Two friends making each other watch movies, without fail, until we’ve seen 'em all. Good, bad, weird, classic, or trash—we don’t discriminate. Each week, one host picks a film, and the other has to watch. Then we break it down for the love of cinema. Jim teaches Film and Media. Ben’s a lifelong cinephile. Our movie quest only moves in one direction… forward.
Spielberg told his cinematographer he wanted Minority Report to be the ugliest movie he had ever made. Jim thinks the result is an eight out of ten. Ben does not.
For episode 100, Jim picks Steven Spielberg's 2002 Philip K. Dick adaptation and runs straight into one of the show's biggest splits. Jim digs into the bleach bypass photochemical process, Janusz Kaminski's blown-out visuals, and one of the great Tom Cruise running shots. Ben argues the pre-crime premise has too many loopholes to sit comfortably in, and that Cruise has too much main character energy even by Tom Cruise standards. Along the way: Lois Smith's unnerving single scene, Peter Stormare's dripping-nose surgeon, how Tim Blake Nelson talked his way into the role, and the Wally problem.
Six out of ten or eight out of ten? What do you think?
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27 Sept 2026
The Postman (1997)
Jim and Ben deliver the goods with The Postman(1997), Kevin Costner's post-apocalyptic follow-up to Waterworld. Costner directs and stars as a nameless drifter who becomes an accidental postal revolutionary, with Will Patton as the villain, General Bethlehem. Is this a misunderstood Costner passion project or a bloated mess? We break down the plot holes, the world-building, and why The Postman and Waterworld make the perfect Kevin Costner double feature.
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00:04 Introduction to The Postman
01:47 Exploring Themes and Comparisons with Waterworld
05:58 Character Analysis and Directorial Choices
08:44 Plot Structure and Pacing Issues
11:20 Romantic Subplots and Character Motivations
14:01 World-Building and the Vague Apocalypse
17:24 Symbolism and Themes of Hope
21:44 Production Efforts and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
23:42 Final Thoughts and Comparisons with Waterworld
13 Sept 2026
Waterworld
Ben and Jim discuss their thoughts on the movie Waterworld, highlighting the good and bad aspects of the film. They check out the troubled production history of the film and work out why it was received so badly.
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Chapters
00:04 Introduction to Waterworld
00:45 Initial Impressions and Expectations
03:58 The Good Aspects of Waterworld
08:49 Character Analysis: The Mariner
14:01 The Smokers and Their Role
18:30 Contrasting Action Sequences
22:46 Exploring the Lore of Waterworld
29:30 Production Challenges and Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil
35:33 Public Perception and Legacy of Waterworld
40:47 Final Thoughts and Future Adventures
Reach and audience
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Spotify
3.7 / 5
3 ratings
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