Box Office GROSS: The Top 50 Hit Films of 2006

2006, Ep. 22: "THE FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT" (with Pete Volk!)

The awesome Pete Volk (Sports Movies That Don't Suck) joins us for another runty-in-the-moment third film in an action series that eventually became one of the biggest franchises in the world, THE FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT. We discuss all the insane sliding-doors moments in this disparate series, from nearly being released direct-to-video, its highly-criticized lead casting, its Disney Channel Original Movie structure, its most grounded, human-level perspective, and the pivotal half-jokey casting decision that caused the entire series to distort itself into retroactive temporal fuckery to make its lore fit into place. Other topics include Better Luck Tomorrow, Lucas Black's rare leading-man accent, the problematic comments section of the Internet Movie Car Database, iPods, flip phones, AOL Instant Messenger, fake stand-in directors for arrests, and the magic of "Bawitdaba". This episode was one of the most fun episodes we've done so far, and I think we did brisk justice for an aerodynamic entry in a series defined by its bloat. Pete is such an excellent guest, and we had a blast, and we hope you do too!!! Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social] Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Rob’s Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON⁠ [https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON] Pete's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/petevolk.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/petevolk.bsky.social] Sports Movies That Don't Suck: https://open.spotify.com/show/2zjVQSqxwWjKJpbwy7omF8 [https://open.spotify.com/show/2zjVQSqxwWjKJpbwy7omF8] Keiichi Tsuchiya: The Touge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblB5jHTIoU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblB5jHTIoU] The Dreamcast Files: "Tokyo Xtreme Racer" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdwPjDzeFE0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdwPjDzeFE0]

2006, Ep. 21: "NACHO LIBRE" (with Alex Goldman!)

The great Alex Goldman (Hyperfixed, Amityvilleville) returns, in much better health than our Narnia episode, as we discuss Jared Hess's post-Napoleon Dynamite blank check, the Mexican wrestling comedy NACHO LIBRE! This film is an absolutely perfect entry for the theme of our show, a movie with an easily summarized elevator-pitch premise and famous lead that a lot of people saw and everyone sorta remembers, that made money 20 years ago but basically no one feels passion for revisiting. We discuss its genial charms, its shapeless yet insistent narrative, its dicey racial insensitivity, its intermittently gorgeous photography, the small but pivotal ways Mormonism informs Hess's work, the potential respect and disrespect for the people of Mexico, the art of professional wrestling, and Jack Black's long, fruitful but complicated career as a Popular Culture Personality. Alex is one of the best in the business and we had an absolute blast having him back, this conversation is one of my favorites that we've done in a while, check it out! Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social] Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Rob’s Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON⁠ [https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON] Alex's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/agoldman.bsky.social⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/agoldman.bsky.social] Hyperfixed: ⁠⁠https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/⁠ [https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/] Amityvilleville: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amityvilleville/id1870701232 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amityvilleville/id1870701232] Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/] )

2006, Ep. 20: "CARS" (with Jeb Lund!)

KACHOW! KACHIKA! The great Jeb Lund (@Mobute, It's Christmastime) returns again to cover the most merchandized film we've yet covered, the perfectly passable piece of Pixar product known as CARS! Rob takes us DEEP on the brief history of the most prominent animation studio currently running, as we go into their first official collaboration with Disney. We discuss its benign, bullshit origin story ("a film about cars" "a film about Route 66"), the cultural overcorrection of the late W Bush years, the inexplicable drift-car trend among summer '06 films, the even more inexplicable rise of Larry the Cable Guy, the travesty of Rascal Flatts, the film's villains being arrogance and the interstate highway system, its appeals to Boomer nostalgia and childhood merchandizing, its structure making it both a secret Hallmark movie and a Doc Hollywood ripoff, and how little that matters when you see a small child's eyes light up as they hit the gas. Other topics include Ludwig von Drake v. Professor Owl, spilling cat foot in the garage, tramp stamps, fart jokes, Silicon Valley Masters of the Universe, old Jalopnik articles, and the true brilliance of "Disney Pixar Cars falling into deep pool, Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Mack, Sally, Francesco". We love Jeb and love that we've gotten to make him such a regular around these parts, he's brilliant and hilarious as always, please check it out! Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/SchmanthonyP] Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social] Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social]⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Rob’s Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON [https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON] Jeb's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/Mobute⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Mobute] Jeb's Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mobute.bsky.social⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/mobute.bsky.social] It's Christmastown: ⁠⁠https://daveandjebarentmean.libsyn.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://daveandjebarentmean.libsyn.com/] Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/] ) "Disney Pixar Cars falling into deep pool, Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Mack, Sally, Francesco": https://youtu.be/QVm-rEdZSzA?si=AeGTV8PJp24vjGjx [https://youtu.be/QVm-rEdZSzA?si=AeGTV8PJp24vjGjx] Rob’s list of anthropomorphic car animation and other car-related animation, including links to watch for free on various platforms: https://boxd.it/UHF4u [https://boxd.it/UHF4u] "Why Am I Alive? Death, Obsolescence and Corporeality in Pixar" https://medium.com/@illiterates/why-am-i-alive-death-obsolescence-and-corporeality-in-pixar-e1554d29ee12 [https://medium.com/@illiterates/why-am-i-alive-death-obsolescence-and-corporeality-in-pixar-e1554d29ee12] "Criterion’s 4K Wall-E is a Psy-Op" https://medium.com/@illiterates/criterions-4k-wall-e-is-a-psy-op-d99b0a636cfe [https://medium.com/@illiterates/criterions-4k-wall-e-is-a-psy-op-d99b0a636cfe] "Metallica's discography but only when they say parts of a car" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nLMdhYUzLo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nLMdhYUzLo]

2006, Ep. 19: "X-MEN: THE LAST STAND" (with Shaun Swayne & TJ Dobbin!)

Two of our closest and smartest pals return in TJ DOBBIN and associate producer SHAUN SWAYNE to discuss a subject in which both have oodles of expertise: X-MEN, as we pick apart Brett Ratner's X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. The four of us have a FASCINATING conversation about all the different ways one can arrive at appreciation or loathing based on similar levels of familiarity or apathy. We discuss the muddled legacy of the original trilogy of X-Men films, traversing authorship from one sexual predator director to another, its intermittent and frequently aggressive, bizarre relationship with its characters, its actors, and its comic origins: its muddled plot, its cavalier, wasted relationship with legacy and narrative, its cool action sequences, and what constitutes a worthwhile superhero film when every plot point feels resentful of its forebears. Other topics include Dougray Scott, Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, baby's first body horror, Nova Scotia's favorite son, fake scripts, the unfathomable weight of big-screen tube TVs, and being the juggernaut, bitch. ALSO, my cat DRAWS BLOOD, ON MIC, and I will be sending the audio TO THE POLICE!!! This was so much fun, and I knew delaying the episode so we could fit both guests on would absolutely be the right call, and it rocks so hard. CHECK IT OUT. Whitney Houston - "I'm Your Baby Tonight" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0oRnyXxIrY&pp=ygUld2hpdG5leSBob3VzdG9uIGknbSB5b3VyIGJhYnkgdG9uaWdodA%3D%3D] Paul McCartney & Wings - "Magneto & Titanium Man" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S50ym4y5nC4&pp=ygUed2luZ3MgbWFnbmV0byBhbmQgdGl0YW5pdW0gbWFu] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0oRnyXxIrY&pp=ygUld2hpdG5leSBob3VzdG9uIGknbSB5b3VyIGJhYnkgdG9uaWdodA%3D%3D Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/SchmanthonyP] Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social] Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social]⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Rob’s Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON [https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON] TJ's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tjamesdobbin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/tjamesdobbin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠] TJ's Website: ⁠https://strawberrypenguin.ca/ [⁠https://strawberrypenguin.ca/ ] SHAUN CAN ONLY BE CONTACTED THROUGH CARRIER PIGEON Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] )

2006, Ep. 18: "THE BREAK-UP" (with Eric Marsh!)

Our wonderful and erudite Chicago-ass pal Eric Marsh (@marshlands) joins us this week for a pretty terrible wannabe-Chicago-ass movie, as we all uexpectedly find ourselves on common and even ground when it comes to Peyton Reed's thin, sour anti-rom-com THE BREAK-UP! We go way out of our way to substantiate our bonafides as cinephiles, invoking the names of Stan Brakhage, Leo McCarey, Agnes Varda, Ingmar Bergman, Maurice Pialat, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the oeuvre of Elaine May to establish that we didn't hate this movie because it's raw and acerbic and 2 extreme for us, we hated it because it sucks, with empty, irritating, poorly-established characters running through illogical, one-dimensional sitcom paces. We also discuss Rob and I unexpectedly finding ourselves simpatico on Reed's beloved other rom-com, the film's lackluster engagement with its host city, taking over land, sea AND air, naming your kid LUPUS, harassment as courtship, Two Minute Warning, GTA: San Andreas, the vagaries of the art sale world, buying condos with your new girlfriend, getting cucked as marketing strategy, the dead rising, bare behinds and ridin' dirty. We had so much fun, I had wanted Eric on for a long time and I was so thrilled we finally got him, this is a rollicking blast of a thing, check it out! "The Fireside Bowl: An Unlikely Place for Punks of All Ages" (Joe DeCeault, WBEZChicago, 2023) https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2023/09/14/the-fireside-bowl-an-unlikely-place-for-punks-of-all-ages [https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2023/09/14/the-fireside-bowl-an-unlikely-place-for-punks-of-all-ages?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExek4zaUQ1RGNHd1p0N2RhNXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4GOol_NF-GGVV3Z2YKPV__IGxjHbcZ6pKaDtHPVRjTCxbXIjfJz88m7fvQ7w_aem_EtN0IvpWIYsuVL3-UZ4BdQ] Brian's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchmanthonyP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/SchmanthonyP] Brian's Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/schmanthonyp.bsky.social] Rob’s BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social]⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/wormsgreenrealm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Rob’s Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/ROBDUNSON] Eric's Twitter: https://x.com/marshlands [https://x.com/marshlands] Eric's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marshlands.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/marshlands.bsky.social] Eric's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/marshlandz/ [https://letterboxd.com/marshlandz/] EMAIL US! : ⁠⁠boxofficegross@gmail.com⁠⁠ [boxofficegross@gmail.com] THE GREAT FUN BEST OF BOX OFFICE GROSS 2005 GIVEAWAY SPECTACULAR Enter to win a fun little gift giveaway from us by doing any of the following: * Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts * Leave us a rating on Spotify or whatever other podcatcher you use that employs a rating system * Send us an email at BoxOfficeGROSS@gmail.com with your favorite 2005 thing–something you loved from the first year of the show, your personal favorite movie/music/TV show/whatever from 2005, or whatever other hot take or thought regarding 2005 you may have–we will also read/play this on the Best of 2005 episode (with your consent). What you can win (ALL of the below in one package): - a DVD for a Box Office GROSS covered film; - a little piece of custom art related to that film by Rob; - some boutique highlight selections from the film's letterboxd, printed and collected inside the DVD case; - a little message from Rob and Brian - MAYBE, if Rob figures out the technical stuff soon, a little Box Office GROSS pin or button or sticker. NOT YET DESIGNED, to be clear, but possible. - Anything else we feel like throwing into a padded envelope (but nothing life-threatening or NSFW) Entries will be accepted until at least May 15th, possibly longer but treat May 15th as the deadline for now!!! (If you rate and review the show, screenshot it and include it in your email–one of the better ways to make sure we know you did it) Theme Song: "Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day" by Ether Driver ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com/] )