Where the hell is Eva Mendes? This is the most important question of the year. Also, what is the best film since the year 2000? The boys try to answer all this nonsense while getting shitfaced and trying not to be obsessed with the iguana scene in BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL: NEW ORLEANS. We also review a bunch of television – Horace and Pete, Hunted, The X-Files, Billions, The Man in the High Castle – and watch a bunch of films, new and old – THE GODFATHER, KUNG FU PANDA 3, SPOTLIGHT, TED 2, GOOSEBUMPS.
Get it while it’s hot. Whatever that means. Yeah, totes.
2015 was a pretty exciting year for pretty much everything. A lot happened personally, professionally and psychically, as I am now a certified medium and gypsy palm reader. A married, medium, gypsy palm reader. Though 2016 has started off with Oscar boycotts, Snowmaggedon, and the deaths of David Bowie, Lemmy, Glenn Frye and my uncle (all formidable rock stars in their own right), here’s to the year tapering off the negative for a positive upswing. In order for me to close the book on 2015, here’s a quick list of some of my favorite things of last year in film, TV, personal moments, music and other shit. There’s plenty that I’m sure I’m missing, but like the great Lipps Inc said, “gotta move on.” Yes, that’s a Funky Town reference, which is my own personal philosophy.
Ben Mendelsohn
Netflix’s original show “Bloodline” had great writing, a visually hypnotic look and talented cast. However, you’d be hard pressed to find a more antagonistic, menacing yet charming character than Danny Rayburn, played by the amazing Ben Mendelsohn. While the show, at times, lost me, I chalk that up to: 1) binge watching the entire season in a few days and 2) my interest waning when Mendelsohn was not on screen.
Check out:Animal Kingdom, Mississippi Grind
My Top Films of the Year
Check out:The BingeCastwhere Law, Ammon and myself give our favorites of the year as well as the worst movies of the year.
Jerseypalooza
For the second time in a year, I visited the tri-state area with my chick to drink like an asshole and get ink by PeteMC’s now wife, MC. We stayed for about four days and the trip provided a brief respite from planning a whole fucking wedding ourselves, as we were a month out from the big day. We met up with TM and KariTM and finally got to meet longtime friend Logan, who now does the timestamp for the BingeCast like a cocksucker. It can’t be repeated enough that the internet is an amazing way to connect with like-minded people who eventually become the closest people in your life. That, and of course, stealing movies and music and porn illegally.
Earlier in 2015, I was up in New York’s guts for the first time ever. It was February, it was snowing, probably the worst time of the year to visit New York. But being a lifelong Chicagoan, the snow didn’t bother me and we braved some pretty gross weather to hit up our new favorite Midtown bar Rudy’s, MOMA (where I weeped in front of “The Starry Night”….I was hungover), and a NY slice of pizza and pretzel. As a music first fan, the topper of the trip was being brought up on stage to sing a few songs with TM and PeteMC’s band, Daddy NoBux. I cannot thank those assholes enough and I tried to not to take advantage of their generosity by demanding they play every sounder we’ve recorded.
Sometimes life dictates that you need a kick in the ass. I wasn’t particularly looking for a life change in 2015 (with a wedding and some other familial issues transpiring during the year) but the roots of it were buried within and pulled out from a good friend of mine. I met up with her in New York after not seeing her for a couple of years and we immediately picked up where we left off. When she asked what I’ve been doing for work, she was appalled that I wasn’t doing anything creative. The next hour, over brunch in the Jane Hotel, she proceeded to hand me my ass, not accepting any excuses and giving me the kick in the ass that I needed. It still took another 10 months to get my ass in gear, but I’m now on my way back into freelancing, and I couldn’t be happier.
Check out:The Tim Ferriss Podcast. Ferriss talks to top performers in various industries in order to deconstuct their methods of success. His book The Four Hour Work Week was/is a huge inspiration in transitioning from a soul sucking job into doing something more worthwhile.
TV
TV in 2015 had its fair share of highlights but what made it great was the diversity of shows. Fargo returned with a wider scope and fantastic co-leads in Patrick Wilson and Kirsten Dunst, and while the show maintained its quality successfully, it fell just short of the brilliance of its first season. HBO’s miniseries The Jinx and Show Me A Hero were stellar and have now become required viewing when suggesting shows, and their original programming remained solid with Game of Thrones, Veep and The Leftovers (still need to catch up on S2). Netflix continued to impress me with their run of original series like the smartly written and funny Master of None, Narcos, Daredevil, Jessica Jones (both Marvel series were pleasant surprises), Bloodline and UnbreakableKimmy Schmidt, while the third season of Orange is the New Black felt flat, repetitive and underwhelming. Amazon released the light comedy, Mozart in the Jungle, which was enjoyable. Shows we said goodbye to were F/X’s Justified, a series that had its ups and downs but ended nicely, and network TV’s most consistently funny sitcom perhaps ever, Parks and Recreation, kept true to its roots and gave the fans the ending they deserved. USA came to the table with Mr. Robot which wore its influences on its sleeve to the degree that by the end, it turned me off, and Better Call Saul premiered with a hint of Breaking Bad nostalgia yet original enough to not feel rehashed. Kurt Sutter whined, took his ball (The Bastard Executioner) and went home after nobody watched it.
Some of the shows I did not see, so don’t bitch at me: Mad Men, The Affair, The Walking Dead, Fear of the Walking Dead, You’re the Worst.
Check out:Mad Men, The Affair, The Walking Dead, Fear of the Walking Dead, You’re the Worst.
Randomly meeting Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy is kind of a big deal, to not only me but to music and Chicagoans in general. While not a native Chicagoan, we do consider him Chicago’s son. After buying this hat (which I drunkenly lost in Mexico), my chick, her parents and my kid ended up at a burger joint on the northside of Chicago. A guy walked in to pick up an order and I couldn’t help but notice a striking resemblance to the Wilco frontman. He sat down at the table next to us and I couldn’t help but creepily stare at the menu while side eyeing like said creep. After a few minutes, my inner nagging got to be too much and I asked him if he was indeed Jeffy Tweedy from Wilco, to which he replied in the affirmative. We small talked about the local station WXRT, where he’s done plenty of local stuff with and where I used to work, all while completely ignoring my family. Which is just fine with me. He was nice enough to take a pic, which he really didn’t want to, and I immediately threw on Sky Blue Sky when we eventually got in the car. It’s my favorite Wilco album, shut up.
Check out: Jeff Tweedy at the Unity Concert in Parks and Rec.
Father John Misty
I don’t know how or where I first heard of Father John Misty, but I was immediately hooked. His lyrics filled with sarcasm, humor, and contempt pulled me in, held me tight, and then kicked me to the curb. But I was back for more. J. Tillman mixes his sound with folk, gospel, 80s The Cure and even a bit of post 00s melodies and production. It’s an album that I listen to constantly due to its nuanced and ethereal sound. What am I saying? It’s fucking good, shut up.
Check out:The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartment – The lyrics are as bitingly angry and sarcastic as the song is sweet.
Stand Up Specials
To be fair, I didn’t watch many stand up specials this year, maybe a handful or so, but the two that really stick out in my mind is Anthony Jeselnik’s Thoughts and Prayers and Chelsea Peretti’s One of the Greats. Both specials did something different in terms of stand up presentation that matched their comedy perfectly. For the “offensive” and “line crossing” Jeselnik, the backdrop is textured with a hue of blue, giving an ice cold, villain-esque presence to Jeselnik, and the audience lit in a deep red giving the illusion that those laughing will be doing so in hell. Peretti on the other hand plays with stand up convention by fucking with audiences expectations of reaction shots by editing in dogs and sleeping audience members into these shots, adding to the already silly, tongue in cheek idea that she is, in fact, one of the greats.
Check out:
Weddingpalooza
Ah, what would a year be without a Bingeapalooza. It’s that special time of year where the Chicago boys are met with Law (sometimes others) and we slap each other in the face with our penises and show our livers who’s boss. This year, as you know, was much different being that my wedding was the center event and not Jim Law, despite his demands to officiate the wedding. Because what we need is a big dumb Canadian saying, “You guys like each other, eh? You’re married, brah.” Good one. Law, Supka, Luke, and Ammon all convened, took mushrooms, drank a lot of beer, and did irreparable damage to their bodies and souls while I drank a lot and danced a lot with my lovely bride. It was literally one of the best days of my life and I can’t thank my chick enough, as well as the boys right here. Also, my favorite part of the wedding was Law eating a tamale with the corn husk on and then yelling that there weren’t “eating tamale instructions.” What an asshole.
0:00:00- Not using a sounder to open the show. Instead, let’s talk about Supka. It’s more important.
0:03:41- Intro, yo.
0:05:07-Ammon is sort of on time. He hands in his man card cause he watches The Bachelor. Moreno and Law reminisce about Duncan Jones. Movie homework gets highlighted a lil’ bit.
0:16:55-TV ROUND UP. The first chunk of this segment is devoted to Sounder Wars because the boys don’t know how to stay on topic, goddamnit. Anyway, Moreno puts things back on track with The Jinx. The Leftover Buddes recap the first season and give their thoughts…on The Leftovers. Law bitches about Luther because the new season is short as hell. Ammon wonders if the comeback of the X-Files will have any traction with his co-hosts. The dildo factory worker, the Bigfoot hunter, and the taco lover all talk about shows they’d love to see come back just like X-Files is doing. Law takes a fucking piss while Ammon and Moreno talk Serial. And then everybody discusses cereal. Jesus Christ.
1:04:12-GOGGLE VOICE. Lot of shit to sort through here.
1:54:03-Old shit sounder wars. Kick back and sip the nostalgia. Drink it up. All of it. I’m gonna be up all night.
2:01:26-MOVIE HOMEWORK: Dances with Wolves. Dance if you want to. Leave your goddamn friends behind.
2:25:16-Nostalgic corner yet again.
2:36:00-WHAT DID YOU WATCH? Moreno briefly mentions a doc about The Band’s Levon Helm, titled Ain’t In It For My Health. Law has only got one review (The Veil) and it’s not good. Cycle back to Moreno, who praises Muscle Shoals. He moves onto Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation. Ammon clocks in with Ant-Man, Dope, and The Gift. After that it’s all random bullshit until…
3:06:16-Even more nostalgic bits to send you on your way. Peace the fuck out.
It’s time to lay down our Best of lists. Moreno, Ammon, and Law all give their favorite films of the year. There’s also talk of the year’s best in Television and a shitload of voicemails. I’m tired…… here’s a time stamp.
0:00:00-It’s on like Donkey Kong
0:02:22-Ammon is on schedule? This won’t last. Top ten of the fucking year is happening this episode, so put your big boy pants on and get rwady. TV Round up is non existent this week. Don’t cry, you whiny bastard.
0:06:10-OSCAR NOMINATIONS AND STUFF. Only the big three are discussed, which includes best fucking actress (not the best actress who fucks, just for clarification), best fucking actor, and best fucking picture. Actual categories may or may not include the word “fucking.” They should though.
0:27:16-GOOGLE VOICE. There’s a ton of voicemails, so don’t even try to leave.
1:12:10-NEW SOUNDER. If you’re a fan of farts, then you’ll dig this. Weirdo.
1:25:42 WHAT DID YOU WATCH? Law checked out Sisters since he has a raging hard on for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Can you blame him? The dildo factory worker stays thematic with family member labels as he discusses Daddy’s Home. He moves onto Truth, starring Robert Redford, and fifes all over Moonwalkers. Wrapping up his portion, JLaw (yup) gives his thoughts on The Program. Ammon follows with The Big Short and Joy. Moreno eats tacos.
1:59:08-MOVIE HOMEWORK: Carol. Nope.
2:12:12-TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2015. Enjoy you cocksuckers. And if you disagree, well that’s great. Go fuck yourself.
Apparently there was some technical difficulties (drunk Mexican, drunk Canadian, high bigfoot) with the end of our latest BingeCast and everybody has been yelling at us because our Worst Films of the Year lists were cut off before the money shots. Let’s fix this. Here is our entire list of films we deemed the shit-holes of the past year. Please comment below with your pick for worst movie of the year and why.
Holy crap. We had a little bit to get through after two weeks off. That results in 17 movie reviews, our 13 Worst Films of the Year, a handful of shows in TV Round-Up, a couple voicemails yelling at us, and many beers in my belly.
In no particular order, we talk THE HATEFUL EIGHT, TRUMBO, THE REVENANT, SPOTLIGHT, BRIDGE OF SPIES, THE BIG SHORT, THE FORCE AWAKENS, CHI-RAQ, STEVE JOBS, ANOMALISA, SPECTRE, THE PEANUTS MOVIE, BONE TOMAHAWK, Making a Murderer, F is For Family, Billions, Luther, and a thousand other things my brain blocked out when I fell asleep on the toilet.
We also get angry with each other over our NEW YEARS EVE Movie Homework. It’s everybody’s fault. Except mine.
0:03:05-Weekend holidays got in the way of two weeks of Bingecasts. Apologies if you were butthurt because of the absence. LISTS. Making a Murder full length discussion will happen most likely on another podcast. You’ll listen to it because you can’t get enough, you obsessed asshole.
0:14:25-MOVIE HOMEWORK: New Year’s Eve. Fuck, really? Ugh.
0:37:20-TV ROUND UP. A little bit of Making a Murderer talk to tease you cocksuckers. Law discusses F is for Family, which Moreno approves of. The bald one also check out Billions and the the newest couple episodes of Luther. Law is a sad panda about Preacher news. Moreno and Ammon are still behind on the Leftovers. The taco lover started his Archer journey, and still states he won’t watch the upcoming season of Game of Thrones because George R. R. Martin is a lazy bastard. 11.22.63 Trailer gets mentioned.
1:32:20-WHAT DID YOU WATCH? Here we go. A three way (ew) discussion of The Hateful Eight kicks things off. The boys tackle The Revenant and a possible award for Leo. Next up is Trumbo, which surprised everyone. After a pee break, Moreno and Ammon give Law advice on Anomalisa. Moreno dissects Steve Jobs. Law bitches about Joy and In the Heart of the Sea, and then continues on with Chiraq, Creed, Spectre, Spotlight, and The Big Short. Moreno is pissed off about Black Mass. Ammon, at machine gun pace, talks about The Force Awakens, (It’s a-me,) Sicario Everest, Shaun the Sheep, Kingsmen, The Peanuts Movie, Bone Tomahawk, Bridge of Spies, and Dark Places. FUCKING WHOA.
3:27:30-Law, Moreno, and Ammon piss all over their choices for Worst Films of 2015. Have a nice fucking day.
Everybody is in good cheer as the year comes to an end. Ammon and Law get drunk and argue about The Leftovers for a while, answer a shit-ton of voicemails, and look back on the newest Christmas classic, ELF for Movie Homework.
Kupka, Moreno, and Luke call in from the annual Kupka Christmas spectacular (thanks for the invite, again) and talk some massive shit while hiding from their wives in a closet.
Ammon catches up on some Summer films such as PIXELS, TOMORROWLAND, and THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., and start the new season of Serial.
There’s a new (incredible) Pee Break Sounder, Law and Ammon discuss some books, and everybody’s STAR WARS plan is put into effect.
There’s an influx of requests, as per usual, around this time of the year at the dildo factory, so Jim Law has to take the weekend off to slap them in his face (part of his gig). Moreno and Ammon bring Batch into the fold to fill the Canadian Affirmative Action plan.
Google voice has reviews of Chiraq, In the Heart of the Sea, and some TV suggestions.
We review last week’s Movie Homework, A Christmas Story.
TV Round Up has the boys talking Jessica Jones, Supergirl, Fargo and Real Rob.
Creed, Mid-Atlantic Memories and San Andreas are reviewed, as well as Alexandra Diaddario’s boobies.
We have 2 new segments: Aggressive Movie Reviews and Accent Movie Reviews, in which we review a movie in horrible accents. This week’s Accent Movie Review is for the documentary Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films.
Stay tuned, or fast forward, to the end of the podcast to hear Kupka’s full, intense and poignant review of Chiraq. For real.
Come celebrate Moreno’s birthday with us as Ammon, Law, and Pete MC try heir hardest to make Moreno stick around for his own party. Pete has an incredible new sounder to kick off the Christmas season. Moreno drunk dials a STAR WARS hotline. Google voice turns into a knighting of one of our favorite callers. And we watch a bunch of movies and shit. Including THE GOOD DINOSAUR, THE 33, THE FINAL GIRLS, EX MACHINA, JURASSIC WORLD, HOME ALONE, PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES, Fargo, South Park, Ash vs. Evil Dead, The Affair, and Jessica Jones.