Movie Schmovie

Ron, Steve, and John fall in love with inventive rom-com Rye Lane, get heavy with disturbing drama Palm Trees and Power Lines, and shout their mystical catchphrases to access all their analytical superpowers for a discussion of Shazam: Fury of the Gods.

Ron, Steve, and John talk about a bevy of recent releases, including the latest John Wick fightfest and this week's Required Viewing selection, Operation Fortune.

Ron, Steve, and John look back to 2004 to diagnose a British TV show with a cult following, Garth Merenghi's Darkplace. Then Ron and John offer some totally spoiler-free thoughts about much anticipated horror sequel Scream VI, which is in theaters now!

Ron, Steve, and John get back in the ring to defend their Niftiest Podcast title with an unbeatable combo of recent-ish dramas: Australian thriller The Dry (2020), Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut, Creed III, and the emotionally immersive film Return to Seoul.

Join us in The Podcast Realm! Ron, Steve, and John all generally enjoyed the latest MCU entry, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, even as it's seen by many as another step in the franchise's creative decline. What's up? Why is this movie so divisive? Quality control, longterm stakes, Jonathan Majors and more is discussed, all in this ant-sized episode.

Ron picked Ghostwatch, a British mockumentary/found footage/genre experiment from 1992, as this week's Required Viewing. After discussing that, the guys movie on to socially conscious rom-com You People on Netflix, and then a few other things that have been catching their eyes.

For this week's Required Viewing, John picked Francis Ford Coppola's paranoid thriller from 1974, The Conversation, featuring a riveting Gene Hackman performance. Then the guys move on to a movie that's in theaters today: M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin (adapted from the disturbing and engrossing novel, The Cabin at the End of the World, by Paul Tremblay).

This week's Required Viewing segment is devoted to a violent and propulsive French political thriller from last year, Athena. Ron, Steve, and John also chat about Oscar noms and a few other films and streaming series that have crossed their paths recently.

Ron, Steve, and John unearth an obscure little movie called The Godfather for this week's Required Viewing selection, and they recommend you check out this hidden gem! HBO's brand-new video game adaptation, The Last of Us, is also discussed. It's a podcast you can't refuse.

For the first time since January 2020, Ron, Steve, and John are looking at the last year's films in review, with each providing a list of their personal top ten. It's an exciting time because lists, as we all know, are inherently important, and also because 2022 was a great year for movies. But mostly the list thing.

What exactly are rich assholes doing behind closed doors, when we don't see them out on their yachts or racing hot air balloons? Ron, Steve, and John take a look at a trio of movies that offer possible answers: Brian Yuzna's wild 1989 body horror social satire, Society; Mark Mylod's delectable black comedy with a message, The Menu; and the latest star-studded Benoit Blanc mystery from Rian Johnson, Glass Onion.

In anticipation of the brand-new sequel, Ron, Steve, and John beam their personalities into tall, skinny, hairless cat-people to see what James Cameron's Avatar looks like 13 years later. They also chat about a few other things, like Steven Spielberg's highly personal new film, The Fabelmans, as well as the latest news from the chaos that is the DCU.

Ron, Steve, and John watch Isaac Hayes's star turn in Truck Turner, from 1974, in hopes of finding out who's a poot butt and who's not. Then they look back on 2022's glut of quality streaming television and pick their favorite from each major platform. This is a great episode for new listeners and a nice reminder for longtimers.

Ron, Steve, and John rent a room in Mrs. Wilberforce's house so they can keep an eye on Alec Guinness's band of luckless dimwit crooks in the 1955 Ealing Studio black comedy The Ladykillers, and then everyone opens up their Rebel Manifesto to the same page to discuss the implications and qualities of bold new Star Wars series Andor. Podcasts don't panic.

Ron, Steve, and John give thanks for one of the most iconic road movies of all time, which also happens to be one of the funniest buddy comedies, which is also the leading case for why the world is poorer without John Candy in it: John Hughes's Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Are you a Neal or a Del? The answer isn't in this podcast, but it is in your heart.

Ron, Steve, and John did it again! They set up their microphones and talked about movies and television and everything. Topics include the first Terrifier, from 2016; A look back at Donald Glover's important and excellent 'Atlanta'; and other recent watches and bits of industry news. This might be the most impactful listen of your life.

Ron, Steve, and John are back to talk about the 1997 Dave Foley comedy vehicle, The Wrong Guy; satirical biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,; the new Ryan Reynolds/Will Ferrell holiday flick, Spirited; and the MCU's latest and greatest attempt to bring weight to Phase 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever! Wow, how do they do it?

Ron, Steve and John are back to discuss Steve's Required Viewing pick, the bloody genre-bent western known as Ravenous. They've also all seen hot-button horror film Barbarian, and compare notes on its creative structure and terrific cast.

The guys snort a little voodoo powder and discuss Wes Craven's 1988 thriller, The Serpent and the Rainbow. Then it's time to look back on the first season of HBO's hit House of the Dragon in a spoiler-filled chat.

This week the guys have watched Magic, the psychological thriller from 1978 starring Anthony Hopkins, Ann Margret, Burgess Meredith and a dummy named Fats; Billy Eichner's new starring vehicle/rom-com, Bros; and the divisive capper to David Gordon Green's horror reboot trilogy, Halloween Ends. Listen in to hear their thoughts!