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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
Monday Jun 03, 2019
Monday Jun 03, 2019
SEASON TWO HAS LANDED! And there’s no better way to celebrate than with punk music and cult movies colliding in REPO MAN (1984)!
▶️(00:03:57) After a floundering punk kid turns into a Los Angeles repo man, he becomes one of many trying to track down a car worth a ton of cash, but also contains decomposing, radioactive extraterrestrials in the trunk. Starring Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton.
Discussions include: punk culture in cinema, importance of casting, cinemaphotography, the story’s genre-blending origin, combining familiar pulp tropes with a fresh plot, the film’s influence and finale and the odd authenticity coming from first-time film director, Alex Cox.
▶️(00:53:56) PICKS OF THE WEEK: Justin goes for his favorite Stanton film, PARIS, TEXAS (1984) — After missing for many years, a man with a troubled soul wanders out of the desert and now must reconnect with his family. Lindsay churns up even more emotions for DANCER IN THE DARK (2000) — When a daydreaming, single mom with a rapidly degenerative eye condition tries to help her son, a close friend steals her savings, which spirals into the worst situation fathomable.
Both films are connected to REPO MAN by way of cinemaphotographer, Robby Müller.
▶️(01:09:56) MURRAYMOMENT: Before Billy and Repo Man’s theme song punker, Iggy Pop, appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s THE DEAD DON’T DIE (which hits theaters June 14th), both iconic fellas appeared in Jarmusch’s film, COFFEE AND CIGARETTES (2003). Yup, we’re takin’ a trip back for another Billy bit role not to be missed!
▶️(01:17:14) FINAL THOUGHTS: REPO MAN’s on-set conflicts between Cox and Stanton, and a loving mention of LUCKY (2017), Stanton’s final performance before his death.
“It’s all part of a cosmic unconsciousness...People get so hung up on specifics they miss out on seeing the whole thing.”
▶️NEXT UP: BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999)!
Please rate us, review us, follow us, “like” our social media pages, drop us a line, let us know you’re listening! We appreciate all your support!
Monday May 06, 2019
Monday May 06, 2019
Resurrecting a blockbuster for a One-Year Anniversary Show is a no-brainer. It’s time to go in-depth into the cultural impact that was GHOSTBUSTERS (1984). Though it’s a film that barely needs an introduction, there’s still a lot to unpack in this sensational story created by long-time creative friends. Indeed, this is a Season One celebration of Don’t Push Pause, but also a deep dive into the GHOSTBUSTERS sci-fi, dark comedy world which grew into a worldwide phenomenon.
▶️ Justin and Lindsay reflect on a year of Don’t Push Pause, discuss why Picks of the Week stray from format, why the MurrayMoment will return in Episode 30 and a brief podcast gag reel of muff-ups over the past year.
▶️ (00:12:22) GHOSTBUSTERS:
Four men team up to battle an ever-expanding ghost problem taking over New York City, centering around a demonically-possessed woman and culminating in fight to stop an apocalypse.
▶️ Justin and Lindsay uncover the GHOSTBUSTERS’ origin story and the working-relationship timeline between director Ivan Reitman, writers/actors Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray. Why the Ghostbusters’ reality is so easily digestible and the significance of the film will be deconstructed, along with a special spotlight on Ernie Hudson’s role and his complicated feelings about the film. The strength of the supporting cast, including Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis and Annie Potts, will be discussed, as well as the giant marketing campaign and still very-active franchise and sequels. And don’t worry, countless fun facts about the film will be sprinkled all throughout.
▶️ (01:00:40) PICKS OF THE WEEK:
Lindsay goes for her favorite rainy day, action/adventure film, Robert Zemeckis’ ROMANCING THE STONE (1984). Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito star in this swashbuckling story about a woman who sets out to save her sister, then gets mixed up in hunting down a treasure with a charmingly gruff grifter in South America. Justin finally gets to confess his love for his favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme film, LIONHEART (1991). After his brother is murdered, a solider abandons his assignment to financially assist his widowed sister-in-law by entering a high-stakes, yet high-paying, underground society of hand-to-hand combat fighting.
▶️ (01:22:05) Final thoughts:
The special effects and artistry of GHOSTBUSTERS, along with personal reflections and a few more behind-the-scenes stories.
▶️ Thank you to everyone listening, subscribing, liking, following, all the things that keep this podcast flowing! Thank you to our Announcer-Mary Timmel, Musicman-Matt Pace, Artist-Beau Shoulders and Film Contributor-Justin Hayward, for all your assistance and support! We’re looking forward to Season 2, debuting on June 4th with REPO MAN!
▶️ Check out Don’t Push Pause’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for Justin and Lindsay hitting up GHOSTBUSTERS: IN CONCERT presented by the ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA on May 17th, 2019!
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Cheap laughs are a dime a dozen, but truly witty comedies are something to be cherished. A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988) is so well-layered that it is nearly unflappable. While doused with inappropriate humor, this black comedy has something for nearly everyone. Keep up with this one, and you may be surprised at how a “comedy crime caper” can pack such a big wallop.
▶️ (02:20) A British gangster and his trusty, yet dim friend conspire with a shady lady and her scheming partner to pull off a bank heist. After succeeding, but the leader is pinched by the cops, the plot turns into seducing a defense lawyer and killing the only witness to the robbery. After that, it’s every thief for themselves. Monty Python’s John Cleese and Michael Palin team up with Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline for this extreme and fast-paced comedy blended with perfectly-timed curveballs. We’ll discuss how the charming, all-star cast gels together, and go behind the scenes into the formation of this original story. We’ll also touch on the repeated comical use animal violence, American vs. British styles of humor and the film’s mild sex-comedy swing.
▶️ (40:36) PICKS OF THE WEEK: Lindsay sticks to the comedy realm with WANDA’s Kevin Kline starring in SOAPDISH (1991). Jam-packed with a who’s who of Hollywood, SOAPDISH follows the cast of a failing soap opera and how real-life drama bleeds into the storyline of the fictional TV show. Justin opts for another star-studded cast in GRANDVIEW, U.S.A. (1984). Set in a Midwestern small town, WANDA’S Jamie Lee Curtis is a gruff, demolition derby owner who has secret affairs with a teenager and a married man. While this coming-of-age movie drifts in and out of characters’ lives, it is an inspiring peak into the budding careers of future big-name actors.
▶️ (55:40) MURRAYMOMENT: Ever hear of the Beatles parody film, The Rutles: All You Need is Cash (1978)? WANDA’s Michael Palin, countless Saturday Night Live players and Bill “Murray the K” amp up this mockumentary which predates Spinal Tap by six years.
We know comedies are subjective. And in order for one to truly have a lasting effect on a mass audience, a comedy must stand the test of time. We dare say that A FISH CALLED WANDA has just that — a storyline so involved and delightful that it still has a spell-binding effect on audiences 30+ years later. You’ll surely never think of “fish and chips” the same way again.