The Crime Is Up Podcast

After being shot, standup comedian Rufus wakes up to discover that he’s been under the care of the very woman who shot him. But who is this mysterious redheaded siren? Why did she shoot him? And can Rufus trust a single word that comes out of her mouth? Take a listen to find out!
And mix yourself a White Russian because Chris and Will are talking about The Big Lebowski! The Coen Brothers fashioned The Dude as a sort of stoner private detective based in part upon Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. So we’re going to take a look at how El Duderino stacks up as a brother shamus in this story of mistaken identity, kidnapping, and bowling.

Malcolm and Dwight’s respective paths of revenge are about to intersect in the exciting, bloody conclusion of Cut You Down .

Who will be left standing? And can the fledgling family bonds Malcolm has formed with Michael and Mary survive this fight? Take a listen to Episode 08 of The Crime Is Up Podcast to find out!

And for their movie talk, Chris and Will are wrangling their thoughts for a super-sized comparison episode on Cape Fear . There’s the original with eternal good-guy Gregory Peck fighting off a monstrous Robert Mitchum. Plus we have the remake from Martin Scorsese starring Oscar Nominated Robert DeNiro and Nick Nolte!

And they’ll also take the opportunity to discuss John D. MacDonald’s excellent novel The Executioners, upon which both movies are based. They even squeeze in a little talk about The Simpsons spoof episode Cape Feare .

Malcolm puts his new bow and arrows to good use. First on a hunting trip with his son, Michael, and then while tracking a more sinister, deadly prey. One that can shoot back.

A frustrated Dwight raises the price on Malcolm’s head as he tries to run his protection business from a distance. And Mary and Malcolm struggle to navigate their new family dynamic with the specter of Malcolm’s impending revenge hanging over them.

For their movie talk, Chris and Will discuss a soon-to-be-classic: Blue Ruin ! Jeremy Saulnier’s neo-noir film starring Macon Blair deconstructs the revenge genre and produces an engaging, entertaining drama in the process.

Haven’t seen it? Then you should! Seen it already? Well, have a listen cause we have plenty to say about it: what do Rambo III and Home Alone III have in common with Blue Ruin ? Take a listen to find out!

Malcolm gets out of prison after 9 years and doesn’t want anything... except what’s his. The taciturn, hulking ex-con has to decide what shape his revenge is going to take as he tracks down his old flame Mary and finds her living with his ex-partner-in-crime Dwight. The pair have been raising Malcolm’s 9 year old son together; but now he’s out.

And for their movie talk, Chris and Will are giving you the kiss of death! Both versions of Kiss of Death! We have Richard Widmark making his terrifying screen debut in an Oscar Nominated role opposite his “pal” Victor Mature. And then we have the remake of the same name with Nicholas Cage trying to drum up a friendship with the ever-smoldering David Caruso.

Can Pavlov’s principle about salivating dogs possibly apply to people? A crew of thieves down by the Jersey Shore aim to find out as they plot to heist not diamonds or jewels, but a stained glass window.
And after the story, Chris and Will catch each other up on books and movies they’ve been enjoying. We’ve got Jim Thompson’s little read Wild Town, Jeremy Saulnier’s new actioner Rebel Ridge, and ugly Colin Farrell’s brilliant turn in The Penguin. Plus, ever wonder where the term Film Noir came from? Take a listen, as Chris pontificates about his love of the Serie Noire crime fiction books from France.