POP ART

TELL ME ABOUT THE RABBITS, GEORGE: Join me and screenwriter Joshua Montcalm (Dark Web: Cicada 3301) as we talk rabbits; dirty disgusting rabbits; six-foot tall anthropomorphized rabbits in the WTF cult classic Donnie Darko and the Golden Age Jimmy Stewart classic Harvey.

“Deus ex machina”. At one time or the other, we’ve all had imaginary friends. Sometimes they were human, sometimes they weren’t. Sometimes nice, sometimes not. And sometimes, just sometimes, they’re six foot tall anthropomorphized Leporidae lagomorpha, Sounds like it’s time for Episode 63 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, screenwriter Joshua Montcalm, who has chosen as his film the WTF cult classic Donnie Darko, while I have chosen the Jimmy Stewart golden age classic, Harvey, both films about someone who interact with a six foot tall anthropomorphized rabbit,

And in this episode we answer such questions as: What did the director of Harvey do that got him to leave Germany and come to the US? What the hell does Donnie Darko even mean and is it Determinism v. Existentialism? Why did Jimmy Stewart suggest Harvey have wider shots at times? Who is the linguist that said that “cellar door” was the most beautiful phrase in the English language? Why did both films have trouble making their money back? Wouldn’t it be great to be drunk 24 hours a day? What did Kevin Smith say about Richard Kelly?

Check out Joshua’s film Dark Web: Cicada 3301 at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8110246/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_2and on Hulu

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

STALKERS: Join me and my guests podcasters and film enthusiasts Jordan Garcia and Armando Arvizu (of the Criterion Cult Film Podcast) as we discuss Ghost World and The World of Henry Orient, two films about high school BFFS who turn to stalking to past the time.

“Splitzing!” It’s friendship, friendship, just the perfect blendship/When other friendships have been forgot,/Ours will still be hot…Hminimm, maybe, maybe not. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 62 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome as my guests, podcasters and film enthusiasts Jordan Garcia and Armando Arvizu, who has chosen as their film Terry Zwigoff’s comic book adaptation Ghost World while I have chosen the somewhat unknown George Roy Hill film The World of Henry Orient, both films about BFFs in high school who turn to stalking to pass the time.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What is the connection to Will & Grace? What’s significant about Ghost World’s Academy Award nomination? What is the poster connection between the two films? What does the ending of Ghost World mean? What is splitzing? What is the connection to The Munsters? And Winnie the Pooh?

Check out Jordan and Armando’s podcast The Criterion Cult Film Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criterion-cult-film-podcast/id1533155441

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

BUDDY BUDDY. Join filmmaker Josh Kim (How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) and the upcoming HBO series Forbidden) as we talk buddy cop movies: Rush Hour and a precursor to the subgenre, In the Heat of the Night.

“They call me Mr. Tibbs.” Have you ever been paired for a project with someone you can’t stand? Or with someone from another culture and the two of you just didn’t get along? Were you investigating a murder and maybe wanted to kill the one you were investigating it with?…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 61 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome back, a previous guest, writer, director Josh Kim, who has chosen as his movie the Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker action movie Rush Hour, while I have chosen the Norman Jewison classic, In the Heat of the Night, both films about police officers of different and conflicting backgrounds who must come together to solve a case.

And in this episode we answer such questions as: What is the slap heard round the world? Why did Jackie Chan dislike the movie Rush Hour? Why was …Heat of the Night filmed in Sparta, Illinois rather than Sparta, Mississippi? What language does Chan speak in Rush Hour, and why? What is considered to be the first buddy cop film? What happened to Sidney Poitier’s career? What was significant about the year 1967 for movies? Why is Jackie Chan responsible for Rotten Tomatoes?

Be sure and check out Josh’s film How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) (now on streaming channels).

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

HIGH AND LOW: Join me and actor, writer, producer Thomas Goersh (the award winning short film Unhappy) as we talk The Big Blue and Wings.

“I was just trying to get one more Heine for you” As Petula Clark sang in her hit song: My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, softer than a sigh/My love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the sky…Sounds like it’s time for Episode 60 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome as my guest, actor, screenwriter, TV host, festival and film director,Thomas Goersch, who has chosen as his film French director Luc Besson’s game changing The Big Blue, while I have chosen the film that won the first Oscar for best picture, Wings, both films about friends becoming rivals and rivals becoming friends in the highly tense and dangerous worlds of free diving and World War I fighter pilots.

And in this episode, we ask such questions as: Where is the nudity in Wings? What are the differences between the true story and the film of The Big Blue? What was unique about the aerial scenes in Wings? What is an “It” girl or guy? Why wasn’t The Big Blue not shown in Italy for years? What is the Cinema du Look? What was the end of French Cinema as know it?

Look for Thomas’ short film Unhappy at a film festival near you.

And check out his IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1591928/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

Join teacher by day, horror aficionado by night Lisa Leaheey as we talk Memento and Spellbound. Meanwhile, please like, follow and spread the news about the podcast.

MEMORIES OF MURDER: “I have a condition”. You forget your keys? No big deal. You forget where you parked your car? It’s okay, you’ll find it. You forget your phone? Well, not good, but still… It happens. But forget whether you murdered someone or not and just watch as all hell breaks loose. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 59 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time round, I am happy to welcome as my guest, teacher by day, horror aficionado by night and someone who makes a career of being on other people’s podcasts, Lisa Leaheey, who has chosen as her film the Christopher Nolan mind bending neo-noir Memento, while I have chosen the classic Alfred Hitchcock psychological thriller Spellbound, both about people who may have…oh, I forget.

And in this episode we answer such questions as: Is the structure of Memento a gimmick or a conceit? What six Hitchcock films was Leo G. Carroll in? What is the major plot hole in Memento? What is a theremin and would you want to be one? What are some other stories with unusual structures? What’s odd about Teddy’s driver’s license and telephone number? Who is Michael Chekov related to? What is it about that skiing scene?

Check out Between the Scares with Lisa Leaheey at Whatever With Jason Soto at https://open.spotify.com/episode/7a0hdhkumnnpXH0CAYr33i

And check out her upcoming podcast The SibList at https://www.facebook.com/The-SibList-109714494695206soon to be at rabbitholepodcasts.com

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

Join me and filmmaker Andrew Johnson-Schmit, co-writer and co-director of the upcoming horror film Witch Child, as we discuss Train to Busan and North West Passage (aka Flame Over India).

TRAINING DAY: “Why is your ringtone so tacky?” Don’t you hate when this happens? You get on a train. It’s going to be a normal day. Then suddenly you find yourself assailed on all sides by zombies or warring tribesmen. It’s just so annoying. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 58 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. Today, I am happy to welcome as my guest writer/director/producer/podcaster Andrew Johnson-Schmit, who has chosen as his film the action packed South Korean new wave zombie flick, Train to Busan, while I have chosen the1950s action flick taking place during the Raj in India, North West Frontier, aka Flame over India, both about people on a train trying to get from point A to point B through territory filled with throngs trying to kill them.

And in this episode we answer such questions as: What countries are making the most interesting movies in the world and why? How long does it usually take to go from Seoul to Busan? What is the connection between North West Frontier and Stagecoach? What is it about train films? What is it about Zombie films? Where does the Suez Crisis fit in?

Be on the look out for Andrew’s new horror movie, now in post-production, called Witch Child.

And while waiting on that, check out Andrew’s IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5850732/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

Meanwhile, like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think.

HAVE MURDER, WILL TRAVEL: “A pint of bitters…in a thin glass”. Trying to find out who killed someone can be murder. But what makes it really annoying is when the murderer has the temerity of committing his crime somewhere else. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 57 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this outing, I am happy to welcome as my guest, movie hyphenate writer, filmmaker, academic, businessman Tony Klinger, who has chosen as his film the 1970s cult classic and Michael Caine crime film, Get Carter, while I have chosen the Spencer Tracy/John Sturges 1955 contemporary western, Bad Day at Black Rock, both films about people traveling to another location to solve a murder.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What did they do to get Spencer Tracy for the part? What annoyance did Newcastle bartenders have to put up with after Get Carter opened? Why did they change the opening of Bad Day at Black Rock? What book is Carter reading on the train to Newcastle? Was Bad Day at Black Rock subversive? Why did Get Carter do well by critics in the US, but poorly at the box office, and do badly by critics in the UK, but did well at the box office? Whatever happened to Carl Howard?

Check out Tony Klinger’s IMDB page https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005590/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0#writer

Keep a look out for his upcoming films Peace Beats – Sisters and Dirty, Sexy and Totally Iconic and more

And his blog: https://www.tonydklinger.com/

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

NAPPED TIME: “Tonight is the night to be young.” Don’t you hate when this happen? Someone abducts a loved one. Takes them far away. And you have to go after them and bring them back. And you haven’t even had your coffee yet. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 56 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. For this episode, I am happy to welcome as my guest, TV producer Casey O’Connor (Ridiculousness), who has chosen the Walter Hill rock and roll action film, Streets and Fire, while I have chosen Richard Brooks revisionist western and Burt Lancaster vehicle, The Professionals, both films inspired by the Iliad in which a group of people are sent to retrieve a loved one who has been abducted.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Why did Streets of Fire lose money? What was odd about Diane Lane’s age in Streets of Fire? What is revisionist about The Professionals? How did Amy Madigan’s role change once she was cast? What was odd about the directing category of the 1967 Oscars? Where did the title of Streets of Fire come from and what happened in connection to it? What was the ninth most popular movie at the French box office in 1966? What famous comedian can be seen as an extra in Streets of Fire? What is Richard Brooks most lasting contribution to film noir and what did the censors do? Which song from Streets of Fire became a top 10 Billboard hit in 1984? What is the Blasters and would you want to be one?

Be sure and check out Casey’s show on MTV: Ridiculousness

And check out his cool lamps made from VHS tapes at https://www.voltagevhs.com/

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: “Nag, nag, nag.” How hard can it be? Your assignment is to get a witness from point A to point B? What could possibly go wrong, you ask? Sounds like it’s time for Episode 55 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. Today, I am happy to welcome as my guest, blogger. podcaster and film enthusiast Thomas Stoneham-Judge, who has chosen the Ryan Reynolds/Samuel L. Jackson bromance road picture, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, while I have chosen the Clint Eastwood/Sondra Locke romantic action road picture, The Gauntlet, both about people trying to get a witness to trial against almost insurmountable odds. And don’t forget to follow my podcast and comment.

And in this episode we answer such questions as: What is the Wilhelm Scream; What is a Pat Hingle and would you want to be one; Why do Reynolds and Jackson work so well together; What did test audiences scream out at the climax of The Gauntlet; What song do the nuns on the bus sing; who were first cast in The Gauntlet; What happened to the screenplay to The Hitman’s Bodyguard a few weeks before shooting?

And check out Thomas’ blog at ForReel Movie News & Reviews at https://www.moviesforreel.net/home/category/Blogs+by+Thomas

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss

CURSES, FOILED AGAIN: “Out of my way, you masters of one thousand fleas”. The course of true love never did run smooth. If you’re a hawk by day, your love is a wolf by night. If you are blind, your love is in a deep sleep. Curses. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 54 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture, and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome as my guest, blogger and film enthusiast Jeanette Ward, who has chosen Richard Donner’s medieval dark fantasy Ladyhawke, while I have chosen the Alexander Korda/Michael Powell Tales of the Arabian Nights Sabu vehicle, the classic Thief of Bagdad, both fantasy films about a thief who helps overturn a curse and reunite lovers.

And in this episode we answer such questions as: What is it about fantasy films anyway? Why did Ladyhawke fail at the box office? What is a Sabu and would you want to be one? Is Leo McKern No. 1? What happened when the production of Thief of Bagdad was moved from London to Hollywood at the outbreak of the war? Who was originally cast in the Rutger Hauer role? What innovation to special effects did The Thief of Bagdad bring to movie making? Why does everyone talk to God? And what is it with Broderick’s accent?

And check out Jeanette’s blog The Mundane Adventures of a Fangirl at http://jwardadventures.blogspot.com/

Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/

My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss