“Here’s Johnny!” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting duo – Ian & Liam (with Megs checking in later once she arrives from Florida) – as we snowmobile into the Overlook Hotel for our 280th episode (B-Tech Kev's not here. Doesn't he get that all work and no play make Kev a dull boy?) and crack open Stanley Kubrick’s psychological horror masterpiece The Shining (1980). We’re trading ditching the swim team for haunted hallways and axing our way through one of the most iconic films ever made as we discuss: Liam talks far too much about a film that we're not reviewing today (but what else is new?). We correct a few political misnomers from last week, because facts matter—especially when ghosts are listening. Ian talks about the passing of George Wendt; Liam, not to be outdone, imagines the hypothetical passing of one of his heroes. Megs joins us and delivers a full-on mini-episode as she trials her new sidepod and recounts her real-life triumph over the forces of nature. We debate whether Jack Nicholson is giving a genuinely strong performance… or just letting his charisma do all the heavy lifting. Is there causality in this story—or is it all just vibes? And if there isn’t, shouldn’t that break the movie? Ian reveals who he’s in good company with on this one—and who he most certainly is not. Ian also explains the origin of the iconic “Here’s Johnny!” line to, well… everyone. Ian asks if this movie is trying to cram two different horror movies into one Liam swears this isn't a horror movie and the boys try to come up with a list of what makes a film a horror film 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAriannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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/.

It’s another edition of See It or Skip It and this time Ian and Liam are tackling Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning (2025), the explosive (and supposedly final?) chapter in Ethan Hunt’s death-defying saga. Does Tom Cruise still deliver jaw-dropping stunts and spy-thriller spectacle—or is the mission starting to show its age? If it is the end, is this truly a satisfying send-off for the franchise, or are we looking at Fast & Furious–style diminishing returns? Has the series said everything it has to say—or is there still life in the IMF yet? Is the plot compelling, or just another excuse to jump off a mountain with a briefcase? Do the emotional stakes hit as hard as the explosions? And most importantly—how many masks is too many masks? Ian and Liam break down the set pieces, the pacing, the performances, and whether Final Reckoning delivers on nearly 30 years of buildup—or if it’s time for Ethan Hunt to finally accept that some missions really are impossible. All that and more in this week’s See It or Skip It—and then they tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

“Give her the goddamn [microphone], Conrad!” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian & Liam (Megs and B-Tech Kev have headed off to Houston) – as we dive deep into the murky waters of grief, guilt, and WASP repression for our 289th episode, covering Robert Redford’s directorial debut Ordinary People (1980). We’re joined by BFF of the BFE: Ariannah (Who Loves BFE the Most™), as we trade poisoned apples for therapy sessions and take a long, quiet look at the cracks beneath the perfect family portrait as we discuss: How Ordinary People took the 1980 Oscars by storm  Does the film’s quiet intensity still hit home—or has its reserved style become a relic of another era? Is Conrad a deeply sympathetic protagonist—or a mirror too uncomfortable to look into? How Ordinary People explores mental health, emotional repression, and the cold war between appearance and authenticity. Would the film still work today or have we successfully de-stigmatized mental health, trauma, and therapy? Which character we most relate to – and does that change  Where Mary Tyler Moore lands in the pantheon of dramatic performances. And what’s someone's major gripe with her character’s arc? Speaking of gripes—can we talk about that family photo scene? We’ve got questions about golf sweaters, family breakfast tension, and how much pain can hide behind tickets to Michigan State We get personal about how Ordinary People affected us—and whether we saw ourselves in any of its emotional breakdowns. We talk quiet power, redemptive silence, and the importance of just… being there for someone. Whether Ordinary People 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAriannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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/.

“On the BFE, nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass.” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Liam & Megs (Kev’s stuck in traffic... literally) – as we collide head-on with our 270th episode, diving into the Oscar-winning ensemble drama Crash (2004). We’re trading poisoned apples for tangled fender benders and uncomfortable conversations as we discuss: How Crash sparked intense debate in 2004 and controversially drove off with Best Picture. Does the film still resonate 20 years later—or has its commentary aged as awkwardly as some of its dialogue? Is Crash a powerful mirror to society… or a heavy-handed lecture? How Crash explores race, prejudice, guilt, and the unseen connections that bind us. Which character’s arc hit us hardest – and which character has multiple members of the BFE auditioning for the role? Is Crash misunderstood genius—or awards bait that tricked us all? Where the film sits among Best Picture winners. And what’s our biggest gripe with its storytelling choices? Which characters does the film tell us to forgive - and do we? Speaking of gripes—do any of these characters actually change? We get personal about when we first saw Crash, and how our take on the film has evolved over time (or crashed and burned). We talk intense performances, sweeping coincidences, and how this film could only have been made at this exact time Whether Crash is the Best Film Ever. Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.

“You were the chosen one!” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Liam & Megs (Kev's off-planet this week, likely negotiating with the Trade Federation) – as we ignite our lightsabers, spin into some space politics, and plunge into the dark side for our 270th episode covering Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). We’re trading poisoned apples for Order 66 and flying headfirst into the fall of Anakin Skywalker as we discuss: Whether Revenge of the Sith sticks the landing for the prequel trilogy—or crashes harder than General Grievous’ escape pod. Does the film finally deliver the emotional payoff the prequels promised? Is Anakin’s fall convincing… or did he turn to the dark side over some bad dreams? Why does the reason for Anakin's turn seem inconsistent in this one Are Restie award winners, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman any better this go around or is a back-to-back a likely result? We talk about our philosophical stances and what happens when 2 of them crash into each other? Which Jedi we’d most likely be – and who’s clearly the Palpatine of the group Is this film secretly the best prequel—or just the least clunky one? Where does the Anakin/Obi Wan light saber fight fall in the history of duels in Star Wars? Speaking of gripes – was Padmé done dirty by giving her nothing to do? Does George Lucas understand love? We ask how Order 66 compares to another major franchise's big emotional disaster Whether Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAriannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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 36:00: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It VerdictAFTER 36:00: Full Spoiler Review It’s another Sunday edition of See It or Skip It and this time Ian is joined by BFF of the BFE to tackle the Marvel anti-hero team-up Phase Five film Thunderbolts* (2025), Marvel’s messiest group project yet.  Does Jake Schreier bring something fresh to a story about second chances and dangerous alliances—or is it all attitude with no real heart? Does the film's central theme and newest character go to a brave place for Marvel in discussing some very real places in the very silly comic book world or is it in danger of glorifying a self-destroying pattern of behaviour. Was Bucky actually beneficial in this story or was he just some MCU star power to give the group legitimacy.  Could the film have worked if we'd made Bucky the main character? Where does Thunderbolts* fit among Marvel's post-snap catalogue? Ian & James tackle all these questions and more in this week’s See It or Skip It review of Thunderbolts*—and then they tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.  

“Make a mark... and then fade away.” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Megs & Liam (B-Tech Kev had to see a man about an elephant) – as we trade our spy gear for trumpets, film reels, and copious amounts of debauchery for our 275th episode covering Babylon (2022). We’re swapping Chimera viruses for jazz-fueled chaos and slow-motion gunfights for full-blown cinematic mayhem as we discuss: How Babylon might be the most Damien Chazelle movie that ever Damien Chazelle’d. Does this film capture the magic and madness of early Hollywood—or is it just chaotic noise? Is Manny Torres a true dreamer… or just a wide-eyed bystander to Hollywood’s self-destruction... or is he a corrupted soul that we overlook? Apparently there's a rule about taking Class-A drugs with company (well, in Act I anyways) How large is the demand for sweeping, three-hour epics about the birth of movies? Which Babylon character we’d most likely be—and who’s definitely channeling peak "trainwreck energy"  Is this an underappreciated masterpiece—or an overindulgent fever dream of excess? Is Babylon a love letter to cinema or a cautionary tale wrapped in champagne and elephant dung? We’ve got questions about giant parties, sudden snake fights, drug-fueled breakdowns, and how much elephant content is too much. At what point is the film in on the joke it's making and at what point does that film become the joke? We're joined by BFF of the BFE: James DeGuzman who tells us why this film is so much more than the punchline film critics have mmade it out to be Whether Babylon is the Best Film Ever.

Another bonus episode as we bring you another Reel Roundtable discussion for your listening enjoyment.  Ian, Liam, Megan, and KevDog and revisit the filmography of Pixar Animation Studios.  Comments, banter, and an appreciation of crying as adults can be found as we discuss: The seal of quality that Pixar Animation used to stand for and why has that depreciated over time How much of a marvel was Toy Story and why can't they let it go Did the success of Pixar result in the death of traditional hand-drawn animation? Are Pixar films meant for adult audiences over child audiences? We present the audience and BFE Top 10 lists for the best Pixar films ever ever If you have any ideas about future actors/actresses or topics for future roundtables, we’d love to hear from you.  Hit us up at @BestFilmEverPod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

FIRST 31:30: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It VerdictAFTER 31:30: Full Spoiler Review It’s another Sunday edition of See It or Skip It and this time Ian is taking on Sinners (2025), Ryan Coogler’s dark new thriller starring Michael B. Jordan. Was this a smart reinvention of classic genre tropes or just another stylish slow-burn? Does Coogler bring something deeper to a story about survival and temptation—or is it all atmosphere without enough bite? Is Michael B. Jordan believable as a pair of men wrestling with his their legacies and reinventing themselves? You can see the material it draws from. Does Sinners do something new with it though or is it just a retread of places we've already been? Does Sinners lean too much into moody tension, or does it actually deliver emotional payoff? Is Sinners a future genre classic—or just an ambitious but uneven swing? Finally, does the movie stick the landing or does it just kind of suck? Ian tackles all these questions and more in this week's See It or Skip It review of Sinners—and then tells you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

“This message will self-destruct in five seconds…” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Megs & Liam (B-Tech Kev said something about needing to catch a flight to Atlanta) – as we don our sunglasses, rev up the motorcycles, and flip our hair in the wind for our 275th episode covering Mission: Impossible 2 (2000). We’re trading thermal vision  for Chimera viruses and slow-motion stunts as we discuss: How Mission: Impossible 2 became the most John Woo movie that ever John Woo’d. Does this sequel hold up as a stylish thrill ride—or is it just all style, no substance? Is Ethan Hunt a superspy… or just a shampoo commercial with explosives? What exactly does an audience want to see out of a Mission: Impossible film exactly Which member of Ethan’s crew we’d most likely be – and who’s clearly channeling peak Dougray Scott vibes. Is this the weakest link in the franchise—or an underappreciated relic of early-2000s action excess? Is Ethan Hunt a character or just an avatar for Tom Cruise to do James Bondesque films Speaking of gripes—what exactly was Ambrose’s plan again? We've got questions about masks, voice strips, motorcycles, and why no one seems fazed by endless slo-mo doves. We talk flamenco espionage, face-swapping twists, and the importance of always removing your sunglasses dramatically. Just how many actors were only in this film for the paycheck? Was Thandiwe Newton bad in this or is she just poorly written for and poorly directed? Is this the lustiest film in the Franchise? Whether Mission: Impossible 2 is the Best Film Ever.

You know we love our wrestling here at the BFE (well… some of us do). Join Ian as we once again break the BFE format—this time to take a deep dive into WrestleMania 41 (Night Two). We’re asking the big questions: how long can you keep someone a heel when the crowd is clearly with them? Was Bayley hard done by? Did WWE finally get held to account tonight after tempting fate for 20 years?  Can you assign Travis Scott as a proxy for The Rock? What happens if the audience don't know your pop culture references or personalities? Is the Main Event the right time for a live read for a sponsor? Did AJ Styles just give Logan Paul his worst WrestleMania match ever? And is there a ceiling on what you can do with Drew McIntyre? Plus, what wrestling pet peeves does Ian disclose tonight? We’ll tackle all of that and more from WrestleMania 41 (Night Two)—and of course, we’ll tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

You know we love our wrestling here at the BFE (well… some of us do). Join Ian as we once again break the BFE format—this time to take a deep dive into WrestleMania 41 (Night One). We’re asking the big questions: what do you do when a wrestler really isn't making progress, is there a babyface team worth cheering for on Raw, without strong babyfaces how do you make believeable heels?  Should WWE stop mentioning Big E if there's no chance of him being active in any capacity, is Tiffany Stratton ready for her spot? Was Charlotte Flair trying to sabotage her own match? Will Chad Gable ever get a match now that newcomers Rey Fenix and El Grande Americano have made their WrestleMania debuts and what did Paul Heyman do in the Main Event? We’ll tackle all of that and more from WrestleMania 41 (Night One)—and of course, we’ll tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.

FIRST 19:30: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It VerdictAFTER 19:30: Full Spoiler Review Give em' the old Razzle Dazzle, Razzle Dazzle 'em. This week, we dive into The Last Showgirl (2024)—a poignant and surprisingly intimate drama that shines a spotlight on the final curtain call of a forgotten performer. Starring Pamela Anderson in a career-redefining role, the film follows a seasoned Las Vegas showgirl grappling with what comes after the music fades and the makeup comes off. We’ll examine the storytelling—Does The Last Showgirl speak to something deeper than a typical showbiz redemption arc? How does Pamela Anderson anchor the film with surprising depth, vulnerability, and quiet power? And perhaps most importantly: how does it explore the things we tell ourselves to keep going—the inner monologues we cling to when chasing the happy endings we think we deserve?  We’ll also break down the film’s tone and presentation—Is it a loving tribute to old-school showbiz, or a eulogy for what was left behind? Do the glimmers of glamour still matter when they’re tinged with loneliness and longing? And is this a film that requires nostalgia for the past—or is it more about the universal fear of being forgotten?Finally, could this film have been made with anyone else in the lead role or is the whole film a reflexive meta-narrative on the lead actress herself? We’ll tackle all these questions as we dissect the film and tell you if we think you should SEE IT or SKIP IT!  

You know we love our wrestling here at the BFE (well some of us...). Join Ian from Best Film Ever and Stew from The Stew World Order podcast as we break the BFE format by looking ahead to WrestleMania 41 which Stew will watch from Reliant Stadium in Las Vegas and Ian will watch from his couch at a horrendous time difference. We discuss whether the build has been good this year? Did that car crash of a segment help or hurt the Flair/Stratton feud? Why do so many of the booking decisions feel so predictable (and is that a bad thing?) We'll preview each match on the card as well as try to find space for Randy Orton among the festivities as we discuss how to build a character, how to build a feud, and where WWE goes after the big weekend.Catch more of Stew on his own podcast: Stew World Order athttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stew-world-order/id1559913522You can also catch him at his website where he writes about all sorts of fun things:https://swoproductions.com/

“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Liam (Megs & B-Tech Kev said something about climbing trees) – as we strap on our gear, light our cigars, and head deep into the Central American rainforest for our 274th episode, tackling the musclebound mayhem of Predator (1987). We’re trading reservations at Dorcia for thermal vision and going toe-to-toe with one of cinema’s deadliest hunters as we discuss: How Predator blurred the lines between action, horror, and sci-fi to create something original. Does the film still pack a punch nearly 40 years later—or is it just macho nostalgia on steroids? How manly are the manly men in this film both on and off the set? Which team member we’d most likely be – and who’s 100% Billy with that intense stare. Is Predator secretly a slasher film in disguise? And does that make the Predator the villain... or the star? What’s Liam's main gripe about the Predator's rules of engagement? Why was this film so insistent on telling rather than showing We've got questions mud camouflage, heat vision, and respecting the preparation montage We get personal about  Arnold’s peak era, and childhood memories of watching this way too young. Whether Predator 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAriannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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/.

“Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian & Liam (B-Tech Kev & Megs had to return some videocassettes) – as we slick back our hair, slip on the raincoats, and axe our way into our 273rd episode with a deep dive into American Psycho (2000). We’re trading poisoned apples for reservations at Dorsia (try the Sea Urchin Ceviche) as we discuss: How American Psycho satirized toxic masculinity, consumer culture, and Wall Street excess with a killer smile. Does Patrick Bateman still hold up as a character—or has society caught up with his brand of narcissistic nihilism? Is the film’s horror in the violence… or in the soulless perfection? How American Psycho explores identity, superficiality, and the slippery slope of sanity. Which character we’d most likely be cast as – and who’s definitely the Paul Allen of the group. Is American Psycho misunderstood because of its violence, or revered because of how it frames it? This film gives us a chance to talk about two concepts we touched on last week: unreliable narrators and what exactly makes a character a protagonist Speaking of complaints—what about the other men in Bateman’s world? Are they any better? We've got questions about how soundproof the apartments by the park are that they don't hear chainsaws in hallways We talk about whether all traditional masculinity is essentially toxic and Liam discusses his need for closure Last week one of us made a prediction about the other's likely verdict on the film. Did they pull it off? Whether American Psycho 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAriannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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/.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall...” Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Megs & B-Tech Kev (Liam got lost singing with woodland creatures) – as we take a bite out of Disney’s first-ever animated feature in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). We’re trading in baseball gloves for poisoned apples and diving into our 270th episode as we discuss: How Walt Disney changed cinema forever with this groundbreaking fairy tale. Does Snow White still hold up nearly a century later? Was the magic charming or a little too saccharine for modern tastes? How Snow White taps into themes of innocence, envy, and female agency (or lack thereof). Which dwarf we’d most likely be cast as – and who’s clearly Grumpy in real life. Is this film overrated just because it was “first”? How the Evil Queen ranks among the all-time Disney villains. What was our main complaint with her? Speaking of complaints, what about the Prince – does he even do anything? We've got more questions about sentient animals, and consent. We get personal about childhood memories and Disney nostalgia. We talk about magical mirrors, glass coffins, and the importance of whistling while you work. Whether Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai Bergerfroind Ariannah Who Loves BFE The MostAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashrey 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/.

"Mo cuishle." Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian and Liam (B-Tech Kev & Megs are off hitting the heavy bag) – as we're heading to The Hit Pit to step into the ring for a tale of grit, heartbreak, and emotional uppercuts in Million Dollar Baby (2004). Your prizefighting pair, Ian and Liam are joined by our own special trainer, BFF of the BFE: Shai Bergerfroind to teach us the ropes of this Clint Eastwood critical darling. We’re trading in our cornfields for boxing gloves and diving into our 271st episode as we discuss: How Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman all deliver Oscar-worthy punches. Can this movie still pack a punch if you're not a boxing fan? Is this a sports movie or another relationship movie using sports as a backdrop? Was the emotional KO in the final act earned or below the belt? How Million Dollar Baby jabs at themes of ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing glory. What is the price of excellence?  What is the cost of guilt? How crucial is the final bell – does the ending seal the legacy? Did Maggie Fitzgerald get robbed by fate? What about Frankie’s corner man heartbreak? Who does Shai think had a vendetta against Clint Eastwood?  Who do they think Shai may have as a 2nd persona? Is there a certain type of viewer that just can't deal with the unexpected ending Whether Million Dollar Baby is the undisputed Best Film Ever.

FIRST 18:00: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It VerdictAFTER 18:00: Full Spoiler ReviewThis week, we step into the world of fairy tales as we take a closer look at Disney’s Snow White (2025)—a bold reimagining of the classic animated film that started it all. Starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, this live-action adaptation promises to blend timeless magic with modern sensibilities and updated messaging for a new generation. Join Ian (solo) as he questions the internal logic and soundtrack order of the film, dissects Rachel Zeigler's commentary about the film and if she's done critical damage to her own film as she was cast in a story she seems to dislike so much. Finally, Ian brings up his own princess problem and asks if Disney remakes can survive this? We’ll tackle all these questions as we dissect the film and tell you if we think you should SEE IT or SKIP IT!

(Deep Dive begins at 46:00) "If you build it, they will come." Join your favorite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Liam & B-Tech Kev (Megs got lost walking through the cornfield) – as we step into the world of baseball, nostalgia, and ghostly whispers in Field of Dreams (1989). We’re trading in our hazmat suits for baseball gloves and diving into our 270th episode as we discuss: How Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Ray Liotta bring heart to this sentimental classic. Does this movie work if you're not a baseball fan? Was the mystical element beautifully executed or just overly sentimental? Which actor wasn't actually into baseball How Field of Dreams taps into themes of regret, reconciliation, and belief. Which actor was referred to as 'Richard Dreyfuss from wish.com Is this film overrated just because it's men talking about feelings? How is James Earl Jones at the heart of two of the most Mandela Effected quotes of all time? Did Shoeless Joe Jackson deserve better? What about Moonlight Graham? We've got more ghost physics to talk about We get really personal about our own dreams We talk about magical cornfields, cryptic voices, and the importance of playing catch. Whether Field of Dreams 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 PMHermes AuslanderJames DeGuzmanSynthiaShai BergerfroindAndy DicksonChris PedersenDuane Smith (Duane Smith!)Randal SilvaNate The GreatRev BruceCheezy (with a fish on a bike)RichardRyan KuketzDirk DigglerStew from the Stew World Order podcastNorfolkDomusJohn Humphrey's Right FootTimmy Tim TimAashreyAriannah 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/.