Off The Shelf -A Movie Podcast with Phil and Dave

The streets of Gotham are safer as Dave takes 2022's The Batman off the shelf. We're back to honour the 35th anniversary of the return of the Dark Knight. Phil remembers seeing this more than once in theatres and how engrossed he was immediately. He is stricken by how good the movie looks and how mediocre a detective Batman is. Dave wishes he had gone to see it on the big screen but is imp...

The Jackal is at it again as Phil takes 1988's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels off the self. Dave enjoys the plotting and performances while Phil enjoys looking back at a childhood favorite. Frank Oz delivers a beautiful and hilarious movie. The unexpected turns the movie makes keeps it rolling along at a great pace

"It's not your cause, don't make it personal" - Dave makes it very personal as he takes 1997's The Jackal off the shelf this week. He explains that he's seen this movie many times over the years despite never loving it. What he does love, however, is Jack Black and Bruce Willis. Phil had never seen it before and feels as though nothing in the movie makes any sense. He&#39...

It's another "Wild Summer Night" as Phil takes 1983's Eddie and the Cruisers off the shelf. Phil remembers the countless times he's seen the movie, how much he liked the first 2/3 and how good the music. Unfortunately, he also remembers the sequel. Dave knew nothing about this movie before watching it and feels that he was more interested in the investigative journalism that...

From Chicago in the 20's to New Asia in 2065, Dave takes 2023's The Creator off the shelf. Phil questions the idea of speaking about a movie so new that the cultural footprint has yet to be decided but overall enjoys the things this movie does right. Dave sees the potential of a story about A.I but doesn't always think it says what it wants to. The solid performances hold up even the s...

5,6,7,8... Phil finishes the "Fosse" trilogy by taking 2002's Chicago off the shelf. Dave finds musicals to be a challenge to get into but found himself getting into Richard Gere's performance. Phil recounts seeing it on Broadway recently as well as at the 5th Ave Cinema in 2002. He loves the conceit of the movie and is dazzled by John C. Reilly, too.

It's showtime, folks as Phil takes 1979's All That Jazz off the shelf. Bob Fosse's follow-up to Lenny is a masterpiece of showbusiness, narcissistic behaviour, and workaholic tendencies and the effect it has on loved ones. Phil loves just about everything about this and Dave, aside from the musical numbers, connects with the performances, led by Roy Scheider. The movie still lingers in...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Podcast." It's a great week as Phil takes 1974's Lenny off the shelf. He reminisces about when he discovered this film, the rabbit hole he went down about the subject matter and the creators and how impactful they were. Dave watches the film not knowing anything about it and really enjoys the pace, character and style of the film. Found the editing to be st...

Podcast, Podcast Podcast! Dave takes 1988's Beetlejuice off the shelf this week. Phil explains why this movie, though loved, is a dvd he never opened. He finds the imagination and creativity to elevate a pretty thin plot. Dave finds the leads to be charming and enjoyable but does think that there are some holes in the plot and questions the relationships

"This pod really ties the room together" as Phil takes 1998's The Big Lebowski off the shelf. Phil remembers not really liking this movie when it came out and watched it become a cultural phenomenon in the years since. He enjoyed it much more over subsequent viewings and respects the Coen Brother's ability to change things up with each movie. Dave found the characters to be engag...

"Everybody Podcasts" and we're no different as Dave takes 2002's Minority Report off the shelf. Phil is reminded why he hasn't seen this movie since its theatrical release and explains why this led to a 15 year long boycott of Spielberg movies. Dave revisits a favorite and finds a few more flaws than before but generally enjoys what the movie has to offer and is impressed by...

We fall off the wagon as Phil takes 1945's The Lost Weekend off the shelf. This Billy Wilder movie is dark and moody but conveys the desperation of addition as good any any movie Phil has seen. Dave found the realities of alcoholism to be realistic and occasionally triggering. Both agree that the ending resolves a little too easily and leaves us wondering if Don has really beat the bottle.

The boys of summer are back on the field this week, and Dave takes 2012's Trouble With the Curve off the shelf. Phil found the movie to be a bland mix of common themes. Amy Adams manages to elevate some of them but struggles with a story that doesn't quite reach the heights it could have. Dave found the characters to be one note and the script to be pretty pedestrian. The movie culminates...

Let's snap to it! Phil takes 1991's Oscar off the shelf. Phil remembers a very early theatrical experience and a newspaper headline that has never escaped him. Dave wonders what this movie is about for far too long but once he figures it out enjoys it. We discuss the complicated history of Stallone's comedies and John Landis' 90s.

Dave celebrates the first Bruce of the season as he takes 1993's Striking Distance off the shelf. Phil finds the movie to be predictable, bland and repetitive at times. He loves the supporting cast despite them being wasted. Dave revels in the complexity of the mystery as he revisits this movie. He enjoys the turns the plot takes and continues to be impressed by the tightness of the script.

It's a time for romance in the heart of Los Angeles as Phil takes 1991's L.A. Story off the shelf. This has been a constant favorite this time of year. Phil enjoys the wacky and absurd and how it mixes with the sweet, sincere and romantic. It's a bit dated but the jokes still hold up. Dave found the laughs but struggled to find the romance in this film despite Phil begging him to.

We're happy to share our enthusiasms as part of a team as Dave takes 1987's The Untouchables off the shelf. Phil remembers loving this DePalma classic from the first time he ever saw it from VHS to 4K and even owned the soundtrack on CD. Dave needed an excuse to connect with this movie again and was not disappointed. Even the perceived flaws are largely ignored. This movie's great.

We honour the day the music died as Phil takes 1978's The Buddy Holly Story off the shelf. Phil shares fond childhood memories of sharing this music with his mother. Dave found himself captivated by the music and the story that he was unaware of prior.

We left the bad accents to Brad Pitt this time as Dave takes 1997's The Devil's Own off the shelf. Phil has never seen it before and finds it rather bland as there didn't appear to be much reason for Harrison Ford to be in this movie. Dave likes the performances and the score but finds there to be something missing.

Whodunit? We dunit as Phil takes 1985's Murder in Space off the shelf. Phil recalls the hype of this movie gripping him at a very early age and watching all the promo interviews and loving every minute of it. Dave watches for the first time and misses the hype but found the mystery compelling even if he didn't get any right answers.

It's a new season, and we get some hot chocolate, pecan pie, and Dave takes 2000's Reindeer Games off the shelf. There is not a lot to cheer about as even Ben Affleck can't save this movie. Phil believes it struggles with tone, the direction is flawed, and the story crumbles under its own structure. Dave can't even be impressed by Charlize. The cast is good but wasted and the scrip...

Well it's the end of the year and we take 2023's Off the Shelf off the shelf. Phil and Dave look back on the year in the podcast, hand out some awards and tease some of the future movies coming up in 2024. Happy New Year!

What happens when violence surrounds you? Find out as Dave takes 2014's A Most Violent Year off the shelf. Phil enjoys the performances and the dark themes that run through the movie but doesn't totally connect at the end. Dave finds the movie a little hollow despite a collection of great scenes and characters. The violence the movie alludes to surrounds the characters but doesn't lead...

An angel may get their wings as Phil takes 1946's It's a Wonderful Life off the shelf. Phil recounts the emotions this movie brings up every time he watches it and shares that the next generation finds it just as impactful. Dave sees it for the first time and finds the humor to be pretty timeless and the performances beautiful. They even try out Jimmy Stewart impressions. Don't miss th...

Do you hear what I hear? Find out when Phil takes 1984's Gremlins off the shelf. Phil still connects to this holiday favorite which bridged his love of horror and Christmas to his young, impressionable mind. Those two things have stuck with him all the years since. Dave's first watch is met with a good feeling and an appreciation for the practical effects of the Gremlins themselves and is...