473 episodes
Blank Check with Griffin & David Blank Check Productions
-
- TV & Film
-
-
4.8 • 11 Ratings
-
Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.
-
The 13th Warrior with David Lowery
What if there was a 13th Warrior? What if there was a version of Beowulf so grounded in reality that the climactic battle with Grendel just kind of felt like a shrug? What if Antonio Banderas was the lead in Gladiator instead of Russell Crowe? We’re just asking questions! Filmmaker David Lowery makes his long-awaited return to the podcast to talk about John McTiernan’s Michael Crichton adaptation, a movie that should have kept the title of the original book - Eaters of the Dead. Such a sick title! Anyway, prepare yourself for plenty of Banderas talk, a loving deep-dive into the famous “Banderas learns the Viking language” scene, and a reveal of some Blank Check-related easter eggs in Lowery’s filmography (!).
This episode is sponsored by:
Storyblocks (storyblocks.com/check)
Bombas (bombas.com/check CODE: CHECK)
Indochino.com (CODE: CHECK)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) with Amanda Dobbins
A Fiji water bottle. “Sinnerman” by Nina Simone. That Magritte painting with the bowler hat. A SCINTILLATING, AGE-APPROPRIATE ROMANCE WITH TWO OF THE GREATEST HEIST SEQUENCES IN MOVIE HISTORY. We’re talking Tommy C (1999), baby! The delightful Amanda Dobbins joins us for her long-awaited Blank Check debut, and this episode is about as fun as you’d expect. Do we think this movie is better than the Norman Jewison original? Yes. Do we go long on the filmography of Rene Russo? Yes. Do we explain how Pierce Brosnan fit the Monet canvas into his briefcase? Sort of. Does Amanda know the plot of “Wicked”? Surprisingly, no!
This episode is sponsored by:
ExpressVPN (ExpressVPN.com/check)
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
Die Hard with a Vengeance with Shea Serrano
John McTiernan back with the Die Hard franchise after the spectacular flop of Last Action Hero. Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson back together after Pulp Fiction. Die Hard with a Vengeance is definitely part of the “we are so back” canon. Shea Serrano (who owns every McTiernan movie on VHS) joins us to chat about this explosive action threequel that features a surprising amount of New York theater actors and a bunch of childhood games and riddles. Also, you don’t need us to tell you this but - Jeremy Irons hot. Also cool.
Listen to Six Trophies with Jason Concepcion and Shea Serrano
Check out Halfway Books
This episode is sponsored by:
FieldOfGreens.com (CODE: CHECK)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com -
Last Action Hero with Paul Scheer & Jason Mantzoukas
You either love this movie or you hate it, and guess what - we’re landing all over the LOST ACTION HERO spectrum this episode! Paul Scheer & Jason Mantzoukas join us once again for a clock-busting, rip-roaring time, and we’re unpacking all of this movie’s meta madness. Is John McTiernan able to parody his own work? Should the kid have actually killed people in this movie (as in the original, edgier script)? Will David have an aneurysm if this episode recording doesn’t end at a reasonable time?
Pre-order Paul’s Book
And if anyone has what Jason is looking for, email blankcheckpodcast@gmail.com and well get it to him.
This episode is sponsored by:
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
FACTOR (Factormeals.com/check50)
Zocdoc (zocdoc.com/check)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
Medicine Man with Jamie Lee
Oh baby, this one’s a STINKER! Sean Connery finds the cure for cancer but then he loses it (??). Lorraine Bracco delivers all of her dialogue like someone making a comment and not asking a question at a Q&A. They’re both playing scientists - but where’s the CHEMISTRY?? Comedian and writer Jamie Lee returns to Blank Check to talk about John McTiernan’s attempt at a serious adult drama, 1992’s MEDICINE MAN. We spend most of the episode trying to recast this movie to make it somewhat palatable. But the musical score is great!
This episode is sponsored by:
Burrow (Burrow.com/check)
Indochino.com (CODE: CHECK)
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com -
The Hunt For Red October with Jamelle Bouie
We love da submarinesh! Host of “Unclear and Present Danger” Jamelle Bouie joins us this week to talk about middle aged white guys, airport novels, and naval recruitment propaganda. That’s right - we’re talking about John McTiernan’s adaptation of Tom Clancy’s THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER! Come for our thesis on why Alec Baldwin played the best version of Jack Ryan, stay for Ben and Jamelle’s impassioned pleas for a Highlander patreon series. And of course, there will be Connery impressions.
This episode is sponsored by:
AuraFrames.com (CODE: CHECK)
ExpressVPN (ExpressVPN.com/check)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! Buy some real nerdy merch at shopblankcheckpod.myshopify.com
Customer Reviews
Blank it...
...?
Entertaining without standards
This podcast should be great. The hosts are knowledgeable, passionate, and have the assistance of a researcher. They present each episode with plenty of fun tangents and anecdotes.
But they have no standards at all.
They have lots of opinions presented as though facts. Director and actor choices are expounded upon - this later revealed to be projection and speculation.
At the end of each miniseries, they present their respective rankings of each director’s films. This could and should have at least a nod toward objectively, but does not. Their annual “Blankies” awards are more of the same.
On par or slightly better than similar podcasts offering rambling reviews and peccadillos.