Off The Shelf -A Movie Podcast with Phil and Dave

Phil and Dave visit the criminal underworld again as Dave takes 2007's American Gangster off his shelf. The guys discuss the star power of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Phil remembers seeing this in the theatre and being disappointed,  then buying it on HD-DVD with high hopes and being let down again watching the extended version.  Dave watched the theatrical cut and found it to be ente...

Phil and Dave crawl into 2002's Panic Room as Phil grabs this off his shelf. Phil delights in finally talking about a David Fincher movie and remarks that it seems to have gotten better over time. Dave finds the showy camera work more impressive and less obvious than Unbreakable.

Phil and Dave pay their respects as Dave takes 2006's Flags of our Fathers off his shelf. Phil finds the story structure to be jarring and unnecessary and leaves the movie missing key elements and ultimately wishes a different movie was made. Dave praised the presentation of the war theater but was unable to connect to any of the characters.

Can you hear that? It's the sound of Dave taking 2002's Windtalkers off his shelf. The guys discuss how John Woo seems to miss the fundamental story at the heart of the movie this could be and favours Nicolas Cage and traditional war movie tropes. Adam Beach is solid in what turns out to be less of a role than Phil would like. Dave enjoys some of the action sequences but finds the plot of...

The hills run red as Phil takes 1982's Halloween 3 off his shelf. Dave wonders what the story could be after last year's Halloween episodes... apparently one he wasn't interested in. Phil finds some things to enjoy while he feels the the movie just doesn't come together. A plot that tends to drag and a villain that isn't that easy to define made Dave scream STOP IT by the end.

Phil and Dave confront the devil himself as Phil takes 1973's The Exorcist off his shelf. Considered by many to be the scariest movie ever made, does the movie hold up? The guys really dig into what makes the movie so compelling. The performances standout while the visuals are beautiful but it's the storytelling, setting up all the pieces early to deliver a stunning climax that really make...

Phil and Dave are good at holding grudges but both have to admit that Leo does it better than either of them. Dave takes 2015's The Revenant off his shelf this week. Phil marvels at  the breathtaking shots and gorgeous scenery. Dave believes the performances are excellent but each agree that the movie's depiction of events may have traded in entertainment value.

Phil and Dave visit Monte Carlo as Phil takes 2002's The Good Thief. Phil remembers loving nearly everything about this movie and thinks that most of it holds up if not entirely. Dave found himself hooked by the first song and really appreciate the style of Neil Jordan's direction. Another forgotten gem of early 2000s from Phil.

Phil and Dave go back to school as Dave takes Old School of his shelf. The guys marvel again at Vince Vaughn. Phil crushes on Owen Wilson..wait no..Luke Wilson. Will Ferrell gives us a little bit of everything and the movie is able to still provide some laughs.

Phil and Dave go back to the family drama as Phil takes 1997's The Myth Of Fingerprints off his shelf. Phil opens up about his love of Roy Scheider and why he loves visiting themes of the visiting relative for holiday theme so much. Dave doesn't connect quite as much but appreciates the performances and thinks there is something that the movie doesn't quite dig deep enough into.

Phil and Dave feel a rumble under their feet as Dave takes 1990's Tremors off his shelf. Phil embraces the tone of the movie as a "creature feature" and loves the practical effects that bring the grab-oids to life and admits that, at one time, Fred Ward was his favorite actor. Dave gets a kick out of the performances and finds the characters grounded in their own reality. This movie...

Phil grabs Predator off his shelf and gets to relive one of his favourite video game moments of the last few years. They discuss the amazing way director John Mctiernan mixes action, sci-fi and horror with characters that, though larger than life, still feel human. Dave agrees that the last 20 minutes isn't nearly as interesting as the rest of the film but it all comes together to an exciting...

Phil and Dave are back as Dave takes 2016's Split off his shelf. Phil finally finds an M. Night movie that he sort of enjoys as Dave remembers his feeling of excitement as the end approached. They both agree that James McAvoy is a huge reason this movie works and wonder if it's nearly as good with any other actor.

This week Phil takes 2001's The Man from Elysian Fields off his shelf and present to Dave a very underknown and underseen Andy Garcia movie. The guys discuss the many things they like about this movie. The real standout is Mick Jagger in a small but pivotal role. Phil and Dave wish the movie spent more time with his character and only slightly found the main relationship storyline to be the we...

Dave takes 2016's Arrival and presents a film beautifully directed by Denis Villeneuve and accompanied by a fantastic performance by Amy Adams. Both Phil and Dave seem to consider Ms Adams their favourite actress. Phil appreciates the ability to make a movie about communication so interesting and compelling while Dave enjoys the story structure and amazing score which Dave discovered after rec...

Phil/Dave have a look at 2008's Frost/Nixon. Phil grabs this movie off his shelf and the guys get a glimpse of Nixon after the Watergate scandal that All the President's Men depicted. Phil loves the performances and the writing and Dave feels as though the big win the team gets is a little of a let down despite being built up very well.

Phil and Dave have another look at Jack Ryan as Dave takes 1992's Patriot Games off the shelf. The guys reflect on having watched its sequel and Affleck's take on the character before viewing this movie. Phil believes that Clear and Present Danger is a much more compelling and accomplished movie and finds some of the plotting a little muddled while Dave enjoys Richard Harris and Sean Bean...

Phil and Dave discuss another special relationship as Phil takes 1976's All the President's Men. Woodward and Bernstein took down Nixon and Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman take those roles and create amazing characters with brilliant performance. Gordon Willis shot this gorgeous movie and Alan Pakula directs it perfectly.   Sadly, the content is still relevant all these later but this mo...

What's a more special relationship than your podcast hosts? We find out when Dave pulls 2010's The Special Relationship off of his shelf. With Solid performances by Dennis Quaid and Michael Sheen and especially Hope Davis edge this movie out of "made for HBO" territory but the movie still feels a little flat.

Phil and Dave look back at their own challenges as they discuss 1962's The Days of Wine and Roses. A stunning look at the ravages of addiction. Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon give powerhouse performances in glorious black and white.

Phil and Dave visit Africa in search of 2006’s Blood Diamond. Phil has a little trouble with Leo's accent at first but grows accept it. Dave explains how this movie impacted him directly and both admit that Djimon Hounsou is the star of the movie.

Phil and Dave discuss 1982's Poltergeist. Phil takes one of his favourite childhood movies off his shelf to share with Dave. Phil believes the movie holds up with great performances by the cast and some wonderful visual effects. Dave had trouble connecting to a 40 year old movie and as a result leaves him a little cold. Can Phil convince him? Have a listen.

Phil and Dave storm the beaches as they visit 1998's Saving Private Ryan. The rare movie that lives on both shelves. Phil recounts his early experience with the movie that is considered the best of 1998 and still has trouble agreeing with that title. Dave admits that after nearly two dozen viewings some moments have lost their potency but other are just as compelling as the first.

Phil and Dave visit the ballpark and put the women of baseball at centre field when Phil takes 1992's A League of Their Own off this shelf. Effortlessly directed by Penny Marshall and with great performances by Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna. The guys agree that this movie just flies by in the best ways and think Bob may have cost the Peaches the World Series. 

What do you get when you take the world's least complicated actor, surround him with people who don't seem to know what movie they're in and add a complex plot that doesn't make much sense? We find out when Dave takes 2012's? Contraband off his shelf. Phil reaffirms his dislike of Marky Mark and Dave finds it a challenge to enjoy it. Have a listen and share the podcast with you...