Ep. 116: The ‘Burbs

For our Gap Year T. Hanksgiving, Nate and Ryan watch The ‘Burbs, the 1989 Tom Hanks cult classic directed by Joe Dante. Featuring a stacked cast, including Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, and Corey Feldman, in addition to the man himself, The ‘Burbs is a horror/comedy that kind of befuddled audiences and critics in the late ’80s, but has developed a growing reputation as a prescient criticism of the corrosive power of a humdrum suburban existence. The ‘Burbs showcases the burgeoning realist side of Hanks, but gives plenty of opportunity for over-the-top crazy Hanks to shine through.

Let us know your thoughts on The ‘Burbs!

Links

Roger Ebert’s review of The ‘Burbs

The ‘Burbs at 30: how the cult comedy horror skewered suburbia by Charles Bramesco

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Ep. 115: Hereditary

‘Tis the season for our 10th annual Holiday Spooktacular, and as part of our Gap Year, we’re watching Hereditary, Ari Aster’s 2018 hit horror film starring Toni Collette. Hereditary took audiences by storm and continued studio A24’s rise to prominence in the current film conversation. It’s a career-making first feature for Ari Aster, and an electric performance by Toni Collette that seemed to impress everyone. As per Holiday Spooktacular tradition, Nate and Ryan had scared themselves out of watching it until now, seeing as Hereditary’s place as a must-see horror movie seems more or less cemented.

What did you think of Hereditary? Let us know!

Read Hereditary’s Ari Aster Answers Our Burning Questions About His “Upsetting” Horror Film by Jordan Crucchiola (Vulture).

Ep. 114: Bringing out the Dead

Nate and Ryan watch Bringing out the Dead, a Gap Year movie by one of their favorite directors, Martin Scorsese. Released in 1999, Bringing out the Dead was largely ignored by audiences and remains one of Scorsese’s forgotten works. Listen in as Nate and Ryan dig into the merits of this underappreciated gem. If you haven’t seen Bringing out the Dead, check it out and discover one of Scorsese’s most complicated  (and chaotic) examinations of the intersection of humanity and divinity.

If you have seen Bringing out the Dead, tell us your thoughts! Where does it rank among the many Scorsese masterpieces? Let us know!

Read Fran Del Pizzo’s great essay on the movie: Bringing Out the Dead: Scorsese’s Tale of Guilt and Compassion

Ep. 113: Predator

Nate and Ryan get in the summer blockbuster mood by watching Predator (1987) for the first time. As part of our Gap Year series, we’re catching up on this action classic over 35 years later. As often happens, Predator is now looked at quite differently from when it was first released. Nate and Ryan share their first impressions and whether or not another over-the-top action movie is an appropriate means of critiquing over-the-top action movies. Get to the choppa for a ride full of explosions, biceps, and foreign policy that oversteps through overuse of military! As always, let us know your thoughts on this movie!

 

Links

Predator Turns 35: A Look Back at Sci-Fi’s Most Subversive Creature Feature by Cole Burgett (Christ and Pop Culture)

Predator: Why is it So Good? – Rossatron on YouTube

Predator: The Smartest Genre Mash-Up Ever? Probably!Patrick (H) Willems on YouTube

Every Predator Movie is Worth Watching by Jesse Hassenger (Polygon)

 

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Ep. 112: Under the Tuscan Sun

Nate and Ryan watch Under the Tuscan Sun with special guest Rachel Hughes Gates. As we continue to rectify blind spots during this Gap Year, Rachel suggested that we watch Under the Tuscan Sun, a movie that has stuck with her ever since she saw it in theaters 20 years ago. Though the movie didn’t make the biggest splash upon its release, it has maintained popularity with its effective blend of romance, comedy, scenery, food, and affection for Italian cinema. Rachel talks us through what the movie has meant to her and why she thinks more people should watch Under the Tuscan Sun, preferably while eating some Italian food and some good wine.

What are your thoughts on Under the Tuscan Sun? What movies do you think we should watch to continue our Gap Year? Let us know!

 

Follow Can We Still Be Friends? on Facebook and Instagram and don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Send us a message anytime.

Follow Nate on Letterboxd. Follow Ryan on Letterboxd.