Don’t Push Pause

Often called the quintessential hangout movie, DAZED AND CONFUSED offered up a new type of film about teenage life. This timeless story served up the familiar truths of adolescence while encompassing the universal aimlessness of the time. Let’s cruise through how this fresh film spoke to multiple generations & launched careers, but was also not without its difficulties.

**Discussions include**

DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993)

***Picks of the Week***

—Justin’s Pick, LONE STAR (1996).

***MurrayMoment***

Next Episode: GHOST WORLD!

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May 11, 2021

A Special Journey Through the Evolution of Marijuana in Movies!

Next Episode:

Third Anniversary of DPP! 

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Be Kind and Rewatch! // April 20, 2021

***Discussions include***

• Capturing the Black experience before/during/after the Vietnam War; the director’s visions for the film, plus positives & drawbacks of loosely adapting true stories, truth vs. fiction, pacing & visual style; interweaving genres to blend a serious story into an entertaining film; strength of the cast & unpacking the main characters; the film’s incredible soundtrack, release & critical reception.

***Picks of the Week***

• Lindsay’s Pick, SET IT OFF (1996). Jada Pinkett, Vivica A. Fox, Queen Latifah, Kimberly Elise // Directed by F. Gary Gray.

***MurrayMoment***

• Comparing the journey in DEAD PRESIDENTS to Billy’s labor of love, THE RAZOR’S EDGE, plus the process of adapting a novel into a screenplay.

***Final Thoughts on DEAD PRESIDENTS.***

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A year of recording remotely prepared us for an epic battle of genre-bending proportions! Time to rediscover the creative genius behind the martial arts adventure, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA!

**Discussions**

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) // Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, James Hong, Victor Wong // Directed by John Carpenter.

***Picks of the Week***

—Lindsay’s Pick, POLICE ACADEMY (1984) // Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith // Directed by Hugh Wilson.

—Justin’s Pick, USED CARS (1980) // Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Deborah Harmon // Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

***MurrayMoment***

***Final Thoughts on BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.***

Next Episode: DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995)!

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

Deconstructing what makes THE FLY (1986) a renowned sci-fi classic with a truly transformative love story & one of best remakes of all time.

*Discussions*

The original short story, differences from the original ‘58 film, plus FLY sequels; the unimaginable search for a director/screenwriter; saving a turbulent production; intimate nature of the film, blending humanistic themes & primal fears with body horror in a love story; unique casting stories & character evolutions; favorite special effects moments, technological feats & the hauntingly emotional score.

THE FLY (1986) // Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz // Directed by David Cronenberg.

**Picks of the Week**

—Lindsay’s Pick, EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY (1988) // Geena Davis, Julie Brown, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey // Directed by Julien Temple.

—Justin’s Pick,  VIBES (1988) // Cyndi Lauper, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Falk, Julian Sands // Directed by Ken Kwapis.

**MurrayMoment**

A comparison between the love stories in THE FLY & Billy’s ‘88 film, SCROOGED.

**Final Thoughts on THE FLY.**

Next Episode: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)!

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

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+Email us: [email protected]

Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber

Music: Matt Pace

Announcer: Mary Timmel

Logo: Beau Shoulders

February 16, 2021

We’re celebrating the 30th Anniversary of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS & fleshing out what makes this film nothing short of brilliant.

**Discussions include**

Adaptation of the novel to screenplay; production evolution, casting lead roles & FBI involvement; revamping of a traditional hero story through a female perspective & unconventional cinematography; themes, atmosphere, stylistic choices & popularizing true crime stories; actor commitments to the film’s integrity; sound/score, make-up & special effects; reception, controversy & awards; the Hannibal Lecter film series & the continuation the iconic film’s legacy.

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991), Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine.

***Picks of the Week***

-Lindsay’s Pick: MAGIC (1978), Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith. Directed by Richard Attenborough.

-Justin’s Pick: THE EDGE (1997), Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle Macpherson, Harold Perrineau. Directed by Lee Tamahori.

***MurrayMoment*** Billy’s dive into the culinary arts with his cookbook, Cooking with Toast.

***Final Thoughts on SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.***

Next Episode: THE FLY (1986!)

+Please rate, review & subscribe on your podcast platform of choice! (For real, it totally helps us!) 

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

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+Email us: [email protected]

Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber

Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders

January 2021

We’re closing out Dolly December with Ms. Parton’s debut film!

▶️Synopsis: Three female co-workers unite over unequal treatment in the workplace, especially at the hands of their tyrannical & sexist male boss. When one of the women thinks she poisoned him, the trio form a plan to improve their working conditions & turn the tables on their corrupt boss.

⏩⏩Discussions include: Real-life inspiration, origin of the film & Jane Fonda spearheading the project; collaborative writing, story evolution, type of comedy, fantasy sequences; uniquely weaving in of social commentary; securing the cast, character breakdowns & memorable supporting roles; the infectious, smash hit theme song; long-lasting legacy, further incarnations, subsequent documentaries, plus favorite moments from the film.

**Starring Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman. Directed by Colin Higgins.**

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick, ALL OF ME (1984): After a failed transmigration, the soul of a wealthy woman becomes trapped inside her estate planner. With her only controlling one side of his body, the two must work together to get her soul into the intended person.

**Starring Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin. Directed by Carl Reiner.**

—Justin’s Pick, CLOAK AND DAGGER (1984): Using videogames to escape reality, an imaginative boy finds real-life adventure after witnessing a murder & receiving government secrets, forcing him to go on the run.

**Starring Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman. Directed by Richard Franklin.**

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Billy and Lily Tomlin’s involvement with an unaired pilot of the docuseries, WIRED IN. And Lindsay was able to speak with the two legendary documentarians behind the series.

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: A super-caffeinated scene, seeing Lily Tomlin in an airport bathroom & the lawsuit against Dolly Parton over NINE TO FIVE’s theme song.

▶️Next Up: January 2021, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)!

Perhaps no other film better illustrates laughter through pain than the timeless classic, STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989). This true story is not only a moving, cathartic expression, but also celebrates life & immortalizes a tragic, yet universally relatable journey.

▶️Synopsis: Set in Natchitoches, Louisiana, six women are brought together by a local salon, not only to have their hair & nails done, but to share their lives with one another, including a mother & her diabetic daughter’s desire to live life without constraints. Together, these women go through the best & most difficult of times, further solidifying their lifelong bond.

⏩⏩Discussions include: Writer Robert Harling’s adaptation of true events, writing process & collaboration with director Herbert Ross; main & supporting cast, character breakdowns, blocking choreography, usage townsfolk; clever story evolution, dedication to accuracy, balancing narrative & character development; on-location filming, recreating a real-life community, unused soundtrack, favorite moments & lasting legacy of the film.

**Starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts. Directed by Herbert Ross.**

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick, BOYS ON THE SIDE (1995): After responding to an ad seeking a road trip partner, two women begin a cross-country trek, resulting in rescuing a friend from an abusive relationship & forming unexpectedly deep connections.

**Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, Drew Barrymore. Directed by Herbert Ross.**

—Justin’s Pick, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1990): Following a stint in rehab, an actress in recovery attempts to reenergize her career, while also ordered to live with a responsible adult — her competitive, yet legendary actress mother.

**Starring Shirley MacLaine, Meryl Streep, Dennis Quaid. Directed by Mike Nichols.**

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: How Billy’s father, Edward Murray, relished laughter in their household, a trait which helped the family cope & laugh through tears when he passed away.

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: Shirley MacLaine’s secret to crying & Sally Field’s dedication while filming the funeral scene, as well as the Steel Magnolias TV pilot.

▶️Next Up: DOLLY DECEMBER: 9 TO 5 (1980)!

Expanding a comedy sketch into a full-length feature film is always a gamble. When WAYNE’S WORLD hit theaters in 1992, the film’s instant success was not only a surprise, but also catapulted careers & paved the way for even more Saturday Night Live films. By appealing to a mass audience & departing from predictable humor, WAYNE’S WORLD continues to be a beloved comedy classic.

▶️Synopsis: Two music-oriented best friends, Wayne and Garth, produce a late-nite, cable access entertainment TV show called Wayne’s World. Seeing an opportunity to exploit the show, a slick TV producer attempts to commercialize the underground program, while also trying to schmooze Wayne’s ultra cool, musician girlfriend.

⏩⏩Discussions include: Evolution & development of Wayne & Garth, from conception to SNL’s effect; director’s background, influence & filmmaking style; writing the film, structuring commentary with story & atypical humor; cast, cameos & character breakdowns; musical influences & cultural impact; behind-the-scenes tidbits, audience, reception, sequel & subsequent SNL movies.

**Starring Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Tia Carrere, Rob Lowe. Directed by Penelope Spheeris.**

—Lindsay’s Pick, CONEHEADS (1993): Stranded on Earth after crash landing, three cone-headed extraterrestrials are forced to assimilate to human life, while also trying to avoid governmental deportation.

**Starring Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Michelle Burke. Directed by Steve Barron.**

—Justin’s Pick, AIRHEADS (1994): Determined to have their demo played on the radio, an aspiring & desperate band resort to holding a radio station hostage with water guns.

**Starring Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi. Directed by Michael Lehmann.**

▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Find out the origin of a well-known WAYNE’S WORLD catchphrase through another legendary SNL duo, Billy & Gilda Radner.

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: Two scenes Myers wanted cut from WAYNE’S WORLD, Justin’s acquisition of his Wayne’s World hat & rethinking the intensity of the head-banging to Queen car scene.

▶️Next Up: DOLLY DECEMBER: STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989)!