The Top 100 Project

The 77th Next 100 Project ‘cast gabs about Paul Newman and his chain-gang chums. The inscrutable Luke is a loner, a rebel, a masochist, a non-conformist and most definitely a Christ figure, but he also has that that Luke smile of his. This movie remains awesome. For some awesome java, go get some Sparkplug Coffee, then settle in for a hear-fest, Boss.

For Next 100 Project podcast #76, we drop into the criminal underworld. Bryan Singer’s break-out hit features a charismatic con man---bad ol’ Keyser Soze---who’s quite the committed character actor. Kevin Spacey is terrific and the script is juicy, but does the flick hold together? Does the uber-famous plot twist make sense? Spend about 45 minutes finding out what we think, but go get yourself some Sparkplug Coffee first and foremost.

If you don’t like passionate diatribes that challenge phony patriotism, then don’t listen to this ep. The 75th Next 100 Project podcast tackles torture, terrorism and the terrible decisions made by American politicians ever since 9/11/01. Jessica Chastain’s obsessive lead performance is a fine one in Kathryn Bigelow’s controversial war film. It’s The Wrath Of Maya...against Bin Laden (not Khan). We welcome feedback---however angry it might be---over what was said in this podcast. Some of the harsher things from the original recording were actually cut out! So snag some Sparkplug Coffee and dive headlong into our longest episode yet.

It took until the 74th Next 100 Project podcast for us to get to this movie? Inconceivable! We end the summer covering a one-of-a-kind ’80s classic from Reiner & Goldman. The screenplay is wonderful, so is the cast (“mostly”) and it’s all just a big ol’ hilarious charm-fest. Enough gushing…listen! Sparkplug Coffee needs and deserves your patronage too, so please oblige!

The 73rd edition of the Next 100 Project takes us to an animated Africa starring regal Mufasa, the entitled Simba and their eclectic group of friends & enemies. It’s a schizo movie with racial issues and strange choices for accents, plus there might even be a bit of gay stereotyping. Still...Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase! Long live Timon & Pumbaa. Get you & your pride some Sparkplug Coffee, but also dial up our talkie talk about the circle of life, etc.

A dynamite 50-year-old true-crime thriller is the subject of Next 100 Project podcast #72. Robert Blake & Scott Wilson are a remarkable team of idiot killers. Full marks to Richard Brooks for adapting (and also directing) Truman Capote’s landmark book. Just a must-see movie...and a must-hear podcast. Sparkplug Coffee awaits, so go get some!

The 71st Next 100 Project podcast is a special episode. We lowlight 15 films that we’ve long loathed. Ryan’s got a Bottom 10 list while Bev only insults 5 flicks. Oh, the vitriol! Plus we answer some of your emails. Dash over to Sparkplug Coffee for some joe, then listen to us rip into some maddeningly crappy movies.

Seventy eps of the Next 100 Project now and this one discusses the flick about John Boorman’s canoe trip with all its banjie-picking...and rape. It remains one of the best for the director & for his strong cast of Voight, Reynolds, Beatty & Cox (plus, those mountain men). Haunting stuff and we get deep into all of it. Type in the keys for Sparkplug Coffee, then stop squealing like a pig and listen to us!

The innocence and charm of our 69th Next 100 Project podcast is one of the most delightful modern musicals. John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky and the entire cast, really, are splendiferous. Plus, it might be clumsy about it, but the movie has something to say about race relations and body image. Drink this one in while you drink some Sparkplug Coffee.

The 68th episode of the Next 100 Project has Stanley Kubrick taking us to Boot Camp & then Vietnam. The picture expertly examines the hypocrisies of ‘Nam, where humanity is cheap. It remains a disturbing film, even if so much of R. Lee Ermey’s much-imitated bullying performance feels cliched now. Fascinations abound. Before you plug in your earbuds and clean the head, load up on Sparkplug Coffee!

The cynical and mean subject of the 67th Next 100 Project podcast is one of our favourites. Information is power. Burt Lancaster is remarkably good as the bullying gossip columnist, but Tony Curtis (just about) matches him. J.J. and Sidney are sharks who deserve every bad thing coming to them...but, man, they’ve got some great dialogue to say along the way. Guzzle down some Sparkplug Coffee as you delve into SSoS!

Despite the thunder-thieving controversy at the Oscars, Moonlight is a tremendous motion picture. Our 66th edition of the Next 100 Project tackles that Oscar screw-up, of course, but we dig deep into all areas of this indie hit. Barry Jenkins’ direction, the subtle script and the entire cast (especially Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris and Trevante Rhodes) are marvelous pluses in this quiet flick that tackles plenty of tough issues. Drink up some Sparkplug Coffee as you digest our discussion.

The 65th Next 100 Project ‘cast is all about obsession on a Gollum level...and Gene Tierney’s title character is THE PRECIOUS! This movie belongs to Clifton Webb though. He’s an unusually effete presence in this unusual film noir. So track down some Sparkplug Coffee, then gobble up our jibber jabber!

The best Trek movie was an easy choice for Next 100 Project episode #64. Nimoy & the space cowboy Shatner do some of their greatest work here and Montalban kills it as the title baddie. The flick is exciting, well-paced and emotional. We also talk a bunch about the entire Trek universe. We suggest you grab some Sparkplug Coffee before you hear what we have to say about The Wrath Of Khaaaaaan!

Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war classic is what we’ve got for the 63rd episode in the Next 100 Project. Kirk Douglas brings the ferocity in a movie filled with moral calamity. The fairly small cast is fine, but the (true) story and Kubrick’s direction are what set this apart from most “war is hell” movies. Fill up your cupboard with Sparkplug Coffee, then get on the path to our podcast.

The monumentally influential sci-fi/horror hybrid that pits Ripley against the xenomorph is the subject of our 62nd Next 100 Project podcast. Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver and dozens of talented people made a classic that was one of the most egregious oversights in AFI Top 100 history. This is a juicy episode, so order up some juicy Sparkplug Coffee and then zap this sucker into your ears!

61 Next 100 Project podcasts and here’s our first (John Ford) western in a very long time. John Wayne is as commanding (and layered) as ever while Jimmy Stewart is as J-J-J-Jimmy as ever. We enjoyed this sad movie about a quiet hero, but we have a few clever critiques too. Do yourself a favour and nab some Sparkplug Coffee, then shoot us into your earholes!

We’ve hit 60 eps in the Next 100 Project and it’s a biggie. The 3rd of the original Star Wars flicks has 2 new (and underrated) villains and it ties up a lot of the loose ends. Problems? Sure, but this is a fabulous end to the series. (well, until the prequels did a number on all that). Anyway, we enjoyed the Jedi. You should enjoy some java from our longtime sponsor, Sparkplug Coffee. Also, we dedicate this episode to the late and very great Geoff Wall. The Force will be with him...always.

Episode numero 59 in the Next 100 Project touches on 3 different documentary movies about movie-making. Our focus is on HoD, but we also dig into Lost Soul (the making of Island Of Doctor Moreau) and Making The Shining. We reviewed Apocalypse Now & The Shining way back when, btw, so check out those old podcasts. Oh, and snag some Sparkplug Coffee!

The 58th edition of the Next 100 Project takes us to a foreign land yet again, but what a high-larious foreign land it is. This is one of the greatest comedies ever made (way better than Holy Grail...yes, we said it!) and feels fresh even though it's nearly 4 decades old. The Pythons are excellent across the board. It's an Easter treat! Click that button to hear us rave, but we also urge you to get a tasty drink from Sparkplug Coffee.