Open Mic Night at the Movies

Four movies enter. One Part 4 leaves. This week, we’re cracking open some drinks and diving into the cinematic danger zone: the fourth installment. Is Mad Max: Fury Road the greatest action sequel ever made? Does Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire win on dragons and trauma alone? Can The Bourne Legacy sneak in with pure spy paranoia? And… is Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol secretly the peopl...

Zippers were zipped. "Hair gel" was misused. Romance somehow survived.  On this episode, we revisit There’s Something About Mary — the late-’90s comedy that proved true love can endure humiliation, obsession, and one very unlucky prom night. We break down the laughs, the heart, the inherent creepiness, and why this movie still sticks after all these years. Frank and beans included. -----...

On this episode, we dive headfirst into a ball pit and come up in the retro 80s nightmare of Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) — the long awaited adaptation of the popular video game franchise.  Joined by two brave guests, we break down killer animatronics, questionable career choices, creepy dream-kids, and the world’s most confusing small-town police officer.  We talk lore, jump scares, fan theorie...

Put on your Ray-Bans and buckle up — this week we’re diving deep into the neon, sweat, and swagger of early Tom Cruise. Three eras, three egos, one impossible decision: which movie moves one step closer to our Tom Cruise Film Festival lineup? We break down Risky Business (1983), the film that made Cruise a star; Cocktail (1988), the glossy ode to ambition and regret; and Days of Thunder (1990), wh...

Enter the Dragon isn’t just a movie—it’s a cultural explosion. In this episode, we break down Bruce Lee’s iconic martial arts masterpiece from 1973, covering everything from the dazzling fight choreography to Jeet Kune Do philosophy to behind-the-scenes stories. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering the film that kicked open the door for martial arts in Hollywood, this discussion will...

From misguided men to chaotic criminals, noir shadows to screwball shenanigans—the Coens have done it all.  In this episode, we're drafting our ultimate lineup of Coen Brothers films, one pick at a time.  Is The Dude abiding early, or are we out of our element?  Will Fargo get picked faster than you can say "Yah, you betcha" or will we succumb to that Barton Fink feeling?  Would tha...

In this special DOUBLE FEATURE episode we talk weirdos, friendships, and low budget cult classics .  First up Mike and Matt join to give their thoughts on the film that gave us Jon Heder's breakout lead role.  It's the 2004 coming of age comedy, 'Napoleon Dynamite'  (04:00)  Then after a quick trip to the lobby (32:50) we head back into the theater to take it down a notch and l...

How long does edge last? What won't you watch Jack Nicholson do? Does realism help or hurt?  And how big should a hotel room be?  In this episode Sean is joined by Timm and Jeremy to talk about 1973's The Last Detail, an adaptation of the Darryl Ponicsan book about 2 sailors assigned to escort a kleptomaniac, junior sailor to naval prison.  Considered at the time to be Jack Nicholson&apo...

In this episode Sean and Mike continue their look at the best Tom Cruise movies ever made, this time checking in on some of his more dramatic roles. Charlie Babbitt ( Rain Man , 1988) -- 05:50 Frank T.J. Mackey ( Magnolia , 1999) -- 20:20 Ron Kovic ( Born on the Fourth of July , 1989 ) -- 36:10 They discuss where these movies shine and where they need work, and try to figure out if any other actor...

Who killed this podcast? Where? And with what?  That's what Sean, Mike & Jakob are trying to find out in this episode.  We're talking Clue , the 1985 comedy/mystery that took a wildly big swing at the box office and fell dead on arrival.  But to make a long story short (too late!) it became a massive cult hit via VHS rental and cable TV.  We discuss cast ranks, stage versions, multip...

If Samuel L. Jackson offered you an easy out that included free booze would you take it? No? We prefer the hard way too.  In this episode Sean and Dan talk about 2007's 1408, an adaptation of a Stephen King story that finds a skeptical writer trapped inside a sinister hotel room.   With a powerful performance from John Cusak, this thriller explores grief, hubris, and will make you question yo...

Brian, Matt, Mike, Mike & Sean have a bargument about their favorite sci-fi films from childhood that became cult hits.  It’s a battle for the ages with The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension vs. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure vs. Real Genius vs. Tremors .  Beers are drank and mud is slung as they pour over the important questions.  Who are the real threats in Bill an...

Not living up to your parent's expectations?  Always looking for love in the complete wrong places?  We can identify.  This episode we're talking about 2005's Sky High, a film that explores the unique challenges of finding your super powers in your teenage years.  Full of budding stars, sharp writing, and a healthy helping of the Kids in the Hall , this flick is fun for all ages. em...

In this episode Sean and Mike walk through the 6 current Mission Impossible movies in hopes to pick one to represent them all at a hypothetical Tom Cruise film festival.

Take Chinatown , fold in some 10 Things I Hate About You , and garnish with a sprig of Rushmore .  What you get is Rian Johnson 2005 directorial debut film, Brick .  Transporting all the tropes of a neo-noir detective story to a contemporary high school setting, this movie pays homage while always feeling like its own unique thing.  Topics in this episode include ways to film on a shoe-string budg...

In this episode we argue over the greatest baseball movies ever made... and possibly some of the worst.  Jakob, Brian, Mike, & Lightweight Mike have a rollicking bar fight across 5 sub-genres of baseball flicks.  Who will strike out?  Who will knock one out of the park?  Is a movie even about baseball if Kevin Costner isn't in it? KIDS PLAYING BALL (03:05) Little Big League Bad News Bears...

In 1989 director Rowdy Herrington made a modern western about bar bouncers.  It had mediocre success at the box office, but titillated audiences for years to come via home video and cable television.  Road House is an unrivaled blend of lust, romance, and explosions that grips viewers by the throat and doesn't let go 'til it's ripped from their bodies.   Matt and Kate join the show...

The first Disney film to feature a cuss word, and the first film to feature Robin Williams (and Linda Hunt if we're keeping score). It's Popeye, the 1980 musical comedy by Robert Altman.  In this episode we visit the island of Malta to delve into what movie Altman was trying to make, where Swee'Pea's psychic powers came from, and whether or not you should ship Popeye and Olive...

The first Disney film to boldly go where no Disney film had ever gone before, from G… to PG. On the island of sci-fi garbage floating in space, this film stands above all, as the junkiest of junk sci-fi encased in a trash compactor robot! In this episode, our host and guest are reminded of books on vinyl, badass robots, smartass robots, busted ass robots, Daft Punk robots and… The Kids in the Hall...

The 2022 NBA Draft is days away, but we couldn't wait to draft our own group of basketball's best from the wonderful world of cinema.  Our GMs break down what makes a great basketball movie star and go way back to select blue chippers and coaches from Hoosiers to Hustle.  Which team will win this Fictional Final Four? email: openmicmovies@latertaterfilms.com website: openmicmovies.buzzsp...

Hang up your suit pants and break out some Italian dressing, it's time for some movie talk.  In this episode Sean is joined by Matt, Luke and Mike to discuss the 1990 crime comedy 'My Blue Heaven', starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Joan Cusack.  Topics include overacting, Joan Cusack's wardrobe, Steve Martin vs. Ray Liotta, life lessons learned and Nora Ephron's turn...

On today's podcast Sean starts it off by getting something off his chest about the Oscars.  Then Jakob joins the show so they can talk about their favorite films of the 2010s (09:45).  You remember the 2010s right?  The decade of movies that happened before we were confined to our homes?   The movies we went to see in a theater and didn't stream to our TVs?  Sean and Jakob run through th...

In honor of March Madness we saddle up for another drunken brawl between 2 greats in the pantheon of sports movies.  Matt, Brian, and the 2 Mikes join the podcast for a few too many drinks and several dumb arguments about basketball movie supremacy. It's the 1996 Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny vehicle 'Space Jam' vs. the 1992 ode to streetball 'White Men Can't Jump' st...

Pour out some liquor for Baby Diego, we’re going to 2027.  After some suggestions for romantic Valentines Day movies (2:00) Sean and Jakob unpack a dystopic thriller from 2006.  It’s Alfonso Cuarón’s ’Children of Men’ starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Charlie Hunnam.  Topics include world building, strong females, death pills, fake babie...

Parody of movie scene with half baked podcast humor, followed by marginally insightful group discussion on hyper niche film (0:00).  Desperate appeal to audience through game featuring mainstream movie (1:06:20). email: openmicmovies@latertaterfilms.com website: openmicmovies.buzzsprout.com