Forgotten Cinema

Hey...come here...come here.

The Mikes are getting uncomfortable in this episode of Forgotten Cinema as they discuss the Jack Black/James Marsden film you didn't know existed; The D Train.

Join Mike Butler and Mike Field as they talk about how the film is filled with uncomfortable moments of both comedy and drama that makes Butler feel uncomfortable. That being said, both Mikes agree that this is a film worth watching. From an overused premise of trying to look cool for your high school reunion, the film has a twist that turns the film on its head; making D Train a very unique and original film that you don't want to miss and that the Mikes don't want to spoil for you....but you know...they will. That's their job. To talk about the movie.

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 taking on some assumed identities and running away from a crime they did indeed commit...but this time, they're taking the whole family!!!

That's essentially the plot of this week's episode of Forgotten Cinema, as they discuss the 1988 Sidney Lumet film Running on Empty starring River Pheonix, Judd Hirsch, and Christine Lahti. Listen in as Mike Butler and Mike Field talk facts and their opinion on Butler's fiance's (Elyse from Crackin' One Open) first audience choice selection.

The Mikes are super impressed with all of the performances in this film, especially from Pheonix and Lahti. Butler believes Lahti was robbed of an Oscar nod (Pheonix was nominated). The performers have done their homework and know their characters inside and out. Its in the story and writing that Field and Butler sometimes run into some issues. But overall this is a great film where the performances alone should be reason enough to check it out, or give it a revisit.

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

Listen to Elyse (and Butler again) on Crackin' One Open at ForgottenEntertainment.com or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Is this a frying pan which I see before me? The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal burger cooker sensible to feeling as to sight? Or art thou but a frying pan of the hunger, a false creation, proceeding from the burger-deprived stomach?

Burgers? Macbeth? That's right. It's 2001's Scotland, PA; an indie film that takes McDonalds and makes it McBeths....get it? Like...Macbe...ok, moving on.

Mike Field and Mike Butler discuss the film and how it succeeds at adapting it's subject matter. Butler needs it to be a bit closer to Shakespeare's original tragedy, leaving the goofy jokes aside and letting the seriousness of taking place in a burger joint making it a funnier dark comedy. Field believes that the jokes work and that the adaptation should take it's language and story further from the source material. While both Mikes have differing opinions on the main bones of the story, they both agree that the acting by James Le Gross, Maura Tierney, Christopher Walken, and Kevin Corrigan is top notch as well as the style and 1970's flair that director Billy Morrissette brings to this..."delicious" tragedy.

Damn, now I want a large #4 with a Coke.

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

This week, the Mikes talk about the most recent movie on the show thus far, Bad Times at the El Royale, directed by Drew Goddard starring Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, and a whole lot more.

To the east, you have Mike Butler; a man who loves this eccentric, slick, well acted original picture that enjoys its characters, tale, and atmosphere.

To the west, there's Mike Field; a man who likes this film, yet constantly boards the Train of Negativity as he pokes holes all over the story, questions style, character, story, and cinematography choices.

That's right...it's gonna be one of those episodes!

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 popping their collars, moving to New York, and climbing to the top of 1987 Wall Street while taking a look at the "oh so eighties" comedy starring Michael J Fox, The Secret of My Success.

Join Mike Butler and Mike Field as they discuss the eighties-ness of it all! From the style of the clothes to the style of the film itself; the use of montage and music, the ridiculousness of the situations. Also, unfortunately with the "that's so eighties" comes the not so great parts of it; the less-than okay dialogue and scenes, especially regarding the treatment of some of the women in this film. The Mikes also debate such important topics as whether or not Michael J Fox was a teenage heartthrob? Could you make this film today? Does anyone born after 1995 know what a yuppie is? And the most important question of all; how does Michael J Fox take his pants off over his shoes so fast? All these topics and more on this season 10 premiere!!!

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

In this Spotlight compendium to their Titan AE episode, the Mikes are talking about some of their favorite animated films that are targeted at both kids and adults.

Mike Field and Mike Butler talk about films that were not just animated films with a few jokes that go over a kid's head, but ones that are meant for the entire family, kids and adults to enjoy (at least) nearly equally.

The Mikes list films such as the Toy Story films, Inside Out, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and more as they discuss these films not pandering to their adolescent audience and finding themes that work for an audience regardless of age. They also bring up that as an adult its important to keep some wonder, and childhood whimsy; to not become someone that your younger self would no longer recognize.

So grab your concessions, find your seat and get read for Forgotten Cinema: Spotlight!

All good things must come to an end, and like the changing of the seasons, so must go our Forgotten Summer season. But first, the Mikes are blasting off into space, watching Earth blow up, and avoiding weird electric aliens as they search for the only ship that can save mankind in Don Bluth's 2000 animated adventure film Titan AE, starring the voice talent of Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, and Janeane Garofalo (in her 4th FC film).

Mike Butler and Mike Field discuss how this film was marketed as a new paradigm shift in blockbuster films; not just for kids, not just for adults. A big budget action adventure for the whole family using the latest and greatest in animation. Unfortunately the film was riddled with behind the scenes woes; from the firing of its original director to the rushing of it's new directors, including legendary animation director Don Bluth. Titan AE is a film filled with potential...potential buried by plot holes, bad dialogue, questionable character choices and a strange mix of animation styles (partly to do with my different animation studios used to rush production).

As Mike Field brings up in this episode, if a reboot were done to redo the mistakes made on a previously flawed film that brimmed with potential...this is it. A diamond in the rough, filled with promised, marred by issues.

So pack up your beach toys, put that cover on your pool, notice the pumpkin-spiced everything ads to the left and right of you, and settle down for the final episode of Forgotten Summer!

In this Spotlight compendium to their Layer Cake episode, the Mikes are talking British gangster films, both with and without an accent...just kidding....mostly...

Mike Field and Mike Butler point out some awesome British gangster films that you should see and some that they want to see as well, while at the same time talking about what it is that makes a British gangster film different than their crime family brothers from across the pond. From the style of the films, to the the fact that there is almost a language of their own within the film. Many of these films also deal with different themes and have characters dealing with issues that might be slightly different than the usual crime film. They also tend to be a bit more fun and cheeky than their American gangster counterparts.

So grab your concessions, find your seat and get read for Forgotten Cinema: Spotlight!

The Mikes are taking a journey across the pond on the penultimate episode of Forgotten Summer as they take a look at one of Mike Butler's favorite films; the Matthew Vaughn directed, Daniel Craig starring Layer Cake.

Listen in as Mike Butler and Mike Field discuss this 2004 (2005 in the States) British gangster film and the first film directed by Vaughn; who was previously a producer on Guy Ritchie's films. The Mikes notice similarities in both directors' styles, but they also vary in different ways. Butler talks about how this is the film that made Daniel Craig the top choice to play James Bond in Casino Royale. There's also numerous plot lines and the stories of the past of many of the OG gangsters in the film to talk about; some are successfully explored, while others are super interesting, but leave the audience wanting.

Butler also discusses the tremendous acting talent behind the film; Colm Meaney, Michael Gambon, Burn Gorman, Kenneth Cranham, and George Harris. This film has an incredible pool of talent all at the top of their game.

So grab your ice cream, please notice the surfboards to the left and right of you, and settle down for Forgotten Summer!

In this Spotlight compendium to their Lone Star episode, the Mikes are talking about understated (and maybe underrated?) actor Chris Cooper!

If you've seen movies in the last 25 years, you've certainly seen this actor in film; but Cooper brings to his role and internal and quiet power that makes you believe in his character so much, you almost forget that he is an actor playing a part. From Bourne Identity, to American Beauty and his Oscar winning performance in Adaptation plus more, Mike Field and Mike Butler talk about how Chris Cooper is an amazing talent who chooses great roles that truly showcases what great internal performance can do for a role.

So grab your concessions, find your seat and get read for Forgotten Cinema: Spotlight!