Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Martin Scorsese is back at the ripe old age of 80 to spin another one of his gangster tales. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon depicts the injustices suffered by the indigenous poeples of America through the lens of one family’s maniacal and murderous attempts to steal their rights to oil found on their land.

Cape Fear (1991)

Martin Scorsese, one of the most influential living directors, guides Robert DeNiro through a creepy performance. Even though these two are reliable artists of the silver screen, this movie is a miss. It’s a vaguely Hitchcockian movie with a whole list of “wtf?” moments. Who is this movie made for? Not sure. Who is A.Ron’s ‘Nick Nolte’ impression for? Everyone.

Amsterdam (2022)

“History repeats itself”, says another David O. Russell film pondering existential themes. When three old friends get wrapped up in a murder-mystery conspiracy, only their wits and friendship will get them out. Along the way they’ll turn ugly things into beautiful things and question the meaning of patriotism all while Christian Bale does his top tier Peter Falk/Columbo impression. This movie has a question for you, “Will you fight to protect kindness?”

And keep an eye out for our next First Run movies: Black Adam and Wakanda Forever!

Brazil (1985)

It’s not just a philosophy teacher’s fever dream. Brazil, directed and co-written by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, has a lot to say about technology, bureaucracy, and loss of individual freedom between scenes of intestinal air ducts and suits full of sewage. There’s stuff we did and didn’t like, but I think we can all appreciate seeing Jonathan Pryce in one of his few leading roles. Grab your annotated copy of 1984 and settle in for this light sci-fi, absurdist criticism of society.

Heat (1995) – 25th Anniversary Re-Release

Today is the 25th anniversary of an absolute classic crime drama, Heat. If we hadn’t already reviewed it we probably would take the opportunity to do so right now. However, thanks to the generosity of one of our most loyal listeners, Freddy C, you can hear what we thought of it circa Feb. 2018. Thanks again for the commission, Freddy, and everyone else, enjoy the re-release of Heat.

Casino (1995)

This might be the last time they let street guys like us handle any podcasts this valuable. We’ve had a good run of Scorsese films this year (Goodfellas, The Irishman, The Wolf of Wall Street) but there’s only so much gas is in the Scorsese tank. We canceled our Raging Bull 40th anniversary podcast because we just couldn’t fit it in. Jim’s pumping the breaks on reviewing any more gangster films in the near future. Are we running out of steam? Getting sloppy? I sure hope not because that’s when you make mistakes. That’s when you get whacked.

Join us for a little over an hour of discussion of Scorsese’s 1995 classic Las Vegas gangster film, Casino.

Bald Move Prestige - Heat (1995)

Special thanks to Freddy C, friend of the pod and one of the heroes from our recent Groundhog Day charity drive, who commissioned the epic 1995 crime thriller, Heat. Directed by Michael Mann and starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, among many, many other notable stars, it features some of the best looking and sounding action ever committed to film, not to mention an inspired mano a mano acting showdown between some of the greatest actors of their generation.

Bald Move Prestige - The Deer Hunter (1978)

Special thanks and shout out to Nikki P. for commissioning this podcast, on the 1978 Oscar winning film by director Michael Cimino, “The Deer Hunter”. Starring screen legends Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Christopher Walken, it is a tale about men coming of age, loss, heartbreak, and the horrors of war. In other words, this is not light watching. Jim and A.Ron take turns spinning the cylinder and pulling the trigger as we unpack our thoughts and feelings about the experience. Thanks again, Nikki! If you want to get in on the commission podcast action, why not stop by our shop and find out all about it?