Middle of the Row

Posting another delayed episode, this time featuring Brianna Hunt of Many Rooms. She was touring with Copeland and From Indian Lakes on Copeland's Blushing tour. We talked about how she started the project, her debut album There is a Presence Here, and her latest single "99 Proofs". She just finished up a tour with As Cities Burn and All Get Out and will be heading to Europe in November. Many than...

The Decade’s Best Podcast is back! This week, we knock out three films, as Ben and I discuss the work of Edgar Wright over the past ten years. We dive into Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The World’s End and Baby Driver, all worthy entries into the best films of the last decade. Wright is a special talent and we get into why we love these films, or don’t, and what makes them special. Download. Listen...

This week on Middle of the Row: The Podcast, we take a look at Pixar’s latest, and their latest entry into their most fabled franchise, Toy Story 4. A lot of agreement that this is pretty great, but some debate over what the best parts are, which Toy Story film is tops and a bit of disappointment with what they do to Buzz in this movie. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, just like any good Pixar movie make...

This week, we are flashing back to 2009 to discuss James Cameron’s Avatar. Do the characters hold up? How cool is Pandora a decade later? What about all of those effects? Some agreements and disagreements across the board here, with a lot of discussion on James Cameron sprinkled across the podcast. Where do you stand on Avatar all these years later, and before we get four more? Come find out what...

This week, we flashback to 1999 to discuss Lauren’s pick, The Mummy! This swashbuckler was one of the first blockbusters to really try to embrace a ton of CGI, but we don’t hold that against it. In fact, most of the podcast is filled with praise, as Ben and Lauren take a trip down nostalgia road. Zac can’t really join them though, but he does nod along when warranted and defends some of his favori...

This week, we check in with the monsters in the Monarchy Universe, this time with the sequel to 2014’s Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters! Ben thinks its on par with the other films in the franchise, Lauren is experiencing diminishing returns, and Zac, well, he called it “one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen in a theater.” So, pick your poison with this one, because it could be deadly. Com...

This week, Ben, Jon and Zac discuss the James Gunn produced Brightburn. The “what if Superman went bad” origin story keeps almost getting somewhere special, but never quite nails it. There are moments of greatness, but we get stuck wallowing in what could have been and how this film ultimately left us feeling disappointed. Yet, we all think you should she it? It’s an interesting film, that gave us...

In classic Zac fashion, we are posting our wrap up of a giant cultural moment way later than everyone else. But, maybe this is for the best. Game of Thrones: Season 8 divided audiences, infuriated many, but I think people just, maybe, needed to calm the F down? We recorded this the day after the show finished, (I’ve been slacking! I know) but we looked back at the season and the show without get h...

This episode, we flashback to 2009 for Pixar’s Up! Arguably the greatest film, in the greatest studio’s stellar cannon of films, we all mostly agree with its greatness, to varying degrees. Kevin and Dug are praised, Carl breaks hearts and we feel like Russel’s arc might be a bit short changed in the praise this film gets. But, its great, come and enjoy the love. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Pi...

This week’s episode sees us diving into the Pokémon live action debut, Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Zac plays the old guy role, in that he doesn’t really get it/have a connection to the material, but the rest of the crew seemed to get something more out of this than just some Ryan Reynolds one liners. So, come for the Pokémon talk, stay for a discussion on the morality of the creation of Pokémon. Do...

This week we dive into the 1999 teen classic? 10 Things I Hate About You! This Shakespeare adaptation of Taming of the Shrew, set in a Seattle high school, won the hearts of a generation, but how does it stand up? Beyond launching Heath Ledger into the stratosphere and letting us know Julia Stiles can dance, I don’t know what the hype was about. Jon and Lauren put up a bit of a fight for it, but i...

We’ve reached the end of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, culminating in Avengers: Endgame, and 3/4ths of us couldn’t really ask for more. Jon is the most hesitant of the group, but he is on board, just maybe needs to see it again, something that the 3/4ths of us already have. We have plenty to say in this hour and half episode, so let's just get to it, shall we? Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:30 Spoiler F...

This week, we look at the new(ish) release, Pet Sematary. The remake/reboot/adaptation of the Stephen King novel was probably greenlit due to the recent success of It, but is this resurrection of this story worthwhile? We aren’t too sure, but we hash out what works and doesn’t. Jon is MIA due to technical difficulties, so hit him up on @twitter.com if you need his opinions. Download. Listen. Enjoy...

In the latest Middle of the Row: The Podcast, we flashback to 1999 for Drop Dead Gorgeous. The underseen, underappreciated and absolutely hilarious mockumentary has minor cult status, aka my wife, but it should have higher status! Lauren picked this one, and we converted Ben, but Jon isn’t quite sold. We reminisce on many of the best lines, address the P-word (Problematic) and appreciate the stack...

We Are Back! The Decade’s Best Podcast comes back from a break and we are diving into Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin. Scarlett Johansson brilliantly stars as an alien that is harvesting men, but might want to become human the longer she is exposed to our world. Haunting and mesmerizing, there are few films like this one. This is another 1st time viewing for Ben, lets see if he takes to this one...

This week we flashback to 2009 for (500) Days of Summer, a romantic movie with a male lead twist, that doesn’t hold up? We are a bit split on this one, with Lauren and I waning, while Jon and Ben are rising. We praise the filmmaking, Zooey Deschanel, and debate whether Tom is terrible, terribly written, or just terrible on purpose. A fun film to revisit, and one everyone enjoys, we just might not...

It’s another episode of The Decade’s Best Podcast! This week, our first discussion of a PTA film, Inherent Vice! I love this film, and all three of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films this decade will show up on my list, and it delivers many of the best performances of the last ten years too. This stoner odyssey will take a million twists or turns throughout, but it’s the characters that make this movie...

This week we review Jordan Peele’s sophomore effort, Us! This is another thriller, that we find to be varyingly scary by the person, that also might have some things to say about the world. It might not be as overt of a piece of social commentary, but it is quite the ride, with an amazing turn by Lupita NYong'o at its core. Fun and full of excellent filmmaking, Us gets the thumbs up from everyone...

It’s another episode of The Decade’s Best Podcast! This week, we discuss the Martin Scorsese film, Silence, and it’s chances of making the list of the Decade’s Best films. Grant isn’t having it, and this isn’t a shoo in for me either, but I think we dig into what makes this film great, even if it might not be top tier from Scorsese this decade. We have memorable moments, some great acting and a cr...

We head back to the MCU for Captain Marvel! This one was enjoyed by the pod, but to varying degrees. Some of us think Vers is a bit lacking in character. Some of us wish we got more S.H.I.E.L.D. Some of us love Flerkins. All of us love Ben Mendelsohn. But, all and all, we think Captain Marvel is worth seeing, especially as a preview of what she is going to do in Avengers: Endgame. So strap in thos...

Ben picked Mystery Men as our latest flashback, this time to 1999, and, well, we should have watched The Matrix? Mystery Men came out pre-Superhero boom, and this didn’t help get it going. We dive into behind the scenes drama, shitty direction, horrible cinematography, wasted opportunities, and discuss the merits of dumb humor. Ben stands by his pick, Lauren and Zac stand strong, and Jon waffles....

It’s another episode of The Decade’s Best Podcast! This episode sees Grant and I diving into my 2018 breakdown, The Best of 2018: A Year in Film. Grant airs his grievances, we find some common ground, and all agree Yorgos Lanthimos is the best. So buckle up as Grant turns on the sweat lamps and grills me over my favorite films from 2018! What will end up on The Decade’s Best: 2010-19. Download. Li...

New Podcast! This week we flashback to 2009’s He’s Just Not That Into You. Jon picked this supposed Rom-Com, that was probably better served as a Dramedy, and maybe 5 less characters, but I think we find a lot to appreciate in this thing. There is also some healthy debate, especially surrounding Scarlett Johansson and Bradley Cooper. We all agree Ginnifer Goodwin’s character sucks... So, sit back,...

We are back with our first direct sequel to a movie we’ve previously discussed, Happy Death Day 2U! We aren’t as high on this one as the original, but while the film is ultimately diminishing returns we did enjoy it as a counterpart to the original. The are some good gags, some good character beats, but the film doesn’t take advantage of the premise. Oh well? We get into it, with Jon standing for...

Hey, it's another episode of The Decade’s Best Podcast! This week we are looking at one of Darren Aronofsky’s contenders for the list, spoiler: it’s making it, Black Swan! Ballet, body horror and Natalie Portman’s best performance, what more can you ask for? How about incredible editing, visceral cinematography and a score that beautifully weaves horror into Swan Lake. A no brainer, but Ben and I...