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This week on Born to Watch, the boys dive into a true cult classic with our Big Wednesday Movie Review, the coming-of-age surfing epic that has inspired generations of surfers while leaving plenty of movie fans wondering what all the fuss is about. Directed by the legendary John Milius, Big Wednesday isn't just about riding waves; it's about growing up, friendships, the passing of time, and the harsh reality that life eventually catches up with everyone. Whitey, G-Man and Damo paddle out into one of the most personal films ever covered on the podcast, and the discussion quickly reveals a massive divide. For G-Man, this is sacred territory, a film that captures everything he loves about surfing culture and the changing seasons of life. For Whitey, it's a movie full of unanswered questions that leaves him searching for meaning between the swells. Somewhere in the middle sits Damo, appreciating both the spectacular surfing sequences and the emotional weight hidden beneath the surface.The boys break down the journey of Matt, Jack and Leroy, three lifelong mates whose lives unfold across more than a decade as they chase waves, girls, parties, responsibility and eventually the mythical Big Wednesday itself. Is the famous swell simply a perfect wave, or is it a metaphor for life's biggest moments? G-Man comes armed with enough knowledge to teach a university course on the film, explaining the significance of each swell and how every chapter represents another stage of growing older.Along the way, the conversation drifts into everything that makes Born to Watch what it is. Whitey questions why nobody seems capable of explaining anything in 1970s cinema, Damo reminisces about recording surfing competitions onto VHS tapes before the internet existed, and G-Man somehow turns an episode about surfing into a passionate defence of Jan-Michael Vincent's career.Speaking of Jan-Michael Vincent, the boys explore what should have been one of Hollywood's biggest success stories. Blessed with movie star looks and undeniable charisma, Vincent seemed destined to become one of the industry's leading men before a series of personal struggles derailed his career. They also examine the careers of William Katt, Gary Busey, Lea Purcell and the incredible creative team behind the film, including legendary director John Milius and composer Basil Poledouris.As always, the regular segments are packed with laughs. The team looks back at 1978, discussing classics including The Deer Hunter, Grease, Superman, Animal House and Every Which Way But Loose. The Snorb's Report uncovers another unforgettable scene from Animal House, while Hit, Sleeper, Dud delivers recommendations ranging from Midnight Express and The Wild Geese through to the gloriously ridiculous disaster movie The Swarm.Of course, no Born to Watch episode would be complete without random tangents. There are discussions about beach culture, lending surfboards to complete strangers, teenage house parties, Bear's outrageous life choices, surfing legends, Airwolf, The Greatest American Hero, Star Wars auditions, Gary Busey's teeth, and whether anyone has ever actually met an old surfer who correctly predicted the mythical "Big Wednesday".Whether you grew up quoting Matt Johnson, dreamed of chasing perfect waves, or you've never understood surfing culture at all, this episode celebrates a film that means something different to everyone who watches it. Some see an unforgettable surfing movie. Others see one of the greatest coming-of-age stories ever made. Whitey still isn't entirely sure what he watched.So grab a beer, wax the board, paddle out with the boys, and join us as we revisit one of cinema's most beloved cult classics. The waves are building, the friendships are tested, and eventually, Big Wednesday arrives.If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share Born to Watch with your mates. Every new listener helps us keep celebrating the movies we all grew up loving, one classic at a time.#BornToWatch #BigWednesday #BigWednesdayMovieReview #MoviePodcast #SurfMovies #JohnMilius #CultClassic #FilmReview #MovieLovers #PodcastAustralia
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) is one of the most visually ruthless films Hollywood ever made — and one that doesn't show up in the conversation as often as it should. We dig into James Wong Howe's New York City cinematography, the Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis dynamic, and what the Library of Congress saw in it when they added it to the National Film Registry. Since 1989, the National Film Registry has selected 25 films each year that are deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". In each episode, Mike Natale (Yahoo!) and Tom Lorenzo (Men's Journal) bring on a special guest to take a look at one of the films from the registry, to get to the heart of why these films matter.
This week on Born to Watch, Whitey flies solo for a massive deep dive into 1982: Year in Review, revisiting one of the most important, influential and completely stacked years in cinema history. While 1982 might not officially hold the crown as the greatest movie year ever, it delivered a collection of films that completely changed Hollywood forever.In this special episode, Whitey breaks down how one single year gave us E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner, The Thing, First Blood, Rocky III, Poltergeist, Conan the Barbarian and Tron all within the same incredible stretch of cinema history.Whitey explores the insane eight-week period where science fiction and fantasy films absolutely rewired Hollywood forever. It was the year when genre filmmaking exploded, CGI truly began, practical effects reached their peak, and audiences somehow ignored two movies that are now regarded as masterpieces: Blade Runner and The Thing.There's a huge breakdown of the 1982 box office top ten, including Whitey revisiting Spielberg's emotional masterpiece E.T., which held the box office record for an entire decade. He reflects on how modern kids' movies rarely hit adults emotionally the same way they once did, admitting E.T. absolutely destroyed him on the cry meter during a recent rewatch.The episode also revisits cult favourites like First Blood, with Whitey passionately defending it as one of the great character-driven action films of the 1980s. There's love for Stallone's unbelievable double act of releasing both Rocky III and First Blood in the same year, proving just how dominant Sly was during the early 80s.Whitey also dives into why Rocky III remains one of the best Rocky films ever made, praising Mr T as one of the greatest movie villains of the decade and celebrating the pure charisma he brought to Clubber Lang despite having no acting experience.Australian cinema gets its flowers too, with a huge spotlight on Mad Max 2 and The Man from Snowy River. Whitey argues that both films stand proudly alongside any Hollywood blockbuster of the era and explains how Mad Max 2 became the blueprint for almost every post-apocalyptic movie that followed.There's also a deep appreciation for practical effects and filmmaking craftsmanship throughout the episode. Whitey passionately argues that The Thing still contains the greatest practical creature effects ever put to screen, while Blade Runner's vision of a futuristic Los Angeles remains one of the most influential science fiction worlds ever created.Along the way, there are classic Born to Watch tangents and stories, including:Whitey is getting in trouble in Year 4 after explaining an infamous scene from The World According to GarpChildhood memories of The Pirate Movie soundtrackThe bizarre success of Porky'sWhy does Tootsie make more money than Blade Runner feel completely wrongHow Grease 2 became one of the ugliest moments of 1982 cinemaWhitey also celebrates underrated classics like Firefox, Creepshow, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and 48 Hrs., while exploring how 1982 represented a time when studios were still willing to take massive creative risks on strange, ambitious and original films.This is one of the biggest movie deep dives Born to Watch has ever done, packed full of nostalgia, movie trivia, hilarious stories and genuine love for cinema.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Was 1982 the greatest movie year ever? What's the best film released in 1982? Blade Runner or The Thing? Rocky III or First Blood? Is Mad Max 2 the greatest Australian action film ever made?#1982Movies #MovieYearInReview #BornToWatch #BladeRunner #TheThing #RockyIII #FirstBlood #MadMax2 #ET #MoviePodcast
⭐Between Midnight and Dawn (1950) - Buddy-Cop Film Noir (Plot Synopsis) ⭐
⭐Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - Gods, Monsters, and Moral Chaos (Plot Synopsis) ⭐
Full Ep on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zXQ_-P2ITUUOLD! ANCIENT! MATURE....which is good. No ageism here.Oscar and Carl continue old month with another classic from your childhood, it's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!Also, don't complain at us that "it's actually so good", watch the whole thing right now if you think that. D*ck Van D*ke does some nonsense, gets a car 50 mins into the film, goes to the beach, and then tells his kids about a man who steals kids. Oscar and Carl watch this classic to figure out who would watch this. If you have any questions or requests, send them to askwwwtpodcast@gmail.com Find us through: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whowouldwatchthis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whowouldwatchthis/ TikTok: @podcastwhowouldwatchthis Letterboxd: Carl: https://letterboxd.com/carlllllllllll1/Oscar: https://letterboxd.com/oscarfart/ More links: https://linktr.ee/whowouldwatchthis
Get Hannibal Lecter - A Life by Brian Raftery here - https://amzn.to/3OemIq5
⭐Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - When "Just Following Orders" Fails (Plot Synopsis) ⭐
⭐Seven More Barbara Stanwyck Movies to Watch Now Vol. 2⭐ Seven Barbara Stanwyck Movies to Watch Now! Volume 1 - https://youtu.be/ALaV43NjBek
⭐Rio Lobo (1970) Review: Hawks, Wayne, and a Fading Western Era⭐
⭐My Top 10 Color Film Noirs⭐
⭐The Falcon Takes Over (1942): Chandler Noir Without Marlowe⭐
⭐Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) – So Bad It's Merry⭐
Hans is joined by Robert Greenway, military veteran and Director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage, to discuss the German siege of American forces in Bastogne, which occurred over Christmas in 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The Classic Movie Review is of “Battleground,” the 1949 film about the battle, directed […]
Hans is joined by Robert Greenway, military veteran and Director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage, to discuss the German siege of American forces in Bastogne, which occurred over Christmas in 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.The Classic Movie Review is of "Battleground," the 1949 film about the battle, directed by veteran William Wellman, and the winner of multiple academy awards
⭐Christmas in Connecticut (1945) – Stanwyck's Coziest Chaos⭐
⭐Conclusion - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 30 Plus One NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Lonely Are the Brave (1962) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 30 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Day of the Outlaw (1959) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 29 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Buchanan Rides Alone (1958) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 28 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Discussing Femme Fatales with Katherine from Creepy Americana⭐
⭐Terror In a Texas Town (1958) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 27 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐The Tall T (1957) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 26 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Man in the Shadow (1957) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 25 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐The Halliday Brand (1957) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 24 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐3:10 to Yuma (1957) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 23 NOIRvember Celebration⭐
⭐Forty Guns (1957) - Western Film Noir Gunsmoke Meets Shadows Day 22 NOIRvember Celebration⭐