Toys

March 05, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

In this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watch “Toys,” a largely-forgotten fantasy-comedy film from director Barry Levinson. Despite its myriad flaws, the boys have a productive conversation about the film’s obvious themes — the military-industrial complex and the rise of remote and drone warfare — and its less obvious themes, specifically the bourgeois vision of family capitalism and industrial harmony at the heart of the film.

“Toys” is virtually impossible to watch if you don’t have a physical disc, but there is a low-quality version available to stream here.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

The Human Factor (PATREON PREVIEW)

February 18, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

We are concluding our Graham Greene series with an obscure spy drama from director Otto Preminger, the 1979 film "The Human Factor." It is of a piece with "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and to that point, Jamelle and John spend this episode discussing the connections between the two works and the similarities (and differences) between how Le Carre and Greene view betrayal and deception.

"The Human Factor" is pretty good — Preminger was a master — so we both recommend that you check it out. It's available to view for rent on iTunes and Amazon Prime.

To hear the full episode, subscribe to the Unclear and Present Patreon and get access to our show on the films (and television) of the Cold War, as well a monthly entry into a movie raffle, and whatever else we can think of.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

The Rocketeer

February 18, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

In this week’s episode, Jamelle and John watch Disney’s “The Rocketeer,” a throwback action-adventure film starring Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Sorvino and Timothy Dalton. They discuss the 1930s revival of the late 80s and early 90s, the real-life conspiracies that might have inspired the plot of “The Rocketeer,” and the political power of nostalgia for Americans on the left and the right.

Episodes come out every other Friday, so we’ll see you two weeks from now with the 1992 film “Toys”" directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robin Williams. “Toys”" is basically impossible to find, so don’t worry about watching this one!

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

Without Warning

February 03, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

In this week’s episode, Jamelle and John discuss “Without Warning,” a made-for-television science fiction film from 1994, produced as if it were an actual breaking news event, with “reports” from on-the-ground correspondents from around the world. They discuss the inspiration for this “docudrama” genre as well as the general wave of “asteroid attack” films in the 1990s. They also talk the psychology behind the idea that a global disaster would bring humanity together (under American leadership, of course).

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

We’ll see you in two weeks with “The Rocketeer,” a science-fiction adventure film from 1991, directed by Joe Johnston and starring Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connelly. It’s available to rent on Amazon and iTunes and available on Disney Plus.

Surviving the Game (feat. Gillet Rosenblith)

January 21, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

This week, Jamelle and John are joined by historian Gillet Rosenblith to discuss the 1994 action thriller “Surviving the Game,” a loose adaptation of “The Most Dangerous Game” and a glimpse into anxieties and fears regarding poverty, homelessness and urban decay in the 1990s. They also discuss other, similar films of the era, like John Woo’s “Hard Target,” and they discuss further what distinguishes the action movies of the 1990s from their predecessors in the 70s and 80s.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

The Puppet Masters

January 08, 2023 by Jamelle Bouie

Happy New Year! In this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, we watch “The Puppet Masters,” an adaptation of a 1951 Robert Heinlein novel that feels lost an aimless in the absence of the original Cold War context. Jamelle and John discuss, among other things, the “Body Snatcher” genre, science fiction as a vehicle for allegory, and the war on drugs.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

Blown Away (feat. Clare Malone)

December 24, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

What do you get when you mix Boston, bad accents and a lot of explosions? The 1994 thriller “Blown Away” starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones! Jamelle and John are joined by Clare Malone of The New Yorker to talk Irish-American identity, Irish nationalism, the racial politics of Boston and much, much more.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

The Third Man (PATREON PREVIEW)

December 16, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Hello listeners! This on the Patreon week we continued our journey into the work of Graham Greene and Carol Reed with the 1949 British noir “The Third Man.” It suffices to say that this is one of the most famous and acclaimed movies of all time, so Jamelle and John had a lot to say about its production, its writing and its themes. They also spoke a great deal about Orson Welles, the politics of postwar Europe, existentialism, and the career of star Joseph Cotten.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

To hear the full episode, subscribe to the Unclear and Present Patreon and get access to our show on the films (and television) of the Cold War, as well special mailbag episodes, monthly entry into a movie raffle, and whatever else we can think of.

On Deadly Ground

December 09, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

In this week’s episode, Jamelle and John scrape the bottom of the cinematic barrel with the 1994 environmentalist action flick, “On Deadly Ground,” directed by and starring Steven Seagall. It’s not a good movie, but they had a good conversation covering Seagall’s political trajectory, right-wing misogyny, and the psychological origins of authoritarian politics.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

Links from the episode!

Our Man in Havana (PATREON PREVIEW)

December 01, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

For this week’s Patreon episode, Jamelle and John cover the 1959 film “Our Man in Havana,” an adaptation of a 1958 Graham Greene novel by the same name. We talk Graham Greene, director Carol Reed, and Alec Guinness, the star, as well as esoteric topics like motivated reasoning, the nature of intelligence work, and the power and peril of propaganda. We also, as always, looked at the news for the day the film was released, December 30, 1959.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

The Pelican Brief (feat. Jay Willis)

November 24, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

In this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle, John and special guest Jay Willis of Balls and Strikes discuss the 1993 adaptation of John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief,” and ask whether anything about the movie’s plot actually makes any sense. They also discuss the early days of the conservative legal movement, the political hegemony of capital, and Stanley Tucci.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more. Last week, we covered the 1979 BBC adaptation of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”

Links from the episode!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (PATREON PREVIEW)

November 18, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

We have another Patreon episode for you and this week, it’s a John favorite: the 1979 BBC adaptation of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” We go deep into the character of George Smiley, John le Carre’s critique of the British ruling class, and the idea of national “decadence.” Jamelle also spends a little time talking about the American constitutional system, so it’s basically an episode where everyone is on brand.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

The Fugitive (feat. Michael Liroff)

November 10, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Jamelle and John are joined by Michael Liroff of the Five Four podcast to discuss “The Fugitive,” a masterpiece of Dad cinema. They talk the liberal politics of the 1990s, the surprisingly nuanced racial politics of the film, and complain, as always, that they just don’t make them like this anymore.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

And join the Unclear and Present Patreon! For just $5 a month, patrons get access to a bonus show on the films of the Cold War, and much, much more.

Links from the episode!

The Hunt for Red October (Take Two)

October 30, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Episode 26 — The Hunt for Red October

In this one year anniversary episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John return to the film that started it all, “The Hunt for Red October.” They discuss the film as an elegy for the Cold War era, and further explore the dilemma of American power and identity in the post-Soviet world.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!

New York Times front-page for March 2, 1990

The Firm

October 16, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

In this episode of Unclear and Present Danger, John and Jamelle discuss the 1993 John Grisham film adaptation “The Firm.” They use the genre of the legal thriller to discuss the legalization of American life in the 1990s and the turn from politics in crucible of history to management at its putative end. They also talk about Wilford Brimley, so there’s that too.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!

Next time on Unclear and Present Danger…Jamelle and John return to “The Hunt for Red October.”

Passenger 57 (feat. Amanda Smith)

October 03, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

In this episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John are joined by Amanda Smith of the Disaster Girls podcast to discuss the Wesley Snipes vehicle “Passenger 57,” which features an extremely charismatic Snipes facing off against an off-band Hannibal Lecter and also, casual racism.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

• UnclearPod

• John Ganz

• Jamelle Bouie

• Amanda Smith

Links from the episode!

• New York Times front-page for November 6, 1992

• Interview with Stewart Raffill, one of the writers for Passenger 57

• Disaster Girls podcast

White Sands

September 20, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Somehow, a crime thriller starring Willem Dafoe, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Mickey Rourke set in the New Mexico desert isn’t especially good. Still, the 1992 film “White Sands” gave Jamelle and John a little bit to discuss for this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!

New York Times front-page for April 24, 1992

Deep Cover (feat. Adam Serwer)

September 02, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Jamelle, John and special guest Adam Serwer of The Atlantic watch one of the great crime movies of the 1990s — Bill Duke’s “Deep Cover” — and talk about post-Cold War anxiety over the drug trade, Black “tough on crime” politics, and the war on drugs.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!

New York Times front-page for April 15, 1992
James Forman’s book on the Black politics of the early 1990s, “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.”
“THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Candidates' Records; Four Years of Bush’s Drug War: New Funds but an Old Strategy”

Die Hard 2: Die Harder

August 20, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

Welcome to episode 22 of Unclear and Present Danger. This week, we watched “Die Hard 2: Die Harder,” the sequel — of course — to “Die Hard.” In this conversation, Jamelle and John talk the 1990s panic over violence in pop culture, the working-class qualities of John McClane, and the lost days of American suspicion of, even hostility to, the military.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!

The New York Times front page for July 4, 1990

Rising Sun

August 06, 2022 by Jamelle Bouie

On episode 21 of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John discuss the horrifically problematic 1993 thriller “Rising Sun” starring Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery. It’s lurid, salacious and incredibly racist, which makes it fertile ground for a discussion of the anti-Japanese panic of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additional topics include Wesley Snipes' career, Michael Crighton’s whole deal, and the question of whether it is even possible to forge a unifying national narrative.

Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.

Links from the episode!