1-Week Rental: A Movie Podcast

Load Bearing Beams Productions

Matt and Laci rent a movie from the video store, spend the week obsessing over it, and then tell you all about it. They spend the week watching, re-watching, researching, reading interviews, and reading the source material of the week's movie. Whether it's a blockbuster from the past, an all-time flop, or a cult classic, they unpack the history behind its production and the people who made it, then discuss, review, and make fun of the movie itself. New episodes every Friday. Formerly known as Load Bearing Beams.

  1. 194. Sweet Home Alabama

    6D AGO

    194. Sweet Home Alabama

    1-Week Rental heads down to Pigeon Creek, Alabama, where things are just a little bit different than we're used to up in the big city. Will Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) choose Jake (Josh Lucas), her rugged old flame with a take-no-prisoners attitude? Or will she choose Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), the son of a billionaire who's literally being groomed to be president? Either way, this movie's gonna make you laugh, and it's gonna make you think. But before examining Sweet Home Alabama in detail, Laci and Matt go through the history of its production, and then take a long look at Reese Witherspoon's movie career and her recent pivot into business mogul and champion of private equity and artificial intelligence. It's the way of the future, y'all!  Watch the history segment in full: https://youtu.be/hxTCJgVjCiY  Next week (May 22, 2026): We take another look at Drop Dead Fred (1991), a movie we originally covered back in 2017!   Time stamps: 00:09:45 — History segment: Reese Witherspoon's early career; development and production of Sweet Home Alabama; Witherspoon's career after Sweet Home Alabama, including her fall and resurgence; Witherspoon's business ventures and embrace of artificial intelligence and private equity  01:00:28 — Movie discussion 02:07:50 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Sweet Home Alabama (2002) was directed by Andy Tennant. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey, Candice Bergen, Fred Ward, Mary Kay Place, Jean Smart, Ethan Embry, and Melanie Lynskey as Lurlynn.   Sources: "'Sweet Home Alabama' at 20: Director Andy Tennant and star Josh Lucas reveal never-before-told stories about the rom-com classic and their hopes for a sequel" by Jason Guerrasio | Business Insider (2022) - https://bit.ly/48Qg0y0  "How Reese Witherspoon Has Become The World's Richest Actress" by Madeline Berg & Dawn Chmielewski | Forbes (2021) - https://bit.ly/4duyZjc  "Reese Witherspoon: behind-the-scenes revival of Hollywood's unlikely feminist" by Andrew Pulver | The Guardian (2015) - https://bit.ly/4d727hl  "Face to Face With Reese Witherspoon" by Meg Grant | Reader's Digest (2005) - https://bit.ly/4ub3ZM9  "Playing It Straight" by William Booth | The Washington Post (2005) -  https://wapo.st/3PFt9TY  Review of Legally Blonde by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2001) - https://bit.ly/4fiRqcU  Review of Sweet Home Alabama by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (2002) - https://bit.ly/4fjfM6n  "A down-home dilemma" by David Sterritt | The Christian Science Monitor (2002) - https://bit.ly/4d9a8m2  "Interview with Reese Witherspoon" by Scott B. | IGN (2002) - https://bit.ly/4ua5uu4  "C. Jay Cox: Man With A Mission" by Steven Housman (2004) - https://bit.ly/4eKzt6Y  "Reese Witherspoon: Ready for a change" by Charlie Rose | CBS News (2014) - https://cbsn.ws/3R8LKIv  "The Girlbossification of AI" by Angelina Chapin | New York Magazine (2026) - https://bit.ly/4dhh40x  "Check out Reese Witherspoon's new Southern-inspired fashion line" by Rheana Murray | Today (2015) - https://on.today.com/4tDYYup "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream―An Exposé of Private Equity's Devastating Impact on American Lives, Communities, and the Economy" by Megan Greenwell (2025) - https://amzn.to/436jJUB    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/sweet-home-alabama-2002/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast: Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 12m
  2. 193. Bride Of Chucky

    MAY 8

    193. Bride Of Chucky

    Matt and Laci take a long look at the 1998 horror-comedy film Bride of Chucky.    The Child's Play franchise stands out among the classic horror movie series because it has, from the beginning, largely been stewarded by one man: screenwriter Don Mancini. The show goes through Mancini's inspiration for writing the original 1988 film as a critique on the advertising industry, and the diminishing returns of the two sequels that caused the franchise to go dormant for most of the '90s. Then, the success of Scream led to a revitalization of horror, so Chucky was brought back from the dead, and this time, he'd have a manic gothic dream girl in the form of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). The history segment closes with a look at Jennifer Tilly's legacy, and how she had no idea how much playing Tiffany would define her career, or how much love people had for her character and the Chucky franchise. Then, Laci and Matt review Bride of Chucky itself—how well does it serve as a soft reboot of the franchise? Does the humor work? Does it successfully juggle its tones? Can puppets carry a movie on their own? And does something like this even need to try to be scary? Watch the history segment in full: https://youtu.be/S68gBGXBAoM  Next week (May 15, 2026): Sweet Home Alabama (2002)!   Time stamps: 00:05:50 — History segment: Don Mancini and Child's Play origins; American horror struggles in the early '90s; Scream leads to a genre renaissance, and Chucky is revived; Mancini intentionally pivots the series into a humorous and queer-friendly direction; the career of Jennifer Tilly; Tilly's horror legacy 00:41:08 — Movie discussion 01:28:50 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Bride of Chucky (1998) was directed by Ronny Yu and written by Don Mancini. Starring Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile, Gordon Michael Woolvett, Alexis Arquette, and John Ritter as Uncle Warren.    Sources: "Reign of Chucky" by Dustin McNeill & Travis Mullins (2022) - https://amzn.to/3OPtXFE "Your Friend 'Til the End: An Oral History of Child's Play" by Jake Rossen | Mental Floss (2019) - https://bit.ly/42SyAlq  "Chucky Returns to Terrorize TV. His Creator Couldn't Be Happier." by Erik Pipenburg | The New York Times (2021) - https://bit.ly/4d623Nx  "210 Minutes With Jennifer Tilly" by Jada Yuan | New York Magazine (2012) - https://bit.ly/3Ph0Wml  "Ay, Caramba! Jennifer Tilly Scores 'The Simpsons' Earnings From Late Ex's Estate" | Radar Online (2018) - https://bit.ly/4uo0YaU    "'It's Not All Diamonds and Roses': Jennifer Tilly Takes on the Beverly Hills Housewives" by Emily Sandstrom | Interview Magazine (2024) - https://bit.ly/4uvMdmo      Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/bride-of-chucky-1998/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast: Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    1h 37m
  3. 192. The Devil Wears Prada

    MAY 1

    192. The Devil Wears Prada

    Gird your loins, folks! We've accepted the low-paying position of assistant to Miranda Priestly, the legendary editor-in-chief at Runway Magazine, the fashion crown jewel of the Elias Clarke publishing empire. A million other people would kill to have this job, but it's sure to open up big doors for us in the future. Ms. Priestly's a little demanding, and doesn't like us to ask questions, and doesn't like when we don't understand things, and calls us fat, but all things require a learning curve. On an unrelated note: The podcast is covering The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the millennial classic about a hard-working striver who doesn't think she can please her boss, before wouldn't you know it, she pleases her damn boss? It might end up being the role Meryl Streep will be best remembered for, and she's truly electric in this movie. But Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are also incredible! And Anne Hathaway's doing her thing. Now, about that: During the history segment, we really try to unpack why people don't like Anne Hathaway. Including one of the people who hosts this podcast. Also in the history segment: The life and times of Vogue editor Anna Wintour; Lauren Weisberger working for Wintour and then writing a thinly veiled novel about it; how that novel was adapted into a movie; and how playing Priestly catapulted Meryl Streep into being a box office sensation for the first time in her career. Watch the history segment in full: https://youtu.be/iF8YfSnisqw  Next week (May 8, 2026): Bride of Chucky (1998)!   Time stamps: 00:06:33 — History segment: Anna Wintour; author Lauren Weisberger works as Wintour's assistant for 10 months, writes a novel about it; the novel gets adapated as a movie by director David Frankel; casting Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway; why do people hate Anne Hathaway? 00:51:55 — Movie discussion 02:05:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings   The Devil Wears Prada was directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on Lauren Weisberger's novel. Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, Gisele Bundchen, and Adrian Grenier as "Nate."    Sources: "Anna Wintour's legacy and who might replace her as Vogue editor" by Steven McIntosh | BBC (2025) - https://bit.ly/4vZ8Zof "Anna Wintour Embraces a New Era At Vogue" by David Remnick | The New Yorker (2025) - https://bit.ly/48JrpQb  "What's Wrong With Vogue?" by Cathy Horyn | The New York Times (2008) - https://bit.ly/424AcIw  "The White Issue: Has Anna Wintour's Diversity Push Come Too Late?" by Edmund Lee | The New York Times (2020) - https://bit.ly/4cFPslf  "When personal assistants attack!" by Elizabeth Spiers | Salon (2003) - https://bit.ly/4n0Y1uv  "'Every minute at Vogue felt like an emergency': Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger on igniting a scandal" by Jess Cartner-Morley | The Guardian (2024) - https://bit.ly/4vRpl2f  "'It was a year of being yelled at': How much of The Devil Wears Prada really happened?" by Megan Agnew | The Sydney Morning Herald (2026) - https://bit.ly/4cDk5rG  "The Devil Wears Prada oral history: Cast reunites to dish on making the best-dressed hit" by Joey Nolfi | Entertainment Weekly (2021) - https://bit.ly/3QK5PVi  "'The Devil Wears Prada' Turns 10: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt Tell All" by Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2016) - https://bit.ly/4u3ztDs  "Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self" by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2024) - https://bit.ly/4u5uJgo  "Anne Hathaway Can't Win" by Anne Helen Petersen | BuzzFeed (2015) - https://bzfd.it/4cHqMZC  "A Tale of Two Oscar-Winning Actresses: Why Has Jennifer Lawrence Become a Media Darling by Breaking All the Rules, While Well-Behaved Anne Hathaway Is Getting Flack?" by Julie Miller | Vanity Fair (2013) - https://bit.ly/4tm4aDf "How Annoying Is Anne Hathaway: A Scientific Inquiry" by Billy Kimball | HuffPost (2013) - https://bit.ly/4mZqVLl  "The Cult of Hathahaters: Will It Hurt Anne Hathaway's Oscar Chances?" by Kevin Fallon | The Daily Beast (2013) - https://bit.ly/3OMV302    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/05/the-devil-wears-prada-2006/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow 1-Week Rental, a movie podcast: Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 10m
  4. 191. Showgirls (1995)

    APR 24

    191. Showgirls (1995)

    Content warning: Showgirls depicts sexual violence as a central theme, and this is discussed in the podcast. The podcast tackles Paul Verhoeven's misunderstood masterpiece Showgirls (1995), and celebration the singularity of Elizabeth Berkley's incredible performance as Nomi Malone, the eternal cowboy of America. And then we bring Sex Month to a close by doling out some expert sex advice. Next week (May 1, 2026): The Devil Wears Prada (2006)! Watch Matt's video essay about Paul Verhoeven: https://youtu.be/pzK6CiMUMxM    Time stamps: 00:10:17 — History segment: The career of Paul Verhoeven; Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas's collaboration leads to Showgirls; the career of Elizabeth Berkley; the legacy of Showgirls; a brief history of the NC-17 rating 01:02:10 — Movie discussion 02:30:25 — Sex advice questions 02:45:20 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Showgirls was directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. Starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Gina Ravera, Glenn Plummer, and Robert Davi as Al.    Sources: "'Showgirls': Paul Verhoeven on the Greatest Stripper Movie Ever Made" by Jennifer Wood | Rolling Stone (2015) - https://bit.ly/41O38Va "How 'Showgirls' Became a Queer-Movie Classic" by Jeffrey McHale | The Daily Beast (2020) - https://bit.ly/42rP2ZD Review of Showgirls by Roger Ebert | The Chicago Sun-Times (1995) - https://bit.ly/3QgXbxx "Interviews | Vulgar Moralism: Paul Verhoeven's Black Book" by Robert Koehler | Cinema Scope (2006) - https://bit.ly/4w0cScO "The Naked Truth About 'Showgirls' by Kenneth Turan | The Los Angeles Times (1995) - https://lat.ms/4mKi3Jz  "Interview with Elizabeth Berkley" by Danielle Cantor | Jewish Women International (2011) - https://bit.ly/4vMHA91 "Farmington Hills' Elizabeth Berkley so excited for 'Saved by the Bell' reboot" by Kurt Anthony Krug | The Detroit News (2020) - https://bit.ly/4tFp4xV "The Staggering Transformation Of Elizabeth Berkley" by Cassie Daigle | Nicki Swift (2024) - https://bit.ly/4vNdkL5    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/showgirls-1995/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0  "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow the show!  Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 53m
  5. 190. Hellraiser (1987)

    APR 17

    190. Hellraiser (1987)

    Matt and Laci dive deep into Hellraiser (1987). Matt, a long-time fan of the movie, and Laci, a first-time viewer, discuss the film's production history and the life and philosophy of its creator, Clive Barker. They explore Barker's background, including his early work in theater, his time as a male escort, and his unique perspective on integrating explicit sexuality and body horror into his work.  Two prior adaptations of his work led Barker to want to take tight control of a third adaptation, which meant he would need to direct it himself. And what an incredible feat the film is for a first-time filmmaker. 1WR tells that story, including how Barker recruited his longtime friend Doug Bradley to play the iconic role of Pinhead.  Then, a long breakdown of the movie itself. How does it play for a first-time viewer? How well do its practical effects hold up? Do its themes make sense? Has any movie character ever hated their spouse as much as Julia hates Larry? And is Hellraiser as scary as we assumed it would be when we saw the VHS box in the video store as children? Is anything? Finally, Pinhead himself joins us to give some sex advice. Next week (April 24, 2026): SEX MONTH concludes with Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls (1995)!   Time stamps: 00:10:00 — History segment: The life and times of Clive Barker; production of Hellraiser; Doug Bradley; the Hellraiser franchise and its legacy 00:49:15 — Movie discussion 02:03:23 — Sex advice questions 02:11:13 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Hellraiser was written and directed by Clive Barker. Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Oliver Smith, Sean Chapman, and Doug Bradley as the "Lead Cenobite" (Pinhead).    Sources: The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy by Paul Kane (2015) - https://amzn.to/480DZdp "How we made Hellraiser" by Phil Hoad | The Guardian (2017) - https://bit.ly/3Q3g86L  "Queer Sexuality in Clive Barker's 'Hellraiser' (1987)" by Bash Ortega | Horror Press (2024) - https://bit.ly/3QEyIlE "Eroticising The World" | Cut, Vol 2, No 10 (1987) - (republished on Clive Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y  "All The Gory Details" by M. Kent Black (1989) - (republished on Clive Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y  "'Hellraiser' Author Clive Barker on Almost Dying, Hustling, and Killing Pinhead" by Sean T. Collins | Grantland (2015) - https://bit.ly/4eug2Po  Clive Barker on Loveline (1996) - (republished on Barker's website) https://bit.ly/4vmDN1Y    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/hellraiser-1987/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "24 Hours Is Like Three Weeks!" - https://youtu.be/xhmAga_DGv0  "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow the show!  Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 16m
  6. 189. Can't Hardly Wait

    APR 10

    189. Can't Hardly Wait

    In the late '90s, there was a revival of the teen comedy, and Can't Hardly Wait stands as one of the classics of the era. The premise couldn't be simpler: It's one night at a party, the night of graduation. We follow a handful of crazy kids and see what kind of sexy trouble they get into. And it's a lot of fun! Surprisingly, this movie is rated PG-13 and is way less raunchy than we remember, so maybe not an ideal fit for Sex Month. So we try to lewd it up in our discussion for you.  Next week (April 17, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '80s horror-sex classic Hellraiser (1987)!   Time stamps: 00:07:30 — History segment: A brief history of the "teen movie"; the writing, casting, production, and legacy of Can't Hardly Wait  00:39:50 — Movie discussion 01:45:41 — Sex advice questions 01:50:43 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Can't Hardly Wait was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. Starring Lauren Ambrose, Seth Green, Ethan Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Charlie Korsmo, and Peter Facinelli as Mike Dexter. Sources: "The Beer Has Not Gone Bad: How 'Can't Hardly Wait' Became a Teen Cult Classic" by Andrew Gruttadaro | The Ringer (2018) - https://bit.ly/41XZtnv  "Whatever: a history of teen movies" by Killian Fox | The Guardian (2009) - https://bit.ly/4t9kDv1    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/cant-hardly-wait-1998/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow the show!  Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    1h 56m
  7. 188. Fifty Shades Of Grey

    APR 3

    188. Fifty Shades Of Grey

    Laci and Matt fall into the world of Christian Grey, a mysterious and mercurial billionaire (age: 27) who enjoys flying his helicopter and tickling womens' tummies.  First, the show explores author E.L. James and how her Twilight fan fiction evolved into the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades trilogy. Then, a cultural industry grows like a weed, trying to figure out what exactly it says about our society that we love these books, ya know?  The 2010s is also when fandom completely seizes control of the production of its favorite intellectual properties. Author E.L. James was not happy with how far the first Fifty Shades film deviated from her book, and she kept a much tighter leash on the subsequent entries. But what exactly was she unhappy with? Is Fifty Shades of Grey conservative or progressive, sex-positive or prudish, feminist or retrograde, pro-BDSM or anti-BDSM? The answer, of course, is yes.  I'll bet you five you're not alive if this movie about transactional law doesn't turn you on. Plus, we answer a sex advice question!  Next week (April 10, 2026): SEX MONTH continues with the '90s sex comedy classic Can't Hardly Wait (1998)!   Time stamps: 00:05:06 — History segment: Author E.L. James writes a Twilight fan fiction that then gets turned into Fifty Shades of Grey; the novel becomes a blockbuster, leading to huge movies and a huge cultural industry; the production of the movie is difficult; Dakota Johnson still confuses us; the #notmychristian backlash to Jamie Dornan's casting; director Sam Taylor-Johnson later expresses regret that she did the movie, claims E.L. James doesn't like her 00:43:05 — Movie discussion 01:55:19 — Sex advice question of the week: "Help! My girlfriend wants to pee on me!"  01:59:15 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Sources: "Unexpected Lessons From 'Fifty Shades of Grey'" by A.O. Scott | The New York Times (2015) - https://bit.ly/4lYHR46  "'Fifty Shades' Sequel: Author E.L. James Demands Control Over Script" by Justin Kroll & Ramin Setoodeh | Variety (2015) - https://bit.ly/4bIqIIz "Mommy porn?: Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James: review" by Laura Barnett | The Telegraph (2012) - https://bit.ly/3PJsaSq  "Sir Salman Rushdie: 'Fifty Shades of Grey makes Twilight look like War and Peace'" by Chris Irvine Chrisirvine | The Telegraph (2012) - https://bit.ly/3QaVlxP  "Sam Taylor-Johnson reveals Fifty Shades regret: 'EL James didn't like me'" by Alice Vincent | The Telegraph (2017) - https://bit.ly/4bZPC5s  "'Fifty Shades' Casting: Shailene Woodley and Other Surprise Names That Passed" by Tatiana Siegel & Borys Kit | The Hollywood Reporter (2013) -  https://bit.ly/3O9Ag6s "50 Shades film: Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson cast" by Ben Child | The Guardian (2013) - https://bit.ly/3PHuolp  "Jamie Dornan fled to rural hideaway after 'ridicule' over Fifty Shades of Grey" by Vanessa Thorpe | The Guardian (2024) - https://bit.ly/4tlqFbD  "Fifty Shades Of Green: How Fanfiction Went From Dirty Little Secret To Money Machine" by Hayley C. Cuccinello | Forbes (2017) - https://bit.ly/4cgEDpo  "Christian Grey Began His Fictional Career As A Vampire" by Neda Ulaby | NPR (2015) - https://n.pr/41actGq  "Is Fifty Shades Of Grey Twilight Fan-Fiction? Origins & Inspiration Explained" by Adrienne Tyler | Screen Rant (2024) - https://bit.ly/4s7gZR1  "Fifty Shades of Grey: what BDSM enthusiasts think" by Anna Smith | The Guardian (2015) - https://bit.ly/4cgEL8m    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/04/fifty-shades-of-grey-2015/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow the show!  Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 3m
  8. 187. Sideways

    MAR 27

    187. Sideways

    Laci and Matt take a trip to Santa Barbara County, California, for a glass (or 12!) of wine with their favorite pinot-slurping pals: Miles (Paul Giamatti), Jack (Thomas Haden Church), Maya (Virginia Madsen), Stephanie (Sandra Oh), and a friendly flock of ostriches. That's right, people, we spent the week with Sideways (2004), Alexander Payne's hilarious look at two codependent losers who have one of cinema's all-time great friendships.  Next week (April 3, 2026): 1-Week Rental's official SEX MONTH begins with a podcast about Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)!   Time stamps: 00:08:45 — History segment: Author Rex Pickett (the real-life Miles) writes a book; it gets adapted by Alexander Payne; the wine industry will never be the same; the little-known Sideways Extended Universe 00:44:00 — Movie discussion 02:06:00 — Final thoughts & star ratings   Sources: "Taste of Success" by Oliver Burkeman | The Guardian (2004) - https://bit.ly/4lNhSfY  "A drink with… Rex Pickett" by Jonathan Cristaldi | Decanter (2024) - https://bit.ly/4rUAegu "The Hitching Post Toasts 20 Years of the Surprise Hit SIDEWAYS" by Bonnie Graves | Golden State (2024) - https://bit.ly/3NVTv3j  "'The Sideways Effect': How A Wine-Obsessed Film Reshaped The Industry" by Kristen Hartke | NPR (2017) - https://n.pr/4uPQbr7 "The Full Giamatti" by Scott Raab | Esquire (2007) - https://bit.ly/4t61ZDR  "They're still toasting 'Sideways' in Santa Barbara wine country" by Hugo Martin | The Los Angeles Times (2009) - https://lat.ms/4bHpxb6 "After 20 years, 'Sideways' has aged like a fine . . . well, you know" by Rob Thomas | Not That Rob Thomas (2024) - https://bit.ly/4t8niVo    Transcript: https://1weekrentalpod.com/2026/03/sideways-2004/#transcript  Artwork by Laci Roth.   Check out Laci's coloring videos on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kKLhWb2g0bKA-RrvvLh0Q/  Matt has a monthly spin-off podcast covering the James Bond films! Check out PodJob: A James Bond Podcast on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/4jRL2K1), Spotify (https://bit.ly/4a8jM6E), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@podjob007).   Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).   Songs by Rural Route Nine in this episode: "Winston-Salem" - https://youtu.be/-acMutUf8IM "Snake Drama" - https://youtu.be/xrzz8_2Mqkg "The Bible Towers of Bluebonnet" - https://youtu.be/k7wlxTGGEIQ    Follow the show!  Twitter: @1weekrental | @MattStokes9 | @LRothConcepts Facebook: @1weekrental Instagram: @1weekrental TikTok: @1weekrental | @mattstokes9 Letterboxd: @loadbearinglaci | @mattstokes9 Bluesky: @1weekrental.bsky.social   1-Week Rental used to be Load Bearing Beams.

    2h 9m
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5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Matt and Laci rent a movie from the video store, spend the week obsessing over it, and then tell you all about it. They spend the week watching, re-watching, researching, reading interviews, and reading the source material of the week's movie. Whether it's a blockbuster from the past, an all-time flop, or a cult classic, they unpack the history behind its production and the people who made it, then discuss, review, and make fun of the movie itself. New episodes every Friday. Formerly known as Load Bearing Beams.

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