Stuff We’ve Seen

Teal Returns with Messiah of Evil and Targets

Teal is back from his time off, and he's brought with him two hidden gems: Messiah of Evil and Targets. Messiah of Evil is a 1973 horror film (released in 1974) by co-director's Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, the two writers behind American Graffiti. This low budget film features loads of creepy atmosphere, aided by some brilliant production design, courtesy of Jack Fisk. It's currently playing as part of the Criterion Channel's Synth Score series.

Second up is the debut film from director Peter Bogdanovich, Targets (1968). This film is part of the Criterion Collection, and while it isn't currently playing on their channel, it pops up on it from time-to-time. Jim and Teal caught up with this movie which is far more elevated than any movie Roger Corman produced has a right to be. Featuring an unnerving performance from Tim O'Kelly, and a great supporting role by horror legend Boris Karloff, Targets is an exercise in how to make a film great, even on a shoestring budget. 

Along the way, Jim and Teal discuss the merits of Longlegs, and Jim rants about a recent crop of big-budget stinkers he's had the displeasure of watching.

Lots to enjoy this week, so dig in!

Cat and Mouse: Jim and Bill Put Together the Criterion Neo Noir Puzzle

Jim and guest Bill play cat and mouse with the Criterion Channel's latest Neo Noir series. How do all the puzzle pieces fit? What are the connections between films? This assortment is an odd mix of neo noir films that, at times, have Jim struggling to find the connections between movies. Can Bill from Queens help Jim solve the mystery?

Schrader Canyon: To Hell and Back

When you reach Schrader Canyon, you know you are in dangerous film territory. In the third and final installment of Jim and Bill's look at Paul Schrader's filmography, they climb the shadowy depths of Schrader Canyon to unearth Exorcist Dominion, and the notorious Lindsay Lohan film, The Canyons.

But just when you thought Jim and Bill were stuck in the Schrader Canyon forever, they find a way out with a late career resurgence including First Reformed, The Card Counter, and The Master Gardener. 

With a little time left in the episode, Jim and Bill touch base on Criterion's latest Neo Noir offerings, and you won't want to miss the final four minutes of the episode, when in true Paul Schrader fashion, things go way off the rails.

It's an action packed episode, folks. Enjoy! If you dare.

The Comfort of Schrader: Jim and Bill Continue Into Paul Schrader Territory

Ah, the comfort of Schrader. Sooner or later, the more you watch, the more you fall under the spell of Paul Schrader, and the harder it will be for you to find a way out.

Jim and his guest, Bill from Queens, continue their expedition through the heart of Paul Schrader's filmography with looks at Mishima: a Life in Four Chapters, Light of Day, The Comfort of Strangers, and Light Sleeper. Plus, hear the tale of Jim and Bill's brief brush with Paul Schrader in person, back in their days at NYU.

Jim and Bill Enter the Schraderverse

Welcome to the Schraderverse: The Paul Schraderverse if you will. A man whose filmography is almost more a state of mind than an actual compendium of movies. 

 

Paul Schrader is a tough director to pin down, so to tackle the screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, Jim tapped his old pal, and longtime listener of the show, Bill From Queens to sit in. Bill is a Schrader fanatic, much more so than Jim, who has many problems with Schrader's directorial efforts. 

Will sparks fly? Well, let's not call Jim and Bill's episode contentious, but the pair is not afraid to mix it up.

In the first of at least two episodes on Paul Schrader (there is enough material for potentially 3 depending on how the editing goes) Jim and Bill duke it out over the merits of Schrader as they find themselves sucked into the Schraderverse.

And where's Teal at? Well, you'll just have to take a listen to find out. But warning in advance: you can't trust Jim whenever he tells you where Teal's hiding.

When Jim Met Teal: 35th Anniversary Special

It was nearly thirty five years ago that Jim met Teal in a diner in Greenwich Village, NYC in September of 1989. On this episode of Stuff We've Seen, you'll learn how the two film lovers met, and how they began their movie-watching journey together. That covers the second half of the episode.

But first, Jim runs through several movies he's seen lately, including I Saw the TV Glow, The Bikeriders, Origin, and Hundreds of Beavers. 

Lots of laughs in this episode, so strap on those earbuds and get listening!

Furiosa and The Hitman Begin Jim and Teal's Summer Movie Season

The summer movie season is upon us, but what a strange season it is so far. Film and after film has underperformed, and one movie's poor performance at the box office is surprising given the prestige of its predecessor. Of course, I'm talking about Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga. Apparently, movie audiences weren't up for a prequel installment to George Miller's near-universally praised Mad Max: Fury Road.

Jim and Teal are monster fans of Fury Road, so what do they think of Furisoa? Well, you'll have to listen to find out.

What else? Both Jim and Teal caught Richard Linklater's Netflix film offering, The Hitman, startting Glen Powell and Adria Arjona. This light and breezy comedy neo noir hit the right spot for enjoyment level, and gets a recommendation from Jim and Teal.

But that's not all. Jim watched Am I Ok? and Teal caught up with Lisa Frankenstein. And for added measure, Jim recommends a bit of an odd hidden gem, The Sweet East.

Lots of films on the docket for this hour of podcast funtainment. Enjoy!

From Skidoo to Lost Films: Christian Divine Speaks His Mind

Who is the world's foremost expert on Otto Preminger's 1968 film Skidoo? Who is the man who is devoted to physical media preservation, and has the YouTube Channel to prove it? Who is a BAFTA and Peabody award-winning game writer who brought Life is Strange to gamers everywhere?

 

This week, Jim and Teal chat with Christian Divine, a writer, journalist, and lover of films. His knowledge is vast, and he isn't shy about sharing his opinions, even if his insights might make you rethink some of your childhood favorite movies.

Love Lies Bleeding and Monkey Man: Teal has a Case of the Grumpies

This week Jim and Teal look at some films from 2024, including Dune 2, Love Lies Bleeding, Monkey Man., Riddle of Fire, and Arcadian. All are available for streaming or On-demand in one form or another. But just because you can stream them, should you? Have a listen and find out what Jim and Teal think.

Civil War and On the Silver Globe

This week Jim recommends the new A24 Alex Garland film, Civil War. And then things get a bit crazy with a discussion on Andrzej Zulawski's insane sci-fi epic, On the Silver Globe. One thing is for sure: it is one of the most mind-bending insane films Jim and Teal have ever seen. Never heard of it? Well, you wouldn't be alone. But for the lover of film bizarre, this may be the film you've been searching for.