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Don’t Push Pause is a monthly podcast bringing you discussions on movies from the 70s, 80s and 90s. DPP consists of a main discussion on a featured film, followed up by our Picks of the Week, and closing with our signature (Bill) Murray Moment.
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
Imagine paying your dues in an unforgiving entertainment world for over 10 years, then becoming an international sensation almost overnight. That was Jim Carrey’s life in 1994. ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE garnered much attention for everyone involved, but this bizarre detective comedy was an extreme gamble with great deal of thought beneath the surface.
▶️Synopsis: When the mascot for the Miami Dolphins is kidnapped, a pet detective named Ace Ventura is hired to solve the crime. After immersing himself in the case & subsequent kidnapping of the team’s all-star quarterback, Ventura finds himself in a twisted tale of the revenge.
⏩⏩Discussions include: Origin & revisions of the ACE script; Carrey and director Tom Shadyac’s backstories, creative contributions & how the film affected their careers; use of framing & editing to meld together multiple styles of humor with a detective story; lowdown on the cast, reception of the film, cultural impact, deconstructing ACE’s controversial third act & a ton of behind-the-scenes moments.
**Starring Jim Carrey, Sean Young, Courteney Cox, Tone Loc. Directed by Tom Shadyac.**
▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**
—Lindsay’s Pick, THE MASK (1994): A sweet, all-around “nice guy” comes upon a mysterious mask which awakens the extreme version of himself. A live-action, vibrant comic book come to life!
**Starring Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Greene. Directed by Chuck Russell.**
—Justin’s Pick, DUMB AND DUMBER (1994): Idiotic best friends come across a suitcase of money, leading the duo on a cross-country adventure to find the beautiful woman who left the briefcase behind.
**Starring Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly. Directed by Peter Farrelly.**
▶️MURRAYMOMENT: A trip back to Billy being part of a guerrilla investigative journalism team called TVTV who went behind-the-scenes of 1976 Super Bowl X.
▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: ACE cinemaphotographer Julio Macat’s usage of a bonus camera on set & the impact of ACE’s vernacular.
▶️Next Up: ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)!
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name is synonymous with celebrated action movies. Before Paul Verhoeven’s TOTAL RECALL (1990) became a massive blockbuster, Schwarzenegger had to fight for it to become a reality. A film with a deeper-than-average plot, dedicated cast/crew and impressively imaginative special effects, TOTAL RECALL is still an extraordinary sci-fi spectacular.
▶️Synopsis: Set in 2084, an everyday man seeks out an adventure of a lifetime. But a botched virtual vacation to Mars makes him the key figure of a non-stop chase concerning a conflict between a rebellion and a corrupt government holding the planet hostage. You decide whether it’s a dream or reality.
⏩⏩Discussions include: TOTAL RECALL’s 10+ year development, initial procurement of the 1966 story, rewrites, influences & early pre-production; the search for the proper director & careful casting choices; placement in Schwarzenegger & Verhoeven’s careers, their personal influences on the production; prophetic, political and violent elements; the film’s visual aesthetic, including practical special effects, miniatures, models, use of light/colors, detailed sets/locations; marketing, critical/audience reception, awards & legacy of; behind the scenes tidbits, favorite scenes & what makes the film so darn enjoyable.
**Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox. Directed by Paul Verhoeven.**
▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**
—Lindsay’s Pick, SCANNERS (1981): A security company looking weaponize telekinetic powers dispatches their most powerful human experiment in order to stop a renegade and a rebellion. **Starring Stephen Lack, Jennifer O’Neill, Patrick McGoohan, Michael Ironside. Directed by David Cronenberg.**
—Justin’s Pick, KINDERGARTEN COP (1990): A brawny cop goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher to catch a dangerous criminal seeking out his ex-wife and estranged son. **Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt. Directed by Ivan Reitman.**
▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Remembering the time when (and why) Billy popped up in the otherworldly family comedy, nothin-but-net mega hit, SPACE JAM.
▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: TOTAL RECALL’s initial MPAA rating, inventive fight sequences, renaming Schwarzenegger’s character because of a political connection and Jerry Goldsmith’s score of the film.
▶️Coming Up: ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE (1994)!
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
In 1991, writer/director John Singleton provided a window into a world ignored by mainstream cinema with this groundbreaking film. Through prolific storytelling filled with heart, emotion and honesty, Singleton shed an eye-opening light upon the lives of those familiar to him. A big-budget film studio took a chance on a first-time filmmaker, which resulted in one of the most poignant films to come out the 1990s, BOYZ N THE HOOD.
▶️Synopsis: This coming-of-age story follows a young man sent to live with his father in South Central Los Angeles. With dominant gang culture and oppression being a part of every day life, staying above violence is either not a thought or an every day struggle, but impossible to ignore.
⏩⏩Discussions include: An overview of Singleton’s films and contributions; the development of BOYZ; studio involvement with Singleton’s steadfast vision; social commentary and richly thematic messages about life, self, family/friend dynamics; using interweaving tones throughout the film for realism; finding the perfect ensemble for a complex story, plus behind-the-scenes casting moments; reception and praise for the film, as well as discussing many of our favorite scenes. **Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne. Directed by John Singleton.**
▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**
—Lindsay’s Pick, HIGHER LEARNING (1995): This film weaves together the lives of three college freshmen as they struggle with their identities and are challenged by outside influences, both positive and negative. **Starring Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Ice Cube, Michael Rapaport. Directed by John Singleton.**
—Justin’s Pick, DEEP COVER (1992): A cop goes undercover to infiltrate a growing drug ring and finds himself conflicted after getting caught up in the industry. **Starring Laurence Fishburne, Jeff Goldblum, Charles Martin Smith. Directed by Bill Duke.**
▶️MURRAYMOMENT: A look back on when Billy took revenge on a heckler in the middle of a Second City stage show.
▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: Singleton not telling the cast of BOYZ about a planning shooting and the film’s original score mixed with contemporary music.
▶️ Next Up: TOTAL RECALL (1990)!