Episode 226: Bad Santa

'Tis the season to be jolly, to make merry, to welcome friends into your home to celebrate the holidays. And on Mousterpiece Cinema, 'tis the season for holiday-themed episodes of the podcast! And now that we're all Santa Clause-d out on the show, it's time get a bit naughty. A bit...bad, you might say. So what better film to discuss this week than Bad Santa? Yes, this 2003 comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton as a low-down-and-dirty thief who dresses up as a mall Santa is from the Walt Disney Company, so it's on the docket this week. Josh and Gabe welcome Scott Tobias back to the program to debate...well, not that much! Spoiler alert: we're all big fans of this movie, just as we're not very big fans of the idea of the impending sequel. But hey, even when we're all agreeing, the spirit of the season demands that you listen. So...you know what to do!

Episode 225: The Good Dinosaur

It's a first this week on Mousterpiece Cinema, as Gabe and Josh talk about yet another Pixar movie; what's so special is that this is the first time in a single year when there have been two new Pixar movies. This summer, of course, we had the wonderful Inside Out; for the holidays, Pixar has given us The Good Dinosaur, wherein the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs...didn't wipe them out. In fact, the dinosaurs and humans coexist in this film, but does that lead to a good story? Josh and Gabe are joined by friend of the show Scott Renshaw of Salt Lake City Weekly to answer this burning question, as well as do our due diligence and insert at least one reference to The Big Lebowski into this discussion of a movie co-starring Sam Elliott. Plus, one of us calls the movie "disappointing"! A lot! It's not who you think! Check out the show to find out who said it!

Episode 224: Race to Witch Mountain

Friends, we've got no time for preamble on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. We're off to the races, heading to...which mountain? Which one? Which--we have to figure that mystery out soon, because Josh and Gabe are talking about the last film in the infamous Witch Mountain franchise, the 2009 remake Race to Witch Mountain. Once more, they're joined by IGN TV editor Eric Goldman to talk about the important questions, such as...seriously, which mountain? OK, aside from that, there's time to debate the presence of a smaller-than-expected version of The Rock, a depiction of convention culture that's not terribly friendly, and the random appearance of Garry Marshall. (Please, call him Mr. Marshall!) If you're ready for a race, then check this episode out!

Episode 223: Pocahontas

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!

Lucasfilm Bonus Episode Six: The Star Wars Holiday Special

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!

Episode 222: The Prestige

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 been in anything aside from superhero movies lately? (Pan doesn't count, it's not a real movie.) And does Josh impersonate Michael Caine? Only one way to know for sure: check out the new show!

Episode 221: The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

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!