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On this week's episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watched Paul Verhoeven's 1997 science-fiction action thriller Starship Troopers, starring Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyers, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Ironside and Clancy Brown. An adaptation of Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel of the same title, Verhoeven's film takes a satirical pass on the material, turning a fascistic coming-of-age tale into an unusual piece of meta-propaganda.Starship Troopers takes place in a future, fascist society, where democracy and universal suffrage have been overthrown, and a military government leads humanity, with full citizenship reserved for those who serve in the armed services. Casper Van Dien plays Johnny Rico, an eager young recruit in the Mobile Infantry, who is sent to the frontlines of a war against the Arachnids, a supposedly hostile race of alien insectoids. The film tells the story of Rico's training, his experience in battle, and his eventual rise to command. It is the kind of triumphant narrative that the fascist government of the story would want to broadcast to a skeptical citizenry, which gets to what this movie is trying to do as a film. We talk about this and more, so tune in!You can find a video version of this episode at Jamelle's YouTube page.Episodes come out roughly every two weeks, so join us then with an episode on The Jackal, a basically forgotten thriller starring Richard Gere and Bruce Willis.Over at the Patreon, we discussed The Baader-Meinhof Complex. We're also debuting a new weekly politics discussion show, only available for subscribers! Join at patreon.com/unclearpod.Our producer is Connor Lynch and our artwork is by Rachel Eck.
In this episode, veteran actor and director Greg Travis dives into his decades-long filmmaking journey, culminating in the release of his once-abandoned 1984 feature Dark Seduction. Shot on 16mm black-and-white film, the noir-vampire hybrid languished in post-production limbo for over 30 years before digital technology made its completion possible. Greg shares candid stories about the ups and downs of making the film—from lost investors to dusty negatives—and explains how delays actually gave him the chance to polish the project into something stronger than it would have been decades ago. Greg also reflects on lessons learned from working with top-tier directors like David Lynch and Paul Verhoeven, emphasizing the importance of tone, improvisation, and a solid story structure. As both an actor and filmmaker, he offers practical advice for new directors, including taking acting classes, planning with a three-act outline, and remaining open to spontaneous creative choices on set. His story is not just about finishing a movie—it's about staying committed to your vision through every challenge the industry throws your way.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.
We get our butts to Mars this week for a conversation about an Arnold Schwarzenegger 90s sci-fi classic. Based on a story by Philip K. Dick, TOTAL RECALL was directed by Paul Verhoeven and features intense visual effects, a complex plotline, and some surprisingly rich thematic concerns. It's also full of bullet-riddled action set pieces and a lot of wry humor.We're joined this week by Scott Tynes Miller, proprietor of Troubadour Booksellers in Charlotte, NC to discuss the ways memory and reality are intertwined and how they can be manipulated by counterfeits we sometimes willingly embrace.Also featured on this episode is an upcoming announcement about an official Fear of God Book Club starting next month, partnered with Troubadour Booksellers, that we're very excited to tell you about. It's a hearty and thoughtful episode this week and we really hope you enjoy it!7:26 - FoGadour Book Club (partnered with Troubadour Booksellers)25:55 - TOTAL RECALLSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ecoutez la masterclass que Paul Verhoeven a donné sur notre podcast lors de sa présence à Paris pour la sortie de sa biographie ! Paul Verhoeven, l'invité surprise d'une incroyable Masterclass ! Souvenez-vous, c'était en juin dernier, nous organisions une rencontre au Club de l'Étoile avec Paul Verhoeven, réalisater de Robocop, Starship Troopers, Total Recall. Sa parole est précieuse et vous allez entendre un incroyable cinéaste avec une parole très libre. Il ne répond pas toujours aux questions, il n'aime pas trop parler dans le micro mais il aime jouer avec le public. Il a adoré parler de Sharon Stone, ne vous inquiétez donc pas si on ne parle pas que de science-fiction dans ce podcast. Un épisode co-animé par Bruno et Lloyd Chéry. Pascale Fougère à la traduction. Merci à Dimitri du Club de l'Etoile et David Meulemans des Forges de Vulcain pour avoir organiser cette soirée spéciale. Ce podcast est disponible en vidéo ! Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
This is a preview of a premium episode from our Patreon feed, Paid Costly For Me! Head over to Patreon.com/PodCastyForMe to hear more for just $5 a month. This week we're looking at another one of Dirty Harry's spiritual children, Paul Verhoeven's 1987 ROBOCOP. Violence, corporate greed, police stuff - much to talk about here. But we're also talking about it because Verhoeven is a Dutch guy and Jake just got back from a trip to Amsterdam, which we gotta talk about too! OCEAN'S TWELVE locations, European public infrastructure, visiting the Anne Frank House during Israel's genocide of Palestinians - big ep. Plus: a message from Hotel Detective Maxwell Pierson. Thanks as always to Jetski for our theme music and to Jeremy Allison for our artwork. Check out Jetski's new album, The Radiant Radish!
30 years on, the tide is turning for Showgirls.Showgirls is remembered for its outlandish dialogue, the over-the-top performances, culminating in controversy, cult status, and unapologetic campiness. It's widely regarded as a mess, a critical and commercial flop, and poor Elizabeth Berkley took the brunt of the blame.Showgirls is polarizing, for many it's a guilty pleasure drenched in excess, but for others, it's a train wreck that's hard to look away from. This movie is no financial flop though, in fact it's one of MGM's most lucrative of all time. Sex sells. Nomi Malone hitchhikes her way to Las Vegas, dreaming of stardom and glory in the world of top tier showgirls. Writer Joe Eszterhas dreamed of a script that contained the real life stories of the women who worked in Vegas clubs, but director Paul Verhoeven wanted a not-so-subtle commentary on the darker side of fame and ambition in show business.It's looking at the American dream in a dark, twisted mirror, showing the misogynistic rot of show business, the dark reality of a patriarchal society that on the surface claims to love, idolise and promote women, it actually exploits and degrades women in the name of entertainment. Just like what happened to Elizabeth Berkley.I would love to hear your thoughts on Showgirls !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and brand-new patron Conner! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 113 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello discuss the last film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Benedetta (2021). For Verhoeven's latest film, the director reteamed with his Elle collaborator David Birke, to make a religious film, as he's an expert scholar of the Jesus Seminar, even writing a book in 2007 entitled Jesus of Nazareth. Though his adaptation of his book, along with several other projects, didn't come to head, he was able to make Benedetta, a loose adaptation of Judith C. Brown's Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, following the life of a nun (Virginie Efira) who joins the Italian convent while she was a young child and later has a forbidden love affair with another nun, while also seeing religious visions that make her seem like she has direct contact with Jesus. Wickedly hilarious, sensual, and fascinating, Benedetta is a thorny tale of the complexities of faith, as well as Verhoeven's critique of the church, an institution that he's examined for all of his life. Ryan, Jay, and Sophia break down their thoughts on the film, just how funny the film is, if it has more to say than what Verhoeven is bringing up on the surface, the dream sequences, Benedetta's struggles with temptation, Jay's love of The Great Gatsby, Sophia's story about seeing the film at the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and splinters. And seeing that it is the end of the series, the boys give out their Paul Verhoeven rankings as well as preview their new director series starting new week. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h44m. The guys will be back next week to begin their new series on the films of Yasujirō Ozu with a review of his film, Late Spring. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
On this week's episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watched Red Corner, a 1997 legal thriller directed by Jon Avnet and starring Richard Gere, Bai Ling, Bradley Whitford and Peter Donat.In Red Corner, Richard Gere plays Jack Moore,, an American businessman who becomes entangled in nightmarish legal ordeal after he spends the evening with a Chinese fashion model and wakes up the next morning to find that she has been brutally murdered.Jack insists that he's innocent, but learns that the Chinese legal system is very different than what he's used to in the United States. He is denied access to an American lawyer, interrogated without counsel, and pressured to sign a confession rather than defend himself. His state-assigned advocate, Shen Yuelin, assumes that Jack is guilty. But as she investigates the case, and grows closer to her client, she starts to doubt her conclusions. Gradually convinced of Jack's innocence, she uncovers signs of a larger conspiracy involving high-ranking officials and powerful business interests. As political and legal pressures mount, Jack and Shen race against time to try to expose the truth, navigating a perilous maze of corruption and authoritarian control.You can find Red Corner to rent or stream on Amazon and Apple TV.For our next episode, we will cover Paul Verhoeven's adaptation of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
Neste programa, Pedro Tobias (@pedromtobias) , MarinaOliveira (@coelho_limao) , Leandro Luz (@leandro_luz) e Fernando Machado (@femesmo) debatem a obra do cineasta holandês Paul Verhoeven responsável por obras como RoboCop: O Policial do Futuro (1987), Instinto Selvagem (1992) e Showgirls (1995).Portanto, pegue o seu fone de ouvido, prepare o café e nosacompanhe nesta jornada, pois a partir de agora você está em umplano-sequência!===========================================Ficha Técnica: Duração: 02h47min | Apresentação:Pedro Tobias | Pauta: Fernando Machado | Arte da Capa: Marina Oliveira| Edição e sonorização: Fernando Machado e Marina Oliveira | Seleção de trilha sonora: Leandro Luz | Publicação: Marina Oliveira===========================================Caso você queira ouvir os comentários apenas sobre um dosfilmes, confira a minutagem em que cada um entra:00:26:27 - RoboCop: O Policial do Futuro (1987)00:49:05 - Instinto Selvagem (1992)01:08:44 - Showgirls (1995)01:43:13 - Tropas Estelares (1997)02:00:52 - A Espiã (2006)02:15:57 - Considerações finais, TOP 3 e etc===========================================Dúvidas, sugestões, críticas ou feedbacks podem ser enviadospara o e-mail contato@plano-sequencia.com ouatravés de nossas redes sociais. Estamos no Twitter @planoseqcast,no Instagram @planoseqcast eno Facebook/planosequenciapodcast.Não deixe de avaliar o podcast para que possamos ter mais visibilidade dentrodas plataformas.===========================================
“Dead or alive, you're coming with us!” This week on The 3 Retro Movie Geeks Podcast, Paul is away, but fear not – we're joined once again by friend of the show, Marc Parslow, stepping in as our special guest. Together with Rob and Scott, Marc dives headfirst into one of the most iconic sci-fi action films of the 1980s: RoboCop (1987). From the satirical take on corporate greed and crime-ridden Detroit, to the unforgettable one-liners and groundbreaking special effects, we explore why Paul Verhoeven's dystopian classic still resonates with audiences nearly four decades later. Expect plenty of laughs, sharp insights, and a healthy dose of nostalgia as we break down Murphy's journey from cop to machine to legend. We also chat about the cultural impact RoboCop had on movies, TV, video games, and even toys, along with our own memories of discovering this R-rated masterpiece that somehow became a staple of ‘80s pop culture. So polish your Prime Directives, fire up that retro Walkman, and join us for a blast of cinematic justice, retro geek style.
Continuing our '90s action summer, we're taking on something with a bit more of a science fiction atmosphere with Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall. It's great to have Arnold back on the show and here we discuss whether we're all just living in a dream, whether we'd partake in a recall memory, and the unequivocal hotness of '90s Sharon Stone. We're also drinking Sloop Brewing's Jungle Juice sour with tart cherry and pineapple.Approximate timeline0:00-8:00 Intro8:00-16:00 Beer talk16:00-end Total RecallNext up: Escape from LA!
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 112 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch contributor Dan Bayer discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Elle (2016). After a full decade without making a film, Verhoeven returned to the big screen doing what he does best; pushing buttons. With Elle, he made one of his most talked about, controversial films of his entire career about a successful businesswoman who get caught up in a dangerous, sexual game of cat and mouse with the man whom she believes raped her. Blurring the lines between a female's liberation, sexual desire, and abuse, Elle explores the complex emotions attached to those who have been abused. Ryan, Jay, and Dan break down their thoughts on this complex masterpiece, the performance from Isabelle Huppert, the sexual politics presented in the film, how controversial the film was at the time, if this would've been embraced more by the Academy if it was released today, how the film foreshadows the film will cover next week on the show, and the differences between video games now and the ones made from our childhood in terms of the graphics. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h32m. The guys will be back next week to conclude their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Benedetta. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
Les auditeurs les plus fidèles et assidus le savent : la fin de saison rime avec grandes réalisations !Ainsi, comme chaque été, la saison de votre podcast préféré se clôture par une sélection de qualité axée sur trois films importants, mis en images par les plus grands.Cette année ne fait pas exception et la thématique historique choisie ici nous permet de nous confronter, une fois n'est pas coutume, à trois grands réalisateurs européens !Et qui de mieux placés pour parler de l'époque si particulière de l'ère médiévale ? Quoi de mieux que le vieux Continent pour nous conter l'ancienne histoire, la vraie, dans tous ses excès et sa dégueulasserie ?Toute cette interrogation demeure évidemment rhétorique et nous ne saurions que vous enjoindre à découvrir les films de la sélection, nos avis et l'habituelle confrontation, puis à nous donner les vôtres et votre amour grâce à vos écoutes, abonnements, partages, commentaires, étoiles, et même vos petits mots par e-mail, via tous les liens regroupés juste ici : https://linkr.bio/LEFILMLEPLUSOn vous laisse profiter de ce dernier épisode en formule thématique et vous donnons rendez-vous à la mi-septembre pour une nouvelle saison guidée par le hasard des mots que nous tirons au sort. N'hésitez d'ailleurs pas à nous en envoyer !Bonnes fins de vacances à toutes et à tous.P.S: Merci Antoine d'avoir remplacé au pied levé ce vil fuyard d'Aurel'! On te kiffe D'Artagnan ;)Références de l'épisode :-La Chair et le Sang de Paul Verhoeven (1985)-Jennifer Jason Leigh-Rutger Hauer-Brion James-Le nom de la rose de Jean-Jacques Annaud (1986)-Valentina Vargas-Sean Connery-Christian Slater-Ron Perlman-F. Murray Abraham-Le Dernier Duel de Ridley Scott-Jodie Comer-Adam Driver-Matt Damon-Ben Affleck Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
Esta semana toca ponerse el cargo camuflado y subirse a la nave para matar bichos y salvar al mundo ¿Cómo? Viendo Starship Troopers de Paul Verhoeven y compararla con la novela de Robert A. Heinlein. ¿Una metáfora de la segunda guerra mundial? ¿De la tercera?¿Cuarta? Quién sabe.
In this episode, veteran actor and director Greg Travis dives into his decades-long filmmaking journey, culminating in the release of his once-abandoned 1984 feature Dark Seduction. Shot on 16mm black-and-white film, the noir-vampire hybrid languished in post-production limbo for over 30 years before digital technology made its completion possible. Greg shares candid stories about the ups and downs of making the film—from lost investors to dusty negatives—and explains how delays actually gave him the chance to polish the project into something stronger than it would have been decades ago. Greg also reflects on lessons learned from working with top-tier directors like David Lynch and Paul Verhoeven, emphasizing the importance of tone, improvisation, and a solid story structure. As both an actor and filmmaker, he offers practical advice for new directors, including taking acting classes, planning with a three-act outline, and remaining open to spontaneous creative choices on set. His story is not just about finishing a movie—it's about staying committed to your vision through every challenge the industry throws your way.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.
C.B. Smith joins me to dive into the sci-fi classic Total Recall (1990), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by Paul Verhoeven. We break down its mind-bending plot, iconic special effects, and how it stacks up against Philip K. Dick's original story. Is this the ultimate Mars movie? Watch to find out!
In 1987 we met the future of law enforcement, "Robocop". Paul Verhoeven's ultra violent vision of a future Detroit where a murdered police officer is resurrected as a cyborg crime fighter.
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 111 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by film critic Ben Miller discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Black Book (2006). After a six-year absence from the film world following Hollow Man, Verhoeven resurfaced with a World War II drama about a young Jewish woman in the Netherlands who becomes a spy for the resistance. In doing so, as she gets deeper behind enemy lines, she starts to fall in love with one of the high ranking members of the Nazi military. As scandalous and provocative as Verhoeven usually is, this is a whole other level and reminds his audience of the director that he once was before he went to Hollywood; asking questions and pushing buttons with sophisticated intrigue. In the years since its release, it's not only become one of his more underrated film of his filmography that people have discovered as genius work, but the Dutch public voted it the best Dutch film ever made, which is very high praise. Ryan, Jay, and Ben breakdown their thoughts on the film, the performance of Carice van Houten, the murkiness of the love interests in the film, the depictions of violence and sex, how both sides of the fight mirror each other, the interesting final shots of the film, and what kind of cake do the host think the Germans made for their leader's birthday depicted in the film. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h05m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Elle. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
Dead or alive, The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt revisit Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi classic ‘RoboCop'—starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, and Kurtwood Smith. Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Ronak Nair Free eBooks library. It's on Prime. This episode is sponsored by State Farm®️. A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pour dégommer de lʹinsecte géant dans un conflit apolitique entre humains et extraterrestres, on glisse, derrière la caméra, un cinéaste particulier, enragé et engagé : Paul Verhoeven, qui signe, en 1997, Starship Troopers. Le film est inspiré dʹun roman du même nom de Robert A. Heinlein sorti en 1959, adapté par Neumeier et raconte une guerre interstellaire entre lʹhumanité et un peuple extraterrestre nommé Arachnides, des insectes géants particulièrement bien organisés. Mais cette histoire dʹun combat entre gentils humains et méchants insectes vire à la critique sociale, presque à la blague. La dualité bons/méchants explose, car les guerres ne sont jamais aussi manichéennes quʹon le voudrait. La frontière entre actes militaires, tortures et débordements nʹest jamais très loin. Paul Verhoeven assume et en rajoute, détourne le propos premier du livre. Son film est une satire qui dénonce le fascisme et lʹimpérialisme américain après les guerres du Golf. Car nʹoublions pas que Paul Verhoeven est un cinéaste européen, exilé à Hollywood. Cette distance lui permet de jouer des codes des films de guerre, des westerns, et de la bonne science-fiction des années 50-60 américaines. A sa sortie, le film est vertement critiqué. On y voit une iconographie nazie pleinement assumée par le cinéaste pour mieux jouer des codes de la violence aveugle et du militarisme imbécile. Starship Troopers fait un flop à sa sortie. Il est tout juste rentable même sʹil remporte deux Saturn Awards. Mais cʹest après, à force de diffusions, de rediffusions, de sortie en vidéo fin 1998, de suite (assez mauvaises par contre) et de produits dérivés, que le film finit par acquérir le statut de film culte. EFERENCES Le 19 juillet 2021, Paul Verhoeven était présent à la Cinémathèque française dans le cadre de la rétrospective de ses films. À la suite de la projection de Starship Troopers, le cinéaste nous a offert une discussion ouverte avec les spectateurs. Rencontre animée par Jean-François Rauger. https://www.cinematheque.fr/video/1642.html Le making of du film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWCTyFU5nw Director Paul Verhoeven and actor Casper Van Dien discuss their 1997 film 'Starship Troopers' before a screening at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QotxGy4CKk
Les Cine-Buddies rempilent et vont casser du bug avec le film culte de Paul Verhoeven. Likez et souscrivez a la chaine abracadaPod sur YouTube.
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 110 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch contributor Josh Parham discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Hollow Man (2000). In his final project within the Hollywood system, Paul Verhoeven entered the new millennium looking to make a new take on a classic horror film, about a scientist working on a special government project that turns you invisible by taking a special serum. In aiming to make a more conventional blockbuster, the director made one of his most controversial, thorny pictures as the main protagonist of the film is a downright psycho, hell bent on staying invisible despite being told how dangerous he has become by his long time co-workers on the project. It's a mostly entertaining throwback to the 2000s with excellent special effects as well as a deeply disturbing commentary attached to it. Ryan, Jay, and Josh break down their thoughts on the film, the creepy nature of tech-bros, the unfocused nature of who really is the lead of this film, the filmography of Kevin Bacon, how cool this movie poster was at a Blockbuster video, and just how many jokes can Josh make about Jay relating to the main characters of this film. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h23m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Black Book. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
For the 175th episode of Another Pass, we had to talk about a cult classic so cultish and such a classic that it demanded two separate panels! That's right! For a discussion on Starship Troopers, Case and Sam are joined by John Lestrange (The History Wizard), Samantha Perez, Keith Lehtinen, and Mitch Punpayuk! Would you like to know more? Music by Vin Macri and Matt Brogan Podcast Edited by Sophia Ricciardi Overview Episode 175 of 'Certain POV's Another Pass' podcast explores Starship Troopers, addressing its satirical elements and impact on audiences, featuring two distinct panels. Personal viewing experiences highlight how initial interpretations of the film changed over time, with multiple guests recognizing the underlying satire. The film's satirical intent often missed by audiences; Poe's Law indicates difficulty in distinguishing extreme satire from genuine claims without clear indicators. Elements of fascism illustrated in the United Citizen Federation's military service requirements and portrayal of authority figures with war injuries. Propaganda within the film includes false flag operations, demonstrating dehumanization of 'bugs' and justifying violent military actions. Johnny Rico's character illustrates an alt-right pipeline, showing the process of radicalization through military indoctrination and societal pressure. Significant differences between the original book and movie adaptation noted, including a shift in character motivations and depictions of technology. Production challenges included injuries during boot camp training and instances of disrupted filming, showcasing the difficulties faced by the crew. Cultural impact acknowledged, as Starship Troopers influenced franchises like Starcraft and Helldivers, with modern audiences resonating with its themes. New adaptations are in development, including a Sony project directed by Neil Blomkamp, indicating ongoing interest in the Starship Troopers franchise. Notes ️ Episode Introduction & Format (00:01 - 02:51) Episode 175 of 'Certain POV's Another Pass' podcast discussing Starship Troopers as a movie that overcame adversity. Two-panel format with different guest combinations to cover extensive discussion topics. First panel features Case Aiken, Sam Alicea, John Lestrange, and Samantha Perez focusing on sociological themes. Second panel includes Case Aiken, Sam Alicea, Keith Lehtinen, and Mitch Punpayuk discussing filmmaking aspects. Personal Experiences with Starship Troopers (04:08 - 16:01) Case Aiken saw it at age 13 in 1997, initially missed satirical elements, took it as straightforward action film. Sam Alicea watched at 16-17, uncomfortable with bugs but recognized something 'off' about the film. John Lestrange first viewing at age 7 when released, watched for first time yesterday with Holocaust studies background. Samantha Perez saw chopped TV versions as teenager, recently rewatched with fresh perspective. Keith Lehtinen was 14 when released, became aware of actors through this film, Dina Meyer was first crush. Mitch Punpayuk saw at 15, bought DVD before owning DVD player, waited two years to watch it. Satirical Elements & Reception Analysis (20:09 - 29:48) Movie functions as fascist propaganda satire but audiences often missed the satirical intent. Poe's Law applies - satirical expressions of extremist views indistinguishable from actual extremist views without clear indicators. 1997 timing problematic for satire reception - post-Cold War, pre-9/11 context limited audience understanding. Director Paul Verhoeven grew up in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, assumed audience familiarity with fascist themes. Susan Sontag's 'Fascinating Fascisms' (1975) referenced - Nazi ideal of 'brave, pretty and stupid' Aryan forces. ️ Fascist Society Elements (24:14 - 01:01:13) United Citizen Federation requires military service for citizenship and voting rights. All adult authority figures shown with missing limbs or severe scarring from military service. 14 characteristics of fascism present but modified - notably lacks typical gender hierarchy/sexism. Reproduction licensing system makes having children difficult for non-citizens. Public flogging and televised executions as standard punishments. Bug War Propaganda Analysis (30:42 - 40:12) Buenos Aires meteor attack potentially false flag operation rather than bug weapon. Mormon colony massacre on bug territory used as justification despite humans being invaders. 'Would you like to know more?' segments function as in-universe propaganda reels. Children encouraged to stomp bugs in disturbing propaganda scene. Brain bug capture presented as victory but war clearly being lost. ️ Character Development & Military Pipeline (51:47 - 01:00:16) Johnny Rico represents alt-right pipeline - young man radicalized through military indoctrination. Carmen Ibanez portrayed as ambitious, prioritizing military career over relationships. Dizzy Flores changed from male character in book to female love interest. Carl Jenkins represents military intelligence, disappears into classified operations. Sergeant Zim and Lieutenant Rasczak serve as father figures in military structure. Book vs Movie Adaptation (23:13 - 28:17) Originally titled 'Bug Hunt at Outpost 7' before being adapted to Starship Troopers. Director didn't finish reading Heinlein's book, called it 'too boring'. Mobile Infantry in book wore powered armor with jump jets, removed due to budget/wire work complexity. Bugs more technologically advanced in book, movie presents them as purely biological. Buenos Aires not Rico's hometown in book, major plot change for personal motivation. Production Challenges & Behind-the-Scenes (39:34 - 07:35) Cast underwent intensive boot camp training, Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer sustained injuries during filming. Intoxicated crew member mentioned bomb on flight, disrupting production travel. Pre-visualization test at Vasquez Rocks convinced TriStar to fund after Waterworld concerns. 15-foot practical ship models used alongside CGI for space scenes. Starship Trooper armor reused in multiple productions including Power Rangers, Firefly, Planet of the Apes. Special Effects & Technical Aspects (08:52 - 06:24) Mix of practical and CGI effects particularly effective for bug creatures. Netflix 4K viewing shows quality variations, some scenes appear grainy especially green screen backgrounds. Brain bug close-ups noted as particularly disturbing and well-designed. Space scenes generally poor quality except for specific flight sequences. Cultural Impact & Legacy (14:18 - 17:26) Starcraft, Warhammer 40K, and Helldivers directly influenced by Starship Troopers aesthetics. Five-movie franchise plus Roughnecks CGI TV series expanded universe. Modern resonance with current political climate makes satirical elements more apparent. Gif culture frequently references film during political tensions. Cast & Casting Decisions (17:18 - 21:57) Unknown actors cast intentionally to look 'authentically young' but appear older due to training. Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon auditioned for Rico role. Dina Meyer originally read for Carmen, chose Dizzy role instead. Neil Patrick Harris commentary recorded pre-How I Met Your Mother fame. Character actors include Amy Smart, Seth Gilliam, Timothy Omundson in small roles. Audience Reception & Box Office (15:07 - 20:09) Test audiences disliked Carmen character, preferred Dizzy. Critical reception missed satirical intent, even thoughtful reviewers uncertain. Box office made budget back but not considered major success. Cult classic status developed over time as satirical elements became more apparent. Thematic Analysis (34:39 - 51:47) Dehumanization through 'bug' imagery parallels historical genocidal rhetoric. Violence as societal foundation explicitly stated in film's philosophy. Military-industrial complex critique through endless war presentation. Youth radicalization process demonstrated through Rico's character arc. Future Adaptations (13:51 - 13:51) Sony developing new Starship Troopers adaptation directed by Neil Blomkamp. Helldivers movie also in development as spiritual successor.
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 109 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch contributor Trace Sauveur discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Starship Troopers (1997). After making a cult classic with Showgirls, Verhoeven took to space to go back to his political, social satire with an adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's novel, Starship Troopers. The director readapted the book heavily, not liking the politics of the book, making his film more aware that these characters were fascists in a fascist country that didn't know that they are fascists. By using this tool, he made a masterpiece grilling the military industrial complex, and our countries obsession with concurring other nations. Ryan, Jay, and Trace break down their thoughts on the film, their thoughts on the films politics, the casting in the film, the visual effects that have aged well and are horrific, the spin-off sequels, how relevant the film is in the modern era, and how clever Verhoeven is able to mix the horror of war with his usual, twisted humor found in his films. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h08m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Hollow Man. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
This week, we're stripping it all back (literally) with a look at two very different takes on invisibility, male ego, and coercion: Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man and Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man, both reimagining H.G.Wells' classic tale of a mad scientist who discovers invisibility and then comes to regret it. Joining a very sick Anna is friend of the show Ruby McGuigan. New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what films we're covering.Produced and presented by Anna BogutskayaResearch Assistant: Frankie Wakefield***Music: "Neon Alley" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio***The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring horror film history through a feminine lens.→ Support us on Patreon for bonus content.→ Find out more about our projects here: thefinalgirls.co.uk→ Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.→ Read Feeding the Monster
Swole Cinema Episode 55 is here—and this time, Ryan and Mark are talking ROBOCOP (1987)! Part man. Part machine. ALL COP. The guys dive into Paul Verhoeven's ultra-violent, satirical masterpiece—breaking down the explosions, corporate scumbags, and why RoboCop is one of the most jacked-up lawmen in cinematic history.#SwoleCinema #RoboCop #PaulVerhoeven #80sAction #MoviePodcast #ExplosiveCinema #DeadOrAlive #YoureComingWithMe #MurphyLives
Deep Cut Podcast Ep.128 – Hollow Man (2000): The One Where Kevin Bacon Gets Buck Wild InvisibleWhat would you do if you turned invisible? If you're Sebastian Caine, the answer is way too much. In this episode, Roger and Evil peel back the latex and dive headfirst into Paul Verhoeven's underrated and uncomfortably sleazy sci-fi horror Hollow Man. They break down Bacon's unhinged performance, those still-impressive VFX, and why this one walks the thin line between genius and "yo, bro... chill."Expect:The Brown Panty Award for most “uh-oh” moment.A brutally honest One-Star Amazon Review breakdown.And Walter Paisley's Horror Movie Survival Guide—because if you're trapped in a lab with Kevin Bacon, you're gonna need it.This one's dark, twisty, and a little unhinged—just how we like it.#DeepCutPodcast #HollowMan #KevinBacon #PaulVerhoeven #SciFiHorror #InvisibleMan #HorrorPodcast #MovieNerds #CreepyCinema #PodcastRecommendation #FYP #TrueFansOnly #UnderratedHorror #BrownPantyAward #AmazonOneStarReviews #WalterPaisleySurvivalGuide #ThePropGame #PerfectExecution #HorrorTok #PodcastTok #FilmTok #HorrorCommunity #CultCinema #HorrorMovieReview #HorrorNights #NowWatching
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 108 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Showgirls (1995). Following the massive cultural, commercial success of Basic Instinct, Verhoeven and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas turned their eye to the world of professional dancing as a young, ambitious girl, with a mysterious past, sets her sights on becoming a star as the main showgirl in over-the-top production set on the Las Vegas strip. The film was set up with massive expectations and the largest budget ever for an NC-17 film ($45m), Showgirls was hailed as one of the worst films of the 1990s, a box office bomb, and ruined star Elizabeth Berkley chances at becoming a star on the big screen like she was on television. But the film became a cult classic, and has now been fully reevaluated as a “masterpiece” of excess and the dangers women face within the entertainment industry; Verhoeven's The Red Shoes. Ryan, Jay, and Erik breakdown their relationship with the film, their favorite lines within the movie, the definition of “camp,” Berkley's rocky relationship with the film, how horrifying the sex is within the film, the legendary performance given by Gina Gershon, which characters they relate to, and which modern day pop-star Jay says has had a better 21st century success on the Billboard Charts than Madonna; a move that might see the end of the co-host as we know. Listen now to find out who mentions. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h45m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Starship Troopers. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
In a violent future in Detroit, murdered police officer Alex Murphy is resurrected as Robocop, a powerful cyborg law enforcer. As he fights crime he begins to uncover memories of his past and seeks revenge on those that murdered him. On this week's episode… Join the crew as we discuss Reaganomics, privatized police forces, and Paul Verhoeven's, Robocop (1987). Show Notes: Housekeeping (4:45) Back of the Box/Recommendations (12:00) Spoiler Warning/Full Review: (20:15) Rotten Tomatoes (75:55) Trivia (82:15) Cooter of the Week (91:40) What We've Been Watching (99:02) Connect with us: Support us on Patreon Website Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Shop
This week, we're diving headfirst into a true 80s cult classic that has sparked some serious debate behind the scenes: Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop (1987)!Join us as we break down this gritty, satirical sci-fi action film set in a near-future, crime-ridden Detroit. The plot follows the brutal murder of honest police officer Alex Murphy, who is then resurrected by the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) corporation as RoboCop, a cyborg law enforcer. As RoboCop dispenses justice with extreme prejudice, fragments of his past life begin to haunt him, leading him on a path of revenge against those who took his humanity.Expect our usual deep dive into the film's themes, iconic moments, and its lasting legacy. However, we have to address the elephant in the room: our very own Marc is adamant that this movie does not qualify to be featured on our show, arguing that it's simply not a horror movie. Is he right? Or does the sheer body horror, dystopian dread, and visceral violence push RoboCop into a genre it might not initially claim? Tune in to hear our full discussion and decide for yourself!
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 107 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by film critic Brandon Streussnig discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Basic Instinct (1992). We enter a new chapter in the Verhoeven series, as the guys talk about one of the most iconic erotic-thrillers of all time with the most iconic image of the genre. But beyond that one scene lies an ode to Hitchcock, as we follow a sleazy detective down a rabbit hole of deception, sex, and murder as he investigates the death of a wealthy rock star, and the prime suspect is his old girlfriend, a writer whom wrote about his death in her latest book. Purposive, wild, and slightly progressive and regressive at the same time, Basic Instinct is the crown jewel of a type of film that audiences used to obsess over, perfectly made by a director at the height of his powers, featuring an all-time performance from Sharon Stone. Ryan, Jay, and Brandon breakdown their thoughts on the film, the history of the erotic thriller, the controversy over the iconic scene, how sex is weaponized throughout, the introduction to Joe Eszterhas as a writer to the world, the laughable sequel made several years later, ice picks, and just how good of a cop is Michael Douglas' Nick Curran. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 1h56m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Showgirls. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental or stream on HBO Max in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
This week, we got our asses to Mars with our friends and guest hosts Danielle and Katie to discuss Paul Verhoeven's 1990 sci-fi action classic, "Total Recall."In addition to fawning over that lady with the three boobs, we also talked about: Costco; Don Knotts; Arnold Schwarzenegger's real life exploits; 80's diversity; fantasy football draft strategies; sick day movies; and podcast name brainstorming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cuando no estamos haciendo música estamos viendo películas, y este fin de semana largo nos dimos un banquete viendo la mejor peor película de toda la historia de la humanidad: "Showgirls" de Paul Verhoeven. Hay mucho más para ti en nuestro Patreon al que te puedes suscribir desde tan solo $5
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 106 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by the host of The Waffle Press Movie Podcast, Diego Crespo discuss the latest film in their Paul Verhoeven series, Total Recall (1990). Following up the massive success of RoboCop, Verhoeven turned his attention to another world, the planet Mars and the work of Philip K. Dick to make another commentary on our military obsessed culture with Total Recall. Following the story of a construction worker who finds out he is actually a super spy who has been planted with false memories of his past and who he is, setting off a chain of events that leads he into a war between the powerful elites of our world and the newly formed colony on Mars. Thought provoking then as it is now, Verhoeven taps into our ongoing paranoia of who is in-charge of our world, and questions whether their leadership is more relevant than a body of citizens willing to fight for their place in the world. Ryan, Jay, and Diego breakdown their thoughts on the film, if its commentary is as strong as RoboCop, the visual effects, Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance, the meaning of the film's ending, and so much more. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h3m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Basic Instinct. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
durée : 00:19:46 - L'interview de 9h20 - par : Léa Salamé - Le cinéaste Paul Verhoeven est l'invité de Léa Salamé. À près de 87 ans, le réalisateur de "Basic Instinct" ou encore de "Elle" et "Benedetta" publie ses Mémoires, aux éditions Les Forges de Vulcain. - invités : Paul VERHOEVEN - Paul Verhoeven : Réalisateur Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 02:58:44 - Le 7/10 - par : Nicolas Demorand, Léa Salamé, Sonia Devillers, Anne-Laure Sugier - Ce matin sur France Inter, le journaliste Alain Duhamel, qui prend sa retraite ce jeudi, après plus de 60 ans de carrière. À 8h20, la remise du rapport sur les violences dans les établissements scolaires avec les députés rapporteurs du sujet. Et à 9h20, le cinéaste Paul Verhoeven pour ses mémoires. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 00:19:46 - L'interview de 9h20 - par : Léa Salamé - Le cinéaste Paul Verhoeven est l'invité de Léa Salamé. À près de 87 ans, le réalisateur de "Basic Instinct" ou encore de "Elle" et "Benedetta" publie ses Mémoires, aux éditions Les Forges de Vulcain. - invités : Paul VERHOEVEN - Paul Verhoeven : Réalisateur Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
Amy Hensarling of WATCH THIS LIST returns to discuss two films mired in controversy for their depictions of victims of sexual violence. Sam Peckinpah's 1971 thriller STRAW DOGS has been both criticized and defended for decades for its notorious depiction of a woman seemingly embracing her attacker. We consider what it's trying to say about men, women, and humanity as a whole, plus how it's answered by another film: Paul Verhoeven's 2017 psychological thriller ELLE.Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus. Unwatchables Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unwatchables Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwatchablespod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnwatchablesPodWebsite: https://www.unwatchablespod.com Email: unwatchablespodcast@gmail.com
Well, a movie finally broke us. Horror and mortal terror have a face. In the absolutely dreadful “family film” Tooth Fairy (2010)—quite possibly the worst movie our podcast has ever covered—Dwayne Johnson plays Derek Thompson, a hockey player who specializes in knocking out opponents' teeth. He has a lot on his plate: He's dating Ashley Judd, who has two kids: An adorable little girl who loves him and a punk teenage boy who thinks he's full of crap (Because he is.). At the same time, Derek has some hotshot new competition in the form of Mick “The Stick” Donnelly, a hot-shot new prospect who is described in the span of 25 seconds by the team's coach as both “the future face of this (minor league) franchise” and “only here for a cup of coffee before he makes the NHL.” Then he becomes the Tooth Fairy. Hilarity ensues. Next week: We're off! We return on July 11 for an episode about Fast Five (2011). The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock's career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn't long before the bumps returned, and we'll be telling the story for you all summer long! Bonus video: Matt explains how director Paul Verhoeven could predict how the future would feel, through examining three of his movies: RoboCop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pzK6CiMUMxM Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams Time stamps: 00:09:30 — History segment: The Rock's wrestling career winds down in 2003 and 2004 as he turns heel and embraces his “Hollywood Rock” persona; his acting career sputters as he tries a number of lead roles that don't work out; he pivots to family films, where he becomes much more successful; genesis of Tooth Fairy under writer Jim Piddock and director Michael Lemdeck 00:36:15 — In-depth movie discussion 01:59:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings Source: “Interview with THE TOOTH FAIRY's Jim Piddock” by Clint Morris | Geek Week (2010) - https://bit.ly/4kVx6hL Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ "Summer of Rock" theme song credits: Words and music by Matt Stokes Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds Personnel: TJ Barends - backing vocals Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals Laci Roth - vocals Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj Follow the show! Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Instagram: @loadbearingbeams TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social
Dead or Alive You're Coming With Me! This week Jack and Corey are joined by writer/actor/comedian Anthony Gioe (The Great North) to talk Paul Verhoeven's prescient sci-fi blockbuster, ROBOCOP (1987)! The three talk masks, toys for R rated movies, Paul Verhoeven's disdain for America, Director's Cuts, Peter Weller's love of Oreos, hundreds of squibs, stop motion, early Criterion Collection DVDs, the horror of AI, the strength of the human spirit, the cuteness of ED-209, Kurtwood Smith secret snack daddy, coed locker rooms, Rob Bottin's incredible prosthetic make-up, Christ imagery, Robocop parodies and baby food. #ARCAB.Support the pod by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/cinemapossessedpod and unlock the Cinema Possessed Bonus Materials, our bi-monthly bonus episodes where we talk about more than just what's in our collection.Instagram: instagram.com/cinemapossessedpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinemapossessedpodEmail: cinemapossessedpod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 105 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the first film in their Paul Verhoeven series, RoboCop (1987). Known for being one of the most provocative directors of our lifetime, Paul Verhoeven has expertly used genre to tackle strong satirical elements of our society in ways his counterparts have never been able to. From the late 1960's to the early 1980s, the Dutch director mostly worked on films from his side of the world, slowly making his way to American productions by the end of the 80s. His first big introduction to commercial audiences was RoboCop, a futuristic examination on the power of corporations, corruption, crime, and lawlessness left unchecked by justice. Centering on a former police officer turning into the ultimate killing machine, Verhoeven delivers one of the most damning criticisms of American capitalism, as well as a signature film of the era. Ryan and Jay breakdown their thoughts on the film, their favorite lines in the movie, the over-the-top action set pieces, Murphy's (Peter Weller) journey and his reckoning with who he has become at the hands of those who harmed him, the episodic logistics of crime shows, and why no one can make a good satire, political commentary anymore. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, Total Recall. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
This week, we've been seduced by the legendary 1992 erotic thriller "Basic Instinct." We talk about Paul Verhoeven, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, and why they literally could not make this movie today. Listen now.
As Zach's month of movie choices wraps up, we check out another satirical action sci-fi directed by Paul Verhoeven. This one has a twist, however... It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger! He's a regular guy (or is he?) who goes on a memory vacation to Mars (or does he?) and gets a lot more than he bargained for.Join our Patreon for our bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/oldiebutagoodiepodFollow the show!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldiebutagoodiepod/Facebook: https://fb.me/oldiebutagoodiepodPodcast Platforms: https://linktr.ee/oldiebutagoodiepodGot feedback? Send us an email at oldiebutagoodiepod@gmail.comFollow the hosts!Sandro Falce - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrofalce/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandrofalce- Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/SandroFalce/- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/SandroFeltChairZach Adams - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zach4dams/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZackoCaveWizard- Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/zach4dams- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/zackocavewizardWatch our editor, Starkie, on Twitch! https://www.twitch.tv/sstarkieeOldie But A Goodie's theme tune is written and produced by Josh Cake. Check out his work here: https://www.joshcake.com/Check out other shows from our network 'That's Not Canon'! https://thatsnotcanon.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 104 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by Editor-In-Chief of InSession Film Dave Giannini to discuss the last films in their Peter Jackson series, The Hobbit Trilogy (2012/2013/2014). After the failure of The Lovely Bones, Jackson and company turned their attention back to a familiar place, Middle Earth. First starting as a producer, The Hobbit would find Jackson getting back in the director's chair for the prequel to his acclaimed The Lord of the Rings series, taking over the project from Guillermo del Toro, who seemed to struggle to get his vision of the film to mash with what the studio wanted. Instead of the initial two films suggested to tell the story, Jackson set out to make another trilogy, drawing from other texts of J. R. R. Tolkien in order to expand on this smaller story, giving it a grander history to the original trilogy, as well as adding new characters and elements to the classic tale. But Jackson can't capture the magic of The Lord of the Rings, making a messy, CGI heavy collection of films that become more and more tedious as the trilogy goes on; wasting solid performances because the story is now in the hands of a director more focused on his creative toys than making something as spectacular as the trilogy that made him a household name. Ryan, Jay, and Dave breakdown their thoughts on the films, why they look so ugly, the unnecessary love story found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, how cool dragons are, how there aren't five armies in The Battle of the Five Armies, why these films turn into being a chore by the time they were released, and wonder if Jackson will ever go back to making feature films. The guys also give out their rankings on the Jackson series and reveal who they will be covering for their next movie series. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h42m. The guys will be back next week to begin their series on the films of Paul Verhoeven with a review of his film, RoboCop. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).
On Episode 135 of The Film '89 Podcast, Neil, Skye and Steve celebrate the 35th anniversary of yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, this time it's the 1990 action-science-fiction classic, Total Recall. Following on from the recent success of our Commando episode, the guys are once again giving their in-depth analysis of a film starring one of the Film '89 team's favourite movie stars, but this time, they're also discussing one of their favourite directors, Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven. They discuss the source short story by Philip K. Dick upon which Total Recall is based as well as the making of this big budget special effects spectacle - at the time, one of the most expensive films ever made. The guys also dissect the film's fiendishly complex plot and the many themes, layers and socio-political commentary that Verhoeven weaves into the film. Featuring a superb supporting cast including Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox, an incredible score by Jerry Goldsmith and incredible special effects that hold up 35 years on, Total Recall is a timeless classic and is given the usual Film '89 treatment.
Did you know that Starship Troopers isn't just a regular action movie? It might seem like Paul Verhoeven's 1997 sci-fi film is a shallow war tale about Casper Van Dien shooting bugs, but it's a lot deeper than that... It's a satire! We're the first ever podcasters to realise that this movie has a lot going on under the surface, and that's what we're discussing on this week's episode!Join our Patreon for our bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/oldiebutagoodiepodFollow the show!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldiebutagoodiepod/Facebook: https://fb.me/oldiebutagoodiepodPodcast Platforms: https://linktr.ee/oldiebutagoodiepodGot feedback? Send us an email at oldiebutagoodiepod@gmail.comFollow the hosts!Sandro Falce - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrofalce/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandrofalce- Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/SandroFalce/- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/SandroFeltChairZach Adams - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zach4dams/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZackoCaveWizard- Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/zach4dams- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/zackocavewizardWatch our editor, Starkie, on Twitch! https://www.twitch.tv/sstarkieeOldie But A Goodie's theme tune is written and produced by Josh Cake. Check out his work here: https://www.joshcake.com/Check out other shows from our network 'That's Not Canon'! https://thatsnotcanon.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Born to Watch, we dive headfirst into the bug-infested chaos of Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic, with our Starship Troopers (1997) Review. It's brutal, brilliant, and batshit insane and we wouldn't have it any other way.With the Born to Watch crew all lined up in the co-ed showers, Whitey, Damo, Dan, and special guest Matty Beer Geek go deep (but not too deep) on the movie that was mocked at release but has grown into a beloved sci-fi satire. Is this just a brainless space action flick? Or is it a razor-sharp takedown of fascism and militarism? Or both? Spoiler: it's both.We break down the iconic moments: the ridiculously perfect jawlines of Casper Van Dien and Denise Richards, Michael Ironside chewing scenery like the legend he is, and Jake Busey's teeth doing most of the acting for him. From Zegema Beach to brain bug psychic probes, we cover it all.Expect plenty of laughs as the boys recall their first times watching it, at sweaty cinemas, VHS marathons, and maybe even the odd midnight screening. Plus, some heartfelt debate: Dizzy or Carmen? Would you sign up to be a citizen or sit back and let the bugs win? And yes, we do get very specific about the co-ed shower logistics (spoiler: prep is key).There's also time for a raucous trip down 1997 memory lane. Damo sweats it out in the back row, Dan's off riding dirt bikes through Romania and eating 19 types of salami, and Matty brings his A-game from the West. We revisit the hottest music of the year, the infamous Playboys of McDonald's video rental section, and mourn the box office fate of Starship Troopers. This misunderstood gem lost money but gained a cult following.With a budget that would make even the Federation blush, and CGI bugs that still look better than some 2025 blockbusters, Starship Troopers is pure Verhoeven: provocative, pervy, and politically charged.We also take aim at the critical drubbing this movie received on release, some reviewers clearly didn't get the joke. We shine a light on the film's relevance today: Would the satire hit harder in a post-Hunger Games, post-Fury Road world? Is this what our future looks like if TikTok replaces civics education?In true Born to Watch fashion, we ask the tough questions:Is this Verhoeven's secret masterpiece?Who's worse: Carmen or the bugs?And most importantly, how do you prep for a co-ed shower in boot camp?Whether you're a superfan who's seen it 30 times or a rookie just enlisting in the Mobile Infantry, this episode is for you. So load your Morita rifle, shout “Kill ‘em all!”, and join us as we break down Starship Troopers the only way we know how, boobs, bugs, banter, and all.Because remember: everyone fights. No one quits. And we were Born to Watch.
This month, the Screen Refresh crew walks the dystopian streets of Old Detroit, where crime is rampant, capitalism is unchecked, and a chrome-plated cop has been programed to shoot all sex offenders in the dick! You guessed it, we're watching Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi action classic, ROBOCOP!Would justice be dispensed more efficiently if your local police force was 50% man, 50% machine, and 100% emotionally unavailable? How many bullets can one man absorb before it qualifies as "a rough first day on the job”? Could a flight of stairs be humanity's saving grace when the robots finally take over?Drop your weapon, prepare for trouble, and join Tim, Nick, and Dean as they answer these burning questions and more. Dead or alive, you're coming with us on Screen Refresh!
Strut with us through the neon-lit fantasy of Showgirls, where ambition grinds against excess under the hot lights of the Vegas strip. We're diving into this Paul Verhoeven-directed spectacle of sex, satire, and shattered dreams, unpacking Elizabeth Berkley's raw, chaotic turn as Nomi Malone. Did you enjoy the episode? Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and join us for more retro movie discussions! Want even more? Get bonus content and connect with us directly by supporting the show on Patreon. For additional episodes and exclusive insights, head to www.30podcast.com. And if you love what you hear, leave us a glowing review on your favorite podcast app—especially Apple Podcasts. Your support keeps the show going!