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Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Isabel Teran ("That's Bodacious, Dude! 80 Radical Movies from the '80s!") returns to the podcast. She brings along the movie Monster House. Marty and Clif give Izzy the movie Carrie to watch.  First up is Monster House, the 2006 animated horror-comedy about three kids who discover the creepy house across the street is much more than just creepy. Clif, Marty and Izzy dig into the movie's surprisingly dark themes, it's nightmare fuel and motion-capture animation. All while trying to answer the question: how the hell did this get a PG rating? They also examine the movie's bizarre combination of childhood adventure, genuine horror and some surprisingly heavy ideas hiding underneath all the animation. Then it's time for Carrie, Brian De Palma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's novel. The gang revisits the story of Carrie White, a painfully isolated teenager whose classmates torment her while her deeply religious mother attempts to control every aspect of her life. Clif, Marty and Izzy talk about Sissy Spacek's unforgettable performance, Piper Laurie, the visual style, Jack Fisk's production design, the film's religious imagery and that legendary prom sequence. They also discuss why Carrie's final moments remain one of the most influential nightmare endings in horror history. Along the way: Telekinesis, the X-Men arriving way too late, Brian De Palma's love of shower scenes, Zapped! and smoking PE teachers. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #MonsterHouse #Carrie #HalloweenMovies #StephenKing #SissySpacek #BrianDePalma Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Frank Dietz returns to the podcast. He brings along the movie Shock Waves. Marty and Clif give Frank the movie Dawn of the Dead to watch.  First up is Shock Waves, the 1977 low-budget horror film starring Peter Cushing, Brooke Adams, John Carradine and a group of very creepy waterlogged undead Nazi super-soldiers. Clif, Marty and Frank dig into the movie’s atmospheric cinematography, underwater sequences and how much this little 16mm production manages to accomplish with it's limited budget. They also discuss Peter Cushing’s ability to sell just about any piece of scientific gobbledygook with complete conviction and whether these things are really zombies at all. Then it’s time for George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, the 1978 classic that takes the zombie apocalypse into a suburban shopping mall. Clif, Marty and Frank talk about Romero’s direction, Tom Savini’s groundbreaking effects work, the movie’s incredible ensemble, it's social commentary and why the film still packs a punch nearly fifty years later. Frank also shares his personal experience seeing Dawn of the Dead in theaters in 1978 and how the movie scared the hell out of him. Along the way: zombie optometry, Peter Cushing and Grand Moff Tarkin, Flipper, Fred Olen Ray, the magic window and the original ending of Dawn of the Dead. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #ShockWaves #DawnOfTheDead #FrankDietz #GeorgeRomero #PeterCushing #ZombieMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Friendship to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie I Like Movies to watch. First up is Friendship, the 2025 comedy starring Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd and Kate Mara. Clif and Marty dive into this wonderfully uncomfortable story about a suburban dad who becomes fascinated with his charismatic new neighbor. The guys dig into the movie's painfully awkward humor, escalating social disasters and Tim Robinson's particular talent for "cringe." They also debate just how much of what we're watching is supposed to be funny, uncomfortable or both. Then it's time for I Like Movies, the 2022 coming-of-age comedy about 17-year-old film obsessive Lawrence Queller, who gets a job at a video store and forms an unexpectedly complicated friendship with his older manager. Clif and Marty connect with the movie's love of cinema and it's awkward teenage protagonist. The film explores the idea that a passion for movies can sometimes become a way of avoiding the much harder work of dealing with actual people. They also discuss the movie's Canadian setting, it's video-store nostalgia and why Lawrence's journey feels considerably more complicated than a simple "kid grows up" story. Along the way: A24, Terry Fox, video stores, movie snobbery, the difference between liking movies and loving movies and why nobody at Clif's workplace wants to hear the phrase "teamwork makes the dream work." #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #Friendship #ILikeMovies #TimRobinson #PaulRudd #A24 #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Rush Hour 2 to watch. First up is Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!, the 1989 follow-up to the cult favorite about the mysterious rock star who faked his own death. This time, Eddie is alive, living in Canada and apparently trying to leave his rock-and-roll past behind. Clif and Marty take a trip back to the end of the '80s to see what happened when the filmmakers decided to bring Eddie back. They discover a movie filled with new music, old memories, hair-metal-era production choices and some truly goofy sequel logic. They also revisit the first film's place in music history and wonder how a movie made in 1989 could feel both current and old at the same time. Then it's Rush Hour 2, the 2001 action-comedy sequel starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Carter and Lee head to Hong Kong for what is supposed to be a vacation, only to become involved in a counterfeit-money operation. Clif and Marty dig into the chemistry between Chan and Tucker, the action sequences, the comedy, the supporting cast and the very specific early-2000s flavor of a movie that couldn't resist putting Jeremy Piven in the middle of the film. Along the way: Scotti Bros. Records, Weird Al Yankovic, hair metal, the mysterious power of a mustache and Brett Ratner's Entourage connection.  #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #EddieAndTheCruisers2 #RushHour2 #MichaelPare #JackieChan #ChrisTucker #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, return guest Eric Schumacher joins the podcast. He brings along the movie East Side Sushi, while Marty and Clif give Eric the movie A Prairie Home Companion to watch. First up is Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, the 2006 ensemble comedy inspired by Garrison Keillor's long-running radio program. With a cast that includes Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline and more, the film follows the backstage antics surrounding what may be the show's final broadcast. Clif, Marty and Eric talk about Altman's loose, overlapping style, the movie's bittersweet tone, it's enormous ensemble and the strange feeling of watching a film about artists facing the end of something they love. They also discuss why the movie might hit a little differently for people who make their own art. Next is East Side Sushi, the 2014 drama about Juana, a single mother who discovers a passion for sushi and decides to pursue her dream of becoming a sushi chef. The gang gets into the movie's portrayal of hard work, family, tradition and the discipline required to master a craft. Eric also brings some firsthand perspective on the importance of actors actually learning the skills their characters are supposed to possess. Along the way: Kuala Lumpur, the wonders of Minneapolis, martial arts movie training montages and the possibility of creating a Pondo movie where Eric is legally required to eat for twelve straight hours. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #APrairieHomeCompanion #EastSideSushi #EricSchumacher #RobertAltman #FoodMovies #MovieReview Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Inside Llewyn Davis to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The American Friend to watch. First up is The American Friend, Wim Wenders' 1977 crime drama starring Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz. Clif and Marty dig into this strange, visually striking adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novel, following a picture framer who gets pulled into a world of art forgery and murder. They talk about Wenders' deliberately paced visual style, the film's sparse score, it's international cast and Dennis Hopper's fascinating performance as Tom Ripley. Then it's off to Greenwich Village in 1961 for Inside Llewyn Davis, the Coen Brothers' melancholy, darkly funny look at a struggling folk musician trying to find his way through the New York music scene. Clif and Marty examine Oscar Isaac's performance, the film's looping structure, it's gorgeous cinematography and Llewyn's seemingly limitless ability to sabotage himself. They also debate whether he's a tortured artist, a grieving man who can't move forward or simply a guy who desperately needs somebody to tell him to get his shit together. Along the way: Dennis Hopper's cowboy hat, Wim Wenders fighting with a film lab, Criterion releases, Bob Dylan and highway hypnosis. Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Wrong Missy to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Married to the Mob to watch.  First up is Married to the Mob, Jonathan Demme's 1988 crime comedy starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Modine, Alec Baldwin and a whole lot of familiar faces. Clif and Marty take a look at Angela DeMarco, a mobster's widow trying to escape the life she's married into, only to find the FBI and the mob making that considerably more difficult. They also dig into Demme's strange, cartoon-like tone, the eclectic David Byrne soundtrack and the staggering amount of 1980's energy packed into one movie. Then it's time for The Wrong Missy, the 2020 Netflix comedy starring David Spade and Lauren Lapkus. A simple texting mistake sends the wrong woman to a company retreat in Hawaii. Clif and Marty spend the next thirty minutes asking the most important question imaginable: after the first few minutes of this date, why didn't this guy just run? The discussion covers the movie's broad comedy, Lauren Lapkus' commitment to the material, David Spade's need for someone to play off of and why this particular brand of Netflix comedy can feel both entertaining and remarkably disposable. Along the way: Blondie, David Byrne, Matthew Modine still being Louden Swain, Joan Cusack's five-second appearance, Tom Cruise choosing Cocktail over Married to the Mob, 1980's title design and bad blind dates. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #MarriedToTheMob #TheWrongMissy #MichellePfeiffer #80sMovies #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, return guests Jim and Dani Hoey (from "Bravo for the B-Side") join the podcast. They bring along the movie They Will Kill You, while Marty and Clif give Jim and Dani the movie Eddie and the Cruisers to watch.  First up is Eddie and the Cruisers, the 1983 cult favorite starring Tom Berenger and Michael Paré. The gang digs into the story of Eddie Wilson, a mysterious rock star who disappeared along with the master tapes of his band's unreleased album. They talk about the film's themes of artistic obsession and authenticity. The gang also touches on how a movie that initially flopped in theaters eventually became a sleeper hit (thanks to cable television and a soundtrack that refused to die). They also spend some time wondering if Kurt Cobain might have watched this movie. Then it's time for They Will Kill You, a very different kind of movie. Clif, Marty, Dani and Jim dive into this gleefully bloody horror ride and discuss it's relentless set pieces, creative kills, physical performances and willingness to keep throwing increasingly ridiculous things at the audience. The group isn't necessarily looking for a complicated story here. Sometimes you just want the eyeballs, appendages, exploding heads and flaming axes. Along the way: Buddy Holly, Nirvana, Jim Varney, Tom Berenger's seemingly nonexistent aging process, Patricia Arquette's questionable accent and Satan's impressive Kung Fu skills. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #EddieAndTheCruisers #TheyWillKillYou #DaniHoey #HorrorMovies #80sMovies #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Tomboy to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Nice Guys to watch.  First up is The Nice Guys, Shane Black's 2016 buddy comedy starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Clif and Marty dig into the mismatched private eyes, the wonderfully weird supporting characters, the movie's pitch-black sense of humor and Gosling's performance as the most clumsy detective since Inspector Gadget. They also revisit Black's obsession with Christmas, the film's 1970s setting and the mystery at the center of a movie that somehow manages to be both a detective story and a complete clown show. Then it's back to 1985 for Tomboy, starring Betsy Russell as a fiercely independent mechanic and stock car driver who challenges a chauvinistic racer to prove she can beat him on the track. And just maybe she will win his respect along the way. Clif and Marty examine this gloriously strange time capsule of an '80s movie - from it's questionable attempts at female empowerment to it's endless montages, bizarre side plots and a car that apparently needs it's own computer system. Along the way: listener mail, The Jerk comparisons, Misty Mountains and missing hobbits, Malibu Grand Prix memories, donuts and the question of whether the internet finally killed the "teenagers desperately trying to lose their virginity" movie genre. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #TheNiceGuys #Tomboy #ShaneBlack #RussellCrowe #RyanGosling #80sMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Boyhood to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Project Hail Mary to watch.  First up is Boyhood, Richard Linklater's ambitious coming-of-age film that follows Mason from childhood through his arrival at college and is filmed over twelve actual years with the same cast. Clif and Marty dig into the film's unique production, it's time-capsule quality and it's great technical achievement. The question at the heart of their discussion: is watching someone grow up enough to make a compelling story? Marty finds plenty to appreciate in Linklater's experiment, while Clif has a few more reservations. Then it's off to space for Project Hail Mary, the new sci-fi adventure starring Ryan Gosling as a science teacher who wakes up alone aboard a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. As his memories return, he discovers that saving Earth may depend on solving an enormous scientific mystery and an unexpected friendship. Clif and Marty talk science, storytelling, the film's visual choices, Ryan Gosling's particular brand of likability and how a big, expensive space movie can still feel surprisingly warm and human. Along the way: Ethan Hawke's questionable parenting choices, Beatles mixtapes, Ryan Gosling's Mickey Mouse Club past and Rocky the alien. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #Boyhood #ProjectHailMary #RichardLinklater #RyanGosling #SciFiMovies #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, return guest Derek Schlender ("Schlender 5 Productions") joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Dragonheart: A New Beginning. Marty and Clif give Derek the movie Rollerball (2002) to watch. First up is Rollerball, the much-maligned remake of the 1975 sci-fi classic. Clif, Marty and Derek dissect everything from the chaotic editing and baffling storytelling to the early-2000s soundtrack overload, while asking how a movie with this much money and talent behind it could go so spectacularly off the rails. Then it's on to Dragonheart: A New Beginning, the direct-to-video follow-up to the fantasy favorite. The gang struggles to find anything resembling the magic of the original as they pick apart the effects, performances, questionable story choices and a dragon that doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Even Derek admits he may have pushed his luck with these picks. But, sometimes tearing apart a bad movie can be just as entertaining as celebrating a great one. Along the way: fake Russian accents, Pink and Slipknot cameos, Scooby-Doo comparisons, poisoned skeletons, dragon anatomy and Derek apologizing over and over. Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode Ryan Verrill, co-founder of Antenna Releasing, joins the podcast. He brings along the movie The Last Stop in Yuma County. Marty and Clif give Ryan the movie Streets of Fire to watch. Before diving into this week's picks, Ryan talks physical media, boutique Blu-rays and what it takes to launch a new independent film distribution company.  First up is Streets of Fire, Walter Hill's neon-soaked rock 'n' roll fairy tale starring Michael Paré, Diane Lane and Willem Dafoe. Clif, Marty and Ryan celebrate the film's unforgettable visual style, killer soundtrack, larger-than-life characters and why this gloriously over-the-top cult classic still feels perfectly '80s.  Then it's on to The Last Stop in Yuma County, the tense crime thriller from Francis Galluppi. With Ryan having worked alongside Galluppi through Antenna Releasing, the discussion offers a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on the film's journey to audiences, while also celebrating its sharp writing, terrific ensemble cast and expertly sustained tension.  Along the way: physical media collecting, puddles as cinematography, music videos hiding inside movies and a lot of Walter Hill appreciation. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #StreetsOfFire #TheLastStopInYumaCounty #RyanVerrill #AntennaReleasing #PhysicalMedia #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, special guests Geoffrey Notkin and Jessica Stone are back on the podcast. Geoffrey and Jessica bring along the movie Excalibur. While Marty and Clif give them Point Blank to watch. Enjoy this special "Talking Boorman" episode, celebrating two films of the legendary director John Boorman. First up is Point Blank, Boorman's stylish revenge classic starring Lee Marvin. Clif, Marty, Geoffrey and Jessica discuss the film's dreamlike storytelling, unforgettable visuals, why it still feels decades ahead of its time and Marvin's commanding performance. Then it's time to unsheathe the sword for Excalibur, Boorman's epic retelling of the Arthurian legend. The gang celebrates it's breathtaking imagery, unforgettable performances and the lasting influence it's had on fantasy films for more than forty years. Along the way: Sid Haig surprises, sword-and-sorcery nostalgia, fantasy movie rabbit holes and cinematic metaphors everywhere you look.  #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #JohnBoorman #PointBlank #Excalibur #LeeMarvin #FantasyFilms #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Ben Haslar from Reels of Justice joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Blade. Marty and Clif give Ben the movie Batman to watch. First up is Batman (1989), Tim Burton's gothic take on the Caped Crusader starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Clif, Marty and Ben revisit the film that launched the modern comic book movie era. They discuss everything from Burton's unique style to Nicholson's unforgettable Joker. This version of Gotham City still casts a long shadow over superhero films today. Then it's time for Blade, where Wesley Snipes slices his way through vampires in one of the coolest action films of the '90s. The gang talks about the movie's influence on comic book cinema, it's groundbreaking action sequences and why Blade doesn't get the credit it deserves for paving the way for the superhero boom. Along the way: Juggalo origins, Batman movie rankings, vampire fashion, Michael Keaton appreciation and memorable movie quotes. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #Batman89 #Blade #MichaelKeaton #WesleySnipes #MovieReview #ComicBookMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Moonlight to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Martian to watch.  Clif and Marty blast off to Mars before coming back down to Earth for one of the most acclaimed dramas of the last decade. First up is The Martian, where Matt Damon finds himself stranded on the Red Planet with nothing but potatoes, duct tape, disco and an unreasonable amount of optimism. Clif and Marty debate the film's direction, pacing and if the science is 'hard' or not. Then they turn to Moonlight, Barry Jenkin's Academy Award winning coming-of-age drama starring Mahershala Ali. Clif and Marty discuss quiet storytelling, unforgettable performances and how the film's themes of identity and loneliness create a powerful counterpoint to The Martian. Sometimes the biggest journey isn't through space. It's figuring out who you are. Along the way: 1980s slang, listener mail and potatoes as a survival strategy. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #TheMartian #Moonlight #MattDamon #MahershalaAli #MovieReview #SciFiMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook Bluesky Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin