Ron Howard: Night Shift

0:00 Quick question for you, Amber, the world's oldest profession. Your quick take? Is it right? Is it wrong? Should it be legal? Should it be illegal? I think that there's no way for it to exist without women being taken advantage of, So I'm pretty much against it. I think that it really only leads to further sub subjugation of women. So well, let's try to talk about it in on a lighter note. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about a film by Ron Howard, his nineteen eighty two underrated comedy classic night Shift. Hello everybody, I'm Jeff Johnson and I'm Amber Lewis, and this is a film by podcast Welcome back. We have got We've got a pretty fun one to talk about today, talking about Ron Howard's directorial debut. Amber. But for those that maybe it's been a while since

1:30 they've seen the movie night Shift, or maybe they've never seen it, can you give us a little little heads up on what this movie is all about. The film centers on a timid night shift Morgue employee whose life is turned upside down by a new coworker who fancies himself a free spirited entrepreneur and a prostitute who turns to them for help. In the style of movies in the early eighties, prostitution becomes money making scheme and works out well for everybody. It's amazing how well the brothel prostitution scheme worked out in the early days.

2:12 I mean, you got you got night Shift, which gives way to movies like Risky Business and Doctor Detroit like this was. I was thinking also of trading places where you know, Jamie Lee Curtis was like, this is my five year plan. Yeah, she had a plan, right, you know, she was investing and being smart with her cash. And yeah, I mean even you know, we we run this, this play all the way through the decade. I think, all the way up to Night nineteen ninety when we get Pretty Woman. I mean it's it's Hollywood's let us know, like, hey, you know, you can as a prostitute. You can make good money and retire early. And it's if only that, if only that were the case. But and but let's talk about first. So, as we said, this is Ron Howard's directorial debut. It's his first of many successful collaborations with producer Brian Grazer. It's Michael Keaton's first starring role and the film is musically framed with That's what Friends Are For, which is the first recorded version by Rod Stewart, and that one kind of blew my mind.

3:28 Yeah, that the fact that that song is threaded through this entire movie. Yeah, well, you know, you get Burt Bacherak's instrumental version, and I'm like, Okay, at any any any day now we're gonna hear Dion Worwick and Elton John. That was the song that wouldn't die like it was. It was number one for like like three weeks or something like that. Yeah, And amazingly enough, a couple of years earlier we get we get the Stewart version when this when that when that song started at the beginning, at the end of the movie, I was like, it's Rod, where's everybody? So right? A lot of first in this, Yeah, I mean, when you look at Night Shift, you gotta you gotta say like this was kind of like the origin for a lot of a lot of people in the business like to be successful. I think yes, And I uh have to say, I didn't enjoy this one as much as my twenty three year old son did, So I think that there's a demographic issue there well, yeah, I mean, but I was able to appreciate what I watched a second time and appreciating, like, the things that make a Ron Howard movie mm hmm are already starting with this first you know, feature film that he did. Yeah, and and you know, to your point, unexpected, it had been years and years since I've seen this, so I

5:00 completely forgot about it. But definitely some gratuitous nudity that maybe we don't necessarily need for a movie like this kind of it kind of like I'm watching like, whoa, this is Ron Howard, you know, because this movie feels a lot like Tom Hanks and Bachelor Party. I was just gonna say, it's that like genre of early eighties Porky's and Bachelor Party and what was it Losing It where they lose it with Tijuana or something? Yeah, with Shelley Long. Yes, yeah, she's that the same year. So so yeah, there were a lot of a lot of naked chess in the early eighties. I can understand why your twenty three year old son would would would be okay with that, you know, well, and he thought it was funny, Like there were a couple of parts where I laughed out loud but he was cracking out through the whole thing. So yeah, well let's talk about some of these some of these cast members. Henry Winkler as Chuck Lumley.

5:58 You know, you talked about this this guy in your synopsis. He's definitely not who you're expecting, you know, you know Amber, if you're like me, you know, when we're little kids, I remember growing up watching like reruns of Happy Days, you know, Niked Knight and stuff like that, and Phonsie was like he was the tough guy, he was the cool guy. And here Winkler is playing the exact opposite of what we what we're accustomed to. Yeah, that was very shocking. When the movie first started, I was like, what is even happening? Like I didn't think Henry Winkler could be uncool, Yeah, neurotic and dorky. Like he's such a he's such a whimp too. He's like so emasculated by like his his fiance, his boss, everyone in his world. Like he's you know, to the point like every time he orders a Samway take out sandwich, he always gets it wrong, and he's just like, well I don't want to make him mad. It's like it's like what happened? Fonsie like this is this is not the Fonds, you know, and hats off to him because he's actually he's filming I think it's the ninth season of Happy Days Monday through Wednesday and then shooting the film Thursday through Saturday. So he's stepping back and forth in these worlds and uh. And Ron Howard even gave him the choice in the beginning. He's like, hey, you know, you can play either one of these characters. And he purposely chooses not to play the cool guy.

7:23 I like that though, yet exactly exactly, and he stretches big time in this and it's it's funny because like when you watch older Ron Howard, like if you're a fan of Arrested Development, where you see or Barry, where you see like this, this kind of softer, not cool Henry Winkler. I think like the origin of that is Chuck Clumley. That's where that's where we first get our not cool character. He had it in him. I'll tell you, he's really got it in him. Michael Keaton as Bill Blaize jos Jowski. You know, just everyone calls me Blaze. So this is a pretty much this is practically an unknown Michael Keaton. He beats out Kurt Russell and Mickey Work for the role. Now just let's stop and think about it a second. Where Kurt Russell, I can't, I can't for life me see Mickey Work playing uh playing Bill. But Kurt Russell, that was an American graffiti connection, like yeah in that room. Yeah, but Kurt Russell, we're talking like a like a best of times used cars.

8:28 Kurt Russell. Yeah, he definitely could have done this role justice I think. I mean, I love Kurt Russell, so yeah, I totally would have gone there. But the funny thing is I hadn't actually seen this movie, but I had heard of it, and wait, so this is the first time watch Yeah, oh wow, okay, yeah right, but this movie and like Mister Mom and Beatlejuice, like those were everybody's connection to Michael Keaton, and watching this, I was flashing back to nineteen eighty nine when everybody was like, what is happening? How can he be Batman? Like this is ridiculous. This movie is gonna be garbage. I think it's fair to say the comedic timing and the lovable charisma that he displays in this movie.

9:16 It's our first look at Michael Keaton as a bankable comedy star and at you know, you were saying like, I think Mister Mom nineteen eighty three, Johnny Dangerously nineteen eighty four, we covered that one on this on this show down six we covered Yeah, we covered that one on our nineteen six series. Beatlejuice in nineteen eighty eight, and then he blows everyone's minds in nineteen eight nine when he he becomes the Dark Knight. Yeah, but it was so cool to watch in this movie like he's just pure id oh gosh, and to see it like just start to you know, go on that upward trajectory was you could see like, oh, this guy's gonna gonna do it. Yeah, And you watch this and just the the the excitement he has around everybody. You know, it's almost like he's a he's a puppy running running loose and just wanting to jump on everyone, lick everybody. He's what's the everyone's best friend immediately and he you know, he I mean this this role, he turns it up to eleven, I think, and I love it. I read that he made Henry Winkler uncomfortable. Really, Yeah, what's what's the what's the what's the story here? It was he was there's not a lot of like production history that you can look up on no on this movie. There's not a lot around. But Henry Winkler did say in an interview that he his offbeat timing and and this energy level and everything

10:50 was just really pushed him out of his comfort zone. And Ron Howard was like, that's why I cast him, because he's going to keep you wrong footed, like the whole time. And and I think that's one of the things that Ron Howard does so well is picking those people that that have that chemistry, whether it's really good chemistry or that kind of awkward chemistry, that still works for the character. It seems like it seems like Henry Winkler has a lot to say in interviews. I know there's something I want to touch base here in a second, but before I do, let's let's talk about a different Keaton. Let's talk about Shelley Long playing the role of Belinda Keaton.

11:31 She's the prostitute in this. She gets cast after Howard and graz Ares here in Caveman the year before that, that weird Caveman comedy with Ringo Starr and Dennis Quaid. Did you ever see that one? Have no knowledge of this. I'm not saying to go out, and I'm not saying rush out and see it, but I mean the fact that ringoes in it doesn't really bells for you know, they me, I'm thinking, but yeah, well, I mean, you know, think about this though. Two months after night Shift's release, she lands the role of Diane Chambers on Cheers. So this is kind of like this movie is kind of like her. She's made it and I loved her. I loved her on chairs, I loved all her crazy eighties movies, like The Money ped is one of my favorite movies ever in life, Like I will laugh until I cry, I'll shame less.

12:28 Plug it again. That was actually the first movie we did for our nineteen eighty six series, and it's crazy to listen to it now because it was only like thirty minutes long, and it wasn't you know, we didn't know what we wanted that show to be yet. So it's you know, Dave's talking to me before, like we should revisit that, do it like a redo, and I was like, yeah, maybe I think we might have to, But but I have a feeling. I know that Henry Winkler story you're gonna tell because this guy. Yeah. Now, Famously, a lot of her Cheers co stars have said they didn't enjoy working with her, and Winkler's got more to say. It's twenty nineteen. On a TV interview, I don't know if you heard this one, they asked him who was his most annoying co star, and he quickly answered, it's it's Shelley Long.

13:16 And the reason why is that shell while filming this movie, she would stand in the frame wrong and that made her look like she was taller than him. That's his that's his great. Now, keep this in mind, they're both five ft six, so oh really, I was saying, I would think she would be taller than he is because he's not a tall guy. I mean, you know, that's that's so much fun? Was he was like the coolest guy in the room. But is shirty. I think she's kind of a when when you talk comedic actresses in the eighties and and nineties to that degree, I think she's very much underrated, Like you don't quickly know it's quick to say Shelley Long and maybe they should. Yeah, definitely those movies in the eighties, like she was on fire. She's got she's got a lot of friends in this film. Obviously we talked about you know, these guys they work, they're working at the New York City Morgue and they get the idea to turn it into a brothel. So she brings along her friends. So, uh, I got a couple of names here for you, and I want to see see if these uh if these jog your memory at all? So these Ladies of the Night. Jade Barrymore makes her film debut in this Oh that's Drew's mom. Drew's mom. Yeah, and uh, speaking of that, another film debut. Uh, Monique Gabrielle.

14:43 You recognize that name. She's probably not making movies that that would appeal to you. Uh. You know, the first time I saw her was actually return a Swamp thing. Oh wow, you original. I'm not going to watch a sequel. Well, and you've sell you know, and I know you've seen her because uh you Bachelor Party. So if you remember that, if you remember the moment when Tom Hanks is in the bedroom and he's tempted by the brunette. Now I remember very I only saw it a couple of times, and I remember him playing tennis and yeah, hitting the ball. Well, you know, she she's famous. She did a lot of movies that you'd probably enjoy late night on Showtime or cinematics. And then I'm gonna throw this name at you. Oola Ray is also one of the Oh okay, we got we got a winner here. Yes, she played she played Michael Jackson's girlfriend and Thriller. She ever did anything else. She's one of the prostitutes. How about that? Dang? Yeah now thriller video.

15:48 Oh now, I got watch the movie again and look for Yeah, she's there, because I was like, she looks familiar, and then doing a little homework, I was like, oh, how about that. That's crazy. Well, speaking of crazy, the two cameos. I I sent this to you earlier because I'm but I have one for you though too that I don't know. Oh okay, maybe I missed. Okay, so let's talk about the ones I did see. Uh So this is kind of like a before they were famous. The girl scout that you know, instigates beating the crap out of Henry Winkler in the elevator. It's like a what like a ten year old Shannon Doherty. Yeah, she's so like chubby cheeked and like like a baby, so cute and chubby cheeked until she starts pelting in with girl Scout cookies and then like the whole troop gangs up on him. I was like, Wow, that's that's Shannon Doherty. That's so funny. She goes from this movie to voicing one of the little baby mice in Secret of Nim. Yeah, same year, right, So if I'm not mistaken, this is her first on screen role, and then like Secret and Nim is like her first role because she does she does the voice another one, this one. I read this, I was like, I'm gonna back and see it because I don't believe it. Very unknown. Kevin Costner is one of the frat boys, you know when the frat house, when the frat guys show up at that that party that might that Michael Keaton's like kind of hosting and everything's getting crazy. There's Kevin Costner, you know, just following following Michael Keaton around, laughing and having a good time. I was like,

17:19 unbelievable. And speaking of unbelievable, I'm gonna see if see if you recognize this. So I don't know if you noticed the sign that was on the back wall during the frat house party. It gives us the the it gives us the fraternity's name. The fraternity that was having the party and the morgue was a Delta tow Chai. That's the same frat from that's we basically we have a shared universe where Night Shift and Animal House exists in the same world because like this fraternity just cannot stay out of trouble apparently, right I saw that, I was like, wait a minute, I know that second because we covered well we covered that movie too on a film at forty five last year, and when you know, Dayton Johnson was was with us, and I was like, that's that's the Deltas. Yeah. Yeah, it's not a movie I particularly like, But listening to you guys talk about it, I was in stitches. Those guys did great. I'll tell you what, Amber, Let's let's take a quick break and when we get back, we'll talk a little bit about the film's background and maybe talk about our pivotal scene.

18:30 They check it out. There's a brand new podcast on the way exploring the discographies of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. It's called Apples and Oranges and at Lages on February seventh, we will be matching albums against each other in a one v one format, discussing every single track and then giving our verdict on which album is better. Sounds versus Revolving Sergeant Pepper versus Smile. Wouldn't it be nice if most people knew how well the Beach Boys actually held up against the Fab Four. Both inspired each other to keep pushing the boundaries of what was possible in pop music here, there and everywhere, and what we got were some of the greatest albums of all time. All Summer Long versus A Hard Day's Night River, Soal versus the Beach Boys today. So let's come together for some fun, fun fun and help me Ron to get this podcast off the ground, and we'll sure appreciate you being around on February seventh, wherever you find your podcast. That's Apples and Oranges. February seven.

19:33 We are back, and before we move forward, Amber, you had mentioned one or two cameos that maybe I didn't see, So who's you spot in this one? Well, the first one is the most obvious one of the the the musclemen that kind of kicks off our adventure at the beginning is Richard Belzer from Law and Order. Oh wait, I got himself in the foot Yeah, like one of the one of the one of the the pimps, like the competing pimps. He's yeah that I owed them money or something. I don't know. Yeah, you're absolutely right. I was like the whole movie. I'm like, he looks familiar, but I don't. I don't know. Yeah that long order, okay. And then Ron Howard and his wife are the couple kissing when Henry Wickler goes home to his apartment.

20:26 You gotta kidding me. First night. Yeah, they're like making out right there by the door. So I was gonna I had one one for you. But now now i'm i'm I'm I'm kind of blown away because you're telling me that Ron Howard did not one, but two cameos because he he's the saxophone player on the subway, which I love that. He's like so bad too. Yeah, he shouldn't be bad because I think, if I remember right, Richie Cunningham played the saxophone. But he's uh, just for the the so intrusive. Yeah, he's so intrusive, like he's like right in his Henry Wiegler's face. Another one movie, all Right, Laid on Me.

21:07 Special Agent Johnson is one of the basketball players at the beginning relation. Oh my god, you're right. The movie opens, but there's two guys playing basketball? How did I? How did I? How did that get? I turned to Liam and I said, that's specially to Johnson because who and I go? No relation? Yeah, no relation? And he knew exactly what I was talking about. I cannot believe I didn't I miss that one, And thank you for letting me know. Yeah. Now I have to go back and watch it again because it's like, I love that guy. He's great, He's awesome. Yeah. So what else did you find out about the production of this movie? Would it shock you if I told you that this one is based on a true story? Yes, well, get shocked because I know Brian Grazer. He comes up with the idea to make to do the movie after reading a New York Times article about a prostitution ring that was being run out of a city Morgue. He thought it would make for a great film. He takes it to the Paramount where he's currently working and they are like, no, we're definitely not doing that. We pass. But in nineteen eighty he has become friends with Ron Howard because they're working together on the paramount a lot. They decide they want to work together.

22:26 Grazer pitches the brothel morgue idea and he says, hey, Ron Howard's like, hey, let's call it my buddies Happy Days writers Loel Gance and babbylou Mandel to write the script, so like a kind of a little Happy Day's reunion happening here. And oddly enough, night Shift, Like when they're doing like the promotional materials like posters and stuff like that, they're talking about Happy Days on the poster because of Ron Howard and Winkler and these two writers. So think about like how decent and wholesome Happy Days was, you know, the people Happy Day, the craters of Happy Days. Night Shift, Okay, that sounds great. Fonzie's working in the morgue. Hey, it's there's there's prostitutes. They're pimps now. So I don't know how good that that that campaign went over, But this one, I feel like there's like, you know, you kind of were talking like you got you got some good chuckles at it. There's this is I think it's a really funny movie.

23:26 But if I had to ask you, you know what, what what's the pivotal scene for you? You know the scene that sticks out where you're like, you know what this this movie? This scene kind of ties the movie together. This scene is important. You know. Maybe it's not the climax, maybe it wasn't in the in the trailer, but it it still has some impact. I love the scene at Christmas Eve with Michael Keaton and Shelley Long and Henry Winkler and they're just kind of sitting under the tree, you know, getting drunk and you know, just kind of talking about who they really are and and you know, betiful why they are who they are. And Henry Winkler shares how he spent you know, the money that he made and because he's not buying flashy cars and stuff like Michael Keaton is, and yeah, this is, uh, this is this is this is the one I was going to amber, uh, you know, bonding under the Christmas tree because Michael Keaton's character is so off the wall and he's he's a screwball and it's just like does this guy take anything seriously? And when you hear his his about his childhood, it's, you know, it kind of it kind of makes you sad for him, you know, but it also kind of explains why he has such a positive attitude towards life, because he's, you know, he chooses to rise above it all. And I love that moment for him, you know, I thought that was like the the Ron Howard moment. That is certainly a Ron Howard moment. Chuck spending the money that he's made on on a on a proper headstone for his father's grave.

24:56 I love that. And I really think Shelley Long does something amazing on this scene because without saying a word, we clearly understand that she's falling in love with Chuck, you know, and she's doing it all with just her looks, and it's a fantastic scene. It's very heartwarming. Almost almost slips it in there like, hey, this could be a non traditional Christmas movie if you wanted it to be. Now. You know, I don't know about next Christmas, if the family wants to watch hookers and drugs and frat house guys in the morgue, but you know, it could work I think we need to talk about this guy's filmography. Ron Howard has done quite a bit. And for those very few that might not know a whole lot about Ron Howard, let me give you a little background on Ron Howard. He's born in Duncan, Oklahoma, in nineteen sixty four. We happen to know some famous podcasters in Oklahoma. Surely you can't be serious. I am serious.

25:56 I'm referring to d Graves and Jason Colvin and don't call me Shirley. I couldn't resist. Ron Howard rises to fame as a child playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, which you know, a lot of us, you know, especially our parents, grew up watching. Then as a teenager Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, and then he takes off. He begins this incredible career as one of Hollywood's best directors. He is the co chairman, along with Brian Grazer, of Imagine Entertainment, an amber. In his six decades in show business, he's won two Oscars, two Golden Globes, four Emmys, and one Grammy. Wow, I know we can't talk, Yeah, I know we can't talk a lot about his entire filmography. But I know we can't skip. There's not there's very few wee can even skip. So let's we're gonna have to do. We're gonna have to We're gonna have to do this kind of rapid fire, I think. So we have been talking about his directorial debut, Night Shift, the next movie I think was his true debut. You are, of course, referring to nineteen eighty three's Splash, probably the first Ron Howard film I ever saw. Oh yeah, this was a magical movie. It's hilarious. Eugene Levy, John Candy, Tom Hans Candy is so good in this movie. Oh he's great in this movie.

27:23 He's still against type, like you know, lovable John Candy. He's kind of playing like a you know, he's like the shady womanizing brother. I think, yep, I love it. So, you know, obviously we got to recommend this one, right, Splashes I must see. Yeah, absolutely, it's on Disney Plus. For crying out loud. How about nineteen eighty five? Your thoughts on Cocoon. I loved Cocoon. I remember going to see it in the theater, and uh it's a I like any friendly alien story, So uh yeah, Love Cocoon. Hopefully it comes back in print soon. What can I say about his return to work with Michael Keaton in nineteen eighty six, Gung Ho? We covered it. We covered it on our limited series nineteen eighty six, So please check that one out.

28:17 Gung Ho is gun Ho's hilarious. Your thoughts on gun Ho. I really just enjoyed the whole fish out of Water, you know, mannicness of Michael Keaton, and I just thought he was wonderful. Now I have to I feel like in nineteen eighty eight, I got to give you a little extra time on this one because I'm guessing this is a This is one of your favorites when it comes to Ron Howard, Let's talk about Willow You Ah great, such a beautiful, beautiful fantasy. Oh my gosh, it's it's amazing, right. Valcolmer is just so incredibly talented. His mad markin amazing mad Mark so much fun to watch, you know, Joan Whaley, Warwick Davis, you know you gotta love Warri. I mean this movie. I think the biggest crime when I think about this movie is that we waited so long to revisit the property, and when we did we did it in such terrible fashion. You know, Disney Plus tries to do tries to bring it back as a as a series. They do one one season. It's awful, and you know, with respect to everyone involved, it's just it wasn't what we wanted. Yeah. The fact that they feel like it damaged the reputation of the movie, you know, and rewatching it just how what a delightful fairy tale it is. So let's uh, let's move on. I

29:51 want to I want to go to nineteen eight nine with you Amber. This film was almost the movie that I wanted to cover for Ron Howard because no one, no one remembers it, or they do remember it, and then they go, oh wow, that's a Ron Howard movie. And it blows my mind that it's so underrated. It's an all star cast. I'm talking about the film called Parenthood. Yes, with Steve Martin. I have watched it at so many different ages, and you know, as a kid watching it, and then as an adult with no kids, as an adult with kids, a single mom, now a mom with an adult kid. Like the Layers, it just keeps hitting, yeah, and it just hits you different every time you'd watch it. And just so much the truth about being a mom and dad. Yeah, I mean, let's I mean think about that. Steve Martin, Mary stem Virgin, Diane Weist, Jason Robarbs, Rick moranis Tom Holse in a great role. If you love Tom Holse, Martha Plimpton, a post Bill and Ted ke Eves, who is just awesome to watch. And then you've got like the uh I want to say he's maybe fifteen at the time. Joaquin Phoenix baby Joaquin Phoenix baby Joaquin this movie and you know this is this is Howard He likes to work with the same people. So Lowel Gance, Baba lu Mandel. Uh they're writing this again and the script is so good. It is superb. It is such a

31:23 great movie. It's the family is you know amazing. Yeah, he's fantastic in it. It just yeah, you know the idea of uh, these guys playing playing siblings and struggling with how you know, I'm raising my kids this way and you're raising your kids that way. It's a it's such a great film. Uh. Well, and the funny stuff lands really hard, and the arguments they have while still loving each other lands really hard. I mean it it's gonna hit. It's gonna I think it's gonna hit all the emotions, right, yes, all right, Well, before this becomes the Ron Howard by Ron Howard Parenthood episode, let's let's keep moving on. We got to keep I know, I know, So let's let's uh, let's move to ninety one, one of my favorite Ron Howard movies. You know, when I feel like, when you make a movie good enough that Universal Studios wants to make a ride based on the movie, I think he got something. I'm talking about Backdraft, Yes, absolutely, I just did a rewatch of it not too long ago, and it's kind of poignant because my mom was a paramedic, so she worked for the fire department and she, you know, was side by side with those guys and loved them, and they had her back and she had theirs, and you know, it really honors that that bond among you know, the men that do that incredibly difficult job. And Kurt Russell, oh my gosh, him and Baldwin, William Baldwin playing brothers. I can tell you first hand, having a brother that's

32:59 like two and a half years younger than their relationship, like when they're little kids in the movie and then to a lesser extent, like their adult relationship that that's brothers. That's that's that's how it is, you know. But like that moment when they go into that first fire and he loses William Baldwin for a minute, Yeah, and Kurt Russell is like almost crying, like his voice craps. He's like, I told you to stay right beside me. He was so scared. Yeah, you know, like he's always your little brother. It never goes away. Absolutely that. Yeah, this movie Robert de Niro playing the fire inspector with Donald Sutherland by a goodness Sutherland, How how scary? Oh my gosh. You know what a great double feature with Backdraft is uh film called Copland, which I feel like we're playing the greatest hits where I'm just telling you about episodes that we've already we've already covered.

33:55 But uh, but Copland is kind of like it's all obviously it's about cops, but it's like it's the investigation piece, Like there's some there's some dirty cops, and de Niro is like, the I a guy that's investigating. But it's got that whole that that small town let's take care of one another vibe, you know, and let's figure out who's who the bad guy is backdrafting Copland. That's a great double bill if if you haven't seen either of them, or you want to watch them again, that's a that's my that's my option, you know for you. All right, you know, we're we're doing it again, Amber, We're I know, this man's this man's films are so good, they're so such a talented filmmaker. Yeah, and year after year he's like he's not taking a break. Nineteen ninety two, he's back with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Far and Away. Your thoughts on this one? I love it. It's a bonkers nineties romance.

34:50 But when you get to the Oklahoma land Rush, like that whole sequence is so breathtaking. Oh it is. You just went back in time for twenty minutes and it's so good, you know, And the rest of the movies just just a fluffy, little little romance, but that bat whole sequence at the end is amazing. Yeah, you remember that was I think that was the first movie that they filmed seventy millimeters panavision. Oh really, and it makes sense what you're talking about. There's sweeping landscapes, and the cinematography's gorgeous. If the movie, if if there's one fault with the movie, I gotta say, you know, Cruise maybe could have worked a little bit more on his his Irish accent, just just just a little bit, you know.

35:36 But and I'm not I can't do the bare knuckle boxing, Like I just was watching through my fingers, like it's so violent. That's that's one of the parts I love. Yeah, Tom Cruise, and I believe that I might not believe his Irish accent, but I totally believe him as a bare knuckle boxer, Oh for sure. Yes, yeah, Amber, Let's move to nineteen ninety four. Let's talk about one of your your favorites. Oh, he's back with Keaton. Michael Keaton. At this point, I feel like it's safe to say he's known for getting like a stellar cast, like an all star cast, because we're talking about a movie called The Paper that's got Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marissa Tomay, Randy Quaid, Jason Robards again, Jason Alexander shows up, Catherine O'Hara, Lynn Digpin. I mean, there's incredible incredible cast there well. And also another thing that he does that I like that he doesn't night shift, is he laters it out with these great character actors. So everybody who's filling in in every scene, they're all doing something interesting. No one wastes their time on camera as far as I'm deserved. Yeah, right, it's it's fantastic, And I mean this movie has everything. It's I love a newspaper movie.

36:54 I love a journalism movie, and I love people talking over each other. It's New York, it's you know, this great story of it's a it's a tabloid paper, you know. And we only have to be right for a day. Yeah, so who cares if we're actually wrong? And Michael Keaton stands up for you know, no, I want to tell this story today and be right. Howard's working with with Keaton early in the eighties with his with the comedic Keaton, and then he's back in the nineties and he's got the dramatic Keaton right. Yes, but he also has one of the funniest scenes. It's one of the greatest f word scenes. It's like playing strains and automobile bills, like he throws it down like nobody else. It is hysterical. Okay, So let's let's move on a year later. It's nineteen ninety five. We're gonna have to we're gonna have to do our best not to dwell on this one because it's maybe maybe his best film. I don't know, I don't know. Arguably maybe his best I don't know.

38:00 I would say, I would say it's his best. Yeah, we had backdraft for my mom. My dad was tangentially part of the space program. His company made part okay, or for all of those crafts. So he had the the screws that held the heat shield on. Oh how about that? Yeah, so the space program is very space is so important, and uh, that's which I made movie with a lot of pride, Like that was my dad coming home with the pocket protector, and I love that all those Mischi control That's exactly what my dad looked like coming home from work care.

38:43 Yeah, the button down shortly with the pocket protector, the ground tie and oh, that's that's amazing. Yeah, it's just the heroism, the story. And then like you said, the cast, my God Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Gary sonise Ed Harris too. Let's not forget ed Harrison. I'll take everybody in Michigan control like all, like I said, all those layers. Kathleen Quinlan, who I wish she did more? You know she kind of she kind of she kind of popped in the nineties, like she was showing up and in movies like Apaulla thirteen and Break Down with with Kurt Russell. Uh. This film is just incredible and it's it's it's a testament to Ron Howard and the writers of the of the script because we know what happened. This is a biography, yes, and yet at the end, your your your grip in the armchair, you're still tense and you're like blenched waiting for them to come out of the blackout. Yeah, Cronkite's all will the heat shield hole or in the dark side of the moment it's and you're just like, you know, and there's silence on the radio. It's like what where are they? You know, you you kind of forget, you know, you get lost in the film and you kind of forget, like, hey, it's it's okay, they made it home.

40:02 But you know, such a great film. You know, you don't you don't think about it. I actually got vertigo in the theater when we went to see it because when they pull around the moon, Yeah, and you have that great shot of the craft, the moon and then the Earth in the distance, Like I felt like I was gonna fall out of my chair, Like I was just lost in the realism of it. All Right, we're uh, we're still in the nineties. So we got to move we got to move on. And nineteen ninety six one of my favorite, one of my favorite uh Ron Howard films, Gary Sneeze, is working with him again. Mel Gibson Rene Russo film called Ransom. Very very powerful story, powerful story. It's a thriller, kid, you know. Mel Gibson's like the the wealthy guy that you know, his son gets kidnapped and does the unthinkable. He doesn't he doesn't agree, you know, he doesn't negotiate, and then he puts the money for a bounty. That's so. I think one of my favorite moments in that movie is when he goes on TV and he has the bag of money in front of him and he's like, yeah, this is what they want and I'm not doing it, and intead, I'm offering it up as a as a as a bounty to anyone that you know, and like just the look on Garysnie's face, just like the shock at all. Yeah, such a It's one of the best moments in a Ron Howard film. And you know, really dark. There were scenes there where I was like surprised in a Ron Howard movie that we went there.

41:31 It's the well, the way they like the cocoon, like the soundproof cocoon that they're keeping the little boy in. Yeah, and they kept giving them cough syrup and yeah, his PTSD and trauma afterward. It's not like he just went home and he was fine. Yeah, No, he he's terribly he is. The kid is definitely damaged, you know, like he needs help after he gets found. And I just you know, the the turmoil between Mel Gibson and Renee Russo's characters, you know, husband and wife, you know, because she's super upset that he's done what he's done, and you know a couple of times there's a couple of scares where they think, well the kid's dead. Very intense was it was the detective. Yeah, so like usually he shows up as kind of like a funny guy.

42:20 He does he plays I think he does comedy well, but you know him playing him playing the straight man, where he's like, I'm the detective. I'm gonna get your son back. It's it's great. I strongly recommend that one. I'll tell you so. Uh, ed TV. I think The Truman Show so much that I can't even talk. I never watched was it was Truman? Wait? Did they come out? Is this one of those situations where we get the same movie by by rival studios in the same year, Like this is like an Armageddon deep impact thing because everyone loves The Truman Show, and then ed TV is also there. I gotta be honest, I don't think I've ever seen it, and that's weird because it's a Ron Howard film starring Matthew McConaughey. But I just if I did see it, I have no recollection of it. Yeah, I did watch it because I just luckily, I think saw Truman Show first, and I love that movie so much and was like, why do I even want to watch something that's going to make a joke out of something that I found some moving and meaningful.

43:27 Yeah, well, talk about moving them right along. The next year, the year two thousand, he gives us the live action version of the classic Christmas telle How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. I'm gonna say people that this movie makes very happy. Okay you said you are one of them or not one of them? Okay, okay, So you know, with all due respect to any listeners that love the Jim Carrey Grinch, not for me. That's that's okay, because uh I will I will always stick to the nineteen sixty six Boris Karloff narrated How the Gridge Still Christmas. That's that's where it's at all. Right, let's move let's move past it.

44:08 Let's move past it. Then this guy Amber, he is the minute he wraps production, he's in pre production on something else. So the following year, it's two thousand and one, does an incredible movie called A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe. Your thoughts just devastating. I saw it one time and I'll never watch it again. Really devastating. That. Yeah, like just the thought of this man who was so lonely he had to like create this whole world in his head. And then that combined with the scene where he gets electroshock therapy and he's looking at his wife and he's so scared and oh my god, it was so emotional. I just I'm like, Nope, can't do it, can't watch it. I think I think Jennifer Connelly playing Alicia Ash, his wife, I think it's one of her finest performances.

45:04 Yes, I mean, your heart breaks for you. She's inspiring, she's she's motivating. She is amazing in this movie. And you know, I love the film. But but you got it right, It's it's a hard it's a hard rewatch, you know, because it's fun and like in the early day, like when he's like at college and he's trying to teach his buddies, like, hey, you know, if we all go after the same girl, you know, we're gonna lose. But if we all, you know, let's take her out of the equation and let's let's you know, divvy up, you know. And then just the joy you see Russell Crowe, you know, playing as John Nash. But then the heartbreaking moments where you you know, oh wait, Paul Bettany is he's not even there. He's a figment of his imagination and it's just it's just it's it's heartbreaking.

45:46 But man, what a great film. Love that one. How about two thousand and three, The Missing I think this is what Kate Blanchette, Tommy Lee Jones, I saw it. I saw it, but it was it's forgettable. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of it. Yeah, like I couldn't. I know, her daughter gets kidnapped and I know she is after after that, I couldn't tell you. I didn't really tell you what else happened. Well, I'll tell you what happened. In two thousand and five, he sticks with Russell Crowe. He does one of one of his best films in my opinion, talking about Cinderella. Man, Wow, what an incredible You know he's back to like the let's let's do a based on a true stories talking about Jim Braddock the Boxer Love. I love a movie like this where I went in thinking, Okay, I can't wait to see a great movie about boxing, and what I saw was a very moving, very compelling movie about the Great Depression and how he is struggling. I could watch this one time and time again. I'm gonna have to revisit this one because I saw it when it first came out and then I haven't seen it since. I don't remember a whole lot about it before you go see it again. He loves working with a select group, and now he's back with Tom Hanks. He starts, he kicks off this whole Da Vinci code.

47:05 Uh phenomenon. You know, we everyone the book Dan Brown's book comes out, Everyone loses their minds read that book. Oh my goodness. I happen to love the first one, and then I kind of you know, I know I'm jumping ahead, but I really kind of fell off, like with the second third one. I don't know, what do you think. It's kind of the same with the books. I liked the Da Vinci Code. I like the book better than the movie. It was interesting to watch the movie because that was the kind of mind my dad had for putting puzzles and things together like that. So it's kind of interesting to see, like visually, how the way my dad saw the world, and so that was interesting. But yeah, Angels and Demons didn't really do it. And the third one was good because in mcgregorright, well, here's what we're gonna do, because again, we have so much, it's much more to cover.

48:01 I know where I know we're I know where we're going. We're pushing for time here, so let's let's hit the lightning round Amber. I'm gonna give you the title and you tell me. You tell our listeners like, see it or skip it? Okay, how's that all right? Two thousand and eight Frost Nixon see it, Absolutely see it. I'm gonna skip a couple here because I've never even heard of them. Yeah, next, like three, Yeah, let's let's jump to twenty thirteen, the movie Rush, See it. You won't even believe that it's real likely such a great, amazing story. Twenty fifteen In the Heart of the Sea. Oh, my gosh, you gotta see it right, true story, amazing true story, amazing true story, and the basis for maybe Dick. Yeah. Twenty sixteen, the third and final DaVinci movie, Inferno. Yeah, that one. It picks back up again. Got your you and McGregor went. So that's let's let's see it. I'm gonna break the rule here, just let's let's give it just a minute. Twenty eighteen Solo, a Star Wars story. Now, let's let's keep in mind. Let's remember they had this like mostly shot with other directors. It's it's crashing the execs hated. It's just it's falling apart. These guys walk and they pull in Ron Howard to kind of be here, here's our here's our mess. If you could just you can kind of clean it up and cut it up and turn it into a Star Wars

49:34 movie, we would appreciate that. And I'm gonna be honest, I love I don't understand the hate for Solo. I think it's a great Star Wars movie. You're a Star Wars fan, so you tell me, like what you thinks. Okay, I think that there's inspired casting for Lando. I think there's horrible miscar casting for Han Solo. I don't think that guy had any charisma at all. He just did nothing for me. But I loved Amelia Clark and Paul Bettany, Okay, that whole subplot, so you know, it's a little from colum A, a little from columb all right.

50:15 The answer to Star Wars is always more Star Wars. So yeah, well, before as we move on, I just want to I want to I want to kick the hornets nest here, and I do want to say that Solo, a Star Wars story, is far superior to the last Jedi. And I know Dayton Johnson of the Docum Bay seventy seven podcast is listening and he's not happy that I said that, but I said what I said, and now we're moving On. Twenty twenty, he does his first film for Netflix, Hillbilly Elogy. Yeah. I did not see that one. I didn't either, but I feel like I need to it just it's one of those things where just to know what it made it so mad. Yeah.

51:01 Amy Adams and Glenn Close are just everyone talks about how they're just they're spectacular in the film, and it's one of those it's almost like, you know, you still have some brocoli on your plate and you're not getting up until you til you eat it. You know. That's how I look at this. I see the trailer and it's just nothing appeals to me. But it should because it's Ron Howard, it's these two amazing actresses, and it takes place in Ohio. I mean, if not for any reason, you and I should should want to see it, right, they shot it, and you know they shot it in parts of Ohio, So I don't know. I feel like we got to get to it at some point, but not today. Did you see twenty twenty two. Did you see his this film Thirteen Lives? I see the True story, saw it, and I don't think I took a deep breath through the whole thing. Really, Okay, I haven't seen it, so it sounds like I need to see Jeff.

51:57 Like though, I don't even know how they shot it. I don't even know how they made this movie. It is you feel like you're watching a documentary, and in a little bit you are, because the boys and a lot of the rescuers are the real people. I remember. I remember hearing about this and seeing it on television. You know, this was a major event, and then I feel like a couple weeks later, we're in production on the movie, and I thought, how you know? Is this a cash grab? And truthfully, I at the time, I didn't even realize it was a Ron Howard film. So based on what you just said, I'm it's on the watch list now. The way that they were able to put you in that cave and show you just what they were up against, I mean, it's just unbelievable. Unbelievable as that on your to do list.

52:52 Forget about Elogy? Is it ulagier Elogy? It's eulogi elogy can't fix sat in editing. I gonna let that one slide. I just I was reading the title. You know, Oh well, I'll tell you what's uh? What's amazing? This guy just like we said, he he does not have an off button. He has got so much more coming. Okay, I'm intrigued. What's coming up right now? He is in production on a film called Eden. It's a thriller starring Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby, and Anna Diarmis. How's that for a murder's row of of incredible talent? So let me let me, let me give you, Let me let me just read this here to you. Eden follows a group of people fueled by a profound desire for change. In order to turn their back to society, they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galopolkos.

53:53 Interesting, right, that could go? That could go one of one of two ways. It sounds like at the beginning you're gonna be like, oh, this isn't a bad idea, and then exactly then you actually get to the galopagus and you realize it's untouched and you might be over your head. Yeah. Now he's also I think this one's gonna make you happy. He is in post production on a film called The Shrinking of Treehorn. This is gonna be his second Netflix movie, and it's gonna be the first time he directs an animated film. Why how about that? The Shrinking of Treehorn follows a young man who begins shrinking in size after playing a strange board game, which goes largely unnoticed by his parents, and apparently it's based off of a children's book called Nobody Shrinks. I think this one could be fun. Yes, I think so. Okay, Amber, well let's wrap up. Let's wrap this up. Your recommendation about Night Shift. I was thinking while I was watching it that this is a movie that kind of fails because we don't watch cable like we used to, where you're not just like flipping through the channels. This is one of those that, like you catch on HBO on a Sunday afternoon and it's like the only thing on and you find this little,

55:24 fun, little movie from the eighties. You know, now with streaming and things like that, you kind of have to go searching for things that you want to see. It's harder to stumble upon things. So I think if you if you want that kind of eighties movie, I think it's probably something different. Everybody's seeing The Money Pit, but maybe not. Everybody's seen this one, and it it's definitely a fun you know, our forty five. You got to see it, if not for any reason. Michael Keaton, this is this is the birth of the comedic Michael Keaton. I I enjoy it. The weird thing here. It should feel dated, but it but it doesn't. I feel like, I feel like you could make this movie today with Sam Rockwell and it'd be a hit. Yes. The one thing that I do love about it, though, that you can't do today, is I love this time period of filmmaking in New York where you're just like gorilla with a camera on the actual streets of New York and shooting it and like nobody cares. They're doing their thing and the streets are dirty and it is what it is. And I don't think you can do that anymore.

56:37 No, this is this is definitely the lost art of like gorilla filmmaking, where you could just hey, film crew, we're out here and we're not gonna shut down, you know, Times Square anything like that. But we're gonna shoot, We're gonna have We're gonna have a good time. Yeah, you can catch us one on Prime or Apple TV. What do you think of night Shift? Let us know on social media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, You can check out www dot a film by podcast dot com. Amber. We're writing articles now, so we have more than just a you know, just a spot for you to check out our latest episode. You can you can now read what we're what we're up to, uh, or you can write us at a film by podcast at gmail dot com. I'll tell you what tell us tell us what your favorite Michael Heaton movie is.

57:27 Uh. We'll read your response on the show and we'll send you some swag some a film by swag as it is Amber, It is always fun talking with you. Thanks for thanks for stopping by and uh and having a good conversation. I know you didn't you didn't love this movie, but I'm h I thought you had some great some great points, so I appreciate it. Yeah, it was fun to watch and Ron Howard's filmography is always fun to talk about. Absolutely, I wish, I wish we could have dedicated more time to it, but uh, but we got to go, so I'll tell you. Join us tomorrow for our Star Trek themed series Fasers Set to stun. Wayne, David and Scott are continuing their conversation about Star Trek the Next Generation with their top ten episodes of season two. Then on Friday, are limited series A Film at forty five returns to celebrate the forty fifth anniversary of films from nineteen seventy nine. Our friend and very special guest, Apache Ramos will join us to share stories from the set, or rather the streets of Walter Hill's classic The Warriors, and next time on a Film Buy, Scott Hoffman will take us back to Victorian East London to track down Jack the Ripper when we cover the Hughes Brothers Moody Thriller from Hell. Thanks for listening.

59:07 I thought i'd feel this way, and as far as I'm concerned, I'm glad I've got a chance to see that. I do believe I love you