Unsung Cinematics

16/12/2025

Out of the normal and into the paranormal in this 2011 supernatural murder mystery by Francis Ford Coppola. Twixt now rebranded as B’Twixt Now and Sunrise which was recut as the ‘Authentic Cut’ in 2022. Will his changes make a difference in this box office flop? Big guns were brought on board for this film. Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Ben Chaplin in their respected rolls as author, Edgar Allan Poe, the animated sheriff and the vampire/ghoulish girl.

Hall Baltimore writes books about witch hunting and is in a slump so he travels to a small US town for a book signing in the hopes are reinvigorating himself.

Nobody knows who he is except the sheriff who hopes that his latest idea is suitable for Baltimore’s latest book. He tells a twisted tale about the murder of kids, vampires across the lake, and a ghost that haunts the town to this day. Will Hall Baltimore and Sheriff Bobby LaGrange solve this mystery and get the book written? Baltimore gets a little help along the way from a mysterious 13 year old girl and the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe who appears in his dreams.

This film bombed at the box office, but was also trashed by critics and the average movie goer alike. Stewart, Rastislav and Ken take a deep dive into the film and uncover some of the symbolism but also criticize the plot which didn’t make much sense. Even with the big name actors and the comical moments, it seems this is a ghastly tale indeed.

Written and Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and shot mostly at his own estate. Based on some of real events of Coppola’s life.

Film Rating: R for Graphic Scenes and Blood

Will this re-cut of this box office bomb do the film justice?

26/11/2025

After some downtime Stewart, Rastislav and Ken make their return for Off The Record number 6 of 2025. Kens feature pick is Rampage from 1987 Directed by William Friedkin and starring Michael Biehn. A mostly sombre film about the vampire killer Richard Chase and what the experience was like in the courtroom for the jurors. Even though this was a serious film, Ken recounts a few memorable and funny moments and is on his recommended list.

Stewart’s greater pick Friendship from 2024 is a story about two neighbours who become great friends, but through the struggles of everyday life have a falling out because the main character is a bit of a born loser. Andrew DeYoung take this classic tale and puts a modern twist on it. The main character played by Tim Robinson is very good in his role.

Rasto decides to go the documentary route this time with his 2022 pick called Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, which explores the life and times of this pioneer of jazz. Directed by Sacha Jenkens using actual footage of Louis Armstrong. Rasto was very pleased with this film and the controversy surrounding Louis Armstrong at the time.

We slide back to Ken for another semi-court room drama called Juror No. 2 directed by Clint Eastwood in 2024. Ken was somewhat impressed but also let down at a key moment in the film. Nicholas Hoult stars in the film, And Ken decides this film is worth a better score than our recent review of Cry Macho.

After all these serious picks, Stewart from out in left field brings us his tale of the Toxic Avenger from 1984, which in all manor of speaking is a B Movie done so wrong, that it turns out alright! Tons of gore, red ketchup and brutal scenes, not for the faint of heart. Directed by Michael Herz starring Mitch Cohen. This bad boy falls under the classic Troma over the top film. As the name says a nerdy janitor turns into a toxic vigilante after falling into some toxic waste. You can watch the kill count on Youtube if you are brave enough.

Rasto brings us back to reality with Three Pines from 2022 which he still gave a half descent score. Created by Emilia di Girolamo and starring Alfred Molina. This is a Canadian Film, from Montreal that explores the life of a small towns sins and how the residents navigate each others crimes while still trying to remain neighbours.

There is one other ‘Meh’ film that Rasto brought to our attention and that is sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe from 2024 which was in his opinion just meh....

Serial Killer, Vampire Killer and Toxic Killer

20/11/2025

After what seems like a long downtime we will be recording Off The Record this weekend. Pray it goes well for us at the new location!

07/10/2025

Our next episode won't be released till November due to the physical move of the studio equipment. Thank You.

26/09/2025

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to review Clint Eastwood’s 2021 neo-western Cry Macho. This film had a lengthy development journey; the late N. Richard Nash originally intended this as a screenplay, but retooled it into a novel published in 1975. There were several attempts to bring it to the screen with potential leading men such as Eastwood, Robert Mitchum, Roy Scheider and even Arnold Schwarzenegger! It was finally realized with Eastwood pulling double duty in the lead role and in the director’s chair.

Mike Milo is a retired rodeo and ranch hand who was fired by his old boss and ranch owner for what appears as Mike ‘being too old’. A year later he is approached by his old boss to journey into Mexico to retrieve the ranch owners son from his delinquent mother and bring him back to the US. Along the way they meet some interesting people and create a bond with each other and the boys rooster named ‘Macho’.

Stewart enjoyed the easygoing wholesomeness of this film, but Rastislav and Ken felt the story and character development were half-baked in comparison to other Eastwood films such as Unforgiven and Gran Torino. They all appreciated the cinematography, music and production design.

There were other bright spots including some of the incidental characters (to Rastislav’s amusement) and the song “Find a New Home” written by the film’s composer Mark Mancina and performed by Will Bannister.

Written by Nick Schenk and N. Richard Nash (based on Nash’s novel) and directed by Clint Eastwood. Starring Eastwood as Mike, Eduardo Minett as Rafo, Dwight Yoakam as Howard, Natalia Traven as Marta and Fernanda Urrejola as Leta.

The final film of Clint Eastwood?

26/08/2025

Stewart, Rastislav and Ken return for Off the Record, and speak on the memory of Ozzy Osbourne. Ken begins with a glowing review of 2020’s Rockfield: the Studio on the Farm; Ozzy, Tony Iommi and many others were interviewed for this documentary on the studio built by Charles and Kingsley Ward. The Welsh farming brothers provided the backdrop for Black Sabbath and other UK bands to create enduring pop and rock classics, and have weathered industry changes to continue operating.

Stewart continues with a review of the 2023 sci fi thriller Simulant, a low budget affair that nevertheless utilized its actors and story to impress Stewart; he favourably compares this film to Blade Runner. Robbie Amell, Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu and Sam Worthington headline.

Rastislav then brings more UK praise with his review of the Ricky Gervais series After Life (2019-2022). He enjoyed Gervais’ abrasive, uncompromising humour and observations of human nature.

Moving to lesser picks, Ken reviews an early Mike Flanagan effort called Absentia (2011). While he found value in the character development between actors Katie Parker and Courtney Bell, he feels the low budget prevented Flanagan from creating a film with the intensity of his later releases.

Stewart then expands on his Dead Like Me series review to administer last rites to its 2009 sequel movie Life After Death. Actors Ellen Muth and Callum Blue couldn’t enliven this finale to Stewart’s satisfaction.

Rastislav concludes with his analysis of the recent Netflix sensation You (2018-2025), starring Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti and others. He felt the change in story backdrops kept the series from being consistently entertaining.

Rock Hard and Die Hard

18/07/2025

Dead Like Me Review (Posted by Stewart Rathje)

Check it out over on Substack!

https://unsungcinematics.substack.com/p/dead-like-me-2003-2004

09/07/2025

'If ye scurvy landlubbers decide to visit the savage islands of the South Pacific, Nate and Hayes are the best guides you could have. Arrr!'

This 1983 film bombed big in the box office, and bombed big with Siskel and Ebert! Nate and Hayes is based on the two real life characters Captain Bully Hayes and Ben Pease. Nate being the missionary type and Hayes being the rapscallion he is. Both team up to save Nate's wife who was kidnapped by the Pirate Ben Pease. They get into trouble, chase after what seems to be turn of the century warships, to get the lady back.

The film features plenty of would be jokes, although some seemingly timed poorly. Ken picked the film for review as it is our first swashbuckler review that he saw when he was 10. Rasto had some choice words to say about the film, and Stewart seemingly enjoyed what he deemed as 'Indiana Hayes and the Grumpy Fisherman.' The film had some suspicious elements that are seen in another Indiana Jones film, and also the modern Pirates of the Caribbean.

Written by the two famous writers Lloyd Phillips and John Hughes and directed by Ferdinand Fairfax. Starring Tommy Lee Jones as Bully Hayes, Michael O'Keefe as Nate, Max Phipps as Ben Pease and Jenny Seagrove as Sophie.

You can listen to the full episode and read the full episode guide on Substack.

https://unsungcinematics.substack.com/p/nate-and-hayes-1983

17/06/2025

In this edition of Off the Record Rastislav Miklos and Stewart Rathje take a look at films we watched recently. Unfortunately Ken was not able to make it this time.

Rasto enlightens us with his TV series that ran from 2016 to 2021. Rasto believes that four seasons is the perfect amount of time before a series goes stale. Billy Bob Thornton plays a disgraced lawyer, and ambulance chaser mixed with his keen cleverness.

Stewart then gives his take on the 1988 film The Couch Trip, featuring an escaped mental patient and convict played by Dan Aykroyd. This Crimedy didn’t deserve the ratings it did, and is full of laughs. Dan Aykroyds sidekick is played by Walter Matthau.

Rasto continues on the True Crime kick with the TV series Bosch from 2014 to 2021 but only managed to watch 2 seasons. The series continues to confuse Rasto on how they came up with the name of the show. He believes it was based on the famous painter from the 16th century, Hieronymus Bosch.

And finally Stewart’s lesser pick The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee from 2020 is parody of a film that pokes fun at retired actors and the high jinx they can get into. Featuring Paul Hogan as the main character, but graced with many cameo appearances from other actors such as Chevy Chase and John Cleese.

Get Your Fix of True Crime and True Crimedy

22/05/2025

Mother! from 2017 is not a typical movie you would show to your mother or father as the screenplay was written in just 5 days. The viewers were divided down the middle on ratings and it was considered a controversial film. Filled with religious symbolism that was loosely based on key moments of the old and new testament scriptures. Whether you consider this film good or bad, it will certainly will force you to dig deeper into it.

Written and Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence as the mother, Javier Bardem as Him, Ed Harris as Man (Adam), and Michelle Pfeiffer as Woman (Eve).

An Art Film filled with Symbolism

21/05/2025

https://substack.com//note/c-119028556?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=5jxcnj

Great actor, best remembered from Cheers