The Top 100 Project

For the 4th and final time, we're re-reviewing a movie we discussed 10 years ago. Some films age badly, while some become more relevant. Her is extremely relevant! We didn't have any idea just how addicted to devices our culture would get when this movie came out in late-2013. We're a society of people who are lost in their phones, so the science fiction in Spike Jonze's Oscar-winning story might soon become science fact. In the futuristic Her, Joaquin Phoenix is a lonely writer living in Los Angeles who falls in love with a computer program. Scarlett Johansson provides the friendly voice of "Samantha", and, as tremendous as Phoenix is, this voice-only performance is one of the best things Scar-Jo has ever done. We talked about the morality of our relationship to A.I. and what's real and what's not about a program like Samantha. We also got into whether or not this heartfelt film is the usually-funny Jonze being almost autobiographical in a touching way. In any case, the 550th edition of Have You Ever Seen re

Hollywood studios hadn't made very many major movies about AIDS before 1993, so Philadelphia represented a fairly safe way into this difficult subject. Many considered Jonathan Demme's picture soft and weak, but Ryan's solo show tries to explain why his approach was the right one. Casting stars like Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in the leading roles was a huge step to drawing people in. And while Hanks won his first Oscar as a gay man wrongfully dismissed by his law firm, Denzel is just as good...although in an entirely different way. But, yes, there are troubling issues with this film. There are the politics of a straight actor playing a gay character, not to mention how Hollywood dealt with HIV & AIDS 30 years ago...and how they still deal with it now. Homophobia, fear of catching an incurable disease, fear of the unknown, all of it is touched on in this 549th edition of Have You Ever Seen. So, counsellor, please devote nearly an hour to the opening, middle and closing arguments that make the case for

There's no better way to debut Ismail Merchant and James Ivory on this channel than to chat about their finest film. The Remains Of The Day also represents the first time Emma Thompson or Hugh Grant have come up on Have You Ever Seen...although Anthony Hopkins HAS been in one classic Oscar winner that we've covered. Something about lambs. In this case, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's layered screenplay adapts Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed novel about repression through exemplary professionalism, even though that hard work comes at a cost. Did Hopkins dedicate his life to a noble cause...or was his life wasted? We tried to figure out the morality of the job done by the butler Stevens (Hopkins) and the housekeeper Kenton (Thompson) in an old-world country estate where their lord works tirelessly to, in the end, appease the Nazis. Thorny issues. Our 548th podcast analyzes what the talented English actors and their international team brought to the table in this classy production of The Remains Of The Day. Additional thought

Do you like taboo subject matter in your movies? Well, the 547th edition of Have You Ever Seen is filled with it. There's pedophilia, suicide, violent sex fantasies, masturbation, infidelity and so much misery...yet writer/director Todd Solondz somehow also made Happiness entertaining. It's complicated material and it's more honest than most movies are about the horrible people within, but they're relatable human beings. Even the pedophile is. We got quite personal in this review and we talked about censorship and the irrational people who have the bullhorn these days. So trigger warning if you belong in that camp, but also trigger warning in general because this dark movie is often very funny and our gallows humour came out repeatedly. Maybe our brains are as broken as the good dad who's bad enough to abuse little boys. So scarf down a tuna fish sandwich and see if you can navigate your way through love and life as we get real in our talk about Happiness. Sparkplug Coffee is our long-running sponsor. Spend s

Glenn Ford is in Gilda more than Rita Hayworth is and the story is more about his character than hers, but the film still belongs to the gorgeous redhead. She was a true movie star, who had sass, brains, marvelous screen presence and remarkable sex appeal. It's easy to see why the prisoners in The Shawshank Redemption loved watching Charles Vidor's movie over and over again. It isn't a perfect '40s noir though. It has terrific dialogue, but the story is overstuffed. The happy ending isn't really earned either, especially since this has subplots like Germans trying to cash in down in post-WWII Argentina. The 546th hair flip of Have You Ever Seen also features a Ryan rant about the AFI's highly questionable Top 50 Stars list. Value added! So dial up this one-man yammer about Gilda, especially if you want to hear a lot of raves about Rita. Not only will you score some outstanding coffee by going to "sparkplug.coffee/hyes", but you'll save 20% by using our "HYES" promo code. Contact us by email (haveyoueverseenpo

During this horror-laden month of movies that featured plenty of serial killers, Norman Bates tops 'em all for cinematic infamy. He may be infantilized, but this sick human being sure can wield variously effective weapons when he feels the need. Now, coming up with a quality sequel to not only a Hitchcock movie---but also to the infamous Psycho---was a huge ask, but Richard Franklin did an admirable job of making Psycho II an effective suspense thriller. Just like the first flick, this story is as much a mystery as it is a horror movie...and it has its own shocking, twist ending. Psycho II isn't flawless though. We saw the merits, but also questioned the role of Mrs. Spool and we were also split on how good (or not so good) Anthony Perkins is in reprising his iconic role. So stop listening to Mother and start listening to the 545th edition of Have You Ever Seen with a sandwich and some milk by your side as we conclude our 8th Scary Movie Month. Well, Actually: Quentin Tarantino must be just pronouncing Robert

The Wicker Man is a cult movie about a cult, so that alone makes it a good choice for Scary Movie Month. Robin Hardy's film is really more of a mystery than a horror extravaganza though, as the pious and intentionally unlikable policeman from the mainland (Edward Woodward) slowly finds out just how dedicated the Scottish islanders are to their Lord (Christopher Lee). These people love their apples. They're also liberated, sexy and even like to have fun on Summerisle, but they're often mean-spirited as they essentially torture the repressed cop. The picture isn't especially frightening, but the iconic ending is disturbing and haunting. Oh, and as influential as The Wicker Man is, we forgot to mention that this movie was also the inspiration for the Burning Man Festival! We DID often mention the ludicrous Nicolas Cage remake a lot though. Something about a shark. So sacrifice some of your time to sing and dance by the fire as you take in the 544th episode of Have You Ever Seen. Our friendly sponsor Sparkplug Co

This year's Scary Movie Month has turned into a month of undisputed horror classics, especially in these one-Ryan shows. Halloween was discussed on October 9th. Now it's time for one of the best-made, freakiest frightfests ever. William Friedkin's mega-blockbuster won 2 Oscars---it should have won more---and it remains beloved in the eyes of many, even if repeated viewings dampen the skin-crawling moments a little. Not that The Exorcist couldn't terrify the uninitiated, even if the greatly-diminishing returns of the 5 sequels have done nothing to continue its legacy. Those mostly-unworthy follow-ups are highlighted here too, but the main event is the 1973 original with Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow and Jason Miller anchoring the maniacal story about demonic possession and religious faith. For all the remarkable technical achievements on display here, the humanity of the characters is a huge reason this film still works. The emotion between Burstyn and Blair, in particular, hits home. So turn down

Nope is about spectacle, exploitation and selling a product, no matter how that product feels about being sold. The alien---if it IS in fact an alien---is one of the most unique creations in recent history. Which is fitting because Jordan Peele is one of the most original filmmakers going. Still, just like Quentin Tarantino, Peele always finds clever ways to mix in dozens of pop culture references. He also knows how to tell a good story and he's becoming quite a visual stylist. His 3rd film is not as much about race as the Get Out and Us were, but he DOES have a diverse cast with the stoic Daniel Kaluuya and the electrifying Keke Palmer playing brother & sister in the lead roles. So whether you're a chimp, a horse, an alien named Jean Jacket, shutterbug ranchers and their associates, or just regular people who enjoy movie podcasts, avert your eyes after you cue up our 542nd show. Our sponsor is Sparkplug Coffee. They will give anyone who uses our "HYES" promo code 20% off their next order. The website is

Ryan talked alone about the classic slasher flick Halloween on Monday. The solo episode this time gets into the business of one of its offshoots...Friday The 13th. In fact, all 12 of the Fridays are discussed here, so this is not a traditional review of one particular film. Iconic mass murderer Jason Voorhees---and his mother before him---successfully killed people at the cursed Camp Crystal Lake for nearly 30 years...and people kept paying money to see them do it. Even though the first one is a pretty good whodunit, none of these horror shows feel scary anymore...and most of the entries are quite terrible. Yet the unkillable masked maniac endures, almost as an anti-hero. So indulge in a little machete action as you hear about the mute goalie slicing his way through dozens of oblivious teenagers in this 541st edition of Have You Ever Seen. Our bloody-good sponsor is Sparkplug Coffee. They offer our listeners a 20% discount just by using our "HYES" promo code. So type in "sparkplug.coffee/hyes". Want to contac

It was nearly a year ago that Ryan monologued about Rob Zombie's Halloween. Well, our 540th episode was an overdue time to monologue about John Carpenter's legendary original. In this one-man show, you'll get a record number of asides, but also some theories that might answer questions that people have had about the movie for the past 45 years. This father of all modern slasher movies is influential because of its style and its themes. It's also beautifully made (especially considering the low budget), the music is classic and Michael Myers was instantly an iconic villain. Although you can't kill the iconic Laurie Strode, just like you can't kill pure evil like Tall Mike. Reviewing the first flick is the focus here, but the entire series is discussed, complete with the slew of reboots and bad sequels. So watch out for stalkers carrying sharp knives as you hear all about Halloween just a few weeks before the scariest day on the entire calendar. Well, Actually: to call David Gordon Green's crappy trilogy a rebo

Our 8th Annual Scary Movie Month has arrived and we kick it off with a film that has several legit frights and some "I'm creeped out in my own basement" staying power. Our 539th episode talks about demonic possession, child endangerment and other weird things. Director James Wan knows how to use jump scares in The Conjuring, but he also knows how to build tension and he really knows how to shoot a horror movie. This Malaysian mogul based his freak-fest on a real story and he cast solid actors like Vera Farmiga and Ron Livingston, but then he had to go and (as he often does) work with...yeah, Patrick Wilson. Lili Taylor and the 5 young actresses who play her daughters are fantastic though. In any case, The Conjuring delivers and it not only became a blockbuster, it inspired an entire horror universe. So whether you crouch menacingly on top of an armoire or playfully clap in the darkness, be prepared to hear us talk about screams and skin-crawls in this 10-year-old ghost story. Well, Actually: A Stir Of Echoes

We covered our first Ozu movie earlier this year and our first Mizoguchi review dropped just 3 days ago, so it was way past time to talk about Federico Fellini. The flamboyant Italian made several classics, but 8½ seems to be the favourite for many fellow filmmakers who've followed in his footsteps. This is about as influential as any movie we've discussed in years. It's a director's dream too (sometimes literally), as it's filled with fantasies (good and bad), self-doubt and anxiety. While we raved about the cast and the technical brilliance of Federico's film, we also got into whether or not the movie is aloof and if the dashing Marcello Mastroianni character is sexist...or if Fellini's movie is. In any case, we both respect 8½ more than we love it. So don't pine for an ideal woman, even if she IS Claudia Cardinale. Just fire up the 538th edition of Have You Ever Seen and see what you think of our take on one of the most-revered flicks ever made. We continue to partner with Sparkplug Coffee. They'll give ou

We're still over a week away from Scary Movie Month, but Ryan is here to monologue about a Japanese ghost story anyway. Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu has long been ranked on many esteemed critics' lists of great films...including the Sight & Sound. And it should be. It's beautifully made and, while it isn't particularly frightening, it's eerie. Ugetsu's story is basically just a love of money & power versus a love of home & family. So get your priorities straight (and listen to your wife!) as the 537th edition of Have You Ever Seen breaks down Mizoguchi's 70-year-old spookfest. How about supporting our sponsor? It's as easy as using our "HYES' promo code on Sparkplug Coffee's website. So when you're ready, go to "sparkplug.coffee/hyes" and you will be rewarded with a savings of 20%. Contact us with a tweet (@moviefiend51 or @bevellisellis) or an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com). Also, our shows go up on YouTube. Take a look there, but also subscribe, rate, review and all those fun things. It's

Rushmore's got Wes Anderson, Bill Murray and...yeah, Jason Schwartzman. That's a combination that's hit a lot of cinematic home runs and, to many, this was a grand slam. For a second-time filmmaker, this is an undeniably assured movie. Anderson hits a lot of the same character beats here that he does in all his movies and his (team's) production design & costume choices have been called "twee" for well over 20 years now. And that hasn't been a compliment, although we like it, partly for how much heart he brings to everything. Bill worked with Wes for the first time here, which was the beginning of Murray's deadpan acting style. He and Schwartzman obsess over Olivia Williams, so it's a comedy about an immature stalker. Does Schwartzman overdo his over-eagerness though? One of us thinks so. In any case, the 536th episode of Have You Ever Seen suggests you ignore your studies, but join every club you can as we do some dissecting of Rushmore. This classic movies podcast is sponsored by a classic beverage...Sp

While United 93 avoids politics, we sure got political during this 535th episode. But the whole world supposedly changed on this very day 22 years ago and we felt the need to comment on that and what such upheaval has meant to all of our lives. More than 3000 people died during the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but our "civil" society quickly became more divided than ever. As such, we HYES'ers dealt with our complicated feelings about that horrible day, including talking about what "cowardice" and "heroism" really mean. As for the the movie itself, it's dynamite. Paul Greengrass' intense docudrama takes place (mostly) in real time and stars character actors and also people playing themselves. Greengrass uses a shaky cam and a "you are there" verisimilitude to put us in the middle of the mess as the airline passengers fight back against 4 terrorists who are determined to kill. Whatever your politics were then or are now, we can all agree that United 93 is a tremendously effective motion picture about a group of p

Since this 534th episode of Have You Ever Seen hits the airwaves on Labour Day, it felt right to talk about a character who has FOUR different jobs in one movie. Mrs. Doubtfire is a funny film that has...well, to be honest, lost a lot of its comedic zing 30 years on, although the serious scenes still have a lot of emotional sting. This might be the most-personal movie the lovable Robin Williams ever made. He went through not 1 but 2 divorces, he "did voices", he once lived in San Francisco and he probably enjoyed racking up in-character insults at the expense of Mister Perfect Pierce Brosnan. He likely didn't wear elaborate makeup and a body suit to make people believe that he's a stern 60-year-old Englishwoman though. Sally Field doesn't get to have the fun that her "short, furry and funny" co-star does, but she's excellent in the dramatic scenes. So, my dears, avoid a run-by fruiting as Ryan breaks down Chris Columbus' wicked, wicked blockbuster all on his own. For The Record: we've talked in the past about

The Night Of The Hunter is Exhibit A when you talk about films that are revered more now than they were when they came out. To many, this KEEPS getting better every time they see it. We're fans too. Charles Laughton was better known as a clever actor, but this was his directorial debut. For a first-time director, he pulled off a stylish allegory and scary fairy tale that's filled with surreal images. He and his team used light & shadows brilliantly. Now, we didn't love some of the performances and we took issue with the title of the film, although we have a theory about who really is the hunter. There's no questioning Robert Mitchum's work though. This is as vicious a villain as the tough guy ever played. He's a supposed man of god who's really just a violent misogynist who casually kills women...although in this story, he's motivated by money. Run away, kids! Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce have as much screen-time as Mitchum does---although a very-effective Shelley Winters sure doesn't---in this chase

The 532nd edition of Have You Ever Seen talks about a noir that not everyone is aware of, but they should be. Pickup On South Street crackles. Richard Widmark plays a pickpocket, but he remains an anti-hero from the start to the finish...even though crime stories are often about redemption after bad behaviour. He's got (an eventually) loyal "dame" in Jean Peters, he's got a shack right on the river and he's got a friend in sweet informer Thelma Ritter. Samuel Fuller's snappy story has a lot of political subtext, which becomes flat-out text because there are Communists all over this thing. Throw in a couple of vivid punch-ups and some obstinate cops trying to recover a microfilm and you've got a pretty great little thriller. So don't be sore. Just indulge in Ryan's one-man podcast about Fuller's Pickup On South Street. Sparkplug Coffee doesn't need to dunk its product into the drink, but they DO give our customers a 20% discount...if those customers will just use our "HYES" promo code. Go to "sparkplug.coffee/

And thus the people who started this podcast to review the AFI's Top 100 Lists have now made a point of talking about the Sight & Sound list. S&S critics ranked Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles in the #1 spot last December, which is the main reason we committed 200 minutes to watch it...let alone decided to review it. Ryan went on a passionate rant about their controversial Top 100, which led to a pretty heated debate about the merits of this lugubrious motion picture and other "women who suffer" films. Not that Jeanne Dielman doesn't find a way to draw you in. Chantal Akerman's feminist look at a widowed mother who lives a dull, repetitive life with her son is Ozu-like in its shot compositions, the unmoving camera and the (very) long takes. We watch process---do we ever---and not much happens as we see Delphine Seyrig go about her routine...until her entire world is rocked. And what causes it to be rocked? Invest a solid hour in our review of an acclaimed example of "slow cinema"