The Freshman Fifteen

Jeremy and Daniel count down their ten favorite freshman films of all time in part one of this special event episode. From the classic to the obscure, the boys discuss their #10-#6 picks and why those films should be watched and rewatched by all.

Episode eleven. Daniel and Jeremy are back to talk about the freshman film of auteur director Paul Thomas Anderson, 1996's Hard Eight. Jeremy describes what it's like to sit next to P.T. Anderson at a Tarantino film while Daniel recounts chasing PTA through Long Beach in the hopes of scoring a hug. Also, the boys ask one of the fundamental questions of art: how much interpreting should an artist e...

Ho ho ho! In their wassail-flavored Christmas Special, Daniel and Jeremy each recommend a yuletide film best enjoyed during the holiday season. From Christmas dishes gone sideways to the anti-consumerist hypocrisy of Charlie Brown, our hosts go full mistletoe before sharing two films sure to spark a little holiday cheer. Or paranoia. Or creative solitude.

Episode 10! It's Wes Anderson's turn for the Freshman Fifteen treatment as Daniel and Jeremy discuss his very first feature film, 1996's Bottle Rocket. Jeremy describes the crew-punishing hardships of shooting in a "Wes Anderson style," while Daniel pleads with cynical Anderson detractors to let Wes tear their hearts out. Finally: is Anderson the filmmaker the world needs most right now?

It's Episode 9 and this time around, Jeremy and Daniel scrape the bottom of the discount bin to ring up Clerks, the 1994 freshman film of the always-controversial Kevin Smith. Daniel questions whether every life story is film-worthy while Jeremy struggles to stay measured and rational while discussing a film he despises so deeply. Also, the boys ponder the relationship between artist and audience....

For this Election Special, Daniel and Jeremy each recommend films with a political bent to soothe and distract from the stress and intensity of this season's Presidential Election. If you can't wait for this unending race to be over and done with, you're not alone. So why not take in a film or two before (or after) you head to the polls?

Up for discussion in Episode 8: the king of the sci-fi franchise, George Lucas (and his 1972 freshman film, THX 1138). Jeremy warns listeners that, once heard, DVD director commentaries can never be unheard, while Daniel wrestles with the definition of "completist." Finally, at what age does an artist create his or her best, most essential work? And while we're at it, what's the purpose...

For their spooktacular Halloween Special, Daniel and Jeremy each recommend a film best enjoyed during the Halloween season. From severed limbs on front lawns to homemade costumes gone awry, the hosts with the most discuss all things bump-in-the-night before eventually getting around to recommending two dark and creepy classics.

In episode seven, the boys are keen to discuss the macabre, 90s-pop freshman film of director Danny Boyle: Shallow Grave. Daniel makes the case that sometimes effective filmic violence is more about what you hear and less about what you see, while Jeremy laments his outcast status in his own generation. Also: are the brightest, most colorful stories sometimes secretly the darkest?

For the sixth episode, our hosts take a glamorous, sparkle-laden look at Baz Lurhmann's first film, 1992's Strictly Ballroom. Jeremy admits his own wedding turned out to be a Bazmark Production while Daniel wrestles with the conundrum of The Hemingway Boner and the risk of staying true to one's personal artistic expression. Finally, the boys explore the question of cynicism: how helpful is it when...

It's episode five, and our hosts fix their gaze on the franchise sequel Alien 3, the freshman feature of director David Fincher. Daniel opens the floodgates with a discussion of contemporary feminism while Jeremy plumbs the depths of cinematic theology. It's an anything-goes grab-bag of Fincher fanaticism, best-of lists and Sequel Theory 101. Also, the big question: is Ellen Ripley the embodiment...

The fourth freshman film up for discussion is Sam Mendes' 1999 award winner, American Beauty. Our hosts break with tradition with a no-holds-barred criticism of its questionable themes and message. Jeremy sows seeds of marital discord in his own home while Daniel offers thoughts on what not to do after narrowly avoiding coital contact with a minor. Also, the boys ask the most confounding question...

For their special Back to School episode, Daniel and Jeremy each recommend a beloved school-themed film. Pencils, erasers, Trapper Keepers and the magic of John Hughes pervade the spirit of this particular F-15 discussion, even if neither of our hosts' recommended school flicks happen to be freshman films.

The third episode finds Jeremy and Daniel discussing Steven Spielberg's freshman film, Duel. How did a made-for-tv movie about a hapless salesman and a murder-crazed trucker launch the career of the most successful filmmaker of all time? True to form, Jeremy romanticizes his Spielberg-saturated childhood while Daniel shares his approach to dealing with freeway harassment. Finally, our hosts offer...

Jeremy and Daniel discuss Rob Reiner's freshman film, This is Spinal Tap: what worked about the film, what didn't and why it went on to be one of the most influential comedies of all time. Jeremy waxes on about his youth, misspent trying to understand what makes something "funny," while Daniel pulls no punches when it comes to his thoughts on late-period Rob Reiner. Also, our hosts tackl...

In the first episode, Jeremy and Daniel discuss The Coen Brothers' freshman film, Blood Simple. What's great (which is a lot), what's not (which isn't much) and how the Coens fared as filmmakers on their very first feature. Our hosts explore themes and techniques employed by the Coens throughout their oeuvre and eventually ask the age-old question "How do artists do what they do?"