In the latest episode of the Movie Matters podcast, returning to the airwaves after a brief hiatus, co-hosts Lee Howard and Michael Mackenzie explore the work of maverick director William Friedkin through two distinctly different films: 2006's chilling shocker BUG, starring Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon, and the 1985 crime thriller TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., starring William Petersen and Willem Dafoe. In addition, we also provide an overview of Friedkin's career as a director and recount our own relationships with his output.The music in this episode is sampled from KILLER JOE by Tyler Bates, THE EXORCIST by Mike Oldfield, SORCERER by Tangerine Dream, JADE by James Horner and TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. by Wang Chung.
Created by Lee Howard & Michael Mackenzie
Music/audio selection by Michael Mackenzie & Lee Howard
Edited by Michael Mackenzie
Links for reference:
- Masterclass with William Friedkin, moderated by Nicolas Winding Refn
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com
- The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir by William Friedkin: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com
1. You both definitely need to see DJANGO '66.
ReplyDelete2. Michael definitely needs to see CRUISING (though I don't know if he'll like it), as it sounds like he hasn't yet (?). I believe a Blu is being prepared.
3. I love BUG and need to revisit it (where's the Blu??). One of my best friends, Victoria, (my ex, actually, who got me to do some theatre myself for a few years) starred (in the Ashley Judd role) in a production of it a couple years ago and it was great (she's an excellent actress).
I've yet to see SORCERER. My friend bought the Blu recently, so I'll getting an uncompressed rip from him soon. I've also yet to see TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., so I'm wondering if I should skip that half of the show...
4. MAGNUM FORCE and THE ENFORCER are awesome, as is, obviously, DIRTY HARRY. Re: the first DIRTY HARRY - see EXPERIMENT IN TERROR for an almost identical final shot, made 9 years earlier!
ReplyDeleteI think we'll probably be tackling CRUISING and at least one other Friedkin in a future show, so I'll definitely be watching it before too much longer. And yeah, I'd skip the segment on TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. for now, 'cos we do talk about the ending.
ReplyDeleteI've watched the first three DIRTY HARRY movies now, and thought THE ENFORCER was by far the weakest of the three, though there was still a lot to enjoy in it.
PS. Very much appreciated your mention of us on the latest Focus on Film ep. :)