Beyond the Balcony

The listeners who have been with us for a few years may remember that Jojo Rabbit topped my best of the year list in 2019. Scott later admitted that if he had time to see it before that show that it would have been his number one movie as well. It is intriguing that one of the few times we both agreed on the best movie is also a picture that is very divisive among most critics who agree is well-made but rarely made the top of their lists. It connected with us in a very different way than most.Why did this movie become our favourite of 2019? Why is it so controversial? Why do we think it is still a must-watch in 2021?Well, we answer all those questions while delving deep into the Taika Waititi directed dramedy and political satire, Jojo Rabbit.As always, it was a pleasure recording this episode, and we really hope you love it. If you do, then please help us out by sharing it on social media, so other movie lovers can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Everywhere we look it screams Christmas especially if you're talking about our kids. The holiday season is all about the traditions, and one that many families have is sitting down to watch a holiday movie. There are a lot of them out there, and some even are argued that they aren't holiday films at all. We aren't here to declare what qualifies as holiday pictures. Instead, this week we gather around and discuss what we consider our all-time favourite holiday movies.It was a fun time sharing some pictures that were huge to us growing up and others that we fell in love with as we got older. To us, these are the Christmas Classics. As always, we loved recoding this show for you, and we really hope you loved it too. If you do, then please spread the word about us on social media so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

There are many movies considered classics, but only a few that can be considered so ground-breaking that it changes how the movie industry operates and influences the next entire era of filmmaking. The 1967 crime drama, Bonnie and Clyde is without a doubt one of those movies as it ushered in the New Wave of cinema of the 1970s and brought things like the antihero to the forefront. It was a controversial movie on release but over time proved to be an influential classic. We deep-dive into the movie that helped cement the careers of Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway on the latest episode of The Movie Breakdown.As always, it was a blast recording the show, and we really hope you love listening to it. And if you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can fund us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

This week we're going all the back to 1972 for the satirical political drama starring Robert Redford in The Candidate. The movie is speaking into the climate and turmoil of its time, but like any good movie, it is still relevant and has lots to say about modern politics. It says something that most of the issues addressed then, still are prevalent today.We do a deep dive into this older film while also looking a bit at the career and legacy of Redford. We also talk about a few other movies that we've recently watched. As always, we had a great time recording the episode, and we really hope you love listening to it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media so other movie buffs can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

This week's episode does not have the most graceful or catchiest title, but it speaks the truth. This week we have 10 different categories like Go to Director or Beloved Childhood Movie, but Scott will be making what he thinks is the best pick for me and I'll be making what I think is the best pick for him. We will discover how well we know each other while also discussing a bunch of great movies. It is another super-sized episode that is great for getting movie recommendations but also getting a bit of sneak into our tastes and personalities.As always, we had a great time recording this episode and we really hope you love listening to it too.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

The Movie Breakdown often champions certain movies or actors or filmmakers. We don't hide what we love, and we are eager to throw out recommendations for the things we enjoy. But you may have noticed there are lot of movies out there, and it can be hard celebrating everything that one holds dear.This week we are going to champion some movies, actors, subgenres and filmmakers that we really enjoy, but we don't think our listeners realize how much we love them. This gives us a chance to not only offer up a whole slew of new recommendations for things we love, but also give you a better idea of who we are and what connects with us.As always, we had a great time recording the episode, and we really hope you love it as well.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

For anyone who has been listening to The Movie Breakdown for a decent amount of time, you know that we don't always get excited about the bug studio tentpoles like other sites or shows. We tend to lean towards stuff with original stories or dare to stand-out as different from all the other big releases. But we have been excited about the big studio event picture, Dune.The main reason is that it is being directed by one of our favourite current filmmakers, Denis Villeneuve. He is an exciting filmmaker because he dares to make very different big budget sci-fi thrillers, and you walk away feeling you experiences something unique and groundbreaking.Does Dune measure up to those kinds of expectations? Well, you can find out this week as we review, discuss and dive-deep into this space opera. We also briefly talk about the 1984 original and the legacy of this story.As always, we have blast talking movies, and if your enjoyed it too then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie lovers.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Halloween is right around corner, so we're dedicating this episode to horror movies. More specifically, horror franchises. Even more specific, we're creating our own ultimate horror movie franchises. How are we doing this?We are both trying to create our own ten movie horror franchise. We are creating them from choosing one movie from various horror franchises. We can only pick one movie from a specific franchise, and the choice needs to be in the same chronology of its franchise with our franchise. So, for example, our number five movie must be the fifth from a franchise.Yes, it is complicated. It gets more complicated when you realize many horror franchises are littered with reboots and remakes and spin-offs. We tried our best to play the game within the laid out rules.It was a fun show even if the rules meant some of the movie mentioned may not be even close to our favourite horror movies ever. It allows us to spotlight a whole slew of different kind of horror movies.As always, we had a blast recording the episode, and if you have a blast listening to it then please help us out by sharing us on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

October is all about the trick or treats. This week on The Movie Breakdown we're offering both. Last week, we promised a deep-dive on the new theatrical release, Halloween Kills, but that was a trick. Instead, we're reviewing 2018's Halloween, which is also a treat, because you get to listen to me revisiting a movie that I didn't like initially and now shift my opinion. We not only really dig into the 2018 movie that was a direct sequel to the original and retconned out all the sequels, but we also look at the impact and history of the entire series. This is a fun one for fans of the franchise.As always, we had a great time and we really hope you do too. If you do, please pass the word on social media, so that other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers and listeners.Nothing says a Canadian Thanksgiving more than emotional scarring. That is why this week we're both listing ten movie moments that haunted and traumatized us as kids. These are not necessarily horror movies but actually, most of them were billed as children and family movies but had that scene that caused us many sleepless nights and running out of our room nightmares.We were both 1980s kids, so there were countless movies that did that to us, because that is just how we rolled back then. You weren't entertaining kids unless you were also causing years of therapy and counselling bills.As always, it was a great time talking movies and we really hope you enjoy listening to some of those traumatic movie moments. If you do love the episode, then please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can discover us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

We are trying out something different this week that is similar to a special episode we did way back at the beginning of The Movie Breakdown. In 2013, we did something called Mockbuster vs. Blockbuster where we compared a big blockbuster movie against the Asylum knock-off of that movie to see which one was better. We only ever did one episode.This time, two major movies are going to be matched in what may turn out to be a few times a year special. The inaugural grudge match will see two beloved sci-fi thrillers from the 1980 go head-to-head in The Terminator vs. The Thing.There will be ten rounds in this big match-up. Each category will look at a specific aspect of the movie like the plot and lead performance and score. Both hosts will decide which movie they feel wins in that category, and then in the end, we add up the score to see the 1980s sci-fi thriller that is the true champion.Now of course, with their being ten rounds and two hosts, there is a chance that this all ends in a tie. But what is the chances of that?It is also a great chance for us to discuss and celebrate two of our favourite movies ever. We had a great time discussing them, and we hope you love it as well, If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 Last year, we decided to revisit our 2013 top ten lists to see how it held up, and if we still loved the same movies that we did then. It was a lot of fun or at least, it was for us. For anyone who has listened to show for a long time, knows that we have declared many times that opinions and feelings with movies can evolve over time. This time, we wanted to revisit our 2014 list, which was a year that we believed to be one of the great years for movies. On this revisit, we can reaffirm that it is one of the best years since we started podcasting.This week, we look back at our original best of 2014 lists, and analyze where those movies stand with us now. We also create a new 2014 lists with movies that connect with us now. Obviously, some movies remain on the list, but there are some new movies to appear on the list that we now champion.As always, it was a great time discussing 2014 movies, and we really hope you love the episode. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.Christopher's Top Ten: 10. Two Days, One Night (used to be Blue Ruin)9. The Babadook (used to be Gone Girl)8. Like Father, Like Son (used to be Life Itself)7. Selma (used to be Interstellar)6. Boyhood (used to be Only Lovers Left Alive)5. John Wick (used to be Like Father, Like Son)4. Nightcrawler (used to be Under the Skin)3. We Are the Best! (same)2. The Grand Budapest Hotel (same)1. Under the Skin (used to be Boyhood)Scott's Top Ten: 10. The Drop (used to be Edge of Tomorrow)   9. Edge of Tomorrow (used to be Grand Budapest Hotel)  8. A Most Wanted Man (used to be Guardian of the Galaxy) 7. Gloria (used to be Virunga)  6. The LEGO Movie (used to be Begin Again) 5. John Wick (used to be Nightcrawler)   4. The Babadook (used to be The LEGO Movie)   3. Birdman (used to be A Most Wanted Man)    2. Nightcrawler (used to be Boyhood)   1. The grand Budapest Hotel (used to be Gloria)

 It wasn't critically acclaimed or a massive box office powerhouse, but Weekend at Bernie's not only had quite a few fans upon its release but it is probably better remembered now then many bigger hits from the 1980s. Something about two guys trying to pretend a corpse is still alive has resonated with some movie fans. The Movie Breakdown has decided that the comedy needed some deep-dive attention as we talk over an hour about this picture. If you are a huge fan then you may not like our review of it, but we try to be fair and look at some of the history and analyze why we think it has endured longer than other comedies.As always, we had great time recording the episode and we really hope you love it as well. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

The kids are back to school, and that means a great time to review a high school comedy. In the early 1980s, there was several teen sex comedies like Porky's that were huge hits, but they'd start to get replaced by the equally popular but much better made John Hughes style teen dramas and comedies by the mid-1980s. The teen genre stalled by the end of the 1980s, but then entertainment focusing on teens started to take-off again in the later 1990s.American Pie came along as something different because it blended the two classic elements of past teen comedies. It had the sex crazed teenagers but also had the sincerity and heartfelt moments of the John Hughes movies. At its core, it was about a lot more than just sex, even if most of the humour was raunchy and many parents probably wouldn't be comfortable with their teens going to see it. It did create what felt like authentic teens and has some nice message about the importance of authentic relationships, the challenges of growing up and the respect that must be shown to women.We do a deep-dive of this controversial comedy, American Pie. I am sure there are listeners that have fond memories of this movie, there are some that despise it and others that have stayed away from it. I will admit that I was a fan when it came out. It had been a long time since I last saw it, so I was interested in how it connected now as a 40 plus year old father who is a long way off from being a teenager.As always, we had great time recording the episode and we really hope you love it as well. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a podcast. That's right, it is The Movie Breakdown and we're reviewing the first big budget superhero event picture in Superman: The Movie from 1978. While it may be decades before MCU really made superhero movies the biggest event at the theatres, this movie was definitely one of the most influential of all-time and along with Star Wars, shaped the type of movies studios would greenlight through the 1980s and beyond.This week, we deep-dive into this major picture looking at its impact and seeing what earned it such an enduring legacy. We analyze things like the importance of Christopher Reeves as the title character, what Margot Kidder did for Lois Lane, how this movie changed how mainstream perceived comic books, how it launched the idea of the origin story and so much more as we go over 100 minutes discussing this iconic movie.As always, we had a great time recording this podcast and we really hope you love it too. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 It is time for the annual look at the best movies that came out during the first half of the year. Much like last year, it is a few months late, because in Ontario, we didn't even have open theatres until July. We decided to hold off and wait for some of the big summer blockbusters to come out, so we could include them in the show. What a fun show it is, as we talk movies for two and half hours. It is slightly different than previous years as we include more movies in each category, so we can discuss pictures that haven't been reviewed on the show. Of course, I have recently done several movies reviews in the last few weeks that you can read, and yes, some of them get discussed on this episode.We discuss all kinds of movies from Oscar nominees to big blockbusters to animated adventures to lesser known dramas and thrillers. We had a great time talking movies, and we really hope you love it too. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 The summer movie season is often where we get the biggest and most popular movies of the year. It is the time that studios serve up their event movies that they hope will draw in giant crowds. It is the movies they put most of their budgets and attention with spectacular special effects, big stars and massive marketing campaigns. Sometimes these major movies turn into giant flops. or they may be short-term hits that are plagued by a negative perception by critics and movie fans.This week we pick ten movies that we considered big summer pictures that were either unfairly ignored or have a negative reputation that isn't deserved. We champion these movies, and believe you need to track them down. This is a great show if you're looking for some recommendations for some fun big summer movies.We want to apologize for the delay of this getting out today. We had some major technical issues during recording, then issues with editing and uploading it, but we now think we have a good quality episode for you to enjoy.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.Christopher (Order by release):1. Dragonslayer2. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension3. The Black Cauldron4. Last Action Hero5. Waterworld6. Con Air7. The Lone Ranger8. The Nice Guys9. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets10. Long ShotScott (kind of ordered by most liked):1. Ready or Not2. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World3. Last Action Hero4. Bowfinger5. Predators6. Hangover Part 27. Escape from L.A.8. Mystery Men9. The Hitman's Bodyguard10. Event Horizon

 Eddie Murphy had already turned into a movie star with 48 Hrs. but with Beverly Hills Cop he rocketed up to being the biggest box office star of the 1980s. It is hard to explain in modern times, where there isn't the same focus on star power, the rabid popularity of Eddie Murphy. Beverly Hills Cop was a mega-hit thanks to Eddie Murphy, and it turned him into the most in-demand star. It would be like if the MCU was an actual living person.There is a lot to discuss in this movie and its impact is more than just the presence of Eddie Murphy. We dig deep into what works, if it is action or comedy, the strength of the other performances, the direction of Martin Brest and the lasting influence of the movieAs always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

The Movie Breakdown loves a good action movie. We also realize one of the things that really makes a great actioner is having an engaging and charismatic lead that you care about. This week we want to pay tribute to ten action stars including the mighty kings of our childhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, by both of us each picking the movie that we feel best defines them. We aren't really following any criteria other it being a movie that we feel you'd get a good taste of the type of action star that they are by watching this specific movie.We are looking at a variety of stars from a few different time periods, and this is a great show if you are looking for some action movie recommendations.As always, we had a great time talking movies. and we really hope you love the episode. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

My brother was a big fan of the R.L. Stine Goosebumps series, but by the point those books became popular, I had already started gobbling up Stephen King novels. If the series was around when I was a bit younger, then I'm sure I'd have loved them, and it would have had a major impact on my childhood. I must confess I am not well-versed in the different works of this beloved author, and I know very little about the Fear Street series of YA books. I know they were popular and that they also now have an R-rated movie trilogy based on them.What is interesting about this new movie series is that they were released one week apart from each other on Netflix, which along with the trilogy spanning mystery made it feel like one long movie broken into three distinct chapters. Besides the release strategy, there are many other things that make this stand-out amongst other horror slashers. It is a homage but also a movie that reimagines the subgenre and tries to explore some complex themes.Scott and I dig deep into all three movies on this week's episode. As always, we had a great time analyzing and reviewing these three movies. and we really hope you love the episode. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Way back in 1993, there was no way of knowing that Groundhog Day would turn out to be one of the most influential movies. Its formula has been repeated by multiple movies in multiple genres. We actually reviewed ten different movies on the podcast that followed this formula including the classic Groundhog Day. We call them time loop movies because it is about at least one character that is stuck in a day that continues to repeat over and over.One day we asked ourselves what are the best of this little subgenre? How would we rank each of these movies? This week we do exactly that as both Scott and I present our ranking of the ten major time loop movies that we've reviewed in past episodes. It is a bit of a different episode, but we still had a blast revisiting these pictures.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 Long time listeners of The Movie Breakdown will have heard us mention all kind of different things on a recurring basis. One of them is that we have been against the critical consensus when it comes to the first Rambo movie, First Blood. The other thing we often mention is that we love revisiting movies and getting our opinions changed with a fresh perspective and viewing. It has been a long time coming for us to finally review and deep dive into the Sylvester Stallone action picture that kicked off a massive 1980s and beyond franchise, First Blood.We discuss some of the reasons for why we both initially were not big fans of this movie. We then reveal how we feel about the movie now, and what worked much better this time but also what issues we still have with the picture. We look at all aspects of this movie, provide some trivia and analyze its lasting impact. It is a huge show and one that has been building since the day we started this podcast.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Anne Hathaway is an acclaimed actor now, but in the mid 2000s, she was known better for princess movies aimed at pre-teen girls. Along with Brokeback Mountain, it was The Devil Wears Prada where she started to move into more adult roles and prove herself as a diverse actor. Speaking of acting, Meryl Streep had been a beloved actor for decades, but her role here ended up being one of her most recognizable. For what many may have assumed would be a silly romantic comedy about the fashion industry, it has become a movie that has endured and still discussed fondly today. It may be one of the most popular comedies of the 2000s. And I've never seen it. Until now. You get my first thought on the picture as I deep-dive into it along with Scott as we discuss all aspects about it along with its legacy and impact. We also talk about how it really isn't a romantic comedy despite what some claim. As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

As a writer and podcaster on movies, I admit that I can sometimes fall into hyperbole when discussing movies that were major influences or reshaped a genre. It is very hard to argue against Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later being the most important and influential zombie picture since the game-changing Night of the Living Dead. The 2002 indy horror brought zombies back to the mainstream and played a huge part in making them one of the most popular monsters. A popularity that still stands today and has seen the creatures show up in all kinds of mediums and even in different types of genres.We discuss why it was major influence and how it turned out to be such a surprise hit. As well, we look at how it holds up today, how it stands out among other horror movies, what is the lasting legacy and look at the major careers that it launched. As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Hey look! It is a bonus episode of The Movie Breakdown. We don't have a specific topic but rather just talk about a few different movie related things. We talk about movie endings, how we've never been team Fast and Furious, movie studios hesitancy to kill major characters and whatever else pops in our heads. It is a freeform discussion to tie you over until our big Monday show.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

The muscled up one-man army action hero dominated the box-office thanks to stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. A shift happened in the 1990s where audiences started wanting something a bit different in their action movies. There was a rise of smaller but smarter and maybe a bit kinder action heroes that used their wits and intellect to overcome a series of different challenges orchestrated by a charismatic mastermind villain. While not the first of these type of action movies but definitely one of the most successful and popular in the 1990s, the Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock starring Speed is a perfect encapsulation of the new wave of action movie that arrived that decade.Scott and I dig deep into the movie that really solidified Reeves as an action star and made Bullock one of America's most beloved movie stars. Does it hold up all these years later? What makes it stand out from other action movies? What is the movies legacy? We answer all those questions and really explore the movie for over 90 minutes in our latest episode.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 Unforeseen circumstance came smashing up against The Movie Breakdown this week and we couldn't record a new episode. Instead, we dug deep into the vault and pulled out an episode from way back in March of 2013. We review Quentin Tarantino's 1997 crime caper picture, Jackie Brown. Anyone who has listened for a few years now will know that I love this movie, but that wasn't always the cases.Both Scott and I believed it to be lesser Tarantino when it turned out to be very different than Pulp Fiction when we watched it in 1997. This episode was our revisit and re-evaluation of what is likely one of his least talked about pictures. Speaking of little known. it is very likely that very few of our listeners have ever heard this episode. It has never been on Apple Podcast or Spotify or Stitcher, and it came out very early in the podcast's run where we would have recorded around 10 episodes by this point.I'll be honest, we've come a far way since this episode, and I like to believe we've improved quite a bit. It could be fun for some long-time listeners to get a taste of what we were like back then and see how we've changed since.Plus, there wouldn't be any episode if we couldn't post this one, so hopefully, it will satisfy until we come back with a new one next Monday.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 For the second straight week, The Movie Breakdown is going to be hanging out in the 1980s and reviewing what many hold up as a classic. This time it was a giant box office hit that was geared towards adults rather than kids, and it was billed as a romantic comedy. We are going to dig deep into the Dustin Hoffman starring comedy about s male actor who poses as a woman in order to land work, Tootsie. It is not only a comedy that many hold up as one of the all-time great movies, but it was also very influential on future comedies and even dramas. We explore what made it such a hit, but also what makes it a bit different than the movies that followed it. It is all about the 'Tootsie this week.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

 The Movie Breakdown has surpassed 400 episodes and so, it seemed time to do something drastic. Long-time listeners may remember that for the first several months of the show, we would do an entire episode devoted to a single movie and dive deep into all aspects of it. For various reasons after doing the multi-review format for 7 years, we've decided to take a huge gamble and return to that style. We've also heard from quite a few listeners that they really enjoyed the Midweek Breakdown style, and so the more freeform discussion and format is going to be a major part of this new version of the show.This is a huge change for those that have been with us for years. We get that. So, we really want your feedback on if this new style works for you and get some critique on what works and what doesn't work. We have some real reasons for this shift and so, it likely is going to stick, but we also want it to be something that you love.What is the first movie that has been chosen for this new format?We decided to take an adventure all the way back to 1985, and it just happens this movie was released on June 7th to coincide with this episode. We are talking about the kids going on a rich stuff adventure movie that is a beloved picture for many from our generation, The Goonies.We are going to discuss what this movie meant to us as kids, some of the marketing surrounding it, how we feel it holds up now and lots of other fun trivia bits. It is a real exploration of this beloved kids adventure.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

One of the major goals of The Movie Breakdown is to show love to film history and analyze major movies from the past. While we have discussed a few Silent Era movies, we haven't reviewed a picture starring who may be the biggest movie star during the Silent Era and was the first true box office powerhouse, Charlie Chaplin. We finally review one of his significant movies and the one that has the final appearance of his iconic Tramp character in Modern Times.We also have two new releases coming from Netflix. We have the Joe Wright directed and Amy Adams starring psychological thriller in The Woman in the Window. Then it is Zack Snyder's return to the zombie picture in the action-thriller Army of the Dead.After the reviews, we discuss the long-term implications of Amazon Prime buying MGM. We also pay tribute to the great comedic actor Charles Grodin and the iconic voice of Sebastian the crab, Samuel E. Wright.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.The Movies' Four-Star RatingThe Woman in the Window ** (CS) & * (SM)Army of the Dead ** (CS & SM)Modern Times ***½ (CS & SM) 

Wow! The Movie Breakdown has hit its 400th episode. Thank you so much for all those who have listened and supported us all the way back in 2013 when we started this little project. I don't think that I'd ever imagined back then that we would be going strong and continuing to grow an audience so many years later with 400 episodes to our name. I want to really let you know how much we appreciate everyone who has even just listened to one episode, and especially those that have been with us for 400 of them.To celebrate this milestone, we are doing a special episode this week. Scott and I will each be listing 10 movies that we feel that if you watch them then you get a better idea of who we are as movie watchers and even people. These are movies that are deeply personal to us and have had a profound impact on us. These are movies that have influenced, inspired us and shaped us. These are movies that represent some major part of us and also reflect our unique movies tastes. Simply put, these are the movies that define us.It is a show that is a mix of movie discussion and personal reflection. We show a bit of who we are and share some personal experiences we have with these movies. It is a huge episode that spans over three hours, so strap yourself in.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.Ten Movies That Define Us (No Particular Order)Christopher:1. The Wizard of Oz2. Star Wars3. Back to the Future4. Raiders of the Lost Ark5. Fargo6. Jackie Brown7. Toy Story 38. The Thing9. Taxi Driver10. Under the SkinScott:1. Wizard of Oz2. Batman: The Movie (1966)3. Suspiria4. Rambo: First Blood Part 25. Aliens6. The Big Lebowski7. The Hunt for Red October8. Unforgiven9. The Room10. Mad Max: Fury Road 

 This week we've got some scary things for you like a haunted house, giant monsters and Robert De Niro in another family comedy. Amanda Seyfried stars in a 1980s set haunted house thriller called Things Heard & Seen. Then we have a big budget action comedy with giant creatures in the Dylan O'Brien starring Love & Monsters. We wrap up the movie reviews with the family comedy about a kid trying to get grandpa out of his room in The War with Grandpa.After the reviews we have a few topics, we talk about the controversy surrounding the Golden Globes and if we think the awards show can recover. Or more importantly, should we really care if it recovers? After that, we pay tribute to a screen legend who was in movies with some of the all-time biggest stars in Norman Lloyd.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.The Movies' Four-Star RatingThings Heard & Seen ** (CS) & *½ (SM)Love & Monsters *** (CS & SM)The War with Grandpa * (CS & SM) 

It is a diverse episode of The Movie Breakdown as we look at movies from very different genres aiming for a variety of audiences. We have two big 2021 releases that both where originally scheduled for theatrical runs in 2020, but a little thing called a pandemic got in the way. We have a big Michael B. Jordan starring action thriller in Without Remorse, which has been in some form of development since 1993, Was it worth the wait? As well, we review a big, animated adventure about an odd-ball family being the only chance against a robot uprising in The Mitchells vs. the Machines. There is high pedigree in this one as the producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller also gave us animated features like The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Spider-man Into the Spider-Verse.We then jump in the Way-Back Machine for two older pictures. We have a comedy that was a cultural phenomenon in 1997 with the spy parody flick, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Then we review something totally different in the 1989 Al Pacino starring sexual neo-noir thriller, Sea of Love. As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.The Movies' Four-Star RatingWithout Remorse ** (CS & SM)The Mitchells vs. the Machines **** (CS & SM)Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery *** (CS) & **½ SM) Sea of Love *** (CS & SM)

Many times on The Movie Breakdown, we have complained about movie tropes and cliches. We prefer movies that are original, creative and fresh. But sometimes there is some charm and pure enjoyments you can get from a trope that is used effectively There is the belief that there are no new ideas but rather just reworkings and alterations of the good ones. This week we are looking at trope that were once very popular in movies but now are rarely used. We've realized we missed them. We will explore four different movie tropes, explain why we miss them and look at movies that used them effectively. It is a fun stroll down the lane of nostalgia. We have loads of fun movies to talk about.As always it was a great time recording this episode for you, and if you really love it, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

Special effects and creature design master Carlo Rambaldi and friendIt is a special episode this week as we spotlight some of the vital jobs in crafting a movie. We admit we are often guilty of mentioning the director and actors but leaving out most of the other crucial contributors to a picture. This week we take the time to discuss and celebrate some of the most talented people in Hollywood that may not get recognized as much as they should. We choose many of the major names in the area of cinematography, editing, special effects, screenwriting and musical composition. It is a unique episode for those that want to dig a little deeper in their film knowledge.As always it was a great time recording this episode for you, and if you really love it, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.

It is a huge episode of The Movie Breakdown with four reviews for a very diverse array of pictures. Two of the movies are huge career breakouts that turned the lead actors into global movie superstars. We dance all the way to 1977 with the disco era drama that made the career of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Travolta has proven to be an actor that commits 100% and we discuss how this movie really showcases his gifts and talents. Jim Carrey was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and a blockbuster giant in the 1990s, and this all started with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which we will review. Does the movie that I dug in high school hold up now that I'm in my 40s?Then it is two Netflix original movies. We have a superhero comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer in Thunder Force. We also have a drama that explores modern urban cowboys in the teen drama, Concrete Cowboys.As always, we had a great time recording this show and we really hope you love it. If you do, please helps us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.The Movies' Four-Star RatingThunder Force *** (CS) & ** (SM)Concrete Cowboy **½ (CS) & *** (SM)Saturday Night Fever **** (CS & SM) Ace Ventura Pet Detective * (CS & SM)

Being stuck at home for most of the year hasn't been very thrilling but we've got some captivating movie talk on The Movie Breakdown this week. Aneesh Chaganty had a huge break-out with his first feature, Searching, and we review his highly anticipated follow-up thriller, Run. We also have two very different documentaries with one looking at the life and career of one of the biggest rappers from the 1990s in Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell, and then we have a documentary that plays out as a tense thriller in Last Breath.After the movie reviews, we are doing something a little different. We often complain about studios' obsessions with making remakes or basing pictures on something that was once popular, but that doesn't mean we are against adaptations. This week we both reveal five movie adaptations that we would love to see get made.As always, it was a great time recording this show, and we really hope you love listening to it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so more movie fans can discover us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.The Movies' Four-Star RatingRun *** (CS) & ***½ (SM)Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell **½ (CS & SM)Last Breath ***½ (CS & SM) 

For the third straight week, we've got a King Kong review and this time it is Peter Jackson's 2005 version, which is a clear love letter to the original but also elevates the beloved creature feature subgenre to blockbuster epic status. We also review a picture that fuses hidden camera gags with a buddy road-trip comedy in Bad Trip. We continue our streak of looking at documentaries with Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. After the reviews, we wrap things up with a look at fan entitlement and how studios should handle the toxicity that is polluting social media.As always, we had a blast recording this episode. If you love listening to it, then please help us out by spreading the word on social media. We can become a bigger and better podcast if even more great movie fans can discover us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, CastBox, and Amazon Music.The Movies' Four-Star RatingKing Kong (2005) **** (CS) & *** (SM)Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. **½ (CS) & *** (SM)Bad Trip **½ (CS & SM) 

Last week on The Movie Breakdown, we reviewed the original 1933 King Kong and this week we follow that up with the 1976 remake. This version was a huge box office hit but not as successful with critics. Does it deserve that reputation? Did it justify remaking a classic? We discuss all that this week as we deep dive into this giant remake.We also review two 2021 family movies released by Netflix including the treasure hunting adventure set in Hawaii in Finding 'Ohana and the Jennifer Garner starring comedy about a day where the parents allow almost everything in Yes Day.Also, we hit a bit of the nostalgia sweet spot as we look back at the video rental store in the documentary, The Last Blockbuster.As always, we had a blast recording the episode and we really hope you love listening to it. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word on social media so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingFinding 'Ohana *** (CS & SM)King Kong. ***½ (CS) & ** (SM)Yes Day *** (CS & SM) The Last Blockbuster **½ (CS) & *** (SM) 

 You are going to go ape for this week's episode of The Movie Breakdown, because it is a gigantic show that we have for you. Not only am I apparently in the mood for really bad puns, but we are reviewing the grand daddy of the creature features and the movie that birthed a pop culture icon in 1933's King Kong. We dig really deep into this movie as we look at its impact and legacy. As well we review two 2021 coming-of-age movies in the Amy Poehler directed Moxie and yet another stuck in the same day movie, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.As well, the Oscar announced their nominations for this year's awards show, and we have lots of thoughts on them. We also discuss why this is one of the flattest awards show nominations and why this is the largest slate of movies that we haven't yet seen. This is rare for someone that other years usually has seen most of the Oscar movies before nomination time.As always, we had a great time talking movies and we really hope you love the show. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingKing Kong. **** (CS & SM)Movie ***½ (CS) & *** (SM) The Map of Tiny Perfect Things ***½ (CS) & *** (SM) 

Do you like Eddie Murphy? Then this is the episode of The Movie Breakdown you've been waiting to hear, as we review his first ever and his most recent picture. We go all the way back 1982 where Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte team-up in what is one of the first buddy-cop action comedies in the Walter Hill directed, 48 Hrs. Then we jump all the way to 2021 for the brand-new release and the sequel to a film from way back in the 1980s in Coming 2 America. We also review a non-Eddie Murphy movie in the Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes starring period drama, The Dig. From there we discuss how streaming services should handle older movies and shows that either have problematic stars or material that hasn't aged well. As always, we had a great time discussing movies and really hope you love listening to it.If you do enjoy it, please help us out by sharing us on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star Rating48 Hrs. ***½ (CS & SM)Coming 2 America *** (CS) & **½ (SM) The Dig ** (CS) & *** (SM) 

It's a Monday, so your ears must just be begging for some movie review chatter. We discuss three pictures this week, including Sam Raimi's 1998 psychological thriller, A Simple Plan. One of the goals of the podcast is to explore and celebrate movies from the past, especially some that may not be as remembered or talked about today. This picture was one of the big break-out moments for Raimi as it showed his diversity as a director, and we talk about the importance of this movie.We also discuss two 2021 releases, and both are from Amazon Prime. We have a trippy sci-fi romance in Bliss and what is being marketed as a black comedy in I Care a Lot. After the movie reviews, we discuss the news that there are plans for a Black Superman movie, and we analyze what type of impact that will have.We always have a blast recording this show, and we really hope you love listening to it. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media, so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingA Simple Plan **** (CS & SM)Bliss **½ (CS) & ** (SM) I Care a Lot *½ (CS) & ** (SM) 

 The Movie Breakdown is coming at you with three movie reviews this week including the final movie in the teen romcom trilogy with To All the Boys: Always and Forever. You may remember we were fans of the first two movies, and so find out if it can keep its charm, energy and appeal. We also look at a very different kind of romance movie in the John David Washington and Zendaya starring Malcolm & Marie. Then it is a thriller that been hiding on Netflix for a few years now in the underseen, Calibre. After the movie reviews, we look at the fact the four major movie studios all have their own streaming service now and what that means for the future of movies.As always, it was a great time recording the episode, and we hope you have a great time listening to it too. If you do, please help us out by spreading the word on social media to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingTo All the Boys: Always and Forever *** (CS & SM)Malcolm & Marie ** (CS & SM) Calibre ***½ (CS & SM) 

In this episode, Bianca and Zoe discuss a selection of five different jukebox musicals. Join them as they try to figure out whether or not they think that jukebox musicals are the death of the musical theatre genre and if they are an efficient form of storytelling. *Trigger Warning: discussion about sexual assault Links Follow the Pod! https://www.instagram.com/beyondbalcony/ https://twitter.com/beyondbalcony @beyondbalcony Email beyondbalcony@gmail.com Or us! Zoe Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/zo_rod/ @zo_rod Bianca Akbiyik https://www.instagram.com/_bonkaisthename/ @_bonkaisthename Sideways YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7l9chXMljpUft67vw78qw Lindsay Ellis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LindsayEllisVids Abigail Barlow's first song for the Bridgerton musical: https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailbarlowww/video/6916241393144892677?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2F&referer_video_id=6916241393144892677&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v2&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6925489355646551557

For the last decade, I've read and heard many people bemoan that they don't make movies like they used to. Or I hear about how the original idea in entertainment is dying. Well, when I hear those things, I am motivated to point them towards A24, which is a distribution and production company that has released some of the most interesting and provocative wide release features of the last several years. This is the company responsible for engaging pictures like Uncut Gems, Moonlight, Hereditary, Under the Skin, A Ghost Story, The Witch, Eighth Grade, Ex Machina and Room. If I was just listing all the movies that are worth watching, then I could have made the list five times longer. A24 has made some of the most fascinating pictures in the last several years and often many of the movies end up on The Movie Breakdown's Best of lists. It is time to discuss and celebrate this bold company. We look at what makes A24 stand out and what we think will be their legacy in our latest episode.We had a great time talking almost 90 minutes about A24 and we really hope you love it as well. If you do, then please share us on social media so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.

Canada has been the home of several great actors but one of the true legends was Christopher Plummer. We pay tribute to the icon on the latest episode of The Movie Breakdown with reviews for four of his movies. His most well-known picture is probably the smash-hit musical filled with some of the most memorable songs in The Sound of Music. He also has a major supporting role in the Terry Gilliam directed trippy sci-fi thriller, 12 Monkeys. We also discuss two movies where he landed Oscar nominations in the Ridley Scott directed based on true events All the Money in the World and the picture about the last year in the life of Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station. Plummer had a long and successful career, and we are only giving you a small snapshot. It was great being able to celebrate a movie legend and we had a blast talking about his movies. We really hope you love listening to it, and if you do, please help us out by spreading the word about us on social media. Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingThe Sound of Music **** (CS) & ***½ (SM)12 Monkeys ***½ (CS & SM) All the Money in the World *** (CS & SM) The Last Station *** (CS & SM)

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and we're going to celebrate it with an episode we've called The Breakdown of Love where we will review four romance pictures. We are going all the way back to 1940 for the Howard Hawks directed and Carey Grant and Rosalind Russell starring screwball comedy, His Girl Friday. We also have an independent romantic comedy that turned into a big hit at both the box office and Oscars that helped elevate the careers of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook. We also have a coming-of-age teen drama that also tackles issues like alcoholism in the Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller starring The Spectacular Now. Then we look at the tropical set coming of age romance that was a huge box office hit at the time but has aged horribly but maybe shouldn't have been condoned then in the Brooke Shields starring The Blue Lagoon.It is a pretty diverse slate of romance pictures. We had a great time digging deep on all four in our 90 minutes plus episode. We really hope you love it as well. If you do, then please spread the word on social media so other movie fans can check us out.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingHis Girl Friday ***½ (CS & SM)Silver Linings Playbook ***½ (CS) & **** (SM) The Spectacular Now ***½ (CS & SM) The Blue Lagoon ½* (CS & SM)

It is a really big episode this week as we look at one of the lesser-known movies of Martin Scorsese that was a flop at the time of its release but has gone on to be one of his most influential movies that inspired works like The Joker. It is the Robert De Niro starring deep-dive into the dangers of obsession and fandom in 1982's dark drama with comedic elements in The King of Comedy. We also review the first 2021 release in the sci-fi actioner starring Anthony Mackie in Outside the Wire. As well, we have Dave Francos directorial debut in the horror thriller, The Rental. We also have a drama about an underdog rising to success story, The White Tiger. It is a diverse collection of movies and we have lots to say about each,We have a great time talking movies and we hope you really love the episode too. If you do, it would be awesome if you could spread the word on social media so other movie fans can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingThe King of Comedy **** (CS & SM)The White Tiger **½ (CS) & *** (SM) Outside the Wire * (CS & SM) The Rental ** (CS) & **½ (SM)

It is our first traditional review show of 2021 on The Movie Breakdown. We kick off with some big streaming exclusives like Regina King's directorial debut in One Night in Miami and a heavy drama looking at grief and loss in Pieces of a Woman. Then we get far less serious with the campy fantasy adventure The Beastmaster, where we also talk a little about the career of Tanya Roberts. We keep up the fantasy and fun with an Aardman studios stop motion adventure in Pirates! Band of Misfits. It is a wide selection of movies we are discussing this week.We had a great time talking movies and we do some deep dives on them too. If you like that kind of thing then please give it listen and we really hope you love it. If you do, then please help us out by spreading the word on social media.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The Movies' Four-Star RatingOne Night in Miami ***½ (CS & SM)Pieces of a Woman *** (CS) & **½ (SM) The Beastmaster *** (CS & SM) Pirates! Band of Misfits *** (CS & SM)

It is another special episode this week and we're calling it, The Breakdown of the Future Success of Movies. The movie industry took a huge blow in 2020 with the pandemic, and there is hope that they can start recovering once the vaccines have significant rollout. Whenever in history there has been a significant shake-up to society like a global war or a pandemic, parts of our life are changed forever as we need to adapt and innovate. The movie industry can't just return to how things were done if they hope to succeed and stay healthy in the future. This week we offer up some strategies of we believe studios and streaming services need to do in order to thrive for decades to come. We will discuss such things like the need to create more filmmaker driven original stories like Knives Out or to make prestige picture far more accessible during awards season to the average movie fan. We've been talking and writing about movies for almost a decade, so we use some of that experience and insight to really look at the state of movies and what needs to change.As always, we had a great time talking movies, and we really hope you love it too. If you do, then the best way you can show your support is sharing us on social media, so more listeners can find us.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.

It is finally here. Our biggest show of the year and definitely one of our favourite episodes we do every year. We celebrate the best movies of the past year. I know 2020 was a really strange year, and how movies were distributed and discussed were very different from past years. But despite how it may feel and even though there were a lot less big studio movies, there actually were a lot of movies released this year, Even more importantly, there were a lot of great movies that came out this year. This week we spotlight some of those great pictures as we both reveal our top ten movies of the year. I stand by the idea that the more different our lists, the more it is an indication it was a great movie year. Even though 2020 may have crapped the bed like Capone in many ways, it shined when it came to delivering a diverse away of wonderful pictures.This is always a really fun show to record, and we really hope you love it too. It will hopefully give you a list if movies that you can track down and watch over the next several weeks. If you loved this show, then please help us out by spreading the word on social media to other movie fans.Reminder that you can subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site), or subscribe on sites like Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, CastBox, Amazon Music and Apple Podcast.The links are provided for the movies with a review. Christopher's Top Ten Movies of 2020:10. Palm Springs9. Let Him Go8. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom7. I'm Thinking of Ending Things6. Onward5. Da 5 Bloods4. The 40-Year-Old Version3. Dick Johnson is Dead2. Hamilton1. SoulScott's Top Ten Worst Movies:10. She Dies Tomorrow9. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey8. Palm Springs7. Blow the Man Down6. First Cow5. Enola Holmes4. The 40-Year-Old Version3. Another Round2. The Assistant1. Never Rarely Sometimes Always