Macguffin Podcast

For this episode, we review Disney's latest animated fantasy film, Encanto. We also play a new game in which we decide the definitive works of a handful of famous directors. At the end of the program, we discuss the 1967 crime drama, Le Samourai, by the French auteur Jean-Pierre Melville. 

To put a bow on last year's cinema, we rank our top 10 and bottom 5 films of 2021. We also read social media comments from listeners about their favorite movies. Listen up and find out if your favorite movie from last year made it on one of our lists!   

The first episode of 2022 features reviews for Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Matrix Resurrections. We also think of a couple of pitches for buddies movies starring actors of our choice. For our streaming homework, we review the 1995 cyber-punk action movie, Johnny Mnemonic, which also stars Keanu Reeves. 

For this episode of the podcast, we review the Venus and Serena Williams sports biopic, King Richard, starring Will Smith. We also list a few film franchises we think could use a Christmas entry. For the streaming homework, we review the 1988 crime-comedy, Midnight Run. 

For this episode, we review Ridley Scott's lurid biopic, House of Gucci, starring Adam Driver and Lady Gaga. We also compare other musicians who became actors and rank them on our own special scale. For the streaming homework, we review the 2012 Tom Cruise action movie, Jack Reacher.  

For this episode of the podcast, we review Jane Campion's latest period drama/western, Power of the Dog. We also talk about the paranoid 1982 TV movie, Mazes & Monsters, starring a young Tom Hanks. For this episode's special segment, we compare what fictional movie toys and games we wish were real. 

For this week's podcast, we bring you an Edgar Wright double feature. We review his latest thriller, Last night in Soho, and from Netflix, his music documentary, The Sparks Brothers. We also discuss the films that we and our listeners deem underrated.  

For this podcast episode, we review Marvel's new team-up adventure, Eternals, as well as this year's much-buzzed-about Palme d'Or winner, Titane. We also discuss the recent movie news, and for our streaming homework, we review the 1955 Frank Sinatra drama, The Man with the Golden Arm. 

On this episode of the podcast, we review Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the epic science fiction novel, Dune. We also list our all-time favorite title sequences and movie openings. For our streaming homework, we review the 2020 Danish drama, Another Round, starring Mads Mikkelsen. 

With this week's podcast, we ring in Halloween with our review of David Gordon Green's Halloween Kills. We also discuss the horror films that never scared us and compare our answers to listeners' personal experiences. For the streaming homework, we talk about the 2008 British horror movie, Eden Lake, starring Michael Fassbender.

For this episode of the podcast, we review Shudder's new entry in the anthology V/H/S franchise, V/H/S94. We put forth a few ideas of horror tropes we'd like to see more of, and at the end, we review the 2006 documentary, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.   

For this horror-themed episode, our special guest, filmmaker, blogger, and podcaster, Julia Marchese, joins us to review the first part of the Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street: Part One - 1994. We talk about Julia's upcoming Stephen King short, I Know What You Need, as well as her past work as a staff member of the Los Angeles repertory movie theater The New Beverly. We discuss her feature documentary Out of Print, and to close things out, we review the 1980 cult thriller, Fade to Black.  Check out all of Julia's projects at this link. 

For this episode, we check out Josh Ruben's horror-comedy whodunit, Werewolves Within, based on the popular computer game. We also list a few of our choices for the scariest non-horror movies.  For this week's streaming homework, we discuss Troma's 1990 release, the cult-comedy, Frankenhooker. 

For this episode of the podcast, we review the horror sequel/reboot, Candyman, produced by Jordan Peele's company, Monkeypaw. We also discuss why some online haters love to complain about the popularity of A24. As our streaming homework, we review the 1998 X Files movie and judge if it stands alone well enough apart from the television series. 

For this episode, we review James Wan's latest horror feature, Malignant. We cover the latest movie news. For our streaming homework, we also discuss the 1983 punk drama, Suburbia. 

For this podcast episode, we review Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well as the HBO sci-fi/noir, Reminiscence, starring Hugh Jackman. We also list our picks for the best science fiction films since the year 2000. For our streaming homework, we discuss the 2018 sports documentary, Andre The Giant, which chronicles the life of the charismatic pro-wrestler. 

On this podcast episode, we come back with reviews for James Gunn's R-rated superhero comedy, The Suicide Squad, as well as the dark fairy-tale adaptation, The Green Knight. We also catch up with the movie news, and for our streaming homework, we discuss David Lynch's 1999 family movie, The Straight Story. 

For this week's podcast. Alice and Buddy from the theme park podcast Those Happy Places join us to talk about Disney's Jungle Cruise movie. We talk about the narrative possibility of rides, and for our streaming homework, we discuss Disney's 2003 Eddie Murphy vehicle, The Haunted Mansion.  Check out Those Happy Places here.

For this episode of the podcast, we review Steven Soderbergh's latest crime noir, "No Sudden Move." We also talk about some of our favorite and least favorite movies from Soderbergh's extensive and diverse film catalog. For our streaming homework, we discuss the 1988 cult sci-fi/comedy, "Hell Comes to Frogtown," starring Rowdy Roddy Piper. 

For this episode, we review the long-awaited Looney Tunes sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James. We also debate the quality of comedy sequels over horror film sequels, and for our streaming homework, we review the 2017 surrealist thriller, The Killing of a Sacred Deer.