Late to the Movies

The Exorcist (100th Episode!)

August 7th, 2023  |  1 hr 47 mins

100, 50, anniversary, ben holt, ellen burstyn, exorcism, film, horror, jason miller, late to the movies, linda blair, max von sydow, pazuzu, review, the exorcist, william friedkin, william peter blatty

It's the ONE HUNDRETH EPISODE of the podcast (not counting bonuses) and we're celebrating all month long - welcome to Anniversary Month! In August, we'll be watching movies that are celebrating their own milestones in 2023. First up is a big one - the 50th anniversary of The Exorcist (1973)! Ben, Greg, Ray, and Robbie discuss the film that's often cited as the scariest/most influential/best/etc. horror movie of all time.

Directed by William Friedkin, written by William Peter Blatty and based on his novel, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, and Max von Sydow.

Scream 2

July 31st, 2023  |  1 hr 9 mins

ben holt, courteney cox, david arquette, detective, film, jada pinkett, jamie kennedy, kevin williamson, late to the movies, laurie metcalf, liev schreiber, murder, mystery, neve campbell, review, sarah michelle gellar, scream, scream 2, timothy olyphant, wes craven, whodunit, whodunnit

It's a FIVE MONDAY MONTH so we're throwing a curveball for the finale of WHODUNIT MONTH - Scream 2! It's 1997 and Ghostface is back to stalk Ben, Jeffrey, and Kate with a whole new set of suspects, misdirections, and lots and lots of stabbing.

Directed by Wes Craven, written by Kevin Williamson, and starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalf, Timothy Olyphant, Jada Pinkett, and Liev Schreiber.

Clue

July 24th, 2023  |  1 hr 4 mins

ben holt, board games, christopher lloyd, clue, colleen camp, detective, eileen brennan, film, john landis, jonathan lynn, late to the movies, lesley ann warren, madeline kahn, martin mull, michael mckean, murder, mystery, review, tim curry, whodunit, whodunnit

Whodunit Month rolls the dice with the classic board game turned cult comedy/mystery, 1985's Clue! Ben, Kay, and Will discuss the many red herrings, character actors, and, well, murders of the film - make sure to listen three times to hear all the endings!

Directed by Jonathan Lynn, co-written by Lynn and John Landis, and starring Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and Colleen Camp.

Glass Onion

July 17th, 2023  |  1 hr 23 mins

ben holt, benoit blanc, daniel craig, dave bautista, detective, edward norton, film, glass onion, janelle monáe, jessica henwick, kate hudson, kathryn hahn, knives out, late to the movies, leslie odom jr., madelyn cline, murder, mystery, review, rian johnson, whodunit, whodunnit

Next up for Whodunit Month - 2022's Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery! Ben, Greg, and Ray take a trip to a private Greek island to discuss the return of Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson's sequel to Knives Out.

Written and directed by Rian Johnson and starring Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.

Murder on the Orient Express

July 10th, 2023  |  1 hr 21 mins

agatha christie, albert finney, anthony perkins, ben holt, detective, film, hercule poirot, ingrid bergman, jacqueline bisset, late to the movies, lauren bacall, michael york, murder, murder on the orient express, mystery, review, sean connery, sidney lumet, vanessa redgrave, whodunit, whodunnit

Whodunit Month continues with our first Poirot film - Murder on the Orient Express! Ben and Anthony discuss the twists and turns of this star-studded, 1974 Agatha Christie adaptation.

Directed by Sidney Lumet, screenplay by Paul Dehn, and starring (deep breath) Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Rachel Roberts, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Richard Widmark and Wendy Hiller.

The Thin Man

July 3rd, 2023  |  56 mins 49 secs

adaptation, adapted, ben holt, classic literature, dashiell hammett, detective, film, late to the movies, murder, myrna loy, mystery, review, w.s. van dyke, whodunit, whodunnit, william powell

Here's a clue to deduce July's theme... it's Whodunit Month! We're kicking it off with a classic pre-code comedy-mystery, 1934's The Thin Man! Ben, Bree, Sam, and Vaz maintain a healthy buzz at all times while discussing W.S. Van Dyke's witty, stylish, incoherently plotted detective tale, the first film for William Powell and Myrna Loy's iconic Nick and Nora.

Directed by W. S. Van Dyke and based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Easy A

June 26th, 2023  |  1 hr 5 mins

adaptation, adapted, aly michalka, amanda bynes, ben holt, classic literature, dan byrd, easy a, emma stone, film, late to the movies, lisa kudrow, malcolm mcdowell, patricia clarkson, penn badgley, review, stanley tucci, teen movies, thomas haden church, will gluck

Teen Movies Adapted from Classic Literature Month concludes with 2010's Easy A! Ben and Noah vlog about the Emma Stone star-making, (kind of) Scarlet Letter adaptation.

Directed by Will Gluck, written by Bert V. Royal, and starring Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church, Dan Byrd, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Lisa Kudrow, Aly Michalka, and Malcolm McDowell.

She's the Man

June 19th, 2023  |  1 hr 41 mins

adaptation, adapted, amanda bynes, andy fickman, ben holt, channing tatum, classic literature, david cross, film, late to the movies, laura ramsey, review, she's the man, teen movies, vinnie jones

Teen Movies Adapted from Classic Literature Month continues with 2006's She's the Man! Ben, Bree, Sam, and Vaz discuss the Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum-starring modern twist on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Directed by Andy Fickman and starring Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and David Cross.

Clueless

June 12th, 2023  |  1 hr 4 mins

90s, adaptation, adapted, alicia silverstone, amy heckerling, ben holt, breckin meyer, brittany murphy, classic literature, clueless, dan hedaya, donald faison, film, late to the movies, paul rudd, review, teen movies, wallace shawn

'Teen Movies Adapted From Classic Literature Month' continues with 1995's Emma modernization, Clueless! Ben and Anthony discuss the oft-quoted 90's high school classic.

Written and directed by Amy Heckerling and starring Alicia Silverstone with Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Dan Hedaya, Wallace Shawn, and Breckin Meyer.

10 Things I Hate About You

June 5th, 2023  |  1 hr 30 mins

adaptation, adapted, allison janney, ben holt, classic literature, david krumholtz, film, gil junger, heath ledger, joseph gordon-levitt, julia stiles, karen mccullah lutz, kirsten smith, larisa oleynik, late to the movies, review, teen movies

New month, new theme! June's theme is "Teen Movies Adapted from Classic Literature," because I haven't come up with a better title. To kick it off, Ben, Greg, Ray, and Robbie take a look at Shakespeare through the lens of late 90's Seattle with 10 Things I Hate About You.

Directed by Gil Junger, screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, and starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Allison Janney.

Josie and the Pussycats

May 29th, 2023  |  1 hr 28 mins

alan cumming, archie comics, ben holt, deborah kaplan, film, gabriel mann, harry elfont, josie and the pussycats, late to the movies, missi pyle, movie, music, music movies, parker posey, paulo costanzo, rachael leigh cook, review, rosario dawson, tara reid

Music month concludes with 2001's Josie and the Pussycats! Ben, Bree, Kay, and Sam discuss Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont's cult classic comic adaptation.

Co-written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson, and featuring Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Gabriel Mann, Paulo Costanzo, and Missi Pyle.

Coco

May 22nd, 2023  |  1 hr 48 mins

ben holt, benjamin bratt, coco, disney, edward james olmos, film, gael garcía bernal, late to the movies, lee unkrich, movie, music, music movies, pixar, review

Music Month continues with 2017's Coco! Ben, Greg, Ray, and Robbie discuss Disney & Pixar's Día de los Muertos-inspired, musical trip to the land of the dead. For kids!

Directed by Lee Unkrich, voice cast stars Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía and Edward James Olmos.

Inside Llewyn Davis

May 15th, 2023  |  1 hr 13 mins

adam driver, ben holt, carey mulligan, cohen brothers, ethan coen, f. murray abraham, film, garrett hedlund, inside llewyn davis, joel cohen, john goodman, justin timberlake, late to the movies, movie, music, music movies, oscar isaac, review

Music Month continues with 2013's Inside Llewyn Davis! Ben and Anthony discuss the Cohen Brothers' discursive look at the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene, featuring a breakthrough performance from Oscar Isaac.

Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Oscar Isaac and featuring Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, F. Murray Abraham, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

May 8th, 2023  |  1 hr 38 mins

alison pill, anna kendrick, aubrey plaza, ben holt, brandon routh, brie larson, bryan lee o'malley, chris evans, edgar wright, ellen wong, film, jason schwartzman, kieran culkin, late to the movies, mary elizabeth winstead, michael cera, movie, music, music movies, review, scott pilgrim, scott pilgrim vs the world

Music Month continues with 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Ben, Greg, Martha, Ray, and Robbie get a life, gain the power of self respect, and discuss Edgar Wright's hyper kinetic box office bomb-turned-cult classic.

Directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley. Starring Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead and featuring Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Ellen Wong, and Jason Schwartzman.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

May 1st, 2023  |  1 hr 3 mins

ben holt, dewey cox, film, jake kasdan, jenna fischer, john c. reilly, judd apatow, kristen wiig, late to the movies, movie, music, music movies, review, tim meadows, walk hard

Time for a new theme - it's May Music Month! This month we'll be watching movies that are NOT musicals or musical biopics but just about music or musicians. It'll make sense, I promise.

Up first, a fake biopic: 2007's Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story! Ben, Bree, Sam, and Vaz discuss Jake Kasdan's John C. Reilly-starring satire of Oscar-baiting musician biographies. Beau is Afraid Spoilers from around 4:20 to 20:35.

Directed by Jake Kasdan, written by Kasdan and Judd Apatow, and starring John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows and Kristen Wiig.

Draft Day (Re-Release!)

April 27th, 2023  |  1 hr 10 mins

ben holt, chadwick boseman, denis leary, draft day, film, football, frank langella, ivan reitman, jennifer garner, kevin costner, late to the movies, nfl, review, sports movies

Why not?! It's Draft Day in real life once again, so we're re-releasing our Draft Day episode, originally aired in April 2022.

Ben, Bree, Sam, and Vaz discuss the many quotable lines, high stakes trades, and corporate tie-ins of Ivan Reitman's final film, because we are a Cleveland Girl and We Are Football. Directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Chadwick Boseman, Denis Leary, and Frank Langella.