MURDER-SET-PIECES II
In the Cold Cuts episode of Murder-Set-Pieces (2004), directed by Nick Palumbo, it has been a week, and Danny, David, and Pappy aren’t feeling any better about the movie. In Takebacks, Danny attempts to clarify his hottest take from the previous episode, but David and Pappy now understand his perspective. However, everyone agrees it’s important to mention that the sexual violence doesn’t quite feel like a music video. In an impromptu Lingering Feelings I, Danny’s thoughts and emotions start bubbling up to the surface; it’s clear he has some issues he plans to address.
Stifling his feelings for a moment, Danny starts Fact-Checking with an interview between some film publication and Jade. Jade—who confusingly plays “Jade” in the movie—is shockingly in the eighth grade at the time of the interview. It’s clear, however, that she is lying about having seen Murder-Set-Pieces because she describes how much she “loves it.” Next, Danny reveals that he’s been essentially “harassing” the film’s cinematographer for about a week. Why? It’s pretty clear that the cinematographer agreed to put his baby in the movie. Looking over the positive reviews the movie received, the fellas are quick to speculate that Palumbo might be ghostwriting all the acclaim. A handful of other topics round out the segment, chief among them is Danny’s Definitive Report on the Prevalence of Buttholes in Cinema (Non-Pornographic).
In Lingering Feelings II, David and Pappy have to explain to Danny that exploitation as a film genre might not be for everyone. This is not to suggest David and Pappy are big fans of exploitation films. Just that they are not as pissed off by them as their friend. Danny’s emotional levees burst, and his true feelings flood out. He tells David and Pappy that he’s been worried all week because the movie’s sexual violence didn’t bother him at all upon the initial viewing. And now he’s worried something is wrong with him. Finally, the fellas have a consensus: this movie is out to offend everyone. And, consequently, risks offending no one.
Pappy switches things up with another edition of Overthinking It. He’s got empathy and ethics on his brain and asks his friends whether or not extreme movies can successfully draw out empathetic responses from their audiences. The science of evil is next on the talk docket, and who better to help them get to the root of its true nature than Borat’s cousin, Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen?
There is no Next Week’s Movie at the end of this episode because the Murder-Set-Pieces discussion is set to continue in part three—despite how much they claim to hate this gawd awful movie.
Timestamps
Takebacks
00:00:00—00:03:02: Danny’s hottest take kinda makes sense now
00:03:03—00:04:38: The movie doesn’t really feel like a music video
Lingering Feelings I
00:04:39—00:06:45: Danny has will address things later
Fact-Checking
00:06:46—00:13:29: An interview with Jade, who’s in grade 8
00:13:30—00:17:28: And whose baby was it?
00:17:29—00:24:20: Reviewing MSP reviewers, including the NYT
00:24:21—00:27:10: Is Nick Palumbo secretly writing positive reviews?
00:27:11—00:34:18: Danny’s Report on Buttholes in Cinema
00:34:19—00:39:51: Surprise cameos: Leatherface, Candyman and a Power Ranger
00:39:52—00:46:51: Director’s vs. theatrical cut
00:46:52—00:53:00: Banned in England & Video Nasties
Lingering Feelings II
00:53:01—00:57:05: Exploitation movies aren’t for everyone, Danny
00:57:06—01:00:38: Why was Danny numb to the sexual violence?
01:00:39—01:12:00: This movie is out to offend everyone
Overthinking It
01:12:01—01:24:33: Is empathetic viewing possible with extreme movies?
01:24:34—01:29:10: Borat’s cousin on the science of evil and empathy
01:29:10—01:34:18: How does cinema draw out a viewer’s empathy?