Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

Buddy Allman, Jeff Smith, and Chad Roberts
  • 4.7 (32)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

Join media professors Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Buddy Allman, and Chad Roberts as they bring to light films that might have escaped the notice of the younger generations but should definitely be seen! And while Jeff and Buddy have been film geeks for decades, Chad's new to the passion, so you'll get both an experienced and a new perspective on some of the greatest movies ever made!

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

    Just in time for the winter holidays, it's our Christmas pairing! Starting out, we travel back to 1945, right at the end of World War II, for a tale of mistaken (sometimes deliberately) identity and a rollicking screwball comedy set in the country during the holidays! Directed by Peter Godfrey, "Christmas in Connecticut" was a present to all the moviegoers of the time, weary of war pictures and serious topics, who were ready for something just... silly. Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck) is a home and hearth magazine writer who comforts people across the country every week with stories from her farm in Connecticut with her husband, baby, and animals. Plus, the recipes she includes have turned her into a household name! There's only one problem: She's single, lives in an apartment in New York, and can't cook at all! But when publisher Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet, in a rare comedic role) invites a lonely GI, Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) to spend a down-home family christmas with renowned homemaker Elizabeth Lane, things go sideways really quickly! Elizabeth turns to her friend and restaurant chef Felix Bassenak (S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall), who agrees to help, and the race is on to the farm of the man she is enthusiastically engaged to, architect John Sloan (Reginald Gardiner). But, as if things weren't complicated enough, when Elizabeth and Jefferson meet, sparks fly, and it's anybody's guess how it'll all turn out! Also starring Robert Shayne, Una O'Connor, Frank Jenks, Joyce Compton, and Dick Elliott!

    1h 6m

  2. DEC 16

    The Color of Money (1986)

    25 years after the original film came out, Paul Newman returned to start as Eddie "Fast Eddie" Felson once more in director Martin Scorsese's 1986 film "The Color of Money!" This time, Newman's "Fast Eddie" is 25 years older, supposedly wiser, and working as a liquor salesman. He's involved, seemingly seriously, with the bartender of an establishment named Janelle (Helen Shaver), and occasionally partners with nine-ball players like Julian (John Turtorro). When he meets Vincent (Tom Cruise) however, he sees in the young man a protege worthy of his attentions. Along with Vincent's girlfriend Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), they embark on a six-week hustling tutorial, with their ultimate goal a pool tournament in Atlantic City. Along the way, Eddie must confront some of the realities of a world that has changed in 25 years, as well as admitting that he is no longer the same as he was that long ago. Also starring Bill Cobbs, a cameo by rocker Iggy Pop, and the film debut of Forest Whitaker! Plus, the trio unveil their Christmas pairing for 2024!

    58 min

  3. DEC 9

    The Hustler (1961)

    For this pairing of a film and its sequel, 25 year went by between the two films! It's to the world of the pool hall shark and con artists in general we go, starting with 1961's "The Hustler." Directed by Robert Rossen, the film follows the tale of Eddie "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman), an up-and-coming pool hustler. Felson feels he's ready for the big time and challenges reigning master pool shark Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). After losing to Fats, more because of character than talent, Felson meets Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie) in a bus station diner. After running into her again later on, the two end up together. Fats' partner, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) shows up and invites Eddie to become his partner too. After turning him down, Eddie is attacked and made unable to play pool for some time. When he recovers, he agrees to Bert's proposition and goes on the road with Sarah in tow. Unfortunately, things go badly on the road, and a tragedy occurs, but it completes Eddie's growth of character enough that he can once again challenge Fats. Also starring Myron McCormick, Murray Hamilton, Stefan Gierasch, and boxing legend Jake LaMotta!

    53 min

  4. DEC 2

    Hollywoodland (2006)

    Film number two in our look at Neo-Noir films comes from 2006. Director Allen Coulter and writer Paul Bernbaum tackle the story of what, exactly, happened to actor George Reeves (Ben Affleck), star of the first television series featuring Superman. The film starts just after Reeves' death, as private detective Louis Simo (Adrian Brody) investigates what, at first, appears to be a suicide. Hired by Reeves' mother Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), he begins to uncover the life of the actor, and the various directions his career had taken. Reeves was involved with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), wife of MGM studio head Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Eddie has a mistress, so it's ok with him for Toni to have a lover we well. But after Superman is cancelled, George and Toni separate and Reeves takes up with a younger woman, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) who his mother doesn't approve of at all. As Simo gets closer and closer to figuring out if it was suicide or murder, his own life begins to come apart. It doesn't stop him from trying his best to solve the case, however. Plus, the trio unveil which film, and its twenty-five-years-later sequel, will make up the next pairing!

    1h 9m

  5. NOV 25

    L.A. Confidential (1997)

    Neo-Noir films make up this pairing, both films having been suggested by a friend of Chad's. First up, to Tinseltown we turn, and the sprawl of humanity that exists around in in director Curtis Hanson's 1997 film "L.A. Confidential." The film follows three LA police detectives: Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), Bud White (Russell Crowe), and Ex Exley (Guy Pearce). Vincennes works with a yellow journalist, Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito) exposing drug-related busts for the publicity, while Jack works as a technical consultant to a popular TV show, "Badge of Honor." White has used his badge as a means to pursue any and all men who abuse women and he deals with them in some rather illegal ways. Exley is a young cop with political ambitions who doesn't care who else on the police force is upset by the way he plays the game. All three find themselves dealing with an organized crime vacuum after a powerful local mobster is taken off the board. It's a twisting tale of assumptions, manipulation, backstabbing, and exactly how far over the line each of our detectives is willing to go in order to solve the case and seek their own personal goals! Also starring Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Ron Rifkin.

    1h 2m

  6. NOV 18

    Dead Snow (2009)

    Moving into the 21st century from our last film, we also move across the Atlantic to the country of Norway for our second film. Directed by Tommy Wirkola and written by Wirkola and Stig Frode Henriksen, 2009's "Dead Snow" combines zombie lore with that of the ancient Norse myth of the draug (undead who spend their afterlife protecting their treasure, usually ill-gotten). A group of medical students head to a remote cabin for a weekend away from their studies. Owned by their friend Sara (Ane Dahl Torp), Erlend (Jeppe Beck Laursen), Hanna (Charlotte Frogner), Chris (Jenny Skavian), Martin (Geir Vegar Hoel), Roy (Stig Frode Henriksen) and Vegard (Lasse Valdal) get as close they can by car, then snowmobile or hike 45 minutes to the cabin. That night, a mysterious hiker appears at their door and tells them the story of a group of German Nazis who, back in WWII, subjugated and abused a nearby town, stealing all their valuables. Supposedly, the Nazis were especially fierce in their desire to keep their plundered gold. The next day, Vegard goes off in search of Sara (who has yet to turn up), while the rest at the cabin find a box with gold and jewelry beneath the cabin. This discover, however, triggers an attack by the Nazis, now undead, who still believe the treasure is theirs and are willing to eat anyone trying to take it! A truly unique dark comedy that includes some knowledge of horror tropes on the part of the characters, making for some rather stunning scenes! Plus, Chad reveals which two films, suggested by a listener and friend of his, will make up the next pairing!

    1h 5m

  7. NOV 11

    Student Bodies (1981)

    Halloween may be over, but the horror fun just keeps on a-comin'! This pairing is dedicated to another sub-genre of horror, that of horror comedy (or horror parody). First up, it's the original slasher parody that people who saw it in the 80s remember so fondly and everyone else has no idea about! Written and directed by Michael Ritchie (under the pseudonym Mickey Rose), 1981's "Student Bodies" was a direct response to all of the horror films that came before it (and the small fortune they all earned at the box office)! It's just another school day at Lamab High School, except that someone has killed two of its students just as they were about to have sex. The audience knows it's the madman known as "The Breather," but the rest of the students are oblivious, as are most of the faculty. Only virginal Toby (Kristen Riter) has the formula figured out - that sex kills! Unfortunately, that also lands her as suspect #1 in the killings! A truly unique film that skewers all of the traditions and tropes of 70s horror by pointing out the flaws in logic usually demonstrated by those in such situations! Also starring Matt Goldsby, Jerry Belson, Joe Flood, Joe Talarowski, Mimi Weddell, and Patrick "The Stick" Boone Varnell.

    1h 2m

  8. NOV 4

    The Witch (2015)

    Our second folk horror film comes from right at the edge of our timeline, but is a perfect example of the resurgence of Folk Horror seen in the U.S. and the UK in the last decade! Written and directed by Robert Eggers, 2015's "The Witch" follows a 17th century family exiled from their community for practicing a form of Christianity the rest of the town disapproved of. William (Ralph Ineson), the father, and Katherine (Kate Dickie), the mother, leave with their children, eldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), eldest son Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), the twins Joseph (Lucas Dawson) and Mercy (Ellie Grainger), and infant son Samuel (Axtun Henry and Athan Conrad Dube) for a life alone in the woods. Struggling to raise enough food for the winter, the family has also a few chickens and a few goats, including a large black billygoat named Black Phillip. They believe a witch lives in the woods nearby, and the children are therefore forbidden to enter. After Samuel is taken, supposedly by wolves, the family's fortunes start to sink, and the members of the family begin to turn on one-another, as witchcraft becomes the primary reason blamed for all that befalls them. Ultimately, Christianity cannot stop the forces that are conspiring against the family, and they must confront the reality of their situation, even when that reality contradicts their strongly-held beliefs! Plus, the trio reveal which two horror comedies will make up the next pairing!

    1h 6m
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4.7
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Join media professors Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Buddy Allman, and Chad Roberts as they bring to light films that might have escaped the notice of the younger generations but should definitely be seen! And while Jeff and Buddy have been film geeks for decades, Chad's new to the passion, so you'll get both an experienced and a new perspective on some of the greatest movies ever made!

Information

  • Creator
    Buddy Allman, Jeff Smith, and Chad Roberts
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2024
  • Episodes
    455
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2016-2023 Spirit of Resistance Radio Studios
  • Show Website
    Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

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