Optimism Vaccine

Mar 27 2025 300 ep. 76 mins 654

Optimism Vaccine Podcast artwork

Optimism Vaccine’s panel of experts and idiots explore the dingy crevices between pop culture and forgotten trash in a never-ending quest to celebrate your guilty pleasures in the world of cinema and beyond.

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The Slop Must Flow (Post-Marvel Russo Brothers)

Mar 27 2025 95 mins

THIS WEEK: Cherry (2021), The Gray Man (2022) and The Electric State (2025)Our attempt to discuss the post-Marvel output of cinema's most profitable siblings quickly devolved into a series of shrieks and grunts, perfectly mirroring the trajectory of the modern blockbuster.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

MENDOZAAAAA!!!!!!! (The Films of James Glickenhaus)

Mar 20 2025 64 mins

THIS WEEK: The Protector (1985), Shakedown (1988) and McBain (1991)Optimism Vaccine has a well documented love of New York sleaze, so it was only a matter of time before we discussed James Glickenhaus, and what may well be the most overlooked action film of the 1980s.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

Alec Baldwin Steals a Gun (The Films of George Armitage)

Mar 13 2025 75 mins

THIS WEEK: Miami Blues (1990), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and The Big Bounce (2004)We try our best to avoid discussing the inexplicable 2004 disaster that ended George Armitage's lengthy Hollywood tenure, The Big Bounce. Fortunately we had two far better films to distract us.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

German Michael Mann (The Films of Thomas Arslan)

Mar 06 2025 56 mins

THIS WEEK: In the Shadows (2010) and Scorched Earth (2024)There's a common misconception that we only do this podcast to subject ourselves to the dumbest bullshit imaginable. Not true! Every once in a while we stumble upon greatness. Do you like Michael Mann? How about Robert Bresson? Maybe a little Jean-Pierre Melville? Fantastic. It's time you join the 4 or 5 other folks who have

Motion Sickness Episode Five: The Borderlands feat. Esther Rosenfield

Feb 27 2025 63 mins

THIS WEEK: The Borderlands AKA Final Prayer (2013)What was Cate Blanchett thinking signing on to this turkey? Will we ever see the Roth cut? Did I watch the wrong movie again? Esteemed critic Esther Rosenfield joins us to discuss a true undiscovered gem, swept away in the ebb of the found footage wave.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

Bigger Than Oldboy (The Films of Soi Cheang - Part 2)

Feb 20 2025 68 mins

THIS WEEK: Accident (2009), Limbo (2021), and Mad Fate (2023)This time around, Jack let us watch the GOOD Soi Cheang movies. We're looking at a trio of films made with legendary cinematographer Siu-Keung Cheng under Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai's Wilkway Image production company. Has Soi Cheang grown into one of the most essential filmmakers in modern Hong Kong? Yes. But don't watch h

Unrealistic Dick Expectations (The Films of Joe Eszterhas)

Feb 13 2025 98 mins

THIS WEEK: Basic Instinct (1992), Sliver (1993), and Jade (1995)Forget the Whitman's. This year we got you an Eszterhas sampler for Valentine's Day. It isn't particularly sweet, but there's a lot of cream involved.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

Motion Sickness Episode Four: The Visit feat. Aaron Casias

Feb 07 2025 66 mins

THIS WEEK: The Visit (2015)Motion Sickness welcomes back old friends as Aaron Casias of Hit Factory joins us to discuss the perpetually fascinating career of M. Night Shyamalan. I bet you all forgot that he made a Found Footage film, didn't you? We didn't forget. We never forget.Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

Choices Were Made (The Films of Soi Cheang - Part 1)

Jan 30 2025 74 mins

THIS WEEK: Home Sweet Home (2005), Dog Bite Dog (2006), and Motorway (2012)A generous patron's request brings us back to Hong Kong to look at a more contemporary side of the HK action-industrial complex via the films of Soi Cheung. Unfortunately, Jack has returned from his sabbatical, and decided he'd rather spend the week mired in the soapy melodrama of Cheung's early career. We v

Motion Sickness Episode Three: Help Me Someone, Help Me Please

Jan 23 2025 80 mins

THIS WEEK: Cloverfield (2008), Apollo 18 (2011) and The Devil Inside (2012)Life has once again wrought havoc with our schedule, so before we debut the regular format of Motion Sickness, we're bringing you one more genre retrospective. It's a slate featuring some of the least essential films to emerge during the latter days of the format's theatrical viability! And also Cloverfield!