Shows
Cinema ObliviaEpisoded 96: The Challenge (1982)The Challenge, directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Scott Glenn, is not the greatest film in the world. It was certainly not the greatest film to come out in 1982, but it's about a giant white dipshit living in Japan and making an ass of himself. And as a giant white dipshit who lives in Japan who routinely makes an ass of himself, I felt seen. Although I've killed far less people than Scott Glenn does in this movie (at least, so far).
Fellow American in Japan Diamond Feit joins me to talk about this very silly film.2025-04-302h 09Cinema ObliviaEpisode 95: The Bees (1978)Last month it was Ant with Anthony Abatte. This month it's Bees...with Anthony Abatte...because I don't know anyone whose name is Bee.
You've never seen a killer bees movie like The Bees. Believe you me. In a time of great strife and war, the themes of unity and togetherness that are touched upon in The Bees should inspire us all to make the world a better place.
And John Saxon. John Saxon is great (and oddly attractive).
2025-03-251h 29Cinema ObliviaEpisode 94: Ants (It Happened At Lakewood Manor)ANThony Abatte joins me once more to discuss this ANTagonistic film about killer ants. It's real great bad movie, even if the ending is really ANTiclmatic.
Sorry. (No I'm not).
2025-02-191h 42Cinema ObliviaEpisode 93: The Quiet EarthEver wish that every other person on the planet would vanish in a puff of smoke? Feeling that way more than usual lately? So have I! And so has Scott Sharkey, who wanders in from the wastelands to talk about The Quiet Earth, the hugely influential New Zealand classic about what it would be like to be the literal last man on Earth (and then suddenly not be).
2025-01-281h 30Cinema ObliviaEpisode 92: Obscure Movie RecommendationsWe're closing out this year at Cinema Oblivia by offering a virtual smorgasbord of lesser-known film recommendations. Diamond Feit joins me once ore as we browse the absolute depths of Letterboxd to find the weirdest, most out-there, and criminally under-seen films we've watched, as well as our picks for the best movies we've seen this year!
2024-12-311h 38Cinema ObliviaEpisode 91: Rolling VengeanceDepressed over the current state of the world? Have you considered using a monster truck to solve your problems?
Diamond Feit and Anthony Abatte join me to talk about Rolling Vengeance, the world's only monster truck revenge movie. Yes, it is Canadian. And it rules.
2024-12-041h 44Cinema ObliviaEpisode 90: Halloween Horror RecommendationsIt's nearly Halloween so I thought I'd meet with Joe & Rob from Caliber 9 From Outer Space to share some recommendations for spookytime movie watching. Whether you're into actually scary movies, gory movies, or just silly goofy movies with a horror bent, we got something for you in this episode.
And stay tuned at the end to hear which presidential candidate earns the coveted official Cinema Oblivia endorsement!
2024-10-241h 20Cinema ObliviaEpisode 89: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!DON'T YOU SAY THAT.
Emmett Watkins Jr. returns to the podcast to talk about this wacky Blaxploitation spoof that helped to launch the Wayans family empire. We had a lot to say about this one, it may be my longest episode yet! We also talk about its lesser-known sequel/spin-off (yes, really!) and another attempt at Blaxsploitation homage that did not work nearly as well, Original Gangstas.
2024-10-072h 07Cinema ObliviaEpisode 88: Vampire CircusWhat's more terrifying than a circus full of clowns? A circus full of vampires!
Joe Odber from the Caliber 9 From Outer Space podcast returns to Cinema Oblivia to talk about Vampire Circus, a 1970s Hammer horror flick that's oddly disturbing when compared to their other flicks featured fanged villain. Slight content warning on this one, there is some icky stuff in this one!
2024-09-161h 37Cinema ObliviaEpisode 87: Catch The HeatAnthony Abatte joins me once again to talk about Catch The Heat, an utterly forgotten late-80s B-grade action flick written by Sterling Silliphant and starring his wife Tiana Alexandra. It's a mess! But it's a charming mess. When it's not throwing out really bad racial slurs in its attempt to criticize racism.
Yeah, um, content warning on this one.
2024-08-131h 28Cinema ObliviaEpisode 86: Mr. Jolly Lives Next DoorRob Hill of the Bad Movie Bible returns with possibly the most British thing I have ever seen in my entire life. If you've never seen Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door, for God's sake go on YouTube right now and watch Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door, it's only 53 minutes long! Then come back and listen to us laugh about Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door for over 90 minutes.
2024-07-101h 40Cinema ObliviaEpisode 85: Tea For TwoDoris Day makes her long-awaited debut on Cinema Oblivia!
I put together this episode with Anthony Abatte and Diamond Feit because I wanted to introduce them to the wonderful world of Doris Day. And while we did that, I think we spent even more time talking about the amazing wit of Eve Arden and the inhuman dancing of Gene Nelson!
2024-06-201h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 84: A Brief Guide to Lesser Known Charles Bronson MoviesI've been unable to record lately due to my ever-so-fun health issues, so I thought I'd throw together this quick episode going over the multitude of Charles Bronson films I've seen recently. There are a lot, and most of them aren't the first flicks people think of when they think of Bronson. Lots of fun movies here, I hope you come away from this with some movies you want to check out!
2024-06-0338 minCinema ObliviaEpisode 83: Species IIIt's the goopiest episode of Cinema Oblivia yet! Is Species II an unfairly maligned sequel? Madeleine Koestner thinks so, and she makes her case that this movie has a bad rep that is, well, at least partially unjustified. I mean, let's not get crazy here.
2024-05-031h 52Cinema ObliviaEpisode 82: Batman & RobinLast week I watched Batman & Robin for the first time and I unironically loved it so much. Seriously, I think it's an amazing movie and maybe the best Batman movie ever made.
I needed to talk to someone about it! Thankfully, superhero movie aficionado and Batman superfan Anthony Abatte was able to join me to offer a more sane opinion on the film. We also talk about other films where our opinions deviate from the norm, sometimes we all have really out-there opinions!
2024-04-141h 13Cinema ObliviaEpisode 81: Murder on Flight 502 and SST: Death FlightDiamond Feit and I cannot stop talking about 1970s plane disaster TV movies! We're back with two more, the ludicrous Murder on Flight 502 and the absolutely bonkers SST: Death Flight!
We, as a culture, lost something when we stopped making star-studded TV movies, I tell ya.
2024-03-311h 47Cinema ObliviaEpisode 80: The Horror at 37,000 Feet & Mayday at 40,000 FeetThe 70s were rife with TV movies about bad things happening on planes, and we're talking about two of them today! Diamond Feit joins me to talk about William Shatner, ghost druids, Marjoe Gortner, drunk doctors, Christopher George, and more!
2024-03-081h 45Cinema ObliviaEpisode 79: The Last StandI'm back! And I brought Anthony Abatte with me so we could talk about The Last Stand, a movie starring one of the biggest movie stars of all time (Arnold Schwarzenegger) that only came out 11 years ago, but has somehow managed to be completely forgotten. Which is a shame because while it ain't high art by any stretch of the imagination, it's damn good.
2024-02-161h 36Cinema ObliviaEpisode 78: I watched 34 movies in 14 days and all I got was this lousy virusHey everyone! I'm still here!
Covid sucks, don't get it. It (and other things) are keeping me from recording a proper episode this month, so I thought I'd record this mini non-episode to let you all know what's going on, and rattle off the 30+ movies I've watched in 14 or so days.
I had a lot of down time.
2024-01-1429 minCinema ObliviaEpisode 77: The Italian ConnectionItalian cinema fanatic Joe Odber is back to talk about The Italian Connection, a classic Italian crime flick about a pimp who is having a very bad day. It was also a major influence on Pulp Fiction, features a dope as hell score, and 70s lapels galore. It's fantastic.
2023-12-121h 21Cinema ObliviaEpisode 76: Devil StoryOkay so there's a pig zombie monster wearing a Nazi jacket. And some kind of zombie lady? There's definitely a ghost horse and a shotgun with infinite ammo. But where does the mummy fit into all of this?
Madeleine Koestner returns to try and help me digest one of the most inscrutably bad(?) movies ever made, Devil Story.
We also delve into what we think makes an honest-to-goodness worst movie ever made, and why many people's picks for the worst movie of all-time are bullshit.
2023-11-091h 26Cinema ObliviaEpisode 75: Body DoubleIn what might the be sleaziest episode of Cinema Oblivia yet, Diamond Feit returns to talk about De Palma's Hitchcockian thriller Body Double, one of the most ludicrously horny films ever made. It puts the 'cock' in 'Hitchcockian.'
It's also the greatest film ever made that incorporates a Frankie Goes to Hollywood video in its narrative. And before you ask, yes there is another. No, I won't tell you what it is.
Content warning: Lots of ribald sex talk in this one.
2023-10-201h 38Cinema ObliviaEpisode 74: Comfort MoviesSince the last episode of Cinema Oblivia, my boyfriend got Covid, I flew to America, landed myself in the ER and [redacted personal drama]. Basically, it's been a hell of a month, so I felt like talking about movies that cheer me up. Anthony Abatte joins me to discuss his comfort films, what we feel makes a good comfort film, and our go-to emergency "cheer someone up" flicks.
2023-09-281h 12Cinema ObliviaEpisode 73: Troll (1986)Drew Mackie from The Gayest Episode Ever returns to Cinema Oblivia to talk about the 1986 fantasy classic Troll, aka the one true Harry Potter film (seriously). We talk about the movie's fantastic cast, great special effects, and what we want from a REAL Troll sequel.
2023-08-171h 48Cinema ObliviaEpisode 72: Monster ClubI found Scott Sharkey wondering in the desert, put a microphone in front of him, and had him talk about the lesser-known Vincent Price/John Carradine horror anthology The Monster Club.
This swan song of British horror anthologies is goofy as hell. Find out what a humgoo is and why Shaddocks should NEVER WHISTLE. And hear some great (and horrible) monster-themed rock and/or roll!
2023-07-271h 27Cinema ObliviaEpisode 71: What A Carve Up!Rob Hill from the Bad Movie Bible returns to the podcast to discuss one of his favorite films of all-time, the obscure 1961 British murder mystery, What A Carve Up! (The exclamation point is in the title)
You definitely haven't heard of that movie but I hope you give the episode a listen regardless.
2023-06-291h 42Cinema ObliviaEpisode 70: Bay Of BloodDr. Sparkle makes his return to the podcast to talk about Mario Bava's Bay Of Blood, a strange proto-slasher with gore-o-plenty and a plot-o-nonsense, but it's a hell of a lot of fun, if you got the stomach for it.
2023-06-151h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 69: Them!When pronouns attack!
Them! is a giant monster movie classic. The definitive killer bug flick that holds up better than any of the multitudes that came in its wake. Anthony Abatte and I talk about the flick, how it launched the careers of two boomer TV icons, and briefly go over other giant bug movies that might be worth a watch (there aren't many).
This one's for you, dad.
2023-06-011h 43Cinema ObliviaEpisode 68: Death Cheaters and Stunt RockCertified Australian Rhys (aka FlemishDog) is back to discuss two of the most Australian films ever made, Death Cheaters and Stunt Rock, both written and directed by the most Australian filmmaker, Brian Trenchard-Smith, and starring the most Australian stuntman/actor ever, Grant Page.
Don't worry about spoilers in this episode because these films barely have plots, but who needs plots when you have WICKED STUNTS AND HEAVY METAL.
2023-05-181h 30Cinema ObliviaEpisode 67: Blood Beat*MYSTICAL BOINGING*
Blood Beat is, without question, one of the most inscrutable and hard-to-describe "horror" films that I have ever seen. There's a family of psychics? And a ghost samurai? And I think orgasms power it? Or something?
Thankfully I have Madeleine Koestner here to help me figure it out. I don't know if we succeed though.
*MYSTICAL BOINGING CONTINUES*
2023-05-041h 46Cinema ObliviaEpisode 66:Switchblade SistersDrew Mackie from The Gayest Episode Ever podcast is here to discuss Switchblade Sisters, a grindhouse classic by legendary B-movie director Jack Hill (Jackie Brown, Coffy). We talk about the gender and political subtext of this underrated girl gang classic, and all the amazing 70s hair.
2023-04-201h 46Cinema ObliviaEpisode 65: TerrorVisionNorm from A Question of Character returns to discuss TerrorVision! The crazy colors! The amazing cast! The spectacular special effects! The incredible theme song that WILL NEVER LEAVE MY HEAD.
Turn off your TV before it eats you and give us a listen!
2023-04-061h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 64: Q -The Winged SerpentDiamond Feit returns to talk about Q: The Winged Serpent. One of my all-time favorite movies and, without question, the greatest movie ever made about a giant dragon that lives on top of the Chrysler Building and eats people.
Larry Cohen was a mad genius.
2023-03-091h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 63:Firestarter(s)Shane Bettenhausen and Alex Navarro both return to discuss the underrated Stephen King adaptation Firestarter, from 1984. They then begrudgingly stick around to discuss the massive piece of dog crap that is the absolutely horrendous 2022 remake.
It's a bad movie. Bad movie.
Bad.
2023-02-151h 40Cinema ObliviaEpisode 62: Run Lola RunI'm back! And so is Emmett Watkins Jr to talk about Run Lola Run!
This movie rules! Emmett and I talk about just how much it rules, why it rules, and how it doesn't rule that there aren't more movies like it!
2023-01-261h 18Cinema ObliviaEpisode 61: A Year in Old Movies ReviewAnthony Abatte and I watched a lot of older flicks this year and we decided to look back on those instead of rattling off a Top Ten of 2022 this year - largely because I only saw 10 movies that came out this year.
Hope you enjoy this more casual episode! Cinema Oblivia will be taking a slight break to start 2023 but I'll be back before the end of next month!
2022-12-221h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 60: Cash On DemandIt's the very first Christmas-themed episode of Cinema Oblivia, as Joe Odber returns to discuss 1961's Cash On Demand. Yes, more Hammer and more Peter Cushing, but in a decidedly different film; a tale of a bank robber that's...surprisingly an affirmation of the Christmas spirit? And maybe an influence on Die Hard?
2022-12-081h 09Cinema ObliviaEpisode 59: Butcher, Baker, Nightmare MakerOh boy.
One of the absolute strangest movies of the early-80s, featuring a bravado performance by the wonderful Susan Tyrrell as THE WORST PRIMARY CAREGIVER EVER and shockingly progressive, LGBT+ themes, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is a one-of-a-kind fever dream of a film, exactly the kind of thing that Madeline Koestner likes to subject me to, and I'm better for it.
Content Warning: Generally uncomfortable sexual themes/assault discussion.
2022-11-241h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 58: Horror ExpressMore Peter Cushing!
Diamond Feit is back to talk about Horror Express, one of the funnest, silliest, wackiest, goofiest horror movies of the early-70s. And not only does it star my all-time favorite actor of all-time, Peter Cushing, but it also features my second-favorite actor of all-time; Christopher Lee. And someone who would probably make the top 10 or so; Telly Savalas! This movie kicks ass.
2022-11-101h 24Cinema ObliviaEpisode 57: Twins of EvilThis Halloween I decided to spread the gospel of the Hammer House of Horror by subjecting Hammer virgin Anthony Abatte to one of my favorite films from the studio, 1971's Twins Of Evil! Not only does it have a standout performance by the legendary Peter Cushing, but the, ahem, titular characters are really something else too.
We also have a quick spoiler-free discussion about the new Halloween Ends, and rattle off some other horror movies you might want to check out this Halloween weekend.
2022-10-271h 29Cinema ObliviaEpisode 56: The Taking of Beverly Hills"Die Hard but in Beverly Hills" is elevator pitch for The Taking of Beverly Hills. And while the film looked like a sure-fire hit on paper thanks to its star, the then white-hot Ken Wahl, and it's director, Sidney J. Furie, the didn't even get the chance to fade into obscurity - it debuted there.
Rob Hill from The Bad Movie Bible joins me to try and find out why.
Content warning; When discussing Wahl's past, I quote some homophobic things other people said.
2022-10-131h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 55: Million Dollar MermaidThe original idea of this podcast was to focus on the types of films they don't make anymore and "Technicolor underwater musicals" certainly fit that bill. Diana Goodman of 30-20-10 joins me today to talk about Million Dollar Mermaid.
If you thought movies like The Avengers were spectacle, you ain't seen nothing yet.
2022-09-291h 36Cinema ObliviaEpisode 54: Foul PlayWe're 70s AF today on Cinema Oblivia. How 70s? We got a movie by the writer of Harold & Maude, starring Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn, and featuring a hit single by Barry Manilow. That's how 70s.
Foul Play is a wacky little comedy that is very much of its era, and I'm happy that Diamond Feit called me up to talk about it! Check it out!
2022-09-151h 34Cinema ObliviaEpisode 53: ShakedownShakedown is a 1988 action film about corrupt cops starring Peter Weller and Sam Elliott. It's one of the most bonkers movies of the 80s, thanks no doubt to its writer/director, the madman James Glickenhaus.
Madeline Koestner joins me once again to discuss this utterly bizarre flick, and she brought her attorney with her! Because this movie is full of so many crazy courtroom shenanigans that I just had to find out from an expert just how inaccurate this movie is. The answer will (not) surprise you!
2022-09-011h 53
Madeleine & Her Attorney Watch MoviesNONISODE C: Madeleine and Her Attorney Go SkateboardingMadeleine and her attorney have taken their driving exams and are ready to shred. Madeleine also is ready to rant about the masters of horror and also finally confesses her favorite movie. Alfred accidentally says "Egg Cake" at a point, take a shot when you hear it.
Check out the very good Cinema Oblivia podcast: https://cinemaoblivia.podbean.com/
Come see THE PROFANE EXHIBIT at a film festival Madeleine works: http://farsightedblog.com/skate-or-die-film-festival/
Email us: madeleineandherattorney@gmail.com2022-08-2547 minCinema ObliviaEpisode 52: Too MuchIn 1987, Cannon Films teamed up with Toho Pictures in Japan to make a children's film about a friendly robot and his stupid American girl friend. It stars no one you've ever heard of and it was directed by a softcore porn producer. It's called Too Much, and it's really [insert movie title here]. Rhys (aka FlemishDog) joins me to talk about this family-friendly monstrosity.
2022-08-181h 26Cinema ObliviaEpisode 51: American Ninja 2We got an all-star line-up today! T.L. Foster is back! Anthony Abatte is back! Norm from A Question of Character is back! And they're all here to talk about American Ninja 2! Is it a good film? Probably not, but it's a great excuse to talk about Steve James, the man who should've been the biggest action star of the 1980s/90s/2000s/2010s and today.
2022-08-041h 28Cinema ObliviaEpisode 50: Car WashA brilliant slice of life comedy from the director of The Last Dragon(!!) and Joel Schumacher(!?!?!?), Car Wash is a perfect time capsule of a bygone era, but still manages to hold up today as a fantastic comedy, all while offering insightful commentary on race, gender, sexuality, and religion. And it has George Carlin and Richard Pryor!
Anthony Abatte joins me to talk about this great piece of 70s pop culture, and its legendary soundtrack.
2022-07-211h 29Cinema ObliviaEpisode 49: Big ShotsI'm dumb white boy (sometimes) and Norm from A Question of Character is a black dude from Chicago, so we felt we absolutely had to cover Big Shots - a film about a dumb white boy (sometimes) and a black kid from Chicago.
This is not a great film, but it's definitely the best film about a white kid from suburban Chicago that was made without John Hughes' involvement. I absolutely love it.
It also has what might be the worst rap song of all-time.
2022-07-071h 13Cinema ObliviaEpisode 48: Thrashin’Thrashin' was an attempt by out-of-touch middle-aged men to make a hip and cool skateboarding film. They failed miserably. But I still love it! And so does Nextlander's Alex Navarro! We talk about this fascinating failure, and why we can't hate it despite it's mediocre acting, idiotic story, and absolutely atrocious original music.
2022-06-231h 35Cinema ObliviaEpisode 47: Class of 1984Class of 1984 is a fantastic exploitation flick about a high school from hell, its evil bullies, and the poor teachers who just try to teach their damn students. Diamond Feit joins me to talk about this classic late-era grindhouse flick.
Disclaimer: Although this is an over-the-top exploitation film, we do discuss real world school violence at times. Additionally, this was recorded BEFORE the horrific events in Texas.
2022-06-091h 30Cinema ObliviaEpisode 46: Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the KeyYour Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key isn't the best giallo ever made, but it certainly is one of the best-named.
Joe Odber takes a break from chronicling the Mandela Effect weirdos of Reddit to stop by and discuss this lesser-known gem of Italian sleaze, which features just about every depraved act you can possibly imagine, and then some.
So yeah, content warning for this one. Seriously.
2022-05-261h 13Cinema ObliviaEpisode 45: FangsOnce upon a time there was a man named Snakey. He liked snakes more than he liked people. One day, a lot of the people he didn't like made him angry and he decided to get his revenge.
You can probably guess where this is going but I swear to you that Fangs (aka Snakes aka Holy Wednesday aka Snakelust) will leave you guessing to the end, thanks to its fantastic script, hilarious dialogue, and a breathtaking performance by former radio star Les Tremayne as Snakey!
Madeline Koestner returns once again to talk about Snakey...2022-05-121h 22
Madeleine & Her Attorney Watch MoviesEpisode 12: "If My Father Died Making COPSHOP..." (Frailty)Welcome back to Madeleine and Her Attorney Watch Movies, with the movies being watched now all starring Bill Paxton. First off we revisit FRAILTY and try to determine if it blasphemes. Email us about all our mistakes at madeleineandherattorney@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @madeleineandherattorney
Cinema Oblivia: https://cinemaoblivia.podbean.com/
Barnes & Barnes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Ehr3PBnCk2022-05-121h 38Cinema ObliviaEpisode 44: Pyscho II and Psycho IIIShane Bettenhausen previously graced this podcast to subject me to the awfulness that is The Apple. But he redeems himself today to talk about not one, but two, very good movies - the much belated sequels to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho!
Are they as good as the original? Of course not, but they're both damn fine films that you need to see. We discuss how these fascinating films got made, and go over them in gory detail, so spoilers abound! Make sure you see the movies before you listen to this one!
2022-04-281h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 43: Deadlier Than The MaleVery happy to have Rob Hill from the Bad Movie Bible joining me today to discuss a forgotten piece of Bondsploitation, 1967's Deadlier Than The Male!
This 60s update of the Bulldog Drummond books (which themselves inspired the Bond films), turns the character into a suave, understated ladies' man (of mystery) which makes his surrounding world of buxom female assassins, maniacal super-villains, and robotic chess pieces from hell all the more ridiculous.
It sure as hell ain't a classy film, but Rob and I agree that it's a hell of a lot of fun!
2022-04-141h 30Cinema ObliviaEpisode 42: AlligatorAn amazing film with a great cast, fantastic crew, and stellar script: Alligator isn't just one of the best Jaws rip-offs ever made, it's one of the best horror comedies ever made. Period.
Madeline Koestner agrees with me, and she took time out of her busy schedule planning the Unnamed Footage Festival to sit down and talk with me about this film that's a downright masterpiece.
2022-03-311h 36Cinema ObliviaEpisode 41: Ninja III The DominationFlashdance + The Exorcist + Poltergeist x Ninjas = Ninja III The Domination. Cannon made a lot of crazy films in their time, but this just might be their craziest! Norm from A Question of Character and Anthony Abatte return once more to discuss this legendary train-wreck. And we also use AI to hypothesize a potential Ninja IV!
2022-03-171h 31Cinema ObliviaEpisode 40: Revenge of the NinjaThe ninja cannot be stopped! Anthony Abatte returns to discuss the FAR superior sequel to Enter The Ninja. But he's not alone, Norm from A Question of Character is with him! There was simply too much awesome in this movie for one guest to discuss!
2022-03-031h 39Cinema ObliviaEpisode 39: Enter The NinjaNinjas were just as much a part of 80s pop culture as big hair, neon, and growing economic disparity, but why? Enter The Ninja, that's why!
While not solely responsible for the ninja craze of the 80s, this flick had a lot to do with it! I'm joined by Anthony Abatte to talk about this utterly mediocre flick, and its bizarre influence on pop culture.
2022-02-171h 21Cinema ObliviaEpisode 38: Never Too Young To DieGene Simmons is a genderfluid drag performer/terrorist who wants to poison Los Angeles with radioactive waste. Only George Lazenby's son, John Stamos, and his partner Vanity can stop him.
It's a hell of a cast for a hell of a movie, 1987's Never Too Young To Die.
Matt Kucick returns to discuss this amazing gem of 80s cheese, and we also discuss our dream cast for a sequel/remake that damn well should happen!
Content Notice: This film uses some very outdated terminology to discuss intersex people, and we bring i...2022-02-031h 38Cinema ObliviaEpisode 37:Dead or Alive (1999)Takashi Miike broke through big in 1999 with Audition, but for me, his best movie of that year (he made, like, six) is Dead or Alive, a gonzo bonkers crime drama with one of the craziest beginnings in film history, which is then completely trampled by one of the most apeshit endings of all time. Diamon Feit agrees with me, and he joins me to talk about this underrated work in Miike's insane and impressive oeuvre.
Content Warning: Like, literally everything you can think of and some stuff that you probably can't even imagine.
2022-01-201h 20Cinema ObliviaEpisode 36: The PrincipalJim Belushi beats up inner city youths with a baseball bat because he wants them to study algebra in this problematic classic.
Norm from A Question of Character returns to discuss Belushi's unlikely run as an action star, the film's questionable racial politics, and the movie's dope as hell rap song, "Set It Off."
2022-01-061h 29Cinema ObliviaEpisode 35: CoonskinCoonskin was animator Ralph Bakshi's first real bomb, attracting far more controversy for its racially charged content than box office. Emmett Watkins Jr. bravely joins me today to talk about this controversial cult classic that's problematic with a capital P, but absolutely fascinating.
Content warning: Lots of discussion on racial issues and homophobia, with descriptions and clips of scenes that some might find disturbing.
2021-12-231h 11Cinema ObliviaEpisode 34: Race With The DevilWarren Oates and Peter Fonda just wanted to hop in their RV and take their wives on a ski trip. But a group of murderous Texan satanists had other ideas in Race With The Devil, the nearly forgotten horror/car chase hybrid flick!
Certified Texan Anthony Abatte joins me to talk about this (literal) cult classic, and if Texas really has bands of roving satanists who hunt down tourists in RVs.
He said no, but I'm still not sure.
2021-12-091h 16Cinema ObliviaEpisode 33: The Visitor*cue Visitor theme music*
Joe Odber returns to Cinema Oblivia to delve once again into ancient aliens, albeit in a slightly roundabout way.
The Visitor is a film made by madmen that makes no sense. It's kind of brilliant. It's kind of stupid. It's all kinds of indescribable. John Huston is in it though! And Shelley Winters! What the hell!
We try to parse it out as much as possible. I think we failed though.
*cue Visitor theme music again and again and again*
2021-11-251h 15Cinema ObliviaEpisode 32: ManhunterMaking a return appearance on Cinema Oblivia, Brian Ashcraft joins me to talk about Michael Mann's masterpiece (a Mannterpiece, if you will), Manhunter.
It's the least known Hannibal Lector film, but it's probably the best, thanks to amazing performances, stunning direction and cinematography, amazing music, and truly, a showstopping career-making performance by Chris Elliot.
Okay, he has one line in one scene, but still.
2021-11-111h 18Cinema ObliviaEpisode 31: Trick or Treat (1986)Nothing says Halloween like...a Satanic Panic movie starring Skippy from Family Ties and featuring cameos by Gene Simmons and Ozzy?!?
Trick or Treat is an odd little slasher that's more charming than scary, and a great time capsule of the early 80s. Matt Kucick dug this one out of obscurity and he's here to talk about it and this film's shocking connection to Flogging Molly?!?!
2021-10-281h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 30: Action JacksonHELLO, I'M MR. EDD.
Goddamn I love Action Jackson. And Rich Nelson from the podcast Don't You Want Me also loves Action Jackson, so we spend a lot of time talking about how great this movie is. We also go into it's rapid production, muted reception, and the damn shame that a sequel never got made.
2021-10-141h 18Cinema ObliviaEpisode 29: Urgh! A Music War, and Copyright WoesUrgh! A Music War is a 1982 concert film featuring performances by some of the biggest and most influential bands of the era, including The Police, The Go Gos, Oingo Boingo, Joan Jett, and Gary Numan.
It also nearly got me banned for life from YouTube.
Nextlander's Alex Navarro joins me to talk about both of these things!
2021-09-301h 53Cinema ObliviaEpisode 28: Chariots Of The Gods (with The Juptier Effect)In 1970, a German documentary called Chariots of the Gods came out. It proposed the entirely unscientific idea that ancient aliens helped create humankind's greatest achievements. It was nominated for an Oscar, made millions of dollars, and completely ruined The History Channel.
Mandela Effect chronicler Joe Odber and I talk about this train-wreck a flick, its shocking racist origins, and the damaging effect it continues to have on society.
We also talk about The Jupiter Effect, a film in which George Kennedy tries to warn us about Jupiter.
Or something.
2021-09-161h 16Cinema ObliviaEpisode 27: RunawayIt's the other Michael Crichton movie about robots running amok. Yes, after Westworld (but before Jurassic Park) Crichton wrote and directed this tale for the big screen, where Tom Selleck fights an evil Gene Simmons (is there any other kind?) and his legion of killer acid-spitting spiderbots.
Diamond Feit joins me to discuss this lesser, but still wildly entertaining, Crichton effort, a charming look at a possible future world we sadly never got.
2021-09-021h 27Cinema ObliviaEpisode 26: Running Scared (2006)No, NOT the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines buddy cop comedy (although that's also a good movie)!
Instead, Madeleine Koestner from the Unnamed Film Festival and I are talking about the forgotten Paul Walker vehicle by Wayne Kramer (not the one in the MC5).
A huge bomb when it came out, this movie has gone on to be a cult classic, and rightfully so, it's an absolutely bonkers flick. Listen and find out how bonkers it is!
Content Warning: Running Scared is a film that references child abuse, and we talk about those scenes...2021-08-261h 24Cinema ObliviaEpisode 25: Berry Gordy's The Last DragonSHO
NUFF!
That's all that needs to be said about this stone cold CLASSIC starring the one and only Taimak and the late great Vanity, but somehow T.L. Foster and I manage to talk for nearly 90 minutes about how great this movie is. Because it's really great.
Yeah, it's not that obscure or forgotten but I've had a shitty few months, humor me.
2021-08-191h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 24: Viva Knievel!Leslie Nielsen tries to murder Evel Knievel so he can use his corpse to smuggle dope. Gene Kelly tries to help Knievel, but he's held hostage by Dabney Coleman. Lauren Hutton wants to take a photo of Evel breaking his neck, but is also in love with him so she feels bad about it. There's also a kid with a mop top. And orphans.
Viva Knievel! is a weird movie. Elliot Long joins me to try and make sense of it. I don't know if we succeed.
2021-08-121h 20Cinema ObliviaEpisode 23: Ghost WorldGhost World isn't a movie about ghosts, it's a movie about teenage isolation, misanthropy and self-hate, which are actually way scarier than anything supernatural.
The totally awesome Maddie Copp and I talk about this early-2000s classic of malaise, go over what we think the film is trying to say, and hypothesize about where its protagonists would be in the year 2021.
2021-08-051h 15Cinema ObliviaEpisode 22: The Legend of the Stardust BrothersEver wonder what would happen if a Japanese filmmaker decided to make their own tribute to Brian De Palma's Phantom Of The Paradise, while throwing in a bit of The Who's Tommy and possibly a slice of the Faustian disco musical, The Apple?
Well, wonder no more, because that's exactly what happened with The Legend of the Stardust Brothers, a magical lost Japanese film from the 80s. I'm joined by Third Window Film's Adam Torel to talk about why he decided to re-release the film, and what it has to say about Japanese media, when it's not...2021-07-291h 13Cinema ObliviaEpisode 21: RavenousYou are what you eat, and today Sonya Ballantyne and I are eating the late-90s cannibal western megabomb, Ravenous. Well, we're not so much eating it as discussing its troubled production, portrayal of First Nations people, and what the hell metaphor they're trying to go for in this flawed, but interesting, flick.
2021-07-221h 12Cinema ObliviaEpisode 20: Full ContactWhen people talk about Hong Kong action films of the 80s and 90s, John Woo and Jackie Chan are usually at the forefront of the conversation, but Ringo Lam also released some amazing films during that time.
For example, Full Contact, the dark, grimy and crazy 1992 classic that serves as an evil twin to the glossy and sleek Hard Boiled. Henry Gilbert from Talking Simpsons stops by to talk about this unjustly forgotten bloody masterpiece.
2021-07-151h 30Cinema ObliviaEpisode 19: GymkataT.L. Foster wanted to talk about Gymkata, so today we are talking about Gymkata! Legendary for being "so bad it's good" but is it really just bad? The Kurt Thomas gymnastic vanity project gets all the discussion is deserves, and then some!
2021-07-081h 27Cinema ObliviaEpisode 18: An Episode About My DadMy dad passed away a few weeks ago.
My love of movies, and this podcast, would not exist without him, so I wanted to take some time to talk about him, the movies he loved, and all the ways he was a really awesome dad.
I miss ya, guy.
2021-07-011h 02Cinema ObliviaEpisode 17: The DriverWalter Hill's 1978 existential, minimalist masterpiece about a getaway driver trying to outsmart not only the cops, but the crooks who want him dead, was a bomb when it first came out. But in the years since it's rightfully earned its place as a cult classic. Writer and hardcore film geek Brian Ashcraft joins to talk about this under-appreciated gem.
2021-06-241h 26Cinema ObliviaEpisode 16: Natural Born KillersI am very happy to be joined by Kyle Shutt from the band The Sword and the podcast The High Way to talk about Natural Born Killers, a film that could have only been made the year it came out and no other year. Is it super dated? For sure, but does it hold up? Find out!
2021-06-171h 17Cinema ObliviaEpisode 15: Perfect and Killer WorkoutPut on your leg warmers! Matt Kucick joins me to talk about two films that tried to cash in on the 80s aerobics craze, and failed miserably: the John Travolta/Jamie Lee Curtis romantic drama Perfect, and the cheapo sleazo slasher Killer Workout (aka Aerobicide). Both are bad, but in entirely different ways. Although, both have pretty great soundtracks.
Disclaimer: This episode was cursed and plagued with technical difficulties that shan't happen again. The audio quality dips from time to time, and the conversation does get a bit scattershot as we were continually disconnected throughout our talk. 2021-06-101h 34Cinema ObliviaEpisode 14: Gone In 60 Seconds and the H.B. Halicki Cinematic UniverseH.B. Halicki had a dream: A dream to smash as many cars as possible. And he achieved said dream with his 1974 magnum opus, Gone in 60 Seconds. Twitter's supcat and I talk about that classic, the films Halicki made afterwards, and the bizarre legal wranglings that have made finding the original versions of said films a nightmare in the 21st century.
2021-06-031h 42Cinema ObliviaEpisode 13: Silver StreakAction! Suspense! Comedy! Romance! Ray Walston shooting cops! This movie has it all! Diamond Feit joins me to talk about this Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor classic, why it's still a great movie, and why parts of it might be a little shocking to see today. All aboard!
2021-05-271h 26Cinema ObliviaEpisode 12: Smokey And The BanditSmokey and the Bandit was the second most popular movie of 1977 (behind Star Wars - perhaps you've heard of it) and it spawned a whole slew of pale imitations in its wake. While the car action genre is bigger than ever thanks to the Fast & Furious films, Smokey's kind of been left in the dust. But that's not fair! Listen to me and my guest Elliot Long talk about how this movie is still great and one of the funniest action movies ever made!
2021-05-201h 28Cinema ObliviaEpisode 11: Golgo13 - The ProfessionalGolgo 13: The Professional is a landmark piece of animation that still looks breathtaking all these years later. Norm from A Question of Character joins me to talk about the film's revolutionary use of CG, fantastic sense of style, and dope soundtrack. We also talk about some of our other favorite old-school anime from the 80s and 90s!
2021-05-131h 21Cinema ObliviaEpisode 10: Cloak and DaggerCloak and Dagger! Atari: The Motion Picture! Sure, it was a crass attempt at blatant product placement, but it's also kind of a sweet movie about a boy and his dad. And Elliot from ET murders a dude with a gun.
Fellow movie geek and all around great guy Tony Recznik talk about what's great and not-so-great about this 80s classic.
2021-05-061h 18Cinema ObliviaEpisode 09: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo GarciaGiant Bomb's Alex Navarro and I take a swig of tequila, follow it with a chaser of despair, and plunge into the miserable depths of Sam Peckinpah's underappreciated masterpiece of misanthropy - Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia!
Content Warning: We do discuss the scenes of violent misogyny and sexual assault that are in this film.
2021-04-291h 41Cinema ObliviaEpisode 08: BMX Bandits & RadMy old friend Erik Pepple pops in for the first Cinema Oblivia double feature! We talk put on our safety gear and discuss the great BMX Bandits and the not-so-great-but-kinda-still-great Rad. What makes a good movie about a fad? Do these movies hold up today? Find out here!
2021-04-221h 37Cinema ObliviaEpisode 07: JoysticksVideo games, sex comedies, and oddly descriptive subtitles about flatulence combine in Joysticks, the classic(???) 1983 comedy by B-movie king Greydon Clark. My friend Matt joins me to talk about the film, the video games featured within, the oddly talented cast, and the very descriptive fart subtitles.
Because we're classy.
2021-04-151h 23Cinema ObliviaEpisode 6: The AppleShane Bettenhausen, formerly of 1UP and EGM, gives me a call to tell me about why he thinks The Apple is the world's best "great" bad movie. I vehemently disagree with him, but we have a fun time talking about this disaster of a flick regardless. We talk about the crazy story behind the making of this film, the poor people who were involved in it, and our views on what makes a bad movie worth watching.
2021-04-081h 26Cinema ObliviaEpisode 5: Seeds and the films of Andy MilliganOn this episode, Dr. Sparkle of Chrontendo fame joins me to dive deep into the seedy underworld of Andy Milligan's psychotic magnum opus of sexual dysfunction, Seeds! We also take a look at some other Andy Milligan films, including ones that are considered lost!
Content Warning: We're talking Andy Milligan films, so topics like incest and sexual assault do come up.
2021-04-011h 37Cinema ObliviaEpisode 4: Phantom of The ParadiseFor this episode, I am joined by Emma Buntrock-Muller and we talk about Brian De Palma's crazed Phantom of the Opera by the way of Faust and god knows what else horror/comedy/musical masterpiece, Phantom of The Paradise. Learn about the film's lawsuit-filled production, it's less-than-stellar release, how it fits in to the early-70s music scene, and Paul Williams amazing silk suits.
2021-03-251h 28Cinema ObliviaEpisode 3: SorcererThe wonderful Madeleine Koestner from the Unnamed Film Festival joins me to talk about William Friedkin's masterpiece Sorcerer. Trucks! Explosions! Tangerine Dream! This one has it all!
2021-03-181h 24Cinema ObliviaEpisode 2: Streets Of FireI am joined by Eric Pope to discuss Streets Of Fire, the 1984 bomb that killed careers, only to live on as an out-of-time cult classic beloved by fans of style over substance and Wagnerian rock music.
2021-03-111h 25Cinema ObliviaEpisode 1: FlashdanceOn this, the very first episode of Cinema Oblivia, I'm joined by my friend and film scholar Jennifer Fiorini to talk about the film that absolutely defined the 80s: FLASHDANCE!
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