Mousterpiece Cinema

Latest Episodes:

Episode 290: Beauty and the Beast (1991) Mar 18, 2017

Show notes

Gather 'round, friends, as Scott and Josh revisit a tale as old as time on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. You know, some say it's even a song...well, as old as rhyme. Yes, that's right, we're discussing one of Disney's finest animated films on this week's show, the 1991 adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, featuring some of the studio's most memorable songs, characters, and sequences. Longtime listeners won't be surprised to know that Josh remains an ardent fan of the story, but is Scott also on board? Is this Disney's best animated film? Does LeFou seem like he was written as gay from the very beginning? And, related to that last question, does Scott's opinion of the live-action remake (which he, unlike Josh, had seen by the time of this recording) color his view of the animated film? You'll have to listen to find out!

Episode 21: Beauty and the Beast Mar 15, 2017

Show notes

NOTE: To tie into our upcoming Revisited show, we're publishing this early episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, with just Josh and no co-host. Enjoy! Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. Yes, friends, just in time for its 20th anniversary, Josh takes a look back at the pinnacle of the Disney Renaissance, 1991's Beauty and the Beast! After the last couple of weeks, and with the holidays right around the corner, nothing could be better than revisiting this old-fashioned classic. But you might find a few surprises here, such as a discussion of the alternate 18-minute opening or Josh wondering about the origins of the Beast. You'll have to check out the new Mousterpiece Cinema, though; just make sure you don't go into the West Wing!

Episode 289: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Mar 11, 2017

Show notes

For six long years, we've been in trouble, friends. No pleasure here on Earth we've found! We are truly men of constant sorrow. OK, not really, but the lyrics to "Man of Constant Sorrow" are rattling around Josh and Scott's brains this week as they discuss the Joel and Ethan Coen Depression-era comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou? on this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. They're joined by Sam Adams of Slate to discuss George Clooney's first major foray into film comedy as the wordy escaped convict Ulysses Everett McGill, the Coens' relationship with non-white characters, the soundtrack, and the unexpected resonance of the film's political subplot. Lucky for you, you're not in a tight spot--just dive into the new show!

Episode 288: Mission to Mars Mar 04, 2017

Show notes

Hey, friends! It's time to get your trusty space helmets on and suit yourself up, because this week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Scott are on a mission. A mission...to Mars. (Sadly, not one from God, because the Blues Brothers aren't a Disney property. Oh well.) In fact, Josh and Scott are talking about the 2000 sci-fi epic Mission to Mars, starring Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, and Don Cheadle, directed by Brian De Palma. (Yes, the Brian De Palma.) They're joined by longtime friend of the show Peter Labuza of The Cinephiliacs to discuss the important questions. Is Mission to Mars an underrated De Palma film? Is it better than the other 2000s-era Mars movie, Red Planet? Are the allusions to 2001: A Space Odyssey earned? And what would cause Peter to say "I want to die"? Gotta listen all the way to the end to find out!

Episode 287: Kundun Feb 25, 2017

Show notes

Hello, friends! It's time for another new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Josh and Scott dive back into the extensive career of one of America's finest filmmakers, Martin Scorsese. Though it was little-seen originally, Scorsese's story of the young Dalai Lama, Kundun, is our topic for this week's show. Josh and Scott are joined by Bilge Ebiri of The Village Voice to talk about this artful, gorgeous, yet potentially emotionally distant story and its place in Scorsese's filmography. Is this movie too unlike the rest of his career, or does it fit right in? And what's more, is it really necessary that Disney's executives had to literally apologize to the Chinese Prime Minister for this film? Only one way to know for sure: check out the new show!

Episode 286: Pinocchio Feb 18, 2017

Show notes

Hey, friends! We're going back in time for this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because Josh and Scott are revisiting yet another Disney classic for the show. This time around, to tie into its recent Blu-ray re-release, your hosts are talking about the 1940 animated classic Pinocchio, all the way from Jiminy Cricket to Monstro and all the other animals and characters in between. Plus, Josh is rectifying a grievous error he made last month so that all of you listeners know for sure that Revisited episodes are a little bit different from all the rest. (It involves Albert Brooks.) But the more important question: is Pinocchio still as good as people say? Does Scott think this is a leap forward from Snow White? Which of your co-hosts is dubbed a living Wikipedia? And how did it take six episodes for Scott to wonder if Josh must hate him? Find out now!

Episode 285: That Darn Cat Feb 11, 2017

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Time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, friends! This week, Josh and Scott are going it alone again as they return to the scene of a very dastardly crime. Last month, the crime was that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious bank robbers; this month, the crime is that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious...people whose identities are obscured. That's right, we're talking about the 1997 remake of That Darn Cat on this episode of the show, and both Josh and Scott are amazed at how different so much of the film is aside from the title and very basic premise. Sure, there's a teenager (Christina Ricci) and an FBI agent (Doug E. Doug), but the original film didn't have warring mechanics, two nagging parents, a pair of doofus security guards, a wig-wearing butcher, and references to the films of Budd Boetticher! How much can be attributed to the film's writers, who also wrote Ed Wood and last year's American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson? Is this film an improvement on the original? Is there a way for Josh to shoehorn in political references this week? Find out now!

Episode 284: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Feb 04, 2017

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a very exciting, fancy, bedazzled new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and we hope you've gotten yourselves dressed up to the nines. See, it's time for a royal wedding! At least, that's the subject of the film up for discussion on this week's show, the 2004 sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Chris Pine in his feature film debut. Josh and Scott are prepared with their tuxes and tails to talk about a lighthearted film, especially after another week of such tumult and turmoil in the world, so what better film than a story of a strong, intelligent woman poised to take a seat of power who is threatened with overthrow by a fatheaded lout--um...OK. Well, even with that plot, Josh and Scott are ready to discuss this sequel, whether it improves on its predecessor, if its characterization of the heroine is consistent, and what the hell Stan Lee (yes, really) is doing in this movie. Check it out now!

Episode 283: Hercules Jan 28, 2017

Show notes

Hey, friends! It's time for another episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week, Josh and Scott are going all the way back to the beginning. We're not going back to the beginning of the Disney animated canon, but to just about the beginning of history to discuss Disney's take on the Greek myth of Hercules. The 1997 film is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, so maybe it's time to reconsider it as unfairly underrated, at least compared to the rest of the Disney Renaissance. Here to help review the film with Josh and Scott is Fran Hoepfner of The Onion, and discuss the important things: does this film feature one of James Woods' best performances? Is it truly an underrated gem? Is Hercules too dumb of a character to fall in love with? And how gross is this movie? Find out now!

Episode 282: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Jan 21, 2017

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for an all-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and don't worry--you're not seeing things. We really are discussing the very first Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on today's podcast. This is the first in what will become a monthly mini-series within the overall podcast, wherein Josh revisits some big-name films from past episodes while new co-host Scott Renshaw talks about them for the first time. So what better way to kick off this Revisited mini-series than with the first Disney film? Longtime listeners may remember that Josh respects, but doesn't love, this film; is Scott more of a fan? Does he like it less? Is it insulting to single dimensions to call Snow White single-dimensional? Find out now!

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