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Imagine a world where Scrooge and Marley navigate the corporate afterlife, armed with holiday cheer and comedic flair. Our cinematic journey through 2024's festive film, "Spirited," has us captivated by Octavia Spencer's fresh take on Bob Cratchit and her balancing act of work and life. We stir up the perfect seasonal cocktail, the Bob Cratchit, blending Aviation Gin with mulled wine elements, all while sharing lighthearted banter and a dash of holiday miracles. Join us as we unravel the charming yet morally ambiguous characters and suggest a cheeky narrative twist that could elevate the story.

Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds bring Dickens' classic tale to life with humor, as we explore corporate afterlife antics and Easter eggs aplenty. With nods to Dolly Parton and saving a Karen, we delve into the intricacies of modern storytelling and timeless character arcs.

We celebrate the vibrant fusion of narrative and song that musicals bring to film and theater. From the teamwork in film production to surprising song rankings, we explore the critics' takes on modern retellings of classic tales. Our passion for musicals shines through, inviting you to rediscover their magic and storytelling power.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director Jonathan C. Legat (co-host) is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat (co-host), and Executive Director Michael Noens (producer). Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen "Spirited," watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership. To dive deeper into the episode, visit our listen.imbibecinema.com.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew discuss Jan de Bont's Speed (1994), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024 and features performances by Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck, Beth Grant, Hawthorne James, and more.

The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is called High Speed.

Jack Traven, an LAPD cop on SWAT detail, and veteran SWAT officer Harry Temple thwart an extortionist-bomber’s scheme for a $3 million ransom. As they corner the bomber, he flees and detonates a bomb vest, seemingly killing himself. Weeks later, Jack witnesses a mass transit city bus explode and nearby a pay phone rings. On the phone is that same bomber looking for vengeance and the money he’s owed. He gives a personal challenge to Jack: a bomb is rigged on another city bus and if it slows down below 50 mph, it will explode.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director Jonathan C. Legat (co-host) is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat (co-host), and Executive Director Michael Noens (producer). Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen Speed, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew discuss Alan Parker's The Commitments (1991), which features performances by Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Glen Hansard, Félim Gormley, Johnny Murphy, Dick Massey, Andrew Strong, Ken McCluskey, Colm Meaney, and more.

The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is The Irish Whiskey Ginger.

Jimmy Rabbitte, just a thick-ya out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his back yard, a lead singer (Deco) at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an aging trumpet player, Joey “The Lips” Fagan.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director Jonathan C. Legat (co-host) is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat (co-host), Executive Director Michael Noens (producer), and special guest Mary Shields. Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen THE COMMITMENTS, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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Season three has arrived just in time for Thanksgiving! Kicking off the new season, the Imbibe Cinema crew discuss John Hughes's Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), which features performances by Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Dylan Baker, Kevin Bacon, Edie McClurg, and more.

The featured cocktails for this post-screening discussion are Aviation gin on the rocks with a lime for "Planes," a Boxcar for "Trains," and a Automobile for, well, "Automobiles."

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director Jonathan C. Legat (co-host) is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat (co-host), and Executive Director Michael Noens (producer). Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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In this special episode, producer Michael Noens of the Imbibe Cinema podcast invites you to listen to a conversation between actors Jonathan C. Legat and Stephanie Wyatt as they reflect on their performances in the independent film Coasting (2010).

Two people, both in relationships, find love in the most unlikely place: a remote hotel bar in the small Midwest town of Stillwater. Now they'll have to deal with more than anyone's fair share of difficulty, including family issues, their current partners, and the distance, to try to make it work.

This episode features select excerpts from the film's original motion picture score, courtesy of Leaky Faucet Music (ASCAP).

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen COASTING watch the film before you listen to the episode at imb.watch/coasting. Get tickets to see the film at Music Box Theatre in Chicago on Tuesday, October 15 at musicboxtheatre.com.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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Surprise! The Imbibe Cinema crew has one final bonus episode this season that breaks away from the usual format to discuss a variety of Christmas movies. Enjoy our "Christmas Medley" where we talk about It's A Wonderful Life (1946), The Ref (1994) and The Holiday (2006).

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director and podcast host Jonathan C. Legat is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat, and Executive Director Michael Noens.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen the films highlighted in this episode, be sure to watch them before you listen.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew closes out season two with Amy Poehler's Wine Country (2019), which features performances by Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, Tina Fey, Jason Schwartzman, and more. The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is the The Fruity White Wine.

A group of friends head to the land of oaky Chardonnays and big, bold Cabernet Sauvignons for one member of the squad’s 50th birthday party.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director and podcast host Jonathan C. Legat is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat, and Executive Director Michael Noens. Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen WINE COUNTRY, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew dives into another Michael Showalter film this season! The Big Sick (2017) features performances by Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff, Adeel Akhtar, and more. The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is the Coma Shot.

Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family’s expectations, and his true feelings.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director and podcast host Jonathan C. Legat is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat, and Executive Director Michael Noens. Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen THE BIG SICK, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew raves about Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023), starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblat, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Helen Mirren, Issa Rae, and more. The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is Frosé.

Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director and podcast host Jonathan C. Legat is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat, Executive Director Michael Noens, and Filmmaker Liaison Katherine Siegle. Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen BARBIE, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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The Imbibe Cinema crew discusses Scott Z. Burns' The Report (2019), starring Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Sarah Goldberg, Michael C. Hall, Douglas Hodge, Fajer Kaisi, Ted Levine, Jennifer Morrison, and more. The featured cocktail for this post-screening discussion is The Senator.

The story of Daniel Jones, lead investigator for the US Senate’s sweeping study into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program, which was found to be brutal, immoral and ineffective. With the truth at stake, Jones battled tirelessly to make public what many in power sought to keep hidden.

In this episode, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival Operations Director and podcast host Jonathan C. Legat is joined by Cinema Centennial Program Director Tricia Legat, and Executive Director Michael Noens. Featuring "Bring Down the Money (Freedom)" by Soldier Story.

Remember to imbibe responsibly! If you haven't seen THE REPORT, watch the film before you listen to the episode.

To begin your Imbibe Cinema membership, visit imb.watch/membership.

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