The Q Filmcast

This week we check ourselves into  HIGH ANXIETY!  Mel Brooks' spoof of over 10 Alfred Hitchcock classics, including Psycho, Vertigo, and The Birds. It tells the tale of Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke, a renowned Harvard psychiatrist with a concealed fear of heights, (or High Anxiety) who takes over as the newest director of the Psycho Neurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous – where the previous head has died under VERY odd circumstances. As Thorndyke heads to a psychiatry conference, he finds himself to be in the company of some very strange colleagues and is soon faced with saving the Institute, his reputation, and his own sanity! The film features a plethora of longtime Brooks collaborators – including Cloris Leachman as Charlotte Diesel, a nurse with a dark sneer and tendency towards domination. Harvey Korman  as Dr. Charles Montague, a psychiatrist with a closeted habit of his own, Madeline Kahn as Victoria Brisbane, the eccentric daughter of a patient at the institute, and Thorndyke's love interest. Although the film was not well-received by critics, it picked up a 1978 Golden Globe nomination for best picture (musical or comedy) and landed Brooks a nomination for best actor. The movie has a number of cameos, from a young Barry Levinson's spot as an unstable bellboy to a small part by Hitchcock's right-hand special effects man, Albert J. Whitlock, who plays Kahn's father. All of this as well as our Top 3 Movie "Phobias!"

French fried Pa-tay-ters, biscuits, and lawnmower blades...That definitely sets the stage for where we're heading this week as we begin our first ever "Walk of Shame" round, where we each take a turn Queuing up a film that for some reason we've never seen! This week it's on Hoodie as we discuss the well received (1996) film    SLING BLADE   This independent turn marked the directorial debut of country singer turned actor Billy Bob Thornton, who also authored the script. Thornton plays Karl Childers, a mildly retarded man who spent most of his life in a mental institution. When Karl was a boy, he was severely mistreated by his abusive father (Robert Duvall). At age 12, Karl found his mother having intercourse with a man who tormented him endlessly; he snapped, flew into a homicidal rage, and killed both individuals by decapitating them with a Sling blade – Well, SOME FOLKS call it a Sling Blade, I call it a Kieser Blade! Years later, as a middle-aged man, Karl is deemed harmless to society and released from the mental institution where he resides. Karl says he has learned his lesson and adds, "I reckon I got no reason to kill no one." He returns home, where he's befriended by Frank (Lucas Black), the son of a widowed mother who sees the eccentric but open-hearted Karl as a kindred spirit. Karl also gets a job at a fix-it shop and resides in the backroom, until Frank's mother, Linda, takes a liking to Karl and lets him stay with them. However, Karl also meets Doyle (Dwight Yoakam), Linda's boyfriend, a sadistically cruel, narrow-minded drunk who tosses casual abuse at Frank, treats Linda like dirt, and mocks Karl endlessly. Before long, Karl begins to question for what purpose he is best served and whether or not he should sacrifice himself for what he see’s as a higher good.. The Film also stars the late John Ritter, one of Thornton’s real life best friend as the mild mannered homosexual who works at the neighborhood dollar store, often giving Karl a great deal on potted meat!... Inspired by Doyle, we round it out with our Top 3 Movie Characters who "Had it coming!"

This week we hand down judgement on Otto Preminger's (1959) Courtroom Classic  ANATOMY OF A MURDER  starring Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick and George C. Scott.  Set  in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, small-town lawyer Paul Biegler (Stewart) is a former district attorney who lost his re-election bid, spends most of his time fishing, playing the piano and hanging out with his alcoholic friend and colleague Parnell McCarthy and sardonic secretary Maida. One day Biegler is contacted by Laura Manion (Remick), wife of the loutish US Army Lieutenant "Manny" Manion (Gazzara), who has been arrested for the first degree murder of innkeeper Barney Quill. Manion doesn’t deny the murder, but claims that his wife was raped by Quill, so he killed him! Even with such a motivation, it would be difficult to get Manion cleared of murder, but Manion claims to have NO memory of the event, suggesting that he may be eligible for a defense of irresistible impulse - a somewhat unknown version of a temporary insanity, which immediately catches the attention of Slick down state Lansing prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott), who sets up shop in the costal town to ensure no one gets aways with it! Caught somewhere between his aloof YOOPER lifestyle and country lawyer demeanor, Biegler must keep one hand on the charm and the other on his case – which appears to be a challenge in itself, especially when the victim would much rather flaunt her panties then wear her girdle as Biegler suggests! Nominated for several academy awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Cinematography, Anatomy of a Murder has been well received by critics as well as members of the legal and educational professions. In 1989, the American Bar Association rated this as one of the (10) best trial films of all time – it has gone on to receive high praise long after its 1959 release.. We round out all out with our most "Objectionable" movie whatever's.

This week in the Q it’s the much talked about sinister/noir thriller  ANGEL HEART  staring Mickey Rourke, Robert DeNiro and Lisa Bonet.  Alan Parker directs this twisted gumshoe tale which at the time of its release garnered an X-rating, a Cosby Show boycott,  and a MASSIVE Spike in hair gel sales (Just listen to the episode, you’ll laugh after). The premise is this… The time is the 1955, and seedy Brooklyn private eye Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) is hired by shady Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to locate a pop singer who reneged on a debt. Harry ventures into Harlem, the first step of a Heart of Darkness-inspired odyssey, one that will eventually take him to the underbelly of New Orleans.  Each time Harry makes contact with someone who might know the singer's whereabouts, he or she is killed in a horrible, ritualistic fashion; a Satanic cult seems to be at the bottom of all the carnage. Harry solves the mystery, all right. He just didn't know that he had the answer all along - even before Louis entered his office.  Listen to see what sort of spell this one put on the five of us, that and our Top 3 Movie Devils.  

Listen here, don't make get my belt!!  Time to lighten up a bit as we delve into the (2001) cult comedy    POOTIE TANG     from writer director Louis C.K.  This ridiculous spoof is spun off from a character that first appeared on The Chris Rock Show, where Louis C.K. had his early start - and here's what you have... Lance Crouther stars as Pootie Tang, a crime fighting superhero and recording artist who speaks in an unintelligible gibberish that seems to be a combination of Ebonics and street slang. Despite his communication problem, Pootie is a hero to children, whom he attempts to protect from the evil Dick Lecter, a corporate fat cat out to corrupt America's youth with alcohol, tobacco, and junk food. Pootie also runs up against an artistic imitator and a sleazy recording executive.  Pootie Tang co-stars Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes, Dave Attell, and Bob Costas and Conan O'Brien as themselves. SINE YO PITY ON THE RUNNY KINE! We do our best to translate that for you, as well as our Top 3 "Iconic Fighting Weapons" in movies.

This week in The Q it's the (2010) Before Sunrise meets Godzilla spectacular    MONSTERS    From Writer/Director Gareth Edwards  (He's SO Hot right now!), staring Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able… This is what you have...Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and grow. In an effort to stem the destruction that resulted, half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the massive creatures... Our story begins when a jaded US journalist (McNairy) begrudgingly agrees to find his boss' daughter, a shaken American tourist (Able) and escort her through the infected zone to the safety of the US border. Listen to see where we place this one as well as our Top 3 "Get me out of here" movies.

Hide under your desk! This week we're discussing the MUCH loved (1964) Stanley Kubrick Classic Dr. STRANGELOVE (or how I stopped worrying and learned to love the bomb)... with the Cuban Missile Crisis fresh in viewers' minds, the Cold War at its frostiest, Stanley Kubrick dared to make a film about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button - and he decided to play it for laughs (well at least on the surface)! Dr. Strangelove's jet-black satire and a host of superb comic performances (including three from Peter Sellers) have kept the film fresh and entertaining, even as its issues have become slightly less timely.It goes something like this... Loaded with thermonuclear weapons, a U.S. bomber piloted by Maj. T.J. "King" Kong (Slim Pickens) is on a routine flight pattern near the Soviet Union when they receive orders to commence Wing Attack Plan R, best summarized by Maj. Kong as "Nuclear combat! Toe to toe with the Russkies!" On the ground, Capt. Lionel Mandrake notices nothing on the news about America being at war. Gen. Jack D. Ripper calmly informs him that he gave the command to attack the Soviet Union because it was high time someone did something about fluoridation, which is sapping Americans' bodily fluids (and apparently has something to do with Ripper's sexual dysfunction). Meanwhile, President Merkin Muffley meets with his top Pentagon advisors, including super-hawk Gen. Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott), who sees this as an opportunity to do something about Communism in general and Russians in particular. However, the ante is upped considerably when Soviet ambassador de Sadesky informs Muffley and his staff of the latest innovation in Soviet weapons technology: a "Doomsday Machine" that will destroy the entire world if the Russians are attacked... And so what do you think they just might do? All of that PLUS our Top 3 "Movie Presidents". 

Puts the kids to sleep! Time to talk about the (1992) Abel Ferrara cult classic BAD LIEUTENANT How bad is he? If you haven't seen this, here's your premise...If police lieutenant Harvey Keitel's life could get any more sordid, he could probably sell tickets. The least of his vices is gambling, which has gotten him in Dutch with the mob. He abuses his body with drugs and his soul with hookers. He's bad and knows he's bad, he abuses the power of his position in every way he can. Shaking down criminals, stealing evidence and selling drug dealers their immunity by jacking their drugs! Yea, this dude is rank, and we haven't even talked about the rank scenes! But Keitels Lieutenant (we never actually get his name) reaches a wall when he is forced to investigate the sexual assault of a Nun. Her ability to forgive the perpetrators unleashes the ultimate identity crisis in a man who's identity is rooted in self destruction - probably not a good situation. This is a film that 22 years after it's release is still talked about - Listen to see where the 5 of us place this one in the pantheon of early 90's classics.

Down with a sickness!   ANTIVIRAL (2012), that's the film in quarantine this week. Writer/Director Brandon Cronenberg (yep, THAT Cronenberg's son) makes his feature debut with this hyper sterile bio thriller that may just be a cautionary tale. Here's your premise... A man who smuggles celebrity viruses to ravenous fans gets infected with the same bug that killed a media darling, and becomes locked in a deadly race against time while also ending up being the target of biological collectors. Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee from X-Men) Plays the part of Syd March, an employee of the Lucas Clinic - a company that reaps a tidy profit by infecting willing clients with viruses taken from their favorite celebrities. Earning a little extra cash on the side by using his own body to smuggle out popular microbes, Syd finds himself in mortal danger after he infects himself with a pathogen taken from Hannah Geist,  a gorgeous superstar who later dies as a result of her illness. Now, it's only a matter of time before Syd succumbs to a similarly gruesome fate. When Syd's shady clients and a rival company discover he's carrying a bug that could revolutionize the industry, he must fight back with the only weapon he has -- his own virulent blood... It's worth a chat! Listen to see how many red freckles we prescribed to this one. That and our Top 3 "Science gone bad" movies.

"The Q Filmcast" We're five guys doing a weekly podcast where we pull out and review films on NETFLIX instant (someone needs to). Good conversation and banter. What's in your (Q)ueue?!

This week in The Q we refuse to take our foot off the gas as we chat up the (2012) action rom com   HIT RUN    starring Dax Shepard and real life girlfriend Kristin Bell. It goes a little something like this... Once upon a time, Charlie Bronson (Shepard) was a getaway wheelman for a quick-triggered gang of bank robbers, led by the unpredictable Alex (Bradley Cooper).  But after being placed in the Witness Protection Program and falling for pretty Annie (Bell), Charlie's criminal past has faded into the rearview mirror. When Annie lands an interview for her dream job in L.A., Charlie vows that she won't be late, and they hit the road in his custom-built muscle car. From the moment they leave town, however, Annie's obsessive ex-boyfriend Gil is hot on their trail and determined to reveal Charlie's shady past.  With bumbling U.S. Marshal Randy (Tom Arnold) trying to keep pace and protect Charlie, the former criminal finds every escape route blocked by his old gang, who aren't about to let his past sins go unpunished. Written directed by car enthusiast Shepard, this breezy ride has it all on display, his girl, his friends and his rather impressive car collection... That as well as our Top 3 "Real Life Movie Couples"

KLAATU BARADA NIKTO... Put on your Gort Shorts!  This week we delve into the (1951) Sci-Fi Classic  THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL   Starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal. Considered by most to be the godfather of the genre, it tells the tale of Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his robot protector GORT, who come to earth to deliver both a message and a warning - which will only be revealed when all the leaders of all nations unite. World politics being what they are in 1951, Klaatu's demands are turned down and he is ordered to remain in quarantine. Klaatu escapes, taking refuge in a boarding house, where he poses as one "Mr. Carpenter". There the benign alien gains the confidence of a lovely widow (Patricia Neal) and her son, Bobby - neither of whom tumble to his other worldly origins, and seeks out the gentleman whom Bobby regards as "the smartest man in the world", an Einstein-like scientist, Dr. Barnhardt. The next day, at precisely 12 o'clock, Klaatu arranges for the world to "stand still" , he shuts down all electrical power in the world, with the exception of essentials like hospitals and planes in flight in an attempt to get all of humanity to hear his impending proclamation... That and our Top 3 "Movie Robots" 

This week in The Q is the often loved often NOT loved film   THE AMERICAN   (2010), from Dutch director/photographer Anton Corbijn, staring George Clooney in the title role. This muted thriller tells the story of Jack, an assassin who is constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian countryside. He relishes being away from death for a spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious contact.  Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of local priest and pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara. Jack and Clara's time together evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate and his desire to end his life in peace may be shorter than he wanted… Listen to find out which side of the fence we fall on this one! All of that plus our Top 3 Movie Prostitutes

  ZOOLANDER   (2001) It’s a walk off! Had to Q this one up in anticipation of the upcoming sequel. They used to call it “Blue Steel”, now we just call it Duck Lips… This chiseled gem tells the story of Derek Zoolander, an intellectually challenged but bone structure-blessed male model who's despondent after being eclipsed in popularity by an equally vacuous rival, Hansel (Owen Wilson). Upon his reluctant retirement, Derek is invited to a day spa by previously standoffish fashion designer Mugatu (Will Ferrell), where the befuddled model is brainwashed by the mysterious Katinka (Milla Jovovich) into assassinating the prime minister of Malaysia. In addition to Stiller's real-life wife Christine Taylor, Zoolander co-stars his father Jerry Stiller, along with Jon Voight, David Duchovny, Andy Dick, and Fabio… All of that plus our Top 3 “Endearing Clueless Characters”.  Should be really really good looking episode! Especially from a bunch of guys who can’t review good but wanna learn to do other stuff good too.

  13 ASSASSINS  (2010) that’s what we have in The Q this week!  Cult director Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war torn future. This electric remake of Eiichi Kudo's 1963 period action film is a wild spectacle executed with killer, dizzying panache… We get into all of that as well as our Top 3 “Odds are against us” films – with our honor intact!