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...
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Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re beaming up Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)! Geena Davis stars alongside a furry, neon-colored trio of aliens played by Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, and Damon Wayans in this outrageously ‘80s sci-fi musical comedy. It's got big hair, wild dance numbers, and plenty of interplanetary flirting. Tune in for a fun, glitter-filled trip through one of the weirdest rom-coms of the decade! Plot SummaryIn Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), director Julien Temple crafts a neon-soaked, musical sci-fi comedy that’s as weird as it is wonderful. Geena Davis stars as Valerie, a...
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Instinct (1999)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re cracking open Instinct (1999), the psychological thriller where Anthony Hopkins goes full jungle hermit and Cuba Gooding Jr. tries to figure out why. It’s part Gorillas in the Mist, part Good Will Hunting, and totally off the rails. Tune in as we try to make sense of the madness, the monkeys, and the message! Plot SummaryYears after he goes missing in the jungles of Africa, anthropologist Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) resurfaces when it’s discovered that he has murdered two poachers who were killing the gorillas he was studying. After spending an...
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Superman II (1980)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week, Shat the Movies finally kneels before Zod—and listener Chris Lloyd—by reviewing Superman II (1980), the sequel that gave us Terrence Stamp’s immortal sneer, Margot Kidder’s bathrobe thirst, and Christopher Reeve’s blue-eyed beefcake perfection. This episode dives headfirst into the Donner vs. Lester debate, asks how much ejaculate the Fortress of Solitude can handle, and questions Lois Lane’s true intentions once Clark Kent drops the glasses—and the powers. Gene and Big D examine everything from Superman’s bizarre morality and dubious revenge tactics to the wildly...
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Haunted Honeymoon (1986)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re getting spooky with Haunted Honeymoon (1986)! Join us for a hilarious look at this dark comedy starring Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, where a newlywed couple finds themselves trapped in a spooky mansion filled with eccentric characters. Expect plenty of laughs, wacky moments, and a fun mix of mystery and comedy. If you’re in the mood for a quirky, light-hearted romp, this is the episode for you! Plot SummaryIn the 1986 horror-comedy Haunted Honeymoon, Gene Wilder directs and stars alongside Gilda Radner and Dom DeLuise in a spooky screwball romp that...
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Haunted Honeymoon (1986)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re getting spooky with Haunted Honeymoon (1986)! Join us for a hilarious look at this dark comedy starring Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, where a newlywed couple finds themselves trapped in a spooky mansion filled with eccentric characters. Expect plenty of laughs, wacky moments, and a fun mix of mystery and comedy. If you’re in the mood for a quirky, light-hearted romp, this is the episode for you! Plot SummaryIn the 1986 horror-comedy Haunted Honeymoon, Gene Wilder directs and stars alongside Gilda Radner and Dom DeLuise in a spooky screwball romp that...
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Gallipoli (1981)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
In this powerful episode of Shat the Movies, hosts Gene Lyons and Big D, Dick Ebert, journey down under to revisit Peter Weir's 1981 war drama Gallipoli. Commissioned by listener Mac in Texas, this Australian New Wave classic stars a young Mel Gibson and Mark Lee as two spirited athletes drawn into the brutal realities of World War I. The Shat crew reflects on how Gallipoli flips the traditional war movie formula, building deep emotional connections with its characters long before the first shots are fired. From the dusty outback to the trenches of the Dardanelles, Gene and Big D dissect the...
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Street Fighter (1994)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
This week on Shat the Movies, we’re kicking some serious butt with Street Fighter (1994)! Join us as we dive into the live-action adaptation of the iconic video game, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel Guile. It’s a chaotic, campy, action-packed ride full of over-the-top performances, questionable fight scenes, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're a fan of the game or just love ‘90s action flicks, tune in for a hilarious deep dive into this cult classic! Plot SummaryIn the 1994 action film Street Fighter, directed by Steven E. de Souza and loosely based on the hit video game...
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The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
What do you get when you mix cyberpunk philosophy, a rave in a cave, and a thousand Mr. Smiths? A sequel so ambitious it broke Big D’s brain and made Gene question reality itself. This week, the Shat Crew finishes up listener Jeremiah's Sci-Fi Through The Ages series by plugging into The Matrix Reloaded, a film that doubles down on slow-mo kung fu, pleather trench coats, and high-concept jargon that may or may not mean anything. Is Neo still "The One," or just another guy with a Superman complex? Did Trinity and Neo’s love scene spark human emotion—or just a need for brain bleach? And...
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Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Prepare for warp speed as Gene Lyons and Big D travel back to the 24th century—and then to 2063—to review Star Trek: First Contact, the Next Generation crew’s darkest and most action-packed cinematic outing. Commissioned by listener Jeremiah as part of a sci-fi classics series, this episode dives deep into the ethics of Picard’s command decisions, the practical (and impractical) nature of Borg assimilation, and the horny weirdness of Star Trek fandom. Along the way, Gene and Big D debate Star Trek vs. Star Wars and ponder whether the Borg Queen really does have big “ASMR energy.”...
info_outlineThis week on "Shat the Movies," we’re diving into Thief (1981), Michael Mann’s gritty, neon-lit crime drama starring James Caan. Join us as we explore the world of Frank, a professional thief with a plan, as he navigates loyalty, betrayal, and the high cost of trust.
We’ll discuss the film’s stylish direction, intense performances, and its influence on later crime thrillers. Whether you’re a fan of Mann’s work or new to this classic, tune in for a deep dive into one of the best heist films of the ‘80s!
Plot Summary:
In the 1981 neo-noir crime thriller Thief, directed by Michael Mann, James Caan stars as Frank, a skilled safecracker and professional thief who dreams of leaving his criminal life behind to pursue a normal existence. Frank operates with precision and discipline, running his own crew and keeping his operations clean and professional. His ultimate goal is to settle down with his girlfriend, Jessie (Tuesday Weld), and start a family.
Frank's plans take a turn when a powerful Chicago mob boss, Leo (Robert Prosky), offers him a lucrative job with promises of financial security and a quick path to retirement. Initially reluctant, Frank agrees to the deal, lured by the prospect of fulfilling his dream. However, as he becomes entangled in Leo’s web of control, Frank realizes that walking away from the mob may be harder—and deadlier—than he anticipated.
The film features one of its most iconic scenes early on: an intense, wordless safecracking sequence that showcases Frank’s meticulous craftsmanship, set against a haunting score by Tangerine Dream. As the story unfolds, Frank’s moral code is tested, and his determination to break free from his past leads to explosive confrontations with Leo and his henchmen.
Thief is a quintessential Michael Mann film, blending atmospheric visuals, urban grit, and a character-driven story of ambition and betrayal. James Caan’s powerhouse performance captures the complexity of a man struggling to reconcile his criminal skills with his desire for a better life. The film’s themes of independence, loyalty, and personal freedom resonate through its high-stakes narrative and stunning action sequences.
Join our podcast review as we revisit Thief, discussing its intense heist scenes, iconic soundtrack, and whether this neo-noir classic still stands as one of the best in its genre today.
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