The Top 100 Project

The 27th edition of the Next 100 Project takes us into inner-city Los Angeles. John Singleton’s debut is a “suburban war film” (compliment) and he directs some tremendous performances (big compliment). Cuba, Cube, Chestnut, Fish and Bassett couldn’t be any better. Powerful flick. Order from our sponsor Sparkplug Coffee, put on your mustard-coloured shirt and dig into the Hood!

N100P podcast #26 is all about a romantic comedy that isn’t very funny and also isn’t very romantic. Somehow, Audrey Hepburn’s charm makes it work as well as it does. Mickey Rooney’s awful (and awfully racist) character doesn’t help though. If you want to hear us say “iconic”, “in the book” and “Hays Code” a lot, this ‘cast will be your dream come very true! Pour yourself several drinks, cue up your Moon River mood music and give us a listen (but not before going over to Sparkplug.Coffee).

Paranoia, mistrust and fear. They said this movie was about Communism or McCarthyism, but it’s actually pretty accurate to our political climate today. The 25th Next 100 Project ‘cast finds us in this fascinating & original world, with Don Siegel’s direction & Kevin McCarthy’s leading performance anchoring the flick. Get Sparkplug Coffee, then narrow your eyes at your neighbour as we tell you about the Snatchers.

In advance of the lady-filled remake coming out later this week, N100P podcast #24 finds us back in NYC with the zaniest paranormal investigators and eliminators of all time. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis (but let’s not forget Ernie Hudson!) are great, but we say the biggest laughs in this iconic comedy belong to Rick Moranis. Order your Sparkplug Coffee, then heat ’em up and cross those streams!

The Now Playing Project returns! We were supposed to be off this week (and then we were only going to post this podcast on top100project.com), but it's Download City after all. So here's a quick, unresearched, backyard, bonus episode of the Blake v Shark movie. Complete and thorough spoilers, so beware!

Coolness personified, baby! The 23rd ep of the Next 100 Project has us in F/X and action fantasy-land with one of the great sequels (and sci-fi flicks) ever. Ah-nuld and Jim Cameron were a great team, but Linda Hamilton is the not-sung-enough hero here. And how about the awesome villainy of the T-1000? It's been 25 years, but this 'un holds up. Dial in Sparkplug.Coffee, then hunker down for a long lip-smacker about a humungoid hit!

Steve McQueen is the main attraction in the 22nd N100P podcast (although some of us prefer James Garner). This John Sturges P.O.W. flick features an ensemble cast of talented white dudes, including the rich old man from Jurassic Park and the obsessed shrink in the Halloween series. But as for The Great Escape, it’s pretty exciting stuff! To hear a lot more, dial up Sparkplug.Coffee and then do that listening thing...

Lucky #21 in the Next 100 Project is one of the great screwball rom-coms to ever see the light of day. Barbara Stanwyck defines silky greatness and Henry Fonda (yes, ol’ Hank) is delightful at pratfalls and silliness. This is positively Preston Sturges’ masterpiece! Before you hear our words, get some Sparkplug Coffee.

Oooooooooh yeah! The 20th edition of the Next 100 Project is a bonafide classic for people who grew up in the ’80s. Matthew Broderick is the most-famous character John Hughes ever created, smug though Ferris may be. Let’s not forget, this flick remains rather funny too. We break it all down, but you gotta check out Sparkplug Coffee before you listen to Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...

Ridley Scott's feminist road movie is 25 years old, but some of the characters' struggles remain awfully current. Sure, this flick is political, but it's also "Butch & Sundance in a car!" How can you not love that? Geena Davis and the immortal Susan Sarandon have rarely been better. Plus....smooth, smooth Brad Pitt. Buy Sparkplug Coffee, then fire up your podcasting T-Bird.

David Fincher’s serial killer thriller is what we explore in N100P podcast #18. It’s bloody, it’s bleak and it’s also brilliant. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are very solid, but Kevin Spacey steals the whole movie. Before we break down the Sev, visit Sparkplug.Coffee!

A comedy classic with Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell is #17 in the Next 100 Project. Even 76 years later, it's sharp, funny and remarkably competent (Bev's favourite word!). This is Howard Hawks' best comedy (and that's saying something). It might have some problems with tone though. Check out Sparkplug.Coffee, then ignite the rat-a-tat rom-com!

The consensus choice for best Star Wars movie is what we'll talk about in episode #16 of the Next 100 Project. Like most people, we rag on the prequels. Empire, though, has some pretty good acting and obviously outstanding F/X to go with the dark story. Dedicated to Geoff Wall, the unfortunately departed superfan and college friend of Ryan. Go to Sparkplug.Coffee, then saddle up your Tauntaun (for no reason) before you hit that play button!

Hey, a documentary! Yup, the 15th edition of the Next 100 Project is Michael Moore’s 1st flick. He found his voice right out of the gate and continues to showboat about important subjects...and to rake in big box office. This is one of Bev’s 3 favourite movies, so you know she’s got passionate opinions. Get Sparkplug.Coffee in you, then listen!

Joel and Ethan Coen’s Oscar-winning modern western chase picture is the subject of the 14th edition of the Next 100 Project. The brothers are known for wacky comedies, so this flick was a truly cynical departure. Excellent cast, story and production values. Curiosity? Our podcast manages to talk about Batman Forever more than anyone has in 20 years! Sink your teeth into our meatiest episodes in a while, but cleanse your palate first with some Sparkplug.Coffee!

Movies about inspirational teachers are common, but this one---although quite dated---has some grit to it. Glenn Ford has the task of trying to educate a wide array of tough teens in the (overrated) ’50s, including Sidney Poitier and Vic Morrow (the Twilight Zone victim). We didn’t love this flick as much as most of our recent choices, but why spoil those thoughts now? Check us out! Oh, and hit Sparkplug.Coffee too.

To honour baseball’s 2016 Opening Day, we cover a genial biopic about the remarkable Lou Gehrig. Gary Cooper is solid as the Iron Horse who loves 2 things above all else: baseball & his devoted wife Eleanor (Teresa Wright). It’s no Bull Durham, but this ancient baseball movie exudes class & character. Pop over to Sparkplug.Coffee before you hear the Ellises play ball!

The Next 100 Project is back in the modern era with the one that cinched Tom Hanks' status as a bonafide movie star. There'a an awful lot of pathos in what is absolutely a funny movie, but that pathos is probably what's given the flick its longevity. After you go over to SparkplugCoffee.com to get some beans, please settle in for some Big!

The daddy of Biblical epics is our first (and probably only) chance to talk about a Cecil B. DeMille picture. The Moses story has been filmed many times (Ryan thinks none of them get it right), but it's hard to argue that Charlton Heston's portrayal is the most iconic version. Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter are pretty good at playing Egyptians, considering they aren't Egyptian. For a lot more about the movie that ripped apart the Red Sea, slam that button, but first check out our longtime sponsor, Sparkplug.Coffee!

The 9th episode in the Next 100 Project tackles a foreign film, something the AFI obviously couldn't do. Henri-Georges Clouzot's ultra-tense thriller about 4 men driving 2 trucks with nitro-gylycerine in the back takes some time to get going. Once they start driving though, Clouzot keeps you teetering on the edge of your seat. You know what you need to do before you press play? Buy some Sparkplug.Coffee!