Friday Nights at Blockbuster - podcast cover

Friday Nights at Blockbuster

Ciaran Vallelyanchor.fm
Blockbuster had a huge influence on my sister and I growing up. Heading down on a Friday night to grab a movie or two to get us through the weekend became a weekly ritual. We saw a lot of great things, but the occasional dud would slip in here and there. But, not with a few years behind us, and many many more movies watched, we are going back for another look at the movies that helped shape the 2000s. All episodes released on Wednesdays.
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Episodes

December 7th, 2012 - The Dark Knight Rises

Closing out the Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. I was initially ready to come in a defend this flawed entry... but alas time has not been kind to this movie, and nor was I. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jul 24, 20241 hr 13 min

December 12th, 2008 - The Dark Knight

Part two of our Batman rewatch. It's really all about Heath Ledger in this one. He brings what would have been a pretty damn good movie up to another level. Host: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Jul 17, 20241 hr 7 min

October 21st, 2005 - Batman Begins

We're finally tackling the biggest franchise of the decade (outside of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Avatar if that counts, the beginnings of the MCU, what was The Fast and Furious like at the time?, one of my favourites has always been Mission Impossible). Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jul 11, 20241 hr 5 min

March 12th, 2004 - Mona Lisa Smile

One of Kate's favourite movies goes under the microscope this week. Do I take it easy on it and her... no. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jul 03, 20241 hr 5 min

December 7th, 2001 - Pearl Harbor

Kate and I answer an age old question this week... Ben Affleck or Josh Hartnett? Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Jun 19, 20241 hr 2 min

March 13th, 2009 - Milk

Biopics are a tricky business. Either they cram too much in, or they leave too much out. It can be hard to find a balance. Gus Van Sant's Milk threads that needle pretty well! Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jun 12, 20241 hr 4 min

June 27th, 2003 - Punch-Drunk Love

I try once again to convince Kate a movie that does not seem like on the surface is actually a rom-com. Perhaps a little successfully this time. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jun 05, 202458 min

February 15th, 2002 - Thief/Heat

All about Michael Mann heist movies this week. One is the blueprint and the other is the masterpiece. The action is the juice! Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

May 29, 20241 hr 13 min

June 27th, 2008 - In Bruges

Looking back to the movie where Colin Farrell became one of our absolute favourite actors. Dark Comedy isn't for everyone, but no one does it better than McDonagh! Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

May 22, 20241 hr 10 min

January 29th, 2010 - Whip It

Tackling one of Kate's Top 5 Directorial Debuts this week. An under seen and under appreciated sports movie/coming-of age-drama. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

May 15, 20241 hr

October 1st, 2004 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

What makes a RomCom? Perhaps my definition is too lenient, but if a movie makes me laugh and is romantic I think it completes the checklist. There are others with a more puritanical view on the issue... Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

May 01, 202459 min

March 21st, 2008 - Atonement

Darth Vader... Hannibal Lecter... Cruella Deville... These are the great movie villains of all time, and they can all step aside for the new Queen of cruel, Briony Tallis! Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Apr 24, 20241 hr 11 min

March 19th, 2002 - Training Day

Before we even talk about the movie I get absolutely humbled by some of the hardest movie trivia I've ever been asked (seriously if anyone gets one question correct please reach out). As for the movie, it's all about Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, two of our favourite actors, with two of their better performances. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Apr 17, 20241 hr 7 min

December 7th, 2004 - The Bourne Supremacy

Jason Bourne is back, still being chased by the CIA, and still trying to figure out who he is and where he comes from, but this time in a different European city! Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Apr 10, 202458 min

March 27th, 2007 - Children of Men

A look at a bleak future (and present) this week, with Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi dystopian masterpiece. Given that one of us is a parent and the other isn't, Kate and I have different feelings about living in a world without children... Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Apr 03, 20241 hr 8 min

May 4th, 2004 - The Last Samurai

Very influenced by my enjoyment of Shogun, we are looking at another Japanese set tale of Westerns coming in and thinking they know what's best. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Mar 27, 20241 hr 8 min

February 13, 2007 - Marie Antoinette

Back for another Sofia Coppola movie, this one much larger, louder, and in your face! The often satirical and irreverant look at one of history's biggest icons was a bold approach at the time, and we talk about where Coppola's movie went right in contrast to Ridley Scott's latest effort Napoleon. Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Mar 20, 202457 min

The Oscar's are Good Again!

Reaction to the 96th Academy Awards, and we were both really happy. Good winners. Good host. And finally, for the first time ever, a good musical performance! Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Mar 13, 202455 min

January 28th, 2020 - Parasite

The final episode of our Best Picture Winners miniseries. Looking back at the first non-English language winner of the award, and what a movie it is! Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Mar 07, 20241 hr 12 min

January 10th, 2010 - The Hurt Locker

Part two of our Best Picture miniseries. This week going back to see if Kathryn Bigelow's Irag war movie holds up, and if we would have liked to be apart of the bomb disposal unit in the army. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Feb 29, 20241 hr 8 min

September 27th, 2002 - Unforgiven

Starting our Best Picture Winners series with one from the 1990's. I grew up with Western movies, and somehow Kate missed out. But all the John Wayne movies in the world wouldn't really prepare me for Clint Eastwood's dark, punishing revisionist take on the wild west in Unforgiven. Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Feb 22, 20241 hr 7 min

February 11th, 2005 - The Notebook

Let the debate commence, is The Notebook a sad movie or not? One of us says yes, the other no. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Feb 14, 20241 hr 3 min

February 12th, 2008 - Gone Baby Gone

This week's movie possess one of the hardest questions Kate and I have ever had to answer on the podcast, what Affleck brother reigns supreme? Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Feb 01, 20241 hr 8 min

April 15th, 2005 - Ocean's 12

A little bit of Oscar hot takes (I swear we recorded this before the nominations were released). And then we jet set around Europe for this fun caper. Hosts: Kate Vallely, Ciaran Vallely

Jan 24, 20241 hr 8 min

July 6th, 2001 - Snatch

At one point, for however brief, this was both Kate's and my favourite movie. We may have moved on in the years since, but a few things remain the same; We don't want dogs dribbling on our seats, Heavy is good, heavy is reliable, and the only thing we have to declare is Don't go to England. Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Jan 18, 20241 hr 2 min

February 22nd, 2008 - Michael Clayton

This week we look back at the long and illustrious career of Tom Wilkinson by watching perhaps his best performance. Hosts: Ciaran Vallely, Kate Vallely

Jan 10, 202457 min
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