Episode 287: Kundun

Hello, friends! It's time for another new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Josh and Scott dive back into the extensive career of one of America's finest filmmakers, Martin Scorsese. Though it was little-seen originally, Scorsese's story of the young Dalai Lama, Kundun, is our topic for this week's show. Josh and Scott are joined by Bilge Ebiri of The Village Voice to talk about this artful, gorgeous, yet potentially emotionally distant story and its place in Scorsese's filmography. Is this movie too unlike the rest of his career, or does it fit right in? And what's more, is it really necessary that Disney's executives had to literally apologize to the Chinese Prime Minister for this film? Only one way to know for sure: check out the new show!

Episode 286: Pinocchio

Hey, friends! We're going back in time for this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because Josh and Scott are revisiting yet another Disney classic for the show. This time around, to tie into its recent Blu-ray re-release, your hosts are talking about the 1940 animated classic Pinocchio, all the way from Jiminy Cricket to Monstro and all the other animals and characters in between. Plus, Josh is rectifying a grievous error he made last month so that all of you listeners know for sure that Revisited episodes are a little bit different from all the rest. (It involves Albert Brooks.) But the more important question: is Pinocchio still as good as people say? Does Scott think this is a leap forward from Snow White? Which of your co-hosts is dubbed a living Wikipedia? And how did it take six episodes for Scott to wonder if Josh must hate him? Find out now!

Episode 285: That Darn Cat

Time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, friends! This week, Josh and Scott are going it alone again as they return to the scene of a very dastardly crime. Last month, the crime was that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious bank robbers; this month, the crime is that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious...people whose identities are obscured. That's right, we're talking about the 1997 remake of That Darn Cat on this episode of the show, and both Josh and Scott are amazed at how different so much of the film is aside from the title and very basic premise. Sure, there's a teenager (Christina Ricci) and an FBI agent (Doug E. Doug), but the original film didn't have warring mechanics, two nagging parents, a pair of doofus security guards, a wig-wearing butcher, and references to the films of Budd Boetticher! How much can be attributed to the film's writers, who also wrote Ed Wood and last year's American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson? Is this film an improvement on the original? Is there a way for Josh to shoehorn in political references this week? Find out now!

Episode 284: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Hey, folks! It's time for a very exciting, fancy, bedazzled new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and we hope you've gotten yourselves dressed up to the nines. See, it's time for a royal wedding! At least, that's the subject of the film up for discussion on this week's show, the 2004 sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Chris Pine in his feature film debut. Josh and Scott are prepared with their tuxes and tails to talk about a lighthearted film, especially after another week of such tumult and turmoil in the world, so what better film than a story of a strong, intelligent woman poised to take a seat of power who is threatened with overthrow by a fatheaded lout--um...OK. Well, even with that plot, Josh and Scott are ready to discuss this sequel, whether it improves on its predecessor, if its characterization of the heroine is consistent, and what the hell Stan Lee (yes, really) is doing in this movie. Check it out now!