Off The Shelf -A Movie Podcast with Phil and Dave

Ben is back as the boys discuss 2011's The Town. Dave beats Phil to the punch as he takes it off his shelf. Phil wants to like this movie more than he does as he sees much to like about it. Jeremy Renner in a star making performance and great camera work. Dave feels that the movie met his expectation but thought Renner was less than impressive but the cast overall delivered.

The sights and sounds of film get put front and center as Phil takes 1981's Blow Out off his shelf. The guys discuss their first Brian DePalma film. Phil has not seen this movie in over 10 years and marvels at the craft being presented. Dave found this movie to be a breezy watch despite its less than lovable set of characters. This 1981 movie may, in fact, be the last great 70s movie.

Dave cuts his hand when he takes 2019's Glass off his shelf. Phil nodded through this film in the theatre and discovered he didn't really miss much other than some neutering. Dave finds some things to like but can't deny this film is a letdown and senses a lack of effort doing the small things. Ultimately a swing and foul ball off the mesh.

Well, this is a big one as Phil takes 1999's Magnolia of of his shelf. He discusses his excitement to see this movie in the theatre the first time and how after 3 more viewings Phil chose to share it with his family. Dave finds the scope of the film to be compelling but wishes he could spend more time with some characters and less with others. We discuss the themes of fathers and sons, regrets...

Dave searches every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse and found 1993's The Fugitive. Phil remembers watching this movie dozens of times when younger and finds it just as compelling today. Dave continues to enjoy the work of Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford and shares that this movie is a comfort movie favorite of his.

This train thing is out of control as Phil takes 1985's Runaway Train off the shelf. Phil has memories of loving this movie as a child and connecting to the characters and beautiful cinematography. Dave enjoys the performances of the three leads and found it compelling despite some potential "Francis" candidates.

Dave continues to ride the rails as he takes 1990's Narrow Margin off the shelf. The return of Gene Hackman and Anne Archer to the show who provide some good performances within a somewhat banal "thriller." Phil loves the rare combo of J.T and M. Emmett Walsh in the same movie but finds the movie never lives up to its first 15 minutes. Dave continues to connect to this movie even tho...

It's Easter again and Phil brings 1999's Jesus' Son off the shelf for discussion this week. Ottawa born film maker Alison Maclean's amazing film featuring stellar performances by Billy Crudup and Samantha Morton. Phil find this film just as emotionally moving and beautiful as he did the first time he saw it. Dave finds out his brained is fused but managed to find some of the ideas...

Dave brings us back to the rails as he takes 2018's The Commuter off his shelf. Phil, once again, had barely heard of this movie but thought the conceit of the film to be engaging and the camera work not too showy. Dave enjoys some of the twists and turns of the plot and likes seeing Liam Neeson in his "I'm gonna kill you" phase of his career. The movie has some struggles in the...

Dave is out of his mind as Phil takes 1998's Out of Sight off his shelf. Phil still connects to this stylish movie with one of the great modern movie stars. He finds this to be his favorite Jennifer Lopez performance and the beginning of Steven Soderbergh's partnership with George Clooney and a career pivot that has produced great entertainment as well as complex and creative swings. Dave...

Phil and Dave enter the multiverse as Dave takes 2011's Source Code off his shelf. Phil had almost no memory of this movie existing and is pretty pleased that Dave forced him to watch it this week. Dave finds the movie's reveals to be a little lackluster after repeated viewings but kept Phil guessing for most of the runtime. Overall a relatively fun movie with a solid performance from Jake...

Phil tries to convince Dave he didn't watch this week's movie as Phil takes 1944's Gaslight off his shelf. The earliest movie the guys have discussed is still relevant today as the word was 2022's word of the year. Phil finds the film mesmerizing and the performances outstanding. Dave finds the circumstance of the movie to be pretty frustrating and heartbreaking as the story comes...

Holy shnikies! Dave takes 1995's Tommy Boy off his shelf for this week's discussion. Phil has never seen it and has never been a fan of the lead actors... did this movie change his mind or connect him to his childhood as a chunky clutz? Dave enjoys the revisit and feels the heart and comedy are a great blend with solid direction and a good script.

Phil and Dave take on another disaster movie this week as Phil takes 1996's Daylight off his shelf. Phil is taken in by the lost art of practical special effects and the way in which they are implemented here. Dave finds the heart that may have been missing last week but feels most of the characters unlikable due to too much bickering. Also, Phil makes a confession to the listeners.

Phil and Dave take on the end of the world as Dave takes 2004's The Day After Tomorrow off his shelf. Phil has never seen this movie but doesn't really have a lot of respect for its director and doesn't gain much after watching. Dave enjoys some of the quieter moments on screen but doesn't feel any of the characters have chemistry with each other. They both felt a little cold by th...

It's Valentine's day and what better way to celebrate than Phil taking 1999's The End of the Affair off the shelf? Phil marvels at Julianne Moore's performance as the whole movie revolves around her despite her not having the most lines. Dave enjoys the bitter and twisted character of Bendrix and both remember being in an obsessive relationship in the past.

If John Spencer says someone is bad news, they’re bad news. Dave takes 1990's Presumed Innocent off his shelf and presents a movie that Phil only vaguely remembers the title of. Dave enjoys a great script and a great cast and Phil agrees and reflects that movies like this aren't very common anymore despite being the 11th most successful movie of the year.

The winter is in full effect and Phil takes 1982's The Thing off his shelf. One of the great horror movies of all time but mostly ignored upon release and has only grown over time to be one of the most loved entries in the genre. Phil talks about seeing it presented in the theatre for its 40th anniversary and loving the experience and Dave found himself impressed with the effects along with Ku...

This is it, another 52 in review. Phil and Dave look back on the year that was and honour the best and worst of the season. Phil gives recommendations for theatrical releases and recalls the feeling he gets from seeing a great movie in the theatre and Dave decides that this year he'll see more.

The new year begins as the last one ends when Dave brings 1990's Die Hard 2 off his shelf. Our original movie we planned for this week is delayed like so many flights this winter.. The guys discuss if this is more of a Christmas movie than the first one.  Phil believes it to be an excellent sequel and Dave thinks that it gives a little more depth to McClane's character while the other retu...

It's the new year and Phil takes 1999's 200 Cigarettes off his shelf. The guys discuss their favorite "new years" memories and remind themselves that there just isn't the same feeling as Christmas. Phil finds the movie to be a mess but some meaningful lines that have stuck with him throughout the years but doesn't rise above those few high points. Dave finds all the perfo...

Happy holidays from Phil and Dave . It's the gift of Bruce as Dave takes 1988's Die Hard off his shelf.  Is it a Christmas or not? It doesn't matter considering this is a near perfect action movie. Phil finds the movie takes the care to provide even the "bad guys" a character and personality and no bad guy is badder than Hans - bubbe! This quotable film has stood the test of...

It's the most wonderful time of the year as Phil takes 1983's A Christmas Story off his shelf. The movie that brings all the joy and wonder of a child at Christmas is a real treat to discuss.  Phil is transported to his childhood that occurred 40 years after the setting of this movie yet still connects to the similarly. Considering the guys are talking about this movie almost 40 years afte...

Phil and Dave wrestle with the 2 hour and 8 minute war as Dave takes 2018's Mortal Engines off his shelf. Phil struggles to get through what he feels is a mess of a movie while Dave enjoys the visuals and the audio but finds the plot to be less interesting. This movie feels like it was meant to be a franchise but at the same time feels like an hour was cut out of it. A strange paradox for a le...

Phil and Dave get animated when Phil takes 2009's Up off his shelf. Disney/Pixar deliver a beautiful film that shows life, love and adventure through the eyes of a septuagenarian. Phil believes its a masterpiece that kind of loses steam near the end and Dave briefly questions the logic but gets lost in it regardless.