We Paid To See This

It’s a bit of a dry spell this week, but we still head to the banks of the river of film, and sift for them nuggets of gold. We talk the Hulu doc, ‘Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of the Dana Carvey Show’ (Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel), and the world’s first completely oil painted feature, ‘Loving Vincent’ (Douglas Booth, Chris O’Dowd, Saoirse Ronan). We shout ‘Deneuve’, get giddy over shark poop, and lose an ear for the second week in a row. Darren gets the tweet of a lifetime, and we add a little more to our review of ‘The Post’. From Vincent van Gogh, to holes that blow, we’re still, strictly, a movie podcast. 

It’s an entire episode of biopics all set in the 1970's. Three, in fact!  ‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’ The Paul McGuigan biopic about old Hollywood film star Gloria Grahame and her relationship with a much younger actor (Annette Bening, Jamie Bell ,Julie Walters). Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ (Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks) - about the famous ‘Pentagon Papers’ leak and the Washington Post’s brave decision to print at a time when freedom of speech and the role of the media was under threat by the White House. Sound familiar? Finally we check out ‘All the Money In The World’ (Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg, Christopher Plummer) - the Ridley Scott directed biopic about the kidnapping of 16 year old John Paul Getty III and the attempt to get his billionaire Grandfather to pay a ransom for his life. Plus, an infamous but banished Hollywood outcast tries to get some air time.  

We’re back from break with two films by a couple of Hollywood’s biggest creators; Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Molly’s Game’ (Jessica Chastain, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera) and Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Phantom Thread (Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville). We talk greatest PTA/Philip Seymour Hoffman breakdowns, the seemingly ruthless determination of winter olympians, and we both get involved in a traumatic movie going experience. Darren forces himself to focus on Anthony’s longwinded musings.

Did you think we'd ignore you? Who do you think we are? We got you, fam! Here's a little tidbit of extra sauce for your brand-spankin' 2018. Thanks for an amazing year and here's to another year of amazing movies.

Our end of year special where we discuss our lists of top 10 favorite movies released in 2017, as well as honorable mentions and a few stinkers.  From 'Ingrid Goes West' to 'The Justice League', From 'The Last Jedi' to 'I, Tonya' - we run the gamut of genres to select and discuss the films of 2017 that truly made an impact upon us, positive and negative. You might be surprised to find which movies made which lists!

CONTAINS SPOILERS! There’s been a disturbance in the force. A new Star Wars movie is always a seismic event but neither Darren or Anthony expected this one to stir up the ground shaking divide of intense reaction Rian Johnson’s ‘The Last Jedi’ has.  Unless you’ve been hiding under a (Dagobah) rock, you’re aware this installment, the 8th in the saga series, has challenged audiences and quite literally divided opinion. We both LOVED really liked and really didn’t like parts of this movie, and that’s OK.  In this episode, we discuss why. Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega,  Kelly Marie Tran, Benicio del Toro, Laura Dern, Domnhall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Ngô Thanh Vân and more.

This week, we get right down to business and butt heads over Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' (Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer), rave about the Tonya Harding biopic, 'I, Tonya' (Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney), then segue into a conversation about being constantly connected to everything in the age of the Internet. Michael Stuhlbarg continues to deliver the goods, and Darren fends off 'The Last Jedi' spoilers. We attend a Q&A from a movie we may have mentioned called, 'Call Me By Your Name'.

This episode is jam-packed with almost as much movie talk as sexual innuendo. Anthony sees Dee Rees' new Netflix film, 'Mudbound' (Jason Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blidge, Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund), and Darren sees another showing of 'Call Me By Your Name'. We also talk James Franco's 'The Disaster Artist' (Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Seth Rogen), and Darren sees 'Call Me By Your Name'. Plus Darren sees 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Call Me By Your Name'. We love our stuffed animals, get ready for 'The Last Jedi', and drink a whole lot of caffeine. We watch 'Call Me By Your Name'. AGAIN. Teddy Bears are the new peaches. 

We're back from our respective Thanksgivings, and after we're done musing about family and food, we get down to business. Reviews include Pixar's 'Coco' (Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez), 'Darkest Hour' (Gary Oldman, Ben Mendelsohn, Lily James), and Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of 'Call Me By Your Name' (Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg). 'Lady Bird' and 'In Bruges' are touched on, 'Frozen' gets shamed, and Darren's sultry tones read to you from a book. Snapple Facts return!

We recount drunken nights, Mario Batali's cannoli, and a new way to let people know you're interested. Movie reviews include Zack Snyder/partially Joss Whedon's 'Justice League' (Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller), Richard Linklater's 'Last Flag Flying' (Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne), and the Netflix documentary, 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond' (Jim Carrey, Andy Kaufman, Danny DeVito). Charles Manson's dead, but one of us eats ice cream cake with just his face, so consider the crazy-void filled. Public Service Announcement: Know which side of the shot glass you're drinking from.

Darren flies straight in from Mexico just in time for this week's round of reviews. Movies include Martin McDonagh's 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell), Kenneth Branagh's 'Murder on the Orient Express' (Judy Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe), and 'My Friend Dahmer' (Ross Lynch, Anne Heche, Vincent Kartheiser). We talk about the intimacy of borrowing cellphones, Darren fends off an aggressive wedding dancer, and Anthony has a series of complicated run-ins with a neighbor. We ponder Jeffery Dahmer's ideal menu.

Darren leaves for college, Anthony takes an uncomfortable shower, and we dive straight into two movies; Taika Waititi's hilariously epic 'Thor: Ragnarok' (Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo), and Greta Gerwig's second directorial feature, 'Lady Bird' (Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Lucas Hedges). Jeff Goldblum rockets through the Goldblum ceiling. Both of us get a little homesick. Plus, we finish our thoughts on the newest season of 'Stranger Things'.

As darkness falls across the land on this fair All Hallows' Eve, we fall directly into your ear pits. Reviews include the #1 movie in the country, the newest 'Saw' installment, 'Jigsaw' (Tobin Bell, Matt Passmore, Hannah Emily Anderson), and George Clooney's latest directorial effort, 'Suburbicon' (Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac). We scare you with our horrifying tales of blood pudding, and water bottles. Darren whoops it up at a Halloween party at the Jackson's house on the weekend, and Anthony really doesn't ruin 'Stranger Things', probably. We also chat about the new re-release of 'Little Shop of Horrors', and Vince Vaughn's new film, "Brawl in Cell Block 99". How do you achieve the desired consistency of your bowel movements?

It's a one movie kind of week! And that movie is Yorgos Lanthimos' follow up to 'The Lobster', 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' (Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan). We rave about Alicia Silverstone's performance, add a new entry to the list of Cinema's Most Uncomfortable Handjobs, and one of us reveals a never before heard secret. Darren pitches his idea for Hollywood's newest celebrity installation, and Anthony talks to his log at the new Double R Diner in Los Angeles. Finally, we give some love to Netflix's new comedy special, 'Patton Oswalt: Annihilation'.

Amidst a sea of emotion, we bring you the reviews of three movies: Noah Baumbach's frustratingly titled film, 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)' starring Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Dustin Hoffman, HBO's aptly titled Steven Spielberg documentary, 'Spielberg' (Brian De Palma, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas), and the just...simply titled horror/comedy, 'Happy Death Day' (Jessica Rothe, Ruby Modine, Israel Broussard). Baseball heartbreak, dolphin drama, and the world's longest pee take center stage.

We speak to you amidst the dropping of the 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' trailer, and its subsequent ticket sale frenzy. Still, we review two films, 'The Florida Project' (Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite), and Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic, 'Blade Runner 2049' (Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto). After a week of reflection, we talk about the passing of Tom Petty, and recommend Peter Bogdanavich's biopic, 'Running Down a Dream'; which can be found on Netflix. Anthony wants to be where the prostitutes and cops are, and Darren continues to fight disease.

One of us is sick, and the other one is working on it. Heal us with your ears! We review Harry Dean Stanton's posthumous film, 'Lucky' (David Lynch, Ron Livingston, John Carroll Lynch), Stephen Frears' Queen Victoria biopic, 'Victoria and Abdul' (Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Eddie Izzard), and Doug Liman's 'American Made' (Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright). Anthony escapes a mechanical arm, Darren won't rehearse just anywhere, and we talk Tom Petty.

This X-tended episode is jam packed with four phat films. Including, writer/director Mike White's latest, 'Brad's Status' (Ben Stiller, Austin Abrams, Michael Sheen), Lady Gaga's Netflix doc, 'Gaga: Five Foot Two' (directed by Chris Moukarbel), the Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs biopic, 'Battle of the Sexes' (Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Bill Pullman), and 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' (Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore). We hit some balls, suck up airtime, and try to please you. We talk the monster that is fame, and get in touch with ASMR.

This week in SPOILERS, we review 'Mother!'  No, not your mother, Darren Aronofsky's 'Mother!' (Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Harris). And yes we give a good chunk of the film away, so see the movie first, or play fast and loose with your SPOILER ALERT. We also see film essayist, and first time, feature filmmaker Kogonada's love letter to modern architecture, 'Columbus' (John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson, Parker Posey). Plus, Anthony completely blows a film recreation, and Darren expels all of his social energy. We talk Facebook unfriending, and say goodbye to Harry Dean Stanton. 

Darren review's the latest, increasingly popular adaptation of Stephen King's 'IT' (Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis), and Anthony tackles Lake Bell's new feature, 'I Do...Until I Don't' (Ed Helms, Paul Reiser, Mary Steenburgen, Amber Heard). We Bruce Springsteen-ify some adult contemporary hits, rave about Dolly Wells, gush over the studly Richard Dreyfuss and his Oscar winning role in Neil Simon's 'The Goodbye Girl' and talk about our own personal Pennywises. John Wayne Gacy wins. At the top of the show, 'Ingrid Goes West' gets a little more love and we take a look back at teen Jodie Foster's controversial thriller, 'The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane'.