Blind Spots & Second Thoughts

Heather hasn’t seen Captain America: The First Avenger

Grab your best girl, pick up your most spangly outfit, and head back to the 1940’s to punch Hitler and save the day! We continue Heather’s first time through the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Chris Evans’s first foray as Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, also starring Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Sean, Tommy Lee Jones, and Stanley “The Tuch” Tucci.

What did Heather know about Marvel’s most patriotic hero? Will she save a dance for Chris Evans as the titular Cap, or will she root for Samara Weaving’s uncle? You’ll find out in this episode!

Heather doesn’t remember Star Wars

And of course the only people who haven’t seen Star Wars are the people in Star Wars. And that’s because they lived them. They lived the Star Wars.

Join us in a galaxy far, far away as we watch the OG, the original, the one that started it all, the 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars (no special edition here, Han definitely shoots first). We dive into Heather’s extraordinarily unique relationship to Star Wars, and what she remembers or even knows about the movie and the Star Wars franchise as a whole. We also dive into some of the fun behind-the-scenes production of the movie, bits of Star Wars lore and trivia, and, of course, how an iconic scene relates to the Saw franchise. So set your hyperdrive coordinates and punch it!

Dan hasn’t seen Carrie

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Dan watches the 1976 horror classic Carrie for the first time. The movie, adapted from the novel by Stephen King, directed by Brian DePalma, and starring Sissy Spacek and John Travolta, is iconic, but do the scares hold up in a modern context? Is the movie even really that scary? And also, how much of a creeper is Brian DePalma, anyway? Find out what our horror-averse host has to think in this episode!

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