Forgotten Cinema

Michael Butler & Michael Field

Welcome to Forgotten Cinema! Each episode, Mike Field and Mike Butler highlight a film that for a variety of reasons was forgotten by audiences. Whether it be because a more popular movie was released at the same time or the movie simply didn’t catch on with an audience in the its initial run. We’ll discuss what we love about the movie or perhaps don’t love about it and decide whether the movie is worth a revisit.

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  1. Episode 1

    Payback

    Season 26 begins on Forgotten Cinema as the Mikes take a look at "Payback", the 1999 crime thriller starring Mel Gibson. The plan was to watch "Payback: Straight Up," director Brian Helgeland’s restored cut of the film. Instead, both Mike Butler and Mike Field ended up watching the Director’s Cut and the theatrical version. Field accidentally started with the theatrical cut, while Butler found the alternate version so dramatically different that discussing one without seeing the other would have been nearly impossible. For perhaps the first time the Mikes can remember, both cuts have genuine merit. The theatrical version suffers from an aggressive blue tint and heavy desaturation that appear intended to evoke a gritty 1970s crime film, but instead leave much of the movie looking flat and artificial. The Director’s Cut, however, captures that throwback atmosphere far more effectively. The differences extend well beyond the visuals. Entire scenes, characters, and story elements are altered, while the ending is changed so completely that the two versions almost feel like separate films. Butler prefers the more elaborate theatrical finale, while Field finds it somewhat tacked on, even though he enjoys several moments within it. The Mikes also discuss Gibson’s Porter, an unapologetically selfish and irredeemable criminal who never needs to reveal a secret heart of gold. That commitment to making the protagonist a genuinely bad person is rare, and it gives both versions of the film a distinctive personality. Even rarer is the final recommendation. Should you watch the Director’s Cut and enjoy it, Butler and Field believe the theatrical version is also worth seeking out. Neither cut completely replaces the other, making "Payback" a fascinating example of how editing, tone, and a radically different ending can transform the same production into two worthwhile movies. Are there any other adaptation of the Porter series that we don't know about? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 3:45 - Film Facts 16:00 - Film Discussion 27:28 - Reviews 33:44 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 38:18 - Why Is This Forgotten? 40:56 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #Payback #MelGibson #BrianHelgeland #BasedOnABook #DirectorsCut #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms #Crime #Thriller #90sMovies

  2. Episode 2

    Confess, Fletch

    This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a look at "Confess, Fletch", the 2022 comedy mystery starring Jon Hamm as investigative reporter and perpetual troublemaker Irwin M. Fletcher. Both Mike Butler and Mike Field find plenty to like here. Jon Hamm makes Fletch his own, bringing an easygoing charm and dry comedic delivery to the character, while the supporting cast gives him plenty of strange personalities to bounce off of. The mystery moves along nicely, the jokes land, and the entire film has an effortlessly pleasant quality that makes it an easy watch. "Confess, Fletch" certainly isn't reinventing either the comedy or mystery genre, but it doesn't really need to. It's funny, charming, inoffensive entertainment that knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be and delivers a solid version of it. The Mikes also discuss why a film like this struggled to find an audience in 2022. Between a theatrical marketplace still recovering from the pandemic, its simultaneous availability at home, and a cast that may not have pulled in younger moviegoers, "Confess, Fletch" never got much of a chance to build momentum. That's especially unfortunate because Hamm proves to be a great fit for Fletch, and both Butler and Field would have happily watched him solve a few more mysteries. "Confess, Fletch" may not be groundbreaking, but sometimes a charming, funny little movie is more than enough. Would you like to see more Jon Hamm starring "Fletch" films? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 2:17 - Film Facts 10:48 - Film Discussion 25:12 - Reviews 28:23 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 31:47 - Why Is This Forgotten? 36:40 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #ConfessFletch #Fletch #JonHamm #Comedy #mystery #BasedOnABook #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #Crime

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About

Welcome to Forgotten Cinema! Each episode, Mike Field and Mike Butler highlight a film that for a variety of reasons was forgotten by audiences. Whether it be because a more popular movie was released at the same time or the movie simply didn’t catch on with an audience in the its initial run. We’ll discuss what we love about the movie or perhaps don’t love about it and decide whether the movie is worth a revisit.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Butler & Michael Field
  • Episodes
    408
  • Seasons
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © 2024 Forgotten Cinema
  • Show Website
    Forgotten Cinema

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