Stuff We’ve Seen

An Evening with Mike McQuilkin: The Suicide Squad for Dinner and Hudson Hawk for Dessert

When guest co-host Mike McQuilkin stops by Stuff We've Seen, anything can happen and usually does. Things kick off with a discussion on the new James Gunn film, The Suicide Squad. Next Jim and Mike discuss the new Nic Cage film, Pig, and then dive into a little informal A24 gab fest chat around The Green Knight.

Finally, it's time for an early 90s re-evaluation on the mega-bust, Hudson Hawk. Wait. Re-eval? Hudson Hawk? Surely you must be joking. We're not joking, and don't call us Shirley. Mike sticks to his guns on his modest appreciation for this overblown mess, but Jim is having none of it. Lots of laughs in store for you. Enjoy Hawk fans. We know you're out there.

 

 

Neo Noir Part 5: Watching the Kid Detectives

After watching 26 #NeoNoir films on #TheCriterionChannel Jim and Bill finally arrive at Part 5 of their journey. That's right, it's the final Neo Noir episode.

Concluding this series of episodes, Jim and Bill first discuss Swoon, an interesting if somewhat dubious fit into the Neo Noir genre. Next Jim and Bill dive into John Dahl's 1993 sleeper hit, The Last Seduction, featuring a delicious (to put in Billy's words) performance by Linda Fiorentino. 

With room to spare since Criterion left a big gap between 1994's The Last Seduction and their final entry, 2005's Rian Johnson Neo Noir, Brick, Jim and Bill provide several additional 90s Noirs you don't want to miss, including Zero Effect.

Brick is the debut entry from Knive's Out's Rian Johnson, and it is an impressive debut to say the least. Johnson brings the Neo Noir detective world inside a high school setting, and there he utilizes all of the traits of the Noir genre and subverts them at every turn. Is it fun to watch high schoolers act as if they are inside a Raymond Chandler story? Yes. Yes it is.

 

Finally, a listener of the Neo Noir series suggested a new Neo Noir film as a pairing with Brick. 2020's The Kid Detective starring Adam Brody. Jim checked it out, and his take is it is a darkly comic Neo Noir that could very well be your next hidden gem. 

Neo Noir Part 4: The Final Chapter

Hah, just like good old Friday the 13th, they promised us it would end at 4, and they lied! This episode is the 4th installment of our look at The Criterion Channel's 26-film Neo Noir series, but we will still bring you one more chapter next week. So look out for Film Noir Part 5: The New Blood, streaming soon.

But on this week's show Jim and his guest for this series, Bill Muir, pick up pretty much where they left off--in 1984. They touch on Brian De Palma's Body Double, and then work their way into the early 90s. Lot's of additional films along the way, including one of the best Neo Noir films of the 1980s, To Live and Die in LA.

 

So, so much to offer you faithful listener on this episode. Get ready to become a Neo Noir expert.

Trouble in Mind: Neo Noir Part 3

Jimmy, Billy, and the rabbit are all back for this third installment of Stuff We've Seen's look at the Criterion Channel's Neo Noir Series. Picking up where they left off in part 2, Jimmy and Billy begin with 1978's Laura Mars. And next making their way into the 80s, it's anyone's guess how far they'll get, but one thing is for sure: there will be a part 4!

Neo Noir Part 2: Jim and Bill Detect Some More 70s Intrigue on the Criterion Channel

Jim, Bill, and Bill's poor suffering rabbit are all back for this second installment of Stuff We've Seen's look at The Criterion Channel's 26-film examination of Film Noir. The action picks up with 1975's Night Moves, and hilariously winds its way down with 1978's The Big Sleep.

Enjoy the laughs, along with some recommendations.

Neo Noir: Jim and Bill Break Down Criterion's Neo Noir Series Part 1

Neo Noir. This month the Criterion Channel offers up 26 films from the Neo Noir genre. Some of these movies are more Neo Noir than others, but all are interesting entrees into one of Jim's favorite film genres. With so many movies to explore and watch, it will take several episodes to take through them all.

In this first episode, Jim and his guest co-host, Bill Muir, begin their Neo Noir journey in the 1970's, and tackle Criterion's list, year by year.

Enjoy this walk down anti-hero lane, and stay tuned for future episodes of this exploration into the dark side of human instincts and behaviors.

F9 and Black Widow: Or How to Throw $100 Down the Toilet in One Afternoon

Jim and Teal are back, and this week they're bringing you movies--lots of movies. From Steven Soderbergh's latest, No Sudden Move, to the Summer Blockbusters, F9 and Black Widow this episode has it all.

We've got tangents and side avenues, and a whole bunch more. It's an action-packed episode so get down to it, friends and listeners!

The Return of the Somerville Theatre

The Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts is one of Jim's all-time favorite cinema haunts. But since March of 2020 the pandemic's kept the theatre closed. But good news awaits those fans of cinema, and seeing films projected in formats such as 35MM and 70MM, the Somerville Theatre is set to reopen its doors later this summer, and with some exciting new changes.

Joining Jim and Teal to discuss those changes, and what the Somerville Theatre has in store for fans of all types of entertainment is Ian Judge, Creative Director of The Somerville Theatre. Ian's spent a good portion of his professional life managing cinemas, including the past 19 at the Somerville Theatre.

 

We don't want to spoil all of the goodies, so you'll have to take a listen and find out for yourself what Ian and the Somerville Theatre have in store for you.

In the Heights: Stuff We've Seen Gets Controversial

Things get controversial when Jim and his guest, Bill from Queens tackle the casting dustup from the new musical, In the Heights.

Not the same controversy, but perhaps a little controversial is Jim actually likes the new Marvel show, Loki. Hear his take.

The last part of this episode focuses on three early works from shockmaster, John Waters. Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos, and Female Trouble are all playing on Criterion Channel, and if you have never seen them, and have the stomach for some outrageousness, then you owe it to yourself to check them out.

What a Feeling! Stuff We've Seen Goes Video

This week marks a new chapter for Stuff We've Seen. Jim and Teal are still behind the mic, but this week they stepped in front of the camera for their first ever video podcast. Now, you are listening to the audio version, but if you want to catch the video all you need to do is go to their website Stuff We've Seen and you'll find it there.

This week Jim and Teal discuss Booksmart (which Teal finally caught up with,) Plan B, and then Jim takes a walk down 80s lane with a rewatch of Flashdance. What a feeling! You can now finally have it all with Jim and Teal on video.