Meyer II Part 8: Recap.

Nicholas Meyer has directed what many consider to be the two best films of the Star Trek franchise. Despite this, most of his other movies exist in relative obscurity.

This week, Max and Mike recap Meyer’s career as a director, looking at each of his pictures, including Time After Time, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Day After, Volunteers, The Deceivers, Company Business, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and Vendetta.

Meyer II Part 7: Vendetta.

After an eight-year absence, Nicholas Meyer returned to the helm in 1999 to direct his eighth and most recent picture, Vendetta. The TV movie, starring Andrea Di Stefano, Bruce Davison, and Christopher Walken, tells the story of the largest lynching in American history. 

This week, Mike and Max are joined once again by Marcelo Pico of Framed Panda to look at the movie which Meyer considers to be his best. We discuss the way historic events are portrayed, the quality of the performances, what Meyer was up to between movies, and whether or not Vendetta truly is his best work.

Meyer II Part 6: Company Business.

Nicholas Meyer’s Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is an allegory about the end of the Cold War. When the prospect of peace between the Federation and the Klingons becomes a reality, Captain Kirk and General Chang are uncertain of their place in the galaxy. But The Undiscovered Country isn’t the first time that Meyer had dealt with this subject matter. Just three months prior to that film’s release, Company Business hit the sliver screen.

Company Business tells the story of two aging spies, played by Gene Hackman and Mikhail Baryshnikov, who must team up in order to survive after a prisoner exchange between the Americans and the Russians goes wrong.

Both films deal with the Cold War in a very similar way. But where The Undiscovered Country is universally considered to be a success, Company Business is thought of by many, including Meyer himself, to be a failure.

This week, Max and Mike take a look at Meyer’s seventh directorial effort. We discuss the similarities between the two films, the compromises that Meyer was forced to make in order to get Company Business made, what makes this one of Meyer’s lesser works, and what the proper term for a male ballerina is.

Meyer II Part 5: The Deceivers.

Nicholas Meyer’s fifth film is the Merchant Ivory production The Deceivers. It stars Pierce Brosnan as a British officer in 19th century India who goes undercover to infiltrate the Thuggee cult, a band of thieves and murderers, in an effort to stop them. 

This week, Mike and Max are joined by Marcelo Pico of Framed Panda to discuss the film’s similarities to modern-day undercover cop movies, the portrayal of Thuggees throughout history and pop culture, Meyer’s fondness for the 19th century, his uncharacteristic use of a supernatural device, and whether or not a prequel could fit into Jurassic Park continuity.