The Best Movies of 2025, Part One: The Categories
The Best Movies of 2025, Part One: The Categories by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom
Pivotal Film
Mario Ponzio and Tom Nolan have each made a list of their 100 most pivotal films. Each week they will discuss another pair and break-down how they influenced them as film-goers and as people until they get to number 1. They will also tackle just released, under-the-radar, and bad films, all while drinking different tasty local beers every week. Films, Beers, Talking.
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The Best Movies of 2025, Part Two: The Ten Best Lists
The Best Movies of 2025, Part Two: The Ten Best Lists by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom
Marty Supreme, Train Dreams, Primate, and the Worst Movies of 2025
Train Dreams (4:00), Wake Up Dead Man (11:30), Marty Supreme (22:30), Primate (41:45), the Worst Movies of 2025 (50:15)
Fall Film Review - One Battle After Another, The Long Walk, Bugonia, Frankenstein, and more
The Smashing Machine (3:45), Die, My Love (14:45), Frankenstein (24:45), Bugonia (52:15), The Long Walk (1:12:45), Predator: Badlands (1:30:45), One Battle After Another (1:44:30)
Puzzle Me Pivotal
A far. far late episode which was recorded a week before the Switch 2 announcement. Andy and Mario discuss the new Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco album "I Said I Love You First" and Japanese Breakfast album "For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women). Then they discuss some video games with continued Avowed looks and a quick review of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The new movies this week, Novacaine and…
Where Were You When You First Saw a Joystick?
A little late on the upload, but Mario and Andy are back for their #9 games. First, they recap the Oscars and maybe moan a bit about the state of film criticism. Then, they review Lady Gaga's new album "Mayhem", talk some more about Obsidian's "Avowed", and Mario shares his thoughts on Tape 1 of Don't Nod's new episodic game "Lost Records" for the director of the original Life is Strange. From…
The Heart of the Matter
Mario and Andy are back with their top 10 Pivotal Games. Before then, they review Tate McRae's So Close To What (2:00), Obsidian's new Action RPG Avowed (8:40), and two films Paddington in Peru (27:30) and The Monkey (36:30). Then they dig into their number 10 video games (49:40). Music credits: DJ Shadow - Rocket Fuel, Dan Deacon - Feel the Lightning, and Lauren Mayberry - Something in the Air
Pilot
Mario and Andy present the continuation of the Pivotal Film Podcast entitled Pivotal. The two of them review the newest television, music, literature, video games, and, yes, film. This episode sees a discussion of FKA Twigs' Exsexua and The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow in music... Luck Be a Landlord, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black in video games... and they finish up with reviews…
The Best Movies of 2024, Part Two: The 10 Best Lists
Mario Tom and Andy wind down the podcast talking about their 10 favorite movies of 2024
The Best Movies of 2024, Part One: The Categories
Mario Tom and Andy close out the year and the podcast by talking about the best in movies in 2024.
Wallace and Gromit, Top 5 Animated Movies of 2024, and The Best of Other Media
Wallace and Gromit in a Vengance Most Fowl (3:30) Top 5 Animated Movies of 2024 (10:00) Best of Other Media (42:15)
The Brutalist, Nickel Boys, Queer, and Our Most Anticipated Movies of 2025
Queer (5:45) Nickel Boys (25:45) The Brutalist (52:30) Most Anticipated (1:41:35)
Nosferatu, A Complete Unknown, Sonic 3 and The Order and The Worst Movies of2024
Sonic 3 (3:55) A Complete Unknown (16:15) The Order (50:50) Nosferatu (1:23:45) The Worst Movies of the Year (2:00:50)
A Real Pain, Juror #2, The Piano Lesson, Memoir of a Snail, Gladiator 2, Flow, Y2K
y2k (3:55) Flow (12:55) Gladiator 2 (18:15) Memoir of a Snail (32:45) The Piano Lesson (49:05) Juror #2 (1:13:35) A Real Pain (1:36:25)
Special Episode - Tom's Kid's Top 5 Movies of 2024
Tom's kids talk about their top 5 movies of 2024
Wicked, Emilia Perez, Blitz, Anora
Wicked (5:00) Emilia Perez (21:00) Blitz (51:00) Anora (1:19:00)
Smile 2 and Conclave with Its Whats Inside, Woman of the Hour, and My Old Ass
Mario Tom and Andy talk about movies: Its Whats Inside (3:15), Woman of the Hour (14:15), Saturday Night (29:15), My Old Ass (46:15), Smile 2 (1:04:45). and Conclave (1:37:45)
Megalopolis, The Wild Robot, Kinds of Kindness
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about some non-horror, non-spooky films: Megalopolis (1:30), The Wild Robot (11:45), and Kinds of Kindness (34:45)
Terrifier 3, Beetlejuice 2, V/H/S Beyond, Speak No Evil, Strange Darling, and The Substance
Mario, Tom and Andy get into Terrifier 3 (:20), Beetlejuice 2 (10:15), VHS Beyond (18:00), Speak No Evil (41:15), Strange Darling (1:00:15). The Substance (1:16:45).
Rebel Ridge, Oddity and Tuesday
Mario and Tom talk about some new and recent releases; Tuesday (3:00), Oddity (11:15) and Rebel Ridge (28:00).
Maxxxine, Longlegs, The Bikeriders, Twisters, Deadpool and Wolverine
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about all sorts of stuff: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. (1:00), Inside Out 2 (5:30), Maxxxine (15:45), Longlegs (33:45), The Bikeriders (54:00), Twisters (1:15:00), Deadpool and Wolverine (1:41:30).
The Best of the First Half of 2024...Movies, Video Games, Books, TV, Music and more!
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about their favorite movies (1:00), followed by their favorite non-film media from the first half of 2024 (1:10:35).
Last Stop in Yuma County, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, In a Violent Nature, Hit Man
Mario, Tom and Andy discuss some new flicks: Last Stop in Yuma County (1:00), Bad Boys: Ride or Die (7:30), In a Violent Nature (15:30), and Hit Man (41:00).
Challengers, The Fall Guy, I Saw the TV Glow, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Mario, Tom, and Andy talk about some May movies: Challengers (3:30), The Fall Guy (21:00), I Saw the TV Glow (37:00), and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (52:00).
Loves Lies Bleeding, Abigail, Monkey Man, and Civil War
Mario, Tom and Andy jump onto a zoom and talk about some of the new flicks they've seen: Love Lies Bleeding (2:00), Abigail (16:30), Monkey Man (36:10), and Civil War (51:35).
Road House, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Godzilla x Kong, Immaculate, Society of the Snow
Mario and Tom catch up on some new, and newish flicks: Road House (20:15), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (34:30), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (44:45), Immaculate (1:07:00), Society of the Snow (1:32:45). But first the imbide a first for this show - a home brew! Winston, a pale ale by Chris Biehl out of Chesire, CT (2:00)
Occupied City, Dune Part 2, Driveaway Dolls, and All of Us Strangers
Sorry about the audio on this one!!! I will come back to tag later this evening.
Orion and the Dark and The Zone of Interest
Mario and Tom talk about the new Charlie Kaufman penned movie on Netflix, Orion and the Dark (8:00) and Jonathan Glazer's newest, The Zone of Interest (26:30).
The Best Films of 2023, pt. 2: The Top 10 Lists
Mario, Tom and Andy start this show off by briefly discussing the Oscar nominations before talking about their 10 Best/ Favorite Movies of 2023 (9:00).
The Best Films of 2023, part 1: The Categories
Mario, Tom, and Andy start by talking about their favorite moments in 2023 (1:00), before going deep into the following categories: Supporting Actress (37:45), Supporting Actor (46:45), Sound (59:00), Visual Effects (1:07:15), Costume Design (1:12:30), Hair and Makeup (1:22:00), Original Song (1:28:15), Original Score (1:45:00), Cinematography (2:02:00), Production Design (2:25:00), Editing…
Ferrari, Maestro, Saltburn, Dream Scenario, Anatomy of a Fall, The Iron Claw, Poor Things
Mario, Tom and Andy Catch up on some of the years most anticipated releases: Ferrari (5:00), Maestro (14:15), Saltburn (27:45), Dream Scenario (47:15), Anatomy of a Fall (1:10:45), The Iron Claw (1:29:15), and Poor Things (2:05:00).
The Worst Films of 2023
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about their highly subjective choices for the worst films of 2023.
May/December, Godzilla Minus One, The Boy and the Heron and worst parts of good flicks
For the fun of it Mario, Tom and Andy open the episode by talking about the worst parts of otherwise good movies (8:45), before getting into May/December (29:45), Godzilla Minus One (47:30), and The Boy and the Heron (1:09:45).
Thanksgiving, Please Don't Destroy, Rustin, Napoleon, and The Holdovers
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about Thanksgiving (2:00), Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (11:00), Rustin (26:45), Napoleon (40:30), The Holdovers (58:30).
Five Nights at Freddy's and Dark Harvest
Mario, Tom and Andy continue to try and keep up with movie culture by talking about some recent horror releases: Five Nights at Freddy's (11:55), and Dark Harvest (31:45). Please note - this episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago.
Nyad, They Cloned Tyrone, The Killer, Priscilla, Killers of the Flower Moon
Mario, Tom and Andy talk about a whole bunch of new and recent and interesting flicks: Nyad (3:45), They Cloned Tyrone (16:30), The Killer (41:45), Priscilla (1:07:30), and Killers of the Flower Moon (1:41:45).
BONUS EPISODE! - The Bear, Barry, Inglorious Basterds, Interstellar
Mario Tom and Andy spend another hour chatting about all sorts of things, like season 2 of The Bear, the final season of Barry, and their re-evaluation of certain flicks like Interstellar and Inglorious Basterds.
Dumb Money, Cassandro, Past Lives, Passages, Bottoms, VHS 85
Mario, Tom, and Andy try to fill in the part of the year that they missed talking about a whole pile of movies starting briefly with Mario's thoughts on Saw 10, and then Dumb Money (3:30), Cassandro (8:15), Past Lives (19:30), Passages (38:45), VHS 85 (55:15), Bottoms (1:09:45).
M:I -Dead Reckoning, Pt. 1, Talk to Me, Oppenheimer, Barbie
Mario, Tom, Andy, and JP talk about Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part 1 (9:15), Talk to Me (25:00), Oppenheimer (50:45), and Barbie (1:22:45).
The Films of Cormac McCarthy
Mario and Tom take a harrowing walk around the American West and pontificate on the films made from the work of Cormac McCarthy: The Counsellor (15:45), Sunset Limited (33:15), The Road (40:15), No Country for Old Men (58:30), and All the Pretty Horses (1:06:15). They even touch on James Franco's adaptation of Child of God, but its total shit so they dont dwell on it for more than a minute or two.
Asteroid City
Mario and Tom talk about Wes Anderson's Asteroid City
No Hard Feelings and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Mario, Tom, and Andy talk about the new Jennifer Lawrence vehicle, No Hard Feelings (7:00), before turning their attention to the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (26:00)
Master Gardener, Beau is Afraid (again), Blackberry, and our Top Five Films So Far
Mario, Tom and Andy, talk about Paul Schrader's Master Gardener (6:45), we get Tom and JPs thoughts on Beau is Afraid (20:45), and things get contentious when they talk about Blackberry (41:30). Then they talk about their top five films of the year, so far (1:09:00)
"Showing Up," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," and "Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse"
Mario and Tom and Andy talk about some movies both new and a little less new: Showing Up (5:00), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (28:15), Spiderman; Across the Spiderverse (57:45). Then they finish with a quick review of the absolutely atrocious live-action remake of The Little Mermaid (its not worth the time stamp).
"Beau is Afraid," "The Outwaters," and "How to Blowup a Pipeline"
Mario, Tom and Andy, talk about a whole bunch of movies, both new and slightly less new including, Beau is Afraid (18:00), The Outwaters (45:45), How to Blowup a Pipeline (1:01:45).
"Renfield," "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," and "Super Mario Bros."
Mario, Tom, and their special guest Andy talk about some new releases: Renfield (7:15), Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongstth Thieves (23:45), Super Mario Bros. (40:00).
"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," "Knock at the Cabin Door," and "Infinity Pool"
Mario and Tom try and get back into the swing of things by talking about a few recent releases: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (33:30), Knock at the Cabin Door (56:30), and Infinity Pool (1:28:30).
The Best Films of 2022 - Part Two: The Top 10 Lists
Mario and Tom list their picks for the 10 best films of 2022.
The Best Films of 2022 - Part One: The Categories
Mario and Tom break down their favorite films of 2022 by category: Moments, Supporting Performances, Sound, Visuals, Writing, and Directing.
"Matilda," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Pale Blue Eye," "Glass Onion," and White Noise"
Mario and Tom talk about a whole bunch of new and recent Netflix movies: Matilda: The Musical (6:00) All Quiet on the Western Front(21:00) The Pale Blue Eye (43:00) Glass Onion: a Knives Out Story(1:00:00) White Noise (1:21:45)