Show Notes
In this bonus episode, Justin and Gary share their thoughts on the most divisive film of 2026: Alejandro G. Iñárritu's DIGGER, his uncompromising new film starring Tom Cruise.
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In Part 2 of our deep dive into its production, THE FRENCH CONNECTION hits the freezing streets of New York as William Friedkin wages war against sub-zero temperatures, city traffic, and his own cast. This episode covers the shoot itself, including the iconic chase sequence that changed action filmmaking forever.
In Part 1 of our look at the production history of THE FRENCH CONNECTION, we go back to the real-life case that inspired the story, where two NYPD detectives followed a hunch that cracked one of the largest narcotics cases in American history. Getting that story from real life to a Fox production deal took two years, an unproven screenwriter, and some of the most unexpected casting decisions in New Hollywood history.
After establishing himself as a documentarian, William Friedkin moved into the world of narrative filmmaking with the help of an unlikely duo: Sonny & Cher. What followed was a string of box office failures that had Friedkin convinced that his career was over... until two NYPD narcotics cops changed his life for good.
We follow a young William Friedkin from his childhood in Chicago through his years working in live television, and eventual transition into feature film. His first feature, a documentary about a Death Row inmate, helped spare a condemned man from the electric chair and set Friedkin on a path to a legendary career as a founding member of New Hollywood.
Our First-Look review of Zach Cregger's new take on RESIDENT EVIL!