Dead or alive, Junkfood Cinema is pushing through the Summer of 1987! Modern Rogue's Brian Brushwood joins us as we dissect and reassemble Paul Verhoeven's legendary Robocop! The villain bench is deep, the satire is strong, and the violence is necessary! We talk about the long road to production, how Robocop and Spider-Man live in the same neighborhood, and why we now want to see Charles Bronson as Robocop. Chuck pile! All this plus we discuss upcoming tour dates! Prime Direction One: Download a...
Jul 05, 2017•1 hr 13 min
The Summer of 1987 series continues on and this week heads to a dark place. A Canadian suburb? ...yes Modern Rogue's Jason Murphy joins us for a deep dive into The Gate. The Gate is the answer to every heavy metal horror movie that painted metal as the catalyst for evil. Because this time, metal saves the day! It has as much heart as an Amblin film, astoundingly creepy special effects, and managed to trounce Ishtar at the box office--released the same weekend--despite having a fraction of the bu...
Jun 30, 2017•1 hr 6 min
A long time ago, in a galaxy far removed from good taste. It's Junkfood Cinema: The Podcast! As Brian and Cargill trek through the Summer of 87, they visit planet Brooks and go to plaid while juggling their thoughts on Spaceballs! How did the biggest Star Wars parody of all time manage to completely avoid resembling the story structure of Star Wars but at all? Is it among Brooks' best films? Has nostalgia colored over the rough edges? All this, plus the guys quote their favorite lines like crazy...
Jun 22, 2017•52 min
Summer of 87 stops for a spell in a little Rhode Island town as Brian and Cargill discuss the wickedly fantastic Witches of Eastwick. Did Jack Nicholson ever come back from this role? Does the film's feminism hold up? And, wait, George "Mad Max" Miller directed this with a score by John Williams?! All this plus, how the dangerously insane producer Jon Peters tried to mix witchcraft with...aliens? Gather round the movie cauldron and Cher a witches brew with Junkfood Cinema! Like the show? Conside...
Jun 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
We ain't got time to preamble, this is one of the big tentpole movies of 1987 and one of the biggest reasons we're doing our Summer of 87 series: Predator. Brian and Cargill discuss the cast, structure, effects, and music of one of the greatest action films of all time. They also contemplate whether Shane Black was kidnapped by Joel Silver, chat about how Jean-Claude Van Damme was almost in this movie, and figure out that...Krull is part of the Predator universe? All that, plus more impressions ...
Jun 08, 2017•1 hr 1 min
In honor of the late, great Powers Boothe, and because Brian had never seen it, Junkfood Cinema's Summer of 87 series makes a detour with Extreme Prejudice. An unfairly obscure Walter Hill mercenary western, Extreme Prejudice boasts a cast and crew that reads like a JFC-specific IMDB. Written by John Milius, scored by Jerry Goldsmith, produced by Vajna and Kassar and we haven't even reached the cast! Boothe, Nick Nolte, Clancy Brown, Michael Ironside, Maria Conchita Alonso, Rip Torn, William For...
May 31, 2017•1 hr 3 min
JFC may be based in Austin, Texas, but that doesn't mean we don't love doing things the Chicago way! One of the best movies of 1987, period, Brian De Palma's The Untouchables is a master class in crafting legend out of fact. Apparently De Palma's man crush on Alfred Hitchcock was matched only by his infatuation with Al Capone. The guys talk cast, crew, and the many possible casting multiverses while Brian just cannot stop doing his Sean Connery impression. Sorry about that. Don't keep this episo...
May 26, 2017•52 min
Suit up, masters of the mystic arts! This week, One Junky Summer hits some familiar targets. Another sequel, and another Cannon Film? Hell yes! Brian and Cargill fight their way out of paradise in American Ninja 2: The Confrontation! (a.k.a American Ninja 2: Super Ninjas, a.k.a American Ninja 2: F### It!) Full disclosure, American Ninja 2 is not the best film JFC has ever covered, but it is among the most hilariously misguided and irresistibly entertaining. The guys discuss the weird ninja movie...
May 19, 2017•53 min
The heat is back on...so make sure to store your cupcakes in the fridge. This week Brian and Cargill head back to L.A. with Axel Foley as One Junky Summer heads into sequel territory once again. On paper, Beverly Hills Cop 2 shouldn't work. Despite Tony Scott at the helm, it cuts back on the action, is edited with a chainsaw, and strips the slobs vs. snobs appeal of the first. However, the comedy is strong, the music is fantastic, and the freaking Spurs don't have a bench as deep as the villain ...
May 12, 2017•1 hr
Cargill expected Project X to fit in perfectly with JFC's Summer of 87 retrospective, Brian however did not expect to be so emotionally affected by the story of Matthew Broderick and a chimp named Virgil. Turns out, Project X is one of the most perfect Junkfood movies of all time! Not simply because it is beautifully shot, powerfully moving, and expertly written, but also because it features a gathering of stellar performers and creators that could only aptly be described as a Junkfood Cinema re...
May 05, 2017•54 min
Welcome to prime time, Junkions! Junkfood Cinema slashes its way through The Summer of 87 as Brian and Cargill battle it out with The Dream Warriors! Is it safe to call A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 the best horror sequel of the 80s? What makes it hold up so well? How badass is John Saxon? Oh, we can answer that last one right now: all of it. All of the badass. Download, listen, share, and get ready to Dokken out all over the place! Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little a...
Apr 28, 2017•1 hr 9 min
One Junky Summer trucks on, and this week we wrestle with a longstanding challenge. For years, Brian has wanted to cover Sylvester Stallone's macho-piece Over the Top, but Cargill couldn't get over his distaste for it. There was however no avoiding Over the Top when discussing the junkiest flicks of 1987. Plus, returning guest (and Alamo Drafthouse programmer) Greg MacLennan threatened to fight the hosts if they didn't bring him on to cover it. Will Cargill fail to meet Brian and Greg halfway? O...
Apr 21, 2017•1 hr 2 min
One Junky Summer returns as we kick off our season-long retrospective of the best genre films of 1987! First up, the flick that redefined buddy cop cinema: Lethal Weapon. Sure, it's a spectacular, hilarious, and quotable action comedy...but it's also an intensely dark foray into the scarred psyche of Vietnam vets?! Brian and Cargill delve into the darkness, the extended director's cut of the movie, and the cavalcade of actors who were offered the role of Riggs before Mel. Download, listen, and s...
Apr 14, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Make no mistake, the alien invasion has begun. Luckily it appears the invaders are only interested in robbing banks, stealing sports cars, and listening to heavy metal. It's a close encounter of the weirdest kind as Brian and Cargill uncover 1987's The Hidden. Michael Nouri and Kyle Maclachlan (two years before Twin Peaks) star in this oddball buddy cop movie about what it means to be human...well, what it means to be a human in the excess-obsessed 80s. Like the show? Consider supporting us on P...
Apr 07, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Writer/TV personality Jason Murphy joins us again for this very special bonus installment of Junkfood Cinema. We dug deep and uncovered a true gem. You've seen it, you love it, but you somehow forgot about it immediately after its 1994 release. You wanted someone to jog your memory of this lost classic? Your wish is our command! Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little as $4/mo, you can get access to all our bonus content, and you ensure we can keep doing Junkfood Cinema l...
Apr 01, 2017•26 min
Grab your toothbrush, your swimsuit, and a whole mess of body bags, because we're heading back to Crystal Lake! This time, counselors Brian and Cargill are joined by author/screenwriter/TV personality Jason Murphy (The Modern Rogue, The Black Goat Motorcycle Club) as they dissect one of the most imperfect, but interesting entries into this or any slasher franchise. Beyond the patchwork Jason vs. Carrie conceit that stood in for the first, failed attempt at Freddy vs. Jason, Friday the 13th Part ...
Mar 30, 2017•1 hr 10 min
Hold on to your skulls, Junkions! Brian and Cargill continue through their March Madness series with David Cronenberg's Scanners. It may not be the granddaddy of psychic killer movies, but it's at least the daddy. And yet for as much as they love it, the guys come to the mind-blowing realization that Scanners is a deeply flawed film remembered more for a meme than for its story. However, the performances (namely Ironside's), effects, and unique signpost along Cronenberg's evolution as a filmmake...
Mar 24, 2017•1 hr 1 min
It's the third anniversary of Junkfood Cinema and Brian and Cargill are bugging out as they welcome director/previous episode subject Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2, Everly) to join their discussion of the most Fulci-esque Argento movie of all time: 1985's Phenomena (aka Creepers). Can't decide if you want a serial killer giallo or a movie about a girl who can communicate with insects or a Donald-Pleasence-wheelchair-detective mystery or a revenge flick? No need! Phenomena hits the crazy button and unl...
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to March Madness, our month-long celebration of mental thrillers and physic killers! To kick things off, Brian and Cargill haunt your dreams as they run alongside Dennis Quaid through the Dreamscape. That's right, 1984's other movie about a killer invading people's dreams that also happens to be 1984's other Kate Capshaw movie involving ripping out a man's heart! As much as the parallel thinking of the era lead to many oddball similarities between Dreamscape and other films of the year, ...
Mar 10, 2017•55 min
Last week, we lost a titan. An actor/director whose name was heard in countless previous episodes and, were we to have a Mt. Junkfood, his face would be etched in stone. Brian and Cargill run down their lists of favorite Bill Paxton performances. Cargill compares Frailty to Night of the Hunter while Brian has some issues with Twister that won't seem to blow over. Rest in peace, Bill. The game may be over, but you definitely won it. Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little ...
Mar 03, 2017•1 hr 10 min
This week, Brian and Cargill come out of their shells to explain in absurd detail, the full T.U.R.T.L.E power of 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Dark as the comic at points, dopey as the cartoon at others, featuring some of Jim Henson's best work and edited by...Sally Menke(?), TMNT is a criminally underrated superhero film that tastes better on revisit than a slice of Domino's pizza. Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little as $4/mo, you can get access to all our bon...
Feb 22, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Welcome back to the podcast that is just...so cool. This week, Brian and Cargill take on 60 cops, 40 agents, 30 mobsters, and about 1,000 bullets to find True Romance. They discuss the movie's origins, its dizzying cast list, and how it appeared at the nexus point of independent 90s cinema. When it comes to Tony Scott films, we cover every conceivable aspect... froma diddled-eyed Joe to damned if I know. Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little as $4/mo, you can get access...
Feb 20, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Your favorite prophets of the cinematic wasteland invite you to join Denzel Washington on a pilgrimage to save what little of humanity remains after the great war tore a hole in the sky. Brian and Cargill discuss the beauty and brilliance of The Book of Eli, a discussion containing more than a few revelations. Ashes to ashes, Dorito dust to Dorito dust. Like the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! For as little as $4/mo, you can get access to all our bonus content, and you ensure we can kee...
Feb 09, 2017•1 hr 4 min
This week, on the podcast with zero cool, Brian and Cargill invite you to hack the planet! Hackers is a time capsule of a movie that, while laughable in its wholly inaccurate depiction of hacker culture, is spectacular and thrilling in its similarly inaccurate depiction of the internet. As The Plague says, "there is no right and wrong, there is only fun and boring." We tend to agree.
Feb 03, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Celebrate Rex Manning Day with Brian and Cargill! They discuss the inescapable 90s charm of Empire Records (from the director of Pump Up the Volume) as well as share their own stories of minimum wage hijinks. Damn the man, save the Empire!
Jan 26, 2017•59 min
Cargill and Brian would like to welcome you to The Rock! We take pleasure in gutting the notion that this 1996 actioner is basic, trashy, and/or brainless. The Rock is a uniquely structured spectacle that houses a wildly subversive political tone and one of cinema's most fascinatingly complex villains. All that, plus Brian can't stop doing a Sean Connery impression. Losers whine about their best, winners download and share this episode.
Jan 20, 2017•1 hr 17 min
Brian and Cargill are joined by Austin author/filmmaker Owen Egerton as they all spend one night in the 1980 haunted house masterpiece The Changeling. Subtle at points, starkly terrifying at others, and featuring one of the most heartbreaking opening sequences in cinema, The Changeling was a groundbreaking movie that influenced generations of horror, including Owen's latest film The Axe Murders of Villisca.
Jan 12, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Brian and Cargill usher in 2017 with a sneaky new episode of the podcast with far too many secrets...or at least secret sauces. They discuss the phenomenal cast of Sneakers, its ultra cool James Horner score, and where it sits in the Robert Redford spy trilogy. We could tell you more about this episode, but then we'd have to kill you.
Jan 04, 2017•54 min
Grab your Wild Cherry Pepsi and your Blackjack Gum and get ready to talk hard! Brian and Cargill turn on the truth and Pump Up the Volume with Happy Harry Hardon.
Dec 23, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Alamo Drafthouse programmer Greg MacLennan joins Brian and Cargill to discuss the weird, wonderful rock fable that is Walter Hill's Streets of Fire. Why did audiences fail to connect with Streets of Fire, how did it influence Pulp Fiction, and what role was originally offered to...Paul McCartney? It's time for this flick to come out of the blue shadows and be regarded as the classic that it is!
Dec 15, 2016•57 min
