Forbidden Films

Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky
  • 4.8 (4)
  • TV & Film

Hosted by writer-director Wayne Kramer (The Cooler, Running Scared) and producer Barry Germansky (Marlowe, Riff Raff), Forbidden Films is a podcast about the movies they won't make anymore. Each week, Wayne and Barry take a deep dive into a once critically regarded film or commercial success that by today's regressive standards is now deemed either problematic or unlikely to ever be made again in the same way. Pushing back against political correctness, the duo bring their own filmmaking experience and love of movies to a lively — and controversial — discussion about living in illiberal times where self-censorship and timidity, fueled by corporate greed and fear of social media blowback, has led to the catch phrase, "They'd never make that film today." Forbidden Films is a shot against the bow of cinematic cowardice and a clarion call to the industry to start making bold and challenging films again. From the early James Bond films to Saturday Night Fever to A Clockwork Orange and beyond, tune in for some insightful and pugilistic conversations. Rated Mature Audiences Only. Music Acknowledgement: The Forbidden Films theme is a track called "Ghosts" by renowned film composer John Murphy. It is available on John's album "Anonymous Rejected Filmscore." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Marshall Herskovitz Talks Dangerous Beauty

    "Venice may as well be deemed one large floating brothel." On today's episode of Forbidden Films, Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky welcome a very special guest: Oscar-nominated writer-producer-director Marshall Herskovitz, the man behind cultural TV landmarks such as Thirtysomething and My So-Called Life and such hit films as Legends of the Fall, Traffic, The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond. In this episode, the trio navigate the libidinous canals of 16th-century Venetian sexual politics with Marshall's 1998 film, Dangerous Beauty, which chronicles a legendary courtesan's journey from nobility's favorite prostitute to savior of her city to landing in the crosshairs of the Inquisition. Starring the always alluring Catherine McCormack in her most sex positive role, with supporting turns from Rufus Sewell, Oliver Platt, Naomi Watts, Jacqueline Bisset, and Fred Ward. Dangerous Beauty takes us on a compelling journey, one filled with liberal doses of nudity and debauchery, in its portrait of a woman whose only escape from the shackles of "perpetual inconsequence" was to f**k her way into enlightenment and personal freedom. Beneath its glossy eroticism lies a treatise on feminism and social justice that is completely on brand for the Bedford Falls socio-political canon. So fork over those gold ducats, pour yourself a flute of Malvasia, and step inside the Honest Courtesan's inner sanctum to be instructed in the most taboo of all vices: how to produce a period sex epic with no movie stars on the studio dime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Marshall Herskovitz Talks Dangerous Beauty

  2. Oct 23

    Paul Schrader Talks Cat People

    "We are a incestuous race. We can only make love with our own, otherwise we transform. And before we can become human again, we must kill." Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are joined by legendary writer-director Paul Schrader for this very special episode. Schrader takes our duo behind the scenes of the sexiest horror film of the 1980s, and, like his films, he doesn't hold back. Wayne and Paul share their personal obsessions for the seductive star of Cat People, Nastassja Kinski, but only one of them got within swatting distance of the most alluring femme fatale of the early 80s and lived to tell about it. Schrader's film, scripted by Alan Ormsby and loosely inspired by the Jacques Tourneur 1942 B-movie chiller, is a sumptuous visual masterpiece that has stood the test of time, thanks in no small part to the design supervision of the legendary Ferdinando Scarfiotti (The Last Emperor, American Gigolo, Scarface). With a cast that includes the always estimable John Heard, the always desirable Annette O'Toole, the disarming Ed Begley, Jr., and the commanding Ruby Dee, Cat People remains one of the most underrated studio films of the 80s. Soundtracked by the genius of Giorgio Moroder, with a signature David Bowie end title song, and stellar make-up FX by Tom Burman, this one more than earns its place in what is possibly the greatest year of modern fantasy releases that included Blade Runner, The Thing, E.T., The Road Warrior, Conan the Barbarian, Poltergeist, and Stark Trek II. So, slurp back some oysters, cuddle up next to your favorite kitty, and hit play for some very R-rated remembrances from a cinematic arsonist still putting out his fires with gasoline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Paul Schrader Talks Cat People

  3. Oct 5

    Sea of Love

    "She's a friggin' suspect. Walk away. Frankie? Just walk away." Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are braving the erotically-charged tide of Harold Becker's 1989 neo-noir police procedural, Sea of Love, written by Wayne's favorite writer, Richard Price, and starring Al Pacino in his post-Revolution comeback film, alongside Ellen Barkin in the role that solidified her sultry leading lady status. Pacino's Detective Frank Keller, partnered with John Goodman, is on the trail of a serial murderer who is using the personal ads column to entice male victims. Before Sharon Stone began romancing Michael Douglas with an ice pick in Basic Instinct, Barkin's Helen Cruger was already bringing the f**k me-kill you ambiguity to this twisty cop thriller. Wayne goes to the mat to defend Sea of Love as the perfect thriller, and is ready to get Frank Keller-style karate-choppy on anyone who claims otherwise, especially those who don't think the film has a strong resolution. If you like your 80s NYPD cop thrillers drenched in mood and attitude and late-night eroticism, as well as edge of your seat "Is she or isn't she?" anxiety, then brace yourself for one to the back of the head in the best possible way. Richard Price's complex, neurotic characters, Harold Becker's stellar craftsmanship, Trevor Jones' manic, jazzy score and Pacino and Barkin sexing up the big screen all make for an underrated masterpiece of the genre. So, pour yourself a shot of Dewar's, break out your old .45s, and drop the needle on Sea of Love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sea of Love

  4. Sep 11

    48 Hrs.

    "You know what I am? I'm your worst f****n' nightmare, man. I'm a n***** with a badge which means I got permission to kick your f****n' ass whenever I feel like it!" Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are starting the clock on Walter Hill's classic 1982 buddy-cop action film, 48 Hrs., starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in his star-making feature debut. This is the one that pretty much started it all. Yeah, we know there were others that came before, but this is the one that got the recipe down perfect. Ingredients: One weary, cynical cop. Check. One horny, wily con. Check. Spice it up by making the cop white and the con black. Check. Add two tablespoons of contempt for one another. Check. Actually, make it three. Peppered with a common cause: chasing down a pair of mad dog killers on the mean streets of San Francisco. Check. Throw in the MacGuffin of 500K in stolen drug money. Check. Make the punches loud. The gun shots even louder. And the bullet impacts large enough to drive a truck through. Check. Make sure to burn some rubber on those steep SF hills, sculpted by the hand of God for cool car chases. Check. Crank up James Horner's anxious jazz fusion coolness. Check. Sprinkle in an equal ratio of racial epithets to exchanged lead. Check. And turn the heat way up for 96 minutes. Repeat for Another 48 Hrs., but just don't expect it to taste as good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 Hrs.

  5. Aug 29

    Mario Kassar Discusses Basic Instinct

    "I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill him the way I described in my book. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid." On today's episode of Forbidden Films, Barry Germansky welcomes a very special guest: legendary producer Mario Kassar. They'll be discussing everything you could want to know about BASIC INSTINCT, one of the most controversial films of the 1990s. In addition to Basic Instinct, Mario has produced or executive produced such iconic films as The Changeling, the first three Rambo films, Angel Heart, Jacob's Ladder, Total Recall, The Doors, Chaplin, Cliffhanger, and the groundbreaking Terminator 2: Judgment Day, one of cinema's most inexhaustible dreamscapes. Throughout this episode, Barry and Mario will be examining one of the wildest erotic thrillers ever made. So grab your ice pick, uncross your legs, fix yourself a double blackjack on the rocks, and tune in for a candid conversation with Mario about all things Basic Instinct. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Mario Kassar Discusses Basic Instinct

  6. Jul 14

    Risky Business

    "Sometimes you just gotta say, 'What the f**k, make your move.'" Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are engaging in some Risky Business with Paul Brickman's 1983 surreal, erotic, and Salingerian coming-of-age masterpiece that lit the fuse on Tom Cruise's stardom. Joel Goodson is looking to get laid, looking to get into Princeton, and looking for a whole lot of trouble when his parents go out of town. With one late night phone call to Rebecca De Mornay's sultry, cynical call girl, Lana, Joel gets schooled in Reaganomics the Chicago way. Guest instructors include Guido the Killer Pimp and Lana's hot-to-trot hooker friends. Joel's curriculum also includes an AP course on how to make love on a real train – soundtracked by Phil Collins and Tangerine Dream. So strip to your tighty-whities, roll up your tube socks, and hit play for some Old Time Rock and Roll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Risky Business

  7. Jul 1

    Body Heat

    "You aren't too smart, are you? I like that in a man." Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are getting under the sheets with Body Heat, writer-director Lawrence Kasdan's 1981 revamping of the film noir genre. Everything old is new again — this time with a sultry femme fatale for the ages, Matty Walker, played by the combustible Kathleen Turner in her screen debut, who seduces William Hurt's small town horndog lawyer, Ned Racine, into offing her husband and bringing about Ned's eventual cum-uppance. All to the tune of John Barry's alto saxed-up score and Richard H. Kline's sweaty cinematography. With supporting turns from Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, and Mickey Rourke, this granddaddy of the modern film noir delivers in the best tradition of Billy Wilder, Jacques Tourneur, Robert Siodmak, and Fritz Lang – with the added bonus of boobs, butts, and profanity. So, beware of the wind chimes, never buy a strange woman on the boardwalk a snow cone, and stay out of the boathouse. Click play for a fun conversation about sex, death, and humidity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Body Heat

  8. Jun 17

    All That Jazz

    "It's showtime, folks!" Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky are hopping on a Greyhound bus to Broadway to revisit Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical and tragically prescient All That Jazz. It's a phantasmagorical, warts-and-all look at the life of Joe Gideon, a tortured Broadway director and filmmaker choreographing his way into oblivion. Joe is at war with his second-guessing financiers, his pursuit of perfection, his failing health, and his own raging libido in Fosse's multiple Oscar-winning masterpiece. Prepare to be dazzled by Roy Scheider's fearless, self-excoriating performance, Ann Reinking's virtuosic dance moves, and Alan Heim's manic postmodern editing that keeps it all moving to an unsettling arrhythmic beat. So fire up the Vivaldi, pop some Dexedrine, light up an unfiltered Camel, lubricate your eyeballs, and come take off with us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    All That Jazz
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Hosted by writer-director Wayne Kramer (The Cooler, Running Scared) and producer Barry Germansky (Marlowe, Riff Raff), Forbidden Films is a podcast about the movies they won't make anymore. Each week, Wayne and Barry take a deep dive into a once critically regarded film or commercial success that by today's regressive standards is now deemed either problematic or unlikely to ever be made again in the same way. Pushing back against political correctness, the duo bring their own filmmaking experience and love of movies to a lively — and controversial — discussion about living in illiberal times where self-censorship and timidity, fueled by corporate greed and fear of social media blowback, has led to the catch phrase, "They'd never make that film today." Forbidden Films is a shot against the bow of cinematic cowardice and a clarion call to the industry to start making bold and challenging films again. From the early James Bond films to Saturday Night Fever to A Clockwork Orange and beyond, tune in for some insightful and pugilistic conversations. Rated Mature Audiences Only. Music Acknowledgement: The Forbidden Films theme is a track called "Ghosts" by renowned film composer John Murphy. It is available on John's album "Anonymous Rejected Filmscore." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Wayne Kramer and Barry Germansky
  • Show Website
    Forbidden Films

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