Saturday, February 27, 2016

Episode 237: Savage Sam

Bust out the Kleenex once more, everyone, because it's time to prepare yourselves for a big ol' bawl-a-thon. That has to be the case, right? See, this week's Mousterpiece Cinema is all about the 1963 sequel to one of Disney's most famously tragic live-action films, Old Yeller. What's that? You didn't know there was a sequel to Old Yeller, called Savage Sam? Hmm, that's odd. You'd think a sequel to such a beloved and iconic film would be more commonly remembered and recognized. Well, maybe it's because, as Gabe and Josh discover this week, Savage Sam is not only outrageously racist, but legitimately one of the worst films they've ever seen for the podcast. We ain't lyin', folks: as much fun as it was to take this one down a peg, there's little doubt that the film of the week is...ahem...a real dog. (Get ready for more dad jokes.) Either way, you should check the show out now!

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Episode 236: Splash

On today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are going under the sea to spend time with a beautiful mermaid who falls in love with a dashing young man from the world above water. No, not the story of Ariel, the little mermaid. No, this week on the show, we're talking about Splash, the 1984 film starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah that has the distinct honor of being the first film from Touchstone Pictures. Now that it's been over 30 years, is it really the case that Splash was too adult to be released by Walt Disney Pictures proper? Or were they too gunshy? Or, on the flip side, is this movie too adult that Disney shouldn't have released it all? And does it remain charming and Oscar-worthy now? (Oh, yeah, this movie got a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nod. Really.) And how does Paul Lynde factor into the discussion? Find out now!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Bonus Episode: Walt Disney

Hey, friends! We hope you're having a good President's Day; what better way to celebrate than by listening to a bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema? There is none! So we hope you're excited to hear Josh and Gabe debate the ethics and expectations of documentary filmmaking. (Yes, really.) This time, the bonus show is all about the recent 4-hour documentary "Walt Disney: He Made Believe," which aired on PBS last fall as part of their "American Masters" program. Or..."American Experience"? (Yes, Josh confused them once again.) Does this documentary live up to your hosts' expectations? Could it ever have done so? Did Walt Disney really have conversations with Mickey Mouse? Or is it possible that some of the never-before-heard-of talking-heads in this documentary are talking...out of something aside from their mouths? You'd better listen to find out!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Episode 235: Freaky Friday

"Hold on a second," you're thinking to yourself. "I swear Josh and Gabe already talked about Freaky Friday on an episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. What the hell's going on here?" You're not losing your mind, friend. Back in January, we discussed the 1976 original, but now it's time to talk about the 2003 remake starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. Last month, Josh guaranteed that the remake would be an improvement on the outdated original, but was he right? Gabe returns from a weeklong absence to answer this question with Josh, as well as talk about Stephen Tobolowsky, regale us all with his Boston accent, and much, much more. Get to listening! And prepare for some Veronica Mars references! (It'll make sense, promise.)

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Episode 234: The Finest Hours

Get on your rain gear, folks, because this episode's about to get plenty wet. This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh is on his own for the first time in a while; with Gabe steering clear of dark water, he invites Todd VanDerWerff of Vox on the podcast to talk about Disney's first new film of 2016, The Finest Hours. You haven't forgotten about The Finest Hours already, have you? You know the film--it stars Chris Pine and Casey Affleck as dual heroes of a daring Coast Guard rescue in Massachusetts in the early 1950s. And it's in 3D for some reason! Josh and Todd talk about the woeful 3D postconversion, the surprising performances from Pine and Affleck, and you better believe they bust out an accent or two. (Listen closely, and you'll even hear some Australian, mate.) Head over the bar--sorry, the "baaaah"--and get ready to listen to the new show!