Some news to report from Mid Century Cinema land – We’ve embarked on a new adventure: A podcast! It’s the brainchild of Michael Cohen (no, not that one!), who approached me with this notion. I was a bit wary at first, but the entire staff at MCC threated to go on a general strike if I did not give it a try. And I’m glad I did – so far it has been a real pleasure, and I’m looking forward to continuing the effort. We anticipate posting about one a week; occasionally we will have guest participants. (Keep an eye out for Nashville on that front, timed to coincide with the publication of a new book on that Altman masterpiece, with the author on hand.)
Also – great news for MCC subscribers! I’ve posted the first four podcasts below in an exclusive free preview offer. After these first four, however, subsequent episodes will also be . . . free.
Don’t hesitate to write in if there’s a movie you’d like to hear us discuss.
Here are the first set:
All the President’s Men: What a movie, as they say. The third and final entry in Producer-Director Alan J. Pakula’s Paranoid Trilogy – all shot by Mr. Gordon Willis – and boasting a brilliant cast, and a story that everybody knows the end to, but is nevertheless grippingly suspenseful.
Taxi Driver: Schrader. Scorsese. De Niro. (You’re supposed to be thinking of the trailer for Eyes Wide Shut when you read that, please insert that chilling piano key thingy there.) An astonishing masterpiece. And we revisit that burning question: was Martin Scorsese “The Man Who Wasn’t There”?
Five Easy Pieces: “I remember the explosive laughter, the deep silences, the stunned attention as the final shot seemed to continue forever, and then the ovation,” Roger Ebert recalled. “We’d had a revelation. This was the direction American movies should take.” Also: did Jackson Browne wrote a song inspired by this movie? Tune in and find out.
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3: Another great cast, led by Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, who proves the “rule of the charismatic villain.” Of all the New York City 70s films, is this the Most New York City 70s film? As someone who was a regular rider on that very subway line, it seems that way to me. This would make a fine double feature with Drop Dead City
Next episode dropping soon – Let us know what you think!