Hit Factory

Hit Factory

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A podcast about the films and politics of the 1990s. Exploring the output of a seemingly bottomless decade. Hosted by Aaron & Carlee.

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186 episodes

Red Rock West feat. Jake Tropila

Writer and podcaster Jake Tropila returns for a dive into the dusty, hard-nosed pleasures of John Dahl's 1993 neo-noir western 'Red Rock West'. The film has been newly restored and released on blu-ray in a great edition courtesy of Cinématographe https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/cinematographe, a new sub-label from the folks behind Vinegar Syndrome. We start with a discussion of the career of John Dahl, an underrated director with a sharp style that made him a prime helmer of small, smart thrillers of the era alongside his skilled conteporaries like Bill Duke and Carl Franklin. Then we turn to Red Rock West, its influences, and where it exists downstream from the success of the Coen Brothers' 'Blood Simple', a film that bolstered a neo-noir resurgence in the late 80s and early 90s. Finally, we discuss the relative absence of the neo-noir in the modern cinematic landscape, the migration of these sorts of stories into longform, episodic television, and some hopes for the genre's future, courtesy of some recent releases like the latest Rose Glass film 'Love Lies Bleeding', a film that had yet to be released when this episode was recorded. Follow Jake Tropila https://x.com/JakeTropila?s=20 on Twitter. Listen to and support Optimism Vaccine https://www.optimismvaccine.com/. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 45m
Mar 28
Household Saints feat. Kate Hagen

Writer and Senior Vice President at The Black List Kate Hagen joins to discuss Nancy Savoca's 'Household Saints', a generational tale of Italian women in New York and the shifting influences of faith, divinity, and family in their day to day lives. Long unavailable and thought lost to time, an original print of the film was discovered by the filmmakers and has received a new 4k restoration courtesy of Milestone Films. The restoration is screening theatrically all across the country and a proper blu ray release of the film is headed to Kino Lorber in April. We discuss the work of Nancy Savoca, her recent string of restorations, and the position she occupies in the broader conversation about independent film of the 1990s. Then, we examine the film's brilliantly nuanced take on Catholicism and faith - how it manifests in the lives of its central characters, and how the film maintains a compelling balance of fascination and skepticism for the notion of divinity. Finally, we discuss the movie as a triumphant story of what can happen when film preservation wins out, and why there is even more work to be done on the front of preservation now and in the future. Follow Kate Hagen https://x.com/thathagengrrl?s=20 on Twitter. Read up on the how-to's of film preservation at Missing Movies https://missingmovies.org/. Watch Roger Ebert on Household Saints https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpijfh4NflE. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 38m
Mar 19
12 Monkeys feat. Aaron Thorpe *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Unofficial Hit Factory Sci-Fi Correspondent Aaron Thorpe is back to discuss the time traveling eccentricities of Terry Gilliam's '12 Monkeys' - a sort of quasi-remake of Chris Marker's 'La Jatée' (1963) featuring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt We unpack the career of Terry Gilliam, why he was seen as a studio liability in the early 90s, and how this film represents the very peak of his critical and commercial successes. Then we discuss the film's take on the messy narrative contrivance of time-travel, how it attends to its bleak vision of a futureless future, and how some modern time travel narratives help reveal a sliver of hope in the film's tragic determinism.  Watch "George Carlin on The Environment" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjmtSkl53h4. Follow Aaron Thorpe https://x.com/afrocosmist?s=20 on Twitter. Listen & Subscribe to The Trillbilly Workers Party https://www.patreon.com/trillbillyworkersparty. Listen & Subscribe to Struggle Session https://sesh.show/.  . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/.

3m
Mar 14
Topsy-Turvy feat. Julia Sirmons

Writer and resident Gilbert & Sullivan expert Julia Sirmons joins to discuss Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy', a story of the aforementioned musical duo and the production of one of their most popular shows, 'The Mikado'. It's a film that feels at once like an outliler in Leigh's career up to that point (his first film not set in contemporary working-class London) and a pitch-perfect culmination of many of his career-long explorations. We begin with a discussion about the legacy of director Mike Leigh, his unusual method for drawing brilliant performances from his ensemble of some of the very best British actors, and his trademark style and narrative construction. Then, we unpack the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, exploring Topsy-Turvy's commitment to authenticity in its recreation of 19th century English theater culture, and the wise decision to focus the film on a particularly unstable moment in the long collaboration between the wordsmith and composer. Finally, we discuss the film's evocation of art and its production process, emphasizing the granular repetition of the work as well as the undergirding capitalist mechanics that necessitated performers assume a strong identity as a collective labor force. Follow Julia Sirmons https://x.com/JuliaSirmons?s=20 on Twitter. Read Julia's recent piece on Sally Potter's 'The Tango Lesson' at Wig-Wag https://www.wigwagmag.com/vol-30-the-tango-lesson. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 59m
Mar 08
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery feat. Pod Casty For Me *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Jake Serwin & Ian Rhine, hosts of the preeminent Clint Eastwood podcast Pod Casty For Me return to discuss one of the finest studio comedies of the 90s, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" starring Mike Myers.  We discuss the film as both a product of broader ambient 60s nostalgia in the decade and an extension of Mike Myers deep personal affinity for the cultural output of the era. Then, we talk about the film itself as cultural juggernaut, and why Austin Powers and the Mike Myers brand felt inescapable. Finally, we talk about the film's lasting legacy and the way it in no small part shaped the trajectory of the James Bond franchise (and maybe a few others).  Listen and Subcribe to Pod Casty For Me https://www.podcastyforme.com/. Follow Pod Casty for Me https://x.com/podcastyforme?s=20 on Twitter.  . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

3m
Mar 01
Ed Wood feat. Chadd Harbold

New York-based filmmaker and producer Chadd Harbold joins to discuss the 1994 Tim Burton biopic 'Ed Wood', a sincere, loving portrait of the titular filmmaker and his band of Hollywood misfits coming together to make oddball, outsider B-movies that remain enduring works to this day. We discuss Tim Burton as filmmaker, the increasingly diminishing returns of his artistry, and why Ed Wood stands as perhaps his finest achievement. Then, we talk about Martin Landau's Oscar-winning turn as the horror legend Bela Lugosi, lovingly depicted in the film flaws and all. Finally, we ponder the current state of American filmmaking, and ask, 'Is there still a route by which an Ed Wood could make these movie on the outskirts today, and if so, would anybody be able to see them?' Follow Chadd Harbold https://x.com/chaddwithtwoDs?s=20 on Twitter. Stream Chadd's film Private Property https://www.hulu.com/movie/88257a51-6fbf-4be9-b7e5-f0b9e8fe968c on Hulu. Stream Colin West's Linoleum https://www.hulu.com/movie/c1aa46de-7339-462d-bc74-b9acad0fc70c, produced by Chadd, on Hulu. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 36m
Feb 16
Total Recall feat. Matt Bors & Ben Clarkson *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Matt Bors & Ben Clarkson, creators of the excellent sci-fi/action satire graphic novel 'Justice Warriors' join to talk about one of our main guys - Paul Verhoeven (aka Pauly V) and his landmark sci-fi/action satire 'Total Recall' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember it for You Wholesale".  We discuss the film's long gestation period under several different producers and directors, most notably as a project for Hit Factory fave David Cronenberg. Then we go long on the film's startling prescience, it's themes of revolution against the extractive brutalist of an imperialist force, and Verhoeven's metatextual commentary on filmic reality as psycholgical mirror and wish fulfillment fantasy. Elsewhere, we discuss the dire 2012 Len Wiseman remake starring Colin Farrell and how it betrays and insults its audience by stripping away any and all subtext.  Check out Matt & Ben's graphin novel, Justice Warriors https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Justice-Warriors/Matt-Bors/9781952090226. Follow Matt Bors https://x.com/MattBors?s=20 on Twitter. Follow Ben Clarkson https://x.com/benclarkson?s=20 on Twitter.  . . . . Our theme song is Mirror by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

8m
Feb 07
Poison

Just in time for Sundance festivities and a whole new cycle of 'May December' discourse, we're back to discuss Todd Hayne's 1991 debut feature 'Poison'. Both the winner of the Best Feature Award at the aforementioned Park City festival and a characteristically controversial release from the filmmaker, 'Poison', based in part on the works of queer author Jean Genet, is a gripping triptych of tales (subtitled "Hero", "Horror" and "Homo" respectively) shot and edited in distinct styles and formats and brimming with righteous fury, contemplation, and provocation around the subject of queer identity in the wake of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. We discuss the film's narrative gambit, and how it layers each entry in the triptych atop one another in brilliantly considered ways to achieve thematic continuity even as each element interrupts the work's stylistic coherence. Then, we discuss the controversy surrounding the film and how it became a culture war issue amongst right-wing figures and politicians seeking to undermine the National Endowment for the Arts. Finally, we talk about the most recent controversies and discourse surrounding Hayne's most recent work 'May December', and why many well-intentioned viewers aren't as far removed from the reactionary critics of the filmmaker's work from years past. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 21m
Jan 23
A Simple Plan feat. To The White Sea *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Aaron is joined by Jordan Fish and Ray Tintori of the preeminent Coen Bros. podcast, To The White Sea, to discuss the chilly, snow-capped neo-noir 'A Simple Plan', directed with uncharacteristic restraint by master stylist and Coen Brothers collaborator Sam Raimi. We discuss the career of Sam Raimi and the techniques he employs here to generate the unsettling, stern tone of the film. Then, we talk about the long gestation period of the project, and its many iterations attached to various directors (including Mike Nichols, John Dahl, and Ben Stiller!). Finally, we unpack the similarities and differences between Raimi's vision of the snowbound, Midwestern morality tale and that of his pals Joel & Ethan Coen in their 1996 landmark 'Fargo'. Listen & Subscribe to To The White Sea https://linktr.ee/tothewhitesea  Follow Jordan Fish https://x.com/jwordfish?s=20 on Twitter Follow Ray Tintori https://x.com/RayTintori?s=20 on Twitter Follow To The White Sea https://x.com/tothewhitesea?s=20 on Twitter . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/

5m
Jan 12
Hit Factory's 2023 in Review

It's officially 2024...Happy New Year? We're not getting our hopes up! While everyone nursed their hangovers and tried desperately to get back to "normal" everyday life, we decided to take a look back at all the things we watched in the past year and talk about some stuff that falls outside the usual scope of the show. Join us as we each count down our individual top five new-to-us watches of the past year, take time to reflect on your own highs and lows, and add some new recommendations to your watchlist. Lots of links to share from this episode: Check out The Carlee Canon https://boxd.it/rgEqO (Carlee's Top 20 Films of the 1990s) Check out The Aaron Canon https://boxd.it/rgIs0 (Aaron's Top 20 Films of the 1990s) Read Carlee's piece, 'The Puritanical Eye: Hyper-Mediation, Sex on Film, and the Disavowal of Desire' https://specchioscuro.it/the-puritanical-eye-hyper-mediation-sex-on-film-and-the-disavowal-of-desire/ at Lo Specchio Scuro Read benzostraydogs' Letterboxd Review of Sam Esmail's 'Leave the World Behind' https://boxd.it/5jTdoV Listen to Our Junk Filter Episode on Jim McBride's 1983 Remake of 'Breathless' https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/142-breathless-83-with-aaron-and-carlee-from-hit-factory/id1535693601?i=1000623594304 Check Out Aaron's List of His Top 75 Non-2023 Watches of Last Year https://boxd.it/rrtjk. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 33m
Jan 05
DENZEMBER VOL. V - Mississippi Masala feat. Roxana Hadadi *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode, the entire Denzember catalog, and all of our premium episodes by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Universally beloved Vulture critic and Hit Factory all-star Roxana Hadadi returns to close out Denzember with a hefty chat about Mira Nair's 1991 romantic drama 'Mississippi Masala', a story of identity, the generational pursuit of belonging, and the possibility of new futures through the radical expression of love without boundaries.  We discuss the career of the undersung Nair, from her start as a documentarian through her more recent narrative features like 'The Namesake' and 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'. Then we discuss the film's wholly singular voice and level of representation; how it refuses simple binaries about a diverse set of cultures, and why extricating a white perspective allows the story to detail difficult realities of non-white experiences. Finally, we discuss the film's impossibly alluring romantic thread between Denzel Washington and first-time performer Sarita Choudhury and the honesty that can be revealed through the pairing of a veteran actor's craft and a non-actor's authenticity.  Roxana's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances: Honorable Mentions: The Pelican Brief, Much Ado About Nothing 1. Mississippi Masala 2. Malcolm X 3. Man on Fire 4. The Mancuiran Candidate 5. Inside Man Aaron's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances: Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia, Crimson Tide 1. Malcolm X 2. Training Day 3. Deja Vu 4. Flight 5. The Tragedy of Macbeth Carlee's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances: Honorable Mentions: Malcolm X, The Hurricane 1. Ricochet 2. Crimson Tide 3. Training Day 4. Flight 5. Mississippi Masala Follow Roxana Hadadi https://x.com/roxana_hadadi?s=20 on Twitter . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

5m
Dec 31, 2023
DENZEMBER VOL. IV - The Preacher's Wife feat. Ashley Reese

New York-based writer Ashley Reese joins us for our a very special Christmas installment of Denzember as we discuss Penny Marshall's 1996 romantic comedy 'The Preachers Wife'. We discuss the film as a metatextual exploration of Denzel Washington's celebrity image as well as part of Whitney's second leg as an international superstar and actress. We also discuss the film's monumental soundtrack, sung by Whitney herself, an album that remains the best selling gospel record of all time. Finally we discuss the flattening effect of family films of the era (especially those produced by Touchstone/Disney) and how they tend to flirt with societal issues while reaffirming the system that causes them. Follow Ashley Reese https://x.com/offbeatorbit?s=20 on Twitter Get access to all forthcoming Denzember episodes as well as our entire back catalog and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

1h 12m
Dec 23, 2023
DENZEMBER VOL. III - Philadelphia feat. Frazier Tharpe *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode, the entire Denzember catalog, and all of our premium episodes by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Denzember continues with GQ Senior Editor Frazier Tharpe II joining us to discuss Jonathan Demme's 'Philadelphia', one of the first major Hollywood films to take on the AIDS crisis. Far from a simple "issues picture", the movie overcomes many of its retrograde positions and dubious narrative decisions through the combination of Demme's masterful skill behind the camera and two powerhouse lead perfromances from Denzel and Tom Hanks (in a role that would net him his first Oscar win).  We track the career of Jonathan Demme, from his time in the Roger Corman stable through his massive hit 'The Silence of the Lambs', and the bold decision to tackle 'Philadelphia' as a project. Then, we discuss the two seismic performances from Hanks and Washington, and how each bring their star-power and career arcs to the roles in vital ways. Finally, we discuss some of the many controversial creative decisions that went into the making of the film, how some might be handled today, and why the film still resonates in spite of these components. Frazier's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances: 1. Malcolm X 2. Man on Fire 3. Training Day 4. Flight 5. Out of Time Follow Frazier Tharpe https://x.com/The_SummerMan?s=20 on Twitter. . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

7m
Dec 16, 2023
DENZEMBER VOL. II - Devil in a Blue Dress feat. Will Menaker

Chapo Trap House and Movie Mindset's very own Will Menaker stops by to help celebrate Denzember and discuss Carl Franklin's 'Devil in a Blue Dress', based on the inaugural Easy Rawlins mystery novel of the same name by author Walter Mosley. It's a stylish period noir made by a filmmaker and team seemingly uninterested in reproducing the aesthetic trappings of classic film noir, instead opting for a rich and colorful evocation of parts of 1940s Los Angeles rarely seen in the movies. We discuss the career of Carl Franklin, as well as this film's thematic links to his 1992 neo-noir masterpiece One False Move. Then, we discuss the movie's thoughtful subversions of classic film noir, exploring the conditionality of freedom and access to the American Dream for Black Americans in postwar era South Central Los Angeles. Elsewhere, we continue our discussion on Denzel as actor and offer praise to his performance in addition to the movie's supporting performances from a scene-stealing Don Cheadle and the stunning, underrated Jennifer Beals. Will's Top 5 Denzel Reaction GIFS: 1. Fallen https://tenor.com/view/denzel-washington-relief-anxious-man-relieved-fallen-movie-gif-20959269 2. Flight https://tenor.com/view/vodka-denzel-washington-drink-gif-10837237 3. Denzel Door Slam https://tenor.com/view/denzel-washington-get-out-no-hell-gif-10700690 4. Training Day https://tenor.com/view/denzel-training-day-gif-23255629 5. Denzel Awards Face https://tenor.com/view/denzel-washington-gif-11638596 Will's Top 5 Denzel Washinton Performances (Spike & Tony-Inclusive) 1. Man of Fire 2. Malcolm X 3. Unstoppable 4. He Got Game 5. Glory Will's Top 5 Non-Spike & Tony Denzel Washington Performances (Unranked): 1. Glory 2. Devil in a Blue Dress 3. Ricochet 4. Philadelphia 5. The Tragedy of Macbeth Follow Will Menaker https://x.com/willmenaker?s=20 on Twitter. Listen to & support Chapo Trap House https://www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse on Patreon. Get access to all forthcoming Denzember episodes as well as our entire back catalog and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

1h 36m
Dec 08, 2023
DENZEMBER VOL. I - Malcolm X feat. Edward Ongweso Jr.

Writer, editor and podcaster Edward Ongweso Jr. returns to the show to kick off Denzember, a monthlong celebration of our greatest living actor, with a conversation about Spike Lee's seminal 1992 biopic 'Malcolm X'. It stands as one of Lee's most triumphant achievements and one of Denzel Washington's very best performances as one of the most significant figures of 20th century America. We discuss the film's trouble gestation period, taking nearly 30 years to get to the big screen then courting controversy throughout its production. We also discuss the film's portrait of Malcolm X and offer our readings of Spike's ultimate intention - presenting a fractured portrait that embraces the many sides of the man and the many ideologies and sects that claim him. Finally, we talk about the film's noteworthy detractors, including social critic and theorist bell hooks, who makes a compelling case that the film ultimately fails to bring a meaningful portrait of Malcolm to the big screen. Read bell hooks's review of Spike Lee's 'Malcolm X' https://www.artforum.com/columns/spike-lees-malcom-x-205152/ at Artforum. Edward's Top 5 Denzel Performances: 1. Malcolm X (1992) 2. Fences (2016) 3. Training Day (2001) 4. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) 5. Philadelphia (1993)/The Hurricane (1999) Follow Edward Ongweso Jr. https://x.com/bigblackjacobin?s=20 on Twitter. Listen & Subscribe to This Machine Kills https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-machine-kills/id1526914048. Read Edward's Substack The Tech Bubble https://thetechbubble.substack.com/. Get access to all forthcoming Denzember episodes as well as our entire back catalog and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

2h 17m
Dec 01, 2023
Introducing...DENZEMBER!

An introduction to our monthlong celebration of our greatest living actor, Denzel Washington. Get access to all forthcoming Denzember episodes as well as our entire back catalog and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

1m
Dec 01, 2023
Porco Rosso feat. Adam Sullivan *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Creator of the "eventually, forever" newsletter and film twitter heavy Adam Sullivan joins us to discuss the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki and his 1992 film 'Porco Rosso'. Initially conceived as a short film exclusively for in-flight guests of Japan Airlines, the film eventually grew in ambition and scope and now stands as one of Miyazaki's most underrated, visually transcendent masterpieces.  We discuss the film's many classic Hollywood touchpoints, including the films of Howard Hawks, Victor Fleming, and John Ford and how these influences create a sense of fantasy more grounded that other Miyazaki works. Then, we discuss the film's setting amidst the rising tide of fascism in the Adriatic and its connection to the moving character portrait at its core. Finally, we discuss how 'Porco Rosso' (perhaps more than any other film) suggests some of the director's late period affinities in works like 'The Wind Rises'. Plus: We talk Miyazaki's latest work 'The Boy & The Heron', which we have all had the chance to see ahead of its wide release in the US Friday, 12/8/23.  Follow Adam Sullivan https://x.com/eventualforever?s=20 on Twitter. Read and subscribe to Adam's newsletter "eventually, forever" https://eventuallyforever.substack.com/. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

5m
Nov 29, 2023
DOUBLE FEATURE: The Replacement Killers (1998) v. The Killer (2023) feat. Jake Serwin *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. We contracted the services of Jake Serwin, co-host of America's premier Clint Eastwood podcast Pod Casty For Me, to take on a pair of films about a professional assassin having a crisis of conscience after botching his most recent job. First up, we talk The Replacement Killers, Antoine Fuqua's first feature and Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat's Hollywood debut, pairing him with recent Oscar winner Mira Sorvino for an extremely American riff on Hong Kong's Heroic Bloodshed genre, popularized by Chow and The Replacement Killers' executive producer John Woo.  Then we wade in to David Fincher's latest film for Netflix, 'The Killer'. It's a sharp, potent thriller hybrid that spits copious venom at our hyperconnected modern existence, hustle culture, and the gig economy while also functioning as a kaleidoscopic reflection on Fincher's entire career and ethos as a filmmaker.  Listen and subscribe to Pod Casty For Me https://www.podcastyforme.com/. Follow Pod Casty For Me https://x.com/podcastyforme?s=20 on Twitter. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

7m
Nov 24, 2023
The Relic feat. Peter Raleigh

Chicago-based academic and horror obsessive Peter Raleigh joins to discuss reliable journeyman director Peter Hyams and his 1997 creature feature, 'The Relic'. Maligned critically and a failure at the box office upon its initial release, the film has endured as an example of the tactile, sturdy genre work of the 90s with capable hands on both sides of the camera, including brilliant creature designs from legendary special effects guru Stan Winston. We discuss the film's impressive balancing act, managing to glide over a host ludicrous genre tropes and plot holes with ease while maintining a keen pacing and immersion. Then, we praise the excellent directorial work of Hyams, who serves here as his own cinematographer and generates a mesmerizing, impressionistic array of horror imagery in stark, dimly lit spaces galore. Finally, we discuss the delights of the monster movie, its flattening of distinctions among people that make for compelling survival thrills, and why the sensibilities of the decade were uniquely attuned to the subgenre. Watch the 35mm trailer for The Relic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjlou2liZzQ. Follow Peter Raleigh https://x.com/PetreRaleigh?s=20 on Twitter Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 40m
Oct 31, 2023
Freaked feat. Nicole Veneto *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Loose film critic https://x.com/PunishedLobster/status/1684799044562919424?s=20 and host of Marvelous! Or, the Death of Cinema podcast Nicole Veneto joins from Boston to discuss Alex Winter and Tom Stern's irreverent, gag-filled 1993 monster comedy 'Freaked'. The film is a genuine cult classic that was greelit, following the success of the Bill & Ted films and Winter and Stern's short-lived MTV program 'Idiot Box', with an impressive $12 million budget and then quickly killed by 20th Century Fox after a change in management.  We discuss the film's unique cacophony of styles, taking inspiration from a number of cultural objects including Zucker Brothers comedies, punk rock legends Butthole Surfers, classic beach party films, and The Evil Dead movies. Then we praise the legendary team of practical special effects and makeup artists (including veterans of John Carpenter films like 'Big Trouble in Little China' and Chuck Russell's classic 1988 remake of 'The Blob') who brought the hilarious cast of freaks to life. Finally, we detail the executive decisions that very nearly railroaded 'Freaked' out of existence, and eulogize the brief moment in time when big studio money was willing to gamble on spectacular, impractical filmmaking and craft.  Watch & Download 'Freaked' https://archive.org/details/freaked-1080p at the Internet Archive. Follow Nicole Veneto https://letterboxd.com/kuntsuragi/ on Letterboxd Listen to & Support Marvelous! Or, the Death of Cinema https://marvelousdeath.podbean.com/. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

7m
Oct 27, 2023
Street Fighter: The Movie feat. Devan Scott

Vancouver-based filmmaker, educator, and podcaster Devan Scott joins to discuss Street Fighter: The Movie, based on the hugely popular Capcom video game franchise. Dismissed by both critics and fans of the game at the time of its release as a disaster, the film has since found a small but vocal faction of champions nearly 30 years later. We discuss the film as an example of what Devan calls "The Anti-Masterpiece": A film that through no fault of its author becomes an astonishing work, either in spite or because of a distinct lack of conventional competence. Then, we discuss the pleasure of watching a film featuring a massive ensemble cast, none of whom can seem to agree on what kind of movie is being made - from Jean-Claude Van Damme's incidentially self-referential Colonel Guile to Raul Julia's genuinely great, Shakespearean take on despotic warlord General M. Bison. Finally, we discuss the film's inadvertantly prescient take on the American imperial project of the 21st century, and how its caroonishness and brazen stupidity feel right at home in a post-Trump America.  Follow Devan Scott https://x.com/SadHillDevan?s=20 on Twitter. Read Brandon Streussnig's "Wrapped In Plastic: JCVD's Street Fighter" https://www.secrethandshakecinema.com/post/wrapped-in-plastic-jcvd-s-street-fighter for Secret Handshake. Read Chris Plante's "Street Fighter: The Movie - What Went Wrong" https://www.polygon.com/features/2014/3/10/5451014/street-fighter-the-movie-what-went-wrong for Polygon. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 33m
Oct 23, 2023
Wild At Heart feat. Kayte Terry *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Artist and podcaster Kayte Terry joins from Philadelphia to discuss David Lynch's 1990 Palme d'Or winner 'Wild at Heart' starring Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as starcrossed lovers on the run in an oddball road movie that showcases the director at his most earnest and emotionally frank. We discuss what people get wrong about Lynch, his style and tone, and why pervasiveness of the the term "Lynchian" robs it of meaning. Next, we talk about the incredible ensemble that brings Lynch's romance to life, praising especially the brilliance of its leads Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as well as supporting performers like Diane Ladd (Laura Dern's real life mother, who netted an Oscar nod for her work in the film) and Willem Dafoe as one of Lynch's most memorable villains. Finally, we key into the political textures of Lynch's career-long preoccupations, and how he interrogates the parameters of society, forcing us to conceive of existences liberated from the confines of the quotidian. Follow Kayte Terry https://x.com/kayteterry?s=20 on Twitter. Listen and Subscribe to Kayte's podcasts, Fangs For The Memories https://linktr.ee/fangspodcast and Tender Subject https://tendersubjectpod.podbean.com/. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/

7m
Oct 13, 2023
Caro Diario feat. Pod Casty For Me

This week we're joined by our good friends Ian Rhine and Jake Serwin of the teriffic Clint Eastwood podcast Pod Casty For Me to discuss the Italian director Nanni Moretti and his 1993 personal essay/anthology film 'Caro Diario', awarded Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 when Clint served as the Jury President. We discuss Moretti as subject within his own films, and how his arch and effacing tone offers perhaps a more palatable substitute to the films of a once-prominent filmmaker (now mired in controversy) known for his neurotic, self-referential films. Then, we discuss the film's stylistic markers that place it in conversation with not just the legacy of the Italian film industry, but with cinema as a whole. Finally, we talk about family planning and the wonderful world of vasectomies. (*Editor's Note* Aaron's procedure is in November, not Feburary as stated on the show. He's not sure why he said that, but wants listeners to know that he's not planning out his recovery watchlist 4 months in advance like a loser). Listen & Subscribe to Pod Casty For Me https://www.podcastyforme.com/. Follow Pod Casty For Me https://x.com/podcastyforme?s=20 on Twitter Follow Jake Serwin https://x.com/jakeinternet?s=20 on Twitter. Follow Ian Rhine https://x.com/IanRhine?s=20 on Twitter (if he lets you). Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 50m
Oct 06, 2023
The Insider *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Another solo episode this week as we discuss Michael Mann's thriller 'The Insider', based on the true story of whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand and his explosive 1996 interview with 60 Minutes that exposed secrets about the tobacco industry and their complicity in manipulating their product with known carcinogens to increase the addictive effect of nicotine. The film is at once the story of the the tremendous power of corporate entities to take down those who seek to share the truth with the American public and an expressionist masterpiece that showcases some of Mann's most disciplined and mature directorial work.  We discuss the film's seismic lead performances from dual leads Al Pacino and a career-best Russell Crowe. Then, we praise the Michael Mann & Eric Roth script, and its critical portrayal of its subjects, avoiding lionization. Finally, we discuss the story's terrible prescience, and how the film's shock at corporate media interests overruling the efforts of journalists can sometimes feel quaint by today's standards.  Read Marie Brenner's profile of Jeffrey Wigand "The Man Who Knew Too Much" https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1996/5/the-man-who-knew-too-much in Vanity Fair.  . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

3m
Oct 03, 2023
10 Things I Hate About You *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. We're solo for the first time in a while to talk about the romantic comedy '10 Things I Hate About You', a take on William Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' updated for the 1990s and set at a Pacific Northwest high school that looks an awful lot like a castle. We discuss the film's impecccable cast, featuring a host of 90s up-and-comers including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Julia Styles, and the soon-to-be superstar Heath Ledger, who was taken far too soon. Then, we discuss the movie's place within the lineage of late-90s films, how it adheres to the rebellious sensibilities of the era, and (notably) the ways it disregards them. Finally, we talk about a recent article in The Washington Post which, coincidentally, references the film in its examination of the current proliferation of celebrity veneers, unattainable standards of beauty, and how these trends desecrate the authenticity and natural beauty that once defined the genuine sexual energy in media from decades past.  Read 'Have you noticed that everyone's teeth are a little too perfect?' https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/interactive/2023/teeth-celebrities-veneers-tiktok/ by Jessica M. Goldstein at The Washington Post.. . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/.

5m
Sep 23, 2023
Exotica feat. Soraya Sebghati

Musician and film writer Soraya Sebghati joins from Los Angeles to venture into the lurid, strange world of...Toronto, ON, Canada and its mesmerizing underbelly of desire, longing, and grief in Atom Egoyan's 1994 breakout feature, 'Exotica'. We discuss Atom Egoyan as director - his keen sense for the uncanny amongst the mundane, and the ways 'Exotica' plays with artificiality, performance, and facade. Then, we discuss the film's musings on routine and the rippling effects of grief, and praise Egoyan's (relatively) non-judgemental curiosity with regard to the habits we all adopt as a means of coping with loss and alienation. Finally, we consider the film's much-mulled over ending and how it offers both a quietly devastating moment of catharsis and a hopeful message of emotional solidarity. Follow Soraya Sebghati on Twitter https://x.com/SorayaSpaghetti?s=20. Read and subscribe to Soraya's Substack https://sorayasebghati.substack.com/. Listen to and support Night Talks on Bandcamp https://nighttalks.bandcamp.com/music. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 34m
Sep 15, 2023
That Thing You Do! (Extended Cut) feat. Nick Miller

New York-based musician and America's Sweetheart Nick Miller joins to discuss the underseen 150-minute Extended Cut of Tom Hanks's directorial debut, 'That Thing You Do!'. It's a meandering, expansive version of the film that takes the original cut's effervescent (if slight) shot of pop nostalgia and, at its best, aims for comparisons to great surveyors of cinematic Americana like Robert Altman & Jonathan Demme (who serves as producer on this film). We discuss the two versions of the film, their differences, and how the Extended Cut showcases even further Tom Hanks's singular knowledge of the era and its musical landscape. Then, we talk about the eponymous tune, an infectious earworm written by the late Adam Schlesinger which took on a life of its own as a charting hit single and was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar in 1997. We also discuss the film as part and parcel with Tom Hanks's decade-long fixation with postwar America and the Greatest Generation's sense of national purpose, how the movie gets right many of the intricacies of songwriting and band dynamics, and make a plea to the 300+ artists (including Squeeze and They Might Be Giants) who submitted versions of "That Thing You Do!" to finally release their recordings. Follow Nick Miller on Twitter https://twitter.com/NickMillerMusic?s=20. Listen to Nick Miller on Bandcamp https://nick-miller.bandcamp.com/. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 47m
Sep 08, 2023
Escape From L.A. feat. Comrade Yui *TEASER*

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. Friend of show Comrade Yui returns to discuss John Carpenter's 'Escape From L.A.', his raucous and acidic sequel to 1981's 'Escape From New York'. Derided by both audiences and critics, we offer a defense of the film as a vital work of Carpenter's late period that manages to thrill as an action picture, while wryly thumbing its nose at the corrupt values of Hollywood and its own existence as a prototype for modern "legacy sequels". We begin by talking Carpenter in the 90s, a time when he was taking his biggest swings (while also facing some of his most frustrating conflicts with studios). Then, we take a look at the fascinating tenor of the film, and how it balances the acerbic, raw energy and wit of the original film while taking aim at societal ills of 1996 America with even more directness and urgency than its predecessor. Finally, we compare the film to other great movies (and one 2021 sequel specifically) that have followed in the spirit of 'Escape From L.A.', reckoning with legacy, while also boldly subverting audience expecations in pursuit of revealing the deeper truths and authenticity of their creators.  Follow Comrade Yui on Twitter https://twitter.com/Comrade_Yui?s=20 and Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/comrade_yui/. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/ 

7m
Sep 01, 2023
I Shot Andy Warhol feat. A.A. de Levine

Fiction writer and editor A.A. de Levine joins to discuss Mary Harron's debut feature, 'I Shot Andy Warhol', featuring a seismic performace from Lili Taylor as the infamous feminist writer Valerie Solanas as well as Jared Harris as the late pop artist, and a moving turn from Stephen Dorff as trans icon Candy Darling. The film is a fascinating, frightening view into the life and experiences of Solanas that led her to an increased state of anger, paranoia, and aggression which eventually resulted in the film's titular act of violence. We take a look at the real life Solanas and her most enduring work, The SCUM Manifesto; its aims, its limitations, and its intentions as a furious feminist screed, a work of biting satire, or something in the middle. Then, we discuss the film's portrayal of New York's art scene in the 1960s and its nuanced examination of the ways Warhol and his Factory cohort offer a contradiction of the avant-garde as filtered through highly palatable standards of beauty and taste. Finally, we talk about the career of Mary Harron, who would go on to achieve her greatest acclaim with her sophomore feature, the teriffic 'American Psycho', before having her films relegated to a place of relative obscurity for the next two decades. Follow A.A. de Levine on Twitter https://twitter.com/aadelevine?s=20. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 35m
Aug 25, 2023
The Big Lebowski feat. Jake Tropila

Film writer, editor, and podcaster Jake Tropila joins from Los Angeles to discuss the Coen Brothers' 1998 comedy 'The Big Lebowski', starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Though middlingly received both critically and commercially upon release, the film has gone on to become a genuine cult classic, launching a cottage industry of fan screenings, conventions, and even a religion. We discuss the film's patchwork of influences, including larger-than-life characters withing the Coens' orbit and the works of author Raymond Chandler, especially as adapted by Robert Altman for his 1973 film 'The Long Goodbye'. Then we discuss the film's unrivaled cast, including a superb John Goodman, who turns in an awards-caliber performance as the gun-toting, militant bowling enthusiast Walter Sobchak. Finally, we discuss the film's windy, inarticulable plot, and the way that its mechanics might conceal a deeper level of criticism about the sociopolitical landscape of America on the even of The End of History. Watch the trailer for The Big Lebowski https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knxhiwUspsA. Watch Mortimer Young for Forever Young Films #1 - The Grand Lebowski https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyVyvibmcs. Follow Jake Tropila on Twitter https://twitter.com/JakeTropila?s=20. Read Film Inquiry https://www.filminquiry.com/. Listen and Subscribe to Optimism Vaccine https://optimismvaccine.com/. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod for just $5/month. . . . . Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish https://chrisfish.bandcamp.com/. 

1h 42m
Aug 18, 2023