Sober Cinema

After a summer break we have our own podcast reunion as your three loveable (?) hosts return to their high school and college days as represented in two films that released on April 6, 2012 in AMERICAN REUNION and DAMSELS IN DISTRESS. One film has us feeling old as Jason Biggs and Sean William Scott try to relive the antics of sexual relations with delicious desserts, while the other has us feeling even older as we try to understand the appeal of starting a dance craze with Greta Gerwig. Also one host (Jared, of course) has a heart attack. The charms of The Gerwig are just that strong. Hopefully you find this episode charming and follow us at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Like an unwanted tenant we are back in your earbuds with our latest episode celebrating the 30th anniversary of BEETLEJUICE releasing into theaters and wondering how it would be received (or even made) in today's movie landscape. And then we head into uncharted territory with our chosen forgotten film released on the same weekend (and in this film's case, appropriately on April Fool's Day 1988) in the Demi Moore starring THE SEVENTH SIGN. It's probably for the best that films like this aren't made today but that doesn't mean we didn't have a lot of fun with this version of the apocalypse as foretold by Jesus, male model assassin. Follow us before the end times at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

We celebrate thirty-five years of never being sent to juvenile prison (though one of our hosts did participate in a frozen chicken strip heist as a camp counselor) by looking back to March 25, 1983 when THE OUTSIDERS and BAD BOYS were released to theaters. Among the many things we debate in this episode on ill-mannered young hooligans is which name is more badass: Ponyboy, Soda Pop, or Sean Penn? Also is it okay to laugh at the tears from a young Ralph Macchio? Most importantly... how did Francis Ford Coppola NOT KNOW what he had on his hands with a young Tom Cruise backflipping his way into being The Greatest Movie Star of All Time? None of these things will be answered to your satisfaction, but we appreciate the support at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Five years ago on March 22, 2013 two films attempted to educate American audiences on the importance of critical thinking, family bonds, and just how much of a creepy stalker Paul Rudd can be. THE CROODS opened to bigger box office returns, and at the very least has lived on in the hearts of children and Nicolas Cage, but did filmgoers miss something important in ADMISSION starring Tina Fey as a woman who has put her career goals over personal passion? Since we can only assume our listeners are both dumb and lazy (exactly why are you still listening to this podcast?) we give you the answers at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

On a Friday the 13th in March of 2015 moviegoers were encouraged to get active by two films: RUN ALL NIGHT and IT FOLLOWS. In the former, Liam Neeson is beating up bad guys yet again (the Nasty Hell Cat questions why he tends to beat up almost exclusively white men) all night long as they continue to chase them to their deaths, whereas Maika Monroe is running to escape death after participating in the great American past time of pre-marital teenage sex. Obviously we like one premise a whole lot more, and so did many others, as we look at a "forgotten film" in this independent horror movie becoming far more recognizable than yet another Neeson action movie three years later. Recognize us and our serious film criticism at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

For a celebration of the claws coming out at the movies one year ago in LOGAN and CATFIGHT we bring on our first ever guest! Jessi Lauren of the podcast MARK AS PLAYED joins your co-hosts to moderate their usual rage as they try to discern the love for the carnage of Wolverine's last stand (though not X-MEN: THE LAST STAND) and if movie lovers missed a similar love for violence in our chosen forgotten film with Sandra Oh and Anne Heche doing battle. Share your rage with us at the links below:Support what we do with bonus content and early episodes on PatreonListen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

We hit the road with two women on the run from abusive relationships and provide some abuse of our own to two films that opened on Valentine's Day 2013: SAFE HAVEN and LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE. Perhaps misreading these two movies but enjoying them nevertheless we examine just why a pie recipe is a smoking gun to a police detective, and if you are a retired professor providing sanctuary to a high end escort... STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. All of this and not much more can be found in this episode and at the links below:Listen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

On February 12, 1993 the world was introduced to the curse of two rodents at movie theaters in Harold Ramis' GROUNDHOG DAY and Peter Jackson's BRAINDEAD (or DEAD ALIVE in the States). We decide which of these curses are harder to stomach: eating the disgusting custard in the low budget horror film or falling in love with the incorrigible Bill Murray in the classic comedy. Come be disgusted by us in this episode and at the links below:Listen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Six years ago on February 3, 2012 this great country experienced two hauntings and the invasion of Daniel Radcliffe yet again to the top of the box office charts. And although THE WOMAN IN BLACK was popular enough to spawn a sequel (which was not so popular) we take this as an opportunity to play catch up with this ghost story as well as the one presented in Ti West's THE INNKEEPERS which had its limited release on the same weekend. Along the way we debate the roles chosen by the man previously known as Harry Potter, and also if a grown man is allowed to have a crush on Sara Paxton (SPOILER: Google says yes). Speaking of spoilers, stick around until the end of the episode as we debate both twist endings and how they add to the enjoyment of both films. Add to the enjoyment of your daily life by following us at the links below:Listen: iTunes/PodbeanFacebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Twenty years ago on January 30th 1998, two cinematic characters who value their estrangement from the world presented the good and evil aspects of this lifestyle. In a modern retelling of Charles Dickens' GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Anne Bancroft takes out her heartbreak on two children who will grow up to be Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, while the world's greatest detective in ZERO EFFECT mainly just annoys his partner, much to our amusement. Maybe its being forced to read the novel in high school but we obviously lean towards the more comedic study of detachment as presented by Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller in Jake Kasdan's forgotten gem, but then again there may be something to The Florida Cinematic Universe starring Chris Cooper. Listen to our latest episode to see if we finally give this Dickens guy a break and follow at the links below:Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

One year ago on January 20th, 2017 the world welcomed two beasts. One was a bald James McAvoy unable to live up to his promise of hair regrowth in M. Night Shyamalan's box-office hit SPLIT, and the other was a giant turtle that is a bit clingy but does like to get down with humans in Studio Ghibli's THE RED TURTLE. Our film programmer Mike attempts to lure out yet another beast, The Nasty Hellcat, from co-host Jared but alas he actually enjoyed himself this week so that is the world's loss. While talking about various identities in film, including a nod to the great GONE GIRL, we also talk about the different identities audiences bring to films of differing expectations. Which is basically just an excuse to bring up yet again why STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the biggest box-office hit to ever explain the concept of "why we can't have nice things." Bring your own various identities to this podcast by downloading it on at least 24 different devices!Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

The Internet loves PADDINGTON. And for the last three years, one of your hosts has never understood this. Maybe with a rewatch or some enlightenment from his co-hosts, this will change. What is also not likely to change is our attempts to champion a forgotten film; this week's selection is APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, which opened in the U.S. on January 15, 2015 alongside the talking bear movie. Desiree Akhavan's Brooklyn based comedy on a bisexual Persian American woman's attempts to recover from a breakup and find her place. Though it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, as you will find out... there is no stopping Paddington and his hard stare. He has taken control of the hearts and minds of Film Twitter and no Sundance darling can end this madness.Send help to Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Twenty-five years ago on this day, January 8th 1993, two actors would seek Oscar glory as Al Pacino and Robert Downey Jr. saw their films SCENT OF A WOMAN and CHAPLIN go into wide release across the country. Ultimately Pacino would claim an Academy Award for his role as Lt. Col. Frank Slade and some would argue that he would become defined by this character in future roles, continuing to play bombastic and brash, much to filmgoers pleasure or dismay. For Downey Jr. he attempted to define a man already famous from his work on the silver screen in this Richard Attenborough biopic of Charlie Chaplin. Looking back we lament the loss of Robert Downey Jr. the actor slipping into his role as opposed to playing a version of himself, and wonder if we've become far too comfortable as an audience with Al Pacino playing characters who make others uncomfortable.Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Start your year off with a couple of buddy movies that both released EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO on June 17, 2016: CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE and THE LAST KING. The former starring current box office champs from the new JUMANJI film, DWAYNE JOHNSON and KEVIN HART, and the latter starring skiing enthusiasts from Norway. And while the American action comedy was already held in high esteem from your hosts, revisiting this weekend in film forces the hosts to make some discoveries about their own hopes, dreams, and desires... mainly skiing. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

On this episode we repeat Christmas movies, and not just A CHRISTMAS STORY, as your hosts look back at the films that have aged gracefully over many a holiday season and those that look like Billy Bob in BAD SANTA. Also we attempt to figure out just what those damn kids are into when it comes to what Freeform is playing for the holidays, and if it's time to just give up and move to Pottersville. Happy holidays from three Scrooges and with that... please subscribe to this podcast. It's a gift for both of us.Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Hungover from Christmas? Well we have two movies that feel like a hangover (and not THE HANGOVER which one of these films hoped for) in our latest offering during the holiday season. On December 9, 2016 two films focusing on the combustible combination of comedy and careers arrived like a lump of coal: OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY got a wide release and achieved modest box office success, while THE COMEDIAN starring Robert De Niro premiered in limited release in pursuit of Oscar glory. It is not a spoiler to say that neither film presented on this podcast won any Academy Awards. Which puts these films in the appropriate company of your hosts of SOBER CINEMA! Enjoy(ish).Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

Some may think its a little too quick to revisit Christmas Eve, as it was two days ago. But we think even more of you would agree that it's too soon to revisit CHRISTMAS EVE the film from TWO YEARS AGO. Fortunately this little seen (with good reason) holiday movie was released alongside KRAMPUS on December 4th, 2015, so we hope Santa had your hosts Jared, Mike, and Josh on the nice list back then as we really want a good movie to be featured on this podcast. Come get trapped with us this Christmas and we'll all find out together!Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema

In our very first episode we forge a podcast alliance based on deception and raw sexual tension as your hosts Josh, Jared, and Mike take a look back at films released on the same weekend one year ago: ALLIED and ALWAYS SHINE. In Robert Zemeckis' mainstream wide release we have movie stars Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard playing married spies who may still be on the job as they attempt to start a domesticated family life together. In Sophia Takal's limited release from Thanksgiving weekend of 2016 we see a previously close friendship of two actresses unravel as their professional paths diverge and also perhaps their personalities in this twisted take on cabin in the woods horror. Did the big budget throwback to Hollywood spectacle deserve its middling reviews? And does the little seen indie with a great performance from Mackenzie Davis deserving of more judging eyes? Find out in our inaugural episode of SOBER CINEMA.Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sobercinema