Regular Columns

All of us love to celebrate those moments in American history where there have been breakthroughs particularly in the way of our constitutional rights. We should celebrate those moments, but the latest film from Michelle Danner reminds us that there are also victims when it comes to rights of the accused. Miranda’s Victim is a wonderful portrayal of just that situation. We all know about Miranda warnings given to suspects upon arrest. If you’ve seen enough cop shows, you’ve heard it a thousand times: “You have the right to remain silent…” This film explores the victim behind Ernest Miranda’s landmark Supreme Court case. It’s a rare film that looks at a rare side of our criminal justice system. I had a chance to see the film and then have a conversation with director Michelle Danner about the film. Bang it here to eavesdrop on our conversation, and you won’t even need a court order to listen in. Interview with Michelle Danner.
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If you have been coming to the site for any length of time you know we also pay tribute, from time to time, to the written word. I’ll often share the title of a good book when I find them. We also interview these writers when chance sends them our way. We scored 2 for 2 with Bruce McAllister. He’s compiled a wonderfully enjoyable collection of some of his best short stories called Stealing God And Other Stories. He’s the kind of writer you might find at your local university giving a master class on the craft. I had the opportunity to speak with him just after Thanksgiving, and the conversation was rewarding. His commentary on writing is insightful and compelling. You should give his collection a read. You won’t regret it. I think you’ll want to hear what he has to say on the subject of writing and Stealing God And Other Stories. Just bang it here to listen in on my chat with Bruce McAllister.

You can also explore the world of Bruce McAllister by going to his website Here

There have been many films about World War II. Some have been great. A few are considered classics. We’re entering that moment in history where we will soon lose the last remaining fighter from that war. It’s a hard subject for a small budget film, but every now and then someone comes along and pulls it off. Wolf Hound is not going to become a classic. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a stellar film. Director Michael Chait has a passion for the subject that starts with his father who was an award-winning aviator. Everything about Wolf Hound is touched by that passion. The aerial work is first rate and with minimal CGI. Don’t take my word for any of this. See the film for yourself. As for that passion. Listen to Michael Chait express that in his own words. I was honored to spend some time talking to the promising young director. Bang it here and you can listen in on my conversation with Michael Chait.

Long before there was Gene Simmons and his Family Jewels or Living With The Kardashians there was Ozzie and his wife. No, not Ozzie Osbourne but Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. In 1952 they took their popular radio show and brought it to the rather new medium of television. The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet starred the entire Nelson family, including David and Ricky. The show became the first series to ever reach 10 years and remains the longest-running live action sit-com in television history. Now MPI is bringing you the first 2 seasons of the show in DVD. The episodes were restored with loving care. How do I know there was loving care? Because it was spearheaded by Ozzie and Harriet’s grandson and Ricky’s son Sam Nelson. I also happen to know a little bit of the passion he brought to the process because I had the opportunity to talk with him about the show and the new releases. The story about how all of this happened is a truly fascinating tale. Now you can hear it for yourself. Bang it here to listen to my interview with Sam Nelson.

When I was a kid, going to the drive-in movies was a pretty big deal. In those days your parents would hide you under a blanket on the back seat floor or even in the trunk just to shave off a buck from the admission price. But it was worth it to see many of the films I would not otherwise have experienced. One of those films that had kids sneaking in was The Brain From Planet Arous. A couple of days ago I felt just like I did sneaking into those movies. I had the honor and pleasure to talk with Joyce Meadows, who starred along with John Agar in the film. It’s about to be released on Blu-ray from The Film Detective with a brand new introduction that stars … you guessed it, Joyce Meadows. You can eavesdrop on our conversation. Just bang it here to listen to my interview with Joyce Meadows.

We mostly deal with movies and television shows here at Upcomingdiscs. As the name implies discs are what we’re all about. But once in a while we find something we just have to tell you about. Many times we take a look at books written by or about the film industry folks. It’s rare when I came upon a novel that I just have to tell you about. It’s Alive is deserving of that rare post. Written by Julian David Stone the novel takes us back to the Hollywood of the 1930’s. It’s the very first days of the “talkies” when actors first spoke on film. It was the height of the “studio system” where stars were at the beck and call of the studios who paid their salaries. It was also the rise of Carl Laemmle, Jr. or Junior to those who knew him. His father, Carl Sr founded Universal Studios and now it was Junior’s turn to shine. It’s just days before the production start on Frankenstein and Junior still can’t convince his father that these horror films are going to launch Universal into the future. Worse. He still hadn’t decided who would play the pivotal role of The Monster. Bela Lugosi was intended for the role following his hit in Dracula but he was playing hard to get. There was this other guy discovered by the film’s director, James Whale. He was an unknown small-bit actor by the name of Boris Karloff. We all know how it turned out. Now go deep inside and see how it almost didn’t happen. I read the book and I loved it. I also got the chance to spend some of my Memorial Day Monday talking with the book’s author. Now you get to eavesdrop on that conversation and let us take you back to 1931. Bang it here to listen to my interview with Julian David Stone.

You can pick up the book from our Amazon link to the right. You can also head over to the author’s web site here: Stone Web Page.

Superhost is out on Blu-ray and DVD today from Shudder. A pair of vacation home bloggers find themselves facing sinking numbers, but that’s going to be the least of their troubles when they pick the wrong house to review. Osric Chau and Sara Canning star in the new horror film, and I had a chance to talk with Osric about his experiences on the film. Osric Chau also played the lovable Kevin on Supernatural, and now he’s appearing here at Upcomingdiscs. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Osric Chau.

RLJE Films has just released their lycanthrope horror/comedy Werewolves Within on Dec 7th. It’s a rather unique take on the often tired werewolf story. I had the chance to talk to the film’s director, Josh Ruben. Josh took time out of his busy holiday schedule to talk about the film. I found his insights rather interesting, and I think you might agree. You won’t need a wiretap warrant to eavesdrop on the call. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Josh Ruben.

After nearly 100 years the Universal Horror cycle stands as one of the most enduring collection of horror movies today. Their influence on modern horror is unmistakable. There have been literally thousands of incarnations of Dracula, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein’s Monster, but the first image that comes to your mind will always be the nightmare creations of those Universal films. Now the first collection of Universal Horror classics finally comes to UHD Blu-ray and glorious 4K. It doesn’t get any better than this. A while back I got to talk with Sarah Karloff, daughter to the legendary monster himself, Boris Karloff. Here what she had to say about those monsters of the past. Bang it here to listen to my interview with Sara Karloff

Michelle Danner has been one of Hollywood’s most renowned acting teacher/coaches. She’s worked with the likes of Michael Pena, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, James Franco and Henry Cavill. She’s also put together a growing list of films from the director’s seat. I recently was invited to watch both The Runner and Bad Impulse. Then I had the chance to chat with Michelle Danner about her films and career. She has a rather unique perspective on the actor/director relationship and she shared these insights with me. Now you can eavesdrop on our conversation. Just bang it here to listen to my interview with Michelle Danner

You can check out Bad Impulse at some of these locations:
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Michael Starr is no stranger to visitors at Upcomingdiscs. Last year we had a look at his well-crafted Cicada Song and we spoke about that film in an interview available on the site. Michael’s latest directorial project has him teaming up with producer Michelle Talbert for a wonderfully nostalgic documentary on “The Origins Of The Chattanooga Racing Circuit. Talbert’s journey to find out about her grandfather’s racing history has led to a wonderfully nostalgic look at a not so small corner of racing history. It’s Called It’s In The Blood and it’s not surprising that Michael Starr would visit again for another chat. This time he brought along Michelle Talbert. So strap yourself in and bang it here to listen in on my chat with Michael Starr and Michelle Talbert

Bang it here to watch the film or learn more: It’s In The Blood and enjoy.
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Shout Factory has released one the most underrated classics from the 1980’s. Explorers was the perfect coming of age/fantasy/science fiction film. It was directed by the immortal Joe Dante and continues to be one of my favorite films. Some time ago Joe Dante reached out and revealed himself to be a fan of ours at Upcomingdiscs. I was fortunate enough to talk with him and we absolutely included this little gem in our discussion. With the Blu-ray now out and our review coming next week (spoiler alert: I love the film) this is the perfect time to revisit my conversation with Joe Dante. So pick up the disc. Look for the review and bang it here to eavesdrop on my conversation with Joe Dante.

Michael Starr is the director, writer and producer for the new drama feature film Cicada Song. The film stars Lindsey Lantz as Karen, a small town woman who asks the wrong questions and finds herself struggling to survive. It’s a powerful film with a limited budget but not a limited imagination. It’s an ambitious film, to be sure. The man behind it all is Michael Starr, a fellow musician who just might have hit it out of the park with his first feature film. I had a wonderful time with Michael talking about the film. He provided some nice insights into Cicada Song and the filmmaking process itself. You can listen in on our conversation. Just bang it here to hear my interview with Michael Starr.

After the interview make sure you check out the film.

Amazon

Apple

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Check out the film’s Official Website

Lionsgate is going to offer you a nice Florida vacation this Christmas. It’s a short one, to be sure. You’re going to love spending some time with Bernie The Dolphin 2. Hang out with your old friends from the first film. I got to hang out with an old friend of ours at Upcomingdiscs. I had the chance to talk to Kevin Sorbo about the new film. It sounds like it was a blast. You can check out our chat by banging it here: Kevin Sorbo

You can also check out Kevin Sorbo’s website for some nice signed items just in time for Christmas. Check it out here: Kevin Sorbo Website

One of the joys of my life has been some of the people I have met and developed a relationship with over the years in the film industry. I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet some of the actors who are no longer with us. At the top of that list is Boris Karloff. To me, there is absolutely no equal in horror filmdom. Over the years I’ve had quite a few chances to hang out with Sara Karloff, his daughter. I’m happy to count her a friend. She was very instrumental in getting me some attention for my tribute song Man Created A Man. She has inherited that kind generosity that Boris was so known for. I had the chance to talk with Sara again. Thanks to the Universal release of the great Universal Monsters Collection on Blu-ray, we got together once again to chat about Boris Karloff. This time you get to eavesdrop, and you won’t even have to swear out a warrant. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Sara Karloff: Sara Karloff Interview

Check out the Karloff tribute song I wrote and presented to Sara back in 2000 here: Man Created A Man

Make sure you visit Karloff Enterprises where the legacy of Boris Karloff lives on. Karloff Enterprises

The new Universal release contains 30 classic films starting in the 1930’s with Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolfman, The Invisible Man, Creature From The Black Lagoon and all of the films in each of those franchises. Creature From The Black Lagoon and Revenge Of The Creature are also included in 3D. You also get the Abbott And Costello Meet the monsters films. We’ll be talking more about this collection throughout October.

Downton Abbey spent six seasons on television and has amassed 52 episodes. In that relatively short run the series has also managed to collect over 200 award nominations and several Golden Globes along with other prestigious awards. Let’s not forget a rather loyal fan-base that has watched each episode with anticipation of the next sharp barb or character revelation. The fans have been vocal and strong enough that a new film franchise has been anticipated to fill the void left by the series. In one of its years it was the number-one binged series in the world. That’s a lot of power, and it’s little wonder that all of these ingredients are expected to create a little box office gold. But film franchises from television shows rarely go on to such golden heights. There are some notable exceptions, to be sure. But even here, expectations and changing caretakers often lead to both high points and flops. The Star Trek franchise is a perfect example of those kinds of ups and downs. Mission Impossible is an example of shows that have to be completely retooled to hit the high numbers. Where will Downton Abbey fit in this equation? I rather suspect the jury is still out. One thing I can tell you with complete confidence: the film will absolutely entertain fans of the series. There’s no retooling to be found here, and you can expect the same kind of drama that you’ve been mainlining for 52 episodes.
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Official Secrets is now out in theaters. It tells the story of a British Intelligence analyst Katherine Gun who leaked a memo that showed the U.S. and Britain attempting to get a UN resolution to sanction war in Iraq by leaning on UN members. It’s a true story and stars Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes. The film was co-written and directed by Gavin Hood. I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with Gavin about the film. There were obviously some special circumstances with a film like this that depicts living people. How did he handle all of that? I found out and now so can you and you won’t need an NSA wiretap to do it. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Gavin Hood.

Visit the film’s official site HERE

Deadsight had it’s world premier last year at The Snow Canadian Film Festival and now it’s finally found it’s way on DVD thanks to RLJE Films. The film stars Liv Collins as a police officer thrust into the middle of a world taken over by zombies. She also co-wrote the script for the film. It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it. I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes talking with the writer/actress. She gave some insight into the film’s production. Now you can listen in on our conversation. Just bang it here to hear me talking with Liv Collins

Patrick Kilpatrick may be one of the biggest stars you don’t necessarily know. He’s a prolific actor with over 14 project already in various stages of pre-release. His credits go all the way back to Tocix Avenger and include televisions shows like Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman, Matlock, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine & Voyager, The X-Files CSI & NCIS: New Orleans. His film credits include Minority Report, the under-appreciated Parasomnia, The Presidio and Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. What is more impressive than his over 150 roles is the life he’s led off-screen. The book Dying for a Living: Sins & Confessions of a Hollywood Villain & Libertine Patriot documents the first half of that journey. It’s has a unique narrative style and a visceral storytelling that will certainly keep your attention. I got to do more than read the book. I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time talking to Patrick. He’s just as interesting in person. Now you can share that experience and eavesdrop on our conversation. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Patrick Kilpatrick.
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The end of the year is coming. That means holidays and some cooler temperatures (at least for some of you). In the movie industry, it’s awards season. That means yours truly will have the opportunity to see tons of films looking for recognition when it comes time for me to vote. One of these films is Abe & Phil’s Last Poker Game. It features Oscar winner Martin Landau in one of his final films, along with Paul Sorvino. It’s a bit surprising to see these big stars when you discover it was directed by a first-time director who also happens to be a medical doctor working at Harvard. Those are some huge credentials… in the medical industry. I’m talking about Dr. Howard Lee Weiner M.D. This was a story I just had to hear for myself. So I ended up with a chance to talk to Dr. Weiner about this accomplishment. It’s one of the more interesting film stories I’ve heard. Now you can check it out. Bang it here to listen to my conversation with director Howard Lee Weiner M.D.Director Howard Lee Weiner M.D.

You can also discover more about the film by checking it out here: Abe & Phil’s Last Poker Game.

Black Sails fans rejoice. 31 Nights Of Terror takes you on-board a pirate ship with the infamous Captain Flint. I had an opportunity to chat with Toby Stephens who plays Captain Flint on the show. He had some insightful things to say.  Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Toby Stephens. It’s all to celebrate the release of Black Sails: The Complete Series on Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

Painless is out on DVD from Indican Pictures. 31 Nights Of Terror takes you behind the scenes with writer/director Jordan Horowitz. Joey Klein stars as a man who can’t feel pain and Painless covers his desperate search for a cure. I had a nice talk with Jordan Horowitz about the film. he let me in on some nice inside stories. Now you can eavesdrop on the call and you won’t even need any help from the NSA. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Jordan Horowitz.

Catch the film at Amazon Painless

31 Nights Of Terror is off to a quick start this year. RLJE Films is getting into the fray with their release of Housewife staring David Sakurai as Bruce O’Hara. It’s out today on DVD. David plays a mystical cult leader who makes a rather extraordinary connection to the film’s lead actress. I also had a chance to connect with David. We talked about the film and his motivation for the character. Now you get to make a connection and listen in on our conversation. Just bang it here to listen to my interview with David Sakurai.

This coming Veterans Day will also mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. I’m sure there will be plenty of events to mark the event. WWI is also the subject of the latest horror film out by RLJE Films called Trench 11. It appears those Germans have been developing a bio-weapon deep underground and all is not quiet on the Western front. An elite group of soldiers are sent to unlock the secret and what they find is… That would be telling. I got the story directly from the film’s director and co-writer Leo Scherman. Now you can eavesdrop on our chat. Just bang it here and listen to my conversation with Leo Scherman.

Upcomingdiscs was at the Tampa premier of Followers. I found the film to be quite good and a nice turn on the found footage format. Director Ryan Justice delivered and the home-field crowd stuck around to hear him and other cast and crew members. The house remained full even at 1:00 AM. The film still has the rest of the week to run in 10 cities across the nation. If you are in one of those towns I highly recommend you get yourself a seat. (Check below for a screen near you. Just click on the image to get a better view.) I’ll be covering the film in more detail in the weeks to come. I was lucky enough to be invited to hang out with Ryan and film star Nishant Gogna over beer and iced tea while they prepared for the big night. Now you can sit in on some of my conversation with Ryan Justice. Just bang it right Here.