Trilogy in Theory

On this episode we participate in a cinematic home invasion with Melanie Lynskey to celebrate her new film, the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE. To make sure we're comfortable in our selected double feature on homes, we bring back a favorite guest in Karly from the Core Temp Arts network podcasts That Pop This Life and Talking Shondaland. We discuss Lynskey having her home invaded by sister-in-law Anna Kendrick in the improvised HAPPY CHRISTMAS, and then Lynskey herself being the home invader as a divorcee returning back to her parents home in HELLO I MUST BE GOING.

Also an appreciation of the Kiwi accent, as always.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

On this episode we drive to save the girl with Robert De Niro in TAXI DRIVER and Ryan Gosling in DRIVE. These two film classics are the favorites of many so we bring back one of our favorite guests in Margo D. from the Book Vs Movie podcast to debate if either film glorifies extreme violence and vigilantism in pursuit of saving Jodie Foster or Carey Mulligan. We also seek to answer the ever important question of why Cybill Shepherd ever went on a date with Travis Bickle to begin with. All of this, and hosts Ben and Mike put new release COLLIDE and Nicholas Hoult in the unfortunate position of trying to out drive two of the best in this genre.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

For new release THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS we found the easiest theme ever for this podcast with MORE films about girls with all the gifts in MATILDA (1996) and FROZEN (2013). Unfortunately what we did not find was a lot of films starring and marketed to young girls like in the mid-90s, so we discuss this with Jessi Lauren of Search to Find You. Is FROZEN receiving credit for being one of the few films featuring a girl with all the gifts? And how come we have to mention the film CHUCK & BUCK every time we attempt to do a family friendly episode? All of these questions and more, such as "Why am I listening to this podcast?" will be answered on this episode.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

On this episode we browse the Tall, Dark and Assassin section of the cinema to celebrate Keanu Reeves as our favorite dog owner in JOHN WICK: CHAPTER TWO. This sequel to one of the great surprises of 2014 has us looking at the differences in style between films on assassins. The critically loved 2015 film THE ASSASSIN puts little action on display but stunning imagery, whereas the 1995 movie ASSASSINS has little in the way of surprises (the great Julianne Moore paying her dues with this material being one of them) but contains characters who are driven insane by inaction. Thankfully guest Jason Michael of The Film Faculty and Atlantic Screen Connection is here to talk us off the assassins ledge and help us decide on a new #1.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

On this episode we partner up with the world's biggest Michael Pena fan, Jairo from the True Bromance Film Podcast, for an episode on this great actor's films as one half of a law enforcement duo. In new release WAR ON EVERYONE, Pena rampages through New Mexico with Alexander Skarsgard as two cops who spend their days sharing a philosophy of hating any and everyone. This divisive film from John Michael McDonagh has us taking a look back at another film seeking to offend in OBSERVE AND REPORT. In Jody Hill's take on TAXI DRIVER, Pena and Seth Rogen are mall cops on the pursuit of a thief and a perverted flasher. Something we wish we could say that Jake Gyllenhaal does as Pena's final partner on this podcast in David Ayer's END OF WATCH. Which of these actors earns the right to ride along with the great Michael Pena? Find out on this episode of War Machine vs. War Horse.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

On this episode Martin Scorsese once again puts his faith in film with new release SILENCE but we look at how that faith may have changed during his career by going back to his earlier work in MEAN STREETS and BRINGING OUT THE DEAD. In the former, Harvey Keitel tries to carry himself as a man of honor and reconcile his life between the church and the streets, while in the latter Nicolas Cage finds himself burned out and questioning himself professionally and personally as a paramedic who can not truly save anyone. All of this and our Top Ten Films of 2016 which may see SILENCE honored once again in this podcast, or it will have to settle for our attempt to match its exhausting runtime with our longest episode ever.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

For new release 20th CENTURY WOMEN we take a closer look at Annette Bening's career (something the Academy should have done) by discussing a double feature where this great actress takes on the challenges of motherhood. In Stephen Frears' THE GRIFTERS Bening must deal with Anjelica Huston blocking her con artist plans for Huston's son played by John Cusack. And in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT Bening herself finds her relationship with Julianne Moore challenged when Mark Ruffalo becomes a complicated third party to their non-traditional family. For these films on two people battling for the love of others I invite on returning guests Dave Hart of Pop Culture Case Study and Dwight Hurst of The Broken Brain to battle for mine.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

The episode the Internet demanded: Hot lesbian action! Other than cynically abusing search engines with this description, we are inspired by a very good film from 2016, which is new to Amazon streaming, THE HANDMAIDEN from director Park Chan-Wook. Avoiding being simply simple pleasures for simple podcasters, this great film provides a fun and thrilling caper, much like The Wachowskis debut film from 1996 BOUND and not so much like Atom Egoyan's CHLOE. Yes, this is the episode where returning guest and fellow Julianne Moore fan club member Dwight Hurst of The Broken Brain podcast may actually vote against one of her films.

ALSO our Australian correspondent Andrew of AB Film Review and The Last New Wave talks of his excitement for being tickled and latest entry in the soon-to-be classic film trilogy FIFTY SHADES DARKER.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

You can also support this show with a donation on Patreon to get extra episodes or to program an episode with a film of your choosing.

On this episode we celebrate the Best Picture Oscar nomination for HIDDEN FIGURES and more importantly the power of cinema to bring attention to people cast aside by history. In our selected double feature we look at two other characters who stand beside history through choices they make and choices that they are not given. In THE REMAINS OF THE DAY Anthony Hopkins gives himself completely to his role as a butler to a man conspiring with Nazis, removing any trace of personal belief in politics or the pursuit of love for Emma Thompson. And in another 2016 Best Picture nominee, FENCES, Denzel Washington takes out the limited options of his professional life in 1950s Pittsburgh on his son and wife.

ALSO: Kristen Lopez of Journeys In Classic Film joins the podcast to discuss the changing audience reaction to melodrama.

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse

On this episode we take a DETOUR from the season's Oscar bait for a genre film reminiscent of 90s films such as RUN LOLA RUN and GO. In all three films the narrative is split among different choices the characters make. Lola must decide between violence or gambling to solve her boyfriend's financial problem, while the actors of GO clearly decided this was the best PULP FICTION-like script to come their way in 1998.

ALSO we make the choice to rebrand this podcast as a DAWSON'S CREEK recap show. Enjoy!

Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd: @warmachinehorse