That Thing You Do!

Oh always, Hey, Trevor, you want to talk about this movie? And Father Malone said that this may have been the best thing that Tom Hanks ever did you kind of signed yourself up to be on this episode, father blow? I did, and I'm listening. I'm loving it lots and lots, just loving it, lots and lots. To Trevor, do you sing that thing you do in the shower?

Is this a song that is in rotation for you? Often? Duh? That's the correct answer, things like are you kidding me? Man?

I'd soundtracks since like since like high school. I still listen to it. Who I believe you? You don't have to threaten me listen here, motherfucker. I have the soundtrack for that thing you do, and I know the fucking liner notes forward and backwards.

I know who it's made out too, well, Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, but more than likely adults. On this episode of the Culture Cast, I'm still your host, Chris Dash I'm joined by my two good friends all the way from Steven Seagal's new home in Russia. Apparently that's still a thing that we have to deal with in twenty twenty two, the co host of the on Seagal podcast Your Friend of Mine, whatever, Dude, time is a flat fucking circle. You're a friend in mine. Trevor Gumbel, Good things, nice and all the way from a dark destination.

He's at a taxi cab with one half of well, I guess he's one half of Wolf and Raisin. He's the wolf to HP's raisin. You're a friend and no, no, no, do I have it backwards? Oh yeah, oh man, you're the raisin. Yes, you've seen me close up?

What the fuck you've seen what I look like in real life? Yeah? But that, yeah, you don't look like one of those singing raisins though wold, I could only be still lucky. You're a friend and mine, Father Malone, I'm signing your sign. We're all signing God and ladies and gentlemen.

If you've clicked on this episode, which hey, that's why you're here, and that's why you're listening, you know that we're gonna be finishing. Tom hank Suary with a look at a film that he directed. It was the only thing he directed for the longest time. It's not anymore. I believe he has directed something else, but we're not talking about that movie.

We're talking about a little film from way back in nineteen ninety six. That thing you do. We bow in unison and we're off the stage before the applause. Guys, out right, you have your pick here, all right? Keep he's with you.

Put him on, put him on, put him on. There you go, you guys, go great and red. Have I told you that yet? Let's give a big welcome to the latest edition to the Let's go doing that thing they do. It's breaking my heart, you eperia piece.

So mark that water wonders down. Try try to just every day to cha doing that thing. Let's go and we'll transport. We don't put that down. We've got people who do that.

Pointed, Jimmy, you got a hit record for God's sake. Im So. The film is directed by Tom Hanks, written by Hanks, and it's produced by I mentioned who it's produced by, because one of those names is Jonathan Demi. Tok Fujimoto also does the cinematography for this movie. Who does the cinematography for Silence of the Lambs?

Everybody say it along with me, Sons a Lambs is a perfect movie. Yes, yes it is. However, that's not this movie. This movie is all about, well, the American Beatles in a lot of ways. Tom Hanks writes a movie all about what it would be like if the Beatles existed in the United States and flamed out a hell of a lot harder than the real life Beatles did in real life.

The Beatles in this movie are made up of Tom Everett Scott, otherwise known as a werewolf in Paris. Yikes, that movie's bad. Steve's on, Ethan Embry and Jonathan Shake I wonder too, and Chris Yes, Trevor star of Roadhouse too, Jonathan Scheck, Oh why do you? Yes? Man?

I knew that was a thing, but great. He's also he's Jonah Hencks on that Legends of Tomorrow DC series. It's a really good Jonah Hanks. Actually interesting, So, Father Malone, since you, so, Trevor picked the movie, and then I mentioned that I was talking about it with Trevor, So I'm going to kick it to you first. Why did you want it?

Why did you want to talk about this movie? Why'd you want to talk about a Tom Hanks movie that really barely has mister Hanks in it? This is his best thing. I contend as great as some of his performances have been, and whatever other work he has done in his life. This is why Tom Hanks got into the film business to give us this movie.

It's a I think it's a perfect movie. It's it doesn't really invent the wheel, it doesn't overwhelm you with any emotion. It's not a masterpiece necessarily, but it is one of those movies where I can I can put it on it any time and it will improve my mood. I can watch it from any point. It's one of those movies you can just watch from any point in the movie.

If it's on, I'm going to watch it. And it consistently makes me happy. I never get tired of the jokes. They always make me laugh, and I think all the performances are great. I don't know.

I think it's a perfect little movie. What about you, Trevor, You are the one who picked this of all the Tom Hanks things. I was like, Trevor, what do you want to do? That's a Tom Hanks thing? And you said that thing you do?

So now tell me why. Because of exactly what father them alone said. It is his best movie. In my opinion, it is a perfect movie. In my opinion, it is a comfort movie for me.

If it's ever on TV, no matter how far along it is, I will stop the channel and I will watch it. The music is incredibly well done. It evokes the time, I think, pretty pretty well without and it takes the music of the time seriously and not just kind of doesn't make like parody or goof sounding sixties pop tunes. It actually tries to sound like the time that the film is based in. Like the performances all great.

Um, it's just a happy movie. It's a very just a joy of a movie. It is a just wonderful film, and it's a movie that I've just been really a big fan of since it came out in ninety six. When I first saw it in the theater. M yeah, I mean I saw it it a sneak preview.

I don't know if you remember when sneak previews were a big thing, and it usually was two movies. You would see the movie we were seeing the sneak preview up and they'd show a bonus movie at the next one. And the next movie after that was Independence Day, and we didn't stay for that because I've already seen it four times. But wait a second. You saw Independence Day how many times?

Like three or four times? Damn? Okay? I mean and like, well, I mean, and this movie just was I listened to the soundtrack constantly. I mean, Jonathan just the songwriter, just that thing you do, who sadly passed away in twenty twenty of COVID.

Um, why am I slipping on his name? Adam Slessinger. Adam Slessenger passed away in twenty twenty of COVID and he wrote this just perfect little pop tune. Yeah, and it's a really just and it's still is relevant to this day because it's still referenced, it's still sung. You know, people will absolutely instantly recognize it and it just gets everybody kind of hoping moving.

And this movie is one of the one of the Prozac of movies for me, and I totally get it. I had never seen this movie before. Obviously, Again, I've been kind of availing myself this year to not watch movies I had seen before, because I've seen the movies I've seen before enough. At this point, I've seen the videodrome eight million times. I've seen good I mean, I could watch Good Fellas right now let's just stop what we're doing and just watch it, right, Never fucking mind, there's always time for good fellaws.

But sitting in and watching a movie like this, I think, you know, Father Malone and Trevor, obviously you're both right, But Father Malone, I think you said it best. You know, this movie feels like the movie that Tom Hanks always wanted to make, and like it's funny because when I think of the American actor of modern contemporary time, I think it's Tom Hanks in a lot of ways, like the quintessential American actor, and he's telling a quintessential American story of a I'm not going to say a band that didn't exist, because this is copying from real things, but this kind of band didn't exist in our again, like it's this specific kind of band didn't exist this specific kind of way. But it's a lot of oddly again, oddly specific things that they're adding to make this a I don't know, it's a melange of things, obviously, but Tom Hanks feels like he wants to tell this story and I get it.

And this is probably the best Beatles movie that nobody is claiming as a Beatles movie in a lot of ways. This is how you tell the Beatles story without making it about the Beatles. You show you know what it would be like to be part of this kind of thing going on at this time in a way that isn't trying to ruffle any feathers. Obviously, that is the other thing you kind of mentioned, Father Malone. It's a very nice movie.

It's a good movie. It's a it's a it's a movie that's not really asking too much of the audience. But you know what, not every movie needs to Yeah, can just be told well and simply, and there it is. And the beauty of this film is the simplicity in that he's not telling you a story about a fireworks display. It's more like a bottle rocket.

It's these characters go through the entire span of a band's career in a few months. And this it's not an uncommon story in the music world. The fact that he chose to do that, Like they have the one hit, they're the one hit wonders. It's just about them going through those things and coming out the other end, and not that they're a big success at the end, Like that's not what the movie's trying to tell. Us.

It's more about where these characters are, how these characters are finding themselves and to each other. And that's why I think the movie worked then, works now, works forever, and works of the time it was meant to capture. Yeah, And like when we say it's a simple story, that doesn't mean it's not well written. It is still very well written. And just because it's not a complicated story doesn't mean it's not well written.

It's a very it's a very kind of accessible, relatable kind of story of like Father Malone said something that happened so many times in the sixties. You know, there were so many bands that had that one little, you know, big hit and then kind of fell off the radar. And I mean the movie even mentions the Beatles a couple of times. So the shaggy haired guys from across the pond, I don't think they ever actually say the Beatles. Do they say the Beatles?

Ok, A couple times they say the Bills. The exact line is they're the first band two channels the Beatles to a hair coming contest, right, and then the two photographer guys asking why they don't have long hair like the Beatles? Why which matter, don't you guys like the Beatles anyway? Um, yeah, but it's a very it's it's an American tale, not a fiful American tale, but is American as it gets. You know, there's these I mean, it's just four guys from Philadelphia or Erie, Pennsylvania that really shouldn't have you know, fuck, are you making a fightful joke?

For real? I can't. I mean, thank you, because I couldn't contain myself. Jesus Chris, I'm telling you man, it's just tell my mind work sometimes. Thank you anyway.

So like connection, Yeah, Mary Pennsylvania. Really it was a they he was a one in a million shot and they got it so and necessarily were they ready for it. That's another thing about the film. Why I think the film also would posit that nobody is ever ready for it, and I think it's a make ready situation. And yeah, I think the other thing I really appreciate about the movie just at the you know, thousand yard glance as opposed to you know, you know, digging deeper into it as we will.

Tom Hanks being in this movie as little as he is, he still commands every scene that he's in, and really helped move the movie along. But I like that he's playing again. It's funny. Tom Hanks is such a likable guy, right. I don't think anybody argues that.

I think he has traded in that. But he's playing a semi unlikable character here, but it's not really unlikable. He's just an honest character. He's very honest about the business and and honest about the expectations. And at the end of the movie he's honest with Tom Everett Scott about kind of how everything has played out, and you know, what's fair and what isn't fair.

Isn't kind of the point. I think it's interesting because you know, this is a movie that he's directing, and he's writing and has a part for himself in, and he doesn't feel the need to be in the movie as much as you know, some people who are directing themselves might or writing their own movie and directing their own movie. And it's I again, the amount that he's in it is perfect because his role is it's the It's the perfect role for Tom Hanks in a movie like this. Yeah, I mean, you're right about the character. He's not unlikable, he's just very stern and forthright when he needs to be, unless he's not waving a gun at them, because that's clearly who he's inspired.

Is basically keeping them down to earth. He's not giving them these you know, he's not giving them these you know, high hopes and dreams and giving them expectations they can't live up to. He's telling them, this is how it is, you know, this is what happens, don't you know, kind of like don't count your chickens before they hatch, right, because he's constantly having to keep Jimmy, you know, grounded and giving him a reality check about how this business work. At the same time, Tom Hanks is quite scary when he's laying down the law there with Jimmy. And the final scene, by the way, mister White's first name is Amos.

I was unaware of that until I in research for this podcast, and that's a White named after Tom's dad, who is also Amos. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rout you apologize alone. Have you seen the extended version? Yes, well, I've seen the deleted scenes where we discover that Amos White is actually a homosexual unfortunately cut for time, but the movie didn't need it, need it, But it sure feels good that it's there. It feels like it feels like more like aggressive, especially for ninety six.

I mean ninety six, you know we were I mean, homosexuality wasn't like the redhead step child that used to be talked about in like decades before. When did in and outcome out? Wouldn't that have been the mid nineties? Oh yeah, Okay, so yeah, there there's the there's the there's the current Hollywood climate to homosexuality is something like we can laugh at ourselves thanks Philadelphia. Yeah that's true, but but that's not a that's not a laugher though.

No, but I'm saying he's just had played a homosexual character, like, you know, maybe we can do more of that in the American public will take it in a non like you know, message movie. Yeah, And I think Tom X didn't want to take focus away from the plot being you know, because it would have made it more his movie. And it doesn't need to be his movie. It needs to be Tom Everett Scott's movie. There is, But there is a cute scene with how We Long showing up to take Tom Hanks out on a date, and I think how he long plays his boyfriend or something like that.

It's kind of an adorable scene. Yeah, but but I don't think it would have been needed. No, no, no matter how little Tom Hanks is in the movie, when he's on screen, it's Tom Hanks's movie, So right, Like, if we had and that character, just by its very nature is going to be the most mysterious and interesting. He's the guy who knows everything. He's pulling all the strings.

So we're already that invested with him, like and now let's make him even more interesting, Like yeah, like, how about we stick to Fay and guy because it's kind of about those two crazy kids coming together as opposed as opposed to Yeah, it's just I'm glad he doesn't get in the way of the narrative and more interesting narrative because you know, Tom Everett Scott is not you know, American Werewolf in Paris a sign, which is not his fault. That movie is a nightmare. I haven't seen him in enough things to really have an opinion about him. He shows up from time to time. Um, like he showed up in the reboot of Diary of a Wimpy Kid opposite Alicia Silverstone.

Um, that, Yeah, exactly. You never heard. Yeah, no, I was like, why would why did you watch? I didn't watch it. I just know of it, Okay.

I was like, I was like, I was waiting for you be like, and he's really good in that? Like what Like I just like I haven't watched Left Behind The Next Generation that he was in. Oh you know what he was MTV had a had a really had a television version of Scream that had nothing at all to do with Yeah, the ghost face gun Tom Evert Scott was in that, and he was actually quite good in it. Oh, Lawland, That's what he was in lawa Land. Unfortunately.

I was going to say, is that like a plus? Here? He played Emma Stone's boyfriend or husband or boyfriend a while and it will stay a while for me. But yeah, Nightmare. He's good here, he's great here.

All the cast is good, every single thing. Yeah, but it's Nathan Embry kind of always good. Well yeah, and ember is like a solid dude. A lot of people in the movie are always good. You know.

Remember when Steve Zon played a monkey, he was he was he was in the Ape movie, he was in the third Ape Movie. He was one of the people in the ape Mo cap suits like Andy Serkis, Oh that's right, yeah, really, yeah, man, I think he played a bad ape yeah, because he also does the voice, because it's totally Steve Zon's voice as bad Ape in Warf Planet of the Apes. I love Steveson. I mean, what is what is there not to love? Right?

He made reality bites watchable. I'm trying to remember what movie I saw like growing up that would have had Steveson in it. I don't know what felt like. He was kind of like all over the mid two thousands and then he was, um, he was kind of prolific. He was one of those that guy actors.

Um. Oh, he was in Sahara, That's what it is. He was with McConaughey and that Clive Custler movie. Oh my god, remember oh Opposite and Lely's and lely Sobieski Oh yeah, yes, and her. I will take any time chance I can get to mention lely Sobieski because I had a crush on her in like the late nineties when she was going through that Halfway to Helen Hunt phase.

That's the name of a podcast right there, Bud Halfway to Helen Hunt. He's an out of Sight, that Soderberg movie. Steve to see that movie with George Cooney. He's real good and it's a good movie. Interesting.

I also remember him from Oh God, Saving Silverman. It's a guilty Pleasure. That movie is such a guilty pleasure Dennis Dugan film. I shouldn't find it funny, but I'm sorry. It's just I mean, it's you know, it's just one of those like mid two thousands comedies.

I don't know, like that's when I think of Steve Zon, I just think of like kind of a really endearing dude, and he plays like the ultimate version of that in this movie. I don't know, like he's in my opinion, this is the most Steve Zon I've ever seen Steve Zon in his entire Zon him career, Like, yeah, he's He's so Zon it hurts. He give us my favorite line reading in the entire film, which is he it's when they're they're they're in their formative stage at Villa Pianos playing for for for kids, eating pizza and he comes back to the table and they're all talking about some girl and he's like, where was I, Oh right, playing songs on my guitar. Oh he has so many great lines of this movie. I love that the Heckler is Sean Whalen, who you know shows up from time to time and things, Yeah, Twister and and what was it was in the Chrome Dome movies.

He was in the first one getting yeah, laid to rest Chrome's skull. He gets like, I think he gets killed in one of those movies in a pretty creative way. Oh yeah, yeah, Yeah, he's great. He just he's one of those. He's a jury duty with Pauli Shore.

He plays the the the O J equivalent in that movie, follows him on TikTok. He's got great stories. He's a he's a he's he's a funny he's a funny guy. I'm again like this movie is really a kind of who's who of like nineties actors. Giovanni Ribisi, a very young Cholie's the Ron Lived, I mean Live Tyler, Chris Isaacs.

Silence of the Lambs is Chris Isaacs. Obviously swat team member number two from Silence of the Lambs Chris Isaacs. It's absolutely peopled with Jonathan Demi folk behind end in front of the camera, including Jonathan Demi himself as the director of the Beach Party movie. Yeah, m oh my god. Oh by the way, was played by Barry Sobels, the stand up comic who basically mentored Tom Hanks when they made Punchline.

I think my favorite cameo is Brian Cranston playing Gus Grissom. Yeah, wow wow. I think just the way he says his line is so kind of awkward. It's it's actually kind of funny the whole uh uh. It's more like how you uh did that move with Lita Brigida in that movie.

It's out of this world and it's like it's so awkward and so hammy and cheesy, like sixties cringe. It's kind of hilarious. And I didn't know until later that that was Brian Cranston because they don't really focus in on his face that much. But you can tell now because like Brian again, like if Brian Cranston had never been Heisenberg, it might not have been, Oh, that's Brian Cranston, but now it's, oh, it's Brian Cranston. Like and speaking of the same, they have the late great Peter scolari As as the host of the showcase Busom Buddy.

Yeah, his bosom, buddy, that's a great just oh, he throws a lot of great people in Alex Rocco as saw the head of the head of So I get Fabian away from me here. What a strange what a strange cameo? I just like, what the fuck? Like he's in literally one scene like yeah, but let's you know exactly what's going on, and yeah, it shows that Jimmy doesn't know how how this works. He's he has a fantasized version of this whole career and he thinks he's in.

It shows that like Jimmy has a bigger ego and thinks he's better than he really is. So when he he thinks he could just go up to Sault Siler and pitch him a new song. But isn't that kind of more or less actually the case in the end? Like, but isn't that like I kind of like the I kind of was at odds with itself at the end of the movie. I couldn't figure that out.

Like I again, I don't think the movie is like not well written, but it's like, but he was right, Like he was right, yes, but he's going about it the wrong one. Well, sure, right, I mean you go through the proper channels. And once he did that, the Herdsman became a thing and he was back on the playtone label the Herdsman, Herds like herds, the herds. But what Yeah? That the the reoccurring joke of the Wonders, uh is?

I think? Yeah? Is just the street about three blocks from my house that's Onita Avenue or Unita Street. And I think so. I think about this movie literally every day because I have to drive past that sign, and I always think about the niters.

Hey, that's on Netters. It gets so much mileage out of that joke, like, so much mileage out of that. But it's a good joke. Oh yeah, it is. I would totally agree.

You know, Father Malone, you had mentioned to me a scene in Forrest Gump that gets you every time you see it. Right, And there is a scene in this movie, and I've seen this movie three times now that that had a similar feeling for me. It felt like pure joy on celluloid. And it's the it's the scene where they're finally all hearing their song on the radio. It's just like that that scene.

If you've seen nothing else from this movie, you see that scene and I think you need nothing else from this movie. Like that's the perfect scene from this movie if you see nothing else from it. It's glib to say something like, you know, you don't have a heart if that doesn't make you happy, But it's kind of true in this case what you said, Chris Joy, Like it is actual joy on screen, what these characters are going through, and you can't help but be swept up in that, just like each of the characters is swept up by it. Like we go from one to another to another until they're all in one group. It doesn't feel false at any point.

They all seem genuinely like shook and joyous and uh yeah, it's I tend to block out how much I like that scene because every time it happens, I experience the same thing. This movie is great for repetition, this movie. It's that scene especially, it's impossible not to get the biggest fucking grin on your face. One they're all running because their songs finally on the radio, I think, so they all run to the same direction, which is the appliance store that that guy works at, Patterson's Appliance, And it's it's just a great scene because they start off dancing around the radio, and you can tell that they're all in this collective amount of just like this is this is a moment that will never be repeated for them in terms of happiness, Like this is something that is going to be a definitive part of their lives for left, for forever.

That's and that's kind of the peak. I mean, that's the peak of the band in a lot of ways. Like that's the peaking moment. And again, like I mean, like you just mentioned, Trevor, I mean they will never hit that high ever again, by design or by nature. I mean, that's just you know, that's the way it is.

Sometimes. I mean, not every band gets a second or third song. Not fun when you can't bottle, but not every band even gets one so too. I mean, you know, everybody always says one hit wonder, but I don't have any hits of any kind. Yeah, I was watching I think it was a countdown or something of one hit wonders and one band I forgot which one said.

Yeah, but they call us a one hit wonder and I always say, well, better than a no hit wonder. Yeah, Like you know, like it's you know, one time used in commercials for the rest of your life, like most one hit wonders end up being used in commercials until they're overplayed, Like like most eighties and nineties commercials were using some form of heavily overplayed radio advertising music. So you know, one hit wonders aren't the end of the world. No, And in fact they have in some In some aspects, they have more of a replayability because sometimes a lot of times the one hit wonders are the most catchy of singles. Darman Greenbaum, who wrote and performed Spirit in the Sky and that's as pretty much one hit wonder as you can get as a performer, was asked if he was comfortable with that label a one hit wonder, and he said, I have a winter home in a summer home because of that song.

So you could call me anything you'd like. Not bad for a guy who's trying to bring people to Jesus with that song. Well, I mean, I don't have a in turn summer home anywhere, so you know, And and I like I like that aspect of the movie because again I think it humanizes again a thing that so many people just say, you know, one hit wonder, and it's a derogatory term, and it's you know, it's not surprising that someone like Tom Hanks would take to task that term in telling a story of people who didn't let their one hit wonder nous define them forever. I mean he even tell he even tells guys, it happens all the time. You know, it's a very common tale.

Yeah, but I will say this, this isn't the only movie that tells the story of like a band that him plays like. He's not inventing that wheel either here. But what he does do is he sets it at this particular time in place, which is nineteen sixty four, and he uses the fact that they get this notoriety to put them on a tour with you know, the travel of the playtone Galaxy of Stars, which was you know, those tours were frequent and a rampant in America. And that's never really gets portrayed in film, and certainly not the way it is here with kind of a light touch. But that we get to see all of that and that all looks beautiful.

The production design in this movie is out of hand, Like talking about it's behind the scenes is a murderers row of like really talented people like Colleen Atwood is the costume designer here. You know, Academy Award winner Colleen at right right mentioned tach Fujimoto behind the camera, and like I think Richard Chew like edited this movie. You know, it's just the production design is off the charts. But like I said that this particular time and place in American history, cultural American history with rock and roll reviews like on the Road isn't documented enough, and it's done so well here. Each of the bands on each of the band's on display are perfect like embodiments of what was going on in American music at that time, and all the music is spot on.

And a lot of the thanks that there goes to Tom Hanks as well, including that song I mentioned at the top that the song that opens the movie that I'm Loving You Lots and lots. It sounds just like typical what you would hear for sort of left over from the fifties kind of bullshit. Tom Hanks wrote that song like he recorded it. I only found that out today. For for years and years I thought that was like some traditional, some standard from the fifties that he slapped on the beginning of the movie.

I believe they were all original pieces of music because they had a tom act to put out an open for submissions for the film, and a lot of bands like contributed like music for the film. And I mean that's how Adam Schlasinger got, you know, put into the equation I like Fountains of Wayne as a band. I mean, you know they you know, speaking of one hit, wonder, I know Stacy's Mom. I mean there's other songs. I mean, they do have other songs.

But but you know, has done so much more than being in fans a way. He's he's written for like crazy ex girlfriend, He's written for film television, so he's more. He was more prolific than just Stacy's Mom. Yeah, I know, but that's like that will outlive the band. I mean, that's the that's that's that's that's a cultural touchstone for a certain generation of people.

And I mean, hey, again, there's worse things to have than that. He's got two hits then, because the song in this movie, that's right, title song, which pulls off the incredible feat of being played like no less than twelve times in the movie and it never gets old. I could you took the words right out of my mouth. That is like. I kept thinking about that, and I was going to say, contrast, this was something like Forrest Gump, which has the most obnoxious needle drops in film history, because it's like, let's just do everything exactly the laziest of lazy, because we've got an unlimited budget for needle drops, and we can get anybody that we want in this movie.

We're gonna talk about this later. There's nothing to talk about. Forrest Gump soundtrack is shit. I'm sorry. There's nothing defensible about using the most obvious songs for your Vietnam section in your movie, The Fortunate Sun and Buffalo Springfield.

Wow, so creative. I would never have guessed you'd use those two songs in conjunction with Vietnam. But this movie, to your point, Father Malone, they play the same song like in every other scene. And I was listening to the song after I watched the movie, and I still am what the fuck, Like it's a feat. It's a feat to have your movie have a song that you can listen to outside of the movie.

Be good, But it's even more impressive to be able to play the song so many times in the movie. And I'm not sick of it, and I'm not sick of it in the movie or after the movie either. I believe it was nominated for a Golden Globe or an Oscar. It was nominated for an Oscar and it lost two. Can you believe this that you must love me?

The Madonna track from Evida, like the song specifically for the film, just so it could win an Oscar. And yeah, that song we all know, right, that song that's detest time, that song that was obviously integral to the movie, which is what the spirit of that award is supposed to be. The original song. The song was written to make this movie better. And okay, makes sense.

It's a cynical It's a cynical awards grab and I hate it when they do that. Hey man, Kevin Costner definitely didn't win for Dances with Wolves because he was the first time director or anything. Hey Goodfellas wasn't nominated at the same time or anything. Funny story, you know, you were talking about sneak previews at the at the top of this, I went to see the sneak preview for Silence of the Lambs and the second feature was Dances with Wolves, which had been out for a while. And and then I got halfway through and I was like it, life's too short.

I still haven't seen dances of wolves because you saw Avatar, right, Yeah, pretty much? You're good plus and pure and plus. I know this is probably controversial, stay, but I just find Kevin Costner, So is that controversial to say? Because I agree with you. I I've been saying it since like twenty fifteen man so uninteresting in it as an actor that he just like he played Father Kent, like he's a goddamn android.

Who's who's more boring? William Hurt or Kevin Costner? Who's more disinterested as an actor? Uh? Kevin Costner.

At least Kevin Costner didn't sexually assault his cast. Yeah, but that's someone I'm asking which one of them is objectively worse? Yeah? I think we both. I think we can all agree.

But but I'm talking about as an actor. But William Hurt's got that voice though, that very just droning voice. William Hurt works hard to look disaffected. You think so or is just disaffected? That's what that's my I think the news story coming out that Kevin Costner wanted to work less on a show that is essentially like the biggest hit for people of a certain group.

And and and he's like, I don't want to work anymore on this multimillion dollars show. It's like, you're really I think you're right. I think that's I think he is as disinterested in human being as he is an actor. That's whatever, man, I mean, billions of dollars on the table. Who gives a fuck?

I mean, see which is will about Harrison Ford? At least he's committed to that TV shows. Harrison Ford is fucking entertaining. Yeah he is. He's very entertaining.

Um, but Kevin cost I just could give two shits about like the reason I enjoyed what was certainly not him? Um No, that's fair. I mean that movie was more than just Costerer, you know, it was you know well, I mean, hey, you know, if Kevin Costner had directed this movie, it would have been him the entire time, just looking disaffected and disinterested. Just it would have been it would have been a it would have been a story about mister White and oh, yeah, there's this band he sees sometimes he talks to you sometimes, all right, Yeah, it's the it's the Phil Spectors story. And then he'd fucking cast like this, this like hot actress to be a woman.

He meets, Okay, this is not We're talking about Kevin Costner, not Stephen Segal, Trevor. No. I think Kevin Costmer would do the same. Chris, you know who's in this movie, the boy who predicted earthquakes? Oh, so you know what I want.

I wanted to mention that Tom Hanks has a Howard's feel to him as a director, does he not? Yes? Right, okay in all the best ways, all ways. Yeah, Clint Howard's great in it. But I'm I feel like because that one I was I was thinking about this movie, and I was thinking, like, who else could have done this movie?

And it's like, there's only one other director who would direct the quintessential American film. It's Ron Howard. Well, he's got a lot of Ron Howard regulars in the film. Um, like the guy who their first manager. Um, oh, Chris Ellis, he's been in a lot of Howard films.

You know you gotta playing Hollar's thirteen. Yeah, And I mean it's not like Tom Hanks and Ron Howard haven't worked together three four, four, five, five, Yeah, they're they're acquainted, right, quite well acquainted, and and I'm sure has you know, spent a lot of time on his sense. And I agree, like Ron Howard would have brought the same sort of light touch to this that that Tom Hanks does. I actually think Ron Howard. I love Ron Howard, don't get me wrong, but he did he wouldn't have done as good a job as Tom Hanks direct.

Yes, well, it's like you said, Tom Hanks is like this all American. You know, He's been compared to Jimmy Stewart, and rightly so, because he gives off this everyman He's more all American than Jimmy Stewart. Because I think in a global sense, the all American act that people think of when they think of American actors is Tom Hanks. He is like and they could say Jimmy Stewart, is my point, Like, but they're gonna say Tom Hanks. I mean, even if Tom Hanks he's made a couple not so you know, good or profitable film, but he's still within the upper echelon of actors that we respect.

He's lost. I don't think he makes exciting movies anymore. I think it's the issue Tom Hanks is making safe movies. But that's okay in a lot of ways. Like a man, I don't want to classify them as Oscar bait, and you could classify them as Oscar bait, but playing mister Rogers, playing Larry Crown, playing real people, playing Captain Phillips and Sully and not the monsters, inc one the guy who was it landed the plane and the Hudson or whatever the hell, Like, oh, yeah, you're you're playing the all American like hero story too, And yeah, you go and get the quote all American actor unquote.

I mean he's also David S. Pumpkins. Okay, that's right, man, But again I also think that speaks to Tom Hanks. Look, I think you know, when we talk about we talked about Indiana Jones before. Obviously I think we're all a fan of Indiana Jones.

You just mentioned Harrison Ford. Robert Langdon is the closest to Indiana Jones in a lot of ways that we have. And who the fuck plays Robert Langdon? I don't think he was miscast as the character, and who the fuck directs the exactly? Yeah, and look you know what Howard, Yeah, Clint Howard specifically, he predicted the Benjie code.

What wait, Clint Howard, Ron Howard Howard, the duck it all came. Okay, maybe not that far. But um, like back to mister Rogers, really, is there any other actor who you could believe could play that kind of But that's my point, miss, it's Tom Hanks. Yeah, Tom Hanks one of the most beloved actors playing mister Rogers, probably the most beloved public television personality short of Bob Ross, short of Bob Ross. But no, he's Um.

I think maybe for a certain I think for a certain generation, there's more than you. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. We were actually raised by Fred Rogers as opposed to appreciating Bob Ross. Okay, I think again, yes, as the as the youngster in the room, right, I will concede you, like save, I never watched Bluess growing up. But here's my point.

I know plenty of people who are teenagers and young adults who watched a whole hell of a lot of Bob Ross on Twitch and on YouTube because that shit's all free and able to watch. It was all on Netflix for a while too. You know. I think what's interesting is there hasn't in the Bob Ross story hasn't been told. I know that Owen Wilson movies coming out that looks like some sort of Bob Ross looks like that's what it looks like.

Yeah, but you know, Fred Rogers and Bob Ross, I think are of the same ilk of people that are widely regarded to be well regarded people as well as well regarded entertainers who did not do anything negative when given the opportunity with the audience that they had. And there are far and few but now you're good, and there are far and few between people who are still doing that today. And I think Tom Hanks is one of them. Because then I've mentioned this before and I'll mention it again. There are plenty of people who know Tom Hanks as someone that they have never seen before outside of a anthropomorphized dancing and singing, fucking plastic cowboy.

And I think that again again, Like, and that is such a big deal, And it's one of the biggest movies ever made, and it's an important movie for a lot of reasons outside of the fact that it has Tom Hanks in it. Tom Hanks is everything for a lot of ways. Tom Hanks is a industry unto himself. Well, he's got his own production company named after the record company, at least the music for the Sopranos. Anyway, what I have to say is when he comes to Bob Ross and Tom rob Ross and mister Rogers, I think they're different kinds of reasons why people respect and like a doort and endear them.

Bob Ross was more the He was more of a relaxing presence, like his voice would just make you feel calm and stuff, and mister Rogers was more about you are a special person. You are you know you are. It's great that you're alive. Honestly, I don't know why we're pitting them against each other because in a battle today, I'm not trying to pit him against either. I'm just people why people endear themselves people if they did fight, who would win?

Oh Bob Ross right, because he's like former military, Like there'd be no he just snapped fucking Fred Roger's neck and be done with it, like put much of a fight on it. Slave there was that rumor that mister Rogers was a would just for the CI They would if Bob Ross would just beat Bob Ross, would just beat beat Fred Rogers a death with his shoe. There you go, But he wouldn't. Bob Ross's ex military. Honestly, he's ex military.

Man. I know he's ex me, So I didn't want to yell anymore because he was ex military. That's why he talked the way that he talked. But anyways, Tom Hanks dear and DearS himself. I think as an actor to a lot of people, obviously, and I think, yeah that the the again, you could say quintessential American director could be Ron Howard.

I guess I don't know if you if you survey a thousand people, if that's who they would say as a quintessentially American director, but I think his name would come up a lot. And I think just as much, you know, Tom Hanks, his name comes up as the quintessential American actor. So you know, what I find funny about this movie is that the I do like the story that they're telling, but I also like how honest it is at the end when they just say, you know, hey, and every everybody went their own ways and some people were okay and some people were get whatever happens to Ethan Embrey's character. He goes to Vietnam. You know, like everybody was okay in the end, but we were at least honest about the story that we were telling, and they didn't sugarcoat it.

And I appreciate that because again, they could have made it a lot more upbeat than it ends up being. It's a it's a happy it's not happy. It's not a happy ending in some aspect, but it's a very happy ending in another aspect. I mean, of course the group didn't go on to do more hit records, but in retrospect, I think he became better, They were better, their lives were better because of it. Really, this is the story of Guy Patterson who wants to be a jazz drummer, who hooks up with a band, improves their music, gets them to California where he gets to sit down and record an original track with a guy who inspires him in jazz, and then he gets the girl.

This is the happiest ending that you could possibly hope for life. Del Patterson paston Del Paxton, Sorry with Bill Cobbs could all build one scene. That's all you need from mister Bill Cobbs too. Technically, um yeah, that well, she's introduced to him by Rita more. Uh, Rita will Tom Hanks his wife he's great, yeah, playing this uh yeah, playing this bar waitress.

Or it's interesting what it's watched to watch Tom Hanks's wife alirt with younger version of Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks's stand Tom Hanks is stand in. Yeah. I think that's why he was safe casting. You can get why Tom Hanks he's interested, right, Like she's great in this scene like world weary without being broken, you know, yeah, and well, and you know Rita Wilson obviously you know she is Tom Hanks's wife, so that that we that can never be overlooked.

But also you don't need to focus on it because you know, Rita Wilson is in a movie I watch every year at Christmas time, just the way I know Trevor does with jingle all the way and say what you will about that movie. And Rita Wilson is the most unbelievable person to not recognize her husband in her giant, goddamn husband in a giant red spandex suit. I didn't recognize you guy who's Austrian and a voice modulator, wasn't I didn't wreck? And then my favorite line in that movie is at the end when she goes Howard Howard, like, did you not realize you were married to the like the man who many women found very attractive, Arnold schwartzeneggerant And still do you don't find it, You don't find it weird that your husband isn't anywhere around?

Yeah, well there, yeah, but there's always this guy who's the guy who's suspecially the same side at your husband, the guy who, even with that stupid voice modulator, still sounds like your husband. You're not catching on. But Rita Wilson is a It is shows up obviously in a lot of Hanks projects or Hanks adjacent projects, and I like her a lot. I think she's I think she's a pretty good actress. And I, you know, just just saying she's Sam Hanks's wife, I think this is a little unfair because nobody is saying, well, Colin Hanks is just Tom Hanks's son.

Also unfair with me saying that guy gets the girl. The girl is Faye, who we've only mentioned sort of briefly, liv Tyler, who's the beating heart of this movie and it's fucking phenomenal. And oh she's not only is she just like like unbelievably like preternaturally supernaturally beautiful as a human being, but radiates decency in a true way throughout the fire film. Like the movie would not be a quarter good without her performance in this flick. I think she's the reason Tom Everett Scott, you know, just Is does what he does for the film.

I mean, there's that great line when they're finally at the Hollywood Showcase and Steve Zon turns to him and asks how did we get here? And he says, I live you here, sir, for I am Spartacus, and the Steve Zon kind of gives him a okay look. Um, but yeah, she I think she kind of. I think his crush on her kind of motivated him to to keep at it with them. Um.

But yeah, they do have this chemistry together that's believable actually, because we see the scenes with them together throughout the film, and they're very charming together. They definitely have a good rapport and you can tell that they mean a lot to each other, even if even if it's not romantically at first. Oh yeah, I think it's completely platonic. Like I don't think they have feelings for each until the moment that they both do exact, which I totally I totally believe too, And I'm glad that the movie didn't mind that. Well of oh, the they're going to break up because of the girl and the girl is with the other guy and she that's like, I'm glad it doesn't go there.

Yeah, that would have just been I hate romantic comedies where the characters are just missing each other throughout the entire movie. This like manages to a sidestep all of that by making these characters become best friends throughout the entire movie, and then it pays off when they both sort of find each other and we haven't been wondering about that the entire time. Like that is like a win of an ending man. And the scene where they finally get together is so well done in my opinion, just him simply asking her, you know, when was the last time you were really good and kissed, you know, and he just and he just lays one on her and she says, we said that on that a long time ago. Because it's it's the culmination of them figuring out who's actually you know, who's always been there, you know, because Jimmy, it's throughout the film it's shown that Jimmy could give a shit.

He's more concerned about the success of the band than her because she gets sick and he just his his biggest his biggest reaction is I don't want to get sick, you know. He's like, you know, well, he stays away from her because of that issue. And and and when Guy is on the plane telling her, telling them that I think Phase you know, getting pretty sick, Jimmy just ignores it and goes on to the next subject without even showing any remorse. And I mean, they don't really make Jimmy look like a monster in the film. It's more that he's too focused on on the wrong thing or the right thing.

I mean, the movie. I appreciate that the movie doesn't make that judgment call, and I think it's a it's a smart thing to do to not come down on a character for choosing the creative path over the romantic path. And again, Tom Everett Scott's character shows that you can do both. And we've kind of mentioned the character. The Jimmy lead singer character does kind of go about almost everything in the wrong way.

But again, I mean, I'm glad that the movie doesn't say well, because he did this, he's a bad character. Nobody is a bad character quote unquote. There are no villains in this movie. No, no, no. He may have his priorities, you may think his priorities are kind of fucked up, but you know, party, Party, you kind of puts your feet in his shoes and wonders, would you do the same thing if given the opportunities you've been given?

Um, like, how you know, would you how would you go about if you were suddenly given this grand opportunity. Would you try to seize it for everything you can and try to get the most out of it you can, or would you just you know, I don't blame any of these characters for any of the choices they make. They're like, that's the patron just wasn't going to be the thing. They weren't going to be the Beatles, They be the Wonders for this one thing, the fact that Kemmy just wants to go be a big star. Fucking go do that.

You're not meant to be with Faye, And it shows that he did mean he became a record producer. I'm sorry he broke her heart. But at the same time, like she she she leveled up, and he was like physically or mentally abusive to or he was just kind of rick at times. So he's not really that much of the name. Person who said you have class, Jimmy, what a great line.

No, you ever said that in this movie? Well, and I Tom Hanks has nuggets of pretty good lines. I think you're You're totally right, Father Malone. The obviously the movie, I don't think it's it's one of those movies that doesn't need a villain, because the villain is the faceless void that is the music industry, and it's it's the oppressive nature of the music industry that's the villain. But again, it's less a villain and just more a constant threat that the characters are having to kind of navigate and adapt to, and and and again.

You know, I appreciate also that even the smaller characters are given reoccurring moments like again we didn't even mention, but he's in here, goes on to have a kind of massive career of his own, Giovanni Ribisi just casually in the movie, just as the drummer who breaks his arms and doesn't you know, doesn't have what it takes anymore so. Tom Everett Scott has a step in, but even his character is given kind of an arc throughout the movie. That's a kind of a character that I love. They like he actually sparks the movie because he's the drummer in the band and he breaks his arms, so you know, and then very deftly he become becomes guy. Like he goes and works at Patterson store and like when they're working, Yeah, everybody is watching the thing.

He's with them, like it's it's pretty great. He's almost like their second son because the dad takes that heart that takes the appliance store so damn seriously, and um, he's in Holmes Osborne just like the best father figure in film, like in like mid nineties film like Donnie Darko and the dad from Donnie Darko, right, like the dad from Election. I'm saying it. Oh he's great an Election You should see Election Help Osborne is just wonderful. It's a very good movie.

You know. They invite like how they invite Giovanni rib into their home. You know this relative I mean not stranger. I mean they probably know him somewhat, um, but yeah, I mean, yeah, you're right, he is the catalyst, you know, breaks his arm. They need a drummer.

They get guy, although with some caveats they have to fire a record beetle and a radio fourteen ninety five. It's on sale. I've seen this movie a few times, maybe a washing machine. I also really like, you know, doing some research for the movie that you know, obviously the movie is not shot in Erie, Pennsylvania, but the town of Erie, Pennsylvania's really taken too this movie in a big way. This movie return in Las Vegas.

I'd be like, yehah, baby, that's our movie. Roh yeah. And I mean and totally again, like that's that's the thing about this movie, you know. And I kind of wonder how y'all feel about this. It feels in a lot of ways like this could be a counter point or a a set, you know, like a double feature with Forrest Gump, because it kind of touches on the same time, it's telling an all American story in the way that again, at least when Forrest Gump came out, was kind of telling the quote all American story at least for a certain group of people.

And in this in a lot of ways like this is telling that similar story, the all American story for a certain group of people about a certain group of people and a shared generational experience that again, they can all at least understand. Maybe they didn't all have it, but they can at least understand because they were around during the same time. Can I mention a character we haven't mentioned yet, the Bellhop played by O who's kind of the Cupid a little bit of the whole thing, you know who I'm talking about? Chris, Yeah, okay, Yeah, he's a pretty important character of the plot too, though, I mean he kind of every character is important to the pup. But I like where you're going as we haven't mentioned it, because he's a fucking awesome actor.

He's a Deemi regular, right, like, yes, yeah, it was. It was in he was in Silence of the Lamps. He keeps hinting at guy about about Faye and all that stuff, and he he really just kind of tries to play Cubid. He does play Cupid in a way, but you know, he's he's a great actor that You're right, everybody has a purpose for the film, and he definitely does. He's not just a superfluous character, you know.

It's just like Charlie s Throne's character where mention she doesn't really have anything. Uh, yeah, she's she's I mean she's Uh. She starts a movie as as guy's girlfriend. Um, but then uh, she has a dentist appointment and it all goes downhill from there, if because she falls in love with her dentist and then she's out of the film. So um, because I think that's her character is like the mirror of Jimmy really right, because it doesn't really appreciate who she's got either, exactly right.

And I think it also helps. It helps not that Tom Everett Scott's character isn't essentially written the way he ends up at the end of the movie in a lot of ways, but it helps him, I guess, or we as the audience, see the the how it affects him, and then it pushes him closer to the live Tyler character obviously the more the movie goes on, because you know, That's the other thing I do appreciate is while there is a quote romantic comedy aspect to the movie, it it doesn't get in the way of the overall narrative. It's a it's a part of it. It's a portion of it, But the overall narrative isn't Tom Everett Scott and liv Tyler's romance and giving them plenty of scenes where we get to see their romance built out.

Those those interactions are during the main scenes of the movie and it and it's just it's it's smarter written than most of these kinds of movies tend to be, because I'm not going and watching a real biopic about a band neither. Charlie s Throne's character in Me, I saw her as coming off very insecure, especially about guy, because you know, actually, winn't that competition at the thing. And she she tries to be very subtle in hinting at you know, Faye and and Jimmy being a cute couple. And I think she's trying to hint at something or trying to get him to like trying to put a thought in his head like does he like her or something? You know what I mean?

Oh, you know what I Actually I thought about that line this time when I watched it again, and I didn't take it as that. I took it as her trying to connect with him at that moment on some level of his which is the only way she can relate to this whole music things, like they're a cute couple. Let's talk about us being a cute couple. And he was just like I was playing the drums and all I care about was the drums right now. Like, so I think that was actually the one moment where she did try and connect with him as a character.

Yeah, because well until then, she just was a very disinterested like when he tries to do that funny I'm Spartacus line, she doesn't say boy, she just hangs up the phone. But to be fair, she did have a hair drum. Yeah, And I and you know what, I'm not. I'm not I'm not the It's not that I'm a fan of Charlie's Throne. I don't gravitate towards her films, but she plays this kind of role really well, and I think that she's not made a career of playing this kind of role.

But I mean, in a lot of ways, when I think of Charlie's Throne, this is the kind of not this like age of the role. But a lot of the components for a lot of the roles that she would play and be known for, are this kind of uptight, disinterested kind of in a lot of ways, not no nonsense but no bullshit kind of character in a way. Yeah, I mean I just think of her and Prometheus, like that's I think of her and Prometheus, and it's like that character is the character, like the distilled Charlie Durran is her from Prometheus, and like she kind of always plays that character. And in this film, I just you know, I mean, we don't think she's with her dentist. She's a you know, you know, shame on her or something like that.

We're thinking, good, she needs to get out of the picture she's been mistreating or a guy who we love. But I can't help it. She's adorable. She looks so adorable in the movie. She's so cute.

Oh no question, Like, okay, I know this is superficial as hell, but the scene where she's in the dentist office and the dentist comes out and asks for Tina, and the way she like, you know, suddenly you know, kind of comes to and oh, yes, yes, I'm Tina. She looks so cute with the laugh and the teeth and all that. Well, it's the first time she's come to in the entire movie. It's and you know what again, like with a movie like this, you know, when we talk about Father Malone, you kind of mentioned it with you know, up it being a perfect movie. When you think of a perfect movie, you think of a movie where up and down the cast, it's cast perfectly and there's not any kind of role that I'm saying, Oh, well, that person who's playing that role should have been played by somebody else, or oh that character's not needed.

You know, you mentioned there's deleted scenes with How We Long, and it's like, yeah, I'm those they're they're fine. I mean, yeah, you can find him pretty easily on the internet if you really want to. But everybody in this movie is well cast, does I mean even Paul Fieg, who's in this movie for one scene, plays that kind of character literally perfectly. And it's oh yeah the radio, Yeah yeah, he plays it perfectly. Like there's I need nothing more.

I didn't need it to begin with, but I need nothing more than that, and we're good and that's fine, and that's and like just with Kevin Pollock, it's the same thing, like he's great and I don't need any because he can there's Kevin Pollock can be a bit much sometimes and he's great in this He's playing a perfect role for his his level of actor and kind of what you expect from him, and he's great. Everybody in this movie is perfectly cast. Boss Vick cos Yeah that that again like speaking to that particular time and place in American history, like the sort of the local like rock and roll DJ who could like command a big show like that existed only for a little time and place, and yeah, there's you know, it's like an Alan Freed sort of a situation where he owns the mattress.

Yeah that so this is the Mattress King. But he also like sponsors the rock and roll shows and everyone loves them, and Pollock just fucking knocks it out of the park. Man does great. He does great with the the On stage, he's the you know, he's the goofy little Mattress King. Backstage, he's a fucking just he's jaded and he's like, who am I not paying back here?

Because Kevin Pollock basically yeah, that's why I mean like Kevin Pollock can be a bit much from time to time because he kind of does the one thing and that's the Kevin Pollock thing. But again, like most of the time. It's it works, it works perfect. Yeah, what he does he does very very well. I saw a live read of the screenplay for True Romance and Kevin Pollock came in and I thought, oh, this is ridiculous, because he's just gonna he's gonna do the Christopher walkin part as Christopher walkin which he did, and it was so fucking dead on that at a certain point I forgot it was Kevin Pollock.

It was so fucking good. Kevin Pollock is fucking I know he can be over baring. He can. He kind of does the same stick a lot. Nevertheless, at his at his car Batman is phenomenally.

If you want to see a good, great Kevin Pollock film where he's not playing you know, that kind of over the top, it's a film called Deterrence. Came out in I think early late nineties, maybe two thousand. Um. It's a great it's a tense film. He plays the President of the United States who's stuck in this little uh cafe or whatever uh during a blizzard, so he can't leave.

But he's got his whole um, his his kind of his uh, his cabinet there um, and there's this in a cabin this cabinet. No, no, no, it's a it's a it's a it's a diner. Sean Aston's in it. Um it's it's because there's this tense nuclear situation and he has to make this decision while stuck in this diner. It's it's a very good movie.

You should check out if you can find it. It sounds harrowing. It's very it sounds like harrowing, harrowing. Yeah, it's a it's an excellent film. You should check out if you want to see him playing more against I would love to see Tom Hanks do some later years of the Sixth Piece.

That kind like to see his tank on the factory scene with Andy Warhall, just a light, kind of frothy tour through the velvet underground and Nico and that the heroine chic of the day, that would go, of course, but I would like to see that movie. Can I bring up something that we haven't brought up yet? Every one of the band members has a name except for the bass player. Though I thought that I thought that I thought the joke was that it was always about the drummer. Or is that just a spinal tap thing that's a spinal tap thing, although Right and Dumer equally, but Tom hanks himself as a drummer, so he's not going to be derided as the drummer.

He's going to be the thing that motivates the entire plot and gets the girl. He's the rhythm baby. Ethan Embry. They don't give him a name, and in the credits he's credited as TB Player. Ethan Embry contends that his character is actually named Tobias, but his last name is player, Tobias Player.

Yeah, he's sure, okay, well, I mean sure. I love Ethan Embury. He seems like such a sweet gentleman like I just remember him as as as Rusty Griswold from Vegas Vacation, where he plays the most first harried of all of the of the I think he plays the most harried of all of the Rusty Griswolds of the movie. He is He is Preston Myers from Can't Hardley Wait? He is Dutch.

He is Doyle from Dutch. Oh that's right, Holy God, when he was known as Ethan Randall back then, Um, I think up until Empire Records he was as Empire. That's I mean that's I mean, that is ultimately for me, I will always think of Ethan Embury as the guy from Empire Records. No, I'm just saying that, Ethan. I think the last movie he was created as Ethan Randalls, although he could be right.

He was also in Harold and Kumar, where he played one of the jock dicks who was antagonizing Harold and Kumar. Oh the business guy. Yeah yeah, yeah, he's he's so that movie was. But that movie was clever in the way they portrayed his character because he's not played like an asshole, you know. And the way the movie starts is that you make it.

It makes you kind of see like, maybe it's about these two guys going down to a venture after his girlfriend breaks up with Ethan eber girlfriend breaks up with him, and you think it's gonna be that kind of movie. Nope, it's about his the Asian the Asian executive who works for him kind of movie, and it kind of subverts that trope, which I thought was very clever and very funny. But yeah, Ethan Emberry has just been one of those actors who is consistently watchable and consistently entertaining and everything he's been in, no matter how small the role, and when they give him things to be in where he is I mean, he's in Grace and Frankie and he's pretty good. And he was in Freaky Links, an underrated show.

Freaky Lynks was such a good show. That's a reference that I am. What the fuck? It was like an anthology like an X Files. Oh no, I don't need to know about more of these goddamnology shows.

No more. I don't know. It was. It was. It was produced by hacks In Films and it was kind of a found footage sort of type of anthology series where he plays okay Um, he plays the brother of this He has a twin brother who would mysteriously die right and Ethan Embery's character has his website called Freakylings where they explore like the supernatural and all that shit and they go on like hunts kind of and they take their camera with them in there.

So it's Blair Witch Projects basically. They were trying to go out and it's actually but it's actually very good. It's actually very Witch projects. Um I prefer Blair Witch too. But yeah, we know, we know, we've done an episode about it.

Together, but they they but there are um, there are times in the in the show where they'll be filming and they'll show them filming almost like a found footage, and it's actually it was a very clever show. And it wasn't trying to be like derivative of Blair Witch. There were just some elements of it in here. But it was a very entertaining like Little Spook, you know, X Files type of show, but kind of lighter than X Files. That was perfect timing.

I like keithan Embry a lot. And they've come to take and they've come to take Father alone away up here, and you know what, And ultimately, though, you know, with the chemistry between the four, I never get sick of seeing the four of them on screen. They have believable chemistry. It's not the it's not the perfect chemistry that you need from this kind of movie, but they play off of one another's kind of they sand down one another's rough hedges pretty well. I think, you know, you know obvious, I mean Tom Everett Scott.

I mean we've talked about how kind of he's he has a career that he has, but he's very charming in this movie. And he does carry the movie in a Hanksian way because Tom Hanks he totally would have been that. I mean, Tom Hanks would have cast himself in this movie if he could have, if it had been like seven years earlier. He already has the script for the Tom Hanks story written. He's just waiting for Tom Everett Scott to sign him.

Evidently did not want to, was trepidacious to cast Tom Everett Scott because the resemblance was there, and then the other producers were like, yeah, but he's the best guy for the role, Like don't yeah, yeah, don't be stupid, like and I've cast them, but yes, yeah, he really Tom Hanks, he really he wants to. I mean look like and again like I don't, I don't know. If this movie had had Tom Hanks in it as the lead role, I think it may have been I would I don't know it would have been. I think it would have been just as good of a movie. It would have been a very different movie.

But I think the issue is I think Tom Hanks probably would have overshadowed everybody else. And I think what works about this movie is Tom Everett Scott. It's not that he's not a talented actor, but he knows how to stay out of the way because he's not Tom Hanks and he hasn't been given every opportunity to be the guy. So if you haven't been given the opportunity to be the guy, it's easy to just not be the guy because you don't have to worry about turning it on and off. I would assume if Tom Hanks was the lead in this movie, it would have been hard to really get invested in anything else other than the Tom Hanks story.

And I think it would have been at the forefront of the movie as opposed to it just being one of the stories that makes up the bigger narrative of the movie. In total okay, And I think all the cast knows and understands this is an ensemble picture. I mean, sometimes it's more focused on guy than anything, of course, you know, as you know is, but everybody has given their time to shine, you know. And like Steve Zon's character, I think was handled well because he's always a smartass in the film. You know, he's always plays like the but he never plays it to irritation where it's like, yeah, enough of these jokes, just stop, you know, because it easily be played, you know, too extreme and annoyance.

Does that make sense to you? Oh yeah, yeah, No, he's yeah, but he doesn't. He doesn't overdo it. He's it's always just a quip here and there. He never tries to make himself the jester, because there are times where he has a pretty good line, like when um uh, when Jimmy is complaining um about the record company, and then you know, uh, Lenny, um his name, characters name is Lenny.

I think we've mentioned his name. Lenny Uh kind of checks him, saying, yeah, they put up in this all star hotel, all expenses paved, all record climbs a charge. He had a bunch of lying snakes. Well, no, there he goes, do have to write that exit single a little with my principles? No, it sounds great like he's the jester.

And you know, Chris you were saying earlier, like the chemistry and the group. It's not the perfect chemistry for this group, for this band made of these characters. These actors have the perfect chemistry because they collide with each other enough that we know that they're friends and friendly and all working towards a common goal. And then at the same time, they're all just willing to go off and do their own things. So like the jelling that needs to go there only needs to go so far because exactly, and it's announced like almost at the outset when the bass player is like, oh, by the way, by August, I'll be gone.

There's already a clock on this band, like as their single is climbing the charts. So yeah, and you know, ultimately, I think, you know, the movie is better for the balance that it has by Tom Hanks stepping out of the way and just directing it. And I think I think, ultimately, you know, if it had been him, I don't know if this movie would have been as I would have been, probably as memorable, but for different reasons because Tom Hanks has never starred in this kind of movie. Tom Hanks is really not an ensemble cast guy. He's it's it's good.

I mean, they tried to make him that. With the Lady Killers way, you could say you could say that Bachelor Party is an ensemble comedy headed by Time. True. I guess maybe Apol thirteen it's like, yeah, yeah, but who is the who is the main guy on the post? Yeah for that one, But I mean it's just again I I it's it's I think Father Malone, You're right.

It is the best thing Tom Hanks has done in his career period because it shows I think it shows more about who he is as an actor and director and filmmaker and storyteller than most, if not everything, that he's done. It's and it's clearly the most personal story that he's ever going to tell, because it's the first thing he made. And again you can see him as the lead. It's a family affair too, I mean, because his daughter's in it and his son's in it, but you have to really look for him and his wife. But you're right, of course, his wife, and we already mentioned that, but yeah, it's it feels very like a story he really wanted to tell, and not just because he had the chance to do it.

It's because he actually wanted to tell this story. And as I've said, he's given great performances in other movies, but and you can debate whether or not those movies are perfect, but I don't think there's any debate that this is a perfect movie. And that's why I've said that, like, this is the best thing he's ever done. He Stoppet who knows, but like he's done this at least I agree with every single thing you say about it. I mean, this movie is pretty much, in my mind, it's the perfect film.

It's it's got rewatchability, it's got charm, it's got heart, it's got great performances. It knows what it is. It doesn't try to make things more are complicated than they need to be. And it's just Tom Hanks giving a hell of a job as a writer and director and letting his actors do it. Do that.

You know, he knows this is about them and not him, and he writes it accordingly and lets his actors shine rather than him being you know, hey, Tom Hanks playing their their record producer or whatever. I feel like it was a studio decision to put him on the poster, because maybe he probably wouldn't have even wanted to be on the poster, just you know, like there it's a Tom It's if you forgot it's a Tom Hanks movie. There he is on the poster. Like but to their credit, they gave him like twenty five million dollars to just go do whatever the fuck you want it. That's fair.

Maybe he can be on the poster. Oh well, I mean yeah, It's just I feel like that was more a studio decision less his decision is what I'm getting at. They're like, oh, we need to have him on the poster. Guy, he's a canny businessman. He would go like, you know what if my face is on the poster, will sell this many more tickets.

Put my face on the That's true. That's what my That's why I was getting at my point, It's like, yeah, I mean he's not the main focus. They still have to sell the movie. I mean, granted, the actors who are play the band members are terrific, but they're not like posters. But I'm loving them lots and lots.

Just I just want to get the song. And everyone says loving you lots and lunts. It's it's a there's a lot of earworms in this film. Tom Hanks is a quite druple threat folks, quin quintupple because because he's also a cleric. Par two, Oh my god, luck you up in a wizard And we're back to Mason's and moscar Yeah, well, and that's where we end this episode.

We can I just mention one more thing. I'm surprised no one on Broadway has tried to make this into them. Kind of kind of odd they haven't. Also kind of great that they haven't, Yeah, because I don't know if they can. Does Tom Hanks really need to line his pockets it?

I mean, yeah, he does. If I could go see this in any form and get one drop of the joy that this movie brings me, then bring it. Is he an egot? Is Tom Hanks and egot? No he has not?

Well, then you know what? You know what, Trevor, You're probably right. This is totally going to become a thing. No, he doesn't want a Grammy either. No, he's just that, he's just an EO.

He's a captain. He didn't want a Grammy for this, for the for any of this music for this film, I don't believe. I say no, I say nay nay. I am Artacus is a pretty groovy track. It is so Is, so is hold My Hand, Hold My Heart.

And that's in the sound both in the sound booth in that scene. That's a Mars Callahan What Love Is, director of Poolhall Jockeys and What Love Is, and other films he allegedly financed through interesting means Um, that's all I'll say about it because I don't want to get in trouble. Um. He's an interesting cat, that guy. Yeah, he's very interesting.

Have you do you know about you know about Mars Callahan? Right, look him up. It's it's an interesting interesting that you guys are saying stories say must be so. Uh So, Trevor, I'll kick it to you first final thoughts on that thing, you too. I mean, what have I said that hasn't already been said?

I mean, I can't say anything. I haven't already said everything I need to say. I've said about the film. It's fantastic, it's perfect, it's it's pure joy in what one hundred minutes. It's if you don't have a smile on your face by the time that it is over, you're a sociopath.

I'm, of course being a little hyperbolic. Hyperbolic, yeah, but no, seriously, it is a film. That's it's it's it's got to put a smile on your face. There's just so much love and enjoying the film that it's it's it's a lovable film. It's a great film, and it's one of my favorite films for a reason.

Father Maloe. Well, you know, I've said it's a perfect movie, but there are a lot of perfect movies out there. But what sets this movie apart in my estimation, is that this is a movie that I would not in any way mind stepping into and living in. There are other perfect movies, say like Clockwork Orange, that I would be very hesitant to go become a citizen in that universe. This one that thing you do, I would definitely go go there and live that.

It's a it is a joyous, very heartfelt at the same time, I called it simple at the beginning that I said the story was simple, And however, the script is intricately plotted and a very measured and if this is his first writing credit and it's a it's a it's a dime And just on every level, I love this movie. I can see no wrong in it. I can if I really want to put on a Jeweler's loop, but why bother because everything else about the movie brings me more happiness than most films. And as for me, I will echo both of y'all completely. As the one out of the three who had never seen it before, I was not hesitant to watch it because I knew I was going to be in good hands with someone like Tom Hanks in front of the camera.

Writing starring Tom Hanks is not going to lead you astray unless it's amazing and Monsters. That's not his fault. He didn't make that movie the way he made this movie. And that's the thing about Tom Hanks is he is a dependable actor who you know is going to turn in a fantastic performance, and what a surprise, he also turns in a fantastic directing performance, And what a surprise, he also turns in a fantastic script as well, So what a surprise. Someone who's really talented happens to be talented three more ways.

God damn you, Tom Hanks. That's all I can say. It's it's a it's a pleasure to see someone who loves being in movies also love making movies and also being good at making movies in front of him behind the camera, because that's not it looks easy because Tom Hanks is making it look easy because that's how talented he is. And very few actors are this successful behind the camera. So no, and we're loving him lots and lots, And Trevor put it best, So On that note, where can people find you when you're not here, Trevor, Well, you can find me of course, on weird in Way Media and on the on Sagal podcast with my lovely co host Chris.

Yeah about you, Father Malone, find mere also at weird in Waymenia. Okay, Midnight Viewing, the Night Gallery podcast. That's a good one. I like that one. Dreams for Sale The Twilight Zone in five podcasts, that's another one.

Astounding Tales of the public Domain, Dark Destinations Night, Mister Walter's chronicles from the Crypt Wolf and Rays in the van Achek podcast. There might be others. The newest One, the Newest Way, Why Christ it's so verb reverberating in my brain. Noise Junkies. Check out Noise Junkies are our music podcast.

That sounds like way too many, but there's one for everyone out there and check it out over at weirdingwaymedia dot com where you're listening to this right now. Maybe more than likely. And as for me, yeah, Weirdingwaymedia dot com. Father Malone mentioned all of his shows, but let's mention some other ones. The Projection Booth as always, the stalwart, the workhorse, the show of shows in a lot of ways.

Also eighties TV ladies, Hey, you like what Richard Hadham has to say? His wife has just as interesting or more interesting things to say. Who to thunk it? And you know, let's just spin the wheel and see out. Feminine Critiques is a good one and also Famentuaries another great podcast all about movies that don't include me or Father Malone or anybody else.

Jamie Benning runs that one. So those are shows you can find over at Weirdingwaymedia dot com. As for this one, culturecast dot com, patreon dot com all the places you can go to engage with us or check out the show, and patreons there too if you're interested, like rate and review the show wherever you get it more than likely iTunes. And hey Trevor Father Malone, Thank you guys both so much for joining me. This has been fun and as always, we'll catch you on the next episode.