Mousterpiece Cinema

Latest Episodes:

Episode 415: The Help Aug 10, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! We hope you've got some cornbread and a sweet tea at hand, because Scott and Josh are headed to the Deep South for the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Specifically, they're headed back to the halcyon days of the 1960s in the Mississippi as they discuss the period drama The Help, starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, and an Academy-Award winning Octavia Spencer. Remember The Help? It's been eight years since this film came out and became a huge hit at the box office, before getting multiple Oscar nominations. How does the film hold up after just eight years? Is this entertaining, or just a lazy history lesson? Is the film doing poorly by its characters or by racial and gender stereotypes? Find out now!

Episode 414: The Black Cauldron Aug 03, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and we're getting...well, very murky on this episode. Josh and Scott are revisiting one of the low points of Disney animation in this episode. In fact, they're talking about a film that just about ruined Disney feature animation for good, the 1985 summer release The Black Cauldron. Scott and Josh are joined by Vox critic-at-large and friend of the show Emily VanDerWerff to discuss the strange Welsh-inspired film that nearly sunk Disney because of its high budget, its dark story, and its violence. Is this a misunderstood masterpiece? Should there have been songs? Or, is it possible that there's already a song in this movie, sung by Ray Parker, Jr. himself?!? You'll have to listen to the show to find out!

Episode 413: The Lion King (2019) Jul 27, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! Are you ready for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema? Because Scott and Josh are headed back to the jungle for this one, as they're talking about the beloved animated film The Lion King, featuring the voices of James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and--wait, hold on, sorry. Scott and Josh are talking about the...animated remake of The Lion King today, featuring the voices of...still James Earl Jones, and also Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Yes, it's the biggest movie in the country right now, but your hosts and their guest -- the delightful Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times -- are not remotely impressed with the photorealism, the limp story, and the lifeless songs. Why does this remake fail to get why the original works so much? Sit back and relax -- we've got a lot to say on this one!

Episode 412: Step Up Jul 20, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! We hope you're feeling fresh and loosened up for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because we're going to be putting on our ballet shoes and tutus for this one. Or maybe we should just put on a fresh beat and get to a more aggressive form of dance. That's because Josh and Scott are talking about the 2006 dance drama Step Up this week, with friend of the show Kate Erbland of Indiewire joining them to talk about the big breakout film for Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. Does this old-fashioned throwback stand up in the year of our Lord 2019? Is it the kind of movie studios should be making more often? Or should films like this just be all about the dance sequences? Listen to the new show to find out!

Episode 411: Tron Jul 13, 2019

Show notes

Hello, programs! We hope you've prepared yourself appropriately, that you're jacked in, that you're blasting your biodigital jazz, and whatever else you need to prepare, because it's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, Scott and Josh are going into the computer...OK, they're just going into the world of computers as they revisit the 1982 cult film Tron. Yes, you remember Tron, right? You've seen it? Well, if you haven't, you're in for quite a treat as your hosts talk about the film's impact, its effects, and whether or not its writing and direction are salvageable enough over 35 years later. Check out the new show now!

Episode 410: Summer of Sam Jul 06, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's that time of year -- the summer. The heat is rising, baseball is in full swing, and people are getting murdered left and right. OK, well, to be fair, we're talking about a very specific summer on this brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. The summer of 1977 in New York City, to be particular, and what an eventful summer it was. It's the subject of the Spike Lee film Summer of Sam from 1999, featuring John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, Adrien Brody, and more. This week on the show, Scott and Josh are joined by Roger Ebert contributor Odie Henderson to talk about this hot mess of a movie, from its extreme profanity to its orgy scene. (This is maybe the most R-rated film we've ever discussed on the show!) But is it an enjoyable hot mess or just a hot mess? Check out the new episode to find out!

Episode 409: Toy Story 4 Jun 29, 2019

Show notes

Hey howdy hey, everybody! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and the toys are back in town once more as we get set to talk about Pixar's latest film, Toy Story 4. Scott and Josh are raring to go as they sit down with friend of the show Kristen Lopez to discuss the fourth entry in the now 25-year old series, and talk about whether this movie could ever possibly hope to live up to our expectations. Is the new Toy Story movie as good as its predecessors? Is it better? Is it possible that Josh is the most positive person on this episode? Does this feel like a feature or a series of shorts strung together? These are all questions we answer in the episode, so you might as well listen -- right now!

Episode 408: Toy Story 2 Jun 22, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and to listen to this one, you better make sure you've gathered the whole Roundup gang, from Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl to that trusty horse Bullseye to even Stinky Pete the Prospector. You probably already guessed, but we're talking about the Pixar Animation Studios film Toy Story 2 on the podcast this week, as yet another of our Revisited shows. Scott and Josh are joined by friend of the show and freelance writer Noel Murray to talk about the now-20-year old film, and whether or not it truly is the best Toy Story film. (One of the three of them would say not!) In advance of our Toy Story 4 podcast next week, we're looking back at the first sequel in the franchise, talking about everything from parental metaphors to the inevitable Woody prequel. Check out the show now!

Episode 407: Dark Phoenix Jun 15, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this time, Scott and Josh are forging a new frontier of the podcast as they talk about their first film during the Disney/Fox era. And what better film to start with than the latest X-Men movie? You know...Dark Phoenix? Dark Phoenix, you guys! The new X-Men movie! With Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones! It's totally a thing, a real movie that just opened last week. And we are pretty sure we saw it! Scott and Josh are joined by friend of the show and recent guest Alan Zilberman of Washington City Paper to talk about what is likely the last X-Men movie of this era, and why it's pretty damn forgettable. Plus, Josh reveals how this movie inspired him to do something he hasn't done in years in theaters! It just might shock you. Listen to the new show to find out!

Episode 406: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Jun 08, 2019

Show notes

Hey, friends! Get yourself a nearby spell book and some brooms and mops, because it's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. On this episode of the show, Josh and Scott keep up the trend of talking about live-action remakes of Disney animated classics, by discussing the 2010 action film The Sorcerer's Apprentice, starring Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel as the sorcerer and his apprentice, respectively. Josh and Scott are joined by friend of the show Steve Greene of Indiewire to talk about the film, its connections to Fantasia, the work of Alfred Molina, Nicolas Cage and his automotive loves, and whether or not this is the rare live-action remake to be so different from its inspiration to be enjoyable. Listen to the new show now!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected