Episode 169 - Mary and Max

This week, we watch the Australian stop-motion film that is a follow up to the Oscar winning animated short, Harvey Krumpet.  Mary is a young girl from Melbourne who is lonely and unloved.  Max is a middle-aged man from New York who is overweight and has Aspergers. The two write to each other and become friends, in what is one of the most unique movies on this list. Mary and Max (2009), directed by Adam Elliot.

Episode 170 - Gone Girl

This week, we watch the twist laden thriller, based on the hugely popular Gillian Flynn book.  Fincher's style seeps into this film, who is lead by Ben Affleck, but stolen by Rosamund Pike. And if you think you might be watching a bloodless Fincher movie two hours into this 2.5 hour film, you will be proven very wrong. Gone Girl (2014), directed by David Fincher.

Episode 171 - Kill Bill: Volume 1

This week, we watch Tarantino's bloody action flick, where he pays homage to older grind house cinema, including kung-fu, westerns, and exploitation films. Uma Thurman sacrifices herself for the role of The Bride, as she slaughters dozens of opponents with a legendary Hanzo sword, fighting her way back to the man who put a hit out on her, the man who killed her, the man who is the father of her child. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Episode 172 - It Happened One Night

This week, we watch the classic romantic comedy that walked away with the top 5 Oscars for 1934, one of only three films in history to do the same. The oldest movie we've watched so far on our mission, this film has aged beautifully, as the comedy remains laugh out loud funny for the entire runtime, and the acting between the two leads is very believable and fun to watch. It Happened One Night (1934), directed by Frank Capra.

Episode 173 - Life of Brian

This week, we watch the classic Monty Python comedy that has been banned in multiple countries and denounced by religious groups all over the world.  The film itself doesn't do very much to insult religion, but it does a lot to get you rolling on the floor, as the comedy group showcases their trademark silliness in some of the funniest scenes ever put to film.  Life of Brian (1979), directed by Terry Jones.

Episode 174 - Rush

This week, we watch the incredible true story of Niki Lauda and James Hunt, two formula one racers who's rivalry in the 1976 World Championship gained the attention of the world.  While the film may have taken some liberties with the relationship between Niki and James, the movie aims to remain true to the real happenings of the season, and largely succeeds.  Rush (2013), directed by Ron Howard. 

Episode 177 - Hotel Rwanda

This week, we watch the film that portrays the historical events of the Rwandan Genocide through the story of a hotel manager who protected over 1,000 refugees in the midst of the massacre.  Don Cheadle portrays Paul Rusesabagina, a man who risked his family members lives, as well as his own, to save innocent lives in a performance that will most likely continue to define his career.  Hotel Rwanda (2004), directed by Terry George.

Episode 181 - Spotlight

This week, we watch the best picture winning film that aims and succeeds to tell the true story of the hard working Boston Globe reporter/editor/writer team that broke the story on pedophile priests in Boston, and the systematic coverup that the Catholic Church provides for those who get caught.  A very special guest co-hosts this episode - Kevin Slane, who is an entertainment writer (among other things) at the Boston Globe. Spotlight, directed by Tom McCarthy.

Episode 182 - Network

This week, we watch the amazingly prophetic film that, while being created over 40 years ago, depicts the current day network news situation almost exactly.  This movie predicted reality television shows over a decade before they aired, and also satirized news stations selling credibility for ratings before that reality has come to pass.  Network, directed by Sidney Lumet.

Episode 183 - Zootopia

This week, we watch the animated comedy that tells the tale of a small town bunny moving to Zootopia, a city where all animals can live together without stepping on each other.   Also following in Disney tradition, this film introduces a great pop song that you will grow to hate as it plays over and over again in your head.  Zootopia, directed by Bryon Howard and Rich Moore.

Episode 184 - Mad Max: Fury Road

This week, we watch the unprecedented sequel that pumped blood back into the Max Mad trilogy with a shotgun, the sci-fi/fantasy film that brought an imaginative, cohesive plot to the screen with almost no dialogue, the action movie that received a best picture nomination.  With special guest/Mad Max trilogy binger, Tim Brown.  WITNESS ME!  Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), directed by George Miller.

Episode 185 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

This week, we watch the block-busting film that paved the way for all buddy movies that came after it.  Paul Newman and Robert Redford are a perfect team, as they rob and steal their way across the mid-west. Once a super-posse is assembled to take them down, they attempt an escape to South America.  Comedy ensues.  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), directed by George Roy Hill.