Bring Your Own Blockbuster

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This week, we’re basking in the festive glow of The Holiday. Jude Law is utterly sumptuous (are we questioning ourselves here?). Jack Black and Kate Winslet’s pairing might be a stretch, but is it the good kind of Christmas magic? And Rufus Sewell, a perfect festive arsehole?

We’re tackling the cheese factor too - just how much is too much, even at Christmas? We’re digging into what makes this rom-com a beloved holiday tradition (well, for most people).

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This week, Jack and Ben take the red pill and dive deep into the cultural phenomenon that is The Matrix. From its mind-bending philosophy to its groundbreaking technical achievements, we unpack why this 1999 sci-fi classic still holds up today.

We explore everything from the influence of Simulation and Simulacra to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, questioning whether we’re all living in a simulation. We’ll discuss the iconic scenes that defined a generation - think bullet time, the subway showdown, and that lobby shootout - and examine the film’s deeper themes, including the morality of Morpheus pulling people from the Matrix as well as it working as a trans allegory.

Plus, we debate the film’s MVP (Hugo Weaving or Laurence Fishburne?), consider why you shouldn’t always revisit classics (cough Star Wars), and reflect on how The Matrix changed the face of modern cinema.

So, strap in, dodge some bullets, and join us as we plug into one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.

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Lock up your swans and grab your Cornettos - this week, Jack and Ben rewatch Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz!

In this high-octane episode, we dive into the second instalment of the Cornetto Trilogy, exploring why Jack picked it and how it stacks up against Shaun of the Dead. Is this the best of the trilogy?

We discuss its loving homage to American cop films, its clever skewering of Hollywood clichés, and its razor-sharp self-awareness.

We unpack the writing process behind Hot Fuzz: from turning off the internet to meticulously crafting Sandford as their own rural Sim City, Wright and Pegg left no stone unturned. Plus, how does the idyllic setting of Wells, Somerset add to the film’s charm? And what does Hot Fuzz say about rural communities and the socio-political undertones of them?

Finally, we debate our MVPs—Simon Pegg, Timothy Dalton, or Nick Frost—and consider how the film has aged since 2007.

Next week, Ben takes the wheel with his pick—what will it be? One last big one before we focus on Christmas. Tune in to find out!

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In this week’s episode of Bring Your Own Blockbuster, Jack and Ben take on the gloriously absurd action thriller Face/Off. With a plot as outrageous as its stars’ performances, they delve into the twisted world of face-swapping, Nic Cage’s signature overacting, and why John Travolta might just be better as a villain.

Ben reveals why he picked it and challenges Jack to unpack what made the ‘90s such a unique time for movies – when reality could be conveniently ignored, terrorists were eccentric nerds, and characters could literally swap faces (and they'd just work out what happened with their bodies later). From John Woo's amazing slow-motion action shots, wavy knife leg stabbing and golden revolvers, they explore why Face/Off still holds up (or not) decades later.

Is Cage or Travolta the MVP? And what would a Face/Off 2 look like in today’s Hollywood? Tune in as they try to make sense of this cult classic and tease next week’s pick!

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Ba - Ba. Ba - Ba.

The Jaws theme is just the best isn't it? Unless you listen to our episode the other week where we very much made the case that John Williams' score for Jurassic Park was the greatest of all time. But what a film this is. We're in the heart of spooky szn and so it would be rude not to get into a film that scared off people from going into the water for an entire generation.

Within the pod we ask the question - Whether this is a horror film or simply just horrifying? How on earth you go about making a 24ft Great White Shark? And why Steven Spielberg nearly ran the whole production into financial difficulty?

At the heart of this film though we need to ask whether this is a film about a shark or is there something more at play here?

We love making BYOB and hope you enjoy the pod too - if you do have a spare minute to drop us a 5 star rating and a bit of a review that would be most helpful!!

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This week on Bring Your Own Blockbuster, Jack and Ben take a deep dive into the 1970's British folk horror classic The Wicker Man. They debate whether it should truly be considered a horror film, as many cast and crew members believed otherwise.

The pair also explore the concept of 'daylight horror' and what it represents. Additionally, they delve into the clash between Christianity and Paganism, discussing how this theological battle has influenced Britain's history.

Ben shares a fascinating bit of trivia about how one of the original cuts of the film was lost forever.

Tune in, and don’t forget to leave a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts!

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In this special episode, Jack chats with writer James Hamilton about his latest project, Murder for Dummies, a six-part comedy-horror series that’s as scary as it is hilarious.

James shares the journey of bringing this crowdfunded show to life, now available to watch for free on YouTube. Together, they explore the creative process, the unique challenges of writing for yourself versus working with big players like Netflix (where James has worked previously), and what it takes to make people laugh while scaring the wits out of them.

Tune in for an insightful conversation and a few behind-the-scenes secrets. And don’t forget to check out Murder for Dummies on YouTube or visit murderfordummies.com!

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We've all got busy lives right?! So... when you're choosing what to do with your rare bit of 'me time' you want to make sure you get it right. That's why Ben and Jack are here to help you make the right choice for your trip to the cinema this week. With that in mind... should you part with your hard earned cash to go out and see 'A Different Man' at the cinema this week?

Starring Sebastian Stan as Edward a man suffering from neuro-firbo-matosis who struggles with day to day life and to build meaningful connections with other people who's life is turned upside down by a the introduction of Ingrid (Renate Reinsve) who moves in next door and a new experimental treatment that could potentially 'Fix' things in his life.

Some incredibly interesting themes in this one - but is it a wait for Netflix or run down to the local cinema film? Get stuck in with the lads and find out.

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Is The Exorcist still a spine-chiller in 2024? Hosts Jack and Ben dive into this iconic horror classic to see if it retains its scare factor decades after its release.

Join them as they explore the film’s themes, asking whether faith holds relevance in today’s society. They’ll also unpack the film’s groundbreaking practical effects that made it unforgettable—and a societal phenomenon that was banned in the UK until 1999! To cap it off, they dig into the creepy on-set incidents that added to its infamous reputation.

Join us for this episode and stick around for more horror film deep-dives this Spooky SZN!

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Welcome... TO BRING YOUR OWN BLOCKBUSTER *T REX ROARS*. But seriously, welcome to the pod... it's Jurassic Park week!

There are so many reasons to love this film and we get into all of them. For starters... what a cast. Unbelievable talent on show here. A shirtless Goldblum, Richard 'Santa' Attenborough, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Sammy L Jackson and Wayne Knight.

Once again us practical effects neeks get the joy of seeing how Spielberg made the dinosaurs alongside his masterful direction.

We get some of the most iconic scenes of all time: In the kitchen, the T Rex enclosure, the hacking scene by Dennis Nedry, 'Clever Girl', the Brachiosaurus encounter amongst many others.

But above all... John Williams' score. What a piece of genuine genius and artistry. It's almost god like.

Enjoy it! More to come this week...

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Oh hello there! Welcome back to BYOB Pod. Time to delve into an absolute monster of a film as we go undercover and take on 'The Departed'.

Two films to give you the scoop on this week before we get into that though! Firstly...A big thank you to Paramount for having us at the premiere of Transformers One! What an incredible experience, and a really fun film as well. Beautiful animation and an absolute throwback - Ben and Jack get stuck into the

Then... the absolute chaos that is 'The Substance'. We really don't know how on earth you explain this other than, get to the cinema to go and watch it. It's an experience...

Right then, the main event. 'The Departed'. It's undeniably in the Ironside Klaxon bracket. Oh the cast? Scorsese, Di Caprio, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Damon. BOSH. Up for discussion: is this the greatest twist ending of all time? What is the message at the heart of the film? And what on earth is that American accent Ray Winstone?! An all timer of a soundtrack and some outrageously good performances to choose from for MVP. 300m at the box office nearly 20 years ago is not too shabby either!

Enjoy the pod... Homework wise... we're looking at a bit of a belter next week.. Jurassic Park! (Da da- Da da - Da da da da da da da)

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This week, Jack and Ben head back to the swamp to revisit Shrek (2001), the animated classic that changed fairy tales forever.

They’ll explore the film’s core message - we’re all a bit weird, full of flaws, but finding people who love us for who we are is what really matters.

The episode kicks off with a review of James McAvoy’s latest thriller Speak No Evil, touching on similar themes of acceptance in a very different way.

Why was Shrek such a massive hit? From its iconic cast and soundtrack (All Star, anyone?) to its clever pop culture references like Star Wars, The Matrix, and WWE, Jack and Ben break it all down.

They’ll also discuss whether Shrek was DreamWorks’ cheeky dig at Disney, and the rivalry between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner.

So, grab the jumbo popcorn and join us for a fun, nostalgic chat about one of the most beloved films of our (Ben's) childhood!

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In this episode of BYOB, hosts Jack and Ben dive into the surreal world of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (1988) to see how this cult classic holds up in 2024.

With its bizarre blend of dark comedy and quirky horror, Beetlejuice isn't easy to fit into a particular genre.

How well does it weigh itself between zaniness and genuine storytelling?

Jack and Ben explore the eccentric mind of Tim Burton, how do you even begin to understand his imagination? Ben shares his personal struggle with Burton’s offbeat style. They also discuss how platforms like TikTok have reignited a whole new wave of Beetlejuice fandom, especially around Halloween, with its timeless appeal for goth culture and nostalgia for quirky 90s characters.

With a spotlight on Michael Keaton’s unforgettable portrayal. Is he more Batman or Beetlejuice? We reflect on the film’s early visual effects and how they’ve aged, alongside its deep connection to the goth culture of the 80s and 90s, with nods to every grunger's favourite place, Camden.

From the film’s slow-burn success to its latest revival, Jack and Ben take you on a nostalgic journey that celebrates the beautifully bizarre world of Beetlejuice.

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It's double trouble for BYOB fans this week, as we're back with our second episode. Jack and Ben sit down to rewatch Christopher Nolan's Inception and chat about how it holds up in 2024. Does the CGI still blow us away, or is it starting to look a bit dated? We dive into how Nolan's clever use of practical effects might have kept the film looking sharp over the years.

We also get a bit more critical, asking whether there are any plot holes in Nolan's storytelling and if the character development could have been better. Plus, we explore rumours of a possible clash between Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio during filming.

Yes, we hear you, of course, we didn’t forget to talk about that legendary soundtrack!

Finally, we tackle the film's famous ending - what really happened? We throw around our theories and revisit quotes from Michael Caine and Christopher Nolan to see if we can figure out whether Cobb’s spinning top stops.

Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review, and we'll see you next week for Ben's choice, which is..........

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In this latest episode of Bring Your Own Blockbuster (BYOB), Jack and Ben dive into the highly anticipated Alien Romulus, directed by Fede Alvarez. Does it manage to capture the eerie brilliance of Ridley Scott’s original, or does it falter like some of its predecessors? The duo also tackles the controversial decision to use CGI recreations of actors who are no longer with us—does it add to the film’s atmosphere or detract from the experience?

As a special bonus, Jack and Ben take a detour into the world of Apple TV’s Severance. With the second series just around the corner, they revisit the show’s labyrinthine plot, memorable performances, and delve into the morality of partitioning your own brain.

Get involved on our socials @byob_pod and give us your thoughts on anything we've talked about today.

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I SEE DEAD PEOPLE! I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME... did you ever used to say this in the playground? Course you bloomin' did.

This week it's a bit of an M. Night Shyamalan special - obviously he's known for his twist endings and he's certainly mixed things up with his new film 'Trap' but really it all started with the "The Sixth Sense" (1999). One of the greatest films of all time.

First up then lets do Trap... a really interesting one, and we don't want to spoil the review so get stuck in on the pod, but long story short - some really cool themes and lots to discuss. Also bloody lovely to see Josh Hartnett back in the game.

Onto the main event then, The Sixth Sense. Wow, what a film. 25 years on, it's still as thrilling as it was the first time we all watched it. We get the thoughts of someone who's watched it for the first time, plus we delve into the themes of the afterlife and how human beings communicate.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the the film and how you think it's aged! Get in touch with us - [email protected] or dm us on social - we're @BYOBPOD on everything!

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Put away your pigtails, put down the shot putt and get on out of the chokey, we've got another world class episode of BYOB for you.

To begin with... let's call a spade a spade. What with it being so sunny in the UK Ben and Jack have been woefully lazy and not gone to the cinema this week. Let's add a bit of context there too though, there's arguably not much new to go and see. Don't panic - we've got a big review of TRAP coming up this weekend which we're both very excited for. And having said all of that - with there being a little bit of a quiet period at the cinema, Ben has finally managed to start working his way down Jack's recommended list.

And so... This week the lads take a big deep dive into the world of 'Dark Matter'. If you haven't seen it - it's wonderful and you should run on head first into apple tv to watch it.

We're also joined by a very special guest Niamh Shakleton - who brings a blockbuster from her childhood with her this week. And it's a belter. We're going Danny Devito Directorial masterclass, a Mara Wilson Classic and an unbelievable turn from Pam Ferris as the wonderful Agatha Trunchbull.

Up for discussion this week - is this film actually a lot more dark than anyone realised? Are the grown ups just making it up as they go along?

We pick our favourite Trunchbull insult from the following list:

‘Are you a pig Amanda?... your mummy is a twit’

'shes a real wart… a carbuncle, a blister, a blistering festering pusstule a malignant ooze’

'You squirming worm of vomit'

'The demented drooling slime breathed little lilipution who owns this disgusting ribbon will never see the light of day again'

We get stuck into Bruce Bogtrotters Man v Food style cake eating challenge and somehow get onto Gillian Mckeith and you are what you eat. Ahh the 90's. More great stuff for you to come next week - make sure you listen to the end to hear what's coming up!

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Get ready to get squirmy. We're delving into Ridley Scott's masterpiece from 1979, 'Alien'. Yup - buckle up with all of the chest bursting, blood spurting and milk gurgling that you can muster. Probably worth mentioning at this point - Alien is the 52nd greatest film of all time according to IMDB - spawning one of the most successful franchises of all time.

First there's the small matter of Deadpool and Wolverine and how incredibly that's performed at the box office so far - but will it catch 'Inside Out 2' to become the highest grossing film of the year.

Right let's put this to rest now as well... Yes there will be a minimum 5 minute section where Jack and Ben neek out over practical effects. We all knew going in that, this was going to be the case, so let's just learn to enjoy it, because really that's the absolute beauty of this film - even with the strange baby alien on a skateboard sequence after jumping out of John Hurt's intestines.

What's kind of mad is that even though this is a film about a giant indestructible space slug going on a rampage and killing everyone in space... it's only really 50 percent Sci Fi, it has a real affection for some of the horror tropes that give the film a wonderful edge.

No secret that Ridley Scott is on imperious form here and we delve into the inner workings of a man who is still absolutely taking the industry by storm at the age of 86. Plus there's the MVP performance of Sigourney Weaver who WASN'T nomm'd for an Oscar. ABSURD.

Finally the small matter of how this wonderful film has aged. The finest of fine wines.

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Ben, Billie and Jack dive straight in on one of the summer's biggest films, the much-anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine!

Does this film live up to the hype? Is this a return to form for the MCU? If anyone can save them, surely Hugh Jackman's Wolverine can - I mean, he's in the blue and yellow ffs!

Give us a listen, leave a rating, leave a review and let us know what you though of the film!

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I'm flying Jack. Nothing dodgy... just absolutely buzzing off the back of another wonderful episode of BYOB podcast where today we're sailing back through time to dive beneath the surface into the depths of the wonderful: Titanic.

Let's get into the breakdown very quickly... Ben's been to the cinema a couple of times this week, so we've got reviews of 'Twisters' featuring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar Jones. We ask the eternal question: 'Are you having...' and this week we're asking 'Are you having Glen Powell' after his turn in Twisters. Jack and Ben delve into your comments on Long Legs (now that Ben's finally caught up)

Then onto the main event, zipping back in time to stretch our legs and jump aboard 'Titanic'. Want to feel old? It came out in 1997. Blergh.

Two wonderful performances at the heart of the film, we explore the chemistry between Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet. We look at the beautiful bad guy-ness of Billy Zane. We discuss what it must have been like for those that survived the sinking of Titanic as well as the way in which the film suckers us into a Romeo and Juliet tale whilst subtly slamming us all right into an iceberg.

Sorry to spoil this for you... but it's aged amazingly. It's amazing. Like, brilliant.

Enjoy the pod and let us know what you think - ratings and reviews very much appreciated, @byobpod on the socials.

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Join Jack and Ben as they delve into Longlegs, the latest atmospheric thriller from Osgood Perkins.

Starring Maika Monroe as the antisocial yet intuitive FBI Agent Lee Harker on the tail of Nicolas Cage as the grotesque occult serial killer known as Longlegs.

The film has generated a lot of hype with audiences, but is it actually worth watching?

Tune in as we explore the film's eerie vibe, chilling performances, and dip into why some are calling it the next Silence of the Lambs.

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Cornetto anyone? This week we're taking a deep dive into Shaun of the Dead the first in the Cornetto trilogy and honestly just a wonderful film.

On top of that we've got a breakdown of the Boys season 4, which has perhaps not quite hit the heights we hoped for.

Lots to get into of course - first up we ask is this film actually an autobiographical piece? What are are the best layered comedy moments that are still funny 20 years later? Was this a horror film or a zombie film?

You've probably come across this already but Shaun of the Dead is incredibly review friendly getting some brilliant scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.

MVP wise our shoot out a fatal four way between Dylan Moran, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and then the tag team duo of Nighy and Penelope Wilton.

Let us know what you made of our review of Shaun of the Dead and get in touch @byobpod on the socials!

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Oh Hey there, and welcome to another episode of BYOB. A real noodle twirler this week, one that will get right inside your head, with a bit more Kubrick on the menu.

Films we've seen at the cinema this week for review - A Quiet Place Day One as well as Maxxxine - We also take a quick look at this summer's releases and that's all before we jump on this weeks film: Eyes Wide Shut.

Up for discussion this week: Is this film deep, incredibly simple? Or something wildly inbetween? How deep does the rabbit hole go on the film? We dissect some of the the controversial theories around the film, the meaning of the different encounters between the characters.

We also have no choice but to do a deep dive into two or three of the most striking scenes ever made and ask the question whether there are elements here of the story of genesis and the garden of eden and how far will men in particular go to satisfy their ego and curiosity?

Your MVP shootout on this episode features Mr Tom Cruise against Ms Nicole Kidman - two absolute powerhouses going head to head for this one. Two wonderful performances and Ben and Jack very much disagree on this one!

An absolute belter for you next week as well as we delve into the world of Crime, Horror, Comedy... can you tell what it is yet?!

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We're very much into Xmas szn aren't we. With Christmas just a few days away now is of course the first time to make a full blown deep dive into one of the greatest festive films there has ever been. This week we're discussing Elf. 20 years later you won't be surprised to hear that Elf is every bit as magic as you remember - sorry to spoil the fine wine or war crime section. Will Ferrell starts as Buddy the Elf and hits every single festive beat possible.

In terms of films that we've seen at the cinema this week - three to hit you with this week. Wonka - is it the family five star favourite that everyone is saying that it is? 'How to have Sex' - a very late shout for one of the films of the year and then finally we have look into 'Leave the World Behind' as well.

On the elf front some bits for you to get your teeth stuck into...

Why does this film seem to have so much heart? Where does this rank in the Pantheon of Will Ferrell cinema? Should there ever be an Elf sequel? And when we describe the spirit of Christmas in films, what is it that we're looking for? Plus we take your comments and bring you a new feature called IMDball.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Welcome to the party pal. Well then, the festive season is upon us and what better way to kick it off with one of the GOAT Xmas films 'Die Hard'. Eurgh we should probably throw this out there up front... can you even call this a Christmas film? Big big disagreement between the boys on this one.

Before we go too far though - lots of juicy review action to get into. First up we've got a full run down of Saltburn which has a lot of unexpected joy in. On top of that we give you the full debrief of Napoleon as well plus we go through lots of your comments.

So... Die Hard... Where to start. John Mcclane. An action hero for the 90's, he really redefined what it was to be an action hero. Chances are this will get lost in the post but, Bruce Willis wasn't an action star before this film. He was known for comedy and romcoms. Which is probably a huge part of why his performance here is so hard hitting. His timing, the accessibility and the brutal reality of his performance really is a marked gear change from the action hero's of the 80's.

We of course also need to talk about Alan Rickman, what a dreamy performances as a Die Hard villain. Remarkably he never saw Hans Gruber as a bad guy... he just saw him as a man who had a plan and intended to see it through.

There's some unbelievable trivia, some beautiful technical bits to get into as well and on top of that we'll be dissecting the big Xmas yes or Xmas no discussion!

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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The first rule of BYOB is you don't talk about BYOB.

The second rule of BYOB is... please tell people about BYOB, share the word, tweet from the rooftops and make sure you subscribe plzokthanks.

Hell of an ep for you this week as we take on a Fincher classic 'Fight Club'

Warning in advance we get a little deep here as we discuss themes of identity, masculinity. We talk through whether the film was a warning about late stage capitalism or perhaps just holding a mirror up to the state of the male ego when it was created. We look into how Fincher creates the twists and turns of the film and whether Marla has a secret deeper meaning that we had never really considered before!

This is really Brad Pitt at the peak of his powers right?! I mean look at the cut of him. Absolutely incredibly well put together and just a wonderful performance as well. Rivalling him for the MVP Ed Norton with an exquisite turn as the narrator, Helena Bonham Carter as Marla - and some huge assists from Meatloaf and Jared Leto. Let us know what you made of Fight Club and whether we nailed the key talking points.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Style over substance? Substance and Style? More substance than people give credit for? Stylish in a substantial kind of way? Maybe we could all just put our swords down and admit Ryan Gosling is just furiously handsome and talented at the same time. If you're anything like Ben and Jack this is one of those guilty pleasure films. No one is claiming that this is the greatest film that has ever been made... BUT... it's got so much to it to enjoy.

For starters the movie looks absolutely incredible. Literally take any frame in the film from any one of the individual set ups and the chances are it'll look blooming stunning. The lighting is dreamy, the casting is sensational, the pacing is brilliant, the soundtrack... oh my word the soundtrack. The fact we get to see so much of the story play out through this synthwavy style hazy dream like soundtrack is stunning.

What a cast by the way Let us give you the breakdown on the old MVP chat.

Gosling in what could be considered his audition for Blade Runner 2049.

Mulligan sparkling through a lot of male red mist.

Cranston in one of his first turns outside of Malcolm in the Middle pre Breaking Bad.

Isaac in a pre jacked phase as a standard.

Brooks in the most gruesomely ominous mafioso style baddie role.

Only one can win! who is it?

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Hey Squad welcome back to BYOB. Real nostalgia injection this week as we talk about two people in particular (and without going too OTT) that have moved Jack and Ben an enormous amount over the course of their lives.

Neither of the lads have been to the cinema this week, naughty naughty, so instead we make time to pause and reflect on the life of Mathew Perry who sadly passed away. He was an enormous talent but also clearly someone who cared deeply about the wellbeing of people with addiction. The boys discuss the nature of reflecting on loss and how those who we never knew can affect us all in different ways.

Our film this week is Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver and of course, the GOAT, Robin Williams giving wonderful performances. So many lovely themes to get into as well: We talk through the idea of the head versus the heart, the way in which we have meaningful conversations, the idea of trust and safety with those around us. There's a delicate beauty in the idea of brotherhood but also in the way Robin Williams' Sean tries to reach Will. There is of course a big MVP battle and some important discussions on fine wine or war crime.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Jack and Ben as they delve into Martin Scorsese's latest film, "Killers Of The Flower Moon." In this captivating film review, the hosts explore the surprising divergence in tonality from the film's trailer and discuss how Scorsese crafts a profound and deeply affecting masterpiece. They highlight exceptional portrayals by Robert DeNiro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone, who deliver unforgettable and outstanding performances.

Discover how "Killers Of The Flower Moon" shines a light on a dark chapter in America's history, giving a voice to those who have been ignored for far too long. Don't miss this insightful review of a film that's sure to leave a lasting impact.

Also, don't forget to subscribe on Youtube, Instagram and Tiktok to stay up-to-date with our latest film reviews and discussions.

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STI's, PNC, Sexual Awakening. Yeah, that's right, time for another episode of BYOB. This week we are discovering and unearthing the hidden meaning of the film 'It Follows'.

Before we get into the cut and thrust of another classic review on the pod this week: In chronological order, we start by trying to get straight into things... cue 5 minutes of discussion around whether the Rock likes Jack Black, how to bulk successfully and why The Conjuring isn't as good as we thought! We then have reviews of 'Blackberry' and 'The Creator'.

Now then... what about 'It Follows'. Probs best we tell you what the film is about... well probably a number of things. STI's? Maybe. Running away from the past? Possibly, never telling your parents about your problems when you're in grave danger from a unstoppable Zombie force hoping to kill you? Absolutely.

Some other important questions... what's the best way to escape the it follows zombie? Can it go underwater? When is the film set? How do you bloody kill it.

Weirdly enough this film has aged better than you'd think but there's so much to discuss so hop on board and join us on another ep of BYOB!

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Heeeeeerrrrrreeeeeee's BYOB! Hey everyone welcome back to the pod, and an absolute screamer for you this week during horror month as we take on 'The Shining'. It's a film we've been desperate to do for a while because there's just so much that we can delve into. Kubrick's greatest ever work? Did he go too far with his treatment of Shelley Duvall? What is in room 237? Why did Stephen King hate this adaptation?! Well, our main review is the Shining... but on top of that, and before we kick off properly this week we've also got reviews for you of Asohka (Disney+) as well as The Lesson.

Right then, The Shining, one of the greatest horror films of all time, but such a different type of horror film from last week. There's loads here around ominous tension starting with those incredible scenes at the beginning that show the level of disconnection from society.

We get stuck into whether Jack has the Shining, whether he is driven mad or whether the hotel has simply taken hold of him. We also discuss the importance of the character of Danny and whether Jack has in fact been reincarnated and finally what on earth did that picture mean at the end!!

There's some pretty important bits to get into on the fine wine or war crime conversation with both the treatment of Duvall and also the way in which the issue of race is handled by Kubrick. Then of course a big ding dong for the MVP with Nicholson and Duvall going head to head.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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It's scary season. So feebleben and ballons of Steele Hussey take on one of the scariest films of all time 'The Conjuring'.

Before we get into the film there is a very special guest appearance today. Producer Purdy makes his pod debut to come in and provide some much needed fearless energy.

The lads talk through a couple of biggy's at the cinema at the mo as we take on Dumb Money and The Nun 2 to review as well as talking through the Disney series 'The Bear'.

We get into the classic horror motifs that make James Wan's the Conjuring a goat tier horror film, discuss its fine wine or war crime credentials and on top of this we play 5 degrees of separation as we try to get from 'The Conjuring' to 'The Shining'

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Welcome back to BYOB! Where this week McHussey and McHaines review a different film from the archive every single week.

On the pod this week - Jack's been to the cinema twice so a couple of current film reviews for you the beautiful film, Past Lives, we get stuck into Kenneth Branagh's 'A Haunting in Venice' and our main film this week is 'Superbad'.

Lots for us to talk through this week - particularly with how the film holds up in terms of its fine wine or war crime credentials, on the MVP front we have a nice deep dive into the joys of Michael Cera's character Evan and we also have a little announcement as we build towards Halloween.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to BYOB! After a bit of a break with Ben and Jack both out on holiday, we're back with a classic. In perfect keeping with our two travellers, this week we're going on a journey of self discovery, hitting hard the wanderlust and sampling the delights of 'The Beach' (2000).

When you watch this one back, as we're sure lots of you have, it's tough to not think...WOW it looks dated. Which of course it does, it's a film from 2000... having said this, a lot of the themes within it still maintain their relevance and still give really fertile ground for a good old breakdown. Take for example - the idea of travel. The character of Richard is desperate to do something to break the mould, to break the cycle of consistent same old same old experiences. Yet somehow he seems to fall into so many of the same traps that drive us all mad whenever you hear someone talking about how they 'found themselves' in Thailand.

We're invited by the film to work out what Richard has left behind, what is his backstory. Primarily because so little is shared on our central character. This is particularly important when you try and consider what kind of narrator Richard is. We might as well throw it out there as it's hardly a spoiler... because at times he comes across as a bit of a tosser!

Within the pod we get stuck into how Sal forms her cult and how she has found a new way of life that satisfies her own need for control and hierachy, and there's a big discussion on what happens to a group of people after it's been hit by an event that is irreversibly bad.

MVP wise it's a straight shoot out between two heavyweights as Tilda Swinton and Leo DiCaprio go head to head off the back of two sensational performances, closely followed by the soundtrack with a couple of screamers in there. As ever we'll break down how this one has aged.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Beneath this mask there is more than flesh, beneath this mask there is an idea... and ideas are bulletproof. If you haven't guessed it already this week we are getting fully political as we dive into V for Vendetta. Forgive us if we're telling you stuff that you already know but V for Vendetta was originally a graphic novel by Alan Moore - the film was then adapted and created by the Wachowski's.

What do we fancy a chat about this week then? Well the first thing is, how much a film from 2005 could seem to be such a reflection of society in 2023! It's actually a little frightening seeing the way the news channel within the film has so much crossover with modern day non linear news channels. In fact the film has an eery way of somehow predicting so many of the little idiosyncrasies that have drifted into life in 2023.

Perhaps not the most significant part of the film but the lads do have a deep dive into the importance of knowing what is at the heart of a message and why freedom of expression through journalism and comedy is so crucial. Stephen Fry plays Dietrich who decides to take the piss out of the President Suttler with fatal consequences, and so we have a good chat through why it's so important to have a society that encourages us all to have a laugh and take the piss a bit out of those who are in positions of power. Beyond that too the lads go through why it's so important to take in news and really understand what the message at of the heart of something really is

It's not a film where you're going to sit and listen to the soundtrack on repeat, BUT, there is a really fantastic piece of music at the heart of one the film's key scenes. It's called Evey Reborn, have a look on Spotify and thank us later. As the film crescendo's there's plenty to discuss around how the breakdown of your individual ego is so important to understanding freedom and liberty.

Finally, who wants to glug this one down as a big dose of fine wine? The boys fill up a megapint and get stuck into why it's ageing so well and how it gives us a steer on what it takes people in modern day society want to speak out where they see things they perceive to be wrong.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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The greatest underdog story of all time... but enough about how Ben, Jack and Purdy created BYOB. This week on the pod we've got a belter for you. The first ever episode of BYOB where we ask a guest to bring their own blockbuster as we welcome play-write, director, journalist and all round lovely irishman Jack Gallagher to the pod. You can find him on Twitter as @CalciolovesJack. And Jack has brought along a classic Sly Stallone's 1976 Oscar winner 'Rocky'.

All three of the guys search around the cobwebbed recesses of their mind to find that lovely nostalgic sweet-spot, being 12 years old watching the Rocky films and going through them all cover to cover. With every training montage, blood spatter and body blow, there's also a hefty amount of chat about pounding large amounts of meat.

When we watched the film back this time though, it made us realise this isn't a 'boxing film' as such. Made on a shoestring budget and written by Sylvester Stallone this is more about one mans search for his own identity.

Given that Sly Stallone was s a jobbing actor desperately looking for his big break and his own million to one shot, the parallels are too obvious to ignore. We see so much beautiful overlap with Sly and Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion, who is handed a golden ticket, a million to one shot, to fight the reigning heavyweight Champion of the World Apollo Creed beautifully played by Carl Weathers.

Up for debate this week: What is the greatest Rocky film of all time? Is Micky or Paulie secretly a baddie? Why is Duke incredibly underrated as a character? Should we all stop talking about pounding big bits of meat?

Fine wine or war crime - well this one is very double sided. It's really important firstly to remember this film is created in 1976 but if you have just watched Rocky back, you will know there is one sequence that it's really important we touch on again. Let us know what you think of this one - would love to hear your thoughts.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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You tore up Ava's picture? I'm gonna tear up the F**king dancefloor' What a line, what a film. We got a little bit existential on the pod in last weeks episode with Terminator 2: Judgement Day but we've gone onto a whole new level of AI, deep think, consciousness metaphysical philosophy this week. Heads up there's a whole load of big themes that we get stuck into on this one - so set aside a couple of hours, watch the film and then give yourself a big dose of BYOB existential dicussion.

So... Ex Machina, let's kick off with the big themes at play here. Oscar Isaac's Nathan has created what he believes is genuine AI in Alicia Vikander's Ava - and he's brought Domhnall Gleeson along for the ride to see if he can give her a big tick on the turing test. But what is it to be conscious? What is it to have self awareness and understanding of human emotion? Is human emotion simply just a list of reactions to stimuli and if so is Alicia Vikander's Ava sentient? Already lost? Don't worry the pod explains it all in all kinds of detail.

Three huge characters at play here and the big question... who is the goodie, who is the baddie and who is neither? We have a big old dig into this considering that as a first time watcher you're given a bit of a rope a dope, considering we're led to believe that Nathan is a bit of a tosser it's actually Domhnall Gleeson's Caleb that gets a bit of a beat down from Ben and Jack for being a flannel. As a result there is of course a big section on our MVP!

Artificial intelligence is on the way - but the fact that this film was 2014 and managed to have a deep dive into discussions that are now taking place currently in 2023 without ever really missing a beat is absolutely incredible. Undeniably world class film selection on this weeks pod!!

Oh... and there's also the greatest dance scene in the history of cinema. (discuss, show your working for 20 marks)

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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I need your clothes, your boots and the passcode to your iphone... so that we can listen to this weeks episode of BYOB which is Terminator 2 Judgement Day. This film has it all, action, chase scenes, amazing practical effects, brilliant performances, impressive CGI and heart stopping tension.

It's always quite fascinating watching a lead actor or actress in this mode where they just seem to steal the show. Like they are perfectly in tune with the film. Spoiler alert - Arnie is very much in the discussion for MVP as you would imagine... But there's also a really interesting discussion to be had around what it takes to be that level of successful. Arnold Schwarzenegger is no doubt a complex character and had to work unbelievably hard to make it to Hollywood but also to be a leading man in Hollywood.

The film itself isn't a horror, but it's not really a thriller either. Having seen the slasher like nature of the first film, this seems more like a cautionary tale, with thriller like elements. Yes, it's an action film but at the same time the action seems to be used to progress the story telling and to evolve the characters. There's also an incredible amount of quotability in this one. 'Chillout Dickwad', 'Hasta La Vista, Baby', 'I need a vacation' give us some really nice moments of comic relief but also ask questions of whether the t-800 has actually learned 'humour' as a concept as well.

Beyond that the film serves as a bit of a warning about AI and the path that we as humanity seem to be taking ourselves on. We see through the character of Sarah Connor what can happen if you allow yourself to become cold and distanced from humanity whilst at the same time the potential damage that AI could have if allowed to get out of control.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready for an offer you can't refuse? Well how about - you set aside two hours and sit down and listen to us pour over one of the GOAT films, it's time to take on The Godfather... One of those films that realistically you could speak about all day so forgive us for the slightly longer running time on this one.

Slight disclaimer we've both been to the cinema this week! The film that we've been to see this week was Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning, so first up there's a good old review of that, featuring the joy of Tom Cruise's commitment and just how special some of the incredible action on display is.

So let's give you the breakdown of some of the themes we absolutely have to get into in the pod... the first being the idea of loyalty in particular 'family loyalty'. How much of that loyalty do we see within the film? Well let's be honest there's backstabbing going on all over town but at the same time, there does appear to be an inner sanctum and a strange code of conduct that is adhered to. Regardless of the fact that Don Corleone seems to be a man involved in all kinds of crime, he does still live his life by a code of ethics - but are they really part of some sort of code? Is that code changeable at the drop of a hat?

Like all of us he seems afraid of the unknown and what the future might bring. In the Godfather the future and the unknown is the world of narcotics. We see the themes of tradition and modernity heavily juxtaposed and how the corrupting nature of power can make people lean toward one or the other. Through the film we also see the illusion of choice. So it's time to get real philosophical again as we ask the question - did anyone ever really have any free will throughout the film or was it deterministic? I.E. Was every single decision that anyone makes - made without their own agency?!

In terms of the MVP conversation... talk about the battle of the heavyweights. Al Pacino takes on Marlon Brando in a straight shootout for the title but how on earth do you split those two given how well they dominate the scenes they're in and how they both seem to lead the film in their own right. There's a good old tussle for the fine wine or war crime convo as well.

Some day and that day may never come, we may call upon you to do a service for BYOB... but in the meantime enjoy the podcast!! Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Do you like dags? Dags? Yeah, dya like dags? Oh dogs. Yeah I like dags, and I bloody love the film 'Snatch'. This week on the pod we're digging up a Guy Ritchie classic, featuring Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Jason Statham and Alan Ford. Made on the most modest of budgets but capturing the imagination of British cinema goers, Snatch still today is a must have on the DVD shelf... if anyone anywhere still buys DVD's.

The intersection of crime and comedy there are so many magnificent performances in this one. And it's a fatal four way shootout for the MVP between Pitt, Statham, Graham and Ford. There's certainly plenty to get stuck into in the fine wine or war crime discussion too.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Can Spider-Man come out to play? We've made it to episode 15 without really taking an a classic 'superhero' movie, and it's only right that we start with Ben and Jack's favourite Super-hero of all time. But when you break it down... why is Spider-Man so special? What is it about that character that makes it so iconic and why do all of us of a certain age gravitate towards it so much?

No getting away from it, this film was an absolute BLOCKBUSTER, and not too dissimilar from a couple of other films that we've looked at there was a huge amount of controversy over the selection of who would play the lead role. But in Spider-Man and Tobey Maguire we were given a character that felt accessible. For the first time the Superhero movie genre took the idea of a nerdy angst ridden teen and turned him into a web slinging hero.

Up for grabs on the discussion today were where Spider-Man ranks in the pantheon of Superhero movies, how the CGI holds up agains that of modern day Marvel films. We take a look at what the film shows us about respecting our elders and how the film manages to somehow take the fantasy of the genre and root it deep in the reality of life.

Our final two questions, how has the film aged and who were the stand out performers... well Tobey Maguire for starters is our Spider-man. He's the OG. The face that we'll always think of when you hear that character spoken about. BUT... outside of him - who dominates every scene that they're in? Who manages to walk away with the title of MVP - huge shouts for JK Simmons, Kirsten Dunst and of course Willem Dafoe.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Tale as old as time, true as it can be, barely Monday morning and time for another belting episode of BYOB. It was only a matter of time until we could get ourselves fully immersed into the world of Disney and what a way to do it with one of the greatest Disney... wait no... simply one of the greatest films of all time. Beauty and the Beast.

There's no avoiding this so we'll address it up front the, music contained within this 81 minutes of absolute joy, is up there with the greatest soundtracks of all time in any film, from any era, across any genre. And sorry to do this but if you're listening along you need to decide your all time greatest Disney tune as well as your top 5 songs from the film. Do you want to lead with Gaston? Belle? Is there any way of topping Tale as Old as Time?

The film is over 30 years old and of course there are so many questions around the Disney films in general and the messages that they pushed in their own time. Ben and Jack have a right good deep dive into the nature of Belle as a character and her place as a feminist Icon. We tear apart the machismo buffoonery present in Gaston, the wonderful charm of the flatwear and crockery and we take a look at the actions of the mob and how they reflect the present day.

So who is up for the MVP conversation? Well for the first time in a few episodes it's a really really tough one. There's something really special about the fact that in this era of Disney the leads are all from musical theatre backgrounds - and wow does it show with their unbelievable vocals!

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knees weak, arms are heavy... although that could just be because it's Monday. The good news is that that also means it's time for another episode of Bring Your Own Blockbuster. Can you believe we're already up to episode 13 and it's time for the turn of Marshall Mathers, Eminem and 8 Mile.

From the gritty streets of Detroit, Eminem's Jimmy Smith Jr attempts to break into the Hip Hop scene through the world of Rap Battles, it is dominated by African American's and we start the film by seeing Jimmy choke under the pressure of the hostile crowd.

There's as ever lots to get stuck into on the pod - but one of the most important and crucial parts of this film was the way in which it both reflected and shaped culture at the time. It's undeniable that Eminem was one of the most famous people on the face of the earth at the time and was at the peak of his powers. Anyone around at that time will know the impact that he had on almost anything in mainstream popular culture.

It's really difficult to look past Eminem for the role of MVP but there's a really wonderful supporting cast here that help provide some amazing discussion around the nature of male friendship. we discuss crab theory and its antithesis.

There's also a big breakdown to be had around the ending of this film. This isn't a happily ever after - which begs the question, is this film actually autobiographical? Is it deliberately left in an ambiguous fashion so that we are forced to confront the fact that Jimmy maybe never made it. It's also not lost on the guys that Eminem never really followed this up with a big acting career despite the fact that this debut performance was highly applauded by the critics.

This was a great film to have a crack at - and a real nostalgic favourite. There's no getting away from the fact the soundtrack is elite but when we ask the question around the ageing process, there's bound to be a few youngsters who find Eminem's turn here a bit cringe. Unfortunately fellow kids you are all wrong and he is the goat.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet it mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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I've got nipples Greg... Can you milk me? What an incredible line, and what an unbelievably good comedy to get stuck into this week. Today's film is hopefully one that has had you laughing so much you've almost cried, as Ben and Jack delve deep into the glorious treasure trove that is the 2000 comedy, 'Meet the Parents'.

Ben Stiller stars as Greg alongside Robert De Niro as Jack Burns as we follow Stiller's Greg desperate attempts to achieve Jack and his wife Dina's (Blythe Danner) approval to marry their daughter Pam - played wonderfully by Teri Polo. Given that at one point or another within almost all of our lives we'll experience that nerve shredding experience of trying to impress our in-laws this film has to many crossovers that Ben and Jack can relate to.

There's an unbelievable supporting cast that we make sure to give a big nod to and on top of this we pick out our favourite lines from the film. We had no choice but to get well and truly head first into the poem, the brilliant grace scene and Puff the Magic Dragon. We talk through the circle of trust and we even get a chance to sneak a line in or two about the magnificent sequel Meet the Fockers.

It goes without saying that given Stiller and De Niro go head to head throughout the film we have to get into an epic gunslinger for the MVP within this one, and as we always do we'll get into how the film has aged. But for the record - how much did you laugh in this one? How many times did you find yourself reminded by a joke you had forgotten a moment you never noticed or a line that flaws you even though you know it's coming.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did meet the parents mean to you? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to BYOB... or is this just an idea of BYOB? Some kind of abstraction? Maybe there is no real BYOB... only an entity, something illusory, and though we can hide the cold gaze and maybe you can even sense our podcasts are probably comparable: BYOB is... simply, not, there. Okay enough of the copycatting waffle, if you've been following along and have watched American Psycho you will now that, that's a complete rip off of Patrick Bateman's incredible monologue at the beginning of this weeks film.

Ben and Jack dive head first into this part thriller, part horror, part satire, part comedy - all time classic film, that bends the genres and plays with the ideas of consciousness, identity and perception.

Aaaaand here are the key questions we're going to take a stab at - try and see if you can keep up because it's confusing just thinking about it: Does Patrick Bateman actually commit the crimes that we see play out over the course of the film? Is Christian Bale's character even called Patrick Bateman? Does Willem Dafoe's character know the crimes that Patrick Bateman has committed? Does Patrick Bateman have any feeling at all? Is Patrick Bateman asexual? Is the film a comment on Yuppie culture of the time or is it an attack on where the 'All American Male' character type was headed? Oof deep breath after all that.

We'll of course as ever do a big deep dive into what the ending of the film means, we'll have a right good delve into who the key performers are and whether there is any denying Christian Bale the title of MVP in this one, we'll ask the eternal question: the Ageing process 'Is it a fine wine - or a war crime?' and we reveal next weeks film!

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did American Psycho make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Maybe purgatory is ***** Bruges. Welcome back to BYOB where this week we're getting stuck into a modern classic 'In Bruges' from 2008. This was Martin McDonagh's first ever feature film which he both wrote and directed. So much of his brilliant writing pops in this film brought to life through the magnificent Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.

To give you the blurb - Ray and Ken (Farrell and Gleeson) play two hitmen that have just had a job go horrible wrong. They are sent to Bruges by their boss Harry, to wait for their judgement on what will happen next to them. What unfolds over the course of the film is a dissection into the moral status of our two leads. We see their restlessness, their discomfort, their humour and their virtue and are encourages to reflect on whether when all is said and done - will ultimately they be judged as good or bad people. The beauty of this film is that it invites the audience to have a look at their own life, how not everything is black and white. But what did you make of Ray's character in particular? Did you think he deserved his fate at the end?

The central location of Bruges plays such a massive part in the film, and the boys break down why it was such a perfect location, how it was shot and why Martin Mcdonagh had a very specific set of thoughts and views about his central location for the film. We get into the discussion about the beautiful intent in his writing as well as the arc that he sends the characters on.

When the lads selected this one - one of the big things they discussed was how this film impacted the creation of the Banshees of Inisherin, and we can't get stuck into a Martin Mcdonagh film without having a little natter about his oscar nominated offering from 2022. What an unbelievable film! That also sparks some big discussion about how magnificent the performances of Gleeson and Farrell are, and the guys have a very difficult decision to make in terms of their MVP.

Given that the film ultimately is asking the eternal questions of good and evil - it's almost quite difficult to age this one. There's so much in there around the fact that Bruges itself is so steeped in history that in terms of the fine wine, war crime conversation

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did Thelma and Luise make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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The classic films keep rolling in and this week an era defining, genre defining, road comedy-drama 'Thelma and Louise'.

We break down the film and it's massive cultural impact. As we see two best friends set out on a road trip and what was meant to be a nice quiet fishing holiday that turns into two rebel criminals on the run from the law and a descent in chaos we ask the question what were the points that Ridley Scott was trying to get at? Why did Ridley Scott choose to direct the film himself? And were there some hidden messages that writer Calli Khouri wanted us all to get?

Okay - let's talk about the ending? Did it do it for you? Were you happy with it, or did it not sit quite right? Ben and Jack are torn as to whether this was the perfect ending for this film with Thelma and Louise suspended in

MVP wise there's a big toss up this week. So many standout performances - even if we take as a given the world class turn of Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon there was Brad Pitt's first big role, Harvey Keitel once again, Michael Madsen and Christopher Mcdonald being the unbelievably unlikeable Darryl.

The film was released in 1991, and once again on BYOB the guys are back marvelling at how wonderfully this film has aged. But what did you make of it?

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did Thelma and Luise make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know which one you're gonna get. If you're someone that listens to podcasts whilst having a job - have we got a film for you!! Time for another iconic BYOB movie as our dynamic duo take on an absolute classic: Forrest Gump.

Tom Hanks gets his first nod on the pod as we dive into a character that he won his second Oscar for. First it's important to start with whether this is an uplifting film or not. If you were listening to last weeks episode you will have heard Ben saying that it was time for something light... but if you watched the film back this week you'll no doubt have picked up in the first half an hour of the film that it's not always rainbows and butterflies.

Then there's the character of Jenny. Is she too afraid to love? Does she know how to love? Is Jenny as a character one that is as bad as mainstream culture has led us to believe over the course of some 30 years. The lads do a deep dive into Jenny's background and a couple of easter eggs that they only found this time around.

There's a big shoot out for the role of MVP, a controversial popcorn rating and we'll also get into the fine wine or war crime chat as ever, with a particular emphasis on whether the character of Forrest Gump is self aware enough for the audience to laugh with him - or whether the film encourages us to laugh at him.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did Forrest Grump make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Bring Your Own Blockbuster. One question for you after 6 episodes... ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! We're sure the films so far will have tickled you and scratched that retro film itch... but just in case they haven't this weeks choice is a beauty. We go back 20+ years to a true epic and Russell Crowe's turn as Maximus in 'Gladiator' (2000).

Directed by Ridley Scott this film is a true epic in every sense of the word. From the opening sequence in Germania to the Colosseum itself the guys break down why we love coming back to this film time and time again. There's a big discussion on what the genre of the film actually is but as well as that is it possible to pick out one particular theme that Ridley Scott was trying to get at?

With so much to pick from we discuss the idea of manhood, legacy, revenge, power, unrequited love and rejection. On top of all of that we have a real good rummage into the spectacle of an epic. The realness of the battle scenes the power of Maximus character as an alpha gentleman. BUT... huge but... is there a small problem with the ending?!

There's also the small matter of Hans Zimmer's unbelievable score that takes us through a story in itself - we discuss why it's the perfect background music for not just Gladiatorial battles but pretty much anything including music for working in an office!

As ever we'll be breaking down the MVP's with wonderful performances from Connie Nielsen, Richard Harris and of course Joaquin Phoenix. And how will the film stand up to the fine wine war crime test. Within the audio version of the show - for you podcasters - there's a lovely bit of extra chat at the top about what the guys have been watching in the cinema and on streaming platforms this week too, spoiler alert, we have a big old natter about Beef!

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did The Truman show make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Welcome back to Bring Your Own Blockbuster, we're about to get real existential now with episode 6 as we discuss 1998 film 'The Truman Show'. Our hosts Ben Haines and Jack Hussey go in depth on what the film is trying to say and how we all live the Truman Show within our own lives too.

So, as you can imagine when you do a deep dive into a film like this the discussion gets pretty deep real quick and we start with how people accept the reality that they are faced with, then get stuck into whether we should question the nature of reality and also how the authority and Christ like character of Christoph played by Ed Harris manages to keep Truman (Jim Carrey) under a system of control throughout the film.

There are themes of escape but also the idea of people needing cycle and routine and living their life on rails and with a film like this it's impossible not to see the parallels with the present day, and how so much of what is advertised to us is usually something that we don't need. Jack and Ben talk through influencer culture and how so many people yearn to break out of the cycle that they are in.

We were keen to have a good chat about Jim Carrey and the way in which he manages to give a deeply moving yet comedic performance - the lads get stuck into the MVP conversation and there are some wonderful assists in here too. Good afternoon, Good evening and Goodnight. As ever we'll finish up with the ageing process in Fine Wine or War Crime.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did The Truman show make you feel? What did we miss? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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The name's Blockbuster, Bring your own Blockbuster. FFS that was a tragic start but it's unavoidable isn't it?! This week Ben and Jack dive into the world of James Bond for the first time on the podcast and what a selection it is too: Casino Royale. Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond and the start of a new Bond era.

Lots as ever up for discussion but firstly the guys dive into where the Bond franchise moved with this film, and how it started a new generation of James Bond films that said goodbye to some of the previous formulas of the past. We take a deep dive into a new version of James Bond, as Daniel Craig provides a rougher more brutish Bond for audiences to digest... in blue swimming shorts.

The classic Bond checklist is up for debate. The love interests, the fast cars, the fight scenes, the theme tunes, the gun barrel sequence. All are carefully dissected and unpacked but then within the same breath could be said to be carefully reimagined in a way that will satisfy Bond fans. But are Ben and Jack happy with how the series moved?

There's a lot of discussion here to be had too around the film's MVP's. Eva Green, Daniel Craig, Mads Mikkelsen and Judi Dench all with wonderful turns BUT who was our most valuable performer? Then of course we'll make sure to scratch that 'HOW HAS THIS AGED THOUGH!?' itch with so much here to unpack, particularly as we see this particular Bond arch with a beginning middle and end.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did Casino Royale make you feel? How did you feel Casino Royale played with the classic Bond checklist? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time for Bring Your Own Blockbuster episode four and this time it’s best you grab yourself some Fava beans and a nice Chianti as we take on the world of Hannibal Lecter and The Silence of the Lambs. Some era defining performances and one of the most chilling thriller/horror/crime/drama films you’ll ever watch. The lads get stuck into what genre this film actually is and spend a good old chunk of time discussing our two lead characters.

With Oscar winning performances from Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter and Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, The Silence of the Lambs has some juicy themes for us to get stuck into. The representation of women in Cinema, the way in which the two interact with such enormous amounts of subtext. There’s also an Oscar worthy performance from Jack who gives a world class Buffalo Bill impression.

In terms of the scenes we had a field day discussing, well…where to begin? The initial interactions of Starling and Lecter, the horrifying Night vision chase in Buffalo Bill’s house. We discuss how the ending might be the most horrifying scene of them all - but also how scenes that perhaps get a little less discussion have a far bigger impact than any of us realise. Once again we’ll get stuck into the MVP’s and discuss next weeks film.

The pod as always is hosted by Ben Haines and Jack Hussey and produced by Alex Purdy. Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time for Bring Your Own Blockbuster episode three and this time we leave behind the joy of Whiplash and move into very different territory. The genre defining, era defining and possibly cinema defining world of Quentin Tarantino and his 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction’. If you haven’t noticed by now the guys are ready to go incredibly deep on most conversations around film - but this one has got an enormous amount to get stuck into.

From the incredible world building of Tarantino, to the manipulation of timelines. From the ultra violence of some of the shootouts to the incredibly mundane everyday conversations that we all have. Pulp Fiction is an incredible plunge into the everyday world of people just trying to make their way in the world - albeit in some remarkable circumstances.

It’s almost easiest to start with the MVP conversation, the hard bit comes when you have to pick. But in terms of the performers some incredible stuff from Uma Thurman, Samuel L Jackson, Bruce Willis and John Travolta.

And what about some of the scenes: The Slim Jims Diner dance with John Travolta and Uma Thurman, the horrifying scene where Butch saves Marsellus from Zed, the diner hold up. To finish up we’ll ask the big one: Has Pulp Fiction aged like a fine wine or a war crime with some interesting results.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did you think of Pulp Fiction? Did we get it right on the MVP conversation? Which of the three short stories stuck out and stayed with you? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Time for Bring Your Own Blockbuster episode two and after the fun of Mrs. Doubtfire the guys have opted for a slightly different… 'tempo'. Next up the wonderful 2014 film: ‘Whiplash’. As ever so much to get into with this one, not least the lead performances of Miles Teller and JK Simmons and the chemistry they have as master and apprentice.

Even though our hosts Ben Haines and Jack Hussey have keenly tried to avoid dragging their beloved Tottenham Hotspur Football Club into the pod, after just two episodes it’s already popped up, with discussions about how leadership and elite performance go hand in hand. We go into how the film itself shares so much in common with sport and how managers use any means necessary to chase elite performances from their young talented team members, but, as is asked in the film 'Is there a line?' There's almost a brutality to the film that makes us question whether Whiplash is choreographed like a boxing match? The lads also do a bit of introspection into whether JK Simmons 'Fletcher' would have brought about an elite performance from them.

Ben and Jack delve deep into lots of the questions Whiplash raises, such as: is there more than one way to bring about exquisite performance, Where is that line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on the path to greatness? Is it okay to succeed with a level of toxicity attached? Finally we’ll get into the ageing process, is Whiplash as a film self aware and does that affect whether it has aged like a fine wine or a war crime.

Bring Your Own Blockbuster isn’t just a film review podcast, we try our best each week to dive deep into the themes and discussions that make cinema so special - and we’d love to hear your feedback on the film. What did Whiplash make you feel? How did you feel Whiplash portrayed the lead characters Niemen and Terrence Fletcher? Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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Introducing episode 1 of Bring Your Own Blockbuster, the podcast that takes you on a trip down memory lane with your hosts, Ben Haines and Jack Hussey.

To kick things off we’re starting with a 90’s classic: Mrs Doubfire. Where to begin with a film as iconic as this? Every week we’ll break films down in depth from top to bottom, but with Ben and Jack both being kids who grew up in the 90’s they share why this one occupies a special place for both of them.

And of course how can we get stuck into Mrs Doubtfire without talking fondly about the genius that is Robin Williams? We discuss his unique talent and what he brought to the film, whilst also looking at whether his character Daniel was in fact the films ‘bad guy’.

We’ll ask the ultimate question: How has the film aged, how does the film still move us all now in 2023 and how has that changed from its release in the 90’s.

Get involved and tell us what you think on social media, you can find us everywhere at @byobpod

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