Diggstown (1992)

This week on Shat the Movies, we're hunting a serial killer with Kiss the Girls (1997), the thriller that introduced Morgan Freeman as detective and psychologist Alex Cross. Gene and Big D break down Freeman's effortless authority, Ashley Judd fighting back, the creepy Casanova mystery, and a plot packed with enough twists and suspicious dudes to keep everyone guessing. Does this late 90s serial killer thriller still deliver, or was Hannibal Lecter already casting too big a shadow? Tune in and find out. Shat on Entertainment Kiss the Girls (1997) is a psychological thriller directed by Gary Fleder and stars Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Cary Elwes, and Tony Goldwyn. Based on James Patterson's novel, the film follows forensic psychologist Alex Cross as he searches for his kidnapped niece and becomes involved in the hunt for a serial kidnapper known as Casanova. His investigation leads him to Kate McTiernan, a woman who escaped captivity and may be the best chance of finding the other missing women. The film was the first big screen appearance of Alex Cross, with Freeman returning to the role in Along Came a Spider.

Cheech Marin steps out from Tommy Chong's shadow for his directorial debut, and Gene and Big D dig into whether this immigration comedy still holds up 40 years later. The Shat Crew breaks down the film's boldest gamble — leaving huge chunks of dialogue untranslated — plus the sight gags that still kill, the sketches that don't, and why Rudy's romance with Dolores might be the real heart of the movie. The conversation goes deeper than the jokes: workplace immigration raids in the '80s, the real cases (and real consequences) behind the comedy, and why Cheech says this movie now plays more like a documentary. Also covered: the good, the weird, and the completely bananas ending — featuring a Neil Diamond needle-drop and a border-storming finale nobody saw coming. This week's commissioner, Fernando Z., waited almost two years for this review — and it was worth it.  Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we're heading to the White House with Dave (1993), where an ordinary guy who looks exactly like the president suddenly finds himself running the country. Gene and Big D break down Kevin Kline's double duty, the surprisingly sweet romance with Sigourney Weaver, and a political fantasy built around the idea that maybe common sense could actually fix Washington. Is Dave still a charming political comedy, or does its optimism feel completely insane today? Tune in and find out. Full movie info below: Dave (1993) is a political comedy directed by Ivan Reitman and stars Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, and Ben Kingsley. Kline plays Dave Kovic, a presidential impersonator recruited to secretly stand in for the President of the United States after a medical emergency. What begins as a temporary deception becomes increasingly complicated when Dave starts taking the job seriously. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and became a warmhearted alternative to the darker political thrillers of the era. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we're going back to school with Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), the story of a musician who takes a teaching job while dreaming of something bigger. Gene and Big D break down Richard Dreyfuss' decades in the classroom, the students he inspires, the family he sometimes neglects, and whether Mr. Holland is actually the inspirational teacher we remember him being. Is this a moving tribute to teachers, or does nostalgia deserve most of the credit? Tune in and find out. Full movie info below Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) is a drama directed by Stephen Herek and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, and Jay Thomas. The film follows composer Glenn Holland over three decades as a temporary teaching job gradually becomes his life's work. Richard Dreyfuss received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance, and the film became a popular 1990s story about teaching, family, sacrifice, and the different ways a person can leave a legacy. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week, Gene and Big D review The Power of One (1992), the historical drama directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky) and starring Stephen Dorff, Morgan Freeman, John Gielgud, and a very young, very hateable Daniel Craig — in his feature film debut. Set in apartheid-era South Africa, the film follows Peter "PK" Keith, an Anglo boy navigating boarding school brutality, a German expat mentor, a prison boxing coach, and the weight of becoming a symbol for an oppressed people. It's ambitious, it's beautiful, and it completely bombed at the box office. This episode, the guys debate: Whether PK is the hero — or actually the most dangerous man in South Africa Why the film's Black characters are almost impossibly patient with the white kid saving them The most disturbing scene in any PG-13 movie (and it's not the violence) Stephen Dorff: criminally underrated, or just lucky here? What PK should have done instead of turning down Oxford? Plus: Dick fosters five-week-old kittens named Band Camp and Space Camp. Gene drunkenly watched the FIFA World Cup final before recording. Rob's commissioner letter about his late mum brings the whole episode to a halt. This commission comes courtesy of Rob H. (UK), part of his upcoming block of commissions. Rob's letter — including his childhood trip to Zimbabwe, his memories of Victoria Falls, and a Zulu phrase he made Gene Google live on mic — is one of the best we've received in 500 episodes. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

It's episode 503 and commissioner Shane — fantasy baseball champion, Jump Rope for Heart hero, and listener since episode four — finally gets his pick: Pixar's 2006 animated comedy Cars. Dick watched it with his daughter, Emma. Gene watched it for the first time, still unclear why so many Walmart shoppers wear Lightning McQueen Crocs. What follows is a full breakdown of the film — the stunning opening race sequence, the surprisingly rich world-building, the Route 66 economic collapse that hit harder than expected, and the central flaw neither host could ignore: Lightning McQueen is the least interesting car in his own movie. Also on the docket: Did Pixar accidentally make a pro-walkable-city film? Can Cars die of natural causes? What happened to Stanley? Mötley Crüe was offered a song in this movie. They said no. Disney went with Rascal Flatts. We're still angry. The Escalade vs. Navigator distinction that you will not hear anywhere else. Dick's Pixar top 10, Gene's complicated feelings about Up, and a debate on whether WALL-E is a zero-wipe perfect film. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on Shat the Movies, we're heading to Camp North Star for Meatballs (1979), the summer camp comedy that helped launch Bill Murray into movie stardom. Gene and Big D revisit the pranks, camp rivalries, and Murray's unforgettable charm to see if this laid-back classic still delivers the laughs. Is it a timeless comedy or just a nostalgic trip back to summer vacation? Tune in and find out. Full movie info below: Meatballs (1979) is a comedy directed by Ivan Reitman and stars Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, and Chris Makepeace. The film follows easygoing camp counselor Tripper Harrison as he tries to boost the spirits of campers at Camp North Star while competing against the wealthy Camp Mohawk in the annual Olympiad. A surprise box office hit, Meatballs launched Bill Murray's film career and helped establish the summer camp comedy as a popular genre throughout the 1980s. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Gene and Dick hit a milestone — episode 501 — and they're celebrating by going back to the '90s with Jean-Claude Van Damme's passion project, The Quest. Commissioned by Steven M. as part of the Month of Steven, this 1996 martial arts adventure finds Van Damme not just starring but directing — and the results are... surprisingly ambitious. In this episode: Is The Quest Bloodsport in 1925, or Van Damme's Indiana Jones? Gene and Dick can't agree. Roger Moore shows up and completely steals the movie. Dick makes a controversial case that he may have been a better Bond than Connery. The tournament fighters are real martial artists — and it makes all the difference. Van Damme is obsessed with his legs. His eyes. And apparently, silk underwear. The orphans were definitely dead by the third act. We ran the timeline. What did the note say? This is the question that may never be answered. Also in this episode: a listener reports that someone trained AI on Big D's voice to sell knives on TikTok, the guys lock in two months of Spooktacular horror films, Beastmaster gets commissioned, and next week brings a summer camp classic from 1979. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Episode 500 is here! To celebrate this milestone, the Shat Crew commemorated the occasion with a limited-edition Episode 500 Mission Patch, created as a special thank-you to listeners who helped us reach 500 movies. Get yours at www.shatpod.com/movies/patch while supplies last. For the 500th episode of Shat The Movies, Gene and Big D lace up their inline skates and head to Cincinnati for Airborne, the 1993 coming-of-age comedy that somehow blends fish-out-of-water humor, street hockey, aggressive inline skating and a roster of future stars.  Starring Shane McDermott alongside a young Seth Green and Jack Black, Airborne is peak '90s comfort food—equal parts sports movie, teen comedy and time capsule. The guys revisit the film's unforgettable Devil's Backbone race and debate whether Mitchell Goosen is the coolest kid ever dropped into the Midwest or just the luckiest. Along the way, they discuss rollerblading's brief moment as the future of extreme sports and why Airborne has become one of the great forgotten cult classics of the decade. Is Airborne an overlooked '90s gem that deserves to roll alongside the best sports comedies of its era, or is it simply nostalgia doing all the heavy lifting? Join us as we celebrate 500 episodes and an incredible community of listeners who've been along for the ride. Plot Summary: After moving from sunny California to Cincinnati, teenager Mitchell Goosen struggles to fit in at his new high school until he befriends a group of Rollerbladers and finds himself caught in a rivalry that can only be settled with an epic downhill race through the city's steepest streets. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

James Woods is a con man you desperately want to punch, Louis Gossett Jr. fights 10 men at 48 years old, and Gene somehow thought this was a New Jack City knockoff. This week, Steven M. commissions the 1992 sports comedy con film Diggstown, and we ask the question: Is it actually clever, or does everybody in the room just think they are? We break down the complicated long con, the overcrowded cast, a dead man in the locker room that nobody seems particularly upset about, and whether Oliver Platt's truck is the real star of the film. Plus: is Inception a hustle movie? Would you fight Louis Gossett Jr.? And Dick watches every movie twice now, apparently. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite