Shows
Movie Deputy REVIEWSDespicable Me 2 (2013)Gru is back, so is everyone else. There are some new faces and other entertain features. If you're a fan of the minions, you'll leave smiling.
Orignal Review:
We find Gru no longer the villain but a father and has been acclimating to his new family life for a while. But as we know in life things change. He’s approached by the AVL (The Anti-Villain League) to help find a villain who has stolen a top-secret formula that turns any living thing into a monster of sorts. Along with the minions, He sets off wit...
2025-01-2306 min
The Clueless CriticWriting a Good Paragraph (1963) Coronet Instructional FilmsWe gonna lay some love on this 1963 Coronet Instructional Films, "Writing a Good Paragraph"
Do you want to learn how to arrange your paragraphs logically according to time, space or contrast? Get in on this Riley pick in a special short (possibly final?) episode of The Clueless Critic.
2024-08-1514 minThe Clueless CriticWreck-It Ralph (2012) Rich MooreWreck-It Ralph is a 2012 American animated comedy film directed by Rich Moore. The film features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and the amazing Jane Lynch. Hear our take on why the solid story and brilliant characters push this film from a beautiful landscape into a filmmaking masterpiece. And wow oh wow do we love King Candy!
2024-07-1124 minThe Clueless CriticThe Devil At Your Heels (1981) Robert FortierThe Devil at Your Heels is a 1981 documentary about the attempt of stunt driver Ken Carter to jump a rocket-powered car one mile over the Saint Lawrence River into a gentle nest of rose bushes. An Australian comedy show gave it a little boost of recognition when they aired it in 1993 and young Raph was on the scene to catch that consequential viewing. Enjoy this Marsonet pick on this installment of The Clueless Critic.
2024-03-3030 minThe Clueless CriticDirty Ho (1979) Lau Kar-leungDirty Ho is a 1979 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu and Wong Yue. Prince Master Wang loves himself some wine and jewels. But when Wang takes a trip to the floating brothel he crosses paths with the a troublesome jewel thief, Dirty Ho, and things start getting a little kung-fu crazy. Come get a little dirty with us and listen to this episode of The Clueless Critic and get to know some Dirty Ho.
2024-02-2330 minThe Clueless CriticTargets (1968) Peter BogdanovichTargets is a 1968 thriller directed by Peter Bogdanovich in his (almost) theatrical directorial debut, and starring Tim O'Kelly, Boris Karloff, Nancy Hsueh, Bogdanovich, James Brown, Arthur Peterson and Sandy Baron. The film depicts Bobby Thompson, a young man who goes off on an unexpected killing spree. Coming on the heels of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in the summer of 1968, the film mostly failed at the box office. Come see why it's worth a watch now more than ever in this Marsonet pick on The Clueless Critic.
2024-01-3034 minThe Clueless CriticSome Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994) George HickenlooperSome Folks Call It a Sling Blade is a 1993/1994 short film (29 minutes) written by Billy Bob Thornton and directed by George Hickenlooper. It stars Thornton, Molly Ringwald, Brent Williams and J. T. Walsh. It was later adapted into the 1996 feature film Sling Blade, also starring Thornton, which won Thornton the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Thornton plays Karl Childers, an intellectually disabled man who has been in a mental hospital for the past 25 years for a grisly incident. Karl Childers is parodied by Eric Cartman in...
2023-10-0928 minThe Clueless CriticFunny Pages (2022) Owen KlineFunny Pages is a quirky offbeat off-kilter cringy black comedy film written, directed, and edited by Owen Kline. Why did we love this film and what's it got to to with Spike of Bensonhurst, The King of Comedy, and The Lobster? Grab a wooden stool and pop a squat by your wireless as we launch into this A24 gem shot on 16mm (Riley pick)
2023-08-2747 minThe Clueless CriticPicnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Peter WeirPicnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian mystery/horror/arthouse film directed by the man who did The Truman Show, Peter Weir. It was adapted from the 1967 novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay. The plot involves the perplexing disappearance of 3 college girls during a picnic at Hanging Rock. Picnic at Hanging Rock drew international attention to the Australian New Wave of cinema. Australia! It's not just Crocodile Dundee and boomerangs after all!
Come get your Aussie on and have a listen to our episode "Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Peter Weir"
2023-06-0645 minThe Clueless CriticOmar (2013) Hany Abu-AssadOmar is a 2013 Palestinian drama film directed by Hany Abu-Assad. It was screened at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize. Omar is a Palestinian baker who frequently scales a 35 foot wall on the West Bank barrier to visit his girlfriend, Nadia, a girl he hopes to marry. Omar and his childhood friends, Tarek and Amjad, have been preparing for attacks on soldiers. The pace of this movie picks up quickly and never lets up and ends in one of the most perfect moments to ever be captured on film. Listen to why we think H...
2023-02-1244 minThe Clueless CriticMoonlighting (1982) Jerzy SkolimowskiThis episode we take a look at the 1982 British drama film written and directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. It is set at the time of the Solidarity protests in Poland. It stars Jeremy Irons as Nowak, a Polish builder leading a team renovating a house illegally in London. It won the best Screenplay at Cannes and it was Gene Siskel's favorite movie of 1982. It is also currently scoring a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But who cares what those numbskulls have to say about it. Have a listen and get our take on Moonlighting right here and now on The Clueless Cri...
2023-02-0946 minThe Clueless CriticLost Horizon (1937) Frank CapraLost Horizon is a 1937 American adventure drama fantasy film directed by Frank Capra. The screenplay by Robert Riskin is based on the 1933 novel of the same name by James Hilton. Come join us as we talk about the most expensive film ever made based on the first book to ever be mass marketed. What happened to all that lost footage? Why did Capra go cry in his car? And who are the Gen Z kids shipping in this movie? Watch this amazing Frank Capra film, have a listen to our blundering banter, and don't take any wooden nickels.
2023-01-0739 minThe Clueless CriticZazie dans le Métro (1960) Louis MalleZazie dans le Métro is a 1960 French film directed by Louis Malle based on the book by Raymond Queneau. Surreal? Dada? Looney Tunes? Monty-Python? The Muppets? How do you describe this film? And how on earth did this come from a novel to begin with? And what kind of crazy person thought they could film this unfilmable bewildering masterpiece?
This movie is stock full of strange moments and plays like a film directed by a circus ringmaster. This hot potato is overloaded with a barrage of quick cuts, gags, film magic, and oddities that will have your hea...
2023-01-0146 minThe Clueless CriticMikey and Nicky (1976) Elaine MayMikey and Nicky is a 1976 American drama written and directed by the fabulous Elaine May. It stars John Cassavetes as a desperate small-time mobster and Peter Falk (Columbo himself) as his longtime, childhood friend. The supporting cast features Ned Beatty, Carol Grace, Emmet Walsh and Sanford Meisner of the Meisner Method acting technique fame. Join us as we dive into the career of Elaine May, the oddity of making this film, and the story of how a brilliant comedian and visionary director got the nickname of Mrs. Hitler. This episode now available on this random-time-interval of The Clueless Critic.
2022-11-2837 minThe Clueless CriticSorcerer (1977) William Friedkin"Sorcerer" depicts four lowlifes from varied backgrounds meeting in a South American oil-company village, where they volunteer to transport cargoes of aged, poorly kept dynamite that is so unstable that it is 'sweating' its dangerous basic ingredient, nitroglycerin. If you've never heard of this movie it might be because of that terrible title. That title is almost as bad as C.H.U.D. or Blackenstein. But at least with Blackenstein you have a vague idea about what you are going to watch. Enough about the title! The real story is how amazing this film is and how it was e...
2022-11-1431 minThe Clueless CriticKind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Robert HamerA pure joy. A delightful film. Magic. Yes, Alec Guinness slays it as nine different characters. But a lot of the magic is coming form the star Dennis Price as he masterfully sets the tone of the whole film and gets us to root for this murderous duke in this dark comedy. Find out why this gem strikes our hearts and may be my favorite film thus far featured on The Clueless Critic.
2022-10-1842 minThe Clueless CriticBaskin (2015) Can EvrenolWoof! Kevin's education into film gets extremely dark as Raph gravitates toward the hard-core horror he finds so titillating. I'll never complain about Spike of Bensonhurst again! A must see film for horror fans, this weird little Turkish gem delivers a terrifying spiral into darkness and shares the awesome presence of the amazing Mehmet Cerrahoglu (devil-guy?) with the world. This film may just turn your stomach or turn you on to the horror genre forever. Join us, weirdos, as we dive into the hellscape in "BASKIN"!
2022-10-1637 minThe Clueless CriticSpike of Bensonhurst (1988) Paul MorrisseyWhy did John make us watch this movie? Why, John, why? Listen and find out why and how this film found a special place in John Riley's heart. Also, if you are playing the drinking game at home. Drink a shot every time John says the word "Communists!"
2022-10-1542 minThe Clueless CriticThe Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) Dario ArgentoDario Argento's debut film has been credited with popularizing the Italian giallo genre. Hop aboard the giallo train with us as we give our take on The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.
2022-09-2939 min2022-09-1644 min2022-09-1540 minThe Clueless CriticSong of Summer (1968) by Ken RussellIn our second episode John A. Riley takes a sharp turn away from the chaotic Roar film that Raphael Marsonet delivered in our first episode. We have a masterful director, Ken Russell, deliver the compelling story of composer Frederick Delius and his amanuensis Eric Fenby. How did a black-and-white made-for-tv-movie end up as a beloved gem? Listen and find out. Also Riley drops a great story of his personal run-in with this legendary director that you won't want to miss. The Clueless Critic outro music was written by the musician, Homeless Sky.
2022-08-0145 minThe Clueless CriticRoar (1981)Roar shows up in a lot of oddball movie lists. It is often hailed as the most dangerous movie ever made and it uses the tagline "No animals were harmed in the making of this film. 70 cast and crew members were". We dive into these claims and question what possessed Noel Marshall to carry through with this decade long pet project that put his life and his entire family's life quite literally on the line.
2022-07-1931 min
The Clueless CriticIntroducing The Clueless CriticHere's the skinny on The Clueless Critic. A Yankee, a Brit, and an Aussie watch weird films. You the listener get assigned a film to watch every episode and we meet back and discuss. That's it. It's like a book club for lazy people. But movies nobody watches.
2022-07-0402 min
The PerplextpatEpisode 11: Wil Pertz - The ComposerWil Pertz is a composer and a radical thinker. Come get inside his brain with me as we talk music, technology, software, Richard Feynman, Charles Ives, and so much more.
2022-01-1658 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 10 - It's Danno! Daniel Springer is the voice of GwangjuWait, the Daniel Springer? Danno? From the radio? Learn about Daniel Springer's Manchester, New Hampshire upbringing on Riverdale Drive and how his Chicago roots led him to be a real-life professional modern Radio DJ that broadcasts from an actual radio station in Gwangju, South Korea. Springer is the Writer, Producer, and Host of 'The Drop' on GFN 98.7 FM. Danno and I worked the trenches of Kaplan Aspect Language Institute in Chicago and I knew he'd be the perfect guest because he was doing radio way back when and he is now and always has been a delight in person a...
2021-12-2253 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 9: Gwangju UprisingWhat was that whole Gwangju thing about? Students protesting or something? My ignorance on the Gwangju Uprising needed to get sorted out so I took a little dive into the history of it. To understand The Gwangju Uprising you need to know what was happening in May of 1980 in South Korea after an army general assumed power by consolidating the military and installing martial law. Come dive in and be a little less perplexed about The Gwangju Uprising on The Perplextpat!
2021-12-0913 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 8: Alla Ponomareva and Garrett HohnWho is this Alla lady? And where did this Garrett guy come from? Listen this week and get the deets about Alla's magical photography and learn all about the Hohnstead! What's a Honstead? Come have a looksee!
2021-12-0129 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 7: Stephen Ostermiller - Brewmaster, Guitarist, Singer and Handsomest Living Head in DaejeonStephen Ostermiller is a music lover, cat guy, beer enthusiast, and Oakland A's fanboy. Join us as Ostermiller picks up his guitar and belts out a couple of his favorite sad songs. We talk about folksinging and why you should get into Katie Pruitt and John Prine. We delve into Pootytang and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. But most importantly we talk beer and get into the technical world of the microbreweries, west coast beer culture, the Korean microbrewery world, and what exactly is happening with those iso-alpha acids that leads to the magic of beer bitterness. Stephen's head...
2021-11-2458 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 6: Christopher Maslon - The Bodybuilder - The Artist - The Iris? Yes, the Iris.Christopher Maslon is a bodybuilder, an artist, and a man of faith. But he is so much more than that. He is a friendly upbeat ray of sunshine in my life. Come and learn about the epic long twisting and varied interests of the unofficial mayor of Daejeon, Christopher Maslon.
2021-11-1755 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 5: Gaia Bonsignore - Film Director, Editor, Writer, and CinematographerGaia Bonsignore is a director and writer, known for the wonderful short film Stella Uno (2017) as wells as Live your Cinema! Austin Media Arts (2010), Beautiful, Radiant Things (2011) and The Hallway (2007). Bonsignore lives in South Korea and teaches film and media arts at the University of Utah. Join as we dive into Gaia's origin story of how she was forever changed by a trip to the cinema at the age of eight. We love Gaia, listen to this, and you will too!
2021-11-0938 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 4: Beatrice Nickolai - Cartoonist and Creator of "The Annoying Dad"Chicago born cartoonist Beatrice Nickolai lives in Daejeon with her annoying dad and is the creator of "The Annoying Dad". This comic is an introspective look into the everyday annoyances of modern day life with a moderately annoying, though extremely handsome, father. Join us as we talk Kipo, Shera, Steven Universe, Adventure Time, Calvin and Hobbes, Raina Telgemeier, and Hayao Miyazaki. Will her father confront her on 26 episodes of revealing horrible truths about the family's personal business and ongoings? Will Beatrice continue to belittle and mock her father on air? Come find out and have a little listen. I'm talkin...
2021-11-0334 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 3: John A. Riley - The Academic, The Writer, The Film Guy, The Sharpest Mind in DaejeonJohn A. Riley dives into a world of cinema, Russian culture, rural Georgian life, the Chernobyl exclusion zone, and the Merwolves of Blackpool. Join us as examine how De-Stalinization and the Khrushchev thaw led to work of Andrei Tarkovsky. Learn why you should watch Tarkovsky's 1979 masterpiece, "Stalker". We also jump down the Lynchian rabbit hole of Twin Peaks Season 3 and the Trumpian connections of a nostalgia reimagining that wasn't. In this episode we ask the tough questions like: Why do we first think of Monty Python when we hear the word medieval? Did Kubrick have a point or did he jus...
2021-10-271h 11The PerplextpatEpisode 2: Hank Haddock - The Carpenter, The Photographer, The Wandering Man of DaejeonHank Haddock speaks on his art in carpentry and street photography. Son to a navy-man young Hank starts life in Spain and grows accustomed to hopping about the world following his dad's career. Hank comes into carpentry at the age of 21 among the grizzled old craftsmen of that era. Thirty years later - here he is still working in wood and wandering the alleys of Daejeon with his old-timey cameras always in stow. Join us as we dish about other carpenters like Nick Offerman, Harrison Ford, and Bernie Sanders. What makes Hank so Hank? And how do you get a com...
2021-10-2039 minThe PerplextpatEpisode 1: Raphael Marsonet - The Sax Man of DaejeonRaphael Marsonet tells his saxophone journey. He starts off as a young boy in Australia hiding his love of classical music and becomes a teenager with a gift for the saxophone traveling the world in the band. Finally we come to know Marsonet as a man rediscovering his passions after a ten year hiatus and falling in love with this beautiful instrument all over again. Join us as we yak about the Yakkety Sax, Bleeding Gums Murphy, that weird scene in Lost Boys, Baker Street, and Lenny Pickett. Why does the Saxophone have the reputation it does? And what exa...
2021-10-1350 minThe PerplextpatTeaser: The PerplextpatDeported from Saint Louis and excommunicated from Chicago, this American artist, Kevin Nickolai, now lives in Daejeon, South Korea with his family. Nickolai is bamboozled by the oddities of Korean life and tries to make sense of all the weird encounters and random nonsense and joy that Korean life delivers.
Each week, Nickolai explores one aspect of Korea living and interviews other expats about their passions and how they seek balance in their life as they navigate their own Korean stories. This podcast is a love letter to Korea from a perplexed expat. Welcome to the Perplextpat.
2021-10-0601 min