<![CDATA[Spineless: The Future Films of 4K]]>4cecd8b3-4bf2-54b3-80c3-e3eb93d17630Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:03:10 +0000Captivate.fmNicholas Kinney and Brennan Saurhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/e4ecae8d-3da7-4e44-b555-abd30d5fe455/New-Cover-FFo4K.pngSpineless: The Future Films of 4KNicholas Kinney and Brennan SaurNicholas Kinney and Brennan SaurThe niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.https://spineless.captivate.fmtrueepisodicnopodcastThere Will Be Blood (2007)There Will Be Blood (2007)Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for visiting with us this evening. Now, we’ve traveled across half your podcast streaming service to be here and to see about these discs.

We’re podcasters, ladies and gentlemen. We have numerous episodes streaming now throughout your podcast platforms. We have podcasts with as many as twenty streams per day. And as podcasters, I hope that you'll forgive just good old-fashioned plain speaking. Now this work that we do is very much a family enterprise. I work side by side with my wonderful son Nick Kinney.

Were the past two paragraphs of Daniel Plainview impressions too much for you? Well buckle up, because you'll find even more Daniel Plainview impressions on today’s episode of SPINELESS, where we discuss the criminally un-4k’d THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007). In the wake of Paul Thomas Anderson's big Oscar wins, revisit the movie that got him his first nominations for Best Picture and Best Director as Nick and Brennan break down Daniel Day-Lewis' towering performance, the crowded production town of Marfa, Texas, and the devilish liquid that is OIL!

Daniel Plainview's 'I Drink Your Milkshake' SNL Sketch

The Making of the Oil Fire Scene

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for visiting with us this evening. Now, we’ve traveled across half your podcast streaming service to be here and to see about these discs.

We’re podcasters, ladies and gentlemen. We have numerous episodes streaming now throughout your podcast platforms. We have podcasts with as many as twenty streams per day. And as podcasters, I hope that you'll forgive just good old-fashioned plain speaking. Now this work that we do is very much a family enterprise. I work side by side with my wonderful son Nick Kinney.

Were the past two paragraphs of Daniel Plainview impressions too much for you? Well buckle up, because you'll find even more Daniel Plainview impressions on today’s episode of SPINELESS, where we discuss the criminally un-4k’d THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007). In the wake of Paul Thomas Anderson's big Oscar wins, revisit the movie that got him his first nominations for Best Picture and Best Director as Nick and Brennan break down Daniel Day-Lewis' towering performance, the crowded production town of Marfa, Texas, and the devilish liquid that is OIL!

Daniel Plainview's 'I Drink Your Milkshake' SNL Sketch

The Making of the Oil Fire Scene

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>4d633dd8-197a-49b7-b157-0264ee92fe8aTue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -050001:35:53truefull3939Bright Star (2009) with Marya E. GatesBright Star (2009) with Marya E. Gates4K distributors have failed John Keats.

On this week's episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan are joined by Chicago-based critic Marya E. Gates, author of Cinema Her Way, for a discussion of Jane Campion's 2009 film BRIGHT STAR. Your beloved TWO FRIENDS (plus Marya) are absolute SWEETIEs as they discuss THE POWER OF THE DOGgone film, a moving PORTRAIT OF A LADY and her relationship with famed poet John Keats IN THE CUTthroat world of early-nineteenth-century gentility that will make you say HOLY SMOKE! with how good it is. Plus, the debut of a brand-spanking new version of the Spineless theme in tribute to the film's Human Orchestra, which is right for humans and not for THE PIANO. Okay I'm gonna be honest I think I've run out of ways to work Jane Campion movies into the description. There's AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE I guess and that's my beloved laptop from which I record Spineless?

Support Marya and her cat Miss Fanny Brawne as they recover from ringworm!!

Buy Marya's book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words

Subscribe to Marya's Substack Cool People Have Feelings, Too

2007 poisoned pet food scandal

Behind the scenes of Bright Star

Marya's Tilda Swinton costume: The Maybe

Yearning: A Seinfeld/Twin Peaks Mashup

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>4K distributors have failed John Keats.

On this week's episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan are joined by Chicago-based critic Marya E. Gates, author of Cinema Her Way, for a discussion of Jane Campion's 2009 film BRIGHT STAR. Your beloved TWO FRIENDS (plus Marya) are absolute SWEETIEs as they discuss THE POWER OF THE DOGgone film, a moving PORTRAIT OF A LADY and her relationship with famed poet John Keats IN THE CUTthroat world of early-nineteenth-century gentility that will make you say HOLY SMOKE! with how good it is. Plus, the debut of a brand-spanking new version of the Spineless theme in tribute to the film's Human Orchestra, which is right for humans and not for THE PIANO. Okay I'm gonna be honest I think I've run out of ways to work Jane Campion movies into the description. There's AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE I guess and that's my beloved laptop from which I record Spineless?

Support Marya and her cat Miss Fanny Brawne as they recover from ringworm!!

Buy Marya's book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words

Subscribe to Marya's Substack Cool People Have Feelings, Too

2007 poisoned pet food scandal

Behind the scenes of Bright Star

Marya's Tilda Swinton costume: The Maybe

Yearning: A Seinfeld/Twin Peaks Mashup

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>e0783c42-9b73-4797-adb8-1d02460c043bTue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -050001:58:31truefull3838The 2nd Annual Golden Spine Awards! with Andy GermugaThe 2nd Annual Golden Spine Awards! with Andy GermugaOscar Sunday is soon upon us, and we couldn't let awards season end without giving out our own!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Golden Spine Awards, honoring the best of 2025 in film according to your hosts, Nick and Brennan. Joining us with his own personal picks is Andy Germuga, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, who last year nominated Dakota Johnson in Best Actress for Madame Web so honestly who knows what he'll say this time. The trio present their five nominees each in nine categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and the coveted Most Spineless, honoring the films from 2025 we most want to see get a 4K release. It's an opportunity to talk about our favorite films of the year, it's a celebration of cinema of all sorts, it's...the Golden Spine Awards! What would your picks be?

Read Nick's review of The Bride! here

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Oscar Sunday is soon upon us, and we couldn't let awards season end without giving out our own!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Golden Spine Awards, honoring the best of 2025 in film according to your hosts, Nick and Brennan. Joining us with his own personal picks is Andy Germuga, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, who last year nominated Dakota Johnson in Best Actress for Madame Web so honestly who knows what he'll say this time. The trio present their five nominees each in nine categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and the coveted Most Spineless, honoring the films from 2025 we most want to see get a 4K release. It's an opportunity to talk about our favorite films of the year, it's a celebration of cinema of all sorts, it's...the Golden Spine Awards! What would your picks be?

Read Nick's review of The Bride! here

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>60a46d9c-1348-4526-8836-e90af2575e1aFri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -050002:47:38truefullDeliverance (1972)Deliverance (1972)Pack your banjo, grab a paddle, and hop in the canoe: we're going downriver!

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan revisit Brennan's favorite decade in film as they break down the taut 1972 thriller Deliverance, directed by John Boorman. It's somehow the second Jon Voight film we've covered in two months, and it's the film that introduced the world to the legendary Ned Beatty. We talk about the chart-topping "Duelling Banjos," the environmentalist subtext of the movie, and the harrowing centerpiece scene that makes it a bit of a tough hang. But don't worry, we keep the episode light with talk of Willard's rat Ben, which was relevant at the time, we promise.

Content Warning: The film Deliverance contains a graphic depiction of sexual assault. As such, our episode on the film contains discussion of sexual assault.

Behind the Scenes: Deliverance, featuring interviews with Boorman, Voight, et al.

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Pack your banjo, grab a paddle, and hop in the canoe: we're going downriver!

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan revisit Brennan's favorite decade in film as they break down the taut 1972 thriller Deliverance, directed by John Boorman. It's somehow the second Jon Voight film we've covered in two months, and it's the film that introduced the world to the legendary Ned Beatty. We talk about the chart-topping "Duelling Banjos," the environmentalist subtext of the movie, and the harrowing centerpiece scene that makes it a bit of a tough hang. But don't worry, we keep the episode light with talk of Willard's rat Ben, which was relevant at the time, we promise.

Content Warning: The film Deliverance contains a graphic depiction of sexual assault. As such, our episode on the film contains discussion of sexual assault.

Behind the Scenes: Deliverance, featuring interviews with Boorman, Voight, et al.

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>b8569856-268d-4599-873b-df017a297cc1Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -050001:23:10truefull3737Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019) with Cortlyn KellyHomecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019) with Cortlyn KellyIf anyone can save physical media, it’s the Bey Hive.

In this week’s episode of SPINELESS, Nick and Brennan are joined by Chicago-based critic Cortlyn Kelly for a discussion of Beyoncé’s HOMECOMING, her 2019 concert film depicting the creation of her Coachella set the previous year. They talk concerts in general — including Cortlyn’s own Beyoncé experiences — and the continuing cultural legacy of Beyoncé before breaking down the jaw-dropping athleticism of the Homecoming performances. Plus, Nick introduces a new segment: the 4K Forecast (4Kast?), and Brennan reveals that he has been to a single concert in his lifetime and he will give you $100 if you guess what it was.

Read Cortlyn's writing at RogerEbert.com and The Art Idiot

Listen to Cortlyn's podcast Kaveh and CK's Screening Room

Beyoncé Bowl

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>If anyone can save physical media, it’s the Bey Hive.

In this week’s episode of SPINELESS, Nick and Brennan are joined by Chicago-based critic Cortlyn Kelly for a discussion of Beyoncé’s HOMECOMING, her 2019 concert film depicting the creation of her Coachella set the previous year. They talk concerts in general — including Cortlyn’s own Beyoncé experiences — and the continuing cultural legacy of Beyoncé before breaking down the jaw-dropping athleticism of the Homecoming performances. Plus, Nick introduces a new segment: the 4K Forecast (4Kast?), and Brennan reveals that he has been to a single concert in his lifetime and he will give you $100 if you guess what it was.

Read Cortlyn's writing at RogerEbert.com and The Art Idiot

Listen to Cortlyn's podcast Kaveh and CK's Screening Room

Beyoncé Bowl

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>bc56aa59-9d12-4968-b734-94e417223710Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -050001:53:00truefull3636Under the Skin (2013)Under the Skin (2013)On this week's episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan get lost in the black goop that is Jonathan Glazer's UNDER THE SKIN (2013). We talk about the guerrilla-style approach to the production of the film, the differences between the film and the novel it's based on, and why the haunting visuals deserve a 4K upgrade. What would happen if you got crushed like a Danimals Crush Cup? Would we recognize Scarlett Johnansson out of context? Does an attack from a single rat constitute a "rat attack"? Plus, an in-depth investigation into whether certain "parts" of this film are real.

The Making of Under the Skin

2020 Announcement for TV Spin-Off

Danimals Crush Cup

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>On this week's episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan get lost in the black goop that is Jonathan Glazer's UNDER THE SKIN (2013). We talk about the guerrilla-style approach to the production of the film, the differences between the film and the novel it's based on, and why the haunting visuals deserve a 4K upgrade. What would happen if you got crushed like a Danimals Crush Cup? Would we recognize Scarlett Johnansson out of context? Does an attack from a single rat constitute a "rat attack"? Plus, an in-depth investigation into whether certain "parts" of this film are real.

The Making of Under the Skin

2020 Announcement for TV Spin-Off

Danimals Crush Cup

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>e59858e7-2b54-4271-a775-f09c53f530bdTue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -050001:23:24truefull3535The Muppet Movie (1979) with Jordan BrownleeThe Muppet Movie (1979) with Jordan BrownleeIt's time to play the music, light the lights, and meet the Muppets on this episode of Spineless!

Nick and Brennan are joined by puppeteer Jordan Brownlee (The Muppets Mayhem, The Muppet Show) to talk about everyone's favorite felted friends the Muppets in their first theatrical appearance: The Muppet Movie (1979). Jordan regales us with stories of working with Paul Williams, his time on the upcoming Muppet Show special, and how Animal is our best friend actually. How did Jim Henson make Kermit play the banjo in the middle of a pond? What is Gonzo, and is he from space? What are Dr. Teeth's arms made of? And, of course, mah na mah na.

Watch Jordan's work in The Muppet Show (2026) on February 4th on ABC and Disney+!

Follow Jordan @jordanthevoicesguy

Jordan (as Tiny Squirrel) with Paul Williams on Fox 32 Chicago

Jordan's first Muppet project: Mr. Blue Sky

Test footage from The Muppet Movie

Sweetums and Ruth Buzzi--"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"

Patrick Willems: The Rise and Fall of Muppet Cinema

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>It's time to play the music, light the lights, and meet the Muppets on this episode of Spineless!

Nick and Brennan are joined by puppeteer Jordan Brownlee (The Muppets Mayhem, The Muppet Show) to talk about everyone's favorite felted friends the Muppets in their first theatrical appearance: The Muppet Movie (1979). Jordan regales us with stories of working with Paul Williams, his time on the upcoming Muppet Show special, and how Animal is our best friend actually. How did Jim Henson make Kermit play the banjo in the middle of a pond? What is Gonzo, and is he from space? What are Dr. Teeth's arms made of? And, of course, mah na mah na.

Watch Jordan's work in The Muppet Show (2026) on February 4th on ABC and Disney+!

Follow Jordan @jordanthevoicesguy

Jordan (as Tiny Squirrel) with Paul Williams on Fox 32 Chicago

Jordan's first Muppet project: Mr. Blue Sky

Test footage from The Muppet Movie

Sweetums and Ruth Buzzi--"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"

Patrick Willems: The Rise and Fall of Muppet Cinema

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>9c0aa9da-49c4-4165-8ca0-1fa47eaeb1ceTue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -050002:00:08truefull3434Megalopolis (2024) and the New Era of Spineless!Megalopolis (2024) and the New Era of Spineless!Go back to the cluuuuub with Nick, Brennan, and Wow Platinum for this episode of Spineless!

We're kicking off 2026 with a bang by unpacking one of the most notorious flops of the modern era. That's right, folks--it's Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis (2024), and it's the first film we're covering in the new era of Spineless, which is now: The Future Films of 4K! We go into the reasons behind our recent rebrand and what to expect for the future of the show before diving into the fabled production of FFC's grand vision. We also discuss Mike Figgis' illuminating behind-the-scenes documentary Megadoc (2025), which only confirms what we all suspected: Aubrey Plaza is the best part of Megalopolis. Tune in now to hear all about your good friends Sunny Hope and Cesar Catilina, and stay for some bonus content about Marty Supreme just for fun.

Jason Segel picture-eater

Be Kind Rewind's History of Megalopolis

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Go back to the cluuuuub with Nick, Brennan, and Wow Platinum for this episode of Spineless!

We're kicking off 2026 with a bang by unpacking one of the most notorious flops of the modern era. That's right, folks--it's Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis (2024), and it's the first film we're covering in the new era of Spineless, which is now: The Future Films of 4K! We go into the reasons behind our recent rebrand and what to expect for the future of the show before diving into the fabled production of FFC's grand vision. We also discuss Mike Figgis' illuminating behind-the-scenes documentary Megadoc (2025), which only confirms what we all suspected: Aubrey Plaza is the best part of Megalopolis. Tune in now to hear all about your good friends Sunny Hope and Cesar Catilina, and stay for some bonus content about Marty Supreme just for fun.

Jason Segel picture-eater

Be Kind Rewind's History of Megalopolis

The niche of physical media is growing. More and more movies are getting quality releases on the newest and best format, making any film not yet available on 4K disc...SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the 4K treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>65c12eae-4bd1-4315-8c0f-66ce3c16fceaTue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -050001:18:24truefull3333Klaus (2019)Klaus (2019)The snow is falling, the carols are ringing, and J.K. Simmons is playing Santa Klaus. It must be Christmastime!

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan return to Netflix's 2019 animation slate with the modern Christmas classic KLAUS (2019), a heartwarming film about the world's most annoying mailman. Of course, there's general talk about Christmas movies, animation, and Cowgirl Jesse. There's also a small discussion about another certain movie starring J.K. Simmons as a buff Santa, but honestly, not as much as you would expect. Luckily we forgot to mention that director Sergio Pablos invented Despicable Me, so we spared you what was sure to be a lengthy Minions tangent. This will be the last Spineless episode of 2025--we'll see you next year!

Original teaser for Klaus

Director Sergio Pablos on why he made Klaus

Coppola Family Tree Mnemonic

Cars 4

The Grinch is when Christmas comes Out

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>The snow is falling, the carols are ringing, and J.K. Simmons is playing Santa Klaus. It must be Christmastime!

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan return to Netflix's 2019 animation slate with the modern Christmas classic KLAUS (2019), a heartwarming film about the world's most annoying mailman. Of course, there's general talk about Christmas movies, animation, and Cowgirl Jesse. There's also a small discussion about another certain movie starring J.K. Simmons as a buff Santa, but honestly, not as much as you would expect. Luckily we forgot to mention that director Sergio Pablos invented Despicable Me, so we spared you what was sure to be a lengthy Minions tangent. This will be the last Spineless episode of 2025--we'll see you next year!

Original teaser for Klaus

Director Sergio Pablos on why he made Klaus

Coppola Family Tree Mnemonic

Cars 4

The Grinch is when Christmas comes Out

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>d365e1fa-5af7-47ef-b27e-560cdea5a536Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -050001:14:14truefull3232Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)Gobble gobble! On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan get SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE as they discuss John Hughes’ best-aged (changes to air travel notwithstanding) film PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES (1987). They talk deleted scenes, bad 4k restorations, and the career of John Candy, the thought of which definitely does not make Brennan tear up whenever he thinks of it. Plus, Nick and Brennan debate which one of them is closer to having a wife (the answer is exactly who you would think).

Deleted Scenes

Rochester, NY--See Nick in How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Gobble gobble! On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan get SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE as they discuss John Hughes’ best-aged (changes to air travel notwithstanding) film PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES (1987). They talk deleted scenes, bad 4k restorations, and the career of John Candy, the thought of which definitely does not make Brennan tear up whenever he thinks of it. Plus, Nick and Brennan debate which one of them is closer to having a wife (the answer is exactly who you would think).

Deleted Scenes

Rochester, NY--See Nick in How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>e47c5942-34e0-416c-b602-7f8695f5fd44Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -050001:50:22truefull3131Little Women (2019) with Macy KinneyLittle Women (2019) with Macy KinneyAh, my little… Y’know.

Brennan finds himself in the now-familiar situation of being in a Kinney Sandwich where Kinneys are the bread and he is the meat as the Spineless Boys are joined by Macy Kinney, Nick’s newly-anointed sister-in-law, children’s librarian, and Little Women expert to discuss, well…. LITTLE WOMEN (2019). Curl up with a nice blanket as they dive in to the comfiest movie ever made about misogyny, war, and dying from scarlet fever. Plus, Macy unearths an embarrassing incident from Nick’s past and compares Greta Gerwig's adaptation to other versions of Louisa May Alcott's timeless story.

Read Macy's blog here, including her contemporary Little Women review from early 2020 and her review of Little Fillies, a Little Women/My Little Pony crossover event.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Ah, my little… Y’know.

Brennan finds himself in the now-familiar situation of being in a Kinney Sandwich where Kinneys are the bread and he is the meat as the Spineless Boys are joined by Macy Kinney, Nick’s newly-anointed sister-in-law, children’s librarian, and Little Women expert to discuss, well…. LITTLE WOMEN (2019). Curl up with a nice blanket as they dive in to the comfiest movie ever made about misogyny, war, and dying from scarlet fever. Plus, Macy unearths an embarrassing incident from Nick’s past and compares Greta Gerwig's adaptation to other versions of Louisa May Alcott's timeless story.

Read Macy's blog here, including her contemporary Little Women review from early 2020 and her review of Little Fillies, a Little Women/My Little Pony crossover event.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>a2b275f2-d96f-406e-b6e2-e5ac09f08c10Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -050002:12:04truefull3030Jennifer's Body (2009)Jennifer's Body (2009)You won’t believe what Patrick Star (doesn’t) say.

This year's Spine-Chilling month of horror concludes with Karyn Kusama’s 2009 film JENNIFER’S BODY, which exists at the perfect intersection of horror and coming-of-age and accurately depicts the terror of being a teenage girl, the experience of adolescent girlhood (we think). We discuss the career-best performances of Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried and the film's growing status as a cult classic. Plus, a whole lot of past and future career talk — Chris Pratt’s future work as a LEGO, Diablo Cody’s future work on a certain musical about a Cinderella who is bad, and Roger from American Dad having a renowned career as Roger from American Dad.

Karyn Kusama's first feature Girlfight, available on Criterion

Maya Rudolph talking about her Bowflex

The Big Sick joke

Mario Casting Announcement Nintendo Direct

Bill Fagerbakke's line in the Unrated version of the film, cut from the theatrical release

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>You won’t believe what Patrick Star (doesn’t) say.

This year's Spine-Chilling month of horror concludes with Karyn Kusama’s 2009 film JENNIFER’S BODY, which exists at the perfect intersection of horror and coming-of-age and accurately depicts the terror of being a teenage girl, the experience of adolescent girlhood (we think). We discuss the career-best performances of Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried and the film's growing status as a cult classic. Plus, a whole lot of past and future career talk — Chris Pratt’s future work as a LEGO, Diablo Cody’s future work on a certain musical about a Cinderella who is bad, and Roger from American Dad having a renowned career as Roger from American Dad.

Karyn Kusama's first feature Girlfight, available on Criterion

Maya Rudolph talking about her Bowflex

The Big Sick joke

Mario Casting Announcement Nintendo Direct

Bill Fagerbakke's line in the Unrated version of the film, cut from the theatrical release

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>8ab6de4a-8481-448d-8da7-b44afbe7ccf6Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -050001:36:45truefull2929The Omen (1976)The Omen (1976)It’s Halloween and we’re gonna discuss the scariest idea of all: age gap discourse.

In the first episode of their second annual SPINE-CHILLING MONTH OF HORROR, Nick and Brennan get all Biblical and take on the Antichrist with Richard Donner's 1976 staple of religious horror: THE OMEN. They’ll ask and answer many important questions: Who is our modern Gregory Peck? What would happen if you got rejected by a giraffe? Do you think the dogs in this film were friends with each other on set? It’s all for you, Damien, except for this podcast, which is only for our dear dear beautiful listeners.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>It’s Halloween and we’re gonna discuss the scariest idea of all: age gap discourse.

In the first episode of their second annual SPINE-CHILLING MONTH OF HORROR, Nick and Brennan get all Biblical and take on the Antichrist with Richard Donner's 1976 staple of religious horror: THE OMEN. They’ll ask and answer many important questions: Who is our modern Gregory Peck? What would happen if you got rejected by a giraffe? Do you think the dogs in this film were friends with each other on set? It’s all for you, Damien, except for this podcast, which is only for our dear dear beautiful listeners.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>94e9ccb5-9921-453b-beb0-5cc21c723d5dTue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -050001:18:50truefull2828The Fugitive (1993) with Jeremy MarderThe Fugitive (1993) with Jeremy MarderHarrison Ford. A one-armed man. Provasic.

These are the ingredients for The Fugitive, Andrew Davis' iconic Chicago-based thriller which became a pillar of 90s cinema. Nick and Brennan welcome to the show Jeremy Marder (manager and programmer at the Music Box Theatre and co-host of Four Stars: A Chicago Film Podcast) to break down Tommy Lee Jones' Oscar-winning performance, the authentic representation of the city, and the impressive adaptation of a boomer hit series. How did they film the literal trainwreck that makes him The Fugitive? What if someone wanted just a quick bite of Dr. Richard Kimble? Who switched the samples in the vestibule? Plus, Jeremy gets to learn about Harrison Ford's biggest role...and his reddest!

Listen to Four Stars: A Chicago Film Podcast

Visit the Music Box Theatre for one of Jeremy's upcoming screenings

Millhouse as The Fugitive

John Mulaney's The Fugitive bit

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Harrison Ford. A one-armed man. Provasic.

These are the ingredients for The Fugitive, Andrew Davis' iconic Chicago-based thriller which became a pillar of 90s cinema. Nick and Brennan welcome to the show Jeremy Marder (manager and programmer at the Music Box Theatre and co-host of Four Stars: A Chicago Film Podcast) to break down Tommy Lee Jones' Oscar-winning performance, the authentic representation of the city, and the impressive adaptation of a boomer hit series. How did they film the literal trainwreck that makes him The Fugitive? What if someone wanted just a quick bite of Dr. Richard Kimble? Who switched the samples in the vestibule? Plus, Jeremy gets to learn about Harrison Ford's biggest role...and his reddest!

Listen to Four Stars: A Chicago Film Podcast

Visit the Music Box Theatre for one of Jeremy's upcoming screenings

Millhouse as The Fugitive

John Mulaney's The Fugitive bit

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>adde9f4e-e351-4914-99bf-9f3ac2110fffTue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -050001:57:45truefull2727What's Up, Doc? (1972)What's Up, Doc? (1972)Nothing much, what's up with you?!!!!?

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan take on one of the all-time great comedies: Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 screwball WHAT’S UP, DOC?. It’s the film that introduced the world to Madeline Kahn. It’s a film that partially funded Barbra Streisand’s indoor mall. It’s a film featuring Austin Pendleton, a guy who once referred to Brennan as “a lot of fun”. It’s basically the best thing ever made. Plus, join Your Very Favorite Spineless Boys™️ for a new recurring segment and stay for the frank discussion on whether or not Barbra Streisand's character is a god.

Book including an interview with Peter Bogdanovich, referred to by Nick

Barbra Streisand's mall

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Nothing much, what's up with you?!!!!?

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan take on one of the all-time great comedies: Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 screwball WHAT’S UP, DOC?. It’s the film that introduced the world to Madeline Kahn. It’s a film that partially funded Barbra Streisand’s indoor mall. It’s a film featuring Austin Pendleton, a guy who once referred to Brennan as “a lot of fun”. It’s basically the best thing ever made. Plus, join Your Very Favorite Spineless Boys™️ for a new recurring segment and stay for the frank discussion on whether or not Barbra Streisand's character is a god.

Book including an interview with Peter Bogdanovich, referred to by Nick

Barbra Streisand's mall

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>2c45df4f-a699-48ea-9f4d-7682cf040724Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -050001:18:34truefull2626The Spineless Anniversary Spectacular!The Spineless Anniversary Spectacular!HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPINELESS!!

It’s the Spineless Anniversary Spectacular and we’ve brought you the one thing you've always wanted — SEGMENTS!! First, Nick and Brennan look back on a year of movies and Maestros before capsule reviews of the newest films from Spineless legends Zach Cregger (Weapons) and Spike Lee (Highest 2 Lowest). Next, Resident Jock Sam Kaplan™️ takes a break from shoving us into lockers to quiz us on absolute kino with their very own game show. Finally, the Spineless Boys are joined again by Daniel Kinney to review Criterion's brand-new 4K release of SORCERER, the film that started it all. Thanks for a great year!

Hear how it all began with our first episode on Sorcerer

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPINELESS!!

It’s the Spineless Anniversary Spectacular and we’ve brought you the one thing you've always wanted — SEGMENTS!! First, Nick and Brennan look back on a year of movies and Maestros before capsule reviews of the newest films from Spineless legends Zach Cregger (Weapons) and Spike Lee (Highest 2 Lowest). Next, Resident Jock Sam Kaplan™️ takes a break from shoving us into lockers to quiz us on absolute kino with their very own game show. Finally, the Spineless Boys are joined again by Daniel Kinney to review Criterion's brand-new 4K release of SORCERER, the film that started it all. Thanks for a great year!

Hear how it all began with our first episode on Sorcerer

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>3648acbd-ecbf-45ed-9f89-18f2fcdf3ad2Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -050001:53:35truefull2525Shithouse (2020) with Jake KinneyShithouse (2020) with Jake Kinney🤼 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE??🤼

In our MOST HEATED EPISODE YET, Nick’s older brother Jake ENTERS THE RING to discuss Cooper Raiff’s 2020 debut coming-of-age film SHITHOUSE. It’s two-against-one as Those Fabulous Kinney Boys™️ defend Raiff’s project as an achingly accurate and surprisingly profound depiction of early college life, while Brennan argues that it is bad actually. And as if one fight isn't enough, Nick and Jake can't agree on how to pronounce the wonderful Dylan Gelula's last name (it's Guh-LOO-luh)! Outside of the ring, Nick would like to clarify that he didn’t know about the derogatory connotation of “softboi” until after this episode was recorded. Plus, Brennan pitches the next big animated film.

Madeline & Cooper (2018), Cooper Raiff's short film serving as a demo for Shithouse

Making-of article referred to by Jake

marvelmilk.com

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>🤼 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE??🤼

In our MOST HEATED EPISODE YET, Nick’s older brother Jake ENTERS THE RING to discuss Cooper Raiff’s 2020 debut coming-of-age film SHITHOUSE. It’s two-against-one as Those Fabulous Kinney Boys™️ defend Raiff’s project as an achingly accurate and surprisingly profound depiction of early college life, while Brennan argues that it is bad actually. And as if one fight isn't enough, Nick and Jake can't agree on how to pronounce the wonderful Dylan Gelula's last name (it's Guh-LOO-luh)! Outside of the ring, Nick would like to clarify that he didn’t know about the derogatory connotation of “softboi” until after this episode was recorded. Plus, Brennan pitches the next big animated film.

Madeline & Cooper (2018), Cooper Raiff's short film serving as a demo for Shithouse

Making-of article referred to by Jake

marvelmilk.com

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>7b3b8e63-3edf-4b18-b9db-2c078d62bcceTue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -050001:51:59truefull2424Stand By Me (1986)Stand By Me (1986)Wil Wheaton if you’re reading this please unblock me.

On this week’s episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan discuss Rob Reiner’s 1986 coming-of-age masterpiece STAND BY ME. It’s the kind of conversation that seems important until you discover girls — they run through their own personal histories with Stephen King’s work / Pez dispensers, cultural osmosis through Family Guy, and whether or not kids these days still hang out by train tracks (Brennan editorializing here to say that if you are a child you should go hang out by some train tracks).

Family Guy parody of Stand By Me

Original ending

Melancholy

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Wil Wheaton if you’re reading this please unblock me.

On this week’s episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan discuss Rob Reiner’s 1986 coming-of-age masterpiece STAND BY ME. It’s the kind of conversation that seems important until you discover girls — they run through their own personal histories with Stephen King’s work / Pez dispensers, cultural osmosis through Family Guy, and whether or not kids these days still hang out by train tracks (Brennan editorializing here to say that if you are a child you should go hang out by some train tracks).

Family Guy parody of Stand By Me

Original ending

Melancholy

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>c086a155-e438-47aa-8de9-0e18488f5956Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -050001:40:19truefull2323Children of Men (2006) with Nick ArceoChildren of Men (2006) with Nick ArceoOn this week’s episode of Spineless, Brennan finds himself in the center of a Nick Sandwich as the Boys welcome actor Nick Arceo to the pod to discuss CHILDREN OF MEN. It’s a cheerful conversation as we discuss dystopias, the ghoulish personal opinions of some key creatives, and the continued relevance of this film amidst America’s fascist crawl. Plus, we talk about whether or not you can spit a ping-pong ball from one person’s mouth to another! Nick and Brennan tried it but you are never seeing that video footage ever.

Get tickets to see guest Nick Arceo in Forever Plaid this August 16th & 17th!

Every Frame a Painting video referenced by Brennan

Cuaron's disastrous 2009 PSA for Autism Speaks

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>On this week’s episode of Spineless, Brennan finds himself in the center of a Nick Sandwich as the Boys welcome actor Nick Arceo to the pod to discuss CHILDREN OF MEN. It’s a cheerful conversation as we discuss dystopias, the ghoulish personal opinions of some key creatives, and the continued relevance of this film amidst America’s fascist crawl. Plus, we talk about whether or not you can spit a ping-pong ball from one person’s mouth to another! Nick and Brennan tried it but you are never seeing that video footage ever.

Get tickets to see guest Nick Arceo in Forever Plaid this August 16th & 17th!

Every Frame a Painting video referenced by Brennan

Cuaron's disastrous 2009 PSA for Autism Speaks

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>a76affb0-1cbc-40d8-938f-26150b0653c6Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -050001:17:00truefull2222I Lost My Body (2019)I Lost My Body (2019)On today’s episode of Spineless (in which we agree that animation is actually cinema please don’t hate us Guillermo), Nick and Brennan discuss the 2019 Academy Award-nominated animated feature I LOST MY BODY. Does this movie still have a profound effect on Nick? What’s the best way to kill a fly? Did Scott Pilgrim have a negative effect on society? Does the rage virus from 28 Years Later affect half-dog half-anime-girl VTubers? Most of those questions are related to the film, trust us.

Also completely unrelated to any of those questions, this is the first foreign-language film that we’ve covered on the podcast, a fact which Nick and I do not remark upon in the episode itself--but we do remark on our first episode covering an animated film, a medium which the Criterion Collection may be underrepresenting.

Hear more about what we talk about in this episode

Jason Momoa shaving his beard to promote his water company

Insane vtuber 28 Years Later interview

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>On today’s episode of Spineless (in which we agree that animation is actually cinema please don’t hate us Guillermo), Nick and Brennan discuss the 2019 Academy Award-nominated animated feature I LOST MY BODY. Does this movie still have a profound effect on Nick? What’s the best way to kill a fly? Did Scott Pilgrim have a negative effect on society? Does the rage virus from 28 Years Later affect half-dog half-anime-girl VTubers? Most of those questions are related to the film, trust us.

Also completely unrelated to any of those questions, this is the first foreign-language film that we’ve covered on the podcast, a fact which Nick and I do not remark upon in the episode itself--but we do remark on our first episode covering an animated film, a medium which the Criterion Collection may be underrepresenting.

Hear more about what we talk about in this episode

Jason Momoa shaving his beard to promote his water company

Insane vtuber 28 Years Later interview

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>41d7ec5a-cfdc-4b92-b413-6682449e506cTue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -050001:17:29truefull2121But I'm A Cheerleader (1999) with Adelina MarinelloBut I'm A Cheerleader (1999) with Adelina MarinelloJust to clarify: YES we all agree with Natasha Lyonne’s perfect takes on AI usage in the entertainment industry*.

The Spineless Boys are once again joined by Adelina Marinello to discuss Jamie Babbitt’s Criterion Collection candidate BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999), a masterpiece of queer satire that is either sadder or funnier than it appears on the surface, depending on who you ask.

Is this film camp? How does one define ‘camp’? Is Mad Max: Fury Road camp? Is RuPaul allowed to do a little fracking, as a treat? All these questions and more answered on the latest episode of SPINELESS. 

*this is a joke please don’t get mad at us

RuPaul tweets the trains flag instead of the trans flag

Floyd Collins Tonys performance

Natasha Lyonne in the Criterion Closet

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Just to clarify: YES we all agree with Natasha Lyonne’s perfect takes on AI usage in the entertainment industry*.

The Spineless Boys are once again joined by Adelina Marinello to discuss Jamie Babbitt’s Criterion Collection candidate BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999), a masterpiece of queer satire that is either sadder or funnier than it appears on the surface, depending on who you ask.

Is this film camp? How does one define ‘camp’? Is Mad Max: Fury Road camp? Is RuPaul allowed to do a little fracking, as a treat? All these questions and more answered on the latest episode of SPINELESS. 

*this is a joke please don’t get mad at us

RuPaul tweets the trains flag instead of the trans flag

Floyd Collins Tonys performance

Natasha Lyonne in the Criterion Closet

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>2404d5c0-7522-4a08-b1b9-3c4e5051ae99Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -050001:40:47truefull2020Asteroid City (2023)Asteroid City (2023)Doesn’t matter. Just keep telling the story.

In the most symmetrical episode of Spineless yet, Nick and Brennan discuss Wes Anderson’s 2023 film Asteroid City, one of his few films not already in the Criterion Collection. They talk about the star-studded cast, the compelling but not-dramaturgically-sound use of metanarrative, and how Anderson’s Isle of Dogs and The French Dispatch haven’t yet made it to the Criterion Collection, which at the time of recording was still true. Plus, Brennan gets a lil’ emotional while sharing a personal tribute related to the film.

Production designer Adam Stockhausen on creating the worlds of Wes Anderson

Collection of essays old and new about Asteroid City and the films that inspired it, which Brennan talks about in this episode

Criterion’s Wes Anderson box set, announced just days after we recorded this episode

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Doesn’t matter. Just keep telling the story.

In the most symmetrical episode of Spineless yet, Nick and Brennan discuss Wes Anderson’s 2023 film Asteroid City, one of his few films not already in the Criterion Collection. They talk about the star-studded cast, the compelling but not-dramaturgically-sound use of metanarrative, and how Anderson’s Isle of Dogs and The French Dispatch haven’t yet made it to the Criterion Collection, which at the time of recording was still true. Plus, Brennan gets a lil’ emotional while sharing a personal tribute related to the film.

Production designer Adam Stockhausen on creating the worlds of Wes Anderson

Collection of essays old and new about Asteroid City and the films that inspired it, which Brennan talks about in this episode

Criterion’s Wes Anderson box set, announced just days after we recorded this episode

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>3d78cf8f-ad87-4195-9345-c8e6274a660bTue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -050001:35:21truefull1919Whiplash (2014) with Daniel KinneyWhiplash (2014) with Daniel KinneyNot my tempo.

Film is all about asking questions, and the central question of this week’s film is: Imagine If You Liked Drum? To help answer that question, the Spineless Boys recruit percussionist (and Nick's brother) Daniel Kinney to discuss Damien Chazelle’s breakthrough Whiplash (2014), with surprisingly minimal discussion of Maestro and Red One for a film that involves music and also stars JK Simmons. Does a movie about a scary bald guy deserve to be in the Criterion Collection? Is the fictional Shaffer Conservatory a good depiction of music school? How did the Fant4stic Four get their name? Nick and Brennan answer all these questions and more in this week’s episode of Spineless: The Future Films of Criterion.

Adam Neely--Whiplash (as reviewed by a jazz musician) as referenced by Daniel

Deleted Scene referenced by Nick

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Not my tempo.

Film is all about asking questions, and the central question of this week’s film is: Imagine If You Liked Drum? To help answer that question, the Spineless Boys recruit percussionist (and Nick's brother) Daniel Kinney to discuss Damien Chazelle’s breakthrough Whiplash (2014), with surprisingly minimal discussion of Maestro and Red One for a film that involves music and also stars JK Simmons. Does a movie about a scary bald guy deserve to be in the Criterion Collection? Is the fictional Shaffer Conservatory a good depiction of music school? How did the Fant4stic Four get their name? Nick and Brennan answer all these questions and more in this week’s episode of Spineless: The Future Films of Criterion.

Adam Neely--Whiplash (as reviewed by a jazz musician) as referenced by Daniel

Deleted Scene referenced by Nick

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>bdd757b0-54d3-45b8-9cf2-3ba63f91af6dTue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -050001:33:11truefull1818The King of Comedy (1982)The King of Comedy (1982)An obsessed fan will do anything to get what he wants--including....crime??? In a Martin Scorsese picture?!?

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan break down Marty's undersung masterpiece The King of Comedy and the king himself Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), asking questions such as: Why wasn't Jerry Lewis nominated for an Oscar for this performance? Who would be the King of Comedy of the modern age? And most importantly, how on earth did Joker (2019) get away with ripping this movie off so directly? The current lack of a 4K physical edition makes The King of Comedy ripe for a Criterion release, but until that day it remains...Spineless.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>An obsessed fan will do anything to get what he wants--including....crime??? In a Martin Scorsese picture?!?

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan break down Marty's undersung masterpiece The King of Comedy and the king himself Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), asking questions such as: Why wasn't Jerry Lewis nominated for an Oscar for this performance? Who would be the King of Comedy of the modern age? And most importantly, how on earth did Joker (2019) get away with ripping this movie off so directly? The current lack of a 4K physical edition makes The King of Comedy ripe for a Criterion release, but until that day it remains...Spineless.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>3682e718-5283-43d2-a938-4cb5dc4337eaTue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 -050001:11:10truefull1717Zodiac (2007)Zodiac (2007)If Roger Rabbit asks you to come down into his basement, DO NOT LISTEN!! It just might be the Zodiac speaking.

This week on Spineless, Brennan and Nick discuss David Fincher's 2007 crime masterpiece Zodiac, a film which fourteen-year-old Brennan called “extremely terrifying” and also wrote a song about. Brennan and Nick discuss how Fincher subverts and plays within the true crime genre, where they were when one of Zodiac's messages was decrypted (Brennan's....basement?!?), and how this film is one of the greatest showcases of Guys™️ ever assembled. Plus, a special surprise guest gives their thoughts on the film (we're not gonna say it's the Zodiac Killer but it's definitely not NOT the Zodiac Killer). Gooooood byeeeeeee.

We finally covered a Jake Gyllenhaal movie so dropping this here one last time

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>If Roger Rabbit asks you to come down into his basement, DO NOT LISTEN!! It just might be the Zodiac speaking.

This week on Spineless, Brennan and Nick discuss David Fincher's 2007 crime masterpiece Zodiac, a film which fourteen-year-old Brennan called “extremely terrifying” and also wrote a song about. Brennan and Nick discuss how Fincher subverts and plays within the true crime genre, where they were when one of Zodiac's messages was decrypted (Brennan's....basement?!?), and how this film is one of the greatest showcases of Guys™️ ever assembled. Plus, a special surprise guest gives their thoughts on the film (we're not gonna say it's the Zodiac Killer but it's definitely not NOT the Zodiac Killer). Gooooood byeeeeeee.

We finally covered a Jake Gyllenhaal movie so dropping this here one last time

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>510d29fb-d67e-4a83-8cdb-32ff2a59a48bTue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -050001:22:33truefull1616Phantom Thread (2017)Phantom Thread (2017)Mushroom omelette, anyone?

The title may deceive you--there are no phantoms in this movie. Just a very ornery dressmaker. Join Nick and Brennan as they discuss Paul Thomas Anderson’s haute couture character study Phantom Thread, a film that makes the Spineless Boys pose questions such as: Do Vicky Krieps and Daniel Day-Lewis be f***ing? Is this film secretly about Alfred Hitchcock? And, most importantly, what do Reddit incels think about all this? The only thing Nick and Brennan can agree for sure on is Harriet Samson Harris Oscar yesterday, please.

FOR THE HUNGRY BOY

Melancholy (that's right we brought it up again)

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Mushroom omelette, anyone?

The title may deceive you--there are no phantoms in this movie. Just a very ornery dressmaker. Join Nick and Brennan as they discuss Paul Thomas Anderson’s haute couture character study Phantom Thread, a film that makes the Spineless Boys pose questions such as: Do Vicky Krieps and Daniel Day-Lewis be f***ing? Is this film secretly about Alfred Hitchcock? And, most importantly, what do Reddit incels think about all this? The only thing Nick and Brennan can agree for sure on is Harriet Samson Harris Oscar yesterday, please.

FOR THE HUNGRY BOY

Melancholy (that's right we brought it up again)

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>82b8cc62-8cf1-4f66-a0c7-9bdb54497290Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -050001:34:10truefull1515Freddy Got Fingered (2001)Freddy Got Fingered (2001)We have one question for you: Daddy would you like some sausage?

In one of their most delirious episodes yet, Brennan and Nick come to you in-person from the Windy City to discuss 2001’s FREDDY GOT FINGERED, a harbinger of things to come. It’s late at night and they got jewels, sausages, and a truly locked-in performance from Rip Torn on the brain, so get on into your rocket-powered wheelchair and take a listen to this episode of Spineless. Because what we all need is a Criterion release of this movie on 4K. It would be really funny.

In the episode Brennan talks about a scene from The Fanatic (2019) which we couldn't find as its own video so here is a link to the whole movie please tell us if you watch it it's supposed to be really bad. The scene Brennan refers to starts at 31:09

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>We have one question for you: Daddy would you like some sausage?

In one of their most delirious episodes yet, Brennan and Nick come to you in-person from the Windy City to discuss 2001’s FREDDY GOT FINGERED, a harbinger of things to come. It’s late at night and they got jewels, sausages, and a truly locked-in performance from Rip Torn on the brain, so get on into your rocket-powered wheelchair and take a listen to this episode of Spineless. Because what we all need is a Criterion release of this movie on 4K. It would be really funny.

In the episode Brennan talks about a scene from The Fanatic (2019) which we couldn't find as its own video so here is a link to the whole movie please tell us if you watch it it's supposed to be really bad. The scene Brennan refers to starts at 31:09

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>5a3f9c34-a5a5-467f-aa6c-f2211825fce1Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -050001:29:11truefull1414I Saw the TV Glow (2024) with Robin BordenI Saw the TV Glow (2024) with Robin BordenGet out your luna juice and get ready to take on Mr. Melancholy: we're going to the Pink Opaque.

In this Very Special Episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan are joined by friend and comedian Robin Borden to discuss Jane Schoenbrun’s 2024 film I Saw The TV Glow, the recipient of a record-setting number of Golden Spine Awards. It’s a real lovefest here as we go over all the reasons this movie cooks and the profound metaphor for the trans experience that lies at its core. Plus, Nick has a suggestion for a very normal and understandable Oscars sketch. Let’s-a go!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Get out your luna juice and get ready to take on Mr. Melancholy: we're going to the Pink Opaque.

In this Very Special Episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan are joined by friend and comedian Robin Borden to discuss Jane Schoenbrun’s 2024 film I Saw The TV Glow, the recipient of a record-setting number of Golden Spine Awards. It’s a real lovefest here as we go over all the reasons this movie cooks and the profound metaphor for the trans experience that lies at its core. Plus, Nick has a suggestion for a very normal and understandable Oscars sketch. Let’s-a go!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>ff151478-a5bf-4895-ab26-7b637596db12Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -050002:06:16truefull1313The 1st Annual Golden Spine Awards with Andy GermugaThe 1st Annual Golden Spine Awards with Andy GermugaIt's Oscars weekend, and we wanted to get in on the fun...introducing the Golden Spine Awards, Spineless' own awards show celebrating excellence in 2024 cinema. We are joined by Andy Germuga (Cannes I Kick It? podcast) to pick our personal nominees and winners in 8 major categories: Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting (x2), and Screenplay (x2). Plus, stick around for our own coveted award: Most Spineless. Nick and Brennan have some zags, and Andy came swinging with some excellent out-of-left-field picks. You will never, ever guess who Andy nominated for Best Actress.

Before watching Conan host the Oscars, tune into the Golden Spines to hear about some of the nominees, and some excellent movies that the Oscars snubbed.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>It's Oscars weekend, and we wanted to get in on the fun...introducing the Golden Spine Awards, Spineless' own awards show celebrating excellence in 2024 cinema. We are joined by Andy Germuga (Cannes I Kick It? podcast) to pick our personal nominees and winners in 8 major categories: Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting (x2), and Screenplay (x2). Plus, stick around for our own coveted award: Most Spineless. Nick and Brennan have some zags, and Andy came swinging with some excellent out-of-left-field picks. You will never, ever guess who Andy nominated for Best Actress.

Before watching Conan host the Oscars, tune into the Golden Spines to hear about some of the nominees, and some excellent movies that the Oscars snubbed.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>d9196eed-6897-4f73-854f-a8963fb8adb5Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -050002:34:42truefullIf Beale Street Could Talk (2018)If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)You might need tissues for this one folks.

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan muse on love, loss, and adaptation in their discussion of Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. Horrifically snubbed at the Oscars for 2018, Beale Street is a heartrending portrait of a love torn apart by the societal ills of its time, gorgeously adapted by Jenkins from a masterful novel by James Baldwin. Plus, Nick fills Brennan in on what he missed by skipping Jenkins' most recent film, particularly a giant white lion singing 🎶Bye Bye🎶. Let's hope Barry Jenkins uses all that Mufasa money to make another passion project like Beale Street!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>You might need tissues for this one folks.

On this episode of Spineless, Nick and Brennan muse on love, loss, and adaptation in their discussion of Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. Horrifically snubbed at the Oscars for 2018, Beale Street is a heartrending portrait of a love torn apart by the societal ills of its time, gorgeously adapted by Jenkins from a masterful novel by James Baldwin. Plus, Nick fills Brennan in on what he missed by skipping Jenkins' most recent film, particularly a giant white lion singing 🎶Bye Bye🎶. Let's hope Barry Jenkins uses all that Mufasa money to make another passion project like Beale Street!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>2ccbe729-46ba-431d-b433-1fc17eaa524cTue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -050001:18:53truefull1212Stop Making Sense/American Utopia (1984/2020)Stop Making Sense/American Utopia (1984/2020)Two movies. One episode. Several Talking Heads.

In their first ever double-feature episode, Nick and Brennan discuss Jonathan Demme’s STOP MAKING SENSE (1984) and Spike Lee’s AMERICAN UTOPIA (2020), two of the greatest concert films of all time and certainly some great purveyors of unhinged David Byrne antics. Nick and Brennan talk about their favorite songs from each film, Brennan's experience seeing American Utopia live on Broadway in 2021, and the lasting legacy of Talking Heads' music--and David Byrne's big suit.

Tom Hanks singing Once in a Lifetime and there are Racist Fish

Kermit the Frog singing Once in a Lifetime (no racism it's actually incredible)

Note: This episode was released in February 2025, before Criterion's announcement of a 4K edition of David Byrne's American Utopia in September 2025. In other words, one of these films is...SPINELESS NO MORE!!!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Two movies. One episode. Several Talking Heads.

In their first ever double-feature episode, Nick and Brennan discuss Jonathan Demme’s STOP MAKING SENSE (1984) and Spike Lee’s AMERICAN UTOPIA (2020), two of the greatest concert films of all time and certainly some great purveyors of unhinged David Byrne antics. Nick and Brennan talk about their favorite songs from each film, Brennan's experience seeing American Utopia live on Broadway in 2021, and the lasting legacy of Talking Heads' music--and David Byrne's big suit.

Tom Hanks singing Once in a Lifetime and there are Racist Fish

Kermit the Frog singing Once in a Lifetime (no racism it's actually incredible)

Note: This episode was released in February 2025, before Criterion's announcement of a 4K edition of David Byrne's American Utopia in September 2025. In other words, one of these films is...SPINELESS NO MORE!!!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>02231017-4f9f-4c3f-9220-b4b6db416833Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -050001:41:12truefull1111Aftersun (2022) with Adelina MarinelloAftersun (2022) with Adelina MarinelloIn Spineless’ first ever guest episode, The Spineless Boys are joined by Adelina Marinello: actor, playwright, and partner to one Nicholas Kinney, to discuss Charlotte Wells’ melancholy masterpiece AFTERSUN. Adelina thirsts over Paul Mescal and explains her deep connection to the film, Nick shares tidbits from Charlotte Wells' commentary, and Brennan discusses watching the film for the first time. There’s trouble in paradise though, as Adelina and the boys discuss Hall Passes (and Nick’s lack thereof), The Costco Guys, and the horrifying realization that you can never truly know another person. Offense to all boys.

If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources for mental health and support here.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

The Costco Guys Bring the Boom to AMC Theatres

Paul Mescal SNL Monologue

LEGO Wicked Trailer

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>In Spineless’ first ever guest episode, The Spineless Boys are joined by Adelina Marinello: actor, playwright, and partner to one Nicholas Kinney, to discuss Charlotte Wells’ melancholy masterpiece AFTERSUN. Adelina thirsts over Paul Mescal and explains her deep connection to the film, Nick shares tidbits from Charlotte Wells' commentary, and Brennan discusses watching the film for the first time. There’s trouble in paradise though, as Adelina and the boys discuss Hall Passes (and Nick’s lack thereof), The Costco Guys, and the horrifying realization that you can never truly know another person. Offense to all boys.

If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources for mental health and support here.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

The Costco Guys Bring the Boom to AMC Theatres

Paul Mescal SNL Monologue

LEGO Wicked Trailer

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>e48fceb2-595c-4f3e-be1a-4791ca32a7adTue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -050001:36:51truefull1010Jackie Brown (1997)Jackie Brown (1997)HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! For the very first Spineless episode of 2025, Brennan and Nick do a deep dive on Quentin Tarantino's most underrated film: Jackie Brown. A stacked cast, including Rochester native Robert Forster! An expertly orchestrated heist-esque sequence! Countless throwbacks to 70s Blaxploitation films, including Jackie Brown herself, THE Pam Grier! It's all here in QT's third feature, folks, and we talk about all that and more as we fantasize about a Criterion release. No tangents to be heard, especially not an extended one about an actor who isn't even in Jackie Brown. That would be insane.

Jake Gyllenhaal "Melancholy" Interview

Brennan's Other Favorite Jake Gyllenhaal clip (no he is not in Jackie Brown)

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! For the very first Spineless episode of 2025, Brennan and Nick do a deep dive on Quentin Tarantino's most underrated film: Jackie Brown. A stacked cast, including Rochester native Robert Forster! An expertly orchestrated heist-esque sequence! Countless throwbacks to 70s Blaxploitation films, including Jackie Brown herself, THE Pam Grier! It's all here in QT's third feature, folks, and we talk about all that and more as we fantasize about a Criterion release. No tangents to be heard, especially not an extended one about an actor who isn't even in Jackie Brown. That would be insane.

Jake Gyllenhaal "Melancholy" Interview

Brennan's Other Favorite Jake Gyllenhaal clip (no he is not in Jackie Brown)

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>a28933d7-eb44-42fc-a8b3-84e0f59ffccaTue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -050001:29:22truefull99It's A Wonderful Life (1946)It's A Wonderful Life (1946)Christmas Eve. A supernatural force. A shot at redemption. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This week, the Spineless Boys discuss the timeless classic RED ONE (2024).

Just kidding, we’re actually talking about Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, the best film ever made about an uncle named Billy (among other things). Can Brennan and Nick make it through discussing the life-affirming beauty of Capra’s film without crying? The answer: Just barely!

David Lynch crying talking about It's A Wonderful Life

The Greatest Gift by Phillip Van Doren Stern--the basis for It's A Wonderful Life

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Christmas Eve. A supernatural force. A shot at redemption. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This week, the Spineless Boys discuss the timeless classic RED ONE (2024).

Just kidding, we’re actually talking about Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, the best film ever made about an uncle named Billy (among other things). Can Brennan and Nick make it through discussing the life-affirming beauty of Capra’s film without crying? The answer: Just barely!

David Lynch crying talking about It's A Wonderful Life

The Greatest Gift by Phillip Van Doren Stern--the basis for It's A Wonderful Life

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>c2e7d105-923f-479b-ab2d-7f5eccce017cTue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -050001:34:49falsefull88Clueless (1995)Clueless (1995)Does anybody have any idea what's going on? Please help...we're CLUELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In their most chaotic episode yet, Nick and Brennan discuss Amy Heckerling’s bright and bubbly teen comedy CLUELESS while facing the existential threat of an Election Day. Does Cher have a better policy on immigration than Trump? Yes. Does Breckin Meyer look distractingly like a young Shia Laboeuf? Also yes. Is the incest plot O.K., actually? Nick and Brennan are divided on that one. Plus, the story of Nick and Brennan’s first meeting, and the particularly wimpy piece of clothing that brought them together.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Does anybody have any idea what's going on? Please help...we're CLUELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In their most chaotic episode yet, Nick and Brennan discuss Amy Heckerling’s bright and bubbly teen comedy CLUELESS while facing the existential threat of an Election Day. Does Cher have a better policy on immigration than Trump? Yes. Does Breckin Meyer look distractingly like a young Shia Laboeuf? Also yes. Is the incest plot O.K., actually? Nick and Brennan are divided on that one. Plus, the story of Nick and Brennan’s first meeting, and the particularly wimpy piece of clothing that brought them together.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>da9634ae-e651-41bc-8501-c49758dd75b4Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -050001:14:50truefull77Shattered Glass (2003)Shattered Glass (2003)Watch your step, there's Shattered Glass all over the place!

On this week’s episode, The Spineless Boys dive in to one of the most underrated films of the early-2000s. No lie here: Nick and Brennan talk about Hayden Christensen’s transformative performance as Stephen Glass, a serial manipulator and one of the first “fake news” cases on the internet, plus Bad Ape, their love of outdated machinery, and raving about character actors. Five Pinocchios.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

  • Lies, Damn Lies and Fiction - The original expose on Stephen Glass's lies, as published in the Forbes Digital Tool in May of 1998. Steve Zahn plays Forbes reporter Adam Penenberg in the film.
  • Hack Heaven - The piece that brought Stephen Glass down. In the film, Chuck Lane brings Glass to Bethesda to corroborate this story, which of course Glass cannot do
  • Spring Breakdown - One of Stephen Glass's fabricated articles, discussed in the film during Glass's meeting with editor Michael Kelly
  • SHATTERED GLASS | Vanity Fair | September 1998 - The article on which the film is based

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>Watch your step, there's Shattered Glass all over the place!

On this week’s episode, The Spineless Boys dive in to one of the most underrated films of the early-2000s. No lie here: Nick and Brennan talk about Hayden Christensen’s transformative performance as Stephen Glass, a serial manipulator and one of the first “fake news” cases on the internet, plus Bad Ape, their love of outdated machinery, and raving about character actors. Five Pinocchios.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

  • Lies, Damn Lies and Fiction - The original expose on Stephen Glass's lies, as published in the Forbes Digital Tool in May of 1998. Steve Zahn plays Forbes reporter Adam Penenberg in the film.
  • Hack Heaven - The piece that brought Stephen Glass down. In the film, Chuck Lane brings Glass to Bethesda to corroborate this story, which of course Glass cannot do
  • Spring Breakdown - One of Stephen Glass's fabricated articles, discussed in the film during Glass's meeting with editor Michael Kelly
  • SHATTERED GLASS | Vanity Fair | September 1998 - The article on which the film is based

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>6dc35f28-bb5d-4ae3-8c74-de92e104c603Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -050001:13:57truefull66Martin (1977)Martin (1977)Good eeeeeevvveeening! On the final episode of their SPINE-chilling month of horror, Brennan gives Nick permission to enter and discuss George Romero’s spookily-underrated vampire classic. The Spineless Boys talk about Romero’s love of Pittsburgh and his love of amateur actors, his enduring legacy as horror raconteur, and the fact that Martin looks like Nick, which honestly? Very conceited of him to say. Plus, a visit from The Ghost With The Most, and the introduction of the Maestro Jar.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>Good eeeeeevvveeening! On the final episode of their SPINE-chilling month of horror, Brennan gives Nick permission to enter and discuss George Romero’s spookily-underrated vampire classic. The Spineless Boys talk about Romero’s love of Pittsburgh and his love of amateur actors, his enduring legacy as horror raconteur, and the fact that Martin looks like Nick, which honestly? Very conceited of him to say. Plus, a visit from The Ghost With The Most, and the introduction of the Maestro Jar.

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>14b3cf42-ed90-4178-8930-b785c2c53d24Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -050001:10:58truefull55Barbarian (2022)Barbarian (2022)On this second spooky episode of Spineless’ Spine-Chilling Month of Horror, Nick and Brennan discuss Zach Cregger’s 2022 film Barbarian, making special note of its wicked smart script, unique marketing campaign, and freaked-up sense of humor. Would this film be better if it starred Alvin and his Chipmunks? Is it the best horror film of the decade so far? And...does it deserve Criterion status? Plus, the Eraserhead baby is back — in waveform!

Content Warning for Barbarian

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>On this second spooky episode of Spineless’ Spine-Chilling Month of Horror, Nick and Brennan discuss Zach Cregger’s 2022 film Barbarian, making special note of its wicked smart script, unique marketing campaign, and freaked-up sense of humor. Would this film be better if it starred Alvin and his Chipmunks? Is it the best horror film of the decade so far? And...does it deserve Criterion status? Plus, the Eraserhead baby is back — in waveform!

Content Warning for Barbarian

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>cf71ad91-51b5-477e-96b6-03881c8f656fTue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -050001:27:27truefull44The Changeling (1980)The Changeling (1980)*breathy ghost child voice* Father… My movie podcast…

To kick off the month of October, Nick and Brennan bring you their SCARIEST EPISODE YET! as they discuss the slow-burn horror classic THE CHANGELING (1980), a movie which stars George C. Scott as Maestro. Take a trip to the The Changeling House (not to be confused with the Changeling House) and try not to poop your pants as The Spineless Boys talk such scary concepts as Clint Eastwood, Young Sheldon, and dripping wet balls from nearby rivers. Welcome...to the Spineless SPINE-CHILLING MONTH OF HORROR!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>*breathy ghost child voice* Father… My movie podcast…

To kick off the month of October, Nick and Brennan bring you their SCARIEST EPISODE YET! as they discuss the slow-burn horror classic THE CHANGELING (1980), a movie which stars George C. Scott as Maestro. Take a trip to the The Changeling House (not to be confused with the Changeling House) and try not to poop your pants as The Spineless Boys talk such scary concepts as Clint Eastwood, Young Sheldon, and dripping wet balls from nearby rivers. Welcome...to the Spineless SPINE-CHILLING MONTH OF HORROR!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

Substack: The Spineless Boys’s Substack

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>618aaf2f-2515-4fb8-90f3-9ba7af6631bdTue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -050001:10:43truefull33Annette (2021)Annette (2021)We love each other so much.

On this week’s episode of SPINELESS, Nick and Brennan relive fond memories (for Nick, at least) of seeing the film together at IFC, discuss how Baby Annette is just a baby after all, and debate the merits of Diana: The Musical. Nick brings up the film MAESTRO for the first time in the history of the podcast, but it certainly won’t be the last! Plus, Brennan reads a passage from Infinite Jest, because of course he does. So… May we start?

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>We love each other so much.

On this week’s episode of SPINELESS, Nick and Brennan relive fond memories (for Nick, at least) of seeing the film together at IFC, discuss how Baby Annette is just a baby after all, and debate the merits of Diana: The Musical. Nick brings up the film MAESTRO for the first time in the history of the podcast, but it certainly won’t be the last! Plus, Brennan reads a passage from Infinite Jest, because of course he does. So… May we start?

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork.

]]>1ddef296-07ce-42d1-a54e-3bc7558c95f9Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -050001:41:44truefull22Sorcerer (1977)Sorcerer (1977)What do you call a really good film that’s not Criterion yet?

On the inaugural episode of SPINELESS, your fearless hosts Nick and Brennan venture into the sweaty, sweaty jungle to discuss William Friedkin’s 1977 film SORCERER! Pack up your dynamite and drive reeeeaaalllll slow as we discuss the career of the late Mr. Friedkin, the troubled production and release of the film, and, of course, Sorcerer Mickey. Would this film have been a success if it didn’t release in the wake of Star Wars? Is the Sorcerer truck the prototype for Furiosa’s War Rig? What time is it in Paris? The world may never know .

Note: This episode was released in September 2024, before Criterion's announcement of a 4K edition of Sorcerer in 2025. In other words, this film is...SPINELESS NO MORE!!!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>What do you call a really good film that’s not Criterion yet?

On the inaugural episode of SPINELESS, your fearless hosts Nick and Brennan venture into the sweaty, sweaty jungle to discuss William Friedkin’s 1977 film SORCERER! Pack up your dynamite and drive reeeeaaalllll slow as we discuss the career of the late Mr. Friedkin, the troubled production and release of the film, and, of course, Sorcerer Mickey. Would this film have been a success if it didn’t release in the wake of Star Wars? Is the Sorcerer truck the prototype for Furiosa’s War Rig? What time is it in Paris? The world may never know .

Note: This episode was released in September 2024, before Criterion's announcement of a 4K edition of Sorcerer in 2025. In other words, this film is...SPINELESS NO MORE!!!

The Criterion Collection is an ever-growing roster of movies deemed internationally significant on an artistic level. Each new film added to the collection is given a Spine Number, making any film NOT in the collection: SPINELESS. Join Nick and Brennan (your very-favorite SPINELESS BOYS) as they cover the classic and contemporary films they feel are most deserving of the Criterion treatment.

REACH OUT TO THE SPINELESS BOYS:

Email: spinelessboys@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spinelessfilms

Letterboxd: @SpinelessFilms

As always, thank you to Joey Johnson for our music and to Sparrow Potter for our artwork. 

]]>476b1dd5-c773-4879-b16d-ebf993c3f596Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -050001:27:46falsefull11