The Hopscotch Friday Podcast

In part two of our run-down of Australian box office releases, we're up to our knees in cape-wearing vigilantes and magic folks.  BUT - at the time of publishing, James Cameron's Avatar the Way of Water has completely reordered the list! So consider this episode a curio, a remnant before the Ego landed. Enjoy. 

In the first of our two-part chat about what movies Aussies went to the cinemas to actually watch in 2022, we talk Sonic the Hedgehog, the folly of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, and well there's a lot of Chris Pratt chat!

Director David Weiner is back to toll the bells for the end of the In Search of Darkness part III campaign over on In Search of Darkness Part III - Ends Midnight Halloween! – CreatorVC Studios Inc (80shorrordoc.com) Listeners have until Halloween midnight to get their order in for a copy of the film - as well as a chance to get your name in the credits (and some juicy sounding merch as well.  Emmet asks David Weiner about our nostalgia for horror movies, the thrill of discovering gross out catharsis in a VHS case hidden away at the back of a video store - and recent resurrected iconic horror franchises such as Hellraiser and Halloween.

This episode we have a chat about Lightyear: the controversy and culture war nonsense, and the quiet existentialism of Buzz's mission to return home. 

The dinos are back - but so are the old crew.  And everyone looks just so tired! 

Phew! Finally, we get round to discussing all things Stranger Things season 4. From the Eddie of it all, to the mushrooming cast and the changes to the kinds of horror being depicted onscreen, we dig in. 

The loosely adapted tale of Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet - Our Flag Means Death - has proven to be a fan favourite. Stevie and Emmet discuss - also a cat gets involved.    Notes: As Emmet mentions, The Dollop and Last Podcast On The Left have also covered this material.   

This episode is not a review of Matt Reeves's The Batman. It's a review of season 1 to 6 of Superstore on NBC. ....although you could be fooled!  Stevie and Emmet discuss how this workplace comedy used the format to raise issues with unionism, corporate America - and the COVID pandemic. How successful is Justin Spitzer's show in dealing with these storylines?  Listen on to find out!  (also Emmet keeps talking about Epix's From!). 

So right out the gate - spoilers for this 'un if you haven't seen Kenneth Branagh's follow-up to The Orient Express.  Stevie and Emmet have thoughts!  Also - Emmet has a comic story with Jeferson Sadzinski, Cardinal Rae and Marcela Corrêa Müller titled How To Win A Raid in the second volume of The BeBop from Bird's Eye Comics. The anthology is now being Kickstarted, so please share and support. 

Stevie's back! And she's talking Moonfall, with Emmet, who recounts exactly how long he's hated Roland Emmerich movies. 

Ten years ago Emmet had the opportunity to interview Larry Cohen, to promote a visit to Australia as part of MonsterFest October 2012. This episode features segments of their conversation, released as a tribute to mark the 4 year* anniversary of Cohen's passing.  During their conversation, Cohen raises his feelings about the use of CGI effects in horror cinema, how his themes have allowed a new generation of film-fans to rediscover his films, as well as shout outs to Bruce Campbell, Quentin Tarantino, and The Big Lebowski.  Also for no apparent reason Emmet decides to shit on Sydney as a filming location!? 

Taking on the reins from the late Ivan Reitman, director Jason Reitman returns us to the world of the Ghostbusters - and it feels more like an obligatory school reunion than anything.  In this episode Stevie and Emmet discuss how this sequel restages whole sequences from the original movie, the clash of styles between the two Reitmans, and how Ghostbusters is yet another franchise graverobbing its stars using CGI à la Star Wars.  Safe to say, not a recommendation, and spoilers abound! 

We were a little slow getting back in the groove for 2022 - so here's a madcap rush to give you some capsule reviews of things we liked so far this year (and some things....we didn't like)! Dexter New Blood The Matrix Resurrections And Just Like That The Legend of Vox Machina Inventing Anna   With quick mentions of Peacemaker, Archive 81, Arcane and Emily in Paris - we'll get back to those at a later date. 

In a tip of the hat to Fred Armisen and Bill Hader's Documentary Now!, Stevie and Emmet look back at some recent documentaries exploring the darker sides of human nature.  How about something with a bet more pep, hurm? But then with the rise of the true crime podcast and - in a post-Tiger King world - there's clearly a demand for the kinds of documentaries that just leave a bitter aftertaste.  So what's that all about.  Included in this episode: Pharma Bro LuLaRich Generation Wealth The Way Down Weiner Repeat Attenders The Sparks Brothers That last one is the exception that proves the rule.   

Recorded hours away from the Hawkeye finale on Disney+, Stevie and Emmet weigh in on Hawkeye, the Renner of it all, and of course why Florence Pugh is the best. 

Stevie returns for this chat about all things Dune.  We review the latest film, compare it to Jodorowsky's unfinished weird project and David Lynch's finished - and also pretty weird - 1984 production.  And Emmet's short review of Rafe Judkins's adaptation of The Wheel of Time is also featured at the end of the episode.  Listen to Kumar's appearance on Deconstructing Comics reviewing the Marvel adaptation of Lynch's movie.

This Halloween, director David Weiner and CreatorVC are hosting a crowdfunding campaign to support the release of In Search of Darkness III. The concluding chapter in Weiner's exhaustive 80s horror documentary series, this campaign is offering fans the opportunity to curate what films will be discussed in this entry.  Emmet picks Weiner's brains on his approach to the In Search of Darkness series, his approach as a 'nostalgia curator', how cool Barbara Crampton is - and the discussion exorcises a video store trauma of Emmet's from the 1990s! Mentioned in the discussion: https://80shorrordoc.com/ Barbara Crampton's appearance on The Flop House Umbrella's release of Razorback with awesome Simon Sherry cover art.

After an impassioned text exchange with guest Tan, Emmet agreed to watch Midnight Mass on Netflix.  This episode is the result of that text message! This is a spoilerific conversations folks, so if you haven't yet seen Mike Flanagan's offering, we recommend checking it out first.   

This episode we talk about shows and movies that use violence for comic and satirical effect.  Firstly a very impressive Korean drama just released on Netflix called Squid Game. Then we compare the show's approach to using violence - be it extreme and upsetting, or comical - to the likes of James Gunn's Troma-esque The Suicide Squad and Eric Kripke's adaptation of comic The Boys.  (And if you make it to the end, Emmet delivers his rant about HBO's Watchmen!)

Remember Black Widow? The movie that inspired its own Marvel's Civil War between the star and studio?  Well we talk about it here! (Mainly because Stevie watched it for a second time and has thoughts!).  And Emmet bites his tongue to not blurt out his Taskmaster nerd rant - but here's his favourite comic panel featuring the character:

Director David Freyne's follow-up to Irish zombie drama The Cured is this heartfelt coming out drama set in Co. Kildare.  Fionna O'Shea and Lola Petticrew star as Eddie and Amber, two gay teens just trying to survive school. Spotting that Eddie is equally estranged from their classmates, Amber proposes a solution - they pretend to date until they can finish school! Shenanigans ensue. This is a sincere and heartfelt film, and the semi-autobiographical touches stir up memories of surviving the 90s for Stevie and Emmet also! (and before the trip down memory lane, Emmet briefly touches on Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe for Netflix and the apparent 'controversy'). 

"Cruella De Vil Cruella De Vil If she doesn't scare you No evil thing will To see her is to Take a sudden chill Cruella, Cruella De Vil" Stevie and Emmet review Craig Gillespie's Cruella.  Is it a harmless camp foray into Disney villainy with a sidelong glance at the style innovations of Vivienne Westwood, or a heartless corporate product aimed squarely at merchandising aisles?  In other news, Emmet was recently interviewed by Zoran Ilievski for his podcast Graphic Nature, where he discusses coming to comics, a weird coincidence involving a lost script from the early 2000s and The Beating of Wings. 

How does Emmet draw a long bow connecting Wild Mountain Thyme and Army of the Dead?  He finds a way.  In happier news we also discuss the Matt "Ireland's favourite uncle" Le Blanc meme and if that brown bread ice cream took your fancy, here's where you can get it. 

Stevie and Emmet take a drive to Major Tom's in Kyneton to buy burgers.  More episodes soon.  ...barring further incidents with our kangaroo neighbours.  In this episode: Emmet mentions his upcoming interview with Zander Cannon (Top Ten, Smax, Kaijumax) for Deconstructing Comics Catherine Flynn's upcoming Ulysses anniversary edition (and podcast) Upstart Crow Girls5eva The Mitchells vs The Machines

'The Snyder Cut', officially known as Zack Snyder's Justice League, dropped this week on HBO's streaming platform.  The three year campaign by fans to restore director Zack Snyder's version of Justice League, which we reviewed in episode 42 with Dr Matt Finch, was endorsed by the film-maker and eventually the cast. Additional footage was shot late last year, in combination with original footage and special effects sequences.  If I could turn back time...Ezra Miller as The Flash.  So what did Tan and Emmet make of it?   Also you are strongly advised to check out Leslie Jones's delightful live tweet of Zack Snyder's Justice League here. 

Well we cracked. We got Disney+ – after welcoming a wee kitten named Wanda into our house – and watched Wandavision.  We've got plenty to say about this latest show from Marvel Entertainment. In fact Emmet has a bee in his bonnet about whatever folks are saying about this weekly show that inspired intense speculation.  But there is a enough going on in this show, with stars Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and Kathryn Hahn succeeding to make some magical moments.  (And Emmet spruiks his comic The Beating of Wings, now printed and available at Ownaindi). 

Save Yourselves! is an alien invasion dramedy with touches of horror starring Sunita Mani (from Glow, much-missed in this parish) and John Reynolds (Search Party) as a couple who escape to the country just as society starts to fall apart.  And they've just cut themselves off from the internet so for a number of days the couple remain blissfully unaware of their impending doom.  Emmet and Stevie discuss Save Yourselves as an unlikely response to COVID-pandemic and quarantine boredom, and its indie-feature budget inventiveness.  Also: Emmet delivers some bad news to Stevie. The Eileen Jones article on John Carpenter can be found here. Just to note as well, this episode was pre-recorded before the latest lockdown in Victoria. 

Shhh. This podcast has a kitten now - don't wake her.  Anyway, dozing cats aside, this episode Stevie and Emmet discuss the revamped Saved by the Bell, with returning stars Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen alongside a new cast of students returning to Bayside High.  And you know what? We loved it. Courtesy of writer/producer Tracey Wigfield and a game cast of actors, this is less a nostalgia-fest, and more an attempt to repair and restore a property with plenty of problematic elements that was simultaneously innocuous - and question why that was.  It's smart and fun stuff people, and pretty underrated as a show. 

"Die Hard is a Xmas movie? You don't say!" Insert Willy Wonka meme here.  Stevie and Emmet missed the boat on their planned 'unexpected Xmas movie run-down', but no matter! They're going to talk about Die Hard anyway. Because, as Stevie says, it's a good film anyway.  Also she has thoughts about Batman Returns she wants to share.  Emmet also raises examples of Die Hard-likes, such as Dwayne Johnson's Skyscraper (which we reviewed here) and the bloody good fun of Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving going on an office-workplace rampage in Mayhem.  Also mentioned: 2020 highlights, Heavn by Jamila Woods and in books, Francesca Wade's excellent history Square Haunting: Five Women, Freedom and London Between the Wars Emmet's new comic The Beating of Wings, with Jeferson Sadzinski, Thomas Mauer, Tim Molloy, Laura Renfrew, Aisling King-Macklin and Sarah Winifred Searle is available from Comixology now

With apologies to the guests Emmet invited to join him - here is a belated pilot episode for a dedicated podcast on every issue of Jeff Smith's Bone.  For a conversation about issues #1 and #2 of the comic, Emmet speaks to author, journalist and comic creator Anthony Castle https://anthonyncastle.com/. 

The Queen's Gambit, based on Walter Tevis's novel, is the latest hit from Netflix.  Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Marielle Heller and Moses Ingram, the miniseries explores themes of addiction and isolation through the experience of chess prodigy Beth Harmon.  Stevie and Emmet discuss the show, its treatment of addiction and the subsequent criticism of it within the press, and why Emmet is reluctantly going to watch The New Mutants. 

First off, we open the episode with the ambition of reviewing The Queen's Gambit. That did not happen. We had too much to say about Lovecraft Country. So check back in with us next episode for that! Instead Stevie and Emmet get stuck into a discussion of Misha Green's Lovecraft Country. Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Wunmi Mosaku and Michael K. Williams are among the excellent cast-members of this horror series that centres the genre legacy of Lovecraft against the lived experience of Black Americans.  Also mentioned:  Josephine Tay's novel The Daughter of Time How Lovecraft Country exemplifies the critical approach to the author H.P. Lovecraft the genre needs. 'Blank spots' in how history is taught in the US and Australia. Emmet's piece on Michael Shea.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror film documentary with a lot to say.  Focusing on the experience of actor Mark Patton, who starred as Jesse in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, it explores the impact on the actor of the gay panic response to the homoerotic themes and imagery of the film.  Patton's candid and pained reflections on homophobia in Hollywood, and the wider world, in the era of AIDS and religious lobbyists targeting gay rights, form the spine of this emotional film.  Directors Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen also features the contrast of 'Freddy fans' who mock the perceived gay content of the film with advocates reclaiming both Freddy's Revenge, and Mark Patton, as an icon for queer cinema.  Stevie and Emmet discuss the film and the emotional highs and lows of this sensitive subject matter.  Also: Stevie's piece Strangeberries as featured in Polly Borland's Wundergym exhibition Emmet recommends listening to Tear Them Apart, with Paul M Yellovich and co-host Beasts of Burden/Blackwood creator Evan Dorkin, and their recent whistle-stop tour of the Friday the 13th franchise Emmet and Tim Molloy have an 'ecological horror story' featured in The Hierograph, which has a Kickstarter campaign Scream, Queen! is available to view on Shudder and on DVD from Umbrella Entertainment in Australia. 

So as it becoming custom, we open this episode with an apology for the delay in posting! 2020 has been...eventful. And we are now living in country Victoria after escaping Melbourne's COVID-lockdown.  In a funk of post-move fatigue, we binged five Fast & Furious movies.  Turns out we have a lot to say about these films, from Vin Diesel's self-insert fantasy of an indomitable and virile hero-figure, to Lucas Black aging ten years in a scene, James Wan's prominence in Australian cinema and that bloody plane runway in Fast & Furious 6. Here's the link to the Hierograph Kickstarter, featuring a story by Emmet O'Cuana and Tim Molloy.  And Aurealis #135 features an essay by Emmet on the writing of Michael Shea. 

In our Emmy Awards round-up episode we mentioned the Hugh Jackman vehicle Bad Education. Here we go into the story of Frank Tassone – and shout-out to Laci Mosley's excellent show Scam Goddess which brought the Roslyn school district scandal to our attention. But like everyone in Melbourne, we are still in lockdown, so instead of risking our lives to go see Tenet, we binged seasons 1 & 2 of Battlestar Galactica.  (Seriously don't risk your life to see a movie, it's not worth it).  Does the show live up to our memories of it? How about the controversial ending to the show, or how it handles politics, religion and paranoia as a genre show in a time before Game of Thrones mainstream plaudits?  Also: we're watching The Boys and Emmet stupidly reread the entire comic run by Ennis and Darrickson in two days Emmet's story 'The Physical Impossibility of British Art' is out Aurealis magazine - issue 135 will feature Emmet's article on Michael Shea.  

Next month on Monday 21 September 2020, the 72nd Emmys will be held.  We haven't really discussed the Emmys before but this year has a cohort of nominees that caught our eyes.  From Succession, to Schitt's Creek, Watchmen to The Mandalorian, we give a quick accounting of our picks from the bunch.  

This episode is a real sink and swim effort for any listener who hasn't played the Dragon Age video game series. Emmet reached out to Aimee Hart from Gayming Magazine after reading her article Here's Why You Should Play Dragon Age 2, Like, Right Now. Following up on Aimee's piece, which identifies a number of ambitious themes featured in the writing for this much maligned game, this episode also touches on the gameplay, choosing the personality for main character Hawke, criticisms of Dragon Age 2, and how it sits with other entries in the franchise Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition. On and Dragon Age 2 came out 9 years ago, so there are spoilers aplenty in this discussion. And for fans of the series, here's Emmet's interview with Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir the writing team behind Dragon Age: Blue Wraith, over on Deconstructing Comics.  

Eurovision, a heady brew of camp and pop music, has finally landed in the consciousness of American pop culture zeitgeist thanks to this Netflix film starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams and Dan Stevens.  Stevie and Emmet discuss the film, their connections to Eurovision, and throw in a nod to John C. Reilly flick Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. 

Emmet interviews Craig Cormick and Harold Ludwick on their book On A Barbarous Coast. A reimagining of the HMB Endeavour's arrival - it sinks - Cormick and Ludwick discuss how this fork in the accounting of Australia's history allowed them to reflect on how indigenous Australians have been excluded from the colonial record.  The authors also discuss: how their collaboration came about how their book treats of Captain Cook the use of language and the relevance of BLM protests to their account.  

Nick Hornby's High Fidelity was adapted to film in 2000, and now Ugly Betty's Sarah Kucserka and Veronica West have brought it to Hulu as a vehicle for Zoe Kravitz.  Stevie and Emmet talk about the television series, comparing it to the Stephen Frears/John Cusack flick from 2000 and the original novel. The gender-swap conceit is addressed, as well as the ensemble cast (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Jake Lacy, David H. Holmes, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Rainbow Sun Francks) and how the show fails to properly update material to the times leaning on nostalgia.  Thinking to put their money where their mouths are, Stevie and Emmet then share top five lists for one another.  To listen, check out this playlist on Spotify.  Also, here is a list of album cover art by Elaine 'Sgraffito' Nic Cuana.  Oh and this was our 100th episode! Thanks for listening folks.   

Alejandro Landes's film Monos has screened to rave reviews around the world. Our roving reviewer Neevon Mohtaji attended a screening back in March. In this episode, Emmet challenges Neevon to try and remember a film he saw two months ago, in the before-COVID-19 times! For digital release details, Australian listeners should check Madman for updates. Stay safe folks!       

Oh why oh why did we agree to this! In the last episode Emmet joked about watching the sequence of films that led to Alien Versus Predator in 2004 - and a listener thought that was a great idea. Apparently this was more a geas than a simple request, so Stevie and Emmet watched: Predator Predator 2 Alien Versus Predator Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem Phew! The credit due to Randy Stradley, Phil Norwood, Chris Warner, as well as Mark Verheiden's comics work in setting this franchise in motion, published by Dark Horse, is also discussed.  Also discussed: Walt Williams's Significant Zero Dirty Money on Netflix coronavirus and capitalism Watts River Brewery (buy local kids!) Aliens: Dead Orbit by James Stokoe Aliens: Labyrinth by Jim Woodring and Kilian Plunkett

Handily collected on Netflix, the Jurassic Park franchise has been a blockbuster staple for almost thirty years.  Stevie and Emmet discuss the first, third and most recent 'Jurassic' flicks, the underrated Jurassic Park III, the overall theme of capitalism and science being turned to deadly or humanist ends - and just how creepy was Jeff Goldblum's Dr Ian Malcolm?  Also in this episode: those annoying Zach Braff podcast promos Finna by Nino Cipri Ghil Dirthalen, a Dragon Age Youtube channel's review of Blue Wraith (and a nod to Emmet's interview with Christina Weir/Nunzio DeFilipis) making a Dolly Varden cake Tiny Tim's The Ice Caps Are Melting the origins of Alien Versus Predator We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often being in art, and very often in our art, the art of words. Ursula K. Le Guin

First thanks as always for listening folks. In this episode Emmet and Stevie relate a personal bereavement and how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted them. The eulogy for Gerard Cooney can be found here https://www.emmetocuana.com/news/2020/3/20/rip-gerard-cooney-1942-2020 In the meantime, now that we're all shut-ins following social distancing protocols, some recommendations: Tiger King, the Netflix docuseries that's taken the world by storm Unbelievable, a rape drama series inspired by true events starring Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever and Toni Colette Crowded, a near-future comic about a 'murder app' from Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Triona Farrell and Cardinal Rae https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/crowded-vol-1-tp Shout-outs also to Jason Franks and Neevon Mohtaji for....well helping us with groceries from our quarantine.  Jason Franks https://jasonfranks.com/ Neevon Mohtaji https://player.vimeo.com/video/240460026

Belatedly we catch up with the critical furore around Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn (...now rebranded as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey).  After wading through all of ...that... we cover Queen & Slim, out in Australia this week. Written by Lena Waithe and directed by Melina Matsoukas, this film takes head on the themes of 'black lives matter' and police violence head on. Emmet argues Waithe's screenply juxtaposes the figures of Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) and Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), with the idea of the outlaw so precious to American folklore. Full of sudden bursts of violence and artfully staged sequences that point to Matsoukas' history as a music video director, Queen & Slim is a provocative and rich picture for our times.  Also mentioned: Soda and Telecast's Anthony Pollack interviews Emmet  Emmet interviews Dr Brian Cremins on Shazam! And the What's in my Bag Flea ep.

Stevie attended the premiere for Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears and interviewed stars Essie Davis and Nathan Page, as well as author Kerry Greenwood.  This cinematic outing for Miss Fisher, out in Australian cinemas this week, follows a successful crowdfunding campaign, a testament to passionate fans of the television series. Stevie got to meet some of them in person at the 1920s costume themed event at the (appropriately art deco) Rivoli cinema in Camberwell.   

In part two of Stevie and Emmet's chat about films they relate to in particular - and it's a long 'un - you can hear discussed: The popularity of The Castle Priscilla Queen of the Desert Australian film and cultural cringe The Dish Romper Stomper Hugh Sullivan's The Infinite Man Shirley Temple's The Blue Bird Trading Places Wayne's World Hackers Scully from the X-Files as a role model Morgan Freeman in Seven Tea With The Dames Pontypool The Godfather Raging Bull David Harbour Maggie Gyllenhaal Luc Besson's Lockout Jurassic Park Arnold Schwarzenegger movies - The Last Action Hero, Kindergarten Cop, Terminator: Dark Fate and Maggie Phew!

Tip of the hat to Brett Goldstein's Films to be Buried With.  We borrowed his structure of an interview on film based around the premise that the subject has died and is looking back on their favourite flicks.  We in turn asked one another a series of questions about the films that make us who we are.  So join us on this trip at times nostalgic, sometimes regretful, and listen as we learn a bit more about one another.  Part one of two episodes.   

Making a welcome appeal to kindness and care for others, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood follows on from last year's documentary on Fred Rogers Won't You Be My Neighbor.  Impressively this fictionalised account of a journalist (Matthew Rhys) encountering Rogers when his life is at a low-point manages to combine the needs of narrative and a genuine impression of the television entertainer's life.  As a complement to Heller's film, we also discuss John Mulaney And The Sack Lunch Bunch. (available on Netflix) While the approach is not the same as Mr Rogers, the sincere interest in what children are thinking allows for the comparison.  A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is out in Australia from January 23. 

We are not reviewing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And that's because, well, we've already said everything we needed to. While this household is a The Last Jedi is good household, two years ago in episodes 44 and 45 of this podcast we had already discussed how narrow the focus of Star Wars as a franchise had become.  So here are extracts from those episodes highlighting concerns we already had with the franchise, which The Rise of Skywalker...let's say it leaned into them and leave it at that.   

Jake Kasdan and cast return to Jumanji for the sequel that provves if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Then a change of pace for Scarlett Johansson vehicles Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit.