The Jacked Up Review Show Podcast

It's time for another filmmaker tribute complete with a themed yet unofficial trilogy: Enter Oliver Stone's Drug Cartel Themed Trilogy!

 

Is Midnight Express still one of Oliver's most personal dramas to date?

 

Why does Scarface still continually divide audiences?

 

What exact drugs are portrayed in these films again to illustrate why they're irresistable in the character's eyes?

 

Was Savages doomed due to the infamous book it was based on?

 

Has anyone seen the High School Play version of Scarface that made waves online?

 

Which of these has a narration that simply does not work?

 

We also talk everything from the constant revisiting of the films thru time, the Italian actors playing Cubans & dispute if the Shakespeare elements even work in any of the three films.

 

 

MUSIC USED:

"Push It to the Limit" by Paul Engemann.

 

INTRO CLIP:

Oliver Stone on directing- BAFTA Guru video interview 

 

 

GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer, Jaylan Salah, Johnny Potoky, Robert Cohen, Rich Cyr, James Bruno, Mike Ensing, Gil Palmer, The Bonsai Movie Crew

We dive into the Godfather/Scarface adjacent film CARLITO'S WAY and its prequel follow-up:

 

How did they find limited audiences despite being faithful to the author's books and utilizing all kinds of talent?

 

Which of his many collaborations with Al Pacino does producer Martin Bregman consider his best outing?

 

I also play some badass clips from both films that merit some other deep talking points!

 

 

SONG USED:

"Push It to the Limit" by Paul Engemann

 

OTHER CLIPS USED:

Yoda and Al Pacino on the Dark Side stand-up bit by Frank Caliendo,

BUILD interview 2018 with John Leguizamo

 

 

GUESTS:

Patrick Darms, Ethan Weeks, JJ & Kristin Battelstella (Therefore Horror on Twitter)

For our final GODFATHER themed week, we dive into the 6 different versions of the movie trilogy. 

 

The special editions/director's cut versions of the saga include:

 

*The NBC extended mini-series of the first two films

*The VHS Trilogy Edit

*The Uncut Trilogy Cable TV cut broadcast on HBO

 

*The 3 films in their original form

*Part 3's CODA recut

 

*The Edited Trilogy TV Cut

 

 

 

TALKING POINTS:

*Which deleted scenes were reinstated into the TV mini-series and VHS trilogy edits?

 

*Which versions make for far-more rewarding viewing and which ones are even in chronologic order?

 

*And which ones were rightfully eliminated altogether due to their technical mishaps and tone shifts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLIP INTROS USED:

AFI's 10 Top 10 (2008)- Sidney Lumet On THE GODFATHER,

Francis Ford Coppola interview clip from Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz (September 2024)

 

 

 

In this Bonus Chat, I welcome back returning-guest Victoria Urso as she gets to detail more on her music videography and photography based career while sharing the usual inspiring advice, spiritual motivation and positive reinforcement that any kind of entertainer, career professional or mentor will find mentally rewarding to listen to.

 

If you want some career pointers, some emotionally healing bulletpoints and other ways in which we pick each other's brain on how to brainstorm creating all kinds of art, then this is the wonderful chat for you to hear!

 

Plus, you get to hear about her work with other music artists like Mike Mennard and Marvel Years band as well as more talk on the tri-state business traveling method.

 

FOLLOW HER ON:

https://victoriaurso.myportfolio.com/

Oreo Brewer & Cam Sully found it only appropriate to talk about another controversial, award-winning film and its Starz TV show spin-off during Godfather Week: Crash!

 

TALKING POINTS:

*Was thie the first acclaimed movie to have mixed reviews from local critics and audiences?

 

*How does the Starz TV show truly make use of its multi-character scenarios?

 

*Can anyone actually state why they think the film is racist or is it just due to the jealousy of wanting to not win Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain?

 

*Can we like certain movies without being called "pretentious?" Can we like them without them even needing to win Best Picture?

 

*How does this handle multiple storylines, social commentary & character tension like other East LA-set films such as American History X & Falling Down?

 

*What are the technical mertis, complex characters and crime thriller aspects that make it almost a quasi-Godfather piece?

 

*We also celebrate the many actors who emerged from this film (as well as how the creator was both rather talented yet also a terrible person who got rightfully cancelled)!

 

 

 

 

SONG INTRO:

"Afloat Pad" by Apple Free To Use Music

The second True Crime Biopics I cover are on the other notorious Italian gangster organization: The Bonanno Crime Family!

 

Which of these are probably best known outside of DONNIE BRASCO?

 

Do any of these provide entertaining details or are they largely dramatized over actual facts?

 

How do they portray the blood oaths and dangerous lifestyles versus the law enforcement and turf war stand-offs?

 

 

FILMS REVIEWED:

Mobsters (1991),

Love Honor & Obey,

Donnie Brasco

& Bonanno: A Godfather's Story

 

 

 

 

SONG USED:

"Afloat Synth Lead" by Apple Free2Use Music

It's time that we dive into some True Crime Biopics for the real-life Italian Mob:

For the third entry being released this week, I get to cover the various John Gotti and Gambino Family portrayals in cinema!

 

Which actor probably gave it their all when researching Gotti's mannerisms and persona?

 

Were any of these films objectively well-made or were they just cashing in on the news media craze on one of America's most notorious crimelords?

 

And which film ends up being the biggest headscratcher by even dramatized biopic standards?

 

FILMS REVIEWED:

Getting Gotti,

Gotti (1996),

Witness to the Mob,

Boss of Bosses

& Gotti (2018)

 

SONG INTRO:

"Afloat Synth Arp" by Apple Free-to-Used Music

Another Mario Puzo mini-series adaptation gets a spotlight: THE LAST DON PARTS I AND II.

 

How do the filmmakers handle their own concept while doing plot and style nods to Puzo's earlier GODFATHER material?

 

Where does this popular CBS network hit rate in terms of his other adaptations?

 

What material does the sequel mini-series go awry on?

 

Plus, some well-acted clips from the show are played!

 

 

 

SONG USED:

"Tempting Secrets" by Kevin MacLeod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Two adaptations of GODFATHER creator Mario Puzo's bibliography get a spotlight: one of them a divisive movie revisited thru its director's cut and a obscure NBC mini-series event.

 

How did actor John Turturro feature in both of these?

 

Was there anyway to feature the Corleones in The Sicilian or was it all legally impossible?

 

And what positives and negatives can one reflect on from either book adaptation?

 

Plus, we also note other GODFATHER trivia and the bogus reason why critics like Roger Ebert gave it an okay review but not a glowingly excellent one (which he later regretted but alas we make sure that no one forgets it).

 

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse and that's entertaining your ears!

 

 

 

MUSIC USED:
"The Sicilian OST" by David Mansfield

 

INTRO CLIP:

Mario Puzo 1996 interview with Charlie Rose- promoting THE LAST DON novel.

As a Bonus Episode, you're treated to an excelusive Interview with Make-Up Artist-Hair/Stylist Rey Medrano.

 

His credits include:

The Taylor Sheridan Crime Shows,

Harold and Kumar 2,

Love and Death,

Cruel Summer

and many other political biopics/faith dramas/horror flicks/period dramas!

 

 

 

We also get to talk about set etiquette, how he's forming his new store Odyssey Comics & the memories he's blessed to cherish. Don't miss this touching yet sensitive and realistic take on how to keep going in this everchanging film industry!

For the penultimate episode this week, we note the documentaries about Godfather Producer Robert Evans:

 

First with a brief overview (with clips) on the doc The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) and then some serious praise for the biopic mini-series The Offer (2022).

 

Which actors in THE OFFER steal the show portraying the real-life yet very unusual figures who helped that difficult to film movie come together?

 

And we also showcase some of the dumbest people in real life who've given hot takes about these classic films!

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLIPS USED:

Live Well and Thrive with Mike Torchia: Melissa Prophet Interview,

Howard Stern 2009 interview with Francis Ford Coppola

&

"Your Own Crime Syndicate" comedy bit by Ernie Kovacs

It's another excuse to talk about all things Pacino and De Niro related during this GODFATHER themed week:

 

We examine some of their various Action-Mystery-Slasher Movies in this retrospect.

 

Why do so many of these films fail to capture the earlier success of the actors respective hits Cape Fear, Heat, Insomnia & The Devil's Advocate?

 

 

The Films Reviewed Include:

*And Justice For All

*True Confessions

*Sea of Love

*Night and the City (1992)

*City Hall

*The Fan (1996)

*Ronin

*The Local Stigmatic

*15 Minutes

*City by the Sea

*Hide and Seek (2005)

*88 Minutes (2007)

*Righteous Kill

*Hangman (2017)

 

 

 

SPEAKERS:

Cam Sully, Oreo Brewer, Gil Palmer, Mike Ensing, James Bruno & Rich Cyr

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLIP INTROS:

AFI Francis Ford Coppola Toast by Pacino & DeNiro (2025)

Funny Quotes by the Actors from Glengarry Glen Ross, Midnight Run and Meet the Parents

A detailed overview on the iconic 1995 film HEAT and its 2022 book sequel (soon to be a movie itself) get examined in this lengthy yet dedicated summary of its still-rather impressive themes, thrills and characters.

 

What separates Michael Mann's style from the Coppolas, Scorseses and Walter Hills of the world?

 

What key character in the book sequel gets a huge persona change that feels VERY unbelievable?

 

We try to sell our filmbuff buddy James on seeing this film. Will we be successful?

 

Listen in and find out!

 

 

 

SONGS/CLIPS USED:

Siskel and Ebert Review Clip

"Alarming Bass" by Apple Free to Use Music

Val Kilmer interview on Larry King Live

"God Moving Over The Face of the Waters - End Credits (Film Version)" by Moby & Kronos Quartet

"Force Marker" by Brian Eno

 

 

I continue the GODFATHER Themed Week with a brief overview on the ANALYZE THIS crime comedy franchise:

 

*Do these comedy films make use of their gags or is there more wit to be desired?

*How does De Niro's gangster spoofing nature work here when compared to Mad Dog and Glory & Midnight Run?

*Why did so many accuse these films of being a Sopranos knockoff when these were both owned by Warner Bros. to begin with?

 

SONG USED:

"Analyze" by Sharpshooters (from HBO's The Wire OST)

 

The 2nd week of GODFATHER Themed Material starts:

In this brief overview, I mention some of the Electronic Arts videogames that dominated consoles in the mid '00s.

 

What were the missed opportunities?

 

Why were many okay with the blatant GTA style exploration?

 

And what other cool gangster mayhem could you do while being a street soldier for the Corleone family?

 

 

 

SONG USED:

The Godfather Theme by Nino Rota.

We conclude the week with our final SOPRANOS themed episode for this GODFATHER MONTH: Ranking the Villains of the Saga!

 

 

TALKING POINTS:

*Co-hosts Oreo Brewer & Josh Hansen join us to remark on the unusual style of this franchise

 

*Is Phil Leotardo the deadliest gangster?

 

*Do both Ralphie and Mikey give everyone else a run for their money?

 

*And how does Tony seem less like a villain in comparison to all the other instigators while refusing to apologize for this unethical actions?

 

 

Come get philosophical (while you see our therapist)!

 

 

 

 

FUNNY AUDIO INTRO:

"Monsters, Muppets, And Madness (James Gandolfini was on Sesame Street)" by Frank Caliendo (All Over the Place Comedy Album)

To continue the themed week, we dive into our favorite GODFATHER movie moments that live rent-free in our minds:

 

*Is Tales from the Hood the best at doing parodies of Godfather's shocking death scenes?

 

*Why is Clemenza soooo badass (in both the book and films)?

 

*How many movies have done death squad-style marches set to a music-filled montage and Biblical type imagery?

 

*What other disturbing backstories do we gain from certain side characters?

 

*All that and why you, the lisener, CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!

 

 

 

VOICEMAILS & INTROS BY OUR GUESTS:

Cam Ray SemiProductions,

SayShoe (Pic A Flic Podcast),

Mike-EL,

Lezlie Sawyer

& Anthony Francis

 

 

 

 

MUSIC USED:

"The Godfather Theme Music" by Nino Rota

While continuing to focus on the influence of THE GODFATHER for this themed week, I dive into the GHETTO DAWG hood action dramas from the '00s:

 

*What filmmakers today are the best at using limited resources and not overcomplicating their plots now that all filmmaking is digital?

 

*How do these films make their material bigger than it actually is?

 

*How does it handle various subplots while avoiding confusion or one plot twist too many?

 

*Will they appeal to B-movie fans of '90s Hood flicks, underground fighting films and drive-in revenge movies or are they just a fad nowadays?

 

MUSIC INTROS/OUTROS:

"Fire It Up/Get Low Beats" by Apple Free to Use Music

Join us for another special side-episode of ALL VERSIONS OF... where we discuss multiple directors cuts of both famous and infamous movies!

 

For the GODFATHER theme week, it was time that we dived into the next divisive crime epic by the same film crew known only as THE COTTON CLUB.

 

What serious changes were enhanced and truly benefitted this problematic film?

 

What were the main components that made it a burden upon intial release?

 

Will anyone give it a second chance or is the damage basically done?

 

And more Coppola trivia to display in this minisode!

 

GUESTS:

Gil Palmer

Filmmaker Mark Oguschewitz

Speaking of True Talents, let's have a Godfather Themed Month: Enjoy our summary of Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's movie trilogy!

 

*Why is it so embroiled in the pop culture zeitgeist?

 

*How does John Wick basically make mild nods to Godfather's Italians with its Russian characters?

 

*We also reference homages, the unmade Part 4 sequel, discuss less-talked-about trivia as well as real-life gangster stories.

 

*Plus, a deep focus on the Hyman Roth scene in Part 2!

 

 

TRAILER INTRO:

"The Godfather Saga" TV Promo (1977)

 

MUSIC USED:

"The Godfather Theme Song" by Nino Rota