There and Back Again & Again

A heist. Scratch that. Two heists. Mini-coopers. Gold. Explosives. Hackers. Disguises. Betrayal. Romance (sort of?). Car chases. Boat chases. Oscar Martinez. What do all of these things have in common? Find out as we dig into 2003 action film The Italian Job!

From the 1960s to the 1990s, there didn't seem to be a more desirable on-screen pairing than Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. And in 1995, writer/director Michael Mann accomplished just that by pitting the two against one another in the heist thriller Heat. Filled with an incredibly stacked cast, memorable lead performances, and stunning visuals of Los Angeles, this is a film that takes you on a s...

How far would you go to save your own child? What would you be willing to do? We would all like to think that we would be the hero of the story. Every once in a while, a film comes around that causes us to question what we would do in a desperate scenario. In 2013, that film was Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners. Join us as we breakdown the twists, the choices, and the characters of this contemplat...

Did you get enough sleep last night? Are you sure? How can you be sure? In 2002's Insomnia, Academy Award winning filmmaker, Christopher Nolan, explores the extreme importance of a good night's sleep (among other important themes and scenarios). If you have not discovered this one yet, it is certainly a hidden gem among an already celebrated filmography. Buoyed by masterful performances fr...

What does one do after making one of the most talked about films of the past decade? Well, what John Krasinski did was make a sequel. And building on the success of 2018's A Quiet Place was not an easy undertaking. Delayed by the COVID pandemic, A Quiet Place Part II was finally released in the spring of 2021 to critical and audience acclaim. The film aptly picks up right where its predecessor...

“If they hear you, they hunt you.” This unique twist on the alien invasion thriller in 2018’s A Quiet Place is that the aliens have no sight and hunt purely by sound. Survival in this distinct post-invasion world has it’s typical challenges with the added necessity of being as quiet as possible in everything you do. The Office star, John Krasinski, does everything from directing, co-writing, and s...

It has been over 25 years since M. Night Shyamalan burst onto the scene, blowing everyone’s minds with a twist whose impact would be often imitated, but never duplicated. In the words of Nate Bargatze, “If you don’t know it by now, I don’t know what to tell you.” This is a film that is difficult to categorize. Part mystery, part horror, part thriller, part family drama, The Sixth Sense is rewatcha...

What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you? Would you try? Or what if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you? Director Tony Scott and screen legend Denzel Washington attempted to answer this question in 2006 with the action thriller Deja Vu. Regardless of where yo...

In this episode, we revisit Black Hawk Down (2001), Ridley Scott’s intense war drama depicting the harrowing 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. We break down the film’s gripping realism, relentless pacing, and powerful ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, Jason Isaacs, and many others. How does the film hold up over 20 years later? Does it balance historical accur...

A film that spent almost a decade in pre-production finally found its footing with Francis Lawrence at the helm and Will Smith leading the cast. Well, for the most part, he is the cast. In 2007’s I Am Legend, Smith shows audiences what it would be like to be the last human alive in New York City after a worldwide plague. He also shows that he can really act, especially when his main screen partner...

Martin McDonagh teams up again with the acclaimed acting duo of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason for his 2022 period piece, The Banshees of Inisherin. Set during the Irish Civil War on the tiny fictional island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland, the film depicts two friends who appear to be rowin’. Well, they might be rowin’. One of them is not quite sure if they are rowin’. Regardless, the f...

Often known for his original concepts or groundbreaking adaptations, 2017 saw Christopher Nolan make his first entry into historical dramas with Dunkirk. At the time, many wondered how the filmmaker would make this well known story of the rescue of hundreds of thousands of soldiers his own. And he didn’t disappoint. Nolan once again used the plot device of time, but not in the way that many came t...

In 2017, Jordan Peele shocked the world with his first feature film, the brilliantly written and directed Get Out. Known to that point only for his comedic prowess from the sketch show Key and Peele, the rookie filmmaker won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018. A standout, Oscar-nominated performance from Daniel Kaluuya helps bring the script to life in this tense and sometimes uncomfort...

"Hello... I'm Johnny Cash." Those four words were once enough to send concert goers wild. And it's no wonder. Cash was a force to be reckoned with when he came on the scene. But his life was far from glamorous. As James Mangold's 2005 biopic shows, Cash wrestled with many demons throughout his life. Through the spot-on portrayals of Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, we...

While critically acclaimed in 2003, this naval war epic still seemed to fly under the radar of most audiences due to the accomplishments of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Despite the lack of attention from general audiences, the film still holds up extremely well. From the thrilling musical choices to the non-stop swashbuck...

It has been called the most quoted movie of all time. Or perhaps the greatest love story of all time. Either way, it is an incredible film that stood the test of time. The Princess Bride boasts an unbeatable cast, unparalleled writing, and many things that were thought to be inconceivable. Whether this is your first time with the film or a rewatch, you'll be glad you joined us!

How far should a teacher go to ensure that a student becomes great? If you were to ask Terence Fletcher, he would tell you that you can never go too far. In 2014, Damien Chazelle broke onto the scene with the Oscar nominated hit, Whiplash. However, the film would not be what it is without the life that J.K. Simmons breathed into the role of a music instructor/conductor teacher who demands nothing...

You know the classic game, Desert Planet, where you have to choose three items that you would want with you if you were stranded on Mars? Well, in 2015, Ridley Scott, Drew Goddard, and Matt Damon brought that game to life by adapting Andy Weir’s 2011 novel, The Martian. The cast and crew of this sci-fi cinematic experience bring the desolate red planet to the screen in masterful form and ask the q...

In 1999, the Wachowskis, along with Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving introduced the world to The Matrix and completely changed the sci-fi action film genre. What is real? How do you define real? These two questions sent audiences down the rabbit hole to see if Neo really was The One. Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yo...

This is it. The final episodes of the first season of Severance. The work has been mysterious. The questions have been mounting. The Innies are on a mission to make their voices heard. Will they be successful? Join us as we rewatch and prepare for season 2 of Severance before it premieres on January 17. Come on, kids. Let’s find out what’s for dinner.

The moment when it seems like your entire world is being upended by new information and disturbing experiences, the only thing that can bring everything into perspective is a music dance experience. Right? Some people seem to think so. If you thought Severance has been creating a stream of constant questions, then get ready for some answers that create more questions. But please, try to enjoy all...

Imagine getting a glimpse of what the world would be like if you’d never been born. That’s exactly what George Bailey is given the chance to experience when he feels like his whole life is unraveling in It’s a Wonderful Life. The Oscar-worthy performance from Jimmy Stewart is just one of many reasons why this film has endured since its release in 1947. Listen and find out why this holiday classic...

If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, join Sean and Brendan as they break down the Christmas classic, White Christmas. This 1954 hit starring Bing Crosby lands at #1 in Brendan’s top 5 Christmas movies of all time. Full of iconic songs, laughs and warmth, this beloved film is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit! Merry Christmas from There and Back Again & Again!

Answers to questions lead to more questions. But if you're this far into Severance, you're used to that by now. Go deeper into the maze of the severed floor as we unpack the seeming revelations from episodes 4 & 5. And don't forget to pet a baby goat while you're at it!

Macrodata Refinement. Code Detectors. Wellness Check. Perpetuity Wing. The Break Room. You may want to brush up on these Lumon terms as you journey further into the halls of the severed floor. Rest assured, your Innie is becoming familiar with them.