On the BiTTE

In our New Year's Ross-o-lution! (Laura's genius addition to this series) a limited series dedicated to the films of Matt Ross, we begin where you are likely to start; the debut feature 28 HOTEL ROOMS. We give it a strong C+, a good start. But what you kinda get is a risky film that doesn't take the risks it needs to stand out a bit more. You can make up your mind about it but welcome back and her...

I can't believe we got here! No, honestly. How did we get here? It's all been a blur. The blur of movement we made to get to episode 40. We started this podcast in August of 2021 with the vain hopes it would do "OK". I'm just happy we ended 2022 on a round number.  We celebrate episode 40 looking at Jalmari Helander's RARE EXPORTS, a "rare" welcome addition to the traditional Christmas viewing yea...

Tis the Season! And what better to depict this time of the year than a story of greed, adultery and murder than Stephen Hop... I mean, Simon Moore's UNDER SUSPICION. Starring the inimitable Liam Neeson (even though Ryan tries) and the cream of the crop of British telly and film performers, this "whodunnit" about defrauding the strict divorce laws set in late 1950's Brighton, starts off with a BANG...

Oh boy. Here we are. After watching the scene out of context a few weeks ago, we've found ourselves in the indelible position of having to watch this 189-minute epic to cover on the podcast: AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD , Héctor Babenco's  adventure/drama/trauma film from 1991.  Don't mistake Ryan's excitement to cover this film purely on the basis of Tom Berenger's visage. We can't stress en...

Does anyone remember that Rage in a Cage song? I'm not talking about that J. Geils Band song but that nu-metal one. And no, not the Pantera song either. Anyway, that was what I referencing for that one joke where I spontaneously broke into song. I thought it was funny. Anyway, here we are.  Thanksgiving is on the horizon! We are nearing the end of another year of living. And here we are watching a...

As you can see, we sadly had to skip Bride of Re-Animator (1989) (no male nudity), but we pick right up 13 years later with Beyond Re-Animator (2003), this time helmed by the great Brian Yuzna! We didn't think there would be a lot to say about this film, simply because it's not amazing, but we were wrong. Animatronic rats, dancing penises, and nanoplasms intermingle to provide an adequately amusin...

We are joined, not only by friend of the podcast Josh Martin (of Uncomfortable Brunch and Orlando Pop Up Movie Services), but also by man-about-town Tighe Arnold, to discuss an absolute favorite: Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator (1985). Produced by the interminable Brian Yuzna, this is where a tag team becomes a real friendship. You know Laura loves a good friendship story, which means she also gets to...

And so it begins. Year two of "Spooky Penis Month!" Or as Miriam aptly retitled it, "Freaky Phallus Friday!"  As you might be able to tell from the title, or within less than a minute into this, Miriam joins us again in the studio to talk about a horror film staring Mark Duplass. Last time, we  promised her a horror movie, and not a James Ivory peiod piece romp in the lake. What she got is (accord...

In the spirit of the tone and frivolity we have set ourselves in the creation of this podcast, these three films of Steve McQueen, three very serious films, have demanded our steely reserve. No more so than in the final chapter in our McQUEENER's trilogy, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, the telling of the true story of Solomon Northup from his memoir of the same name. An engaging, if brutally horrific film that...

A momentous uncovering requires a momentous cast! Not just just one, or two or even three. But four absolutely depraved individuals looking at the crowning jewel of the McQueeners trilogy.  There's a lot of history between SHAME and Laura. Videos, excited faces and soft bans on Instagram, to name a few. To help we welcome Josh Martin and Kat Whitacre of "Uncomfortable Brunch" to the table as we re...

Welcome to McQueeners! Our special series kicks off with Steve McQueen's 2008 directorial debut Hunger . Starring Michael Fassbender, this is not an easy film to talk about. We tread lightly, but it's still a very important film that deals with a difficult period in Irish history. Not only is this Steve McQueen's first feature film, it's also Michael Fassbender's full-frontal debut. Our films in t...

EPISODE 30! Look at us now, we've really done it. For this watershed episode we are giving you WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (2007) with an accidental sidebar delving into THE WOODSMAN (2004). The Woodsman doesn't have enough full-frontal to warrant a single episode, but because we got confused and watched it anyway you can hear us talk about what  nightmare it is. Congrats to us on 30, and here'...

Scarlett Johansson is naked for about 60% of this movie and neither one of us even remembered. What we did remember was when her character lured an unsuspecting man into her void-like spacecraft and allowed him to sink into black goop while sporting a massive erection. It doesn't just happen once, it happens TWICE! And a third time, although slightly differently. That's the power of this one folks...

Part four and the end of Schrader-thon. Yeah, I know, I can sense your disappointment. But unlike our last episode, where the film was like crawling through broken glass, Schrader's THE CARD COUNTER (2021) is his follow up after the electrifying FIRST REFORMED. We follow gambling drifter Oscar Isaac as he tries to outrun his past as a soldier incarcerated for torturing prisoners of war. It's prett...

Part three of Schrader-thon... Uh... Yay! This film was rather divisive. Sometimes Laura defends films against Ryan's wrath for the sake of defending it, seeing what modicum of value it holds, like it's a frail creature, seeking warmth, comfort and sanctuary. At times, it's an admirable quality. Ryan's here to say; bolt your doors, close your windows, turn the heat up and let Paul Schrader's THE C...

Part two of Schrader-thon! It wasn't deliberate BUT, the quality takes a bit of a knock the further we go on. Like life, it is full of peaks and troughs, ebbs and flows and Malcolm McDowell. There's some cool stuff to enjoy here (even if it's too long)!

Part one of Schrader-thon is here! Exploring the filmography of Paul Schrader has been an absolute treat and we're starting this series off with a bang! We both really liked this one. American Gigolo (1980) marks Schrader’s third directorial effort, and Richard Gere’s very first full-frontal appearance (but certainly not his last). Paul Schrader has become one of Laura’s favorite directors lately,...

This titular Daddy attempts to do some really awful things to his son at one point while being in a state of consistent inebriation. Maybe he grabbed the knife to try and give his son a more agreeable haircut. Fix his fringe. Daddy didn't know his actions would be misconstrued. That's it, he was perfectly safe. Ant Timpson's directorial horror/comedy debut starring Elijah Wood is a pretty fun romp...

There's only way to make money in this world. There's no excuses according to this movie. This is THE only way to make money. Or die in the process of doing so. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's acting debut in the loose telling of his life story, titled after one of his albums. He does a decent job as the lead in this film among the heavyweights he's against but really, the term "paint-by-numbers" comes...

Hoot-a-minute this is not, painfully, bewilderingly silent this is. But all is forgiven when the 4 (?) musical numbers grace us with their presence. Let's just say, CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC is a product of it's time. 

We're not super impressed with the Oscars this year and we explain why. Laura, personally, loves a bit of glamour and fanfare, but this year was, all-in-all, a total disaster. Don't even mention Amy Schumer and that Spider-Man costume... Also, GIVE MORE WOMEN AWARDS. Maggie Gyllenhaal deserves everything!

Ryan makes the claim that this might be one of the best films we'll ever cover on the podcast. This is without remembering that we covered TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA in our infancy and still have GONE GIRL to uncover in a future episode BUT don't let that diminish the quality and sheer entertainment of this Stuart Gordon film. Out of the crop of the recent cinematic wonders we've been graced with over...

Full disclosure... Ryan loves Ridley Scott but he's well aware of the some times sporadic quality of his work. Some times it's great. Some times it's not. In this case, it's not great. It's also noted as one of the latest "spots" in any of the films we've covered, within the last few minutes of the film inordinate length. And yes, the film is inordinate. It's too long. And it subjects you to a sce...

In the spirit of JACKASS releasing a supplementary feature film to accompany the mainline entry as a .5 we've done the exact same. We recorded with Josh for over 2 and half hours so here's the stuff that just couldn't make the cut. Tales and musings from the bottom of the porta potty cutting room floor. 

WARNING!  The stunts in this movie were performed by professionals, so for your safety and the protection of those around you, do not attempt any of the stunts you are about to see.  Luckily, this is a podcast episode and you're in safe hands. Not four but at least six safe hands that will cradle you with musings and regaling tales of a formative time in our lives watching grown men hurt each othe...