Rob Caravaggio Commentaries Rob Caravaggio

This man, though not a real Native American, has a great head of hair RC-2015-101: The Searchers (1956) Your browser does not support this audio I've once again teamed up with the King of Commentaries himself, Tysto, to talk through another great western. We find much to like, love, and laugh at in John Ford's VistaVision classic. Discussion wanders between the winds like an eye-less Comache to cover the long shadow of influence cast by the film (Star Wars, Scorsese, Buddy Holly), the liabilities of Jeffrey Hunter's performance, and Tysto's fascinating family history (his ancestors once kidnapped Natalie Wood's sister!). We also extol the virtues of wearing suspenders with jeans (well, I do) and stare longingly at Mose Harper's ripped-to-shreds six-pack abs. Why not take off your spurs and join us? Show Notes The true story of Cynthia Ann Parker The "You Must Remember This" podcast episode about Wayne's war (non)record Jonathan Lethem's essay "Defending the Searchers" is actually viewable on Google Books George Chakiris played Bernardo in West Side Story Don't forget Zarban's site for tons of fan commentaries  Download the mp3. iTunes.

Zen and shiftlessness are often indistinguishable from one another RC-2014-102: The Big Lebowski (1998) Your browser does not support this audio Now that the National Film Registry has deemed Lebowski "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," I thought it the perfect time to delve into the Coen's 1998 comedy/noir/half-assed thinkpiece on Reagan-era zeitgeist. I get lost in the beautiful shadow work of Deakins, point out relevant tropes found throughout the Coen's work, and speculate about what people will remember the day John Turturro dies. After explaining exactly what I think the movie's themes are, I decide that it doesn't matter because the Coens don't really mean any of it. Show Notes Documentary about Lebowski culture William Kunstler documentary The Wikpedia page for Ron Kuby actually mentions his being name-checked in the film (I didn't mention that he and Kunstler were friends) Brunswick actually makes all kinds of shit, not just bowling and billiards Roger & Gene's original review Download the mp3. iTunes.

The late Eli Wallach, the star of and secret sauce in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly RC-2014-101: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967) Your browser does not support this audio Reflect on the recent passing of Eli Wallach by re-watching his finest hour. Which was actually three hours. I team up with the grand poo-bah of fan commentaries, Tysto, for an appraisal of Sergio Leone's classic. We converse about firearms, Steve McQueen (Bullitt, not 12 Years a Slave), and the movie's leisurely-but-cinematic storytelling. We also laugh at the antics of Tuco and at the over-representation of characters named "Shorty." To sync, hit "pause" after the MGM logo fades to black. Show Notes Visit Tysto.com and Zarban.com for tons of fan commentaries I incorrectly referred to the film Winchester '73 as "Winchester '76" The John Ford picture Two Rode Together (1961) A nice remembrance of Wallach by Richard Corliss Download the mp3, or mosey on over to iTunes.

Mars makes money RC-2013-117: Poolhall Junkies (2002) Your browser does not support this audio Grab a cuestick (hopefully a non-graphite one) and let's play some with the greatest pool movie of all time! Well, okay, it's a pool movie, anyway. And just as Mars Callahan's directorial debut vacillates between Farrelly brothers-style comedy and over-cranked melodrama so too does my commentary shift from poolroom subculture nitpicking to a slightly more charitable assessment of the script. Along the way, I take time to marvel at the surplus of supporting characters, sigh at the zany plot contrivances, and gripe about the film's inconsistent ethos regarding the N-word. Forget pool—this movie had me at Ernie Reyes Jr. I screened the Region-1 DVD. To sync, hit "pause" when the Gold Circle Films logo fades to black, then hit "play" on my countdown.  Show Notes Mike Massey's "finger pool" (think it looks easy?—try it) Rick Schroeder talks about his crazy-ass life Poker Junkies is coming That MadTV pool sketch  The current pro rankings are here & here (I think I was more or less correct in my surmisal that most of the top ranked pros are younger than 45, but, as I say in the commentary, there are guys around 45 or older who are still tearing it up) Listen to the mp3 (right-click to download), or force-follow over to iTunes. (Jeremy: Thanks for everything.)

Kirk Douglas, Porter Hall, and Jesus Christ debate journalistic ethics in Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole (Douglas had top billing) RC-2013-116: Ace in the Hole (1951) Your browser does not support this audio More thrilling than going over Niagara Falls in Kirk Douglas' barrel chest, Ace in the Hole stands tall among the giants of Wilder's career. I praise the wittiness of the dialogue and marvel at the depravity of Douglas' character, Chuck Tatum. Musings about journalistic ethics give way to my ranking of the movie near the top of Wilder's filmography. Do I successfully spot all the nods to Double Indemnity? Does Douglas' topless scene have artistic merit? And does the boyish Herbie character moonlight as Captain Marvel? Listen to the track to find out. You deserve answers. I screened the Region-1 Criterion Collection DVD. To sync, hit "pause" after the Criterion logo fades from the screen, then wait for my countdown. Show Notes The curious case of Floyd Collins Spike Lee is a fan of the film Is it a film noir? (Not addressed in the commentary—if folks want to count it as an "epic noir," I say cool) I said the original title was "The Carnival," but it was actually "The Big Carnival," and it was not the original title, rather, it was what Paramount re-titled the film just prior to its release and without Wilder's consent Get the mp3, or keep the iTunes carnival humming along.

Paul Newman's takes a lickin' but keeps on kickin' as a quasi-Christ figure in his signature role RC-2013-115: Cool Hand Luke (1967) Your browser does not support this audio Cool Hand Luke was a timely allegory for 1960s-era tumult, and I discuss why Paul Newman—and not Brando—makes a perfect Lucas Jackson. After rattling off some prison movie tropes, I compare CHL favorably to I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang and hate on its ill-advised efforts to siphon profundity from Judeo-Christian imagery. Dennis Hopper's specialness gets called out, as does the film's early embrace of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Put 'Em on a Glass" concept. I manage to talk about George Kennedy without mentioning The Naked Gun movies—until the very end, when I make a predictable O.J. joke. To sync up, press "pause" just after the Warner Bros. logo fades to black. I screened a Region-1 DVD. Show Notes The Family Guy parody The Paul Muni/Mervyn Leroy film (Public Domain) The Guardian's top-ten prison movies This man can eat more eggs than Luke Listen to the mp3, or get your ya-yas out with iTunes.