DAC Episode 273: The Random Canon #3 - The January Man (1989)

Some months ago, when Adam proposed to Aidan that DAC shift its format to do regular deep dives into movies, Aidan could not have known that it was all part of Adam’s diabolical plan to have someone else end up watching The January Man.

Possibly one of the weirdest but most entertaining misfires* in cinema, The January Man stars Kevin Kline as a disgraced NYPD lieutenant brought back into the fold in order to catch a serial killer. The movie features one of the most over-the-top performances of all time from Rod Steiger, who looks confusingly like Carol O’Connor here. Why does he look so much like Carol O’Connor? And why is he screaming at Danny Aiello? These are the real mysteries of The January Man.

It’s a serial killer mystery that doesn’t care about the killer, a romantic comedy completely cynical about romance, a political corruption story that gets sidelined for a family drama that gets sidelined for a wacky tale of boho misfits solving crimes. It’s The January Man and it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Listen below! Or podcast us of choice.

*Adam may contend that The January Man is not a misfire, but Aidan writes these summaries, so too bad.

DAC Episode 271: The Random Canon #2 - After Hours (1985)

Can you believe that After Hours, Martin Scorsese’s offbeat arty comedy of absurdist dread, is not one of Adam’s favourite movies? Aidan can’t believe it, and spends an hour haranguing Adam for his failure of taste.

Just kidding! Aidan turns out be very understanding - and, truth be told, he found After Hours a little less satisfying in 2022 than he did when he was impressionable teen in the mid-’80s. But it still feels like a refreshing dip into a different sort of film for Scorsese, who was grappling with career and studio issues at the time and decided to go for broke with this tale of a Manhattan word processor who spends one chaotic night in the wrong neighborhood. Listen below or podcatch it of choice.

DAC Episode 269: The Random Canon #1 - McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)

A stranger comes to town and invites the men at the saloon to play a round of cards. At a later point, he’s running through deep snow, hunting hired assassins as the local church burns.

If you recognized the opening and closing scenes of Robert Altman’s MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER (1971), you’re the kind of person who’ll enjoy Adam and Aidan’s Random Films, a biweekly feature in which the hosts discuss a film plucked out of their heads and nailed to the chopping block for their inspection. Listen below or on your iTunes of choice.