Presumed Innocent had all the makings of a gripping legal thriller: a best-selling novel, Harrison Ford at his dramatic peak, and a twisty murder mystery. This 1990 courtroom drama was a major box office hit but somehow left a surprisingly faint cultural footprint. Was it too slow, too serious, or just overshadowed by slicker thrillers that followed? We dig into the performances, the plotting, and why this prestige drama feels more forgotten than it should. Patrick and Anton are joined by special guest Jay Skipworth, one of the hosts of The Film Strip Podcast!
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A House of Dynamite turns seventeen minutes of nuclear uncertainty into a Netflix thriller. Kathryn Bigelow delivers a fractured, overlapping narrative where a single anonymous missile forces the American government into a race against time—and against its own instincts. This episode digs into the film’s structure, its unsettling realism, and why it may or may not be a pointless pyramid scheme.
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Peter Jackson's follow up to his Lord of the Rings triumph was his most personal project, a remake of his favorite film. King Kong was an enormously expensive, massively hyped monster movie that performed well but has a mixed legacy twenty years later. Should it have been better? Guest Peter Baldeo returns to talk Kong.
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Pixar's latest entry has unfortunately turned out to be its biggest loser at the box office. Whether it was the delay in production, controversy around its content, or a lack of marketing, audiences flatly ignored Elio when it was released a few months ago. It's doing better on Disney+ but how does it stack up in the totality of Pixar's filmography?
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He's baaaaack! After the poorly-received bizarre third film, the studio decided to bring back Michael Myers. The fact that he died in the second film didn't matter. In what is now a yearly tradition for this podcast, guest Sean O'Connor returns to discuss Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.
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Edgar Wright’s stylish dive into psychological horror had fans buzzing — but Last Night in Soho left audiences split. Was it a bold genre experiment or a beautiful mess? Patrick and Anton unpack the film’s aesthetic highs, narrative lows, and whether it actually delivers on the scares. Guest Zion Parker returns to discuss Giallo vibes, ghost girls, and one very confused third act.
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It's gothic, it's moody, and it's kind of a mess. We sink our teeth into Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire. Tom Cruise goes full glam rock as Lestat, Brad Pitt pouts for two hours, and Kirsten Dunst steals the whole movie. We talk tonal whiplash, tragic wigs, and why this movie is equal parts fascinating and frustrating with return guest Jake Valkusky.
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Perhaps John Carpenter's finest work, The Thing may be beloved now but was completely ignored by audiences upon its release in 1982. It's a perfect choice to talk about as we get into spooky season. Guest Sean O'Connor returns to the podcast to discuss.
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They're heeeere! Does this count as a Steven Spielberg film? We like to think it does. Is Poltergeist really the horror classic that many claim, or is it somehow overrated by its fans? Guest Paul Kind is here to figure it out in the first of our 2025 spooky mini-season episodes.
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It’s been thirty years since Pierce Brosnan first suited up as 007 — and GoldenEye still hits like a tank-driving, bungee-jumping, post-Cold War reset button. After a six-year hiatus, James Bond was back with a new face, a new attitude, and a whole lot of mid-’90s tech action. Guest Kai Wang joins the podcast to revisit the film that made Bond relevant again and ask: was this the last great reinvention before things got a little too shaken and stirred?
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In honor of the recently-deceased screen legend Robert Redford, we discuss one of his most iconic films, The Natural. Join us for a special bonus episode.
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That's it for Season Eight! Join us as we give our traditional recap and preview what's on deck for next season.
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We conclude Season Eight with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where the series took a darker turn. The stakes were higher and the hair was longer, but should this fourth entry in the series have been better? Guest Taylor Schuurmans is back to talk about the return of Lord Voldemort.
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This animated reboot fell flat at the box office despite stellar reviews. Despite being part of such a recognizable franchise, why did Transformers One fail to make an impact with audiences? Does it deserve more love? Guest and Transformers fan Kai Wang returns to defend this film's honor.
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One of the most unique comic adaptations ever, Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy is fascinating to watch. The cast is stacked. The visuals are eye-popping. But could it have been better? Disney was hoping it would be. Noted guest and Marvel consigliere Garret Ohringer joins to talk about Warren Beatty's conquests.
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According to some, The Color Purple was Steven Spielberg's first "serious" drama. It made Whoopi Goldberg into an overnight star. Spielberg got the awards attention but not in the way he wanted. How does this acclaimed but controversial adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hold up after forty years? Guest Zion Parker joins to give his thoughts.
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Continuing our tradition of covering 1970s disaster movies, The Hindenburg is an (un)interesting one. Despite being based on the famous historical event and being released during the height of the disaster movie craze, it was hardly a success for Universal. Should it have done better or did it deserve its fiery fate?
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Doctor Strange was never the first name that came to mind when you thought of Marvel heroes yet somehow, this mind-bending, trippy addition to the MCU became a smash hit. First-time guest and patron Daniel Ake joins the podcast to break down the film that turned a B-list sorcerer into a fan-favorite, and why the visuals, cast, and unexpected blend of mysticism and sci-fi hit so hard.
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The Black Cauldron was released during the darkest period in Disney's history. It flopped so badly that it nearly killed the studio's animation department. Just thinking about that alone is wild enough. Yet some fans defend this as a misunderstood classic. One thing is for sure. It should have been better.
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Zabba zabba zabba. The second and almost certainly the last Steven Seagal movie we're covering. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is the sequel to what most fans agree is Seagal's best work. Is this sequel somehow underrated? Does it work as a guilty pleasure 90's action cheesefest? Guest Sean O'Connor returns to weigh in for the 30th anniversary of Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.
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