Movie Roulette Tuesday: The Podcast

Send us a textWe close out our “One Last Chance” theme with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, about a mother (Frances McDormand) trying to provoke the local police department in an effort to reinvigorate the stalled investigation into the murder of her daughter. The shakeup this week was that the film must have come out within the last ten years, and this one fits the bill (board), having been released in 2017. We also talk about the top ten films with the longest titles, as well as some history of billboard advertising. If that doesn't pique your interest, we're not sure what would!

Send us a textThis week, our podcast shines the spotlight on the Female Protagonist, as we continue our "One Last Chance" theme.  And so, we watch the 2011 film about the young female assassin, "Hanna,"  who has one last chance to escape a ruthless intelligence agent trying to track her down across continents.  Starring Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett, this movie has the added bonus of a great score by the Chemical Brothers.We also take a deep dive into what we believe makes a great female protagonist, where writers can fall short, and what exactly a "Mary Sue" is.  So listen in, as we toss out our bras, pull on some pants and bust through the glass ceiling of average podcasts.  

Send us a textWell, it's that time again.  What time you might ask?  Well, it's new theme time of course, and this time our AI overlords have blessed us with the theme of "One Last Chance".  As ominous as that sounds it just deals with movies where characters are given a final opportunity to change their fate, make amends or redeem themselves.Of course there's always a shakeup to go along with the theme and this week that shakeup is "must be a horror movie".To appease our AI masters by meeting the theme and shakeup requirements we will be watching the 2000 classic 'Final Destination'.  After getting a premonition about a plane crash on his school trip, Alex saves a few of his classmates however, their situation gets complicated when death starts chasing them.As per usual we delve off into other discussion topics such as free will vs fate and whatever else comes to mind.

Send us a textWe close out our theme of “The Long Journey” with a journey of 140 million miles…to Mars!  Karl had the added shakeup that his pick must feature a conspiracy. So we are watching 1990's Total Recall, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as lowly worker Douglas Quaid, who dreams of one day visiting Mars. But when Doug visits “Rekall”, a business that implants false memories for a fee, it sets of a chain of events showing there is more to Doug than meets the eye.  We also discuss the original Philip K  Dick short story the film was based on, some of our favorite Schwarzenegger movies, whether we would ever consider visiting Mars, and if we would try out a service like Rekall.  And Schwarzenegger noises.  This movie has all of them. 

Send us a textThe Long Journey continues, and this time it must be considered a cult classic.  And so, we take a trans-dimensional trip back in time to watch 1984's "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension," about a neurosurgeon-physicist-rock star and his posse, The Hong Kong Cavaliers, fighting a bunch of aliens all named John. Yeah, it's ridiculous.  It received mixed reviewed upon its release, but for some, became a cult classic, still enjoyed to this day.  And when it comes to mixed reviews, the MRT crew is no exception.So grab your Kool-Aid, zip up your track suit, and consult Mother God, as we explore the what, why and how of cult classic films... because wherever you go, there you are.

Send us a textOur new theme this cycle is 'The Long Journey'.  We'll be watching movies where the characters undergo an extensive journey, whether literal or figurative, leading to self-discovery or transformation.This week the shakeup is 'unlikely heroes' and the movie is 'Beau Is Afraid'.  Written and directed by Ari Aster, Joaquin Phoenix stars as Beau, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man.  Following the sudden death of his mother we see Beau confront his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic odyssey back home. As usual we discuss the film and all kinds of other topics so strap in and join us on this long journey.

Send us a textWe close out our “Close Encounters” theme with Jordan Peele's 2022 film Nope, about a pair of sibling horse trainers contending with a strange visitor hiding in the clouds above their ranch. The trainers are siblings, not the horses.  Well maybe the horses are siblings too. You know what, it's not important. Do we believe in aliens?  How many kinds of close encounters are there? What are some of our favorite, and least favorite, movie aliens? All that and more are in this very episode! 

Send us a textOnce upon a time, not so long ago, this podcast had to explore the theme of Close Encounters, with the added shake-up that this week's pick must include a dance sequence.  So we watched a movie FULL of dance sequences; 1948's "The Red Shoes",  the story of a ballerina who had to choose between her commitment to ballet or her commitment to the man she loves.   This film is loosely based on the fairy tale of the same name.  We also delve into some intense fairy tale origins. Those Grimm brothers were not averse to gouging out some eyes, rolling women around in barrels of nails, or abducting children to teach a moral lesson. So put on your dancing shoes and make the right choice to listen in.  Otherwise, you may get eaten by a wolf... or cursed by a witch.... or turned into sea foam...

Send us a textGet a little closer and don't be shy because for this round our new theme is "Close Encounters".  We will be watching movies involving moments of connection, discovery, or revelation between people, or even between humanity and something unknown.The shakeup for this week is "classic film pre 70s".  Combine that with our new theme, mix well and you get "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance".  This 1962 classic, directed by John Ford,  stars James Stewart, John Wayne and Vera Miles.  It tells the story of a senator who returns to a Western town for the funeral of an old friend and tells the story of his origins.We'll discuss the movie as well as Westerns in general and take an interesting deep dive into the world of smoking pipes, including GAME OF PIPES!

Send us a textWe close out our “Rebels With a Cause” theme with 1984's Red Dawn, starring every actor popular in the 80's as a group of high school students forced to defend their town guerrilla style against foreign invaders during World War 3. We also discuss what would happen if the events in the film happened today, and whether our own high schools would have put up a fight.  So gas up your pickup truck, grab some supplies, tie your bandanas tightly, and come join us  Go Wolverines! 

Send us a textThis week, we continue our Rebels With A Cause theme, with the added shake-up that the film must include a surprise cameo.  And so, we watch the horror movie that rebelled against all of the usual tropes of its genre by being self-aware:  1996's "Scream" directed by Wes Craven and starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette and Matthew Lillard.... with not one, but THREE cameos.  We also dive into "Randy's Horror Rules," as well as explore different themes in horror throughout the last century of filmmaking.  So, instead of getting drunk, announcing "I'll be right back," and heading into that desolate basement alone while a murderer is on the loose, come listen to our podcast instead; it's a killer episode!

Send us a textIt's new theme time again and for this round we have "Rebels WITH a Cause" which involves Films about characters who go against the grain for a purpose, whether through social, political, or personal rebellion.Starting things off with a bang we have "Falling Down", the 1993 thriller from Joel Schumacher starring Michael Douglas and featuring Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey and Rachel Ticotin.  This film is a lot more than it appears to be on the surface and we dig into the good stuff to find the rebel and the cause within.Also stay tuned for our own stories of rebellion, discussions about what exactly is a 'cause' and Matt complains about his inner ear problems.

Send us a textWe close out our “Eyes Wide Open” theme cycle with the 2009 Ti West film House of the Devil, in which a college student takes a babysitting job that turns into the night from hell. We also discuss all things babysitter: our childhood experiences with babysitters, whether any of us have been a babysitter, and some notable babysitters in movies. Karl also messes up Jack Quaid's name, and he DEFINITELY hasn't been embarrassed about it in the weeks that have followed the recording. 

Send us a textWe have a special surprise this week; MRT VIP listener and very good friend Andrew is back with us as a guest host!  And we have provided him with his own shake-up for the Eyes Wide Open theme; his pick had to be based on a book. And so he chose the 1985 gem, "Brewster's Millions" starring Richard Pryor and John Candy.  This film's interesting premise requires the main character to spend $30 million in 30 days in order to inherit $300 million. However, there are some. . . restrictions.  The film is based on a novel that's over a century old and has been made into a movie adaptation at least seven times.We also go through our own "Brewster's Millions" scenarios and of course, talk about how great 1980s films were. So join us, as we spend lavishly (and hypothetically.)  And make sure you get a receipt!

Send us a textWe are continuing our “Eyes Wide Open” theme along with the restriction that our film needs to originate from a country we haven't been to yet on the podcast (cinematically speaking.)  And so we travel to South Korea, to watch Park Chan Wook's 2003 revenge film, “Oldboy.”We also explore the concept of revenge, and identify films that feature this theme. And Karl and Rachael retell their own tales of vengeance.    …So come join us for a podcast episode best served cold….

Send us a textAlright everyone, it's time for yet another theme and this time it's "Eyes Wide Open".  This theme will deal with films where characters experience eye-opening moments, whether through shocking revelations or sudden enlightenment.Peeling back the eyelids first, with the shake-up of "must have a narrator" (pretty self explanatory) is The Usual Suspects, the 1995 action/drama/thriller/etc directed by Bryan Singer and starring Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri and Kevin Pollak.  We follow the tale of the sole survivor of a pier shoot-out who tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.Of course in addition to our feature presentation we do a deep dive into daylight savings time, pick who would narrate our lives and Matt discusses his experience with invasive procedures.  

Send us a textWe close out our “Forgotten Dreams” theme with the 1996 film Shine, the true story of piano prodigy David Helfgott, who cracks under the pressure of his overbearing father and his attempt to master Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. Karl's shakeup was that the film must have won an award (this one won several, mostly for star Geoffrey Rush), so we also discuss whether we ourselves have ever won an award, some award show history, and whether a movie winning awards would compel us to watch it. 

Send us a textWe continue our Forgotten Dreams theme with the shake-up that it must be directed by an "auteur;" someone who is known for their distinct style.  Who better to choose than the recently departed, and very unique, David Lynch?  And so we enter the dream world of 2001's "Mulholland Drive" starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring and Justin Theroux.  This movie is quite the puzzle - it even comes with its own clues -  but it can be solved and we all agreed that after multiple viewings, we (mostly) figured it out!We also talk about David Lynch's philosophy on filmmaking/art and take a dive into our own weird dreams.  So let go of any preconceived notions and just immerse yourself in the experience of this week's episode.  

Send us a textNew round, new theme and this time we are dealing with "forgotten dreams".  We'll be watching films about dreams, aspirations, and goals that were once pursued but were lost or abandoned, with characters rediscovering them.  This week's shake-up, "based on a true story", leads us to the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.  Starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton and Jaden Smith it is based on the true story of Christopher Gardner who risks it all to pursue a life changing opportunity.

Send us a textWe close out our “Past Lives” theme with Defending Your Life, starring Albert Brooks as a deceased man who must defend the choices he made in life in order for his spirit to move along on its journey. This also marks the first film we've discussed featuring the titular star of Karl's rating system, the always amazing Meryl Streep! We also discuss what NOT to do when suffering a traumatic brain injury, what makes a comedy a “dark comedy”, and we talk about our own experiences in a courtroom. What's the verdict? Tune in to find out! 

Send us a textWe carry on with our “Past Lives” theme, and the added shake up of having to be a remake/reboot, with the 2020 film “Rebecca,” starring our favorite cannibal Armie Hammer and Lily James.  Based on the novel of the same title by Daphne DuMaurier, it was originally brought to the silver screen in 1940 by Alfred Hitchcock. We also discuss what defines a remake vs a reboot vs a re-adaptation and review some of our favorites.  So join us, as we revisit a classic story… Will it live up to the original?

Send us a textWe've consulted our AI theme overlords and spun the shake-up wheel once again so we can once again bring you the next round of the Movie Roulette Tuesday Podcast!In this round we'll be dealing with the theme of "past lives".  Our picks will be restricted to films that deal with reincarnation, past experiences or characters who must confront their past to move forward.With this theme in mind our first shake-up is "must be a documentary or mockumentary", and what better pick for this than the 2014 film What We Do in the Shadows.  Directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, it follows the lives of Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) - three flatmates who are just trying to get by and overcome life's obstacles-like being immortal vampires who must feast on human blood.In our normal fashion we delve into tangents on reincarnation, rude interactions at our places of work, complaints about the current seasonal weather and our complaints on modern documentaries in general.

Send us a textHej vänner! The last person to die on New Year's Eve is cursed to drive Death's carriage the following year in 1921's silent Swedish classic The Phantom Carriage, the first silent film we've ever reviewed! We also discuss the passing of one of our favorites, David Lynch, and review an extensive list of notable Swedish exports. So don't be a David Holm; we hope you'll tune in! 

Send us a textWe continue our theme of “The Unseen” with the added shake-up that it must be genre-bending.  And so we're watching the very unique, and VERY low-budget sci-fi mystery, “Coherence.”  It's a little gem of a movie from 2013 with a relatively unknown cast and crew, revolving around a get-together with friends which takes a turn to the mind-bending after a comet passes overhead. We also discuss dinner parties, fighting on the moon and Schroedinger's cat. And remember: this episode both does and doesn't exist, until you collapse the possibilities by listening in….or something like that. 

Send us a textHey, I heard you missed us, we're back!  Season 3 of the Movie Roulette Tuesday Podcast is officially in full swing and we've got some new and interesting changes to the show that we hope you all enjoy.  Don't worry, it's still the same podcast you've all come to love, we've just added some spice to make the new season a little more interesting and maybe expand our movie selections into uncharted territory.We'll talk about all that and more in this episode where we kick things off with “The Hitcher.”  It's a weird one from 1986 starring Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh.  We don't want to give too much away in the description so just sit back, relax and enjoy the return of your favorite movie podcast!

Send us a textWhat better way to close out 2024 and welcome in 2025 than with a Season 2 Year In Review from your favorite podcast!  Listen in as we think back on the films we viewed this past year, including the best, the worst, and the most surprising.  We also find out where our dear listeners hail from and how our podcast audience is growing.  So put up your feet, pour some champagne, and let's toast to the close of a successful second season, as we boldly look forward, with some new ideas, to another year of the  fantastical and exciting MRT podcast.  And remember.... Chaos Reigns!

Send us a textNothing says Christmas like serial killers!  Karl closes out our “Within the Last Year” theme, our final theme of Season Two, with Longlegs, a film about an FBI agent who may be a smidge psychic and her investigation of the titular serial killer. We also discuss all things serial killer, including some notable ones in history, why the US leads the world in recorded serial killers, and why serial killers aren't as prominent today as they have been in the past. Such a festive episode! 

Send us a textThis week, we continue our theme of “within the last (rolling) year” with 2023's “Poor Things.”  Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe, this movie certainly leaves an impression. This is definitely our “MRT After Dark” episode as we discuss sex in film, public nudity and what not to watch with your parents.  In the words of Dave Chapelle: Better not bring your kids!

Send us a textIt's time for our last theme cycle of the year!  Usually our themes are pretty broad and open to interpretation, allowing us to pick from the vast back-catalogue of movie history.  For this round, we are restricting our picks to films released in the last year so we can all get a taste of modern cinemaRising from the depths and bursting onto our screen this week is the 2023 film (it's a rolling 12 months...) Godzilla Minus One.  Drawing heavily from the original 1954 film Gojira but not quite a remake or prequel, what we have here is a modern take on the monster movie that stays true to the earlier days with more focus on the human aspect and post-war Japan.We also dive somewhat heavily into a discussion on modern cinema, a perceived decline in the industry, the horror renaissance, the diminishing power of the professional critic and our specific issues with modern film.  There's also a top 10 fun facts about Godzilla so make sure to check that out.

Send us a textKarl closes out our “Memories From the Drive-In” theme by bringing the drive-in experience to the MRT studio! The MRT Crew reviews Drive-In Massacre, a 1976 film about two detectives investigating a series of sword murders at a local drive-in. We also discuss our favorite candy, and the most random things we've ever found where we least expected it. So come join us!**Theater management cannot be held responsible for the carnage and insanity this episode may cause. 

Send us a textGreetings, my friends. Join us, won't you, as we explore the strange and unusual life of filmmaker Ed Wood, in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic of the same name.  Starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Jessica Parker, this movie will take you into the weird world of Ed Wood during his “heyday” in the 1950s when he befriended aging actor Bela Lugosi and created some of the worst Z-movies known to man. We also learn what a “Z-movie” is and explore what defines a cult classic.  So grab your angora sweaters, ignore any and all criticisms (or even common sense and good taste) and listen in!

Send us a textOnce upon a time the big screen wasn't just in a theater or in your living room but out under the wide open sky.  Loading up the car, eating food, playing frisbee or baseball until the sun went down and everyone went back to their vehicles to watch whatever double feature was playing that night.  These are memories from the drive-in and our theme for this round.We delve into all things drive-in this episode and our feature this evening is The Blob, 1958's classic sci-fi horror starring Steve McQueen.  Although not part of a double feature this time it still has all the campy appeal and a bit of nostalgia that brings us back to when the drive-in was the place to be for a date night or family outing.

Send us a textWe close out our “Hugs & Kisses” theme with 1994's Cemetery Man, starring Rupert Everett as a man who works in a cemetery in which the bodies rise from their graves within a week of being buried. It has been called “the finest erotic romantic existential black comedy zombie gorefest of our time” by Severin Films. What does it have to do with hugs and kisses?  Give this week's episode a listen to find out!We also discuss whether we want to be buried when we die, Karl gives some burial statistics, we discuss some of our favorite zombie movies, and we talk about the difference between a remake and a re-adaptation. 

Send us a textThe romance continues with our “Hugs and Kisses” theme in the form of the 1992 film “The Bodyguard” , starring Kevin Costner as an ex-Secret Serviceman hired to protect a threatened pop singer/actress played by Whitney Houston.  In true romance movie form, they fall in love and conflict ensues. We also review the sub-genres of the romance movie, the indecent proposal in “Indecent Proposal,” and Rachael's brush with beauty pageants,If you don't tune in, then we can't protect you!  

Send us a text"Hugs & Kisses".  We see this message emblazoned on chalky candy hearts and sappy cards for Valentine's Day every year.  There are racks of novels at libraries and bookstores ready to fill us with tales of this topic.  When it comes to film there are countless romances, comedies and dramas that play on this phrase.  That's a good thing too because it's our theme for this next round of picks.What better film to kick things off and put us in the mood for romance but the classic 1987 film, The Princess Bride.  Based on the 1973 William Goldman novel and brought to us by the wizard of love himself Rob Reiner this film stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Fred Savage, Andre the Giant and a host of others.  It holds a special place in our hearts and we hope you can enjoy it with your own special someone.As usual we veer off on tangents but try to stay on topic and dig into what is a romance movie really.  Finally, we respond to the question we know you're burning for us to answer... are we romantic?

Send us a textWe close out our “I'm So Cold” theme with 2003's The Cooler, starring William H. Macy as Bernie, an employee of a rundown Las Vegas casino, whose job is to go to tables and “cool” their winning streaks. But when he falls in love and his luck turns around, he becomes a liability to the casino and hijinks ensue. We also discuss the concept of luck, Karl provides some origins and statistics about superstitions, and Rachael regales us with tales of her childhood food traumas. So come join us…if you're feeling lucky. 

Send us a textCome ride the rails with us for this week's variation on the “I'm So Cold” theme, as we eternally loop through the arctic, post-apocalyptic wasteland of 2013's “Snowpiercer.”  Directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Chris Evans, Sir John Hurt, Ed Harris, and Tilda Swinton, and based on a French graphic novel of the same name, this film creates a fascinating world that definitely left us with more questions than answers.  We also learn some interesting facts about trains, as well as recalling our own experiences with them, and maybe make some dinner plans. So all aboard!  Next stop; MRT Station.  

Send us a textI'm so cold!  You've probably heard someone say this or even said it yourself but beyond the temperature what else could this statement be hinting at?  What other kinds of coldness are there?  Button up for our cold plunge in this topic for our new theme.The Ice Storm brings in a blustery front of emotional coldness from 1997.  Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood and others this icy drama follows a pair of intertwined middle-class families in 1973 New Canaan Connecticut.  As a real life ice storm builds in the background the real storm is already underway between the two families.We also talk about our own ice storm experiences over the years, going back to the office after remote work and more.

Send us a textKarl closes out our “Out of My Comfort Zone” theme with a movie chosen by his wife, who was asked by Karl to pick a movie that he “would never in a million years have ever watched.” The murder mystery film genre has a storied history of entertaining films. Then there's Murder Mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston which….isn't one of those films. We also discuss Karl's abuse of AI, why he dislikes Adam Sandler, whether Matt and Rachael know each other's comfort zones (get your mind out of the gutter), and Pizza Hut's “Book It!” Club. So come join us, unless you intend on being a suspect…of MURDER. 

Send us a textWe continue to venture out of any and all comfort zones, with this week's pick “A Face in the Crowd;” a lesser known, but excellent film from 1957 starring Andy Griffith, uncharacteristically playing a bombastic, complicated, and sometimes repellant character.  This is a far cry from his better known, and more like-able roles as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Matlock. We also talk about director Elia Kazan's controversial brush with the House Un-american Activities Committee, media manipulation, old TV shows we remember, and Vitajex!  

Send us a textHow comfortable are you with being uncomfortable?  Some say the only true way to grow is to step outside your comfort zone, which happens to be our new theme. This week we are watching Good Will Hunting starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams where the main character needs to step outside his own comfort zone. We also discuss SpongeBob SquarePants and the Brownie incident. 

Send us a textAfter discussing whether we could survive being lost at sea, being held captive in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, and taking part in British naval warfare battles during the Napoleonic era, it's only natural that we end our “Could I Survive?” theme with the most perilous of activities….skiing. We watch 2010's Frozen (not the Disney one) about three friends stuck on a ski lift that has been shut down for the week. Could we survive the cold?  Could we survive the hungry wolves?  Could we survive having to pee for days?? Check out our latest episode to find out!  We also discuss our own experiences with skiing and climbing, and Karl tests Matt and Rachael's knowledge of some skiing statistics. Come join us!

Send us a textWelcome aboard, hoist the mainsail, and batten down the hatches for this week's film, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany (and a bunch of other dudes.). This movie happens to be one of Rachael's all-time favorites and she is sure to remind you of this.  Frequently. We also discuss a recent visit to America's oldest (and best) national park, Yellowstone, as well as what life on the high seas might have been like in the early 19th century.  So come join us for some light discussion on super-volcanoes and amputations!   And of course, try to answer the thematic question; could I survive?

Send us a Text Message.Have you ever watched a movie or read a book and tried to put yourself in the shoes of the main character?  Imagined yourself going through all their trials and tribulations and asked yourself the question "could I survive"?  That is our new theme and mission for this round.This episode focuses on 'Unbroken', the 2014 film adaptation of the excellent 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand.  Written by the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson and directed by Angelina Jolie the film follows American Olympian and Army officer Louis Zamperini who survived in a raft for 47 days after his bomber ditched in the ocean during the Second World War, before being captured by the Japanese and being sent to a series of prisoner of war camps.We also discuss our own brushes with mortality and discuss what it really means to survive.

Send us a Text Message.Our “Strange Bedfellows” theme concludes with Night Shift, in which Henry Winkler, Shelley Long, and Michael Keaton (in his first breakout role) star as unlikely partners who turn a city morgue into a “love broker” business. What could possibly go wrong?!We also discuss our own personal histories with working the night shift, the events surrounding how Matt proposed to Rachael, and some facts about who is actually working the night shift. So come join us…if you're still awake. 

Send us a Text Message.William Shakespeare once wrote “misery makes strange bedfellows,” and this is exactly the idea in the 1968 comedy classic “The Odd Couple.”  Starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It involves themes of divorce, suicide and sadness, alongside two completely opposite men who are thrown into a comically ridiculous living situation. Rachael also explains her dislike for the world of Winnie the Pooh, we discuss Dante Alighieri's Inferno, and identify other famous comedy duos that might fit the bill for “strange bedfellows.”   Odd, yet so entertaining!

Send us a Text Message.Man, I just had the weirdest dream - back on the bus there? Did you ever have one of those dreams that are completely real. I mean they're so vivid. It's just like completely real. It's like, there's always something bizarre going on, though. I have one about every 2 years or something. I always remember 'em real good. Like there's always someone getting run over, or something really weird. Um, one time I had lunch with Tolstoy. Another time I was a roadie for Frank Zappa. Anyway, so this dream I just had was just like that, except instead of anything bizarre going on, I mean, there was just nothing going on at all. Man. It was like the Omega Man. It was just nobody around. I was just traveling around, you know, staring out the windows of buses, and trains, and cars. When I was at home, I was like flipping through the TV stations endlessly. Reading. How many dreams do you have when you read in a dream, you know?  Or how about dreams where you can actually smell what's around you.  Do you smell that?  It's that new theme smell... kind of like new car smell but mixed with popcorn and whatever is making the theater floor sticky.  Anyway, our new theme for this round is "strange bed-fellows" and kicking things off is the 1990 cult classic 'Slacker' from Richard Linklater.  This film weaves together a snapshot of early 90's Austin, Texas through a series of vignettes following the disconnected lives of assorted interesting characters. We discuss the origins of "strange bed-fellows" and how it applies to modern cinema.  Karl asks AI what it thinks about our podcast and Rachael has a moment of growth where she actually enjoys a film by a previously despised director starring a previously despised actress.

Send us a Text Message.He told us to “Win one for the Gipper.”  He put Bonzo to bed. But in 1964's The Killers, Ronald Reagan played a villain for the first (and only) time in his film career.  This was actually the second feature film adaptation of a seven page short story of the same name by Ernest Hemingway. How could a seven page story be adapted into not one but TWO feature films?  We'll discuss that, along with talking about other notable actors that went into politics, getting an update on Matt and Rachael's beehive, and hearing about a time Karl got a librarian mad. Come join us!

Send us a Text Message.This week we serve up the 2016 docudrama “The Founder;” the story of how Ray Kroc turned MacDonalds into the profitable and ubiquitous fast food chain it is today. Starring Michael Keaton, Laura Dern, and Nick Offerman. We also discuss all things fast food; the good, the bad, and the deliciously greasy.  So join us, won't you?  We consider our podcast to be nutrition for your soul.  

Send us a Text Message.Politics is something we like to stay away from in our episodes, not that we don't have our own strong opinions on this topic.  Our new theme, "Hello, Mr. President" presented some challenges in this regard when it came to our picks and what topics to discuss but who doesn't like a challenge?Coming in this week is the original 1962 release of The Manchurian Candidate starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Janet Leigh.  The film follows an American POW in the Korean War who is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy. We discuss a bit about why we don't talk politics here before getting into the topic of AI misinformation and go through a scenario about imaginary presidential ethics.

Send us a Text Message.Former NFL player Jim Brown leads an all star cast in heist film The Split, which adapts one of the many novels featuring the Parker character written by Donald Westlake. So why are we wondering if this movie is “really that bad?”  Because this was the first movie to ever be rated R after the dismantling of the Hays Code!  We also talk about notable athletes that moved over to acting once their playing days were over, and some history on the specific things the Hays Code prohibited in films, to put this movie in context. So come join us!  Children under 17 should be accompanied by an adult.