Stuff We’ve Seen

The Trial of Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza - Fun-loving, 1970's set coming-of-age romantic comedy, or dark look at an older woman's inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old boy set against the backdrop of gropey film producers and racist restaurant owners? 

Who knew Paul Thomas Anderson's trip down nostalgia lane was going to be so controversial? James Kent, The Movie Morlock, and his frequent cohort, Shannon tackle the controversies with two different takes on the movie. 

For the Morlock, this discussion was definitely a highlight, because it is a conversation that dives beneath the surface level of a movie that sometimes gets relegated to nothing more than social media scuttle, and certain films deserve a deeper dive.

 

Also on this episode a brief discussion of The Lost Daughter and Power of the Dog.

 

West Side Story, House of Gucci, and Inherent Vice

Just in time for the holidays the Morlock is back with three films he checked out in the theater. First up is Lady Gaga in House of Gucci. Is Ridley Scott back with his new movie, or is it more of his style-less fare? Next up is Steven Spielberg's semi-reimagining of the musical classic, West Side Story. It's not doing well in theaters, but that doesn't mean the Morlock wasn't impressed. And finally the Movie Morlock took in a rare 70mm screening of Paul Thomas Anderson's, Inherent Vice. Seeing a 70mm print of this particular film was a long goal of the Morlock's and he's excited to tell you all about it.

 

Get Back and Licorice Pizza

It was an action-packed Thanksgiving weekend of entertainment for The Movie Morlock. He devoured all eight hours of The Beatles: Get Back on Disney plus, and he took a whirlwind same-day round-trip to NYC to catch Licorice Pizza in 70mm. 

Enjoy this episode and make sure to catch these two delights when you can.

Last Night in Soho

Director Edgar Wright offers up a tantalizing psychological thriller that's loads of fun. Last Night in Soho is the film, and the Movie Morlock and his guest, Shannon from whatshannonwatched were keen to dissect the movie.

 

Last Night in Soho. is filled with eye-popping visuals and clever call-backs to various British films of the 60s, and it's wide-screen cinematography is best appreciated on the big screen. It's still out in theaters, and Shannon and the Morlock hope you can venture out to see it.

 

This podcast discussion contains mild spoilers, but it's been edited down to omit any large plot reveals. 

The Jake Gyllenbrawl

Two men enter: one man leaves victorious. The Movie Morlock and his special guest, a self-professed world's greatest Jake Gyllenhaal fan, duke it out over who's seen the most of Jake's 39 feature films.

This episode is loads of laughs, and if you are looking for some Jake Gyllenhaal films to see, this episode's got you covered.

The Platform: Calling all Squid Game Fans: More Social SciFi Horror for You!

Like the Squid Game? Want more dystopian futuristic societal experimentation run amok? Then try this 2019 offering from Spain, The Platform. This isn't a game, but competition for survival is fierce, and if you get out with your life you may just win yourself higher education credits.

The Movie Morlock is joined by Al Fraser, one of the co-founders of The Cambria Film Festival to discuss this thought-provoking movie that may be hard to stomach, but if you have an appetite for it, the movie may reward you.

 

The Platform is available to stream on Netflix.

The Wicker Man and Other Folk Horror Fun

Shannon, from Whatshannonwatched on Instagram, is back to discuss one of her favorite films. Shannon and James (The Movie Morlock) dive into director Ron Hardy's 1973 Folk Horror classic, The Wicker Man.

Along the way there is some discussion about John Carpenter and his finest creation, Michael Myers. James saw Halloween Kills, and has a few surprisingly nice words for the new sequel.

No Time to Die

James Bond is back after many years, and some pandemic delays. Worth the wait? The Movie Morlock shares his thoughts on Daniel Craig's final outing as 007.

Also, it's October so that means horror movies. And the Morlock watched a notorious stinker that he was always curious about. Hear the Morlock's thoughts on the legendary Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Many Saints of Newark

This week the Morlock checks in with the Soprano's prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, plus Jake Gyllenhaal is the angriest 911 operator you hope to never get in case of an emergency in The Guilty.

The Morlock also peeps a British teen exploitation film from 1960, Beat Girl, and then finishes things off with a series he's currently binging, the Netflix international sensation, Squid Game. 

There's a lot of entertainment packed in 40 minutes.

Craig Wasson is The Outsider

Actor/Musician/Voice Over Artist Craig Wasson joins James Kent (The Movie Morlock) to discuss the 1979 film, The Outsider. This little-seen gem is a stark depiction of the political turmoil in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the early 1970s. Filmed while the conflict was still in full-force, both sides took issues with the film's unsparring portrayal of the lengths factions will go to see their goals met. Caught in the middle is Wasson's idealistic American Viet-Nam veteran who finds himself a disposal pawn to further each's cause.

Wasson gives listeners an inside peak into the making of this film, and shares some additional tales of his adventures over the years.

You'll definitely want to check out this episode.