𝔽𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕚𝕝𝕞𝕤

On this episode we are joined by Matt and Ed from the podcast Shot Reverse Shot as we attempt to win the war on drugs, by watching the reviled Steven Soderbergh movie TRAFFIC and the classic Ridley Scott film THE COUNSELOR. And yes, this is shameless trolling in the hopes that you’ll keep listening to a movie podcast on THE COUNSELOR. But before that mess of a movie we have one of the few great films of 2015, and a conversation with Dave from Pop Culture Case Study on new release SICARIO.   

With the kickoff of American football, we are in the mood for a double feature of THE LONGEST YARD. In the 1974 version, Burt Reynolds has us scratching our hairy chests in admiration, while Adam Sandler has us scratching our (egg shaped) heads at the jokes presented on screen. Find out which film we chose, the original or the remake, and also which centerfold graces Mike's wall.

On this episode we look at the pressures of chess, not by actually playing the game ourselves, but instead watching a small child get berated by his father and the best chess player in the world berate a machine. Our resident nerd expert, Patrick McGill of Role Play Craft , joins us for a double feature of SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER and GAME OVER: KASPAROV AND THE MACHINE. But first, Ben from the podcast Cinematic For the People was kind enough to join me for a conversation on how I will get my first Oscar and also new release PAWN SACRIFICE.

On this episode we talk about the role of the grandparent in film by hanging out with the distant beekeeper played by Peter Fonda in ULEE’S GOLD, who has to make a decision to become more involved than he would like to be in his son’s criminal dealings in order to protect his grandchildren. And in WHALE RIDER a young girl seeks to reconcile her fractured family by seeking a destiny and a role that could damage her relationship with her traditional grandfather. But first, we talk about Lily Tomlin returning to comedic form in new release GRANDMA.

Episode 76 This week we're looking to keep it light by discussing the new Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway joint, The Intern. We pair up that review with a debate about the best and worst date night films.

In this episode, Dave invites guest, Annaleis from the  Dark Angels and Pretty Freaks  podcast, to talk about one of her favorites, Amelie.  Britt shows up to flaunt her knowledge of the French language and admit that she was a weird kid who identified with Amelie.  Dave educates you on the good and bad sides of isolation in the psychology section.  Finally, Dave and Annaleis discuss isolation, porn stores, Princess Diana, and more! Social Isolation and Older Adults Social Support and Gender Isolation, the Internet, and Depression Rejection Sensitivity Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:05:23 Isolation: 0:23:15 Amelie with Annaleis: 0:30:54 Rate and Review on iTunes!

Peter and Phoenix are joined by Sarah of Project Fandom to discuss the 1999 Tim Burton retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.

On this episode we are joined by Brad from the  Movie Bears Podcast  to help tackle the elements found in the 2010 horror movie FROZEN and the somber Liam Neeson survival film THE GREY. But first Ben from  Cinematic For the People  joins for a filmgoing summit of new release EVEREST.

When “Damsels in Distress” begins, it is hard to ignore its “Mean Girls” leanings. After all they have quite a bit in common. A new girl arrives at school (Analeigh Tipton) where she is quickly taken under the wing of a female clique (Greta Gerwig, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore), which is headed by an intimidating blonde leader, Gerwig’s Violet. Slightly naïve and clearly out of place, Lily (Tipton) needs help navigating the world of a liberal arts college inhabited by the dimmest students imaginable. The only academic field apparently necessary to be accepted is writing your name on the application. However, throughout the course of the movie there are characters that emerge who seem incapable of even accomplishing that small feat. Not stupid and strikingly so, Violet is a rambling expression of big ideas, values and philosophies. Effusive and passionate, she quickly becomes the heart of the story as her idealism is shaken by betrayal. It’s easy to empathize with Vio

A lot of how you respond to Guy Richie’s stylish take on “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” has to do with what you go in expecting. If you’re anticipating the gadgetry of retro Bond, the action adventure of the “Bourne” franchise, the stunts of “Mission: Impossible” and the bromance of Richie’s “Sherlock Holmes” movies, you will not find much of that here. Nor, if you do a little research, will you find much similarity to the 60s TV show from which the movie takes its name. In comparison to the film adaption of “The Lone Ranger” (which coincidentally also starred Armie Hammer), “U.N.C.L.E.” is not even a smidge as inflammatory or insulting to its source material. Contradictory to the catastrophe that was “Lone Ranger”, “U.N.C.L.E.” presents its send-up with a far more celebratory spirit and its infectious energy keeps the movie afloat, even as it hits the choppy waters of some overused gags that grow tired fast. Set in 1963, the story revolves around rival spies; American CIA agent Na

Episode 75 Is Johnny Depp back? We tackle this question as we review the latest film from Depp, Black Mass. We pair this review with a discussion about the best and worst mob/crime bosses in film.

In this episode, Dave is joined by Non and Jess from the Joy Sandwich Podcast.  We talk about Oscar winner, The Departed.  To focus the discussion Dave discusses the ideas of honesty and dishonesty, which is not as black and white as you might think.   Britt joins us for Fangirl Fixation to talk about a movie that actually surprises her for once! Ethical Liars Honesty on Facebook Adult lies and Child Behavior Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:03:30 Honesty: 0:16:47 The Departed with Joy Sandwich: 0:28:34 Rate and Review on iTunes!

On this episode we take a trip to Boston with David from That Moment In on a mission to uncover some rats. Martin Scorsese's Best Picture winning THE DEPARTED has Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as a compromised cop and an undercover agent who are looking to reveal the other in a deadly game of cat and mouse. And in THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE we have movie god Robert Mitchum trades criminal contacts like baseball cards in an attempt to save himself, unaware of others playing the same game with his fate. These two cinematic crime classics do battle after new release BLACK MASS attempts to join their ranks.

THE MAZE RUNNER has us trying to quickly escape the maze of LABYRINTH, and we get lost in debating which path to take in PRISONERS.  GUEST: Patrick McGill of Role Play Craft manages to find David Bowie and co-host Shane Conner equally offensive, which is a compliment to Shane.

On this episode we talk  about one of our favorite films of the year, Andrew Bujalski’s RESULTS. This film is about two personal trainers played by Guy Pearce and Cobie Smulders whose lives are altered when a rich client arrives seeking to improve himself but finding the trainers themselves to be searching for something as well. This inspires a conversation on benefactors in film, and we start with the grandaddy of them all in Charles Dickens' GREAT EXPECTATIONS. It goes up against James Gray’s latest love triangle set in a world of crime, with Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner both promising a better life for Marion Cotillard in THE IMMIGRANT. We also debate the effect that crickets and a computer fan can have on the sound quality of a podcast.

Peter is joined by returning guest hosts Karly (of That Pop This Life and Talking Shondaland ) and Devin (of The Liquor Run Podcast ) to talk about their five favorite sports movies and a long list of honorable mentions. Hopefully we can remind you of some of the ones from your childhood!  

Episode 74 We run a little long this week, as our main review of Z for Zachariah offered up quite a bit of material to unpack. To help us with this endeavor, Kevin Thompson (@OptimusSolo) of the CinemaGeeks (@CinemaGeekCast) joins us to review the film and to share who we want or wouldn't want to be stranded on a desert island with.

In this episode, Dave has a new guest, Karly from  That Pop This Life .  We talk about the much maligned M. Night Shymalan film, The Village.  To focus the discussion we delve into the idea of regret and how it affects our lives.  Dave details the psychology of regret, how it affects our motivation, regret in children, and how easy it is to access regret from our memories.  Britt joins us for Fangirl Fixation to surprisingly stand up for M. Night and talk about the performances she enjoyed from The Village Psychology of Regret Regret and Motivation Regret and Children Regret and Memory Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:04:09 Regret: 0:17:55 The Village with Karly: 0:30:54 Rate and Review on iTunes!

On this episode we go stay with some old people in a pair of horror films. BURNT OFFERINGS has us hosted by Karen Black, Oliver Reed, and Bette Davis as a family gets the deal of a lifetime with very cheap rent for a huge estate, with the catch being that they have to care for an elderly and extremely private woman in the attic. In the more recent THE SKELETON KEY, Kate Hudson's job as a caregiver sends her to the swamps of Louisiana as John Hurt plays a man who has suffered a stroke... and may be suffering in silence under the watchful eye of his creepy wife. This visit with creepy old folks in creepy old houses has been inspired by fallen director M. Night Shyamalan's new film, THE VISIT.

On this episode, we are joined by CHRIS MAYNARD of FOLLOWING FILMS POD to talk about the Swedish and American adaptation of the first book from the Millennium trilogy, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.

On this episode we continue to challenge our manhood, but only through a film experience with THE BEAR taking on THE EDGE. This decision to fight a bear and in this case two bear films fighting each other for our movie amusement has been inspired by the new horror film BACKCOUNTRY. Our own Chris Maynard was a part of a press junket where he got to talk with the film’s writer and director, Adam MacDonald.

On this episode we celebrate the end of the 2015 summer movie season with a new to video release, one of my favorite films of not only the summer but the year in LOVE & MERCY. This inspires a conversation with Ben from the Cinematic For the People podcast on the films AMADEUS and I’M NOT THERE. We talk specifically on how both films are unconventional music biopics focusing primarily on identity.

Peter and Phoenix talk about their trip to Universal Studios Hollywood! Listen in on what rides and attractions they went on, which wax celebrities they took selfies with, and what shooting location they went to!  

Episode 73 Our old buddy, Jon Mitchell, is back on the show this week to help us discuss the latest installment in a revered franchise, Transporter Refueled. We pair this review with a debate about the best and worst replacement actors in film.

In this episode, Dave has a new guest, Shannon from  Strucci Movies .  We talk about the science fiction classic, Blade Runner.  Everything from the child like nature of Replicants to the lack of empathy from the "human" characters is discussed.  Britt makes an appearance on Fangirl Fixation to talk about her crush on Rutger Hauer (again) and the hotly debated rape scene in Blade Runner Superman v Badman Sleep Deprivation Violence and Empathy Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:03:51 Empathy: 0:17:14 Blade Runner with Shannon: 0:28:14 Rate and Review on iTunes!

On this episode we celebrate Labor Day by hitting the road with journalists developing a professional and personal relationship with their subjects. The first film is one of those that is perhaps too famous among cinephiles to talk about with any objectivity or fresh insight, Cameron Crowe’s modern classic ALMOST FAMOUS. Nevertheless guest Rod from The Listening Party podcast helps us do just that by sending the film that won Jeff Bridges an Oscar up to the War Machine Horse slaughter with CRAZY HORSE. But first, regular collaborator and man crush, Dave from the Pop Culture Case Study podcast hits the road for new release THE END OF THE TOUR.

On this episode we bond during a breakdown with Karly from the podcast That Pop This Life. To comfort us during these troubling times, we watched Roman Polanski's REPULSION and Lars Von Trier's MELANCHOLIA, both about sisters dealing with trauma in very different ways. This lighthearted episode has been inspired by Alex Ross Perry's great new film, QUEEN OF EARTH.