Hit Factory

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.We're solo for the first time in a while to talk about the romantic comedy '10 Things I Hate About You', a take on William Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' updated for the 1990s and set at a Pacific Northwest high school that looks an awful lot like a castle.We discuss the film's impecccable cast, featuring a host of 90s up-and-comers including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Julia Styles, and the soon-to-be superstar Heath Ledger, who was taken far too soon. Then, we discuss the movie's place within the lineage of late-90s films, how it adheres to the rebellious sensibilities of the era, and (notably) the ways it disregards them. Finally, we talk about a recent article in The Washington Post which, coincidentally, references the film in its examination of the current proliferation of celebrity veneers, unattainable standards of beauty, and how these trends desecrate the authenticity and natural beauty that once defined the genuine sexual energy in media from decades past. Read 'Have you noticed that everyone's teeth are a little too perfect?' by Jessica M. Goldstein at The Washington Post.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.

Musician and film writer Soraya Sebghati joins from Los Angeles to venture into the lurid, strange world of...Toronto, ON, Canada and its mesmerizing underbelly of desire, longing, and grief in Atom Egoyan's 1994 breakout feature, 'Exotica'.We discuss Atom Egoyan as director - his keen sense for the uncanny amongst the mundane, and the ways 'Exotica' plays with artificiality, performance, and facade. Then, we discuss the film's musings on routine and the rippling effects of grief, and praise Egoyan's (relatively) non-judgemental curiosity with regard to the habits we all adopt as a means of coping with loss and alienation. Finally, we consider the film's much-mulled over ending and how it offers both a quietly devastating moment of catharsis and a hopeful message of emotional solidarity. Follow Soraya Sebghati on Twitter.Read and subscribe to Soraya's Substack.Listen to and support Night Talks on Bandcamp. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

New York-based musician and America's Sweetheart Nick Miller joins to discuss the underseen 150-minute Extended Cut of Tom Hanks's directorial debut, 'That Thing You Do!'. It's a meandering, expansive version of the film that takes the original cut's effervescent (if slight) shot of pop nostalgia and, at its best, aims for comparisons to great surveyors of cinematic Americana like Robert Altman & Jonathan Demme (who serves as producer on this film).We discuss the two versions of the film, their differences, and how the Extended Cut showcases even further Tom Hanks's singular knowledge of the era and its musical landscape. Then, we talk about the eponymous tune, an infectious earworm written by the late Adam Schlesinger which took on a life of its own as a charting hit single and was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar in 1997. We also discuss the film as part and parcel with Tom Hanks's decade-long fixation with postwar America and the Greatest Generation's sense of national purpose, how the movie gets right many of the intricacies of songwriting and band dynamics, and make a plea to the 300+ artists (including Squeeze and They Might Be Giants) who submitted versions of "That Thing You Do!" to finally release their recordings. Follow Nick Miller on Twitter.Listen to Nick Miller on Bandcamp.Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.Friend of show Comrade Yui returns to discuss John Carpenter's 'Escape From L.A.', his raucous and acidic sequel to 1981's 'Escape From New York'. Derided by both audiences and critics, we offer a defense of the film as a vital work of Carpenter's late period that manages to thrill as an action picture, while wryly thumbing its nose at the corrupt values of Hollywood and its own existence as a prototype for modern "legacy sequels".We begin by talking Carpenter in the 90s, a time when he was taking his biggest swings (while also facing some of his most frustrating conflicts with studios). Then, we take a look at the fascinating tenor of the film, and how it balances the acerbic, raw energy and wit of the original film while taking aim at societal ills of 1996 America with even more directness and urgency than its predecessor. Finally, we compare the film to other great movies (and one 2021 sequel specifically) that have followed in the spirit of 'Escape From L.A.', reckoning with legacy, while also boldly subverting audience expecations in pursuit of revealing the deeper truths and authenticity of their creators. Follow Comrade Yui on Twitter and Letterboxd.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Fiction writer and editor A.A. de Levine joins to discuss Mary Harron's debut feature, 'I Shot Andy Warhol', featuring a seismic performace from Lili Taylor as the infamous feminist writer Valerie Solanas as well as Jared Harris as the late pop artist, and a moving turn from Stephen Dorff as trans icon Candy Darling. The film is a fascinating, frightening view into the life and experiences of Solanas that led her to an increased state of anger, paranoia, and aggression which eventually resulted in the film's titular act of violence. We take a look at the real life Solanas and her most enduring work, The SCUM Manifesto; its aims, its limitations, and its intentions as a furious feminist screed, a work of biting satire, or something in the middle. Then, we discuss the film's portrayal of New York's art scene in the 1960s and its nuanced examination of the ways Warhol and his Factory cohort offer a contradiction of the avant-garde as filtered through highly palatable standards of beauty and taste. Finally, we talk about the career of Mary Harron, who would go on to achieve her greatest acclaim with her sophomore feature, the teriffic 'American Psycho', before having her films relegated to a place of relative obscurity for the next two decades. Follow A.A. de Levine on Twitter.Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Film writer, editor, and podcaster Jake Tropila discusses the Coen Brothers' 'The Big Lebowski'. They explore the film's influences, its stellar cast, and its cryptic plot, suggesting a deeper level of criticism about America's sociopolitical landscape. They discuss the iconic rug scene and themes of responsibility. They also delve into the film's origins, its impact, and the character of the Dude. Additionally, they highlight the talent of John Goodman and Jeff Bridges and analyze the film's deeper themes and ideologies.

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.Los Angeles-based literary manager Jarrod Murray returns to the show to discuss Robert Redford's 'Quiz Show', a true story of the massive 1950s scandal that revealed to the American public for the first time that the burgeoning television industry and the levers of power that control media were capable of profound deceit. We discuss the film's many iterations, possible directors, and might-have-been performances as well as the incredibly deep bench of performers the film ultimately wound up with (including great character actors like David Paymer, Hank Azaria, Griffin Dunne, and even a wonderful turn from director Martin Scorsese). Then we discuss the real story behind the film, and the ways director Robert Redford and screenwriter Paul Attanasio grapple with the quiz show scandal's multifaceted ramifications in the era after the post-war boom. Finally, we discuss the film's legacy, or lack thereof, and why this film may not have found its deserved purchase with viewers in the 90s and why there's still room for it to be reclaimed in 2023. Follow Jarrod Murray on Twitter.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish 

New York-based film writer Jason Miller joins to discuss the strange, beautiful cinematic worlds of the unsung Alan Rudolph and his 1992 film 'Equinox' starring Matthew Modine as identical twin brothers separated at birth. We begin with a discussion of Rudolph's career, beginning as an assistant director to the great Robert Altman before branching out and producing some of the most compellingly idiosyncratic films of the 1980s (as well as his feature 'Remember My Name' from 1978, arguably his greatest work).  Then we turn our sights to 'Equinox' and talk about the film's distinctive rhythms and characters as well as the ways Rudolph imbues his fantasy world with a potent naturalism and sense of place. Finally, we discuss the injustice of Rudolph's relative obscurity within cinephile circles, and why the filmmaker's entire body of work is due for a necessary and urgent reappraisal. We're committed to getting 'Equinox' in front of as many eyes as possible! Email us at hitfactorypod@gmail.com for more info. Follow Jason on Twitter and check out links to his work here. Read Dan Sallit's teriffic monograph on Alan Rudolph here. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Get access to this entire episode as well as all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.Writer and professional shit-talker Nadine Smith joins to discuss the mesmerizing wuxia masterpiece 'Green Snake'.We explain the storied career of the film's remarkable director Tsui Hark, often referred to in the west as "the Spielberg of Hong Kong". Then, we talk about the transcendental beauty of Green Snake - its dreamlike and transfixing aesthetic, and it's tantalizing stars Joey Wong and Maggie Cheung. We also focus in on the movie's universally resonant story, which champions difference and asks its viewers to challenge dogmas of intolerance.Follow Nadine on Twitter.Read and subscribe to Nadine's Substack.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.

Jesse Hawken, host of Junk Filter Podcast, returns to the show to discuss 'Primal Fear'. The film is a taut piece of middlebrow entertainment which offers maximum reward as a cable classic. We discuss the film's two standout performances - one from aging handsome guy Richard Gere as a hotshot attorney looking for his next big break, the other from then-newcomer Edward Norton who took audiences by storm and wound up on the short list of actors nominate for an Academy Award for their very first film performance. Then, we talk the movie's famous twist ending, and the way that it betrays an uncomfortably reactionary streak that resonated with audiences in mid-90s America. Finally, we have some words about the death of the midbudget cable classic, and look at the current state of the industry vis-a-vis the tandem strike efforts from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Listen & Subscribe to Junk Filter Podcast and support the show on Patreon. Follow Jesse Hawken on Twitter. Follow Junk Filter Podcast on TwitterGet access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.