For Screen and Country

100 million people tuned in to experience 1983's The Day After and its unflinching, gritty depiction of a nuclear exchange and lingering effect on a civilian population. Cited by many as the scariest film they have ever seen, does this vision of nuclear horror still resonate 42 years later? Jason and Brendan hangout in a lead-lined room and talk it out! Next week: it's the end of the world again....

Welcome back! And what a way to welcome you back... with a very "mid" movie... Midway, that is! The fellas talk all about the battle in the Pacific Theatre by way of blockbuster director Roland Emmerich. Unconventional lead actors, thankless doting wives and a hotly debated Pearl Harbor sequence... it's all here! Next week: it's the end of the world as we know it. Questions? Comments? Suggestions?...

Oh no... someone visits the studio to talk to Jason this time and... let's not even mention the name here. Why did we have to be a part of his annual Christmas tradition for 2025!? Next week: we are BACK with full-length episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ol' Southern Santa comes by to pay Brendan a special visit... and he has an idea? We return with full episodes on Monday, January 5th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enjoy our holiday break, may you enjoy this episode of What Were They Thinking? in which Jason joined Brendan and Nathan to discuss Copperhead, a movie in which Brendan was an extra! He has stories! Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Again and again, Reinhard Heydrich dies for our pleasure. But what of the reprisals? What of the small village of Lidice? The Czechs themselves attempt to show its horrors in 2011's Lidice. And... hey, it's good when we tell our own stories, we can agree on that, right? We will return with full episodes on January 5th. Happy Holidays! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-...

We finally tackle Christopher Nolan on the show with his take on the war film with Dunkirk! The guys discuss the intersecting timelines and how they're utilized to create more tension, Tom Hardy's magnificent eye-acting, the dreamlike approach to the score and cinematography and much more. Next week: The butcher is back again. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at...

As the Battle of France rages and Nazi forces drive civilians to the west, young Paulette's parents are killed in a strafing run. A chance encounter with an older boy, Michel, saves her life and a friendship blossoms. Sounds very sweet... but still it must prostrate itself upon the altar of our Eternal Question: IS THIS MOVIE A WAR MOVIE OR IS THIS MOVIE NOT A WAR MOVIE!? Next week: Nolan! Questio...

Perhaps the most important 24 hours in the history of the country, Japan's Longest Day focuses on all of the events leading up to their surrender in WW2. The guys discuss the careful, measured portrayal of Hirohito, the procedural style of filmmaking, sudden graphic violence and more. Plus: Brendan connects with the youth of today. Next week: war kids! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can alw...

After 1933, and lasting until 1945, German cinema took a rather twisted turn. Movies were made. Here's one. We're gonna talk about it. Should you watch it? It's free on Youtube, after all. But trust us - you really don't need to.... Next week: war kids! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forscreenandcountry@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We are outta town this week so check out this episode of What Were They Thinking where Jason co-hosted with Brendan to discuss the Netflix Original The Electric State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the Third Vigennial Awards, presented by Fatima (It Is Wise) and Wikipedia (gimme a dollar)! All the stars are out to pay homage to the 43 films Brendan and Jason have watched since the last one of these things! Sit back, relax and send the children to the car wash cause this is OUR night! We return in 2 weeks with a very troubling movie. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot...

It's the 2nd-most historically inaccurate movie of all-time! Join the lads as they don their kilts and discuss Mel Gibson's ode to problematic Scottish heroes in Braveheart. Comparisons are made to The Passion of the Christ, the guys debate if William Wallace is an interesting character, they wonder if oft-parodied moments can ever be taken seriously and much more! Next week: we rank 'em! Question...

On the eastern front in WW2, there was before-Stalingrad, and after-Stalingrad. The fight for the Soviet city was among the most brutal and deadly in the history of warfare. So why not check it out from the losing side and follow a small group of soldiers in General Paulus' Sixth Army as they do everything to stay alive in an environment that was as close to hell on earth as there ever was... but...

Escape the prison, boys! It's World War II and there's hoardes of Nazis! Yes, it's one of the most well-known prison escape films of all-time - we've got Steve McQueen, James Coburn, James Garner, Richard Attenborough and all your favourites! The guys talk about everything from historical inaccuracies, the mid-point dramatic shift in tone, Steve McQueen's iconic status, the theme song and much mor...

June 6, 1944 - a day history will never forget. After taking much of mainland Europe, wrecking havoc on civilian populations and propgating the largest genocide in history, Nazi Germany thinks itself nigh invincible. But on that stormy day in an area of France no one could contemplate, the biggest mililtary invasion in modern warfare changed the course of the war and the very future of planet Eart...

Our favourite old British realist is back as Ken Loach brings forth the Spanish Civil War tale Land and Freedom. The guys talk about the commentary on social class including the epic town hall sequence, naturalistic filmmaking, the role of women in the conflict, Jason getting emotional and much more. Next week: a lot of people... a lot. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an...

This week the Fellas watch the grandaddy of modern war movies, the one that kicked the pop culture relevance of WW2 in the late 90s to the stratosphere - 1998's Speilberg-directed Saving Private Ryan. A film that changed cinema, and reminded a grateful Allied populace of the sacrifices their father and grandfathers made to help end Hitler's terror, it closes Spielberg's legendary "War is Different...

Back to the list and it's gonna get real artsy up in this beehive! The guys discuss the Terrence Malick classic The Thin Red Line starring every white guy in Hollywood. They talk about Malick's insane shooting schedule, the stacked cast, Adrien Brody's unfortunate night at the premiere and much, much more. Next week: a very similar film... that is also on the list. Questions? Comments? Suggestions...

Aye, come out ye black and tans and fight here like a man! The Republic yearns to be free, and it's up to every man to do his part. Murder, mayhem and general terror are the order: no cop or soldier loyal to His Majesty is safe. Michael Collins will see to that, boyo. Next week: back to the list with an arthouse flick! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Quick announcement this week. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forscreenandcountry@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Full List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/war-movies/the-100-greatest-war-movies-of-all-time⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

For a third time we return to the trenches with Paul Baumer in 2022's All Quiet on the Western Front! No Ernest Borgnine, alas, but it has potential. Can it possibly live up to the 1930 masterpiece? Could it possibly be more boring than the 1979 take? Put on your stahlhelm and move after you shoot, damnit, and we'll find out! Next week: something fun. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can alwa...

Talking 'bout my g-g-g-generation? Kind of! This week, the fellas discuss Andrzej Wajda's A Generation to complete the spiritual trilogy of films covered on the show. They discuss the inexperience of a young rebellion, the appearance of monster/actor Roman Polanski, working class criticism of the establishment, very disturbing subtle cinematography choices and much more. Next week: Be quiet out we...

Jason is out this week so enjoy this episode of What Were They Thinking in which Jason made a guest appearance to talk about the film Borderlands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the fellas tackle something completely similar in the form of the return of the Navarone boys! Yes, it's Force 10 from Navarone - quite possibly the first legacy sequel?! They talk about the sheer, queer charm of Edward Fox, the casual lady punch, people knowing they're being followed, Harrison Ford as a very unconvincing Nazi and much more. Next week: Jason is out so we replay an episo...