This week on Movie Wars, we dive into Michael Mann’s Collateral — a movie where Tom Cruise plays the most terrifying silver fox since Anderson Cooper, and Jamie Foxx gets one night to decide if he’s a cab driver or a hero. We’re joined by our good friend and touring standup Will Abeles, who took a break from crisscrossing the country to talk LA noir, digital cinematography, and, oh yeah — the time he gave a real-life Vincent a ride across Nashville.

We talk about how Collateral captures LA’s sweaty, neon-soaked vibe better than any other film since Heat, how Mann’s use of early digital cameras shaped the look of modern movies, and how Cruise’s weird hair dye and Bangkok suit are all part of the character’s ghostlike anonymity. Plus: Jamie Foxx’s quiet career pivot, what makes Mann’s cityscapes feel mythic, and a full-on Uber-from-hell story that somehow makes Collateral feel like a documentary.

This one’s full of chaos, crime, and comedy — basically, a perfect night in Los Angeles.

• Michael Mann doesn’t just film LA — he turns it into a character. From Heat to Collateral, the man is the city’s best cinematographer
• Will Abeles joins fresh off his special The Pride of Hagerstown, and shares his very own “Collateral moment” while driving for Uber.
• We talk about Mann’s bold use of early digital cameras in 2004 and how it gave the movie that immersive, eerie nighttime look.
• Tom Cruise’s gray hair and Thai-tailored suit? That wasn’t just a weird choice — it was a tactical one, designed to make Vincent disappear in plain sight.
• Jamie Foxx’s performance in Collateral marked a major turning point in his career, showing off the kind of dramatic depth we’d later see in Ray.
• Also: Scientology, strip mall comedy clubs, Morgan Wallen chaos, and an impromptu Nashville ayahuasca rant. You're welcome.

Featuring Joe & Vance from Boys Watching Buffy

On this episode of Movie Wars, we’re throwing roundhouse kicks into the Louisiana swamp and diving into Hard Target, the chaotic, mullet-soaked fever dream that marked John Woo’s American debut. I’m joined by Joe and Vance from the hilarious podcast Boys Watching Buffy, where they bring their sharp humor and fresh takes to cult TV classics like Buffy, Angel, Veronica Mars, and more.

We dig into everything: Van Damme’s mid-tier action star status, the insane production meddling that turned this into a different movie, why early ‘90s action films were weirdly obsessed with Cajun Louisiana, and the very real question — are the villains in Hard Target actually the best part?

We also talk ugly movie stars, the lost art of gritty backdrops, and why slow-mo gunfights with saxophone porn music will always have a place in our hearts.

If you love action movies, wild tangents, and hearing three dudes lose it over mullets and Wilford Brimley’s Southern accent, this one’s for you.

Absolutely. Here are your show notes for the Hard Target episode — formatted cleanly with sections for platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your website:

Guests: Joe & Vance from Boys Watching Buffy

Host: Kyle Castro

Podcast: Movie Wars

• The chaotic backstory behind John Woo’s Hard Target and why it barely resembles his original vision
• Jean-Claude Van Damme’s mullet, legacy, and where he fits in the action star pantheon
• A love letter to slow-mo gunfights, dove symbolism, and 90s saxophone porn music
• Why early ’90s Hollywood was weirdly obsessed with Cajun Louisiana as a setting
• The incredible villain duo of Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo — and why they deserved a spinoff
• The era of "ugly movie stars" and the raw grit of pre-streaming cinema
• Tangents on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Red Dead Redemption 2, Street Fighter, and Double Team with Dennis Rodman
• Is Van Damme underrated, overrated, or stuck in mullet limbo?

Joe and Vance are the hosts of Boys Watching Buffy, a hilarious and addictive podcast where they watch cult TV shows for the first time — starting with Buffy, then moving through Angel, Veronica Mars, Dollhouse, and more.

• Hard Target was originally 116 minutes long and got slapped with an NC-17 before being trimmed to 97 minutes.
• John Woo was shadowed by Sam Raimi on set to “protect” the production.
• Van Damme oversaw the final edit to make it his movie.
• The studio almost made a spinoff film focused...

We’re wrapping up our journey through the Bill and Ted trilogy with the final film, Face the Music — and joining us for the ride is touring comedian Evan Berke, who brings both sharp wit and real insight to this surprisingly emotional sequel.

Thank you to my dear friend Boys Watching Buffy and The Revisionist Almanac for providing a trailer.

Enjoy their shows!Nearly 30 years after Bogus Journey, Bill and Ted are back — older, still optimistic, and now raising daughters while trying to save the world (again). In this episode, we break down how Face the Music handles legacy, aging, and creative pressure, all while staying true to the ridiculous heart that’s defined this franchise since 1989.

We get into the dynamics between Bill, Ted, and their daughters, how time travel is used not just as a plot device but as a way to explore self-reflection, and what it means to pass the torch to a new generation. There’s plenty of love here for the bizarre, heartfelt tone of the film, and Evan adds thoughtful perspective on the balance of comedy and sentiment — especially when it comes to stories that try to say something real while being totally bonkers.

From trombone solos in hell to Kid Cudi’s quantum theories, this movie has it all. But at its core, Face the Music is about friendship, hope, and the messiness of trying to leave something behind that matters. Whether or not this final chapter hit the mark for you, our conversation digs into what makes this film a fascinating — and oddly moving — end to one of the weirdest trilogies in movie history.

• Touring comedian Evan Berke joins us for a deep dive into Bill and Ted Face the MusicWe unpack how the film blends absurdity with real emotional stakes
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• Bill and Ted’s evolution as aging rock dads brings new heart to the story
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• We explore themes of generational legacy, creative burnout, and collaboration
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• Time travel as a metaphor for growth and reflection
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• Friendship, failure, and what it means to finish the song — even when the clock’s running out
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Bill and Ted Face the Music, Bill and Ted podcast, Movie Wars podcast, Evan Berke comedian, Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, time travel movies, nostalgic movies, reboots and sequels, Bill and Ted trilogy, comedy podcasts, film analysis, 80s movies revisited, cinematic legacy, movie commentary, generational storytelling, cult film finales, comedy and heart