Optimism Vaccine

We probably ought to have started this series with Once Upon a Time In China, yeah?

We're knee deep in Tsui Hark goodness in Part 2 of our journey back to Hong Kong. A lesser podcast would dedicate an entire episode to Wong Fei Hung's acclaimed series of epic adventures, but we got the gist after the first one and moved on to soup-stuffed fish.

THIS WEEK: The Chinese Feast (1995), Love in the Time of Twilight (1995), The Lovers (1994), and Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

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This week we're headed back to Hong Kong as we launch another multi-episode expedition into the kinetic, underseen, influential HK New Wave scene. This time around we're focusing on Tsui Hark, a man whose vast filmography stretches all the way from Wuxia to Van Damme. I'm sure your Twitter follows are convinced he's a sinister agent of Xi Jinping, but honestly, he's just a goddamn great director. We promise. To kick things off, our regular panel of mediocrity is joined by real deal film writer Sean Gilman as we examine a particularly eclectic selection from Tsui's career. Is it a perfect primer? Who's to say! Are there killer butterflies? You bet your ass there are.

THIS WEEK: The Blade (1995), The Butterfly Murders (1979), Green Snake (1993), and Peking Opera Blues (1986)

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Forget being an agent for the British Secret Service - what if Bond was a super cool criminal (with a super sexy girlfriend, natch), who regularly overthrew bureaucratic structures to fuel his selfish desires? For Your Ears Only continues our journey through spin-offs, offshoots, and features influenced by the world of 007 with Mario Bava’s pop masterpiece, Danger: Diabolik. It’s a film so good, its only crime is that it did not get a franchise of its own.

THIS WEEK: Danger: Diabolik (1968)

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We're in the middle of a national eviction crisis during a global pandemic and filthy rich landlords are getting wealthier exploiting working-class folks like you. So what can cinema teach us about the power of tenant solidarity? Quite a bit, actually. There's a lot you can learn from 90s Wes Craven and a 70s exploitation kung fu flick rescued from obscurity by Vinegar Syndrome. Turns out all you need to do is learn how to kick your landlord in the dick, cover them in flesh-eating rats and maybe release some of the jaundiced cannibals trapped in your walls.

THIS WEEK: Death Promise (1977) and The People Under the Stairs (1991)

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We decided to celebrate the 4th of July like true red-blooded Americans by watching three films that embody the spirit of the United States (or possibly just have USA in the title and involve blowing shit up). Jack, an Irishman, AKA what every American wants to be, even put together a fun American citizenship test to see who has earned the right to continue to live in this country. Please salute the nearest flag, throw a burger on the grill and crank up the volume. This is what patriotism sounds like.

THIS WEEK: Danger USA (1989), Action U.S.A. (1989), Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

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Who needs James Bond when you've got a hunk like James Coburn? This week, For Your Ears Only checks out the original Bond parody franchise and looks at how the zany Derek Flint films stack up to their more serious 007 counterparts.

THIS WEEK: Our Man Flint (1966) and In Like Flint (1967)

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A lesser podcast might do a special Father's Day episode by curating a selection of DAD DAY FAVS and reminiscing about bygone moments with pops. Fuck that. We take Father's Day very seriously and very literally. We'll remember to call up dear old dad this year (doubtful) and do an episode where we watch any film with the title Father's Day.

That means we'll be checking out the 1997 Ivan Reitman joint starring Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Sugar Ray, and a skankin' ska soundtrack. If you're wondering, Father's Day (1997) aged about as well as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and is somehow less memorable.

We're also discussing our first Astron-6 film on the podcast, Father's Day (2011). It's a gore-and-incest-heavy Troma pastiche that your dad will probably hate unless he's the sort of guy who stands in line at a horror convention for six hours with a half-chub waiting to take a picture with Elvira. Your dad is better than that.

THIS WEEK: Father's Day (1997) and Father's Day (2011)

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Charles Grodin was one of the greatest comedic minds of the 20th century and the king of deadpan humor. This week, we're honoring the life and times of the almighty GRODES by revisiting some of his best cinematic moments. Join us as we break down three of his most iconic roles, ponder Grodin's level of support for a free Palestine, question The Ultimate Warrior's level of cocaine consumption, and discover the secret of becoming an Instagram influencer.

THIS WEEK: Real Life (1979), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and Midnight Run (1988)

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We're wrapping up the To-down with four films that cover the full spectrum of Johnnie To cinema, from a classic Hong Kong crime thriller to an anti-capitalist musical.

THIS WEEK: Running Out of Time (1999), Turn Left, Turn Right (2003), Mad Detective (2007), The Office (2015)

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The OV Johnnie To-down continues with four of the Hong Kong director's most acclaimed crime films.

THIS WEEK: PTU (2003), Breaking News (2004), Election (2005), Drug War (2012)

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