Director, screenwriter and producer Chris Weitz (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) joins Griffin and David to discuss 2007’s extreme erotic espionage period thriller: Lust, Caution. But what makes this NC-17 rated film a blank check? How was Tang Wei’s career affected after the release of this mov...
2018-09-02 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Comedians and the hosts of Las Culturistas podcast (foreverdogproductions.com) Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang join Griffin and David to discuss 2005’s western romance, Brokeback Mountain. Together they examine the careers of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaa...
2018-08-26 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week is all about 2003’s Hulk. The origins of this project. How Ang Lee played the Hulk on set. Our hosts favorite film genre: the bad dad Nick Nolte. The juxtaposition of serious and comic books in the filmmaking. How the hulk hands kid’s toy comes from a somber, meditative family drama about the way our fathers dam...
2018-08-19 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
David Ehrlich (IndieWire) joins Griffin and David for an in-depth conversation on 2000’s Wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Together they examine the sweaty nature of the Police inspector Tsai and his daughter, eye performance, cave life and share James Schamus stories.
Peter Labuza (The Cinephiliacs podcast, Village Voice) joins Griffin and David to discuss the 1999 Civil War epic, Ride with the Devil. But is Jim Caviezel a weirdo? Does Tobey get his nub back? What is a skuzzin? Together they examine the careers of Tobey Maguire, Jeffrey Wright and Jewel, the film theory of James Schamus an...
2018-08-05 21:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Emily Yoshida (Night Call podcast) returns to discuss 1997’s bleak drama, The Ice Storm. But what drew Ang Lee to this project? Is ‘HU’ a good shorthand for hook up? Is this one of the top films to portray the winter in the Northeast? Together they discuss key parties, being passed out in a bathroom, reminisce about the...
2018-07-29 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostGriffin and David present a special episode covering the Hotel Transylvania films and tv series. But how do the monsters pay for staying at the hotel and do they ever leave? What is the recent history behind Sony Pictures Animation? Do the hosts open toys on mic and there is a bunch of dead air? Together they discuss Genndy T...
2018-07-22 21:10:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week Shirley Li (Entertainment Weekly) joins Griffin and David to discuss 1995’s period drama, Sense and Sensibility. But how accurate are the hosts impressions of Alan Rickman? What were the circumstances behind Emma Thompson adapting this script? What is a vicar? Together they examine Kate Winslet’s career trajecto...
2018-07-15 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Alison Willmore (BuzzFeed) joins Griffin and David to discuss 1994’s family and food dramedy, Eat Drink Man Woman.
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Follow us @blankcheckpod on 2018-07-08 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In the debut episode of our new mini series devoted to the films of director Ang Lee, Griffin and David start with his first 2 feature films: Pushing Hands and The Wedding Banquet. Join the hosts as they try to understand how these early attempts would affect Lee’s future films, what kind of dynamic they would have in a mar...
2018-07-01 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Griffin and David review an episode of the 1993 television series Amazing Stories directed by Brad Bird: Family Dog. This episode is sponsored by Never Seen It podcast.
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2018-06-28 08:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
On the week of it’s release in June of 2018, Griffin and David discussed Incredibles 2. In the final episode of our mini series on the films of director Brad Bird we examine the record breaking box office hit sequel, a new card system, the fourth new new joker movie and more.
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This week, Griffin and David discuss 2015's retrofuturist sci-fi flop, Tomorrowland.
Music selection:
"多くの巻き戻さVHSへ" by haircuts for men
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F...
2018-06-17 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostGriffin and David discuss the fourth installment of the popular franchise: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. But why was Tom Cruise’s whole career on the line? Did David Sims attend a red carpet event for this movie weirdly in Britain? Ofcourse we all know what a 'ghost protocol' is right? Together they discuss the st...
2018-06-10 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In another family edition episode, this week, siblings Romilly Newman and Joey Sims help discuss 2007’s rat foodie journey, Ratatouille. But what were the circumstances behind Bird being brought onto this project? What was the cultural impact of this movie and children’s relationships with food? Is it a coincidence that ...
2018-06-03 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
On the week of it’s release in May of 2018, Griffin and David discussed Solo: A Star Wars Story.
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Follow us @blankcheckpod on 2018-05-27 19:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Writer and comedian Rebecca Drysdale (Key and Peele, High Maintenance) joins Griffin and David for a conversation on the animated superhero family adventure, The Incredibles. But what is Syndrome’s villainous motivations? Is Rebecca the Pixar of people? And, seriously, where is Frozone’s super suit? Together they discuss ...
2018-05-20 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week Blank Check begins a new mini series reviewing the filmography of director Brad Bird with a discussion of 1999’s critically acclaimed animated feature, The Iron Giant. But does the Iron Giant wear a shirt? Did the studio request this movie be set in present day and have a hip hop soundtrack? Should Griffin and Dav...
2018-05-13 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week is with special guest, Angela Ferraguto, associate producer and social media manager for this very podcast! And for this episode she picked 2001’s satirical rock comedy, Josie and the Pussycats. But was Griffin a big Rachael Leigh Cook fan growing up? Did Beyoncé audition for this film? Who misses Last Call with ...
2018-05-06 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In the final episode of our mini series devoted to the filmography of James L. Brooks, Griffin and David discuss the disastrous 2010 film How Do You Know. But why would Brooks at this moment in history sympathize with the business executives being held accountable for their corporate malfeasance? What does it mean when referr...
2018-04-29 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Richard Lawson (author of All We Can Do Is Wait) returns to discuss 2004’s Spanglish. But is this movie really about James L. Brooks attempting to justify why he wants to sleep with his maid? Is it believable a character has never seen a man cry? Is this film available on blu-ray and will it’s value increase over time lik...
2018-04-22 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show on TruTV, Beautiful/Anonymous podcast) joins Griffin and David to discuss 1997’s OCD dramedy, As Good as It Gets. But is the dog the fourth lead of this film? Should the term ‘residuals’ be changed to ‘Ratzenbergers?’ Could a painter really afford to live in downtown Manhattan i...
2018-04-15 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
James L. Brooks had originally shot I’ll Do Anything as a musical. But in the test screening it was so disastrous the studio insisted he cut all the musical sequences out and reshoot new scenes to fill it in. Having reviewed that theatrical cut, Griffin and David revisit this film with returning guest Esther Zuckerman and d...
2018-04-12 04:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Writer and friend of the show Esther Zuckerman joins Griffin and David to discuss 1994’s I'll Do Anything. But was this film originally developed and shot as a musical only to be reedited into a mostly non-musical? Were prolific musicians Prince, Sinéad O'Connor and Carole King brought on to write the songs for this movie?...
2018-04-08 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In March of 2018, Griffin and David discussed director Steven Spielberg’s new film Ready Player One. But did Griffin audition for a part? Was Gene Wilder rumored to have been considered for one of the roles? Will only 90’s and 2000’s kids understand the references? Together they examine Tye Sheridan’s career, Deadpool...
2018-04-01 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Another b-b-b-b-bonus episode recapping Blank Check’s March Madness bracket! Who were the winners and losers? Who will make into the final 4? Is this still a spot on drivetime sports talk radio parody? Tune in to find out and remember to get in on all the action over at 2018-03-29 18:07:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Katey Rich (Vanity Fair) returns to discuss 1987’s dramedy masterpiece, Broadcast News. But what journalist and news producer helped inspire and advise Brooks? What actress was originally the female lead but backed out last minute? Who is Charlie? Together they examine the careers of Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks and William ...
2018-03-25 22:44:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week Blank Check starts a new mini series reviewing the filmography of director James L. Brooks. And joining Griffin and David on today’s episode is Valorie Curry (The Tick) to discuss the 1983 Academy Award winning debut drama, Terms of Endearment. But what 2 movies made over 100 million dollars that year? How ha...
2018-03-18 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Griffin and David unleashed a March Madness bracket pitting directors against one another. The filmmaker deemed the champion will decide a future mini series coming in the fall. In a spot on drivetime sports talk radio style, the hosts walk through the recent match-ups and discuss all the drama! To get in on the dail...
2018-03-15 08:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This week is with special guest Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made? podcast) who picked a favorite film from his youth: 1986’s underrated buddy cop movie Running Scared. But should more films have an extended middle act where the main characters just go on vacation? Where does this Joey Pants fall in the pantheon of Pants? ...
2018-03-11 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
