Load Bearing Beams: Recent Episodes

View Details

We said The Prestige is the "most" Christopher Nolan movie, and that Inception is his most autobiographical... but it turns out we were wrong, because both apply to Interstellar. It's a movie where a character literally says, "I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of time." It's a movie about a man who desperately wants to return home to his children, except that he wants even more to go do some cool stuff in outer space. The movie's working title was Flora's Letter, referring to Nolan's real-life 11-year-old daughter Flora, the inspiration for the character of Murph. And it's probably Nolan's best movie.

Laci and Matt spend more than three hours celebrating this masterpiece, and talk a lot about whether you should even care if the human race got resurrected via a tube of sperm on another planet hundreds of years in the future.

Watch this Interstellar podcast in full on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@1weekrental

Get more 1-Week Rental on Patreon: https://patreon.com/1weekrental

Next episode (Aug. 14, 2026): Tenet (2020)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:41 — What have we learned about Christopher Nolan so far? And how does it apply to Interstellar?
• 00:20:00 — History segment: Producer Lynda Obst and physicist Kip Thorne develop Interstellar for Steven Spielberg, with Jonah Nolan as the screenwriter; Spielberg leaves, Christopher Nolan comes aboard; the science of Interstellar is always emphasized during the movie's development; Nolan works with composer Hans Zimmer on the movie's music before shooting begins; casting Matthew McConaughey; release, reception, and legacy of Interstellar
• 01:24:43 — Movie discussion + Interstellar film analysis
• 03:10:55 — Star ratings + final review of Interstellar

INTERSTELLAR (2014) was directed by Christopher Nolan. Screenplay by Nolan with his brother Jonah. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Matt Damon, David Gyasi, Bill Irwin, John Lithgow, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, Timothée Chalamet, and Michael Caine as Professor Brand.

Sources:

• "Interstellar: How Christopher Nolan's Space Exploration Movie Achieved Lift-Off" by Dan Jolin | Empire (2014) - https://bit.ly/451fLOh
• "The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan" by Tom Shone (2020) - https://amzn.to/4yiNtw0
• Sleepless in Hollywood: Tales from the New Abnormal in the Movie Business by Lynda Obst (2014) - https://amzn.to/4xjbtOa
• "Wrinkles in Spacetime: The Warped Astrophysics of Interstellar" by Adam Rogers | Wired (2014) - https://bit.ly/4wbvs0r
• "Writer with real stars in his eyes" by Jay Fernandez | The Los Angeles Times (2007) - https://lat.ms/4pSL4UO
• "All About Christopher Nolan's 4 Kids, Who All Worked on 'The Odyssey' With Him" by Bailey Bujnosek | InStyle (2026) - https://bit.ly/4bwYeRI
• "Meet the Woman Behind Dunkirk" by Rebecca Keegan | Vanity Fair (2017) - https://bit.ly/4bvzlps
• "Christopher Nolan on Dunkirk, Taking His Kids to Phantom Thread" by Christina Radish | Collider (2018) - https://bit.ly/3RP25mf
• "Steven Spielberg Worked on 'Interstellar' for One Year and Says 'I Became Fascinated With It' Before Dropping Out: 'It Was a Much Better Movie in Nolan's Hands'" by Zack Sharif | Variety (2026) - https://bit.ly/4cmPqht

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/08/interstellar/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

In this 30-minute preview from the 1-Week Rental Patreon, Matt is joined, as per tradition, by Neophyte Reviews and Screen Time Kota to break down the latest offering from Marvel Studios: Spider-Man - Brave New World.

This movie is breaking box office records and has been widely embraced by the masses. Neo and Kota are both big fans... but now they face the ultimate challenge of melting Matt's cold heart.

Hear the complete, two-hour podcast about Spider-Man: Brand New Day by subscribing to 1-Week Rental's Patreon for two dollars a month: https://bit.ly/4fE2FfY

View Details

The Summer of Nolan resumes in one week with our episode about Interstellar (2014). Until then, enjoy a free preview of our latest Patreon offering, a full-length bonus episode about A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987).

Subscribe on Patreon: https://bit.ly/4caeGr6

Matt is joined by Freddy Krueger superfan Patrick Perot to discuss A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), one of the all-time great slasher sequels. Directed by the late Chuck Russell, Dream Warriors manages to dig in on some of the deeper and darker themes established by Wes Craven in the original while expanding the scope of the story outward and bringing some of the decade's best practical horror effects.

Source:

• Nightmare Autopsis: A Return to Elm Street by Lowell Greenblatt (2025) - https://amzn.to/4wxR5sA

View Details

When The Dark Knight Rises came out in 2012, expectations were sky high. After all, Christopher Nolan had shattered all box office records and blown critics away with The Dark Knight… what would he be doing now to dazzle audiences everywhere?

Maybe it's inevitable that the reception would be mixed. For the first time in his career, a Nolan movie was given generally negative reviews. And while it ultimately made more money worldwide than The Dark Knight did, it didn't become the biggest movie of all time. Earlier that year, in fact, The Avengers had pulled that off, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's reign had officially begun.

Nolan said the only reason he would ever consider making a sequel to The Dark Knight was if he came up with a story that was so good it justified its own existence. So… does The Dark Knight Rises do that? Laci thinks so; Matt doesn't.

In this episode, 1-Week Rental takes you behind the scenes of The Dark Knight Rises to give you the story of how Nolan developed this idea along with his collaborator David Goyer and his brother Jonah. Then, how Bane was selected as the villain, and how world events like Occupy Wall Street gave the film a fortuitous sense of timing. But is Nolan giving himself too much credit by saying Bane foreshadowed Donald Trump? What exactly is Nolan saying in this movie, anyway? And is he trying to say one thing but accidentally saying something else, instead?

Then, Laci and Matt review The Dark Knight Rises. Is Bane ultimately a letdown? Would the Joker have made more sense carrying out Bane's exact plan? Anne Hathaway is excellent as Selina Kyle, but does her character make sense? And is Marion Cotillard as "Miranda Tate" the least developed of all of Nolan's female characters?

All this and more in a supersized episode as the podcast concludes its coverage of Nolan's trilogy of Batman films.

Watch Matt's video about The Road to El Dorado: https://youtu.be/y5x3zDnjXrg

Watch this Dark Knight Rises podcast in full on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@1weekrental

Get more 1-Week Rental on Patreon: https://patreon.com/1weekrental

Next episode: We're off on July 31, but we shall return on August 7, 2026 with an episode about Interstellar (2014)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:24 — Opening thoughts on The Dark Knight Rises
• 00:20:15 — History segment: Nolan searches for a sequel to The Dark Knight; how they decided to use Bane and cast Tom Hardy; the politics of The Dark Knight movies; production, release, and legacy of The Dark Knight Rises
• 01:04:29 — Movie discussion + The Dark Knight Rises film analysis
• 02:56:20 — Star ratings + final review of The Dark Knight Rises

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) was directed by Christopher Nolan. Screenplay by Nolan with his brother Jonah; screen story by Nolan with David Goyer. Starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Tom Conti, Matthew Modine, Ben Mendelsohn, and Glen Powell as a stock trader.

Sources:

• "The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture" by Glen Weldon (2016) - https://amzn.to/4aNZi2Y
• "Christopher Nolan (Iconic Directors)" by Dan Jolin (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oEtmE3
• "The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan" by Tom Shone (2020) - https://amzn.to/4yiNtw0
• "The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Story Of Christopher Nolan's Batman Films" by Dan Jolin | Empire (2012) - https://bit.ly/44KS6kW
• "Heath Ledger was planning to return as the Joker in The Dark Knight Rises before his death, say family" by Jacob Stolworthy | The Independent (2018) - https://bit.ly/3T8u5So
• "For now, Nolan and Batman will rest in 'Dark' glory" by Scott Bowles | USA Today (2008) - https://bit.ly/4yxUUiU
• "Christopher Nolan on 'Dark Knight' and its box-office billion: 'It's mystifying to me'" by Geoff Boucher | The Los Angeles Times (2008) - https://lat.ms/4hm5SSr

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/07/the-dark-knight-rises/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

SPOILER ALERT for The Odyssey. Listen only if you've already seen the movie (or if you don't care about spoilers).

In this preview from 1-Week Rental's latest premium Patreon episode, Laci, Matt, and Screen Time Kota discuss Christopher Nolan's newest movie, The Odyssey. In this section, we talk about Nolan's desire to do for the world of ancient Greece what he did for Gotham City with his Batman movies, and wonder where Nolan will go next.

Click here to join 1-Week Rental's Patreon and get the complete episode about The Odyssey: https://bit.ly/4yyeN9w

View Details

Movies are dreams, and directors are like the ultimate dreamweavers, if you think about it. Christopher Nolan certainly thinks so, and in his most autobiographical movie, he has Leonardo DiCaprio play man named Dom Cobb (come on, that's not a real name) who is dressed and styled to look a lot like Christopher Nolan, and he must assemble a team of creatives to help a billionaire in his feud with another billionaire.

But actually, it's a movie about uncertainty. No one ever really knows whether they're in a dream, or in the Matrix, or being controlled by a demon. And when you understand that the movie is actually about giving you the experience of living with uncertainty, a lot clicks into place.

Or at least it did for Matt. Laci might need to watch Inception a few more times.

Before the movie discussion of Inception, Laci and Matt take you behind the scenes, giving a look at the evolution of Inception from Nolan's days as a student at uni all the way to the final version that made nearly a billion dollars at the box office.

Watch Matt's video about Fantasia 2000, the "Trump's Ballroom" of Disney movies: https://youtu.be/y5x3zDnjXrg

Watch this Inception podcast in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-XOu8nCE-3g

Get more 1-Week Rental on Patreon: https://patreon.com/1weekrental

Next week (July 24, 2026): The Dark Knight Rises (2012)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:24 — Opening thoughts on Inception
• 00:18:15 — History segment: Christopher Nolan conceives of "dream thief" idea in early '90s and writes early version of screenplay in early 2000s; he rewrites it after The Dark Knight; casting Leonardo DiCaprio; reception & box office; interpretations of Inception
• 00:57:55 — Movie discussion + Inception film analysis
• 02:28:35 — Star ratings + final review of Inception

INCEPTION was written and direct by Christopher Nolan. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Eliot Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, Pete Posthlethwaite, Lukas Haas, and Talulah Riley as a woman.

Sources:

• "The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan" by Tom Shone (2020) - https://amzn.to/4yiNtw0
• "A Man and His Dream: Christopher Nolan and Inception" by Dave Itzkoff | The New York Times (2010) - https://bit.ly/4eQFcru
• "Crime of the Century" by Dan Jolin | Empire (2010) - https://bit.ly/4fuhz8g
• "Christopher Nolan: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work" by Ian Nathan (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oc2lro
• "Inception and Philosophy: Because It's Never Just a Dream" edited by David Kyle Johnson (2011) - https://amzn.to/4fsoAq5
• "Why Christopher Nolan gave in and helped a critic interpret his movies" by Josh Rottenberg | The Los Angeles Times (2020) - https://bit.ly/4bCJ1hI
• "This Time the Dream's on Me" by A.O. Scott | The New York Times (2010) - https://bit.ly/3TdPVUo
• "Dream Factory" by David Denby | The New Yorker (2010) - https://bit.ly/4w6xksa

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/07/inception/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Few movies have penetrated the general pop culture landscape like Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. And few characters have resonated the way the Joker, as brought to life by Heath Ledger, did when Nolan's movie came out in the summer of 2008 and became the biggest movie of all time.

For their 200th episode, Matt and Laci dive deep—and I mean deep—into The Dark Knight. And in a surprise that could have been conceived by the Joker himself, it turns out Laci loves this movie. Matt, meanwhile, continues to feel extremely mixed about all three of Nolan's Batman movies—there's so much to love, and so much more to be confused and baffled by.

For the history segment, the podcast goes behind the scenes to talk about the casting of Heath Ledger and his process for becoming the Joker. Ledger famously isolated himself in a hotel room for a month, journaling his weird thoughts to turn into a version of the Crown Prince of Crime we'd never seen before. We also talk about the history of the Joker as a character, going all the way back to the 1940s. What exactly is it about the Joker that appeals to so many people? And, even putting aside the tragic circumstances behind Ledger's performance, what about the Nolan Joker resonated with so many people?

Then, we talk for two hours about the movie itself, celebrating what we love, rubbing our temples about what we hate, and ultimately trying to figure out what exactly Bruce Wayne believes. How has he become so enchanted by a tough-on-crime prosecutor? Isn't Harvey Dent just Rudy Giuliani, but handsome? And the Joker's philosophy was extremely appealing to people, but does it actually make sense? We spend a lot of time unpacking it, and theorizing about where the Joker would have gone in a sequel, and if he would have done some maturing in between movies.

If we have a contrarian take on The Dark Knight, it is this: The Joker isn't a reaction to Batman, he's a reaction to Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne rules the world of this movie so insivisbly that he poisons everything without anyone noticing.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OFrmrdTeHX4

Get more 1-Week Rental on Patreon: https://patreon.com/1weekrental

Next week (July 17, 2026): Inception (2010)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:24 — Opening thoughts on The Dark Knight
• 00:15:10 — History segment: Initiatal development of the Batman Begins sequel; a brief history of the Joker; Heather Ledger and the Joker; the legendary viral marketing campaign Warner Brothers ran to introduce the world to Ledger's Joker; Ledger's tragic death and the pall that cast over the movie; the release and legacy of The Dark Knight and the Ledger Joker
• 01:12:28 — Movie discussion + The Dark Knight film analysis
• 02:51:15 — Star ratings + final review of The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight was directed by Christopher Nolan. Screenplay by Nolan with his brother Jonah; screen story by Nolan with David Goyer. Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts, Chin Han, Nestor Carbonell, Joshua Harto, Michael Jai White, Ritchie Coster, Colin McFarlane, Monique Curnen, and Anthony Michael Hall as a news anchor.

Sources:

• "Dark Knight Review: Nolan Talks Sequel Inflation" by Anne Thompson | Variety (2008) - https://bit.ly/3RsQ7yy
• "Batman's Burden: A Director Confronts Darkness and Death" by David M. Halbfinger | The New York Times (2008) - https://bit.ly/4glGzQ4
• "The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture" by Glen Weldon (2016) - https://amzn.to/4aNZi2Y
• "Christopher Nolan (Iconic Directors)" by Dan Jolin (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oEtmE3
• "The Making Of The Joker" by Dan Jolin | Empire (2009) - https://bit.ly/44MKjmz
• "A look inside Heath Ledger's sinister 'Joker journal' for The Dark Knight" by Christopher Hooton | The Independent (2015) - https://bit.ly/4eKswSY
• Interview with Christopher Nolan by Steven Weintraub | Collider (2008) - https://bit.ly/3QZqR2Q
• "Why is the Joker so popular?: A psychological look" by Byron Lafayette | Bam! Smack! Pow! (2019) - https://bit.ly/4xZCJCu
• "Why So Serious? Warner Bros.' Use of the Joker in marketing The Dark Knight" by Kim Owczarksi | from "The Joker: A Serious Study of the Clown Prince of Crime" edited by Robert Moses Peaslee & Robert G. Weiner (2015) - https://amzn.to/4gqECC0
• "Christopher Nolan: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work" by Ian Nathan (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oc2lro
• "Heath Ledger died of accidental overdose" | The Associated Press (2008) - https://bit.ly/4p7oebP
• "Showdown in Gotham Town" by Manohla Dargis | The New York Times (2008) - https://bit.ly/4fjtaad
• "The Joker Didn't Inspire the Aurora Shooter, but the Rumor Won't Go Away" by Yohana Desta | Vanity Fair (2019) - https://bit.ly/4vmCAXq

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/07/the-dark-knight/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

1WR is off this week. We're returning in one week with episode 200, but for now, enjoy a free sample from our Patreon podast about Christopher Nolan's Insomnia (2002).

Get the full episode by subscribing for $5 a month at https://patreon.com/1weekrental

View Details

Christopher Nolan fully became Christopher Nolan with The Prestige—a masterpiece that juggles seven interweaving timelines, multiple perspectives, and red herrings that all snap into focus. Join Laci and Matt for a behind-the-scenes deep dive into how Nolan transformed Christopher Priest's novel into cinema's ultimate puzzle box, plus the career impact this movie had on everything he made after.

Laci and Matt go through the history of this movie, starting with the novel by Christopher Priest that inspired it. Then they go behind the scenes of the movie and talk about the Nolan brothers' yearslong struggle to adapt it. One issue for Nolan: Magic on screen is not exciting like magic is in person. So instead,

After that, a look at Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, and how each of their upbringings and acting styles informs the characters they play. Not only that, Jackman, Bale, Angier, and Borden all reflect parts of Christopher Nolan's schizophrenic directorial personality, torn between a populist, a puzzle maker, a hoity-toity artiste, and a crowd pleaser.

Then: The Prestige. We discuss it in depth, theorize about all kinds of weird crap that's going on in the background of the movie, and gush over Bale, Jackman, Michael Caine, and Rebecca Hall, and marvel at how Nolan managed to pull off this magic trick of a movie.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pdPkvpEMCw0

No new episode next week (July 3, 2026). We'll be back on Friday, July 10, 2026 with episode 200, about The Dark Knight (2008)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:39 — Opening thoughts on The Prestige
• 00:09:19 — History segment: Christopher Priest writes the novel The Prestige; Nolan and his brother adapt the novel; career overviews of Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, and how each informs the character they play; reception and legacy of The Prestige
• 00:55:00 — Movie discussion + The Prestige film analysis
• 02:30:45 — Star ratings + final review of The Prestige

The Prestige (2006) was directed by Christopher Nolan. Screenplay by Nolan with his brother Jonah, based on the novel by Christopher Priest. Starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis, David Bowie, Piper Perabo, and Ricky Jay as Milton the Magician.

Sources:

• "Ten Years Later, Why We're Still Obsessed With 'The Prestige'" by Colin Biggs | Screen Crush (2016) - https://bit.ly/4enO2g9
• "'Out of the Furnace' Star Christian Bale on His 'Love-Hate' Relationship with Acting (Q&A)" by Scott Feinberg | The Hollywood Reporter (2013) - https://bit.ly/4eGoKc2
• "Pressure as a child formed 'love/hate' relationship with acting" by Ben Child | The Guardian (2013) - https://bit.ly/4xJ5nYx
• "Christian Bale on suffering from insomnia and running into Viggo Mortensen in Rome" by Jonathan Heaf | British GQ (2012) - https://bit.ly/4eCGPaJ
• "Christopher Priest obituary" by John Clute | The Guardian (2024) - https://bit.ly/4eJQtIZ
• "Christopher Nolan (Iconic Directors)" by Dan Jolin (2025) - https://amzn.to/4oEtmE3
• "Christopher Nolan: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work" by Ian Nathan (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oc2lro
• "Behind the Magic with Prestige Cast" | Access (2006)
• "The Prestige: Inside Christopher Nolan's Movie Magic Trick" by Dan Jolin | Empire Magazine (2006) - https://bit.ly/4vv7HRo
• "Christian Bale: 'I was asked to do a romantic comedy. I thought they'd lost their minds'" by Rory Carroll | The Guardian (2018) - https://bit.ly/44sb3IQ

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/06/the-prestige/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Nine years into this podcast and we finally talk about a Batman movie. That seems illegal. We explain why Batman is the pop culture figure who is most like a religion, debate whether he is the most popular fictional character in the world, and go through the various toggles from dark to light to dark to light to dark again, and why this drives fans nuts.

Christopher Nolan wanted to make a grounded, realistic Batman. He succeeded. But was this a good idea? And was this good for culture? Does Nolan have much to atone for? Is this movie his Bat Bomb?

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VEFwqhk_NvY

Next week (June 26, 2026). The Prestige (2006)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:39 — Opening thoughts on Batman (the guy) and Batman Begins (the movie)
• 00:22:33 — History segment: The many lives of Batman; the rise and fall of Batman movies in the '90s; Nolan and Warner Bros succeed in revitalizing the franchise with Batman Begins; casting Christian Bale as the Masked Manhunter
• 00:55:00 — Movie discussion + Batman Begins film analysis
• 02:29:30 — Star ratings + final review of Batman Begins

Batman Begins (2005) was directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Linus Roache, Ken Watanabe, Mark Boone Junior, and Rutger Hauer as Mr. Earle.

Sources:

• "The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture" by Glen Weldon (2016) - https://amzn.to/4aNZi2Y
• "Christopher Nolan (Iconic Directors)" by Don Jolin (2025) - https://amzn.to/4oEtmE3
• "Rescuing Batman" by James Greenberg | The Los Angeles Times (2005) - https://lat.ms/4enOXvB
• Interview with Christopher Nolan by Anwar Brett | BBC (2005) - https://bbc.in/4ea6714
• Review of Batman Begins by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2005) - https://bit.ly/4uE6sxZ
• "From Batman to Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy discuss their epic movie partnership" by Clark Collis | Entertainment Weekly (2023) - https://bit.ly/4xzOPC9

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/06/batman-begins/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt kick off the Summer of Nolan with a look at Nolan's early career—his feature debut Following (1998) and then his breakout hit Memento (2001).

But first, we share our big-picture thoughts on Christopher Nolan: Why is he the world's most popular director? Does he identify too much with J. Robert Oppenheimer? Is he too boring and well-adjusted to make a good subject for a podcast miniseries?

Like his hero Steven Spielberg, Nolan didn't attend film school. Instead, he taught himself to make movies by making movies. He self-financed and produced Following a few hours at a time, but it already showed his gifts as a director and the writing and editing styles that would become hallmarks of all his future films. Working on a considerably larger budget, Nolan then made Memento, which became an indie sensation on the late-90s/early-2000s film festival circuit. It then became a surprise hit at the box office and an even bigger success on home video, launching Nolan's storied Hollywood career. 1-Week Rental tells the story of Memento before diving deep into a discussion and analysis of the movie itself.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c5RuE5-Xv1A

Next week (June 19, 2026). The Summer of Nolan continues with Batman Begins (2005)!

The Summer of Nolan is our summer 2026 miniseries covering the movie career of Christopher Nolan through nine movies on the main feed (plus additional episodes on the Patreon!), presented in chronological order, starting with Memento and going through Oppenheimer. And don't be surprised if our old pal Odysseus drops by to tell us about his long journey home to his wife.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:39 — Opening thoughts on Christopher Nolan
• 00:14:45 — History segment: Christopher Nolan's early life; the criminal career of his older brother Matt; Following; and the production, release, and legacy of Memento
• 00:53:46 — Movie discussion + Memento film analysis
• 01:52:50 — Star ratings + final review of Memento

Memento (2001) was written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Stephen Tobolowsky, Harriest Sansom Harris, Mark Boone Junior, and Callum Keith Rennie as Dodd.

Sources:

• "Batman, robbin' and murder" by Christopher Goodwin | The Sunday Times (2010) - https://bit.ly/43N5Drx
• "Fact Check: Is Christopher Nolan's Brother a Suspected Hitman Called 'Oppenheimer'?" by Jamie Burton | Newsweek (2023) - https://bit.ly/4a0mSth
• "I was there at the Inception of Christopher Nolan's film career" by Matthew Tempest | The Guardian (2011) - https://bit.ly/3RM0Wf3
• 18-Minute Analysis By Christopher Nolan On Story & Construction Of Memento - https://youtu.be/tYScJZWhaHA
• "Christopher Nolan: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work" by Ian Nathan (2026) - https://amzn.to/4oc2lro
• "Guy Pearce On Why Working With Christopher Nolan Was One Of His Greatest Life Experiences" by Alex Godfrey | Empire (2020) - https://bit.ly/4e2UW8W
• "Memory Swerves" by Daniel Fierman | Entertainment Weekly (2001) - https://bit.ly/3Q5qyTv

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/06/memento/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts!

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4vtO6jG), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4w1qDat), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Summer of Nolan" - https://youtube.com/shorts/CAIzthDLrT8
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

The "Summer of Nolan" theme song was written by Matt Stokes. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends. Performed by:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums, percussion, and backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals, guitar, and bass

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Hey folks! 1-Week Rental is taking the week off to prepare for our epic summer miniseries about Christopher Nolan.

In the meantime, tide yourself over with this preview of our new Patreon episode about 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. And if you want to get the whole episode, you can subscribe to our Patreon, which, at the moment, costs only one dollar a month. https://www.patreon.com/posts/28-years-later-160155357?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

View Details

Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl defined a literary niche when it first came out in 2012, and it still defines it to this day. David Fincher's great 2014 adaptation—written in collaboration with Flynn—is one of the greatest and most fun movie thrillers of the 21st century. Now I want to present you with a terrifying scenario: What if this book had come out three years later, and instead of this glorious 2.5-hour film, we got a boring 12-hour streaming series? Come on, you can see it right now in your mind: Episode 3 is a flashback to Amy's life as a child, with none of the regular actors in it. Episode 9 is the Desi episode, and Amy finally arrives at his door right before the closing credits. No thank you.

And so 1-Week Rental is here to take you through the history of that movie. How Gillian Flynn wrote her novel and then worked closely with Fincher on the production, how perfect the casting of both Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike was, how Reese Witherspoon produced the movie with the intention of playing Amazing Amy herself only to be told by Fincher she was all wrong for the part, and how this movie is loosely based on the lives of Laci Roth and Matt Stokes. Did you know that?

Watch the history segment in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i0WuyvYAyrg

We're off next week (June 5, 2026). The next episode will be out on Friday, June 12, 2026 when our summer miniseries begins. The Summer of Nolan opens with a podcast about Christopher Nolan's Memento (2000)!

Time stamps:

• 00:05:50 — History segment: Gillian Flynn writes the Gone Girl novel; movie optioned by Reese Witherspoon and David Fincher is hired to direct; career of Rosamund Pike; career of Ben Affleck
• 00:51:40 — Movie discussion + Gone Girl film analysis
• 02:38:20 — Star ratings + final review of Gone Girl

Gone Girl (2014) was directed by David Fincher. Screenplay by Gillian Flynn, based on her novel. Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Patrick Fugit, Missi Pyle, Emily Ratajkowski, Casey Wilson, David Clennon, Lisa Banes, and Scoot McNairy.

Sources:

• "Kansas City native Gillian Flynn emerges as a literary force with her twisted mystery 'Gone Girl'" by Steve Paul | The Kansas City Star (2012) - https://bit.ly/4dE9MTf
• "Gillian Flynn on Adapting 'Gone Girl,' Being Too 'Wimpy' for Crime Reporting and Her Best Advice to Writers" by Kimberly Nordyke | The Hollywood Reporter (2012) - https://bit.ly/4v9mh0i
• "Gillian Flynn Peers Into the Dark Side of Femininity" by Lauren Oyler | The New York Times (2018) - https://bit.ly/3Q1DV7e
• "Gillian Flynn on her bestseller Gone Girl and accusations of misogyny" by Oliver Burkeman | The Guardian (2013) - https://bit.ly/42X7s54
• "A Surprise Hit Spawns a Movie Deal" by Stafanie Cohen | The Wall Street Journal (2012) - https://bit.ly/3RMwcud
• "Author Gillian Flynn says filming 'Gone Girl' went much better than expected" by Robert Butler | The Kansas City Star (2014) - https://bit.ly/431uebV
• "David Fincher Talks 'Gone Girl,' Avoids Spoilers (Hooray!)" by Audie Cornish | NPR (2014) - https://n.pr/4vdg1ER
• "Movie Sneaks: Thrills, chills for Gillian Flynn in adapting 'Gone Girl'" by Gina McIntyre | The Los Angeles Times (2014) - https://lat.ms/4vcYnB3
• "Gone Girl film director David Fincher on his potential Oscar contender" by James Mottram | The Independent (2014) - https://bit.ly/4utRP0R
• "Reese Witherspoon Says David Fincher Told Her 'I'm Not Putting You' in 'Gone Girl': 'He Was Totally Right' and 'Rosamund Pike Is So Diabolical'" by J. Kim Murphy | Variety (2015) - https://bit.ly/49W9BBH
• "Ambition" (w/ Reese Witherspoon) | Las Culturistas podcast (2025) - https://apple.co/4nWEU5q
• "Building a New Ben" | GQ (2004) - https://bit.ly/3S4aDFy
• "An Actor-Director Above Suspicion" by Cara Buckley | The New York Times (2014) - https://bit.ly/4dytjpy
• "Jon Hamm Confirms He Almost Starred in Ben Affleck's 'Gone Girl'" by Carly Thomas | The Hollywood Reporter (2023) - https://bit.ly/434AKyF

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/gone-girl/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has two monthly spin-off podcasts:

• PodJob: A James Bond Podcast | Check it out on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).
• The Sign Post Up Ahead: A Twilight Zone Recap Podcast | Check it out on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4gXjtiR), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4gTE8Ev), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheSignPostUpAhead)

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Drop Dead Fred has an 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics absolutely hated it. But it's really good! Seriously. Let Matt and Laci tell you all about it...

...for the second time. That's right, it's time to return to a movie we've covered already. The first time was nearly a decade ago, on the tenth episode of this podcast. Back then, the show was called Load Bearing Beams and it came out every 73 days. We've gotten more consistent since then. Back then we were stunned at how sweet, funny, and insightful Drop Dead Fred is... and it still is! It's nice when that happens.

Before diving into an in-depth discussion of the movie, we go through its production history, and then look at the careers of stars Rik Mayall and Phoebe Cates. The Rik Mayall portion shows us how badly we need a Britain Correspondent (email us!) to understand television over there. Then, while going through Phoebe Cates's career, we saw some, uh, interesting stuff that may have informed her performance as a woman who's spent her life being handed from controlling adult to controlling adult. Remember, this show contains irresponsible psychoanalysis for which we are wildly unqualified.

Watch the history segment in full: https://youtu.be/V855FOu-u1A

Next week (May 29, 2026): In our last episode before we begin our summer miniseries, we're treating ourselves to David Fincher's Gone Girl (2014).

Time stamps:

• 00:06:35 — History segment: Critical reception of Drop Dead Fred; development of the movie; career overview of Rik Mayall; career overview of Phoebe Cates; legacy of Drop Dead Fred
• 00:39:10 — Movie discussion + Drop Dead Fred film analysis
• 01:54:25 — Star ratings + final review of Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred (1991) was directed by Ate de Jong. Starring Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Ashley Peldon, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, Carrie Fisher, and Rod Eldard as Michael "Mickey" Bunce.

Sources:

• "Paradise star Phoebe Cates hangs her own film with a one-word review--'rip-off'" by Josh Hammer | People (1982) - https://bit.ly/4uiM3ix
• "Drop Dead Fred: Looking Back On A Cult Classic" by Mark Harrison | Den Of Geek (2017) - https://bit.ly/4fvY0gh
• Interview with Paul Webster & Ate De Jong | Drop Dead Fred blu-ray
• Obituary of Rik Mayall by Michael Coveney | The Guardian (2014) - https://bit.ly/4nZjswF

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/drop-dead-fred/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

1-Week Rental heads down to Pigeon Creek, Alabama, where things are just a little bit different than we're used to up in the big city. Will Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) choose Jake (Josh Lucas), her rugged old flame with a take-no-prisoners attitude? Or will she choose Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), the son of a billionaire who's literally being groomed to be president? Either way, this movie's gonna make you laugh, and it's gonna make you think.

But before examining Sweet Home Alabama in detail, Laci and Matt go through the history of its production, and then take a long look at Reese Witherspoon's movie career and her recent pivot into business mogul and champion of private equity and artificial intelligence. It's the way of the future, y'all!

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/32Be6DXJ1yg

Next week (May 22, 2026): We take another look at Drop Dead Fred (1991), a movie we originally covered back in 2017!

Time stamps:

• 00:09:45 — History segment: Reese Witherspoon's early career; development and production of Sweet Home Alabama; Witherspoon's career after Sweet Home Alabama, including her fall and resurgence; Witherspoon's business ventures and embrace of artificial intelligence and private equity
• 01:00:28 — Movie discussion + Sweet Home Alabama film analysis
• 02:07:50 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sweet Home Alabama (2002) was directed by Andy Tennant. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey, Candice Bergen, Fred Ward, Mary Kay Place, Jean Smart, Ethan Embry, and Melanie Lynskey as Lurlynn.

Sources:

• "'Sweet Home Alabama' at 20: Director Andy Tennant and star Josh Lucas reveal never-before-told stories about the rom-com classic and their hopes for a sequel" by Jason Guerrasio | Business Insider (2022) - https://bit.ly/48Qg0y0
• "How Reese Witherspoon Has Become The World's Richest Actress" by Madeline Berg & Dawn Chmielewski | Forbes (2021) - https://bit.ly/4duyZjc
• "Reese Witherspoon: behind-the-scenes revival of Hollywood's unlikely feminist" by Andrew Pulver | The Guardian (2015) - https://bit.ly/4d727hl
• "Face to Face With Reese Witherspoon" by Meg Grant | Reader's Digest (2005) - https://bit.ly/4ub3ZM9
• "Playing It Straight" by William Booth | The Washington Post (2005) - https://wapo.st/3PFt9TY
• Review of Legally Blonde by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2001) - https://bit.ly/4fiRqcU
• Review of Sweet Home Alabama by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2002) - https://bit.ly/4fjfM6n
• "A down-home dilemma" by David Sterritt | The Christian Science Monitor (2002) - https://bit.ly/4d9a8m2
• "Interview with Reese Witherspoon" by Scott B. | IGN (2002) - https://bit.ly/4ua5uu4
• "C. Jay Cox: Man With A Mission" by Steven Housman (2004) - https://bit.ly/4eKzt6Y
• "Reese Witherspoon: Ready for a change" by Charlie Rose | CBS News (2014) - https://cbsn.ws/3R8LKIv
• "The Girlbossification of AI" by Angelina Chapin | New York Magazine (2026) - https://bit.ly/4dhh40x
• "Check out Reese Witherspoon's new Southern-inspired fashion line" by Rheana Murray | Today (2015) - https://on.today.com/4tDYYup
• "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream―An Exposé of Private Equity's Devastating Impact on American Lives, Communities, and the Economy" by Megan Greenwell (2025) - https://amzn.to/436jJUB

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/sweet-home-alabama-2002/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Matt and Laci take a long look at the 1998 horror-comedy film Bride of Chucky.

The Child's Play franchise stands out among the classic horror movie series because it has, from the beginning, largely been stewarded by one man: screenwriter Don Mancini. The show goes through Mancini's inspiration for writing the original 1988 film as a critique on the advertising industry, and the diminishing returns of the two sequels that caused the franchise to go dormant for most of the '90s. Then, the success of Scream led to a revitalization of horror, so Chucky was brought back from the dead, and this time, he'd have a manic gothic dream girl in the form of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly).

The history segment closes with a look at Jennifer Tilly's legacy, and how she had no idea how much playing Tiffany would define her career, or how much love people had for her character and the Chucky franchise.

Then, Laci and Matt review Bride of Chucky itself—how well does it serve as a soft reboot of the franchise? Does the humor work? Does it successfully juggle its tones? Can puppets carry a movie on their own? And does something like this even need to try to be scary?

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/dUXRqMN7sxA

Next week (May 15, 2026): Sweet Home Alabama (2002)!

Time stamps:

• 00:05:50 — History segment: Don Mancini and Child's Play origins; American horror struggles in the early '90s; Scream leads to a genre renaissance, and Chucky is revived; Mancini intentionally pivots the series into a humorous and queer-friendly direction; the career of Jennifer Tilly; Tilly's horror legacy
• 00:41:08 — Movie discussion + Bride of Chucky film analysis
• 01:28:50 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Bride of Chucky (1998) was directed by Ronny Yu and written by Don Mancini. Starring Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile, Gordon Michael Woolvett, Alexis Arquette, and John Ritter as Uncle Warren.

Sources:

• "Reign of Chucky" by Dustin McNeill & Travis Mullins (2022) - https://amzn.to/3OPtXFE
• "Your Friend 'Til the End: An Oral History of Child's Play" by Jake Rossen | Mental Floss (2019) - https://bit.ly/42SyAlq
• "Chucky Returns to Terrorize TV. His Creator Couldn't Be Happier." by Erik Pipenburg | The New York Times (2021) - https://bit.ly/4d623Nx
• "210 Minutes With Jennifer Tilly" by Jada Yuan | New York Magazine (2012) - https://bit.ly/3Ph0Wml
• "Ay, Caramba! Jennifer Tilly Scores 'The Simpsons' Earnings From Late Ex's Estate" | Radar Online (2018) - https://bit.ly/4uo0YaU
• "'It's Not All Diamonds and Roses': Jennifer Tilly Takes on the Beverly Hills Housewives" by Emily Sandstrom | Interview Magazine (2024) - https://bit.ly/4uvMdmo

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/bride-of-chucky-1998/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Gird your loins, folks! We've accepted the low-paying position of assistant to Miranda Priestly, the legendary editor-in-chief at Runway Magazine, the fashion crown jewel of the Elias Clarke publishing empire. A million other people would kill to have this job, but it's sure to open up big doors for us in the future. Ms. Priestly's a little demanding, and doesn't like us to ask questions, and doesn't like when we don't understand things, and calls us fat, but all things require a learning curve.

On an unrelated note: The podcast is covering The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the millennial classic about a hard-working striver who doesn't think she can please her boss, before wouldn't you know it, she pleases her damn boss?

It might end up being the role Meryl Streep will be best remembered for, and she's truly electric in this movie. But Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are also incredible! And Anne Hathaway's doing her thing.

Now, about that: During the history segment, we really try to unpack why people don't like Anne Hathaway. Including one of the people who hosts this podcast.

Also in the history segment: The life and times of Vogue editor Anna Wintour; Lauren Weisberger working for Wintour and then writing a thinly veiled novel about it; how that novel was adapted into a movie; and how playing Priestly catapulted Meryl Streep into being a box office sensation for the first time in her career.

Watch the history segment in full: https://youtu.be/iF8YfSnisqw

Next week (May 8, 2026): Bride of Chucky (1998)!

Time stamps:

• 00:06:33 — History segment: Anna Wintour; author Lauren Weisberger works as Wintour's assistant for 10 months, writes a novel about it; the novel gets adapated as a movie by director David Frankel; casting Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway; why do people hate Anne Hathaway?
• 00:51:55 — Movie discussion + The Devil Wears Prada film analysis
• 02:05:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings

The Devil Wears Prada was directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on Lauren Weisberger's novel. Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, Gisele Bundchen, and Adrian Grenier as "Nate."

Sources:

• "Anna Wintour's legacy and who might replace her as Vogue editor" by Steven McIntosh | BBC (2025) - https://bit.ly/4vZ8Zof
• "Anna Wintour Embraces a New Era At Vogue" by David Remnick | The New Yorker (2025) - https://bit.ly/48JrpQb
• "What's Wrong With Vogue?" by Cathy Horyn | The New York Times (2008) - https://bit.ly/424AcIw
• "The White Issue: Has Anna Wintour's Diversity Push Come Too Late?" by Edmund Lee | The New York Times (2020) - https://bit.ly/4cFPslf
• "When personal assistants attack!" by Elizabeth Spiers | Salon (2003) - https://bit.ly/4n0Y1uv
• "'Every minute at Vogue felt like an emergency': Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger on igniting a scandal" by Jess Cartner-Morley | The Guardian (2024) - https://bit.ly/4vRpl2f
• "'It was a year of being yelled at': How much of The Devil Wears Prada really happened?" by Megan Agnew | The Sydney Morning Herald (2026) - https://bit.ly/4cDk5rG
• "The Devil Wears Prada oral history: Cast reunites to dish on making the best-dressed hit" by Joey Nolfi | Entertainment Weekly (2021) - https://bit.ly/3QK5PVi
• "'The Devil Wears Prada' Turns 10: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt Tell All" by Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2016) - https://bit.ly/4u3ztDs
• "Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self" by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2024) - https://bit.ly/4u5uJgo
• "Anne Hathaway Can't Win" by Anne Helen Petersen | BuzzFeed (2015) - https://bzfd.it/4cHqMZC
• "A Tale of Two Oscar-Winning Actresses: Why Has Jennifer Lawrence Become a Media Darling by Breaking All the Rules, While Well-Behaved Anne Hathaway Is Getting Flack?" by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2013) - https://bit.ly/4tm4aDf
• "How Annoying Is Anne Hathaway: A Scientific Inquiry" by Billy Kimball | HuffPost (2013) - https://bit.ly/4mZqVLl
• "The Cult of Hathahaters: Will It Hurt Anne Hathaway's Oscar Chances?" by Kevin Fallon | The Daily Beast (2013) - https://bit.ly/3OMV302

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/the-devil-wears-prada-2006/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast:

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Content warning: Showgirls depicts sexual violence as a central theme, and this is discussed in the podcast.

The podcast tackles Paul Verhoeven's misunderstood masterpiece Showgirls (1995), and celebration the singularity of Elizabeth Berkley's incredible performance as Nomi Malone, the eternal cowboy of America.

And then we bring Sex Month to a close by doling out some expert sex advice.

Next week (May 1, 2026): The Devil Wears Prada (2006)!

Watch Matt's video essay about Paul Verhoeven: https://youtu.be/pzK6CiMUMxM

Time stamps:

• 00:10:17 — History segment: The career of Paul Verhoeven; Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas's collaboration leads to Showgirls; the career of Elizabeth Berkley; the legacy of Showgirls; a brief history of the NC-17 rating
• 01:02:10 — Movie discussion + Showgirls film analysis
• 02:30:25 — Sex advice questions
• 02:45:20 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Showgirls was directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. Starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Gina Ravera, Glenn Plummer, and Robert Davi as Al.

Sources:

• "'Showgirls': Paul Verhoeven on the Greatest Stripper Movie Ever Made" by Jennifer Wood | Rolling Stone (2015) - https://bit.ly/41O38Va
• "How 'Showgirls' Became a Queer-Movie Classic" by Jeffrey McHale | The Daily Beast (2020) - https://bit.ly/42rP2ZD
• Review of Showgirls by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (1995) - https://bit.ly/3QgXbxx
• "Interviews | Vulgar Moralism: Paul Verhoeven's Black Book" by Robert Koehler | Cinema Scope (2006) - https://bit.ly/4w0cScO
• "The Naked Truth About 'Showgirls' by Kenneth Turan | The Los Angeles Times (1995) - https://lat.ms/4mKi3Jz
• "Interview with Elizabeth Berkley" by Danielle Cantor | Jewish Women International (2011) - https://bit.ly/4vMHA91
• "Farmington Hills' Elizabeth Berkley so excited for 'Saved by the Bell' reboot" by Kurt Anthony Krug | The Detroit News (2020) - https://bit.ly/4tFp4xV
• "The Staggering Transformation Of Elizabeth Berkley" by Cassie Daigle | Nicki Swift (2024) - https://bit.ly/4vNdkL5

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/showgirls-1995/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Matt and Laci dive deep into Hellraiser (1987). Matt, a long-time fan of the movie, and Laci, a first-time viewer, discuss the film's production history and the life and philosophy of its creator, Clive Barker. They explore Barker's background, including his early work in theater, his time as a male escort, and his unique perspective on integrating explicit sexuality and body horror into his work.

Two prior adaptations of his work led Barker to want to take tight control of a third adaptation, which meant he would need to direct it himself. And what an incredible feat the film is for a first-time filmmaker. 1WR tells that story, including how Barker recruited his longtime friend Doug Bradley to play the iconic role of Pinhead.

Then, a long breakdown of the movie itself. How does it play for a first-time viewer? How well do its practical effects hold up? Do its themes make sense? Has any movie character ever hated their spouse as much as Julia hates Larry? And is Hellraiser as scary as we assumed it would be when we saw the VHS box in the video store as children? Is anything?

Finally, Pinhead himself joins us to give some sex advice.

Next week (April 24, 2026): SEX MONTH concludes with Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls (1995)!

Time stamps:

• 00:10:00 — History segment: The life and times of Clive Barker; production of Hellraiser; Doug Bradley; the Hellraiser franchise and its legacy
• 00:49:15 — Movie discussion + Hellraiser film analysis
• 02:03:23 — Sex advice questions
• 02:11:13 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Hellraiser was written and directed by Clive Barker. Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Oliver Smith, Sean Chapman, and Doug Bradley as the "Lead Cenobite" (Pinhead).

Sources:

• The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy by Paul Kane (2015) - https://amzn.to/480DZdp
• "How we made Hellraiser" by Phil Hoad | The Guardian (2017) - https://bit.ly/3Q3g86L
• "Queer Sexuality in Clive Barker's 'Hellraiser' (1987)" by Bash Ortega | Horror Press (2024) - https://bit.ly/3QEyIlE
• "Eroticising The World" | Cut, Vol 2, No 10 (1987) - (republished on Clive Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y
• "All The Gory Details" by M. Kent Black (1989) - (republished on Clive Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y
• "'Hellraiser' Author Clive Barker on Almost Dying, Hustling, and Killing Pinhead" by Sean T. Collins | Grantland (2015) - https://bit.ly/4eug2Po
• Clive Barker on Loveline (1996) - (republished on Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/hellraiser-1987/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

In the late '90s, there was a revival of the teen comedy, and Can't Hardly Wait stands as one of the classics of the era. The premise couldn't be simpler: It's one night at a party, the night of graduation. We follow a handful of crazy kids and see what kind of sexy trouble they get into. And it's a lot of fun! Surprisingly, this movie is rated PG-13 and is way less raunchy than we remember, so maybe not an ideal fit for Sex Month. So we try to lewd it up in our discussion for you.

Next week (April 17, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '80s horror-sex classic Hellraiser (1987)!

Time stamps:

• 00:07:30 — History segment: A brief history of the "teen movie"; the writing, casting, production, and legacy of Can't Hardly Wait
• 00:39:50 — Movie discussion + Can't Hardly Wait film analysis
• 01:45:41 — Sex advice questions
• 01:50:43 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Can't Hardly Wait was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. Starring Lauren Ambrose, Seth Green, Ethan Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Charlie Korsmo, and Peter Facinelli as Mike Dexter.

Sources:

• "The Beer Has Not Gone Bad: How 'Can't Hardly Wait' Became a Teen Cult Classic" by Andrew Gruttadaro | The Ringer (2018) - https://bit.ly/41XZtnv
• "Whatever: a history of teen movies" by Killian Fox | The Guardian (2009) - https://bit.ly/4t9kDv1

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/cant-hardly-wait-1998/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt fall into the world of Christian Grey, a mysterious and mercurial billionaire (age: 27) who enjoys flying his helicopter and tickling womens' tummies.

First, the show explores author E.L. James and how her Twilight fan fiction evolved into the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades trilogy. Then, a cultural industry grows like a weed, trying to figure out what exactly it says about our society that we love these books, ya know?

The 2010s is also when fandom completely seizes control of the production of its favorite intellectual properties. Author E.L. James was not happy with how far the first Fifty Shades film deviated from her book, and she kept a much tighter leash on the subsequent entries. But what exactly was she unhappy with?

Is Fifty Shades of Grey conservative or progressive, sex-positive or prudish, feminist or retrograde, pro-BDSM or anti-BDSM? The answer, of course, is yes.

I'll bet you five you're not alive if this movie about transactional law doesn't turn you on. Plus, we answer a sex advice question!

Next week (April 10, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '90s sex comedy classic Can't Hardly Wait (1998)!

Time stamps:

• 00:05:06 — History segment: Author E.L. James writes a Twilight fan fiction that then gets turned into Fifty Shades of Grey; the novel becomes a blockbuster, leading to huge movies and a huge cultural industry; the production of the movie is difficult; Dakota Johnson still confuses us; the #notmychristian backlash to Jamie Dornan's casting; director Sam Taylor-Johnson later expresses regret that she did the movie, claims E.L. James doesn't like her
• 00:43:05 — Movie discussion + Fifty Shades Of Grey film analysis
• 01:55:19 — Sex advice question of the week: "Help! My girlfriend wants to pee on me!"
• 01:59:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Unexpected Lessons From 'Fifty Shades of Grey'" by A.O. Scott | The New York Times (2015) - https://bit.ly/4lYHR46
• "'Fifty Shades' Sequel: Author E.L. James Demands Control Over Script" by Justin Kroll & Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2015) - https://bit.ly/4bIqIIz
• "Mommy porn?: Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James: review" by Laura Barnett | The Telegraph (2012) - https://bit.ly/3PJsaSq
• "Sir Salman Rushdie: 'Fifty Shades of Grey makes Twilight look like War and Peace'" by Chris Irvine Chrisirvine | The Telegraph (2012) - https://bit.ly/3QaVlxP
• "Sam Taylor-Johnson reveals Fifty Shades regret: 'EL James didn't like me'" by Alice Vincent | The Telegraph (2017) - https://bit.ly/4bZPC5s
• "'Fifty Shades' Casting: Shailene Woodley and Other Surprise Names That Passed" by Tatiana Siegel & Borys Kit | The Hollywood Reporter (2013) - https://bit.ly/3O9Ag6s
• "50 Shades film: Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson cast" by Ben Child | The Guardian (2013) - https://bit.ly/3PHuolp
• "Jamie Dornan fled to rural hideaway after 'ridicule' over Fifty Shades of Grey" by Vanessa Thorpe | The Guardian (2024) - https://bit.ly/4tlqFbD
• "Fifty Shades Of Green: How Fanfiction Went From Dirty Little Secret To Money Machine" by Hayley C. Cuccinello | Forbes (2017) - https://bit.ly/4cgEDpo
• "Christian Grey Began His Fictional Career As A Vampire" by Neda Ulaby | NPR (2015) - https://n.pr/41actGq
• "Is Fifty Shades Of Grey Twilight Fan-Fiction? Origins & Inspiration Explained" by Adrienne Tyler | Screen Rant (2024) - https://bit.ly/4s7gZR1
• "Fifty Shades of Grey: what BDSM enthusiasts think" by Anna Smith | The Guardian (2015) - https://bit.ly/4cgEL8m

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/fifty-shades-of-grey-2015/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt take a trip to Santa Barbara County, California, for a glass (or 12!) of wine with their favorite pinot-slurping pals: Miles (Paul Giamatti), Jack (Thomas Haden Church), Maya (Virginia Madsen), Stephanie (Sandra Oh), and a friendly flock of ostriches. That's right, people, we spent the week with Sideways (2004), Alexander Payne's hilarious look at two codependent losers who have one of cinema's all-time great friendships.

Next week (April 3, 2026): 1-Week Rental's official SEX MONTH begins with a podcast about Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)!

Time stamps:

• 00:08:45 — History segment: Author Rex Pickett (the real-life Miles) writes a book; it gets adapted by Alexander Payne; the wine industry will never be the same; the little-known Sideways Extended Universe
• 00:44:00 — Movie discussion + Sideways film analysis
• 02:06:00 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Taste of Success" by Oliver Burkeman | The Guardian (2004) - https://bit.ly/4lNhSfY
• "A drink with… Rex Pickett" by Jonathan Cristaldi | Decanter (2024) - https://bit.ly/4rUAegu
• "The Hitching Post Toasts 20 Years of the Surprise Hit SIDEWAYS" by Bonnie Graves | Golden State (2024) - https://bit.ly/3NVTv3j
• "'The Sideways Effect': How A Wine-Obsessed Film Reshaped The Industry" by Kristen Hartke | NPR (2017) - https://n.pr/4uPQbr7
• "The Full Giamatti" by Scott Raab | Esquire (2007) - https://bit.ly/4t61ZDR
• "They're still toasting 'Sideways' in Santa Barbara wine country" by Hugo Martin | The Los Angeles Times (2009) - https://lat.ms/4bHpxb6
• "After 20 years, 'Sideways' has aged like a fine . . . well, you know" by Rob Thomas | Not That Rob Thomas (2024) - https://bit.ly/4t8niVo

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/03/sideways-2004/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

It's one of the most unpleasant movies we've ever covered: Nothing But Trouble, starring Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, John Candy, and Dan Aykroyd, who also wrote and directed the picture. Like a comedy version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (but less funny), it's a movie that's difficult to put into words, or even comprehend. But one way to understand it is to think of it like Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell taking a country drive into New Jersey and facing way more justice than they would in the real world.

Next week (March 27, 2026): Sideways (2004)!

Time stamps:

• 00:05:35 — History segment: Dan Aykroyd and his brother Peter are inspired to turn a story about his upstate New York traffic violation into a horror-comedy; they can't find anyone to direct, so he directs it himself, and it doesn't turn out well for anybody
• 00:29:30 — Movie discussion + Nothing But Trouble film analysis
• 01:21:30 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• Interview With Dan Aykroyd | The Woody Show (2023) - https://youtu.be/pWPckpqD99w
• "'King Ralph,' 'Nothing But Trouble' just for laughs Aykroyd effort lacks wit to balance the grossness" by Jay Boyar | The Orlando Sentinel (1991) - https://bit.ly/4tzP0eP
• Exploring Nothing but Trouble - The Untold Story Behind Dan Aykroyd's Notorious Production | GoodBadFlicks - https://youtu.be/8TFfL1aUDaQ

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/03/nothing-but-trouble/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

1WR continues helping you prepare for Hollywood's Biggest Night(TM), as Laci and Matt stir the pot and catch up on awards season before going deep on Marty Supreme. Then, Matt is joined by his friend Caleb Hogan to discuss Sinners, and the show closes with a conversation about Bugonia with returning guest Cinema Coconut.

Next week (March 20, 2026): Nothing But Trouble, where Dan Ackroyd plays dual roles: a judge with a penis for a nose and also a big diaper baby.

Time stamps:

• 00:15:30 — Marty Supreme
• 00:50:45 — Sinners (with Caleb Hogan)
• 01:22:55 — Bugonia (with Cinema Coconut)

Follow Neophyte Reviews!

• TikTok: @Cinema_Coconut
• Instagram: @Cinema_Coconut
• YouTube: @CinemaCoconut

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Hollywood's Biggest Night is almost upon us, and 1-Week Rental is gonna help you get ready by discussing the movies nominated for the biggest awards. In this, the first of our two-part series previewing the awards, Matt talks to his friends about six films: Frankenstein, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, KPop: Demon Hunters, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Weapons.

Next week (March 13, 2026): Part 2 of our Oscars special continues reviewing huge Oscar movies!

The week after that (March 20, 2026): Nothing But Trouble, where Dan Ackroyd plays a judge with a penis for a nose, and also a big diaper baby.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:40 — KPop: Demon Hunters (with Neophyte Reviews)
• 00:16:00 — Train Dreams (with Drewbie Doobie's Movies)
• 00:32:40 — If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (with Austin Proctor)
• 01:00:35 — Weapons (with Smash Trivia John)
• 01:27:27 — Frankenstein (with Spooky T & HFK)
• 01:45:45 — One Battle After Another (with Wade Hymel)

Follow Neophyte Reviews!

• TikTok: @neophyte_reviews
• Instagram: @neophyte_reviews
• YouTube: @neophyte_reviews

Follow Drewbie Doobie's Movies!

• Boiling Cactus Productions
• TikTok: @drewbiedoobiemovies
• Instagram: @drewbiedoobiemovies

Follow Austin Proctor!

• Listen to Frightmares on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4nvmSGe) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/4nVvx4D)
• TikTok: @frightmarespodcast
• Instagram: @frightmarespodcast

Follow Smash Trivia John!

• Listen to Smash Trivia Presents: The Gamma Analysis on Apple Podcast (https://apple.co/4le1kgT) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/4lFpXmh)
• TikTok: @SmashTrivia
• Instagram: @smashtriviajohn
• YouTube: @smashtrivia3273

Follow Spooky T & HFK!

• Elevated Cryptid Productions
• Spooky T on TikTok: @tieracolette
• HFK on TikTok: @HFK48

Follow Wade Hymel!

• Listen to PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E)
• Dash Rip Rock's new album, A Song In Everyone (https://bit.ly/4q3gdDO)
• A Song In Everyone on vinyl (https://bit.ly/4r5ds5F)
• Wade's solo album, Who Said That? (https://bit.ly/3LPUNf3)
• Lilli Lewis (https://bit.ly/3NylTIj)
• Incubators (https://bit.ly/3LOeuUv)
• Rural Route Nine (https://bit.ly/45ny1Ss)

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt go through True Lies (1994), James Cameron's "normal" movie. The most expensive movie ever made at the time of its production. It could've just been a straightforward spy thriller, but instead Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to put in every action movie idea they'd ever had. And the results are glorious. Well, okay, the movie goes on for one act too long, and Jamie Lee Curtis steals the show and is then shown the door. But it's fun as heck, is what we're saying.

Next week: Our Oscars previews begin, as we talk about every movie nominated for a major award. Next week (March 6) is part one, and the following Friday (March 13) is part two.

Time stamps:

• 00:03:30 — History segment: Original French film La Totale!; Arnold Schwarzenegger options film and brings his buddy James Cameron aboard; Jamie Lee Curtis's career; Eliza Dushku's allegations of abuse against a True Lies crewmember; legacy of True Lies and attempts at a sequel
• 00:37:25 — Movie discussion + True Lies film analysis
• 01:39:07 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "I'll Be Bond: Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron's Everything or Nothing Shot at the James Bond Title" by Tim Pelan | Cinephilia Beyond - https://bit.ly/4tcc3fo
• "Arnold Schwarzenegger "Shocked and Saddened" by Eliza Dushku's 'True Lies' Assault Claims" by Abid Rahman | The Hollywood Reporter (2018) - https://bit.ly/4qoHyAi
• "James Cameron addresses Eliza Dushku's claim True Lies stunt coordinator molested her" by Natalie Abrams & Dan Snierson | Entertainment Weekly (2018) - https://bit.ly/4a2hLch
• "Eliza Dushku Says 'True Lies' Stunt Coordinator Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was 12" by Katie Kilkenny & Jackie Strause | The Hollywood Reporter (2018) - https://bit.ly/4caGgFx
• "Jamie Lee Curtis Plants a Kiss on Arnold Schwarzenegger as They Have a True Lies Reunion 29 Years Later" by Tommy McArdle & Colleen Kratofil | People (2025) - https://bit.ly/4r632Dl
• "James Cameron Reveals the Challenges of Casting Jamie Lee Curtis in 'True Lies' by Rahul Malhotra | Collider (2025) - https://bit.ly/4ruYeXH
• "How James Cameron Convinced Leonardo DiCaprio to Make Titanic" by John Ross | Vanity Fair (2025) - https://bit.ly/45Qhuqm
• "Every James Cameron Movie, Explained by James Cameron" | Vanity Fair (2025) - https://youtu.be/1Vjd6NmA9Hs
• Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger (2012) - https://amzn.to/4chtLrR

Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/02/true-lies/#transcript

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt pay a visit to Championship Vinyl to hang out with Rob, Barry, Dick, Laura, Ian, Marie de Salle, and all the fine folks in the music scene of that windy city we like to call Chi-Town. That's right, it's High Fidelity (2000)! It's a great music movie. It's an even greater romantic comedy. In fact, it's kind of an anti-romantic comedy, because the lesson in the end is: The most romantic thing in life is being a grown-up.

Plus: Our top-five songs we want played at our funerals, AND fierce debate about whether DJs are musicians and if a singer's vocal chords count as an instrument.

Next week: True Lies (1994)!

Time stamps:

• 00:03:00 — History segment: Original novel by Nick Hornby; John Cusack hired to produce, write, and star in adaptation; hiring director Stephen Frears; casting Jack Black and Iben Hjejle; legacy of High Fidelity and TV series remake
• 00:33:40 — Movie discussion + High Fidelity film analysis
• 02:06:40 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Top Five: An Oral History of High Fidelity" by Andrew Buss | Consequence (2025) - https://bit.ly/49JgfdT
• "John Cusack: 'Hollywood is a whorehouse and people go mad'" by Henry Barnes | The Guardian (2014) - https://bit.ly/4pLqDaV

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt dive deep into When Harry Met Sally (1989), one of the all-time great romantic comedies. In a movie that could easily be dismissed as a clone of Woody Allen's early rom-coms, the film makes its mark with two superstar lead performances from Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, an electric script by Nora Ephron, and breezy, hilarious direction from Rob Reiner. We tell the story of how this movie came together, how it evolved during development, and how it became the classic we all know today.

Then, your favorite husband-and-wife podcasting duo have a lengthy discussion about the movie itself, and folks, there are some heated battle-of-the-sexes arguments in this one. Because men do be like this, while women do be doing woman stuff, like makeup. Will they ever learn to get along???

Next week's episode (Feb. 20, 2026): High Fidelity (2000)

Time stamps:

• 00:03:00 — History segment: Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's initial meeting; their careers before and after When Harry Met Sally; casting Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan; the script's original, less-happy ending; legacy of When Harry Met Sally
• 00:40:40 — Movie discussion + When Harry Met Sally film analysis
• 01:46:45 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Source:

• From Hollywood With Love: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow - https://amzn.to/4qlth7A

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Roseanne Barr is now known as a reactionary cancel-culture warrior, but she was once a beloved comedian and champion of working-class politics. What exactly happened? And, in the middle of her rocketship ride to the moon of superstardom, she co-starred in a movie with Meryl Streep! What?! And the movie is really good????

Laci and Matt tell the story of She-Devil (1989), director Susan Seidelman's black comedy that pits Barr against Streep and Ed Begley Jr., with Barr as an avenging angel for neglected and forgotten women everywhere. It's a very funny and poignant comedy that critics largely dismissed at the time. Especially British critics, who compared it unfavorably to the 1986 BBC miniseries adaptation of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. That's right, this all starts with a seminal work of feminist literature by author Fay Weldon. We also tell that story, including her 2017 legacy sequel to She-Devil and her sad eventual evolution into a TERF.

Then, we dive into She-Devil the film, heaping endless praise of Meryl Streep's hilarious physical comedy, Ed Begley's smarmy nice-guy evilness, and Roseanne's up-and-down performance in her first film role.

Next week's episode (Feb. 13, 2026): When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Time stamps:

• 00:03:00 — History segment: Original She-Devil author Fay Weldon, an important British feminist writer, and her later unfortunate turn toward TERFdom; director Susan Seidelman's career and experience working with Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr; career overview of Roseanne Barr, from early working-class comedy roots to sad turn toward reactionary pro-Trump politics and cancel culture warriordom
• 00:52:06 — Movie discussion + She-Devil film analysis
• 01:58:07 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Fay Weldon: 'Feminism was a success, but then you lose a generation'" by Claire Armistead | The Guardian (2017) - https://bit.ly/4kfFIAx
• "She-Devil returns: Fay Weldon writing 'transgender' sequel to feminist classic" by Sian Cain | The Guardian (2016) - https://bit.ly/3YVLiOt
• "Transgender people become women for 'fashion or clothes', says novelist Fay Weldon" by Niamh McIntyre | The Independent (2017) - https://bit.ly/4qzcL4D
• "Fay Weldon: transgender people become women for 'frivolous' reasons such as 'fashion' and 'clothes'" by Rozina Sabur & Olivia Rudgard | The Telegraph (2017) - https://bit.ly/4k2zOSW
• "Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls" by Susan Seidelman | https://amzn.to/4a3C6ww
• "Roseanne: My Life As a Woman" by Roseanne Barr | https://amzn.to/4roXRya
• Review of She-Devil by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (1989) - https://bit.ly/4k3EtnT

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

We often say it's a miracle any movie gets made, but some movies are actual miracles. Groundhog Day (1993) is a perfect example of this, because its three primary creative voices (director Harold Ramis, writer Danny Rubin, and star Bill Murray) were each pulling in different, conflicting directions throughout the movie's production. Somehow, all that dissension led to a perfect object of a film, a hilarious comedy that gets at huge philosophical questions, but not in an annoying way. And it's also a sweet and lovely little romantic comedy... so why did it ruin the decades-long friendship between Ramis and Murray?

Plus: Learn all about actual Groundhog Day!

Time stamps:

• 00:02:40 — History segment: The actual Groundhog Day holiday; screenwriter Danny Rubin writes Groundhog Day on spec and then re-lives his movie for the rest of his life; the intertwining careers of Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, as well as their falling out and eventual reconciliation
• 00:56:06 — Movie discussion + Groundhog Day film analysis
• 01:50:00 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Harold Ramis Gets the Last Laugh" by Brett Martin | GQ (2009) - https://bit.ly/48T9Ddy
• "Comedy First: How Harold Ramis's movies have stayed funny for twenty-five years" by Tad Friend | New Yorker (2004) - https://bit.ly/3NcSfIc
• "Going Back to 'Groundhog Day.' Again." by Bruce Fretts | New York Times (2017) - https://nyti.ms/4qoJs4p
• "When Every Day Is 'Groundhog Day'" by S.I. Rosenbaum | New York (2017) - https://bit.ly/49bsNKN
• "How To Write Groundhog Day" by Danny Rubin (2012) - https://amzn.to/3Y9MjSE
• "Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever" by Nick de Semlyen https://amzn.to/45610u3
• "Ghostbuster's Daughter: Life with My Dad, Harold Ramis" by Violet Ramis Stiel https://amzn.to/4pfN3kl

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

1-Week Rental is launching a brand-new spin-off, a monthly podcast hosted by Matt and Wade Hymel going through the James Bond franchise, one movie at a time! Introducing PodJob: A James Bond Podcast.

1-Week Rental returns next week (January 30, 2026) with an episode about Groundhog Day (1993).

Subscribe to PodJob: A James Bond Podcast:

• Apple Podcast | https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1
• Spotify | https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E
• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@PodJob007

They really had it figured out right away—the look, the sound, the feel of James Bond. Sean Connery just walking through the airport and collecting his luggage is the coolest human being you've ever seen. Bond dusting his attache case with talcum powder and putting a hair between his doors is exhilarating. Quarrel and Honey Rider are all-time great Pals of Bond. Unfortunately, the titular Doctor No, M.D., is kind of a let-down after all the exciting build-up. Still, the first Bond film is one of the all-time best.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:28 — Our histories with and relationships to the James Bond franchise
• 00:11:06 — Our favorite eras of James Bond, favorite and least favorite movies
• 00:17:42 — History segment: Author Ian Fleming; attempts to adapt his novels; the strange saga of Thunderball; Dr. No, the novel
• 00:29:40 — History segment: Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman partner with United Artists to launch the Bond movie franchise
• 00:31:15 — History segment: Director Terence Young
• 00:33:55 — History segment: Sean Connery
• 00:41:55 — Movie discussion
• 01:44:56 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "Ian Fleming: The Complete Man" by Nicholas Shakespeare | https://amzn.to/49P2GcS
• "When Harry Met Cubby: The Story of the James Bond Producers" by Robert Sellers | https://amzn.to/4qSit1X
• "James Bond actor breaks 60-year silence to claim Dr No director sexually assaulted her" by Alex Binley | ITV News (2022) - https://bit.ly/45raP5T

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Produced by Matt Stokes.

Music by Rural Route Nine.

Listen to 1-Week Rental, Matt's weekly movie podcast with Laci Roth on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/45fA9IW) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/3tk7FAr), and watch it on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@1weekrental).

Listen to Wade's music:

• Dash Rip Rock's new album, A Song In Everyone (https://bit.ly/4q3gdDO)
• A Song In Everyone on vinyl (https://bit.ly/4r5ds5F)
• Wade's solo album, Who Said That? (https://bit.ly/3LPUNf3)
• Lilli Lewis (https://bit.ly/3NylTIj)
• Incubators (https://bit.ly/3LOeuUv)
• Rural Route Nine (https://bit.ly/45ny1Ss)

View Details

Matt brings Laci into the glorious world of Gerard Butler, who is single-handedly trying to save American movies by making throwback '90s-feeling thrillers that are actually playing in movie theaters. The best of these is Den of Thieves, a wonderful heist movie from 2018 in which the cops who chase the bad guys are maybe less honorable than the bad guys themselves, if you can believe it.

Time stamps:

• 00:09:30 — History segment: Career overview of Gerard Butler; production and reception of Den of Thieves
• 00:36:15 — Movie discussion + Den of Thieves film analysis
• 01:42:55 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "Christian Gudegast Interview: Den of Thieves" by Alex Leadbeater | ScreenRant (2018) - https://bit.ly/4aJ75zZ
• "Gerard Butler Talks 'Den Of Thieves,' Box Office And The $13K Paycheck That Changed It All" by Simon Thompson | Forbes (2018) - https://bit.ly/4q4WKTB
• "I Think I Love Gerard Butler" by Bilge Ebiri | Vulture (2019) - https://bit.ly/4pupnJJ
• "The Ordinary-Guy Action Movie Lives On, Thanks to Gerard Butler" by Bilge Ebiri | Vulture (2021) - https://bit.ly/3MPYuS2
• "Gerard Butler interview for The Ugly Truth" by Chloe Fox | The Telegraph (2009) - https://bit.ly/4px0oFZ
• "The Man Who Cracked the Code of L.A.'s Notorious Sheriff Gangs" by Ethan Brown | New York Magazine (2022) - https://bit.ly/4pzz61q

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Jordan Peele's modern horror-comedy classic Get Out (2017) is the subject of this bonus episode to tide you over while Laci and Matt take the week off. This discussion originally aired on our Patreon, one year ago. But here it is for the first time ever on the free feed!

The show shall return in one week with a brand-new episode about Den of Thieves (2018)!

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Matt and Laci go through the The Shining, probably the best English-language horror movie ever made. Is it the story of a man's battle with alcoholism, a complicated metaphor for the American ruling class's many sins, or is it just a simple haunted house story? What if I told you… yes?

The Shining started life as Stephen King's third novel. It was a very personal novel for King, inspired by his own life and his struggles with alcoholism and fatherhood. It's understandable that he wouldn't like Kubrick not centering those issues in his film, but Kubrick saw something completely different in The Shining. The podcast tracks the history of their very public disagreement and King's criticisms of the film.

The Shining's production was shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The cast and crew filmed in England for more than a year, and while Shelley Duvall was open in the press about the difficulty of the assignment, she never thought Kubrick treated her unfairly or unprofessionally, and she always pushed back whenever anyone said Kubrick mistreated her during production of the movie.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:43 — History segment: Stephen King's early career; early disagreements between Stanley Kubrick and King; Kubrick's career overview; Kubrick and co-writer Diane Johnson adapt the novel; casting Jack Nicholson, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers; Shelley Duvall's career overview
• 00:58:30 — Movie discussion + The Shining film analysis
• 02:11:30 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• The Stephen King Companion: Four Decades of Fear from the Master of Horror by George Beahm (2024) - https://amzn.to/4qvoNMO
• A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King - TCM documentary (2011) - https://bit.ly/4oXM9tf
• "Kubrick Films 'The Shining' In Secrecy in English Studio" by Aljean Harmetz | The New York Times (1978) - https://nyti.ms/47TYJUl
• Kubrick: The Definitive Edition by Michel Ciment | https://amzn.to/4nAScmh
• "How Stanley Kubrick protected child actor Danny Lloyd while creating 'The Shining'" by Swapnil Dhruv Bose | Far Out (2020) - https://bit.ly/4opNtEY
• "'No arc at all': The reason why Stephen King hated Stanley Kubrick film 'The Shining'" by Swapnil Dhruv Bose | Far Out (2024) - https://bit.ly/47bb3hol
• "Searching for Shelley Duvall: The Reclusive Icon on Fleeing Hollywood and the Scars of Making 'The Shining'" by Seth Abramovitch | The Hollywood Reporter (2021) - https://bit.ly/3Lkni3Y
• Interview with Shelley Duvall by Roger Ebert | RogerEbert.com (2012) - https://bit.ly/44eI0sT
• "No, Shelley Duvall was not traumatized by Stanley Kubrick on The Shining – she embraced it" by Tom Murray (2024) - https://bit.ly/3LbNvSq

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci and Matt are joined by their friends AJ and Kristie from the In Love With Horror podcast to go through the history of the modern Christmas classic Elf (2003). First, the podcast goes through the history of the movie, starting as a spec script in the '90s with Jim Carrey vaguely attached. It entered development hell for years before being revived with Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau, before ultimately becoming the classic it is today... one that you just know Warner Bros is threatening to turn into a cinematic universe at any second. Time stamps:

• 0:00 — Episode opening
• 4:30 — History segment: Screenwriter David Berenbaum originates Elf in the '90s; Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau come aboard; working with James Caan; reception, legacy, and potential sequel
• 32:00 — Movie discussion + Elf film analysis
• 1:39:28 — Final thoughts & star ratings

Sources:

• "'Elf' Turns 15: Behind the Scenes of Making the Will Ferrell Holiday Classic" by Rebecca Rubin | Variety (2018) https://bit.ly/49ShOYF
• "Elf: Meet the man behind the movie" by Mia Elkins | The Merionite (2024) - https://bit.ly/3XVTVIa
• "Jon Favreau Reflects on Buddy's Magical Legacy" by Gary Susman | Rolling Stone (2013) - https://bit.ly/4p9CD6F
• "How Elf built a winter wonderland out of paper and department store goods" by Maureen Lee Lenker | Entertainment Weekly (2018) - https://bit.ly/440w1yP
• "Will Ferrell" (2024) - MeSsy with Christina Applegate and Jamie Lynn Sigler podcast - https://bit.ly/4iDoufy

Follow In Love With Horror!

• YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@InLovewithHorror
• Apple Podcast | https://apple.co/4b80RX2
• TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@inlovewithhorror
• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/inlovewithhorror
• Twitter | https://x.com/nlovewithhorror

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Content warning: We talk about child abuse as part of our discussion of both the 1980s "Satanic Panic" craze in the history section, and extensively in the discussion of the movie itself.

Laci and Matt hop on their bicycles and rush home in time to see American Bandstand on the TV set while scarfing down mayonnaise sandwiches and whole milk. That's right, we're talking It! No, not the hit movie from 2017, but the made-for-TV miniseries from 1990 that traumatized a generation.

Next week (Dec. 19, 2025): The lovely AJ and Kristie from In Love With Horror return to the show to meet us at the North Pole for a discussion of the Christmas classic Elf (2003)!

Time stamps:

• 00:02:42 — History segment: Quentin Tarantino's dumb critique of Stephen King for not originating the "fear monster" idea; the Satanic Panic of the 1980s; the origins of It; development of It for TV; reception and legacy of the TV movie; the "child orgy" scene from the book, explained
• 00:39:08 — Movie discussion
• 02:22:36 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "Back to Derry: An Oral History of 'Stephen King's It'" by Ethan Alter | Yahoo! (2015) - https://yhoo.it/4nZHwyj
• Eli Roth's History of Horror: Uncut | Season 1, Episode 3 - "Quentin Tarantino" (2019) - https://apple.co/4ng0jEy
• "Interviewing Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, on the set of Stephen King's IT" by Steve Newton | Fangoria (1990) - https://bit.ly/3KXXHOc
• "Steve's Explanation For Loser's Sex Scene" | Stephen King Official Message Board (2013) - https://bit.ly/4hlGiex
• "Stephen King's It: 25th Anniversary" | SciFiNow Annual. Vol. 2 (2015)

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci, Matt, and returning guest Cinematic Joshua pay a visit to The Cabin In The Woods, where things are not quite as they seem. We get the feeling somebody's watching us, and pumping chemicals into our scalps to make us stupider and hornier than we usually are, and suddenly we're tossing around the old pigskin and vroom-vrooming on our dirtbikes. What's going on????

Next week (Dec. 12, 2025): We revisit Derry, Maine by talking about Stephen King's It (the 1990 TV movie starring Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown)!

Time stamps:

• 00:02:44 — History segment: HP Lovecraft and cosmic horror; the intertwined careers of Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon; MGM's financial troubles delay the release of Cabin for three years; accusations against Joss Whedon; Drew Goddard's career after Cabin in the Woods
• 00:26:39 — Movie discussion + Cabin In The Woods film analysis
• 01:46:355— Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "Joss Whedon talks The Cabin In The Woods" | Total Film (2012) - https://bit.ly/48sW7xx
• "Life Goes On: Drew Goddard on The Martian" by Christopher McKittrick | Creative Screenwriting (2016) - https://bit.ly/4qdFhsI
• "The Undoing of Joss Whedon" by Lila Shapiro | Vulture (2022) - https://bit.ly/3W7Wmql

Follow Cinematic Joshua!

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinematicjoshua
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ratedawesomeshow
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratedawesomeshow/

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Your Ambition" - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Matt and AJ discuss the 2003 tooth fairy/darkness horror film Darkness Falls.

Support In Love With Horror:

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@InLovewithHorror
• Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4b80RX2
• Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oP9b5r
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inlovewithhorror
• Twitter: https://x.com/nlovewithhorror
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inlovewithhorror

Follow 1-Week Rental!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

As Matt and Laci work on the transition from Load Bearing Beams to 1-Week Rental, they are unlocking some episodes from behind the Patreon paywall to hold you over. First up: Matt is joined by his friends and bandmates Wade Hymel and Patrick Perot to cover two episodes of Nickelodeon's Doug.

"Bangin' On A Trash Can" is one of the best songs ever written for a fictional character, right? We gush endlessly about it, as well as its "Think Big" remix, and try to find parallels between Doug's band and our own individual musical endeavors. Plus, you'll learn way more than you could possibly be interested in learning about the history of Rural Route Nine.

And of course, it's a larger discussion of Nickelodeon's Doug and the wider history of Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, plus the sad migration of Doug into the greasy maw of the Walt Disney Company, where he was badassified with baggier clothes and a dog who rides a motorcycle.

We also discuss the original Doug pilot, "Doug Can't Dance." There's a fake Quailman at the school dance, a girl wearing a physics-defying donut costume, and Roger Klotz condemned to eternal torment like a slug on the ground. Also, we ponder how bad Doug would be at having sex for the first time.

If you haven't revisited Doug since the 1990s, you might be surprised to find how well it works on every level — it looks great, it sounds incredible, and it's kind of hilarious. A great time is had by all, is what we're saying.

Source:

• "You Don't Know Doug" by Mathew Klickstein | Vulture (2012) - https://bit.ly/3VYrR5Z

Time stamps:

• 00:02:40 — Our histories with Doug and the early Nicktoons; opening thoughts on "Doug Can't Dance" and "Doug's Garage Band"
• 00:12:01 — History of Doug: Jim Jinkins develops Doug in his head, then as a character for TV commercials, then as a children's book star, and finally as a TV show for Nickelodeon; after its run at Nickelodeon ends, Jinkins reboots the show for Disney starting in 1996
• 00:35:35 — "Doug Can't Dance"
• 00:58:00 — "Doug's Garage Band"
• 01:26:40 — Final thoughts
• 01:31:28 — Impromptu "Bangin' On a Trash Can" at band practice (2014)

Follow Wade's band Dash Rip Rock on Spotify (https://bit.ly/3Vq7hvl). And hey, while you're at it, give a listen to Wade's amazing solo album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music (https://bit.ly/4kinkpJ), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3SoQnM3), or wherever else music is streamed. You can also purchase the album from Bandcamp (https://bit.ly/3I2Syje).

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

View Details

Load Bearing Beams is no more. Say hello to 1-Week Rental!

Honestly, it's pretty much the same show. We've just been trying to find a better way to explain what our show is, and we've realized (based on listener feedback and our own feelings on the matter) that what we do well is dive into a movie in terms of both unpacking its history and then analyzing and discussing how well it works as a movie. And since we do this with a different movie each week, you can think of it like we're renting a movie from the video store and getting to keep it for a week. You remember that, right? You'd watch it over and over, and you'd become a temporary expert on it, before saying goodbye to it, maybe forever.

The show is largely staying the same, but we are going to try to make the episodes slightly shorter and we are doing away with the lengthy preambles that begin each episode before we get to the history segment.

Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams, and here's to at least eight years with 1-Week Rental!

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

View Details

Laci Goth and Matt Chokes welcome their friends Tiera (@SpookyT on TikTok) and Derek (@HFK on TikTok) join the show to play the game of Saw. We all have varying degrees of affection for this franchise, and we get into the long history of its development under James Wan and Leigh Whannell first in Australia and then in Hollywood, and the major series it spawned. Then we go through the movie at length, wondering, at the end of the day, what exactly Jigsaw is trying to teach us.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/MFpl_Kd2JGc

Follow Tiera and Derek's filmmaking on YouTube: Elevated Cryptid Productions (https://youtube.com/@elevatedcryptidproductions)

Next week: The Cabin in the Woods (2012) with Cinematic Joshua!

Bonus video: Matt talks about Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) for 20 minutes https://youtu.be/8OhZW4AImYU

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 00:03:05 — Our histories with the Saw franchise / opening thoughts on the first Saw
• 00:16:30 — History segment: James Wan and Leigh Whannell develop Saw, shoot a short film as proof of concept, and sell it to Evolution Entertainment; the film is bought by Lionsgate, becomes a huge hit, and spawns a major franchise
• 00:44:50 — Movie discussion + Saw analysis
• 01:35:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "Saw creators Leigh Whannell and James Wan" by Scott Tobias | The AV Club (2010) - https://bit.ly/46ytbms
• "Blumhouse Buys Rights to 'Saw' Franchise" by Brent Lang | Variety (2025) - https://bit.ly/4pLGUO9

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• "Your Ambition" - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Facebook: @1weekrental
• Instagram: @1weekrental
• TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social

View Details

We had some scheduling snafus that caused the delay of our Saw episode, so our schedule is getting pushed back a week. Luckily, we had this beautiful podcast about 28 Years Later set to release on the Patreon later this month, and instead, we’re putting it out for free for all the fine folks out there.

Matt and Kota have a very spoiler-filled discussion about Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later. Like all zombie movies, it’s not actually about zombies, it’s about…. Well, it’s about a lot of stuff. This is a meaty, hefty movie. Not unlike what the Alpha carries around with him.

Next week: Saw with HFK & Spooky T!

Bonus video: Matt reviews the 1980s Disney movie The Great Mouse Detective and wonders if it’s secretly the best Disney movie of the era https://youtu.be/PpWYKmU1KuQ

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 00:05:35 — Opening thoughts on 28 Years Later
• 00:10:07 — Mini-history segment on the careers of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland
• 00:23:45 — Movie discussion
• 01:52:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Follow ScreenTimeKota:

• TikTok: @screentimekota
• Instagram: @screen_time_kota
• YouTube: @ScreenTimeKota
• Facebook: @ScreenTimeKota

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

View Details

Laci and Matt revisit Interview With The Vampire (1994), a movie the podcast covered back in 2018, in the Old Testament days. Much more care and attention is given this time, because there’s so much to love… and so much to be confused by.

Has a movie ever been dragged down so much by its whiny-baby lead character as this movie is by Louis (Brad Pitt)? Rather than spending eternity partying with his good buddy Lestat (Tom Cruise), he just putters around and around, moaning and complaining like some unholy combination of Charlie Brown and Eeyore. And rest assured, he will tell you, at length, about how conflicted he feels about the whole “vampire” thing. So get ready.

Other than that, the movie’s a blast. Tom Cruise is wonderful, Kirsten Dunst gives an all-time great kid performance, and the Stan Winston makeup can’t be beat.

Next week: We read from the book of Saw (2004) with our friends HFK and Spooky T!

Out now on the Patreon: Matt and Austin Proctor from the Frightmares podcast discuss David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive https://bit.ly/3VCImop

Time stamps:

• 00:03:04 — Opening thoughts on Interview with the Vampire
• 00:16:30 — History segment: The career of Anne Rice; development of a movie adaptation of Interview with the Vampire; Rice’s feud with the production over the casting of Tom Cruise; reception and legacy of The Vampire Chronicles on film
• 01:00:50 — Movie discussion
• 02:31:47 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "Anne Rice: The Extended 1995 Interview" by Mikal Gilmore | Rolling Stone (1995) - https://bit.ly/3Wf0ODH
• “You Asked, Anne Answered — ‘How is it that your birth name was Howard Allen?’” - https://bit.ly/4n1ycJj
• “Interview with a Vampire director Neil Jordan: I had a great time making this movie, but there's a dark Catholic guilt underneath” by Una Brankin | The Belfast Telegraph (2014) - https://bit.ly/3IL8BWN
• “The Anne Rice Reader” edited by Katherine Ramsland (1997) - https://amzn.to/4nXlxrB
• “A look inside Hollywood and the movies: Interview With the Vampire’s Picky Creator” by Elaine Dutka | Los Angeles Times (1993) - https://lat.ms/4q2W4yS
• Cruise's Vampire Turns Off Oprah - She Walks Out | The Orlando Sentinel (1994) - https://bit.ly/3W2P4Et

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

In the origin story of Michael Myers, the slasher killer from the legendary Halloween series of horror films, young Michael sees his sister….. Wait, what? Oh, this is Dennis the Menace? In which a little slingshot punk from the 1950s rides around on a tricycle in 1993 and torments an innocent old man? And you're telling me it’s not about Michael Myers, it was just directed by the man who originally played Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s Halloween (Nick “The Shape” Castle)? Gotcha. I see where the confusion started.

Unregardless, here is our long-awaited discussion of the 1993 Dennis the Menace starring Walter Mathau as Mr. Wilson and Christopher Lloyd as a hobo killer who rides the rails and skins children alive, even though we never get to actually see that. And this was written and produced by John Hughes, during his “Let’s just do Home Alone again and again and again” period.

Laci loves it, Matt does not, so this is the two-hour therapy session that results.

Next week: Our October Extravaganza begins with Interview with the Vampire (1994)!

Bonus video: Matt and Laci reveal their blindspots from the IMBD Top 250 movies of all time list - https://youtube.com/shorts/_wTbG4t4NEo

Out now on the Patreon: Matt, Wade, and Patrick dive deep into Nickelodeon’s Doug, discussing its history and reviewing the episodes “Doug Can’t Dance” and “Doug’s Garage Band.” https://bit.ly/3KdBuvg

Time stamps:

• 00:03:15 — We read this week's Dennis the Menace newspaper comics
• 00:11:08 — Opening thoughts on Dennis the Menace (the movie)
• 00:17:30 — History segment: The Dennis the Menace comic strip created by Hank Ketcham and its long afterlife; the 1950s Dennis the Menace sitcom; the production of the 1993 movie and John Hughes’s pivot to cranking out family movies with very similar premises
• 00:39:45 — Movie discussion
• 02:00:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

• "Dennis the Menace and ADHD" by Matthew Smith | Psychology Today (2018) - https://bit.ly/4niObDH

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Matt has assembled his friends Wade Hymel and Patrick Perot to do a deep dive into Nickelodeon's Doug—specifically, the episodes "Doug Can't Dance" and "Doug's Garage Band."

In this free preview from the longer premium episode (available on Patreon: https://bit.ly/47U3oGh), Matt, Wade, and Patrick explore the long history of the TV show and of Doug himself, both before, during, and after his show on Nickelodeon.

Created by Jim Jinkins, Doug is a show that looks great, sounds even better, and its humor and sensibilities have aged beautifully. We chart the history of Doug himself—his long pre-series life as a character Jinkins used an avatar for himself to process his world; as a pitchman for Florida grapefruit juice and the USA TV network; and then as the star of one of the three original Nicktoons. Then, in a very unique situation, Doug switched networks and was given a mild retooling to make it more radical and extreme for the late '90s as part of Disney's One Saturday Morning lineup of children's programming on ABC.

Catch the full episode on Patreon:

Source: "You Don't Know Doug" by Mathew Klickstein | Vulture (2012) - https://bit.ly/3VYrR5Z

View Details

The year is 2000. You are a 12-year-old boy. You spend your days watching Total Request Live and hoping they’ll man up and play “Stellar” by Incubus. You spend an inordinate amount of time choosing the coolest song lyrics to leave as your AOL Instant Messenger away message. And you head out to the cinematorium to see three women kick ass in Charlie’s Angels. You like it a lot, but you have difficulty explaining why.

Well, revisiting it 25 years later, it’s actually pretty easy to see why: It’s kind of just a straightforward, fun, slightly silly action movie. In Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz, you have three extremely likable and charismatic performances. And, in the biggest shocker of all, the much-maligned McG is able to direct some fairly competent action sequences. Who knew?

Next week: Dennis the Menace (1993)

Bonus videos:

• Review of the new Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk: https://youtu.be/SHSZcQFWPGg
• Review of FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue: https://youtu.be/mnmMebh9ZT0
• Watching The Godfather with a 14-year-old: https://youtu.be/uKIbcx0sqFY

Time stamps:

• 00:04:08 — Opening thoughts on Charlie’s Angels
• 00:19:15 — History segment: The 1970s Charlie’s Angels TV show and the advent of “Jiggle Television”; the movie’s development with Drew Barrymore as producer and the hiring of McG; the “complicated legacy” of the 2000 movie as the 2019 reboot movie starring Kristen Stewart came out and was then poorly received
• 00:43:00 — Movie discussion
• 01:59:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "The Complicated Legacy of the 2000 Charlie’s Angels" by Ashley Spencer | Vanity Fair (2019) - https://bit.ly/41Jk5jS
• “Drew Barrymore: I Need to Be the Person to Rescue Myself in Life” by Alyssa Bailey | Elle (2016) - https://bit.ly/467UW3D
• “Bill Murray says 'Charlie's Angels' director 'deserves to die'” by Chris Nashawaty | Entertainment Weekly (2009) - https://bit.ly/46hMOOl
• "Post-Godzilla: Broad Sony agenda shows there's life after lizard" by Dan Cox & Benedict Carver | Variety (1998) - https://bit.ly/3JROC93
• Review of 'Charlie's Angels' by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2000) - https://bit.ly/46lwSL0
• “Charlie's timeless angels: Women who transformed television” by David Usborne | The Independent (2006) - https://bit.ly/4geLO1P
• "Elizabeth Banks Thinks This Interview Is Dangerous for Her" by David Marchese | The New York Times (2022) - https://nyti.ms/3Ihons9

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

They thought they were making a movie that would save the environment and destroy extractive industries. Instead, they made a generation of millennials horny as hell for cartoon trees.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest is a fascinating mid-budget animated film that presents a mighty counterweight to the Disney behemoth of the early 1990s: Modest in scope, budget-level pop songs, and an anti-capitalist message Disney would never allow (unless James Cameron does it). And it’s not a great movie, but it’s very good, and the animation is extremely impressive. And everyone jokes that Avatar lifts the story of FernGully…. But man, it really seems like Avatar has seen FernGully. Or maybe it’s just that there are so few anti-capitalist movies made by Hollywood studios that the few that exist all seem to resemble each other.

Also: Seriously you guys, there is some legitimately horny stuff going on in this movie. Avatar also seems inspired by that part.

Next week: Charlie’s Angels (2000)

Bonus video: Matt reviews the 1980s Yugoslavian animated film The Elm-Chanted Forest. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pzK6CiMUMxM

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 00:02:23 — Welcome to “season three” of Load Bearing Beams
• 00:05:50 — Opening thoughts on FernGully
• 00:21:32 — History segment: Producer Wayne Young and his wife Diana steward the FernGully project; animation lifer Bill Kroyer directs; Robin Williams’s hiring creates a feud with Disney and Jeffrey Katzenberg
• 00:39:27 — Movie discussion
• 01:17:42 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• "FernGully at 25: How an Upstart Disney Rival Created a Millennial Silent Spring" by Chantel Tattoli | Vanity Fair (2017) - https://bit.ly/4m3oZj9
• "Ferngully an enchantment" by Jamie Portman | The Calgary Herald (1992) - https://bit.ly/3JKjxnM
• "Robin Williams's Change of Life" by Jesse Kornbluth | New York Magazine (1993) - https://bit.ly/4gbu8UQ
• “Technological Threat” (Bill Kroyer’s 1988 animated short) - https://youtu.be/t-IbidkpD74

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY
• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

We weren’t expecting this miniseries on Dwayne Johnson to be so relevant, but as he debuted his “new look” at the Venice Film Festival and began his awards season campaign, Laci and Matt react to the news of the week and unpack his public comments. Johnson reflected on his own career with many of the thoughts we’ve had as we’ve gone through his filmography. Is he sincere about it, or just being a good politician trying to win an award? Does he mean it when he says he was ready to pivot to “serious acting” or he was forced to by having so many consecutive box office failures? And is Emily Blunt really his best friend? Does it matter?

We take the new information and give our concluding thoughts on the acting career of The Rock, and then rank the nine movies we covered during the summer.

And then, we answer some mailbag questions, including:

• Fuck/Marry/Kill: The duck who shows her tits in Howard the Duck, tiny Dwayne Johnson in Tooth Fairy, and the Thanksgiving turkey from Spider-Man?
• What relationship from any movie sums up our relationship?
• Is there a movie that strikes both of us in such a way that we connect over it?
• What are some underrated movie sequels?
• What makes us passionate about movies and TV?
• What movie makes us fight?

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Next week: FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992).

Bonus video: Matt does a deep dive into Tower of Terror (1997), the made-for-TV movie starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst and based on the Disney theme park ride English-language: https://youtu.be/kQf9FbCcbn4

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 01:00 — Dwayne Johnson at the Venice Film Festival
• 34:38 — Ranking the Summer of Rock movies
• 37:02 — Mailbag

Sources:

• “Dwayne Johnson Gets Choked Up Discussing ‘The Smashing Machine’ in Venice” by Patrick Brzeski | The Hollywood Reporter (2025) - https://bit.ly/487IeV4
• "Dwayne Johnson Uncontrollably Sobs as ‘The Smashing Machine’ Gets 15-Minute Venice Standing Ovation and Generates Oscar Buzz" by Rebecca Rubin & Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2025) - https://bit.ly/466fCsG

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:Words and music by Matt Stokes Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

View Details

This is the end, beautiful friends. We conclude the Summer of Rock with the much-better-than-I-remembered Jungle Cruise, a movie we abruptly pivoted to covering after trying to watch Black Adam and giving up out of boredom.

We cover the history of movies based on theme parks, the rocky production of Jungle Cruise, its unfortunate failure at the box office, and then we go through the movie itself, trying to figure out if this is one of The Rock’s better late-career performances or if he’s being carried entirely by Emily Blunt.

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Next week: We’ll have a shorter bonus episode to wrap up the Summer of Rock, and we’ll answer a few mailbag questions. Our next proper episode will be September 12, 2025, about FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992).

Bonus video: Matt does a deep dive into Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, the 1989 English-language anime: https://youtu.be/nkFqlLFebn8

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 00:02:59 — Wrapping up the Summer of Rock (sort of)
• 00:15:40 — General thoughts on Jungle Cruise
• 00:22:45 — History segment, part 1: The Jungle Cruise Disney theme park attraction and the craze of adapting theme park rides into movies
• 00:37:50 — History segment, part 2: the production and COVID-hampered release of Jungle Cruise; the production gets attention for featuring Disney’s “first” “openly gay” character
• 00:58:40 — History segment, part 3: The Rock’s movie career after Jungle Cruise: Red Notice, Black Adam, Red One, and The Smashing Machine
• 01:16:00 — In-depth movie discussion
• 02:10:50 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• “Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' Movie Coming Out Scene with Gay Character ... But Avoids the Key Word” | TMZ (2018) - https://bit.ly/3UPda4W
• “Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans’ $200M+ Christmas Action Movie ‘Red One’ Opens To $34M: Is It A Bomb Or A Streamer’s Rounding Error?” by Anthony D'Alessandro | Deadline (2024) - https://bit.ly/47R1iH9

Artwork by Laci Roth. Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC). Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: “Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

• Words and music by Matt Stokes
• Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds
• Personnel:
  • TJ Barends - backing vocals
  • Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals
  • Laci Roth - vocals
  • Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

They went and made a dang spin-off to the Fast & Furious franchise, and it made a ton of money, and there's no chance it'll ever get a sequel because no one liked it. Especially not Matt. Matt is utterly miserable talking about Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), but Laci's able to help him get through it by diving in to all the messy drama surrounding Dwayne Johnson's feud with Vin Diesel that led to Luke Hobbs getting exiled from the main Fast & Furious series of movies.

Next week: Jungle Cruise (2021)

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! — patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

• 00:02:20 — General thoughts on how The Rock is evolving, his chemistry with Jason Statham, and broad reactions to Hobbs & Shaw
• 00:22:10 — History segment, part 1: Career overview of Jason Statham and director David Leitch
• 00:31:30 — History segment, part 2: The feud between The Rock and Vin Diesel
• 01:03:35 — In-depth movie discussion
• 02:13:40 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• “Inside The Rock and Vin Diesel's 'Fast 8' Feud: 'Tension Has Been Building for Months,' Says Source” by Mike Miller | People (2016) - https://bit.ly/4lB8SJg
• “Vin Diesel talks Rock feud: 'In my house, he's Uncle Dwayne'” by Bryan Alexander | USA Today (2017) - https://bit.ly/4lB9Ntc
• “Vin Diesel Is 53 and Still Shifting Up” by Ryan D'Agostino | Men’s Health (2021) - https://bit.ly/4lx5fUv
• “Dwayne Johnson Lets Down His Guard” by Chris Heath | Vanity Fair (2021) - https://bit.ly/45qy3rI
• “Dwayne Johnson reflects on his record-breaking year, becoming the tequila king and whether he’ll run for the White House” by Chloe Melas | CNN (2021) - https://cnn.it/4mIWwj2

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

There were big expectations in 2017 for the Baywatch movie. 21 Jump Street had shown that raunchy, irreverent takes on cheesy '80s and '90s TV shows could earn bofo box office, and with the dual star power of Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, it looked as if Baywatch couldn't miss. But critics hated it and the movie was a flop at the box office, canceling Paramount’s big plans for a Baywatch Cinematic Universe. So, what happened? And is the movie really as bad as its reputation?

What does this movie think it is? Is it a raunchy R-rated comedy that wants to mock its source material? Or is it a loving tribute to the most-watched series in the world in the 1990s? It’s… kind of neither. Does The Rock make any sense in the lead role of Lieutenant Mitch Buchanan, or has he fully entered the “most boring actor in every movie he’s in” portion of his career? Why does the movie suddenly start working as a surprisingly functional comedy when The Rock inexplicably disappears from the movie for 25 minutes and Efron takes over as the lead?

Join Laci, Matt, and our official Zac Efron correspondent Caleb for a spirited debate about a movie we’re actually pretty divided on. Plus a deep dive into the history of Baywatch and an in-depth look at Dwayne Johnson’s extended business empire.

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Bonus video: Matt takes us through movies (like Baywatch) that explicitly promise a sequel and then never end up getting a sequel: https://youtu.be/2pUm5aHkssE

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:04:03 — Our personal histories with Baywatch the TV series AND the movie

00:17:55 — History segment, part 1: The creation of Baywatch (the TV series), and its unlikely rise to become the most-watched show in the world

00:30:30 — History segment, part 2: The production of Baywatch (the movie) under director Seth Gordon

00:47:45 — History segment, part 3: An in-depth look at Dwayne Johnson’s business empire, insatiable appetite to own the world, potential presidential ambitions, and relationship with Vince McMahon

01:11:20 — Discussing the 2017 Baywatch movie at length

02:41:10 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

• “The Drive (and Despair) of The Rock: Dwayne Johnson on His Depression, Decision to Fire Agents and Paul Walker’s Death” by Stephen Galloway | Hollywood Reporter (2014) - https://bit.ly/3JdxLgy
• “Dwayne Johnson lets his guard down” by Chris Heath | Vanity Fair (2021) - https://bit.ly/45qy3rI
• “How ‘Baywatch’ Went From an Early Belly Flop to the Big Screen” by Chris Lee | New York Times (2017) - https://bit.ly/41yxmeP (reprinted in the Austin American-Statesman: https://bit.ly/45gTDjT)
• “The Inside Story Behind Baywatch, The TV Phenomena That Owned The '90s” by Brian Boone | Looper (2023) - https://bit.ly/4fyTaNb
• “‘Baywatch’ Origin Story: How One Lifeguard Turned His Dream Into A Hassle That Paid Hoff” by Michael Schneider | IndieWire (2017) - https://bit.ly/40Y00WM
• “How ‘Pirates’ & ‘Baywatch’ Are Casualties Of Summer Franchise Fatigue At The Domestic B.O.” by Anthony D'Alessandro & Anita Busch | Deadline (2017) - https://bit.ly/412Na9G
• “Dwayne Johnson once fired his agents because they didn't agree he could be bigger than Will Smith and George Clooney. Now his movies have made more money than theirs.” by Ayomikun Adekaiyero | Business Insider (2024) - https://bit.ly/3UpMUha
• “Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson bemoans 'woke culture,' declines to endorse presidential candidate” by Naledi Ushe | USA Today (2024) - https://bit.ly/4mnSP2D
• "Boss of the Beach: For 40 years, the city’s lifeguard corps has been mired in controversy, and for 40 years it’s been run by one man: Peter Stein" by David Gauvey Herbert | New York Magazine (2020) - https://bit.ly/3Jy86PK

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE
• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits: Words and music by Matt Stokes Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

• TJ Barends - backing vocals
• Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals
• Laci Roth - vocals
• Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

• Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts
• Instagram: @loadbearingbeams
• TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9
• Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9
• Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

We're off for the week but here's an extensive chunk from our premium episode to tide you over till then. It's a spoiler-filled discussion of The Fantastic Four: First Steps with our guests Neophyte Reviews and Screentime Kota.

The Summer of Rock resumes in one week with an episode about Baywatch (2017)!

Another MCU movie has arrived, and Matt’s being a real Ebeneezer Scrooge about it. Neophyte Reviews and Screen Time Kota join the show to try to convince him not to be such a grump and to welcome things like light and joy into his heart. And so, we have for you a spoiler-filled discussion of Matt Shakman’s THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, in which an angry mob tries to steal a baby. (Matt’s on the mob’s side.) Meanwhile, Kota fills several chalkboards with equations to demonstrate the multiverses upon multiverse contained within this movie, and Neo explains the most powerful being in all of existence: Franklin. Follow Neophyte Reviews: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@neophyte_reviews Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neophyte_reviews/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@neophyte_reviews Follow Screen Time Kota: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@screentimekota Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/screen_time_kota/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenTimeKota

View Details

Sony made a sequel to Jumanji, that sad Robin Williams movie from the ‘90s, 22 years later? And it made a billion dollars? And everyone liked it??

It’s true. And as a result, every time a movie studio makes a questionable legacy sequel this is why. They’re telling themselves: “It worked with Jumanji.” It’s why Disney is putting out a Tron movie this year.

Well, the thing is, the movie needs to be good! And Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle IS good. It’s a very likable and winning comedy. It’s just kind of a lackluster blockbuster.

But what a fun cast! The Rock is once again able to have fun playing a guy who feels very awkward looking like The Rock. Kevin Hart is very funny, Karen Gillan kicks ass, and Jack Black gives maybe his best ever performance. Nick Jonas is also here.

And this movie has us asking the big questions. What makes you you and me me? Are our personalities completely predetermined? Do NPCs have a right to privacy? If you’re popular in high school, will you be popular for the rest of your life? And are dicks just the tits of the man?

There’s also an unexpected 10-minute Blade Runner digression.

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:02:45 — Our personal histories with Jumanji and its haphazard franchise

00:15:25 — History segment: Jumanji the book by Chris Van Allsburg; the original Joe Johnston movie starring Robin Williams; and the long path to the 2017 sequel directed by Jake Kasdan

00:33:00 — In-depth movie discussion

01:43:30 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“How Producer Matt Tolmach & Sony Revived The ‘Jumanji’ Franchise 22 Years After The Original” by Anthony D’Alessandro | Deadline (2017) - https://bit.ly/472moSn

“Jumanji Overtakes Spider-Man as Sony's Biggest Domestic Box Office Release Ever” by Michael Domanico | IGN (2018) - https://bit.ly/4l5htUm

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Pain & Gain is Michael Bay’s magnum opus, a razor-sharp dissection of the American id. This movie has it all: Con artistry, prosperity gospel, and drugs, drugs, drugs! It also features career-best performances of Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, and Anthony Mackie, and it’s easily Bay’s best movie. Indeed, it’s a look at an alternate career for Johnson where he could play interesting, complicated, vulnerable characters like he does in this movie. Instead, he made a bunch of movies with big cars and/or gorillas.

Still, Pain & Gain is an absolute blast and we had a great time breaking it down, marveling at how much fun it is and how well it predicted what America would feel like in 2025.

Next week: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Bonus video: Families in movies are always eating breakfast together, but nobody in real life actually does that, right? https://youtu.be/DwJNZkJ_SzA

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:12:07 — Our personal histories with Pain & Gain and Michael Bay

00:27:08 — History segment: The Rock returns to WWE from 2011-2013 for two matches against John Cena; Michael Bay’s relationship with the American military; the real-life Sun Gym Gang

00:42:43 — In-depth movie discussion

01:51:42 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Pain & Gain” by Pete Collins | The Miami New Times (1999) - https://bit.ly/4f1U30B

“Pain & Gain: Where the Real-Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now” by Francisco Alvarado | The Miami New Times (2013) - https://bit.ly/4kQFmyQ

“‘Pain & Gain’ killers spared from death by Miami juries. They’ll still spend life in prison” by Charles Rabin | The Miami Herald (2024) - https://bit.ly/44Z5ukX

“MICHAEL BAY - Understanding A True American Auteur (PART 1)” by Patrick H. Willems | YouTube (2019) - https://youtu.be/pyx7YRU4trs?si=y6YVZjRKXzld8ipA

“MICHAEL BAY - Understanding A True American Auteur (PART 2)” by Patrick H. Willems | YouTube (2019) - https://youtu.be/kzzO14E-NLg?si=YYq1-nCEaT2_AGVl

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Laci and Matt hop in a go-fast car and head for Rio de Janeiro to join up with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), and their whole extended family, as they attempt the heist of the century. All while trying to evade federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), the deadliest agent you’ll find in Hillary Clinton’s State Department.

We discover how fascinating Vin Diesel is for Laci, who has had startlingly little exposure to the man of the vast empire he controls. We try to figure out what it is he does well… because it’s hard to say what it is, there’s just something about him.

Honestly, that’s true for Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, and Tyrese Gibson as well. It’s not that they’re captivating actors. They just have a certain quality that you can’t help but love.

We also get into the history of the Fast & Furious series and the strange journey it took to becoming a Star Wars-level international blockbuster franchise.

Time stamps:

00:14:24 — Our personal histories with the Fast & Furious franchise

00:30:55 — History segment: The history of the Fast & Furious franchise; director Justin Lin; on the weekend of Fast Five’s release, Dwayne Johnson Tweets the news that Osama bin Laden has been killed

00:49:55 — In-depth movie discussion

02:02:15 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Next week: Pain & Gain (2013)

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Bonus video: Matt reviews Planet 51 (2009), the bonkers science fiction family film that was Dwayne Johnson’s first animated movie: https://youtu.be/-lG6Gnwe1GY?si=0gOccnMr7Pev3PPd

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Sources:

“'Fast Five' Will Transition Franchise From Street Racing To Future Full Of Heist Action” by Nikki Finke | Deadline (2011) - https://bit.ly/4kqBbtm

“How Paul Walker nearly quit the ‘Furious’ franchise” by Amy Kaufman | Los Angeles Times (2015) - https://lat.ms/4kpmqH6

“The remarkable evolution of the Fast and Furious movie franchise” by Zach Harper | CBS Sports (2015) - https://bit.ly/3IaSYHF

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

It is with heavy hearts that we have to push back our release schedule one week. Actually, no, our hearts are light and full of joy. A new baby has been added to House Stokes in the form of past guest Elliott (from the Home Alone 2 episode) and his lovely wife having a baby. Said baby was just very inconsiderate in arriving at precisely the time we were set to record our Fast Five episode. So, it'll be here in a week. All will be well.

In the meantime, we're flashing back to last summer when it was the Summer of Spielberg, and we're giving you one of our most popular episodes, the Jurassic Park episode featuring AJ and Kristie from the In Love With Horror podcast.

The Summer of Spielberg continues as Laci and Matt were able to buckle their seatbelts in time for their helicopter to land on Isla Nublar, where they meet up with AJ & Kristie from the In Love With Horror podcast to talk about Jurassic Park (1993). The four team up for a rollicking podcast so good it’ll have you shouting “Hello John!” at total strangers.

First of all, this famous action/horror/sci-fi/disaster epic has like 50 incredible lines of dialogue! So we just spend some time saying these lines at each other. But eventually we get into it, talking about the history of Michael Crichton’s novel and its adaptation by Steven Spielberg. Then we take a close look at the movie, wondering just how bad of a boss John Hammond must be and what exactly is the nature of his relationship with Ian Malcolm.

Also, apparently John Hammond was originally intended to sing a song explaining how Jurassic Park works? Instead they did the Mr. DNA thing, but we would love to hear that song. Who knows... maybe we will.

Please check out the great In Love With Horror podcast on Apple Podcast (https://apple.co/4b80RX2), Spotify (https://bit.ly/3KYfbXe), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/4btwtqp), and support them on Patreon (https://bit.ly/3VV0jzy).

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/o2RueFt2rC8

Time stamps:

00:09:41 — Our histories with Jurassic Park

00:30:05 — History segment: Career overview of Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton; overview of Spielberg’s career since 1982; and a brief overview of the production of the movie

00:48:16 — In-depth movie discussion

01:13:14 — John Hammond's deleted musical number

01:54:35 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride - https://amzn.to/3xzYOx1

“'Jurassic Park' screenwriter David Koepp reveals the origin of the film's most quoted line” - by Tom Butler | Yahoo! Entertainment (2019) - https://yhoo.it/3VySSwv

View Details

Hey folks, we're off this week, but we'll be back next week with our Fast Five episode, as the Summer of Rock rolls on!

In the meantime, enjoy some samplings from the additional bonus material available on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod).

Time stamps: 1:30 — Top-Five Jurassic Park Movies (excluding Jurassic Park) 9:06 — Revisiting Gareth Edwards's Godzilla (2014)

View Details

Well, a movie finally broke us. Horror and mortal terror have a face.

In the absolutely dreadful “family film” Tooth Fairy (2010)—quite possibly the worst movie our podcast has ever covered—Dwayne Johnson plays Derek Thompson, a hockey player who specializes in knocking out opponents’ teeth. He has a lot on his plate: He’s dating Ashley Judd, who has two kids: An adorable little girl who loves him and a punk teenage boy who thinks he’s full of crap (Because he is.). At the same time, Derek has some hotshot new competition in the form of Mick “The Stick” Donnelly, a hot-shot new prospect who is described in the span of 25 seconds by the team’s coach as both “the future face of this (minor league) franchise” and “only here for a cup of coffee before he makes the NHL.”

Then he becomes the Tooth Fairy. Hilarity ensues.

Next week: We're off! We return on July 11 for an episode about Fast Five (2011).

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Bonus video: Matt explains how director Paul Verhoeven could predict how the future would feel, through examining three of his movies: RoboCop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pzK6CiMUMxM

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:09:30 — History segment: The Rock’s wrestling career winds down in 2003 and 2004 as he turns heel and embraces his “Hollywood Rock” persona; his acting career sputters as he tries a number of lead roles that don’t work out; he pivots to family films, where he becomes much more successful; genesis of Tooth Fairy under writer Jim Piddock and director Michael Lemdeck

00:36:15 — In-depth movie discussion

01:59:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

“Interview with THE TOOTH FAIRY's Jim Piddock” by Clint Morris | Geek Week (2010) - https://bit.ly/4kVx6hL

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Dwayne Johnson followed up his debut lead performance in The Scorpion King with The Rundown. Released as Welcome to the Jungle outside America, The Rundown might be his very best movie. Along with Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, and a deliciously hammy Christopher Walken, The Rock is firing on all cylinders as both a physical and emotional actor. He can be funny when called to be, but leaves most of the humor to Scott and Walken, and he really shines as a stoic badass.

It's no mistake that Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a cameo at the beginning of this movie, passing by The Rock and telling him to "have fun." It was his world now. As The Scorpion King was The Rock's version of Conan the Barbarian, The Rundown was his version of Commando. Unfortunately, the world had changed since the 1980s, and the public appetite for throwback action-adventure movies was waning.

We were robbed of a world where he made a movie of this quality every year. But we’re also robbed of a world where dozens of movies like this get made every year. We had it all, we just didn’t know it.

The Summer of Rock is our summer 2025 miniseries covering the movie career of Dwayne Johnson through nine movies, presented in chronological order. Starting with his attempt at crossing over from the world of wrestling, The Rock’s career got off to a bumpy start before finally taking off in the 2010s. But it wasn’t long before the bumps returned, and we’ll be telling the story for you all summer long!

Bonus video: The Rundown should’ve had a sequel! The Rock and Seann William Scott have excellent chemistry, and their partnership could easily have fit into all kinds of different sequel scenarios. Really, there should have been 10 Rundowns. We name a few other movies we think should’ve gotten sequels as well: https://youtu.be/PlL4FK8U8J4

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:04:40 — Our personal histories with The Rundown

00:14:00 — History segment: The Rock’s wrestling career in 2002 and 2003, including his feud with Hulk Hogan and the fans turning against him; brief history of the production of The Rundown under director Peter Berg

00:32:20 — In-depth movie discussion

01:20:30 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

“Man of Action! ** Former Bethlehem resident The Rock is on a roll with ‘The Rundown’” by Amy Longsdorf | The Morning Call (2003) - https://bit.ly/4kNkxoz

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

The Summer of Rock begins as Laci and Matt dive into the movie career of Dwayne Johnson with his first leading role in The Scorpion King (2002).

The Rock first graced the big screen a year earlier in The Mummy Returns, in a brief prologue in which he plays a character who seemingly has nothing to do with the sturdy nice fellow he plays in Scorpion King.

And now he gets to lead a picture. And what a picture. An old-fashioned picture, you might say. One refreshingly free of irony, self-awareness, or any of the oppressive trappings of modernity. This movie’s kinda great, actually. And so is The Rock. Is it possible his career peaked with his first feature? We shall find out in the weeks and months ahead.

Bonus video: Matt explains why all movie studio CEOs are basically the exact same guy and why they all make the exact same decisions. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MC1dxeLQrgY

Next week: The Rundown (2003)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:11:28 — Our personal histories with The Scorpion King

00:28:20 — History segment: Brief career overview of Dwayne Johnson; development and production of The Scorpion King and the surprisingly long direct-to-video franchise it spawned

00:47:45 — In-depth movie discussion

01:32:00 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood's Kings of Carnage by Nick de Semlyen (2023) - https://bit.ly/4kDH4V3

“Hiding Out with Dwayne Johnson: The GQ Video Cover Story” by Zach Baron | GQ (2024) - https://bit.ly/3HB2Lq4

Review of “The Scorpion King” by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2002) - https://bit.ly/3SIJ3em

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtube.com/shorts/nLe3DMwryiQ

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

"Summer of Rock" theme song credits:

Words and music by Matt Stokes

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by TJ Barends | Bare Sounds

Personnel:

TJ Barends - backing vocals

Wade Hymel - drums/guitar/backing vocals

Laci Roth - vocals

Matt Stokes - vocals/guitar/bass

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Follow TJ on Instagram: @baresoundstwitaj

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

We're off this week, preparing for the Summer of Rock, which starts next week with an episode about The Scorpion King (2002).

In fact, here is our schedule for the rest of the month:

June 13 - The Scorpion King (2002)

June 20 - The Rundown (2003)

June 27 - Tooth Fairy (2010)

In the meantime, please enjoy Matt's semi-spoiler-y review of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. And please follow us on YouTube to get all kinds of bonus content: https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

View Details

Friend of the Show Wade Hymel makes his triumphant return to the podcast, and he’s brought with him I Love You, Man (2009).

So what’s up with men, huh? With their man caves, and their jam seshes, and their pizza pies. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t help but love ‘em, am I right?

And how do adults make friends anyway? It’s pretty weird. Somebody should make a movie about it.

Oh, that’s what this movie is.

Hear Wade's amazing album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music (https://bit.ly/4kinkpJ), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3SoQnM3), or wherever else music is streamed. Or you can purchase the album from Bandcamp (https://bit.ly/3I2Syje).

Bonus video: Matt unpacks the story of The Black Cauldron, Disney’s biggest ever flop. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rHeypRjToic

Next week: We’re off. Our Summer of (redacted) miniseries begins the following Friday (June 13) with an episode about (redacted… listen to the episode to learn what it is!).

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:01:45 — Our MAJOR summer miniseries announcement

00:06:08 — Summer miniseries theme song debut

00:10:15 — Our personal histories with I Love You, Man

00:18:20 — History segment: The Male Loneliness epidemic — why is it so hard for men to make friends? We definitively answer the question. Then we talk about the origins of this movie under original screenwriter Larry Levin in the 1990s, and how it was finally brought to life by director John Hamburg in 2009

00:32:00 — In-depth movie discussion

01:59:35 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Younger Men in the U.S. Among the Loneliest in West” by Benedict Vigers | Gallup (2025) - https://bit.ly/4kGZcgk

“John Hamburg Says I Love You, Man” by Edward Douglas | ComingSoon.net (2009) - https://bit.ly/3HeoyUo

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Rock” - https://youtu.be/dvRY72jNIEE

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Join us at Stan Mikita’s for crullers, dear listener, as we go through one of the very best comedies of the 1990s: It’s Wayne’s World. Excellent.

But is it truly Wayne’s world? How much control does Wayne really have? What does he want? What does he stand for? And will he ever transcend the limitations of his corporeal space? We definitively answer these and so much more, as we cover both the making of the movie (including what sounds like a very difficult experience for director Penelope Spheeris in having to work with Mike Myers) and the movie itself, reading very closely to divine its message.

Bonus video: Matt tells you about the ONLY Disney Animated Feature that you won’t find on Disney Plus, and why that is. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/upu6z3Zyf40

Next week: I Love You Man (2009) with special guest Wade Hyel

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:03:00 — Our personal histories with Wayne’s World

00:14:45 — History segment: Mike Myers & the origins of Wayne Campbell on 1980s Canadian television; “Wayne’s World” debuts on SNL with Myers and Dana Carvey; production of Wayne’s World led by director Penelope Spheeris

00:37:57 — In-depth movie discussion

01:52:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

"Comedy in the ’90s, Part 1: ‘Wayne’s World’ Starts the Party" by Alan Siegel | The Ringer (2019) - https://bit.ly/3YQzoG3

“Gentle Reminder: ‘Wayne’s World’ Was, and Will Always Be, a Totally Canadian Thing” by Greg Hudson | Sharp (2017) - https://bit.ly/3H2rKlP

“Mike Myers: Man of Mystery” by Josh Rottenberg | Entertainment Weekly (2008) - https://bit.ly/43BD5lD

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Laci and Matt are broadcasting to you from a cabin in the woods, where they're eating canned cat food with oven mitts, trying to dodge that pesky Grim Reaper. But the rats need their cheese, so here’s a new episode about Final Destination (2000). (You’re the rat, I guess.)

It’s the movie that launched one of the great horror franchises. A franchise that Matt posits is Friday the 13th for the decade of the 2000s. This series has it all: Primitive cell phones! Internet research on big ole computers! And nu-metal, nu-metal, nu-metal.

And it all started here, with this movie that began life as an X-Files spec script and, even in its final form, has forgotten to take the X-Files out. That’s not a bad thing.

Next week: Wayne’s World (1992)

Bonus Video: We suggest scenarios we’d like to see in future FInal Destination sequels. Check it out on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:01:28 — Our personal histories with the FInal Destination franchise

00:13:00 — History segment: How Final Destination began as an X-Files spec script by Jeffrey Reddick, and instead was turned into a feature film helmed by X-Files writers James Wong and Glen Morgan

00:28:52 — In-depth movie discussion

01:28:25 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Final Destination: the definitive oral history by the people who made it” by Ian Sandwell | Digital Spy (2022) - https://bit.ly/43cBq4w

“How Final Destination Went From Real-Life Premonition to Horror Phenomenon” by Jack Beresford | Den of Geek (2021) - https://bit.ly/4jPo0T4

Final Destination press kit (2000) - https://bit.ly/4kfcTmg

“Devon Sawa: ‘I had to smoke pot in movies and be in a hip-hop video to get away from Casper’” by Rachel Brodsky | The Independent (2022) - https://bit.ly/3GQ3sLU

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Matt's declaration that he was forever finished with the Marvel Cinematic Universe lasted all of one movie, once Thunderbolts started getting good reviews. So he went out and saw it, and thought it was..... okay. But to go through it, he needed to bring on two big-time fans of the movie, so Neophyte Reviews and Screen Time Kota join the show for a discussion of Thunderbolts and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general.

This CLIP features the first 35 minutes of the discussion. You can get the rest of the discussion by subscribing to LOAD BEARING BEAMS: COLLECTOR'S EDITION on Patreon: https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Follow Neophyte Reviews: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@neophyte_reviews Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neophyte_reviews/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@neophyte_reviews

Follow Screen Time Kota: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@screentimekota Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/screen_time_kota/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenTimeKota

View Details

Please note: Like how Death Proof uses fake film grain to make it seem like it’s an older movie, only to stop doing it halfway through, Laci and Matt’s audio improves halfway through this episode. You might not even notice the audio isn't great in the first half... but if you do, just know it gets better eventually.

Friend of the Show Cinema Chris joins Laci and Matt to talk about Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof (2007). Originally a 90-minute movie presented as part of a double feature alongside Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror, Death Proof now stands on its own (in an expanded edition) as one of the more fascinating entries in Tarantino’s filmography. We discuss the beautiful animal that is Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan’s captivating pronunciation of “chocolate milk,” and how much joy there is to be had in a car going vroom-vroom real fast.

Follow Chris on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@cinemavault), Instagram (https://bit.ly/3GKiYc9), and Letterboxd (https://bit.ly/4m5AGqr).

Next week: Final Destination (2000)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:02:40 — Our personal histories with Death Proof

00:13:00 — History segment: The history of grindhouse; the history of Grindhouse

00:31:21 — In-depth movie discussion

01:30:00 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“House Party: Girls! Zombies! Serial killers! Step inside Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's down 'n' dirty double feature, 'Grindhouse’” by Mike Cotton| Wizard Universe (2007) - https://bit.ly/42SuIR0

“Online Exclusive: Horror Film Directors Dish About 'Grindhouse' Trailers” by Gavin Edwards | Rolling Stone (2007) - https://bit.ly/43fCx3J

“Hungry zombies! A psychopath in a killer car! It's ‘'Grindhouse’!” by Chris Nashawaty | Entertainment Weekly (2007) - https://bit.ly/43fN52O

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Hey folks, we had to make a programming change this week because one of our bodies did a medical oopsie and we ended up in the emergency room. Everything's fine... but wait till the bill comes, am I right?? Anyway, we had to push back our Death Proof episode, so now, we have unlocked our Royal Tenenbaums episode from behind the Patreon paywall. See you in a week! Love you goodbyeeee.

View Details

Friend of the Show Jen (@JenWalksN2Walls on TikTok) joins us to cover Sister Act 2. We once again follow the misadventures of Deloris (Whoopi Goldberg), a Las Vegas headliner who selfishly abandons the backup dancers, crew members, and support staff who rely on her show to make their living, all so she can go be a substitute teacher at a Catholic school for some reason. Seriously, is she paying all these people out of her pocket while her show is on hiatus? Or is she like Jimmy Fallon during the 2023 strikes, sending them each a $20 gift card and best wishes?

Anyway. This movie’s a lot of fun, but it is all over the place. Looking into the production history, we see it’s a hastily produced sequel that seems almost as if it started as an original, unrelated script about a high school choir competition and then had the Sister Act nuns awkwardly grafted onto it. Still, Whoopi Goldberg is her usual delightful self, but she’s outshined by these delightful kids, including a just-about-to-be-a-superstar Lauryn Hill as Rita, a high schooler whose mom hates choirs more than anything else.

Next week: Death Proof (2007)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get extra episodes! In April, we’re covering the pilot episode of the American Office, Matt has thoughts on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and we’re reviewing M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. Subscribe at patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:06:42 — Our personal histories with Sister Act 2

00:21:45 — History segment: Production of Sister Act 2 under director Bill Duke and its lasting legacy

00:39:30 — In-depth movie discussion

01:30:30 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Bill Duke on ‘Deep Cover,’ ‘Sister Act 2,’ and Reshaping What Black Movies Could Be in the ’90s” by Robert Daniels | IndieWire (2022) - https://bit.ly/3RNWPvw

“How did ‘Sister Act 2’ become a classic musical?” by David Dennis Jr. | Andscape (2019) - https://bit.ly/3Yz9Xse

“Sister Act 2 Cast Reunites to Sing 'Joyful, Joyful' and 'Oh Happy Day,' 30 Years After Film — Watch” by Dave Quinn | People Magazine (2024) - https://bit.ly/3G80r98

“A Fresh Take on Black America: On ‘Sister Act 2’” by Brandon Tensley | Los Angeles Review of Books (2023) - https://bit.ly/4iiL9vS

“‘Sister Act 2’ Set the Gold Standard for Bad Sequels” by Caspar Salmon | Vice (2018) - https://bit.ly/3RkxkSv

“Whoopi Goldberg looks back on Sister Act” by Mary Sellosi | Entertainment Weekly (2017) - https://bit.ly/4ig3Obm

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Enjoy nine free minutes from our Patreon-exclusive episode about the pilot of the American Office. Hear the full thing by subscribing at https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams for $5/month.

Matt and Wade go through the pilot episode of the American Office. They compare their personal fandoms of the show and how deep their knowledge runs, and then briefly discuss how the show was adapted from the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, its rocky first season and slow ascent into a megahit, and its lasting cultural legacy.

And as for the pilot itself, which is generally not well regarded, Matt is surprised at how solid it is, how good a job it does at setting up the series, and how fully formed the main characters already are.

The Office was created by Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant, and developed by Greg Daniels. It stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer

The pilot is directed by Ken Kwapis & written by Greg Daniels (adapted from a teleplay by Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant) Original air date: March 24, 2005

Source: The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene (2020) - https://amzn.to/4juDN9i

Hear Wade's incredible album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever else music is streamed. Or you can purchase the album from Bandcamp.

Follow Wade on Instagram: @wadealready

Music credit: "Never Trust a Bat" by Rural Route Nine. Listen on Spotify (https://bit.ly/3QBjavP), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/49PunSv), or YouTube (https://youtu.be/o7SivxabpYI).

Live cover of The Office theme song by Better By Design, one of Wade's bands. Watch it in full: https://youtu.be/y4gVPgdVWY4

View Details

Hoppy Easter. We're taking the week off but don't want to leave you hopping. So here's our eggsipode about The Truman Show, in its entirety, previously available only to our Patreon subscribers.

We'll be back next week with an all-new episode about Sister Act 2.

View Details

We welcome Hal (@shestructured on Letterboxd) and Craig (@gentlemanbaby on Letterboxd) from the Red Rose Film Club podcast to cover American Psycho (2000), the Wall Street horror/comedy starring Christian Bale as Patrick "Jason" Bateman. This movie’s got a lot going on, folks. And we get to it all—we determine who has the best business card, we explain why you wouldn’t want Christian Bale as your co-worker at Whataburger, we try to figure out what’s going on with Justin Theroux’s hair, and we marvel at Patrick Bateman’s chainsaw math. Also, is American Psycho Jared Leto’s villain origin story?

But more than anything, we're trying to identify what exactly Patrick Bateman represents. Is he the embodiment of toxic masculinity? A victim of America’s addiction to competition and consumption above all else? A misunderstood baby boy? An iconic slasher villain? What if our answer was…. Yes?

Next week: We are the nation’s top fun-havers, so we’re taking the week off for Spring Break. We'll unlock our The Truman Show episode from our Patreon archive, and we’ll be back on April 25, 2025 with a brand-new episode about Sister Act 2 (1993) with our friend Jen Walks N2 Walls.

Subscribe to Red Rose Film Club:

Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/42qrGU6

Spotify: https://bit.ly/4ieGX0b

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:08:00 — Our personal histories with American Psycho

00:16:30 — History segment: Bret Easton Ellis and his American Psycho novel; development of the film under director Mary Harron; star Christian Bale

00:41:45 — In-depth movie discussion

02:02:39 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“American Psycho: An Oral History, 20 Years After Its Divisive Debut” by Tim Molloy | Movie Maker, 2020 - https://bit.ly/44e4Kd2

“Blood, Boycott, and Body Bags: An Oral History of ‘American Psycho’” by Tatiana Tenreyro | Vice, 2020 - https://bit.ly/4i61CmW

“Snuff This Book! Will Bret Easton Ellis Get Away With Murder?” by Roger Rosenblatt | The New York Times, 1991 - https://nyti.ms/3G0emOE

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

We bid a tearful farewell to our favorite actor, Gene Hackman, by discussing his hilarious evil Lex Luthor in Superman (1978). Richard Donner started the whole superhero movie idea with this film, but we won’t hold that against him. How electric are Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder? How great does this movie look? And why are so many children getting smacked by their mothers?

Bonus video: We each give our most contrarian film opinion. Watch it on our Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: American Psycho (2000) with the Red Rose Film Club podcast

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:01:16 — Our personal histories with Superman

00:09:40 — History segment: A very brief history of Superman (the character); development of Superman (the movie); career overview of director Richard Donner; career overview of star Christopher Reeve

00:31:50 — In-depth movie discussion

01:33:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

“‘Superman,’ The Inside Story: Director Richard Donner Remembers Meeting Stallone to Play the Lead, Working With Brando, and a Near-Fatal Knife Attack” by Stephen Galloway | The Hollywood Reporter (2016) - https://bit.ly/4lezkt2

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Enjoy 12 minutes from our Patreon-only bonus episode about The Royal Tenenbaums!

Subscribe to Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5/month at https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

View Details

Laci and Matt head to Palm Beach, Florida, to con some rich geriatrics out of their money with their best pals, Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt. That’s right, it’s the perfectly cromulent 2001 crime-comedy Heartbreakers, brought to you by director David Mirkin (showrunner of seasons 5 and 6 of The Simpsons, and director of previous episode Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion).

Bonus video: Most awkward experience seeing a movie with a parent. Watch it on our Twitter or on our TikTok.

Next week: Superman (1978)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:05:56 — Our personal histories with Heartbreakers

00:09:27 — History segment: Brief overviews of director David Mirkin and stars Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt; Laci and Matt listen to Jennifer Love Hewitt’s highest charting single to determine if they’ve ever heard it

00:21:00 — In-depth movie discussion

01:36:41 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Interview with David Mirkin” by Steve Head | IGN (2001) - https://bit.ly/3FEKirv

“Jennifer Love Hewitt Answers Every Question We Have About Heartbreakers” by Ilana Kaplan | Vulture (2021) - https://bit.ly/42gS3g9

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Our coverage of the late, great Gene Hackman begins with Laci and Matt getting sucked into the vortex of legal intrigue that is The Firm. And, okay, it’s not exactly a Gene Hackman movie, but he’s wonderful as always as part of this ensemble cast that is one of the all-time great ensemble casts. Seriously, this movie is a warm bath you can just slip into, not unlike Gene Hackman’s character Avery Tolar at the end of this film.

Bonus video: We talk about things people do in the movies that are weird, very much unlike things that people in real-life do. Watch it on our Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Heartbreakers (2001)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:01:42 — Our personal histories with The Firm and the legal thriller sub-genre

00:16:54 — History segment: John Grisham and the ‘90s legal thriller boom; brief overview of director Sydney Pollack; production of The Firm movie

00:34:17 — In-depth movie discussion

02:07:57 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“John Grisham Is Still Battling His Southern Demons” by David Marchese | The New York Times (2022) - https://nyti.ms/3FB3E0G

“Boxers, Briefs and Books” by John Grisham | The New York Times (2010) - https://nyti.ms/4kZ37WE

“John Grisham Talks About ‘The Firm’” 2011 interview with NBC - https://youtu.be/5THJBePAbHc?si=9Wf7gicHtKL1zLUs

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.socia

View Details

Friend of the Show Screen Time Kota (https://www.tiktok.com/@screentimekota) returns to discuss the 1985 sci-fi film Enemy Mine. This hidden gem of an ‘80s sci-fi film has everything you want: practical effects, elaborate sets, miniature spaceships, matte paintings, and incredible makeup. Even more impressive is the performance of Louis Gossett Jr. underneath the intricate alien makeup. He and Dennis Quaid (a human) get stranded on a planet together; their species hate each other more than anything else… but somehow, they’ll need to learn to get along if they want to survive this. (They do.)

Next week: The Firm (1993)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:01:34 — Kota’s history with Enemy Mine

00:11:10 — History segment: Development of Enemy Mine, from novella to production under original director Richard Loncraine, to Loncraine getting replaced with Wolfgang Petersen; brief career overviews of stars Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr.

00:28:25 — In-depth movie discussion

01:13:35 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Wolfgang Petersen, the creator of Das Boot, ventures into outer space” by Michael Blowen | The Boston Globe (1985)

“Gossett makes his own breaks” by Jay Scott | The Globe and Mail (1985)

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Matt has a new podcast! Don't worry, Load Bearing Beams shall be unaffected. In fact, it can only grow stronger. The new podcast will come out once per month and it's about the classic Twilight Zone series. Along with Friend of the Show Patrick Perot (the 10 Things I Hate About You episode, the Blair Witch Project episode, Rural Route Nine), Matt will go through each episode of The Twilight Zone—one episode per podcast—in chronological order. And you can try out that podcast now: The Sign Post Up Ahead.

To catch episodes 2 and 3 of The Sign Post Up Ahead, you can subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DA3Z3c Spotify: https://bit.ly/4kEEvlM YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesignpostupahead

In the debut episode of the podcast, Matt and Patrick go through the very first episode of The Twilight Zone: "Where Is Everybody?"

An amnesiac wanders through a town, unable to find a single human being, but always feeling like somebody is just out of reach. Creepy!

How well does this episode serve as an introduction to The Twilight Zone? How well does it stand on its own? And how much does it hold up now?

Plus, there's a lot of talk about the space race, the Cold War, and America's obsession with going to the moon.

"Where Is Everybody" originally aired October 2, 1959; directed by Robert Stevens; written by Rod Serling; starring Earl Holliman.

View Details

Austin Proctor of the Frightmares podcast joins Laci and Matt to go through The Devil’s Rejects, the second film from director Robert “Robbie” Zombie. A family of demented devil freaks is running roughshod over Jimmy Carter’s America, and the only thing standing in their way is a demented devil sheriff who just might be even more evil. Who will win? Answer? You, the listener, as we unpack this gory, unpleasant, but fascinating early 2000s horror/neo-western.

Check out the Frightmares podcast on Apple Podcast (https://apple.co/4h7Qaqh) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/4kvmHtl). Follow the podcast on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@frightmarespodcast

Next week: Enemy Mine (1985) with Screen Time Kota!

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:08:05 — Our personal histories Rob Zombie and The Devil’s Rejects

00:20:00 — History segment: Career overview of Rob Zombie, and the making of The Devil’s Rejects

00:33:59 — In-depth movie discussion

01:31:50 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“I Don’t Like Rules” by Jan Doense | The Flashback Files (2014) - https://bit.ly/3DmP7VN

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Yes, this is a five-hour episode. Luckily, we have time stamps available for you so you can hop around to hear about the Oscar categories you find most interesting.

With Laci out on assignment, Matt interviews a handful of friends and past guests of the show to preview Hollywood's Biggest Night™. With the Academy Awards ceremony looming in two days, he and his pals preview all of the major categories, and a few fun extra ones.

So tune in for detailed conversations about movies like Anora, A Complete Unknown, Dune Part Two, Wicked, The Brutalist, Nosferatu, Inside Out 2, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, Conclave, A Real Pain, The Substance, The Wild Robot, Kindom of the Planet of the Apes, and more!

Next week: Laci triumphantly returns and we're joined by frist-time guest Austin Proctor of the Frightmares podcast to review Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects (2005).

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps: 00:03:14 — Best Actor (with Kevin of The Reel For Real podcast) 00:39:11 — Best Actress (with Jen) 01:05:08 — Best Adapted Screenplay (with Cinema Coconut) 01:34:28 — Best Original Screenplay (with Cinametic Joshua) 02:19:09 — Best Animated Feature (with Smash Trivia John) 03:00:21 — Best Visual Effects (with Screen Time Kota) 03:23:45 — Best Supporting Actor (with Movie Time With Brock) 03:40:19 — Best Supporting Actress 03:48:20 — Best Director / Best Picture (with Drewbie Doobie's Movies)

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

It only took us eight years but we finally reached 150 episodes. How about that? To celebrate, we squeeze into matching Union Jack dresses and slam our bodies down and wind them all around to discuss Spice World (1997), the notoriously bad (but secretly good?) Spice Girls movie.

To elder millennials, this movie’s a big honking deal, folks, and we pull out all the stops to unpack exactly why that is. And to then marvel at how, of all the directions they could have gone with a Spice Girls movie, this is what they made.

Bonus video: We name our favorite movies about bands, real or fictional. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Our Oscars special, previewing the 2025 Academy Awards with a cavalcade of superstar guests

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:06:13 — Our personal histories with the Spice Girls

00:16:06 — History segment: What is “Cool Britannia”?; a brief history of the Spice Girls; how the Spice Girls made a movie

00:44:12 — In-depth movie discussion

01:17:53 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“How the ‘Spice World’ Movie Became a Deranged, Postmodern Masterpiece” by Sirin Kale | Vice, 2018 - https://bit.ly/41qK2nx

“When the Spice Girls hit Cannes: the inside story of Spice World, 'the worst film ever made'” by Alice Vincent | The Telegraph, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3Qrjdua

Roger Ebert’s half-star review of Spice World - https://bit.ly/4i0PKTB

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

For Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the greatest American love story of all time: Isabella Swan and Edward “The Bad Guy” Cullen. That’s right, after years of threatening to turn the podcast into a full-time Twilight show, we’re finally doing it. For one episode, at least. But how to tackle such an enormous endeavor? Well, we’ve found the two perfect people to help us in our quest: Courtney and Rose from the great Fiction Fixation podcast.

The four of us unpack our different Twilight journeys, discuss the odd figure that is Stephenie Meyer, try to determine the connection between Twilight and Mormonism, unpack the demented sexual politics of this franchise, and, finally, we all confess how much we’d want Edward to bite our necks.

Listen to Fiction Fixation on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/411OKaS), Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow them on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@fictionfixation

Next week: Spice World (1997)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:07:10 — Our personal histories with the Twilight franchise (books AND movies)

00:25:58 — History segment: Joseph Smith founds Mormonism in the 1820s; Stephenie Meyer grows up in the LDS Church, writes Twilight; Twilight-mania takes off and a movie is developed; career overview of director Catherine Hardwicke; brief overviews of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson

00:46:38 — In-depth movie discussion

02:23:43 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Mormon Vampires in the Garden of Eden” by John Grander | Touchstone Magazine - https://bit.ly/4jCSmJ2

“Stephenie Meyer on Twilight, feminism and true love” by Kira Cochrane | The Guardian (2013) -

https://bit.ly/4ggFuoV

“Twilight's Author and Director Talk About Bringing The Film To Life” by Christina Radish | Media Blvd. (2008) - https://bit.ly/4hz5nkY

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

In the history segment from our Patreon-only episode about The Truman Show, Matt and Laci cover:

• How The Truman Show started as a much darker script by Andrew Niccol about an alcoholic, philandering New Yorker.
• When director Peter Weir came aboard he had a few notes—like, why would this show be so popular if it's about a depressing, unlikable cheater?
• Jim Carrey based his performance on his dad, and was at a level of fame in 1998 that he could whole-heartedly understand a man who is literally the center of the universe.

Enjoy this free sample! To hear the entire episode, you'll have to join our Patreon: Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition. Subscribe for $5 a month: https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Source:

“Twenty Years Later, Everything Is The Truman Show” by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair, 2018 - https://bit.ly/41cSW8X

View Details

The winner of our recent Listener Choice Lottery was our friend Monique (of Monique’s Movie Madness, @moniques_movie_madness on TikTok). Her movie? The Legend of Billie Jean (1985). Not only had neither of us ever seen this movie, we'd barely even heard of it. But boy is it a hidden gem. Pure sleazy '80s goodness.

Helen Slater plays our hero: Billie Jean, a 17-year-old resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. The year is 1985, and she’s going up against the many injustices life throws at her, with the help of her spunky younger brother Binx (Christian Slater), the live-action Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith), and a hunky movie nerd named Lloyd (Keith Gordon). Spoiler alert: She wins. But the real winner is YOU, the viewing public.

Bonus video: We each name an actor we just can’t stand. Who can’t you stand?? Watch it on our Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week:

Feb. 12 - The Truman Show exclusively on Patreon!

Feb. 14 - Twilight with special guests, Rose and Courtney from the Fiction Fixation podcast!

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:03:05 — Monique’s history with The Legend of Billie Jean

00:13:00 — History segment: A brief history of The Legend of Billie Jean via original screenwriter Walter Bernstein, director Matthew Robbins, and star Helen Slater

00:20:16 — In-depth movie discussion

01:26:22 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Diane Keaton accidentally inherits a baby. Hilarity ensues. Actually, this isn’t your typical “I don’t know how to change a diaper!” comedy, it’s actually a pretty sweet and incisive look at the demented work culture of the 1980s. This is where Diane Keaton and Nancy Meyers first collaborated, and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Also, this movie has one* cute baby!

*Actually two.

Bonus video: We each submit our favorite baby from a movie. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

2:16 — Our personal histories with Baby Boom

15:35 — History segment: The story of Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, a legendary Hollywood power couple

30:31 — In-depth movie discussion

1:38:12 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

“Life Isn’t Like the Movies (Even if You Write the Movies)” by Nancy Meyers | The New York Times, 2020 - https://nyti.ms/42ycG85

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Louisiana got hit with a historic winter storm and the state shut down. Your pals Laci and Matt have cabin fever and are furious as they haven't been able to go anywhere or do anything all week, including podcasting.

So here's their apology and update on the schedule. We will return in one week with our episode about Baby Boom (1988).

If you are shaking from withdrawal because it's Friday and you need your fix, you can just go to our Patreon and become a subscriber, and then you'll have a handful of brand-new episodes to tide you over until next week. https://patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Thank you for your support of our podcast! Okay we love you goodbyeeeee.

View Details

Get over here to this podcast about Mortal Kombat (1995). We’re revisiting this movie, even after having already covered it on episode 76, because that episode was less than 30 minutes long. And respect must be paid! Director Paul W.S. Anderson knows exactly what kind of movie he’s making here, and the scuzzy mid-’90s vibes are immaculate!

Now, is this movie basically just you watching the video game, but in movie form? Well, yes. But that’s what you bought the ticket for!

Bonus video: We spin the wheel and select the winner of our Listener Choice Lottery™ . Watch it on our Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Baby Boom (1988)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:07: 02— Our personal histories with Mortal Kombat

00:11:18 — History segment: The history of the Mortal Kombat franchise; the making of the 1995 movie under director Paul W.S. Anderson

00:33:07 — In-depth movie discussion

01:25:55 — Final thoughts and star ratings

01:30:11 — BONUS: New song by Matt: “The Real Mortal Kombat… Is Friendship”

Source:

“‘Mortal Kombat’: Untold Story of the Movie That “Kicked the Hell” Out of Everyone” by Aaron Couch | The Hollywood Reporter, 2015 - https://bit.ly/3PEBjbv

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

This is a preview from the Patreon-exclusive bonus episode where Laci and Matt give their spoiler-filled thoughts, analysis, theories, etc. about the terrific Apple TV+ series Severance.

Get the full episode by subscribing to Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition on Patreon for $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/loadbearingbeams

View Details

What if there was a romantic comedy where you were rooting for the evil “other woman” but you didn’t know it? Well, Hollywood boldly went there in 1997 with My Best Friend’s Wedding. And what a charming evil woman we have as our protagonist here, in Jules (Julia Roberts). She’s an utter delight, as is Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). The only stretch here is that either would find anything appealing about this dimwitted drip named Michael (Dermot Mulroney).

Director P.J. Hogan called My Best Friend’s Wedding “a romantic comedy that wasn’t very romantic.” And it is very impressive to see how well the movie balances its many tensions—to have Julia Roberts, the lead, be someone the audience roots for, but not too much; to have her rival Cameron Diaz be able to hold her own against Roberts but not steal the show; and to have the dullard male lead not seem like an oblivious jerk.

Well, it worked. This movie rules. We both loved it. But we need to make fun of stuff, so we do a lot of bad impressions and ask a lot of unimportant questions: Michael and Jules were definitely still boning even when they were “just friends,” right? Why does the movie have to make Cameron Diaz’s character 20, instead of 25 (the age of the actress)? Did people really compose emails and then set them aside for their secretaries to send at the end of the day? And is it okay for a sportswriter who covers the Chicago White Sox marrying the daughter of the team’s owner? This movie is about ethics in sports journalism, is what we’re saying.

Bonus video: We pick the weddings from movies we’d most like to attend. Watch it on our Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: We’re revisiting Mortal Kombat (1995), covering the movie properly this time, because on our old episode we only talked about the movie for a few minutes

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:04:58 — Our personal histories with My Best Friend’s Wedding

00:11:29 — History segment: The career of Julia Roberts; development and production of My Best Friend’s Wedding with director P.J. Hogan and writer Ronald Bass

00:30:09 — In-depth movie discussion

02:05:38 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ Is a Rom-Com You Can Still Talk About for Hours” by Jake Kring-Schreifels | The Ringer (2022) - https://bit.ly/4gDUEWi

“The Oral History of My Best Friend's Wedding” by Seija Rankin | E! Online (2017) - https://bit.ly/3ZYAzTm

From Hollywood With Love by Scott Meslow (2022) - https://amzn.to/3WbQFrY

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Friend of the Show Caleb Hogan finally forgives us for our thoughts on Nacho Libre and makes his long-awaited return to the program. And he’s brought us a fascinating movie: The 2014 Zac Efron/Miles Teller/Michael B. Jordan/ rom-com That Awkward Moment. 2014 feels like it was 1,000 years ago, doesn’t it, folks?

Bonus video: We talk about movies we think will serve in the future as great time capsules for the early 2020s. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NMdQ7APGN7w

Next week: My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

Subscribe to our Patreon, Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition for $5 a month to get two extra episodes! patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Time stamps:

00:03:57 — Our personal histories with That Awkward Moment

00:12:24 — History segment: Brief overview of the careers of Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller

00:32:29 — In-depth movie discussion

01:46:21 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Hello friends. Please enjoy this sample from our brand-new premium episode about Get Out (2017). But to hear it in full, you gotta join our Patreon, a.k.a., Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition.

Here's where you can do that: https://bit.ly/4a1hpB2

Our next regular episode will be out in two days. It's about That Awkward Moment (2014), featuring our friend, returning guest Caleb Hogan.

Happy New Year! We love you, bye!

View Details

In this special bonus episode, you'll join Laci, Matt, and their guest Jay (a.k.a. Cinema Coconut) as they answer completely sincere, totally-not-fabricated questions about that pesky thing we call love.

And, in case you haven't heard, love actually IS all around us, if you just take the time to look. It's in the love an aging pop star has for his manager. The love a bored supervisor has for meddling in the lives of his employees. The love a prime minister has for watching his subjects at the airport.

Happy holidays! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for making this the best year Load Bearing Beams has ever had.

Follow Jay on TikTok (@cinema_coconut), YouTube, (https://www.youtube.com/@CinemaCoconut), and Letterboxd (https://letterboxd.com/J_koala/).

Subscribe to Load Bearing Beams: Collector's Edition, our brand-new Patreon endeavor. Get two bonus episodes for $5 a month! - https://www.patreon.com/loadbearingbeams

Next week:

January 1, 2025 - Episode 142 (Patreon only) — Get Out (2017)

January 3, 2025 - Episode 143 — That Awkward Moment (2014) with Caleb Hogan

Time stamps:

00:01:23 — Letter no. 1: Woman's husband's best friend scares her

00:11:00 — Letter no. 2: Manager wants his employees to hook up

00:18:58 — Letter no. 3: World leader is being bullied by another world leader

00:24:56 — Letter no. 4: Man's sexual partner keeps interrupting sex to take phone calls

00:29:57 — LOVE ACTUALLY movie discussion

01:05:23 — Final thoughts and star ratings

View Details

Ho ho ho and ruff ruff ruff. Scott “The Tool Man” Calvin (Tim Allen) is cursed with hideous Christmas powers and finds himself turning into the eternal sprite of winter. He has only 11 months to get his affairs in order before he leaves Earthrealm behind. Can he patch things up with his estranged son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) before it’s too late? And does he need to watch his back or the elves who work for him will arrange a quiet coup, i.e., drug him and cause him to slip off a roof, like his predecessor?

For the final regular episode of Load Bearing Beams of 2024, we’re joined by an outstanding guest: Movie Talk With Brock. Please check him out on TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.

Bonus video: Laci, Matt, and Brock each name a Christmas movie from the past five years they think is destined to be an all-time Christmas classic. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or BlueSky.

Next episode: We will return on January 3, 2025, with an episode about That Awkward Moment (2014), featuring return guest Caleb Hogan!

Time stamps:

00:08:46 — Our personal histories with The Santa Clause

00:15:55 — History segment: The history of Santa Claus (the mythological figure); the history of Santa Clause (the movie)

00:32:12 — In-depth movie discussion

01:34:50 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

When Matt falls onto the train tracks, Laci hops down to rescue him, but they both get hit by a train, and now they’re podcasting from the afterlife. The first movie up in this Afterworld Era is While You Were Sleeping (1995), the Sandra Bullock imposter/coma/Christmas rom-com classic.

How great is it seeing star-making, lightning-in-a-bottle performances like Bullock’s performance here? How great is this Chicago-at-Christmastime establishing shot footage, complete with extras falling down? How great is it to know that if Laci or Matt realized the other had been lying about their identity for 15 years, they would get over it pretty quickly.

ALSO: We’re launching a Patreon in January! Subscribe for $5/month to Load Bearing Beams: Collector’s Edition for two bonus episodes per month!

Bonus video: While You Were Sleeping inspired two bonus videos!

Favorite mistaken identity movies: Watch on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Favorite Chicago movies: Watch on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: The Santa Clause (1994) with special guest Movie Talk With Brock

Time stamps:

00:08:24 — Our personal histories with While You Were Sleeping

00:12:28 — History segment: Director Jon Turtletaub, star Sandra Bullock, and the making of While You Were Sleeping

00:20:49 — In-depth movie discussion

01:14:05 — Special announcement: We’re launching a Patreon in January!

01:19:30 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“‘While You Were Sleeping’ turns 25: An oral history of the Sandra Bullock rom-com favorite” by Ashley Spencer | The Washington Post (2020) - https://wapo.st/49wbFyY

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!” - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Matt’s brother Elliott returns to the show to help Matt and Laci cover Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. It’s 104 minutes of trying to figure out if Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) is cinema’s greatest sociopath. This movie is a beloved classic to many thirtysomething adults in America, but it is a mess. Shouldn’t the whole movie have taken place at the hotel? Also, adult Kevin McAllister is definitely a masculinity influencer, isn’t he?

Check out Elliott’s gallery The Front in New Orleans, Louisiana, with gallery hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 5 p.m. Learn more at https://nolafront.org/. Follow Elliott on Instagram @elliott_ross_stokes.

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite New York movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Time stamps:

00:04:29 — Our personal histories with Home Alone 2

00:14:18 — History segment: The development, production, and reception of Home Alone and the quick turnaround for the sequel by director Chris Columbus, writer/producer John Hughes, and star Macaulay Culkin

00:33:27 — In-depth movie discussion

01:38:05 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

“Holy Cow, Home Alone Is 25!” by James Hughes | Chicago Magazine (2015) - https://bit.ly/4hxxjGK

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @loadbearingbeams.bsky.social

View Details

Gobble gobble. As previously announced, we have taken the week off. We shall return in one week with an episode about Home Alone 2: Lost in New York with returning guest Elliott Stokes.

Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams. We love you, you're very special.

We have for you here a selection of some of our favorite social media videos that are usually adjacent to the episode of the week. You can catch these in real time by following us on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Time stamps:

• 01:38 — What movie tattoo would we get?
• 07:03 — What movies legitimately scare us?
• 14:07 — What movies do we think are misunderstood?
• 17:25 — Which movie dystopias do we think wouldn't be so bad?
• 21:03 — The Trailer Line Challenge
• 25:43 — Who are our favorite teachers from movies?
• 31:05 — Which movie properties would we like to see in theme parks?
• 35:02 — Who are our favorite fictional movie presidents?
• 38:06 — What are our favorite movies about magic?
• 41:22 — Who are our favorite villains from superhero movies?

Hey! Also, you should check out some of our standalone videos, including:

• Matt explains why Spider-Man 2 is his favorite superhero movie: https://youtu.be/OIAfQc-W2S8
• Laci explains why Longlegs is a metaphor for forced birth: https://youtu.be/CXXt89WCpXA
• Laci and Matt review, with spoilers, the 2024 body-horror film The Substance: https://youtu.be/truppt1QUK4
• Matt regrets buying this blu-ray: https://youtu.be/yxASqDvNrqM
• Matt explains The Brave Little Toaster to you: https://youtu.be/RTqdF-_J5HE
• The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) is one of the most joyless movies ever made: https://youtu.be/slrlKGVwx60

View Details

Smash Trivia John of Smash Trivia Presents: The Gamma Analysis podcast (listen to it on Spotify; follow him on TikTok @smashtrivia) joins us to go over Spider-Man (2002). Director Sam Raimi brought his signature vision and energy to the project and kinda shifted the movie industry into a completely different direction for the next two decades. But how does it hold up as a movie?

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite villains from superhero movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: We’re taking a week off for Thanksgiving. We’ll be back on December 6, 2024 with an episode about Home Alone 2 (1992) featuring special guest Elliott Stokes, returning to the show for the first time since 2018!

Time stamps:

00:02:44 — Our personal histories with Spider-Man (the character) and Spider-Man (the movie)

00:15:04 — History segment: The origins of Spider-Man with Steve Ditko and Stan Lee; development of Spider-Man projects at Sony Pictures over the years; and brief career overview of director Sam Raimi

00:30:27 — In-depth movie discussion

01:47:00 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

The Big Picture: The Fight For the Future of Movies by Ben Fritz (2018) - https://amzn.to/4fzqnHy

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Isaiah, Kevin, and Trevor from the great podcast The Reel For Real join Laci and Matt to go through Quentin Tarantino’s classic Pulp Fiction. The five have come together to explain what this movie’s “actually” about: friendship.

Please support The Reel For Real by subscribing to their podcast on Spotify (https://bit.ly/4ftLevU) or Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/3ZhFzUl), and following them on TikTok (@TheReelForRealPodcast), YouTube (@thereelforrealpodcast6), or Instagram (@thereel_forreal).

Next week: Spider-Man (2002) with special guest Smash Trivia John!

Time stamps:

00:07:48 — Our personal histories with Quentin Tarantino and Pulp Fiction

00:23:47 — History segment: The career of Quentin Tarantino, the development of Pulp Fiction, and brief overviews of the careers of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson

00:42:57 — In-depth movie discussion

01:52:35 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

Down and Dirty Pictures by Peter Biksind, 2004 - https://amzn.to/4eHfsL8

“‘Pulp Fiction’ Turns 30: How Quentin Tarantino’s Masterpiece Saved Careers, Conquered Film Festivals and Changed Cinema Forever” by Todd Gilchrist | Variety, 2024 - https://bit.ly/4hHmaTI

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

We open the book and read from Jim Carroll’s many basketball diaries to find out about his life on the streets with Mickey, Pedro, and Neutron. What a time these little scamps had! Yelling at old ladies, knocking hot dogs out of children’s hands, and barfing on the guy who would later play Big Pussy on The Sopranos.

Oh, but they weren’t all happy days. No, there are dark times ahead for young Jim (Leonardo DiCaprio), and we talk all about it.

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite teachers from movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Pulp Fiction (1994) with The Reel For Real podcast!

Time stamps:

00:04:40 — Our personal histories with The Basketball Diaries

00:13:05 — History segment: Jim Carroll’s real life and Basketball Diaries; production of this movie and the casting of Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg

00:31:15 — In-depth movie discussion

01:16:29 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

"Off the Rim" by Thomas Mallon | The New Yorker (2010) - https://bit.ly/4fdoCja

"Leonardo DiCaprio's Issue With Mark Wahlberg & More Secrets Revealed About The Basketball Diaries" by Natalie Finn | E! News (2020) - https://bit.ly/3NZgDdF

"Mark Wahlberg Was A 'Punk' The First Time He Met Leonardo DiCaprio" by Sasha Bronner | HuffPost (2014) - https://bit.ly/3CeDAqz

Review of ‘Elephant’ by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2003) - https://bit.ly/3CiZtVQ

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Folks, we have an election on our hands. The most important of our lifetimes, many are saying. We are talking, of course, about the battle for the president of Carver High School’s Student Government Association. In one corner, it’s beloved football star Paul Metzler (Chris Klein). In another corner, it’s that do-gooding Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon). And in a third corner, it’s Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell), who just wants to burn it all down.

Stuck in the middle of all of this is one of cinema’s great pathetic losers, Mr. Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), an ordinary guy who just wants to drink Pepsi and watch his porno tapes, but that pesky election keeps calling to him.

This movie rocks and rolls and owns and bones.

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite fictional presidents from movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: The Basketball Diaries (1995)

Time stamps:

00:01:31 — American presidential election predictions, AND the story of the time Laci was most angry at Matt

00:16:52 — Our personal histories with Election

00:20:22 — History segment: The reevaluation of Tracy Flick over time; career overviews of Tom Perrotta and Alexander Payne

00:46:10 — In-depth movie discussion

02:00:45 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Pick Flick: An Oral History Of 'Election,' 15 Years Later” by Matthew Jacobs | HuffPost, 2014 - https://bit.ly/4f4yHz3

“What America Gets Wrong About Tracy Flick” by A.O. Scott | The New York Times, 2019 - https://nyti.ms/4hvnAk0

“How #MeToo Brought Back Tracy Flick” by David Plotz | Slate, 2022 - https://bit.ly/4f9h2Gu

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

We call upon the guardians of the watchtowers to aid us on our journey through the Tunney/Balk teenage witch classic The Craft (1996).

This is the second time Load Bearing Beams has covered this movie. On the fourth episode of the podcast (all the way back in 2017), Laci and Matt made endless fun of it, but this time, they’re making endless fun with it, because, you guys, it’s a fun little movie!

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite movies about magic, whatever that means. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Election (1999)

Time stamps:

00:05:07 — Our personal histories with The Craft

00:15:44 — History segment: Development of The Craft under producer Douglas Wick, screenwriter Peter Filardi, and director Andrew Fleming; casting, production, and legacy of the movie

00:38:30 — In-depth movie discussion

01:32:32 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Relax, It's Only Magic: An Oral History Of 'The Craft'” by Matthew Jacobs and Julia Brucculieri | Huffington Post (2016) - https://bit.ly/40btMYf

“We are the weirdos, mister: An oral history of The Craft” by Samantha Highfill | Entertainment Weekly (2017) - https://yhoo.it/3A57IUL

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Friend of the Show JT the Talking Head (@jt_pettry & @mastersofmatinee on TikTok) on TikTok, Masters of Matinee podcast) has brought us one of the most gonzo horror sequels of all time: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986). Director Tobe Hooper finally returned to his iconic characters 12 years after the original, and he made it into a classic all on its own, while taking a dramatic tonal swerve right into comedy, hijinks, and even more political and social commentary. This movie rules.

Next week: The Craft (1996)

Time stamps:

00:04:27 — Our personal histories with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise

00:16:40 — History segment: The history of Texas; brief career overview of director Tobe Hooper

00:31:51 — In-depth movie discussion

01:42:09 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

Cinemaphagy: On the Psychedelic Classical Form of Tobe Hooper by Scout Tafoya (2021) - https://amzn.to/4dKBYlu

“America’s Future Is Texas” by Lawrence Wright | The New Yorker (2017) - https://bit.ly/4f8oS2m

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

You need to stay away from the light! Or do you? What is light anyway? What is truth, what is meaning, what is words? We try getting to the bottom of all of this by discussing the 2001 ghost movie The Others.

Nicole Kidman is Grace, a young mother who seems to have misplaced her marbles. She’s alone in an enormous house with two little moppet children who can’t go into the light because of an illness [citation needed]. For some reason, she still needs to open the curtains every day and pretend like everything’s okay. Grace, we’re here to tell you: surrender. Keep those curtains closed. Don’t bother cleaning. Adopt the darkness, like Bane. You’ll be happier.

Anyway, this movie rules, and it’s a great contrast from last week’s bloody meta mess movie, Scream.

Bonus video: We play The Trailer Challenge(™), where we recall lines from trailers of long ago that stick in our craw, then watch the trailers to see if we’re remembering them correctly. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) with special guest JT the Talking Head!

Time stamps:

00:06:13 — Our personal histories with The Others

00:18:51 — History segment: Gothic horror; director Alejandro Amenábar; star Nicole Kidman

00:32:19 — In-depth movie discussion

01:29:36 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“The Others: Something in This House” by Philip Horne | Criterion, 2023 - https://bit.ly/3ZOB3x7

“The Others at 20: the haunted house movie that reinvigorated the genre” by Scott Tobias | The Guardian, 2021 - https://bit.ly/4gTeltQ

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

What’s your favorite Screamy movie? Is it Scream (1996)? Is it Scream (2022)? Or is it one of the numbered Screams?

Well, we’re talking about the one that started it all, the first movie to ever acknowledge that other movies exist*: Wes Craven’s 1996 film Scream!

*not true

Is Neve Campbell, who is indeed good in the movie, doing a little too much “face business” in this film? Is Principal Henry Winkler a little too enthusiastic with those scissors? And what kind of journalist is Gale Weathers, anyway?

Bonus video: We discuss the horror movies that actually, legitimately scare us. Which movies scare you? Watch and weigh in on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: The Others (2001)

Time stamps:

00:01:58 — Our personal histories with Scream

00:15:32 — History segment: Postmodernism; screenwriter Kevin Williamson sells his script, originally called Scary Movie; career overview of director Wes Craven; brief career overview of Neve Campbell

00:47:03 — In-depth movie discussion

01:59:43 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Your Favorite Scary Movie: The Oral History of ‘Scream’” by Alan Siegel | The Ringer, 2021 - https://bit.ly/4eoDmLz

“Faster, Better and More Blood: A ‘Scream’ Oral History” by Ashley Cullins | The Hollywood Reporter, 2021 - https://bit.ly/3Bqgr4h

Down and Dirty Pictures by Peter Biksind, 2004 - https://amzn.to/4eHfsL8

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

We take a look at what appears to be a “boob comedy” from the year 2000: Road Trip, directed by Todd Phillips, who makes Joker movies now.

It’s the heartwarming story of Josh (Breckin Meyer), a Boring Guy who cheats on his girlfriend but doesn’t mean it. Josh and his pals E.L. (Seann William Scott), Rubin (Paulo Costanzo), and Kyle (D.J. Qualls) do the only thing that make sense: They head across the country on a road trip to keep Boring Guy Josh’s girlfriend from finding out about his betrayal.

And, you know what, this movie’s pretty okay! But we try to figure out why Todd Phillips says he’s not allowed to make movies like Road Trip anymore because of Woke.

Also, we try to get to the bottom of Tom Green.

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite road trips from movies. Watch it on our Twitter (https://bit.ly/4ejg3TC), Instagram (https://bit.ly/3BiT24y), or TikTok (https://bit.ly/4gHLAjv).

Next week: Scream (1996)

Time stamps:

00:05:37 — Our personal histories with Road Trip

00:23:21 — History segment: Development and production of Road Trip; career overview of director Todd Phillips

00:49:21 — In-depth movie discussion

01:43:56 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“Joaquin Phoenix on Joker, Why River Is His Rosebud, His Rooney Research, and His ‘Prenatal’ Gift for Dark Characters” by Joe Hagan | Vanity Fair, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3zI8I0D

The Men Who Would Be King by Nicole LaPorte - https://amzn.to/3XGCD2V

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Friend of the Show Patrick Perot (bass player for Rural Route Nine, official house band of Load Bearing Beams) stops by to preach the gospel of his favorite movie, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). And he’s right to! It’s a lovely and very funny romantic comedy from back when Hollywood still made those. The chemistry between Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger! The, uh, good efforts given by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larisa Oleynik! And best of all: Krumholz, Krumholz, Krumholz.

A real-life high school teacher, Patrick is also here to school us on how accurate a representation this is of high school. What grade would he give Kat (Julia Stiles) for her sonnet? And how many students has he had to stop from singing a song over the football stadium’s loudspeakers?

Also, it’s a night recording, so Laci’s in her cups. That always makes things interesting.

Bonus video: We talk about our favorite teachers from movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Road Trip (2000)

Time stamps:

00:05:56 — Our personal histories with 10 Things I Hate About You

00:20:45 — History segment: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare; development of 10 Things I Hate About You by screenwriters Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith; director Gil Junger; stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger

00:53:17 — In-depth movie discussion

02:06:12 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

“10 Things I Hate About You: The definitive oral history by the people who made it” by Mireia Mullor | Digital Spy, 2024 - https://bit.ly/479NDsi

“Shakespeare for Feminists: An Oral History of 10 Things I Hate About You” by Carrie Rickey | RogerEbert.com, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3ZxLWmW

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show!

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts

Instagram: @loadbearingbeams

TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9

Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Laci and Matt are off to learn how to be better camp counselors by getting back to basics. Safety. Canoeing. Shooting arrows. Singing “Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley.” Making love and drawing the ire of Mrs. Voorhees. Trying to keep their bodies fragrance free, so as not to attract bears.

On a totally unrelated note, this episode is about Friday the 13th Part 2, Matt’s favorite entry in his favorite horror series. It’s the debut of Jason as the killer, although he still hasn’t quite nailed his look. Still, it’s an absolute blast and a wonderful time capsule of the 1970s turning into the ‘80s.

So put on your little Mickey Mouse shirt and even littler short pants and join us at Camp Crystal Lake… actually, this one’s at Camp Packanack, but it’s all kind of the same.

Bonus video: We share our favorite kills from slasher movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) with guest Patrick Perot

Time stamps:

01:10 — Our personal histories with the Friday the 13th franchise

16:36 — History segment: Brief history of the franchise as created by Sean Cunningham, Victor Miller, and Steve Miner

27:11 — In-depth movie discussion

1:01:01 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th by Peter Bracke (2006) - https://amzn.to/3Ts4jFR

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Support the show! Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Instagram: @loadbearingbeams TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Laci and Matt talk about the 2002 college band-centered classic Drumline, a highly entertaining journey into the world of HBCU marching bands. Nick Cannon is either “great” (Laci) or “perfectly fine” (Matt) as Devon, whose me-first attitude doesn’t quite gel with his teammates on the campus of Atlanta A&T. He is especially at odds with the band director Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones) and drum major Sean (Leonard Roberts). Will they figure it all out in time for the big showdown against the villainous Morris Brown University, whose razzle-dazzle tactics Dr. Lee disapproves of?

It’s a fun and sweet movie and, obviously, we’re shipping Devon and Sean. Get Laila (Zoe Saldaña) out of here!

Bonus video: We share our favorite non-sports sports movies. Watch it on our Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

Next week: Friday the 13th part 2 (1981)

Time stamps:

00:00:43 — Our personal histories with Drumline

00:16:56 — History segment: Music producer Dallas Austin (real-life inspiration for the story) develops the project as a movie; director Charles Stone III and star Nick Cannon

00:28:39 — In-depth movie discussion

01:13:42 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source:

Halftime is game time: An oral history of ‘Drumline’ by Aaron Dodson | Andscape, 2017 - https://bit.ly/3T30CGt

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Follow the show! Twitter: @LoadBearingPod | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Instagram: @loadbearingbeams TikTok: @load.bearing.beams | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9

View Details

Well, the Summer of Spielberg is over, and we say a tearful goodbye with our friends on YouTube. This is the audio from our livestream on YouTube from August 23, 2024.

In the exciting conclusion to the episode, Matt will rank all 34 Steven Spielberg films, and it is sure to annoy you, whoever you are and no matter what you believe.

The show returns to its classic format next week, September 6, 2024, with an episode about the Nick Cannon-plays-in-a-college-band film, Drumline (2002).

As always, thanks for your support of Load Bearing Beams. And an EXTRA SPECIAL thank you to Wade Hymel and TJ Barends for helping us make the "Summer of Spielberg" theme song.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits: Words and music written by Matt Stokes Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass) Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

View Details

The Summer of Spielberg comes to a somber, respectful conclusion as we say goodbye to Mr. Spielberg by prying into his personal affairs and taking a look at his latest film, the autobiographical The Fablemans (2022).

It’s the story of young Sammy Fableman (but they’re not hiding that the Fablemans are the Spielbergs) and his budding love of picturemaking. And we have the perfect guest to help us along the way, as we welcome in filmmaker and physical media enthusiast Paul of Twin Flicks (https://www.youtube.com/@TwinFlicks).

Paul tells Laci and Matt about how Spielberg inspired his filmmaking journey, and then the three discuss the real lives of Steven Spielberg’s parents and how Steven decided to finally stop making movies about other people’s divorces and make one about his parents’ divorce.

And how about this? At 75 years old, Steven Spielberg made one of his best-ever movies.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/ouKRlcanTyw

Next week: We’re taking a week off. The Bonus episode will be a replay of our YouTube Live discussion wrapping up the Summer of Spielberg. And then, on September 6, we’re coming back with an episode about Drumline (2002).

Time stamps: 11:22 — Paul's history with Spielberg and our histories with The Fablemans 32:04 — History segment: The real story of Spielberg's parents, and the genesis of The Fablemans 53:57 — In-depth movie discussion 1:30:30 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

ngineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride - https://amzn.to/3xzYOx1

“Steven Spielberg gave his sisters veto power on ‘The Fabelmans.’ They gave him their trust” by Glenn Whipp | The Los Angeles Times, 2023 - https://lat.ms/3XfTuJi

“Steven Spielberg Gets Personal” by A.O. Scott | The New York Times, 2022 - https://nyti.ms/3WUV4iA

View Details

Hey folks, please join us this Friday (August 23) at 9:00 p.m. EST on YouTube Live. We're doing a live wrap-up show—the season finale of the Summer of Spielberg. Movie rankings, lessons learned... other stuff, probably. Talk to us live!

Visit the link below to view the stream live (or, afterward, watch a replay). Or, before it starts, click "Notify Me" and why not give it a Like as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8pyu7x4Hgo

Hope to see you there!

View Details

What do you get when you combine one precocious wizkid director who’s actually not that young, one cocaine-addled producer, one befuddled Frenchman, one Bob Balaban taking notes, and lots and lots of McDonald’s? You get what is quite possibly the greatest science fiction film ever made, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).

Our friend Drewbie Doobie’s Movies (@DrewbieDoobieMovies on TikTok) returns to the show to gush about one of Spielberg’s very best movies… maybe his very best. It’s the second time we’ve covered this movie on the show, but back in 2018, we only talked about it for about 10 minutes, and most of that time was spent with Laci complaining about Melinda Dillon not wearing a bra.

This is a beautiful, special movie, but it doesn’t seem like it’s as widely seen as your Jurassics Park and your Jawses. So please, folks, give it a chance.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bVPDZKa9dFc

Next week: The Fabelmans (2022) with special guest Paul of Twin Flicks!

Time stamps:

3:41 — Our personal histories with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and our big-picture thoughts on the movie

22:27 — History segment: UFOs; Spielberg in the early ‘70s; Producers Michael and Julia Phillips; Francois Truffaut; the controversy over the screenwriting credit for Close Encounters; the 1980 “special edition” of Close Encounters and its weird McDonald’s tie-in

46:30 — In-depth movie discussion

2:01:03 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride - https://amzn.to/3xzYOx1

You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again by Julia Phillips - https://amzn.to/3STJWBk

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film by Ray Morton - https://amzn.to/3M7JJqo

View Details

Tom Hanks chases Leonardo DiCaprio in one of the most fun cat-and-mouse chase thrillers of all time! And it’s all “inspired” by a true story! As the tagline says, it’s “a true story of a real fraud.” Okay. So how true is it? Well, we looked into it and……. Guys, what we found out is depressing.

Frank Abagnale didn’t do any of the things he claimed he did in his book. You know, the things that are interesting, the things you’re here for. He didn’t pretend to be a lawyer or a doctor, he didn’t forge millions of dollars of checks, he didn’t travel the world as a fake pilot. Indeed, when his book was published in 1980, reporters who bothered doing even the tiniest amount of due diligence were able to debunk his claims. Skeptical reporting has followed Abagnale his entire career. It hasn’t mattered. His story is more fun.

Does that affect the way we view the movie? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/zui8jgp2bqo

Next week: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with special guest Drewbie Doobie’s Movies!

Time stamps:

01:44 — Our personal histories with Catch Me If You Can and our big-picture thoughts on the movie

11:34 — History segment: The REAL Frank Abagnale, and how he never did any of the things his book (and Spielberg’s movie) show him doing; how the movie nevertheless was developed and ended up the way it did

50:06 — In-depth movie discussion

1:48:25 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can by Alan C. Logan - https://amzn.to/4fCIoVN

“Did Steven Spielberg Get His Start by Sneaking Into an Empty Universal Studios Office?” by David Mikkelson | Snopes.com (2003) - https://bit.ly/3YVmTdh

“This ‘Fabelman’s’ Tall Tale: When Steven Spielberg Stole A Universal Office” | Hollywood Outbreak (2022) - https://bit.ly/3AiILoz

View Details

Laci and Matt are off this week, but please enjoy this bonus episode, a recording of our TikTok Live discussion of the Indiana Jones franchise, a companion piece to our episode about Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The show will be back next week with an episode about Catch Me If You Can.

Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams! Get more bonus content from us on our social media channels:

Twitter - https://x.com/LoadBearingPod

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/loadbearingbeams/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@load.bearing.beams

View Details

Laci and Matt are at war with each other like the gunters are at war with the villainous Nolan Sorrento in the Oasis of Ready Player One. And it’s all because they can’t agree on this movie! Is this the first BAD Spielberg movie the show has covered this summer? Or is it another classic?

First we get into the history of the movie, starting with the career of novelist Ernist Cline. From his humble beginnings as a slam poet in Austin to his screenwriting career working with Harvey Weinstein on the film Fanboys, to writing Ready Player One and creating bidding wars for both the publishing and movie rights, Ernie is a true American success story. And then he got Steven Spielberg to direct the thing! Wow! Will Spielberg use this opportunity to do some crucial self-examination about the role he has played in shaping pop culture, in emphasizing nostalgia and sentiment and comfort amongst moviegoers everywhere, keeping them in a perpetual state of adolescence? Or does he just use the cool toys and giant budget to make a really cool-looking movie?

Then: The movie itself. Has there been a wetter paper towel of a leading man than Tye Sheridan? Future megastar Olivia Cooke is right there, man. Give her the reigns. Anyway, enough editorializing. This episode is having some Ready Player FUN.

Next week: Our Indiana Jones TikTok Live will appear in the podcast feed on August 2. We’ll be back with a regular episode about Catch Me If You Can on August 9.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/fYs-nYD7SuA

Time stamps:

00:00:49 — Our personal histories with Ready Player One and our big-picture thoughts on the movie

00:10:28 — History segment: Ernest Cline and his novel Ready Player One, and how the movie came to be with Steven Spielberg; who the heck is Tye Sheridan?

00:29:00 — In-depth movie discussion

01:33:05 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

“Ernest Cline is the luckiest geek alive” by Ellis Hamburger | The Verge (2014) - https://bit.ly/4fgvyMO

View Details

Is A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Steven Spielberg’s best movie? It’s certainly his most misunderstood. A.I. Artificial Intelligence is best remembered as a curious Stanley Kubrick project taken over by Spielberg, and the movie does indeed feel like a strange hybrid of the two filmmakers. But that’s part of its magic, because there is no other movie like this.

It’s a movie all about the horror story that is life. Even artificial life. We are cursed by our bodies and brains, folks. Life is a prison. We are in a cage.

But have fun with David (Haley Joel Osment), this child robot who’s out here looking for love, and his best friend Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), who’s also out here looking for love (of a different kind, wink wink). And don’t forget about Teddy (played by himself), an adorable little animatronic bear who stumbles around after David. These three are on a divine quest to talk to God and ask Him what the hell, man.

Watch this episode in full: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Vs9gXxAUNmmX8gJq76hOg

Next week: Ready Player One (2018)!

Time stamps:

00:01:23 — Promo for our Indiana Jones livestream

00:03:00 — Our personal histories with A.I. Artificial Intelligence and our big-picture thoughts on the movie

00:20:57 — History segment: The short story “Supertoys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss, which served as the basis of the film; Stanley Kubrick’s long history with the project; Kubrick’s death and Spielberg taking the project over; production of the movie

01:00:26 — In-depth movie discussion

02:17:50 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

“From Kubrick to Spielberg: The Story of ‘A.I.’” by Tim Greiving | The Ringer (2021) - https://bit.ly/3WuCwWf

“Regarding Stanley” by Rachel Abramowitz | The Los Angeles Times (2001) - https://lat.ms/3WbbIKh

View Details

Unlike lots of people their age, neither Laci nor Matt grew up with the Indiana Jones films. But at least one of them has fallen in love with the franchise as an adult, especially this first film. The two talk about the origins of Raiders of the Lost Ark on a beach in Hawaii in 1977 as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas built sandcastles together. One imagines they were very well-crafted and functional sandcastles, Lucas’s a little too clinical, Spielberg’s a little sappy. Still, they were good castles, is what we’re saying.

Then the podcast goes very thoroughly through the film, recapping Raiders of the Lost Ark in excruciating detail. Harrison Ford and Karen Allen are great, of course, but Paul Freeman as René Belloq kind of steals the movie.

Watch this episode in full: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Vs9gXxAUNmmX8gJq76hOg/

Next week: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)!

ALSO catch us on TikTok Live talking about the entire Indiana Jones franchise on July 19, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. EST. Join the discusion! https://www.tiktok.com/@load.bearing.beams

Time stamps:

00:02:21 — Big-picture thoughts on the Indiana Jones franchise

00:10:16 — Our personal histories with the Indiana Jones franchise

00:17:19 — History segment: The origins of Indiana Jones with George Lucas and Philip Kaufman; Lucas brings Spielberg on board in 1977; the two hire Lawrence Kasdan to write the script; casting Harrison Ford and Karen Allen; production, release, and legacy

00:46:38 — In-depth discussion of Raiders of the Lost Ark

01:47:39 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films by J.W. Rinzler - https://amzn.to/3LipUfr

Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride - https://amzn.to/3xzYOx1

George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones - https://amzn.to/3XX2rI8

View Details

The first leg of the Summer of Spielberg is behind us, and we're taking a scheduled week off. But we have another curated clip show for you! This time both Matt and Laci are taking you through it. And this clip show actually features like 25 minutes of brand-new audio from Laci and Matt, relitigating the arguments documented in these clips.

We'll be back with a regular episode in one week (July 12, 2024) with an episode all about Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Time stamps:

06:43 — Clip from episode 44 (Hocus Pocus)

15:27 — Clip from episode 7 (Death Becomes Her)

25:42 — Clip from episode 12 (2001: A Space Odyssey)

36:53 — Clip from episode 23 (Back to the Future Part 2)

48:47 — Clip from episode 45 (Psycho)

57:04 — Clip from episode 10 (Drop Dead Fred)

01:08:23 — Clip from episode 15 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

01:18:54 — Clip from episode 77 (Wild Wild West)

01:26:46 — Outro music: Matt's demo for the "Summer of Spielberg" theme song

View Details

Has there ever been a movie better at predicting (hey!) the future? Swiping, pinching to zoom, targeted ads that follow you everywhere, optical identification, and constant facial surveillance? Hey, it’s like we’re living in some sort of Philip K. Dick nightmare! But it wouldn’t be so bad if life could be as fun as the movie Minority Report, Spielberg’s first of two collaborations with Tom Cruise.

This was supposed to be a Jurassic Park-level blockbuster. Instead, it was merely a solid hit. And it’s very well-liked, but Load Bearing Beams is here to tell you it’s one of the best movies in Steve’s entire career!

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/MiEkZQEiEDI

Next week: We’re off! But there will be another curated clip show hosted by at least one of your Load Bearing pals! Look for it on Friday, July 5, 2024. And then, on July 12, 2024, we’re back with an episode about a little movie called Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Time stamps:

00:05:41 — Our personal histories with Minority Report

00:13:42 — History segment: Philip K. Dick and his short story “The Minority Report”; Spielberg’s ill-fated attempt to launch a new studio—Dreamworks—in the late ‘90s; development and production of Minority Report

00:34:18 — In-depth movie discussion

01:59:02 — Final thoughts and star ratings

02:04:20 — Outro music: Matt's acoustic demo for "Dino Lab"

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Source:

The Men Who Would Be King by Nicole LaPorte - https://amzn.to/3XGCD2V

View Details

The Summer of Spielberg continues as Laci and Matt were able to buckle their seatbelts in time for their helicopter could land on Isla Nublar, where they meet up with AJ & Kristie from the In Love With Horror podcast to talk about Jurassic Park (1993). The four team up for a rollicking podcast so good it’ll have you shouting “Hello John!” at total strangers.

First of all, this famous action/horror/sci-fi/disaster epic has like 50 incredible lines of dialogue! So we just spend some time saying these lines at each other. But eventually we get into it, talking about the history of Michael Crichton’s novel and its adaptation by Steven Spielberg. Then we take a close look at the movie, wondering just how bad of a boss John Hammond must be and what exactly is the nature of his relationship with Ian Malcolm.

Also, apparently John Hammond was originally intended to sing a song explaining how Jurassic Park works? Instead they did the Mr. DNA thing, but we would love to hear that song. Who knows... maybe we will.

Please check out the great In Love With Horror podcast on Apple Podcast (https://apple.co/4b80RX2), Spotify (https://bit.ly/3KYfbXe), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/4btwtqp), and support them on Patreon (https://bit.ly/3VV0jzy).

Next week: Minority Report (2002)!

Time stamps:

0:01:29 — In Love With Horror

00:07:41 — Our histories with Jurassic Park

00:28:05 — History segment: Career overview of Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton; overview of Spielberg’s career since 1982; and a brief overview of the production of the movie

00:46:16 — In-depth movie discussion

01:11:14 — John Hammond's deleted musical number

01:52:35 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride - https://amzn.to/3xzYOx1

“'Jurassic Park' screenwriter David Koepp reveals the origin of the film's most quoted line” - by Tom Butler | Yahoo! Entertainment (2019) - https://yhoo.it/3VySSwv

View Details

The Summer of Spielberg begins with Spielberg’s biggest hit, the classic 1982 alien/divorce family film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

Adjusted for inflation, this is the fourth-highest-grossing movie of all time. Beloved by generations, it is a lot of fun, yes… but it’s also some dark, dark shit. Laci explains why it’s always been so difficult for her to watch, even though she knows how good a movie it is.

There is much gushing about puppets. There has maybe never been a better puppet in a movie. And there may have never been three better child actor performances than the brothers and sister in this movie.

Next week: Jurassic Park (1993) with our special guests, Kristie & AJ of the In Love With Horror podcast!

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dFtaf-8wxjA

Time stamps:

00:03:35 — We have a new theme song!

00:05:57 — Our histories with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

00:15:50 — Pre-movie predictions

00:32:28 — History segment: Development and production of E.T. (the character and the movie)

00:58:15 — In-depth movie discussion

01:42:27 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Summer of Spielberg” - https://youtu.be/yglAqqLEaoI

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

“Summer of Spielberg” theme song credits:

Words and music written by Matt Stokes

Performed by Wade Hymel (drums/guitar), Laci Roth (vocals), and Matt Stokes (vocals/guitar/bass)

Produced by TJ Barends, Wade Hymel, and Matt Stokes

Engineered and mixed by TJ Barends at Bare Sounds Studio in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Sources:

Spielberg: The First Ten Years by Laurent Bouzereau - https://bit.ly/4bVwS5T

“Spielberg speaks! Jaws Blu-Ray in the works with no ’digital corrections!’ by Eric Vespe | Ain’t It Cool News, 2011 - https://bit.ly/3VF4MGq

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 20th Anniversary Special, 2002 - https://imdb.to/3KH1wnv

View Details

We're taking the week off as we prepare for the Summer of Spielberg, which starts next Friday (June 14) with an episode about E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. But to hold you over, we have this episode where Matt will take you through some of our favorite moments from our back catalogue.

Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams! The listenership has really grown in the past few months and we want to give new listeners a tour of where the podcast has been and where it's going.

Head over to our YouTube channel for bonus stuff that hasn't been on the podcast feed: https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

Or follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@load.bearing.beams

Time stamps:

02:41 — Clip from episode 56 (The Mummy Returns)

08:55 — Clip from episode 41 (Dude, Where's My Car?)

19:24 — Clip from episode 20 (The Lost Boys)

33:54 — Clip from episode 53 (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

42:00 — Clip from episode 37 (Little Nicky)

45:21 — Clip from episode 61 (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)

51:47 — Clip from episode 52 (Richie Rich)

View Details

Hey folks, here's an audio recording from a TikTok livestream we held to discuss Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge (2001) as a companion to our Romeo + Juliet episode.

Thanks to everyone who attended the stream! You can follow us on TikTok and catch future livestreams at https://www.tiktok.com/@load.bearing.beams

And we have plenty of good stuff in addition to our regular episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

Reminder: No new episode this week. At least not a regular episode. We might have another bonus thing for you this Friday.

The SUMMER OF SPIELBERG begins on Friday, June 14, with our episode about E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

View Details

Love me, love me, fish tank you love me. Load Bearing Beams takes you to Verona Beach, America to talk about Baz Luhrmann’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet. The year is 1996, and two great business families are feuding in the streets, but that won’t stop our two child protagonists from falling in big-eyed love with each other and hastily getting married to please the Lord.

Laci, Matt, and their pal Screen Time Kota (@screentimekota on TikTok) have a lengthy discussion about this candle-heavy movie. It’s beloved by a generation of angsty teens, but does its choice to use Shakespeare’s actual dialogue work on screen? Is young Leonardo DiCaprio’s boyish performance an asset or a fatal miscasting? And how do we feel about all of this as adults who are significantly older than the little babies at the center of the movie? Also, will Laci ever be able to stop making fun of Matt’s English major ass?

Next week: We’re taking a week off to prepare for the SUMMER OF SPIELBERG, which begins on June 14 with an episode about E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/hiiQoRwIBr8

Time stamps:

00:03:35 — Our histories with this movie and Shakespeare in general

00:14:41 — Pre-movie predictions

00:23:03 — History segment: Brief history of William Shakespeare, his play Romeo & Juliet, and career overviews of director Baz Luhrmann and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes

00:34:45 — In-depth movie discussion

01:20:44 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

“Leonardo and Juliet” by Alex Ross | Slate (1996) — https://bit.ly/4bFMZUQ

“Baz Luhrmann Talks ‘Elvis’ with Maureen Down” by Maureen Down | The New York Times (2022) — https://bit.ly/4e2PTEY

View Details

Matt, Laci, and their unnamed dog are on a quest for as much guzzoline as they can carry in this episode covering one of the all-time great action movies, George Miller’s Mad Max 2 (1981).

In this wonderfully weird film that we yanks tend to call, The Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) is enlisted against his will by a ragtag band of oil refinery folks in their war against the dread Lord Humungus. It’s kind of like Casablanca, but after the world ends. And Australian.

Mad Max is Matt’s favorite movie franchise, so listen up and he’ll tell you how this movie is actually politically poignant and emotionally devastating. A grand adventure indeed!

Matt made a six-minute video about how Babe: Pig in the City is George Miller’s most Mad Max movie: https://youtu.be/ah38veX7RSc

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/fEIYAIczSJo

Next week: William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) with special guest Screen Time Kota!

Time stamps:

00:01:50 — Our history with the Mad Max franchise

00:17:33 — Pre-movie predictions

00:22:46 — History segment: Brief overview of Australian cinema in the ‘70s and ‘80s; overview of director George Miller

00:46:14 — In-depth movie discussion

01:23:23 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Your Ambition” - https://youtu.be/ZHudVTCkrQY

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

Not Quite Hollywood - 2009 documentary directed by Mark Hartley

“‘Mad Max’ has lived in George Miller’s head for 45 years. He’s not done dreaming yet” by Jake Coyle | The Associated Press, 2024 - https://bit.ly/3WOVj09

“Myths Shape a Movie from Australia” by Michael Specter | The New York Times, 1982 - https://bit.ly/3yubaqT

View Details

Matt and Laci are mysteriously missing, so this episode is brought to you by replacement hosts Sister Anastasia Killian and Friar Jacob Aloysius Clement, who have the required expertise to talk you through the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg vehicle Sister Act. Is it an accurate portrayal of convent life? Do nuns really have this much fun?

Anyway, the show has lots of praise for this frankly delightful nun comedy. Obviously Whoopi is a megastar here, but how wonderful is Maggie Smith? Honestly, all of these nuns are terrific, they should star in remakes of other movies. Like, wouldn’t it be great to see Nuns in Wonderland, or The Nuns and the Chocolate Factory, or Nun Transformers: Age of Extinction?

Prayers up for Laci and Matt, who we haven’t heard from since all that unpleasantness in Reno.

Next week: Mad Max 2 (we Americans know it as The Road Warrior)

Want to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5XUj0Pm3MbQ

Time stamps:

00:02:32 — Our histories with Sister Act

00:06:10 — Pre-movie predictions

00:09:37 — History segment: Development of Sister Act, from original conception by screenwriter Paul Rudnick to the casting of Bette Midler; career overview of star Whoopi Goldberg

00:30:26 — In-depth movie discussion

01:24:17 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

“Fun With Nuns” by Paul Rudnick | The New Yorker, 2009 - https://bit.ly/4bCDEgq

“Whoopi Goldberg Will Not Shut Up, Thank You Very Much” by Jazmine Hughes | The New York Times, 2022 - https://nyti.ms/3UW1xKd

View Details

As we face the dawn of the new Planet of the Apes, the podcast takes a look at Tim Burton’s ill-fated 2001 “reimagining” of the original classic. Charlton Heston gave one of the most captivating leading man performances in sci-fi history back in 1968, so how does Mark Wahlberg’s performance stack up here? And why is Tim Roth doing... that... in this movie?

The ape makeup looks great though, doesn’t it folks? This is a movie Matt has long contended is “not as bad as everyone says.” Will he stick to his convictions this time around?

The show is joined by its friend Cinematic Joshua (@CinematicJoshua on TikTok) to help us answer these questions and many more.

Next week: Sister Act (1992)

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-XdQPkT1mNk

Time stamps:

00:05:37 — Our relationships with the many Planet of the Apes movies

00:13:34 — Pre-movie predictions

00:25:25 — History segment: Pierre Boulle’s original novel, the 1968 film, and the development of production of the 2001 film

00:43:27 — In-depth movie discussion

01:36:05 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Source:

Tales From Development Hell by David Hughes - https://amzn.to/4aedhMq

“Mark Wahlberg Explains Why His 'Planet Of The Apes' Reboot Failed” by Terri Schwartz | MTV, 2011 - https://bit.ly/3W4lW0K

View Details

We held a Listener Choice Lottery, and the winning selection was 1986’s Howard the Duck, brought to us courtesy of Smash Trivia John. So we dive in—beak first—to unpack the history of this notorious disaster of a movie. Then we go through the movie itself, excruciatingly thoroughly, to figure out if this movie is too sexy or not sexy enough. Plus, a lot of talk about '80s weirdos and how they're not so different from us, when you think about it. And we try to get to the bottom of what exactly this movie is saying.

Next week: We visit Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes (2001) with our friend, returning guest Cinematic Joshua

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c3i2sKcFp7Y

Time stamps:

00:01:00 — Why are we covering Howard the Duck on our podcast?

00:06:31 — Pre-movie predictions

00:17:34 — History segment: A history of Howard the Duck in comics and the production and disastrous reception of the movie, as shepherded by executive producer George Lucas, writer/director Willard Huyck, and writer/producer Gloria Katz

00:30:21 — In-depth movie discussion

01:30:01 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Source:

“‘Howard the Duck:’ The Oral History” by Caseen Gaines | Decider, 2016 - https://dcdr.me/3Wk8BBs

“‘Howard the Duck’ Turns 35: Stars Revisit Notorious Bomb Amid New Fervor for Marvel Character” by Ryan Parker | The Hollywood Reporter, 2021 - https://bit.ly/3xYxw3u

“The Disastrous History of Howard the Duck” by Yesterworld Entertainment | YouTube, 2023 - https://youtu.be/qCvoXrCwrhs

“George Lucas: A Life” by Brian Jay Jones — https://amzn.to/47xTVk3

“Marvel Comics: The Untold Story” by Sean Howe — https://amzn.to/3w2aeJu

View Details

NOTE: Boy do we say some stuff in this episode. As always, please keep in mind that the language on this podcast is rated R. For pirates.

As adults in their late thirties, Laci and Matt are just the right age to play the “teenager” characters in the sexy cult classic Cruel Intentions (1999). Together, your hosts unpack how differently the movie plays for them as adults (funny) than when they were teenagers (deadly serious), and gush over the deliciously evil performance of Sarah Michelle Gellar. Also, Laci finds this Ryan Phillippe fellow very appealing, but we won’t get into that here.

You can put this podcast anywhere, but we recommend the ear.

Next week: We engaged our listeners to program our next episode, so on this episode you will hear us spin the wheel and land on the winner, and react to it in real time. (You have to listen to find out the movie that won, is what I am saying.)

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/ci7L1LG1mwc

Time stamps:

00:03:43 — Our personal histories with Cruel Intentions

00:12:23 — Pre-movie predictions

00:17:42 — History segment: A history of Dangerous Liaisons and Cruel Intentions; brief career overviews of writer/director Roger Kumble and stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Reese Witherspoon

00:30:29 — In-depth movie discussion

01:26:18 — Listener Choice Lottery

01:30:09 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks” - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Source:

“Cruel Intentions cast spills all the details on making the seductive teen drama” by Shirley Li | Entertainment Weekly, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3JAQ7Fi

View Details

Content warning: We discuss the sexual assault allegations against director Bryan Singer.

As adults in their late thirties all around the world gush about X-Men 97 on Disney Plus, we take a look back at a movie widely considered one of the high points of superhero cinema: 2003’s X2 (a.k.a. X-Men 2, a.k.a. X2: X-Men United).

We begin by unpacking our histories with the X-Men and comic books and superheroes in general, then take a look at the serious allegations against Bryan Singer.

We also talk a lot about how surprisingly resonant mutants as metaphor is, and how movingly this movie deals with the metaphor.

Next week: Cruel Intentions (1999)

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/OgKbZ2rxy4U

Time stamps:

00:07:22 — Our personal histories with the X-Men, and comic books

00:15:35 — Pre-movie predictions

00:22:25 — History segment: A brief history of the X-Men; career overview of and allegations against director Bryan Singer

00:41:20 — In-depth movie discussion

01:32:37 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

“Nobody Is Going To Believe You” by Alex French and Maximillian Potter | The Atlantic, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3VSb1XP

"Was an indecent proposal made on Bryan Singer's Apt Pupil set?” by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh | Entertainment Weekly, 1997 - https://bit.ly/3Q3ooAH

“Inside Bryan Singer's Wild Hollywood World” by Adam B. Vary | BuzzFeed, 2014 - https://bzfd.it/3xCmJvx

“How X-Men Director Bryan Singer Found Himself In The Middle Of A Legal Nightmare” by Ken Bensinger | BuzzFeed, 2014 - https://bzfd.it/49BeRrt

“Bryan Singer’s Traumatic ‘X-Men’ Set: The Movie ‘Created a Monster’” by Tatiana Siegel | The Hollywood Reporter, 2020 - https://bit.ly/3U0rerj

“Fox Halts Production on Queen Biopic Due to Bryan Singer Absence” - by Aaron Couch, Mia Galuppo, and Borys Kit | The Hollywood Reporter, 2017 - https://bit.ly/3UhALvj

“Bryan Singer Fired From Directing Queen Biopic After On-Set Chaos” by Borys Kit and Kim Masters | The Hollywood Reporter, 2017 - https://bit.ly/4cRdoQR

“Bryan Singer Stands to Make $40 Million From ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’” by Borys Kit and Tatiana Siegel | The Hollywood Reporter, 2019 - https://bit.ly/3Q2anDn

Egan V. Singer | 2014 Complaint - https://bit.ly/49BVI8H

“Bohemian Rhapsody's Terrible Editing - A Breakdown” YouTube video by Thomas Flight - https://youtu.be/4dn8Fd0TYek?si=ZFVbEQxm2G42eTWg

View Details

Look, you shouldn’t kidnap a woman who has suffered a traumatic brain injury and then imprison her for months, lying to her about who she is in order to get her to clean your house and raise your kids. It’s not an ideal way to start a relationship. That is something we believe. But when you're Kurt Russell and you do it? Well then we're having a different conversation.

We’re talking about the rom-com classic from 1987, Garry Marshall’s Overboard! Plus, a lot of talk about an ass crack and its centrality to the plot.

Next week: X2: X-Men United (2003)

Want to watch this episode? It's on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tWIed_vOamA

Time stamps:

00:04:17 — Our personal histories with Overboard and Goldie & Kurt

00:09:15 — Pre-movie predictions

00:20:33 — History segment: The real-life news story that inspired this script; career overviews of director Garry Marshall and stars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

00:34:51 — In-depth movie discussion

01:42:26 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

“The Forgotten Sorrows of Jane Doe” by Lynn Darling | The Washington Post, 1981 - https://wapo.st/3vRQtEf

“Jane Doe settles in to family life” | UPI, 1981 - https://bit.ly/49ygGVW

“30 Years Later: Why Overboard Needed Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell” by Garin Pirnia | Vanity Fair, 2017 - https://bit.ly/4b94mgr

“A Look Back at Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's Enduring Romance in Photos” by Grace Gavilanes | People, 2024 - https://bit.ly/4aydj2M

“Swing Shift – A Tale of Hollywood” by Steve Vineberg | Originally published in Sight & Sound Winter 1990/91, republished by BFI, 2017 - https://bit.ly/3Q0oWqT

View Details

Howdy everybody. We're still exhausted after our epic Easter Egg Hunt earlier this week. That's right, like Parzival and all his Ready Player One friends, we're Gunters. Anyway, we're taking this week off. We'll be back on Friday, April 12, 2024 with an episode about Overboard (1987), starring that adorkable couple, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

View Details

It’s Springtime for Laci and Matt as film historian Harry Marks (@lobbyintros on TikTok) joins the show to go over Mel Brooks’s first movie: the classic comedy The Producers (1968). Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder give two of the funniest performances ever… but what about the rest of the movie? Is it laugh-out-loud-funny in 2024? Or is it hopelessly dated? Or is there possibly a third option?

Harry’s making great videos about classic films on his TikTok. We’d like to point you specifically to his movie intros (https://bit.ly/3TB6KVV), his series on the Hollywood Blacklist (https://bit.ly/43EsswF), and his series on the WGA strike of 1960 (https://bit.ly/3TYksDP).

Next week: We’re taking a week off. We’ll be back on April 12, 2024 with an episode about Overboard (1987).

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oONRODqNHxY

Time stamps:

00:12:25 — Our personal histories with The Producers and Mel Brooks

00:20:30 — Pre-movie predictions

00:24:47 — History segment: Career overviews of Mel Brooks and Zero Mostel; development and legacy of The Producers

00:42:10 — In-depth movie discussion

01:23:10 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

All About Me by Mel Brooks - https://amzn.to/49l2i3o

Kiss Me Like a Stranger by Gene Wilder - https://amzn.to/3TV8Wcb

View Details

As the world prepares to embrace its new Frozen Empire, lovingly brought to us by the good people at Ghost Corps, we take a look at a movie that was kind of Ivan Reitman’s unofficial Ghostbusters 3: 2001’s Evolution.

Um, so… yeah, this movie is something else, I tell you what. David Duchovny trying to be Bill Murray. Julianne Moore falling down. Selenium sulfide. A magical periodic table. But hey, Phil Tippett did the creature designs! And Seann William Scott’s always a fun addition.

Next week: The Producers (1968) with Harry Marks from Let’s All Go to the Lobby

Watch every episode of Load Bearing Beams on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

Time stamps:

00:03:07 — Our personal histories with Evolution and also Ghostbusters

00:09:24 — Pre-movie predictions

00:16:31 — History segment: The evolution of Evolution; career overviews of director Ivan Reitman and designer Phil Tippett

00:40:05 — In-depth movie discussion

01:34:57 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

“Don Jakoby wrote a science-based thriller but Hollywood had another idea” by Gloria Goodale | Christian Science Monitor, 2001 - https://bit.ly/3Tv6esj

“Who you gonna call? Not Bill Murray for 'Ghostbusters 3'” by Courtney Garcia | NBC News, 2012 - https://nbcnews.to/3x6pxAW

“The Writers Of ‘Evolution’ Reflect On The Film’s Adaptability 18 Years Later” by Josh Weiss | Forbes, 2019 - https://bit.ly/4a245f3

View Details

The week Robert Downey Jr. has finally secured his coveted Oscar, we take a trip back in time. The year is 1993. A movie called Heart and Souls is released, in the aftermath of what Downey must have assumed was his Academy Award for the movie Chaplin (1992). We take a big long look at RDJ's career and also examine the curious '90s phenomenon of angel movies.

Next week: The movie that was supposed to be Ghostbusters 3: Ivan Reitman’s Evolution (2001).

Watch every episode of Load Bearing Beams on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

Time stamps:

00:01:04 — Our personal histories with Heart and Souls

00:08:04 — Pre-movie predictions

00:12:23 — History segment: Career overviews of director Ron Underwood and star Robert Downey Jr.

00:47:41 — In-depth movie discussion

01:43:37 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

"The Star In Cell 17" by Steve Garbarino | Vanity Fair, 2000 - https://bit.ly/48Qsq5W

"More Than Skin Deep" by Jon Wilde | The Guardian, 2003 - https://bit.ly/3wSYusL

"May God Bless and Keep Robert Downey Jr." by Scott Raab | Esquire, 2007 - https://bit.ly/4cinVUH

"Been Up, Been Down. Now? Super." by David Carr | New York Times, 2008 - https://nyti.ms/3IFieT8

"Robert Downey Jr: return of the hero" by Murphy Williams | The Telegraph, 2008 - https://bit.ly/3Vko04f

"Robert Downey Jr.’s Third Act" by Anthony Breznican | Vanity Fair, 2023 - https://bit.ly/3TzEioC

View Details

The written word... that's the real magic, isn't it, you guys? Don't you just love cracking open a great book and being transported to a wondrous world? The Pagemaster (1994) is going to insist that you do love this. Loudly, and repeatedly. Laci and Matt take a look at this bizarre '90s live-action/animation flop and try to figure out exactly what Turner Feature Animation was going for.

There's also a lot of discussion about the sort-of-forgotten genre of made-for-kids-not-families movies.

Next week: The Robert Downey, Jr. vehicle Heart and Souls (1993)

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A8pJpwKGKuY

Time stamps:

00:01:00 — Our personal histories with The Pagemaster

00:10:25 — Pre-movie predictions

00:19:53 — History segment: Turner Feature Animation; career overviews of animation director Pixote Hunt, live action director Joe Johnston, and star Macaulay Culkin

00:32:47 — In-depth movie discussion

01:15:41 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Hey folks, as we announced previously, we are taking this week off due to work requirements. We're coming back and better than every on March 8, 2024 with a brand-new episode about the wild Macaulay Culkin book movie The Pagemaster (1994).

As always, thanks for supporting our dumb podcast. If you haven't already, please check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

And why not check us out on TikTok, where Laci is producing great videos, including her popular 'coloring' series: https://www.tiktok.com/@load.bearing.beams

View Details

In what is quite possibly the most snoogans episode we've ever recorded, we examine Kevin Smith’s Dogma (1999). At Laci's behest, we take our maiden voyage into the View Askewniverse to see what this controversial, transgressive, downright RUDE film has to say about religion, politics, and the state of things in Clinton’s America at the end of history.

Next week: We’re taking a week off. We’ll be back on March 8, 2024 with an episode about (...reads notes...) ... The Pagemaster?

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i67IeCrBlNE

Time stamps:

00:04:19 — Our personal histories with Kevin Smith

00:27:14 — History segment: Career overview of Kevin Smith

00:41:12 — In-depth movie discussion

01:40:32 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Sources:

Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film by Peter Biskind — https://amzn.to/42Q2wOo

Kevin Smith on Surviving a Heart Attack: ‘It’s Like I Got to Attend My Own Wake’ - by Matt Wilstein, The Daily Beast — https://bit.ly/3URl7rp

A Practicing Catholic on the Religious Storm of 'Dogma' - The Chicago Tribune — https://bit.ly/4bRnPDt

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes sit down for a free-wheeling discussion about different approaches to songwriting, creativity, collaboration, and recording. Wade also talks about his experience as a working musician, what going on tour is like, and what it's like to play music on a cruiseship. Then they talk about Wade's great new album Who Said That?

Hear Wade's amazing new album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music (https://apple.co/49xiC29), Spotify (https://bit.ly/3I2SwYE), or wherever else music is streamed. Or you can purchase the album from Bandcamp (https://bit.ly/3I2Syje).

Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z3pf0N858yA

Time stamps:

00:44 — What is a typical day like for a working musician?

05:37 — Wade's experiences playing on cruiseships

08:50 — Van life

11:39 — How have things changed over time for touring musicians?

16:58 — The importance of the producer in recorded music

19:24 — Different approaches to songwriting

22:57 — How did Rural Route Nine's song "Winston-Salem" go from an extremely fast punk song to a slower-tempoed dream pop suite?

29:24 — How does Wade record demos?

36:55 — Who Said That? album discussion

43:06 — How important are lyrics?

51:02 — Wade's song "Letter From Home"

View Details

Hear Wade's amazing new album WHO SAID THAT? on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever else music is streamed. Or you can purchase the album from Bandcamp.

Load Bearing Beams welcomes back Number 1 Friend of the Show, “Jack” Wade Hymel, to reconsider GoldenEye (1995). Wade first brought this movie to the show's attention on an episode in 2017, when both Laci and Matt panned it. Have their hearts thawed? Will James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) catch that falling plane in time? Will the villainous Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) successfully pull off his illegal electronic ACH bank transfer? Will the power of Bond's tender kisses ever bring a woman to climax? Will Laci like any of this?

Next week: Kevin Smith's Dogma (1999)!

Watch all episodes of the show in full on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

Time stamps:

00:05:04 — Fierce debate: Are movie posters part of a movie?

00:12:44 — Our histories with James Bond and GoldenEye

00:29:02 — Pre-movie predictions

00:34:29 — History segment: Brief history of James Bond; casting Pierce Brosnan; career overviews of Brosnan and director Martin Campbell

00:48:04 — In-depth movie discussion

01:41:13 — Final thoughts and star ratings

01:46:19 — Wade's song "Book Off The Shelf"

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

"This Is A Blackout" - https://youtu.be/98Vf3itk2qc

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Hey folks! Laci and Matt here to tell you that we were just on the great In Love With Horror podcast, and you can catch that episode right now! It's a deep dive into the classic 1981 slasher My Bloody Valentine and its 2009 remake.

If you're not already listening (In which case: the fuck?), it's a show hosted by a married couple, the lovely Kristie and AJ. They cover all things horror—movies, TV, games, books. Like our show, their show can go a little off the rails, but a good time is had by all.

You can watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rS3Dt1g_liw?si=5VEJrJ2dq7iCr-Uv

Or else listen to it on Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/48cDqKN

...or Spotify: https://bit.ly/48mzEhM

And why not give them a follow on Twitter while you're at it? @nlovewithhorror

View Details

At the suggestion of our friend StitchAndStoryTime, we take a look at 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. This movie was a colossal hit in its day, and it's got a little something for everyone—tree houses and homemade gadgets and traps for the kids, sword battles for Dad, romance for Mom, and a healthy amount of the Dark Arts for Matt Stokes.

This movie is nuts and we had a lot of fun talking about it for over two hours (sorry/you're welcome).

Next week: Friend of the Show Wade Hymel returns, and we reconsider GoldenEye (1995)!

Watch all episodes in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cu55CX78ga8?si=g2frpAKZeH5xf_nj

Time stamps:

00:06:23 — Our personal histories with Kevin Costner and movies about Robin Hood

00:20:40 — Pre-movie predictions

00:25:00 — History segment: The Robin Hood folklore, movie adaptations of Robin Hood, and career overviews of star Kevin Costner and director Kevin Reynolds

00:37:56 — In-depth movie discussion

02:00:20 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

We head back to good old Hollywood, USA: Golden Era for a look at one of the most beloved American films of all time, 1942's Casablanca.

You hear this all the time about old, black-and-white movies, but this thing feels incredibly modern, and with much to say about the world of 2024. We discuss our personal histories with it, Matt's story of getting into classiv movies after watching it for the first time as a teenager, what audiences would have understood watching the movie in the 1940s that we might not understand now, and, of course, that beautiful friendship between that scoundrel Rick Blaine and that scamp Louis Renault.

Next week: It's a Listener's Choice selection of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)!

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cu55CX78ga8?si=g2frpAKZeH5xf_nj

Time stamps:

00:11:35 — Our personal histories with Casablanca

00:28:01 — History segment: The Second World War, Vichy France, and American neutrality in the early 1940s; the development and production of Casablanca

00:43:33 — In-depth movie discussion

01:33:41 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Source: Inside Warner Bros. (1935-1951) by Rudy Behlmer

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

We take a trip to Montreal, to check in with the mild-mannered Dr. Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky (Matthew Perry) and his scary neighbor, Jimmy the Tulip (Bruce Willis). Can you even imagine what shenanigans these two get up to? We'll tell you all about them in our discussion of the 2000 hitman/dental comedy The Whole Nine Yards.

Most of this episode is a fierce argument about whether or not all the Matthew Perrying Matthew Perry does in this movie is good or bad.

Next week: Casablanca (1942)!

Watch full-video episodes of Load Bearing Beams on our YouTube channel.

Time stamps:

00:03:16 — Our personal histories with The Whole Nine Yards

00:14:57 — Pre-movie predictions

00:18:50 — History segment: Career overviews of director Jonathan Lynn and star Matthew Perry

00:36:33 — In-depth movie discussion

01:16:22 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

We have to postpone our episode this week because of some ridiculous weather events that basically threw our lives into chaos. Here's what happened: It got cold in Louisiana. No one knew what to do, so they shut down the schools, the roads, everything. Three days at home with the kids, unable to work, or think, or podcast. So we have to push back our schedule and do our episode on The Whole Nine Yards on Friday, January 26; our episode on Casablanca will follow on Friday, February 1, 2024.

Thank you for your support of Load Bearing Beams. We love you, bye!

View Details

Once there was a time when Star Wars was just the name of a movie, and not the most toxic subject ever to hit the internet. Well, we yearn for that time, listener... so go with us on this journey back to the Skywalker homestead and get ready to harvest some moisture as we return to the very first movie we ever discussed on the show: Star Wars (1977).

Among other things, Matt reiterates for the thousandth time that this movie should only ever be called Star Wars. You may be tempted to call it something else, perhaps some sort of chronological designation, or a fragmentary expression of some sort of new hopeulness. Resist this temptation.

Also: We unpack why Laci has never been able to get into the original Star Wars movies, and why that is perfectly reasonable.

Next week: The Whole Nine Yards (2000)!

Time stamps:

00:01:51 — Big-picture thoughts on the Star Wars franchise

00:10:25 — Our personal histories with Star Wars

00:22:28 — Pre-movie predictions

00:25:25 — History segment: Career overview of George Lucas and the development of Star Wars; career overviews of stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Alec Guiness; quotes taken from George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones

00:56:46 — In-depth movie discussion

02:01:34 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources:

George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones — https://amzn.to/47xTVk3

Power of Story: Visions of Independence at 2015 Sundance Film Festival (George Lucas interview w/ Robert Redford) — https://www.youtube.com/live/YX-9QCkwHiI?si=7wj7qgLqQhKRLIQo

View Details

To celebrate finally getting to episodes 99 and 100, we're going back to the very first two movies we covered on Load Bearing Beams and give these two classics the full LBB treatment they deserve. First up, it's Dirty Dancing (1988), one of Laci's favorite movies. It's a charming dancey melodrama with some surprisingly poignant political commentary that is much easier to see in 2024 than it was back in 2017.

Matt gave this movie a big fat thumbs-down on his first viewing for that first episode. Have his feelings changed? Can Laci teach him to mambo in time for the gig? And what exactly happened to Baby and Johnny after that memorable summer of '63? Find the answers to all these, and so much more, in our first episode of 2024.

Next week: We're revisiting Star Wars (1977)!

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aWtYOXKQoB4

Time stamps:

00:05:49 — Our personal histories with Dirty Dancing

00:09:58 — Pre-movie predictions

00:16:58 — History segment: The history of abortion in America; career overviews of screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, director Emile Ardolino, and stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey

00:53:14 — In-depth movie discussion

01:51:27 — Final thoughts and star ratings

01:53:38 — Bonus listener question: What were our best ever movie theater experiences?

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Happy New Year, y'all. We're ringing in what promises to be the most cursed year ever with our very first mailbag!

Time stamps:

00:04:40 — What are our new year's resolutions for the podcast and for our movie watching?

00:12:08 — Where's the weirdest place we've made whoopee?

00:12:57 — Which movie or TV show was the biggest waste of our time?

00:19:11 — What was the most surprisingly good movie we've covered on the podcast?

00:22:24 — What movie did someone hype up so much that it ruined the experience for us when we finally watched it?

00:29:58 — What is one movie that takes us straight back to childhood and gives us instant comfort?

00:35:40 — What are our criteria for movies that are not Load Bearing Beams?

00:39:00 — What was the first R-rated movie that we each saw all the way through, and how old were we?

00:42:25 — How many movies named Casino Royale count as official James Bond canon?

00:43:40 — What are some of our favorite recent movies?

00:46:02 — What were some of our biggest fights over movies?

00:48:13 — If we role played, which movie character would we each want the other to be?

00:52:06 — If we had to be any movie hero, who would we be? Same question but villain?

00:57:48 — What was the initial moment/idea that led to the creation of Load Bearing Beams? How do we manage to work well together and also be married to each other?

00:59:52 — Does either of us have a best friend, and if so, what are they like?

01:00:05 — What is our dream crossover or mashup?

01:03:36 — Which movie would we like to see remade as a completely different genre?

01:03:30 — What is our favorite holiday movie?

01:04:40 — What is our favorite movie decade?

01:04:52 — Most underrated movie of all time?

01:06:15 — What's a movie we never thought we would see?

01:08:10 — What are our favorite comedy movies?

01:10:20 — What is our favorite movie genre?

01:11:10 — What are our favorite scary movies?

01:12:09 — What are our favorite '80s movies?

View Details

Fine. Fine. No problem at all. We'll talk about the actual movie.

Also: Happy holidays! Thank you for a great year! We'd normally have an episode coming out on Friday, Dec. 22, but we're taking a break and shall return on Friday, December 29 with a very special mailbag episode. And after that, we're on to episodes 99 and 100, where we'll revisit the movies covered on our very first episode (Dirty Dancing and Star Wars). It only took us seven years to get to a hundred episodes.

Time stamps:

00:02:15 — Thoughts about the new movie Wonka, which we haven't yet seen

00:08:59 — Our histories with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

00:11:43 — Pre-movie predictions

00:23:23 — History segment: Roald Dahl (author of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory), the strange development of this movie and its entanglement with the Quaker Oats company, director Mel Stuart, and star Gene Wilder

01:00:47 — In-depth movie discussion

02:12:06 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources used in this episode:

Roald Dahl: A Biography (1994) by Jeremy Treglown - https://amzn.to/4amizqz

Storyteller (2010) by Donald Sturrock - https://amzn.to/3GRMw44

Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory (2014) by Lucy Mangan - https://amzn.to/3tlQVcB

Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005) by Gene Wilder - https://amzn.to/3RzxG7E

The New York Times - "The Real Story Behind Roald Dahl’s ‘Black Charlie’" by Maria Russo (Sept. 22, 2017) - https://nyti.ms/3uWi3ze

The Washington Post - “‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ at 50: The tender yet terrifying movie that never lost its flavor” by Annabel Aguiar - https://wapo.st/41zpLvC

View Details

When Laci wins a Golden Ticket, she invites Matt as her plus-one for her super-secret tour of Willy Wonka's factory... and she's violating her NDA by bringing you along too! Have you ever wanted to know the functional purpose of the Chocolate Room, where everything is edible? Or why the city of Munich seems to have such fanatical attachment to the Wonka Corporation? And what exactly Mr. Wonka is doing behind those walls, and what his products are doing to our libidos?

And, uh... If you want to hear us actually talk about the 1971 Gene Wilder movie, we have a whole 2-plus-hour episode about coming out on Monday (Dec. 17, 2023) for you. Happy holidays!

View Details

Get out your stapler gun and empty your shitter, because it’s time to look at the holiday classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) in extraordinary detail.

Laci’s seen this film dozens of times, while Matt had only seen it once, decades ago. To prepare, he watched the entire Vacation series, and he has much to say about the merits of the individual Vacation films, despite no one asking him to do this.

Plus, we admire Clark Griswold’s aptitude for concealing his boners and Randy Quaid’s aptitude for lifting giant bags of dog food. Happy holidays, everybody!

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/MNhh7EfxV_4

Next week: We’re doing a very normal episode about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971).

At the end of the month, we’re doing a mailbag. Please submit questions to us. We’ll answer them! Here’s where you do it: https://youtu.be/yzFA8dTPYsI

Time stamps:

00:03:19 — Our personal histories with Christmas Vacation

00:07:45 — Pre-movie predictions

00:18:46 — History segment: The Harvard Lampoon & National Lampoon magazines; overview of writer John Hughes and the Vacation series; career overviews of director Jeremiah Chechik and stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo

00:50:34 — In-depth movie discussion

02:08:53 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM

“Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg

“The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

Sources mentioned on this episode:

Rolling Stone’s oral history of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/xmas-or-bust-the-untold-story-of-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation-173969/

Chicago Magazine’s oral history of Home Alone: https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/december-2015/home-alone/

Art of the Title’s interview with Christmas Vacation opening titles animator Bill Kroyer: https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/national-lampoons-christmas-vacation/

New Yorker profile of Donald Glover: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/donald-glover-cant-save-you

Peter Biskind’s Pandora’s Box: How Guts, Guile, and Greed Upended TV: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Box-Greed-Upended-Television/dp/B0BJ17328C/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peter+biskind&qid=1702012570&sr=8-1

View Details

Matt had Laci watch the “beloved” “family” Christmas-present-hunt movie Jingle All the Way (1996). So… did she have a good time? Listener, she did not. But you’ll have a good time hearing them commiserate about the experience for two hours. Why would a movie cast Arnold Schwarzeneggar to play a normal man? When is it inappropriate to buy a Christmas tree? And wouldn't this movie have been better if the quest for a coveted Turbo Man figure sent Howard (Schwarzeneggar) deep into the seedy Santa-sexual Christmas underbelly of Minneapolis? It's there in this movie if you look for it.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QvybI1j61us

Next week: We’re covering Laci’s all-time favorite Christmas movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

We’re doing a mailbag! Please submit questions to us. We’ll answer them! Here’s where you do it: https://youtu.be/yzFA8dTPYsI

Time stamps:

00:02:36 — When did Christmas start to suck?

00:10:11 — Our personal histories with Jingle All the Way

00:14:33 — Pre-movie predictions

00:20:05 — History segment: The Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983, director Brian Levant, and stars Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Sinbad, and Jake Lloyd

00:40:04 — In-depth movie discussion

01:53:38 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine.

Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

“Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Hey folks! If you hadn't heard, we took this week off (on account of Thanksgiving). We'll be back in one week (Friday, December 1, 2023) with our episode about the Arnold Schwarzenegger family comedy Jingle All the Way, co-starring Future Darth Vader. Thank you so much for supporting our ridiculous show.

Matt's been doing some video reviews of recent movies on our YouTube channel. Check out:

• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - https://youtu.be/C4rMMOPdZ6I
• The Marvels - https://youtu.be/ZIBdcn_c7Zs
• Killers of the Flower Moon - https://youtu.be/9kLdXLaXlsM

ALSO: We'll be doing a mailbag episode at the end of the year. Please send us your questions about movies, episodes we've done, or anything else, I guess. Tweet them to us @loadbearingpod or leave a comment on one of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod

View Details

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t cure its depression. We discuss this sad fact with our friend Drew (a.k.a. Drewbie Doobie’s Movies, @drewbiedoobiemovie on TikTok) by covering a movie he loved growing up, Wolfgang Petersen’s The NeverEnding Story (1984). Yes, this movie traumatized a generation of children, but to look upon it now is to see into an alternate dimension of unbelievable practical effects and puppetry.

Laci, Matt, and Drew have a great conversation gushing over how incredible this movie looks, and also get to the bottom of important questions such as: Why does Bastian spend his day off hiding inside his school? Are Atreyu and Falkor more than just friends? And is Bastian’s dad the most evil character in cinema history?

Please follow Drew on TikTok and check out the great videos he’s making about movies and physical media: https://www.tiktok.com/@drewbiedoobiemovie

Next week: We’re taking a Thanksgiving break. We’ll be back with a new episode on Friday, December 1st, about the Arnold Schwarzenegger Christmas comedy Jingle All the Way (1996).

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9-GgD9eDQxI

Time stamps:

• 00:09:56 — Our individual histories with The NeverEnding Story
• 00:17:01 — Pre-movie predictions
• 00:23:01 — History segment: Author Michael Ende, director Wolfgang Petersen, and the development and legacy of this movie
• 00:37:53 — In-depth movie discussion
• 01:24:28 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode:

• “Winston-Salem” - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM
• “Snake Drama” - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg
• “The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet” - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ

View Details

Friend of the Show Cinematic Joshua (@CinematicJoshua on TikTok) joins us for a rollicking conversation about the cult classic Ashton Kutcher time travel picture The Butterfly Effect (2004).

Laci, Matt, and Joshua discuss the career of Ashton Kutcher, the influence of the Final Destination series on this movie, and the many different time strands this movie juggles, as well as the merits of the conventional Hollywood ending of the theatrical cut and the extremely dark original ending included in the director’s cut.

Content warning: We discuss the movie's depictions of sexual assault and self-harm.

Please follow Joshua on TikTok and check out the great work he’s doing: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinematicjoshua

Time stamps:

• 00:06:27 — Our histories with The Butterfly Effect
• 00:09:52 — History segment: Career overviews of the writer/director team Eric Bress & J. Mackeye Gruber, and of stars Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart
• 00:21:43 — In-depth movie discussion
• 01:44:40 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

NEXT WEEK: We're covering The NeverEnding Story (1984) with special guest Drewbie Doobie’s Movies (@drewbiedoobiemovie on TikTok).

View Details

Man, if you weren't there in the Philadelphia department store scene back in '87, then you just wouldn't get it. Luckily, the movie Mannequin (1987) is here to fill you in: It's a battle of two behemoth stores—the mom-and-pop-owned Prince & Company and the tacky upstart Illustra. At the center of it all is Jonathan Switcher (Andrew McCarthy), a dreamer with a heart of gold who falls in love with a mannequin (Kim Cattrall). Except this mannequin's secretly a real person, inhabited by the spirit of an ancient Egyptian woman named Emmy. Tale as old as time.

Swirling around all of this is a fiery debate between your hosts over whether Andrew McCarthy is a loveable and sweet everyman (Laci) or a translucent void lacking any semblance of charisma or screen presence (Matt).

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AT5pS0Y-TqQ

Time stamps:

• 00:03:08 — Laci's history with Mannequin and why she wanted to cover it on this episode
• 00:05:07 — Pre-movie predictions
• 00:08:10 — History segment: Career overviews of writer/director Michael Gottlieb and stars Andrew McCarthy & Kim Cattrall, and the role market research played in the development of this film
• 00:35:29 — In-depth movie discussion
• 01:34:09 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

NEXT WEEK: We're covering The Butterfly Effect (2004) with special guest Cinematic Joshua (@cinematicjoshua on TikTok)

View Details

We head back to Haddonfield, Illinois for another encounter with Laurie, Annie, Lynda, Michael, Sheriff Brackett, and that wacky Dr. Loomis. That's right, we're taking another (much longer) look at one of Matt's favorite movies, John Carpenter's Halloween (1978). Untouchable classic this picture may be, but Laci was not a fan back in 2017. Surely time has softened her impenetrable heart... or has it?

This film established so many hallmarks of the horror genre that are still used today. But there's so much more to unpack! How did Dr. Loomis not lose his medical license? Did Bob and Lynda put the Jack-O-Lantern next to the bed, or was it already there? And what does Michael Myers think about orgasm equity?

This is our fourth and final entry in this year's collection of Load Bearing SCREAMS.

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/ZXnrev4uFq4?si=vja7UbfyP1DRQSsK

Time stamps:

00:03:17 — According to a recent study*, jump scares are dying!

00:05:38 — Our respective histories with Halloween (1978), including the previous episode we did on it

00:14:17 — Pre-movie predictions

00:21:57 — History segment: The history of slasher movies, plus the development of Halloween and career overviews of John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Donald Pleasence, and Jamie Lee Curtis

00:56:35 — In-depth discussion of Halloween

01:56:44 — Matt ranks the movies in the Halloween franchise

01:57:56 — Final thoughts and star ratings

*Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2023/jump-scare-horror-movies/

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

View Details

Have any movie characters ever been more sinister and disgusting than the Addamses? No. But we can't help but love them anyway, gosh darn it. We take a deep dive into the world of the Addams Family, first going through their long history and then talking about Barry Sonnenfeld's Addams Family Values (1993), the sequel to the original Addams Family (1991) that was a financial disappointment but has since become even more beloved.

Time stamps:

00:21 — Our personal history with the Addams movies and TV shows + predictions

15:13 — History of The Addams Family, from cartoon beginnings through the 1990s movies

43:36 — Discussion of Addams Family Values

This is our third entry in this year's collection of Load Bearing SCREAMS.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=fZxDj8ZWT-2SpxhTUIdxow).

View Details

Is M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002) just a bunch of corny rubbish, or is Matt right when he calls it the scariest movie he's ever seen? We made our longest episode ever to figure it out.

He's seen this movie so many times he can recite every minute detail of it. We talk about weird background characters, the newsworthiness of crop circles, the threat level posed by armadillos, the acute stress one goes through preparing one's house for an alien attack, and so much more.

It's the second entry in this year's collection of Load Bearing SCREAMS. Ghost scaring beams. Boo!

Watch this episode in full: https://youtu.be/DqMs7tstGZ8

And head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

View Details

For the first time on our show, we're revisiting a movie we already covered. It's Tim Burton's second feature, 1988's Beetlejuice. Matt didn't like this spooky haunted house classic back in 2017, but does he feel any differently all these years later? And how complicated were stereo instructions, anyway? To answer these questions and many more, we devote about three times as much time talking about the movie as we did the first time around.

Time stamps: 00:01:27 - Why we're doing an episode on Beetlejuice (again) 00:07:27 - Our histories with Beetlejuice 00:13:39 - Pre-movie predictions 00:17:35 - History segment: the writing, development, and production of Beetlejuice; career overviews of Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Winona Ryder; adaptations and the upcoming Beetlejuicesequel 00:45:57 - In-depth discussion of the movie Beetlejuice 01:36:28 - Final thoughts and our star ratings; Matt's ranking of Tim Burton's films

Want to watch this episode? Head to https://youtu.be/b-5Oi3H_xGM, and while you're at it, SUBSCRIBE to see a new, full-video episode every week. Plus lots of other fun stuff!

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

View Details

The fifties, baby. We're taking a look at 1998's Pleasantville, which takes a look at a 1950s America that never was, and always will be. This movie, marketed as a comedy, is actually a pretty serious look at fascism, oppression, and forced conformity, and would it surprise you to hear its message is still relevant today? We thought we were past all of that!

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? My friend, we have great news for you. https://youtu.be/zxqnO4vW4CY

And while you're at it, head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=fZxDj8ZWT-2SpxhTUIdxow).

View Details

The nineties, baby. We're getting into it over Romy & Michele's High School Reunion (1997), which sees Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino as the attractive women version of Beavis and Butt-Head trying to persuade their former high school classmates that they invented Post-Its. But beneath this sweet and pleasant comedy lurks something far more sinister. Is this actually a toxic, co-dependant friendship that's imprisoning both Romy and Michele? Would their lives be better if they actually stayed split up after their Tucson road trip? And why would anybody ever want to go to their high school reunion?

Content warning: We discuss the sexual abuse allegations against both Woody Allen and Harvey Weinstein.

Much of the history we cover in this episode is sourced from Vogue's 2022 oral history of "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" by Keaton Bell, which you can read here: https://www.vogue.com/article/an-oral-history-of-romy-and-micheles-high-school-reunion

Want to watch our show on YouTube? Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=fZxDj8ZWT-2SpxhTUIdxow).

View Details

Come on down to our podcast and have yourself a time. Laci and Matt have a long conversation about the 1999 Trey Parker-helmed South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. We go step by step through the movie and its history, as well as the larger history of the South Park TV series and how our relationships with it have changed over time.

It's not easy spinning an animated show off into a big screen movie—you have to appeal to existing fans while bringing in new ones, and tell a story worthy of a big budget and an extended running time. So, does this movie pull it off? We compare it to The Simpsons Movie, Beavis & Butt-Head Do America, and The Bob's Burgers Movie to see how it well it holds up.

Hey, we have a full video version of this episode up on YouTube. https://youtu.be/gedWc8El0Ig?si=e4zk7bw7LjoSeKQc

View Details

Hey folks, we planned on having a new episode out today, but the summer is kicking our asses and we are basically punting on the rest of it. Our tentative plan is to resume a new-episode-every-week schedule once school starts and we get more schedule flexibility. So, August 18. Thanks for sticking with us, we've really enjoyed doing the new episodes this year and want to do more of them.

View Details

We're in the midst of our Summer of Calamities but we only have a month or so left of it. So this is an off week for Load Bearing Beams, but we'll be back on Friday, July 21, 2023. It'll be a Matt movie episode, and he's currently choosing between two different late-1990s movies based on popular animated television shows: The Rugrats Movie and South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut. Basically the same movie.

Here then is our schedule for the next month:

Friday, July 21, 2023 - Episode 86

Friday, July 28, 2023 - Episode 87

Friday, August 4, 2023 - Episode 88

Friday, August 11, 2023 - no new episode

View Details

Laci and Matt discuss 1996's divorced women picture The First Wives Club, where Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn rekindle their college-era friendship and then something something get back at all of the world's scummy ex-husbands? We're not sure either, but this is a rollicking good time discussing this really funny '90s hit. A lot of time is spent debating how the closing musical number makes each of us feel.

Want to watch this episode? Check it out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aGmlo0BafxM

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://bit.ly/42vff7s

View Details

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who just wants to fly around in big jet airliners and accrue miles, but will his heart get in the way?? Find out with us as we discuss Up In the Air (2009), director Jason Reitman's follow-up to his massive hit Juno (2007). This movie packs a lot of stuff in, and we address it all—how it feels to get fired, why Laci hates George Clooney's stupid face, and what's the deal with the food they're serving up there.

Want to watch this episode? Head over to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeams2747

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://bit.ly/42vff7s

View Details

Join us, dear listeners, at the Whistle Stop Cafe, where Idgy, Ninny, Buddy, Grady, Little Buddy, Smokey, Big George and all your best pals are waiting to cook you up a plate of Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), a tale of southern-fried romance and deadly train accidents.

In a wide-ranging, free-wheeling, railroad-riding discussion, Laci and Matt unpack this movie and the many questions it raises. Why does Jessica Tandy harass strangers at the nursing home? What about Mary-Louise Parker's pill-addled energy in this movie do we find so appealing? And how is Kathy Bates's character Evelyn like Jigsaw from the SAW movies?

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dOtrdyksrwY

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://bit.ly/42vff7s

View Details

Hey folks! Load Bearing Beams here with an update for you: We'll be back with a brand-new, full-length episode in one week (June 23, 2023). That episode will be on the film Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), so get ready now by watching it. The schedule through the rest of our season will then be as follows:

June 23 — Episode 83: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

June 30 — Episode 84: Pearl Harbor (2001)

July 7 — Episode 85

July 14 — Off-week

July 21 — Episode 86

July 28 — Episode 87

August 4 — Episode 88

View Details

We unpack Matt's lifelong fear of crocodilians by taking a look at 1999's big budget B-movie spectacular, Lake Placid. Is this schlocky special effects extravaganza just a Jurassic Park ripoff, or a sly commentary on the genre with a brilliant cast (Bridget Fonda, Brendan Gleeson, Oliver Platt, Bill Pullman, and Betty White) operating at the top of their game interacting with a killer croc made by a master of practical creature effects (Stan Winston) and directed by a guy (Steve Miner) who seems to know what he's doing? Spoiler: It's the latter. This movie RULES. We were as surprised as you will be.

Want to watch this episode? Head over to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeams2747

Catch our most recent video episode, on Howard Stern's Private Parts: https://youtu.be/vift8VSjRsM

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://bit.ly/42vff7s

View Details

Laci picked the Howard Stern movie Private Parts (1997) for this episode, so we thoroughly discuss this odd but very charming film and try to figure out what it's really trying to say. Laci unpacks her history with Howard Stern, which literally involves her listening to his show in class via large headphones hidden by a hoodie. And Matt goes on a too-long solliloquy about his favorite radio show, the Dan Le Batard Show, and how it parallels Howard Stern's show.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vift8VSjRsM

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=OaGVYO8bSGagHzf-fOVABQ

View Details

The other members of Matt's band Rural Route Nine join the show for a classic two-movie Load Bearing Beams therapy session. Wade Hymel triumphantly returns to the show to convince the gang of the merits of the 2000 Ben Stiller/Robert DeNiro comedy Meet the Parents, while Patrick Perot presents The Blair Witch Project (1999) for consideration.

We discuss the history of found footage horror movies, being fooled into thinking The Blair Witch Project was real back in 1999, whether it's possible to make any sense of the Blair Witch lore, and whether any good horror movies were made in the 2000s. That plus an extensive discussion of the obscure low-budget Meet the Parents from 1992 on which the Ben Stiller film was based, the smokiness of Blythe Danner, and why this movie really should have been a romantic comedy about Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes falling in love with each other.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VemICqDy70A

Rural Route Nine has an album out! You can listen to the whole thing on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=gb6jmXNDQaOAKwgCMmUPPg) and on YouTube (https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=78Ru_JYaTACs-mbnohoV-w).

Time stamps:

0:03:30 — The Blair Witch Project

0:39:08 — Meet the Parents

1:24:32 — "Your Ambition" by Rural Route Nine

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine.

View Details

(Do keep in mind that this podcast is rated R for utterly filthy language.)

Well hi there, partner. Load Bearing Beams is back for season 2 with a long and free-wheeling discussion of Grease 2 (1982). This famously bad (but maybe it's not so bad?) sequel to the 1978 smash was an enormous flop upon release, but it has built quite a cult following over the years. We break it down, plus talk extensively about the first Grease movie and the different versions of the stage musical that preceded it. Plus we get to the bottom of whether the T-Birds and Pink Ladies in either of these movies actually like each other, and what Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield) is really up to down in that bomb shelter.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6DRCIWgRdHw

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine (Wade Hymel and Matt Stokes). Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3oj7ZSGqfnZTtTlXa1fyeo?si=OaGVYO8bSGagHzf-fOVABQ

View Details

Is this the most forgotten movie we've ever covered? Probably. But if you don't listen to this episode, we'll make fun of you, dweeb. 

View Details

Laci and Matt unpack the movie and music career of Will Smith, the biggest movie star of his generation, and the notorious disaster that is 1999's Wild Wild West. Is this movie really the calamity everyone says it is? Listen to find out. 

View Details

We prepare to enter the tournament that is the 1995 adaptation of Mortal Kombat. 

Time stamps:

• What are our relationship dealbreakers when it comes to both food and movies? [2:04]
• Is Homer Simpson the most iconic TV character of all time? [08:43]
• We react to the Oscars [09:55]
• Matt returned to the movie theater for the first time in 14 months and immediately regretted buying popcorn [20:08]
• Laci tries to name Mortal Kombatcharacters [23:22]

View Details

Call in the Insane Clown Posse, because this episode is twisted.

Please forgive the audio issues on this one. :(

View Details

It's Roth v. Stokesin this episode. The gloves are off. Fisticuffs. A brawl for all. A royal rumble. Malice at the Palace. We got a donnybrook on our hand, folks, because Laci thinks the Roland Emmerich-Matthew Broderick Godzilla (1998) is the worst movie Load Bearing Beamshas ever covered, while Matt thinks it is merely bad. Who will prevail? Matt's brother Elliott and sister Maggie stop by eventually (at the 1 hour, 4 minutes mark) to help settle the whole ordeal. 

Other topics covered include:

• Laci and Matt have both now received the COVID vaccine
• Matt suspects a boomer is sending him conspiracy theory videos in response to his advocacy for the vaccine on Facebook
• The history of the Godzillafranchise
• Why neither Laci nor Matt cares for Matthew Broderick
• The Green Day song "Brain Stew"
• Why Independence Day is good but Godzillais bad
• Why this Godzillais bad, but still probably the best American-made Godzillamovie (Yes, it's better than the 2014 Gareth Edwards movie, is what we're saying.).

View Details

Elvis was a hero to Laci, but he never meant s*!@ to Matt.

When your two hosts first started dating, Laci asked Matt a fundamental question: "Are you an Elvis person, or a Beatles person?" Matt thought it was a nonsensical question. What kind of person would choose Elvis over the Beatles? His future wife, that's who! 

And so. We were going to pick an Elvis Presley movie for this episode and use it as a springboard to talk about Elvis in general, and see if Laci could persuade Matt to warm up to him. But, after watching a four-hour documentary on the man and doing a deep dive into his music, we decided to skip the feature film and just talk about Elvis.

You'll love this episode so tender, you will!

The discussion covers:

• Elvis Presley: The Searcher - HBO documentary
• Why we're always bummed when our favorite podcasts have guests
• Sexual assault allegations against Marilyn Manson, a person we inexplicably talk about a lot on this show but now must recognize as a piece of shit
• Non-fungible tokens
• Death certificates
• Our 2013 trip to Graceland
• Why Laci feels judged by infants, dogs, and Billie Eilish

View Details

A very cranky Matt and Laci discuss the 2009 man-playin'-God thriller Splice. Topics covered include: TV vs. movies, bioethics, children, parenting, Koko the gorilla, plus an extensive breakdown of this movie's opening credits.

View Details

Celebrate this weekend with your very-much-alive-thank-you pals Laci and Matt, who are discussing the 1989 comedy classic Weekend At Bernie's (1989). 

View Details

Because he saw Red Dragon(2002) before he saw The Silence of the Lambs, a young and idiotic Matt thought it was just plumb terrific, and so he and his bride review it on this episode, which features extension discussion of the entire Hannibal Lecter/Thomas Harris universe (except for the television show Hannibal). 

View Details

This one's a jazz set, a lazy river. Let the conversation take you where it's gonna take you, ya know? 

Topics covered:

• Waterparks
• Whether or not talking about food is interesting
• The merits of the Foo Fighters
• The TV show The Crown
• The merits of a system of government wherein the head of state and head of government are separated

View Details

Another of Laci's faves is a cult classic from the '90s: 1999's Jawbreaker, the tale of three popular girls who accidentally murder their friend and then clumsily cover it up while also navigating the minefield that is high school. But about half of this episode is Matt explaining why he is disgusted by candy and how hard it was for him to watch this movie given the prominence of the titular Jawbreaker. 

View Details

Deploy your cowcatcher and join Laci and Matt as they unpack Buster Keaton's action-comedy classic, The General(1927). Often considered the greatest of all silent films, it is undoubtedly an impressive technical achievement... but can the jaded and cynical people of today enjoy a movie like this 100 years later after it was made? Listen and find out. 

View Details

Your favorite podcast hosts who are married to each other and talk about movies that they loved when younger but haven't seen in a long time and are concerned might not hold up to the scrutiny and cynicism that is aging return to discuss the classic 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber. 

Matt's distaste for 1990s Jim Carrey has been well explored on this show, but will he be won over this time around? Or will Laci have to eat a headless parakeet and admit that the film just isn't very good?

You could cut the tension with a knife, folks. 

View Details

Laci and Matt unpack the movie Network(1976), a movie that predicted that one day, the television news would be kind of silly. Can you even imagine? 

View Details

Laci and Matt didn't watch a proper Load Bearing Beams movie for this episode, so they instead reflect on all the TV and movies they've been watching recently: Munich, The Post, JFK, Nixon, Spotlight, The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment, I Know That Voice, High Score

PLUS:

• Two separate stories about being scammed
• A story about Laci's appearance at a meeting of the New Orleans Historical Landmark Commission
• Laci has a fantasy wherein she talks her way out of a mental institution.
• Matt's favorite and least favorite movies that Laci has picked, and Laci names her favorite and least favorite movies that Matt has picked for the show

View Details

Are you ready to get twisted? Wicked? Witch-tisted? Some of those? Then grab your woz-blomkers and fiz-tizzlers and mouse-growsers and dog droppings and catch this quintessential "child's horror" film, 1990's The Witches. 

View Details

I've heard of a doll, but a killer doll??!! 

We examine 1988's Child's Play, the debut entry in the eternal Chucky franchise about an expensive doll inhabited by the spirit of a voodoo-practicing serial killer. 

View Details

It's the movie that broke Matt Stokes: 1994's "family" "comedy" Clifford, in which a man in his mid-thirties, Martin Short, plays a 10-year-old boy. Can you imagine??? Matt and Laci have a fierce argument over this cult classic. 

View Details

Hey people, our new episode about the movie Clifford(the one where Martin Short plays a child) will be out on Monday (Aug. 3). Until then, enjoy this classic from the archives. 

View Details

Laci and Matt examine the great screwball comedy My Man Godfrey(1936), a film in which Carole Lombard gives what Matt calls one of the great comedic performances in the history of film. Is he right, or is he just a snooty snobby snob who pretends to like old things?

If you don't like old movies, we also have a lengthy discussion of whether or not Maggie Simpson is a character, and how she would rank among the great Simpsonscharacters if so. That discussion can be found at minute 49. 

View Details

Come on down south—to the Bayou, mayhaps?—to open the book and learn about the Ya-Yas and their many divine secrets in Laci's movie of the week: 2002's Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. 

View Details

The Beams are back in town to discuss James Cameron's sci-fi/action classic, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. And the first Terminatormovie too.

Topics addressed:

• Whether or not free will is a thing
• Laci is distracted by Sarah Connor not wearing a bra
• Problems with time travel
• The inevitable invention of an artificial superintelligence that destroys us all
• Whether you can be on your phone while watching a movie
• A scary thing that happened to Laci and Matt's kid
• Whether Edward Furlong is good
• If you can't change your own universe via time travel, but you can create alternate universes that spring from the events you influence, should you care?

View Details

Travel back with us to 1998. Your guides? The Two Eds... Norton and Furlong, of course! They're your stars of American History X! Exclamation points will make this episode seem more fun than it is! 

View Details

The Beams household turns its eye toward Joe Dante's 1998 action-toy picture Small Soldiers. This podcast addresses a number of questions, including:

• How many times do you have to hear a song before you can judge its quality?
• With Disney re-theming Splash Mountain to tell the story of The Princess and the Frograther than Song of the South, what other Disney-owned intellectual properties would you like to see represented in the theme parks?
• What's Joe Dante's deal? Why does he love creatures so much?

All that, plus Matt explains how Small Soldierspredicted the Iraq War.

View Details

Laci chose Serial Mom, a 1994 movie directed by John Waters and starring Kathleen Turner as a mom who's also record scratch a serial killer??

We won't beat around the bush: This movie rules! And so does this episode, because we discuss:

• The algorithms are getting better by the day
• Matt's troublesome relationship with food
• Suburbia? More like, Conformia!
• Remember video stores?
• Celebrity murder trials
• ...AND MORE!

View Details

Matt accidentally opens an evil, cursed book, unleashing a plague upon the Beams household in the form of The Mummy Returns. The only way to undo the curse is to thoroughly discuss the 2001 film starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. They discuss the history of the Mummyfranchise, from its roots in the Universal Monster movies of the 1930s, to the mid-budget action pictures of the '90s and '00s, to the ill-fated Dark Universe of 2017. But it all comes back to one widely disliked sequel that Matt watched repeatedly as a youth and, to his surprise, still loves. 

This episode references a video essay about The Mummyby YouTuber Josh Keefe: https://youtu.be/jajqS_f9ZXQ

It also quotes extensively from, "What Ever Happened to Brendan Fraser," a GQ article from 2018 by Zach Baron. Read that article here: https://bit.ly/2Yougcg

PLEASE support organizations (such as Color Of Change) that fight against racial injustice and police brutality. #blacklivesmatter

View Details

Please contribute to causes that advance social justice, especially in the place you live. We are proud to support New Orleans Safety and Freedom Fund, which is providing bail relief to people arrested right now for protesting police brutality. #blacklivesmatter

Load Bearing Beamswill resume its regular schedule with an episode about The Mummy Returns(2001) next Friday (06.12.2020).

View Details

Laci and Matt get sucked into a tangent universe, where they have to discuss Richard Kelly's 2001 time travel/prep school thrillerdrama Donnie Darko. Who is Donnie Darko, and why is he so dark? Plus, lots of discussion about time travel, dyslexia, and dads laughing at inappropriate times.

View Details

By a listener's suggestion, Laci and Matt discuss 1988's animated/live-action/neo-noir PG-rated sex comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The whole gamut of topics is covered, including:

1) Roger Rabbit's star power (Is Roger Rabbit supposed to be as famous and popular within the reality of the film as Bugs Bunny was in our reality? And if so, how popular was Bugs himself within the Roger-verse?)

2) Kids' ability to just watch movies and not need to have everything explained to them

3) Animators don't get the credit they deserve

4) The bizarre cultural artifact that is Cool Worldand animated movies that look like kids' movies but are actually aimed at adults

5) Matt has a controversial take on how great a movie this is

All that and much more! 

Also, this video essay by Patrick (H) Willems is mentioned in the episode, and is highly recommended: https://youtu.be/JKe8qCzPdkI

View Details

In this very special episode of the show, Laci and Matt team up to take a look at a movie that holds a special place in both their hearts: Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994). They learn that Macaulay Culkin was depressed during the making of the film and that it sent him into retirement, and that the film has spawned a robust fan theory community on Reddit. They share of their favorite theories and much more in this gold nugget of an ep.

View Details

Hello, friends. To honor the mothers of the world this weekend, we're covering a movie about the best mothers in the animal kingdom: crows. In addition to discussing The Crow(1994) and the tragic death of Brandon Lee, Laci dives into her mysterious past as a goth kid. Plus a detailed breakdown of the career of the professional wrestler Sting as well as the fall of the Roman Empire. All of that and a discussion of movies Laci and Matt have pretended to like to seem cool.

(Sorry about the spotty audio in some of this. It's not a giant deal, but there's some weird echo-y stuff.)

View Details

Matt reached far back into his past to grab this VHS classic. He couldn't wait to see Laci's reaction to the second live-action Turtlesfilm. It's pure distilled nineties action, dude! The result: Divorce? Hope it was worth it.

View Details

Hop in a time machine folks, and do the Bartman with us all the way back to the early 1990s, a time when Steve Martin could semi-convincingly play a normal family man just trying to make it in this crazy world on a 9-figure annual salary. Laci and Matt examine both Father of the Bride(1991) and Father of the Bride Part 2(1995), plus share the heart-warming story of their own engagement and matrimony.

PS: Thanks to Wade Hymel for re-doing our theme song! 

View Details

For the sixth or seventh time, Load Bearing Beamsreturns after a lengthy hiatus. For real this time! Laci and Matt discuss the 2013 Brad Pitt zombie movie World War Z and Matt's associated love of the apocalypse. Plus an analysis of what the 2011 film Contagiongets right and wrong about pandemics, and much more.

View Details

Laci and Matt end their hiatus and return to the podcast by first explaining their family news that partially explains the long absence. Then, they go into all three of Pixar's Cars movies in excruciating detail. Fiery arguments ensue. For example: Both agree that Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) is a jerk, but they disagree about why. Matt defends the much-maligned Cars 2 and the character of Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), while Laci makes her case for Cars 3 as the best of the series. They've seen these movies way more than you have.

Time stamps:

Cars - 14:55

Cars 2 - 38:00

Cars 3 - 44:50

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you. Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com Twitter: @LoadBearingPod YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

TGIF, right? Working hard or hardly working? On an all-new episode of the podcast, in an episode Matt calls "Mystic Stirrer" and Laci calls "The Tale of Two Bacons," the Splendid Spouses discuss Stir Of Echoes, the movie from 1999 about a creepy kid who sees ghosts that isn't The Sixth Sense. Then, it's more hardscrabble workin' folk in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River (2003). Time stamps: Matt got hearing aids - 0:00 Stir of Echos - 10:35 Mystic River - 27:00 Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you. Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com Twitter: @LoadBearingPod YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

We may all go a little mad sometimes, but one thing that won't drive you PSYCHO is listening to this podcast about Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 shock-tastic thrills-a-minute slasher joint. Happy Halloween.    Time stamps: Psycho: 12:00 Best horror movie decades: 36:20   Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.   Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com   Twitter: @LoadBearingPod YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

In an extra-scary episode of the show, Laci "R.I.P." Roth and Matt CHOKES talk about the classic Disney Halloween film Hocus Pocus (1993). But wait... classic? This pile of garbage? Also, hear our abbreviated thoughts on What's Eating Gilbert Grape in lieu of an actual episode on the film, and then we review Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. Time stamps: Hocus Pocus: 01:29 What's Eating Gilbert Grape?: 37:50 The Haunting of Hill House: 41:38 Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you. Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com Twitter: @LoadBearingPod YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

When Matt was in college, he took a film class where the professor showed Danny DeVito's The War Of The Roses(1989), a movie in which an affluent couple go through a bitter divorce. At the end of the movie the professor asked who in the class sided with Michael Douglas, and who sided with Kathleen Turner. The divide split evenly on gender lines—the women sided with Turner, the men with Douglas. So what now does a man/woman married couple think of this movie? Are they destined to divide like the college students, and head for a War of their own? 

Also: They discuss the hype for A Star Is Bornand predict how much they'll like it. 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

It's a Steven Spielberg double-header as Laci and Matt pit their cherished, beloved load-bearing beams against one another. 

First up: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) whose title, we all know, refers to a physical interaction with an alien. We all know this. 

Then it's The Color Purple(1985), whose title, as we all know, refers to naturally occurring purple. We all know this. 

Time stamps:

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind(9:43)

The Color Purple(33:16) 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Get shibby with us as we discuss Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) and all its fascinating and devastating implications. What can the continuum transponder tell us about the effects of quantitative easing? How could Jesse and Chester have used Bayesian probability theory to determine where to first look for their car? And wouldn't this movie be better if these two nice fellas were just boyfriends the whole time? Come on, guys. 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Synecdoche, New York is a life-affirming romp about how gosh-darn fun it is to make gorgeous works of art! (Maybe we misread it.)

Topics covered include mourning Philip Seymour Hoffman, traveling for work, how buying a house is basically buying a burning building that will smell, whether a nice person can be a great artist, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and constructing your own reality on social media.

Time stamps:

Synecdoche, New York: 03:00

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:36:55

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

After a month away, Load Bearing Beams returns to talk 'hood... parenthood, that is! Ron Howard's 1989 feature warmed audiences' hearts everywhere, but how does it hold up today?

Then Laci and Matt give real talk about child rearing, pregnancy, and the perpetual exhaustion that comes with being a parent, as well as the movies and TV shows that accurately show all of this.

Finally, they discuss Terms Of Endearment, James L. Brooks's 1983 Oscar-winning classic about mothers, daughters, and children of all ages. Laci and Matt agree that it executes everything Parenthoodis going for about 10,000 times better. 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

Time stamps:

Parenthood: 10:22

Movies about parenting and pregnancy:39:27

Terms Of Endearment:57:07

View Details

Brother Of The Show Elliott Stokes hops aboard to discuss all three of Francis Ford Coppola's Godfatherfilms. 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Matt and Laci watched Little Nicky(2000) and Slums Of Beverly Hills(1998) two weeks ago and barely remember them. Still, they bravely trudge ahead and discuss their feelings on revisiting the two films after more than ten years. 

PLUS: Thoughts on Solo: A Star Wars Story, more debate about the merits of the Foo Fighters, and an examination of when phone calls became the worst.

Time stamps:

Little Nicky(15:48)

Slums Of Beverly Hills(29:30) 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Due to a family emergency, Laci and Matt weren't able to record a new episode this week, so instead we present seventeen short clips from the podcast that are just plum terrific. They are:

"John Williams Loves a Buffet" (from Hook)

"Is Jim Carrey Funny?" (from The Grinch)

"Shouldn't Young Doc Brown Recognize His Future Self?" (from Back to the Future Part II)

"Farting Your Dinner" (from Nacho Libre)

"Matt hates The Goonies" (from The Goonies)

"We're not impressed with Vada's poem at the end of My Girl" (from My Girl)

"Matt was miserable on his senior trip to Disney World" (from Welcome to the Dollhouse)

"We hate crooners!" (from The Grinch)

"What is fliffity floo?" (from Beetlejuice)

"Did Rocky drink raw eggs just to save time?" (from Rocky)

"The Lost Boys is actually about heroin addiction" (from The Lost Boys)

"Laci loves vampires" (from Interview With the Vampire)

"Laci thinks Matt lies about liking old movies" (from Duck Soup)

"Remember record stores?" (from Empire Records)

"Why are people scared of clowns?" (from It)

"The Goonies save their homes with an envelope of rubies?" (from The Goonies)

"Matt feuded with his junior high science teacher" (from The Bucket List)

View Details

We lost most of this episode, but we salvaged a debate about whether or not the Foo Fighters are good and included a 20-minute bonus review of Avengers: Infinity War and Matt's thoughts on the weirdness of how voice-over narration is used in the 1996 film Matilda.

Time stamps:

Foo Fighters [09:20]

Avengers: Infinity War [14:55]

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Friend Of The Show Caleb Hogan joins the show live in studio to discuss his Listener Choice (because he's a Listener as well!) movie: 2006's Nacho Libre.

Jack Black plays Ignacio, a friar in rural southwestern Mexico who longs to be a luchador. But that makes this movie sound much more conventional than what it is, because, really, it's just Napoleon Dynamite, but in Mexico instead of Idaho, and with a monastery instead of a high school, and with lucha wrestling instead of silly dancing. 

Is Nachomerely a cucumber to deliver meme-worthy quotes like GET THAT CORN OUT OF MY FACE!that people who don't get just don't get? Or is something else going on here?

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

In an episode Laci calls "A City Of Their Own" and Matt calls "A Light Of Their Cities," the Dangerous Dyad discuss 1992's baseball picture A League Of Their Own and 1931's alienation picture City Lights.

A League Of Their Own starts right off with the annoying wrap-around modern story that then flashes back to the action you bought your ticket for. Why do so many movies do this? Does League overcome this tiresome trope?

Then, City Lights is for many people a gateway drug into silent films in general and silent comedy in particular. It's Charlie Chaplin's tale of an outcast, shunned by society, finding love and connection in some surprising places. Laughter, and a few tears, ensue! Or do they?? What did Laci think watching her very first silent film?

Time stamps:
A League Of Their Own:08:00
City Lights: 31:32

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

In 2001, Corky Romano rode a wave of movie vehicles led by Saturday Night Livealumni whose titles were the first and last names of their fictional protagonists. The movie was not a success. It derailed Chris Kattan's career. It has a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the most poorly reviewed movie covered on the podcast. 

But is it actually that bad? Could the critics have been correct? Or is there something more to this movie? Is it, perhaps, what Laci calls a cucumber? 

Listen and find out. ALSO: We apologize for the audio quality, which is 12% worse than it normally is.

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

In an episode Laci calls, "Ace Soup" and Matt calls, "A Detective, Duck!" the Cromulent Couple once again wade into the uncertain world of comedy. Comedy is hard to discuss. You either find something funny or you don't.

Case in point: Duck Soup (1933), an 85-year-old movie that Laci, having never before seen a Marx Brothers movie, found utterly hilarious.

And case in counter-point: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), a movie heretofore unseen by Matt that is comparably new, yet seems incredibly dated.

Who is the best Marx? Is Jim Carrey funny? If Jim Carrey had brothers who made movies with him, would he be better? We answer these burning questions once and for all.

Time stamps:

Duck Soup: 08:02

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: 22:15

Want us to talk about YOUR load-bearing beam movie on a Listener's Choice(TM) special? Leave us a review on iTunes and in your review include the name of the movie and why it means so much to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Friday(1995) is a slice-of-life comedy from the mid-nineties that has spawned a million quotes and memes repeated ad infinitum. It's one of those movies that's hard to appreciate afresh. But Matt had never seen it, and Laci hadn't seen it in a long time, so at a listener's behest, they watched and talk about. To make a long story short: It's really funny, and actually really deep.

We recommend this oral history of Friday from Complex. 

Do you want us to talk about YOUR movie? Leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, and in your review give us the name of your load-bearing beam and why it's so important to you. 

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Guys: things used to be weird.

In 1996, Beavis & Butt-Head Do Americaearned $61 million at the box office. Matt loved it as a teenager, and still loves it as an adult. But it leads to perhaps the biggest divide Laci and Matt have ever had on this podcast, as she is physically repulsed by it. What exactly is going on here? 

Then, in The Pick-Up Artist (1987), a film helmed by accused serial sexual predator James Toback, Robert Downey, Jr. is a sexual predator. But he's charming! So we don't know what to think. We get into our feelings about this baffling film.

Time stamps:

Beavis & Butt-Head Do America: (03:40)

The Pick-Up Artist: (17:40)

Want us to talk about YOUR load-bearing beam movie on a Listener's Choice(TM) special? Leave us a review on iTunes and in your review include the name of the movie and why it means so much to you.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

YouTube: LoadBearingBeams

View Details

Listener Polliwogwannabe suggested Luc Besson's 1994 classic Léon: The Professional, a film Laci mistook for a kids movie about a cartoon mouse. Turns out she had actually seen it before, because it fits right into her mid-nineties canon of thrillers featuring antiheroes in dark clothing who like to talk about pop singers. Matt had never seen it. WHAT DID WE THINK? Only one way to find out: By reading this sentence—we loved it! But you should still listen.

Time stamp: Léon: The Professional(06:25)

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

Want us to talk about your movie? Leave us a review on iTunes and include your Listener's Choice suggestion, as well as a sentence or two about what the movie means to you.

View Details

In an episode Laci calls "The Black Bird Interviews" and that Matt calls "Vampires Of Malta," the Peerless Pair discuss 1994's vampire/journalism film Interview With the Vampireand 1941's detective/raptor movie The Maltese Falcon. Topics covered include Tom Cruise's career, Kirsten Dunst vs. Natalie Portman, the Twilight Saga, and Humphrey Bogart's mouthpiece. 

Time stamps:

Interview With the Vampire: 06:39

The Maltese Falcon: 36:26

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

A Listener joins us to talk about his Choice! Friend Of The Show Wade Hymel makes his triumphant return to LBB to discuss 2007's The Bucket List, a movie about death and the meaning of life. And that's what this episode is—a mediation on mortality, self-actualization, and the strange arc of human life, from infancy to mature adult to immature elderly person. Wade is technically a listener, so this fits into the whole scheme of Load Bearing Beams. Not gonna lie: This episode goes to some weird places.

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

In an episode Laci calls "Rocky House" but that Matt calls "Rockin' At the Dollhouse," Laci and Matt discuss the feel-good movie of all time, Rocky(1976) and the feel-bad movie of all time, Welcome To the Dollhouse(1996).

What follows is weirdly intense discussion about mortality, bullying, and happiness. Also: Matt's senior class trip to Disney World sucked.

Time stamps:

Rocky: 06:08

Welcome To the Dollhouse: 22:37

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

The Goonies(1985) is a movie beloved by many, but not by us. A listener suggested we watch it and reappraise it. We have many thoughts. For one, why do they even need a map when they just seem to fall down a coupla holes and land in a pirate ship? Anyway, just listen. 

ALSO: Uninformed Oscar predictions. 

Time stamps:

Uninformed Oscar Predictions: 03:00

The Goonies: 08:52

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

The Goonies(1985) is a movie beloved by many, but not by us. A listener suggested we watch it and reappraise it. We have many thoughts. For one, why do they even need a map when they just seem to fall down a coupla holes and land in a pirate ship? Anyway, just listen. 

ALSO: Uninformed Oscar predictions. 

Time stamps:

Uninformed Oscar Predictions: 03:00

The Goonies: 08:52

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

In an episode Laci calls "Ever Men" but that Matt calls "X1: X-Men Ever After," the pair discuss Ever After(1998) and X-Men(2000), two movies that, to everyone's surprise, are both pure delights! 

Ever After, Drew Barrymore deploys a most unconvincing British accent to play the French commoner Danielle de Barbarac who pulls off a most sinister rouse and pretends to be the Comtesse de Lancret! Love ensues. Good movie.

In X-Men, Hugh Jackman/Jack Hughman finds himself caught up in a war between Magneto, that most dastardly of villains who can create magnetic fields, and Professor X, who can read people's minds unless they put on a helmet. Slashing ensues. Good movie.

Time stamps:

Ever After: 03:54

X-Men: 20:17

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

Jumanji Fever is sweeping America—nay, the world—and Load Bearing Beamscatches the fever by viewing Welcome To the Jungle's predecessor, 1995's much more somber, pensive, and scaled-down film, Jumanji.

A listener selected this movie for the show, as neither Laci nor Matt was a big fan of it growing up. But this movie is much beloved by millions of people, so the show sets out to figure out why. It's a movie in which Robin Williams doesn't get to Robin Williams, and the plot revolves largely around dead and emotionally unavailable parents... we have a winner?

Also: Laci has some feelings about Toodles, the levitating, tool-dispensing clock from Mickey Mouse Clubhousein the newest edition of "Mickey's Clubhouse Clubhouse." 

Time stamps:

Mickey's Clubhouse Clubhouse: 03:15

Jumanji: 10:07

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

In an episode Laci calls "The Future Of the Empire" and Matt calls "Recording the Future," Load Bearing Beamsexamines Back To the Future, Part II(1989) and Empire Records(1995). One a huge hit, the other a giant flop with a long afterlife on home video, and both a large source of internet chatter and memes.

Back To the Future, Part IIwas one of the first mainstream American movies to explore the implications and potential paradoxes of time travel. How does its depiction of time travel and the future world of 2015 hold up in 2018?

And Empire Records is the tale of a magical kingdom where a record store in the downtown of a small city somehow sells enough CDs and cassettes to pay a huge staff of misfits and transact $9,000 in cashin a single day! Even in 1995, could this possibly have been realistic? 

Time stamps:

Back To the Future, Part II: 02:30

Empire Records: 31:02

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

It's a super-sized Listener's Choice episode in which we cover THREE MOVIES! That's right, we watched all three Austin Powers films at the suggestion of a listener, and we dig deep into all three on this podcast.

First up, it's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), a low-budget movie with an unlikely premise that was a moderate hit and somehow spawned an immensely popular and profitable franchise thanks to impressions that are easy to do and a litany of quotable memes. But how is it as a movie?

Then, it's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) or, as it's known in Singapore, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shioked Me (which means, "Austin Powers: The spy who made me feel good."). We can't believe there was ever a world without Mini-Me!

And finally, we come to Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002), co-starring Beyoncé Knowles of the religious pop song group Destiny's Child and Michael Caine of Jaws: The Revenge. Laci watched this movie 50 times as a teenager. What does she think of it now??

Time stamps:

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (08:33)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (28:12)

Austin Powers In Goldmember(39:45)

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

Back before Johnny Depp sucked, he starred in a movie called Blow(2001), the story of a mediocre, uninteresting drug dealer who can do no wrong... until he can do no right! Does this film pack the emotional punch for adult Laci that it did for teen Laci? 

Then, LBB examines Zack Snyder's Watchmen(2009), a bloated, confused, utterly fascinating adaptation of the classic graphic novel. Laci and Matt debate whether Rorshach is a flawed but admirable hero, or an overgrown male junior high school student who scrawls Nietzsche quotes in his notebook. Matt loved this movie so much that it inspired him to read a comic book for the first (and still only!) time in his life. Could this movie possibly hold up? 

Time stamps:

Blow: 03:32

Watchmen: 21:05

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

A listener suggested The Lost Boys(1987), and LBB watches and reviews it. This movie is kind of delightful and, according to Laci, is a thorough and unrelenting look at the destructiveness of heroin addiction. Matt dislikes Haim, likes Feldman.

ALSO: We debut our new recurring feature, the Mickey's Clubhouse Clubhouse, in which Laci pokes holes in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a TV program for toddlers.

Time stamps:

Mickey's Clubhouse Clubhouse: 04:25

The Lost Boys: 12:36

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

LBB is back for a new year! First up: It's the first X-Filesmovie: The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998). Matt loved this television show as a teenager and, by proxy, loved this movie. What does Laci think, having never seen it and being only minimally familiar with the TV series? Also: Much discussion about TV shows turned into movies.

Then, Laci reexamines The Boondock Saints (1999), a movie about which she says, "It's something that I loved a lot and very intensely for about four years, because I thought it meant I was a certain kind of cool girl who, just, you know, got it." But how does it hold up now, and what did Matt think, after having preexisting prejudices against this movie despite never having seen it?

Time stamps:

The X-Files: Fight the Future: 05:46

The Boondock Saints: 34:01

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @loadbearingpod

View Details

SPOILERS for this bonus mini-episode! Matt and Laci, fresh from having seen Star Wars: The Last Jedi, share their thoughts with each other. Matt's a huge Star Wars fan, Laci until had recently had never seen the original movies but is a big fan of The Force Awakens... what did they think? Again, please do not listen if you haven't yet seen this movie. We SPOIL the porg out of this film. SPOIL SPOIL SPOIL Darth Vader is Luke's father! 

View Details

Matt is finding it very difficult to think of anything other than Star Warstwo days before The Last Jedicomes out, so the gang revisits the Star Warssaga by looking at The Empire Strikes Back(1980), widely considered the best film in the series.

BUT FIRST it's Ron Howard's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas(2000), a movie that takes the Grinchverse and expands it into directions you never knew you wanted... because you didn't want them. Yeah, this movie's actually very boring and visually unappealing and largely forgettable, but it at least leads to a long conversation about the merits of Jim Carrey.

THEN: The first episode of Load Bearing Beams started with Laci viewing the original Star Warsfilm (which, by the way, should only be called Star Wars), and Matt insisted that the flaws she found in the film would be corrected in the sequel. Surely she must love or at least see the masterful merits of The Empire Strikes Back, no? 

ALSO: Laci explains why crooners are the worst.

Time stamps:

The Grinch: 02:50

The Empire Strikes Back: 23:18

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com

Twitter: @loadbearingpod

View Details

Let's talk What About Bob: In this Frank Oz picture from 1991, Bill Murray plays Bob, and he is just so silly but you can't help but love him, the scamp! And Richard Dreyfuss is his cranky therapist who can't get his family to see how annoying his patient is, because the patient has followed his family on their vacation, see, but even though this is highly inappropriate and predatory behavior, Dreyfuss's family is charmed out of their very seats by Bob and his antics. We are all Richard Dreyfuss's Dr. Leo Marvin. We are all Bob. In the words of Robert Frost, "Where I have fallen on the Marvin/Bob spectrum on has made all the difference."

Then, Laci and Matt discuss Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1991). How does this film hold up today, given Allen's biography and the cultural climate of the current moment? Is this movie a confession? What does it say about you if you still want to enjoy Woody Allen's movies? Yeah, this was a pretty heavy episode, where even talking about the "friend zone" was weighty and ponderous. Enjoy! 

Time stamps: 
What About Bob?[04:17]
Crimes and Misdemeanors[26:07]

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com
Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

Laci and Matt return, if not better than ever then at least not diminished, to discuss the films Jurassic Park III(2001) and My Girl(1991). 

First up, it's Jurassic Park III, a movie selected by Matt because he loves the first Jurassic Park and this one also has dinosaurs on an island, so it'll do. The Roth-Stokeses assess this movie and its place in the larger Jurassiccanon, especially when compared with Jurassic World.

Then it's My Girl. What can you say about My Girl? This is a movie. Originally called Born Jaundiced, this treacly piece of '70s nostalgia coheres brilliantly with the type of treacly '90s nostalgia in which this podcast traffics so frequently. 

Time stamps:
Jurassic Park III [07:55]
My Girl [27:40]

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com
Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

Buffyis a beloved TV show to many, but it doesn't mean st to Laci, who prefers the 1992 film [05:55] of the same name. It's the tale of a Chosen One cheerleader doing battle against the occult and being courted by 56-year-old Luke Perry. What about this movie so spoke to Laci as a young person, and how does she feel about it now? And how funky is your chicken? 

Then: Citizen Kane(1941) [20:30] is generally considered to be the greatest English-language film ever made. Matt has seen it many times, but it's been a while since the last time, and he's a little nervous in showing it to Laci for the first time. What do their fresh eyes have to say about this classic? Does Orson Welles age convincingly? Were people really depressed in the 1800s?

I'll bet you five you're not alive if you don't enjoy this ep'. 

Time stamps:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [05:55]
Citizen Kane [20:30]

Website: www.loadbearingbeams.com
Twitter: @LoadBearingPod

View Details

As an October hurricane heads for their house, Laci and Matt turn their attention to Napoleon Dynamite(2004) and Blade Runner (1982), a set of movies about inscrutable men and the women who can't help but love them. 

First, Laci and Matt tackle Napoleon Dynamite [03:10], a movie about which Laci no longer knows how she feels, but which Matt calls "not unenjoyable." But does this collection of awkward quirks ultimately amount to something more than Mad Libs: The Movie? And is the secret to this film's enduring legacy merely that Napoleon's voice is easy to impersonate? 

Then there's Blade Runner [23:27], a film utterly ruined for Laci by how much better its subject was handled in Westworld. This movie inspires one of this podcast's most heated arguments: Is Harrison Ford intentionally playing against type in Blade Runner, or is it exactly his type? 

View Details

We welcome Sara and Steve Jones to discuss A Little Princess (1995) [02:00] and Red Dawn(1984) [29:00]. We ran the gamut of topics in this episode: guerilla warfare, survivalism, what makes us cry in movies, chimney sweeps, the Ramayana, the Cold War, Jeff Goldblum's daughter from The Lost World: Jurassic Park, amnesia, Harry Potter, and much more. And is that Ser Davos, the Onion Knight, as the titular little princess's father? It is! Enjoy!

View Details

We discuss Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), one of Matt's favorite movies ever. Laci knew nothing about it, but was assured by her husband that its many puzzlebox mysteries would pay off in the end. Do they? We also discuss what predictions about the future got wrong and get to the bottom of whether or not we're all living in a computer simulation. 

It (1990) is an annoyingly-titled movie* about the bond among a group of children in the 1950s and their whimsical adventures. In other words, it's computer engineered to aggravate Matt. In our discussion of this chronicle of the Losers Club and their battles against an evil alien clown-spider, we discuss, among other things, trypophobia, 90s Friday-night sitcoms, Laci's adolescent desire to be the girl who hangs out with the guys, and what it means for a topic to be Buzzfeed-y. Also, we give our hot take on clowns, which is that they are not scary. 

*Not actually a movie.

View Details

Like the home video release of 1990's It, we're splitting this episode into two VHS tapes. In cassette 1 we discuss Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), one of Matt's favorite movies ever. Laci knew nothing about it, but was assured by her husband that its many puzzlebox mysteries would pay off in the end. Do they? We also discuss what predictions about the future got wrong and get to the bottom of whether or not we're all living in a computer simulation. 

View Details

Your married co-hosts debate Laci's grand unifying theory of movies. Must the movie have stakes? How big must these stakes be? (Big.) And can the stakes get bigger than they are in All the President's Men (1976) [05:52], in which the president's top aids are tied to a burglary operation via reporters' digging? Together, we dig in.

Then we fall in love with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in True Romance(1993) [29:30]. Awwwwww! Also: What's up with Quentin Tarantino? 

View Details

Drop of the Fred with the Sickness in this spooktacular examination of childhood mental illness and mindless consumerism. That's right, it's 1991's Drop Dead Fred(Rotten Tomatoes score: 9%) and 1978's Dawn Of the Dead! 

Again, Drop Dead Fred [02:48] has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 9%. Nine! Its reputation is far worse than any other movie covered on this show. Is it really that bad? Why is Laci is so fond of movies with silly stop motion effects? Is this movie actually a nuanced look at depression, divorce, and loneliness? Maybe! 

And then there's Dawn Of the Dead[19:05], helmed by the recently-deceased George A. Romero. This classic of the zombie apocalypse genre with its commentary on American capitalism in the late 20th century mainly leads to a 30-minute conversation about malls. 

Follow us on Twitter @LoadBearingPod, and visit us online at www.loadbearingbeams.com!

View Details

What do we really know?

Is the future predetermined?

Are human beings really free?

These questions and more are addressed and resolved in the two movie selections Load Bearing Beams,episode 9: Alex Proyas's Knowing(2009) [03:30] and Amy Heckerling's Clueless(1995) [32:10].

Matt argues that even though Knowingis lumped in with the terrible cash-in movies of Nicolas Cage's later career, it's actually a thrilling and thought-provoking film. Is he right? And could anything be scarier than a weirdo kid furiously scribbling numbers on a piece of paper? 

Also: Laci explains how Cluelessis why she's able to sleep at night.

View Details

LBB welcomes its first guests: romantically entangled young power couple Sam Hall and Wade Hymel. Sam and Wade join Matt and Laci to discuss their own load-bearing beam movies.

Sam's selection is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(2004) [02:13]. But even though she is the guest, Matt seizes the pulpit to go on at length about the Harry Potterbooks—despite this being a podcast about movies. The gang muddles through Matt's gasbaggery to get to the bottom of whether or not Prisoner of Azkabanmakes any sense to non-book readers, debate whether or not Hermione's academic career is tainted by her use of the Time Turner, and spend a surprising amount of time wondering whether or not that's really Gary Oldman (It is.).

Then Wade brings forth his film, 1995's post-Cold War James Bond spy satellite electrokillray thriller GoldenEye[49:18]. And what is the deal with Pierce Brosnan, anyway? How important was the Nintendo 64 game to the legacy of this movie? Those topics and more—namely, Epcot rides and Spider-Man actors—are addressed in this supersized episode.

View Details

More fliffity-floo! Laci presents one of the best comedies ever made about an aging stage actress who takes a de-aging potion and then gets murdered by her husband but she can't die so she sticks around and continues her feud with a rival who took the same potion: Death Becomes Her(1992) [02:00]. Why were movies like this so appealing back in the early nineties, and why don't they get made anymore? This is yet another of Laci's movies to feature bodies doing hilariously bendy things they shouldn't be doing with the aid of pre-computer special effects... is this her "thing"? Laci also explains what made her recently turn against Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. 

Then, cast your mind back to 2004, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a thing and Tom Holland was but a romantic thought in his parents' heads. Matt's selection this week is Spider-Man 2* (2004) [26:37], which he says is the best superhero movie ever made. Is it? 

*Citation needed.

View Details

It's our highly-anticipated Ampersand Episode! Laci & Matt take a look at the historical seafaring epic Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) [02:55], and Laci puts aside her prejudice against blondes to embrace Paul Bettany's performance as Charles Darwin Stephen Maturin, then conducts some in-depth research into the number of Russell Crowe characters whose names begin with the letter J.

Next, the pair takes a look at Girl Stand By Me Now & Then (1995) [39:53], a movie that teaches the importance of friendship. Did you know that friendship is important? It is. Matt is yet again subjected to a movie about teenagers... what did he think? Is Laci just as moved now by Christina Ricci's tears as she was then? And has anybody ever cared about a friendship bracelet as much as Sam (Gaby Hoffmann) does in this film? (No.)

View Details

Are you ready for some whimsy? The show takes a deep dive into the films of Tim Burton after Laci picks Beetlejuice(1988) as her load-bearing beam and it leads to a sprawling conversation about how much fliffity-floo any one human being can tolerate. 

View Details

You're gonna need bigger ears to hear this gem of a half episode! In part A of episode 4, our hosts dive in to the world of "Jaws," (1975) which is not the name of the shark but still a weird thing to identify about the story (As Laci points out, it's like calling a slasher movie "Wrist."). What is it about this obscene bloodbath that made such a charmer for families, the original summer blockbuster? Was Quint (Robert Shaw) an anti-war pacifist? And are sharks really that scary? (They are.) 

AND THEN: We all just want to fit in. We all know what it's like to feel like the outcast. We all accidentally summon tropical snakes with our minds. And we all miss 1996. So crank up the Our Lady Peace and join us for part B of our two-parter with "The Craft," a coming-of-age story about the travails of four teenage witches who use their magical witch powers to do witchcraft (but no wizardry). 

View Details

In space, no one can hear Matt and Laci scream at each other about the movie Alien (1979) [2:40]. Why are these intergalactic space travelers so blasé about their magical trip through outer space? What's up with Jonesy the cat? Will protocol save us all in the end? Will anybody back on Earth miss the crew members of the Nostromo after they're eaten by the alien [spoiler alert]? Our hosts then move on to dig into The Breakfast Club (1985) [41:33]. And who could quarrel with this movie's Grease-esque message? This is Matt's first exposure to the Brat Pack... did he enjoy it? Is he a Judd Nelson or an Ally Sheedy, or is he maybe a John Kapelos (Carl the janitor)? And has Laci finally picked a movie that's actually good?

View Details

Like many born in the 1980s, Laci is (or was) a big fan of Steven Spielberg's "Hook" (1991) [02:35]. Matt saw it when he was four years old and is revisiting it for the first time. Does the movie hold up? Find out the answer to that and hear unparalleled insight into such fascinating topics as: (1) Did Julia Roberts interact with a single other member of the cast? (2) Why does Neverland look like a Disney World attraction? And (3) Why do all John Williams scores sound like eating at a buffet? Meanwhile, Matt was (or is) an admirer of John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978) [34:10]. This horror classic established the template on which a generation of slasher films were based, and, according to critics, is as scary today as it was forty years ago. According to Laci, that is true, because it was never scary. But was it any good? Did people really talk like that in the '70s? And why do we watch scary movies, anyway, when there are so many nice things to make movies about like, uh, love.

View Details

In the debut episode, Laci and Matt discuss the concept of load-bearing-beam movies, and then do a deep dive into their first selections. Matt chooses "Star Wars" (1977) [4:22] and Laci chooses "Dirty Dancing" (1987) [52:50]. Many important issues are tackled, including why the original "Star Wars" movie should only be referred to as "Star Wars"; how the Kellerman Resort is basically a summer camp and Patrick Swayze is a counselor; whether or not Mark Hamill is a good actor; why Baby would be allowed to dance at the Sheldrake; why Luke Skywalker seems untroubled by his family being brutally murdered; and how Patrick Swayze traveled back in time from the 1980s to ruin pop music. Will the Death Star destroy the Rebel Alliance? Will Johnny get his summer bonus? Laci and Matt get to the bottom of these questions and many more.