Arrival (2016)

Our second film about post-graduate degrees moves this week into the first year of medical school. In director Thom Eberhardt's 1989 movie "Gross Anatomy," the story follows Joe Slovak (Matthew Modine), the son of a fisherman, who is accepted as a first-year medical student. While his roommate, David Schreiner (Todd Field) may be a bit high strung, Joe decides to befriend him anyway. The pair enroll in the year-long course Gross Human Anatomy, led by Associate Dean of Students and professor Dr. Rachel Woodruff (Christine Lahti) and Dr. Geoffrey Banumbra (Zakes Mokae). There, they meet their lab partners Laurie Rorbach (Daphne Zuniga), Miles Reed (John Scott Clough), and Kim McCauley (Alice Carter), who they'll be working with for the rest of the course. Joe makes it very clear from day one that he's attracted to Laurie, but she's more focused on getting through school than exploring a relationship with him. But nothing remains the same as the five attempt to tackle the challenges, triumphs, and failures, resulting in changes both mild and startling. Plus, the trio reveal an adjustment to their planned list of pairings in order to honor two legendary actors who have passed away in recent weeks.

This pairing focuses on cinematic depictions of post-graduate degrees, in this case law school and medical school! First up, the original film detailing just how hard the first year of law school can actually be! In 1970's "The Paper Chase," director James Bridges tells the tale of James T. Hart (Timothy Bottoms), newly arrived at Harvard Law School. On his first day in Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.'s contract law class, however, things don't go all that well. This sets the tone for the rest of the year, with Hart trying to juggle a relationship with Susan (Lindsey Wagner) who turns out to be a bit more important to Hart's life than first thought. He also forms a study group with fellow classmates Franklin Ford III (Graham Beckel), Kevin Brooks (James Naughton), Thomas Craig Anderson (Edward Hermann, in his first film role), Willis Bell (Craig Richard Nelson), and O'Connor (Robert Lydiard). As the year goes on, facets of life outside of the classroom are revealed and some of the study group drops off, one-by-one, until only some are left to take the exam at the end of the year. But who sticks it out and who gives up, you'll have to watch the film to find out!

Our second Halloween film for 2026 is a remake of a William Castle film from 1960. This time around, director Steve Beck brings us an updated thriller in 2001's "Thir13en Ghosts!" Widower Arthur (Tony Shalhoub) learns that his estranged Uncle Cyrus (F. Murray Abraham) has died and left him a rather unique mansion. Taking his daughter Kathy (Shannon Elizabeth), son Bobby (Alec Roberts), and housekeeper Maggie (Rah Digga), they arrive with Uncle Cyrus' lawyer Ben Moss (JR Bourne) to find an electrician, Rafkin (Matthew Lillard) already on-site, claiming he needs to get into the house to restore power to the surrounding neighborhood. Immediately, the house turns out to be something no one expected, given that the entire structure is made of glass covered in Latin inscriptions. Quickly, it become clear that the house is a giant ghost prison, and the ghosts are both loose and incredibly violent. What unfolds is a race for survival as a competitor of Cyrus', a spiritual liberator named Kalina (Embeth Davidtz), arrives to try to free the ghosts and save Arthur and his family from certain death. Plus, the trio reveal what two films, on the theme of "Doctors and Lawyers," will make up the next pairing!

Happy Halloween! For 2026, horror-geek Jeff has put together a pairing of scary films that center around glass and mirrors. First up: The final film in John Carpenter's "Apocalypse Trilogy" still un-reviewed, 1987's "Prince of Darkness!" Written and directed by Carpenter (although originally under a pseudonym), this story follows quantum physicist Dr. Howard Birack (Victor Wong) who is recruited by Catholic priest Father Loomis (Donald Pleasence) to help solve a mystery hidden away by the church for thousands of years. Dr. Birack brings along several of his students to assist him, including Brian Marsh (Jameson Parker), Catherine Danforth (Lisa Blount), Walter (Dennis Dun), Kelly (Susan Blanchard), and Mullins (Dirk Blocker). They're joined by students from other disciplines including Lisa (Ann Yen), (Susan Cabot (Anne Marie Howard), Lomax (Ken Wright), Calder (Jesse Lawrence Ferguson), and Dr. Paul Leahy (Peter Jason). What they find, however, is where physics and religion cross into each other's realms, and this heralds the return of an ancient evil... perhaps even the end of the world! A tour de force for Carpenter, and the film beings together some of his favorite actors from other projects. Also starring musician Alice Cooper!

Our second Drew Barrymore film comes fifteen years after our first. Directed by Raja Gosnell, 1999's "Never Been Kissed" follows Josie Geller (Barrymore), a 25-year-old copy editor for the Chicago Sun Times who is desperate to become a reporter, although her managing editor Gus Strauss (John C. Reilly) and her best friend Anita (Molly Shannon) express their doubts at her readiness. After a fluke assignment appears from editor-in-chief Rigfort (Garry Marshall), Geller is assigned to go undercover as a high school senior at South Glen South High School to find out what today's high-schoolers are really all about. But coming from a personal high school experience as a highly unpopular geek, Geller is woefully unprepared to deal with the mean girls, Kirsten (Jessice Alba), Gibby (Jordan Ladd), and Kristin (Marley Shelton), and the popular guys led by Guy Perkins (Jeremy Jordan). Fortunately, she's befriended almost immediately by calculus-club member Aldys (Leelee Sobieski). But cupid strikes when Josie meets English teacher Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan), even though she's supposedly a 17-year-old student. Eventually, her brother Rob (David Arquette) also enrolls as a senior and quickly becomes popular, providing Josie an 'in' with the cool cliques, although moving into those circles alienates Aldys. Plus, there's the unrequited attraction with Mr. Perkins. A merry, if somewhat uncomfortable at times, trip back to the perils and dramas of high school, but a wonderful vehicle for Barrymore's ability to portray lovable and dorky at the same time. Plus, the guys reveal what two horror films will make up this year's Halloween pairing!

This is the second pairing that comes to us from our Patreon family member Amy, who suggested the pairing we started this batch with, of films starring both John and Lionel Barrymore. Now, at the end of the batch, we're saluting the modern part of the Barrymore dynasty, Drew Barrymore! We start with one of her outings as a child actress in the film version of the Stephen King novel "Firestarter." Directed by Mark L. Lester, this 1984 outing finda Charlie McGee (Drew Barrymore) who is on the run with her father, Andrew (David Keith). We don't know who they're running from, but we learn quickly that both father and daughter are possessed of powerful mental abilities. We later learn that a vast government conspiracy, which Andrew refers to as 'The Shop', to capture the two and turn them into weapons controlled by one intelligence agency or another. The story then follows the father and daughter as they continue to flee, and the agents from The Shop who are bound and determined to bring them in. The film also stars Martin Sheen as Captain Hollister, the head of The Shop, George C. Scott as John Rainbird, the bounty hunter who makes it his mission to capture Charlie, as well as Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, Moses Gunn, and Antonio Fargas. One of the better adaptations of Stephen King and a marvel considering the 100% practical effects used in its creation.

Our second film pays tribute to the work of Tim Curry. Directed by Brian Henson, this is a pure pirate film, albeit with lots of singins and dancing thrown in. Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz), Rizzo (voiced by Steve Whitmire), and young Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop) discover that local drunk Billy Bones (Billy Connolly) is in possession of a treasure map, just in time for a group of pirates to come looking for it. They escape, aided by proprietor Mrs. Bluveridge (Jennifer Saunders) and find their way to a ship-building company where the layabout son of the owner, Squire Trelawney (Fozzie Bear, voiced by Frank Oz), agrees to help them sail off to find the treasure. On-board, Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo meet the ship's cook, one-legged Long John Silver (Tim Curry), first mate Mr. Samual Arrow (Sam the Eagle, also voiced by Frank Oz), and the hired commander of the ship, Captain Abraham Smollett, (Kermit the Frog, also voiced by Steve Whitmire). They set sail, and, as you might imagine from the title, get involved with betrayal, mutiny, and plunder, but also with friendship, loyalty, and ultimately a happy ending! Also featuring the voices of Jerry Nelson, Bill Barretta, and John Henson. And the trio reveals which pairing, suggested by Patron family member Amy, will make up the last pairing of the summer!

We begin a two-week tribute to two greats we lost recently: Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. Starting with director Herbert Ross' tear-jerker, 1989's "Steel Magnolias," we meet a newcomer to the small town of Chinquapin Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Annelle (Daryl Hannah) arrives at the beauty shop of Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) to interview for a job. After getting the position, we meet the Eatenton family: Bride-to-be Shelby (Julia Roberts), gun-happy father Drum (Tom Skerritt), and matriarch and local psychiatrist M'Lynn (Sally Field) who are neck-deep in wedding preparations. When local busybody Ouiser (Shirley MacLaine) shows up to face off with Drum about his gun use, Shelby and M'Lynn sneak off to Truvy's shop, where the local rich widow Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) is already getting her hair done before the nuptials. The story then speeds ahead over the next five-ish years as each of these women experience ups and downs including birth, wedding, death, and friendship. Also starring Sam Shepard, Dylan McDermott, Kevin J. O'Connor, Bill McCutcheon, and Ann Wedgeworth.

This is our extra mini-episode where we discuss the ending of "Arrival" including overt spoilers! So, if you haven't seen the film and don't want the ending spoiled, listen to the main episode and not this one!

The second film in our "Hard Science Fiction" pairing pivots from human-created questions to other-worldly questions. In 2016's epic "Arrival," director Denis Villeneuve, and writers Eric Heisserer and Ted Chiang, twelve extraterrestrial craft land across the planet, containing creatures the U.S. military name "Heptapods." Unfortunately, their method of communication is truly alien to humankind, prompting the recruitment of a group of specialists from a variety of fields. University professor of language Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is brought to the Montana landing site by Colonel Weber (Forrest Whitaker). She is paired with theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and military chaperon Captain Marks (Mark O'Brien). As Banks and Donnelly discover that communication can happen by learning the written language of the Heptipods, other country's efforts begin to create tension as their experts react more dramatically to whatever they're discovering, creating a much greater sense of urgency for the American team. Also starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma, and Frank Schorpion. And the trio reveal which two films they'll be reviewing for a tribute to both Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.