Final Thoughts on 2001 Cinema

As a host of this show and someone who's on the internet quite extensively with video content, it's been important to me over the years to start looking better and making sure my fashion's up to speed. and Quince has been a great partner in helping that They sent us a bunch of great clothes and I got to say One of my favorite pieces I've gotten this entire year just in general Is this incredible Denim jacket that I love to rock and go denim on denim Cowboy Tuxedo. It's one hundred percent cotton and it's ridiculously comfortable. I can speak on behalf of Anthony who loves linen. I tell them all the time. All you wear is linen. You're always on a vacation in Europe, even if you're in LA. and Quintince is one hundred percent European linen pants and shirts are incredibly breathable. He loves them so much. He's literally wearing them right now on his amazing Eur old trip that he's been on And Quint has so much to offer that two guys with totally different styles can find plenty of options for wardrobe and clothing Their tees are also soft enough to literally live in all day And somehow everything at Quince is literally fifty to eighty percent cheaper than similar brands They work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen so you're paying for exceptional quality, not the brand markup Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to quince d. com slash riders for free shipping on your order and three hundred sixty five day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I N C E . com slash Riders for free shipping and three hundred and sixty five day returns. Qince d. com slash Raiders This summer, Prime Video takes you back before legally blonde, before law school and into the world of Elle Woods in high school. Set in nineteen ninety five, this Gemini vegetarian knows exactly who she is until her family moves from Bela Air to Seattle. packed with iconic fashion, nineties nostalgia, and a throwback soundtrack, Elle proves one thing Law school was hard. High school was harder. From the world of legally blonde, watch Al, a new original series only on Prime videoide. Watch now. Are you ready to feel old? Because a ton of terrific films turn twenty five years old this year in twenty twenty six And we're gonna break down the twenty five best from two thousand one that have hit that special birthday. and yes, the grays are gonna feel like they're coming in faster than ever. They are coming inour hair's looking very gray, Jave. than you. Your hair's looking like a fucking mess. L look I look like a cockadoo. Your hair is very goofy in a ton of different directions. This is I just I took a shower before bed It pull my hair. And then you woke up and did look in the mirror. I I pull my hair back and then no, no, I have tried to fix this. It was just not going down. You know, there's such thing as product. you know product exists? It time for product today. Pro out the door. It Takes a minute to apply. I didn't have a minute because I had to run over to film this episode because I was so excited to talk about the twenty five movies that turned twenty five this year, this episode was An idea by Crystal so we could thank my girlfriend for this idea. Well, it's a conflict of interest, Anandy. Is she going to get like income from this? Just kidding I get I bought her McDonalds. She's fried. But then I was then we watched legally blind whichich is on this list, which is on this list. It was delightful. great That's great. I had a fantastic. I'm not looking forward to the sequel the prequel series that is coming up pretty soon. Yeah. I actually enjoy that movie. But obviously every movie that released in twenty twenty in two thousand one is turning twenty five this year But we decided to pick the twenty five best or our twenty five favorite from that Yeah When I look back on that year, what were our favorites of that year And there's some really incredible films. There's some iconics and some of the best of that year, but then there are also just some really fun kind of campy movies that were just great blockbusters, great to see in theaters, highly rewatched by us as young people in two thousand one. There's a couple in here that we watched a ton at home. So and then there's a couple that like were just like all time movies. But there are a couple ye Yeahah. yeah, I'm looking forward to talking about this. It was a great year. It wasn't like the best year ever because after this after like this twenty five they aren't Ton of great movies after that. was a couple was It's not like nineteen ninety nine, you know what I mean But there are some really good. I mean, nineteen ninety nine is the greatest year of cinema in the history of the media. If we did like a hundred best movies to two thousand one, it would be pretty We stretched pretty thin. But we could do ninety nine best movies from nineteen ninety or the we've already done that. We did the best movies nineteen ninety nine as well. twice. But we've never done the year two thousand one, which is kind of like what we're doing It's fun to call it twenty five movies that turn twenty five this year U It's kind of in to worst ranking a bit ish Ish Sort ish. I mean, not really actually. I It was just more of like how I found them. Yeah, but it's also a blend of the first one's definitely the, it's a blend of quality as well as campiness and love and nostalgia. It's not an order per se, but it's kind of an order We'll as well stop at the top dog. Yeah. Come on Fantasy took it took off in a new way at the turn of the century And in two thousand one, there are two, but first on our list is the Lord of the Rings, the feellllowship of the Rings Growing up in the nineties, we had a lot of great fantasy movies to look back on from the eighties and the nineties that were made, but oftentimes they're pretty campy. The effects didn't really fully hold up, especially the visual effects in and post and like the CGI because they're still in very early. Remember Dragon Heart? Yeah. that That was one where it hasn't aged well, but that was fun. And the incorporation of the practical effects make a lot of those movies very timeless in a lot of ways. But the Lord of the Rings just expanded on what you could do with the Fantasy film to a whole new level in blending in great new CGI elements created a tone of a fantasy film that was grounded in a really incredible way with great physical, I mean, great practical filmmaking as well as great CGI, but a story that People kind of knew about when it came from a film standpoint. Eone knew the books, but maybe not everyone read the books, but you've heard of Lord of the Rigs You' heard of Tolkien. I never read the books before seeing The advertisement for these at the theater when we were a kid I remember being ten and seeing the cutout cardboards of the characters in at the theater at AMC and Wuben and Wuben showcas dad and we're like, what is that movie? That looks great and then it blew our hair back. seeeeing this movie in theaters was just Kind of like a life changing experience as a kid. And I'd never seen anything quite like it before and it's so special. It's an incredible movie, one of our top ten favorites of all time, I think. and Perfect, It it's perfect. It's the rare case a hundred million dollar movie being a masterpiece Do happen often. sureure. Yeah. It might have been the first one of its kind be like a true bon fired masterwork. That's a gigantic budget studio movie. It will never, ever get a movie like this again. We'll never get a fantasy film ever Dap this well, cast this well with the ensemble with the filmmaking so pract. It's just it's just gonna live forever in infamy it's going to be timeless forever because it's that special, but'll never no one will ever a studio will never make a movie like this again It won't ever happen. I watched this interview with the guy who played Cumodus Commodore in the Piratesate trilogy I can' remember his name the top my head. He was on a podcast. He was talking about how when they filmed pirates won Even when they were making it, they're like, it's never going to be made like this again. Be they were like they were flying the entire casting crew of like over one hundred and fifty people to the most remote parts of the Caribbean And they had they would have sixty propeller planes for all the crew to get onto to fly. They would first go on jumbo jets to a location, to a small airport where there were like forty small airplanes waiting for the entire casting crew. and then they could float to the location. And the catering had to make seven hundred meals for a crew of had seven hundred people shooting on actual ships and real explosions. likeike it was insane The logistics of it No studio would ever let it be made like that. mean same me the Lord of the Rings taking helicopters to get to the top of the mountain. Yeah N It's not happen again. It's too bad, but it's so much more than just like practicality and logistics of like movies like this won' ever happen again. And Fellowship is such a special film for all of us listening. We all know It turns twenty five this year two thousand one was also the year Spirited Away came out. which is one of the great animated films of all time. Incredible visuals and a remarkable story. It's scary but also heartwarming and tragic at the same time U It's a beautiful film. Miyazaki is one of his masterworks and It's something that I was late to the party and I watched a few years ago and I was like, it really does Liveve up to all the hype. It really is that good. It's really an exceptional piece of storytelling and one of the great animated films ever. It's cool. I hope it gets another really reallyase soon because I want to see it in theaters. When I saw Princess Mononoke in theaters last year it was so special because I remember seeing it as a kid But in theaters, was a different experience. And what's so interesting is Anthony and I, you know, we watched anime when we were kids We watched a lot of Dragonmall Z though. like specifically Dragmall Z, Dragon Ball, a little Yugio Pokemon. Pokemon for sure. We' really really into Pokemon. Big time.'re really into it. Oh my God, Gameboy. He wasn't yellow, blue, red, gold, fucking hell But then, you know, I think when we were teenagers and young adults, we kind of Stop watching and pay attention to anime. And I didn't realize until the last few years how big anime has become and how much it's survived and grown so much. I mean, just look at one piece and the popularity of that. But Spirited awayay is, I think, the purest form of what anime can be from a storytelling standpoint. It's just a special story. It's his own lord mythology and something that only he can create. and it's a very special film I adore it as well There's a film out here that it really is one of the best crime films ever. It really is, really is. It's one of the best cop films ever And it's so well crafted and that's Inton Fuquis training dayay And I am so happy for the insane amount of success Fuqua is having this year with Michael coming close to a billion dollars right now. Yeah. And he did a great job directing that he's always been an exceptional director. bounced around studio projects and then smaller stuff and then he made his franchise with Denzel with equalizer. But also man his King Arthur movies kicks out. It's a cool movie. But Trading Day was what put him on the map and it was a second film that he made And he was a young guy. I think he was twenty six when he made training day working with One of the greatest actors who ever lived And also five time nominated Ethan Haog at this point. I mean, now he's nominated, but he's so talented as well. I mean together, they they crafted really one of the best films in the crime genre. This is a movie. It's easily one of our most watched movies growing up We TV baby in the ye on TV with our brothers just on our own. I've seen this movie a lot And it's one of my most watched movies for sure And it's just a great time. likeike I love revisiting it It's because it's It's a movie that when movies are so well directed. And like he he really did a great job crafting it. It makes it more rewarding when you watch it over and over again than just watching what Denzel and Ethan do in the car. It's a really special movie. I love Training Days so much I didn't know you like to get wet but naked ain't like I held a gun to your head. It's really fantastic And again, If a studio made this movie today, theyd probably shoot a live of it on sound stages of the car interiors nextteriors. It was Yeahah, it was entirely shot on location driving around. nothing shot in a sound stage. whichich iss nothing wrong with that. You know, you look at a movie like Obsession. Every Almost every car sequence of obsession is shot on a sound stage in Burbank, actually at Cinei Pack. They shot it there. which is really interesting because it looked fantastic But They had limited resources, of course I there's something special about when you're driving around But most of those scenes are parked cars which is okay. it's set at nighttime. so they sell it really well. When you're driving around and the whole movie is depend on characterss lerally driving around Los Angeles, you need to see them driving around Los Angeles, The opening and pull fiction. We need to see them driving around L.A. And that's one of the reasons why it works is Great practical filmmaking, driving around. And there's some stunning shots in that film that Fu Ka was pulling off with his team. like the shots the crane shots like going over the train then coming back into the city streets with and driving around. great shots of really cool stuff with that film. Also like you couldn't make this movie in no l anymore You couldn' make this too expensive. You couldn't make this movie You'd have to change half the script. It would be setittting in Georgia. The student would be like, I don't know, I don't like this lines. like just let them go off, man All right, number four guys, you know the the moment when they filmed King Kong and got shit on me And how Fuquis was like, I hope we got that in focus. because I only did one take of it. Ca Denzelvise line. Yeah, because Denzel did it and then he goes to Fua. I hope he got that because that's all I'm doing Be he put like everything into it He's really good I have to admit sometimes the workload of the podcast can get overwhelming with All the recording, the editing, we go to a lot of events, travel a lot and I get burnt out quite a bit and I think that's where it's important to consider therapy and talking to somebody. And finding a therapist, it's already hard enough Eespecially when the takes are insurance and that's where Rula comes into play because other therapy platforms fall short, but Rula doesn't. They do things differently. They partner with over a hundred insurance plans, They make an average c pay of just fifty dollars fif per session It's real therapy licensed professionals at a price that really makes sense. Rule it considers your goals, your preferences background of yourself to provide you a curated list of licensed in network therapists who actually align with what you need. Go to rula. com slash Raiders to get started today. That's RuLa. com slash Raiders for quality therapy that's covered by insurance. Rula is committed to seeing you succeed in reaching your therapy goals, making sure that Their therapy providers are carefully screened and veted monitoring quality of their care and helping you monitor your progress in therapy Thousands of people are already using RulLa to get affordable. high quality therapy that's actually covered by insurance. Visit rula. com slash riders to get started after you sign up. You'll be asked how you heard about them, Please support our show and let them know we sent you. That's RuLa. com slash Riders You deserve mental health care that works with you, not against your budget Your summer weekends fill up fast, but Crocs has your back. Road trips, beach days, last minute getaways, whatever's on the agenda, swing by your local store and find your new goat too Try it, style it, make it yours. becausecause the right pair doesn't just show up It shows off Wock out ready for whatever's next. Visit your nearest crox store today This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of Doom scrolling? Smart move Another smart move Getting help from one of State Farm's nineteen thousand local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto Bundling J another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state Number four guys Let's talk about another special fantasy franchise, which is also getting another adaptation. Harry Potter in the Sorcerer's Stone or Philosopher' Stone, depending on where you live in the world I'm wearing the shirt guys. I'm wearing the shirt it. I we're in Sorre Stone's shirt. This is special, beyond spepecial. How lucky were we in two thousand one to get Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings adaptations that were both outstanding in their own rights, specific to their audiences in the best ways possible with great filmmakers behind it. Chris Columbus coming in and really creating the world of Harry Potter and setting the tone of the franchise going forward so much so that some of the sets that were in this movie and for the franchise going forward are still being used for the TV series coming up pretty soon I think its really special. H homage as well to see that. But you know, what they crafted with the practical filmmaking specifically with the first and second film I think are just So astounding It makes you wish they went more practical with the rest of the franchise going forward. I understand CGI adents so much that they could do pretty much anything But to actually see so much of the real magic happening on screen. I thought that was so impressive. But then just bring in these kid actors who, you know, Columbus had experience with kid actors before. Obviously Home Alone is one of the best Christmas movies and child performances you'll ever see in film coming and being able to do with this, this new world where people is this going to work The book series is obviously on fire. It's very popular, but the potential to see it crash and burn with a live action adaptation was always there man, they pulled it off with so much love and so much passion and reverence for the source material that It was just so magical what they were able to do and it spawned one of the most valuable and biggest IPs in the history of entertainment, probably just below Star Wars Well said, man, thanks no. he went off All right, let's talk about the out with Harry Potter Broke. Let's talk about Ron Howard and Russell Crow When he was on, one of the best acting runs ever. an actor a four year run. where Russell Crowe did the insider Gladiator Beautiful mind, two thousand one master Commander and then Cinderella Mane.ere they all nominated for best picture? I dont think Cinererellao was nominated for best picture.. That's got really good movies in a row. That it's absolutely insane U And then a beautiful mind was his first film with Ron Howard and they were a great pair. Yeah, and that's back to back best picture winners too, two thousand Glideator, Beautiful Mind two thousand one Did we wineon bestest picture?re pretty sure I did't W. Check it on your computerouble. I can't get your w. Check on your computer. I get my wife. Wh talks like? Check it on your computer What? That was such a boomer sentence. Check it on your computer. Check it out your electric device with mbard We went I saw a real boomer the other day. We went to a cafe and there was a guy one best picture. There was a guy wow, back to back best picture. This There's guy was working on a lap an old guy working on a laptop and he had another he had a keyboard. like he brought a full on keyboard with him It was in front of the laptop keyboard. I wouldn't say that's a boomer thing. Sometimes laptops don't have great keysps. like good keyboards. S. Check it on your computer. That is your That's a boomer sentence. But a beiew of mine is great And a remarkable performance. He almost won back to back best Aors. It was he was so close to like he could have absolutely won B actor for this as well U he won the year before with, um I'm glad had aroundn, think any actor has ever won back to back years, Oscars. that I know of But a beautiful mind it's a resounding performance by Russell Crow As a man who's falling victim to the mental illness he has. of schizophrenia. And Jennifer Connlly plays his wife. It's based on a true story of a real U mathematician And Paul Batney's great supporting role Um, but yeah, Ron Howard, he was also on a great run of films and biggest director in Hollywood for a time, like a bunch of great high caliber incredible films and U this was a this is a movie that like everybody saw hugely successful over a four hundred million dollars box office This is like an Operheimer kind of movie. you know, it's like no other movie. I can't think of any other movies about scientists. that have no crazy action or anything that made as much money as those two movies did. Yeah, in terms of money. I mean, yeah, other movies have gotten critical acclaim. Like theory of everythingverything was a very critically acclaimed film, but in terms of a huge box office like that It's a testament to Star powerower of. Well, Star powerower and like what movies used to be Yeah. You know, not that we don't get them, but like these are the kinds of films that people would turn out for and drove. as not just blockbusters, not just superhero films or big exciting sci fi epics. you'd still have A drama with great acting, great storytelling, getting a million people into a theater Yeah throughout the country in a couple of weeks. Yeah, you know Um So I think yeah, it's testament to what cinema used to be. notot that there's nothing It's okay, but it's just changed a lot. But man Russell Russell Russells the go my favorite. There's five actors and actressors who have actually won B backack to back Oscars. So first it hasn't happened in a while. Louise Rayner won for the greatreat Zieigfield and the goodood Earth that is nineteen thirty six to nineteen thirty seven. Spencer, Tracy did it the following year with Captain's courageous in thirty seven in Boystown in thirty eight. Catherine Hepburn did it For coming to dinner in nineteen sixty seven and the Lion in the winter nineteen sixty eight. Jason Robard did it for all the Pident's men in nineteen seenty six and then Julia in seventy seven. and Tom Hayigs did it most recently, the last person to do backack to backack Oscar wins for acting. He won for Philadelphia in nineteen ninety three and Forst Cump in nineteen ninety fouram crazy. No no one's done it since then. It's been overthowed. that might be the hardest thing to do is I don't think it could ever happen again because the way I think the way people vote these days, they try to be a bit more equitable in terms of, oh, they won more recently. I'm going to try I'm going to vote for somebody else. I think that's the way voting voters act nowadays. And if Leo can can't do it. Yeah, exactly. If Leo can't do it, it ain't ever going to happen again Let's get back to our list though Let's talk about some more bangers that turn twenty five this year, Donnie Darko Still a top thirty favorite movie of mine. It's in there. It always will be And it's just such a great coming of age story that is fused with a great science fiction. Originality and story of this precocious kid who's going through a lot. is also embroiled in a time travel scenario and it's just paper, it sounds crazy But man, the tone is captured so well in this film, prodroduced by Drew Berrymore, actually who funded this movie. It's I think, an astounding performance from a prettyon Jake Jill, I think he was like nineteen years old when he was in this movie It's so memorable, timeless I love the soundtrack for this movie. It's so amazing and so eighties And it's anytime you want to feel the eighties nostalgist put on the soundtrack to this film. It's just shot really well and filmed really well. It's a very clever script and story and really impressive, I think, from Jake. And it's a movie that proves that you don't have to explain everything to an audience because the mystery in the And uh The puzzle of the movie is what attracted us to it You know, we were kids when it came out and the word of mouth for this movie was insane This is a highly rented movie big time. Huge DVD sales, huge rental sales at bllockbuster and whatever rental stores you used. Like this is a movie that like everybody was trying to like understand it And like another movie on this list that we'll talk about in a little bit, it doesn't sppoon forree the audience anything It just shows you what's happening and then the audience kind of has to try to figure it out. So I think that those kinds of movies really reward rewatches where you watch it again. you keep watching it to just try to figure out like what's going on with this? Let me watch it again. L it it makes you want to watch it. It's okay if you don't figure it out either. We did a whole episode breaking it down But we had heavily researched. Yeah we researched the fuck out of it. Even in our after seeing it, it does I knew was I knew like what the story was, but like when it comes to the the words in the verb isore like we had to research stuff like that, but I knew obviously he travels back in time That was always clear to me after several watches, not the first couple of watches. the first couple of watches as a kid, I was like, what the fuck is going on but this is a cool movie. Yeah. rem I remember being a kid seeing like the wormholes coming out of his chest when he's at that house party and I'm just like, What the fuck is going on? What is this? Great movie. I love it. Also Shrek Came out two thousand one and won the first Oscar ever for animated film the new category that year And Shrek is It was a groundbreaking storytelling device in terms of taking all of these famous stories and putting them into one mashing them together But having the lead not be any of those famous stories we know and having it be an ogre. and crafting its own fairy tale story within that the framework of it h I love this is this is all it's like a spoof movie of Very kindind of yeah. And I think that's why it works so well. It has a lot of fun with it It kind of poed tongue it cheekin away And then Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers together comomedy gold. Cameron Diaz is great Um, and then this is this is the early days still early days of CGI animation U it's it's an iconic film in You know, smash mouth top of the charts. Shrek top of the charts What what what a year What a coab. And so this was from DreamWorks. and at the time when they were animating both this and the Prince of Egypt, if animators were underperforming on Prince of Egypt, they would be punished and sent to work on Shrek. Wh they were making that because Shrek, you know, From an animation standpoint Very simple. you know, it's early CGI and they didn't have a ton of resources. So a lot of the background A lot of the the skies simple very simple, lot of grays, a lot of castle wall backgrounds that players are suicent to do Yeah but it just justifies and shows you that great storytelling is all you really need You know, the visuals aren't blowing you away, The backgrounds aren't blowing you away. It's not constant amazing animation in your face. But But it started out originally envisioned as a very creative gothic story. Yeah from the first test animation and then they went back to the drawing board and made it simple and family friendly. And what can we afford to at this rate? What can we afford with our budget? So If you have a great story That's all you need really at the end of the day U another great story I guess you know, when we were just talking about Darie Dark, that movie kind of reminds me of David Lynch's movies in a way in terms of his storytelling in terms of, you don't always have to understand what's going on. And sometimes I mean, Mahoand Drive is still a movie that's like is going on? It's a great film Crazy opening And just getting to that third act is just leaves you with a case of the headadfucks, like a lot of Davaveid Lynch movies do, but I think this movie iss really well made Very much ahead of his time. David Lynch always was ahead of his time, whether it's adapting to digital filmmaking very early on in his career, shooting entire movies with early HD video camcorders and video cameras Um Molland drive though I think is One of his better films, if not his best movie I think Naomi's fantastic in this movie. playing a very meta version of an actress in a way. so sort of mayaybe a self reflection on her career in different ways that I'm sure she related to I think it's really interesting Not everyone gets David Lynch movies, but He's such a unique voice that you have to talk about him The ro is great in it too. It's a cool movie man All right, let's talk about legally blonde because I watched it. Let's go from Mahalan drive to legally blonde to sorry. No no, there's no fuckking. Who cares Wh gives a fuck bid? It's whatever. It's our podcast. We can do whatever we want You got to Harvard Law, Like it's hard Like it's hard. I't I don't think I'd ever seen this movie before. You've never seen legally blond. I've watched it. We watched it last night I didn't recognize most of the scen I'd seen clips in like. How you never seen it. It's great. It was really good. It's delightful. It was funny as hell. It was swip smart It was tight ninety minute movie. Yeah. and it flies by. He's amazing. Yeah. Renee I mean Not Renee Allwg. Fucking what Wh Rese Weitherspoon? I mean, really when you think of like star making performances, it's absolutely a star making performance. and see why She's so in it as an actor and she's locked in and she's just a completely different person. Even I think that we forget that sometimes when it's comedy We forget how good the acting is But she's amazing in this film. And it was really smart and really funny, but Clever s great cast, S some of Blaairres in it Um as like the the rival lawyer who's now dating her ex fiance, her ex boyfriend. Um, Luke Wilson Isn't this as the co councsel and It's just a really good movie and It's a fun story. Ali Larder is in it' a great cast of like people in the late nineties, early two thousands. But was I was really surprised by how in it I was, how invested I was in her. Like I really want her to succeed And she also like someone who seems like She She plays against all the stereotypes of what being like a blonde is. even though she is, you know a pretty and pink blonde, she's actually highly intelligent. But they the filmmaking does a great job of showing, not telling, has a great intro of her getting ready her like her morning routine and it tells you everything you know about the character. Jennifer Coolidge is great in this film. She's so funny U I had a I had a blast with it well made All the cast is great and it was a really fun time and Like a kind of perfect nineties com perfect comedy nineties ninety minute comedy It's just like they knocked out of the park. It was great the show is going to be nothing like this. No, it's they're never going to be able to capture this. especially, you know, I think when an actor or an actress really makes a unique character that never existed before really and just turns out this incredible performance that they'll forever be synonymous with it. You know, I think like Johnny Depp is Jack Sparrow is a similar situation. You can't recapture that. I'm sorry. you can't, you can't remake pirates. You can't remake legally blonde because L driver, I mean I E Wood E Woods is so unique to what She created And she's so hilarious and you've never seen a character like that before and she perfected it and became a star with this role I don't want to see someone else do an interpretation or do an impression of L in a prequel series. Also, the people look like people. Yeah, they look like They're not all models They all look every person in this and I'm talking about all the actresses, very unique from each other. None of them have the same face. None of them have the same lips. They all have very unique features and I was like, oh my go, this is what people look like. And my girlfriend asked me, she's like, why don't they Why don't they like movies like this anymore Like why is the she's like, whyy don't they make movies look like this anymore It was another just another piece of evidence and this movie is so simply shot. Yeah. It's nothing like there's nothing crazyot the film Yeah bright lights. Yeah real location. People like the way this looks. They like the way films used to look and they don't look like this anymore. And I was just like, it's all lighting's not this is ansc winning movie. Yeah. It's a fun comedy. Yeah. looks better than ninety percent of the movies that come out today. Like this ninety percent. like on this list, it's one of the least impressive visually looking films But still, even she was like, this looks better than all the movies that we watch right now, one hundred percent. And I was like, this is just the way they were made Animation is the same way in a lot of ways. We get great spectacle and so many advancements, but when it comes to storytelling, I think that's what's lacking lately. Msterss Inc was such a huge hit for Pixar in two thousand one It's a very special story. It's simple. It's something that every kid can relate to in terms of the monster under the bed, the monster in the closet But it's told with such passassion and so much fun Explore what are the monsters like? And I loved the Monsters Inc when it came out. Still a top five Pixar movie for me. It's still that special of a story. Mike Wazelski Solely Icons really giving strength to the formula at Pixar where you have two leads bouncing off each other the whole time. you throwing some mixes in with some other characters, but you follow those two buddy cop adventure basically and it always works, you know, finding Nemo same kind of format. And Mike and Sully were so different and so fun together. The chemistry of those characters worked so well. The obstacles in this film are terrific. It's so funny been silly I adore this movie. I really do. And I really do think it's one of the most brilliant concepts in animated movies. It is a concept that The monsters are, it's an industry in a different world. Yeah. Doors are portals to a different dimension. like Narnia. It's such a brilliant concept. I loved it All right, let's talk about the other mind fuck movie of two thousand one and that's Memento. Christopher Nolan in the second film Oscar nominee for screenplay The film we all know toold in reverse order In forwards order in forwards order at the same time. I mean, what more can we say about this film? We've talked about it a lot It's a film that it's so good that even when we were young, we were just like curious about it and loved watching it and had that cool DVD puzzle to open the main menu and Yeahah, we had the DVD case that was medical file. Yeah, it was the case file for for Leonard And it's really what a what a great splash onto the Hollywood scene. Nolan made with this and it got him the job for to do insomnia which was a mid to mid budget film from Warner Brosers, forty million dollars budget and then With the success of insomnia, Warner Bothers led him take on Batman And so but Mento started it all his second film. five five million dollars budget and he really used the hell of it. It's a great movie. Easily one of the best films of the year. Los Angeles movie, shot on locations, shot inside cars moving Yeah. shot in real places, lit so well, black and white as well as color storytelling, telling the reverse and Fords order. too put you in Leonard's mind. I love that film. great He's playing with time. P a of time always, always will Oh man, let's have some fun. It's only right that you say this one. Yeah, alough I Before we get to it though, I want to talk about our great friends who sponsor our show movieposters. com In case you don't know, they're a great company based in Toronto, Canada, and they sent this great amazing Minority report poster. This is double sided. It's inside of a light box right now. so light pouring through it makes double sided posters look stunning. You'll see that in movie theaters. You can get both of these the light box as well at movieposters. com they have millions of prints every kind of poster or TV show you could ever imagine, whether it's classics, new releases, superhero movies, action movies, they got everything Go there right now, moviepostes. com. We have a code with the company. Check out use Raiders ten It's one word Raad' tenent to check out. You' get ten percent if you order plus There's an affiliate link in the episode description of this podcast. You click that link. It gets us a cut to the action. lets the website know you got there because of us by helping our sponsors, you help us directly. movieposters. com go there today. Now I want to talk about One of my favorite franchises honestly. I love these movies. The first one came out in two thousand one. This movie is twenty five years old, reallyally hot ensemble cast, really talented people here. withith Oceans eleven Oh my God, I love these movies from Stehven Soderberg. And the first one really was just so refreshing for a heist movie because the nineties had great heist movies, great crrye movies, but oceans really brought a lightness to it. With great actors, just having a good time, it felt like The pacing is outrageously good. The music is excellent and electric and the editing is sensational. Sordberg is so creative with what he does this film. He's basically like throwing the kitchen sink at like what can I do? whether it's these interesting transitions and wipes dissolves sometimes different split screen elements, just having a ton of fun, the inserts, the character developments all great. Every character is really well thought out and really well acted I mean, you got Cooney, you got Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheetle, Bernie Mac. The list goes on and on. You have young Casey Affleck in this movie. Scott Ken I love this movie so much suchuch a fine fun time. Julie Roberts too att the height of her powers as a superstar coming in for a fun role as well I adore oceans Yeah, there's some great I've watched some great interviews at Soderberg and he said that The way he figured out that the pacing of the film was he would end a scene with a question, and a character would ask a question And then he would provide the answer with the next scene. That's a good point. Yeah That's how he edited the film with its pacing. He was like That's how we kept it going along. So If you watch this movie, A lot of scenes end with someone asking something. And then we see the answer in the next scene. And then also u He wass trying They were trying to figure out how to cast the film and they were at first thinking about, you know, we obviously need a couple of stars, but most, but they were like the rest of the cast. It's not really going to work if nobody knows who the actors are. so they realize the only way to pull off the big ensemble As if most of the actors were already very famous people that audiences knew because then it would be easier for them to take in fourteen new characters within twenty minutes, which the movie does a brilliant job It's like if you if anyone's worried about balancing characters, watch Oceans, the way Sodderberg introduces the cast, shows you who they all are within the first act. And you're right up to speed with everybody. And it's a huge cast, but they do it he does it beautifully and effortlessly. Seamless. Yeah. It's an awesome movie. And it's twisty too. It's got a good twist ending. Yeah Alfazo Cuaron came intoo the scene with a big in a big way with Itu Mama Tombien One of the great films in his career and S such a great, great movie. brereakout performances from Gail Garcia Bernan. And then Diegaluna One of the best Road movies. It's so funny Great comoming of age film It's got a lot of humor. but also a lot of tragedy and heart to it as well. And it's sexy It's hilarious. It's visually stunning Emmanuel L Lubeski's great handheld camera work I love the characters, I love the setting in the world and even though it is a fun comedy Alfonso Coram does infuse it with a like a lot of present themes like discrimination, like the social hierarchy of Mexico of its day It's a great film. so so perfect and it's really one of the best films of the year Yeah, it's brilliant storytelling because you know, we're following these characters on this exciting journey, but the backdrop of everything in the social inequities of the country are all the background until like the finale really. I think it's Wonderful movie. It's so funny. it's so raunchy and funny. It T ton of fun. Let's talk about Really Scott. A year after Glady comes out, he drops one of the best war movies of the century, Hs down with Black Hawk downown with a crazy big cast. Josh Hartnet, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sismore, Eric Banner, William Fitcher, Ewan Brenner, Sam Shepherard freaking Hugh danies in this Tom Hardy in Grufford. Jeremy Pivven Like what Isaac, What a crazy huge cast in this film. Orlando Bloom. K, what did in two thousands he had? This movie is excellent, so well made. Tperows int it L a lot of characters It's about Soldiers in Mogadishu fighting Somalia forces down there that have to capture a couple of top lieutenants, but They found themselves trapped in a desperate firefight. Um, a couple black Hawk helicopters go down It's so visceral And It feels a lot kind of like a Pony's style in a lot of ways with the editing and the speed and the how quickly the movie moves. Um I think the movie' outstanding. Yeah It's really at his prime at his peak Height of his powers is an action filmmaker, huge spectacle Pretty much all practical filmaking, man. This movie's out sing. Its brutal movie..'s brutal mov B hit Really big hit Next up. Torial T tenon Bombs, West Anderson coming on the scene. withith this third film Huge ensemble cast U Led by Ge Hackman, Ben Stiller O Wilson, Angelica Houston. Paltr A lot of like very, very big names from the past and now the present I love the ensemble. It by far the biggest movie he had made up to that point And he I love him working with the Wilsons. There's just something about the Wilsons being in his movies that just just feels right. He had enough budget to use a lot of great music in this film U especially a great roolling stones pin drop and you'll drop And I love the characters. They're also specific Dy glovers great in this But it really is like this is one of the movies where it's like Wes Anderson's a great character writer And everybody's so unique and and eclectic and And the complexity of the narrative. It's just a great story and he was really honing in on his style in this film. You could really see it coming out And then was his next film. It really showcased that with life Aquatic Real ten of bomps is great Real Ter Mums is great Let's talk about Oh man, such a fun movie. I haven't seen this movie in a long, long time A knight's tale A couple years after ten thingsings I hate about you, Heath Ledger is a star And a Kight's Tale, I think was a great vehicle for him to showcase himself as a leading man in Hollywood. because The guy was like twenty years old when he made this movie. W. But he has the charisma in the conference and ull of a seasoned veterans megastar. He's that good. He's a rock star in this movie. Peasant born. Medieval guy trying to prove his worth. It's very much like Um Night this seaking in terms of like entering a jousting tournament. when we first saw the trailer for that, I was like, feels like Knight's taail. Yeah. ye. but a much lighter version of it. sort of this great character. It's a blend of like his Casanova mix it with like a medieval tone He's so good. Yeah. He's He was such a star Died when he was twenty eight years old two thousand one he's in a Kight's tale Man, this guy would be the biggest actor alive, I think if he was still with us and still working. imagine the movies he would have made. He was this special, this young. eighteen years of movies. Outstanding. Yeah, eighteen years of acting careers. Imagine what he would have done. His two thousands were just ridiculous, you know, and passing away in two thousand eight when the dark Night was coming out. But I mean In this in two thousand one. bunch of other great roles and then broke back Mount in two thousand five five. Well,, well, let's segue into Msters ball. Yeah. He his other his other great role When we talk about range, it's a completely different fucking character In M monster's Ball, he plays the son of Billy Bob Dorton. They both work in a corrections facility. and they in this film is about executions Um, and Heath Ledgerers struggling with the job Billy Bob's been doing the job for a long time And in the film opens with them leading inmate to his execution in Ledger's character breaks down and vomits in the bathroom. He can't handle the pressure of the job and in the pressure of being Billy Bob's son Um It's a very dark role he ends up taking his life in the film. Um And then Billy Bobs carar dressa He's dealing with the grief of that and He's beginning a rel a friendship and a relationship with Halleie Berry's character, who's was married to the guy who was executed in the opening of the film, if you remember U so he's like, it's a very strange relationship. He kind of feels guilty because he was the executioner But he was like doing his job It's a really powerful film It's a it's a really great Um smallall indie drama Hally Barry won the Oscar for this film. We were way too young to watch this movie, by the way We saw it. I remember it. You know the scene what I'm talking about I remember seeing that as a kid. I was like this is all right. because we're watching this. C we watch it with a momom? Yeah, I think so. yeah, I think so. But it's a great film, great acting all around in guy who made What's his fucking name? He made World War Z. He made Quantum of Solis that director. This was his breakout film H name Mark F Forster, Mark Forster. Yeah. It's a great movie. I forgot how dark it was, V veryy dark movie Let's talk about another mind fuck from two thousand one that's turned twenty five years old I like to think of this as sort of the science fiction version of the game Vanilla Sky from Cameron Crow starring Tom Cruise. A movie that O reewatches gets better and better But it's very much like the game because it's twisty kind of don't always know what's going on It's playing with you, It's toying with the audience as much as the main character And Tom plays a guy who has everything could ever want. He's got wealth. He's got a great job But he's also in love with this girl veryfatuated with this woman in the film. I guess in a horrible car accidents And someone who is very superficial But a good person, you know, deep down now has a disformed face from the accident and wears a mask to hide himself in the fear of exposing himself it gets into much trippier territory when weird things around him start to happen And that's why I like to compare it to the game because it's like he's in a world that he's got no control over And the loss of control is one of the main motifs of the film and accepting faate is the only way to keep moving forward. I won't spoil what the movie is really about because I'm sure a lot people haven't seen it but it's one of those movies that even though if you've seen it, you think back on yeah, remember the movieies really good but I don't really remember what it's about because it's a pretty trippy concept, but it's a really great movie And I even like the game because someoneps jumps off a go Yeah. Yeah Spoilers It's fucking twenty five year old aliens. I'm just kidding. I'm saying what happened Next up in the trailer. probablyably the it's the second best film of the year. in my opinion,'s the piano teacher from Michael Hannekey, onlyn behind Lord of the Rings. 'cause I're to say the fastest f is And Piano Teacher is one of my favorite movies. It's a movie that When I watched it, I was like, this is a different kind of filmmaking, this is a different kind of movie And it's something that really is like in my opinion, one of the pillars of international cinema. of the modern era Michael Hanneckke being really one of the great directors of all time And this being one of his crowning achievements and Isabele Hubert him I would say the Possibly the best performance of the century behind AA Lewis and there will be B blood Really remarkable. It's one of the most interesting characters I've still ever seen on screen the the writing and the The creation of his character is so unique who she is two sides to her It's just an unbelievable movie. very complex Hankey movies are always exploring really Um compleplex themes and complicated themes, but also uncharted territories that nobody else really explores what it seems And movies are about in What the situations are. Theres still nobody that comes up with these He's one of a kind. But I love the piano teacher. if you haven't seen it Go watch it. It's awesome. It's playing at the Aerow Theater very soon Is it really hh? Very cool Let's talk about One of the coolest racing movies We've ever seen That has just been milked to oblivion Fast and the Furious. The first movie is fucking great. It really is. Really good. It is so fun So unique. The franchise always worked best in small scale, just boosting cars in parts in drag racing Hot chicks. What happened and what's happening muscles and really attractive ladies. And what it's become now is just pretty ridiculous But man, this first movie, it has the style. It has the culture It has Pizazazz doesnesn't quite have the family yet. Family' bit there not quite the cook out bro. Yeah, but it's not like they're not like saying family constantly. Yeah. But it's still a part of the story. Yeah. The characters were so much better The smaller scale stakes are just what made the movies special And I love this film. Paul Walker, Vin Diesel suchuch great leads Pposing forces, but also friends at the same time. great chemistry. It's a solid script But overall man, it's just such a good time and it's so good that it sparked Nine other movies that just took it to the point where they destroyed Rome in the last one with a giant rolling ball So what's happened to the franchise? whoo the fuck knows, but man, the OG is they make a lot of money is the best one hands down. And Universal, it's really a landmark for Universal for IP now. They have they just built the new coaster. It's coming outon studios comes out this summer in June And it's crazy like at the park, it's part of the coaster goes over the escalators when you go to the second part of the park. C can't wait to go on it. It' be like people will be going down the coasters and the ride will be like people will be flying above their heads. It's crazy This summer serve up the cookout cllassics, Heinz Ketchup and Kraft singles. Every good burger needs a layer of perfectly melty cheese and thick rich ketchup. We all know it's not a cookout without Heinz and Kraft Introducing Taco Bell's new jalapeno citrus salsa with bright citrus, real red jalapenos, guailo chiles. Usually, you add sauce to the food, but when the sauce is this good, the food is just there to get the sauce to your mouth. That rolled quesadilla, not a rolled quesadilla anymore Now it's a sauce shovel. Taco Bell'salapeno citrus salsa. Get it with any item on the Cantina chicken menu. while it's here. They participate in U.S Taco Bell locations for a limited time only while supplies last, contact store for availability Next up, we have Ali from Michael Mann. A lot of great directors made movie this year And this is Will Smith playing Muhammad Ali u telling the story of the acclaimed storied boxer his ups and downs his turbulent past and and his glory in the ring But also he had he had some really contontroversial moments with the press, with the government But it's a remarkable story. Welcome in JB Fox is great in this. Incredible cast. I've really liked this And Will Smith was the guy to play Ollie We got to get a crazy comedy up in here. Yes. And I think I think I both agree. One of the best comedies of the century That was so fun. and one of a kind. W Zoolander in two thousand one, which turns twenty five this year What what a fucking character. Y. Derek Zoolander. the amount of times we quoted this film growing up with our friends in school, I'm sure many of you listening did as well. Still to this day. if some of you didn't grow up in with these in your life, like if you're like born in the two thousands or Gen Z, Zoolander was the comedy for three years, but it still lived on for an infamy when it came to quoting with your friends and just revisits and rewatches. It's classic So many great one liners. Will Ferrell obviously with great character Bugatu here, but Ben Stiller really A comedic genius of his era You know, the two thousands, he owned. he owned the two thousands. He was the guy in so many ways with so many films Zulander is probably the peak of his powers, I think when it comes to making a character. And then the combo of him and O Wilson is just great. Yeah, so good. It's just too fun, too silly. It's a perfect it's aged in time perfectly for two thousand one with like the tech in the movie. and so it's just like kind of an artifact from that world. Yeah. I love it so much. They're break dense fighting You have twelve A hundred messages. S seemems bit above average That's so good It's so we still quote it. It's a ridiculous You asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted what I wanted for coffee and I said orange mochca Frappuccino. Orange mooca, Frappuccino. He's a male motto who's been brainwashed to assassinate a political leader. It's great. Yeah, the prrime Minister of Micronesia. Yeah Malaysia. I know. E what he calls it micronasia. That's what I would was. What is this? A center for Etsy Prime Mister. He's supposed to be brainwashed kill the president of microronesia You Han So hot right now. I the whole movie you're quoting right now. All right, next up, number twenty three Anne Hathaway became a star with the prrincess Diaries Unbelievable. Huge role She's just an average girl with glasses in a ponytail. Jie Briggs, Gasses in a ponytail. Anyone but Jadie Briggs. She's like walking right past them. Oh my God. In this film, Anne plays glasses and ponytail girl who finds out that she's actually royalty and a princess And then Julie Christie plays the quQeen You must turn her into a royal And it's a really good movie. It is. It's solid. I remember seeing it theaters really liking it. It's sweet, it's funny, greatreat coming of age U An Hathaway really one of the stars of our time This is her big, big breakout She has she can do kind of pretty much anything in and She has six F movies this year. Anne Hathaay' in five movies. Five movies coming out this year Holy crap. Well so she's in Mother Mary. Yeah. She's in the Odyssey Y. She's in Deil Wears Prada She's in Fowervillle Street whichich is now the whatever that's coming out this year. That's right right. And then she remo And then she's in something else She's she is the biggest year of like any actor, I think That's insane, crazy. Shesing Hadson Zendea, Ze is a big year. I think Zende is in five projects this year When you count in euphoria That's crazy All right, next up I want to I know that there's like three spots left You' only twenty five. I know, but I think you forgot a really good internet. Okay. I think ' you put put it in. 'use you did the piano teacher. Yes. I think we should talk about Amily I think Oa is fantastic Auddreita to start making performance for her to Um It's so whimsical and so unique and colorful I really adore this film. It's like a fairy tale but grounded in a lot of ways. sort of about this woman who wants to be a matchmate. She's like a cupid character in a lot of ways. She wants to have other people fall in love because she finds she finds love to be silly. She's like Emma. Yeah, kind of. She finds love to be silly, notot exactly for her, but since she can't find love She wants other people to experience it. and she tries to connect people in her life and be this sort of cupid matchmaker. I love the filmmaking and the fairytale quality of it. The music is sensational. It's very much, I think five hundred Days of summer was very much inspired by this film in terms of the comedic tone and the sarcasm and sarcasm and the dry humor, which is really effective But then you have fantastical elements as well like Finders Days the Summer did as well But it's also a story about finding love yourself. and sort of creating in a way tryrying to create fate for other people and sort of like pulling the strings Fate inevitably will find you as well. And I think it's a really beautiful story. Gl glad you put it on. Yeah, thanks We got to talk about Laara Craft Tomb Rider, man.. Is this the last one? There's one more after this This is twenty four. Well, no, I think this is oh, this is the last one. the last one. We can't, we can't say anymore. Well, because it's like between these two, I think. Yeah, come on. Yeah. I know. I know writer. I know, I know, I know I know This is last one on the legs of the last day. we can't talk about it anymore. Yeah right. We're cutting off. We're doing Tomb Raider because Tomb Raider did it right videoide gameaptation. V videoo game appaptation done right I kind of character done right There's, you know, this is not an origin story Hollywood still still to this day. This summer, addicted to origin stories. They're addicted to it. They never work. They sometimes S they did. They've worked a couple of d used to work. A few times they've worked. But guys Larn Croock Tom Raider, Blueprint openping seene Laar Croft is already toomb raaider. She's already Lar Croft. She's already got the gun. We does end the story Like it was perfect. It was well done And good luck to Sophie Turner good actor We'll see how that turns out They really just they cast this movie perfectly Angela and Jolie you can't do any better than that for this character. And they seem to make this with a lot of love for the game. A lot of respect for the fans and they gave they gave us what we wanted We played this game on PS on PlayStation We loved it We love the exploration, we love Laa Croft We love the gun shoot, gunfire And then what they did with this movie was like, it's not a perfect movie, but in terms of what it is and what it represented and and adapting the game It g audiences really got what they wanted and it was Really good D your craigs in it Um fucking that guy who's always a villain in movies is the villain in this his fucking name Ian Glen not is it England Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ian Glen. Yeah. Yeahah,' right. ye o Okay, He's not always bad guys It's a fun time man this is there's a good time. It's crazy because it doesn't have great reviews, but when you look back on it, if you revisit it, you're going to be like, wow, we used to get adaptations this good because it's it's Fucking awesome for what it was compared to what we get. What's theaw Tomatoes audience? twenty one percent critic score, audience score in Rwwn Tomatoes. is forty seven. But It's better than that. But a lot of those were better from like from fifteen years ago. It's better than when Ron Tomatoes launched. It was good. It was good I don't think we I don't think we understood how good we had it. Yeah It's not a perfect movie, but you're right. The way they adapted it That's the that's how you do it. Yeah. That's why unchart didn't work Do doesn't get the gunntill the end of the mov The Indiana Jones bllueprint. He's Indiana Jones from day one, scene one. The characters already fully. I don't give a fuck how we got there. All that matters sick there. I'm sick of origin story. So. There's a movie coming out, a big movie coming out and it's another origin story another one. they can't help it. Yeah. But the original He opens up as the character. I won't say where it is. I think we all know it's Master of the univer In the Uniriginal Master of Universe Dolph Lundraund is already man already.'s already Adam. Hean You can't help it, man. J just make the character the character right fucking away. It's not that hard guys Fucking hell. Oh, wow, we got really passionate.ike, Don't you want the movie to be about the character The more scenes with the outfit, the more scenes with him with them as the character, it benefits your movie. Don't you think? Yeah. Instead of them being something else and then finally becoming the character in the end of the movie. It worked well because they were doing it well for a while. You know Batman begins, good Origin story. Man of Steel, good origin story. I think they were effective. Ironman, good Origin story But man, it's too they they lost their their sauce. I Yeah, but those They're not They become the icon halfway into the move pretty quickly or at the end of the first act. Yeah. You know, Ironan, he's Ironman fucking midway through halfway point. The midpoint is his first outing as Ironman He's not if they structured it the way they structured uncharted and Master of Universse in a bunch of the last ten years He wouldn't have had the Iron Manu until the end of the movie. Yeah Batman the same thing. He's Batman at the midpoint Same thing So yes, it's an origin story, but They under the directors understood They need to be the character pretty quickly pretty soon. We're not at the end of the fucking movie Beause it's still an hour of Irman stuff. There's an hour of Batman stuff in that way Yeah Oh yeah. moreore then Oh boya. Oh boya Go off, king, go off. man ucking tired Origins. Fucking origins and they don't come the character until the last ten minutes of the movie. Hershey's, origins. That's an actual movie Um, that was fun. yeah, it's um It's like happappy birthday to all these films. It was a great year