Heather hasn’t seen Forrest Gump

You read that correctly. The Academy Award winner for Best Picture. Tom Hanks’ second Oscar win. Heather has never seen 1994’s Forrest Gump, starring America’s Sweetheart Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

In this episode we talk about what Heather thinks she knows about the movie and the movie’s impact on pop culture. After watching it, we’ll talk about our feelings on how the movie has aged, what it feels like watching it over 30 years later, and if it deserves its place in the pantheon of great movies.

Heather hasn’t seen Ocean’s Eleven

Somehow, Heather missed the star-packed 2001 Ocean’s Eleven starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, and Andy Garcia…until now. Does Steven Soderbergh’s cool direction hold up, or do the questionable fashion choices and Don Cheadle’s accent derail the movie? Find out what Heather thought in our first anniversary episode!

Notes

https://theasc.com/articles/oceans-eleven-smooth-operators

https://everymoviehasalesson.com/blog/2022/11/guest-column-behind-the-scenes-of-oceans-eleven

https://www.eonline.com/photos/29698/secrets-about-the-ocean-s-franchise

https://collider.com/brad-pitt-eating-in-movies/

Heather hasn’t seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Heather may have the world’s most unique perspective on Star Wars, so we’re diving into a galaxy far, far away with Rogue One! We talk about Heather’s relationship to Star Wars (you will never guess which Star Wars content she’s watched), talk a little bit about the TV show Andor, and talk a lot about the famously troubled production of Rogue One. Count your midichlorians, because this episode will go the parsecs!

Links:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/star-wars-rogue-one-writer-tony-gilroy-opens-up-reshoots-1100060/

https://www.vulture.com/2016/12/rogue-one-deleted-scenes.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One

https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/rogue-ones-editors-reveal-scenes-added-in-the-star-wars-standalone-reshoots-exclusive-110124381.html?guccounter=1

https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/15/14268850/star-wars-rogue-one-reshoots-disney-gareth-edwards-tony-gilroy

Dan hasn’t seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Bless your beautiful podcast-listening hide, wherever you might be! In this episode, Heather shows Dan the classic 1954 musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Has the movie aged well as a subversive look at relationships and gender dynamics, or is it wildly problematic? Spoiler alert: it’s the second one, but are the songs at least any good? Find out what Dan thinks about the movie the American Film Institute ranked as one of the top 25 best musicals in this hilarious episode of Blind Spots & Second Thoughts! (And, if you’re in the mood for a drinking game, take a shot every time Dan says, “feral gingers”)

Heather hasn’t seen Thor

We continue Heather’s journey watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time with 2011’s Thor, featuring the introduction of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to the MCU. Is the movie worthy of the power of Thor, or is it mid enough to be banished to Midgard? Why doesn’t Heather recognize Anthony Hopkins, and what other random actor WILL she recognize? Find out in this episode!

Heather hasn’t seen Star Trek First Contact

Borg attacks! Time travel! And a new starship Enterprise! What does Heather think of 1996’s Star Trek First Contact, directed by Jonathan Frakes and featuring the Star Trek The Next Generation cast, Alice Krige, and James Cromwell? Does the movie boldly go into the action movie genre, or does it end up losing the distinctiveness of Star Trek in its assimilation into the collective of popular movies? Either way, the LINE MUST BE DRAWN HEAH, so find out along with Heather on this episode!

Heather hasn’t seen Citizen Kane

SPOILER ALERT: Rosebud is a sled. Pretty much everyone knows that fact about the 1941 movie by Orson Welles, which is widely considered one of the best films ever made. But what does Heather think about it, watching it for the first time 85 years later?

We talk about how much of an impact on pop culture and filmmaking the movie has had, what parts of the film hold up, and if it’s really worthy of all the praise bestowed upon it. Did a brash 26 year-old with zero filmmaking experience really manage to make a timeless classic, or is the movie as overblown as the titular character’s ego? Is it really worth watching in the 21st century, or is it just a relic of cinema history? Find out along with Heather in this episode!

Notes

Exploring Orson Welles' 'Citizen Kane' contract

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSfX-nrg-lI&t=32s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_J._Mankiewicz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(1938_radio_drama)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenplay_for_Citizen_Kane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism

Heather hasn’t seen Iron Man 2

We continue Heather’s journey into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2010’s Iron Man 2, starring Robert Downey Jr. , Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, and introducing Don Cheadle taking over the role of James “Rhodey” Rhodes!

Does Iron Man 2 stand as one of the weaker entries in the MCU, or has it aged gracefully? What went wrong (or right?) during production to make this movie the way that it is? How does Heather feel about Sam Rockwell (Sammy Rocks) dancing? What about the introduction of Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, to the MCU? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Notes

https://collider.com/iron-man-2-filming-problems-explained/

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/20/21029908/marvel-cinematic-universe-iron-man-2-robert-downey-jr-kevin-feige-disney

Did 'Iron Man 2' Cost Jon Favreau 'The Avengers' Job?

Dan hasn’t seen Hairspray

Settle in to 1960’s Baltimore, as for the first time, Heather shows Dan a movie for the podcast. How does 2007’s musical version of Hairspray hold up? We talk about the movie’s music, motifs, and style, and the history of this adaptation of a stage musical adaptation of a John Waters original film. What did Dan think about the songs? The stacked cast including James Marsden, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, and…John Travolta in drag doing a muppet voice? Did the movie hold up? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Heather hasn’t seen The Incredible Hulk

You’re making me podcast. You wouldn’t like me when I podcast.

Get ready to Hulk-out with us as we dive into the green-skinned stepchild that is the second entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Incredible Hulk, starring Ed Norton, Liv Tyler, and Tim Roth playing a…thirty-nine year old?

We talk about the merits (or not) of the movie, how it pays homage to the original TV series, how Heather knows who Lou Ferrigno is but doesn’t know why, conspicuous digital camera product placement, and more. If you love this movie, hate this movie, or more likely just don’t remember this movie, listen to this podcast episode and dive into it with us.