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Tim Wick
Author's posts
Jul 15 2019
Episode 134 – Gods and Monsters
, with special guest: Alison Anderson
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Alison Anderson, our resident Frankenstein guest, joins us for Gods and Monsters, a film about James Whale, director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. The movie features an early star making turn by Brandan Fraser as well as a great pre-Lord of the Rings performance by Sir Ian McKellon. It serves as a fine finish to our trip through the Frankenstein catalog that began way back with Young Frankenstein.
Up next, we will follow director Bill Condon as he provides the screenplay to Chicago!
| Gods and Monsters (1998) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (27,553 votes) Director: Bill Condon Writer: Christopher Bram (novel), Bill Condon (screenplay) Stars: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich Runtime: 105 min Rated: R Genre: Biography, Drama Released: 04 Nov 1998 |
| Plot: The last days of Frankenstein (1931) Director James Whale are explored. | |
Jul 12 2019
Episode 133 – Bride of Frankenstein
, with special guest: Alison Anderson
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Our latest episode continues our exploration of Frankenstein with Bride of Frankenstein. Alison Anderson joins us to watch the sequel to James Whale’s Frankenstein with this film, that may actually be better. James Whale directs the sequel to his classic monster movie and Boris Karloff returns as the monster. Elsa Lanchester plays one of the most recognized women in the history of film and she’s on screen for something like five minutes! Go Elsa!
Next up, we are going to finish our Frankenstein series with Gods and Monsters!
| Bride of Frankenstein (1935) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (39,303 votes) Director: James Whale Writer: Mary Shelley (suggested by: the original story written in 1816 by), William Hurlbut (adapted by), John L. Balderston (adapted by), William Hurlbut (screenplay) Stars: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger Runtime: 75 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi Released: 06 May 1935 |
| Plot: Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Dr. Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate. | |
Jun 01 2019
Episode 132 – Arsenic and Old Lace
, with special guest: Alex Wick
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For this episode, we sort of followed Boris Karloff to a classic screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra. Arsenic and Old Lace was based on a stage play that featured Boris Karloff. He’s not in the movie, though. We’ll explain why. Alex Wick joins us to see if this 1941 comedy is still funny to a 19-year-old. For the most part, it still is!
Up next, we are going to be watching Bride of Frankenstein!
| Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) | |
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Rating: 8.0/10 (61,610 votes) Director: Frank Capra Writer: Julius J. Epstein (screen play), Philip G. Epstein (screen play), Joseph Kesselring (play) Stars: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson Runtime: 118 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller Released: 23 Sep 1944 |
| Plot: A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family. | |
May 21 2019
Episode 131 – Frankenstein
, with special guest: Alison Anderson
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Well after promising to get to this film for a few months, we finally managed to watch the 1931 Frankenstein! Adapted from Mary Shelly’s book, this movie basically defines what Frankenstein’s Monster will look like for the rest of film history. Boris Karloff has the star making role in this James Whale directed classic. Alison Anderson joins us after having watched Young Frankenstein so she can finally get where a whole bunch of the jokes came from!
Next up, we are going to follow Boris Karloff (sort of) to Arsenic and Old Lace!
| Frankenstein (1931) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (58,762 votes) Director: James Whale Writer: John L. Balderston (based upon the composition by), Mary Shelley (from the novel by), Peggy Webling (adapted from the play by), Garrett Fort (screen play), Francis Edward Faragoh (screen play), Richard Schayer (scenario editor) Stars: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff Runtime: 70 min Rated: Passed Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi Released: 21 Nov 1931 |
| Plot: An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. | |
Apr 15 2019
Episode 130 – Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse
, with special guest: Patricia Wick
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We decided we needed to watch the 2019 Oscar Winner for Best Animated Film, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse! Melissa had not yet seen it so Patricia Wick returns as our expert to talk about the film that may have just been the best film of 2019, period. While not officially a part of the MCU, Spider-Verse fits extremely well in that universe and, in some ways, even tops it.
Next up, we swear we are actually going to watch Frankenstein!
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) | |
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Rating: 8.5/10 (226,536 votes) Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman Writer: Phil Lord (screenplay by), Rodney Rothman (screenplay by), Phil Lord (story by) Stars: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali Runtime: 117 min Rated: PG Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi Released: 14 Dec 2018 |
| Plot: Teen Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities. | |
Apr 01 2019
Episode 129 – Green Book
, with special guest: Patricia Wick
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As has been our annual tradition, we are taking a look at this year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture! For this episode, Melissa and Tim had both not yet seen the film. That means Patricia Wick joins us as our expert as we watch Green Book. This movie has some issues. It isn’t horrible but it definitely has some…problems. So as much as three white people can, we try to unpack this movie about racism that might just have some problems because it may be a little bit racist.
Next up, we’re going to watch another Oscar winner for 2019 – the Best Animated Film of the Year – Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse!
| Green Book (2018) | |
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Rating: 8.2/10 (207,893 votes) Director: Peter Farrelly Writer: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco Runtime: 130 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Music Released: 16 Nov 2018 |
| Plot: A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. | |
Mar 15 2019
Episode 128 – Mad Max: Fury Road
, with special guest: Alee Baker
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For the second time, we are watching a Max Max movie! This time it’s Mad Max: Fury Road. In what is essentially one super long car chase, we get to watch Charlize Theron be a bad ass and a blind guy play a flame throwing guitar. It’s pretty great. Alee Baker joins us as a first time viewer of this explosive action film that may not have re-defined the action genre but sure as hell pushed the limits of it.
Next up, we said we’d be watching Frankenstein but that’s a lie! Instead, we are going to watch the 2018 Oscar winner for Best Picture: Green Book!
| Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (785,197 votes) Director: George Miller Writer: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne Runtime: 120 min Rated: R Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller Released: 15 May 2015 |
| Plot: In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max. | |
Mar 04 2019
Episode 127 – The Great Race
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We followed Peter Paul from The Princess Bride to this farce by Blake Edwards. The Great Race stars Falk, Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Keenan Wynn as they race across the world. Along the way, they get into a bar fight, escape a polar bear, and meet up with another version of Jack Lemmon! Our newbie for this film is…Melissa! Hard to believe there are any films she hasn’t seen but this was one of them. Join us for the silliness!
Up next, we are going to take another road trip with Mad Max: Fury Road!
| The Great Race (1965) | |
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Rating: 7.3/10 (14,788 votes) Director: Blake Edwards Writer: Arthur A. Ross (screenplay), Blake Edwards (original story), Arthur A. Ross (original story) Stars: Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk Runtime: 160 min Rated: Passed Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Romance, Sport, Western Released: 14 Oct 1965 |
| Plot: In the early 20th century, two rivals, the heroic Leslie and the despicable Professor Fate, engage in an epic automobile race from New York to Paris. | |
Jan 15 2019
Episode 126 – The Princess Bride
, with special guest: Megan Ealain
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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OK, we finally get to watch The Princess Bride! As one might expect, it was a challenge to find someone who hadn’t seen the movie but with a little work, we found Megan Ealain, who agreed to join us and watch the movie for the first time! If you’ve never seen this 1980’s fantasy/comedy gem before, you should definitely do so before you listen to the episode. If you have seen it before (more likely), you can enjoy our stories about the film and even Tim’s story about meeting one of the actors!
Next up, we are going to follow Peter Falk to The Great Race!
| The Princess Bride (1987) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (361,077 votes) Director: Rob Reiner Writer: William Goldman (book), William Goldman (screenplay) Stars: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest Runtime: 98 min Rated: PG Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Romance Released: 09 Oct 1987 |
| Plot: While home sick in bed, a young boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love. | |
Jan 08 2019
Episode 125 – F for Fake
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Our latest episode was a bit of a last minute audible as we lost a guest due to weather. So Tim became our guinea pig to watch F for Fake, a “documentary” about hoaxes by Orson Welles. This kind of wacky film takes a look at a few different fakers, including the filmmaker himself. It is very new wave and so very Orson Welles in every sense of the word. Probably the best way to enter the world of this film is knowing as little as possible.
Next up, we really do talk about The Princess Bride!
| F for Fake (1973) | |
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Rating: 7.8/10 (13,242 votes) Director: Orson Welles, Gary Graver, Oja Kodar, François Reichenbach Writer: Orson Welles Stars: Orson Welles, Oja Kodar, François Reichenbach, Elmyr de Hory Runtime: 89 min Rated: PG Genre: Documentary Released: 12 Mar 1975 |
| Plot: A documentary about fraud and fakery. | |
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