41: Casino (1995)

When you love someone, you’ve gotta trust them. There’s no other way. You’ve got to give them the key to everything that’s yours. Otherwise, what’s the point? And for a while, I believed that’s the kind of love I had.

Ace Rothstein, Casino

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY

The eighth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert DeNiro, Casino brings the mob mentality of Goodfellas to the gambler’s paradise of Las Vegas. It’s a city filled with hustlers, junkies, hit men, cheaters, and questionable business practices; all controlled by the Kansas City mob and potentially destroyed by one man’s delusional love.

Are DeNiro and Joe Pesci just playing their characters from Goodfellas in this film? Is this a spiritual sequel to Goodfellas? Is there any way to watch this movie without constantly thinking about Goodfellas? Is it possible to put an equal amount of blueberries in mass produced muffins? And is the eye in the sky really watching us all? Take a gamble and join us as we hit the tables to talk about Casino.

Click here to listen to Episode 41: Casino.

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40: Glory (1989)

Before this war began, many of my regiment had never seen a Negro. Now the roads are choked with the dispossessed. We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written but which will presently be as enviable and renowned as any.

Col Robert Gould Shaw, Glory

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, ANDREW, JOE

Director Edward Zwick brings us this late 80’s look at the first black regiment enlisted to fight for the Union during the Civil War. Populated by a cast of incredible actors including Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes, the film includes a standout performance from Denzel Washington, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role.

Does this 33 year-old film offer a perspective that holds up under the scrutiny of current understanding? Can Matthew Broderick effectively embody a character so charged with authority? Did people really use the term “secesh” for those who favored the Confederate cause? And is the ending of this story quite what we expected? Join the charge as we raise our Union flag and bravely march into our discussion of this story of the Civil War, race, bravery and emotion.

Click here to listen to Episode 40: Glory.

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39 - It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

I would like to think that you are all my friends, for to be without friends is a serious form of poverty.

Aloysius T. McKeever, It Happened on 5th Avenue

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE

The holidays are upon us and it’s time for the movies we all know and love and have watched a hundred times. But, for our purposes, those won’t do. We searched high and low for a holiday film none of us had ever seen before. We found it in director/producer Roy Del Ruth’s 1947 romantic comedy, It Happened on 5th Avenue.

Can a lesser-known winter-time movie be any good? Is there a reason this film didn’t become a holiday classic? Is it a screwball comedy, a romance, a social commentary, a musical or all of the above? Could this actually be a Scrooge story in disguise? Does it’s two hour run-time make sense? And just how romantic is it to shoot holes in a wall with a shotgun? Join us in the O’Connor mansion as we try It Happened on 5th Avenue on for size.

Click here to listen to Episode 39: It Happened on 5th Avenue.

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38 - Seven Samurai (1954)

This is the nature of war. By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think of yourself, you’ll only destroy yourself.

Kambei Shimada, Seven Samurai

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE

When faced with a three and a half hour, subtitled, black and white 1954 movie about samurai in the 16th century, it was admittedly a bit daunting for those of us who hadn’t yet seen Akira Kurosawa’s fabled epic. But, we harvested our rice, packed our meager bags, and set out on a journey to find our heroes.

Is this the most Western Eastern movie we’ve ever seen? How does it compare to the multitude of remakes, reimaginings, and takeoffs it’s inspired? Does it feel as long as its runtime? Can modern Western viewers find relevant themes in this story of ancient warriors? How incredibly awesome is Toshiro Mifune? Listen to find out whether we’ll battle like samurai and bandits, or join our magnificent five personalities together in harmony to defeat our fear of this lengthy classic.

Click here to listen to Episode 38: Seven Samurai.

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37 - John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

36 - Easy A (2010)

“Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80’s movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80’s movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.”

Olive Penderghast, Easy A

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, CHERYL, JOE

Remember that time in high school English class that you were supposed to read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter? Did you read it? Or did you watch one of the movie versions? We decided to watch director Will Gluck and writer Bert V. Royal’s movie version that talks about all the other movie versions, while turning the concept into a John Hughes style high school comedy.

Does this movie really have anything to do with The Scarlet Letter? Why do we decide we’d like to see Emma Stone in a 30’s style screwball comedy? Can a movie character tell you exactly what’s going to happen in their movie and still have it be a surprise to watch? What’s the deal with Ojai? And why have some reviewers criticized this movie as anti-Christian? Join us as we spend our gift cards to watch and discuss this modern take on a very old story.

Click here to listen to Episode 36: Easy A

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35 - Car Wash (1976)

Boy, there’s been some weird people in here today.

Hippo, Car Wash

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY, JOE

We’re driving to downtown Los Angeles to have our cars cleaned, 1970’s style. Cheryl has us all watching another questionable classic with Car Wash, improbably written by Joel Schumacher. You’ve heard Rose Royce’s disco hit of the same name, now hear about the movie that’s just as steeped in mid-seventies weirdness. Jam packed with notable names like Franklyn Ajaye, Bill Duke, Melanie Mayron, Antonio Fargas and Otis Day, with cameos by Richard Pryor and George Carlin, Car Wash is comedy with a touch of social consciousness.

Is this an OG hangout movie? Is it uncomfortably retro in its approach to people of color and LGBTQ? Is it right to feature Pryor and Carlin prominently on the DVD cover? Is there something deeper going on here than just oddball seventies humor? What are the best lyrics of the theme song? And what stands in place of the Dee-Luxe Car Wash these days? Join us on the corner of 6th and Rampart to find out.

Click here to listen to Episode 35: Car Wash

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34 - Rear Window (1954)

We’ve become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change. Yes, sir. How’s that for a bit of homespun philosophy?

Stella, Rear Window

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  BETHANY, CHERYL

Like us, you probably spent a lot of time during the pandemic, looking at the world just outside your window and keeping up with the neighborhood activity. But, what if you saw something awful? Something you were sure of, but couldn’t prove? L.B. Jefferies (Jimmy Stewart) in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Rear Window becomes obsessed with just such a scenario. He pulls everyone into the plot, including his girlfriend (Grace Kelly), his old war buddy turned police detective (Wendell Corey), and his physical therapist (Thelma Ritter). But, did anything bad really happen over in Lars Thorwald’s (Raymond Burr) apartment? Or is it all just in L.B.’s imagination?

Did we become as obsessed with this story as L.B.? Were we a little jealous of his camera lenses? What kind of guy won’t compromise a little bit for a woman like Grace Kelly? Did the song composer and the lonely-hearted woman become an item? Have we ever been so hot, we wanted to sleep outside for the night? And would we spy on our neighbors, maybe even climb a fire escape and break into their apartment, just to satisfy our curiosity? Join us in the courtyard for a neighborly conversation during which we’ll reveal all.

Click here to listen to Episode 34: Rear Window

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33 - What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)

You know, we’re right back where we started. When I was on the stage, you had to depend on me for everything. Even the food you ate came from me. Now you have to depend on me for your food again. So, you see, we’re right back where we started.

- Baby Jane Hudson, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE

We take on yet another story of Hollywood glamour and stardom gone bad, as we learn the story of Baby Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) and Blanche Hudson (Joan Crawford), sisters and bitter rivals in life and career. Robert Aldrich’s classic film has taken on a second life, as it is celebrated for its campy, catty attitude and melodramatic story.

What ever happens when you put two of the biggest movie stars ever together and let them play two of the biggest movie stars ever? What ever happens when a former child actor feels overshadowed by her sister? What ever happens when you put two reclusive, unstable people together and make them rely on each other? What exactly did ever happen that night in the driveway? Do you wonder what ever would happen if you decided not to listen to this episode? But you are Blanche, you are gonna listen!

Click here to listen to Episode 33: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

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32 - My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Trees and people used to be good friends. I saw that tree and decided to buy the house.

-Tatsuo Kusakabe, My Neighbor Totoro

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  CHERYL, JOE

Beautiful scenery, screaming children, the Cat Bus, and great big fluffy Totoro. What more can we say about this late 80's animated classic from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli? There aren't many words in this movie, nor is there a complicated plot, but there's plenty of "squee". Is that enough for us to understand its lasting appeal?

How many of us want to ride in a Cat Bus or sleep on a Totoro? How distracted are we by the idea of a Studio Ghibli theme park? Does this movie qualify as anime? Have we pulled out our credit cards to buy ALL the merchandise? Could there be a connection between this film and the Beatles? And how excited can two kids get about a rotting house? Join us, as we crawl our way through the underbrush into the magical world of Totoro.

Click here to listen to Episode 32: My Neighbor Totoro.

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31 - Citizen Kane (1941)

“You don’t love me. You love me to love you.”

— Susan Alexander Kane, Citizen Kane

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, JOE

We can see the headlines now: "Charles Foster Kane on IOML At Last". Yes, that's right, we're finally discussing Orson Welles' directorial debut, Citizen Kane, commonly regarded as the greatest film ever made. With Oscar season upon us, we're taking a look at this fabled movie, nominated for nine Academy Awards, but winner of only one for Best Original Screenplay (Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles).

Was this film a blueprint followed by a recent American President? Is it an examination of the origins and effects of narcissism? Is there anyone left who doesn't know what Kane's last word, "Rosebud," refers to? How many of us learned that information from pop culture parodies? How well does the recently released Netflix film Mank pair with this masterpiece? And where does Sacha Baron Cohen fit into all of this? Join us, as we piece together the puzzle to reveal whether this movie deserves its reputation or if it's all just a bunch of sensationalism.

Click here to listen to Episode 31: Citizen Kane.

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30 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2004)

“England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship is England. So, it’s every hand to his rope or gun; quick’s the word and sharp’s the action. After all... Surprise is on our side.”

— Captain Jack Aubrey, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY, JOE

We've joined the British Royal Navy, as we haul the lines and sail to the far side of the world in pursuit of Peter Weir's Oscar nominated film, Master and Commander. Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany star as author Patrick O'Brian's beloved characters, Captain Jack Aubrey and physician/naturalist Dr. Stephen Maturin, who make beautiful music together aboard HMS Surprise as they attempt to stop the French ship Acheron from bringing the Napoleonic War to Pacific waters.

Is this film action, adventure, bromance or all three combined? Exactly why do we call the bathrooms on boats "heads"? Is young Midshipman Mr. Blakeney the key to enjoying this movie? Is there more to Stephen than performing surgery on himself? Will we ever get a tune we can dance to? And could Cheryl possibly be more in her element than she is when talking about this movie? (Spoiler: the answer is no) Come along, so we can impress you as we explore this wooden world.

Click here to listen to Episode 30: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

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29 - Sunset Boulevard

It was a great big white elephant of a place. The kind crazy movie people built in the crazy 20’s. A neglected house gets an unhappy look. This one had it in spades. It was like that old woman in “Great Expectations”. That Miss Havisham in her rotting wedding dress and her torn veil, taking it out on the world, because she’d been given the go-by.

Joe Gillis, Sunset Blvd.

FIRST TIME VIEWERS:  BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE, JUSTIN

Special guest Justin Quizon, co-host of Nothing New and Go, Go, Godzilla, hopped in our custom built Isotta-Fraschini to join us for a trip along Sunset Blvd., the 1950 film that provided silent-film star Gloria Swanson with her most remembered and meta role as faded silent film star Norma Desmond. Also featuring William Holden as screenwriter Joe Gillis, the down-on-his-luck young man who stumbles into Norma’s dream of a return to stardom, this self-referential Hollywood fable continues to influence pop culture more than 70 years after its release.

Is Norma Desmond’s middle-aged melodrama relatable? Have the pictures really gotten small? If your band is hired to play a private New Year’s Eve party, how long are you obligated to perform? What color is appropriate for a monkey’s coffin lining? Which is worse, being a newspaper reporter in Ohio or being a faded movie star’s boy toy in Hollywood? Just how did they get so many famous people to play themselves in this unusual story of the dark realities of stardom? There are no locks on the doors, so let yourself in and join us as we have Max start up the projector while we get ready for our close-up look at this legendary Billy Wilder film.

Be sure to follow Justin Quizon on Instagram and Twitter! Also, check out his amazing Kickstarter project, Lumpia!

Click here to listen to Episode 29: Sunset Blvd.

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28 - Return to Oz (1985)

“I do not hold out much hope for Jack. He has many excellent qualities, but thinking is not one of them.”

— Tik-Tok, Return to Oz

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ALISA, BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE

Special guest Aldrin Cornejo, Design Supervisor at Fox Television Animation's American Dad, invited us to Return to Oz with him, so we set out to discover this not-a-sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Even though we were a little reluctant, Aldrin electrified us into making our way along what's left of the Yellow Brick Road into an Oz that looks very different from the one we last left.

Is this a children's film or a horror movie? Does Dorothy's use of Life Powder on the Gump-sofa concoction create a flying wonder or a terrifying abomination? Which would you rather meet in a dark alley, a Flying Monkey or a Wheeler? Did awful things happen to the Emerald City just because Dorothy couldn't keep her shoes on? Can we call you "Mom"? And, really, where did all the Munchkins go? Find out as we put on our best heads and flow down the river to meet the Nome King.

Be sure to follow Aldrin Cornejo on Instagram and Twitter!

Click here to listen to Episode 28: Return to Oz.

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27 - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

“Do not play detective. This is not a book. This is not a movie.”

— Gay Perry, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ALISA, CHERYL, JOE

Sometimes a movie comes along that's polarizing...and confusing...and, well, a lot of things we may wish movies wouldn't be. For Christmas, Bethany brought us Shane Black's directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It's a parody of the hard-boiled detective stories like Raymond Chandler used to bake up...or maybe a Johnny Gossamer story. Dames and Dicks, all mixed up in the ugly underbelly just beneath the beautiful bosom of Hollywood.

Can we see the origins of Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man in this film? Is there anything wrong with calling Val Kilmer's character Gay Perry? Did any of us REALLY HATE this movie? Is it possible to be the very thing you're trying to make yourself out not to be? Grab yourself a stiff drink and join us at the scene of the crime as we go over the details just one more time before we let you know whether we think this movie should be turned over to the cops or you should just go along for the ride.

Click here to listen to Episode 27: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

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26 - Bob Roberts (1992)

“This is America. Virtue always prevails.”

— Senator Brickely Paiste, Bob Roberts

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY, JOE

As though struggling through the current election cycle wasn't already difficult enough, Cheryl asked everyone to add another level of upset by watching this 1992 political "documentary" written/directed by and starring Tim Robbins. If you haven't seen it either, that's not a surprise; this movie didn't get a wide release and has been very difficult to find. It's available here (until it's not).

Can conservative folk songs be enjoyable? Is this perhaps Jack Black's best role? How did Tim Robbins get so many amazing actors to appear in this movie? Is this film still a humorous satire or has it become a terrifying reflection of reality? Is Tim Robbins psychic? And, if not, how did he get every single aspect of our current political climate precisely correct 28 years ago? Join the campaign and we'll tell you if we're voting for this prescient rebel conservative.

Click here to listen to Episode 26: Bob Roberts.

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25 - Night of the Living Dead (1968)

“Don’t you know what’s goin’ on out there? This is no Sunday School picnic!”

— Ben, Night of the Living Dead

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: BETHANY, CHERYL

It's October, it's almost Halloween, and that means it's time for something scary. We've reached back to George A. Romero's fabled independent film, which had a massive and unmistakable impact on horror that continues today. Join us, as we hide out in our respective homes and try to board up the windows to keep out the ghouls.

What's the difference between a zombie and a ghoul? What are the connection points between this movie and The Walking Dead? How do you make a movie like this without any money? Who would you be: the catatonic Barbra, the action-oriented Ben, or the jerkface Harry? Meet us in the cemetery to find out if we think this movie belongs upstairs or in the cellar. Don't worry if we look a little...off. We're just coming to get you, Barbra.

Click here to listen to Episode 25: Night of the Living Dead.

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24 - The Station Agent (2003)

“It’s funny how people see me and treat me, since I’m really just a simple, boring person.”

— Finbar McBride, The Station Agent

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ANDREW, BETHANY, JOE

Special guest Jake Lloyd, director of the feature film Pinch and founder of Dragon Wagon Radio, added The Station Agent to our list, so we asked him to walk the right-of-way with us to talk about this quiet 2003 film starring Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, and Patricia Clarkson. Join us for a break by the railroad tracks, as Jake shares how this movie influenced his own filmmaking and the many familiar ways it became a favorite.

Would we want to be friends with a character like Joe, the overenthusiastic food truck fill-in? Does Fin love trains or just hate people? Could Olivia be the worst driver on the planet? Can three lonely people come together to create family?  Check your timetables and don't miss our discussion of this slow freight train of a movie. We'll let you know if it's worth the wait.

Click here to listen to Episode 24: The Station Agent.

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23 - 13th (2016)

“We don’t know what the next iteration of this will be, but it will be. It will be. And we will have to be vigilant.”

— Van Jones, 13th

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ALISA, ANDREW, BETHANY, CHERYL, JOE

In the current socio-political climate, we all agreed it was imperative that we watch Ava DuVernay's 2016 documentary on the US prison system and racial inequality. We wanted to better understand the history of how and why our legal system has been shaped to criminalize the black population and fill our prisons with free labor sources, heavily utilized by major corporations.

Did you know that the United States has just 5% of the world population, but 25% of the world prison population? Or that the likelihood of a white man spending time in jail during his life is just 1 in 17, while for black men the likelihood is 1 in 3? Or that black men make up 6.5% of the US population, but 40.2% of the US prison population? Join us, as we grapple with what we've learned from this award-winning documentary.

Click here to listen to Episode 23: 13th.

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22 - Amadeus (1984)

FIRST TIME VIEWERS: ANDREW, JOE

Milos Forman's Oscar winning adaptation of Peter Shaffer's Tony winning stage play, Amadeus immerses us in the lush, candlelit world of 18th century Vienna. Genius, jealousy, royalty, and retaliation combine to tell the fictionalized story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's decline through the machinations of his bitter rival, Antonio Salieri.

Should you invest the time in the extended Director's Cut of this film? What happened when one our co-hosts was dragged to this movie against her will? Did Amadeus deserve the 8 Oscars it won in 1985? And just how badly do we want to try Capezzoli di Venere? Listen to our opera of opinion to find out!

Click here to listen to Episode 22: Amadeus.

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