On Episode 98 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil and Skye don their Speedos, oil each other up and prepare to flex as they finally devote an episode to one of the Film ‘89 team’s most revered icons of the big screen, a man whose films typify the very decade from which the podcast derives its name. Bodybuilder, turned movie star, turned Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The catalyst for the guys finally tackling Arnie’s career is the new 3-part Netflix documentary, aptly titled ‘Arnold’. Each part, just over an hour long, is devoted to his early bodybuilding career where he came to dominate the sport, his acting career that made him a global household name and his eventual segue into politics. So join the guys as they discuss this fascinating documentary and discuss Schwarzenegger’s extensive filmography.

It’s time to keep your appointment with The Film ‘89 Podcast as Skye is joined by returning guest hosts John Arminio and Steven Saunders to celebrate the 50th anniversary of cult British horror film, The Wicker Man (1973). Director Robin Hardy’s film stars Edward Woodward as Scottish police sergeant Neil Howie who ventures to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. Sgt Howie’s investigation turns into a cat and mouse chase that culminates in one of the most bone chilling endings in all of horror cinema. That said, the bulk of the film refuses to follow standard horror conventions and remains one of the most unique British films ever made, truly one of a kind. Featuring Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, Diane Cilento and a superlative performance from screen legend Christopher Lee, Hardy’s folk horror classic remains a film like no other, and one that gets the usual passionate and in-depth analysis you’ve come to expect from the Film ‘89 team in this definitive exploration and examination of The Wicker Man. 

On Episode 96 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil and Skye boldly go somewhere they didn’t expect to go, back to the realms of a current year Star Trek television show. Join them as they give their in-depth, spoiler-filled analysis and review of Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. Show-runner, writer and director, Terry Malalas has been brought on to the show for this third season along with a new writing team and the results have had longtime Trek fans alight with joy as the core Next Generation cast are reunited for what might be their last adventure. Is this new show a welcome change of creative direction for modern Trek? Join the Film ‘89 team as they discuss what many  sci-fi fans are calling THE television event of 2023. 

On Episode 95 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Skye and returning guest host Leighton Winstone discuss a film from a director whose films have already been covered several times on Film ‘89 and one who without doubt would be on the Mt. Rushmore of favourite directors for all three of them, Martin Scorsese. This episode sees the maturity of a 10 year investment, or in other words, it’s coming up on the 10th anniversary of Scorsese’s adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s book, The Wolf of Wall Street. By far one of Scorsese’s most controversial films, the legendary director re-teamed with Leonardo DiCaprio alongside a superlative supporting cast including Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favreau, Joanna Lumley and an Oscar nominated Jonah Hill. The guys discuss the career of the film’s lead, DiCaprio and where The Wolf of Wall Street sits in their own personal lists of favourite Martin Scorsese films. 

On Episode 94 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning guest host and writer for Film ‘89, Leighton Winstone to discuss a double bill of films from legendary director Brian De Palma, both of which happen to star one of their all time favourite actors, Al Pacino. The first is De Palma’s 1983 remake of Howard Hawks’ 1932 crime drama, Scarface. The other is De Palma’s pseudo-follow up, Carlito’s Way. Since it’s release 40 years ago, Scarface has attained a huge following and the guys discuss its considerable influence on the crime dramas and gangster films that followed in its wake. A violent and controversial film on its initial release, Scarface would typify the greed and excesses of the 1980s. De Palma’s 1993 film, Carlito’s Way, whilst telling a quite different story, remains a brilliantly crafted tale of a reformed gangster, recently released from prison, struggling to escape his former life. 

Episode 93 of The Film ‘89 Podcast brings to a close our coverage of George Lucas’ Original Star Wars trilogy as Neil, Skye and Richard celebrate the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi (1983). They discuss the behind the scenes making of the film and how writer/producer George Lucas, director Richard Marquand and co. brought the story to a satisfying conclusion. Also discussed are the film’s astonishing technical achievements in creature design and visual effects as well as the numerous and controversial changes Lucas made with his 1997 Special Edition rerelease of the film and the further changes he made for the DVD and Blu-Ray releases. The guys also discuss where Return of the Jedi sits in their ranking of the Star Wars saga as well as the enduring legacy of Lucas’ groundbreaking original trilogy. 

On Episode 92 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, returning guest host John Arminio joins Skye as they go back to the golden age of Hollywood, 85 years in fact, to discuss one of the all time classics, The Adventures of Robin Hood, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone. Whilst not the first big screen adaptation of the Robin Hood legend, it set out a template for the innumerable adaptations that would follow. John and Skye discuss the three strip Technicolor process used to shoot the film, the magnificent score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, the film’s many superbly choreographed fight scenes and it’s exemplary cast, all ingredients that come together to create a film that is widely regarded as one of the greatest swashbuckling adventures of all time. 

On Episode 91 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Skye is joined by returning guest hosts Jacob Rivera and Kyle Reardon to take a look back at a film from one of the Film ‘89 team’s favourite directors, John Carpenter, his 1983 adaptation of Stephen King’s Christine, the tale of a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury and it’s young new owner’s descent into madness as both car and driver go on an unstoppable killing spree. Coming off the back of the critical and commercial failure of The Thing (1982), a film that would later be widely regarded as a masterpiece of cinema, Carpenter went back to the style of horror he perfected in his 1978 classic, Halloween. Light on gore but full of mood and suspense, Christine is one of the lesser talked about films in Carpenter’s filmography but one that we feel is one of the director’s best films and is discussed in depth by the Film ‘89 team for its 40th anniversary. 

As we move into 2023, the founding fathers of Film ‘89 unite to give you their in-depth review of all that was good (and not so good) in the world of film and television in their review of the year that was 2022. From blockbuster fare such as Top Gun: Maverick to indie gems such as The Banshees of Inisherin and The Northman, to Bollywood action epic, RRR, Steve, Richie, Neil and Skye discuss over 40 films, television shows and books, some that they loved and others that they weren’t so keen on. So get your best of 2022 lists ready and join the guys on Episode 90 of The Film ‘89 Podcast. 

The wait is over! It’s been a whole year since Richie, Skye, Adam Rackoff and Bill Scurry gave their epic assessment of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for the film’s 20th anniversary and, as promised, the guys are back together one year on to give their in-depth analysis of the second part of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002). This remarkable film is every bit as astonishing as the first, and then some. Not only are a slew of new characters and locations introduced, but there are technologies put to use here that would have a huge impact on the special effects industry for years to come. Aside from the film’s technical merits, the story being told is done with such care and an exacting precision and with such deftly skilled craftsmanship and acting talent as to truly create a film for the ages and one that solidifies Jackson and Co’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books as a true masterpiece of modern filmmaking. So pick up your sword and axe and step once more into Middle Earth with Episode 89 of The Film ‘89 Podcast.