Field of Dreams (1989)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies heads to rural Iowa for Field of Dreams, the baseball fantasy that turns whispered voices, cornfields and unresolved daddy issues into cinematic magic. This episode is especially meaningful as it marks the first episode edited by our first-ever intern, Elias, officially ushering in a new era for the show. If you build it… apparently Elias will cut it. Gene and Big D revisit Kevin Costner’s earnest everyman performance, debate whether this movie is genuinely profound or expertly engineered emotional manipulation, and confront the fact that Field of Dreams...
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The Hunted (1995)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Shat The Movies unsheathes the katana and heads to modern-day Japan for The Hunted, a mid-’90s action oddity that asks a very important question: What if Christopher Lambert was a reluctant samurai caught in a centuries-old ninja blood feud? Released in 1995 and promptly forgotten, this movie blends corporate intrigue, mystical warrior clans, and neon-lit Tokyo alley fights into one very strange package. Gene and Big D break down Lambert’s perpetual confusion, Joan Chen’s elegant menace, and the film’s commitment to taking ancient honor codes extremely seriously—despite feeling...
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The Untouchables (1987)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies heads to Prohibition-era Chicago with Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables, a glossy crime epic that somehow combines operatic violence, moral absolutism, and one of the most iconic staircases in movie history. Featuring Kevin Costner at his most upright, Sean Connery at his most Oscar-winning, and Robert De Niro going full scarface-with-a-bat, this film has long been considered a prestige gangster classic—but does it still earn its reputation? Gene and Big D break down Ennio Morricone’s unforgettable score, De Palma’s shameless love of excess, and whether...
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Contact (1997)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies looks to the stars with Contact, Robert Zemeckis’s thoughtful, talky, and occasionally frustrating sci-fi drama about faith, science, and whether humanity is ready for the truth. Based on Carl Sagan’s novel and anchored by a career-best performance from Jodie Foster, Contact dares to ask big questions—then spends two and a half hours arguing about who gets to answer them. Gene and Big D debate whether this is smart, adult science fiction or a preachy lecture disguised as a blockbuster. They dig into Matthew McConaughey’s spiritual hot takes, the movie’s...
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Glory (1989)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we march into Glory (1989), the powerful Civil War epic telling the true story of the 54th Massachusetts, the first African American volunteer infantry regiment. With unforgettable performances by Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew Broderick, the film tackles courage, sacrifice, and the fight for dignity. Gene and Big D dig into the emotional weight, historical accuracy, and lasting impact of this Oscar-winning drama. Does Glory still resonate today? Tune in and find out. Subscribe Now Android: Apple/iTunes: Help Support the Podcast Contact...
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Mixed Nuts (1994)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This Christmas, Shat The Movies takes a detour into one of the strangest holiday comedies ever made with Mixed Nuts, Nora Ephron’s chaotic 1994 remake of the French farce Le Père Noël est une ordure. We’re revisiting this deeply uncomfortable Christmas movie in honor of the late Rob Reiner, who helped define smart, character-driven comedies—even when they didn’t always work. Gene and Big D unpack how a film with an absurdly stacked cast—Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Rita Wilson, Adam Sandler, Juliette Lewis, and Liev Schreiber—somehow became a cult curiosity instead of a holiday...
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Donnie Darko (2001)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies dives headfirst into early-2000s suburban dread with Donnie Darko, the cult classic that launched a thousand dorm-room debates and taught a generation to fear jet engines and men in bunny suits. Commissioned by listeners Wes and Fernando, this episode tackles Richard Kelly’s time-bending, angst-soaked sci-fi drama that somehow feels even more relevant today. Gene and Big D unpack Jake Gyllenhaal’s star-making performance, the film’s iconic ’80s soundtrack, and whether Donnie Darko is a brilliant meditation on fate and free will—or just an elaborate emo...
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Sideways (2004)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last single-guy bonding experience. While Miles wants to relax and enjoy the wine, Jack is in search of a fling before his wedding. Soon, Jack is sleeping with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), while her friend Maya (Virginia Madsen) connects with Miles. When Miles lets slip that Jack is getting married, both women are furious, sending the trip into disarray. Commissioned by Christopher D. Subscribe Now Android: Apple/iTunes: Help Support the Podcast ...
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Day of the Dead (1985)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re heading underground with Day of the Dead (1985), the grim and gory finale to George A. Romero’s original zombie trilogy. As scientists and soldiers clash in a bunker full of tension (and entrails), we break down the film’s bleak tone, standout effects, and the unforgettable performance of Bub the zombie. Gene and Big D ask: Is this a zombie masterpiece, or just a depressing mess with great gore?. Subscribe Now Android: Apple/iTunes: Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: Commission Movie: Support with Paypal: Support With Venmo: Shop...
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Time Bandits (1981)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat The Movies tumbles through the space-time continuum with Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits, a chaotic fantasy adventure filled with Monty Python humor, mischievous dwarves, and a cosmic battle between Good, Evil, and negligent parenting. Commissioned by listener Mark, this 1981 classic follows young Kevin as he’s swept away by a crew of dimension-hopping bandits who’ve stolen a map of the universe and are using it to rob history blind—Napoleon, Robin Hood, and ancient kings all included. Gene and Big D debate whether the film is a brilliant kids’ movie for adults or an...
info_outlineIn this episode of Shat the Movies, we tackle Less Than Zero (1987), where college freshman Clay (Andrew McCarthy) comes back to LA to find his ex, Blair (Jami Gertz), and his childhood buddy, Julian (Robert Downey Jr.), deep into cocaine addiction With Julian owing money to the ruthless dealer Rip (James Spader), Clay's mission to help them clean up reveals the wild side of '80s excess. Join us as we dig into the intense story, killer performances, and the movie's spot in the Brat Pack era, all set to an unforgettable soundtrack.
Plot Summary:
In the 1987 drama Less Than Zero, directed by Marek Kanievska and based on Bret Easton Ellis's controversial novel, Andrew McCarthy stars as Clay, a clean-cut college freshman who returns home to Los Angeles for Christmas break. He is immediately pulled back into the troubled world he left behind, filled with the excesses and temptations of the wealthy, decadent 1980s elite. At the center of this world are his two close friends: Julian (Robert Downey Jr.), a charming but self-destructive young man battling a severe drug addiction, and Blair (Jami Gertz), Clay's former girlfriend who is now romantically involved with Julian.
Clay is quickly confronted with the devastating consequences of his friends' choices. Julian, once a promising entrepreneur, is now deeply in debt to a ruthless drug dealer named Rip (James Spader). As Julian spirals further into his addiction, Clay is torn between his desire to help his friend and his growing frustration with the hedonistic lifestyle that seems to be consuming everyone around him. Blair, caught in her own struggles, pleads with Clay to stay and help save Julian, forcing Clay to face the harsh realities of addiction and the consequences of unchecked privilege.
As the trio navigates a world filled with drugs, parties, and moral decay, Clay must decide how far he's willing to go to save his friends from themselves. The film offers a stark look at the hollow core of a generation lost in the pursuit of pleasure and materialism, set against the backdrop of a glittering but soulless Los Angeles.
Less Than Zero is a haunting exploration of friendship, loss, and the dark side of 1980s excess. Join our podcast review as we examine this gritty drama and discuss whether its portrayal of youthful disillusionment and moral ambiguity still resonates with audiences today.
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