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Tim Wick
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Jan 02 2017
Episode 84 – Josie and the Pussycats
, with special guest: Kelvin Hatle
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It is a new year and we celebrate with a ridiculous movie that may not be great but is way better than it had any right to be. Kelvin Hatle joins us to watch Josie and the Pussycats, a subversive comedy about product placement and corporate greed. It is also exceptionally silly and features an absolutely amazing performance by Parker Posey. You have probably never watched this movie and while it is surprisingly dated for a film only fifteen years old, it is still a lot better than anyone could have expected.
Our next film will be an entirely different experience as we watch La Dolce Vita!
| Josie and the Pussycats (2001) | |
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Rating: 5.6/10 (24,888 votes) Director: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan Writer: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont, Richard Goldwater Stars: Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson Runtime: 98 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Music Released: 11 Apr 2001 |
| Plot: A girl group find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy to deliver subliminal messages through popular music. | |
Dec 27 2016
Episode 83 – A Hard Day’s Night
, with special guest: John Youker, Lauren Haven
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We have a first this week – it is the first episode of our podcast that doesn’t feature Tim at all! Instead, Melissa is joined by Lauren Haven and John Youker. They are present to watch the classic Beatles Film, A Hard Day’s Night! This rather light and frothy mixture of Beatles music and a rather limited plot proved to be far more popular than the producers had dreamed. John, Lauren, and Melissa discuss reactions to the film as well as spending some time talking about Christmas movies!
Our next film will be Josie and the Pussycats!
| A Hard Day's Night (1964) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (47,983 votes) Director: Richard Lester Writer: Alun Owen Stars: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison Runtime: 87 min Rated: G Genre: Comedy, Musical Released: 07 Jul 1964 |
| Plot: Over two "typical" days in the life of The Beatles, the boys struggle to keep themselves and Sir Paul McCartney's mischievous grandfather in check while preparing for a live TV performance. | |
Dec 01 2016
Episode 82 – Purple Rain
, with special guest: Matt Allex
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For our latest episode, we watched Purple Rain with our good friend and podcasting mega–star, Matt Allex. In spite of being from Minneapolis, Matt has somehow never seen the film and we were able to enjoy him trying to unpack everything that is going on. For such an iconic film, it is surprisingly clunky whenever Prince and the Revolution are not on stage performing. We talk about the dichotomy between what takes place on stage at First Avenue and what takes place off stage in the steam tunnels of Minneapolis. We also talk about the differences between the venue of First Avenue as it exists and the venue of First Avenue as it appears in the film.
Our next movie will be A Hard Day’s Night!
| Purple Rain (1984) | |
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Rating: 6.5/10 (23,742 votes) Director: Albert Magnoli Writer: Albert Magnoli, William Blinn Stars: Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day Runtime: 111 min Rated: R Genre: Drama, Music, Romance Released: 27 Jul 1984 |
| Plot: A young musician, tormented by an abusive situation at home, must contend with a rival singer, a burgeoning romance, and his own dissatisfied band, as his star begins to rise. | |
Nov 15 2016
Episode 81 – Stop Making Sense
, with special guest: Kyle Dekker
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For this episode, we are joined by Kyle Dekker from Hot Chocolate Media. He joins us to watch the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense! Directed by Jonathan Demme of Silence of the Lambs fame, this bare bones concert film is considered to be one of the best in the genre. We talk a bit about the film itself, the band featured, and our personal experiences with the film in the late 80’s and the early 90’s. Then we all go out and listen to the soundtrack.
Next up, we’ll still with some 80’s music nostalgia as we watch Purple Rain!
| Stop Making Sense (1984) | |
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Rating: 8.7/10 (19,797 votes) Director: Jonathan Demme Writer: Jonathan Demme, Talking Heads Stars: David Byrne, Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir Runtime: 88 min Rated: PG Genre: Documentary, Music Released: 22 Sep 2023 |
| Plot: Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs. | |
Nov 02 2016
Episode 80 – 2001: A Space Odyssey
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Today, we return to the world of Stanley Kubrick to experience 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm glory. We are joined by a panel of guests including regular Allee Ellingsburg, Scott Keever, and Richard Brantley. Almost everyone had seen the film before but this was the first time most had seen it in a theater. Few other movies are as transformed by sitting in a movie theater as 2001. We talk about a lot of things but one thing we didn’t record is a pre-movie segment. We just dive right into the film on this one so if you are used to listening to our opening segment and then watching the movie, look out! Spoilers are right out of the gate!
Next up, we are going to shift gears and watch Stop Making Sense.
| 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) | |
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Rating: 8.3/10 (719,509 votes) Director: Stanley Kubrick Writer: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke Stars: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester Runtime: 149 min Rated: G Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi Released: 12 May 1968 |
| Plot: After uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000. | |
Oct 18 2016
Episode 79 – The Shining
, with special guest: Sean O'Loughlin
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As we continue with our October horror theme, we take journey to the Overlook hotel to watch Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining! Our newcomer to this journey is Sean O’Loughlin, who joined us a while back to watch Hugo! Once you’ve watched this film, we suggest you watch the documentary Room 237, this video by Imagine Dragons, and a trailer for the film cut to make it look like a romantic comedy!
Next up, we’ll be sticking with Stanley Kubrick as we watch 2001: A Space Odyssey!
| The Shining (1980) | |
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Rating: 8.4/10 (1,103,358 votes) Director: Stanley Kubrick Writer: Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd Runtime: 146 min Rated: R Genre: Drama, Horror Released: 13 Jun 1980 |
| Plot: A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future. | |
Oct 01 2016
Episode 78 – Halloween
, with special guest: Suze Becker
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This week, Susanne Becker joins us to watch the horror classic Halloween! Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence star in a movie that pretty much served as the source for every masked killer horror trope from the 1980’s. Make no mistake, though, this film did them all first and, in many ways, it is still the best. While the film may not have aged as well as some of the other classic titles we’ve watched, it is still some very impressive work by Horror virtuoso John Carpenter.
Next up, we will be watching The Shining!
Note: You may be wondering where our episode of Bringing up Baby has gone. Sadly, we had severe technical difficulties with the recording and we were unable to salvage anything. Sorry.
| Halloween (1978) | |
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Rating: 7.7/10 (305,432 votes) Director: John Carpenter Writer: John Carpenter, Debra Hill Stars: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran Runtime: 91 min Rated: R Genre: Horror, Thriller Released: 27 Oct 1978 |
| Plot: Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again. | |
Sep 01 2016
Episode 77 – The Shawshank Redemption
, with special guest: Alee Baker
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This episode focuses on one of the best films of the 1990’s (or any decade): The Shawshank Redemption! Alee Ellingsburg returns to watch this prison drama that is structured about as well as a movie can be structured. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star in this movie that was one of the first true home video phenomenons. Tim pretty much takes over this episode because he really loves the film. You’ll have to forgive him for that.
Our next film will be Bringing Up Baby.
| The Shawshank Redemption (1994) | |
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Rating: 9.3/10 (2,879,728 votes) Director: Frank Darabont Writer: Stephen King, Frank Darabont Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton Runtime: 142 min Rated: R Genre: Drama Released: 14 Oct 1994 |
| Plot: Over the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion. | |
Aug 15 2016
Episode 76 – Taxi Driver
, with special guest: Salsa Sterling
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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This week, we take a look at one of the most iconic films of the 70’s, Taxi Driver! We are joined by movie know nothing Salsa Sterling as we explore Martin Scorsese’s dark masterpiece. We follow Jody Foster from The Silence of the Lambs to her breakout role more than decade prior. This film also established Robert DeNiro on the A list where he has remained there ever since. And, of course, it features one of the most iconic scenes in film. It is so well known, the odds are you have seen dozens of parodies even if you have never watched the original. Join us to explore this dark vision of psychosis.
Our next movie will be, surprisingly, more upbeat as we watch The Shawshank Redemption.
| Taxi Driver (1976) | |
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Rating: 8.2/10 (918,835 votes) Director: Martin Scorsese Writer: Paul Schrader Stars: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd Runtime: 114 min Rated: R Genre: Crime, Drama Released: 09 Feb 1976 |
| Plot: A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action. | |
Aug 01 2016
Episode 75 – The Silence of the Lambs
, with special guest: Chelsea Oakey
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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This week’s episode explores the only horror film to win an Oscar for best picture, The Silence of the Lambs! It took some work to find someone who hadn’t seen the film but Chelsea Okey was good enough to join us even though she really doesn’t like horror. We spend a lot of time talking about the acting work of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, which is superb. But we also look at how well constructed this film is as a thriller and we observe that perhaps we should not have recorded the podcast in a basement for this particular episode.
For our next podcast, we’ll follow Jodie Foster to Taxi Driver!
| The Silence of the Lambs (1991) | |
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Rating: 8.6/10 (1,547,440 votes) Director: Jonathan Demme Writer: Thomas Harris, Ted Tally Stars: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn Runtime: 118 min Rated: R Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller Released: 14 Feb 1991 |
| Plot: A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims. | |
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