S2 Ep29: Pop Screen: Moonwalker (with Archaeon)

08/05/21 • 86 min

Could the King of Pop have become the King of Cinema? Not, perhaps, on the evidence of 1988's Moonwalker, a curious, personal but deeply overbudgeted melange of music videos, live performance, claymation and a bewildering plot-line where Jackson fights back against Joe Pesci's not exactly Scorsese-worthy drug dealer by turning into a car. Critics at the time found it bizarre, self-indulgent and incoherent, and while that's not exactly wrong, its frequent songs and dance routines do remind you what an extraordinary performer Jackson was.
This week on Pop Screen, lifelong MJ fan Archaeon joins us to discuss the album - Bad - that the film was designed to promote, argue that the Smooth Criminal video is a dark-horse candidate for Jackson's best ever, and try to work out what the hell Pesci's haircut is. Other topics of discussion include possible inspirations for Spike the Rabbit, the tragic history of the Noid, the very '80s child performances and the status of Pesci's character as a back-handed 'tribute' to Jackson's then-manager Frank DiLeo.
If this podcast gave you fever like you've never, ever known, you may be interested to know you can get a bonus episode every month by donating to our Patreon, which also gives you access to our other movie podcast Director's Lottery, Graham's Doctor Who reviews, and more. Check out our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on what we've got coming up.
#popscreen #moviereview #moonwalker #michaeljackson #joepesci #1980s #claymation #noid #smoothcriminal

Previous Episode

S2 Ep28: Pop Screen: Catch Us If You Can (with Mark Cunliffe)

The director of Deliverance made a film starring the Dave Clark Five? It happened! This week, We Are Cult's Mark Cunliffe rejoins the podcast to talk about John Boorman's very uncharacteristic debut Catch Us If You Can, starring Clark as a stuntman who goes on the run with Barbara Ferris's frustrated advertising spokeswoman. Made in the shadow of A Hard Day's Night, its unsettling satire on the PR industry and strikingly direct drug references make it a precursor to the more pessimistic counterculture cinema that would emerge later in the 1960s.
Aside from discussing this prescient, underseen gem, we also talk about the Dave Clark Five's music, and how they went from being rivals to the Beatles to their current place in the popular memory. There's also space to consider the great career of John Boorman, and recommend his excellent autobiography (which contains the best Lew Grade anecdote you'll ever hear). Other burning issues include the cross-generational appeal of Yootha Joyce, the problematic wigs of Boorman's latest film Queen & Country, and whether or not Ronald Lacey ever looked young.
If you enjoyed this podcast and don't want to see us reduced to advertising Ian Meat's wares, donate to our Patreon for a monthly bonus episode, a whole extra film podcast - Director's Lottery - and much more. Stay informed about what we're doing next by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#popscreen #moviereview #catchusifyoucan #daveclarkfive #1960s #yoothajoyce #ronaldlacey #johnboorman #roadmovies #rockandroll

Next Episode

S2 Ep30: Pop Screen: Love & Mercy (with Ewan Gleadow)

A biopic of Brian Wilson had been mooted ever since the late 1980s, but it wasn't until 2014 that Bill Pohlad's Love & Mercy was released, with its bold time-hopping structure that allowed both Paul Dano and John Cusack to play the Beach Boys' chief songwriter. The former played Wilson as he recorded Pet Sounds and his legendary unrealised Smile project, the latter played him as he struggled to escape the control of his abusive quack therapist Eugene Landy. It sounds a bit heavy - and it is - but the soundtrack is full of the most beautiful music ever made.
On this week's episode of Pop Screen, Graham is joined by fellow Beach Boys fan Ewan to discuss the film and its clutch of impressive performances, including Bill Camp, Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti as the monstrous Landy. We also discuss the strange circumstances which led to Pet Sounds becoming the definitive Beach Boys album despite having almost no band members play instruments on it, what the best Beach Boys song is, and why Graham's answer to that question is the correct one.
Over and over the crow cries uncover our Patreon, where you'll get a monthly bonus episode of this show - this month's involves Louis Theroux! - as well as access to our other movie podcast Director's Lottery, Graham's Doctor Who reviews and more. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to find out more about our new shows, videos and articles.
#popscreen #moviereview #loveandmercy #thebeachboys #brianwilson #pauldano #billpohlad #johncusack #elizabethbanks #paulgiamatti #billcamp #biopic #petsounds