Film Reviews Episodes

Bob and Brad watch the first animated film on the Season 5 list, Disney's 2010 effort Tangled. Both hosts are far more impressed with the movie than they expected to be, and they see a ton of influences at work here. They also spend a good bit of time comparing it to the (inferior) mega-hit Frozen. Meanwhile, they try the second whiskey in their Glenmorangie lineup, this time the 15-year Cadboll Estate expression. Made exclusively from barley grown on Glenmorangie's property, how will this, the...

Bob and Brad spend their second HANKSGIVING watching the 2004 Spielberg dramedy The Terminal. This one came from Bob's Season Five list nd both hosts agree it's an underappreciated film that really speaks to the culture and climate of America post-9/11. They spend a frankly inordinate amount of time praising Stanley Tucci and talk about the complications to the plot that arise from Catherine Zeta-Jones' character. Then, the try the first of a lineup of five whiskies from Glenmorangie, this time...

This week, we pick a movie from Brad's Season Five list, the 2005 Joe Wright adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. Brad's surprised to hear the Bob has never seen this movie, especially since it's been so warmly reviewed. Will the charms of Austen's prose and the famous romance at the center of the story win Bob over? Meanwhile, our hosts return to the world of bourbon to try Knob Creek 12 Year, their first in the Knob Creek brand since Season One. Will this 100-proof...

Bob and Brad continue the "grab-bag" of Season 5 movies with a childhood favorite of Bob's, M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. This 2002 effort seems to be well-regarded among Shyamalan's films, but Bob thinks it holds up a lit better than it gets credit for, and may actually still be his favorite of the director's movies. Meanwhile, the guys wrap up their three-week tasting of Pernderyn expressions with the peated Penderyn Celt. Listeners may remember that peated whiskeys have been a true up-and-down...

NSFW EPISODE: Bob and Brad continue their grab-bag Season 5 with a pick from Brad, 1963's Charade. This time, they're joined by their favorite YouTuber, Patrick H. Willems, who seems as excited as Brad to break down this under-appreciated Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn vehicle. Meanwhile, they try their second of three whiskies from Penderyn, a Welsh single-malt brand. This week it's their signature whiskey finished in port barrels. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film &...

Bob and Brad Kick off Season 5 with another Harry Potter review, this time with 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Director David Yates returns for this seventh chapter of the franchise, and while the movie divided audiences, Bob and brad absolutely ate it up. This film very much belongs to the layered performance of Emma Watson as Hermione, turning in what's likely a career-best. Meanwhile, they try their first of three whiskies from Penderyn, a Welsh single-malt brand. Wales...

Bob and Brad wrap up Season 4 the same way they started it--watching a really long movie directed by Peter Jackson. This time, it's the finale of the Lord of the Rings franchise, a film that won 11 Oscars and became a worldwide phenomenon. The guys laud the performances, as well as the script, but wonder if there may be too much of a good thing going on in this 3 1/2-hour movie. Meanwhile, they finally give in to temptation and try the most famous expensive bourbon on the market: Pappy Van Wink...

Bob and Brad revisit their childhoods in honor of the 30th anniversary of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. They wonder aloud if this is a perfect film before diving in with their hot-take nitpicks. Meanwhile, the sip on George T. Stagg bourbon, a member of the Buffalo trace Antique Collection. Among the most sought-after bourbons in the world, is this barrel-proof, 15-year whiskey worth it at secondary prices? Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Wh...

Bob introduces brad to one of his favorite films of the 21st century, Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men. Of course, in true Brad fashion, he's cooler on it than Bob, but our hosts can at least bond over some incredible Emmanuel Lubezki cinematography. Meanwhile, they sip on Elijah Craig 18, one of the few well-aged bourbons not offered by Buffalo Trace, and wonder aloud how long is too long in the barrel for a bourbon. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram...

As we get closer to its 30th anniversary, Bob and Brad watch Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, one of the few remaining Tarantino films that Brad hasn't yet seen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this one plays a lot differently for them as 30-year-old dads than it did as teenagers. Along the way, they talk about the film's lack of a central theme, as opposed to Tarantino's later works. Meanwhile, they continue what seems to be a Buffalo Trace marathon with W.L. Weller Full Proof. This bourbon is simi...

Brad and Bob look back on 2000's Best Picture winner, Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Much like the '95 winner, Braveheart, the guys wonder aloud how this one holds up after a couple decades of cultural relevance. It carries an 8.5 average on IMDb, but critics like Roger Ebert awarded it only 2 stars. Why is it so reviled by critics but beloved by the general public? Meanwhile, they revisit the Buffalo Trace distillery for Elmer T. Lee, a lower-proof single barrel offering that is just as hard-to-acq...

Bob and Brad return to the year 2007 for the Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece There Will Be Blood, a film that represents Brad's first-ever Daniel Day Lewis movie. The guys wrestle with the undeniable craft of the filmmaking, while also trying to parse out their feelings on the tonal shift at the end of the film. Meanwhile, they sip on New Riff's Bottled-in Bond Rye, after sampling its bourbon sibling just a few weeks ago. The guys love the distillery, but how will this whiskey compare to other...

Bob and Brad go back to the Pixar Studios well for the 2008 blockbuster WALL-E. Certainly Pixar's most "adult" movie to this point, the guys grapple with its artistry versus its overall entertainment value, and offer their thoughts on where it falls in Pixar's overall rankings. Meanwhile, they sample Old Forester 150th Anniversary, a special release blend handcrafted my master taster Jackie Zykan. Their sample from Batch 1 is out-of-this-world, making it the perfect pairing for a space-themed mo...

Bob and Brad return to Pixar Studios for their first sequel, 1999's Toy Story 2. The guys compare and contrast it to the 1995 original, while preparing themselves for a very deep dive on the movie's existential themes. Aside from the philosophy of it all, Bob and Brad discuss the vocal performances, including one particularly hot take. Meanwhile, they finally get around to Old Forester 1910. The Whiskey Row cousin of the fan-favorite 1920 Prohibition Style, this 93-proof double-oaked bourbon ca...

Bob and Brad return to the world of the movie musical with a look at 2012's Les Misérables, a surprisingly controversial retelling of the Victor Hugo novel and the Broadway play. Director Tom Hooper has undergone a pretty negative reevaluation in the years since this film's release, and the guys break down which of his tendencies help the movie, and which ones hinder it. Meanwhile, they sip on their first whiskey from Smooth Ambler, the blend of straight bourbons known as Contradiction. This on...

Bob and Brad return to the year 1999 for The Matrix, a game-changing sci-fi action thriller. There's not much to complain about here: a perfectly-structured screenplay and visual effects that (mostly) hold up over 20 years later. Our hosts discuss whether the movie works better on its face or as a camp classic, and come away with a surprising take. Meanwhile, they sample Joseph Magnus, a sourced bourbon finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and cognac casks. This one sells at a prem...

Bob and Brad continue their Harry Potter reviews with 2009's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Director David Yates returns for this sixth chapter of the franchise, this time to much greater success. So much success, in fact, that Bob and Brad have a legitimate debate about whether this movie should be as revered as Alfonso Cuaron's third installment. They also have a lively discussion over the pronunciation of the name "Hermione." Meanwhile, they sample Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, one...

Bob and Brad continue their seasons-long journey into the world of Harry Potter with 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Once again, the series introduces a new director, this time David Yates, who helms the rest of the series. However, this first effort gets off to a bit of a rocky start. Meanwhile, they return to the Blanton's line of bourbons, which has been a hit-or-miss proposition thus far. Today, it's the collectible Blanton's Straight From the Barrel. Will this tip the sca...

Bob and Brad are joined by Jackie Zykan, master taster at Old Forester, to review the show's first-ever film by director Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums. Bob and Jackie discussed Anderson in their first interview together, but Brad is coming into this episode as a complete novice, having never seen an Anderson film. How will the director's much-noted aesthetic work--or not work--for Brad? Was this the right movie to start with, or should Bob have chosen another Anderson film? Meanwhile, they...

Bob and Brad try to remain civil after re-watching ET for this season's revisit episode. Brad initially gave this film a 6/10. How will his score change, if it all? Meanwhile, they sip on an absolutely delicious high-proof bourbon from the newly revived Old Wm. Tarr brand. Video on The Spielberg Oner Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Whiskey Facebook Film & Whiskey Twitter Call-in Line: (216) 800-5923 Email us! Join our Discord channel! The...

Bob and Brad throw it back to 1952 for their review of High Noon, director Fred Zinneman's near-real-time western suspense classic. They discuss both the divisive performance and salacious Hollywood history of star Gary Cooper before praising the frequently-appearing Thomas Mitchell. In the latter part of the episode they break down the movie's role as both a metaphor of and a response to the Red Scare. Meanwhile, they finally give a proper view to New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, a 100-proof ...

Bob and Brad are joined by Perry Ritter of This is My Bourbon Podcast to break down director Cameron Crowe's 2000 hit Almost Famous. Important questions are asked, including "how did Billy Crudup not achieve superstardom" and "what the hell is Jimmy Fallon doing here?" Meanwhile, they try TW Samuels Bottled-in-Bond, the last of Heaven Hill's bottom-shelf 100-proof whiskeys and certainly the cheapest. How will this one hold up against products like JTS Brown and JW Dant? Film & Whiskey Podcast....

Bob introduces Brad to one of his all-time favorite films, Vincente Minnelli's 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis. This unconventional MGM musical isn't as big or splashy as An American in Paris or Singin' in the Rain, instead opting to follow the day-to-day life of a family over the course of one year. Judy Garland of course commands every scene she's in, but the cast here is uniformly excellent, and the camera work is some of Minnelli's best and most artistic. Meanwhile, the guys hesitantly re...

Bob and Brad discuss Spike Lee's 1992 epic Malcolm X, their first Lee Movie since Do the Right Thing in season 2. Bob is absolutely bringing the hot takes for this one, wondering aloud if this is the Great American Movie that no one talks about. Brad is significantly cooler on the 3.5-hour biopic. Meanwhile, the guys return to the Speyside region of Scotland to try The Macallan 12 Year, and specifically the double cask expression, aged in two different types of sherry casks. How will this stack...