On this episode we break down Jean Claude Van Damme's career, his rise and fall and rise again. How did this man from Brussels make it to Hollywood and become the biggest action star during the mid nineties? And how did he blow it all up and lose everything? A story of sex, drugs, alcohol, mental health issues, and overcoming all of it to come out …

"Saltburn" 2023 film, a strange, non conventional film, about the rich, the poor, the middle class, the psychotic, and a sort of "period" piece, circa 2006. On this episode we discuss the stylistic 2023 film Saltburn, a strange, shocking film, comparable to the Matt Damon film, "Talented Mr. Ripley. The meaning of being ultra rich billionaire and w…

On this Episode Andrew and Vartan breakdown the cinematic masterpiece Paris, Texas. Released in 1984 the film tells the story of Travis Henderson, a man with no memory lost in Texas.As Travis slowly gains his memories back, a story that seems like a mystery unfolds into a tale about family, loneliness, what it means to be a parent, and redemption. …

A special episode! An Oscar Episode! On this episode we list the top 10 Academy Award nominated movies of the last ten years. Covering 2013 to 2023, and of course, two extra films outside of the last decade thrown in as wild cards. We narrow these films down, discuss them, and why we loved them so much. We also narrow the list down to top 3, the re…

WERE BACK! No we were not cancelled folks. Just took a small break to collect our thoughts.In this episode we talk about the 2013 film THE HUNT! starring Mads Mikkelsen, directed by Thomas Vinterberg. The story follows a kindergarten teacher named Lucas, who is wrongfully accused of being inappropriate with one of the students. Soon all his friends…

Aladdin, Marvels Infinity Wars, Homers Odyssey. What do all these films have in common? They all stole from the 1989 hit movie Sinbad of the Seven Seas! So join us as we dive deep into how this great film was ripped off and all its ideas stolen by Blockbuster Hollywood Filmmakers. In this podcast episode, we delve into the 1987 film "Sinbad of the …

RUMBLE FISH! Nicholas Coppola involves into NICK CAGE! Plus Larry Fishbourne still exists and a whole cast of great actors and a down and out drunk, Dennis Hopper, makes a comeback. There's also a Mickey Rourke and Matt Dillon sighting. In the podcast episode about the film "Rumble Fish," we dive into Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. …

WE ARE BACK WITH A NEW EPISODE! WE MADE IT TO EPISODE 19. Bringing you your favorite movie podcast, THE MAGIC LANTERN. On this Episode we discuss HIGH LIFE 2018 Directed by Claire Denis. "High Life" is a 2018 science fiction film starring Robert Pattinson. In the movie, Pattinson plays a man who finds himself aboard a spacecraft filled with crimina…

THE GREAT ICONIC BURT REYNOLDS! We dive deep into the 1987 film Malone and take a look at the character he portrays and similar characters in the same genre like Rambo in First Blood and the John Wick Franchise. In the 1987 film "Malone," starring Burt Reynolds, Reynolds plays the role of Richard Malone, a former CIA agent who becomes embroiled in …

WE FINALLY STOPPED WATCHING SOVIET FILMS! In this thought-provoking podcast episode, we embark on a journey to understand the decline in popularity of Soviet films and explore how our cinematic preferences have evolved over time. But our exploration doesn't stop there. We also take a broader look at the diverse landscape of cinema, acknowledging th…

On this episode we watch the East German movie Apache 1973! and answer the question, which is better, Red Western vs Spaghetti Westerns, and how does John Wayne Stack up and why is Clint Eastwood still the GOAT? Directed by Gottfried Kolditz, this action-packed Eurowestern is based loosely on the legend of heroic Apache warrior Ulzana. Release date…

I summon the vampires! I summon the werewolves!... I summon Viy!Join us for the first ever Soviet Horror Film the 1967 Classic Viy. Starring Leonid Kuravlyov and Natalya Varley. 'Viy' tells the story of a young priest is ordered to preside over the wake of witch in a small old wooden church of a remote village. This means spending three nights alon…

Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (Russian: Кавказская пленница, или Новые приключения Шурика) Another Shurik adventure, starring the great Aleksandr Demyanenko, Natalya Varley, and the great Frunzik Mkrtchyan. We tackle more Soviet cinema with this one and of course we tackle brides and kidnapping brides. Prevailaint during the Soviet Era in some remote…

Join us as we embark on a new journey with better audio recording equipment and possible VIDEO!On this episode we dive deep into Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession (AKA Back to the Future). This film is based on the play Ivan Vasilievich by Mikhail Bulgakov. It was one of the most attended films in the Soviet Union in 1973, with more than 60 milli…

Local Georgian pilot Mimino dreams of flying airplanes for major international airlines. To realize his aspirations, he goes to Moscow where he encounters a fellow comrade from the Caucasus, the Armenian Rubik. Many misadventures ensue. That's right folks we are staying with the Soviet Cinema theme! and today we take a look at the 1977 Soviet film …

On this episode we look at the Soviet Armenian film the big win. Filmed in 1980 and starring the great Mher Frunzik Mkrtchyan, during the height of his career. The film takes place in Soviet Armenia and Yerevan. You can find the film on YouTube or sign up to watch on kinodaran.com

We take a look back at the 2011 Film starring Nick Cage 'Drive Angry.' Just like we started the first episode we start episode 10 with a Nick Cage movie. Starring Nick Cage and Amber Heard, Drive Angry was released in 2011 as a 3D movie. If you can manage to get your hands on the 3D Blu-ray for this film. Drive Angry, is a comedy, a horror movie, a…

Andrew and Vartan tackle a serious topic. Bullying, gun violence, and what it means to be a teenager in 1980 Chicago. They talk about the movie My Bodyguard starring Chris Makepeace, Matt Dillion and a Baldwin not related to the Baldwin clan, Adam Baldwin. They also discuss the next film coming up on episode 10, a very special Nick Cage episode, an…

On this episode we take on the movie Mute, released in 2018, starring Alexander Skarsgard and Paul Rudd. Exploring themes of love, affection, and loneliness, without the ability to express oneself, Mute was released in 2018 on Netflix. A German and English. A mute man injured at a young age without the ability to speak, must go searching for his lo…

On this episode we discuss the 1992 film 'Stay Tuned' before Meta was Meta and before the Multiverse of Madness, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, there was the movie Stay Tuned. Released in 1992 the movie did poorly at the box office but the screenwriter made out like a bandit, selling the screenplay for a crazy amount of money. A husband and…

On this episode we break down the 1986 class Troll. With tons of practical effects and beautiful makeup. This is a classic 80s gem. Shot on a low budget somewhere in Italy, the movie would go on to make 5 times its budget and lead to Trolls 2 which has nothing to do with this movie, oh and Trolls 3 which has nothing to do with Trolls 2. Sit back an…

This weeks episode we take a look at 1989s Cyborg THE MOVIE! starring Jean Claude Van Damme. A sort of Mad Max like future in post apocalyptic Atlanta the movie has great scenes, so so acting, and editing that makes no sense, but is still watchable. Shot for a low budget of half a million, the movie was a success, making way for a slew of hits for …

On this episode we dive deep into the movie with 3 names, commonly known as Super Fuzz. Shot in Miami with a poster of New York, the film is a prequel to most MCU and modern super hero films. The Legendary director Django, Navajo Joe, Sergio Corbucci, cranks out another one. At times funny and at times making little to no sense, this one is a can't…

The team Andrew and Vartan break down the film King of New York. Released in 1990 it is a cult classic with a large following. But what the duo think? Is it worth all the hype all these years later. Very stylistic and violent the movie would pave the way for such knock offs as New Jack City and Department. Join us and let us know what you think of …

on this episode we talk about the 1980s epic fantasy film 'Willow' directed by Ron Howard created by George Lucas with special effects done by Industrial Light and Magic. Sit back and enjoy as Andrew and Vartan discuss its similarities to other films, the hobbit connection and Peter Jackson.Par The Magic Lantern

On this episode the team Andrew and Vartan discuss 2018 film Mandy directed by Panos Casmatos, staring Nick Cage. a psychedelic thriller horror movie that doesn’t really fit into any category. A tale of love murder and revenge. The film takes wild unexpected turns and explores out of this world madness through the eyes of Mandy and her lover Red Mi…

Where have the boys been? Battling in the far off year of 2022! Catch up on their new viewings as they attempt to start season 5! You can find the gang at:IG: @magiclanternpodTwitter: @magiclanternpodFB: Magic Lantern ShowAnd these specific boys on:INSTAGRAM@ravensgatecollectibles@punkrockhudson@thenebulablues…

Watership Down (Rosen, 1978) is, without a doubt, one of the pivotal cinematic experiences in my life. It captivated me at a very young age with its danger and darkness. It also taught me a number of valuable lessons, things I have thought about ever since. Fortune favoring the bold… The post Episode 172 – Watership Down appeared first on The Magic…

Seven Samurai (Kurosawa, 1954) is truly a foundational film, not just of Japanese cinema, but of world cinema. Because it is has become a touchstone for so many tropes and devices that we recognize today, you might think that it is a stuffy film, or a hard slog because of… The post Episode 171 – Seven Samurai appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

The fabled episode lost to the grasps of Covid, finally unearthed to unwashed masses. We talk aliens in science fiction films, KFC “Famous” Bowls, Venom kinks and Brandon gives a live reaction to the very old trailer to Arrival.

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! In this episode, The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2021, we once again bring you our list of viewing tricks and treats to celebrate the season. We watched one Halloween inspired title every day in October and now pass the list and our… The post Episode 170 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2021 appeared first on The…

The Cole-o-ween festivities roll on here at Lantern HQ! This time around we are discussing one of our favorite underappreciated zombie classics, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (Grau, 1974). This one has it all – beautiful locations, social commentary, hideous reanimated dead, and genuine scares. It acts as a bit of… The post Episode 169 – Let Sleeping Co…

Is there anything you find impossible to watch? Or how about just very difficult? For me, The Invisible Man (Whannell, 2020) is that film. I do have some personal history that makes what Cecelia is going through exceptionally poignant, but even without that sort of connection, I suspect a lot… The post Episode 168 – The Invisible Man appeared first…

Gray’s Anatomy (Soderbergh, 1996) is the last proper cinematic monologue we have from Spalding Gray. That’s a little ironic. Here, he navigates neuroses, a serious eye injury, and what he terms the Bermuda Triangle of health to come out the other side a little wiser, more experienced, and with his… The post Episode 167 – Gray’s Anatomy appeared fir…

Harlan County, USA (Kopple, 1976) is still a gut punch some fifty years later. Watching the violent and bloody events unfold as miners strike to be recognized for their union organization, for better wages and more safety measures, and simply to live by the end of their shift, their voices… The post Episode 166 – Harlan County, USA appeared first o…

Shadow of a Doubt (Hitchcock, 1943) was a turning point in the career of the master of suspense. It was reportedly Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite film he ever made. It is also what I consider to be his first truly American film. Once he looked into small town America’s heart of… The post Episode 165 – Shadow of a Doubt appeared first on The Magic Lant…

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Hill, 1969) is a delight to watch time and again, a true piece of entertainment that seems to hit all the right notes. Surprisingly, the film was not an immediate hit with some critics or with directors like John Boorman who were confounded by… The post Episode 164 – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid appeared fi…

The Last Picture Show (Bogdanovich, 1971) will break your heart in a million different ways, all of them Texan. As an expatriate from a town very much like this, it hits me where I live. I’ve seen those fights on Main Street between guys who were best friends and will… The post Episode 163 – The Last Picture Show appeared first on The Magic Lantern…

When we first see Mona, she is already dead. In Vagabond (1985), Agnès Varda then sets about to reconstruct the last days and weeks of this young woman’s life, as witnessed and retold through the eyes of others. We learn that none of these people really seemed to know Mona,… The post Episode 162 – Vagabond appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

Gillian Armstrong’s My Brilliant Career (1979) belongs to a special category of films in my personal canon. Sometimes a movie hits you like a bolt out of the blue and you know it is going to be a permanent fixture on your list of favorite films of all time. The… The post Episode 161 – My Brilliant Career appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

Is Rushmore (1998) your favorite Wes Anderson film? It is certainly mine. When I first saw it in the theater when I was about 22, it hit me where I lived. This rich vein of the blackest comedy combined with pathos of a young man’s singular saga delighted and moved… The post Episode 160 – Rushmore appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

We owe a debt of gratitude to Tremors (Underwood, 1990). Its arrival kicked off another boom cycle for one of our favorite subgenres – the creature feature! About every twenty years we get a new permutation of this subgenre and now it was the nineties’ turn. It was time for… The post Episode 159 – Tremors appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

Is Diabolique (Clouzot, 1955) a film noir or a thriller? We firmly assert that it is one of the most delectable, and yes, diabolical noir masterpieces to come out of the 1950s. That it manages to be thrilling as well is a testament to the deft hand of Henri-Georges Clouzot,… The post Episode 158 – Diabolique appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

It’s May again! And you know what that means around these parts – film noir. We are in our second year of the Noir City festival postponement in Austin due to COVID, but we are soldiering on with some of our favorite titles that fall under the broad heading of… The post Episode 157 – The Square appeared first on The Magic Lantern.…

By special invitation from Mira Nair, we are guests at the raucous, glorious, marigold-covered Monsoon Wedding (2001). Delhi, its sights and sounds, its people, its rains, and its power outages are the setting for the traditional wedding ceremony set to consecrate the arranged marriage of Aditi Verma to Hemant Rai.… The post Episode 156 – Monsoon W…

Much like the electric light, telegraph, and motion pictures it chronicles, My Twentieth Century (Enyedi, 1989) is a marvel of its age. Luminous to the point of transcendence, it is quite simply one of the most beautiful things ever committed to film. The divergent paths of our twin protagonists Dóra… The post Episode 155 – My Twentieth Century app…

Rapturous. This word perfectly describes my feelings about A Room with a View (Ivory, 1985). You could also use this word to describe my feelings about the scenery, the performances, the score, the costuming, and Italy itself. I have been saving this gem since we started the podcast, and it… The post Episode 154 – A Room with a View appeared first …

I carry a particular impression with me about Robert Bresson’s L’Argent (1983). It strikes me as a stately and austere museum whose only exhibit is devoted to the artifacts of a tragic and deadly crime. As I wander its minimalist halls, I am met with object lessons and vivid displays… The post Episode 153 – L’Argent appeared first on The Magic Lant…

Julie Dash’s Daughters of the Dust (1991) is a groundbreaking and timeless film. It was the first feature film directed by an African-American woman distributed theatrically in the United States. It was a visual and artistic triumph, earning a Best Cinematography award at Sundance for Director of Photography Arthur Jafa.… The post Episode 152 – Dau…