Stewart, Rastislav and Ken return for Off the Record, and speak on the memory of Ozzy Osbourne. Ken begins with a glowing review of 2020’s Rockfield: the Studio on the Farm; Ozzy, Tony Iommi and many others were interviewed for this documentary on the studio built by Charles and Kingsley Ward. The Welsh farming brothers provided the backdrop for Black Sabbath and other UK bands to create enduring pop and rock classics, and have weathered industry changes to continue operating.Stewart continues with a review of the 2023 sci fi thriller Simulant, a low budget affair that nevertheless utilized its actors and story to impress Stewart; he favourably compares this film to Blade Runner. Robbie Amell, Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu and Sam Worthington headline.Rastislav then brings more UK praise with his review of the Ricky Gervais series After Life (2019-2022). He enjoyed Gervais’ abrasive, uncompromising humour and observations of human nature.Moving to lesser picks, Ken reviews an early Mike Flanagan effort called Absentia (2011). While he found value in the character development between actors Katie Parker and Courtney Bell, he feels the low budget prevented Flanagan from creating a film with the intensity of his later releases.Stewart then expands on his Dead Like Me series review to administer last rites to its 2009 sequel movie Life After Death. Actors Ellen Muth and Callum Blue couldn’t enliven this finale to Stewart’s satisfaction.Rastislav concludes with his analysis of the recent Netflix sensation You (2018-2025), starring Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti and others. He felt the change in story backdrops kept the series from being consistently entertaining.

And if that wasn’t enough, Twisted Metal Season 2 leaves us with a bitter taste in Stewart’s mouth.

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If ye scurvy landlubbers decide to visit the savage islands of the South Pacific, Nate and Hayes are the best guides you could have. Arrr!

This 1983 film bombed big in the box office, and bombed big with Siskel and Ebert! Nate and Hayes is based on the two real life characters Captain Bully Hayes and Ben Pease. Nate being the missionary type and Hayes being the rapscallion he is. Both team up to save Nate's wife who was kidnapped by the Pirate Ben Pease. They get into trouble, chase after what seems to be turn of the century warships, to get the lady back.

The film features plenty of would be jokes, although some seemingly timed poorly. Ken picked the film for review as it is our first swashbuckler review that he saw when he was 10. Rasto had some choice words to say about the film, and Stewart seemingly enjoyed what he deemed as 'Indiana Hayes and the Grumpy Fisherman.' The film had some suspicious elements that are seen in another Indiana Jones film, and also the modern Pirates of the Caribbean.

Written by the two famous writers Lloyd Phillips and John Hughes and directed by Ferdinand Fairfax. Starring Tommy Lee Jones as Bully Hayes, Michael O'Keefe as Nate, Max Phipps as Ben Pease and Jenny Seagrove as Sophie.

Film Rating: PG

Audio Clip from Nate and Hayes

Original Text Interview Siskel and Ebert

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In this edition of Off the Record Rastislav Miklos and Stewart Rathje take a look at films we watched recently. Unfortunately Ken was not able to make it this time.

Rasto enlightens us with his TV series that ran from 2016 to 2021. Rasto believes that four seasons is the perfect amount of time before a series goes stale. Billy Bob Thornton plays a disgraced lawyer, and ambulance chaser mixed with his keen cleverness.

Stewart then gives his take on the 1988 film The Couch Trip, featuring an escaped mental patient and convict played by Dan Aykroyd. This Crimedy didn’t deserve the ratings it did, and is full of laughs. Dan Aykroyds sidekick is played by Walter Matthau.

Rasto continues on the True Crime kick with the TV series Bosch from 2014 to 2021 but only managed to watch 2 seasons. The series continues to confuse Rasto on how they came up with the name of the show. He believes it was based on the famous painter from the 16th century, Hieronymus Bosch.

And finally Stewart’s lesser pick The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee from 2020 is parody of a film that pokes fun at retired actors and the high jinx they can get into. Featuring Paul Hogan as the main character, but graced with many cameo appearances from other actors such as Chevy Chase and John Cleese.

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Mother! from 2017 is not a typical movie you would show to your mother or father as the screenplay was written in just 5 days. The viewers were divided down the middle on ratings and it was considered a controversial film. Filled with religious symbolism that was loosely based on key moments of the old and new testament scriptures. Whether you consider this film good or bad, it will certainly will force you to dig deeper into it.

Written and Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence as the mother, Javier Bardem as Him, Ed Harris as Man (Adam), and Michelle Pfeiffer as Woman (Eve).

You can Watch the Trailer Below:

It is not often that myself (Stewart) and Rasto disagree this much on a film, but here we are. Not only did we disagree on the Directors ability in this film, but also on the choice to cast Jennifer Lawrence as main character. Give the podcast a listen!

Below is a short clip from the film, where Mother had just given birth to her son, and the fanatics have taken him away from her.

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In this edition of Off the Record we take a peak at the following films and give tribute to Gene Hackman and Val Kilmer who have recently died. Thunderheart from 1992, Nocturne from 2020, The Hole from 2009, Uncommon Valor from 1983, 11:14 from 2003, Conclave from 2024, and the dishonorable mention of The Brutalist.

Notable Actors include. Val Kilmer, Sydney Sweeney, Madison Iseman, Chris Massoglia, Bruce Dern, Gene Hackman, Hilary Swank, Colins Hanks, and Ralph Fiennes.

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Does John Die at the End? This 2012 mashup of various film and horror genres is as unique as it comes. Based on the novel and web series of the same name, and written by the same author.
 
John and Dave are a couple of young slackers, with seemingly nothing going on in their life. However a chance encounter with a Bob Marley look-a-like sets them off in a tailspin as he knows things about their life no one should know. After ingesting a 'soy sauce' like drug, they realize they have new abilities to see into space, time, and alternate universes in real time. However, there is a curse with this drug as there is an ancient monster lurking in the shadows who seeks to use Dave and John for it's own purposes.

Directed by Don Coscarelli, and written by David Wong (Jason Pargin), who also wrote the novel. Notable cast include Chase Williamson as Dave, Rob Mayes as John, Paul Giamatti as Arnie, Fabianne Therese as Amy and Clancy Brown as Dr. Albert Marconi.

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We are here celebrating our 100th episode of the combined Off the Record and Full Length Editions. We go back to our earliest memories of cinema that had influenced us in our life. In this edition we look at Star Wars Episode 4 - A New Hope, Star Wars Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back, Permanent Vaction from 1980, PI from 1998, Upgrade from 2018 and finally Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3 from 1992.

Thank You everyone for listening thus far, and we hope to produce 100 more!

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David Lynch created many films that shocked us, but he also knew how to give us...The Straight Story. Join us as we review this lesser viewed gem.
 
The Straight story from 1999 follows the real life events of an elderly man named Alvin Straight who has had a falling out with his brother many years prior. He finds out his brother has had a stroke and decides he needs to make amends. Due to Alvins own short comings, and inability to drive he has no way to reconnect with him in his remote house half way across the country from Iowa. In a daring plan Alvin Straight decides to fix up his old riding mower, attach a homemade trailer to it and make the trek alone. He encounters many interesting people in his journey.
 
Starring Richard Farnsworth as Alvin, and Sissy Spacek as Rose. Visit our website https://studiostation.xyz/unsung-cinematics/ for the various links mentioned in the episode.

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Episode 1 of 2025: In this edition we look at the following films: Nosferatu (2024), The Day of the Jackal (2024) Tv Series, Von Ryan's Express (1965), Arcadian (2024), Dinner in America (2021), The First Deadly Sin (1980) and The Lobster as an honorable mention.

Notable Actors Include: Willem Dafoe, Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Ursula Corbelo, Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, Nicholas Cage, Kyler Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Faye Dunaway.

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Based on 1570's Feudal Japan, this historical epic was a masterpiece of its time. Akira Kurosawa was near the end of his career, and hadn't made a film in some time, but this was his valiant return with the Film Kagemusha: the Shadow Warrior. The film almost never seen the light of day if it weren't for the Western counterparts to cover the remaining budget and distribution.

Based on the true events Takeda Shingen and his clan, this film delves into the historical aspects of the era and the politic behind it. The famous warlord dies to an assassin of one of the competing factions, but one of his last requests was to keep the appearance that he was alive for the sake of the clan. The top generals of this clan seek out a shadow warrior or counterfeit Shingen to play the roll of the warlord. Many competing clans are fighting for power, and suspect he may be dead, but are unable to say for certain.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa, with George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola and starring Tatsuya Nakadai.

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