Today, Matt & Todd cover 1978's The Wild Geese, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring Richard Burton, Richard Harris, and Roger Moore.

If you've seen "The Wild Geese," you understand where we're coming from. If you've made assumptions about how this movie might handle apartheid-era politics, don't—because it didn't think too hard about it. The movie reflects that in nearly every character, why they're there, and what they're doing. This is not a message film, nor a political one. We appreciate the sense of honesty the film has about what it is doing and why.

The movie remains controversial for filming within South Africa during a time of heightening pressure against the oppressive regime, causing early bad publicity towards the film and outright bans in several countries.

On the surface, "The Wild Geese" is a straightforward action-adventure starring a cast of older stars whose characters are looking for profit and adventure. It is fair to point out the film for not getting into the socio-political problems it references, or the real-life mission it was inspired by. While forming that criticism, we think it is important to remember: It is a film made by one of the most mercenary operations in existence—filmmaking and exploiting something for entertainment without thinking too hard about it. We feel it handles the subject matter about as well as could be. If nothing else this film sticks to the clear motivations of the main characters with glints of humanity that may not be the best developed, but these are pretty single-minded lads by nature.

If you're an action fan, this should entertain you; it is thrilling, tense, and dramatic in just the right places.

You can also check out two critics we respect saying the exact opposite:

Roger Ebert - ("...dumb movie...", "...stay away...") and Gene Siskel - ("dull", "Dog of the Year")

Ebert's opening line about the cast is objectively funny.

We didn't watch this review before recording ours, and I can only imagine what they would have thought us.

As always, thank you for listening, and Happy New Year!

Collect intel on the movies Matt loves on his Letterbox'd and Bluesky: MovieMattSirois accounts.

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Hear Matt on Fade Out

1999's The Mummy - Directed by Stephen Sommers; Starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Jonathan Hyde and Arnold Vosloo stars as Imhotep: a resurrected sorcerer with incredible powers of destruction.

The Mummy is a throwback to early adventure films of early Hollywood, like we hadn't seen since Indiana Jones: And the Last Crusade fitting a mold that is a great blend of grand adventure with the supernatural we hadn't seen in over 10 years.

One of the top 10 grossing films in the US of 1999, The Mummy is left with a legacy of uneven sequels and spinoffs (including the debut of Dwayne Johnson: Movie Star), and a remake to undo it entirely, but let none of that stop you from having a great time with this one.

Dreams.

Do they go on when you close your eyes?

What are they made of?

Are they a slow and steady fire?

Are they your heart and soul's desire?

Listen in as we discuss the movie that demands the question:

Would Alex Gardner get you through the night?

Dreamscape is a 1984 Sci-Fi Thriller directed by Joseph Ruben that was a blast to rediscover after probably 4 decades of kinda remembering it, despite having heavy HBO rotation in 'the day.'

Starring a stacked cast:

Dennis Quaid

Max Von Sydow

Christopher Plummer

Eddie Albert

Kate Capshaw

David Patrick Kelly

George Wendt

and more. listen in!

Follow @moviemattsirois on Letterbox'd and Bluesky!

Despite a prolific and acclaimed creative career, including a musician his entire life with a deep passion for jazz and awards for composition and scoring along with directing.

Despite a list of international guilds, publications, and awards that goes on and on. (Whatever he hasn't won, he's received an honorary award for). About half of the films he has directed have been nominated for major industry awards in categories such as picture, direction, acting, sound, or scoring.

Despite all of this; Clint Eastwood will probably forever be remembered most as either the 'Man With No Name', 'the Good', or 'Dirty' Harry Callahan.

Today, Matt and Todd are joined by our neighbor from the north, Logan, to embark on a retrospective of Clint Eastwood's directorial efforts. The legend as a director.

Director Clint Eastwood's films have garnered enormous praise across the globe. Listen in as we discuss a career filled with industry accolades: 11 Oscar nominations for Best Picture or Director, including 2 wins each for "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby". He has also received 12 Golden Globe nominations as a director, with wins for "Bird", "Unforgiven", and "Million Dollar Baby".

We're throwing our hat into the ⁠⁠⁠immense list⁠⁠⁠ of accolades to offer our admiration for his efforts and gratitude for hours of entertainment.

Follow! - Matt's TV/Movie diet as @moviemattsirois on: Twitter, Letterboxd, and Instagram

Join! - "Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful" on Facebook

Witness! - Logan, presumably doing what he does best as: @quintsvessel, On Twitter & Letterboxd

Ponder! - Todd doesn't really do anything, so if you see one with an online presence, it isn't him, he's the other one.

Thank you again for listening, and we hope to have you next time.

Did you think it was one word too?

Anyway Matt & Todd continue Neo-Western November to review the delightful actioner Road House (1989).

Directed by Rowdy Harrington

Starring: Patric Swayze, Kelly Lynch and Ben Gazzara

We love this film, unironically, exactly for the over-the-top wish-fulfillment it truly is. It reminds us of the sort of "code of honor" from the old cowboy pictures we grew up with.

It's no Lawrence of Arabia, or even Friday the 13th Part 2*, but

it is Road House and if you don't love it, just watch it until you do.

'High' art? No. Elevating filmmaking? No.

Awesome? Yes and that is what counts at TV/MR.

We also talk a little about the Jake Gyllenhaal one (pretty fun!)

Find us on Twitter if we're still there, Blusky and Letterboxed.

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Today Matt & Todd discuss the 1987 Neo-Western Action-Thriller: Extreme Prejudice.

Directed by Walter Hill, based on a story by John Milius

Starring: Nick Nolte and a TV/MR all star cast:,

Powers Boothe (ep: Tombstone),

Maria Conchita Alonso (ep: Running Man),

Micheal Ironside (eps: V, McBain)

and his "zombie" squad of SPECOPS:

Clancy Brown (ep: Highlander),

William Forsythe (ep: The Immortals),

Matt Mulhern (? Ok maybe not him),

Dan Tullis Jr (ep: Apparently, season 5 ep 03 of 'The A-Team, as 'himself'(!)),

Larry B. Scott (ep: Iron Eagle) ((not Larry B. David, not Larry Drake, not Larry B. Davis, or any other 'Larry' variant Matt mentions),

And, we can't forget an appearance by Rip Torn (ep: Beastmaster) as a local county sherriff.

Wow, what a cast, huh?

So...

A John Milius story,

directed by Walter Hill,

With this cast?

This is peak 80s action with a layered story firing on all cylinders. A forgotten action masterpiece and an outstanding time overall.

... I wasn't able to find this streaming anywhere in the U.S.A

That said, if any of this interests you, ahead and just add it to your collection.

If you've nodded along to our recommendation so far, this one gets one of our highest 'just buy it' recommendations.

Welcome back to the TV/Movie Rewind podcast. Matt & Todd are joined by Mike to discuss the 1978 action-'road'-neo-western film Convoy.

Directed by Sam Peckinpah(!)

Starring Kris Kristofferson, Ernest Borgnine and Ali McGraw and a deeper cast including Burt Young and Franklin Ajaye tells the story of an outlaw and his pals escaping jurisdiction and finding help along the way.

Convoy is an at-times aimless neo-Western that asks more questions than it answers.

Of course we enjoyed it.

Among other places, you can find Convoy streaming for free on sites like: Pluto, Tubi, Plex and Hoopla.

Matt & Todd review 1989’s Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat starring: David Carradine, Morgan Brittany, John Ireland, Bruce Campbell and an ensemble cast of the undead just trying to live amongst themselves.

Directed by Anthony Hickox this movie delivers on each of its premises with bloody tongue in cheek while playing off all themes vampire, western, melodramatic and comedic.

Today Matt and Todd are joined by Mike McCarty to discuss a favorite from 1968. Quatermass and the Pit, (or, if you have the time, watch Five Million Years to Earth the USA title).

Quatermass and the Pit (1968) stars:

James Donald, Andrew Keir (as Quatermass), Barbara Shelley, and Julian Glover. Directed by Roy Ward Baker.

Written by the legend of British Science Fiction: Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and the Pit takes you to a deep pit, excavated in the underground of a London Building. What is found within begins to warp the minds of all around it, causing fear and chaos.

Quatermass and the Pit will be enjoyed by fans of Dr. Who, or movies like Halloween III, Prince of Darkness and Pandorum. This is a classic blend of sci-fi and horror.

Already well-known by Mike and Matt, this was a first-watch for Todd and an instant classic.

This is a great time, check it out. We couldn't find this streaming anywhere in the US, but the fantastic Blu Ray is available and alive with 60s London Nostalgia, I thought it was a nice clean print.

Today Matt and Todd are joined again by @GabeCrate (follow on Twitter), to discuss the end George A. Romero's of the 'Dead Trilogy'... for about 20 years anyway.

Day of the Dead focuses on the downfall of a research post hidden deep within a Florida cave. We witness a force of wills that collide at the end of their rope, amongst their shambling doom.

George A. Romero's Day of the Dead (1985) stars Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty, Jarlath Conroy and Joe Pilato as Captain Rhodes.

This one never flinches, and the effects by Tom Savini and his team on this film remain a shocking and gruesome masterpiece to this day.

Follow desert warrior/filmmaker/illustrator/musician @GabeCrate on twitter if you want to share some lizard-on-a-stick and conserve water as he reviews every post apocalyptic film ever made.