The Franchise Forum Podcast

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Pulp Fiction (1994)

Our Director Series continues with Quentin Tarantino and Pulp Fiction.
One of the most influential filmmakers of the modern era, Tarantino takes center stage as Greg explores how Pulp Fictionshattered storytelling conventions and forever changed independent cinema. From its nonlinear structure to its unforgettable dialogue and cultural impact, this episode dives into what makes Tarantino's masterpiece one of the defining films of the 1990s.
As always, this episode is designed to be experienced in two parts: listen to the first half, watch the film, then come back for the second half as Greg breaks down everything you just saw.

The Franchise Forum Ep.12 - The Evil Dead (1981)

This week, we dig into Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult classic, a movie that none of us fully knew how to process but all of us had to respect. Is it enjoyable? Not exactly. Is it inventive, relentless, gross, weirdly charming, and somehow one of the most impressive student-film-feeling debuts ever made? Absolutely.
We talk micro-budget filmmaking, stop-motion gore, suspiciously smooth tree branches, demonic sound design, the world’s most stressful cabin, and the way Raimi turns the camera itself into the villain. Ross explains why the movie is basically the best lengua taco he’s ever had, Adam goes deep on the splatter-film era, Erik tries to understand why horror fans love being punished, and Greg leads us through the chaos with plenty of production history and trivia.
Join us. Join us.

Franchise Forum Ep.11 - A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

The Die Hard franchise comes to an end as the Franchise Forum crew heads to Moscow for A Good Day to Die Hard—the most criticized and controversial entry in the series. This week, we break down the father-son story between John and Jack McClane, debate whether the franchise lost what made it special, and ask if this movie really deserves its infamous reputation.
Along the way, we discuss the franchise's evolution from "wrong place, wrong time" thrills to globe-trotting action spectacle, hand out our final franchise awards, wrap up Die Hard trivia, and reveal the next franchise heading to the Franchise Forum treatment.
Yippee-ki-yay, Mother Russia. One last ride with John McClane.

Franchise Forum Ep. 10 - Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

 
 
 
 
The Franchise Forum crew is back… and John McClane has officially entered the digital age. This week, we tackle Live Free or Die Hard, the cyber-terrorism-fueled fourth entry that trades grimy ’80s grit for exploding helicopters, collapsing freeways, and Justin Long explaining the internet to Bruce Willis.
We break down the franchise’s controversial shift from hard-R to PG-13, debate Bruce Willis’ scorching hot take that this might actually be better than the original, and ask the important questions: does McClane still feel like McClane when he’s fighting hackers instead of Hans Gruber-types? Along the way we dive into the film’s insane production schedule, wildly over-the-top action set pieces, and whether Len Wiseman’s slick visual style helped modernize the franchise… or sanded off too much of what made Die Hard special in the first place.
Plus: trivia, tangents, tech panic, traffic-light conspiracy theories, and the continuing evolution of Bruce Willis’ hairline.
Yippee-ki-yay… mostly.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Memento (2000)

Franchise Forum: Director Series continues with Christopher
Nolan and Memento.
 
Greg jumps into Nolan's backward (and forward) story of revenge through the lens of anterograde amnesia, digging into the Academy Award-nominated editing and screenplay, the importance of mirrors, and the 2000 film that put Nolan on every film aficionado's radar.
 
Episode 3 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series.

Franchise Forum Ep. 9 - Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

We’re back with John McClane… and this time, the whole city’s in play.
In Episode 9, Greg, Erik, Adam, and Ross head to New York for Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) the sequel that ditches the building, turns everything into a puzzle, and somehow never slows down. From Central Park to Wall Street, Simon Gruber is pulling the strings and McClane is just trying to keep up.
We get into what works, what really works, and where this one might actually challenge the original… or fall apart right when it matters most. The pacing, the riddles, the chaos, the heat of a New York summer, it’s all on the table. And yeah… we’re not exactly on the same page this time.
Plus, we debut the Villain Draft... each of us builds our own lineup of the most iconic, chaotic, and unforgettable villains in pop culture. Some picks make sense… others might start a fight.
Grab a sign, don’t ask questions… and try to keep up.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Oppenheimer (2023)

Franchise Forum: Director Series continues with Christopher Nolan and Oppenheimer.
 
Nolan's most decorated film to date, Greg dissects how Oppenheimer blends genres, creatively tackles special effects, and uses symbolism in every way imaginable to take home seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.
 
Episode 2 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series.

Franchise Forum: Director Series - Dunkirk (2017)

Franchise Forum: Director Series begins with Christopher Nolan and Dunkirk.
 
One of the most celebrated directors of this century, Nolan becomes the focus as Greg breaks down how Dunkirk strays from the traditional war film mold and how Nolan’s signature style shapes the experience of this 2017 Best Picture–nominated film.
 
Episode 1 of the Christopher Nolan Director Series starts now!

Franchise Forum: Frantasy - The Rocketeer (1991)

In this Frantasy Episode, the Franchise Forum crew takes to the skies to revisit The Rocketeer, Disney’s 1991 love letter to pulp adventure, Art Deco design, and the golden age of aviation. Along the way we talk about why this film made such a strong impression on so many of us as kids, even if the pacing feels a little different through modern eyes. From the retro-futuristic world and James Horner’s soaring score to the film’s late-blooming action finale, we break down what works, what surprised us on a rewatch and why the image of the Rocketeer blasting across the sky has stuck around long after the credits rolled.
 
Strap on the helmet and fire up the rocket.... we’re heading back to 1938!

Franchise Forum Ep. 8 – Die Hard 2 (1990)

We’re back with John McClane… and this time, it’s snowing. In Episode 8, the Franchise Forum crew heads to Dulles Airport to break down Die Hard 2 (1990), the sequel that tries to go bigger, louder, and somehow colder. Spoiler alert: none of us were exactly thrilled with the layover.
We dive into what doesn’t work, what almost works, and whether repeating the formula makes for comfort food or creative crash-and-burn. Plus, we play a round of Six Degrees of Separation, throw down some trivia, and debate whether this is just Die Hard on a runway… or the moment the franchise started losing altitude.
Buckle up... turbulence ahead.