Synopsis
A podcast about Disney movies of the past, present, and future.
Episodes
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Episode 18: The Nightmare Before Christmas
28/09/2017 Duration: 39minNOTE: This episode was originally recorded in 2011, and is being revived from the vault in advance of our Revisited show this coming month. Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to hear something strange? It's Halloween time, and what better way to celebrate this spooky holiday than by watching the 1993 Disney film The Nightmare Before Christmas? Josh revisits this now-iconic stop-motion animated film about what happens when Jack Skellington, King of Halloween Town, decides that he wants to give Christmas a try, too. There's a bit of discussion about Tim Burton, too, so why not try out this show, right in time for the beginning of the holiday season? Everybody, sing! "This is Halloween, this is Halloween..."
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Episode 317: The Shaggy Dog (2006)
23/09/2017 Duration: 56minHey, friends! It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week, Scott and Josh are headed, once again, for the dogs. Well, for a dog. A shaggy one, specifically. Yes, on the new episode of the podcast, Scott and Josh wrap up their discussion on the series of feature films all about The Shaggy Dog. This time, they're discussing the 2006 remake starring Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Robert Downey, Jr., and...wait, Robert Downey, Jr.? Yes, really, before he was Tony Stark, RDJ was...barking like a dog at one point in this movie. Is it an improvement on the original? Dumber than the sequel? Overly conventional? Or is this one...a real howler? Find out on the new show!
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Episode 316: Aladdin
16/09/2017 Duration: 01h07minIt's time once more to fly to a whole new world, friends. On this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Scott are revisiting one of the most beloved modern Disney animated films, Aladdin. The 1992 film celebrates its 25th anniversary this fall, and is now being remade as a live-action/computer-animated hybrid starring Will Smith. So what better time than now to discuss the film, and whether it works as well as other Disney Renaissance films after all these years? Are the lead characters too dull for this film to work? Do the villains stand out as much as the Genie does? Does the plot make enough sense, or is Josh too focused on the nuts and bolts to be swept up off his feet? Find out on the new show!
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Episode 315: Three Men and a Little Lady
09/09/2017 Duration: 59minHey, friends! It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week, Josh and Scott are going old school. Well, Josh is, at least, because he busts out at least one rap during this week's discussion of the 1990 sequel Three Men and a Little Lady. Despite Scott's horror at this turn of events, there's sadly good reason to invoke old-school rapping in this discussion of the sequel to Three Men and a Baby. Though they're guest-free this week, Josh and Scott are both able to dig into this sequel and its many, many problems. Yes, even though Scott was higher on the original than Josh was, both of your hosts found lots of faults with this follow-up. Should the film have focused more on the 5-year old Mary? Is the Nancy Travis character too stupid to function? And how does Scott's Michael Caine impression measure up to anyone else's? Find out on the new show!
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Episode 314: Jackie Brown
02/09/2017 Duration: 01h13minHey, friends! Head on over across 110th Street, because it's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week on the show, Josh and Scott invite friend of the show Jason Bailey of Flavorwire to help commemorate the 20th anniversary of Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, based on the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch. This story of a flight attendant playing a con on ATF agents as well as a menacing gun-runner didn't get quite the fanfare of Pulp Fiction (also a Miramax release in the 1990s, back when Disney owned that studio, in case you're wondering why this movie counts!), but is it secretly Tarantino's best film? Should people give it more of a chance in 2017? Or is it more sluggish than expected? (Maybe Josh is the only one who thinks that.) Find out now!
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Episode 313: The Shaggy D.A.
26/08/2017 Duration: 01h41sHey, folks! It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this one's for the dogs. Well, it's for a dog, at least. A shaggy one! In this episode, Scott and Josh are talking all about the 1976 film The Shaggy D.A., the sequel to the 1959 film The Shaggy Dog. What took Disney more than 15 years to return to the story of Wilby Daniels, the boy (now man) who can turn into a sheep dog? Was it a smart move to have Wilby run for office while also being a dog? And giving just as much time to Tim Conway the Ice Cream Salesman? Your hosts are joined by return guest Anthony Strand of Tough Pigs to answer these hard questions, along with a more general: what the hell is going on in this movie? Find out by listening to the new show!
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Episode 312: Con Air
19/08/2017 Duration: 01h04minHey, friends! It's time to fly the unfriendly skies with a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Scott and Josh strap in to talk about another of the mid-1990s Jerry Bruckheimer productions from the Walt Disney Company, Con Air. This Die Hard-esque action film starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and John Malkovich is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and has gotten some pretty strong praise around the Internet as of late, but is it as good as its recent reputation? Zack Handlen of the A.V. Club returns to the show to help talk about the film, the racial politics on display, the Trisha Yearwood song, and of course, all things Cage. Check out the show now!
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Episode 311: The Jungle Book (1967)
12/08/2017 Duration: 01h03minHey, friends! It's time to mosey on down to the darkest parts of your nearby jungle and make sure that have all the bare necessities in life to begin your journey. In other words, on this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Scott and Josh are talking about the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book, based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling. And if that title sounds familiar, it's because this is another Revisited episode of the podcast! This time around, Josh is watching the film with the Jon Favreau movie from last year in his head, and Scott's comments are new overall. So what do they think of the film? Is it one of Disney's best? A standout from the Xerographic Era? Does it read as racist 50 years later? Find out the answers to these and other questions on the new podcast!
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Episode 310: 25th Hour
05/08/2017 Duration: 01h08minHey, friends! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and Josh and Scott are once again talking about a film celebrating a big anniversary this year. This time around, they're discussing the Spike Lee joint 25th Hour, starring Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, and more. The intense drama celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and in spite of the film being widely lauded online as one of the best films of the new century, it's the source of some spirited debate this week! Josh and Scott are joined by return guest Scott Tobias of NPR and the New York Times to talk about Lee's career, the film's connection to Martin Scorsese, its liberal usage of 9/11 imagery, the infamously profane monologue in the early going (earmuffs, folks), and more. So don't wait--listen to the new show now!
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Episode 309: Three Men and a Baby
29/07/2017 Duration: 01h06minHey, friends! It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this one is a doozy. Josh and Scott are gearing up to discuss another film celebrating a big milestone in 2017: the warm-hearted comedy Three Men and a Baby, turning 30 this year. But is it actually fair, or even accurate, to call Three Men and a Baby a comedy when a good chunk is dedicated to a subplot about smuggling heroin? (You did not read that question wrong.) Josh and Scott are joined by not one, but two guests to discuss the film: Todd VanDerWerff of Vox and Libby Hill of the Los Angeles Times. Is Three Men and a Baby an actor's film? Should Leonard Nimoy (y'know, Spock) have gotten a bigger boost from directing this film? Can you believe it was the highest-grossing film of 1987? Prepare yourself for all these and other surprises, and listen to the show!
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Episode 308: The Shaggy Dog (1959)
22/07/2017 Duration: 57minFriends, as we wade slowly through the dog days of summer, there's really no better time to talk about Disney's first live-action comedy feature on a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. That, of course, would be the 1959 mix-'em-up comedy The Shaggy Dog! Josh and Scott hunker down to talk about a movie that looks like it's going to be all about a grumpy mailman and his grudge against canines right before it turns into a wacky story about two rival teenagers fighting over a pretty foreign exchange student. Is The Shaggy Dog as crazy as the live-action comedies of the 1960s and 1970s from Disney? Was it a mistake to focus on Tommy Kirk's character? Are Josh and Scott "feelin' sore"? Listen to the show to find out!
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Episode 307: Bambi
15/07/2017 Duration: 58minHey, friends! It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week on the show, Josh and Scott are headed into the beautiful but terrifying forest to revisit one of Disney's most beloved and heartbreaking classics of all, Bambi. After discussing this movie on the show five years ago, Josh is ready once again to see if this story of a little deer who wants to become a big deer still tugs on his heartstrings. And Scott is ready to reveal where this places among the first Golden Age of Disney Animation. Is the film's light plot enough to make it memorable? Should there be more dialogue? Less? What's the deal with Ronno? Listen to the new show to find out!
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Episode 306: Adventures in Babysitting
08/07/2017 Duration: 01h05minDo you have a full backpack? Have you remembered to bring your Mighty Thor action figure? Do you have a spare tire handy? If so, you might be ready to listen to this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. On this episode, Josh and Scott are heading back to the heady days of 1987 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chris Columbus' debut feature film Adventures in Babysitting, starring a young Elisabeth Shue, a young Anthony Rapp, a young Vincent D'Onofrio, a young Bradley Whitford, and...well, lots of young versions of well-known actors. Josh and Scott are joined by longtime friend of the show Eric Goldman of IGN TV to talk about this 80s teen comedy, and whether or not it holds up after three decades. Plus: stick around until the very end to hear what you can do to get Josh and Scott to talk about Spider-Man: Homecoming on a future episode!
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Episode 305: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
01/07/2017 Duration: 59minHey, friends! It's time for another new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week, Scott and Josh are entering the confessional chamber to reveal a dark, dirty secret: they might not be the biggest fans of Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. The 1993 sequel to the wildly popular 1992 film is our topic of discussion this week, and while we might have found some of the first movie, where Whoopi Goldberg dons a nun's habit to hide from her gangster boyfriend, enjoyable, second time wasn't exactly the charm. Josh and Scott are joined by Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly to discuss the film's illogical structure, the musical performances, the work of a young Lauryn Hill, and more. Check out the show now!
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Episode 304: Cars 3
24/06/2017 Duration: 01h11minIf you've positioned yourself in the fast lane, and you know how to turn left to go right, then you might just be ready to listen to the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week on thte podcast, Josh and Scott are talking about the newest film from Pixar Animation Studios, Cars 3, the third film in the trilogy that's been Josh's favorite for nigh on....well, OK, longtime listeners know he's no fan. But did the newest adventures of Lightning McQueen win him over? Your hosts are joined by ScreenCrush editor-in-chief/Filmspotting SVU co-host Matt Singer to talk all things Cars 3, from the rip-roaring racing, the meditation on death, and whether or not the world of these cars makes any more sense now than it did before. If you want to know the answers to these deep questions, and even if you don't, check out the new show now!
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Episode 303: Johnny Tremain
17/06/2017 Duration: 50minIf you're a true Son or Daughter of Liberty, friend, you're going to want to listen to this week's new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, On the new show, Josh and Scott are headed back to the American Revolution to discuss the trials and tribulations of the eponymous young hero Johnny Tremain. This film is celebrating its 60th anniversary in June, and has partially inspired a land in the Magic Kingdom, plus it even has a clean-shaven Sebastian Cabot and pre-West Side Story/Twin Peaks Richard Beymer. And it's the Disney debut of Mary Poppins director Robert Stevenson! But is it any good? Does the film hold up like early Disney live-action classics, or is it utterly forgettable? And you should be smithing on the Sabbath? Listen to find out!
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Episode 302: Ratatouille
10/06/2017 Duration: 01h04minHey, friends! It's a new month, which means it's time for a new title for Josh and Scott to revisit on an episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This month, Josh is looking back at a film he first discussed in Episode 17, the Brad Bird film Ratatouille. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Ratatouille is widely seen as one of Pixar's masterpieces, but does Josh still think that's true? And more importantly, does Scott feel that way? Or could this be one of the first times since he joined the podcast that Scott disagrees with Josh? There might be a drag-down brawl impending on the podcast! (Or just a polite but firm disagreement. ONE OF THOSE.) You'll have to listen to find out the details!
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Episode 17: Ratatouille
05/06/2017 Duration: 54minNOTE: In advance of our upcoming Revisited episode, Josh has opened up the podcast vault to unleash his original, solo episode from 2011 on Ratatouille. Enjoy! What kind of ingredients does it take to make a great podcast episode? For starters, make sure you have a great topic. This week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema has just the movie to create a great episode: 2007's Ratatouille from Pixar Animation Studios. Next, put in two dashes of honesty, a pinch of analysis, and a sprinkle of cinematic pretension. (Hey, it's just a sprinkle.) The final ingredient is for you to listen and let the chef know what you think of this new episode! Bon appetit!
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Episode 301: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
03/06/2017 Duration: 01h14minAvast, mateys! It's time for you to make a choice: walk the plank or watch the newest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Dead Men Tell No Tales. OK, here's the compromise: just listen to the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, where Josh and Scott forced themselves to get through the latest adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, played as ever by Mr. Fun-Time Family Guy himself, Johnny Depp. Yes, there's no bones about it: neither of your hosts were big fans of this movie, but maybe their guest, Emma Stefansky of Vanity Fair and ScreenCrush, enjoyed it more! Is this really as bad as Josh says? Are there bright spots within? Does it make any sense for there to be a sea witch in this movie? And what is going on with that post-credits scene? Find out the answers in the new episode!
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Episode 300: Sister Act
27/05/2017 Duration: 59minHey, friends! It's time to celebrate because Mousterpiece Cinema has reached a big milestone: this is our 300th episode, and we're singing to the rafters with joy. Specifically, Josh and Scott are talking about a movie all about music of joy this week, Sister Act, which is about to celebrate a milestone of its own, its 25th anniversary. Josh and Scott are joined by culture writer/author Nathan Rabin to discuss Sister Act, its writing, its ensemble, and, of course, all things Whoopi. Does Sister Act stand the test of time after a quarter-century? Is there not enough singing? Is this the finest film of 1992 for Harvey Keitel? Find out the answers to those and more questions on this episode of the podcast!