NostalgiaCast

Taking a Look at Childhood Favorite Films to See If They Stand the Test of Time, Or If They're Past Their Prime

Episode 111: BEETLEJUICE (1988) 10/30/2024

Episode 111: BEETLEJUICE (1988) It's showtime! In NostalgiaCast's annual Halloween special, Jonny and Darin visit the afterlife for a spirited discussion of Tim Burton's BEETLEJUICE, starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder. They talk about the legacy of the film, how it slots in with Burton's other idiosyncratic work, and the elements—production design-wise and problematic character-wise—that either do or do not stand the test of time. Let's turn on the juice and see what shakes loose! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/33679602

Episode 110: ROCKY (1976) 10/03/2024

Episode 110: ROCKY (1976) Yo, Adrian, we did it! NostalgiaCast closes out its '70s season by stepping into the ring with ROCKY, directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, and Burt Young. The gloves are off as Jonny and Darin spar over the movie's aspirational qualities, its acting and filmmaking choices, and how it became the heavyweight champion of underdog sports dramas by encompassing both Stallone's rise to the top and the indomitable human spirit. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/33310077

Episode 109: GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) 09/19/2024

Episode 109: GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) Punch! Punch! NostalgiaCast '70s Palooza continues with a kaiju-and-fun-filled discussion of GODZILLA VS. MEGALON, the man-in-monster-suit melee that Leonard Maltin famously called "A hoho from Toho." Dan and Angela of the Dissect That Film podcast join Jonny and Darin to gasp and guffaw at all the insane/inane choices and unapologetically repurposed footage that make up this 13th(!) adventure in the Big-G's long-running franchise. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/33119737

Episode 108: DISNEY IN-BETWEEN (with Stephen Anderson) 09/05/2024

Episode 108: DISNEY IN-BETWEEN (with Stephen Anderson) In a special episode of the 'Cast, director/writer/storyboard artist Stephen Anderson returns to discuss his must-own new book DISNEY IN-BETWEEN, a fascinating fly-on-the-wall retrospective of the 20-year stretch at Walt Disney Studios when artists and production heads struggled to find their feet in the wake of Walt's death. Stephen recounts his painstaking research and in-depth interviews with the many luminaries who experienced such a transitional period at Disney firsthand, and gives us a new appreciation of the live-action and animated films that defined it. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/32905977

Episode 107: TAXI DRIVER (1976) 08/08/2024

Episode 107: TAXI DRIVER (1976) You talkin' to me? No, NostalgiaCast is talking to you about Martin Scorsese's TAXI DRIVER, one of the most controversial films of the 1970s and still one of the most divisive films of its esteemed director's career. Listen as Jonny and Darin discuss the subjective camerawork and brutal violence that immerse you in New York City as hell on earth, plus the nuances and performances that continue to fascinate (and repel) audiences today. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/32493097

Episode 106: WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) 07/27/2024

Episode 106: WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) Grab your Gobstoppers and your Scrumdidilyumptious Bars as NostalgiaCast enters the seventh circle of hell with Gene Wilder and WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY! Film critic and friend of the show Phoenix Clouden joins Jonny and Darin for a discussion of the teeth-rotting horrors and Monty Python-esque satire that permeates this perennial children's(?) classic. Listen now before Wonka's army of Oompa Loompas sing you off to eternal damnation! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/32314747

Episode 105: MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) 07/12/2024

Episode 105: MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) It's killer rabbits and k-nig-hts and coconuts as NostalgiaCast journeys back to medieval times for what is arguably the most quotable movie of all time, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. Jonny and Darin try to keep their hysterics in check as they recount their favorite lines and sketches from the film, as well as the history of Monty Python and how Chapman-Cleese-Gilliam-Idle-Jones-Palin & Co.'s subversive meta-commentary comedy lives in the SOUTH PARKs, RICK & MORTYs, and DEADPOOLs of today. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/32108627

Episode 104: DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975) 06/28/2024

Episode 104: DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975) Shout "Attica! Attica!" as the latest episode of NostalgiaCast '70s Palooza is taken captive by DOG DAY AFTERNOON, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino and John Cazale. Film critic Tom O'Keefe of the Reel Spoilers podcast joins Jonny and Darin to discuss the claustrophobic direction, progressive(?) storytelling, and magical eye acting of this classic crime drama. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/31925262

Episode 103: DIRTY HARRY (1971) 06/13/2024

Episode 103: DIRTY HARRY (1971) We know what you're thinking: Hasn't NostalgiaCast covered a Clint Eastwood movie before? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, we've kinda lost track ourselves. But there's still plenty of icons and iconography to cover, and this episode takes aim at DIRTY HARRY, Don Siegel's crime thriller classic that catapulted Eastwood from Western star to action star status. Jonny and Darin discuss the cinematography, questionable morality, and all-around controversy that drove both left-leaning AND right-leaning audiences into an absolute tizzy. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/31727922

Episode 102: SUPERMAN (1978) 06/02/2024

Episode 102: SUPERMAN (1978) You'll believe podcasters can podcast as NostalgiaCast takes flight with SUPERMAN, Richard Donner's 1978 super-hit starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, and Marlon Brando. Jonny and Darin are joined by Chris Scalzo of The First Run and ScreenRun podcasts for a discussion of the story structure, special effects, music score, and sincerity that not only defined so much of their childhoods, but also every single comic book blockbuster that followed in its wake. Up, up and away! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/31564812

Episode 101: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) 05/16/2024

Episode 101: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) Welcome, all you baddiwad malchicks and ptitsas! Grab a glass of Moloko Plus and get ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence as NostalgiaCast shares a few choice slovos about Stanley Kubrick's dystopian crime classic, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, based on the novel by Anthony Brugess. Jonny and Darin tackle the controversies surrounding the film, whether its themes of morality and free will are justified by its subject matter, and how its nasty, nihilistic imagery played an integral part in our movie-watching habits. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/31332667

Episode 100: STAR WARS Original Trilogy 04/22/2024

Episode 100: STAR WARS Original Trilogy Celebrate 8 years and 100 episodes of NostalgiaCast as Jonny and Darin journey (at last!) to a galaxy far, far away for a discussion of George Lucas's o.g. STAR WARS Trilogy. Author R.J. Craddock sits in the gunner's seat for a lively chat about the movies' impact on countless filmmakers and film nerds, and how the 1997 Special Editions either did or didn't futz with our nostalgia for the original films. Also a special thanks to all our esteemed guests and listeners. We're so grateful that you've stuck with us, and look forward to many fun conversations in the future! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/30928503

Episode 99: GREASE (1978) 04/04/2024

Episode 99: GREASE (1978) GREASE is the word (is the word that you heard) as NostalgiaCast returns to Rydell High for a boppier, bouncier-than-expected discussion of what is arguably the quintessential '70s musical, directed by Randal Kleiser and starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Jonny and Darin chat about the energetic performances, irresistible songs, and R-rated innuendos, lyrics, and visual gags that have been inadverdently enjoyed by families for almost half a century. With relish! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/30676098

Episode 98: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) 03/21/2024

Episode 98: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) It took 98 episodes and double-oh-seven-and-a-half years for Jonny and Darin to talk about a James Bond film, but NostalgiaCast finally tackles everyone's favorite tuxedo-wearing, license-to-kill-bearing sex pest with THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, starring 007 as Roger Moore. Popcorn Digest co-hosts Gareth Green and Andrew Raphael lend their Bond expertise to an in-depth discussion of Moore's best(?) outing as the character, as well as their histories with / fondness for the franchise as a whole. (PLEASE NOTE: Darin's audio file was corrupted during the recording and was salvaged as best as possible. So in the interest of preserving the conversation, the episode is presented as is. We apologize for any inconvenience to your eardrums.) /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/30473613

Episode 97: APOCALYPSE NOW (1979) 03/06/2024

Episode 97: APOCALYPSE NOW (1979) I love the smell of napalm in the morning! Journey up the Nùng River with Jonny and Darin as they take a psychedelic look back at Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 epic APOCALYPSE NOW, starring Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, and Marlon Brando. But is this the Vietnam War movie to end all Vietnam War movies, 45 years after the fact? Or is the controversy about its making more interesting than the movie itself? Also, is Brando really the iconic actor everyone claims he is? /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/30251538

Episode 96: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) 02/22/2024

Episode 96: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) Look to the skies as NostalgiaCast attempts to make contact with Steven Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. Paperback Flicks hosts R.J. Craddock and Rae Davidson join Jonny and Darin for an out-of-this-world discussion of the groundbreaking FX, overly overlapping dialogue, and sense of awe and wonder that permeates Spielberg's 1977 magnum opus, plus how it compares to the rat-a-tat sci-fi extravaganzas of today. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/30061703

Episode 95: THE BLACK STALLION (1979) 02/05/2024

Episode 95: THE BLACK STALLION (1979) Scoot and boot! Childhood friend Jason Payne makes his fourth token appearance on NostalgiaCast for a discussion of Carroll Ballard's 1979 children's classic THE BLACK STALLION, starring Kelly Reno, Teri Garr, Mickey Rooney, and Hoyt Axton (or, as Jonny calls him, "the guy from GREMLINS"). Listen as Jason, Jonny, and Darin speak in awed reverence about the film's breathtaking cinematography, enveloping sound mix, and its uncanny ability to "speak" to kids and adults alike. Take the reins and join us! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/29798843

Episode 94: F FOR FAKE (1973) 01/22/2024

Episode 94: F FOR FAKE (1973) For the latest episode of NostalgiaCast '70s Palooza, Jonny and Darin tackle the faux-documentary / biography / proto-YouTube video essay that is Orson Welles's F FOR FAKE. They talk about the movie as an examination of authorship over art, Welles's (brazen but ultimately unsuccessful) attempts to explode the documentary form, and how a story of charlatans, magicians, and frauds slots into the legendary director's manic career. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/29588103

Episode 93: AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) 01/08/2024

Episode 93: AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) NostalgiaCast '70s Palooza heads back to the '60s for a discussion of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, from indie director George Lucas. Crank up your radios and bop along to the beat as Jonny and Darin chat about the nonstop parade of music and muscle cars that permeate this rock 'n' roll coming-of-age tale. But is it a fun and breezy time at the movies, or the same stilted slog as Lucas's later films? /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/29382598

Episode 92: ROBIN HOOD (1973) 12/18/2023

Episode 92: ROBIN HOOD (1973) Oo-de-lally, what a day! Jonny and Darin venture into Sherwood Forest to discuss the anthropomorphic action of Disney's ROBIN HOOD, with special guest Stephen J. Anderson, director of MEET THE ROBINSONS and WINNIE THE POOH! (I know, right?) Listen as they get to reminiscin' and this-n-thattin' about the 1970s as a transitional period for Walt Disney Animation, and the character designs that made ROBIN HOOD such a furry phenomenon. Then get ready for a full-on geek-out session about Mr. Anderson's seminal work as an animator and story supervisor on TARZAN, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, and BROTHER BEAR. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/29123603

Episode 91: THE DEER HUNTER (1978) 12/04/2023

Episode 91: THE DEER HUNTER (1978) NostalgiaCast '70s Palooza continues with a look back at Michael Cimino's harrowing epic drama THE DEER HUNTER, which tries to out-GODFATHER THE GODFATHER with elongated, lugubrious wedding sequences and a shakedown of American idealism. Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, and the late, great John Cazale star in a tale about working-class joes torn apart by the ravages of war, and Jonny and Darin are there to walk you through the fun! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/28912583

Episode 90: THE GODFATHER (1972) 11/20/2023

Episode 90: THE GODFATHER (1972) It's "Leave the gun, take the cannoli," "Go to the mattresses," and "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" as Jonny and Darin kick off a 1970s-centric season of NostalgiaCast with a look back at Francis Ford Coppola's THE GODFATHER. We talk about the characters, story structure, cinematography, and directorial choices that make up what is arguably the most seminal pop culture phenomenon of the decade. Listen or sleep with the fishes! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/28715588

Episode 89: Michael Jackson's THRILLER (1983) 10/28/2023

Episode 89: Michael Jackson's THRILLER (1983) NostalgiaCast returns for a special Halloween episode in which we brave Michael Jackson's THRILLER, arguably the greatest music video of all time. Cue up the link below and watch along with Jonny and Darin as they provide a running commentary for the event that made them lifelong horror fans and forever cemented Jackson as an icon. You're in for a killer, thriller time! https://youtu.be/sOnqjkJTMaA?si=hDfx2JYDOKVWmJyj /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/28450520

Episode 88: CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) (BONUS) 10/16/2023

Episode 88: CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) (BONUS) In a special bonus episode of NostalgiaCast '90s Palooza, returning guest Jason of @BingeMovies takes us on a guided tour of the many films that inspired and were inspired by the most unsung of movie directors, the late, great(?) Albert Pyun! We talk about his Menahem Golan-produced 1990 masterwork(?) CAPTAIN AMERICA, and its legacy that lives on in the X-MENs, WINTER SOLDIERs, and NAKED GUNs of today. Enter the Pyun-iverse with us now! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/28323866

Episode 87: '90s Palooza Season Finale 08/29/2023

Episode 87: '90s Palooza Season Finale NostalgiaCast wraps up its totally fly season of '90s Palooza as Jonny and Darin recap their favorite episodes, gush about their guests, and drop their Top 10 films of the decade! The journey has been all that and a bag of chips! And there's still so much to come! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27877872

Episode 86: THE MATRIX (1999) 08/15/2023

Episode 86: THE MATRIX (1999) Plug back into THE MATRIX as Robert Yaniz Jr. of Crooked Table Productions joins us for a season-capping conversation about the sci-fi action extravaganza that not only capped off the '90s but also inspired films and filmmakers for decades to come. We talk about THE MATRIX's groundbreaking FX, its influence on fashion and fringe groups, and how Lana and Lilly Wachowski's passion for the project helped to define countless moviegoers on a similar journey of self-discovery. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27756039

Episode 85: YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998) 08/01/2023

Episode 85: YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998) Crank up The Cranberries, boot up your computer, and begin that sloooooow dial-up to the internet, as NostalgiaCast '90s Palooza kicks it with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in YOU'VE GOT MAIL! Film critic Megan Kearns joins Jonny and Darin to chat about the capitalism, kindness, and human connection that permeates Nora Ephron's romantic comedy classic. Log in and listen now! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27621672

Episode 84: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) 07/17/2023

Episode 84: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) It is the east, and NostalgiaCast '90s Palooza is the sun as Jonny and Darin do battle with the Bard and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, directed by John Madden (no, not THAT John Madden) and starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, and Geoffrey Rush. We chat about the movie's controversial Oscar run, Anti-Stratfordian conspiracies, sweeping romance, and nonstop in-jokes about Shakespeare and Hollywood. Listen now or it's a plague o' both your houses! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27481365

Episode 83: THE ROCKETEER (1991) 07/03/2023

Episode 83: THE ROCKETEER (1991) Strap your rocket pack to your back as NostalgiaCast '90s Palooza takes to the skies with THE ROCKETEER, Joe Johnston's serial cliffhanger comic book throwback from 1991. Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, and a scenery-gnawing Timothy Dalton star in this Indiana Jones-ish adventure that crashed and burned at the box office, and critic / Disney-phile Marianne Paluso brings her patented good humor and cinema savvy to our discussion about how the movie soared to the top of the superhero ranks. /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27352401

Episode 82: GOODFELLAS (1990) 06/19/2023

Episode 82: GOODFELLAS (1990) Grab your spaghetti with marinara sauce and your f**kin' shinebox as NostalgiaCast '90s Palooza continues with a fond look back at GOODFELLAS, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, and Joe Pesci. Hear Jonny and Darin geek out over the acting, shot choices, and messaging of what might be Scorsese’s greatest film(?), the greatest film of the decade(?), and the greatest gangster movie ever made(?). Don't be a schnook; listen now! /episode/index/show/nostalgiacast/id/27189522

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