Aspect Radio

Ben and Corey finally discuss Woody Allen’s latest drama “Blue Jasmine,” starring Cate Blanchett in what could prove another Oscar-worthy turn.

Both consider it one of Allen’s best in recent memory, even better than the likes of “Match Point” and “Midnight in Paris,” thanks in large part to Blanchett’s performance and the longtime directors willingness to keep experimenting as a writer and stylist.

The guys also talk Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy finale, the pub crawl sci-fi adventure “The World’s End,” starring Wright collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Does it live up to its cult favorite predecessors? These guys think so.

Staying in the realm of Woody Allen, they also partake in a fantasy draft of the top five Woody Allen characters not played by Woody Allen. So no Alvy Singer, Isaac, Kleinmann, Zelig or Broadway Danny Rose. They get a little help from FilmNerds.com’s Matt Scalici and Graham Flanagan.

Graham also tells us why the recent “50 Shades of Grey” casting announcement should be music to the ears of “Pacific Rim” fans.

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Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #93:

Ben and Corey dive into some smaller summer releases, starting with Ryan Coogler’s debut and Sundance favorite “Fruitvale Station.”

The guys butt heads on Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest “Only God Forgives,” one loving and one hating, pretty much the consensus response.

They also talk Terrence Malick’s latest film “To the Wonder,” which is now available on blu-ray.

Also, parting shots from Graham Flanagan, Craig Hamilton and Ben Stark.

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You can follow the show on Twitter, or email any feedback to [email protected].

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Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #91:
P.R.O.U.D – “Tur Kue Kwam Fun”
Carl Orff – “Gassenhauer”

Ben and Corey lock in for the drift to gush all over Guillermo del Toro’s robots vs. monsters bohemoth “Pacific Rim,” which they think dominates the 2013 summer movie season with a big ol’ elbow rocket.

Del Toro delivers arguably his best ( and inarguably his most fun) effort yet with a rock ’em sock ’em battle royale between robots and monsters as tall as skyscrapers. Combine “Starship Troopers,” “Independence Day,” “Godzilla,” “Metroid,” and “Voltron,” and you might get the idea.

The guys discuss whether original summer blockbusters are the way for studios to go long term from now on instead of relying on quick buck existing properties handled with way less care.

They also hit news involving the announcement of a “Superman/Batman” movie and what that could entail, the new “Secret Life of Walter Mitty” trailer and the positive buzz surrounding Woody Allen’s latest “Blue Jasmine.”

This episode features parting shots from Craig Hamilton and Graham Flanagan.

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You can follow the show on Twitter, or email any feedback to [email protected].

Please “Like” us on Facebook! We’re also on iTunes. We’d really appreciate a rating and review!

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Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #91:

With a little help from some friends, Ben and Corey share their favorite films of 2013 so far.

FilmNerds.com and AR contributors Matt Scalici, Graham Flanagan, Craig Hamilton and Ben Stark offer their favorites as well ranging from mainstream comedies to underrated sci-fi adventures.

Included on Ben and Corey’s lists are “Spring Breakers,” “Stories We Tell,” “Frances Ha,” “Mud,” “Upstream Color,” “Man of Steel” and others.

Share your favorites of 2013 so far in the comments below.

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You can follow the show on Twitter, or email any feedback to [email protected].

Please “Like” us on Facebook! We’re also on iTunes. We’d really appreciate a rating and review!

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Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #90:

Corey recaps the 2013 Nashville Film Festival where he saw more than 25 feature films in less than a week.

Whew!

He saw several of his current favorite movies from 2013 so far, including “Mud,” “Stories We Tell” and “Laurence Anyways.”

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You can follow the show on Twitter, or email any feedback to [email protected].

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Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #89:

Ben and Corey look ahead to the rest of the 2013 summer movie season, picking their must-sees in a loaded landscape.

Blockbusters like “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Man of Steel” populate their list alongside indie hopefuls “Before Midnight,” “Only God Forgives” and “The Bling Ring.”

The guys also take a look at the film that kicked off the summer, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Shane Black.

Ben’s brother and Bloomberg producer Graham Flanagan also drops a parting shot on why he thinks “Oblivion” is his favorite movie of 2013 so far and a brilliant new sci-fi adventure you can’t miss.

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Ben and Corey are joined by FilmNerds.com maestro Matt Scalici to talk about their favorite movies about or related to faith and religion.

They list the top five films that force them to contemplate their own faith or religion in general, many of which have stuck with them since they saw them as children.

Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Terrence Malick, the Coen brothers and other filmmakers often express their personal beliefs in these films, thus moving us to think about and further discuss their arguments and make our own.

Aspect Radio and FilmNerds.com contributors Graham Flanagan and Ben Stark also offer their favorite films about faith during the discussion.

This episode was filmed in front of a live in First United Methodist Church in downtown Tuscaloosa, as part of Ben’s dad Steve Flanagan’s six-part series “God at the Movies (And Other Platforms.”

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Ben breaks down his anticipation for Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan’s take on legendary DC character Superman in this summer’s “Man of Steel.”

He considers the latest trailer one of the best he’s seen in a while and Hans Zimmer’s accompanying music some of the best he’s ever heard.

But he argues there hasn’t been a truly memorable Superman movie we can really take pride in watching, and he thinks Snyder’s might be the one.

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If you want to just hear our tribute to the late Roger Ebert, we’ve cut a separate special edition of it from episode 86 to honor one of our heroes.

Joined by Aspect Radio and FilmNerds.com contributors, Ben and Corey pay special tribute to the late, great Roger Ebert, who passed away on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Graham Flanagan, Craig Hamilton, Ben Stark and Matt Scalici all share thoughts on Ebert’s passing and what makes the longtime Chicago Sun-Times film critic such a legend. Fittingly, Corey got the news of Ebert’s passing while in a dark theater watching a new film.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD!!!

Joined by Aspect Radio and FilmNerds.com contributors, Ben and Corey pay special tribute to the late, great Roger Ebert, who passed away on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Graham Flanagan, Craig Hamilton and Ben Stark all share thoughts on Ebert’s passing and what makes the longtime Chicago Sun-Times film critic such a legend. Fittingly, Corey got the news of Ebert’s passing while in a dark theater watching a new film.

The guys also talk Harmony Korine’s latest “Spring Breakers,” a sun-drenched neon nightmare these two both call the most important film of 2013, so far.

And with the release of brand new action films like “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “Olympus Has Fallen,” the guys size up modern action and take a look back at their favorites from the genre.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD!!!

You can follow the show on Twitter, or email any feedback to [email protected].

Please “Like” us on Facebook! We’re also on iTunes. We’d really appreciate a rating and review!

Thanks for listening!!!

Produced by Andrew Richardson

Music heard in AR #86: