POP ART

QUE SERA, SERA, What will be, will be, is what they say. However, what I say is that finally, Episode 122 of Pop Art is now up. Yes, Pop Art, the podcast where we find the pop culture in art and the art in pop culture.  So get out those second amendment rights, as Jason Soto of the Rabbit Hole Podcasts and I discuss Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase in Foul Play and Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day in Hitchcock’s remake of his own film The Man Who Knew Too Much, two movies about ordinary people woh get swept up in an assassination plot.  As a side note, I could use a lot more followers and reviews. So give a guy a break and rhapsodize poetic while talking about how much you love what I have to say.  Jason and I especially had a great discussion on paranoia and conspiracy in films, comparing the two versions of the Hitchcock film, and praising Dudley Moore’s breakout performance.  Also check out the Rabbit Hole Podcast at https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/author/whateverjasonsoto/ It is a virtual treasure trove of goodies to listen to when it comes to pop culture.  Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/  My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

I was late for Christmas, but I made it just in time for this holiday. So, without further ado…  I HEAR MUSIC WHEN THERE’S NO ONE THERE: Episode 122, Music and Lyrics/Once  “You seem angry - click your pen!” For these two films, Richard Kirkham (of the Lambcast and A Movie a Day blog) has agreed to be my annual Valentine’s Day guest. We have chosen the two films above, both love stories revolving around songwriters.   Richard and I especially had a great discussion on such topics as why we like rom coms; which do we prefer, rom coms or rom drams; what are some of the familiar tropes that we like; the career of Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant; and which songs do we prefer. Check it out.  Also check out Richard Kirkham The Lambcast https://largeassmovieblogs.com/ on which I am a frequent guest  And Richard’s blog A Movie A Day https://kirkhamclass.blogspot.com/    Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/  My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss  Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

A DISH BEST SERVED COLD: “One God, that I can understand; but one wife? That is not civilized” For these two films, I and a newcomer to Pop Art, Sammy Juliano (author of Paradise Atop the Hudson, Irish Jesus of Fairview, and other novels), discuss two films revolving around revenge.     Sammy and I especially had a great discussion on such topics as why revenge fascinates us. How satisfying is revenge. The directors William Wyler and Marlon Brando. And, oh, that chariot race. Check it out.     Also check out Sammy’s books on Amazon, including his most recent one, Mikey’s Absolution https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sammy-Juliano/author/B09NCN9JQW?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

CHRISTMAS CAN BE CRIMINAL: Episode 120, In Bruges/We’re No Angels     “Geez, he swears a lot, doesn't he?” For these two films, I and my annual holiday guest, Jay Cluit of the Deep Blue Sea Podcast, discuss two films revolving around escaped prisoners hiding out during the holidays.     Jay and I especially had a great discussion on such topics as what is it about dark comedy that we love? Who gives the best performance? Has Martin McDonagh gone four for four? Check it out.     Also check out Jay’s The Deep Blue Sea Podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-blue-sea-the-podcast/id1522738259       Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

POP ART SAYS: HAPPY HALLOWEEN. THE GIRLNAPPERS: Episode 118, 10 Cloverfield Lane/The Collector     “I’m sorry, but no one’s looking for you”. For these two films, I and my annual Halloween guest, Lisa Leahey discuss two films revolving around women being abducted and held prisoner.     We especially had a great discussion on such topics as why do abduction films seem to usually focus on women? What is it about apocalyptic and alien invasion films these days? Who is William Wyler? Where does Beauty and the Beast come in? Check it out.   Also check out Lisa Leahey’s sites, both at Rabbit Hole Podcasts:   https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/the-gift-of-horror/   https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/pictures-and-conversations/\   Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/   My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss   Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

POP ART SAYS “WE’RE BACK”: I AM SPARTACUS–Episode 116, Total Recall/General della Rovere     “Consider this a divorce”. For these two films, I and Bubbawheat (Nate Winthrow) of the Fight Club Minute, had a great time discussing two films that ask the same question: are you who you are? Are you who you think you are? Or are you who others think you are?     We especially had a great discussion on such topics as modern trends in sci-fi films, the directors Roberto Rossellini and Paul Verhoeven, and the question posed above—who are we?     I highly recommend checking out Bubbawheat’s The Fight Club Minute at https://rabbitholepodcasts.com/fight-club-minute/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFhYvZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHabC_Oj7cyrjZjbcTmWGipcCMz9rKGJV-A4gQ4plRj-bS9CnakgFvFp9CA_aem_37hJ3PNyt-HGxrWCe0r3MA   And his blog, Flights, Tights and Movie Nights https://flightstightsandmovienights.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFhYxZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYbVJhuZr5W_5C7uGeqLyFBbIRkIB9L04wpn5J_gblEnrPPAk9h9qWNXeQ_aem_Ef9c5eMkE6rXbPsgART81Q   And It’s Time to Rewind https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bubbawheat     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

POP ART SAYS: JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE OUT–Episode 115, The Fantastic Mr. Fox/Straight Time     “Because I’m going to get caught”. For this episode, I and Todd Liebenow of Forgotten Filmcast, had a great time discussing two films in which ex-cons try to go the straight and narrow…or do they?     We especially had a great discussion on such topics as movies about ex-cons; how attitudes town ex-cons has changed over the movie years; existentialism; the female characters and how they are portrayed.     I highly recommend checking out Todd’s Forgotten Filmcast, https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/forgottenfilmcast always a good discussion on overlooked or forgotten films.     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

POP ART SAYS: A METHOD TO THEIR MADNESS– Episode 114, May December/A Dream of Passion.   I am slowly getting the latest episodes of Pop Art up. There are reasons I am behind, but hopefully I will get back to normal soon.   “I don’t think we have enough hot dogs”. For these two films, I and The Vern of Cinema Recall,  had a great time discussing two films in which actors, in order to help them create the characters they are working on, seek out either the person the film is based on (the Mary Kay Letourneau case for May December) or someone that resembles the role they are playing (a woman who murdered her children ala Medea for A Dream of Passion).    We especially had a great discussion on such topics as the trope of a male teen having sex with an older woman and the different way that is treated when it comes to female and gay teens; whether either actor really achieved their goal; and some talk about camp and kitsch. So, join us for this great discussion.   I highly recommend checking out The Vern’s various blogs and vlogs, especially Cinema Recall at https://www.cinemarecall.net/     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

OH, FRABJOUS DAY. CALLOOH! CALLAY!” HE CHORTLED IN HIS JOY.     Yes, that’s right. Pop Art is back and:     POP ART SAYS: AT LONG LAST LOVE– Episode 113, Ghost/Madly, Truly, Deeply     Yes, this is the Valentine’s Day episode and, yes, it is very, very late. This is due to the good (an incredible vacation to Sydney and New Zealand) and bad (getting Covid the day we were flying back). So, thanks for your patience to my regular listeners. As for those who aren’t regular listeners, please become so, so that I can thank you for your patience.     “Ditto”. For these two films, I and Richard Kirkham of such vlogs and blogs like The Lambcast and The Strother Martin Film Project, had a great time discussing two romantic dramas about lovers coming back from the afterlife to interact with those left behind.     We especially had a great discussion not only as to why such films are so popular, but whether there is a difference between films where the ghost is a man or a woman (we thought there might very well be). Both films came out the same year, but thematically and stylistically, they are so very different. But only one has Alan Rickman in it.     So, join us with this great discussion where after death your loved ones may come back, whether you want them to or not.     I highly recommend checking Richard Kirkham’s various blogs:     The Lambcast https://largeassmovieblogs.com/category/podcasts/lambcast     The Strother Martin Film Project https://strothermartinfilmproject.wordpress.com/     A Movie a Day https://kirkhamamovieaday.com/       Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes.

POP ART SAYS: Good Help is Hard to Find – Episode 112, Parasite/La Ceremonie First, this is very late and out of order, but it’s been one of those past couple of months. So apologies all around. However, welcome to a great discussion with screenwriter Jennifer van Sijll, author of the book used in classrooms everywhere, Cinematic Storytelling: ⁠The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know⁠.   “They are nice because they are rich”. For these two films, we had a great discussion as to how servants have been dramatized over the years in movies. Class conflict. The Korean and French new wave. The greatness of both directors. And many other topics.     So, join us with this great discussion where not only can good help can be hard to find, it can be deadly. And always, ALWAYS, check their references.     I highly recommend checking out van Sijll’s book Cinematic Storytelling which can be found at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cinematic+storytelling+by+jennifer+van+sijll&i=stripbooks&crid=1MGTP7A19BGAK&sprefix=cinematic+story%2Cstripbooks%2C98&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_15     Check out my blog at https://howardcasner.wordpress.com/     My books, More Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, The Starving Artists and Other Stories and The Five Corporations and One True Religion can be found at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=howard+casner&ref=nb_sb_noss     Be sure to like, follow or comment on my podcast. I’d love to know what you think. And check out the other episodes. On ITUNES https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-art/id1511098925, Anchor: https://anchor.fm/howard-casner, and Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5jX4noVGArDJdmcFtmrQcG, Sticher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/pop-art, Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/..., Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/pop-art, Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/vfjqj6j6, Radiopublic: https://radiopublic.com/pop-art-GExxNband other streaming sites