Best Max Peterson and Karl Hartley Podcasts (2025)

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S5E25: High and Low (1963) Part I 1:39:16

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6M ago1:39:16

1:39:16

Max and Jeff just can’t stop watching bangers. This time around, it’s Akira Kurosawa’s taut and masterful High and Low (1963). For the metaphors, cinematography, and shot composition alone, this one’s worth the price of admission. And then there’s Toshirō Mifune. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected]…

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S5E24.5: Cure (1997) feat. Jeff Morgan Part II 1:15:28

8M ago1:15:28

1:15:28

Max and filmmaker Jeff Morgan wrap up their conversation on Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Jeff Morgan

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S5E24: Cure (1997) feat. Jeff Morgan Part I 1:12:08

9M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

Max and Jeff it down to chat about Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s hypnotic masterwork of psychological horror, Cure. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Jeff Morgan

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S5E23.5: Tongan Ninja (2002) feat. Jeff Morgan Part II 1:08:49

10M ago1:08:49

1:08:49

Part II of Max and Jeff's conversation about Ti West, Quentin Tarantino, the nature of art vs. the nature of Content, economic philosophy and the consequences of capitalism on human expression. Also on Tongan Ninja, which, if you're flying high on a Friday night, is available for free on YouTube, and is an absolutely fantastic time. Patreon.com/Qui…

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S5E23: Tongan Ninja (2002) feat. Jeff Morgan Part I 1:36:35

10M ago1:36:35

1:36:35

It's the triumphant return of Jeff Morgan, with the cherry on top of the Masterpiece Mountain he helped build over the course of Metropolis, Dark City, La Jetée, 12 Monkeys, and Yojimbo. One film to rule them all: Tongan Ninja. Which you pretty much have to watch on YouTube. In 240p. Believe me when I say this is the best way to watch it. (And if y…

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S5E22.5: Interstellar (2014) Part II 2:06:20

1y ago2:06:20

2:06:20

Part II of Max and Connor’s discussion of Interstellar (2014), in which we determine what the point of all those push-ups actually was. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Connor Sweeney

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S5E22: Interstellar (2014) Part I 1:45:23

1y ago1:45:23

1:45:23

Having gone already to the bottom of the ocean, Max and Connor continue their exploration of FINAL FRONTIERS by shooting through both a wormhole and a supermassive black hole like a baseball off a vampire’s bat, with Christopher Nolan’s 2014 brain-and-heart-breaker, Interstellar. We’re positive we got a lot of the science stuff wrong, but we’re equ…

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S5E21.5: Elizabethtown (2005) - Manic Pixie Dream Girls! with Cassandra Crose Part II 1:15:32

1y ago1:15:32

1:15:32

Max and Cassandra wrap up their discussion of 2005’s Elizabethtown, before driving off across America with the windows down and Cameron Crowe’s favorite songs blasting. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Cassandra Crose

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S5E21: Elizabethtown (2005) - Manic Pixie Dream Girls! with Cassandra Crose 1:17:36

1+ y ago1:17:36

1:17:36

Max and Cassandra’s exploration of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl continues with the film that started it all: Elizabethtown (2005). Does this flick deserve all the vitriol? Or is it just the victim of sneering dismissals by cynical critics whose mothers didn’t hug them enough when they were young? Is it good? Is it bad? Is Kirsten Dunst’s Clair actual…

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S5E20: Burning (2018) feat. Alex 1:47:49

1+ y ago1:47:49

1:47:49

Measuring Flicks is back in the arthouse again with director Lee Chang-Dong’s brilliant Murakami adaptation Burning. Confronted with one of the most deliciously ambiguous slow-burn thrillers either of them have ever seen, Max and very special guest Alex dig into what precisely they saw, what precisely it means, and why the hell cat-sitting for some…

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S5E19: Garden State (2004) - Manic Pixie Dream Girls! with Cassandra Crose 1:53:26

1+ y ago1:53:26

1:53:26

Max and Cassandra (of Cassandra Explains It All and Drenched In Drama) kick off their monthlong exploration of the cinematic archetype and cultural phenomenon that is the Manic Pixie Dream Girl with 2004’s Garden State. Are MPDGs just a holdover of outdated feminine societal structures from eras past? Infantilized male fantasies? Freudian Mommy sta…

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S5E18.5: Underwater (2020) feat. Connor Sweeney Part II 1:09:53

1+ y ago1:09:53

1:09:53

Hop back in the tub for Part II of Underwater, with Max and Connor! Plus: Suede Rainbow Live from the Barrel Room! Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Connor Sweeney

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S5E18: Underwater (2020) feat. Connor Sweeney 1:30:01

1+ y ago1:30:01

1:30:01

Connor’s back in the studio to avoid talking about 2020’s Underwater. Why? We have no idea. The flick is actually really good, super fun, legit scary, well-made, well-paced, and filled with good performances and a subtle touch of world-building that’s creepy and insidious as hell. We just hadn’t seen each other in about a year, so what we ended up …

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S5E17: Half Nelson (2006) feat. Cassandra Crose 1:50:12

1+ y ago1:50:12

1:50:12

Ryan Gosling goes out strong with an Oscar-nominated turn as a crack-addicted middle-school teacher whose life is on the verge of absolute collapse, and whose only hope might be one of his pre-teen students…if only she can avoid a life selling crack on the street to scumbags like him. It’s a very Measuring Flicks Christmas Special with very special…

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S5E16.5: Metropolis (1927) feat. Jeff Morgan Part II 1:19:39

1+ y ago1:19:39

1:19:39

Part II of our discussion of Fritz Lang’s prescient 1927 masterpiece, METROPOLIS, with special guest Jeff Morgan! Support the show! Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm Talk to us! [email protected] Jeff’s Stuff: Prometheus Motion PicturesBy Max Peterson, Karl Hartley, and Jeff Morgan

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S5E16: Metropolis (1927) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part I 1:35:36

2y ago1:35:36

1:35:36

Jeff Morgan is back again with another iron-clad classic for the fellas to frolic around in. It’s a look into the future from somewhere in the past, and honestly? Fritz Lang pretty much called it. At long last, and long overdue, it’s…METROPOLIS (1927)! Like the show? Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm Chime in! [email protected] Jeff’s stuff: …

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S5E15.5: 12 Monkeys (1995) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part II 53:55

2y ago53:55

53:55

Part II of our discussion of Terry Gilliam’s best time-travel movie, 12 Monkeys (1995). Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Jeff: prometheusmotionpictures.comBy Max Peterson, Karl Hartley, and Jeff Morgan

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S5E15: 12 Monkeys (1995) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part I 1:01:56

2y ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Jeff Morgan continues to melt our minds with Terry Gilliam’s ecologically-minded time-travel head trip, 12 Monkeys (1995). Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Jeff: PrometheusMotionPictures.comBy Max Peterson, Karl Hartley, and Jeff Morgan

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S5E14: La Jetée (1962) feat. Jeff Morgan 1:10:34

2y ago1:10:34

1:10:34

Jeff Morgan’s Tour of the Masterworks continues with Chris Marker’s mind-exploding still-image picture experience La Jetée. It’s weird to cover something that is, essentially, the exact opposite of our wheelhouse: we do motion pictures. La Jetée is a, uh…hmm. “Non-motion picture”. And one of the best we’ve ever seen. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm Measur…

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S5E13.5: Yojimbo (1961) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part II 1:20:14

2y ago1:20:14

1:20:14

The Kurosawa conversation expands into an examination of the pressures exerted by the online age on the art life. Jeff drops some wisdom, but only one drops his sword after the final draw… Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Check Jeff out at Prometheus Motion Pictures!By Max Peterson, Karl Hartley, and Jeff Morgan

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S5E13: Yojimbo (1961) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part I 1:26:26

2y ago1:26:26

1:26:26

Unofficial Pledge of the FZK and literal film legend Jeff Morgan is back for Measuring Flicks’ first crack at the work of Akira Kurosawa. You’ve seen the poster in Bosch’s office. You’ve see A Fistful of Dollars. You’ve seen Last Man Standing. If you haven’t seen Yojimbo, you haven’t seen anything yet. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm MeasuringFlicksPodcas…

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S5E12.5: Dark City (1998) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part II 41:04

2y ago41:04

41:04

Part II of our discussion of the mind-bending Dark City (1998). Jim either becomes enlightened or goes off the deep end. The fellas learn a lot about the nature of reality, and the genius of tons of cuts! Support the Show: Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm Talk to Us, Goose: [email protected] Max Peterson, Karl Hartley, and Jeff Morgan

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S5E12: Dark City (1998) feat. Jeff Morgan, Part I 2:00:36

2+ y ago2:00:36

2:00:36

Jeff Morgan returns to take over the podcast, warping our minds and our very concept of Reality with Dark City (1998). Where has this flick been all our lives? From the director of The Crow, it’s the granddaddy of The Matrix. Gnostic philosophy in a timeless Neo-noire sci-fi occult package. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected]…

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S5E11: Drive (2011) 2:00:35

2+ y ago2:00:35

2:00:35

Ryan Gosling appreciation month rolls on with one of the best dramas the boys have see yet: it’s Nicolas Winding Refn’s neo-noir masterpiece, Drive (2011). Star-studded cast, stunning cinematography, and one of the best scores we’ve heard all season—what’s not to love? If you’ve only ever seen the trailer, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Patreon.com/Qu…

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S5 Bonus: The Iron Town (2022) with John Scheibe 1:00:10

2+ y ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Director John Scheibe talks his doc IRON TOWN, and what lies ahead for The Yonder Studio. You can watch the documentary at TheYonder.Studio. (While you’re there, you should definitely check out Perhaps We Wrong Them as well.) If you like the show, you can find out how to support it over on Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm. Or drop us a line at MeasuringFli…

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S5 Bonus: Perhaps We Wrong Them (2022) with John Scheibe 1:26:43

2+ y ago1:26:43

1:26:43

Max sits down with award-winning filmmaker and festival darling John Scheibe to talk about his latest short, the breathtaking PERHAPS WE WRONG THEM. You can find the film at TheYonder.Studio If you like what you hear, head on over to Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm to find out how you can help support the show, or drop us a line at MeasuringFlicksPodcast@…

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S5E10: The Believer (2001) 2:12:47

2+ y ago2:12:47

2:12:47

The fellas duck and weave their way through Ryan Gosling’s intense and impressive performance as a Jewish Neo-Nazi in 2001’s The Believer. It’s a harrowing and powerful bit of art (that maybe gets a little too arthouse for its own good at times, but hey, it was 2001), and one hell of a delicate topic for discussion. Cue the comedic breaks! Patreon.…

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S5E9.5: Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Part II 1:10:30

2+ y ago1:10:30

1:10:30

Wrapping up our discussion of 2007’s brilliant Lars and the Real Girl. Truly a love story for the ages, and a perfect date night flick. (No, really.) Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E9: Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Part I 1:12:14

2+ y ago1:12:14

1:12:14

This is the podcast episode of Measuring Flicks which is about Bianca. Bianca stars in the moving picture Lars and the Real Girl, which is about a real girl and a lie named Lars, that is Ryan Gosling inside. The story is about how the Lie that is Ryan Gosling inside dies and is broken and is reborn, and is about Bianca. Buy now. Patreon.com/QuillAn…

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S5E8.5: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) Part II 2:05:56

2+ y ago2:05:56

2:05:56

More Nick Cage than you waggle a Flick at! The strapping young men get down to brass tacks and golden guns in the conclusion to their outpouring of love for THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E8: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) Part I 1:12:38

2+ y ago1:12:38

1:12:38

It’s the movie we all knew we wanted, in our secret hearts: Nicolas Cage playing himself in an action comedy movie about movies, with Pedro Pascal as his opposite number. Honestly, if you need more than that, I mean…who hurt you? Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E7.5: Pig (2021) Part II 1:22:24

2+ y ago1:22:24

1:22:24

Max and Karl wrap up their (surprisingly emotional) discussion of 2021’s Pig. This movie took both of us by surprise. Astoundingly good. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E7: Pig (2021) Part I 1:22:05

3y ago1:22:05

1:22:05

Pig is a hard movie to write a blurb about. It’s infinitely blurbable—the problem is catching the actual experience of watching this incredible film. I could write: It’s John Wick with a pig. Or: It’s the story of a truffle hunter’s love for his pig. But that misses it entirely (even if both are true). It’s one man’s journey into the underworld to …

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S5E6: Bringing Out the Dead (1999) 2:12:44

3y ago2:12:44

2:12:44

Nicolas Cage month (ha—more like quarter) continues, with Martin Scorsese’s surreal and frenetic drama, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (1999). Burned-out EMT has a terrible week, shot like a nightmare, and scored with U.S. Soul and UK punk. Nicolas Cage is brilliant. So is Ving Rhames, John Goodman, Patricia Arquette, Marc Anthony (yeah, the excellent singe…

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S5E5.5: Con Air (1997) Part II 1:06:42

3y ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Wrapping up our discussion of 1997’s Con Air. Sorry about our voiceover guy. He drinks. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E5: Con Air (1997) Part I 1:42:25

3y ago1:42:25

1:42:25

Welcome back to the Cage. Come on in, the water’s fine. I mean, the swimming pool is empty except for a little girl having a tea party with a serial murderer, but it’s really more an expression, anyway. This is an audio medium, so there’s no water ever, really--just in your imagination, and if you're anything like us, you're imagining that imaginar…

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S5E4: The General (1927) 1:42:49

3y ago1:42:49

1:42:49

We’re getting our feet under us again and wrapping up our look at the black and white era with Buster Keaton’s most famous film, The General (1927). Is it a masterpiece? We’re not sure. The stunts are pretty incredible, but all the stuff in between the stunts…well, you’ll have to tune in and find out. The episode is a blast, at least. Stay tuned fo…

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S5E3.5: Modern Times (1936) Part II 2:10:06

3y ago2:10:06

2:10:06

The fellas finally circle back to wrap up their discussion on one of the last great masterpieces of the Silent Era, and catch up after a couple hard months apart. Not to break the fourth wall or anything, but it was really good to hear Karl’s voice and see his face again (albeit back to being on the other side of a screen for a little while). Stay …

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S5E3.1: When Life Boots You In the Lemons 16:46

3y ago16:46

16:46

Just a quick update about why the show’s been on hiatus, with some bangin’ jams at the end. Thanks to our listeners for their patience and support while Max finds his footing, and thanks to our Patrons for the new iMac, without which there could be no Jamz this Sweaty. (Apparently the youthz have some new slang. Let’s go.) MeasuringFlicksPodcast@gm…

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S5E3: Modern Times (1936) Part I 1:32:44

3+ y ago1:32:44

1:32:44

This week, the boys sit down to discuss Charlie Chaplin’s final silent film, Modern Times. Enduringly relevant, hilariously funny, and surprisingly powerful, even all these years later: if you haven’t seen it, watch it, and if you have seen it, then listen to us talk about it! This episode was a blast. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm MeasuringFlicksPodcas…

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S5E1.5: The Maltese Falcon (1941) Part II 1:46:28

3+ y ago1:46:28

1:46:28

PRIVATE EYES AND FUNNY GUYS The fellas wrap up their brandy-fueled discussion of The Maltese Falcon (1941). Part 2 of 2. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S5E1: The Maltese Falcon (1941) Part I 1:52:46

3+ y ago1:52:46

1:52:46

PRIVATE EYES AND FUNNY GUYS We’re kicking off Season 5 with a memorial month for Max’s grandmother, a lifelong film fan with a fondness for classics, funnies, and film noir. What better way to begin our celebration of her memory (and her impeccable taste) than with John Huston’s brilliant adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel THE MALTESE FALCON. B…

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A Death in the Family or: Anatomy of a Life in Libraries 9:21

3+ y ago9:21

9:21

Max remembers his Grandma Linda, and takes a little time to heal before the boys spin up the next reel.By Max Peterson

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S4E22: The Last Starfighter (1984) feat. Sara Hartley 2:03:35

3+ y ago2:03:35

2:03:35

Sister Sara Hartley joins us in the studio to talk The Last Starfighter (1984), directed by Nick Castle. (Yes, that Nick Castle.) A fantastic sci-fi adventure, and a great talk down memory lane. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S4E21.5: K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Part II 1:15:05

4y ago1:15:05

1:15:05

Part 2 of 2 of our discussion of Kathryn Bigelow’s harrowing and masterful K-19: The Widowmaker (2002). [email protected] Patreon.com/QuillAndFilmBy Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S4E21: K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Part I 1:39:25

4y ago1:39:25

1:39:25

THE GUNS OF AUGUST (in October) wraps up with K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), directed by Kathryn Bigelow. We were ready for a masterpiece. We just weren’t ready for all the…melting people. Wow. [email protected] Patreon.com/QuillAndFilmBy Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S4E18.5: Twelve O'Clock High (1949) Part II 59:58

4y ago59:58

59:58

Part II of our discussion of Twelve O’Clock High (1949). One of the best war films either of us has ever seen. Stunning, stark, and powerful. Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm [email protected] Max Peterson and Karl Hartley

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S4E18: Twelve O'Clock High (1949) Part I 1:56:24

4y ago1:56:24

1:56:24

THE GUNS OF AUGUST begins with a bang, with Gregory Peck, a script by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay, Jr., and a powerful directorial vision in Henry King, Twelve O’Clock High (1949) could only have been a masterpiece. One of the finest, most honest films ever made about the cost of war . [email protected] Patreon.com/QuillAndFilm…

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S4E17: Measuring Up, Quarter 1! 1:56:29

4y ago1:56:29

1:56:29

The fellas sit down, do some shots, and throw some movies into the ring in a cinematic duel to the death for the first time in nearly two years. It feels good to be back to the format again. On the card for today’s bout: Brokeback Mountain, Her, Portrait of a Lady On Fire, Secretary, The Jerk, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, The Man with Two Brains, Rox…

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S4E16: The Cell (2000) 2:08:49

4y ago2:08:49

2:08:49

The boys wrap up their exploration of PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR with the massively underrated 2000s classic, The Cell. Vincent D’Onofrio, J. Lo, and a baby-faced Vince Vaughn rampage around in a psychedelic mental hellscape for a couple hours, with great writing and absolutely stunning cinematography, set design, and costuming to play around in. What’s …

Max Peterson And Karl Hartley Podcasts