Hold Up

In 2010 Darren Aronofsky unleashed the ballet hellscape upon us with his award-winning, Black Swan. Featuring Natalie Portman as a ballet dancer driven mad with ambitions drive and paranoid vigor as she tries to be crowned Swan Queen. However, her anxiety gets the best of her when Mila Kunis appears as the dancer who could challenge her throne. This film was an award-winning thriller that brought Portman the best-actress Oscar, but does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin, and Brent ask why sex scenes are so short and how multiple personalities can help as we try to figure out if this is a beautiful swan or an ugly duckling.

In 1997 we received David Fincher’s follow-up to Se7en with, The Game, a sleek action-filled drama starring Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn, and James Rebhorn. Douglas takes point as Nicholas Van Orton, a man with everything who has lost the love for life, and so his brother gives him a very unique birthday gift, an immersive game that will force him to face his demons. However, the lines between ruse and reality are blurred and Nick must kill himself so everyone can party! Sound intriguing? Sure. Does it Hold up? Maybe. Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate splitting the cheque and suicide-themed parties as we try to figure out if The Game wins or we lose.

The Coen brothers broke into the ‘90s with the noir-styled gangster flick, Miller’s Crossing, starring Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, and Albert Finney. This film details the story of the second in charge of an Irish mob gang who is exiled from his family in an attempt to save them from themselves but finds himself in even more trouble when he gets involved with the rival family and tensions flare. This flick was a box office failure, but has seen critical praise and is a memorable component of the Coen’s amazing catalogue. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss banging the boss’s wife and how alcohol can fix your problems as we figure out if you should visit Miller’s crossing or take a detour.

In 1986 a strange thing happened—filmmaker David Lynch released a little movie called Blue Velvet and everyone who watched it...well, their brain exploded. What happened? What did they see? What did it mean? And why is Dennis Hopper so obsessed with it being dark all the time? No one knew then, and we're going to guess that in 2022, nobody still knows. The story follows our hero Jeffery Beaumont, a young clean-cut, straight arrow who comes home from college after his father suffers from a stroke and then he decides to become an amateur detective/pervert to solve the mystery of an ear he finds in a field. It’s not long before Jeffery finds himself embroiled in a cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous man named Frank (Dennis Hopper) and his crew. He also becomes involved in a sexual relationship with Dorthy, a singer who wants him to beat her, and at the same time starts wooing Sandy, the daughter of a police detective. Things escalate from there and this culminates with some of the most bizarre and mind-bending s

In 2010, writer David Seidler and Director Tom Hooper felt that there was not enough drama when England went to war with Germany in 1939. So, they decided to take a different spin on the familiar story of King Edwards VIII's abdication from the Throne, paving way for stammering King George VI to take the throne and give huge public wartime speeches in, The King's Speech. Nominated for 12 Oscars, TKS brings together a great cast consisting of Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pierce, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, and many other familiar and talented faces. Raking in over $400M on a budget of $15M, The King's Speech puts a lens on the psychological roots of stammering while humanizing individuals within the monarchy, leaving the audience with huge stakes to overcome and giant character arcs. But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent discuss the effectiveness of singing your traumas aloud and sitting in forbidden chairs as we see if this one has a voice fit for a king, or if it is

In 1998 Frank Coraci brought us the Adam Sandler romcom, The Wedding Singer. Sandler brings Robbie Hart to life as a romantic wedding singer who is about to get married himself. However, when he’s stood up at the altar, his life and career begin to unravel until he befriends Julia and together, they discover what love is, or not, I’m not spoiling it for you. Drew Barrymore joins Sandler and a handful of great cameos along with the usual Sandler pals for this flick which also features a soundtrack that went platinum around the globe. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss the sacred institution of marriage and the best way to get around it as we pass the dutchie and decide if this movie is a White Wedding or a Blue Monday.

In 1996 we got a modernized look at one of the all-time classics with Baz Luhrmann’s William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Luhrmann takes us through the old familiar story word for word with a unique and modernized visual interpretation as the setting, so you have something to look at while you pretend to understand what they’re saying. This flick is loaded with talent featuring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino and Diane Venora, and was reviewed fairly well considering the large swing taken by Luhrmann. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate how soon is too soon to introduce the poison and the risks of leaving children with priests as we try to figure out if this is true romance, or if we should just all kill ourselves.

To finish off the spooky month we are going to one of the oldest cliches in the Horror genre with Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s, The Cabin in the Woods. The Cabin in the Woods is a horror/comedy but takes a different twist to the genre by telling the familiar story of a group of teens who think they are heading for a weekend of sexy fun but find themselves posed with a deadly choice that will ultimately affect the safety of the world as we know it. This flick doubled it’s money at the box office and became an instant genre-bending classic but, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate the best way to die and how to prevent wolf gingivitis as we try to figure out if this flick is haunting or hokie. 

Hey college kids! Today we’re doing Eli Craig’s 2010 horror comedy, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. T&DvE tells the story of a couple of simple and loveable hillbillies who are off on a vacation to fix their new shitty little shack on the lake. But when they save a college kid from drowning, their good intentions are confused, and they become the target of a misdirected rescue plot with horrible, and hilarious results. This flick is a cult classic for Halloween. It made its money back at the box office (barely), but did not garner big headlines despite overall good reviews and the love of its adoring fanbase. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate the best treatment for hornet stings and what constitutes overacting as we try to determine if this one defeats evil or becomes it.

They’re heeeeeeeerrrre! Ghosts that is. Or, more specifically, Poltergeists, or even more specifically, Tobe Hooper’s (Spielberg’s?) 1982 horror classic, Poltergeist. This spooky little diddy tells the story of a perfect little nuclear family just doing family stuff when suddenly strange, but harmless, things start happening. But after while, that all changes and they realize the house presents a very clear and present danger. Will they leave? No, they don’t seem to be that smart, so they are probably gonna hire an odd dwarfish little woman with bad hair to clean their house. Anywho, this thing stars Coach, was nominated for 3 Oscars, and was co-written, and possibly co-directed by, Steven Spielberg. Not bad. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate ghastly emissions and magical little people as we try to figure out if this house is clean, or if it’s actually just a nice façade crudely placed on a pile of bodies.

In the year 2000, Darren Aronofsky decided everyone looked a little too happy for his liking so he decided to unleash the depressed drug hellscape, Requiem For a Dream. Requiem is a psychological drama which focuses on Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sarah, girlfriend Marion, and best friend Tyrone as they attempt to use substances as a vehicle to fill their various desires but soon discover that things might not be so easy. Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher McDonald, and Marlon Wayans this film received praise from the critics and even made a humble $7.5 million from the ~$4 million budget despite the challenging content. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate get quick rich schemes and fad diets as we decide if this one is still flying high or if it has burned out.

In 2004, two film school graduates made a movie about how you get a guy to cut off his foot. IT WORKED and a franchise was born with ten sequels and counting. Of course, we’re talking about SAW and the years of horror for audiences that it has left in its wake. Made for a measly one million dollars and pulling in more than a hundred at the box office, it created a whole new genra of horror filmmaking we like to refer to as “torture porn.” Just ask Rob Zombie. Anyway, with a crazy cast of actors like Danny Glover and starring Cary Elwes and the screenwriter (AKA Adam) what could go wrong? Let’s find out! Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss the best way to saw your feet off and flashbacks within flashbacks as we try to decide if this flick is a must-watch on your Halloween movie list, or if it is an embarrassing footnote about our terrible taste from 18 years ago.

L.A. Confidential was amongst several classics released in 1997 and its neo-noir style amidst the glamour and cityscape of ‘50s Los Angeles captured audiences' attention. This film tells the story of a corrupt police force and glamourous Hollywood entwined when a naïve new policeman stirs the department up from top to bottom. Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce were a couple of unknown Aussies when they were partnered with Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger, and Kevin Spacey as the main cast but all doubts were quickly settled as the film was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning 2. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent solve this mystery as we discuss Russell Crowe's diet and Kim Basinger’s night-rates as we discover if this flick can be cleared of all charges.

In 2001, Antoine Fuqua decided it was time to direct a movie with a lead actor getting nominated for a supporting role Oscar, and a supporting actor getting nominated for a lead role Oscar. And as we all probably know, Denzel got the best actor award while Ethan Hawke got bupkis in Training Day. Also starring Scott Glenn, Eva Mendes, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Training Day follows Officer Jake Hoyt, a fresh recruit who gets put on Detective Alonzo Harris's undercover narcotics team for his training day. Rather than feel the rookie out slowly, Alonzo decides that weed, PCP, theft, blackmail, murder, and mid-day babysitting would be a better test of skills. Made for $45M, Training Day made $105 at the box office and received a better-than-average critical response. But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss the finer points of undercover policing and crooked cops as we see if this movie likes to get wet, or if it should get its head blasted off in an old bathtub.

We were somewhere outside of 1998 when the drugs began to take hold. Did you see what God just did to us man? God didn't do that, Terry Gilliam did! He released Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's drug-fueled adventure of excess and debauchery through Las Vegas with his attorney Dr. Gonzo. Johnny Depp and Benecio del Toro star as the lead and his lawyer in this film which garnered less critical acclaim than it did fan buzz about this adaptation of a beloved counterculture novel. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate grapefruits and carve a little z on your foreheads as we dial back to the place where the wave broke as we try to figure out if this is a good ride or a bad trip.

In 1995 Mike Figgis decided everyone seemed too happy, so he released his story of lost hope and radical acceptance with, Leaving Las Vegas. Nick Cage stars as Ben Sanderson, a disgraced screenwriter who has lost his family and his job and so he heads to the gym and decides to get his life together…just kidding, obviously he heads to Vegas to drink himself to death. While in Vegas he meets a prostitute and they form an unlikely relationship with one stipulation, they don’t try to change the other. Do they fall in love and live happily ever after, or do they fall deeper into despair and misery? You’ll have to watch! The film and the two lead actors were nominated for a ton of awards (Cage won the Oscar), as this film was a critical and box office hit. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss suicidal best practices and whisky dick as we try to decide if this flick is a party or a bad hangover.

In 1997 Brian de Palma brought Al Capone and Elliot Ness’s prohibition battle to life with The Untouchables. Starring Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery this flick tells the story of Elliot Ness’s squad of Untouchables pursuing Al Capone’s ruthless bootlegging operation and his eventual capture for the obvious crime of tax evasion. This flick cost $25 million but brought back $106 million at the box office, along with a number of accolades and Connery’s sole Oscar win. But, does it hold up? Listen in as we discuss blood oaths and what we are prepared to do as we try to figure out if this one should be prohibited, or if the lesson endeth with a nice cold drink.

In 2010, the long-time passion project of Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter, came to life. Covering the lives of professional boxers and half-brothers Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, The Fighter was directed by David O. Russell, and stars Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. Made for $25M, The Fighter pulled in $130M in the box office, and this flick covers a lot of ground, like family squabbles, picking up bartenders, Massachusetts accents, crack addiction, and oh yeah, boxing. But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin, and guest host Dave discuss subtitled movies, the pride of Lowell, and caricatures of characters as we see if The Fighter can box its way out of a wet paper bag, or if it smokes too much crack and goes down jumping out of a window to be confronted by our Moms.

Today we jump back to ’97 for Sidney Poitier’s final theatrical release with Michael Caton-Jones’s action thriller, The Jackal. Poitier is joined by Richard Gere and Bruce Willis for this fox chase where The Jackal (Willis) is pursued by Poitier and Gere, an FBI agent and an imprisoned IRA sniper, as they try to find the assassin while not knowing their true target or location. Made for ~$60 million, this flick was a commercial success, raking in over $150M despite being poorly reviewed, and held a special place in a couple of the hold-up guy's hearts. So, listen in to Jon, Colin, and Brent as we discuss sexual fluidity and really earning your money as we decide if The Jackal hits its target, or if it misses with several hundred rounds of depleted uranium.

In 2012 Paul Thomas Anderson gave us all purpose with his psychological drama, The Master. The Master stars Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell, a World War 2 veteran suffering severe trauma and addiction as he finds a charismatic cult leader and his wife, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, who offer a life raft if he can get on board with their revolutionary and controversial methods. The Master is often considered to be PTA’s finest film and secured 3 Oscar nods for acting but, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent, debate the best ways to wash your brain and sub/dom dynamics in cults as we try to see if this truly is Anderson’s master, or if it just spews nonsense over and over.