Middle of the Row

The Decade’s Best Podcast is back again, this time looking at Sean Durkin’s feature debut, Martha Marcy May Marlene. This Elizabeth Olsen starer is a dive into post-traumatic stress, cults, Manson like figures and the trouble with having a sister. Taught and driven by paranoia, MMMM still sings all these years later, making me more anxious for Durkin’s return behind the camera next year. Download....

We flashback to 1999 one last time to discuss Jon’s pick, Fight Club. A classic of the year, one of Brad Pitt’s best and David Fincher’s breakthrough? We discuss religiosity, classism, toxic masculinity, abs, we got it all. Everyone appreciates something in Fight Club here, it’s Jon’s favorite movie, but somehow Zac has given it a better score on Letterboxd. Who knows. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:0...

The Decade’s Best is back! I’m going to pump out the last couple of podcasts we have in the bank for this, as well as publish my big list, so lets make this happen! Grant and I discuss 127 Hours this week, the Danny Boyle docudrama starring James Franco. The film still works, but does it work well enough to make it onto the list of the Decade's Best? Grant’s sure, Zac’s not. Let’s listen to them h...

Another Stephen King adaptation, another review on Middle of the Row: The Podcast. This week, it’s The Shining Sequel, Doctor Sleep! I lot of praise around here for this one, but sadly we feel like the only ones. Rebecca Ferguson, Obi-Wan Kanobi, The Shining! What’s not to like. We have a lot of fun hashing this one out, disagreements on how it all works, and, I think, get the story straight on wh...

This week we, finally, watch a new release, Terminator: Dark Fate! This film has bombed and left most theaters by now, but our conversation on this one might be one of our most lively and fun conversations. Ben is a BIG fan, Lauren and Zac are not, but it works well for our discussion as we bounce back and forth with ease. So join us for one last trip down Terminator lane, as we might not see anot...

This week we flashback to 2009 for some Coen Brothers with A Serious Man! one of Zac’s favorites from the duo, nobody else is really on board? Jon has a lot to say but falls somewhere between Ben and Lauren, who weren’t fans. I think I coax out some appreciation where I can, but chalk this up as another Zac classic that no one else is down with. Oh well, I try... Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 W...

This week we flash back to 2009 for the Jean-Pierre Jeunet film, Micmacs. His follow up to Amélie and A Very Long Engagement didn’t gain the stateside traction that those films did, but it stuck in Lauren’s memory from way back when. Packed full of beautiful images, lovely music and whimsy, Micmacs, at its best, sings. At its worst, it feels like it could have gone deeper. Still, Junet executes wh...

We finally dip our toes into the Joker discourse, only there is none! This week we are checking out the latest DC Films entry, and all of us appreciate the experience. No one is rushing back to see Joker, but we haven’t had a consensus on something being this viable in awhile. Zac might be highest, everyone else bunched up under that, but Ben sticks his neck out for Phoenix as best performance of...

Just in time for Halloween, we take a look at the anthology horror classic(?), Trick ‘r Treat! Ben picked this, is a pretty big fan, but everyone else isn’t too sure. Everyone can latch on to at least one segment, and finds some appreciation, but no one else can give the whole a thumbs up. Go watch Love Actually says Jon... Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Trick ‘r Treat? Faux Girl Power. Sam,...

Hello and welcome to episode 105! This week we look at the 1999 film October Sky. A flashback pick from Jon, this biopic of a bunch of rocket loving boys in an old coal town fails to impress the crew. Zac is asleep sick for this episode, but he still finds a way to leave his mark on the episode. They discuss teaching styles, shitty female parts, nazi sympathizers and dead dads. What an episode......

Hello and welcome to episode 105! This week we look at the 1999 film October Sky. A flashback pick from Jon, this biopic of a bunch of rocket loving boys in an old coal town fails to impress the crew. Zac is asleep sick for this episode, but he still finds a way to leave his mark on the episode. They discuss teaching styles, shitty female parts, nazi sympathizers and dead dads. What an episode......

We flashback to 2009 this week to discuss Neil Blomkamp’s District 9. This Oscar nominated genre picture felt fresh and original ten years ago and still holds up today! The film might feel a little more problematic, but it empathy and social commentary never let you forget that is the point. The group is all on the positive side on this one, but we still find some angles to disagree, mostly about...

We are back, after some delays, with a sequel to a film we have already filmed on the podcast, IT Chapter Two! A new release that did perform as well as its original, this adaptation of the other half of Stephen King’s novel did go down a bit from the original in quality with everyone, except me. Jon’s down a bit, Ben too (though still LOVES!), Lauren is even, and I thought this was a huge step up...

We flashback to 1999 the week, for the Spike Jonze & Charlie Kaufman head trip, Being John Malkovich! An amazing movie that has aged wonderfully, becoming more complex and sad with each subsequent viewing. This is Ben’s first crack at it, Lauren’s second, and I’ve lost count, which is why it is probably my pick! So open the door on the 7 & 1/2 floor with us, as we dive in and hope we don’t end up...

It’s a new release! Our first post 100 episode dives into the horror comedy Ready or Not. Are feelings are across the board here, but we ultimately fall on a solid recommend on this one. The film is full of great moments, a great lead turn by Samara Weaving and a really fun premise, but it only came together in totality for Ben. Jon is less enthusiastic, but more appreciative than Zac and Lauren,...

Episode 100! It’s been a crazy couple years, but we’ve reached episode 100 of Middle of the Row: The Podcast. We dive into 2009’s Watchmen, Ben’s pick that most of us appreciate still ten years later, in what has become an underrated film? Has it always been? We talk about a lot of things we like about the film, debate who is best in the film and all agree the Dr. Manhattan montage is tops for thi...

This week, we flashback to 1999 to watch Paul Thomas Anderson’s third film, Magnolia. One of Zac’s favorites from the year, and possibly his favorite filmmaker, this is one of his picks. The film is an epic, Altmanesque, drama about, everything? Amazing performances abound, Tom Cruise’s best ever?, Anderson just turns everything up to 11, everywhere. If you’ve never seen Magnolia, you should, and...

This week’s episode is a new release, Hobbs & Shaw! This is the first spinoff of the Fast & Furious franchise, excising it’s worst element (Vin Diesel) and building itself around two of its most fun. Ben and Lauren had fun, but do a lot of nitpicking, while Jon... Well, Jon saw some of the movie, and sometimes talks on this podcast. Zac is MIA, but he was thumbs down on this one overall. I think w...

Welcome to this bonus episode where three-fourths of the gang talk about Stranger Things season 3! After writing up his thoughts on the website, Jon really wanted to talk about it with Lauren and Ben, so that’s what they did! Lot’s of praise for this past season and the show in general, especially the per fun team-ups of El and Max, Dustin and Steve, and to a certain degree Hop and Joyce (although...

This week, we dive into Quentin Tarantino’s latest, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood! The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and gives us plenty to talk about. Great acting, slighted characters, Manson murderers, this one has it all. Everyone is, ultimately, a fan of the film, but Lauren might have needed a bit of convincing? You get to hear her work through her feelings on this...

This week, Jon beams us back to 2009 to watch J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot! I love this movie, maybe more than everyone on the panel combined? Anyways, we meander quite a bit on this one. Zac has great takes on Stranger Things. We love Karl Urban. Simon Pegg beams a dog to nowhere. Lots to discuss. A great movie, but we give you a lot of content about other things... Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01...

Deep Blue Sea! That’s the movie this week, as Ben and Lauren are big fans and both really wanted to flashback to it. Jon and Zac are Deep Blue Sea virgins, and they have doubts... Jon can enjoy it a bit more, but Zac is out; big surprise. Lots of reminiscing on nostalgic love from the fans, while the others struggle to figure out how this became the cult classic that it is. Download. Listen. Enjoy...

This episode takes us to Midsommar, Ari Aster’s latest horror masterpiece? Lauren says no, HARD NO!, but Zac thinks Aster is on to something. Ben and Jon have complicated feelings, though their feelings are growing? Aster is growing in this new film, but there is still a lot of grief and bodies to wade through as he deals with all that. So buckle up, head off to Sweden and don’t piss on the ancest...

We take another trip into the MCU, the last time this year, as we examine the latest entry, Spider-Man: Far From Home! Everyone is on board with this one, but we spend more time discussing the post-credit scenes then the actual movie, is that a good sign? We don’t quite have fatigue for the franchise, but some of us wish things felt a bit more fresh. Still, if you like Spidey, none of us think you...

This week, we flashback to 1999 to discuss The Boondock Saints. Oh boy, this was an eye opener. Lauren never liked it. Zac has fallen to rock bottom after some younger appreciation. Jon’s not as far down the negativity hole since his youth love. And Ben, Ben is burying us with enjoyment, after he throws Rocco down with us. Oh, Rocco... How did this gain such acclaim. Are boys just dumb? (yes) Anyw...