Forgotten Cinema

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit Curtis Hanson’s "Wonder Boys". A funny character drama about authors.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy this film, especially its performances and lived-in storytelling. Michael Douglas delivers one of his most relaxed and likable roles, supported by an excellent ensemble, including Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr, that gives the movie its healthy dose of charm.

Butler’s one sticking point comes near the end. It’s not that the film opts for a happy ending, but that everything falls a little too neatly into place for Douglas’ character, leaning into a Hollywood resolution that feels slightly too convenient. Even so, that criticism barely dents what is otherwise a terrific film.

"Wonder Boys" is one of those movies that rewards revisiting and is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a movie for grown-ups about grown-ups.

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0:00 - Introduction

2:33 - Film Facts

8:22 - Film Discussion

29:51 - Reviews

36:13 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

38:59 - Why Is This Forgotten?

42:04 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #WonderBoys #MichaelDouglas #TobeyMaguire #Drama #GrownUpMovies #RobertDowneyJr #RDJ #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head into Charlestown with "The Town", Ben Affleck’s tense and character-driven crime drama.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field are big fans of the film. They praise the performances across the board, the tightly constructed story, and the way Boston itself feels like a living, breathing character woven into every scene. The film balances crime, character, and atmosphere in a way that keeps it gripping from start to finish.

That said, the Mikes still have a few notes. Field would have liked the movie to lean even harder into its heist elements, while Butler feels Blake Lively’s character, despite being essential to the setup of the climax, needed more to do to fully justify her narrative importance.

Even with those small critiques, "The Town" remains a standout modern crime film and one both hosts were happy to revisit.

What's your favorite Boston-based film? Let us know in the comments!

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:56 - Film Facts

12:54 - Film Discussion

38:16 - Reviews

42:59 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

44:57 - Why Is This Forgotten?

46:07 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #TheTown #BenAffleck #JeremyRenner #ActionFilms #Thriller #HeistFilms #Boston #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes tackle "12 Monkeys", this season's Audience Choice episode and a film that, despite its reputation, just doesn’t click for either of them.

Mike Butler went in hoping his opinion might change this time around. As a big fan of "Brazil", he wanted to connect with Terry Gilliam’s mix of sci-fi and absurdism. Unfortunately, his feelings haven’t shifted since first seeing it decades ago. Both Mike Field and Butler find the performances from Bruce Willis and especially Brad Pitt pushed too far into manic territory, making it hard to buy into the story.

They also struggle with the central relationships and logic of the film. The idea that the doctor would go along with Willis at all, let alone develop romantic feelings for him, feels completely unbelievable. Tonally, the movie seems stuck between wanting to be a serious science fiction story and an absurdist Gilliam nightmare, and it never settles on what it actually wants to be.

While they do appreciate the production design, props, and costumes used for the future sequences, the rest of the film falls flat for them. Still, with "12 Monkeys" being so well regarded by many, the Mikes openly acknowledge that this might be one of those "it's me, not you" moments.

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:56 - Film Facts

9:32 - Film Discussion

33:39 - Reviews

39:56 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

42:28 - Why Is This Forgotten?

47:39 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #12 Monkeys #BruceWillis #BradPitt #TerryGilliam #90sFilm #SciFi #TimeTravel #SciFiFilms #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes ring in the holidays with "Why Him?", the chaotic Christmas comedy starring Bryan Cranston and James Franco.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the film for what it is. It’s loud, crass, and occasionally very funny. That said, the movie never quite reaches its full comedic potential. The Mikes agree it could have used more fully realized comedy set pieces and a clearer sense of who the main character actually is, as the focus often feels split between competing perspectives.

Despite those issues, the core dynamic works well enough that the film almost feels like a backdoor pilot for a sitcom or spin-off. There’s a solid foundation here for something episodic, where the characters and conflicts could breathe a little more and let the comedy build naturally.

A flawed but enjoyable holiday watch, "Why Him?" lands somewhere between guilty pleasure and missed opportunity.

What's your favorite non-traditional holiday comedy? Let us know in the comments!

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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:42 - Film Facts

4:56 - Assassin's Creed Tangent

9:19 - Film Discussion

27:24 - Reviews

32:14 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

34:36 - Why Is This Forgotten?

36:51 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #WhyHim #BryanCranston #JamesFranco #ComedyFilms #HolidayFilm #ChristmasMovie #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, the Mikes close out their Benoit Blanc journey with "Wake Up Dead Man", joined by a special guest: writer, director, and cinematographer Steven Bernstein.

All three agree that this is the strongest entry in the Knives Out trilogy. While Mike Butler still prefers "Knives Out" overall, he feels "Wake Up Dead Man" is far more confident in its mystery, avoids the distracting mid-film twist structure, and finally gives Benoit Blanc real character development instead of turning him into a caricature.

Steven Bernstein praises the film primarily for its characters, even while acknowledging that some still veer a bit too far into farce, with the notable exception of Josh O’Connor’s standout performance. Butler responds more strongly to the film’s mystery and narrative focus, appreciating how the story unfolds without relying on gimmicks.

One thing everyone agrees on: "Glass Onion" remains the weakest of the trilogy by a wide margin.

With a thoughtful guest perspective and a deeper dive into what makes a mystery truly work, Mike Field and Mike Butler break down why "Wake Up Dead Man" feels like the series finally firing on all cylinders.

Follow Steven Bernstein on Instagram

@stevenbernsteindirectorwriter

Check out his IMDB page!

www.imdb.com/name/nm0077149/?ref_=mv_close

And his Amazon author page

www.amazon.com/stores/Steven-Bernstein/author/B0F7M88J2Q?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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0:00 - Intro

8:12 - Film Discussion

1:01:03 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #WakeUpDeadMan #GlassOnion #KnivesOut #DanielCraig #RianJohnson #JoshOConnor #JoshBrolin #Mystery #BenoitBlanc #Netflix #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #StevenBernstein

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit "Reindeer Games" (2000), a late-90s/early-2000s crime thriller that lands squarely in the “fine, but flawed” category.

Both Butler and Field agree the movie is watchable, but just barely. The plot quickly starts to unravel, relying on Ben Affleck's character, Rudy and our villain, played by Gary Sinise, to make a series of frustratingly dumb decisions. The central twist involving the true mastermind only makes things worse, hinging on an absurd amount of coincidence and lucky timing to work at all.

That said, the performances help keep the film afloat, and the sheer ridiculousness of the story becomes part of its charm. The noir-inspired style, snowy setting, and hard-boiled attitude actually work in the film’s favor, giving it a vibe that’s more enjoyable than the script probably deserves.

So while "Reindeer Games" never quite comes together as a smart thriller, it remains a curious, messy entry from its era that’s easy enough to watch if your expectations are set appropriately.

What's your favorite holiday action/thriller (that isn't "Die Hard")? Let us know in the comments!

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop

Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

4:02 - Film Facts

8:24 - Film Discussion

31:28 - Reviews

33:07 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

36:44 - Why Is This Forgotten?

39:50 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #ReindeerGames #BenAffleck #GarySinise #CharlizeTheron #00sFilm #ActionFilms #HeistFilm #HolidayFilm #ChristmasMovie #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head back to the gritty mid-2000s with "Four Brothers" (2005), John Singleton’s revenge-fueled action drama.

Mike Butler has a soft spot for this one; partly out of nostalgia for the early-00s wave of gritty, street-level action movies, and partly because "Four Brothers" still delivers a certain messy charm. The energy, the brother dynamics, and the rough-edged style all hit the way they’re meant to.

Mike Field, however, isn’t buying it. He struggles with Mark Wahlberg’s improvisational approach, finds the action too over-the-top to fully suspend disbelief, and thinks the movie’s drama doesn’t land strongly enough to justify the chaos.

What the Mikes do agree on is the standout performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor, who elevates every scene he’s in and gives the film a much-needed dose of grounded menace.

So is "Four Brothers" a gritty throwback worth remembering, or a chaotic blend of tones that doesn’t come together? The Mikes break it all down—brotherhood, bullets, and all.

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🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop

Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:05 - Film Facts

7:20 - Film Discussion

29:08 - Reviews

33:15 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

38:19 - Why Is This Forgotten?

44:11 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #FourBrothers #MarkWahlberg #Andre3000 #Tyrese #GarretHedlund #JohnSingleton #00sFilm #ActionFilms #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes clock in with "The Intern" (2015), Nancy Meyers’ feel-good comedy starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy this one. Yes, it’s sweet, uplifting, and maybe a little too saccharin at times, but it delivers exactly the warm, comforting tone it’s aiming for. De Niro and Hathaway have fantastic chemistry, and the film’s steady, upbeat vibe makes it one of the more genuinely pleasant modern studio comedies.

The Mikes do take issue with a stretch of drama that arrives about halfway through the movie. It feels forced, a little too Hollywood, and somewhat undercuts the strength of Hathaway’s character by the time the film wraps up. But, "The Intern" is an uplifting film about mentorship, connection, and finding purpose at any age, so it’s easy to forgive the missteps.

Overall, it’s an easy watch, a charming film, and a reminder that sometimes “feel-good” doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

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🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop

Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:48 - Film Facts

9:29 - Film Discussion

35:03 - Reviews

40:02 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

43:11 - Why Is This Forgotten?

45:10 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #TheIntern #RobertDeNiro #AnneHathaway #NancyMeyers #ComedyFilms #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, Mike Butler and Mike Field enlist for "Stripes" (1981), the early-80s Bill Murray/Harold Ramis comedy directed by Ivan Reitman.

Butler has always had a soft spot for "Stripes"; he finds it fun, funny, and full of great bits, even if the movie goes completely off the rails in the third act with its top-secret Winnebago rescue mission behind Soviet lines. To him, the charm still lands, and the film plays like a proto-"Ghostbusters", where you can clearly see the seeds of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ivan Reitman finding the comedic rhythm they’d perfect a few years later. It’s nowhere near "Ghostbusters" in terms of quality, but there’s still plenty here he enjoys.

Field…does not share that affection. While he insists he doesn’t hate the movie, he doesn’t like the characters, he doesn’t like the jokes, and he doesn’t find much of the story appealing at all. For him, "Stripes" lands closer to a relic than a comedy classic.

So is "Stripes" an early comedy gem that deserves its fans, or just a messy draft of better things to come? The Mikes break it down; one laugh, and one grimace, at a time.

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🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop

Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

2:04 - Film Facts

7:35 - Film Discussion

29:32 - Reviews

32:04 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

38:04 - Why Is This Forgotten?

41:42 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #Stripes #BillMurray #HaroldRamis #IvanReitman #JohnCandy #ComedyFilms #80sMovies #80s #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes pour one out for "Another Round" (2020), the Danish drama-comedy that deserved far more attention than it got.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy this film; the performances are excellent across the board, especially from Mads Mikkelsen, who delivers one of his most emotionally layered roles. The film walks a tricky tonal tightrope, balancing humor, melancholy, and hard truths about addiction, midlife crisis, and the search for meaning.

The Mikes discuss how the movie’s message lands gracefully without preaching, and how its final stretch (especially that unforgettable dance scene) cements it as something special. They also talk about why the film slipped under the radar for so many viewers: despite awards recognition, Another Round launched as a foreign-language release during the pandemic, which sadly, severely limited its reach.

A smart, moving, beautifully acted film that more people should see.

What's your favorite film about drinking?

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Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

3:01 - Film Facts

12:03 - Film Discussion

33:47 - Reviews

40:12 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

43:15 - Why Is This Forgotten?

43:50 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #AnotherRound #MadsMikkelsen #ForeignFilms #Oscars #AcademyAwards #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms