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Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 124, Commando (1985)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

124. Commando (1985) Directed by Mark L. Lester

The Movie: John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is retired, living a good life with his daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano). They eat ice cream, he carries tree trunks, you know the simple life.

That simple life is upended when Matrix’s former superior Major General Franklin Kirby (James Olsen) informs Matrix that members of his team are being killed by mercenaries, led by an ex-member of Matrix’s team Bennett (Vernon Wells).

Soon they attack Matrix’s home and kidnap Jenny. Matrix chases them down but is overwhelmed and tranquillized. Matrix is taken to see Arius (Dan Hedaya), a former dictator that Matrix helped remove from power. Matrix is told that he needs to assassinate the new leader of Val Verde, or they will kill Jenny. Matrix agrees. But not really, he kills the man escorting him to Val Verde and jumps from the plane. Matrix knows that he has exactly 11 hours to save Jenny, that’s how long the flight to Val Verde is.

Matrix knows not to trust Arius, he knows that no matter what he does, Jenny will die unless he saves her. Matrix tracks down one of Arius men, Sully (David Patrick Kelly) with the help of reluctant flight attendant Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong).

Matrix finds Sully and gets the information that he needs from him and drops him off a cliff. In Sully’s pocket he finds a motel room key and goes to the room. There he finds and fights Cooke (Bill Duke), killing him as well.

Matrix and Cindy learn that Jenny is being held at an island hideout owned by Arius. Before Matrix goes to the island, he stocks up on weapons at an army surplus store only to be arrested by the police. Don’t worry, Cindy launches a rocket at the police and rescues Matrix. They take a seaplane and head to the island fortress.

Before Matrix goes to save Jenny, he tells Cindy to contact Major General Kirby and inform him where they are.

Arius’ army doesn’t know what hits him as Matrix mows them down with guns, grenades and saws. Jenny escapes to the basement of Aruis’ compound and Bennett finds her. Matrix finds them as well. Bennett made a big mistake taking Matrix’s daughter and is impaled by a steam pipe.

 Why I Love Commando (1985): Like horror movies, I am a big sucker for 80’s action movies. Commando is one of the best. It has some of the best Schwarzenegger one-liners;

“Remember Sully, when I promised to kill you last?” “I lied”

“I eat Green Berets for breakfast. And right now, I’m very hungry!”

“Don’t disturb my friend, he’s dead tired.”

“Let off some steam Bennett!”

Speaking of Arnold, he commands the screen with a physical and imposing presence. Director Mark L. Lester knows exactly what kind of movie this is and never lets it linger on one scene for too long. It buzzes along like a saw that cuts of dictator’s army’s heads.

With non-stop action, funny one-liners and an iconic performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Commando is an 80’ action fans dream.

Articles, Review, Show Time

Movie Madness 2023: Selection Sunday Announcement

It’s hard to believe this will be our fourth Movie Madness tournament. Didn’t we just start this thing, like, yesterday?

In case you missed it, in 2020, because the post-season college basketball tournaments were canceled, I thought, “What better way to keep the crazy competitiveness of March alive than with a movie tournament?”

So, I introduced Corinne’s Movie Madness.

A special thank you to Brad for the excellent graphic!

Just like the basketball tournaments, we had a field of competitors facing off in one-on-one competitions. You, the Reel Nerds fans, decided which of the two movies in a given match-up advanced to the next round, and eventually crowned The Princess Bride as Movie Madness 2020’s champion.

In 2021, I got my fellow Nerds involved in a Disney/Pixar Animation tournament. Of all the amazing 16 movies, I’m happy to say my No. 1 seed, Beauty & The Beast (1991), won the 2021 crown. Then, last year, we did DC vs. Marvel and Logan came out on top of the 16-film bracket.

This March, we’re finally tapping into the origins of Movie Madness with a sports movie tournament!

The competitors and bracket mechanics

Unlike the NCAA basketball tournaments, this one is very selective. Only 16 films qualify for a coveted spot on the bracket. No doubt you’re wondering exactly how I picked 16 films out of hundreds of sports movies.

Well, first, shout out to Brad for giving me the idea for this year’s theme. I had a couple of ideas in February, but after talking to some of the other Nerds, I realized a sports movie bracket would be perfect! I’m honestly surprised I haven’t done one yet. I practically grew up on sports movies, as there were tons that came out in the 90s and early 2000s.

So, that’s where I started building this year’s bracket. I decided that, to qualify, the movie had to come out in my lifetime — 1990 or later. I realize this excludes a ton of sports movies, including very beloved ones like Rocky, Field of Dreams and Hoosiers, but I had to start somewhere. It’s possible I might put together a pre-1990 sports movie tournament in the future.

I also decided to exclude any movies that involved animals (Air Bud, Seabiscuit, etc.), and required that the movie’s main character (or co-main character) has to coach or play the given sport. So, movies where the main character is only a fan, a parent, an agent or the team’s owner don’t qualify.

So, with those criteria, I started asking my fellow Nerds and other friends what their favorite post-1990 sports movies were. Based on their suggestions and some of my own favorites, I compiled a bracket of 16 films.

I decided to create the “regions” based on what time of year the sports depicted are typically played. For example: basketball movies in the winter sports, baseball in the spring sports, etc. I know soccer/futbol is played all over the world at various times of year, so I decided to go with the season when the local college plays it — fall. I also combined year-round sports and summer sports into one category.

Then, once I figured out which region/category the movies would start in, I selected the first-round matchups based on the sports and/or the tone of the movie. Some are more comedic, so I tried to pair them up with other sports-comedies. Same thing with sports-dramas.

Thus, because of the weird formatting, we’re not doing “seeds” or rankings for each movie this year. It would’ve complicated things much more than necessary.

How you participate

Just like the college basketball tournament, Movie Madness will start Thursday, March 16!

That day, we will post the first match-up on the Reel Nerds’ Twitter page so you can cast your vote! Simple as that.

For instance, March 16 will feature our first Winter Sports matchup; whichever movie receives more votes by the time the poll ends will advance to the next round. (If there happens to be a tie, I’ll cast the deciding vote.)

Eight days later, we will advance to the second-round match-ups, and the procedure will be the same until a movie is crowned the winner. If I’m counting right, our championship matchup should be on March 30.

Announcing the field

Here is your full field:

  • Thursday, March 16: Cool Runnings vs. Space Jam. Who knew winter sports could be so… looney? Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the Jamaican bobsled team making its debut in the 1988 Winter Olympics. While Space Jam is the “true story” of basketball legend Michael Jordan deciding to play professional baseball, only for the Looney Tunes to convince him that basketball is where his real talent lies.
  • Friday, March 17: Miracle vs. Hustle. Both sports-dramas, Miracle is based on the true story of the U.S. hockey team overcoming its underdog status in the 1980 Winter Olympics; while, Hustle is a recent Netflix movie featuring Adam Sandler as a pro basketball scout who puts his career on the line to train a complete unknown for the NBA combine/draft.
  • Saturday, March 18: A League of Their Own vs. 42. Both dramatic retellings of true stories, ALOTO shows women playing professional baseball during World War II and 42 portrays Jackie Robinson’s role in breaking baseball’s color barrier.
  • Sunday, March 19: Angels in the Outfield vs. The Sandlot. Both childhood classics of mine, each film examines what happens when the impossible becomes the possible, when the imaginary becomes reality on the baseball field. Angels in the Outfield is about the titular professional baseball team receiving some divine intervention, and The Sandlot is about a group of boys who spend their summers growing and learning together on the field.
  • Monday, March 20: Ford V. Ferrari vs. Creed. Both more dramatic sports movies, Ford V. Ferrari is based on the real-life racing rivalry, and Creed — a sequel to the Rocky franchise — shows Apollo Creed’s son picking up his father’s gloves and stepping into the boxing ring.
  • Tuesday, March 21: Happy Gilmore vs. Talladega Nights. Both insanely funny sports-comedies, Happy Gilmore is what happens when a NHL reject takes up professional golfing, and Talladega Nights is about Ricky Bobby’s journey to regain his racing mojo.
  • Wednesday, March 22: The Big Green vs. Bend It Like Beckham. These soccer comedies are what happen when your imagination runs away with you on the field. The Big Green shows a small Texas town forming its first-ever youth soccer team, while Bend It Like Beckham is a coming-of-age story about a Punjabi-British girl’s desire to play soccer despite her family’s objections.
  • Thursday, March 23: Remember the Titans vs. Rudy. These football dramas show the true power of real-life underdog stories. Remember the Titans depicts the titular players having to overcome their racial prejudices when their Virginia high schools integrate, while Rudy‘s the story of an underdog who dreams of playing football at Notre Dame.

Thus, on Friday, March 24, we will start the second round and on March 30, we will have our championship showdown.

Which sports movie will take home the 2023 Movie Madness Trophy? Which Cinderella story will take the crown? Which set of underdogs will triumph in the end?

You decide!

Articles

Rod Stewart: Year by Year, Track by Track Part 7 1982-1984

Part 7: In Which Our Hero is Part of the Sex Police, a Cruel But Fair and Thankless Job

The 1980’s had just gotten under way and Rod Stewart had in two years had two platinum albums. Stewart dominated the airwaves for over a decade now, and Hollywood came calling. The comedy Night Shift was released July 30, 1982 and the closing song over the credits featured a new song by Stewart.

243. That’s What Friends Are For (Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)

A lot of people might be shocked to learn that Dionne Warwick version of That’s What Friends Are For is not the original recording. Rod would record his version three years prior. And while Stewart’s version is a solid cover, it is impossible to hear this song now and not think about the $3 million that Warwick’s version raised for AIDS research.  

Rod’s version opens with a piano, not Stevie Wonder’s trademark harmonica. Rod’s version is also more subdued. Stewart still sings his heart out. On Warwick’s she makes the chorus a little bigger and the second verse is almost completely different.

Grade: B

Stewart, riding the success of a string of five platinum albums, embarked on a world tour. Fans of Stewart were treated soon with a double live album, that although promised in the liner notes that it was completely 100% recorded live, that was not the case.

Absolutely Live November 6, 1982

244. The Great Pretender (Live) (Buck Ram)

Rod pleads with the crowd “Oh yes!” as he launches into a winning cover of The Platters hit. Stewart takes the song from a Doo-Wop classic and coats it with some 80’s sheen.

Stewart is in top vocal form. Stewart has a little hiccup in his voice a couple of times and it adds to the heartbreak of the song. Peppered with a scorching saxophone solo by Jimmy Zavala, Rod again proves he can do R&B like no one else.

Grade: A

245. Guess I’ll Always Love You (Rod Stewart, Tony Brock, Jim Cregan, Jay Davis, Robin Le Mesurier, Kevin Savigar, Bernie Taupin)

“Here’s a song that’s brand new. Right here tonight. So, you don’t know it.” Although Rod introduces this song in front of an “audience”, truth be told this song, along with The Great Pretender were recorded in a studio, with the crowd added later.

This is the first Rod Stewart sing I remember hearing on a cassette tape that I bought that I totally adored. I remember like it was yesterday. After seeing Rod’s Concert Video, I asked my dad if I could get a Rod Stewart tape. My father said yes and took me to our local Target. There I found Absolutely Live, and I wore that tape out in my radical Fisher Price tape deck.

Guess I’ll Always Love You, is clever, catchy and a blast of a song. Hands down one my favorite Stewart songs from the 80’s. The lyrics are so good. “I used to think I was something real special, brag about the hearts that I broke, but you came along like a hurricane honey, and snapped me like a piece of rope, oh even after all this time, when I acted so stupid and blind, you took me in when I was out, you gave me hope when there was doubt.” And I love how Stewart decides that, “I guess I’ll always love you, I guess I’ll always care.”

Grade: A+

On The Rod Stewart Sessions, there is an alternate version of “Guess I’ll Always Love You”. Stewart makes fun of this live song in a mocking tone saying, “Right. No strain. Live performance in studio”. By stripping the crowd noise from the track you hear more clearly the nuance is Stewart’s voice.

In 2009, us fans were blessed with a lot of outtakes from the Absolutely Live Sessions, some I can’t believe Stewart put on tape.

246. The Great Pretender (acoustic version) (Buck Ram)

Another example of what ended up on the record is lightyears different on Stewart’s first go around for a song. Here, he strips The Great Pretender down to only him, a guitar and some background vocals. I can’t even describe how incredible this song is. Another instrument doesn’t even pop up until about half way through the song, and it is only a handheld tambourine.

If you ever needed to know the greatness of Rod Stewart it is on this track.

Grade: A+

247. It’s Coming Out of Your Royalties (Rod Stewart)

A funny, profane look into a joke that I am sure Rod never thought would see the light of day. In this song our Hero tells the listeners that he was asked by Warner Bros. records and Tom Ruffino who at the time was the head of their International Department  to play something of the live album, to which Stewart replied, “Of course Tom, I’d do anything for you and Warner Bros records. So this is Rod Stewart and we are going to give you “The Great Pretender”. Some other bloke chimes in, “What a liar you turned out to be.” Stewart replies, “Shh. Don’t ruin it!”

The next three minutes are comedy gold. Stewart name checks several high-ranking including Mo Ostin the CEO of the whole company, telling the listener that Tom Ruffino is “is in the men’s room, just putting on a show!”

The song is a barroom style sing along, that is catchy, silly and completely not for the non-P.C. crowd. As he tells the Warner Bros. executives that “you’re a load of dickheads…”

Grade: A

248. My Dad’s Trousers (Rod Stewart)

Continuing the beer hall sound, Stewart’s charm and humor are on full display as he sings quite literally about his dad’s trousers.

With a scat and no musical accompaniment, he shreds his vocals and makes us laugh.

Grade: B-

Rod concluded his tour and headed back into the studio. Like Foolish Behaviour before, Stewart planned on making his next album a double album. Stewart’s real-life drama however was getting in the way. Not only did Tony Toon, Stewart’s personal assistant, spread a rumor about Rod and a bunch of sailors. And Rod was on the outs with his manager Billy Gaff. During the Tonight I’m Yours Tour, Stewart stated that he asked for an advance for his guitarist Robin Le Mesurier. Gaff apparently told Rod, “There was no money.”

Stewart was shocked as he had spent “three months touring.” Stewart said that he and Gaff spent the rest of the flight arguing and when Gaff did not return Rod’s calls, Rod fired him.

These events would inspire and hinder his next album, Body Wishes.

Body Wishes June 10, 1983

249. Dancin’ Alone (Rod Stewart, Robin Le Mesurier)

Although I believe Body Wishes might be Stewart’s most inconsistent album, it has my one of my favorite album covers and it opens with a brilliant one-two punch.

First, is a forgotten gem of a song. I told you earlier in this article series that every Rod Stewart album has one song that should’ve been a hit, on Body Wishes that song is Dancin’ Alone. An anthem for the singles, or the a rally call for not being down on yourself, Dancin’ Alone tells the toe tapping, Chuck Berry-ish tale of “on a boulevard in Paris, I met a good old friend of mine, come on over to my place, being yourself and bottle of wine…”

Stewart goes on tell us, “It was then I witnessed, something I’d never seen, Some satisfaction, Dancin’ Alone!” And to cap it off, the hyperbolic final verse, “I was feeling rejected but I wasn’t going home, in a moment of rash decision, I threw myself right on floor, I did a backflip and somersault, Yeah the crowd called for more, So if you’re tired of watching, being left on the shelf get your satisfaction, dancin’ alone!”

Straight barn burner!

Grade: A+

There is an alternate take of “Dancin’ Alone” on The Rod Stewart Sessions. Different lyrics, and a little more restrained, it doesn’t quite capture the energy of the final track, but is a good listen for Stewart fans.

250. Baby Jane (Rod Stewart, Jay Davis)

Of all of Rod Stewart’s 80’s songs, Baby Jane might be the most 80’s of them all, and it rules. Stewart looked back at Baby Jane in Storyteller and stated, “We began laying down the track with a guide vocal, and the very first words that came from my mouth were “Baby Jane”. Cries of “Eureka!” were heard from all over the studio, hats were tossed into the sky and grown men wept. We knew we had a good one.”

Stewart was right. Baby Jane is one of his best and most fun. The tale of Baby Jane is a woman in which Our Hero knew “when you had no one to talk to. But no your living in high society, Don’t forget I know secrets about you.”

Following that up with the winning chorus, “When I give my heart again, I know, it’s gonna last forever, no one tell me where or when, I know, it’s gonna last forever!”

A huge hit for Stewart, number one in the U.K., number fourteen in the U.S., the only bummer for me personally is it took until 2022 for me to hear him sing it live, and it was as magical as I hoped it would be.

Grade: A+

251. Move Me (Rod Stewart, Tony Brock, Jay Davis, Wall Stocker, Kevin Savigar)

An angry song about a crumbling relationship, which Rod was struggling with Alana Hamilton during the recording of Body Wishes, it seeps in to some of the songs on the album.

Although not the strongest song, it has it moments lyrically. “When I’m standing next to you even in a crowd, I might as well be on another planet.” The chorus isn’t strong however and it drags the song down.

Grade: C

An alternate take of Move Me can be found on the digital extended version of the album. It is the same song with a slightly different mix. The vocals are slightly brought forward, making them more in your face.

252. Body Wishes (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Robin Le Mesurier)

The synths are heavy on the title track with Stewart touching ever so slightly on the feel of Passion. While not the most complex song it is catchy and there is some sex appeal to it. The lyrics sometimes are a little silly, “You’re so close to shootin’ that you want to burst, somebody’s sponge needs squeezin’ body wishes.”

Grade: B-

An alternate take of Body Wishes can be found on the digital extended version of the album. It is the same song with a slightly different mix.

253. Sweet Surrender (Rod Stewart, Robin Le Mesurier)

An island vibe slowly builds to Stewart singing sweetly to his love. It is a departure from the rest of the album. Rod is also restrained as he sings the song, never over singing but almost as if he is singing it for just one person, which makes the song effective.

Nice guitar work throughout the song as well by Le Mesurier gives Sweet Surrender a nice feel.

Grade: A-

An alternate take of Sweet Surrender appears on The Rod Stewart Sessions, which strips a lot of the post production embellishments. Just Our Hero and guitars. Good stuff.

254. What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love With You) (Rod Stewart, Jay Davis, Tony Brock)

Happy, go-lucky, fun lyrics pepper What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love With You). I remember listening to this song all the time traveling with my dad in his van to our next camping location.

It is catchy, again with the steel drums it has an island feel to it, but more bouncy than Sweet Surrender. And the lyrics, classic “Can I tell you what you mean to me? You’re as central as the air I breathe, almost impossible to believe that you’re mine.”

Bonus points for the video being incredibly silly.

Grade: A+

On the digital extended edition of Body Wishes, an alternate version of What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love with You) appears. It is the same song just with a different mix.

255. Ghetto Blaster (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar)

“Take us to your leader!” The kids plead in this limp attempt at invoking emotions of Pink Floyd’s The Wall Part 2.

I am not a fan of this song. I think it has more to with the music, it isn’t inspiring, it comes across as a synth laden, hollow attempt at bringing forth important issues. I will say Stewart gives an impassioned read.

Grade: C-

An early version of Ghetto Blaster appears on 2009’s The Rod Stewart Sessions. The mix is slightly different, the lyrics are slightly different and not finished as well, it doesn’t make the song better, it just gives you another version, the biggest departure is the kids are gone, Rod steps up in their place singing, “Take me to your leader.”

256. Ready Now (Rod Stewart, Wally Stocker)

The sax and the synths start with great urgency on a clear swipe at Billy Gaff, Stewart isn’t even hiding who this about.

Stewart and the music are pissed, “I’m bitter now, but wait and see, you ain’t heard the last of me, I’ll dance on your grave when they finally put you away, What’d I do to deserve all this evil attention, a thousand will never buy you redemption.”

Yikes, don’t cross Rod Stewart.

Grade: B-

257. Strangers Again (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar)

Our hero pleads with his love, “don’t give up on us!” It seems like another swipe at Alana. The song is tinged with bitterness and remorsefulness, which most people experience in relationships.

Like a lot of the songs on Body Wishes, it seems the musically it isn’t the best as there are way too many synths and embellishments, giving some songs, including Strangers Again losing some of its power.

Grade: C-

An alternate take of Strangers Again can be found on the digital extended version of the album. It is the same song with a slightly different mix. The vocals are slightly brought forward and out front. Also, gone is the cooing of “strangers again” in the chorus.

258. Satisfied (Rod Stewart, Bernie Taupin, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar)

Closing out the album with what feels and sounds like a show stopping ballad, Stewart belts out the lyrics, pleading with a woman that a man needs her.

Stewart again, doesn’t get the props he deserves for songwriting as lyrics that are nuanced and heartfelt pepper Satisfied. “When the world outside is threatening, and all his dreams have been destroyed, take him in your arms watch all his guards, melt like a little boy.” And he closed the song with some truly poignant lyrics, “And they say the heart’s a hunter, but its truth you can’t deny, he may never be everything you want, but for you, he’d lay down and die.”

Grade: A

An alternate version of Satisfied appears on 2009’s The Rod Stewart Sessions. By removing a lot of the synths and keeping the most important instrument, Rod’s voice unfettered you hear all the nuances in his performance, which is an A+

The Rod Stewart Sessions and the extended digital edition of Body Wishes contained three songs that were left on the cutting room floor.

259. I Wish You Would (Billy Boy Arnold)

“And away we go!” Our hero shouts at the beginning of this outtake. The Yardbirds (with Jeff Beck) recorded this song in 1965, and Rod sticks pretty close to their version.

I like the outtakes where Stewart plays not only the lead singer but also the producer. Here is shouting out directions as the song goes through its runtime.

Not quite finished, but it has a nice rough feel to it with some inspired band play.

Grade: B-

260. Show Me (Rod Stewart)

Rod is clearly still working on this song as he borrows a phrase from Guess I’ll Always Love You, “I used to think I’m something real special.” And he also uses fill in mumble words as looks for a finished product.

What we do have is about 80% of a song that is heartfelt with some great singing by Stewart. I would have loved to hear this completed; I think Rod was onto something.

Grade: B-

261. Walkin’ (Rod Stewart)

I am going to go out on a limb and say this song was written by Stewart. It has some clever lyrics with the music that seems to be almost completely. It feels like the song was nearly complete and then abandoned, which also seems to be the fate of a lot of songs from the Body Wishes sessions.

Walkin’ is a jaunty tune that about missing the woman you love and seeing her all around town, nothing earth shattering but I am glad it is available to consume.

Grade: C+

262. E or A (Rod Stewart)

“We’re going to do this in fucking “E” right? And if I’m not in fucking “E” I’ll be in “A”.”

A drunken musical lesson taught be Stewart. Not on a song per se, but really funn.

Grade: Funny

Body Wishes felt a little unfocused after the incredible success of Tonight I’m Yours. It made it into the top 5 in the U.K. but stalled at number thirty in the U.S. Rod seemed to realize it as well as his next album would be shorter, more focused and more tailored to the United States fans.Stewart even called in an old friend for help, Jeff Beck.

Camouflage June 8, 1984

263. Infatuation (Rod Stewart, Duane Hitchings, Rowland Robinson)

Not wasting anytime signaling a new more aggressive album, the lead single and first song on Camouflage, Infatuation is a guitar crunching song about being obsessed with a woman and going to lengths to be with her. I have always said that this might be sneakily some of Rod’s best lyrics, with awesome rhymes, such as this gem “Heart beats silly like a big bass drum, losing all equilibrium, maybe I’m lucky, maybe I’m free, maybe this woman is all I need.”

Easily one of Rod’s best videos as well. It’s funny and tells the story of the song brilliantly. Infatuation is the first of three songs Jeff Beck appears on, but only the guitar solo. Michael Landau provides most of the electricity in the song.  Infatuation still is a popular song in Stewart’s catalogue as he still plays it live a lot of times opening the show.

Grade: A+

On the extended version of Camouflage, an alternate mix of Infatuation can be heard. It loses the slow build up at the beginning, launching right away into the song with Beck and company ripping it up. Stripped down to the core, it is a fun listen.

264. All Right Now (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers)

An overly slick remake to a Free classic, All Right Now is a rock ‘n’ roll classic. Stewart and band update All Right Now for an 80’s audience. Although it might feel a little unnecessary to cover, it still is an incredibly fun version.

Rod pours his heart into the cover as he is a fan of the band and the song, which comes through in his performance. My only complaint is the too clean, synth-y sound of the band.

Grade: B

An alternate mix of All Right Now appears on the digital extended version of Camouflage. Complete with Tony Brock on drums keeping count. Another mix that strips a lot of the synth, making it a little more in line with the original.

265. Some Guys Have All the Luck (Jeff Fortang)

First released by The Persuaders, and then Stewart heard it first as sung by Robert Palmer. What is truly fascinating with Some Guys Have All the Luck is each version is different the others.

Our Hero for his part combines the two versions and also changes the actual verses and the chorus. This is how The Persuaders version goes, “Some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain, some guys have a little sunshine in their lives, mine is only filled with rain”. Robert Palmer’s “Some guys have all the luck, some guys get all the fun, some guys have all the luck, all the luck, ooh, ooh what you gonna do when your luck begins to run.”

Stewart’s version also has an awesome breakdown after the third verse;

“If you were here with me, I’d feel so happy I could cry, you are so dear to me, I just can’t let you say goodbye.”

I would be curious on which version is the closest to how it was originally written. The lyrics on Stewart’s almost make me think that he wrote some of them. He did mention in his autobiography that the song was pieced together by several people looking for the complete version.

Stewart brings the chorus to the forefront and makes the song more of a heartache and longing. Stewart’s is also the catchiest and poppy-est of the bunch. Stewart’s also charted the highest at number 10 on the Billboard Charts.

Grade: A

266. Can We Still Be Friends (Todd Rundgren)

Originally released by Todd Rundgren in 1978, Can We Still Be Friends is given an 80’s update by Rod with synths and drum machines fighting for attention.

Rod’s version is a little more bitter in the vocal delivery, Rundgren is more longing.

Not the most essential song on the album but a fun 80’s time capsule.

Grade: C+

There is an alternate take of Can We Still Be Friends on the digital extended edition of Camouflage. The lyrics are the same, the music is slightly different.

267. Bad For You (Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan)

I love Bad For You. It is sexy, in a really radical 80’s way. I have mentioned before that I love Rod’s down and dirty songs. Where I believe Dirty Weekend is trashy fun, Bad For You is dangerous fun. The song finds Our Hero stalking his lover, “when you turn around, I’ll be standing there.”

Bonus points for it being incredibly awesome live. On The Rod Stewart Concert Video, Stewart is wearing a pink suit, canary yellow shirt and socks and Ray-Bans, singing the song on his knees and arching all the way back, you should seek the video out. It is what a rock star looks like.

Grade: A+

To hear the Concert Video version of Bad For You, seek out Tonight’s the Night: Live 1978-1998. You will find his San Diego performance on it, unedited. That is my favorite version of the song.

268. Heart is on the Line (Rod Stewart, Jay Davis)

A ballad, 80’s style. It is slightly over produced, but it still hits the mark. Our Hero pleads that “love stop making a fool out of me.”

Heart is on the Line is catchy from beginning to end. Every time I listen to it, I find myself tapping my foot and singing it out loud. I hidden gem for sure.

Grade: B+

269. Camouflage (Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar, Michael Omartian)

The weakest song on the album is also one of two songs that has a songwriting credit from producer, Michael Omartian. It’s loud and somewhat obnoxious, a lot like the 80’s…

Anyways… Camouflage tells the story in which Our Hero gets excited when a woman who looks like she is DTF, teases him and backs out at the end, you know, Camouflage!

On a positive note, it will teach you how to spell c-a-m-o-u-f-l-a-g-e, which is harder than it sounds.

Grade: D+

270. Trouble (Rod Stewart, Michael Omartian)

Another ballad that is a little slower than Heart is on the Line. But by allowing the song to breath a little more, it shows of Stewart’s voice which gives this song quite a bit of weight.

The lyrics are sweet, with my favorite being “Hope it all goes well in the future for you my dear, Hope you find where your heart truly belongs, I don’t know about me and tomorrow, ‘cause you’re gonna be a hard act to follow”

Grade: B

There is an alternate take of Trouble on the digital extended edition of Camouflage. The lyrics are the same, the music is pretty close, the biggest change is in the chorus. Stewart instead of just singing the lyrics sort of whispers them.

Although The Rod Stewart Sessions did not contain any songs from the Camouflage sessions, the live album, Tonight’s the Night: Live 1978-1998 contains two absolute incredible songs.

271. (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding, Steve Cropper)

An absolute stone cold classic, and Rod Stewart totally owns and crushes it. His heart is poured into every performance that he has done of this song. I am not sure when he first performed it, I can only pin down 1984 as its first appearance in a Rod Stewart show. For more Dock of the Bay goodness, seek out the YouTube video of Stewart with Nile Rodgers and the All-Star Band, live at The Apollo, holy cow.

Grade: A+

272. Hungry Heart (Bruce Springsteen)

Our Hero takes one of The Boss’ most famous and most loved songs and totally reinvents the song. Stripping it down, slowing it down, singing it like only Rod Stewart can gives the song a whole new meaning.

And I do mean stripped down version. There is only a guitar and the voice. It is an unbelievable cover. Also, there has to be a studio version of Stewart’s version somewhere, I mean they had to practice it right?

And one last note. I found this song bootlegged years ago. And after the performance the guy recording it said “I can’t believe it!” Stewart blew everyone out of the water with this cover, it is that stunning.

Grade: A+

Located during the end credits of The Rod Stewart Concert Video you will find a previously unheard song.

273. We’ll Meet Again (Hugh Charles, Parker Ross)

A short and sweet acapella version of the standard classic first made popular by Vera Lynn. The boys do a fine job in the short amount of time they perform the song.

Grade: B-

Although Rod did not enjoy the sales that he has become used to, both Body Wishes and Camouflage had their moments. Rod looked to get back on track in the second half of the 1980’s. Stay tuned for Part 8-In Which Our Hero Continues His Chart Topping Ways By Staying Forever Young.

Articles, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 125-Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens (2015)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

125. Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens (2015) Directed by J.J. Abrams

The Movie: Years after the fall of the Empire a new threat has emerged in the Galaxy, The First Order. The First Order sends Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) to the planet of Jakku after it learns that the New Republic has learned the location of rogue Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

On Jakku, Lor San Tekka (Max Van Sydow) gives the map of Skywalker’s location to Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and to his droid BB-8. Poe attempts to flee but is pinned down by Stromtrooper fire. Poe tells BB-8 to get away and that he will find him.

Kylo Ren confronts Lor San Tekka, and kills him prompting Poe to fire his blaster at Ren. Ren stops the blaster and uses the force to discover that Poe has hidden the map somewhere. Kylo Ren takes Poe hostage and orders the Stormtroopers to kill all the villagers, which they do. One Trooper however is unable to follow the order, we learn of this Troopers name, FN-2187.

BB-8 is rescued by a scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley). Rey at first tries to sell BB-8, but soon realizes he is more valuable than thought. On the Star Destroyer, Kylo Ren learns of BB-8 and orders his troops to find it on Jakku.

Poe is rescued by FN-2187 and they make a daring escape from the Star Destroyer, with Poe commandeering a TIE Fighter. On board Poe asks FN-2187 for his name. Poe tells him he doesn’t like and names him “Finn”. Poe and Finn are unable to escape from the First Order and are shot down and crash on Jakku. Finn believes Poe died in the crash and takes his jacket. Finn makes his way to an outpost. There he meets Rey and BB-8, who recognizes Poe’s jacket. Finn pleads with Rey telling her that he is part of the Resistance and he can lead Rey and BB-8 to a Resistance outpost.

The First Order descends onto Jakku and starts to attack Finn and Rey. They run into a junkyard looking for a ship to escape. They spot one, the Millennium Falcon. Rey, Finn and BB-8 escape, but are soon pulled onto another ship. The ship just happens to be piloted by Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo). A confrontation between the old crew and the new crew is interrupted by a couple of gangs coming to collect on Han Solo. By working together, they escape and Han Solo reluctantly aggress to help them by taking them to see Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o).

On the Starkiller Base, a planet that is a weapon, General Hux (Domhall Gleeson) gets the approval from Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) to use the weapon, which can destroy a planet. Snoke is concerned about Kylo’s feelings for his father, Han Solo. Kylo reassures Snoke that his father means nothing to him.

Han learns that BB-8’s map is incomplete and informs Rey that Skywalker was attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order but when an apprentice turned to the Dark Side and killed the other apprentices, Skywalker went into exile.

Han brings them to the planet Takodana to meet Maz and offer Rey a job. Maybe. We soon learn that Rey has some Force power and it draws her to a vault. She finds a lightsaber belonging to Luke Skywalker. Rey is haunted by disturbing visons and runs away. Maz sensing that there is more to Rey, asks Finn to care for the lightsaber.

The First Order demonstrates the awesome power of the Starkiller Base by destroying the New Republic capital of Hosnian Prime and neighboring planets. The First Order then appears on Takodana to look for BB-8 and crush the Resistance. The Rebels are being overrun when they are recued by Resistance fighters, led by Poe Dameron. In looking for BB-8, Kylo Ren finds Rey, sensing that she has seen the map, Kylo takes her hostage, no longer needing BB-8. At the battlefield, Han Solo is reunited with General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).

On board the Starkiller Base, Kylo learns that Rey is resisting his mind-reading and that she indeed has The Force within her. Kylo shocked, informs Snoke. Snoke tells Kylo to bring Rey to him. With Kylo gone, Rey uses the Jedi mind trick on a hapless Stormtrooper to free her and she escapes. On Takodana, the Resistance plans their attack with Finn telling them he can get inside the base and destroy it from within. Han and Chewbacca decide to take Finn on the mission and blow up the base with planted explosives.

Han, Chewbacca and Finn infiltrate the base. There Han learns that Finn does not really know how to destroy the Starkiller Base, he only wants to save Rey. They are reunited and Han finds Kylo inside the base. Han pleads with his son, calling him by his birth name, Ben. Han believes he can get through to Kylo Ren and Kylo tells him that he doesn’t know if he is strong enough to do what he must. Han places his hand on Kylo’s face, and Kylo stabs him figuratively and literally through the heart, killing his own father. Enraged Chewbacca shoots Kylo, plants his bombs and detonates them. The Resistance pilots are successful in destroying the bases thermal oscillator.

Outside, Kylo confronts Finn and Rey. Kylo knocks Rey back and engages in a lightsaber duel with Finn. Finn is soon overpowered by Kylo and loses his lightsaber. Kylo attempts to use the Force to retrieve the lightsaber. Kylo is overpowered by Rey, who gains possession of the lightsaber and beats Kylo. The planet starts to implode, Kylo is saved by Snoke and Rey and Finn are saved by Chewbacca.

Rey leaves Leia and the Resistance to find Skywalker, as R2-D2 had the missing part of the map. Rey finds Luke and presents him with his lightsaber.

 Why I Love Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens (2015): Although I loved Episode III, (see entry 147) the rest of the prequel trilogy, while fun wasn’t as good as I hoped. The Force Awakens is one of the best theater experiences I have ever had. Enjoying Star Wars is everything. Seeing Star Wars with an enthusiastic crowd is the best. I can’t tell you how cool it is to see Han Solo and hear everyone cheer.

The Force Awakens also introduces a tragic and terrifying new villain in Kylo Ren. His introduction is so badass. Who doesn’t love the way he stops a laser from a blaster using the Force?

Rey is my favorite new Star Wars character. She is brave, tough and smart. She doesn’t back down from fights and Daisy Ridley’s performance is restrained and powerful.

The film is an absolute stunner as well. Abrams uses the effect of lights to great effect. The blues and the reds the pepper the final lightsaber duel in the snow is breathtaking. The reds and blacks that permeate The First Order is menacing and sleek. The set designs, the alien designs are all amazing, being sucked back into the world of Star Wars was smooth.

By introducing new characters and recapturing the magic of the earlier Star Wars films, The Force Awakens delivers action, adventure, humor and heartbreak, giving fans what they longed for in a Galaxy Far Far Away.

Articles, Review, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 126, Penny Serenade (1941)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

126. Penny Serenade (1941) Directed by George Stevens

The Movie: Julie Gardiner (Irene Dunne) reflects on her life as she listens to “Penny Serenade”.  Julie remembers the night she meet charming news reporter Roger Adams (Cary Grant). The two meet on a snow dusted New Year’s Eve and their whirlwind marriage. Julie and Roger continue their romance on his train to San Francisco.

Roger is sent to Tokyo and Julie soon joins him. Julie is pregnant and excited to spend the time with Roger. Tragedy strikes however as an earthquake rocks Tokyo. Julie loses her unborn child and her and Roger return to San Francisco.

Julie is informed by her friend Applejack (Edgar Buchanan) that her and Roger should adopt a child. Roger, meanwhile is struggling to keep his newspaper afloat, Julie focuses on a nursery for an impending arrival of a child.

Julie and Roger apply for a child, a two-year-old boy. The director of the adoption agency Miss Oliver (Beulah Bondi) and informs Roger and Julie that a five-week-old girl is available. Roger is not so sure as he wanted a boy, but when he sees the young girl he falls in love with her.

Roger and Julie are put on a one year probation for the child, where they must prove to be fit parents. During the year, Roger has lost his newspaper and does not have a stable income. Roger is told that the law will not allow him to keep his daughter. Roger makes an impassioned plea to the judge over seeing their adoption. Julie and Roger are granted custody of their daughter, Trina.

The years go by and the family continues to experience love and fulfillment. One Christmas, Julie and Roger are told that although Trina is too young to play an angel in a play, she is given the role of “echo” and they beam with pride.

Tragedy strikes the Adams’ again as in a letter to Miss Oliver, Julie informs her that Trina has died, and Roger is in the midst of a depression. Julie believes that she might be the reason and plans on leaving Roger. As Julie is about to leave, they receive another phone call from Miss Oliver. Miss Oliver informs that a two-year-old has become available. Julie and Roger decide to adopt the child and rebuild their family.

Why I Love Penny Serenade (1941): First and foremost, any film with both Cary Grant and Irene Dunne is guaranteed to be a winner (see my list, much later). Also. It is a legitimate tear jerker, which the stars deliver the goods. Grant’s plea with the judge is a highlight, in fact Grant would say this film is his best performance and he was nominated and robbed of an Academy Award. This was his first nomination.

Irene Dunne is so lovely in the film. She too loves the film as she said it reminds her of her adopted daughter.

George Stevens once again proves he is underappreciated director. He keeps the melodrama from being too wrought with clean cuts and smooth camera movements.

The use of music in the film is genius, and Dunne’s Julie reflecting on the music to high and low points of her life is pure joy and heartbreak.

Penny Serenade is a masterclass in great acting, beautifully told with charming leads and stellar direction.

Articles, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 127, The Lady Eve (1941)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

127. The Lady Eve (1941) Directed by Preston Sturges

Sailing on an ocean liner is the beautiful con artist Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyk) and her two partners in crime. Her father “Colonel” Harrington (Charles Coburn) and his partner Gerald (Melville Cooper). They have their sights set on the gullible heir to a brewery, Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). Charles is returning from an expedition in the Amazon. Charles is the talk of the ship and all the women on board. Much to their chagrin, he is shy. Charles would much rather spend his time learning about snakes than the opposite sex.

Jean gets Charles’ attention by tripping him. It works as he is charmed by her. Charles’s friend and minder, Muggsy (William Demarest) isn’t buying what Jean is selling and warns Charles about her. Charles does not believe Muggsy and continues to court her.

Jean along with her father and Gerald plan on stealing money from Charles in a card game. Jean tells her father that she does not care for Charles and to continue with the con. But love is funny and Jean saves Charles from her father and the con. Muggsy finds out the truth, tells Charles, who dumps a broken-hearted Jean.

Jean, does not like being dumped and devises another con. She re-enters Charles’s life as the sophisticated Lady Eve Sidwich, the niece of Sir Alfred McGlennan Keith (Eric Blore), who just so happens to be a conman as well, and with Jean they decide to con the wealthy of Connecticut.

Jean as Lady Eve meets Charles. He is so certain that he knows her that he won’t stop tripping over himself and falling. Muggsy again does not buy what Lady Eve is selling and pleads with Charles that she and Jean are one in the same.

Charles falls for the con even more when Sir Alfred tells him not to worry, Lady Eve is the sister of Jean, hence the resemblance. Jean’s plan works and she continues to court Charles who soon marries her and they leave on a train to their Honeymoon. On the train, Charles is flabbergasted by Eve’s past and all her old boyfriends. Charles literally jumps off the train to escape her.

To finish the con, Jean is told by her guys to pursue a huge divorce settlement. Jean cannot, she still loves Charles and tells Charles’s father that if she wants no money only for Charles to say to her face that their marriage is over. But he refuses and books a trip on another ship. Jean learns of this from Charles’s father and arranges to be on the same ship. On board she trips Charles as before and when he sees Jean he is so happy he kisses her and they make their way to her cabin. Once inside Charles confesses that he is still married, Jean replies “So am I darling.”

Why I Love The Lady Eve (1941): A lot of times I will watch a movie for the star. And The Lady Eve is one of those times. My first exposure to Barbara Stanwyk is the ultimate femme fatale in Double Indemnity (more on that film much later). I fell in love with her style and her sinister demeanor. When I did a deep dive into her filmography and learned she starred in a screwball comedy written and directed by Preston Sturges, I knew it was a can’t miss.

The Lady Eve is a showcase of Stanwyk’s impeccable range. She is funny, heartbroken and tough. She is the main attraction here with several of her male co-stars bringing the goods as well. Henry Fonda is fun to see as a bumbling, no confidence to be had guy. Fonda to me will always be the badass Admiral Chester Nimitz in Midway, so it was quite a treat seeing him as just a dude.

Preston Sturges delivers the laughs with a razor-sharp script and a steady hand in directing. What I love about him is his ability to seamlessly weave between genres. Sturges showed his incredible chops not even a month earlier with the great Sullivan’s Travels. He is a force in early Hollywood comedy.

Barbara Stanwyk and Henry Fonda prove that powerhouse actors, when given some of the best dialogue in the history of movies will deliver, making The Lady Eve endlessly funny and endlessly rewatchable.  

Articles, Review, Show Time

Show Time: A Statistical Recap of Filmsplosion 2022

Well, it’s been several weeks since Filmsplosion 2022 came out. Have you finished listening to it yet? If not, don’t read the rest of this post, as we’ll be looking at all the Nerds’ Top 10 lists.

So, in putting this together, I basically assigned every movie a scored based on where it was on a Nerd’s list. If it was their #1 film, I gave it 10 points; if #2, 9 points; and so on until our #10 films received 1 point each. If it was one of the eight films that appeared on more than one list, then it has a combined score.

(In case you forgot, I did this for Filmsplosion 2019, Filmsplosion 2020, and Filmsplosion 2021.)

Now, we’ll get to which of the eight movies had the highest average score, but first, we’ll look at the movies that scored the highest overall.

So, here are the HIGHEST SCORED MOVIES of Filmsplosion 2021:

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – 42 points (a record high)
  2. Glass Onion – 30
  3. The Batman – 29
  4. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – 18
  5. Everything Everywhere All At Once – 13
  6. Pearl – 12
  7. Belle – 10*

The asterisk denotes that Belle only appeared on my list. The two other movies that appeared on multiple lists, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On and RRR, had 9 and 8 points, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, if we look at these films’ average scores (total score divided by number of lists it appeared on), it doesn’t look all that different.

So, THE AVERAGE SCORES for the eight films that appear on multiple lists are:

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – 8.4
  2. Glass Onion – 7.5
  3. The Batman – 7.25
  4. Everything Everywhere All At Once – 6.5
  5. TIE: Pearl and Weird – 6

Of the 10 highest-grossing movies of 2022, in terms of domestic box office, two of them appeared on multiple lists (Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman) and one of them appeared on just my list (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Looking at 11-20 at the 2021 domestic box office, three more appear in Filmsplosion 2022 (Elvis, Uncharted and Nope).

One more thing I wanted to examine is how our selected films break down by genre. How many action movies do we have? How many dramas? Super-hero flicks? etc.

So, for this assessment, I went by each film’s most basic genre. Our choices are: animation, action, comedy, drama, horror and superhero. No documentaries in the running this year, although that has been a category in the past.

I’m generalizing which category it’s in based on my own experience in either seeing the movie or watching the trailer, and most were pretty straightforward to categorize. In the few cases where I was uncertain, I went by which genre was listed first on its IMDB page.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the BREAKDOWN OF THE FILMSPLOSION LISTS BY GENRE:

  1. Drama (9)
  2. Comedy (7)
  3. TIE – Action and Horror (5)
  4. Animation (4)
  5. Superhero (2)

Dramas lead for the fourth consecutive year, and Comedies took silver again this year after getting bumped off the podium last year. Horror did much worse after coming in second last year, and surprisingly, Animation beat out Superheroes! The only other time that’s happened was 2020, when hardly any superhero movies came out.

I do find it interesting that only two Superhero movies were on our lists at all – The Batman and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The guys all had Batman of course, and I was the sole BPWF entrant and even that was a last-minute decision.

After reigning supreme for so many years, the MCU has definitely taken a tumble in our esteem, it seems. No Multiverse of Madness from Ryan and no Thor: Love & Thunder from anyone… which, sadly makes a lot of sense. We’ll see if Superhero does better at Filmsplosion 2023, as we’ve got Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, Shazam 2, The Flash and others dropping this year.

Anyway, thanks to Brad, I put all the Nerds’ Filmsplosion lists below so you can see for yourselves which genre I categorized each movie as.

Give the lists a look, in case you forgot what everyone picked. I also think looking over everyone’s lists by genre is very interesting, as you can see some Nerds lean more on one genre than others. Again, not a bad thing — just something to take note of.

Zach

  1. Everything Everywhere All At Once – drama
  2. Nope – horror
  3. The Fabelmans – drama
  4. Pearl – horror
  5. Halloween Ends – horror
  6. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – animation
  7. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  8. The Batman – superhero
  9. X – horror
  10. Elvis – drama

Ryan

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  2. Weird – comedy
  3. Prey – action
  4. The Batman – superhero
  5. Glass Onion – comedy
  6. Pearl – horror
  7. Tar – drama
  8. (Guillermo Del Toro’s) Pinocchio – animation
  9. Hustle – drama
  10. Barbarian – horror

James

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  2. The Batman – superhero
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. Prey – action
  5. See How They Run – comedy
  6. The Banshees of Inisherin – drama
  7. Thirteen Lives – drama
  8. Weird – comedy
  9. Uncharted – action
  10. RRR – action

Corinne

  1. Belle – animation
  2. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – animation
  5. Hadestown – stage show
  6. Operation Mincemeat – drama
  7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – superhero
  8. Everything Everywhere All At Once – drama
  9. Stadium Fluffy – comedy
  10. Spirited – comedy

Brad

  1. The Batman – superhero
  2. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. RRR – action
  5. Weird – comedy
  6. New York Ninja – action
  7. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – animation
  8. CODA – drama
  9. Clerks III – comedy
  10. #ShakespeareShitstorm – comedy

Well, that’s all I got, folks. Hope you enjoyed this statistical breakdown of the 2022 Filmsplosion episode! 🙂

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 128-The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

128. The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984) Directed by Carolyn Raskin

The Movie: Join Rock ‘n’ Roll Superstar Rod Stewart as he performs in front of a sellout crowd in San Diego in 1984! Also included a mini Rod Stewart documentary that features Jeff Beck!

Set List:

Scotland the Brave/Infatuation/Bad For You/Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)/I Don’t Want to Talk About It/She Won’t Dance With Me/Hot Legs/You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)/Baby Jane/(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay/Young Turks/Passion/Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?/Maggie May/Some Guys Have All The Luck/Stay With Me/We’ll Meet Again

Why I Love The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984): I have told this story many times, but this was my first memory of listening to and loving Rod Stewart. My dad was working on something in his garage and my brothers and I were most likely driving him crazy.

My dad sent us downstairs with his bootlegged copy of The Rod Stewart Concert Video and told us to pick our favorite song and let him know.

When Rod came out in a hot pink suit, canary yellow shirt and Ray Bans, singing “Infatuation” I was hooked. I ran upstairs and told my dad the first song was my favorite. My dad told me I had to watch the the whole concert. I did. Over and over again. And a life long obsession was born.

But forget all that and the heavily edited songs, seriously during “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” Stewart goes from being on the ground to instantly back up singing the final verse, it is awesome watching Stewart in his prime. He runs, jumps, spins, shimmies, and pours his heart out for the entire runtime.

There is no better introduction to the awesomeness of Rod Stewart than this grainy, but totally radical concert video.

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 130, Dracula (1931)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

130. Dracula (1931) Directed by Tod Browning

The Movie: Renfield (Dwight Frye) is on his way to Count Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. He is a solicitor who requires the Count’s signature on a lease for a property on England, Carfax Abbey. Before he arrives at the Count’s castle he is warned by the villagers that a vampire lives there and not to go. Renfield ignores these warnings and proceeds to the Castle. On his voyage there, Renfield sticks his head out of the carriage to tell the driver to slow down, the driver is gone and the horses are being lead by a bat!

Renfield meets the charming Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and they discuss his lease over dinner. Dracula tells Renfield that he intends to travel to Carfax Abbey the next day. Renfield is soon under Dracula’s spell through hypnosis, and when Dracula’s Brides appear, he orders them away and attacks Renfield.

Renfield (and Dracula in a coffin) travel by the schooner Vesta to England. On the voyage there, Dracula feeds on the crew, killing them all. When the ship arrives at England, Renfield is the only survivor who is now a lunatic under Dracula’s control. Renfield is taken to a Sanatorium run by Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston), that just so happens to be adjoining to Carfax Abbey.

Later at a London theatre, Dracula meets Seward, his daughter Mina (Helen Chandler), her fiancé John Harker (David Manners) and her friend Lucy (Frances Dade). Lucy is smitten with Dracula. Dracula enters Lucy’s room later that night and drains her blood. Lucy is seen by doctors the next day as she appears to be quite ill. Lucy perishes despite the fact she was given multiple blood transfusions.

Renfield, meanwhile is eating bugs and insects at the sanatorium, which gets the attention of Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), who after analyzing his blood talks to Renfield about vampires. Renfield pleads with Seward to send him away. Renfield is soon called by Dracula through a wolf howl, which is interrupted by Van Helsing showing him wolfsbane, which he claims will protect him from vampires.

Dracula next sets his sights on Mina and bites her that night. Later that evening, Dracula stops by to visit Van Helsing and John. They notice the Count does not have a reflection. Van Helsing informs Dracula that he does not have a reflection and Dracula smashes the mirror and flees. Van Helsing is certain that Dracula is the vampire responsible for the attacks and deduces something must be done.

Mina leaves her room for the garden, where Dracula strikes. Mina is rescued by the maid. Mina, although weak the following morning reads stories in the newspapers about a woman in white, luring children out at night and biting them. Mina recognizes the woman as Lucy. Harker pleads with Van Helsing to let him take Mina to London, but Van Helsing orders Mina to stay under the watch of a nurse and with wolfsbane around her neck.

Dracula returns to the Seward home and confronts Van Helsing. Dracula informs him that Mina is now his and warns Van Helsing to leave. Van Helsing refuses and Dracula attempts to hypnotize him to no avail. Dracula lunges at Van Helsing, who brandishes a crucifix, forcing Dracula to retreat.

John visits Mina on her terrace when a bat appears and “talks” to Mina. Mina attacks John, but Van Helsing and Seward save him. Mina confesses her love for Dracula and tells John their love is over.

Later that night, Dracula hypnotizes the nurse caring for Mina and has her remove the wolfsbane from around her neck. Dracula takes Mina to Carfax Abbey where John and Van Helsing see Renfield running to the Count as well. Thinking that Renfield has betrayed him, Dracula kills him. Van Helsing and John wait until morning to hunt Dracula as they know he must return to his coffin during daylight. Van Helsing finds Dracula’s coffin, impales him with a stake through the heart, killing him and restoring Mina to normal.

Why I Love Dracula (1931): Although it might seem stiff to modern audiences, Dracula is one of the best gothic horror films of all time. The mood and atmosphere alone make the film a winner.

Bela Lugosi not only embodies who Dracula is, his performance would shape every interpretation of the Count going forward. In the film, he is suave as he is dangerous. Special mention to Dwight Frye as Renfield, he plays a lunatic with great enthusiasm.

And don’t let the over 90 years old deter you from the film, some of the staging is a little stiff, but Browning does move his camera when needed giving the film a nice foreboding vibe of impending doom. The film also sports some iconic dialogue, none more so than “Children of the night. What music they make.” My personal favorite is “There are far worse things awaiting man than death.”

With an all time iconic performance, brilliant set design and cinematography, Dracula has earned its rightful title as one of Hollywood’s best horror films.

Articles, Review, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 131, Night of the Creeps (1986)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

131. Night of the Creeps (1986) Directed by Fred Dekker

The Movie: It’s 1959, and onboard a spaceship an alien is running down its corridors. A canister is placed in in a cannon and shot into space, which crashes into Earth. A college student and his date notice the canister crashing, believing it to be a shooting star he goes and investigates. His date is suddenly attacked and killed by an escaped mental patient with an axe. A slug launches from the canister and into the college student’s mouth.

Let us flash forward to 1986, we meet Chris Romero (Jason Lively( his friend J.C. (Steve Marshall) and the girl that Chris is in love with, Cynthia (Jill Whitlow). They meet her during pledge week at Corman University. Chris decides that he is going to impress Cynthia by joining the fraternity of her boyfriend, Beta Epsilon. In order to join the frat, the boys must steal a corpse, and plant it at a rival fraternity house.

Chris and J.C. go to the medical center and find a secret room. Inside Chris and J.C. see a corpse, and thaw it out. When the corpse tries to grab them the run like hell out of the room. The corpse now alive, attacks and kills a lab worker and walks out the door.

After the break in, Detective Ray Cameron (Tom Atkins) is assigned the case. The corpse makes its way to a sorority house, where its head splits open and slugs pour out. Detective Cameron is called to the sorority and finds the corpse with its head split open. Cameron believes it’s an axe that did the damage, from a case that has haunted him for 27 years.

Believing that Chris and J.C. are responsible for the corpse at the sorority house, they are questioned by police. The boys confess to breaking into the medical center but deny any knowledge of taking the corpse. There is a new zombie loose now, as the murdered medical student has risen from the dead and attacked a janitor.

The janitor is now one of the walking dead and attacks J.C. in a bathroom. Chris is confronted by Detective Cameron who tells him that the woman killed by the escaped lunatic was his ex-girlfriend. Cameron says that he hunted the man down, killed him and buried him underneath the sorority house. Cameron gets a call that an axe wielding maniac has killed the house mother. Cameron arrives on scene and sees to his horror that the man he killed is alive, but he is very much a zombie. Cameron blows its head off with a shotgun.

The next night as the all the girls at the sorority are getting ready for a dance, Chris learns that J.C. left him a message as he was dying. Telling him that the slugs’ weakness is heat and that he loves him. Chris gets Detective Cameron onboard and a flame thrower from the police department. They set out to stop the slugs.

The sorority house is soon under attack from a busload of zombies. Which are vanquished by our heroes. Chris and Cynthia notice that the slugs are retreating into the basement, where they find thousands of slugs in a pile. Cameron goes into the basement, pours gasoline on the slugs and blows them up with himself still in the house.

Why I Love Night of the Creeps (1986): I am a firm believer of judging movies by their covers. Night of the Creeps has one of the coolest box arts ever. I remember seeing it in all its glory at Blockbuster Video. With the tube lights flickering and the smell of microwave popcorn wafting in the air, the picture of a zombie prom date was irresistible to my friend Branden and I.

The movie itself is a blast. Gory and full of one liners it makes for a B-movie good time. Director Fred Dekker is an underrated genre writer and director. His love of 1950’s B-movies oozes from every frame. From the slugs being an alien experiment to the overall feel of the film. He is also a really well known script doctor

The cast is fun and Branden and I always point to the fraternity bro as the standard of all horror movie douche bag, only surpassed in my eyes by Trent in Friday the 13th (2009).

Night of the Creeps is a movie that feels like it was made for me. Zombies, one-liners, made in the 1980’s, 1980’s style fraternity douchebag and gore. Thrill Me!

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