Better Than Speed

Finally: it's time for some Keanu on Keanu action as we explore Gus Van Sant's street hustler and Shakespeare smash up. Special guest Chad Concelmo helps us determine if River Phoenix's greatest role can still stare down Speed.

The distinguished actor Beth Grant joins us to share amazing behind-the-scenes secrets from her role in the film Speed. Before throwing herself in the line of fire, she wasn't afraid to ask the big question: "What about the rest of us?"

Plus, Sandra does the salsa, Keanu does the cockroach, and Alan Ruck gets stuck in every actor's nightmare. We hope you're as delighted as we are with this exciting interview.

Editor Julio Cesar Perez IV (It Follows, Under the Silver Lake) turns Speed HQ upside down with his controversial film selection in an unprecedented episode filled with twists and turns and double crossings. However you choose to pronounce it, Le Corbeau is a barn burner. But do its explosive themes burn brighter than Speed? The film selection for our next episode is Gus Van Sant's My Own Private, starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix. You can watch it streaming on Amazon Video. Wanna win a righteous copy of this Bill and Ted soundtrack on glorious orange vinyl? Leave us a review on iTunes and you're automatically entered to win! How can you resist?

We dive headfirst into the murky waters of biographical criticism with our most challenging episode to date. Special guest Greg O'Bryant bravely forges through the marsh with us as we examine Roman Polanski's debut film. Content warning: there is a brief discussion of Polanski's notorious past, so be prepared for some difficult subjects which we do our best to address tactfully.

If you're interested in hearing film critic April Wolfe's wonderful podcast we refered to, you can find the Switchblade Sisters episode on Rosemary's Baby here.

Our next film selection is Le Corbeau, which is available on FilmStruck occasionally. Your local library is a good place to find it too!

Che bello! Director Matt Tyrnauer (Valentino: The Last Emperor, Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood) joins us for a tour through Fellini's career and the specters that haunt his art.

Juliet of the Spirits and next episode's selection, Knife in the Water, are both available streaming on FilmStruck.

It's no shame to have a dirty face, honey baby. The shame comes when you keep it dirty. Robert Blake makes short order of all the Charlie Potatoes who dare cross him in the Richard Brooks adaptation of In Cold Blood. We're joined by photographer and documentary filmmaker Jessica Schilling to track all the rain drops and beautifully lit silhouettes that haunt this relentlessly unsettling film.

Want the raw deal straight from the source? Check out composer Quincy Jones spilling the beans on Michael Jackson, Ivanka Trump, and Marlon "Horny For Mailboxes" Brando in this remarkable Vulture interview.

Next episode we'll be watching Fellini's first color film Juliet of the Spirits, and you can find it streaming at, you guessed it, FilmStruck. Hot tip: we're giving away a pristine vintage copy of a Fellini soundtrack on vinyl in an upcoming episode, so leave us an iTunes review and you'll be automatically entered to win.

Hype! Glamour! The Best Films of 2017! Plus, we hand out cheap gold watches to all the stinkers. Hundreds of millions of movie lovers tune in each year to the Speedademy Awards ceremony to learn who will receive the highest and lowest honors in filmmaking.

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John Woo woos the crew with his extravagant Hong Kong action pageant Hard Boiled. Director Stewart Hopewell joins us to compare apples to apples, and helps us issue a verdict on this film's worthiness next to Speed. Hard Boiled is not available on most streaming services, so if you'd like a chance to win a Blu-ray copy, leaves us a review on iTunes, or simply mention us on the internet to your friends, tag us, and we'll throw your name in the hat and announce the winner on our next episode. The film selection for our next episode is In Cold Blood. You can rent it streaming on Amazon Video. Don't forget to check out Dave's beautiful and entrancing mash up of Katy Perry and Hard Boiled, a tribute to his beloved Teenage Dream. And finally, be sure to check out Stewart Hopewell's horrific thriller Slaughter, also available on Amazon Video.

Jean Renoir enters the ring to take on the undefeated heavyweight champ SPEED! If you'd like to view the internationally beloved anti-war classic GRAND ILLUSION, you can find it streaming in beautiful high definition on Amazon Video. You can also find THE GREAT ESCAPE and SUNSET BOULEVARD on there too. Erich Von Stroheim's four hour silent film GREED is available on FilmStruck, as well as Jean Renoir's gorgeous melancholy ode to India, THE RIVER. While you're there, take a walk on the wild side and watch Jean Gabin's underworld crime thriller, PEPE LO MOKO. The film selection for our next episode, John Woo's HARD BOILED, isn't available on most legal streaming services. But if you want to treat yourself, there is an affordable Blu-ray available for purchase at most online vendors. We promise to make it worth your while. And finally, a huge thanks to our guest on this episode, Bryce Abood. Check out his excellent Americana rock band Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers. Need a dinosaur and laser fix? You can stream Bryce's righteous animated film GODZILACTUS on YouTube. And stay tuned for his upcoming live action film, the bloody spectacle FOOD. You can check out some gnarly production stills on Bryce's Instagram feed.

As always, thanks for joining us on the Speed bus. We love having you all aboard!

If you'll permit us a bit of verse, the Devil whispered behind the leaves: "It's pretty, but is it better than Speed?" Special guest Morgan Hanner-Morfesis throws down on tricksters, hoaxes and forgeries in the extravagant Orson Welles swan song F For Fake.

Wanna watch along before listening? You can find F For Fake streaming on FilmStruck, where they offer a 14-day free trial of their Criterion Collection and arthouse film library. Or, watch the 9-minute trailer here to get a good taste for what's in store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMkZWWLHGXU

In the mood for more art? Definitely check out Morgan's work on her web site: https://www.morganhannerart.com/

On our next episode we're gonna tackle Jean Renoir's seminal escape caper, Grand Illusion. One of the greatest films ever made? Or yet another tally on the growing list of films ranked worse than Speed? Rent it on Vudu, Google Play, or Amazon Video to find out.

Interested in winning that vintage vinyl copy of the War of the Worlds broadcast we discussed? Leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts, and you're automatically entered to win. We'll announce the lucky recipient on our Grand Illusion episode.

And finally we'd be remiss to not mention our mention of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We did it for the clicks.

TCCIC LYLAS