This week, we're back in Carl's happy place with the big TC as he partners up with Cameron Diaz in James Mangold's 2010 globetrotting action adventure comedy which sees a woman get mixed up with a disgraced spy trying to clear his name - Megawatt smiles and roof running ensues - it's Knight and Day!
We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week it's a return of a favourite as Carl has to complete the gold run in Tom Cruise Blockbusters.
(00:00:00) Theme song and welcome
(00:02:00) Chit Chat
(00:06:30) Unveil the Ale!
(00:08:28) First impressions of Knight & Day
(00:12:10) The Production - Mangold, Stunts and a terrible title
(00:38:52) The Plot - McGuffin, a waste of Dano
(00:57:20) The Game - Tom Cruise Blockbusters
(01:01:30) The Cast - Shirtless TC, Cameron D, Father Ted
(01:11:14) Recasting
(01:18:25) Any Changes?
(01:22:47) This is why you're wrong
(01:27:50) Next Time and Goodbye
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It's the end of 2025 so we look back on our film watching from the year and talk favourites, disappointments, biggest movers and losers, plus we unveil, not just an ale, but our brand new theme tune!
Happy New Year!
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We've only gone and got the kids on! Why? We're not sure. But it's here, there's a song, there's a game, and they had a good time, bless them.
We discuss the Mel Smith voiced Raymond Briggs story that is Father Christmas.
It's Christmas week, and what better way to lead up to the big day itself than gather all our friends (traditional and podcast) to submit their top 5 Christmas movies and pull together the ultimate Top 5 Christmas movie list?
There are games, there are songs, plus the usual nonsense, before we end with the community top 5 Christmas movies.
A huge thanks to all those who submitted their lists and recordings to us:
Adam Richmond from Movies You Forgot You Forgot @errorofways
Heather @Heatherjstewart
Damon from The Neverending Watchlist @neverendingwl.bsky.social
Andrew Corns from The Revisionist Almanac@Revalmanac
John Rain from Smershpod @smershpod.com
Klarissa Beckstead from I've Seen That One @iveseenthatone
Kieran B and the gang from Best Picture Cast @bestpicturecast.bsky.social
Everett Mansur @watchthisfilmblog
Chris at Queerhorrorcove
Daragh @daraghnolan on Letterboxd
(00:00:00) Welcome!
(00:01:00) The return of Schindler's List and chit chat
(00:04:50) Unveil the Ale
(00:05:46) Top 5: Will, Niamh and Adam Richmond
(00:27:40) Top 5: Jess, Carl's Mum and Heather Stewart
(00:42:30) Game 1: Christmas Blockbusters
(00:47:54) Top 5: Martin, Sam, Johnny and Damon Carter
(01:05:51) Top 5: Everett, Jamie and Andrew Corns
(01:17:02) Top 5: Chris, Steve Z and John Rain
(01:24:42) Game 2: (Let's Come) Together at Christmas Time
(01:41:17) Top 5: Daragh Nolan, Owen and Klarissa Beckstead
(01:50:00) Top 5: Emma (the wife), Kate and Best Picture Cast gang
(02:04:30) Die Hard Know It's Christmas Time
(02:07:00) Carl and Simon's Top 5 Christmas Movies
(02:15:30) Reveal of the Community Top 5 Christmas Movies
(02:17:58) Goodbye and (Let's Rock) Together at Christmas Time song outro
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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This week we have not one but two Christmas Classics to get you into a festive fervour. Next up is the magical Muppets, teaming up with Michael Caine to produce one of THE definitive Christmas movies.
We think it's a classic, but from two very different angles...do you agree?
We deep dive into production, plot and cast as well as detouring into another silly game to test Carl's Christmas knowledge, and Simon's humming skills.
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This week we have not one but two Christmas Classics to get you into a festive fervour. First up it's a Christmas sequel and one we think deserves the title of classic, even if it does expose us to Donald Trump - It's HOME ALONE 2 - Lost in New York.
We both love it, but does it top the original?
We deep dive into production, plot and cast as well as detouring into another silly game to test Carl's Christmas knowledge, with Home a Lower or Higher.
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Ho ho ho....ly shit, it's episode of 5 of our Mashflix & Chill series and we've only gone and gotten one of our favourite podcasters to join us...all the way from Watford via Smershpod, it's John Rain!
If you mash Robocop and Planes, Trains and Automobiles together do you really get Jingle All The Way?
Join Carl, Simon and John as they talk home towns, shagging cartoon characters and premature death...and plenty of other cheery stuff! Plus there is of course a game based loosely on Family Fortunes / Family Feud (region dependent).
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This week, we kick off December with a 2011 Christmas movie, which see's Santa's clumsy son set out on a mission with his grandfather to right a wrong and ensure a young girlgets her present on time - supersonic sleighs and rheumatoid ridden reindeer ensue - it's Arthur Christmas!
We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week Carl has to identify the Christmas movies from only half the information.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Welcome and chit chat
(00:09:20) Unveil the Christmas Ale and glasses!
(00:11:18) Introduction to the film and SFPS
(00:16:10) Production - What does an animation director do?
(00:33:55) The Game - Arfa Christmas
(00:46:35) Carl's rant on alternative Christmas movies
(00:50:30) The Plot - Carl likes Christmas...don't you know?
(01:04:30) The Cast - Hit and miss?
(01:11:54) Recasting
(01:18:25) Any changes?
(01:23:25) This is why you're wrong and any new Christmas films?
(01:29:27) Wrap up and goodbye!
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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This week, we look back on the episodes released in the last month (Road to Perdition, The Nice Guys and Back to the Future) and discuss anything we missed, some listener feedback and discuss some data. Daddy issues, drinking problems and more daddy issues ensure ensue - it's the Movie The Needle NOVEMBER 2025 Retro!
We do a top 3 movie bastards list, induct more movies into the Movie The Needle Classics Collection and open up our Director's Hall of Fame. Let us know your submissions!
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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This week it's back to the 80's, then back to the 50's then back again to the 80's as we join Marty McFly and Doc Brown on their exploration of horny mums and GREAT SCOTTs...It' Back to the Future!
(00:00:00) Welcome and chit chat
(00:13:15) Inter-podcast beef!
(00:18:58) Unveil the ale (part 1)
(00:19:47) Introduce the film on the SFPS
(00:22:20) Production - love for 80's America and more!
(00:49:13) The Game - GREAT SCOTT!
(00:58:00) The plot - simple...too simple?
(01:13:45) The cast - Michael J Fox love in
(01:22:12) Recasting - how to recast iconic characters?
(01:31:00) Unveil the Ale (part 2)
(01:31:40) Any changes?
(01:34:15) Is it a classic?
(01:34:40) Close out / Stupid goodbye
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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Episode of 4 of our Mashflix & Chill series continues with Andrew Corns joining us from The Revisionist's Almanac!
If you mash The Big Lebowski and Lethal Weapon together do you really get The Nice Guys?
Join Carl, Simon and Andrew as they talk nice guys, nice boobs, and...well...c**ts. There's also a game with no logical flaws whatsoever, that Carl definitely didn't take issue with.
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTNFollow us on Bluesky (@mtnmoviepod.bsky.social)Follow us on Facebook (mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Instagram (@mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Twitter (@mtnmoviepod)Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (@movietheneedle)Let us know what you think: hello@mtnpod.com
This week Carl and Simon hit the road...to Perdition!
We finally get to Sir Sam Mendes' 2002 period gangster drama which sees a mob enforcer's son in 1930'sIllinois witness a murder, forcing him and his father to take to the road, and his father down a path of redemption and revenge . Rain soaked hats and blood soaked overcoats ensue!
We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week Carl has to guess the pretentious movie from the pretentious clues!
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Welcome and chit chat(00:07:58) Unveil the ale!(00:09:11) Rating RTP on the SFPS
(00:11:50) The Production - voiceovers!
(00:34:12) The Game - Road to Pretention
(00:43:21) The Plot - Is it deep?
(01:15:28) The Cast - Sausage fest
(01:30:26) Recasting - Thomas J Hanks alternatives and more
(01:39:52) Any Changes? De-heistifying and muting voiceovers
(01:44:20) This is why you're wrong - Closing arguments and verdict
(01:50:05) Wrap-up and rude yawning
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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This week, we look back on the episodes released in the last month (Scream, Joker and Jaws) and discuss anything we missed, some listener feedback and discuss some data. Scary masks, clowns, sharks and opinions ensue - it's the Movie The Needle OCTOBER 2025 Retro!
We do a top 3 scary movies list, induct more movies into the Movie The Needle Classics Collection and open up our Director's Hall of Fame. Let us know your submissions!
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
00:00:00 Welcome (and Carl has his mic the wrong way round)
00:11:20 What we've watched this month
00:30:18 Unveil the Ale!
00:31:10 General apologies
00:34:13 Scream Retro - Scary Movie comparison and peanut smuggling
00:50:55 Joker Retro - A look back at our Mashflix and Chill episode
01:01:11 The game - Blind Ranking Northern Irish Horror
01:06:59 Jaws Retro - A look back on our classic
01:17:50 Jaws recasting mop-up
01:19:30 Top 3 Scary Movies
01:25:19 Ranking on screen beers
01:28:25 Movie The Needle Classics Collection
01:36:25 Director Hall of Fame
01:45:50 Wrap-up
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Our third Movie the Needle Classics Collection episode and confusingly our 6th Date Night episode, where Carl and Simon haphazardly dissect one of the movies that we have previously inducted into our MTN Classics Collection which they also happen to have seen together at a local movie theatre.
This week, it's a dip back into Spielberg's sack to explore the 1975's monster horror which sees a massive killer shark unleash chaos on a beach community off Long Island, andit's up to the local police chief, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. Chumming and dur durring ensues…It's Jaws!
We deep dive into all things production, plot and (voice) cast.
There's also the obligatory game and terrible theme song seamlessly recycled from a previous episode...it's not laziness, it's efficiency!
00:00:00 Welcome
00:12:59 Unveil The Ale
00:14:40 Introduction to Jaws - What we think
00:18:09 Production
00:36:49 The Game - Spielberg Blockbusters part deux
00:42:00 The Plot
00:56:35 The Cast
01:05:55 Any changes?
01:09:52 Wrap-up and your mum
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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Episode of 3 of our Mashflix & Chill series continues with Damon Carter joining us from The Neverending Watchlist!
If you mash The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver together do you really get Joker?
Join Carl and Simon as they discuss the mashup with Damon, explore alternatives and commit a mashup to the Filmily Tree.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Sad News...and Intro to Damon
(00:11:16) The Mashed - Our thoughts on Taxi Driver and TKOC
(00:24:02) The Mash - Our initial thoughts on Joker
(00:32:39) Production - Todd Phillips Gaming the system
(00:55:36) Plot - Common threads
(01:18:25) The Game - The Winner Takes It All
(01:30:46) Cast - Phoenix brilliance and recasting
(01:49:49) Mashflix & Chill - Does the mashup work?
(02:03:47) Wrap-up
You can listen to Damon's podcast The Neverending Watchlist, wherever podcasts are found!
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTNFollow us on Bluesky (@mtnmoviepod.bsky.social)Follow us on Facebook (mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Instagram (@mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Twitter (@mtnmoviepod)Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (@movietheneedle)Let us know what you think: hello@mtnpod.com
Carl and Simon dip their toe in the water of horror, as we ramp up towards the Halloween time of year as we tackle the 1996 movie Scream. One of them likes it, one of them doesn't - listen to see where they end up!
We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week Carl has to guess the movie Scream (and Shout) from a clip.
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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This week, we look back on the episodes released in the last month (The Sting, The Nice Guys And Toy Story) and discuss anything we missed, some listener feedback and discuss some data. We also find the time to appreciate the legend that is Robert Redford. Ploys, boys and toys ensue - it's the Movie The Needle AUGUST 2025 Retro!
As well as our top 3 Redford movies we do a top 3 buddy movies list, and induct more movies into the Movie The Needle Classics Collection. Let us know your submissions!
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Our second classic episode sees us delving deep into the toy chest and having some fun with our favourite (and first!) computer generated animation - TOY STORY!
We deep dive into all things production, plot and (voice) cast.
There's also the obligatory game and terrible theme song named after finding Woody in your bed when you wake up!
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We continue our Mashflix & Chill series with Heather Stewart from (seemingly) ALL of your favourite movie podcasts!
If you mash Ocean's Eleven and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid together do you really get The Sting?
Join us as we discuss it, some alternatives, and then add a mashup to our Filmily Tree.
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTNFollow us on Bluesky (@mtnmoviepod.bsky.social)Follow us on Facebook (mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Instagram (@mtnmoviepod)Follow us on Twitter (@mtnmoviepod)Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (@movietheneedle)Let us know what you think: hello@mtnpod.com
This week, it's Life of Pi all over again, as instead of the previously billed Road to Perdition, it's Shane Black's 2016 comedy/neo-noir mashup, The Nice Guys! It's just SO funny!
We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week we play Nice Guys finish last, linked to box office turkeys.
You can read our reviews of other movies on Letterboxd - Look for CarlMTN and SiMTN
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