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Early Access: Episode 39 - Ishtar (1987)

Hey everyone! Here's our newest episode where we discuss one of the most notorious movie failures of all time - Ishtar! This was mainly an excuse for us to revisit the filmmaking career of director Elaine May and the films she made leading up to this one (A New Leaf, The Heartbreak Kid, Mikey & Nicky). Stay tuned for our Patreon follow-up on Gigli!

Early Access: Episode 39 - Ishtar (1987) Early Access: Episode 39 - Ishtar (1987) Early Access: Episode 39 - Ishtar (1987)

Comments

Agree re: The Birdcage. I loved it as a kid -- just saw it as this hysterical comedy. Rewatched it more recently as an adult and though I still liked it, felt really grim for a big chunk of it. The kids are horrible! The way they're willing to ruin other people's lives just for their wedding was insane to me

Tom Goodwin

*BOOM* Heartbreak Kid, the original everyone! https://youtu.be/ZVpisL2DZx8?si=zMy86Iu3MZ7NWzbV

Louie Caponecchia

I've reconsidered my concept of God and it might just be Joe and Ryan!

Lux Anatis

Next you'll be hailing them as the two messengers of God...

Thomas Bishop

On an unrelated note, here's some food for thought: neither Primary Colors, Wag the Dog, Bob Roberts, or Bulworth are available in the catalog of any streaming service.

Lux Anatis

Great episode, guys, didn't disappoint. If I may dare, I wanted to let you guys know that a large part of the reason I like you two so much is because your discussions are much, much more focused on personal experience with and perspective on the films you discuss rather than Wikipedia trivia everyone has access to. So many people who talk about entertainment media online are content just with listing facts off of websites and conforming to whatever they think is public opinion, especially if there's easy laughs in it. You two are really unique in that regard.

Lux Anatis

Y’all think Elaine is a squirter or a creamer?

Tristan Horse

King of New York is hilarious! "Room service, mother-fuckers!" I also just watched Husbands. It makes Mikey and Nicky seem fast paced

Samuel Moszynski

The impression I get about Elaine May is that in Hollywood people were either like "She's an unworkable lunatic!" or "She's has very succinct, concrete ideas that she would go to any extreme lengths to achieve no matter the consequences, and people can't handle it!" And then Warren Beatty found out very quickly that everyone on planet Earth was wrong, and she was just a talented artist who was completely bogged down by all these crazy whims she would go to bat for, because it might be nice to have 1 1 months later in editing? So the final product is fine, but you've risked everyone's careers and sanity like you're Kubrick and you've made 2001, but it comes out and it's like you're Kubrick and you've made Every Which Way But Loose.

Thomas Bishop

I don't have a lot to say for this episode so instead of a thread this is going to be a big comment, so first things first, wait these don't take a week to make, I always figured you guys record a week before the episode is up on Patreon, and second, well Ryan I have gotten into anime, from Danganronpa, I'm not going to suggest you guys do the anime as it is trash same goes to the game series, and Ryan, I'm not going to sue you but rather I will have to take my revenge out on you, my life has turn into the movie Rolling Thunder and you're James Best, and you're not going to be Rosco P Coltrane by the end

JokersJuicyAss

As a huge They Might Be Giants fan, I have a minor bone to pick with Paul Williams regarding the accordion line in Dangerous Business buuut he’s such a great songwriter I won’t hold it against him TOO much. I’m seconding Ryan’s Phantom of the Paradise recommendation, too. The soundtrack is an all-timer!!

Mary and Steve

Minnesota reference! 😂

Mary and Steve

Again, Ishtar is one of those films where its production history makes for a better story, but it's certainly not deserving of its "worst film ever" reputation. I'd sooner sit through Ishtar than I would Life of the Party, or Sex Lives of the Potato Men, or Yoga Hosers.

The One and Rory

Looking forward to seeing it!

Almost Cult Classics

Thelma with June Squibb was Awesome

Salvador Pereira

I just pick up husbands during the recent criterion sale so I’m excited to check it out.

Luke Gordnier

I also saw a Blu-ray of Ishtar but I couldn’t find it the last time I went.

Luke Gordnier

I need to plan a heist to this library

Almost Cult Classics

Fun fact: I had to watch Mikey and Nicky for a film class this year.

Luke Gordnier

I was able to avoid piracy to watch the heartbreak kid because my school had the DVD copy in their library.

Luke Gordnier


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