The Arts Hole

Elvis

Auto-correct's mortal enemy, Baz Luhrmann, directs this biopic of a little-known singer who achieved a small measure of success in the 1950s. Tom Hanks co-stars as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who in reality was neither a Colonel nor Tom Parker.
SHOW NOTES: Elvis' last filmed performance, covering "Unchained Melody."
Big Mama Thornton's original version of "Hound Dog." 
BBC Documentary "The Burger and the King" dealing with Elvis' relationship with food. 
The current whereabouts of Michael Jackson's chimp, Bubbles, who is 39 years of age and enjoys painting and listening to flute music, which sounds weirdly like a Tindr profile.
The always weird photo of that time Elvis turned up at the White House and requested an audience with Nixon. It's fortunate that we have this photo, as between alcohol (Nixon) and prescription drugs (Presley) there's a decent chance that neither man had any idea that this happened: 
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House of the Dragon

We schlep ourselves back to Westeros on a ranging to establish whether Game of Thrones spin-off/prequel "House of the Dragon" is actually worth watching. 
Will King Something-Or-Other pass the throne on to Princess Whatsit? Will evil Lord Hoohah usurp the throne? Is anyone still paying attention to this?! 
 We are, so you don't have to. You're welcome.
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Season 2 Teaser

Back, once again, with the ill behaviour and cutting edge 90s references - it's The Arts Hole Season 2: Holier Than Thou / Back In The Habit / When Nature Calls...
 

The Last Duel (& the last Arts Hole of Season 1)

Ridley Scott's 2021 historical drama was one of the major flops of recent years, with the combined star power of Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck and Jodie Comer not enough to get people interested in the true story of a rape trial from the 1380s. Although it's still better than 'House of Gucci.'
 Content warning for sexual assault.
 
SHOW NOTES:
Republican politicians, literally sharing their gender politics and scientific beliefs with people from the fourteenth century: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/04/todd-akin-dies-514988 
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The Bubble

It affects a lot of people, goes on far longer than you want it to and, whilst there are some good bits, a lot of it isn't great - art imitates life in Judd Apatow's 2021 Covid comedy 'The Bubble.' 
We tested positive on this movie but the second line was very faint...
SHOW NOTES:
*We are both okay and self isolating with a big Asda shop in the freezer so don't worry* 
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Patreon Bonus Episode: Duke Nukem

With the latest in a decades-long series of rumours about a Duke Nukem movie, we discuss whether such an iconic (by which we mean: sexist, ludicrous, embarrassingly dated) character could be made to work in a modern film. Luke has two thirds of an idea, which is as much of an idea as he ever has...
Back next week with something less stupidly macho! 
SHOW NOTES: 
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Willy’s Wonderland

Nicolas Cage silently battles possessed children's characters in an abandoned diner in a film that somehow manages to be boring despite the premise and over-long at eighty-five minutes. Join us as we try to work out how what should have been a surefire classic failed so utterly.
 
SHOW NOTES:
Screen Rant article on Cage's silent character - Like a lot of Screen Rant articles, it's bullshit filler churned out by hacks.
Ash Vs. The Evil Dead, the series this movie wishes it was. 
Once again, the "Community" clip on Nicolas Cage.
Cage's new movie, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" 
Jean Claude Van Johnson series that absolutely should have got a second series. 
 
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The Midwich Cuckoos

 We've all woken up from a blackout with consequences hanging over us, but spare a thought for the women of Midwich, who are all knocked mysteriously unconscious and wake up pregnant.
 John Wyndham's iconic sci-fi story is the basis for its recent third adaptation, now on Sky. We watched the pilot, which if nothing else perfectly captures the feeling of a missing chunk of time in your life that you'll never get back...
EDIT TO ADD: We recorded this before the recent American Supreme Court Decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, back in the days when forced pregnancy was still a creepy, science fiction idea and not a horrifying reality. Solidarity with women in Northern Ireland, Malta, America and anywhere else where they have no right to control their own bodies. 
 
SHOW NOTES: 
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Pride Month Special: In & Out

In this Pride Month Arts Hole special we take a look at the baffling 90s time capsule that is 'In & Out' This comedy - from the creative team that would go on to punish us with the 2006 'Stepford Wives' remake - can't really decide what we're laughing at or where it stands. We're out. 
 
SHOW NOTES: 
Khadija Mbowe's Video Essay "Maybe you should stay in the closet? Coming out re-examined" 
 
Borat 2020 Debutante Ball scene
 
The documentary Luke mentions "Killing Patient Zero"
 
Buzzfeed article about best and worst LGBTQ+ movie representation as voted by LGBTQ+ viewers
 
Jessica Kellgren-Fozard's Youtube channel 
 
Rowan Ellis' Youtube channel 
 
We didn't mention her on the podcast but Contrapoints also talks about media representation on her excellent Youtube channel, primarily about Trans representation. 
 
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The Searchers

We go on an epic, five year quest to find a missing girl. Or at least John Wayne does and this whole film feels like we're tagging along in real time. 
Often cited as John Wayne's finest film, Luke has long argued that John Ford's 1956 western is a rare example of a classic in dire need of a remake. The themes of racism, obsession and madness are buried under layers of folksy nonsense but Bea is on hand to fix the problems and re-structure this into something that could be really compelling. 
A film we can't improve? That'll be the day...
 
SHOW NOTES:
The legendary Leroy Jenkins, patron saint of failed frontal assaults: https://youtu.be/mLyOj_QD4a4 
 
Hank Worden, the cowboy actor who played Mose and whose name Luke couldn't find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Worden 
 
When Bea mentions 'whiteness' as being invented; this brilliant podcast series unpacks the construction of the idea of the 'white race' which is a relatively new idea: 
https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/ 
 
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