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Gigli with Jen D'Angelo

The first "G" in "Gigli" is pronounced like the "J" in “Jacques,” the second “G” is silent. Rhymes with "really." Now that that’s out of the way - we conclude our Martin Brest series with the turkey of all turkeys. The Bennifer original sin, the project that should have gotten Justin Bartha put in prison. That’s right, folks. We’re talking about one of the canonical “Worst Movies Ever Made” - 2003’s GIGLI. Screenwriter Jen D’Angelo joins us to talk about this fascinating...

Spreadmaster's Delight REDUX (Bite Free Version)

🎉🎉REJOICE 🎉🎉Misophoniacs 🎉🎉- This version of the episode has all the eating on mic removed!!

For our July bonus ep it’s the long-awaited / long-promised sequel to Spreadmaster’s Delight. We take another deep dive into David’s master sp...

Spreadmaster's Delight REDUX (Uncut Version)

🚨🚨WARNING 🚨🚨Misophoniacs 🚨🚨- This version of the episode includes eating on mic. CRONCH CRONCH

For our July bonus ep it’s the long-awaited / long-promised sequel to Spreadmaster’s Delight. We take another deep dive into David�...

Meet Joe Black with Richard Lawson

He’s hot. He’s got frosted tips. He loves peanut butter. His lil swimmers may or may not look like skulls. He’s death, baby! And we’re meeting him this week! Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson returns to the pod to chat about 1998’s three hour long “symphonic metaphysical romance” MEET JOE BLACK. How does this film play in a post-Succession, “eat the rich” context? How do we feel about the infamous Jamaican patois scenes? What are our memories of the weekend the Phantom...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

 🐢🍕They come out of the shadows now?? The Turtles are back and visible this time as BC:SF discusses 2016’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows 🐢 🍕

Topics include roughly 0 mins of context before the movie even starts but around 20-40 minutes of Kid’s Choice Awards discussion, the Turtles dating profiles, Megan Fox trying to make Fletch happen, a Burger-boy $1,000,000 Turtles pitch and more 

Movie starts at:...

Scent of a Woman with David Krumholtz

Warning - this episode contains an ungodly amount of Pacino impressions. Listener discretion is advised.

“Actor’s actor” and local boy from Queens David Krumholtz becomes the second cast member of Oppenheimer and first person immortalized in Griffin’s beloved Disney Emoji Blitz to guest on our Martin Brest series as we talk about 1992’s dire SCENT OF A WOMAN. Would this movie be less terrible if it were at least 40 minutes shorter? What if the original first choice for Lt. Col...

Midnight Run with Alan Sepinwall

In a first for Blank Check, Ben Hosley produces an entire episode while handcuffed and under threat of legal action. What else would you expect from a MIDNIGHT RUN episode? The great Alan Sepinwall returns to the pod to talk about Martin Brest’s fantastic cross-country buddy caper, a film that proved that DeNiro could do comedy and that Charles Grodin might be the funniest man alive. We’re talking about the unofficial Larry the Cable Guy sequel (?), the famous casting what-ifs (Cher!), an...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

 🐢🍕 The Turtles are back BAY-by. BC:SF is discussing 2014’s Michael Bay-produced "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (almost starring Griffin Newman) 🐢 🍕

Topics include: roughly 40 mins of context before the movie even starts, earthquake chatter, “Adult Alien Ninja Turtles” (and Splinter), does the body type of the turtles make you think anything about their bowel movements? And more!! 

Movie starts at: 38:59

Beverly Hills Cop with Adil & Bilall

An indelible synth theme by Harold Faltermeyer. A scene-stealing turn from Bronson Pinchot. A banana in a tailpipe. EDDIE FREAKING MURPHY. It’s no wonder that Martin Brest’s Beverly Hills Cop is one of the most beloved action comedies (and still the highest-grossing R-rated film adjusted for inflation). We couldn’t be more thrilled to have two of the hottest action directors in Hollywood - Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s Adil & Bilall - join us to talk about Brest’s blockbuster second f...

Hot Dogs for Gauguin / Hot Tomorrows

We’re feeling Hot! Hot! Hot! For our Martin Brest bonus ep Griffin, David and Ben discuss Brest’s two student films; 1972’s Hot Dogs for Gauguin  and 1977’s Hot Tomorrows. 

Topics include: Morning routine beverage quantities, SNL sketch attribution, ideal roommate scenarios, the inaugural episode of “R U Waxing Rhapsodic About Raffi’s Discography 2 Me” and more

2024-06-11 04:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post

Going In Style with James Urbaniak

After years of citing him as a potential series, we’re finally Brest men. In this inaugural episode of our “Podverly Hills Cast” series, we’re taking a look at Martin Brest’s debut feature, 1979’s understated and deeply enjoyable old man heist film “Going in Style.” James Urbaniak joins us to chat through the beginning of Brest’s career, and the storied personas of George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg. Cream cheese and jelly sandwiches on toasted rye for everyone!&nbs...

Furiosa with Kyle Buchanan

We return to the Wasteland this week with Furiosa, and we’ve got quite the tour guide. Kyle Buchanan - author of Blood, Sweat & Chrome, THE book on the making of Mad Max: Fury Road - joins us as we do a definitive post-mortem on George Miller’s latest. Going up against the reputation of Fury Road was always going to be an uphill battle for the Anya Taylor-Joy starrer, and we go into all the ways in which this film matches, exceeds, or misses the highs of 2015’s action classic. Kyle ...

TMNT

🐢 🍕 BC:SF is tackling the most irrelevant entry in this series, but technically the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III as they discuss 2007’s “TMNT” 🐢 🍕

Topics include: How many clicks does it take to get to content on Paramount+?, Jimmy Neutron torture tactics, Gary Oldman’s “Slow Horses” performance, chronicles of the band “Player” and more

Movie starts at: 10:18 

Paprika with Emily Yoshida

Come join the dream parade, folks - we’re talking about Paprika! Mother of the Blankies Emily Yoshida is with us to chat about Satoshi Kon’s final film - a film that FEELS like a swan song especially in hindsight. In this episode, we address the elephant in the room (those Inception comparisons), dive into the serialized story Paprika was based on, and Griffin makes the important connection between Paprika’s “DC mini” device and this being a “BC mini” (series). Plus, we establis...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

🐢 🍕 BC:SF is Back....In Time?!? 🐢 🍕  Headed back to Ancient Japan, the BC crew discusses 1993’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: (No Subtitle).

Topics include: David’s super strength, Turtles wardrobe logic, a Vincent D'Onofrio Tweet, horse acting and more

Movie starts at: 10:25

Tokyo Godfathers with Reece Feldman

They call them the Godfathers of Tokyo…and we call him the KING of TIKTOK (in an old man newscaster voice) - Reece Feldman joins us to chat about Satoshi Kon’s beautiful Christmas fable about a trio of unforgettable characters on the fringes of society. We talk about how animation is truly a medium and NOT a genre, as evidenced by this film. We talk about Ice Age (another animated movie where outsiders care for a baby). We talk about whether or not David might get roped into watching Ice ...

Millennium Actress with Hoai-Tran Bui

Our Satoshi Kon series continues with his 2003 film Millennium Actress, a moving exploration of memory, history, and the magic of da moviesh. Writer Hoai-Tran Bui returns to the pod as we discuss the strange history of Dreamworks’ arthouse animation arm (Go Fish pictures), the luminous screen presence of Setsuko Hara, and the added poignancy this film takes on in light of Kon’s untimely passing. Plus, Griffin publicly addresses the Penny Marshall debacle, and the gang contemplates a versi...

Paranoia Agent with Nick Wiger

In our Satoshi Kon bonus ep Griffin, David and Ben are joined by; “The Burger Boy” himself, one of the two titular Doughboys, member of the oft-mentions Blank-Dough text thread, and most relevantly, host of the Patreon Podcast “Get Anime'd”, Nick Wiger, to discuss Kon’s 2004’s Mystery / Psychological thriller Anime series Paranoia Agent. 

Topics include: Hotel chair placement, nudist towel habits, re-litigation of  “The Dress”, Mad Men memes, and multiple child...

Perfect Blue with Bowen Yang

Welcome to the filmography of Satoshi Kon - a thrilling series of funhouse mirrors and puzzlebox narratives that proved what is possible in the animation form. The icon, the legend, the culturista himself Bowen Yang joins us to talk about Kon’s feature debut, the shocking and influential pop-idol thriller PERFECT BLUE. We’re talking about famous “bad girl” transitions in pop history. We’re talking about Digimon villains. We’re talking about obsessive fandoms. And, most crucially, ...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

🐢 🍕 🧪 Can we tell you a secret? 🐢 🍕 🧪 In the continuation of our Turtles commentaries, the BC crew discusses perhaps the perfect combination of 10 words ever assembled for a movie title with 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

Topics include: - The return of dweeb, David’s dad’s review of 1995’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Ben’s bedsheet bonanza, Who created Cowabunga? And introducing “Vanilla Ice” played by “Vanilla Ice”.<...

Basic with BenDavid Grabinski

Our McTiernan series concludes with 2003’s BASIC - a film that Griffin thinks should instead be titled “COMPLICATED” - get it? Because there are so many plot twists?? The great BenDavid Grabinski joins us to chat about John Travolta’s run of big, skeezy characters post-FACE/OFF, McTiernan’s ultimate Achilles heel (getting too confident in his ability to fix impossible movies), the screenwriting career of studio wunderkind James Vanderbilt, and the truly terrible acting of Giovanni R...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

🐢 🍕 We're headed to the sewers as we kick off our long awaited Ben-forward commentary series on The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 🍕 🐢

Topics include: Subway fantasies, live smell-o-vision, lil-Griff’s merch empire and Ben Turtle-Casting.

Movie starts at: 29:30

Rollerball with Zach Cherry

Finally, we arrive at the film that helped put John McTiernan in both “director jail” and “jail jail” - the incoherent nu-metal fart that is 2002’s ROLLERBALL. Zach Cherry continues his trend of appearing on episodes covering movies that led to actual court cases, and we do our best to try to explain what happened (both on-screen and off). Why is this film set in Borat’s Kazakhstan? What was up with the extended nightvision scene? Is Griffin insane for being a Chris Kline apologis...

The 13th Warrior with David Lowery

What if there was a 13th Warrior? What if there was a version of Beowulf so grounded in reality that the climactic battle with Grendel just kind of felt like a shrug? What if Antonio Banderas was the lead in Gladiator instead of Russell Crowe? We’re just asking questions! Filmmaker David Lowery makes his long-awaited return to the podcast to talk about John McTiernan’s Michael Crichton adaptation, a movie that should have kept the title of the original book - Eaters of the Dead. ...

Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano

In our final McTiernan-related bonus ep, the BC crew discusses the 2-Part 2023 New York Times Presents docuseries Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano.

Topics include: Lawyer comps, who the real star is and Ben’s pitch for a future “Experiential” episode.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) with Amanda Dobbins

A Fiji water bottle. “Sinnerman” by Nina Simone. That Magritte painting with the bowler hat. A SCINTILLATING, AGE-APPROPRIATE ROMANCE WITH TWO OF THE GREATEST HEIST SEQUENCES IN MOVIE HISTORY. We’re talking Tommy C (1999), baby! The delightful Amanda Dobbins joins us for her long-awaited Blank Check debut, and this episode is about as fun as you’d expect. Do we think this movie is better than the Norman Jewison original? Yes. Do we go long on the filmography of Rene Russo? Yes. Do we ...

BLANK CHECK x OLLY MOSS POSTERS ON SALE

Missed the live show but want one of the incredible posters Olly designed for us? You're in luck - they're on sale NOW (including some signed versions!) at the link above!

YOUR 2024 PATREON MARCH MADNESS CHAMPION

Tabletop Games!

Terminator: Dark Fate

The conclusion of our Terminator commentary series is upon us with 2019's Terminator: Dark Fate. Topics include: McKenzie Davis, Patreon programming, Terminator rankings and of course LOTS of Carl talk.

Movie starts at 7:47

MARCH MADNESS 2024 - FINAL

Here we are. March 31st. Two untraditional (aka made up) franchises. A ton of fan support. Zero buttholes.

It's TABLETOP GAMES vs PULP HEROES.

Did you guys know that there was a kids series adaptation of THE ROCKETEER? And like the movie, it also flopped??

With TABLETOP GAMES, we'd cover six films (and yes, we've added...