Forgotten Cinema

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head back to 1980 with "Everybody Wants Some!!", Richard Linklater’s laid-back, jock-fueled follow-up (spiritually, at least) to "Dazed and Confused". Mike Field, a longtime Linklater fan, is all in on the film’s nostalgic energy, naturalistic dialogue, and character-driven charm. Mike Butler? Not so much. While he appreciates the strong direction and risin...

Mike Butler and Mike Field can officially state that "Fantastic Four: First Steps" is the greatest Fantastic Four film ever. ...which means diddly. From skipping over way too much of their lives as heroes, to a not so stellar second hour, the Mikes felt less than fantastic after watching this newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The style is there, the family aspect is there, they even k...

This week, the Mikes are crash landing on a hostile alien planet with Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, and escaped murderer Vin Diesel as they discuss the 2000 sci-fi film "Pitch Black". Butler loved this movie when he was 13 and he still really likes it today, with a few logic and story issues. Field says he doesn't NOT like the film, but it kind of really seems like a hater. Along the way they'll di...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes dive into one of Steven Spielberg’s most underrated and powerful films: "Munich" (2005). As longtime Spielberg fans, Mike Field and Mike Butler are all in on this gripping thriller, unpacking the film’s masterful direction, stunning cinematography, and the complex moral themes at its core. They explore how "Munich" handles questions of justice, revenge, and...

In this Now Showing Lite episode of Forgotten Cinema, Mike Butler takes flight solo to review James Gunn's "Superman" (2025) —the latest big-screen take on the Man of Steel. As a lifelong Superman fan, Mike dives into what worked, what didn’t, and why this more comic book–faithful approach to the character still resonated, despite a few third-act stumbles. The first half of the episode is spoiler-...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes go back in time to grift some villagers with a dragon sidekick as they revisit "DragonHeart " (1996), the medieval fantasy adventure starring Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, and the unmistakable voice of Sean Connery as Draco the dragon. Butler brings the nostalgia, having watched the film as a kid, and still finds plenty to enjoy—from its message of honor to...

This week on "Forgotten Cinema", the Mikes take a wrong turn into "Judgment Night" (1993), a gritty urban thriller starring Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven, and Denis Leary. While both Mike Field and Mike Butler agree the film is well made and well acted, they also agree it’s held back by a clunky script and characters who make some truly baffling decisions. And while Denis Leary br...

Mike Butler and Mike Field take one final leap into the world of video games turned movies with guest Russ Lyman on their limited special series "From Console to Screen" to discuss the 2005 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson sci-fi action adaptation of "Doom" also starring Karl Urban. Does the first person action scene save this film from the other adaptations the Mikes have had to endure? What's your favo...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes step into the quiet, brutal world of "A History of Violence" (2005), directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen. Mike Field brings the praise; this is his favorite Cronenberg film. Mike Butler? Not so much. While the film’s tight runtime and strong performances are appreciated on both sides, the impact of the violence doesn’t quite land for B...

Mike Butler and Mike Field are once again joined by guest Russ Lyman on their limited special series "From Console to Screen" to discuss "Street Fighter: The Movie" starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia in his final role as the scene stealing M. Bison. Surely this film based on a fighting video game is good...right? RIGHT?! What's your favorite Street Fighter character? Let us know in the...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes suit up for "Armed and Dangerous" (1986), the John Candy and Eugene Levy comedy that should have been a slam dunk... but misses more than it hits. Mike Butler revisits this one with a dose of teenage nostalgia, having watched it on cable back in the day, and still finds enjoyment in Candy’s charm and the offbeat buddy-cop setup with Levy. Mike Field, on the...

In this episode of Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit "Ransom" (1996), a high-stakes thriller from director Ron Howard starring Mel Gibson as a desperate father who flips the script on his son’s kidnappers. Mike Field and Mike Butler agree the film delivers when it comes to tension, pacing, and strong performances (shoutout to Gary Sinise!), but they clash over whether Gibson’s bold choices as a...

Mike Butler and Mike Field are once again joined by guest Russ Lyman to discuss "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie on their limited special series "From Console to Screen". Does this film wash the taste of the atrocity that was "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" from their mouths? Don't ask Butler! What's your favorite Tomb Raider movie? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Don’t forget...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes boot up "The Thirteenth Floor" (1999), a mind-bending sci-fi noir that asked big questions about reality... but got completely lost in the shadow of "The Matrix" and "The Phantom Menace". Mike Field and Mike Butler dig into the film’s intriguing setup, the classic genre vibes, and a standout performance by Vincent D’Onofrio, but also explore why the second...

Years ago, the Mikes had guest Russ Lyman to discuss the 1995 film adaptation of "Mortal Kombat". Russ and Mike Butler enjoyed their time in Outworld, but this episode, much like Shang Tsung himself, almost ripped the soul from Mike Field's body. Even then it was fated that one day, the three would unite once again to tackle a film far more sinister... "Mortal Kombat: Annhilation"!!!! Join the Mik...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a ride back to the grimy streets of mid-90s New York with " Kiss of Death" (1995), starring David Caruso, Samuel L. Jackson, and a wildly unhinged Nicolas Cage with a bench press and a metal grill. Mike Field and Mike Butler dig into why this crime thriller—despite its strong cast and moody atmosphere—never quite sticks the landing. Is it a protagonist...

Kieran Culkin may have just taken home Oscar gold for "A Real Pain", but before " Succession" made him a household name, he was Igby Slocumb—a rich, rebellious teen navigating trauma, privilege, and a series of bad decisions in 2002’s " Igby Goes Down" . This week, Mike Field and Mike Butler revisit this indie darling of the early 2000s, and... well, let’s just say not everyone was charmed. From t...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes are shipping out to the Gulf War... but not exactly going into battle. Mike Field and Mike Butler are diving into "Jarhead " (2005), directed by Sam Mendes and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx. Field and Butler discuss how "Jarhead " subverts expectations for a war film by focusing not on combat, but on the psychological toll of not...

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts bring the star power, but is that enough to make Larry Crowne memorable? In this episode of Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes head back to 2011 for a charming-but-lightweight romantic dramedy written and directed by Hanks himself. It plays like cinematic comfort food—pleasant while you're watching, but not much to chew on afterward. Mike Butler and Mike Field talk about the f...

The 21st season of Forgotten Cinema kicks off with a bang as the guys dive into Robert Redford’s " Quiz Show" ! Field and Butler unpack this compelling look at one of the biggest scandals in television history, discussing everything from the powerhouse performances by Ralph Fiennes and John Turturro to Redford’s sharp direction. They explore how the film examines truth, manipulation, and the cost...

Must be summer movie season because here's another Now Showing episode of Forgotten Cinema! Mike Butler and Mike Field team up like Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal for "The Accountant 2 " (2025). Mike Field and Mike Butler both dig this one. From the brother comedy coming from leads Affleck and Bernthal, to the action throughout. The Mikes definitely recommend you check this out as a good kick-start...

Mike Butler is trying something new today! A Now Showing...Lite! Get it? Like a lite be...nevermind. Name pending, just like in Marvel Studios' "Thunderbolts*" starring Florence Pugh, Sebastion Stan, David Harbour, and Lewis Pullman. Butler flies solo as he discusses if Marvel's take on Suicide Squad is worth your time. So, grab your popcorn and soda, please notice the exits to the left and right...

It flopped at the box office and critics tore it apart, but the Mikes are here to give "Death to Smoochy " the love it deserves. In this episode, join Mike Field and Mike Butler as they dive into Danny DeVito's darkly absurd comedy and explore why it actually holds up better than some people remember and became a cult classic. From Robin Williams' unhinged Rainbow Randolph to Ed Norton's squeaky-c...

This week on a special Now Showing episode of Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes sink their teeth into the brand-new vampire thriller " Sinners" (2025). Both Mike Field and Mike Butler were impressed, but Butler goes all in—naming it one of his Top 5 vampire films of all time. High praise from a longtime creature-of-the-night connoisseur! From stylish direction to blood-soaked storytelling from Ryan Coog...

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes go undercover with Ray Liotta and Jason Patric in Narc (2002), written and directed by Joe Carnahan. While the performances are intense and the energy raw, the central mystery feels a bit thin, and the early 2000s grit doesn't quite hit the same over 20 years later. Is this a case worth reopening, or should it stay in the cold case files? Join Mike Field an...