Reviewed Podcast

Nominated for a slew of Oscars in 1992 (including best picture and best director), The Crying Game made quite a splash when it was released amongst both audiences and critics. But, how does this Irish crime thriller—which explores issues of race, gender, and nationality— hold up? Does knowing a movie's twist (before you've seen it), ruin the viewing experience? More over, does the film feel just as edgy 25 years later or has the shock value worn off? Find out in our Re-view!

To honor the late great Bill Paxton, we turn to James Cameron's big budget action comedy, True Lies. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, and, of course, Bill Paxton (perfectly cast as a sleazy used car salesman), it was the first film ever to have a production budget over $100 million. But, with all that cash behind it, is it actually a good movie? How does it fit into Cameron's blockbuster oeuvre? Are the jokes still funny? Is the action still...um...action packed? Tune in to find out!

Resistance is futile! Dave, Ivan, and Mike journey boldly to where no podcasters have gone before—a re-view of the Star Trek film, First Contact. Hitting theaters in 1996, First Contact is by far the most successful of the Next Generation Star Trek Films. It was critically acclaimed and did well at the box office. But, now that the Star Trek franchise has been rebooted under the creative supervision of JJ Abrams, does First Contact's star still shine as bright?

In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Ivan chats with filmmaker and cinephile Shahir Daud to talk about Jean-Luc Goddard's Breathless, the 1960 French New Wave film that is often considered to be one of the most influential movies ever made. The goal of this "film school" series is simple: revisit classic movies that often comprise a cinematic education and determine if they work beyond a purely intellectual capacity. In that regard, is Breathless still as effective and powerful today in landscape where jump cuts and vérité filmmaking are the norm? Shahir schools me on Breathless's importance and provides context for its placement on film school syllabuses across the world. If you have movie suggestions for future "film school" episodes, email us at contact@reviewedpodcast.com

With a live action version about to hit theaters, we travel back to the golden age of modern Disney animation—1991 to be exact—for a re-view of the animated musical classic, Beauty and the Beast. For millennials, the film is somewhat of a cultural touchstone. And, critically it was lauded—it was the first animated film to ever be nominated for best picture at the Oscars. But, how does this hit Disney fairytale fable hold up when watched now? Is the Disney magic still there? Be Our Guest for the podcast...listen and find out!

In the early aughts, writer/director M. Night Shyamalan could do no wrong. Coming off the monumental success of The Sixth Sense, he was heralded as the next Spielberg—a young directorial genius that was bound to change the way we watched movies. Then, came a string of flops—from Lady in the Water to The Happening to The Last Airbender (fanboys are still angry about that last one). As Shyamalan's next project, Split, hits theaters, we decided it was time to look at one of his earlier, more successful films: the superhero/supernatural drama Unbreakable. Although not as widely popular as The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable has amassed as cult following, with some even considering it to be one of the best superhero films ever made. While we're now accustomed to seeing men and women with capes and cowls at the box office, back in 2001, the image wasn't so commonplace. So, looking back 16 years, how does Unbreakable hold up? Is it a polished thriller that ushered in a new wave of pop culture? Or, another clunky misstep in Shyamalan's much scrutinized oeuvre?

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.