There Will Be Pod

We moan about uninspiring movies and then get into the good - Athena, the Weird Al Yankovic biopic and Confess Fletch - and the bad: Wendell & Wild, AfterSun, Triangle of Sadness, Blonde, and Medieval. 

Outre: 'The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota,' Weird AL Yankovic, 1989

Nolan's next big bomb (Oppenheimer) may be delayed to next year but that does not stop us from naming the best movies to prepare you for 'the destroyer of worlds.' John and Sammy also tackle recent flicks 3,000 Years of Longing (13:50), Emily the Criminal (27:40), Samaritan (33:00) and Alienoid (46:30). Plus we catch up on Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (39:30) and Nope (43:00) and Kubrick it up on Classic Corner.

No SPOILERS this episode.

Outre: 'Genie in a Bottle' Christina Aguilera - 2019 cover by Oshri Cohen

Another Sandler bball movie means the return of Uncut Gems expert Justin Partridge (@j_partridgeIII), who also graces us with his movie bio (44:20), the films that tell the story of his life - or at least, how horror movies weaned and matured him. Plus: two special guests join for Cha Cha and Spiderhead!

June movies covered include Hustle (3:00), Elvis (6:20), Mad God (17:00), Cha Cha Real Smooth (26:50), Spiderhead (35:30), Lost Illusions (41:30), Brian and Charles (43:35). Plus some Classics Corner (1:02:00).

Cooper Raiff's interview in Town and Country about bar mitzvahs and Cha Cha Real Smooth, 

Outre: "If I Can Dream" (1968), Elvis Presley

John and Sammy go head to head with the various July movies they saw - Nope and Decision to Leave are the highlights - but the main dish is we run down the 14 movies in history that over time held the title of most domestic box-office ever, from 1913 to the present day.

Intro: The Invention of Cinema - 1888 to 1914 (100 Years of Cinema Youtube Channel)

Outre: This is the Lost Generation, The Lost Generation, 1972

We went in search of a Maverick and Prospero “Paco” Uybarreta (@ProsperoUybarr1 and his incredible test flight videos here) -  USAF vet and ace experimental test pilot - answers the call, joining us to unpack the tactics, technique and geopolitics of a movie that took 30+ years to go airborne.

Movies discussed include: Top Gun Maverick (Light SPOILERS), Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (31:30), On the Count of Three (35:50), Dinner in America (36:20), plus the return of Classics Corner (39:20). 

Outre: "Great Balls of Fire (Live)" (2022), Miles Teller, based on the 1957 recording by Jerry Lee Lewis 

With the help of Aaron Brooks (@AaronJayBrooks), we debate the 5 best movies of 2022 so far (aka, all the movies with titles that are very long or start with "The") -- and the movies you can skip. Plus Sammy shares his list of the best 90s comedies you (or at least, he) never saw. 

Movies discussed include: The Batman, The Northman, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (aka, the "Nic Cage Movie"), Vortex, Turning Red, Kimi, After Yang, Ambulance, RRR, Great Freedom, Compartment No. 6, Doctor Strange 2. 

NO spoilers in this episode.

Outre: "This is a Life" (2022), Son Lux

32 movies from 2021 face off head to head to determine the best movie of the year. Av, John and Sammy are your guides, with friends and fans of the podcast contributing their picks. This episode is spoiler free.

The Bracket can be found here. See here for Av, John, Sammy and the critics 32 favorite 2021 movies.

Outro is from the soundtrack of the number one movie of the year ;-)

With our notorious 32-movie bracket to decide the best movie of the year on deck, Av, John and Sammy cut a swathe through December’s many new releases, starting with Spiderman: No Way Home (11:20) and The Worst Person in the World (18:00). The only movie we spoil in this episode is Spiderman.

Then we let loose with Matrix 4 (27:40), Flee (35:40), The Power of the Dog (39:25), Nightmare Alley (41:30), Mass (41:40), The Lost Daughter (45:30), Drive My Car (47:20), Being the Ricardos (49:45), Red Rocket (52:45), The Novice (55:50), Quo Vadis Aida (56:00), C’mon C’mon (56:40), The Beta Test (57:15), Benedetta (58:35), Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (59:00). And a few we advise skipping: Petit Maman, What Do We See When We Look at the Sky (1:00:25), Don’t Look Up (1:00:35).

Classics Corner (1:00:50): Nightmare Alley (1947) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

Our next episode will be a 32-movie bracket to decide the best film of 2021. To participate in this bracket, please send us a short audio clip where YOU (1) identify yourself and (2) name and (3) explain your favorite movie of 2021. You can send this audio clip directly to any of the hosts OR upload the clip to a Google Drive folder, HERE.

Outro: Worst Person in the World, Amanda Marie’s Tiny Little Prisons

Family and royalty are some of our favorite themes in November movies. Av, John and Sammy highlight the movie they are most excited to see before 2021 ends and then unpack King Richard (5:50), Belfast (15:55) and Passing (23:05). 

We also touch on recent releases like Spencer (31:45), The Last Duel (39:30), Licorice Pizza *briefly* (44:40), Jagged (45:50), Last Night in Soho (49:15), Violet (51:30), Language Lessons (53:30), Boiling Point (55:10), 7 Prisoners (56:55) and The Power of the Dog (58:10). 

Outro: Be Alive (Beyoncé from the King Richard soundtrack)

Dune enthusiast Justin Partridge (@j_partridgeIII) joins us to discuss all things spice, stillsuits and sandworms (sigh, and camels) as we embrace Denis Villeneuve’s new epic Dune (35:20). Justin also brings the best of the witching month of October, sharing recent horror flicks like King Car (5:35), Hellbender (7:45), We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (8:40), Wonderful Paradise (9:45), and George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park (10:25). 

Other recent movies we recommend include the terrific Nine Days (12:15), The Truffle Hunters (22:40), I’m Your Man (23:15), Test Pattern (24:35), The Grand Duke of Corsica (26:55) **MALTA MOVIE ALERT**, Copshop (29:00), Raging Fire (30:25) and The Spine of Night (32:30). 

Classics Corner (1:03:00) hits Force Majeure (2014), Batman (1989) and Lake of the Dead (1958).

Outro: Crystal Gayle Killed Frank Herbert (Tom Smith, Who Let Him in Here?)