The Hold Up

It's been several years waiting in the wings, but at long last one of our most requested movies is here.  Long time listener, Robin, joins The Johns to watch the 1983 tech thriller starring Matthew Broderick: War Games.  Will it win the battle?  Or will the only way to win be not to (press) play?  Listen and find out!

No.  Not the Woody Allen one.  Mixing it up this month, Nelson brings out a bizarre made for TV movie from his childhood: Ants aka It Happened At Lakewood Manor.  Will The Johns survive the ant onslaught?  Or will they be buried alive?  Listen and find out!

The Johns catch up on some emails before diving into the trippy, thriller, sci fi, noir, fever dream: Dark City.  Will they find Shell Beach?  Or will they be put to sleep?  Listen and find out!

John has never seen the movie musical, Hair. Other John has also never seen the movie musical, Hair. Author and film historian, Ray Morton, has seen and adores the movie musical, Hair.  Hair hair hair hair hair hair hair hair hair!!! Come join us as we watch Hair.  Will it twinkle above us?  Listen and find out!

It's been a busy month for The Johns.  In fact, it's been so busy that they damn near forgot to publish March's episode, Rhinestone.  D'oh!  Apologies for the delay.  Will this NYC meets country romp with Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton be worthy of the Grand Ole Opry?  Or will it boot scootin' boogie it's way into the halls of shame?  Listen and find out!

What do you get when you combine 80s Satanic Panic with a low budget, crazy mood lighting and child actors, not to mention some wild stuff with a dog?  You get The Gate.  This month The Johns delve deep into a big hole in the backyard.  Will it fill them with wonder or leave an empty pit in their stomaches?  Listen and find out!

Happy New... well, let's move on. For the first flick of 2026, the Johns are wandering into chatty 90s indie film territory with "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead!" Will a stacked cast and witty banter give this film an edge? Or will it fall prey to Tarantino Imposter Syndrome? Listen and find out!

Happy holidays!  To ring in the spirit of cheer, The Johns watch the 1994 holiday dark comedy, The Ref.  Will this Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis movie escape from the cops?  Or will it end up behind bars?  Listen and find out!

It's time to class up the joint.  This month The Johns are joined by two very special guests: Producer/Editor Glenn Morgan and Screenwriter/Film Historian Ray Morton.  The Holdup continues its dive into the silent film era with a viewing of the 1924 infamous work of filmmaker Erich von Stroheim: Greed. Glenn provides a first hand account of the 1999 narrative reconstruction he edited for Turner Cl...

MORGAN!  Happy October, Morgan!  The annual tradition continues as The Johns are joined by writer/director Alison Star Locke to watch the 60s horror classic, The Last Man On Earth, starring Vincent Price.  Will the film endure the nightmare future it now finds itself in?  Or will it suck worse than a zombie vampire.  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns take a trip down Lover's Lane to watch a formative film in Longino's relationship, Run Fatboy Run.  And we take some time to discuss listener feedback to our episode on Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush.  Will Run Fatboy Run win the race?  Or will it gasp for air?  Listen and find out!

Happy 10 Year Anniversary to The Hold Up Podcast!  That's right.  The Johns have been hosting this show for a decade.  To celebrate, Nelson decided to watch a 100 year old film: Carlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush.  Will The Johns be silent with awe?  Or silent with disgust?  Listen and find out!

For July, Longino brings forth the Jackie Chan kung fu comedy classic, Mr. Nice Guy.  Having never seen it, will Nelson give a thumbs up (after surviving a death defying stunt) or will he simply die in agony?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns are joined by Editor Josh Lentz and filmmaker Alison Star Locke to watch an artifact from the 80s: The Wraith.  Will this Charlie Sheen ghost car chase film of murder and revenge win the race or will it crash and burn?  Listen and find out!

He listened, he emailed, and now he's here!  Following our episode on Sister Act last month, Tyler now joins us to watch Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit.  Will getting the band back together knock our rosaries off?  Or will we enter the confessional of regret?  Listen and find out!

After a bit of a delay, our April episode is here!  Enjoy as The Johns watch the Whoopi Goldberg 90s comedy, Sister Act.  Will it shine like heaven or will The Johns be having nun of it?  Listen and find out!

Our April episode is running a little behind and will release later this month.  But thankfully we had this special Catch Up episode waiting in the wings, so please enjoy!  For the long awaited return of The Catch Up, we celebrate Nelson's birthday and watch John Wick Chapter.  And we hit a guest record!  Joining us is Alison Star Locke, Dirk Voteberg, Josh Lentz, Trever Carlee, Nick North and at...

Bad Lieutenant fever continues for the month of March as The Johns watch Bad Lieutenant Port Of Call New Orleans.  Will we go to iguana heaven or overdose on the absurdity?  Listen and find out!

This month The Johns forsake decorum, dignity and even Jesus Christ, himself, to watch the 90s Abel Ferrara directed Harvey Keitel bender: Bad Lieutenant.  Will the madness live up to Nelson's memory?  And will Longino inject this movie directly into his veins?  Listen and and out!  And stay tuned next month when we watch the pseudo sequel from Werner Herzog: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orlea...

Happy New Year! The Johns ring in 2025 with Hedwig and the Angry Inch! Will this early 2000's tale of gender fluidity prove a story for all time, or does it belong in the past? Listen and find out!

Happy holidays!  As a nice bonus we are pleased to present a special episode and longtime listener request where we watch Trancers.  Enjoy!

Happy December!  We're taking it (mostly) easy this month, but stay tuned for a special episode coming soon.  Meanwhile, The Johns take in as much December cheer as they can with Don Bluth's The Secret Of Nimh.  Will we find shelter or die from sickness?  Listen and find out!

Hey hey hey!  Happy Election Month!  isn't everyone EXCITED?!?  Uuuuggggggghhhhhhh.  As is Hold Up Podcast tradition during presidential election season, we watched a political film.  This time it's Primary Colors, the late 90s dramedy from Mike Nichols that's definitely not about the Clintons, wink wink wink.  Will it win the race or suffer a humiliating defeat?  Listen and find out!

Happy halloween!  This month, as is Halloween tradition, we are joined by writer/director Alison Star Locke to watch the 2005 Australian horror slasher: Wolf Creek.  Will we bite it in the outback, or survive to tell our tale?  Listen and find out!

The Johns have but one question for you this September.  ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?  This month, in anticipation of a sequel dropping very soon, we're watching the year 2000 Ridley Scott swords and sandals epic: Gladiator.  Will it, quite literally, get a thumbs up or thumbs down?  Listen and find out!