Matinee Heroes

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER

When a nameless stranger rides into the town Lago, he is met with skepticism and disapproval by the townspeople. But once he shows his skills with a pistol, the locals realize he may be able to help them fend off a band of criminals who have been terrorizing the town. He agrees to help the townspeople but does so with his own secret agenda.

Craig, Alan and resident Clint-ologist Elisabeth Rappe (@ElisabethRappe on twitter) talk about bad things happening to bad people, dangerous movies, recent concerts and the movie “High Plains Drifter” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

1:14

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth talk about their recent outings to see the Boss (Bruce Springsteen) and William Shatner.

21:32

Craig, Alan and Elisabeth discuss "High Plains Drifter"

52:30

Recasting

1:19:21 

Double Feature

1:23:15

Final Thoughts

1:29:27

A preview of next week's episode "John Wick 3"

Next week, we celebrate the release of John Wick 4 with a patreon episode we did in 2019 "John Wick 3"

PIG

Living alone in the Oregon wilderness, a truffle hunter returns to Portland to find the person who stole his beloved pig.

Craig and Alan spoil this Nic Cage movie, talk loss and grief, lament Cage's lack of hygiene in the movie and discus "PIG" on this week's Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

00:37

Craig and Alan discuss "Pig"

30:55

Recasting

40:06 

Double Feature

43:22

Final Thoughts

49:50

A preview of next week's episode "High Plains Drifter"

Next week, we dig into the dark supernatural western "High Plains Drifter"

REMAINS OF THE DAY

During the 1930s, James Stevens serves as a proper English butler to the doltish Lord Darlington. Stevens is so dedicated that he forgoes visiting his father on his deathbed in order to serve while overlooking Darlington's Nazi sympathies and growing anti-Semitism. Twenty years after his employer's death, Stevens tries to reconnect with Miss Kenton Darlington's head housekeeper, and begins to regret his loyalty to his former master.

Craig, Alan and guest Kristen Lopez (@Journeys_Film on twitter) talk about the sacrifice of service, literary adaptations, “But Have You Read The Book” out March 7th and the movie Remains of the Day on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

1:00

Craig and Alan welcome Kristen Lopez to celebrate her new book "But Have You Read the Book" available March 7th.

19:08

Craig, Alan and Kristen discuss "Remains of the Day"

42:34

Recasting

1:07:05 

Double Feature

1:13:35

Final Thoughts

1:03:20

A preview of next week's episode "PIG"

Next week, we celebrate the Oscars by celebrating a snub! Nic Cage's is subtle performance in "Pig"

THE LAST SAMURAI

An American military officer is hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in an attempt to eradicate the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies.  The officer finds himself unexpectedly affected by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

Craig and guest co-host Elisabeth Rappe (@ElisabethRappe on twitter) talk about amazing Japanese actors, bowling ball dogs, stinky Americans and the movie “The Last Samurai” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

0:45

Craig and Elisabeth talk about Colorado winters and the value of bowling ball dogs.

13:54

Craig and Elisabeth discuss "The Last Samurai"

38:20

Recasting

58:02 

Double Feature

1:01:14

Final Thoughts

1:03:20

A preview of next week's episode "Remains of the Day"

Next week, friend of the show Kristen Lopez comes on to talk about her book and the movie "Remains of the Day"

13 ASSASSINS

Shinzaemon Shimada leads a team of assassins in 19th-century Japan to eliminate a ruthless Lord who is wreaking havoc against his own people. Hired secretly by a government official hoping to end the Lord’s reign of terror, Shimada recruits the best samurai in Japan and then sets a trap for the lord's large contingent of faithful bodyguards.

Craig and guest co-host Brendan Agnew  (@BLCAgnew on twitter) discuss dad-bod samurai, getting the band back together, Japanese mythology and the movie “13 Assassins" on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

0:56

Craig and Brendan talk about Samurais and 6-year-olds crying over Avengers Infinity War.

7:59

Craig and Brendan discuss "13 Assassins"

29:39

Recasting

47:06 

Double Feature

51:37

Final Thoughts

54:13

A preview of next week's episode "The Last Samurai"

Samurai month concludes with the apropos "The Last Samurai"

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

Young Kubo's peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey and Beetle  to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.

Craig, Alan and guest Rob Ervin (@YesTHATRobErvin on twitter) talk about the anti-Disney movie,  grief vs remembrance,  year-round football and the movie “Kubo and the Two Strings” On this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

0:57

Craig and Alan catch up with the Clubhouse Podcast's Rob Ervin as he explains football is pretty much year round.

11:02

Craig, Alan and Rob discuss "Kubo and the Two Strings"

25:40

Recasting

42:41 

Double Feature

48:11

Final Thoughts

52:34

A preview of next week's episode "13 Assassins"

Samurai month continues with the epic "13 Assassins"

YOJIMBO

A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. The ronin convinces both businessmen, a silk merchant and a sake merchant to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.

Craig and Alan talk about samurai tropes, The Ghost of Tsushima, double-crosses and the movie “Yojimbo” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

1:01

Craig and Alan talk samurai tropes and how the game Ghost of Tsushima inspired this month's theme.

11:15

Craig and Alan discuss "Yojimbo"

30:10 

Recasting

47:46 

Double Feature

50:39

Final Thoughts

56:01

A preview of next week's episode "Kubo and the Two Strings"

Samurai month continues with the mythic stop-motion animated "Kubo and the Two Strings"

THE FABELMANS

Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. But the young man uncovers a shattering family secret while learning the power of film and imagination.

Craig, Alan and guest Brendan Agnew (@BLCAgnew on Twitter) discuss the master filmmaker, how art will crush your heart, the Houston Film Critics Society’s 2022 nomination list and the movie “The Fabelmans” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

0:56

Craig, Alan and Brendan Agnew talk about the upcoming Houston Film Critics Society awards ceremony on February 18th.

18:32

Craig, Alan and Brendan discuss "The Fabelmans"

40:04 

Recasting

54:52 

Double Feature

1:03:01

Final Thoughts

1:10:16

A preview of next week's episode "Yojimbo"

February is going to be samurai month and we're starting with the all-time classic "Yojimbo"

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

Craig, Alan and Guest Blake Casselman talk about legacy sequels, Tom Cruise, Blake’s upcoming film “Limbo” and the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

0:58

Craig, Alan and Blake Casselman talk about Blake's micro-budget feature "Limbo" coming out in February on Observable Universe.

8:31

Craig, Alan and Blake discuss "Top Gun: Maverick"

33:23 

Recasting

1:00:53 

Double Feature

1:09:09

Final Thoughts

1:13:01

A preview of next week's episode "The Fablemans"

Next week we finish our best of 2022 with the master, Steven Spielberg's "The Fablemans"

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan's birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

Craig and Stizzy from Everything I Learned from Movies (@EILFMovies on Twitter) talk Nic Cage’s marriages, sweet drug lords, upcoming theme months and the movie “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” on this week’s Matinee Heroes.

Show Notes

0:57

Craig, Steve and Izzy discuss the upcoming theme months on their podcast Everything I Learned from Movies.

11:52

Craig, Steve and Izzy discuss "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

28:26 

Recasting

47:21 

Double Feature

51:52

Final Thoughts

58:26

A preview of next week's episode "Top Gun: Maverick"

Next week we continue 2023 and our best of 2022 with legacy sequel "Top Gun: Maverick"