#19: Coppola Cast 1: 3 Early Francis Ford Coppola Films

Now that we’ve watched all the Shyamalan movies there are to watch, we begin working our way through another director’s filmography: Francis Ford Coppola. To start discussing Francis Ford Coppola’s filmography we have to go to the exploitation drive-in. Long, long before The Godfather and just as he was finishing UCLA’s film program, Francis Ford Coppola began his career in the exploitation film genre. For our first Coppola Cast episode we take a look at 3 films he directed but not in the traditional sense. First he was recruited to work on two “nudie cutie” films, The Bellboy and the Playgirls (1962) and Tonight For Sure (1962). Then he was picked by legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman to work on Battle Beyond the Sun (1959/62). It’s a peculiar start to a very notable career and just the right way to start a new series.

Episode 18: Glass (2019)

Do not adjust your podcast dials, this is the podcast you’re looking for! The M. Night Shift is now…(drum roll)…The Director’s Wall. The hosts are the same but the filmmaker under review will change next episode, but first there is the little matter of M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero crossover film Glass (2019). Glass is a sequel to both Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2017) pitting Unbreakable’s hero (Bruce Willis) against Split’s villain (James McAvoy) who has teamed up with Unbreakable’s villain Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson). Is this the Shyamalan movie to end all Shyamalan movies? We don’t go on many tangents but we do manage to SPOIL the endings of several movies including: Hereditary, Avengers: Infinity War, Get Carter, Play Dirty, Carlito’s Way, and Layer Cake. This episode’s Shyamalan scotch was: Johnny Walker Blender’s Batch: Experiment #6.

Next episode Bryan and A.J. will begin reviewing the films of Francis Ford Coppola.

Episode 17: She's All That (1999)

…And we’re back! Shyamalan recently admitted to doing a rewrite for She’s All That, so we’re duty bound to review the 90’s teen rom-com. We speculate on what Shyamalan contributed to the script, are impressed by the pretty impressive cast, and wonder if She’s All That and Buffy the Vampire Slayer take place in the same cinematic universe. Tangents include listing all the great movies of 1999, Gene Siskel’s funeral, and some big news about the future of the podcast. Enjoy!

Episode 16: Split (2017)

It’s our (not really) final episode! At last we review Shyamalan’s most recent horror hit, Split (2017) and look as his career as a whole. We marvel at James McAvoy’s skill as an actor, notice the return of interesting camera movements to Shyamalan’s movie, and speculate on the plot of the upcoming Split sequel. We end by each naming our favorite and least favorite Shyamalan films. Then put on our film professor hats and talk about what it’s like to examine a filmmaker’s entire body of work. This episode’s Shyamalan scotch was: Johnny Walker Blender’s Batch No.3. We’ll be back, eventually, for Shyamalan’s next movie.

Episode 15: Wayward Pines (2015) & The Visit (2015)

For the shortest month of the year we bring you a special double episode and review Wayward Pines and The Visit. Our discussion of Wayward Pines quickly turns into a conversation about Freejack, Robot Jox, and Stuart Gordon. Though Shyamalan only directed the pilot of the short lived Fox series, we discuss the first 5 episodes and the big twist of the series. Then we delve into Shyamalan's "comeback": the low budget, found footage horror movie, The Visit. This film was a hit at the box office and with audiences, but not with us. We go over where we feel the movie fell short, including the big twist, or lack thereof. We take tangents to Twin Peaks/David Lynch, Judy Greer, and finally the delight that is Starter For 10,  but not before managing to spoil: Dark City, Friday the 13th IV: The Final Chapter, Twin Peaks, Willow Creek, and Cursed. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Black Scot.

Episode 14: After Earth (2013)

We finally arrive at After Earth (2013) the would-be summer blockbuster created by Will Smith as a star vehicle for his son Jaden Smith, also... it was directed by M. Night Shyamalan. We try to figure out what "ghosting" is, talk about the weird but not too weird animals that populate future earth, and wonder if this is Shyamalan's least creative film. Tangents include: praise for Robocop, a minor rant against Netflix and Bright, and heaps of praise for Tom Cruise. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Shackleton Blended Scotch. 

Episode 13: The Last Airbender (2010)

Just in time for Christmas we watch the big budget box office flop, The Last Airbender. Shyamalan’s attempt at a studio franchise did not go well. The movie was universally panned, earned Golden Razzie awards, and made many appearances on “worst of the year” lists. It probably didn’t help that this big studio movie was a watered down version of a much loved animated series. We ponder the state of Shyamalan’s career, try to figure out the intricacies of the Airbender universe, and are perplexed by James Newton Howard’s least memorable score. This episode’s Shyamalan scotches were: Macallan 18 Year Single Malt Scotch and Chivas Regal 12 Blended Scotch.

Episode 11: The Happening (2008)

We’re back just in time for Shocktober! This time we watched Shyamalan’s environmental horror film The Happening. Though this movie turned a profit at the box office it was panned and derided by audiences and critics alike. We delve into the casting, dialogue, shaky premise, and unfortunate lack of thrills in what was meant to be a shocking, thrilling movie. Tangents include: Bryan’s encounter with Alan Ruck, horror movies we stumbled upon in our younger days, and being in rowdy theater audiences. This month’s Shyamalan scotch was: Glen Moray Speyside Single Malt  

P.S. We also talk about the impending celebration known as Video Store Day, a day to celebrate and support your local video store if you’re lucky enough to have one. If you happen to be in Austin, TX on October 21st swing by Vulcan Video. We’ll be having a raffle with cool prizes, deals, and free beer (while supplies last).

Happy Shocktober!

Episode 10: Entourage-Sorry, Harvey (2007)

In between Lady in the Water (2006) and The Happening (2008) M. Night Shyamalan made a special guest appearance in season 4 episode 4 of the HBO original series Entourage. We talk about Shyamalan's acting and willingness to have fun with his public persona. Since Entourage is only a half hour show, we end up taking many tangents, as you may have guessed. Tangents include: the CD-ROM movie encyclopedia Cinemania, Harvey Weinstein and Miramax in the '90's, the outrageous price of HBO DVD's, and Bryan's work as an extra in the movie Deep in the Heart. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Loch Lomond.

Episode 9: Lady in the Water (2006)

After a longer than usual break we return to review Shyamalan’s bedtime story/fantasy Lady in the Water (2006), which was not received well by critics or audiences and became Shyamalan’s first major studio film to lose money at the box office. We touch on the book chronicling the making of the movie, The Man Who Heard Voices by Michael Bamberger, and we also discuss Shyamalan’s American Express commercial made around the same time as Lady in the Water. Tangents include: stories about Roger Ebert, the 80’s comedy My Date With an Angel, and the films of Frank Capra. This month’s Shyamalan scotch was: Monkey Shoulder.

Episode 5: Unbreakable (2000)

Unbreakable (2000) was highly anticipated and released in theaters just a year after M. Night Shyamalan's break out hit, The Sixth Sense. Usually director names don't figure largely into a film's marketing but Unbreakable was sold to audiences as Shyamalan's next movie. Though it didn't achieve the same rare popularity as The Sixth Sense, it still grossed over $200 million dollars at the box office. We discuss the plot, the twist, cinematic style, and decide if Shyamalan was able to top The Sixth Sense. We also discuss the final scene (but not the climax or twist) of Split (2017), so consider this a SPOILER ALERT for Split! We also talk about the DVD extras, surround sound systems, and cinematic universes. This month's Shyamalan scotch is: Inver House Green Plaid