Episode 379: Gattaca (1997)

Special Guest: Xander Berkeley
Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Cummins, Skizz Cyzyk

Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, Gattaca (1997) stars Ethan Hawke as Jerome Morrow...or is he? He’s actually Vincent Freeman, a naturally occurring person in a world where people can be genetically engineered... for a price. This creates a new elite class where genes determine privilege. Vincent impersonates Jerome through a rather elaborate scheme in order to fulfill his dream of leaving this planet and becoming an astronaut.

Chris Cummins and Skizz Cyzyk join Mike to discuss the film while interviewee Xander Berkeley talks about his role in Gattaca as Dr. Lamar as well as his work in Mommy Dearest, Leaving Las Vegas, Safe, Barb Wire, and more.

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Listen to "Episode 378: Gattaca (1997)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Read Extrapolating Race in GATTACA: Genetic Passing, Identity, and the Science of Race by David Kirby
Read Passing Me By: African American Women and 'Passing' As a Film Genre by Matt Mazur

Music:
"The Morrow" - Michael Nyman
"Don't Bother Me / Gene Machine" - Bad Brains

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Episode 178: Caligula

Special Guest: Ranjit Sandhu & Alexander Tuschinski
Guest Co-Host: Maitland McDonagh

We begin "Roman Month" with the 1979 film Caligula is a biopic about one of the most-wicked rulers of Rome. It was directed by Tinto Brass until he took his name off it. It was written by Gore Vidal until he took his name of it. And, it was proudly produced by Bob Guccione of Penthouse magazine who didn't take his name off it. Caligula tells the tale of “Little Boots” and his anarchistic rule over Rome between 37-41 AD. Malcolm McDowell plays the title role and the film features well-known and respected British actors Sir John Gielgud, Sir Peter O'Toole and Helen Mirren... to name a few… along with a swath of Penthouse Pets.

Over 35 years later, Caligula is still as notorious for what's on screen as what went on behind the scenes.

Correction: Victor Mature was not in Nightmare Alley.

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Bonus: Mission Caligula:

Listen to "Special Report: Mission Caligula (2018)" on Spreaker.

Music:
"I Am a God" by Paul Elstak
"Bring Me The Robe" by Doc Waffles
"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" by The Smiths

Links:
Buy Caligula on DVD
Watch The Robe on Netflix
Buy The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
Buy The Robe on DVD
Buy Demetrius and the Gladiators on DVD
Buy I, Claudius on DVD
Buy Dirty, Dirty, Dirty by Mike Edison
Visit the official Tinto Brass web site
Visit Ranjit Sandhu's Caligula web site
Read Alexander Tuschinski's analysis of Caligula
Read the Vice story about the Bob Guccione Archives & Filthy Gorgeous
Play the Viva Caligula video game
Visit Maitland McDonagh's 120 Days Books facebook page
Visit the official 120 Days Books web site
Hear more about Gore Vidal on our Myra Breckinridge episode
Hear Maitland McDonagh on our Deep Red and The Bird with the Crystal Plumage episodes
Listen to our Equinox episode

Watch:

Mission: Caligula from Alexander Tuschinski on Vimeo.

Episode 132: Myra Breckinridge (1970)

Special Guests: Jay Parini, Nicholas D. Wrathall
Guest Co-Host: Juniper Moore

One of the most infamous films of the '70s, Myra Breckinridge (1970) was based on a novel by Gore Vidal about Myron, a young man trying to make it in Hollywood who becomes a gorgeous young woman. See Rex Reed change into Raquel Welch and spar with John Huston, Mae West, and more.

We're joined by Metro Detroit jam entrepreneur, Juniper Moore.

Links:
Join the Trans Jam Revolution
Send our co-host, Juniper Moore, to Mars
Visit the official Jay Parini website
Visit the Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia website
Visit the official Michael Sarne website
Buy Myra Breckinridge/Myron
Buy Myra Breckinridge on DVD
Buy the Myra Breckinridge Cookbook

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