‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and the Steve Martin Hall of Fame
Apr 2, 2024
02:09:29
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Director of the Steve Martin documentary, Morgan Neville, discusses picking subjects, building rapport, and project choices. Hosts dissect 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire', 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire', and build a Steve Martin Hall of Fame.
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Quick takeaways
Steve Martin's diverse film roles showcase his versatility and creativity.
The podcast highlights Steve Martin's evolution from stand-up comedian to versatile actor.
Steve Martin's experimental roles reflect his desire to explore complex characters with depth.
The podcast discusses Martin's approach to comedy focusing on building tension and cultural impact.
Martin's performances balance sentimentality and humor, showing his range as an actor.
Deep dives
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Steve Martin has a brief cameo as a waiter who waits on Kermit and Miss Piggy. It's a small appearance but hilarious. The movie is packed with mega stars and Martin's performance is memorable.
The Jerk (1979)
Steve Martin stars in this hit movie directed by Carl Reiner. It's a wild comedy that showcases Martin's zany humor and marked the beginning of his successful film career. The Jerk is green, a beloved classic.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
This car-reiner movie is an homage to historical noir films, blending the comedic style of Steve Martin with scenes from classic noir movies. While not a huge hit, it showcases Martin's versatility and creativity.
Pennies from Heaven (1981)
In this musical featuring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters, Martin ventures into a more serious and experimental role, lip-syncing songs from the '20s and '30s. Though a flop at the time, it remains a unique and visually stunning film.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
Steve Martin has a small role as Dr. Maxwell Edison in this chaotic adaptation of the Beatles album. The movie did not fare well but showcases Martin's early diversity in his film roles.
Roxanne
A modern-day update of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story featuring a fire chief with an absurdly long nose falling for a woman astronomer, balancing sentimentality and humor.
LA Story
Steve Martin stars in this film as a weatherman in LA yearning for love, incorporating absurdist elements like a billboard communicating with him, showcasing a slightly more sentimental, emotional stretch of his career.
My Blue Heaven
A con man turns informant in a witness protection program comedy, balancing charm and humor in interactions with an eccentric mobster and eloquently finding a balance between broad and subtly funny performances.
Exploring Steve Martin's Early Career and Comedy Philosophy
The podcast delves into Steve Martin's early career and the evolution of his comedic persona from a successful stand-up comedian to a versatile actor. It highlights how Martin's approach to comedy transcended traditional punchline-based humor, focusing on building tension without the expected release. The podcast showcases Martin's journey in shaping his comedic style and the cultural impact of his stand-up performances, leading to a revolutionary approach to comedy.
Insights into Steve Martin's Film Career and Personal Evolution
The podcast explores Steve Martin's transition from stand-up comedy to acting, analyzing his film choices and the depth of emotional expression in his work. It discusses Martin's roles in both comedic and emotionally resonant films, revealing his desire to portray complex characters with depth and sincerity. Additionally, it delves into the personal insights gained from Martin's films and how they reflect his own aspirations, such as exploring themes of family, loneliness, and personal growth.
Sean and Amanda break down a pair of big franchise releases—‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (1:00). They then share their thoughts on the new Steve Martin documentary ‘Steve!’ (30:00) and build the Steve Martin Hall of Fame (49:00). Finally, Sean is joined by the director of said documentary, Morgan Neville, to discuss picking a subject, building rapport with that subject, and how he chooses projects (1:40:00).
