The Top 100 Project

The 2nd week in “Movies We Hate Month” digs deep into a very shallow rom-com. The Next 117 Project gleefully hacks on this McConaughey/Hudson tripe, which—bad as it is—really just represents all the insulting rom-coms that make women look stupid and make men look like idiot lugnuts. We can do better than this cruelty, people, so stop buying tickets to see this hooey! But you can’t do better than Sparkplug Coffee, so hit them up and take advantage of a one-time 10% discount by smashing in the promo code “top100project”.

The Next 116 Project staggers back 8 short months to re-look at Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar-nabbing smash. The Fish F*%^er didn’t touch us as deeply the first time we peeped at it the way it did for so many others. Did we see things differently this time or is this an appropriate choice for the 1st selection in “Movies We Hate” Month? Actually, it’s a complicated answer to that question, so you’re gonna want to find out what we really think. Meanwhile, help out our longtime sponsor and get yourself some tremendous Sparkplug Coffee. You can still score a 10% discount on your first order when you apply the promo code: “top100project”.

We’re going back to when times were pleasant (well, for a certain type of person they were) in our Next 115 Project podcast. Tobey Maguire and the high-larious Reese Witherspoon headline the tremendous cast (Macy, Allen, Daniels, on and on). Director Gary Ross tackles a lot of topics, starting with a brilliant comedy, then turning the movie into a racial parable. One of us has issues with the way he did that, but neither of us has any problem with the swell F/X that blend colour with black & white. For some swell black coffee, go to Sparkplugcoffee.com and, if you use the promo code “top100project”, you’re going to save 10% on your 1st order.

Chris Walken has a premonition that the Next 114 Project is a complex episode. Both the 1st half's murder mystery and the 2nd half's future-president-turned-madman angle resonate today....probably more than did even in 1983. We admire those storylines, but David Cronenberg's superhero origin story is a bit too choppy and episodic. In any case, there's definitely a lot of meat on these bones. To take care of your coffee fetish, gallop over to Sparkplugcoffee.com, saving 10% on your first order when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

The Joker dominates the Next 113 Project (which is as it should be) as we spend nearly an hour jawing about the greatest superhero movie of ’em all. Or is it? The flick sure isn’t perfect, although Heath Ledger’s performance is. Christian Bale gives probably the definitive version of Batsy (with the voice that launched a thousand impressions) and one of us thinks Aaron Eckhart is just a shade behind Ledger’s villainous greatness. Chris Nolan—say what you will about his pictures–is probably the de facto master of the past 15 or so years of blockbuster filmmaking. Well, why do we need to sell this movie? You know it, there’s a good chance you love it. For superhero-level coffee, go to Sparkplugcoffee.com and save 10% on your initial order by clacking in the promo code “Top100Project”.

Get your A.I. butler to help you strap on your gold-titanium-alloy suit as the Next 112 Project podcast digs moderately deep into a superhero revenge story. RDJ had already made his comeback before this movie, but this whopping success made him a true movie star…and a very rich man. Director Jon Favreau handles the material as well as he almost always does (underrated talent) and he crafted a fun summer blockbuster that began the MCU’s prolific trail of hits. You also know you have to visit Sparkplugcoffee.com to snag your java. Save 10% on your 1st order when you finger in the promo code “Top100Project”.

The Next 111 Project is our last podcast in June and the movie is a (mostly) jovial cartoon noir. Full marks to Bob Hoskins for selling that the toons are really there, but the main event here are those classic cartoons and, of course, the made-up ones too (like Roger & Jessica). Bob Zemeckis’ technical mastery is at its peak, but let’s not forget how good he is with story and character. This is a joyful time at the movies, but there are some surprisingly dark touches. Oh, and hit up our longtime sponsor, Sparkplugcoffee.com, and don’t neglect to save 10% on your premiere order by typing in the promo code “Top100Project”.

Grease is the 110th effort in the Next 100 Project series and this was not an easy movie to review. As popular as it was and still is, the Travolta/OLJ singathon’s story and characters can’t keep up with the uber-famous songs. But, man, those songs are beloved for a reason. For great java, you just gotta hit up SparkplugCoffee.com and don’t hesitate to save 10% on your first order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

This 25-year-old monster movie game-changer that, for a while, was the biggest blockbuster ever. Steven Spielberg has made better films (character-wise, especially), but the technical wizardry and action sequences are hard to top. The dinosaurs still kick (and, well, bite) ass. And, hey, we've got the reasonably triumphant return of Reasonably Good Questions! Also, help out our sponsor and go to Sparkplug Coffee’s website where you can pocket 10% on your first order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

The 108th dip into the Next 100 Project pond takes us into the world of Reality Television and the fake world of Truman Burbank. Our podcasts spend a lot of time praising fine films, but this is truly one of the most-fascinating pictures of the modern era. Jim Carrey? Wow. Laura Linney and Ed Harris (complete with his God complex)? Somethin’ else. Peter Weir’s world of make-believe is  funny and emotional and prescient. This one is even better now than it was 20 years ago. Hasten over to SparkplugCoffee.com where you’d be wise to save 10% on your first order if you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

The 107th installment of the Next 100 Project is Paul Newman at his early-60’s peak. Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas won Oscars for their strong performances (ol’ Paulie News did not) and Brandon de Wilde is pretty good too. The story is really about his character, come to think of it. Anyway, Martin Ritt’s cattle tale is terrific in every way (the script, James Wong Howe’s cinematography, everything). Before you hear us blather, lope on over to Sparkplug Coffee and rope yourself a 10% discount by using the code “Top100Project”.

Laugh big (HAHAHAHAHA!) as you drink in the Next 106 Project podcast. Errol Flynn is the perfect Robin Hood in the eyes of a lot of people. Bev, however, didn’t agree with that sentiment or all the critical love. Ryan isn’t as gunned about the picture as he used to be either. Context is key though because this action flick is 80 years old…TODAY!  Oh and pound those keys that will take you to Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your debut order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

Our 105th Next 100 Project podcastaroo goes back to Philly as the son of The Count Of Monte Fisto punches his way into the elderly Eye-talian Stallion’s lonely life. Michael B. Jordan is strong as Adonis Creed and Ryan Coogler’s writing & direction are top-notch, but the stand-out here is Sly Stallone, who’s doing the finest work of his spotty career. What a dynamite sequel/reboot in a legendary (and often legendarily dumb) franchise! We dedicate this episode to Geoff Wall (reasons within). Also, when you visit Sparkplug Coffee like you know you will, you can save 10% on your 1st order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

It’s the Top 100 Project's 250th episode! (please clap) But this is the Next 104 Project and it takes us back into the dark world of serial killing as Charlize Theron dominates in one of the best performances anyone has ever given. Director Patty Jenkins virtually disappeared after this excellent debut (we’ll talk about why that might be) and Theron’s talent hasn’t always been respected either (we’ll talk about that too). Ricci, Dern and Wilson are terrific too in this authentic take on Aileen Wuornos’ difficult life. Go to Sparkplug Coffee where you are able to save 10% on your first order if you clickity clack the discount code “Top100Project”.

In the most logical move in film history, Charlton Heston plays a Mexican (cue the hilarity!) in our 103rd Next 100 Project endeavour. He’s actually pretty good and Janet Leigh is also strong in a difficult role. Orson Welles outdoes ’em all though as an extremely corrupt cop…and also as the film’s brilliant director. This was a B movie when it came out, but it has become a noir classic. Technical marvel though it is, the story is a puzzle (which is both a compliment and a criticism). To snag some scrumptious Sparkplug Coffee with a 10% discount on your 1st order, use the code “Top100Project”.

For the 102nd Next 100 Project podcast (and our 248th podcast overall), we dive into “Fred” Hitchcock’s supposedly favourite movie with all its squirm-inducing sexual innuendo. This flick has some of The Master’s best-ever devious subtext. Bev’s also got intriguing theories about Uncle Charlie’s true identity and about Hitchcock’s possible contempt for America during WWII. Ryan gets to bust out his worse-than-mediocre impression of ol’ Fred. What’s not to love about this episode? For superb java, zip on over to Sparkplug Coffee and you can save 10% on your very 1st order if you use the promo code “top100project”.

The 101st edition of the Next 100 Project (yup, 101 out of 100) delves into humour and romance and also Ryan’s passion, having poetry read to him while tied up. Wait…no! Baseball! The performances in the Costner / Sarandon / Robbins love triangle are fantastic, but Ron Shelton’s script (with all that delicious dialogue) is the key to the movie. Plaaaaay podcast! Oh, but first hit up Sparkplug Coffee and save yourself 10% on your premiere order if you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

The Next 100 Project reaches episode #100 and we do it with an in-depth pre-Easter chat about a life-changing Jesus movie. Willem Dafoe is galvanizing as the Big Guy in Marty Scorsese’s passion project, but what stands out the most are the revolutionary ideas in the story and in the script. Even atheists should give this movie a chance. Strap in because we’ve got a lot of holy topics to tackle. Go to Sparkplug Coffee and save 10% on order numero uno when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

To commemorate 5 years of this podcast (March 25th, 2013, saw us kick off the Top 100 Project), we’re releasing a special edition of one of the all-time classics. We trimmed the fatty two-part editions of our original Citizen Kane ‘cast while adding some new thoughts & theories. Just a little anniversary gift from us for those who haven’t already heard us gab about AFI’s Greatest Movie…or maybe we should just say it’s a better version of something you might have heard half a decade ago!

The 99th episode of the Next 100 Project goes all the way over to rainy New Zealand to investigate what happens when a mute woman has to fight to keep her “voice” (ie. her 88 keys). Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin won Oscars as the fiery mother & daughter, as did their writer/director Jane Campion. Ladies rule! Complicated story, beautifully done. For a tasty dose of joe, go to Sparkplug Coffee and also save 10% on your 1st order when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.