Living for the Cinema

Apparently May the Fourth has become an official holiday to celebrate all things Star Wars on an annual basis so what better way to honor THIS May 4 than to revisit what is likely the most grown-up and possibly CINEMATIC of this recent crop of streaming shows from that universe?  This Disney Plus series - which debuted last fall to critical acclaim and middling ratings - stars Diego Luna returning to play Cassian Andor, the lead character he also played in the recent Star Wars prequel, Rogue One.  As you would expect, the show takes place before the events of Rogue One and chronicles Cassian's first efforts towards joining and helping an ongoing Rebel Alliance which is partially lead by Stellan Skarsgard's Luthen Rael. 

We see Cassian embark on several adventures including a daring heist of an Imperial base with one group and and an even more daring attempted escape from an Imperial prison.  Also included in this extensive cast are Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Adria Arjona, and Genevieve O'Reilly returning to play Mon Mothma who she also portrayed in Rogue One.  The show was created by and is currently run by the amazing Tony Gilroy who wrote the original Bourne trilogy while also writing and directing the Oscar-winning Michael Clayton. 

May the Fourth Be With You!

The retro-sounding introductory clip for this show is actually "Andor 1975 TV Intro" from the Aurulnauts YouTube channel linked below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Pccq0DZVc

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Forty years ago, we saw the release of this THIRD movie of the original Star Wars trilogy - this was the highly anticipated follow-up to what many (myself included) consider to be THE best Star Wars film ever, Empire Strikes Back.  It featured the return of several beloved characters and the resolution of a story which was last concluded with quite a surprising cliffhanger at the end of the previous episode.  So...did it live up to the hype....and how does it hold up?

Let's find out as we delve into this sequel directed by Richard Marquand and with the returning cast of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and several others....PLUS the introduction of Ian McDiarmid who plays Emperor Palpatine.  May the Force Be With You!

Host & Producer: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Based upon true events, this recounts the incredible story of Stephen Glass (Hayden Christianson), a young reporter for the New Republic in the '90's who made quite a name for himself writing several high-profile stories for the magazine which garnered a lot of attention for just how entertaining and informative they were....and apparently several of them were entirely made up by Glass. :o What results is a scandal with a very troubled soul at the center of it - along the way, we get to know both editors (Hank Azaria, Pete Saarsgard) and fellow reporters (Chloe Sevigny, Steve Zahn) who were also affected by Glass' deception.  Billy Ray directs a journalistic docu-drama which has proven just as relevant today as it was when it was first released twenty years ago.....

Host & Producer: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Twenty years ago, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland helped revitalize the zombie subgenre with this seminal post-apocalyptic thriller produced on a shoe-string budget....even though the story isn't technically about zombies.  Nope this is the actually story of a fictional pandemic which strikes the UK known as the "Rage" virus.....society becomes gradually wiped out by those who are "infected" which can basically be described as FAST zombies who spew blood which spreads the infection.  And at the core of this story is an aimless bike messenger (Cillian Murphy) who was actually in a coma during the first 28 days of this pandemic and a resourceful survivor who he teams up with played by Naomie Harris.  Brendan Gleason and Chris Eccleston also co-star as fellow survivors of this outbreak.

Host & Producer: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Legendary filmmaker and former playwright Martin Ritt directed this family drama set on a farm starring the late, great Paul Newman as the titular Hud who works with the ranch with his father (Melvyn Douglas) and younger brother (Brandon De Wilde) while also making their lives difficult.  You see Hud is a scoundrel who drinks too much and he's not making things any better for his family as they experience a looming crisis which could destroy their farm - this could very well be the most irredeemable character Newman ever played and it did earn him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.  He didn't win that year but others in the cast did including Douglas and Patricia Neal for Best Actress.  This film received enormous acclaim upon release while also being a sizeable hit and.....it's about to turn 60. :) 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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What happens when you hire one legendary TOP-tier movie star (Paul Newman) returning to play a character he played once before 25 years prior (Fast Eddie Felson in 1961's The Hustler)....pair him up with one giant up-and-coming movie star (Tom Cruise)....and then hire possibly THE greatest American filmmaker (Martin Scorcese) of the past 50 years to direct?? 

Well the result might very well be an excellent road movie/sports drama all set within the world of competitive billiards.  If nothing else, it might be worth watching just to see Cruise learn the ropes from Newman....or DOES he?  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Turturro, Helen Shaver, and Forest Whitaker also round out the cast.

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Thirty years ago and after several delays and titles changes, we finally saw the release of this sprawling crime epic about three brothers growing up in East LA on different sides of the law. It lost money upon initial release as its studio didn't know how to market it nor did many critics know what to make of it.  But over time, it garnered a VERY enthusiastic cult following through play on both cable and video.....to the point where you can just utter "Vatos Locos!" to a stranger and he'll smile if he's part of that very cult. :) It was directed by Taylor Hackford (An Officer and A Gentleman, The Devil's Advocate) and features a very large cast lead by Benjamin Bratt, Damian Chapa, and Jesse Borrego. 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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After decades of various attempts to bring this prized Nintendo video game property back to the big screen, Mario has finally returned....along with Luigi, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong and the rest of the gang!  It's the long-awaited animated adaptation of the world of the Mario Brothers and it comes from Illumination Entertainment, the studio which gave us the Minions - you're welcome. :) And it's a rollicking adventure through a colorful world of mushrooms, karts, and various floating platforms which disintegrate once you step on them.  The voice cast is lead by Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and Seth Rogen - this movie is also co-directed by Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath.  As the first animated feature to be reviewed on this podcast, does it live up to the hype?  Let's-a-find out!

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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Fifteen years ago, director James Marsh delivered one of the most purely entertaining documentaries of the 21st century recounting one man's amazing journey.....between two skyscrapers....on a wire.  This is the story of Phillip Petit, a French high wire artist who alongside several other conspirators planned and executed the death-defying feat of setting up and then walking on top of a wire connected to the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center back in August of 1974.  It's quite a story and he's QUITE the character - let's revisit the film which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2009 Oscars.
 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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The kevlar-suited master assassin returns for his fourth (and possibly) final film.   Yes Keanu Reeves has once again returned as the titular John Wick, this time on a mission to seek out his freedom by taking on the "High Table."  He's a man on the run with very few options......but at least he has some necessary allies returning this time as well, once again played by Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, and the late, great Lance Reddick.  He also has a new villain in his sights who's determined to take him out played by Bill Skarsgard along with a new physical adversary played by the legendary Donnie Yen.  What results are even more locations and more crazy set-pieces this time around.....once again directed by former stuntman Chad Stahelski.  Yeah I'm thinking he's back! ;) 

Host: Geoff Gershon
 
 Editors: Geoff and Ella Gershon

Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

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