Cool World (with Melinda Mock)

About this episode

The episode discusses Ralph Bakshi's animated film Cool World, exploring its chaotic plot and visual style.

RetroBlasting 's Melinda Mock stands in for Dan as animation auteur Ralph Bakshi's Cool World (1992) bursts out of the oubliette and threatens to overwhelm us with its incoherent plot and haphazard melange of visuals. Starring a post Batman Kim Basinger as femme fatale Holli Would, Gabriel Byrne as murderous cartoonist Jack, and a very young Brad Pitt as by-the-book Cool World detective, Frank, Cool World is a very 90s live action/animation crossover with a remarkable soundtrack. Tonally the film tries on noir, erotica, satire and straight-up fever dreams, and then leaves the dressing room without checking the mirror. It’s flashy but confused, but never dull. But does it deserve to be pricked by the spike of power and be released from oubliette, or should it be sucked back into the author's pen and forgotten forever? Find out! Support us on Patreon to nominate films for us to cover, access exclusive bonus content, and vote on the final verdict! Rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice, and tell a friend about us. Follow us on TikTok , YouTube , Instagram and Bluesky . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Conrad Chambers, Daniel Goh

Guest: Melinda Mock

Topics covered

• animation
• film review
• 90s cinema
• noir
• crossover
• soundtrack

Keywords

• Cool World
• Ralph Bakshi
• animation
• film review
• 90s film
• Kim Basinger
• Gabriel Byrne
• Brad Pitt

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Cool World

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