Films on Trial

Top Gun is on trial this week. Is it a movie Maverick? Or is it a cooked Goose? Dave defends the classic, arguing that it was one of the biggest films of the 80s, with great action sequences and a stellar soundtrack. Gav is in prosecution and counters that the action is short and not very sweet, and that most of the film is focused on a poorly-written love story. There's an impression of Tom Skerritt and a quiz all about movie nicknames. All that plus the usual great debates and banter from the gang. We feel the need. The need to plead... our case! www.filmsontrial.co.uk/275

War of the Worlds (2005) is on trial this week. Did Spielberg catch lightning in a bottle or would it be better left buried? Alex says this is a modern yet faithful adaptation of the seminal novel by H.G. Wells that deftly weaves horror into the blockbuster experience. Dave feels a saccharine ending as well as odd plot changes mean the impact of the original novel is diluted and the film itself is forgettable. All this with a quiz about other takes on this much-adapted work and an impression of Richard Burton. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/274

Eyes Wide Shut is on trial this week. Does it rise to the occasion or is it a complete flop? Alex argues that Stanley Kubrick's last film is a gripping exploration of sexual desire and fantasy, with strong lead performances and an unnerving plot making this a hit. Gav and Mike say there is very little here to sustain a long runtime, with meandering scenes and themes that go nowhere. All this with an impression of a busy Tom Cruise and a quiz all about the legendary Stanley Kubrick. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/273 Special Guest: Mike.

The Last Samurai is on trial this week. A perfect blossom or a knife in the guts? Alex defends, saying that this love letter to Japan made a fascinating period of history accessible for Western audiences. Dave feels too much is lost in translation, with glaring historical inaccuracies that stop it achieving greatness. All this with an impression of the big man Billy Connolly and a quiz all about Akira Kurosawa. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/272 Special Guest: Mike.

We kick off Tom Cruise season by putting Legend (1985) on trial. Will it cruise to victory or fail to curry favour? Dave defends, arguing that incredible character and set design, alongside an iconic performance from the legendary Tim Curry, make this a hit. Alex disagrees, saying there isn't enough make up in the world to disguise a story that lacks any emotional depth. All this with an impression of Tim Curry and a quiz where Dave and Alex test each other on the career of Tom Cruise. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/271

Our financial flop season concludes with John Carter on trial this week. Will we jump for joy, or could we not give a Thark? Ausy and Alex say a huge overspend on budget distracts from the fact that this is a fun adaptation of one of the earliest and most influential sci-fi series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Dave and Mike argue that even forgetting the terrible marketing and extensive reshoots, John Carter ends up looking like a cheap imitation of Star Wars instead of its inspiration. All this with an impression of Willem Dafoe and a quiz all about flops www.filmsontrial.co.uk/270 Special Guest: Mike.

Joker: Folie à Deux is on trial this week. Does it make us cry laughing or does it just make us cry? Dave defends saying that Todd Philips accomplished everything he set out to do in this meta take on super villains that's also got a killer cast. Gav is slightly less enthusiastic, saying that it's hardly a surprise when a film that seems to hate its own audience doesn't do well at the box office. All this with some DC based insults about each other and a quiz all about cinematic chuckles. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/269

The Thing (1982) is on trial this week. Does it keep up appearances or is it a wolf in sheep's clothing? Gav defends his all-time favourite film with help from Mike, saying this is a masterpiece of sci-fi horror that has been often imitated but never bettered. Alex and Ausy are left cold however, citing a slapstick beginning to a film that then doesn't bother to create characters or tension, relying solely on special effects that are now outdated. All this with an impression of an incompetent Norwegian and a quiz all about the illustrious career of the man himself, Keith David. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/268 Special Guest: Mike.

After many years of putting films on trial, Citizen Kane is finally in the dock this week. Should it go on our shit list, next to Spiderman 3 or Home Sweet Home Alone? Or on our hit list, alongside such cinematic titans as Crossroads, Air Force One and Hocus Pocus? Alex defends and Dave prosecutes, with Gav having to decide whether this film deserves its place as one of the greatest films of all time, or if technical skill and movie mythology have blinded us to a boring and flawed film. All this with an impression of Orson Welles and a quiz about news in film. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/267

Fight Club is on trial this week. Is it a love tap or a sucker punch? Alex defends, saying a faithful adaptation of the original classic novel coupled with David Fincher's magic touch make this a knockout. Gav thinks this fight was thrown, saying its mixed and confusing messages have not aged well, and that Brad Pitt's Tyler Durden hits below the belt. All this with an impression of Meatloaf and a quiz all about rules in films. Who is coffee for? www.filmsontrial.co.uk/266

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) is on trial this week. A sweet treat or like falling into a brown, disgusting river? Dave defends this sleeper hit, saying an iconic performance from Gene Wilder, hit songs and a tasty supporting cast make this a classic. Gav disagrees, saying the film glosses over the questionable morals of a psychotic capitalist who is likely guilty of trafficking the Oompa Loompas. All this with an impression of an Oompa Loompa and a quiz all about famous movie restaurants. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/265

City of Angels is on trial. A match made in heaven or has hell frozen over? Gav defends this week, pointing to a rich story that doesn't tug on your heartstrings for the sake of it and sublime performances. The devil is the details for Alex however, as he struggles to get past Maggie's lack of basic cycle safety awareness. All this with an impression of Dennis Franz and a quiz all about songs commissioned especially for movies. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/264

This week we put The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on trial. Is it pulling its weight, or is it too much weight to bear? Dave says that it's an enjoyable comic piece with two great central performances, whereas Alex argues that it has a lot of potential which it never delivers on. All of this plus a quiz about heavy items and an impression of the man himself. Let us know what you think of the episode, and don't forget to leave us a 5* rating. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/263

Adaptation is on trial this week. Fresh as a daisy or best if we nip it in the bud? Alex defends one of his all time favourites, saying stand out performances from a stellar cast coupled with a truly original story and tight script make this a bed of roses. Gav and Dave have no qualms trampling on every single argument however, calling this masterpiece "w*nky" and asking the question: is a car chase a car chase if no car is being chased? All this with a quiz where we guess films from a tagline with blanks included and an impression of a Florida man. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/262

Longlegs is on trial this week. The daddy of detective horror films or does it trip over itself? Gav defends, stating that superb direction and a great aesthetic put him in seventh heaven. The devil is in the details for Ausy and Alex however, as they say a promising beginning ultimately collapses in a poor third act with podcast favourite up to his old antics. All this with an impression of Cage doing an impression of Marc Bolan, and a quiz all about serial killers in films. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/261

Renfield is in the dock this week. Something to sink our teeth into or does it make our blood boil? Dave defends, arguing a tight script and a killer premise make this film slay. Gav prosecutes, saying a messy mash of genres and confusing plot turns ended up breaking his heart. All this with an impression of Dracula and a quiz where we guess the vampire movie from the tagline. 'Eine symphonie des grauens', anybody? www.filmsontrial.co.uk/260

Gone in 60 Seconds is on trial this week. Is this an old banger or will it drive us round the bend? Ausy, a long time fan of Gone in 60 Seconds, finally gets the chance to defend this car heist classic with Dave, arguing it set the formula for car action films for the next 20 years. Joel and Alex prosecute, saying that a lack of cars in a car movie is criminal, and that too many characters means big actors like Robert Duval are left in the dust. All this with an impression of Vinnie Jones and a quiz all about some of Nicolas Cage's films from his later career, such as Primal. Does he fight a massive white jaguar on a boat or an assassin? Or both? www.filmsontrial.co.uk/259

The Wicker Man (2006) is on trial this week. Sweet as honey or better left in its cage? Gav defends, saying that watching Nicolas Cage karate chop his way through a pagan mystery dressed as a bear is tough to top. Dave and Alex argue that a smattering of unintentionally hilarious moments do not make up for the fact that this remake of a horror classic has taken out all the actual horror. All this with an impression and quiz about the main man himself, Nicolas Cage. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/258

The Wicker Man (1973) is on trial this week. Do we like these apples or is it a basket case? Gav argues a gripping story about paganism and Christianity topped off with one of the finest finales in horror history make this a classic. Dave and Alex argue it tries to be both a mystery-horror and a deep discussion of religion, ending up as neither. All this with an impression of Christopher Lee and another of a flaming Edward Woodward, with a quiz all about angles in historic monuments. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/257

Aladdin (2019) is on trial this week. Is it a magic carpet ride, or a step too Jafar? Gav celebrates the film's musical numbers, and highlights that a lot of the controversies of the original have been addressed. Alex argues that an odd choice in director and a subpar genie really hinder the film. There are great arguments from both sides, an impression of Guy Richie, and a quiz all about the 1001 Arabian Nights. www.filmsontrial.co.uk/256