Movie Memory Machine

Poltergeist (2015)

The Machine sends us to May 22, 2015 to cover the forgotten remake of the beloved 80's horror film Poltergeist, starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jane Adams, and Jared Harris.
Newly laid-off father Eric Bowen (played by Sam Rockwell) and his aspiring author wife Amy (played by Rosemarie DeWitt) move into a house in suburban Illinois with their three children: 16-year-old Kendra (played by Saxon Sharbino), 10-year-old Griffin (played by Kyle Catlett) and 6-year-old Madison (played by Kennedi Clements). As they get settled in their new home, Madison begins communicating with an otherworldly presence through the television, which messes with the lights and electronics to frighten and torment Griffin. While their parents are away at a dinner party during a rainstorm, Griffin is attacked by clown dolls and an old tree outside the house, Kendra is nearly pulled into a pool of tar in the garage, and Madison is lured through a portal in her closet. With their daughter missing and seemingly trapped between our world and the afterlife, the Bowens seek help from a team of parapsychologists and TV ghost hunter Carrigan Burke (played by Jared Harris) to bring their daughter back to the land of the living.
Written by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Gil Kenan
 
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Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
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Mini-Transmission: Barnyard

In this mini episode, we discuss Barnyard: The Video Game, the music from Barnyard, we play the Trailer Game, and more!
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
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Barnyard (2006)

The Machine sends us to August 4, 2006 to watch the Nickelodeon animated film Barnyard, with voices by Kevin James, Courtney Cox, and Sam Elliot.
The animals at a sleepy little farm deep in the country have a big secret: whenever the farmer isn’t looking, they all walk on two legs, talk, and engage in all sorts of lighthearted shenanigans. The leader of the animals is Ben (voiced by Sam Elliott), a tough and stoic Holstein cow who keeps all the others in line, makes sure humans don’t find about their anthropomorphic lifestyle, and defends the farm from the vicious coyotes that lurk beyond the fence. His carefree son Otis (voiced by Kevin James) is more interested in goofing around with his friends than learning the principles of leadership - until Ben dies in a coyote attack, and it falls to Otis to lead the farm. As he struggles to balance his inner party animal with the new responsibilities that have been thrust upon him, Otis relies on the wisdom of his friend Miles the Mule (voiced by Danny Glover) and flirts with Daisy (voiced by Courtney Cox), a widowed pregnant cow who has just arrived on the farm. 
Written and directed by Steve Oedekerk.
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
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54 Director's Cut (2015)

Following up last week's coverage of the Studio 54 musical drama, we discuss the lauded Director's Cut and welcome special guest Louis Jordan who wrote the New York Magazine article telling the film's journey to being re-released and rediscovered.
Check out Louis's podcast Mother! Murderer! Podcaster!
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

54 (1998)

The Machine sends us to August 28, 1998 to cover the multi-character music drama 54 starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Breckin Meyer, and Mike Myers.
It’s 1979, and 19-year-old gas station attendant Shane O’Shea (played by Ryan Phillippe) is determined to break out of his humdrum suburban life in New Jersey to experience the glitz and glamor of New York City’s hottest and most exclusive nightclub, Studio 54. Standing in the crowd outside the club, Shane catches the eye of 54’s eccentric and mercurial owner, Steve Rubell (played by Mike Myers), who grants him entry and gives him a job as a shirtless bartender. As Shane is drawn into the world of casual sex, drug use, and glamorous debauchery inside the club, he forms a friendship with fellow waiter Greg (played by Breckin Meyer) and Greg’s wife Anita, an aspiring musician (played by Salma Hayek). But when this hard partying lifestyle begins to take its toll on his relationships - and the IRS takes an interest in 54’s dubious finances - Shane seeks an escape from this world of glitz and glamor with soap opera day-player and club regular Julie (played by Neve Campbell).
Written and directed by Mark Christopher
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
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Mini-Transmission: The Legend of Tarzan

In this mini episode, we discuss motion capture actor Terry Notary, personal exposure to Tarzan throughout our lives, and we play the Trailer Game.
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

The Machine sends us to June 29, 2016 to cover the pulp adventure blockbuster The Legend of Tarzan starring Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz.
Eight years ago, Tarzan (played by Alexander Skarsgard) left the jungle with his American wife, Jane (Margot Robbie), and returned to his family’s estate in England, where he lives a life of luxury under his birth name, John Clayton, Earl of Greystoke. In 1889, Clayton, Jane, and American diplomat George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson) return to Africa at the invitation of King Leopold II of Belgium, who has invited them to tour his colonies in the Congo Free State. Little do they realize that the invitation is a trap: the king’s nefarious envoy Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) plans to capture Tarzan and deliver him to Tarzan’s old nemesis Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou) in exchange for blood diamonds to finance the king’s brutal colonial regime. When Jane is captured by Rom’s forces, Tarzan must reclaim his title as king of the jungle and rally human and animal allies to defeat the colonizers and free his friends.
Directed by David Yates
Written by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
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Mini-Transmission: Life or Something Like It

In this mini-transmission, we discuss the soundtrack to Life or Something Like It, the least sexy sex talk, and some Frasier speculation. We also play the trailer game and the Machine spits out the clues for next week's film.
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Life or Something Like It (2002)

The Machine sends us to April 26, 2002 to cover the Angelina Jolie film Life or Something Like It.
Seattle news reporter Lanie Karrigan (Angelina Jolie) has carefully curated her dream life: Marilyn Monroe looks, a star baseball player fiancé (Christian Kane), and a rising career. When the opportunity to go national comes up, her station manager pairs her with Pete, a seasoned producer (Edward Burns,) to strengthen her profile. However, when Pete sets up an in-the-field interview with Prophet Jack (Tony Shaloub), a homeless soothsayer, he informs Lanie that she will not only not get the new job, but that she will die in seven days.
Directed by Stephen Herek
Written by Dana Stevens and John Scott Shepherd
 
Support the Machine to keep it running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Mini-Transmission: Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

In this Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre mini-transmission, we discuss what the actual “ruse” is, a costuming faux pas (more French idioms!), and play the Trailer Game—the game that is sweeping the nation where we try to guess which moments will appear in the trailer for the film. Also, the Machine gives us some clues for which movie it’s sending us next!
 
Keep the Machine running for as little as $1/month over at Patreon.
 
Movie Memory Machine is part of the Grunt Work Podcasts network. For more information on today’s episode, visit moviememorymachine.com.
 
Theme song by Porky’s Groove Machine.
 
Special thanks to Nate DuFort.
 
Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube