Hoosiers (1986)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies heads to small-town Indiana, where basketball is life, second chances are rare, and Dennis Hopper is cold, coach—real cold. Commissioned by fantasy football champion Stephen J., 1986’s Hoosiers is one of the most celebrated underdog stories in sports cinema, often hailed as the “best basketball movie ever made.” But does it hold up nearly 40 years later? Gene and Big D debate whether Gene Hackman’s Coach Norman Dale is a genius strategist or just a guy yelling “four passes!” while waiting for Jimmy Chitwood to show up. Along the way, we question the...
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Excalibur (1981)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
For our Ninth Anniversary Episode, the Shat Crew draws the sword from the stone and rides into John Boorman’s epic Excalibur (1981). Commissioned by Chris, Mike, and Ollie to celebrate their father Robert’s 60th birthday, this Arthurian fever dream delivers knights, magic, and more shiny armor than a Manowar album cover. From Nicol Williamson’s scene-stealing Merlin to Helen Mirren’s wickedly alluring Morgana, the movie is equal parts mythic grandeur and campy chaos. Gene marvels at the operatic visuals, while Big D is dazzled by the medieval carnage. Together they debate whether...
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Toy Soldiers (1991)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re taking hostages with Toy Soldiers (1991), where teen rebels face off against terrorists in a prep school under siege. Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, and Louis Gossett Jr. bring the heat in this action-packed mix of Die Hard, The Goonies, and teenage rebellion. Gene and Big D break down the implausible plot, glorious explosions, and whether this 90s cult classic still makes the grade. Is it a hidden gem, or just juvenile fantasy with pipe bombs? Tune in and find out! Plot Summary:Colombian terrorist Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) takes an American prep school hostage...
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Pure Country (1992)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
The Shat Crew trades leather jackets for Stetsons and arena rock for steel guitars with George Strait’s acting debut, Pure Country. Commissioned by listener Frank Fall, this 1992 romantic drama follows country superstar "Dusty" Chandler, who’s grown tired of the smoke, lasers, and screaming crowds. Disappearing from the spotlight, Dusty sets out to rediscover the joy of music—and maybe find love—while keeping his identity a secret. While Big D marvels at the film’s unapologetic sincerity and old-school values, Gene wrestles with whether Dusty’s “just folks” routine is genuine...
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Mystery Date (1991)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, it’s a date night gone completely off the rails with Mystery Date (1991)! Ethan Hawke stars as a shy teen whose dream night with the girl next door spirals into chaos involving mistaken identity, a dead body, and a punk club performance by Gwar. Gene and Big D unpack the movie’s strange tone, chaotic plot, and missed opportunities for greatness. From creepy crushes to club culture, this dark comedy has more surprises than a trunk full of corpses. Does it hold up, or should this movie stay forgotten? Tune in to find out!. Plot Summary:Teenage Tom McHugh (Ethan...
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How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
The Shat Crew soars into DreamWorks territory for a film that melted even Gene’s icy heart: How to Train Your Dragon. This animated fantasy wasn’t just a box office smash—it was a coming-of-age story that redefined what kids’ movies could be, combining sweeping visuals, smart storytelling, and a surprising emotional punch. Commissioned by Cheryl, this pick launches Big D into dad mode, marveling at the Viking village’s parenting techniques and dragon integration programs, while Gene questions how the filmmakers got him gushing over a silent reptile with puppy eyes. Is How to...
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The Deer Hunter (1978)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re delving into the heart of The Deer Hunter (1978), a haunting exploration of friendship, war, and what remains behind. With powerhouse performances from Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep, this Best Picture winner delivers brutal realism, emotional gut punches, and one very tense game of Russian roulette. Is it still a masterpiece—or just a long, grim march? Tune in and find out.. Plot Summary: The Deer Hunter (1978), directed by Michael Cimino, is a powerful war drama that follows a group of working-class friends from a...
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City Slickers (1991)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat The Movies, Gene and Big D rope in a modern Western classic with City Slickers (1991), a film that’s equal parts midlife meltdown, male bonding, and calf-birthing madness. Commissioned as a birthday gift from Ken to Eileen, Shat The Movies Episode 450 explores the heartfelt—and sometimes hilarious—journey of three friends finding purpose on a New Mexico cattle drive. Gene shares personal reflections on Americana cosplay, toxic corporate life, and the ever-elusive “one thing,” while Big D opens up about aging, friendship, and why his idea of bliss is scrubbing solar...
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Cry-Baby (1990)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re shedding a single tear for Cry-Baby (1990)! Johnny Depp stars in John Waters’ rockabilly musical that’s equal parts parody, punk, and pure teen rebellion. From electric chairs to tear-streaked serenades, it’s a weird, wild ride through '50s nostalgia with a twisted grin. Tune in as we dive into this cult classic and ask: was Cry-Baby cool or just confused? Plot Summary:Cry-Baby (1990), directed by John Waters, is a rockabilly musical comedy set in 1950s Baltimore, starring Johnny Depp as Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a group of rebellious...
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High Spirits (1988)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Check into Castle Plunkett for a supernatural comedy that mashes together horny ghosts, Irish folklore, and peak ‘80s weirdness: High Spirits! Commissioned by Sydney in Texas—lover of Beetlejuice, Elvira, and men of questionable taste—this forgotten flick from 1988 boasts an absurdly stacked cast: Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D’Angelo, Peter O’Toole, Jennifer Tilly, and a young Liam Neeson playing a ghostly creep. Gene and Big D dive into a movie that’s half Scooby-Doo, half ghost-sex fever dream. They explore the film’s jarring tonal shifts, from slapstick hauntings...
info_outlineShat The Movies has dabbled in films from the 1970s, but we've never reached back this far. More than 50 years ago, a Francis Ford Coppola epic changed the way America viewed organized crime and set a new standard for storytelling. This is "The Godfather."
And who better to commission this film about family than an Italian-American listener from New Jersey with fond memories of sharing mob movies with his dad?
For Matt "Don Chachi" Ciampi, the Shat Crew pays its respects to Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Abe Vigoda and, yes, even Talia Shire.
Shat The Movies editor Rob joins Gene and Dick as they debate "The Godfather" pacing, dissect the wedding scene and give props to Don Corleone's cat.
Gene explains why Tom Hagen is an absolute badass, while Big D finds heroes in Michael and Vito Corleone. And Rob praises the genius of the dinner scene.
This movie is full of morality questions, and the Shat Crew gets into them: Was Michael a jerk for marrying Apollonia? Were the killings personal or just business? Should Vito have been more generous? Is Michael a villain? And, naturally, could "The Godfather" have been better without all the nepotism?
This is a big one, and we hope you enjoy it. Here's "The Godfather."
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