The Film 89 Podcast

On Episode 148 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, we’re back talking Star Trek as we continue our coverage of the original crew’s big screen adventures. Having already covered the first three films for each of their 40th anniversaries, it’s now the turn of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, which brought an end to the “Genesis Trilogy” consisting of the second, third and fourth Trek films, where the story in each film follows directly into the next. Following the death and destruction of The Wrath of Khan and The Search for Spock, returning director and star, Leonard Nimoy, wanted a lighter tone as well as a strong ecological message, that of whale preservation, and both of these aspects, coupled with our crew playing fish out of water in a San Francisco 300 years in their past, helped the film become the most financially successful Star Trek film of them all and a firm favourite among fans. So join Skye and returning co-hosts John Arminio, Bill Scurry and Adam Rackoff in a celebration of the 40th anniversary of one of the very best Star Trek adventures.

On Episode 147 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Skye and returning guest-host Stephen Simpson are celebrating the 60th anniversary of and also taking an in-depth look at the making of director John Frankenheimer’s epic, nearly 3-hour-long motor racing drama, Grand Prix. Starring James Garner, Yves Montand, Eva Marie Saint, Toshiro Mifune and a huge international supporting cast, Frankenheimer’s movie is a marvel of technical filmmaking that captures the thrills and danger of Formula 1 as few other films have. Filmed alongside the 1966/67 F1 season with unprecedented cooperation from the drivers and teams of the era, Grand Prix is arguably the finest big-screen representation of motor racing ever made, and a time capsule of a period when the sport was on the cusp of changes that would alter it forever.

On Episode 146 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil and Skye are traveling back in time 35 years to discuss a film that represented something of a transition from the typical ‘80s action film to the genre’s ‘90s iteration. Based on a script by Shane Black that Warner Bros. were willing to pay a then record setting fee of $1.75 million for, and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tony Scott, The Last Boy Scout starred Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans and a great supporting cast. Willis, following two recent box office failures in The Bonfire of the Vanities and Hudson Hawk, was in need of a hit and a Shane Black scripted action vehicle must have seemed like a sure thing at the time. Unfortunately, the production was no smooth ride and Black’s script changed significantly during the shoot. This, coupled with tensions on set between the principles as well as between Scott and producer Joel Silver, resulted in a film fraught with problems which may have in some way contributed to it’s studio failing to market the film as well as it should have. The Last Boy Scout failed to ignite the box office but would go on to become a much loved relic of early ‘90s action cinema and in retrospect is a film that really should have fared better given it’s gritty, noir inspired tone and razor sharp script and is a film that the hosts of tonight’s episode love, and have much to say about.

On Episode 145 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Skye and returning guest host, filmmaker Kyle Reardon, celebrate the 70th anniversary of legendary director John Ford’s epic 1956 western, The Searchers. Directed by one of the most revered and influential filmmakers ever to step behind a camera, and starring one of cinema’s true icons, John Wayne, in one of his most complex roles, The Searchers tells the tale of civil war veteran, Ethan Edwards, a man wrestling with his own dark side, and his adopted nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) and their years long search for Ethan’s niece, Debbie, taken from her family by a Comanche Chief after a raid on Ethan’s brother’s homestead. Shot in stunning Vista Vision and featuring some of the most astonishing cinematography ever seen in a motion picture, Ford’s film was is arguably the peak of a staggering career that spanned seven decades and a film that’s become widely regarded as one of the greatest American films of not just the 20th century, but all time.

On Episode 144 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, both Neil and Skye are mistaken for Paul Allen as they discuss director Mary Harron’s 2000 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, American Psycho. Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of 1989, American Psycho follows the life of a wealthy young investment banker named Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale). Bateman narrates his everyday activities, from his charmed yuppie recreational life of pampering and fine dining among the Wall Street elite of New York to his forays into murder by night. The guys discuss the film’s complex plot, one that can have any number of varying interpretations as to both the reliability of the film’s narrator and the questions raised as to whether Patrick Bateman is a crazed serial killer or if this is all just an elaborate fantasy concocted as a means of dealing with the banality of the world he lives in. Featuring a superb supporting cast, brilliant direction and a killer soundtrack, American Psycho is arguably more of a bleakly dark satire than it is a serial killer thriller, and is certainly a film more than worthy of the Film ’89 treatment.

On Episode 143 of The Film ‘89 Podcast it’s that time of year again. Towards the end of every year since 2022, Film ‘89 has celebrated the 60th anniversary of a James Bond film. In 2022 we started with Dr. No, in 2023 we covered From Russia With Love and last year we covered Goldfinger. Now Skye and one of the greatest film poster artists working in the business today, Tony Stella, return to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball, which had its world premiere in Tokyo, Japan on December 9th 1965. Thunderball came out at the very peak of Bondmania. Sean Connery was approaching mega star status and the books and films were as popular as they would ever be. Made on a budget that was more than the combined budgets of the previous three films, Thunderball was a hugely ambitious film with complex underwater action sequences the likes of which audiences had never seen before and it would go on to become the most successful Bond film ever, and based on ticket sales alone, it still is. So get on your wetsuit, pick up your spear-gun and join Skye and Tony as they take the deep dive on what they feel is one of the most underrated of all James Bond films.

On Episode 142 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Neil, Skye and regular co-host, Jacob Rivera are celebrating the 30th anniversary of an all time classic from 1995, David Fincher’s serial killer thriller, Seven, starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey. Based on an original screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, Seven would go on to become one of the most successful films of 1995, a year replete with incredible films and this one in particular, is now considered a genre defining classic, notorious for it’s bleak tone and THAT gut-punch ending. Featuring phenomenal performances from its leads, stunning cinematography, a wonderfully atmospheric score, and the very epitome of assured, precise direction from Fincher, Seven is surely one of the greatest films of all time and one worthy of the deluxe Film ’89 treatment.

On Episode 141 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning guest-host, John Arminio to give you their in-depth and spoiler-filled review and analysis of director Guillermo del Toro’s latest film, his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein, a book and character that’s arguably seen more big screen adaptations than any other. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth, the Netflix produced film, which saw a very limited theatrical run before its release on the streaming platform a few days ago, has a budget of $120 million and aims to be the definitive adaptation of Shelley’s novel. Guillermo del Toro is one of Steve and John’s favourite filmmakers and they’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to celebrate his filmography. The guys also discuss previous adaptations of Shelley’s book, from the James Whale/Boris Karloff films of the 1930’s to the Hammer Films version starring Christopher Lee.

It’s that time of year again on The Film ‘89 Podcast as we bring you our 2025 Halloween Horror Special. Joining Skye are two returning co-hosts, Stephen Simpson and John Arminio, and the horror film they’ve picked as the focus of this episode is Tom Holland’s 1985 cult classic, Fright Night, starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse and Roddy McDowell. Based on an original script by Holland, Fright Night blends elements of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window with Hammer horror and vampire lore as it tells the tale of teenager, Charley Brewster, who suspects that his new next door neighbour, Jerry Dandridge, may be a vampire. With outstanding practical makeup effects and assured direction from first time director Holland, Fright Night would go on to become a beloved cult classic and one of the very best horror films of the 1980s.

On Episode 139 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Skye is joined by frequent co-host Leighton Winstone as well someone making her long awaited return to Film ’89 after she first appeared 5 years ago on Episode 55, our very good friend, Leanne Kubicz. This battle-hardened trio will be smearing axle grease across their brows and packing as much water as they can carry as they head into a post-apocalyptic wasteland to celebrate the 10th anniversary of director George Miller’s fourth entry in his long-running Mad Max saga that began in 1979, had sequels in 1981 and 1985 and then a 30 year gap before the 72 year old director went on a years long odyssey in the Namibian desert with $150 million of Warner Bros’ money. Through strife and hardship he returned with a film widely regarded as one of the greatest action films ever made and one of the greatest films of the 21st century, Mad Max: Fury Road. Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult, Fury Road is a film unlike any other in terms of the level of on-screen mayhem and carnage it displays. As fascinating as the film is the story of it’s long and arduous production and our team delve into how the incredible assembled talent both in front of the camera and behind the scenes helped craft one of the most visually astonishing films ever made and an example of big screen action-spectacle like no other.

It’s become something of a recurring theme on The Film ‘89 Podcast of late where the film being discussed has been described as “one of the big ones”, a film of such significance to the hosts that it fills them with an almost dread anticipation that they might not do it justice. No film fits that bill more than the one being discussed on Episode 138, an episode that Neil and Skye have been teasing and putting off for the longest time. That film is Michael Mann’s epic tale of crime and obsession from 1995, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro and an astonishing supporting cast, it is of course, Heat. An original idea of Mann’s and based on the real life exploits of former Chicago Detective, Chuck Adamson, and bank robber, Neil McCauley, Heat is a sprawling crime saga where character development is as important as any other aspect of of the story being told, whilst also featuring some of the most technically astounding action ever committed to film. Not only was it the film that brought together arguably the two greatest actors alive at the time, but it also showcased a director at the very top of his creative game. It’s been the guys’ intention to cover some of 1995’s best films this year for their 30th anniversary, and this is the second of three such episodes but there’s every chance that they’ll declare Heat not just the best film of that year, but one of the very best ever made.

Episode 137 of The Film ‘89 Podcast marks the first time that the guys revisit a film that’s already been covered on a previous episode. 5 years ago on Episode 52, Neil and Skye recorded an audio commentary for the 45th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece, Jaws. That episode remains one of Film ‘89’s most downloaded episodes and one that regularly gets mentioned by listeners as one of their favourites. The commentary focussed mainly on the making of Jaws along with Skye and Neil’s analysis of the film, but this episode is going to be a companion piece to the that first episode focussing more on a celebration of Jaws’ legacy as it turns 50 and its impact upon the guys (now joined by Steve), and what they feel makes it a genuine contender for the title of greatest film ever made. But it won’t just be Steve, Skye and Neil talking as this episode features many of the regular Film ‘89 co-hosts, guests, friends from Film Twitter and more, so input from more people than any other episode of Film ‘89 so far, all experts on film, chiming in with their testimonies as to why they feel Jaws is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

On Episode 136 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by a mighty trio of film experts, returning Film ‘89 co-hosts, Bill Scurry, John Arminio and Martin Kessler And this episode, your five hosts will be wearing their underpants over their trousers as they give their in-depth and spoiler-filled review and analysis of director James Gunn’s Superman, the 2025 big screen reboot for the caped crusader that’s intended as a launching point for Gunn’s new cinematic take on the DC Comics Universe. As well as the new film, the guys will be discussing the cinematic legacy of Superman through the ages.

On Episode 135 of The Film ’89 Podcast, Neil, Skye and Steve celebrate the 35th anniversary of yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, this time it’s the 1990 action-science-fiction classic, Total Recall. Following on from the recent success of our Commando episode, the guys are once again giving their in-depth analysis of a film starring one of the Film ’89 team’s favourite movie stars, but this time, they’re also discussing one of their favourite directors, Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven. They discuss the source short story by Philip K. Dick upon which Total Recall is based as well as the making of this big budget special effects spectacle - at the time, one of the most expensive films ever made. The guys also dissect the film’s fiendishly complex plot and the many themes, layers and socio-political commentary that Verhoeven weaves into the film. Featuring a superb supporting cast including Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox, an incredible score by Jerry Goldsmith and incredible special effects that hold up 35 years on, Total Recall is a timeless classic and is given the usual Film ’89 treatment.

After a longer than expected Spring hiatus, The Film ’89 Podcast is back and on Episode 134, returning co-hosts Matthias Van De Roest and Bill Scurry join Steve and Skye to celebrate the 40th anniversary of acclaimed director William Friedkin’s 1985 crime drama To Live and Die in L.A. Something of a return to form for Friedkin after a number of critical and commercial failures, the film would tap into the same gritty police procedural approach that made his 1971 masterpiece The French Connection so successful. Starring William Petersen, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, Darlanne Fluegel, Dean Stockwell, John Turturro and featuring a brilliantly threatening turn from Willem Dafoe as counterfeiter Eric Masters, To Live and Die in L.A. also features gorgeous cinematography by Robby Müller and a stunning new wave soundtrack by Wang Chung. As well as giving their usual in-depth analysis, the guys also dig into the making of the film, paying particular attention to its incredible car chase sequence. So fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight as the Film ’89 team explore one of the quintessential crime dramas of not just the 1980s, but any decade.

It is with much regret that we come to the end of the journey that has been The Film ’89 Podcast, as tonight’s episode marks for the guys a peak of sorts, a culmination of the last 7 years which has all led to the film we’re covering on this monumental episode. Steve, Neil and Skye are joined by a returning co-host who hasn’t been on Film ’89 since Episode 40, way back in November 2019, when he and Steve reviewed The Irishman, it’s our good friend, Tony Sower. Tony joins us to discuss his all-time favorite film, a film that we’ve been threatening to cover on the podcast for the longest time. If the name of this podcast takes influence from the ‘80s and nostalgia for movies we grew up with, then this film in a way typifies that era. And if the 1980s will be remembered for particular types of film, then the high concept action film is surely one of those types, born out of a decade where excess was celebrated. That film is the 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic, Commando. Some frankly hyperbolic opinions are going to be put forth on tonight’s episode, opinions as big as the Austrian Oak himself. Commando sees Arnie, after the fantasy heroics of Conan The Barbarian and the sci-fi horror of The Terminator, playing a more grounded, contemporary role as retired Army Commando, John Matrix. Yet there’s ultimately nothing grounded when it comes to Commando, a film that takes over the top machismo to hitherto unseen levels in a film that may be the action film distilled to its purest form. We hope you’ve enjoyed The Film ’89 Podcast, we’d love to carry on, but after a peak like Commando, there’s nowhere to go but down, and we always intended to go out on a high. Adios.

On Episode 132 of The Film ’89 Podcast, Steve and Skye are joined by returning co-hosts, Jacob Rivera and Leighton Winstone to discuss a film from the director who has had the most coverage on Film ’89, with no less than 5 episodes dedicated to his films and one of those being a double bill, it’s legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. The film being discussed is one that the guys have desperately wanted to cover since the podcast began, Scorsese’s 1980 biopic of former World Middleweight boxing champion, Jake La Motta, starring Robert De Niro, it is of course Raging Bull. Shot in back and white and featuring a staggering, Oscar winning central performance by De Niro, Raging Bull also features stellar turns from Cathy Moriarty, in her debut acting role as La Motta’s long suffering second wife, Vickie and Joe Pesci as La Motta’s put upon brother, Joey. Raging Bull has become an enduring classic of cinema, hailed by many critics as one of the greatest films ever made and here it’s given the in-depth Film ’89 treatment for its 45th anniversary.

On Episode 131 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Neil and Skye are joined by returning co-hosts, Bill Scurry and Matthias Van De Roest to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Academy Award winning crime thriller, The Usual Suspects (1995). Critically acclaimed upon its release and making a considerable worldwide box office haul on a meagre $6 million budget, it’s amazing ensemble case, incredible Oscar winning script, precise editing and sharp direction would make it an endearing classic of the 1990s. Unfortunately the film doesn’t get spoken about as frequently as it once did, likely due to the controversy that arose in the intervening years surrounding its director and one of its stars. But putting aside those issues and examining it purely as a work of collaborative art, The Usual Suspects remains one of the greatest crime dramas ever conceived and is a film that’s endlessly rewarding and rewatchable.