Hello, movie maniacs!

If you find yourself in times of trouble, Mother Mary may be the soothing blast of surreality you need.

The newest film from David Lowery – the talented writer-director who has managed to straddle the line between personal and commercial films with some success.

Starring Anne Hathaway as pop diva Mother Mary whose success has reduced her creative vision to routine, who seeks healing from her former friend and costumer Sam (Michaela Coel). Naturally the two must confront a ghostly presence that has entwined itself in their lives.

The movie also features some fine acting from Hunter Schafer and FKA Twigs, and songs by Charlie XCX and Jack Antonoff sung by Miss Hathaway herself.

Can Lowery successfully merge a stage drama with a glossy music video? Well, let Dave and Mary fansplain it for you!

Finally, Mary has some thoughts about The Drama with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, as a couple whose marriage plans are knocked askew by an explosive revelation, and Super Mario Galaxy.

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

On this episode, Dave and Mary talk about James L. Brooks newest (and maybe last?) film Ella McCay – an existential crisis/family trauma movie presented in the guise of a rom-com.

Brooks’ films are famously meandering, and trade realistic dialogue for sparkling wit. Ella McCay is no exception. The question is…do you like “vibes” movies or don’t you?

One of our hosts doesn’t and the other one does. But who?

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

On this episode, Dave and Mary talk about Project Hail Mary. They discuss the careers of the directing team Lord and Miller, as well as the career of screenwriter Drew Goddard. And they talk an awful lot about the movie itself!

They also talk about the revival of movie trailers – just when it seemed like they were as dead as a door nail – and reflect back on this year’s Oscars.

Finally, they wrap up the show with some quick reviews of Pixar’s newest film, Hoppers, the sequel to the fun thriller Ready or Not, and Mary tastes the Forbidden Fruits starring Lily Reinhardt.

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

Mary is away this week, taking in the sun and fun at Disneyworld in Orlando, FLA.

So Dave has invited his movie-mad friend Sean Condon to drop by and discuss movies, movies, movies.

Dave has a theory about the wonderful Elaine May’s career as a film director. Could she have made more films? What got in the way of her productivity? Dave compares her career to a fellow New York-based comic, Woody Allen, who flourished through the 70’s and became a better and better filmmaker.

Sean brings in some movie memes – or, as Dave insists on calling them: mémés – as a modern example of the sort of pithy reviews that once filled film guides. Both of them mourn the loss of fabulous film grump: Leslie Halliwell.

Finally, Sean digs out his list of the L.A. Times Top 101 Top L.A. Movies They go through the list with some interest and discuss the Top 15 films, which aren’t just excellent films about L.A., but are some of the best films ever made.

Let us know your favourite L.A. film!

Hello, movie maniacs!

Lists, lists, lists, lists! Movies movin’ up and down again!

That’s right! Mary and David sat down and they both hashed out a list of their Top Ten favourite films of 2025.

What films made their lists and where do they rank, and how did Mary’s list differ from David’s? All very good questions that can only be answered by listening to our very own movie nuts.

Do you want to know what you should watch of last year’s fine crop of films. Well, let Mary and David fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

Please note this week’s episode jumped the queue and references the episode we had previously recorded. We were just so excited to support this movie!

On this episode of The Fansplainers, Dave and Mary gush extensively about the wonderful film Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.

They thought it was really funny. They thought it was really touching. And they thought that you should definitely see it before you listen to their thoughts about it.

So go see it in the theatres and then come back so we can discuss this little gem together.

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

This week Mary and Dave celebrate the return of Sam Raimi to being…er…Sam Raimi with the very enjoyable Send Help!

They discuss Raimi’s filmography, explore his distinctive directing style as well as his visceral film language, and contrast his career to that of the Coen Brothers.

They praise the ridiculously talented Rachel McAdams and also stan Teen Wolf alumni Dylan O’Brien, who is also outstanding in the film.

The film has something interesting to say about masculine and feminine power dynamics. and also enjoys covering people in bodily fluids.

But is it a film for you? Well, let David and Mary fansplain it for you.

Hello, film fanciers!

Mary and Dave continue their conversation about Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s fabulous Later franchise – this time talking about Nia DaCosta’s snappy, terrifying, joyous and beautiful second chapter of the 28 Years Later trilogy.

Mary and Dave have loved these new iterations of the series and think you will too. Not sure why? Let them fansplain it for you!

Hello, film fanciers!

We think that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland (with Nia DaCosta) have created an amazing series of films that both revel in and transcend the horror genre.

So this week, we celebrate the release of 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple with the first part of a long and involved conversation about 28 Days Later and its amazing follow up 28 Years Later.

The second part of our conversation will appear next week – at which point we may finally get to The Bone Temple!

Hello, cinema sickos!

Mary and Dave ring in the new year by not continuing their McQuarrying series but instead discussing Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet – the story of Agnes Hathaway’s courtship and marriage to William Shakespeare, and the movie all the old folks are flocking to theatres to see!

Even if you don’t know what Metamucil is for, should you still go and see the film? Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Our McQuarrying series will not be appearing this week because Dave and Mary went to see the new Safdie Brother film Marty Supreme – the usual Safdie chaos with a twist of Timothée Chalamet playing a young man who gets into a lot of trouble with his balls!

Not sure what to think of Marty Supreme? Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, film fanatics!

McQuarrying has been postponed for the Christmas break. This week Mary and David have a spiritual tussle over Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man.

Can this iteration of the Knives Out franchise possibly be as good as the first two instalments or will trilogy derangement syndrome take another victim? Let Mary and David fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

McQuarrying has been postponed again because David and Mary went to the theatres to see a couple of good old fashioned action flicks.

They watched Dan Trachtenberg’s further extrapolations of the world of Predator with Predator: Badlands and Edgar Wright’s re-imagining of the “classic” 80’s Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle The Running Man.

In Part Two of their conversation, Dave and Mary defend the unfairly maligned The Running Man with Edgar Wright’s fun, streamlined direction and great performances by Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Michael Cera, and Josh Brolin. And any film with Katy O’Brien in it ranks high in our books!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, movie maniacs!

McQuarrying has been postponed this week because David and Mary went to the theatres to see a couple of good old fashioned action flicks.

They watched Dan Trachtenberg’s further extrapolations of the world of Predator with Predator: Badlands and Edgar Wright’s re-imagining of the “classic” 80’s Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle The Running Man.

In Part One of their conversation, Dave and Mary explore the crazy world of Genna with everyone’s favourite Yautja!

Hello, cinema sickos!

Guess what? No McQuarrying this week because Mary and Dave wanted to go to the movies!

On this episode they discuss Lynne Ramsey’s alienated woman psychodrama Die My Love with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, as well as Guillermo Del Toro’s grand, gothic guiltfest Frankenstein with Oscar Isaac, Jacob Ilordi and Mia Goth.

Two absolute emotional barnburners in two days! What did Dave and Mary think? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Hello, movie maniacs!

McQuarrying is on hiatus for another week as Mary and Dave take a deep dive into a frozen lake to discuss Scott Derrickson’s Black Phone 2. The Grabber returns to haunt Finney and Gwen as the supernatural becomes super real.

Was this the movie of Mary and Dave’s dreams? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

If you’d like to join Mary and Dave watching Seagulls, Stop It Now, here it is:

Hello, reel ravers!

This week, Mary and Dave take a pause on McQuarrying and talk about Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film One Battle After Another in a discursive conversation that takes in conspiracy theories, the works of Thomas Pynchon, WWI political shenanigans, a spirited defense of Leonardo DiCaprio, a brief Beach Boys aside, a heartfelt encomium for Bad Boys, Sean Penn’s classic film from 1983, an emotional plea to leave Star Wars alone, oh, and also the movie occasionally.

Not sure what to make of this rich banquet of a film? Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Hello, movie maniacs!

Mary and David continue McQuarrying this week as Christopher McQuarrie is freed from director jail and given the reins of Paramount’s newest cash cow franchise Jack Reacher with a star hot off the hit film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

He may not be as tall as the titular hero, but could Tom Cruise act tall? Well, let Mary and David fansplain it for you!

Hello, movie maniacs!

McQuarrying is back, baby! And Mary and Dave prove it by discussing Valkyrie, the 2008 film directed by Bryan Singer, written by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise and a host of British goodies playing German baddies who turn out to be German goodies.

How could a film with Tom Cruise out to kill Hitler miss? Well, let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Hello, film freaks!

McQuarrying is being postponed another week – sorry Valkyrie fans! – as David and Mary discuss the first two films of Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s “lesbian B-movie trilogy” Drive-Away Dolls and Honey Don’t.

Hot lesbian babes, cool cars, spicy quips, steamy sex, graphic murder, inhuman depravity, genre exercises, and Henry James! What’s not to like!

Not sure what to make of these too cool for film school movies? Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Hello, movie maniacs!

This week Mary and David explore more Cruise/McQuarrie films in their ongoing series McQuarrying and review the new War of the Worlds starring a heavily sedated Ice Cube.

It’s a film everybody’s talking about…

…negatively so let Mary and David fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

This week Mary and Dave continue their new series McQuarrying with a review of Zach Creggers newest film Weapons.

Cregger’s first film, Barbarian, was a commercial and critical success – and it was a lot of fun too. Can Creggers’ repeat his success or will it be the sophomore slump instead?

Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

Hello, film fanatics!

This week Mary and Dave are taking a well-deserved break from their new series McQuarrying – an overview of Christopher McQuarrie’s movies with Tom Cruise – to discuss James Gunn’s newest iteration of Superman.

After Zak Snyder’s frankly disastrous take on the beloved character, can James Gunn make Superman lovable again? Spoilers! There’s a super-powered doggie!

Not sure what to make of this film? Let Mary and Dave fansplain it for you!

This week Mary and Dave continue their new series McQuarrying – an overview of Christopher McQuarrie’s movies with Tom Cruise – by going forward into the past to ask, “Who is Keyser Söze?”

Yes, at Mary’s insistence, they watched Christopher McQuarrie’s second screenwriting effort with director Bryan Singer, The Usual Suspects.

A sleek, stylish thriller with a fantastic central performance, it also won McQuarrie an Oscar for Best Screenplay, but it left Mary and Dave a little cold. Why? Well, let them fansplain that for you.

This week Mary and Dave start off their new series McQuarrying by watching Christopher McQuarrie’s directorial debut The Way of the Gun starring the deadpan Benicio Del Toro and the might-be-dead pan of Ryan Phillippe.

A neo-noir – with its ’90s irony-laced heart very much on its sleeve. Two lowlife losers kidnap the surrogate mother of the wrong man. Mayhem and gunfire ensue.

It should have been a fun, smart crime thriller, but it isn’t. Why? Well, let Dave and Mary fansplain it for you.

This week Mary and Dave explore Wes Anderson’s latest quirkfest The Phoenician Scheme and quietly dab their eyes watching Mike Flanagan’s third Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck.

Tune in to the end of the episode as they reveal their latest watch through!

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Part four of the McQuadrilogy gets its final reckoning from Dave and Mary who wrap up the series with the latest and maybe last instalment. The world is on the brink of disaster as Ethan Hunt has an Entity crisis!

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they talk about Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1. Part three of the McQuadrilogy sees the arrival of Hayley Atwell,the departure of Rebecca Ferguson, and a dire warning about AI – I mean, EsAI Morales – in a movie that is a nightmare for train spotters!

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they talk about Mission: Impossible – Fallout – part two of the McQuadrilogy as Christopher McQuarrie breaks tradition and returns as director. Handsome Henry Cavill and lovely Vanessa Kirby appear as baddies, Rebecca Ferguson and Simon Pegg return as goodies, and a resentful Sean Harris grudgingly returns as Solomon Lane.

Thanks for listening!

Horse Mysteries big wig, Lezah Williamson, and Listening Party/Fansplainers MVP Mary Dedrick are a couple of good sports and gamely go through a list of topics drawn from Sneaky Dragon Episode 700.

We think they had fun, but they’re pretty cagey.

Please note:
This episode also features David Dedrick wrestling with a lawn mower.

Thanks for listening.

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they talk about Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – the beginning of the McQuadrilogy as Christopher McQuarrie joins the IMF team as screenwriter and director. Rebecca Ferguson also joins as the fabulous Ilsa Faust, Alec Baldwin lends his gravitas, and Sean Harris his weirdness for the fifth movie in the series.

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they talk about Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – maybe the perfect Mission Impossible film? Animator Brad Bird makes his live action debut and almost tops The Incredibles! Simon Pegg joins full-time, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner make up the rest of the team, and Tom Wilkinson gets shot in the head.

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they talk about Mission: Impossible III – that film that Mary suggest really started the franchise. It was released in 2006 – directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams – his first time directing and what a job he does!

Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys Meyers make up the new team with Ving Rhames returning. Keri Russell pops in. Michelle Monaghan lights up the screen. Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne are great, and Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the scariest villain in franchise history.

Thanks for listening!

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived The Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they tackle the epitome of the sophomore slump, Mission Impossible II, released in 2000 – a weirdly embittered Robert Towne returns to write and Hong Kong action director John Woo joins the team hot off his big hit Face/Off.

Thandiwe Newton does the heavy lifting, playing a thief who gets dragged into interpersonal shenanigans between Tom Cruise and Dougray Scott. Ving Rhames returns as Luther and Anthony Hopkins briefly appears as a weird misogynist.

Thanks for listening!

We’re back! Sort of…

Dave and his daughter Mary have revived the Fansplainers banner for a new mini-series – they’re going to go through all the Mission: Impossible films in anticipation of the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning on May 23.

This week they begin at the beginning with the first Mission: Impossible movie, released in 1996 – directed by the quirky Brian De Palma, written by old hand Robert Towne and produced by Tom Cruise with his new production partner Paula Wagner.

Briefly starring Emilio Estevez, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė. It also features Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno, and a fun turn from Vanessa Redgrave.

Thanks for listening!

This week Ian and David discuss Extra Ordinary!

Ian and David cracked open their Time-Life Books of the Occult to discuss ghosts, demons, virgins, ritual murder and sacrificing goats for this week’s film Extra Ordinary – a charming Irish supernatural rom-com.

Come for the awkward romance. Stay for the exploding goats!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and David discuss The Karate Kid!

There was much painting of fences and waxing of cars this week as Ian and David emerged with tennis elbow and a torn meniscus in each shoulder to get out on the mat and fansplain this movie with one awesome leg sweep!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave get weird – like crawling into someone’s head weird, like erasing your ex-girlfriend from your brain weird, like buying a house on fire weird.

Yes, on this episode we take a look at Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things – his loose – to say the least – adaptation of the Iain Reid novel.

What should we make of this highly symbolic film? Well, let Ian and David fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave tackle that most tricky and terrifying of filmic beasts: THE THIRD MOVIE!!!

That’s right. They talk about the latest installment of the Bill and Ted movie franchise: Bill and Ted Face the Music.

It’s been almost thirty years in the making. Was it worth it? Well, let Ian and David fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

Sorry we’re late we our newest episode! It’s kind of a long story and you’ll have to listen to Sneaky Dragon Episode 455 to hear all the gory details. Suffice to say, our most recent episode was lost

Unfortunately, Ian’s busy schedule prevented us from re-recording the episode, but fortunately, Dave’s wife Lezah volunteered to step in and discuss one of her favourite movies, Walt Disney’s The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit.

SO, be prepared for lots of horse talk on this week’s episode of Fansplainers as Dave’s [whisper it] “horse crazy” wife takes us through all the ins and outs of horses, riding, coaching and making movies about horses!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week things get a little scary and more than a little ironical as we head back – way back – to the 1980s and watch a movie we like to call Ghostbusters!

It went up in Dave’s estimation and down a bit in Ian’s. Why? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave take a close look at Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – a movie both like more than a little bit!

So – let’s accompany our intrepid film fans to a magical, little place here in Canada we like to call Toronto and fansplain this funny, exciting, toucving movie.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave pull out the old virtual mailbag and read some of your funny, erudite, agreeable and guilt-inducing comments, which sparks a good deal of conversation between Ian and Dave. (We know. We couldn’t believe it either!)

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

Guess what? You voted and you voted right! This week Ian and Dave watched the flopperoo John Carter, and had some thoughts. Why didn’t it succeed? Was it any good? Could it be better? Why can’t Disney do a better job marketing their films? (Yes, that’s right, we’re looking at you too, Lone Ranger!)

Have you asked yourself these questions too? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week on Fansplainers, Ian and Dave wash the taste of The Emoji Movie out of their mouths with an enjoyable re-view of the sparkling and wonderful The Princess Bride – a film that found its legs in home video and thus lives in the rosy glow of childhood nostalgia.

Is it as good as we all remember it? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

Well, you voted. And you voted WRONG!!!

That’s right, Ian and Dave had to watch The Emoji Movie. You can hear it in their weary voices, you can see it in their thousand yard stares, and you can feel it in every raw, tear-stained, grimy moment of this episode.

But what did they think of the movie? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

A couple of weeks ago, Ian and Dave headed to the polls and asked you which of three films you’d like to hear us talk about. By an overwhelming majority you voted for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Luckily for Ian and Dave it’s one of their favourite movies so they had no trouble yakking it up. It’s all here: praise, personal backstory, history, nitpicking, much love, and a classic Ian and Dave argument!

Want to hear more? Well, let them fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave go on a quest to bring you an all-spoilers review of Pixar/Disney’s newest animated film Onward plus they go on a sidequest down a primrose path that may or may not be overrun by gelatinous cubes to discuss the new Simpson’s short Playdate with Destiny that accompanies the feature film.

So – join our two intrepid reviewers as they brave a kobold-filled theatre to fansplain it all for you. And that ain’t no nest of owlbears!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week was a little lacklustre new movie-wise so Ian and Dave decided to celebrate the beginning of Lent with their own Ash Wednesday and spent an enjoyable hour and a bit discussing one of their favourite movies, Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 starring Bruce Campbell as the indestructible Ash (geddit?)

So if you’re a big fan of – or ever wondered what the big deal was about – this glorious blood-soaked, gory, yet hilarious, horror movie, well, let Ian and Dav fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week Ian and Dave take a look at Birds of Prey, a film that has turned out to be a pretty major flopperoo for Warners and DC.

Maybe it’s surprising that a movie with Margot Robbie reprising her role as the popular Harley Quinn from the critically reviled, but hugely successful Suicide Squad has failed so badly at the box office. Maybe it isn’t.

Let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

Our pre-Oscar party continues with a viewing of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel Little Women.

The film is up for Best Picture this year with a couple of nods to Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, but Gerwig – who really did do something new with her adaptation and really exercised her directorial muscles – did not get a nod for Best Director.

What do Ian and Dave make of all this? Well, let them fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles!

This week on The Fansplainers, Ian and Dave are joined by their friend Vicky Van for some Oscar talk as they discuss, rate, rank, and make predictions for this year’s nominees for Best Picture.

They have lots of thoughts about Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman, Jo Jo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Parasite, and are more than willing to share them with you!

Thanks for listening.

Well. we hinted, and you guessed; we insinuated, and you suspected; we implied, and you inferred…

And you were right!!!

This week, after our last episode’s epic troll through the Star Wars saga, Dave and Ian spend THREE hours discussing the newest entry into the Star Wars universe, The Rise of Skywalker.

Three. Hours.

Dave is rife with corporate conspiracy theories and Ian has his own thoughts. What were they? Well, we’ll just have to let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles! With the release of the newest Star Wars film, Ian and Dave thought it would be fun to look back at the two and two-thirds of trilogies that make up the Star Wars story.

So, sit back, give yourself a lot of spare time, and listen to Ian and Dave fansplain Star Wars.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles! Please join Ian and Dave as they don their Inverness capes and deerstalker caps, and whip out their over-sized magnifying glasses to examine the clues and solve the mystery: Is Rian Johnson’s Knives Out any good?

Well, we’ll let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles! This week we look at a film that doesn’t seem to be getting much attention: Motherless Brooklyn – a film celebrating hard-boiled detective films and civil engineering directed, written for the screen, and starring Edward Norton.

As per usual, one host liked the movie while the other wasn’t so keen on it. Who liked it and who didn’t?

Well, we’ll let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaphiles! Welcome to a special episode of The Fansplainers Film Cast: Ian and Dave agree!!!

This week the guys watched the newest film from New Zealand director Taika Waititi – Jojo Rabbit, a sad, funny, scary story of Jojo, a young boy growing up in WWII Germany and his imaginary friend, Hitler. It might sound glib, but it’s not – it’s heartfelt and touching and funny and…

Well, we’ll let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinemaniacs! And welcome to to another episode of The Fansplainers – a spoiler-enriched film cast!

This week Ian steps off an airplane and walks right into to the studio to face off with Dave over the action spectacle Gemini Man, featuring director Ang Lee’s obsession with high frame rate film technology. As the trailers have made clear, it’s old Will Smith versus young Will Smith – age and guile versus youth and a bad haircut as PJ O’Rourke once said.

It should be a win-win situation, but…well, we’ll let Ian and Dave fansplain it to you.

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, cinephiliacs! Welcome to another great and argumentative episode of The Fansplainers!

This week Ian and Dave sit down to hash out the newest film from DC, Todd Philips’ Joker starring the always interesting Joaquin Phoenix. Ian and Dave often disagree about a film and this one is no exception.

Who liked it and who didn’t? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening

Ciao, cineastes of all cine-stripes! Welcome to episode 14 of Fansplainers!

This week we mix up our genres with a superpowers slash sci-fi film with a soupçon of horror: the 2018, but released in 2019 film, Freaks.

This episode also features one of Ian and Dave’s trademark, semi-annual pointless arguments! So there’s that too.

But what did they think of the film? Well, let them fansplain it to you.

Hello, fellow film fans! Welcome to another episode of our spoiler-enriched podcast The Fansplainers!

This week Ian and Dave are more then prepared to review the black comedy/horror film Ready or Not. What did they make of this bloody, satirical, subversive film and its grisly themes of family togetherness and killing housemaids?

Well, let them fansplain it for you.

Thanks for listening.

Dept. of Corections:
Despite Dave’s claims, this film is not Canadian, but it was filmed in Canada with all of the secondary characters and one of the leads played by Canadian actors so it’s easy to see why there was a mix-up.

Ciao, cinemistos and cinemistas! (An italian work I just made up.)

Welcome to another Retro-splainers as Ian and Dave go back – way back – to 1975 and the big, smasheroo hit of that summer: Jaws – the film that changed the movies.

David and Ian are joined by resident shark expert Pia Guerra, who is there to keep it real with some important shark facts. The most important shark fact being: stop killing the poor things!!!

What does everyone make of this oldie, but a goldie? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Ciao, film fans! Welome to episode 11 of The Fansplainers!

This week it’s Retro-splainers as Ian and David go back to 1986, and the movie Top Gun.

What does David make of all those half-naked hunky guys, posing and preening for our delectation? What does Ian think of all those jets with their powerful thrust, roaring across the movie screen? Well, let them fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, cinema fanatics! Welcome to the tenth episode of The Fansplainers – our spoiler-enriched film cast where we minutely examine and fiercely discuss current films.

This week we tackle Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

David and Ian had very different takes on the film, but we won’t spoil it here, we’ll let them fansplain it for you.

Hello, fellow cinephiles! This week Ian and David return to a familiar well and take a look at the newest Marvel superhero spectacle: Spider-Man: Far from Home.

Ian – a big-time Spider-Man fan – is more than happy with this film; David has maybe grown a little bored of these CGI-heavy third act snoozefests.

Who’s right? Let us know in the comments below. Do you want more superhero movies or are you ready to move on?

Not sure what to think? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you.

Hello, cinema savants! This week on The Fansplainers, Ian and Dave discuss director Danny Boyle and writer Richard Curtis’ Yesterday. It’s about Dave’s worst nightmare – a world without The Beatles.

What were The ‘Splainers feelings about this film? Did they enjoy this curious mix of high concept and rom-com? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you!

On this episode, Ian and Dave take a look at the newest installment in the X-People franchise – namely, Dark Phoenix.

Ian says it’s the X-Men story no one wanted; Dave feels the franchise hadn’t earned the emotional impact they wanted for this movie.

One of them liked it, and one of them didn’t. Let them fansplain it for you.

Hello, film fans! Welcome to Episode 6 of The Fansplainers! This week Ian and Dave take a somewhat critical look at the third movie in the John Wick series, and celebrate, well, Dave anyway, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart.

Ian and Dave wonder if the John Wick series is starting to suffer from the dreaded sequelitis – a swelling of the sequels. They have some ideas.

Booksmart has not caught fire at the box office, and Ian and Dave offer some reasons why and maybe some solutions.

Not sure what to think of these movies? Let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you!

Thanks for listening.

Ciao, film fans! This week Ian and Dave sit down to talk about Jordan Peele’s Us, his first film after the hugely popular breakout hit, Get Out. Can lightning strike twice?

Not entirely comfortable leaving the comic book movie out entirely, they also discuss Neil Marshall’s meat and potatoes take on Hellboy. Can he improve on the sumptuous Guillermo Del Toro versions or at least give us a fun, new Hellboy? Well…

Not sure what to think of these films? Let Ian and Dave fansplain it to you!

Thanks for listening,

Hello, film aficionados! Welcome to Episode 4 of The Fansplainers, in which Ian and Dave discuss Avengers 4! (Geddit?)

This episode is all about instant reactions rather than considered opinions, as Ian and Dave watched Avengers 4: Endgame on opening night and then hurried back to Sneaky Dragon headquarters to record their thoughts.

In short: they enjoyed it. But why? Well, let Ian and Dave fansplain it to you!

Hello, film fans! This week on The Fansplainers, Ian and David take a long, hard, appraising look at DC’s latest entry into the overstuffed superhero marketplace: Shazam!

David is in favour of DC’s new shotgun approach to their movies – curious to see where more independent directions will take their movies. Ian prefers the more cohesive MCU with its extraordinarily careful architecture. But what did Ian and David think of Shazam!? Well, they got some fansplaining to do!

This film already won an Academy Award! What else is there to say about it?

Well, maybe, why is it such a good film?

Ian and Dave take a look at Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and explain why a film that – on paper – shouldn’t have worked is so successful.

Not sure why you liked that movie so much? Let Ian and Dave fansplain it to you!

Thanks for listening.

Hello, film fans, and welcome to the pilot episode of The Fansplainers Film Cast. Of course, since it is our pilot episode, it only makes sense for us to talk about Captain Marvel or, as she’s also known, jet fighter pilot (geddit?) Carol Danvers!

Although Ian and David enjoyed Captain Marvel, they did have some issues with some of the characterization and plotting. But they don’t just criticize! What’s the fun in that? No, they also offer some solutions for some of the film’s problems. (Something we’re sure the directors have been waiting for!)

Not sure what to think of the movie? Let Ian and Dave fansplain it for you!