Imitating Art with Don & Chuck
85 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -They say that sometimes art imitates life - and, sometimes, life imitates art. At Imitating Art, we review and dissect movies to discover what life lessons they offer that might be worth imitating.
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Episodes
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) - All There Is Is The Hard Way
January 25, 2022 11:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBWhat can you say about Macbeth that hasn't already been said? Well, Don and Chuck aren't exactly sure. But they do their best, anyway. Joel Coen's new adaptation of the classic Shakespeare tragedy stars Denzel Washington as Macbeth and Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth. Together, their ambitions lead to murder, an ascendance to the throne--and madness. It's well-acted and visually striking. But Shakespeare is traditionally hard to understand for modern ears. Can Don and Chuck enjoy watching...
Paterson - Examine the Minutiae of Your Life
January 18, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBFor two guys who both went to art school, it sure took Don and Chuck a long time to review a Jim Jarmusch (Jar-moosh?) movie. Paterson's story is so simple, any plot description falls short. In examining a week in the life of a quiet, unassuming bus driver with the soul of a poet, it beautifully explores themes of duality and simple beauty. And Don and Chuck remember to rate this one. LESSONS: The sun will rise tomorrow The little things in life can hold tremendous value The two sides ...
Minari - You Can Make No Mistakes and Still Fail
January 11, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBAs a production company, A24 has been killing it for many years now. So, it's about time Don and Chuck got around to reviewing one of their movies. Minari is a simple drama about a Korean family. When the patriarch decides to move from California to Arkansas so they can start a farm, it ushers in an era of change for the family. Even more, they move in his mother-in-law to help raise the kids. The film tells the story of the year (or so) after they make the move, living in an area where they...
Punch Drunk Love - What About This Guy Is Interesting?
January 04, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBIn the early 2000s, people started learning that Adam Sandler was more than just Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and the Wedding Singer. He had range! He could drama! Punch Drunk Love was one of the movies that helped turn Sandler from a comedian into an actor. And, at the time, it was pretty good. If you'd asked early 2000s Don and Chuck what they thought of the movie, they'd have probably said so themselves. But this podcast is not hosted by early 2000s Don and Chuck. As it turns out, the ...
RERUN: The Matrix - There Is No Trashcan (feat. Max, "Chris' College Roommate"
December 28, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBWelp, Christmas finally killed the streak. Without much time to put an episode together, Don and Chuck (mostly Chuck) decided to take a little holiday break this week. Here, we bring you a rerun of one of our most-listened-to episodes: our review and dissection of the classic film The Matrix, written and directed by the Wachowskis. Joining us was Chuck's college roommate, Max—who just so happens to be one of the Matrix's biggest fans. We're sorry that there's no new episode this week, but w...
The Muppet Christmas Carol - Denial Is A Powerful Thing
December 21, 2021 16:50 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBThe Muppet Christmas Carol. A classic from the 90s that takes one of the darker and more dramatic Christmas tales of all time and transforms it into a hilarious and heartwarming family musical fit for all ages. It might sound like a tough feat, but when you introduce the Muppets into any story, the silly comes with it. Pretty effortlessly, it seems. Michael Caine (Real name: Mickelwaite? Something like that?) plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in this adaptation about an aging miser (and right dickhe...
Free Solo - Find the Best Route
December 14, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBHey, a true story that's not fiction! Don and Chuck tackle their first documentary with Free Solo. Alex Honnold likes to climb things. Specifically, he likes to free solo climb—or, climb very steep things with no ropes or aid of any kind. His white whale, a cliff named El Capitan, has never been free soloed. And he hopes to be the first. The film documents Alex's attempts to study and practice the climb so he can execute it safely and accurately. It also depicts his personal life, where i...
Blindspotting - Finding Our Bias
December 08, 2021 04:47 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBBlindspotting is a film about the way we think we are, the way society perceives us, and figuring out which one is true. Collin is a charming young back man and convicted felon in the last few days of his probation. He's making an honest attempt to turn his life around and prove he's a human worthy of love and respect. His best friend, Miles, has plenty to prove, too--unfortunately, it's often at odds with Collin's goals. After Collin witnesses a young black man killed by cops, he battles hi...
Don't Think Twice - Inches Away
November 30, 2021 11:00 - 54 minutes - 50.7 MBBirbigs is back with salt in his attitude AND his beard! That's right! Don and Chuck revisit one of their favorite creative people: Mike Birbiglia. In Don't Think Twice, Birbigglebug once again takes a turn as writer/director/actor in a story about the lives of those within a struggling improv comedy troupe. As their theater prepares to close, each member in the troupe must confront the lies they tell themselves about who they are, what they want, and what they deserve. It's a funny, sad, a...
Spider-Man 2 (2004): People Need Heroes
November 23, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBSam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy of the early 2000s helped solidify the superhero genre as one that could make boatloads of money--and tell good stories all the way to the bank. (Okay, maybe not the third one. But you get the idea.) Don and Chuck were both young men when Spider-Man 2 (arguably the best in the trilogy) came out, and think fondly of it to this day. Its combination of superhero action, personal drama, and (quite frankly) cheesy, comic book silliness makes it both a blast to watch...
Dune (2021) - Better Call Paul
November 16, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBDune is one of the most popular sci-fi novels in history. Though Don and Chuck weren't completely sure what was going on in the plot (thank you, Wikipedia!), they still enjoyed the first film in Denis Villeneuve's two-part adaptation. But are iconic actors, beautiful visuals, and fun fights enough to create a new classic? After Don and Chuck break down the film, they chat about what the film can teach us about an over-reliance on ceremony and traditions, the time and place for fear (and conq...
Moonlight - If People Can't Be Themselves, They Can't Be Free
November 09, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBQuestion: How did Moonlight turn a $4 million budget into a Best Picture winner at the Oscars? Answer: Watch the damn movie. Moonlight tells the sweet, somber, and often frightening tale of Chiron--a young man in search of himself over the course of decades. Gay, black, and devoid of a support system, Chiron just wants to find his place. Unfortunately, the people and systems around him make it feel nearly impossible. It's a character study with no easy answers. And it asks the audience to ...
Lion - We Choose to Survive
November 02, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBLion tells the true story of Saroo Brierly, who gets lost in India at the age of five with no way of finding his family. After surviving on the streets for some months, a kind stranger helps him Saroo get into an orphanage and, eventually, adopted by a lovely Australian couple. As an adult, Saroo's childhood trauma pushes him to search for his birth family. It's a moving and inspiring film that helps Chuck and Don talk through such lessons as the tenacity it takes to survive, how loving some...
Creep - Money Is The Scary Part (Feat. Adrian Criner)
October 26, 2021 21:39 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBCreep is an independent thriller about a videographer named Aaron who's offered a simple job: record a video of a typical day for Josef, a soon-to-be father dying of cancer. Throughout the day, Josef's actions become more and more unsettling before turning outright dangerous and violent. Though Aaron manages to get away, he can't figure out how to remove Josef from his life completely. Helping Don and Chuck discuss Creep is friend of the show and horror film fan Adrian Criner. The film (whi...
Scrubs: My Lunch & My Fallen Idol - Fix What You Can
October 19, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 62 MBWell, they finally did it. After referencing Scrubs in almost every episode for over a year, Don and Chuck finally went ahead and talked about the show for an hour. Specifically, they discuss two episodes from season 5: My Lunch and My Fallen Idol. These two episodes tell the story of JD and Dr. Cox both losing patients and blaming themselves. It's a silly, sad, cartoonish, depressing pair of episodes that aren't just a great introduction for new watchers - they're two of the best episodes o...
Portrait of a Lady on Fire - Solitude Pairs Well With Community
October 12, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.9 MBPortrait of a Lady on Fire showed up on many film enthusiasts' "Best Of" lists for 2019. It also showed up on Don and Chuck's "We Should Do This For the Podcast" list for nearly a year. And here it is! Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a beautiful French film about the relationship between a painter and her subject - a young woman due to be married off to a rich man overseas. As the two grow closer, the sparks of attraction burn ever brighter. Unfortunately, systems of oppression might mean thei...
Men in Black - Can't See the Stars for the Aliens
October 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBMen in Black was a hugely successful movie that helped solidify Will Smith's career as a Hollywood leading man. It's also a wonderful movie with great visuals, performances, and writing. Men in Black is the story of a secret government agency that monitors and polices the alien presence on Earth. When an unauthorized alien bug crash lands on the planet to seek out a valuable galaxy, Agent Kay and his new recruit, Agent Jay, must work to find the object and return it to its rightful owners be...
Shang-Chi - No Matter What You Do, You're Going To Be You
September 28, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 55.5 MBThe legend of Don and Chuck grows with each new episode. This time, they tackle Shang-Chi, the newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi tells the story of a young man trained in the martial arts who lives in denial of his painful youth - until the ghosts of his past threaten to destroy the future for himself and those he loves. In between its fun action set-pieces, it develops its characters with empathy and understanding, letting us see what it might take to discover your tr...
Cry Macho - Not Forced At All
September 21, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 48.7 MBCry Macho is a movie that certainly exists and that probably cost several producers multiple millions of dollars to make. But, does that mean it's worth watching? Don and Chuck discuss everything wrong and right about this one to help you decide if it's worth your time before discussing its lessons of family, trust, and how being kind can help make both you and the world around you better. Follow us on instagram: @ImitatingArtPod And Twitter: @ImitatingArtPod Music by Nathan Terry Instag...
Pulp Fiction - You Can Do A Lot With Reputation, Even If It's Not True
September 14, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBIt took Don and Chuck over a year, but they're finally tackling a Tarantino movie. A classic of crime cinema, Pulp Fiction weaves three interconnected stories together into a non-linear film that is violent, funny, and oddly moving. Don and Chuck piece together why the story is told the way it is while discussing the film's themes of trust, second chances, and the power of reputation. Music by Nathan Terry instagram.com/nterrymusic nterrymusic.com Check out Don's other podcast at anchor....
The Suicide Squad - What Happens to a Starfish in Space?
September 07, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBAfter a run of superhero movies with mixed reviews and mixed-er (?) success, the DC Extended Universe takes a gamble with The Suicide Squad, a soft reboot of their previous move in the series, Suicide Squad. It's all very confusing, but you don't have to watch the first movie (and we recommend you don't) to enjoy this one. Don and Chuck have different opinions on the movie, but they both have fun dissecting its ridiculously violent comic book antics, over-the-top characters and raucous, infa...
The Idiots - Being Mediocre, Riding Our Privilege, and Playing Dumb (feat. Jonah Matranga)
August 31, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBThis week, singer-songwriter Jonah Matranga helps Don and Chuck tackle their first truly art-house film with Lars von Trier's The Idiots. An engaging though often uncomfortable film, the Idiots tells the story of a commune of mostly young, emotionally lost, well-to-do people who expose society's true feelings for those they feel are below them. How do they do this? By pretending to be differently-abled. Jonah helps guide Don and Chuck through the film's themes of rebelliousness, the damage w...
Don Vs. Chuck - Indie Film Vs. Hollywood Blockbuster
August 27, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBThis month, Don and Chuck battle it out to decide which is better: low-budget independent films or high-budget, high-concept Hollywood hits. Flip the coin, pick a side, and see if you agree with Don or Chuck! Music by Nathan Terry nterrymusic.com instagram.com/nterrymusic
Little Women - The Relationship is More Valuable Than the Problem (feat. Lauren Buckle)
August 24, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBThis week, Don and Chuck are joined by Lauren to talk about Greta Gerwig's 2019 rendition of Little Women. The film tells the story of the four March sisters as they grow to adulthood in 1800s America. Through love and loss, they learn a great deal about life. Which is great for a podcast about life lessons in movies. Don, Chuck, and Lauren discuss the importance of apologizing, the fear of change, and how everyone needs a little help sometimes. Follow Lauren on instagram: @bucklephotos Mu...
Stranger Than Fiction - Being Fearless Is Scary (feat. Sarah Saturday)
August 17, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBThis week, Don and Chuck are joined by singer/songwriter/all-around-awesome-person Sarah Saturday to discuss one of Sarah's favorite movies, Stranger Than Fiction. Will Ferrell takes one of his first serious roles in the 2006 comedy/drama about Harold Crick, an ordinary man who suddenly hears someone narrating his life. Once he grows accustomed to it, his life takes an existential turn when the narrator mentions Harold will soon die. Harold's journey to escape his fate and add meaning to his...
Liar Liar - Lies On Top Of Lies
August 10, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBChuck and Don celebrate the 90s with Jim Carrey, Capri Sun, and a movie that asks you to believe in magic just long enough to get the story rolling. In Liar Liar, Carrey plays Fletcher Reed, a lawyer who puts his job before his son, Max. When Max wishes that his father can't lie for one day, Fletcher must navigate his work and personal lives with nothing but the truth. Hilarity ensues. And, best yet, this movie only requires 87 minutes of your time! After the review, Don and Chuck discuss ly...
Gunpowder Milkshake - She Protec, He Attac
August 03, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 51.5 MBGuns in books, assassins with useless arms, an eight-year-old driving in a car chase*. With a name like Gunpowder Milkshake, it has to be ridiculous. And it is. It's also ridiculously entertaining. Karen Gillan stars in this colorful, violent, all-out action romp. The setpieces are inventive, the sets are interesting, and the dialogue exists. And, believe it or not, there's a few lessons crammed in there. Don and Chuck discuss them, of course (Down with the patriarchy!). But, ultimately, thi...
Luca - They're Gonna Find Out You're A Sea Monster
July 28, 2021 02:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBThe episode the universe didn't want to happen! After some technical difficulties, a lost recording and a glitchy connection, we laughed in the universe's face -- And the resulting episode turned out... pretty okay. Decent-ish. It gets the job done. This week, Don and Chuck discuss Luca. Rather, they recap their lost recording, so, they talk about discussing Luca previously. With Luca, Pixar tells the tale of a sea monster who discovers he can take a human form. After immediately falling in...
Moon - Without Hope, There's Nothing (feat. Kristin Lajeunesse)
July 20, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 58 MBThis week, Don and Chuck are joined by Kristin Lajeunesse to talk about Moon. Starring Sam Rockwell (and almost no one else), Moon tells the story of a solitary man named Sam who works on the moon, mining helium that creates power for those back on Earth. With three weeks left of his three year stint on the job, Sam is ready to return home when he encounters the only other human on the moon - himself. The indie sci-fi drama (or is it horror? Or action? I don't know; ask Don) gives Don, Chuck...
Dear White People - That's Us!
July 13, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBDear White People brilliantly satirizes life at an Ivy League school that promotes itself as inclusive and diverse - but turns a blind eye to the truth of its inherent racism. Tightly written and well directed with wonderful performances, the film is equally laugh-out-loud funny and horribly depressing in its depiction of everyday atrocities performed by tone deaf and outright racist students and faculty. Its setup helps Don and Chuck talk about how society forces everyone into pigeon holes,...
Don Vs. Chuck - Movie Theater Vs. Home Theater
July 09, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBNEW SERIES PREMIERE! Once a month, Don and Chuck bring you the hottest debates about movies, TV, and entertainment. A flip of the coin decides what side they defend. In this first episode, Don and Chuck tackle the age old debate: Is it better to watch a movie in a theater or at home? Music by Nathan Terry nterrymusic.com
Good Will Hunting - Everyone Is Damaged
July 06, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.9 MBDon and Chuck begin their second season the same way they started the first - talking about one of their favorite movies. This time, they finally give Good Will Hunting the full Imitating Art treatment. The movie's story about a troubled youth finally learning to accept love from others lets Don and Chuck discuss how to give people direction without manipulating them, how you'll always find the negative if you keep looking for it, and how important it is to tell hard truths to the people you...
Fight Club - The Illusion of Safety
June 29, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 79.5 MBDavid Fincher's Fight Club is one of the most iconic movies of all time. Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, Fight Club explores why young, disillusioned men are attracted to toxic masculinity - and what the ultimate ramifications of it are. It's a violent, mind-bending dark comedy with an endless supply of quotable dialogue. This week, Fight Club helps Don and Chuck discuss toxic masculinity, why young men seem to learn the movie's lessons in the wrong way, and how flawed logic can turn g...
In The Heights - Singing Lessons to You
June 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBWashington Heights might be a small community, but everyone there has very big dreams. Unfortunately, the realities of the world around them constantly threaten their chances of making their dreams come true. Before Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote Hamilton, he brought this crowd-pleasing musical to Broadway. Now, it gets the Hollywood treatment. And the best part? Since it's a musical, they get to sing the life lessons out loud! Don and Chuck get to gush about In the Heights' music and choreography ...
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Nobody's Coming to Save You
June 15, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBAdapted from August Wilson's play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tells the story of blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) and her band trying to record some of her most famous songs. Her trumpet player, Levee, has plans to take her spotlight as he tries to write his own songs and form his own band. What results is a single day filled with personal conflicts, racial tension, and philosophical quarrels. There's plenty of material here from which Don and Chuck can draw lessons, such as the commodific...
Inception - Ideas Are Contagious
June 08, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 68 MBInception is a thrilling, visually stunning, reverse-heist film primarily taking place within a dream world. It's also further proof that Don and Chuck struggle to discuss Christopher Nolan's films in a way that makes sense for anyone who hasn't seen them. Though the plot may seem overly complicated, its heist structure gives Nolan a simple backbone on which to lay his complex ideas. Through its explorations of dream-sharing technology and the subconscious, film helps Don and Chuck discuss g...
The Truman Show - A 3-Dimensional Person Living In A 2-Dimensional World
June 01, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.5 MBTruman Burbank is the star of the most popular show on television - and he's completely unaware of it. The Truman Show tells the story of a man (Jim Carrey) who slowly discovers that his friends, family, and hometown - his entire life - is a piece of fiction broadcast to TVs around the world. The film expertly blends comedy and drama to give us one of Jim Carrey's first dramatic roles. The film also lets Don and Chuck discuss topics such as how making decisions makes life your own, corporati...
The Fifth Element - What If Bruce Willis Was Captain Planet? (feat. DaVonne)
May 25, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBWhat is the Fifth Element? In our world, The Fifth Element is a sci-fi action movie starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Chris Tucker. In the movie's world, the fifth element is the key to saving the planet. French action screenwriter and producer Luc Besson brings his talents to America for a movie that's very silly, very entertaining, and very, very 90s. Despite being a fun action movie, Don, Chuck, and special guest DaVonne cull some meaningful lessons from the story in what turns ...
Percy vs. Goliath - Someone Has To Stand Up
May 18, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBStarring Christopher Walken, Zach Braff, and Christina Ricci, Percy vs. Goliath is a small film with a huge impact. It tells the true story of a small farmer who takes pride in using and harvesting his own seeds. But, when his crop is accidentally infected with a gene copyrighted by agribusiness behemoth Monsanto, he finds himself in a court case, fighting for the livelihoods of farmers the world over. With a timely story and moving performances, Percy vs. Goliath helps Don and Chuck discuss...
Nobody - Is It Okay For Russians To Be Bad Guys Again?
May 11, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBBob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell (yes, really) in the action movie Nobody. And, hey - he's actually a pretty convincing action hero! The writer of John Wick tells the tale of a mild-mannered family man who unleashes his violent past after criminals invade his home. And then he fights the Russian mob. Like, a lot. It might be a little light on story, but the action doesn't disappoint. Plus, it allows Don and Chuck to discuss something about family, something about not taking shit from peop...
Garden State - A Return to Pain
May 04, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBDon and Chuck finally get around to reviewing the movie that gave us the Garden State Soundtrack (which proved to all of us you can, in fact, win a Grammy for putting together a mixtape). Zach Braff and Natalie Portman star in the story of an actor who, after the passing of his mother, finally comes of age in his mid-twenties. It's sweet, sad, and funny, and watching it gives Chuck an excuse to examine if he still likes it after all these years. It also gives Don and Chuck a reason to discus...
Promising Young Woman - Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
April 27, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBTrigger warning - Violence against women Promising Young Woman blends genres to tell the tale of a woman (Carey Mulligan) out for revenge, educating men on the dangers of taking advantage of vulnerable women. It uses genre tropes from mystery and thriller films to build tension and reveal information in a compelling way. It also lets Don and Chuck discuss sexual assault, the media and justice system's preferential treatment toward male attackers, and how there's no such thing as a perfect a...
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - That's the But I Was Going For
April 20, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBIt's that time of year where watching Harold and Kumar just makes sense, so Don and Chuck do just that. Don lets Chuck gush about one of his all-time favorite silly, stupid comedies for far too long before they finally discuss themes of friendship, racism, and having someone in your life that pushes you to do the things you don't want to do. If we're being honest, this one meanders quite a bit, so we suggest you drink up first. Or, you know... well, you know. Music by Nathan Terry nterrymu...
The Royal Tenenbaums - Potential and Not Much Else (feat. Alex)
April 13, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBDon and Chuck finally get around to discussing one of the great writer-directors of our time - Wes Anderson. In The Royal Tenenbaums, co-written by Owen Wilson, Anderson tells the story of a narcissistic man worming his way back into his estranged family by telling a big lie. The cast is stacked, the humor and drama play off each other well, and the Andersonian flair ensures top-notch cinematography. The story also lends itself well to life lessons, allowing Don and Chuck to talk about the se...
Sound of Metal - The Silence and the Stillness
April 06, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBThis week, Don and Chuck discuss Best Picture nominee Sound of Metal, the story of heavy metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a recovering addict who suddenly loses 75% of his hearing. Facing this situation with denial and anger, he's forced to join a community for hearing-impaired addicts. Once there, he's confronted with his inability to sit in stillness and spend time with his own thoughts. This lets Don and Chuck muse on topics such as appreciating what you have, how to find peace in the sti...
Nomadland - There's Always A Lower Rung
March 30, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBChloe Zhao's Nomadland is not a happy-go-lucky Hallmark movie. Frances McDormand stars as Fern, a woman who's lost everything except her RV and her tenacity. She discovers a community of nomads who teach her how to survive with what she's got. This subject hits a personal note for Don, who relates some of his experiences living on the road. Nomadland is a movie that deserves to be watched and lets Don and Chuck discuss capitalism, the lack of safety nets, toxic Americanism, and a lot more. ...
I Love You, Man - White Men Trying to Connect
March 23, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBThis week, Don and Chuck discuss one of their favorite comedies: 2008's I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. And, luckily, they find just enough time between quoting the movie to squeeze in an actual review! Despite the movie being a light-hearted comedy, Don and Chuck manage to discuss such lessons as finding outlets that help enrich your relationships, Jason Segel's funny voices, and Hank Mardukas. ...Okay, so, it's not super heavy on lessons. Slappadabass. Music by Natha...
I'm Thinking of Ending Things - A Lot of Shots Toward Emptiness
March 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBSometimes, the best explanation is none at all. This week, Don and Chuck do their best to explain I'm Thinking of Ending Things, a film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, adapted from the book by Iain Reid. The film itself is intentionally challenging and often cryptic, but much like the empty space it creates around its characters, teems with meaning and ideas. The film gives Don and Chuck ample room to discuss hope, dementia, the benefits of a life well lived, Don's admiration for t...
Palm Springs - Is Irvine Nirvana?
March 09, 2021 11:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBWhen every day of your life is exactly the same, how can you possibly find meaning? This is the very serious question posed by the very silly comedy Palm Springs, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two people trapped in a seemingly endless time loop. The film packs a lot into 90s minutes, allowing Don and Chuck to unpack such topics as sharing of yourself, why change is necessary for anything to have meaning, why our pasts might or might not be important, and how the mundanity of ...
Sorry to Bother You - The Absurdity of Exploitation
March 02, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBWhere do we start? What is Sorry to Bother You About? It's hard to explain, but Don and Chuck navigate their way through it, anyway. Directory Boots Riley gives us a story of exploitation, telemarketers, and horse people in an absurdist social commentary comedy with great performances by LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson. Don and Chuck talk about exploitation, slave labor, and corporatism, but not before figuring out their newest emo band name. Don promised this one would be more of a pa...