Episode 37: Anvil! The Story of Anvil

This week on Remainders we watch the 2019 documentary 63 Up. Part of the long-running British film series that started in the 1960s, The Up Series has been following its cast of characters since they were 7 years old. Originally intended as a study on the British class system, their personal lives have become the purpose over the decades of filming. About as unique of a film project as can be, and a clear influence on contemporary directors like Richard Linklater, this epic story of regular people continues to unfold.

Other topics include A.I. and movies, social media and The Up Series prediction of social fame, rewatching Tenet and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 90s movies, and how Anthony Hopkins punches a bear in The Edge.

Songs of the Week

Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime by Beck

Blues and Sentimental by Jay McShann

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On this episode of Remainders, we watch the 2002 biographical comedy drama 24 Hour Party People. Steve Coogan plays Tony Wilson and follows his work in late 1970s and early 1980s post-punk with such bands as Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays. Consistently breaking the fourth wall tied together with Coogan’s brand of snark, the story of Manchester in the 70s is a pivotal piece in the history of modern music.

Other topics include Poor Things and Yorgos Lanthimos, Russell Mulcahy movies, True Detective, the idea of “selling out”, personal punk and post-punk influences, Oasis drama, the work of Billy Childish, and more British rock.

Songs of the Week

She’s Electric by Oasis

We’er Gone by Thee Headcoats

Wild Man by Thee Headcoatees

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This week on Remainders, we watch the 1974 horror-comedy rock opera Phantom of the Paradise. A cult classic by Brian De Palma, Phantom has gained notoriety in the decades since its release thanks in part to De Palma’s legendary filmography, but also because of a small but rabid fan base that hails to this insane mashup of horror and glam rock.

Other topics include Killers of the Flower Moon, Chicago legends Siskel & Ebert and Tom Skilling, January movie marathons, Godzilla Minus One and the Oscars, new Criterion pickups and the lost art of movie posters.

Songs of the Week

Goodbye Eddie, Goodbye by The Juicy Fruits

Dilemma by Green Day

Don’t Toss Us Away by Lone Justice

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This week on Remainders, we watched the 2001 Icelandic fantasy-drama No Such Thing. Directed by Hal Hartley, with a stealthily great cast and aspirations to surreal stories like Beauty and the Beast and Beowulf, No Such Thing tries to have its cake and eat it too. A throwback pick to the era of endless DVDs, revisiting this drama leads to some surreal and honest opinions on the movies and how they age.

Other topics include TLB in Chicago, Godzilla Minus One, Ti West and Mia Goth’s X-trilogy, favorite movie experiences of 2023, Star Wars commentaries and Tony Gilroy, physical media corner, and how black metal can save a movie.

Songs of the Week

Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer

Love is a Long Road by Tom Petty

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This week on Remainders, we watch the 2009 movie Trash Humpers. A piece of post-cinema and experimental insanity by Harmony Korine (Gummo, Spring Breakers), Trash Humpers is a practice in hedonistic voyeurism, found-footage VHS, elder depravity, and plenty of garbage. A movie that questions what even is a movie, it’s another great example of Korine’s exploration into erratic places in film.

Other topics include praise for Andor and defending the Star Wars prequels, Lord of the Rings as Christmas movies, streaming woes, The Holdovers and Alexander Payne, visiting the Music Box Theatre, Plain White T’s and TLB in Chicago, and Darren on the To the Bottom podcast.

Songs of the Week

Somebody That I Used To Know by Elliot Smith

Smoke & Mirrors by The Hives

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This week on Remainders, we celebrate our 50th episode in style with the 1987 satirical classic, RoboCop. The story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop who is executed only to be remade by corporate America as the ultimate police enforcer. Paul Verhoeven’s action movie could be viewed as just a seminal piece of 80s action filmmaking, but that would still be selling it short. RoboCop builds upon ideas of capitalism, creeping fascism, and media propaganda in a way that very few movies can manage. I’d buy that for a dollar!

Other topics include Darren’s work at the When We Were Young festival, Halloween movies, the Music Box Theatre’s 24-hour horror festival, 1980’s Alligator and other creature features, Scorsese and first impressions of Killers of the Flower Moon, and upcoming TLB and Plain White T’s shows.

Songs of the Week

Wishes by Beach House

Looking For The Magic by The Dwight Twilley Band

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This week on Remainders, we discuss the 2016 film Manchester By the Sea. A story of grief, depression, trauma and confronting the past, Kenneth Lonergan directs a movie that manages to deal with these difficult themes while also showing the imperfections in life and the awkward, sometimes funny moments in between. A case of realism with a touch of levity, Casey Affleck plays Lee, a man who upon losing his brother must step into the parental role for his nephew, played by Lucas Hedges. Both give incredible performances and let’s the audience feel for their characters as they are exposed and vulnerable in times of death.

Other topics include best performances by Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, Darren’s upcoming Punk Rock & Paintbrushes at When We Were Young festival, recent and upcoming live shows, the month of Friday the 13th marathons, and Elvis in the movies.

Songs of the Week

See See Rider by LaVern Baker

Shake Some Action by the Flamin’ Groovies

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This week on Remainders, we talk the 2007 gem The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Partially forgotten and possibly overshadowed by No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood upon its release, Assassination is absolutely an essential modern western. Brad Pitt plays Jesse James who is put on a pedestal by Casey Affleck’s Robert Ford. As Ford idolizes and fawns over James and tries to become one of the gang, he learns the man and the myth do not align. A story about paranoia and disillusionment that is both poetic and dreamlike, elevated by Roger Deakins’ cinematography and Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ epic score.

Other topics include the woes of streaming, Kurt Russell battling Godzilla, what makes for a great film score, the sad Affleck brothers, and difficulties with tongue twister movie titles.

Songs of the Week

Blame Brett by The Beaches

Ready Steady Go by Solid State Radio

Frank and Jesse James by Warren Zevon

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This week on Remainders we watch The Big Heat. A gripping 1953 film noir directed by Fritz Lang, The Big Heat follows determined detective Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) as he exposes corruption within his own department after a fellow officer's death. Gloria Grahame is essential as one of Darren’s all-time picks for noir femme fatales. With intense performances, dark atmosphere, and themes of corruption and justice, it's a stellar noir standout.  

Other topics include William Friedkin and Peter Jackson commentaries, physical media corner, hangout movies, the new Hives album, the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre video game and Matthew McConaughey’s rise the Texas Chainsaw franchise, and hoping for an equally cinematic gaming experience with the upcoming Killer Klowns from Outer Space video game.

Songs of the Week

BloodRedMoon by Ha Ha Tonka

Sing Me Back Home by The Flying Burrito Brothers

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This week on Remainders we discuss the 2018 crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. From director S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99), Dragged stars Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn as two cops caught committing police brutality who turn to robbing criminals out of desperation. Filled with his trademark violence and considerable runtime, Dragged is a movie that further cements Zahler as one of the best working directors today.

Other topics include the passing of Paul Reubens, Rodriguez and William Friedkin, Jon Hamm and his jump from drama to comedy, the Meg 2 and how bad shark movies can get, A24’s Talk to Me, violence in film, Peter Jackson commentaries, the best time of the day to watch grindhouse movies, and the perennial favorite Cool as Ice.

Songs of the Week

Love Must Have Passed Me By, by Bobby Vee

Den minsta av segrar, by 1900

I’ll Slip Away, by Rodriguez

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