After covering 2006 entry The Devil Wears Prada to a remarkably thorough degree, he great Maura Quint circles back around and we deign to cover...a NEW MOVIE???? We have a sprawling, informal chat about 2026's newest juggernaut The Devil Wears Prada 2, how it does or does not stay true to its characters and its frothy, ludicrous plotline that is nonetheless unexpectedly attentive the realities of fashion and journalism in our current climate. We also go deep on all manner of topics, including thoughts on nearly every trailer we saw (including lengthy bits on Backrooms, The Mandalorian & Grogu and the new live-action Moana) as well as Mother Mary, insulting cancer survivors, Kevin Smith ghost-writing Good Will Hunting, the fundamental anonymity of Justin Theroux, the blank nothingness of Ariana Grande's shark eyes, the morality of taking phone notes in the theater, movie showtimes in Pompeii, and all of our favorite Taylor Swift songs. <3

This is a beautiful, loveable run-on sentence of an episode, and we had a lot of fun and plan to do more like this when applicable!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob’s Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON

Maura's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mauraquint.bsky.social

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THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAR

Enter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:

• Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

• Leave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating system

• Send us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).

What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):

- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;

- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;

- some boutique highlight selections from the film's Letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;

- a little message from Rob and Brian

- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.

- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)

Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!

(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)

Our first two-time guest (Constantine, Sahara), the great Matt Lynch (Scarecrow Video, The Suspense is Killing Us) makes his triumphant return to discuss another sort of maligned, underrated action hit: Mission: Impossible III!

We discuss MI3's curious place as the runt of the franchise litter, as well as its place in mid-2000s action cinema and of star Tom Cruise's career! This is a franchise that was an a very different place that it rocketed distantly away from, so it's fun to revisit this in its moment to clock a time when it was simply a for-hire auteur-driven series, with an incredible villain, helmed by an acclaimed TV guy without all the baggage he would later acquire.

And that's across the board! Unburdened from the baggage of being "the third Mission: Impossible film", and with the knowledge of the expansive series to follow, MI3 reveals itself as a fun, satisfying little action thriller: punchy dialogue, imaginative fight scenes, an astonishing performance from the wildly overqualified Philip Seymour Hoffman as the primary antagonist, and the throwback weirdness of its human relationship plot, it's a fascinating artifact doomed to be trapped in its own little eddy, but it's a fun movie and we had a blast talking to Matt, who is so so good at bringing enthusiasm and convincing arguments to the show. Check it out!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON

Matt's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colonelmortimer.bsky.social ⁠⁠

The Suspense is Killing Us - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

EMAIL US! : [email protected]

THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAR

Enter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:

• Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

• Leave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating system

• Send us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).

What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):

- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;

- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;

- some boutique highlight selections from the film's letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;

- a little message from Rob and Brian

- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.

- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)

Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!

(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)

Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Folks, a MILLION GIRLS would KILL to guest on this episode, but we were honored to be joined by the great writer and activist Maura Quint to discuss THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA in the days leading up to the release of its legacy follow-up. We go deep on Maura's incredibly similar real life experiences to the film's events, we discuss the film's divergences from its original novel, and how those decisions both strengthen and weaken the film in different ways, especially regarding the film's increasing esteem for the fashion industry as a whole and Meryl Streep's tremendous performance as Miranda Priestley specifically. We also discuss the curious case of The Boyfriend and Harry from MAD MEN, the grievous unchecked sexism, social pressure and hilarious hat styles of mid-2000s pop culture, inexplicable narrative car accidents, the eugenics experiments of MADDEN 07

Also, I momentarily misspeak about my appreciation for Stanley Tucci and A MILLION GIRLS (Rob AND Maura) KILL ME FOR IT. RIP TO ME.

This episode was so fun, and Maura was perfect to help us accompany us to the Paris Podcast Show! Please check it out, and stay tuned for our thoughts on the follow-up!

Brian's Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Maura's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mauraquint.bsky.social

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAR

Enter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:

• Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

• Leave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating system

• Send us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).

What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):

- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;

- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;

- some boutique highlight selections from the film's Letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;

- a little message from Rob and Brian

- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.

- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)

Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!

(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD BOX OFFICE GROSS ADJACENT NEWS:

-Friend of the show Scout Tafoya (Cinderella Man) is making his movie!!! ⁠https://thefilmstage.com/scout-tafoya-and-tucker-johnsons-stubborn-beast-begins-production/⁠

-Friend of the show Joe Kowalski (Chicken Little, Ice Age: The Meltdown) is premiering his feature documentary Micronations at Tribeca!!! ⁠https://tribecafilm.com/films/micronations-2026

FOLKS, this week Box Office Gross is ROCKIN' THE SUBURBS: we grab the great Charles Star (@ugarles) on his 52 Week Podcasting Challenge, enlivening what is otherwise a real uninspiring entry in our project, the weak, sloppy animated satire OVER THE HEDGE.

We discuss the film's bizarre voice cast, its' tepid, boring social commentary, and its stilted attempts at humor more perfectly suited to the four-panel set-up/punch-line payoff of the comic strip its based on.

Other topics of conversation include Don Orsillo's "Slam Diego", Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Charles' desperate sprint to finish the film on time, my equally desperate, "draftable" sprint to fix my daughter's car in the middle of recording, and a deep dive on the dipshit tao of Ben Folds, including an incredible musical contribution by Rob, who puts in the WORK here on an episode that barely deserves it.

This way so much fun, and Charles helped us make a real entertaining episode out of a real loser movie. Check it out!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Charles' Twitter: https://x.com/Ugarles

Charles' Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ugarles.bsky.social

“Stuck in 2006” Ben Folds parody song by Symphonic Synergy [https://symphonicsynergy.bandcamp.com/]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAR

Enter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following:

• Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

• Leave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating system

• Send us an email at [email protected] with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent).

What you can win (ALL of the below in one package):

- a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film;

- a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob;

- some boutique highlight selections from the film's Letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case;

- a little message from Rob and Brian

- MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible.

- Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW)

Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!!

(If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD BOX OFFICE GROSS ADJACENT NEWS:

-Friend of the show Scout Tafoya (Cinderella Man) is making his movie!!! https://thefilmstage.com/scout-tafoya-and-tucker-johnsons-stubborn-beast-begins-production/

-Friend of the show Joe Kowalski (Chicken Little, Ice Age: The Meltdown) is premiering his feature documentary Micronations at Tribeca!!! https://tribecafilm.com/films/micronations-2026

My long, long, long-time internet movie pal PETER LABUZA (@labuzamovies) finally makes an appearance on our fair program to help us delve into a truly, almost inexplicably nonexistent piece of work: POSEIDON. We discuss Wolf the director of DAS BOOT and THE PERFECT STORM making a POSEIDON ADVENTURE remake with *Kurt Russell* and *Richard Dreyfuss*???? How could this flail so spectacularly?

We discuss the curious cinematic history of a "boat flips over and sinks" franchise, Petersen's final film, the bizarre cast of no-longers and never-was, including the fascinating collapse of Josh Lucas: Leading Man, its brisk pacing, its wonky CGI, rogue waves, the rise of the PSP, how thin the characters are sketched and how surprisingly viscerally effective a lot of the film is anyway, even as it's clipped and stupid.

This was a blast, so much fun and it was fun finally getting Peter on, check it out!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Peter's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/labuzamovies.com

Sable Adelaide's great Wedding Crashers sale and demo release 4 relocation and transition fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DCDyhsxFX/

Sable's donation contacts ($15 for DVD/demo):Paypal:[email protected] app: $straightlinearrivalVenmo: @SableAdelaideKo-fi: sableslaScout Tafoya's GoFundMe for Stubborn Beast: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-scout-tafoya-bring-his-film-to-life

The magnificent researcher for the Blank Check podcast, JJ Bersch joins us for a deliriously fun conversation about the absolutely demented, rollicking road comedy RV!

We delve into the entire history of director Barry Sonnenfeld and his string of curious decisions throughout the making of this film, as Rob read MULTIPLE biographies to prepare, and manages to uncover an astonishing, disgusting pivotal moment in Sonnenfeld's life and career that manifests grotesquely in this very film.

Other topics include the film's inexplicably stunning widescreen vistas, contrasted with the bizarrely stunted pacing and even more inexplicable emotional resonance, as well as the clever trick of emotional perspective the film plays, fighting raccoons, white boys making some noise, Robin Williams' inability to turn himself off, the treacherous joys of traveling through Colorado, demented CHUD interviews, and the magic of Sony Pictures' Core streaming service.

This was SO much fun, JJ was SO awesome and I beg of you to check this psycho movie out, it's a blast!

[[[Midwest emo sample by prod. pekarot]]]

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

JJ's Bluesky: JJ (@jjdotbiz.bsky.social) — BlueskyConner O'Malley and Alan Resnick's "PVC Feces Rig (Home Made) #vanlife" https://vimeo.com/715262741Chud interview with Barry Sonnenfeld: https://chud.com/6489/interview-barry-sonnenfeld-rv/?textutm_source=chud&utm_medium=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=non_home_clicktracking

We bring back the rowdy hosts of Weekly Podcast Massacre to help us pick apart the SCARY MOVIE franchise, a series with zero defensibly good movies but two films near and dear to our hearts because of their ragged, youthful charm. Unfortunately, we're covering one of the other ones: the lifeless, inert SCARY MOVIE 4. We discuss the film's one good sequence (involving a SAW parody starring Shaq shooting free throws to help free Dr. Phil), followed by 100 minutes of stone-face tedium.

We delve into the much better films Zucker and Co. are homaging, our desire for Anna Faris and Regina Hall to be in better things, Girls Next Door completism, the inexplicable run of mid-level rapper cameos and references, and a 10-minute treatise on The Book of Henry.

This was so so SO much fun, and we'd love for you to check it out!

[[[Midwst emo sample by prod. pekarot]]]

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Weekly Podcast Massacre: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-podcast-massacre/id1575641950⁠

WPM's Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/WeeklyMassacre⁠

WPM's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/weeklymassacre.bsky.social⁠

Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

Our lovely pal Joe Kowalski rejoins us, fresh off the Chicken Little episode last year as we serve him up another stealing pile of CGI garbage, ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN! We discuss this pretty dreary but extremely profitable series: its deeply weird voice cast, its lackluster plotting, its hideous CGI and its acknowledgment of the existence of Literal Christian Heaven. We also talk about The Scrat.

Joe did way more research that would ever be requested of him for this episode, and we had so much fun picking through this stupid fuckin' series that everybody saw and nobody liked, as well as OUR VERY FIRST ACTUAL PRIMETIME "GAMER ZONE" ENTRY!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Joe's Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pogiejoe.bsky.social⁠

Joe's YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/PogieJoe⁠

Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

The beloved guest from our VERY FIRST EPISODE on the horror film White Noise, the great David Roth (Defector Media) makes his triumphant return to talk about...a good movie????

A *great* movie in fact, Spike Lee's twisty heist thriller INSIDE MAN. We endeavor to record THE PERFECT PODCAST. We discuss the legendary director's 21st century work building up to this, his most financial successful film: its crackerjack pacing, beautiful location work, stunningly accomplished cast, and the joy of getting to see a team of Hall of Famers work on an incredible level, even for a trifle of a genre film that falls apart at the slightest scrutiny, held together by a roster of marvelous craftsmen.

We also discuss the film's social commentary, both effective (its statement on racial and cultural myopia for anyone outside of their demographics, especially in law enforcement) and less so (the great efforts undertaken to situate 50 Cent and Grand Theft Auto as some of society's greatest ills!) . But when that Terrence Blanchard score swells as Clive Owen looks upon the open vault, all you can think is: this is the classic shit right here baby.

It is always a joy and a privilege to have David swing by the show, and we had a blast getting to speak with enthusiasm about a movie that kicks ass instead of pick apart a nascent trash fire. BUT DON'T GET USED TO IT! <3 CHECK IT OUT!

Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rob's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://artofilliterates.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/davidjroth.bsky.social

Defector Media: https://defector.com/

Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ )

We didn't intend to put out two episodes FOR SICKOS ONLY(tm) so close together, but we had a long gestating idea for an episode covering the 2006 Oscars telecast, honoring all the films of 2005, a whooping THIRTEEN we covered on our show.

We discuss the infamous controversy between Crash v. Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture, the legendary performance and victory for Three 6 Mafia, Jon Stewart's hosting job, the "TCM Fortnite" intro, the aggressive musical stings, "mayor of Hollywood" George Clooney, our passionate frustration with Oscar telecasts, and our affinity for montages, montages of any kind!

We had so much fun just sort of bullshitting offbrand that we couldn't help but have a good time here, for one of the most memorable ceremonies of the 2000s. Check it out!

(Nominees we covered: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Walk the Line, Cinderella Man, Wallace & Gromit, March of the Penguins, Memoirs of a Geisha, King Kong, War of the Worlds, Narnia, Batman Begins, Revenge of the Sith, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory)