The CageClub Podcast Network: Best of 2023!
This past year saw the release of more than 300 episodes (across 18 shows), as well as the launch of one new show: Pod Only Knows.
Like I’ve said in past years (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), thank you for listening. If you’re looking for your next favorite podcast, our hosts have selected their favorite episodes released this year. If you need a place to start, look no further than the selections below! (Shows listed in alphabetical order.)
1999: The Podcast #024 – Drop Dead Gorgeous: “Amer-I-Can!” with BJ Colangelo, Chelsey Weber-Smith, and Miranda Zickler
A critical and commercial failure upon its release, Drop Dead Gorgeous was the 125th-highest grossing movie of 1999.
Filmed in the then still novel mockumentary style, the movie about a beauty pageant in Mount Rose, Minnesota was written by a former beauty pageant contestant from Rosemount, Minnesota, Lona Williams (also known as 1985’s Minnesota Junior Miss) and directed by former member of The State and accomplished TV director Michael Patrick Jann.
And it boasts a jam-packed cast, including Kirsten Dunst, Allison Janney, Ellen Barkin, Denise Richards, and the film debut of Amy Adams.
But in the years since its release, it has become an enormously popular cult favorite, with appreciative audiences finding themselves baffled over its initial critical panning.
2 Fast 2 Forever #324 – Titanic (1997)
We’re taking a little journey on a little boat named the Titanic, and joining us on this expedition is Walt Hickey! After hearing about Walt’s new book, You Are What You Watch, we talk about non-cars that matter to him (cinematic and otherwise) before reading some truly pathetic crazy credits (and being reminded about IMDb’s humble origins).
Joey recounts the tale of PCP in this film production’s clam chowder, we all remember watching this movie on VHS, and we talk about how young is too young to watch Titanic. We discuss James Cameron’s ability to make you forget this is all taking place on a boat, the flair (or lack thereof) of the title card, and how good Kathy Bates is as the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Walt praises James Cameron for his subtle ability to state the movie’s theme and offers up a nice new definition of what makes a vehicle.
We talk about “the Celine Dion of it all,” Cameron’s ability to articulate the geography of the Titanic, and the meaning / interpretation of the ending. We watch the shockingly terrible (!) trailer for Titanic.
#BoyfriendMaterial #031 – Barbie (2023)
At long last, #BoyfriendMaterial is back to talk about Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and we hope this episode is Kenough for you. As Ryan Gosling returns to a supporting role, so, too, do we return to do more promo for our ongoing show, 2 Fast 2 Forever.
We talk about the bonus content that Barbie is getting for its IMAX release, cover “Canadian Gos on the Los” to look at Gosling’s upcoming films, and dig into a lot of Barbie-related trivia (most of which is about Gosling).
We start with our very few critiques of the movie before turning the episode into a love-fest as we analyze the target demo(s) for Barbie, determine where on the scale from Mattel’s dream movie to Greta Gerwig’s dream movie this falls, and lament Hollywood learning the wrong lessons from this movie’s success.
We discuss Ken as horse boy, Gosling’s many great lines and improvised moments, and Greta Gerwig’s “Movie Church.” We wonder whether Barbie gets a cathartic release (the way Ken does) — and whether or not that matters — and debate whether or not this is Ryan Gosling’s best performance.
Joe has a revelation while talking about this movie’s soundtrack. We play our many, many games.
#CageClub #117 – Butcher’s Crossing (2023)
This has been a banner year for Nicolas Cage fans, as Butcher’s Crossing marks his sixth (!) new film of the year… so far! This is a moderately spoiler-heavy episode, so if you want to wait until you’ve seen the movie (releasing in theaters on Friday, Oct. 20 and on VOD after that) to listen, just know: it’s Cage’s best movie of the year so far. We talk about feeling re-energized for this podcast based on the success of this movie, we admire the cinematography (and the landscape of the American West in general), and we discuss cinematic name coincidences. We talk about the tragedy of the American bison (and how it correlates to modern waste), Cage’s bold (read: incredible) look in this movie, and how Butcher’s Crossing adds elements of horror without ever going full-tilt. We find a new wrinkle on a Cage movie staple, talk about Cage’s character’s slow descent into madness, and whether or not Cage’s star meter is higher right now than it’s been since 2008.
#CruiseClub #048 – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Tom Cruise has returned to save movie theaters once again by delivering another perfect movie: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. We compare Dead Reckoning to other “part one” movies from this summer (especially Fast & Furious, over and over), talk about how the movie nails the blend of returning and new characters, and revel in the franchise’s confidence to not overly rely on characters issuing quip after quip. We talk about the retcon that doesn’t strain credulity, the movie balancing “fridging” (bad) with impactful deaths and emotional stakes (better), and the confidence in both its action scenes and its more dramatic scenes. We admire the practical effects and stunts on display. We look ahead to Dead Reckoning Part Two (which will save theaters once again) and the new actors in the fold. Joey issues an important apology/correction.
High School Slumber Party #326 – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Brian is swinging back in action to talk Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with Superintendent and superhero expert Mike Manzi as his sidekick. Find out just how much these guys loved this film and which Spider-man was their favorite.
how to win the lottery s5e3 – eileen by ottessa moshfegh
ottessa moshfegh returns to the pod as we discuss her novel eileen, which william oldroyd is adapting for release later this year. we discuss how gross the book is (and how dirty its world is), rebecca as a manic pixie dream girl, and the specific way moshfegh wrote this novel. we also question (or challenge, maybe) the timeline of the plot, break down the many chekhov’s guns (as well as how moshfegh plays into our expectation of how they’ll be incorporated), and try to sound smart when talking about freud. joey does prayer hands and connects eileen to the fast and furious. tulsa wonders whether or not he has vocal fry. we preview the adaptation and talk about even more poop stuff.
Husbands Talking on X is for Show: Tori Amos – Ocean to Ocean Tour And Discography Deep Dive
The Action Pack were lucky enough to see several Tori Amos shows, and now we’re totally teed up to talk Tori Amos. Tori’s discography and characters transcend the expectations of most musicians, outlasting contemporaries and countless “copycats” – so who is she and what are the characters, stories, places, and elements that run through her music? Amos’s songs transform across tours, releases, and even the “version” of Tori that performs the tracks. Tori’s songs have become award-winning comics, she’s written a book (Resistance) detailing her time in the DC political piano bar scene, and has played in films (and Cornflake commercials). With more than a combined 40 Tori concerts between them, Nico, TK, & Kevo weigh in on the musician often celebrated by her fans as “the goddess” – Tori Amos.
And make sure to check out all the great stuff we have to offer over on our channel, X Is For Show!
#KeanuClub #085 – John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Yeah, we’re thinking #KeanuClub is back! John Wick: Chapter 4 is in theaters now, so we had to check into the Continental to talk about it. We talk about the new characters (with a very special shoutout to Rina Sawayama, and a maybe less special shoutout to Bill Skarsgard), the extended runtime, and whether or not there’s still more story left to tell for John Wick. Joey questions Mike’s Letterboxd rating of John Wick: Chapter 4. We take a look ahead at the upcoming spinoffs as we also break down the films in the Keanussaince, both looking back and looking ahead, as we run through the films Keanu has made since the first John Wick and look ahead to see what’s on the horizon.
We try to figure out what other movies Keanu Reeves has coming up in the near future.
The Monsters That Made Us #29 – Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
All aboard! In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” cruise deep into the Amazon in search of a creature which may bridge the evolutionary gap between man and fish! Join them as they discuss the Gill-man’s painstaking design process, the narrative similarities to King Kong, the breathtaking underwater photography, and why Creature from the Black Lagoon is unquestionably one of the all-time great monster movies.
Check out the original Gill-man test suit here!
Pod Only Knows #003 – Magic’s a Messy Bitch – with Dr. Shaily Patel
When you work in religious studies, sometimes you get to work on really cool subjects, like Dr. Shaily Patel, who works on magic.
For centuries, magic had been an integral part of religion. So much so, in fact, that it’s hard to really see it as a separate category.
So when did we start removing magic from religious practice and putting into the wands of boy wizards and teenage witches, or the hands of bearded old men? Why is magic a Vegas act instead of Church liturgy?
The short answer is Christianity.
The long answer is what Kelly and John invited Shaily on to talk about this week.
Shaily Patel is an assistant professor of early Christianity at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina in 2017 and holds master’s degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and The University of Chicago.
You can find her on Twitter @vox_magica
Third Time’s A Charm #074 – Psycho III (1986)
Today Mike & Dan check into Bates Motel, but will they check out ? Join “The Monster’s That Made Us” hosts as they talk about another Classic Universal Picture’s Horror Franchise, Psycho ! Can Norman Bates join the ranks of his Universal predecessors ? Why haven’t more people been championing this movie & what is going on with Jeff Fahey ? All this and more on today’s killer new episode !
Uncle Francis’s Wine Cellar – One from the Heart
Francis Ford Coppola’s biggest folly or one of his greatest masterpieces? Brian and Mike open up a discussion on 1981’s One From the Heart. Even though it was panned at the time; modern reassessments tell a different tale. Francis’s favorite nephews talk Frederic Forrest, the underrated legacy of Terri Garr, Raul Julia in his prime, neon soaked Las Vegas and offer a couple of movie recommendations along the way.
Viva Pod Vegas #016 – Viva Las Vegas (1964)
We’ve made it to Elvis’s “big movie” (biggest ever? biggest so far? who can say?!), as he teams up with Ann-Margret for our namesake, Viva Las Vegas! After opening the mailbag (and finding more kindred Elvis spirits), we talk about the disorienting ADR in this movie, explore more bad taglines, and officially enter “the Ann-Margret era.” (This lasts exactly one film.) We find out how Col. Tom Parker rears his ugly head once again, talk about the heavy “Toretto vibes” in this movie, and try to make sense of Ann-Margret’s dancing style. We reflect back on Fun in Acapulco, wonder if we’ve uncovered a unifying Elvis character theory, and break down the inconsistent music reality of Viva Las Vegas. We talk about the movie forgetting (then remembering in the last moments) how it’s about a racecar driver. We make our guesses for Roustabout, then peek ahead to see how far off we were.
Watch The Theron #055 – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be a bit hazy, but what’s perfectly clear is that Charlize Theron was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness! Dropped into a credits scene, Charlize takes the role of Clea, who seems to know the titular Doctor Strange very well. Who is she? What role could she play? Why did Marvel use her now? We return to Watch The Theron for a quick episode to catch up on her role in the MCU and how she may be used down the road. We also discuss Charlize’s recent history (and near future?) of acting exclusively in established franchises, how her entrance into the MCU is new ground for us, and whether Marvel would have been better served to have saved her casting for the seemingly inevitable reboot of the universe in the next few years.
Winona Forever #052 – The Plot Against America (2020)
In this episode, Rekha and Lindsay are back! They’re joined by producer Chris to talk about The Plot Against America: a mini-series that was too heavy for most of them to watch during a pandemic and is maybe still too heavy, but they did their duty.
X is for Show: Deal Breakers: Who Is The Most Underrated Marvel Hero?
Lots of us make top five lists in our head. Lots of us can say why we picked those characters. But what if it wasn’t just in our heads? Enter: DEAL BREAKERS. Get a topic, make your top 5 list, and the 3 rules you think everyone in everyone’s top five should follow. Then, come to the game, and pit your list of faves and rules against your opponents to see who’s choices have the fewest Deal Breakers. Filled with fandom fun, nerding out, and lots of laughs, Deal Breakers is the game show you’re always playing in your head – this time, out loud! This week: Who Is The Most Underrated Marvel Hero? Find out who wins on an all new X Is For Show!
And make sure to check out all the great stuff we have to offer over on our channel, X Is For Show!
