The Top 100 Project

Laugh big (HAHAHAHAHA!) as you drink in the Next 106 Project podcast. Errol Flynn is the perfect Robin Hood in the eyes of a lot of people. Bev, however, didn’t agree with that sentiment or all the critical love. Ryan isn’t as gunned about the picture as he used to be either. Context is key though because this action flick is 80 years old…TODAY!  Oh and pound those keys that will take you to Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your debut order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

Our 105th Next 100 Project podcastaroo goes back to Philly as the son of The Count Of Monte Fisto punches his way into the elderly Eye-talian Stallion’s lonely life. Michael B. Jordan is strong as Adonis Creed and Ryan Coogler’s writing & direction are top-notch, but the stand-out here is Sly Stallone, who’s doing the finest work of his spotty career. What a dynamite sequel/reboot in a legendary (and often legendarily dumb) franchise! We dedicate this episode to Geoff Wall (reasons within). Also, when you visit Sparkplug Coffee like you know you will, you can save 10% on your 1st order by using the promo code “Top100Project”.

It’s the Top 100 Project's 250th episode! (please clap) But this is the Next 104 Project and it takes us back into the dark world of serial killing as Charlize Theron dominates in one of the best performances anyone has ever given. Director Patty Jenkins virtually disappeared after this excellent debut (we’ll talk about why that might be) and Theron’s talent hasn’t always been respected either (we’ll talk about that too). Ricci, Dern and Wilson are terrific too in this authentic take on Aileen Wuornos’ difficult life. Go to Sparkplug Coffee where you are able to save 10% on your first order if you clickity clack the discount code “Top100Project”.

In the most logical move in film history, Charlton Heston plays a Mexican (cue the hilarity!) in our 103rd Next 100 Project endeavour. He’s actually pretty good and Janet Leigh is also strong in a difficult role. Orson Welles outdoes ’em all though as an extremely corrupt cop…and also as the film’s brilliant director. This was a B movie when it came out, but it has become a noir classic. Technical marvel though it is, the story is a puzzle (which is both a compliment and a criticism). To snag some scrumptious Sparkplug Coffee with a 10% discount on your 1st order, use the code “Top100Project”.

For the 102nd Next 100 Project podcast (and our 248th podcast overall), we dive into “Fred” Hitchcock’s supposedly favourite movie with all its squirm-inducing sexual innuendo. This flick has some of The Master’s best-ever devious subtext. Bev’s also got intriguing theories about Uncle Charlie’s true identity and about Hitchcock’s possible contempt for America during WWII. Ryan gets to bust out his worse-than-mediocre impression of ol’ Fred. What’s not to love about this episode? For superb java, zip on over to Sparkplug Coffee and you can save 10% on your very 1st order if you use the promo code “top100project”.

The 101st edition of the Next 100 Project (yup, 101 out of 100) delves into humour and romance and also Ryan’s passion, having poetry read to him while tied up. Wait…no! Baseball! The performances in the Costner / Sarandon / Robbins love triangle are fantastic, but Ron Shelton’s script (with all that delicious dialogue) is the key to the movie. Plaaaaay podcast! Oh, but first hit up Sparkplug Coffee and save yourself 10% on your premiere order if you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

The Next 100 Project reaches episode #100 and we do it with an in-depth pre-Easter chat about a life-changing Jesus movie. Willem Dafoe is galvanizing as the Big Guy in Marty Scorsese’s passion project, but what stands out the most are the revolutionary ideas in the story and in the script. Even atheists should give this movie a chance. Strap in because we’ve got a lot of holy topics to tackle. Go to Sparkplug Coffee and save 10% on order numero uno when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

To commemorate 5 years of this podcast (March 25th, 2013, saw us kick off the Top 100 Project), we’re releasing a special edition of one of the all-time classics. We trimmed the fatty two-part editions of our original Citizen Kane ‘cast while adding some new thoughts & theories. Just a little anniversary gift from us for those who haven’t already heard us gab about AFI’s Greatest Movie…or maybe we should just say it’s a better version of something you might have heard half a decade ago!

The 99th episode of the Next 100 Project goes all the way over to rainy New Zealand to investigate what happens when a mute woman has to fight to keep her “voice” (ie. her 88 keys). Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin won Oscars as the fiery mother & daughter, as did their writer/director Jane Campion. Ladies rule! Complicated story, beautifully done. For a tasty dose of joe, go to Sparkplug Coffee and also save 10% on your 1st order when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

Dudes, the Next 100 Project’s 98th venture is possibly our greatest chit chat yet. Bold claim, yes, but one of the funniest movies ever made inspired us to up our wisecrack game. The Coens are among our very favourite movie-makers, mostly because of how unique & hilarious their scripts are. And what a cast! Bridges, Goodman, Hoffman, Moore, Buscemi, Turturro, Stormare, Elliot. Just writing this preamble makes me want to watch the movie again! Abide your way over to Sparkplugcoffee.com and save 10% on your first order if you have the gumption to use the promo code “Top100Project”.

For the 97th time, the Next 100 Project has an entry...and we're back in God-silenced Sweden to talk about an Ingmar Bergman classic. This "interesting" women-centric picture focuses on cancer, pain, emotional distance and even forgiveness. Not a joyful experience is this one, but it's still a must-see for files of the cine. Also, stroke the keys to hit Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your first order if you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

The Next 100 Project’s 96th ep blabs about this year’s lust for statues, which is on deck this coming weekend. We’ve got our oft-snarky thoughts about the supposedly most-reputable movies of 2017. Did you like Get Out (or did you love it)? Did you get your fill of English propriety in Darkest Hour, Dunkirk and Phantom Thread? Did you groove on the women-centric flicks like Lady Bird, The Shape Of Water & Three Billboards? Find out what we thought by mashing that button. Also, you gotta go to Sparkplug Coffee where you’ll save 10% on your 1st order when you use the promo code “Top100Project”.

Episode #95 in the Next 100 Project scoots over to India to look at the Oscar-sweeping love story/fairy tale between Jamal & Latika. This flick charmed the world 10 years ago, but we’re not sure if people care that much about it now. It’s certainly got its share of great scenes though and it’s a fun time at the movies, despite some brutally dark material. Go to Sparkplugcoffee.com and save 10% on your first order when you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The 94th dose of your Next 100 Project fix goes all the way back to 16th Century London with a comedy/romance/historical fact-u-fiction. Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes have chemistry for eternity, but the supporting cast is dynamite too. We talk about the Harvey Weinstein controversies (then and now) and, oh, a few other things. If you’re so inclined, you should make the effort to get 10% off your first order of Sparkplug Coffee by using the discount code “Top100Project”.

It’s Oscar Month! Next 100 Project episode #93 is an excellent podcast. Definitely. Yeah. This revered Oscar-winner from ’88 has two amazing—but very different—leading performances from Dustin Hoffman & Tom Cruise. Flaws exist, of course (particularly with the real-life exploits of those 2 stars), but this road trip is…yeah, it can be said….worth taking. Oh, and you can get 10% off your first order of Sparkplug Coffee if you use the discount code “Top100Project”. So definitely use it!

We finish the Month Of Bev with the Next 100 Project's 92nd entry. This movie delves very deep into depression and suicidal thoughts, but when a movie is done so brilliantly, you can't let  sadness get you down. Lars Von Trier is a unique artist (Dogma stickler or not) and his film really has to go down as a landmark work. Oh, and snag 10% off your first order of Sparkplug Coffee when you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The 91st Next 100 Project episode journeys back to 1940’s Spain for some war and some fantasy and several monsters, all of it pretty rough stuff. Terrific stuff though. Guillermo Del Toro’s movie might even be better than it was in 2006…and it was a landmark film even then. Just don’t let your kids watch it! We even do a mini-review of Del Toro’s lauded The Shape Of Water, so yay for bonus content. If you like discounts, get 10% off your first order of Sparkplug Coffee by using the code “Top100Project”.

We kick off 2018 with a big dose of funny as Christopher Guest and his tremendous troupe of comic improvisers are at their peak. Oh, this mockumentary is also about THE DOGS…but it’s really about their dopey owners. It’s a charming flick which might even be funnier than it was 18 years ago. To snag a 10% discount on your first order of Sparkplug Coffee, use the code “Top100Project”.

We end 2017 with the 89th Next 100 Project podcast and it’s a quickie chat about the Jones/Seuss Christmas classic. The foul one and his wonderful dog Max are always a delight. This is a perennial fave that we will always choose to touch with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole. We also talk a little bit about our year in podcasting, the year in movies and what’s on tap in ’18. To save 10% on your 1st order of Sparkplug Coffee, you just have to use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The 88th drop in the Next 100 Project bucket gabs about the Christmas movie for skeptics. This 70-year-old fantasy flick (or is he really Saint Nick?) won us over, despite some rough patches and old-Hollywood cliches. Edmund Gwenn is the ideal on-screen Santa Claus and Maureen O’Hara & and a youthy Natalie Wood do a nice job working off his twinkle. Feeling like you need a boost? Go to Sparkplugcoffee.comwhere you are free to save 10% on your first order by using the discount code “Top100Project”.