Forgotten Cinema

Changing Lanes

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit "Changing Lanes", the early 2000s drama built around one bad day and two men whose lives collide in all the worst ways. Mike Butler remembers enjoying this film the first time around, and on rewatch there is still a lot to like. The dual protagonist structure, where each man also serves as the other’s antagonist, creates an interesting dynamic. Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck both deliver strong performances, bringing intensity and humanity to characters pushed to their limits. Mike Field also appreciates the performances and the decision to treat this concept as a grounded drama rather than a more conventional action thriller. However, he finds the dual main character setup distracting, making it harder to fully invest in either character’s journey. Both Mikes agree the film is not without its flaws. There are noticeable contrivances, and the resolution leans a bit too conveniently toward a tidy ending. Butler also feels Affleck’s character could have used more development, particularly in showing what drives him toward the darker choices he begins to make. Even with those issues, "Changing Lanes" remains a compelling and thoughtful early-2000s drama, anchored by strong performances and a premise that still resonates. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 3:51 - Film Facts 9:20 - Film Discussion 27:47 - Reviews 34:11 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 37:43 - Why Is This Forgotten? 39:43 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #ChangingLanes #SamuelLJackson #BenAffleck #Drama #00s #2000s #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

Vitalerium: Descent into the Void | Interview with the Author

The Mikes are doing something different in this episode...reading! Mike Butler and Mike Field interview author Nicholas Keating Casbarro about his sci-fi epic "Vitalerium: Descent into the Void". The first chapter of a huge new series set in the far future. A novel filled with action, mystery, political intrigue, and more. The Mikes and Casbarro will discuss what goes into creating your first story, planning out a universe, writing theory, and other light topics such as predictions on the future of humanity. This episode is out of this world! ...I'll see myself out! Get all your Vitalerium links here! Purchase your copy: https://www.amazon.com/Vitalerium-Descent-Nicholas-Keating-Casbarro/dp/B0D9KWWV4G Visit the official website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/ Follow Vitalerium on Instagram @vitaleriumseries or on X @vitalerium Check out @luxsteezcosplay on Instagram to checkout her awesome Monique Magni character cosplay from the book! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com #ForgottenCinema #Vitalerium #NicholasKeatingCasbarro #VitaleriumSeries #SciFi #Authors #Interview

The Bride

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, the Mikes take a look at "The Bride", Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ambitious and visually striking monster film. Mike Butler comes away disappointed. While he believes the movie is phenomenally acted, beautifully designed, and impressively directed, the script simply does not work for him. The story feels unfocused, struggling to decide what it wants to be or what it wants to say. As Gyllenhaal’s first big-budget film, it is a strong showcase for her talents behind the camera, but Butler feels the screenplay ultimately lets the entire project down. That said, there is still a lot to admire. Jessie Buckley delivers an incredible performance as the Bride, Christian Bale is fantastic as “Frank,” and the film closes with the best end credit song in recent memory. Mike Field had a similar reaction walking out of the theater, but after sitting with it for a day he found himself warming up to the film. Not because he disagrees with the criticisms of the script, but because he appreciates how different the movie is from most modern blockbuster fare. That leads to the bigger question the Mikes explore in this episode. Is being different enough to make a film good? Ambitious, strange, and deeply divisive, "The Bride" is a film that sparks a lot of discussion even if it does not fully come together. What did you think of The Bride? Let us know in the comments! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com #ForgottenCinema #TheBride #Bride #BrideOfFrankenstein #Frankenstein #MaggieGyllenhaal #ChristianBale #JessieBuckley #Romance #Horror #HorrorFilms #MonsterMovies #NewRelease #FilmDiscussion

Arachnophobia

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit "Arachnophobia", the horror comedy that proves sometimes the scariest monsters are the smallest ones. Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy this one; with Butler describing it best as spider "Jaws". The film builds tension around an invasion of deadly spiders while following Jeff Daniels as a small-town doctor who must stop them despite being deeply afraid of spiders himself. Daniels brings a relatable everyman quality to the role that helps ground the story, while John Goodman steals plenty of scenes as the eccentric exterminator brought in to deal with the growing infestation. The movie is also a showcase for great character actors. Instead of relying on huge personalities or scene stealing performances, the film fills its world with memorable supporting characters who feel like real people and deliver plenty of great lines along the way. Balancing laughs and thrills without becoming overly bombastic, "Arachnophobia" keeps things relatively grounded while still delivering plenty of creepy moments. It is a smart, fun creature feature that proves you do not need giant monsters to make an audience squirm. What your favorite films in this genre? Let us know in the comments! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema 🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 2:57 - Film Facts 14:16 - Film Discussion 33:35 - Reviews 40:46 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 41:17 - Why Is This Forgotten? 43:49 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #Arachnophobia #JeffDaniels #JohnGoodman #FrankMarshal #Spiders #Horror #HorrorComedy #90s #80s #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

Last Four | Episode 2

Four more movies. Four very different experiences. In Episode 2 of Last Four, Mike Field breaks down the latest four films he watched. What worked, what didn’t, and who each movie might be for. No rankings. No hot takes for the sake of hot takes. Just honest reactions from a lifelong movie lover. This week’s lineup ranges from intimate family drama to mockumentary comedy, surreal conspiracy thriller, and a bold Spike Lee reinterpretation of a Kurosawa classic. 🎥 MOVIES COVERED 00:00 Cold Open 00:45 Intro 00:59 Sentimental Value 09:55 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues 14:15 Bugonia 20:23 Highest 2 Lowest 🎬 ABOUT THE SHOW Last Four is a solo series from Forgotten Cinema host Mike Field where he talks about the last four movies he watched — new releases, classics, surprises, and disappointments. 💬 Join the conversation What were the last four movies you watched? Drop them in the comments — they might even show up in a future episode. 🎙 MORE FROM FORGOTTEN CINEMA Forgotten Cinema is a movie podcast and YouTube channel exploring great films that deserve another look — from cult classics to overlooked favorites. Subscribe for: Movie discussions, Film analysis, New shows like Last Four and more!