Toys
Unclear and Present Danger
Jamelle Bouie
4.7 • 660 Ratings
🗓️ 6 March 2023
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watch “Toys,” a largely-forgotten fantasy-comedy film from director Barry Levinson. Despite its myriad flaws, the boys have a productive conversation about the film’s obvious themes — the military-industrial complex and the rise of remote and drone warfare — and its less obvious themes, specifically the bourgeois vision of family capitalism and industrial harmony at the heart of the film.
“Toys” is virtually impossible to watch if you don’t have a physical disc, but there is a low-quality version available to stream here.
Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | From Barry Levinson, the Academy Award-winning director of Rhin Man. |
| 0:09.0 | And Robin Williams, the star of Dead Poets Society. |
| 0:17.0 | I'm in the mood for smoked chicken. How about you? |
| 0:19.0 | Comes the story of a man who makes jokes. |
| 0:22.6 | I'm Leslie Zeno. |
| 0:24.6 | Oh! |
| 0:26.6 | Makes love. |
| 0:29.6 | I like you. |
| 0:30.6 | Well, I like you too. |
| 0:32.6 | I think love is wonderful. |
| 0:34.6 | And makes toys. |
| 0:36.6 | Wow! |
| 0:39.3 | How do you fear? |
| 0:41.3 | Woozy. |
| 0:42.3 | That's what we'll call it the Woozy helmet. |
| 0:44.3 | I'm moving with the idea of putting in some war toys. |
| 0:48.3 | You never made war toys at Siebel. |
| 0:50.3 | We're going to need back plus more space. |
| 0:52.3 | General... |
| 0:53.3 | Now, only one man is courageous enough and outrageous enough to find a way to fight back. |
| 1:04.0 | The future is anarchy. |
| 1:07.0 | Let's wind up the truth. |
... |
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