Join Adam and Jim as they have an old friend for dinner, and discuss the 1991 crime thriller, The Silence of The Lambs.
SHOWNOTES

The Silence of The Lambs - Criterion


Directing

Jonathan Demme, Ethan Coen (Writer / Director)

Philadelphia (1993)


Something Wild (1986)


The Manchurian Candidate (2004)






Acting

Jodie Foster - Clarice Starling


Anthony Hopkins - Dr. Hannibal Lecter


Scott Glenn - Jack Crawford


Ted Levine - Buffalo Bill


Brooke Smith - Catherine Martin


Anthony Heald - Dr. Frederick Chilton


Darla - Precious (the dog)




Cinematography

Tak Fujimoto - Director of Photography

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)


Gladiator (1992)


The Sixth Sense (1989)






Music / Audio

Howard Shore - Score

That Thing You Do! (1996)


High Fidelity (2000)


The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001)




Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus


American Girl - Tom Petty




Misc

Team Deakins podcast - episode 93

Interview with Sound Designer Skip Lievsay




First Aid Fail - The Office


Donaghy can’t read Kenneth at Poker - 30 Rock


Spooky Sunday Funday - You’re The Worst

Episode #26: The Silence of The Lambs

A seedy Texas bar, a dangerous love affair, and a murder-for-hire gone bad. What’s there not to love? Join Adam and Jim on their examination of Joel and Ethan Coen’s first feature-length movie, Blood Simple.
SHOWNOTES

Blood Simple - Criterion


Directing

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (Writer / Director)

Miller's Crossing (1990)


The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)


Fargo (1996)






Acting

John Getz - Ray


Frances McDormand - Abby


Dan Hedaya - Julian Marty


M. Emmet Walsh - Loren Visser


Samm-Art Williams - Meurice




Cinematography

Barry Sonnenfeld - Director of Photography

Raising Arizona (1987)


Big (1988)


When Harry Met Sally (1989)






Music / Audio

Carter Burwell - Score

Rob Roy (1995)


Being John Malkovich (1999)


Serenity (2005)




It’s The Same Old Song - The Four Tops




Misc

Paul Thomas Anderson (Director)

Magnolia (1999)

“Raining frogs” scene




Punch-Drunk Love (2002)


There Will Be Blood (2007)


The Master (2012)


Inherent Vice (2014)


Phantom Thread (2017)

Episode #25: Blood Simple

Longing to get outdoors? Looking for an escape from your home office? Then head on out to the ballgame with Adam and Jim. This time they’re heading out to see the Durham Bulls in Ron Shelton’s 1988 iconic sports dramedy, Bull Durham.
SHOWNOTES

Pocket Casts - Addressing Racism


Bull Durham - Criterion


Directing

Ron Shelton (Writer / Director)

White Men Can’t Jump (1992)


Blue Chips (Writer) (1994)


Tin Cup (1996)






Acting

Crash Davis - Kevin Costner

The Big Chill (1983)

Criterion On The Couch episode #002




Dances With Wolves (1990)


Field of Dreams (1989)


For the Love of The Game (1999)


Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)


The Bodyguard (1992)


Waterworld (1995)


Tin Cup (1996)


The Postman (1997)




Annie Savoy - Susan Sarandon

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)


The Witches of Eastwick (1987)


Thelma & Louise (1991)




Ebby Calvin ‘Nuke’ LaLoosh - Tim Robbins

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)


The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)


Mystic River (2003)




Skip (Manager) - Trey Wilson (died 1 year later in 1989)

Love Is A Battlefield (Pat Benatar’s Dad) (1983)


Raising Arizona (1987)


Twins (1988)




Jimmy (the religious one) - William O’Leary

Marty Taylor (Tim’s youngest brother) - Home Improvement (1991 - 1999)




Millie - Jenny Robertson

Maggie Winters (1998 -1999 TV Series)


Rude Awakening (1998 -2001 TV Series)


Reno 911! (2003 - )




Other baseball movies

The Natural (1984)


A League of Their Own (1992)


The Sandlot (1993)


Rookie of The Year (1993)


Little Big League (1994)


Angels in The Outfield (1994)






Cinematography

Bobby Byrne - Director of Photography

Sixteen Candles (1984)


Mad About You (1992-2019)






Music / Audio

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets


Only A Memory - The Smithereens


Born To Be Bad - George Thorogood & The Destroyers


I Idolize You - Ike & Tina Turner


Middle of Nowhere - House of Schock


La Vie En Rose - Edith Piaf


Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - Edith Piaf


Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding


I Got Loaded - Los Lobos


When will I be loved - The Everly Brothers


Centerfield - John Fogerty


Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward & The Dominoes


A Woman Loves A Man - Joe Cocker




Misc

The real Durham Bulls

Episode #24: Bull Durham

Lock your doors, hide your kids, and stay inside. There’s a murderer on the loose! Join Adam and Jim as they hunt the elusive killer that has all of Berlin in a panic. In episode 23 we’re discussing the 1931 “talkie” classic from director Fritz Lang: M.
SHOWNOTES
Criterion on The Couch - Episode #023: M

M - Criterion


Directing

Director: Fritz Lang

Metropolis (1927)






Acting

Peter Lorre (Hans Beckert)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Criterion On The Couch episode #005




Casablanca (1942)




Ellen Wildmann (Frau Beckmann)


Inge Landgut (Elsie Beckmann)


Otto Wernicke (Inspector Karl Lohmann)


Theodor Loos (Inspector Groeber)


Gustaf Gründgens (Schränker)


Friedrich Gnaß (Franz)




Cinematography 

Fritz Arno Wagner (Cinematography)

Nosferatu (1922)






Music

Adolf Jansen (Sound)

Titanic (1943) Propaganda film by Germany




Paul Falkenberg (Sound editor)

Vampyr (1932)




In the Hall of The Mountain King - Trent Reznor, The Social Network (2011)


Twisted Nerve - Bernard Herrmann, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)


Theme from Jaws - John Williams, (1975)





Other

 Based on Peter Kurten, “The Vampire of Düsseldorf” aka “The Düsseldorf Monster.”

EPISODE #23: M

Join Adam, and Jim as they delve down the incinerator chute, on the mine car, through the tunnels to the power plant, under the steam engine and into the cistern through the intake pipe. That’s right, in episode 22 it’s time to retake The Rock along with special guest: former U.S. Navy Seal - Joe.
SHOWNOTES
Criterion On The Couch - Episode #22 - The Rock

The Rock - Criterion


Directing

Director: Michael Bay

Armageddon (1998)

Criterion On The Couch episode #019






Acting

John Patrick Mason - Sean Connery

Also Executive produced




Stanley Goodspeed - Nicolas Cage


General Francis X. Hummel Ed Harris


F.B.I. Director Womack - John Spencer


Tom Baxter - David Morse


Ernest Paxton - William Forsythe


Chief Justice - Philip Baker Hall

Bookman the Library Cop - Seinfeld (1989)


Senator Matt Hunt - 3 episodes of The West Wing (1999)




Commander Anderson - Michael Biehn


Carla Pestalozzi - Vanessa Marcia


Marvin Isherwood - Todd Louiso

Dick - High Fidelity (2000)




Captain Frye - Gregory Sporleder


Marine Captain Hendrix - John C. McGinley

Dr. Perry Cox - Scrubs (2001)




Private McCoy - Steve Harris


Sergeant Crisp - Bokeem Woodbine


Captain Darrow - Tony Todd

CIA Director Graham - Chuck (2007)




Francis Reynolds - Willie Garson


Jade Angelou - Claire Forlani

Mystery Men (1999)




The President - Stanley Anderson


Music

Hans Zimmer

Pirates of The Caribbean (2003)




Rocket Man - Elton John


A World Without Love - Peter and Gordon


San Francisco - Scott McKenzie


Leaving On A Jet Plane - Frank Sinatra




Other Media

Put the bunny back in the box: is Nicolas Cage the best actor since Marlon Brando? - Steve Rose, The Guardian

Episode #22: The Rock

Get out your vision boards and lock up your jewelry! In episode #21 Adam and Jim are discussing the 1981 classic heist movie, Thief. (starring James Caan and directed by Michael Mann)
SHOWNOTES
Thief - Criterion
Directing
     Director: Michael Mann
          Miami Vice (2006)
          Manhunter (1986)
          Heat (1995)
Acting
     Frank - James Caan
          The Godfather (1972)
          Las Vegas (2003-2007)
          Elf (2003)
     Jessie - Tuesday Weld
          The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1962)
          Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
     Barry - Jim Belushi
          According to Jim (2001-2009)
     Okla - Willie Nelson
     Leo - Robert Prosky
          The Natural (1984)
          Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
     Mechanic # 3 - John Kapelos
          The Breakfast Club (1985)
Music
     Tangerine Dream
          Thief soundtrack
     Craig Safan
          Confrontation
Other Criterion on The Couch episodes
     Episode #16: The Breakfast Club
          Apple
          Stitcher
Other Media
     The Home Invaders:Confessions of A Cat Burglar
          By Frank Hohimer
Other Movies
     The American (2010)
          Featuring George Clooney
     The Blues Brothers (1980)
          Featuring John Belushi
     Spider-Man (2002)
          Featuring Toby Maguire

EPISODE #21: THIEF

School’s out for summer! Break out the 8-tracks, put on your favorite bell bottoms, and join Adam and Jim as they travel back to May 28, 1976 to get Dazed and Confused.
SHOWNOTES
Dazed and Confused - Criterion
Directing
   Director: Richard Linklater
   Where’d You Go Bernadette (2019)
   BoyHood (2014 - Criterion)
   Before Sunrise / Sunset / Midnight (1995, 2004, 2013 - Criterion)
   Slacker (1991 - Criterion)
Acting
   Randall “Pink” - Jason London
      To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar
      Aerosmith videos for Crazy and Amazing
   Pickford - Shawn Andrews
   Mitch - Wiley Wiggins
   Don - Sasha Jenson
      29 years old when the movie came out.
   O’Bannion - Ben Affleck
   Wooderson - Matthew McConaughey
   Mike - Adam Goldberg
      How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days (with Matthew McConaughey)
   Slater - Rory Cochran
      Empire Records
   Simone - Joey Lauren Adams
   Michelle - Milla Jovovich
      The Fifth Element
      Resident Evil
   Darla - Parker Posey
   Cynthia - Marissa Ribisi
      Pleasantville
   Clint - Nicky Klatt
   Hirshfelder (Mitch’s friend) - Jeremy Fox
      Gilmore Girls, Dawson’s Creek, Beverly Hills 90210
Music
   Dazed and Confused Soundtrack
      iTunes
      Spotify
Other Media
   Recent interview on The Guardian with Richard Linklater and Wiley Wiggins
Other Movies
   American Graffiti (1973)
      Directed by George Lucas
   The Big Chill (1983)
      Directed by Lawrence Kasdan

Episode #20: Dazed and Confused

It’s the end of the world, and you’re all invited! Join Adam and Jim and a group of roughneck oil drillers as they travel to the edge of space (and their sanity) in order to save the Earth from Armageddon.
SHOWNOTES
Armageddon - Criterion
Director: Michael Bay
     Bad Boys
     The Rock
Acting:
     Harry Stamper: Bruce Willis
     Grace Stamper: Liv Tyler
          The Leftovers
     A.J. Frost: Ben Affleck
     Dan Truman: Billy Bob Thornton
     Chick: Will Patton
     Rockhound: Steve Buscemi
     Lev Andropov: Peter Stormare
          Steve and Peter previously appeared together in the 1996 movie Fargo
     Colonel Willie Sharp: William Fichtner
     Oscar: Owen Wilson
          The Royal Tenenbaums 
     Bear: Michael Clark Duncan
     Jennifer Watts: Jessica Steen
     Flight Director Clark: Chris Ellis
          Apollo 13
          That Thing You Do
     Psychologist: Udo Kier
          Melancholia
     Guest Comedians
          Eddie Griffin
          Mark Curry
               Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
Movies:
     Independence Day
     Deep Impact
     The Right Stuff
Cinematography:
     5 Things That Happen In Every Michael Bay Movie(including slow motion)
Music:
     Bon Jovi - Mister Big Time
     Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
     Ben Affleck sings “Leaving On A JetPlane” to Liv Tyler

Episode #19: Armageddon

Adam and Jim are discussing The Princess Bride? Inconceivable! Join us in episode #18 as we travel with Westley, Fezzik and Inigo Montoya across the countryside of Florin, past the Cliffs of Insanity, to rescue Princess Buttercup from the castle of Prince Humperdinck, all the while avoiding the shrieking eels, flame spurts, lightning sand and Rodents of Unusual Size.
SHOWNOTES
The Princess Bride - Criterion
Director: Rob Reiner
   This Is Spinal Tap
   A Few Good Men
   Sleepless in Seattle
   The American President
Writer: William Goldman
   Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
   All the President's Men
   Misery
   Absolute Power
   The General's Daughter
Actors:
   Westley - Carry Elwes
   Psych - Pierre Despereaux
      Extradition - British Columbia
      Extradition II - The Actual Extradition Part
      Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy Rusty Old Dagger
      Lock, Stock, Some Smoking Barrels, and Burton Guster’s Goblet of Fire
   Inigo Montoya - Mandy Patinkin
      Homeland
   Buttercup - Robin Wright
      Forrest Gump
      House of Cards
   Vizzini - Wallace Shawn
      My Dinner with Andre (Criterion #479)
      COTC episode #12
      Toy Story - Dinosaur
   Fezzik - Andre the Giant
   Humperdinck - Chris Sarandon
   Count Ruben - Christopher Guest
      This is Spinal Tap (Criterion #12)
      Waiting for Guffman
      Best in Show
   Miracle Max - Billy Crystal
   Valerie - Carol Kane
   The Albino - Mel Smith
   Clergyman - Peter Cook
   Fred Savage & Peter Falk have no names
      Wonder Years
      Columbo

Episode #18: The Princess Bride

Hazel, Dandelion, Blackberry and Clover? No, we’re not making a salad, instead we’re discussing the 1978 animated retelling of the Richard Adam’s novel Watership Down. Join us in episode #17 as we heed Fiver’s warnings and search for our new warren.
SHOWNOTES
Watership Down - Criterion
Director - Martin Rosen
   The Plague Dogs (1982)
      Theme Song - “Time and Tide”  by Alan Price (original keyboardist for The Animals)
         The House of the Rising Sun
         Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Hazel - John Hurt (Died Jan 25, 2017)  (207 acting credits)
   Alien (1979)
   The Elephant Man (1980)
   The Plague Dogs as Snitter (1982)
   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
   Hellboy (2004)
   V for Vendetta (2005)
   Melancholia (2011)
   Doctor Who as The War Doctor in 3 episodes (2013)
   Watership Down mini-series as General Woundwort (1999 -2000)
Fiver - Richard Briers (Died Feb 17, 2013
Bigwig - Michael Graham Cox (Died Apr 30, 1995)
Captain Holly - John Bennett (April 11, 2005)
Chief Rabbit - Ralph Richardson (Died Oct 10, 1983)
Blackberry - Simon Cadell (Died March 6, 1996)
Silver - Terence Rigby (Died August 10, 2008)
Pipkin - Roy Kinnear (Died September 20, 1988)
Dandelion - Richard O’Callaghan (Still Alive?)
Cat - Lynn Farleigh (Still Alive?)
General Woundwort - Harry Andrews (Died March 6, 1989)
Cowslip - Denholm Elliott
   Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Clover - Mary Maddox
Kehaar (Bird) - Zero Mostel (comedian)
The only black man (Clifton Jones) plays a character named “Blackavar”
Watership Down references in the TV Show “Lost”
Movies with similar stories / plots include Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Secret of NIMH
Other movies mentioned:
   Raiders of The Lost Ark
   The Dark Crystal
   Floyd Norman - An Animated Life
   The Inbetweeners

Episode #17: Watership Down

A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal walk into school… No this isn’t the beginning of a joke, it’s the opening of John Hughes trend-setting 1985 dramedy, The Breakfast Club. (starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, John Kapelos, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy). Join us in episode #16 for a memorable Saturday detention at Shermer High School.
SHOWNOTES
The Breakfast Club - Criterion
John Hughes - Director
   Sixteen Candles (1984)
   The Breakfast Club (1985)
   Pretty In Pink (1986)
   Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
   Uncle Buck (1989)
Emilio Estevez (as Andrew Clark)
Anthony Michael Hall (as Brian Johnson)
Judd Nelson (as John Bender)
Molly Ringwald (as Claire Standish)
Ally Sheedy (as Allison Reynolds)
Paul Gleason (as Richard Vernon)
John Kapelos (as Carl)
A Charlie Brown Christmas dance
All Psych episodes featuring cast members from The Breakfast Club
   Judd Nelson
      Season 4 Episode 13 - “Death is in the Air”
   Molly Ringwald
      Season 6 Episode 6 - “Shawn Interrupted”
   Ally Sheedy
      Season 3 Episode 16 - “An Evening With Mr. Yang”
      Season 4 Episode 16 - “Mr. Yin Presents…”
      Season 5 Episode 16 - “Yang 3 in 2D”
      Season 7 Episode 15 - “Psych: The Musical”
  Anthony Michael Hall
      Season 7 Episode 14 - “No Trout About It”
      Season 8 Episode 2 - “S.E.I.Z.E. the Day”
      Season 8 Episode 4 - “Someone’s Got a Woody”
  John Kapelos
      Season 7 Episode 10 “Santa Barbarian Candidate”
      Season 8 Episode 6 “1967: A Psych Odyssey”
 
This American Life (episode 526, Act Three)
   Molly Ringwald and her daughter watch The Breakfast Club together for the first time.
Music
   Don’t You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
   Fire In the Twilight - Wang Chung 
   We Are Not Alone - Karla Devito
   I’m The Dude - Keith Forsey
The “naked blonde” joke that Bender tells himself (while in the ceiling) never had a punchline.
Additional Movie references
   David Margulies
      As The Mayor in Ghostbusters
   William Atherton
      As Walter Peck in Ghostbusters
      As Richard Thornburg in Die Hard and Die Hard 2
      As Professor Jerry Hathaway in Real Genius
 

Episode #16:The Breakfast Club

Corruption? Scandal? A rigged election? In episode #15 we discuss director Alexander Payne's high school political dramedy, Election (starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon).
SHOWNOTES
Election - Criterion
Alexander Payne - Director
   Citizen Ruth (1996)
   Starring Laura Dern
   About Schmidt (2002)
   Sideways (2004)
   Paris, je t’aime (2006)
   The Descendants (2011)
   Nebraska (2013)
Matthew Broderick (as Jim McAllister)
   Also starred in Godzilla (1998) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Reese Witherspoon (as Tracy Flick)
Chris Klein (as Paul Metzler)
Jessica Campbell (as Tammy Metzler)
Mark Harelik (as Dave Novotny)
Phil Reeves (as Principal Walt Hendricks)
Delaney Driscoll (as Linda Novotny) - also played Ruth’s sister in Citizen Ruth
Holmes Osborne (as Dick Metzler) - also played Donnie’s Dad in Donnie Darko
Movie Trivia
   Thora Birch, who starred in Ghost World (2001) was originally cast to play Tammy
   Election was filmed in Papillion LaVista High School in Papillion, Nebraska
Josie and The Pussycats (2001) was also a Universal Pictures/MTV Films production
Unlike “Stadium High School” in 10 Things I Hate About You, the high school in Election seems pretty realistic
Tom Perrotta (who originally wrote Election) also wrote the novel The Leftovers which was later turned into an HBO series starring:
   Justin Theroux
   Liv Tyler
   Janel Moloney
   Scott Glenn (not to be confused with David Carradine)
   And written by Damon Lindelof
Election - Alternate Ending
Three Times A Lady - The Commodores
Navajo Joe - Ennio Morricone (from the 1966 movie Navajo Joe starring Burt Reynolds)
Mystery Men (starring Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo)
   Wes Studi as Sphinx
Paul falls asleep reading The Celestine Prophecy (by James Redfield)

Episode #15: Election

In episode #14 we discuss Dustin Hoffman's break out role in The Graduate. Based on the novel by Charles Webb and featuring the music of Simon & Garfunkel, The Graduate tells the tale of one young man's struggle to start the next chapter of his life while also becoming involved in a forbidden affair.
SHOWNOTES
The Graduate - Criterion
Mike Nichols - Director
   Charlie Wilson’s War
   Wit
   Regarding Henry
   Working Girl
   Closer
Anne Bancroft - Mrs. Robinson
Katharine Ross - Elaine Robinson
Murray Hamilton - Mr. Robinson
Dustin Hoffman - Ben Braddock
William Daniels - Mr. Braddock
Elizabeth Wilson - Mrs. Braddock
Simon & Garfunkel
   The Sound of Silence
   Mrs. Robinson
   Scarborough Fair / Canticle
   Bookends (not featured in The Graduate)
The Simpsons - Lady Bouvier’s Lover (The Graduate spoof)
1966 Alfa Romeo Series 1 Spider 1600
The Giver (movie)
Home School (sequel to The Graduate)
Donnie Darko
Harper Simon
   Berkley Girl - Official Video (featuring Jena Malone)
Overlord - J.J. Abrams’ new supernatural WWII movie
Carly Simon
   Let the River Run (from Working Girl)
A Christmas Story
Group photo of MGM stars
Criterion on the Couch episodes referenced:
   Harold & Maude
   Easy Rider

Episode #14: The Graduate

In episode #13 we discuss the 1987 science-fiction classic: RoboCop, the original movie that spawned numerous sequels, television series, video games and reboots. Set in a Detroit city plagued by crime, officer Alex J. Murphy is a revenant cop who's been given a second chance to protect and serve.
SHOWNOTES
RoboCop - Criterion
Paul Verhoeven - Director
Starship Troopers
Total Recall
Hollow Man  
Peter Weller - RoboCop
Nancy Allen - Officer Lewis
Ronny Cox - Dick Jones
Kurtwood Smith - Clarence J. Boddicker
(widely known as Red from That 70’s Show)
Miguel Ferrer - Bob Morton
Robert DoQui - Sergeant Reed
Ray Wise - Leon Nash
Dan O’Herlihy - The Old Man
Paul McCrane - Emil M. Antonowsky
The Soundtrack Show Podcast
Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Podcast
3/13/2018 - Discussing Cain from RoboCop 2 (starts at 1:46)
The initials “OCP” in RoboCop stand for Omni Consumer Products
 
Adam’s pictures from the RoboCop TV Series:
Police Cruiser
Explosion
Stuntman

Episode #13: RoboCop

In episode #12 we discuss the 1981 cerebral motion-picture, My Dinner With André. Wallace, a struggling actor/playwright from NYC, attends an intimate dinner with his old acquaintance André. As the two catch up on lost time, their conversation shifts into the social, emotional, physical and metaphysical concerns of the modern world. At once both outrageous and grounded, My Dinner With André explores the relationships between people, their environment, and the universe.
SHOWNOTES
My Dinner With Andre - Criterion
Director - Louis Malle
André Gregory as André
Wallace Shawn as Wallace
(widely known for his role as Vizzini in the movie The Princess Bride)
Another movie about playwrights: Synecdoche, New York - starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
One of Adam’s favorite books:The Fuck Up by Arthur Nersesian
John Adams mini-series on HBO
Rabbit Starvation (a.k.a. Protein poisoning)
Survivorman (featuring Les Stroud)
Primitive Technology - Youtube Channel (NOT Les Stroud)
Gymnoépdie No. 1 by Éric Satie (also used in The Royal Tenenbaums)
Other philosophical movies (that Jim couldn’t name):
The Man From Earth (2007)
The Invitation (2015)
Parodies
Community - Season 2 Episode 19 - “Critical Film Studies” a.k.a. My Dinner with Abed

Episode #12: My Dinner With André

In episode #11 we discuss one of the most star-studded, high-flying action/comedies of all time: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Interrupted from a leisurely drive through the California desert, five men bear witness to the last words of a dying criminal, revealing the location of his hidden loot. What follows is a no-holds-barred-comedic-mad-dash to see who can get to the money first and claim it as their own.
SHOWNOTES
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - Criterion
Director - Stanley Kramer
Capt. T. G. Culpepper - Spencer Tracy
J. Russell FInch - Milton Berle
Melville Crump - Sid Caesar
Benjy Benjamin - Buddy Hackett
Mrs. Marcus - Ethel Merman
Ding Bell - Mickey Rooney
Sylvester Marcus - Dick Shawn
Otto Meyer - Phil Silvers
J. Algernon Hawthorne - Terry-Thomas
Lennie Pike - Jonathan Winters
Monica Crump - Edie Adams
Emeline Marcus - Finch Dorothy Provine
Man in Car - Jack Benny
Cab Driver - Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson
Cab Driver - Peter Falk
Colonel Wilberforce - Paul Ford
Tower Controller at Rancho Conejo - Carl Reiner
2001’s Rat Race was a modern remake
The West Wing: Season 4 Episode 9 - Swiss Diplomacy
The First Lady and President Bartlet talk about Mrs. Wilberforce
The Simpsons: Season 5 Episode 11 - Homer the Vigilante
Bart tricks the driver
The Big T

Episode #11: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

In episode #10 we discuss Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-Winning masterpiece: Pan's Labyrinth. Set just after the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia is thrown into two very different worlds; one of soldiers and violence and one of faeries and magic. Now to protect her own life and that of her mother, she must carefully navigate the border between fantasy and reality.
SHOWNOTES
Pan's Labyrinth - Criterion Collection
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro who also directed and/or wrote:
Cronos (Criterion)
Crimson Peak
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Hellboy
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Devil’s Backbone (Criterion)
The Strain (TV Series)
Pan’s Labyrinth - Happy Trailer
Other violent movies
Inglourious Basterds (Tarantino)
Reservoir Dogs (Tarantino)
Pulp Fiction (Tarantino)
Saw
Non-violent Thrillers
Psycho
The Decemberists’ album: The Hazards of Love
Doug Jones plays both Pan and the Pale Man
Day for night cinematic technique
In the Bible, King David is responsible for the death of Bathsheba’s husband.
Harry Potter: Mandrakes in herbology class
Books:
S (Ship of Theseus)
The Jolly Postman
The Minotaur Takes A Cigarette Break
Labyrinth with David Bowie

Episode #10: Pan's Labyrinth

In episode #9 we discuss Dennis Hopper's directorial debut: Easy Rider. Wyatt and Billy are two bikers with an anti-establishment lifestyle. After netting a big score in a drug deal, the two friends set off on a cross-country journey where they'll experience the best and worst that society has to offer. 
SHOWNOTES
Easy Rider - Criterion Collection
Directed by Dennis Hopper
Written by Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern
Notable Cast:
Dennis Hopper - Billy
Peter Fonda - Wyatt
Jack Nicholson - George (young Jack Nicholson looks similar to Walter Goggins known for Justified and Vice Principals)
Family Connections:
Peter Fonda (Henry’s son)
Bridget Fonda (Peter’s daughter)
Jane Fonda (Henry’s daughter)
Henry Fonda (was featured in episode #1: 12 Angry Men)
American Chopper was a television documentary series that aired on the Discovery Channel
Top Gear (BBC) aired an episode (series 9 - episode #3) where the hosts had a dangerous encounter in the American south.
Training Day (starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke) was another movie with a weird drug scene.
Requiem for a Dream was another movie with many weird drug scenes.
Mad Men (season 5 episode 6 - Far Away Places) featured Roger and Jane Sterling take LSD
Trail Magic is a hiking tradition of doing charity unto others
Music that we mention (not necessarily in the movie):
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf
Wasn’t Born to Follow - The Byrds
Signs - Five Man Electrical Band
Slow Ride - Foghat (written in 1975)
Product placements:
Jim Beam
Enco Gas
Coca-Cola
Pepsi Co
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Budweiser
Citgo
CAT

Episode #9: Easy Rider

In episode #8 we discuss our second Terry Gilliam movie: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Raoul Duke and his Samoan attorney Dr. Gonzo embark on a drug-filled trip through Las Vegas. Based on the story by Hunter S. Thompson, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro.
SHOWNOTES
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection
Directed by Terry Gilliam (who also directed Brazil which we discussed in episode #4).
Terry Gilliam also directed the movie Twelve Monkeys
Based on the Novel by Hunter S. Thompson which itself began as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine
Notable Cast:
Johnny Depp also appeared in:
The Rum Diary (not Rum Punch) - was another movie based on a Hunter S. Thompson novel
Pirates of The Caribbean (where he based his character on Keith Richards)
Mortdecai
Benny and Joon
Benicio Del Toro
Tobey Maguire
Tobey was made up in a similar manner to Chris Elliott (who appeared in There’s Something About Mary and Groundhog Day)
Also starred in The Cider House Rules with Charlize Theron
Cameron Diaz
Christopher Meloni
Gary Busey also appeared in Rookie of The Year
Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Penn Jillette
Verne Troyer
Mark Harmon
Katherine Helmond (appeared in Who’s The Boss and Brazil)
David Brisbin (appeared in Hey Dude on Nickelodeon)
Christina Ricci
Raiders of the Lost Ark was originally rated PG
The Royal Tenenbaums was rated R (which we discussed in episode #6)
Powder (produced by Disney) was rated PG-13
The Journey of Natty Gann was rated PG (even though it featured dog fighting)
The Hangover was another drug-filled Las Vegas based movie
Vegas Vacation also featured some sketchy Las Vegas casinos
Adaptation was another movie based on a writer (Charlie Kaufman)
Music:
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again - Bob Dylan
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Hollyridge Strings (Originally by The Beatles)
Viva Las Vegas - The Dead Kennedys
One Toke Over The Line video from the Lawrence Welk Show. (Originally by Brewer & Shipley)
Justified (FX television series) was based on the short story Fire In The Hole by Elmore Leonard
The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas

Episode #8: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

In episode #7 we discuss Terrence Malick's first full-length film: Badlands. Kit, a captivating loner from "the wrong side of town" falls in love with Holly before beginning a murderous crime wave. Based on the real life story of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.
SHOWNOTES
Badlands - Criterion Collection
Directed by Terrence Malick who has several other films in the Criterion Collection including
Days of Heaven (1978)
The Thin Red Line (1998)
The New World (2005)
Malick’s The Tree of Life starring Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt is NOT in the Criterion Collection
Martin Sheen stars as Kit
Sissy Spacek stars as Holly
Sissy also starred in The Help (2011) along with Allison Janney who appeared as C.J. Cregg on The West Wing with Martin Sheen
Badlands was based on the real life story of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate
The movie Natural Born Killers also depicted the sensationalism surrounding a pair of serial killers
Kit (Martin Sheen) has a heavy resemblance to James Dean
The plastic trash bag was invented in 1950
Warren Oates played the role of Holly’s father
Warren also starred as Sergeant Hulka in Stripes with Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy
Another great example of a memorably narrated movie is The Shawshank Redemption
Martin Sheen dancing in Badlands sort of resembles The Bluths doing their best impressions of a chicken
The Badlands in Montana
Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood is another movie that follows two outlaws on the run from the authorities
Gassenhauer by Carl Orff was also used in Finding Forrester and Monster (starring Charlize Theron)
Kit and Holly dance in the dark to A Blossom Fell by Nat King Cole
The Sheen’s have a strong family resemblance
Martin Sheen was 32 during the filming of Badlands
Platoon featured Martin Sheen’s son Charlie Sheen aged 21
Apocalypse Now featured Martin Sheen aged 36
Martin Sheen’s other son Emilio Estevez starred in The Mighty Ducks at age 29 and The Breakfast Club at age 22

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