Light Up the Dark — A Movie Podcast

🌟 Our heroes argue their case for My Cousin Vinny, Jonathan Lynn’s razor-sharp courtroom comedy starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei ⚖️🍝 Andrew’s opening statement drops a metaphorical take that blows Greg’s mind, framing Vinny as a man trapped in his own personal hell who must fight his way out 🔥⚖️😱 From there, the case builds. Our heroes highlight what makes this film one of the most rewatcha...

🌟 Our heroes journey beyond the infinite with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece that forever changed the language of cinema 🚀🌌🛰️ Our heroes revisit their first encounters with the film as young movie lovers, and reflect on how their perspectives have evolved with this most recent viewing. Once Andrew’s choice for the "greatest film ever made,” he now fac...

🌟 In PART 2, our heroes finally escape the house of death of Weekend at Bernie’s 🏖️🕶️💀 As Andrew and Greg illuminate the second half of this cult classic, Andrew’s theories spiral even further into madness, inspiring Greg to make one of the greatest speeches in Light Up the Dark history. Together, our heroes explore the film’s wild escalation, madcap boat chase sequence, and how, sometimes, frie...

🌟 Our heroes drag a corpse through the chaos of Weekend at Bernie’s, the cult comedy classic about one very lively dead guy 🏖️🕶️💀 Greg sheds some light onto why it's one of his Top 5 favorite movies of all time, while Andrew hasn't seen the film in decades, bringing fresh eyes (and some wild theories) to the party. Together, our heroes illuminate Richard and Larry and why this odd-couple partner...

🌟 Our heroes ride into the blood-soaked desert of No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers’ chilling meditation on fate, morality, and unstoppable violence 💀🤠🔫 Andrew kicks things off by sharing his experience screening his short film at the SModcastle Film Festival 🎬 and Greg finally meets the legend himself, Smüth, and the guys share a quick story about seeing Weapons together. Then the re...

🌟 In PART 2, it's the shocking conclusion as our heroes solve the case of The Fugitive 🏃‍♂️🚨 If you listen closely, you can actually hear the moment of discovery when Andrew and Greg crack the case wide open: The Fugitive as a religious allegory! 🙏✝️✨ From there, the chase takes on new layers as our heroes contrast the film with The Shawshank Redemption, exploring The Fugitive as a metaphor f...

🌟 Our heroes run for their lives with The Fugitive, Andrew Davis's pulse-pounding thriller starring Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones as the relentless U.S. Marshal hot on his trail 🏃‍♂️🚨 In a movie so good it couldn’t be contained in one episode, Part 1 kicks off with Andrew sharing a special story about (sort of) meeting Kevin Smith at the SModcastle Film Festival. Then...

🌟 Our heroes drive it like they stole it with Sing Street, John Carney’s heartfelt coming-of-age tale of music, love, and finding your voice 🎤🎸🚗💨 Greg shares his reaction to seeing the film for the first time, while Andrew revisits a sentimental favorite that once left him in tears in the theater. Together, our heroes explore the power of first love, the profound bond of brotherhood, and what...

🌟 Our heroes follow the signs of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s transcendent tale of obsession, contact, and cosmic wonder ✨🛸 Andrew and Greg spotlight the different versions of the film and how each cut shapes the story in unique ways. They analyze Spielberg’s deeply personal screenplay, an alien story rooted in family trauma. Is Roy a dreamer… or a man abandoning his f...

🌟 In PART 2, our heroes aren't even supposed to be here today for more Clerks, diving into Clerks II and III, the heartfelt, hilarious, and unexpectedly profound final chapters of Kevin Smith’s working-class hero trilogy 🎬🛒💔 Greg shares his love for the entire saga as he and Andrew explore how Clerks II wrestles with fatherhood, and how Clerks III becomes a meditation on mortality shaped by Ke...

🌟 Our heroes assure you they're open for Clerks, Kevin Smith’s scrappy indie debut that changed the game for DIY filmmakers and inspired a generation of slackers with something to say 🎥 Andrew shares a personal story about his connection to Kevin Smith, and together he and Greg reflect on what Clerks has meant to them as independent filmmakers. From there, our heroes dive deep into the film’s th...

🌟 Our heroes walk on the water of Being There, Hal Ashby’s quietly radical political satire starring Peter Sellers as Chance the Gardener, a man whose childlike simplicity just might be profound genius 🪴📺🎩 Andrew and Greg spotlight the enigmatic character of Chance. Is he an empty fool, a divine vessel, or a mirror for America itself? They explore the film’s unexpected connections to the work...

🌟 Our heroes escape the pocket dimension of James Gunn's new Superman! 🦸‍♂️🪐 Andrew and Greg share their immediate reactions to the film, and spotlight how it introduces us to a new Superman for a modern age. From there, things get mythic, as our heroes illuminate the story through the lens of Greek mythology and, by the end, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t your dad’s Superman… it’s punk ro...

🌟 Our heroes reveal their powers to the world with Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s bold, divisive reboot that crash-landed Superman into a post-9/11 America 🌍🦸‍♂️💥 Andrew kicks things off with a mythical origin story of his own, recounting how he picked Henry Cavill for the role of Superman nearly a decade before he was cast 🧠🔮 From there, our heroes dive into the film’s grounded tone, the fathe...

🌟 Our heroes confront the terrifying vastness of existence with The Incredible Shrinking Man, the groundbreaking sci-fi classic that turns one man’s fading body into a cosmic odyssey of identity, masculinity, and meaning 🧬📉🐜 Greg introduces Andrew to this atomic-age parable, courtesy of a recommendation from Greg’s mom (thanks, Mom!) ❤️ Together, our heroes spotlight the film’s dazzling visual...

🌟 Our heroes kneel before Zod with Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, the alternate version of the 1980 sequel that restores the director's original vision 💫🦸‍♂️ Andrew hails this cut as a triumph of cinematic history, while Greg stands firm in defense of Richard Lester’s theatrical release, taking issue with Donner daring to touch his beloved original ⚔️🎬 Together, our heroes spotlight the...

🌟 Our heroes descend into the crime-infested streets of 1970's New York City and confront American Boy, Martin Scorsese’s cult-classic documentary portrait of Steven Prince. Greg introduces Andrew to the film and, together, they explore Steven's near-death shocks and heroin binges. Andrew spotlights how American Boy inspired that famous scene in Pulp Fiction and Scorsese's influence on Tarantino...

🌟 Andrew embarks on a journey across the pond to the Stanley Kubrick Archive in London ✈️🇬🇧🎥📦 Greg demands the truth about the mysterious deleted scene at end of The Shining, and Andrew delivers, having read the actual screenplay with the scene still intact! 📖🩸 Andrew recounts tales of deep inside the Archive about the original manuscript of The Shining novel with Kubrick's handwritten notes,...

🌟 In PART 2, it's the epic conclusion of our superhero-sized adventure as our heroes spin the Earth backwards with Superman: The Movie 🦸‍♂️🌎💫 Andrew and Greg spotlight the iconic score, that dreamy rooftop interview, and illuminate the film through a modern female POV, courtesy of Andrew’s wife 💁‍♀️✨ By the end, Greg dares to ask Andrew the question he doesn't want to face: Does spinning the...

🌟 Our heroes take flight with Superman: The Movie, Richard Donner’s 1978 classic that made us believe a man could fly 💫🦸‍♂️ In PART 1 of this superhero-sized saga, Greg braves an icy terrain and makes his way to the Fortress of Solitude, returning with a glowing crystal that reveals the voice and wisdom of a very special guest ❄️💎🎤 Along the way, our heroes illuminate Marlon Brando’s godlike...

🌟 Our heroes fight the power of Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee’s searing portrait of a Brooklyn neighborhood on the brink ☀️🥵 Greg explains why this chaotic corner of Bed-Stuy is a comfort film to him that feels like home, while Andrew asks if the film still relevant in today’s culture? ☀️🧯 Together, our heroes illuminate the film’s cosmic forces of LOVE and HATE, and what really sparks its expl...

🌟 Our heroes enter a high-stakes game of espionage with Casino Royale, the James Bond reboot that redefined 007 for the 21st century 🍸💥 Andrew and Greg reveal their first reactions to the film as well as its special place in their own origin story: the last text they exchanged 20 years ago was about this very film! As Greg probes beneath the film's action-movie surface, Andrew shines a light on...

🌟 Our heroes sail into treacherous waters with Jaws, Steven Spielberg’s landmark film that changed the tides of modern cinema 🌊🦈 Greg shares how the film ignited his love of filmmaking as a boy, while Andrew dares to suggest a few scenes to trim and leave on the ocean floor ✂️🌊 Together, our heroes confront the beast at the heart of the film, answering the terrifying question lurking just bene...

🌟 Our heroes launch the podcast, soaring over the airwaves with A Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s mythic biopic about the early days of Bob Dylan! 🎸 Greg explores his path into Dylan’s music as well as Timothée Chalamet’s virtuoso performance, while Andrew shines a spotlight onto the film’s portrayal of Dylan as something almost divine 😇 Listen on as our heroes confront themes of identity, tr...

🌟 Meet our heroes, Andrew and Greg—two filmmakers on a mission to re-spark their friendship the only way they know how: by talking about movies. Every Sunday, our heroes launch into a discussion about a specific film, exploring story, style, and the deeper stuff that cinema reveals about who we are. Here’s to the start of deep dives, friendly debates, good laughs, and lots of cinematic soul-searc...