Reviewed Podcast

A critical darling, but a box office bomb, Andrew Niccol's Gattaca is perhaps a movie that was just released at the wrong time. With its heady "thinking-man's" sci-fi concept of a dystopian future where one's value in society is dependent on his genetic information, its an intriguing film with a distinct sense of visual craft. It has since amassed a cult following. But, in a cultural landscape where Black Mirror reigns supreme, does Gattaca's sci-fi vision still feel as powerful and effective? Find out in our re-view.

When it was first released in 1946, Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life was a failure, underperforming at the box office and receiving mixed reviews. But, several decades later, it's one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time, often considered to be one of Capra's best films. So, which reaction is correct? Is It's A Wonderful Life a touching fable about friendship and family? Or, rather, is it a saccharine and syrupy concoction that belongs on the Hallmark channel? Just in time for the holidays, we give the iconic story of George Bailey and Bedford Falls a re-view!

Halloween might have come and gone, but we're keeping things spooky on the podcast with yet another Stephen King cinematic adaptation: Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Although reception was lukewarm upon its release in 1980, the film is now lauded as one of the greatest psychological horror films ever made. It's also a film that has been endlessly debated and analyzed, even inspiring a documentary chronicling the film's true motivations. So, 35-years later, we ask: is all the obsession warranted? Is The Shinning a cinematic masterpiece? Or, as some critics believed when it hit theaters, is it too long and methodical to truly last the test of time? Grab a bourbon and join us in room 237—it's going to be a long, cold night. Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

As the weather gets colder, we turn to director Rob Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman's adaptation of Stephen King's novel, Misery. One of the rare Stephen King adaptations that was both a commercial and critical hit (star Kathy Bates took home an Oscar for best actress), the film is ingrained in pop culture—it's considered a suspense classic filled with several iconic moments. So, as we approach Halloween, we figured it was time for a cockadoodie re-view! Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

Although it was a commercial hit when it was released in 1991, Steven Spielberg's Hook took a critical beating. A creative extension of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan universe, it's often considered to be one of the worst films in the venerable filmmaker's impressive filmography. But, is Hook really that bad? For many 90s kids, it's a somewhat beloved "classic," and its cultural relevance can still be felt today (Ru-fi-o!). Does Hook succeed on more than just its nineties nostalgia? Dave, Ivan, and Mike fly back to Neverland to find out. Bangarang, Peter! Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

Often considered to be one of--if not the best--film from auteur Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums hit theaters in 2001 exposing audiences to a stylish world of upper class New York City quirk. The film is a visual treat, featuring Anderson's trademark symmetrical framing and intricate production design. But, is "Tenenbaums" more than just a collection of stylish props and polished cinematography? Does it work on a character level as well? We talk about Wes Anderson, his overall milieu, and whether or not "Tenenbaums" is worthy of all its acclaim. Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

Game over man! To celebrate its 30th anniversary, we give a re-watch to James Cameron's Aliens. Often heralded as one of the best sequels of all time, it's a departure from the original film both in style and tone. But, is that a good thing? We talk about the nature o sequels and how new directors can alter the course of a franchise. Also, at the start of the episode, we take a short break from all this "re-viewing" to discuss the BBC's list of the top 100 movies of the 2st Century (don't worry, Mike gets it eventually...) Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

NOTE: There is a slight audio reverb to this episode due to an unconventional recording arrangement. It took us 65 episodes, but we FINALLY managed re-view an anime film! Or, in the case of all of us—apart from subject matter expert and special guest Jon West—a "new view" of Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell. Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow, Shell takes place in a futuristic 2029 where a cybernetic human police officer attempts to track down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. Often considered a seminal anime film that defines the medium, we talk about how we think Shell holds up as a piece of entertainment as well as its influence on modern American cinema, including a live-action remake that will hit theaters in 2017. Get ready to get "ghost-hacked"—it's time for a re-view of Ghost in the Shell! Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

What happens when you take a high-concept premise (i.e. a big city cop is forced to live with Amish people), but combine it with a strong and subtle directorial hand? You get Peter Weir's Oscar-nominated "Witness." Arriving in theaters in the winter of 1985, Witness was a critical and commercial darling upon release, featuring starring turns from two of the biggest stars in the 80s, Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. But, now over 30-years later, it feels like the film doesn't really get all that much attention. Well, that's about to change as Ivan, Mike, and Dave dive back into this classic American crime thriller for a re-view. Be sure to e-mail us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com with thoughts and further movie suggestions. Please subscribe and leave reviews on iTunes.

The name Shane Black is synonymous with buddy cop films. And, on this episode of the podcast we dive back into the one that started his storied screenwriting career: Lethal Weapon. Directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, it's a film that spawned three sequels and countless catch phrases. But, now that we are nearing Lethal Weapon's 30th anniversary (and Gibson has become ostracized by the Hollywood system), we have to ask the question, is the movie just "getting too old for this sh!t?"

It's been 20 years since director Roland Emmerich famously blew up the White House (among other landmarks) in 1996's seminal Summer blockbuster, Independence Day. And, now, with a big-budget sequel along the way (with star Jeff Goldblum returning), we thought"ID4" was in need of a re-view. The film was a box office smash—it made Will Smith into one of America's most bankable stars and gave Emmerich carte blanche to make subsequent disaster films like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012. But, how does it hold up? Are the special effects still as impressive 20 years later (the film won an Oscar for best visual effects)? And, how does is it fare compared to the modern summer blockbuster of today? Special thanks to Matt Kelly for joining us on this week's episode. Be sure to listen to his podcast, Horror Movie Night.

We keep getting older, but the characters in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused keep staying the same age. Fresh off the release of its spiritual sequel, Everybody Wants Some!!, we dive back into Dazed and Confused for a re-view. Does this 70s-set high school film from 1993 still hold up? Do Linklater's strengths as a filmmaker outshine his weaknesses? Moreover, has he evolved since? Or, as indicated with Everybody Wants Some!!, is he destined to make the same movie over and over? Crank up the tunes, smoke a bowl, and don't forget to call shotgun, Dave, Ivan, and Mike try to determine if this beloved coming-of-age flick is worth a re-visit.

With the recent passing of Prince, the world lost a musical icon. To honor his legacy, we went back to 1984 for a re-view of the musical drama, Purple Rain. Prince's musical prowess can't be denied—this movie earned him an Oscar for best original song. But, what about his cinematic chops? We purify ourselves in Lake Minnetonka, submerging ourselves in all things 80s to see if his strong musical legacy carries over into the film's quality. Special guest Eric Diaz, writer for Nerdist and Prince super-fan, joins us for the discussion.

With the release of 1988's Midnight Run, the follow-up to his smash success, Beverly Hills Cop, director Martin Brest seemed poised to be Hollywood's next great action comedy director. But, while his career eventually fizzled with the release of the much-maligned Gigli, it's interesting to look back at Run and its impact on all the action/comedy hybrids that would follow. Does this buddy crime caper still have the goods? Do the jokes still work? More importantly, does anyone remember when Robert DeNiro used to pick good projects? Dave, Ivan, and Mike take a road trip back to the 80s to find out.

How has it taken us 58 episodes to finally re-view The Goonies? This 1985 children's classic is a seminal "nostalgia" film--an Indiana Jones-esque swashbuckler featuring a ragtag group of kids who set out to uncover a pirate's long lost hidden treasure. But, now that we're all older and wiser, does the film still hold up? Do you have to be a kid of the 80s to truly appreciate The Goonies's cinematic magic? Or, is it still able to capture the imagination of a bunch of cynical adults over 30 years later? Written by Chris Columbus based upon a story by Steven Spielberg and directed by Richard Donner, Mike, Ivan, and Dave determine if Goonies actually never say die.

As Batman dukes it out with Superman at the box office, we travel back to 1993 to get a different take on the famous Caped Crusader. It's our first ever re-view of an animated film as we tackle Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, a feature length adaptation based on the critically loved Batman: The Animated Series. So, how does this version of the Dark Knight stack up to the other Batman films—from Burton to Nolan to Snyder? And, moreover, what makes Batman work as a character? We are joined by comic super-fan Avi Glijanksy to solve the mysteries set up by the world's greatest detective.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs is still the only horror film to ever win best picture. Beyond that, it's one of the rare mainstream thrillers to feature a female protagonist. Jodie Foster's Clarice Starling is smart, strong, yet also vulnerable. Combine this with Anthony Hopkin's portrayal of legendary fictional serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, and you have a film that is often considered to be one of the greats. A quarter of a century since its release, Mike, Ivan, and Dave dive deep into the film's dark, psychological world to dissect why it's so engrossing, as well as its continued cultural significance.

It's all singing, dancing, and man-eating plants on this week's podcast! Mike, Ivan, and Dave journey back to 1986 and re-visit Frank Oz's adaptation of the off-broadway musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors. Featuring music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (a duo who would later become a major force responsible for the Disney animated renaissance) and performances by Rick Moranis and Steve Martin, this film is considered to be a toe-tapping hit. But, is it more than just catchy songs? Is there deeper meaning behind the b-movie bloodlust? Tune in and find out.

When Spike Lee's comedy-drama Do the Right Thing hit theaters in 1989, the film was met with universal acclaim as well as its fair share of controversy. Using a diverse cast of characters, Lee crafted a film that targeted the subject of American race relations in a way that had never been seen on screen before. There's little doubt that Do the Right Thing holds up in an historical context. But, Mike, Ivan, Dave, and special guest Sharon Mayo, attempt to dive deep into the text of the film to figure out just why that it is. Travel with us to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year to learn how this Spike Lee joint has stood the test of time. And, that's the double truth, Ruth.

What better way to celebrate Groundhog Day then with a re-view of Groundhog Day? Dave, Ivan, and Mike get caught in a time-loop as they revisit Harold Ramis's dark comedy/romance hybrid. Since its release in 1993, the film film has become a classic--the movie Bill Murray himself has said is the best thing he's ever done. We attempt to figure out how and why the film continues to resonate strongly over 20 years later. Join us as we travel to the cinematic world of Punxsutawney PA...over and over again...