Summer Blockbuster!?!

This week, Christian Bale Month continues as we tackle 1993’s WWII-era tale SWING KIDS, directed by Thomas Carter. In 1939 Berlin, Bale and Robert Sean Leonard play best friends who rebel against the Nazi uprising the only way they know how: by swing dancing! And while we would like to report that this film is … Continue reading Ep. #84-Swing Kids →

Christian Bale Month continues this week as we’re talkin’ about 2000’s SHAFT, directed by John Singleton–you damn right! Samuel L. Jackson stars as the titular hero, a smooth-talking police detective who delivers his own special brand of justice when an overprivileged and racist trust fund baby (Bale) commits a hate crime on the streets of … Continue reading Ep. #83-Shaft (2000) →

June is Bale Month here at SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER!?!, where we tackle a few of the films of the talented–and temperamental–Christian Bale. First up is 1992’s NEWSIES, directed by Kenny Ortega, the heart-warming Disney musical about the 1899 Newsboys’ Strike in New York City. Nothing screams ‘uplift’ quite like watching a group of orphans sing and … Continue reading Ep. #82-Newsies →

This week, class warfare becomes quite literal in 1986’s forgotten teen thriller DANGEROUSLY CLOSE, directed by cult filmmaker Albert Pyun. When a group of wealthy, overprivileged teens take it upon themselves to rid their high school of its “undesirables”–i.e. the poor and/or racially diverse–one lone student will stand up and fight for what’s right, all … Continue reading Ep. #81-Dangerously Close →

On this week’s episode, Jim Carrey plays a dangerous–but hilarious?–sociopath who can’t get enough of that sexy Matthew Broderick in 1996’s dark comedy THE CABLE GUY, directed by Ben Stiller. When a film is both this thematically messy and tonally unbalanced, the possibilities for discussion are endless. So it goes without saying that this episode … Continue reading Ep. #80-The Cable Guy →

This week, Mike Myers tries his hardest to capture that old Austin Powers magic–and fails spectacularly–in 2008’s infamous THE LOVE GURU, directed by Marco Schnabel. Myers plays Guru Pitka, a self-help master who is brought in by the Toronto Maple Leafs to help their star player regain his mojo. But instead of enlightenment, what the … Continue reading Ep. #79-The Love Guru →

In honor of Mother’s Day, this week we take on 1992’s infamous sci-fi sequel ALIEN 3, the debut feature of director David Fincher. Ripley is back, and she’s got a bun in the oven! Only problem is that it’s a bloodthirsty, acid-spewing monster. So, you know, basically your average child. And what Mom can’t relate … Continue reading Ep. #78-Alien 3 →

In honor of our two-year anniversary, this week we take on 1993’s artificial insemination comedy MADE IN AMERICA, another cinematic classic from Richard Benjamin, director of past episode highlights MARCI X and MILK MONEY. Whoopi Goldberg stars as a single mother who learns 18 years after the fact that–horror of horrors–her sperm donor was obnoxious … Continue reading Ep. #77-Made in America →

On this week’s episode, we tackle 1990’s superhero goof DARKMAN, directed by Mr. Evil Dead himself, Sam Raimi. Liam Neeson stars a brilliant scientist/liquid skin inventor who gets blowed up real good and becomes the disfigured vigilante known as Darkman, who will stop at nothing to thwart an evil real estate developer. Yes, that is … Continue reading Ep. #76-Darkman →

To celebrate our 75th episode, we are going all the way back to 1937 to take on the classic domestic drama MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW, directed by Leo McCarey. When a pair of aging parents are forced to separate due to financial issues, they discover that their children are literally the worst people on the … Continue reading Ep. #75-Make Way For Tomorrow →

This week, the Big Top spells big trouble as we take on 1988’s beloved cult classic KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE, directed by Stephen Chiodo. What happens when an alien race that resembles clowns invades a sleepy college town? Mayhem, kidnappings, decapitations and murder, of course! So does this film still hold up 30 years … Continue reading Ep. #74-Killer Klowns From Outer Space →

On the eve of co-host Luke’s nuptials to beloved frequent guest Morgan, we take on 1997’s “romantic” comedy MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, directed by P.J. Hogan, in which Julia Roberts attempts to sabotage her best friend’s big day when she suddenly realizes she’s in love with him. Lives are shattered, hearts are broken, and somehow … Continue reading Ep. #73-My Best Friend’s Wedding →

Yeah, we know. 2018 was a real crappy year for movies. But that’s not going to stop us from our annual tradition of trying to predict the Oscar winners. Will Luke once again dominate? Can Morgan possibly pull ahead and take the lead even though she has the gall to defend BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY? Will Steve … Continue reading Bonus Episode-2019 Oscar Predictions →

It’s February and love is in the air, so we kick things off by tackling quite possibly the most cynical romantic comedy ever produced, 2004’s LITTLE BLACK BOOK, directed by Nick Hurran. Brittany Murphy stars as a Carly Simon-obsessed career woman who begins to suspect that her boyfriend is keeping secrets, so she does what … Continue reading Ep. #72-Little Black Book →

This week, a war between angels in Heaven makes its way to earth in 1995’s ridiculous gore-fest THE PROPHECY, directed by Gregory Widen. God only knows how a slew of respected character actors got roped into this silliness, but if you ever wanted to see Christopher Walken as the archangel Gabriel play the trumpet with … Continue reading Ep. #71-The Prophecy →

On this week’s episode, we take on 2004’s Sundance sensation GARDEN STATE, directed by and starring Zach Braff as an angsty struggling actor suffering from a mid-midlife crisis who must confront his past when he returns home for his mother’s funeral. There’s also an epileptic, lying Manic Pixie Dream Girl played by Natalie Portman; veiled … Continue reading Ep. #70-Garden State →

On this week’s episode, we take on 1947’s yuletide classic MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, in which the New York Supreme Court decides once and for all if there is indeed a Santa Claus. Meanwhile, we discuss our personal Christmas favorites, the temperament of senior citizens, rampant holiday consumerism, the perils of Imagination Nation, and hey, … Continue reading Ep. #69-Miracle on 34th Street (1947) →

This week, as we head into the holiday season, we take on 1984’s yuletide horror comedy GREMLINS, directed by Joe Dante. Little green monsters. Murder. Mayhem. Death by microwave. Yep, the staples of a classic Christmas genre flick are on full display. So does this movie still hold up 34 years later? Is Gizmo as … Continue reading Ep. #68-Gremlins →

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we take on 1991’s John Hughes-penned road trip comedy DUTCH, in which Ed O’Neill travels across the country to bring home his girlfriend’s bratty teenage son for Turkey Day. And nothing screams the holidays like child abuse, Marxism, thieving prostitutes, homeless shelters, fireworks, and horny teens. Yeah, this movie is … Continue reading Ep. #67-Dutch →

On this week’s episode, Shakespeare meets high school–remember when that was a trend?!–as we take on 2001’s “O”, director Tim Blake Nelson’s controversial take on “Othello.” Mekhi Phifer stars as Odin, star player of his prep school’s basketball team and the envy of the duplicitous Hugo, played by the consistently bedhead-addled Josh Hartnett. How far … Continue reading Ep. #66-O →