In this episode, Andrew and Monica debate the merits of Argo, which leads to a more general discussion on films that are "based on a true story." To what extent is accuracy important? Is the director obligated to look at the "big picture?" Also, cars chasing planes are kinda dumb. Tune in for all that and more.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:28 - The depiction of the government

5:35 - The (in)accuracy of Argo

8:18 - Comparing Argo to The Passion of the Christ

14:28 - Does it matter if a movie isn't historically accurate? Argo vs. The Social Network

17:54 - A movie that celebrates Hollywood lies and is itself a lie

22:53 - What's the point? Does there need to be one?

31:34 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort is receiving lots of praise from critics, but does it live up to the hype? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general spoiler-free thoughts on the film.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:17 - General thoughts

13:42 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Get ready to get pitch-slapped! Andrew and Monica arguably go a bit too far in their spoiler-filled analysis of Pitch Perfect, tackling everything from the marketing to its presentation of obesity and gender. Are films like this just a corporate cash-grab? How is Rebel Wilson different from Melissa McCarthy? And what’s up with all the John Hughes love in movies lately? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:14 - A battle of the sexes

6:05 - Controlling the group’s sexuality, feminism, etc.

8:36 - A corporate cash-grab?

12:29 - Similarities with Bridesmaids, the gross-out comedy

15:50 - Comparing Rebel Wilson’s presentation of overweight characters to that of Melissa McCarthy

22:53 - Yet another movie that loves John Hughes

26:58 - Awkward jokes about race and homosexuality

29:58 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Bridesmaids was a big hit. So was Glee. Why not mix the two together? That seems to be the reasoning behind Pitch Perfect, a musical-comedy about a competitive a cappella group. It wants to like Glee but for college students, but is there really that much of a difference? How are the musical arrangements? And will Anna Kendrick ever not be awesome? Tune in to find out if this movie is aca-mazing or just tone deaf.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:17 - General thoughts

12:39 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica try to solve the mysteries of Looper. What is it trying to say about violence? Is it a critique of mainstream Hollywood entertainment? Can true love and money really save you from a life of crime? And what's up with Kid Blue? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:15 - What is this film really about?

6:24 - A Cabin In The Woods-esque critic of pop culture?

12:30 - The use of primitive weapons

14:45 - The contrast between the presentation of violence around Joe versus that around Old Joe

19:25 - Nature vs. nurture; does Cid grow up to become the Rainmaker?

26:18 - True love and money can't save you from the cycle of violence

32:01 - Reactions to the ending, film as a visual drug

35:00 - The character of Kid Blue, violence as masculine rite of passage

40:12 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Is it possible to cheat death if you know it's coming? Find out as Andrew and Monica discuss Rian Johnson's time-travel thriller Looper, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an assassin assigned to kill his future self. Does this highly-anticipated film from the director of Brick live up to the hype?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

5:27 - General thoughts

18:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica bring out the big guns in their dissection of End of Watch. Is the film a critique of the police force? What’s up with its depiction of race? And how is it similar to Cowboys & Aliens? Tune in to find out. Contains spoilers.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

4:27 - Unnecessary scenes

7:54 - A critique of the police force?

15:40 - The depiction of race

23:21 - The attitude of the other cops; are they really one big happy family?

31:45 - The positives

33:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica bring the Jake Gyllenhaal-starring End of Watch in for questioning. This cop film from the writer of Training Day markets itself as a found-footage film, but is that really the case? Does the aesthetic help or hurt the drama? This episode is spoiler-free, and also contains brief thoughts on Trouble With The Curve and Dredd 3D.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

1:37 - Thoughts on Trouble With The Curve

5:30 - Thoughts on Dredd 3D

7:40 - Intro to End of Watch and clip

9:46 - General thoughts on End of Watch

18:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Cinema Fix is back! In this episode, Andrew explains why the show went on unexpected hiatus and gives the details on its return. He then plays an episode of the show that was recorded months ago but never released for various reasons. Monica Castillo guest hosts to discuss the Joss Whedon-produced horror film The Cabin In The Woods, which is released on DVD and Blu-Ray this week. What's up with this weird movie? What's it trying to say about human nature, religion and violence in entertainment? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro; the future of Cinema Fix

5:22 - Part 1 intro and clip

9:06 - General thoughts

18:32 - Part 2 intro and clip

20:31 - The opening scene, and the big twist

24:20 - The religious subtext

28:27 - A critique of violence in entertainment; Funny Games but fun?

33:34 - "Choosing your fate" - the punishment isn't equal to the offense

35:21 - The cameo at the end, and what it means

41:17 - Why are the only people left the Virgin and the Fool?

45:02 - A movie about making movies

47:05 - Reboot This!

53:02 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In preparation for The Avengers, Andrew and Frank are examining a few of the major superheroes who will be involved. First up: Iron Man. What does this film series have to say about the nature of power? How is Tony Stark representative of America? Should anybody own Iron Man technology?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

4:09 - The irony of America and the idea of an "ultimate weapon"

7:30 - Are there such things as the "right hands"?

11:20 - Comparisons with Thor, the power of the individual vs. institutions

18:54 - At what point do these heroes become too powerful?

20:54 - Can a blockbuster like The Avengers make a radical statement about violence?

23:29 - Closing thoughts

27:30 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!