Movie Bones

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...

Justin & Ryan go for a dip in the pool at "Sunset Boulevard" (1950) chat about... ⦁ Themes of death and the all-consuming nature of fame. ⦁ The disproportionate way Hollywood treats women. ⦁ The complicit way one takes on the attributes of an unhealthy system and the price of breaking with it. ⦁ Is Joe the real antagonist? ⦁ Next week's film: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) ⦁ O...

This week Ryan and Justin scrub out that damn spot as they watch Akira Kurosawa's take on Shakespear's MacBeth: "Throne of Blood" (1957) , and while they do that, they'll discuss... ⦁ Shakespearian psychology and the Shadow Self ⦁ Setting the mood: what can be created by doing simple things really well, like make up, good lighting and sound design. ⦁ Shakespear's story as a...

This week, Justin and Ryan get stung by the "Queen Bee" (1955) and talk about... ⦁ How Queen Bee keeps her victims close. No really. How? ⦁ Why are these people here? ⦁ The problem of un-earned trust. ⦁ Joan Craword = Norma Desmond? ⦁ Our Verdict ⦁ Next week's film: "Throne of Blood" (1957) Did we get the movie wrong? Tell us why! And let us know what films you think we should...

This week, Justin & Ryan try to calm themselves after experiencing "Sudden Fear" (1952) and afterwards they talk about... ⦁ When writers create character problems that are obviously convoluted ⦁ Checkhov's recording device ⦁ Missed opportunties in main-character growth ⦁ Undercutting the strength of main-character, with "sudden" loss of intelligence ⦁ A thriller that thinks...

This week, Ryan & Justin try not to fall into "The Black Sleep" (1956) and discuss stuff like... ⦁ Whether the movie understands how time passes. ⦁ The density of the hero's brain matter. ⦁ When you can avoid a convoluted twelve-step plan with a simple question. ⦁ Obligatory recycled mad-scientist tropes ⦁ Like "The Body Snatcher", but also not. ⦁ A very memorable "welc...

Justin and Ryan spend time looking for big W's this week as they watch  "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963) . They also get around to talking about... The "epic comedy" genre, and other films that fit into that box. Dangerous stunt-work you won't find in movies any more. What it takes to (mostly) succeed at keeping track of so many plot strands. Ethel Merman: The e...

Ryan & Justin dodge the flames of  "Dante's Inferno" (1935) , as they discuss... Getting fooled by our expectations. Why doesn't anyone remember the two *other* destinations Dante writes about? Apart from Jim, what exactly are the motivations here? The one scene where the movie's budget really is on-screen. Did the devil just dive into a pool to save someone's life?!?!...

Justin and Ryan take a dive into Danny Kaye's mind while exploring "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (1947) , as they discuss... Is Walter actually a "good" kind of Gary Stu character? Danny Kaye is key to all this. No, really. He is. Boris Karloff reminding us yet again how much we miss him. Our Verdict Next week's film: "Dante's Inferno" (1935) Did we get the...

This week, Justin & Ryan try to decide if the movie  "I Know Where I'm Going" (1945) , knows where its going, as they discuss... When the weather is more important to the plot than the characters. Is this just a Hallmark movie ahead of its time? Misused supporting characters. "Reasons" you might be with the wrong person, according to movie. Our Verdict Next week's film:...

Justin & Ryan tilt at windmills alongside the "Man of La Mancha" (1972)  and talk about... How much we need stories like this right now... Making the story-within-the-story work... The necessity of seeing "Life as it should be" The film as a statement on the communal aspects of art Our Verdict Next week's film:  "I Know Where I'm Going" (1945) Did we get the mov...