Mousterpiece Cinema

Friends, if you take a look just around the riverbend, it's possible that you'll be able to discover a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, Josh and Gabe are taking another trip back to the historical period when English settlers "discovered" the New World that would become the United States of America. Last month, they discussed Squanto: A Warrior's Tale, but now, they're looking back at one of the more controversial Disney Renaissance films: Pocahontas. And they're joined by Buzzfeed's Louis Peitzman to debate the serious issues: is this film racist? Should Disney ever have made an animated version of the Pocahontas myth? Is the new Broadway show "Hamilton" any good? OK, only two of those are serious issues (unless you love "Hamilton," probably), but they're all up for discussion on this week's show. Check it out now!

Gather 'round, everyone. Step up close, and get close to all your friends and family. There's no better time than now to celebrate the greatest holiday of all. No, not Christmas. Not Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Ramadan. No, it's time to celebrate Life Day! You know Life Day, right? Life Day! The Wookiee national holiday! Why, it's the centerpiece of this week's topic of discussion on a very special b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema: The Star Wars Holiday Special! That's right, Josh and Gabe are finally talking about this infamous TV special, which celebrates its 37th anniversary on the date of this episode's publication. And as you might expect, this is a wild, woolly, weird episode of the show, replete with Chewbacca impressions, singing, and even a dramatic reading from Gabe that will make your jaw drop. Now, grab your closest family members a handful of those famous Wookiee ookies and get to listening to this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema!

Are you listening closely? You should really be listening closely to this week's Mousterpiece Cinema, because in this episode of the podcast, Gabe and Josh reveal that there are three parts to any true podcast. The first part is the introduction, wherein they welcome you to the show and lure you into their trap. The second part is the discussion, wherein they invite a guest to the proceedings to debate the merits of a movie from the Walt Disney Company. This is where you pretend that you're trying to figure out their game. But you really aren't. And then there's the third part: The Prestige. Specifically, Christopher Nolan's 2006 film about rival magicians, starring Hugh Jackman and Christian "Gooooooooood for you!" Bale, as well as Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine. Gabe and Josh are joined this week by friend of the show Tim Grierson, film critic and author of the new book "Martin Scorsese in 10 Scenes." Is The Prestige Christopher Nolan's best film? Has Hugh Jackman ever been better? Hell, has he even b

All for one, and one for all! Oh, wait, no, wrong swashbuckling epic. No, no, we mean...let's rob the rich to give back to the poor! (That's more like it.) This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are headed back to the Middle Ages in England to talk about the quintessential legend of Robin Hood. What's that? You didn't know that Disney made more than one Robin Hood movie? It's true, they didn't just make the 1973 animated film! See, this episode is about the 1952 live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, starring such actors as almost-but-not-quite-James Bond Richard Todd and mad-as-hell Peter Finch. This was Disney's second fully live-action film, but was it as good as their Treasure Island? Is it a step down? Have any of Josh's celebrity impersonations improved? Find out now!

It's almost Halloween, and so Josh and Gabe are embracing the spooky spirit of the season by facing something truly scary on Mousterpiece Cinema: a sequel. Only weeks after they watched the 1975 live-action adventure Escape to Witch Mountain, your intrepid hosts are heading back. Or...returning from. Yes, that sounds better, because this week's movie is Return From Witch Mountain, with Tony and Tia going head-to-head, courtesy of the new film's baddies, Bette Davis and Christopher Lee. Could a movie with these iconic figures as the villains be bad? The answer is a big, fat, resounding "Yuuuuuuuuuup," sadly. But there's still plenty of time for Josh and Gabe to debate the important topics, such as who's going to win the World Series, and more importantly...which mountain? Which...which one? Which mountain? (Yes, get ready for puns.) Check out the new episode now!

Do you love films? I mean, really love films? I'm talking classic movies like The Conversation and The Godfather. You do? Good, because it's time for a special episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, but it might as well be called I Love Films. Why? We're talking about U2 this week! That's right, we are talkin' U2 to you. OK, fine, so we're actually talking about the U-2 plane incident at the onset of the Cold War, as this event takes major precedence in Steven Spielberg's new film Bridge of Spies. (But still, we love films. Love 'em!) This week, Josh and Gabe are indeed discussing Spielberg's newest film, with friend of the show/host of The Cinephiliacs, Peter Labuza. Is Bridge of Spies another great collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Hanks? Has Hanks embraced his inner Jimmy Stewart? Is there an easy way to connect this to Saving Private Ryan? And, most importantly, what does Benghazi have to do with this movie? The truth is out there! In this episode of the show! Listen now.

With the holidays right around the corner, Josh and Gabe couldn't think of a better way to bring on another Thanksgiving by starting early, and going back. Way back. Further than that. No, not quite that far, just--yes, that's it. Right there, to the beginning of the period when Pilgrims attempted to coexist peacefully with Native Americans. At least, in film form, and from Walt Disney Pictures. On this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, we're talking about Squanto: A Warrior's Tale, the 1994 film that asks the age-old question, "What would Mandy Patinkin look like if he had a bald spot on his head?" There's plenty of debate over whether or not the lead character's anguish or the Native Americans' plight is dramatized or not. And, once more, the demons of Skype strike again--noise issues plague us once more, but not next week. Promise! Now go listen to the show!

The walls are closing in on you. There's a mysterious creaking sound from the door to the spooky basement you never like to visit. You're in a room with no doors or windows. Yes, that's right, you're trapped. Welcome, foolish mortals, to a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, where Josh and Gabe are in a spooky mood as they talk about the 2003 comedy The Haunted Mansion, based on the famous theme-park attraction. Getting in on the fun is International Business Times writer Monica Castillo. How terrifying will this episode get? Is there anything scarier on this episode than the prospect of watching the Eddie Murphy comedy? Is it possible that prankish spirits got in on the fun by mucking up the sound of the conversation with spooky background noise? (That one's a definite yes, so consider yourself warned.) Check out the show now, and find out what terrors lie in store!

We're on the move this week, friends, and we're headed to a mysterious place full of wild and inexplicable happenings. (No, Burning Man was earlier this summer.) That's right, we're headed to Witch Mountain. Specifically, Josh and Gabe are watching and discussing the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. And they're joined by friend of the show Eric Goldman of IGN to talk about this very odd, languorously paced chase film from the director of a grindhouse classic. (Yes, it's a Disney movie.) Is this too cheesy to work? Does the film hold up after 40 years? We're telepathically communicating the answers to you, but if that doesn't work, just listen to the episode!

Grab as many glasses of water as you can, a baseball bat, and your inhaler, because it's time for a very special, spook-tacular episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. (What? If Starbucks can start the Pumpkin Spice Latte in September, we can start our October theme now too.) Gabe and Josh are headed to the cornfield this week to talk about yet another film from writer-producer-director M. Night Shyamalan, the 2002 sci-fi drama Signs, starring everyone's favorite person, Mel Gibson. Plus a young, pre-beard Joaquin Phoenix! Ah, they were simpler times, the early 2000s. Joining Gabe and Josh again is longtime friend of the show and five-time guest Alexander Huls. Is Signs M. Night Shyamalan's best film? His worst? Does it portend of bad things to come? And will Josh make good on his promise from last week and sing in this episode? All...signs point to yes (sorry)! Check out the show now!

Keep a weather eye open, friends. It sounds like thunder is approaching. And you know what comes after thunder, don't you? That would be...lightning! Ka-chow! And also dad-gum! Yes, the day is finally here. We're sure you've been waiting with bated breath and/or on tenterhooks for this one: Gabe and Josh are going to talk about the Pixar film Cars. They're not alone this week, either, as friend of the show Griffin Newman joins them to talk about all things vehicular. Does Cars get a bad rap? Is it better than its reputation? Does it deserve to be the basis for its own theme-park land? Or is it pretentious to dislike this movie? All these questions and a few references to a certain fan theory await you. Now get in your car, take a slow drive, and check out the show!

Gabe and Josh are feeling lighthearted and laid-back today, so what better film to discuss on Mousterpiece Cinema than the 1947 package film Fun and Fancy Free? Your hosts tackle the two short films, about a circus bear in nature and Mickey and friends facing off against a giant, respectively, as best they can. But package film discussions almost always come with a tangent or two, and the duo don't disappoint this week. Is this one of Disney's most forgettable package films? Is Kermit the Frog a two-timing cad for leaving Miss Piggy? And what more can Josh say about his surprisingly popular essay on fan theories? Find out now!

Happy Labor Day, everyone! While you take a load off on this holiday, Josh and Gabe have been hard at work on a new bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. As they pause their exploration of the Lucasfilm canon, Josh and Gabe turn their eye to some of the early Marvel Cinematic Universe movies they didn't cover on the regular show, specifically the Iron Man movies. Yes, it's time to take a look at the story of one Tony Stark, AKA Robert Downey, Jr., along with his friends Pepper Potts and Col. James Rhodes. Now that we've had more than a couple handfuls of MCU movies, do Josh and Gabe enjoy the exploits of Iron Man? Has he really learned anything or is he still an arrogant jackass? And is Iron Man 3 the best MCU movie to date? Find out in this bonus show right now!

The crack of the bat, the smell of freshly mown grass, the sound of an umpire calling a strike on a pitch that is so far outside, how could that be a strike, you bum? HOW? Oh, sorry, just got into the heat of the moment, because it's the tail end of a very good baseball season for Josh and Gabe's teams of choice. (At least, for now.) So what better way to start off a new September on Mousterpiece Cinema than by talking about a Disney baseball movie? Yes, it's time to talk about the 2002 based-on-a-true-story sports film The Rookie. (No, not the one starring Charlie Sheen.) With Dennis Quaid at the helm, as a high school teacher whose long-dormant throwing power as a pitcher turns out to get him a tryout with an MLB team, The Rookie has at least one foot in the right direction, but does it avoid the pitfalls of the sports drama? Does Rachel Griffiths get more to do than just be the henpecking wife? And will the Mets win the game that happened during this recording? Find out now!

As we fight off the summer blues, it's time for another episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! And what better way to fight off the blues than by taking to the air? This week, Josh and Gabe tackle yet another film from the Studio Ghibli filmography, Hayao Miyazaki's Porco Rosso. You know the film, right? It's the one about the Italian World War I flying ace who has the face of a pig and gets himself in a ton of trouble with a dashing and arrogant American flyer. Josh and Gabe don't come to blows like these two characters, but they have a nice debate over whether the film's a comedy or drama (or neither), and whether Michael Keaton's style of acting meant each of his performances were immensely similar. Strap in and get ready for a new podcast now!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome one and all to Mousterpiece Cinema! This blog and podcast are all about analyzing the Disney movies of the past, present, and future. I'm your host and guide, Josh, and for this inaugural episode, I'll take a look at Disney-Pixar's latest film, Cars 2. If you're concerned that this show will be a constant Disney lovefest, this episode will allay your fears. But if you're a Disney fanatic, don't fear--I love the Mouse and always have!

Hey, friends! It's time to play the glad game on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Gabe and Josh harken back to a simpler time in America. It's a time when kids could climb trees without a worry in the world, when the entire town attended a local bazaar, and when grouchy old men taught people about what prisms were. Yes, it's time to review the 1960 film Pollyanna, starring Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, and Karl Malden, among others. Were Gabe and Josh won over by the boundless optimism of this film and its title character? Or were they left as cold as mean old Mr. Pendergast? This is a super-packed episode, with impersonations of Elvis and Kirk Douglas as well as Gabe recounting his experience at last weekend's D23 Expo. Check it out!

Freeze, flatfoot! That's right, we're talkin' to you, ya stick in the mud. C'mere. Yeah, c'mere. We got a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema here, right here for the taking. Yeah, sure, it's free. 'Course it's free! Ain't no coppers here to stop you from taking it. OK, fine, enough of the goofy talk, but we do have a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema for your edification and entertainment. This time, Josh and Gabe are in the big city, facing down some of the biggest criminals as they discuss the 1990 comic-book adaptation of Dick Tracy. Warren Beatty! Al Pacino! Madonna! Mandy Patinkin! Dick Van Dyke! And more! Josh and Gabe are joined by the managing editor of Indiewire, Kate Erbland, to talk about Dick Tracy as well as its continued legacy. Will there be a new one? Will Warren Beatty wear the fedora and trenchcoat again? Did he...already? On TV? In a special filmed by Academy Award winner Emmanuel Lubezki? He...well, just listen to find out!

Have you ever watched The Little Mermaid and thought to yourself, "Yeah, but what if the stern, taskmaster parent was Ariel, and the rebellious kid was her daughter? I'd like to see that movie!" No? Too bad! Because it absolutely exists, and it's this week's movie on Mousterpiece Cinema. Gabe and Josh are headed back to the ocean blue to talk about The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, featuring all of your favorite characters: Ariel! Sebastian! Flounder! Scuttle! Morgana! Oh, you know who Morgana is: she's Ursula's crazy sister! If none of this sounds palatable to you, how about special guest Alan Scherstuhl of The Village Voice? (We should hope so.) Get ready for a wild, strange episode that invokes everything from Milhouse van Houten to Sarah Palin. (Really.) Check it out!

This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are going back. Way back. Further than they've gone before. Yes, further than you're thinking. They're going all the way back to the Cretaceous period to talk about the 2000 animated film Dinosaur. This hybrid of live-action and computer animation was notable upon its release in the summer of 2000, but has it held up after 15 years? Do people remember this film? Do they remember "Evening Shade"? You know "Evening Shade," right? The CBS sitcom with Burt Reynolds and Ossie Davis? Ossie Davis, from "Dinosaur"? Yes, if that wasn't clear, here's a fair warning: there are tangents aplenty in this one, mostly dinosaur-related. Plus Gabe sings. Unprompted! It's a wild one, so get ready and check it out!