
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Corruption, crime, and Connery—diving deep into De Palma’s classic.
In this episode of Review It Yourself, we break down the first half of The Untouchables—the iconic Prohibition-era crime thriller directed by Brian De Palma. Joined by co-host Sarah, we explore the film’s powerful opening act, its larger-than-life characters, and why this stylish gangster epic still commands attention nearly four decades later.
From the tense cat-and-mouse battle between federal agent Eliot Ness and Chicago crime boss Al Capone, to the unforgettable performances by Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro, we unpack what makes this film such a standout in the gangster genre. Is it the script? The score? The mythologising of law enforcement? Or Connery’s scene-stealing gravitas?
Expect thoughtful film analysis, sharp opinions, historical context around Prohibition-era Chicago, and a discussion about how Hollywood reshapes real-life events into cinematic legend. Whether you’re a long-time fan of classic crime dramas or discovering this film for the first time, this episode offers insight, debate, and plenty of appreciation for one of the 1980s’ most celebrated gangster movies.
We discuss:
If you love deep-dive movie reviews, classic cinema breakdowns, and honest film discussion, this episode is for you.
Please Note: There are direct quotes used in this review, which include the use of contextual slurs/stereotypes. These are used purely as quotes from the film and to aid discussion, as the film's dialogue reflects the bigoted, harsh atmosphere of 1930's Prohibition-Era Chicago. There is no intention to cause offence or distress.
Follow & Contact Review It Yourself:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: [email protected]
Support the Podcast:
If you enjoy Review It Yourself, please:
Your support helps the podcast grow, reach new listeners, and continue producing in-depth film reviews.
Part Two of our The Untouchables discussion available now—where we continue analysing the film’s most iconic sequences and its lasting legacy in crime cinema.
Listen now and decide for yourself… is The Untouchables truly untouchable?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Travel millions of years into the future with this classic sci-fi review
In this episode of Review It Yourself, we jump into one of the most influential science-fiction films ever made: The Time Machine (1960). Inspired by the legendary novel by H.G. Wells, this classic movie helped shape the way audiences imagine time travel on screen.
Sarah returns to the podcast after her holiday (and a memorable rant about the state of air travel), joining the discussion as we explore the timeless ideas behind this iconic film. From the eerie future world of the Eloi and the Morlocks to the ground-breaking practical effects that brought time travel to life, this episode dives deep into why The Time Machine (1960) still matters today.
We also talk about the themes beneath the surface:
If you love classic science fiction, time travel stories, or thoughtful film discussions, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and a fresh perspective on a genre-defining movie.
In This Episode
Recommended Reading
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the original novel:
Follow & Contact Review It Yourself:
Stay connected with the podcast and join the conversation:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reviewityourselfpodcast2021
X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourselfReview
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reviewityourself.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Email: [email protected]
Support the Podcast
If you enjoy Review It Yourself, please consider supporting the show:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this electrifying episode of Review It Yourself, we explore the terrifying brilliance and enduring cultural impact of the Halloween franchise — from Halloween (1978) to Halloween Ends (2022), and every film in-between!— with journalist and author Andrew Graves, author of 'Horror in Haddonfield: The Untold Stories of Halloween'.
If you’re a horror fan, a lover of film history, or fascinated by long-running movie franchises, this episode is essential listening.
Andrew Graves, author of Horror in Haddonfield, joins Sean for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation about one of the most iconic horror series, Halloween.
We explore:
This isn’t just a review — it’s a celebration and critical examination of horror cinema, franchise storytelling, and what keeps audiences returning to Haddonfield decade after decade.
Andrew Graves is a journalist and horror author whose book Horror in Haddonfield serves as a comprehensive love letter to the Halloween series. The book dives into untold stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and deep franchise analysis — essential reading for fans of slasher cinema and horror history.
Search Horror in Haddonfield by Andrew Graves on major book retailers including Amazon and independent bookstores.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.grevas/
Twitter/X: @AndrewGrevas
Contact: [email protected]
The Halloween franchise isn’t just a horror series — it’s a blueprint for modern slasher films. From its minimalist score to its atmospheric tension, its influence can still be felt across contemporary horror.
In this episode we explore:
Whether you agree, disagree, or just love hearing horror fans passionately debate — this is the kind of conversation you’d have if you ran into your mates at the pub after a Halloween marathon.
If you enjoy Film reviews without the faff, make sure you stay connected:
Got a film you want reviewed? Want to collaborate? Get in touch.
If you love what you hear:
Your support keeps Review It Yourself independent, growing, and proudly faff-free.
If you’re searching for:
— this episode delivers all that and more.
Press play… because evil doesn’t die tonight — or any night.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this electrifying episode of Review It Yourself, we bust ghosts and break down the timeless supernatural comedy classic Ghostbusters — joined by special guest Rob from 'How Haunted? Podcast'.
If you love 80s movies, paranormal investigations, horror-comedy crossovers, or in-depth film analysis, this is the Ghostbusters podcast episode you’ve been waiting for.
Rob brings real paranormal podcasting experience to the discussion, giving a unique perspective on hauntings, scepticism, and how Ghostbusters blends supernatural lore with sharp comedy. Together, we explore whether the film still stands as the gold standard for horror-comedy — and why it continues to influence pop culture decades later.
From iconic performances and endlessly quotable dialogue to ground-breaking practical effects, Ghostbusters isn’t just nostalgia — it’s cinematic lightning in a bottle.
In this episode, we discuss:
If you’re searching for:
You’ve found your people.
Rob Kirkup is the host of How Haunted?, a podcast exploring real-life paranormal encounters, strange phenomena, and unexplained experiences. With a balanced and open-minded approach, Rob examines ghost stories and supernatural reports with curiosity and grounded analysis.
🎙 Listen to How Haunted? Podcast wherever you get your podcasts
📲 Follow and connect via social media by searching How Haunted? Podcast
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more intelligent reviews, interviews, and deep dives into books and films:
For guest enquiries, collaborations, or listener feedback, email directly — the show welcomes thoughtful discussion and future topic suggestions.
☕ Support the Show:
Your ratings, reviews, and shares directly support the growth of independent podcasting.
Whether you’re a die-hard Ghostbusters fan, a paranormal enthusiast, or someone who just loves smart film analysis, this episode delivers humour, nostalgia, and thoughtful discussion in equal measure.
Because sometimes the only way to truly appreciate a classic… is to Review It Yourself.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Deep-sea Exploration, Titanic dives and life on the ocean floor.
In this extraordinary episode of Review It Yourself, we dive into the real-world adventures of legendary deep-sea explorer and diver Dik Barton — a man who has descended to historic wrecks including RMS Titanic and worked on the raising of the Mary Rose.
From extreme underwater conditions to the emotional reality of visiting one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks, this episode explores what it’s truly like to work where history rests: on the ocean floor.
If you’re searching for Titanic diving stories, deep-sea exploration insights, or first-hand accounts from historic wreck dives, this conversation delivers authenticity, expertise, and unforgettable moments.
Most people know Titanic through films and documentaries. Few have been on the seabed beside her.
Dik Barton shares:
This episode blends maritime history, technical diving expertise, and personal storytelling into a gripping and human exploration of underwater discovery.
Having worked on projects connected to both RMS Titanic and the raising of the Mary Rose, Dik offers rare insight into how underwater archaeology intersects with adventure, preservation, and respect for the past.
This isn’t theory — it’s lived experience from someone who has operated in some of the most extreme environments on Earth.
Dik Barton is a professional deep-sea diver, explorer, speaker and world adventurer. With decades of experience in commercial diving and historic wreck exploration, he brings unmatched credibility to discussions of maritime history and underwater operations.
Please see:
Dik Barton's Website: https://dikbarton.com/
This includes information about the Titanic Expert Club.
White Star Heritage:
https://whitestarheritage.com/
This episode is essential for anyone interested in:
It’s a powerful, grounded discussion that moves beyond myths and into the lived reality of exploration.
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more in-depth interviews and thoughtful discussions:
For guest enquiries, collaborations, or listener feedback, email directly — the show welcomes your thoughts and topic suggestions.
Every review and share helps grow the podcast and secure more fascinating expert guests.
Descend into history. Experience the reality of deep-sea exploration.
Thank You to Clifford Ismay.
Correction: Sean was trying to recall Bill Sauder's description of the smell of artefacts "the smell that comes off it is perfectly alien, perfectly fetid, you know it's a kind of death you have never experienced", from a National Geographic documentary. Bill Maynard was an actor on Heartbeat who played Greengrass.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Review It Yourself, Sean sits down with renowned historian, author and TV presenter Tim Maltin to explore one of the most compelling alternative explanations behind the sinking of RMS Titanic — the Abnormal Refraction Theory.
Drawing from his ground-breaking research in Titanic: A Very Deceiving Night, Tim explains how rare atmospheric conditions on 14 April 1912 may have distorted visibility in the North Atlantic. Could a natural optical illusion have delayed iceberg warnings, confused distress signals, and changed history forever?
If you’re searching for Titanic history, Titanic iceberg theories, or scientific explanations behind the Titanic disaster — this episode delivers evidence, clarity, and serious debate.
Most Titanic discussions focus on speed, lifeboat numbers, or Captain Smith’s decisions. But Tim Maltin’s research introduces a fascinating scientific dimension:
Blending maritime history, meteorology and survivor testimony, this episode re-examines one of history’s most analysed disasters with fresh, data-driven insight.
Whether you’re a Titanic enthusiast, maritime historian, or fan of investigative book discussions, this is essential listening.
Tim Maltin is a leading British historian specialising in maritime history and the RMS Titanic. His research has been featured in international documentaries and media investigations examining the science behind the sinking.
If you want the full scientific and historical breakdown of this theory, his book is a must-read.
Tim's Book Recommendations (which Sean has ordered):
-'The Ship That Stood Still' by Leslie Reade.
-'A Titanic Myth: The Californian Incident' by Leslie Harrison.
This episode is perfect for listeners interested in:
It’s a compelling blend of science and storytelling that challenges what we think we know about Titanic’s final hours.
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more intelligent reviews, interviews, and deep dives into books and films:
For guest enquiries, collaborations, or listener feedback, email directly — the show welcomes thoughtful discussion and future topic suggestions.
If you enjoy independent, in-depth conversations like this:
Every rating, review and share helps grow the podcast and bring more expert guests to the show.
If this episode changed how you see the Titanic disaster, don’t keep it to yourself.
Follow, subscribe, and join us next time on Review It Yourself — where we examine the stories you think you already know.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The forgotten liner that outshone Titanic in real life.
What if the most dramatic story of the Olympic-class liners isn’t the one you’ve seen on film?
In this fascinating episode of Review It Yourself, we uncover the extraordinary true story of RMS Olympic — the ship often overshadowed by her ill-fated sister, Titanic — but whose career was packed with mutiny, collisions, U-boats, innovation, and wartime heroics.
Sean and maritime historian guest Mark Chirnside dive deep into the remarkable history behind his definitive book, RMS Olympic: Titanic's Sister. First published in 2004 and expanded in its 2015 second edition, this meticulously researched volume restores Olympic to her rightful place in maritime history.
Far from being the “boring older sister,” Olympic earned the nickname “Old Reliable” for good reason. She survived a major collision with HMS Hawke, served with distinction during the First World War, transported thousands of troops, and even rammed and sank a German U-boat. While Titanic’s story has dominated popular culture, Olympic’s 24-year career tells a powerful story of resilience, adaptation, and maritime safety reform in the early 20th century.
In this episode, we explore:
Mark shares insights into archival research, the challenges of correcting the historical record, and why Olympic deserves far greater recognition among historians and enthusiasts alike.
Mark Chirnside is a respected maritime historian specialising in White Star Line and Cunard liners of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work is known for its depth, accuracy, and myth-busting clarity.
Find Mark's Website 'Mark Chirnside's Reception Room' (including blog) Here: https://markchirnside.co.uk/
If you enjoy deep dives into film, history, and cultural storytelling without the faff, make sure you’re subscribed to Review It Yourself on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.
New episodes explore films, historical subjects, and fascinating guests — always with sharp insight and honest analysis.
Love the show? Here’s how you can help:
Your support helps the podcast grow, attract expert guests, and continue producing in-depth conversations like this one.
If you thought you knew the full story of the Olympic-class liners, this episode might just change your perspective.
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more intelligent reviews, interviews, and deep dives into books and films:
For guest enquiries, collaborations, or listener feedback, email directly — the show welcomes thoughtful discussion and future topic suggestions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this explosive deep-dive, we tackle Titanic Sinks Tonight, the BBC’s ambitious 2025 dramatised documentary charting the final hours of the world’s most infamous liner, RMS Titanic.
Did the series finally get the facts right? Or did it fall into the same old traps that have haunted Titanic storytelling for over a century?
Joined by returning guests Clifford Ismay and Jamie Borsato, we unpack the performances, the politics, the AI reconstructions, and the controversial portrayal of J. Bruce Ismay — descendant in the hot seat included.
If you care about Titanic history, maritime storytelling, or documentary ethics — this conversation is essential listening.
Clifford Ismay is the author of:
📘 Understanding J. Bruce Ismay: The Man They Called The Coward of Titanic
A detailed historical reassessment of one of Titanic’s most controversial figures, separating myth from documented fact.
Clifford offers rare insight as a relative of J. Bruce Ismay and challenges long-standing misconceptions repeated yet again in this BBC production.
Find Cliff on:
X/Twitter: @CliffIsmay
Instagram: @ismay_titanic
Jamie Borsato is the creator and host of the Old Shipping Lines YouTube channel.
His channel features:
📺 Subscribe to Old Shipping Lines on YouTube to see some of the most passionate independent maritime content online.
Find Jamie on:
Twitter/X: @oldshippingline
Instagram: old_shipping_lines
YouTube: @OldShippingLines
We examine how Titanic Sinks Tonight blends inquiry testimony with dramatisation — but does this approach flatten complex historical nuance?
Once again, J. Bruce Ismay is placed centre stage. But did the series fairly reflect:
Clifford Ismay provides context rarely heard in mainstream productions.
The BBC leaned into AI modelling for parts of the sinking. We discuss:
Titanic documentaries shape public understanding. When inaccuracies are repeated, they become accepted “truth.”
This episode challenges viewers to think critically about:
Whether you loved or hated the series — you’ll never see it the same way again.
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more intelligent reviews, interviews, and deep dives into books and films:
Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and join us as we ask:
Did Titanic Sinks Tonight honour history — or repeat it poorly?
Let us know your thoughts — and as always enjoy: Film reviews without the faff.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this explosive deep-dive, we tackle Titanic Sinks Tonight, the BBC’s ambitious 2025 dramatised documentary charting the final hours of the world’s most infamous liner, RMS Titanic.
Did the series finally get the facts right? Or did it fall into the same old traps that have haunted Titanic storytelling for over a century?
Joined by returning guests Clifford Ismay and Jamie Borsato, we unpack the performances, the politics, the AI reconstructions, and the controversial portrayal of J. Bruce Ismay — descendant in the hot seat included.
If you care about Titanic history, maritime storytelling, or documentary ethics — this conversation is essential listening.
Clifford Ismay is the author of:
📘 Understanding J. Bruce Ismay: The Man They Called The Coward of Titanic
A detailed historical reassessment of one of Titanic’s most controversial figures, separating myth from documented fact.
Clifford offers rare insight as a relative of J. Bruce Ismay and challenges long-standing misconceptions repeated yet again in this BBC production.
Find Cliff on:
X/Twitter: @CliffIsmay
Instagram: @ismay_titanic
Jamie Borsato is the creator and host of the Old Shipping Lines YouTube channel.
His channel features:
📺 Subscribe to Old Shipping Lines on YouTube to see some of the most passionate independent maritime content online.
Find Jamie on:
Twitter/X: @oldshippingline
Instagram: old_shipping_lines
YouTube: @OldShippingLines
We examine how Titanic Sinks Tonight blends inquiry testimony with dramatisation — but does this approach flatten complex historical nuance?
Once again, J. Bruce Ismay is placed centre stage. But did the series fairly reflect:
Clifford Ismay provides context rarely heard in mainstream productions.
The BBC leaned into AI modelling for parts of the sinking. We discuss:
Titanic documentaries shape public understanding. When inaccuracies are repeated, they become accepted “truth.”
This episode challenges viewers to think critically about:
Whether you loved or hated the series — you’ll never see it the same way again.
Stay connected with Review It Yourself for more intelligent reviews, interviews, and deep dives into books and films:
Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and join us as we ask:
Did Titanic Sinks Tonight honour history — or repeat it poorly?
Let us know your thoughts — and as always enjoy: Film reviews without the faff.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Richard M. Jones joins Sean to discuss his 2025 book 'Titanic The Movie Ships'.
The book explores the four ships which stood in for the Titanic during films over the years, the Asturias, Athinai, Cap Arcona and Queen Mary.
Chapters:
0:05 Welcome to Maritime Month
2:07 The Inspiration Behind Titanic Books
4:45 The Impact of Disasters on Memory
8:49 The Stories of Iconic Ships
12:16 The Fascinating World of Hovercraft
14:31 Uncovering Tragic Maritime Histories
20:55 Rich's Honeymoon onboard the Queen Mary
35:33 Ghost Tours and Marital Adventures
42:18 The Legacy of Maritime Museums
47:06 Discovering Titanic Connections
52:57 Future Projects and Upcoming Works
Thanks for Listening!
Find us here:
X: @YourselfReview
Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the publisher's feed
Hosted on Acast. See