066 Dersu Uzala

The famous Japanese director Akira Kurawasa released his only non-Japanese language film in 1975, Dersu Uzala, the true life tale of Siberia's version of Jedi Master Yoda. Matt and Mark invite Mark's better half Jean to share in our discussion of the quiet classic. Man v. Nature is always a straight forward theme, but here, we're treated to a nuanced interpersonal relationship between two characters that define the eternal struggle. With vistas of Far East Russia, Dersu is a beautiful snapshot of frontier life that's all but disappeared.

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065 American Psycho

Is Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman a metaphor for corporate America, male narcissism, or both? Matt and Mark try to sort it out when we review the darkly satiric American Psycho, released in 2000. Matt rants about the Reagan era, embodied by Patrick Batemen's empathy-free consumerist machismo, while Mark brings up the hypothetical and controversial view that the only problem with serial killers is their choice of victim. And last but not least, R.I.P. Roger Ebert, you will be missed.

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064 Wet Hot American Summer

Wet Hot American Summer is farcically neither. A film in a long line of farce comedies, Wet Hot has a lot to live up to. While Matt compares it to titans of the comedy sub-genre (Caddyshack, Strange Brew, Ron Burgandy, etc...) and finds much to criticize, including its lack of a comedic anchorman, no pun intended, Mark indulges and champions it's hit-or-miss weirdness. One of the few films where we disagree, it makes for a much lively discussion than your average junior high sycophantic scene rehashing.

Download: 064 Wet Hot American Summer

063 River's Edge

What if there was a murder and nobody cared? This week Matt and Mark enter the teenage nightmare of River's Edge, starring the always enigmatic Crispin Glover, along with Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye, and an ever-crazy Dennis Hooper. Based after a real life murder, River's Edge dares you to blame the film's psychological phenomena on the usual suspects (drugs, alcohol, societal breakdown, the media, etc...) but in providing no answers, it forces the viewer to ask deeper and more troubling questions about the human animal.

Download: 063 River's Edge 

062 Apocalypse Now

Time to make a friend of horror! This week Matt and Mark attempt to get at the heart of Francis Ford Coppola's Heart of Darkness adaptation, the Vietnam masterpiece Apocalypse Now, starring Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and a rotund Marlon Brando. Probing the dark corners of Kurtz's psyche, Matt and Mark dwell on the fundamental themes of A.Now, for better or worse, depending... A multi-themed film deserves its due, and perhaps long winded,  Matt and Mark attempt to give this monstrously important film its day in court.

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061 Pink Floyd The Wall

Forgoing the Pink Floyd fanboy trivia, Matt and Mark explore the quiet desperation of Bob Geldolf's Pink character in the The Wall. What happens when you write off your fellow man, embrace your cynical side, and dismiss one's need for meaningful personal relationships? Roger Waters explores this idea using music and evocative visuals in this cult "rock opera". If you could only take one music video to to the dark side of the moon, we highly recommend The Wall (take that Axl Rose and your November Rain!).

Download: 061 Pink Floyd The Wall

060 War Games

Shall we play a game? Galaga? or Donkey Kong... maybe Pac Man? In War Games, Matthew Broderick's character David (a fellow Snohomish High alum!) was pining for something more in home gaming, which leads him to the Pentagon's NORAD launch computer WOPR/Joshua. More of a tangential podcast than most, Matt and Mark cover many topics including extinction events, AIs, and Ally Sheedy's strange attraction for the John Lennon-esque professor Falken. War Games gave hope to thousands of shut-in hackers that it's theoretically possible to one day make out with a chick.

Download: 060 War Games