Brush Creek Film Review

Buddy continues the discussion with Alex Paxton about the spy genre focusing on spy novels and movies.

Buddy is joined by Alex Paxton to discuss the book and movie Order 86. View the complete show notes >

Buddy is joined by Jenny Garmon to discuss the documentary Trust Me and disinformation. View the complete show notes >

Buddy and guest Jeremy Weese continue their discussion of films that blend horror and science fiction. FILMS - Jeremy:Mandy, Panos Cosmatos, 2018, (USA/Belgium), HorrorUltra-stylized tale of revenge with ‘Cage Rage' (Nicolas Cage) front and center. This is a wink and nod to over-the-top horror flicks of the 70's-80's; glazed in psychedelic flavor and a hyper saturated color scheme; the form factor clearly inspired by the hip and slick style of Italian Giallo films (Suspiria, 1977).  FILMS - Buddy:The Descent, Neil Marshall, 2006, (UK), HorrorA group of thrill-seeking friends get together for a social bonding trip which leads them to athletic outdoor adventures. This year, the activity is spelunking (cave diving). The circle of friends is strong, but issues are just beneath the surface. One member of the group (Sarah Carter, aka Shauna Macdonald) is recovering from a traumatic accident in which her significant other was lost. Despite Sarah's emotional damage, the group works together to tackle the mental and physical challenges posed by the cave. Things go awry when the group is suddenly trapped and surprised to learn that their friend and trip planner (Juno Kaplan, aka Natalie Mendoza) decided to lead them into a completely unexplored cave system, seemingly to increase the bonding experience. If being trapped in a unexplored cave isn't bad enough, the group is then suddenly faced with another, far more terrifying discovery. There is a darkness beyond the darkness and something is following them! Read the full show notes >

FILMS - Jeremy:Annihilation, Alex Garland, 2018, (USA), Sci-fi/HorrorA biologist investigates a mysterious invisible border known only as Area X, trying to figure out what happened to her husband, who recently disappeared inside. As her and her team delve deeper across the border, their sanity is tested by unknown phenomena. For fans of movies that blend sci-fi and horror.FILMS - Buddy:The Expanse, Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, 2015-current, (Canada), Sci-fi/HorrorBased on the epic sci-fi book series by James S.A. Corey, this action packed tv series brings the book to life. This is Star Wars for adults - a interstellar space opera, a cyber-punk thriller, a must-see for fans of the sci-fi genre.BOOKS:Area X (series), Jeff VanderMeer:1 - Annihilation2 - Authority3 - AcceptanceThe Expanse (series), James S.A. Corey:1 - Leviathan Wakes2 - Caliban's War3 - Abaddon's Gate4 - Cibola Burn5 - Nemesis Games6 - Babylon's Ashes7 - Persepolis Rising8 - Tiamat's WrathREFERENCESStephen King (lecture): His Books, and Their OriginsTrailers:AnnihilationThe ExpanseJump ScareTested, Adam SavageCREDITSDigital Branch Manager, David LaCroneGraphic Designer, Levi HoffmeierEditing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCroneMusic, Franny Finstrom Clark

Buddy is joined by the Library's supervisor of the film and music vault, Eric Petersen, to discuss two films starring screen legend Sidney Poitier.View the full show notes (PDF) >

Enjoy the second half of Buddy and Jeni's discussion of films about health and wellness topics. This episode features films about two important and difficult topics: end of life decisions and dementia.FILMS - Jeni:•       Defining Hope – Exploring End of Life Care, Kino Lorber, 2017 (USA)An exploration of palliative care, end of life issues, hospice care and what 'quality of life' really means. Provides a hopeful message about patients making choices about care when faced with life-threatening illness.FILMS - Buddy:•       Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory, Michael Rossato-Bennett, 2014 (USA)A case study demonstrating the therapeutic power of music on elderly patients.Notes / Reference:•        Freegal•       Hoopla•        Kanopy•        KCPL: Calendar•        KCPL: Health & Wellness Events•        Music and Memory•        Alive Inside CREDITS◦        Waldo Branch Manager, Jim Poplau◦        Digital Branch Manager, David LaCrone◦        Graphic Designer, Levi Hoffmeier◦        Editing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCrone◦        Music, Franny Finstrom ClarkView the transcript of this episode >

Typewriter enthusiast Martin Howard, one of the subjects of Doug Nichol's 2016 film, California Typewriter, dials in to talk with Buddy. They discuss collecting, analog versus digital technology, and what it's like being filmed for a documentary.FILM• California Typewriter, Doug Nichol, 2016 (USA)Documentary about mechanical/analog typewriter technology, history and cultureREFERENCES• Antique Typewriters, Martin Howard's website• Jeremy Mayer, portfolio website featuring typewriter assemblage sculpture• Rotten Tomatoes, film review• Telluride Film Festival, the venue where California Typewriter was first shown to the public• Sholes and Glidden typewriter, a rare and historically important typewriter• The Secret Life of Machines, British TV show about the history of household and office machinery• Connections, British TV show about the history and science of inventionCREDITS◦ Waldo – Branch Manager, Jim Poplau◦ Digital Branch Manager, David LaCrone◦ Graphic Designer, Levi Hoffmeier◦ Editing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCrone◦ Music, Franny Finstrom Clark◦ Recorded in Kansas City, Missouri, 2020

On part two of Buddy and Leanne's discussion of music documentaries, they talk about the 2001 film Scratch, by Doug Pray. REFERENCES• Rockit, live performance by Herbie Hancock, 1984, cited by many dj's as inspiration• Rockit, music video• Bill Laswell, YouTube video about the legendary bassist and music producer• River Market Antique Mall, Kansas City, antique shop• Dada, early 20th century art movementCREDITS◦ Director, April Roy◦ Manager, Jerena Boyd Bey◦ Digital Branch Manager, David LaCrone◦ Graphic Designer, Levi Hoffmeier◦ Editing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCrone◦ Music, Franny Finstrom Clark

Dir. Nicolas Jack Davies, 2018 (England).Love affair between Jamaican and British Youth culture, story of the iconic record label – Trojan RecordsREFERENCESTrojan Records, record label discussed in this podcastBoss Hooligan Soundsystem, KC based Soundsystem eventsFabric Nightclub, London based drum & bass music eventsMinistry of Sound, London based dance music eventsThe Fireside Bowl, Chicago based music venue/bowling alleyCREDITSDirector, April RoyManager, Jerena Boyd BeyDigital Branch Manager, David LaCroneGraphic Designer, Levi HoffmeierEditing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCroneMusic, Franny Finstrom Clark

Part Two. Join Buddy and Leanne for in-depth reviews and discussions of films that are available on the Library's Hoopla streaming platform. Access Hoopla at http://www.hoopladigital.com and create an account with your library card!FILM LISTBuddy:California Typewriter, Doug Nichol, 2016 (USA) - Documentary about mechanical/analog typewriter technology – the history and cultureAliens of the Deep, Jérôme Julienne & John Jackson, 2010 - Oceanic nature documentary about the mysterious octopi/cephalopodLeanne:13 Assassins, (2010) dir. by Takashi Miike – High-gore remake of Eiichi Kudo's 1963 tale of a band of assassins leading a siege against a sadistic feudal warlord. Imaginative violence explodes across the screen balanced against a tangled web of alliances gone wrong in this startling film.Hana-Bi, 1997, Takeshi Kitano (USA) Hana-bi displays the disjointed story of a police detective's depression spiral. Takeshi stars as the dejected detective who rarely speaks and is prone to fits of shocking violence. His public persona is juxtaposed to his private life with his quiet wife. Few brutal films are so sweetly tender at their core.CREDITSDirector, April RoyManager, Jerena Boyd BeyDigital Branch Manager, David LaCroneGraphic Designer, Levi HoffmeierEditing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCroneMusic, Franny Finstrom Clark

Join Buddy and Leanne for in-depth reviews and discussions of films that are available on the Library's Hoopla streaming platform. Access Hoopla at http://www.hoopladigital.com and create an account with your library card!FILM LISTBuddy:Frida, Julie Taymor, 2002 (USA) - Drama/bio based on Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego RiveraParadise Lost, Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky, 1996 (USA) - HBO documentary series focused on the 1993 murders in West Memphis, ArkansasTales of the Night, Michel Ocelot, 1992 (France) - Silhouette stop-motion animation (similar to shadow puppetry)Leanne:Ip Man, (2008) dir. by Wilson Yip – An energetic fictionalized portrait of the early life of Ip Man, a modern master of the martial art of Wing Chung and the teacher of Bruce Lee. The story is told with more action rather than a large amount of blood, lending it to be a real crowd-pleaser.Outrage (2010) dir. by Takeshi Kitano. - Outrage is a gangster film by the prolific Japanese director Beat Takeshi which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2010. This is not a film for the faint of heart; few films reach this level of graphic violence. Though this film is brutal in its portrayal of a yakuza gang war, the absence of any “good guys” lends immediacy to the action that is rarely found in this genre. Beautiful camera work helps to elevate the cruel and merciless actions of the characters and delivers a shocking but engaging film experience. The Crow, (1994) dir. By Alex Proyas – Instant-classic adaptation of James O'Barr's graphic novel about a man who returns from the dead to right the wrongs that lead to his and his fiancée’s murder. This is the film in which Brandon Lee, rising action star and son of action legend Bruce Lee, was accidentally killed on-set by a faulty prop gun. Despite the tragic death of Brandon Lee, his charisma as an avenging angel continues to draw audiences to this tale of loss and redemption. CREDITSDirector of Plaza Library, April RoyManager, Jerena Boyd BeyDigital Branch Manager, David LaCroneGraphic Designer, Levi HoffmeierEditing, Buddy Hanson and David LaCroneMusic, Franny Finstrom Clark

In this episode, Buddy and Leanne (KCPL librarians) discuss films that are available on the Library's Kanopy Streaming platform. Here are the films discussed in this episode. Buddy's list:Danger: Diabolik, Mario Bava, 1968: Italian Psychedelic Action/HumorFree Fire, Ben Wheatley, 2017: Dark Comedy, Action/HumorThe Corporation, Mark Achbar & Joel Bakan, 2003: Documentary about Corporations and corporate power, including discussions about: history, activism, environment, business, global politics/economics, etc.I Dream of Wires, Robert Fantinatto, 2014: Documentary about modular synthesizers, including: West Coast vs East Coast philosophy; biography of Bob Moog and Don Buchla; global stories about electronic music, culture and technologyBlue, Derek Jarman, 1993: Minimalist Art Film Leanne's list:What We Do In The Shadows, Taika Waititi, 2017: Comedy, Mockumentary by Oscar-winning director centering on the lives of a household of vampires in New Zealand Dottie Gets Spanked, Todd Haynes, 1993: Short Film/Drama: A young boy's fascination with an “I Love Lucy”-type 1950's sitcom star leads to his awakening to being gay and how he must transform himself to conform to family and peer's expectations. A masterpiece.Kedi, Ceyda Torun, 2016: Documentary: Delightful, calm exploration of the street cats of Istanbul and the city residents who care for them.Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig, 2017: Drama/Comedy: Sweet coming-of-age story about a quirky senior from Sacramento, CA set in 2002. Heartwarming but not saccharine, with exception performances by Laurie Metcalf & Saoirse Ronan.The Endless Summer, Bruce Brown, 1966: Documentary, Joy on screen. Two surfers chase the summer around the globe, catching tasty waves. A great primer for a young person to enter into documentary viewing.