This week the boys get a talk storm going about maybe the greatest actor ever known by one name. Eat that, Charro. It is the legendary Denzel!!!! Everybody has a Denzel movie they like, if they don’t they are aliens wearing human skin and you should tear their face off even if it gets you fired from being a co-host on Fox and Friends. Training Day is good. Denzel is handsome. Some people like Virtuosity, I guess. Jump in, the Blockbuster Film School is mighty fine!

Episode 42: Denzel Washington

To quote celebrity crazy person Eric Andre, you gotta give the Internet what it wants. The cries for equality have not been answered yet but the D.C. fan boys were gifted a four hour wet dream when Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League landed on streaming. The sprawling epic is better than expected but also stupid as all hell. The Office Hours crew explored what scenes made us confused, angry, happy, sad, bloated, hungover, and other emotions that Zack Snyder doesn’t fully understand. Check out the episode then sign our petition for the release of the six hour cut of The Thin Red Line. Release the Brody cut!

Office Hours: The Snyder Cut

Before every Thursday night sitcom had people staring into the camera discussing how to put a stapler in Jell-O, a string of independent comedies perfected the faux documentary film. The common denominator for many of those movies was the 5th Baron Haden-Guest, better known as Christopher Guest. Since Guest and his collaborators respect their characters the jokes are genuine and do not rely on cringe. They are earnest people who simply can’t do a single damn right. It’s always funny, even through the heartbreak. Blockbuster Film School isn’t crying, you’re crying. So here is to Christopher Guest, the only royal who understands the absurdity of life as a commoner.

Episode 44: Christopher Guest

Come with me if you want to live. (Long awkward silence) Alright, come with me if you want to listen to our Terminator 2: Judgement Day 30th anniversary special. There we go! James Cameron’s sci-fi action classic was a phenomenon upon release and the majority of it still holds up today. The Office Hours crew nerd out discussing Arnold, Sarah Conner, the T-1000, and a child actor precautionary tale. There is no time machine or nostalgia blinded by memories of our youth. It’s just three film fans watching an old dvd talking about all nine of Cameron’s ex-wives. Spoiler alert: Gale Anne Hurd is our favorite. It’s T2 time. Dun dun dun dun dun.

Office Hours: Terminator 2: Judgement Day - 30th Anniversary Special

Awards season is three months of celebrities reminding each other how important and talented they are culminating with the Academy Awards, the Mount Rushmore of self fellating. In a shocking twist sometimes they get it wrong. The Office Hours crew re-examines the ‘95 Oscars, a year that crowned a simple minded running back king turd of guano mountain. The other competition included films about a dirty Jeopardy game, prison besties, Hugh Grant’s charm, and Marvin getting shot in the face. Blockbuster Film School can’t change the past but we could argue about it so long that Zemeckis will want to give the trophy back.

Office Hours: 1995 Oscars Reboot

Sometimes a movie comes out and people are so into nu metal or disco or Pokémon or whatever dumb shit they don’t process just how dope it is until years later when they go “wait did I buy a Disturbed CD, with money? Did I do that shit?”. This is the formula for underrated films however sometimes films come out and every last dingus is like oh (insert oscar bait here) or (summer blockbuster there) or ( heavy handed moralistic bullshit thing) is soooo good. Then you look back after the dust settles and say those movies sucked royally . Those are overrated films.Your favorite gentlemen film scholars discuss on the another edition of Blockbuster Filmschool (sick guitar solo).

Office Hours: Overrated/Underrated

Sometimes the famous lead actor surviving the apocalypse is basically the same character who killed aliens in their last film but now they have glasses. Others actors transform themselves with each role inhabiting a new soul at a level which is unrecognizable to even themselves. Philip Seymour Hoffman was that performer. Every film he graced had a unique character that was never seen again. Blockbuster Film School has never been more certain of a statement being true when we say Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of the greatest actors of all time. Listen as we gush over his impressive filmography including the Ben Stiller movie where he sharted his pants. He really could do anything.

Episode 48: Philip Seymour Hoffman

What’s your favorite horror movie, bob hair cut and boob sweater Drew Barrymore? Sometimes people are great filmmakers, sometimes people are terrible filmmakers. And every so often, there comes a “master of suspense” who makes two straight up rad horror movies and then also a bunch of schlocky trash about people in the stairs or some shit. Anyways, it’s spooky season so hopefully your parents didn’t murder a groundskeeper who is a mythic demon. It’s Wes Craven time! That was Wes’ catch phrase. The boys discuss.

Episode 51: Wes Craven

Has anyone ever really seen chestnuts roasting on an open fire? We live in the city so we do not get carolers. And the only reindeer we've ever seen escaped from a zoo then chased Super Producer Brian Tepps around a Circuit City parking lot. But luckily we have watched a lot of holiday movies so we could bring you our Christmas picks. Hastily wrapped and tossed on the Blockbuster wall next to an elf black out drunk on spiked eggnog, it’s our favorite films of the fifth most magical time of the year. One, two, & three are Halloween related; four is Clint Howard’s Labor Day party.

Episode 52: A Christmas Episode

Every year Hollywood gets together to decide which movie about someone with a disability will win an award. Then, they congratulate each other on how they are no longer jerks about anything and how they are saving the world then they yell at a valet in the parking lot. Here at the Blockbusties our award ceremony involves explosions, booze, hedonism, and love of the pure cinematic madness. The boys give their picks for the first ever Blockbustis awards!!! Hosted by David Caruso.

1st Annual Blockbusties: 2021

No one thought that Dick Dale/Kool and the Gang/Dusty Springfield would be the perfect sequence on an album until two hit men discussed European fast food. Just the same Way when Q Lazzrus recorded “Goodbye Horses” they probably weren’t thinking about Ted Levine tucking it back dancing in the mirror but that’s all we can think about. When the song plays, we mean. Because of Silence of the Lambs. You get it. In the new Office Hours Wall of Soundtracks we discuss those perfect music in movie moments, and the film soundtracks that have lived us since we walked out of the cinema. Let Blockbuster Film School be the voice that gets that song stuck in your head.

Office Hours: Wall Of Sound… Tracks

Can you recall the past? Do you remember print newspapers & magazines, or when you could board a plane without an ID then smoke on board, or when it was ok to trip your face off then climb a stranger's garage in Topeka, Kansas? Neither do we; thank the rock gods for Cameron Crowe’s magnum opus Almost Famous. It is funny as it is dramatic filled with wide eyed optimism from loving music. Welcome to the first Quik Drop by Blockbuster Film School, a series about films we love, and why we love film. This movie should be played LOUD.

Quik Drop: Almost Famous

It’s a simple formula: take an expertly written novel by a great author, multiply that by two with a pair of filmmaking brothers at the top of their game then add in exquisite cinematography and actors who transcend this dimension. The result is No Country for Old Men, a neo-noir crime western executed with such craft younger people with less experience would have muddled it up. Quik Drop is our series about infinitely rewatchable movies, and this Coen Bros masterpiece had to be here. Blockbuster Film School knows the math adds up, and in case you forgot, here are your notes.

Quik Drop: No Country For Old Men

Can you have your parody film and eat it too? Many have tried, most have failed, but no one has done three times except Edgar Wright. His debut film Shaun of the Dead was the best horror comedy made since Evil Dead 2. The
Blockbuster Quik Drop examines the first entry of the Cornetto Trilogy starring co-writer Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Shaun of the Dead hits all the boxes: scary, funny, romantic, heart breaking, zombies, and naturally it is infinitely rewatchable. How’s that for a slice of fried gold?

Quik Drop: Shaun of the Dead

Kathleen Kennedy has sneakily taken over Hollywood. She has toyed with the idea of changing her name Movieoverlord Kennedy several times. She produced ET when she was a literal child. She convinced those Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park to be good at acting. She beat George Lucas in a real lightsaber duel and cut off his hand and got his company. Then turned the saber on Favreau and said “ invent Baby yoda or I will cut you in half like I cut Stoltz’ ginger ass out of back to the future”. The boys discuss. Treat yo self

Episode 54: Kathleen Kennedy

What is best in life? Blood, swords, and James Earl Jones in charge of a snake cult. A movie that wouldn’t even have shot to be made these days but looks better than most that come out. An epic score, Milius at the true top of his game, and Arnold finds a magic sword that gives him an acting career. If Crom will not help us with this podcast, then the hell with him. The boys do a Quik Drop on the coolest R rated fantasy film of all time. Do you want to live forever?

Quik Drop: Conan The Barbarian

When you think of international powerhouses outside of Hollywood you usually think of The UK, Japan, Italy, France, Bollywood and… the Dutch? Not really. But then like a heatwave in the late seventies a madman dressed like a suburban dad exploded out of Amsterdam and for the next twenty years threw haymakers in American smart action movies which would change the game. Until, he decided to make an expensive porno movie but even that couldn’t stop Paul Verhoeven from making movies about weirdos getting nuts. Maybe the most underrated auteur of the 80s and 90s. The boys discuss. Dead or alive you’re coming with us.

Episode 55: Paul Verhoeven

Before they actually made smart horror thriller comedies that were self aware and post modern and  mind bendingly hilarious Joe Dante and Tom hanks basically created the model. It didn’t really work at the box office but since it has created and entire generation of smart ass goofball movie nerds that can’t get enough of tan lines, night vision, and citizen’s arrests. If you haven’t seen The Burbs you’re a meatball. Get out of Nick, Alex, and Brian’s lawns lame-o. It is the the infinitely watchable Quik Drop time for The Burbs!!!!

Quik Drop: The Burbs

How would you react to finding four inch long hairs up n down your back? What if your chest grew a secreting orifice with hidden weapons inside? Let’s be honest: we all want to be dude from Scanners popping coworkers’ heads like pimples. Our bodies are haunted houses, and David Cronenberg is the architect holding the blueprints for the newest additions. He became the master of body horror by directing an impressive list of films where the killer isn’t just calling from upstairs, it’s living under our finger nails. This semester of Blockbuster Film School takes on anatomy. It’s real nasty but fun as hell.

Episode 56: David Cronenberg

Do you like hope based on calendar dates? Do you like balloon drops on top of people running through a crowd trying to find someone before they holiday decide to choose not you? Do you like kissing Billy Crystal while champagne drunk? Well Hollywood does. The boys have a very special holiday episode about the movie magic of (and nauseating over saccharineness) New Years Movies! Play that ancient song that drunks like to not know the words to! Let’s get ready to movie rumble! Let’s raise a glass to new starts, old friends, and movie fails!

Episode 57: NYE In Cinema

Hi team 
Welcome back to school, The Blockbuster Film School Podcast with Alex Bonner and Nicholas Souder. This week we go deep on America's greatest living actor and National Treasure (I'm sorry) Nicholas Cage!!! He'll wear your face and Con your Air. It's time for you to let him into your heart where he will get weird and you will like it. Class is in session. NOT THE BEES!!!!!!!

Episode 2: Nicolas Cage

In this episode Alex Bonner goes back to kill Hitler and Nicholas Souder goes into the far future to kiss hot aliens and get fashion tips. We go into what makes a time travel movie vs. an inter-dimensional movies vs. alternate reality movies. And that Lea Thompson should be in every movie ever made. Also, if you meet somebody from the future who is here to save you from a cyborg so you can have a kid who is the leader against the robots in the future, guess what, you guys are gonna bang because he's the dad. Spoiler alert! It's Blockbuster Film School.

Episode 3: Time Travel

“Get away from her, you bitch!”, is what Sigourney Weaver yells at random people on the street. She is a grand champion of the film universe and arguably the first  modern female action star while also, being cool and funny and rad… and I’ll stop now. Want to know why her first name is Sigourney? Alex and Nick don’t know but they are gonna deep dive on the career of one of the coolest Hollywood actors. Welcome to Blockbuster film school.

Episode 6: Sigourney Weaver

We search for answers, we chase dreams and nightmares to the border of what we accept and where we are. Humanity is a relative term. Denis Villeneuve has made beautiful, chaotic and existential crisis films which cause you to question what it means to be alive. They are gorgeous, frightening, and life affirming. He is the director whose films are always more than what they appear and demand your attention for years after. Get familiar. You can thank Blockbuster Film School later.

Episode 8: Denis Villeneuve

Would you believe, Alex and Nick met when they both were arrested for fondeling pineapples AT THE SAME GROCERY STORE!? And then, In the back of the seat of the police car, they both laughed and made charged eye contact. Then Nick had to stay with his fiancé and Alex had to run his fathers lemonade/lobster-roll/ accounting biz. But he never forgot. As fate would have it, after several comas and crazy friend conversations, they finally met on top of the Sears tower and made out hard. We assumed they lived happily ever after. Alex and Nick dive into all your favorite Rom-Coms from the 70s till now. Is Nora Ephron good? She used to be. Is Sandler a dreamboat? He used to be. It’s Blockbuster film school!

Episode 21: Romantic Comedies (Rom-Coms)

Being a home prisoner of plague times doesn’t have to be boring or safe. As you impatiently wait for a drone toilet paper delivery watch some movies provided by the same company. Check out Blockbuster Film School’s Amazon Prime suggestions so you can pass the ti. But seriously, stay safe.

Office Hours: Amazon Prime Video

So, the Aliens tried to control us with a streaming service. They literally made a Super Bowl commercial about it where they used their main Alien human infiltrator, Alec Baldwin and it’s been, well, mixed results on their human take over. But, Blockbuster Film School is here to give you some HULU movie picks while we are trapped on prison planet! Office hours to the rescue!

Office Hours: Hulu

Spotify Trailer

There have been lines of genetic art. Actors mostly, because it’s not that hard. Eat that actors! But how many masterful directors have had master director kids. Pretty much just one. Sophia Coppola stood in the shadow of not just her dad but maybe the most Hollywood royalty of the families and made some of the most unique and wild pieces of film art ever made. Also, she opens a movie on Scarlet Johannson’s butt. And it works. Alex and Nick talk about one of the great Gen X film autuers this week. Buckle up, film school it’s about to get “rob crappy celebrities and high school epic suicide” weird.

Episode 28: Sofia Coppola

It’s not often an actor can carry a dark aura in the majority of their roles as they lead mainstream hits and stay a beloved star. But whether she is hanging with ghosts, killing her classmates, or using Christmas lights to communicate with her son in another dimension Winona Ryder has remained Winona while always changing. Four decades after her career began she is still as talented and captivating as ever. Blockbuster Film School and shoplifters of the world unite to gush over Winona Ryder.

Episode 31: Winona Ryder

Do you have a diverse group of sassy frenemies? Do you like to steal implausible things like big diamonds that are actually gateways to other dimensions or some shit? Are you a aging handsome boy actor with salt and pepper? Well you might be be in a heist movie. This week Alex and Nick go into which movies know how to pull of the twistiest, zaniest heistyiest movies of all time. Die hard is not one.

Episode 33: Heist Movies

Oh, what a wild year 2006 was: Al Gore had just invented the internet, the Seattle SuperSonics completed their three-peat championship run, and Jennifer Lawrence was born. Does that sound completely preposterous to you?! Well wait until you listen to this episode of Office Hours when we remind you which movie won best picture at the Academy Awards. Spoiler alert: it was Crash, Scientology’s ham-fisted version of an And1 Mixtape about racism. Hop in the Blockbuster Film School DeLorean with us as we attempt to fix the past by choosing a proper winner for the Oscar. Once we upgrade our internet from 56Gore Dialup the time machine can be used for other things as well.

Office Hours: 2006 Oscars Reboot

Does Michael Jordan become as big with out that Nike commercial? Does Hollywood have any street cred, AT ALL, if Mookie doesn’t throw that trash can through that window? Does Reggie Miller even exist if he doesn’t drain those 3s and then yell at Spike to sit his ass down and you watch Spike’s soul leave his body? The answer is no.  Spike Lee isn’t the best filmmaker in Hollywood.  Sometimes he is. Sometimes he makes crap. But he might be its most important and most stylish. Two white guys discuss it here at the legendary Blockbuster Film School! Must be the shoes!

Episode 35: Spike Lee

What’s the best way to appear completely over something while also flaunting how powerful you are? Sell it for billions of dollars then give away the loot. Being one of the most successful film producers while also one of the more divisive movie directors has garnered George Lucas uneven career highlights. He went from creating two of the most cherished cinematic worlds of all time with Star Wars and Indiana Jones to utterly destroying them *repeatedly* to being celebrated for threatening to crush someone else’s franchise like a bug. Even by the end of the recording we weren’t exactly sure to feel. There is one thing we definitely do know: Blockbuster Film School does not  want to be contacted by George Lucas’ lawyers so everything heard within is a joke. Except that we hate sand; that bit’s true.

Episode 41: George Lucas

Oh the weather outside is weather. Locally it is winter at the Blockbuster Film School but you might be experiencing summer or stuck in a strange time dimension located behind your daughter’s bookcase. No matter where or when you are the Office Hours winter streaming picks will provide you with hours of entertainment and/or distractions while avoiding frostbite, Scarlett Fever, and Anne Hathaway. Sit back and pretend you can relax.

Office Hours: Winter Streaming Picks

Welcome to the world of higher film education where two former Blockbuster Video employees, film school sorta graduates, and filmmakers take deep dives on different film topics from across the movie universe every week. Taught exclusively by Alex Bonner and Nicholas Souder: This is the world's greatest and cheapest free film school.  You'll laugh, cry mascara tears, and possibly if the movie magic kicks in at just the right moment, accidentally get you to learn something. Take drugs and have a good time!

(episodes are produced & recorded by Brian Tepps)

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