Highlights from The 16th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Part 2
Two competition films in particular captured my heart and stirred my soul as they did with most of their audience.
The Movie Guys
Movie Review – Elvis & Nixon
Liza Johnson’s new film “Elvis & Nixon” explores this powerhouse meeting, within its every right to speculate as much as it cares to.
“Send More Cops” (w/Allan Trautman) – “Keanu”, “Green Room”, “Mother’s Day” & “Ratchet & Clank”
Ep. 148: Four new movies to burn through this week as The Movie Guys bring you their patented previews of Green Room, Mother’s Day, Ratchet & Clank & Keanu. Then special guest Allan Trautman hits the studio to talk about his work as a digital puppeteer on “The Jungle Book” as well as a look at his whole career as an actor and puppeteer on movies like Babe and Return of the Living Dead.
Movie Review – The Jungle Book
A multi-million dollar risk that pretty much hits all the right notes.
Highlights from The 16th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Part 1
Once again, this happens to be one of the friendliest film festivals one can attend with both talent and audience having a great appreciation for one another.
The Movie Showcast – Best of Sketches, Part 2
Ep. 147: This special edition of The Movie Showcast delivers up a sampling of sketches, games and bits from 2015 including popular recurring segments like “Karen’s Birthdays” and the opening “Attention”. Part Two includes special guests like Drew Boudreau, Jeffrey Baldinger, The Boobé Sisters, Glenn Morshower & more!
Movie Review – Green Room
From the very first frame of “Green Room”, the audience can tell this is not going to be just your ordinary thriller.
Movie Review – I Saw the Light
I Saw the Light gets stuck in the musical biopic rut early and often.
The Movie Showcast – “Joke!” (w/Ian Gomez) – “Hardcore Henry” & “The Boss”
Ep.145: Great guest month continues as long-time comic actor Ian Gomez joins The Movie Guys in studio to discuss his new film Always Worthy, and finally someone asks him what HIS family is like. Plus, previews of new films Hardcore Henry and The Boss.
The Movie Showcast – “Improv Nerds!!” (w/Jimmy Carrane) – “Everybody Wants Some”
Showcast Episode 144: Everything is staying out of the way of “Batman v. Superman”, so The Movie Guys preview one limited release film, “Everybody Wants Some”, then they make up a few. Plus, a round of “in theaters now…still” and guest Jimmy Carrane of the Improv Nerd podcast sits in the whole show for some in-depth talk about improv and movies.
The Top 7 Best Worst Car Movies
We can’t be too picky with our car movies because we love them despite their flaws, but these movies exemplify a genre bias.
Movie Review – Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Snyder’s latest comic book folly is like an Electrolux Vacuum, it practically sucks all the joy of watching a super hero movie.
Movie Review – Zootopia
“Zootopia”’s main character, Judy Hopps, a small-but-feisty country bunny trying to make it on the big city police force, is an inspiration.
Batman: Movies and Games Review
THE BATMAN MOVIES…AND THE BATMAN VIDEO GAMES…REVIEWED…AT THE SAME TIME!!! (I KNOW, RIGHT?!?)
MY BIG FAT GREEK MOVIE SHOWCAST: DAWN OF JUSTICE (w/Rhett Reese) – “I Saw the Light”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” and “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”
Showcast Episode 143: “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is FINALLY here, and The Movie Guys give up a full preview, including a superhero celebrity roast. Plus, previews of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”, “I See the Light” and a great conversation with “Deadpool” and “Zombieland” writer Rhett Reese. All done before a live studio audience!
BATMAN: BAD BLOOD RED CARPET INTERVIEWS
Entertainment journalists kept warm in the confines of The Paley Center, patiently waiting for talent to arrive.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST: ALOPECIA (w/Dennis Hauck & Matt Miller) – “Miracles From Heaven”, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” & “The Little Prince”
Showcast Episode 142: Fast and funny previews of “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and “Miracles From Heaven” open the show, as well as a preview of “The Little Prince”, PUSHED from Paramount’s schedule right before the show. Then filmmakers Dennis Hauck and Matt Miller hit The Admiral’s Club to talk about the challenges of making their ambitious film, “Too Late”.
MOVIE REVIEW – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
The sum of the efforts of all this talent makes for a wildly enjoyable movie.
MOVIE REVIEW – WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
It’s another Tina Fey vehicle, but certainly a different go-round for the comedy legend-in-the-making.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “BART GETS ENLIGHTENED” (w/Judy Chaikin) – “10 Cloverfield Lane”, “The Brothers Grimsby” & “The Young Messiah”
Showcast Episode 141: Jokes, jokes and more jokes rain down on The Admiral’s Club as previews of “10 Cloverfield Lane”, “The Brothers Grimsby” and “The Young Messiah” come fast and furious. Plus, Bart runs the group through another round of retractions and special guest Judy Chaikin, director of “The Girls in the Band” talks up her film and sits in for rounds of “What Did You See This Week?” and Karen’s Birthdays.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “LIMBURGER ONOMATOPOEIA LADYPARTS” (w/Matt Conde) – “Zootopia”, “London Has Fallen” & “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”
Showcast Episode 140: There’s something for everyone in this week’s new movies – “London Has Fallen”, “Zootopia” and “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”, and they all get the thorough preview treatment from The Movie Guys. Then special guest actor/improviser/short filmmaker Matt Conde joins the show for more movie talk and an Oscars recap.
The Movie Guys on LBC, 97.3FM, London – Oscars Re-Cap
Paul Preston of The Movie Guys calls into Jim Diamond of LBC UK, 97.3FM (Leading Britain’s Conversation) to discuss The Oscars – Leonardo DiCaprio and “Spotlight”‘s win and the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “RUFUS SEWELL NIGHT!” (w/Sean O’Bryan) – “Triple 9”, “Gods of Egypt” & “Eddie the Eagle”
Showcast Episode 139: All Movie Guys are presented and accounted for in The Admiral’s Club for fast and funny previews of “Gods of Egypt”, “Triple 9” and “Eddie the Eagle”. Then actor Sean O’Bryan of “London Has Fallen” joins in with great on-the-set stories everyone doles out their Top Ten Movies of 2015.
THE TOP TEN FILMS OF 2015
Funny how that happens when we first see a film, read a book, listen to music or even appreciate a work of art. The question being, is it worth coming back to?
MOVIE REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT
Newspapers may not be long for this world, but the movie about the newspaper investigation team will always be great.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST LIVE FROM CHICAGO! (w/Steve Scholz, Dori Goldman & Adria Dawn) – “Race”, “Risen” & “The VVitch”
Showcast Episode 138: Paul puts together an all-Chicago panel while in the Windy City for a special on-location version of the Showcast! Movie Guy Steve Scholz co-hosts with guests Dori Goldman and Adria Dawn as they preview new films “The VVitch”, “Race”, “Risen” and talk about the state of the film industry in Chi-Town.
MOVIE REVIEW – THE VVITCH
You could hear a pin drop after the lights came back on at the press screening of writer/director Robert Eggers’ “The Witch”
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “DONT EAT THE FLUDGE” (w/Andrew DeWitt) – “Deadpool”, “Zoolander 2” & “How to Be Single”
Showcast Episode 137: With Paul in the hospital with emergency surgery, the inmates are running the asylum as Karen hosts a new Showcast with Adam, Bart and special guest Andrew DeWitt! There are previews of “Deadpool”, “Zoolander 2” and “How to Be Single”, as well as high-energy rounds of “What Did You See This Week?” and Karen’s Birthdays.
TO & FROM MOVIE REVIEW – CONCUSSION
The Movie Guys send MC from the mighty Hater Nation podcast to a screening of “Concussion”, and he records his thoughts going to and coming from the movie. A die-hard football fan, MC takes on the challenge of seeing a film that would challenge his love of the game and his dislike of Will Smith. Will he be so converted? Will he praise his nemesis Will Smith? Will he explain why William Shatner is on his sports Wall of Fame? Tune in…
DVD, BLU-RAY & STREAMING – BATMAN: BAD BLOOD
“Batman: Bad Blood” carries the torch for the new series (“Son of Batman”, “Batman vs. Robin”) and has it burn brighter than ever before.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST 2015 GUEST HIGHLIGHTS
Showcast Episode 136: The Movie Guys look back on the great guests of 2015
MOVIE REVIEW – JANE GOT A GUN
The film goes just far enough with its take on a woman-with-a-gun storyline, any further and you dip into “Bad Girls” territory and the strong female leads become too jokey.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “HOW ABOUT WE MEET IN BRAINTREE?” (w/Alison Becker) – “Kung Fu Panda”, “Fifty Shades of Black”, “The Finest Hours” and “Jane Got a Gun”
Showcast Episode 135: It’s a busy movie weekend for…January. So, are these movies good that didn’t get the summer or awards season treatment? The Movie Guys and special guest Alison Becker get to the bottom of “The Finest Hours”, “Kung Fu Panda 3”, “Jane Got a Gun” and “Fifty Shades of Black”.
MOVIE REVIEW – LAZER TEAM
Their efforts do not always hit the mark, but when they do, it ends up being a very fun 100+ minutes that does not wear out its welcome.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – BEST OF SKETCHES, PART 1
Showcast Episode 134: This special edition of The Movie Showcast looks back on some of the show’s best comedy sketches, characters and bits including popular recurring segments like “Karen’s Birthdays” and the opening “Attention”. Part One covers original comedy moments from 2014 and includes special guests like Ike Barinholtz, Matt Craig, Laura Krafft, Pete Gardner, Ross Marquand, Andrew DeWitt & more!
MOVIE REVIEW – SYNCHRONICITY
For all its ambition to deliver a unique time travel tale, “Synchronicity” stumbles over itself with convoluted storytelling
MOVIE REVIEW – THE BIG SHORT
Over thirty million people were negatively affected by the collapse of the housing market in 2007. So why am I so entertained?
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST…IN LAW (w/Jason Pardo) – “Ride Along 2”, “Norm of the North” & “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”
Showcast Episode 133: The latest Showcast features special guest Jason Pardo, whose appearance begs the question, “what exactly is a line producer?”. Jason sits in with The Movie Guys the whole show for previews of “Norm of the North”, “13 Hours: The Secret Soliders of Benghazi” and “Ride Along 2” and great movie talk.
THE MOVIE SHOWCAST – “DO NO HARM” (w/Franklin Leonard) – “The Revenant” & “The Forest”
Showcast Episode 132: It’s a Happy New Year as The Movie Guys are back in their studio, The Admiral’s Club, for an all-new Movie Showcast with previews of “The Forest” and “The Revenant”, which goes into wide release this week and guest Franklin Leonard joins the show to talk about running The Black List, a yearly aggregated list of the most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Then…heated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” talk ensues.