257 - Kill Bill - Vol. 1
We're here celebrating a 20th anniversary for a beloved film this week, listeners! After his longest break between movies to date, Quentin Tarantino delivered a samurai epic while trying to crack the script for another epic, Inglourious Basterds. That ultraviolent actioner, Kill Bill, would also reunite Tarantino with his Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman, given a major showcase as an unnamed blood soaked bride bent on vengeance. But Tarantino made so much movie, it had to be split into two.
Vol. 1 arrived in 2003 and became a sizable hit, wild mild critical praise that didn't quite know what to do with its non-stop violence, time-hopping structure, and incomplete narrative arc. This episode, we talk about Kill Bill - Vol. 1's excellent female ensemble, its triumph at the MTV Movie Awards, and the all-timer needle drop "Battle Without Honor or Humanity".
Topics also include first experiencing the film's cliffhanger, its strong performance at BAFTA, and early aughts trailer descriptions.
Links:
The 2003 Academy Awards
Vulture Movies Fantasy League
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Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and Death Wish V: The Face of Death will be released on Blu-ray on September 26 via Kino Lorber. Death Wish star Charles Bronson returns as vigilante Paul Kersey in the series' final two installments.
1987's Death Wish 4 is directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear, Happy Birthday to Me) and written by Gail Morgan Hickman (The Enforcer). Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan, Perry Lopez, Danny Trejo, Soon-Tek Oh, and George Dickerson co-star.
1994's Death Wish V is written and directed by Allan A. Goldstein (2001: A Space Travesty). Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Parks, Robert Joy, Saul Rubinek, and Kenneth Welsh co-star.
Special features for both titles can be found below.
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown special features:
Audio commentary by Bronson's Loose: The Making of the Death Wish Films author Paul Talbot
Theatrical trailer
Haunted by his violent past, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) struggles to forget the brutal deaths of his loved ones—and his obsessive one-man battle to avenge their murders. But when a dose of toxic “crack” kills the young daughter of his new girlfriend (Kay Lenz), Kersey again becomes the infamous urban vigilante. Vowing to wipe out the entire cocaine network of L.A., he skillfully lures two vicious, competing drug empires into a bloody turf war. But there’s a sinister force behind the scenes (John P. Ryan) with his own diabolical plans for Kersey.
Pre-order Death Wish 4: The Crackdown.
Death Wish V: The Face of Death special features:
Audio commentary by Bronson's Loose: The Making of the Death Wish Films author Paul Talbot
Theatrical trailer
After battling on the streets in cities from coast-to-coast, vigilante Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has moved back to New York. But when his beautiful fiancée Olivia (Lesley-Anne Down) is killed and her daughter is kidnapped by a kingpin of the underworld, Kersey finds himself back in the war. Kersey’s plan to live anonymously is shattered when he learns his fiancée was the victim of a protection racket run by her ex-husband, the psychotic Tommy O’Shea (Michael Parks). One by one Kersey hunts down the criminals. Once again, upholding the law becomes his way of life. And this time, it’s for good.
Pre-order Death Wish V: The Face of Death.
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“We now return to Then Came Bronson.”
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258 - Kill Bill - Vol. 2
Last week we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kill Bill - Vol. 1, so naturally we had to bring you Vol. 2 this week! Six months after the release of the original (and its shafting at the Oscars), The Bride returned to finish her vengeance list and kill that Bill. Surprisingly, the finale earned stronger reviews and earned praise for David Carradine's turn as the titular assassin. But even with Uma Thurman's towering work coming into full focus at the story's close, Vol. 2 marked one of the last times that Oscar would decide Tarantino wasn't in their wheelhouse.
This episode, we look at how the two films differ and how some scenes may have played in one long film. We also talk about Daryl Hannah's career, why we think the film received better reviews than its predecessor, and Beatrix Kiddo's travel logistics.
Topics also include David Carradine's position in the 2004 Supporting Actor race, Uma post-Bill, and the most recent Best Picture nominee we haven't seen.
Links:
The 2004 Academy Awards
Vulture Movies Fantasy League
Subscribe:
Patreon
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Play
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