Movies For Life

Underrated Craven: RED EYE

So this episode was supposed to be about underrated films from our favorite horror director, Wes Craven... buuuuut we both ended up not really feeling one of our initial choices, so it's mostly just an episode about one movie! We do still talk a little about that other choice - 2010's MY SOUL TO TAKE - and we both feel it's definitely worth talking about and reevaluating! But the main topic here is a gem in more ways than one, RED EYE from 2005. Hear how the main character of Lisa Reisert played by Rachel McAdams is a seriously underrated heroine (CW/TW for sexual assault and trauma discussion); how Brian can relate even THIS movie to A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET; and overall just how much we appreciate and enjoy this one. Hope you all enjoy and thank you for listening!

Follow us on Twitter:

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @Brianwaves42

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen

Remakes #3: SEVEN SAMURAI and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016)

It's been a while, listeners, but if you were itching for us to get into some more remake discussion on Movies for Life, here we are! Though there was really only one choice for the original film we talk about, there were actually several different possibilities for its "remake" - or at least an interpretation of the original story - so we hope you all dig the pairing we chose! So, up for discussion for our third Remakes episode is an undisputed classic, and really one of the best movies ever made - Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI from 1954; and then to pair with it we have the remake of the remake, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN from 2016, directed by Antoine Fuqua. With such a daunting original film, we take the approach of discussing both films at the same time, looking at those core seven characters in each, and how they match up or differ from each other (while also of course talking about so many other things we love from both films). This one was a lot of fun and we hope you all enjoy! Thank you so much for listening!

Follow the hosts and the show on Twitter: 

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @Brianwaves42

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen

Five MORE Forever Favorites

We started this show with each of us discussing five movies that mean the most to us. We decided to revisit this idea and give five more movies each that have impacted us throughout the years and film lovers and as people. It was a lot of fun to try and guess each others' extended lists now that we've spent nearly two years talking movies. Hope you enjoy the discussion.

Follow the hosts on Twitter:

Brian Keiper @Brianwaves42

Michele Eggen @micheleneggen

Follow the show on Twitter @MovieLifePod

Explosive Drummers: WHIPLASH and THIS IS SPINAL TAP

We apologize if this episode isn't quite your tempo... but it should be! Because we have two awesome movies to talk about today on Movies for Life, all about musicians and somewhat "explosive" drummers. First we worry about whether we're rushing or dragging in talking about the anxiety-inducing stress-fest that is 2014's WHIPLASH! We discuss the brilliant and enigmatic performance of JK Simmons; the pressure and struggle of wanting to be great and still have a happy life; and just the overall exceptional way this story is told. Then we switch gears almost completely and spend the next hour laughing our way through Rob Reiner's classic rock mockumentary, THIS IS SPINAL TAP from 1984! You know the lines and the jokes, and yes, pretty much all of them are repeated here in this episode, but that's the true joy of a movie like this. Brian talks about the reality of many of the situations portrayed in the movie, and we give high praise to the standout performances of Christopher Guest and Michael McKean (even though everyone kills it in this movie!). So enough of our yakking, get to listening to this episode!

Follow the hosts and show on Twitter:

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @brianwaves42

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen

Friends’ Forever Favorites: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (with Rachael Hauschild)

Today we are joined by Rachael Hauschild to discuss one of her favorite movies, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY from 1940 starring James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, and Cary Grant. We cover the waterfront on the film, classic movies, James Stewart/Anthony Mann westerns, John Waters, Michael Shannon, Paul Newman and much more. It's a joyous conversation and you are cordially invited to join in the fun!

Follow our guest and the hosts on Twitter:

Rachael: @MaxFischers

Brian: @Brianwaves42

Michele: @micheleneggen

Ballet Movies: THE RED SHOES and BLACK SWAN

Welcome back, Movies for Life listeners! For the show this week, we have a pretty perfect pairing of movies that were most likely made to go together all about perfection, ambition, jealousy, and passion and all in the backdrop of the world of ballet. First up for discussion is Brian's pick of THE RED SHOES from 1948, directed by Powell and Pressburger. It's one of the greatest and most beautifully stunning movies of all time, with a heartbreaking and tragic story. Then up next, we're talking about a very personal film to Michele for her pick - 2010's BLACK SWAN, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Listen as we talk about the complex yet relatable main character of Nina, as the movie follows her journey of self-discovery, in more ways than one. 

Follow the hosts and the show on Twitter: 

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @brianwaves42

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen

Cheaters: UNFAITHFUL and EYES WIDE SHUT

We did a bad bad thing...

Welcome to another sexy episode of Movies For Life! Today we're diving into the world of sexy movies, erotic thrillers/dramas, marriages, and cheating! And we have two amazing films to talk about so let's get right to it. First up is Michele's pick of UNFAITHFUL from 2002, directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere. And while yes, the sex scenes in this movie are very steamy, it's the incredibly complex and nuanced performances from the two stars and the way their relationship is handled that really makes this a standout film. Then up next in the discussion we have Cruise. Kidman. Kubrick. That's right, it's Stanley Kubrick's last film, his masterpiece from 1999, EYES WIDE SHUT. It's a daunting film that actually ends up being not so daunting as we get into all of the things that this movie addresses, and offer up some pretty cool theories of our own! As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the discussion!

Follow the hosts and the show on Twitter:

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @BrianDKeiper

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen

Friends’ Forever Favorites: CALIFORNIA SPLIT (with Vinny Tucceri)

In this special bonus episode of our Friends' Forever Favorites series, we are joined by Vinny Tucceri of the Cult Movie Stars Podcast to discuss the masterful gambling comedy CALIFORNIA SPLIT (1974). We discuss the dynamic between the two stars, Elliot Gould and George Segal, the many supporting characters (and women named Barbara), Altman's style and legacy, and much more. Join us for this very fun conversation, we bet you'll have a great time.

Follow our guest: @vinnybutbetter

And the hosts:

Brian: @BrianDKeiper

Michele: @micheleneggen

and the show @MovieLifePod

Films About Filmmaking #6: SUNSET BOULEVARD and BARTON FINK

We'll show you the life of the mind! That is, as we get into the minds of the main characters of our movies this week. It's time for Films About Filmmaking again, and this time we're looking at two movies about the trials and tribulations of Hollywood screenwriters. Michele's pick is first up for discussion and it really needs no introduction - we're talking about one of the greatest movies of all time, SUNSET BOULEVARD from 1950! Directed by the amazing Billy Wilder and featuring an untouchable performance by Gloria Swanson, this classic remains a classic for a reason. Then we talk about our first movie from the Coen Brothers, 1991's BARTON FINK. We gush over its stars John Turturro and John Goodman before trying to decipher just what this enigmatic tale is all about. Thank you all so much for listening to the show and we hope you enjoy this episode!

Follow the hosts and the show on Twitter:

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @BrianDKeiper

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen 

Stephen King Adaptations: PET SEMATARY and CHRISTINE

Hail to the king, baby! The King of Horror, that is! This week on Movies For Life, we're talking about a couple of our favorite film adaptations of the works of the one and only Stephen King. First up on the episode is Michele's pick of PET SEMATARY from 1989, directed by Mary Lambert. The darkly comic meditation on grief and death still packs a huge punch to both of us, especially as we realize our personal reasons for feeling that way and how this story might actually be the most terrifying one King has ever written. Then we discuss Brian's pick of John Carpenter's 1983 film version of CHRISTINE! It's a film that has moved up in the ranks for both of us in terms of Carpenter movies and King adaptations, and we talk about all the reasons why. How we both see the main characters in different ways than we have before, and the very real symbolism behind just what a "Christine" can really mean and do to a person. 

Follow the hosts and the show on Twitter:

Movies For Life podcast: @MovieLifePod

Brian Keiper: @BrianDKeiper

Michele Eggen: @micheleneggen