POP ART: Episode 46, Do the Right Thing/Les Miserables

 THE RACE IS ON: “Wake up, Wake up, Wake up.” Black Lives Matter. Antifa. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. January 6^th. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 46 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome producer/director Martina Silcock who has chosen the controversial and game changing Spike Lee joint Do The Right Thing, and I have chosen the astounding first feature by French filmmaker Ladj Ly, Les Miserables, both about racial tensions that explode in a single neighborhood leading to acts of violence and a riot.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What are the source materials for each film? Who did Spike Lee want for Sal first? What happened at Cannes and the Oscars? How does Parasite fit in? How does the Twilight Zone fit in? Are the endings satisfactory? What movie did Michelle and Barak Obama see on their first date?

Check out Martina’s IDMB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3697341/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Check out her films at:

Lines in the Sand: https://www.amazon.com/Lines-Richardson-Michael-Gilroy-Kerensa/dp/B01N14BWH5/

The Nest Egg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIWcjZE-vSM&t=360s

Mogul Mowgli: https://www.mogulmowgli.co.uk/

Her site: http://www.notthetennisplayer.com/

A site for underrepresented groups: https://www.lookbeyondthelist.com/

And keep a look out for Pig, starring Nicholas Cage

POP ART: Episode 45, True Romance/Pierrot le Fou

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH: “Okie, dokey, doggie daddy.” We’ve all been there, done that. We meet someone. Fall in love. Pledge our lives to each other. Then, as so often happens, we kill someone or rob someone of drugs or money and have to go on the run. Who hasn’t found themselves in that situation? Sounds like it’s time for Episode 45 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome fellow podcaster Jarrett Galante, aka Clark F. Gable, who has chosen the Tony Scott/Quentin Tarantino neo-noir, True Romance, and I have chosen the quite different Jean Luc Godard French film classic, Pierrot le Fou, both about lovers on the run.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: What did Tarantino do to raise money to make Reservoir Dogs and how does Elvis fit in? Are Tarantino and Godard post-modern or post-post-modern? How does the movie Pineapple Express fit in? Who is Sam Fuller and would you want to be one? Where did the Sicilian story come from in True Romance? Where does Godard stand in the pantheon of directors? Where does Tarantino? What are the differences between the original screenplay and the final one in True Romance and what did Tarantino think about it? Where did the True Romance theme come from?

Meanwhile check out Jarrett’s podcast The REAL Short Box at https://www.facebook.com/therealshortbox/

And Jarrett’s IDMB profile at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1445425/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

POP ART: Episode 44, Fast Times at Ridgemont Hight/The Last Picture Show

SCHOOL DAZED: “Aloha, Mr. Hand.” It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, actually, it was just the worst of times. The most nightmarish and traumatic years of our lives. A quagmire of debilitating despair sucking the life and soul out of us all. Or as it is more commonly called, high school. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 44 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest chooses a movie from popular culture and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome back previous guests, fellow podcasters Anna Keiser and Derek Dehanke, who have chosen the Amy Heckerling/Cameron Crowe 1980s classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High and I have chosen the Peter Bogdanovich/Larry McMurty 1970s classic The Last Picture Show, both about teens navigating the difficult years of high school.

And in this episode, we answer such questions as: Who was originally asked to play Mr. Hand in Fast Times at Ridgemont High? What happened to Peter Bogdanovich’s career? What did Roger Ebert say about both films? Who was originally offered the Ben Johnson role in The Last Picture Show? What book did the person that was the basis for Mark “Rat” Ratner in Fast Times… write and what is his relation to pizza? Why is The Last Picture Show in b&w? What is Phil Spectre’s relation to Fast Times…? What two scenes did Fast Time… have to choose between to avoid an X rating?

Check out Anna and Derek’s podcast, ‘80s Movie Montage, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/80s-movie-montage/id1498851364 and other streaming platforms.

Keep a look out for Anna’s short film She Had It Coming, now showing at film festivals.