Episodes
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A relatively short time ago in a galaxy quite nearby, writer/director Rian Johnson made a sci-fi/action flick called Looper. And with Johnson's new film The Last Jedi warming (most) Star Wars fans' hearts this holiday season, we thought we'd take a look back at the movie that most assuredly helped him land the gig. The guys dive deep into the 2012 film, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, touching on everything from its innovations to the tired old time-travel schtick to its colorful supporting characters to the moral implications of its characters' future-changing quests. Plus, find out which of the three co-hosts would have taken the film's Faustian bargain if it was offered to them. All that, plus: Brian has a few non-spoilery thoughts about The Last Jedi, Nick can hardly contain his love for A Ghost Story, and Chris raids Netflix and comes up with a trio of solid suspense flicks. Happy holidays from Talking Movies, and we promise to bring you much more movie discussion in the new year!
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Like his inspiration, Tommy Wiseau, director and star James Franco had a Hollywood dream -- to make a movie celebrating the cult classic The Room -- and he's realized it with his new film The Disaster Artist. After discussing The Room last week, Nick and Brian were pretty hyped to see Franco's take on the story and personalities behind Wiseau's magnum opus, and in this episode, they're here to discuss what some folks are calling one of the best films of 2017. Was Franco able to capture the eccentric, heartfelt, and bat-crap crazy spirit of Tommy Wiseau and The Room? Is The Disaster Artist a good enough movie that no prior knowledge of Tommy and his legacy is needed to enjoy it? And, was anybody ever able to figure out where the hell The Room's $5 million budget came from, or where it all went? Find out all of that, plus: Nick revisits a nostalgic 90s holiday classic and offers some pretty strong opinions on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Brian checks out a Vince Vaughn prison flick and a Netflix documentary about an A-list actor who got a little too far into character, and Chris sits this one out, still trying to scrub the image of Tommy Wiseau's bare buttocks out of his brain.
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Missing episodes?
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Oh, hi, Talking Movies listeners! This week, on what might be our best worst episode ever, we discuss the cult classic The Room, a real showcase for writer, director, producer, and leading man Tommy Wiseau. Co-host Nick has been a longtime fan of this film, considered one of the worst movies ever made, but Brian and Chris... Well, they're a bit less enamored with the idea of a notoriously terrible flick that's been called "the Citizen Kane of bad movies". But, they've agreed to see the film in anticipation of the upcoming release of The Disaster Artist, James Franco's highly anticipated behind-the-scenes comedy that tells the story of Wiseau's Hollywood dreams and how he realized them in spectacularly awful fashion. Did they enjoy The Room's creep-tastic sex scenes, its mind-numbing dialogue, its insanely bizarre character motivations, and everything else that's earned the film honors as a modern trash classic? Can a film truly be "so bad it's good"? And, will they ever let Nick pick a movie again? Find out all that, plus: Brian checks out Hulu's new sci-fi comedy Future Man, Chris delves into the short but super-scary early filmography of It director Andy Muschietti, and Nick has some very positive things to say about legitimately good movies Captain Fantastic and Thor: Ragnarok. Join us for an episode that's more fun than having sex with your best friend's fiancée!
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This week's mini-episode is our shortest to date -- it's Thanksgiving, after all, so we wanted to save the excess and gluttony for the dinner table. Anyway, in the spirit of the holiday, we thought we'd take a few minutes to give thanks for all of the things that satiate us, like so much stuffing and mashed potatoes, as movie fans and podcast co-hosts. So, what are we thankful for as the movie year of 2017 draws to a close? For starters, new work from filmmakers we love, perennial favorites like Scorsese's The Departed that we trot our year after year, beloved franchises that haven't yet jumped the shark, and much, much more. So, enjoy our low-calorie mini-episode and have a happy Thanksgiving -- you'll hear from us again in the early days of December if the food coma has worn off by then.
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It's time to wrap up our series on movies about con artists, and we're bringing it to a close with the first non-English language film we've tackled on the show. That movie is 2016's The Handmaiden, a period piece from South Korean director Park Chan-wook, and what a fascinating flick it is. Nick's a big Chan-wook fan, while Brian and Chris and new to the director's extravagant style, pitch-dark subject matter, and consistently surprising storytelling; all three co-hosts have a lot to say about this Amazon Studios release, suggested to us by one of our listeners (thank you, sir!). There are some pretty significant spoilers late in the game, so if you're interested in seeing The Handmaiden, we'll let you know when to hit pause and go check this film out. What else have we got this week? Well, Brian goes ga-ga all over again for the spectacular Mad Max: Fury Road, Nick gets burned by a lackluster horror film and reads a review of Daddy's Home 2 that somehow manages to incorporate one of the all-time masters of the cinematic art, and Chris recommends a pair of horror films good enough to hold you over until next Halloween. Join us for our 150th official episode, and remember to subscribe so you'll be around for the next 150!
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This week, we take on what might be our most obscure movie to date: 1967's The Flim-Flam Man. This George C. Scott flick is the most recent entry into our series on con-man movies, and while it's been nearly forgotten by movie lovers, the guys (including C. Scott super-fan Chris) thought it might be a good time to let it see the light of day. Does this rural-set comedy/drama have the chops to compete with our last con-man film, the perennial favorite The Sting? Are there any traces of the filmmaking genius that director Irvin Kershner would later display on The Empire Strikes Back? And, just how literally do we mean it when we use the phrase "salami pillow"? Find out all of that, plus: Chris revisits a Christopher Nolan masterpiece and continues to rave about Ash vs. Evil Dead, Brian finally gets around to seeing the sci-fi cult classic Cube, and Nick gets blown away by the literary inspiration for Ex Machina director Alex Garland's next film. It's one hell of a movie podcast, and that's no flim-flam... Trust us.
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We at Talking Movies are all huge fans of the indie horror hit Creep, and if you feel the same way we do, we have a real (ugh) treat for you this Halloween! We're celebrating the season this year by checking out the brand-new, critically acclaimed sequel Creep 2 and bringing director/co-writer Patrick Brice back to the show to discuss his film. Patrick shares his insights about horror, sequels, and how he and his collaborator Mark Duplass managed to successfully expand the Creep-iverse, and avowed Creep fans Brian, Chris, and Nick are on hand for some in-depth thoughts about the small-scale horror franchise that's become a real Talking Movies favorite. What else is on tap this week? Well, Chris weighs in on the latest of this year's many Stephen King adaptations, Nick steps into the torture chamber with Jigsaw, and Brian ruins what would have been an all-horror episode by finally seeing Sicario (which we forgive him for, because that movie is awesome). Happy Halloween, everybody -- grab yourself a green smoothie and give this one a listen!
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Leave it to Talking Movies to cram thirty-some-odd years of movie history into a half-hour episode. On this mini, Brian and Chris each pick one favorite movie from every year they've been alive, from fondly remembered eighties classics to the recent work of such post-millennial visionaries as Denis Villeneuve and Alex Garland. Which years were a wealth of riches when it came to great movies, and which years left our intrepid hosts wondering what the hell Hollywood was thinking? Is there a universise where Rob Zombie's Halloween remake is a better movie than No Country For Old Men? Is it acceptable to find Goodfellas kind of underwhelming? (Good thing Nick wasn't around for this episode...) Find out all that and more on our latest mini, and join us for a VERY special Halloween episode next week!
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This week, we begin a brand new series focusing on con-man movies, and we're kicking off our discussion of that (really specific) film genre with a very special episode! Brian Brushwood, host of Scam School, National Geographic's Hacking the System, and The Modern Rogue, joins us as an honorary co-host to share his expertise on all things con and help us tackle 1973's The Sting, one of the best and most beloved con-man movies of all time. We had a great time digging deep into some of the film's brilliantly clever trickery, as well as its incredible Paul Newman/Robert Redford star pairing and its still-gorgeous Depression-era production design. Brian's amazing insights into how The Sting's con games work -- and how the movie itself is consistently able to put one over on its viewers -- have made us appreciate this flick more than ever, and we couldn't think of a better guy to help us start this series off in style! Check it out, and visit www.shwood.com and www.youtube.com/modernrogue for much more Brian Brushwood goodness!
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We wish we could say that the long-in-development sci-fi sequel Blade Runner 2049 has been tearing it up at the box office since its release last week, but smash hit or not, the Talking Movies guys know that our fans care about this flick, and we couldn't wait to discuss it. It's a big movie -- expansive in its scope, its themes, and, yes, its running time -- and we've got a lot to say. For those who haven't seen the film yet, we don't start spoiling things until around the 39 minute mark, so stick around til then for some big-picture discussion and our take on whether the film lives up to its cult-classic predecessor. After that, we dig deep into BR2049 with a wide-ranging discussion of the story, some scenes and setpieces that we can't stop thinking about , and the way the film expands upon and ties very directly back into the world of the original Blade Runner. All that and more, plus: Brian catches up on his Linklater and checks out a new Stephen King adaptation from one of our favorite horror directors, Nick praises a lovely Studio Ghibli film from the past year, and Chris offers his take on Darren Aronofsky's still-controversial mother!.
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We're extremely excited for Blade Runner 2049 -- yes, even Chris -- and it got us thinking, what other movies do we love that deserve the sequel treatment all these decades later? With Hollywood's love of both franchises and nostalgia in mind, is anything on the table when it comes to following up fondly remembered movies? Or are there some films that should stay as one-and-done affairs? And, just want constitutes a good sequel, anyway? All of this and more comes up in a short but fun discussion that helped to tide us over before the long-awaited Blade Runner sequel hits screens this week.
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On one of the earliest episodes of Talking Movies, Brian and Chris discussed Blade Runner, a much-loved film that neither one of them had seen before -- and neither one of them thought was particularly great. With the long-awaited sequel on the horizon, and with replicant-loving co-host Nick on board this time around, the guys decided to give Ridley Scott's wildly influential sci-fi effort another shot. Along with all the other questions the film raises, they deal with a really huge one: does this movie really get better the second time around? Find out that, plus: Chris -- who spent the last few weeks dodging hurricanes -- finally gets to weigh in on the horror blockbuster It, Nick unsuccessfully tries to sell Chris and Brian on the insanity of Tommy Wiseau's The Room, and Brian checks out a nearly forgotten but entirely awesome film from Guardians of the Galaxy mastermind James Gunn. Join us as we plunge into the far-flung future of 2019 and consider what it means to be more human than human.
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Writer/director Darren Aronofsky's mother! might be the most talked-about movie of 2017 thus far, so, of course, Talking Movies had to get in on the action. The movie is currently dividing critics and, for the most part, repelling audiences, but as big fans of the filmmaker's previous work, we didn't want to wait to be part of the discussion. In an episode in which Nick desperately tries to prevent his co-host Brian from spoiling the movie (successfully, but stay tuned after the closing theme if you really want to know the film's deepest secrets), we give our surprising opinions on the Jennifer Lawrence-starring film, from its darkly comic/horrific tone to its masterful aesthetics to its wild and crazy narrative and stylistic choices. Find out what we thought and whether you should take a chance on this controversial piece of auteurism, plus: Brian repeatedly interrupts Nick's film analysis with an admittedly spot-on Springsteen impersonation, Nick champions yet another Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig movie, and Brian falls asleep a few minutes into a fine found-footage sci-fi movie. Oh, and we also preview some exciting plans for the next few weeks' worth of episodes, so if you want to have some say in some of our biggest series to date, drop us a line!
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Well, this is it, and this is IT: the long-awaited final entry in our series on Stephen King adaptations. Sadly, our King-loving co-host Chris couldn't be on the show this week (thanks a lot, Hurricane Irma), but Brian and Nick had plenty to say about director Andy Muschietti's blockbuster effort. Is this the Stephen King movie that best captures the spirit of the bestselling novels? Can the new version of Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard, compete with Tim Curry's memorable turn in the 90s TV adaptation? And, are folks really as scared of clowns as they say they are? All that and much, much more is in store in our discussion of one of the biggest horror-movie releases of all time. Plus: Brian is blown away by the new Starsailor album and has some thoughts on the critically acclaimed rom-com The Big Sick, Nick stays up late with Nocturnal Animals, and an anecdote about snake phobia gets an, er, nutty twist ending. Float on with Talking Movies, and drop us a line to let us know your thoughts on IT!
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With co-host Brian away for the week, Nick and Chris kick off the Halloween season a little early with a look ahead to this year's September and October horror movie releases. Our fall horror preview covers everything from an A-list arthouse shocker to a handful of high-profile remakes -- at least some of which are bound to send chills up filmgoers' spines. Along the way, there are recommendations galore (you really haven't seen The Void yet???) as well as discussion of franchises like the Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre series and even a look back at the ever-so-spotty filmography of Joel Schumacher. Find out what to see and what to skip this fall, and be sure to tune in next week for our take on the long-awaited adaptation of Stephen King's It!
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The latest entry in our series on Stephen King adaptations is director Tobe Hooper's 1995 film The Mangler, starring Robert Englund. We recorded this episode just a day before learning the sad news that Hooper, who redefined American horror movies in 1974 with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, had passed away. While, unfortunately, we weren't able to give Hooper a proper sendoff on the show, we're glad to have had a chance to discuss his work regardless. This is the second annual episode we've recorded at night in the woods of New England on the yearly camping/canoeing trip we go on, and while the crickets aren't quite so loud this time around, you might just hear a bit of our first-ever "live studio audience" in the background if you listen closely. Anyway, The Mangler is one of the most conceptually bonkers horror films ever made -- seriously, this thing is about a laundry press that's been possessed by demons -- and we've got a lot to say about whether this King adaptation is a fine piece of cinema, an entertainingly "so bad it's good" schlock-fest, or simply a waste of horror fans' time. Plus: Nick catches up on Game of Thrones, Chris makes a case for the little-loved comedy sequel Ted 2, and the guys briefly reassess their previous King-derived pick, Dreamcatcher.
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Our series on Stephen King adaptations continues with a discussion of 2003's Dreamcatcher, and hoooo boy, do we have a lot to say about it. For those who've purged the film from their memory warehouses, it's a fairly notorious Hollywood flop, written, directed by, and starring a slew of A-list talent. The Lawrence Kasdan-directed movie takes an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to storytelling and tone, featuring everything from middle-aged male bonding to Native American mysticism, childhood nostalgia, extraterrestrial invaders, psychic powers, and, uh, butt slugs. Will Brian, Nick, or Chris take a stand for this critically divisive, wildly ambitious, frequently disgusting King-inspired flick? Find out all that, plus: Brian sees a living Hollywood legend in concert, Chris checks out Alien: Covenant and a key piece of Paul Schrader's filmography, and Nick tosses in his two cents on recent releases Logan Lucky and Annabelle: Creation.
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We're continuing our series on Stephen King this week, but this time, the man himself has chosen the films up for discussion. Brian, Chris, and Nick take a look at the many movies that King, in a 2007 Entertainment Weekly column, classifies as the best he's ever seen. It's a pretty eclectic list, encompassing everything from animated Disney classics to early 2000s indies to -- of course -- the work of George Romero and Sergio Leone, and we've got a lot to say about the movies that moved and influenced our favorite literary storyteller.
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At long last (sorry, everybody), we're back with our take on The Dark Tower, the latest film in our series on Stephen King adaptations. Much like this episode, this movie took a long time to get made, and while the critics have been rather unkind, we've got what might be some surprising thoughts about cinema's first (and only?) voyage into the world of Roland Deschain. What else is on tap this week? Well, Nick once again recommends Rick and Morty (which, like, everyone already loves anyway), Chris gets some good, solid laughs out of a few recent but already nearly forgotten Hollywood comedies, and Brian... Well, Brian's got a pretty legendary list to share with longtime Talking Movies listeners. It's true -- there are other worlds than these, but there's only one Talking Movies podcast. Won't you join our Ka-Tet?
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With The Dark Tower in theaters this week and a new adaptation of It on the horizon, it's time for Talking Movies to take on all things Stephen King. First up is a discussion of Stand By Me, an 80s-era coming-of-age classic that, somehow, Brian hadn't seen until now. Did he love the movie as much as co-hosts Nick and Chris, both of whom consider this one of the best page-to-screen translations of King they've ever seen? Find out that and much more as we take another life-changing walk down the ol' railroad tracks, along the way considering everything from the late River Phoenix's incredible screen presence to King's sentimental streak to the unfortunate career trajectory of Rob Reiner. Plus: Brian checks out a little-seen but intriguing-sounding 2014 film starring Zoe Kazan and John Carroll Lynch, Chris dishes on an ongoing horror franchise that keeps on delivering the goods, and Nick is caught up in the heat of battles both historical (in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk) and virtual (in Player Unknown's Battlegrounds). Give it a listen, join us next week for our take on The Dark Tower, and stick around for a whole lot of King-related movie talk to come!
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