Mousterpiece Cinema

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Episode 178: Aliens of the Deep Jan 07, 2015

Show notes

Happy New Year, folks! We're kicking things off at Mousterpiece Cinema right in 2015, with a film from the master himself, James Cameron. (Please, call him Jim.) Following up on our discussion of Ghosts of the Abyss last year, Gabe and Josh are going down below once more with the 2005 documentary Aliens of the Deep, in which Cameron explores the sea life burrowing miles below the surface of the planet. And, as anyone who's a longtime listener may know, this episode is a fine excuse for the dynamic duo to debate the legacy of James Cameron, as well as the future of the Avatar series. Does Aliens of the Deep hold the key to why Jim Cameron is so obsessed with the world of Pandora? Is Gabe one of those diehards who got so depressed that Pandora wasn't a real place? Should this movie have been longer? Shorter? So many questions and so little time to answer them! Find out on the new show!

Episode 177: Into the Woods Dec 30, 2014

Show notes

As we say goodbye to 2014, friends, it's time to venture into the world of musicals on Mousterpiece Cinema once more. In fact, you might say Josh and Gabe are headed into the woods/it's time to go/we hate to leave/ we have to, though/Into the woods/it's time to go/we must begin/our journey. Whoa, sorry about that. Sondheim shows have this effect on the podcast. Seriously, though, for their last show of 2014, Josh and Gabe tackle Into the Woods, the long-awaited adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's fairy-tale musical, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, and--because he is contractually obligated to appear in Disney movies once a year or something--Johnny Depp. Joining them is longtime friend of the show Chris Dole; does this trio embrace Rob Marshall's take on the material? Are they fans of soon-to-be CBS late-night host James Corden? Does it help matters that Marshall is from Pittsburgh? You'll have to go into the woods and listen to find out! (Then out of the woods, and home before dark.)

Episode 176: The Reluctant Dragon Dec 23, 2014

Show notes

With but one shopping day until Christmas, it's time for Josh and Gabe to open up their own gifts on this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as they travel back in time to the era when the Walt Disney Company was merely the Walt Disney Studios, back when live-action and animation didn't co-exist nearly as freely as they do today. On this new episode of the show, Josh and Gabe are joined by Noel Murray of The Dissolve to talk about The Reluctant Dragon, the 1941 hybrid of live-action and animation, of fiction and documentary, wherein Robert Benchley walks around the Disney studios to see how the animation process is completed, from sound effects to storyboards all the way to the finished product. Is this more than just a quaint relic? Is it a compelling look into the past? Is Robert Benchley annoying or hilarious? Or both? You can only find out by listening to the new show! (A warning/apology: due to issues on Josh's side of the recording, there is an echo that persists throughout the episode. It will sound like Josh is cutting in on either Noel or Gabe at various points, but he wasn't. Just a nasty echo/delay issue. Again, apologies!)

Episode 175: Inspector Gadget Dec 16, 2014

Show notes

Are you feeling brainy? We hope so, because matters of the mind are on tap for this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Gabe are ready to tackle the 1999 adaptation of the 1980s cartoon Inspector Gadget, starring Matthew Broderick and Rupert Everett as our intrepid hero and his nefarious nemesis Dr. Claw, respectively. And it turns out that their memories of the live-action take have held up pretty much entirely--which isn't a good thing. Everything under the sun comes up on this week's show, from Smash Mouth to Anthony Perkins to old American Express ads to...Playboy. Yes. Really. (Or, one might say, "Wowsers.") How do all of these things connect to Inspector Gadget? Go-go-download/listen to find out!

Episode 174: Rushmore Dec 08, 2014

Show notes

Hey, folks! We hope you've been preparing all of your extracurricular activities, from fencing to beekeeping to everything in between, because this week, we're going back to prep school. More specifically, Josh and Gabe are headed to Rushmore, the 1998 film from writer-director Wes Anderson, starring Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams and Garfield himself, Bill Murray. They're joined by return guest Dana Stevens of Slate.com to discuss the Anderson filmography, his signature aesthetic choices, the careers of this film's two leading men, and whether or not Rushmore was Anderson's first sign of greatness, or his only sign of greatness. Yes, it's not a huge love-in today, but there's plenty of spirited debate to listen to, so check it out!

Episode 173: Make Mine Music Dec 02, 2014

Show notes

With the holidays right around the corner, we hope you're in a musical mood this week, because that's ostensibly the theme of the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Gabe get in rhythm to talk about the 1946 package film Make Mine Music, which offers the viewer everything from Benny Goodman to opera to the Andrews Sisters. So, y'know, it's something for everyone. But is this package film any good? Does it hold up as a whole or are there merely parts that end up succeeding? Your hosts go all over the map this week, just like the movie in question, talking about everything from the new Star Wars trailer to the recent announcement that Disney is teaming up with Turner Classic Movies for programming and theme-park updates. So get in tune and start listening to the show!

Episode 172: Dead Poets Society Nov 26, 2014

Show notes

Happy early Thanksgiving, folks. On this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, we're thankfully not talking about a cinematic turkey; we;re going back to school with the 1989 film Dead Poets Society, starring the late Robin Williams. Gabe and Josh are joined by friend of the show, big-boy-who-was-once-a-little-boy, and Flavorwire film editor Jason Bailey to talk about Peter Weir, date-rape scenarios, Woody Allen and, obviously, the 1998 film Holy Man. (It all makes sense, we promise.) Is Dead Poets Society still a classic inspirational film? Is it secretly the cause of the eroding educational system in the U.S.? We decide for good on the new show, so check it out!

Episode 171: The Incredibles Nov 18, 2014

Show notes

We hope you're bursting with confidence this week, listeners. You should be brimming with courage and energy and flexibility! In short, you better be feeling incredible because that's the tone of this week's Mousterpiece Cinema, wherein Josh and Gabe talk about the 2004 Pixar film The Incredibles. They're joined by comedian and actor Griffin Newman to discuss Brad Bird's debut at the Emeryville, California animation studio, a fast-paced superhero movie featuring the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and every child's favorite actor, Wallace Shawn. (You know kids love My Dinner with Andre.) There's lots to discuss this week, from Ayn Rand to Breaking Bad all the way to the recently announced Toy Story 4. If you're feeling...flexible to such tangents, then start listening!

Episode 170: Big Hero 6 Nov 11, 2014

Show notes

This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are suiting up with their best scientific superpowers to fight head-on about the new film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Big Hero 6. This collaboration between Disney and Marvel (though the latter's involvement is fairly hidden to the regular viewer) may be garnering general acclaim from audiences and critics, but we are divided on today's show. Josh and Gabe are joined by John Gholson of Movies.com, Gutters and Panels, and the Giant Size podcast, and you might be surprised to find out which way he leans. (And, for that matter, where Josh and Gabe land on the film.) Is this film too derivative of other animated films and TV shows? Does its deliberate mixing of Asian and American cultural landmarks work in its favor? And should we rename this podcast to My Life as a Dog: The Gabe Bucsko Story? Find out in today's new show!

Episode 169: Aladdin and the King of Thieves Nov 04, 2014

Show notes

Today at Mousterpiece Cinema HQ, there's singing, laughing, and references to movies as disparate as Arbitrage, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Top Gun, which can only mean one thing: it's time for another freewheeling discussion of a Disney direct-to-video sequel. This time, Gabe and Josh are talking about what they consider to be the best of a meager bunch, Aladdin and the King of Thieves. And how could anything go that badly anyway with the return of Robin Williams as the Genie? Or was the true victory simply that Williams returned to voice the character, instead of giving the film a new lease on life? Is this really an improvement on The Return of Jafar? And, seriously, what the hell does Top Gun have to do with any of this? Find out if Gabe has lost that lovin' feeling by checking out the new show!

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