Criterion On The Couch: Recent Episodes
Jim Masessa & Adam Uhrich
Listen along as two amateur film buffs make their way through the vast Criterion Collection one title at a time, all from the comfort of the couch.
Adam and Jim have finally tunneled out of their respective trash heaps to discuss the 2008 Pixar film Wall-E.
SHOWNOTES* Wall-E - Criterion * Directing
+ Andrew Stanton, (Writer / Director)
- A Bug's Life (1998)
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- Acting
- Ben Burtt - WALL·E / M-O
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Elissa Knight - EVE (Also Benn Burtt)
- Cars (2006)
- Up (2009)
- Inside Out (2015)
- Jeff Garlin - Captain
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 - 2021) (Larry David's Agent in the show)
- Arrested Development (2005-2013)
- Fred Willard - BNL CEO
- Best in Show (2000)
- Anchorman (2004)
- Kathy Najimy - Mary
- Sister Act (1992)
- Sister Act II (1993)
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- John Ratzenberger - John
- Cheers (1982-1993)
- Sigourney Weaver - Ship's Computer
- Alien (1979)
- Gorillas in The Mist (1988)
- Avatar (2009)
- Ben Burtt - WALL·E / M-O
-
Misc
- Team Deakins podcast
- Roger and James Deakins’ closet picks - Criterion Youtube channel
- Safety Last! (1923)
- Häxan (1922)
- Buster Keaton - The Art of the Gag - Every Frame a Painting
- Psych - High Noon-ish (Season 4 episode 3) - Buster Keaton gag
-
Taylor Kitsch movies:
-
John Carter (2012)
- Based on the book A Princess of Mars
- Battleship (2012)
- Apple MacInTalk
- Criterion On The Couch - episode #4 - Brazil
- Hello Dolly (1969)
- Heat (1995)
- 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968)
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Subspace Rhapsody (Season 2 episode 9) - Status Report
- Foundation (2021)- Apple TV
- Weta's "Massive" software
- A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again - David Foster Wallace
- The Tank Chair - by Brad Soden
- Based on the book A Princess of Mars
- Battleship (2012)
-
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
- Interview with Sound Designer Skip Lievsay
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)
-
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
- 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)
-
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
-
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
- Criterion On The Couch episode #005
- Casablanca (1942)
-
-
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.”
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 #019Acting
+ 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 AndersonMusic
+ 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
In episode #6 we discuss Wes Anderson's comedic drama The Royal Tenenbaums. With a star studded cast, this detailed world delves in the dysfunctional lives of the Tenenbaum family. Starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Danny Glover.
SHOWNOTES
The Royal Tenenbaums - Criterion Collection
The Apple Cube
Wes Anderson movies:
Bottle Rocket
Rushmore
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Darjeeling Limited
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Moonrise Kingdom
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Burn After Reading
The Wilson brothers
Owen Wilson
Luke Wilson
Andrew Wilson (who appeared in Whip It with Ellen Page)
Narrated by Alec Baldwin
30 Rock
A compilation of Wes Anderson slow motion shots
Eric Chase Anderson (brother of Wes Anderson)
Some of Eric Anderson’s drawings
Property Masters
Wes Anderson miniatures
Bill Murray plays Margo’s husband
Stars as Bob Harris in Lost in Translation
Stars as Peter Venkman in Ghosbusters
Anjelica Huston plays Etheline Tenenbaum
Danny Glover plays Henry Sherman, Etheline’s love interest
Futura Bold is the font of choice in this movie.
Also used exclusively by Field Notes
Helvetica Documentary
The Warriors
Music from The Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack
Hey Jude - The Mutato Muzika Orchestra
111 Archer Avenue - Mark Mothersbaugh (Royal Tenenbaum Theme)
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon
Christmas Time is Here - The Vince Guaraldi Trio
These Days - Nico (Not to be confused with Neko Case)
Judy is a Punk - The Ramones
Gymnoépdie No. 1 by Éric Satie
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones
Baz Luhrmann also has very stylized films
Romeo + Juliet
Moulin Rouge!
The Great Gatsby
FilmStruck - One of the easiest ways to stream Criterion movies online
In episode #5 we discuss one of Alfred Hitchcock's first major films: The Man Who Knew Too Much. On vacation in Switzerland, Bob and Jill Lawrence get caught up in a secretive world of spies and assassins. With time running out, they must follow a cold trail to save their daughter and prevent a world war. Starring Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre.
SHOWNOTES
The Man Who Knew Too Much - Criterion Collection
Alfred Hitchcock
Gaumont-British Picture Corporation
The 39 Steps
The Lady Vanishes
The character’s name is Bob Lawrence, not Bill
Peter Lorre
Foley Effects
The Free Irish State
Chekhov’s Gun (not to be confused with Pavel Chekhov)
The Jazz Singer (first film with sound, a talkie)
Gallows Humor
National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration commercial
Glasses without earpieces are known as Pince-nez glasses
Casablanca
M (criterion collection)
Hey Abbott
Remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much (starring Jimmy Stewart)
Star Wars
THX 1138 starring Robert Duvall
Wipe Transition intentionally used in Star Wars and Raiders of The Lost Ark
Royal Albert Hall
Leverage (S03E04) - The Scheherazade Job
Scheherazade by Korsakov
Rear Window and Psycho are not Criterion Collection
Classic Hitchcock Criterion box set: The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps, and Foreign Correspondent
The Woody Allen movie Shadows and Fog (starring John Cusack)
Also stars the Julie Kavner who does Marge Simpson’s voice (and who is Not in Sleepless in Seattle)
In episode #4 we discuss the comedic dystopia "Brazil" from director Terry Gilliam. Sam Lowry, an average employee at the Ministry of Information, gets caught up in a quest to solve a bureaucratic mistake while simultaneously searching for the literal woman of his dreams. Starring Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro and Kim Greist.
SHOWNOTES
Brazil - Criterion Collection
Terry Gilliam directed Brazil (as well as Twelve Monkeys starring Bruce Willis)
Back to The Future Part I (directed by Robert Zemeckis) did not show a dystopian future
Back to The Future Part II did show a dystopian future
The Ministry of Information in Brazil should not be confused with the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter
Monty Python - Dead Parrot sketch
Gilliam has referred to Brazil, Time Bandits, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen as his Imagination Trilogy
Blade Runner (starring Harrison Ford) was based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The Hudsucker Proxy - starring Paul Newman, Tim Robbins and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Sucker Punch - starring Emily Browning also featured a battle with a giant samurai
Clue starring Tim Curry (which was also released in 1985) featured a young Jane Wiedlin as a singing telegram girl
Chris Tucker’s character (Ruby Rhod) in The Fifth Element (which also starred Iam Holm and Bruce Willis and was directed by Luc Besson) had a similar outfit as Katherine Helmond (Mrs. Ida Lowry) in Brazil.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. wrote Cat’s Cradle, another ironic look at a dystopian future
George Orwell’s 1984 popularized the phrase Big Brother in reference to surveillance
The Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence made dystopian futures popular again
While Jonathan Pryce (Sam Lowry) is known for his work in the Pirate’s of The Caribbean and Game of Thrones series, his most memorable role (per Adam) was as media mogul Elliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies
In order, the Pierce Brosnan / James Bond movies were:
1995 - GoldenEye (which also became a classic Nintendo 64 game) featuring Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp
1997 - Tomorrow Never Dies featuring Michelle Yeoh as Wai Lin
1999 - The World is Not Enough featuring Denise Richards as Christmas Jones
2002 - Die Another Die featuring Halle Berry as Jinx Johnson
Terry Gilliam screened the entirety of Brazil for a film class at the University of Southern California
Robert De Niro played Harry Tuttle the “Heating Engineer”
Martin Lawrence and Will Smith starred in Bad Boys
Michael Palin (Jack) was a regular in Monty Python
Other regulars from Monty Python such as John Cleese, Terry Jones and the late Graham Chapman (who died in 1989) were not in Brazil
Peter Vaughan (Mr. Helpman) also played Uncle Alfie in Death at A Funeral and Master Aemon in Game of Thrones
American Psycho featured Christian Bale as lovable serial killer Patrick Bateman
The weird monsters in Sam’s dreams looked like skeksis from Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal
The scene where Sam unmasks the samurai seemed similar to the unmasking of Darth Vader in the swamp in Empire Strikes Back
Ian Holm (Mr. Kurtzmann) is well known for his roles as Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of The Ringsand Sir William Gull in From Hell
The music in Brazil was scored by Michael Kamen who also scored the Lethal Weapon movies (with Eric Clapton) as well as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (which featured the song Everything I Do, I Do It for You by Bryan Adams
The mythology of Oedipus
The mythology of Icarus
Sam Lowry’s face looked suspiciously similar to Ziggy Stardust
In episode #3 we discuss the romantic dark comedy drama "Harold and Maude." A young man, fascinated with death, meets a venerable woman who teaches him what life is really about. Starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort.
SHOWNOTES
- While this movie (and episode) deals with the topic of suicide in a humorous manner, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicide please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255
- Harold and Maude - Criterion Collection
- Not to be confused with Maude starring Bea Arthur
- Cat Stevens composed and performed the soundtrack including the two hits If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out and Miles from Nowhere
- The 4 non-Cat Stevens songs:
- Greensleeves (Author unknown)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 - Tchaikovsky
- An der Schönen, Blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314 - Johann Strauss II
- Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves) - Juventino Rosas
- Velveeta cheese commercial - Velveeta Melts Better Than Cheddar
- The Jaguar driven by Harold was a 1965 Jaguar XK-E; the hearse was a 1959 Cadillac Superior 3-way
- Jay Leno’s incredible car collection
- Nathan Hale was the first American Spy to be captured and executed
- A&E’s Turn: Washington's Spies is a war drama NOT a documentary
- We can all agree that black licorice is disgusting
- The police officer was played by Tom Skerritt who also starred as Viper in Top Gun
- Bud Cort (Harold) appeared as Pvt. Lorenzo Boone in the movie MASH
- Suicide Is Painless (written by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman) was the theme to both the movie and TV series MAS*H
- The Omen was NOT a prequel to Harold and Maude (however writer Colin Higgins did imagine a prequel called Grover and Maude)
- Music and Films:
- Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead scored the music for There Will Be Blood and The Master
- Trent Reznor collaborated with fellow NIN member Atticus Ross for the soundtracks of The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(2011), and Gone Girl
- Sondre Lerche composed the majority of the music for Dan in Real Life(starring Steve Carell)
- Carly Simon is credited with the soundtrack to Working Girl (starring Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Melanie Griffith, and Joan Cusack) including the theme song “Let the River Run”
- John Williams composed and conducted the music for Raiders of the Lost Ark
- The soundtrack to Real Genius (starring Val Kilmer) featured multiple artists including Don Henley, Bryan Adams, and Tears for Fears
- Arthur B. Rubinstein scored the music for WarGames starring Matthew Broderick
- Melancholia (written and directed by Lars von Trier) heavily features the prelude to Tristan und Isolde by German composer Richard Wagner
- Mychael Danna and the band DeVotchKa wrote the score for Little Miss Sunshine, however the soundtrack also featured the songs No Man’s Land and Chicago by Sufjan Stevens (who is NOT related to Cat Stevens)
- Butterflies Are Free starring Goldie Hawn is another fantastic 1970s dramedy
In episode #2 we discuss Lawrence Kasdan's classic "The Big Chill." The death of one of their own reunites seven former college friends for a weekend of memories, music, sorrow and love. Starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt and Kevin Kline.
SHOWNOTES
The Big Chill - Criterion Collection
The Big Chill - Soundtrack on vinyl
More Songs from The Big Chill on vinyl
Joy to The World by Three Dog Night
Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
America by Simon & Garfunkel
Saginaw, Michigan (NOT an island)
I Heard it Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
Life As A House - starring Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen
You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones
Simpsons episode #132 “Bart Sells his Soul” where Bart tricks the church organist into playing In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
When A Man Loves A Woman by Percy Sledge
Jeff Goldblum starred in both The Fly and Jurassic Park (sans glasses)
Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio
Rutledge Fellowship at the University of Michigan
The Raiders March - theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark
Death at a Funeral - starring Matthew Macfadyen
Lawless Heart - starring Bill Nighy
This is Where I Leave You - starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey
Almost Famous - starring Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson
Dreyer’s Ice Cream is REAL!
High Waisted Men’s Pants by Historical Emporium
In our inaugural episode we discuss Sidney Lumet's classic drama 12 Angry Men where high stakes lead to high tensions and a sole dissenter fights to save an accused man.
SHOWNOTES
12 Angry Men - The Criterion Collection
12 Angry Men - 1997 Remake starring Jack Lemmon.
Juror 8 - Henry Fonda
Juror 5 - Jack Klugman starred in both The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E.
Juror 7 - Jack Warden starred in The Replacements
12 Angry Men was originally broadcast as a Teleplay in 1954
Nine ways to get out of Jury Duty - Business Insider
The first modern electrical air conditioner was invented in 1902 but did not become common in U.S. homes until the 1960s
A brief history of capital punishment in New York City
Juror 3 - Lee J. Cobb
Juror 9 - Joseph Sweeney
The Greatest Generation refers to those who grew up during the Great Depression and fought and served during WWII and the war effort
The style of speech used by actors in older movies is called the Mid-Atlantic or Transatlantic accent
Transformers - directed by Michael Bay
Taxi Driver and The Departed - directed by Martin Scorsese
If a juror becomes incapacitated during a trial, an alternate juror will take his/her place on the jury
Runaway Jury - starring John Cusack
Jury Duty - starring Pauly Shore
Juror 6 - Edward Binns
Juror 1 (The Foreman) - Martin Balsam
Jim’s poor decision to wear a tie with a polo shirt
Giant brand bakery cookies, the unofficial cookie of Criterion On The Couch
Juror 12 - Robert Webber
Mad Men - starring Jon Hamm
In 1957 the Civil Rights Act gave women the right to serve on federal juries, but they were not able to serve on state level juries in all fifty states until 1973
Juror 11 - George Voskovec
The Marvel Symphonic Universe by Every Frame a Painting
Juror 2 - John Fiedler
Sidney Lumet IMDB page