Two Geeks And A Git Classic Movie Reviews

Episode 177: The second film in our pairing of modern war movies is from 1998, and may very well be the finest, most honest, most horror-filled, and most accurate war film in the history of cinema. "Saving Private Ryan" was directed by modern master Steven Spielberg, and features an amazing cast of talented actors including Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Matt Damon, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, and Dennis Farina, to name but a few! The first 30 minutes of the movie takes you to the invasion of Normandy in a way no film has ever even attempted, let alone succeeded this well! Brutal, bloody, and brilliant, this film (like "Full Metal Jacket") doesn't shy away from showing the horrors of war, but being set in World War Two, it doesn't take quite as pessimistic an approach as the previous film. And then, find out what director (enjoyed by two of the three hosts) will be the focus of the next pairing, and which host isn't looking forwar

Episode 176: We turn to modern war films for this pairing, starting with legendary director Stanley Kubrick's last good film, 1987's "Full Metal Jacket." Starring Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Arliss Howard, and the premiere of the incredible R. Lee Ermey as Gny. Sgt. Hartman, turning in a performance that actually caused Stanley to allow him to improvise, something Kubrick was famous for prohibiting in his actors! This film is a no-holds-barred look at the true horrors of war and the toll it takes on those who enlist during wartime. Set in the Vietnam War, this film is a two-part story: The first follows the squad through the hell that is basic training for the Marines, while the second part shows some of them out in the wilds of Vietnam, coping with the moral ambiguity that comes on a battlefield. And while this film is difficult to watch, it's a movie everyone should see at least once!

Episode 175: Romero waited 10 years to release a sequel to "Night of the Living Dead," but when he did, he had the support of fans across the world as well as other filmmakers! Italian horror-master Dario Argento offered up his house so Romero could write undisturbed, acted as script supervisor, and even wrote and performed the score (with his band "The Goblins"), all in exchange for the editing rights to the European release. This film solidified Romero's rules for zombie films, rules he would follow in every other "Dead" film he'd ever make. This one, in color, was going to be assigned an "X" rating by the MPAA due to violence alone, so Romero released it unrated. Were it any other filmmaker, and any other film, this would have spelled disaster, but everyone wanted to see this film, so distributors actually sent it to theatres unrated. The end result is the 2nd seminal zombie film, this time taking place in an early fully-enclosed shopping environment we would come to know as a "mall." Plus, the trio reveal

Episode 174: It's the first of our Halloween episodes, this time focusing on the father of the modern Zombie genre, George Romero! Written and directed by Romero (co-written by John Russo), the film was shot on a shoe-string budget, with a lot of barter being done for set elements, props, and make-up, in exchange for the business owners getting to be zombies in the film! But what came out of it is a frightening film that set the tone for decades of zombie cinema to come! Starring a cast of unknowns, this is truly the independent film that becomes known all over the world, but perhaps not exactly for the reason you might think. The trio talk about how a mistake just before release was bad news for Romero, but it turns out to be wonderful news for this film and the burgeoning zombie genre! High marks from every member of the trio too!

Episode 173: The second film in our "Forgotten Disney" pairings moves ahead one year to 1980 and another genre not attempted before by Disney studios, a suspense-thriller! Helmed by veteran Disney director John Hough, and starring the incredible Bette Davis, this is a ghost story, pure and simple, until it's not. The film co-stars Lynn-Holly Johnson (of "Ice Castles" fame), Kyle Richards (sister of Kim Richards who starred in the Witch Mountain films), Carroll Baker, David McCallum (yes, Illya Kuryakin from the "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. television series), and Benedict Taylor. This is a story that, admittedly, does take a little while to get rolling, but once it does it's definitely worth the wait! Plus, the trio reveal what treat they're serving for this year's Halloween episodes!

Episode 172: We travel back to 1979 for the first of our "Forgotten Disney" films, for director Gary Nelson's sci-fantasy epic "The Black Hole!" This was the first non-G-rated film ever released by Disney studios, and it was a stunning first step away from pure children's fare! Starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and the uncredited voices of Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens, this film explores the phenomenon of a black hole and the depths one man may sink to in order to explore its reaches! Pair this story and cast with a stunning score from James Bond composer John Barry, along with truly (for the time) ground-breaking special effects, an ending that's full of nuance and sub-text, and you have a space opera for the ages (although not everyone agrees).

Episode 171: Our second episode in our listener-suggested Robert Rodriguez pairing focuses on a film unlike any other, one that transformed a graphic novel into cinematic art in a way never before seen, 2005's "Sin City!" Based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, the film was so faithful to the novel that Rodriguez insisted on a co-directing credit for Miller, along with a guest-director credit for friend Quentin Tarantino! With an all-star cast including the likes of Bruce Willis, Benecio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Michael Madson, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Powers Booth, Josh Hartnett, Rutger Hauer, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Brittany Murphy, Carla Gugino, Michael Clarke Duncan, and more, this is perhaps the greatest homage to pulp comics and film noir yet! Not to mention creating a style that is unique in film history, and carving a story out of it that gets top ratings from all three hosts! Plus, the trio celebrate International Podcast Day and talk about the new podcast documentary they're featured in that's

Episode 170: This episode begins our listener-suggested pairing of films by independent director Robert Rodriguez, with the film that marked Quentin Taratino's first paid screenwriting job, 1996's heist-turned-horror, "From Dusk Till Dawn!" Starring George Clooney, Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Tom Savini, Fred Williamson, and Michael Parks, this film follows the infamous Gecko brothers as they flee the United States into Mexico to meet up with their latest employer and turn over all but their percentage of ill-gotten gains. Unfortunately for them, their employer picked a true den of iniquity for their meeting place. Now if they can just survive the night and still be able to conduct business when the sun comes up...

Episode 169B: Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss the twist ending of 2013's "Oldboy!" This is a FULL-ON SPOILER ALERT, so if you don't want the ending given away, don't listen to this episode until you've watched the movie!

Episode 169A: In the 2nd of our pairing of "Vengeance Films," we move ahead to a date out of our normal time-period and look at the American version of the South Korean neo-noir action thriller "Oldboy" from 2013. Directed by powerhouse Spike Lee and starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen, this film follows the life of alcoholic salesman Joe Doucett who, after blowing a big deal for his firm, gets fired. As if that isn't bad enough, he's then kidnapped and imprisoned in what, at first, appears to be a hotel room. It turns out it's a gilded cage, and that's just the beginning of the story! Who's doing this to him, and why, is something he'll try to find out... if he can escape! Also starring Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli, Pom Klementieff, Lance Reddick, and a very early appearance by Remi Malek! Plus, the trio reveal the latest listener suggested pairing that they'll be doing in the next set of reviews! NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review, so if you haven't seen the movie, it's safe to

Episode 168B: Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss the twist ending of 1987's "Angel Heart!" This is a FULL-ON SPOILER ALERT, so if you don't want the ending given away, don't listen to this episode until you've watched the movie!

Episode 168A: For the first of our "Vengeance Films" pairing, it's 1987's neo-noir/supernatural thriller "Angel Heart." Directed by veteran director Alan Parker, this film follows Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) who is hired by Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to find a missing crooner from WWII. His attempt to track down Johnny Favorite first sends him all over New York City, and then to New Orleans, Louisiana, where intolerance, voodoo, and black magic spin his investigation off into nightmarish situations. The film also stars Charlotte Rampling and Lisa Bonet (in her first film role, and the role that got her "excused" from the Cosby Show). NOTE: This is a spoiler-free review, so if you haven't seen the movie, it's safe to listen to. A second spoiler-filled episode, which details the twist ending to this macabre tale, follows this one.

Episode 167: Recorded LIVE at Michigan ComicCon in Detroit, Michigan! Supernatural action comedy number two comes to us from just six months after Big Trouble in Little China, and was actually offered to Big Trouble director John Carpenter, but he turned it down to make his film. Instead, they turned to director Michael Ritchie (who would go on to direct "Fletch") to helm Murphy's fifth leading role in "The Golden Child!" Murphy plays Chandler Jarrell, a finder of lost children, who is approached by Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis in her first film role) who asks his help in finding a very special lost child. As the hunt proceeds, things get stranger, including a brush with the sinister Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance), a supernatural entity who captures the golden child, forcing a direct confrontation between himself and Jarrell. This film also features three actors who were also in Big Trouble: Victor Wong, James Hong, and Peter Kwong. Plus, the trio reveal what two films with truly disturbing endings they're going t

Episode 166: Recorded LIVE at Michigan ComicCon in Detroit, Michigan! It's action comedies with a supernatural twist for this pairing, starting with the first of two films, both from 1986! In "Big Trouble in Little China," we discuss director John Carpenter's 9th feature film outing, and his fourth time working with leading man Kurt Russell, who plays sidekick Jack Burton! Did we say sidekick? Yes, because the actual hero of the film, story-wise, is Dennis Dun as Wang Chi! This duo find themselves enmeshed in a battle to save two young women, lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) and Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) from the evil clutches of David Lo Pan (James Hong), an ancient sorcerer with an obsession for women with green eyes! Add in a reporter, a local business owner, a Chinatown tour guide, and a trio of elementally-charged fighters known simply as the Three Storms, and you have a rollicking supernatural adventure film like no other! Then, throw in the fact that Kurt Russel is absolutely playing against type, and you g

Episode 165: The second in our classic comedy pairing of Marx Brothers films advances the timeline two years (and one studio) in 1935's "A Night At the Opera!" Directed by Sam Wood, and ghost-directed by Edmund Goulding (of "Nightmare Alley" fame, see Episode 162), this film was the first to feature only Groucho, Chico, and Harpo, since Zeppo had decided to leave acting for a more lucrative career as an agent. In his place, as the romantic lead, Allan Jones plays a chorus tenor in the Opera, madly in love with Kitty Carlisle's Rosa (she returns his love as well). Attempting to get between the lovers is Walter Woolf King, playing the selfish and arrogant Rudolfo Lassparri. Add to this Sig Ruman's wonderful Herman Gottlieb, the head of the New York Opera Company. Add to this story some of the funniest may have the best Groucho-Margaret Dumont interplay, and you have an operatic comedy like no other! This one is Jeff's favorite! Plus, the trio discuss their first public appearance at Michigan ComicCon (August 16

Episode 164: This week it's the first classic comedy film in our Marx Brothers pairing! We go back to 1933 and the surreal romp known as "Duck Soup!" Directed by Leo McCarey and starring the fab-foursome of comedy, Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo Marx, the film also features Raquel Torres, Louis Calhern, and the woman who became the perfect foil to Groucho's charms every... single... time... the wonderful Margaret Dumont! The story follows Otis P. Driftwood (Groucho) who becomes the leader of a small country called Freedonia. Inevitably, they end up at war with a neighboring country, although the hijinks that get them there are ingenius. While a bit short on plot, this film isn't short on laughs, or music (although not in the traditional Marx-Brothers-way), and shows off some of the best interplay between Grouch and Margaret Dumont in any film! This one is Buddy's favorite!

Episode 163: The second film in our pairing around the title of "Geek" as suggested by listner Bill Mukalian, we move up 38 years from the last film and look at what "geek" meant in the 80s with the John Hughes film "Weird Science!" Written (in only two days) and directed by Hughes, the film stars Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Bill Paxton, Syzanne Snyder, Judie Aronson, Robert Downey Jr. Robert Rusler, Vernon Wells, and Britt Leach! This is an 80s sex-comedy take on the Frankenstein story, with two hapless computer geeks accidentally creating a demi-goddess (named Lisa) who decides to, instead of being the sex-toy the boys intended her to be, turn the lads into something vaguely resembling decent young adults. The film is hectic, total fantasy, and features a very well-known title song by Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo! Plus the trio discuss which two classic comedies (both by the same comic team) they'll be pairing together for the next two episodes!

Episode 162: The first in our pairings focusing on the meanings of the word "Geek," as suggested by listener Bill Mukalian, we head back to 1947 and Tyrone Power's attempt to break out of his romance/adventure leading-man status in the film noir classic "Nightmare Alley!" Directed by Edmund Goulding and co-starring Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, Helen Walker, Taylor Holmes, Mike Mazurki, and Ian Keith, this is the story of circus pitch-man turned big-time mentalist (i.e. con-man) Stantaon 'Stan' Carlisle as he discoveres what he thinks is a road to riches, only to reach too high and fall spectacularly! This is a film noir, however, so it's full of twists and turns, a truly sinister femme fatale, and a twist near the end that has viewers and critics split on what actually happens in the film! Although not a hit when it came out (because audience's weren't ready to see Tyrone Power as a bad guy), it has since become a staple of the film noir genre!

Episode 161: The second film in our "Movies that didn't suck, based on TV shows" pairing is arguably one of the best comedy westerns to come along since Blazing Saddles. Based on a TV show that ran from 1957 to 1962, this film also features a lead actor from the original program, 1994's "Maverick!" Directed by the great Richard Donner, and written by the fantastic William Goldman, this version stars Mel Gibson as the titular character Bret Maverick, and co-stars Jodie Foster and James Garner (the original Bret Maverick). The supporting cast includes the incredible Graham Greene, Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Dub Taylor, Geoffrey Lewis, Denver Pyle, and so very many cameos it would take far too long to mention them here (but they're mentioned in the episode, never fear)! The story follows Bret Maverick as he endeavors to collect the last $3,000 he needs to enter a poker tournament whose prize is a cool half a million dollars! Of course, nothing is easy, and wonderful entertainment ensues. This film also feature

Episode 160: It's back to the late 80s we go for the first film in our "Movies that didn't suck, based on TV shows" pairing with 1987's Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks comedic love-letter to one of the great detective shows of all time, "Dragnet!" Directed by Tom Mankiewicz (who helped write the story, along with Aykroyd), this film follows Joe Friday (Aykroyd), nephew of the Jack Webb character from the original series. As the tale begins, Friday's partner has retired and he's paired with 80s-hipster-equivalent Pep Streebek (Hanks) to investigate the burning of Hugh Hefner/Larry Flint amalgam, porn mogul Jerry Ceaser (Dabney Coleman) latest magazine run. Co-starring orignial cast member Harry Morgan as now Captain Frank Gannon, Christopher Plummer, Alexandra Paul, Jack O'Halloran, Elizabeth Ashley and the great character actor Kathleen Freeman, this film fairly shines with the love Aykroyd has for the original, all the while finding the humor to be had in a really good "fish out of water" story!