Mousterpiece Cinema

Hey, folks! We hope you've got some cornbread and a sweet tea at hand, because Scott and Josh are headed to the Deep South for the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Specifically, they're headed back to the halcyon days of the 1960s in the Mississippi as they discuss the period drama The Help, starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, and an Academy-Award winning Octavia Spencer. Remember The Help? It's been eight years since this film came out and became a huge hit at the box office, before getting multiple Oscar nominations. How does the film hold up after just eight years? Is this entertaining, or just a lazy history lesson? Is the film doing poorly by its characters or by racial and gender stereotypes? Find out now!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and we're getting...well, very murky on this episode. Josh and Scott are revisiting one of the low points of Disney animation in this episode. In fact, they're talking about a film that just about ruined Disney feature animation for good, the 1985 summer release The Black Cauldron. Scott and Josh are joined by Vox critic-at-large and friend of the show Emily VanDerWerff to discuss the strange Welsh-inspired film that nearly sunk Disney because of its high budget, its dark story, and its violence. Is this a misunderstood masterpiece? Should there have been songs? Or, is it possible that there's already a song in this movie, sung by Ray Parker, Jr. himself?!? You'll have to listen to the show to find out!

Hey, folks! Are you ready for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema? Because Scott and Josh are headed back to the jungle for this one, as they're talking about the beloved animated film The Lion King, featuring the voices of James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and--wait, hold on, sorry. Scott and Josh are talking about the...animated remake of The Lion King today, featuring the voices of...still James Earl Jones, and also Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Yes, it's the biggest movie in the country right now, but your hosts and their guest -- the delightful Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times -- are not remotely impressed with the photorealism, the limp story, and the lifeless songs. Why does this remake fail to get why the original works so much? Sit back and relax -- we've got a lot to say on this one!

Hey, folks! We hope you're feeling fresh and loosened up for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because we're going to be putting on our ballet shoes and tutus for this one. Or maybe we should just put on a fresh beat and get to a more aggressive form of dance. That's because Josh and Scott are talking about the 2006 dance drama Step Up this week, with friend of the show Kate Erbland of Indiewire joining them to talk about the big breakout film for Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. Does this old-fashioned throwback stand up in the year of our Lord 2019? Is it the kind of movie studios should be making more often? Or should films like this just be all about the dance sequences? Listen to the new show to find out!

Hello, programs! We hope you've prepared yourself appropriately, that you're jacked in, that you're blasting your biodigital jazz, and whatever else you need to prepare, because it's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, Scott and Josh are going into the computer...OK, they're just going into the world of computers as they revisit the 1982 cult film Tron. Yes, you remember Tron, right? You've seen it? Well, if you haven't, you're in for quite a treat as your hosts talk about the film's impact, its effects, and whether or not its writing and direction are salvageable enough over 35 years later. Check out the new show now!

Hey, folks! It's that time of year -- the summer. The heat is rising, baseball is in full swing, and people are getting murdered left and right. OK, well, to be fair, we're talking about a very specific summer on this brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. The summer of 1977 in New York City, to be particular, and what an eventful summer it was. It's the subject of the Spike Lee film Summer of Sam from 1999, featuring John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, Adrien Brody, and more. This week on the show, Scott and Josh are joined by Roger Ebert contributor Odie Henderson to talk about this hot mess of a movie, from its extreme profanity to its orgy scene. (This is maybe the most R-rated film we've ever discussed on the show!) But is it an enjoyable hot mess or just a hot mess? Check out the new episode to find out!

Hey howdy hey, everybody! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and the toys are back in town once more as we get set to talk about Pixar's latest film, Toy Story 4. Scott and Josh are raring to go as they sit down with friend of the show Kristen Lopez to discuss the fourth entry in the now 25-year old series, and talk about whether this movie could ever possibly hope to live up to our expectations. Is the new Toy Story movie as good as its predecessors? Is it better? Is it possible that Josh is the most positive person on this episode? Does this feel like a feature or a series of shorts strung together? These are all questions we answer in the episode, so you might as well listen -- right now!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and to listen to this one, you better make sure you've gathered the whole Roundup gang, from Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl to that trusty horse Bullseye to even Stinky Pete the Prospector. You probably already guessed, but we're talking about the Pixar Animation Studios film Toy Story 2 on the podcast this week, as yet another of our Revisited shows. Scott and Josh are joined by friend of the show and freelance writer Noel Murray to talk about the now-20-year old film, and whether or not it truly is the best Toy Story film. (One of the three of them would say not!) In advance of our Toy Story 4 podcast next week, we're looking back at the first sequel in the franchise, talking about everything from parental metaphors to the inevitable Woody prequel. Check out the show now!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this time, Scott and Josh are forging a new frontier of the podcast as they talk about their first film during the Disney/Fox era. And what better film to start with than the latest X-Men movie? You know...Dark Phoenix? Dark Phoenix, you guys! The new X-Men movie! With Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones! It's totally a thing, a real movie that just opened last week. And we are pretty sure we saw it! Scott and Josh are joined by friend of the show and recent guest Alan Zilberman of Washington City Paper to talk about what is likely the last X-Men movie of this era, and why it's pretty damn forgettable. Plus, Josh reveals how this movie inspired him to do something he hasn't done in years in theaters! It just might shock you. Listen to the new show to find out!

Hey, friends! Get yourself a nearby spell book and some brooms and mops, because it's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. On this episode of the show, Josh and Scott keep up the trend of talking about live-action remakes of Disney animated classics, by discussing the 2010 action film The Sorcerer's Apprentice, starring Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel as the sorcerer and his apprentice, respectively. Josh and Scott are joined by friend of the show Steve Greene of Indiewire to talk about the film, its connections to Fantasia, the work of Alfred Molina, Nicolas Cage and his automotive loves, and whether or not this is the rare live-action remake to be so different from its inspiration to be enjoyable. Listen to the new show now!

Hey, folks! It's time for you to grab a magic carpet and fly down to Agrabah so you can start listening to a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. You might have already guessed it, but just in case you didn't, Scott and Josh are headed back to this mysterious, fictional Middle Eastern city to talk about a story that..well, they've already talked about. You know, the one about the street rat who finds a lamp and gets three wishes from a big blue genie. Of course, it's Aladdin, the 2019 live-action/CGI remake of the animated classic, this time starring Will Smith as the Genie. Scott and Josh are joined by longtime friend of the show Tim Grierson to talk about the new film, and why it either only barely works or doesn't work at all. And if you've wanted to hear Josh go off about these remakes, well, you are in luck. This one's a long episode, so sit back and get comfy and start listening!

Hey, folks! It's that time of year again -- time to celebrate dads and grads! Since school's letting out, Scott and Josh figured it was the right time to close out the Dexter Riley trilogy on this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Your hosts come together -- sadly sans guest -- to talk about the 1975 film The Strongest Man in the World, starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Cesar Romero, and more. But who is the strongest man in the world, at least within this film? Why is Kurt Russell in so little of a movie that is ostensibly...about his character? More to the point, who is even the main character of this film and possibly the entire trilogy itself? All of these questions, plus at least one or two references to Arnold Schwarzenegger, can be resolved by listening to the new episode!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new, inspirational, Muppetational episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Josh and Scott get ready to revisit one of the great all-ages movies, The Muppet Movie. No reason to hide our feelings here -- your hosts are both big fans of the 1979 classic that introduced Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and other Muppets to the big screen with their ruminations on the rainbow connection, movin' right along, and more. Your hosts are joined by friend of the show Odie Henderson of RogerEbert.com to talk about the film, its cameo performers, its timelessness, its all-killer-no-filler songs, and more. Check out the new show now!

Hey, folks! Head with us under the sea for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Scott have matching wetsuits and beanies at the ready, and there's plenty more where that came from, as they talk about the 2004 Wes Anderson comedy-drama The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. They're joined by friend of the show Alan Zilberman of the Washington City Paper to talk about all things Zissou, from the potentially off-putting lead performance from Bill Murray, the film's use of David Bowie covers, its pristine production design and cinematography, its use of stop-motion animation, and more. Does this film hold up as well now as it did in '04? Is it best left forgotten? Find out now!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and Scott and Josh are talking about...well, you know which movie we're talking about this week. It's only the biggest film of the year so far, Avengers: Endgame. Scott and Josh are joined by freelance writer Aaron Pruner on this week's episode as they assemble to discuss the culmination of the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, fine, it's a movie we've all seen at least once by now -- and if you haven't, this whole episode is a spoiler -- but is Avengers: Endgame as good as its biggest fans have said? Does it all work in the end? How does this film handle its heroic women? And anyone not named Tony Stark or Steve Rogers? Listen to the new episode to find out!

Hey, folks! It's time for a very special new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. What's so special about this one? Well, first of all, Scott and Josh are joined by their old friend and the podcast's former co-host Gabe Bucsko for this one! And even better, it's the 400th episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! So what movie are we talking about? It's the one on everyone's mind during this last weekend of April: ...Disneynature's Penguins. (We'll talk about that other movie next week.) Scott, Josh, and Gabe tackle everything under the sun about this documentary, from the treacly narration and score to its IMAX-shot photography to the Notre Dame fire and Abigail Disney's criticism of wage inequity at Disney. (Everything under the sun, we promised.) Sit back and relax: this one's a lot of fun so check it out!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and on this one, Scott and Josh are headed underwater. We're, in fact, headed under the sea. 20,000 leagues, that is, because we're talking about the 1954 sci-fi classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, starring Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas, and James Mason as the mercurial and mysterious Captain Nemo of the superpowered submarine Nautilus in this adaptation of Jules Verne's iconic novel. Josh hasn't talked about this movie since the sixth episode of the podcast -- has his mind changed over nearly 8 years? What does Scott think about this early live-action hit? Is it more or less impressive in 2019? Is it truly a whale of a tale? You'll have to listen to find out!

NOTE: This episode is being posted in advance of our next Revisited show, and was originally recorded in August 2011.   Josh begins a three-week sojourn into the world of Disney live-action films with 1954's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! He's never read the book, and this is the first time he's seen the movie. Did he marvel at the Nautilus and the mysterious Captain Nemo? Is he more like the brash Ned Land or the pensive Professor Arronax? Will he be able to properly pronounce the name "Conseil?" (Spoiler alert: probably not.) Check out this week's Mousterpiece Cinema--it's a real whale of a tale! (Easy reference, but it works!)

Hey, friends! Grab your 8-track, prepare to win a chintzy prize, and drive moodily down the roads of New Jersey with us on this brand new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! This week on the show, Josh and Scott are headed back to the 1980s, and the life of young Scott, as they discuss the 2009 coming-of-age romantic dramedy Adventureland starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and more. This blast from the past causes Scott to reminisce a bit about his own version of this coming-of-age story, of a guy lusting after a girl who might be out of his league, and also wonder if the whole film is just about a kid no longer being a virgin. Is the film as charming as it was a decade ago? Does this movie need to be...canceled? Find out now!

Hey, folks! Take a look up there in the sky. Is that a bird? A plane? A superhero? No, it's just a flying elephant, the kind of thing you might see in the new version of Disney's animated classic Dumbo, the topic of discussion on a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Scott sit down with longtime friend of the show and Eight-Timers' Club inductee Keith Phipps to talk about the live-action/CG remake of Dumbo from director Tim Burton, and pinpoint exactly why it doesn't work. They discuss everything from the film's unexpected cameos, reference points to the animated film, and science. Science is great! Let's science some science, like the characters in recent Disney live-action fare do! Learn more about science, and also Dumbo on the new show now!