On this episode of Remainders we watch the 2008 movie The Wrestler. Part of our Mickey Rourke double-feature, The Wrestler represents the apex of Rourke’s career. Possibly too well cast as a man struggling with his past demons, The Wrestler is a perfect example of how tragedy can be comforting. We’ll see how it compares to Rourke’s performance in Barfly and where it stands in his filmography. Other topics include Aronofsky’s career, tragicomic movies, physical media and used CD stores, Spielb...

On this episode of Remainders we watch the 1987 movie Barfly. Written by Charles Bukowski, Barfly tries to capture the outsider drunk persona of Henry Chiaski, Bukowski’s alter-ego, as he lives in L.A. asking the eternal question: who am I? As part of a Mickey Rourke double-feature, we’ll check out how Rourke evolved (or devolved) in Hollywood and whether Bukowski romanticizes self-destruction. Other topics include the rest of Rourke’s career, existentialism in film, Riot Fest, new physical m...

On this episode of Remainders we talk the 1989 skateboard detective movie Gleaming the Cube. Featuring a young Christian Slater, along with Tony Hawk, Gleaming the Cube goes beyond skateboard culture into a shaggy dog detective movie that captures early 90s youth culture with glorious vibes. We see if this is purely nostalgia or if it becomes a timeless piece of extreme sports in the movies. Other topics include the skating movie genre of the era, adjacent Bond-like movies targeted to youth, ...

On this episode we talk about the 2017 prison thriller Brawl In Cell Block 99. S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Dragged Across Concrete) directs this brutal movie featuring one of Vince Vaughn’s best role, a man forced into assassinate an inmate located in the depths of a nightmare prison cell. We talk about Zahler’s career as a novelist and filmmaker who does what he wants, and how his films are unlike anything else we get today. Other topics include the rest of Zahler’s influence on film, vi...

On this episode we cover the 2005 horror remake House of Wax. Made in the height of the remake era, this one leans in hard to the tropes of the decade, complete with nu metal, torture porn vibes, and Paris Hilton. We’ll see where this lands in the decade of horror, and also talk the original films that led up to it, including Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and House of Wax (1953). Light a candle, and prey, slay, display. Other topics include the very 2000s cast and how Elisha Cuthbert was t...

On this episode we talk about the 90s indie film Habit. Directed by indie legend Larry Fessenden, Habit tells the story of Sam, a 30-ish alcoholic living in New York grieving after the loss of his father. Sam falls into a seductive relationship with Anna, a mysterious woman who may be a vampire. As his obsession with Anna continues, and his alcoholism, grief, and loneliness get worse, Sam’s reality blurs as he descends into sickness. A pivotal movie of low-budget, indie 90s filmmaking, Habit ...

On this episode of Remainders we talk about 1987’s Near Dark as part of our Degenerate Vampire double-feature. A blend of horror and western genres, one of Kathryn Bigelow’s first movies has gained appreciation in the years since it’s release. With a haunting score by Tangerine Dream and a collection of James Cameron character actor staples, Near Dark remains one of the dirtiest vampire movies ever to come out of the late 80s boom. Other topics include Cameron connections, the influence of Dr...

On this episode we talk the Travolta and Cage masterpiece Face/Off. A pivotal movie in maximalist and bonkers cinema, John Woo’s crowning achievement still remains getting the two most charismatic actors of a generation to go all out playing each other. A ballet of bullets, an influence on John Wick, and two defining performances from Travolta and Cage all have worked in its favor as an undeniable 90s classic. Other topics include Travolta and Cage’s careers, Robert Duvall, Criterion collecti...

On this episode of Remainders we watch the 1996 film Trees Lounge. Steve Buscemi’s directorial debut, Trees follows Tommy, an alcoholic who spends his days at a mostly empty bar with mostly empty relationships. As he grasps harder to a better life, he just continues to sink lower. Cementing Buscemi as an indie film staple in the 90s, we also discuss the pivotal role this film had influencing The Sopranos. Other topics include Buscemi’s career, the stacked cast including Anthony LaPaglia, Chlo...

On this episode of Remainders we watch the 1993 Brian De Palma film Carlito’s Way. Viewed as a late stage masterpiece by De Palma, it’s a first time watch on the podcast for this crime thriller reuniting Pacino with De Palma 10 years after Scarface. Pacino plays a retired criminal attempting to lead a normal life, but can’t quite shake the demons from his past, which includes an all-time great performance by Sean Penn as his sleazy lawyer. We check out where this lands in De Palma’s filmograp...