Forgotten Cinema

The Mikes travel back to the 90's to reminisce about the 80's in this weeks episode of Forgotten Cinema as they take a look at 1997's Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion starring Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino.

Mike Field and Mike Butler discuss their second 90's high school reunion movie in a row for some reason! Listen as they talk about the relatability of the two main character's and whether or not it is difficult to root for them. They'll also talk about story of the film and how much of it does not take place until the final 20 minutes of the film. The Mikes also talk the supporting characters including Janeane Garofalo and Alan Cummings characters who steal their scenes as well as if a comedy should be judged wholly on the jokes alone.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

Forgotten Cinema Season 8!!!!

Since we begin in the month of love, it's only fair that we start this season with some romance, starting with 1996's Beautiful Girls; directed by Ted Demme and starring SO MANY PEOPLE!!! Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillion, Michael Rapaport, Mira Sorvino, a very young Natalie Portman...oh and Uma Thurman! Honestly the list goes on and on.

Join the Mikes as they discuss the way that this film is able to take a group of seemingly unlikeable guys in their 30's and turn them into characters that you care about, understand and root for. Mike Butler and Mike Field also argue about Hutton's character's relationship with young Natalie Portman and whether or not it is a fantasy of lost youth or just plain creepy. The writing, the setting, the acting and the themes of this star studded romantic dramady are all on broken down!

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

Get your walkie-talkie watches ready; the Mikes are traveling to a crime ridden pop-art 1930's in Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy.

Mike Butler and Mike Field talk about what makes this 1990 film so interesting to watch. From the very specific color palate that was used, to the over the top make up and prosthetics used on some legendary actors who perform as over the top as the make-up effects themselves. Field and Butler will also discuss Warren Beatty's career as a director and how he ended up starring in and directing this feature that has clearly inspired many comic based films such as Sin City and more. They'll also take a stab at figuring out why such a hit in 1990 has been largely forgotten about today.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes are taking baby steps to their desk and baby steps to their microphones in the penultimate episode of season 7 as they talk about the 1991 Frank Oz comedy, What About Bob? starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss.

Listen as they discuss their experiences of watching the film back in the day, compared to watching it again now. Butler describes why Dreyfuss' Dr. Leo Marvin is not a great character to play the straight man, because he himself, is a terrible person. Field finds Murray's Bob Wiley to over stay his welcome at times and is not quite as endearing as he should be. But both Mikes agree that there is still fun to be had in this 90's comedy that time forgot.

The Mikes also discuss the behind the scenes drama that took place during the making of What About Bob? and whether it hurt or helped the film.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

What if the legend of King Arthur was based in part on a real person? Well you'd get 2004's King Arthur; directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Clive Owen, Kiera Knightly, Ioan Gruffudd, and Mads Mikkelsen, the Mikes' favorite Hannibal Lecter.

Join Mikes Butler and Field as they discuss how the use of real extras and sets make the action and setting more interesting and engaging. They'll also talk about how the addition of Guinevere is understandable, it nevertheless distracts from the story at hand and its more interesting characters. Field and Butler also figure out if telling this film as historical fiction hurt or helped King Arthur's chances at the box office.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

One Mike thinks this film is "The Best of Times"....the other not so much.

Mike Field and Mike Butler take a look at the 1986 comedy film The Best of Times starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. Listen to the episode as the Mikes disagree with each other about nearly every aspect in this film. Didn't think Robin Williams could be unlikeable in a film? Well, Butler is going to make a case that he is in this film. Butler and Field also go head to head on the motivations for these characters and the town itself. The only things they agree on is the look of the town is very interesting and unique, and Kurt Russell is good in everything.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

It's the end of 2020 and what better way to ring in the new year with a film whose title neatly sums up this past year, From Hell, the 2001 film directed by the Hughes Brothers and starring Johnny Depp and Heather Graham.

Listen in as the Mikes talk about the fascination with Jack the Ripper and how this film blends the many different theories behind the who and why of the famous killer together, mostly well. Mike Butler and Mike Field also discuss the set design and coloring of the film to make it look as though 19th century London was indeed Hell. They also go into the fact that this film is adapted by an Alan Moore graphic novel of the same name, from which they pulled a wholly unnecessary (and useless) psychic ability to give to Depp's detective Aberline character. Butler also discusses Depp and Graham's use of accents in their roles and Field admits that he'd never make it in 19th century London.

So grab your glass of champagne and make some resolutions, please notice 2020 is in the rearview, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

You ever just want to tie your family up and tell them exactly what you think about them? Yeah....us either. But they do it in this week's film The Ref, starring Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey, and Judy Davis.

Listen to the episode as Mike Butler and Mike Field discuss the way this film blends drama and comedy in a way that is seldom if ever used today. The Mikes also talk about how using dramatic actors in comedic parts helps to sell the truth and true emotions of characters, as well as the fact that every character in the film, no matter how minor, has an arc. Field and Butler also make a case for The Ref as a classic Christmas film that should be revisited every year.

So grab your hot chocolate and marshmallows, please notice the candy canes at the front and rear of the ginger bread house, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

The Mikes have been poisoned, and now they have only 24 hours to watch and do a podcast episode on 1988's D.O.A starring Dennis Quaid.

Well, maybe they weren't poisoned, but Quaid's character was; and Mike Butler and Mike Field are still going to talk about it on this episode of Forgotten Cinema!

Listen in as the Mikes discuss the relationship between Quaid's and Meg Ryan's characters, the slow draining of color from the film as well as the bookending the film in black and white. In a shocking change of pace, this time it is Field who defends the film from Butler's issues with unnecessary story elements, a lack of cohesion, and poorly fleshed out characters.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema. 

"You want my podcast?! Take my podcast!!!"

The Mikes are going back to the 90s to watch Samuel L. Jackson take some hostages and break some laws to prove that he's an honest cop. It's 1998's The Negotiator, directed by F. Gary Gray.

Listen to the episode where Mike Field and Mike Butler talk about a very different original plan for the film, where Sylvester Stallone would try to negotiate a hostage taking Kevin Spacey. They'll also discuss the use of every character actor from the 90s whoever played a cop being in this film. The Mikes will also talk about the ending of the film and whether or not the film (which reshot its ending) rushes it or not.

So grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits at the front and rear of the auditorium, and settle down for Forgotten Cinema.