Don’t Push Pause

For a film about imprisonment, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is an unassuming & bold entry as one of the most popular films of all-time. With inspiration in the face of adversity as an undercurrent, the film speaks in universal themes, emotionally effective & profound in its storytelling. Hope may be a dangerous thing, but for how SHAWSHANK came to fruition & the enduringly powerful impact, this authentic tale remains an timeless touchstone for all audiences.

//**Discussions include**//

Frank Darabont’s humble rise within the film industry & connection to SHAWSHANK writer, Stephen King; differences between the screenplay adaptation & novella; Castle Rock involvement, location & production design; overall tone, themes, commentary, use of narration & changes to the film’s climax; casting, behind the scenes stories & ensemble character development; reception & how the film grew in popularity despite a disappointing box office return

Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman star in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994). Directed by Frank Darabont.

• Lindsay’s Pick: THE PLAYER (1992). Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Whoopi Goldberg. /// Directed by Robert Altman.

• Justin’s Pick: LEAN ON ME (1989). Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume. /// Directed by John G. Avidsen.

How Billy sneakily exploited downtime on the set of Tim Robbins’ film, CRADLE WILL ROCK (1999).

//**Final Thoughts on THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.**//

//Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com

//Questions? Comments? Email us: [email protected]

//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber //Music: Matt Pace //Announcer: Mary Timmel //Logo: Beau Shoulders

Be Kind and Rewatch! // December 7, 2021

As soon as it hit theaters, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK became the blockbuster pinnacle of where imagination meets adventure. Forty years after its release, this powerhouse pairing of George Lucas & Steven Spielberg remains a massive achievement within its genre, the film to which all others are compared. And the journey of how Indiana Jones became an icon is a complex & wild ride all by itself.

//**Discussions include**//

Origin story & humble, inspired development behind Indiana Jones, plus the early partnership between Lucas & Spielberg; brazen dealings with the studio over production; shooting hardships, injuries & behind the scenes stories; the strength behind RAIDERS’ lead actors, plus early casting possibilities; what makes this a thrilling & crowd-pleasing experience; the glorious, multi-layered score, reception & franchise.

Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman & John Rhys-Davies star in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981). Directed by Steven Spielberg.

• Lindsay’s Pick: STARMAN (1984). Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith. /// Directed by John Carpenter.

• Justin’s Pick: REGARDING HENRY (1991). Harrison Ford, Annette Bening. /// Directed by Mike Nichols.

Karen Allen’s experience of working with Bill on SCROOGED (1988).

//**Final Thoughts on RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.**//

//Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com

//Questions? Comments? Email us: [email protected]

//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber //Music: Matt Pace //Announcer: Mary Timmel //Logo: Beau Shoulders

Be Kind and Rewatch! // November 16, 2021

A low budget horror film becoming a massive success is almost unheard of. When it evolves into a cultural phenomenon, its called Sam Raimi’s THE EVIL DEAD (1981). With its blood-spattered intensity, ingenuity & masterful achievements in resourceful filmmaking, this picture had a brutal, exhausting road to tread. Now entering its 40th year of existence, it’s clear this film will never die.

//**Discussions include**//

Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Teresa Tilly & Richard DeManincor star in THE EVIL DEAD (1981). Directed by Sam Raimi.

//***Picks of the Week***//

//***MurrayMoment***//

Diving deep into the Tennessee woods, we compare EVIL DEAD’s Ash to the elements of death faced in GET LOW, a film starring Bill, plus his thoughts on the subject. Plus, a Tennessee-MurrayMoment mystery!

//***Final Thoughts on THE EVIL DEAD.***//

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//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

Be Kind and Rewatch! // October 26, 2021

Even with previous slasher movie influences, MY BLOODY VALENTINE stood out in amongst the saturated horror market of 1981. But even a well-crafted, creative story couldn’t guarantee immediate success for this film, yet it continues to be a celebrated slasher 40 years later.

//**Discussions include**//

State of horror movies in 1981 & the Canadian horror pop; unique story & character setups, atmosphere & importance of location; playing on & against horror tropes; multiple problems during filming & budget challenges; casting & character breakdowns; music for the film, MPAA struggle, release & establishing a fan base; theatrical vs. unrated edition, the 2009 remake, plus memorable moments & behind-the-scenes tidbits.

Paul Kelman, Neil Affleck, Lori Hallier & Don Francks star in MY BLOODY VALENTINE (1981). Directed by George Mihalka.

//***Picks of the Week***//

    •    Lindsay’s Pick: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (1981). Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford /// Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

    •    Justin’s Pick: THE PROWLER (1981). Lawrence Tierney, Farley Granger, Vicky Dawson /// Directed by Joesph Zito.

//***MurrayMoment***//

The story of how Billy & Mickey Kelly were married in 1981.

//***Final Thoughts on MY BLOODY VALENTINE.***//

—Next Episode: THE EVIL DEAD (1981)!—

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//Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com

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//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

Be Kind and Rewatch! // October 19, 2021

Creating a fresh, well-developed horror movie within the age-old monster genre is no small feat. In 1981, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON blew minds for its special effects, tonal blending & compassionate story involving doomed characters. The innovation involved not only influenced countless films to follow, but WEREWOLF remains one of the most renowned of its genre.

John Landis’ story inspirations, initial conception & journey of getting the film financed; Rick Baker’s unforgettable special effects work; how humor can humanize horror & views on the film’s tone; placement in amongst 1981 horror & previous werewolf films; casting stories & brief career history of Landis; integrating contemporary music with the film’s score; release, reception & favorite moments from the film.

David Naughton, Griffin Dunne & Jenny Agutter star in AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981). Directed by John Landis.

    •    Lindsay’s Pick: INNOCENT BLOOD (1992). Anne Parillaud, Robert Loggia, Anthony LaPaglia, Don Rickles /// Directed by John Landis.

    •    Justin’s Pick: Micheal Jackson’s THRILLER (1983). Michael Jackson, Ola Ray /// Directed by John Landis.

//***MurrayMoment***//

A Murray-inspired art exhibit from Northern England, plus the only time WEREWOLF’s David Naughton & Billy crossed over in another film.

//***Final Thoughts on AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.***//

//Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com

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//Questions? Comments? Email us: [email protected]

//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

RUSHMORE cemented director Wes Anderson as one of the most influential & distinct filmmakers of contemporary time. By standing out from the herd & pairing Bill Murray with a feisty, fresh faced newcomer, RUSHMORE’s innocence & heightened realness set the bar for Anderson’s career. And the creative trust & emotional depth put into making the film are just as heartfelt as the movie itself.

The brief history & writing process of Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson; origin of RUSHMORE, true life inspirations, how visuals mix with storytelling, plus the themes of the film & finding how humor interacts with heartache; casting stories & deconstruction of characters; editing trademarks, production design, visual style & layered presence of music; release, reception & some of our favorite moments.

Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray & Olivia Williams star in RUSHMORE (1998). Directed by Wes Anderson.

    •    Lindsay’s Pick: HAMLET (2000). Ethan Hawke, Bill Murray, Julia Stiles, Kyle MacLachlan. /// Directed by Michael Almereyda.

    •    Justin’s Pick: PERMANENT MIDNIGHT (1998). Ben Stiller, Maria Bello, Elizabeth Hurley, Owen Wilson. /// Directed by David Veloz.

//***Final Thoughts on RUSHMORE.***//

//Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com

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//Questions? Comments? Email us: [email protected]

//Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

—**Discussions include**

The origin & evolution of story development involving multiple writers; finding a lead actor & director, plus where this film fits into their careers; creating a genre & how this comedy is comparatively unique; casting process & stories, use of improvisation, importance of & overlooked nuances of character chemistry; reception of the film, hit soundtrack, plus our thoughts on the entire BEVERLY HILLS COP franchise.

BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984)

Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox.

—***Picks of the Week***

RUTHLESS PEOPLE (1986)

Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Danny DeVito /// Directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker.

COBRA (1986)

Sylvester Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen, Brian Thompson /// Directed by George P. Cosmatos.

—***MurrayMoment***

—***Final Thoughts on BEVERLY HILLS COP.***

—Next Episode: RUSHMORE!

—Please rate, review & subscribe.

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—Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

Be Kind and Rewatch! // August 24, 2021

Comedic documentaries existed, but were scarce until Christopher Guest took the reins with WAITING FOR GUFFMAN. By directing, co-writing & starring in the film, Guest assembled a company of actors & manner of heartfelt storytelling. And twenty-five years post-release, GUFFMAN’s “comedy is reality, but one step further” philosophy has become one of the most popular genres.

**Discussions include**

Brief career history of Christopher Guest from the ‘70s to GUFFMAN; Guest’s relationship & creation process with writing partner, Eugene Levy; writing & shooting for a musical; inspirations for the story, style of comedy, creating a small town feel with universal relatability; use of improvisation, purposeful casting, character development; structure, editing process, production details, reception & release; discussion of script changes, omitted scenes, favorite moments & ranking our favorite of Guest’s films with this comedy troupe.

WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996)

***Picks of the Week***

—Lindsay’s Pick:

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION (2006)

Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Christopher Moynihan, Harry Shearer, plus all the usual suspects.

—Justin’s Pick:

A MIGHTY WIND (2003)

Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, plus all the usual suspects.

***MurrayMoment***

Billy & Christopher Guest’s time working on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, focusing on two recorded pieces, one featuring GUFFMAN player & Murray brother, Brian Doyle Murray.

***Final Thoughts on WAITING FOR GUFFMAN.***

Next Episode: BEVERLY HILLS COP!

• Please rate, review & subscribe on your podcast platform of choice.

• Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

On its 45th Anniversary, TAXI DRIVER can still boast about being socially relevant & controversial at once. It’s a shockingly honest character study blended into a mesmerizing reality & falling into the darkest depths of a disturbed psyche. And the journey of creating this film is just as engaging as the movie itself.

**Discussions include**

TAXI DRIVER (1976)

***Picks of the Week***

—Justin’s Pick

***MurrayMoment***

***Final Thoughts on TAXI DRIVER.***

Next Episode: WAITING FOR GUFFMAN!

• Please rate, review & subscribe on your podcast platform of choice!

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, GHOST WORLD remains a uniquely non-formulaic blending of adolescent maturing & evolving friendships placed in a world of disillusionment. The film has remained a clever, underground favorite for the last two decades & continues to hit hard with audiences of all ages. As it verges on cult film status, join us in this exploration of the sophisticated, quirky & cutting edge reality of GHOST WORLD.

**Discussions include**

The relationship between first-time feature film director Terry Zwigoff & GHOST WORLD graphic novel creator, Daniel Clowes; writing process & transcribing a comic book into a screenplay, plus differences between the two & selling the idea to a movie studio; themes, character dynamics & relatability; importance of casting & landing the lead roles; music, style & production design; cringe-worthy moments, the non-traditional conclusion & critical reception of the film.

GHOST WORLD (2001). Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Illeana Douglas, Brad Renfro. Directed by Terry Zwigoff.

***Picks of the Week***

—Lindsay’s Pick, PARTING GLANCES (1986). Richard Ganoung, John Bolger, Steve Buscemi, Kathy Kinney. Directed by Bill Sherwood.

—Justin’s Pick, AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2003). Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis, Judah Friedlander, Harvey Pekar. Directed by Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini.

**MurrayMoment** Travel back to a time when Billy & the Not-Ready-For-Primetime SNL Players entered the comic book world of Spider-Man!

***Final Thoughts on GHOST WORLD.***

Next Episode: TAXI DRIVER!

• Please rate, review & subscribe on your podcast platform of choice!

Be Kind and Rewatch! // June 22, 2021