Four Play (Last Free Nation)

Vampire films from the 1980s take the stage as the next genre for Four Play, kicking off with Tony Scott's The Hunger from 1983. The movie relishes in emerging Goth music, culture, and aesthetics during the period while simultaneously exploring the torturous downsides of eternal life. The Hunger is beautifully shot and paced, allowing it to provide an excellent viewing experience in spite of an understated plot and hokey ending. David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon feature in the film as it uses its star-power to explore the fleeting nature of fame.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two Ridley Scott films close out our Sword-and-Sandal Arc, the legendary Gladiator from 2000 and the repetitively terrible Gladiator 2 from 2024. While iconic performances from Russell Crowe, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, and Joaquin Ph

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code FOURPLAY at https://www.shopmando.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Denis Villeneuve's two Dune movies from 2021 and 2024 have created a massive cultural impact and are being considered a new generation's "Star Wars." Thorin, Richard, and Monte pierce the hype of these films after multiple viewings and discuss how they lack a thematic core and end up pedantically issuing a message instead of raising thoughtful questions or being open to interpretation. The films certainly present a shiny, compelling aesthetic, but the vibes are only skin deep and pale in comparison to the texture and depth of the novels. Unlike other Villeneuve films that reward rewatching, the Dune films flaws show up more heavily on repeated viewings and are unlikely to age well in the years ahead.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Near Dark, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and released in 1987, takes an unusual approach in examining the practical realities of being a vampire in modern times and the difficulties in living with such extreme strengths and weaknesses. While other films in our 1980s vampire genre may have glorified undeath, Near Dark presents vampirism as a true curse and a horrific plague upon normal humans. Richard, Thorin, and Monte praise the films standout scenes, especially with the iconic performances by Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen, while lamenting the strangely "feel-good" ending.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four Play's new Sword-and-Sandal arc takes us back to the age of Hollywood epics with 1959's legendary Ben-Hur. The film weaves in the birth of Christianity into the background of the heartbreaking story of the titular character Judah Ben-Hur, played by the legendary Charlton Heston. The most expensive movie ever made when it released, Ben-Hur achieves a scope of sets, costumes, extras, and an iconic chariot racing sequence almost unrivaled in cinema history. The movie remains one of the most influential ever made and a must-watch for understanding the history of film and appreciating its breathtaking scope.

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code FOURPLAY at https://www.shopmando.com!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four Play reviews "The 13th Warrior"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We thought Batman Returns was good. As it turns out, Tim Burton's 1992 movie lived in Richard, Thorin, and Monte's minds in rosy nostalgia that simply didn't hold up 30 years later. The terrible writing, plot, and dialogue drags down a film with a large budget, extraordinary visuals, and a good cast. Filled with a strange mélange of campiness and blatant sexuality, the tone completely misses the mark. Furthermore, why would anyone ever make a Batman film with hardly any Batman in the movie?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Four Play watches our first Korean film: Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum directed by Jung Bum-shik in 2018. The film is part of the found footage horror genre, popularized by other movies like the Blair Witch Project, but takes an extremely modern approach using YouTube and livestreaming to make the premise seem fresh and relevant today. While the storyline may be a weak point, Gonjiam delivers and excellent premise and incredible editing that makes the movie feel like a well-wrought haunted house.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We start our new Four Play arc with our first focus on a director, Denis Villeneuve. Lately celebrated for his Dune films, we dive into his back catalog and begin with 2016's Arrival. Like Dune, Arrival is an adaptation of a science-fiction text, and takes an intellectual approach to the concept of first contact and the ensuring geo-political consequences. Ultimately, Arrival focuses on personal decisions made in the freedom of non-linear time and calls upon viewers to examine their ethics and the nature of life and death.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We kick off a new arc with the works of director Robert Eggers, focusing on his debut feature film 'The Witch.' We explore the psychological and supernatural elements of this chilling 2015 horror film, set in 17th-century Puritan New England, that has since become a modern classic. Join us as we analyze the cultural impact, historical accuracy, religious undertones, and cinematographic artistry that makes 'The Witch' stand out. This discussion also touches on Eggers' meticulous research, the film's young breakout star Anya Taylor-Joy, and comparisons with other horror masterpieces. Prepare for an in-depth exploration of one of the most unsettling films of the last decade.

Get 10% off your Ridge wallet by using code FP at https://www.Ridge.com/FP

Denis Villeneuve's 2015 film Sicario focuses on the drug trade and the law enforcement war on the Mexican-American border, leading the viewer into a morally ambiguous quagmire where the ends always seem to justify the means. An outstanding cast is led by Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin offering some of the most iconic performances of their careers and lending weight to a relatively simplistic story. As our hosts explain, Sicario works because of the performances, characters, and weighty themes that prop up a predictable narrative filled with tropes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Touch of Evil, directed by Orson Welles in 1958, is the second step on our journey through Film Noir. Thorin, Richard, and Monte discuss Welles' spectacular performance as a despicable detective, the racial themes behind the film, the casting of Charlton Heston as a Mexican police officer, and more. They dive into the films theme of the ends justifying the means and the racial commentary on the Mexican-American border as part of this surprisingly deep film.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our "Money Shot" arc features each of our hosts selecting a film that they believe the rest of the group will enjoy. We begin with MonteCristo's pick: Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, this film opened to rave reviews and box office success. It also remains culturally relevant and memeable to this day. However, the film is not without its flaws, especially in the ways that John Hammond's character strays from the source material. How does this beloved classic hold up after over 30 years? Watch along with us and decide for yourself!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A campy werewolf murder mystery cut from the cloth of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," 1972's The Beast Must Die mashes up blaxploitation and horror courtesy of Amicus Productions. Richard selected this movie for our Spit Roast arc and defends its virtues while acknowledging its awkward pacing, unnecessary scenes, and infamous "werewolf break." The casting of classic British actors like Peter Cushing and Michael Gambon strengthen the film, as does the standout performance of Calvin Lockhart in the leading role, but they can only do so much in a mess of a movie.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We follow up Ben-Hur with another Hollywood epic, 1960's Spartacus directed by Stanley Kubrick. While set in the era of the Roman Republic, the film obliquely tackles many subjects of its era including McCarthyism, communist revolution, and the legacy of slavery. With stand-out performances by Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Peter Ustinov, Spartacus delivers an entertaining spectacle whose legacy continued to influence films like Gladiator decades later.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible film debuted in 1996 and created a multi-decade film franchise that continues to this day. Director Brian De Palma created a surprisingly complex storyline, at least for a Hollywood popcorn flick, that focuses around an espionage mole hunt with a surprising twist. The movie delivers the single most iconic scene of computer hacking in film history as well as other highly memorable sequences that have held up well as the decades passed. While not entirely coherent and with some questionable cinematography at times, Mission: Impossible remains a fun and iconic movie worth revisiting.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Total Recall stands apart from our other 90's action films in this Four Play cycle through its cutting satire, intriguing themes on the nature of reality, and genuine intelligence. Paul Verhoeven's 1990 science-fiction banger was frequently misinterpreted upon its release but has aged beautifully in spite of the gratuitous violence and cheesy acting by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film toys with its main character's reality through his memory implants and leaves interpretation to the audience as to whether the film's plot happened on Mars or in Quaid's head. Total Recall injects gratuitous violence and action as a send-up of American cinema while raising intriguing questions on the manipulations of mass media and authoritarianism.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Master, released in 2012, might be Paul Thomas Anderson's best movie. Featuring stellar performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams, The Master offers an artistically rich portrayal of a cult with parallels to Scientology. Character-driven and difficult, the film presents audiences with enigmatic characters, bizarre relationships, and unique symbolism. While certainly not for everyone, The Master is a remarkable accomplishment from a seasoned writer/director that continues to reward for repeat viewings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the unfortunate passing of David Lynch, the Four Play hosts decided to dedicate this arc to the director and his unique vision in cinema. The 1986 film Blue Velvet still stands as an all-time classic with memorable performances by Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini and a signature touch of Lynch's surrealism. The film mixes Lynch's love of Americana with a shocking exploration of sexual violence and the dark activities of the criminal underworld.

We put on our trench coats and fedoras to investigate four different movies in the Film Noir genre, beginning with John Huston's The Maltese Falcon from 1941. This film remains the perfect starting point for exploring Film Noir and served as a blueprint for dozens of future movie in the following decades. It brims with exceptional acting performances by Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, underscored by fantastic and memorable dialogue. While not exploring the deeper and more artistic themes of subsequent films, it delves into the extreme extent that individuals will go to satiate their greed. Ultimately, The Maltese Falcon remains a cornerstone movie that must be understood to appreciate a huge swath of film history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Money Shot Arc continues with Richard's pick of Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. While this film borrows some ideas from The Godfather, it instead focuses on the lower-level underbelly of organized crime, showing the brutal and unglamorous side of organized crime. We also explore the connections between this film and HBO's The Sopranos, Joe Pesci's terrifically terrifying performance, and the film's controversial ending.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Con Air takes flight this week's Four Play, featuring a cast brimming with top stars and character actors from 1997. The film serves up some amazing action sequences, stunt work, and excellent over-the-top performances, which should leave viewers satisfied if they "buy in" to the absurd premise. Even the movie's obvious flaws, such as the overly fast pacing, terrible writing, and massive plot holes are also hilarious to discuss given the over-the-top tone. While certainly not a subtle or artistic piece of cinema, Con Air serves its role well as one of the ultimate popcorn action flicks and stands as a symbol of the genre's excesses in the late 1990's.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of us have fond memories of Event Horizon (1997), considered Paul W.S. Anderson's best film, but how does it hold up over 25 years later? Richard, Monte, and Thorin discuss the excellent concept and set-up of the movie, which gets unfortunately bogged down by a clunky ending and hilariously bad dialogue. The film liberally steals visuals and scenes from other, better movies and ultimately fails to deliver on an intriguing premise. Sam Neill turns in a wonderfully cheesy performance as one of the high points alongside some enduring production design and visual imagery that has aged relatively well. The boys wrap up with re-evaluating Event Horizon's legacy and place in the cosmic horror genre.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Often considered one of the greatest films ever made, Roman Polanski's 1974 Film Noir masterpiece Chinatown explores themes of corruption and the futility of fighting against institutional power. Richard, Monte, and Thorin discuss the devastating ending, the banality of the water rights subject matter, the impeccable pacing, and more. They ask if Jack Nicholson's performance is even necessary to this film, especially contrasted to John Huston's dazzling acting in a supporting role, and explore Faye Dunaway's diva turn. Why even call the film Chinatown and what does it say about the perception of the Chinese as The Other?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We return to Wolfgang Petersen's Troy: Director's Cut 20 years after its initial release and discover a film that's aged surprisingly well. Featuring an incredible cast including Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Peter O'Toole, Sean Bean, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, and Orlando Bloom, Troy is carried by the actors' strong performances. While not strictly true to the Iliad, Troy's daring attempt to place the Trojan War on film deserves praise, as do the incredible combat and battle sequences. While the quality is incredibly uneven and varies scene-to-scene, our hosts are willing to cope with the awful Achilles-Briseis romantic arc to enjoy the well-told stories of Hector and Priam.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue our David Lynch arc with his 1990 film 'Wild at Heart.' This episode dissects the film's frenetic energy, its blend of surrealism and conventional storytelling, and its status as a Southern Gothic road movie. We examine standout performances by Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, discuss the film's controversial scenes and critical reception, specifically Roger Ebert's divisive review, and explore Lynch's recurring themes of innocence, optimism, and Americana. Tune in for a comprehensive look at one of Lynch's most fascinating films.

Bill Murray led film Scrooged as a 1988 re-telling of the classic Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol, directed by Richard Donner. Four Play examines the success of this modern framing, which sees Murray as television station executive Frank Cross, who undergoes encounters with the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. The film serves up some brilliant satire and witty dialogue, but stumbles at the finish line with a wordy ending and a failure to live up to the meta-narrative the film creates. Our hosts still had fun and memorable time with Scrooged, but as the screenplay writers themselves admitted after the fact, it falls a tad short of being an all-time Christmas classic.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sidney Lumet's 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon focuses on an intimate cast of characters during a tense hostage negotiation after a robbery gone wrong. Touching on American social issues and adapted from a true story, the film provides a vehicle for a sympathetic powerhouse performance from a young Al Pacino. The movie deals with modern themes, such as the distorting power of the media and the implications of going to prison as the central crime spirals out of control. Monte, Richard, and Thorin discuss the historical context in which the film was made as well as the real robbery that inspired Dog Day Afternoon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hard Eight kicks off our Paul Thomas Anderson arc as we focus on his first feature length film, which very few people have seen. Boasting a stunning cast of many actors before they became famous, including John C. Reilly, Philip Baker Hall, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the film delivers extraordinary performances. The movie was made on a small $3 million budget and therefore focuses on the dialogue and performances in intimate locations instead of extensive action. Hard Eight serves as a foundation for understanding PTA's oeuvre and we heartily recommend watching it before delving deeper into his catalogue.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Godfather, an American epic gangster film which debuted in 1972, is Thorin's selection for the Money Shot arc. Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, director Francis Ford Coppola weaves an engaging story centered around the transformation of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone into a hardened mafia boss. Marlon Brando stands out in his role as the titular "Godfather," but the rest of the ensemble cast deliver strong performances as well. The Godfather remains one of the best films ever created, even after over 50 years since its release.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lost Boys, directed in 1987 by Joel Schumacher, became an unlikely hit film with teenagers of the era as it married California beach life, trendy aesthetics, and the seductiveness of vampires. Richard, Thorin, and MonteCristo discuss this excellent film as the pinnacle of coolness of the era alongside its deeper themes of peer pressure and homosexuality. Kiefer Sutherland delivers an excellent performance, as does the rest of the cast including the first time Corey Feldman and Corey Haim appeared on film together. The Lost Boys has left a significant legacy on a generation's perception of the sexiness and glamor of vampires, as the movie presents few of the downsides to eternal life explored in other films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's breakout film Cure released in 1997 and, over the years, has become both a cult classic and darling of modern directors. Uniquely disturbing and brilliant, Cure begins as a police procedural and then dives into a totally unique atmosphere of dread as the mesmerist Mamiya confounds his rival, the detective Takabe. The film uses visuals and background sound to hypnotize the audience while treating violence as almost incidental or inconsequential, leading to a sickening mismatch between on-screen action and tone. A masterpiece of story and direction, Cure also delivers incredible performances from the two lead actors, Koji Yakusho and Masato Hagiwara.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Mann's 1995 film Heat finally arrives on Four Play, an inevitable addition to the show since it's one of all of our hosts' favorite films. Not only an excellent heist movie, Heat is unbelievably well-crafted with characters and a scope that smacks of Shakespearian or Greek tragedies. Richard, Thorin, and Monte discuss the themes of criminality, compulsion to vocation, and the satisfying conclusion to every character's arc. They celebrate the incredible cast, particularly the iconic performances of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Tom Sizemore, and Val Kilmer whose interplay forms the heart of the film. Heat deserves your attention and multiple viewings. We keep coming back to it, and so should you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The timeless classic Casablanca from 1942 closes our Money Shot arc with one of Roger Ebert's top films of all time. Featuring iconic performances from Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains, the film deftly portrays the confusion and chaos of World War II even in a seemingly far-flung Moroccan city. Thorin, Richard, and Monte discuss the themes of self-sacrifice, lost love, and duty to a higher cause that permeate the movie as well as explaining important historical context.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guy Ritchie's 2005 film Revolver is Thorin's selection for the Spit Roast arc, a film that tries to meld a British gangster caper with high-minded metaphysical themes. Allegedly caught up in spiritualism by his wife Madonna, Ritchie's creates an overloaded mess of a film that attempts to do everything at once and ends up doing it all quite badly. The criminal subplots overcomplicate a vapid and simplistic attempt at commentary on the importance of the subversion of the ego, often with direct and obvious footage and quotes forced upon the audience. Revolver never allows the viewer to form their own interpretation of the drama because Ritchie needs to spell out the film's meaning, leaving us a rather dull piece of art. Still, the film's style and performances give occasional glimmers and one can see the possibility of something greater not achieved.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Holland's Fright Night (1985) serves as the second 1980s vampire film explored on Four Play as our hosts dive into this teenage comedy/horror. The movie is simultaneously a love letter to classic horror b movies, an exploration of teenage sexual awakening, and a spectacular display of action and practical effects. While the actors portraying the teenagers might not be the strongest in comparison to other films of the era, Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon provide excellent performances that propel a cleverly written, entertaining film. Fright Night also features some surprising homoerotic and homosexual themes that, although less explicit than other ideas explored in the film, reveal aspects of the 1980s American zeitgeist.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The logical endpoint of Film Noir, Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential stands apart as a buffet of Noir tropes devoured by a masterful cast. It serves as the ultimate movie of its genre, mashing together institutional corruption, prostitution, drugs, the seedy Hollywood underbelly, racism, and ethical policing. Upon re-viewing, Richard, Thorin, and Monte agree that it must be one of the most criminally underrated movies and possibly deserving a place on lists of the 100 best films of all-time. They discuss the intricate interplay between the three leading actors, played by Russell Crowe, Guy Pierce, and Kevin Spacey, the superb location scouting and cinematography, the intelligent complexities of the plot, and more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Garland's 2018 film Annihilation continues the Cosmic Horror theme on Four Play, as Richard, Monte, and Thorin discuss the themes that evolve beyond the shimmer. Is the film about trauma, the experience of cancer, the fundamental human drive toward self-destruction? The Four Play crew also digs deep into the symbolism embedded in the film and how the beauty of the production design, soundtrack, and cinematography helps to create a compelling alien world. The ending has been critiqued as enigmatic, but if feels a bit too straightforward for our hosts, who left this film wanting a bit more mystery. And also more of Oscar Isaac's acting.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Four Play's second Denis Villeneuve film, we go back to the 2013 thriller, Prisoners. Starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal in what may be career-defining performances, Prisoners foreshadows the first season of True Detective by exploring a terrifying mystery undercut by dense symbolism. Thorin, Richard, and Monte dissect the compelling moral quandaries that serve as the foundations of the film and dive into the deeper themes of Christian behavior and ends justifying the means. Prisoners is a must-watch film and only improves on multiple viewings as the viewer better appreciates the dense foreshadowing and complex plot.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four Play's Scary Deep Cuts arc begins with a brooding, psychological horror film that few have seen: Session 9 by director Brad Anderson. Filmed at the derelict Danvers State Medical Hospital in Massachusetts using props left in the building, the movie tells the story of an asbestos removal team losing their sanity in an apparently haunted building. Anchored by solid performances by Peter Mullan and David Caruso, alongside a host of talented character actors, Session 9 delivers a slow burning plot dripping with dread.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Woo's 1997 film Face/Off kicks off a fierce debate among our hosts about whether or not the film succeeds in a fun, yet stupid, premise or if it's too ridiculous to be considered good. The film's Hong Kong style seems out-of-place in a Hollywood movie, but can a viewer buy into its heightened style and find enjoyment. Thorin, Richard, and Monte fiercely debate if watching Face/Off is a pleasurable experience considering the total lack of subtlety as well as the memorable nature of the premise.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Four Play, the hosts delve into David Lynch's 1997 film 'Lost Highway.' They discuss the film's visual and auditory splendor, its star-studded cast, the complexities of its narrative, the concept of the dissociative fugue, and explain the role of the Mystery Man. Comparing it to Lynch's other works, the hosts explore themes of psychological trauma, identity, and surrealism. Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo gush about the film's score, provided by Angelo Badalamenti and Trent Reznor, and featuring 90s bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Lou Reed, David Bowie, and The Smashing Pumpkins. They also touch upon Roger Ebert's perplexing critiques and examine the film's lasting impact and cult status. The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of why 'Lost Highway' stands out as a quintessential piece of Lynchian cinema.

Four Play revisits an all-time Christmas classic, Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. Notable for its saccharine ending and celebration of human kindness, the film provides a warm holiday glow in spite of overtly dark themes that permeate the majority of the story. Thorin, Richard, and Monte discuss the movie's many merits, its exploration of socialism vs capitalism, and provide historical context of post-war America. On the way, our hosts have a few laughs at some of the more ridiculous aspects of It's a Wonderful Life and James Stewart's character, George Bailey, but ultimately agree that the film deserves its reputation as a holiday staple.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this final episode of our David Lynch arc, we delve into one of his most acclaimed and complex films, 'Mulholland Drive' from 2001. Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo offer contrasting views, discussing the film's plot, themes, and surrealistic elements. They debate whether the film is a profound commentary on Hollywood and the nature of reality or an overly pretentious piece. Our hosts explain the plot of this famously non-linear film and provide their interpretations of its more enigmatic elements. They also explore the influence of psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan on Lynch's work and analyze the infamous '10 clues' Lynch provided for understanding the film in the DVD release. Additionally, they touch on Lynch's career trajectory, his love for Americana, and how his work bridges various genres. Stay tuned for the announcement of our next arc focusing on Robert Eggers, where we'll explore his films 'The Witch,' 'The Lighthouse,' 'The Northman,' and 'Nosferatu.'

Daniel Day Lewis' seminal final performance came in Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread from 2017. The film subverts expectations in the best possible way, appearing to be a 1950s period drama about a fashion designer and morphing into a bizarre love story that explores the darker sides of both masculinity and femineity. Phantom Thread is incredibly dense, nuances, and brimming with beautiful costumes and incredible performances. The movie demands multiple viewings and delves into themes of class distinction, the frivolity of high fashion, psychological needs, and more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Satoshi Kon's seminal 2003 film Tokyo Godfathers explores the touching stories of three homeless people who have created a found family on the streets of Japan. While not as fantastical or surreal as Kon's other work, the film still indulges in the fantastical with a series of charming miracles and coincidences that befall the main characters. Tokyo Godfathers tackles a variety of taboo subjects in both Japan and the wider world: homelessness, sex work, organized crime, queer identities, alcohol abuse, immigration, and more with extraordinary sympathy. We recommend this film for everyone's regular Christmas viewings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Wheatley's 2011 Kill List is an obscure film, but one with surprisingly deep themes of class conflict, PTSD, the pressure of everyday life, and the oppressive nature of society. The movie is cloaked in a veneer of hitman action and occult activity, but can be confusing or unsatisfying if purely viewed and interpreted at face value. Richard, Thorin, and Monte discuss why they love Kill List especially because of its pretentiousness and incredible ambition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 film Magnolia holds a special place in our hosts' hearts, serving up an ensemble cast playing loosely-connected characters in California's San Fernando Valley. This "slice of life" film is composed of a series of vignettes that reveal themes of regret, intergenerational trauma, confronting one's deep-seated problems, and more. While some may find it overly dramatic or lacking plot, Magnolia has aged well over the past 25 years and still provides an emotionally resonant experience. With an incredible cast consisting of Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and more, Magnolia also delivers astonishing and complex performances that form the heart of the film. Thorin, Richard, and Monte also dive into the Christian references within the movie and debate the meaning of the enigmatic rain of frogs at the movie's climax.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Cosmic Horror arc wraps up with Stuart Gordon's 1986 film From Beyond, based off a short story by H.P. Lovecraft. While more niche, and certainly lower-budget, than other films Four Play reviewed in this genre, From Beyond squeezes the most out of its story and actors to provide a satisfying, if campy, experience. Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, and the rest of the cast deliver excellent performances in a film that explores the limits of human perception and sexuality.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the inaugural episode of Four Play, the theme is Cosmic Horror and the subject is the iconic 1982 film The Thing directed by John Carpenter. Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo guide you through the premise of their new show, the four films they will review in the Cosmic Horror genre, and why they made these selections. They provide historical context for the release and reception for The Thing, the reasons they adore the film, the political and Cold War undertones, and the fantastic ambiguous ending.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair presents Pierce Brosnan as the slick, titular character indulging in a heist dripping in male fantasy. John McTiernan directs a film, in the downswing of his career, that could have been much more if it focused principally on the cat and mouse game between Brosnan and Renee Russo. The film is beautifully shot and revels in the splendid aesthetics of New York, the art world, and even Brosnan's buttocks. Watching this movie left our hosts questioning what could have been with a better script writer, supporting cast, and a more ambitious director.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Robert Redford-led Sneakers from 1992 serves as an interesting time capsule to the late Cold War era and the dawn of computer hacking. However, the movie mostly fails in delivering a consistent tone and can't figure out whether it would rather be a high-stakes thriller or a comedic caper that relies on the quirkiness and synergy of its characters. Thorin, Richard, and Monte laugh at the hilarious plot holes and ridiculous final heist scene, but also point out the serious themes of remaking the world order and the destruction of capitalism that underpin the plot.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We conclude our Four Play Spit Roast arc with a film that Roger Ebert inexplicably gave four stars, director Marc Webb's (500) Days of Summer from 2009. Richard, Thorin, and Monte all loathe this film for its poor writing, acting, and non-existent character arcs. A relic of hipster culture from the late 2000s, the hosts discuss the subculture from which this movie emerged and how it ends up as anti-art. Some consider this film a cult classic, we consider it absolute garbage.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices