Last Flag Flying & Bullseye

Vexillologists should be delighted this week as we attempt to raise the cinematic banner as high as we can when we discuss the top 5 Flags. From fictional countries to cartoon weaponry, it's actually churches that prove to be a surprisingly good place to go to collect them, after all it's a great place to seek pennants. LAST FLAG FLYING is Richard Linklater's frequently moving but not entirely successful  exploration of patriotism, friendship and loss which sees former Marine Larry "Doc" Shepherd (Steve Carell) reunite with Vietnam veterans Sal (Bryan Cranston) and the Reverend Richard Mueller (Laurence Fishburne) in order to bury his son, killed in action in Iraq.  When a dark truth emerges about Larry Jr.'s death, Doc resolves to bring his son home to bury him in his civilian clothing alongside his recently deceased wife. Along the way, the three men find themselves coming to terms with the shared experiences of a war that continues to shape their lives through painful physical and mental trauma. The meaning of heroism is a complex issue which the movie handles sensitively and the movie is at its best when the leads are allowed to breathe life into thin characters. Sitcom style asides like Sal and Mueller being arrested as terrorists or a trip to buy a newfangled thing called a mobile phone are a distraction from the more interesting thematic content of the movie. Staple of 80's Sunday night television, BULLSEYE is our kids tv selection this week as we take a look back at a time when moustaches were thick, mullets were magnificent, and working class northerners were paraded on British tv for the very first time vying for the chance to win a washing machine, toaster or of course a speedboat. Jim Bowen doesn't look a day over sixty-five which is a shame because he was 44 when he hosted episode four of the first season, the instalment we watched for this review. Find out just why there were so many speedboats, reminisce about the casual sexism and homophobia and find out which serial killer was convicted using evidence from the show.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at [email protected] or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads