The Matt and Tubes go into counseling to find out if "Good Will Hunting" is Crucial. 

We have a talk about sperm donors, adoption, and what we would do with Will Hunting's talents. We also discuss what works about the construction of "Good Will Hunting" and why studio notes can be a good thing. 

Sorry this write up is short. I gotta see about a girl.

Love,

Tubes

Up Next: "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?"

The Matt and Tubes stop to change their Talkboy batteries to find out if "Home Alone 2" is Crucial.

Kevin gets seperated from the Mccallister clan again, this time ending up in New York for christmas. We talk about the city, the landmarks, the cast, and we compare it to the original to see how it holds up.

The episode schedule is gonna be changing everybody. I've got a new gig and we just don't have as much time as we have in the past. We are going to be putting out episodes when we can but the week to week thing just isn't possible right now. Just wanted to throw a note in.

Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animals,

2bs

P.S.

And A Happy New Year!

How time flies... It's October! So The Matt and Tubes are doing some horror. First we have a discussion about "Candyman" a look into urban legends and the real world events that inspire them. 

Can you look into the mirror and call out "Candyman"? You'll have to watch out for bees, and hooks, and poo!

Love,

2bs (1984)

Up Next: "The Thing" (1982)

Isn't it annoying to have to disambiguate all of these reboots? 

The Matt and Tubes won't go as far as Linda Fiorentino to find out if "The Last Seduction" is Crucial.

This was a wild movie and an even wilder talk!

This movie goes hard, so this episode does too! Listener discretion advised!

Love,

2bs

Up Next: "Candyman"

Sometimes you just have to draw a line. Yeah, ain't that the way these days.

I just gotta say some stuff on "The Super Mario Bros. Movie".

My issue going into this movie was pure fatigue. It wasn't fatigue from over saturation of blockbusters, I actually don't watch that many blockbusters these days. I just had this sinking feeling every time I saw an ad for this movie. Everyone is going to be talking about this. No one has any reason to like this over anything else. Everyone is going to ask me about this movie a hundred times because they know I like Mario games, and animated features. This may be strange to hear from a guy that does a podcast discussing movies... but I just didn't want to formulate an opinion. I didn't want to watch it. I didn't want to discuss it. I didn't want to have to disagree with people or not be excited for it when they wanted me to be.

You may have picked up along the way that I am a fan of animation. I was the kind of kid at age ten to twelve that wasn't quite ready

for "Predator". Instead I was hip deep in "The Simpsons", "Earthworm Jim", and "Ren and Stimpy" cartoons. Looking back I think it was less that I only enjoyed comedy and more that I resonated hard with the raw emotional expression of the cartoons that were around in the 90's. I also believe this is what attracted me to anime. A wild array of emotional expression all pulled off with what was at the time, a beautifully minimalist art style. To put that another way. Very few lines in the face that get across specific emotions. Not just angry, or crying, but pensive, nervous or vulnerable, hanging on someones words. That kind of stuff.

NUANCE: THERES NO ROOM FOR NUANCE ANYMORE!!!

There is nuance in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie". Executed in a way that I have not seen in a hot minute. Family movies or what we used to call "PG-13" type adventure movies are in a very bad place right now. While I'd like to just blame Marvel or Disney while I point and stare holes through them that would not only be too easy, but also wouldn't get to the root issue. The problem is that kids entertainment has to be so strongly separated from adult entertainment by style and tone that they have no room for any real emotional tension. You can have a character say out loud they are frightened... scared, but you cant portray the scene with visceral tension. You cant ever make the kids, or more importantly their hyper vigilant parents, actually feel bad. That is the first issue.

The second issue is that blockbusters have slowly consumed the PG-13 space entirely. To the point that when "Deadpool" was announced most of the discussion revolved around it being rated "R". In my opinion "Deadpool" could have easily been every bit as edgy as it was and be a PG-13 movie. Just shoot around the blood a little bit, and bleep a couple of "Fucks" like they did in "The Dark Knight". Tell me "Deadpool" is more emotionally intense than "The Dark Knight". Not on paper. Don't describe to me what happens during Deadpool's origin events, deal with whats on screen. That is how how movies are rated. Not by concept, but by what is shown on camera and how the rater feels about it. No, "Deadpool" was rated "R" because it broke to drastically from the Marvel formula, so it needed to be marketed that way. They anticipated a push back and leaned into it, and it worked. The audience had been too strongly conditioned on tone, and "Deadpool" straight up kills people on camera. Not just crazy villainous space creatures from beyond the moon, but average people. See blockbusters don't destroy cities because they have gone mad with CGI power, they do it because it has a big visual impact, increases the threat of an enemy, and avoids killing individual people on camera. You know people are dying, but you don't have to watch it.

Characters die on camera in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie". It isn't grotesque, but its there. Bowser actually destroys things, he actually wants to control someone. He has real goals beyond being evil and he displays the power to make his ambitions a reality. He isn't an obnoxious bumbling oaf that never actually does anything while seeming to hassle the main characters impotently throughout the movie. He blows up a castle, he has plans, he connects to his lackeys. He kinda plays a bit like "Helmet" from "Spaceballs" if he were a jock. He has a personality one can describe and compare to other characters. You can discuss him beyond his action beats. Gold star.

Whats the point Tubes? Tie it all up. Ok... ok.

The point is that without tension, the characterization in a movie has no foundation to stand on. Whether its a small flick about a kid finding a dog, or a plumber using his parkour skills to help save a kingdom, its all about how you get people invested in a character. I am of the belief that you need some kind of raised stakes to really make a character impactful and stick with your audience. Especially if they are kids. I can see kids really hanging on to this movie. Watching it every few years. Maybe they wont always get the same kick out of the childlike pace, but I dont think they will ever look back on it and consider it a waste of time. They won't ask themselves "Why did I like this so much?"

They like it because Mario and Luigi have each other's backs. They don't just say they do, they actually get to show it. Mario and Peach aren't having catty fights about their roles in the movie, or what they do and don't get to do. They work together. They get along pleasantly. They aren't obnoxious. Peach encourages Mario and helps him learn the ropes. Mario isn't the destined hero, or entitled to anything. He even hates mushrooms. He is just someone that is somewhat familiar to Peach, and Peach needs all the help she can get. How nice is it that he's just a guy trying to do his best and he isn't acting dismissive to her so she can prove him wrong later. Or some kind of elementary school horse-shit scripting like that. God I hate movies.

At the end of the day, the word is class. I talk often about this with another friend of mine when it comes to gaming. I say Nintendo has class. They usually aren't as crass about hitting the kids up for that next five bucks, and with this movie they've proven once again that they are the only game in town for simple likable characters that offer themselves to the crowd and wait to see what we will gravitate toward. They try to charm us, they don't tell us what they think we want. Have movies become so sanitized that I am going to sit here and tell you that "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" bucks trends and bravely carves out it's own path? Well... yes, yes I am. Because that is exactly what it did. I sat there gunning for it hard, and it won me over. Solid plot construction, good character moments, a bit of an edge, and not one single character annoyed me or came off with that horrendous back-biting tone that ruins so many of these movies.

Judged against all movies I'd like to call this a decent family picture with some laughs, the bare minimum. However, judged against it's peers and in the current landscape, I'd say it goes a step beyond and turned yet another cattle call casting/event movie and turned it into something with some entertainment value in it.

Good on you Nintendo. You made a billion dollars and i don't have to make that "UGHhhhh" sound every time I see your characters. Well done.

Maybe you can make a "Starfox" feature that is better than "Star Wars", there has never been a better time to try.

With Love,

2bs

The Matt and Tubes have amnesia to find out if, wait what? Who are you? Where am I? Cowboys And Aliens? Crucial? The hell are you talking about?

Up Next: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Blight, cryosleep, time dialation, Matt Damon!?!? 

Oh we are going to need a couple hours to sort this out. 

The Matt and Tubes pay a few violations of the verbal morality statute to decide if "Demolition Man" is Crucial.

2bs

The Matt and Tubes head for Aspen to find out if "Dumb and Dumber" is Crucial.

You know it is.

2bs

The Matt and Tubes load up the family truckster to find out if "Vacation 1983" is Crucial.

Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo star in this classic family trip gone wrong. There may also be a Randy Quaid discussion...

Love,

2bs

The Matt and Tubes return to Hong Kong and enter "Kumite" to find out if "Bloodsport" is Crucial.

We answer all the big questions in this jam packed episode! What is our favorite asian food? How would we infiltrate the competition? Just how good is Jean-Claude Van Damme's butt? Would you like a mango lassi? Listen in and find out!

Love,

 2bs

Sometimes you just have to circle back... for the record we did it for Hartnett.

Sorry for the break, May has been crazy for everybody this year. All good, just busy.

2bs.

The Matt and Tubes get hauled out of the sea to find out if "The Bourne Identity" is Crucial!

Tubes goes on a tangent, The Matt tells a couple crucial stories, and we have a talk about DVD bonus features. 

Also "The Faculty" got trashed. Turns out mics work better when they are on... We are moving forward. It has been Vetoed by fate.

2bs

Grab your Sex Wax and your hair samples compadre! Point Break is Crucial! I gotta say, "Point Break" has me feeling the rush! I'm getting so crazy, I might even pick "The Faculty" soon... 

2bs

Up Next: "The Bourne Identity"

So it's come to this....

We go all the way back to our first episode and fill in the gaps to find out if "Moneypenny" is Crucial.

Can you believe it's been eight years of Crucial Podcast?!?

Up Next: "Point Break"

Upload fixed 3/14/23*

The Matt and Tubes walk back into town to find out if "First Blood" is Crucial.

Sylvester Stallone Co-wrote this 80's action classic about a Vietnam veteran who is harassed by a corrupt small town police force. The situation becomes serious when the veteran begins to have flashbacks and employs the skills he learned overseas to fight back against them. A simple and impactful premise that launched one of the 80's most well known action series. 

We learn all about grenade launchers, helicopter safety, and the hazards of film production in this massive conversation about "First Blood".

Up Next: Episode 200

The Matt and Tubes get their talent stolen to find out if "Space Jam" is Crucial.

"Space Jam" Is a 1996 family comedy that follows Micheal Jordan's retirement and return to the NBA during the height of his career and also at a very pivotal time in his life. Then to put things into hyperspace Warner Brothers throws in The Looney Tunes for good measure. Tons of NBA stars, recognizeable characters, and a killer soundtrack gave us plenty to talk about. 

2bs

Up Next: "First Blood"

Tubes sits down with Mother Tubes to sort this whole bath thing out. My Mom and I had fun grabbing a quick reply to our recent review of "The Hunter". I hope you enjoy it.

2bs

Stay tuned for "Space Jam"

Well there are only two episodes to go to get to 200.

For now The Matt and Tubes spend less time hunting Tasmanian tigers and more time having a serious discussion about a few pivotal scenes in the movie.

They have a split vote on "Willem Dafoe" being Crucial. (Who votes thumbs down on Dafoe? tune in to find out!)

The guys also recast and retool the entire film into the most badass hunt in Tasmania that could ever be.

A great series of discussions in this one. You'll also get a couple of good The Matt stories. You will also learn a thing or two about Tasmanian wildlife. 

Up Next: I can't believe I get to say this... 

"Space Jam"

Hopefully there will be no naked baths in that one...

The Matt and Tubes go into the pocket dimension to find out if James Wan's 2010 horror success "Insidious" is Crucial!

Matt tells a great story about air travel in the U.S.

We find out that songwriting is very important in horror films.

There are a lot of laughs in this one.

2bs

Up Next: "The Hunter" with Willem Dafoe on HBO MAX

The Matt and Tubes stare down "Jean Jacket" so they can tell you all about why "Nope" is Crucial.

Jordan Peele gives us a modern creature feature that is steeped in creativity and brilliant visual design. The movie blends a plot driven by clues about an unknown creature with themes of actor and animal exploitation in entertainment and the current state of spectacle driven movies and how we relate to them. On a personal note, the particual references, casting choices, and the mix of classic sci-fi and horror ideas into a new concept just thrills me. To me Jordan Peele's perspective and approach to concept and script construction is my favorite in the buisness right now. They don't make them like this anymore folks!  This is one of my favorite movies of the last ten years and it was a blast talking it out.

Also Matt makes one of the most horrendous jokes in the history of the podcast... but I wont spoil it for you.

Love,

2bs

Up Next: Much better audio quality... and I can't fucking wait! 

You've been so bad this year and you know it. You get "Krampus"

2bs

Merry Christmas

The Matt and Tubes get there silver suits on and call Gary Busey to find out if "Predator 2" is Crucial.

This sequel to "Predator" has powerfull warrior aliens, an absolutely bonkers cast of bad guys, and Danny Glover.

What could go wrong?

Also I talk some good old fashioned Tubes nerd stuff.

Love,

2bs

Up Next, "NOPE"

The Matt and Tubes grab a can of Chernobly Energy Drink and strip down to find out if "Hot Tub Time Machine" is Crucial.

Is this movie the last comedy that holds up to our 80's and 90's standards?

Does it belong with such greats as "Tommy Boy"?

Will Chevy Chase get naked???

You'll have to listen in to find out...

Love to you all,

2bs

Up Next: "Predator 2"

We slow things down this week to have a Classic Crucial discussion.

We hope you enjoy.

2bs