The Top 100 Project

Nobody puts the Next 164 Project in a corner because that would be stupid and inaccurate. It’s not a corner! There’s a lot of discussion about that terrible line in this episode, plus there’s more singing than we’ve done in a long time. We also had more Reasonably Good Questions than maybe ever before (Bev provided a few Reasonably Good ANSWERS) and we certainly dug into the issues of classism and Penny’s, let’s say, shma-shmortion. Despite the main character being a teenager named “Baby” (ugh), this love story is quite sexy and helped Jennifer Grey (what happened to her?) and Pat Swayze solidify their early-’80s stardom. So it might be cheesy, but Dirty Dancing remains fun & it’s even a little touching. It’s also impossible to hate that soundtrack. Get your hungry ears on and enjoy! To have the drink of your life, go to Sparkplug Coffee’s website and you can snag a princely 20% discount at check-out by using the “top100project” promo code. Ever heard of the website Twitter? We have. You can find us: @mov

Bonjour, nos amis! Auteur Jean Renoir’s beloved French classic is the subject of the Next 163 Project. This is the rare film that actually gets better as it goes along. Jolly Renoir himself is a big highlight in this large cast of “Upstairs, Downstairs” characters. His picture was hated by his countrymen upon release 80 years ago, partly because it mocks the upper class who are oblivious to what’s going on around them (ie. the impending real-life war). For this film to elicit hatred says a lot about how thin-skinned the human race is. Anyway, fly your plane across an ocean and then plant yourself directly in the Friend Zone as you fire up our tongue waggle. Why? Well, everyone has their reasons. The French would approve of you buying a lot of Sparkplug Coffee (Cafe?), so do that. The 20% discount they’ll give you by using our promo code (“top100project”) definitely still applies. Hey, we do Twitter once in a while: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Dirty Dancing

“Controversy Month” wraps up with the Next 162 Project as we analyze the greatest of the classic 007 flicks. Beloved as it is (especially by the AFI), it’s also troublesome because of James Bond’s staggeringly terrible sexism. Dude’s a flat-out rapist in this movie, but the power of his loins convinces his victim to become a hero, so….that makes it okay? Well, of course not, but we spend some time discussing that cringey issue. No one can argue that the film was a monster hit and it finalized the template that the first 2 Bond pics had already started to establish. This one is equal parts exciting and silly…and the silly brought about some Reasonably Good Questions. So settle back with a shaken martini, put your Sean Connery pants on (lest he slap you) and dig into the goooooooooooold! Sparkplug Coffee time! For a 20% discount off some genuinely great java, use our promo code ("top100project"). Tweets a-comin’: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis On September 9th, we'll review The Rules Of The Game

Darren Aronofsky's polarizing, unsubtle allegory about Mother Nature represents the peak of our “Controversy Month”. Indeed, a lot of people hate this title(!). The Next 161 Project plows into this filmed scream of a movie as we analyze the metaphors, the symbolism and the disturbing arc of this never-ending story. Jennifer Lawrence gets all soulful in an underrated performance (and even bares more of her body than she usually does) while her director swings very big. But, then, he always does. When you cast a Spanish heartthrob as a self-absorbed celebrity God and your future girlfriend as Mother Earth, clearly you’re not afraid to fail. And we think he succeeded immensely. So get your butt off that sink, respect a woman’s house and, for poet’s sake, leave the newborn alone! Sponsor time! Check out Sparkplug Coffee for some world-class java. They’re now offering a 20% discount when you use our promo code “top100project”. Tweets McGee: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Goldfinger

"Controversy Month" begins with this Next 160 Project podcast as we cover a clumsy flick about a virulent racist learning to respect at least 1 (brilliant) black person. Green Book was popular with a lot of people and even won the Best Picture Oscar for Peter Farrelly. Yup, the guy who made Dumb And Dumber. And, yes, it’s got some winning qualities as the actors, particularly Mahershala Ali, do some lovely work. Well, the usually reliable Viggo Mortensen…not so much. The fact is, this Driving Miss Daisy for the 2010s is even more inadequate than last year’s Best Picture winner, The Shape Of Water. At least it provided us with an epic amount on which to chew—and even argue about—as Ryan plays devil’s advocate to Bev’s SJW. There’s also a Roma-inspired “home v theatre” rant at the end that Ryan has been thinking about for months. So steal a rock from a roadside vendor and gnaw on a whole pizza as we devour the movie that showed the world that racism was solved way back in 1962. Sparkplug Coffee is still our exc

Our final episode in July digs into what might be Ron Howard’s most personal film. For the Next 159 Project, we dig fairly deep into a dramedy with a fantastic ensemble cast and a top-notch screenplay by the Ganz/Mandel team. Dianne Wiest and Joaquin Phoenix are stand-outs, but Steve Martin and Jason Robards hit some home runs too. It sure isn’t flawless (yeesh, that too-perfect ending) and the Buckman family’s obsession with procreating didn’t hit home with the Ellises. Still, not many movies feel this relatable or have this much heart. Or this many references to diarrhea. An excellent summer beverage is a cuppa joe, so order up some Sparkplug Coffee ASAP. Our promo code (“top100project”) will still get you a delightful 10% discount at check-out. The Twitterverse is an option: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Our website: www.top100project.com Off for the Civic Holiday next week, but we're back at it on August 12th with Green Book.

With respect to The Secret In Their Eyes, Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece (?) was the best foreign-language film of 2009. It was probably the best film of 2009, period. This 158th helping of Next 100 Project talkiness is a thorough dive into this weirdly excellent movie, but we sure didn’t cover everything. The layers! Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz (we had trouble pronouncing his name properly) and a wonderful supporting cast elevate QT's one-of-a-kind screenplay. He's been called a rip-off artist, but his talent for creating satisfying revisionist history (not to mention revenge…always revenge with this guy) is something that no rip-off artist could do on their best day. The man is such an original. So enjoy his newest, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, later this week, but first make sure to devour all 67 minutes of this episode. Also, there are several corrections on www.top100project.com, so check those out if you're fuming about our foul-ups. Sparkplug Coffee, anyone? You need it, you want it.

What better way to enjoy the summer (and our staycation) than to spend 45 minutes jawing about a potential nuclear disaster? Fun in the sun, baby! The Next 157 Project has a lot of praise to dole out to Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and director James Bridges for their outstanding work here. Ryan has some love for producer/co-star Michael Douglas too, although Bev isn’t quite as down with him (in general). This documentary-like drama feels so real that it’s hard not to be drawn into its intense grip. It’s also more of a story about television and journalism than it is about nuclear power, so that appealed to us TV people. So get comfy in your lawn chair as we enter the middle of July and enjoy our take on one of the most-underrated thrillers of the late-’70s. Sparkplug, you say? Yes, we still pimp out that delicious coffee. Use our promo code (“top100project”) and a 10% discount is yours. We tweet here and there. We’re @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Inglourious Basterds

We're back in the old west for the 156th gunshot's worth of the Next 100 Project. Italian directing legend Sergio Leone's Spaghetti westerns changed cinema. This entry, however, was arguably a superior film to any of those. Look at the ingredients. Henry Fonda as a sadistic bad guy? Jason Robards being all cool and sly? Charles Bronson just being Charlie Bronson? Claudia Cardinale as the supernaturally beautiful---and tough---leading lady...who actually gets top billing over those 3 guys? Pure dynamite. We also jaw about Ennio Morricone's incredible music score and the pitch-perfect sets & costumes. The movie is a long sit, but Leone's one-of-a-kind style makes up for the lack of a coherent plot. Saddle 'em up! To help you get through this escapade, you need to order some Sparkplug Coffee. That ballyhooed 10% discount is still available if you use our promo code ("top100project"). Oh, and tweet at us sometime: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: The China Syndrome

For the Next 155 Project, we spend a good long while jamming about all the big-screen Spider-Man pictures, not just #2. In #2 specifically, though, Peter Parker is the young web-slinger with performance anxiety battling Doc Ock, the careless scientist who warps into a potential mass murderer. Despite that grim set-up, director Sam Raimi teamed with squeaky-voiced Tobey Maguire to make a bright, fun sequel that improved upon the previous monster hit. It isn’t all sunshine and lollipops though. The cast isn’t as strong in these roles as other actors have been in other Spidey flicks (one guy in particular is……just not good). Regardless, this flick helped build comic-book movies as THE go-to crowd-pleasing, money-making genre. Sparkplug Coffee is still your source for outstanding java. A 10% discount is yours if you use our promo code (“top100project”). You can drop us a tweetage: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Off Canada Day. Back on July 8th with Once Upon A Time In The West

Perhaps the ultimate example of Pixar’s uncanny ability to make people “ugly cry” is this funny, heartbreaking and unconventionally cast bit of brilliance from 10 years ago. The 154th Next 100 Project spends a bunch of time talking about DOGS!…and doing dog impressions. Bev loves Dug even more than you might expect and we both have doe eyes for this entire flick. The snapshot of the Carl/Ellie relationship is one of the best 4 minutes in motion picture history, but the story that follows (SQUIRREL!) captured us fully, despite the ridiculous premise. So enjoy Toy Story 4 later this week, but first spend 50 minutes with us teeth-clanging about this animated loveliness. Sparkplug Coffee, people! It’ll provide you with outstanding beans. That 10% discount remains available to first-time customers by using our promo code, “top100project”. The Twitter storm is upon us: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Spider-Man 2

It’s the 300th Ellis episode! Yup, the Next 153 Project represents the 3×100 times you’ve heard Bev & Ryan invade your earholes. Of course, there are more than 300 podcasts in total on this channel, but the numbers get confusing and who’s counting anyway? So…Speedgimmewhatineed! This is such a fun thriller and it’s one of the very best of the Die Hard ripoffs. Jan de Bont (directing his first-ever film!) hit a major home run. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock make a terrific team and one of us also has big hearts for Dennis Hopper as the mad bomber. We talk about Hopper’s lowball ransom, that ludicrous bus jump, Reeves’ eternal likability and how could we NOT riff on the “cahns”? This is very simply the best 40 minutes of podcasting you’ll enjoy all day! Sparkplug Coffee started being our sponsor in the summer of 2014…and they still are. Use our promo code (“top100project”) and drag a 10% discount outta them. We do indeed tweet from time to time: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis

MIB International comes out June 14th, so our Next 152 Project basks in some of that hype by jamming about the sci-fi/comedy blockbuster that started this oft-crappy (and oft-gooey) franchise. The original flick is still really funny with Will Smith’s charisma, Tommy Lee Jones’ deadpan stoicism and Vincent D’Onofrio’s buglike commitment bouncing beautifully off each other. The makeup, the F/X, Egger, the noisy cricket, the theme song, the creativity. This is director Barry Sonnenfeld’s finest hour. So much gold. Don’t let an MIB flashy thingy you so you’ll forget to order some Sparkplug Coffee. That 10% discount is still available if you use our promo code “top100project”. The little birdie is a good place to reach us: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Speed

So Ferris Bueller plays White Saviour to a bunch of courageous, black, Civil War soldiers in the Next 151 Project. And, against the odds, it really works. This remains a powerful film 30 years on, especially when the focus shifts (at least somewhat) from Matthew Broderick to Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and friends. Broderick (and the man he portrays, Colonel Shaw) might be in over his head, but that benefits the character and the movie. It’s a flicker show filled with great moments and exceptional battle scenes. Ed Zwick has directed a few underrated motion pics, but his Civil War opus is his most-meaningful accomplishment. Nab some Sparkplug Coffee ASAP. That 10% discount is still applicable. Just toss in “top100project” at check-out. To flap your tongue at us, try @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Men In Black

It's the return of the Now Playing Project! Horror flick Brightburn (aka A-Hole Superman) opens this weekend and Ryan decided to *gasp* pay money to see it on Friday afternoon. It's the new age of horror, man. You gotta support these creative ventures. This is a solo review. No Bev or Chris in this one. Oh, and there are huge spoilers in this episode, pretty much from the start. Also, Ryan gives you a couple minutes worth of thoughts about Avengers: Endgame for good measure. On the Twitter thingamastuffs, look for @moviefiend51

This marks 150 Next 100 Project podcasts (go figure on that numbering) and we get to rat-a-tat about the most sexually liberated musical of all time. Tim Curry is delicious in his best role (it’s also his first role) while Susan Sarandon & Barry Bostwick are…fine. Director Jim Sharman and writer Richard O’Brien created a cultural touchstone with this cult blockbuster, which is still shown regularly at midnight screenings. Huge hit, great songs (The Time Warp, man!), also with plenty of problems, but this is an enjoyable time at the movies. Try a double feature (science fiction or otherwise) with a big order of Sparkplug Coffee. Our 10% discount when you use the “top100project” promo code still applies. We can be reached on the twit show: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis In 2 weeks: Glory

Here come Hanks and Hannah in our Next 149 Project as we lip-wag about a fruit merchant falling in love with a mythical fish-babe. How can anyone not love this rom-com to the ends of the Earth? Well....we didn’t. Splash was one of Bev’s favourites as a kid, but now she has issues with Allen's attitude and we both wish the movie had been funnier. Hannah is perfectly cast though and there’s definitely fun to be had with this occasionally knee-slapping picture. Ron Howard became a major player as a director after this and he’d go on to do better work, as would his star, Thomas Nice Guy. But enough pre-beefin’. Listen to our full-on beefin’! Dumping Sparkplug Coffee down your throat sounds like a good plan. When you hit the check-out, don’t forget to apply a 10% discount by entering our promo code (top100project). The Twitterverse has to endure our rare twittishness: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

We’re gandering at our first Jimmy Cagney picture in almost 6 years…and what a hard left turn from his patriotic musical Yankee Doodle Dandy. The Next 148 Project digs into the vicious 70-year-old crime flick where Cagney is unhinged and might even be over-acting, but in the right way. A great way. The supporting cast is solid too (including Virginia Mayo and Edmond O’Brien), but this flick belongs to the copper-hater. It’s a police procedural mixed with low-down antics from the criminals and that mix works extremely well, all the way to its famous finish. Dubious bonus: this episode might have set a new record for the Ellis usage of the word “gangster”. They didn’t have Sparkplug Coffee back in 1949, but you can get all you want on the modern Internets. Our promo code, “top100project”, will nail you a 10% discount. Twitter twat us: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis Next week: Splash

Easter is coming, so it’s time to cover a religious movie for the Next 147 Project. Catholic foul-mouth Kevin Smith bites off a lot more in this one than he ever had before, but he still manages to jam in a lot of jokes…often extraordinarily crass ones. As for the acting, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock shine. Jason Mewes does too, even though he is the king of those sex-obsessed, crass jokes. Linda Fiorentino in the lead role didn’t work out as well and Smith’s technical style, as always, is impressive to no one. Still, there are some big ideas and some touching stuff here. Plus, there’s probably never been a cuter and quirkier deity ever portrayed on a movie screen. Know what would go nicely with chocolate bunnies and Cadbury eggs? Sparkplug Coffee! You can get a 10% discount at check-out when you drop the promo code “top100project”. Twittage us: @moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis We're off until the 29th, then we're back with White Heat

Bev was not as gunned about the topic of our 146th Next 100 Project podcast as most critics (and a lot of film people) seem to be. That’s a slight surprise because she’s loved westerns way more often than not. Howard Hawks’ lackadaisical pace fits the tone of “The Dude Redemption” because some of the best scenes aren’t really about anything. It’s mostly a “hang out” movie. The romance is a flop though, despite the scintillating Angie Dickinson’s very best efforts. We also don’t find the recently trending jerkweed John Wayne as effective in these white-hat hero roles as he is when he’s angling towards darkness. Kudos to Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson for their acting and especially their warbling talents, but Walter Brennan? Yeesh. He provides an opportunity for Ryan to break out yet another impression, but he just provides Bev with much pain. So we recast him! Hear about that and so much more, you cowpokes. Sparkplug Coffee is itching to give you a 10% discount. All you have to do is write in “top100project” at