Movie Memory Machine

5 For: S1M0NE (2002)

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman attempt to recover from Simone (aka S1M0NE) by spotlighting five films that do a better job exploring fame, technology, artificial intelligence, and the surreal nightmare of modern media. From the precision of The Truman Show to the spiraling ego of Synecdoche, New York, these picks offer richer commentary, stronger characters, and (most importantly) more compelling digital women.
Films Discussed:
The Truman Show (1998)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Frankenstein (1931)
Being There (1979)
The Player (1992)
Topics Covered:
Jim Carrey’s earnest turn and how Truman Show aged like fine satire
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s artistic self-destruction in Kaufman’s meta masterpiece
Frankenstein as a proto-AI cautionary tale (and union icon!)
Being There’s commentary on projection, media, and perceived intelligence
Altman’s The Player and why Simone couldn’t touch its Hollywood cynicism
Key Takeaways:
Simone isn't about AI—it’s about Al Pacino making excuses
The Truman Show actually follows through on its premise, unlike Simone
Frankenstein walked so Simone could... trip over its own concept
Being There proves how we project meaning onto blank slates
The Player exposes Hollywood without needing a fake digital actress
Listener Prompt:Which movie better captures our current relationship with fame, technology, and projection: Truman Show or Being There? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: Poltergeist (2015)

In this week's Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman conjure up five hauntingly memorable films that connect thematically or spiritually to the 2015 Poltergeist remake (and its vastly superior 1982 predecessor). From analog tech horror and haunted houses to emotionally resonant ghost stories, this list bridges spectral dread and storytelling depth—plus a little Dan Harmon chaos and a found-footage gem that’ll leave you quietly unnerved.
Films Discussed:
Poltergeist (1982)
Pulse (2001)
One Missed Call (2003)
Lake Mungo (2008)
Monster House (2006)
Topics Covered:
Why Poltergeist (1982) still hits harder than any remake
Japanese horror's early warnings about tech-induced soul erosion
Lake Mungo as one of the quietest, most devastating ghost stories ever filmed
The tonal whiplash and cursed animation era of Monster House (but it works!)
Horror as a genre of emotional resonance vs. haunted house theme park rides
Key Takeaways:
The 1982 Poltergeist is about characters. The 2015 one is about jump scares and... squirrels?
Pulse remains one of the only films that still scares Landen
One Missed Call proves Miike can do horror restraint when he wants to
Lake Mungo is found-footage meets emotional sucker punch
Monster House is the most thematically faithful Poltergeist remake—and it’s animated
Listener Prompt:What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever watched? And do you think haunted house movies need more vibes or more jump scares? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

Support Month: Redbelt (2006) — Grunt Work Crossover!

In this special crossover episode, the Movie Memory Machine smashes headfirst into the Grunt Work feed for a tag-team takedown of Redbelt (2008), the only dramatic performance in Tim Allen’s catalog that doesn't involve a dog costume or a Santa suit. Join Landon and Truman as they dive into David Mamet's mixed martial arts noir drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, grapple with Mamet's obsession with honor, and ask the big question: how did this become a Tim Allen movie?
Topics Covered:
The surprise crossover between Movie Memory Machine and Grunt Work
Plot breakdown of Redbelt (sort of)
Chiwetel Ejiofor's excellent performance in a movie that seems allergic to explaining itself
David Mamet’s style: clipped dialogue, elliptical storytelling, macho codes of honor
Tim Allen as a dramatic actor: how does he hold up?
A discussion of why this movie might have ended up forgotten
Key Takeaways:
Redbelt is either a brilliant anti-sports movie or a baffling puzzle box of stoicism and scams.
The movie's moral code is rigid, but the plot isn’t afraid to spiral into chaos.
There’s not much actual fighting, but plenty of emotional jiu-jitsu.
Tim Allen shows up, smokes a cigar, and kind of mopes around. It’s... a choice.
You don’t have to love MMA to enjoy an elliptical drama about belts, blackmail, and betrayal.
What about you? Did Redbelt win you over, or did it tap out early? What do you think Tim Allen's "black belt" would be in? Let us know on social media using #MovieMemoryMachine or #GruntWorkPod.
Support the Show! You can support both Movie Memory Machine and Grunt Work through:
Becoming a Patreon supporter – As little as $1/month gets you bonus content and keeps us ad-free and artist-owned. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leaving a positive rating and review – Wherever you listen, especially Apple Podcasts, it helps new listeners find us.
Liking, following, and sharing – We're @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd and @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube.
Telling a friend – Word of mouth is the best way to grow our community.
Joining our Discord – A film-loving space where you can vote on whether forgotten movies stay in modern memory. Access via https://www.moviememorymachine.com
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: www.moviememorymachine.com🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎦 Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: Barnyard (2006)

In this week’s Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman take the barn door off its hinges and run wild through five films that share DNA with Barnyard—whether through animated anarchy, animal allegories, or vibes of chaos barely contained. From Orwellian pigs to vengeful foxes, they reflect on how kids’ movies used to get weird (and sometimes disturbingly real), how barn animals became cartoon icons, and why Kevin James’s cow son might not be built for leadership.
Films Discussed:
Animal Farm (1954, animated)
Babe (1995)
Cars (2006)
Chicken Run (2000)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Topics Covered:
CIA-funded animation and anti-fascist farm allegories
George Miller’s journey from Fury Road to Pig in the City
The existential crises of the Cars and Barnyard universes
Chicken Run as a claymation Great Escape with poultry
Whimsy and wolf energy in Wes Anderson’s animal ensemble
Key Takeaways:
Barnyard’s tonal whiplash is unmatched: dead dads, dance parties, and cow-on-cow milk theft.
Animal Farm was propaganda—but it still slaps.
Babe proves you can be gentle and iconic.
Sometimes the best way to critique society is with talking chickens.
Listener Prompt:Which animated animal film scarred or shaped you the most? Is Wild Mike cinema? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: 54 (1998)

In this week’s Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman sashay into the glittery chaos of 54with five more films that capture the highs, lows, and polyester-drenched parties of music, nightlife, and subculture. From Boogie Nights to Velvet Goldmine, we discuss the intersection of vibes, identity, and dance floors as cinematic crucibles for fame, transformation, and fabulous outfits. Bonus: a historical tangent about invented journalism that led to a disco classic.
Films Discussed:
Boogie Nights (1997)
Party Monster (2003)
24 Hour Party People (2002)
Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Topics Covered:
The shadow cast by Boogie Nights over late-90s ensemble dramas
Club kids, queer identity, and Macaulay Culkin’s turn in Party Monster
Steve Coogan’s music-scene swagger in 24 Hour Party People
Todd Haynes' glam rock dreamscape Velvet Goldmine and the bisexual lighting it rode in on
Saturday Night Fever as a misunderstood, mythologized portrait of 70s angst
Key Takeaways:
Club movies don’t just dance—they document cultural tipping points.
The vibe shift from disco glam to post-punk grit tells us more than the plot does.
54 wanted to be Velvet Goldmine but ended up Studio Interference: The Movie.
Disco never died; it just turned into biopics, glam fantasies, and Steve Coogan vehicles.
Listener Prompt:What’s your favorite club-set movie, and what music would play when you entered? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman follow The Legend of Tarzan with a grab bag of muscled vengeance, pulp nostalgia, and jungle-adjacent chaos. From Skarsgård's berserker vibes in The Northmanto Warren Beatty's color-coded midlife crisis in Dick Tracy, we celebrate films that echo the mythic, the pulpy, and the wildly ambitious spirit of Tarzan. There are dinner table lion roars, noir vigilantes, and one criminally underseen VHS tie-in. It’s high pulp and higher volume.
Films Discussed:
The Northman (2022)
The Shadow (1994)
The Rocketeer (1991)
Dick Tracy (1990)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Topics Covered:
Skarsgård as the thinking man’s berserker (and Tarzan)
The legacy of pulp serials and art deco superhero throwbacks
The Rocketeer as the platonic ideal of retro adventure
Is Dick Tracy Star Wars for sad dads?
Greystoke and the struggle to prestige-ify a loincloth myth
Key Takeaways:
Tarzan is the vinyl of cinematic IP: better in small doses.
Pulp adaptations are either charmingly nostalgic or gloriously unhinged.
Alec Baldwin with silver pistols in black and white? Yes, please.
Some legacies are better left in the jungle.
Listener Prompt:Which pulp throwback deserves another shot? Are we sleeping on The Shadow? Join the conversation using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: Life or Something Like It (2002)

In this second installment of Movie Memory Machine: Five For, Landen and Truman recommend five films that pair—however weirdly—with Life or Something Like It. Whether you're here for existential questions, platinum blond archetypes, or broadcast journalist existential crises in Seattle, we’ve got a lineup that’s weird, wild, and unexpectedly sweet. From Bill Murray eating pastries to Jane Russell taking a surprise dive into a pool, this episode is all about life, death, fate, and great suits.
Films Discussed:
Groundhog Day (1993)
Heart and Souls (1993)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
The Ring (2002)
His Girl Friday (1940)
Topics Covered:
Why Life or Something Like It echoes Groundhog Day, but less metaphysical and more Oreos
Heart and Souls and the bleak whimsy of 90s studio comedies
Marilyn Monroe’s myth-making power and Lainey’s aesthetic in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Seattle as both rom-com and horror film territory (The Ring)
Howard Hawks' template for romantic banter in His Girl Friday
Key Takeaways:
Angelina Jolie’s Lainey is basically Bill Murray with a better blowout.
You can build a whole vibe off Marilyn Monroe’s bracelet game.
The Ring is what Life or Something Like It becomes if you swap cigarettes for cursed videotapes.
Screwball comedy is eternal (and a little bit horny).
Listener Prompt:What movie helped you re-evaluate your life—or your hairstyle? Tag us on social using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

5 For: Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)

In this first-ever installment of our weekly Movie Memory Machine mini-series, we spin off from Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre to bring you five stylish spy flicks that deliver the charm, tension, and flair Guy Ritchie's film tried to summon. From De Palma's Mission: Impossible to Hitchcock's North by Northwest, we spotlight the genre’s high points—and a few chaotic curiosities (looking at you, Casino Royale 1967). We also ponder Jason Statham’s self-parody arc, pay tribute to Cary Grant’s suits, and try to remember Kingsman without comparing it to Spy. This one’s for the trumpet players.
Films Discussed:
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Spy (2015)
Casino Royale (1967)
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
North by Northwest (1959)
Topics Covered:
The evolution of the spy movie post–James Bond
How Mission: Impossible reinvented the genre’s stakes
Why Spy gets Jason Statham better than Jason Statham does
Revisiting the offbeat parody that was Casino Royale (no, the other one)
Matthew Vaughn’s candy-colored chaos in Kingsman
Hitchcock’s influence on style, storytelling, and the spy archetype
Key Takeaways:
Some spy movies age like wine; others age like minestrone.
Operation Fortune wants to be cool—but these five films actually are.
Cary Grant’s gray suit may be the single most influential piece of clothing in film history.
Fashion, tone, and self-awareness are essential to pulling off spy pastiche.
Listener Prompt:What’s your favorite stylish spy movie? Did we leave off a gem? Let us know on social using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

Support Month: Season 1 Needle Drops

In this chaotic, music-fueled Movie Memory Machine mini-episode, Landen puts Truman through the ultimate Season One trivia challenge: a game entirely about needle drops from the forgotten films we've watched so far. From Miley Cyrus to MC Hammer, Spoon to Social Distortion, it’s a deep dive into the best, worst, and weirdest pop songs awkwardly dropped into these movies. Can Truman identify the movie (and the scene) based on just the song title and artist? Will the machine accept this episode as "valid input" or is this just an excuse to gush about The Rocker again? Join us aboard the struggling ship as we gamify nostalgia and fend off the void with sick beats.
Topics Covered:
Our favorite (and most questionable) needle drops from Season One
The surprising musical throughlines across forgotten films
Landen’s custom trivia game with easy, medium, and hard rounds
Scenes we remember only because of the soundtrack
Does a post-apocalyptic spaceship need this many pop songs? Yes.
Key Takeaways:
Every single Season One film had at least one pop needle drop—except Gretel & Hansel.
A song can elevate a scene... or derail it completely.
The right music cue will haunt you for months (Rocket Man, we’re looking at you).
Fergie, Höser, UB40, and Hoobastank: icons of the Movie Memory Machine canon.
Truman earns the title of Prince of Needle Drops (77% accuracy, baby!).
Listener Engagement:What’s your favorite needle drop in movie history? Did we miss a great one from our Season One lineup? Join the conversation on social media or our Discord using #MovieMemoryMachine.
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join us at Patreon: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod.
Leave a positive rating and review – Reviews on Apple Podcasts and other platforms help new listeners discover the show.
Like, follow, and share on social media – Spread the word about Movie Memory Machine!
Tell a friend – Word-of-mouth recommendations help us grow the most!
Join our Discord – Be part of a positive film-loving community and cast your vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are forgotten.
Follow Us & Stay Connected: 🌐 Official website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/

Mini-Transmission: Sahara

In this Movie Memory Machine mini-episode, we follow our full-length Sahara discussion with even more mayhem: digressions, discoveries, and one deeply haunted dog name. Landon and Truman spiral into the mind of Clive Cussler as they unpack his lesser-known children’s books (The Adventures of Vin Fiz and Hot Sooty!), question Steve Zahn’s alleged catchphrase, and debate whether Dirk Pitt is doing anything cool in his room. Also: printer ink logistics, McConaughey’s zoo energy, and a trailer game breakdown that somehow makes the original trailer look worse.
 
Topics Covered:
What is Matthew McConaughey’s true appeal (and would we go to his house)?
Clive Cussler’s children’s books: Vin Fiz, Hot Sooty, and the cursed dog Floppy Sloopy
Printer ink on Sandekker’s ship: logistics and lore
Steve Zahn’s "catchphrase": Hi, how are you?
Monterey Bay confusion and Dirk Pitt’s romantic geography
The Sahara trailer game: how many map transitions is too many?
Key Takeaways:
Dirk Pitt might not be cool, but Steve Zahn sure is.
Clive Cussler's creative choices for children’s fiction are… questionable.
McConaughey is best enjoyed behind glass, like an aquarium exhibit.
Printer ink discourse belongs in all blockbuster movie podcasts.
The Sahara trailer might’ve sabotaged itself.
 
What’s your favorite bizarre catchphrase from a movie? Did you ever read Vin Fiz as a kid? Join us in our Discord or tag us on social with your thoughts using #MovieMemoryMachine.
 
Support the Show!Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join us at Patreon: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod.
Leave a positive rating and review – Reviews on Apple Podcasts and other platforms help new listeners discover the show.
Like, follow, and share on social media – Spread the word about Movie Memory Machine!
Tell a friend – Word-of-mouth recommendations help us grow the most!
Join our Discord – Be part of a positive film-loving community and cast your vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are forgotten.
Follow Us & Stay Connected: 🌐 Official website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/