The Franchise Forum Podcast

Franchise Forum Ep. 10 - Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

The Franchise Forum crew is back… and John McClane has officially entered the digital age. This week, we tackle Live Free or Die Hard, the cyber-terrorism-fueled fourth entry that trades grimy ’80s grit for exploding helicopters, collapsing freeways, and Justin Long explaining the internet to Bruce Willis. We break down the franchise’s controversial shift from hard-R to PG-13, debate Bruce Willis’ scorching hot take that this might actually be better than the original, and ask the important questions: does McClane still feel like McClane when he’s fighting hackers instead of Hans Gruber-types? Along the way we dive into the film’s insane production schedule, wildly over-the-top action set pieces, and whether Len Wiseman’s slick visual style helped modernize the franchise… or sanded off too much of what made Die Hard special in the first place. Plus: trivia, tangents, tech panic, traffic-light conspiracy theories, and the continuing evolution of Bruce Willis’ hairline. Yippee-ki-yay… mostly.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Memento (2000)

Franchise Forum: Director Series continues with Christopher Nolan and Memento.   Greg jumps into Nolan's backward (and forward) story of revenge through the lens of anterograde amnesia, digging into the Academy Award-nominated editing and screenplay, the importance of mirrors, and the 2000 film that put Nolan on every film aficionado's radar.   Episode 3 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series.

Franchise Forum Ep. 9 - Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

We’re back with John McClane… and this time, the whole city’s in play. In Episode 9, Greg, Erik, Adam, and Ross head to New York for Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) the sequel that ditches the building, turns everything into a puzzle, and somehow never slows down. From Central Park to Wall Street, Simon Gruber is pulling the strings and McClane is just trying to keep up. We get into what works, what really works, and where this one might actually challenge the original… or fall apart right when it matters most. The pacing, the riddles, the chaos, the heat of a New York summer, it’s all on the table. And yeah… we’re not exactly on the same page this time. Plus, we debut the Villain Draft... each of us builds our own lineup of the most iconic, chaotic, and unforgettable villains in pop culture. Some picks make sense… others might start a fight. Grab a sign, don’t ask questions… and try to keep up.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Oppenheimer (2023)

Franchise Forum: Director Series continues with Christopher Nolan and Oppenheimer.   Nolan's most decorated film to date, Greg dissects how Oppenheimer blends genres, creatively tackles special effects, and uses symbolism in every way imaginable to take home seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.   Episode 2 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Dunkirk (2017)

Franchise Forum: Director Series begins with Christopher Nolan and Dunkirk.   One of the most celebrated directors of this century, Nolan becomes the focus as Greg breaks down how Dunkirk strays from the traditional war film mold and how Nolan’s signature style shapes the experience of this 2017 Best Picture–nominated film.   Episode 1 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series starts now!