The Hold Up

This month The Johns are joined by Editor Josh Lentz and filmmaker Alison Star Locke to watch an artifact from the 80s: The Wraith.  Will this Charlie Sheen ghost car chase film of murder and revenge win the race or will it crash and burn?  Listen and find out!

He listened, he emailed, and now he's here!  Following our episode on Sister Act last month, Tyler now joins us to watch Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit.  Will getting the band back together knock our rosaries off?  Or will we enter the confessional of regret?  Listen and find out!

After a bit of a delay, our April episode is here!  Enjoy as The Johns watch the Whoopi Goldberg 90s comedy, Sister Act.  Will it shine like heaven or will The Johns be having nun of it?  Listen and find out!

Our April episode is running a little behind and will release later this month.  But thankfully we had this special Catch Up episode waiting in the wings, so please enjoy!  For the long awaited return of The Catch Up, we celebrate Nelson's birthday and watch John Wick Chapter.  And we hit a guest record!  Joining us is Alison Star Locke, Dirk Voteberg, Josh Lentz, Trever Carlee, Nick North and at long last Chris Nelson, John's brother.  Will we all survive?  Listen and find out!

Bad Lieutenant fever continues for the month of March as The Johns watch Bad Lieutenant Port Of Call New Orleans.  Will we go to iguana heaven or overdose on the absurdity?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns forsake decorum, dignity and even Jesus Christ, himself, to watch the 90s Abel Ferrara directed Harvey Keitel bender: Bad Lieutenant.  Will the madness live up to Nelson's memory?  And will Longino inject this movie directly into his veins?  Listen and and out!  And stay tuned next month when we watch the pseudo sequel from Werner Herzog: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

Happy New Year! The Johns ring in 2025 with Hedwig and the Angry Inch! Will this early 2000's tale of gender fluidity prove a story for all time, or does it belong in the past? Listen and find out!

Happy holidays!  As a nice bonus we are pleased to present a special episode and longtime listener request where we watch Trancers.  Enjoy!

Happy December!  We're taking it (mostly) easy this month, but stay tuned for a special episode coming soon.  Meanwhile, The Johns take in as much December cheer as they can with Don Bluth's The Secret Of Nimh.  Will we find shelter or die from sickness?  Listen and find out!

Hey hey hey!  Happy Election Month!  isn't everyone EXCITED?!?  Uuuuggggggghhhhhhh.  As is Hold Up Podcast tradition during presidential election season, we watched a political film.  This time it's Primary Colors, the late 90s dramedy from Mike Nichols that's definitely not about the Clintons, wink wink wink.  Will it win the race or suffer a humiliating defeat?  Listen and find out!

Happy halloween!  This month, as is Halloween tradition, we are joined by writer/director Alison Star Locke to watch the 2005 Australian horror slasher: Wolf Creek.  Will we bite it in the outback, or survive to tell our tale?  Listen and find out!

The Johns have but one question for you this September.  ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?  This month, in anticipation of a sequel dropping very soon, we're watching the year 2000 Ridley Scott swords and sandals epic: Gladiator.  Will it, quite literally, get a thumbs up or thumbs down?  Listen and find out!

This month a nerd, a nerd and... another nerd get together to watch the John Hughes classic: The Breakfast Club.  The Johns are joined by comedian, writer, and longtime Hold Up fan, Dirk Voetberg, to dive deep in our longest episode to date.  Will the gen X-ers still worship at the altar of Hughes?  And will the elder millennial muster the courage to care?  Listen and find out! ALSO: Come see John Nelson LIVE! and in person performing in "The Guy Man & Maureen: The Power Sort Of Awakens", a show written by Dirk Voetberg.  Performance are at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre in North Hollywood at 8:30 pm August 23rd, 24th, 30th, 31st and September 6th and 7th.  Purchase you tickets HERE.

This month The Hold Up welcomes special guest, Glenn Morgan.  Glenn has an editing career than includes working on several Madonna music videos, MTV's The Real World as well as many feature films.  As a college radio DJ, he had a fateful encounter and interview with Loretta Lynn, who's children went to high school with him in Tennessee.  This rich history sets the stage for our viewing and discussion of the 1980s biopic: Coal Miner's Daughter.  Will we enjoy a hoedown in the hollow or get a big lump of coal?  Listen and find out!

This month the Johns are joined by Josh Lentz to watch the 1999 party epic, Go.  Will this time capsule of the late 90s keep us rolling all night or crash like a bad overdose?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns hop into their RV and go on a road trip to watch Race With The Devil.  Will this 70s craziness rock out?  Or will it send us directly to hell?  Listen and find out!

A few months ago Nelson brought The Nutty Professor to the podcast.  So in a petty act of shameless vengeance, Longino is unleashing Drop Dead Fred for the month of April.  Will this bizarre imaginary friend story be the hilarious romp Longino remembers from childhood or the unwatchable nightmare Nelson remembers as a young adult?  Listen and find out!

This month Nelson brings to the table a film Longino has nether seen nor heard of: the 70s conspiracy theory thriller, Capricorn One.  Inspired by the theory that the moon landing was staged, this fictional adventure depicts a government conspiracy to fake a landing on Mars.  Will this viewing take off like a rocket or crash in the desert?  Listen and find out!

Happy February and early happy Valentine's Day.  What better way to say love than a viewing of... Tron: Legacy?  When Longino found out that Nelson had never seen this cyberpunk sequel to the 80s cult classic, he abandoned this month's plans for a hard pivot.  Will Tron: Legacy get the accolades Longino feels it has long deserved, or will Nelson log off into sleep mode?  Listen and find out!

Happy 2024!  This month The Johns grab a plate and chow down on the Eddie Murphy multi performed fat joke buffet, The Nutty Professor.  Will it fart its way into our hearts, or fart its way into a... wet fart?  Listen and find out!

Happy holidays!  What better way to celebrate than a low budget high concept indie movie about time travel?  This month The Johns take on Primer.  Will this movie finally make complete and total sense?  Or will be be as bewildered as the first time?  Listen and find out!

Is this a glitch?  An error?  No!  The Johns realized that it's been 8 years since the first episode of The Hold Up, which means enough time has passed to revisit the first film we ever watched for the podcast: The Last Starfighter.  Have we been replaced with Beta androids and lost our minds?  Or will this sci-fi classic finally get the second chance it deserves?  Listen and find out!

At long last: the dramatic conclusion to the epic episode 100.  For Part 5 we are once again joined by Ali to watch All The Real Girls.  Will the return of a non action film finally win the day?  Or will we break up like a sad romance?  Listen and find out!

Episode 100 continues with Part 4.  This time we are joined by guests Alison Star Locke and Lizze Gordon to watch Michael Bay's The Rock.  Will Ali survive the third action film to be pulled in a row?  Will Longino come around on a movie he remembers despising?  Will Nelson keep decorum and quell a podcast revolt?  And will Lizze tie Michael Bay to a chair so he can calm down?  Listen and find out!

The glorious episode 100 continues with Part 3.  This time we're joined by Alison Star Locke and returning guest, Rachel Levine, who you may remember from our Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode.  Another random draw from the hat of action films and chick flicks lands us on the James Cameron directed, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis acted, tale of spies and marriage: True Lies.  Will it hold up till death do us part?  Or will we be out faster than the bridge is?  Listen and find out!

Episode 100 continues!  We're joined by guests Alison Star Locke and Julie Cohen to once again draw from the random bucket of movies, action films vs chick flicks.  And this time we drew... Timecop!  Will the JCVD sci-fi silliness be a timeless masterpiece of male cinema?  Or will it drown in the time goop?  Listen and find out!

At long last we have arrived.  Welcome to the landmark 100th episode of The Hold Up Podcast.  For this glorious occasion, we've decided to do something outside our norm: a special 5 part weekly odyssey though gender cinema with an episode every week for the month of October.  10 films have been written down: 5 testosterone heave action films and 5 estrogen filled "chick flicks" from which we will have a random draw each week.  We are joined this whole month by frequent guest and incredible filmmaker, Alison Star Locke.  And look forward to additional guests in the future.  Let us begin... EPISODE 100!

One episode shy of the landmark 100th episode, The Johns are not taking things easy.  This month Longino decides to unearth the strange sophomore satire from Richard Kelly: Southland Tales.  Is this infamously bizarre bomb a misunderstood gem on the level of Citizen Kane?  Or is it an apocalyptic exploding zeppelin of hot garbage?  Listen and find out!

Nolan is in the air, so it's time for Nelson and Longino to revisit the catalog and dust off 2002's Insomnia.  Will this Christopher Nolan remake with Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hillary Swank shine eternal like a 24 hour sun?  Or will it pass out exhausted and broken?  Listen and find out!

This intro is written from ChatGPT with the following prompt: "Please write an introduction to a podcast called The Hold Up hosted by two men named John.  In this podcast they watch movies they haven't seen in many years to see if they still hold up.  This month they are watching Ex Machina from 2012 directed by Alex Garland." [Theme music fades in]Narrator: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 'The Hold Up' podcast, where nostalgia meets critical evaluation. Join your hosts, John and John, as they journey back in time to rediscover the films that once captivated their imaginations. Will these beloved classics withstand the test of time? Or will they crumble under the weight of their own hype? Let's find out!"[Upbeat music fades in]Host 1 (John): "Hey there, movie lovers! I'm John, and alongside me is my fellow film fanatic, also named John. Together, we're your guides on this cinematic voyage."Host 2 (John): "That's right, John! Each month, we delve into the depths of our childhood memories and revisit iconic films that shaped our love for the silver screen. We're on a mission to see if these movies still hold up, or if our younger selves were just caught up in the hype."Host 1 (John): "Absolutely, John. And this month, we're diving headfirst into a sci-fi masterpiece that had everyone buzzing when it hit the screens back in 2012. We're talking about 'Ex Machina,' directed by the brilliant mind of Alex Garland."Host 2 (John): "Ah, 'Ex Machina'! A film that left us questioning the boundaries of artificial intelligence and human nature. I remember being blown away by the mind-bending plot and the stunning performances."Host 1 (John): "But here's the twist, folks! It's been years since we last watched 'Ex Machina.' So, we're strapping ourselves in for a fresh viewing, armed with the knowledge and experiences we've gained since then. Will it still mesmerize us like it did before? Or will it fall flat in the face of our newfound perspectives?"Host 2 (John): "We'll be examining every aspect, from the performances to the screenplay, the visual effects to the thought-provoking themes. And, of course, we'll be sharing our unfiltered thoughts and engaging in spirited discussions that will have you on the edge of your seat."Host 1 (John): "So, grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and join us on this adventure through time and film. Let's uncover the mysteries of 'Ex Machina' and decide if it still holds up. Welcome to 'The Hold Up'!"[Theme music swells, then fades out]Narrator: "Don't miss the next episode of 'The Hold Up' podcast, as John and John unravel the enigmatic world of 'Ex Machina.' Tune in, subscribe, and prepare for a trip down memory lane that just might change the way you see your favorite films. Remember, it's all about the nostalgia, and whether it can stand the test of time."[Upbeat music fades out]

This month The Johns get wacky as they uncover the bizarre antics of Return of the Killer Tomatoes.  Astonishingly featuring George Clooney, John Astin and rounded out with a bunch of people you've never heard of, this 80s relic will be inspected for freshness.  Is it a brilliant meta satire or a horny embarrassing mess?  Listen and find out!

Beware.  Here be DRAGONS!  This month The Johns dust themselves off of soot and ash to take on the 2002 Matthew McConaughey/Christian Bale dragon apocalypse: Reign Of Fire.  Will this movie be fit for a king or will it burn in hellfire?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns are joined by friend and longtime listener, Tyler Wong, to watch 1992's Spanish language action classic from Robert Rodriguez: El Mariachi.  Is this 90s indie film classic shot for $7K still bueno or is it muy mal?  Listen and find out!

The year was 1973 and John Nelson was born into this world.  That's right!  Nelson is turning 50!  To celebrate, he's selected a film from the same year as his birth: Soylent Green.  Will this infamous Charlton Heston sci fi parable  taste stale or delicious?  And does this film co-star Ernest Borgnine or Edward G. Robinson?  Listen and find out!

The Hold Up is pleased to welcome Bob Longino, many years film critic and father of John Longino, to the podcast as our special guest.  This month we're watching 1958's The Vikings, starring Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine, and Janet Leigh.  Will this star studded epic of violence and lust make it to Valhalla?  Or will it drown in the tide?  Listen and find out!

Our special guest has unfortunately been delayed to next month, so to ring in 2023 we had to pivot quick.  This month we will be watching Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's The Wedding Singer.  Will this late 90s throwback to the 80s still make us giggle, or will apathy crash the wedding?  Listen and find out!

When you think A Simple Plan, the last thing on your mind is a happy ending.  But Nelson has a different experience.  Having seen a test screening with a completely different ending than what was theatrically released, Nelson finally gets to watch the real version of Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan.  Will the actual film hold up to what Nelson remembers about the book?  And will Longino's brother ever forgive him for showing him this movie?  Listen and find out!

This month the Johns get back to basics and watch an obscure film from Longino's childhood: Used Cars.  Will this early Robert Zemeckis directed comedy starring Kurt Russell drive off the lot with zero issues?  Or will it be a full blown lemon?  Listen and find out!

Halloween never stops here at The Hold Up.  Join us for a record breaking month of releases as we do a special Catch Up episode for 1987's neo western horror: Near Dark.  Will Longino think this Kathryn Bigelow cult vampire classic is smokin' or bites? Listen and find out!

Happy halloween!  We're proud to have the return of writer/director, Alison Star Locke, to The Hold Up to watch the 1981 horror film, Alison's Birthday.  GET IT?!?  We're also very pleased to discuss Alison's upcoming film, The Apology, releasing on December 16th in theaters and streaming on Shudder/AMC+.  Enjoy our annual horror Halloween episode and check out the links below.You can learn more about The Apology in the news or on IMDb.You can find Alison Star Locke on Twitter and Instagram.

There's a slight delay in our regular monthly episode, so in the meantime please enjoy this bonus episode of The Catch Up.  The Johns are joined by Trevor Carlee to catch him up on Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult classic: Brazil.  But what exactly does Zach Snyder's Sucker Punch have to do with all this?  Listen and find out!

We're back with another listener request, this time from our friend Tyler, to watch The Last Boy Scout.  Will this 90s Shane Black buddy action flick land a touchdown?  Or will it get sacked for a turnover?  Listen and find out!

As summer draws to a close, the Johns are joined by special guest, Jon Caligiuri, to watch the 1995 pseudo anthology film: Four Rooms.  Join us as we check into the hotel with all its wacky hi jinx and 90s musk. Will this half forgotten Tarantino, Rodriguez and friends collaboration  be a night to remember?  Or will we check out with a 0 stars yelp review?  Listen and find out!

The 90s had a whole lot of action films.  But surely one starring John Lithgow as the villain has to be good?  That's what The Johns intend to find out as we fire up 1993's Sylvester Stallone rock climbing thriller: Cliffhanger.  Will the Italian Stallion knock us out off the mountainside?  Or will an avalanche of garbage bury us?  Listen and find out!

Yeeeeeehaaaaaaa!  Howdy folks.  This month we're saddling up and watching the Billy Crystal, Jack Palance cowboy comedy: City Slickers.  Will our mid life crisis get the better of us?  Or will we find hope at the end of the trail?  Listen and find out!

This month the Johns put on their scrubs and suspicions to watch the Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman thriller: Malice.  Will this somewhat forgotten 1993  film  remain in critical condition?  Or will it be bigger than God?  Listen and find out!

Friend and listener, Tyler Wong, challenged The Hold Up to watch a foreign language film and The Johns took him up on his offer.  This month we are watching the French film, Diabolique from 1955.  Nelson has never seen this classic mystery/thriller.  Will it be bien or mal?  Listen and find out.

Thanks to our dear listener, Robin, welcome to the first Catch Up listener request: Dirty Dancing.  Longino has somehow never seen this 80s bedrock.  Will the Patrick Swayze Jennifer Grey dance classic give Longino the time of his life?  Or will it put him in a corner?  Listen and find out!

This month the Johns are joined by special guest Nick North to watch a staple of his childhood: 1990's Dick Tracy.  Will this star studded kinda not for kids but definitely marketed to kids oddity of the 90s crack the case of quality, or will it die in a hail of gunfire?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns are watching the 1992 crime drama "Deep Cover" starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum and directed by Bill Duke.  Longino has never seen this movie and Nelson only remembers one single scene involving a murder in the bathroom.  Will he uncover a hidden gem of the 90s newly added to the Criterion Collection, or will The Johns run for cover?  Listen and find out!

Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 4 of The Catch Up.  Nelson is showing Longino the Richard Linklater Before Trilogy, concluding with Before Midnight.  They are joined by filmmaker Alison Star Locke, editor Josh Lentz and movie producer Stacy Jorgensen.