Film Reviews Episodes

Bob and Brad wrap up their mini-series of Spielberg films with Bob's all-time favorite movie, the 1993 masterpiece Jurassic Park. Much has been written about the groundbreaking VFX and use of CGI, but our hosts focus in on the outstanding performances that sell the whole thing, as well as the tightly-constructed script. Meanwhile, they revisit Barrell Seagrass, Brad's highest-rated whiskey in the show's history, to sample the new 16-year, ultra-premium version. How will it hold up to other Barr...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of Spielberg films with 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Often considered a perfect "entertainment," this film certainly doesn't have a lot going on beneath the surface, but that just highlights the filmmaking craft of Spielberg all the more. Our hosts sing the praises of the cast, particularly the supporting players, and are pleasantly surprised by the number of visual gags on display. Meanwhile, they revisit Laphroaig Distillery with the cask-strength ve...

Bob and Brad continue their mini-series of popular films from director Steven Spielberg, this time with 1977's wildly successful Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A surprisingly interior movie, our hosts are wowed both by its ambition and the remarkable leading turn from Richard Dreyfuss. Meanwhile, our hosts sip on Highland Park Magnus, a lower-proof, non-age-stated single malt Scotch from the Orkney region. This marks the second Highland Park expression in a row. How will it stack up to las...

Season Six kicks off with one of the most popular films ever, director Steven Spielberg's breakthrough Jaws. Widely considered one of the best horror movies ever made, the famously-troubled production led to a tightly-edited masterclass in tension. Brad and Bob discuss the film's two very different halves, as well as the unsung acting heroics of Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfus. Meanwhile, our hosts sip on Highland Park 12-year, a lightly-peated single malt Scotch from the Orkney region. This b...

Bob and Brad wrap up Season 5 with their final Harry Potter review, the series-capping 2011 offering Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Director David Yates returns with the last chapter of the franchise, and while the movie is well-regarded by the general public, Bob and Brad are decidedly cooler on it. Meanwhile, they return to Willett Distillery to sample Rowan's Creek, a whiskey that may or may not be the slightly-toned-down version of Bob's favorite, Noah's Mill. How will this 1...

Bob rounds out his Season Five list of movies with Barry Jenkins' 2018 masterpiece If Beale Street Could Talk. Unfairly swallowed up during the awards season, this film ultimately flew under the radar. The guys discuss scene-stealing performances from Stephan James and Colman Domingo, in addition to Regina King's Oscar-winning role. Meanwhile, our hosts sip on Cutty Sark, that ubiquitous blended scotch. At only around $15 a bottle, what should they be expecting in terms of quality? Film & ...

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 Wednesday --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filmwhiskey/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/filmwhiskey/support

Bob introduces Brad to director Jason Reitman's 2011 dark comedy Young Adult. Reitman made this film as a follow-up to Up in the Air, and it reunited him with Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody. How will Brad react to the mean-spirited character at the film's core? Meanwhile, our hosts revisit the Johnnie Walker brand, this time for a rye-finished blended called Select Casks. It seems this expression was intended to launch a new line for the brand, but those plans have since been abandoned. Does tha...

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 Wednesday --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filmwhiskey/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/filmwhiskey/support

Bob and Brad throw it all the way back to 2019 to revisit writer-director Noah Baumbach's Oscar-winning film Marriage Story. Boasting two of the best lead performances of the 21st century, the movie walked away with only one win, for supporting actress Laura Dern. The guys dive deep into why the movie's efforts to stay as entertaining as possible despite heavy subject matter actually helps it in the long run, and they try to make sense of the Dern win. Meanwhile, they stay in Scotland for yet a...

Bob and Brad revisit the Star Wars universe with George Lucas' 2005 trilogy-capper, Revenge of the Sith. Widely regarded as the best of the prequel trilogy, this film has so much more to offer, and for those who paid attention to the (very) intricate details of the first two films, the payoffs here are well worth the wait. Bob and Brad praise Lucas' encyclopedic worldbuilding, even if they also criticize some of his directorial and dialogue choices. Meanwhile, they try the last in their line ...

For Bob's next Season Five movie, he's chosen director Ben Affleck's 2007 debut Gone Baby Gone. Based on a Dennis Lehane novel, this seedy neo-noir works primarily because of its moral questions, but also because of uniformly excellent performances and Affleck's sense of place in his Boston hometown. It's still his finest work, and he's directed a best Picture winner since this. Meanwhile, they try the third in a line of four whiskies from Ardbeg, a single-malt scotch distillery known for its e...

Bob and Brad ring in the week of Passover and Easter with Dreamworks Animation's 1998 film The Prince of Egypt. Much like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, this is a less-discussed animated film from their childhood that also plays much better to an adult audience. Full of breathtaking imagery and a faithful adherence to source texts, the only real quibbles to get into involve some of the vocal performances. Meanwhile, our hosts sample the second in their line of four whiskies from Ardbeg, this ti...

For Bob's next Season Five movie, he's chosen Taika Waititi's 2016 romp Hunt for the Wilderpeople. In many ways, this laid the blueprint for Waititi's next two films, examining themes of family and resilience through comedy. Brad, a big fan of Jojo Rabbit, was new to this film, but praises the performances of the two leads, as well as the overall light touch with which Waititi directs. Meanwhile, they try the first in a line of four whiskies from Ardbeg, a single-malt scotch distillery known fo...

Brad's next Season 5 selection is Edge of Tomorrow, marking the second film this season by director Doug Liman, and the first of two movies starring Tom Cruise. In this modern action masterpiece, the main conceit is essentially "the plot of Groundhog Day, but about and alien invasion," and there might not be a better popcorn-flic pitch than that. The guys discuss Cruise as a perennially underrated star, (the somehow never-Oscar-nominated) Emily Blunt, and just how the heck the on-screen aliens w...

Bob's next selection is writer-director Jason Reitman's 2009 Best Picture nominee Up In The Air, a movie that for a long time Bob considered one of the best films of the century. Surprisingly, Bob and Brad both agree on the movie's greatness, but call into question whether it deserves "21st Century Pantheon" recognition. Meanwhile, they return to Lux Row's Rebel brand for the Distiller's Collection, a 113-proof single-barrel offering that was selected by the Ohio Liquor bureau. While the brand ...

Bob and Brad go all-in on Rocky IV, perhaps the most ridiculous thing to ever appear on this podcast. A film both terrible and amazing, this effort from director-writer-star Sylvester Stallone features a man who pretends to be a robot, and an actual robot in a romantic relationship with a man. The guys discuss the film's many great quotes, the almost universally awful performances, and their unabashed love for its over-the-top energy. Meanwhile, they sip on Barrell Seagrass, a blend of ryes fin...

Bob and Brad finally review School of Rock, a surprisingly divisive movie that's come up on the show before. It's one of Bob's favorites, but Brad doesn't see what all the fuss is about. Both hosts love Jack Black's performance, but Bob thinks the movie--and its structure--go a lot deeper that Brad is willing to give credit for. Meanwhile, they return to the Basil Hayden's brand for the first time since Season 1, this time to try Dark Rye. A mix of rye whiskey and port, how will it stand up aga...

Bob and Brad sit down with director Richard Curtis' life-affirming dramedy About Time, a movie that would have made both of their Season 5 lists. They discuss whether this can be categorized as a sci-fi movie, whether there's enough emphasis on the marriage component to label it a "romance," and how Bill Nighy elevates every single film he's in. Meanwhile, the finish up the Glenlivet sample pack with Glenlivet 14. Will it exceed the quality of its 12-year, double-barreled brother? Film & Whisk...

Bob introduces Brad to the glorious mess that is Cameron Crowe's 2005 film Elizabethtown. While he had fond memories of this one from his high school days, Bob recognizes that this one isn't what you'd necessarily call a "good movie." Still, there's a lot here to like, starting with the film's two lead actors. Meanwhile, they sip on the third in their lineup of Glenlivet products with the Caribbean Reserve. Will this rum-finished Scotch meet the heights of their standard 12-year offering? Film...

Bob and Brad check out director Doug Liman's 2002 game-changer, The Bourne Identity. They reflect on 20 years of post-Bourne action filmmaking and try to explain just how big of a cultural shift this movie felt like. Both hosts praise the deceptively-versatile Matt Damon, as well as the excellent supporting cast. Meanwhile, they try the second of four offerings from Glenlivet, the famous Speyside single malt producer. This week, it's the relatively new addition to their core lineup, Founder's R...

Bob and Brad check out director and star Ben Stiller's noble effort The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on the classic sort story. Much like Chef, this is a movie that on its surface only wants to be a crowd pleaser. But Stiller's direction is assured, the cinematography is gorgeous, and overall this movie really punches above its weight. Meanwhile, they try the first of four offerings from Glenlivet, the famous Speyside single malt producer. This week, it's the classic and affordable 12 yea...

For this season's revisit episode, Bob and Brad wanted to revisit Martin Scorsese's unsung masterpiece, The Aviator. One of the very first films to ever appear on the show, it's been a solid 3 years since they've watched this. Brad initially gave this film a 10/10, his first ever. How will his score change, if it all? Meanwhile, they sip on three absolutely delicious whiskeys from Crooked Water Spirits. Film & Whiskey Podcast. New episodes every Monday. Film & Whiskey Instagram Film & Whiskey...

Bob and Brad finally get around to watching what might be Brad's favorite movie ever, Secondhand Lions. This family-friendly crowd-pleaser flew under the radar on its 2003 release, and remains fairly unseen. Still, it sports great turns from Haley Joel Osment, Michael Caine, and Robert Duvall and a strong script. Meanwhile, they try the baseline offering from Angel's Envy, a port-finished bourbon that was revolutionary 10 years ago, but now risks being swallowed up in the sea of finished whiske...