Shows
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 7th, 2012 - The Dark Knight RisesClosing out the Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. I was initially ready to come in a defend this flawed entry... but alas time has not been kind to this movie, and nor was I.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-07-251h 12Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 12th, 2008 - The Dark KnightPart two of our Batman rewatch. It's really all about Heath Ledger in this one. He brings what would have been a pretty damn good movie up to another level.
Host: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-07-171h 06Friday Nights at BlockbusterOctober 21st, 2005 - Batman BeginsWe're finally tackling the biggest franchise of the decade (outside of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Avatar if that counts, the beginnings of the MCU, what was The Fast and Furious like at the time?, one of my favourites has always been Mission Impossible).
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-07-111h 05Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 12th, 2004 - Mona Lisa SmileOne of Kate's favourite movies goes under the microscope this week. Do I take it easy on it and her... no.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-07-041h 04Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 7th, 2001 - Pearl HarborKate and I answer an age old question this week... Ben Affleck or Josh Hartnett?
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-06-191h 02Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 13th, 2009 - MilkBiopics are a tricky business. Either they cram too much in, or they leave too much out. It can be hard to find a balance. Gus Van Sant's Milk threads that needle pretty well!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-06-121h 04Friday Nights at BlockbusterJune 27th, 2003 - Punch-Drunk LoveI try once again to convince Kate a movie that does not seem like on the surface is actually a rom-com. Perhaps a little successfully this time.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-06-0558 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 15th, 2002 - Thief/HeatAll about Michael Mann heist movies this week. One is the blueprint and the other is the masterpiece. The action is the juice!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-05-291h 12Friday Nights at BlockbusterJune 27th, 2008 - In BrugesLooking back to the movie where Colin Farrell became one of our absolute favourite actors. Dark Comedy isn't for everyone, but no one does it better than McDonagh!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely 2024-05-221h 09Friday Nights at BlockbusterJanuary 29th, 2010 - Whip ItTackling one of Kate's Top 5 Directorial Debuts this week. An under seen and under appreciated sports movie/coming-of age-drama.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-05-151h 00Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 22nd, 2000 - High FidelityGet those Top 5 lists ready!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-05-091h 12Friday Nights at BlockbusterOctober 1st, 2004 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindWhat makes a RomCom? Perhaps my definition is too lenient, but if a movie makes me laugh and is romantic I think it completes the checklist. There are others with a more puritanical view on the issue...
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-05-0158 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 21st, 2008 - AtonementDarth Vader... Hannibal Lecter... Cruella Deville... These are the great movie villains of all time, and they can all step aside for the new Queen of cruel, Briony Tallis!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-04-241h 10Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 19th, 2002 - Training DayBefore we even talk about the movie I get absolutely humbled by some of the hardest movie trivia I've ever been asked (seriously if anyone gets one question correct please reach out).
As for the movie, it's all about Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, two of our favourite actors, with two of their better performances.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely 2024-04-171h 06Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 7th, 2004 - The Bourne SupremacyJason Bourne is back, still being chased by the CIA, and still trying to figure out who he is and where he comes from, but this time in a different European city!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-04-1057 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 27th, 2007 - Children of MenA look at a bleak future (and present) this week, with Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi dystopian masterpiece. Given that one of us is a parent and the other isn't, Kate and I have different feelings about living in a world without children...
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-04-031h 07Friday Nights at BlockbusterMay 4th, 2004 - The Last SamuraiVery influenced by my enjoyment of Shogun, we are looking at another Japanese set tale of Westerns coming in and thinking they know what's best.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-03-271h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 13, 2007 - Marie AntoinetteBack for another Sofia Coppola movie, this one much larger, louder, and in your face! The often satirical and irreverant look at one of history's biggest icons was a bold approach at the time, and we talk about where Coppola's movie went right in contrast to Ridley Scott's latest effort Napoleon.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-03-2056 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterThe Oscar's are Good Again!Reaction to the 96th Academy Awards, and we were both really happy. Good winners. Good host. And finally, for the first time ever, a good musical performance!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-03-1355 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterJanuary 28th, 2020 - ParasiteThe final episode of our Best Picture Winners miniseries. Looking back at the first non-English language winner of the award, and what a movie it is!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely 2024-03-071h 12Friday Nights at BlockbusterJanuary 10th, 2010 - The Hurt LockerPart two of our Best Picture miniseries. This week going back to see if Kathryn Bigelow's Irag war movie holds up, and if we would have liked to be apart of the bomb disposal unit in the army.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-02-291h 07Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 27th, 2002 - UnforgivenStarting our Best Picture Winners series with one from the 1990's. I grew up with Western movies, and somehow Kate missed out. But all the John Wayne movies in the world wouldn't really prepare me for Clint Eastwood's dark, punishing revisionist take on the wild west in Unforgiven.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-02-221h 07Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 11th, 2005 - The NotebookLet the debate commence, is The Notebook a sad movie or not? One of us says yes, the other no.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-02-151h 02Friday Nights at BlockbusterApril 7th - 2006 - Brokeback MountainAn up and down week for Kate, one movie that worked and one that didn't.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-02-081h 07Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 12th, 2008 - Gone Baby GoneThis week's movie possess one of the hardest questions Kate and I have ever had to answer on the podcast, what Affleck brother reigns supreme?
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-02-011h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterApril 15th, 2005 - Ocean's 12A little bit of Oscar hot takes (I swear we recorded this before the nominations were released). And then we jet set around Europe for this fun caper.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2024-01-241h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterJuly 6th, 2001 - SnatchAt one point, for however brief, this was both Kate's and my favourite movie. We may have moved on in the years since, but a few things remain the same; We don't want dogs dribbling on our seats, Heavy is good, heavy is reliable, and the only thing we have to declare is Don't go to England.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-01-181h 02Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 22nd, 2008 - Michael ClaytonThis week we look back at the long and illustrious career of Tom Wilkinson by watching perhaps his best performance.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2024-01-1057 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterBest of 2023 Movie Swap - Flora and Son // How to Blow Up a PipelineThis week we look back at all that 2023 had to offer including our favourite tv shows, and movie scenes.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-12-2757 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterNovember 23rd, 2001 - How the Grinch Stole ChristmasAll about Christmas movies this week (in truth about many other Christmas movies besides the one we actually watched).
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-12-201h 00Friday Nights at BlockbusterAugust 18th, 2000 - Erin BrockovichAs we come to the end of the year, Kate and I look back at almost the beginning of the 2000s at a movie and performance that really solidified Julia Roberts stardom. It's a movie almost entirely built on her charisma, and thankfully she has that in abundance.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely 2023-12-141h 05
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 21st, 2001 - Moulin RougeA few key details about this episode that will be reveled as you listened:
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce - That should help the SEO
A church where the bishop's throne (cathedra) is located is called a cathedral, while basilica refers to a class of Roman public buildings predating Christianity, particularly those with royal association.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-12-061h 02
Friday Nights at BlockbusterAugust 13th, 2004 - Kill Bill Vol. 2Finally going back and finishing off the Kill Bill series, and surprise surprise we have wildly different opinions on this Tarantino epic.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-11-301h 08
Friday Nights at BlockbusterJune 13th, 2008 - The Other Boleyn GirlThe Historical Drama has long been a favourite genre of Kate's, but getting the right balance between History and Drama is maybe something this movie doesn't achieve all that well.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-11-221h 04
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 26th, 2010 - Fantastic Mr. FoxI'm not letting Kate's disinterest in Wes Anderson deter me, and my efforts have finally paid off, she actually enjoyed this one.
Also, do not worry, no major Pixar rants this week!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-11-1655 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 20th, 2002 - Monsters Inc.The rant towards the end about Pixar's storytelling motivation is truly some of my best work.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-11-091h 06
Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 20th, 2002 - Panic RoomA double dip of home invasion movies this week, this time with no ghosts, but perhaps that makes things slightly more real and scary. Althought i'm not sure how many people listening to this podcast own a panic room.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-11-021h 11
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMay 17th, 2002 - The OthersFinally I get another chance of forcing Kate to watch a horror movie. The Others was one of the movies that I watched when I was much too young to do so, and so it was a nice opportunity to go back and revisit.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-10-261h 04
Friday Nights at BlockbusterJune 15th, 2001 - O Brother, Where Art Thou?Inspired by Taylor Swift's dominance at this weeks Box Office we are looking back at another music centric movie. She may have turned her back on her country/folk/Americana roots, but we haven't!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-10-2055 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterJuly 4th, 2003 - Gangs of New YorkWith Martin Scorsese's latest movie in the horizon we decided to go back and revisit another one of his historially set epics. First time watch for Kate, so the violence definitely took her back, but she found a kindred spirit with Bill the Butcher. I try to make the case that we should celebrate one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time more.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely 2023-10-121h 10
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMailbagWe answer your questions. Kate is finally on the hot seat and even tried to side step a few questions before we started, but I put a stop to that carry on.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-10-051h 04
Friday Nights at BlockbusterTIFF 2023 RecapThis was recoreded last week, so there was a lot of talk about the writers/actors strike... which as I'm posting this looks like it is ending.
Of course!
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Melissa Criminisi2023-09-2836 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterApril 3rd, 2009 - Slumdog Millionaire (TIFF Winners #3)Perhaps the key turning point for TIFF and the Oscars. Since this won the People's Choice award in 2008, TIFF winners have gone on to dominate Oscar nominations year after year... if only this was a better movie...
Quick note, I incorrectly refer to the language that is primarily spoken in the first timeline as Hindu instead of Hindi, and was so mad at myself while editing because I had made a note of the difference.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-09-2055 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 28th, 2007 - Eastern Promises (TIFF Winners #2)Been busy at TIFF so uploading this one a little later than usual.
A truly surprising TIFF winner, but just more evidence that the Toronto audience are the best in the business. A second Cronenberg/Mortensen collaboration sees them push the envelope a little further, but also continue their confident storytelling as they make you wait for the real fireworks.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-09-131h 03
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 20th, 2001 - Amelie (TIFF Winners #1)Starting the TIFF People's Choice Winners mini-marathon off with the wildly quirky and lovely movie Amelie. For Kate it's another chance to keep diving into International cinema, as well as discovering that she might be a huge Audrey Tautou fan.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-09-0749 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterJuly 27th, 2007 - ZodiacI know every week is basically an opportunity for me to geek out about something related to the movies, but this is our first David Fincher movie and he is my favourite filmmaker, so I apologize up front.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-08-3157 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 28th, 2001 - A Knight's TaleRunning a highly acclaimed and succesful podcast is much like a joist. You train for 10 minutes, throw togehter what little equipment you have. And force your loved ones to get involved against their better judgement.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-08-2456 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 5th, 2004 - The School of RockBack when Kate said that she would do this podcast I had one warning for her.
"It may sound easy, but nothing could be harder," I said. "It will test your head, and your mind, and your brain, too"
And having to spend a couple hours watching Jack Black flail about on screen proved harder than she could have expected!
Host: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely
2023-08-1759 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterNovember 9th, 2001 - Legally BlondeReally inspired by the continuing success of Barbie, Kate and I take a look back at another blonde trailblazer, this time in the stuffy halls of academia. We talk about the 20+ year run of Reese Witherspoon. Why Selma Blair was always relegated to the best friend roles. And try to answer the age old question of "was Elle's boyfriend's name Warren or Warner?"
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-08-1056 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 24th, 2004 - Memories of Murder"Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."
We are finally doing a non-English language movie and I couldn't be happier that it was Memories of Murder (I pick the movies so it was always going to have a good chance of being the first). Kate drops the bombshell that this might be one of the first two or three non-English movies she has ever watched though, so suffice to say she is starting with the best.
But before...2023-08-031h 11
Friday Nights at BlockbusterApril 23, 2004 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldOn board, I'm the captain. So climb aboard, we'll search for tomorrow on every shoreAnd I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try to carry on. I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory. Some happy, some sad. I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-07-271h 00
Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 23rd, 2007 - The PrestigeAre you listening closely?
Upon this most rewatch, Kate can confirm that Christopher Nolan's magician centric period piece thriller was the better of the 2006 movies that share nearly identical plots. But as the years have roled on, this remains arguably Nolan's best overall movie. His time tricks have rarely been better, he gets two great leading performances, the entire movie looks gorgeous. If only he could write a female character with one interesting quality.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-07-201h 03
Friday Nights at BlockbusterNovember 9th, 2004 - Before SunsetCatch on a specific day and I will tell you that the Before Trilogy is my favourite trilogy of movies! So with that in mind, even though only one of the movie falls within are decade of discussion, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to quickly highlight the other two. The conversation digresses a bit this week becasue anyone who has seen these movies knows there are essentially no scenes, so it was a little harder to structure a conversation.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-07-061h 02
Friday Nights at BlockbusterOctober 17th, 2008 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullThis week we are looking back at the first long awaited return of this iconic 80s movie character. Despite the reputation (some of it warranted), I think Kate and myself found quite a bit to enjoy with this movie. Still, some really rough moments (Shia LaBeouf swinging through the jungle on vines was not a good choice).
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-06-281h 09
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 27th, 2009 - TwilightI don't know what I was expecting or hoping from rewatching Twilight for the first time in over a decade. Was there a deeper message that I missed? Is there perhaps some unseen brilliant filmmaking? Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are among my favourite actors to watch in 2023, so did I overlook their performances here because it was in a genre I wasn't a fan of? I think most of the listeners will tune in with the preconceived belief that I hate this movie... and sometimes preconceived ideas are right on the money!
2023-06-211h 05
Friday Nights at BlockbusterJuly 12th, 2002 - The Royal TenenbaumsI'm not sure if any of Wes Anderson's movies have ever really lit the Box Office on fire, but The Royal Tenenbaums was certainly a breakthrough moment for him professionally. His style had always been there, but this felt like a crystalization and expansion. Kate's introduction to Anderson's filmography has been up and down, but it looks like she's turning the corner.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-06-1554 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarch 16th, 2007 - Casino RoyaleArguably the best Bond movie, starring the best actor to play Bond, with the best "Bond girl", and one of the best Bond villains. The franchise was in some ways on life support before Casino Royale, but was immediately in a great place once this movie was released. I give Kate a rundown of Bond history, and a financial lesson.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-06-081h 15
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 3rd, 2004 - Spider-Man 2The high watermark for the character (and no, I will not listen to arguments for Tom Holland/MCU's outings, because the best they have to offer needed to bring back the OG himself to put them over the top). Spider-Man 2 is more ambitious in terms of storytelling. Has another great villain. Continues Sam Raimi's ultimate vision of thrilling comic book action and completely over-the-top campiness. and Ups the sexual tension between Peter Parker and Harry Osbourne. Sounds like a good time at the movies to me! The only true negative against this movie is they didn't bring back the...2023-05-311h 01
Friday Nights at BlockbusterOctober 24th, 2003 - 28 Days Later28 Days Later was many things upon its release. It was one of the major introductions to the fast zombie idea. It was a bit of a comeback for director Danny Boyle. And now it’s Kate’s first horror movie on the podcast, and she liked at least half of it!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-05-2459 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 15th, 2006 - The Devil Wears PradaPulsating to the hypnotic beat of Kabbalah era Madonna, The Devil Wears Prada is a product of it's time in more ways than one. Kate and I discuss some of the more problematic messaging to come out of this light workplace comedy, whether we have ever worked for a Miranda Priestly-like boss, and why Adrian Grenier's Nate gets all this hate online.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-05-171h 01
Friday Nights at BlockbusterDecember 17th, 2004 - CollateralWhat a special day, I finally get to talk about Tom Cruise! (as if I haven’t found every chance to bring him up in the past) Not much of a breakdown on his running form, but that will come in a later episode I'm sure. Instead we focus on one of his only roles where he is an out and out villain. Kate also opens the door for another mailbag episode, so get your questions ready for her.
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-05-0359 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterSeptember 24th, 2004 - Mean GirlsGet in loser, we're talking about Mean Girls!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-04-2657 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterAugust 3rd, 2007 - Hot FuzzLet it be known, I will only accept copaganda in the form on Edgar Wright parody homages! After hearing Kate disparage this movie (a movie she had not seen before I will add), I knew we had to do an episode on Hot Fuzz. Thankfully, she saw the error of her ways almost immediately, and ended up loving the movie. I would also like to take this chance to apologize to any listeners in the Dundas area for things said in this episode. It's only because I live in constant fear of what you are capable of doing.
2023-04-1952 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterAugust 30th, 2002 - The Bourne IdentityAction movies are definitely cyclical. They all seem to follow a formula until something comes along and breaks that formula. As a response to the late 90s futuristic tech sci-fi worlds, this series decided to go ultra grounded, real world cities, and back to basic combat. If he wasn't a star already, the success of this movie and franchise would eventually make Matt Damon one. And if nothing else, it's a movie and series that Kate and I can agree on, so that should count for something.
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran...2023-04-1249 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMovie Swap - Layer Cake // The Young VictoriaI think by this stage it's clear that Kate and myself have different tastes in movies. So the only logical course of action was to put two movies up in the same episode and talk about each. As luck would have it, Kate had not seen Layer Cake, and I had not seen The Young Victoria. Both deal with power, corruption, wealth, and British class divisions, which sounds good and would have been better if either of us could have made that connection when we recored the episode!
...2023-04-051h 17
Friday Nights at BlockbusterNovember 21st, 2008 - Wall-EVery few studios have had as big of an impact in recent years as Pixar, so we of course had to talk about one eventually. And when deciding what to do first we chose a movie that Ciaran hadn't seen before, so Kate is the expert this episode! We rank our top 5 Pixar movies at the end (with typically chaotic results).
Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely2023-03-2955 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterFebruary 6th, 2004 - Lost in TranslationNormally I would take this space to explain a little about the movie or why we decided to watch and talk about it. Maybe tease it with a joke, or just try some creative way to allude to the movie before you click play. However, this week something so shocking, so insane, so mind blowingly catastrophic was said on the podcast (by Kate of course) that I’ve decided to take this opportunity for a PSA:
Go see Francis Ford Coppola movies!
All of them, even the bad ones!...2023-03-2351 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterAugust 22, 2003 - ChicagoThis is the second Best Picture winners miniseries episode, and as we said in the previous episode, the polar opposite to Gladiator. Ciaran is slowly starting to learn how to love musicals. Until the lockdown he would have said musicals were my least favourite movie genre. However, on his journey to watch more Best Picture winners he knew he was going to run into many musicals, so might as well go in with an open mind and try to enjoy them. Unfortunately for Chicago, this did not work for him. He comes in hot and Kate tries to stick...2023-03-0855 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterNovember 24th, 2000 - GladiatorEpisode One of the Best Picture Winners Miniseries sees Kate and myself going all the way back to the first 2000s movie to win the Best Picture Oscar. This historical epic is certainly using the language of many previous Oscar winners that came before it, and at its core has two breakout roles for the leading men. Directed by a prolific filmmaker, who has become an Academy favourite, and never seems to stop working.
Kate has some truly shocking questions and confessions. I'm going to have to start getting her to submit notes before w...2023-03-0253 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterApril 16th, 2004 - Kill Bill Vol.1K - Katanas and Kimonos
I - "If on your journey, you should encounter God, God will be cut."
L - Lucy
L- Liu
B - Bride
I - Ironside by Quincy Jones
L - Lancaster, California
L - Lee, Bruce
V - Vipers, Deadly
O - One Eye
L - Lady Snowblood
1 - 1,2,3,4, 5.6.7.8’s
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-02-0850 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe Highs and Lows of the Oscar NominationsWelcome to the new show - Friday Nights at Blockbuster - where Kate and myself will look back at the movies that shaped the 2000s.
But before we get to those movies, there is the small matter of the Academy Award Nominations. We talk about the big winners of nomination morning (the Irish), the snubs, and give a couple predictions about who/what we think will win the big prizes. Plus Andrea Riseborough...what the hell happened there!
Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely2023-01-2732 min
Friday Nights at BlockbusterEnd of the Year MailbagLots of interesting questions, and some interesting answers. The questions about Soccer movies were a particular sore spot, but I powered through.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kate Vallely2022-12-141h 15Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe Da Vinci Code // Gosford ParkLabeling The Da Vinci Code a murder mystery might be a stretch, but just come along for the ride. We are living in a murder mystery renaissance after all.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kate Vallely2022-11-091h 19Friday Nights at BlockbusterScream FranchiseThe movie that changed the face of horror movies for an entire generation. Scream has endured as a classic for so long because it successfully does two things. Firstly, it delivers on the basic level of a teen slasher. The characters are fun to hang out with. The killer is creative and fresh. Secondly, it is a brilliant send up of all the horror movie tropes that had become boring and tired by the time Scream was released. You can go back many times and pick up new references or hints that Craven and Williamson were setting their sights...2022-10-131h 32Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe Blair Witch Project // The DescentStarting the October Horror Miniseries with the movie that redefined horror movies for my generation. The found footage trend was certainly around before The Blair Witch Project, but definitely not in the way it would be afterwards. However, I think that movie often gets lumped in with the cheap imitators who took all the wrong lessons. One movie that did learn the right lessons from The Blair Witch Project though was Neil Marshall's claustrophobic creature feature The Descent.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kunga Sagar2022-10-051h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterDon't Worry Darling ReactionPerhaps the most talked about movie that no one had seen for many years, Don't Worry Darling opens wide this week, and we were there to see it for ourselves. The best sci-fi movies ask probing questions, and reflect our reality in a way that make us think about issues in a new and fresh way... Don't Worry Darling doesn't really do any of that. We breakdown the many controversies, what we liked and didn't like, the performances, and try to answer some of the questions we were left turning over in our minds when we walked out of...2022-09-281h 05Friday Nights at BlockbusterTIFF 2022 SpecialAnother year, another festival. another slightly deranged lineup of pre-movie sponsor advertisements. Welcome to the Toronto International Film Festival! With my ever trusty TIFF partner, we breakdown the movies we wanted to see but couldn't, the movies we want to see now after successful festival runs, and finally our Top 4 movies that we did see. This is our favourite time of the year, and despite the ticket mishaps, the long lines, and I can't understate how bafflling those sponsor ads get, we love TIFF and wouldn't change a thing...ok well maybe a few things.
2022-09-211h 20Friday Nights at Blockbuster20th Century Women // S#!%houseThe coming of age movie is something that has been around since Hollywood realized teenagers and young adults have an abundance of disposable income. However, every once and a while a filmmaker wants to do something a little different with the genre, and these two movies are great examples of a filmmaker taking a tried and true formula but giving it a little twist (with a bonus discussion about Greta Gerwig who might be the best filmmaker at doing that currently working).
Host: Ciaran Vallely2022-09-141h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe Departed // State of GraceThis week is all about the gangster movie, and when talking to my Irish cousin it was probably best to keep things focused on Irish gangsters. One movie is set in Boston, the other set in New York. One gave its filmmaker his greatest ever success, the other has been completely lost to time. However, both are filled with lots of alcohol, cigarettes, and famous actors!
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Bryan Wilson2022-09-071h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterMoana // Spider-Man: Into The SpiderverseI love animated movies, especially animated movies that take full advantage of the medium and shows us things that we wouldn't be able to see otherwise. Both of the movies this week achieve that in their own unique ways despite their very different approaches to style.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Clara Wilson2022-08-3152 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterDr. Strangelove // The KillingStanley Kubrick is often the boring answer to the question "Who is the greatest filmmaker of all time"...but sometimes the boring answer is boring because it is the right answer. Beside his reputation, his movies are rarely similar from one another, and that makes uniquely great to talk about on this podcast where I hope people check out more movies because I truly believe there is something for everyone.
This episode was supposed to come out sometimes around July 26th, but my ability to procrastinate is stronger than my love of editing.
2022-08-241h 38Friday Nights at BlockbusterCatch Me If You Can // Inside ManWhile on the face of it these two movies may not seem like a perfect 1 to 1 comparison. One is a whimsical, globetrotting story of a young conman on the run, and the other is a confined, gritty bank robbery. Their respective filmmakers certainly have a different outlook on humanity and life. One stars an actor who is about to make a major shift in his career, and the second sees an experienced duo team up once again to deliver the goods. I think I've just talked myself out of this recommendation...at least the guests enjoyed them.
2022-08-171h 19Friday Nights at BlockbusterMagnolia // 21 GramsPaul Thomas Anderson and Alejandro Iñárritu are two of the most acclaimed and beloved filmmakers of the last 30 years. However, as young men, both favoured the interconnected, multiple storyine technique...to varying results. Sometimes the recommendations don't always work
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kunga Sagar2022-08-031h 27Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe Truman Show // PleasantvilleI find that currently most big budget movies just want to be TV shows, and most TV shows probably should have been movies. But 25 years ago, two movies tried to bridge the gap between the mediums and comment on the ever shifting landscapes of modern entertainment.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Dean Labute2022-07-271h 02Friday Nights at BlockbusterUltimate Summer Movie WinnerThe dust has settled, the votes have been counted, and a coin has been flipped, but the winner of the Ultimate Summer Movie Bracket has been selected. As with all great democracies, New Favourite Movie turned to an impartial third party for help with selecting the winner, and I think a worthy movie came out on top.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Melissa Criminisi2022-07-2051 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterHow To Lose A Guy In 10 Days // The F Word (What If)What has happened to the mainstream RomCom? Once so reliable at the box office has now been relegated to poor content on streaming services. Still, once upon a time this genre stood tall, proud, and confident enough to have characters pitch "Frost Yourself" as a viable marketing campaign to the world's largest diamond sellers...
Fool's Gold Recipe:
1 Loaf of Italian Bread (must be white)
2 Tablespoon's of Butter
1 lb of lean cooked bacon (must be lean!)
1 Jar of Smooth Peanut Butter (sorry all you crunchy peanut butter...2022-07-141h 09
Friday Nights at BlockbusterMarriage Story // WildlifeChildren of Divorce unite! Both movies this week explore the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of being a parent and going through the end of a marriage. But cheer up, it's not all doom and gloom, as any CoD knows, that just means two Christmases, two Birthdays, and two parents who will stop at nothing to win over your love and affection...
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Tannaz Keshavarz
Tannaz's movie 2035, and can be found on YouTube2022-06-291h 10Friday Nights at BlockbusterAlmost Famous // Sing StreetDo you prefer the harder, dirtier, guitar heavy rock n' roll of the 1970's, or the sweeter, dancier tunes of the 80's MTV era? Either way, the two movies this week will have you covered. Warnings for any Genesis/Phil Collins fan though.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Alycia Kosonic2022-06-2254 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterPirates of the Caribbean // The MummyWhat happened to the Action/Adventure genre? This week we look back at two of the enduring movie franchises that came to define the late 90s early 2000s movie landscape. Unfortunately Sam Worthington does catch a couple stray shots towards the end for some reason.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Ali Weavers2022-06-161h 15Friday Nights at BlockbusterMailbag EpisodeI take the hot seat and answer your burning questions. Hopefully I don't bore people too much. Desert Island picks, pet peeves, and the eventual slow collapse of the movie theatre experience are all discussed. So you know, the light stuff.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kate Vallely
Every Frame a Painting: David Fincher - And the Other Way is Wrong2022-06-091h 04Friday Nights at BlockbusterMulholland Drive // Sunset Boulevard - Part 2Listen, we all love movies, but there is a much discussed, and documented darker side to Hollywood, particularly when it comes to actresses. The two movies this week tackle that issue in their own ways, and try to shine a light on the fact that all that glitters is not gold, especially in Tinseltown.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Nick La Rocca
Some images to show what the hell Nick and I were talking about:
https://i.imgur.com/lL4YYFl.jpg
2022-06-0137 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterMulholland Drive // Sunset Boulevard - Part 1Listen, we all love movies, but there is a much discussed, and documented darker side to Hollywood, particularly when it comes to actresses. The two movies this week tackle that issue in their own ways, and try to shine a light on the fact that all that glitters is not gold, especially in Tinseltown.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Nick La Rocca
Some images to show what the hell Nick and I were talking about:
https://i.imgur.com/lL4YYFl.jpg
2022-06-0157 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterSword in the Stone // WillowAfter much internal debate, my brother-in-law Chris finally landed on Disney's animated take of the Arthurian legend. In response, the fantasy/action/adventure of Ron Howard and George Lucas' Willow seemed like the perfect recommendation.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Chris McKenzie2022-05-251h 00Friday Nights at BlockbusterThe King of Comedy // To Die ForSome people are willing to go a lot further in the pursuit of fame than most of us. I am willing to start a movie podcast with friends, but if I was asked to murder them I'd probably have to take a second to think about it.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Tom Costie2022-05-181h 16Friday Nights at BlockbusterWhen a Man Loves a Woman // Like CrazyA post-Mother's Day Special!
This was the first episode recorded, and what better way to start than to talk with your mother about debilitating diseases and long distance relationships.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Caroline Gill2022-05-111h 05Friday Nights at BlockbusterGovernor Gabbi // ElectionWhen I started this podcast I thought it would be a fun way to talk to my friends about the movies they love and maybe introduce them to something that wasn't on their radar. However, what are you supposed to do when someone knows you for so long that they not only know what you do and don't like, but actively take joy in making you a little miserable. With friends like these...
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Melissa Criminisi2022-05-041h 05Friday Nights at BlockbusterDune // Outlaw KingThe most obvious recommendation for the adaptation of a seminal sci-fi classic set on a far off planet is to look backwards in history to the story of a would-be king set in the far off country of Scotland.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Stuart Wilson2022-04-271h 14Friday Nights at BlockbusterBring It On // BooksmartA deep dissection on the cultural significance, political awareness, and ethical sustainability of the intelligent teen movie, both past and present. Digressions include the music of Cardi B, time management in the age of reality television, and the shadowy expansion of the Bring It On franchise.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Lisa La Rocca2022-04-2044 minFriday Nights at BlockbusterThe Matrix // eXistenZIs this all real, or is it a simulation? Either way I need to learn how to turn down the difficulty.
The Matrix is one of the most influential, and acclaimed movies of the last 25 years, but what about a smaller, similarly themed movie that got lost in its wake? An oddly patriotic episode considering the subject of both movies.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Mark Krizanc2022-04-131h 08Friday Nights at BlockbusterHarry Potter // His Dark MaterialsAre you allowed to break format on the first episode? Well we did! The first guest on New Favourite Movie couldn't possibly choose a favourite movie from the Harry Potter franchise, so we talked about them all. And in return, I recommended to them one of my favourite book series...now a television show.
Host: Ciaran Vallely
Guest: Kate Vallely2022-04-0656 min