Film Reviews Episodes

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series on James Cameron with his 1986 action thrill ride, Aliens. Perhaps Cameron's most purely entertaining movie, this sequel took the intimate horror of the first installment and went in a different direction, turning Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley into an action star and solidifying Cameron's reputation as one of the best directors in the genre. Meanwhile, they try a single barrel bourbon from Virginia, John J. Bowman. In fact, the distillate that goes into...

Brad and Bob strap in for a new Christmas tradition: celebrating the films of Tom Cruise. This year, there's no better movie to review than Top Gun: Maverick. The guys break down what makes this movie so special among both Cruise's catalog and the history of action movies. Meanwhile, they sip on three new whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company known as the Origin Series. These are the first Bardstown releases to use only their own distillate, and they include a high-rye bourbon, a wheated bott...

Bob and Brad kick off a mini-series on James Cameron with his polarizing 2009 epic, Avatar. For Brad, this film sullied Cameron's reputation almost irreparably, but Bob feels much differently. The two try to hash out their differences while finding points in common, like the way-underrated Zoe Saldana. Meanwhile, they sip a 12-year Japanese whisky with an outrageous price tag, The Yamazaki 12. Will it live up to its Cameron-esque budget? Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film...

Bob and Brad wrap up their mini-series of three films by director David Lean with his 1945 British masterpiece Brief Encounter. This aching romantic drama follows two ordinary, married people in pre-war England who quickly fall in love but know they cannot remain together. Our hosts discuss Celia Johnson's brilliant performance, as well as Lean and screenwriter Noel Coward's insistence on making these characters as relatable as possible, to devastating effect. Meanwhile, they try a budget Can...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of three films by director David Lean, with his 1957 classic The Bridge in the River Kwai. This rousing epic about British and American soldiers in a Japanese POW camp may seem similar to films like The Great Escape, but Lean's anti-war streak and the film's focus on hubris and shame make this a much more nuanced experience. Our hosts discuss William Holden as an actor versus as a movie star, while heaping praise on the subtleties in Alec Guinness' brillia...

Bob and Brad kick off their mini-series of three films by director David Lean, starting with his 1962 masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia. Considered one of the greatest films of all-time, it's easy to see why--the scale and scope of this film are staggering. Bob and Brad discuss the major themes of the movie before diving into a breakdown of the best (and worst) performances. Meanwhile, they go back to the Bushmills line to try Bushmills Black Bush. Like the Red Bush expression, this Irish whiskey ...

Bob and Brad revisit their annual holiday on the Film & Whiskey Podcast: HANKSGIVING. For the third year, they watch a Tom Hanks movie, and this year it's an especially warm-and-fuzzy one, 2019's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. They discuss Hanks' turn as Fred Rogers, whether Matthew Rhys deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance, and how Mr. Rogers' ethic aligns with the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, our hosts sip on two whiskeys from Two Souls Spirits, a new independent bottler...

Bob and Brad try to remain civil after re-watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for the first time since their 2020 episode where Brad scored it as a 2.5/10. How will his score change, if it all? Meanwhile, they sip on three wildly different whiskies from KO Distilling. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Whiskey Facebook Film & Whiskey Twitter Email us! Join our Discord server! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filmwhisk...

Bob and Brad wrap up their mini-series of three films by director Rob Reiner with his 1987 comedy classic The Princess Bride. The script for this movie, by screenwriter William Goldman, is considered one of the best ever, but how does Reiner's direction stack up? Our hosts power-rank the 9 main actors of the movie before pivoting to whiskey. This week, they go back to the Bushmills line to try Bushmills Red Bush. Like the standard white label expression, this Irish whiskey is a blend of single ...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of three films by director Rob Reiner with his 1992 classic A Few Good Men. The Aaron Sorkin script is legendary, and Reiner's direction is lean and efficient, making this a movie that holds up unbelievably well.. Meanwhile, they try a whisky that was completely new to Bob when he picked it up on vacation: Nomad Outland Whisky. This blended scotch is matured in sherry butts and then shipped to Spain for additional finishing in PX casks. Has a secretly ama...

Bob and Brad kick off a mini-series of three films by director Rob Reiner with a Halloween special: his 1990 thriller Misery. They discuss some killer performances by Kathy Bates and James Caan, as well as how Reiner's comic timing is a huge benefit to making an effective suspense thriller. Meanwhile, they try a rye that was exclusively released to the Ohio and Pennsylvania markets: Old Overholt 11-Year. We'd hoped that Beam Suntory would continue releasing this, albeit in a limited capacity, b...

Bob and Brad wrap up their series on director John Ford with 1952's The Quiet Man. An objectively beautiful-looking film, it's also one of Ford's most gentle and good-hearted movies. John Wayne turns in perhaps his most sensitive performance, and our hosts praise Ford for coaxing such a turn form him. Meanwhile, they try one of the world's most popular and affordable Irish whiskeys, Bushmills. How will this under-$25 bottle impress them? Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film...

Bob and Brad continue their series on director John Ford with 1956's The Searchers. Long revered by filmmakers as Ford's best and most influential film, it's also one of his most controversial by today's standards. Our hosts discuss star John Wayne in a career-best performance before diving into some of the film's complex racial issues. Meanwhile, they honor Woodford Reserve master distiller Chris Morris by trying Woodford Reserve Malt Whiskey during this, an episode on his favorite film. Our h...

Bob and Brad kick off a mini-series of films from director John Ford with 1940's The Grapes of Wrath. Based on one of the "Great American Novels," this movie features iconic lines and performances, though at least one of our hosts thinks that star Henry Fonda may actually be less-than-believable as Tom Joad. Meanwhile, they try a PX-finished wheated bourbon from Rabbit Hole called Dareringer. How will it measure up against other sherry-finished whiskeys they've tried? Film & Whiskey Podcast. N...

Bob and Brad wrap up their Wes Anderson mini-series with his adventure comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel. To help break down what might be Anderson's masterpiece, the guys are joined by their favorite YouTuber, Patrick H. Willems, fresh off the release of his first feature-length film. the trio discuss Ralph Fiennes and his need for more comedic parts, the immaculate set design and cinematography of the film, and somehow work in references to Top Gun: Maverick, Paddington 2, and John Malkovich as ...

Bob and Brad keep the Wes Anderson adventure going with his coming-of-age comedy Moonrise Kingdom. Bob is a huge fan of this one, and while Brad likes about 98% of the movie, the 2% he dislikes makes for a very interesting ending to this episode. they discuss the standout performances of Bruce Willis and Edward Norton, along with their thoughts on the under-utilized Frances McDomand. meanwhile, they try Wilderness Trail Small Batch, a bottled-in-bond, high-rye, sweet-mash bourbon from a craft d...

Bob and Brad kick off a mini-series of Wes Anderson films with his 1998 classic Rushmore. This is just the second Anderson film reviewed on the show, which also means it's brad's second-ever Anderson movie. Our hosts discuss the incredible central performance from Jason Schwartzman, as well as compare the film to The Royal Tenenbaums. Meanwhile, they try Stranahan's Original American Single Malt, a Colorado whiskey that blends 2-5-year-old malt and releases it at 94 proof. How will this America...

Bob and Brad wrap up their mini-series of Edgar Wright films with his 2017 action thriller Baby Driver. One of the first films Brad and Bob ever saw together, this impeccably crafted movie bears all of the Edgar Wright hallmarks, and they're all employed to great effect. Our hosts discuss the film's problematic cast members before heaping praise on Lily James, doing everything she can with very little to work with. Meanwhile, they try Speyburn 10, a sub-$30 single malt from the Speyside region...

Brad walks Bob through his top 5 criteria for a evaluating a great director, and the pair settle on the categories to score each of this season's filmmakers. Meanwhile, they sip on three different whiskies: Lucky Seven The Proprietor 6-year, Nelson Bros. Classic Bourbon, and Five Trail Whiskey. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Whiskey Facebook Film & Whiskey Twitter Email us! Join our Discord server! Theme music: "New Shoes" by Blue Wednesda...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of Edgar Wright films with his 2010 comedy, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. in what can only be the second or third time ever, Bob had never seen this film before. Of course, brad rubs it in, and then the two get down to brass tacks arguing about whether it's actually any good. Meanwhile, they try Puncher's Chance Bourbon, a $30 whiskey in an attractive bottle, promoted actively by UFC figures. But will what's inside the bottle be worth championing? Film & ...

Bob and Brad kick their mini-series of Edgar Wright films with his 2004 film Shaun of the Dead. Aside from being an economical 90 minutes, this movie is a prime example of using comedy to drive home a pretty powerful central metaphor. Oh, and Bill Nighy makes our hosts cry, as usual.. Meanwhile, they try The Wiseman Bourbon, a blend of bourbons from Kentucky Owl. At a low proof, how will this stack up against the pretty excellent Wiseman Rye? Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. ...

Bob and Brad finish their mini-series of Martin Scorsese films with his 2016 film Silence. This was the first Scorsese film Brad ever saw, and the hosts discuss how, despite how different it is from movies like Raging Bull, it carries many of the themes of those movies with it. They debate whether Andrew Garfield or Adam Driver is the better actor, and harp on all three of the film's male leads for their Portuguese accents. Meanwhile, they try The Wiseman Rye, a new, more affordable expression ...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of Martin Scorsese films with his 1980 film Raging Bull. In 2007, the American Film Institute selected this movie as the fourth-greatest of all time. Bob and Brad disagree, and in fact, only one of them really enjoys the movie. Meanwhile, they try Jack Daniel's Bonded, a somehow-new 100-proof version of America's favorite Tennessee whiskey. At a very affordable $35, how does the slender, 700-mL bottle stack up? Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every ...

Bob and Brad kick off their mini-series of Martin Scorsese films with his 1976 masterpiece, Taxi Driver. For years, Bob wasn't a fan of this one, but he's really come around, and Brad was equally blown away, having watched it for the first time. Of course, they spend some time discussing the towering De Niro performance, as well as screenwriter Paul Schrader's fragile state of mind while writing the film. Meanwhile, they try Jack Daniel's Triple Mash, a new bottled-in-bond blend of whiskies fro...