DeGen Cinema Podcast

Back to the Future (1985) | Puking on Deloreans

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay head to the clock tower to catch lightning in a bottle as they discuss the 1985 classic, 'Back to the Future.' Andy kicks off the podcast by telling a story when he overdid with partying at a fair and wound up at a crazy car dealership that specializes in Deloreans.  Then the guys give this family movie the Degen treatment. There's a lot of discussion about how Robert Zemeckis captured the '80s wonderment, and was helped by Alan Silvestri's occasionally gripping score. In addition to the technical aspect, the hosts devote a lot of time to whether or not Lea Thompson was a smokeshow back in the day, and the icky logistics of going back in time just to have the opportunity to hook up with the teenage version of your own mother. Michael J. Fox was famously the second choice to star in the franchise, but it's Christopher Lloyd's cartoonish depiction of Doc Brown that sells the essence of a film with a mostly bonkers premise. So order a Pepsi Free or a Tab from the milkshake counter and settle in for a surprisingly unhinged episode.

Taken (2008) | Rescuing Friends From a Crack Motel

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay show off their particular set of skills while talking about the movie that launched the old man action blockbuster, 'Taken.' Andy starts things off by remembering a time he had to use his years of training as a user to literally sniff out, and track down a friend who went missing after a concert.  Then the boys dive into one of the most befuddling studio action trilogies, a movie that defied all odds (and logic) and turned Liam Neeson from a well-respected acting legend into a late-career, slow-moving, gruff-speaking CIA specialist who specializes in torture, and poorly-choreorgraphed combat. Admittedly, this is not the fellas favorite movie ever covered, but much like audiences in 2008, they had a blast watching it — and playfully poking fun at Neeson as Bryan Mills. The film soared because of one gripping scene of Bryan Mills on the phone that was used as the crux of a trailer with bits of action peppered throughout. The guys also spend time debating on just how much the gorgeous Maggie Grace (who is 10 years older than the 17 year old she plays) would have fetched on the black market. Similar to when you catch 'Taken' on cable, you won't be able to turn this episode off.

RoboCop (1987) | Stealing Money To Buy Toy Guns

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay just got back from hanging out in Old Detroit to talk about the '80s classic, 'RoboCop.' Bombay kicks off the episode by recalling the first time saw this movie as a youngster, and unwittingly found himself involved in a friend's crimespree. Then the guys ask, "Can you fly, Bobby?" as they discuss seeing the simultaneous low class, and high class brilliance of a film built on tenets of scathing (hilarious) satire that also happens to feature some of the most over the top violence, and gore, in a studio film. They look back fondly at RoboMania, which included a Saturday morning cartoon, and Andy's parents even hiring a RoboCop lookalike for a birthday party. Peter Weller is gripping as the titular robotic police officer, but Kurtwood Smith's delighted unhinged portrayal as the menacingly even Clarence steals the show — along with his looney brand of masochistic thugs. There's plenty of wonderful characters actors, from Miguel Ferrer to Ray Wise, who all do their part to portray a terrifying dystopian Detroit that's only a tad bit scarier than the city was actually in the '80s. Similar to the news segments, and bonkers commercials stingers Paul Verhoeven added throughout, this episode will leave you laughing with delight, and if not, then it's "Your move, creep."

Whiplash (2014) | Fist Fighting Your Music Teacher

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay find their tempo as they talk about 2014's psychological masterpiece, 'Whiplash.' Andy opens up the episode by recalling the time he saw a drummer in school lose his mind and attack the music teacher. Then the fellas dive into Damien Chazzelle's breakout film that presents as a sports movie, but is actually more akin to a two-hander thriller. The film is stuffed with jazz nerd specificity — and is an ode to the insane skill and work ethic it takes to become talented enough to play in one of these ensembles — which serves as a background for J.K. Simmons' maniacal Fletcher. Sure, the film is about pathological focus, but Fletcher's tyrannical outbursts are not only terrifying, but they are legitimately hilarious as he delivers one boundary-pushing offensive quip after another. Miles Teller is equally as compelling as the quiet spoken, yet low-key narcissistic drummer who yearns for Fletcher's approval while eschewing his own doting father — played by a wonderful Paul Reiser, who delivers a chilling expression as he witnesses his son transform into a monster during the transcendent closing sequence of the film. Throughout the episodes the boys reference 'The Godfather' movies, and other certified classics, as they believe more people in the film community should be heralding it as the propulsive perfectly-placed psychological thriller that it is.

Zoolander (2001) | Starting Crazy Gasoline Fires

Degens Andy S and Brandon Bombay head to a center for ants to talk about the 2001 comedy classic, 'Zoolander.' Bombay is the first to walk the runway, as he harkens to the gas pump fight scene by telling a story that involved a dangerous gasoline fire when he was a teenager.  Then the guys discuss a movie that was basically an extended sketch premise stretched thin at only 89 minutes, but still worked and became a cultural powerhouse thanks to a stacked cast and an onslaught of laughs. Not only did he star, but Ben Stiller also directed this movie packed with quit-cutting wild energy, and overflowing with celebrity cameos. A few of the standouts being a post-'Titanic' Billy Zane, and the effervescent David Bowie who gets beckoned to call Stiller and Owen Wilson's epic walk off. The flick is packed with countless examples of himbo idiocy humor, and in a movie filled with gorgeous faces it's Christine Taylor's perfect face, and perfect delivery as the straight person that helps ground it. Not only did the film give us laughs, but it also provided the signature Blue Steel look that was a joke in the early 2000s, and later became the de facto face both men and women default to in photos for the social media era. After listening to this off-the-rails recording you'll agree that it's a really, really, really ridiculously good episode.