The Shelf

Vroom Vroom babies! Hop in the car and get ready to drive with your pals Tom, Nic, Tom, and Hannah. This week, for our last film on the Shelf, we watch Hannah's final movie, Road to Perdition. Topics discussed: violence in media, Tom Newman et. al Toms and Newmans, Catholicism and Protestatism, fathers and sons, Tandy and Thandie, and the Tucc.

Music used in this episode (all credit to Thomas Newman unless specified), "Rock Island, 1931," "Murder (In Four Parts)," "Road to Chicago," "Meet Maguire," "Fin McGovern,"  "The Farm," "Dirty Money," "Cathedral," "Ghosts," "Lexington Hotel, Room 1432," "Road to Perdition," "Perdition," by Tom Hanks, and Paul Newman, "Chicago," by Sufjan Stevens, 20th Century Fox theme, Dreamworks theme, "Closure," by Tandy Miller, and "You Got a Friend in Me," by Tommy's cousin Randy.

G'day mates! In the final Nic episode of the Shelf, we break all the rules to revisit an ur-text of Nic's love of cinema. Also, it's a movie Hannah really liked. Topics discussed include Hot Jerry O'Connell, the difficulties of remembering names, and testicles.

Songs used in this episode: Down Under by Colin Hay, Tainted Love by Soft Cell, Hey Sexy Lady by Shaggy, Brian & Tony Gold, Walkin' On the Sun by Smash Mouth, Rapper's Delight, by the Sugar Hill Gang, and Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow.

BOYZ TO MEN! This week Nic and Hannah watch Hannah's raunchy comedy about two grown men learning to be decent through the power of mentor-ship. Topics discussed in this episode include: toxic masculinity, Nic's love of improv, Paul Rudd, and LARP.

Songs used in this episode: Love Take Me Down (To the Streets) by (not) Wings,  Augie on Rooftop by Craig Wedren, Mr. Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra, Universal Studios theme, Beth by Paul Rudd, and Dunkin' Fritalian Commercial  by They Might be Giants.

Oooohhh boy, does Hannah not like this movie. It's a Nic week, and it is his final teen coming of age story. Based on a novel that meant a lot to him, this Michael Cera, Kat Dennings flick means nothing to Hannah, but Nic still loves the soundtrack. Also, we remain stuck in 2008 forever!

Songs used in this episode: Xavia by the Submarines,  Negative by Project Jenny Project Jan, Very Loud by the  Shout Out Louds, After Hours by We Are Scientists, Middle Management by Bishop Allen, and Ottoman by Vampire Weekend

Like all children's films from the 80's, the NeverEnding Story is super freaky when you think about it for too long. Luckily for you, listener, this week Nic and Hannah did all of that thinking for you. Other discussion topics include: the problematic portrayal of Native Americans in cinema, existential dread, the beauty of the horse body, and the presence of Giles in a film.

It's a Nic week, and we have a special DVD treat. Not only are we watching a stand-up special, not a cinematic film, but also the ding dang DVD scratched! How will your intrepid hosts deal with physical media malfunction? What does Hannah think of this form of entertainment? How much of Nic's personality formed by Mike Birbiglia? These questions and more in this week's episode.

UHH! It's Hannah's week so you know we're getting that good genre action you crave. The Mummy! It's the Brendan Fraser bop that you cannot stop. What weird thing is Nic going to want to eat off an old man this week? Will your hosts solve racism in Hollywood? Can you tell there is a new editor now? Answers to all of these questions and more lay inside the crypt of the Shelf!

Slappin' tracks, streaming tears, and Emma Watson. This week Nic and Hannah watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental illness, suicide, sexual and intimate partner violence, homophobia, child abuse, and drug abuse.

This week, Nic and Hannah get ready to RUUUUUUUUUUN! Fathers and sons, eyeballs and snot, plants and implants, murder and jet packs...they watched Minority Report.

Nic and Hannah are here for a movement. A film movement. If you can stand bad and compulsive impressions of Australian accents, then you'll love this week's episode, The Rage in Placid Lake.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of bullying, suicide, and sexual assault.

Join Nic and Hannah for a midsummer night of merriment and mischief in Michael Hoffman's 1999 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Our third Billy Murray, our second Wes Anderson, and our second Criterion Collection! This week, Nic and Hannah watched the delightful, the haunting, the actually really good movie, The Royal Tenenbaums. 

Hannah and Nic lose touch with reality this week 'cause they watched The Wachowski's The Matrix.

This week, Nic and Hannah journey to Tokyo and don't look at any butts in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation.

Tricked ya! This week Nic and Hannah watched the three-hour-long, fantasy, romance, business espionage, dramedy--- Meet Joe Black.

This week, Nic and Hannah watched the father of all precocious, coming-of-age teenage boy stories--- Wes Anderson's Rushmore. 

Grab your tissues and your tree stars. This week, Nic and Hannah delve into the epic, the tragic, the beautiful, The Land Before Time. 

We are Nic and Hannah! This week! WE ARE READY TO ROCK! And watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the World! ONE TWO THREE FOUR!

The lady is a bird! The man is a wolf! Join Nic, Hannah, Mathew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rutger Hauer, some horses, some wolves, and a bird, in the 80's fantasy epic, Ladyhawke!

Nic and Hannah watch the natural, down-to-earth, totally REAL REAL coming-of-age teen drama, The Spectacular Now.

Welcome to June! This week, Nic and Hannah travel down south to discuss Junebug. 

Prepare to be delighted! This week, Nic and Hannah discuss Miyazaki's enchanting film, KiKi's Delivery Service. 

bum. bum bum. bum BUM. BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM! Want to take your mind of the state of the world? Too bad! This week, Nic and Hannah watched Jaws. 

Do you want to build a snowman? Then join Nic and Hannah as they contemplate the Christmas animated short--- Raymond Briggs' The Snowman. 

Criterion! Collection! This week, Nic and Hannah watched Wong Kar-wai's seminal film: In the Mood for Love. 

Do you love Sondheim? Do you love fairy tales? Too bad! This week, Nic and Hannah discuss Disney's adaptation of Into the Woods.

This week, Nic and Hannah grapple with the pop culture juggernaut that is the 2000 classic--- High Fidelity. 

Oh hi! Nic and Hannah are back baby! Season 2 is here, and it begins with John Hughes' Uncle Buck, a comforting John Candy film when we all need more than a little comfort. Uncle Buck IS our dad and we DO love him.

This week, Nic and Hannah watched Spike Jonze's academy-award-winning-cinematic-film-of-the-cinema, Her. Join them as they discuss lighting, color, costumes, set designs, scores, emotions, themes, and Jackass. But seriously it's a good film and a good podcast, so listen!

Welcome to this week's very special episode! A physical media experience like no other! Nic and Hannah watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone IN SYNC with Brad Neely's magnificent audio track companion, Wizard People, Dear Reader. Join your friends as they discuss their relationship to the Destroyer of Worlds--- Harry Potter, do bad impressions of funny people, and wax nostalgia over Wizard Rock and Puppet Pals. 

Are you part of the proletariat class? Are you tired of the bourgeoisie pigs keeping you down? Are you ready to start a revolution? Then join Nic and Hannah this week as they watch the film The Trotsky, and learn everything you didn't (or did) already know about the Marxists theorist and Soviet revolutionary--- Leon Trotsky. 

Where do dreams go to die? Tucson, Arizona! This week, Nic and Hannah watched the Steve Coogan comedy Hamlet 2, an "inspirational teacher movie" parody that's cuckoo-bananas fun for the whole family! 

It's football Sunday! And what better way to celebrate than by watching the romantic, melancholy, indie film The Go-Getter?! Nic and Hannah come along for the ride with Mercer, a sad sweet boy on a meandering road trip, as he copes with loss and finds unexpected love. 

This week, Nic and Hannah watched the beloved, meta, sci-fi movie adventure Galaxy Quest! Help them figure out, is Patrick Stewart the same as Spock? Can Sigourney Weaver rap? And how cute is Giles' haircut? 

Guess who discovered the censor button!?!?!? While having some fun with new editing developments, Nic and Hannah discuss the seminal 1980's high school comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Does this movie hold up? Is it cool to be a method actor? Does everyone think this movie is that movie where Matthew McConaughey says that thing he says? What's the deal with smoking in movie theaters? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this episode of the Shelf!

Join Nic and Hannah as the explore the savage alien world of Ygaam on this weeks episode of the Shelf. They watched Hannah's DVD, Fantastic Planet. Together they discuss the strange nature of dressing pets like people, the strength of allegory, psychedelic French rock, and weird statues.

Remember high school? Oh, you blocked it out? Yeah, we did too. So what if that time but fuuuunnnnn?! Join Nic and Hannah as they discuss the light-hearted (?) adaptation of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter--- Easy A.

OMG ya'll! Our very first musical! Hooray! Join Nic and Hannah as they discuss the-little-musical-that-could, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

Does Hannah like waterparks? Has Nic been to a Beach House? How good are Toni Collette and Allison Janney? Find the answers to these questions and more this week on the Shelf. Nic and Hannah watch and review Nic's DVD, The Way, Way Back.

It's the exciting world of Live Action Role-Play! Join us as we review our first (and only?) documentary. 

Join Nic and Hannah as they explore deep psychoanalysis in a bathroom stall. What's the deal with student lounges? Our specialist special feature yet? Do you miss laserdisc? I never had one, but I like the idea.

You've seen Inception. You've seen Jerry Maguire. What if there was a movie like those, but BETTER?!  Join Nic and Hannah as they swim through the ether of deep thoughts in the darkness of night and emerge from the objectively best dream-within-a-dream film of all time: Vanilla Sky. 

Do you like comedy?! Do you like politics?! Then join as as we review The Campaign...looking for both, and finding neither. 

Be prepared...to be scared! Nic and Hannah delve into the horrors of Horror in this week's film: The Cabin in the Woods. So many spooky happenings! Like watching a darkly lit film in the middle of the day! Not getting to the plot of the film for two hours! And does Hannah have a knife?! 

Join Nic and Hannah as they get to the bottom of a mystery in this week's episode: Brick. What mystery, there are so many? How big is Joseph Gordon Levitt's IMdB? What does a noir voice sound like? What's up with Giles this week? Where does Brick rank on the Shelf? For answers to all of these questions and more, tune in!

Join Nic and Hannah as they take a roadtrip through the desert of depression in this week's movie Wristcutters: A Love Story. Enjoy as Nic executes a flawless Tom Waits impression, Hannah is doubtful, and Giles will not stop talking. Also discussed: Patrick Fugit, hoodie/jean/sundress combos, and vampires who hate women.

Content Warning for this episode: this is a movie about suicide, and depression and suicide are discussed.

Nic and Hannah delve into The Dark Knigh....eerr, we mean Batman Begins. Did you know that bats are scary, and an element, and also a MAN? Join us this week as fathers and sons make Nic cry, Hannah cracks the thematic code, and still has a cold.