Welcome to this week's podcast, one in which we celebrate the work of one of this generations finest actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman. You'll get no ghoulish speculation of judgmental nonsense here, just heartfelt appreciation of a master of his craft. If you need cheering up after that, we also have reviews of I Frankenstein, August: Osage County, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, as well as a much needed review of Nic Cage's Knowing. Join us next week as we review the remake of Robocop, as well as ...
Feb 05, 2014•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics Podcast, and it's a shorter one than usual as James had to shut up a lot more than usual due to a sore throat. We're sure many of our listeners will appreciate this improvement. We've only managed to get out and see one new release this week, but [SPOILER ALERT] it's a great one. The Coen Brothers are back with Inside Llewyn Davis, an exploration of the search for fame in the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene. Also reviewed this week is the Aubrey Plaza-sta...
Jan 28, 2014•57 min
This week's podcast is less than half the length and features hundreds fewer F-bombs than our main review this week, Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. Don't worry though, we were all massively doped up on ludes. We also look at the Oscar nominations, discuss the incredible rebirth of Matthew McConaughey, and look ahead to the Glasgow Film Festival. Owen reviews The Last Temptation of Christ, Steve finally watches The Impossible, and James' journey around the world in 80 films sees him i...
Jan 22, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Well, not quite. We are back to feature length this week though, with a packed agenda that includes a full run down on the Golden Globe awards, reaction to the latest BBFC guidance, and casting news in the Marvel and Star Wars universes. The new releases this week include Oscar favourite 12 Years a Slave, as well All is Lost, and The Railway Man. In What We've Been Watching Steve finally catches one of last year's biggest films, Owen finally watches one of Woody Allen's biggest films, and James ...
Jan 16, 2014•1 hr 35 min
Happy New Year to you all, and in an effort to stick to some hastily made resolutions about getting rid of the fat, the first Failed Critics podcast of the year is lean, mean, and looking forward to McQueen (next week's big review is 12 Years a Slave). This week's chat sees the gents discuss the finer elements of the Oscar Foreign Language shortlist, as well as review new releases American Hustle and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. James also gets around to reviewing Anchorman 2, Owen takes us on...
Jan 08, 2014•1 hr 11 min
Get out your tuxedos and dust off your livers as it's that time of year once more...THE FAILED CRITICS END OF YEAR AWARDS SHOW! This year's special bumper 2013 in Review podcast features the usual suspects, as well as the returning Gerry McAuley and still-the-new-guy Matt Lambourne. There's celebration, appreciation, and plenty of inebriation as we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2013. Thanks for putting up with us over the last twelve months, and we'll be back in the new year with re...
Dec 30, 2013•2 hr 19 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics podcast, please excuse us if our heads were a little bigger, and our chests puffed out a little more after finding out that our download figures have gone through the roof (well, the roof of a kennel perhaps). We'd like to welcome all of our new listeners, and hope you'll stick around. This week sees us review the latest installment of Peter Jackson's latest sojourn to Middle Earth, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. James gets emotional (obviously) watchi...
Dec 17, 2013•1 hr 20 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics Podcast - it can;t be as bad as the last one! In this week's episode the team are reviewing one of the most exciting films to come from the Disney animation studio in years (Frozen), Spike Lee's return to some kind of form (the remake of Oldboy), and the archetypal Jason Statham film (Homefront). This week also sees the return of Triple Bill, in which after a run of pretty mediocre remakes we count down our favourite remakes that are definitely worth a watch...
Dec 12, 2013•1 hr 24 min
It had to happen sometime, and it's taken 91 episodes, but this is possibly the most shambolic podcast ever committed to the Internet. And for us, that's saying something. Owen manages to confuse two very different TV programmes, Steve doesn't watch the one film he was meant to, and while trying to make a very important point James manages to forget the name of a film, the actress in it, and what she said. It's not a complete bust of an episode though, and there are reviews of the Carrie remake,...
Dec 06, 2013•1 hr 23 min
Welcome to our 90th (NINETIETH!) podcast, and this one is rammed full of new release reviews, disagreements, and top, top film bantz* *contains no actual bantz James was the lone surviving pod critic from the first Hunger Games film, and this week returns to the arena to tackle The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as well as reviewing Saving Mr Banks, a new Disney film about the making of Mary Poppins. We've also go a review the new Ben Stiller film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and we discuss t...
Nov 27, 2013•1 hr 27 min
Two podcasts in one week! You lucky, lucky people. This 'week's' installment is heavy on the new releases, with the team running the rule over The Counsellor, The Butler, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut, Don Jon. We also dust off Triple Bill, presenting our favourite unnamed central characters; as well as discuss the new Marvel/Netflix projects, the Monty Python reunion, and a sacrilegious plan to produce a sequel to It's a Wonderful Life. Join us next week for our review of The Hun...
Nov 21, 2013•1 hr 30 min
Welcome to another long-awaited Failed Critics Podcast, and hopefully absence has made your hearts grow fonder. This week sees a number of firsts, including Owen's first stint as the quiz host, James' first week without a new film to review for What We've Been Watching, and the first time we've had to edit the podcast to remove spoilers rather (unlike most weeks where we edit out the standard Owen disconnection). Oh, and we also review one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Join us next...
Nov 18, 2013•1 hr 12 min
After a long break during which some of us watched a lot more films than others, we're back with a belated Halloween special, as well as reviews of Philomena, Bad Grandpa, and Thor: The Dark World (with the inevitable return of Spoiler Alert). Joining us this week for his pod debut is Matt Lambourne, providing us with a fresh perspective and an encyclopedic knowledge of the Jackass films. Don;t worry though, we're not forgetting our pretentious cinematistas, as Owen and James discuss the 1922 Da...
Nov 11, 2013•1 hr 43 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics Podcast, and after the austerity of recent weeks we're back to our usual obscene length. As well as reviewing new releases Captain Phillips, Escape Plan, and Le Week-End, we also hear from our roving correspondent Carole Petts who is reporting back from London Film Festival, and Steve watches The Phantom Menace for the first time as a 'critic'. That'll go well. We're taking a week off next week (boo!), but we'll be back at the start of November with reviews ...
Oct 25, 2013•1 hr 44 min
Welcome to what's starting to feel like another daily edition of the Failed Critics Podcast. It's our third outing in a week, and in this episode we are reviewing The Fifth Estate, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, as well as How I Live Now and The Great Hip-Hop Hoax. It's another short one this week due to James' international jetsetter lifestyle, but there's still room to discuss the batshit crazy Crank 2, the impressive Ip Man, and for Owen and Steve to fall o...
Oct 15, 2013•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to a mini-edition of the Failed Critics Podcast, and in this special episode we pay tribute to the latest inductee into our Corridor of Praise, the Japanese masters of animation Studio Ghibli. James, Owen, and Gerry discuss their favourite Ghibli films, as well as discussing the history of the studio, and it's impact on opening new eyes to world cinema, as well as exploring its influence over Disney and Pixar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 13, 2013•48 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics Podcast, and due to continuing technical problems and the fact that at least one of us has a social life, this is the shortest one yet. We review the outrageous new Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, the outrageously boring Runner Runner, and outrageously only spend a few moments on Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine. James also talks about his love of the 'body-swap comedy' genre. Owen and Steve try to argue that no such genre exists. Don;t get used to this breakneck p...
Oct 10, 2013•40 min
We would like to offer our deepest apologies for the fact that this podcast is coming to you a week late. The Failed Critics hamster gave up the ghost, and we had a bit of a technical Armageddon. Still, but late than never... This week's installment of the pod sees Owen reasonably impressed by Prisoners, Steve surprisingly impressed by The Call, and James utterly, utterly depressed by Diana. We also discuss the films and television we're most looking forward to this autumn, and things escalate r...
Oct 02, 2013•1 hr 26 min
Start your engines for this week's Failed Critics Podcast, as we review the first of the serious award-bait movies this autumn in the shape of Ron Howard's Rush, the true-life story of the F1 rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Owen also reviews Insidious 2, while James and Steve take time out of killing hookers and punching pedestrians in the face to review a new computer game. And then they might play Grand Theft Auto 5. Boom, boom! In honour of Rockstar's latest opus, we also talk to J...
Sep 19, 2013•1 hr 41 min
The Failed Critics Podcast is here, with another helping of shambolic film discussion that will make you wish you could go back in time to the moment you downloaded it and punch yourself square in the throat. This week's episode sees us review Richard Curtis' time-travel rom-com About Time, as well as choosing our favourite time travelers in Triple Bill. We also review the latest Vin Diesel vanity project, Riddick, and catch up on great films you have have missed like Robot and Frank, and Whispe...
Sep 12, 2013•1 hr 20 min
Welcome to this weeks Failed Critics Podcast, with all new improved sound quality. And not just because Gerry's northern brogue is sadly absent. Ploughing on with our new format, in this week's helping of cinematic goodness we review new releases Pain & Gain, You're Next, and James reports from the UK Premiere of Jadoo. Also this week, Owen dismisses Conan the Barbarian, Steve is reasonably impresses with Breaking Bad, and James reviews his first ever Bollywood film. Next week should see the...
Sep 04, 2013•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to this week’s slightly less shambolic Failed Critics podcast. We’ve tinkered with the format, and are hopefully this close to solving our audio problems. For the time being though, sit back, relax, and let us talk you through the week in cinema. We’ve got reviews of new releases Elysium, The Heat, and The Way, Way Back; plus Beware of Mr Baker, Wadjda, and the Coen Brother’s True Grit in What We’ve Been Watching. We’ve also got recommendations for the next week on television, Lovefilm, ...
Aug 29, 2013•1 hr 5 min
A group of amateurs who know nothing the harsh realities of film criticism band together to review a film about a group of amateurs who know nothing about the harsh realities of crime fighting and and band together. Nobody does meta like the Failed Critics, here with our review of Kick-Ass 2. And while the Gerry's away, the others will play, and we have our largest 'What We've Been Watching' section for a long time. James reviews new releases We're the Millers, and Blackfish, Owen discusses his ...
Aug 22, 2013•1 hr 4 min
"I am Siege Face" Ruddy hell, it's only the Failed Critics back with another slice of digital broadcasting gold. This week we review the new Alan Partridge film, Alpha Papa, as well as other new releases in the shape of Only God Forgives, 2 Guns, and The Conjuring. We also discuss Renny Harlin's attempts to film Wikipedia's most disturbing entry , James' fancy dress habits, and another podcaster joins the growing swell of praise for Side Effects. Join us next week for our review of Kick-Ass 2. H...
Aug 13, 2013•1 hr 10 min
Bonjour, hola, guten tag, and konnichiwa to the Failed Critics World Cinema Special. This week the critics (well, most of them) take you through some of their favourite elements of film filmed in something other than English, as well as exploring some new avenues themselves. In What We've Been Watching they review films from a country they haven't experienced cinematically before, with choices from Israel, Brazil, and Quebec, while this week's Triple Bill is 'Favourite World Cinema Actors/Actres...
Aug 06, 2013•1 hr 27 min
This week's main review is The World's End, the final installment of the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy from Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. Also this week we discuss the events of Comic-Con, including the announcement of Superman vs Batman, and Loki building a formidable geek army . We also review Apollo 13, Sssssss (yes, really), and new Netflix Original show Orange Is the New Black. Join us next week when we induct Studio Ghibli into the Corridor of Praise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Jul 25, 2013•1 hr 9 min
It's a first for the podcast this week and we have a double main review. First we discuss Pixar's latest sequel/first prequel Monsters University, and try to figure out if Pixar are getting lazy, or if everyone else has simply upped their game. After that we talk gigantic bad-ass robots and aliens in our review of Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim. Also this week, we discuss Sam Mendes' return to the Bond franchise (Yay!) and Johnny Depp's return to the Alice in Wonderland franchise (why?!), Jame...
Jul 20, 2013•1 hr 29 min
After the success of last year's TV Special, we decided to recommission a second series. And not just because none of us wanted to watch The Internship. Oh no. So we review TV programmes we've been watching recently, including The Newsroom, Arrested Development Season 4, Sherlock, and Jericho, and in Triple Bill we pitch our movie remake ideas for shows from our youth. We also review Ben Wheatley's A Field In England, the civil war psychedelic horror film that debuted in cinemas, on DVD, and on ...
Jul 13, 2013•1 hr 41 min
The podcast where Steve quite literally phones it in (due to technical issues, not a lack of enthusiasm). In this week's episode we discuss the worst jobs from the movies, in 'tribute' to The Internship; the two hour Google advert that none of us can bring ourselves to go and see. We also review new releases Hummingbird, and Despicable Me 2 which leads to a lengthy discussion on the current state of Hollywood animation. Join us next week for the return on our TV Special. Hosted on Acast. See aca...
Jul 05, 2013•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to this week's Failed Critics Podcast, featuring some lifeless, shuffling, mindless abominations...TALKING ABOUT ZOMBIES! Pretty sure we've used that joke before as well. Sorry. As well as reviewing World War Z (starring Brad Pitt), we also discuss new releases in the shape of This Is The End and Now You See Me, and pay tribute to James Gandolfini and Ray Matheson who sadly passed away in the last seven days. Join us next week for a Triple Bill of the Worst Movie Jobs (in 'honour' of The...
Jun 26, 2013•1 hr 27 min
