PhantasmaCast

PhantasmaCast
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast where we talk about our favorite movies two at a time! Derek and Jake - two filmmakers, cinephiles, and physical media cheerleaders - pair up some of their favorite films to create undeniably fun double features! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    Titans of Testosterone

    Ep. 40 - Commando & Cobra This week, we step onto the front lines of the legendary Stallone vs. Schwarzenegger arms race with Mark L. Lester’s Commando (1985) and George P. Cosmatos’s Cobra (1986). The mid-1980s saw two mega-stars constantly trying to out-gun, out-muscle, and out-body-count each other, giving birth to a wildly specific archetype: the benevolent rogue. We trace how Reagan-era anxieties funneled straight into stories about one-man armies stepping up because the justice system lacks the nerve to finish the job. It is a double feature about complete disregard for institutional authority, ridiculous firepower, and total narrative escalation. Whether John Matrix is delivering ice-cold one-liners while ripping apart an island army or Marion Cobretti is single-handedly taking down a fascist killer cult, both films prove that in 80s action cinema, subtlety was left at the door. 🎬 Movies Discussed Commando (1985, Dir. Mark L. Lester) Cobra (1986, Dir. George P. Cosmatos) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:15 Stallone vs. Schwarzenegger Arms Race 11:19 "Commando" (1985) 40:24 "Cobra" (1986) 1:07:14 Final Thoughts 💿 Physical Media Shoutout  ⁨@Arrow_Video⁩  🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation Do you prefer Arnold's relentless, log-carrying absurdity in Commando, or Sly's match-chewing, laser-sighted vigilante in Cobra? Let us know in the comments☝️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 11

    Corporations Are Just the Worst

    Ep. 39 - RoboCop & Sorry to Bother You This week, we are clocking in, selling out, and celebrating two masterpieces of cinematic satire: Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop (1987) and Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You (2018). These brilliant films weaponize pure, hilarious absurdity to attack corporate greed from opposite ends of the economic spectrum. We look at how RoboCop targets top-down privatization by turning public safety into a corporate playground, while Sorry to Bother You exposes bottom-up labor exploitation through forced identity shifts and surreal workplace horrors. It is a devastating, brilliant double feature about how the modern economic machine attempts to claim total monopoly over our public infrastructure, our voices, and our literal bodies. 🎬 Movies Discussed RoboCop (1987, Dir. Paul Verhoeven) Sorry to Bother You (2018, Dir. Boots Riley) 0:00 Intro 1:26 Robocop 35:46 Sorry to Bother You 1:08:24 Outro, aka "C U Next Time..." Original "Robo Wants an Oreo" clip via RoboCop Archive: https://youtu.be/BEhXAtFgNrk?si=sp51qptLLBg_ufC9 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts Arrow Video 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation Do you prefer the corporate, top-down satire of RoboCop or the surreal, worker-perspective madness of Sorry to Bother You? Let us know in the comments. #RoboCop #SorryToBotherYou #BootsRiley #PaulVerhoeven #Satire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jun 29

    The Alan Smithee Double Feature

    Ep. 38 - Fade In & Catchfire This week, we're facing our past regrets and disowned creations with Jud Taylor’s Fade In (1973) and Dennis Hopper’s Catchfire (1990). These films represent the absolute limit of corporate interference, operating as flawed, compromised monuments to the nightmare of the studio system. We look at how Jud Taylor's western romance gets completely lost in translation, and how Dennis Hopper legally scrubs his identity from a star-studded thriller. It is a double feature about the high cost of creative compromise, the fragility of structural conventions, and the remnants of pure authorship that persist under duress. Whether it is a studio executive altering a film beyond recognition or a director completely abandoning their own project, both films suggest that when commerce wins, the true story gets buried. 🎬 Movies Discussed Fade In (1973, Dir. Alan Smithee / Jud Taylor) Catchfire (1990, Dir. Alan Smithee / Dennis Hopper) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:03 Who is "Alan Smithee"? 3:11 Fade In 24:45 Backtrack 57:33 Are these movies worth watching??? 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts  @kinolorber  🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the ConversationDo you think a studio-compromised film is still worth watching for the director's surviving ideas, or should Alan Smithee movies be left entirely in the vault? Let us know in the comments. #AlanSmithee #FilmHistory #CinephileCulture #DennisHopper #PhysicalMedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jun 12

    Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

    This week, we are celebrating Pride by hitting the highway with a double showing of drag queen road movies: Stephan Elliott’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) and Beeban Kidron’s To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). These films show that a road movie is about much more than getting from point A to point B. We look at how Tick’s journey in Priscilla allows him to shed the fear of being himself in front of his estranged son, anchoring the comedy with beautiful, independent vulnerability. On the flip side, we watch how the trio in To Wong Foo confront and dismantle their own preconceived notions about small-town communities as they embed themselves in middle America. It is a double feature about identity, community, and self-discovery. Whether it is navigating the harsh Australian outback or transforming a forgotten town, both films suggest that the ultimate destination on a drag journey is finding the confidence within yourself to be yourself completely. 🎬 Movies Discussed The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994, Dir. Stephan Elliott) To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995, Dir. Beeban Kidron) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 Favorite Road Movies 11:50 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) 47:31 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation Do you prefer the grounded, indie storytelling of Priscilla or the light-hearted studio energy of To Wong Foo? Let us know in the comments. #PriscillaQueenOfTheDesert #ToWongFoo #DragCinema #RoadMovies #PhantasmaCast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. May 29

    Heavy is the Crown

    Ep. 36 - The Long Good Friday & Casino This week, we are stepping into the halls of crumbling criminal empires with John Mackenzie’s The Long Good Friday (1980) and Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995). These films feature protagonists who operate as kings in their own respects, letting their massive egos blind them to the immediate threats right in front of their faces. We look at how Harold Shand’s dream of a legitimized London empire clashes with a political nightmare, and how Sam "Ace" Rothstein’s obsession with total control in Vegas ultimately creates his own downfall. It is a double feature about the illusion of power, the volatility of the underworld, and the high cost of unchecked ambition. Whether it is the rainy streets of London or the blinding neon of the desert, both films show that a king is only as strong as the foundation he ignores. Plus, we dig into the incredible performances from Helen Mirren and Sharon Stone, who serve as the crucial anchors to these men of ambition. 🎬 Movies Discussed The Long Good Friday (1980, Dir. John Mackenzie) Casino (1995, Dir. Martin Scorsese) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 Derek and Jake decide on their Top Scorsese picks 8:42 The Long Good Friday 36:08 Casino 1:05:11 Outro/Closing thoughts 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts @criterioncollection 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation Do you prefer the gritty British realism of The Long Good Friday or the maximalist operatic tragedy of Casino? Let us know in the comments. #TheLongGoodFriday #CasinoMovie #MartinScorsese #BritishCinema #NeoNoir Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. May 15

    Allegories & Anchovies

    Ep. 35 - Bad Lieutenant & Dragged Across Concrete This week, we are looking at the law of the street with Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant (1992) and S. Craig Zahler’s Dragged Across Concrete (2018). We explore "cops crashing out," looking at how these films handle officers who have completely abandoned the rulebook. Bad Lieutenant serves as a visceral redemption story, suggesting that even the most irredeemable, drug-addled soul can find a moment of spiritual clarity. In contrast, Dragged Across Concrete functions as a pulpy reactionist fantasy. It presents a world of "white persecution" where the line between the badge and the mask is non-existent. We discuss how Zahler frames cops and criminals as two halves of the same coin, locked in a slow-burn cycle of suspicion and violence. 🎬 Movies Discussed Bad Lieutenant (1992, Dir. Abel Ferrara) Dragged Across Concrete (2018, Dir. S. Craig Zahler) 🕰️Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:34 Bad Lieutenant 38:39 Dragged Across Concrete 1:09:08 Conclusion or Final Thoughts Regarding "Morality in Media" 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts @KinoLorber and @Lionsgate 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: apple.co/phantasmacast Spotify: spoti.fi/phantasmacast 💬 Join the Conversation Does LT actually deserve redemption, or is Zahler's cynical worldview more realistic? Let us know in the comments. #BadLieutenant #DraggedAcrossConcrete #AbelFerrara #SCraigZahler #Cinephile Who is the ultimate "crash out" cop in your opinion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. May 1

    Noir Guys Finish Lost

    This week, we are walking the beat with Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye (1973) and Shane Black’s The Nice Guys (2016). These films represent two sides of the same tarnished coin. We look at Philip Marlowe as a relic of a moral code that simply does not apply to the world anymore. In The Long Goodbye, Marlowe is a ghost in his own life, stumbling through a cynical, hazy L.A. that has no room for his brand of loyalty. Contrast that with The Nice Guys, where our leads are trying to affect change against an overwhelming tide of corporate and political corruption, only to realize the deck is stacked against them. It is a double feature about the failure of the private eye archetype. Whether it is the nihilistic malaise of the 70s or the frantic comedy of a modern action-noir, both films suggest that the truth does not set you free, it just makes you tired. 🎬 Movies Discussed The Long Goodbye (1973, Dir. Robert Altman) The Nice Guys (2016, Dir. Shane Black) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 "95 KFM Home of PhantasmaCast"/Shane Black and Other Musings 10:19 The Long Goodbye 41:55 The Nice Guys 1:10:46 Outro or "Never Trust a Billionaire" 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts @KinoLorber and @WarnerArchive 🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation ☝️ Does Philip Marlowe work better as a ghost in the machine or as a bumbling fixer trying to stay afloat? Let us know in the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. May 1

    The (Meta) Movie Business

    This week, we are stepping into the Hollywood house of mirrors with Robert Altman’s The Player (1992) and Spike Jonze’s Adaptation (2002). These aren't just movies about making movies; they are cynical, paranoid love letters to the nightmare of the creative process. We look at how Griffin Mill’s life in The Player becomes the very thriller he is trying to produce, and how Charlie Kaufman literally writes himself into a corner in Adaptation. It is a double feature about the high cost of the "pitch," the absurdity of the studio system, and the paralyzing fear that you might just be a hack. Whether it is a studio executive getting away with murder or a screenwriter having a nervous breakdown on the page, both films suggest that in Hollywood, the story eventually consumes the storyteller. 🎬 Movies Discussed The Player (1992, Dir. Robert Altman) Adaptation (2002, Dir. Spike Jonze) 🕰️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 Favorite movies "about" movies 11:50 "The Player" (1992) 47:31 "Adaptation." (2002) 1:14:57 (very) Final Thoughts 📀 Physical Media Shoutouts  @criterioncollection  and  @ShoutFactoryVEVO  🔗 Find & Follow PhantasmaCast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@2certifiedbangers Instagram: https://instagram.com/2certifiedbangers TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@2certifiedbangers Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/phantasmacast/id1745055694 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eifTBsW1y8CkGQppn81Hp 💬 Join the Conversation Do you prefer the cynical Hollywood satire of The Player or the neurotic self reflection of Adaptation? Let us know in the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

A podcast where we talk about our favorite movies two at a time! Derek and Jake - two filmmakers, cinephiles, and physical media cheerleaders - pair up some of their favorite films to create undeniably fun double features! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    PhantasmaCast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jake Roberts
  • Show Website
    PhantasmaCast