Overrated Podcast

It's our third annual Christmas episode and we're discussing A Christmas Carol (AKA Scrooge), starring Alastair Sim. Is it as much of a holiday humbug as Alan says it is? As his replacement film, Alan will take us to where the rainbow ends with his favorite holiday flick!

We're talking comic book movies again on Overrated- this time we take on the crown jewel (the size of a tangerine) of the DC cinematic universe. In this episode Joe will illustrate why Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight was the gritty, realistic take on comic book superheroes that audiences needed, but not the one they deserved. Holy Overrated, Batman! Will Joe come up with a rock-solid replacement superhero movie? Will Alan agree with him? Will this be our most controversial episode yet? The only way to find out is to tune into this episode of Overrated, same bat-time, same bat-podcast!

There is a certain film which critics have heralded as the greatest American picture of all time. Yes, it's none other than Citizen Kane, and Alan has agreed to take on this cinematic titan for our two year anniversary episode. Hold on to your milkshakes because Alan's replacement will give Welles' breakthrough film quite a bit of competition!

Our 2018 Halloween episode has Joe selecting perennial childhood fave The Goonies. Does it hold up as an action/adventure piece for kids and adults? Join us to decide for yourself, and stick around as Joe's replacement pick has another gang of kids going nards to the wall in the 80s.

Guess who's coming to podcast? It's none other than Thom Ernst, former host and producer of TVO's Saturday Night at the Movies and current host of This Movie's About You. Thom dropped in to discuss the Sidney Poitier classic Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Does it stand up as a socially conscious, progressive piece of cinema, or has the passage of time diminished its relevance? Thom's replacement pick is a recent film that's been hailed as an instant classic in its own right, so get out those earbuds and have a listen!

The inimitable and fearless Matt Pfaff joins us in Joe's apartment to answer some questions and help piece together the puzzles of James Wan's Saw (2004). Why did it become one of the most popular horror franchises of all time? Is Danny Glover too old for this shit? Why does Joe wear cloaks during our recordings? Matt also suggests a humdinger for his replacement pick; a little known indie film that made us wonder if we were watching it, or if it was watching us.

In this episode Alan and Joe are joined by Andrew Patterson, Toronto-based artist, graphic designer and co-host of the You Gotta Love It podcast on the Bunz Podcast Network. As his overrated film, Andrew choses the inaugural entry into the popular action/spy/thriller franchise known as The Bourne Identity. Tune in as we revisit this Matt Damon vehicle with Andrew, who attempts to jog our memories and get us to remember that some parts of Jason Bourne's amnesiac adventure were pretty forgettable. Andrew's replacement film features an equally lethal protagonist within a very Grimm world.

This week we take a look at multiple Oscar winner, A Beautiful Mind (2001). By Joe's calculations, not much seems to add up in this biopic about mentally troubled mathematical genius John Nash. To balance out the equation, Joe selects the debut film of a notoriously calculating filmmaker which he thinks is an exponentially better watch. So let's crunch the numbers, count the infractions, and see if this all leads to a bit of division between Joe and Alan.

Joe and Alan are joined with special guest Nelson Sobral, former pro MMA fighter and guitarist of The Celebration Army who takes us on a deep dive into the 2017 Oscar winner for Best Picture, Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water. Is the nautical romantic fantasy worthy of "masterpiece" status, or is it a visually bloated monster that takes on more water with every minute of unnecessary screen time? Be warned... before you take the plunge with us, we get into a lengthy discussion about "fish sticks" and we ain't talking about Captain Highliner or Mrs. Paul's!

Greetings Earthlings! Alan and Joe want to believe that Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind is an overrated film. But the truth is out there so we're going to have to ask many probing questions about whether or not this film is truly a sci-fi classic. Alan has been wanting to talk about this film for a while, so this episode means something... we're just not sure what yet. We only have one request: take us to your listener!

Get ready for some group "Bonding" because joining Joe and Alan in the Overrated studio is Krissy Myers who has chosen our deadliest assignment yet! Is Goldfinger an overrated film? We unpack the racism, misogyny and outright nonsensical plotlines of the perceived "fan favourite" which set the formula for this globetrotting super-spy adventure franchise. Krissy's replacement film may leave you shaken and stirred, so do pay attention, it's time for podcast galore!

Joe and Alan have at least a dozen real friends between them, and have yet to make any enemies. Things could change though, as they chat about David Fincher's The Social Network (2010). Ready to click like on this episode? Just be sure to keep yourself logged in and see if you agree with Joe's replacement film; another biopic about nerdy, future billionaires.

Joe and Alan don their fanciest berets and wave hello to Jules et Jim, et Catherine before packing up and heading out on a road trip with another threesome. How deep can we delve into French existentialism and diving board onanism? Watch us carefully, or maybe just have a listen to find out!

Since its release in 1999 to much critical and audience praise, Joe has always had a lot of issues with Sam Mendes' multiple Academy Award winning film, American Beauty. We'll discuss the many problematic elements that make this suburban drama about the awakening of a middle-aged sexual predator an overrated film. As his replacement, Joe has chosen another film that confronts taboo sexual desires with a bitingly dark sense of humour.

'Tis the season to discuss another overrated Christmas movie. This year Joe has chosen Jon Favreau's Elf, starring SNL alum Will Ferrell. Is the comical premise of this New York fairytale stretched out like elven tights on a grown man's body? Joe thinks thinks so, and he's found a replacement film from jolly old England that will brighten up your secular Christmas spirit even more! *Intro/Outro music: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), by Darlene Love

Alan and Joe are going back to school to relive the awkward goofiness of Napoleon Dynamite. Does this eccentric, lighthearted look at the trials of high school get a passing grade, or is it an overrated cult phenomenon that has since flunked the test of time? Joe suggests a replacement film which also investigates the hard life lessons of our youth but from a slightly more cynical perspective. So pop some tater tots in the oven, fry up a big juicy steak, or go make yourself a dang quesadilla while you listen to this episode!

Crank your podcast volume up to eleven! In what may be our most controversial episode yet, Cam Gordon joins us to discuss the classic mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap (1984). Is this a case of cinematic royalty well past its prime, or does it still have something to offer newer generations? Whatever your thoughts, keep it dialed in for Cam's replacement film, which has been described as the "Citizen Kane of wasted teenage metalness".

They say life is a highway, but if you’re not careful it can be also be your death! This week we’re joined by fellow podcaster and pinball enthusiast, Tommy Skinner of This Flippin’ Podcast to discuss the late Paul Walker “vehicle” Joy Ride and another fear-inducing freeway film as its replacement. So buckle up, press play and get ready for a bumpy ride!

In this episode, Alan and Joe discuss The Departed, Martin Scorcese's Academy Award winning crime thriller adaptation of Infernal Affairs. Is it an ingenious cat and mouse game, or is The Departed just a big rat? As a replacement, Alan suggests a similar gritty crime movie from France. Take a listen and "inform" us what you think.

Our special guest, Lisa Feingold, asks us to re-evaluate David O. Russell's con artist film American Hustle. We'll delve below the surface of '70s era glitz and glamour to discover something that kinda stinks. Bust out the hair spray and curlers, toss some popcorn in the "science oven", and get ready for a tussle while we do the hustle!

It's our 2nd annual Hallovveen special, and Alan thinks found footage classic The Blair VVitch Project should go stand in the corner. Did this one lose you in the vvoods? Or vvere you vvhimpering in terror under the covers? VVhatever your sentiments, hang on to your brooms because vve've got another vvoodsy nightmare coming your vvay.

In this episode, special guest Megan Griffith-Greene takes us globetrotting with a critical re-examination of Ron Fricke’s epic documentary film, Baraka. Does the sumptuously photographed scenery still have the power to inspire and enlighten audiences, or did the filmmakers miss out on delivering the proper context for the exotic visuals being presented? No need to pack your bags in order to join us on this grand journey; just press play and take a listen.

It’s time to talk about time travel, paradoxes, and determinism with special guest, Kohji Nagata. Is time an unalterable mobius strip, or is there no fate but what we make? We hope this episode doesn’t throw you for a loop!

This week, super-duper hosts Joe and Alan discuss the 2010 film Kick-Ass, based on the Mark Millar comic series. Is this a gritty, honest depiction of everyday people trying to make the world a better place, or does it betray its premise in favour of cheap thrills and vulgarity?

It is time… to discuss the patriarchy, the monarchy and fascism. In this episode, Alan and Joe welcome special guest Fara Nervo into the Overrated studio to discuss The Lion King. Sorry folks, but we’re just not feeling the love tonight for this Disney classic, and we just can’t wait to talk about the replacement film. Be prepared!

It's time to talk about killin' Nazis! Joe and Alan welcome special guest Brent Chittenden from the True North Nerds podcast to reevaluate Quentin Tarantino's WWII revisionist history/Western homage/Jewish revenge fantasy Inglourious Basterds. Is it a glorious masterpiece, or a lousy bastard of a film?

With special guest Bryan Fontez, Joe and Alan journey back to the planet Pandora to discuss the epic sci-fi mega-blockbuster of 2009, Avatar. As the highest grossing film of all time, everyone saw it, yet almost no one seems to like it. Do James Cameron's grandiose visuals still capture the imagination, or do the characters and story feel flatter than a non-3D screening? As our replacement, we'll discuss another spaced-out adventure which also features statuesque blue aliens.

Was it all a dream? Nope, it really happened! Special guest Vanessa Robak of the Crystal Ballroom podcast visited our studio to discuss Christopher Nolan's Inception. And you'll eat up part two of the episode, as Vanessa suggests an anime film that has managed to mostly evade Western consciousness.

Tom Hardy, Dunkirk, and the emotional resonance (or lack thereof) of Christopher Nolan movies.

Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 is considered by many critics and fans to be one of the finest comic-to-film adaptations, but special guest Peter Kelly has something to say about that... and be sure to stick around for part two of the podcast, as Peter's recommendation features another super-powered, quippy crime fighter from the world of comics.

Time for Joe and Alan to answer the call, strap on those proton packs, fire up the neutrino wands and revisit the adventure/horror/comedy blockbuster that has haunted their childhoods for over 30 years. But do these kooky scientists and spooky monsters still fill us with joy and excitement? Or do we have to exorcise our nostalgic feelings for a film that accidentally caught lighting in an ecto-containment unit? Dare we even ask the question: does bustin’ still make you feel good?

With blatant disregard for that which people hold dear, special guest Borana Makri joins Joe and Alan in studio to discuss the John Hughes high school hooky classic, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Be sure to stick around for the second part of the show, where Borana introduces another eponymously named teen movie.

POWs, Nazis, and motorcyles... oh my! Joe and Alan dig into The Great Escape, John Sturges' WW2 classic featuring a star studded cast. This week's recommendation, a Billy Wilder classic, also finds a group of prisoners in a difficult situation.

It's a Johnny Depp double shot on Overrated! With the fifth film in the POTC series having been released, Joe and Alan go way back to 2003 to see whether the first film in this franchise really deserved four sequels. This week's recommendation features a solid Dumas adaptation.

In this episode, Alan and Joe are pleased to invite comedian and video artist Todd Graham onto the show to discuss his Overrated pick; Terry Gilliam's adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Come with us on a savage journey into Hunter S. Thompson's iconic tale of the depraved and paranoid exploits of Raoul Duke and Dr.Gonzo. Is there any sympathy for this devil of a film, or is it all one bad acid trip? We'll also discuss another film about an equally madcap pair of bohemians struggling to survive the end of the 60s. We'd love to hear what our listeners think of these films, but first you gotta buy the ticket, take a ride... and press play.

Joe shares some little known information about one of the greatest, yet most reviled, baseball players of all time.

Like most baseball movies, Field of Dreams isn't really about baseball. It's about fathers and sons, chasing dreams, and the erasure of problematic legacies within America's national pastime. Tune in as Joe and Alan discuss this 1989 Kevin Costner vehicle, and stick around for Joe's recommendation -- another fever dream of a film set in the Peruvian jungle!

Our thoughts on kilts.

Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995) is many things: spectacularly violent, historically inaccurate, and beautifully shot. Alan is more than happy to take this film to task, but Joe may have a thing or two to say about that. Be sure to stick around for the second part of the podcast, as this week's recommended film also features a real life, tartan-sporting, swashbuckling Scot.

Joe won't shut up about silent films! So listen up as he declares The Artist to be a counterfeit piece that's actively hostile to the very films it strives to emulate. Tensions flare as Alan disagrees with this assessment and butts heads with Joe regarding his replacement film, a silent era classic.

Adored by filmmakers the world over, 8 1/2 is one of the sacred cows of classic cinema. But is it deserving of that status? Tune in as Alan and Joe discuss Felinni's magnum opus. In part two of the podcast, Alan suggests an anxiety inducing, existentialist nightmare of a film that you won't soon forget.

Is The Princess Bride a tongue-in-cheek comedic masterpiece, or an inconceivable, over-hyped fluff piece? Elisabeth Bailey (our very first guest) sits down with Joe and Alan to discuss her opinion of the film and to introduce an alternate selection which features goblins, extremely tight trousers, and contact juggling.

We round out the final installment of our Tom Hanks trifecta with a look back at one of the most highly revered war films of all time. Joe admits that director Steven Spielberg was successful in rending a highly authentic portrayal of WWII combat, but suggests that in the process of bringing the European theatre of war into cinemas, audiences may have gotten too wrapped up in the American flag to see its shortcomings. The film is a technical marvel, but does Saving Private Ryan really "earn it"?

This week, Alan and Joe talk about Philadelphia (1993). Despite a few poignant scenes, and strong performances from both Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, Jonathan Demme's attempt to deal with the AIDS epidemic in America ultimately flat-lines. But hang in there, as Alan's recommendation introduces us to a little known South African film which presents similar subject matter in a more poetic way.

For our first installment of what is to be a Tom Hanks trifecta, Joe and Alan tear open the cinematic box of chocolates known as Forrest Gump. With characters and moments ranging from sickly sweet to dreadfully bitter, we'll discuss why this overrated film leaves such a bad taste in our mouths.

Do androids dream of electric unicorns? Like tears in rain, Joe and Alan get lost in the stormy skies of Ridley Scott's much loved neo-noir classic, Blade Runner. The second part of the podcast has Alan's recommended film giving us some idea of what it's like to fall in love with a polyamorous operating system.

The winter holidays are upon us, and Joe has nominated the most beloved work of Frank Capra's career as our Overrated Christmas film. Surely this pick is going to get him on quite a few naughty lists, but maybe mean old Mr.Potter isn't the only rotten thing in Bedford Falls. Are you sick of all the "Capracorn", or will Joe be getting a stocking full of coal this Christmas? Have a listen, and let us know!

What constitutes good art? What is the nature of genius? Why are we talking so much about painting when this is supposed to be a film podcast? Listen in as we provide no real answers to these and other questions. Oh, and we also attempt to critique Ed Harris's passion project, Pollock. The second part of the podcast shines some light on a recent, but possibly overlooked Mike Leigh gem.

A MIME is a terrible thing to waste.

In this week's episode, Joe and Alan have a look at what many consider to be Antonioni's mod masterpiece. Does it hold up as the fab flick so many claim it to be? Or is it a dated, pretentious, and vapid philosophical exploration? Joe's selection in the second part of the podcast features a film that was directly inspired by Blow-Up. Give us a listen to suss it all out, you groovy birds and blokes!

This week we come out swinging at this multiple Academy Award winning sports drama directed by Clint Eastwood. Listen to Joe and Alan go twelve rounds with 2004's best picture winner. Refusing to pull any punches, Alan suggests there may be a new contender.