This week on Alcohollywood, we're tackling our first sports movie AND our first cancer movie with the 1971 ABC Movie of the Week Brian's Song! The film is a tale of friendship, adversity, and very short shorts, which stars James Caan (of The Godfather and Mickey Blue Eyes fame) and Billy Dee Williams (of Star Wars and The Ladies' Man: The Movie fame). Together, they navigate the difficulties of interracial friendships and the rigors of a professional football season with a classiness and sophistication atypical of a movie made for television, even today.
Check out our drink, our rules and our review - Jared and Clint tackle the usual limitations of made-for-TV movies, the saccharine nature of both sports and terminal illness movies, and how this movie seems to defy both. Be sure to make our drink and pick up a copy of an incredibly heartfelt movie full of both raw emotion and cheezy '70s goodness - also 12 Angry Men's Jack Warden in an Emmy-winning supporting role as the coach!
Still haven't had enough Bruce Willis drinking game goodness? This week on Alcohollywood, we're checking out the 1997 gonzo sci-fi favorite The Fifth Element. Directed by Luc (La Femme Nikita/The Professional) Besson, this elaborately designed, infectiously fun flick brings us another great crazy Gary Oldman performance, homages to Blade Runner, Alien and French comic books, and the breakout performances of Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker (for better or worse).
This episode, Clint and Jared slug back the Big Badda-Boom as we ask the questions that this movie begs of us: How does Leeloo learn written English so quickly? Is Ruby Rhod hilariously campy or horrendously irritating? What is everyone wearing? Grab your multipass and check out our review/drinking game of The Fifth Element!
NOTE: This episode comes courtesy of a user request by listener D-Sane. Thanks, D-Sane, and we hope you like the show!
It's Oscar Week on Alcohollywood, and with the Academy Awards coming up, we're playing a drinking game to the Best Picture nominee we thought it would be most difficult to make a drinking game for - Terrence Malick's 2011 head-scratcher The Tree of Life! This beautifully-shot picture is definitely not for everyone, so check your expectations of linear plot, narrative clarity, and NOT seeing dinosaurs at the door.
Apart from this film, Jared and Clint also give their thoughts on the current run of nominees. Who do you think will win? Leave us a comment!
This week on Alcohollywood, we're taking our first user request (from A Godsend) and reviewing/playing our drinking game to Pee-Wee's Big Adventure! This 1985 film kickstarted the careers of Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, and Paul Reubens, and follows the story of a bike and the manchild who loves it.
The whole film is such an infectious, gonzo ride that you don't mind the fact that PEE-WEE'S THE MOST NORMAL CHARACTER IN THE FILM. Rube Goldberg machines, incessantly crooning train hobos and all-too-fitting cartoon sequences abound in this clear showcase for Tim Burton's cartoonishly macabre vision. Listen to our episode and try the game along with our signature drink, and keep on suggesting episodes!
Happy Valentine's Day from Alcohollywood! 'Tis the season for love, and in the 21st century, that also means shitty romantic comedies. While we've covered some stinkers in the past, none come off as more of a blatant product driven by daytime talk shows and the cult of celebrity than 2010's Garry Marshall fluff Valentine's Day!
This film is a blend of Love, Actually, Magnolia and Eat Pray Love, in that it's a mixture of small, intertwined stories about love experienced by Rich, Beautiful White People. Along with guest panelist Julia, we've got a lot to say about the film - but be sure to have your custom drink and rules handy at the same time!
Happy Groundhog Day from Alcohollywood! This week, we cover the film that, well, we have to cover – the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray! This tale of repeating days and personal improvement is likely the funniest film about spiritual transcendence to be set in Pennsylvania. (I do not say that lightly.) Also stars romantic comedy staple Andie MacDowell and comedian Chris Elliot, relishing his 13th minute of fame.
Happy Chinese New Year from Alcohollywood! In honor of the Year of the Dragon, we decided to watch (and drink to) the seminal 1970s kung-fu flick Enter the Dragon. Bruce Lee's iconic film showcases his incredible martial arts prowess, a groovy score by Lalo ("Mission Impossible") Schifrin, and a sweet afro from Jim Kelly. Horror-movie mainstay John Saxon also stars. Also, a snake. Come check out our custom drink and rules, and listen to the podcast below!
Have you ever heard the song "Rhinestone Cowboy" and thought to yourself, "Man, this would make a great movie!"....No? Well someone made it! Saddle up, as this week's Alcohollywood handles a particularly terrible film - the 1984 country-western fish-out-of-water buddy-comedy Rhinestone, directed by Bob Clark (who can seemingly only direct good movies with Christmas in the title) and starring Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton!
This week, Jared and Clint (and guest panelist Cherish) revisit a tale as old as time, just in time for its 3D rerelease - 1991's Beauty and the Beast! This Disney animated film was the first animated picture to be nominated for an Academy Award, and its smooth animation and energetic charm continues to delight. Oh, and Jerry Orbach plays a talking candelabra, which is all the reason really needed.
Welcome, loyal listeners, to 2012! On Alcohollywood, we revisit a film classic - Sidmey Lumet's 1957 film 12 Angry Men! Learn about the finer points of 1950s racism, the judicial system, and personal prejudice, all while sweating out the hottest day in New York. Henry Fonda leads a fantastic cast, including Piglet, A Robot, Diet Don Draper and young Grandpa from Problem Child!
Happy New Year's, Internet! Tonight, we're ringing in 2012 by reviewing the 1989 romantic comedy milestone When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner directs Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the ultimate 1980's post-scarcity thesis on just how damn complex romantic relationships can be, and we're all ready to have the "What She's Having"!
This week on Alcohollywood, Jared and Clint discuss the 2008 attempted revival of the sci-fi favorite The X-Files - The X-Files: I Want to Believe! Follow Mulder and Scully as they get back in the saddle again. Jared thinks it's a beautifully-shot, deeply thematic character piece; Clint thinks it's a boring, wasted opportunity to revive a brilliant science fiction show by downplaying the paranormal in favor of a half-baked serial killer thriller. What do you want to believe? Pour yourself a drink and take a listen!
Yippie-ki-yay, motherfuckers - it's our first alcoholly-jolly Christmas! We ring in the holidays with the incredible action film Die Hard; this amazing flick cemented Bruce Willis' status as an action star, and Alan Rickman as a velvety-voiced, diction-challenged character actor. Pick up your drink, get your rules in order, and bring in the Yuletide with our friends at Nakatomi Plaza!
Harry Connickuh from all of us at Alcohollywood! To ring in this Connickuh, we turn to the 1998 romantic drama Hope Floats, starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr., directed by Forest "Ghost Dog" Whitaker. Watch as Sandra Bullock gets her groove back in Smithville, Texas, and learn how divorce is for quitters!
It's a battle of wills this week on Alcohollywood, as Jared and Clint watch, dissect and bicker over the 1997 sci-fi movie Starship Troopers. Jared thinks it's crap, Clint thinks it's a classic; pour yourself a drink, take a listen and decide for yourself!
This week on Alcohollywood, we take a look at a critically-acclaimed blast from the past, as Jared and Clint talk about the Otto Preminger murder-mystery Laura. Check out our custom drink and rules, while the hosts tackle the atmosphere of film noir, 1940s fashion sense, and more!
This week on Alcohollywood, we delve into the seedy underbelly of Korean cinema with Chan-wook Park's critically acclaimed revenge thriller Oldboy! Listen in as Jared and Clint discuss metaphor, the financial means of maniacal villains, and the difference between man and beast. Oh, Dae-su, what will you do next?
(Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for the film contained within.)
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Alcohollywood – this holiday, we’re serving up an giant slice of low-budget turkey with the microbudgeted slasher ThanksKilling! Pour yourself a drink and enjoy the pain as Jared and Clint discuss bad puns, big breasts and talking turkeys.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, the folks at Alcohollywood decided to take a trip down memory lane to visit the 1987 Steve Martin/John Candy road movie Planes, Trains & Automobiles! Pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink, and take pleasure in the comfort of the holidays. While you're at it, give thanks that your trip home wasn't as eventful as the one Steve Martin endures.
This Veteran's Day, the staff of Alcohollywood decide to honor our troops by watching the 1980 British WWII film The Sea Wolves, starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. Pour one out for our dearly remembered and listen to the gents discuss the 'back in the saddle' genre of film, the James Bond connections, and the undeniable charm of the English.
This week on Alcohollywood, Jared, Clint and guest panelist Heidi perform some Dance Magic and strap on their all-too-revealing leggings to discuss (and drink to) the George Lucas/Jim Henson/David Bowie collaboration Labyrinth! Come witness this strange combination of Muppetry, puppetry, and 80's synth-dance tunes as we discuss the finer points of nostalgia, Jennifer Connolly's titsalents, and more!
This week, we're offering something a little extra - our Halloween special, Alcoholloween, where we bring in All Hallow's Eve with a special horrifying drinking game!
Today, we're taking a dip into the past with 1965's portmanteau horror film Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, starring Hammer horror staples Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. During a fateful train ride, five strangers (including Lee and a young Donald Sutherland) meet Dr. Schreck (Cushing), a mysterious old man who tells their fate through five spooky vignettes. Pull up some evil spirits and catch this creepy, atmospheric gem streaming on Netflix!
In this week’s episode of Alcohollywood, we tackle the 2004 romantic period piece The Notebook, where life is simpler, everyone important is white, and all that is standing in the way of true love is a mountain of cliches that make none of it the man’s fault. Head out to your Southern patio, sit back in your favorite rocking chair, and enjoy the fact that you have land with these drinking rules!