Remainders

This week on Remainders we begin Cage Fest with the 1999 underrated gem, Bringing Out the Dead. Directed by Martin Scorsese with a screenplay by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), the Dead follows Frank Pierce, an insanely burnt out emergency paramedic working the night shift in 1990s New York City. As the stress and unpredictability of the job start to wear him down, Frank begins to see the ghosts of the people he could not save. Like a drug, Frank does what he can to maintain the high of saving lives but to extremes he can’t control. A hidden masterpiece in both Scorsese’s and Cage’s filmography, we check out where it stands in both their careers. Don’t make me take off my glasses.

Other topics include Best Picture Oscar nominees, continued praise for late-stage Tom Cruise, the Tom Sizemore school of acting, artistic inspiration, Darren’s photography retrospective, The Strokes, The Webstirs, new music picks, and Warren Zevon’s rising appreciation and recognition.  

Songs of the Week

Crimson Wave by Tacocat

Venus by Television

Every Remainders Song of the Week here

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This week on Remainders, we finish our Fritz Lang double feature with the 1931 noir classic M. A German suspense thriller ahead of its time, Lang’s first sound film is his most pivotal and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time and his magnum opus. Peter Lorre sets the stage for decades of creeper performances playing Hans Beckert, an incarnation of evil that still forces a moral quandary for the audience.

Other topics this week include TLB’s first show of the year, Lisa Marie Presley, the best and maybe worst Elvis movies, Nick Cave’s thoughts on AI, the life of L.A. mountain lion P-22, Carpenter remakes and upgrades, new music, and Billy Wilder essentials.

Songs of the Week:

Blue Moon and Mona Lisa by Elvis Presley

Hour of the Wolf by Tribulation

All Remainders Songs of the Week found here

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On this mini-episode of Remainders, we check out the shady side of classic Hollywood with the new film Babylon (w/ Spoilers!), and look back to see how it compares to the notably sunnier 2011 film The Artist. Both dive into the silent-film era and try to illuminate the transition into modern films, but with different vibes on how it affected the lives behind the scenes. 

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This week on Remainders, we begin Part One of our Fritz Lang Double-Feature with the 1927 sci-fi classic Metropolis. A German Expressionist story of broken down workers toiling away to produce a life of luxury for the rich. Sound familiar? We discuss the recurring themes that are still around today and how Lang created something that not only still resonates with society today, but also the visuals that looked far ahead of its time. Other topics include a little movie called Avatar, the Year of the Fraser, Tom Cruise’s chaotic and film-obsessed antics, TLB’s first show of the year at La Invitacion on Jan 14th in San Bernardino, and life and movie plans for 2023. And as always, the mediator between the head and hands must be the heart.

Song Picks

In all Honesty by Tone Deaf George

Heathen Child by Grinderman

All song picks on our podcast playlist

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This week on Remainders, we get ready for the holidays and put on the fantasy-goth-comedy-romance classic, Edward Scissorhands. Tim Burton upends his suburban youth upbringing with a modern-era Frankenstein story about a misunderstood boy who just wants to belong. Possibly Johnny Depp's most iconic role, we look at the lasting effect Burton's melancholy love story has had on what it means to fit in and find love. Other topics include the state of the modern blockbuster, new movies we're watching, John Waters, Darren's upcoming Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday art show, and holiday music picks for a chaotic Christmas party. 

Songs of the Week

Christmas Apology by TLB

Must Be Santa by Bob Dylan

Find all the Songs of the Week here

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This week we discuss the 80s cult classic Razorback. An eco-horror set in the outback, the tale of a giant killer boar rampaging against the exploitation of the natural land is a poetic masterpiece, despite its admittedly ridiculous premise. We get into director Russell Mulcahy’s ability to weave visual artistry and horror aesthetics while also giving us the most badass hunter from down under, Jake Cullen. Other topics include Six Feet Under, new movies we’re watching, holiday plans, and Darren’s new project The Musician’s Green Book. Let’s blast the shit out of these razorbacks!!

Songs of the Week

Keep Movin’ On by Sam Cooke

Big White Cloud by John Cale

Find all the Remainders Songs of the Week here

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This week on Remainders we talk about the 1999 documentary American Movie. A tale of Midwestern grit about a man who will stop at nothing to complete his low-budget horror film and prove to himself that dreams can come true. A Sundance Film Festival winner and the origin of two immortal characters in Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank, we’ll look at its enduring legacy and why art is worth fighting for. Other topics include Morrissey and The Cure, new music picks, and a brief tribute to Scorsese on his 80th. It’s alright! It’s ok! There’s something to live for!

Songs of the Week

Devil In Me by Gin Wigmore

There’s a Girl in the Corner by The Twilight Sad

Songs of the Week Playlist

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This week on Remainders we cover the 1955 classic The Night of the Hunter.

 A one-and-done directed movie by screen legend Charles Laughton, this noir/thriller stars Robert Mitchum as a faux preacher serial killer targeting housewives by the score. Although largely ignored at the time of release, Hunter has grown in status and is now regarded as one of the best films of all time with clear influence from the silent era and German Expressionism.

Other topics include why critics may have dismissed Hunter, Mitchum and Laughton’s larger-than-life screen presence, recent live shows, book recommendations, new prints at Darrenvorel.com, high and low art, beard status, and our new Song of the Week picks. It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the count!

Song Picks

Darren: What Would You Like Me To Do by Meat Wave

Patrick: Halloween by Helloween

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This week on Remainders, we take a look at witchcraft and satanic orgies with the 1922 silent film classic Haxan, or Witchcraft Through the Ages. As we settle into our favorite October horror movies, Haxan is largely where it all started. Part historical document on witchcraft in the Middle Ages, part fictionalized account of how Satan and his wild tongue seduced women to witchcraft, ALL horror insanity. We also give praise to the Music Box Theatre with an account of their annual 24-hour horror marathon, the Music Box of Horrors. 

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As David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy comes to a conclusion with Halloween Ends, we take a look at the entire film series. We give our complete rankings of every Halloween movie (including Halloween Ends) and celebrate Carpenter's legacy in the franchise that just keeps on giving. Hot takes are had, Rob Zombie gets some major attention, and we learn that every Halloween sequel ages like fine wine. 

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