Movie Memory Machine

What happens when a toy company tries to copy The LEGO Movie—and completely misunderstands why it worked? That’s Playmobil: The Movie (2019), one of the strangest animated flops of the decade. In this special mini-episode, we break down the Playmobil: The Movie trailer, play The Trailer Game, and dig into how the film’s marketing sealed its fate before it even hit theaters. We look at the bizarre...

What happens when you chase The LEGO Movie with none of the charm, none of the budget, and none of the jokes? You get Playmobil: The Movie—a box office catastrophe that tried to turn plastic figurines into profit. This week, we’re joined by Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast to dissect one of the strangest failures in modern animation. We break down the movie’s bizarre tone,...

Join Landen and Truman for this week’s “5 For” as they uncover five films that thematically link to The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. From WWII misfit squads to Italian exploitation knockoffs, this list digs into the cinematic lineage of violent brotherhood, historical nonsense, and the thin line between patriotism and pulp. Whether you’re looking for a sweaty desert siege, a Steve McQueen le...

In this chaotic kickoff to Season 2’s mini-episodes, Landen and Truman unravel some final (and occasionally ridiculous) thoughts about The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. From unexpected sound effects in the score to Guy Ritchie’s obsession with luxury, this half-hour ep has everything: a “boing” noise autopsy, speculative casting shade, and an appropriately unhinged round of The Trailer Game....

Welcome to Season Two of Movie Memory Machine! Landen and Truman dive into Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare—a WWII action-comedy that’s part true story, part Call of Duty cutscene. They unpack the film’s tone (or lack thereof), its reluctance to engage with its own politics, and how Ritchie’s late-era filmmaking style might be sabotaging otherwise promising material. Also, a eul...

In this special preview episode, Landen and Truman fire up the Movie Memory Machine for one last diagnostic test before Season Two begins. What follows is a chaotic preview of what’s to come: clips, clues, tone shifts, and a few… surprises. No titles are revealed, but the breadcrumbs are there if you’re ready to start guessing. This isn’t a recap—it’s a glitchy look forward, and the Machine is in...

It’s the end of the beginning. In the Season One finale of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman take a whirlwind tour through all 25 movies they’ve covered so far—from animated cows and memory-swapping sci-fi to cowboys with mime sidekicks. We revisit verdicts, call out the biggest surprises, and peel back the curtain on what it’s like to run a podcast built on forgotten cinema and emotional ch...

In the season finale of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman descend into the dark fantasy depths of Damsel(2024), Netflix’s Millie Bobby Brown-led twist on the fairy tale formula. We talk sacrificial princesses, cave horror, feminist inversions, and whether this dragon flick earns its roar—or just bellows at walls. Along the way, we dig into fantasy aesthetics, the Netflix Original paradox, an...

In this special crossover episode, the Movie Memory Machine smashes headfirst into the Grunt Work feed for a tag-team takedown of Redbelt (2008), the only dramatic performance in Tim Allen’s catalog that doesn't involve a dog costume or a Santa suit. Join Landon and Truman as they dive into David Mamet's mixed martial arts noir drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, grapple with Mamet's obsession with h...

In this chaotic, music-fueled Movie Memory Machine mini-episode, Landen puts Truman through the ultimate Season One trivia challenge: a game entirely about needle drops from the forgotten films we've watched so far. From Miley Cyrus to MC Hammer, Spoon to Social Distortion, it’s a deep dive into the best, worst, and weirdest pop songs awkwardly dropped into these movies. Can Truman identify the mo...

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman dig up five cinematic gems that either complement or correct Sahara’s sunbaked chaos. From notorious box office bombs to globe-trotting adventures, these films tackle desert escapism, colonial absurdity, and character chemistry with sharper storytelling and far less Steve Zahn thirst. Also, Tintin. Films Discussed: National Tre...

In this Movie Memory Machine mini-episode, we follow our full-length Sahara discussion with even more mayhem: digressions, discoveries, and one deeply haunted dog name. Landon and Truman spiral into the mind of Clive Cussler as they unpack his lesser-known children’s books (The Adventures of Vin Fiz and Hot Sooty!), question Steve Zahn’s alleged catchphrase, and debate whether Dirk Pitt is doing a...

In the season finale of Movie Memory Machine, we dig deep into Sahara (2005)—a film that cost a fortune, confused genres, and kicked off exactly zero franchises. Starring Matthew McConaughey as treasure hunter Dirk Pitt, Sahara is the kind of action-adventure that wants to be Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Blood Diamond all at once. We dive into the absurd production history, the book’s wild diffe...

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman recover from the dramatic oar splashes of The Boys in the Boat with five films that deliver on the themes of Olympic history, team triumph, and underdog grit—with stronger characters and a firmer grasp of narrative stakes. From propaganda controversies to TNT classics, this list rows in bolder waters. Films Discussed: Chariots...

In this episode of Movie Memory Machine, we row our way through The Boys in the Boat, George Clooney’s adaptation of the best-selling book about the University of Washington’s scrappy rowing team and their improbable journey to Olympic glory. We discuss whether the film captures the thrill of sports triumphs or just kind of... floats along. Plus, we question some creative choices, geek out over ou...

The Boys in the Boat (2023) – Movie Memory Machine "Who the hell are these guys? Oh, right, they’re the boys in the boat."   Episode Description In this episode of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman row their way through The Boys in the Boat (2023), George Clooney’s sepia-toned tale of working-class college kids defying the odds at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While the film attempts to craft an...

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman recommend five films that, unlike American Dreamz, actually succeed at sharp political satire. Whether through bureaucratic absurdity, bleak humor, or media manipulation, these picks explore what happens when spin, spectacle, and sociopathy collide. Also, we’ll never pass up a chance to talk about Alan Partridge. Films Discusse...

"Somewhere between satire and sensory overload, American Dreamz (2006) crams politics, pop culture, and reality TV into a single chaotic comedy."   Episode Description In this mini-episode, Landen and Truman break down American Dreamz (2006), a movie that tried to satirize everything at once—reality TV, politics, and the war on terror. They revisit the film’s self-serious opening credits, its biza...

"Somewhere between satire and fever dream, American Dreamz (2006) asks: What if reality TV, politics, and terrorism all collided in a comedy? The answer is… a lot."   Episode Description In this episode, Landen and Truman dive into American Dreamz (2006), Paul Weitz’s darkly comedic take on post-9/11 America, reality TV, and the absurdity of politics. Starring Hugh Grant as a Simon Cowell-type TV...

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman descend deeper into the forest of offbeat horror, dark fantasy, and ghostly dread. Building on the vibes of Gretel & Hansel, they recommend five strange, stylish, and haunting films that blend folklore, surrealism, and atmospheric isolation. From haunting governesses to cursed love stories and meth gators, this list is a st...

"Somewhere between a fairytale and a fever dream, Gretel & Hansel (2020) serves up dark fantasy with a side of unsettling imagery."   Episode Description In this mini-episode, Landen and Truman take another look at Gretel & Hansel (2020), a beautifully haunting take on the classic fairytale. They explore the film’s hypnotic visuals, the strange logic of folk horror, and what it means when...

"Somewhere beyond the depths of the forest and the clutches of the witch, two podcasters rediscover a forgotten fairytale. Welcome to Movie Memory Machine."   Episode Description In this week’s episode, Landen and Truman explore Gretel & Hansel (2020), a visually stunning but divisive reimagining of the classic tale from Oz Perkins (Longlegs, The Monkey). With Sophia Lillis as a resourceful Gr...

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman assemble five films that either inspired Poseidon or improved on its sinking-ship energy. From genre-defining classics to spiritual successors and absurd creature features, this episode dives into the tropes, disasters, and emotional breakdowns that define the best (and weirdest) entries in the disaster movie canon. There’s bet...

"We survived Poseidon (2006), and the only thing that flipped us upside down more than the ship was Fergie’s dramatic demise."   Episode Description In this mini-episode of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman revisit Wolfgang Petersen’s disaster epic Poseidon (2006) with insights and laughs from their conversation with special guests Lauren Pritchard and Joe Roche. From flaming waterfalls to r...

"We're trapped on a podcast about forgotten movies, but at least we’re not upside down on a sinking ship. Welcome to Movie Memory Machine."   Episode Description In this episode of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman are joined by comedians and writers Lauren Pritchard and Joe Roche to dissect Wolfgang Petersen’s 2006 disaster film, Poseidon. With a star-studded cast including Kurt Russell, Jo...