Bald Move Prestige - Hail, Caesar! (2016)

We’ve seen the latest Coen brother’s film, “Hail, Caesar!”, and it’s really… something. Funny, but not hilarious, interesting but ultimately meaningless… or is it? A crazy stew of singing and dancing and politics and religion and featuring more star power than the Milky Way, like most Coen films it will probably reward multiple views. Check out our spoiler free mini-review, and if you’re a Club member, stick around for a spoiler filled in depth discussion.

Black Oil and Bee Stings - 1003 – Mulder and Scully meet the Were-Monster

A.Ron and Jim discuss the latest episode of the X-Files, “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster”. While we agree the episode was very funny, and the best of the re-vamped series so far, we are both left a bit wanting for different reasons. A.Ron wanted more Mulder and Scully, and Jim wants more myth-arc. Along the way we try to unpack all the fun easter eggs and references, and figure out where we’re going next.

Bald Move Prestige - The Shining (1980)

Jim and A.Ron check into the Overlook Hotel as we are compelled to podcast on the 1980 Stanley Kubrick psychological-horror masterpiece, “The Shining”. Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall, it’s an incredible combination of beautifully crafted shots, stunning and terrifying visuals and imagery, and Jack Nicholson’s fully insane acting. There is so much to discuss; the film itself, our reactions, Stephen King’s antagonism towards the film, the various theories and documentaries the film has spawned, subliminal messages and hidden meanings, and fine naked ladies with implausible afros. All this and more is discussed, and we felt like we hardly scratched the surface.

Up Yours, Downstairs!

Consumer Reports Can Suck it!

Kelly & Tom recap Downton Abbey S6E5 (but don’t forget to taste the Instant Take) and wonder why a servant is like a comma, decide that Tom should be Spratt for Halloween, make a Cockerton judgement, marvel at Andy’s acceptance of homosexuality, lament the lack of Whore Institute t-shirts, and plan to cut a baby…

A Prophet (2009)

Special thanks to Frank Cantelmi for pulling the metaphoric trigger to commission a podcast on “A Prophet”, a 2009 French film and Academy Award nominee directed by Jacques Audiard. An intense, beautiful, absorbing look in how a hapless youth is pulled ever deeper into a world of violent crime, Jim and A.Ron compare it favorably to The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Scarface. Yes, really. Thanks again, Frank!

Black Oil and Bee Stings - 1002 – Founder’s Mutation

Episode 1002 entitled “Founder’s Mutation” of the X-Files miniseries is better than the premiere, but not by a wide margin, and would be considered a middling episode back in the day. The boys explore the charms of the episode, and ask what we presume are some of the big questions raised within. We also discuss ratings so far, where we think the series is going, and our hopes for the future. See you next week!

Black Oil and Bee Stings - 1001 – My Struggle

X-Files is back, with episode 1001, “My Struggle”. It was the best of X-Files (cool space ships! Mulder and Scully! Cancer Man!), it was the worst of X-Files (retcons galore, crazy conspiracy word salad monologues, our heroes flip flopping on their skepticism / gullibility). The key was, we were kind of braced for that, so by and large we enjoyed the introduction to the relaunch / reboot for what it was, and are eager to see what they get up to now that the heavy lifting is out of the way. What did you think? We got a wide range of opinions via email and the forums, but we’d love to hear from you using the contact methods below. We’ll be back for the second episode tomorrow, see you then!

Up Yours, Downstairs!

They Paved Pig Farm, And Put Up a Parking Lot

In their recap of Downton Abbey S6E4, Kelly & Tom may have had a bit too much coffee as they declare these to be the show’s “Holly J years.” They also contemplate the implementation of ovesters, wonder why Downton is suddenly filled with sexual innuendo, speculate about port-related injuries, explain Satan’s only weakness, remind everyone…

Black Oil and Bee Stings - The X-Files Miniseries (2016) Preview

Greetings X-Philes! Jim and A.Ron begin their coverage of the six episode mini-series version of the X-Files with a bit of a preview podcast, to get the feeds primed and pumping for this weekend’s premiere. We discuss our history with the X-Files, favorite episodes, and hopes and fears for the weeks ahead. Our coverage of the first episode airing on Fox the evening of Sunday, January 24th, will be out Tuesday, January 26th! See you then.