PhantasmaCast

Ep. 35 - Bad Lieutenant & Dragged Across ConcreteThis week, we are looking at the law of the street with Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant (1992) and S. Craig Zahler’s Dragged Across Concrete (2018). We explore "cops crashing out," looking at how these films handle officers who have completely abandoned the rulebook. Bad Lieutenant serves as a visceral redemption story, suggesting that even the most irredeemable, drug-addled soul can find a moment of spiritual clarity. In contrast, Dragged Across Concrete functions as a pulpy reactionist fantasy. It presents a world of "white persecution" where the line between the badge and the mask is non-existent. We discuss how Zahler frames cops and criminals as two halves of the same coin, locked in a slow-burn cycle of suspicion and violence. 🎬 Movies DiscussedBad Lieutenant (1992, Dir. Abel Ferrara) Dragged Across Concrete (2018, Dir. S. Craig Zahler) 🕰️Chapters0:00 Intro2:34 Bad Lieutenant38:39 Dragged Across Concrete1:09:08 Conclusion or Final Thoughts Regarding "Morality in Media"📀 Physical Media Shoutouts@KinoLorber and @Lionsgate🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCastYouTube: youtube.com/@2certifiedbangersInstagram: instagram.com/2certifiedbangersTikTok: tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangersApple Podcasts: apple.co/phantasmacastSpotify: spoti.fi/phantasmacast💬 Join the ConversationDoes LT actually deserve redemption, or is Zahler's cynical worldview more realistic? Let us know in the comments. #BadLieutenant #DraggedAcrossConcrete #AbelFerrara #SCraigZahler #CinephileWho is the ultimate "crash out" cop in your opinion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we are stepping into the Hollywood house of mirrors with Robert Altman’s The Player (1992) and Spike Jonze’s Adaptation (2002).These aren't just movies about making movies; they are cynical, paranoid love letters to the nightmare of the creative process. We look at how Griffin Mill’s life in The Player becomes the very thriller he is trying to produce, and how Charlie Kaufman literally writes himself into a corner in Adaptation.It is a double feature about the high cost of the "pitch," the absurdity of the studio system, and the paralyzing fear that you might just be a hack. Whether it is a studio executive getting away with murder or a screenwriter having a nervous breakdown on the page, both films suggest that in Hollywood, the story eventually consumes the storyteller.🎬 Movies DiscussedThe Player (1992, Dir. Robert Altman)Adaptation (2002, Dir. Spike Jonze)🕰️ Chapters0:00 Intro0:45 Favorite movies "about" movies11:50 "The Player" (1992)47:31 "Adaptation." (2002)1:14:57 (very) Final Thoughts📀 Physical Media Shoutouts @criterioncollection  and  @ShoutFactoryVEVO 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCastYouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangersInstagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangersTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangersApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp💬 Join the ConversationDo you prefer the cynical Hollywood satire of The Player or the neurotic self reflection of Adaptation? Let us know in the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re diving headfirst through multiple panes of glass with a pair of Certified Bangers: Police Story (1985) and Police Story 2 (1988).We’re tracing Jackie Chan’s rise from stuntman to global action icon, and breaking down how he didn’t just star in these films, he built them from the ground up. Part director, part stuntman, but ALL star, Jackie crafts a completely unique auteur style rooted in precision choreography, bone-crunching physical comedy, and a drive to always stay ahead of the curve. From gravity-defying mall showdowns to explosive set pieces that feel one missed step away from disaster, we’re talking about what makes these films tick... and why nobody else has ever quite done it like Jackie.🎬 Movies DiscussedPolice Story (1985, Dir. Jackie Chan)Police Story 2 (1988, Dir. Jackie Chan)🕰️ Chapters00:00 – Intro & Certified Banger Check00:00 – Jackie Chan: From Stuntman to Superstar00:00 – Police Story breakdown00:00 – Police Story 2 breakdown00:00 – Stuntwork as authorship00:00 – Final thoughts & pairing verdict📀 Physical Media ShoutoutsCriterion 🎥 Watch With UsIf you haven’t seen these yet—fix that immediately. Then come back and let’s compare notes.🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCastYouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangersInstagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangersTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangersApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp💬 Join the ConversationWhich Police Story hits harder for you? And what’s your favorite Jackie Chan stunt? Let us know in the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're watching Andrzej Zulawski's Possession (1981) and William Friedkin's Bug (2006), two movies that test the limits of love and madness. These films take the 'will they/won't they' trope to new heights by asking not whether our two leads will finally hook up, but rather: Will these two people kill each other by the time the credits roll? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for a double feature that will really mess with your head! This week, we're watching two films that are so good at challenging reality: Christopher Nolan's 2010 masterpiece Inception and Brandon Cronenberg's shocking 2020 body-swap thriller Possessor. We're talking dream heists and visceral sci-fi/horror—you won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we attempt to unravel the knot of love and infidelity with two films that couldn't be more different in their approach: Ingmar Bergman's playful classic, Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) and Mike Nichols' modern, biting drama, Closer (2004). We'll see how these two wildly different takes on intimacy and humiliation reveal the uncomfortable truths about what it means to love someone deeply - and to completely mess it up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re watching Sergio Martino’s Torso (1973) and Dario Argento’s Tenebrae (1982), two standouts of the Italian Giallo, and how they laid the bloody groundwork for the slashers and erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're keeping the erotic thriller conversation going with two intense queer entries to the genre! First up is the Wachowskis' directorial debut, Bound, a stylish and suspenseful tale of star-crossed lovers looking to rip off the mob. Then, we dive into Rose Glass' sophomore film, Love Lies Bleeding, a steroid-fueled case of dangerous love that ratchets up the tension and the stakes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're staying up all night with two high-stakes odysseys through New York City's underbelly. First up, we're taking a look at Scorsese's underrated gem, After Hours, where one man's SoHo adventure spirals into a bizarre nightmare. Next, the Safdie Brothers' Good Time delivers a masterclass in anxiety as we follow a brother's desperate and disastrous descent into his own worst impulses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're watching prequels that don't suck! We're diving into the gritty brilliance of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the high-octane madness of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, exploring how these films expand their legendary universes and deliver serious cinematic punch. Forget tired tropes, these prequels rule!#moviepodcast #starwars #madmax #rogueoneastarwarsstory #rogueone #furiosaamadmaxsaga #furiosa #andor #andorseason2 #disneyplus #disney #roadwarrior #prequel #garethedwards #georgemiller #behindthescene Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the sun-drenched guilt of "Insomnia" to the brutal, relentless vengeance of "I Saw the Devil," we dissect two films that dare to ask: what is the true cost of justice? We explore the moral compromises made by deeply flawed characters, and the cultural nuances that shape their actions. Join us as we examine how these genre-subverting thrillers expose the darkness within us all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder about that strange period when Tom Cruise, action hero extraordinaire, dabbled in art-house cinema? We’re diving deep into two films that define this era: Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut and Vanilla Sky. Both feature Cruise as a man trapped in a dream-turned-nightmare, but what do these films say about him, about filmmaking, and maybe even about us? Join us as we explore the surreal worlds of these cinematic puzzles.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we explore two films that reflect the cultural and political landscape of the 1970s. As entertaining as they are thought-provoking, these movies offer distinct perspectives on the narratives we're presented with and the stories we tell ourselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.