The Futile Podcast

Deconstructing 80's & 90's action movies. Relating them to comics, TV, and cartoons from then and now.

252. The Walking Dead ep.1

252. The Walking Dead ep. 1 (right click OR click)

Ian, Matt, Joshua, and Brian talk about the first episode of the zombie TV show everybody already talked about. But we also include a rousing debate Shotgun v. sniper riffle.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:  Filter – Consider This

246. JFK

246. JFK (right click OR click)

Mark is back again and this time he talks with Ian all about Ollie Stone’s controversial film.

email us your theory: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

Next week: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Podcast w/ poor audio.

232. Justified season 1

232. Justified (right click or click)

Zack, Seth, and Ian talk about the first season of this pretty darn good somewhat different TV show on FX. It’s got the guy from Live Free or Die Trying’… or whatever.  Ian also makes a startling claim about The Wire.  It’s Year 4 of the Futile Podcast all bets are off.  Join us if you can.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:

Tsuneo Imahori – The Lowdown

228. Real Genius

228. Real Genius (right click or click)

Mark makes his dramatic return to talk about this seminal coming of age 80’s comedy that most people probably don’t like because it lacks a smarmy unlikeable Matthew Broderickesque character. Oh wait he’s sort of the bad guy in this movie. Real Genius and Revenge of the Nerds paved the way for the society we have today where not being a nerd makes you a social pariah.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:

Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule of the World

222. Betrayed

222. Betrayed (right click OR click)

Zack tells Ian about this odd little movie from the 80’s.  It’s about how a woman investigates some white supremisists  but they end up being the “good” racists not Nazis or anything … so she is torn as to if she should turn them into her Fed buddies. Yeah a real moral quandary this one.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

221. Silver Streak

221. Silver Streak (right click OR click)

Despite being set mostly on a train this movie is not as good as an anime series called Baccano! could be that 70’s era train travel isn’t as cool as 30’s?  That’s not really a question though is it? This is the movie with Gene Wilder and hints of Richard Pryor though honestly there is far more Pryor in Superman 3.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:

David Bowie – I’m Deranged*

 

*bonus points if you’ve seen Lost Highway or own this soundtrack or Outside, it’s all pretty solid

219. Iron Man 2

219. Iron Man 2 (right click OR click)

Zack and Ian discuss this next in the series of intertwined Marvel comic movies.  We also talk about what makes for good comics/movies.

email:  Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:

The Pixies – Wave of Mutilation

217. Fargo

217. Fargo (right click OR click)

Mark and Ian, with a little help from Seth, talk about this slightly odd but not really that odd movie.  It was a big deal like 13 years ago or something.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

music:  NO MUSIC THIS WEEK (think of snow and cold but not Verspertine cold I don’t know maybe … like something Danny Elfmanesque)

Tech in film part 5: Behavioural Economics

OR Libertarian Paternalism (right click OR click)

The tech in film discussion keeps on going and takes a bit of an aside to discuss the idea of “nudging” people to do what is “best”.  Incidentally R.I.P.  Teddy Kennedy.

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com

Technology in film part 3: Robotics and Fear

Tech in film part 3 (right click OR click)

Prof. Estrada and Ian continue to devle into robotics in movies which leads to discussions about intellegence and of course the Turing Test.

Dr. Estrada’s place:  http://eripsa.org/

email: Futilepodcast@gmail.com