119: Big Happy Mob Families

The guys discuss gangsters today, specifically the Godfather and why there's something compelling about the big happy Italian mob families portrayed -- at least until the murders start. But first: Nate's kids correct Brian's error that Jojo Rabbit won an Oscar. It was only nominated -- Parasite won in 2019. At this point, the guys wander into a discussion of violent portions of world history, foraying into ancient Israel and King David. Brian recently finished "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy, and explains why that book was so unpleasant and violent (it's about the Glanton gang of scalp-hunters on the Tex-Mex border). Nate never wants an episode to be too unobjectionable, so they stray into a discussion of why Untouchables is such a loser of a movie -- Elliot Ness/Kevin Costner is killing people over alcohol? And we thought our current tyranny was bad... Lest this episode be too Italian, the guys mix Ireland into the discussion with "Banshees of Inisherin" and "The Irishman" (also nominated for an Oscar in 2019).
#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #gangsters #Godfather #BloodMeridian #violence #AlCapone #Untouchables #Italians #Irishman (edited)