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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 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.
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Forty years ago, a terrifying and highly-praised science-fiction/horror story was birthed into America cinema. Not only did Ridley Scott’s ALIEN (1979) forever transform the science-fiction genre of the 50s, 60s and Star Wars era, it preyed on easily relatable human fears. The film’s perfect balance of blended-genre storytelling, stunning visuals and brilliantly deliberate pacing, ALIEN holds strong as one of the most masterfully-crafted films of the 20th century.
▶️ (04:00) Deep in space, the small crew of the spacecraft Nostromo find themselves facing a foreign, deadly and ever-growing monster of epic proportions. ALIEN’s tension-building guides the audience into feeling like a crew member. Through isolation, desperation and the feeling of ultimate fear, there is a reason ALIEN still grips a wide audience 40 years after its initial release. We’ll go behind-the scenes into the backstory and origin of the film, the immaculate production design, visionary director Ridley Scott and the outstandingly strong cast, the movie’s heroine and the “Mother Theory,” as well as touch on the entire ALIEN franchise.
▶️ (37:17) Picks of the Week: Both Justin and Lindsay chose Picks with Nostromo crew members who almost made it out alive. Justin explores Paul Schrader’s bold directorial debut with Yaphet Kotto co-starring in BLUE COLLAR (1978), alongside Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel. Overworked and underpaid, three men blackmail the shady union for which they work after finding evidence of organized crime. Veronica Cartwright co-stars in Lindsay’s Pick, Lillian Hellman’s THE CHILDREN’S HOUR (1961), along with Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn. Cartwright plays a key figure in perpetuating a lie about two schoolteachers accused of being lesbians.
▶️ (51:44) Scene Breakdown: Filmmaker Justin Hayward gives his thoughts on telephoto vs. wide-angle camera lens shots. Hayward dives into reasons why some directors use one over the other, thus going into Ridley Scott’s telephoto lens usage in ALIEN.
▶️ (58:26) MurrayMoment: The same year as ALIEN’s release, Billy took center stage in a somewhat distasteful Saturday Night Live sketch about cancer, featuring Bea Arthur and Gilda Radner. Will you be just as offended as a 1979 American audience once was?
▶️ (01:07:34) Final thoughts: Lindsay explains the meaning behind the spacecraft’s name in ALIEN, Nostromo, while Justin confirms what is his most-lasting image from the film.
Whether you’re familiar with ALIEN or not, we strongly urge you to revisit this marvelously beautiful, yet horrific piece of well-celebrated movie history. To have made it 40 years and still be referenced, rebooted, copied and even parodied, the impression the film has left is undeniable. In space, no one can hear you scream... but you’ll be safe listening to this episode... maybe.