Episode 312 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys set sail for one of the most ambitious and accomplished films of the 21st century with Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Released in 2003, this sprawling naval epic follows Captain Jack Aubrey and the crew of HMS Surprise as they pursue a powerful French warship across the globe during the Napoleonic Wars. Despite earning critical acclaim, multiple Academy Award wins, and a passionate fanbase, the film never quite became the blockbuster franchise many expected. Over the years, however, Master and Commander has steadily grown in reputation, earning recognition as one of the finest historical adventures ever put to screen.
But does the film deserve its status as a modern masterpiece? Troy and Brad dive into the incredible craftsmanship behind the production, from its obsessive attention to historical detail to its thunderous sea battles and unforgettable performances from Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The hosts also discuss why director Peter Weir remains one of cinema's most underappreciated filmmakers despite a career that includes classics like The Truman Show, Witness, and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Hoist the colors, secure the gun decks, and join the chase as Not A Bomb celebrates a film that proves blockbuster filmmaking can still be intelligent, immersive, and endlessly rewatchable.
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: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys set sail for one of the most ambitious and accomplished films of the 21st century with Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Released in 2003, this sprawling naval epic follows Captain Jack Aubrey and the crew of HMS Surprise as they pursue a powerful French warship across the globe during the Napoleonic Wars. Despite earning critical acclaim, multiple Academy Award wins, and a passionate fanbase, the film never quite became the blockbuster franchise many expected. Over the years, however, Master and Commander has steadily grown in reputation, earning recognition as one of the finest historical adventures ever put to screen.
But does the film deserve its status as a modern masterpiece? Troy and Brad dive into the incredible craftsmanship behind the production, from its obsessive attention to historical detail to its thunderous sea battles and unforgettable performances from Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The hosts also discuss why director Peter Weir remains one of cinema's most underappreciated filmmakers despite a career that includes classics like The Truman Show, Witness, and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Hoist the colors, secure the gun decks, and join the chase as Not A Bomb celebrates a film that proves blockbuster filmmaking can still be intelligent, immersive, and endlessly rewatchable.
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 311 - Mallrats (6 Year Anniversary)
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
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: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
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.
NAB Presents: Breaking Brad - Experiment 17: Glitter
This week’s experiment: the shimmering, logic‑defying pop‑music fever dream known as Glitter. A film that dares to ask, “What if Mariah Carey starred in her own A Star Is Born?” and then immediately forgets to answer because it got distracted by a sparkly butterfly.
Set in a version of 1980s New York that appears to have been reconstructed entirely from perfume commercials and vague memories, Glitter is less a movie and more an extended montage that occasionally remembers it should have dialogue. Plot threads drift in and out like they’re late for a different film, emotional beats land with the grace of a dropped microphone, and the editing suggests someone was frantically trying to escape the room while cutting it.
Mariah whisper‑acts her way through heartbreak, fame, and several questionable wardrobe choices, while her love interest delivers a performance so beige it could be sold at Home Depot. It’s not just a movie, it’s a stress test. Of patience. Of endurance. Of Brad’s ability to keep his soul from leaving his body mid‑episode. And this week, we find out whether he can survive ninety minutes of glitter‑coated melodrama… or if this is the moment he finally, truly, spectacularly breaks.
Be sure to subscribe to the Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnite Cinema to hear more of Sammy. Also, check out Jose’s podcast - Watch/Skip+ • A podcast on Anchor. Both are highly recommended.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
This week’s experiment: the shimmering, logic‑defying pop‑music fever dream known as Glitter. A film that dares to ask, “What if Mariah Carey starred in her own A Star Is Born?” and then immediately forgets to answer because it got distracted by a sparkly butterfly.
Set in a version of 1980s New York that appears to have been reconstructed entirely from perfume commercials and vague memories, Glitter is less a movie and more an extended montage that occasionally remembers it should have dialogue. Plot threads drift in and out like they’re late for a different film, emotional beats land with the grace of a dropped microphone, and the editing suggests someone was frantically trying to escape the room while cutting it.
Mariah whisper‑acts her way through heartbreak, fame, and several questionable wardrobe choices, while her love interest delivers a performance so beige it could be sold at Home Depot. It’s not just a movie, it’s a stress test. Of patience. Of endurance. Of Brad’s ability to keep his soul from leaving his body mid‑episode. And this week, we find out whether he can survive ninety minutes of glitter‑coated melodrama… or if this is the moment he finally, truly, spectacularly breaks.
Be sure to subscribe to the Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnite Cinema to hear more of Sammy. Also, check out Jose’s podcast - Watch/Skip+ • A podcast on Anchor. Both are highly recommended.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.