Read it and Weep

RiaW 5.30 - Shrek (2001)

September 01, 2022 00:18 - 1 hour - 102 MB

Shrek is the most important movie of all time, there's no denying that. But is it good? Who knows. It's impossible to tell. But it is farty, that part is known. Alex forced everybody to travel via Eddie Murphy to figure out why people are so horny for Shrek and he didn't learn anything but it was still an interesting outing. Next up: Hunter moves strategically via Kathleen Freeman to the 1989 romcom with a bonkers premise, "Chances Are" just because he's reincarnated doesn't mean he can'...

RiaW 5.29 - Bowfinger (1999)

August 25, 2022 00:08 - 56 minutes - 46.9 MB

We're all kindof having a Steve Martin reawakening right now because of Only Murders in the Building, so we traveled through him to a film he wrote and Ms. Piggy Herself directed (Frank Oz). It's the 1999 Hollywood-skewering heartfelt comedy Bowfinger about a group of misfits trying to make a movie. It's got one of Eddie Murphy's best double roles and some great set pieces. And some cringey 90s stuff. You might like it though. Next up: Alex sends us via Eddie Murphy to try to figure out wh...

RiaW 5.28 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

August 18, 2022 18:34 - 1 hour - 65 MB

The constitutional crisis behind us, we plow ahead with Ezra's 5th point scoring movie but with a twist! He gets no points. Instead we just enjoy an 80s comedy that aged better than most and sadly reflect on how little travel has improved in 35 years. Next up: Anthony sends us via Steve Martin to Bowfinger (1999)

RiaW 5.b - The Constitutional Crisis

August 11, 2022 20:37 - 20 minutes - 17.1 MB

We’ve sorted through all the potential outcomes of the constitutional crisis kicked off by Ezra’s sneaky but clever play yesterday. Next up: Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987)

RiaW 5.26 - Avengers: Endgame (2019)

August 10, 2022 21:52 - 1 hour - 69.3 MB

It finally happened. Ezra's clever play and good partnerships helped him bring the game around to Alex's nightmare superhero clusterfest that is the last (for now) Avengers movie. Although nobody thinks it's a top-10 film, they still pile on Alex for not liking it. Next up: CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS WE DON'T KNOW

Still Processing: Top Gun: Maverick(2022)

August 04, 2022 00:17 - 1 hour - 64.7 MB

How should I feel about the ad for the US military that is Top Gun: Maverick? Should I feel better or worse knowing that the movie is a really good movie? We process these questions in real time with (surprise!) another bonus episode about the new movie from the Cruise Missile himself. Next up: We're going to (ugh) watch Avengers: End Game (for real!). You can watch us watch it live Tuesday 8/9 at 4pm PST and then listen to our episode at the normal time.

Still Processing: Nope (2022)

July 28, 2022 18:06 - 1 hour - 65.6 MB

Ezra and Hunter are away for the week so Alex and Anthony sat down to discuss a movie they just watched in a new segment we're calling "Still Processing". They puzzled through several theories about Nope and what it means, gave awards to the best part of the movie, and talked more about Jordan Peele's filmography including the unveiling of Anthony's Grand Unified Theory of Us. Listen now, you will leave changed. Next up: We're going to (ugh) watch Avengers End Game. You can watch us watch ...

RiaW 5.25 - The Iron Giant (1999)

July 21, 2022 19:10 - 1 hour - 69.9 MB

We've got another scoring update as Ezra carries Alex along to his 2nd movie, the Brad Bird animated feature about a Jesus-gun-robot. In the news: Alex is back from the Netherlands and has some thought. Next up: while Ezra is away we're taking a week to watch the new Jordan Peele movie Nope.

RiaW 5.24 - The Lion King (1994)

July 07, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 65.1 MB

From oogie and tense to adorable and triumphant, we may be the first people to ever watch Dead Ringers and The Lion King back to back. But both feature terrific performances from Jeremy Irons. In the news: you can see our first few Teeny Tiny Grant recipients here. Next up: we're taking a week off while Alex is abroad but he'll come back to some points as Ezra picks The Iron Giant (1999) via Brian Tochi.

RiaW 5.23 - Dead Ringers (1988)

June 29, 2022 21:26 - 1 hour - 66.8 MB

We take our first dip into Cronenberg with his movie about twin guy-necologists. It's divisive like black licorice. In the news: Alex has a new web series about futurism plus our very own feature on Oracle of Bacon. Next up: Alex travels via Jeremy Irons (either one) to the 1994 classic from the Golden age of Disney Animation: The Lion King.

RiaW 5.22 - Unforgiven (1992)

June 23, 2022 20:34 - 1 hour - 58.1 MB

Anthony convinces Alex to travel via one Clinton Eastwood to his 1992 revisionist western Unforgiven. Next up: Anthony uses a power card to ruin our lives with Cronenberg's Dead Ringers (1988)

RiaW 5.21 - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

June 17, 2022 03:37 - 1 hour - 75.1 MB

It's Spaghetti Night on the podcast as the boys visit Sergio Leone's classic movie about three shit heads doing crimes in the old west. And we argue mostly about how hot they are.

RiaW 5.20 - Out of Sight (1998)

June 09, 2022 23:26 - 1 hour - 85.1 MB

Before he made Ocean's 11, Steven Soderbergh made another rom-comy caper film starring George Clooney. This one had Jennifer Lopez and as soon as you don't look at it, it's out of mind. Plus Anthony explains Morbin time and Alex and Ezra announce the Teeny Tiny Grant. Next up: CHAOS ERUPTS and next week is a spaghetti night.

RiaW 5.19 - Batman (1989)

May 27, 2022 15:52 - 1 hour - 71.8 MB

Despite Alex's very clear and public dislike for comic book movies, he seems pretty amenable to this Tim Burton vision with all the dirty sets and matte paintings and Jack Nicholson having a ton of fun and making a ton of money. Next up: Ezra moves toward the darkest timeline where we have to watch Avengers by taking the Michael Keaton route to Out of Sight (1998).

RiaW 5.18 - The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

May 19, 2022 23:31 - 1 hour - 78.8 MB

It's Anthony's big week as his first scoring movie gets picked. His five points come along with a fun action movie with some weird 70s remnants. Next up: Anthony draws first again and moves us to Tim Burton's Batman.

RiaW 5.17 - The Princess Diaries (2001)

May 13, 2022 21:02 - 1 hour - 75 MB

A third week of scoring happens as Ezra slowly reveals his master plan. We watch his 2nd movie, The Princess Diaries (2001) and also set up another score next week. It's not a great movie but it's better than it needs to be. Next up: another big week as Anthony gets his first movie, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), via Héctor Elizondo.

RiaW 5.16 - The Cable Guy (1996)

May 06, 2022 01:03 - 1 hour - 83.9 MB

After weeks of dry spells, the points keep coming as Alex crosses out his first point movie. The panel is split on this cult 90s comedy but somehow the episode turned out really good. Also you can watch it on YouTube now! Next up: the points keep coming as we travel via Jeff Michalski to Ezra's 2nd movie, The Princess Diaries (2001).

RiaW 5.15 - Michael Clayton (2007)

April 28, 2022 22:18 - 1 hour - 66.4 MB

Anthony's evil plan to make us watch pretty good movies instead of helping people score points. So we watched Ocean's Zero, the George Clooney joint Michael Clayton about the fixer who is broken inside. Next up: Ezra used a special power card to go back and a week and move via Jim Carrey to Alex's movie The Cable Guy! Justice!

RiaW 5.14 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

April 22, 2022 16:32 - 1 hour - 74.1 MB

We finally travel via Mark Ruffalo to the 2004 Charlie Kauffman film ESotSM. Points are scored. Enemies are made. It gets crazy. Next up: Anthony chooses hate and moves via Tom Wilkinson to Michael Clayton (2007).

RiaW 5.bonus - To Tell The Truth

April 15, 2022 21:29 - 42 minutes - 36.8 MB

Alex was on TV this week! And since Ezra was sick, we sat down and did a little bonus about Alex's chance to lie to Steve Urkel. Next up: Ezra scores again with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. For real this time.

RiaW 5.13 - Drive My Car (2021)

April 08, 2022 00:47 - 1 hour - 73.8 MB

With Ezra still on vacation, the boys take a week off the game to watch one of the best movies of 2021, just don't watch it while you're eating soup. Next up: Ezra scores again with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

RiaW 5.12 - In The Cut (2003)

April 01, 2022 22:33 - 1 hour - 75.2 MB

We go through a Kevin Bacon reset and end up in a 2003 erotic thriller directed by Oscar Winner Jane Campion. It's currently undergoing a reevaluation even as we speak. Next up: we take a week off the game and watch Drive My Car.

RiaW 5.11 - Battleship Potemkin (1925)

March 24, 2022 23:48 - 1 hour - 73.9 MB

It took 11 episodes but Hunter blew the scoring wide open by achieving his impossible movie before anybody else. Also there was that thing with the baby on the staircase. Next up: Alex resets to a Kevin Bacon movie with In The Cut (2003)

RiaW 5.10 - A Girl With Character (1939)

March 17, 2022 23:25 - 1 hour - 62.9 MB

We watched this movie in Russian and have very little idea what's going on. And you can too! Next up: Hunter scores some points! We're climbing aboard the Battleship Potemkin.

RiaW 5.09 - Hard to be a God (1989)

March 10, 2022 23:59 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

It's absolute chaos as Hunter's gambit continues. We watch the German/Soviet movie Hard to be a God which isn't great but does feature excellent wigs. Next up: IT'S ALL COMING UP HUNTER! We're watching Girl with a Temper (in badly translated Russian).

RiaW 5.08 - P.J. (1968)

March 04, 2022 01:48 - 1 hour - 59.4 MB

You're forgiven for not having heard of PJ, we may be the first people to watch it in many years. And that's because it's a very okay movie with some really fun stuff but just not that memorable. If it weren't for Hunter and Ezra's gambit we definitely wouldn't have watched it. BUT! If you become a Meat Buddy (or stay one) you might win the copy of the DVD we watched autographed by Ezra! Join now. Next up: Hunter tries part two of the four-part move with another weird jump to the 1989 film...

RiaW Bonus - Sex and the City of the Dead

February 28, 2022 20:20 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

For some strange reason, Alex wrote an episode of Sex and the City where Carrie Dates a Mummy. You can read the whole script here but here on this bonus episode, we've got a table read of the script featuring an awesome voice cast of RiaW faves. It's weird. It's dirty. It's kinda funny. Check it out now! Carrie - Sarah Hatheway, Nesmin - Omar El Akkad, Samantha - Bri Pruett, Dirk/Mark Wahlberg - Dru Johnston, Miranda - Katie Nguyen, Steve - Stephen Carter, Charlotte - Rachele Friedland, Hot...

RiaW 5.07 - Soylent Green (1973)

February 25, 2022 00:32 - 1 hour - 62.2 MB

I wish I could tell you you're going to learn a lot from watching the movie Soylent Green, but honestly, the thing you already know is 90% of it. So this is one where we watched it so you wouldn't have to. Next up: After some shenanigans, Ezra travels via Brock Peters to the 1968 film P.J. that we know nothing about because it gives a 50% chance of scoring Hunter some points eventually.

RiaW 5.06 - The Third Man (1949)

February 18, 2022 01:14 - 1 hour - 59.2 MB

We take another big jump back in time this week as Anthony travels via Orson Welles to the British noir film The Third Man. We talked a bit about this back in our Secret Santa episode because Hunter gifted it to Alex but now everybody's seen it so we can all get excited about Alex's references. Next up: Alex travels via Joseph Cotten to the 1973 movie that everybody knows the ending to but none of us have seen Soylent Green.

RiaW 5.05 - The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

February 11, 2022 03:26 - 1 hour - 63.6 MB

With his first pick of the Season Hunter travels via the Scatman to the absolutely unwatcheable 80s animated toy commercial The Transformers: The Movie. It's a headache-inducing mind-dumbing pinball machine of a movie and I'm mad at him for picking it. Next up: Anthony sends us via Orson Welles to The Third Man (1949). Previously discussed as a Christmas present Hunter gave to Alex, now the whole team is going to watch it.

RiaW 5.04 - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

February 04, 2022 01:21 - 1 hour - 75 MB

This week Anthony flies us via a very short Anjelica Huston cameo to one of just three movies to win the big five Oscars at the same time: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Not the funniest movie to talk about, but we do our best. Next up: Hunter chooses to move via voice from Scatman Crothers to the 1986 animated feature Transformers: The Movie. And THAT is a tonal shift if I've ever heard of one.

RiaW 5.03 - The Life Aquatic (2004)

January 26, 2022 23:42 - 1 hour - 61.6 MB

Season 5's second move: Alex swims through Noah Taylor to the 2004 Wes Anderson flick The Life Aquatic that is stylistic as hell but doesn't quite come together for us, landing it as only the 3rd best movie of the new season. Next up: Anthony flies via Anjelica Huston to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, depriving Alex of a scoring opportunity. What do you think? Should we add a deck of special powers? What powers do you think should be available?

RiaW 5.02 - Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

January 19, 2022 19:26 - 1 hour - 63.3 MB

For the first move of the game, Ezra chose to move via Bill Paxton to the 2014 Cruise Missile movie Edge of Tomorrow AKA Live. Die. Repeat if you like spoilers in your title. The movie is great but it ends up in a somewhat controversial place in our Season 5 masterlist. What are your thoughts? Next up: Alex moves via Noah Taylor to the 2004 Wes Anderson (more like WET Anderson, am I right?) flick The Life Aquatic. Anthony has the ability to give Alex the first points of the year, but will ...

RiaW 5.01 - Apollo 13 (1995)

January 12, 2022 19:40 - 1 hour - 59.1 MB

Welcome to a brand new season of Read it and Weep! This year we're doing something slightly different: we're playing an overly complicated game called Kevin Bacon's Exquisite Corpse. Listen now for all the rules and a fun conversation about Thomas the Hank Engine in space.

RiaW 4.48 - Secret Santa

December 16, 2021 03:53 - 1 hour - 67.6 MB

For our final episode of Holly Hunter Days, of 2021 and of season 4, we're kicking off our last annual Secret Santa movie exchange. We were each anonymously assigned a recipient and then chose a movie or show we thought they needed to see. And the results were pretty fun! Check it out. And thanks for joining us on another year of perfectly adequate podcasting.

RiaW 4.47 - Raising Arizona (1987)

December 09, 2021 00:48 - 1 hour - 58.3 MB

It's our first annual (and probably last but who knows) Holly Hunterdays Hollyween episode so we dug back to the second ever Coen Brothers movie starring Holly and RiaW fave Nic Cage and John who is a very good man. It's a good time. And join us next week for our last episode of 2021 and the last episode of season 4, our first annual Secret Santa episode. Mentioned in this episode - https://www.change.org/p/will-smith-will-smith-matrix-rap - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9134132/?ref_=...

RiaW 4.46 - The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

December 03, 2021 04:56 - 1 hour - 76 MB

Look, since the Dutch left, Manhattan has just been sitting there waiting to be taken. So it's really more on them and less on the Muppets. Thanks to John from Sussex for becoming a Meat Buddy and for Jaye #1 for writing in with some Muppets knowledge.

RiaW 4.45 - Home for the Holidays (1995)

November 24, 2021 22:09 - 1 hour - 70.3 MB

There really aren't many good movies about Thanksgiving, and we already watched the Turkey-based horror movie Thankskilling. So the only thing left was to watch the 1995 family comedy/drama turned rom com in the last 15 minutes, Home For the Holidays. Hopefully we got this out in time for you to listen while you travel, at least back home from the holidays.

RiaW 4.44 - Cowboy Bebop (2001)

November 17, 2021 21:34 - 1 hour - 64.4 MB

In preparation for the new live-action Netflix version, we dipped back into the anime pool and watched the movie Cowboy Bebop: A Very Long Cowboy Bebop Episode. It's cool looking and the music rules and there's a dog but for some reason we mostly talked about other stuff. This one was REAL tangent happy.

RiaW 4.43 - Dune (2021)

November 04, 2021 02:24 - 1 hour - 56.4 MB

Yeah I know we promised a week off, but we decided to postpone because we finally all saw the new Dune! And most of us liked it most of the way. Put on your poop suits and get dusty with us.

RiaW 4.42 - Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - RockyHorrorMonth

October 28, 2021 00:21 - 1 hour - 69.9 MB

Whew. The final horror section of Rocky Horror Podcast Month got a little too horrory. But Anthony and Hunter liked it so that's something I guess. But seriously, why do people do this to themselves???

RiaW 4.41 - Southland Tales (2006) - RockyHorrorMonth

October 22, 2021 20:21 - 1 hour - 66.5 MB

Rocky Horror month giveth and Rocky Horror month taketh a long time, with this week's The Rock movie that feels even longer than it's 2.5 hour runtime. It's a big swing and a miss, but we like big swings on this show so we dive deep into the Richard Kelly film and then talk kindof a lot about aliens.

RiaW 4.40 - Psycho (1960) - RockyHorrorMonth

October 15, 2021 19:13 - 1 hour - 59.9 MB

The pendulum of Rocky Horror month has swung to the horror side as we watch the film that invented the genre, the 1960 Hitchcock thriller Psycho. It's pretty spooky!

RiaW 4.39 - Jungle Cruise - RockyHorrorMonth

October 08, 2021 16:31 - 1 hour - 67.2 MB

We can never decide between TheRocktober and Spooktober on the show, so this year we're combining them into a horror / The Rock combo we're calling The Rocky Horror Podcast Show. First we kick things off with the newest movie that The Rock is badly cast in, Disney's Jungle Cruise.

RiaW 4.38 - That Thing You Do (1996)

September 30, 2021 23:10 - 1 hour - 75 MB

Alex is in Portland this week recording his debut comedy album (Saturday Oct. 2nd at Mississippi Studios) so the boys talked about what it takes to make a hit and keep the band together with Thomas The Hank Engine's directorial debut about a group of one-hit one-ders.

RiaW 4.37 - Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) Dark Universe 5 of 3

September 24, 2021 17:21 - 1 hour - 58.9 MB

In our final installment of our series on the Universal Monsterverse, we dig up the one real gem in mummy movie history, the one with Abbott and Costello. It's so completely weird and bonkers that I think I love it? I might love it? Who knows. My brain has been removed through my nose with a straw at this point. Do you know of a franchise that needs saving? A universe that needs creating? A mummy that needs meeting? Email us. nd next week we're talking about That Thing You Do to celebrate ...

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