Often coined "The Gay Nightmare", The Lab investigates why Nightmare On Elm Street 2 got its homosexual tone, which the screenwriter has said was intended as subtext. Other series curiosities here include the possession theme. Karri and Henrik have highly opposing views on the film.
The name is Lazenby. George Lazenby. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - or how an Australian car salesman and model cheated his way into the role of the world's most famous secret agent - and then unceremoniously left it after only one movie. As the film's trailer proclaims, this one is certainly different, and our opinions will be all over the spectrum. / Directed by Peter Hunt. Starring George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Ilse Steppat.
The Lion King is one of the most successful animated films ever made. But is it as original as Disney claims it to be, and does its moral lessons have cohesity? / Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Starring Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson.
Taiwanese film episode. A story of a poor, alcoholic man struggling to provide for his family. Stray Dogs is an award-winning art film from Taiwan. A true masterpiece or an overconfident film gone wrong? / Jiao you (2013). Directed by Tsai Ming-liang. Starring Lee Kang-sheng, Yang Kuei-Mei, Lee Yi Cheng, Lee Yi Chieh.
To coincide with several LGBT Pride events, the podcast will analyse the film Call Me By Your Name. The film has pulled many people at the heartstrings. It certainly did that to us. / Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Starring Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garrel.
The lab starts its James Bond run. Every last Thursday of the month will be a 007 week until the release of Bond 25. Each Bond actor will get the spotlight with the Lab's favorites and least favorite films from their run. In this first Bond episode, Karri and Henrik join with their guest Tom Frankland. From Russia With Love is often the fan favorite out of Sean Connery's run as Bond or the entire series.
The Lab visits the often beloved and guest-recommended film Dead Poets Society. Robin Williams plays the new teacher in a traditional boarding school, where his unorthodox teaching methods raise concerns. Karri and Henrik reminisce their own times at school and whether their teachers would've allowed walking on their desks. / (1989). Directed by Peter Weir. Starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Kurtwood Smith.
The late Sir Roger Moore has named his performance as Harold Pelham (and his doppelgänger) in The Man Who Haunted Himself as his career-favorite. The Lab commemorates Moore by analysing the film. / (1970). Directed by Basil Dearden. Starring Roger Moore, Hildegard Neil, Freddie Jones, Olga Georges-Picot.
A Screaming Man is a Chadian film about a family being ripped apart from the inside and outside, during a civil war. What makes you do consciously the wrong choices? The lab investigates. / A Screaming Man (Un homme qui crie) (2010). Directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. Starring Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emile Abossolo M'bo, Djénéba Koné.
A highly detailed sci-fi plot with existential pondering. Possibly the most respected anime film of all time. Yet this time, Karri and Henrik will agree on almost nothing at all. Topics in this episode include the soul and what it means to be human. / Ghost in the Shell (Koukaku Kidoutai) (1995). Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Starring Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Outsuka, Kouichi Yamadera, Yutaka Nakano.
German episode. The Bridge (1959) is based on a real story of 16-year old German friends who are called to army during the last days of the war for a futile defense of a bridge. Karri and Henrik investigate the history of the director Bernhard Wicki, the film and how it affected the post-war Germany. / Die Brücke (1959). Directed by Bernhard Wicki. Starring Folker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Volker Lechtenbrink, Michael Hinz.
The original Blade Runner brought the cyberpunk genre to the map. Four replicants have escaped and a blade runner must terminate them. Topics touched in this episode include the chaotic history of the film with its several versions, conflicting interviews, as well as the meaning of the title. / Blade Runner (1982). Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos.
Uzumaki (also known as Spiral) is a Japanese horror film about a town that suffers from a curse of spirals. This horror tale of striking visuals is based on the manga of Junji Ito. With our guest Noora, who lived in Japan, we all spiral out of control. / Uzumaki (2000), Japan. Directed by Higuchinsky. Starring Eriko Hatsune, Fhi Fan, Keiko Takahashi, Ren Osugi.
Thai episode. Uncle Boonmee has an acute kidney disease. As he nears death, the past begins to permeate the present. Spirits blend among the living.Uncle Boonmee won the Palme d'Or of Cannes Film Festival in 2010. Is the film controversial and is this long-takes art house film worth the hype? Our Thai guest is Annie.
Greenlandic episode. Inuk's father dies. Inuk is sent to a childrens home away from his mom. In the new town, he rediscovers the way of his people. How does the first Greenlandic film seen by Karri and Henrik work for them?
Dumbo. Is it a heart-warming tale of animal captivity, where the champagne-drinking baby elephant gets assistance from problematically portrayed crows to continue his life in captivity?
Clive Barker terrified audiences with his unique vision of Hellraiser in 1987. Hellraiser started one of the most well-known horror franchises in the horror film universe. We will discuss not only the film, but the book and Hellraiser's possible homosexual tones.
Steven Spielberg. George Lucas. Fedoras and whips. Even nazis. One of the most recognizable silver screen heroes, Indiana Jones, is taken a close look as part of The Flick Lab's classic films round.
Akira is a landmark Japanese film. It brought anime to international stage and influenced countless works of art thereafter, including and most definitely not limited to Kill Bill and Metal Gear Solid. The Flick Lab continues its spring theme of looking into some of the most iconic films and directors of all time.
Serbian film episode. Over 101.000 people died in the Bosnian War (1992-1995). How could something like this have happened in Europe so recently? Karri and Henrik investigate the war and the Serbian anti-war film Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (Lepa sela lepo gore) (1996) with our Serbian guest Mladen. This is part of The Flick Lab's International Film Challenge 2019 - film 3 of 20. See the challenge description on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
'The greatest pornographic film of all time' is from an era when its genre was taken seriously. Porn films got theatrical releases in the 70's, had plots, were high budget, and were reviewed and discussed openly by people such as Roger Ebert. Should the pornographic film industry be taken seriously today?
It destroyed Titanic at the Korean box office. It permanently transformed Asian cinema. At the heart a desperate cry for peace. Shiri, 20-year anniversary.
Hong Kongese film episode. Chungking Express is the mood-and-atmosphere piece by Wong Kar-Wai. Chungking was brought to western audiences by Quentin Tarantino who loves this film. Should we? Our guest is Hong Kongese Mitch Tam.
Citizen Kane, the greatest film ever made? That is the popular view of critics, or at least it's constantly among the 'top 10 greatest films ever' lists. Is it worthy of such honors? And what in god's name is the "rosebud"? Henrik and Karri will address all of these concerns, and more.
One, two, Freddy's coming for you... Nightmare on Elm Street. The historic landmark film that changed the world of horror. Join Karri and Henrik to find out if they see eye to eye on whether the film deserves its praise.
Is it a film? What does it want to say? Do we want to know the answer? Borders between real and fictional get blurred in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.
"You think you're safe and alive, but you're already dead. Everybody! Him, you, you're dead already! This whole place, everything you see is gone!" Widely considered one the greatest action films of all time, we start the new year firing on all damn miniguns, with a film that needs no introduction - Terminator 2.
Russian film episode. A girl in an orphanage lies that she's the daughter of the Russian president. To what lengths would her web of contacts go to make her story appear to be true? Whatever the cost. Our guest is our Russian correspondent Yana. Happy New Year!
How long can you avoid cultural clashes in a Japanese camp for prisoners of war? Not long, finds Mr. Lawrence. Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays from Karri and Henrik to our listeners.
To shoot an elephant or to shoot your film? Now that is the question in Clint Eastwood's White Hunter Black Heart. Mr. Eastwood invites his film crew all the way to Africa, but his trip intentions have nothing to do with filming, leading to total chaos.
