From the Newsroom: Athens Banner Herald

Cinema File: Betty Gilpin is delightfully weird in "The Hunt"

Following a controversy that held up its release last year, Craig Zobel's "The Hunt" came out just in time before American theatres closed due to a worldwide pandemic. In this podcast, Andrew (who paid $19.99 to rent it a week later) speaks to Ohio-based filmmaker Henrique Couto (who saw it on the big screen opening weekend) about what is currently the Last Movie Standing. NOTE: This discussion contains spoilers about "the Hunt."

Cinema File: Keeping your heart open while theatres are closed

How are movie-goers coping without being able to go to the movies? It's a question no one in over a century has had to ask, but we need to come up with an answer. In this episode, Andrew offers a few suggestions.

Cinema File: "Onward" might be my new favorite Pixar movie

Pixar's latest movie might not be their biggest hit (or most well-received), but could it be their best? Andrew makes the case for "Onward" from his car (appropriately) after seeing it. 

Cinema File: "Braindead" Audio Commentary (Episode 500)

For the 500th episode of the Cinema File Podcast (est. 2009), Andrew took a social media poll asking which notoriously yucky film the listeners would like him to do a reaction commentary for, and Peter Jackson's 1992 gorefest "Braindead" (aka "Dead Alive) won. This is the 98-ish minute cut of the film.

Cinema File: Oscar Picks and Predictions for 2020

Former Blockbuster Video co-workers Andrew and Sam give their respective picks and predictions for the 2020 Academy Awards as well as reviews for several new movies including GRETEL & HANSEL, DOLITTLE, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, 1917, LITTLE WOMEN, JAY & SILENT BOB REBOOT and more.

Cinema File: Sorority scream queens face off in "Delta Delta Die!"

In the Cinema File's ongoing CultCore podcast series created by Kate Owens, the 2003 Shadow Entertainment release starring Julie Strain and Brinke Stevens is discussed as an under-appreciated team-up of sorts between two of the hardest-working icons in B-movie history.

Cinema File: "Underwater" has lots of heart (and underwear)

By taking steps to make audiences think it's just some "Alien" ripoff, "Underwater" tricks us into caring about its characters by showing how much they care for each other, but doesn't forget an iconic aspect of the sci-fi horror classic that often gets overlooked.

Cinema File: The best of 2019 and what looks good in 2020

Former Blockbuster Video co-workers Andrew and Sam give their personal top 10 lists for 2019 and look ahead at movies they're most excited about for 2020.

Cinema File: A guide to enjoying "Cats" (completely sober)

I've been a professional film critic for over a decade and I completely enjoyed "Cats". Here's my handy guide to how that was possible, and a few suggestions on how this modern cinematic miracle can happen to you.

Cinema File: I saw "Home Alone" for the first time

As the card said in "Love Actually," at Christmas you tell the truth. And the truth is I just saw "Home Alone" parts 1 and 2 for the first time just a few weeks ago courtesy of my concerned friend Henrique. How does a 10-year veteran film critic react? Find out here.

Cinema File: "Final Destination" parts 1 and 2

For the final month of the final year of the decade, Texas-based filmmaker Tiffany Warren joins Andrew for a look back at what he considers to be the most consistent horror movie franchise of all time: FINAL DESTINATION. This episode covers the first 2 movies in the series, but plans are in the works to do the 3 others.

Cinema File: The 10 Best Family Movies of the Decade

Andrew and Jill became family movie experts during the 2010s after becoming parents in the early years of the decade. In this episode, they give their respective top 10 lists for the best stuff they saw (and whether or not kids' movies were better when they were growing up).

Cinema File: Best horror movies of the decade (with Amy Paonessa)

Amy Paonessa from The Bloodlust podcast joins Andrew in selecting the top 10 horror movies of the decade (2009-2019) and naming the most overrated.

Cinema File: Dan Ewen and the 14-year journey of "Playing With Fire"

Screenwriter Dan Ewen details why it took 14 years for the hit family comedy "Playing With Fire" to get made, the mechanics of finding the funny, and his plans for a reboot of the "Ernest" franchise.

Cinema File: Henrique Couto talks "Boggy Creek: The Series"

After years of secrecy, "Boggy Creek: The Series" premiered on Amazon Prime to rave reviews, but also to the great relief of Ohio-based director Henrique Couto, who was hired by one of his b-movie heroes, Fred Olen Ray, to helm each episode. In this conversation, Couto goes in depth about how the whole thing happened, and his plans to make 3 sequels to his 2013 cult slasher favorite "Babysitter Massacre."

Ex-Deputy's 911 Calls Released

Cinema File: Why everyone is flipping out about "Parasite"

Andrew and Sam review a ton of new movies in this episode including PARASITE, THE LIGHTHOUSE, PLAYING WITH FIRE, SWEETHEART and many more. Follow Andrew on Instagram @cinemandrew and read his movie stuff each week at www.onlineathens.com

Kimberly Miller Game Day FLA/GA Weather Forecast with Gatehouse Florida Weather Reporter

Kimberly Miller gives a weather forecast for Jacksonville, FL for Sat. Nov 2nd, leading up to the Florida Georgia Rivalry Football Game

Cinema File: What would you give for a basket of 'The Bad Seed'?

One of the biggest hits of 1956 was "The Bad Seed," a movie about a little girl with blonde pigtails, a loving family, and blood on her tap shoes. Andrew and Xtina take a look at the horror classic and why it still gets a medal from us over 60 years later. (This podcast contains samples of the score by the Warner Bros. Orchestra)

Cinema File: Put ya weight on it! "Dolemite Is My Name" reaction

Nobody could have predicted that Eddie Murphy's return to R-rated movies after a 20-year absence would be as the producer and star of a Rudy Ray Moore biopic, but "Dolemite Is My Name" exists, surreal as that may be. This is a recording of OnlineAthens staff writer (and Dolemite fan) Andrew Shearer's reaction after leaving an advance screening of the film. Opens Friday at Athens Cine and nationwide on Netflix.

Cinema File: Getting a grip on '90s teen horror comedy "Idle Hands"

Recently named one of the 10 worst teen horror movies of the '90s, "Idle Hands" suffered at the box office due to the timing of its release with one of America's most unforgettable tragedies and. Is it a true cult classic, or does the blend of horror and comedy just not work as well as in other, more beloved genre films?

Cinema File: Interview with filmmaker Tiffany Warren (Dallas, TX)

Dallas, TX-based filmmaker Tiffany Warren is an outspoken voice to be listened to and a creative force to be reckoned with. From her roots as a "one woman crew" in the early 2000s microcinema scene to auteur and recognized authority among female horror directors, Tiffany's unique experience and specific point of view set her apart from her peers. In this candid interview, she outlines the progress she has made and the ways the film business could stand to do the same.

Cinema File: Mark Kendall ("The Magic Negro and Other Blackness")

Atlanta-based comedian Mark Kendall brings his hit one-man show "The Magic Negro and Other Blackness" to the Moonlight Theater in Athens on Oct. 10-11 and his new show "Diversity Now" will follow it on Oct. 12-13 at the Moonlight. In this interview, Mark talks to OnlineAthens staff writer Andrew Shearer about how Spike Lee was one of his earliest influences, and the different ways audiences have responded to his own material over time. Visit moonlighttheatercompany.com for tickets.

Cinema File: "Schlocktoberfest" with Sam and Mark from Cine

Sam and Mark from Cine sit down with Andrew to discuss how selections are made for their annual Schlocktoberfest horror film series and break down the entire 2019 program.

Best of Preps: Scores, Players of the Week, and Coach Tony Lotti

This week's update on Greater Athens Area High School includes sports like softball, volleyball, cross country and football.  The team talked to Players of the Week, Lena Cook, Davis Potts and Head Coach Tony Lotti for the Apalachee Wildcats along with previews for all of the football games in the area. Listen in for reports on Athens Academy, Prince Avenue, Clarke Central, Cedar Shoals, Oconee County, North Oconee, East Jackson, Jefferson, Monsignor Donovan, and many more.

Cinema File: Anayansi Prado and Heather Courtney ("The Unafraid")

"The Unafraid" documentary feature will begin airing on the WORLD Channel on October 1, 2019 as part of the "America Reframed" series. Filmed in Athens, Georgia, the film centers on 3 young DACA students with varying immigration statuses as they prepare for college. In this recording, filmmakers Anayansi Prado and Heather Courtney (who also served as producers and cinematographers) discuss how they made the movie. Visit worldchannel.org and theunafraidfilm.com for more details.

Oconee County's Keely Glenn and Bryan Eades, Jackson County's Jeff White and football talk

On this week's Best of Preps Podcast presented by Piedmont Athens Regional, we dive into scores from softball, volleyball, football and more and we tell you who stood out in games from last weekend and even into Monday. We highlight top performances from the softball field and the volleyball court and have an interview with our player of the week, Keely Glenn of Oconee County High School. We also talk to her coach, Bryan Eades, and to Jackson County volleyball coach Jeff White, who recently r...

Cinema File: "Hustlers" is the "Goodfellas" of stripper movies

Lorene Scafaria's "Hustlers" does give you what you see in the trailers, but the entire movie is an epic crime saga in the vein of "Goodfellas" - without any male characters. In other words, a far cry from any stripper movie we've ever seen and quite revolutionary in its portrayal of female friendships and motherhood.

Best of Preps: Scores, Players of the Week, and Josh Alexander

On this week's episode of the Best of Preps Podcast, the team delves into the sporting updates for the Greater Athens Area High Schools with updates on scores, upcoming games, and exclusive interviews with Players of the Week, Ellie Alfonso and Alex Thomas, and head coach Josh Alexander of the Athens Academy Spartans.

Cinema File: You should be disturbed by "The Nightingale"

Jennifer Kent's follow-up to her breakout horror hit "The Babadook" is even more terrifying, but not for the same reasons. Set in colonial Australia in 1825, "The Nightingale" is a revenge movie for the way men make revenge movies. So what's in the movie, and why do horror fans deserve to be upset by it? (This is episode 478 of the Cinema File Podcast)

Best of Preps: Scores, Players of the Week, and Ronnie Harris and Greg Vandagriff

Weekly updates on the scores in the Greater Athens Area, talking with players of the week Graham Blanks and Sara Beth Allen along with coaches Ronnie Harris and Greg Vandagriff, and previews of this week's Friday High School football games.

Cinema File: Dreaming of Wes Craven (1939-2015)

In honor of the 4th anniversary of horror maestro Wes Craven's passing, I'm re-uploading this recording I did in 2015 that was attached to a retrospective / memoriam article I wrote for OnlineAthens. What you'll hear is me going through the timeline of Wes's films (or the ones I'd seen, anyway) and giving my personal thoughts for each one. It's nerd stuff, but then again, so is podcasting. (Original recording date: 9/11/15)

Best of Preps: August Wrap-Up; David Perno and Cameron Pettus

Athens area high school scores, players of the week, and interviews with Clarke Central's head coach David Perno and East Jackson's head coach Cameron Pettus.

Cinema File: What is the Disney Movie Club (and is it a rip-off)?

Ever wonder if those "reward codes" inside Disney DVDs are really worth anything? I recently decided to sign up for everything and start redeeming all of them, and it lead me to the Disney Movie Club, which is a lot like the old Columbia House subscription service. In this podcast, I give the full details of my experience and let you decide if it's worth taking the plunge. 

Best of Preps Podcast: Area scores and stats, Players of the Week and Football

The inaugural Best of Preps Podcast recaps the week of sports in the Athens area. We talk softball, volleyball, cross country and football, touching on the important scores and player stats of the week. We also talk to Players of the Week Lily Crane and Will Auslander, go through the week's slate of football games and talk with head coaches Gene Cathcart and Travis Noland of Jefferson and Oconee County for our Game of the Week.

Cinema File: "Ready Or Not" to have a blast

"Ready Or Not" is more than just one of the most entertaining movies of the year. By writing a fun and interesting hero (instead of turning her into a bloodthirsty maniac), the filmmakers have achieved a serious one-up in the survival horror genre.  

Charles Seiler talks Uga winning best mascot, other stories from the field

Listen to more episodes like this at The Commute with @SavannahOpinion. https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-newsroom-savannah-now/playlists/the-commute-with-adam-van-brimmer

Cinema File: "Sugar Hill" is the best zombie movie you've never seen

For episode 474 of the Cinema File podcast, Kate and Andrew celebrate 1974's "Sugar Hill," also known as "Sugar Hill Zombies." Starring Marki Bey ("The Landlord"), and the late Don Pedro Colley ("Beneath the Planet of the Apes"), director Paul Malansky's cult classic is one of the greatest zombie movies ever made. It's now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

Cinema File 473: "Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark" is a ray of light

With Guillermo del Toro on board as producer, "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" does more than is required of PG-13 jump horror, putting characters from the popular children's book into a film that would be outstanding even without them.

Michael Burnett (Piedmont CEO)

Newly appointed Piedmont Athens Regional CEO Michael Burnett joins the Athens Banner-Herald to discuss the important issues surrounding the hospital since he took over on May 1. Athens Banner-Herald editor Donnie Fetter and news reporter Lee Shearer interview Burnett.

Cinema File 472: Fast & Furious Presents: Nerd & Nerd

Just because Andrew and Sam don't work together at the video store anymore (not that they could; it was turned into an Urgent Care years ago) doesn't mean they aren't still THE go-to people for reviews of the latest movies and shows. On this episode: HOBBS & SHAW, ANGRY BIRDS 2, THEM THAT FOLLOW, THE BOYS and more.

Cinema File 471: This podcast has been rated Xtina

In this conversation with frequent Cinema File guest host Xtina, Andrew digs into the unusual circumstances that lead to her interest in horror movies and the things that scare them both. Don't listen to this episode if you're home by yourself at night!

Cinema File 470: "Once Upon A Time" Feels Like Tarantino's Last Ride

Quentin Tarantino claims he will retire after 10 movies, but his 9th has an air of finality and is something of a wistful goodbye to the period of cinema history from which he has drawn inspiration throughout his career. These are my immediate notes after seeing "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood."  

Cinema File 469: Is "Nurse 3D" the "Showgirls" of horror movies?

With a cast that included TV comedy stars Katrina Bowden ("30 Rock") and Niecy Nash ("Claws"), Hollywood vets Judd Nelson and Kathleen Turner, explicit gore and nudity and lead by a go-for-broke performance by Paz de la Huerta ("Boardwalk Empire"), "Nurse 3D" had all the makings of a camp classic. So why aren't we talking about it? (This episode contains an audio sample of "I Eat Boys Like You For Breakfast" by Ida Maria. No copyright is claimed and no infringement is intended).

Cinema File 468: We don't sling webs but we do sling reviews on the web

Former video store co-workers Andrew and Sam don't have a counter to stand behind any more, but they're still here to tell you about all the new movies and shows they've seen. This episode contains reviews of "Spider-Man: Far From Home," "Midsommar," "Stranger Things 3," "Annabelle Comes Home," "Chernobyl," "Sabrina," "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," "MIB: International" and more.

Cinema File 467: Home is where "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" is

The year's strongest contender for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actor arrives in Athens, Georgia on Friday, July 12th at Ciné. "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" is deep, funny, insightful, beautifully photographed and masterfully performed, and this recording contains Andrew's notes immediately after seeing it. Follow on IG and Twitter @cinemandrew

Cinema File 466: "Midsommar" is the breakup movie of 2019

"Hereditary" filmmaker Ari Aster returns with the most brightly-lit horror movie of all time, mixing a twenty-something break-up plot with shocking gore, dark humor and Scandinavian folk freak-outs in "Midsommar." Listen to Andrew and Xtina's reaction in the car right after seeing it in the theatre.

Cinema File 465: Is there more than fluff inside "Child's Play"?

The latest incarnation of the killer doll franchise "Child's Play" is a fun time at the movies if nothing else, but is there more to it than what's on the surface? In this episode, Andrew is joined by horror filmmaker and lifelong Chucky fan Henrique Couto ("The Devil's Trail") for a look back on each film in the series, including the new remake.

Cinema File 464: "Dark Phoenix" is the original Angry Bird

You can take the clerks out of the video store, but you can't take the video store out of the clerks. Former Blockbuster co-workers Andrew and Sam review a whole bunch of new movies including DARK PHOENIX, WHEN THEY SEE US, JOHN WICK 3, GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, HOT ZONE, ALADDIN, MAPPLETHORPE, THE PERFECTION and more!

Cinema File 463: Henrique Couto makes movies for a living

5 years ago, Henrique Couto quit his job and devoted himself 24/7 to making his own movies. And he did it by staying in Ohio, adopting two dogs, and working every waking moment of his life. In this interview he talks about how he did it, how he's been able to crank out film after film, and why an insane love of movies is crucial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.