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Cinematic UnderdogsTop Gun / Top Gun: MaverickDoes the Top Gun franchise exist within the domain of sports movies? You bet your callsign it does! On the latest episode (initially published on June 19th 2022 as episode 64), your friendly Underdogs discuss how sports archetypes and tropes (practice adversaries, player-coaches, and the importance of camaraderie) dominate both movies. Also stayed tuned for our divisive take on the legacy sequel (our respective opinions on its formulaic elements & banging soundtrack diverge quite dramatically). Do beware: you will be exposed to small doses of toxic negativity infiltrating the never-ending hype machine. So what are you waiting for? Queue up t...2024-11-191h 56
Cinematic Underdogs117. A Knight's Tale (2001)On this episode, we leap back to medieval times to cover the anachronistic, rennaisance-era, sports comedy and period piece A Knight's Tale with Seth Troyer, cohost of the Unwatchables pod and director of Vertigo II. Led by the romantic chivalry of Heath Ledger, the poetic panache of Paul Bettany, and some spicy pixie-girl charisma from Shanynn Sossamon, A Knight's Tale is a fun spoof film with literary wit, sportive flair, and a romantic tongue.
We have a blast digging into this anacrhonistic romp featuring a wily bard that goes by Chaucer, a squire-turned-jouster masking his peasant past...2024-08-051h 27Cinematic UnderdogsAnother Round (2020) w/ Justin & Laura KhooOn this bonus, quasi-sports themed, Oscars-affiliated episode (previously episode 27 - published April 9th of 2021 before Spotify demanded a revision and made me save it to drafts) of Cinematic Underdogs, I (Paul Keelan) join Laura and Justin Khoo of the always superb Cows in the Field podcast to discuss the philosophical leaps of faith and pratfalls in 2020's "Another Round." This is a hybrid release, and is also available on any platform streaming Cows in the Field. Now, for those familiar with "Another Round," I know what you are thinking: what on earth does self-experimenting with lif...2024-04-091h 30Cinematic Underdogs110. Love Lies Bleeding (2024)Jed Bookout joins the pod to discuss A24’s early breakout hit of 2024, Love Lies Bleeding: a sapphic, bodybuilding, ultra-violent fever dream of a movie. Set in a scuzzy and sordid 1989 New Mexico setting, and tracking a pair of lesbians turned serial killers by necessity, Love Lies Bleeding is a tonal tour de force evoking the likes of Paul Schrader, Lynne Ramsey, & David Cronenberg. Perhaps the best synopsis of her sophomore entry: Imagine Nicolas WInding Refn directing a Coen Bros script.
Over the course of the episode, we also discuss Rose Glass’ promising future, Kristen Stewart’s best ca...2024-03-251h 22Cinematic Underdogs109. Million Dollar Baby (2004)It's Oscars season and so we're back with Matt Belenky to spar with a Best Picture winner: Million Dollar Baby. Starring and directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Paul Haggis a year before he penned yet another Best Picture Winner in Crash, this pugilistic take on euthanasia is a classic tearjerker.
It is also a mixed punching bag: filled with melodramatic fetishization of the southern bumpkin archetype, brilliant cinematography, a florid narration by none other than Morgan Freeman (channeling strong Shawshank Redemption vibes), and a plucky Best Actress performance (earned or not) by the always endearing (if not...2024-03-041h 15Cinematic Underdogs102. The 100 Foot Wave (Season 2)The 100 Foot Wave is truly must-watch TV for anyone who appreciated big wave surfing. Following Garrett McNamara and his lifelong quest to catch the world’s biggest wave, the 1st season tracked his dual romantic elopements—both to his wife, Nicole, and to Nazaré, a small Portuguese port town where he stumbles upon an undiscovered swell of mythic proportions.
Season 2 picks up in the decline of Garrett’s dominance, chronicling his transition to family life and his maturation into a mentor figure. It also tracks the monstrous swell created by Hurricane Epsilon, the ramifications of COVID-19 on surfing...2023-12-151h 45Cinematic Underdogs100. The Sports Movie Tropes DraftWe made it! Our 100th episode is here, and we couldn’t be more stoked to share it with everyone. First and foremost, a huge shoutout to everyone who’s listened and appeared on our podcast over the last 99 episodes. We feel blessed to have met so many awesome people, enjoyed many fun recordings of memorable conversations, and received a ton of positive feedback along the way!
We had an absolute blast recording our first Sports Movie Draft with an all-star cast of previous guests, which included Justin Khoo from Cows in the Field, Justin Peterson from The Av...2023-11-151h 59Cinematic Underdogs94. Untold: Jake Paul the Problem ChildOn this episode, we talk about the rise of Jake Paul in the ring. From a YouTube hellion and obnoxious Influencer to a boxing star, Jake Paul has become one of the truly improbable sports transformations of the 21st century. He may be polarizing and milage varies greatly on his likability. But as a celebrity committed to a sudden calling after a quarter life crises and cultural cancellation, Jake Paul is a pretty remarkable figure, who has only proved himself time and time again as a formidable contender against a ragtag albeit talented group of ex-MMA fighters and seasoned...2023-08-2549 minCinematic Underdogs92. Cinematic Underdogs Q&AA bonus episode consisting of two separate interviews of Jordan & Paul on The Average Joe's Movie Club Cast. We discuss or movie tastes, preferences, and habits. Enjoy! 2023-08-111h 21Cinematic Underdogs91. SK8 the InfinityThis week, we return to the world of Manga adaptations & join our friend Matt St. Jack of Anime Talk! to chat SK8 the Infinity (you can watch it on Crunchy Roll!). In the episode, we discuss the series' nostalgic tone, ardent-hearted appreciation of skateboarding, controversies surrounding queer-baiting, technical/scientific descriptions of boarding, quirky biblical allusions, and notable popularity. Check it out!2023-07-291h 18Cinematic Underdogs90. Blackberry (2023) w/ Feelin' FilmWe’re back with our friends Aaron & Patrick from Feelin’ Film to talk 2023’s underdog sleeper hit of the year, Blackberry: a riveting, fictionalized biopic detailing the rise & fall of the now-infamous phone. Equally funny and thrilling, Blackberry taps into the spirit of Fincher’s The Social Network or Boyle’s Steve Jobs. It is filled with amazing performances and panache—appropriating Nat Geo-style long-lenses (a stylistic riff stolen from D.A. Pennebaker’s The War Room), leaning into faux-documentary comedic beats (Christopher Guest films, The Office), celebrating the by-the-bootstraps/punk-rock ethos of indie filmmaking (Primer, Slacker, Clerks), and heavily styliz...2023-07-141h 26Cinematic Underdogs89. Ted Lasso (Seasons 1-3)In the wake of Ted Lasso's series' finale, we decided to talk about Apple TV's feel-good sports-themed sensation by covering the show's entire 3 seasons. Painting broadly, we discuss the recurring pattern of gradually inverting character traits & expectations, contextualize the aesthetic choices/references/silliness/garishness within the canon of classic sitcoms, analyze the pavlovian opening credit sequence, debate the subtle 2nd and 3rd season shift toward prestige TV runtimes and overtones, and proclaim our overarching verdict on whether it deserves to endure in infamy or posterity. 2023-07-061h 39Cinematic Underdogs88. Netflix's Break Point (Season 1)On this episode, Harry LaBollita returns to discuss Netflix's hit series Break Point. Helmed by the same team behind F1: Drive to Survive, Break Point chronicles the world's up-and-coming tennis stars as they prepare and compete on the international professional tennis circuit, including all four Grand Slams and ATP and WTP tournaments. In Season 1, the cast of characters includes Nick Kyrgios (a "bad boy" from the Land Down Under), Matteo Berrettini (an Italian stallion with high ambitions and an equally successful girlfriend, Ajla Tomljanovic) Taylor Fritz (a So-Cal native who overcomes injury to out Nadal in the Indian Wells...2023-06-161h 30Cinematic Underdogs87. Nacho Libre (2006)We're back and this time we brought both Justin & Laura Khoo of Cows in the Field on the pod to discuss the 2006 cult sports-comedy classic Nacho Libre. Little did we know that this movie holds a truly special place in the Khoo's hearts (you'll have to check out the episode to hear exactly why). In addition to anecdotal associations, we get down to the nitty-gritty on what makes this such an indelible movie. We chat about the artisanal needle drops, the meticulous costume design and visual craftsmanship, the unique tonal blend of childlike silliness (fart jokes) and hipster cleverness...2023-06-021h 28Cinematic Underdogs86. Ready to Rumble (2002)What's up, Underdogs!? ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE!? Well, you better be because we're back, we're joined by Lou Moon, and we're diving headfirst into a raunchy sports comedy about the wonderful world of WCW wrestling. Yes, that's right: we're powerbombing 2000's puerile cult classic Ready to Rumble! This fatuously fun film is absolutely stacked. It stars David Arquette, Scott Caan, Oliver Platt, Joe Pantoliano, Martin Landau, and an ultra-hot Rose McGowan; it features epic, Slim Jim-inspired cameos from a horde of professional wrestlers (Goldberg, Booker T, Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, Randy Savage, Sid Vicious, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rey...2023-05-201h 33Cinematic Underdogs85. Air (2023) - Feelin' Film Guest AppearanceOn this bonus episode, your cinematic underdogs join Feelin' Film for a guest appearance discussion on the feel-good, 2023 dad-flick Air. Directed by Ben Affleck, written by Alex Convery, and starring Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, and Chris Tucker, Air is the highly-manipulated backstory of Nike's acquisition of the GOAT Michael Jordan. Giving MJ not only a licensing fee, but also a slice of the residual pie with royalties on each sale, Nike capitulated billions in potential profit to acquire a young, unproven NBA rookie. It was a daring gamble, but one that paid off handsomely...2023-04-211h 24
Cows in the field87. Almost Famous (w/ Paul Keelan)We hit the road with Paul Keelan (Cinematic Underdogs) and talk bands, touring, growing up, and more in this jam-packed episode on Cameron Crowe's memoir film Almost Famous. Paul shares his experience touring with bands, and we discover that we were once in the same room over a decade ago! We talk about the illusion and fantasy of life on the road, the desire to hold on to fleeting moments, and role of writers in crystalizing our most cherished memories in prose. We are not golden gods, but we are on drugs!!
Listen to...2023-04-141h 06Cinematic Underdogs84. Field of Dreams (1989)Jed Bookout joins us on this episode as we explore Phil Alden Robinson's 1989 paternalistic, cornfed, heartland classic Field of Dreams. We discuss the film's disquieting subtexts and alternative readings, grappling with multiple surrealistic and existential readings. We discuss its similarities and lack thereof to the filmography and sensibilities of Douglas Sirk & Frank Capra. We discuss whether the central conceit and deus ex-machina of the film -- the mysterious, uncredited voice -- is the remnants of a Berkeley acid trip, a biblical parable, or the summoning of a cult leader. We discuss whether the film would turn into a sinister...2023-04-061h 46Cinematic Underdogs83. The Color of Money (1986)Marc Dottavio of Unwatchables joins us to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1986 The Color of Money. A legacy sequel to The Hustler, this pool-hall classic incorporates all of Scorcese's usual obsessions, stylistically and thematically, in very sly ways. The whip pans, snap zooms, time-lapse sequences, needle drops, and gritty mise-en-scene nicely complement the slow-burn tempo and 8-ball sequences, setting the tone for a cunning exploration of authenticity and integrity in life and sport alike.
Often overlooked in discussions surrounding the filmographies of Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, & Martin Scorsese, The Color of Money is a complex character study within a...2023-03-241h 43Cinematic Underdogs82. Sudden Death (1995)Hello, fellow underdogs! We're back with Matt Belenky — film producer/film writer/film aficionado/Pittsburgh native — to discus one of the best Die Hard clone movies ever put to screen: Peter Hyams' 90's classic, Sudden Death. Matt recently celebrated Sudden Death's timeless charm and Pittsburghian ethos in the Pittsburgh Orbit article Terrorism in Overtime: Sudden Death Turns 25, and he fills us in on all the local details you'll want to hear: the casting of real-life Penguins broadcasting duo Mike Lange and Paul Steigerwald as themselves, the story being conceived by Karen Elise Baldwin (daughter of then-Penguins owner Howard Baldwin, who p...2023-03-101h 36
Cinematic Underdogs81. Hustle (2022)On the latest episode, we go back to the basics and cover a newly released yet old-fashioned formulaic sports flick: Hustle. Released on Netflix in 2022, Hustle finds Adam Sandler in a groove. This film sits nicely between his prestige work in Uncut Gems and the juvenile sensibilities we've all become accustomed to expecting from the Happy Madison brand. It is packed full with NBA cameos and call-outs, and delivers its emotional and athletic beats with panache and intensity.
For a feel-good and by-the-numbers underdog sports flick, Hustle is a winner. Enjoy our conversation as friend and NBA su...2023-02-241h 25Cinematic Underdogs80. Hard Knocks in Season: The Arizona Cardinals (2022)In anticipation of Super Bowl LVII, we're back with a follow up to our episode on Hard Knocks: Training Camp w/ The Detroit Lions, this time tackling Hard Knocks in Season: The Arizona Cardinals. This is easily our most sporty episode yet. As always, though, we transfer the narratives on the field into the world of celluloid dreams. Quite literally: To break the ice, we enumerate the stories and moments from the 2022-2023 NFL season we each think might one day translate fluidly to the silver screen. Purdy, Brady, Hamlin, & Wilson all make our cut (for very different hypothetical...2023-02-151h 30Cinematic Underdogs79. Shaolin Soccer (2001) w/ Ashley NaftuleWe're back with a classic sports fusion film: Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer! Ashley Naftule (freelance writer, playwright at Space 55, Twitter humorist) joins us to celebrate the zany antics and devil-may-care CGI shenanigans of Hong Kong's slapstick king. It's a truly one-of-a-kind cinematic exercise, relocating Shaolin martial arts to the soccer pitch, and we have an absolute blast singing its praises and investigating its zany and somewhat taboo archetypal/gender dynamics.
Enjoy!2023-01-211h 23Cinematic Underdogs78. Captains (2022)We're back and chatting Captains, yet another underrated Netflix docuseries. This 8-episode journey chronicles the heartbreaking lows and glorious highs of 7 international captains as they lead their country's squad through qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Mikey from Screen Nerds Podcast joins the conversation and we have a blast discussing the doc's diverse cast of characters and cultures. (Given a few vague references, it will be helpful to know this episode was recorded the same day Argentina knocked Croatia out of the World Cup in the semi-finals)
Following the chosen leaders of Vanuatu (Brian Kaltak...2023-01-041h 10Cinematic Underdogs77. FIFA Uncovered (2022)On this special bonus episode, Mikey from Screen Nerds Podcast joins the pod to discuss the timely 2022 Netflix docuseries, FIFA Uncovered. Dropped just before the World Cup in Qatar, this sprawling doc exposes the decades of corruption (wire fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, bribery) staining FIFA. For those who love true crime/in-depth investigative journalism, this might be right up your alley.
Declared as the World Cup of fraud, the takedown of dozens of FIFA officials by the FBI stunned the world. FIFA Uncovered digs behind the scenes and gets to the bottom of these indictments. We hear fr...2022-12-211h 01Cinematic Underdogs76. Welcome to Wrexham (2022)We're back with another Docuseries. Resembling in ways a real-life Ted Lasso, Welcome to Wrexham chronicles the purchase of Wrexham AFC by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny. The Wrexham Red Dragons are a fifth-tier Welsh football club, meaning they sit at the very bottom of the pyramid of professional UK leagues. Thus, the immediate goal of this venture is pretty simple: Promotion. Ryan and Rob certainly have the capital to make a splash. The question is whether money will translate onto the field.
Marketed as an underdog story, Welcome to Wrexham is anything but and with a...2022-12-051h 03Cinematic Underdogs75. Hard Knocks: Training Camp w/ the Detroit Lions (2022)On the latest episode, we continue to explore the long-form format of docu-series by tackling HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp w/ the Detroit Lions. Sure, it's classifiable as Reality TV, but when it comes to getting an in-depth, behind-the-scenes, all-access look at the ins and outs of running a professional football team, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more illuminating source than the first and longest-running sports documentary series in TV history.
Produced by NFL Films and narrated by Liev Schreiber (a tidbit neither of us were privy to during the recording and were both undeniably shocked t...2022-11-161h 34Cinematic Underdogs74. California Split (1974)We're back and joined by Mike Harris (director of Your Heart is a Dark & Rotten Place) to discuss Robert Altman's meandering buddy-comedy, California Split. Chronicling two gambling addicts as they bet on virtually everything (horses, poker, pick-up basketball games, boxing) and hang out with an amicable pair of hookers, Altman's cult-classic is both seductively charming while also a deceptively dark look into a seedy and niche American subculture.
We were honored to have Mike's input on this episode. Mike introduced me to The Long Goodbye, Short Cuts, and opened me up to the treasure trove that is Altman's oeuvre in c...2022-10-071h 33Cinematic Underdogs73. Untold: The Rise & Fall of AND1On this episode, we discuss Untold episode on the rise and downfall of the niche streetball brand AND1. After a disastrous sponsorship of Stephan Marbury, which ended unceremoniously with a broken ankle due to the defective AND1 prototype shoes, the three Wharton grads behind this flash-in-the-pan, late-90s brand cleverly redefined their identity: Appropriating NYC street ball maestros to become AND1's ambassadors via viral VHS compilations.
In no time, the scrappy company and its ragtag group of Harlem Globertrotters/carnivalesque ballers would end up inspiring an ESPN-run reality show, a national grassroots sportswear movement, and an emergent style of ac...2022-09-241h 05Cinematic Underdogs72. Poker Movies & Rounders (1998) w/ Matt BelenkyWhat's up, Underdogs!? Light up a thick cigar, pour a tall glass of scotch, queue up Frank Sinatra on the record player, spread a felt green cloth on that old dingy table in your den, and pull out a lucky charm because we're back with a new sport-adjacent series: Poker Movies. We have the perfect guest to introduce us to this rich world of cinematic gambling: Matt Belenky. As a film producer/writer/aficionado, former competitive poker player, and Pittsburgh native, Matt shoots this shit with us for almost two hours. We lay the ground rules and assess all the...2022-09-101h 48Cinematic Underdogs71. Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist (2022)Season 2 of Untold has arrived and it's more viral than ever! That's right: Our favorite Netflix-produced sports documentary series is officially back! To commemorate the occasion, Aaron White of Feelin' Film joins us to discuss the incredibly bizarre and wacky 1st episode, Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist.
As a two-part season opener, this jaw-dropping Untold entry chronicles Manti Te'o's miraculous senior season at Notre Dame and the public downfall that resulted when Deadspin doxxed the truth behind Manti's illusory dead girlfriend. This is one of those "you have to see it to believe it" stories, and e...2022-08-261h 35Cinematic Underdogs70. The Running Man (1987)We're back with yet another episode about a film that fits squarely into the surprisingly extensive dystopian/post-apacolyptic game-show subgenre: 1987's mega hit The Running Man. For this round, Chad Lott and Marc Kate from Scary Thoughts join us to chat about Arnold's epically stilted line readings, the eternal humor of nut shots, deepfake technology, the artistic versatility of a well-timed one-liner, Paula Abdul supremacy, TV personality Richard Dawson's rousing villainy, iconic mustard-hued tracksuit fashion, arrantly misogynistic motifs in 80's action cinema, video game tropes in movies, the apathetic endgame of pervasive disinformation, and whether a piece of mainstream e...2022-08-181h 36Cinematic Underdogs69. Karate Kid 2 (1986)On our latest episode, we discuss Karate Kid 2 with the prolific and ever-insightful Gene Ching: layman disciple of the original Shaolin Temple, former publisher of Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine, sword/weapons guru, and resident Cobra Kai expert on Den of Geek. Alongside Gene, we tackle everything that works and doesn't work in the second installment of the Karate Kid canon -- reflecting on the film's genre shift from sports tropes to kung fu tropes, deriding its moments of egregious cultural appropriation / misrepresentation, and celebrating the charms and silver lining within this much-maligned sequel.
Sure, Karate Kid 2 m...2022-08-111h 23Cinematic Underdogs68. Untold: Caitlyn JennerWelcome to our final episode on Season 1 of Netflix’s amazing Untold series. This round, we discuss perhaps the most famous subject in the entire anthology: Caitlyn Jenner. Before listening, however, we want to note that the gender dynamics and politics in this episode get unusually complex. We have no issue referring to individuals in whatever manner they prefer. Diversification and differentiation in gender, sexual orientation, and identity are values we fully support. That said, Caitlyn Jenner is a unique case that deserves to be treated on unique terms. Caitlyn herself “deadnames” / refers to her former self as Bruce. She speaks...2022-08-0248 minCinematic Underdogs67. Untold: Deal with the DevilWe're back and chatting about yet another excellent episode of Netflix's Untold series. This time, we enter the purgatory to discuss the insanely tumultuous highs and lows of Christy Martin's boxing career and personal life in Deal with the Devil. The title itself is quite revealing: it overtly hints at the Faustian bargain Christy made by marrying her wickedly abusive/controlling real-life trainer/promoter/coach Jim Martin. It also obliquely acknowledges the fact that she not only entered into a partnership with this devilish figure, but that she "dealt" with him: even surviving Jim's very visceral attempt to take...2022-07-2245 minCinematic Underdogs66. Driven (2001)Driven is a notoriously (and criminally) maligned, high-octane car wreck of a movie you have to see to believe. Tracking the CART open-wheel circuit, Renny Harlan’s adaptation of Sly Stallone's bloated script delivers ADHD-addled thrills from start to finish. This thing peels out at 200+ mph and refuses to let you breath or think — only pulling over to recharge at a few well-timed soapy, melodramatic pit stops.
If you're down for a flashy, jam-packed spectacle of gonzo, over-the-top filmmaking with little emotional or narrative credibility, hop right in! This is the celluloid equivalent of an amphetamine-infused deep-fried Twin...2022-07-101h 34Cinematic Underdogs65. Over the Top (1987)On this episode, JB Huffman of Manly Movies joins us to un-ironically champion the many heartfelt virtues & rah-rah moments of Sly Stallone's heartfelt 1987 father-son reunion melodrama, Over the Top. If you're on quest to find the definitive movie about child custody, truck driving, and arm-wrestling, this is your one-stop pitstop.
Tune in to join in on the fun as we chat about Stallone's equally understated & overblown melancholy, the legal logistics of parental custody, inverted sports movie tropes, why Laughlin should have replaced Vegas for the final tournament (given the fact that Kingpin already snagged Reno), the film's u...2022-06-291h 38Cinematic Underdogs63. Death Race 2000 (1975)Our resident sci-fi/dystopian sports film expert, SF Covell, returns to discuss the grind-house, b-movie classic Death Race 2000. Our convo quickly turns as unhinged & unruly as the movie -- traversing all kinds of detours and unexpected landscapes!
We discuss how the film oddly parallels the Herbie franchise, Around the World in 80 Days, Rat Race, Mad Max: Fury Road, and countless oddball, race-based, cinematic escapades. We compare the film's ultraviolent westward trajectory to American Bloodsport, our Frontiersman Mythologies, & Manifest Destiny. We vehemently disagree about the quality of Stallone's acting. We wax nostalgic for the pre-Zoom days of watching t...2022-06-121h 31Cinematic Underdogs62. The Karate Kid (Live at The Majestic)Enjoy our short, sweet, & trivia-infused live episode, recorded just after a live screening of The Karate Kid at The Majestic Tempe. The recording includes some audience questions, hot takes, a brief background lesson on where the film exists in the overall trajectory of American-made martial arts movies, and a totally random tidbit about a fitness company called Body by Jake. We kicked off the discussion seconds after the packed theater erupted in roaring applause for the 1984 classic! The energy is palpable! Enjoy!2022-06-0524 minCinematic Underdogs61. The Karate Kid (1984)This is a special one! Welcome to the in-depth prelude to our live episode on The Karate Kid! We discuss this everything there is to discuss about this heartfelt, feel-good classic in a short 1.5 hours. Sure, that's a decent chunk of time. But when you consider there is a podcast in the cosmos that devotes hour-long episodes to every minute of the movie, we become paragons of brevity & economy.
So if you're ready to hear us wax on and wax off about crane-kicks, sweeping legs, shower costumes, motorbike gangs, & 80s bangers, you've come to the right place! We...2022-05-151h 35Cinematic Underdogs60. Cliffhanger (1993)On this episode we are joined by Matt Strohl, author of Why It's OK to Love Bad Movies, to discuss the Sylvester Stallone-led action (with a sports twist) flick Cliffhanger. We discuss why this outrageously fun 90s blockbuster far transcends any one genre and the multiple Razzie awards it undeservedly garnered. Matt's thesis about viewing films charitably and establishing a love for the intertextuality of genre systems perfectly aligns with our own mission to admire the nuances within cinematic formulae. If you are a kindred soul who also loves to celebrate unfairly overlooked & maligned genre entries, this episode is...2022-05-031h 40Cinematic Underdogs59. Victory (1981)Hello Underdog Nation! We're back and our bark is louder than ever! On this episode, illustrious cinephile & Sylvester Stallone super-fan Lauren Knight joins us to discuss 1981's overlooked Victory (aka Escape to Victory) starring Michael Caine, Pele, and Stallone himself. The fact that this film is not slotted in the pantheon of classic sports movies is downright criminal. Set during WWII, Victory is the story of a ragtag group of POWs who are propositioned to play a propagandistic soccer match in Paris against their Nazi occupiers. The purpose of the game is to showcase German superiority; for the fascists, things...2022-04-221h 24Cinematic Underdogs58. Baki (2018)Howdy fellow Underdogs!!!
We're back with our second deep dive into sports-themed anime! This time we are joined by Matt St. Jack of Anime Talk! and cover Baki, a Netflix series featuring muscular martial artists with sinewy veins, bulging eyes, & bloodthirsty intentions. The narrative focuses on Baki Hanma, a young high-school fighter extraordinaire diligently training to eclipse his legendary father's status as a legend in the world of ultimate fighting. Meanwhile, five ultra-violent death row inmates have escaped in synchronicity and are descending upon Tokyo to take him on.
*We apologize for the distorted audio & s...2022-04-171h 15Cinematic Underdogs57. Yowamushi Pedal (2013)What's happening, underdogs? We're back and now pedaling into a totally new terrain -- covering our first Japanese sports anime, Yowamushi Pedal. Joining us and holding our hand through this episode is David Weinberger of the Shonen Flop podcast. David does an amazing job breaking down the five types of anime (shonen, shojo, seinen, josei, and kodomomuke) and explains why Yowamushi Pedal is derivative and cliche.
Meanwhile, our unvarnished critical perspective within the world of anime at-large lends us a more charitable view toward the series (which chronicles the evolution of an otaku into a competitive cyclist). F...2022-04-0842 minCinematic Underdogs56. American Underdog (2021)This week Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson / Cinephile Hissy Fit joins us to discuss American Underdog. Directed by the Erwin brothers, American Underdog chronicles the inspirational rise of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi) as he bags groceries, bides his time, slings the football in the Arena league (AFL), and scraps his way back to the NFL. Backed by his equally resilient wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin), and her family, Kurt proves to everyone that persevering against all odds can pay off.
It is not difficult to deduce that this film fits our podcast's overarching theme to...2022-04-011h 32Cinematic Underdogs55. Speed Racer (2008)On our latest episode, we veer slightly off the post-apocalyptic path in our sci-fi / futuristic sports movie extravaganza to discuss Speed Racer!
Devout Speed Racer fanboy Jed Bookout joins your regular underdogs (Jordan & Paul) to discuss the Wachowski Sisters' singular adaptation of this classic anime entry. We colloquially swerve, meander, and careen as we chat about everything good & bad about the film, including its over-the-top DayGlo color palette, Matrix Resurrections adjacent anti-corporate messaging, white-washed cast, use of vanguard digital camera techniques & technologies, pitch-perfect verisimilitude of childlike sensibilities, sugar-high/candy-coated pacing, controversial accusations of animal cruelty, and boundless i...2022-03-251h 32Cinematic Underdogs54. Rollerball (1975)We welcome sci-fi maestro SF Covell on the pod to wax nostalgic about the killer 1975 dystopian thriller Rollerball. In perhaps our most off-the-cuff & critical divisive episode of CU yet, we get heated (Jordan blasphemously claims the nu-metal-heavy 2002 Rollerball remake is better), hairy (discussing James Caan's chest and John Houseman's nose), & hoarse (from praising how kick-ass, paranoiac, & stylishly cynical this mid-70's flick can be). Rollerball is definitely an underrated gem (ignore Jordan's opinion) and listening to SF Covell relish while reminiscing on decades-old memories of shouting and screaming at a screening during its initial theatrical run is all the...2022-03-181h 33Cinematic Underdogs53. The 10th Victim (1965) w/ Justin & JoeyHey fellow Underdogs!!! This week we welcome bak Justin and Joey from The Average Joe’s Movie Club Cast (YouTube, Buzzsprout, & Apple Podcasts) to discuss the 1965, swinging-sixties satire The 10th Victim. Starring Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress, this futuristic Italian films takes the manhunt, battle royale genre to fashionable extremes. A modish, spy-film adjacent, sci-fi farce filled with hideously ugly toy pets, lunar cults, femme bot bra-embedded weaponry, suave saxophonists, and Roman romance, The 10th Victim is a must-see cult classic for anyone who loves 60s avant garde, the Austin Powers trilogy, and/or Bond movies.
Enjoy our...2022-03-041h 37Cinematic Underdogs52. Home Team (2022)Welcome to our first true foray into the wide world of a Happy Madison sports movies! No, Home Team is not in the same ballpark as Happy Gilmore. Hell, it wishes it was half as funny and entertaining as The Waterboy. But as champions of the genre and apologists for its formulaic gags and set pieces, we find the silver lining in this half-assed tale of Sean Peyton's post Bountygate comeuppance: returning to small-town Texas to coach his estranged son's hapless peewee football team.
Part kids-focused sports film and part tale of redemption and penitence, Home Team's t...2022-02-2341 minCinematic Underdogs51. National Champions (2021)This week, your favorite Underdogs get timely & topical -- discussing 2021's National Champions. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland, Angel Has Fallen), and adapted from a stage play written by Adam Mervis (21 Bridges), National Champions follows star quarterback Demarcus James (Sephan James) and his teammate/friend Emmett Sunday (Alexander Ludwig) as they boycott the national championship less than 72 hours before kickoff. Like other behind the scenes sports films we've covered (High Flying Bird, Draft Day, etc), the film is a savvy and cynical take on the economics of sports.
Tidily scripted & sufficiently nuanced, Mervis' adapted screenplay questions t...2022-02-161h 31Cinematic Underdogs50. Untold: Breaking Point (2021)This week on Cinematic Underdogs, Harry LaBollita, Nick Morelli, and Aaron White of Feelin Film' join the pod to discuss Untold: Breaking Point. As our third entry into the fantastic Netflix-produced docuseries, this episode chronicles Mardy Fish's poignant rise, fall, & eventual search for equanimity. If you've never heard of Mardy before, you are not alone. For most of his professional tennis career, he flew under the radar, consistently bested by his childhood best friend Andy Roddick. Then, nearing 30, something clicked. Seemingly overnight, Mardy transformed his work ethic (sleeping in an hyperbaric pod, trimming 35 pounds, and practicing militantly), and he...2022-02-0959 minCinematic Underdogs49. Endgame (1983) w/ Will JohnsonNow this is a wicked fun episode. Will Johnson of Cinephile Hissy Fit joins the pod to geek out on Joe D'Amato's 1980's Italian post-apocalyptic cult classic Endgame: Bronx Lotta Finale! The film is a wild pastiche. It begins as a battle royale TV game-show and morphs into a story of a gruff antihero named Shannon (Al Cliver) leading a telepathic mutant (Moira Chen), an oracle-child archetype, and their troupe to safety. Filled with ninjas, blind assassin monks, radiological wastelands, and gratuitous nudity, Endgame is the cinematic equivalent of a 13-year-old boy's wet dream. Chatting about everything from Italian exploitation...2022-02-021h 30Cinematic Underdogs48. Blood of Heroes (1990) w/ SF CovellOn this episode, we briefly flip the script* and begin our Post-Apocalyptic Sports Movie Series with David Webb Peoples’ Blood of Heroes.
Starring Rutger Hauer (Sallow), Joan Chen (Kidda), Vincent D’Onofrio (Young Gar), and Delroy Lindo (Mbulu), this one-of-a-kind sports film is criminally overlooked. A strange fusion of Mad Max sensibilities and underdog sports movie tropes, Blood of Heroes delivers a surprisingly feel-good story about a ragtag troupe of amateur athletes who drift around and survive by playing Jugger against rivaling tribes in the barren Australian wasteland.
Jugger itself is a fascinating invention: a fully...2022-01-261h 29Cinematic Underdogs47. Untold: Crimes & Penalties (2021)The Dostoevsky allusion in the title of latest Untold episode we cover ("Crimes & Penalties") is apt in more ways than one. Like the hard-hitting Russian novel, this episode about a small-town mafia-run hockey team comprised entirely of goons blurs the lines of orthodox morality.
The premise is simple: Jimmy Galante (kingpin of Connecticut's trash empire and the purported real-life inspiration for Tony Soprano) buys his son, AJ, his very own minor league (UHL) hockey team. AJ is a bonafide WWE/The Mighty Ducks fanatic & a former ice hockey enforcer (who's burgeoning career prematurely ended due to a debilitating injury). Equally...2022-01-1841 minCinematic Underdogs46. Untold: Malice at the Palace w/ Aaron WhiteWe have finally finished our Summer Olympics Sports Movie marathon and are excited to begin our much anticipated deep dive into Untold, a riveting Netflix Docuseries created by Chapman and Maclain Way. To kick off this riveting docuseries, we welcome the consummate podcast maestro and perennially insightful Aaron White of Feelin' Film for an in-depth discussion of Malice at the Palace.
The first entry of Untold, Malice at the Palace explores infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl that occurred on the fateful night of November 19th, 2004. Deconstructing the monolithic media narrative that vilified Ron Artest & his Pacers teammates (Jermaine O'Neal, S...2022-01-061h 10Cinematic Underdogs45. Personal Best (1982)As Robert Towne's directorial debut, Personal Best is anything but safe. His commitment to realism is impressive, but the results can be maudlin and melodramatic. This is also a very fleshy/horny film, and at times, it is hard to tell whether the film's rampant nudity is naturalistic, gratuitous, perverted, raw, or an amalgamation of all these qualities. Regardless of how one perceives the film's gaze (which, from reading reviews, is quite polarizing), Personal Best definitely seeks to deglamorize the female body to show its unvarnished beauty, prowess, and athleticism. And it does so with ambitious technical merit. From isolating...2021-12-201h 27Cinematic Underdogs44. Top 5 Sports Films w/ Justin & JoeyOn this episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we bring you Justin and Joey from The Average Joe’s Movie Club Cast, which can be found on YouTube, Buzzsprout, & Apple Podcasts. Joey & Justin are mega sports movie fans, and so for this episode we discuss their top five all-time faves (including everything from Bloodsport to Rocky to Field of Dreams to Days of Thunder), some honorable mentions (Varsity Blues, Any Given Sunday, Baseketball, Fever Pitch, etc...), the greatest tearjerker (Rudy) and laugh-my-ass-off (Happy Gilmore) sports movie moments, & finally, in solidarity, we knight Kevin Costner as the GOAT of the genre. IF yo...2021-11-1558 minCinematic Underdogs43. Race (2016)As an old-fashioned sports biopic, Race (2016) is serviceable. IT is exactly what one might expect of such a film: a sepia-toned, self-congratulatory, anti-fascist/racist flick about Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens, however, is sadly overshadowed by familiar beats and 'sophisticated' cliches in this Focus Features slog. An incredible/preternatural athlete and seemingly charismatic individual, Owens is bogged down by white savior narratives and a syrupy bromance with Ted Lasso himself (Sudeikis, before he made a name for himself on the pitch) as the Ohio St. track-and-field coach Larry Snyder.
The film also stars Jeremy Irons as Avery Brundage (t...2021-10-311h 31Cinematic Underdogs42. Flatball (2016) w/ Raj MaitraOn this special episode, we welcome Raj Maitra to the podcast to talk about the niche albeit electric sport known as Ultimate Frisbee. Raj has played Ultimate at a professional level (even appearing on ESPN) and now coaches a local team in Minneapolis. He is also an old, close friend of Paul's from a summer they both spent studying abroad in Cambridge (carousing about the hallowed halls of Cambridge a la the young blokes in Chariot's of Fire).
The documentary under discussion is Flatball. Narrated by Alec Baldwin and chronicling the history and rise of the esoteric sport of Ultimate F...2021-10-051h 40Cinematic Underdogs41. Prefontaine (1997)In our last episode on Prefontaine, your fellow Underdogs breakdown the 1997 film starring Jared Leto, Ed O' Neill, and R. Lee Ermey.
Enjoy!2021-09-271h 10Cinematic Underdogs40. Prefontaine Biopics w/ JuanThis extra-special episode of Cinematic Underdogs welcomes Juan — former track star walk-on, unabashed Steve Prefontaine super-fan, and current rockstar psychology PhD student at ASU.
Studying the intersections of exercise & dieting (among other factors), Juan is teeming with the type of esoteric insights we cherish so much on the pod: offering a uniquely immersive, heady, and self-reflexive perspective and all around good vibes.
Discussing everything from the logistics & phenomenology of competitive running, to the tenuous conjectures & over-localized correlations we tend to make between what we eat and how we perform, to the larger-than-life persona of our boy Pre, this conversation is for...2021-09-102h 09Cinematic Underdogs39. Tokyo Olympiad (1965)On the latest episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we welcome Cows in the Field's one & only Justin Khoo back onto the pod to discuss Kon Ichikawa's monumental Tokyo Olympiad (1965). Commissioned by the Japanese government, this subversively playful and poetic depiction of the '64 Olympic games is a tour de force of cinematic techniques: filled with freeze-frames, still photograph montages, image masking, temporal intercutting, rack focus, fragmented close-ups (transforming athletes into abstract figures), smash cuts, animated transitions, Technicolor and black and white shots, shadow / telephoto shots, disruptive zooms, associational edits, and slow motion.
Instead of venerating Japan's resurrection after W...2021-09-031h 33Cinematic Underdogs38. Chariots of Fire w/ Patrick HicksCo-founder / cohost of Feelin' Film and writer at This is Patch, Patrick Hicks is a bonafide sports movie lover. His passion for the genre is resonant and inspiring to hear, and this episode is stuffed wall-to-wall with great insights on everything from being oversaturated with content to the future of movie theaters to the emotional beats in sports movies that can get even the most stoic among us to shed a tear.
Patrick also has a long history of ebbing and flowing with his appreciation of and apprehensions towards Chariots of Fire. He adores it for all t...2021-08-282h 11Cinematic Underdogs37. Chariots of FireOn this episode, we continue our Summer Olympics themed sports movie mini-tournament with the 1981 Best Picture winner Chariots of Fire. An historical drama, Chariots of Fire offers a little dash of everything: an epic Vangelis score, pastoral shots of Scotlands' heath and heather, anti-semitic and anti-Protestant hostilities, and stuffy Cambridge rituals. It is as much about class and social stratification and micro-aggressions in post WWI Great Britain than it is about Olympic running. However, despite its lofty ambitions, soaring electronic backdrop, and Oscar winning accolades, Hugh Hudson's dual biopic may very well be one of the most overrated sports...2021-08-211h 17Cinematic Underdogs36. Without Limits (1998)Hey fellow UNDERDOGS!!! This week we welcome the uplifting perspective of Caless Davis (Twitter, Instagram, & Letterboxd) from the supremely awesome Feelin' Film crew! Caless joins us for an exciting discussion on Without Limits: an insanely underrated mega-box-office bomb / heartfelt biopic about the one and only Steve Prefontaine. Produced by Tom Cruise, directed by Robert Towne, and featuring a pair of ultra-game performances by the ever elegant Donald Sutherland as Bill Bowerman (yes, that guy that co-founded Nike) and always handsome Billy Crudup as Prefontaine (a runner of headstrong zealousness and undiluted passions), Without Limits is, like Whiplash, a film ab...2021-08-132h 01Cinematic Underdogs35. Space Jam (1996) vs. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)We heard it all. A shameless commercial grab bag. IP overload. Jumbled tech references. A WB universe that makes zero cohesive sense. Lebron, like Jordan, can't act.
And there is a lot of truth to all those statements. But at the same time, we didn't forget that this is SPACE JAM we are talking about!
Let me say it again: SPACE JAM!!! You know the franchise where WB execs decided to team up their Looney Toon squad with NBA superstars, and pass it off as a summer blockbuster? The franchise that is truly remembered for R...2021-08-071h 36Cinematic Underdogs34. Indian Horse w/ Kathryn MitchellOn our follow up episode to Indian Horse, we speak at length with the profound and insightful professor Kathryn Mitchell. Kathryn is of Comanche descent and has spent 25 years teaching Native American literature. She offers a bounty of knowledge about the horrific history of America's Boarding Schools, Canada's Residential Schools, and the strength and fortitude of North American indigenous people who have survived the atrocities of colonization.
We contextualize this deeply edifying history lesson with the poignant and powerful themes of Indian horse, discussing how the motifs of circularity, community, and perseverance in the film reflect the s...2021-07-311h 17Cinematic Underdogs33. Indian Horse (2018)If you have read any of the new stories about the mass unmarked graves unearthed recently in former Canadian Residential Schools, you will already be slightly familiar with the horrors depicted in Indian Horse - a harrowing tale of assimilation, abuse, and survival.
Far from the feel good hockey movie you may expect stumbling upon this film on Netflix, Indian Horse is a powerful revelation of past trauma and grief. It is not an easy watch, but certainly an important watch. Telling the tale of a precocious First Nations hockey virtuoso who finds solace on the ice o...2021-07-281h 03Cinematic Underdogs32. The Puck Hogs (2009) w/ Warren P. SonodaJoin us for a very special episode of Cinematic Underdogs where we welcome Warren P. Sonoda, the director of one of the funniest sports comedies you have probably never heard of: The Puck Hogs!
The Puck Hogs is not only a well-constructed sports film, but also a criminally underrated hockey flick that should be required viewing for anyone who has ever laced up a pair of skates inside a musty, sweaty locker room in an aging hockey rink. From its savvy script to its energetic style and pace to its DIY heart, there is so much to like about The P...2021-07-082h 05Cinematic Underdogs31. Goon (2012)Witten by Evan Goldberg and Jay Baruchel, directed by Michael Dowse, and starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Eugene Levy, and Alison Pill, amongst others, "Goon" boasts a fantastic comedic team. Surprisingly, the film depends most of all on the charm and fists of its breakout lead, an actor known first and foremost by the name of the infamous character he played in "American Pie": Stifler.
Seann William Scott is pitch-perfectly cast in the role of Doug Glatt, a boorish Massachusetts bouncer who goes viral after head-butting a minor league hockey player so hard during a...2021-06-141h 26Cinematic Underdogs30. Mystery, Alaska (1999)With "Mystery, Alaska," Cinematic Underdogs is officially a year old. Happy anniversary to us! It felt very apropos to celebrate our first anniversary with a perfectly mediocre sports film. That's what we are here for! Not to bring you the greatest movies ever made. Not to bring you the coolest horror flicks or underrated indie gems. None of that! We are here for nostalgic sports movies that kind of suck, but also make you feel cozy and warm and like a child again. "Mystery, Alaska" isn't very good, but it isn't very bad either. It is benign, inoffensive, utterly...2021-06-041h 17Cinematic Underdogs29. Youngblood (1986)Welcome to yet another zany podcast episode dedicated solely to shooting-the-sh!t about a classic hockey movie! This time we discuss the 1986 film "Youngblood" with Justin Peterson of The Average Joe's Movie Club Cast.
This is largely forgotten 80s film is truly a product of its time: drenched in sweat, synth-music, and montage sequences. It is basically "Dirty Dancing" and "Flashdance" on ice. Homoerotic, melodramatic, and starring a trio of beloved Hollywood hunks—Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Keanu Reeves—this has all the makings, even 35 years after it premiered, to be a sleeper hit and a sudd...2021-05-171h 37Cinematic Underdogs28. Slap Shot (1977) w/ Don ShanahanOn this laid-back, throwback episode of Cinematic Underdogs, the boys welcome Every Movie Has a Lesson's very own Don Shanahan to shoot the sh!t about 1977's scrappy rough-and-tumble hockey classic "Slap Shot."
Pull out a case of Stroh's, or Root Beer if you want to be blasphemous, and get ready to indulge in an hour-and-a-half of locker room movie talk on everything from the amount of F-Bombs in the film, to a debate about which actor exudes Burt Reynolds energy, to drinking in Chicago with Michael Shannon. How do these topics manage to work their way i...2021-04-211h 42Cows in the field33. Bonus Episode: Another Round (w/ Paul Keelan)We crack open a few cold ones (figuratively) with Paul Keelan (Cinematic Underdogs) to unpack and disagree about the Oscar-nominated Another Round. How does the film experiment with existentialism, and how does it explore our complicated relationship with alcohol? Is it worthy of being recognized as among the best films of the year, or is it just Old School dressed up with Kierkegaard quotes? We also react to its portrayal of gendered divisions of labor and explore the film's attitude towards its characters. We hope you enjoy this unusually critical episode. Let us know what you think about the film!2021-04-091h 28Cinematic Underdogs26. The Queen's Gambit (2020) Pt. II: Episodes V-VIIOn our finale installment of our two-part discussion of "The Queen's Gambit," we really dig into how the coming-of-age narrative at the center of this lovely Netflix Miniseries parallels the key stages of Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey." Tracking Beth's rise to stardom, downward spiral into addiction, regenerative return to her homeland / orphanage, and ultimate ascent to chess supremacy, we celebrate how well crafted and inspiring her story truly is. We also examine the savvy ways in which Cold War motifs, like collectivism vs. individuality, are depolarized and investigated by the countercultural, punk-rock ethos of the late 60s American chess...2021-04-021h 04Cinematic Underdogs25. The Queen's Gambit (2020) Pt I: Ep. I-IVJoin your favorite Underdogs, Jordan and Paul, as they deconstruct the definition of chess as a sport, the moral ambiguity of using mental enhancement pills (and how that aligns with other sports controversies involving steroids / substance abuse), and whether or not The Queen's Gambit is a vapid / middlebrow miniseries or prestige TV.
It is a deeply philosophical conversation that really gets into the tropes of the sports genre - harkening back to many of the quandaries first brought up in the introductory episode of Cinematic Underdogs.
Finally, don't forget to like / share / spread the Cinematic Un...2021-03-261h 06Cinematic Underdogs24. College Basketball Films W/ Aaron WhiteTo get into the spirit of March Madness's long awaited return, Aaron White of Feelin' Film and Paul Keelan of Cinematic Underdogs have combined forces to release a special bonus episode that covers four 90's-era hoops classics: "Blue Chips" ('94), "Above the Rim" ('94), "He Got Game" ('98), and "Love and Basketball" (very early '00)!
From Nick Nolte's channeling of Bobby Knight-like anger management issues in "Blue Chips," to Tupac's wild on-set pot-smoking antics during the shooting of "Above the Rim," to Ray Allen's gutsy biblical-themed performance as the pointedly named Jesus Shuttlesworth in "He Got Game," to the iconic "d...2021-03-181h 16Cinematic Underdogs23. Chess Movies W/ Aaron WhiteIn preparation for our discussion on "The Queen's Gambit", Aaron White of Feelin' Film and I (Paul Keelan) went on a bender with chess movies. In under a week's span, we both watched "Pawn Sacrifice," "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "The Coldest Game," "Queen of Katwe," and "Computer Chess" (on top of "The Queen's Gambit" miniseries).
After this whirlwind of research, it quickly dawned upon the both of us that the content stored in our brains would inspire way too much dialogue to fit into a single podcast discussion. Thus, we decided to create extra-special 'chess extravaganza' episode s...2021-03-121h 02Cinematic Underdogs22. Aaron White's Top 5 Sports Films & The Queen's GambitOn this very exciting episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we welcome a very special guest to the pod: Feelin’ Film’s very own Aaron White!
Given that Feelin’ Film is itself an amazing resource for passionate sports movie conversation, and a formative influence on the genesis of Cinematic Underdogs, Aaron's guest appearance on the podcast is a very special one.
Over the course of our heartfelt discussion about movies, podcasts, and sports in general, you will get an inside scoop on the origin story of Feelin’ Film, Aaron’s impressive regimen that allows him to watch a ton of mo...2021-03-072h 31Cinematic Underdogs21. The Last Dance Pt. II: Episodes VI-X (2020)Part II of our official breakdown of “The Last Dance” is here and it doesn’t disappoint.
In it, the Underdogs talk the latter half (episodes 6-10) of ESPN's comprehensive look at Michael Jordan’s iconography and the Chicago Bulls’ epic run in the 1990s.
Nothing is left on the cutting room floor here as we waltz through all the juicy gossip at the heart of this doc: touching upon gambling addiction, impromptu WCW Nitro appearances, incinerated haikus, managerial backstabbing, flu games, the “Space Jam” basketball summer camp, practice fistfights, premeditated slights, and temper tantrums.
Don’t for...2021-03-031h 48Cinematic Underdogs20. Justin Khoo's Top 5 Sports Films & The Last DanceOn this episode of the podcast, Cinematic Underdogs welcomes a very special guest—Justin Khoo.
Philosophy professor at MIT and podcast host at Cows In The Field (https://cowspod.wordpress.com/), Justin is someone who is never at a loss for edifying insights. His capacity to parse the complex ethical and structural elements of cinema elevates the medium well beyond the realm of mindless visceral entertainment. And yet, his intellectual focus is anything but dry—a pure giddiness radiates whenever he reflexively contemplates and tests out a new way of seeing something.
Given that Justin is st...2021-02-241h 54Cinematic Underdogs19. The Last Dance Pt. I: Episodes I - V (2020)On this special edition episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we cover the first half (episodes 1-5) of our first Wild Card Flick: "The Last Dance"!
Given that "The Last Dance" is a sports documentary series and thus veers outside of the realm of feature films (it is actually not even a flick, come to think of it), your friendly Underdogs will be the first to acknowledge that we outright broke an explicit rule outlined in the introductory podcast: that we would not deviate from the insular domain of 'cinematic' sports movies.
But for Michael Jordan, Phil Ja...2021-02-031h 54Cinematic Underdogs18. Don Shanahan's Top 5 Sports Films & MoneyballOn this special bonus episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we have the always sincere, insightful, & poignant Don Shanahan (https://www.everymoviehasalesson.com/ — Twitter: @casablancadon) on the podcast. If you are looking at the running time, your eyes are not lying: we dauntlessly enter Joe Rogan territory, enthusiastically chatting for nearly 3 hours. Don’t let this be intimidating though: you won‘t want to miss a single second of this ever engaging conversation that touches upon how auteurism, film criticism, American politics / socioeconomics, the shifting nature of popular mores, & the rise of technology is changing the landscape of sports / sports movies. Ultima...2021-01-262h 41Cinematic Underdogs17. Moneyball (2011)With technology and mathematics continuing to replace the human workforce, the relevancy of "Moneyball" far supersedes the baseball park. Nevertheless, while the plot of this Oscar-nominated film can feel numerically engineered at times, it never forgets its more sentient roots as a veritable sports movie. With statistically-driven montage sequences, an ecstatic portrayal of the Oakland A's record breaking twenty-game win streak, and the depiction of a ragtag team replete with unorthodox personalities, "Moneyball" balances its heady & arithmetical proclivities by adding all of the classic sports tropes we've come to love in this traditionally 'feel good' genre.
From...2021-01-221h 47Cinematic Underdogs16. Jed Bookout's Top 7 Sports Films & High Flying BirdOn this very special bonus episode, Paul geeks out with the ever entertaining Jed Bookout (Twitter / Instagram: @jedbookout) as Jed enumerates and extrapolates upon his top seven sports films of all time. Jed's list is tailor-made for cinephiles, straddling the eclectic margins of the genre: a celebration of genre-defiant game-changers like "Speed Racer" & "Shaolin Soccer" & "The Wrester" to name just a few.
From here, we segue into a fruitful discussion revolving around Jed's favorite Soderbergh films (spanning from "Magic Mike XXL" to "Sex, Lies, & Videotape" to "Out of Sight") before finally delving into some intriguingly hot takes...2021-01-121h 17Cinematic Underdogs15. High Flying Bird (2019)Spearheaded by Steven Soderbergh's resourceful / expedient directorial ingenuity (producing a gorgeous motion picture from nothing more than an iPhone & some affordable stabilizers / lenses), Tarell Alvin McCraney's lean screenplay (seething with a biblical heft and a savvy subversiveness toward the capitalistic status quo), and a crackling cast (led by the smooth and silky André Holland, playing the ever clever sports agent Ray Burke), "High Flying Bird" is a disruptive game-changer on many levels.
Released directly onto Netflix—and bypassing just about every buffer / middle-man possible—the production of this film nicely mirrors the core message of the movie: preach...2021-01-091h 42Cinematic Underdogs14. Jerry Maguire (1996) - Bonus Interview W/ J.B. HuffmanHello everyone!
If you enjoyed the last Cinematic Underdogs podcast episode on "Jerry Maguire", and were craving just a little more content on what is inarguably one of the most iconic 90s flicks, today is your lucky day: here is a bonus, heartfelt thirty-minute interview with J.B. Huffman! On this special episode, we manage to cover some totally new territory about the film, and deconstruct the characters' arcs—thematically, tonally, and emotionally—from an entirely different perspective.
Don't forget to subscribe / like on whatever platform you listen on!
Thanks, enjoy, and happy holida...2020-12-2728 minCinematic Underdogs13. Jerry Maguire (1996)From #MeToo indictments (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to scientology scandals & Covid-19 fulminations on set (Tom Cruise) to excessive plastic surgery (Renee Zellweger) to fading into cultural irrelevance (Cameron Crowe) to a tragic death due to breast cancer (Kelly Preston) this year, pretty much everyone involved with “Jerry Maguire” (except for Regina King & some smaller bit characters—Jay Mohr / Bonnie Hunt / Jerry O'Connel) has aged neither smoothly nor gracefully.
Nevertheless, as children of the nineties and proud fans of the self-indulgent romanticism of Cameron Crowe flicks, this little film about an unhinged sports agent, a midlife crisis, and the difficu...2020-12-211h 54Cinematic Underdogs12. Draft Day (2014)Ivan Reitman's "Draft Day," our first foray into a group of films that illuminates the behind-the-scenes worlds of sports, is an absolute winner. Written by the playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman, this film is a lovely moral play. Filled with complex characters, the film centers around Kevin Costner's Sonny Weaver, the GM for the Cleveland Browns, and follows him from the moment he puts on his suit's cuff links until the annual draft comes to its nightly conclusion.
Beleaguered from all sides by imbroglios and conundrums - a mistress / co-worker (Jennifer Garner) w...2020-11-241h 23Cinematic Underdogs11. The Replacements (2000)The Replacements came out at the turn of the millennium as a strange follow up for Keanu Reeves to The Matrix. Also starring Jon Favreau (in ridiculously aggro / full-throttle mode), Orlando Jones (bug-eyed / timorous / hilarious in every scene), and Gene Hackman (oddly sentimental for the otherwise goofy film), the movie boasts an all-star cast, off-the-wall humor, and a great comeback narrative inspired by a real life replacement team (the 1987 Washington Redskins) that filled in for the players on strike and who won three games at the tail end of the season; many even credit these wins for securing a t...2020-11-141h 26Cinematic Underdogs10. Invincible (2006)Starring Mark Walhberg, Greg Kinnear, and Elizabeth Banks, and tracking the unbelievable story of Vince Papale - a Philly bartender and substitute school teacher who somehow earned a spot on one of Dick Vermeil's late 70's Philadelphia Eagles teams - Invincible has all the ingredients to be a bonafide feel good underdog sports movie.
Unfortunately, something went afoul with the recipe of cliches on display here as the film came up bland and lacking in flavor. Detailing the unpalatable qualities of Invincible, we discuss Disney's sugar-coated depiction of the economic woes of the late 70's, the diluted de...2020-10-291h 06Cinematic Underdogs9. Concussion (2015)Whether it was due to its criticism for being Oscar-bait, or Will Smith's valiantly manufactured but still awkward Nigerian accent, Concussion never really got hold of the cultural zeitgeist. A slick legal and scientific procedural, filled with tons of exposition and salacious exposés about the damning evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and the iniquitous cover-up antics of the National Football League (NFL), Concussion is a smooth way to cram in a cognitive overload of information.
Sure, it is a bit syrupy; and sure, the dialogue feels stilted and manufactured for most of the movie. But a...2020-10-061h 26Cinematic Underdogs8. Any Given Sunday (1999)Visceral, gritty, immersive, oversaturated, raw, unfiltered, cynical, decadent, cutthroat: telling from the frequency of descriptors such as these in this podcast episode, Any Given Sunday is in no way a film for the feint of heart. Oliver Stone's reimagining of a war film on a football field, this film is unlike any other in the genre in that it delves into the dirty backstories and underbelly of the sport is has chosen to probe: the NFL.
With epic performances by Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Aaron Eckhart, and Al Palcino, to name just a few, Any Gi...2020-09-011h 33Cinematic Underdogs7. Little Giants (1994)Starring Rick Moranis, Ed O'Niell, and a very young Devin Sawa (so young, in fact, he had not yet proliferated the cover of Teen Bob), there are few other kids' based 90's sports films as quintessentially 90's as the little gem: Warner Bro's 1994 entry, Little Giants.
Produced by Steven Spielberg, directed by the man who brought you Homeward Bound & Halloweentown, inspired by a 1992 McDonald's Super Bowl commercial, featuring cameos by Emmitt Smith and John Madden, and based upon a budding sibling pee-wee football rivalry (the fraternal foes here are the coaches) in the small Ohio town of Ur...2020-08-081h 54Cinematic Underdogs6. Heavyweights (1995)On this episode of Cinematic Underdogs, Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan are confronted with a film that exists on the threshold of the podcast's dedicated genre: should Heavyweights be considered a sports film at all? Beyond this dilemma, we are also perplexed by the assortment of tones and sensibilities in this strange curio. Produced, created, distributed, and marketed by Disney as a kid's comedy, Heavyweights veers into foreign territory and is certainly not the expected lightweight fare that its brand name is so famous for. The reason for this incongruity is plain and simple: Ben Stiller's character Tony Perkins.2020-07-141h 18Cinematic Underdogs5. The Mighty Ducks' Sequels: D2 (1994) & D3 (1996)In this episode, Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan delve deeper into The Mighty Ducks trilogy, geeking out the world of Gordon Bombay and his quack attack. We compare and contrast the pomp and pizazz of D2, which is set in Los Angeles and features the iconic Iceland team as the primary rival, with the juvenile pranks and mopey adolescent moodiness of D3, which finds the Ducks back in Minneapolis at Eden Hall Academy (a fictional, prestigious prep school).
More importantly, these films allow us to unpack our nostalgia for childhood and the 1990's: summer days playing roller h...2020-07-092h 53Cinematic Underdogs4. The Mighty Ducks (1992)On this episode, Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan look at the film that really started the fad of Disney-based 90's Kids Sports Movies: 1992's The Mights Ducks. Written by Steven Brill, directed by Stephen Herrick, and staring Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson, amongst many other recognizable actors, this cult classic has some of the most memorable scenes and quotable lines of its decade.
The film not only spawned a lucrative box office trilogy (with a soon to be released series about to premiere on Disney +), it also inspired an era of youth recreational hockey and led to t...2020-06-181h 30Cinematic Underdogs3. The Big Green (1995)On this episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we discuss how our memory of The Big Green was upended by our adult viewing experience of the film. Nevertheless, there was a lot to take from this film, despite the fact that it doesn't have the same emotional payoff as other classic Disney 90's Sports Movies.
In some ways, The Big Green is more politically relevant than ever: dealing with issues of immigration / deportation, the plight of rural America, the urgency for narratives that cultivate self-worth and belief, and the warring biases between cosmopolitan and small-town mindsets. However, despite being a...2020-06-091h 26Cinematic Underdogs2. Angels In The Outfield (1994)On our first podcast for the Disney Kids' Sports Movie bracket, Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan discuss why they still find the 1994 Angels in the Outfield so adorable. With a stellar cast, a heartfelt story, and a whole lot of angelic hijinks, Angels in the Outfield is a film that is ripe for analysis. Exploring the themes of faith, family, and the complicated dynamics of being a child in the foster care system, this episode delves into the humane themes and very fun and silly conceit at the center of this fun children's sports movie.
This episode a...2020-06-021h 10
Cinematic Underdogs1. Cinematic Underdogs - Introductory PodcastOn the very first episode of Cinematic Underdogs, Jordan Puga and Paul Keelan discuss, debate, and circumscribe the scope of what their podcast will focus on: sports movies. What exactly defines a sports movie? Is it the setting? Is it simply any film with an athlete or a sports franchise in it? Are skateboarding movies sports films? What about chess films? The Big Lebowski? Ace Ventura?
The outline of the podcast is also established: Cinematic Underdogs will entail monthly clusters (Adam Sandler sports movies, female-centered sports movies, chess movies, etc..) in which Jordan and Paul will debate th...2020-05-2650 min