Living for the Cinema

BLUE VELVET (1986)

Considered by many to be his best film overall, this was the late, great David Lynch's (Mulholland Drive, Wild At Heart, Twin Peaks) follow-up to the massive flop which was his adaptation of Dune just two years prior - he both wrote and direct this mind-bender and also earned an Oscar nominatiion for Best Director. The story focuses on Jeffrey (Kyle McLachlan), a small-town college student who's home to take care of his father's local hardware store when suddenly one day....he finds a severed ear in a nearby forest and decides to take it upon himself to investigate WHOSE ear this might be and the mystery surrounding it. Initially helping him is local student Sandy (Laura Dern) whom he develops a romance with. Their investigation leads him to the apartment of a local lounge singer named Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini) who has both a beautiful voice and some very dark secrets. One night, Jeffrey sneaks into her apartment to find out what Dorothy's hiding and he witnesses some shocking brutality from a local villain thug named Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper).....and what results is a dizzying, haunting thriller which defies explanation and remains one of the more ground-breaking films of the 1980's! WARNING: DISTURBING VIOLENCE PORTRAYED VIA MOVIE CLIPS HEARD WITHIN THIS EPISODE Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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You Can See Everything (2026)

Accclaimed creators Nathan Fielder (The Curse, The Rehearsal) and Lance Oppenheim (Primetime, Ren Fair) have collaborated to direct this now highly-buzzed about documentary about infamous former tech billionaire Elizabeth Holmes. Just over 30 days before she is to report to federal prison for crimes convicted in association with the creation of Theranos, Holmes has invited Nathan Fielder to her beachfront home to spend time getting to know Elizabeth and her family, including entrepeneur Billy Evans and the three young children they have had together. What results ends up being much more than your standard documentary interview..... As mentioned within this review, see below for links to my written Letterboxd reviews of both "The Dropout" Hulu series and "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley" documentary on HBO Max: https://letterboxd.com/living4cinema/film/the-dropout/ https://letterboxd.com/living4cinema/film/the-inventor-out-for-blood-in-silicon-valley/ Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Set in Spain during World War II, this is the moving story of a young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) who is sent along with her pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) to live with her new stephfather (Sergi Lopez), a ruthless captain of the Spanish army. During her first night there, she meets a fairy who takes her to meet an old faun (Doug Jones) in the nearby forest.....which is also at the center of a labyrinch. And thus begins a haunting, fantastical adventure which is part fairy tale and part war story. This modern classic was both written and directed by Oscar-winner Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water, Hellboy, Blade II, Nightmare Alley) and became a worldwide phenomenon, eventually winning three Oscars for Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Based (loosely) upon real events, this is the incredible story of an incident which occurred in 1896 on a railroad construction site in Africa run by the British Empire. Two mysterious lions started mauling and killing dozen's of local workers, resulting in an intense effort lead by the British Colonel (Val Kilmer) overseeing the site....to hunt AND take down these two murderous lions. The lions are nicknamed, "The Ghost" and "The Darkness" and they prove VERY difficult to find and kill! :o Written by Oscar-winner William Goldman (All the President's Men Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid) and directed by Stephen Hopkins (Predator 2, Blown Away, Lost in Space), this rousing adventure opened thirty years ago to middling box office and reviews....but has since built a bit of a cult following. It co-stars Michael Douglas, John Kani, and Tom Wilkinson. Prey For The Hunters. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Scream (1996)

Someone's Taken Their Love of Scary Movies One Step Too Far..... It has been almost one year since high-school student Sydney (Neve Campbell) had to deal with the aftermath of the brutal murder of her mother.....now there's a new killer on the loose around the sleepy town of Woodsboro and apparently, he's now targeting her?? :o Teenagers are being killed all over town and everyone's a suspect....and what results is one of THE more influential horror films of all time which is approaching it's 30th Anniversary! Directed by horror master Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street, The People Under the Stairs, The Hills Have Eyes), this iconic thriller also co-stars Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, and Henry Winkler. It's a SCREAM baby!!! Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Digger (2026)

Digger Rockwell (Oscar-nominee Tom Cruise) is one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world who runs a lucrative oil company which has been digging for oill in the Arctic. One fateful morning, it is revaled to him that a drilling operation in that part of the world has inadverdently caused a massive glacier to break apart.....and it's headed towards Europe, which would result in a MAJOR environmental catastrophe. :o Suddenly he finds himself surrounded by American leaders, scientists, family members, and various other lackeys ALL freaking out over the impending disaster....how will he handle this, will he come up with a solution, is it too late to save the world?? Oscar-winner Alejando G. Inarritu (The Revenant, Birdman, Amores Perros) directs this over-the-top satire which now seems destined to be one of the biggest box office flops of recent years....does it deserve the hate? Also co-starring Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'arcy among several others....there's only way to find out. ;) Let's enter the world of Digger..... Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Green Room (2016)

A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing something they shouldn't have at a bar run by Neo-Nazi skinheads.....and those skinheads are lead by Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men)?? :o What results is a brutal thriller when the band lead by Pat (Anton Yelchin) and Sam (Alia Shakwat) have to figure out increasingly ruthless ways to escape this situation alive. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier (Rebel Ridge, Blue Ruin) and just in time for spooky season, let's revisit one of the more intense horror thrillers of recent years..... Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Carrie (1976)

Based upon one of the earliest novels from Stephen King, this is the tragic story of Carrie White (Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek) who's a troubled teenage girl struggling to fit in at her local high school. Carries's life is dominated by her very religious mother, Margaret (Oscar-nominee Piper Laurie) who has completely isolated her from every one else around her. Carrie also discovers that she has a special gift...an ability to move people and objects with her mind. :o Suddenly, Carrie finds herself being courted by Tommy (William Katt) who has asked her to be his prom date. So then one fateful night, Carrie goes to the Prom with Tommy hoping to finally enjoy herself among her fellow students, but some other students (Nancy Allen, John Travolta) have other plans for her.....and chaos ensues! This enduring horror classic received two Oscar nominations for both Spacek and Laurie, while also being the first breakout hit for director Brian DePalma (Scarface, The Untouchables, Mission Impossible, Blow Out). Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Ricochet (1991)

Nick Styles (Oscar-winner Denzel Washington) is a hot shot LAPD cop-turned-Assistant DA who took off after publicly nabbing a murderous criminal named Earl Talbot Blake (Oscar-nominee John Lithgow) who ends up in prison afterwards. Only Earl has other ideas.....not just escape, but REVENGE.:o So after a brutal prison scape, Earl plots to ruin Nick's life and terrorize every one involved with him.....and violent, sleazy chao ensues! This was one of Denzel's first major starring vehicles and his first true action role not longer after his first Oscar win in 1990 - it was a minor hit upon release but has since become a cult classic not ony resulting Denzel's stardom but a genuinely over-the-top villain performance from Lithgow. (Is there any kind? :P)) Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Highlander, The Shadow), this hard-core '90's actioner also co-stars Ice T, Kevin Pollak, and Victoria Dillard. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Resident Evil (2026)

Based upon the long-popular video game, acclaimed directed Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) has brough his own vision of this beloved property to the big screen. The focus this time is on a lowly courier named Brian (Austin Abrams) who is tasked with delivering an urgent medical specimen one snowy night outside of Raccoon City. On an icy country road, he gets into an accident and hits some one .....once he stops to try to help this person, he gets a LOT more than he bargained for resulting in one crazy, scary night! New, scary threats emerge from every corner and we follow Brian on his treacherous mission to deliver this item but more importantly, to SURVIVE the night. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Set It Off (1996)

Four young women who are also long-time friends (Jada Pinkett-Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise) living in Los Angeles find themselves increasingly desperate to the point where they decide to become bankrobbers. Initially they're successful but then then things start to get increasingly complicated when one of them strikes up a romance with a local bank executive (Blair Underwood) and the local police (lead by John C. McGinley) begin to close in on them. Directred by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton, Law Abiding Citizen, The Italian Job, Friday), this tense action thriller was a surprise hit when it was released thirty years ago this fall, also with a hit soundtrack which features some great music from En Vogue, Seal, and several other notable pop artists from this era. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Big Night (1996)

Co-directed by Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, Spotlight) and Campbell Scott (Singles, Roger Dodger), this acclaimed culinary dramedy also co-stars both of them alongside a stellar cast of Oscar and Emmy nominees/winners including Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver, Marc Anthony, Allison Janney, and the late, great Sir Ian Holm. This is the simple of story of two recently emigrated brothers (Tucci, Shalhoub) from Italy who start their own Italian restaurant on the New Jersey shore in the 1950's. The food is great but business is slow, especially compared to a rival restaurant run down the street run by a much more business-savvy Italian owner played by Holm. Then one night, a unique opportunity presents itself: popular jazz singer/musician Louis Prima is coming to town and he will be going to THEIR restaurant! :) So the brothers pull out all of the stops to prepare some great food and invite every one they know to have dinner there, resulting in one potentially.....BIG NIGHT. ;) Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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About Last Night (1986)

Danny (Emmy-nominee Rob Lowe) and Debbie (Oscar-nominee Demi Moore) are two young Chicagoans who meet at their favorite bar, start to date, move in together....and eventually fall in love. And they each have two best friends (Elizabeth Perkins, Jim Belushi) who have conflicting feelings about each of their new partners which sometimes complicates things. That's pretty much the entire story but what made this romantic comedy so special forty years ago when it was first released was the writing, the performances, the '80's Chicago setting, and even the songs. Co-written and directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, Love and Other Drugs, Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai), let's review what would end being one of THE prototypical rom-com's of its era. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Toy Soldiers (1991)

A group of troublemaking teenage boys decide to take a stand when terrorists seize control of their boarding school. That's the official IMDB description and pretty much all you need to know. ;) Released thirty-five years ago, this was one of several '90's action films inspired by Die Hard - this "Die Hard with Teenagers" was directed by Daniel Petrie Jr. (In The Army Now) and it stars Sean Astin, Will Wheaton, Andrew Divoff, Keith Coogan, Mason Adams, Oscar-nominee Denholm Elliott, George Perez, TE Russell, and Oscar-winner Louis Gossett. Let's go back to school! Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Onslaught (2026)

This is the story of a divorced, burnt out ex-army sniper-now- superintendent (Adria Arjona) of a remote trailer park in the deserts of New Mexico who has her young daughter (Blake Kennedy) for one weekend....and is soon tasked with trying to protect her once a new brutal threat emerges. This threat is a trio of murderous super-soldiers who have broken out from a nearby military experimentation facility....and they are brutally wiping out everyone in their path! 😳 Directed by genre master Adam Wingard (The Guest, Godzilla Vs Kong, You're Next), this throwback grindhouse action/sci-fi/horror thriller also co-stars Dan Stevens, Alex Periera, Drew Starkey, Rebecca Hall, Michael Biehn, and Reginald VelJohnson. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Citizen Kane (1941)

Multimillionaire newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Oscar-winner Orson Welles) dies alone in his extravagant mansion named Xanadu, speaking a single word: "Rosebud." In an attempt to figure out the meaning of this word, a reporter tracks down the people who worked and lived with Kane. They tell their stories in a series of flashbacks which reveal much about Kane's life but not enough to unlock the riddle of his dying breath. This was the film directorial debut of Orson Welles who was also an actor and playwright at the time of release, bringing over much of the cast from his renowned Mercury Theatre troupe to play key roles including Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, George Coulouris, and Agnes Moorehead. As the story was loosely based on the life of then media magnate William Randolph Hearst, it never achieved the necessary level of release in theaters to eneable it become commercially successful though the film was nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture, along with both Best Actor and Best Director for Welles. The only Oscar it would win would be Best Original Screenplay for Welles and co-writer Herman J. Mackiewicz. Over time, its reputation has only grown and it is now considered by many critics and cinephiles to be one of the greatest if not THE best American film of all time. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Nine To Five (1980)

Rest In Peace to the legendary Dolly Parton. (1946 to 1986) In honor of he recent tragic passing, what better way to remember her than to review this '80's comedy classic, which was also her big screen debut. Directed by Collin Higgins (Foul Play, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), this is a frenetic tale of sexism, office politics, suspected murder, and REVENGE. It focuses on three beleaguered co-workers at a fictional conglomerate named Judy (Oscar-winner Jane Fonda), Violet (Emmy-winner Lily Tomlin), and Doralee (Grammy-winner Dolly Parton)....and their despicable boss Frank played by late, great Emmy-winner Dabney Coleman (Tootsie, Wargames). Frank has taken things way too far with his behavior as he has mistreated them all terribly, then an accident occurs, and then hilarity ensues! Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Taxi Driver 50th Anniversary Re-Release (1976)

In honor of its recent 50h Anniversary, here is our newly remastered (with additional content) review of one of The Most Influential Films of the 1970's..... What can be said about one of THE most iconic movies of the past 50 years which hasn't been said already? Well you probably know that it was directed by Martin Scorsese, one of our greatest living American filmmakers. And you probably also know it stars the legendary Robert DeNiro in one of his most iconic roles playing Travis Bickle, the titular taxi driver. You might also know that it was also written by the renowned writer/director Paul Shrader who would go on to craft other iconic films including American Gigolo and Affliction, along with several other collaborations with Scorsese. You probably already have an idea that it tells the story of an Vietnam veteran, disgruntled cab driver who eventually finds himself on a mission to "clean up the streets" of mid '70's New York City in his own unique way of course. Whatever you might know regardless, it's never a bad time to revisit this classic film which has inspired millions of imitators since its release......all pretending to be tough staring in a mirrow, uttering, "You talkin' to me??" Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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Point Break 35th Anniversary Re-Release (1991)

In honor of its recent 35th Anniversary, here is our newly remastered (with additional content) review of one of The Most Beloved Action Films of the '90's! This is the tale of an undercover FBI agent and a surfing bank robber thrust together through fate – Keanu Reeves (John Wick, Speed) plays the FBI agent and the late great Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing, Ghost) plays the bank robber. Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker) directs them alongside Gary Busey, John C. McGinley, and Lori Petty in one of the more quotable action films in cinema history. 100% Pure Adrenaline! Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Dead Again (1991)

Just a year after he received his first two Oscar nominations for both starring in and directing Henry V, Oscar-winner writer/director Kenneth Branagh (Belfast, Thor, Murder on the Orient Express) directed and starred in this dazzling modern reinvention of the sort of suspense thrillers which Alfred Hitchcock had specialized in several decades prior. The story focuses on a mysterious woman (Oscar-winner Emma Thompson) who has lost her memory, the private detective (Branagh) who has been tasked with helping her find out her memory, and.....how this mystery connects to the tragic passings in the 1940's of Roman and Margaret Strauss (Branagh, Thompson), a composer and musician who fell in love. What results is passion and danger for all involved! Also co-starring Andy Garcia, Derek Jacobi, Wayne Knight, and Robin Williams, this twisty and time-bending tale of love and loss remains an almost forgotten gem from thirty-five years ago. Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon Producer: Marlene Gershon Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://livingforthecinema.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

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