Weekly Movie Throwdown

On this week's episode, Mike and Steven continue Stories of Summer Month with The Way Way Back from 2013. They discuss how the film's humor and heart make it stand out among other coming-of age stories, what a narcissistic jerk Trent (Steve Carell) is, how writers/directors Jim Rash and Nat Faxon made this right after winning an Oscar for The Descendants, and much more.
And in the news segment this week:

• PG-rated films are raking in the box-office so far this year—a welcome surprise
• A few reboots of beloved franchises are possibly in the works

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STILL TO COME DURING STORIES OF SUMMER MONTH7/21: Theater Camp (2023) Dir. Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman7/28: Crooklyn (1994) Dir. Spike Lee
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
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Crank up the AC! This week Mike and Steven kick off Summer Stories Month with a classic eighties comedy that has a heart of gold: Summer School from 1987. They discuss the film's place amongst its teens-gone-wild contemporaries like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, what this film led to for the cast, and the importance of its director, Carl Reiner.
And in the news segment this week:

• Blumhouse's swing and miss with M3GAN 2.0
• Celebrity passings: Michael Madsen and Julian McMahon

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On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
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This week on the podcast, we wrap up One Crazy Night Month with a deep dive into Michael Mann’s gripping 2004 crime thriller, Collateral. Starring Tom Cruise as a chilling hitman and Jamie Foxx as the unsuspecting cab driver caught in his path, Collateral delivers a unique blend of suspense, action, and moody L.A. nightlife. We had a blast breaking it all down!
And in our news segment:

• A new James Bond director has been announced—what it could mean for the franchise
• A Young Frankenstein prequel series is in the works
• Updates on California film tax credits and what it means for filmmakers

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On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Critically panned and sitting at a lowly 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, James Mangold’s Knight and Day has long been dismissed as a box office misfire. Even with A-listers Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, the action-comedy-romance couldn’t escape harsh reviews. But in this episode of our Rewatch & Reconsider series, we ask the big question: does Knight and Day deserve the hate?
Join us as we dive deep into what works (and what doesn’t) in this misunderstood 2010 movie, serving up some unexpected praise, and a few theories about its critical failure. Plus, we cover the latest entertainment news—AI in Hollywood, Tom Cruise’s honorary Oscar buzz, and more.
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STILL TO COME DURING ONE CRAZY NIGHT MONTH:
6/30: Collateral (2004, directed by Michael Mann)
On Letterboxd? Check out our Rewatch & Reconsider movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
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This week on the podcast, we continue One Crazy Night Month with a deep dive into the hit 2018 comedy Game Night, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. This dark comedy-mystery blends sharp humor, clever plot twists, and stylish cinematography. Starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, Game Night delivers one of the most entertaining comedy films of the 2010s.
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STILL TO COME DURING ONE CRAZY NIGHT MONTH:
6/23: Rewatch & Reconsider: Knight and Day (2010, directed by James Mangold)6/30: Collateral (2004, directed by Michael Mann)
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast, One Crazy Night Month rolls on with a deep dive into Martin Scorsese’s 1985 cult classic After Hours—the film he credits with rekindling his love for directing. Mike and Steven are joined by special guest Ben Tanzer, author of the new book After Hours: Scorsese, Grief and the Language of Cinema, to discuss the film’s surreal storytelling, its place in Scorsese’s filmography, and how it helped Ben process the loss of his father.
Plus, in film and podcasting news, the trio reacts to Marc Maron’s announcement that he’s ending his legendary podcast WTF with Marc Maron later this year.Whether you're a fan of Scorsese, '80s cinema, or personal stories about grief and art, this episode offers an insightful conversation you won't want to miss.
Order After Hours: Scorsese, Grief, and the Grammar of Cinema here.
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STILL TO COME DURING 21ST CENTURY WESTERNS MONTH:
6/16: Game Night (2007, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein)6/23: Rewatch & Reconsider (film TBD)6/30: Collateral (2004, directed by Michael Mann)
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast, we kick off One Crazy Night Month—a series celebrating movies where the action unfolds over the course of a single wild night. First up: Go (1999), Doug Liman’s fast-paced tale of a drug deal gone wrong. Often compared to Pulp Fiction, Go takes the multi-perspective narrative popularized by Tarantino and runs with it—arguably delivering one of the best takes on the format.
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STILL TO COME DURING 21ST CENTURY WESTERNS MONTH:
6/9: After Hours (1985, directed by Martin Scorsese) with guest Ben Tanzer6/16: Game Night (2007, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein)6/23: Rewatch & Reconsider (film TBD)6/30: Collateral (2004, directed by Michael Mann)
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21st-Century Westerns Month wraps up this week with a real gem. We dig into Joel and Ethan Coen's No Country for Old Men, adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. With three fantastic performances, beautiful direction, and stunning cinematography, this film was a big hit at the Oscars, taking home four statues including Best Picture.
Joining us to discuss the film is author David Tromblay, whose forthcoming novel Coydog has been called "a cross between No Country for Old Men and Fargo," which makes him the perfect guest for this episode!
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Preorder David's book Coydog HERE. ____________________
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week 21st-Century Westerns Month continues with a double shot of 3:10 to Yuma. We compare and contrast the original 1957 version—directed by Delmer Daves—and the 2007 James Mangold remake. There's a lot of shared DNA that carries through from Elmore Leonard's short story, as well as quite a few original ideas in both. We also discuss the loss of Joe Don Baker last week, and a few other news stories.
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STILL TO COME DURING 21ST CENTURY WESTERNS MONTH:5/26: No Country for Old Men (2007, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen)On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the show this week we discuss Wind River from 2017. This is the directorial debut of writer/actor/Paramount+ benefactor Taylor Sheridan. It's the third in his trilogy about the modern American frontier (along with Sicario and Hell or High Water), which makes it perfect for this month's 21st-Century Westerns theme. With a compelling story and pitch-perfect cast, we had a lot of fun talking about this one.
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STILL TO COME DURING 21ST CENTURY WESTERNS MONTH:
5/19: 3:10 to Yuma Double Feature (1957 and 2007, directed by Delmer Davies and James Mangold)5/26: No Country for Old Men (2007, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen)
On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list here.____________________
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT!Please drop us a line at [email protected], and follow us on social media:
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviethrowdown/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviethrowdownpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@moviethrowdownpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moviethrowdownpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/moviethrowdownpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.