Talking Pondo

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Dudes to watch and Clif gives Marty the film Sicario to watch.

Dudes

Sicario

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Near Dark to watch and Clif gives Marty the film The Late Game to watch.

Near Dark

The Late Game

Watch The Late Game on Fawesome

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Maximum Overdrive to watch and Clif gives Marty the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World to watch.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Trailer

Maximum Overdrive Trailer

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 In this episode we talk to Olivia Blake. Olivia played the character Katy Rose in two of our films, "Revenge of Zoe" and "The Love Song of William H. Shaw."

Love Song Trailer

TemporaryTattoos.com

TusCon Link

28 Dresses Trailer

Die Die Delta Pie Trailer

Top Chef Link

Guy’s Grocery Games Link

Walk the Line Trailer

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Trailer

Hell on Wheels Trailer

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Ed Wood to watch and Clif gives Marty the film Once Bitten to watch.

This week, Marty and Clif kick things off with Once Bitten (1985), an early theatrical starring role for a young Jim Carrey. A vampire countess needs the blood of a virgin to preserve her youth and beauty, and high schooler Mark Kendall might be just the guy she's looking for. What follows is an '80s teen sex comedy with fangs, a prom-night dance-off, questionable jokes and enough period-specific weirdness to fill a time capsule. They look back at the movie's familiar coming-of-age tropes, it's enjoyably dated sensibilities and the early glimpses of the manic comic performer Carrey would become.

Then it's time for Tim Burton's Ed Wood (1994), a fictionalized look at the filmmaker behind such cult oddities as Glen or Glenda? and Plan 9 from Outer Space. With Martin Landau's Oscar-winning performance as Bela Lugosi, the film follows Wood's determination to make movies despite his limited resources and questionable filmmaking skills. More than anything, they connect with the film's affection for filmmaking itself: finding your people, scraping together the resources and making something because you can't imagine doing anything else.

Along the way: Jim Carrey's evolution from aspiring leading man to full-on comedy superstar, the wonderfully strange conventions of '80s teen movies, scrappy little vampire comedies and a compelling case for why the love of movies matters.

#TalkingPondo #OnceBitten #EdWood #JimCarrey #TimBurton #MoviePodcast #80sMovies #CultCinemaShow less

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Almost Famous to watch and Clif gives Marty the film Sullivan's Travels to watch.

First up is Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels (1941). Hollywood director John L. Sullivan wants to make a serious film about poverty, so he sets out to experience life as a homeless man himself. Naturally, things go sideways. With rapid-fire dialogue, sharp Hollywood satire, and a story that takes some wonderfully unexpected turns, the film keeps Marty and Clif guessing right up to it's prison-camp detour. They discuss the movie's unusual structure, it's surprisingly heartfelt message about the value of laughter and the ways this classic may have influenced generations of filmmakers.

Then it's on the road with Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (2000), revisiting the sprawling Untitled Director's Cut. A teenage music journalist gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he joins the rising rock band Stillwater on tour in the early 1970s. He encounters complicated musicians, self-proclaimed “Band-Aids” and a world where everyone seems to be using everyone else for something. Marty loves the extended cut’s atmosphere and backstage authenticity, while Clif appreciates the film but wonders whether all that extra footage earns it's nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime. They dig into the performances, the music, Penny Lane and Russell's complicated relationship, plus the fine line between capturing the magic of rock ’n’ roll and romanticizing its darker side.

Along the way: the influence of classic Hollywood comedies on later filmmakers, blink-and-you'll-miss-them cameos, the merits of extended cuts and obnoxious movie-theater audiences.

#TalkingPondo #SullivansTravels #AlmostFamous #PrestonSturges #CameronCrowe #MoviePodcast #ClassicHollywood #MovieDiscussion

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film The Hollywood Knights to watch and Clif gives Marty That Thing You Do! to watch.

First up is Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do! (1996) extended edition, following a small-town Pennsylvania band whose catchy one-hit wonder sends them from local gigs to the big time. Marty and Clif debate whether the extra footage adds welcome character moments or simply gives us more performances of that relentlessly catchy song. They also get into Jimmy's questionable choices, Guy's rise within the band and Marty's theory that the movie is a surprisingly personal allegory for Tom Hanks' own journey through Hollywood. And remember: keep on playing.

Then it's on to The Hollywood Knights (1980), a rowdy Halloween-night teen comedy about a Beverly Hills car club facing the last night of its beloved drive-in.  Marty and Clif revisit the movie's outrageous antics, it's impressive collection of future familiar faces and the kind of jokes that make you wonder who thought they were a good idea, while you're laughing at them. Beneath the crude humor and chaotic shenanigans, Marty also finds a more wistful story about a fading era, with the Hollywood Knights still raising hell on the eve of a very different world.

Along the way: Connecting the dots between both films, old favorites on cable and VHS and the strange magic of movies that capture the last night before everything changes.

#TalkingPondo #ThatThingYouDo #TheHollywoodKnights #TomHanks #MoviePodcast #80sMovies #90sMovies #MovieDiscussion

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode we talk to Nate Campbell. Nate played the character Pete Reynoso in three of our films: "Writing Fren-Zee," "Revenge of Zoe" and "The Love Song of William H. Shaw."

Writing Fren-Zee Trailer

Love Song Trailer

Zhon Trailer

Chasing Amy Trailer

Jaws - Scar Scene Link

Last Action Hero Trailer

The Crow Trailer

How to Talk to Girls at Parties Trailer

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Knightriders to watch and Clif gives Marty the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to watch.

First, Marty takes Clif back to 1981 for George A. Romero's Knightriders, a two-and-a-half-hour motorcycle jousting epic about a band of modern-day knights trying to live by their own code in a world that doesn't quite know what to do with them. Starring Ed Harris, Tom Savini and a collection of familiar faces from Romero's cinematic universe, the film mixes biker culture, Renaissance faire pageantry and the ideals of the counterculture into one very unusual ride. There are some beautiful shots, memorable moments and plenty to chew on, but the guys go over that this particular trip with the circus could have reached it's destination a good thirty minutes sooner. Camelot may be a state of mind, but so is a director's cut.

Then Clif brings Marty to the Australian outback for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Stephan Elliott's road comedy about three drag performers traveling across the desert in a bus named Priscilla to put on a show in Alice Springs. Starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, the film blends outrageous costumes, sharp comedy and spectacular landscapes with a surprisingly warm story about identity, friendship, family and finding your place in the world. From the unforgettable bus to the breathtaking sight of a performer in full costume atop it, Priscilla delivers a road movie that's funny and poignant. The guys also consider how far representation has come and how much this film was doing differently back in 1994.

Along the way: The very different ways Knightriders and Priscilla portray outsiders, Priscilla's spectacular costumes, desert imagery and a surprising amount to say about buses, bad decisions and the changing times.

#TalkingPondo #KnightRiders #TheAdventuresOfPriscillaQueenOfTheDesert #GeorgeRomero #TerenceStamp #HugoWeaving #CultMovies #MoviePodcast

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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 In this episode, Marty gives Clif the film Running Scared to watch and Clif gives Marty A Knight's Tale to watch.

First, Marty takes Clif back to 1986 for Running Scared, the buddy-cop comedy starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as two Chicago detectives who are ready to leave the job behind for a quieter life in Key West. Unfortunately, retirement has to wait while they deal with drug dealers, rookie cops, questionable police work and a plot that seems to have several other movies fighting for space inside it. The guys examine the film's strange pacing, its parade of familiar '80s cop-movie clichés and a cast that includes Jimmy Smits and Joey Pants. Sometimes a movie ages into a classic. Sometimes it ages into a very entertaining bingo card.

Next, is A Knight's Tale (2001), Brian Helgeland's unconventional adventure starring Heath Ledger as a young squire who assumes his dead master's identity and competes in jousting tournaments for fame, fortune and love. Featuring Mark Addy, Paul Bettany and Alan Tudyk, the film mixes medieval pageantry with modern rock music, anachronistic costumes and the energy of a classic underdog sports movie. The guys discuss the film's wonderfully audacious soundtrack, it's spectacular jousting sequences, the art of making historical inaccuracy work and why sometimes you just have to buy the ticket and enjoy the show.

Along the way: The perfect recipe for an '80s buddy-cop movie, a script that has too many ideas, Key West sunsets with questionable symbolism, the importance of watching movie credits and a familiar face.

#TalkingPondo #RunningScared #AKnightsTale #BillyCrystal #HeathLedger #CultMovies #MoviePodcast #80sMovies

Support the show

Find our films here:

The Love Song of William H Shaw

Revenge of Zoe

Writing Fren-Zee

Making Pondo on Facebook

Bluesky

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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One

Season Two

Season Three

Season Four

Season Five

Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin