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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Copyright: © 2026
#thetwofriends welcome back Katey Rich (Vanity Fair) to discuss 2004's Cruise/Foxx thriller Collateral. Together they examine the initial casting of Adam Sandler as the cab driver, as well as, the entire cast's excellent performances, contemplate a coyote and more.
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This week, Jamelle Bouie (The New York Times) joins to discuss 2001’s unorthodox biopic, Ali. Together they examine the relationship between Ali and sports broadcaster Howard Cosell, the Peter Newman interview, Will Smith and the rest of the excellent cast's performances and so much more. Plus, Jamelle tries the Spies in Disguise challenge!
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This week, Andy Levy joins Griffin and David to discuss 1999's 60 Minutes biopic, The Insider. Together they examine the performances of Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, and Christopher Plummer, go off on a The Good Shepherd tangent, present some Joe Camel casting options and more!
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Comedian Jon Gabrus joins Griffin and David for an epic conversation on 1995's Cops and Robbers aren't so different movie, Heat. But what did director William Friedkin call Al Pacino in his biography? Is someone reading a metal making book at the bar mysterious? Who is the legendary Craig Castaldo AKA Radio Man? Together they examine the performances of Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, Dad cinema, the diner scene and more!
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Dana Stevens (Slate) joins Griffin and David to discuss 1992's new world frontier adaptation, The Last of the Mohicans. Together they examine Mann and Daniel Day-Lewis spending a month in the forest of North Carolina learning the skills and tools needed to survive in the eighteenth-century wilderness, the legacy of character "Natty" Bumppo, the films of Buster Keaton and more!
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This week, Chris Cabin and Eric Szyszka of the We Hate Movies podcast joins Griffin and David to discuss the original Hannibal Lecter film: 1986's Manhunter. But what motivated producer Dino De Laurentiis to scrap the adapted title Red Dragon in favor of Manhunter? Did Michael Mann's research involve becoming pen pals with an incarcerated murderer? Is poet and painter William Blake's Great Red Dragon on fleek? Together they examine the performances of William Petersen and Brian Cox, the work of novelist Thomas Harris and the complete Lecter-verse (including Hannibal Rising), Walt Disney’s frozen head and serial killer home design aesthetics.
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Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) returns to Blank Check to discuss 1983's The Keep. But is this technically a movie? Why is there an extended tangent about the TV show Bones? Is there a movie where anyone eats pizza before E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial? Together they discuss the Mount Rushmore of 1980s: Verhoeven, Schrader, De Palma and Friedkin, the creator of the Moviefone and also talk about The Keep.
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Five months ago Blank Check began the Tim Burton mini-series. This week, though, marks a new director and a NEW mini-series with the filmography of one Michael Mann! Starting us of is the 1981 jewel stealing neo-noir, Thief. But were there literal wanted criminals on the set of this movie? Is James Cann the best at Twitter? What is Mann's top 10 Sight & Sound and is there a strange contemporary outlier? Together Griffin and David examine Michael Mann's background, the performances of Cann, Robert Prosky and Willie Nelson and spend some time on Dennis Farina's mustache.
Music: "ShortSwingwav." by Valentin Sosnitskiy. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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On the week of it's release in May of 2019, Blank Check invited screenwriters of Detective Pikachu, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit, to offer a behind-the-scenes look into the development and writing process of this film! But what other media influenced elements of the story structure? What are Griffin and David's favorite Pokémon? How long did it take writer and director Steven E. de Souza to write Street Fighter? Together they examine fandom theory, world building, video game movies and explore the credit process and arbitration process.
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This week is a special Ben's Choice episode. He selected 2016's excellent video game adaptation, Assassin's Creed. But is it very good? Yes. Do they talk about apples? YES! Is there a lot of discussion about Marion Cotillard believing this project was a documentary? YEAH!!! Together they examine the huge role Michael Fassbender played in this production, Justin Kurzel's moody directing, this film's relationship to the video game franchise and parkour. Plus, #thetwofriends announce the next 2 directors Blank Check will be covering in upcoming mini series!
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