54. Coppola Cast #34: Twixt (2011) & B'twixt Now and Sunrise: The Authentic Cut (2022)

At long last we arrive at Francis Coppola’s (as of now) most recently released film Twixt (2011) and close out season 2. We discuss Coppola’s return to the horror genre, the great, eerie dream sequences, what aspects of Twixt remind us of the films of Coppola’s early mentor, Roger Corman, and how this is a surprisingly personal film for Coppola. We also pick out all of the references to Edgar Allan Poe and to other Coppola movies. Then we review Coppola’s recent re-edit of Twixt titled B’twixt Now and Sunrise: The Authentic Cut, which we thought was called Re-Twixt, and have a few issues with. Finally we announce the director we will be covering in Season 3, beginning soon (probably).

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.

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.

33. Coppola Cast 15: Apocalypse Now (1979, Workprint, Redux, & Final Cut)

Our motto: Apocalypse Now! Coppola’s most epic movie leads to our most epic episode as we tackle his surreal, nightmarish Vietnam War film: Apocalypse Now. Not only do we break down the iconic 1979 theatrical version, but also delve into the unreleased Workprint, the 2001 Redux version, and the 2019 Final Cut version. We also talk about the documentary Hearts of Darkness, chronicling the notoriously troubled production of Apocalypse Now. We compare the different versions, discuss if the restored scenes (especially the French Plantation scene) alter or enhance the story, and wonder if Apocalypse Now is a secret horror movie. This episode’s Coppola Wines: Diamond Collection Monterrey County Pinot Noir 2017 and Sofia Brut Rose 2018.

30. Coppola Cast 12: The Conversation (1974)

After the massive success of The Godfather, Francis Coppola was finally able to make his passion project: a small scale personal film, The Conversation. Though Coppola first had the idea for the story of a surveillance expert that suspects the people he spied on are going to be murdered in the mid-60’s, The Conversation was made during the height of the Watergate scandal and released just after Nixon’s resignation, no doubt giving it a special resonance for audiences in 1974. We discuss Gene Hackman’s low-key performance, the contribution of Walter Murch, Catholic guilt, and how themes of privacy and surveillance keep The Conversation relevant today. We also marvel at the lineup at the 1974 Oscars and wonder if Adam Sandler has succeeded where Coppola did not. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Diamond Collection 2017 Black Label Claret and Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2018.