The Staff Picks Podcast, by Mario Lanza
The Staff Picks Podcast, by Mario Lanza
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Staff Picks Podcast - Train to Busan
Episode 155 - Train to Busan
Horror movie fan and Staff Picks favorite Jessi Bentley joins me to discuss what I think is the best horror movie of the past twenty years, the 2016 Korean zombie movie, Train to Busan. This was my Halloween episode for 2024 (no Horror Month this year, sorry) and I was really happy with the way this one turned out. And of course it's always fun working with Jessi, who is one of my all time favorite guests. In any case, Train to Busan isn't just a great horror movie, it's a great movie, period. One that just happens to feature zombies in it. And it's one of the all time great movies to watch people react to on UA-cam, because it always just WRECKS them. You talk about a movie that will send you on an emotional roller coaster, this is the one. And anyway, enjoy this episode. This is one of the best movies I've ever covered on Staff Picks.
Note: This episode was recorded in June of 2024.
All Staff Picks episodes can be found here: staffpicks.podbean.com/
You can reach me via email at staffpickspodcast@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: Staff Picks, and this Staff Picks channel, are not monetized in any way. I have no ads, I have no sponsors, they generate no revenue whatsoever. They're just fun podcasts I make for my friends who like movies. But if you'd like to support my work, you can become my patron at www.patreon.com/c/mariolanza
Переглядів: 449

Відео

Staff Picks Podcast - Rollercoaster
Переглядів 9321 день тому
Episode 154 - Rollercoaster Writer and film analyst Darren DeBari joins me to discuss one of my favorite suspense movies of all time, and one that is very special to me, personally, because my dad used to watch it with me. It's 1977's mad bomber movie, Rollercoaster. First off, WHY IS THIS MOVIE SO COMPLETELY UNKNOWN THESE DAYS?? I mean, it's suspenseful. It's scary. It's action packed. It's me...
Staff Picks Podcast - Police Academy
Переглядів 11421 день тому
Episode 153 - Police Academy Former video store clerk Michael Allbright joins me to salvage the reputation of a movie that was never as bad as its legacy. It's time to talk about one of my all-time favorite comedies, 1984's Police Academy. This is an important episode of Staff Picks because it literally took us six years to actually get it recorded. Police Academy was supposed to be one of the ...
Staff Picks Podcast - The Black Hole
Переглядів 5821 день тому
Episode 152 - The Black Hole Fellow child of the late 70s Pete Butler joins me to discuss a movie that was HUGE for any kid who grew up with it, but is sadly pretty much forgotten today, the 1979 Disney movie The Black Hole. This was such a fun episode to record. I had known Pete for more than thirty years as an online friend, but this was the first time we had ever actually spoken to each othe...
Staff Picks Podcast - The Way Way Back
Переглядів 9421 день тому
Episode 151 - The Way Way Back Former therapist Leann Lindsley joins me to discuss a cute little summer movie you might not have ever seen before. It's the spiritual successor to Meatballs, 2013's The Way Way Back. This is such a sweet little movie. And I never even heard of it when it first came out. Leann was the one who first tipped me off to it, several years ago. She said "You know, if you...
Staff Picks Podcast - The Pit
Переглядів 10521 день тому
Episode 150 - The Pit Scott Drebit, author of "A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies", joins me to discuss one of the craziest B horror movies of all time, 1981's The Pit. Okay now THIS is a fun episode. The Pit is one of those stupid little movies that I have always loved (what's better, my wife loves it even more than I do). And one day on Twitter I somehow found Scott, who has litera...
Staff Picks Podcast - Election
Переглядів 7521 день тому
Episode 149 - Election Young movie fan Owen Donne joins me to discuss one of my favorite movies of all time, Alexander Payne's wonderfully sharp and cynical 1999 masterpiece, Election. This episode is sort of notorious in Staff Picks lore because this movie is a LOT dirtier than most people remember. And it was a LOT dirtier than my guest remembered it being, when he first pitched it to me. So ...
Staff Picks Podcast - One Cut of the Dead
Переглядів 4221 день тому
Episode 148 - One Cut of the Dead Horror author Fiona Carter (aka Fiona J.R. Titchenell) joins me to discuss the cutest, most feel good, most adorable zombie comedy you are ever going to see, 2017's One Cut of the Dead. Okay, now THIS was an interesting movie to talk about. Because it's got to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for "the most jarring tonal shift ever seen in a movie." One ...
Staff Picks Podcast - Xanadu
Переглядів 1021 день тому
Episode 147 - Xanadu Pop culture expert and fellow fanadu Jessica Liese joins me in one of my favorite episodes of all time, as we discuss the flop that really shouldn't have flopped, 1980's musical disaster Xanadu. First off, this is not only one of my favorite episodes of Staff Picks, it's also one of the funniest. In fact, it might be my overall funniest. Jessica and I have SO much fun delvi...
Staff Picks Podcast - The Deliberate Stranger
Переглядів 16321 день тому
Episode 146 - The Deliberate Stranger Archivist and Ted Bundy researcher Tiffany Jean joins me to discuss one of the greatest TV movies of all time. It's Mark Harmon (as Ted Bundy) in the 1986 movie The Deliberate Stranger. This is easily my most popular Staff Picks episode of the past three years, and I am really proud of it. Tiffany is probably the #1 Ted Bundy researcher in the world (she ru...
Staff Picks Podcast - Dead & Buried
Переглядів 7521 день тому
Episode 145 - Dead & Buried Horror movie fan and cinephile Christopher Chardi joins me to discuss maybe the most underrated horror movie ever made. It's 1981's supreme creepfest Dead & Buried. Okay, now this is a fun episode. We take a REALLY creepy movie that hardly anyone knows, and we walk through it in a way that will hopefully sell it to you. And then we take a little side trip into Willy ...
Staff Picks Podcast - Gran Torino
Переглядів 2821 день тому
Episode 144 - Gran Torino Movie fan Jack Mourouzis joins me to discuss what I'd consider one of the best movies of the past twenty years, which surprisingly rarely ever gets mentioned anymore. It's Clint Eastwood's 2008 masterpiece Gran Torino. Okay, just like Jojo Rabbit, now we're back in the realm of "the best movies I've ever covered on Staff Picks." Gran Torino HAS to be up there, this mov...
Staff Picks Podcast - Max Dugan Returns
Переглядів 4621 день тому
Episode 143 - Max Dugan Returns Fellow child of the 80s Celia Curran joins me to discuss a movie that was beloved in its time, but somehow fell right off the face of the earth soon after that. It's time to give more love to the charming 1983 fairytale Max Dugan Returns. This is one of those movies I've wanted to cover on Staff Picks ever since the very beginning, but it's so forgotten by time t...
Staff Picks Podcast - Jojo Rabbit
Переглядів 11921 день тому
Episode 142 - Jojo Rabbit Pop culture podcaster and movie fan Quintin Philipson joins me to discuss what I think was the best movie of the past five years, 2019's instant classic Jojo Rabbit. First off, let me say that Jojo Rabbit is probably the best movie I've ever covered on Staff Picks up to this point. It's either this one, Little Miss Sunshine, or Titanic. And that's why I broke my rule o...
Staff Picks Podcast - Moneyball
Переглядів 3021 день тому
Episode 141 - Moneyball Sportswriter and podcaster Jack Vita joins me to discuss a movie that shouldn't have worked at all, yet somehow turned out to be amazing. It's 2011's baseball masterpiece, Moneyball. This was a really fun episode to record because of my history with baseball and my history with super obscure baseball stats. Which you'll, uh, hear about in the podcast. DAMNIT, I CAME SO C...
Staff Picks Podcast - Dawn of the Dead
Переглядів 3121 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Dawn of the Dead
Staff Picks Podcast - Vacancy
Переглядів 7121 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Vacancy
Staff Picks Podcast - Sinister
Переглядів 4021 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Sinister
Staff Picks Podcast - Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Переглядів 25921 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Staff Picks Podcast - Someone's Watching Me!
Переглядів 9021 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Someone's Watching Me!
Staff Picks Podcast - Demonwarp
Переглядів 2421 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Demonwarp
Staff Picks Podcast - Creep
Переглядів 3621 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Creep
Staff Picks Podcast - The Blair Witch Project
Переглядів 10021 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - The Blair Witch Project
Staff Picks Podcast - Trilogy of Terror
Переглядів 16621 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Trilogy of Terror
Staff Picks Podcast - Toy Soldiers
Переглядів 7021 день тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Toy Soldiers
Staff Picks Podcast - Frequency
Переглядів 1228 днів тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Frequency
Staff Picks Podcast - Spider-Man
Переглядів 3628 днів тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Spider-Man
Staff Picks Podcast - Perfect Blue
Переглядів 2728 днів тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Perfect Blue
Staff Picks Podcast - Very Bad Things
Переглядів 3928 днів тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Very Bad Things
Staff Picks Podcast - Used Cars
Переглядів 11428 днів тому
Staff Picks Podcast - Used Cars

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @howler109
    @howler109 21 день тому

    Perfect Blue is so good, it's criminal that Satoshi Kon was taken from us way too soon, highly recommend the rest of his filmography.

  • @RonaldSmoke
    @RonaldSmoke 22 дні тому

    ❤ love this movie is awesome

  • @bigmikeallbright
    @bigmikeallbright 23 дні тому

    Great episode. I was glad to come back after the pilot episode.

  • @mikes6457
    @mikes6457 23 дні тому

    Hey, I was in this one!

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast 23 дні тому

      @@mikes6457 You were the best guest available… in this price range.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 23 дні тому

    The only movie that competes with Dawn of the Dead for me as greatest zombie movie of all time. This one messes me up every time I watch it.

    • @johnclifferdsabida9988
      @johnclifferdsabida9988 21 день тому

      The best thing in the movie, they don't have a weapon to fight the zombie, beside a baseball bat...and it is intense movie.... While in dawn of the dead, they used gun

  • @IndiephantomSofaSinema
    @IndiephantomSofaSinema 24 дні тому

    Discovered this podcast today and it’s totally my vibe. Listened to this episode; The Kentucky Fried Movie, and Friday the 13th Part VI, so far.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast 24 дні тому

      @@IndiephantomSofaSinema Thank you! Glad you like it. There’s lots of good stuff here, I’ve been doing these episodes for six years. Let me know if there are any you particularly like.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 24 дні тому

    There's nothing like going into this one completely blind and letting the surprises take you where they will.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 26 днів тому

    First time I remember seeing this in the theatre, the main thing I remember thinking was, "Wow, that was so much better than I expected it to be." Almost 20 years later, that opinion hasn't changed; it looks like it's just going to be a cheap and simple thrill ride, but as soon as all the characters reveal how smart they really are, it becomes one of the best cat and mouse horror thrillers in recent memory.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 26 днів тому

    This was the movie that got me into horror in my teens. It's so goofy, but it's so good at the same time... I'll always applaud Romero for not letting his budget get in the way of his ambition with this one.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 27 днів тому

    I can count on one hand how many horror movies have actually kept me up at night after I first saw them, and this movie is HIGH on that list. It's aggressive normalness lulls you into an awkward sense of security, and then it messes with you. Amazing movie.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 27 днів тому

    As a city kid who fears the great outdoors, this movie is terrifying. It's also terrifying on its own as one of the greatest "less is more" horror movies since Jaws. I get some of the reasons why people don't like it (since a lot depends on your tolerance for shaky cam and actors flipping out on each other), but this has been a favorite of mine since the first time I saw it, and I don't expect that to change.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 27 днів тому

    Always go for the turkey.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 28 днів тому

    Would not have known about this one without your recommendation, and it's still a fun, surprisingly tense watch, even knowing what's really going on.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast 28 днів тому

      @@mattcarter2290 Yep it’s definitely one you want to watch more than once, just to catch how artfully it’s done.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 29 днів тому

    I'm still in awe of the effects work they pulled off in this time period; everything feels so damn real even with its insane concept, and they really pull it off.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 29 днів тому

    Best of the trilogy, easily.

  • @Crimsonphilosophy
    @Crimsonphilosophy Місяць тому

    The first one is great

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Rewatched this one in the leadup to this last Halloween... god is this a slow-burn masterpiece. I love not fully knowing exactly what kind of movie we're watching until that final act, and once the reveals become clear, holy hell does it all come together in one of the most disturbing endings around.

  • @angelachouinard4581
    @angelachouinard4581 Місяць тому

    Phantasm is the one movie that really scared the you know what out of me. "Come here boy!" So cool you did this one.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      It's one of those movies I wish I could have seen in the theater, I heard it was all the rage among kids back in 1979. But I was only five years old, so I was too young. I only heard about it years later, when Phantasm 2 was announced. I remember thinking, wait, there was a Phantasm 1??

    • @angelachouinard4581
      @angelachouinard4581 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast I was almost 30 and yeah it made a difference. I jumped in my seat at the closet scene in the end. I heard after people started finding it that one reason it took so long for a sequel was that Angus Scrimm loved the Tall Man so much he was afraid his character would not be kept up to standard. Sequels do tend to suffer in quality. I'm glad he relented, he made such a scary villain. A real actor he was such a sweet man.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    There was nothing quite like being in the movie theater during the elevator scenes. The entire house would always lose it during the second "ding", the appearance of the unicorn, and of course, the merman. I've never seen anything quite like it at a horror comedy.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    One of the great low-key ghost stories of all time. My wife and I traditionally watch three movies every Halloween day, and this is one of them for its spooky fun seasonal vibes. Never would have watched this one if it weren't for your recommendation, Mario.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 Thank you! Wish it were easier to find. Although I think I’ve seen it on UA-cam before.

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast I was able to get it on DVD back when I first got interested, and it seems its still reasonably easy to get as such at a reasonable price.

  • @anniel13
    @anniel13 Місяць тому

    That movie was a good surprise ❤

  • @angelachouinard4581
    @angelachouinard4581 Місяць тому

    After listening to the whole thing I have to say I loved it. One of my favorite acting scenes ever is Paul Giamatti envisioning how they did it and his reactions to the real trick, the big one. Not a word, just marvelous facial expressions that say everything. PS I subscribed

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@angelachouinard4581 Thank you! Glad you liked the episode. Hopefully you like all the other ones too. And yeah Giamatti is so great in this.

    • @angelachouinard4581
      @angelachouinard4581 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast You've covered some movies I really like (I checked) so I don't think you have to worry.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    While this is one of the better anthology films out there, I could have seen a whole movie based around that story with the quarry. Holy hell was that one wonderfully dark.

  • @angelachouinard4581
    @angelachouinard4581 Місяць тому

    I have to give a thumbs up to anyone who appreciates The Illusionist, it's a very special film.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@angelachouinard4581 It’s definitely one you appreciate the more that you watch it. It’s so well done. And the music is perfect.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Honestly, there's a fair chance that Fantasia is the first movie a LOT of kids realized they hated.

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      Not sure I've ever listened to this before, but I'm loving it, there's some great insight here.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 Yeah this is the first time I’ve ever really just talked about my background, and why I turned out the way that I did. I rarely talk about most of this stuff in general. This interview is sort of unique that way.

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast And now people know why you enjoy kids and dogs dying in movies, and that's educational!

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 I mean, it makes sense to me. Always respect the director who has the balls to do that.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @ Although there’s a scene in The Innocents that is too much for me. I’d definitely avoid that one if you can’t handle animal deaths. But the cat in Drag Me to Hell? Fair game.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Great for chocolate mouse recipes, though.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 Maude should learn to stay in her lane.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Pair this with Walk Hard and you've got one hell of a double feature.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    That ending... holy crap that ending.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 It’s the ending that most other horror movies have to compare to.

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast It's certainly up there.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    If not for me... do it for your country?

  • @vickicurline9116
    @vickicurline9116 Місяць тому

    Mario your hilarious

  • @vickicurline9116
    @vickicurline9116 Місяць тому

    Titanic and Avatar are both awesome movies

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@vickicurline9116 I agree! I love them both. I had a hard time convincing Joni about Avatar though ha ha.

  • @vickicurline9116
    @vickicurline9116 Місяць тому

    When I went to see it, it affected eveyone, at the end of a movie when everyone leaves, they chat away as they are leaving and just carry on, at the end of Titanic, you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre, it was silent, even leaving, no one was talking, it felt like grief, surreal

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@vickicurline9116 Yep definitely had that same experience.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Even 50 years later, the paranoia in this movie still works.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Damn this movie is dark. When you put Bill Paxton in horror, good stuff tends to come out, and this one is his crowning achievement.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    While I find certain parts of this movie can be hit or miss, that ending is one of the biggest damn gut punches. Even if the rest of the movie doesn't, that ending will mess you up.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      Just curious, which parts do you think are hit or miss?

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast I find the tone and the pacing in the first half to be a bit less focused in their slowness (and I love a good slow burn) than they could be. I like the movie, don't get me wrong, and the hints of things to come are a delight once you know how it ends.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@mattcarter2290 Thanks. I will look for that next time I watch it.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Possibly the best Stephen King adaptation ever put to screen. And this episode is a lot of fun, Mario and Jessi work well together on this one.

  • @dennisdrawsanddesigns
    @dennisdrawsanddesigns Місяць тому

    Only 2 films are in the movie cannon, then a made for tv one where they go to Washington was the one where Long and Cole return. Anything else you maybe recalling would be BTS biopics based on tell all books. - Brady Nation

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      Thanks! Yeah that's how I have always treated them as well. If it wasn't in the theater, I've never seen it nor cared about it.

  • @ElizabethWheatly
    @ElizabethWheatly Місяць тому

    Thanks for this cool video 😁, all that’s left to do is advertise it

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    I'd argue there are other contenders to being "pretty good" Friday the 13th movies, but this one is definitely up there.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Very few horror movies actually "scare" me, but this one does it every time.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Your tail light's out.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    So weird, so creative, so damn much fun, such a great cast... it's the movie you never knew you needed!

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Reading the premise alone, I never would've expected this movie to be so scary, but after checking it out on your recommendation... yeah, it's even scarier.

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    Amazing movie, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for the recommendation as this is probably one of my Top 5 movies now. ...wrong kid died!

  • @mattcarter2290
    @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

    I want to try to pick a favorite quote from this movie, but I can't because there are too many. So dark, so funny; man this movie is amazing.

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      She's skinny, Amber. Not deaf.

    • @mattcarter2290
      @mattcarter2290 Місяць тому

      @@staffpickspodcast It's great having an after school job where I can practice my talent.

  • @winstonsmith09
    @winstonsmith09 Місяць тому

    Great movie. Cannot believe anyone who says their 14-year-old asses saw the twist coming in the cinema.

  • @dareusconover2329
    @dareusconover2329 Місяць тому

    great, show and discussion. i hadn’t seen the changeling in ages. i watched all the way through to see if you talked about ringu ( that earned my sub ).

    • @staffpickspodcast
      @staffpickspodcast Місяць тому

      @@dareusconover2329 Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

  • @bigmikeallbright
    @bigmikeallbright Місяць тому

    Glad to be a part of the pilot and premier episode of Staff Picks. Give it a whirl and check out TOP Secret!

  • @Dave1991MNPA
    @Dave1991MNPA Місяць тому

    Who knew Canadian horror was a thing?