Not a Bomb

Not A Bomb Podcast
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Not A Bomb Podcast explores the cinematic failures of the box office as well as movies that critics, universally, didn‘t love. Each week, Brad and Troy discuss the history of a disastrous movie release and debate whether the film deserves a second chance. From misunderstood classics like Heaven’s Gate to cheesy flicks like Samurai Cop, you’ll find a wide variety of films that get a little extra attention and a possible second chance at success.

  1. Episode 295 - Clockers

    2D AGO

    Episode 295 - Clockers

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb!—the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. This week, Troy and Brad take on their very first Spike Lee joint with his 1995 crime drama Clockers — a film that blends gritty realism, moral complexity, and Lee’s unmistakable visual style. Set in a Brooklyn housing project, Clockers allows Spike Lee to use his sharp eye for cultural tension, systemic injustice, and the lived realities of urban America, the film becomes more than a crime story — it’s a layered portrait of community, policing, and the cycles that trap people in impossible choices. Is Clockers one of Spike Lee’s most underrated films? And how does it fit into the larger conversation about ’90s crime cinema and Black storytelling on screen? Troy and Brad dig into all of it. Clockers is directed by Spike Lee and stars Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Mikhi Phifer, Isaiah Washington, and Ketih David. Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 34m
  2. Episode 294 - Devil in the Blue Dress

    FEB 6

    Episode 294 - Devil in the Blue Dress

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. And look — Brad and Troy fully acknowledge that two white guys aren’t exactly the cultural authorities here. But they are passionate about movies, and they wanted to take time to celebrate a handful of incredible filmmakers and the films that deserve more love. This week, the guys dive into one of the most underrated neo‑noirs of the ’90s: Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). Directed by the criminally overlooked Carl Franklin, the film follows Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, a WWII veteran navigating postwar Los Angeles who gets pulled into a mystery involving a missing femme fatale, political secrets, and the kind of corruption noir fans live for. With a powerhouse cast, razor‑sharp direction, and a richly atmospheric take on the genre, Devil in a Blue Dress raises a big question: is this one of the greatest noir films ever made? Brad and Troy dig into the performances, the themes, the legacy, and why Carl Franklin deserves far more recognition than he gets. Hard-boiled and sharp-edged, this soul-scarred noir doesn’t ask for the spotlight — it takes it. Press play and step into the night. Devil in a Blue Dress is directed by Carl Franklin and stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle, and Maury Chaykin Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 35m
  3. Episode 293 - On Deadly Ground

    JAN 30

    Episode 293 - On Deadly Ground

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of January, Not A Bomb asks a very important cinematic question: what happens when actors decide that being in front of the camera just isn’t enough and take a shot at directing themselves? This week, Brad and Troy dive into the wild, weird world of one of cinema’s most unique action heroes — Steven Seagal — and his 1994 directorial debut, On Deadly Ground. What happens when you blend Road House bar‑brawling energy, sprinkle in a little Dances with Wolves spiritualism, and top it off with the explosive absurdity of Commando? You get Seagal as a Native American eco‑warrior battling a cartoonishly evil oil company that’s tearing up the Alaskan wilderness. And if that’s not enough, Michael Caine shows up with the greasiest hair of his career, there’s a bar scene that might belong in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, and Seagal delivers environmental monologues with the confidence that only Steven Seagal can deliver. Is it poorly written? Without question. Is Seagal a terrible director? Oh, absolutely. But does that stop On Deadly Ground from being a fascinating, ridiculous, and thoroughly entertaining action‑adventure? Not a chance. Strap in — this one’s a blizzard of bad decisions, big explosions, and pure ’90s action madness. On Deadly Ground is directed by Steven Seagal and stars Steven Seagal, Michael Cine, Joan, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, Shari Shattuck, Billy Bob Thornton, Richard Hamilton, Sven-Ole Thorsen, and Mike Starr. Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 26m
  4. Breaking Brad - Experiment 13: Fateful Findings

    JAN 27

    Breaking Brad - Experiment 13: Fateful Findings

    It’s a magical day…..for Season 2 of Not A Bomb Presents: Breaking Brad. The premise is simple. Troy, Sammy from GGTMC, and Jose from Watch/Skip+ pick some of the worst films imaginable to see if they can break Brad. To kick off the new season, the guys dive headfirst into their very first Neil Breen experience — Fateful Findings, a movie that boldly asks, “What if one man did everything… and maybe shouldn’t have?” We tried to write a quick synopsis, but that’s scientifically impossible. This film doesn’t have a plot so much as it has… events. Many events. All happening. All at once. In ways no human mind can fully process. Will writer/producer/director/star/caterer/sound editor/makeup artist/set decorator Neil Breen finally be the one to break Brad? Or will Brad ascend to a higher plane of Breen‑lightenment? Only one way to know — Listen and join us on this mystical, laptop‑throwing journey. Be sure to subscribe to the Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnite Cinema to hear more of Sammy. Also, check out Jose’s podcast - Watch/Skip+ • A podcast on Anchor. Both are highly recommended. If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast. Cast: Brad, Troy, Jose, Sammy

    1h 37m
  5. Episode 292 - The Two Jakes

    JAN 23

    Episode 292 - The Two Jakes

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of January, Not A Bomb asks a very important cinematic question: what happens when actors decide that being in front of the camera just isn’t enough and take a shot at directing themselves? In the latest episode of Not A Bomb, Troy and Brad crack open one of Hollywood’s strangest sequels — The Two Jakes. Arriving sixteen years after Chinatown, this long‑delayed follow‑up limped into theaters weighed down by production troubles, an unfinished script, and the impossible shadow of one of the greatest neo‑noirs ever made. Jack Nicholson pulls double duty this time, stepping behind the camera while reprising his role as private eye J.J. “Jake” Gittes. But despite the star power and the legacy attached, the film barely made a dent upon release, leaving audiences and critics wondering whether this sequel ever had a fighting chance. Does The Two Jakes earn its place as a continuation of a classic, or is it proof that some stories are better left alone? Troy and Brad dig into the mystery. The Two Jakes is directed by Jack Nicholson and stars Jack Nicolson, Harvey Keitel, Madeleine Stowe, Eli Wallach, Ruben Blades, Frederic Forrest, David Keith, and Richard Farnsworth Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 31m
  6. Episode 291 - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

    JAN 16

    Episode 291 - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of January, Not A Bomb asks a very important cinematic question: what happens when actors decide that being in front of the camera just isn’t enough and take a shot at directing themselves? In the latest episode of Not A Bomb Podcast, we boldly go where many fans wish the franchise hadn’t with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. William Shatner steps fully into the captain’s chair — pulling double (and triple) duty as director, co-writer, and star — and the results are… complicated. We break down Shatner’s ambitions behind the camera, the notoriously troubled production, studio interference, budget issues, and how a film built around big ideas about faith and God ultimately became one of the most debated — and often maligned — entries in the Star Trek film series. Joining us for this journey beyond the galactic barrier is Sammy from The Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnight Cinema, who helps us ask the forbidden question: is Star Trek V really as bad as its reputation? While the film is frequently labeled one of the worst in the franchise, we dig into its themes, character moments, and oddball sincerity to see if there’s a misunderstood Trek hiding beneath the camp, chaos, and infamous missteps. Strap in, grab your favorite Tribble, and prepare for a spirited reassessment of one of Star Trek’s most controversial adventures. Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 45m
  7. Episode 290 - The Quest

    JAN 9

    Episode 290 - The Quest

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. For the month of January, Not A Bomb asks a very important cinematic question: what happens when actors decide that being in front of the camera just isn’t enough and take a shot at directing themselves? Troy and Brad are “kicking” things off with The Quest, the 1996 martial‑arts adventure film both directed by — and starring — the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean‑Claude Van Damme. Upon release, The Quest didn’t exactly spin‑kick its way into critics’ hearts. Reviews were mixed at best, with many calling it a reheated blend of better tournament movies and a vanity project that proved JCVD might be more comfortable throwing roundhouses than calling “action.” Financially, the film limped across the finish line, earning modest box office returns that fell far short of Van Damme’s earlier hits. In short: not a total disaster, but definitely not the triumphant directorial debut he probably envisioned. One part Bloodsport, one part Street Fighter, one part Enter the Dragon, and all parts dumb, The Quest might be the perfect argument for actors to stay in their lanes. But hey — it does feature plenty of sweaty, oily dudes kicking each other in the face. Is that enough to win Troy and Brad over? Only one way to find out — listen now! The Quest is directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme and stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roger Moore, James Remar, Janet Gunn, Jack McGee, Aki Aleong, and Louis Mandylor. Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    1h 39m
  8. Episode 289 - Eddington

    JAN 2

    Episode 289 - Eddington

    Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption. As Not A Bomb waves goodbye to 2025 and kicks open the saloon doors of 2026, Troy and Brad saddle up for one last cinematic misfire from the year that was. This time, the guys take aim at Eddington, Ari Aster’s divisive neo‑western that split audiences harder than a frontier land dispute. Despite Aster’s reputation as one of modern horror’s most daring auteurs, Eddington rode into theaters under a cloud of confusion and left with its saddle noticeably lighter. Critics were sharply divided — some praised its ambition and genre‑bending weirdness, while others felt the film wandered the desert without a map. Audiences weren’t much kinder, and the box office numbers reflected it, turning Aster’s bold experiment into one of 2025’s most talked‑about financial face‑plants. Is Aster’s genre‑twisting odyssey a misunderstood masterpiece or a dusty dud best left on the prairie trail? Troy and Brad ride into the heart of the chaos to find out. Giddy up and listen now! Eddington is directed by Ari Aster and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Michael Ward, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone. Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs! We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Cast: Brad, Troy

    2 hr
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5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Not A Bomb Podcast explores the cinematic failures of the box office as well as movies that critics, universally, didn‘t love. Each week, Brad and Troy discuss the history of a disastrous movie release and debate whether the film deserves a second chance. From misunderstood classics like Heaven’s Gate to cheesy flicks like Samurai Cop, you’ll find a wide variety of films that get a little extra attention and a possible second chance at success.

Information

  • Creator
    Not A Bomb Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    334
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Not A Bomb Podcast
  • Show Website
    Not a Bomb

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