63. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #7: A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Everything! For our first ever Christmas special we review a Christmas special: Sofia Coppola’s A Very Murray Christmas (2015). At first glance, this Netflix musical Christmas “TV” special about putting on a musical Christmas TV special seems like it is soaked in holiday melancholy but Bryan and A.J. find that it is filled with holiday joy and many of Sofia’s favorite themes and trademarks. We go through the songs and delightful cast, talk about other Christmas specials of the past, and notice how this 2015 special about people making the most of being stuck in a place because it is too dangerous to leave makes it feel like a pre-COVID COVID movie. We also bemoan the mysterious Netflix algorithm and streaming in general and Bryan suggests a Bill Murray holiday trifecta. Tangents include: the Star Wars Holiday Special, our favorite Christmas movies, the Vulcan Video holiday section, and George Clooney’s pranks. We also briefly discuss the early ‘90s Dave Markey short Burning Palms on Jennifer’s Coffee Table, featuring a young Sofia Coppola. This episode’s themed drink was: Soiled Kimono. 

62. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #6: The Bling Ring (2013) & Phoenix-Chloroform & Miss Dior-Blooming Bouquet (2013)

Sofia Coppola once again takes us on a tour through Los Angeles wealth but this time it’s with The Bling Ring (2013). Based on the unbelievable but very true story of a group of celebrity obsessed teenagers who easily break into different celebrities’ mansions and steal lots of stuff, Sofia’s adaptation touches on many of her favorite interests and themes. Bryan and A.J. discuss whether Sofia’s style is distant or observational, Emma Watson’s standout performance, how the movie affected the real case which was still working its way through the courts, and the cinematography of the late Harris Savides. We also talk about the Phoenix-Chloroform music video and Miss Dior-Blooming Bouquet commercial she directed. SPOILER ALERT for this true story but also for First Cow, which we end up talking about too. Other tangents include Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers (2012), the films of Marc and Christopher Coppola (Nicolas Cage’s brothers), and Bryan has a correction for IMDB. This episode’s themed drink was Sofia Brut Rose minis. 

61. Coppola Cast 35: Megalopolis: A Fable (2024) & One From the Heart: Reprise (2023)

We are in need of a great debate about…Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: A Fable (2024). After literally decades in the making, Coppola’s ambitious passion project finally made it to theaters and gave us a lot to talk about. We (briefly) go over the long production history, the critical and poor box office performance, and how we were surprised by our own reactions. We also talk about the performances, the wild, random, and unforgettable plot points and dialogue (spoiler alerts!), Coppola’s big swings of the past, and why the best movies to understand Coppola’s style are Rumble Fish, The Rain People, and even George Lucas’s THX 1138 (which Coppola produced). We also talk about Coppola’s latest re-edit, One From the Heart: Reprise. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Francis Coppola Diamond Prosecco.

60. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #5: Somewhere (2010) w/Jenny McKeown

To help us breakdown Sofia Coppola’s “experimental” film, Somewhere (2010), we are joined by special guest Jenny McKeown, programmer and host of the A Woman of Taste film series. After the large scale production of Marie Antoinette (2006), Coppola took a scaled back, minimalist approach to her story about a listless movie star reconnecting with his daughter. We talk about Sofia’s further lean into “arthouse” style, her collaboration with the late, great cinematographer Harris Savides, Stephen Dorff’s career, and A.J. pitches a Sofia Coppola adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. We also talk about Coppola’s commercial for Miss Dior Cherie and the Somewhere crossover episode of the reality TV series The Girls Next Door. This episode’s themed meal and drink were sad spaghetti and whatever liquor was around the room. 

For more on A Woman of Taste check out: https://www.instagram.com/awoman_oftastepresents/

59. The M. Night Shift #21: Trap (2024)

Spoiler Alert! The M. Night Shift is back! Bryan and A.J. went to the movies for the latest M. Night Shyamalan experience: Trap. Following Siskel & Ebert rules we didn’t reveal our thoughts until recording began and it turns out… we each had a different M. Night Shyamlan experience. We talk about Josh Harnett’s great performance, the curious casting of Haley Mills, and the not-exactly-twists the story takes. We also discuss other thrillers and serial killer movies which likely influenced Shyamalan, plot points that do not hold up to scrutiny, and whether or not Shyamalan can go dark. Minor tangents include the TV series Monk and the meaning behind star ratings. This episode’s Shyamalan scotch was: Shackleton blended malt.

58. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #4: Marie Antoinette (2006)

Thanks to the success of Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola was able to cash in her “I won an Oscar” chip and make an ambitious, big budget movie about Marie Antoinette. The catch…she did her way. This movie was booed at the Cannes Film Festival and was heavily criticized for its use of modern music, lack of French accents, and breaking from the traditional biopic format. However, it now seems that Sofia’s Marie Antoinette may have just been ahead of its time. Bryan and A.J. discuss the great cast, Coppola’s unique approach to a notorious historical figure, how the movie defies its grand scale to tell an intimate story, the great use of modern music, and ponder why Sofia’s movies stick so well in our memory. We also talk about Baz Luhrmann movies, bash Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, and, of course, talk about the 2006 Oscars. This episode’s themed drink was: Sofia Brut Rosè. 

57. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #3: Lost in Translation (2003)

Bryan and A.J are enjoying relaxing times with Suntory Time and Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. A hit with the critics, audiences, and the box office, this offbeat indie comedy earned 4 Oscar nominations (winning only 1 for Sofia Coppola’s screenplay), and more than 20 years later still provides us with a lot to talk about. We discuss Bill Murray’s career in the 90’s and his indie comeback, Scarlett Johansson’s breakout performance, the similarities between Sofia’s Lost in Translation and Spike Jonze’s Her (2013), and, of course, the 2003 Oscars. Tangents include: Bryan’s trip to Japan, A.J.’s rant about the 2003 Oscars and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and the Japanese version of Sideways. (Apologies for any background noise that was not detected at the time of recording but is very mild). This episode’s themed drink was: Suntory Toki (Time).

56. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #2: The Virgin Suicides (2000), Playground Love (2000), Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Sofia Coppola’s debut feature, The Virgin Suicides (2000), certainly stood out from other movies about teenagers when it was released and remains just as enigmatic today giving us a lot to talk about. Bryan and A.J. discuss the movie’s background (including the Making Of, directed by Sofia’s mother, the late Eleanor Coppola), its arthouse approach to teenagers on film, and the great performances from Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnet, and Giovanni Ribisi’s moody, pensive narration. Other discussion points include: the original music by the band Air, similarities to Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), and the peculiar list that is Cahiers du Cinema’s ten best films of 2000. We also briefly discuss Sofia’s blink and you miss it appearance in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and the Air: Playground Love music video she co-directed with her brother, Roman. This episode’s themed drink was: Peach Schnapps.

55. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #1: Early Sofia

At long last we begin Season 3 and our journey through the filmography of Sofia Coppola, an obvious but natural follow up to our Francis Ford Coppola season. Bryan and A.J. go through Sofia’s early career from her roles in her father’s films and other productions, working as a costume designer, acting in and directing music videos, creating the frenetic and odd TV series Hi Octane, and writing and directing the short film Lick the Star (1998). We talk about the “nepo-baby” issue, how Sofia’s style as a director is evident even in the music videos she directed, nerd out over Udo Kier's appearance Madonna’s Deeper and Deeper music video, and scratch our heads and marvel at the most 90’s time capsule ever, Hi Octane (available to watch on YouTube). 

53. Coppola Cast #33: Tetro (2009)

The second of Francis Coppola’s late career indie films is perhaps one of his least seen and least talked about: Tetro (2009). There isn’t much plot but a lot happens in this surprising and lively black and white movie about a teenager tracking down his long lost brother. We found plenty to talk about from the cast (Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich, Maribel Verdu), screenplay, and cinematography to the valuable input of editor Walter Murch and the possible (but unlikely) parallels to Coppola’s own career and family. We also talk about other films that directly or indirectly influenced Tetro, including Coppola’s own films and the films of his kids, Sofia and Roman. 

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52. Coppola Cast #32: Youth Without Youth (2007)

On this hot, humid summer day, Bryan and A.J. discuss Francis Coppola’s return to the director’s chair after a decade away, Youth Without Youth (2007). This thematically ambitious, low-key arthouse film about an elderly man who regains his youth, and supernatural powers of sorts, after being struck by lightning is not only a curious choice for a comeback but also marks the beginning of a distinct career phase for Coppola. We talk about the beginning of Coppola’s late career indie phase, what is interesting and what is confusing about this movie, the performances of Tim Roth and Bruno Ganz, the makeup choices (or lack thereof) for Alexandra Maria Lara, and we try to pin down whether there is anything to pin down. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio 2022.

51. Coppola Cast #31: The Fantasticks (2000) & Supernova (2000)

A peculiar grab-bag episode for a peculiar time in Francis Coppola’s career. After The Rainmaker Coppola would not direct another movie for 10 years but he was involved in the post-production of not one but two movies released in 2000: The Fantasticks, based on a long running musical, and the quasi erotic sci-fi thriller, Supernova, starring James Spader and Angela Bassett. Coppola acted as a sort of post production supervisor/fixer for the two troubled productions which their studio, MGM, was skeptical of at best. Bryan and A.J. go over what background they could find on each film and differ on which is the better made film vs which is the more entertaining film. Also discussed is the answer to how Knock at the Cabin came to have two cinematographers, Megalopolis rumors, and the best short film of the year, Romy Mars [Sofia Coppola’s daughter] Makes Vodka Sauce Pasta. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018.

50. The M. Night Shift #20: Knock At The Cabin (2023)

A Knock at the Cabin (2023) from M. Night Shyamalan brings us out of hiatus and we return to being The M. Night Shift to discuss his latest horror/thriller. Bryan and A.J. talk about what works (stylistic choices, the cinematography, but most of all Dave Bautista’s excellent performance), what doesn’t work (nearly everything else), and how Shyamalan put his stamp on yet another adaptation. Naturally, we get into major spoilers and compare the ending of the movie to the very different ending of the novel. We also talk about “cabin” movies as genre and A.J. eventually says the title of this movie correctly. Tangents include a talk about novelizations, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Peter Bogdanovich. This episode’s Shyamalan Scotch was: Dewar’s White Label.

49. Coppola Cast #30: John Grisham's The Rainmaker (1997)

This episode we are joined by special guest Andras Jones (of Radio8ball and co-host of The World is Wrong podcast, along with Bryan) to discuss Francis Coppola’s adaptation of John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997). More than just a courtroom drama, this overlooked entry in Coppola’s filmography represents the end of a chapter for Coppola’s Hollywood career and provides a lot to discuss. We begin by going through the works of John Grisham on film, how they changed the legal thriller and courtroom drama, and how The Rainmaker stands apart even from other Grisham novels and films. Then we move on to The Rainmaker and its amazing cast, Coppola’s approach to working with the actors, how Coppola channels Frank Capra, why The Rainmaker reminds us of The Godfather, and much more. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Rosso & Bianco Pinot Grigio and Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. This week’s non-Coppola wine was: Wycliff Brut Champagne. 

6:00 The Rainmaker plot summary & reactions

15:15 Grisham on film

56:35 The Rainmaker discussion

48. Coppola Cast #29: Jack (1996)

It’s time for Bryan and A.J. to make sense of perhaps the oddest movie in Francis Coppola’s filmography, Jack (1996). We break down what works and what doesn’t as this kids movie swings from silly kid friendly comedy to heavy themes of mortality and whether or not Jack, a child who ages rapidly, will have a full life. Of course we talk about the career and performance of the late and forever great Robin Williams. We are surprised by how much there is to discuss about Jack and how it surprisingly ties into the rest of Coppola’s filmography. Our conversation leads to an unexpectedly emotional tangent about The Coneheads and a discussion of the 1996 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio 2019 and 2020.

47. Coppola Cast #28: The Offer (2022)

Paramount+ made us an offer we took reluctantly: The Offer (2022), a 10 part limited series dramatizing the production of The Godfather. Bryan and A.J. review the series as a whole and wonder if, given all the other books, documentaries, and DVD bonus features about the behind the scenes of The Godfather that already exist, this series needed to be 10 hours long, or is even necessary. The highlights for us included: scenes involving Francis Coppola (Dan Fogler, in a solid performance) and Mario Puzo (Patrick Gallo), Mathew Goode’s performance as notorious Paramount production chief Robert Evans (making us wish Paramount+ has just made a movie version of Evans’s autobiography, The Kid Stays in the Picture), and the movie nerd catnip of scenes of cinematographer Gordon Willis (T.J. Thyne) and Production Designer Dean Tavoularis (Eric Balfour) arguing over blocking. However, neither Coppola nor Evans is the focus of the series. The actual main character is producer Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller), on whose memories the series is based. Unfortunately, his character is the least engaging element of the series. It’s probably not a good sign when a TV series just makes you want to watch other things (like The Kid Stays in the Picture, The Sopranos, or The Godfather itself). Also joining the conversation are two very rowdy dogs. This episode’s Coppola wine was: 2019 Pinot Noir Oregon.

45. Coppola Cast #26: The Godfather Part III (1990) & Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020)

At last we come to the end of Michael Corleone’s story and then we come to the end of his story again as we discuss The Godfather Part III (1990) and Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020). Bryan and A.J. talk about the movie’s long production history, what motivated Francis Coppola to finally agree to make another Godfather movie, and speculate on what really makes this sequel stand apart so much. We also review Coppola’s recent re-edit of the movie, titled Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. Of course, we discuss the story behind the surprise and controversial casting of Sofia Coppola, her much maligned performance, and the overly harsh criticisms lobbed at her. Other topics include the 1991 Oscars, Catherine Scorsese, and A.J. finds a more relevant way to talk about The Irishman. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Sofia Rose Monterey County 2018 and Sofia Blanc de Blanc

44. Coppola Cast #25: New York Stories (Life Without Zoe) (1989)

Francis Coppola closed out the 1980’s with a contribution to the omnibus film New York Stories, along with Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. Coppola’s segment, “Life Without Zoe” has long been derided as the worst of the 3 short films and Bryan and A.J. discuss it perhaps more than it has ever been discussed. We also review Scorsese’s “Life Lessons” and Allen’s “Oedipus Wrecks” and look at where each filmmaker was at this point in their careers. We talk about the origins of New York Stories, the original choices for directors, why Coppola maybe wasn’t the best for this project, and how “Life Without Zoe” is secretly a Sofia Coppola film. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and Rose of Pinot Noir 2019.

43. Coppola Cast #24: Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

This Christmas you get a Tucker car! and you get a Tucker car! ,,,and that’s it because the upstart automobile designer Preston Tucker was only able to make 50 and in this episode Bryan and A.J. find out why. Francis Coppola’s biopic of Tucker, appropriately titled Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), chronicles his attempt to build the “car of tomorrow” with unheard of features like a third headlight that turns with the steering wheel, seatbelts, pop out glass, and an engine in the rear (where it belongs!). As you might imagine, Tucker (played by Jeff Bridges) ran afoul of the Big Three automakers in Detroit and their cronies in Washington. We talk about the crossover this film has with Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator (2004), the change in the dynamic of Coppola and George Lucas’s professional relationship, Martin Landau’s Oscar nominated performance, and Jeff Bridges’s charming screen presence. We also ask Robert Zemeckis for a sequel to Romancing the Stone with the original cast. This episode’s Coppola wine was Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2018 Black Label Claret.

42. The M. Night Shift #19: Old (2021)

Happy Shocktober! For October (or as we call it, Shocktober) we’re taking a break from Coppola to revisit M. Night Shyamalan and review his latest, Old. We discuss the movie’s similarities to a classic episode of The Twilight Zone, themes and plots that Shyamalan revisits from his previous movies and perhaps improves on, share similar reactions to some of the stylistic choices, and wonder: is this Shyamalan’s best film in nearly two decades? Our conversation includes major SPOILERS. Tangents include candy corn, which directors are also good actors, and Tom Cruise’s COVID safety rant. This episode’s Shyamalan scotch was: Chivas Regal 12 Year Blended Scotch.