Erik & Morgan are joined on this episode by Collin Souter and Kerry Finegan, hosts of the Christmas Movies Actually podcast to look at Walter Hill’s “rock and roll fable.” Featured within his anachronistic dystopian(?) western full of music, bikers and tough guys is the partnership between Michael Pare’s Tom Cody and Amy Madigan’s McCoy. Two soldiers on a rescue mission proving that at the core of any good friendship is respect. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Alfonso Cuaron’s resume speaks for itself and people should probably speak louder about it. Nearly 20 years ago, he took the core of P.D. James’ dystopian novel and crafted a film for the ages. Especially today. Morgan Gire and Erik Childress can’t help but gush a bit over Clive Owen along with the friendship that is forged with the young immigrant who may hold the, ahem, Key to humanity’s future.And if you want to read more about Children of Men, buy Nick Digilio’s new book, 40 Years, 40 Films; his pick for the best film of 2006. Buy the paperback. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Al Franken’s Stuart Smalley character was a hit on Saturday Night Live but not in theaters. Is it a comedy? Erik Childress and Morgan Gire debate that along with the arc of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Donnie and the mirrors the film may have held up to some of its audience provoking a negative response. But it is the relationship between Franken’s Stuart and Laura San Giacomo’s Julia that is the focus and may rank as one of the most interesting they have covered. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

It took 28 years but they finally made a sequel to Twister. New storm chasers, new research and a lot of the same old, same old. Instead of an estranged couple this time we meet estranged friends. Or are they? Erik Childress and Morgan Gire are joined by The Daily Herald film critic, Dann Gire, to put the relationship of Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kate and Anthony Ramos’ Javi under the microscope. Does he carry a long unrequited torch for her or is their business partnership a rekindling of lost friendship? Would he ever have a chance with Glen Powell lurking about? All this plus other lost opportunities, disaster and rom-com tropes and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Erik Childress and Morgan Gire dive into the inter-office dynamics of the trio within one of his favorite movies. James L. Brooks’ prescient look at the state of television media in the 1980s is matched by his rich characters played by Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Morgan Gire and Erik Childress believe that this tale of loss and emotional heartbreak is deserving of a rediscovery. In this episode they discuss how it smartly handles grief and the downfalls of shielding children from the harsher realities of life; a ball which movies tend to drop. Plus at its center is one of the sweetest pre-adolescent friendship tales beautifully portrayed by Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin. This is one that all families should experience together. Hold onto your tears long enough to listen to this in-depth discussion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Is the friendship between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s sophomore effort entirely on the up-and-up? Erik and Morgan discuss the implications of jealousy between friends as well as how survival instincts translate into relationships. Just what was Coppola trying to infer with her opening shot if anything? Disagreements over the film’s content range from her style of filmmaking to whether its leads are tolerable people. How much ambiguity is acceptable within friendships and does the cloud of sexual imagery and thought taint an otherwise chaste relationship between the two? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Shane Black made a little Hollywood history with his script for this movie even it’s not entirely the one he delivered. One element certainly not in dispute is the relationship between Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson is the rarefied platonic dynamic that the hosts seek out. Could even a brief shift alter the nature of their friendship or does it signal growth under temptation? Is this one of Jackson’s most entertaining performances? Just how bad is Craig Bierko as the villain? What is the line that will forever make Morgan and Erik lose it? All these questions plus action tropes and a good time on this episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

 The late Ted Demme’s ensemble relationship dramedy was and remains a favorite of Erik's, but is it by the end of this episode? The discussion with Morgan covers just how shallow its male characters may be and whether or not their female counterparts could do better with their lives. What constitutes average and our own sense of self-worth in a society that places emphasis on perfection and are these characters victims or perpetuators of it? Erik and Morgan discuss all this as well as delving into the complicated relationship between Timothy Hutton and Natalie Portman.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

There are not many films that attempt to deal with a collection of individual women’s stories and Morgan presents this as Exhibit A. Erik has his counterarguments but Morgan makes her case for a film pushing back on the societal norms thrust upon women from an early age from the damage of playground myths to the pressure of getting married. The cliches of romcom’s past are revisited by the hosts and how they are reflected with or without commentary by the film itself. As each relationship is examined, Morgan and Erik look at whether Ginnifer Goodwin and Justin Long’s friendship is “the exception” and who amongst the cavalcade of characters relate most closely to each other’s own personal beliefs and experiences. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com