Movie Bones

 This week, Justin & Ryan go on assignment in "Foreign Correspondent" (1940) , and discuss... • Just how many genres can you jam into a film? • Hitchcock's attitude towards filmmaking • Teasing the audience with almost-meaningful moments • Some really impressive practical effects • Being remembered for visuals and effects over story... • ...with the inevitable comparison to Jim Cam...

This week, Justin & Ryan explore the liminal space within the "Carnival of Souls" (1962) , and discuss... • autophobia and scopaesthesia • the horror and unease of dealing with the concept of dying • whether the film should've explained more about itself • did the low-budget production help or hurt? • the 'dangerous youth' genre and horror-heroine tropes • an unusual market...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane"(1962) , and discuss... • Blending "Misery" with "Sunset Boulevard" • track record of forgotten child stars • needless undermining twists • Betty Davis' stand-out performance • Creative decisions and pet-peeves that made us go 'hmm'. • Our Verdict • Next Week's Film: "Carnival of Souls...

This week, Justin & Ryan see if the "Keeper of the Flame"(1942) should just snuff it out, as they discuss... • breadcrumb trials in the script... they go where?!? • waiting patiently for the reveal when plot and characters stand still • the reality of advancing fascism vs. how its treated here • filling in the blanks the script leaves open with our own ideas • reporters who seem to be...

This week, Justin & Ryan go on strike "On the Waterfront"(1954) , and discuss... • Some under-the-radar sililarities between Terry and Johnny Friendly • How struggle can sometimes end up as entitlement • Some neat bits of social psychology and morality around group dynamics • Fr. Pete: How to give a sermon in a movie and make it good • The value of 'not ratting on yourself' • W...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out all about melodrama from "The Strange Woman"(1946 ), and break down... • Melodrama - what is it? • Everyone is horrible (almost) • Skeevy older men marrying WAY below their age • The film's view of women in general • Dropping dramatic 'bombs' every five minutes • Can you commit to a plot direction... • ... and if you can't, can that be...

This week, Justin & Ryan bet $1,000 they can live through one night at the "House on Haunted Hill" (1959) , and pass the time talking about... • Why is this guy here? • Weird architecture choice • Someone criticize your taste in wine? Install a vat of acid in your basement! • Cheesy haunted-house tour guide characters • Scooby Doo, but with less plot and more guns • Making one unrelate...

This week, Justin & Ryan find out just what happens when Jack Lemmon isn't around in "The Apartment" (1960) , and break down... • The way corporate culture uses people • Paralleling that use with direct insinuations of prostitution • The subtlety of the screenplay • Waking up someone who's OD'd on sleeping pills • Forerunner of movies highlighting a predatory Wall Street me...

This week, Justin & Ryan get under the skin of a psychopathic gold-digger in "Cast a Dark Shadow" (1955) , and they'll analyze... • "Teddy's" mental state • A twist that caught us off guard • Two really awesome leading lady roles • Nice complementary antagonisim • Justin learns about "Criminal Minds" and psychopaths • Wanting more of a good thing • An alternate-...

This week, Justin & Ryan will not try to beat the filibuster record as they talk about "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) , but they will discuss... • The optimism of a long speech changing a vote • A recent real-life example of a record-breaking, traditional filibuster  • Levels of patriotism vs. propaganda • That state whose name we do not speak... • Justin's problems with the...

This week, Justin and Ryan sit in the operating theater to watch Boris Karloff work in the "Corridors of Blood" (1958) , and ask questions about... • Karloff title / poster curse striking again • when the story you don't expect is still good • Jekyll and Hyde as a grounded, real-life metaphor for addiction • Irrational behavior ensuring main character is pushed to limit • Underutilized...

This week, Justin & Ryan wonder about the wisdom of trying to re-take the Alamo as they watch "Viva Max" (1969) and talk about... • the second movie Ryan's seen that flushed itself from memory • when improv can't make up for the apparent lack of script • playing with ideas of how this could have worked • a theory as to how the movie found its way to Tubi • our verdict • Next we...

This week, Justin & Ryan talk about the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives... and Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) , and on their way to a verdict, they talk about... • Ryan gives his review right at the beginning. • The most sincere pumpkin patch of bad movies • Filmmakers actually thinking this would go into wide distribution • When test footage become...

This week, Justin & Ryan will not try to beat the filibuster record as they talk about "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) , but they will discuss... • The optimism of a long speech changing a vote • A recent real-life example of a record-breaking, traditional fillibuster  • Levels of patriotism vs. propaganda • That state whose name we do not speak... • Justin's problems with th...

This week, Justin & Ryan take a trip to New Orleans and ride "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951 ), and on their way to a verdict, they talk about... • Brando's acting chops - ON FIRE!  And the rest of the cast too! • The density and complexity of characters - love and hate • Superficial appearances of normality being disrupted by introducing a wild card • How can fictional characters...

This week, Ryan & Justin dodge sunlight while watching "The Hideous Sun Demon" (1958) , and pick apart... • Driving while mutating = Fun • Was sunscreen never an option? • Open question: does a man keep his mind after turning into a Sun Demon? • ACTING!!! • Glorious ineptitudes • But the makeup was decent! • How to trigger your easily-avoidable mutation • Attention to detail: they made...

This week, Justin & Ryan set a course  "North by Northwest" (1959) , and talk about... • Justin's conflicted feelings about Cary Grant • the film as a predicessor to James Bond • love or hate: convoluted villain plan number 8,057 • Ryan's affinity for world-vs-protagonist stories • Justin's issues on sexually motivated credulity • Our Verdict • Next week's film: "Th...

Justin and Ryan have questions they'd like to ask "The Third Man" (1949), some of which may involved... • A surprise Spongebob reference... • ...that triggers disjointed feelings in Ryan • where the motivations for the characters are • spoiling plot elements with your opening credits • the awards and attention it's gotten • our verdict • Next week's film: "North By Northwes...

Justin and Ryan check out the "The L-Shaped Room" (1962) to see if it's worth renting, and talk to the landlord about... https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/movies/6750e5fa2678a50014fc883a • challenging social expectations of the time • ambiguous vs. unresolved endings • waitng too long to break down a main character • a script that lets the audience use its intuition ... • ... that sometime...

We made it a whole year and it's time to party! Today, Justin & Ryan commemorate this auspicious achievement by... • Ranking our best and worst experiences of the year • Revealing our favorite actors and actresses (not including Audrey Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman) • Springing some surprise awards categories on each other • Rating the films we covered that never got a rating

Ryan and Justin don't expect a fair hearing in "The Trial" (1963) , but as they wait to be admitted to the law, they talk about... • Orson Wells and trippy art films • Wells' capturing the stylized dream / nightmare experience on film • Franz Kafka and the philosophy of existentialism and absurdism • How much Kafka's experiences shaped his worldview • Our verdict? • Next week&#...

Justin and Ryan peel back the layers of "Charade" (1963) this week, and as they get to the bottom of it, they'll talk about... ⦁ Romantic screwball comedy mystery film is quite the venn diagram. ⦁ Is this the Cary Grant film that breaks Justin's streak of negative reactions? ⦁ Social distrust of institutions starting to creep into popular films. ⦁ Ryan waxes eloquent about Audrey H...

This week, Ryan and Justin run away from their problems with "It Happened One Night" (1934) and talk about... Absence of change in characters How setting sets this rom-com apart An unusual connection to a popular cartoon Our individual expectations with rom-coms Convoluted romantic complications: flaw or feature? Our Verdict. Next week's film: "Charade" (1963) Did we get the mo...

This week, Justin tells Ryan to take or leave "Hobbson's Choice" (1954) , as long as he takes it. And as he contemplates that, they'll talk about... Hobson's Choice: not just a movie title! Is Maggie a Mary Sue? The film as social satire/commentary Crossing the bridge of inevitability Some Charles Laughton trivia. Our Verdict. Next week's film: "It Happened One Night&#3...

This week, Justin & Ryan get their grins on for "The Man Who Laughs" (1928), and discuss... ⦁ Unexpected ending for a movie based on a Victor Hugo novel ⦁ Gwenelplaine as inspiration for Joker ⦁ A romantic picture that launches a horror franchise. ⦁ The legacy of German Expresionism ⦁ Tim Burton and Batman ⦁ Our Verdict ⦁ Next Week's Film: "Hobson's Choice" (1954) Did w...