Forgotten Cinema

It's time for severed hands, bad accents, and an adorable pit bull puppy on this episode of Forgotten Cinema as the Mikes discuss the 2014 film, The Drop, starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and James Gandolfini in his final role before his passing.

Mike Field and Mike Butler both very much enjoy the story being told in this film. The writing and the dialogue are very well done. Butler believes that perhaps the film could have been served better as a short film, as it does seem to stretch the story it's trying to tell a little too much. Field enjoys the performances of the Hardy and Gandolfini, and so does Mike, however there is one aspect about Hardy's performance that Butler cannot abide...his terrible Eddie Brock Brooklyn accent.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes are going back to 1983 to sit down and have a long talk and hang out for the weekend. A "Big Chill" if you would. Get it?!

That's right; Mike Butler and Mike Field are discussing the Lawrence Kasdan written and directed film The Big Chill, starring Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, William Hurt, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams, Mary Kay Place, and Meg Tilly. What a cast!

Field and Butler will talk about the amazing dialogue in this film and what the title is actually referring to. They also bring up fun facts about the movie such as that during the rehearsal process, the characters had a dinner where they all ate and talked in character. The Mikes also talk about a now-famous star whose fairly important role was left on the cutting room floor.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes are going back in time to the Hundred Years War where these modern men of the 21st century will surely thrive...nah just playing, they'd probably die; quickly and poorly.

Mike Field and Mike Butler are instead watching the 2003 time travel film, Timeline, from the comfort of their own homes with all the modern amenities available to them. They'll discuss the differences between this film and the Michael Crichton novel it is based on. The Mikes will also talk about how this film paints Paul Walker's character to be the lead when in reality the lead in this film is Gerard Butler's.

They'll also get into how Richard Donner had to deliver three different cuts of this film to please Paramount Pictures, causing the entirety of the original Jerry Goldsmith score (one of his last) to be left on the cutting room floor. A cut far longer than the pulpy vapid final cut, this fact has both Butler and Field demanding #ReleaseTheDonnerCut!

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

It's time for some Cruise-on-Cruise action this week as the Mikes discuss the 2013 film "Oblivion" starring Forgotten Cinema's most repeated superstar; Tom Cruise.

Mike Butler and Mike Field both truly enjoy this movie, but man does it have some issues when it comes to story. From conveniences in dialogue and character motivation for the purpose of driving the story along to inconsistent or nonsensical plot points, the story in this film could probably have used a little more time in the oven to really straighten some things out. But the bones of the story are solid, Tom Cruise does a great job, the score is great, and the art direction and cinematography are phenomenal. The film also gives Cruise one of his best final lines.

Butler and Field will also go into the making of this film, how they did most of what they could using practical effects and props, and some bizarre theories on the true meaning of the film.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

It's two episodes into their 13th season and the Mikes are throwing the party of the century! A real rager! The most kick-ass rockin' in your face....ok I lied; they're just going to watch a movie about that kind of party. It's 2012's Project X.

Directed by and starring no one you've ever heard of, this coming-of-age party film went on to make nearly TEN TIMES it's budget back! That's....astounding even to Butler, who was not as big a fan of this film as Field was. Field enjoys many aspects of the story and the way it was filmed, despite not being a fan of the found footage genre in general. Butler finds the film lacking in plot or character development, forcing the film to fall squarely on how crazy or hilarious the house party at the center of the film is. And for him, that party doesn't go far enough nor is the film funny enough.

The Mikes will also discuss fun facts about the film, like the fact that it was filmed on the Lethal Weapon set and they had extras actually throw a true huge party in order to get the footage and feel that they needed.

And remember; "Ninjas are p*ssies"

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

Season 13 of Forgotten Cinema starts off with The Mikes driving a Soviet tank behind enemy lines by orders of a crazed George Dzundza, as they discuss the 1988 film The Beast of War.

After about seven seasons worth of being asked to cover this film, Mike Field and Mike Butler finally discuss this Jason Patric, Stephen Baldwin starrer that takes place during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They'll discuss the themes of the film and how if they had pushed the crux of the story more toward the beginning and not pushed the inevitable confrontation between Dzundza and Patric's characters toward the end, the film would have worked a bit better. They'll also discuss the decision to cast non middle eastern actors in middle eastern roles, the parallel the writers tried to make with the Vietnam War, and the final act of Jason Patric's character.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

In the season finale of Season 12, the Mikes are grabbing their bright red wigs and running back to the late nineties to catch up with Lola's terrible, very bad, no good day, in 1998's Run Lola Run.

Mike Field loves this low budget flick that brings him back to "the day"; the club music soundtrack typified by artists like Moby and Prodigy thumping throughout, the nonstop pace of the film, the subtle nods to Hitchcock, and of course, that delightful 80-minute run time.

Butler also enjoys the brisk runtime and the style of the film, but is a little caught up on the inconsistencies in storytelling pertaining to some of the flashes of side character's lives, how we delve into the different branching narrative paths and the films ending, which takes away some of the main character's agency.

Nevertheless, the Mikes encourage all cinephiles and budding filmmakers to check out Run Lola Run.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

Roxanne!!!!

That's right! The Mikes are talking about a film that they've already been told isn't forgotten. The first Eddie Murphy starrer, 48 Hours.

Well jokes on everyone, because neither Mike Field or Mike Butler had ever seen it. Everyone talks about Beverly Hill Cop, it's great and it's repeated all over TV, but 48 Hours is the one that gave Eddie Murphy his start on the big screen and no one ever really talks about it.

From Nick Nolte being Nick Nolte, to the surprisingly serious tone of the film as well as Murphy's performance, this film has a lot to appreciate. The Mikes discuss the cinematography, the long single takes, and the fact that this film is the inspiration for all the buddy cop action films from the 80's and 90's that proceeded it.

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes are going to law school in the early 70's! And probably flunking "Contracts" class with Professor Kingsfield. That's right! It's The Paper Chase.

Mike Butler believes that you are unlikely to ever see a mainstream film geared more directly at a particular subset of a particular kind of school. To Butler this film is for first year law students (possibly only those in the 70's) and that is about it. While Mike Field can enjoy the craft of the film and the fantastic cinematography by Gordon Willis, he can't really disagree. However, this film is filled with great performances, direction, and writing enough to keep you watching a long even if you could care less how many pages someone's outline is.

So, take out your textbooks, please turn to page 385 for the case of Butler v Field, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes love talking about Mike....Clayton that is!

This week Mike Butler and Mike Field are discussing the 2007 Tony Gilroy film, Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and Tom Wilkinson. This film is a favorite of the Mikes, nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including a win for Swinton and a Best Picture nod, it's no wonder. From the phenomenal acting of its title character Clooney (also nominated) to Wilkinson's tragic performance as Arthus Edens, who Butler believes was robbed of an Oscar (but did get nominated). This is the freshman directing debut of Tony Gilroy, but his writing skills are on display here as he weaves a tight, tense, well-paced grown-up thriller/drama the likes of which really aren't seen anymore. Could this be why the Mikes believe it to be...forgotten? Hmmmmmm......

So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right of you and settle down for Forgotten Cinema.