28. Coppola Cast #10: The Godfather (1972)

It’s the episode we’ve been excited about since beginning the podcast! After a brief discussion about The Irishman and ice cream we delve into the landmark film, The Godfather (1972). There is so much to talk about in The Godfather that over two bottles of Coppola wine we discuss certain aspects in detail and only scratch the surface on others. We discuss the performances, Gordon Willis’s cinematography, the stylized presentation of the mafia, and how The Godfather permeated into pop culture. This episode’s Coppola wines were: 2017 Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot and Rosso & Bianco Pinot Grigio.  

27. Coppola Cast #9: Patton (1970)

This week we’re back to reviewing Francis Coppola’s work as a writer for hire with the epic war film Patton (1970). Coppola wrote his screenplay for Patton years before the film was actually made and released and was surprised how closely the final film followed his screenplay. Patton turned out to be a major hit and won 7 Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay for Coppola, an important boost to his career. We discuss Coppola’s approach to presenting the character of Patton, George C. Scott’s incredible performance, and the 1970 Oscars. This episode’s Coppola wine was: 2017 Black Label Claret.

26. Coppola Cast #8: The Rain People (1969)

The characters in Francis Coppola’s The Rain People are on a cross country roadtrip but we are sheltering in place. After directing an old fashioned studio musical, Coppola returns to a more intimate, character focused story with The Rain People. Shirley Knight stars as a young housewife that leaves on a road trip to reevaluate her decisions. Her journey of self discovery takes a turn when she picks up a former college football star with brain damage (James Caan). In terms of style and technique this is as far away from Finian’s Rainbow as you can get. We talk about road movies, the “70’s movie ending”, and the Farrelly brothers come up, naturally. This episode’s wine was: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot 2016.

25. Coppola Cast #7: Finian's Rainbow (1968)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s only appropriate that Bryan and A. J. discuss Frances Coppola’s roadshow musical flop Finian’s Rainbow. There’s so much wrong with this movie we don’t have much time for tangents. We talk about the death of the Hollywood musical, how this movie led to the friendship of Coppola and George Lucas, Bryan singles out the funniest moment in the movie, and A.J. compares this movie to Mallrats. The movie was a slog to watch but fun to talk about. Enjoy! This episode’s Coppola wine was: Coppola-Becker Unita Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2017.

24. Coppola Cast #6: You're a Big Boy Now (1966)

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade! Happy New Episode! Though You’re a Big Boy Now isn’t technically Francis Coppola’s first film, in many ways it’s his first film as an auteur. Coppola was working with material of his choice, great professional actors, and the backing of a major studio. We discuss the results and Geraldine Page’s protracted will they/won’t they history with the Academy Awards. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Coppola Sonoma County 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

23. Coppola Cast 5: Is Paris Burning? (1966)

Continuing our way through Francis Coppola’s work as a writer for hire, Bryan and A.J. march through the epic length movie of the liberation of Paris, Is Paris Burning? Writing Is Paris Burning? was a frustrating experience for Coppola who had to deal with the demands of studio executives and an intrusive Charles de Gaulle. The result was a mediocre epic movie of an important historical event. We try to keep track of the impressive but wasted ensemble cast, sort through the tangle of different storylines, and share the same frustration with the film’s poorly placed intermission. This episode’s Coppola wine was: 2017 Diamond Collection Black Label Claret 1910 Type Cab Sauvignon.

#22. Coppola Cast 4: This Property is Condemned (1966)

After parting ways with Roger Corman, Francis Coppola became a writer for hire working on several projects that ultimately wouldn’t get made or he wouldn’t get official credit for. One that did get made and he did get credit for was the failed Natalie Wood comeback vehicle This Property is Condemned. Despite a great cast including Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson, Robert Blake, and Mary Badham, Sydney Pollack directing, and Coppola adapting a Tennessee Williams play, this movie falls flat and we attempt to get to the bottom of why. Along the way we talk about Robert Redford’s newsies cap, character actors trapped in leading men’s bodies, and learn something about Matthew Fox wines. This episode’s Francis Coppola wine is Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2017

#21: Coppola Cast 3: Dementia 13 (1963)

Still working for Roger Corman, Francis Ford Coppola writes and directs his first film not cobbled together from other films: Dementia 13 (1963). This low budget horror film was meant to cash in on the success of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) but still satisfy the exploitation movie market. A.J. and Bryan discuss what sets Dementia 13 apart from other low budget horror films, wonder why rich people don’t have giant paintings of themselves over fireplaces anymore, and brainstorm an idea for an Eric Roberts movie. This episode’s Francis Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection Emerald Label Pinot Grigio.

#20: Coppola Cast 2: The Haunted Palace (1963) & The Terror (1963)

…And we’re back! After a longer than expected hiatus, Bryan and A.J. return to the discuss the early work Francis Ford Coppola did for legendary B-movie king Roger Corman. Coppola was still attending UCLA when he became Corman’s “ace assistant” doing various jobs on different movies including even writing and directing low budget horror movies. Coppola rewrote the screenplay for The Haunted Palace, starring Vincent Price, and worked for a few days (3 or 4 or 11 depending on the source) as director for the notorious B-movie The Terror, starring Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson. We praise Vincent Price and Roger Corman, try to figure out just what the hell is happening in The Terror, and wonder how you forget to copyright a movie. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2016.

#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 12: Devil (2010)

Apologies for the delay, but we're back to discuss the first (and only) entry of The Night Chronicles: Devil. M. Night Shyamalan decided to take a step back and provide a story and produce but give the writing and directing reins to other filmmakers. We speculate on the reasons why The Night Chronicles never made it past its first entry, A.J. shares his spooky elevator experience, and we wonder if Paul Thomas Anderson, Paul W.S. Anderson, and Wes Anderson are all actually the same person. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Ainsley Brae Single Malt. 

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.