Jul 01 2018

Episode 115 – Westworld

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WestworldOur latest episode takes a look at Michael Crichton’s Westworld. Tim’s son Alex joins us for this movie about a futuristic theme park where nothing could possibly go wrong but, due to exceptionally bad design flaws, things do! Yul Brynner stars as a gunslinger who seems to have tired of constantly being beaten by rich tourists with no shooting skills. We enjoyed the movie but it has a few plot holes and we make sure to discuss the most glaring.

Next up, we are going to watch Ocean’s Eleven (2001)!

Westworld (1973)
Westworld poster Rating: 6.9/10 (65,696 votes)
Director: Michael Crichton
Writer: Michael Crichton
Stars: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin
Runtime: 88 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Released: 21 Nov 1973
Plot: A robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.

Jun 15 2018

Episode 114 – The Big Lebowski

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The Big LebowskiWe’ve been promising this movie for a while and finally it is time for us to watch The Big Lebowski! Breanna Cecile joins us to watch this film she compares to John Steinbeck’s ‘The Pearl,” which may be about the most intelligent observation made by any guest on our podcast ever. Certainly more intelligent than any observation made by our hosts. While this is not likely the best Coen Brothers film, it is probably their most popular. We take a deep dive into world of The Dude. Abide with us.

Next up is…we haven’t decided yet! Which may be for the best given our recent history.

The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski poster Rating: 8.1/10 (901,606 votes)
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writer: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore
Runtime: 117 min
Rated: R
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 06 Mar 1998
Plot: Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

Jun 01 2018

Episode 113 – The Omen

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The OmenWe had a bit of an unintentional hiatus there because Melissa and Tim had a heck of a time coordinating schedules. We’re back and we are watching The Omen with guest Kyle Dekker. Tim also hasn’t seen the film so we have two newbies with a film Melissa watched on nearly constant loop when she was a kid. We take a look at this Son of the Devil horror film and spend a lot more time talking about Patrick Troughton than we probably should given the film stars Gregory freaking Peck. Hard to believe this is the first time we’ve watched a film starring Mr. Peck but at least we’ve finally fixed that problem!

Next up. we promise it’ll be The Big Lebowski.

The Omen (1976)
The Omen poster Rating: 7.5/10 (142,161 votes)
Director: Richard Donner
Writer: David Seltzer, Harvey Bernhard
Stars: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens
Runtime: 111 min
Rated: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Released: 25 Jun 1976
Plot: Mysterious deaths surround an American ambassador. Could the child that he is raising actually be the Antichrist? The Devil's own son?

 

Apr 04 2018

Episode 112 – Get Out

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Get OutBarb Lind returns as we look at yet another film nominated for Best Picture in 2018 – Get Out! Melissa is actually the only member of our podcasting crew who has seen the movie so Tim and Barb both get to experience it for the first time. This is the work of first time writer/director Jordan Peele who is best known for his comedic work. Get Out uses the horror genre to explore race relations and it is pretty damn creepy. If you haven’t watched it yet, you should!

Next up, we are finally going to watch a Coen Brothers film as we have a newbie experience The Big Lebowski!

Get Out (2017)
Get Out poster Rating: 7.8/10 (780,027 votes)
Director: Jordan Peele
Writer: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
Runtime: 104 min
Rated: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 24 Feb 2017
Plot: A young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.

 

Mar 15 2018

Episode 111 – The Shape of Water

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The Shape of WaterAs is our annual tradition, we sat down and watched the most recent winner for Best Picture. This year, it is a genre film by Guillermo Del Toro – The Shape of Water! Semi-regular guest newbie Barb Lind re-joins us to watch this fable about a fish man. We talk about Doug Jones because you kind of need to do that if you are going to be talking about a movie by Guillermo Del Toro as well as the rest of the cast. We also bring up being hit in the fact with a 2×4 more than once. Because that’s the kind of podcast we run here.

Up next, we will be watching another film nominated for Best Picture in 2018 – Get Out!

The Shape of Water (2017)
The Shape of Water poster Rating: 7.3/10 (466,643 votes)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Stars: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
Runtime: 123 min
Rated: R
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Released: 22 Dec 2017
Plot: At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

 

Mar 01 2018

Episode 110 – The Goonies

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The GooniesThis week is unusual because Melissa couldn’t make it and Tim was forced to be the movie expert. This proved difficult as it was only his second time watching the film! He and guest Kelvin Hatle do their best as they watch a favorite of many people who were children in the 80’s – The Goonies! Produced by Steven Spielberg, this film feels incredibly dated if you weren’t into it in the first place. Still, it holds a place of affection in the hearts of many so we take a look at what makes it tick.

Next up is…we don’t know! Whatever movie wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies poster Rating: 7.7/10 (318,351 votes)
Director: Richard Donner
Writer: Chris Columbus, Steven Spielberg
Stars: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen
Runtime: 114 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Released: 07 Jun 1985
Plot: A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure.

Feb 15 2018

Episode 109 – High Noon

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High NoonKyle Dekker joins us to watch a Western that is a not even a little bit subtle allegory for the behavior of Hollywood during the House UnAmerican Activities Committee hearings – High Noon! Gary Cooper won an Oscar for his powerful portrayal of a man who slowly comes to realize that nobody will stand up for him in his time of greatest need. We talk a lot about how much John Wayne hated this film because John Wayne really hated this film. Screenwriter Carl Foreman had to leave the country for England while this movie was filming so he had some knowledge of the damage the HUAC could do. We had a ball watching the movie and we hope you enjoy it as well!

Coming up next: Goonies! This time for sure!

High Noon (1952)
High Noon poster Rating: 7.9/10 (114,642 votes)
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Writer: Carl Foreman, John W. Cunningham
Stars: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell
Runtime: 85 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Western
Released: 30 Jul 1952
Plot: A town Marshal, despite the disagreements of his newlywed bride and the townspeople around him, must face a gang of deadly killers alone at "high noon" when the gang leader, an outlaw he "sent up" years ago, arrives on the noon tr...

Feb 01 2018

Episode 108 – Exit Through the Gift Shop

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Exit Through the Gift ShopWe promised you Goonies but we had a scheduling mix-up so this episode brings you Exit Through the Gift Shop instead! This documentary produced by acclaimed street artist Banksy starts out as a documentary about finding Banksy but then it turns into something quite different. Tim is our newbie for this one and he spends much of the episode talking about what people are willing to pay for art.  Like so many documentaries, what makes this one memorable is not the movie that they wanted to make but the movie that they stumbled into making.

Next up, we are going to watch High Noon!

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Exit Through the Gift Shop poster Rating: 7.9/10 (69,881 votes)
Director: Banksy
Writer: N/A
Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader
Runtime: 87 min
Rated: R
Genre: Documentary, Comedy, Crime
Released: 14 May 2010
Plot: Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.

 

Jan 16 2018

Episode 107 – Die Hard

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We conclude our Crime Spree series (for now) with the ultimate Christmas action movie – Die Hard! Elliot James is our unsuspecting novice and he joined us to watch Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman chew scenery and destroy a building. This child of the Rambo genre actually created a genre of it’s own (the “Die Hard in a…” genre) and established the superstar cred of both Rickman and Willis. Elliot was surprised to enjoy the movie and there is a good chance you might be too!

Up next, we are going to stay in the eighties and watch The Goonies!

Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard poster Rating: 8.2/10 (1,003,024 votes)
Director: John McTiernan
Writer: Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
Runtime: 132 min
Rated: R
Genre: Action, Thriller
Released: 20 Jul 1988
Plot: A New York City cop, John McClane, tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas Eve party at the Nakatomi Plaza Skyscraper in Los Angeles, California.

Jan 01 2018

Episode 106 – Pulp Fiction

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Pulp FictionWe continue our crime spree (or crime wave depending on what Tim decided to call it this episode) with the groundbreaking Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction! This movie was so important that we had to get two guests to watch it with us!  The first is newcomer Patrick Fisher and the second is Tim’s now eighteen-year-old son Alex Wick! We watch the film and then talk about how it transformed filmmaking and production in the two decades that have followed.

Next up, we are going to continue with crime films and also watch some more Bruce Willis as we watch Die Hard!

Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction poster Rating: 8.8/10 (2,379,864 votes)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Stars: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson
Runtime: 154 min
Rated: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Released: 14 Oct 1994
Plot: The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.