Almost Classic Movies
Welcome to Almost Classic Movies, the podcast where two movie fans talk about movies. From epic adventures like Lord of the Rings to iconic comedies like Wayne's World and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we explore a blend of almost classics, cult favorites, seasonal gems, and even actual classics. ("Almost Classic Movies" is frankly just a catchy title that riffs off a particular TV program).
It's just two friends talking movies—one loves production trivia, while the other enjoys simply watching and soaking in the story. We strive for evergreen content, so you can pick an episode anywhere and dive right in. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend, family member, or maybe even Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds... That'd be pretty cool.
Thanks for listening!
Episodes
28 episodes
Chicago (2002): Jazz Hands, Jail Time & Justice
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald tap into the razzle-dazzle world of 1920s Chicago with the Oscar-sweeping musical film Chicago (2002). From vaudeville glam to courtroom theatrics, the guys break down t...
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1:02:45
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: More Than Just a Day Off
Welcome to Episode 26 of Almost Classic Movies!This week, we're diving into the timeless high school comedy that defined a generation – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Join us as we revisit John Hughes’ Chicago love letter and ...
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1:43:22
Snow White and the Huntsman: A Darker Fairy Tale?
This week, Jon and Don take a deep dive into Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), a film that sits in the grey area of "almost classic." They break down the movie’s dark reimagining of the classic fairy tale, its production choices, and...
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59:40
Spirited Away: A Magical Trip with a Side of Trauma
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we take a deep dive into Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s iconic masterpiece that defined anime for generations. We explore the enchanting yet unsettling world of the bathhouse, where 10...
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1:09:09
Your Name - … My Name, and a Whole Lot of Tears
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we dive into the 2016 anime phenomenon, Your Name (Kimi no Na wa), a film that masterfully blends romance, time travel, and stunning animation. Join us as we unpack the heart-...
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1:15:45
2024 Oscars Predictions - Bonus Episode
Welcome to a special bonus episode of Almost Classic Movies! This time, we’re diving into the 97th Academy Awards ballot and making our predictions—whether we’ve seen the films or not (because let’s be real, that’s half t...
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52:39
Akira - The Anime that Revolutionized Sci-Fi
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don dive deep into the 1988 anime classic Akira. The hosts explore the film's intricate plot set in a dystopian Neo Tokyo, key philosophical themes, and the groundbreaking visuals that have infl...
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1:48:16
A Silent Voice – The Anime That Hits Different
🎥 Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! We’re kicking off a four-episode anime series, and first up is A Silent Voice—an emotional, thought-provoking masterpiece that dives deep into bullying, redemption, and mental he...
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1:41:08
Captain America: Civil War - The Movie That Changed the MCU
🎙️ Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! In this milestone 20th episode, we're diving deep into Captain America: Civil War—the final installment in our Captain America rewatch series, leading up to Brave New World.
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1:21:27
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - A Spy Movie with Super Heroes
In this episode, we dive into the spy-thriller world of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Join us as we explore the key themes, memorable moments, and incredible action sequences that set this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entry a...
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1:07:04
Captain America: The First Avenger - Almost as Classic as the MCU Itself
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! In this episode, we kick off a brand-new series diving into the origins of Captain America in preparation for Captain America: Brave New World. We're rewatching and breaking down The ...
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59:03
The Gentleman – Exploring Guy Ritchie's Unique Style
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we discuss Guy Ritchie's 2019 film 'The Gentleman.' We explore the film's unique storytelling, driven by Hugh Grant's character Fletcher, and the performances of Matthew McConaughey, Charli...
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1:16:05
The Giant Mechanical Man - Jenna Fischer in something not related to The Office
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don take on the heartfelt indie rom-com The Giant Mechanical Man. Starring Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina, this hidden gem follows the intertwined lives of two down-on-their-l...
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1:00:47
The Other Guys - The Most Underrated Comedy of 2010
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don take a deep dive into the underrated 2010 buddy cop comedy The Other Guys, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. From hilarious desk pops to unexpected critiques of capi...
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57:09
🛎️ Four Rooms - New Year’s Madness at the Monsignor Hotel
Hey there, and welcome to our Almost Classic Movies New Year’s Special! 🎉 This week, we’re diving into Four Rooms (1995), a chaotic anthology film set on New Year’s Eve. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodri...
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1:08:15
🎄 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - Lights, Laughter, and Griswold Chaos
Hey there, and welcome back to another episode of Almost Classic Movies! This week, we’re diving into the festive chaos of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the 1989 holiday favorite written by John Hughes and starring Ch...
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53:32
Elf - Candy, Chaos, and Christmas Spirit
Hey there, and welcome back to another episode of Almost Classic Movies! This week, we’re diving into the festive chaos of Elf, the 2003 holiday favorite starring Will Ferrell and directed by Jon Favreau.We had a blast ...
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50:40
How the Grinch Stole Our Podcast Episode (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000 Edition)
Hey there, welcome back to another episode of Almost Classic Movies!This week, we dive headfirst into the snow-dusted world of How the Grinch Stole Christmas—the Jim Carrey edition, directed by Ron Howard. We couldn’t wait to un...
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1:13:31
Madame Web - A Tangled Web of Missed Opportunities
Hey there, welcome back to another episode of Almost Classic Movies! This week, we dive into Sony’s latest attempt at spinning Spider-Man lore with Madame Web. We went into this with cautious optimism, hoping for a fresh...
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1:07:38
Jared Leto and the Morbius Dilemma
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don tackle the infamous Marvel anti-hero movie Morbius. From its baffling plot points and uneven pacing to its CGI highs and lows, we break down why this movie struggled to mak...
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1:09:27
Gladiator - Are You Not Entertained?
In this new episode of Almost Classic Movies, we dive into Ridley Scott's epic masterpiece, Gladiator. From Russell Crowe's career-defining performance as Maximus to Joaquin Phoenix’s chilling portrayal of Commodus, we discuss...
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1:22:02
House of Gucci - Family Drama, Fashion, and Fatal Ambition
This week on Almost Classic Movies, we continue our Ridley Scott mini-series with a deep dive into the opulent world of House of Gucci. We discuss everything from Lady Gaga’s captivating performance as Patrizia Reggiani to Ada...
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1:20:35
Blade Runner - Exploring its Humanity, AI, and Philosophy
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! This week, we tackle one of the biggest names in sci-fi history: Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982), specifically the Final Cut. We break down the movie’s heavy philosophical quest...
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1:27:25