Let's Take Five

Austin and Eric are here to discuss the final film in their Akira Kurosawa Five, Ran. This is the epic retelling of William Shakespeare's King Lear set as a samurai war film. When a warlord divides his land among his three sons, chaos spreads as betrayal and regret lead to bloodshed. What does a Kurosawa film look like after decades after High and Low and how has he changed as a filmmaker at the end of his career. Find out!   Akira Kurosawa's Five 1) Rashomon 2) Ikiru 3) Seven Samurai 4) High and Low 5) Ran   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Wednesday as we wrap-up Akira Kurosawa and name our next Five. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric return to figure out exactly who kidnapped this child. They look into the film High and Low, which was Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of an American crime novel. They look at the intricate details of how they solve the case as well as examining the complexity of the villain. Also Toshiro Mifune doesn't scream this movie!   Akira Kurosawa's Five 1) Rashomon 2) Ikiru 3) Seven Samurai 4) High and Low 5) Ran   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday as we discuss Ran. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are joined by Pedro Aubry from The Immortals podcast to discuss--POSSIBLY--one of the greatest films of all time. This is the heroic tale of seven samurai who are willing to risk their lives to save a small village from being robbed by bandits. This is a story that has been remade so many times, but how do those compare to the Kurosawa original?   Akira Kurosawa's Five 1) Rashomon 2) Ikiru 3) Seven Samurai 4) High and Low 5) Ran   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday as we discuss High and Low. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are back to think about what it means to live. This week they're looking at another one of Akira Kurosawa's beloved films, Ikiru, which is about a sad pencil-pusher who discovers he only has a few months left to live. The guys talk about why this film is so different for Kurosawa and how emotional this movie is to everyone who watches it.   Akira Kurosawa's Five 1) Rashomon 2) Ikiru 3) The Seven Samurai 4) High and Low 5) Ran   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes YouTube   Join us next Friday as we discuss The Seven Samurai. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are back and ready to discuss their new cinema legend. This time they're exploring foreign cinema with the great Japanese director: Akira Kurosawa. Their first movie is all about figuring out what is the truth. A horrible crime happened in feudal Japan and four different people have four very different accounts about what happened. The guys look at what this means about perspective and cinema.    Akira Kurosawa's Five 1) Rashomon 2) Ikiru 3) The Seven Samurai 4) High and Low 5) Ran   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us next Friday as we discuss Ikiru. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric finish up their Billy Wilder set with a look back at the films they watched and the films they didn't watch. Does Eric still have problems with Ace in the Hole? Does Austin accurately remember the plots of Wilder's early comedies? Find out these things as well as their next Five.   Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us this Friday as we discuss the first film from our next Five. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are at the final film of Billy Wilder and it seems like it's all gone by too fast. It's best to end on a good note as The Apartment is one of the hosts' favorite Wilder film. It's the tragic and comedic tale of one man who keeps lending out his apartment so his bosses can have affairs. The guys discuss how well Wilder was able to capture the richness of these characters and the sad world they live in.    Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on next Wednesday as we wrap up Billy Wilder and announce our next Five. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are back on Billy Wilder's light side with the beloved comedy Some Like It Hot. They're joined by the great writer Andrew Rostan as they look into the very silly tale of two men pretending to be women because they accidentally witnessed the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. It's remarkable how progressive the film is and how wall-to-wall funny it is.    Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on next Friday as we discuss The Apartment. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric disagree for the first time on the show for Billy Wilder's most cynical film. It's the story of a corrupt journalist who lands in New Mexico where he blows up a small rescue story into a media circus. Is this movie a warning for today's times or is it just unredeemable behavior on display? Regardless, it's important to talk about when looking at Billy Wilder's canon.    Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on next Friday as we discuss Some Like It Hot. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric get lost driving down the deserted Sunset Blvd but luckily they have time to talk about another Billy Wilder classic. Here they discuss one of his most beloved films and, unlike last week, one he actually directed. They also talk about how they each discovered Wilder, the isolation created in this world and they debate the other-worldly feel of the ending.     Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on next Friday as we discuss Ace in the Hole. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric are back to discuss the first film in their Billy Wilder series. They begin with one of his screenwriting triumphs: Ninotchka. It's the story of a strict socialist Russian who becomes corrupted by the joys of Paris (and capitalism). The guys discuss Wilder's successes with the characters, their changes and the brilliant structure of this hilarious romantic comedy.   Billy Wilder's Five 1) Ninotchka 2) Sunset Blvd. 3) Ace in the Hole 4) Some Like It Hot 5) The Apartment   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on next Friday as we discuss Sunset Blvd. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric have finished their five films and now it's time to take a look at Robert DeNiro's full career. They look back at the films they covered and so many films that they didn't. What makes Robert DeNiro stand out and can he ever return to his former greatness? Or is he still giving great performances? Also find out who will be the next person they cover!   Robert DeNiro’s Five 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat    –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on Friday as we talk about the first pick of our new subject. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric finish up their Robert DeNiro series with the 1995 crime classic Heat. They are joined by one of the lead writers of TheFilmYap.com, Nick Rogers, who wrote an excellent essay on the film. They debate the film's final decision and what it means to be a slick and emotional criminal in Michael Mann's world.    Robert DeNiro’s Five 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat   --Nick Roger's essay on Heat --Austin and Nick's Trailer Contest   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us on Wednesday as we wrap up DeNiro and announce our next pick. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric have to talk about two guys who talk each other to compete annoyance. This will go great! Also they talk about their penultimate Robert DeNiro film Midnight Run and DeNiro's comedy chops in this incredibly structured buddy comedy film.    Robert DeNiro’s Five 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat   –Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com –Subscribe to Eric’s video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion –Listen to Austin’s other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter iTunes   Join us next Friday as we discuss Heat. Artwork by Ray Martindale

Austin and Eric return and they've found a brand new Robert DeNiro. No longer is he quiet and calculated. Now he's grunting and hitting and getting hit as hard as he can in Raging Bull. They discuss this incredible character story and how it fits into what DeNiro wanted to accomplish for so many years.   Robert DeNiro's Five 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat   --Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com --Subscribe to Eric's video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion --Listen to Austin's other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter   Join us next Friday as we discuss Midnight Run.   Artwork by Ray Martindale

They made another one! Austin and Eric are back to discuss another three hour masterpiece from Robert DeNiro's canon, The Deer Hunter. They look at his range from three distinct acts of this difficult war film and one of them declares this as possibly his best performance.    Robert DeNiro 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat   --Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com --Subscribe to Eric's video game YouTube channel, Constant Diversion --Listen to Austin's other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter   Join us next Friday as we discuss Raging Bull.   Artwork by Ray Martindale

Welcome to Episode 1 of Let's Take Five. Austin Lugar and Eric Martindale are going to pick a great artist of the cinema and take five of their films to examine their talent and range. First up, is Robert DeNiro in The Godfather Part II.   Robert DeNiro 1) The Godfather Part II 2) The Deer Hunter 3) Raging Bull 4) Midnight Run 5) Heat   --Leave us your thoughts on this movie at TheArtImmortal.com --Subscribe to Eric's video game YouTube channel --Listen to Austin's other podcast, The Immortals.   Email Twitter   Join us next Friday as we discuss The Deer Hunter.   Artwork by Ray Martindale