Best Film Ever – Détails, épisodes et analyse

(Deep Dive begins at 36:45)

Welcome to the podcast that's not undercooked, it's molten. Join your ragtag fellowship of TransAtlantic podcasters, Ian, Liam, and Georgia as we're taking this show back on the road in a beat-up food truck as we review Jon Favreau's ode to working out his own creative issues in Hollywood in the indie darling, Chef.  We're also joined by our Sous Chef: BFF of the BFE, James DeGuzman as we serve our hungry customers.  We're discussing creativity vs bankability in our 241st episode as we discuss:

• Jon Favreau's use of this film as a metaphor for his own conflicts with making big studio films in the early 2010s
• Liam gets hung up on the limited generosity of a character who really exists as a McGuffin & piece of stunt casting
• Georgia's face blindness takes another actor hostage
• Why did some of us have issues with the ending of the film
• Ian suggests that a key plot point couldn't have been done with the demographics in reverse
• We all talk about how the decision between bankability and creative fulfillment makes its way to even the most grassroots of creative adventures 
• Whether or not Chef is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• AJ from Nova Scotia
• Timmy Tim Tim

Catch so much more of Hermes on his podcast, The Scuttlebutt Podcast at . https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-scuttlebutt-podcast/id1503504933 (Apple) or https://open.spotify.com/show/2n9CNB9X6QXnmvn78HBEoJ?si=ca1784afd4874ff3 (Spotify)

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/ Join Hermes in his revolution; he is trying so very hard.

(Deep Dive begins at 44:00)

We're not the messiah, we're a bunch of naughty boys (and girls).  Join your ragtag fellowship of TransAtlantic podcasters, Ian, Liam, Megan, and Georgia as we're heading back to talk all things Python as we review what's arguably the connoisseur's pick of Python, in Life of Brian.  We're discussing the structure of a joke in our 240th episode as we discuss:

• How should you pronounce John Cleese's name
• What couple of scenes come off a bit hard today
• Were their any moments that were a step too far in their absurdity for our liking
• What's the difference between mocking Christianity, the personage of a religious figure or taking a joke at the nature of faith itself
• Ian talks about what he thinks is the greatest joke in the history of cinema
• What was the surprising source of funding for this film once the original financiers backed out on the eve of filming
• We talk about nudity in film and theatre and lay down our own feelings on what our own boundaries would be
• Whether or not Monty Python's Life of Brian is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• AJ from Nova Scotia
• Timmy Tim Tim

Catch so much more of Hermes on his podcast, The Scuttlebutt Podcast at . https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-scuttlebutt-podcast/id1503504933 (Apple) or https://open.spotify.com/show/2n9CNB9X6QXnmvn78HBEoJ?si=ca1784afd4874ff3 (Spotify)

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/ Join Hermes in his revolution; he is trying so very hard.

(Deep Dive begins at 15:35)

It's always about measuring expectations so they line up with reality, am I right? Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasters, Ian, Megan and Georgia, as we're heading to Los Angeles and violently yo-yoing between loving us and hating the world in the indie darling, (500) Days of Summer. We're doing choreographed dance sequences with animated  birds in our 236th episode as we discuss:

• The significance of the birthday equinox
• Who gets over break-ups easier, men or women
• How do peeps feel about karaoke
• Have we ever been on the hook for someone? How much responsibility does the one holding the other on the hook have to smarten the other party up
• Ian goes 5 levels deep on a seemingly nothing scene inside Ikea (where were the meatballs?)
• In what ways has this film aged terribly in just 15 years?
• We discuss the trope of the manic pixie dream girl and how realistic this really is
• What fingerprints from our last episode (When Harry Met Sally)  did we see in this film?
• Whether or not (500) Days of Summer is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• AJ from Nova Scotia
• Timmy Tim Tim

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/ Join Hermes in his revolution; he is trying so very hard.

We had the pleasure of sitting down (virtually - although we were all seated) with "Mr Heckles" himself, Larry Hankin who was kind enough to give us over an hour of his time to discuss his career, his motivations, what excites him, what frustrates him and what he's working on now.  Catch Ian & Georgia for the full cut of our previously excerpted interview where we discuss:

• His run on FRIENDS: when he knew it was going to be a hit show, which of the FRIENDS he most enjoyed working opposite and his inspiration for the part
• How he got involved with Seinfeld and how sometimes art inspires life as he talks about working with Michael Richards before
• His work on Home Alone - including what role he almost had and how the producers tried to do right by him and rid themselves of a curse
• How he ended up getting invited to The Oscars
• What inspired him to write his book, "That Guy" (available at all major online retailers) and what he's working on next

"I didn't kill my wife / I don't care"  Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, and Ethan (Megan and Georgia have commandeered an ambulance) as we're conduction a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in 1993's The Fugitive. We're staying up til 2am thinking of an ending in our 186th episode as we discuss:

• The mess that was the script for this film
• How did they do the two big set pieces (the train and the dive)
• How many plot holes this film has in it
• We've got some technical gremlins in this episode
• How Megan can't be blamed for our bloated runtimes anymore 
• Which actor got royally shafted in this film and why it absolutely had to be done
• Whether or not The Fugitive is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Lina Oberholzer
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Andy Dickson
• Holly Callen
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• AJ from Nova Scotia

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

FIRST 34:30 are a spoiler-free review with our See It/Skip It verdict

AFTER 34:30 it's a full spoiler review

We're back again and this time we're giving Oppenheimer the See It Or Skip It Treatment with Ian and Liam talking about their trip to see Oppenheimer last week as Ian finished his Oppenheimer double header.  Did Cillian Murphy have an advantage by being somewhat unknown as far as leading a film?  Also, how do you pronounce his first name? Did Christopher Nolan try and outclever us all again with this film? Where does this film rank in our listings of 2023's best?  How about among Nolan's best?  Will this win the box office in 2023?  Was Oppenheimer behind the bomb anyways? Ian's also got a theory on the colour grading in this one. We'll answer all these questions on Oppenheimer and then we tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

You vow, we move!  Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan, Megan, and Georgia as we're heading back to Sherwood Forrest after fighting in the Crusades with a Scottish King Richard in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men In Tights.  We're busy trying to find a pair of early 1990s Reeboks in our 185th episode as we discuss:

• A bonanza of yellow button moments
• We discuss how the rules are different for spoofs and also ask ourselves why these aren't done as often any more
• Whether this film has aged particularly well
• Our upcoming plans for the BFE day out in 2023
• Ethan's got many feelings about Elon Musk that he feels compelled to share at great length and emotional power
• 60% of the pod dressed for the occasion.  Who dressed up and what did they wear?
• There's a moment where Ian laughs so hard he has to push the mic away. That might be a first.
• Whether or not Robin Hood: Men in Tights is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Lina Oberholzer
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Andy Dickson
• Holly Callen
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• AJ from Nova Scotia

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

FIRST 24:30 are a spoiler-free review with our See It/Skip It verdict

AFTER 24:30 it's a full spoiler review

We're back again and this time we're giving Barbie the See It Or Skip It Treatment with Ian and Megan talking about their trip to see Barbie mid-week as Ian began his Oppenheimer double header.  How does Margot Robbie handle the titular character?  Why did a serious actor such as Ryan Gosling take on a piece in a film about a child's toy? Simu Liu and Michael Cera (2 more Canadians which brings our total to 3) join the cast - is there something distinctly Canadian about Barbie?  Will this win the box office in 2023?  How do we feel about the less than subtle ideology and did the film purposely mislead us as to what the story was in the trailer? We'll answer all these questions on Barbie and then we tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

We got birthdays, we got milestones, we might be getting a little FUBARred. Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan, Megan, and Georgia as we're heading to France via Omaha Beach in search of a James Francis Ryan from Iowa (you Minnesota boys stay away) to be saved by Captain Miller as try and win the $300 pool in Saving Private Ryan.  We're learning the ropes and trying to carry around a typewriter in our 184th episode as we discuss:

• The birthday equinox as Georgia & Ian both celebrated birthdays this week
• Megan & Liam planned a few extra-curricular activities to celebrate
• Ian shares about an unofficial eating challenge he took on for himself
• Megan shares the plight of teachers who had to go to the very last moment this week as opposed to others who were done and dusted by midweek
• We celebrate reaching 100K with a message from a familiar voice for long-time listeners of the pod
• We update the legendary poster behind the podcast
• We ask Georgia if she can get behind a war film if the villains are Nazis
• Whether or not Saving Private Ryan is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Lina Oberholzer
• Ensign Ian Davies
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• The Yeetmeister
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Andy Dickson
• Holly Callen
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

FIRST 30:00 are a spoiler-free review with our See It/Skip It verdict

AFTER 30:00 it's a full spoiler review

This week we're back with the undisputed King of the Box Office, Tom Cruise, in his quest for meaning in meaningless times in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.  Ian & Liam are kicking it old-school as we look at Part One of the likely finale of our favourite train riding, mask wearing secret agent.  Does old man Tom still have it?  Why are there so many women in principal roles in this film? Has Kietrich lost a step after all this time?  Are Mission Impossible films supposed to be this funny?  Where do we rank the set pieces in this film against the memorable ones from other films?  Did Ian just predict how the series ends in Part II? We'll answer all these questions on Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One  and then we tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.