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A weekly show about bringing attention to forgotten and orphaned movies where a bunch of like-minded individuals dive head first into the septic tank of cinema in search for disregarded masterpieces.
A CLAPPER production.
A CLAPPER production.
423 Episodes
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In this episode of the show we are taking our 80s dystopia abroad as we discuss the 1988 anime classic Akira. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us try to understand this dense movie and tease out what it says about Japan at the time and the world at large. We then take a bit of a deep dive to try to learn more about how storytelling archetypes native to Japanese audiences are slightly different to ones encountered in Western traditions only to emerge enriched and a little bit more discombobulated, but nonetheless full of appreciation for this movie. We also discuss the iconic animation style, Akira as a biker movie and whether water has memory. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Campbell BurrowsHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this second episode of our 2026 series about iconic movies from the 1980s, we are sitting down to discuss the seminal action movie of the decade, The Terminator. Over the course of our sprawling conversation you will hear us talk, among others, about how the movie came together in an unlikely way and became a word-of-mouth hit, how it cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger's status as the action man of his time, and how it spawned a billion-dollar franchise on the back of what essentially was an exploitation horror with a sci-fi gimmick. We also talk about the film's special effects, its oddly ingenious music, how its setup is as ridiculous as it is phenomenal and much, much more!Tune in and enjoy!Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Rich FosterHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show we are exploring the maximalist dystopia directed by Terry Gilliam, Brazil. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us carefully retrace the complicated history of how Brazil came together, how it was a nightmare to release in the US and how it became a cult classic despite meddling from studio moguls. We also talk about Gilliam's signature kitchen sink approach to visual storytelling as we try to wrap our heads around the many nuances and facets of the narrative. We wonder if Sam Lowry is more of a Josef K. or a Winston Smith character, pontificate over the question if the movie has a happy ending after all and much more!Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Ian SchultzHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of our ongoing Mike Nichols Marathon we are discussing the 1996 The Birdcage. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about this movie being a massive comeback for Mike Nichols and a triumph of Elaine May's screenwriting. We touch on the many talents of the film's diverse cast that included Robin Williams in an out-of-character calm role, Nathan Lane as the flamboyant diva Albert and how they faced off against the conservative characters played by Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest. We talk about the many subtle quirks and inside jokes in the movie, The Birdcage as a movie that melted conservative hearts in 1996 and how it would have been impossible to remake it today without risking backlash from all corners. Tune in and enjoy!Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Hillary WhiteHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show we are transitioning from discussing 80's fantasy to our February deep dive into 80's dystopian science-fiction. And you couldn't really ask for a better movie to kick off this series than the Ridley Scott-directed Blade Runner. Over the course of our conversation, which was just as ethereal and meandering as the movie itself, you will hear us talk about the many troubles this iconic cult classic faced when released, how the movie stacks up against the book, and where it brings novel material to the table. We also discuss Harrison Ford as a noir detective who wonders if he is real, Rutger Hauer as a haunting presence, the perils of listening to Vangelis while falling asleep and also how the movie prompted some of us to question the fabric of reality and wonder if we are all replicants after all. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Rich Foster & Ian SchultzHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show, our January series of 80s fantasy movies comes to a close with a discussion about the 1986 Highlander. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about how this movie fits into the landscape of the 80's fantasy trend, whether it stands to the side of it or if it heralds the imminent arrival of change. We talk about the many influences packed into the film alongside an even greater number of ridiculous ideas that throw the movie into the realm of camp, 80s accessories, Highlander as a stealth superhero film without a comic book to back it up and much more. Finally, we spend some time wondering if nostalgia is after all a necessary factor for anyone to like it forty years after the film's original release.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Rich FosterHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show we are diving into the Ridley Scott-directed Legend as part of our short exploration of 80s fantasy movies. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about how the movie came together as an original vision driven by visuals and aesthetics, how Ridley Scott's background in commercial work shows in the finished product and how its dark fantasy provenance is only marginally propelled by its narrative. We also discuss Rob Bottin's makeup work, the character design and the many aesthetic touches that make Legend look as though it had more in common with 80s music videos than movies. Finally, we spare a few thoughts about the film's central performances and also stumble upon a whole genre of monster romance writing which also nearly derailed the entire conversation.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Tony Larder & Carson TimarHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this inaugural bonus tie-in podcast for the year 2026, which also happens to be the year of the 1980's for us on the show, we are tying into our January debates on 80's fantasy trend with our take on the 1988 Willow. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us retrace the oral history of how this movie came together and how it all led back to George Lucas and Star Wars. We talk about Ron Howard as a directorial presence stylistically aligned to Lucas and Spielberg, the many struggles of building a universe from the ground up and that fundamental archetypes seem to work best for audiences. We also discuss Warwick Davis as a lead (and the fact he wasn't the top billing in the credits), Val Kilmer as a lovable rogue and we also try to map the entire movie onto the framework of Star Wars. We touch on the film's villain problem, its groundbreaking special effects and much more!Tune in and enjoy! Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show, which also happens to fall close to the fifth birthday of the podcast, we are diving further into the world of sword and sorcery with a conversation about The Beastmaster. Over the course of this chat you will hear us talk about how The Beastmaster originated as an adaptation of a series of fantasy novels and then ended up warped to become a competitor to Conan the Barbarian, how it failed at the box office but gained a significant cult following on home video and thanks to its ubiquity on cable TV, and how it is difficult to tell who this movie exactly is for. We also talk about its suggestive special effects including eye-rings, butterface witches, and BDSM-inspired costumes, we add another notch to our brand-new quicksand counter and chuckle at the tiger painted black to resemble a panther. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Tony LarderHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
We are officially kicking off our brand-new Patreon podcast series where we will be talking about some of the biggest, most-remembered and revered movies from the decade that also may or may not tie into our monthly themes. And we decided to begin by discussing the 1987 The Princess Bride. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about how the movie came together, wonder what its secret sauce is and how Rob Reiner's direction contributed to its success. We also discuss the film's quotability, marvel at André the Giant, wonder what it would be like if the entire movie was dubbed by Peter Falk and decide that Westley was not a good guy after all. Tune in and enjoy!Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show we are venturing even further into the world of 1980's fantasy by discussing two movies directed by Jim Henson: The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about Jim Henson as a tech-driven filmmaker, and storyteller keen on applying the "X with Muppets" to other contexts. We talk about The Dark Crystal functioning much like Avatar of its time with its high concept of making a movie without human characters, which posed certain technical challenges. We also discuss how Henson's movies essentially appropriate storylines from The Lord of the Rings and Wizard of Oz, how the world-building outside of the field of vision of the characters is increasingly barren (and how it might be more acceptable in one of the two movies) and that relying on a gimmick alone suffers from incredible diminishing returns.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this show, we are extending our ongoing Mike Nichols Marathon as our journey through his filmography takes us deeper into the 1990's where we finally take on the 1994 Wolf. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about this movie's positioning among other classical horror archetypes explored by other filmmakers (such as Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Kenneth Branagh's Frankenstein, or Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear), whether this big budget production could be considered a comeback for the aging Nichols and how it reunited him with Elaine May. We also discuss the many readings one could apply to this film, ranging from commenting on the AIDS epidemic and corporate politics to discussions about masculinity and the director's own life trajectory, and we also explore the friction between the film's ambition and its own ability to deliver on character and theme development. Finally, we chuckle at Jack Nicholson's sharpened senses and find out that Jakub might not be able to pronounce the title of the movie correctly at all. Tune in and enjoy!Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
Boom! Our 2026 journey through the 1980's begins right here and now with! We are officially embarking on the first of four seasons of the year - Fantastic Winter - with a month-long survey through 80's fantasy movies. Naturally, some tough choices had to be made, but we settled on a great roster of movies tugging and pulling at this genre from different directions and we begin with the 1981 Excalibur! Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about the genesis of this movie and how it percolated in John Boorman's brain for more than a decade while shapeshifting between an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and a proper take on Arthurian legends. We discuss this piece a "hinge" film bridging two decades, the role of Orion Pictures in the post-New Hollywood landscape and the idea of making fantasy films with adult audiences in mind. We also make some comments about Merlin's headgear, the idea of enunciating every line and dining in a full suit of plate armour.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show, our December retrospective of Ben Affleck's directorial efforts comes to a close. It also puts a bow on the entire year of going through a Director Zodiac of sorts and sets the stage for the next year as well. But more on that later. In this conversation you will hear us talk about Air, the 2023 brand-o-pic about the creation of the iconic shoe for Michael Jordan and his signing a contract with Nike. We discuss the vagaries of independent financing in the age of streaming, the idea of staging a biopic with an iconic character lurking in the shadows and essentially making a movie about a bunch of guys who went to work on a weekend. We also discuss old NBA trivia, nuances of working for different-sized companies, and using the setting of the 80's as a character. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Nicolo Grasso & Rich FosterIntro: Infraction - CassetteOutro: Infraction - DaydreamHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
THIS PODCAST IS AVAILABLE IN FULL FOR FREE ON OUR PATREON!!! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)In this final episode of our 2025 series in which we explored some of the most iconic movies from 1975 and 1995 we are finally rolling the dice with Martin Scorsese's Casino. Over the course of our conversation, which (expectedly) is just as sprawling and widespread as the movie itself, you will hear us talk about the ways in which Casino capitalizes on the success of Goodfellas, how it differs from it in many ways and how it informs one of the most persistent thematic angles present in Martin Scorsese's filmmaking career. We also talk about Las Vegas as a character, Robert De Niro's glitzy wardrobe, that opening explosion shot, Joe Pesci owning the frame and much, much more!Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Tony LarderTHIS PODCAST IS AVAILABLE IN FULL FOR FREE ON OUR PATREON!!! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Head over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show our December retrospective of Ben Affleck's works behind the camera continues with Live by Night. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us discuss the challenges of adapting Dennis Lehane's sprawling gangster epic, the possibility that Affleck might have bitten more than he could chew at the time and that imitating Scorsese is much more difficult than meets the eye. We also talk about Affleck's physical transformation and why he might not look his best in baggy period-accurate suits, the problem of following a dense story without a good hook or a compelling protagonist, the criminal underuse of many great character actors and much more!Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Nicolo GrassoIntro: Infraction - CassetteOutro: Infraction - DaydreamHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
THIS PODCAST IS AVAILABLE IN FULL FOR FREE ON OUR PATREON!!! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)In this last bonus tie-in podcast of the year we are discussing Ben Affleck's most acclaimed movie Argo. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about where Argo ranks among Affleck's directorial efforts, how it stacks up against other prominent movies of its year, how many historical inaccuracies it sports and whether it even matters at all. We also talk about Affleck directing himself in an internalized performance, the alluring idea of making movies about movies and how movies save the world, and that sometimes embellishing reality in service of emotional realism may triumph over factually correct screenwriting. Finally, we spare a few precious thoughts on John Goodman and Alan Arkin's performances and how they serve to comment on Hollywood, and we also find time to relitigate a few old arguments regarding our opinions on Bryan Cranston and the way one should pronounce Warren Beatty's surname. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Tony LarderTHIS PODCAST IS AVAILABLE IN FULL FOR FREE ON OUR PATREON!!! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Head over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show, our Ben Affleck mini-retrospective continues with The Town. Over the course of our chat you will hear us talk about whether The Town is a herald of filmmaking growth from Affleck, how he directs his own performance and how the ideas of organic authenticity explored in Gone Baby Gone translate to a different genre. We comment on Affleck's directorial style, Jeremy Renner's powerhouse performance and the many flourishes connecting The Town to such filmmakers as Michael Mann, Ridley Scott and John Frankenheimer. We also chuckle at a few shots here and there, wonder if FBI agents rehearse their PowerPoint presentations and show gratitude that these bank robbers had a habit of raiding barber shops for DNA with which they could use to contaminate crime scenes and not other establishments where DNA is also found. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Rich FosterIntro: Infraction - CassetteOutro: Infraction - DaydreamHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of our Mike Nichols Marathon, the last of the year, we are ankle-deep in the auteur's 90's output as we discuss the 1991 film Regarding Henry. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us debate whether Nichols abandoned or lost his subversive edge over the course of two decades since his most iconic work or if his early masterpieces were an anomaly in a catalogue of safe movies about relationships. We talk about this movie functioning as an attempt at a Frank Capra film or an antidote to Wall Street and how the film's overt clichés make it look like a Hallmark production. We also point out that Bill Nunn's character is a walking and talking HR liability, that brain trauma can apparently be cured with hot sauce and place a few comments against J.J. Abrams's screenwriting output as well. Tune in enjoy!Subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/uncutgemspod (3$/month) and support us by gaining access to ALL of our exclusive podcasts, such as bonus tie-ins, themed retrospectives and director marathons!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to our website to find out more! (uncutgemspodcast.com)Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod) and IG (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
In this episode of the show we are embarking on the last of our 2025 director series, in which we will take a close look at the directorial efforts of one Ben Affleck and discuss all of his movies, one by one. Thus, we shall begin with Affleck's debut feature Gone Baby Gone. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about Affleck's transition to directing that felt both like a natural extension of his interests and a career comeback, his unique positioning as a Bostonian to adapt Dennis Lehane's novel with requisite emotional realism and authenticity and how the casting of his brother Casey in the lead was an incredibly inspired choice. We also talk about Affleck's 70's inspirations and film IQ, the movie's central moral question that splits the audience in two and whether some of the more manufactured elements of the plot serve to underscore or undermine the narrative as a whole.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsIntro: Infraction - CassetteOutro: Infraction - DaydreamHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
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