Cinema Drip

We're taking a break between monthly themes for a bonus episode! Christian and Lalo tied to win our Oscars prediction game, so we have both of their movie picks: All About Eve and Sing Street! Two wildly different movies, but movies we all recommend. Before that, we're kicking off a new game to determine a bonus episode: the Summer Box Office game. The boys take 21 upcoming summer movies and rank them from highest-grossing blockbuster to biggest bomb. Whoever gets the most correct list picks a bonus episode later this year. Plus, Scott shares his thoughts on the 31st San Luis Obispo International Film Festival! We've got a packed show, but a good show. Got any thoughts on today's episode? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our Modern Spies month concludes as we talk about two new releases and a bunch of streaming recommendations! We're starting with Black Bag and The Amateur, then moving on to some movies you can watch from the comfort of your own home. We've got comedies, action movies, animated spies, and a John le Carre adaptation to recommend, so we're certain we'll recommend something that you'll like! Plus, our introductory thoughts on Ryan Coogler's Sinners, a movie that will certainly be returning to the show on one of our best of 2025 episodes. Got a spy movie you'd recommend? Send us an email to cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Modern Spies month continues as we look at the most famous movie spy of them all: James Bond. This week, we take a look at Daniel Craig's first outing, Casino Royale. Casino Royale is not only one of the best reviewed Bond movies that Craig appeared in, it's one of the best reviewed Bond movies of all time. Our hosts are rewatching and introducing Producer Lalo to his very first James Bond movie! How does it hold up? Is it really one of the best Bond movies? Listen on to find out our thoughts. Plus, our thoughts on Alex Farland and Ray Mendoza's Warfare! What's your favorite Bond movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Modern Spies month continues as we go from Ethan Hunt to Jason Bourne. The Bourne Identity was credited with shifting the aesthetics of spy films for the 21st century, not only moving away from gadgets and one-liners but utilizing handheld cinematography and fast editing in its hand-to-hand fight sequences. Christian and Scott will consider whether these innovations still play well over 20 years later. Plus, some thoughts on the box office success of A Minecraft Movie & the state of movies in 2025 so far. How do you feel about the Bourne franchise? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's a new month, and our new theme is inspired by a couple of new releases: Modern Spies. In appreciation of Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag and the upcoming The Amateur, our hosts are looking back at some of the most influential spy movies of recent history. First up - Mission: Impossible. We've looked at Fallout and Dead Reckoning on the show, but it's time to go back to Tom Cruise's first outing as Ethan Hunt. With a mission gone wrong, hilarious mid-90s internet usage, and exploding chewing gum, the original impossible mission is still a delight. We break down the Langley Heist and discuss the original film in relationship to the rest of the franchise. Plus, if you dig this movie, stay tuned for a couple suggestions inspired by some narrative connections. What's your favorite movie in the Mission: Impossible series? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

This week, we conclude our month long look at Steven Spielberg's run in the 90s. While he directed some incredible films during these years, he made 3 others with varying reputations: Hook, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Amistad. Our hosts share their brief thoughts on each film before revealing their ranking of Spielberg's 90s films. Plus, our Top 5 Spielberg scenes of the 90s! Stay tuned to hear about our plans for April. What's your favorite Steven Spielberg movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

This week, we take a look at what could be Steven Spielberg's third 90s masterpiece as we talk about Saving Private Ryan. Old friend of the show Keenan Culler joins to discuss his favorite movie of all time. Saving Private Ryan was lauded at the time for its graphic but realistic violence and stirring patriotism. The film marked the first collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Hanks, garnering the director his second Oscar win and the actor his fourth nomination. We discuss the story of how the film was made, its historical significance, and whether or not it holds up (spoiler alert: it does). That's three 90s Spielberg movies down. Stay tuned to see how the other three will show up next week. What's your favorite Steven Spielberg movie? Let us know at cinemaontapodcast@gmail.com

Our look at 90s Spielberg continues as we stay parked in the year 1993. Last week, we talked about his box office behemoth, Jurassic Park. This week, we're talking about his Best Picture winner: Schindler's List.   The Holocaust drama tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over 1,000 Jewish people by employing them in his factories. While there has been considerable debate over the past 30+ years about the narrative's use of melodrama, Schindler's List has generally been acclaimed as not only one of Spielberg's best films, but one of the best films to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture.   Christian is crossing the film off of his watchlist and Scott revisits it for their conversation. Join us as we break down the performances of Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, consider the film's use (or avoidance) of melodrama, and discuss the film's historical value.   What's your favorite Spielberg decade? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's a new month, and in honor of the Oscars, we're talking about one of the Academy's most recognized filmmakers of all time: Steven Spielberg. By the 90s, Spielberg had become one of Hollywood's preeminent entertainers. He arguably reached his apex in 1993, when he directed the highest-grossing film of all time and a Best Picture winner in the same year. We're starting with the box office behemoth: Jurassic Park. Christian and Scott are revisiting this rewatchable classic to talk about dino danger, Spielbergian themes, and how hot Jeff Goldblum is. Plus, we're still talking about Industrial Light & Magic, whose 1982 output gave us our January theme this year. With ground-breaking effects, Jurassic Park was one of the most influential films of the 90s, but does it hold up? Well, that's maybe a dumb question. So, how much *does* it hold up? And, after talking for 3 hours about the our thoughts on the Oscars (whoops), we share our thoughts on Anora's big night. What's your favorite decade of Steven Spielberg's career? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

The 97th Academy Awards are almost here, and once again we are talking for way too long about the Oscars! Max Dominguez returns to the show to break down the show. We cover every category, making our predictions, giving our thoughts on who should win, and who should have been nominated. If you're looking to win your Oscar party predictions game, we've got you covered.   Plus, stay tuned to hear what we're covering on the show in March!   Who are you rooting for at the Oscars? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our look at the films of David Lynch draws to a close as we look at his penultimate feature, Mulholland Drive. Widely considered to be one of the greatest films of the 2000s — and possibly the 21st century — our hosts are both watching for the first time. Lynch's style moved even more surrealistic, and Mulholland Drive plays freely with dream logic. After the experimental Eraserhead and more conventional Blue Velvet, what will Scott and Christian think? And most importantly, will Producer Lalo finally give a Lynch film “full banger” status? What's your favorite David Lynch film? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Next week, we're predicting the 97th Academy Awards. Do your Oscars homework and join us then!

Our look at the career of David Lynch continues with 1986's Blue Velvet. Made in the wake of his Dune adaptation flopping, Blue Velvet proved divisive with critics and audiences alike, partially due to some shocking sexual and violent content. It got a thumbs up from Siskel, and a thumbs down from Ebert. But, since then, the film has gone on to become a cult classic beloved by cinephiles. Inspired by film noir, Lynch's film follows young Jeffery Beaumont, who finds a human ear lying in a field near his parents' home. This discovery sets him on a path to uncover the dark underbelly of his hometown, involving a lounge singer and an unhinged gangster. Blue Velvet follows a more conventional narrative than Eraserhead, but still features some surrealistic flourish and experimentation. As our hosts continue to discover his work, stay tuned to hear their thoughts. What's your favorite David Lynch film? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

February is officially underway, which means it's time to kick off a new month. In recognition of the recent passing of David Lynch, we'll be taking some time to look at three of his most notable films. We're starting with his surrealistic debut: Eraserhead. The film that made David Lynch's name on the midnight movie circuit, Eraserhead's experimental style made such an impact that Stanley Kubrick called it one of his favorite films of all time. Our hosts attempt to unpack the movie while also discussing Lynch's career. Plus, we open the show with a chat about the films (and TV series) that Christian watched virtually at this year's Sundance Film Festival. What's your favorite David Lynch film? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our look at the films Industrial Light and Magic worked on in 1982 comes to a close as we look at the horror classic Poltergeist! The film follows the Freeling family whose upwardly mobile middle class existence is thrown for a major loop after their daughter Carol Ann starts talking to “the TV people,” ghosts haunting their home. After Carol Ann disappears, the family enlists the help of paranormal investigators to bring her back to the realm of the living. The film also features legendary behind the scenes tension between director Tobe Hooper and writer/producer Steven Spielberg. Our hosts talk about the story of the film's making before diving into their review. Plus, we react to the recently announced Oscar nominations! Stay tuned to hear about our plans for February. Have any thoughts about our review? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our look at Industrial Light & Magic's 1982 films continues, as we take a look at the cult classic, all-puppets all-the-time spectacular: The Dark Crystal. This is the first time we're talking about anything Jim Henson related, so we talk about his career, The Muppets, and Sesame Street before diving into his dark fantasy film (co-directed with fellow muppeteer, Frank Oz). The Dark Crystal is set in a fantasy world, where young Jen must go on an adventure to restore the titular crystal and stop the evil Skesis. The Dark Crystal received mixed reviews on release, but has endured as a cult classic, with the darker tone and extraordinary puppets winning hearts and minds over the years. But, what will our hosts think? Have you seen The Dark Crystal? Let us know your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's time to kick off our first marathon of the year! This year, Christian is in charge of January, and he's taking us back in time to 1982 to discuss the work of special effects royalty. George Lucas formed Industrial Light & Magic to take care of the special effects for 1977's Star Wars. After working on 3 films from 1977-1981, ILM took a leap and took care of the special effects for 5 major films in 1982, including E.T. and Conan the Barbarian. We're taking a look at the 3 films we haven't seen to cross off some blindspots, starting with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan! Trekkies, this one is for you. The sequel to Star Trek: The Motion Picture (as well as an episode from the original run of the TV show), Wrath of Khan features the crew of the Enterprise facing off against Khan, a genetically modified warlord who has spent 15 years marooned on a deserted planet. Featuring legendary performances from William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Ricardo Montalban, this film has surpassed its franchise trappings to become a beloved sci-fi classic in its own right. What will our hosts think? Listen along and find out. What's your favorite Star Trek movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. [GoFundMe info] Entertainment Community List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aTMre3zZqO3aplOKBJVmQUn55VpNb3CNS2DA28fyH00/edit?usp=sharing   Black Displaced Families https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1pK5omSsD4KGhjEHCVgcVw-rd4FZP9haoijEx1mSAm5c/htmlview?pli=1&usp=embed_facebook BIPOC Families affected by EATON FIRE https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/2/d/1qhkh8v967DJYkVi7kubA8VsHYsO2yB3MBKe8tkWRrhw/htmlview?urp=gmail_link

It's Part 2 of our Top 10 of 2024, and we're covering 5-1. Which films were our host's favorite films of the year? Listen on to find out. Plus, Christian reveals our first monthly theme of the year. In case you missed it, Part 1 features the back half of the lists. What was your favorite film of 2024? What films did we miss? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We're back from our annual holiday break to talk about the best films of 2024! This year, we were joined by Joaquin Dominguez and Max Dominguez for a supersized 2-part episode. With over 30 individual films covered, we cover a ton of ground in order to properly reflect on the year in cinema. Stay tuned to see if your favorite makes the list! Part 1 covers 10-6. Part 2 will have the rest! What was your favorite film of 2024? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's our final show of the year, so you know what that means. It's time for The Tappies 2024! Christian and Scott are looking back at the year in Cinema on Tap by awarding their favorite performances, screenplays, and films of the year. It's been a really great year for the show, and we get to revisit films like Silver Linings Playbook, Strange Days, Mad Max: Fury Road, Battle Royale, Back to the Future, Cast Away, No Country for Old Men, Gladiator, and more! We can't believe 2024 is almost over. After our holiday break, the show returns January 10, 2025! We'll see you then. Do yo have any ideas for what we should cover on the show next year? Send us an email to cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's time to start looking back on the year, and thankfully we get to do it together! Christian and Producer Lalo have made the trip up to San Luis Obispo to record live in person with Scott for the first time since he moved away from LA. We're looking back at the year in Cinema on Tap for the next two weeks, starting with the first annual Cinema on Tap Draft!   Our co-hosts and their intrepid producer are drafting their favorite blockbusters, Best Picture winners, and more as they try to pull together the best list by exclusively using films reviewed on the podcast this year. It's been a good one, meaning everyone has plenty of options (but don't worry: feelings were still hurt).   Stay tuned to see who gets the best list! And, keep an eye on social media to vote for your favorite.   You can vote here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaYr1TspysZvWf4KbG8_HymyHOu-_9MYTGPS-v4rLRJFaInQ/viewform?usp=header

December is finally here, and it's time to start looking back at 2024. But, before we do that, let's look ahead to 2025! There's a lot of movies with potential coming up next year. Here's just a sampling of filmmakers with new movies scheduled to come out next year: James Cameron, Ryan Coogler, Paul Thomas Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Spike Lee, Edgar Wright, Terrence Malick, James Gunn, Steven Soderbergh, Kogonada, Danny Boyle, and Bong Joon-Ho! Plus plenty more. Christian and Scott break out the calendars to discuss their most anticipated films of 2025. Hopefully, we can turn you on to something new. What movie are you looking forward to in 2025? Or, is there one you're just hoping comes out at all? Let us know know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's finally here! We're talking Christian's most anticipated movie of 2024: Gladiator II. Ridley Scott returns to Rome 24 years after his Best Picture win. This time, Paul Mescal takes the reins as leading man, joined by Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Denzel Washington. Much like the original, there are plenty of battles, rousing speeches, and political intrigue to enjoy. But, we don't have Russell Crowe or Joaquin Phoenix. Does the sequel fail to entertain? Or, much like its precursor, will it echo in eternity? Plus, our thoughts on Wicked! What did you think of Gladiator II? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Join us in December as we wrap up the year and look ahead to 2025!

Our final episode on Best Picture nominees from 2000 is here. It's time to talk Gladiator. Ridley Scott's Best Picture winning epic follows Maximus, a disgraced Roman general on a quest for vengeance. Russell Crowe won an Oscar for his performance, and he is joined by Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Richard Harris, and Oliver Reed in his final performance. Fans of Gladiator have found a rewatchable classic; detractors say it's too conventional and poorly written. Where will our hosts land? Next week: Gladiator II! How do you feel about Gladiator? Are you excited for Gladiator II? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our November theme continues, and we're sticking with Soderbergh. This week: Traffic. The film that won Soderbergh his Oscar, Traffic is a modern epic about the drug war, with separate narrative threads in Mexico, Southern California, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Covering drug traffickers, law enforcement in both Mexico and the United States, and teenagers hooked on drugs, the film's ambitious scope attempts to tell the whole story, complexities and all. New friend of the show Joaquin Dominguez, screenwriter and all-around Soderbergh superfan, is still hanging with us after last week's episode. Christian, Scott, and Joaquin take a look at Traffic to see if the film holds up 24 years later. What's your favorite Soderbergh film? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Joaquin's new film Watch Them Come Blood recently premiered in Los Angeles to a sold out crowd. The film is continuing to screen around the country, and is coming to physical media in the future.

Now that we've got The Cat in the Hat out of our system, it's time to kick off our November theme of the month! With Gladiator II coming soon, we're taking a look at the original plus some of the other Best Picture nominated films of 2000. First up: we're joined by screenwriter and Steven Soderbergh fanatic Joaquin Dominguez to discuss Erin Brockovich. The first of Steven Soderbergh's two Best Picture nominated films in the year 2000, this is also the one that garnered Julia Roberts her Oscar. Erin Brockovich follows the titular legal assistant who uncovers an environmental conspiracy in Hinkley, California. She and her boss, the lawyer Ed Masry, begin a legal fight on behalf of the residents to get them justice. Erin Brockovich is a classic underdog story, with Brockovich, Masry, and Hinkley taking on a massive corporation. But, will it stand out from other similar films? What's your favorite legal drama? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Joaquin's new film Watch Them Come Blood recently premiered in Los Angeles to a sold out crowd. The film is continuing to screen around the country, and is coming to physical media in the future. Reach out for more information on opportunities to see it!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the very first Lalo's Shitty Classics week! Before kicking off our Novemeber theme, we've turned over planning to Producer Lalo, and he's  chosen one of his childhood favorites to talk about: The Cat in the Hat.   Mike Myers stars as the titular feline in this live action adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. While the film had a strong negative reaction at the time, many people who were kids when it came out now carry its banner as a misunderstood cult classic. Christian didn't like it when he first watched it, and Scott has never seen it. Will Lalo be vindicated or disappointed?   What's your favorite Dr. Seuss adaptation? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com.   Stay tuned to hear what's happening on the show in November!

Vamp-tober comes to a showstopping conclusion as we dive headfirst into the Twilight series! Friend of the show Emily Baker is back to break down the iconic franchise. Who's Team Edward and who's Team Jacob? Which is the best film in the series? Are any of these movies even good? Why is the baby CGI?! All these questions and more will be answered! (Maybe not the baby one though. We don't know why they did that.) How do you feel about Twilight? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Stay tuned to find out what's coming up next week!

Our final pairing of Vamp-Tiber is here: Vampire Action! Today, we're talking about From Dusk Till Dawn and Blade. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's ode to exploitation movies starts George Clooney and Tarantino as criminal brothers on the run who have an unexpected run-in with vampires. Blade starts Wesley Snipes as the titular vampire killer, looking cool as hell as he kicks off the modern superhero era of Hollywood filmmaking. Producer Lalo had to use a few bleeps this time. It's a fun one! What's your favorite vampire movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Vamp-tober continues as we zoom forward in time to the 80s! The 80s were a great decade for vampire films, and we'll be talking about two beloved cult classics from the time: The Hunger and The Lost Boys.   The Hunger is slower, more stylish movie starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon — plus, it's the directorial debut from Tony Scott! The Lost Boys is a Joel Schumacher spectacle, in a teen movie + vampire mashup. Which approach will our hosts prefer?   Plus, we open the show discussing the movies we got to see at Beyond Fest 2024!   What's your favorite vampire movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to Vamp-tober! For this year's October theme, Cinema on Tap will be taking a deep dive into vampire movies. To start, we're going way back to the beginning, and discussing the OVs: 1922's Nosferatu and 1931's Dracula. Both of these films are adaptations of Bram Stoker's genre-defining novel and hugely important in film history. F.W. Murnau's silent film has lived on as one of the most influential  films of the silent era, while Tod Browning's film kickstarted the Universal Monsters series and made an enduring impact on popular culture. Is Max Schreck or Bela Lugosi the better vampire? Which is the superior film? Will Producer Lalo survive watching his first silent film? All these questions and more will be answered on the show! Plus, get our quick review of The Substance and Scott's thoughts on Megalopolis! What's your favorite vampire movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We've got a supersized episode to wrap up September as we talk about 12 individual movies! This got a lot bigger than expected…needless to say, antics ensue. We start by a getting a fresh-out-the-theatre review from Christian about Jason Reitman's new film Saturday Night. After that, he shares his thoughts on two other new releases, Transformers One and A Different Man. Then, Scott updates us with the 4 new-ish release films he caught up with on flights over the weekend. Once the new release roundup is complete, we debut a new format in the show, Booze You've Never Heard Of! We talk about one of the Coen brothers lesser seen films from the early 21st century, and round it out with early films from the Wachowskis, Radio Silence, Safdie brothers, and Duplass brothers. Did we pique your interest in any of these movies? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Stay tuned to hear our horror theme for October!

This week, our Coen brothers marathon continues as we welcome new friend of the show Max Dominguez to discuss Inside Llewyn Davis. While not the Coen brothers' biggest financial success nor a Best Picture winner, Inside Llewyn Davis has lived on as one of the most critically praised films of the 2010s. Both hosts and guest are returning to this film. Scott and Max are big fans, but is Christian due for a hot take? Listen along to find out. What's your favorite Coen bros. movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Our Coen brothers month continues as we discuss what many consider to be their best film: No Country for Old Men. Outside of winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, No Country was also a huge financial success, and has lived on as a tense, gripping thriller with deep themes. We're bringing back friends of the show Hayd and Sarcastic Sounds (aka Jeremy) to discuss this classic. Earlier this year, we discussed Hayd's favorite film of all time, Good Will Hunting (Note: He has a new favorite film as of this recording). This time, it's Jeremy's favorite. Hopefully he stay strong in his feelings. Does No Country deserve its all-timer status? Stay tuned to hear our thoughts. What's your favorite Coen Brothers movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's the start of a new month here on Cinema on Tap, and we're spending it with another famous director…well, a famous pair of directors. The Coen Brothers! Joel & Ethan Coen are some of the most acclaimed filmmakers of recent memory, and we'll be taking a look at some of their 21st century output. We're starting with their most financially successful film: True Grit. The western starred Jeff Bridges and introduced us to Hailee Steinfeld as they formed an unlucky duo tracking down a murderer in the Old West. What will our hosts think? What's your favorite Coen Brothers movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We finally escape the cinematic island we've been stranded on this month with our final review of August. We're heading to the theaters to discuss Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut, Blink Twice. The new release follows Frida, a woman who is invited to a getaway on a billionaire's private island. After a while, she realizes she is struggling to remember the events of the trip. Fearing something sinister, she sets out to figure out what happened to her memories and what is happening on the island. After we review Blink Twice, we have our Island Movie Grab Bag. We share a few other island movies that are streaming, most of which we recommend…a few of which we definitely don't.  Stay until the end of the episode to hear Christian's plan for September!  Did you see Blink Twice? What did you think? Send us your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Stranded on an island month finally leaves the year 2000, jumping 10 years ahead to one of the biggest films of Martin Scorsese's career: Shutter Island. The 4th DiCaprio-Scorsese team up follows Teddy Daniels, a federal marshal dispatched to search for a missing patient at Ashcliffe, a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane off the coast of Massachusetts on the titular island. Strange things start happening, and Daniels has to figure out what's real, what's not, and whether he will be able to leave the island alive. For the first time this month, our hosts are both re-watching a film instead of seeing something for the first time. One of them liked it more the second time around, one of them less—stay tuned to see who's who. Plus, our thoughts on Alien: Romulus! What's your favorite Scorsese-DiCaprio collaboration? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Stranded on an Island month continues. This week, we're taking a look at the influential cult classic Battle Royale. A predecessor to The Hunger Games, Battle Royale is set in a dystopian Japan and follows a group of teenagers trapped on an island and forced to fight to the death until only one remains. Controversial upon release, Battle Royale wasn't even widely available to watch in the US until a direct to video release 10 years after its Japanese debut. Nevertheless, the film has remained popular, especially as it continues to reach a wider audience. Stay tuned to find out our takes! Do you agree or disagree with our takes? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

SOS! This month, Cinema on Tap is talking about movies with characters  trapped, stranded, or worse on deserted islands. we're kicking things off with a big blindspot for both Christian and Scott: Cast Away. It's our second Robert Zemeckis movie of the year, and our first Tom Hanks movie in a while. Cast Away follows Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems analyst involved in a plane crash which leaves him stranded on an island in the Pacific. With only Wilson the volleyball to keep him company, Chuck must fight to survive and figure out a way off the island.  Hanks was nominated for an Oscar for the role, but our hosts will see if he can carry the movie with no co-stars. Do you have thoughts on Cast Away? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We are back! After our customary July break, the boys are locked back in to talk movies. We're kicking off August by talking about our Top 5 of 2024 so far. This year, Christian and Scott shared quite a few movies, and they almost shared a #1. Stay tuned to find out which movies made their lists. Plus: their favorite performances of the year so far and producer Lalo‘s current favorite movie of 2024! What's your favorite movie of 2024 so far? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We wrap up Kathryn Bigelow month by having talking through the movies we didn't cover on the show and discussing her entire filmography. We start by sharing our respective top five characters from her films. Then, we compile a shared ranked list, trying as best as we can to smash together our two perspectives. Stay tuned to see which film gets the top slot. How did we do on our lists? Let us know your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Programming reminder: we are taking our customary July break. We will be back August 5 with our top five movies of 2024 so far. See you then!

After last week's controversial discussion (who would have thought Christian would be anti-Point Break?), we step into the most controversial period of Kathryn Bigelow's career. After two critical and commercial flops, Bigelow found redemption and earned success at the highest level, becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director for The Hurt Locker. She followed up the Iraq war thriller with Zero Dark Thirty, a film depicting the United States manhunt for Osama bin Laden.  These two films have been both widely acclaimed and derided, and are considered controversial for their content, as well as Bigelow's approach to the material. What will our hosts think? Looking back from 2024? Do you have thoughts on these movies? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Last week, we looked at Kathryn Bigelow's genre films. This week, we turn our attention to her cop movies! Released back to back in 1990 and 1991, Blue Steel and Point Break vary drastically in tone, but both feature Bigelow's signature: entertaining thrills hiding interesting ideas. We dive in to these two with friend of the show Elias Hoxsie, the designer of our logo, because Point Break is one of his favorite movies. We discuss Jamie Lee Curtis and Keanu Reeves lead performances, talk about the best scenes in each movie, and try to unpack the subtext in each film. Stay tuned for Produer Lalo's thoughts. What is your favorite Kathryn Bigelow movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com. Check out Elias's artwork @eliashoxsieart on Instagram.

We're sticking with a famous director for June, as we start our month long coverage of Kathryn Bigelow! We'll be talking two a week and pairing them up based on theme. To start, we're looking at two of her genre movies: 1987's Near Dark and 1995's Strange Days. Near Dark is a vampire story set in the American South. Strange Days is a tech noir featuring a technology that allows the user to experience other people's memories. Both are worth your time! Whether you've seen them or not, Christian and Scott will talk you through them both. Do you have a favorite Kathryn Bigelow movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's all led to this. We're talking Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, George Miller's return to the wasteland. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, the prequel follows Furiosa from childhood in the Green Place to becoming Imperator in Fury Road. But, how does it stack up with the rest of the franchise? Christian and Scott unpack their thoughts, before sharing their respective George Miller ranked lists! Stay tuned to find out what we'll be covering in the show in June.

Witness us, listeners! It's time for Mad Max: Fury Road. After 30 years away from the wasteland, George Miller returned with Tom Hardy as his new Max and Charlize Theron as his new reluctant partner in survival. The long wait was worth it, as Fury Road became the highest-grossing Mad Max film, was nominated for 10 Oscars, and developed a reputation as one of the best movies of the 21st century. No surprises here — our hosts are big fans. Tune in to hear their thoughts on why this movie rocks. (Don't worry, they still figured out ways to argue.) Plus, get Producer Lalo's thoughts on seeing it for the first time! Is Mad Max: Fury Road the best action movie ever made?! Let us know your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

George Miller completes the early career trilogy of Mad Max films with his biggest budget yet for Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Mel Gibson is back and Tina Turner is joining (and dropping two bangers on the soundtrack). Max rolls into Bartertown, run by Turner's Aunty Entity, and gets caught up in a power struggle between her and Master Blaster, the leader of Bartertown's Underworld. Beyond Thunderdome is often called the worst Mad Max film, though it still has its fans. What will Christian and Scott think? Stay tuned to find out. How would you rank the Mad Max movies? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Although he had offers from Hollywood, George Miller couldn't resist another trek out into the wasteland to share the next Mad Max adventure with us. The second film takes inspiration from westerns, Akira Kurosawa, and other classic film genres as Max reluctantly partners with a settlement facing off against The Lord Humungus and his gang of leather clad marauders trying to steal their gasoline. Mad Max 2 aka The Road Warrior is still considered one of the greatest action movies ever made. What do our hosts think? And did producer Lalo like it more than the original?  What's your favorite Mad Max film? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

It's time for another alliterative month on Cinema on Tap: Mad Max May! With the upcoming release of Furiosa, we're heading to the wasteland to talk about George Miller's career-spanning franchise. We start in 1979, with a much more grounded film compared to its successors. The original film follows Mad Max Rockatansky, a police officer, trying to keep a collapsing society afloat…before he crosses paths with the Toecutter. How does Mad Max compare to the sequels? And, do we feel that George Miller got his career off to a hot start? Stay tuned to find out! How would you rank the mad Max movies? Send us your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

Boston month comes to a close! Our hosts look at Boston movies from the 70s all the way to the 2020s and choose 4 (1 per decade) to put into a Boston movie flight. What Boston movie is automatically in? What is a Boston movie? Would you move to Boston? All of these questions answered here.

We're almost at the end of our Boston month, but we've got two more movies in us, both directed by Boston's premier son - Ben Affleck. Our hosts dive into Gone Baby Gone and The Town, both bleak depictions of Boston, but both entirely Boston in their portrayal.   Agree or disagree? Send our hosts your thoughts at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

We're sticking with Matt Damon this week on the pod as Boston Movies month goes to therapy. It's time for Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, the youngest winners ever, and Robin Williams won for Best Supporting Actor in what may be one of the most beloved movies we've ever discussed on the podcast. If you haven't seen it before — it's not your fault. We're joined by musician friends Hayd and Sarcastic Sounds (and using their studio if you're wondering why our audio sounds so darn good!) to discuss this Boston classic. Stay tuned to hear our thoughts! Do you agree or disagree with our takes on Good Will Hunting? Is there a Boston movie you love and want us to talk about? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com