TAATM #481: High and Low vs. Ransom

Paul and Erin are held captive by two films about kidnapping schemes affecting wealthy men: Akira Kurosawa's 1963 all-timer HIGH AND LOW, starring Toshiro Mifune, and Ron Howard's 1996 smash thriller RANSOM, starring Mel Gibson.

Paul and Erin review a pile of new movies, including FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, THE NAKED GUN, EDDINGTON, TOGETHER, WEAPONS, SACRAMENTO, THE LIFE OF CHUCK and BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES, before revisiting the romcoms BABY BOOM and KATE & LEOPOLD, the only-in-New York flicks THE INCIDENT and SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, and the Roman Polanski flop swashbuckler PIRATES.

Paul and Erin discuss two films that tell the origin stories behind classics of children's literature: Marc Forster's 2004 Oscar-bait drama about the creation of PETER PAN; and DREAMCHILD, the Dennis Potter-scripted 1985 drama about the creation of ALICE WONDERLAND.

Paul and Erin review James Gunn's comic-book blockbuster SUPERMAN, along with Alex Ross Perry's unconventional music doc PAVEMENTS, Mariska Hargitay's documentary MY MOM JAYNE and David Mamet's HENRY JOHNSON, as well as a Studio Ghibli classic, a neglected 1970s Key West hangout flick, a PADDINGTON movie and Dennis Potter's final two TV ministeries.

Erin and Paul bone up on two comedies about lower-class women getting tutored by intellectual men: the 1950 Judy Holliday vehicle BORN YESTERDAY, and the class-conscious 1983 British comedy EDUCATING RITA, starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

Paul and Erin share their impressions of Wes Anderson's capitalist caper THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, Danny Boyle's postapocalyptic sequel 28 YEARS LATER, Celine Song's sophomore feature MATERIALISTS, David Cronenberg's grief-stricken drama THE SHROUDS and the Netflix hit KPOP DEMON HUNTERS before delving into older features such as MILLENNIUM MAMBO, STARS AT NOON and KHOON BHARI MAANG.

Paul and Erin pack their bags and discuss two films about married couples going on multiple vacations: Alan Alda's 1981 comedy-drama THE FOUR SEASONS and Stanley Donen's 1967 drama TWO FOR THE ROAD.

Erin and Paul review the early-summer blockbusters MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE--THE FINAL RECKONING and THUNDERBOLTS* as well as the are-men-okay? comedy FRIENDSHIP, the dystopian parenting satire THE ASSESSMENT, the indie heartwarmer THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND and the Paul Reubens documentary PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF before diving into a bunch of TV shows, including THE REHEARSAL, THE DEVIL'S PLAN and SIRENS.

Paul and Erin tear up at a pair of movies about beloved dogs: the generation-traumatizing 1957 Disney classic OLD YELLER, and the 2008 adaptation of John Grogan's memoir MARLEY & ME.

Paul and Erin review a host of new movies, including blockbusters like SINNERS and worthwhile indies like THE RULE OF JENNY PEN, THE ACTOR and EEPHUS.