted to explore two of the director's films that are least discussed in cinema circles: 'Dune' and 'The Straight Story.' One extravagent, overstuffed, and finished outside of Lynch's control, the other deeply personal, human, and compassionate. They explore how the films reflect what they love about Lynch's work, what they engage with in these films specificually, and also how these works stand out among Lynch's filmography. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/) Marcus Pinn's film writing can be found at: http://www.pinnlandempire.com/ Song clip at the end is from "Crysknife," by Sandrider, available here: https://sandrider.bandcamp.com/album/sandrider