Box Office GROSS: The Top 50 Hit Films of 2006

Our first two-time guest (Constantine, Sahara), the great Matt Lynch (Scarecrow Video, The Suspense is Killing Us) makes his triumphant return to discuss another sort of maligned, underrated action hit: Mission: Impossible III!We discuss MI3's curious place as the runt of the franchise litter, as well as its place in mid-2000s action cinema and of star Tom Cruise's career! This is a franchise that was an a very different place that it rocketed distantly away from, so it's fun to revisit this in its moment to clock a time when it was simply a for-hire auteur-driven series, with an incredible villain, helmed by an acclaimed TV guy without all the baggage he would later acquire. And that's across the board! Unburdened from the baggage of being "the third Mission: Impossible film", and with the knowledge of the expansive series to follow, MI3 reveals itself as a fun, satisfying little action thriller: punchy dialogue, imaginative fight scenes, an astonishing performance from the wildly overqualified Philip Seymour Hoffman as the primary antagonist, and the throwback weirdness of its human relationship plot, it's a fascinating artifact doomed to be trapped in its own little eddy, but it's a fun movie and we had a blast talking to Matt, who is so so good at bringing enthusiasm and convincing arguments to the show. Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSONMatt's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colonelmortimer.bsky.social ⁠⁠The Suspense is Killing Us - Podcast - Apple PodcastsEMAIL US! : [email protected] THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAREnter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:Leave us a rating and review on Apple PodcastsLeave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating systemSend us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;- some boutique highlight selections from the film's letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;- a little message from Rob and Brian- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Folks, a MILLION GIRLS would KILL to guest on this episode, but we were honored to be joined by the great writer and activist Maura Quint to discuss THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA in the days leading up to the release of its legacy follow-up. We go deep on Maura's incredibly similar real life experiences to the film's events, we discuss the film's divergences from its original novel, and how those decisions both strengthen and weaken the film in different ways, especially regarding the film's increasing esteem for the fashion industry as a whole and Meryl Streep's tremendous performance as Miranda Priestley specifically. We also discuss the curious case of The Boyfriend and Harry from MAD MEN, the grievous unchecked sexism, social pressure and hilarious hat styles of mid-2000s pop culture, inexplicable narrative car accidents, the eugenics experiments of MADDEN 07Also, I momentarily misspeak about my appreciation for Stanley Tucci and A MILLION GIRLS (Rob AND Maura) KILL ME FOR IT. RIP TO ME.This episode was so fun, and Maura was perfect to help us accompany us to the Paris Podcast Show! Please check it out, and stay tuned for our thoughts on the follow-up!Brian's Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maura's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mauraquint.bsky.social----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAREnter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:Leave us a rating and review on Apple PodcastsLeave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating systemSend us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;- some boutique highlight selections from the film's Letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;- a little message from Rob and Brian- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GOOD BOX OFFICE GROSS ADJACENT NEWS:-Friend of the show Scout Tafoya (Cinderella Man) is making his movie!!! ⁠https://thefilmstage.com/scout-tafoya-and-tucker-johnsons-stubborn-beast-begins-production/⁠-Friend of the show Joe Kowalski (Chicken Little, Ice Age: The Meltdown) is premiering his feature documentary Micronations at Tribeca!!! ⁠https://tribecafilm.com/films/micronations-2026

FOLKS, this week Box Office Gross is ROCKIN' THE SUBURBS: we grab the great Charles Star (@ugarles) on his 52 Week Podcasting Challenge, enlivening what is otherwise a real uninspiring entry in our project, the weak, sloppy animated satire OVER THE HEDGE. We discuss the film's bizarre voice cast, its' tepid, boring social commentary, and its stilted attempts at humor more perfectly suited to the four-panel set-up/punch-line payoff of the comic strip its based on. Other topics of conversation include Don Orsillo's "Slam Diego", Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Charles' desperate sprint to finish the film on time, my equally desperate, "draftable" sprint to fix my daughter's car in the middle of recording, and a deep dive on the dipshit tao of Ben Folds, including an incredible musical contribution by Rob, who puts in the WORK here on an episode that barely deserves it.This way so much fun, and Charles helped us make a real entertaining episode out of a real loser movie. Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charles' Twitter: https://x.com/Ugarles Charles' Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ugarles.bsky.social “Stuck in 2006” Ben Folds parody song by Symphonic Synergy [https://symphonicsynergy.bandcamp.com/]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAREnter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:Leave us a rating and review on Apple PodcastsLeave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating systemSend us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;- some boutique highlight selections from the film's Letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;- a little message from Rob and Brian- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GOOD BOX OFFICE GROSS ADJACENT NEWS:-Friend of the show Scout Tafoya (Cinderella Man) is making his movie!!! https://thefilmstage.com/scout-tafoya-and-tucker-johnsons-stubborn-beast-begins-production/-Friend of the show Joe Kowalski (Chicken Little, Ice Age: The Meltdown) is premiering his feature documentary Micronations at Tribeca!!! https://tribecafilm.com/films/micronations-2026

My long, long, long-time internet movie pal PETER LABUZA (@labuzamovies) finally makes an appearance on our fair program to help us delve into a truly, almost inexplicably nonexistent piece of work: POSEIDON. We discuss Wolf the director of DAS BOOT and THE PERFECT STORM making a POSEIDON ADVENTURE remake with *Kurt Russell* and *Richard Dreyfuss*???? How could this flail so spectacularly?We discuss the curious cinematic history of a "boat flips over and sinks" franchise, Petersen's final film, the bizarre cast of no-longers and never-was, including the fascinating collapse of Josh Lucas: Leading Man, its brisk pacing, its wonky CGI, rogue waves, the rise of the PSP, how thin the characters are sketched and how surprisingly viscerally effective a lot of the film is anyway, even as it's clipped and stupid.This was a blast, so much fun and it was fun finally getting Peter on, check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peter's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/labuzamovies.comSable Adelaide's great Wedding Crashers sale and demo release 4 relocation and transition fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DCDyhsxFX/Sable's donation contacts ($15 for DVD/demo):Paypal:[email protected] app: $straightlinearrivalVenmo: @SableAdelaideKo-fi: sableslaScout Tafoya's GoFundMe for Stubborn Beast: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-scout-tafoya-bring-his-film-to-life

The magnificent researcher for the Blank Check podcast, JJ Bersch joins us for a deliriously fun conversation about the absolutely demented, rollicking road comedy RV!We delve into the entire history of director Barry Sonnenfeld and his string of curious decisions throughout the making of this film, as Rob read MULTIPLE biographies to prepare, and manages to uncover an astonishing, disgusting pivotal moment in Sonnenfeld's life and career that manifests grotesquely in this very film.Other topics include the film's inexplicably stunning widescreen vistas, contrasted with the bizarrely stunted pacing and even more inexplicable emotional resonance, as well as the clever trick of emotional perspective the film plays, fighting raccoons, white boys making some noise, Robin Williams' inability to turn himself off, the treacherous joys of traveling through Colorado, demented CHUD interviews, and the magic of Sony Pictures' Core streaming service.This was SO much fun, JJ was SO awesome and I beg of you to check this psycho movie out, it's a blast![[[Midwest emo sample by prod. pekarot]]]Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JJ's Bluesky: JJ (@jjdotbiz.bsky.social) — BlueskyConner O'Malley and Alan Resnick's "PVC Feces Rig (Home Made) #vanlife" https://vimeo.com/715262741Chud interview with Barry Sonnenfeld: https://chud.com/6489/interview-barry-sonnenfeld-rv/?textutm_source=chud&utm_medium=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=non_home_clicktracking

We bring back the rowdy hosts of Weekly Podcast Massacre to help us pick apart the SCARY MOVIE franchise, a series with zero defensibly good movies but two films near and dear to our hearts because of their ragged, youthful charm. Unfortunately, we're covering one of the other ones: the lifeless, inert SCARY MOVIE 4. We discuss the film's one good sequence (involving a SAW parody starring Shaq shooting free throws to help free Dr. Phil), followed by 100 minutes of stone-face tedium. We delve into the much better films Zucker and Co. are homaging, our desire for Anna Faris and Regina Hall to be in better things, Girls Next Door completism, the inexplicable run of mid-level rapper cameos and references, and a 10-minute treatise on The Book of Henry.This was so so SO much fun, and we'd love for you to check it out![[[Midwst emo sample by prod. pekarot]]]Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Podcast Massacre: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-podcast-massacre/id1575641950⁠WPM's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/WeeklyMassacre⁠WPM's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/weeklymassacre.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our lovely pal Joe Kowalski rejoins us, fresh off the Chicken Little episode last year as we serve him up another stealing pile of CGI garbage, ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN! We discuss this pretty dreary but extremely profitable series: its deeply weird voice cast, its lackluster plotting, its hideous CGI and its acknowledgment of the existence of Literal Christian Heaven. We also talk about The Scrat.Joe did way more research that would ever be requested of him for this episode, and we had so much fun picking through this stupid fuckin' series that everybody saw and nobody liked, as well as OUR VERY FIRST ACTUAL PRIMETIME "GAMER ZONE" ENTRY!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pogiejoe.bsky.social⁠Joe's YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/PogieJoe⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The beloved guest from our VERY FIRST EPISODE on the horror film White Noise, the great David Roth (Defector Media) makes his triumphant return to talk about...a good movie????A *great* movie in fact, Spike Lee's twisty heist thriller INSIDE MAN. We endeavor to record THE PERFECT PODCAST. We discuss the legendary director's 21st century work building up to this, his most financial successful film: its crackerjack pacing, beautiful location work, stunningly accomplished cast, and the joy of getting to see a team of Hall of Famers work on an incredible level, even for a trifle of a genre film that falls apart at the slightest scrutiny, held together by a roster of marvelous craftsmen. We also discuss the film's social commentary, both effective (its statement on racial and cultural myopia for anyone outside of their demographics, especially in law enforcement) and less so (the great efforts undertaken to situate 50 Cent and Grand Theft Auto as some of society's greatest ills!) . But when that Terrence Blanchard score swells as Clive Owen looks upon the open vault, all you can think is: this is the classic shit right here baby.It is always a joy and a privilege to have David swing by the show, and we had a blast getting to speak with enthusiasm about a movie that kicks ass instead of pick apart a nascent trash fire. BUT DON'T GET USED TO IT! <3 CHECK IT OUT!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/davidjroth.bsky.socialDefector Media: https://defector.com/Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We didn't intend to put out two episodes FOR SICKOS ONLY(tm) so close together, but we had a long gestating idea for an episode covering the 2006 Oscars telecast, honoring all the films of 2005, a whooping THIRTEEN we covered on our show.We discuss the infamous controversy between Crash v. Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture, the legendary performance and victory for Three 6 Mafia, Jon Stewart's hosting job, the "TCM Fortnite" intro, the aggressive musical stings, "mayor of Hollywood" George Clooney, our passionate frustration with Oscar telecasts, and our affinity for montages, montages of any kind! We had so much fun just sort of bullshitting offbrand that we couldn't help but have a good time here, for one of the most memorable ceremonies of the 2000s. Check it out!(Nominees we covered: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Walk the Line, Cinderella Man, Wallace & Gromit, March of the Penguins, Memoirs of a Geisha, King Kong, War of the Worlds, Narnia, Batman Begins, Revenge of the Sith, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory)

This week, the lovely and talented Jourdain Searles joins us to remember remember the 36th highest grossing film of 2006, the dystopian political thriller V FOR VENDETTA! We discuss the film's curiously dissonant relation to its graphic-novel source material, its resonance (or lack thereof) with its original Thatcherite origins vs. its War on Terror traipsings and its strange decision to closely adapted a lot of the novels' structure but hollow out its context, leaving an action-packed but oddly muddled narrative that makes perfect sense that people have, ironically, mostly forgotten forgotten as a piece of cinema. We discuss the disastrously mid work of director James McTeigue, Natalie Portman's catastrophically poor performance and the Wachowskis' decision to make the titular character a little fuckin' dweeb, less like Jigsaw and more like Batman, as well as its enduring power as symbolism, my enduring hatred for the Ain't It Cool News Butt-Numb-a-Thon, the enduring out-of-time qualities of the IMDb top 250, and how in the hell I'm familiar with all these mid-2000s R&B songs.It was so awesome having Jourdain here, we had so much fun, and I hope you'll join us! Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jourdain's Twitter: https://x.com/judysquirrelsJourdain's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/judysquirrels.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Surprise! Rob made a 5-plus-hour drive to New Jersey to attend in person a "stop and start" 20th anniversary screening of Kevin Smith's 2006 release CLERKS II, a film that absolutely did not make the top 50 (or even the top 100!) of the 2006 box office, but it was a film and director so deeply near and dear to his heart, and an experience so worth hearing about, that we had to do an episode on it. We grabbed our Unofficial Third Host Kevin Gray, who has a similarly reverent love for the film, and Rob's running things on this one, so we go looooong. (For the record, Clerks was also deeply important to me as a teenager as well, but nothing like these boys feel)Check this one out only if you absolutely positively have to hear everything about Clerks II, and about Rob's trip to visit Kevin (Smith) and Brian (O'Halloran), recounted in loving and entertaining detail to Kevin (Gray) and Brian (Schmid). There's part of this I haven't even heard yet! This shit brings the house down and we had so much exhausting, exhaustive fun doing it.YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

FOLKS! Our beloved fellow Cinemasochist Steve Carlson (guest of The Amityville Horror and The Dukes of Hazzard episodes) returns for what is, unexpectedly, perhaps Rob and I's most CONTENTIOUS DISAGREEMENT on a film yet: Tim Allen in THE SHAGGY DOG!We discuss this shambling, wooly franchise, from its unexpected origins in Weimar-Republic-era German literature, to its massive original late '50s hit that set the tone for decades of Disney live-action cinema, to its ultra-wacky and bizarrely canon-faithful(?!) belated follow-ups, to the career of one Tim Allen, starring with an insanely overqualified cast in in a completely forgotten resurrection of the IP that one of our hosts unexpectedly found a lot of philosophical animalistic value in, that had host and star feelin' like a big dog, woof, feelin' like a big dog, ayyy. Other topics of discussion include the sad legacy of original star Tommy Kirk, downloading films off of Morpheus, how Spencer Breslin taught us it was okay to be weird, the existential philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, me being a "badminton savant" and whatever the hell a "Wibberly" is.It's always a blast when Steve stops by and this episode is so fun because we're just so DAMN ROWDY, woof woof, feelin' like a big dog, ayyyyyyy. Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Steve's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/lcosgrove.bsky.social⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The great Jeb Lund (It's Christmastime, @Mobute) returns from our Longest Yard episode to cover another movie with an old football player in it, the demented high-concept rom-com Failure to Launch! Rob and I discuss our sharp digressions on the quality of the film: he passionately defines it as a thoughtful and clever film about a man fundamentally out of step with the confines of natural law, existing in a state of war with the natural world until his hubris is rectified by the love of a strong romantic partner. I, meanwhile, passionately define it as a dogshit movie where Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker swirl around a tedious idiot plot while occasionally suffering ludicrous slapstick animal attacks that get less and less funny the longer we go.Jeb was the perfect guest to have here thanks to his years of expertise in insipid Hallmark detritus, as we pick through the good and the bad of this wacky piece of work, from the high-point supporting cast (Kathy Bates, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper and even Terry Bradshaw doing charming work) to its demented B-Dub-3-ass climax, this movie is CERTAINLY never boring, and we definitely don't run out of things to discuss in this very VERY fun episode, including me making a righteous correction to the ACTUAL CREDITS OF THE FILM THEMSELVES. Check it out! We had a blast!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeb's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Mobute⁠Jeb's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mobute.bsky.social⁠ It's Christmastown: ⁠https://daveandjebarentmean.libsyn.com/⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our cherished pal Doug Tilley (Cinema Smorgasbord) makes his third appearance (Batman Begins, The Forty-Year-Old Virgin) on our show to cover an even more famous film: EIGHT BELOW, the forgotten Disney survival drama that takes a true story of tragedy and perseverance seminal to midcentury Japanese culture, removes most of the tragedy and all the Japanese people!We discuss this blandly professional but subtly disrespectful story of abandoned sled dogs and the people who purported to care about them. We get into Doug's experience caring for huskies, my completely disreputable dislike of animals broadly, and this film's extremely American sense of obsessive dog worship and sanitized half-measures, a film too intense for kids but too stupid for adults, that presents a sort of bastardization of a real feeling, a movie that wants you to care about dogs beyond the realms of all sense, and also unexpectedly wants you to care about if Jason Biggs is getting laid, beyond the realms of all sense.This episode was a complete blast, and we had way, way more fun than I anticipated we could with such a moribund film, a credit to Doug, a true pro who always enlivens any conversation he participates in. Check this puppy out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Doug's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/dougtilley.bsky.social⁠⁠Cinema Smorgasbord: ⁠⁠https://www.cinemasmorgasbord.com/⁠⁠The Dreamcast Files, episode 85 - Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHTmdt2ZJVcTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The wonderful and talented writer WILL SLOAN (Important Cinema Club Podcast, Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA) joins us for an absolute doozy, as we dive deep into the flawed and fascinating three-ring-circus oeuvre of the playwright, filmmaker and mogul TYLER PERRY, and cover his 2006 directorial debut MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION.We dissect his offbeat, auteurism, his violent tonal shifts between grotesque melodrama and ludicrous slapstick, and his maniacal attempts at balancing every facet of his personality. We also get into the perennially underserved black thespian class, the curdled religious psychopathy and domestic violence gags of his Chitlin Circuit live shows, his gestures to and away from respectability politics, the Three Faces of Perry, unexpected Lynchian staging, Maya Angelou's dissonant appearance, accusations of colorism and misogyny, and so much more. This is one of the wildest, most jam-packed episodes we've ever done, and it was such a pleasure to have Will there to volley with us, please check this one out, it rules! LET'S TRY TO BE FRIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENDS!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Will's Twitter: https://x.com/WillSloanEsqWill's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/willsloanesq.bsky.socialImportant Cinema Club: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-important-cinema-club/id1067435576Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA: https://www.amazon.com/Ed-Wood-Made-Hollywood-USA/dp/1682196410Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our brilliant pal and FOUR TIME B.O.G. Legend TJ Dobbin (Sin City, Batman Begins, Chicken Little) returns to help us inspect the Steve Martin entry in the PINK PANTHER series. We delve into the lengthy tail of the legendary original series (and one of our host's noted dislike for them!), and TJ schools us on the sprawling history of Depatie-Freleng studios and their prolific animated Panther output.Other topics include Shawn Levy's bizarre original choice for Clouseau, Martin's too-knowing eyes, Beyonce's bewilder anonymity, Emily Mortimer's hollow bones, an insane Bond cameo, Jean Reno's game commitment and secret nationality, the lackluster late seasons of BONES, leveling up in "street smarts", and Allen Iverson's role in making me love a monkey cartoon.At this point, you all know the greatness TJ always brings, and this was a BLAST; we packed SO MUCH good info into less than two hours, and I'm so excited for you to hear it to hear it. Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TJ's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tjamesdobbin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠TJ's Website: ⁠https://strawberrypenguin.ca/⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We invited our brilliant and funny pal Trevor Strunk (@Hegelbon, No Cartridge) to talk about an equally brilliant and erudite work, Martin Lawrence in BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2! We delve into the war crime that is the first film, with its implicit endorsement of sexual assault, and the extremely proto-Blartian second film's official position that starting a family with Nia Long is one of the most emasculating things one can do. We also discuss the film's unconscious endorsement of trans ideology, its active endorsement of ten year olds grabbing their butts, Zachary Levi's excellent politics, the finer points of Carpool starring Tom Arnold, a literary analysis of Sorority Boys and the lonesome ballad of Dookie Muncher.We had so much fun digging through the wreckage of this one and we got way more out of it than I even anticipated, so check it out! We had a blast!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trevor's Twitter: https://x.com/Hegelbon Trevor's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nocartridge.bsky.socialNo Cartridge: https://www.patreon.com/nocartridgeTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

SEASON 2 BEGINS!This week, after 50 weeks of 2005, we dive headfirst into the wild reeds of *2006*, and we pick up another returning BOG Legend, the great Daniel Gorman (from our Amityville Horror and Sky High episodes) to help us pick apart our first entry, the lugubrious vampires v. werewolves saga of UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION (#47 of 2006)! We delve into the series' ludicrously overcomplicated lore, its wildly overqualified supporting cast, and its delightfully stupid Badass 2006 qualities, dubbed "the most My Roommate Had This on DVD movie of all time". These all come together to make a movie that...one of our intrepid hosts kinda flat-out loved? We had a blast going into all the details of this wacky business, it was awesome to have Daniel back, and it's SO EXCITING to start 2006 in style! Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/DanielGorman20⁠⁠Daniel's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/danielgorman20.bsky.social⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our unofficial third host Kevin Gray (from our Pacifier and Forty-Year-Old Virgin episodes!) makes his triumphant return for our SEASON ONE FINALE!!!! We delve into Peter Jackson's grand epic KING KONG! We discuss Jackson's obsession with the material and its complicated rights issues, the film's gargantuan runtime, its beautifully rendered 1930s NYC setting, its incredible lead performances, especially the remarkable work by Andy Sirkis, its inexplicably rad video game, and its complicated critical and commercial response. We had a blast making this, despite the fact that I was CRAZY SICK during this recording and spent most of it with my head in my hands on the desk. Other than the intro, you can barely tell. THAT'S PROFESSIONALISM BAYBEE.Please check it out, we had so much fun!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/notoriouskpg⁠Kevin's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notorious-kpg.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our beloved pal Katie Stebbins (from our Herbie and Flightplan episodes) returns for the real main course here: the prickly, maniacal, fascinating Christmas family dramedy THE FAMILY STONE. We go way, WAY deep (tying our third-longest episode so far) on a movie that just needs it because there's just so much to untangle: this is a film packed with huge stars and WILD tonal swings, a film that lurches so wildly in different directions that it can so easily rub so many people the wrong way, a film that absolutely should not work in any way, and yet, somehow, does, thanks to its talented cast and fierce, committed spirit.This is a tremendous conversation, because we just kept finding more things worth unpacking, discussing, psychoanalyzing (I personally found this conversation extremely enlightening in regards to my own unconscious biases and how I process characters with anxiety, so this was unequivocally fascinating to me)Katie's always good to talk with, and after enlivening the chat on two dirtweed garbage movies, I'm excited to finally present her with a movie worthy of her time and conversation, because this one is one of the best episodes we've ever done, and I'd love for you to hear it!Preorder for Katie's amazing 1949 Film 'Zine (available 1/16): https://www.etsy.com/listing/4435144828/top-ten-by-year-1949-zine-9-pre-orderKatie's 2025 Media Scrapbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dJfm9BSETQ79HA9277MpF6ub3TX6B6WP/view?usp=sharingBrian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/_katiestebbins_⁠⁠Katie's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/feminaridens.bsky.social⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our expert Oscars handicapper and group-chat BFF Shaun Swayne follows up covering Best Picture winner CRASH by joining us for the film that should have won Best Picture, Ang Lee's moving, elegiac western BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. We delve into the fairly hostile culture that a movie about "gay cowboys falling in love" was released into, and the power of the film to override those qualms and become an enormous critical and commercial hit, thanks to the power of Lee's filmmaking and the entire complement of good young actors giving their all. We discuss its elegant, heartbreaking storytelling subtlety, my history with the towns of central Wyoming, and a tidal wave of hideous pop culture parody that obligates a shamed, surface-level speedrun through the references.This feels like the most emotionally incisive and possibly the best episode we've done, and I'm excited to bring it to y'all! Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our wonderful pal Kev Koeser (Tasting Menu) swoops in at the eleventh hour to save us again as we cover moribund Oscar bait Memoirs of a Geisha! We discuss its lackluster source material, its controversial casting, and somehow absolve Rob Marshall's direction as one of the least-guilty culprits here.Other topics include Spielberg's near-miss racial-insensitivity trifecta, the insanely poor plotting and pacing making our protagonist both basically a total bystander to her own narrative AND everything magically working out for her anyway, Ted Levine's biggest fan, and maybe the wildest pop culture reference Rugrats ever made.This was such a fun episode about such a long, slow movie, please check it out, we had a blast!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kev's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/maxrebosroadie.bsky.social⁠Tasting Menu: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tasting-menu/id1773585423⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The homie Soham Gadre (Chicago Reader, Fangoria, Paste Magazine, Polygon, Screen Slate, The Film Stage) joins us to take aim at the infamous biopic genre as we pick apart WALK THE LINE, a handsomely-made but inert piece of work that dives headlong into every winsome cliche in the book as it goes to cover the Man in Black. We discuss our distaste for the lurching, numbing structure of the genre, we talk about the disastrous decision to have Phoenix do his own singing, its disinterest in anything even remotely political or socially conscious, its disservice towards Cash's first wife and the actress hired to play here, and how two of us still kinda liked it? Thanks basically entirely to the photography and Reese Witherspoon's excellent performance.Other topics include Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, Stuart Little skateboarding existentially, a performance from a chicken outlaw with a brain transplant, having your life saved by cosmic berserker Werner Herzog, and the night that the skeletons came back to life.We had a blast with this thing ,CHECK IT OUT!Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soham's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sohamandcheese.bsky.socialSoham's Twitter: https://x.com/sohamncheeseTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver (⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠)

One of my podcasting heroes, the great Alex Goldman (Hyperfixed) braved illness and weather to join us for "the most mediocre film ever made", a film seemingly everyone has seen and no one cares about, the second-highest-grossing film of 2005, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.We discuss the film's nebulous religious bent, its inexplicably horrendous special effects work, and its listless direction and lead performances, as they spent the money and traveled the miles to imitate Lord of the Rings, but made it look like a green screen in the fields of England. Other topics include Tilda Swinton's white-girl dreads, the questionable ingredients of Turkish delight, and Santa Claus's gender essentialism. This was so much fun and I was so thrilled to have Alex on to make it sing, check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/AGoldmund⁠Alex's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/agoldman.bsky.social⁠Hyperfixed: ⁠https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/⁠Scout Tafoya: Unloved: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOFeRop1Zt8⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver (⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠)

In one of our absolute most fun episode so far, the great Daniel (y'know, from Sport!) joins us as our '05 holiday marathon continues with a completely non-existent, inexplicably summer-vacation-y Christmas release, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2. We allow ourselves to wander to and fro as we delve into the bizarrely detailed history of this franchise, which deviates greatly from its true-story origins as turn-of-the-century scientists, pick apart a movie that seemingly no one remembers, a plotless, listless, affectless summertime slapstick hangout mediocrity that is less unpleasant than its bullshit-heavy predecessor but just never once makes a case for it to exist. We had SO MUCH FUN sifting through the wreckage of this nothing garbage, this is maybe among the most fun episodes we've recorded, please check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/amcnal.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our holiday marathon continues as our pal Andrew McNally (Allston Pudding) stops by to delve into FUN WITH DICK & JANE, one of the least-existent films in our list, a belated remake of a completely forgotten late-70s fluffy social satire buoyed to the top 20, a little bit by culturally relevant corporate scandals and a LOT by the enduring star power of Jim Carrey. This one floated through a lot of hands before settling with a right-before-fame Judd Apatow script, Tea Leoni taking over in the Jane Fonda role, and Alec Baldwin basically playing Jack Donaghy a year before 30 ROCK.We delve into the film's strange anachronisms and unintentionally prescient present of this weird little anomaly, which feels like it was assembled by committee and yet inherited a very fitting cultural moment, a moment that Ralph Nader, Newgrounds, Enron, Jeff Garlin, shock collars, Darude's "Sandstorm", Rancid's "Time Bomb" , ICE, and our weird obsession with the Nostalgia Critic all intersect in a very fun episode.CHECK IT OUT!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceanviewdining.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our wonderful and erudite pal Scott Nye returns (first appearing on our Mr. & Mrs. Smith episode) for a movie that deserves much more thoughtful analysis, JARHEAD! We delve into the difficulty of selling a movie whose chief appeal is that it's unpleasant and nothing happens in it other than a lot of furious masturbation, the tangled web of Sam Mendes' cultural reputation, the iconographical ubiquity of "Jesus Walks" and the delirious, craven futility of making belated, ooh-rah terrorist-killing cash-in sequels to a work so disenfranchised with the military and its culture. This was a really awesome conversation with a lovely and smart friend about a movie seemingly everyone remembers but nooobody has gone back and checked on, basically a perfect choice for our project. Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scott's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/railoftomorrow.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )Convenient Parking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH68Atht7MMConvenient Parking 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJZ1-NQvHG4

We invite the charming, chaotic chatterboxes of The Weekly Podcast Massacre to be our guests for an episode covering the sprawling mortal chaos of YOURS, MINE & OURS. We delve into somehow the less successful of the two films released in late 2005 remaking a golden-age Hollywood film based on a true story about a couple trying to deal with the wacky hijinks of their large family of children. We discuss the much more compelling original film's powerhouse leads and interesting generation-gap plot line, the lament of another David Koechner appearance, a long, long, LONG list of actors that could have replaced Dennis Quaid, and, for some reason, the 2005 Royal Rumble?ALL THAT AND MORE ON THIS WILD, DELIGHTFUL, HILARIOUS EPISODE OF BOX OFFICE GROSS!!!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Podcast Massacre: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-podcast-massacre/id1575641950WPM's Twitter: https://x.com/WeeklyMassacreWPM's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/weeklymassacre.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We have been teasing this portent of doom for months and have finally arrived at the infamous CHICKEN LITTLE! We grab two true animation experts, the great TJ Dobbin (Sin City, Batman Begins) returns and the great Joe Kowalski debuts to pick apart this nightmare epic; its hideous animation, its compromised, borderline-nonsensical narrative, its painfully unfunny attempts at irreverence, the only thing more gobsmacking than how misbegotten this film was...was how phenomenally it did at the box office!We are compelled to delve into every facet of this baffling piece of work. Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TJ's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tjamesdobbin.bsky.social⁠⁠TJ's Website: https://strawberrypenguin.ca/Joe's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/pogiejoe.bsky.socialJoe's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PogieJoeTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our old pal Alex Watkins (BOG War of the Worlds) returns for one of the most anticipated episodes of the show: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit! We dive DEEP on stop-motion animation generally, Aardman Animation specifically, and a multitude of other topics as we journey through everyone's favorite old-man-and-dog pairing and their trip to the big screen, from their early history to suffering through notes from Dreamworks, and finally, INTO OUR HEARTS! Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/thamosdeafTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Diver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We go SOLO on this one, just two gents trapped in a bathroom trying to cut out feet off!We discuss the bizarre and influential and tremendously successful SAW series in what still qualifies as its nascent period, our adolescent fandom, and the specific innovations of SAW II: its ungainly melding of multiple scripts to distinct sections of "lore" and "game", its weird cast flourishes, making a star out of a 63-year-old Hollywood bit-part lifer, making a professional filmmaker out of the first ripoff they happened to run onto, its' bad plotting, ludicrous payoffs and grotesque gore being substituted for the original film's imagination, pointing towards the next decade in horror cinema, there's a LOT for us to talk about here, even sans guest. We honestly had SO much fun. Check it out!!!Windows (For Piet & Peter): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNrJzb_a9fYThe Dreamcast Files: #91 - "Spirit of Speed 1937": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsFrNh9DO10Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun's Twitter (not that he uses it!): ⁠⁠https://x.com/shaun2oo3⁠⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The great Esther Rosenfield (@capybaroness, The Lost Broadcasts) joins us to pick apart one of the worst and most befuddling films we've covered so far: the pseudo-horror COURTROOM DRAMA(?!) The Exorcism of Emily Rose! We discuss its baffling narrative structure, go deep on director Scott Derrickson's backstory leading up to this, and ask important questions like "is having an ambition towards philosophical thought enough?" "Is Laura Linney a good actress?" "did the audition for this movie just ask for your best backbend?", and most importantly, "why is any of this...like this?"Oh, and MOST most importantly, "how about them Nuggets?!?" We had so much fun ripping this nonsense to shreds, and I hope you have fun listening to it! Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther's Twitter: https://x.com/capybaronessEsther's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/capybaroness.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Surprise! We had a major multi-level cascading scheduling snafu the past few weeks so we decided, in lieu of having nothing at all, we would do something fun and silly: our pal Shaun Swayne (Crash) returns to join us a live commentary track to a movie that came up a LOT in recent weeks had been Kate Hudson and Gena Rowlands in THE SKELETON KEY, which none of us had ever seen. It's messy, it's ragged, but we had a lot of fun, and we hope you do as well! Thanks for your patience, thanks for being a listener!!!!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaun's Twitter (not that he uses it!): ⁠https://x.com/shaun2oo3⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The wonderful Katie Stebbins (Herbie: Fully Loaded) becomes our newest #BOGBFF as she makes her triumphant return for a real mess of a movie: Jodie Foster in FLIGHTPLAN, a theoretically twisty, tricky thriller where the only twist is that nothing makes sense and the only trick is that you thought it otherwise might. We discuss the film's impossibly nonexistent legacy for being one of the 20 highest grossing movies of its year, thanks to its preposterous, dishonest script that keeps you intrigued until the moment it reveals it has no clothes, as well as going deep into 2004's THE FORGOTTEN, a film with a nominally similar premise that goes in a much, much different direction.It's always a joy to have Katie on and we got REAL punchy during this record, we had an absolute blast! Check it out!"Rob's Spooky List": https://letterboxd.com/dunson/list/robs-spooky-list-2025/Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/_katiestebbins_⁠Katie's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/feminaridens.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

One of my oldest, dearest, smartest and coolest friends, yet somehow the second person in her household to be a guest, the very talented writer and PUBLISHED AUTHOR Willow Catelyn Maclay (Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema) joins the show this week to discuss Wes Craven's sweaty airplane thriller RED EYE. We discuss Craven's relief in making a quick, clean potboiler after his nightmarish odyssey filming the werewolf trash CURSED, heap loads of praise on stars Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy, and discuss the charming effectiveness of the film's increasingly ludicrous machinations. including its craziest of all: asking us to be emotionally invested in the continued well-being of the head of Homeland Security.We also have fun discussing the greatness of Eddie Kingston, an unexpected Survivor connection, a demented reality-show murder case, and the inexplicable success of the Denver Broncos. We had SO much fun as I knew we would, I am so thrilled to finally have Willow on the show and I can't wait to have her back. ALSO BUY HER AMAZING BOOK, which is linked below!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Willow's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/willowcatelyn.bsky.socialWillow's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/willowcatelynmaclayCorpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema by ⁠Willow Maclay⁠ (Author), ⁠Caden Gardner⁠ (Author) - ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Corpses-Fools-Monsters-Examination-Images/dp/1914420586Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We had to bring back two of our absolute favorite guests, Kevin Gray (The Pacifier) and Doug Tilley (Batman Begins) to cover the absolutely titanic pop cultural event that was The Forty-Year-Old Virgin. We discuss the seismic effect that this film had on comedy, pop culture and the careers of basically everyone who participated in it in the ensuing years, from Judd Apatow to Steve Carell to Seth Rogen to Paul Rudd to Elizabeth Banks and a bunch of folks in between. We also go very deep on the complicated experience experiencing and analyzing this film in 2025, the balance between the humanizing kindness the film does to its characters contrasted with its oafish, casually relentless homophobia, which is simultaneously more and less thorny than the lazy sexism of Wedding Crashers.This is maybe the best episode we have EVER done, and I'd love for you to check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Doug's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/dougtilley.bsky.social⁠Cinema Smorgasbord: ⁠https://www.cinemasmorgasbord.com/⁠Kevin's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/notoriouskpgTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Excited to have the big homey Aaron from the HIT FACTORY podcast join us for John Singleton's Detroit-set crime drama FOUR BROTHERS. We talk about the legendary Singleton's bumpy directorial career, FOUR BROTHERS's dizzying violence, outrageous action and unjustly nonexistent cultural legacy, its historical tendrils back to westerns and blaxploitation, its Marxist fist-fight climax, the effectiveness of immolation as a interrogation technique, the proper pronunciation of Outkast album titles, and if Garrett Hedlund looks like Charlie Hunnam.We had massive technical and sudden scheduling issues throughout this whole recording and I think considering all that, this came out delightfully fun and incisive about one of the best movies we've covered so far!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron's Twitter: https://x.com/HitFactoryPodHit Factory: https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypodTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

My cine-masochist brethren Steve Carlson returns from our AMITYVILLE HORROR episode to discuss an even more disreputable entry on the project, Jay Chadrasekhar's adaptation of THE DUKES OF HAZZARD!We get down and dirty discussing the mind-numbing plotting and popularity of the original show, the film's contemporary lineage of SUPER TROOPERS and JACKASS, its awkward handling of the show's Confederate iconography and a fascinating deep dive into Jay Chandrasekhar's memoirs recounting his attempts to wrangle mercurial childhood hero Burt Reynolds and studio interference regarding the casting of Jessica Simpson.This movie is bad but this episode is VERY GOOD.Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Steve's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/lcosgrove.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our delightful and erudite pal Daniel Gorman (BOG #13 - The Amityville Horror) returns to unexpectedly discuss an equally unexpectedly quite fun little Disney family superhero comedy, Kurt Russell and co. in SKY HIGH! We discuss the unusual route that Daniel came to appear on this specific episode, this forgotten movie overachieving thanks to its quality cast, good energy and genial humor at play, and the wistful idea that 2005 was basically the last time something like this would even get made and released into theaters. We have so much fun! Check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/DanielGorman20⁠Daniel's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/danielgorman20.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We welcome the lovely Michael Chau (@srirachachau) onto the show to talk about yet another real doozy, Tim Burton's massive hit remake CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. We discuss the film's strangely adversarial relationship to its beloved predecessor, Burton's tone-deaf restorations and destructive additions to the narrative, Johnny Depp's bizarre, catastrophic lead performance, Freddie Highmore's blank ass face, and somehow a lengthy discussion of Aaron Rodgers and his rancid personality?We had a blast, check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠Michael's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Srirachachau⁠Michael's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/srirachachau.bsky.social⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Diver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The man, the myth, behind our intrepid theme song, Cory "Ether Diver" Casciato joins us to pick apart the absolute juggernaut that is WEDDING CRASHERS, to try and figure out why on Earth this, of all films, was the first R-rated comedy to ever hit $200 million at the box office. Was it simply the power of Vince Vaughn's motormouth coke energy and Owen Wilson's laconic charm? We discuss the "Frat Pack" era, when the dominant strain of mainstream comedy was immature manchildren trying to reconnect with their past, and discuss how foreign that feels now that we have arrived at the ages of the characters in this film. Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/Cory's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/etherdiver.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Diver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

In one of our absolute best episodes yet, our wonderful longtime pal David Neary joins us to discuss one of the most picked-apart films on our list, Tim Story's 2005 adaptation of FANTASTIC FOUR! We discuss the series' comic origins, the difficulty with adapting these earnest, perennially-arguing Silver Age characters to modern screens, genre's cinema's fundamental buy-in w/r/t suspension of disbelief, and the revelation that we all secretly kinda liked this? We delve into TopTrumps, Heroclix, and the delicious Flame-Broiled Whopper(©)! As I said, we had an absolute blast on this episode, one of my favorites that we've done so far, and you should absolutely check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/David's Twitter: https://x.com/DeusExCinema

No one in our recent scheduling chaos has been bounced around more than Katie Conaglen but we’re so glad we finally got to record because she is absolutely essential to picking through the befuddling wreckage that is Nora Ephron’s BEWITCHED, an adaptation of the 60s sitcom seemingly no one wanted to make and no one had a good angle on, but what they eventually settle on is a BAFFLING misfire and you’ve gotta hear this amazing conversation with Katie!We discuss the bizarre oil-and-water pairing of Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, made worse by nonsensical character motivations, scattershot plotting and a wavering tone that makes you ask “what emotion am I even supposed to be feeling right now?”This movie is the kind of forgotten detritus that this show is made for, and Katie is an amazing guest, check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie’s Twitter: https://x.com/katrinaconaglenHappy 17th birthday Charlotte!!!https://x.com/schmanthonyp/status/1958490760271040775https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social/post/3lwvtgqfv2k2u

We make up for being a day late by bringing you the most hotly anticipated episode of this entire project in Steven Spielberg's harrowing, gargantuan WAR OF THE WORLDS and offering up two of the most prestigious and amazing guests we've had so far, the brilliant and prominent critic Bilge Ebiri (Vulture/The New Yorker) and one of the smartest and funniest guys running these Twitter streets in Alex Watkins (@thamosdeaf)We go DEEP for our second-longest episode so far, we discuss the perennial father/son fault line that runs through Spielberg's work, Cruise's disastrous public-relations tour that tainted the reputation of the film itself, the film's overwhelming evocation of 9/11 imagery, a kickass laser prog rock opera, the dangers of peanut allergies and the Tao of Michael Porter Jr.This was an incredible conversation and we had SO much fun, please check this out and tell everyone you know!Note: My microphone was malfunctioning for the first about 40 minutes of the episode; it's not THAT bad but it's not my usual standard and if it bothers you, note that It Gets Better lol*Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bilge's Twitter: https://x.com/BilgeEbiriBilge's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bilgeebiri.bsky.socialBilge Ebiri on Vulture: https://www.vulture.com/author/bilge-ebiri/Alex's Twitter: https://x.com/thamosdeafAmy Nicholson - How YouTube and Internet Journalism Destroyed Tom Cruise, Our Last Real Movie Star

This journey was TOO TREACHEROUS FOR GUESTS. Rob & Brian go guest-less as we discuss the astonishing success of the nature documentary MARCH OF THE PENGUINS.!We dig into the deep history of documentaries that found themselves as box office successes, we debate the moral and entertainment validity of the format, its strange transition from France to America, the long cultural tail of Morgan Freeman as the "Voice of God" and if it's even feasible for a documentary to have this sort of success in the modern world.This was so much more fun and engaging than I anticipated, come on and check it out!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Everything Takes Place, Even Dreams (Dunson Movies, 2020) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFNCqaMUZRwThe Dreamcast Files - Beyond Infinity: How a Bad Buzz Lightyear Game Reignited My Love for Gaming - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHTmdt2ZJVc&t=2684s&ab_channel=SchmidGame-DreamcastFiles

Our brilliant and beloved pal Katie Stebbins joins us to deconstruct HERBIE: FULLY LOADED, a bizarre attempt to resurrect a justly forgotten old-school Disney property for a modern era, and the result has the same stupid issues its forebears did. We dive deep on the entire LOVE BUG franchise, lament how queer black woman directors are rarely allowed to fail upward like their white male brethren, dwell on how deeply unsympathetic the titular car is in the narrative, and take a look at Lindsay Lohan in basically her last moment as a teen star before plummeting into tabloid abyss. We also recommend a great SURVIVOR season for beginners, and I get to talk about how Tony Stewart killed a guy! JOIN US!AURORA 4-EVER <3Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie's Twitter: https://x.com/_katiestebbins_Katie's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/feminaridens.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We snag up two of my favorite Newfoundlanders, the great Doug Tilley of the vast Cinema Smorgasbord podcasting episode, and contributions from the lovely TJ Dobbin, who was so wonderful on the SIN CITY episode, as we go DEEP on the origins of the Caped Crusaders with BATMAN BEGINS. We discuss how much of a not-sure thing a new, serious Batman film was in the post-Schumacher wilds, Liam Neeson's ridiculous haircut, the extent to which a family of billionaires can charitably be called "ethical", Cillian Murphy's sumptuous lips, my distaste for origin stories, my mom being rude to Adam West, and just what this film did to be called JoBlo Dot Com's Best Film of 2005.Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Doug's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dougtilley.bsky.socialCinema Smorgasbord: https://www.cinemasmorgasbord.com/TJ's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tjamesdobbin.bsky.social⁠TJ's Substack: ⁠https://strawberrypenguin.substack.com/ ⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Longtime friend of the show Scott Nye (@railoftomorrow) joins us to pick apart Doug Liman's MR. & MRS. SMITH, a staggering mess of a movie seemingly designed to draft off of its main characters' couples' charisma, but in a bizarre reversal, they were both dating other people and only became a couple after this film, which also fueled a tabloid mania that pushed this empty, broken garbage fire of a film to the top 10 of the year.We dive deep on this film's lame, pointlessly gendered conception of the murder business, how and why this film and Brad Pitt's public persona has been so uniquely poisoned in the wake of his abuse scandal, and well as Adam Brody being the only man in this film awarded for his status as a Choice Hottie. JOIN US!!!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scott's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/railoftomorrow.bsky.socialTheme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The great SCOUT TAFOYA (The Unloved, But God Made Him a Poet: Watching John Ford in the 21st Century, The Black Book: An Anthony Mann Reader) joins us for a lively conversation on all manner of topics centered around Ron Howard's period boxing drama CINDERELLA MAN. We discuss strong performances from Crowe, Zellweger and Giamatti, Howard's nebulous positions on topics political and social, the power of well-executed melodrama, the value of a well places cell phone to the dome, the absolute travesty done to Max Baer, and the enduring mystery of why the hell this prime cut of Oscar bait was released on the first weekend of June?!Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scout's Twitter: https://x.com/Honors_ZombieScout's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/honorszombie.bsky.socialThe Unloved:https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/scout-tafoyaBut God Made Him a Poet: https://www.amazon.com/But-God-Made-Him-Poet/dp/B0D97P3TP3Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Folks! The great Jeb Lund (@Mobute), the OTHER host of the delightful It's Christmastown podcast with he and David Roth, stops by to interrogate the poisoned faux-macho nightmare that is the Adam Sandler-starring remake of THE LONGEST YARD. I gleefully relish the opportunity to reference the who's who of bizarre mid-2000s roster of cameos, from pro wrestlers (Stone Cold Steve Austin! Goldberg! Kevin Nash! The Great Khali!) to weird ESPN/sports media people (Dan Patrick! Sean Salisbury! Michael Irvin! Chris Berman! Peter King! Jim Rome!) to just all manner of random athletes whose names star with B! (Brian Bosworth! Bill Romanowski! Bob Sapp!) Also D12 for some reason!We have a blast discussing the film soulless and borderline inappropriate attempts to emulate and launder the gritty original film, Adam Sandler's hilariously unbelievable role as an NFL league MVP and the reviling bigotry of the Happy Madison style. We have SO MUCH FUN.Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeb's Twitter: https://x.com/MobuteJeb's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mobute.bsky.social It's Christmastown: https://daveandjebarentmean.libsyn.com/⁠Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )