The Cinematic Tangent

XX – ‘Gladiator’ Jumps the Shark

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:49:31 +0000

We grew up in a time when the original Gladiator was a cultural touchstone—everyone saw this movie, and it was the talk of the proverbial water cooler. But, is it actually a good movie? We debate that, getting hung up on a pointless, long escape sequence that sees Maximus end up right back where he started.

One thing we do agree on: The first film is a masterpiece compared to its dopey, confusing, CGI-heavy sequel—one where the revealing human combat is replaced by baboons, rhinos, and sharks. Why? No idea.

Show Notes:

The ever-changing Blade Runner:
https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4589

Harrison Ford’s voiceover in Blade Runner:
https://www.slashfilm.com/873403/blade-runners-ending-wasnt-the-only-reason-harrison-ford-hated-his-voiceovers/

Chad’s Die Hard 5 review:
https://chadmichaelvanalstin.blogspot.com/2013/02/movie-review-good-day-to-die-hard-2013.html

Vulture piece on how Marvel SFX are an assembly line:
https://www.vulture.com/article/a-vfx-artist-on-what-its-like-working-for-marvel.html

Christopher Nolan praises Gladiator 2:
https://variety.com/2024/film/focus/christopher-nolan-gladiator-ii-ridley-scott-1236252847/

Gladiator 3 confirmed:
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/ridley-scott-confirms-hes-currently-making-gladiator-3/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XIX – ‘American Fiction’ and ‘You People’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:20:59 +0000

For this episode, we opted to compare and contrast American Fiction and You People, two comedy-dramas where contemporary racial politics are the focal point. Yet, their perspective, style, tone, themes—and demonstrated level of filmmaking competence—could not be more radically different. We thoroughly analyze both films in our patented “deep casual” style, and we ask only that you forgive us for being (white) dudes. Let’s have a good time.

Show Notes:

Barry Jenkins made a crappy Lion King prequel because he wants kids to read William Shakespeare:
https://apnews.com/article/mufasa-barry-jenkins-lion-king-interview-9c70f2933f428d78e12a3ad7eca077f5

James Gunn is the latest attempt to resuscitate the “DC Comics Cinematic Universe”:
https://thedirect.com/article/james-gunn-dcu-chronological-order

The motte-and-bailey fallacy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motte-and-bailey_fallacy

“Dog Park” prank:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/arts/academic-journals-hoax.html

JD Vance wrote a memoir:
https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062300546/hillbilly-elegy

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XVIII – Don Bluth

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:55:00 +0000

We take a deep dive into the films of animator and director Don Bluth, with special focus on The Land Before Time, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Anastasia.

For those of us who grew up watching these movies, they are remembered for their dark subject matter and themes antithetical to Disney. Now that we’re grown ups, we see stories that express the human condition from the perspective of a regular person, with protagonists who seek only to live normal lives as they battle against the forces that rule life in a world that is anything but perfect.

Show Notes:

Laika Studios CEO on sequels:
https://screencrush.com/no-movie-sequels-for-laika/

The movie Chad mentioned but could not recall is “A Dog’s Purpose”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dog%27s_Purpose_(film)

Tolkien and the sun:
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Sun

The penis helicopter from Rock-a-Doodle:
http://bluthanized.blogspot.com/2010/10/rock-doodle-1991.html

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XVII – ‘Furiosa’, the PopTart Movie, and Tangents

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 04:51:28 +0000

George Miller can’t make yet another great Mad Max movie, right? Wrong. He can and he did. And we hope he makes them forever.

As we catch up on movies we’ve seen, one of them was Unfrosted. There’s a deep analysis of Jerry Seinfeld’s directorial debut (and its Goo Monster), followed by some light praise of a movie that is memorably bad and worth seeing for its cringe.

Plus, talk of Morgan Spurlock, South Park, Inside Out 2, the growing trend of film entitlement, and how our machine overlords are destroying our lives through our phones.

Show Notes:

Normal Accidents website:
https://www.normalaccidents.com/

George Miller on Mad Max:
https://time.com/6975716/george-miller-furiosa-interview/

Mad Max? Who needs him?:
https://www.ign.com/videos/why-the-mad-max-movies-dont-need-mad-max-anymore

Criticism of Super Size Me:
https://www.chron.com/life/hoffman/article/Ordering-up-some-food-for-thought-1627633.php

Interview with Jerry Seinfeld:
https://www.kevinhershner.com/video-podcasts

Freddie deBoer on the incongruity of mental health discourse:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/how-convenient-that-kanye-wests-behavior

Obnoxious fan fiction on Inside Out:
https://screenrant.com/inside-out-2-trailer-riley-emotions-nonbinary-theory/

More obnoxious fan fiction about Inside Out:
https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/13/riley-inside-out-2-queer-disney-pixar/

Film Threat on the death of Star Wars:
https://filmthreat.libsyn.com/the-acolyte-episode-3-and-the-death-of-star-wars

George Lucas interview at Cannes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M12GmFYyA4g

George Lucas did donate his Star Wars sale money to charity:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/10/george-lucas-star-wars-4-billion-disney-charity

Freddie deBoer on why art isn’t made for you:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/not-everything-is-for-everyone

South Park: Joining the Panderverse:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29474455/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XVI – Conversation with Kevin Hershner, Director of ‘Normal Accidents’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 03:24:02 +0000

We sat down with Chad’s old Virginia Tech classmate Kevin Hershner to discuss his film Normal Accidents. Kevin is a writer, director, and actor living in Los Angeles who is currently pitching the movie—his first feature—to festivals.

Normal Accidents is an auteur satire on “one man, one location” films with a lot of levity. But, it’s also a serious meditation on the intrusive nature of technology and how many of us long for escape and quiet, away from the digital record of our flawed lives, our mistakes, and our regrets. It poses the question, how can we heal our minds and be our best selves when we can’t escape our digital ghosts?

We very much enjoyed it, and we think you will too. Check it out, a link is in the show notes.

The three of us also hung out for a while after the interview to discuss the state of Hollywood blockbusters, the overuse of special effects, and how social media is shaping movies and giving them a shelf life. Plus, you get to hear Kevin’s intriguing take on the underlying meta-themes of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

Show Notes:

Normal Accidents website:
https://www.normalaccidents.com

Normal Accidents on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/normalaccidentsmovie/

Kevin’s website:
https://www.kevinhershner.com/

Kevin’s podcasts:
https://www.kevinhershner.com/video-podcasts

Kid Julius short film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqzWrYr0vi8

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XV – You Used to Laugh with the People, Adam McKay

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 04:37:00 +0000

We love Adam McKay movies. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby embraces the Americana of rednecks and NASCAR culture, innocently pitting our uncouth heroes against the French liberal elites. Step Brothers is two losers resisting the urge to seek status, content with having a good time. And Anchorman? One can argue it’s a treatise on the fallibility of news, exposing the information guardians for the dopes they are.

Then, in his magnum opus, Adam gave us with The Big Short, an anarchist, populist masterpiece that unites all people based on class, offering empathy to those who struggle to survive in an economy ruled by elites, where “regulators” and “experts” obfuscate truth for profits.

We graduated from college during the 2008 financial crisis, and that film educated and empowered us to think critically and speak truth to power. Adam used to be one of the people. His offensive language, love for the poors, and mission to entertain everyone regardless of politics spoke to a simpler time. It’s why his classics are beloved.

Then he made Don’t Look Up. And it pressured audiences to implicitly trust the experts and embrace righteous politics, lest they become regular ol’ citizen “bad person” whose inaction dooms humanity.

What happened? We want to know.

Show Notes:

Episode of South Park mentioned on the show:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1539447

That urban legend that went viral online:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/faggot

The Steve Carell character in The Big Short is based on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Eisman

Rednecks aren’t to blame for emissions, 90 corporations are:
https://www.science.org/content/article/just-90-companies-are-blame-most-climate-change-carbon-accountant-says

The FDA is funded by the companies it regulates:
https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-user-fee-programs/fda-user-fees-explained

Cochrane study on masking efficacy:
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full

South Park apologize for climate change denial:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_to_Get_Cereal

Democrats slowly losing minority vote:
https://www.vox.com/2021/5/10/22425178/catalist-report-2020-election-biden-trump-demographics

“What do you have to lose?”:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/what-we-all-had-to-lose-with-trump-1047008

Don’t Look Up and the Covid-19 pandemic:
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/12/if-you-think-dont-look-up-is-just-an-allegory-about-climate-change-youre-missing-something/

Todd Phillips on woke comedy:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joaquin-phoenix-cover-story

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XIV – Barbenheimer

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 23:50:50 +0000

The boys celebrate the podcast’s 10th anniversary by digging into the whole “Barbenheimer” thing.

Show Notes:

Mission Impossible 7 bombs because theatres are dead again:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/mission-impossible-7-ends-its-domestic-run-by-hitting-another-disappointing-low/ar-AA1hdwR7

Censorship on Apple TV and Criterion Channel:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2023/06/06/apple-tv-and-the-criterion-channel-outrage-film-fans-by-censoring-classic-movie/

The “Despecialized Edition” of Star Wars:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Harmys-STAR-WARS-Despecialized-Edition-HD-V2-7-MKV-Released/id/12713

Krystal Ball on Barbie’s late-stage capitalist bullshit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQdVQUXgSQ

Ben Shapiro takes Barbie way, way, way too seriously:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynU-wVdesr0

Well, fuck. It looks like the Mattel Cinematic Universe is a thing:
https://people.com/polly-pocket-movie-everything-to-know-7565134

Shoe0nHead has a balanced take on Barbie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CsTzVyZP4M

Shoe0nHead talks male loneliness epidemic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQv8VuLpKN4

Greta Gerwig is re-booting Narnia?:
https://news.yahoo.com/chronicles-of-narnia-release-date-netflix-cast-greta-gerwig-081617220.html

There was no CGI in Oppenheimer at all:
https://collider.com/oppenheimer-no-cgi-christopher-nolan-explained/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XIII – Darren Aronofsky: Capriciously Comparing ‘The Whale’ and ‘The Wrestler’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:13:02 +0000

Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale and The Wrestler are very different films, but both center on a broken person, unable to achieve their former high, estranged from family and facing a new, less satisfying reality. Yet, one of these films sucks while the other is a cinematic masterpiece.

Brad and Chad take a hard look at The Whale and dissect how prior knowledge of The Wrestler makes its themes, style, and premise hard to digest.

Show Notes:

Fatphobia and The Whale:
https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-whale-review-darren-aronofsky-brendan-fraser/

Daily Beast takes the “Pizza Binge” scene way too seriously:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-whale-brendan-frasers-shocking-binge-eating-scene

The scene where the Gremlins eat chicken:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs1RPclm5MY

Wrestlers love The Wrestler:
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99825912

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

XII – There Should be More Beat-the-Clock Movies about the Asteroid that Killed the Dinosaurs

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:10:13 +0000

Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the Oscars, but Hollywood seems incapable of talking about the movie on its merits. After discussing the struggle between art and identity politics, Brad and Chad both fail to remember the plot to Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, despite seeing it multiple times. Then, CinTan praises the shit out of the dumb-but-fresh movie called 65, longing for the days when blockbusters took risks.

Show Notes:

Chris Pine laments how Hollywood is dominated by Marvel Cinematic Universe profit incentives:
https://www.ign.com/articles/chris-pine-vents-star-trek-frustrations-feels-like-its-cursed

Quentin Tarantino is/was making a Star Trek movie:
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-quentin-tarantino/

Chris Gore on the death of the American movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO5KLe1QE5Q

Everything Everywhere All at Once sweeps the Oscars:
https://www.onthebulletin.com/film-television/2023-oscars-reaction-eeaao-sweeps-yeoh-makes-history-academy-award

Freddie DeBoer asks: “Are You Sure You Want to Say That White People Are the Lone Agents in Human Affairs, the Main Characters, the Sole Movers of History?”:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/are-you-sure-you-want-to-say-that

Operation Fortune is cool, but it may not stick around:
https://www.looper.com/1219017/why-guy-ritchies-operation-fortune-ruse-de-guerre-bombed-at-the-box-office/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-xii-there-should-be-more-beat-the-clock-movies-about-the-a/TheCinematicTangentXII-ThereShouldBeMoreBeat-the-ClockMoviesAboutTheAsteroidThatKilledTheDinosaurs.mp3

XI – It’s About a Bear that Does a Lot of Cocaine

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 23:27:57 +0000

Cocaine Bear is based on the true tale of a bear who ate cocaine and died. The movie adaptation is about a CGI blob that mauls people to death – with some admittedly cool traditional effects. After sobering up, Brad and Chad go deep on M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, revealing the (possible) class message at the heart of a crazy movie about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse accosting a gay couple and their daughter. Major props is given to Dave Bautista for his truly excellent performance.

Show Notes:

Correction: Chad referred to “Knock at the Cabin” as “Cabin the Woods” by accident, because of a debate Brad and he had 11 years ago.

Check out the defunct This Week’s Movie (please excuse the poor writing).

Correction 2: Chad says Knock at the Cabin is based on a short story, but it’s actually a novel.

The real bear should have paid attention in D.A.R.E:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/arts/cocaine-bear-true-story.htm

Brian Wells did die – and it is a really sad, crazy story:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Brian_Wells

Considering the death of theatres – Cocaine Bear performed well:
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2503901953/

Cocaine Shark will be about a shark that does cocaine:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cocaine-shark-movie-trailer_n_640afca2e4b006d19e274dc3

Stephanie Zacharek’s Knock at the Cabin review:
https://time.com/6251987/knock-at-the-cabin-review/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-xi-its-about-abear-that-does-alot-of-cocaine/TheCinematicTangentXI-ItsAboutABearThatDoesALotOfCocaine.mp3

X – Oscars So Blue

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 04:49:06 +0000

From The Fabelmans to Avatar: The Way of Water, Hollywood feels increasingly out of touch, both in its ability to capture what it means to be a person – and to re-capture what it meant to watch a Blockbuster in the theatre. Opining on their growing dislike of movies, the boys analyze similar trends in comic books and video games that leave us feeling empty, in a constant state of consumption, waiting for the next unnecessary sequel or piece of content.

Show Notes:

It was apparently the “wokest” Superbowl ever:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/mike-freeman/2023/02/12/super-bowl-57-blackest-woke-sorry-haters/11245293002/

The transparently performative, superficial diversity and inclusion standards at the Oscars:
https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-establishes-representation-and-inclusion-standards-oscarsr-eligibility/

George Santos embodies the times:
https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-george-santos-claims-that-have-now-been-debunked-1770172

M3ghan 2 was always coming:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/01/18/m3gan-director-gerard-johnstone-on-sequels-shooting-in-new-zealand/

James Cameron altering future Avatars based on audience feedback:
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/avatar-3-loak-replaces-jake-sully-narrator-james-cameron-1235492365/

Not everything is made for you:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/not-everything-is-for-everyone

Link to Film Threat, since we cite Chris Gore all the time:
https://filmthreat.com/

Link to Sacred Symbols, since we reference Colin Moriarty’s video game coverage all the time:
https://laststandmedia.com/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-x-oscars-so-blue/TheCinematicTangentX-OscarsSoBlue.mp3

IX – ‘Bad Santa’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 19:46:29 +0000

This is the deepest dive into Bad Santa that you’ll find anywhere. The “Santa” that made it into theatres – and conned its way onto DVD and streaming services – is an imposter, with the cut approved by director Terry Zwigoff hidden away (at the North Pole), only to be quietly released years later. Brad and Chad take a look at this overlooked Director’s Cut, comparing its structure, tone, themes, and approach to comedy to the theatrical release, revealing one of the most criminal examples of studio manipulation in movie history.

Show Notes:

Terry Zwigoff discusses the Bad Santa Director’s Cut:
https://www.indiewire.com/2012/12/terry-zwigoff-talks-battling-over-bad-santa-his-preferred-directors-cut-much-more-in-candid-interview-250073/

Pearl clutching over Bad Santa ads in 2003:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-11-21-0311210371-story.html

Snowflakes at Fox News were offended by the movie:
https://www.foxnews.com/story/bad-bad-santa

Roger Ebert’s review:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bad-santa-2003

Member Berries:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_Berries

Script for Bad Santa:
https://imsdb.com/scripts/Bad-Santa.html

Music by Uncle Dave: http://www.mp3forkidz.com/xmas/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-ix-bad-santa/TheCinematicTangentIX-BadSanta.mp3

VIII – “Marilyn Monroe” Gets Pwnd

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:14:00 +0000

In a world where a cartoonishly evil cabal of men exploit damaged women from cradle to grave, Blonde takes the heroic position that that is bad. The highly sensational, fictionalized Marilyn Monroe “biopic” from Andrew Dominik is the first film released on Netflix to earn an NC-17 rating – and holy shit, it takes full advantage of it. This movie does not shy away from exploited asses, creepy blowjobs, and shots from inside “Marilyn Monroe’s” battered vagina. But, it’s all in service to some incomprehensible #MeToo themes, so this is not torture porn. It’s art. It earned a 14-minute standing ovation. This will probably win an Oscar.

After discussing how stupid Blonde is, Chad and Brad lighten the mood by talking about Zac Cregger’s brutal-but-fun Barbarian.

Show Notes:

First NC-17 movie on Netflix:
https://www.theringer.com/movies/2022/9/27/23374647/blonde-netflix-movie-nc17-rating

This stupid movie earned a 14-minute standing ovation:
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/blonde-ana-de-armas-standing-ovation-venice-nc-17-marilyn-monroe-1235337816/

Blonde is based on a fiction novel:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde_(novel)

Femme Fatale criticism from the 80s:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/12/07/the-feminist-and-the-femme-fatale/d9301d18-5f37-452a-a608-4bd5d6cf7688/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ and https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-rock-it-21275/

Email the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-viii-marilyn-monroe-gets-pwnd/TheCinematicTangentVIII-MarilynMonroeGetsPwnd.mp3

VII – Like This Podcast to Cancel ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 02:18:00 +0000

Let’s play a game of Bodies Bodies Bodies – a new viral TikTok sensation for upper-middle-class woke kids who kill each other in manic witch hunts! After, we can all find Jesus through the (very entertaining and solidly made) gospel of Black Phone.

Show Notes:

Finally, our Ferris Bueller questions will be asked:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-ferris-bueller-spin-off-will-let-us-revisit-key-scenes-through-other-characters-eyes-according-to-jon-hurwitz/ar-AA11StM6

Let’s dig John Hughes up and #MeToo his movies!:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink

This show Tolkien didn’t write or produce is very Tolkien:
https://gamerant.com/rings-of-power-bronwyn-tolkien-hero/

Chris Gore’s thoughts on alienating audiences:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9u9Nwi6Y4&list=PLez8jOvskc-Oul_WJy_Wk8f37KFS88vrh&index=2

Evil Dead’s global bans and censorship:
https://www.grunge.com/795161/why-the-movie-evil-dead-was-banned-in-several-countries/

Fahrenheit 451 was censored a bunch of times, because reality loves creating irony:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451#Censorship/banning_incidents

Campus free thought and speech concerns:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/opinion/campus-speech-cancel-culture.html

Opera students want operas updated to fit the times – and the schools are too cowardly to tell them to fuck off:
https://www.blockedandreported.org/p/premium-blocked-and-reported-presents#details

Removed E.T. guns have been restored:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/et-change-spielberg-video-guns_n_1559613

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-vii-like-this-podcast-to-cancel-bodies-bodies-bodies/TheCinematicTangentVII-LikeThisPodcastToCancelBodiesBodiesBodies.mp3

VI – Narratologists Approve of ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 22:49:32 +0000

In part 2 of a 2-part adventure, Chad and Brad finally have a civil conversation about Everything Everywhere All at Once. And then they stammer through a chat about George Miller’s Three Thousand Year of Longing.

Show Notes:

Freddie deBoer on Everything Everywhere All at Once:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/i-would-like-to-gently-suggest-that

Tarantino read the script for Swiss Army Man:
https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/swiss-army-man/

Narratology is a thing… who knew?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narratology

“Audiences are saying to put this one back in the bottle.” – Something Peter Travers would probably say:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/why-three-thousand-years-of-longing-tanked-at-the-box-office/ar-AA11fbMt

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-vi-narratologists-approve-of-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/TheCinematicTangentVI-NarratologistsApproveOfEverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce.mp3

V – Why Does Modern CGI Suck?

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:30:00 +0000

In part 1 of a 2-part adventure, Chad and Brad attempt to unravel a great mystery: How in the hell does Star Wars (1977) still look amazing when Spider-Man (2002) is aging like a Thor: Love and Thunder joke?

Show Notes:

Vulture piece on how Marvel SFX are an assembly line:
https://www.vulture.com/article/a-vfx-artist-on-what-its-like-working-for-marvel.html (Editor’s Note: Chad said “Vice” on the show – whoops!)

Commentary on woke values shaping how we experience movies:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/why-are-identitarians-such-cheap

Microsoft performs the brand new “Land Acknowledgment” ritual that is sweeping corporate America:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/against-land-acknowledgements-native-american/620820/

Prey makes history by not hiring actors:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/prey-predator-prequel-native-american-indigenous-cast-amber-midthunder-interview-150054578.html

The Best Picture goes to the film that checks our arbitrary diversity boxes:
https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-establishes-representation-and-inclusion-standards-oscarsr-eligibility

Louis C.K is allowed to win awards again:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grammy-awards-2022-louis-ck-best-comedy-album/

Hollywood Reporter on Dave Chappelle’s Emmy nomination:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/dave-chappelle-emmy-nominations-social-media-1235199415/

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-v-why-does-modern-cgisuck/TheCinematicTangentV-WhyDoesModernCGISuck.mp3

IV – God Damn, that Tom Cruise Fella Sure is a Movie Star

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 03:59:35 +0000

With audio now in the proper human-sounding bit rate, The Cinematic Tangent returns to discuss why Top Gun: Maverick is uniquely American. Plus, Brad and Chad mull over the themes of Crimes of the Future, while acknowledging CGI sex-violence is not particularly arousing.

Show Notes:

Hey Siri, what BitRate is Correct for Podcasts? We Really Should Know Before Producing Nearly 100 Shows:
https://www.thepodcasthost.com/editing-production/what-bitrate-should-i-use-for-a-podcast/

Oliver Stone’s Hot Take:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygAqYC8JOQI

Quentin Tarantino on the Joe Rogan Experience:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cdu4y60lq6QXyUbhMpVWH

China Bans Top Gun:
https://www.newsweek.com/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-taiwan-china-1713466

The Department of Defense Approves Hollywood Movies:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/29/hollywood-and-thepentagonarelationshipofmutualexploitation.html

Top Gun Becomes Top at the Box Office:
https://in.ign.com/top-gun-2-theater/173581/news/top-gun-maverick-dethrones-titanic-to-become-paramounts-highest-grossing-movie-of-all-time

Plastic Eating Bacteria:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2021/03/10/the-race-to-develop-plastic-eating-bacteria/

Plastic Eating Worms:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-09/plastic-eating-superworms-could-fight-world-s-garbage-crisis

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-iv-god-damn-that-tom-cruise-fella-sure-is-a-movie-star/TheCinematicTangentIV-GodDamnThatTomCruiseFellaSureIsAMovieStar.mp3

III – Everything is Wrong With This Show All at Once

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 01:07:57 +0000

Audio issues and circular arguments abound, Chad and Brad bicker over Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Northman.

Show Notes:

Amplifying 4Chan posts for woke takes:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/22/norse-code-white-supremacists-reading-the-northman-robert-eggers

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

II – Shit is so Corporate, Man

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 10 May 2022 01:46:39 +0000

Chad and Brad discuss Uncharted and Jackass Forever. With a bittersweet take, Chad pontificates on how the Internet’s shift from anarchy to sanitized corporate product mirrors the evolution of Jackass.

Show Notes:

Chad referred to Poopies as “Poopsie” during the show. He apologizes and will do better.

Bam Margera in Jackass Forever:
https://screenrant.com/jackass-forever-bam-margera-filmed-scenes-fired-explained/

Steve-O on JRE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16J-lCSSMV

Poopies vs a Shark:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-2458739/Video-Jackass-Poopies-hand-bitten-shark-Shark-Week-stunt.html

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-ii-shit-is-so-corporate-man/TheCinematicTangentII-ShitIsSoCorporateMan.mp3

I – Cut the Bullshit

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:14:37 +0000

Welcome to the podcast from a real-life Brad and Chad duo.

Now, what the fuck happened to film? It really sucks.

Show Notes:

The Substack of Marxist writer Freddie deBoer that Chad is clearly a reader of:
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com

An example of woke praise for Nomadland that LITERALLY does not mention Amazon:
https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/nomadland-2021-oscars-best-picture-winner-historic-women.html

If you somehow ignore Disney kowtowing to a regime that puts people in concentration camps, they are totally progressive!:
https://theconversation.com/i-didnt-have-a-superhero-that-looked-like-me-marvels-new-female-culturally-diverse-and-queer-protagonists-mirror-our-times-160917

Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/

E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

https://archive.org/download/the-cinematic-tangent-i-cut-the-bullshit/TheCinematicTangentI-CutTheBullshit.mp3

Episode 67 – ‘Isle Of Dogs’ in the Age of Outrage

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 20:01:46 +0000

Brad and Chad discuss Ready Player One and Isle of Dogs, the latter of which has angered some kids on Twitter.

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode67IsleOfDogsInTheAgeOfOutrage/TheCinematicTangent-Episode67-IsleOfDogsInTheAgeOfOutrage.mp3

Episode 66 – Netflix and ‘Black Panther’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 17:14:58 +0000

Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is breaking records – but how good is it, really?

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode66NetflixAndBlackPanther/TheCinematicTangent-Episode66-NetflixAndBlackPanther.mp3

Episode 65 – Teddy Bears and Fish People

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:40:21 +0000

The Cinematic Tangent spoils The Post, Paddington 2, Shape of Water, and I, Tonya.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode65TeddyBearsAndFishPeople/TheCinematicTangent-Episode65-TeddyBearsAndFishPeople.mp3

Episode 64 – Not a ‘Last Jedi’ Show

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 22:42:20 +0000

Chad maintains his boycott of all things Star Wars movies, while Brad quickly brushes past Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi. After that, the guys talk Coco, Last Flag Flying, and Lady Bird.

Why is Twitter mad about a Frozen short? Is it anti-war, or are the “boys” just “back in town”? Is Greta Gerwig 2017’s Best Director? CinTan discusses these questions and more.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode64NotALastJediShow/TheCinematicTangent-Episode64-NotALastJediShow.mp3

Episode 63 – ‘A Ghost Story’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 18:58:59 +0000

The guys talk Murder on the Orient Express, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and A Ghost Story.

Also, are you tired of sequels yet?

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode63AGhostStory/TheCinematicTangent-Episode63-AGhostStory.mp3

Episode 62 – You’re Killing Me, Smalls!

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:26:50 +0000

Just in time for the World Series, the Cinematic Tangent reflects back on The Sandlot, Little Big League, and other baseball films from the good ol’ days.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode62YoureKillingMeSmalls/TheCinematicTangent-Episode62-YoureKillingMeSmalls.mp3

Episode 61 – Random Reflections

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:19:28 +0000

A re-direct from last episode on the value of comedy is followed by talk of Baby Driver and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Also, from cushy chairs at a high price to cushy chairs that shake, are you tired of “luxury” theatre gimmicks yet? Bring back Smell-O-Vision!

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode61RandomReflections/TheCinematicTangent-Episode61-RandomReflections.mp3

Episode 60 – Fighting Words

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 20:01:29 +0000

After a … passionate (Chad was raging.) battle over Fist Fight that leads into a larger discussion about film criticism and philosophy, Brad and Chad talk Wonder Woman, The Lovers, and It Comes at Night.

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode60FightingWords/TheCinematicTangent-Episode60-FightingWords.mp3

Episode 59 – Mel Gibson

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 00:44:47 +0000

From the brand new Cinematic Tangent production studio (a laptop and a mic), Chad and Brad talk the complete filmography of writer/director Mel Gibson: Braveheart, Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge.

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode59MelGibson/TheCinematicTangent-Episode59-MelGibson.mp3

Episode 58 – Let’s Do This, 2017!

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:30:46 +0000

Yeah, The Cinematic Tangent is late to the party – so what?

Chad and Brad have a detailed, spoiler-ridden discussion of The Circle, The Lost City of Z, and Alien: Covenant. Also, hear Brad talk about Rock Dog!

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode58LetsDoThis2017/TheCinematicTangent-Episode58-LetsDoThis2017.mp3

Episode 57 – 2016: The Top 10

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 08 May 2017 22:21:38 +0000

After a long hiatus, The Cinematic Tangent returns to talk some of the noteworthy films of 2016.

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode572016TheTop10/TheCinematicTangent-Episode57-2016TheTop10.mp3

Episode 56 – ‘Live By Night’, ‘Silence’, and ‘A Monster Calls’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:14:49 +0000

It’s 2017, and the year already sucks. Because Donald Trump is President.

After a lengthy apology for The Cinematic Tangent’s unreleased blogs and lost episodes, Brad and Chad start the year fresh by discussing a couple of films sure to earn Oscar buzz – A Monster Calls and Silence. And one that won’t – Live By Night.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode56LiveByNightSilenceAndAMonsterCalls/TheCinematicTangent-Episode56-LiveByNight-Silence-and-AMonsterCalls.mp3

Episode 55 – ‘The Lord of the Rings’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 04:31:13 +0000

The Cinematic Tangent finally sits down to talk Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode55TheLordofTheRings/TheCinematicTangent-Episode55-TheLordofTheRings.mp3

Episode 54 – The 2016 Films We Missed

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 00:29:13 +0000

Despite technical difficulties (sorry!), CinTan talks Hell or High Water, Demolition, Kubo and the Two Strings, and more.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode54The2016FilmsWeMissed/TheCinematicTangent-Episode54-The2016FilmsWeMissed.mp3

Episode 53 – 2016 is Scary

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 01:41:11 +0000

With Don’t Breathe hitting theatres, Brad and Chad look back at some of the notable horror films from this year – The Witch, Green Room, and The Forest.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode532016IsScary/TheCinematicTangent-Episode53-2016IsScary.mp3

Episode 52 – ‘Ghostbusters’ (2016), ‘Finding Dory’, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, ‘BFG’, and ‘Swiss Army Man’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 04:00:43 +0000

Catching up on some of best and worst that 2016 cinema has to offer, from the brand new Ghostbusters to the farting prank known as “Swiss Army Man”.

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode52/TheCinematicTangentEpisode52.mp3

Episode 51 – Duncan Jones

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 22:43:30 +0000

The Cinematic Tangent talks Duncan Jones and his complete filmography: Moon, Source Code, and Warcraft. What was the name of Chad’s World of Warcraft character? Who is Buttbong420? Zub-Zub? And is Duncan Jones a good director? The Cinematic Tangent answers these questions – and more (maybe)!

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode51DuncanJones/TheCinematicTangent-Episode51-DuncanJones.mp3

Episode 50 – The Dark Knight Trilogy

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 03 May 2016 01:55:31 +0000

Practice your Batman voice! It’s time to talk Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises

https://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode50TheDarkKnightTrilogy/TheCinematicTangent-Episode50-TheDarkKnightTrilogy.mp3

Episode 49 – ‘Hardcore Henry’ and 2016 Catch-Up

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 02:24:27 +0000

Take a shot of something questionable from the bottom shelf, and join the Cinematic Tangent for a conversation about Hardcore Henry, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Zootopia, and Deadpool.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode49HardcoreHenryAnd2016CatchUp/TheCinematicTangent-Episode49-HardcoreHenryAnd2016CatchUp.mp3

Episode 48 – The Third Annual CinTan Awards!

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 03:01:54 +0000

Have a glorious Easter – Or you can listen to the Third Annual CinTan Awards! What film is pure “Wow.”? Which movie is “Surprisingly Anarchist”? What flick would you call the “Most Underrated”? Find out here! … And, can you believe there’s actually a CinTan award for “Worst Use of a Nirvana Song”? It’s true.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode48TheThirdAnnualCinTanAwards/TheCinematicTangent-Episode48-TheThirdAnnualCinTanAwards.mp3

Episode 47 – Best Of 2015

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 00:25:23 +0000

The only award show that maters! Finally, your Cinematic Tangent hosts list their favorite films of 2015, complete with heated debates and lots of trolling. Plus, Chad met Michelle Rodriguez. And he had no idea. So, there’s that.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode47BestOf2015/TheCinematicTangent-Episode47-BestOf2015.mp3

Episode 46 – ‘The Big Short’, ‘Brooklyn’, and ‘Carol’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:33:51 +0000

The Cinematic Tangent catches up on the last-minute films that fly into theatres just before the Oscars. The Big Short made Chad a happy anarchist (#Occupy, #OWS!); the Irish names in Brooklyn upset Brad; and neither of our intoxicated hosts are convinced Carol deserves all the praise it’s been receiving.

This episode unofficially brought to you by Blue Moon Brewing Co. (Please sponsor us!)

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode46TheBigShortBrooklynCarol/TheCinematicTangent-Episode46-TheBigShort-Brooklyn-Carol.mp3

Episode 45 – ‘The Revenant’, ‘The Hateful Eight’, and ‘Joy’

thecinematictangent@gmail.com (Chad and Brad) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 01:12:41 +0000

Just in time for Oscar season, the Cinematic Tangent returns to delve deep into The Revenant, The Hateful Eight, and Joy.

http://archive.org/download/TheCinematicTangentEpisode45TheRevenantTheHatefulEightandJoy/TheCinematicTangent-Episode45-TheRevenantTheHatefulEightandJoy.mp3