The Weekly Movie Throwdown

Batter up! This week on the show, it's a throwdown between two baseball classics: The Natural (1984) vs. Field of Dreams (1989). Both are beloved stories of fathers, sons, and the pursuit of a calling (literally in one of them!). With near-mythic journeys and Hollywood star power from Robert Redford and Kevin Costner, it wasn't easy to crown a winner. Listen to the episode to find out where Mike and Steven landed.

This week's episode comes straight from the theater as we match two Andy Weir book adaptations against one another. 2015's The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, goes head to head with Project Hail Mary, the new film from directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, starring Ryan Gosling . . . and a rock. Which one claims the interstellar crown? Listen and find out!And for more on Project Hail Mary, check out Steven's breakdown of the film's print marketing campaign over at Printed Cinema.

This week on the show, we move on from the musicals of last week to films about musicians in a throwdown that might be one of our favorites to date. It's That Thing You Do! from writer/director Tom Hanks, going up against John Carney's Sing Street. Two similar films with very different vibes. Which film will win this battle of the bands? Tune in and find out!

On this week's episode, the guys dive deep into Mike's wheelhouse: movie musicals. To celebrate Sunday's Oscars ceremony, this is a battle of Best Picture nominees from all the way back in 1964. It's the category winner, My Fair Lady, going up against fan favorite Mary Poppins. Which one is better? And which one deserved the statue? Listen to find out which way the guys go in this very different episode.

In this week's episode, it's a matchup of original vs. remake as Mike and Steven discuss The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. The original, directed by Joseph Sargent, is from 1974, and Tony Scott's remake is from 2009. Both are set in the New York underground, and both tell the same story, but in very different ways. Which one will win? The gritty seventies procedural? Or the slick, star-driven modern-day adaptation? Whichever way you lean, this is a fun episode to check out.

This week, a couple pairs of crime-fighting "guys" square off to find out who takes home the crown. It's 2010's THE OTHER GUYS going up against THE NICE GUYS from 2016. Is a broad slapstick story the way to go here? Or is a tight, black comedy noir better? Whether you're into crime films, comedy, noir, or corporate corruption, this episode has something for you!