Let's Take Five

We're going to be off for a few weeks, but we'll be back!

The guys continue into the Man with No Name trilogy but it gets a little Bad. They talk about the complexity of the story, how the shooting scenes talk about character and, of course, Klaus Kinski.    Sergio Leone's Five 1) A Fistful of Dollars 2) For a Few Dollars More 3) Once Upon a Time in the West 4) Duck, You Sucker! 5) Once Upon a Time in America

Cue the Morricone score! The guys start their Sergio Leone Five with the beginning of his Man With No Name trilogy. They talk about its Kurosawa roots and what makes his movies so cool.   Sergio Leone's Five 1) A Fistful of Dollars 2) For a Few Dollars More 3) Once Upon a Time in the West 4) Duck, You Sucker! 5) Once Upon a Time in America

The guys look back at the career of one of their favorite working actors, tangent briefly to talk about Alan Rickman and then reveal the subject of their next Five...

And we're back in the suburbs. Last time we discussed the nuance of Little Children and this week we're discussing the.....we're discussing Revolutionary Road!   Kate Winslet's Five 1) Heavenly Creatures 2) Quills 3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 4) Little Children 5) Revolutionary Road

In which Eric is in town and wants to talk about the nature of art criticism.

Austin and Eric record in person for the first time since Season One to discuss the adaptation of Tom Perrotta's Little Children.    Kate Winslet's Five 1) Heavenly Creatures 2) Quills 3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 4) Little Children 5) Revolutionary Road

Didn't we already record this? The guys continue their Kate Winslet Five with another Oscar nomination for her on the modern sci-fi classic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A movie where she gets to wear jeans!   Kate Winslet's Five 1) Heavenly Creatures 2) Quills 3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 4) Little Creatures 5) Revolutionary Road

Get washed up and get ready for the guys talk about the 2000 film, Quills, about the final months of the Marquis de Sade and the young woman who risks everything to get his work to the public. Kate Winslet's Five 1) Heavenly Creatures 2) Quills 3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 4) Little Children 5) Revolutionary Road

In her first feature film, Kate Winslet shocked the world with her bold and complicated performance of one of the two notorious participants in the Parker-Hulme case. Listen as the guys talk about the nuances of sympathy in the movie as well the ambitious of tone in this early Peter Jackson film.   Kate Winslet's Five 1) Heavenly Creatures 2) Quills 3) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 4) Little Children 5) Revolutionary Road

The boys have made it to the end of their Jackie Chan Five and one of them is very relieved. They talk once more about what makes Jackie Chan action movies different from other action movies and then get distracted talking about 90s cartoon adaptations of movies. Then they unveil the new Five...

Are you listening to the words coming out our mouths? Yes, the guys changed up their line-up so they can talk about the wildly successful Rush Hour.   Jackie Chan's Five 1) Project A 2) Wheels on Meals 3) Police Story 4) Rumble in the Bronx 5) Rush Hour

We've been to Hong Kong, we've been to Spain and now we're in America* with Jackie Chan! The guys had to change their schedule due to availability, but that means they get to watch this movie earlier than expected. Is that a good thing? *Canada Jackie Chan's Five 1) Project A 2) Wheels on Meals 3) Police Story 4) Rumble in the Bronx 5) Rush Hour

The guys have hit Jackie Chan's biggest international hit, Police Story. It is filled with awe-inspiring stunts and a more grounded story. But.....what do they think?

Jackie Chan is in Spain! The guys talk about this wacky comedy of two food truck cooks teaming up with a fake private eye to save a secret heiress by storming a castle. Obviously. Find out if this movie broke Eric!   Jackie Chan's Five 1) Project A 2) Wheels on Meals 3) Police Story 4) Operation Condor 5) Rumble in the Bronx

The Jackie Chan Five has begun and it's time to go into the simple story of sailors who are now pirates who are tracking down illegal gun sales to pirates. (We think). The guys discuss Jackie Chan's directorial intent, the pros and cons of how much should action heroes bleed and what are the stakes of this movie.    Jackie Chan's Five 1) Project A 2) Wheels on Meals 3) Police Story 4) Operation Condor 5) Rumble in the Bronx

The time has come! The guys look back at their time with Francis Ford Coppola and where he stands in cinema's past and present. Also they announce their next Five that will start next week.

Is it, though? Is it actually Bram Stoker's Dracula. For better or worse, I'm pretty sure it's Francis Ford Coppola's. Listen as the guys gleefully try to figure out if this movie is any good.    Francis Ford Coppola's Five 1) The Godfather 2) The Conversation 3) Apocalypse Now 4) The Godfather Part III 5) Bram Stoker's Dracula

Finally, the guys are here to talk about the most beloved entry in the Godfather franchise. They are actually looking at both versions of Part III, the original and the newly re-edited version. Listen as they try to answer the immortal question "Does this movie work?"   Francis Ford Coppola's Five 1) The Godfather 2) The Conversation 3) Apocalypse Now 4) The Godfather Part III 5) Bram Stoker's Dracula

Madness....madness. Eric and Austin wrestle with their admiration and confusion about the iconic Vietnam war film. They discuss what it's like to dislike the protagonist and how this fits in as an anti-war movie.    Francis Ford Coppola's Five 1) The Godfather 2) The Conversation 3) Apocalypse Now 4) The Godfather Part III 5) Bram Stoker's Dracula

Did you hear that? The guys end up being recorded as they talk about Francis Ford Coppola's paranoid thriller, The Conversation.    Francis Ford Coppola's Five 1) The Godfather 2) The Conversation 3) Apocalypse Now 4) The Godfather Part III 5) Bram Stoker's Dracula

No episode this week, but The Conversation will be out next Friday.

Well....it's The Godfather! Eric and Austin look at this immortal classic and how it embraces immersion, authenticity and scale. Also Austin talks about You've Got Mail.

The guys have finished another Five and are looking back at how much they just like this good boy. They look at what seems to drive Ethan Hawke, his interest in getting better and they get distracted to talk about Warcraft. They also announce their next Five...

As we enter the end of our Five, we maybe get to Ethan Hawke's best performance of a depressed priest who starts to radicalize himself. They talk about the movies ambiguous qualities as well as how the film embraces transcendentalism. Don't sit on this underseen masterpiece.   Ethan Hawke's Five 1) Training Day 2) Before Sunset 3) Sinister 4) Before Midnight 5) First Reformed

Austin and Eric talk civilly about a movie that is primarily about a fight. The guys talk about the final(?) entry in the Before series by talking about Ethan Hawke returning to the role for the second time.    Ethan Hawke's Five 1) Training Day 2) Before Sunset 3) Sinister 4) Before Midnight 5) First Reformed

No more of these movies where Ethan Hawke has one very emotional day. We're going to watch one where it's four days! Eric and Austin get into the very scary horror film Sinister to see what it's like to see Hawke play a bad guy and lean into genre.   Ethan Hawke's Five 1) Training Day 2) Before Sunset 3) Sinister 4) Before Midnight 5) First Reformed

After several episodes, Eric and Austin return to have a long conversation again about the Before trilogy. They break down Before Sunset with their usual amount of hyperbole including wondering if this is the best sequel ever made.    Ethan Hawke's Five 1) Training Day 2) Before Sunset 3) Sinister 4) Before Midnight 5) First Reformed

We have covered a number of Ethan Hawke movies before but haven't devoted any time looking purely at his career. We start our Five looking at his first Oscar nomination playing the supporting(?) role in Training Day. Does the movie hold up? At all? Find out!   Ethan Hawke's Five 1) Training Day 2) Before Sunset 3) Sinister 4) Before Midnight 5) First Reformed

First Five of the season completed! Eric and Austin look back at Paul Thomas Anderson's career, talk about the films they didn't cover, and what it means to be an event director. Also they announce the next Five...

The boys come to the end of their Paul Thomas Anderson Five with his latest film, the beautiful Phantom Thread. Listen as they talk about the underrated performance of the film, what it means to write about an artist who isn't a writer and pondering the romance of the ending.   Paul Thomas Anderson's Five 1) Boogie Nights 2) Magnolia 3) Punch Drunk Love 4) The Master 5) Phantom Thread

What happens when a cult leader is past his prime? That's what Paul Thomas Anderson showed us in The Master. The guys talk about the career of Joaquin Phoenix, what PTA is saying about male friendships and the psychology of manipulation.   Paul Thomas Anderson's Five 1) Boogie Nights 2) Magnolia 3) Punch-Drunk Love 4) The Master 5) Phantom Thread

Time to get romantic during this Valentine's Day week. (It counts!) Eric and Austin dive into Paul Thomas Anderson's film Punch Drunk Love. They look into how PTA shifted his approach from his last two films, the legacy of Adam Sandler and Paul Thomas Anderson and wondering if the film let the female lead down.    Paul Thomas Anderson's Five 1) Boogie Nights 2) Magnolia 3) Punch Drunk Love 4) The Master 5) Phantom Thread

Eric and Austin dive into their next PTA film by looking at...everything. What is the purpose of coincidences? Is the screenwriter god? Is the score there to make us anxious? That's Magnolia!

You thought they were dead because they straight up said over 10 episodes they were dead. Guess again! Eric and Austin are back and ready to talk about more good movies.

Austin and Eric start their Paul Thomas Anderson Five with a look at the movie that launched his career, Boogie Nights. Why is the film about porn not sexy? Does PTA judge his characters? Was Luis Guzman stoned in that scene? Was that Tom Jane?! All of these will be answered.    Paul Thomas Anderson Five 1) Boogie Nights 2) Magnolia 3) Punch Drunk Love 4) The Master 5) Phantom Thread

Fin

Grab your milkshakes before they're gone, it's the final movie review of Let's Take Five. The guys dive into the Paul Thomas Anderson Oscar winning film, There Will Be Blood. They look into the complexity of the character of Daniel Plainview, the themes of duplicity and the films long-lasting impact on pop culture. Get excited!   Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Wednesday for their Let's Take Five wrap-up. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord 

"All my life I wanted to review The Royal Tenenbaums." "Me too." Eric and Austin break down one of Eric's favorite films--and favorite films to quote. It is the story of a father who abandoned his family and left them all emotionally stunted geniuses. The guys break down how this film features some of the best performances by its cast (included Gene Hackman), the particular qualities of the set design and its use of music.    Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of There Will Be Blood. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

As we get closer to Easter, the guys look back at one of the great films by Martin Scorsese and his most controversial. The Last Temptation of Christ tells the story of the last days of Jesus as he embraces his destiny to die on the cross while dealing with the mortal fears and doubts. The guys talk about the powerful titular temptation, Willem Dafoe's humanistic portrayal of a god and how Scorsese's background inspires the types of stories he wants to tell.    Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of The Royal Tenenbaums. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

Since the guys never did a Christmas Movies Five, they had to use these final episodes to dive into the holiday classic, Die Hard. They are joined by a big action movie fan, Adam Lord! They dive into what makes this movie move so quickly, the durability of its hero and why Ellis may be a secret MVP.    Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of The Last Temptation of Christ. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

Podcasts are like notes, you can never have too many of them. That's what Eric and Austin learn as they rewatch one of their favorite epics, Amadeus. They dive into what makes the rivalry matter so much between these classic composers, how the movie differs from the theatrical version and how the director was able to make this a movie for everyone, not just classical music experts.   Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of Die Hard. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

With a premise like this and a title like that, there's no way the two guys could cover this movie by themselves. So they are joined by Eric's brother Ray Martindale (The Good). Ray brings his editing background to talk about what Sergio Leone was able to accomplish in tension and tone. Eric (The Bad) dives into why these characters are so iconic and why the finished product is one of the best westerns on film. And Austin (The Ugly) says some bullshit about how maybe Angel Eyes is like Don Draper. Enjoy!   Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of Amadeus. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord 

It should be no surprise that the podcast is ending. Death has been our companion for sometime. In the Ingmar Bergman classic The Seventh Seal, Death appears in front of a knight from the Crusade, ready to take him to whatever is next. Instead the knight challenges Death to a game of chess and during that time they both see who is living through the plague. The guys discuss the power and beauty of this film and why it resonates with them so much.   Let's Take Five's Let's Take Ten Let's Take Five Wrap-Up 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next NEXT Friday for their review of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord 

12 men enter a small room to decide the fate of a man on trial. For Let's Take Five, two men walk into a decently sized apartment in Chicago to decide the fate of the fate of a man on trial. The guys dive into the Sidney Lumet masterpiece in how it treats mob mentality, personal prejudice and the ideal justice system. Get excited!   Let's Take Five's Final Ten 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of The Seventh Seal. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

The guys return to one of their former subjects as they look into the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece. Instead of being a creepy dude in Vertigo, Jimmy Stewart plays a creepy dude in Rear Window. After an accident, Stewart is locked up in his apartment with a broken leg and nothing to do all day but spy on his neighbors and watch their lives. The guys dive into what makes this such an effective thriller and how Hitchcock once again succeeds by not showing the gruesome bits. Also Eric breaks down the worst shot in the movie!   Let's Take Five's Final Ten 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amadeus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of Rear Window. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

As the guys start their journey into the final 10 films of the podcast, they watch perhaps the most beloved pice of Old Hollywood. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are at the heart of a romance that has global consequences in Casablanca. The guys are in awe of how many quotable lines are in this, the way WWII is drawn while they are in the middle of the war, and a love triangle that is properly messy.   Let's Take Five's Final Ten 1) Casablanca 2) Rear Window 3) 12 Angry Men 4) The Seventh Seal 5) The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  6) Amaedus 7) Die Hard 8) The Last Temptation of Christ 9) The Royal Tenenbaums 10) There Will Be Blood   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of Rear Window. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord   

Pedro, we hardly knew you! After five films, the guys wrapped-up their look at the work of Pedro Almodovar. They look back at the legacy around the artist and their own rankings of his films. They also make a big announcement on what is next for the podcast. Get excited!   Pedro Almodovar's Five 1) Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 2) All About My Mother 3) Talk to Her 4) Volver 5) The Skin I Live In   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for the first film in their next Five*. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord 

The guys have seen Pedro Almovodar dance around darkness in all of his films. None of them compare to the terror of The Skin I Live In. It's a puzzle box mystery about a woman who appears to be held captive in a very rich house while she wears a strange medical skinsuit. With every episode of Let's Take Five, the guys are looking at the film as a whole so all of the major spoilers will be discussed in this one. So if you haven't seen it, we recommend watching this dark horror thriller first. (Warning there are major themes of sexual assault in this film.)   Pedro Almodovar's Five 1) Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 2) All About My Mother 3) Talk to Her 4) Volver 5) The Skin I Live In   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Wednesday for their Pedro Almodovar wrap-up. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord 

Quick note about taking a quick break. See you in 2019 and thank you all for listening!   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube

For reasons unknown, Volver is the most popular film in America for Pedro Almodovar. All of them were Oscar darlings, but this brightly colored family drama was the one that got the biggest audience. Eric and Austin try to understand why as they look into the complicated story that involves secrets, a dead body and a ghost. As always, the podcast does contain spoilers and the guys will spoil everything as they recontextualize the film from the information revealed at the end. It's almost like they....return to the beginning. (Volver means to return.)   Pedro Almodovar's Five 1) Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 2) All About My Mother 3) Talk to Her 4) Volver 5) The Skin I Live In   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday for their review of The Skin I Live In. Artwork by Ray Martindale Theme Song by Adam Lord