DeGen Cinema Podcast

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay continue their XXXmas celebrations by putting all their money on frozen orange juice futures as they discuss 'Trading Places.' Bombay opens up the episode by recalling the time a car pulled over in the cold to offer him a ride, and how it all unraveled into an insane night.

Then the boys discuss a classic comedy that isn't mentioned enough for its Christmas charm. It opens with wonderfully gritty location shots of Philadelphia, and features a Snobs vs. Slobs storyline with racial undertones. Director John Landis does the right thing and lets young rising phenom, Eddie Murphy, absolutely cook, but Dan Aykroyd pulls out one of his most memorable film performances as an unhinged destitute Santa. Peppered with memorable moments throughout, it's the closing act hijinks on the train which pushes the boundaries of absurdity, and features many of the film's funniest moments. This episode will have you wishing you spent the holidays shacked up with a savvy hooker with a heart of gold. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay are celebrating the Xxxmas season by ordering plain cheese pizzas and watching the Christmas classic, 'Home Alone.' Andy gets us into the festive spirit by recalling the time he and friends were sledding inside a house, and caused more destruction than Kevin McCallister setting boobie traps. 

Then the fellas talk about this holiday staple that features a child star-making performance from Macaulay Culkin, but is bolstered by incredible performances from jerks Joe Pesci (the same year as 'Goodfellas'), Daniel Stern, and 'After Hours' stars John Heard and Catherine O'Hara. The guys discuss the true sickening reasons behind Harry and Marv being so motivated to capture the helpless 8-year-old. Plus, they wonder if Kevin had any friends, and how hilarious it is to see his transformation in only a matter of days with his family gone. The mayhem in the movie may take longer to get to than you remember, but the mayhem in our episode starts straight from the beginning, ya filthy animals. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay hit the studio and show they got the touch while talking about a certifiable Degen classic, 'Boogie Nights.' Bombay opens it up by talking about how much he envies Dirk Diggler's ability to control his manhood on demand, as he was not able to replicate that performance when the pressure was on. 

Then the boys discuss this time capsule, which is littered with incredible detail that would become the calling card of Paul Thomas Anderson films, and an ensemble cast that was well on their way to being some of the great actors of their generation. The guys talk about how consuming adult entertainment has changed not only from the '70s, but from the '90s when the film was released. Naturally, they have to talk about the film's star, Mark Wahlberg's prosthetic, and the hilarious number of countless reaction shots to characters getting a load of it in person. Similar to the movie, the episode is filled with comedy, but the human elements are the backbone(r). 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay embrace the seven deadly sins even more than usual as they talk about one of the greatest crime thrillers of all-time, 'Seven.' The movie takes place in an unnamed rainy city, and it makes Andy recall a rainstorm that led to a fight while on vacation. 

Then the fellas discuss the movie that announced David Fincher's true arrival, and just how gnarly the film is for a mainstream movie. Featuring a wonderful steady performance from Morgan Freeman, and  a role from Brad Pitt that helped him shake his himbo label. The flick is so good it even has Gwyneth Paltrow back when she was lovable, as her relationship with Pitt's Mills is the catalyst for one of the most nihilistic endings in a '90s studio film. This flick kicks off with a Nine Inch Nails intro, and closes with a heartbreaking twist that leaves everyone, even the viewers, filled with wrath. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay are kind of a big deal as they sit at their news desks to discuss one of the most oft-quoted comedies of all-time, 'Anchorman.' Bombay escalates the episode quickly by telling an opening story involving hooking up with a coworker he most definitely should've stayed away from. Then the boys find themselves trapped in a glass box of emotion while talking about a film that basically shaped the comedic stylings for a generation of moviegoers and frat bros alike. Highly improvised, and somehow maintaining a PG-13 rating, this Adam McKay classic is bolstered by a never-better Will Ferrell, who is flanked by comedic acting geniuses such as Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. Among those titans, Christina Applegate's straight man performance as Veronica Corningstone is the jazz flute solo that brings the whole piece together. It's ludicrous, over the top, and the sort of thing that sticks with you well after it's over — both the movie and our episode. Make sure you check it out till the end cause 60% of the time it's great, all the time. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay go extraterrestrial as they mostly talk 'Aliens'....mostly. Andy is the first one in the nest as he recalls the time he had a boozy lunch at work, and ended up using a power loader-type vehicle that ended in disaster. Then the fellas talk about one of the great movies of the '80s, and one that is among the pantheon of great sequels. Bolstered by James Cameron's maniacal attention to detail, the film has incredible world-building, not just with the xenomorphs and Weyland-Yutani Corp design, but his ability to flesh out characters. Of course, Sigourney Weaver cements herself as a bonafide bada** star, but she is surrounded by Michael Biehn and his loveable group of grunts. Toss in some all-time practical puppet and animatronic work with the aliens, and jaw-dropping action set pieces, and you have a classic. The boys pepper in some stories involving their times watching movies in the franchise — including a run-in with the cops as a teenager — and then it's game over man, game over. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay decide to live deliciously while wrapping up Spooky Sleazon with a modern horror classic, 'The Witch.' After tending to his chores, Bombay opens up the episode by telling a story when he received a slew of sultry snaps from a girl who practices Wicca and it somehow ended horribly. Then the boys jump into the movie that went on to define A24 horror — back when that meant something — and discuss the epitome of a slow burn horror done right. There's talk of Robert Eggers' impressive craft and attention to detail that makes him an occult Wes Anderson, for a movie that would seem a slog but breezes by and culminates in a bonkers third act. Of course the fellas have to give some love to Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout performance, and Ralph Ineson's haunting voice. Don't worry, they also spend sufficient time praising the GOAT goat performance from Black Phillip, and bemoan the fact he wasn't given zany 'Leprechaun'-esque zany sequels.

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay continue Spooky Sleazon by talking about one of the most popular horror movies in recent years, 'Weapons.' Andy starts off the episode by talking about the cop character who has an AIDS scare after getting pricked with a needle, and how it reminded him of a scare of his own. Then the fellas set their clocks to 2:17 to discuss a genre flick with great production value, and almost uniformly wonderful performances that ultimately left the Degens feeling cold. They gripe about how long this horror film takes to heat up (nearly an hour and a half) and how the lunacy in the last 30 minutes doesn't make up for it. The boys then do their best to pitch how they would've tweaked the story structure, all while sharing crazy stories from their past, and intense horror movie upbringings. This episode is about as bonkers as Aunt Gladys' makeup techniques. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay get groovy baby, during Spooky Sleazon as they discuss the indescribable classic, 'Evil Dead II.' Andy kicks it off telling a story about the time he and friends tried to channel their own Ash-like maybe by having chainsaw battles, and it turned out about as well as reading a passage from the Necronomicon. Then the fellas make an argument for this being possibly the greatest film of all-time as it starts as a one man show that blends live action Looney Tunes-style comedy with truly unsettling moments. Body parts get severed, blood pours from every conceivable opening, and it's all held together by the undeniable charisma — and classic Hollywood good looks — of Bruce Campbell. The 'Evil Dead' franchise not only reshaped horror, but the reverberations of its impact changed comic book movies forever as director Sam Raimi would later be given the keys to one of the biggest franchises of all-time. Check out the ep, and you'll be having a burning in helluva good time. 

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay ask, 'What's your pleasure, sir' before discussing a movie that is a fulcrum in the Degen Cinema canon, 'Hellraiser.' Bombay starts it off by recalling when he first opened up the box to cheating in his youth, and how it involved a summer of watching this on repeat as a teen. Then the boys talk about a movie that was a mind boggling intro into incredible gnarly practical FX, and BDSM, which led to their minds being forever warped at far too young ages. It was difficult to grasp Uncle Frank being so good in bed that it transcended reality and transfixed Julia, who gladly humped a reanimated corpse. Packed with salaciously disturbing imagery, and jaw dropping gore this horror masterpiece is from another era when folks actually flocked to the multiplex to watch this filth. The incredible FX and creature design helped make Pinhead a pop culture icon, and the movie goes into bizarro overdrive once he and the Cenobites truly make their presence felt. It may be filled with some stilted performances, and a perplexing UK-based '80s New York setting, but that strangeness only adds to how disorientingly deranged this masterpiece is. Make sure you listen to the full episode, as "We have such sights to show you."