Episode 127: Digger & Tropic Thunder

Tom Cruise wears prosthetics. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Digger (2026) and Tropic Thunder (2008), two films with Tom Cruise heavily disguised in a fat suit and special effects make-up. Digger is directed and co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, while Tropic Thunder is directed, co-written and stars Ben Stiller. We initially rave about the connections across both films, mainly the meta, self-referential structure of both films: a play within a film and a film within a film. We make connections to a range of other films, including: Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1064); Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2014); Poor Things (2023); Astroid City (2023); Beau Is Afraid (2023); and Don't Look Up (2021). We praise the performances of Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons and Sophie Wilde. We also rave about the performances and characters of Tropic Thunder, including: Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Bill Hader, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Danny McBride, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and Ben Stiller. We discuss the stardom of Tom Cruise and the timing of these two acting roles in the larger arc of his career. We make connections to Galaxy Quest (1999), Zoolander (2001), The Lost City (2022), and Deadpool 2 (2018).

Warner Bros. Animation concept films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Coyote vs. Acme (2026) and Who Frame Roger Rabbit (1988), two live action and animated cross over films with characters from the Warner Brothers Animation back catalogue. We start by discussing our reactions to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. We move to the latest film, Coyote vs. Acme, and acknowledge what a simiar film it is to Roger Rabbit. We discuss the tumultuous history of Coyote vs. Acme, including the almost tax write off shelving and then how the film saw a wide release. We talk about the Intellectual Property of both Warner Brothers and Disney, and marvel at the range of characters that show up in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. We wonder at the absence of Kathleen Turner's lack of credit as Jessica Rabbit. We finish by praising both films for their technical and cinematic prowess.

Homer adaptations. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Odyssey (2026) and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), two adaptations of Homer's epic poems The Illiad and The Odyssey. We allude to the artistry of Christopher Nolan and Joel and Ethan Coen, aka The Coen Brothers - writer and directors of the two films. We discuss the music of both films, namely the O Brother, Where Art Thou album and the score of The Odyssey by Ludwig Göransson. Our conversation focuses on our reactions to The Odyssey, with general enjoyment found across the three hosts. We compare the archetypes across both films, discussing what each adaptation brings to the core characters, settings and ideas. We spend some time talking about O Brother, Where Art Thou's creative flourishes. We return to The Odyssey and laude Samantha Morton's performance as Circe, including the practical visual effects used in her scenes. We then move on to talk about the stacked cast in The Odyssey, including: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong'o, Benny Safdie and John Leguizamo.

Box office smash horror films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Backrooms (2026) and Obsession (2026), but in two separate conversations. Jeremy and William discuss Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, and then Jeremy and Sarah discuss Obsession, directed by Curry Barker. The Backrooms conversation starts with the box office impact of the film and how it potentially is shifting the industry model for investing in films. We unpack the psychology of the horror in the film, especially when considering the realities of Gen Z and what horror looks like in a post-Millennial world. We talk about the brilliant performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as are the physical sets in the film. We discuss the structure of the film and where the films works and where it is weak. We connect the film to the work of David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. Sarah swaps out with William, and chats with Jeremy about Obsession. Our conversation begins by praising the performance actor Inde Navarrette and later in the episode Michael Johnston. We talk about the strength of the narrative and how we can relate the situation amidst the horror. Our discussion focuses on the ending and the poetic justice, as well as the strength of the writing. We make connections to Weapons (2025), Romeo and Juliet (roughly 1597), Heated Rivalry (2025-), Fatal Attraction (1987), and the work of David Fincher and David Lynch (again). We finish the conversation by highlighting how much the film connected with our own lives.

Steven Spielberg films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Disclosure Day (2026) and Minority Report (2002), two Science Fiction films directed by cinema great Steven Spielberg. Our conversation begin by unpacking our reactions to and judgements of Disclosure Day, including how the film connects to or doesn't connect to the real-world pressures of today. We praise the performances of Eve Hewson and Emily Blunt, with mixed reactions to Josh O'Connor, Wyatt Russell and Coleman Domingo. We discuss the ineptitude from the super agents in both films. Our conversation moves to Minority Report and praise the performances of Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, Time Blake Nelson, Peter Stormare and, of course, Tom Cruise. We discuss the cinematography of both films, the work of Janusz Kaminski. We make the connection between Steven Spielberg's later work and the careers of Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese.

Movies that made Sophie. Jeremy Downing and returning guest to the podcast Sophie Gray discuss the most significant films in Sophie's life in our series of Movies That Made Us. We talk about our mutual love of storytelling, our experiences of film fandom as teenagers, and then jump into our discussion of specific movies. Sophie brings up a range of films, including Singin' in the Rain (1952), School of Rock (2003), Pulp Fiction (1994), Snatch (2000), Once Upn a Time... In Hollywood (2019), Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Hateful Eight (2015), Django Unchained (2012), Legally Blonde (2001), Toy Story 2 (1999), Promising Young Woman (2020), Parasite (2019) and Amélie (2001).

Drew Goddard solo space flicks. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Project Hail Mary (2026) and The Martian (2015). We begin by celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the podcast. We discuss our reactions to both films, from directors Ridley Scott, and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. We discuss the calibre of the cast in The Martian and the strength of Ryan Gosling's and Matt Damon's performances. We talk about the special effects and how the two films create a sense of zero-gravity in space. We close with our final thoughts, especially our experiences watching the films in the theatre and connections to other films... our typical schtick.

Classic stories retold. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Wuthering Heights (2026) and Romeo + Juliet (1996). Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet provide us with a wealth of points to talk about. We begin by discussing our reactions to 1996's Romeo + Juliet. We talk about the presence of this adaptation in high school classrooms, our initial reactions to the film both back in the day and now, and the high energy editing, acting and production elements. We break down the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the titular Romeo and Juliet, as well as praising the performances of John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlewaite, Paul Sorvino, Paul Rudd, Diane Verona and even Annette Bening. We discuss our reactions to Wuthering Heights, starting with our knowledge of the book (which none of us have read) and our expectations of Emerald Fennell's after our experiences watching Promising Young Woman (2020) and Saltburn (2023). We talk about the casting and performances of Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes and Shazad Latif. We each had different enjoyment levels of Wuthering Heights and each bring our reactions to the table.

Thrillers with an insidious carer at the centre. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Send Help (2026) and Misery (1990). We begin by discussing our shared experience of watching Send Help and praising the performances of Rachel McAdams as Linda Liddle and Dylan O'Brien as Bradley Preston. Our conversation jumps between Send Help and Misery, equally praising the performances of Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes and James Caan as Paul Sheldon. The work of Rob Reiner and Sam Raimi as directors is a key part of our enthusiasm, and we compare the films to various other movies, including: Cast Away (2000), Triangle of Sadness (2022), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), The Shining (1980), Lord of the Flies (1963), The Straight Story (1999) and Elf (2003).

Rian Johnson films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Wake Up Dead Man (2025), the latest in the Knives Out series, and Rian Johnson's first film Brick (2005). We begin by discussing our experiences watching Brick back in 2005 and 2006. This moves into us discussing a number of Rian Johnson's films, ending with Wake Up Dead Man. We discuss the range of actors in Wake Up Dead Man, including the accuracy of their casting, the bravado of their performances and whether they had enough to do. Our discussion weaves between the two films and talk about the technical elements and how Johnson and his team have crafted the tension, plot contrivances and semiotics.