Netflix Book Club

Episode 45 proves we're not a bunch of commercial low brow animals! It's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover, as chosen by comedian Matt Burke(@heymattburke)! What? You've never heard of it? Well neither had I, but then I watched it, and my body split into two beings - one saying "Of course I'd never heard of this!" and the other saying "Why hadn't I heard of this?" AND GUESS WHAT - They were both right. This is the "artsiest" movie we've done so far, by far, and it is polarizing. The talented and beautiful Helen Mirren stars alongside Michael Gambon and Alan Howard. This movie's got a lot of sex and violence and an NC-17 rating...but what'd we think of it? And what'd it make us think of? Stream it, download it, digest the podcast and check out the movie! Subscribe on iTunes and hit us with your opinions on Twitter (@flixbookclub) or a comment on the Soundcloud page.

Episode 44 is brought to you by the macabre mind of John Carpenter, it's Big Trouble in Little China! Starring Kurt Russell and other people! An 80's staple, Big Trouble was chosen as our pick this week thanks to our guest, stand up comedian Bryan McKenna. It's campy, over the top, colorful, surprisingly good looking at times, super quotable, and bad in all the best ways. Download the episode, subscribe on iTunes, leave a comment somewhere, follow us on Twitter @flixbookclub, just get in on the discussion somehow! Tune in next week when we talk about The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover.

Episode 43 is brought to you by our nation's obsession with destruction and violence! It's Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal! Lori Palminteri is a good friend, fantastic writer, and hilarious stand up comedian, and she also sat down and talked to us about this movie. Once in awhile we gotta throw you one of these mainstream, not ancient movies (although this wasn't a huge, huge movie by any means). Listen to the episode, leave us a comment on our main page http://www.flixbookclub.com/, subscribe on iTunes, tell your friends, all that jazz. And remember: if it bleeds, it leads.

Episode 42 is Lawrence of Arabia! This is another classic movie that I (Dennis) had never seen before, and I was glad to mark it off my list. I owe this forced-watching experience to our special guest this week Ray Kump, a hilarious stand up comic from NY. Lawrence of Arabia is a historical dramatization of the story of T.E. Lawrence, a British officer and diplomat. It's in the National Registry and Kump basically made us watch it because he "thought it'd be funny to make you watch a 3 hour movie". Hear our thoughts on the podcast, leave us a comment here, subscribe on iTunes! Catch us next week where we discuss the creepy Jake Gylenhaal vehicle Nightcrawler.

Episode 41 is the 1984 gangster spoof Johnny Dangerously! We also introduce a friend of the book club on this episode, Michael Kaldarian, who brings an Aussie sensibility to an otherwise staunchly American podcast. IS THIS MOVIE FUNNY? DOES IT HOLD UP? HOW MUCH OF THE PRODUCTION COST WAS SPENT ON MAKEUP? These questions and more are explored on the podcast, but add to the discussion over at our main page, http://www.flixbookclub.com/. Subscribe on iTunes! Follow us on Twitter @flixbookclub! Catch us next week where we talk about the dreadfully long (and classically considered) Lawrence of Arabia.

After a short hiatus Netflix Book Club returns with episode 40 - To Kill A Mockingbird. Chosen by KC as his final pick before leaving the club, Mockingbird stars Gregory Peck and other people I was unfamiliar with before watching. I had never even read the book, something I had somehow avoided in High School. Having said that we had a fantastic conversation about the film, discussing fear, childhood, pragmatism, and how badass Atticus Finch is. Head on over to the main page http://www.flixbookclub.com/ and leave us a comment with your thoughts, criticisms, and romantic advances. Next week you'll hear us talk about Johnny Dangerously, and 80's parody film with Michael Keaton.

Netflix Book Club brings you episode 39, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World! It stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, two neighbors turned friends (OR MORE THAN FRIENDS?!) each on a respective mission to see through before the world comes to it's end. It's another apocalypse movie! And an interesting take on the subject. We also get a slew of comics and comedic actors in small side roles that really round out the film. But did we enjoy it? Listen to this week's episode to find out what we thought of the movie as well as what the movie brought out of us (whoa). Skip on over to the main site at http://www.flixbookclub.com/, and be sure to leave us a comment. How would you spend your final days? What are some other recent stand out rom coms? Who's got the better jib, Keira or Winona? Be sure to come back next week where we'll be talking about the movie To Kill A Mockingbird. I heard they made a book out of it.

Episode 38 is Enemy at the Gates! Jude Law plays our protagonist Russian sniper going up against the antagonist Nazi sniper (played by Ed Harris). There's a romantic subplot, we see some of the battle of Stalingrad, we're reminded of the colossal death toll Russia faced during World War II (well over 8,000,000 people). It's not Saving Private Ryan, but it's the only movie I can think of that shows the war from the Russian perspective to a degree. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about it, drop by the main page at http://www.flixbookclub.com/ and leave us a comment. Are we idiots? Should I (Dennis) have not changed my mind? Do I use too many parenthetical statements in the description blurbs? Get at us! And be sure to return next week where we talk about Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (currently streaming on Netflix).

Episode 37 is The Skeleton Twins starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig! It's another movie where somebody's all boo-hoo and returns to their childhood home to try and sort their bull-ish out. That being said, this movie is hilarious. But is that enough for everybody to give it the ol' stream it stamp of approval? Listen to the podcast to find out! Swing by the main page at http://www.flixbookclub.com/ and leave us a comment; what'd you think about what we thought? Catch us next week for Dennis' pick - Enemy At The Gates.

Episode 36 is The Station Agent! Back before he was your favorite Game of Thrones character, Peter Dinklage did this indie movie about a reclusive dwarf whose only friend has passed away, leaving him a small plot of land and a place to live. It's a bit droll but filled with some good laughs and great scenes. This is Dinklage 12 years younger, but his acting is seasoned. Listen to the episode to see what this movie made us think about, be sure to swing by the main site http://www.flixbookclub.com/. Leave us a comment - are airplanes really the best mode of transportation? We'll be back next week where we talk about the dark comedy The Skeleton Twins.

Episode 35 puts us back on track with the wickedly weird John Dies at the End! And it only cost us some music and editing! Chosen by Dennis, never before seen by KC (OOF. Listen to the episode), John Dies at the End tells the story of two slackers imposed with supernatural powers trying to prevent the end of times in their crappy town. It's by Don Coscarelli of Phantasm/Bubba Ho Tep fame and is what I'd call a slick-ass B movie. We were ramped up this episode. Real ramped up. We tackle the patronizarchy 100%. Come listen to us talk about it, head on over to the main page at http://www.flixbookclub.com/ while you're at it and leave us a comment. Tune in next week where we talk about the Dinklage driven flick The Station Agent.

Episode 34 is a canned episode! What's that mean? It means life was hectic this week so we're throwing you an episode WE'VE HAD IN THE CAN. Listen in to hear us talk about Philadelphia, our umpteenth movie about the AIDS epidemic (purely coincidental). It stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, two lawyers on opposite sides of the social spectrum coming together to fight a landmark case, which stages Hanks' character dead center. I think I liked this movie! I remember this being a fun episode, and it features our old producer Neil. Listen to the podcast, hit us up on the main page at http://www.flixbookclub.com/, and be sure to leave us a comment with your own thoughts. Next week we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming, talking about John Dies at the End.

Episode 33 is brought to you by the mean streets of 1970's New York - it's The Warriors! Stephen had the chance to pick this movie because KC had never seen it, and open your ears to this listeners: IT'S A BLOCKBUSTER. CAN YOU DIG IT? This movie's about The Warriors, a gang from Coney Island who've been framed for the murder of Cyrus, the leader of the biggest gang in the city. They gotta get home to Coney from the Bronx with every gang in the city on their tail. Simple. Dark. Fun. This movie's art direction is fantastic, the dialogue is snappy, and they fight the New York Yankees (what?). Download the podcast, listen, hit us back at the main page http://www.flixbookclub.com/ with your thoughts/opinions/movie suggestions. Tune in next week where we get together and talk about John Dies at the End.

Episode 32 as chosen by KC is Fruitvale Station. This movie tells the real life story of the murder of Oscar Grant by a police officer, and recounts his last 24 hours alive. It's directed by Ryan Coogler (his first full length feature) and stars Michael B. Jordan (soon to be seen in Creed). This was a highly regarded movie that somehow missed out on our Blockbuster accolade. Check out the podcast to hear us talk about reality vs. fiction and whether Dennis is a cold, heartless bastard. Head over to the main page at http://www.flixbookclub.com/ and leave us a comment with your thoughts. Next week's episode as picked by Stephen will be the late 70's staple The Warriors! So go check that out if you haven't yet.

BY GOD MAN! Episode 31 is Dennis' pick, leading us to 1984's The Bounty. It's the true tale of the HMS Bounty and it's mutiny while under the command of Lt. Bligh. Throw in the dissolution of his and Christian Fletcher's friendship and you have a meaty story. Plus, this flick's got a hell of a lineup - Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, and even more white dudes! That's not to say everyone of us at Flix Book Club gave it a thumbs up. Download the podcast and find out who wasn't swayed by Danny Day and Anty Hopscotch. Swing over to the main site at http://www.flixbookclub.com/ and leave us a comment with your own opinions on The Bounty, or anything else for that matter. Next week is cool 'cause it's a movie none of us have seen and it's fairly recent: KC has us talk about Fruitvale Station.

Episode 30 as chosen by Stephen is Primer! Have you seen this? Yeah? Did you understand it? LIAR. This is a seriously heavy duty movie about time travel. Rooted deeply in realistic characters, Primer talks about friendship, trust, knowledge, and ambition. It was made for only $7,000 (holy cow!) and over the years has developed even more than a cult following. Like a major religion following. People blow this movie up. Hear how we feel about it and what it led us to talk about in this weeks episode! Swing over to the main page at www.flixbookclub.com and leave us a comment. Next week we will be discussing The Bounty, an old film with a lot of stars. Til next time!

Episode 29 is brought to you by Heineken (kinda,sorta)! No they're not a sponsor, they just happen to be the technical backbone to the film we watched this week. KC picked Kidnapping Mr. Heineken, a 2015 film that fictionalizes the true ransom of Freddy Heineken, the man behind the international brewing company. Let's not beat around the bush - this movie ranked as a dud, but that doesn't mean it didn't spawn a great conversation between us three. We talk heists, morality, and how much money it would take for you to drop everyone you know. So give us a download or a stream and leave us a comment with your own opinion over at the main site, www.flixbookclub.com. Next week is Stephen's pick, and he's decided to turn us onto the sci-fi hit Primer. See you then!

We return this week to talk about the 1973 beacon of horror films - The Exorcist! I (Dennis) picked this, largely because Stephen has never seen it. Stephen's picked several movies that he was very familiar with that KC and I had never seen and it felt like time to return the favor. It didn't hurt that KC hadn't seen this movie in about 15 years. If you haven't seen this movie...shame on you, it's a blockbuster for Christ's sake! Listen to the episode to hear us talk about divorce, the extent of Satan's power, and watching movies on your phone while driving (what?!). Head over to the main site at www.flixbookclub.com and leave us a comment. Tell us what you thought! This is a Netflix Book Club after all, get in on the discussion. Tune in next week where we will be watching and discussing Kidnapping Mr. Heineken.

Oh no! Stephen got stuck in Chicago (probably from being all nostalgic for the city these past few weeks after watching Blues Brothers for Episode 24) this week so we are serving up a canned episode for y'all. Episode 27 was an early recording of Netflix Book Club (old theme song and everything!), so disregard the "movie" for next week at the end of the episode. I assure you next week we will bring you a discussion on The Exorcist. For now here's us chatting about In The Loop, a 2009 British comedy centering around the ridiculous bureaucratic environment of international politics. We recorded this about a year ago, but I bet we'd stick with our opinions. I remember this episode being a jokes vs. storyline argument (I think). Anyway, check out the movie and listen to the episode! Head over to the main page at www.flixbookclub.com and leave us a comment. Next week! The Exorcist!

Unless you count Bloodsport, Episode 25 is our first children's movie. It's an animated film that's part political drama, part gender studies, and wholly coming of age. That might be a little grandiose. Needless to say there were very few things we agreed on with this movie. Even the animation technique was divisive (hit us up on Twitter and let us know if you're a ones or twos person). Click on over to the main page at www.flixbookclub.com and leave us a comment - what makes a good kids movie? Next week is Dennis' pick which means tackling another classic. We'll be talking about The Exorcist. Steel yourselves.