Living for the Cinema

Mel and Nancy Coplin (Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette) are a young couple living in New York City who just had their first child.  They can't seem to decide on a name and that's because Mel is feeling lost - he grew up as an adopted child and with the help of Tina (Tea Leoni) from the adoption, he has now been told that they have located who his REAL parents are.  And so the three of them venture off across the country with baby to seek out Mel's real parents - several mistakes are made, several misunderstandings occur, and hilarity ensues!  Written and directed by Oscar-nominee David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter, Three Kings, American Hustle) early in his career, this remains one of the more underappreciated indie comedies of the '90's and features a stacked veteran cast including Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Lily Tomlin, Alan Alda, Richard Jenkins, and Josh Brolin. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

One of the earliest films from Oscar-nominated Austrailian director Peter Weir (Witness, Dead Poet's Society, The Truman Show, Master & Commander), this is a stirring tale of one of THE pivotal events in the history of Australia: their campaign with British forces to fight the Turkish forces in World War I on the hills of Gallipoli more than a hundred years ago.  The story focuses on two young Austrailian sprinters (Mark Lee, Mel Gibson) who enlist together and form a strong bond, before eventually facing the brutal realities of "The Great War" when they are sent to fight.  When it came out forty-five years ago, this film was not only a seminal event in Australian cinema for war movies overall.  It also co-stars Bill Kerr, John Murphy, and Bill Hunter. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Marshall O'Neill (Sean Connery) has just been assigned to take over security of a new mining colony....on the Jupiter moon of IO. :o Yes this takes place in the future though many things have not changed as much as you would think: suddenly miners are starting to die under some VERY unusual circumstances as it might be as a result of a new illegal drug.  Against the advice of everyone around him, O'Neill digs deeper to find out how and why these drugs are starting to spread....and soon finds himself being targeted.  Even though this film was a critical and commercial failure upon release forty-five years ago, it has since developed a cult following and is now often affectionately nicknamed "High Noon in Space."  Legendary genre filmmaker Peter Hyams (TimeCop, Capricorn One, Running Scared) directed this sci-fi western which also co-stars Peter Boyle, Frances Sternhagen, and Clarke Peters. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

An FBI chemical weapons expert (Oscar-winner Nicholas Cage) and a former SAS soldier turned political prisoner (Oscar-winner Sean Connery) must break into Alcatraz prison when a rogue military group, lead by a renegade general (Oscar-nominee Ed Harris), has taken it over and are now threatening a nerve gas attack on San Franscisco.  This high-octane action thriller was a huge smash when released in the Summer of 1996 and helped cement director Michael Bay (Bad Boys, Armageddon, Transformers, Pearl Harbor) as an established brand of filmmaker for decades to come.  The stacked supporting cast also includes John Spencer, David Morse, William Forsythe, Vanessa Marcil, Tony Todd, Bokeem Woodbine, and Michael Biehn among several others.  Get ready to ROCK!Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Ten years ago, legendary writer/director Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3) put out his latest original vision of yet another buddy cop action comedy, this time taking place in 1970's Los Angeles.  The pairing was inspired: a drunken private detective (Ryan Gosling) teams up with a tough guy enforcer (Russell Crowe) to solve both a missing person mystery and an unsolved murder.  And the plot just gets increasingly convoluted from there involving the auto industry, porn, and organized crime....both violent and funny complications ensue!  The stellar cast of this now beloved cult classic also includes Kim Basinger, Margaret Qualley, Matt Bomer, and Keith David.   Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970's in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.The Wait is Finally Over.  It has been almost twenty years since the original The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, featuring one of Streep's most celebrated performances which she also received an Oscar nomination for.  She's back as Miranda Priestly, once again leading the fashion magazine "Runway" though times have changed the magazine (like all print media) is now struggling....making matters worse, a new scandale has erupted online further putting Miranda's future (and the magazine's future) more at risk.  Fortunately whom else should return to the magazine but Andy Sacks (Anne Hathaway) to maybe save the day?  Infact several of the key players from that first film are ALSO back including Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Tracie Thoms....along with some new additions to the cast including Kenneth Branaugh, Justin Theroux, BJ Novak, and Luciy Liu!  Let's see if this highly anticipated legacy sequel lives up to the hype.....   Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Acclaimed genre filmmaker Joe Johnston (Honey I Shrunk The Kids, Captain America: The First Avenger) directed this highly anticipated Disney adaptation of the titular graphic novel from the 1980's.  It takes place in the 1940's Los Angeles where aspiring pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) is trying to make a name for himself on the flying circuit until one day, he suddenly finds a mysterious metal device along with his friend/mechanic Peevy played by Oscar-winner Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine, Catch 22). What they soon realize is that this device is actually a secret prototype jet-pack which the local Mafia, the FBI, AND the Nazis (!) are all on the hunt for. :o So Cliff tries on the jet-pack, is able to fly, and suddenly becomes....The Rocketeer!  And what results is a fun throwback adventure which was initially a flop upon release in the Summer of 1991 but would eventually garner a cult following.  The stellar cast also includes Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, and the late, great Paul Sorvino. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

In a dystopian 1997, a soldier-turned-bankrobber is taked rescuing the US President after he crashes into Manhattan, which has been turned into a giant maximum security prison. That's the official description for this gritty, sci-fi action thriller but a couple of key players involved made it more special than that.  The solider is Snake Plissken played by Kurt Russell (The Thing, Tombstone, The Hateful Eight) in one of his more iconic performances.  The director is genre master John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing, They Live) who inadverdently created a sub-genre with the success of this film forty-five years ago.  And the rest of this film's stellar supporting cast includes Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasance, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrienne Barbeau. See below for a link featuring a key deleted scene of this film which is highlighted within this review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riSBMj1oLGc&t=20sHost & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Directed by Oscar-winner Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Parenthood), this remains one of the most celebrated big budget Hollywood films about what is likely one of the more cinematic professions.....FIREFIGHTERS.  It tells the seemingly simple story of two firefighting brothers in Chicago played by Billy Baldwin (Sliver, Flatliners) and Kurt Russell (The Thing, Tombstone) and their struggles to work together.  Not only are they struggling with the dangers of their professions but also the women in the lives played by Jennifer Jason Leigh (Single White Female, The Hateful Eight) and Rebecca DeMornay (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Risky Business), along with an ongoing series of fatal pre-planned fires killing various real estate developers around town, which have the lead arson investigator (Robert DeNiro) on the case.  This sprawling action adventure which has sometimes been referred to as "Top Gun for Firefighters" also co-stars Scott Glenn, JT Walsh, and Donald Sutherland among several others.    Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970's in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.The legendary Albert Brooks (Lost In America, The Muse, Modern Romance) wrote, directed, AND starred in this afterlife comedy as Daniel, an advertising executve who just died after colliding head-on with a bus.  Alas, Daniel now finds himself spending a few days in a otherwordly weigh station named, "Judgement City" where will sort go on trial to "defend his life."  What he didn't count on was falling in love....which he does with Julia played by....you guessed it....Meryl Streep.  And what results is a life-affirming romantic comedy also featuring fun performances from Rip Torn (Men In Black) and Lee Grant (Shampoo) as opposing counsel in Daniel's trial. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

This remains one of the more infamous examples of a professional athlete attempting to become a movie star as former NFL linebacker Brian Bosworth stars as Joe Huff, a tough Alabama cop who goes undercover with the FBI to infiltrate and take down a militia group of bikers lead by Chains Cooper (Lance Henricksen) who has ambitions much more dangerous than just being a motorcyle club.  Bosworth's pro football career ended prematurely by the time this was released due to injuries and as a result, this film's reputation soured before it even opened in the spring of 1991.  The reviews were bad and it flopped at the box office.  However....what if it actually turned out to be a genuinely GOOD action film? As directed by Craig R. Baxley (Action Jackson) who was a former stunt coordinator, this film is jam-packed with impressive action sequences and stunts using various vehicles....and it also features a go-for-broke performance by William Forsythe (Out of Justice, Dick Tracy, American Me, The Rock) as the most menacing member of the motorcycle gang named "Chains."  On the eve of its 35th Anniversary, let's revisit the go-for-broke action film which 2002's XXX only aspired to be!Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

"Crime is the disease. Meet the Cure.""The strong arm of the law."Back in the spring and summer of 1986, those were among several snappy taglines for this highly anticipated action thriller starring Oscar-winner Sylvester Stallone as his direct follow-up to TWO smash successes lead by him the previous year: Rambo: First Blood Part II and Rocky IV.  THIS time, he was playing the ultimate cop named Marion Cobretti (nickname: Cobra) who was on the hunt around Los Angeles for a brutal serial killer (or serial killers?) named the Night Slasher played by veteran character Brian Thompson (The Terminator, Miracle Mile, The X-Files).  This film was directed by George P. Cosmatos (Rambo, Tombstone) though apparently it ended up being co-directed by Stallone himself.  There was much hype for this film when it was released in May 1986 though the reviews were pretty poor, mostly related to its very simplistic plot and extreme violence and.....it did ok at the box office.  It wasn't the blockbuster which it was expected to be but the film made solid money at the worldwide box office.  Since then, it has garnered an increasingly rabid cult following and is now looked upon as one of Sly's most quotable films....his answer to Dirty Harry.  Let's see how it holds up forty years later and find out if.....THIS is where the law stops.....and HE starts. ;) Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

From acclaimed writer/director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) comes this dark romantic comedy starring Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune's 1 &2) and Robert Pattinson (The Batman, Good Time) as a happily engaged couple whose relationship is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.  Also co-starring Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, and Hailey Gates, let's find out if this highly buzzed about new film from A24 is worth the buzz. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Twenty-five years ago, this high-energy musical adaptation of the both the comic book and TV cartoon was released to much hype....and no one showed up. :( It was a sizeable flop at the box office but has since garned a devoted cult following as a result of its sharp satire and catchy soundtrack.  It's a seemingly simple story about three young ladies from the small town of Riverdale who are just trying to break out with their band, The Pussycats.   They include Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid), and Valerie (Rosario Dawson) and one day, they are just toiling to pick up their next gig when they are suddenly discovered by a shady record producer Wyatt (Alan Cumming) who seems something special in them.  They are whisked off to New York City, signed to his label run by the ruthless Fiona (Parker Posey) and overnight, they become a pop sensation now named, "Josie and the Pussycats."  However, their success comes with some unexpected consquences and they soon find themselves embroiled in a massive conspiracy involving the delivery of subliminal messages through pop music. :o Directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont (Can't Hardly Wait), this enduring cult hit also co-stars Gabriel Mann, Missi Pyle, and Carson Daly (!)....as you've NEVER seen him before!   Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

ANYONE SEEN RITCHIE???That's the central question driving this pulpy action thriller starring Steven Seagal (Under Siege, Hard To Kill, Marked For Death) during his breakout period in the early '90's.  Here he plays Gino Felino, a dogged NYPD cop on a mission....to capture the killer of his partner.  That would be the aforementioned Richie Madano, a cranked out mob enforcer played by William Forsythe (Raising Arizona, The Rock, Dick Tracy, Stone Cold) who seemes to be on a mission of his own....to rampage around Brooklyn causing trouble. :o And a chaotic cat-and-mouse ensues between cop and robber, leaving in its wake a lot of broken glass and broken limbs!  This often (unintentionally) funny action thriller was directed by the late, great John Flynn (Rolling Thunder, Lock Up, Brain Scan) and also co-stars Jerry Orbach, Jo Champa, Gina Gershon, Julianna Margulies, and Dominic Chianese.  Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Chicago, American Gigolo) plays Martin Vale, a hot-shot Chicago attorney who just landed his latest high-profile case, the suspected brutal murder of the Archbishop by a rural teenager from Kentucky who was apparently working for the Archbishop.  The young suspect is the mild-mannered Aaron Stampler who is played by Oscar-nominee Edward Norton (Fight Club, 25th Hour, A Complete Unknown) in his on big-screen debut which he also received an Oscar nomination for.  At first, Aaron seems mild-mannered and innocent....but there's more to him than he seems. :o What results is a wild courtroom drama with lots of twists and turns, also featuring a stacked supporting cast featuring Oscar-nominee Laura Linney, Oscar-nominee Alfre Woodard, Emmy-nominee John Mahnoney, Emmy-nominee Andre Braugher, and Oscar-winner Frances McDormand.    Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Just in time for Opening Day 2026, we are revisiting this beloved baseball comedy from fifty years ago starring Oscar-winners Walter Matthau (The Fortune Cookie, The Odd Couple, The Taking of Pelham 123) and Tatum O'Neal (Paper Moon, Little Darlings) as Coach Buttermaker and aspiring star player Amanda respectively.  Of course, their team is the titular Bears which is rag-tag group of mostly inexperienced Southern California kids playing Little League baseball.  And this team has one major competitor in their league who not only dominates them but bullies them - that team is the venal Coach Turner played by the late, great Emmy-nominee Vic Morrow who co-starred in many popular TV shows around this time including Combat, Charlie's Angels, and Police Story.  The baseball team is filled with characters including Kelly Leak (Oscar-nominee Jackie Earle Haley), Ogilvie (Alfred Lutter III), Tanner (Chris Barnes) and Ahmad (Erin Blunt)....and their acumen on the field or at bat might vary but one thing they have in common is that they ALL want to have fun! :) What results from their first tumultuous season together is baseball, smoking, drinking, profanity, and maybe even....TEAMWORK? Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970's in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.Directed by the legendary Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Catch 22, Working Girl), this is the harrowing true story of Karen Silkwood (Oscar-winner Meryl Streep) who worked at a plutonium processing plant in Oklahome in the mid '70's.  At one point, she is exposed to radioactive materials and she eventually becomes a whistleblower on dangerous practices at this plant.  Tragically she died under mysterious circumstances just as she was set to divulge information to the media.  This film received massive acclaim upon release and was also a box office hit - it was also nominated for five Oscars including for Best Director (Nichols), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Streep), Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actress for Cher who plays Karen's housemate.  The stacked cast also includes Kurt Russell, Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, Ron Silver, Charles Hallahan, and Bruce McGilll among several other notable actors. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Science teacher Ryland Grace (Oscar-nominated Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no memory of how he got there.  As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance from killing the Sun, which can save Earth.  Soon he encounters a mysterious being from another planet and together, they form a bond and embark on this mission.  This inspiring space adventure comes to us from co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, 21 Jump Street) and was also adapted from a best-selling novel written by Andy Weir who was also the original author of another best-selling sci-fi novel (The Martian) which was also adapted into a highly acclaimed blockbuster more than ten years ago.  Also returning from adapting The Martian is Oscar-nominated screenwriter Drew Goddard.  The supporting cast including recent Oscar-nominee Sandra Huller (Anatomy of a Fall), Emmy-nominee Lionel Boyce (The Bear) and.....a plucky rock-like creature nicknamed "Rocky" from another planet?? :P Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

There Can Be Only One. Only one Immortal that this - the Immortals are special swordsmen who can live forever, except when they are facing off against other swordsmen who can kill them but ONLY by decapitating them.  The Immortal this particular story focuses on is Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) who is from the Highlands of Scotland in the 1500's when he discovers that he has this unique designation.  We follow his adventures through several centuries all the way up the "present day" in 1985 New York City where he is now being hunted by a bloodthirsty immortal barbarian named the Kurgan (Clancy Brown). Along the way, he has also been mentored by another Immortal named Ramirez (Sean Connery) in the ways of swordsmanship, along with other special gifts.  Featuring songs by Queen and directed by Russel Mulcahy (The Shadow, Resident Evil: Extinction), this action fantasy was a commercial disappointment upon first release forty years ago but has since become a beloved cult classic.  Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/ 

Oscar-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal follows up her Oscar-nominated directorial debut (The Lost Daughter) from a few years ago with this VERY loose reimagining/adaptation of a portion of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  This portion of course focuses on the desire of Frankeinstein's monster (played by Oscar-winner Christian Bale) create a companion which he gets helps doing from another mad scientist Dr. Euphronius (Oscar-nominated Annette Bening) in 1930's Chicago.  The undead woman brought to life is Ida (Oscar-nominated Jessie Buckley) and she relishes her newfound freedom.  Together they embark on a Bonnie & Clyde-like adventure, raising hell wherever they go - hot on their trail are two detectives played by Emmy-nominee Peter Sarsgaard and Oscar-winner Penelope Cruz.  And chaos ensues.....Here Comes the Motherf&%king Bride!!!Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

An undercover Boston cop (Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio) and a mole (Oscar-winner Matt Damon) in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating the Irish Mob in South Boston.  The head of that Irish gang is Frank Costello played by three-time Oscar-winner Jack Nicholson and the main handlers for the undercover cop are played by Oscar-nominee (for this film) Mark Wahlberg and Emmy-winner Martin Sheen.  Things just get increasingly complicated as investigations on both ends of the law get deeper....and the cast just gets deeper too including several notable players including Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, and Raymond Winstone.  The legendary Martin Scorsese directed this and earned his first (and still only) Oscar for Best Director  This film also earned three additional Oscars including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture.  It was also a word-of-mouth box office smash and remains one of the more quotable crime dramas of the past twenty years.Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Released just over thirty years ago to acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, this was writer/director Tom DiCillo's (The Real Blonde, Johnny Suede) love letter to the trials and tribulations of independent cinema.  It takes place most only a chaotic film set where Nick (Steve Buscemi) is the beleaguered director only looking to get ONE good extended take of the next scene for this film which he developed.  Of course he's not the only one struggling as there is also a put-upon actress (Catherine Keener) feeling pressure from all sides, an egotistical movie star (James LeGros) who's acting as if HE controls the set, an insecure cameraman (Dermot Mulroney) who's also feeling sick, another actor (Peter Dinklage in his on-screen debut) who is just not vibing with his role, and any other number of players behind the scenes who each have their own issues to deal with.  And what results is one of the funniest backstage comedies of the '90's!Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Remember when independent cinema was actually FUN? :p Well this cult classic was released during the height of the indie boom in the mid '90's and was pretty much the launching pad for rising star Parker Posey (Best In Show, Superman Returns, The White Lotus, The House of Yes) who plays the titular character, Mary.  Mary is an aimless young lady in her '20's living in Manhattan who's good at organizing, planning parties, and not much else until one day working for her godmother (Sasha von Scherler) at the New York Public Library, she suddenly discovers what might be her calling....to become a librarian. :o This wacky sorta-coming-of-age comedy features a bouncy soundtrack and stellar cast of up-and-comers including Liev Schreiber, Guillermo Diaz, Omar Townsend, and Anthony DeSando.  It was also directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer (Woo, Matilda) who would eventually going on to be a prolific director of prestige TV.  Heh-heh-HELLO!!!Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Glenn Powell (Top Gun Maverick, Twisters, Anyone But You) plays Beckett Redfellow, the apparent eventual heir of a multi-billion dollar fortune from the Long Island-based Redfellow clan.....only he's the eighth in line after his late mother was pushed out of the family right before he was born.  So inspired by the sudden reappearance of Julia (Margaret Qualley) a seductive socialist he has had a crush on since childhood, he decides to embark on a unique mission to move up closer to that inheritance by murdering everyone else in the Redfellow clan one-by-one.  The Redfellow family members who are his targets are played by Ed Harris, Zach Woods, Bill Camp, and Topher Grace among others.  Directed by John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal), let's find out exactly HOW Beckett lives up to the title of this film. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Back in the '90's, the enduring success of Die Hard helped inspire a slew of action thrillers often focusing on one protagonist taking on a group of terrorists within a confined space....and SEVERAL of them took place on airplanes including Air Force One, Passenger 57, and Con Air.  Amidst that crop came this well-liked and successful incarnation taking place on a commercial airplane headed from overseas to Washington, DC.....and hijacked by terrorists who are not only threatening to kill the hundreds of hostages on board but also bringing a dangerous bio-weapon to the launch on the East Coast. :o Fortunately potentially standing in their way are more than just ONE lone man....a savvy CIA analyst (Kurt Russell), several Navy Seals (John Leguizamo, BD Wong, Joe Morton, Whip Hubley), and one brainy bomb expert (Oliver Platt).  They have ALL stowed away in the luggage cabin of said plane.....not to mention there's one brave stewardess (Halle Berry) on board who might help them.  AND Steven Seagal plays a role too! :) Directed by Stuart Baird (U.S. Marshalls, Star Trek Nemisis), let's get on board and fasten our seatbelts....Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

A tough-as-nails cop (Chow Yun-Fat) teams up with an undercover agent (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) to shut down a sinister gun-runner (Anthony Wong) and the rest of his gang in Hong Kong.That's the standard IMDB description for the plot of this film but as directed by master action autuer John Woo (The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, Face/Off, Mission Impossible II), it's SO much more!  Infact this is now remembered as one of the more influential action films of the 1990's featuring Woo's unique blend of balletic action, melodramatic flourishes, and doves. (Well in this case, origami doves) Beloved action star Chow Yun Fat (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Killer) leads the charge as "Tequila," a Hong Kong super-cop who has it all: he's good with babies, he plays a mean clarinet, and he can dispatch with any number of bad guys with a nickel-plated Norinco pistol in each hand. ;) Decades before John Wick would reinvent the action genre with "gun fu," this international sensation did it first....and better? Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970's in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.How you remake a stone cold classic like The Manchurian Candidate?  John Frankenheimer's seminal cold war paranoia thriller was released in 1962 and became one of the more celebrated thrillers of that decade?  Well if you're Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Something Wild), you assemble a very top-flight A-list cast lead by Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Oscar-winner Meryl Streep, and Liev Schreiber alongside a slew of up-and-coming talent at the time who would eventually become celebrated actors including Jeffrey Wright, Vera Farmiga, Kimberly Elise, and Anthony Mackie.  The crazy story (which loosely adapts that of the original) centers on a Desert Storm verteran officer (Washington) who keeps having strange dreams and/or flashbacks to the war....and he's not the only one as he also served with a up-and-coming senator (Schreiber) who is about to run for Vice President, who MIGHT be having the same types of visions.  Beyond that, the senator has a very controlling mother (Meryl Streep) who is also a senator and she has some VERY unique plans for her son to rise to power.  And the shadowy organization behind all of this is named Manchurian Global who happens to have a lot of military contracts.  Things gets just increasingly intense and dangerous for all involved....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

One master thief (Chris Hemsworth) is planning one final score to steal some expensive jewels, one burned out, veteran cop (Oscar-nominee Mark Ruffalo) is on the trail to catch him after a rash of recent robberies, and one disillusioned insurance broker (Oscar-winner Halle Berry) gets involved to claim her own piece of the action....and ALL of this takes place along Highway 101 which runs through Los Angelese.  From director Bart Layton (American Animals), this sprawling LA crime saga also co-stars several other Oscar-nominees including Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

It's the late 1980's, the crack cocaine epidemic has hit New York City, and one rising drug kingpin is taking over the market - his hame is Nine Brown and he's played Wesley Snipes in what would be his breakout performance.  On his trail and trying to stop him is NYPD Detective Scotty Appleton played by Ice-T in what would be his first major on-screen perfomance.  And what results is a violent war to win the city in this heightened crime drama directed by Mario Van Peebles (Posse, Panther) who also co-stars among a stacked cast including Allen Payne, Judd Nelson, Bill Nunn, Vanessa Williams, Bill Cobb, and Chris Rock in an unforgettable performance as Pookie, a recovering crack addict who Scotty takes under his wing.  This film was a suprise box office hit upon release also featuring a very popular soundtrack with songs by Color Me Badd, Queen Latifah, Levert, and Keith Sweat among several others.  Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Action visionairy John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled, Face/Off) directs this high-octane action thriller focused on a couple of "missing" nuclear missiles in the Rocky West and the brewing fight between two Air Force pilots who have different plans for them.  Deacon (John Travolta) hopes to use them to threaten to blow up an American city in exchange for a massive amount of money....while his former co-pilot Riley (Christian Slate) tries to stop him and secure the bombs.  Also among the cast are Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley, Bob Gunton, and Howie Long.  It also features an iconic score from Hans Zimmer....Ain't It Cool?!? Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Once Upon a Time in the world of professional boxing....Apollo Creed was the champion of the world.  He eventually lost his title to Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone who would receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in this film) who would also lose the title before winning it back with Apollo as his trainer.  They remained very good friends right up until the day that Apollo tragically lost his life during an exhibition match against the feared Russian boxer, Ivan Drago.  But did you know that Apollo actually had a son right before he died??That son is Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) and he has now become a boxer himself to the consternation of his mother (Phylicia Rashad), only he has been struggling to find some one who can train him.  So one day he travels across the country to Philadelphia to seek out the former champion whom his father trained when he needed him the most.....and after some hesitation, Rocky decides to train him as he works his way up the professional boxing circuit.  Along the way, Adonis also finds a companion in Philly with the lovely singer Bianca (Tessa Thompson) when suddenly, he has the opportunity to fight for the SAME boxing title which his father previously had.  What results is one of the most beloved sports dramas of recent years directed by future Oscar-nominee Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Sinners) as his first major studio film.  Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

What if your boss was a REALLY ungrateful, unpleasant person and you ended up trapped on a deserted island alone with JUST him?? Well that's the tantalizing premise laid for out for this raucous new comedy thriller from the legendary Sam Raimi who directed both the Spider-Man trilogy in the early '00's along with his now iconic Evil Dead trilogy.  Dylan O'Brien (The Maze Runner, Saturday Night) plays the boss and the beleaguered employee who has suprising survival skills is played by Oscar-nominee Rachel McAdams (Spotlight, Mean Girls, The Notebook).  And needless to say....things get pretty bloody!Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

We are approaching the 35th Anniversary of what is likely one of the most celebrated and influential movies of the 1990's.  Adapted from Thomas Harris' best-selling novel of the same name, this is the story of student FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) on her first assignment: to develop a psychological profile of the infamous serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) who is currently incarcerated in Baltimore.  Of course, she also finds herself on a hidden mission as well dispatched by her superior, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) - she meets with the intimidating Dr. Lecter to also glean clues on how to best catch another serial killer who is currently on the loose, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine).  And what results is an intensely brutal and psychogical cat-and-mouse between Clarice, Hannibal, and Bill.  Not only was this film a suprise box office smash upon release in February '91 but it would also go on to win the rare "Big Five" at the Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for the late, great Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense, Something Wild).    Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Could this be The BEST Zombie Film EVER?  Many die-hard fans of the zombie sub-genre might say so and they might be right - this post-apocalyptic zombie epic was also directed by what most consider the creator of this genre, the late, great George A. Romero. (Night of the Living Dead, Monkey Shines, The Crazies) It focuses on two police officers (Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger) and two employees of a local news station (David Emge, Gaylen Ross) who are now on the run after a full-blown zombie pandemic in the US and eventually are able to settle at a local mall where they seem to have everything they need.....though there are plenty of zombies there too. :o We follow their adventures in surviving this dystopian situation and they TRY to have some fun along the way.....and much carnages ensues.   Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Just over six months after the previous entry in this franchise (28 Years Later), we return to the post-apocalyptic world of the "infected" in the UK though this time with a somewhat different focus.  This story focuses on Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) now exploring the possibility of building a bond and possibly even treating an infected "Alpha" named Samson (Chi-Lewis-Parry).  Meanwhile we are following returning character Spike (Alfie Williams) who has now found himself mixed up with a murderous cult roving through the countryside lead by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell).  And eventually these two stories intersect....directed by Nia DaCosta (2021's Candyman, The Marvels, Hedda), this definitely takes some divergent turns from the previous film, let's see if the journey is worthwhile.....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

When evil terrorists have hijacked a passenger plane flying through Europe filled with mostly Americans and they're headed towards Beirut...who are you gonna call?  The Delta Force! Yup smack in the middle of a now legendary run of B-Grade genre films (Missing In Action, Breakin', Cobra), Cannon Films decided to make a statement with this star-studded political action thriller starring Chuck Norris (The Way of the Dragon, Code of Silence, Walker Texas Ranger) and the late, great Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou, The Dirty Dozen) who lead this titular elite squad of warriors to the rescue.  Not only that but one half of the Israeli producing duo which ran Cannon - Menahem Golan (Over the Top, Enter the Ninja, The Apple) - actually decided to direct it himself. ;) When first released amidst a true glut of military-themed action films in '86, this was only a middling success but since then, it has garned a devoted cult following thanks to it likely overqualifed cast filled with former Oscar-winners (Marvin, Martin Balsam, George Kennedy, Shelly Winters) and an EXTREMELY catchy theme song created by Alan Silvestri!  Well that and we get to see Norris' McCoy dispatch bad guys with missiles from his motorcycle....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970's in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.The late, great Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Silkwood, Working Girl) directed this biting comedic drama about Diane, an actress Diane (Meryl Streep) struggling with drug addication and her complicated relationship with her mother (Shirley MacClaine) who was also a famous performer.  Also written by the late, great Carrie Fisher (Star Wars, When Harry Met Sally) who was adapting her own semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, this story delves mostly into Diane's frought (and often comedic) misadventures following her recent treatment at a drug clinic including her on-set struggles, her romantic life, and her attempts to carve out a new career for herself.  This quotable gem featured a stacked supporting cast including Dennis Quaid, Annette Bening, Oliver Platt, Richard Dreyfuss, and the late, great Gene Hackman. Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) is a special effects man working on low budget movies in New York City when one day, the FBI suddenly comes calling and they have a unique assignment for him.  They would like for him to stage the fake murder of a mobster (Jerry Orbach) whom they recently arrested and will make a witness.  So Rollie takes on this assignment and everything goes as planned.....or DOES it? :o Suddenly the Feds are after HIM and the NYPD is on the trail too lead by Detective Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy).  And what results is a fun cat-and-mouse thriller with Rollie trying to evade the bad guys with his own unique bag of special effects tricks!  Directed by Robert Mandel (School Ties, The Substitute), this grew into a well-liked cult hit in the '80's eventually spawning both a sequel and inspiring a TV series of the same name. Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

The saga of The Sully Clan and their adventures on the far off planet of Pandora continues with this third entry in Oscar-winning director James Cameron's ongoing franchise which started in 2009 with Avatar....but do we still care? :p Well according to recent box office returns, we certainly do and much of that might due to the continued spectacle of seeing these characters fly and swim and now fight fire on-screen.  The fire apparently comes from a new threat who's the leader of an ash tribe named Varang (Oona Chaplin) and as she starts to align with Colonel Quarytch (Stephen Lang, returning from the previous two films), that threat only seems to escalate.  And stuck in the middle of this conflict is young human Spider (Jack Champion) who is still loyal to his adopted family of the Sully's but might now also present a new threat to them and the future existence of the Navi on this planet.  Once again leading this sci-fi epic are Sam Worthington as Jake and now Oscar-winner Zoe Saldana as Netyri, along with several other returning cast members including Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis.  Let's find out if Big Jim can pull it off again and if the quality of the story matches the spectacle.....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

From acclaimed director Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) comes yet another intense thriller....sort of....THIS time focusing on the trevails of Marty Mouser (Oscar-nominee Timothee Chalamet) who's an aspiring table tennis player working his way up the tournament circuit in the early 1950's.  Of course, his journey towards attempting to become a world-class ping pong athlete becomes increasingly complicated as Marty is so impulsive and selfish that he starts to get in his own way.  What results is a high-wire character study featuring an array of eccentric and/or dangerour characters whom Marty encounters along the way played by a VERY unique cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Tyler the Creator, Emory Cohen, Geza Rohrig, Fran Drescher, Abel Ferrara, and Kevin O'Leary.  (Yes the SAME Kevin O'Leary from "Shark Tank") Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon  Send us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington) is a hot-shot young trumpet player leading his own jazz quintet who loves the music and has a way with the ladies but can't figure out how to reconcile those two things.  He's also dating two women (Joie Lee, Cynda Williams) at the same time and can't commit to either of them.  He has also a manager (Spike Lee) who's a gambling addict and a saxophonist band-mate (Wesley Snipes) who has developed a rivalry with him.  So where does he go from here?  In this sprawling romantic musical drama, we follow his complicated story and hear a lot of great music along the way!  This was Oscar-Winner director Spike Lee's immediate follow-up to Do the Right Thing and even though it was a pretty unconventional choice to come right after such a seminal film, its reputation has only grown over the past thirty-five years thanks to several sterling peformances from its leads along with a stacked supporting cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, NIcholas Turturro, Ruben Blades, Samuel L. Jackson, and the late, great Robin Harris in his last live action on-screen role. Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Rest In Peace Rob ReinerCommemorating not only the 35th Anniversary of an iconic adaptation of the popular Stephen King novel of the same name but the recent tragic loss of its director Rob Reiner who was in the middle of a sterling run of instant classics (When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me) at the time of this film's release.  It's the simple story of fictional best-selling author Paul Sheldon (Oscar-nominee James Caan) who gets severely injured and incapacitated after accidently driving off of a snow road one day in the mountains after finishing his latest novel.  Fortunately he's found by a local retired nurse named Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in the role which won her the Oscar for Best Actress) who gradually nurses him back to health....or DOES she?

What happens when you take two comedy legends and place them in prison?? :o  Well in this particular case, in their second of four collaborations, you have Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles) paired up with Richard Pryor (Bustin Loose, Brewster's Millions, Blue Collar) paired up as two out-of-work-actors who end up in the wrong place and the wrong time and are convicted of a bank heist which they did not commit.  As a result, they are both sent to a southwestern prison where they team up with other prisoners to eventually escape via the opportunity of a prison rodeo....and HILARITY ensues!  Directed by the late great Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier (yes THAT Sidney Poitier...he was also a director), let's see how this smash hit comedy blockbuster from a different time (forty-five years ago to be exact) holds up.....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Legendary auteur Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Time Bandits, The Fisher King, Monty Python & the Holy Grail) directs this time-bending sci-fi thriller focusing on one man's unique journey to the past to save the future.  That man is James Cole (Bruce Willis) who is currently living in a dystopian 2035 so ravaged by disease that no humans can actually live on the surface of the Earth so he has been tasked by scientists to travel back to the 1990's in Philadelphia to pinpoint the very beginning of a fatal virus which would eventually spread and wipe out most of the Earth's population.  As would be expected, several complications occur along the way including being commited to a mental facility where he meets the mad son (Brad Pitt who received an Oscar nomination for his performance) of a reknowned virologist (Christopher Plummer).  And he also encounters a therapist (Madeline Stowe) who initially believes him to be crazy though they build a unique relationshiop over time.  Co-written by David Webb Peoples (the Oscar-nominated writer of Unforgiven and Blade Runner), this dizzying tale takes features several dizzying turns carried by sterling performances.  Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Throughout his storied career, the legendary Steven Soderbergh has directed a wide array of highly acclaimed films and/or hits (Out of Sight, Ocean's 11, Magic Mike, Black Bag, Logan Lucky, Contagion, Sex, Lies, & Videotape) and THIS is the film which earned him his only Oscar for Best Director in 2000.  This was actually one of two films (the other being Erin Brockovich) which he was nominated for in 2000 which turned out to be a TRULY stellar year for him!  It's a sprawling story about the American "War on Drugs" during the late '90's, focusing on several different characters on different sides of the law and various levels of the drug trade including two DEA agents (Don Cheadle, Luis Guzman), a judge who has just been appointed the National Drug Czar (Michael Douglas), the wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) of a suspected drug dealer (Steven Bauer), that couple's conniving attorney (Dennis Quaid), a teenager (Erika Christiansen) who becomes addicted to crack, and one conflicted Mexican cop (Benicio Del Toro who won an Oscar for his performance).  It's a complex story delving into a lot of moral grey areas and it's a testament to all of the talent involved (including Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan) that this film was not only highly acclaimed but also a word-of-mouth blockbuster with audiences at the time of release.  However twenty-five years later, it is not often mentioned by many as among Soderbergh's best....so how does this ambitious ensemble hold up?  Let's find out if any one gets away clean.....Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

He'll Save Every One Of Us....Yes it's the story of Flash Gordon (Sam Jones), the fictitious quarterback of the New York Jets who inadverdently travels into deep space with intrepid travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and crazy-but-misunderstood scientest Dr. Hans Zarkov).  They land on the mysterious planet of Mongo which is ruled by the vicious Emperor Ming (Max von Sydow) who intends to destroy Earth. :o And together, they embark on a crazy sci-fi adventure to try to save their home planet while also encountering various local leaders who may OR may not be able to help them including Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton), Princess Aura (Ornella Muti), and the boisterous Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed).  Forty-five years ago, this comic book adaptation was released into theaters with much fanfare by famous producer Dino DeLaurentis (Serpico, Blue Velvet, Conan the Barbarian, Hannibal) who was hoping that this big budget enterprise would duplicate the success of Star Wars which had come out just three years prior.  Disappointingly, the film received weak box office and weak reviews upon initial release but eventually would grow to be a beloved cult classic on cable and video.....with much of its success due to a slam-bang soundtrack by the band Queen!  And now its legacy lives on very much due to some VERY catchy music featured throughout including the now iconic main theme song perfomed by the band.  Directed by the late, great Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Croupier), it's time to head back to Ming City on our rocket cycle and.......DIIIIIIVE!!!!!Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

"Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world." That's the official IMDB description for this Oscar-nominated documentary but does that even really describe it?  Well.....sort of.  The amateur filmmaker described is likely Theirry Guetta, a French clothing shop-owner in Los Angeles who never goes anywhere without his camera and we initially seem to follow him as he takes a very strong interest in graffiti artists.  So he starts to film various reknowned streets artists in action including Shephard Fairey, Space Invader, Borf, Buffmontster, and eventually.....the legendary Banksy.  He builds a relationship with Banksy, decides to film some exciting new acts of street art and then things get increasingly interesting....AND funny! :)  Well as it turns out, Banksy himself is the ACTUAL director of this film, Theirry Guetta MIGHT be the actual star, it's all wittily narrated by Welsh actor Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, House of the Dragon), and what results could actually be one of the funniest (yet still insightful) documentaries of all time. ;) Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Sixteen years after the previous film (The Godfather Part II) in this saga won him Oscars for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture...Oscar-winning legend Francis Ford Coppola (Apocolypse Now, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Conversation) returned to both co-write and direct this final entry in the beloved sage of The Corleone Family.  And this time around even though the film was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture, it didn't win any.....and the consensus was that it was below the quality for the first two despite including acclaimed performances by its three main stars including Al Pacino (who returned to play Michael Corleone), the late, great Diane Keaton (who returned to play Kay Corleone), and Oscar-nominated Andy Garcia who played Michael's nephew Vincent.  Infact, it was considered by many to be by far the weakest film in the trilogy.  So thirty years later during an extended COVID lock-down, Coppola decided re-edit Part III and by the end of 2020, a newly reworked version was released to both theaters and streaming.  Celebrating The Godfather Part III's 35th Anniversary, we will review this latest version to find out how or IF it improves upon the original version released on Christmas of 1990.   Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

In honor of its upcoming 30th Anniversary next month, here is our newly remastered (with additional content) review of one of The Greatest Films Ever!“Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner….” – Neil McCauley, 1995And that's the apparent thesis for one of the most beloved films of the past thirty years spoken by living legend Robert DeNiro sitting across from fellow living legend Al Pacino.  Or is it really the main theme of the movie?  Maybe it's just something cool-sounding that a tough guy says but doesn't really follow through on….director Michael Mann examines that very question among so many others during this almost three hour crime epic focusing on the brewing conflict between two self-obsessed master tacticians on both sides of the law…and the women who love them….along with every one else whose lives they impact.  This STACKED cast also includes Val Kilmer, Diana Venora, Amy Brenneman, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Wes Studi, Dennis Haysbert, Mykelti Williamson, Danny Trejo, and Ted Levine among SO many others.  Let's find out if The Action Really IS The Juice…..Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

In 1930's Mississippi, three escaped convicts go on the run into the country to find freedom and treasure - they are Everett (George Clooney), Pete (John Turturro), and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and along the way, they have a variety of adventures encountering any number of interesting characters.  LOOSELY based on Homer's The Odyssey, this was co-written and directed by the Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country for Old Men) and unexpectedly became their biggest hit at the time.  Not only that but the bluegrass soundtrack produced by T-Bone Burnett became a surprise smash.  So let's hit the road with The Soggy Bottom Boys and find out who's BONAFIED.! :)  Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/