The Ref

In 2011, Bennett Miller somehow made us care about baseball when he turned a book about the Oakland A’s and a couple of sabermetricians into a feature-length drama featuring Brad Pitt, his bff Jonah Hill, and the great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Sabermetricians? You’re goddamn right! I vocabulary like a mug. This flick struggled in production but Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian both brought on as pinch hitters to finish what would become a film adorned in accolades and box office earnings. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate what losing sounds like and how much money a legacy is worth as we see if this one stole home or hit a grand slam.

In 2014, a puppy was kicked to death, and a tale of vengeance and healing followed with Chad Stahelski’s action banger, John Wick. Starring Keanu Reeves as the iconic title character who finds therapy in murder as he grieves his way through an organized crime family responsible for killing that puppy I mentioned earlier. This comic-inspired flick spurred too many sequels and spinoffs and made a metric ass-load of cash in the process. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent check in at The Continental to debate underworld commerce and see if John Wick is back or shoulda stayed retired.

In 2003 Tim Burton found himself hung up in tall tales with his fantastical family drama, Big Fish. This flick netted some huge talent with Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and many other notable names and faces as we brave the waters of this father and son’s tumultuous relationship told over the backdrop of an old man’s often confused musings.  Big Fish was nominated for a pile of awards that got away but did well critically. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate absentee fathers and disappointing sons as we decide if this Big Fish is the catch-of-the-day or if it’s gone bad.  

Len Wiseman’s debut in 2003 was no cause for celebration, but it could be said that Underworld, the film he popped his cherry on, was. Featuring Kate Beckinsale as Selene, the vampire enchantress who hunts werewolves and was responsible for the most sexual awakenings since Princess Leia went commando. This flick is basically Romeo and Juliet with sexy vampires and werewolves done with the late ‘90s glossy dark esthetic and broodiness. Oh, also, it spawned four sequels, a series, and a metric ass-load of cash while cementing neoprene bodysuits as my new fetish. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate werewolf lipstick and mixed-race relationships as we do our best to decide if the Underworld underwhelmed, or lives immortal.

It was the year 1999, and people were terrified of computers ending their life because they couldn’t handle change. But John McTiernan was cool as a cucumber working on what some people call The Thomas Crown Affair, his art heist remake/retake on the ‘60s flick of the same name. Pierce Brosnan faces off against Rene Russo and Denis Leary as he steals hearts and arts for the love of the game. This flick made over double its money back and was generally well-received. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate good art and bad taste as we decide if this flick stole our hearts or our time. 

In 1997, we saw a dark comedy thriller-type flick called Suicide Kings. Peter O'Fallon directed this cast of B and C-level actors for their ill-fated plan to kidnap a mobster in hopes he can fund or find their kidnapped friend. This flick did not do well, making less than a couple million in the $5 million budget and struggled for positive reviews. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate proper kidnapping etiquette and why you should always bring a catheter as we find out if this flick was the real deal or just a call for help. 

1993 brought us Stephen Hopkins’ action flick, Judgement Night. This flick tells the story of a group of friends who take a wrong turn into a bad area of Chicago where they witness a murder and become hunted by Denis Leary and his gang as they attempt to clean up any witnesses. This flick is another sentimental one for a couple of us, so even though this was not critically lauded and it didn’t make any money, we remember this movie fondly. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent discuss the sweet release of divorce and college graduates as we make our final ruling on Judgement Night.

In 2011 we were elevated watching Your Highness, David Gordon Green’s stoner fantasy flick starring and co-written by Danny McBride. This flick has us following a spoiled prince with a big heart and a substance abuse problem as he embarks on his first quest filled with danger and reluctant hand-jobs. This flick did not do well critically or financially, but the cast is good, and we remembered it fondly, so we decided to see if it could still crack us up. So, twist one up as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate playful secrets and the cost of a good lead as we try to decide if this flick burned one up or burned us out.

We are celebrating Christmas with Ted Demme’s 1994 dark comedy, The Ref, starring Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Glynis Johns. The Ref tells the story of a burglar who ends up taking a family hostage as a way of eluding capture as the cops scour the area for him; however, he gets more than he bargained for when the family turns out to be wildly dysfunctional. This movie had a fantastic cast, director, and writer and was well reviewed critically. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate unconventional therapy and gagging grandmas as we make the call on The Ref.

1974 brought the controversy and the funny with Mel Brook’s Blazing Saddles. This flick undertook the mission of taking on racism and westerns through the story of a black, half-Dutch, sheriff appointed to a small town of morons to reduce it’s worth so a dirty politician can buy it up and gentrify it. Blazing Saddles features the sparkling chemistry of Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, alongside a large cast of familiar faces from the old silver screen, in a satirical flick that made $120 million and was nominated for 3 Oscars. But does it hold up? Listen in as Jon, Colin, and Brent debate what’s twue, and where the white women are at, as we whip out this verdict.