Mousterpiece Cinema

Latest Episodes:

Episode 299: Ponyo May 20, 2017

Show notes

Hey, folks! Get as much ham as you have nearby, stuff it into your mouth, and start listening to the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as quickly as you can! On today's show, Scott and Josh are talking about Hayao Miyazaki's 2008 film Ponyo, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale The Little Mermaid. Your hosts are joined by David Sims of The Atlantic to discuss the Studio Ghibli film, the stentorian tones of one Liam Neeson, and yes, of course, ham. (And also things like the English-language dub of the film.) Is Ponyo secretly one of Miyazaki's great works? Has it been properly rated? Are the ham jokes coming off too...hammy? Gotta listen to find out!

Episode 298: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 May 13, 2017

Show notes

OK, folks, strap in and get ready for a wild ride, because on this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Scott are headed to the far reaches of the galaxy to get into some scrapes and messes. This week on the show, they're headed back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to discuss Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, the new film starring Chris Pratt, Kurt Russell, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper as a talking raccoon, and Vin Diesel as Baby Groot. Josh and Scott are joined by Brad Oman (aka Ethan Anderton) of Slashfilm to talk about Marvel's new hit, and whether it surpasses the 2014 original. Is it still as fresh as the first film? Are the characters as lovable? And are babies jerks? Answers to these and other burning questions await you!

Episode 297: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl May 06, 2017

Show notes

Avast, ye landlubbers! Now that we have your attention, it's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, Josh and Scott are doing another Revisited episode of the podcast, wherein they discuss the 2003 blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. This smash hit launched the movie-star career of one Johnny Depp, best known as Captain Jack Sparrow, but after 15 years and countless sequels, does the iconic character and the film in which he first appeared hold up? Are Josh and Scott able to separate art from the artist? Will we offend the Orlando Bloom fans out there? (Or, as they're best known, the Or-fan-dos?) Find out now!

Episode 296: Born in China Apr 29, 2017

Show notes

Hey, friends! Earth Day was a week ago, but we're still celebrating on a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. On last week's show, Scott and Josh talked about the first feature-length nature documentary from Disney, so it's only fitting that on this week's show, they talk about the newest Disney nature documentary, Born in China. The film, narrated by everyone's go-to person on Chinese culture, John Krasinski, tells four different stories and might even include some drama, but is it any good? Scott and Josh are joined by freelance writer Karen Han to talk about the film, its accuracy, its narrator, and kids' favorite, Amazon's Jack Ryan. (It'll all make sense in the end.) Check out the show now!

Episode 295: The Living Desert Apr 22, 2017

Show notes

Happy Earth Day, friends! Scott and Josh are celebrating this important day in style by talking about a nature documentary on a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. It's not just any documentary, either: it's the first feature-length documentary from Walt Disney Pictures, The Living Desert, from 1953. Though Josh has discussed a few new DisneyNature films on the program in the past, this is the first time we're going back to the era of the original True-Life Adventures, which had everything: bitter battles among insects, delicate mating rituals, and...square dancing. Yes, this old documentary may have some familiar tricks up its sleeve, as your hosts find out. But does it hold up to 60-plus years of scrutiny? Find out on the new show!

Studio Ghibli Bonus Episode: Grave of the Fireflies Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Hey, friends! As Easter recedes into the rearview, there's no better time for a very special b-b-b-b-b-b-bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! This time, Josh and Scott are celebrating the 29th anniversary of one of the greatest and saddest films of all time, the Studio Ghibli classic Grave of the Fireflies, one of the rare Ghibli films that Disney doesn't own. Fair warning, friends: this movie, which begins with its protagonist, a Japanese boy, dying destitute and alone, is a big ol' downer. Here's how much of a downer it is: just talking about this movie on the show made Josh get teary-eyed! Really. Does Scott join him in collapsing in a puddle of tears? Is the film's sadness enough to make the film worth watching? Should you ever watched a dubbed Ghibli film? Find out the answers on this special supplemental episode!

Episode 294: The Happiest Millionaire Apr 15, 2017

Show notes

Well, it took until April, but this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema represents something of a rite of passage for Josh's still-new-ish co-host Scott. This week on the podcast, they're discussing the 1967 film The Happiest Millionaire, which some people may know best as the last film in which Walt Disney had any serious involvement before he passed away. But for this episode, it represents something of slightly less importance: it's Scott's first time talking about one of the batty live-action films from the Disney studios in the 1960s and 1970s. Because, make no mistake: this is a weird, weird movie. Even if you haven't seen the film--especially if you haven't--make time for this episode: there's alligators and cars and jiu jitsu. And more! Check it out now.

Episode 293: The Rocketeer Apr 08, 2017

Show notes

Friends, we encourage you to look to the skies for this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Scott are going to be flying high because they're revisiting a cult classic from the Walt Disney Company: The Rocketeer, the Joe Johnston adaptation of the Dave Stevens graphic novel, starring Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, and more. The real question this week is not if the movie holds up for either Josh or Scott. The real question is: which of them is a bigger super-fan of this movie? The 1991 film may have been unjustly forgotten by some, but both of your hosts are huge fans, so this is a top-to-bottom gushfest. But what of the future for The Rocketeer? Does this movie stand out even more in an era of grimdark superhero films? Only one way to find out: listen to the new show!

Episode 292: Grosse Pointe Blank Apr 01, 2017

Show notes

Get your tuxes ready, prep your hair in the right kind of wave, and polish off your gun, too: we're going to a high school reunion! That's right, folks: on this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Scott and Josh are heading back to the 'burbs for a reunion as they discuss the 1997 hitman comedy Grosse Pointe Blank, starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and more. They're joined by Mike D'Angelo of Las Vegas Weekly and The A.V. Club to talk about this cult favorite that helped push Cusack a little further towards the always beloved High Fidelity. Does Grosse Pointe Blank still hold up after 20 years? Is John Cusack still better suited to characters like Martin Blank or did his paycheck-heavy work in later years fit him better? And are all three of the gentlemen on today's show madly in love with Minnie Driver? Find out now!

Episode 291: Beauty and the Beast (2017) Mar 25, 2017

Show notes

Hello, friends! It's time for Scott and Josh to discuss a tale as old as time...a song as old as rhyme! ...Again! Yes, this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema talks about Beauty and the Beast for the second time in two straight weeks, but this one's all about the new live-action film starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and more. Scott and Josh are joined by friend of the show Monica Castillo of the New York Times to review this monster box-office hit; money aside, does it live up to our expectations? Could it ever hope to compete? Is this a surprise success or surprisingly painful? There's a lot to discuss in this one, so get ready and start listening!

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