(Deep Dive begins at 44:45)

"Some friendships are worth killing for." Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Official KevDog from The Podcast That Wouldn't Die (Megs, B-Tech Kev & Liam are off trying to dispose of a suitcase full of cash) – as we head to the world of twisted morality, paranoia, and early Danny Boyle brilliance in Shallow Grave (1994). We’re swapping the peaceful Amish countryside for a grimy Edinburgh flat and diving into our 266th episode as we discuss:

• How Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox, and Christopher Eccleston create one of the most dysfunctional trios in cinema.  Are any of them likeable?
• Danny Boyle’s energetic directing style and how it shaped his career.
• Would we call ourselves hard boyled or medium boyled
• The film’s dark humor – does it still land in 2024?
• Is Kerry Fox doomed to be the answer to an obscure trivia question
• Who is the biggest villain of the movie: greed, paranoia, or one of the three roommates?
• Would you ever trust your roommates with this much money?
• We talk about The Kansas City Chiefs getting destroyed in the SuperBowl and discuss the price of eggs
• Whether Shallow Grave is the Best Film Ever.

Check out more of Kevin on The Podcast That Wouldn't Die at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-that-wouldnt-die/id1477564319 (Apple) or https://open.spotify.com/show/4PRyIb1RwESq7YvAfnJMiX (Spotify)

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
Hermes Auslander
James DeGuzman
Synthia
Shai Bergerfroind
Andy Dickson
Chris Pedersen
Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
Randal Silva
Nate The Great
Rev Bruce
Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
Richard
Ryan Kuketz
Dirk Diggler
Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
NorfolkDomus
John Humphrey's Right Foot
Timmy Tim Tim
Aashrey
Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.

FIRST 35:00: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It Verdict
AFTER 35:00: Full Spoiler Review

This week's See It or Skip It has us diving into the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World (2025), now playing in theaters. Directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford, this latest entry in the MCU marks a new chapter for the Star-Spangled Avenger.

Join Ian and James as we step into a post-Endgame world to see if Brave New World soars as a worthy successor to the Captain America legacy or if it stumbles under the weight of expectation. Does it honour Steve Rogers' past while firmly establishing Sam Wilson as his own Cap, or does it play it too safe without enough bold ambition?

We’ll examine the film’s storytelling—Does it justify its place in the MCU after so much time since Falcon and the Winter Soldier? How does Anthony Mackie fare in his first solo Captain America outing, and does he bring the same leadership and presence as Chris Evans once did? And how does Harrison Ford’s debut as Thunderbolt Ross shake up the Marvel landscape?

We’ll also break down the action and spectacle—Are the fight sequences and choreography on par with the intense, grounded combat of The Winter Soldier? Does Julius Onah bring a fresh visual style to the franchise? Did Marvel choose the right villain to challenge Sam Wilson’s Cap? 

Finally, we’ll debate whether Brave New World stands strong as a new era for the character or if it struggles to break free from Steve Rogers’ shadow. Does the film move the MCU forward in an exciting way, or is it another formulaic installment? 

We’ll tackle all these questions as we dissect the movie and tell you if we think you should SEE IT or SKIP IT!

(Deep Dive begins at 33:05)

"Some podcasts are proud and not plain" Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Hermes Auslander (Megs, B-Tech Kev & Liam are off learning Pennsylvania Dutch) – as we head to the world of Amish country, undercover cops, and barn-raising in Witness (1985). We’re trading in our Smart Tech polo shirts for traditional Amish garb and diving into our 265th episode as we discuss:

• How Harrison Ford’s performance showcases his range beyond Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
• The film’s blend of crime thriller and romance – does it work?
• In what ways was Harrison Ford the perfect actor for this role
• Which one of us REALLY hated the 3rd act
• Which actor was REALLY hated by one of us in this film
• Was this movie ahead of its time, or does it feel dated in 2024?
• Is John Book fair to Rachel in this film?  Is Rachel fair to John Book?
• Is John Book a great protector or just dragging danger into the Amish community?
• Why didn't 20th Century Fox want to make this film
• Hermes and Felix continue their blood feud
• Whether Witness is the Best Film Ever.

 

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
Hermes Auslander
James DeGuzman
Synthia
Shai Bergerfroind
Andy Dickson
Chris Pedersen
Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
Randal Silva
Nate The Great
Rev Bruce
Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
Richard
Ryan Kuketz
Dirk Diggler
Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
NorfolkDomus
John Humphrey's Right Foot
Timmy Tim Tim
Aashrey
Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.

Join Ian from Best Film Ever and Stew from The Stew World Order podcast as we break the BFE format by counting down to chaos at WWE Royal Rumble 2025 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. We discuss whether the Rumble matches delivered on surprises and storytelling—or if they were just a numbers game. Did WWE make the right call in crowning their Rumble winners? How did the championship matches shake up the road to WrestleMania? We also debate the physics of a luchador dodging an elimination, whether there's a limit on deferred gratification and the Greatest Royal Rumble's hybrid identity as both canon and non-canon. We'll answer all these questions and hand out post-event superlatives celebrating the night's best (and worst).

Catch more of Stew on his own podcast: Stew World Order at
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stew-world-order/id1559913522

You can also catch him at his website where he writes about all sorts of fun things:
https://swoproductions.com/

(Deep Dive begins at 27:45)

"You know how I know you're a BFE fan?" Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and B-Tech Kev (Megs & Liam are off improving their chest-waxing techniques) – as we head to the world of awkward firsts, questionable dating advice, and a whole lot of Kelly Clarkson-ing in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. We’re putting on our most fashionable Smart Tech polo shirts and diving into our 264th episode as we discuss:

• How Steve Carell’s breakout performance perfectly balances cringe and charm.
• The all-star supporting cast and how they elevate the comedy.
• The film's surprisingly heartfelt take on relationships.
• Does the waxing scene still hold up as one of the greatest physical comedy moments?
• Was this movie ahead of its time, or does it show its age in 2024?
• Should Andy have told Trish about his almost cheating with Beth or were they on a break?
• Is Trish a fair and understanding partner?
• How much of this movie was improvised, and does it work?
• Whether The 40-Year-Old Virgin is the Best Film Ever.

Check out our partnership with Magic Mind at www.magicmind.com/bfeJAN.

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
Hermes Auslander
James DeGuzman
Synthia
Shai Bergerfroind
Andy Dickson
Chris Pedersen
Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
Randal Silva
Nate The Great
Rev Bruce
Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
Richard
Ryan Kuketz
Dirk Diggler
Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
NorfolkDomus
John Humphrey's Right Foot
Timmy Tim Tim
Aashrey
Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.

This month, we’re stepping into the squared circle to break down the very first Royal Rumble match, which aired on January 24, 1988, on the USA Network. While it wasn’t a pay-per-view event just yet, this historic match laid the foundation for one of WWE’s most beloved annual traditions.

Join Ian and Stew as we revisit the 20-man battle royal that changed wrestling history. Does the original Rumble still hold up today, or does it feel like a rough draft of the chaos to come? Was it a revolutionary concept right out of the gate, or did WWE take a few years to truly perfect the formula?

We’ll examine the match’s key storytelling choices—Did the right man win? How did the pacing and eliminations compare to future Rumbles? Was this truly the best way to showcase future main eventers, or was it just a fun TV special with little long-term impact?

Also, our big burning questions this month: Was Jake Roberts super-over or was it the DDT that was super-over? Does Bret Hart work as a heel? Why would they put Bret in the first ironman slot as a heel.  Also, why book him as a heel in Canada?

We’ll also take a closer look at the match structure and in-ring action—Did the 20-man format feel too small? How did the action flow without entrance music and countdown clocks? Were there standout performances, or was this more about the novelty than match quality? And did WWE miss an opportunity by not putting this on pay-per-view?

Finally, we’ll debate whether this first-ever Rumble is a must-watch piece of wrestling history or if it’s more of a curiosity for hardcore fans. Was it a game-changer at the time, or just another battle royal with a fancy name? 

Catch more of Stew on his own podcast: Stew World Order at
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stew-world-order/id1559913522

You can also catch him at his website where he writes about all sorts of fun things:
https://swoproductions.com/

Happy New Year!  Another bonus episode for your listening enjoyment as we bring you another Reel Roundtable discussion.  Ian, Liam, Megan, and B-Tech Kev look back on the films they've reviewed in 2024 (with a mail-in ballot from Georgia) and have some awards to hand out in the form of The Besties.  Comments, banter, and flat out arguments can be found as we debate the best that we saw in 2024 (A full list of award categories and eligible films are located at the bottom of these notes)

This year we're thrilled to have ballots from ten of our patrons (Hermes Auslander, Richard, Aashrey, Timmy Tim Tim, Ariannah who loves BFE the most, James De Guzman, Andy Dickson, Johnny H's Right Boot, Cheesy and Rev. Bruce) to help determine the winners.

The Awards:

• Best Screenplay
• Best Special Effects
• Best Costume Design
• Best Art Direction
• Best Cinematography
• Best Context Corner Highlight
• Best Duo
• Best Villain
• Best Animated Film
• Best Voice Actor
• Best Musical
• Best Score
• Best Song or Theme
• Best Soundtrack
• Best Tearjerker
• Funniest Film
• Best BFE Moment/Rant/Quote
• Best BFE Argument
• The Steel Magnolias Award for Best Representation of Women
• Kate Beckingsale Memorial Award
• Harrison Ford Memorial Award
• Best Plot Twist (no spoilers)
• Episode of the Year
• Best First Watch
• Most Improved Viewing Experience
• Best Supporting Actress
• Best Supporting Actor
• The Frances McDormand award for Best Actress
• Best Actor
• Best Film

 

Eligible Films:

• (500) Days of Summer
• 3:10 to Yuma
• A Bronx Tale
• A Patch of Blue
• Amadeus
• American Beauty
• Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Beyond the Mat
• Beverly Hills Cop
• Boyhood
• Chef
• Clerks
• Crazy Stupid Love
• Dave
• Dead Poets Society
• Galaxy Quest
• Ghostbusters
• Gone Girl
• Gremlins
• Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban
• Her
• In the Heights
• Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
• Interstellar
• Kramer v Kramer
• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
• Logan
• LOTR: The Return of the King
• Mad Max
• Moana
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• Mystic River
• Nightcrawler
• Patch Adams
• Pulp Fiction
• Say Anything
• She’s All That
• Shrek 2
• Spider-Man 2
• Star Trek
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
• The Fifth Element
• The Help
• The Lego Movie
• The Lion King
• The Santa Clause
• The Shawshank Redemption
• The Sixth Sense
• Trees of Peace
• Up
• When Harry Met Sally
  
  

Check out our partnership with Magic Mind at www.magicmind.com/bfeJAN

Deep Dive begins at 37:00

"Remember, remember the 5th of November!" Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Liam (Megs & B-Tech Kev are off plotting revolutions elsewhere) – as we head to a dystopian future to dive into the political thriller V for Vendetta. We're also joined by a new and enigmatic revolutionary in BFF of the BFE: Synthia. We're donning our Guy Fawkes masks and questioning authority in our 263rd episode as we discuss:

• The powerful themes of rebellion, freedom, and identity at the heart of the film.
• How the performances of Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman bring emotional depth to this dystopian tale.
• The visual style and how it blends comic book origins with cinematic storytelling.
• The film's commentary on government surveillance and authoritarianism.
• If the romantic subplot was necessary (or even beneficial)
• Is this where Hermes gets his entire identity from
• What is with the links between Gordon & V?
• Do V's actions justify the means?  Isn't that also the same logic the government makes?
• Whether V for Vendetta remains as relevant today as it was upon release.
• Whether V for Vendetta is the Best Film Ever.

Check out our partnership with Magic Mind at www.magicmind.com/bfeJAN.

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Chris Pedersen
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• Timmy Tim Tim
• Aashrey
• Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.

Check out our partnership with Magic Mind at www.magicmind.com/bfeJAN

Deep Dive begins at 33:20

 

"They're under the ground!" Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Megs (Liam & B-Tech Kev weren't invited to Perfection) – as we're heading to the Nevada desert to dig into the cult classic monster mayhem of Tremors. We're dodging Graboids and figuring out how to survive in our 262nd episode as we discuss:

• This film claims to be both comedy and horror but is it either?
• We discuss the practical effects and how they hold up (save for one shot)
• Did they choose the wrong character to be the protagonist in this film?
• What makes an enjoyable horror film to the members of the pod?
• Was the romantic storyline necessary?
• Megs doesn't help her reputation of not having seen any films
• Whether Tremors is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• Timmy Tim Tim
• Aashrey
• Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

"We're werewolves, not swearwolves!" Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Megs (Liam & B-Tech Kev weren't invited in) – as we're heading to Wellington, New Zealand, to explore the undead hilarity of What We Do in the Shadows.  We're sharpening our fangs and settling the house chores in our 261st episode as we discuss:

• The brilliance of blending mockumentary style with supernatural comedy.
• How this film made vampires (and werewolves) relatable, if not downright hilarious.
• The dynamics between Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Nick as they navigate immortal roommate drama.
• How the film's entire identity centers around the juxtaposition of the fantastic and the mundane
• The art of creating low-budget effects that still pack a punch.
• Whether What We Do in the Shadows is the Best Film Ever.

Check out our partnership with Magic Mind at www.magicmind.com/bfeJAN

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• Timmy Tim Tim
• Aashrey
• Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

Now you have another reason to get into the summer spirit as we close out 2024! Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, and Megs (we've traded Liam & B-Tech Kev to Detroit) – as we're heading to Northern California to use computers and math to turn the Oakland Athletics into a winning ballclub in Moneyball.  We're joined by Best Friend of the podcast and our star trade deadline acquisition in Ryan Kuketz who picked today's film. We're avoiding jinxes and paying a dollar for Cinnamon Cokes in our 260th episode as we discuss:

• The challenges of making a film about baseball that features so little on field action
• Whether this film was accessible to non-baseball fans
• Some of the historical inaccuracies in the film. But hey, movie's gotta movie, right?
• Ian has the nerve to think that he can improve Aaron Sorkin's final script
• The chemistry between Brad Pitt (playing to type) and Jonah Hill (playing against type)
• The storytelling shortcut present in the ending of this film
• What a pivotal changing of the zeitgeist this film was in professional sports
• We see a first happen with this film
• Whether Moneyball is the Best Film Ever

Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

• Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
• Hermes Auslander
• James DeGuzman
• Synthia
• Andy Dickson
• Chris Pedersen 
• Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
• Randal Silva
• Nate The Great
• Rev Bruce
• Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
• Richard
• Ryan Kuketz
• Dirk Diggler
• Shai Bergerfroind
• Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
• NorfolkDomus
• John Humphrey's Right Foot
• Timmy Tim Tim
• Aashrey
• Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most

Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/

Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

F**k your revolution, Ian's voice is clear
F**k your revolution, Hermes goes nowhere near