The Flickcast

Happy 41 to The Empire Strikes Back

Posted on May 21, 2021

It was 41 years ago today that one of the greatest sci-fi epics of all time was released in theaters. We’re talking, of course, about the sequel to Star Wars, then known simply as The Empire Strikes Back. But it wouldn’t be simple for long.

When Empire was released it instantly blew up and ushered in a more mature version of the Star Wars universe complete with bigger stakes, more action, romance, drama, suspense, improved visual effects and quite a twist ending, to put it mildly.

That twist, still often misquoted to this day, was one of the seminal events in many a young sci-fi fans life and marked a turning point in sci-fi movies that endures to this day. Sure, Empire didn’t invent the “twist” ending, but it damn sure brought it to millions of new fans around the world.

In short, we love this movie. And 41 years later it’s still one of our favorites of all time, especially for our Editor and podcast co-host Chris Ullrich. To him, there’s pretty much nothing better.

So, happy 41 Empire Strikes Back and thank you for being great then, and still being great today. We love you and we know you know. We also promise never to tell you the odds.

The Empire Strikes Back stars Mark Hammill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, David Drowse, Kenny Baker and Billy Dee Williams. It’s written by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett, produced by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kirshner.

Revisiting John Huston: The Maltese Falcon

Posted on May 20, 2021

The Maltese Falcon

As we’ve done with Western Wednesdays Again, this series of articles discusses the films of one of the greatest directors of all time: John Huston. Originally titled John Huston Thursdays, we’ve changed it up just a bit.

Instead, we’re calling it Revisiting John Huston. And to kick things off we’re starting with a major classic: The Maltese Falcon. Fortunately, it’s still the same great content written by the same talented writer, Nat Almirall. So, please enjoy the first installment of Revisiting John Huston.

– Chris

This marks the first in a series of articles looking at the films of John Huston. He is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the 20^th Century and a fascinating man.

It seems sensible to start at the beginning, and an impressive beginning at that, with his first film, 1941’s The Maltese Falcon. So much has been written about this film, so I’ll confine myself to some observations on my most recent rewatching and a few points I haven’t yet seen anyone else touch on.

Perhaps most surprising is that this was Huston’s directorial debut. Prior to Falcon he’d written screenplays, among them High Sierra, the film widely regarded as Bogart’s first big picture.

Knowing that, it’s surprising how established the film is, in that it doesn’t look like a director’s first film. Bogie’s Sam Spade is well crafted and believable, but it’s when the camera pans down to the silhouette of “Spade and Archer” that you know this is no amateur.

There are more than a few transitions like this—the spinning tire of the police car also comes to mind—but it never feels overdone. Many first-time directors would be too eager to show off, often to the detriment of the film, but while Falcon certainly has its share of complicated shots, they’re all made to serve the scene rather than the filmmaker.

So many mysteries inhabit the film, and they all come from the characters. Each one harbors a sordid past that’s only suggested. For all the questions surrounding it, we know much more about the flacon itself than we do the people surrounding it.

Western Wednesdays Again: The Ox-Bow Incident

Posted on May 19, 2021

the ox-bow incident

Today’s Western Wednesdays Again comes to you courtesy of a name drop by the big man himself, Clint Eastwood. If Eastwood casually says The Ox-Bow Incident is a really good Western, you have to drop what you’re doing and watch it. Considering it’s only one hour long, it’s pretty easy to find some time to do it!

I can see why Eastwood likes Ox-Bow. There are shades of Hang ‘Em High and Unforgiven in it. It’s the kind of film that reminds me why I was so eager to explore this genre. We all tend to classify Westerns as rousing shoot-em-ups and masculine swagger, but there are a lot of dark, bitter stories hidden among the John Ford panoramas.

This film is often billed as a Henry Fonda movie about cattle rustlers, giving the impression it’s a classic horse opera, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is a haunting morality play that takes the glamor out of posses and deputies, emphasizes the danger of a mob, and makes you think twice about rooting for Wild West justice.

While Eastwood has been credited as “killing” the Western with Unforgiven, I think The Ox-Bow Incident may have done it back in 1943. Ox-Bow also has a very curious undercurrent running through it — it’s all about the absence of women. While it’s played for laughs through much of the film, it becomes an uncomfortable point by the end.

It’s hinted repeatedly that the town’s lack of women (or “amusement” as Carter gripes) encourages the bloodlust, and the sobering “civilization” speech at the end all but drives it home. It’s a little acknowledged fact that in the American West, civilization was the province of women.

436: Sci-fi Movie Favorites

Posted on May 18, 2021

It’s time for a brand new episode of The Flickcast. The podcast about stuff nerds love. This week it’s Episode 436: Sci-fi Movie favorites.

On this week’s episode Chris and Joe do things a bit differently and discuss some of the sci-fi movies that made an impact on them and a few that became their favorites. We’re not gonna say which movies were the favorites, you’ll just have to listen to find out.

Suffice it to say we’re pretty sure you’ll find one two of your favorites on the list too. We can pretty much guarantee it. After all, if there’s one thing nerds love, it’s sci-fi movies. And there’s no shame in that.

If you like the show, please consider rating or reviewing it on Apple Podcasts, or your podcast app of choice. Every rating or review helps. And if you’re really feeling it, consider supporting the show on Patreon.

Thanks for listening!

As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques, offers of sponsorship or whatever, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter, Instagram or, yes, even Facebook. Or shoot us an email. We don’t mind.

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Trailer Time: The Green Knight

Posted on May 13, 2021

the green knight

Another day, another cool trailer for Trailer Time. Today it’s the latest one for writer/director David Lowrey’s The Green Knight.

This movie was actually ready to drop in 2020, but we bet you can guess what happened to that. Fortunately, things seem to be turing a corner, at least here in the US, so it looks like movies are back, baby!

And, of course, with movies coming back that means new trailers. So here we are.

In this latest Arthurian tale Dev Patel plays Sir Gawain in what’s described in the official synopsis thusly:

“An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger.”

We gotta say, this movie looks crazy as hell and we are totally in. Will watch. In fact, this is one of the movies that may get us back in the theater. Maybe. Or maybe we’ll wait for Dune. Anyway . . .

The Green Knight stars Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury and Sean Harris. It’s based on the novel Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous and written/directed by David Lowrey.

Look for it in theaters, and likely streaming too, on July 30th. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

Western Wednesdays Again: Mad Dog Morgan

Posted on May 12, 2021

mad dog morgan

This is only the second installment of Western Wednesdays Again and I believe I have already seen the messiest and strangest film that ever boasted a horse, a pistol, and a sunset: Mad Dog Morgan. It was a toss-up between Morgan and The Ox-Bow Incident, but I had a thirst for some Ozploitation, and Morgan is a pretty legendary piece of Australian filmmaking.

It also seemed like a good idea to expand the cinematic frontier early on in this feature, and visit a place that has a remarkably similar history. Americans tend to think that the myth of the Wild Wild West is theirs, and theirs alone – and it certainly is, but Australia enjoyed a settlement experience that was just as violent and lawless as our own. They just had kangaroos instead of buffalo, and convicts instead of hardy pioneers.

One thing America and Australia would appear to have in common is an idolization of outlaws. We’ve got Jesse James and Billy the Kid, whereas they have Ned Kelly and Daniel “Mad Dog” Morgan. Now, I think Americans view outlaws as romantic figures, living outside of the pale, and away from the man.

We rewrite some of them into Robin Hood figures, but we’re usually content to let them represent nothing but robbery. Australian bush rangers like Kelly and Morgan represent a strike against English colonialism, and they become folk heroes, despite that they didn’t do anything particularly worthy of the people. When you’re a country of ex-convicts, there’s probably a greater tendency to worship anyone who shoots an official.

435: Red Moon

Posted on May 11, 2021

With a week off to rest, recharge (and a few more “R” words) it’s time for a brand new episode of The Flickcast. The podcast about stuff nerds love.

On this week’s episode Chris and Joe dive right back into it as if they’d never left. Topics on this episode include the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind and Mythic Quest, Battlestar Galactica and 15 seconds in heaven with The Eternals.

They also talk about other future Marvel movies like The Fantastic Four and where Marvel’s First Family and the Eternals were during Infinity War and Endgame, potential origins of the X-Men, and the brand new Disney+ series The Bad Batch.

Don’t worry, this is a fun episode and the “real world” hardly comes up at all. Also, Joe doesn’t try to hog the conversation this week, so no need to continue giving him a hard time. Everything’s fine. We’re all fine.

If you like the show, please consider rating or reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or your podcast app of choice. Every rating or review helps. And if you’re really feeling it, consider supporting the show on Patreon.

Thanks for listening!

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What We’re Watching: The Swordsman

Posted on May 6, 2021

It’s time for another edition of What We’re Watching. This time we’re watching the the 2020 South Korean martial arts epic The Swordsman.

Before we go on it should be known we’re huge fans of martial arts films here at The Flickcast. Some of us go way back with them. That said, The Swordsman one of our favorite new martial arts films to come out in the last ten years.

Featuring a compelling cast, great production design and cinematography, amazing fight action and an emotionally engaging story The Swordsman delivers. Here’s more on what the film is all about (via Wikipedia):

“During the chaotic period of Ming-Qing dynasty transition, after failing to protect and preventing the downfall of Gwanghaegun, Tae-yul, the best swordsman in Joseon, lives in seclusion with his daughter Tae-ok in the mountains. As Tae-yul’s eyesight begins to fail due to an old injury, Tae-ok seeks to find a treatment for him. When she is captured and taken away by slave trader Gurutai, Tae-yul is forced to raise his sword again in order to save her.”

Pretty cool, right? We sure think so. We also think you should watch this film, especially if you’re a fan of great martial arts action.

Check out the trailer for the film below. The Swordsman is now available on one of your favorite streaming service, probably for a fee (at least right now). Worth it.

The Swordsman features Joe Taslim (of the recent Mortal Kombat reboot), Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-soo and Jung Man-sik. It’s written and directed by Choi Jae-hoon.

Have you seen The Swordsman? Do you love it as much as we do? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Happy Watching!

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