'West Side Story' (1961/2021) (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
In a harmonious double feature, Close Watch continues venturing through the world of movie musicals with an in-depth breakdown of both the 1961 classic West Side Story and Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake. Does the Oscar-winning original still hold up, and was its update worth the creative risk? of joins us in this melodic journey through two versions of Maria and Tony's love story. We'll explore the rich history of the original film and how it laid the foundation for modern musicals. Then, we'll dive into the reimagined 2021 adaptation and how it measures up. These two films have...
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'An American in Paris' (feat. Philip Boone of Ultimate Gilmore Girls Movie Night)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Every episode, Close Watch gives us the chance to get to know our guest through the movie they love. But more recently, the show has sharpened its focus on the wide world of movie musicals. And after the man-eating plant of and the cultural celebration of , musical icon Gene Kelly has officially entered the chat. of the podcast joins us to discuss 1951's An American in Paris. We'll discuss where it fits into Kelly's filmography, how it compares to fellow classics Singin' in the Rain and On the Town, and why -- despite winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture -- An American...
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'In the Heights' (feat. The Lady-Wan from Screen Run)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Way back in 2020, a few hardcore Hamilfans -- including this episode's guest -- united for the to talk up the Disney+ release of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical Hamilton. Now, at last, loyal listeners get the long-awaited spiritual sequel to that discussion. On this episode, Close Watch continues its year-long analysis of movie musicals as of joins us to talk 2021's In the Heights. Based on Miranda's other Tony-winning musical, the film follows a group of largely Latinx characters in New York's Washington Heights. We'll discuss why In the Heights underperformed at the box...
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'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) (feat. film critic Morgan Roberts)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
It's 2023, and Close Watch has a song in its heart this year. For the next year, we're dedicating this podcast to movie musicals. Every month, the show will feature at least one episode in which Rob and a guest go in-depth on a beloved movie musical. And what better way to celebrate one of cinema's most beloved genres than with a man-eating plant from outer space?! Film critic joins the show to discuss 1986's Little Shop of Horrors starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin. We'll discuss the elite group of movie musicals the Frank Oz-directed film belongs to, the staggering...
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'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' (feat. Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Podcast)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
After , "Weird Al" Yankovic fans faced a wait of more than three decades for another movie featuring the musical icon. And finally, along comes Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Starring Daniel Radcliffe as "The Weird One" himself, the movie pokes fun at Yankovic's life and career as well as the very notion that someone would make a biopic about him. of the joins us to discuss 2022's Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (). We'll cover whether The Roku Channel original movie met our expectations, how it connects back to the criminally under-seen 1985 mockumentary The Compleat Al, and what we want...
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'Bandits' (feat. The Famous Ashley Grant)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Cate Blanchett might be poised to win a third Academy Award for her performance in Tár. But more than two decades ago, the actor -- who was already well on her way to becoming one of the best actors of her generation -- co-starred with Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton in an under-seen crime comedy-drama. And unsurprisingly, she steals the film. joins us to discuss 2001's Bandits from director Barry Levinson. We'll talk about Blanchett's mesmerizing turn as the hostage who comes in between two bank robbers (Willis, Thornton), how the movie's treatment of romance is so progressive, and...
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'Cloud Atlas' (feat. Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Some movies are too big to cover in a single conversation. Cloud Atlas -- the 2012 epic directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer -- is definitely such a movie. So to celebrate the film's tenth anniversary, we invited of the Sonic Cinema Podcast to help us dig into the movie and its ensemble cast, which includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, and Jim Broadbent. In this first half of a massive two-part crossover event, Brian joins us to discuss the audacious production that was Cloud Atlas, its controversial casting choices, its six interwoven stories, and its grand themes. Plus, the thrilling...
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'Willow' (feat. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Unless superheroes, hobbits, or boy wizards are involved, fantasy films are all too rare these days. But in the 1980s, the genre was thriving on the big screen. Filmmakers coupled state-of-the-art visual effects with puppetry, make-up, and good ol' movie magic to create worlds fans could previously only imagine. Director Ron Howard's 1988 film Willow is one such film. Featuring a story by George Lucas, Willow was the filmmaker's blatant attempt to tell a story like The Lord of the Rings. And with the new Disney+ sequel series right around the corner, of the YouTube channel joins the show...
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'Willow' (feat. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Unless superheroes, hobbits, or boy wizards are involved, fantasy films are all too rare these days. But in the 1980s, the genre was thriving on the big screen. Filmmakers coupled state-of-the-art visual effects with puppetry, make-up, and good ol' movie magic to create worlds fans could previously only imagine. Director Ron Howard's 1988 film Willow is one such film. Featuring a story by George Lucas, Willow was the filmmaker's blatant attempt to tell a story like The Lord of the Rings. And with the new Disney+ sequel series right around the corner, of the YouTube channel joins the show...
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'Willow' (feat. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk)
Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.
Unless superheroes, hobbits, or boy wizards are involved, fantasy films are all too rare these days. But in the 1980s, the genre was thriving on the big screen. Filmmakers coupled state-of-the-art visual effects with puppetry, make-up, and good ol' movie magic to create worlds fans could previously only imagine. Director Ron Howard's 1988 film Willow is one such film. Featuring a story by George Lucas, Willow was the filmmaker's blatant attempt to tell a story like The Lord of the Rings. And with the new Disney+ sequel series right around the corner, of the YouTube channel joins the show...
info_outlineLet's travel back to the late 1990s. Think of a sci-fi thriller that expertly wraps big ideas like the nature of reality, identity and human nature into a hyper-stylized environment heavily influenced by film noir. Now set aside your love for The Matrix because this episode we're talking all about Dark City.
The 1998 film from director Alex Proyas (The Crow, I, Robot) — which shares some aesthetic and, in fact, production elements with the Wachowskis' release — may have been a box office underperformer, but in the years since its theatrical run, the film has emerged as a critical darling and achieved cult classic status.
So who better to talk about a bonafide cult film than one of the hosts of CF3: Cult Fans, Films & Finds. Jeff Johnson joins the show to delve into what makes Dark City such a compelling film to watch and re-watch, speculate about why it failed to connect with audiences and unravel the mystery behind Proyas' intricate storytelling.
Tag along as we break down the film Roger Ebert called "a great visionary achievement." Sleep later. Listen now.
SYNOPSIS (courtesy of Warner Bros.)
Separated from his wife Emma, amnesiac John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens alone in a strange hotel to learn he is wanted for a series of brutal killings.
They built the city to see what makes us tick. Last night one of us went off. What if you woke one morning to realize that every memory, every emotion, every fact you believed true about your life had been manufactured by someone else and placed in your mind?
In this fascinating and provocative science fiction tale, John Murdoch—wanted for a series of brutal murders—realizes that everything he believes about himself is a lie. Murdoch's bittersweet childhood, his love for his estranged wife (Jennifer Connelly) and the hideous series of murders are the creation of a group of shadowy creatures known only as "The Strangers," who manipulate minds for their own ends.
Alone, with his newfound awareness, Murdoch begins to fight back. William Hurt is the evil Detective hunting him down, and Kiefer Sutherland is the doctor helping him stay one step ahead of his adversaries.
SHOW NOTES
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