Episode 166: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

We said hey, hey, hey, hey, hey...what's going on? What IS going on, friends? And what the hell does a 4 Non-Blondes song have to do with today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema? Turns out more than you might think, as Josh and Gabe prepare to discuss Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the new Disney live-action family film co-starring Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Megan Mullaly, Donald Glover, and...Dick Van Dyke. Yes. Really. There's a lot for Josh and Gabe to scratch their heads over, and they're joined in befuddlement by longtime friend of the show, Entertainment Weekly senior writer, and author of the new novel Brutal Youth Anthony Breznican. Would this film have been better if it was more mature? Did it need more penis talk? Are penises really that funny? (Please, don't be shy.) Somehow, all of this really will be resolved on this week's show, so check it out!

Episode 165: Arachnophobia

We hope you're carefully bundled up for this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because we wouldn't want any creepy-crawlies to make their way across your arm or foot or hand, skittering up your body before it's too late OH NO. Whew, false alarm. Anyway, eight-legged creepy-crawlies are the matter of the day on this week's show, as Gabe and Josh talk about the first film from Hollywood Pictures, 1990's Arachnophobia, starring Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, and a whole lot of spiders. There's plenty to talk about this week, though of course, your two hosts found their way into a discussion of all things Ernest P. Worrell and Ron Howard. (Not at the same time.) Is Arachnophobia a fittingly spooktacular film for the month of October? Is Jeff Daniels' laugh scarifying? The only way to find out is to face your fears and listen to the show!

Episode 164: Unbreakable

Friends, it's that time of year again: time for some scarifying movie talk on Mousterpiece Cinema! Yes, it's Shock-tober, so you better boo-lieve that Josh and Gabe are back at it with some Halloween-appropriate movies. First up, it's M. Night Shyamalan's follow-up to his iconic ghost story The Sixth Sense, the 2000 thriller Unbreakable. (It's Bill Cosby's favorite film! Kind of! Not really! Josh will explain what that means.) And who else could talk about this film than our old friend Alexander Huls? He's back, and so's Gabe, who was willing to talk Shyamalan this time. It's another wide-ranging discussion, as everything from the Dardennes brothers to Werckmeister Harmonies to a delightfully profane Audible recommendation comes up this week. That's right: earmuffs, kids. Now, wrap yourself up tight so your bones don't break, and check out the new show!

Episode 163: The Return of Jafar

Autumn may be upon us, but at Mousterpiece Cinema HQ, Gabe and Josh are still a bit hot under the collar. If you were satisfied with last week's heated debate of the career of cinematographer-turned-director Dean Cundey, then you are in for a treat with the new episode of the show. Your dynamic duo enter the world of direct-to-DVD sequels once again, but back in animation with The Return of Jafar, the Patient Zero of the Disney direct-to-DVD sequel. Is this return to the world of Aladdin not as bad as people presume it is? Is it worse? Does Gilbert Gottfried sing in this movie? And how heated must the discussion be if Josh wonders if it's time for a new co-host? (Don't worry, Gabe's job is safe. FOR NOW.) Get ready for a thrilla in...Agrabah, folks. Check out the new show now!

Episode 162: Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves

The summer's just about over, and one of our unintentional summer mini-series is about to come to close. This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe wade into the world of direct-to-video sequels once more, but with a twist: this one's a live-action DTV sequel. Yes, they're closing out the Rick Moranis-led trilogy of wacky sci-fi comedies about shrinking and enlargening people, with a discussion of Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. (Don't you just hate it when that happens?) But seeing as the film was directed by the prolific cinematographer Dean Cundey, Josh and Gabe go on quite the tangent about his career with Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and John Carpenter, among others. If you've wanted to hear a good old-fashioned argument between your hosts, then, friend, this one's the episode for you!

Episode 161: Frank and Ollie

We're going back in time once again on Mousterpiece Cinema, so get set. This week, Josh and Gabe take on one of the most dynamic duos in Disney history: Frank and Ollie. That's Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of the venerated Nine Old Men, to all of you who might be unfamiliar. They're the focus of this 1995 documentary about their four-plus decades at the Walt Disney Company, covering films as diverse as Bambi and Robin Hood, and everything in between. Does this documentary rise above the simple, in spite of being directed by Frank's son? What kind of detail might be missing from the final product? And how does Ken Burns ("Kenny baby" to his friends, of course) figure into all of this? Find out on the new show!

Episode 160: Tron Legacy

It's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema; this week, Josh and Gabe are getting their Zen thing back on track and gearing up to groove on some biodigital jazz, man! That's right, they're talking about the 2010 holiday blockbuster Tron Legacy this week. It's a fascinating journey into the recent past, as your hosts answer questions like: Is Jeff Bridges' Lebowski-as-Obi-Wan take on a hero worthwhile? What's with James Frain's American accent? And what the hell IS biodigital jazz? (Man.) Plenty of fun within, so get ready to hook in, program, or else it's the end of line. Or, in non techie-speak, check out the new show! (Man.)