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Blank Check with Griffin & David podcast

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Blank Check with Griffin & David

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  Blank Check Productions  

Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.

Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.

 

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#445

Fight Club with Alex Ross Perry

The first rule of Fight Club? Don’t talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club? DON’T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB. For those of you who like following the rules, we have an edited version of this episode available on Patreon wherein we do NOT talk about the seminal 1999 film FIGHT CLUB. But for the rest of you sickos, we’ve got a supersized episode with Project Mayhem’s own Alex Ross Perry. In this episode, we discuss our picks for the iconic DVDs of the “DVD era”, dive into the career of SERIOUS ACTOR Edward Norton, wonder what this movie would have been like with Janeane Garofalo as Marla Singer, and reveal the very dumb reason why Fred Durst is a playable character in the Fight Club video game. This episode is sponsored by: NO ONE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT OUR JOBS. WE ARE NOT OUR ADVERTISERS. HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSON. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

01 Oct 2023

3 HR 28 MINS

3:28:00

01 Oct 2023

#444

The Game with Brendan Hines

Congratulations! If you are listening to this episode, it means you’ve discovered the key in the mouth of the wooden clown we placed in your driveway. Actor, musician, and handsome man Brendan Hines joins us this week as we lead you on an immersive, life-changing experience through David Fincher’s The Game. We understand you may have some questions. How much did this whole thing cost? Is cocaine a requirement for every Michael Douglas movie? What’s Deborah Kara Unger up to these days? Did Charles Martinet say “it’s a-meeee, daddio!” when he jumped off the roof? We will try our best to answer these enquiries, but please note that CRS is not liable to disclose all of its innerworkings to clients. Guest Links:  [Listen to Brendan’s music] (https://brendanhines.bandcamp.com/community) This episode is sponsored by:  Babbel ( [babbel.com/check] (http://babbel.com/check) ) Zocdoc ( [zocdoc.com/check] (http://zocdoc.com/check) )  Bombas ( [bombas.com/check] (http://bombas.com/check) CODE: CHECK) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

24 Sep 2023

2 HR 34 MINS

2:34:04

24 Sep 2023

#443

Se7en with Mike Mitchell & Nick Wiger

Who loves Da Finchman? These guys do! MTV Movie Award-losing duo Mitch and Nick of the Doughboys join us to talk about David Fincher’s breakthrough hit - the nasty noir SE7EN. What can you expect from this episode? Lots of talk about “playground rumors” related to what this movie does and doesn’t actually show, a full taxonomy of Kevin Spacey’s on-screen persona, the true identity of the Zodiac killer, and a VERY Doughboys description of the film’s “gluttony” murder. Guest Links:  [Listen to Doughboys] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doughboys/id996151267) [Join the Doughboys' Golden or Platinum Plate Club] (https://www.patreon.com/doughboys) This episode is sponsored by:  [Stamps.com] (http://stamps.com) (CODE: CHECK) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

17 Sep 2023

3 HR 00 MINS

3:00:26

17 Sep 2023

#442

Alien³ with Matt Singer

The time has come for us to talk about one of the most successful, most influential, most respected American filmmakers of the past 30 years. That’s right, we’re talking about the director of ALIEN3, David “Da Finchman” Fincher! We’re kicking off “The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast” in style, pressing play on our Alien Quadrilogy Blu-Ray with guest Matt Singer - and you better believe we’re watching the “extended cut” in “Mu-th-ur Mode”! Join us as we give some light background on young “Dave” Fincher, alleged neighbor of George Lucas and director of Madonna music videos and smoking fetus PSAs. We’re going long on the troubled production of ALIEN 3 - a franchise film that has such disdain for its audience that we can’t help but love and respect it. No Newt? NO PROBLEMO. Do you want to do the dance with Charles Dance? So do we! Guest Links:  [Pre-order Matt’s Book “Opposable Thumbs”] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710246/opposable-thumbs-by-matt-singer/) This episode is sponsored by:  Firstleaf ( [tryfirstleaf.com/check] (http://tryfirstleaf.com/check) ) Indeed ( [indeed.com/check] (http://indeed.com/check) ) Mubi ( [mubi.com/blankcheck] (http://mubi.com/blankcheck) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

10 Sep 2023

2 HR 40 MINS

2:40:20

10 Sep 2023

#441

Decision to Leave with Tatiana Maslany

Decision to Leave? More like, decision to watch a good movie! EMMY AWARD WINNER (but more importantly, David Sims Best Supporting Actress Nominee of 2017) joins us to discuss Park’s most recent film, a romantic noir that gets text messaging absolutely right. We’re getting into everything, from the complexities of Tang Wei’s performance, to the concept of “sand beaching,” to S. Craig Zahler’s tight ponytail. Plus, we give our final Park rankings, and announce our next series, the worst-kept secret in podcasting. This episode is sponsored by:  The Big Flop on Wondery Plus ( [wondery.com/plus] (http://wondery.com/plus) ) AG1 ( [drinkAG1.com/blankcheck] (http://drinkag1.com/blankcheck) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

03 Sep 2023

2 HR 16 MINS

2:16:54

03 Sep 2023

#440

The Handmaiden with Emily Yoshida

We couldn’t be more excited to talk about the film we consider to be Park’s masterpiece - the gorgeous, twisty, and ultimately moving THE HANDMAIDEN. “Mother of the Blankies” Emily Yoshida joins us to unpack this puzzlebox of an erotic thriller, a brilliant adaptation of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith. Come for the coining of a new Blank Check phrase (thanks, researcher JJ!), stay for a very crucial “touch of the Tucc” tangent. By the way - what does that octopus actually do?? This episode is sponsored by:  Babbel ( [babbel.com/check] (http://babbel.com/check) ) Bombas ( [bombas.com/check] (http://bombas.com/check) CODE: CHECK) Factor ( [factormeals.com/check50] (http://factormeals.com/check50) CODE: CHECK50) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

27 Aug 2023

2 HR 45 MINS

2:45:57

27 Aug 2023

#439

Stoker with Emily St. James

Remember when the star of TV’s Prison Break (Wentworth Miller, “human map”) wrote a screenplay that landed on the Black List and ended up serving as the material for Park Chan-Wook’s only English film to date? What a time to be alive! Mia Wasikowska superfan Emily St. James returns to Blank Check to offer her take on 2013’s Stoker, a movie that is not NOT about vampires. Join us as we fawn over Park’s stunning directorial choices (that shot where Nicole Kidman’s hair transitions into grass!), go long on 2000s TV series (Prison Break obviously, but also In Treatment), and listen with delight as Emily shares some crucial David Sims lore. This episode is sponsored by:  Indeed ( [indeed.com/check] (http://indeed.com/check) ) Zocdoc ( [zocdoc.com/check] (http://zocdoc.com/check) )  Mubi ( [mubi.com/blankcheck] (http://mubi.com/blankcheck) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

20 Aug 2023

2 HR 30 MINS

2:30:09

20 Aug 2023

#438

Thirst with Hoai-Tran Bui

Move over, Dracula. Eat your heart out Edward Cullen. A new sexy vampire is in town, and he just happens to be a PRIEST! Park Chan-Wook reunites with the wonderful Song Kang-ho to put his own stamp on the popular genre with 2009’s THIRST. Inverse’s Hoi-Tran Boi joins us to chat about this darkly funny (and devilishly sound-designed) film, an adaptation of Emile Zola’s classic novel Thérèse Raquin. How do the rules of vampirism translate to a culture where everything is cooked with garlic?   This episode is sponsored by:  Passages ( [mubi.com/passages] (http://mubi.com/passages) ) Indeed ( [indeed.com/check] (http://indeed.com/check) ) Firstleaf ( [firstleaf.com/check] (http://firstleaf.com/check) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

13 Aug 2023

2 HR 10 MINS

2:10:02

13 Aug 2023

#437

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK with Karen Chee

From the twisted mind of Park Chan-Wook, it’s…a surprisingly sensitive romance set in a mental hospital? Writer and Comedian Karen Chee joins us to chat about 2006’s I’M A CYBORG, BUT THAT’S OKAY - a real outlier in Park’s career, and a commercial disappointment after the global success of his Vengeance Trilogy. Would it surprise you to learn that this film was inspired by, of all things, TOY STORY? Is this the best Park film to remake with a cast of Muppets? Are any of the film’s mental illnesses based in reality? All that, and more, in a very silly episode. Follow [Karen] (http://www.karenchee.com/) on [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/karencheee/?hl=en) This episode is sponsored by:  Passages ( [mubi.com/passages] (http://mubi.com/passages) ) and [Blank Check podcast presents…Congratulations  Wednesday, September 13th at 8pm at the Bell House in Brooklyn Tickets go on sale on Monday, August 7th at 12pm ET] (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blank-check-presents-congratulations-tickets-691834695197) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

06 Aug 2023

1 HR 55 MINS

1:55:54

06 Aug 2023

#436

Oppenheimer with Marie Bardi

DA MOVIESH ARE BACK, BABY! Film Director Barbie joins the gang to chat about Christopher Nolan’s latest and an historic weekend at the multiplex. What’s the best format for seeing OPPENHEIMER? Which of the many character actors in this film makes the biggest impression? Will David make his sexy Christopher Nolan voice a new recurring bit? Plus - we address the SAG strike (solidarity!), the social media discourse around this film (so dumb!), and Ben admits that science used to seem cool. This episode is sponsored by:  Factor ( [factormeals.com/check50] (http://factormeals.com/check50) CODE: CHECK50) AG1 ( [drinkAG1.com/blankcheck] (http://drinkag1.com/blankcheck) ) ExpressVPN ( [ExpressVPN.com/check] (http://expressvpn.com/check) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

30 Jul 2023

3 HR 08 MINS

3:08:08

30 Jul 2023

#435

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One with Marie Bardi

It’s 2023. An all-powerful AI program named “the Entity” is sewing chaos and threatening the fragile equilibrium of the world as we know it. It is also throwing sick parties. Meanwhile, over at Blank Check HQ, the BENTITY has a few tricks up his sleeve to surprise Griffin, David, and Marie with a mission of their own as they break down Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie’s latest big-screen extravaganza. Special thanks to IMF team members Teo Rapp-Olsson and Patrick Willems. Support their work! Patrick Willems: [https://www.youtube.com/@patrickhwillems] (https://www.youtube.com/@patrickhwillems) Teo Rapp-Olsson: [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6231691/] (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6231691/) Mission: Impoddible theme composed by [Alex Barron ] (https://alexbarron.squarespace.com/) This episode is sponsored by: Bombas ( [bombas.com/check] (http://www.bombas.com/check) CODE: CHECK) Babbel ( [babbel.com/check] (http://www.babbel.com/check) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

23 Jul 2023

2 HR 31 MINS

2:31:33

23 Jul 2023

#434

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance with Karen Han

Park Chan-Wook’s loosely-linked “Vengeance Trilogy” comes to a starkly satisfying end with 2005’s LADY VENGEANCE - a normal flick…that’s all we have to say! Just kidding - we have LOTS to say about this one, with its stacked cast of lady convicts and grief-stricken parents. Our beloved Karen Han returns to the pod to correct our terrible Korean pronunciations and to tell us about “Jump Like A Witch” - a Korean reality series wherein famous female celebrities attempt to form a basketball team. Plus - it should surprise no one that this episode contains plenty of Pirates of the Caribbean discussion. Guest Links:  [Get Karen’s Book “BONG JOON HO DISSIDENT CINEMA”] (https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/bong-joon-ho_9781419758126/) [Follow Karen on Twitter ] (https://twitter.com/karenyhan?lang=en) This episode is sponsored by:  AG1 ( [drinkAG1.com/blankcheck] (http://drinkag1.com/blankcheck) ) Indeed [(indeed.com/check)] (http://indeed.com/check) Zocdoc ( [zocdoc.com/check] (http://zocdoc.com/check) )  Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

16 Jul 2023

2 HR 16 MINS

2:16:14

16 Jul 2023

#433

Oldboy with Alison Willmore

What is an Oldboy? How do you feel about Greek Tragedies? How did Choi Min-Sik achieve that iconic (and insane) hairstyle? Was giving the 2004 Palme d’Or to FAHRENHEIT 9/11 over this film one of the greatest mistakes in the history of arts and culture? All those questions answered and more as critic Alison Willmore joins us to talk about OLDBOY, the first major Korean breakthrough in the American filmbro canon.  Guest Links:  [Read Alison's writing at New York Magazine] (https://nymag.com/author/alison-willmore/#_ga=2.53387304.1608395195.1686763939-1872556326.1686763939) [Especially “Theory: Top Gun: Maverick Is (Mostly) a Death Dream” if you haven’t already] (https://www.vulture.com/2022/05/theory-top-gun-maverick-is-mostly-a-death-dream.html) [Follow Alison’s dog on Instagram] (https://instagram.com/sammothedog?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) This episode is sponsored by:  Indeed [(indeed.com/blank)] (http://indeed.com/blank) MUBI ( [mubi.com/blankcheck] (http://mubi.com/blankcheck) ) [Nuts.com] (http://Nuts.com) ( [Nuts.com/check] (http://nuts.com/check) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

09 Jul 2023

2 HR 05 MINS

2:05:32

09 Jul 2023

#432

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance with David Ehrlich

Park Chan-Wook kicks off his famous “Vengeance” trilogy and we kick off another episode where we talk about Ted Danson’s late 90s sitcom BECKER! Critic, friend of the pod, and Crystal Skull-apologist David Ehrlich joins us to chat about Park’s “Sympathy for Mister Vengeance” - a film that shows that revenge is not a dish best served cold, but is actually kind of sad and futile. Come for Ehrlich’s story about his teen trip to Seoul (when he had lunch with Director Park!), stay for the throwback memories of ordering imported DVDs from YesAsia-dot-com and the often misleading branding of the Tartan Asian EXTREME label. Guest Links: [Read Ehrlich’s writing at IndieWire] (https://www.indiewire.com/author/david-ehrlich/) [Listen to Fighting in The War Room] (https://fightinginthewarroom.com/) [Watch Ehrlich’s Best of Videos] (https://vimeo.com/user92154201) This episode is sponsored by:  Factor ( [factormeals.com/check50] (http://factormeals.com/check50) CODE: CHECK50) Double Fine PsychOdyssey ( [doublefine.com/check] (http://doublefine.com/check) ) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on [Twitter ] (https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod) and [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/) ! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

02 Jul 2023

2 HR 14 MINS

2:14:49

02 Jul 2023

#431

Joint Security Area

Park Chan-Wook’s 2000 breakthrough and Korean box office juggernaut - JSA (Joint Security Area) - is the rare international murder-mystery that dares to ask the question…”what if the real smoking gun was FRIENDSHIP??” Join us as we unpack this poignant and twisty thriller, and maybe some of you can unpack on your own time why Griffin chooses to bring up THE LITTLE RASCALS when talking about Korean geopolitics. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

25 Jun 2023

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:44

25 Jun 2023

#430

The Moon Is…the Sun's Dream / Trio

It’s a brand new era for Blank Check - Griffin is in his “arriving early to work” era. Ben is in his “Bad Boy 2.0” era. And we’re all in our WORLD CINEMA era as we kick off our series on South Korean master (and March Madness champion!) Park Chan-Wook. Join us as we offer a brief overview of the evolution of Korean cinema - from 1960’s landmark THE HOUSEMAID up through decades of government censorship - and introduce the career of one of our finest filmmakers. However - we’re gonna be real with you all. Park’s first two movies are NOT GOOD. He has actively tried to erase them from the cultural consciousness. So - do things get really silly as we dance around talking about how bad these movies are? YES. Do we use this episode as an excuse to catch up with several series worth of Ben Nicknames? ABSOLUTELY. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

18 Jun 2023

1 HR 50 MINS

1:50:15

18 Jun 2023

#429

The Cameraman / Spite Marriage

Our Buster Keaton series comes to a conclusion as his period of creative independence does, with his first two features for MGM: THE CAMERAMAN and SPITE MARRIAGE. The former? Debatably a meta-masterpiece, with a Chinatown setpiece for the ages and one very adorable monkey. The latter? Well, you can see the downward spiral start to take shape. In this episode, we fill in the later years of Buster’s life and career, give our final Keaton rankings, and attempt to cheer Ben up after a very demoralizing restaurant experience. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

11 Jun 2023

1 HR 53 MINS

1:53:24

11 Jun 2023

#428

College / Steamboat Bill, Jr. with John Hodgman

After his “blank check” for THE GENERAL bounced,  Buster Keaton found himself creatively and financially shackled. Thus, 1927’s COLLEGE lands on the lesser end of the quality spectrum (not to mention a very difficult watch with Buster putting on blackface for a scene - yikes). But, his follow-up STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. features some of the most memorable and dangerous stunts of Keaton’s career, and acts as a beautiful send-off to his period as a self-sufficient filmmaker. The wonderful John Hodgman joins us to chat about both films and his life-long love of Buster. Plus - as always with a Hodgman episode - we go down several delightful rabbit holes: Doctor Who, beans, Goofy’s “George Geef” period, large pants, and more! Guest Links:  [Get Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches now in Paperback] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557020/vacationland-by-john-hodgman/) [Check out Up Here on Hulu ] (https://press.hulu.com/shows/up-here/) [Watch Dicktown on Hulu ] (https://www.hulu.com/series/dicktown-845eca18-d4d6-46a3-a575-212f4b98fea3) [Listen to the Judge John Hodgman Podcast] (https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/judge-john-hodgman/) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

04 Jun 2023

2 HR 19 MINS

2:19:12

04 Jun 2023

#427

Battling Butler / The General with Jamelle Bouie

One of narrative cinema’s earliest training sequences, and one of cinema’s most famous trains - that’s right, we’re covering Buster Keaton’s 1926 films BATTLING BUTLER and THE GENERAL. Gentleman, scholar, and action movie aficionado Jamelle Bouie joins us to unpack this week’s double feature, providing some essential historical context for THE GENERAL’s unfortunate Civil War  setting. Plus, Ben starts researching how one buys a train. Guest Links:  [Read Jamelle’s writing at The New York Times ] (https://www.nytimes.com/column/jamelle-bouie) [Listen to Unclear and Present Danger ] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unclear-and-present-danger/id1592411580) [Subscribe to Unclear and Present Danger Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/unclearpod) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

28 May 2023

2 HR 32 MINS

2:32:40

28 May 2023

#426

Seven Chances / Go West with Jamie Loftus

This week’s Keaton double feature sees our unflappable hero chased by two types of terrifying crowds: angry would-be brides, and a herd of cattle. How does he outrun them both? Jamie Loftus joins us to chat about Buster Keaton’s tremendous on-screen running (up there with Tom Cruise), his enduring sex appeal (we love a hot tired guy), and his compassion for animals (giving the bovine star of GO WEST a week off to have sex). Plus, because Jamie is THE Hot Dog Queen, we get into a very involved, very long tangent about the world of competitive Hot Dog Eating. Guest Links:  [Get Jamie's book Raw Dog (The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs) out 5/23] (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250847751/raw-dog) [Listen to The Bechdel Cast] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bechdel-cast/id1180733925) [Subscribe to The Bechdel Cast Matreon ] (https://www.patreon.com/bechdelcast) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

21 May 2023

2 HR 13 MINS

2:13:34

21 May 2023

#425

Sherlock Jr. / The Navigator with James Urbaniak

Buster Keaton released two features in 1924 - “Sherlock Jr.”, a film that was considered a commercial disappointment at the time but has grown in stature over the past century, and “The Navigator'', a colossal box office hit that hasn’t aged nearly as well. Actor and lover of old-timey things James Urbaniak makes his long-awaited debut on the pod (originally promised back in our Shyamalan days!) and we’re getting into the billiards bits, boat gags, razor puns, and movie magic that make this double feature so special. Guest Links:  See James in [The Country Club] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8351254/?ref_=nm_knf_t_3) as well as [Venture Bros: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart ] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF_7mqtgV1o) when they come out. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

14 May 2023

2 HR 15 MINS

2:15:58

14 May 2023

#424

Three Ages / Our Hospitality with Dana Stevens

The Great Stone Face…The Little Boy Who Couldn’t Be Damaged…whatever you call him, Buster Keaton is one of the most important figures in film history, and we couldn’t be happier to be spotlight him in our latest series PODCAST JR. Our beloved Dana Stevens - writer of the fantastic Keaton tome “Camera Man” - joins us to set the table as we dive into the filmography of one of Griffin’s favorite artists. We’re going into Buster’s start as a vaudeville child star (sometimes in “Irish face”), the qualities of his work that distinguish him from peers Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, and we’re dissecting the gags and stunts featured in his first two feature films. Plus - Griffin gives one of his worst Box Office Game performances, and we all learn a bit about early child labor laws. Guest Links:  [Get Dana’s book "Camera Man" now in paperback ] (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Camera-Man/Dana-Stevens/9781501134203) [Read Dana’s film criticism] (https://slate.com/author/dana-stevens)   Listen to Dana on [Slate Culture Gabfest] (https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest) Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (http://patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (http://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (http://teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

07 May 2023

2 HR 38 MINS

2:38:54

07 May 2023

#423

Yesterday with Zach Cherry

Our Danny Boyle series comes to an end with a mind-bending movie that dares to ask the question, “What if The Beatles didn’t exist?” Severance’s Zach Cherry makes his long-overdue first appearance on the pod to profess his love Boyle’s most recent film, while David nearly has a stroke from trying to wrap his brain around all its logic loops. We’re asking all the big questions - if the Beatles never existed, would Charles Manson? If cigarettes never existed, how would that change the colonization of the New World? If John Lennon is alive in this universe, does this mean that Paul is actually dead? When does Ana de Armas show up? Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (https://www.patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on [Twitter] (https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod) and [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/) ! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (https://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (https://www.teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

30 Apr 2023

2 HR 35 MINS

2:35:38

30 Apr 2023

#422

T2 Trainspotting with Scott Aukerman & Shaun Diston

First they were addicted to heroin, now they’re addicted to *nostalgia* (but also still heroin)! Danny Boyle returns to the squalid Scottish world of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, and Begbie for T2: Trainspotting, and Scott Aukerman and Sprague (aka the Artist Formerly Known as Shaun Diston) join us to talk about this under-seen legacy sequel. How did Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor’s real-life feud influence this film? Is Spud’s arc in this basically just Bubbles’ arc in season 5 of The Wire? Which is the better “much-later sequel starring Ewan McGregor in an iconic role” - this, or the Obi Wan Kenobi series on Disney+? Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (https://www.patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on [Twitter] (https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod) and [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/) ! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (https://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (https://www.teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

23 Apr 2023

2 HR 19 MINS

2:19:40

23 Apr 2023

#421

Steve Jobs with Olivia Craighead

Calling all Sorkinistas - we’re walking, talking, and putting 1,000 songs in your pocket! Based on Walter Isaccson’s best-selling biography of the original Apple Genius, STEVE JOBS puts Danny Boyle in David Fincher’s shoes. What did we learn about this movie from the notorious Sony hacks? Is Michael Fassbender too hot to play Steve Jobs? Would it surprise you to learn that Ben Hosley is a life-long Mac user? Olivia Craighead returns to the pod and joins the Five Timers Club in spectacular fashion with a special throwback burger report. Plus - we do NOT thank the Apple II team, and David has strep. Join our Patreon at [patreon.com/blankcheck] (https://www.patreon.com/blankcheck) Follow us @blankcheckpod on [Twitter] (https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod) and [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/) ! Buy some real nerdy merch at [shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com] (https://shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com/) or at [teepublic.com/stores/blank-check] (https://www.teepublic.com/stores/blank-check) ... Read more

16 Apr 2023

2 HR 58 MINS

2:58:45

16 Apr 2023