The Movie Breakdown

The Movie Breakdown knows you're stuffed with chocolate Easter eggs and you just want to lay down and hear some movie reviews. This week right out in the open we have left you five of them. The big one is discussion over one of the most hotly anticipated movies of the year in Steven Spielberg's latest foray in fantasy adventure in Ready Player One. We also have four Netflix originals including the action comedy, Game Over, Man!, the remake about a cute dog in Benji, a biopic about a mid-1980s female rap star in Roxanne, Roxanne, and a documentary about Adderall addiction in Take Your Pills. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to all big (and small) movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 00:35 Netflix banned at Cannes 07:47 More Pacific Rim Uprising talks 9:46 Game Over, Man! review 30:14 Ready Player One review 46:15 Roxanne, Roxanne review 59:58 Benji review 1:10:41 Take Your Pills review 1:19:58 Review Rundown & Scott reveals number of movies he gave zero stars Movie Ratings: Game Over, Man! * (CS) & 0 stars (SM) Ready Player One ***½ (CS) Roxanne, Roxanne *** (CS & SM) Benji **½ (CS) & ** (SM) Take Your Pills ** (CS & SM)

The Movie Breakdown has packed its bags and is heading towards Asia with three movies not set in North America. The first is a sequel of a really fun robot battling monsters flick from 2013 called Pacific Rim Uprising. Then we discuss a Korean movie that is a political thriller with some big action sequences in a feature that feels like a 1970s Cold War era throwback in Steel Rain. Our last review is for the 'Jared Leto joins the Yakuza' picture in The Outsider. The movie discussion doesn't end there as we have two topics to explore. First we talk about Steven Spielberg's recent comments about how Netflix movies should not be eligible for Academy Award consideration and analyze if Netflix's "day and date release" strategy harms the perception and maybe even quality of their movies. Rian Johnson also made some comments this week, this time mentioning that he will not alter his plans for the new Star Wars trilogy despite backlash from some fans regarding his The Last Jedi, so we discuss if filmmakers should alter their artistic vision in order to please fans of beloved major properties. As always, if you enjoy the show then please spread the word to other movie fans, and thank you so much for listening. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 1:17 Pacific Rim Uprising review 13:50 Steel Rain review 27:58 The Outsider review 38:21 Does Netflix's 'day and date release' strategy harm the perception of their original movies? 53:06 Should a filmmaker alter his artistic plan to please fans of major and beloved franchises? 1:06:57 Review Rundown Movie Ratings: Pacific Rim Uprising ** (CS) Steel Rain *** (CS & SM) The Outsider *½ (CS & SM)

This week on The Movie Breakdown we are loading up on reviews on movie adaptations. The big one is the Alicia Vikander starring action-adventure based on a popular video game series in Tomb Raider, which also has the distinction of being a remake. We also have an adaptation of a popular novel in a movie that is a coming of age and coming out of the closet teenage romantic comedy in Love, Simon (based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda). We also have a live-action adaptation of what I assume is a very popular manga and anime series in the Fullmetal Alchemist. Then we have an original Korean movie though it reminded me of some classic thrillers in Forgotten. After we review movies, we discuss the box office success of movies like The Greatest Showman and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.  Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 00:46 Fullmetal Alchemist review 16:47 Fun fact about Roman Holiday 18:46 Tomb Raider review 32:50 Forgotten review 43:51 Love, Simon review 57:23 What can studios learn from the box office 1:10:53 Rating Rundown Star Ratings: Fullmetal Alchemist ** (CS & SM) Tomb Raider ** (CS) Forgotten **½ (CS & SM) Love, Simon ***½ (CS)

The Movie Breakdown is bursting out at the seams this week with six big movie reviews. We have the highly anticipated family fantasy adventure in the Ava Duvernay directed A Wrinkle in Time. We also discuss two Best Picture nominees in the coming of age dramedy Lady Bird and the other movie about the battle of Dunkirk this time from the political perspective in Darkest Hour. We also review two more 2018 releases including the action comedy, Gringo and the slasher picture, The Strangers: Prey at Night. We cover a whole slew of genres this week along with some big recommendations. As always if you enjoy the show then please spread the word to other movie buffs. As well, we always welcome feedback and really appreciate you choosing to listen to us. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 00:44 Oscar Talk 07:52 A Wrinkle in Time review 21:22 Lady Bird review & skipping the awkward pause 34:16 Red Sparrow review 46:36 Darkest Hour review 1:01:41 Gringo review 1:09:19 The Strangers: Prey by Night review 1:17:26 Rating Rundown Star Ratings: A Wrinkle in Time *** (CS) Lady Bird ***½ (CS & SM) Red Sparrow ***½ (CS) Darkest Hour ***½ (CS) & *** (SM) Gringo ** (CS) The Strangers: Prey by Night * (CS)

It is a special episode this week that we're calling The Breakdown of Stars We Love to See Every Time. Scott and I each pick the four actors or filmmakers who when we hear they are attached to a project that we automatically get pumped. We don't need to know the plot or genre, it is just their name that is enough to convince us to get a ticket. They may not always produce a great movie, but there is something about them that draws us in every time. We discuss and dig deep into why these eight are some of the very best. This list includes a break-out director like Ryan Coogler who just delivered the massive hit Black Panther, an actor who has succeeded in small and huge movies like Oscar Isaac, an acting chameleon who transforms herself every time like Jessica Chastain, or a cult hit-making filmmaker like Edgar Wright. We had a great time gushing about our favourites, and if you enjoy it then please tell other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 2:11 Shane Black and quick mention of Taylor Sheridan 11:53 Jessica Chastain and quick mention of Amy Adams 24:03 Oscar Isaac 31:16 Ryan Coogler 41:02 Edgar Wright 51:39 Jake Gyllenhaal and the failure of using silence to provide hints to the co-host 1:02:30 Reese Witherspoon 1:10:26 Wes Anderson 1:18:37 Closing

The Movie Breakdown is rocking out four movie reviews for new 2018 releases. The big one is Alex Garland's follow-up to Ex Machina with his sci-fi thriller starring Natalie Portman in Annihilation. We also have our first theatrical comedy of the year in Game Night. From their we have Duncan Jones' latest sci-fi thriller in a movie he has been working on for over a decade in Mute. We also discuss the romance picture aiming for tears in Irreplaceable You. Then we look at the success of Black Panther and analyze what studios should learn from the picture being a huge hit. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to all big movie fans. . Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 1:14 Annihilation review 16:42 Mute review 33:33 Game Night review 50:46 Irreplaceable You review 1:01:00 What should studios learn Black Panther's box office success?   1:18:10 Review Rundown Movie Star Ratings: Annihilation *** (CS) Mute *½ (CS) & ** (SM) Game Night ***½ (CS) Irreplaceable You * (CS & SM)

It is a special mid-week episode of The Movie Breakdown, and we are serving up five new movie reviews. We dig deep into the vault as we review a movie that Scott has been hankering to discuss since we started the podcast in the very influential bloody zombie horror comedy, The Return of the Living Dead. We also review the Best Picture frontrunner, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Then we review three new Netflix originals including the stuck in the woods horror, The Ritual, an Indian romcom in Love Per Square Foot, and the documentary Seeing Allred. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 1:10 The Return of the Living Dead review 20:00 The Ritual review 30:22 Love Per Square Foot review 42:31 Discussion of Steven Seagal and his awful generic action movie titles 47:31 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri review & Scott gets distracted by scouring for crap 1:02:06 Seeing Allred review 1:11:35 Review Rundown Movie Ratings: The Return of the Living Dead *** (CS & SM) The Ritual ** (CS) & **½ (SM) Love Per Square Foot **½ (CS) & *** (SM) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri ***½ (CS) Seeing Allred **½ (CS) & *** (SM)

It is a huge episode of The Movie Breakdown this week with a review of one of most anticipated movies of the year, Black Panther. This is a major movie for Marvel, and we have a lot to say about it. From there, we look at Aardman Animation's latest animated adventure, Early Man, plus the Best Picture nominee The Post. We also got two Netflix originals this week including the sci-fi thriller, The Cloverfield Paradox and the romantic comedy, When We First Met. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 01:37 Black Panther review 22:09 Early Man review 32:51 The Cloverfield Paradox review 47:21 When We First Met review 1:02:34 The Post review 1:17:19 Review Rundown Review Rundown: Black Panther ***½ (CS & SM) Early Man *** (CS & SM) The Cloverfield Paradox * (CS & SM) When We First Met ** (CS) & **½ (SM) The Post **** (CS)

We have a jam-packed episode this week with a show that we are calling The Breakdown of Romance. In honour of Valentine's Day, we will be reviewing five romance pictures this week. We look at a classic and the film that introduced Audrey Hepburn to American audiences in Roman Holiday. It is long overdue but we will be finally reviewing the best picture nominee, The Shape of Water. We will also look at the adaptation of a Neil Simon play in Barefoot in the Park. From there we look at Cameron Crowe's directorial debut in the teen romance Say Anything. Finally, we review the Hungarian picture, On Body and Soul. It doesn't end there, as the January movies came a month late as we review new releases Winchester and The 15:17 to Paris. We also pay a quick tribute to composer, Johann Johannsson. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 01:06 Remembering Johann Johannson 06:56 Roman Holiday review 19:55 The Shape of Water review 31:16 Barefoot in the Park review 44:20 Say Anything review 57:45 On Body and Soul review 1:08:13 Winchester review 1:17:12 The 15:17 to Paris review 1:36:46 Why do critics who despise a franchise stick with it to the end? 1:39:18 Review Rundown Rating Rundown: Roman Holiday ***½ (CS) & **** (SM) The Shape of Water ***½ (CS) Barefoot in the Park *** (CS & SM) Say Anything ***½ (CS) & (SM) On Body and Soul *** (CS & SM) Winchester *½ (CS) The 15:17 to Paris * (CS)

It is a special episode this week that we are calling An In-Depth and Spoiler-Filled Breakdown of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We plunge deep into analyzing The Last Jedi with major scenes and moments thoroughly discussed. We look at major things like the evolution of Luke Skywalker, the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren, the implications for the next movie, the surprising death of major characters, and of course, the prominent fan backlash (spoiler: we think it is ridiculous). If you are a Star Wars fan then this is the show for you. A major warning though, as the title indicates, this episode is stuffed with spoilers and it is best if you have already seen the movie. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to other movie lovers. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes.    

The Movie Breakdown has reviews for four 2018 movies this week. The big theatrical release is the latest YA post-apocalyptic actioner, Maze Runner: The Death Cure. We also have a review for an action film for adults in the bloody heist picture, Den of Thieves. Then we discuss two new Netflix originals with one being about the rise of the 1970s pop culture icon National Lampoon in A Stupid and Futile Gesture and then the French romantic comedy, Blockbuster. After the review, we look at the recently announced Oscar nominations and analyze the picks and snubs, and look at how this means a drastic change in Academy voting and opinion. As always if you love the show then please spread the word to other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline: 1:08 A Futile and Stupid Gesture review 21:04 Maze Runner: The Death Cure review 36:08 Blockbuster review 48:07 Den of Thieves review 1:00:00 Stinger Reveals 1:02:15 Oscar Nomination Discussion 1:37:57 Rating Rundown Star Ratings: A Futile and Stupid Gesture ** (CS) & **½ (SM) Maze Runner: The Death Cure **½ (CS) Blockbuster ** (CS) & *** (SM) Den of Thieves **½ (CS)

The Movie Breakdown has reviews for five 2018 releases, The big theatrical release this week is the war action-drama set in 2001 Afghanistan in 12 Strong. If that doesn't solve your explosion fix, we also discuss the latest Jaume Collet-Serra and Liam Neeson collaboration in the thriller on a train, The Commuter. All that gun firing and face punching may make you want something more uplifting, so we talk about the first big family movie of the year in Paddington 2. Then it is on to Netflix Originals where we look at the horror picture, The Open House, as well as the comedy about step dancing, Step Sisters. As always we really appreciate you listening to the show, and if you enjoy it then please tell other movie fans. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Movie Breakdown Outline:  1:39 12 Strong review 20:02 The Open House review 27:18 Paddington 2 review 44:10 Step Sisters review 57:31 The Commuter review 1:10:54 Movies we are excited about in upcoming months 1:19:51 Review Rundown Movie Ratings: 12 Strong *** (CS) The Open House ½* (CS & SM) Paddington 2 ***½ (CS) Step Sisters **½ (CS) & *½ (SM) The Commuter **½ (CS) The Movie Breakdown Outline:  1:39 12 Strong review 20:02 The Open House review 27:18 Paddington 2 review 44:10 Step Sisters review 57:31 The Commuter review 1:10:54 Movies we are excited about in upcoming months 1:19:51 Review Rundown Movie Ratings: 12 Strong *** (CS) The Open House ½* (CS & SM) Paddington 2 ***½ (CS) Step Sisters **½ (CS) & *½ (SM) The Commuter **½ (CS)

It is the first regular movie review episode of 2018. If it is a new year, then that means it must be kicked off with a horror movie. We have our review of the fourth instalment of a popular horror franchise in Insidious: The Last Key. We also have another fairly new release in Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut, Molly's Game. Then we have two Netflix originals including a comedic biopic starring Jack Black in The Polka King and a French romantic comedy in The Climb. Then we discuss an independent thriller in Happy Hunting. We have five big reviews to kick off the new year, and even some solid recommendations. As always if you enjoy the show then please spread the word, and thank you so much for being a listener. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. The Move Breakdown Outline: 1:34 The Polka King review 16:08 Insidious: The Last Key review 32:15 The Climb review 49:28 Molly's Game review 1:05:40 Happy Hunting review 1:23:28 Review Rundown Movie Ratings: The Polka King ** (CS) & **½ (SM) Insidious: The Last Key **½ (CS) The Climb *** (CS & SM) (Breakdown Stamp of Approval) Molly's Game *** (CS) Happy Hunting ** (CS) & **½ (SM)

It was five years ago that a little podcast called The Movie Breakdown was posted on this blog. The movie review show has been going strong ever since (as long as you ignore all the hiatuses), and a lot of great movies have been released over those five years. To celebrate our anniversary, both Scott and I have revealed our top ten movies that have been released over the past five years. Our lists turned out very different, which means there are a lot of great movies for you to track down. We also want to thank you for listening to us over these past five years and look forward to many, many, many more. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. Top Ten Movies Released Over the Past Five Years: Christopher: 10. Before Midnight 9. Django Unchained 8. Inside Llewyn Davis 7. The Grand Budapest Hotel 6. Blade Runner 2049 5. Arrival 4. Her 3. Inside Out 2. La La Land 1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens Scott: 10. The Way Way Back 9. Edge of Tomorrow 8. Get Out 7. The Lego Movie 6. Inside Llewyn Davis 5. The Babadook 4. The Revenant 3. The Nice Guys 2. Ex Machina 1. Mad Max: Fury Road

Last week, we revelled in the worst movies of 2017. But 2017 was actually a great year for movies, and it was one of the hardest years to just pick the ten best. That is exactly what must be done in The Breakdown of the Best of 2017, where both Scott and I reveal our individual top ten best movies of the year. We've both seen close to 200 movies released over the past year, so we can definitely pick out the must-see movies. It was a great year and these are some amazing movies. If you enjoy the show then please spread the word to other movie lovers. Reminder that you can now subscribe either to The Movie Breakdown feed (a subscription link is at the top right hand of this site) or on iTunes. Top 10 Movies of 2017: Scott: 10. The Survivalist 9, It 8. The Big Sick 7. Logan 6. Baby Driver 5. Mudbound 4. My Life as a Zucchini 3. Get Out 2. Wind River 1. Dunkirk Christopher: 10. Wind River 9. Coco 8. War for the Planet of the Apes 7. Logan 6. mother! 5. Get Out 4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi 3. It 2. The Big Sick 1. Blade Runner 2049