What inspired Adam McKay to make this movie?  A director best-known for his Will Ferrell franchises, McKay makes what is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious movies of the year.  A verbose dissection of the housing market crisis, 'The Big Short' does not talk down to its audience.  In fact, it assumes the audience already understands the machinations of the bubble burst.  Phil found the film hard to follow.  Andrew had read the book ahead of time.  Both agree 'The Big Short' is not one of their favorites for 2015. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

Imagine living your whole life in a shed.  That's the reality for Ma (Brie Larson) and her five year old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay).  Forced to live in one room by her abductor, Ma does everything in her power to preserve some kind of normalcy for her son.  One day, she concocts a plan to free Jack, in the hopes that he will draw attention and liberate her as well.  Sounds grim, but 'Room' is one of the most transformative movie experiences of the year.  The film comes recommended to us by Nikomeh in NYC and Andrew and Phil have a spirited discussion about the larger themes of the story.  Don't miss it. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

This uneven film from David O. Russell marks the third collaboration between the director and actors Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper.  All great thespians, but 'Joy' suffers from a mediocre screenplay.  The plot concerns the titular character who is trying to start her own business with her invention: the self-wringing mop.  Phil found the scenes between Lawrence and Cooper to be exciting examples of a young entrepeneuer getting her big break but the rest of the film was just Russell treading familiar ground with his quirky, underwritten, overimprovised dialogue scenes. Andrew liked the film even less than Phil. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

This was Jack Nicholson's true star-making turn: Robert Eroica Dupea, born to a well-to-do family but ended up living a blue collar life for next to nothing.  Bobby has a sweet girlfriend named Rayette (Karen Black) who is the oil to his vinegar.  We soon learn that Bobby's father is deathly ill, and Bobby is convinced to make the drive up to pay his final respects.  Nicholson carries this movie with his remarkably complex portrayal of a man most people would write-off as a cad, or less kind words.  Philip saw this movie at an early age and always identified with the self-despising Bobby, even going so far as to find him sympathetic.  Andrew S. recommended this film for In The Queue and he joins us from Greensboro, NC. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

Somebody give Leo a goddamned Oscar already.  He nearly froze his tuchis in that icy river and had to eat raw bison flesh to satisfy Innaritu's lust for realism.  'The Revenant' is as rugged as movies come; real man vs. nature material.  Emmanuel Lubezki's photography is painterly and will certainly get him his third Academy Award in a row. This film is not the action epic the trailers made it out to be, and Andrew found himself unsure where he stood after one viewing of 'The Revenant.'  Phil revealed he watched the film a second time and had a better appreciation for it. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

Well, this is a first.  One of our listeners has requested the wrong film by mistake. ITQ guest Chris watched the Bogie & Bacall vehicle thinking it was 'The Big Sleep'.  But you have to accept the film you're given, so our three hosts discuss this comedic adventure-romance featuring the delightful Hoagy Carmichael in a supporting role.  There's no shortage of sultriness from Lauren Bacall, who was then 20 years and fell in love Bogie during filming.  This film is full of wonderful elements that never quite coalesce into a classic for the ages.  In many ways it's the light-hearted sibling of 'Casablanca'.   You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

When it comes to aspect ratios, no film this year can measure up to the 8th film by Quentin Tarantino.  Andrew and Phil both saw the Super Panavision 70mm print of 'The Hateful Eight' and the roadshow perks were great fun.  Let's hope QT is saving cinema one film at a time.  The film itself, however, is getting decidedly mixed reviews from In the Queue.  A stagebound western featuring no one to root for and an abundance of sadism, 'TH8' offended Phil with its molasses-paced first half, and disappointed Andrew with it's hatchet-job second half.  Both critics agree that it is a must-see for Tarantino fans and a repeat viewing may ease their grievances.  But why burn another three hours of your life on a movie that offers only hate? You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

When you close your eyes, do you see hairy, 1970's Sean Connery in a red diaper with a braided ponytail and a bushy mustache?  No?  Me neither, I was just asking.  'Zardoz' is the infamous sci-fi flop from John Boorman, who had just won acclaim for the couldn't-be-more-different 'Deliverance' in 1972.  Routinely listed among the worst movies ever made, 'Zardoz' is also a ton of fun to watch.  Returning guest, Drew recommends this film and engages Andrew and Phil in an epic discussion of the plot and significance of a movie this guest has seen at least thirty times.  Yikes! You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

Oh, 'Carol'.  What a cold and distant film you are.  Todd Haynes' universally praised Weinstein Company release is artfully made and evokes a time and place with much atmosphere, but this romance is missing the passion crucial to the success of this type of film!  Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara turn in suitable performances, despite the lack of chemistry between them.  Andrew thought that perhaps 'Carol' is a statement on the 1950's stereotype that women are meant to be seen and not heard.  Phil was impressed with the artful cinematography.  Both critics believe that without a convincing love story at its core, 'Carol' is doomed to be an artsy December movie rather than a timeless, moving romantic drama. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!

Some of us have always wanted to be Tenenbaums, even if they are such a sad bunch of folks. In this classic comedy-drama from Wes Anderson, family isn't a word...it's a sentence.  Nowhere else in Anderson's storied catalogue has there been quite a collection of lovable characters.  It's why many consider this his best film.  Kathleen returns to the podcast to discuss this storybook tale with Andrew and Phil.  The discussion ranges from the feel of Wes Anderson movies to hilarious pratfalls by Danny Glover.  Check it out. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player attached to this post. Check out this episode!