Five months ago Blank Check began the Tim Burton mini-series. This week, though, marks a new director and a NEW mini-series with the filmography of one Michael Mann! Starting us of is the 1981 jewel stealing neo-noir, Thief. But were there literal wanted criminals on the set of this movie? Is James Cann the best at Twitter? What is Mann's top 10 Sight & Sound and is there a strange contemporary outlier? Together Griffin and David examine Michael Mann's background, the performances of Cann...
2019-05-19 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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On the week of it's release in May of 2019, Blank Check invited screenwriters of Detective Pikachu, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit, to offer a behind-the-scenes look into the development and writing process of this film! But what other media influenced elements of the story structure? What are Griffin and David's favorite Pokémon? How long did it take writer and director Steven E. de Souza to write Street Fighter? Together they examine fandom theory, world building, video game movies and ex...
2019-05-12 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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APRIL 10, 2019 - BARCLAYS CENTER - BROOKLYN NETS vs. MIAMI HEAT: Griffin, David and Producer Ben attended a basketball game. Why? Because the Checkmates chose it! Griffin is not a sports boy. David LOVES basketball. Producer Ben snuck in a recording device. This is CONTENT!
2019-05-11 18:26:40 +0000 UTC
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An important moment in HISTORY happened when Producer Ben was given the reigns of the podcast and selected the VERY GOOD MOVIE Assassin's Creed! Here, dear Checkmates, we present some b-b-b-bonus content from the cutting room floor.
2019-05-05 04:01:01 +0000 UTC
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This week is a special Ben's Choice episode. He selected 2016's excellent video game adaptation, Assassin's Creed. But is it very good? Yes. Do they talk about apples? YES! Is there a lot of discussion about Marion Cotillard believing this project was a documentary? YEAH!!! Together they examine the huge role Michael Fassbender played in this production, Justin Kurzel's moody directing, this film's relationship to the video game franchise and parkour. Plus, #thetwofriends announce the next 2 ...
2019-05-05 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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The all American kid FROM Brooklyn is being discussed in Brooklyn (at Big Nice studios)? YUP. Griffin, David and Produer Ben discuss 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier!
2019-05-01 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Karen Han (Polygon) returns to discuss 2019’s Dumbo! But what member of Blank Check likes a bossy girl? Was actor Brendan Hines insecure about the fact that he might be too conventionally handsome to be a Karen's Boy? What should happen to bad elephant boys? Together they examine Disney trailers and critical predictions, frozen heads, Sims gets very mad about his boy Colin and they offer up their Burton rankings.
2019-04-28 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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More BC:SF MCU commentary recorded at Big Nice studios in New York City! But this time, Griffin, David and Producer Ben are talkin' Dark Elves with 2013's Thor: The Dark World!
2019-04-21 04:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Writer, Emma Stefansky (Thrillist), joins Griffin and David to talk about 2016's fantasy flop: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Together they examine the peculiarities of the children, the novel by Ransom Riggs, crossbows and famous people who are EVEN hotter in person.
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Follow us @blankcheckpod on 2019-04-21 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Richard Lawson returns to discuss the late-Burton effort: 2014's Big Eyes. But why are the eyes so big? Should Christoph Waltz be the star of his own network TV sitcom? How did Burton pull off making the focus of this movie about the main character's abuser? Together they examine the eyes (which are big), Margaret Keane's history and Alita: Battle Angel (which is also known as Big Eyes 2.)
Plus, check out past (and future) guests Richard and Joanna Robinson's podcast
2019-04-14 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Editor and filmmaker, Jordan Fish, joins Griffin and David to discuss 2012's Frankenweenie!
2019-04-11 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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This week on Blank Check, comedian Jamie Loftus The Bechdel Cast discusses 2012's goth soap opera, Dark Shadows. But has Timmy "the boy from Burbank" Burton become the hill man in his later years? Where is Sullyville located in America? Why does the climatic fight scene only further reinforce ones disliking of Depp? Together they examine Jamie's history with the original series, Hot Topic's influence, the problem with Deadpo...
2019-04-07 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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More live MCU commentary recorded at Big Nice studios in New York City! This time, Griffin, David and Producer Ben discuss 2013's Iron Man 3.
2019-04-01 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Griffin and David welcome back Emily St. James (Vox) to discuss 2010's CGI fantasy Alice in Wonderland! Together they examine Burton's greatest failure.
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2019-03-31 05:44:00 +0000 UTC
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Director/writer, Alex Ross Perry "just happened" to be in studio to discuss Blank Check’s March Madness bracket! Together they make predictions for the final outcome, examine other potential franchises to cover in the future and Producer Ben presents a series of new start-up businesses he is launching this year.
Vote for the final four starting at noon EST: https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod!
2019-03-29 04:00:01 +0000 UTC
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(For some reason?) Tony award winning actor, Michael Cerveris, was nice enough to sit down for 2+ hours and discuss Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with #thetwofriends. We present to you, checkmates, this rare look behind the curtain!
2019-03-24 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Tony award winning actor, Michael Cerveris, joins Griffin and David to discuss 2007's film adaption of the renowned Stephen Sondheim musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Why did Tim Burton cut The Ballad of Sweeney Todd? Does Michael have a take on National Treasure: Book of Secrets? Timothy Spall goes big? Together they examine how the film holds up against the live production, the trailer lacking singing, letter writing with Sondheim and Michael's experience portraying S...
2019-03-24 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Checkmates assemble! It's another installment of live MCU commentary recorded at Big Nice studios in New York City! This time, Griffin, David and Producer Ben discuss 2012's The Avengers.
2019-03-21 04:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Another b-b-b-b-bonus episode recapping Blank Check’s March Madness bracket! Joined by commentator, Chip Smith, they examine the winners and losers (so far), make predictions and consult a blood scroll.
Vote everyday in March starting at noon EST: https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod!
2019-03-19 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Writer, Pilot Viruet returns to Blank Check to discuss 2005's remake, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But, at one point, were Al Pacino and Robert De Niro considering doing a Willy Wonka picture? What are the gang's Peter Farrelly rankings? What do you call a doctor’s jacket? Together they examine the four grandparents in bed, the trained squirrels and more!
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2019-03-17 08:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Blank Check's resident technical expert, J.D. Amato, joins Griffin and David to discuss 2005's stop motion animation flop, Corpse Bride. Together they examine the many shortfalls of this "Burton" project, go off on a long tangent on Danny Elfman phoning in his lyrics and share their plans for future complicated episodes!
2019-03-11 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Once again, Griffin and David have unleashed another March Madness bracket pitting directors against one another. The filmmaker deemed the champion will decide a future mini series coming in the fall of 2019. Mostly abandoning the drivetime sports talk radio satire, the hosts walk through the recent match-ups and discuss all the drama! To get in on the daily action goto https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod and vote everyda...
2019-03-10 05:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Chris Gethard Beautiful/Anonymous podcast returns to Blank Check to discuss 2003's father and son fantasy, Big Fish. And also, to talk about Star Wars some more. But does Big Fish's ending pay out like a slot machine? Was 2003 the year Steven Spielberg and Tim Burton culturally flip-flopped? What are some of the nerd perks offered at the new Star Wars hotels? Together, they spend 2+ hours examining the p...
2019-03-10 05:00:00 +0000 UTC
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2019-03-08 03:42:01 +0000 UTC
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Film critic, Matt Singer (ScreenCrush.com), joins Griffin and David to discuss 2001's universally maligned franchise reboot, Planet of the Apes. Together they examine Burton's missteps, Wahlberg's distain for being in this movie, the legacy of the original series and the devastation of a young Griffin Newman.
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2019-03-03 05:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Live from Big Nice, Griffin, David and Producer Ben watched 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. But is Hugo Weaving intentionally playing Red Skull like Werner Herzog? Is Griffin allergic to Christmas trees? Would Ben excel as a Peaky Blinder? Together they examine the the legacy of Captain America, the effectiveness of just a lil touch of the Tucc and, of course, more buried jeans related conversation.
2019-03-01 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Writer and director, David Lowery (The Old Man & the Gun, A Ghost Story) joins Griffin and David to discuss 1999's procedural horror, Sleepy Hollow. But when we die does the headless horseman come for us? Who are the cheek bone boys? Was Taylor Hicks a ten percenter? Together they examine the work of Emmanuel Lubezki, babies with mustaches, CGI deer and the crypt keeper.
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2019-02-24 17:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Another installment of live MCU commentary recorded at Big Nice studios in New York City! This time Griffin, David and Producer Ben discuss 2011's Thor.
2019-02-21 05:08:18 +0000 UTC
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Griffin and David welcome back Joe Reid for the 4th annual Blankie Awards where together they present their own personal nominations and winners for the upcoming 91st Academy Awards. This roundtable discussion looks at all the major categories, as well as, references deep cut cinema from 2018 you may have missed.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blan...
2019-02-17 05:00:00 +0000 UTC
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On the week of its release in February of 2019, the BC crew discussed the recent Nancy Meyers adjacent film, What Men Want. But does this movie have a featherlight touch? Will Griffin start reading Us Weekly in public? Does a Bob the Builder/Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...) crossover exist? With associate producer, Angela Ferraguto, they examine the career of Taraji P. Henson, Erykah Badu's electric performance, Tracy Morgan as a LaVar Ball type, share Serenity spoilers and get pumped for a n...
2019-02-11 05:00:01 +0000 UTC
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