Get ready for an alien-invader stompin' good time! In the rare case where Liam loves a film just because it is so fun, we go back to our childhoods and reminisce over the roll-out and execution of this Roland Emerich gem. From a time when a relatively sane Randy Quaid played insane characters (as opposed to just playing himself), comes this surprisingly well-aged "War of the Worlds" style adventure. Buckle up! We are armed and ready, and we're packin! If you enjoy this episode and want to hear u...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 46 min
Robert Egger’s third film, following The VVitch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019), The Northman has the largest budget and the biggest scope by far. Set in the late 9th/early 10th centuries in central Europe and Iceland, this epic revenge story is undoubtedly the most thoroughly researched and most accurate Viking film to date. With a phenomenal cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Ethan Hawke, the story goes all the way back to the Norse myths that inspired...
Jul 02, 2022•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 36
Well, here we are again. It’s World War II. Another three-hour war film, another big ensemble cast! In some ways a follow-up to The Longest Day (also written by Cornelius Ryan), this time in color, this film depicts Operation Market Garden, which followed the Normandy Landings in September 1944. The Allies dropped forces from the First Allied Airborne Army into the Netherlands, where they would assault and hold several bridges and wait for XXX Corps of the British Second Army to bring in armor a...
Jun 18, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 35
From director David Mackenzie, who brought us the excellent modern western Hell or High Water in 2016, comes a retelling of the First War of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Taking place during and after the capture and execution of William Wallace, this film focuses on Robert the Bruce and his allies in their fight for freedom from Edward I Longshanks and from the English invasion and occupation of their homeland. Filmed entirely on location in Scotland and England, it is undoub...
Jun 04, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 34
Hot on the heels of our Saving Private Ryan episode, we return to the beaches of Normandy (this time filmed in Corsica) with the WWII two-time Oscar winning classic, The Longest Day. Clocking in at three hours, this is the longest film we have covered so far, and our first John Wayne flick! It has a star-studded cast that includes Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, and a few of our old favorites like Edmund O’Brien and Rod Steiger. They portray everyone from General Eisenhower to the j...
May 21, 2022•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 33
Starring a young Colin Firth and probably no one else you would recognize, this film released on television in the UK six years after the conflict it depicted. We can’t blame you if you haven’t heard about the 1982 war between Argentina and the United Kingdom; after all it only lasted ten weeks. It’s known as the Falklands War to most of the world, and Guerra de las Malvinas to the Argentinians. More about trauma, recovery, and PTSD than it is about the war, Tumbledown tells the story of Scots G...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 32
Directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring Cate Blanchett in the titular role, this is the fictionalized story of a British SOE (Special Operations Executive) operating in Nazi-occupied France in 1942. The character is a composite of several real women who worked as spies for the Allies during this time period. She is sent on missions to deliver packages to the resistance and help blow up a train, all the while searching for her lover who was shot down behind enemy lines. A mix of spy film, biop...
Apr 23, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 31
Easily the biggest WWI film of recent memory, 1917 conjured a variety of opinions from critics and viewers alike. Its 3 Oscar wins (Cinematography, Visual Effects, and Sound Editing) and over 200 total award nominations speak for themselves. Director Sam Mendes, with Roger Deakins as Director of Photography, boldly chose to shoot and edit the film as a “simulated one-shot”, à la“Rope” or “Birdman”. Aside from the usual rivet-counting that always accompanies high-profile war films, the “single-sh...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 30
In his directorial feature-film debut, J. P. Watts stretches a £600,000 budget to show us an aspect of World War I we hadn’t really seen before: the British efforts to tunnel underneath no-man’s land in order to lay mines under the German trenches. For those of you who have seen 1917 (our next episode), you will find some familiar territory: filthy trenches, (not so) filthy uniforms, higher-ups obsessed with gaining ground at all costs, and some great cinematography. As you would expect, a $94.2...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 29
Part biopic, part historical drama, this film tells the story of Alan Turing and the team at Bletchley Park (the eminently secretive Project X) whose work led to the breaking of the German Enigma machines, and arguably to the Allies winning the War. This is one of the best performances we have seen out of Keira Knightley, who plays a brilliant mathematician, opposite Benedict Cumberbatch’s phenomenal portrayal as an awkward and very closeted Alan Turing. Another film that plays fast and loose wi...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 28
What has not already been said about this monumental film? The Omaha Beach landing sequence it opens with is one of the most gritty and violently realistic combat scenes ever put on film to this day, and it gave a new generation of viewers an idea of what their grandparents had gone through in that war while they were still around to see it themselves. Critics and viewers alike have long praised it as one of the best war films ever made (despite the admittedly schmaltzy prologue and epilogue). O...
Feb 25, 2022•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 27
Filmed in the fjords of Norway and on the coast of France (standing in for Northumbria), this epic tale set in the ninth century immortalized a singular moment in time. The first film depiction of Viking culture since the Nazis had claimed Norse lore for themselves, the story is based as much in myth and legend as it is in history (like most of what we know about Vikings). Famously the film set that brought Janet Lee and Tony Curtis together so they could bless the world with Jaime Lee Curtis, t...
Feb 11, 2022•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 26
Releasing to critical acclaim, this film took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor (George C. Scott), and Best Director (Franklin J. Schaffner). It is often at the top of “best war films” lists, and a favorite of film buffs. It follows Patton's various commands through their campaigns in North Africa and the invasion of Europe in the latter part of World War II. It’s widely considered one of George C. Scott’s best performances, and he definitely storms his way through the film. But is...
Jan 28, 2022•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 25
BONUS EPISODE: The Terminator! The Danger Close team is taking their holiday break for this week's release, but we didn't want to leave you all empty-handed. So here is a gift from us, our first Patreon episode from last year! You can listen to two of us gush over one of James Cameron's most popular films, and hear the other host be wrong. If you enjoy this episode and want to hear us return for T2, you can sign up for just $4 a month at: www.dangerclosepod.com/support You will get access to our...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 43 min
DISCRETION ADVISED: This film depicts several sexual assaults that are discussed in the episode. Our first David Lean film, but certainly not our last! Set during World War I and the October Revolution of 1917, this love triangle (square? parallelogram?) takes place during turbulent times, and the production spared no expense with its full-scale recreation of ten square blocks of Moscow, thousands of extras, and beautiful vistas captured in Spain and Canada. Based on the book by Boris Pasternak,...
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 24
In this sprawling two-part biopic, director Steven Soderbergh shows us the experiences of Ernesto "Che" Guevara during the Cuban revolution in 1956, and Che’s subsequent failed attempt at revolution in Bolivia in 1967. Approaching Gettysburghian lengths, the two parts relay in sometimes oppressive detail (drawing from Guevara’s own journals) the conditions these rebels were up against and the obstacles they faced. The filmmaker knew that he was covering a controversial topic; Che is still simult...
Dec 17, 2021•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 23
A rebellion film if there ever was one, Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo's magnum opus dramatizes the fight against French Colonialism in 1950s Algeria. A quintessential example of Italian neorealism, the documentary-style of the filming, the film stock itself, and the use of non-professional actors give this film a gritty, real-life feel. It has been an inspiration to terrorist organizations and governments alike, and is an important and thought-provoking part of cinema history. Next Episode: ...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 22
Are we doing it? We're doing it! We are diving into our very first musical! Depicting two pivotal battles in the American Revolutionary war (1775-1783), it certainly has some war in it. And it is a FILMed performance of the stage play. It has been a sensation since its debut on Broadway for good reason, and it really does bring some of America's founding fathers to life with that wonderful blend of jazz and hip-hop that only Lin-Manuel Miranda could pull off. Constitutional rap battles, muskets,...
Nov 20, 2021•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 21
From British director Ken Loach, this story is set in 1920 during the War for Irish Independence, depicting the conflict between Irish militants and occupying British forces, and the internal struggle between the newly formed Irish Free State Army and the IRA. One side supported a treaty with the British, while the other side would only accept an unconditional departure of all British troops from Ireland. Two brothers end up on opposing sides of that conflict in this intimate portrayal of the co...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 20
Groom your beards and dust-off your Civil War uniforms and dresses, cause we are going back to 1863! This popular Ron Maxwell film has no shortage of stellar actors: Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, and even Sam Elliot and his mustache make an epic and most welcome return. But is this just a four and a half hour battle reenactment, or is there something more to it? Do we get a neutral and unbiased depiction of the events, or is there an agenda at work? Join us and find out! Next Episode...
Oct 22, 2021•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 19
If you are a Patron of the show, you will notice that this is our second film starring George Peppard and THIRD film scored by Jerry Goldsmith in a row! Is this just a coincidence, or some weird thing Liam has been doing with our film selection? Who knows! This week's episode brings us a very famous WWI aviation film from director John Guillermin. It has been simultaneously lauded as one of the most accurate depictions of combat flight in that era, and maligned by the author of the book the film...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 18
From director John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Birdman of Alcatraz, THE Island of Dr. Moreau) and screenwriter Rod Serling (The Twighlight Zone, Planet of the Apes), comes what many consider one of the best political thrillers of all time! It asks questions of us that are just as relevant now as they were around the time of the JFK assassination: Is the President doing what's best for the country? Can our democracy survive a military coup? How did Kirk Douglas possibly shave that ch...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 17
BONUS EPISODE: Starship Troopers with Paul M. Sammon! Just a taste of our Patreon offerings, for anyone who is on the fence. Dan, Katie, and Liam talk with Hollywood legend and film historian Paul M. Sammon about all the bug-hunting details of this classic film from Dutch director Paul Verhoeven. Paul Sammon has been in the business for a long time and was kind enough to sit down with us and tell us stories about his experiences in the film industry, the history of the film, epic mustaches, and ...
Sep 21, 2021•2 hr 16 min
This film is...something. Depicting the first major battle between U.S. forces and the NVA, and the first coordinated use of helicopters in combat, there is no doubt that there is a story here that must be told. The common recollection seems to be that we all liked this film when it came out in 2002. But has it aged well? At first, we were sure Mel Gibson had to have directed and produced the thing...but on closer inspection, it turns out he is only the star of the film. And he's surrounded by g...
Sep 10, 2021•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 16
Based on Patrick O’Brien’s extensive series of novels set during the Napoleonic wars, and touted as one of the most accurate period pieces ever made, this film features Russell Crowe in his prime as Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, several brave little midshipmen, lots of swashbuckling, and...well, what more do you need? Oh right, maybe a proto-Darwinian expedition to the Galapagos complete with giant tortoises and flightless cormorants, a daring and adventurous biologist...and a battle to the death...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 15
From writer/director Armando Iannucci of Veep fame, this dark comedy sheds some light on the inner turmoils of the Soviet government during and after Stalin's death in 1953. Backstabbings and frontstabbings abound, and while it plays it a little loose with the facts, it doesn't have a dull moment. So toss off your cape, lock your doors, and join us before you get reported to the authorities! Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms. Next Episode: Master and Commander: Th...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 14
Our first foray into acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's work, his adaptation of Macbeth has it all! A story of murder, betrayal, ghosts, and samurai, 1957's Throne of Blood (The Castle of the Spider's Web) is as epic as it is intense, especially thanks to Toshiro Mifune's over-the-top performance and an unforgettable end scene. Join us as we get in way over our heads on Shakespeare, Noh theatre, katanas, and witches. Available to stream on Criterion channel or Amazon Prime. Note: as a ...
Jul 30, 2021•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 13
There are few Hollywood movies more unbelievable than this true story of the mission to rescue six Americans during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979, but are the liberties this films takes with the facts justified? Is it pro-CIA propaganda? And is it - in hindsight - deserving of the accolades it received upon its release? Please allow the flight attendant to collect all alcoholic beverages, as we are entering Iranian airspace in the 2012 Ben Affleck-directed Best Picture winner, Argo. Next Episo...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 12
Inspired by the Herman Melville novella Billy Budd, and shot on a small budget and in defiance of the French Military, the production of this movie saw more combat than actually ended up on the screen. But this tale of bitter obsession in a unit of the French Foreign Legion is as beautiful as it is confounding. Directed by Claire Denis with Cinematographer Agnes Goddard behind the camera, next week we try our hand at our first bona fide Art Film. Available as a Criterion disk or on their streami...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 11
In our second audience choice episode, Kingdom of Heaven just barely beat out The Dam Busters! But this may have been to our detriment, as us hosts collectively had to watch...something like fifteen hours' worth of this movie. And then we had the meta-struggle of deciding whether to cut our own short and long versions of this very episode! In the end, we pulled together what we thought was the best of both worlds: a deep dive into Ridley Scott's phenomenal set design, swords and armor and all; a...
Jun 18, 2021•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 10
