Episode 300 - Heat
For our 300th episode, Not A Bomb takes a moment to look back on nearly six years of exploring overlooked and misunderstood films. Brad and Troy reflect on the evolution of the show, the community that has grown around it, and the conversations that have shaped its identity.
To mark the milestone, the episode revisits Michael Mann’s Heat (1995) — a film that has long been part of the podcast’s internal history. Though never a “bomb,” Heat is a work whose reputation has deepened over time, making it a fitting choice for this moment. The discussion examines the film’s legacy, performances, craftsmanship, and themes, drawing on ideas explored in past blog posts while offering new perspective.
Episode 300 serves as both a celebration and a reaffirmation of the show’s purpose: to give films the thoughtful attention they deserve and to continue discovering the stories behind them.
Heat is directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Diane Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer
Support the Show
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
For our 300th episode, Not A Bomb takes a moment to look back on nearly six years of exploring overlooked and misunderstood films. Brad and Troy reflect on the evolution of the show, the community that has grown around it, and the conversations that have shaped its identity.
To mark the milestone, the episode revisits Michael Mann’s Heat (1995) — a film that has long been part of the podcast’s internal history. Though never a “bomb,” Heat is a work whose reputation has deepened over time, making it a fitting choice for this moment. The discussion examines the film’s legacy, performances, craftsmanship, and themes, drawing on ideas explored in past blog posts while offering new perspective.
Episode 300 serves as both a celebration and a reaffirmation of the show’s purpose: to give films the thoughtful attention they deserve and to continue discovering the stories behind them.
Heat is directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Diane Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer
Support the Show
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Episode 294 - Devil in the Blue Dress
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.
For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. And look — Brad and Troy fully acknowledge that two white guys aren’t exactly the cultural authorities here. But they are passionate about movies, and they wanted to take time to celebrate a handful of incredible filmmakers and the films that deserve more love.
This week, the guys dive into one of the most underrated neo‑noirs of the ’90s: Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). Directed by the criminally overlooked Carl Franklin, the film follows Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, a WWII veteran navigating postwar Los Angeles who gets pulled into a mystery involving a missing femme fatale, political secrets, and the kind of corruption noir fans live for.
With a powerhouse cast, razor‑sharp direction, and a richly atmospheric take on the genre, Devil in a Blue Dress raises a big question: is this one of the greatest noir films ever made? Brad and Troy dig into the performances, the themes, the legacy, and why Carl Franklin deserves far more recognition than he gets.
Hard-boiled and sharp-edged, this soul-scarred noir doesn’t ask for the spotlight — it takes it. Press play and step into the night.
Devil in a Blue Dress is directed by Carl Franklin and stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle, and Maury Chaykin
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.
For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. And look — Brad and Troy fully acknowledge that two white guys aren’t exactly the cultural authorities here. But they are passionate about movies, and they wanted to take time to celebrate a handful of incredible filmmakers and the films that deserve more love.
This week, the guys dive into one of the most underrated neo‑noirs of the ’90s: Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). Directed by the criminally overlooked Carl Franklin, the film follows Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, a WWII veteran navigating postwar Los Angeles who gets pulled into a mystery involving a missing femme fatale, political secrets, and the kind of corruption noir fans live for.
With a powerhouse cast, razor‑sharp direction, and a richly atmospheric take on the genre, Devil in a Blue Dress raises a big question: is this one of the greatest noir films ever made? Brad and Troy dig into the performances, the themes, the legacy, and why Carl Franklin deserves far more recognition than he gets.
Hard-boiled and sharp-edged, this soul-scarred noir doesn’t ask for the spotlight — it takes it. Press play and step into the night.
Devil in a Blue Dress is directed by Carl Franklin and stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle, and Maury Chaykin
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.