Trash, Art, And The Movies

Erin and Paul review two films about firefighters: Milos Forman's 1967 anti-Communist satire THE FIREMEN'S BALL, and Ron Howard's high-temperature 1991 thriller BACKDRAFT.

Paul and Erin review a pile of new titles, including LISA FRANKENSTEIN, Jennifer Lopez' THIS IS ME... NOW, EILEEN, the hit romcom ANYONE BUT YOU, Taika Watiti's underdog sports comedy NEXT GOAL WINS and the new musical version of MEAN GIRLS. Plus: TIN CUP, SEA OF LOVE, the new season of TRUE DETECTIVE, and much more!

Erin and Paul review two films that are set in the past but which use modern-day pop songs on the soundtrack: Sofia Coppola's 2006 revisionist biopic MARIE ANTOINETTE, starring Kirsten Dunst; and Brian Helgeland's 2001 medieval underdog sports movie A KNIGHT'S TALE, starring Heath Ledger.

In this jumbo-sized special episode, Paul and Erin reveal their respective picks for their favourite films of 2023, as well as the year's outstanding performances, over- and underrated titles and much, much more!

Erin and Paul review two films about free-spirited chocolate makers: Mel Stuart's 1971 Roald Dahl adaptation WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and Lasse Hallstrom's peak-Miramax 2000 romance CHOCOLAT.

Paul and Erin review new films from Hayao Miyazaki and Bradley Cooper, plus the apocalyptic thriller LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, the Timothee Chalamet Willy Wonka prequel, and the filmed version of Taylor Swift's blockbuster Eras Tour. 

Erin and Paul review two films about men with the power to enter other people's dreams: the new Nicolas Cage puzzler DREAM SCENARIO and Wes Craven's 1984 horror classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

Paul and Erin review Todd Haynes' MAY DECEMBER, Emerald Fennell's SALTBURN and the hit kaiju blockbuster GODZILLA MINUS ONE, as well as Joseph Losey's SALTBURN-esque 1971 drama THE GO-BETWEEN and Richard Kelly's 2009 flopperoo THE BOX.

Paul and Erin review two classic Western comedies: Mel Brooks' gleefully offensive 1974 spoof BLAZING SADDLES, and the underrated 1939 James Stewart/Marlene Dietrich vehicle DESTRY RIDES AGAIN.

Erin and Paul review the sports biopic NYAD, Alexander Payne's THE HOLDOVERS, and the Albert Brooks career retrospective DEFENDING MY LIFE.

Erin and Paul review two films inspired by footwear-centric fairytales: Powell and Pressburger's Technicolor 1948 ballet melodrama THE RED SHOES, and Andy Tennant's 1998 retelling of the Cinderella story EVER AFTER.

Paul and Erin review a heaping pile of new titles: Martin Scorsese's KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, David Fincher's THE KILLER, Sofia Coppola's PRISCILLA, Errol Morris' THE PIGEON TUNNER, plus THE ROYAL HOTEL, FAIR PLAY, TALK TO ME, TOTALLY KILLER, and A HAUNTING IN VENICE. Plus: Erin reports on her trip to Frankfurt and Berlin, and Paul reviews the pre-Code melodramas NIGHT NURSE and ONE WAY PASSAGE.

Paul and Erin review two films from British madman auteur John Boorman: the 1981 retelling of the King Arthur legend EXCALIBUR, and the misbegotten 1977 horror sequel EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC.

Erin and Paul review a pile of new theatrical releases, plus the glorious IMAX restoration of STOP MAKING SENSE, Wes Anderson's quartet of short Roald Dahl adaptations, a long-unavailable anime epic and a pair of assassination-themed Eurothrillers.

Erin and Paul review two films about underground violence leagues: David Fincher's zeitgeisty 1999 satire FIGHT CLUB, and Emma Seligman's wild new high-school comedy BOTTOMS. 

Erin and Paul review another crop of new movies, including the latest Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster, Randall Park's directorial debut and a pair of indie sci-fi dramas. Plus: WILD HEARTS CAN'T BE BROKEN, THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK, THE LADIES MAN and O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE.

Paul and Erin review two films about "countdowns to violence": the revered 1952 Western HIGH NOON, and the 1987 cult teen comedy THREE O'CLOCK HIGH.

Paul and Erin review four new releases before diving into the Criterion Channel's "Noir By Gaslight" collection, reviewing two classic Amitabh Bachchan blockbusters, and marveling at a prime example of the Hong Kong "hopping vampire" genre.

Paul and Erin review two films set on Alcatraz Island: Michael Bay's 1996 action blockbuster THE ROCK, and Don Siegel's tense 1979 Clint Eastwood drama ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ.