Cinema Chase

The major debate that's divided filmmakers and critics alike over the last decade has been the gradual decline of shooting movies on celluloid film and the rise of digital video as a viable, professional format. Dave and James weigh in on this debate as well as review Christopher Kenneally's 2012 documentary Side by Side, which features the sweet, soothing narration of Keanu Reeves.

In this galaxy, very recently, Dave and James were joined by Toronto-based comedian and actor Chris Martin to talk about J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Listen in as they discuss the latest episode in the Star Wars saga, as well as the original trilogy of film.

Pour yourself a hot toddy and settle in next to the fire as Dave and James talk Christmas classics old and new—from It's a Wonderful Life and The Shop Around the Corner to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Family Stone, and Die Hard (plus many more!).

Dave and James return with another James Bond episode, but aided by Toronto filmmaker Sean Cammack. Together, they cover the Daniel Craig era of 007 and take a look specifically at 2015's Spectre.

Recording from the sleepy town of Haddonfield, Illinois, Dave and James review the much-maligned fifth Halloween sequel Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. While trying to sort out the plot of that film (in its two different versions), they also talk about the Halloween film series as a whole (no Zombies, though).

Dave and James delve deep into darkness as the search for the true, dark soul of podcasting. Unfortunately, all they find is the Ryuhei Kitamura's 2008 Clive Barker adaptation The Midnight Meat Train. In addition to reviewing the film, they also discuss horror "brands."

Dave and James just can't seem to leave the spy game behind as they discuss Alfred Hitchcock's 1969 Cold War thriller Topaz, based on the novel by Leon Uris. Listen in as the discuss the film's high points and weak spots as well as Hitch's other work in the 1960s.

Dave and James' look at the James Bond films continues with an episode dedicated to the most underrated actor of the series, Timothy Dalton. Dalton only played Bond twice—in 1987's The Living Daylights and 1989's Licence to Kill—but his time in role is a high point for the series.

Dave and James indulge in what can only be called one of their more idiosyncratic interests in bad films with this episode, discussing "director" Alan Smithee and the 1998 Joe Eszterhas-penned An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn. Tune in, there's not a good film in the lot!

Dave and James welcome special guest Dr. Dru Jeffries to discuss Rupert Wainwright's 1999 religious thriller Stigmata starring Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette (not for this) and Gabriel Byrne.

Dave and James—Podcasters 445 and 774, respectively—could talk about Wong Kar-wai’s and his pop-art classic Chungking Express for hours, but fortunately keep the discussion to under two. Listen in as the two gush over the international auteur and his filmography.

Dave and James take a look back at the 1940 Walt Disney classic Fantasia and discuss the state of animation at that time. Or at least they start to before going on some embarrassingly long tangents—so much so, the show may as well be called Tangents.

The Very Special Episode of Cinema Chase takes time to pause and reflect—and in a way celebrate—Cannon Films. In addition to a discussion of Death Wish 3, one of Cannon's most, well, regarded productions, Dave and James take a look back at the highs and lows of the 1980s' most notorious and successful independent studios.

Come for the engaging review of Alan J. Pakula's Oscar-winning 1971 thriller Klute starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland as well as an in-depth discussion New Hollywood Cinema, but stay for Dave's botching of character and film names. Solve the mystery as to how Alison Brie and Osage: Orange County relate to Pakula's paranoid thriller!

As it often happens in movies, Dave and James were set to review something else (presumably better), but were forced off the highway and through a rural, backwoods town where they encounter weird locals and now they've seen learned some hideous, dark secrets about the town and don't know if they can escape with their lives! Well, not really, but that's basically the premise of Dan Aykroyd's directorial debut Nothing But Trouble, which is reviewed this episode. Also listen in for a discussion on actors-turned-directors.

This episode, Dave and James tackle some Big Themes while reviewing James L. Brooks' multi-Oscar winning drama Terms of Endearment, starring Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger as a mother and daughter who navigate their relationship as they deal with Life. As it's awards season, Dave and James also discuss the Oscars and a specific subgenre of film: The Oscar Bait.

This episode, Dave and James are careful not to step on any of the broken glass as they discuss international superstar Jackie Chan's 1985 action-comedy Police Story, noting Chan's performance and directorial style. Also discussed is Chan's failed attempts to crack North American cinemas in the 1980s.

The Roger Moore era of the James Bond series is up for discussion this episode of Cinema Chase. Dave and James look at the all time highs and the lowest lows of the 12 years and (00)7 films that starred Moore. Somewhere in there, the two narrow in on 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, which is generally regarded as the pinnacle of Moore's tenure.

If there was ever a film that didn't need a sequel – let alone two sequels and two prequels – its William Friedkin's The Exorcist. And yet, here we are. This episode, Dave and James look at William Peter Blatty's 1990 sequel The Exorcist III, as well as the other four films that make up the Exorcist franchise. At the very least, tune in to hear them try to wrap their heads around Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Dave and James navigate the proverbial spooky and creeky house of podcasting on the outskirts of town as they discuss Ti West's retro-horror film The House of the Devil. But before diving into West's 2009 film, they discuss retro-horror,  as well as other retro-films and nostalgia film, in general.

Dave and James take an in-depth look at one of the late Robin Williams' darkest efforts, the Danny DeVito-directed comedy Death to Smoochy. Listen as the rival podcasters try to convince each other that their opposing opinions of the film are correct. They also take a discuss Williams' erratic, eclectic body of work.

It's all Ridley Scott all the time in this episode: Dave and James try to unpack perhaps Scott's oddest film — 2013's The Counselor — while figuring out where it fits into the famed director's body of work. Listen in as they try to understand Michael Fassbender's ineffectual, unnamed titular character and just why exactly Cameron Diaz would have sex with a car.