Nighthawks' Podcast

Once again the curse of coincidental timing has made our planned nostalgic look at a childhood favorite, oddly timely.As was announced on August 17, 2019; Richard Williams, animator, auteur, creator, and artist died at age 86. Among Williams' credits is the film that we talk about in this episode?Part tent-pole special effects film, part period noir, part madcap animated feature; Richard Williams was the man who told director Robert Zemeckis "yes we can," when the rest of the industry told him "we can't."An in-depth mystery, an iconic presence in pop culture, and a watershed moment in special effects film making, Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a generation's introduction to hard boiled detectives, femme fatales, and corruption in Los Angeles city planning.An enduring classic that tested the limits and is yet to be matched. An enduring legacy for an animator who did the impossible.

Content Warning: Diggstown contains overt themes of racism, violence and brutal deaths of people of color, and is headlined by James Woods. Woods has been accused in relation to the #MeToo movement.The year is 1992 and the sport of boxing is enjoying a heyday in the United States.Director Michael Ritchie would take a stab at some of that boxing success, after a string of other sports films including The Bad News Bears.While not a hugely successful film, and panned by critics as being derivative; Matt and Trevor make the case that a fresh watch in 2019 isn't a wholly unwelcome thing.With an all-star cast including Louis Gossett Jr., Heather Graham, Oliver Platte, Tex Cobb, and Jim Caviezal; the crackling dialogue and the Sting-like grits elevate this beyond any simple boxing movie.

Now is the time of Doom!Now is the time of revenge!Now is the time of high adventure!Or... rather, 1982 was the time of Doom, revenge, and high adventure; when relative newcomer Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed with John Milius and brought the legendary pulp hero Conan of Cimmeria to the silver screen.The R-Rated adventure epic borrowed plenty from Robert E. Howard, Texan native and Conan's creator, not only pulling from the Conan canon, (Conanon?) but from other Howard works as well.To celebrate one year of partnership with the Hello Sweetie Podcast Network, the Nighthawks bring you this special, extra-long exploration into the bowels of beefcake masculinity, scantily clad femininity, racial ambiguity, swords, sorcery, a giant snake, and a "Weird Al" Yankovic reference within the first 30 seconds.You'll have to wait longer for the first Invincible Ator reference.

Way back when, most of us watched a movie that scared us - but maybe at the wrong times, and about the wrong things. Then we read a story that scared us - or maybe it just filled us with premature angst? Then, someone buried that movie where the earth was sour, and now, we have a chance to watch a resurrected movie that will scare us some more…. OR WILL IT? This episode, we took that little game we sometimes play - “Should it be remade” - and turn it into a comprehensive game of Should It Have Been Made and Also Should it Have Been Remade as we talk all things Pet Semetary (including that odd spelling). We’re comparing the (very) 1989 release of Pet Semetary to its shiny new cousin...and that means scary kid talk, scary sister talk, scary kitty talk, with some bonus book talk, and a whole lot of Fred Gwynne love. By the time we’re done pitting these differing adaptations against each other, the scorecard may just surprise you. We also delve, once more, into the filmability of stephen King - a man with so m

In 2014 a woman facing insurmountable odds in the American legal system, published a telling memoir about the most elite poker game to hit either the East or West coasts.Molly Bloom published Molly’s Game, about her stellar achievements in the world of (mostly) legitimate underground poker. Molly’s book named some names of the many Hollywood heavy swingers that used to sit around Molly’s poker table, pulling in million dollar pots.After the book was released, Molly’s journey continued, and the story, including the publishing of the book, was adapted into a movie, directed by Aaron Sorkin.Make sense?Molly’s Game isn’t a movie that fits into an easy category for a quick sell. But it is an interesting story, about a fascinating person, who did some impressive things, and faces daunting adversity. On top of that you have Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Michael Cera filling out the cast.The boys in the cafe sit down for a hand of liar’s poker as they discuss both the book and the movie.Speaking of conversations

This is the end...My beautiful friend...After 11 years, Disney/Marvel takes its victory lap, bringing a huge amount of closure to a franchise that spans over 20 films since 2008.As is discussed in the episode, the twists and turns of Endgame come early in the film, and there's not much granular discussion to be had about the film, without spoilers.That being said, the Nighthawks take the opportunity to discuss their reactions to the film without any spoilers, the state of the Marvel franchise, and a hot take about the dateability of Seth Rogen.For those of you who have seen the film, there is an audible warning, and then the Nighthawks will talk about the film spoilers and all. Again, no spoilers at the beginning, audible warning, spoilers at the back half of the episode.Was the great Marvel gambit (heh) worth it?What do you think?

It's a Marvel prequel. Although the boys call it the first, in the episode, it's not.Where Captain America: The First Avenger took us back to World War II, Captain Marvel: The First Female Lead Marvel Hero Movie takes us back to Operation Desert Storm.Not that the Middle Eastern conflict plays heavily into the story of Carol Danvers and her fantastic super powers, but the setting of the early 90s is important.Captain Marvel manages to evoke a nostalgia for a largely untapped 90s market, while also managing to cater to a largely untapped female market.While it can be a disservice to call this "A Female Superhero Movie" as an assignment of genre, we do feel that it's a Superhero Movie that very much deals with female identity in modern society, and serves as an allegory for the fight for women's rights.The political angles on this have some Marvel fans ruffling their feathers, but...Get used to it. Captain Marvel is blazing a trail, and the Nighthawks think this is just one example of many more inclusive movies

Happy New Year to all of the listeners of the Nighthawks Podcast.As the slow march of time slowly ticks over an arbitrary number assigned by men to account for revolutions around the sun, the boys decide to join in the festivities with a movie that starts with a New Year's Eve Celebration.According to the mythology of The Poseidon Adventure, just after midnight on New Years Eve, a rogue wave struck and capsized the SS Poseidon, as it was on its final voyage.Stuck on the boat is a handful of survivors led by a rebellious preacher (Gene Hackman), with backup from the immortal Shelly Winters, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, and Jack Albertson.It's a disaster tale of survival and thrills as the midnight hour brings calamity to The Poseidon Adventure.

You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead—your next stop, the Twilight Z-Ho-Ho-Ho-ne!It is the holiday season, and as many people, both secular and spiritual, gather for feasts and get-togethers, the Nighthawks serve up something special.Leaving the realm of cinemas for a short story told on a small screen, the Nighthawks Diner passes into the 5th dimension, as Matt and Trevor discuss an episode of the classic anthology series, The Twilight Zone.Grist for discussion in this episode is Night of the Meek, a Christmas-based episode for the 'Zone, starring Art Carney as a down-and-out drunk of a department store Santa. Think if Miracle on 34th Street ended up being about the drunk Santa at the beginning, then he falls into some Tim Allen Santa Clause action.Spiritually based holidays in the modern age, holiday based programming, and the grander phenomenon of

Our last episode was full of characters. Main characters, side characters, comic relief characters, live characters, dead characters, even weird child characters. We decided this time out, we’d go for something a little more bottled up. A little more nocturnal. You might say we’re putting the podcast on … Cruise control. We’re watching the 2004, Michael Mann helmed Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx vehicle Collateral, the story of a cab driver with big dreams, a hitman with a long list, and a dark night in LA. It’s a game of cat and mouse as cab driver Max (Fox) tries to avoid ending up dead or in prison after the tightly-wound hitman Vincent (Cruise) shanghais Max into being his driver for a series of hits.We picked Collateral because we think it’s a cool thriller with a lot of well stylized action, great banter, and a rooted- yet surreal- sense of place. Despite all this, Collateral is a little bit forgotten - in that respect, you could say it’s a cousin to another one of Cruise’s out of franchise efforts, 2014’s Edge

The holidays are upon us, and many U.S. Americans are smack dab in the middle of having just had an awkward meal with their families and gearing up for another one, less than a month later.At least during the holidays it's an event we can plan for. We know there will be food, we know there will be arguing over politics, we know that at the end of the day we can gather around the warm glow of the television for a shot at a parade or a football game and renew our bonds with each other. What really is the pits, is when you have these family gatherings unplanned, and with a lot of stress involved.The Nighthawks podcast salutes the awkward family gatherings surrounding the holidays with an awkward family gathering at a funeral.Rip Torn plays the deceased, Piper Laurie his suicidal widow, Hank Azaria his failed actor son, Ray Romano his perverted lawyer son, Debra Winger his bigoted daughter, and Kelley Preston as the daughter who is gearing up for a same-sex wedding in 2004.Add to that Zooey Deschanel as a manic p

Look, folks. Vote.That's the takeaway, here. That's all we want you to do, is just exercise your right, should that be something you possess. We acknowledge that some of our listeners may not be eligible. We know that some of our listeners don't live in the United States of America. Some people who hear this episode, won't do so until some far flung date well after the election at hand is long decided.There's stuff for those people too. Matt and Trevor take a dive into The Purge franchise, examining the third movie in the series- The Purge: Election Year. Not only do the Nighthawks apply their usual compliments of Nighthawks gravy, as they talk about the movies and what they mean to them. But the boys also use the occasion to examine political allegory in artistic works, and its place in society.Also, it doesn't hurt that this is a movie where Frank Grillo kicks quite a lot of ass.But more than any of that, just vote.

The Nighthawks cafe turns the special Monstoberfest neon sign off, for another year, but if we're going to go out, we're taking the rest of the world with us.Nothing is sacred as the Matt an Trevor take a deep bite of Orson Welles' legendary radio broadcast, that panicked an entire nation!Or... did it?It is the 80th Anniversary of the Halloween Eve broadcast that would go down in infamy, and propel its director into putting together the (arguably) greatest American film ever made. From the people who brought you Citizen Kane (Orson Welles), Casablanca (Howard Koch), and Psycho (Bernard Hermann serves as Welles' orchestra leader). Assembled talent that would become synonymous with "Hollywood," first took their stab at terrifying a nation wirelessly.Just how successful were they?A download of the original War of the Worlds broadcast is available from Archive.org.

As a child, Trevor spent his years never owning a My Buddy doll or a Teddy Ruxpin.As a child, Matt spent his time sneaking horror movies on HBO, in his friend's basement.As a child, Mark was exposed to killer dolls at way too young an age, by his sister.Child's Play, the iconic film about a killer doll inhabited by the soul and being of a Chicago serial killer, was omni-present during the childhood of the Nighthawks, as well as their guest host Mark Ball.For this episode during Monstoberfest, the three talk about 1988's classic horror film, Child's Play. A movie about malicious toys, getting parents to believe you, getting the police to believe the parents, and teaching Chris Sarandon how to drive in crisis situations.Another slice of Halloween pie for our listeners.Mark's finalist bumper for Fantastic Fest, Chief Hopper Clowns Around, can be found here: https://youtu.be/lLManXXxpj4Much of Mark's action figure photography can be found on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_mark/?hl=en

Doom chords, creeping voices, killer artwork, and heavy metal family values are deftly painted on the screen, in this sophomore effort from Tasmanian filmmaker Sean Byrne.The first film in 2018's REVENGE OF MONSTOBER FEST takes the boys from the comforts of the Nighthawks Diner, to the inky black, humid, and hot hills of Texas' Williamson County. A married couple of rock and roll artists from nearby Austin have locked in their dream home at an unbeatable price.Meanwhile, a confused killer who tries to keep his literal demons at bay by playing doom chords on a guitar, decides he wants to return home. A home currently occupied by a transplant Austin family.A criminally underwatched classic for fans of Heavy Metal, Horror Movies, and top-tier genre performances. The Devil's Candy delivers on its sweetness.But the Nighthawks can't do anything the easy way. Not unlike the conflict of a struggling artist finding his way between personal fulfillment and commercial success; The Devil's Candy is an artwork on two can

Nothing Fancy this time around, folks. The boys are talking trailers, that you can watch right here, right now. Links below, current as of the date of the episode:Historic Trailers...Star Wars- Episode 1: The Phantom Menace- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo--sWDK_nU&feature=youtu.beTerminator 2: Judgement Day- https://youtu.be/-W8CegO_IxwSuperheroes are go…Dark Phoenix - https://youtu.be/QWbMckU3AOQCaptain Marvel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BCujX3pw8Things are getting intense...Assassination Nation- https://youtu.be/d9qyOGEuLY4Hold the Dark- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFAwDO6b5KIHardy Har Har…Holmes and Watson- https://youtu.be/-AKU-T7_rDAStan and Ollie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdcBNrjc3wo

Matt was out of the diner when this episode was recorded. Polishing his filthy mind in academic pursuits.Sitting in for Matt is Charity O'Haodagain, a mainstay of the Hello Sweetie Podcast Network. With her, Charity brings the Disney Classic feature film, A Goofy Movie.Following the exploits of Disney's signature dog and his son, Max and Goofy set out on a cross-country road trip full of pratfall, song, dance, and special lessons about family and honesty.Trevor had never seen A Goofy Movie Before. Charity counts it among her childhood favorites.Can the movie win over a contemporary adult in 2018?Spolier Alert: Yes. After all, we all need something to cling to, in this day and age.

There are no two ways around it folks."You can never go home again."It's true in life, and it's mentioned probably three or four times throughout the course of the episode. Just putting out there that it could be important.The movie for this session of coffee and pie is an old favorite of Matt's and a new notch in Trevor's belt. Believe it or not, only 50% of the Nighthawks Diner had seen Grosse Pointe Blank at the beginning of the summer of 2018. We're pleased to announce that the numbers have significantly shifted since then.What better way to explore the trials and tribulations of attending a high school reunion, than by exploring it through the eyes of an assassin with social anxiety?That's exactly what director George Armitage did with John Cusack in the lead role, for the 1997 film. The movie is mostly about Martin Blank, a character that disappeared on prom night, ten years previous, and is now considering attending his class reunion. It would be as simple as reconnecting with old friends and rekindlin

The American serial killer who dubbed himself "Zodiac" began his reign of terror in 1968 and was never officially identified or captured.50-years later, the mystery and the allure of the Zodiac crimes remains the white whale for many professional and amateur investigators alike. The obsession over the case is the centerpiece theme to the 2007 film "Zodiac" from film auteur David Fincher.You may remember Fincher from such films as Fight Club and Seven ("Alien 3 doesn't get enough visual love." -Matt), but Fincher takes his first bite of (mostly) non-fiction in this Police/Journalism procedural. From Fincher's take on the obsession surrounding the case, from Robert Downey Jr.'s worst case scenario performance in Paul Avery, to Anthony Edwards' Bill Armstrong escaping the case with his soul, we see a complicated and woven tale. Not only about an enticing mystery, but about the price tag that comes with trying to solve it.In solidarity with our Hello Sweetie Podcast Network sisters over at "This is the Place," th

Oh, mama! Can this really be another prequel?!The Disney/Lucasfilms Juggernaut continues to roll with the Star Wars franchise, post-JJ Abrams, with the latest "anthology film"- Solo: A Star Wars Story.Following the life and times of a young(er) Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian. We see the motley crew of rogue and peasants fall in line with a smuggler and thief named Beckett (Woody Harrelson) as he attempts to steal valuable hyperdrive fuel for the sinister Dryden Voss (Paul Bettany) and his lieutenant, Qu'ira (Emilia Clarke).It's smugglers, thieves, pirates, rogues, scoundrels, crime bosses, and outer space train heists. This movie has it all, and if it were taken on its own merits... probably represents a good film.But this isn't just any movie. This is STAR WARS...