The MacGuffin

In honor of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Spencer and Greg discuss Robert Downey Jr. Then they examine threequels and give DVD picks of the week.

Matthew Lillard is a talented actor who is unfortunately often overlooked. Despite a long career, he hasn’t received many opportunities to be the lead in a film, at least in part because he is known for playing over the top characters. It is hard to not think of some of the misses he has been involved with, most notably Scooby-Doo, but I would argue that he is usually the best parts of those films (his portrayal of Shaggy was certainly the best part of that film). Occasionally he has received an opportunity like SLC Punk—a project that has a lot more heart than people give it credit for—and he has proven that he can handle subtly and nuance.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Brandi share their top 5 child performances.

This segment is also available on Stitcher and iTunes. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

In honor of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Spencer and Greg reflect on Gary Oldman’s career. Then they tackle kid-driven movies and give DVD picks of the week.

The MacGuffin crew discuss Rare Exports: A Christmas Story, from director Jalmari Helander and starring Onni Tommila.

This episode can be played online via the flash player below or it can be downloaded from here. It is available on iTunes and Stitcher.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Allen and Brandi share their top 5 winter films.

This segment is also available on Stitcher and iTunes. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

There are many ways film can be entertaining, but one of my favorite ways is for it to be a vehicle for entertainment and escapism. That isn’t to say film shouldn’t be thought-provoking, but I’m always excited to see movies that push my imagination and make me want to be more creative. One of the most consistently creative areas of film is the world of independent cinema.

Spencer and Greg share some of the foreign films that have influenced them, suggest some early 2011 releases worth revisiting and give DVD picks of the week.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. Inspired by the film Hugo, Allen and Edward share their top 5 underrated Martin Scorsese films.

This segment is also available on Stitcher and iTunes. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

Spencer and Greg look at the history of The Muppets, in honor of the new film, then share family movie-watching experiences for the holiday and give DVD picks.