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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.
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A CLAPPER production.
435 Episodes
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In this episode of the show our April journey through Robin Williams-starring 80s comedies continues with a discussion about the 1983 The Survivors. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about the disconnect between what the filmmakers wanted to achieve with this movie and how the audiences rejected it, as well as how some critics did see what the movie actually wanted to be. We also talk about how The Survivors tries to decide whether it wants to be a buddy comedy, a farce or a cutting satire of Reagan's America, how Robin Williams might not be the best material for a buddy movie, how the satirical commentary remains prescient today and much more!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 our ongoing Mike Nichols Marathon we are entering the 21st century with his sex comedy What Planet Are You From? Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk at length about the many ways in which the production of this movie turned into a disaster, look behind the curtain to see what possibly drove Nichols to sign on to direct it and how it was unsalvageable for many reasons, the most important of which was the animosity between Nichols and the film's star and screenwriter Garry Shandling. We also talk about the film's crisis of identity as it wobbles between a sex comedy and a relationship satire but neither of these two directions show any edge or teeth, how this film looked mild and tame in the landscape of its comedic competition 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 we are embarking on our month-long jaunt through the 80s comedies starring Robin Williams and we begin therefore with the 1980 Robert Altman-directed Popeye. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us try to make sense of how this movie came together, what forces were needed to drive this movie towards release and even how much conflict behind the scene this production witnessed. We talk at length about Robert Altman's ideas about subverting and deconstructing genres, how Popeye fails both as a musical and its subversion and how Robin Williams's performance dropped in the middle of it was nowhere near enough to save this project from total catastrophe. 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 we are closing our March string of 80's sci-fi comedies (and the entire quarter called Fantastic Winter) with an excellent and bodacious conversation about Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Over the course of our chat you will hear us talk about how this movie stands a little bit to the side of the comedy mainstream of the late 80's, how it synthesizes many traditions and lays the groundwork for many other works to draw from. We discuss its impact on the so-called "slacker generation," how it's mostly watched for its excellent vibes, how the two protagonists are just nice all around and how, against all odds, the film's relationship with its own time travel logic is much more rigorous than meets the eye. 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 bonus episode we are tying into our month-long discussions about 80s sci-fi comedies we are turning our attention to the revered cult classic directed and written by the spoof legend Mel Brooks, Spaceballs. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about how this movie connected with audiences and alienated critics, and why that might have been the case, how Brooks who was one of the pioneers of the spoof comedy ended up overshadowed by more raunchy comedians together with edgier spoofs like Airplane! and The Naked Gun and how Spaceballs remains quite unique because even though it is there to parody one of the biggest movies of all time, it has cultivated its own footprint as well. Finally, we talk about Rick Moranis in his iconic role, we squabble over Bill Pullman and also note that Elon Musk has potentially done some cultural damage by including associations to Spaceballs in his products. 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 our brief expedition into 80s sci-fi comedies gets physical as we discuss the Joe Dante-directed Innerspace. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk - and argue passionately - about Joe Dante's brand of filmmaking that bridges Spielbergian blockbuster sensibilities, attempts at a spoof and a thick filter of Looney Tunes comedy that some of us see as an extension of a very long genre tradition. We also discuss this movie as a pastiche of James Bond films and a big screen recreation of what viewers found in spades on television in that time, Martin Short's comedic appeal, Dennis Quaid's star potential and much more!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 our 80s Icons series we are jumping into our time machines and get ready for an epic discussion about the 1985 Back to the Future! Over the course of our conversation you will hear us recount the convoluted history of how this movie came together, attempt to find what made it so culturally sticky, how this movie relates to life as we know it today, how and why it is referred to as a perfect script and how Zemeckis uses visual foreshadowing to incredible effect. We also talk about the many little gaffes we have found in here, point out that Marty doesn't really have a solid character arc, wonder exactly how Marty and Doc would have met, how the time travel logic doesn't make much sense and how it doesn't matter 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 discussing the seminal Marvel movie, the 1986 Howard the Duck. Over the course of our sprawling conversation you will hear us talk about the complex genesis of this movie going all the way back to George Lucas and his love of the comic book upon which this movie was based on, the trials and tribulations of putting the production together and the self-fulfilling prophecy of how Howard the Duck needed to appeal to everyone to make up for its gargantuan production budget, but instead it alienated nearly all viewers. We also talk about the ripple effects of E.T., Lea Thompson's character engaging in a romantic relationship with duck from outer space, Tim Robbins doing a Donald Duck impression and how the movie this complex failed to write a compelling villain, thus setting the template for many mediocre blockbusters to follow. Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsFeaturing: Hillary White & 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
In this episode of our continuing Mike Nichols Marathon we are sitting down to talk about Primary Colors. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us do our level best to circumnavigate the problematic nature of this movie which is based on the 1992 Bill Clinton primary campaign but is wholly dramatized and filled with fictitious, and oftentimes composite, characters. We talk about how Nichols and May balance between satire and outright takedown of US politics, how the movie treats the "great man" theory and how it effectively looks like a modern reimagining of Macbeth. We also discuss John Travolta's relationship with food, Allison Janey's theatrical falling skills and Billy Bob Thornton's numerous antics. 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 changing gears slightly as we embark on a month-long journey through a selection of 80s science-fiction comedies. And we begin with the 1986 Short Circuit. Over the course of our chat you will hear us talk about how Short Circuit owes its existence to E.T. and a little bit to Wargames, whether Number 5 is a likable hybrid of E.T. and R2D2 and how the film's "omnibus comedy" (a term brilliantly coined by Randy on the show) impacts on the experience of watching it. We also leave a few comments about Ally Sheedy's character's living arrangements with a host of animals, Steve Guttenberg's attempt at playing it straight and the absolutely incomprehensible choice of asking Fisher Stevens to play a Short Round-esque sidekick in brownface. 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
In this episode of the show we are putting a bow on the February jaunt through 80s sci-fi dystopias with a John Carpenter double-header of Escape from New York and They Live. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about Carpenter's love of westerns distilling into Escape, how Kurt Russell loved the character of Snake Plissken and based his performance on Clint Eastwood and how the movie has a scrappy feel of a prescient dystopia that took effort to create. We also talk about They Live and how its messaging has been thoroughly vindicated since its release, Roddy Piper as a stand-in for Kurt Russell, retro-futuristic production design of the world seen through the iconic sunglasses and much more!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 bonus episode of our show we are tying into our February debates about 80s science-fiction dystopias with our take on the 1987 Robocop. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us weave our way through the complex and rich history of how this movie got made, what makes it iconic and potentially problematic and how it adds to the canon of 80s genre heroes. We also talk about Verhoeven's satirical touches, his proclivities towards indulgent violence and how he turned Robocop into an absurd recreation of the story of Jesus. Finally, we discuss Kurtwood Smith as the movie's unforgettable villain, we recount moments that have seared into our memories and share a few laughs at the expense of ED-209 and its inability to climb stairs. 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 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)
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