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Published by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth
Two crime-fiction authors. All of cinema and TV. One case to crack. Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth investigate the films and television shows that shape pop culture — from beloved classics and hidden gems to blockbusters, disasters and everything in between. Expect strong opinions, surprising connections, behind-the-scenes stories and arguments that occasionally require further investigation. The evidence is gathered. The suspects are interrogated. The verdict is yours.
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NETFLIX's The Rip (2026), starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and directed by Joe Carnahan, raises the question: has the era of prestige filmmaking left Netflix? In this episode, we look at The Rip and how Netflix’s increasingly familiar style of spoon-fed storytelling is responsible for dumbing down movies and shows. We also ask why Netflix keeps avoiding theatrical releases and whether The Rip would have been better served on the BIG SCREEN. We are joined by returning guest Cinema Sleuth, author/podcaster Steve Hunt, host of The Boxing Movie Podcast and Desert Island Fights. CASE FILE: THE RIP (2026) Directed by: Joe Carnahan Written by: Joe Carnahan Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Luciana Barroso, Dani Bernfeld Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
Is Lanterns actually one of DC’s strongest new shows, or is the internet reacting to another divisive addition to the DC Universe? The investigation is on! Lanterns is the latest WB/DC outing to ignite a fierce debate among fans. Some viewers love the new HBO Max show, while others have been deeply unimpressed. But does Lanterns really deserve the backlash — or has online fan discourse gone too far? In this episode of Cinema Sleuths, we investigate Lanterns, the new DC series created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King. We look at what the show gets right in the pilot and whether the criticism surrounding Lanterns is justified CASE FILE: LANTERNS - PILOT (2026) Created by: Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King Starring: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre and Kelly Macdonald Genre: DC / Superhero / Mystery / Drama Streaming on: HBO Max Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) is widely regarded as one of the classic film noirs — but does this celebrated adaptation of James M. Cain’s iconic hard-boiled novel still deserve its reputation? In this episode of Cinema Sleuths, we put The Postman Always Rings Twice to the test. We investigate Tay Garnett’s 1946 film and what made it a landmark of classic Hollywood and film noir. Starring Lana Turner, John Garfield and Cecil Kellaway, The Postman Always Rings Twice is one of the defining examples of classic film noir. Based on James M. Cain’s influential novel, the film has remained a touchstone for crime cinema and hard-boiled storytelling for decades. But how good is it really? Joining us for this investigation is thriller author Regan MacArther, writer of the John Lash series. CASE FILE: THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946) Starring: Lana Turner, John Garfield and Cecil Kellaway Written by: Harry Ruskin and Niven Busch Based on the novel by: James M. Cain Directed by: Tay Garnett Genre: Film Noir / Crime / Thriller / Classic Hollywood CREDITS Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER: All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.
Cowabunga! Cinema Sleuths investigates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), the darker, grittier big-screen adaptation that arrived at the height of Turtle-Mania. But was this the perfect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie — or did audiences expecting the cartoon get something very different? Released in 1990 after the phenomenal success of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series and the explosion in TMNT toy sales, Steve Barron’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brought Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael to the big screen. But this wasn’t quite the colourful children’s adventure many fans expected. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, was a much darker, stranger and more satirical creation. So when the 1990 film arrived, it drew heavily from that original comic — with a grittier tone, more serious characters and considerably more ninjas, crime and violence than the cartoon. In this episode, we investigate whether Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) was actually the perfect adaptation of the original TMNT comics. Did the filmmakers successfully balance the darker source material with the family-friendly popularity of the cartoon? And did audiences misunderstand the movie because they were expecting something else? We look at the film’s production, its relationship with the original Mirage Comics, the influence of the 1987 animated series, the performances, practical effects, action sequences and the surprisingly faithful approach to the source material. Joining us for this investigation is returning cinema sleuth, actor and Youtuber Julian De Backer. CASE FILE: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990) Directed by: Steve Barron Written by: Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck Based on the comic book created by: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Starring: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Josh Pais, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, Brian Tochi, James Saito, David McCharen, Michelan Sisti, Leif Tilden and David Forman Genre: Action / Comedy / Superhero / Comic Book / Family Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
THWIP! The summer blockbuster has swung into town — and it’s a giant Spider-Man-sized case for Cinema Sleuths. Has Marvel finally moved on from Iron Man Jr and delivered a great Spider-Man movie again? Does Spider-Man: Brand New Day capture what makes the character so special? And can this new chapter give Peter Parker the fresh start that the title promises? That's what we want to know. In this episode, we review and investigate Spider-Man Brand New Day, how it juggles the inclusion of Frank Castle (AKA The Punisher), who Sadie Sink is playing, and how the film embraces the street-level side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We ask whether this is a genuine return to form for Spider-Man, whether our expectations were met or not, and if Sink's mysterious characters was the right choice. CASE FILE: SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton Written by: Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink and Jon Bernthal Genre: Superhero / Action / Marvel / Science Fiction Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
The Devil of Hell's Kitchen and The Punisher are BACK! And with them, Marvel's TV-MA violence! Has Marvel finally rediscovered what made these characters work? In this episode of Cinema Sleuths, we return to the darker side of the MCU to investigate Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again and Punisher: One Last Kill. We look at the return of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, the show’s TV-MA violence, the performances, storylines, action and darker tone. Has Marvel successfully recaptured the spirit of the original Daredevil and The Punisher series? And what does the return of these characters mean for the future of the MCU? We also speculate about Daredevil and the Punisher’s potential involvement in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and what their presence could mean for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Be warned: spoilers abound. CASE FILE: DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN S2 & PUNISHER ONE LAST KILL Daredevil: Born Again — Starring: Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Wilson Bethe The Punisher: One Last Kill — Starring: Jon Bernthal and Judith Ligh Genre: Marvel / Superhero / Action / Crime / TV-MA Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
Dead or alive, you're coming with us. Why is RoboCop an unbeatable masterpiece? With two sequels, various TV series, and one big-screen reboot, Verhoeven's original remains unbeaten! Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop is remembered as one of the great action films of the 1980s — but beneath the blood, guts, and violence lies something far more subversive than your standard Canon flick. In this episode of Cinema Sleuths, we investigate Verhoeven's 1987 classic, exploring its savage satire of corporate America, privatisation, consumer culture, sensationalist news and a society increasingly obsessed with violence and entertainment, with special guest Skye, co-host and co-creator of FILM 89 CASE FILE: ROBOCOP (1987) Directed by: Paul Verhoeven Written by: Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner Starring: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Ferrer and Dan O’Herlihy Genre: Action / Science Fiction / Satire / Crime Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
The game is afoot! Between 2009 and 2012, Sherlock Holmes was everywhere. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law brought the world’s most famous detective to the big screen in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), while the BBC’s hugely successful Sherlock brought Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to television under the direction of creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. For a few extraordinary years, Sherlock Holmes had become a global phenomenon all over again. Then, seemingly overnight, Sherlock Mania disappeared. In this episode of Cinema Sleuths, we investigate the strange era when two wildly different Sherlock Holmes franchises became mega-hits at almost exactly the same time. We look at why audiences suddenly couldn’t get enough of Holmes and Watson, what made Guy Ritchie’s action-packed interpretation so successful, and why the BBC’s modern-day Sherlock became one of television’s biggest shows. But what happened? Why did both franchises lose momentum? Why did the Sherlock Holmes phenomenon seemingly collapse after dominating popular culture? And why has Hollywood and television struggled to recreate that same level of excitement around the world’s most famous detective? We're joined by Dr Mark Jones from the podcast Doings of Doyle and Sherlockian expert and BSI member Monica Schmidt. CASE FILE: SHERLOCK MANIA — THE GREAT HOLMES BOOM Sherlock Holmes (2009) Directed by: Guy Ritchie Starring: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law Sherlock (BBC) Created by: Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman Based on the stories by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Genre: Mystery / Detective / Crime / Thriller DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Use / Fair Dealing. No copyright infringement is intended.*
This week on Cinema Sleuths, we investigate the big movies that kicked off the summer movie season! We are looking at three major releases that arrived with very different expectations: Supergirl, Toy Story 5 and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day. We investigate Supergirl (2026), starring Milly Alcock, and ask whether DC has found the right formula for its next generation of superhero movies. Does Alcock’s Supergirl have what it takes to make the character a major cinematic star? After four hugely successful films, does Pixar still have something worthwhile to say with another Toy Story sequel — or is this a case of a franchise that should have been left alone? And then there’s Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day. With one of Hollywood’s greatest filmmakers returning to the big screen with a mysterious new sci-fi blockbuster, did Spielberg deliver another cinematic event or did it leave us longing to watch his older films? CASE FILE: SUPERGIRL (2026) Directed by: Craig Gillespie Written by: Ana Nogueira Starring: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, Jason Momoa and more Genre: Superhero / Action / Science Fiction CASE FILE: TOY STORY 5 (2026) Directed by: Andrew Stanton Written by: Andrew Stanton and others Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and more Genre: Animation / Comedy / Adventure / Family CASE FILE: DISCLOSURE DAY (2026) Directed by: Steven Spielberg Written by: David Koepp Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and more Genre: Science Fiction / Thriller / Drama Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
Did Robert Altman misunderstand Chandler's iconic detective? Or did he create one of the most fascinating reinventions of the noir detective story? Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth investigate Altman's The Long Goodbye, exploring Elliott Gould's brilliantly unconventional Marlowe! CASE FILE: THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) Starring: Elliot Gould, Nina van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden, and Mark Rydell Written by Leigh Brackett Based on the novel: THE LONG GOOBYE by Raymond Chandler Directed by Robert Altman CREDITS Find Maxim's book here: https://maximjakubowski.co.uk/ Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER: All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.
This week, WE GO APE with Cinema Misfires! Cinema Sleuths looks back at 25 years of Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes (2001) — the ambitious remake that arrived with a huge cast, a huge budget and one very complicated journey to the big screen. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan and Paul Giamatti, Burton’s Planet of the Apes remains one of the most fascinating blockbuster misfires of the early 2000s. But was the film really as bad as its reputation suggests? In this episode, we investigate the troubled road to Planet of the Apes, exploring the many attempts to revive the classic science-fiction franchise before Tim Burton finally took the reins. We look at the discarded sequel ideas, changing scripts, competing visions and behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the movie we eventually got. We also ask a much bigger question: does Planet of the Apes actually feel like a Tim Burton movie? From the striking production design and Rick Baker’s acclaimed ape makeup to Danny Elfman’s score, Tim Roth’s performance as General Thade and Mark Wahlberg’s unlikely journey through the ape world, we examine what works, what doesn’t and whether this controversial remake deserves a second look 25 years later. The case is open. Let’s go ape. CASE FILE: PLANET OF THE APES (2001) Directed by: Tim Burton Written by: William Broyles Jr., Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal Based on the novel La Planète des singes by: Pierre Boulle Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kris Kristofferson, Estella Warren and Paul Giamatti Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Adventure / Thriller CINEMA SLEUTHS IS PRODUCED BY Luke DECKARD and Matthew BOOTHE Edited by Luke Deckard Theme Music by Luke Deckard Logo and Thumbnails by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
HULKS SMASH! Two Hulks enter. Only one can claim the verdict. In this special Battle of the Big Screen Hulks , Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth put Ang Lee's Hulk (2003) head-to-head with Marvel's The Incredible Hulk (2008), with special guest Neil Vagg, the creator of the popular entertainment website GET YOUR COMIC ON. This is one investigation to rage about! HULK (2003) Dir Ang Lee Written by John Turman, Michael France and James Schamus Starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Same Elliot, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008) Dir Louis Leterrier Written by Zak Penn Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, and Tim Blake Nelson. DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
Before Heat, The Insider and Collateral, Michael Mann made his feature-film debut with Thief — a cool, hard-edged crime thriller starring James Caan as Frank, a professional safecracker determined to pull off one last big score and walk away. But is Thief simply an early Michael Mann experiment, or the blueprint for the crime films that would define his career? CASE FILE: THIEF (1981) Director: Michael Mann. Starring: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Robert Prosky, Willie Nelson, and James Belushi. Written by Michael Mann Cinema Sleuths is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
Ryan Coogler's Sinners has blood, blues, vampires and plenty to sink your teeth into — but did the film really breathe new life into the vampire genre? We are going to find out! Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth investigate Coogler's bold supernatural thriller, examining its blend of horror, history, music and myth, and asking whether Sinners deserves to join the ranks of the great vampire movies. CASE FILE: SINNERS (2025) Director Ryan Coogler. Starring Michael B Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wumi Mosaku, Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Thomas Pang, Jack O'Connell and Buddy Guy. Written by: Ryan Coogler DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... things weren't exactly as we remember them." In Part 3 of our three-part investigation (STAR WARS: A TRILOGY OF RETCONS), we’re looking at the film that started it all: RETURN OF THE JEDI, directed by Richard Marquand. Written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasden. Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and James Earl Jones. Join us with special guest Phil Dragash as we deep-dive into the story, the performances of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, and the retcons that affected Return of the Jedi before and after the first reel even hit theatres. CASE FILE: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) Directed by: Richard Marquand Written by: Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas Story by: George Lucas Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid and David Prowse Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Adventure / Fantasy DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... things weren't exactly as we remember them." In Part 2 of our three-part investigation (STAR WARS: A TRILOGY OF RETCONS), we’re looking at the film with cinema's most iconic retcon: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, directed by Irvin Kershner, written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, with a story by George Lucas. Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and James Earl Jones. Join us with special guest Sergio Angelini from Tipping My Fedora, as we deep-dive into the story, the performances and the retcons that affected the STAR WARS trilogy before, after, and during its release. CASE FILE: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) Directed by: Irvin Kershner Written by: Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan Story by: George Lucas Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Adventure / Fantasy DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... things weren't exactly as we remember them." May the Fourth be with you! To celebrate, Cinema Sleuths is opening the case files on the trilogy that changed cinema. In Part 1 of our three-part investigation (STAR WARS: A TRILOGY OF RETCONS), we’re looking at the film that started it all: STAR WARS (1977), written and directed by George Lucas. Before it was retitled Episode IV: A New Hope, and before the special editions, there was just STAR WARS. Join us as we deep-dive into the story, the performances of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, and the retcons that affected before and after the first reel even hit theatres. CASE FILE: STAR WARS (1977) Directed by: George Lucas Written by: George Lucas Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and David Prowse Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Adventure / Fantasy DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
This week, Cinema Sleuths are joined by Martin Edwards, acclaimed author, editor and crime-fiction expert, to investigate Roger Donaldson’s No Way Out (1987). Starring Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Sean Young and Will Patton, No Way Out follows U.S. Navy officer Tom Farrell, who becomes caught in a deadly political conspiracy after becoming involved with the mistress of Secretary of Defense David Brice. Based on Kenneth Fearing’s classic 1946 novel The Big Clock, No Way Out reworks the original’s corporate mystery into a tense political thriller, conspiracy movie and neo-noir detective story. CASE FILE: NO WAY OUT (1987) Directed by: Roger Donaldson Written by: Robert Garland Based on the novel: The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing Starring: Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Sean Young and Will Patton Genre: Political Thriller / Conspiracy / Mystery / Neo-Noir / Crime Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
That's right! Cinema Sleuths kicks off on May the fourth with a three-part series that dives into the original theatrical releases of STAR WARS and explores the retcons that made the franchise what it is today! Be sure to tune in!
This week, Cinema Sleuths is joined by Sergio Angelini from Tipping My Fedora to investigate the fascinating 1945 pre-release version of The Big Sleep. CASE FILE: THE BIG SLEEP — 1945 PRE-RELEASE VERSION Directed by: Howard Hawks Written by: William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman Based on the novel: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers Version investigated: 1945 Pre-release Cut Genre: Film Noir / Mystery / Crime / Detective / Romance Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth Edited by Luke Deckard Theme song by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash DISCLAIMER All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. *All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*
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Observed September 14, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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