There and Back Again & Again

It’s all been leading to this: The Avengers (2012), the team-up that changed superhero movies forever. Join us as we revisit the moment Earth’s Mightiest Heroes actually became a team after some fun banter, astronomical arguments, Loki mischief, and one very tense helicarrier scene. We talk space portals, sad send-offs, Hulking out, and the now-iconic circle shot that made fans everywhere come bac...

We could do this all day! Grab your shield, your moral compass, and your best friend because we're heading back to WWII for Captain America: The First Avenger. We discuss Steve Rogers' transformation from scrawny kid with a dream to literal super soldier, and whether this old-fashioned origin story still hits as hard as a Brooklyn left hook. From Hydra's insanity to unmatched bravery,...

We journey to Asgard and also to New Mexico for Marvel’s first film of 2011, Thor. Join us as we explore the god of thunder’s first swing of Mjölnir, the MCU’s plunge into myth and magic, and the subtle art of Shakespeare in space. From Loki’s mischief to Dutch angles galore, we unpack whether this cosmic tale sticks the landing or just kind of takes a dive off of the Bifrost.

This week, we suit up for Iron Man 2, the chaotic cocktail of father-son issues, government pressure, palladium poisoning, and a birthday party that truly rocks the house. We dig into the film that gave us a new Rhodey, severe Whiplash, a lot of Justin Hammer energy, and the unforgettable debut of Natasha Romanoff. Join us as we talk legacies, lasers, and the donut shop where Tony Stark gets Fury-...

In this gamma-radiated rewatch, Brendan and Sean revisit the MCU's green sheep of the family, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk . Join us as we unpack Edward Norton’s brief stint as Bruce Banner, debate whether this film deserves more credit (or less), and wonder aloud what the MCU was thinking during this period of Phase One. From the storytelling choices to the Harlem smackdown to Tim Roth’s Adomin...

We built this episode in a studio! With a box of takes!! Join Brendan and Sean as they go all the way back to the film that started it all. From the somewhat controversial casting of Robert Downey Jr to the tone set by making Iron Man the first/central character of the MCU, the hosts unpack Tony Stark's arc from billionaire playboy to superhero. He is Iron Man.

Listeners assemble! This week, Sean and Brendan kick off their rewatch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Infinity Saga. From Iron Man to Endgame, they set the stage for what makes this 23-film saga a pop culture phenomenon. We share our thoughts on standout heroes, key story arcs, and how Marvel built a shared universe like no other. Whether you're a longtime fan or jumping in for the first ti...

It’s our 100th episode! To mark the milestone, Brendan and Sean take on the ultimate challenge: ranking every Christopher Nolan film. From Memento to Oppenheimer , they discuss plot twists, time loops, mind-bending visuals, and what truly defines a Nolan masterpiece. Expect some hot takes, strong opinions, and plenty of love for one of modern cinema’s most influential directors. Whether you’re Tea...

Houston, we have a podcast! This week, Brendan and Sean rewatch Apollo 13 and talk all things space race, Tom Hanks, and the real-life drama behind NASA’s most suspenseful mission. From unforgettable performances to Ron Howard’s gripping direction, they explore what makes this 1995 classic still launch-worthy today. Whether you’re a space buff or a fan of 90s cinema, don’t miss this nostalgic look...

If you listen to this episode... you'll be glad you did in 7 days. There is no denying that Gore Verbinski has made a name for himself in the film industry. But early in his directing career, he burst onto the scene by making moviegoers afraid to use VHS tapes anymore. Rewatch with us as we unpack one of the highest grossing horror remakes of all time!

A heist. Scratch that. Two heists. Mini-coopers. Gold. Explosives. Hackers. Disguises. Betrayal. Romance (sort of?). Car chases. Boat chases. Oscar Martinez. What do all of these things have in common? Find out as we dig into 2003 action film The Italian Job!

From the 1960s to the 1990s, there didn't seem to be a more desirable on-screen pairing than Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. And in 1995, writer/director Michael Mann accomplished just that by pitting the two against one another in the heist thriller Heat. Filled with an incredibly stacked cast, memorable lead performances, and stunning visuals of Los Angeles, this is a film that takes you on a s...

How far would you go to save your own child? What would you be willing to do? We would all like to think that we would be the hero of the story. Every once in a while, a film comes around that causes us to question what we would do in a desperate scenario. In 2013, that film was Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners. Join us as we breakdown the twists, the choices, and the characters of this contemplat...

Did you get enough sleep last night? Are you sure? How can you be sure? In 2002's Insomnia, Academy Award winning filmmaker, Christopher Nolan, explores the extreme importance of a good night's sleep (among other important themes and scenarios). If you have not discovered this one yet, it is certainly a hidden gem among an already celebrated filmography. Buoyed by masterful performances fr...

What does one do after making one of the most talked about films of the past decade? Well, what John Krasinski did was make a sequel. And building on the success of 2018's A Quiet Place was not an easy undertaking. Delayed by the COVID pandemic, A Quiet Place Part II was finally released in the spring of 2021 to critical and audience acclaim. The film aptly picks up right where its predecessor...

“If they hear you, they hunt you.” This unique twist on the alien invasion thriller in 2018’s A Quiet Place is that the aliens have no sight and hunt purely by sound. Survival in this distinct post-invasion world has it’s typical challenges with the added necessity of being as quiet as possible in everything you do. The Office star, John Krasinski, does everything from directing, co-writing, and s...

It has been over 25 years since M. Night Shyamalan burst onto the scene, blowing everyone’s minds with a twist whose impact would be often imitated, but never duplicated. In the words of Nate Bargatze, “If you don’t know it by now, I don’t know what to tell you.” This is a film that is difficult to categorize. Part mystery, part horror, part thriller, part family drama, The Sixth Sense is rewatcha...

What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you? Would you try? Or what if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you? Director Tony Scott and screen legend Denzel Washington attempted to answer this question in 2006 with the action thriller Deja Vu. Regardless of where yo...

In this episode, we revisit Black Hawk Down (2001), Ridley Scott’s intense war drama depicting the harrowing 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. We break down the film’s gripping realism, relentless pacing, and powerful ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, Jason Isaacs, and many others. How does the film hold up over 20 years later? Does it balance historical accur...

A film that spent almost a decade in pre-production finally found its footing with Francis Lawrence at the helm and Will Smith leading the cast. Well, for the most part, he is the cast. In 2007’s I Am Legend, Smith shows audiences what it would be like to be the last human alive in New York City after a worldwide plague. He also shows that he can really act, especially when his main screen partner...

Martin McDonagh teams up again with the acclaimed acting duo of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason for his 2022 period piece, The Banshees of Inisherin. Set during the Irish Civil War on the tiny fictional island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland, the film depicts two friends who appear to be rowin’. Well, they might be rowin’. One of them is not quite sure if they are rowin’. Regardless, the f...

Often known for his original concepts or groundbreaking adaptations, 2017 saw Christopher Nolan make his first entry into historical dramas with Dunkirk. At the time, many wondered how the filmmaker would make this well known story of the rescue of hundreds of thousands of soldiers his own. And he didn’t disappoint. Nolan once again used the plot device of time, but not in the way that many came t...

In 2017, Jordan Peele shocked the world with his first feature film, the brilliantly written and directed Get Out. Known to that point only for his comedic prowess from the sketch show Key and Peele, the rookie filmmaker won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018. A standout, Oscar-nominated performance from Daniel Kaluuya helps bring the script to life in this tense and sometimes uncomfort...

"Hello... I'm Johnny Cash." Those four words were once enough to send concert goers wild. And it's no wonder. Cash was a force to be reckoned with when he came on the scene. But his life was far from glamorous. As James Mangold's 2005 biopic shows, Cash wrestled with many demons throughout his life. Through the spot-on portrayals of Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, we...

While critically acclaimed in 2003, this naval war epic still seemed to fly under the radar of most audiences due to the accomplishments of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Despite the lack of attention from general audiences, the film still holds up extremely well. From the thrilling musical choices to the non-stop swashbuck...