Bring Your Own Blockbuster

This week on the pod we're heading back to 2007 to check back in on Into the wild featuring Emile Hirsch. If you haven't already seen this one... oof deep breaths it's a deep thinker of a film - go have a watch then hop onto the pod with us as we ask fundamentally whether Christopher McCandless was a hopeless romantic trying to lay his feet on a corner of the earth he could call his own, or whether there was a deep rooted privilege and arrogance that he couldn't untangle.

Into the Wild delves into so many of the existential questions that many of us will have experienced particularly in a post covid world - where we question whether a 'career' is something to be desired or actually a shackle upon us. We discuss whether Chris was desperately seeking connection, whether he found the realisation that things need to be shared to late or whether he was actually onto something by escaping into nature.

Finally we have a rummage around with the idea of whether it would be possible to escape into the wild in 2025, and whether our devices have tapped us in such a way that we can no longer escape technology and can never truly be off the beaten path.

As ever get in touch - we'd love to hear from you @byodpod on the socials.

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Welcome back to the pod! This week we're heading back to 2011 and the film Margin Call. Now lots of you may have missed this when it first came out but its online popularity has given it a real second wind. We get stuck into some of the best scenes in the film in particular the boardroom sequence where Jeremy Irons lays down the law, we discuss the nature of how money can change an individual, how morality and self preservation can get in the way of each other and what lengths people will go to to ensure survival in their own bubble.

How about this for a cast by the way: Kevin Spacey as Sam Rogers, Paul Bettany as Will Emerson, Jeremy Irons as John Tuld, Zachary Quinto as Peter Sullivan, Stanley Tucci as Eric Dale, Simon Baker as Jared Cohen, Demi Moore as Sarah Robertson, Penn Badgley as Seth Bregman, Mary McDonnell as Mary Rogers, Aasif Mandvi as Ramesh Shah. Hell of a shoot out for MVP!

There are few redeeming features around any of the characters but we take a look at which characters seem to have some level of moral sensibility - as we rank them on the scumbagometer!

Finally we discuss whether a film can become a fine wine through the nature of its online presence and being resurfaced through Youtube! Lots to get into - back with you on Friday with what to watch this weekend!

Time to get watching for next week: Into the Wild (2007)

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In this episode, Ben and Jack take a close look at Shane Meadows’ This Is England, a film that confronts the complexities of race, identity, and nationalism in 1980s Britain. They unpack how the film depicts the horrors of racism through art - and whether such portrayals are a necessary form of truth-telling, or if they risk exploiting the trauma of those affected.

They delve into the long shadow of Margaret Thatcher, exploring how her policies reshaped northern, working-class communities, and how the film captures the fallout. The episode also shines a light on the film’s female characters, whose presence challenges and deepens the male-dominated narrative, offering much-needed perspective and emotional grounding.

The discussion then turns to the danger of disenfranchised masculinity - how lost, angry young men become vulnerable to radicalisation and draws parallels with the rise of far-right movements today. Have we really learned from the past, or are we repeating it in new forms?

A timely and urgent conversation about history, identity, and the power of film to hold a mirror to society.

Also in this episode: Ben responds to the backlash surrounding his A Minecraft Movie review, and Jack passionately argues why the latest season of The White Lotus isn’t just the best one yet, but a near-flawless piece of television.

If you find the episode thought-provoking, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing to help others find the podcast.

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Welcome back to the apology wagon! Sorry we couldn't get this one to you sooner guys - 3 films to get you reviews from today a couple of which have only just been released. Lots to shout about - starting with 'Death of a Unicorn' Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Will Poulter all on excellent form - but does the film know what it wants to be? We'd love to hear from you so do please reach out and let us know what you thought of Death of a Unicorn.

Next up - the pleasantly surprising 'A Working Man'. Jack reveals a gentle man crush on the Stath and the lads get into whether the art of being an action hero is starting to die out. We take a look at Apple TV's new hit the studio and discuss whether it holds a mirror up to the experience so many will have of the dream job turns out to be a nightmare.

Finally... A Minecraft Movie. EESH the less said the better.

Chapters for you here:

00:00 Introduction

03:02 Review of 'Death of a Unicorn'

11:51 Exploring 'A Working Man'

22:25 The Evolution of Action Heroes

24:00 The Studio: A New Perspective on Hollywood

30:11 Apple TV's Commitment to Quality Content

32:37 The Minecraft Movie: A Critical Review

45:04 Reflections on Val Kilmer's Legacy

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Up this week a very fragile Ben and Jack return to discuss Trainspotting. First up an apology of being so frighteningly behind on bringing the pod to you this week - all will be revealed as to why. So... Trainspotting taken from the book by Irvine Welsh, which first became a stage show before then becoming A Danny Boyle classic. But what's it all about?

Well firstly heroin. But is it just heroin? Is it about addiction and the idea of trying to understand the world in which we inhabit. We see the film apply a critical lense to the group of heroin addicts at the films core but does it judge? Was the film harsh enough on the effects of heroin?

Now nearly 30 years on the perspective on heroin has changed substantially but Ben and Jack have a nose into whether young men are still plagued by the same problems that the film was discussing in the mid 90's. We take a look at the character of Renton, whether he's a hero or whether he's a villain before looking at some of the more brutal and uncomfortable scenes. Fantastic bit of fine wine of war crime today - plus only one man for MVP!

Lots to come on what to watch this weekend - see you all on Friday!!

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Welcome back to BYOB everybody - lovely to have you along for the ride. If it's your first time welcome - if it's your 110th - you're wonderful and we're forever in your debt. Now then - what to watch this weekend?

Well let's start with Snow White - the big question we've got to get into is, whether this film's poor performance has been because of the backlash from certain fans, commentators and sections of the media. There's been a lot of chat around the film and in truth it's taken a bit of a kicking - but does it deserve the criticism and should you go and see it this weekend?

Elsewhere Novocaine has just come out at the cinema and is worth a look if you want something a little bit lighter! Full review of that bad boy in the pod as well with lots of love for Jack Quaid who is on a real hot streak.

Plus what to watch this weekend on the small screen. Well for those of a Severance persuasion who haven't watched the Finale make sure to get that done - warning there's a few spoilers in here whilst we talk about the final episode of season 2. White Lotus is also coming to an end within season three - lots to chat about there in particular whether they have taken things too far this time.

Then finally if you're in the mood to stay in and watch a nice film at home this weekend we've got reminders of why The Outrun and The Sound of Music are just absolutely world class!

If you are still reading - stop now and go leave us a 5 star review!

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This week we welcome back friend of the pod, writer, creator all round wonderful man James Hamilton to get stuck into The Addams Family.

Before we get into the joy of this macabre masterpiece James very kindly talks us through his writing process and a little of why the comedic horror genre has always fascinated him and the role the Addams family played in his understanding of how comedy can beautifully interact with discussions around mortality, the surreal and the supernatural.

We have a great discussion about what is really at the heart of the film - why is it that a family that seems to be so at odds with the world around them actually manage to have such a tender and loving relationship with one another. What are the key markers of a truly beautiful family unit? And what is the key message at the heart of the film?

There's also time to get stuck into the gothic aesthetic as well as the cultural significance that the Addams Family had now spawning new series like Wednesday.

If you'd like to check out more of James' work have a peek at his brilliant series 'Murder for Dummies' on the Casual Violence YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CasualViolence - thanks so much for joining us James!

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Adolescence has taken Netflix by storm - becoming one of the most watched shows in its first week ever published on the platform. But what is really at the heart of the series? It's striking a chord with so many people, across every age group and raising incredibly difficult conversations - but what are the discussion that we need to have off the back of the series? Ben and Jack break it all down!

Plus on the menu this week:

We're putting the filmography of Jason Statham on the stand to see if it can withstand a forensic examining.

Review of the excellent Black Bag

Plus a reminder of a beauty from a year ago turning up on streaming services!

If you haven't already subscribed do please get stuck in and leave us a 5 star review!

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*Cue the John Williams music, let's do this one last time as we come to the end of Star Wars season! It's been a wonderful few weeks but it's time to ask the toughest question of all... Has Disney damaged something that was once the most beautifully pure creative IP and taken the heart out of it.

With this in mind we try to cut to the heart of what the Star Wars films are all about? What is the light side and is it really that different from the dark side - or are there just shades of grey. We have a good old rummage around the character of Han Solo and look at how Harrison Ford has become such an enormous part of cinema culture.

To finish up we take a look at some of the greatest trilogies of all time to see where Star Wars Ranks.

Chapters and timestamps for those that want them:

01:43 How Star Wars edged us

02:00 What is this Film Best known for?

05:27 What are the biggest Contentions in Star Wars Return of the Jedi

16:51 How does childhood play a role in the way we remember Star Wars

18:00 Was the Death Star a bit meh

20:00 Han Solo's Character Arc

24:28The Nature of Good and Evil

31:00 Identity and Legacy in Star Wars

33:00 Is Harrison Ford the big winner of the Star Wars Trilogy

38:00 The Impact of Star Wars on Cinema

44:00 How Star Wars fell off..

51:00 The Impact of Directorial Changes

58:00 The Mandalorian and the Return of Legacy Characters

1:01:00Diversity in Storytelling vs. Compelling Narratives

1:02:00 Comparing Star Wars to Other Iconic Trilogies

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