Season 8 Premiere - Gang in Blue (1996) 

It’s that time again, a new season is here. Lend us your shitty little ears for the premiere of Season 8: Mario Van Melvin. This exploration of Mario and Melvin Van Peebles will once again find your hosts discussing a range of genres and exploring the myriad sins and shortcomings of Hollywood gatekeeping.

Episode 1 focuses on the lone co-directorial effort from one of cinema’s few father-son directing pairs: Gang in Blue. It’s an ultra-timely story of police brutality and systemic racism, featuring white supremacist antics that look all too familiar in 2020. The boys welcome Danny Benson of the Not So Macho Fans podcast who offers an overview of the elder Van Peebles’ career as well as his thoughts on this intermittently thrilling made-for-tv drama.

Reel Rap Recommends

A.) a film from the same year as the film discussed on mic

B.) a film featuring one of the same actors as the film discussed on mic

C.) a film that’s connected to the film discussed on mic in some other way

A.) Scream (1996, dir. Wes Craven)

It might be my favorite horror movie. You don’t like it? Well I guess you don’t like thrills, spills, and chills. All of the sequels are good too.

B.) Nixon (1995, dir. Oliver Stone) ft. J.T. Walsh

Folks, it’s a goddamned shame that we’re being subjected to Adam McKay’s bullshit while Oliver Stone is still with us. Nixon is one of those three-hour-plus movies that I could watch every day.

C.) The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, dir. Martin Scorsese) ft. a reference to Grenada

One of the lawyers prosecuting Jordan Belfort refers to him as “a Grenada.” He means that Belfort doesn’t stand a chance in court. The same actor shows up in The Irishman and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Besides maybe the guy from Burn Notice, I don’t think there’s ever been someone with a more insufferable face. In WoWS, it’s nearly (but not quite) enough to make you root for Belfort.

Annotations and Apologies

Eternal apologies to Danny for getting the name of his podcast wrong.

Bennett used the term “neck-bearded” to describe the roving bands of white trash who “defended” Fishtown back in June. This was not only inaccurate, but completely insulting to all of the fine neck-bearded people in Philadelphia and across this country.

Meanwhile . . .

On the latest Patreon-exclusive episode, the boys discuss Kelly Reichardt’s 2013 masterpiece Night Moves.

Give the Gift of Reel Rap

Why not share Reel Rap with the Reelheads in your life?

Become a Reelhead

What are you waiting for?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reelrap.substack.com