Movie Chumps

There's a strong chance we may have impersonated Al Pacino upwards of 50 times this episode. Luke & Corrye spray dialogue all over the place, as they nitpick Pacino's "pearls," Chris O'Donnell's
wholesomeness, Phillip Seymour Hoffman's douchebaggery (and genius!), that car prank, the Yuppie boyfriend of that lady from the tango scene, and the awkwardness of the Thanksgiving dinner sequence (with Bradley Whitford!). Plus: Corrye and Luke's Oscar picks!

Not many films can match Drive for sheer ambience. The Chumps delve into how director Nicolas Winding Refn concocted the now iconic movie, from his quirky casting habits to the lack of dialogue to some of the more explosive violence in cinema history. Who improvised most of their lines? What's so special about that elevator scene? And what was it about that opening car chase scene that felt so fresh? Luke & Corrye have answers, theories, and the usual shenanigans.

Brad Pitt at his peak. Edward Norton on the up and up. Helena Bonham Carter at her most underrated (but still kooky). And our boy David Fincher - getting his groove back two films after the disastrous Alien 3! A meta look at Fight Club, (Corrye sums it up with one Pitt line from the movie) and an exploration of everything from the camera techniques to Pitt's smoking nuances. And let's not forget Meat Loaf's nipples!

From top to bottom, this film sizzles....STILL, after 24 years! Oddly, Luke & Corrye felt Kim Bassinger's Oscar-winning performance was the weakest part of the film. So what worked? Everything else: the screenplay, James Ellroy's source material, Curtis Hanson's pacing, and one of the best ensembles this side of Heat.

Spoiler alert: we all loved it! It's Luke and two Coreys this episode, as Corey Kesselring makes a return. What's new in the "Snyder Cut?" What did Zach do better than that rascal Joss Whedon? Why did Cyborg almost steal the movie (before you-know-who made his comeback)? How about that hot dog scene? And Ezra Miller! Obnoxious then lovable! The fellas share their favorite sequences, lines, and Zach Snyder shots....before addressing Luke's questions about the Green Lantern.

We've got a full menu this episode: Crappy acting. Career-turning performances. A surprising number of interesting actors turning down key roles. The most delightful "drunk" in movie history. Another a**hole priest. A VERY thirsty Maid Marian watching a VERY white bare bottom under a waterfall. Plus: a heartfelt reminder during the COVID era, learned during one of our children's playdates. AND: the TGIF TV sitcom lineup from the early 90s makes a cameo!

Don't let the gore and Quentin Tarantino's oddball cinema charm fool you: this film is all about TENSION. Great actors (and nuanced characters) sizing each other up. Corry heralds the 1st "chapter" as one of the best opening scenes in Hollywood history, while Luke reminds viewers that Michael Fassbender is as stupendous as Christoph Waltz. PLUS: unsatisfying Nazi payback, Luke's bargain outlet adventure at Ollie's, and Corrye's snack discovery at Wegmans.

Corrye's got a nitpick...with Corey Feldman's "Mouth." Luke has a nitpick...dealing with the waterslide. Plus: the Chumps get a kick out of the deleted octopus scene; the pop culture references; that wild opening sequence during the credits; the setting of Astoria/Oregon; and how this film in retrospect is one giant love letter to inclusion.

A modern Western. But a heist film. Yet not really a heist film at all. A bunch to get to here, including: that casino scene with the Comanche poker player, the meaning behind Lord of the Plains, the line that Luke wants to try out on his wife, and Chris Pine's "less is more" strategy. The Chumps also give Ben Foster the credit he never seems to get from film fans, while giving a boost to all the bit players (Katy Mixon! That other waitress!). Plus: Luke introduces a new category, and Corrye introduces a popular new movie as if no one's never heard of it (One Night in Miami).

"A sign from my mom." With those words, Corrye explains the deeper meaning of this film for him
following a life-altering tragedy, while "friend of the pod" Mike Pagano shares his personal
connection as well. PLUS: A beef with Forest Whitaker; Luke returns to the movie theater; the ideas that help this "alien" film stand out from the rest; and why Corrye says he wants to spend an entire year over Mike's house when the pandemic ends!