This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt celebrate 500 episodes with a couple special guests: original co-host Chris Espo and theme composer Jamal Ford-Bey. First up is a revisit to the much maligned ‘Sucker Punch’. A film they both were not fans of back during its initial review back on episode 59 , has time been any kinder to it? Then it’s on to a particularly unique piece of cinema, ‘Velocipastor’. Can the movie possibly be as good and as fun as the title would suggest? Or does it try too h...
May 01, 2020•1 hr 16 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt reach the penultimate episode to show 500 with a discussion of ‘The Way Back’. Ben Affleck plays a man struggling after experiencing life-shattering moments, working his way back (if you will) by coming back to coach the high school basketball team he used to be the star on. Sports films are a great vehicle to discuss other, heavier, subjects. Then it’s on to ‘Villains’, where you find out what happens when a two bad couples run into each other and bumb...
Apr 24, 2020•51 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Daniel Radcliffe’s latest vehicle, ‘Guns Akimbo’. Danny lives in an alternate world that basically brings the Ready Player One universe to life, but cooler. Oh so much cooler. After that, Matt and Chris caught up with Alejandro Landes’s ‘Monos’. Julianne Nicholson leads this Spanish drama as a prisoner of child soldiers in Columbia, and features a score by one of Chris’ favorite film composer working today, Mica Levi! There’s the dreamy review o...
Apr 17, 2020•47 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the psychological thriller, ‘Shallow’. Hayley Bennett plays a young woman who feels trapped and develops pica, the overwhelming need to swallow unusual non-food items. So how do you turn that into an engrossing thriller? Should you just watch one of those weird My Strange Addiction shows instead? Then it’s on to the horror western, ‘The Wind’. Caitlin Gerard stars as a young woman who moves out West with her husband to start a new life. But ther...
Apr 10, 2020•51 min
This week on The First Run, it’s all French stuff all the time. Not only do Chris and Matt discuss one of Chris’ favorite films of the past decade, but the guys are joined by The Lady Wan herself of the ScreenFix Podcast . First up, it’s ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’ by writer/director Céline Sciamma. A heartbreaking and heartwarming period piece about love, loss, and longing. Will this modern classic love story have the same impact on Matt and Lady Wan that it had on Chris? Then the French kisse...
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr 7 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt finally joined in on ‘The Hunt’. A controversial film pulled from its original release date in 2019, and again in 2020 due to the Coronavirus after only a week in the theaters. Available to rent online now for $20. Was it worth all wait and controversy? There’s the review of the big releases on physical media, and it’s a big week as the Star Wars films hit 4k. Then our second Martial Arts Marathon comes to a close with the Bruce Lee vehicle, ‘The Way Of...
Mar 27, 2020•47 min
This week on The First Run, as the theaters shudder their doors and quarantine sets in, Chris and Matt embrace the streaming world with Richard Stanley’s ‘Color Out Of Space’. Nicholas Cage stars as a man desperately trying to keep his family together, and alive, as an interdimensional wave of color and light arrives to do…something. Then the Martial Arts Marathon rolls on with ‘Crippled Avengers’, the pseudo-sequel to ‘The Five Deadly Venoms’. This time, 5 heroes are maimed in different ways by...
Mar 20, 2020•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt review the latest Pixar film, ‘Onward’. Set in a world of wizards, elves, and dorks, sorry orks. Is Pixar’s return to original properties a hit? Or should we have held out for ‘Wall-E 2: Eva’s Revenge’? Then it’s on to the 3rd film in Round 2 of our Martial Arts Marathon, ‘Come Drink With Me’. Can the film surpass the ridiculousness of its title? Do we even want it to? There’s the spine tingling rundown of the big releases on physical media next week, f...
Mar 13, 2020•53 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt review Leigh Wannell’s update of the classic Universal monster film, ‘The Invisible Man’. After Tom Cruise’s ‘The Mummy’ crashed and burned with no audio effects, can this reduced scope Blumhouse offering show the potential of a Dark Universe franchise? Or is the film better off being invisible? Then our Martial Arts Marathon Part 2: The Quickening continues with ‘The One-Armed Swordsman’. How far would you go to protect your clan AFTER THEY CUT OFF YOU...
Mar 06, 2020•55 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the horror film, ‘The Lodge’. What happens when your Dad’s new girlfriend spends time with her soon-to-be step kids during a harsh winter when there’s something truly terrifying going on? Bad stuff man. Bad stuff. Then it’s an all new Martial Arts Marathon curated by Matt! First up is ‘The Legendary Weapons Of China’. Do we have a banger out of the gate, or has returning to this particular well been a horrible mistake? There’s the regularly exci...
Feb 28, 2020•47 min
This week on The First Run, Matt is on vacation, so Chris does all of the relatively heavy lifting by sharing his thoughts on the big reboots of ‘Fantasy Island’ and ‘The Banana Splits’. First up, Michael Peña is Mr. Rourke as he entertains a plane load of guests looking to indulge their most secret fantasies, or are they…?!? (insert maniacal laughter) Then it’s on to the return of the Banana Splits in ‘The Banana Splits’. This time, the Splits are robots you get a bad software update that drive...
Feb 21, 2020•27 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt return to the DCEU with ‘Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)’. It’s been a mixed bag (at best) for the DC Comics film adaptations, much to Chris’ chagrin. Can Harley, The Huntress, Black Canary, and the gang continue the revitalization of the DC Cinematic Universe? Then it’s the Shudder feature, ‘Bliss’. Writer/Director Joe Begos brings us a unique take on a classic movie monster. Is it a winning move? Or is this version...
Feb 14, 2020•56 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the arthouse horror update of the classic Grimm’s fairy tale, ‘Gretel And Hansel’. Does the streak of gothic horror movie continue? Or is this just A24 light? And is the house made of candy? I can’t imagine that it would be up to code. Then it’s the German import, ‘Luz’. When you call forth a demon while in primary school, it’s best to keep an eye over your shoulder at all times. Does this confounding, minimalist horror film deliver the goods on...
Feb 07, 2020•39 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Guy Ritchie’s return to British crime thrillers with ‘The Gentlemen’. Matthew McConaughey joins Ritchie’s rogues gallery along with Hugh Grant, but there’s no Statham in sight! Is this a return to form for Ritchie? Speaking of directors coming back to their comfort zones, Michael Bay returns with ‘6 Underground’. Bay enlists Planet Earth’s most charming human, Ryan Reynolds AND his gin to tell the story of a billionaire philanthropist whose phil...
Jan 31, 2020•47 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt go for a swim with K-Stew and her crew of motley sea miners as they attempt to survive the onslaught of…something in ‘Underwater’. Do we have our fun January horror release, or is it just another January film dump? Then it’s on to the German horror import, ‘Hagazussa’. Translated into English, it means ‘Witch’. Is it a truly disturbing tale of a persecuted minority in the Middle Ages? Or a derivative knockoff of Robert Eggers’ ‘The Witch’? There’s the a...
Jan 24, 2020•44 min
On this episode of The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by THE Lady Wan and JC of the ScreenFix Podcast . That sounds great right? But wait! It gets better, because James Baker of Pop Cult Net is here as well. It’s our mid-January 2020 2019 Wrap Up blow out! It’s party and everyone’s invited. We’ll be discussing Sam Mendes’ World War 1 film, ‘1917’. Can the drama, action, and technical skill enough to deliver a Best Picture win? Speaking of Best Pictures, we’ll also have a healthy debate abo...
Jan 17, 2020•1 hr 50 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the not-long-awaited sequel to the creepy kid, scary ‘ahhhh’ cackling lady franchise, ‘The Grudge’. It’s been quite a few years since this particular horror import has had a sequel. Was it worth the wait? Then it’s on to ‘Light Of My Life’. Casey Affleck writes and directs himself as a Dad desperately trying to keep his young daughter safe in a world here most of the women were wiped out by a pandemic. Does this The Last Of Us/The Road/Y The Las...
Jan 10, 2020•54 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by JC of The ScreenFix Podcast to discuss the Safdie Brothers’ latest trip to hell, ‘Uncut Gems’. Marvel as Adam Sandler attempts to negotiate the repercussions of the all the worst decisions a human can make. Chris share his thoughts on Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Little Women’. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast with Saorsie Ronan, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, and more! Does Gerwing deliver another winner with her sophomo...
Jan 03, 2020•1 hr 34 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by super special guest Kevin O’Toole of The Culture Dogs for Adam Driver Fest 2019! First up, the guys discuss Adam Driver and the end of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s been a long journey and it finally all ends here. Was it a fitting close for the greatest franchise in cinema? Then it’s on to Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Marriage Story’. Can a film about a couple’s divorce be heartbreaking...
Dec 27, 2019•1 hr 12 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Clint Eastwood’s latest, ‘Richard Jewell’, the story of the hero of the 1996 Olympic bombing, and how his name was tarnished and his life almost destroyed. Chris then shares his thoughts on the reimaging of ‘Black Christmas’ and its urgency for our times. After that, Matt and Chris review ‘The Last Black Man In San Francisco’, a beautiful, almost fairy tale-like telling of a story that is both modern and timeless. There’s the always riveting run...
Dec 20, 2019•51 min
This week on The First Run, it’s a week of family strife. Chris and Matt discuss two dramas about family and domineering fathers. First up on our emotional tour through heartache and longing is Trey Edward Shults’ ‘Waves’. The latest from studio A24 focuses on two children dealing with a domineering father and how their lives diverge dramatically from his influence. Is ‘Waves’ a gripping family drama or overly done melodrama? Then it’s on to Shia LeBeouf’s fictionalized tale of his own youth bei...
Dec 13, 2019•58 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by The Lady Wan of the Screen Fix Pod to discuss Martin Scorsese’s latest, and reportedly final gangster film, ‘The Irishman’. Is it a fitting goodbye to a genre he redefined, or is it just one too many looooong trips back to that particular well. Then it’s on to Rian Johnson’s rollicking who-done-it, ‘Knives Out’. Long-time listeners know of Chris’ affection for Johnson’s films (just mention ‘Brick’ to him, sit back and listen to him drone o...
Dec 06, 2019•1 hr 2 min
This week on The First Run, do Chris and Matt experience a ‘Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood’? After the fantastic Fred Rogers documentary, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’, inspired by the legendary Esquire profile of Fred Rogers, we have a fictionalized adaptation. Tom Hanks plays Mr. Rogers in a movie that doesn’t so much feature Mr. Rogers. Was that the right choice? Then it’s on to another pseudo-biopic with Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore in ‘Dolemite Is My Name’. The creation of an iconic chara...
Nov 28, 2019•44 min
This week on The First Run, it’s a Dad-Movie Fest as Chris and Matt kicks things off with Matt Damon and Christian Bale in ‘Ford v Ferrari’. The story of Carroll Shelby’s and Ken Miles’ partnership with the Ford Motor Company as they attempt to win the Le Mans 24-hour race and defeat Ferrari’s reign, and insults. Featuring a strong ensemble cast and thrilling race scenes, does the film get the checkered flag? (Vroom vroom!). Vince Gilligan then brings us the coda to his classic series, ‘Breaking...
Nov 22, 2019•1 hr 1 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt hold a double feature! First up, writer/director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarök, What We Do In The Shadows, The Hunt For The Wilderpeople) brings us the coming of age/Nazi/authoritarian government satire we didn’t know we wanted with ‘Jojo Rabbit’. Then it’s been 40 years, but Danny Torrance is back in Mike Flanagan’s (Oculus, Haunting Of Hill House) sequel to the classic ‘The Shining’, with ‘Doctor Sleep’. Ewan McGregor plays Danny as he struggles to fi...
Nov 15, 2019•56 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Joon-ho Bong’s ‘Parasite’. Bong’s film is touted as a modern masterpiece. Will the film measure up to all the hype for our two middle-aged unprofessional hack critics? Then, is the ‘Terminator’ franchise reborn with ‘Dark Fate’? Linda Hamilton and Arnold return to continue the story from ‘Judgement Day’, but with a new twist and Mackenzie Davis! The Car Chase Marathon wraps with Walter Hill’s ‘The Driver’, starring Ryan O’Neal, Bruce Dern, &...
Nov 08, 2019•56 min
This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt get stranded at ‘The Lighthouse’. Robert Eggers, director of ‘The Witch’ returns with Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe and their story of madness, horror, mermaids. From there it’s on to episode of 3 of Shudder’s Creepshow revival. The Car Chase Marathon then continues with Sam Peckinpaugh’s ‘The Getaway’, starring Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. So what do you do when you Car Chase Marathon has no car chases? There’s the rundown of the big releases on B...
Nov 01, 2019•57 min
This week on The First Run, Matt and Chris make a return visit to Zombieland with ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’. The whole crew is back to joke around and kill some zombies, all while figuring out what defines family. Our Car Chase Marathon continues with Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut, ‘Duel’. Dennis Weaver plays a man on a business trip that passes the wrong truck driver. The discussion of the new Creepshow on Shudder continues with episode 2, featuring Nazis, werewolves, and weird nightmare ...
Oct 25, 2019•57 min
This week on The First Run, Matt has abandoned the show for a week, so it’s up to Chris to deliver the fun. Chris shares his thoughts on the return of Ang Lee and Will Smith in the sci-fi action film, ‘Gemini Man’. Will Smith plays a retired elite assassin who’s hunted by…himself? Does this throwback film deliver the thrills, special effects, and benefit from its HFR (High Frame Rate) presentation? Then it’s on to the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD. Finally, the show wraps with Chris recommen...
Oct 18, 2019•30 min
