Do The Right Thing & Reservoir Dogs - Do You Even Binge? Ep 42

Week 8 of our Indie Movie Explosion series takes us to the 1990s and the streets of Brooklyn. This week, we’re breaking down two films that redefined "cool" and "confrontational" in cinema: The sweltering, social tinderbox of Do the Right Thing (1989) and the blood soaked heist gone wrong of Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Do the Right Thing (1989) Spike Lee’s masterpiece about the hottest day of the year. We break down the real-life Brooklyn tragedy that inspired the film, the iconic opening dance sequence that left Rosie Perez in tears, and the "Love/Hate" speech that remains one of the most powerful homages to Night of the Hunter. We also discuss the controversial critical reception at the time and why Kim Basinger went off-script at the 1990 Oscars to demand this film get the respect it deserved.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) The film that proved Quentin Tarantino was the ultimate "thief" of cinema. We dive into how a $30,000 "friends and family" project turned into a $1.5 million Sundance sensation thanks to Harvey Keitel, and why Tarantino partially funded the shoot with his earnings as a Golden Girls Elvis impersonator. Plus, we look at the "Stuck in the Middle with You" torture scene that almost got cut by Harvey Weinstein, and the heartbreaking reason we’ll never see the "Double V Vega" prequel following the passing of Michael Madsen in 2025.

Join us as we discuss: 

Radio Raheem’s Legacy:

Why the 240 "f-bombs" and the 8-hour opening shoot were essential to Spike Lee’s vision. 

The "Rat" Foreshadowing: Why Mr. Orange’s tipping habits at the diner were a dead giveaway. 

The Wardrobe Hustle: How a low budget meant Chris Penn wore his own track jacket and Steve Buscemi wore his own jeans. 

The Woods/Tarantino Beef: The agent who got fired for turning down five different offers without telling James Woods.

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Executive Prodcuers: Felipe Esparza & Lesa Esparza
Producer: Rommel Suniga
Music: Isaak Wintringham

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Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.