Silver Screeners: Recent Episodes
Frank
A film enthusiast, lecturer, and teacher just talking about all things movie-related - some newer, some that are more classic. But I don't say "old" - as Lauren Bacall said, "It's not an old movie if you haven't seen it."
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While reflecting on how it's been three years since friends of the show Jamie and Eric guested to talk about the Halloween franchise, speak of the devil - here they are again for a look at the child spawn of Satan in the 1976 chiller The Omen! We talk favorite scenes, the portrayal of 'Damien,' behind-the-scenes fun facts, and more - plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Joining me in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of Wes Craven's original Nightmare on Elm Street is Andrew of The Revisionist Almanac Podcast! We talk first viewings, favorite moments, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and more. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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It's back to school for Matthew Lawrence and Emma Stone in their respective comedies that portray a little slice of the more sordid aspects of the adolescent life of academia. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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And the new semester is underway as students return to school ready to devour knowledge. And while they're doing that, devour some knowledge about 1955's Blackboard Jungle and 1989's Lean on Me, two stories of educators in rough school districts who are doggedly determined to whip things into shape! Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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25 years ago, Julia Roberts pounced on the summertime box office like John Cena at WrestleMania with two back-to-back rom-coms that ended the 90s for her on a high note like no other. Notting Hill brought her together with Hugh Grant, while Runaway Bride reteamed her with her Pretty Woman co-star Richard Gere. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Antonio of The Cultworthy Cinema Podcast returns for the third in a series of episodes having a look at films, or in this case, one film, showcasing the range of an actor known mostly for one particular genre. 1962's Gigot broke TV comedian Jackie Gleason's 'Ralph Kramden' and The Honeymooners mold and brought him to the countryside of France, just outside Paris, as a non-verbal, warm-hearted simpleton who takes in a selfish prostitute and her innocent little girl. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Meryl Streep is regarded as one of the greatest - if not THEgreatest - actress of all time, with 3 Academy Awards out of a staggering 21 nominations. But for every drama that she illuminates like 2008's thought-provoking Doubt, she proves her comedic skills in eccentric, absurd comedies like Death Becomes Her. A look at both films in this second of a few episodes focusing on typecast actors who successfully branch out into new territory. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
"Darren Curtis - It's In The Fog" is under a Creative Commons (BY 3.0) license: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldxbUFrZDNNME45MEJ4amppYkMzUXhOTlpXZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsb0xCV19EdDNRMm44TEg5UkduS0dPWDlHdmluRk9VNnEtN05ackFGTTFnUkpfWGItOW54RTFiejlXczlVRjZUbmdnZ2daR3FoZmRGWFlELVRfWnVxRFZrbXJPYTVha3g1d0FZQThlS1l1TmNCSUp2MA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcreativecommons.org%2Flicenses%2Fby%2F3.0%2F&v=5oF5lS0sajs
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Steve Carell is perhaps best known for his onscreen persona of the socially inept fool such as in TV's The Office. But for every wacky comedy like the enjoyable Date Night, he proves his acting chops in hard-hitting dramas like Beautiful Boy. A look at both films in this first of a few episodes focusing on typecast actors who successfully branch out into new territory. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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A 90-year-old film and a 15-year-old one may not appear to have much in common, but a closer look at one of the first and finest examples of the genre known as "screwball comedy" and a 21st century romantic comedy that yeah, brings Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds together, but has THE QUEEN BETTY WHITE in the cast will prove otherwise! Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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In a year filled with sequels and big-budget spectacles, two unassuming, original romantic comedies came out - one with an iconic Peter Gabriel-filled boombox moment that was a box office fizzle but gained a following on home video, and the other a smash hit that spawned two sequels and a short-lived sitcom. Dive into the creative process and real-life scenarios that inspired both films! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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35 years ago this month, actress Rebecca Schaeffer was on her way to superstardom, thanks not only to the acting credits she had already accumulated in her 21 years, but also to her excellent prospects with director Francis Ford Coppola. Unfortunately, she is now known more for the circumstances surrounding her tragic murder at the hands of an obsessed stalker than for her acting achievements. This carefully researched episode aims to keep her name and memory alive beyond the anti-stalking legislation that her death brought about. If you or anyone you know have been affected by crime, you can visit victimconnect.org for a weekday helpline for emotional support and your legal rights and options. You can also visit rainn.org for resources for survivors of stalking and cyberstalking, as well as numerous other resources. Rebecca’s story entails these very issues that may be triggers for some, so listener discretion is advised.
Chris, aka The Movie Psycho, from the Just Go Watch Podcast returns to join me for a look at the only two films that Paul Newman and Robert Redford ever made together. Will it be 1890s-era Wyoming or 1930s-era Great Depression that is the preferred offering? Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Goooooooood morning, VietNAM!!!! It's a Robin Williams tribute with one of his most iconic comedies and one of his (perhaps) lesser-known dramatic performances - plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Summer's in full swing, and so is baseball season! A look at two biopics of the greatest players in MLB history, Pride of the Yankees starring Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig and 42, starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson. Two incredible actors playing two amazing ball players. Do the films themselves knock it out of the park or strike out? Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Two sprawling estates, two wealthy aristocratic families, and two potential usurpers. What's an affluent and dysfunctional family to do? Screenwriter and attorney Matthew Pike joins me for a lively discussion on this pair of films, one a period drama and the other, a biting, shock-laugh-inducing satire. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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Two sprawling estates, two wealthy aristocratic families, and two potential usurpers. What's an affluent and dysfunctional family to do? Screenwriter and attorney Matthew Pike joins me for a lively discussion on this pair of films, one a period drama and the other, a biting, shock-laugh-inducing satire. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
"Dishes are done, man." The summer's here, and according to these two outrageously nonsensical comedies set in the sunny season, it's a time for pretending that asocial psychopaths who unexpectedly die are still alive and kicking - literally. Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman are the lunkheads keeping their boss Bernie moving, while Christina Applegate and Keith Coogan make use of a skateboard and trunk for their babysitter. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! "I'm right on top of that, Rose!"
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What better way to acknowledge graduation season than by looking at how two different generations approached their big day? The unkindly dubbed "Brat Pack" of the 80s and Generation X of the 90s grab the spotlight as they cope with questions about careers, relationships, finances, self-identity, and personal values. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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The film community lost one of the greats with the passing of Roger Corman. What better way to remember his contributions than to take a look at two of his collaborations that both feature Jack Nicholson, Jonathan Haze, and Dick Miller? Throw Boris Karloff into the mix, and now we're talking lasting legacy of the King of the B-Movies! Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
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It's Mother's Day - a happy day for some, a difficult one for others for any number of reasons. In 50/50 and Lady Bird, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's 'Adam' and Saoirse Ronan's 'Christine/Lady Bird' confront the conflicted relationships with their mothers, Anjelica Huston and Laurie Metcalf, respectively. This one's dedicated to mothers and all mother figures out there. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Celebrate International Dance Day with two films turning 40 years old - 1984's Breakin' and 1984's Footloose. Does 'Special K' look like Three's Company's Joyce DeWitt? Who's the internationally-known action star who makes an early appearance as a breakdancing extra? Does the talented, charismatic Kevin still bring home the bacon for the new generation? All this and more. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, listener shout-outs, and behind-the-scenes fun facts!
If 'tough guy' actor Robert Mitchum's cellmate hid $10,000 he stole for his family and was executed, would Mitchum go after his widow and kids for the cash? Would he become an informant for the authorities against his associates for a lighter prison sentence for his own criminal activity? For the answers to these burning questions about the terror/suspense film Night of the Hunter (1955) and the crime thriller/gangster picture The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), give episode 136 a download! Plus, poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, listener shout-outs!
Previous guest DJ Nik returns for a look at Miss Potter and Goodbye, Christopher Robin, two biopics of the authors of classic children's story characters. You'll feel the nostalgia for Peter Rabbit and Pooh Bear as you hear about these portrayals of Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne, the impact of their families on their creations, and Margot Robbie's British accent. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Tom Hanks wins the Oscar-winning smackdown in this episode that explores his "goofball comedy" era of the 80s and his "actor with a capital A" era of the 90s through Splash and Forrest Gump, respectively! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs, nary a box of chocolates.
Actress Amy Steel shows both 'Jason Voorhees' and 'Buffy St. John' what she's made of as the 'Final Girl' in two 80s-era slasher flicks, while TV personality and broadcaster Dana Hersey of The Movie Loft gets his overdue thanks. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The 2014 Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed Best Picture winner turns 10! Return guest Chris of the Just Go Watch Podcast joins me for a look back at the Michael Keaton headliner that melds together haughty actors, fractured relationships, washed-up superhero movie stars, ambiguous endings, and that most tragic of Shakespeare's plays, Macbeth. And Chris does not hold back with his thoughts on Eddie Redmayne's winning Best Actor that year, either. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Director Yorgos Lanthimos and 2-time Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone bring out the most eccentric in each other in these two films. With Academy Award nods for Best Picture (as producer) and Best Director for both, Lanthimos is a creative force that defies description. And with Oscar nods (and one win) for both films, Emma Stone is willing to play it to the hilt no matter what it takes. Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The 96th annual Academy Awards are doled out tonight, so here is part 2 of a two-parter where return guests Brendan and Zak - former high school film students of mine, now college grads and film entrepreneurs in their own right - join me for the second consecutive year to discuss the nominees - specifically, the four acting categories, Director, Original Score, Original Song, Costume Design, Hairstyling and Makeup, Animated Feature, and International Feature Film!
Released ahead of schedule to get the jump on the 96th annual Academy Awards in three days, return guests Brendan and Zak - former high school film students of mine, now college grads and film entrepreneurs in their own right - join me for the second consecutive year to discuss the nominees. Part 1 of 2: Best Picture (Part 2 of 2 coming soon!)
Writer-director Wes Anderson gets the spotlight as we dive into 2023 Oscar nominee for Best Live Action Short, his adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, as well as the 10th anniversary of his 4-time Oscar winner The Grand Budapest Hotel. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! (Bring your own courtesan au chocolat and lobby boy uniform.)
It's a Margot Robbie Best Picture nominee two-fer as her performances as Sharon Tate for Quentin Tarantino and as Barbie for Greta Gerwig come front and center! With her total Oscar nominations to date including two for acting (2017's I, Tonya and 2019's Bombshell) and one for producing (2023's Barbie), her Hollywood career is one that's on a hot streak. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Twenty years after Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti teamed up for Sideways (Oscar win for Payne's screenplay), they've reunited for The Holdovers, which is currently up for 5 Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress for Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Best Leading Actor for Giamatti. (Plus, both films are Best Picture nominees!) Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
How is it that after 12 career Academy Award nominations to date, Bradley Cooper has yet to take to the podium? A look back at his first Oscar-nominated performance, 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, and his most recent, 2023's Maestro. Both films nominated for Best Picture, Best Leading Actor for the man of the hour, and Best Leading Actress for Jennifer Lawrence (a win) and Carey Mulligan, respectively. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The beloved rom-com turns 35 this year. So have your slice of heated apple pie with the ice cream on the side as Carlo from The Movie Loot podcast returns to join me for a discussion about the Rob Reiner-directed, Nora Ephron-written quintessential love story in the movies. Listen in, and you too will be singing a karaoke version of "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" in front of Ira!!! Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The backstage dramatics are the name of the game in these two scathingly brilliant, dry, satirical, and witty tales of the woes of a theater actress diva. Bette Davis and Annette Bening both earned Oscar nominations for All about Eve and Being Julia, respectively, for being unstoppable forces long after the final curtain call. And with Thelma Ritter and Jeremy Irons by their sides, these are battles of wills worthy of a standing ovation. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
In 1989, extended family was never funnier or more bittersweet on screen than it was when Ron Howard directed Steve Martin and an ensemble cast through the trials of precocious preschoolers, backtalking teens, marital tension, and wayward siblings in Parenthood, while John Candy was in peak form with the John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck, which rightfully remains a fan favorite. Plus, poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Pull up a glacier, have a seat, and chill out to these two decidedly winter-themed tales. An anthropologist is one of the few to see a revived Neanderthal as a human and not a test subject in the underrated sci-fi/fantasy drama Iceman, while three entitled college students learn the hard way that when you push the boundaries too much, it invites trouble in the 2010 thriller Frozen. Where's Olaf when you need him? Plus, poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Ring in 2024 with these two classic films from 1960! Billy Wilder once more defies the social standards of his era with a provocative look at adultery in the comedy-drama The Apartment (Best Picture Oscar) - will Jack Lemmon or Shirley MacLaine win the early New Year's morning game of gin rummy? And U.S. army veterans plan the perfect crime to get the cash from five separate Las Vegas casinos after the stroke of midnight on New Year's in the quintessential Rat Pack film Ocean's Eleven! Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
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Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant are the sizzle to the bacon of George Cukor's Holiday (1938), while Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black charm each other in the Nancy Meyers-written and directed The Holiday (2006). Return guests Max and Daniel of the Bitches with Beards Podcast join me in bringing on the merry with a look at both films. Plus, poll results, trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The holiday season has given us many delightful films, but none as delightfully dubious as these. With good-natured affection, hear about these two flicks that are memorable, but perhaps, for some viewers (and in one case, their own leading actors!), not for the reasons they intended. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive, trivia, and listener shout-outs! Music: @fuzzeke
Jacob Marley may be "dead as a doornail," but it's a Dickens doubleheader as Richard Donner's Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, turns 35, while we get a fictionalized look behind the curtain at how Dan Stevens's depiction of author Charles Dickens wrote the bloody thing in the first place in 2017's The Man Who Invented Christmas, also starring the great Christopher Plummer as old Ebenezer. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
Let the holiday season commence with a tribute to the late Ed Asner, star of a handful of seasonal films, both comedic and dramatic. Cesare from The Rad Revival House Podcast joins me for a look at the 1977 Christmas-set family drama The Gathering and the 20th anniversary of 2003's modern-day Yuletide classic comedy Elf. A stubborn Scrooge in one and Santa in the other, Asner proves he's worth his 7 Emmy wins! Poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Celebrating film noir month, or Noirvember, in style with return guest DJ Nik as we explore 1944's Laura, directed by Otto Preminger and starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, and Vincent Price, and 1945's Detour, starring Ann Savage and Tom Neal! Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! Happy Noirvember to you and your kin.
A tribute to the life and career of Sharon Tate with a look at two of her comedy films from the late 1960s. What's the connection to Coppertone Suntan Lotion? Or to the Austin Powers films? Find out as you listen in on the poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, and interactive trivia segment!
For their 60th and 50th anniversaries, here's a look back at two cult classics - one, a paranormal and psychological horror tale based on Shirley Jackson's highly acclaimed novel, and the other, a disturbing audio-visual feast for the eyes and ears - and that's just Christopher Lee's visage and voice. Two of the most impactful genre films of the 20th century! Plus, poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs.
'Chucky' turns 35 this year, but 'Annabelle' won't be outdone when it comes to maniacal, possessed dolls that yield chills ... and perhaps some chuckles. "Hidey-ho! Ha, ha, ha!" Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
50 years ago, 'Father Karras' suffered a crisis in his faith. Meanwhile, film actress 'Chris McNeil' grew horrified when her 12-year-old daughter 'Regan' showed increasingly disturbing and violent behavior. And 'Father Merrin,' trained to exorcise evil demons from afflicted individuals, joined forces with 'Father Karras' to prove that the power of good conquers the forces of evil. DJ Nik and Rachel Frend of the Gold Standard Oscars Podcast return for a discussion about this 1973 cultural juggernaut that made heads spin like never before. Plus, poll results, trivia, and listener shout-outs!
As James Whale's campy horror flick turns 90 this year, it's time to heap praise on Whale's idiosyncratic sense of humor, Claude Rains's voice, and perennial favorite Una O'Connor! And 34 years later, the beautiful Sharon Tate made heads turn in the quirky comedy-horror The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, but Your Teeth Are in My Neck! An appreciative look at both films - plus, the poll results, interactive trivia, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
Part 2 of 2! Brooke Shields made her onscreen debut in this cult chiller that is part horror, part family drama, and part slasher. Antonio of The Cultworthy Cinema, The Cultworthy Classic, and the MILF and Me Podcasts joins me for a look back at this horrifying but brilliant genre film about parental favoritism, blind religious faith, suppression of emotion, attitudes towards mental health, self-righteousness, and guilt. Plus, the usual segments with the poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Part 1 of 2! Rhoda Penmark is the perfect little angel. Or is she? 11-year-old Patty McCormack memorably brings on the freaky in her portrayal of everyone's favorite hot-tempered, sociopathic, golden-braided little twit long before The Brady Bunch's 'Cindy' turned the look into a sitcom punchline. Antonio of The Cultworthy Cinema, The Cultworthy Classic, and the MILF and Me Podcasts joins me for a look back at this film adaptation of the Broadway hit! Plus, the usual segments with the poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Max and Daniel from the Bitches with Beards podcast join me to get the spirit of the fall season going with a look back at these two mid-to-late 90s seasonally appropriate films! We banter and discuss different scenes, and their knowledge of both flicks is put to the test with a few trivia questions. Plus, the usual segments of the poll results, interactive audience trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Kate Winslet with Stockholm Syndrome? Kylo Ren as a seductive ladykiller? All that and more as we kick off Labor Day weekend with two films from 2013 that define unconventional love story! Plus, the poll results, interactive trivia, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
Insinuations and accusations, emasculation and misogyny, verbal daggers and put-downs ... this is true love as depicted by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly, and Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz. Two film adaptations of hugely successful stage productions, each featuring two couples, each individual at war with the other three in both comedic and dramatic fashion. Follow the chaotic fun as the romantic sparks fizzle in the air! Plus, the usual poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Young Charlie idolizes her namesake, her Uncle Charlie, but should she doubt his sanity? Scottie Ferguson is asked to trail an old college classmate's wife for fear of fatal ancestral possession, but will he fall dizzily in love with her instead? Special guest Carlo of The Movie Loot podcast returns for episode 104 to talk about two of Alfred Hitchcock's finest films in honor of his August 13th birthday! We quiz each other and trade behind-the-scenes fun facts. Plus, the usual poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
It's diapers vs. disco as we dive into two comedies about daughters with three dads. Both films arguably belong in the "so bad that they're good" category, but you be the judge. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Looking for love overseas is the rule of the day with these two comedies. As Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) leaves Zamunda for Queens, NY with Semmi (Arsenio Hall), Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) spend a summer in Barcelona and meet Juan (Javier Bardem) and his unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). Will true love be found? Will the earth move? Will the angels weep? Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
20 years ago, Disney unleashed two summertime films, one that spawned a lucrative franchise and the other a remake that became an unlikely hit! As Pirates took the world by storm and Freaky Friday gave Jamie Lee Curtis the chance to showcase her comedic abilities, the Disney studios filled their coffers with our hard-earned cash. A look back at both films, including the weekly poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
It's the 100th episode as Silver Screeners dives into two Charlie Kaufman-written films that defy logic, common sense, and boredom. Quirky, hilarious, sardonic, and thought-provoking, Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, supported by strong directing, acting, and editing, reflect Kaufman at the top of his eccentric game! Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Before returning to the Further in the new release Insidious: The Red Door, let's go back to the first two films of this lucrative franchise to review what happened to the Lambert family, not seen since 2013. Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive listener trivia, and shout-outs!
Before returning to the Further in the new release Insidious: The Red Door, let's go back to the first two films of this lucrative franchise to review what happened to the Lambert family, not seen since 2013. Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive listener trivia, and shout-outs!
"Why'd it have to be snakes?" Just in time for the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, podcaster DaveyA and actor/YouTuber Stephen J. Holloran join me for a spirited discussion about the three Indiana Jones films that followed the 1981 classic Raiders of the Lost Ark! Trivia questions on Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull are thrown their way, and we share behind-the-scenes fun facts. Plus, the usual poll results and interactive listener trivia segment with shout-outs!
It's Al Pacino and John Cazale in Brooklyn facing off against Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner in Boston as two worthy films, 1975's Dog Day Afternoon and 2010's The Town, dive into the messy business of bank heists. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Silver Screeners celebrates Pride Month with a look at two comedy-dramas, both, ironically, with a lead character named Simon. From singles clubs and wedding banquets to Ferris wheels and first kisses, these stories come straight from the heart. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Timid, hopeless romantic Joan Wilder meets swashbuckling wiseass Jack Colton in the mountains of Colombia while trying to save her abducted sister from a comically angry Danny DeVito. Less than a year later (screen time), the trio find themselves in Egypt to unlock the mystery of the Jewel of the Nile. Will they survive a rain-soaked mudslide? Will they travel safely on a train rooftop? Will their love find a way? And what happens when a crocodile gulps down a human hand clutching an emerald the size of a softball? Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Lord Almighty, you'll feel your temperature risin' in this episode that takes a look at two acting roles of the one and only King of Rock N' Roll himself, Elvis Presley. From rocking out with inmates in a prison to a more dramatic turn as a medical doctor in an inner-city neighborhood who falls for a nurse who's an incognito nun, he threw himself into film performances that prove he's more than just a hunka-hunka-burnin' love. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! "Thank you, thank you very much..."
Some apples bring poison to the fairest in the land, and others are pre-attached to your bow and arrow to fool army generals into thinking you're a perfect shot. Regardless, a look at the 85th anniversary of (the general release of) Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length Technicolor animated feature film in English, and the 25th of Mulan, based on the ancient Chinese poem. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
A pair of charismatic bank robbers in the Great Depression era of the 30s out to screw the system ("We rob banks.") and a pair of drug-dealing, anti-Establishment motorcycle riders traveling cross-country in pursuit of the ever-elusive American Dream in 1969 ("I'm goin' down to Mardi Gras!") ... two landmarks of the so-called "New Hollywood" of the late 60s/70s that contributed to the redefinition of cinematic storytelling! Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The legend that is Jimmy Stewart was Oscar-nominated for a whimsical comedy-drama about a man with an imaginary 6-foot-plus tall friend of the Oryctolagus cuniculus persuasion, while former Mouseketeer Ryan Gosling plays a troubled loner who conjures up in his imagination a relationship with a life-sized plastic doll. Confused? You won't be after hearing about these films that explore the themes of love and loss, guilt and fear, and ultimately, the power of the self. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
"Uh-uh-uh, nobody says the 'B' word." Will Winona Ryder become the bride of Beetlejuice? Will Ricky Gervais stop seeing see dead people? Two wacky comedies about the hereafter interacting with the living feature in this episode that celebrates the 35th anniversary of Tim Burton's twisted tale and pays tribute to the late, great Harry Belafonte. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! "Senora dances calypso, left to right is de tempo, and when she gets the sensation, she go up in the air, come down in slow motion, jump in de line, rock your body in time..."
In one film, Polly wants more than a cracker as deadly bird attacks plague Bodega Bay, California in Alfred Hitchcock's now-60-year-old aviary-like nightmare that blends thrills with Hitch's trademark sardonic humor. Who's in the cage now? In the second film, more people earn the nicknames of "lunch" as an unfortunate bear goes wild after devouring untold amounts of ... title tells all in this outrageous, over-the-top schlock-fest full of absurd comedy and gobs of bloodshed. Plus, a sweet story of a baby gorilla and the woes of working in Woolworth's. It all comes together, along with the usual poll results, interactive trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
On April 21, 1880, a sea vessel off the coast of Antonio Bay, CA met with a terrible fate. 100 years later, will the deceased return in ... the fog? Chris of the Movie Psycho Podcast returns for what unintentionally became the third film with Janet Leigh (after 1960's Psycho and 1958's Touch of Evil) that we discussed on this show. We talk favorite scenes from this supernatural horror film, exchange fun facts, and extol the talents of John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Plus, the usual poll results, interactive trivia segment, and listener shout-outs! "Enough time for one more story..."
The city of Boston takes to the field with two comedies filmed and set here in the "Hub," the Jimmy Fallon-Drew Barrymore Red Sox-themed rom com Fever Pitch and the Sandra Bullock-Melissa McCarthy action comedy The Heat. This month of the year especially, with the annual Boston Marathon continuing to persevere, we love that dirty water, even those of us technically just outside the city in the suburbs. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
"The stairs are out!!!" screams Tom Hanks as he dangles for dear life from the second floor of his money pit. While he and Shelley Long just want a beautiful functioning country home, Cary Grant and Myrna Loy as Mr. and Mrs. Blandings have their woes as well, as we dive into two comedies about the joys and perils of home ownership in their determined attempts to turn their American Disasters into the American Dream. They survive everything from missing windows to collapsing staircases as they leave life in the big city behind. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, surprising poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
What do taxes, almond cookies, hot dogs, bagels, laundromats, and Chapstick all have in common? They factor heavily into 2022's Best Picture Oscar winner! It'll make more sense after you hear YouTuber, blogger, and photographer Drew Bennett join me for a conversation about Everything Everywhere All at Once. Plus, the usual online poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs! "Cherish these few specks of time."
2022 brought us a lot of great flicks, but one that involves severed friendships (and fingers), the beautiful Irish seacoast, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunited onscreen, and Jenny the donkey deserves an episode of its own. Former Reel Life co-host Mike Wigdor guests as we dive into our favorite scenes and characters from writer-director Martin McDonagh's dark comedy/drama that earned a whopping 9 Oscar nods but was goose-egged and went home without a single 'fecking' win. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
2022 brought us a lot of great flicks, but one that involves severed friendships (and fingers), the beautiful Irish seacoast, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunited onscreen, and Jenny the donkey deserves an episode of its own. Former Reel Life co-host Mike Wigdor guests as we dive into our favorite scenes and characters from writer-director Martin McDonagh's dark comedy/drama that earned a whopping 9 Oscar nods but was goose-egged and went home without a single 'fecking' win. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
A blend of dark comedy and scathing social commentary, these two satires about class distinction became Oscar darlings and critical successes. Triangle of Sadness was a 3-time nominee, including Best Picture and Director, while Parasite made history as the first film ever to receive Best Picture, Director, and International Feature. Behind the sly cynicism and sardonic wit of both lies a message about the human condition. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
Aspiring filmmakers and former high school film students of mine, Brendan and Zak, join me for a conversation about each of our predictions for the 95th annual Academy Awards! Brendan, a professional production assistant and extra, and Zak, who's in the Air Force, prove their love of cinema as we reveal our picks for the nominees who will bring home the gold. Plus, the usual interactive trivia segment and listener shout-outs!
An Oscar-winning Best Supporting Actor performance by J.K. Simmons and a current nomination for Best Leading Actress for Cate Blanchett wave their batons in this episode about two Best Picture nominees about narcissistic, passionate, and headstrong music conductors. 10 acting nominations between them, and that's nothing to shake a stick at. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Oscars countdown with Silver Screeners continues with a look at two current Best Leading Actress nominees (Ana de Armas in Blonde and Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans), both of whom earned nominations in their careers for their portrayals of Marilyn Monroe in 2022's Blonde and 2011's My Week with Marilyn, respectively. Two films 11 years apart that serve up different interpretations of the one of the most photographed women of the 20th century ... plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
A hunk-hunka-burnin' love and a champion of the world - Oscars countdown with Silver Screeners begins with a look at a current Best Picture and Leading Actor nominee (Austin Butler in Elvis) and a previous Picture nominee and Leading Actor winner (Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody)! A look at a pair of biopics of rock stars that brought these two fine actors together in solidarity ... plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
The 95th annual Academy Awards season is about to descend upon the entertainment industry! So as we tune in to see which celebrity will be the next to prove that they are one chromosome away from being a potato, we'll be revisiting Oscars of the past while doing a deep dive into some of this year's nominees. It's all explained here, along with the usual interactive trivia segment and listener shout-outs! Plus, a new Oscar-focused feature on famous (and notorious) moments from the past.
Return guest Chris of The Movie Psycho Podcast and I engage in an Orson Welles two-fer as we discuss The Third Man and Touch of Evil with a side dish of film noir thrown in. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!
Ring in 2023 with one last Yuletide-themed episode of the season as Stu & Al of The Stu & Al Pod in England join me for a lively debate over which version of A Christmas Carol takes home the tinsel. We quiz each other, talk favorite scenes, and spread joy across the Atlantic. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
December 1940. Miss Shields wants Ralphie to write ... a theme. Randy becomes Mommy's little piggy. The 'Old Man' wins a major award. Schwartz gets his. Flick gets triple-dog-dared. And Ralphie gets to dress up as a pink bunny. Yeet some milk bones next door to keep the Bupkis's dogs at bay so that you can relax and enjoy 7Ceez from the No on 15! All-Cast make a return appearance for a conversation about 1983's cult classic A Christmas Story. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
75 years ago, the Macy's Santa Claus got drunk at the Thanksgiving parade, paving the way for the real Kris Kringle to step in and replace him. A single divorced career mother didn't want her little girl to grow up believing in fairy tales and myths and legends. The executives at Macy's and the executives at Gimbel's engaged in a Christmas season retail smackdown. And that's just the tip of the tinsel for this endearing holiday classic with Edmund Gwynn in his Oscar-winning performance as Santa, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and child star Natalie Wood. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
Special guests Stephen J. Holloran, a UK-based actor and YouTuber, and DaveyA of the podcast I'd Give That 10 Minutes! both join me for a conversation about the first two - or as we say, the only two - Home Alone films. Fun facts, a trivia contest between them, plus the usual poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
TV has brought us lots of holiday specials and shows, but in the 1980s, two television movies in particular take the tinsel. Two festive, guilty pleasures are embraced as we revisit two sets of 6 siblings: the Herdmans, "the worst kids in the whole history of the world," and the Bradys, the family that doesn't know how to give their beloved former maid Alice a seat at the table. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs! kmm
35 years ago, November 1987, writer-director John Hughes threw Steve Martin and John Candy into a race against time to get home for Thanksgiving. A fond look at this comedy classic filled with diverted flights, busted trains, melted speedometers, and one very memorable car rental agent. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
40 years ago, an abandoned extraterrestrial missed his mothership and was stranded on Earth in fear and hopelessness. But nothing that a friendship with a lonely 9-year-old boy and some Reese's Pieces won't cure. 7Ceez from The No on 15! All Cast returns to the show for a nostalgic look back at the Steven Spielberg-directed film that defined a generation and had the Mars Company look at their stock of M&Ms and shake their heads in bitter regret. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, and listener trivia segment!
It's #Noirvember, which means a tip of the hat to the cynical, wisecracking anti-hero and the seductive, conniving femme fatale of FILM NOIR! Dimly-lit bars and alleyways, lots of cigarettes, stark contrasts between bright lights and shadows, fedoras and trench coats, and murder most foul abound in this stylized genre that dared to depict in the 40s and 50s the seedy side of the American Dream. 1944's 7-time Oscar nominee Double Indemnity is in the upper echelon of these character-driven crime thrillers, and Sorry, Wrong Number got Barbara Stanwyck her fourth Oscar nod for wrestling with a telephone receiver. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, and listener trivia segment!
"I hear the Great Pumpkin!" To celebrate the Halloween holiday, this episode takes a fond look back at the TV special that was a staple in autumn-flavored pop culture for the past 56 years. Burning questions about it that have gone unanswered since I was a kid abound, as well as the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
2022 marks 100 years since the silent vampire film Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau, debuted. To commemorate its centennial, DJ Nik and Xan from the Gold Standard podcast join me for a look at this classic of German Expressionism. We talk favorite shots, the cultural impact, bats and rats, and Nik's memories of the introduction of Oreos at Blockbuster Video stores in Italy. Plus, the usual poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
1951's The Thing from Another World, and its 1982 John Carpenter-directed remake, The Thing - celebrating its 40th anniversary - are the focus of this episode, where Chris from The Movie Psycho podcast joins for a look at memorable scenes, fun facts, and memories of first viewings courtesy of that ancient relic of retail known as the video store. Plus, the usual poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
Horror maestro Vincent Price and director/gimmick master William Castle teamed up twice in 1959 to give audiences the interactive movie viewing experience of a lifetime. A behind-the-scenes look at what made House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler stand apart from other schlocky horror flicks of the era. When the director of a haunted mansion flick has the last name "Castle," you know it's going to be something special ... plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
One film has a bunch of extraterrestrial pods waiting to hatch, replicate humans, and unleash their fury on earth. The other stars a shimmering, quavering mass of gelatin - and in addition to that unsteady cast, there's also a blob. A behind-the-scenes look at two 1950s-era sci-fi/horror classics, along with the usual weekly online poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
The summer season is drawing to a close (in the northern hemisphere, at least). Did you have as fun a vacation as the Griswolds and the Ripleys? From grating relatives to seedy motels to interactions with nature, John Hughes exhausted his playbook when it came to 80s-era vacation-themed comedies. A behind-the-scenes look at 1983's National Lampoon's Vacation, starring Chevy Chase, and 1988's The Great Outdoors, starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd, complete with the usual weekly online poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
Grab a bowl of mashed potatoes and sculpt them into Devil's Tower as you listen to a 45-years-later look back at Steven Spielberg's sci-fi masterpiece! 7Ceez from The No on 15! All-Cast joins me to talk about the film, exchange fun behind-the-scenes facts, and some trivia questions. Plus, the usual online poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
Smash that Barbasol can before Hammond can say "Welcome to Jurassic Park" as the hosts of the Gold Standard podcast join me for a look at the two Jurassic trilogies. We discuss favorite entries in the franchise, best characters, key moments, and that Jeff Goldblum gif. And a few trivia questions are thrown in as well! Plus, the usual online poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
What do an 18-wheeled 1955 Peterbilt 281 semi-truck and a Great White lurking along the coast of Amity Island down Cape Cod, MA have in common? Both are brought to vivid, intimidating, and anonymous life by the one and only Steven Spielberg at the beginning of his highly-decorated filmmaking career. A behind-the-scenes look at 1971's Duel, starring Dennis Weaver, and 1975's Jaws, staring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw, complete with the usual weekly online poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
Special guest Carlo from the podcast The Movie Loot returns for a look at two comedies from the 1987 summer season: Chris Columbus's Adventures in Babysitting, starring Elisabeth Shue, and Carl Reiner's Summer School, starring Mark Harmon! Lots of talk and banter, quizzing each other on the films, and behind-the-scenes fun facts. Plus, the usual weekly poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs ... and an attempt to write an original song. (Don't ask - just listen...)
Grab those coconut shells, "run away! run away!" from that bloody Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog, and sing along with Sir Robin as we take a crack at Arthurian accents and dialogue to show respect and appreciation for the genius of Monty Python's first feature film. Hear about the gift shop at Doune Castle in Scotland, the history of the six comedians who came together to form the troupe, and what they've done in the years since. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs! B.Y.O.L. (Bring Your Own Llama) ... or be sacked.
Grab a Scrumdiddlyumptious bar, jump in the Wonkatania boat, and and enter a world of pure imagination as we look back with affection at this Gene Wilder classic. Hear about the Bavarian town of Nordlingen, what the kids are up to now, and the new one-time segment "What Makes Grandpa Joe Totally Blow," which exposes Grandpa Joe as the shameless, tobacco-smoking, cabbage water-swilling opportunist he is.Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, special guests Robbo and Cheeto from The Film Geezers podcast join me for a look back at the dystopian sci-fi/film noir-ish cult classic. We try to stump each other with trivia questions, and bring fun facts to the table. So grab your paper unicorns, retire some replicants, and find out what it means to be "more human than human" as we revisit this Harrison Ford flick. Plus, the usual weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
For a tip of the hat to Father's Day, two sardonic but ultimately loving dramedies that peel back the layers of the onion of complicated relationships between crotchety old coots and their exasperated grown sons. Jackie Gleason and Bruce Dern both act their tails off with Tom Hanks and Will Forte offering solid support. A bonus anecdote about a recent concert combines nicely with Nothing in Common's celestial choir of ad agency execs revealing an office window to Hanks. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
It's been 35 years since 'Baby' carried that watermelon out of a corner, and 10 since six down-on-their-luck blokes decided to go the full monty in a club in Sheffield and reap the fruits of their own labor. Whether you prefer, like their eager audience, some 'hot stuff' Donna Summer-style or a vicarious trip to the Catskills to have the 'time of your life,' there's plenty to dance about in episode 54. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
With the film ratings system in place in 1968, how did a 1969 social satire about liberated libidos during the free-spirited 60s and a 1971 dramedy about desperate narcissism, an inability to love, and misogyny make out with both the Oscars as well as the Motion Picture Association of America? And how did the public respond? Just ask the bewildered Edith Bunker of TV's sitcom All in the Family after she took Archie to what she mistakenly thought was "a religious picture, Cardinal Knowledge." Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, the poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
In this episode, enjoy the backstory of how censorship evolved over the decades with the list of "Don'ts and Be Carefuls," as well as the Production Code that led to the gradual breakdown of the Hollywood Studio System. Along the way, two bold and saucy comedies from 1959 defied convention with bedroom farce and double entendres! Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs!
Checking into motels, meals of sandwiches and milk, and taking showers took on new meanings with Alfred Hitchcock's cultural juggernaut that was Psycho, starring the incomparable Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates and the irreplaceable Janet Leigh in her Oscar-nominated performance as Marion Crane. Return guest Chris from the podcast The Movie Psycho joins me for a look back at and tip of the hat to this classic with behind the scenes fun facts and attempts to stump each other on Psycho-related trivia questions! Plus, the usual poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs! Just be sure to stay out of cabin #1...
Silver Screeners hits the big 5-0! Special guest Carlo from The Movie Loot podcast joins me for a look back at the iconic mobster family crime drama The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. We talk about our favorite scenes and characters, try to stump each other with trivia questions, and bring fun facts to the table. Plus, the usual weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs! B.Y.O.C. (bring your own cannoli)
Careers were changed or lost once the silent era drew to a close, but the talkies have spoken! A look at a pair of Hollywood films about Hollywood in a time of painful and awkward transition - one, a surprisingly brutal depiction of narcissism, betrayal, desperation, and nearly psychotic jealousy and possessiveness while in the spotlight of celebrity ... and the other is Sunset Blvd. A listener reveals her familial relation to a Singin' in the Rain star, plus the behind-the-scenes fun facts, weekly poll results, trivia segment, and listener shout-outs!
Spice on the planet Arrakis. The Fremen. The House of Atreides. Paul, Lady Jessica, and Duke Leto. Sting's wardrobe. Josh Brolin's awesomeness. And those sandworms ... in this episode, Liz and Greg join me for a conversation about Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune, 1984's David Lynch-directed film adaptation, and Denis Villeneuve's 2021 rendition that nabbed six Academy Awards. Plus, the weekly poll results, trivia segment, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and listener shout-outs!
A fascinating interview with a footman from the HBO Max series The Gilded Age - otherwise known as the independent filmmaker and extra Brendan Manning! We talk about his experience on the pilot episode of the show, our shared thoughts on what this year's Oscars got right and wrong, and other stuff as well. Plus, the usual segments: the weekly poll results, trivia, and listener shout-outs!
It's Oscar weekend, so yeet those groceries into the fridge, let the clean laundry fall where it may, and indulge in Hollywood's big night! In this episode, I offer my predictions for all of the categories. Will CODA prove to have more Power than the Dog? Will Academy Award history have a double helping of Oscar-winning 'Anitas' from both versions of West Side Story? Will Lin-Manuel Miranda get his EGOT, or will Billie Eilish prevail for Best Song? Results of the weekly poll, the trivia segment involving listeners, and shout-outs to listeners, and a demonstration of applied knowledge about newly-acquired British slang!
In this 11th and final in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2017 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, and Supporting Actor to Moonlight and six awards (Director, Leading Actress, Production Design, Cinematography, Musical Score, and Song) to its Best Picture co-nominee La La Land! Includes an objective play-by-play of how “Envelopegate” unfolded on stage. Plus, the usual spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscar telecast in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this tenth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2012 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hurled the Best Picture, Director, Leading Actor, Costume Design, and Musical Score prizes at the silent film The Artist and five awards (Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, and Art Direction) to its Best Picture co-nominee Hugo! Get ready for stories about how Thomas Edison’s rumored involvement in murder, space travel, Charlie Chaplin, a $25,000 bet, a Paris café basement, and a racing horse all part of the backdrop of both films. Plus, the usual spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscar telecast in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this ninth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2007 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave the Best Leading Actress prize to Helen Mirren for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II and the Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor honors to Michael Arndt and Alan Arkin, respectively, for Little Miss Sunshine! Are there any parallels between The Queen and this year's nominee Kristen Stewart's take on Diana Spencer? Just how many cast and crew members of Little Miss Sunshine got their parents to fill in as extras? And what does Arnold Schwarzenegger have to do with it all? Spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this eighth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2007 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bestowed Best Picture honors to The Departed and finally gave Martin Scorsese his long-overdue Best Director award! Did he win for the right film? What was that year's competition? How would the three presenters have reacted if it had been another name in that envelope? And how does the cast measure up to the Boston dialect? Chris from the podcast The Movie Psycho joins me to tackle these and other questions!
In this seventh in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2002 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bestowed Best Picture honors to A Beautiful Mind, as well as Art Direction (now Production Design) and Costume Design prizes to Moulin Rouge! How does young Obi-Wan Kenobi stack up against Nicole Kidman? What do listeners have to say about the Muppet parody with Miss Piggy as 'Saltine' in Moulin Scrooge? What do personal painful memories of math class have to do with John Nash's profession? Spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this sixth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 2002 when the first in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy was on the list of Best Picture nominees! My first return guest, DaveyA from the podcast I'd Give That Ten Minutes, joins me for a special episode filled with fun facts about the film that we both bring to a spirited conversation about all things Middle Earth that'll bring out your inner Hobbit.
In this fifth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 1997 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bestowed Best Picture honors to The English Patient, as well as Screenplay and Best Actress prizes to the Coen Brothers and Frances McDormand, respectively. Was Elaine Benes (TV's Seinfeld) right - was Sack Lunch better than The English Patient? Was Father Noel Furlong (TV's Father Ted) delusional, or was it his kind of film? Did Pacey (TV's Dawson Creek) put you to sleep by telling you the story as well? Spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this fourth in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 1992 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bestowed Best Picture nomination honors to an animated feature for the first time, 1991's Beauty and the Beast, as well as JFK, co-written, directed, and produced by Oliver Stone ... Spoiler-free plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs, trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"!
In this third in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 1987 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bestowed Best Picture honors to 1986's Platoon, written and directed by Oliver Stone, and Best Cinematography to The Mission, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons. The regular segments of plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs and trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous", all set to new intro music for the new year!
In this second in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, rewind to early 1982 when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences hurled the golden trophy for 1981's Best Picture at Chariots of Fire with Leading Actor and Actress honors landing in the hands of Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn for On Golden Pond. The regular segments of plot setups, behind-the-scenes fun facts, listener shout-outs and trivia, and highlights of that year's Oscars ceremony in the feature "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous"! As an added bonus, hear the personal connection between Jim Morrison, Downton Abbey's Christmas album, and Vangelis's iconic Chariots of Fire score!
In this first in a series of episodes leading up to Oscar night 2022, step back in time to 1976, when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences awarded Rocky the Best Picture prize and Taxi Driver became a controversial cultural landmark! Each episode in this series will look at the Best Picture winner of a particular year, and you vote on social media or email which other nominee from that year you want to hear about. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, trivia segment, listener shout-outs, and a new segment called "The Good, the Bad, and the Outrageous" - keep on screening!
With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, it's time to gear up for the annual Academy Awards ... listen here for quick updates on the next batch of episodes and how you can get involved!
It's Christmastime for real-life mother and daughter 'Scream Queens' Janet Leigh (Psycho) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) as 1949's Holiday Affair, co-starring Robert Mitchum and Wendell Corey, and 2004's Christmas with the Kranks, with Tim Allen and Dan Aykroyd, are brought front and center. How does Holiday Affair foreshadow Leigh's character in Psycho? How does Christmas with the Kranks tip the hat to Halloween? And what does "Ring Christmas Bells" by the Ray Conniff Singers have to do with it? Plus. the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners ... Happy Yuletide!
Curious about the origins of the Rudolph story or the song? Or even better, the beloved 1964 Rankin/Bass TV classic? Decades' worth of questions and a couple of fun facts round out this special mini-episode. Plus, find out what happened to a couple of those stop-motion puppets!
75 years ago, an innocent little girl excitedly told her daddy that because a bell rang on their Christmas tree, an angel got its wings. Call it tradition, call it corny, call it art, call it contrived, but you have to call it a cinema legend. The first post-WWII film for both director Frank Capra and leading actor James Stewart may have been a financial disappointment when it was first released, but generations of fans have proven its long-lasting impact. A tribute to this beloved holiday classic brings it all home. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners!
Oscar-winning brothers Joel and Ethan Coen have spent their careers co-writing, co-producing, and co-directing both short and feature-length films. Now Joel is flying solo for the soon-to-be-released The Tragedy of Macbeth starring his wife, Oscar winner Frances McDormand, and Oscar winner Denzel Washington. Stu and Al from the Stu & Al Pod join me for a retrospective on the Coen Brothers' highly decorated film career! They contribute to the usual fun behind-the-scenes facts as we talk about our personal favorites and stump each other on trivia. Plus, the usual poll results, listener trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners!
Decades' worth of questions about this quirky oddity rise to the surface in this special mini-episode. Plus, find out how this TV special relates to two direct-to-video Amityville Horror sequels, 2013's Gravity, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, and 2018's Ready Player One!
It's Thanksgiving Day for the Larsons in the Jodie Foster-directed Home for the Holidays and the Burns family in Pieces of April, written and directed by Peter Hedges. A behind-the-scenes look at these two holiday dramadies that throw a spotlight on family dynamics that are the source of satirical humor and maybe even a small iota of sentiment. What better holiday than Thanksgiving for families to try to put aside their problems for the day only to create brand new ones? Plus, the usual fun facts, poll and trivia results, and shout-outs to listeners!
75 years ago, The Best Years of Our Lives, the story of three WWII veterans struggling to readjust to life as civilians, to hold down jobs, to reconnect with loved ones, and to reclaim some sense of optimism, premiered in New York City. Becoming the 2nd-highest grossing film ever of its time, it won 7 competitive Oscars, including Best Picture, plus a Special Recognition award for co-star Harold Russell, a non-actor who served in WWII in real life. Go behind the scenes to find out how this classic came to be and how it was received at the time. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes facts, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners! "Grazie di cuore, Papa."
Call him the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, or simply Batman, but he is a DC superhero who's been a fan favorite for almost an entire century. Davey A from the podcast I'd Give That 10 Minutes! joins me for a look back at the 1989 summertime blockbuster Batman, directed by Tim Burton, with Michael Keaton donning the cape and driving the Batmobile while movie audiences "got a load of" Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners!
In the early morning hours of November 13, 1974, a horrific mass murder of an entire family occurred in a Dutch colonial house in an upscale neighborhood in Amityville, Long Island. One year later, another family bought the house and moved in. 28 days later, claiming paranormal disturbances, they fled and left everything they owned behind. In 1979, a movie based on the alleged haunting was released and launched a franchise. Here in episode 28, we look back at the controversies surrounding what happened to both families. Plus, the usual behind the scenes facts, new trivia, and listener shout-outs.
30 years ago, FBI trainee Clarice Starling went to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and one of cinema's most well-written psychological thrillers launched Jodie Foster, Sir Anthony Hopkins, screenwriter Ted Tally, and director Jonathan Demme out of their seats and onto the stage at the Academy Awards. In episode 27, we look at 1991's Oscar winner for Best Picture, as well as its 2001 sequel, Hannibal, in which Julianne Moore stepped into the role of Agent Starling to face off against Hopkins. Plus, the usual behind the scenes fun facts, new trivia, poll results, and listener shout-outs! "Ti voglio bene, Nonna."
I'm joined in episode 26 by Tommy Goodwin from the podcast Rewatch, Relive, Repeat to celebrate two werewolf movie classics - the 80th anniversary of 1941's The Wolf Man directed by George Waggner and starring Lon Chaney, Jr. and the 40th of An American Werewolf in London, directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton! We quiz each other, discuss the movies, and have great conversation. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners!
Silver Screeners celebrates its 25th episode with a tribute to the 90th anniversary of Dracula and Frankenstein, both horror classics from 1931! Guest Ian Graham from the podcast Cult Connections joins me to discuss both icons and their enduring legacies. Plus, the usual fun facts, poll results, trivia segment, and shout-outs to listeners!
"They're coming to get you, Barbara!" Take a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a nostalgic romp through abandoned farmhouses and creepy cemeteries through the creative vision of George A. Romero! We look at 1968's cult classic (as well as the 1990 Romero-produced remake) to see why it is a permanent fixture in the horror genre. Plus, the usual behind the scenes fun facts, new trivia, poll results, and listener shout-outs!
Friend and colleague Jamie (no, not that Jamie) and her brother Eric (no, not Michael Myers) join me for a fun-filled look back at the entire Halloween franchise! We revisit favorite moments, favorite characters, favorite timelines in the series ... and throw trivia questions around like Laurie Strode wields those sewing needles. Plus, the usual listener trivia segment, poll results, and shout-outs!
For part 2 of the show's first two-parter, we look at two comedies to kick off the new school year. Thornton Melon, the eternally enthusiastic optimist, and Billy Madison, the overgrown, rambunctious man-child, both return to the classroom for the first time in years to give academia all they've got! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, new trivia, and shout-outs to you, your comments, and feedback!
It's September, and a new school semester is underway. Whether it's been two weeks, two months, or two decades since you were last in a classroom, we all see the back-to-school sales and feel the daily commutes getting tighter with school transportation once again on the roads every morning and afternoon. For the show's first two-parter, we look at 1999's October Sky and 2006's Akeelah and the Bee for crowd-pleasing, inspirational stories about the academic underdog who gives it their all to defy the odds, rise to a challenge, and see what they're made of - with the help of supportive teachers and mentors along the way. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, new trivia, and more shout-outs to listeners!
Mike Davis, host of the Star Wars-themed podcast Now This Is Podcasting, joins me for a look back at the original Star Wars trilogy. We put aside the prequels, the sequels, the stand-alone films, the TV movies and series, and the 1978 Holiday Special and instead focus on where it all began. Plus, the usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, new trivia, and more shout-outs to listeners ... and as an added bonus, a brief reading of an excerpt from George Lucas's own 1976 novelization!
Two adrenaline-pumping car chase sequences, two morally ambiguous lead characters, two Best Editing Academy Award wins - two crime thrillers from the era known as the "New Hollywood" deliver the action-filled goods! Take a look back at a time period when the Hollywood film industry finally began to put out movies that reflected the drastic changes in culture and society. The usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, new trivia, and more shout-outs to listeners!
Equally adept at comedy and drama, show business has rarely seen the likes of the multi-talented Robin Williams. A brief background of how he got his start in stand-up and then global TV and movie fame, followed by a closer look at two top-notch performances, one a drama (Penny Marshall's Awakenings) and the other a comedy (Chris Columbus's Mrs. Doubtfire)! The usual behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, new trivia, and lots of shout-outs to listeners!
Two pitch-perfect ensemble casts, two murders inside a mansion, two groups of hysterically eccentric suspects: Jonathan Lynn's farcical whodunnit Clue: The Movie and Rian Johnson's sardonic comedy-thriller Knives Out! Come for the usual helping of behind-the-scenes facts and stories, get the poll results for which flick you prefer, and stay to hear about both new and returning listeners who scored at the trivia! Next time could be you! All of this and more once you click that "download" button...
Two dramatic thrillers, two strong leading lady performances, two disturbing tales of affairs gone wrong: Clint Eastwood's Play Misty for Me and Adrian Lyne's Fatal Attraction! Get the usual helping of behind-the-scenes facts and stories, find out if Jessica Walter or Glenn Close topped the poll, and not one, but TWO return trivia winners! All of this and more once you click that "download" button...
The summer of 1999 saw two supernatural horror movies explode onto theater screens and set new box office records: The Blair Witch Project and The Sixth Sense! Find out some behind-the-scenes facts, hear which you voted for as your favorite ... and have they aged well? (And those Blair Witch sequels...) All of this and more!
The Bruce Willis flick is top-tier holiday entertainment, and the Gary Cooper/Grace Kelly morality tale that is cleverly disguised as a Western delivers suspense in its own way. Fun behind-the-scenes facts about both films, along with a look at how they reflect and connect to each other! (For the record, yes: Die Hard most definitely is a Christmas season movie...)
My first guest - lawyer, judge, and published author R. Marc Kantrowitz - and I discuss his book Old Whiskey and Young Women: American True Crime Tales of Murder, Sex, and Scandal! You'll hear about the alleged crimes and subsequent trials of both swashbuckling action star Errol Flynn and Cheryl Crane, the daughter of Oscar nominee Lana Turner. https://www.amazon.com/Old-Whiskey-Young-Women-American-ebook/dp/B01AOPWVFC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kantrowitz+old+whiskey+and+young+women&qid=1626492024&s=books&sr=1-1
In this mostly spoiler-free episode, we pay tribute to director Richard Donner by revisiting the one and only Superman: The Movie! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, a look at the origins of the character ... and an admission of a years-long personal fear that is actually in the movie and created a lot of nightmare fuel!
In this spoiler-free episode, we go back to the summer of 1994 to revisit two box office behemoths that roared their way through the box office! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, plus the reveal of which one you voted for as your top choice!
Introducing the "Big 10" format for some good behind-the-scenes fun facts. Plus, which Goonie did you vote to be the all-time favorite? What is the correct answer to episode 9's trivia question on Sean Connery? And send your response in to the latest one: Name the 1970s kids' TV show that Sloth is quoting when he bellows, "Hey, you guuuuuys..."
In time for Father's Day weekend, 10 memorable movie dads/father figures! The names of the characters and actors who play them, choice lines of dialogue - plus, listeners share their top picks, and last episode's trivia winners are announced.
A tip of the fedora to Indiana Jones on the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark! On June 12, 1981, Indy first cracked his bullwhip on movie screens, and Harrison Ford had another blockbuster franchise to add to his resume. We take a look at how the idea of a globetrotting archaeologist/adventurer first came about, the casting, the costume design, the sound effects, and the film's most memorable moments!
My first film in a theater in 14 months: A Quiet Place II! Minor spoilers in discussing reactions. Plus, a fond trip back (with minor spoilers) to 1984 and The Neverending Story. Thoughts from an adult perspective, cast updates ... and confirmation that "Moonchild" is the name of Bastian's mother - not "Montreal."
In this spoiler-free episode, we dive headfirst into the supernatural horror sub-genre with thoughts on the upcoming Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and a look back at the pre-PG-13 days of 1982 and a visit with the hit (and admittedly dated) movie Poltergeist! Thoughts on the cast, director Tobe Hooper vs. producer Steven Spielberg, little Heather O'Rourke's proclamation that "they're heeere," behind-the-scenes stories ... and the family patriarch's WTF expression-inducing words of comfort to his thunderstorm-fearing boy: "I'm the wind, and you're the feather..."
In this spoiler-free episode, we go back 35 years to the release of the coming-of-age drama Stand by Me! Thoughts on the cast, director Rob Reiner, that MTV music video with Ben E. King and two of the film's stars, behind-the-scenes stories ... and Vern's thought-provoking question: "Do you think Mighty Mouse can beat up Superman?"
In this spoiler-free episode, we celebrate George Lucas's May 14 birthday with a look back at a film that itself looked back at a previous generation - 1973's Best Picture Oscar nominee American Graffiti! A look at the cast, the music, the inspiration from Lucas's own adolescence ... and DJ Wolfman Jack.
In this relatively spoiler-free episode, we look at the classic juggernaut that is 1967's The Graduate! Thoughts on the dialogue and camerawork, the 1963 book and its followup (yes, there was one!), the film's iconic Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack, the characters and actors who played them, and the story of my first viewing as only a Generation X-er would have it - on a VHS rented from that relic of retail, the neighborhood video store.
Writer-director Nicole Holofcener (2013’s Enough Said, 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?): “What’s the trick to writing a great female character? Make her human.” In this episode, we have a Mother's Day tribute to memorable maternal movie characters!
In this premiere episode, take a trip back to 1926, a time when the film industry was on the verge of drastic changes: "talking pictures," censorship concerns, and a growing trend toward unionism. Yes, these and more were contributing factors to the creation of Hollywood's 'highest honor.' Plus, take a crack at guessing which 1963 movie's theme plays at the beginning!