So we got the gang together and recorded a pilot of a movie review / exploration pod called “7 Levels of Tubi” and I’m kinda excited about it. The sit-down itself was a great time as we survived a blizzard and enjoyed refreshments while running our largest recording ever.
In this ep. you’ll meet me (Jordan) Bekah, Tim, Brad, Andrew, and Lisa as we discuss the ‘91 film Ricochet with Denzel and John Lithgow.
It was a wild movie with a ton of memorable scenes, lines, and plot contrivances - almost nearly all definable as “bad” but endearing in a way that will be seared into our brains for years to come - perhaps decades.
The revenge plot of this movie follows pretty traditional lines but does, importantly, ask “What happens to a black man in America on his way up the ladder of success when that ladder begins at stopping a crazed super criminal at the launch of his career?”
We also talk briefly about Denzel’s perception of the public’s perception re: his on-screen romances and why we think the rape scene from Ricochet and the overall arc of this movie (showing a black man immediately disbelieved, destroyed, and abandoned in the midst of a totally successful life) may have played a pretty significant role in his understanding of what audiences liked to see him do on screen.
In ‘Flight,’ Denzel Washington, white women and turbulence
We had a ton of fun talking Ricochet and then we “played the game” to select our next movie; descending seven levels into Tubi’s recommendations. We passed the App around and after the usual confusion, tussle for direction, and some premonitions of flicks to come we landed on an exemplar of the Tubi collection: The 2008 Val Kilmer movie Conspiracy.
None of the panel have seen it so I’m ready to get in there and see if it’s just a Spartan clone or if there’s something interesting in this latter day 90 minute Val picture.
You can get in touch with 7 Levels of Tubi to share your own journeys down the rabbit hole, suggest a starting point for a one-off episode, or just to tell us what you’ve been checking out on the platform.
We’ve all become fascinated with the highs and lows of Tubi - join us, won’t you?
“The last time I held a gun in this hand a young man took off all his clothes for me.” Earl Talbot Blake (John Lithgow)
7 Levels of Tubi is a production of Franklin Street Creative. You can contact the show at 7LVLOT@gmail.com
7 Levels of Tubi: The Pilot - Ricochet