Mousterpiece Cinema

Latest Episodes:

Episode 405: Aladdin (2019) Jun 01, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for you to grab a magic carpet and fly down to Agrabah so you can start listening to a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. You might have already guessed it, but just in case you didn't, Scott and Josh are headed back to this mysterious, fictional Middle Eastern city to talk about a story that..well, they've already talked about. You know, the one about the street rat who finds a lamp and gets three wishes from a big blue genie. Of course, it's Aladdin, the 2019 live-action/CGI remake of the animated classic, this time starring Will Smith as the Genie. Scott and Josh are joined by longtime friend of the show Tim Grierson to talk about the new film, and why it either only barely works or doesn't work at all. And if you've wanted to hear Josh go off about these remakes, well, you are in luck. This one's a long episode, so sit back and get comfy and start listening!

Episode 404: The Strongest Man in the World May 25, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's that time of year again -- time to celebrate dads and grads! Since school's letting out, Scott and Josh figured it was the right time to close out the Dexter Riley trilogy on this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Your hosts come together -- sadly sans guest -- to talk about the 1975 film The Strongest Man in the World, starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Cesar Romero, and more. But who is the strongest man in the world, at least within this film? Why is Kurt Russell in so little of a movie that is ostensibly...about his character? More to the point, who is even the main character of this film and possibly the entire trilogy itself? All of these questions, plus at least one or two references to Arnold Schwarzenegger, can be resolved by listening to the new episode!

Episode 403: The Muppet Movie May 18, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new, inspirational, Muppetational episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, as Josh and Scott get ready to revisit one of the great all-ages movies, The Muppet Movie. No reason to hide our feelings here -- your hosts are both big fans of the 1979 classic that introduced Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and other Muppets to the big screen with their ruminations on the rainbow connection, movin' right along, and more. Your hosts are joined by friend of the show Odie Henderson of RogerEbert.com to talk about the film, its cameo performers, its timelessness, its all-killer-no-filler songs, and more. Check out the new show now!

Episode 402: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou May 11, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! Head with us under the sea for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Scott have matching wetsuits and beanies at the ready, and there's plenty more where that came from, as they talk about the 2004 Wes Anderson comedy-drama The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. They're joined by friend of the show Alan Zilberman of the Washington City Paper to talk about all things Zissou, from the potentially off-putting lead performance from Bill Murray, the film's use of David Bowie covers, its pristine production design and cinematography, its use of stop-motion animation, and more. Does this film hold up as well now as it did in '04? Is it best left forgotten? Find out now!

Episode 401: Avengers: Endgame May 04, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and Scott and Josh are talking about...well, you know which movie we're talking about this week. It's only the biggest film of the year so far, Avengers: Endgame. Scott and Josh are joined by freelance writer Aaron Pruner on this week's episode as they assemble to discuss the culmination of the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, fine, it's a movie we've all seen at least once by now -- and if you haven't, this whole episode is a spoiler -- but is Avengers: Endgame as good as its biggest fans have said? Does it all work in the end? How does this film handle its heroic women? And anyone not named Tony Stark or Steve Rogers? Listen to the new episode to find out!

Episode 400: Penguins Apr 27, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a very special new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. What's so special about this one? Well, first of all, Scott and Josh are joined by their old friend and the podcast's former co-host Gabe Bucsko for this one! And even better, it's the 400th episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! So what movie are we talking about? It's the one on everyone's mind during this last weekend of April: ...Disneynature's Penguins. (We'll talk about that other movie next week.) Scott, Josh, and Gabe tackle everything under the sun about this documentary, from the treacly narration and score to its IMAX-shot photography to the Notre Dame fire and Abigail Disney's criticism of wage inequity at Disney. (Everything under the sun, we promised.) Sit back and relax: this one's a lot of fun so check it out!

Episode 399: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Apr 20, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and on this one, Scott and Josh are headed underwater. We're, in fact, headed under the sea. 20,000 leagues, that is, because we're talking about the 1954 sci-fi classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, starring Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas, and James Mason as the mercurial and mysterious Captain Nemo of the superpowered submarine Nautilus in this adaptation of Jules Verne's iconic novel. Josh hasn't talked about this movie since the sixth episode of the podcast -- has his mind changed over nearly 8 years? What does Scott think about this early live-action hit? Is it more or less impressive in 2019? Is it truly a whale of a tale? You'll have to listen to find out!

Episode Six: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

NOTE: This episode is being posted in advance of our next Revisited show, and was originally recorded in August 2011. Josh begins a three-week sojourn into the world of Disney live-action films with 1954's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! He's never read the book, and this is the first time he's seen the movie. Did he marvel at the Nautilus and the mysterious Captain Nemo? Is he more like the brash Ned Land or the pensive Professor Arronax? Will he be able to properly pronounce the name "Conseil?" (Spoiler alert: probably not.) Check out this week's Mousterpiece Cinema--it's a real whale of a tale! (Easy reference, but it works!)

Episode 398: Adventureland Apr 13, 2019

Show notes

Hey, friends! Grab your 8-track, prepare to win a chintzy prize, and drive moodily down the roads of New Jersey with us on this brand new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! This week on the show, Josh and Scott are headed back to the 1980s, and the life of young Scott, as they discuss the 2009 coming-of-age romantic dramedy Adventureland starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and more. This blast from the past causes Scott to reminisce a bit about his own version of this coming-of-age story, of a guy lusting after a girl who might be out of his league, and also wonder if the whole film is just about a kid no longer being a virgin. Is the film as charming as it was a decade ago? Does this movie need to be...canceled? Find out now!

Episode 397: Dumbo (2019) Apr 06, 2019

Show notes

Hey, folks! Take a look up there in the sky. Is that a bird? A plane? A superhero? No, it's just a flying elephant, the kind of thing you might see in the new version of Disney's animated classic Dumbo, the topic of discussion on a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Scott sit down with longtime friend of the show and Eight-Timers' Club inductee Keith Phipps to talk about the live-action/CG remake of Dumbo from director Tim Burton, and pinpoint exactly why it doesn't work. They discuss everything from the film's unexpected cameos, reference points to the animated film, and science. Science is great! Let's science some science, like the characters in recent Disney live-action fare do! Learn more about science, and also Dumbo on the new show now!

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