106 - Coup de Torchon (1981)
Random Acts of Cinema
Bertrand Tavernier builds a lushly realized foundation around which to topple the poisonous heart of European colonialism. Whether our hapless police chief chooses deliberate inaction, working towards everyone’s best interests, or succumbing to his own selfish impulses, everything and everyone around him rots due to the fundamental moral corruption of racism. But, like, its a comedy. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d...
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679 - The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
Random Acts of Cinema
Edo Japan. A town swarming with warring yakuza. And one detached, unstoppable blind swordsman caught in the middle. And Tate. Don’t forget about Tate. The legend of Tate starts here. Kenji Misumi brings Zatoichi to the screen, with beautiful staging, and soapy twists and turns. Long-time guest Max joins us to put it all into a historical perspective and to make an exciting podcast announcement! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d...
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1115 - Adoption (1975)
Random Acts of Cinema
Hungarian director Marta Meszaros adds unprecedented depth, humanity, and a whole other meaning to the question asked in countless groan-worthy bumper stickers: “Who adopted who?” A lonely middle-aged widow is picked by a teenage girl from a nearby state-run home for children as a kindred spirit and unlikely ally. Identities like mother, daughter, friend, sister, confident, and advocate are intentionally and unintentionally tried on for size as both struggle against the constrictive demands of the well-meaning, but institutionally-bound men in their lives. Join the Random Acts of...
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1204 - Trainspotting (1996)
Random Acts of Cinema
Poverty. Betrayal. Heroin. Death. But, like in a really funny and clever sort of way that’s just a real pleasure to watch. Spend some time with some of your best Scottish friends! Director Danny Boyle fully inhabits, then redefines 90s cinema, in this groundbreaking international phenomenon. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing...
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912 - An Actor’s Revenge (1963)
Random Acts of Cinema
Kon Ichikawa sumptuous remake of an Edo-period revenge tale is magnified by lush camerawork, stirring performances, a jazzy soundtrack, and a fascinatingly unexpected exploration of gender, sexuality, and identity. The Kabuki actor Yukinojo performs and lives as a woman, breaks the hearts of all around him (men and women alike), and deftly schemes to enact vengeance on the men who destroyed her family. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and...
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22 - Summertime (1955)
Random Acts of Cinema
How Kate got her groove back… could be an alternate title to David Lean’s Katherine Hepburn-starring romance set in the canals of mid-century Venice. An aging single American lady, looking for a little bit of culture and beauty, discovers far more than just a bit of Murano glass in this visual stunner… By which I mean that she finds no-strings-attached sex with hot Italian dudes. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to...
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Friedkin Fill-in! - Jade (1995)
Random Acts of Cinema
Feast your ears on a special release of the Patreon-only hit podcast Are You Friedkin Kidding Me? where your intrepid hosts (plus Alexandra!) watch the films of William Friedkin. This episode…. The poster, wherein a lady is sitting upon the face of a gentleman, says it all. But you may as well also know that it features a thrillingly slow car chase through the city of San Francisco (which is kind of a character in this film, if you think about it.) Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at...
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Friedkin Fill-In! - The Guardian (1990)
Random Acts of Cinema
Feast your ears on a special release of the Patreon-only hit podcast Are You Friedkin Kidding Me? where your intrepid hosts (plus Alexandra!) watch the films of William Friedkin. This episode…. Well it’s only his timeless 1990s erotic/thriller/horror masterpiece The Guardian! You’ll never look at Los Angeles architecture the same way ever again! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for...
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1194 - Freaks (1932)
Random Acts of Cinema
Fresh off of his iconic career topping Dracula, director Tod Browning returns to his roots with a domestic drama/crime film cast almost entirely with side-show performers with little-to-no screen acting experience. The viewers are asked - and very much confronted with the question of - who are the REAL freaks? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing...
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887 - Lost In America (1985)
Random Acts of Cinema
Director/Writer/Star Albert Brooks reawakens an early shared film trauma of your two loyal hosts. Can this Uber-Boomer satire of drop-out idealists living in Reagan's America be salvaged? Might it even be... good? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932).
info_outlineSpecial guest Michael Patrick Jann brings us an almost-lost character study of a young woman lost in a world that doesn’t value her existence. Director/Writer/Star Barbara Loden crafts a little drama, a little crime, and all the grimey Pennsylvania you can handle. Understated and sublime; American independent cinema by a singular filmmaker who was way ahead of her time.
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If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Roy Ward Baker’s A Night to Remember (1958).