Hold Up

They Live

Today we have a real treat. A real special treat. Another John Carpenter classic from 1988, They Live. They Live tells the story of a guy who overreacts when he discovers that aliens are living among us and then proceeds to go on a killing spree trying to expose their evil Capitalism. This gem stars Rowdy Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster and made a humble $13 million from the $3 million budget. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent, debate subtlety and alien genitals as we discuss if They Live made us wish for death. 

Arthur

Today we’re gonna stagger back to 1981 for Steven Gordon’s sole directorial project, Arthur. Featuring the story of a spoiled, immature, heir whose fortune is contingent on an arranged marriage but this becomes a problem as Arthur finds love and must decide between his family and fortune, or true love. Starring Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, and John Gielgud, who won an Oscar for this role,  Arthur made $95 million from a $7 million budget and was cemented as a comedy classic. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent, fantasize about wealth and dialysis as we try to decide if this one is a degenerate drunk or a functional alcoholic. 

A Clockwork Orange

In 1971, Stanley Kubrick brought us the dystopian futuristic flick, A Clockwork Orange.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

In 2004 Charlie Kaufman wrote and Michael Gondry directed a new spin on the love story with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Telling the story of Joel, who after learning his ex-girlfriend Clementine erased him from her mind, goes to do the same. Joel changes his mind as he experiences the memories leaving, realizing he will lose the good with the bad. He and Clementine must hide in Joel’s memories as they elude the less-than-professional memory-erasing team back in the real world. But can their love survive? This flick stars Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, and Tom Wilkinson, won the Oscar for best original screenplay, and made back a humble $74 million from the $20 million budget. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate soulmates and ethics as we try to see if this love story is worth remembering, or if it is better wiped from our noggins.

Sneakers

In 1992 we got into feet with Phil Alden Robinson’s heist comedy, Sneakers. When it’s discovered that a security specialist is a fugitive on the run, his team helps him perform a heist for the NSA that can clear his name for good. But when it’s discovered that things are not as they seem, the team must scramble to make things right and keep the world a little safer. Starring Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, and David Strathairn, this flick did not lack talent and brought in a respectable $105 million from the $23 million budget. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent, discuss government security shortcomings and the value of a phone number as we try to see if Sneakers kicks ass or has a weak sole.  

Liar Liar

It's not every day that you see a man with a claw for a hand win a multi-million dollar court case in less than a day, but that is what we get in 1997's Liar Liar. Jim Carrey stars as Fletcher Reede, a pathological liar who will do anything to make partner at his law firm, including alienating his ex-wife and son, played by Maura Tierney and Justin Cooper. When serial cheater and gold-digger Samantha Cole (Jennifer Tilly) is looking for a way to bleed her ex-husband dry, Fletcher is keen to embellish on the truth. But after his son makes a birthday wish that his dad cannot tell a lie for 24 hours, Fletcher struggles to win the case and come to grips with his recent life decisions. Made for $45M, Liar Liar raked in $300M in the box office and received critical praise as well. But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent discuss weaponizing child custody and racing 747s with mobile stairways as we see if we are lying when we say this movie is a disappointment, or if the truth will set us free.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

In 2003 we took to the seas of the early Napoleonic wars with Peter Weir’s Naval War Epic, Master and Commander. M&C tells the story of Captain Jack Aubrey and the HMS Surprise, which goes from being the hunter to being hunted, and then to hunting once again the powerful heavy frigate privateer of the French, the Acheron. Russell Crowe stars as Captain Aubrey alongside Paul Bettany as Dr. Maturin, both of whom must manage adversity, cursed seamen, and each other while trying to win despite being outgunned. Master and Commander made a modest return of $211 million from the $150 million budget but garnered 10 Oscar nods and ample critical acclaim. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate naval frottage and cursed seamen as we decide if this one is a Master or a NUB.

Jackie Brown

Today we are travelling back to ’97 to Tarantino’s 3rd directorial effort, Jackie Brown. Jackie Brown is the lead character in this heist film which tells the story of how she gets stuck in between a rock and a hard place when she is busted smuggling drugs and money from Mexico and must decide between helping the cops or helping her cold blooded employer, Ordell. Featuring the awesome cast of Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, and Robert De Niro, this flick made $74 million from a $12 million budget and was Tarantino’s follow up to his ’94 masterpiece, Pulp Fiction. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss awkward kitchen sex and odd chin beards as we figure out if Jackie Brown is a cherry on top, or if it is doomed to be gunned down in a mall parking lot.

Children of Men

Today we go to the rotten near future as we watch Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian sci-fi action film, Children of Men. Children of Men brings us into the near future of 2027 where the human race faces extinction as the entire globe has destabilized and infertility has prevented any new births for 18 years. Now a man finds hope as he becomes responsible for the future of the species when a young pregnant woman becomes his responsibility and he must find their path to humanity’s last remaining hope, the Human Project. Starring Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, this flick had lots going for it and, despite its box office failure, was a critical hit. But, does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate the obvious benefits of sterility as we see if Cuarón’s baby gives us hope or shits itself.

Jonny Mnemonic

Happy New Year! To celebrate we’re going back to the distant dystopian past of January 2021 with Robert Longo’s cyberpunk action flick, Johnny Mnemonic. Keanu Reeves stars, alongside Dina Meyer, Dolph Lundgren, Ice-T, and Takeshi Kitano, as just Johnny, a neural courier, who takes a dangerous job so he can afford to have his implant removed. However, the job becomes even riskier when his health begins to fail and he becomes pursued by the Yakuza and Pharmakom’s security. Jonny Brain USB was made for $26 million and managed to double that in box office earnings but was quickly forgotten by almost everyone. But, not us! So, does this one hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent, debate how much water can fit in a pail and dolphin rights as we try to see if this one ever held up?