Podcast
Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews
Hosted by Buddy Allman, Jeff Smith, and Chad Roberts · EN
Two film geeks and a geek-in-training tackle the great movies from the past!
11episodes
Episodes
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Harold and Maude (1971)
Mar 901:13:30Tap to summarizeThis pairing is a combined "In Memorium" to two more actors claimed by 2026. Our first film, and dedication to Bud Cort, a veteran character actor, who passed away on February 11th of 2026. Our first film is honoring him with his most famous film appearance! Directed by Hal Ashby, 1971's "Harold and Maude" tells the story of Harold Chasen, a young man who is obsessed with death in all its many forms. He spends his days attempting to terrorize his mother (Vivian Pickles) who has long since turned an exasperated blind eye to Harold's theatrics. Attending funerals is one of Harold's pastimes, and it is at one such even that he meets Maude Chardin (Ruth Gordon), a 79-year-old widow who seems particularly focused on the fact that she's soon to turn 80. The two forge an unlikely friendship, and Maude teaches Harold how to witness and enjoy life even as she acknowledges that she's approaching the end of hers. Harold's mother, however, is doing everything she can to try to turn Harold 'normal,' including sending him to a psychiatrist (G. Wood), setting him up on three computer dates, and getting rid of the hearse he drives and replacing it with a modern sports car. But Harold is his own man and chooses to continue his path, even as Maude manages to change his worldview through their adventures. Also starring Cyril Cusack (father of Sinéad Cusack), Charles Tyner, Eric Christmas, and an early appearance from Tom Skerritt!
Transcribe →For Your Consideration (2006)
Mar 200:52:31Tap to summarizeOur second look at the life and work of Catherine O'Hara also rounds out our examination of Christopher Guest's classic film work! In 2006's "For Your Consideration," O'Hara plays Marilyn Hack, an aging actress in a little independent film called "Home for Purim." She's working alongside another veteran actor, Victor Allen Miller (Harry Shearer), young ingenue Callie Webb (Parker Posey) and her boyfriend and in-film brother, Brian Chubb (Christopher Moynihan). After being informed that a film-based website has mentioned that Marilyn's work could be creating some "Oscar buzz," things start to get a bit more tense on-set. Victor's agent, Morley Orfkin (Eugene Levy) is trying to figure out how to turn this to his (and his client's) advantage. Director Jay Berman (Guest) is trying to ignore it and get the best performances he can from his actors. Producer Whitney Taylor Brown (Jennifer Coolidge) is only concerned with budget and promotion. Writers Phillip Koontz (Bob Balaban) and Lane Iverson (Michael McKean) are just trying to safeguard their script's inherent culture and make sure the concept remains intact. Then another member of the cast is mentioned as an Oscar contender, then another, and things go completely off the rails. Also starring Ed Begley Jr., Somon Helberg, Rachael Harris, Richard Kind, Fred Willard, and Jane Lynch! And the gents announce another honorary pairing, this time for two actors who recently passed away.
Transcribe →The Last of the High Kings (1996)
Feb 2301:02:31Tap to summarizeWe dedicate this pairing to celebrating the life and talent of Catherine O'Hara, who we lost to complications related to cancer on January 30th of 2026. As we've done several of her best-known films over the last decade, we're going to focus on a couple lesser-known features. First off, O'Hara shows her dramatic chops as an Irish-Catholic mother tasked with raising five children basically on her own in director David Keating's 1996 film about a summer in 1977 Ireland called "The Last of the High Kings." Released originally in Ireland and the UK, when it was packaged by the studios for release in other markets (i.e. the United States), it was repackaged as "Summer Fling." The film stars O'Hara as Cathleen Griffin, whose husband Jack (Gabriel Byrne) is constantly on the road, working as an actor. This leaves Cathleen alone to manage Frankie (Jared Leto), Maggie (Renee Weldon), Noelie (Ciaran Fitzgerald), Ray (Peter Keating) and Dawn (Alexandra Haughey). Frankie is convinced he's failed his exams and torpedoed his chances at college. All he has to look forward to is planning a beach party and longing after two girls from his class, Jayne Wayne (Lorraine Pilkington) and Romy Thomas (Emily Mortimer). Along the way, Frankie's tasked with with chaperoning a visiting American, Erin (Christina Ricci), who is interested in him but Frankie doesn't feel the same until it's too late. And, through all of the chaos of the summer, a shared love of Elvis Presley motivates Frankie and his friends to keep pursuing their beach party, but will it ever happen? Also starring Colm Meaney, Stephen Rhea, and Mark O'Regan!
Transcribe →Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
Feb 1601:06:02Tap to summarizeThe second film in our tribute to the late Rob Reiner marks our 9th review of his first ten directed films. This time, it's a historical drama that Reiner helmed, telling the story of the 1963 assassination of African-American Medgar Evers (James Pickens Jr.), a civil rights activist who was shot in the back and killed in the driveway of his home in Mississippi by Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods). Due to a story released in 1989 by journalist Jerry Mitchell (Jerry Levine) which revealed that there had been jury tampering in Beckwith's two previous trials in the 60s, the widow of Medgar, Myrlie Evers (Whoopie Goldberg) comes to the office of the District Attorney to ask the D.A. Ed Peters (Craig T. Nelson) and the Assistant D.A. Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) for a retrial. While the DA is reluctant, DeLaughter promises to pursue the case, some 20+ years later. His job is made difficult, however, by his wife Dixie (Virginia Madsen) who sees him as a traitor to his race, as well as repeated external threats against him and his family. Plus, many of the original witnesses have since died, the murder weapon is missing, and the official court transcript of the original trials has vanished. But Bobby continues, undaunted, to seek justice for Myrlie and her family. Also starring Susanna Thompson, William H. Macy, Benny Bennett, Darrell Evers, James Van Evers, Yolanda King, and Bill Cobbs! Plus, the guys announce which two films they'll be doing next as they pay tribute to Catherine O'Hara, who passed away at the end of December, 2025!
Transcribe →The Sure Thing (1985)
Feb 901:00:03Tap to summarizeWe begin our post-500 reviews with a tribute to actor, writer, and director Rob Reiner who was murdered in December of 2025. We have already done seven of his first ten films where he acted as director, this will be number eight. In 1985, Reiner led the story of a young man named Walter "Gib" Gibson (John Cusack, in his first film role) who begins college at an east coast Ivy-League school where his usual charisma isn't quite cutting it... in the classroom or in his social life. In his English class in particular, his sense of humor isn't enough to excuse his lack of grammar and spelling. But he also meets Alison Bradbury (Daphne Zuniga), a priss who has a masterful grasp of the mechanics of writing, but creates hollow and empty stories with no heart. After Gib blows his shot with Alison, the two find themselves on the road together, headed toward California. Alison is headed out there to spend the holidays with her boyfriend Jason (Boyd Gaines), while Gib is on his way to visit his best friend Lance (Anthony Edwards) who has promised him a sure thing (played by Nicollette Sheridan, also in her first film role). The trip out, however, is not uneventful, and sparks fly between Alison and Gib over and over and over... but is there something else going on beneath it all? Also starring Tim Robbins, Lisa Jane Persky, and Viveca Lindfors!
Transcribe →The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (2003)
Feb 201:08:36Tap to summarizeThe third and final part of our 500th episode celebration is the culmination and conclusion to the Lord of the Rings saga: "The Return of the King!" Once more with Peter Jackson at the helm, the film begins by showing us Gollum/Smeagol's (Andy Serkis) backstory and how he came to possess the ring all those years before. The original fellowship reunites, sans Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) but with King Theoden (Berhard Hill), at Isengard after the Ents have made their feelings known. After some chicanery from Pippin, the group heads out toward the capital of Gondor, Minas Tirith. Frodo and Sam, with Gollum still in tow, are captured by soldiers from Gondor, but ultimately released to continue their journey. At this point, apart from following the hobbits and the ring, the film is all about preparing for Sauron's army to arrive at, and lay siege to, Minas Tirith. The effects are spectacular (especially for 2003), and the battle is extensive! But that's just the start of the end of this historic saga that blazed the path for more than half a century of epic fantasy stories (and the OG of tabletop role-playing games) to follow! Also starring Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, and Miranda Otto! Plus, the trio announce which two Rob Reiner films they'll be reviewing as they honor this legendary director in the next pairing!
Transcribe →The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (2002)
Jan 2601:04:21Tap to summarizePart two of our three-part celebration of our 500th episode is the second film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: "The Two Towers!" Again directed by Peter Jackson, the story picks up right at the end of the previous film, showing the result of Gandalf (Ian McKellen) taking on the horrific Balrog in the depths of Moria while the rest of the Fellowship escapes back to the surface. Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) discover Gollum (Andy Serkis) pursuing them and end up making him travel with them. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) set off to rescue Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) from the orcs. Add to that a sentient tree known as Treebeard (also John Rhys-Davies), the Riders of Rohan, led by Eomer (Karl Urban), King Theoden (Bernard Hill) who is under the sway of Saruman disciple Grimma Wormtongue (Brad Dourif), the unleashing of Saruman's (Christopher Lee) orc and uruk-hai army, and the resurrection of Gandalf the Gray into Gandalf the White, and the story spins off in several directions, culminating in the sacking of Isengard!
Transcribe →The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Jan 1901:22:29Tap to summarizeIt's our 500th episode, and we decided to do something different! Instead of a pairing, we present our first full trilogy! Many of you have asked why we haven't done these three films, well, now we are. To celebrate reaching our 500th episode, it's time to look at the Lord of the Rings trilogy! First up, 2011's "The Fellowship of the Ring," directed by Peter Jackson. The film stars Ian Holme as Bilbo Baggins, whose birthday celebration brings Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) to town. Bilbo departs after his party, and leaves his home and belongings, including a mysterious ring, to his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood). Gandalf meets with his old teacher, Saruman (Sir Christopher Lee) and is betrayed. Gandalf escapes Saruman's tower and returns to Frodo, instructing him to leave immediately. Frodo is accompanied by his friend Samwise (Sean Astin), and fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd). At an Inn, they encounter Strider (Viggo Mortensen), a ranger who accompanies them toward the home of the Elves, and the next stop on their quest. Along the way they meet Arwen (Liv Tyler) who saves Frodo's life. At Rivendell, Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving) calls a council, and we meet Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Boromir (Sean Bean), who decide to accompany Frodo as he heads toward Mount Doom to destroy the ring. Also starring Cate Blanchett and Peter McKenzie.
Transcribe →Godzilla (1954)
Jan 1201:12:44Tap to summarizeFor the second film in our OG monster movie pairing, we move ahead to the year 1954. Directed by Ishiro Honda, "Godzilla" would invoke both the aftermath of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the intense incendiary bombing campaigns whose fires destroyed over half of Tokyo. The film begins with a Japanese freighter, the Eiko-maru, being mysteriously destroyed near Odo Island. The ship Bingo-maru is sent to investigate, and it too is mysteriously destroyed, along with a fishing boat from Odo Island. As fish vanish and fishermen come home with empty nets, a village elder recalls the legend of an ancient sea creature they call Gojira they used to sacrifice young women to in order to keep the island safe. Later that night, an unusually powerful storm hits the island, destroying homes, people, livestock, and a media helicopter. Survivors travel to Tokyo seeking disaster relief, and a renowned scientist, Dr. Kyohei Yamane (Takashi Shimura) is sent to investigate. While there, Yamane discovers gigantic radioactive footprints, and then sees the creature with his own eyes! He takes his findings and eyewitness testimony back to Tokyo, along with his conclusions that the creature is something from the Jurassic period who has been disturbed, and irradiated, by nearby hydrogen bomb testing. Meanwhile, Yamane's daughter, Emiko (Momoko Kôchi) has decided to break off her engagement to a colleague of her father's, Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata) after having fallen in love with Captain Hideto Ogata (Akira Takarada), head of a salvage company. The army attempts to use depth charges to do away with the creature, but succeed only in provoking an attack on Shinagawa as the creature rises from Tokyo Bay. It turns out that Serizawa may have the answer to defeating the creature, but will he use it and reveal its awesome destructive power to the world? And, finally, after nine and a half years, the trio reveal which movie will be the subject of their 500th episode!
Transcribe →King Kong (1933)
Jan 501:17:31Tap to summarizeIt's classic OG monster movies for this first pairing of 2026! Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933's "King Kong" brought new innovation to the screen and started a long-running franchise! The story follows filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) as he prepares for his latest action thriller! The only problem is... no agency will help him cast his leading lady. Fortunately, he finds struggling actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) in a soup-kitchen line and offers her the part of a lifetime. They head out to sea on the ship Venture, helmed by Captain Englehorn (Frank Reicher). Denham reveals they're headed for an uncharted island, distinguished by a mountain shaped like a skull and, supposedly, the home of a mysterious creature known only as "Kong." Along the way, sparks begin to fly between Ann and first make Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot). Upon arriving at the island, they witness a ceremony before a massive wall and gate, which their presence interrupts. The chief of the tribe asks to purchase Ann for her blond hair, but of course the group refuses. That night, after Driscoll reveals his love to Ann, natives slip aboard the Venture and kidnap her. Discovering her absence, the crew heads off to the rescue, only to witness Kong, a giant ape, carry Ann off into the jungle. They give chase, and most of them are killed attempting to rescue Ann, leaving only Jack to follow Kong back to his lair, where he manages to spirit Ann away, with Kong in hot pursuit. The chase continues through the island and down to the beach the crew landed on, where Denham uses the gas bombs he brought with him to incapacitate Kong, declaring that they're going to take the ape back to New York for exhibition! And that's only the first half of the story! Also starring Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson, James Flavin, and Steve Clemente!
Transcribe →