Stay ConnectedNot just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors’ complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.
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We're talking about a very long walk this week as Alex Ross Perry joins us to discuss Peter Weir's final film, 2010's gulag escape drama The Way Back. Remember those couple of years when Jim Sturgess was everywhere? Remember when Peter Weir could barely get distribution for his follow-up to Master & Commander? Dire times. As is the case with most ARP episodes, expect some wild takes about everything from the Coen brothers to World War II movies, plus a very detailed rundown of the National Geographic Films slate.
Check out Videoheaven on the Criterion Channel
Buy some Pavements Merch / Blu-Ray
Listen to Critical Darlings discuss Train Dreams
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Beat to quarters, men..and nice Brazilian lady holding an umbrella! We're sailing the high seas with John Hodgman this week as we unpack one of David Sims' favorite films - 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. We're talking Crowe. We're talking Bettany. We're talking James Cameron's Mexican water tank. We're talking soused hog and we're talking Saluting Day. And yes, we are talking BOATS. Is Ben about to enter his Salty Dog Era? He should!
If you wish to inquire about Ship Happens, shiphappensbrooklin@gmail.com.
Check out the rest of Patrick O’Brian’s work.
Pop over to the Sunken Harbour Club if you’re in NY.
Watch Medieval Barber Theodoric of York - SNL
Read Hodgman’s Books in any format
Subscribe to Hodgman’s Substack
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The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first new Star Wars movie in 7 years. It was also directed by Jon Favreau while he was making grilled cheese sandwiches. What the heck is going on with our favorite franchise? "Bad Boy of Blank Check" Chris Gethard returns to the pod to discuss The State of Star Wars: the deal with Dave Filoni, the Male Loneliness Epidemic, how watching Andor felt like texting your ex, and the complete and utter catastrophe of Rotta the Hutt. It's a cathartic three hours, so grab your Grogu Nilla Nummies and buckle up.
Watch TCGS #28 | Ruin This Show
Watch Chris Gethard: Career Suicide
Read The Bracing Authenticity of Chris Gethard's Career Suicide
Check out Dave Filoni’s “Plan”
Read Star Wars: Thrawn Series by Timothy Zahn
Read The Rise of the Fools by Allison P. Davis
Read the Kathleen Kennedy Exit Interview
Watch The George Lucas Talk Show LIVE From Smodcastle with Kevin Smith and Chris Gethard (2024)
Watch the 2020 Disney Investor Day Presentation
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Good morning! And in case we don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night! JD Amato - often the Christof of Blank Check - joins us for a super-sized episode about Peter Weir's The Truman Show. We're getting into the history of reality entertainment, the implications of Christof's methods, the insanity of this movie's Oscar snubs, Jim Carrey's historic 1990s, and Matt Gaetz's childhood. Did you know that Matt Gaetz grew up in the Truman Show house? Really makes you think. Anyway - we hope you join us for a spirited conversation, but not before you pour yourself a mug of Mococoa Cocoa.
Read David's article with Ed Harris - A New Way of Looking at To Kill a Mockingbird
Buy J.D.'s Book The Endless Game
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Peter Weir's Fearless is about a man who survives a plane crash and finds that he is no longer allergic to strawberries. It's also a deeply affecting, soulful exploration on what it means to be alive. And, as David Sims says - it's the "final boss" of plane crash movies. "Hitmaker" Timothy Simons joins us to chat about Jeff Bridges, Rosie Perez, "pink cloud syndrome," and aerophobia in this episode, so fasten your seatbelts and brace for impact!
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Most filmmakers dream of making ambitious, big-budget epics once they're able to cash in their "blank check." Peter Weir wanted to make Green Card. Writer and romcom expert Esther Zuckerman joins us to talk about this 1990 oddity, released the same year as Pretty Woman, but centered around the star persona of Gérard Depardieu instead of Julia Roberts. We're talking about the romcom genre, the many attempts to bring international stars to Hollywood, the golden age of Andie MacDowell movies, and the undeniable smokeshow that was early 90s Bebe Neuwirth in this episode. Pardon our French. Literally.
Get Esther's Book Falling In Love at the Movies
Read FILM VIEW; 'Green Card' Apes 'Pretty Woman'
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Boys and girls, please open your textbooks. Rip out the pages. Carpe Diem.
We're seizing the day and talking about 1989's Dead Poets Society with filmmaker Nia DaCosta in this episode, but don't get too wild and change your name to Nuwanda or anything! This week, we discuss House MD, prep schools, the fact that David Sims played Puck in a high school production, and Robin Williams' Oscar legacy. O Podcast, my podcast!
Read about Franny's weirder cut
Check out Jack Black's YouTube
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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We all have those moments where we just want to disengage from conventional society. We often yearn to go "off the grid." But, would we ever want to go to the Mosquito Coast? HELL NO. Sean Fennessey joins us to chat about Peter Weir's 1986 film that tests the limits of Harrison Ford's likability to the extent that Ben Hosley would describe it as "anti-smile." Allie Fox is a bad hang. The Mosquito Coast? GOOD MOVIE.
Listen to Griffin and David on the Big Picture
Watch Harrison Ford on Conan spoil Star Wars 7
Read Roger Ebert’s review of Paul Blart Mall Cop
Read Rembert Explains America: Burning Man Forever
Listen to The A24 Podcast: A Bigger Canvas with Martin Scorsese & Joanna Hogg
Dive into the Hogg-verse with Davis piece on Joanna Hogg
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Strap in, DobMob...we're going to Amish Country! The Big Picture's Amanda Dobbins joins us to talk about Peter Weir's Witness, perhaps the zenith of Harrison Ford's hotness, and the film that garnered him his sole Oscar nomination. We're talking Rumspringa, birds and birdhouses (Amanda is not a fan), Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, and young Viggo (which naturally lends itself to LOTR discussion). Listen up, or else you'll be shunned from the Blankie community!
Listen to Griffin and Ben on The Daily Zeitgeist
Check out the Kyle Chandler Men's Health Cover mentioned
Watch Tracy Letts talk shit about Star Wars
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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Tracy Letts - Pulitzer and Tony winner, but most importantly The King of Physical Media - makes his much-anticipated Blank Check debut on an episode about a film that has no legitimate BluRay release. The irony! This week, we're discussing Peter Weir's The Year of Living Dangerously, a romantic drama set against the backdrop of Indonesian political unrest. We're discussing the star-power of Mel Gibson, the improbable performance of Linda Hunt, and, because this is Blank Check - the trench run at the end of Star Wars. Plus, we present the King of Physical Media with some meticulously chosen discs.
Log your physical media using CLZ
Check out Night Owl Video if your are in the Brooklyn area.
Listen to The 1988 Movie Draft, The 1982 Movie Draft and The Legal Draft Episodes of The Big Picture
Listen to Mike Duncan's Revolutions
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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