The Shining (Recorded in 2012)

We all shine on! (just some more than others). This week we review the 1980 Stanley Kubrick classic The Shining, based on the novel by Stephen King and starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Defying the usual horror movie gimmicks, Kubrick does what few directors are able to do, convert the The Overlook Hotel itself into a villain, packing it with an eerie cavernous malignancy that is without parallel in cinema. Matt attempts to put to bed the whole "movie not as good as the book" argument, while Mark gives his first-timer thoughts on the film. Here's Johnny! Enjoy!

Download: The Shining (Recorded in 2012)

174 2001: A Space Odyssey

Mopping up the Kubrik, Matt and Mark finally get around to reviewing the flawed masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. A film broken up into four vignettes, we go about reviewing it as such. Despite all the big themes of human evolution and questions of mankind's existential crisis in the universe, what 2001 gets right is humanity's relationship with the tools it has created, and how we are now at the whims of those tools, good, bad, and indifferent. So open up the pod bay doors and set the controls for the heart of the sun (cue Pink Floyd... now!).

Download: 174 2001 A Space Odyssey

173 Somewhere In Time

Matt and Mark attempt to break out of our cult film review comfort zone this week and review the 1980 sci-fi fantasy romance Somewhere In Time. Trying to go gynocentric, we fail at finding the appeal of this film as it would pertain to the ladies. Centered around a somewhat charmless 36 hour romance more typical of bodice-ripper fair, it becomes an exercise in forced gravitas, leaving the viewer little investment in its time-crossed lovers' tragedy.

Download: 173 Somewhere In Time

172 Under The Skin

This week we get back into the serious and review Jonathan Glazer's enigmatic Under The Skin, starring Hollywood A-lister ScarJo as the alien seductress. More evocative than thematic, its disturbing imagery sticks with you long afterward. Matt attempts to find an analogy for the alien's motivations, but such metaphors may defy what the film was trying to provoke. Perhaps it is best to leave Under The Skin as undecipherable as a street conversation among Scottish Glaswegians.

Download: 172 Under The Skin

171 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

Matt and Mark's Summer of Funny concludes this week with our review of Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie. T&C's brand of humor isn't for everyone, but if you can handle its mix of stupidity and darkness, there's genuine comedy to be had. While Ebert's write-off of the movie is understandable (0.5 stars), dopey overweight white guys with a healthy disdain for corporate propaganda (no one we know of course) should enjoy this movie more than your average joe film critic.

Download: 171 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

170 Up In Smoke

Our penultimate film for the Summer of Funny, this week Matt and Mark review the cult stoner classic Up In Smoke by comedy duo Cheech (Marin) and Tommy (Chong). While stoner humor tends to be one note (or one toke), C&C deliver a nice combo of outrageous characters stirred up with a nice mix of comic timing and physical humor. So head down to your local weed shop (unless you live outside the spliff utopias of Colorado and Washington State), kush out, and take a low ride into the bakey funny.

Download: 170 Up In Smoke

The Wicker Man (Recorded in 2012)

It's time for your appointment with The Wicker Man! This week we review the 1973 cult classic by Robin Hardy. Rated as one of the top ten British films of all time, The Wicker Man defies film making convention, skirting the line between horror and thriller, while making a comment on religion and its relationship to modern society. While paid nothing for his work, Christopher Lee stars as Lord Summerisle in this breakout role that would eventually lead him to later fame in the Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars prequels. Besides a little sacrificial unpleasantness, both Matt and Mark agree, to be a 'born again pagan' may not be all that bad. Enjoy!

Download: The Wicker Man (Recorded in 2012)

169 Caddyshack

Odd... no picture of Michael O'Keefe on the poster? Yep, that's correct. All by design. While originally scripted to follow the trials and tribulations of Danny Noonan and the caddies, the five hours of film quickly got whittled down to give the four major comedy players more screen time (Knight, Dangerfield, Murray, Chase). Matt and Mark continue with the "Summer of Funny" by review the one-and-only Caddyshack. If there was a sequel, let us all forget...

Download: 169 Caddyshack

168 Strange Brew

A film from the darkest depths of Matt's nostalgia, this week we continue the "Summer of Funny" and review the 1983 comedy Strange Brew. Mark basically tells this film to "take off, eh!" And as Matt dissects the bits, it seems the ghosts of his eleven year old self resurfaces to defend, however meekly. With so few Canadian stereotypes out there (sadly no Red Green blockbuster as of yet), we're left with the brothers McKenzie. So don't be a hoser, crack an Elsinore (or a Labatt's, Moslon, or Kokanee) and check out the film, eh?

Download: 168 Strange Brew

167 Young Frankenstien

It's alive! ... alive!!! This week we review the Mel Brooks masterpiece Young Frankenstein starring the great comedic actor Gene Wilder. While a bit averse to slapstick, Matt tries to drink the farcical potion of this comedic retelling aided by Mark's soft sell. A nod to the old timey comedies of the Marx's, it mixes physical comedy with innuendo in an homage that doesn't mock but instead pays homage. And Oh yeah... Mark and Matt both agree that Terry Garr was hot! hot! hot! tsss...

Download: 167 Young Frankenstien

166 Napoleon Dynamite

Apparently it takes an LDS BYU grad to truly get the nerd right when it comes to Hollywood film making. Scrap the stereotypes of the late night hacking (but cool) nerds of standard film fare, because the true nerd is one like Napoleon, social hobbled yet obsessed over things which bring no social currency. One of Matt's favorite funny movies, it's hard to watch ND with a straight face, even if you've seen the film too many times to count. Anyway, Vote for Pedro and enjoy.

Download: 166 Napoleon Dynamite

165 Airplane!

Matt and Mark's "Summer of Funny" rolls on with the 1980 corn-ball classic Airplane! A farcical send up of the 1957 film Zero Hour, Airplane! rolls out its gag like a prop-comic act spinning the figurative into the literal for comedic hilarity. Does it hold up today? More or less, despite the Hari Krishnas at the airport (is that even a thing anymore?) and the strange notion of serving complimentary dinners aboard domestic flights.

Download: 165 Airplane!

The Warriors (Recorded 2012)

Can you dig it!! This week we review the 1979 street gang classic The Warriors by Walter Hill. While firmly set in the late 70's nocturnal blight of New York City, The Warriors defies its reality with a stylized depiction of gang fiefdoms and eerie synth-rock soundtrack, courtesy of Barry De Vorzon. Enter the world of terrifying baseball Harlequins (Baseball Furies!) and Afro-chopsocky legionnaires (Grammercy Riffs!) with our discussion of this cult classic. Enjoy boppers!

Download: The Warriors (Recorded 2012)

164 Smokey and The Bandit

Little did we all know that it was truckers and CB's that pioneered the art of wi-fi and chat rooms back in the day. Smokey and the Bandit introduced America to the adventure/comic-laid world of the big rig trucker and his Southern domains via comedic stylings of legend Jackie Gleason and Burt Reynolds. Matt is disappointed his childhood nostalgia for such fair, infused with hot wheels sandbox antics and pre-pubescent notions of romance, didn't send him back into yesteryear. However, Mark's first viewing left a positive impression. Pop a Coors, sit back, and relax good buddy 10-4.

Download: 164 Smokey and the Bandit

163 Zoolander

An Ebert one-star movie, Matt and Mark come across probably one of the famous film critic's worst reviews of all time. Conflating Zoolander's "insensitivity" to the events of 9/11 is probably one of the greatest stretches since the Olympic pole vault record was broken. Regardless, derived from Ben Stiller's hilarious "Ben Stiller Show", Zoolander deftly ties all its sketches in with a fairly consistent and well written story line. So grab a hose of 87 Octane and let the fun begin!

Download: 163 Zoolander

162 Real Genius

The nerd stereotype, codified recently by such sitcom fair as Big Ban Theory, is much more nuanced and varied than your typical comic book nerd, as depicted in 1985's classic Real Genius. Chris Knight, Mitch Taylor, and Lazlo Hollyfield portray well thought out three dimensional characters that offer up a tiny comedic slice of the genius mind. While playing loose and fast with technical development cycles for military hardware and procurement timelines, Real Genius makes science coooool!

Download: 162 Real Genius

161 Monty Python and the Holy Grail

"Not dead yet!!" This week we review the quintessential Monty Python classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As opposed to the typical quotes and rehash of scenes, Matt and Mark attempt to rate the top bits from this sketch comedy classic and arrive at the same number one. Can you, dear listener, guess which one? Comedies are always a challenge to review, but unlike Sir Robin, we do not run away!

Download: 161 Monty Python and the Holy Grail

160 Get Carter

This week we review the classic British crime film Get Carter released in 1971. A view into the gritty proletariat British underworld, this groundbreaking film dispenses with the flash of previous British efforts, likening itself more to American detective stories. Mark feels its influences may have come full circle however, with directors like Guy Ritchie emulating Get Carter but unfortunately falling into a stylized glammy traps. A classic anti-hero feast, Michael Caine is the definition of the "smooth criminal."

Download: 160 Get Carter

Dark City (Recorded 2012)

We review the certified cult classic Dark City by Alex Proyas (released in 1998) in this week's episode. While both admitting this film is an amazing, groundbreaking, and influential piece of cinema, we spend a great deal of time discussing the film's theme (and our minor confusion thereof...) with a bit of nitpicking... perhaps undeservedly. Avoiding the usual scene-by-scene breakdown (we leave that up to Roger Ebert's excellent DVD commentary), we instead stick to 'big picture' concepts in the film. I tout its Sci-Fi street cred, while Mark begs to differ... Dark City stars Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt. Enjoy!

Download: Dark City (Recorded 2012)

159 Strangers with Candy

This week we review the sketch comedy adaptation Strangers with Candy. A lukewarm response from both Matt and Mark, Matt tries to dissect why 30 minute sketch comedy shows tend to limp into mediocre 90 minute films. It could be that while Amy Sedaris's Jerri Blank is funny for a 10 minute block, stretching this unlikable character to film length becomes challenging. Anyway, Mark has declared this the summer of 'funny', so let this be the vanguard.

Download: 159 Strangers with Candy

158 Red

This week we review the evocative Krzysztof Kieslowski swan song Red from his Three Colors Trilogy. A universally praised movie, its themes focus on the ideas of chance relationships and redemption. Mark brings up an interesting point however: while the main character is female, her story and character seem to take a back seat. Why? I don't think we'll ever know. A beautiful film of masterful detail, regardless.

Download: 158 Red

157 The Room

Oh hi! We're back. This week we review Tommy Wiseau's 2003 disasterpiece The Room! Mark brings some back story to the podcast while Matt brings his voice (back). Yes, it's been awhile as a Westeros class winter cold has ruined Matt's voice for much of the past month. Anyway, make sure to go out and catch the MST-3K 2015 release of The Room in a theater near you.

Download: 157 The Room

156 Das Boot

This week we took a significant portion of our free time and devoted it to watching the 3.5 hour directors cut of Das Boot. Divorced of U.S. war film tropes, Das Boot offers up a depiction of war that combines the psychological with action in a way that forces the watcher to feel the claustrophobia and terror of war at sea. Despite its subject matter, Das Boot is also an exposition on the mechanical wonders of undersea warfare, strangely making it one of Matt's adolescent cult hits.

Download: 156 Das Boot

155 District 9

Matt and Mark review the Oscar nominated District 9! One of the better Sci-Fi films in recent years, the film asks question about our humanity by our reaction to the inhuman. Despite its many plot holes and heavy handed themes, District 9 creates characters you feel invested in (human and alien) and builds a level of tension in its beautiful action sequences. Additional D9 is a technical achievement that uses CGI in way that compliments film making as opposed to detracting from it.

Download: 155 District 9

Max Max 2 - The Road Warrior (Recorded 2012)

We up the production value with a little bumper music courtesy of Dan-O at www.danosongs.com while adding in a little Ebert-esque intro clip. In this week's episode, we discuss the seminal cult classic Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, a cult movie if there ever was one. Mad Max 2: TRW was a watershed moment for action film and the post apocalyptic fiction in general. It literally defined the look and feel of the genre. The Road Warrior was written and directed by George Miller and stars the volatile and never boring Mel Gibson. Enjoy...

Download: Mad Max 2 - The Road Warrior (2012)

154 Easy Rider

The ultimate movie of the short lived motorcycle genre, Easy Rider takes the societal outcast counter-culture mythos to a new level. In their road quest, Wyatt and Billy realize they too have fallen prey to the machinery which they seek to rise above. Because in the end, they're just a couple of capitalists working their end of a scheme, man. "We blew it Billy!" A 60's complete with stereotypical flaky hippies and homicidal rednecks, Easy Rider let's you once again fly the tattered freak flag.

Download: 154 Easy Rider

153 The Birds

Matt has somewhat recovered from his apocalyptic cold, at least enough to mumble about these god damned Birds!! This week we review the Hitchcock classic 'The Birds'. While many have speculated about Hitchcock's greater message with the film, the simplest answer may be the most truthful: filling a town full of maniacal swarming birds just seemed like a bad ass enough premise, right? So, sit down to a nice plate of crow, and enjoy!

Download: 153 The Birds

152 Dirty Dancing

This week Matt and Mark embark on a voyage of teenage girl wish fulfillment and for our listeners, do not come up empty handed. To be as dismissive of this film as Ebert is would be to do it injustice. Just like elves and trolls are to adolescent boys, Johnny Castle is to adolescent girls. So what if the archetype is implausible? Doesn't matter. Whether it be a teenage vampire, an s&m billionaire, or a dance virtuoso at a blue blood Catskills resort, all that matters is they see Baby in the corner and lament whoever it is that put her there.

Download: 152 Dirty Dancing

151 The Raid: Redemption

A film of choreography, physical expression, and near musical rhythm, The Raid: Redemption serves up kung fu style violence as a Bollywood film serves up its musical numbers. This not a film about violence, don't make that mistake, this is a film whose medium is violence. There's really no morality tale, despite the title. So if you're craving a blitz of gonzo chop socky, The Raid Redemption is for you!

Download: 151 The Raid: Redemption