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RUSHMORE cemented director Wes Anderson as one of the most influential & distinct filmmakers of contemporary time. By standing out from the herd & pairing Bill Murray with a feisty, fresh faced newcomer, RUSHMORE’s innocence & heightened realness set the bar for Anderson’s career. And the creative trust & emotional depth put into making the film are just as heartfelt as the movie itself. //**Discussions include**// The brief history & writing process of Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson; origin of RUSHMORE, true life inspirations, how visuals mix with storytelling, plus the themes of the film & finding how humor interacts with heartache; casting stories & deconstruction of characters; editing trademarks, production design, visual style & layered presence of music; release, reception & some of our favorite moments. Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray & Olivia Williams star in RUSHMORE (1998). Directed by Wes Anderson. //***Picks of the Week***//     •    Lindsay’s Pick: H

Not only is BEVERLY HILLS COP one of the biggest movie franchises, but it also helped propel a cross-genre of films still thriving today. Almost 40 years after its release, this film is as fresh as ever, and certainly a mega standout amongst action-comedy pairings. But what makes this movie so smart & thoroughly enjoyable goes deeper than just box office results.     —**Discussions include** The origin & evolution of story development involving multiple writers; finding a lead actor & director, plus where this film fits into their careers; creating a genre & how this comedy is comparatively unique; casting process & stories, use of improvisation, importance of & overlooked nuances of character chemistry; reception of the film, hit soundtrack, plus our thoughts on the entire BEVERLY HILLS COP franchise. BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox. Directed by Martin Brest.     —***Picks of the Week*** Lindsay’s Pick: RUTHLESS

Comedic documentaries existed, but were scarce until Christopher Guest took the reins with WAITING FOR GUFFMAN. By directing, co-writing & starring in the film, Guest assembled a company of actors & manner of heartfelt storytelling. And twenty-five years post-release, GUFFMAN’s “comedy is reality, but one step further” philosophy has become one of the most popular genres.   **Discussions include** Brief career history of Christopher Guest from the ‘70s to GUFFMAN; Guest’s relationship & creation process with writing partner, Eugene Levy; writing & shooting for a musical; inspirations for the story, style of comedy, creating a small town feel with universal relatability; use of improvisation, purposeful casting, character development; structure, editing process, production details, reception & release; discussion of script changes, omitted scenes, favorite moments & ranking our favorite of Guest’s films with this comedy troupe. WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996) Christopher Guest, Eugene Le

On its 45th Anniversary, TAXI DRIVER can still boast about being socially relevant & controversial at once. It’s a shockingly honest character study blended into a mesmerizing reality & falling into the darkest depths of a disturbed psyche. And the journey of creating this film is just as engaging as the movie itself. **Discussions include** How writer Paul Schrader, director Martin Scorsese & Robert DeNiro came together, evolution of the script & producer involvement; inspiration behind the story; visual style, prophetic themes, tone & voyeuristic feel; in-depth cast discussion & analyzing the main character; real-life impact & connections; interpretations of the film’s ending, score, MPAA influence,  criticisms, release & reception. TAXI DRIVER (1976) Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel. Directed by Martin Scorsese.   ***Picks of the Week*** —Lindsay’s Pick THE KING OF COMEDY (1982) Robert DeNiro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahnne Abbott. Direc

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, GHOST WORLD remains a uniquely non-formulaic blending of adolescent maturing & evolving friendships placed in a world of disillusionment. The film has remained a clever, underground favorite for the last two decades & continues to hit hard with audiences of all ages. As it verges on cult film status, join us in this exploration of the sophisticated, quirky & cutting edge reality of GHOST WORLD.   **Discussions include** The relationship between first-time feature film director Terry Zwigoff & GHOST WORLD graphic novel creator, Daniel Clowes; writing process & transcribing a comic book into a screenplay, plus differences between the two & selling the idea to a movie studio; themes, character dynamics & relatability; importance of casting & landing the lead roles; music, style & production design; cringe-worthy moments, the non-traditional conclusion & critical reception of the film. GHOST WORLD (2001). Thora Birch, Scarlett Johan

Often called the quintessential hangout movie, DAZED AND CONFUSED offered up a new type of film about teenage life. This timeless story served up the familiar truths of adolescence while encompassing the universal aimlessness of the time. Let’s cruise through how this fresh film spoke to multiple generations & launched careers, but was also not without its difficulties. **Discussions include** Writer/director Richard Linklater’s transitioning from independent filmmaking to working with a big budget studio; writing style, transferring real life experiences into the story, questioning nostalgia, scenes cut from the finished film; support behind DAZED & production difficulties; massively impressive ensemble cast, behind the scenes & casting stories; epic soundtrack, release & long-lasting legacy of the film. DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993) Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams, Matthew McConaughey, Wiley Wiggins & so many, many, many more. Directed by Richard Linklater. ***Picks of the Week*** —Lind

It’s our 3rd Anniversary!     The massively exhilarating science-fiction thriller, THE TERMINATOR (1984), served as a launching pad for everyone involved with the production. Dive behind-the-scenes of this legendary ‘80s blockbuster & discover what makes it one of the most popular action films of all-time.   Discussions include: The origin of & artistry behind THE TERMINATOR, how the streamlined story came to fruition, James Cameron’s vision & selling the story; conjuring an imaginative crew, casting stories, studio expectations & production difficulties; visceral, multi-layered special effects, heavy-hitting score, the long-lasting franchise & favorite moments. THE TERMINATOR (1984) // Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn; Dir. James Cameron.   Picks of the Week: Lindsay’s Pick, CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) // Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones; Dir. John Milius. Justin’s Pick, COMMANDO (1985) // Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alyssa Milano, Rae Dawn Chong; Di

A Special Journey Through the Evolution of Marijuana in Movies! Next Episode: Third Anniversary of DPP!  THE TERMINATOR (1984) Rate, review & subscribe! Complete Episode Archive, Videos & Store: www.dontpushpausepodcast.com Facebook @dontpushpause Instagram @dontpushpausepodcast Twitter @dontpushpause Subscribe on YouTube, Don’t Push Pause Podcast Email us: dontpushpausepodcast@gmail.com Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders Be Kind and Rewatch! // April 20, 2021

DEAD PRESIDENTS gave a voice to Vietnam veterans who experienced the atrocities of war, only to return home & find the struggle was not over. This intense coming of age journey continues to cut to the core, while being a uniquely realistic depiction of Black Americans during the post-war 1970s.     ***Discussions include*** Capturing the Black experience before/during/after the Vietnam War; the director’s visions for the film, plus positives & drawbacks of loosely adapting true stories, truth vs. fiction, pacing & visual style; interweaving genres to blend a serious story into an entertaining film; strength of the cast & unpacking the main characters; the film’s incredible soundtrack, release & critical reception. DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995). Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker, N’Bushe Wright, Freddy Rodriguez, Rose Jackson // Directed by Albert Hughes & Allen Hughes.   ***Picks of the Week*** Lindsay’s Pick, SET IT OFF (1996). Jada Pinkett, Vivica A. Fox, Queen Latifah, Kimberly

A year of recording remotely prepared us for an epic battle of genre-bending proportions! Time to rediscover the creative genius behind the martial arts adventure, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA! **Discussions** Reinventing the story’s origin, inspiration, uniqueness, significant rewrites, & John Carpenter’s influence; atypical heroes, martial arts integration & cultural sensitivity; special effects, set production, pacing, atmosphere & multi-layered tones; character strengths & cast breakdown; audience, marketing, release & second life of; the synth-driven score & film’s theme song. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) // Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, James Hong, Victor Wong // Directed by John Carpenter.   ***Picks of the Week*** —Lindsay’s Pick, POLICE ACADEMY (1984) // Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith // Directed by Hugh Wilson. —Justin’s Pick, USED CARS (1980) // Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham, Deborah Harmon // Directed by Robert Z

Deconstructing what makes THE FLY (1986) a renowned sci-fi classic with a truly transformative love story & one of best remakes of all time. *Discussions* The original short story, differences from the original ‘58 film, plus FLY sequels; the unimaginable search for a director/screenwriter; saving a turbulent production; intimate nature of the film, blending humanistic themes & primal fears with body horror in a love story; unique casting stories & character evolutions; favorite special effects moments, technological feats & the hauntingly emotional score. THE FLY (1986) // Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz // Directed by David Cronenberg.   **Picks of the Week** —Lindsay’s Pick, EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY (1988) // Geena Davis, Julie Brown, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey // Directed by Julien Temple. —Justin’s Pick,  VIBES (1988) // Cyndi Lauper, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Falk, Julian Sands // Directed by Ken Kwapis.   **MurrayMoment** A comparison between the love stories in TH

We’re celebrating the 30th Anniversary of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS & fleshing out what makes this film nothing short of brilliant. **Discussions include** Adaptation of the novel to screenplay; production evolution, casting lead roles & FBI involvement; revamping of a traditional hero story through a female perspective & unconventional cinematography; themes, atmosphere, stylistic choices & popularizing true crime stories; actor commitments to the film’s integrity; sound/score, make-up & special effects; reception, controversy & awards; the Hannibal Lecter film series & the continuation the iconic film’s legacy. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991), Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine. Directed by Jonathan Demme. ***Picks of the Week*** -Lindsay’s Pick: MAGIC (1978), Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith. Directed by Richard Attenborough. -Justin’s Pick: THE EDGE (1997), Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle Macpherson, Harold Perrineau. Directed by Lee Tamah

We’re closing out Dolly December with Ms. Parton’s debut film! Not many films can hold social relevance for 40 years. But in 1980, NINE TO FIVE was not only a big boost to a movement, it also gave a voice to those oppressed in the workforce. A labor of love & sneakily subversive, this influential film was groundbreaking at the time & continues to inspire today. ▶️Synopsis: Three female co-workers unite over unequal treatment in the workplace, especially at the hands of their tyrannical & sexist male boss. When one of the women thinks she poisoned him, the trio form a plan to improve their working conditions & turn the tables on their corrupt boss. ⏩⏩Discussions include: Real-life inspiration, origin of the film & Jane Fonda spearheading the project; collaborative writing, story evolution, type of comedy, fantasy sequences; uniquely weaving in of social commentary; securing the cast, character breakdowns & memorable supporting roles; the infectious, smash hit theme song; long-lasting

Perhaps no other film better illustrates laughter through pain than the timeless classic, STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989). This true story is not only a moving, cathartic expression, but also celebrates life & immortalizes a tragic, yet universally relatable journey. ▶️Synopsis: Set in Natchitoches, Louisiana, six women are brought together by a local salon, not only to have their hair & nails done, but to share their lives with one another, including a mother & her diabetic daughter’s desire to live life without constraints. Together, these women go through the best & most difficult of times, further solidifying their lifelong bond. ⏩⏩Discussions include: Writer Robert Harling’s adaptation of true events, writing process & collaboration with director Herbert Ross; main & supporting cast, character breakdowns, blocking choreography, usage townsfolk; clever story evolution, dedication to accuracy, balancing narrative & character development; on-location filming, recreating a real-life comm

Expanding a comedy sketch into a full-length feature film is always a gamble. When WAYNE’S WORLD hit theaters in 1992, the film’s instant success was not only a surprise, but also catapulted careers & paved the way for even more Saturday Night Live films. By appealing to a mass audience & departing from predictable humor, WAYNE’S WORLD continues to be a beloved comedy classic. ▶️Synopsis: Two music-oriented best friends, Wayne and Garth, produce a late-nite, cable access entertainment TV show called Wayne’s World. Seeing an opportunity to exploit the show, a slick TV producer attempts to commercialize the underground program, while also trying to schmooze Wayne’s ultra cool, musician girlfriend. ⏩⏩Discussions include: Evolution & development of Wayne & Garth, from conception to SNL’s effect; director’s background, influence & filmmaking style; writing the film, structuring commentary with story & atypical humor; cast, cameos & character breakdowns; musical influences & cultur

Alexander Payne’s ELECTION (1999) breaks down politics in the most basic of ways. Through sharp critique, biting satire & layered performances, the fresh relevance of this film rings true in its relatability. ELECTION’s brutal honesty & exposure of human imperfections makes it one of the most provocative comedies fo the ‘90s. ▶️Synopsis: Feeling that an over-achieving high school student needs to be sidelined, a well-liked teacher convinces a popular jock to join the race for student body president. In doing do, multiple feuds come to the forefront as everyone’s morals and ethics are tested. ⏩⏩Discussions include: The real-life inspirations for ELECTION, adapting the novel for film & pre-production journey; layered writing style & visual translation; themes & filming techniques; main character breakdowns & relatability; Payne’s dedication to detail with casting choices, rewrites, filming locations, set design & costuming; visual cues, metaphors, use of edgy, dark humor; critical

Considered one of the all-time best horror movies, George A. Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) is a landmark achievement in moviemaking. Artistically combining social commentary, storytelling & game-changing visuals, the essence of DAWN is still emulated to this day. It is the zombie movie to which all others are compared. When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the Earth... and Romero is the only one who can properly guide us.   ▶️Synopsis: Society is in the midst of chaos as an ever-growing epidemic of the dead rising & attacking the living is taking over. Brought together by circumstances, a foursome seek refuge in a mall, but find the outside world is impossible to avoid. ⏩⏩Discussions include: A brief history on zombie films & beginnings of Romero’s career; origin, script, pre-production & community vibe of DAWN; unique story structure, filming techniques, realism, intended tones, themes & spirit of the film; strength of characters/cast; original ending, Tom Savini’s ins

Not only did GINGER SNAPS (2000) challenge typical horror movie tropes, but it was also a vibrant kick to the werewolf genre. This Canadian film is a true testament to satire & sharp creativity being able to depict the horrific transformations of youth through the modern metamorphosis of the werewolf. Though only celebrating its 20th anniversary, GINGER SNAPS has “cult classic” written all over it. ▶️Synopsis: United in their morbid discontentment with life, Brigitte and Ginger are two sisters with an intensely close bond. When the onset of puberty strikes the same night as Ginger being attacked by a werewolf, their connection is tested as Brigitte tries to save her sister before the transformation becomes final. ⏩⏩Discussions include: Origin, script development, blending of horror, the macabre, dark humor, relatable metaphor & emotions; brief history of the werewolf genre, how GINGER SNAPS fits in, stands apart & intentionally challenges multiple tropes; visual intensity, special effects &

Sometimes movie sequels are lackluster or go off the rails, but rarely do they attempt a franchise reinvention. With original Exorcist writer in full control, William Peter Blatty created a new crop tension-building scares with the unconventional, THE EXORCIST III. An often overlooked film, this unsettling story cranks out the creeps and ties in the original blockbuster without being a knockoff, but it wasn’t an easy task to accomplish. ▶️Synopsis: A string of killings lead a police lieutenant to a psychiatric ward where he finds his faith tested, along with uncanny similarities between a dead serial killer & a familiar priest who supposedly died during an infamous exorcism. ⏩⏩Discussions include: How Blatty began his writing career, leading up to The Exorcist, then to the novel which inspired EXORCIST III; backstory, development & methodical emotional escalation of the story, plus drastic reshoots/rewriting of the film’s ending; intentionally extreme tonal shifts & usage of humor; uniquely abst

ALMOST FAMOUS has not aged a day since its release in 2000. Writer/director/producer Cameron Crowe is known for films which speak to romantic or nostalgic sensibilities. ALMOST FAMOUS gave him the opportunity to tell an unconventional & endearing story from his youth. This cinematically poetic love letter to music shepherds a coming of age story on the road with a touring band & a teenager clinging to his morals while carving his path into journalism. Timeless & inspiring, this story is alllllmost completely true. ▶️Synopsis: In 1973, a 15-year-old music journalist went on tour with an up-and-coming rock band. While uncovering intimate truths about the music world, interpersonal & romantic relationships, he tries not to involve himself in the story, which is headed for the cover of Rolling Stone. ⏩⏩Discussions include: A brief history on Crowe’s career pre-ALMOST FAMOUS; origin of the script, influences, blurring together fact & fiction; musical guidance on songwriting & authenticity