Out Of Theaters

On this episode of Out of Theaters, Billy and Will pick apart "A.I.," discussing what works, what doesn't and what hits Billy right in the heartstrings. They debate what elements Stanley and Steven brought to the film, and talk about that ending, and why it should have happened about 20 minutes before it (finally) does.

Ace in the Hole tells the story of Chuck Tatum (Douglas), a frustrated former big-city journalist stuck working for a small and simple Albuquerque community newspaper. While trying to work his way back to the big leagues, Tatum exploits a story about a man trapped in a remote cave. He eventually ropes the local sheriff, the victim's wife, his junior reporter, and a host of other characters into an ambitious scheme that ends in tragedy.

This week, on the long-awaited return episode of Out of Theaters, Billy and Will invite special returning guest Jim Lenahan to analyze the unique appeal of "This is Spinal Tap." As the co-host of the music podcast Rockin' the Suburbs, and occasional musician himself, Jim helps take the discussion to eleven.

On this episode of Out of Theaters, Will add Billy discuss the strengths and weaknesses of "Schindler's List." And in a slightly lighter vein, Will talks about "Weathering With You," an excellent anime movie about love, loss and global warming.

On this episode, Billy and Will discuss the amusing exploits of teenage imposter Frank Abagnale and the hapless FBI agent trying to catch him. We also cover the movie's amazing supporting cast and examine why the movie manages to be so damn much fun.

Will and Billy discuss director Steven Soderbergh's Contagion, including his sleek, smooth directing; the frankly amazing cast (Damon! Paltrow! Fishburne! Winslet! Law! Cranston! Cotillard!) and the way an epic movie about disease and death manages to be so downright entertaining.

This week, Billy and Will focus on "A Clockwork Orange," discussing its direction, its violence and its mesmerizing lead performance by Malcolm McDowell. And guess what? It turns out the movie can still inspire some pretty strong reactions.

"Repo Man" is everything a cult film should be. It's set in an offbeat subculture (1980s Los Angeles punk), it focuses on a bizarre cast of characters (sleazy repo men), is driven by a memorable soundtrack (the aforementioned 1980s L.A. punk) and is full of quotable lines (including a monologue that makes the most of the words "plate," "shrimp" and "plate of shrimp."

This week, Billy and Will re-examine "The Matrix" 20 years later, discussing the computer effects, the jaw-dropping stunts and the talented twosome that made the movie … and then did something even more amazing a few years later.

This week on Out of Theaters, Billy and Will watch the once-acclaimed American Beauty with fresh eyes in an attempt to answer the question: Is it any good? They examine its talented cast (include a certain scandal-ridden leading man), portrait of suburban hell and questionable moral stance.

The rest of the movie-watching world is talking about it for various reasons, so this episode, Billy and Will join the discussion, covering the subdued tone, the monumental length, the Oscar-caliber cast and, of course, all that computerized de-aging.

Will and Billy go in deep and on-the-record about the 1976 Oscar snub All the President's Men, offering insight into the film and a comparison to their experiences in the newspaper business.

On this episode of Out of Theaters, the hosts dissect all aspects of the John Hughes comedy, from the epic journey our main characters take to the oddballs they meet along the way.

A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence.

This week on Out of Theaters, Will and Billy sing the praises of Alfonso Cuaron's "Children of Men," citing favorite scenes and comparing it to the very different novel it's based on. They also answer a few listener questions and discuss their lack of excitement over the next "Star Wars" film.

On this episode of Out of Theaters, Will and Billy debate the merits of "Cat People," discuss the shadowy direction of Jacques Tourneur and examine Lewton's spooky legacy. Plus, Will sings the praises of "Dolemite Is My Name" and Billy looks forward to "Doctor Sleep."

On this episode of Out of Theaters, Will and Billy debate the merits of Hitchcock's environmental nightmare, enduring the slow spots and praising the high points. They also discuss some other Hitchcock films and reveal the real world connection between "The Birds" and "Shadow of a Doubt."

"The Fly" isn't just a great horror movie. It's also a powerful love story, a smart science-fiction tale, an incisive metaphor for disease, a dark romantic comedy and, last but not least, a groundbreaking landmark in onscreen gore. It's also one of the best movies — of any kind — of the 1980s.

When "Jaws" arrived in theaters, the world was a different place. And most of the ways it has changed, at least cinema-wise, are thanks to "Jaws" itself.

It's a genuine classic now, but once upon a time, way back in 1967, "The Graduate" was a revolutionary piece of cinema. It was a major studio release that pitted the generations against each other and, for maybe the first time in Hollywood history, sided firmly with the kids.