Danger Close

A War Film Podcast
Danger Close

Join a Marine Veteran, a film critic, and a theater director as they laugh, argue, and explore the history of humanity's triumphs and tragedies through war films old and new. War is Hell. People make films about it. And we love to talk about them.

  1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

    5 OCT

    Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

    Well, this one hardly needs an introduction and is as epic and sweeping as it gets. This is a film we have been wanting to cover for over two years, and finally the stars aligned. It is on just about every cinephile and film industry professional’s top ten greatest films of all time, often filling the number one spot. If you haven’t seen it, it is well worth watching in the highest quality and biggest screen you can. The 4K restoration is fantastic, and Dune or The English Patient would not be the same without director David Lean’s masterpiece to influence them. Alec Guinness, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, and myriad great actors of their time star in this telling of the myth and some of the true history behind T.E. Lawrence, famous British archaeologist and military officer who played a hand during World War I in shaping what the Middle East looks like today, and arguably influenced the fates of many Arab peoples during their fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire. Join Dan, Kt, and Liam as we explore the nuances and pitfalls of this incredibly enduring piece of cinema history from 1962. Poster by Zachariah Wheeler http://zwheeler.bigcartel.com Next episode: Paths of Glory (1957) Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments! Our website: www.dangerclosepod.com Join our Facebook group at: Danger Close - Podcast Discussion Group If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! If you would like to support the show and get extra episodes where we discuss sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy war movies, join our Patreon for only $4 a month at: www.dangerclosepod.com/support warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #WWI #Worldwarone #lawrenceofarabia

    2h 16m
  2. Platoon (1986)

    10 AUG

    Platoon (1986)

    A lot can (and has) been said about this film. It's one of the very few that might actually achieve the status of "anti-war" film, or at least refrains from glamorizing it. It can't be accused of inaccuracy or overt messaging, because it is admittedly a picture of writer-director Oliver Stone's own experiences volunteering for the American War in Vietnam, fictionalized for the screen, but based on events he saw first hand. While it's the only film Charlie Sheen has ever been good in (disclaimer: this is solely Dan's opinion, you can @ him directly), Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger are the big stars leading a huge cast of mostly unknown actors who later became famous: Sheen the Younger himself, Johnny Depp, Keith David, John C McGinley, among many others. They portray infantrymen at war in all of its grime, sweat, bugs, confusion, and moral ambiguity. And none of the glory. The cinematography is claustrophobic and purposefully confusing, the Oscar-winning sound design relentless, the performances indelible. Join us as we discuss the grueling production, emotional impact, and continued legacy of this important American film. Widely available for streaming. Next episode: Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments! Our website: www.dangerclosepod.com Join our Facebook group at: Danger Close - Podcast Discussion Group If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! If you would like to support the show and get extra episodes where we discuss sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy war movies, join our Patreon for only $4 a month at: www.dangerclosepod.com/support warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #vietnam #oliverstone #platoon

    1h 51m
  3. Black Hawk Down (2001)

    12 JAN

    Black Hawk Down (2001)

    Another good example of a modern war film produced before September 11th, this one puts us in the helicopters and humvees of Task Force Ranger during the humanitarian crisis in Somalia in 1993. Dispensing with most of the geo-political complexities that led to US forces deploying to East Africa, the focus here is mostly on the Rangers and Delta Force on the ground, who dropped into a hostile district with all the confidence of overwhelming force and technology, only to find out the hard way that a daytime raid and repetitive tactics were a recipe for disaster. You may not recognize them all in a sea of later-famous faces: Josh Hartnett as the young staff sergeant, Ewan McGregor as the coffee expert, a young Tom Hardy in his first big picture, and a grizzled Tom Sizemore returning to a combat leadership role. The film really humanizes the American soldiers and makes you live their experiences, while…not really filling in the motivation of the Somali fighters or the context of the larger conflict. This was a first-time watch for at least one of us! Join us today as we explore the Battle of Mogadishu and its hard-learned lessons. Next Episode: Mulan (1998) Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments! Our website: www.dangerclosepod.com Join our Facebook group at: Danger Close - Podcast Discussion Group If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! If you would like to support the show and get extra episodes where we discuss sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy war movies, join our Patreon for only $4 a month at: www.dangerclosepod.com/support warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #army #rangers #mogadishu #gothicserpent #somalia

    2h 12m

About

Join a Marine Veteran, a film critic, and a theater director as they laugh, argue, and explore the history of humanity's triumphs and tragedies through war films old and new. War is Hell. People make films about it. And we love to talk about them.

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada