Film And Whiskey

Brad and Bob look back on 2000's Best Picture winner, Ridley Scott 's Gladiator . Much like the '95 winner, Braveheart , the guys wonder aloud how this one holds up after a couple decades of cultural relevance. It carries an 8.5 average on IMDb, but critics like Roger Ebert awarded it only 2 stars.  Why is it so reviled by critics but beloved by the general public? Meanwhile, they revisit the...

Bob and Brad return to the year 2007 for the Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece There Will Be Blood , a film that represents Brad's first-ever Daniel Day Lewis movie. The guys wrestle with the undeniable craft of the filmmaking, while also trying to parse out their feelings on the tonal shift at the end of the film.  Meanwhile, they sip on New Riff 's Bottled-in Bond Rye , after sampling its bo...

Bob and Brad go back to the Pixar Studios well for the 2008 blockbuster WALL-E. Certainly Pixar's most "adult" movie to this point, the guys grapple with its artistry versus its overall entertainment value, and offer their thoughts on where it falls in Pixar's overall rankings.  Meanwhile, they sample Old Forester 150th Anniversary, a special release blend handcrafted my master taster Jackie Zykan...

Bob and Brad return to Pixar Studios for their first sequel, 1999's Toy Story 2. The guys compare and contrast it to the 1995 original, while preparing themselves for a very deep dive on the movie's existential themes. Aside from the philosophy of it all, Bob and Brad discuss the vocal performances, including one particularly hot take. Meanwhile, they finally get around to Old Forester 1910 . The...

Bob and Brad sample five expressions from Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. , a producer with a truly unique finishing process. To go over it all, Bob sits down with CEO Seth Benhaim, as he explains the technique: they source young whiskey and then vat-finish it with broken barrel staves. But does this process actually improve the quality of the whiskey? Find out as our hosts drink through a flight! Film...

Bob and Brad return to the world of the movie musical with a look at 2012's Les Misérables , a surprisingly controversial retelling of the Victor Hugo novel and the Broadway play. Director Tom Hooper has undergone a pretty negative reevaluation in the years since this film's release, and the guys break down which of his tendencies help the movie, and which ones hinder it. Meanwhile, they sip on th...

Bob and Brad return to the year 1999 for The Matrix , a game-changing sci-fi action thriller. There's not much to complain about here: a perfectly-structured screenplay and visual effects that (mostly) hold up over 20 years later. Our hosts discuss whether the movie works better on its face or as a camp classic, and come away with a surprising take. Meanwhile, they sample Joseph Magnus, a sourced...

Bob and Brad continue their Harry Potter reviews with 2009's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Director David Yates returns for this sixth chapter of the franchise, this time to much greater success. So much success, in fact, that Bob and Brad have a legitimate debate about whether this movie should be as revered as Alfonso Cuaron's third installment. They also have a lively discussion over...

Bob and Brad create a head-to-head challenge when they receive a sampler 3-pack from Athrú Irish Whiskey and Clonakilty Irish Whiskey .  Both brands a relatively new to the Irish whiskey world, with Athrú products costing nearly triple the already-premium prices of Clonakilty. Will Athrú be able to justify its hefty price tag? Will Clonakilty sneak away with both a value win and an overall ex...

Bob and Brad continue their seasons-long journey into the world of Harry Potter with 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Once again, the series introduces a new director, this time David Yates , who helms the rest of the series. However, this first effort gets off to a bit of a rocky start. Meanwhile, they return to the Blanton's line of bourbons, which has been a hit-or-miss proposi...

Bob and Brad are joined by Jackie Zykan, master taster at Old Forester , to review the show's first-ever film by director Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums . Bob and Jackie discussed Anderson in their first interview together, but Brad is coming into this episode as a complete novice, having never seen an Anderson film. How will the director's much-noted aesthetic work--or not work--for Brad? Was...

Bob and Brad try to remain civil after re-watching ET for this season's revisit episode. Brad initially gave this film a 6/10. How will his score change, if it all? Meanwhile, they sip on an absolutely delicious high-proof bourbon from the newly revived Old Wm. Tarr brand. Video on The Spielberg Oner Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Whi...

Bob and Brad throw it back to 1952 for their review of High Noon , director Fred Zinneman 's near-real-time western suspense classic. They discuss both the divisive performance and salacious Hollywood history of star Gary Cooper before praising the frequently-appearing Thomas Mitchell . In the latter part of the episode they break down the movie's role as both a metaphor of and a response to the R...

Bob and Brad are joined by Perry Ritter of This is My Bourbon Podcast to break down director Cameron Crowe 's 2000 hit Almost Famous . Important questions are asked, including "how did Billy Crudup not achieve superstardom" and "what the hell is Jimmy Fallon doing here?" Meanwhile, they try TW Samuels Bottled-in-Bond , the last of Heaven Hill's bottom-shelf 100-proof whiskeys and certainly the che...

Bob introduces Brad to one of his all-time favorite films, Vincente Minnelli 's 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis. This unconventional MGM musical isn't as big or splashy as An American in Paris or Singin' in the Rain , instead opting to follow the day-to-day life of a family over the course of one year. Judy Garland of course commands every scene she's in, but the cast here is uniformly excellent...

Bob and Brad get ready for summer with a slate of sparkling whiskey cocktails. They break down the main differences between club soda, seltzer, and tonic water, before mixing Country Smooth Bourbon into three easy-to-make drinks. Meanwhile, they review Siponey ready-to-drink whiskey beverages, a cocktail-in-a-can that can't be beaten. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film &am...

Bob and Brad discuss Spike Lee 's 1992 epic Malcolm X , their first Lee Movie since Do the Right Thing in season 2. Bob is absolutely bringing the hot takes for this one, wondering aloud if this is the Great American Movie that no one talks about. Brad is significantly cooler on the 3.5-hour biopic. Meanwhile, the guys return to the Speyside region of Scotland to try The Macallan 12 Year , and spe...

Bob and Brad wrap up their series of 1970s classics with the 1979 war epic Apocalypse Now . Known as much for its troubled production as for the end product, this Francis Ford Coppola film spans a number of genres, from satire to psychedelia, in its attempts to replicate the chaos of Vietnam as a backdrop to the narrative of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness . Brad has loved a number of the 1970s...

Bob and Brad continue their series of 1970s classics with the 1976 satire Network . This makes two weeks in a row for films by director Sidney Lumet , and Brad was a bit cooler than expected on Dog Day Afternoon . What will he think of this one? Meanwhile, they sip on Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Finish, a new expression from the beloved Heaven Hill brand that seems designed to compete with product...

Bob and Brad discuss the recent winners of the San Francisco World Spirits competition, perhaps the most important awards in the whiskey world. They sit down with Adam Hines of High Bank Distillery to discuss the impact of winning Best in Class for their barrel-proof blended whisky. After that, they sample four different whiskies that won either Gold or Double Gold medals at this year's competitio...

Continuing their series of 1970s classics, Bob and Brad look at 1975's Dog Day Afternoon . They've been seeing a lot of stars Al Pacino and John Cazale lately, and this also marks the second film they've reviewed from director Sidney Lumet . This is one of Bob's favorite films of the decade, but what will Brad think about the attempted balance of comedy and tragedy?  Meanwhile, they sip on Bu...

Bob and Brad visit Crafted Cocktail Co. in Wadsworth, OH, and talk to beverage director Scott Sauer about what it means to blend whiskey. While many reputable brands are basing their business on blending, you can make your own whiskey blend at home, and we offer two examples. Scott share a Crafted Cocktail House blend, and Bob offers up his very first infinity bottle for criticism. Meanwhile, all...

Bob and Brad keep the 1970s films rolling with the Best Picture winner of 1973, The Sting . This crowd-pleaser certainly kept our hosts entertained, and they're joined by another big fan, Chris Blatner (@UrbanBourbonist). Chris has brought along a single barrel selection form the Union Horse Distilling Company , a barrel-proof rye that certainly brings the heat. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New epi...

Bob and Brad say "Ni!" to the 1975 comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail . The first outright comedy of Season 4, this one was a refresher if ever a movie has been. Meanwhile, they're on location at their local cocktail bar to try Old Fitzgerald 9-Year Bottled in Bond, a whskey with a rather astronomical price tag, given the bottom-shelf reputation of its namesake brand. Will this Heaven...

Bob and Brad are joined by the Godmother of Whiskey, Peggy Noe Stevens , to discuss The Godfather , the 1972 classic that many would argue is the greatest film ever made. Brad is watching this one after about a decade since seeing it the first time, and as Bob and Peggy gush over it, Brad is a little more reserved in his praise. Meanwhile, all three sip on Kentucky Peerless Rye , a top-shelf two-y...