The '00s Zone

How does the end of the world as portrayed in the Will Smith I AM LEGEND and cult hit DONNIE DARKO stack up to our end times. Twitter, Tik Tok and all around comedic internet presence Zach Heltzel joins Mark, Loretta, and Riley for this animated look back on two aughties classics. It's also our Season 2 premiere! We made it. Things are said!

Reality Movies! This one's an epic, and is the most thorough discussion you'll find on 2003's THE REAL CANCUN and 2002's JACKASS: THE MOVIE anywhere. Reality TV fan/Master chef Olivia Bolaño and screenwriter Ryan Jackson join us to look at this moment early in the millennium where television and movies collided in a way that struck some critics as threatening. We also touch on the state of gender relations, the ugliness of BUMFIGHTS, normie aughties culture, and movies as a "Too Much for TV" vehicle. 

Happy New Year, everyone! As we're all reflecting on the year 2021, Loretta and Mark decided to look back at their favourite movies of 2001. It was a time when movies were a major cultural force. But were popular films bolder back then, and what's driving the new creative fears?

Unlicensed film critic, novelist and action movie scholar Vern (@outlawvern) joins Mark, Loretta, and '00s ZONE veteran Sarah Riley to take a fresh look at the Wachowskis' 2003 double-hitter THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. We dispute the merits of the first sequel's infamous "rave scene," question whether we live in the Matrix already, and ponder the future of humanity, including what we want from the upcoming THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS. 

On this lively episode, we look back at the 2005 HOUSE OF WAX featuring Paris Hilton, with returning guests (and champions) Serena Whitney and Lauren Messervey. Plus: the slasher and torture porn eras of the aughties vs. the state of horror movies today, influencer culture, the drug of nostalgia, and digressions on MEGAN IS MISSING and REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA. 

Film critic and programmer Justine Smith joins Mark and Loretta to look back at some of DUNE filmmaker Denis Villeneuve's early Canadian movies. MAELSTRÖM, POLYTECHNIQUE, and INCENDIES each won the Genie for best film, and the latter was even nominated for an Oscar. But in becoming the current most celebrated director in Hollywood, has the Quebecois filmmaker maintained his voice? 

2002's DIE ANOTHER DAY and 2006's CASINO ROYALE saw a changeover from Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig, reinventing James Bond for a new century. Fred Topel (aka Franchise Fred) and returning guest Matt Nguyen join the pod for all things 007. Also, we pick our favourite Bond movies and title songs.  

Our nerdiest episode yet! We delve into 2000s feature anime as Adrian Comeau and Matt Nguyen join the podcast to talk about Hayao Miyazaki's seminal SPIRITED AWAY and Rintaro's strangely under-celebrated METROPOLIS. Plus, differences between Japan's and America's relationships to technology. Who was the best movie Batman? And Adrian talks about being Robert Pattinson's body double. 

We're joined by writer Lauren Messervey to look back at THE RING, the 2002 American remake that introduced J-horror to mainstream America. Then we argue about Gaspar Noé's controversial New French Extremity shocker IRREVERSIBLE and discover the true meanings of art and crime. Also: Von Trier, Chinese vampires, and how horror can empower. 

We're joined by Gillian Wallace Horvat, the director, co-writer and star of the terrific new movie I BLAME SOCIETY,  for this dive into the raunch comedies of the early 2000s. First we look at the escaped testicle, horny frat farce TOMCATS (2001), starring Jerry O'Connell and Shannon Elizabeth. Then we have some words with THE SWEETEST THING, diversely cast with Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Selma Blair as a blonde, a redhead, and a brunette. 

In Part 2 of our discussion with Ryan Jackson (Mutual Aberration Society), we revisit Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. We also discuss Chinese cinema, Woke Capitalism, when "representation" is just empty optics, Hamilton, and what's wrong with American action movies today. In other words, everything that concerns you and your family!

Ryan Jackson (Mutual Aberration Society) joins Mark and Loretta for a discussion on Black and Asian relations in pop culture. In the first segment of our two-part most political episode yet, we look at the Aaliyah and Jet Li action film Romeo Must Die, and its placement in 2000's America. Then things really heat up. 

We're joined by Sarah Riley to discuss 2000's FINAL DESTINATION and UNBREAKABLE, two movies that tapped into the potentials and paranoias of the new millennium. 

We're joined by musician Rich Aucoin to discuss the summer 2000 blockbusters Gladiator and X-Men. One was a popular hit belonging to no pre-existing franchise. The other marked the humble beginning of 21st century comic book movies. Plus, Loretta does a Milhouse impression. 

WAR TEENS! Serena Whitney (curator of the Drunken Cinema series and programmer of the Revue Cinema in Toronto) joins us for this lively episode. First we preamble about the lazy sexual politics in COMING 2 AMERICA and WONDER WOMAN 1984. Then we take a fresh look at 2000's very different adolescent combat movies, BRING IT ON and BATTLE ROYALE. 

In this fantastic episode, Loretta and Mark are joined by actor and media strategist Sarah Riley to discuss the Oscars' recent push for diversity. Are the Academy Awards only worried about their own image? Then we dive into Promising Young Woman, the most '00s-obsessed of this year's Best Picture nominees. 

Writer and director Jennifer Liao (A Sugar & Spice Holiday, Two Sentence Horror Stories) joins Mark and Loretta to discuss the very 2000 Hollywood female empowerment of Coyote Ugly and Erin Brockovich.