The Top 100 Project

Tune into the 87th Next 100 Project podcast where we gab about the fil-lm with humour & romance (not to mention job obsession) in the field of television journalism. William Hurt & Albert Brooks love-triangle it up with Holly Hunter and the 3 of them have plenty of chemistry, but Jim Brooks’ 3rd act is far from perfect. Funny stuff though! Also, go to Sparkplug Coffee where you’ll save 10% on your first order by using the discount code “Top100Project”.

Episode #86 in the Next 100 Project gets all meta & introspective with a peek at the Jonze/Kaufman/Cage comedic kookfest. Huge kudos to Meryl Streep & Chris Cooper and the dynamite supporting cast too. This movie has a lot of eyebrow-raisers in the denooey-ment, but, despite its themes of disconnection and loneliness, this flick remains ultra-funny 15 years later. Strike the keys to go to Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your 1st order if you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The 85th drop in the Next 100 Project bucket burrows into the schizophrenic world of Fight Club. Not a hit in 1999 yet absolutely worshipped now, the Fincher/Pitt/Norton satire (it is a satire, right?) has more angles than a roomful of triangles. It’s also got Helena Bonham Carter swiping the whole movie away from the 2 macho leads. Also, there’s plenty of soap and terrorism! Rich tapestry here. Like coffee? Go to Sparkplug Coffee where you’ll save 10% on your first order if you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

Podcast nombre 84 travels to buoyant Paris and glides into the charming world of Amelie Poulain. Audrey Tautou dream girls it up as the title character, never quite falling into the trap of being too cutesy...or manic pixie-ish. Jean-Pierre Jeunet's direction is right on point (en pointe?) and kudos to him for making a film that's remained pretty timeless. Your coffee urges will be joyously taken care of by going to Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your first order if you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The fierce biopic of the “by any means necessary” guy is the subject of our 83rd Next 100 Project ‘cast. Denzel Washington---who’s always good---has never been better and Spike Lee spilled his guts to make this epic. It remains a powerful account of an ever-evolving ’60s revolutionary, the punk who became a prophet. Our dog Sam chose to snore through the entire podcast, but you won’t! Also, visit Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on order #1 if you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

The 82nd edition of the Next 100 Project zooms back 80 years to the beginning of Cary Grant’s screwball heyday. As great as Grant was, this movie belongs to Irene Dunne. They’re a classic rom-com team, plus they love their dog! And to get your java fix, hit Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your first order by using the discount code “Top100Project”.

Watch out for the Nosferatu-like boogeyman in the 81st Next 100 Project podcast. Essie Davis gives one of the very best performances by any actor in the past 10 years and Noah Wiseman is freaky good as her weirdo son. Jennifer Kent has the chops to do scary with primo subtext...and in her first movie! Scoot over to Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your first order by using the discount code “Top100Project”.

With Next 100 Project podcast #80, we travel way down south to Antarctica and explore the freaky alien happenings with Kurt Russell and his motley cohorts. John Carpenter’s lauded sci-fi/horror mash-up is an effective freak-out complete with F/X and makeup gross-outs to delight all (or at least most). Also, visit Sparkplug Coffee where you can save 10% on your first order when you use the discount code “Top100Project”.

Before you die, you hear our 79th Next 100 Project podcast. If you see any rings, that’s force majeure. Anyway, this wet creepfest’s influence is pretty strong on newer horror films. There’s a nifty twist in this movie too. Oh, and don’t forget to visit Sparkplug Coffee where you can now save 10% on your first order by using the discount code “Top100Project”.

With Next 100 Project podcast #78, we dive deep into The Sunken Place and gab about a horror flick that isn’t even 9 months old. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut is jammed with multi-meaning themes about racism, slavery, privilege and human adaptation. It’s got some “oh, come on” moments too and Bev has a few Reasonably Good Questions. Don’t forget to visit Sparkplug Coffee where you can now save 10% on your first order if you use the promo code “Top100Project”!

The 77th Next 100 Project ‘cast gabs about Paul Newman and his chain-gang chums. The inscrutable Luke is a loner, a rebel, a masochist, a non-conformist and most definitely a Christ figure, but he also has that that Luke smile of his. This movie remains awesome. For some awesome java, go get some Sparkplug Coffee, then settle in for a hear-fest, Boss.

For Next 100 Project podcast #76, we drop into the criminal underworld. Bryan Singer’s break-out hit features a charismatic con man---bad ol’ Keyser Soze---who’s quite the committed character actor. Kevin Spacey is terrific and the script is juicy, but does the flick hold together? Does the uber-famous plot twist make sense? Spend about 45 minutes finding out what we think, but go get yourself some Sparkplug Coffee first and foremost.

If you don’t like passionate diatribes that challenge phony patriotism, then don’t listen to this ep. The 75th Next 100 Project podcast tackles torture, terrorism and the terrible decisions made by American politicians ever since 9/11/01. Jessica Chastain’s obsessive lead performance is a fine one in Kathryn Bigelow’s controversial war film. It’s The Wrath Of Maya...against Bin Laden (not Khan). We welcome feedback---however angry it might be---over what was said in this podcast. Some of the harsher things from the original recording were actually cut out! So snag some Sparkplug Coffee and dive headlong into our longest episode yet.

It took until the 74th Next 100 Project podcast for us to get to this movie? Inconceivable! We end the summer covering a one-of-a-kind ’80s classic from Reiner & Goldman. The screenplay is wonderful, so is the cast (“mostly”) and it’s all just a big ol’ hilarious charm-fest. Enough gushing…listen! Sparkplug Coffee needs and deserves your patronage too, so please oblige!

The 73rd edition of the Next 100 Project takes us to an animated Africa starring regal Mufasa, the entitled Simba and their eclectic group of friends & enemies. It’s a schizo movie with racial issues and strange choices for accents, plus there might even be a bit of gay stereotyping. Still...Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase! Long live Timon & Pumbaa. Get you & your pride some Sparkplug Coffee, but also dial up our talkie talk about the circle of life, etc.

A dynamite 50-year-old true-crime thriller is the subject of Next 100 Project podcast #72. Robert Blake & Scott Wilson are a remarkable team of idiot killers. Full marks to Richard Brooks for adapting (and also directing) Truman Capote’s landmark book. Just a must-see movie...and a must-hear podcast. Sparkplug Coffee awaits, so go get some!

The 71st Next 100 Project podcast is a special episode. We lowlight 15 films that we’ve long loathed. Ryan’s got a Bottom 10 list while Bev only insults 5 flicks. Oh, the vitriol! Plus we answer some of your emails. Dash over to Sparkplug Coffee for some joe, then listen to us rip into some maddeningly crappy movies.

Seventy eps of the Next 100 Project now and this one discusses the flick about John Boorman’s canoe trip with all its banjie-picking...and rape. It remains one of the best for the director & for his strong cast of Voight, Reynolds, Beatty & Cox (plus, those mountain men). Haunting stuff and we get deep into all of it. Type in the keys for Sparkplug Coffee, then stop squealing like a pig and listen to us!

The innocence and charm of our 69th Next 100 Project podcast is one of the most delightful modern musicals. John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky and the entire cast, really, are splendiferous. Plus, it might be clumsy about it, but the movie has something to say about race relations and body image. Drink this one in while you drink some Sparkplug Coffee.

The 68th episode of the Next 100 Project has Stanley Kubrick taking us to Boot Camp & then Vietnam. The picture expertly examines the hypocrisies of ‘Nam, where humanity is cheap. It remains a disturbing film, even if so much of R. Lee Ermey’s much-imitated bullying performance feels cliched now. Fascinations abound. Before you plug in your earbuds and clean the head, load up on Sparkplug Coffee!