Episode 355: L.A. Confidential (1997)

Special Guest: James Ellroy
Guest Co-Hosts: Richard Edwards, Eric Cohen

Eric Cohen and Richard Edwards return to take a ride in a convertible time machine, be-bopping back to the year 1997 to look at Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential. Starring more folks from down under than you can shake a boomerang at, this jazzy flick plays with many classic noir tropes while playing fast and loose with the third book of James Ellroy's first L.A. Quartet.

We examine how Hanson and co-writer Brian Helgeland masterfully condensed Ellroy's compelling and complicated story to craft a Neo-Noir that some rank among the best. The film features dazzling performances from "newcomers" Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 355: L.A. Confidential (1997)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy L.A. Confidential on Blu-Ray
Buy L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy
Listen to the Out of the Past episode on The Black Dahlia
Read The Dark Places of James Ellroy by Mike White
Buy L.A. Confidential by Manohla Dargis

Music:
"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" - Johnny Mercer
"Bloody Christmas" - Jerry Goldsmith

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Episode 199: Batman Returns (1992)

Special Guests: Daniel Waters, Sam Hamm, Mark Reinhart
Guest Co-Host: Mark Gledhill

In this special year-end episode, we're looking at Batman, focusing especially on Tim Burton's Batman Returns. We're joined by Mark Gledhill of Comic Book Consideration to discuss The Bat (Michael Keaton), The Cat (Michelle Pfeiffer), and The Penguin (Danny DeVito).

Our special guests include screenwriters Sam Hamm (Batman, The Watchmen, Never Cry Wolf, Monkeybone) and Daniel Waters (Batman Returns, Heathers, Vampire Academy) along with writer Mark Reinhart (The Batman Filmography).

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 199: Batman Returns (1992)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Batman Return on Blu-Ray
Buy Batman: Blind Justice by Sam Hamm
Buy The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Buy Batman: Year One by Frank Miller
Buy The Killing Joke by Alan Moore
Buy The Batman Filmography by Mark S. Reinhart
Visit Comic Book Consideration
Read about Cultural Allusions in Batman Returns
Is Batman Returns an Anti-Semitic Allegory?
Read about The 7 best unproduced Batman screenplays (and what happened)
Listen to Mike talk about Tim Burton on Geek Juice Media
Listen to Daniel Waters on our Adventures of Ford Fairlane episode

Music:
"Batman (Main Title)" - Danny Elfman
"Birth of a Penguin" - Danny Elfman
"Face to Face" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
"I'm Bane" - Auralnauts
"Bat Dance" - Prince

Watch:

The Evolution of Batman in Cinema from Jacob T. Swinney on Vimeo.

Episode 197: Death to Smoochy (2002)

Special Guests: Adam Resnick & Danny Woodburn
Guest Co-Host: Mike Sullivan

After Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) falls from grace, it's up to Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton) as Smoochy, the singing rhino, to save the network. He quickly finds himself embroiled in the shady underworld of children's television in Death to Smoochy.

Links:
Buy Death To Smoochy on DVD
Visit the official Danny Woodburn website
Buy Will Not Attend
Listen to Adam Resnick talk about Will Not Attend
Listen to Adam Resnick on our Cabin Boy episode
Read reviews from Mike Sullivan in Shock Cinema magazine

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 197: Death to Smoochy (2002)" on Spreaker.

Music:
"Goomba Boomba" - Yma Sumac
"Malambo No.1" - Yma Sumac

Watch: