For their 178th episode, two non-Austrian film critics, two log-carrying dads, and two rocket-launching teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, kick off the beginning of a recurring side series of films described as a "Tight 90." In today's era of exhausting epics and effusive directors' cuts, Will and Don celebrate movies that nailed their purpose and entertainment value in 90 minutes or less. Their first feature is the Arnold Schwarzenegger action favorite Commando from 1985, a movie that packs punches, explosions, and montages, all in a tidy time.
Read MoreFor their 177th episode, two racket-tightening film critics, two titillated dads, and two sweaty teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, circle back to earlier in 2024 to watch more than just tennis balls being hit back and forth in the Luca Guadagnino's mainstream breakout hit Challengers. Our guys debate trying to say great things about a very good movie and whether or not the love triangle between Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor was hot enough to warrant the hype.
Read MoreFor their 176th episode, two hungover film critics, two jug-filling dads, and two stuttering teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, pop a few aspirins and take it back to 1995 to talk about Die Hard with a Vengeance. Our hosts sing the praises of the addition of Samuel L. Jackson and debate the possible difference between "favorite" and "best" when it comes to ranking the Die Hard series.
Read Moreor their 175th episode, two buff film critics, two gossipy dads, and two romantic teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, found themselves smitten recently with last year’s runaway hit Anyone But You. Many have called this Sydney Sweeney/Glen Powell vehicle the return of the big-screen rom-com. Our hosts have been doing their homework on that genre this year and are happy to weigh in.
Read MoreFor their 174th episode, two roughneck film critics, two bioluminescent dads, and two teachers with the bends, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, venture below the waves to the deep trench of James Cameron hallmarks that compose The Abyss, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. They pull out all the oxygen tanks and “water weenies” out for a good show.
Read MoreFor their 173rd episode, two space trucker film critics, two face-hugged dads, and two android school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back their returning favorite guest Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front for the second appearance of two back-to-back shows. They collaborate to evaluate the hotly anticipated late summer blockbuster hopeful Alien: Romulus. Is this another dead horse beaten in space or should we be able to hear the screams?
Read MoreFor their 172nd episode, two possessed film critics, two hot-and-bothered dads, and two demonic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back their returning favorite guest Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front for the first of a pair of episodes. This show hops into the land of Lovecraftian horror with the 2023 Heather Graham vehicle Suitable Flesh. The three miss this kind of bloody sizzle.
Read MoreFor their 171st episode, two virile film critics, two amphibian dads, and two chastity-belted school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, return for another episode in their "Trippin' on Cinema" sub-series. This time around, they went with the late-night schlock of Hell Comes to Frogtown starring the late Hall of Fame professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Our guys will have their love move the Rotten Tomatoes needle on this one.
Read MoreFor their 170th episode, two primate film critics, two post-apocalyptic dads, and two tenet-loving school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, circle back to a film they missed together in the form of the early 2024 summer blockbuster Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. They circled the calendar for this one after their series on the reboot trilogy and made sure to see and talk about how this new trilogy starter played.
Read MoreFor their 169th episode, two volcanic film critics, two ash-covered dads, and two pyroclastic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back film critic and “And The Winner Was…” podcast host Joel Winstead for his second consecutive guest spot. Turning back the clock to 1997, the trio dove into the hot lava that was the double feature of Dante's Peak and Volcano. Cheese melts as hot as magma!
Read MoreFor their 169th episode, two volcanic film critics, two ash-covered dads, and two pyroclastic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back film critic and “And The Winner Was…” podcast host Joel Winstead for his second consecutive guest spot. Turning back the clock to 1997, the trio dove into the hot lava that was the double feature of Dante's Peak and Volcano. Cheese melts as hot as magma!
Read MoreFor their 167th episode, two reflective critics, two non-Dad Movie dads, and two thankful school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, conclude their three-episode arc discussing Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This final portion split from a long recording talking about The Return of the King goes on to measure the series's cinematic and cultural impact and whether or not we'll ever see a winning level of epic hubris like this again. Like The Return of the King itself, one "final question" climax for this podcast episode turns into four or five.
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