Episode 18: The Grinch (2018)

Here we are with another in our series “In Theaters Now,” where we discuss a movie that just opened this weekend.  This week, just in time for . . . two weeks before Thanksgiving . . . it’s the newest update/reboot/reimagining/cashgrab of Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, an animated creation with the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones and a brief voice cameo by Angela Lansbury.  Is it any good? How does it stack up against the original 1966 animated classic? Give a listen and find out.  Hear us be holly and jolly and other words ending in “-olly”!

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Episode 17: Bohemian Rhapsody

Welcome to our latest series, “In Theaters Now.” In this series, we actually discuss a movie that is currently playing, quite possibly in a theater near you; we see the movie on Thursday or Friday and then have the discussion up for you on Monday.  How do we do it? Volume, volume, volume! And speaking of volume, this week we’re talking about the rock bio-pic “Bohemian Rhapsody” starring Rami Malek, which tells the story (sort of) of the rise of the classic rock band Queen.  Is it worth seeing? Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?

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Episode 16: That Thing You Do!

One last hidden gem for you! This week we’re havering about the 1996 directorial debut of Tom Hanks, “That Thing You Do (exclamation point)”.  It’s the story of a the rise of a band from Erie, PA in the 1960s called The Wonders and their one hit . . . huh . . . I feel like there’s a reference I’m missing here . . . It’s charming, the acting is good and you won’t get the title song out of your head for quite some time.  Enjoy with us, won’t you?

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Episode 15: Buckaroo Banzai

A gem that was hidden, but no more! Ok, I think a number of folks know this one, but not nearly enough! This week we’re talking about the 1984’s “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension”.  See the fabulous outfits of Peter Weller and Ellen Barkin! Watch John Lithgow leave no piece of scenery un-chewed (seriously, this is one of his funniest performances ever).  We must work while the clerk, she is ticking! History is made at night! Character is what you are in the dark!
Clearly, this is one of the most quotable movies ever.

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Episode 14: What We Do In The Shadows

Good evening, Children of the Night.  This week our hidden gem is “What We Do In the Shadows”, a terrifying . . . no, that’s not the word . . . a spine-chilling . . . no, that’s not right.  Ah! A HILARIOUS vampire movie starring Jermaine Clement and directed by Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok”).  This low-budget New Zealand film, set as a faux-documentary, follows a group of vampires living in New Zealand as they deal with vampire hunters, the trials of the modern world and whose turn it is to do the dishes.  Do our dark bidding on the internet and listen!

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Episode 13: Real Genius

Another hidden gem for you this week! This time it’s the 1985 Val Kilmer comedy “Real Genius.”  Sort of a “What If Animal House Had Taken Place at M.I.T. or Cal Tech?” This one’s a lot of fun and one of the more quotable movies we’ve discussed, and one that asks the question “Would you be prepared if gravity reversed itself? The one thing I can’t solve is how to keep the change from falling out of my pockets.”

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Episode 12: Tapeheads

This week we present another “Hidden Gem”, the 1988 cult hit “Tapeheads”, starring John Cusack (pre-“Say Anything’) and Tim Robbins (post-“Howard the Duck”) as two young lads attempting to make it in the music video industry.  A somewhat bizarre but thoroughly enjoyable movie with a very odd collection of cameos, from Jello Biafra to “Weird Al” Yankovic. Am I crying?

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Episode 11: Pump Up the Volume

A bit delayed, but here we are. This week we have another movie where the soundtrack is practically a character. Starring Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis and . . . Ellen Greene?! From “Little Shop of Horrors”? Huh. Slater plays a pirate radio personality who . . . well, is sort of a forerunner of today’s Youtube channels, in a way. Interesting take on high school and some very cool music. See what we think!

 

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Episode 10: Max Headroom

Here is another entry in our series of “Hidden Gems,” movies that we dig but for some reason haven’t received that much audience love.  This week we’re talking about the totally tubular (dude) movie that launched an 80’s phenomenon, “Max Headroom,” a tv movie about a dystopian near-future where an A.I. that becomes a popular tv personality.  Oddly prescient in some ways . . .

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