Forgotten Cinema

Welcome to Forgotten Cinema! Each episode, Mike Field and Mike Butler highlight a film that for a variety of reasons was forgotten by audiences. Whether it be because a more popular movie was released at the same time or the movie simply didn’t catch on with an audience in the its initial run. We’ll discuss what we love about the movie or perhaps don’t love about it and decide whether the movie is worth a revisit.

Forgotten Cinema is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 409 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 87. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Forgotten Cinema, a arts show with 409 episodes published.

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  Episode #3

  Backdraft

  Aug 19, 202644 minS26

  This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes turn up the heat with "Backdraft", Ron Howard's 1991 firefighter thriller starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, and Donald Sutherland. Both Mike Butler and Mike Field are big fans of the film, particularly its performances and incredible practical fire effects. Butler singles out Kurt Russell and Donald Sutherland, while Field goes even further and unapologetically LOVES the movie. There are still a few story beats and character decisions that keep Butler from loving "Backdraft" quite as much as Field does. Field agrees that those problems are there, but for him they do little to diminish everything the movie gets right. The biggest standout for both Mikes is the filmmaking itself. The fire feels genuinely dangerous because so much of what appears on screen was accomplished practically, with enormous sets, real flames, and performers doing much of their own stunt work. The result gives "Backdraft" a physicality and sense of danger that is incredibly difficult to fake. That leads to a larger discussion about whether a movie like this could even look as convincing if it were made today. Thirty-five years later, a remake would almost certainly rely far more heavily on green screen and CGI, but would that actually make the fire look better? For Butler and Field, "Backdraft" is a great example of why practical filmmaking can still produce images that modern technology struggles to replicate. Flawed in places but spectacular where it counts, "Backdraft" remains a thrilling piece of early '90s filmmaking and a reminder that sometimes the best special effect is simply putting the camera in front of the real thing. What are some other great fire fighter films? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema ️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 2:57 - Film Facts 12:04 - Film Discussion 31:39 - Reviews 34:47 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 35:36 - Why Is This Forgotten? 40:07 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #Backdraft #KurtRussell #WilliamBaldwin #RobertDeNiro #RonHoward #FighterFighters #90sMovies #Action #Thriller #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies

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  Episode #2

  Confess, Fletch

  Aug 12, 202639 minS26

  This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a look at "Confess, Fletch", the 2022 comedy mystery starring Jon Hamm as investigative reporter and perpetual troublemaker Irwin M. Fletcher. Both Mike Butler and Mike Field find plenty to like here. Jon Hamm makes Fletch his own, bringing an easygoing charm and dry comedic delivery to the character, while the supporting cast gives him plenty of strange personalities to bounce off of. The mystery moves along nicely, the jokes land, and the entire film has an effortlessly pleasant quality that makes it an easy watch. "Confess, Fletch" certainly isn't reinventing either the comedy or mystery genre, but it doesn't really need to. It's funny, charming, inoffensive entertainment that knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be and delivers a solid version of it. The Mikes also discuss why a film like this struggled to find an audience in 2022. Between a theatrical marketplace still recovering from the pandemic, its simultaneous availability at home, and a cast that may not have pulled in younger moviegoers, "Confess, Fletch" never got much of a chance to build momentum. That's especially unfortunate because Hamm proves to be a great fit for Fletch, and both Butler and Field would have happily watched him solve a few more mysteries. "Confess, Fletch" may not be groundbreaking, but sometimes a charming, funny little movie is more than enough. Would you like to see more Jon Hamm starring "Fletch" films? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema ️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 2:17 - Film Facts 10:48 - Film Discussion 25:12 - Reviews 28:23 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 31:47 - Why Is This Forgotten? 36:40 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #ConfessFletch #Fletch #JonHamm #Comedy #mystery #BasedOnABook #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #Crime

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  Episode #1

  Payback

  Aug 5, 202643 minS26

  Season 26 begins on Forgotten Cinema as the Mikes take a look at "Payback" , the 1999 crime thriller starring Mel Gibson. The plan was to watch "Payback: Straight Up," director Brian Helgeland’s restored cut of the film. Instead, both Mike Butler and Mike Field ended up watching the Director’s Cut and the theatrical version. Field accidentally started with the theatrical cut, while Butler found the alternate version so dramatically different that discussing one without seeing the other would have been nearly impossible. For perhaps the first time the Mikes can remember, both cuts have genuine merit. The theatrical version suffers from an aggressive blue tint and heavy desaturation that appear intended to evoke a gritty 1970s crime film, but instead leave much of the movie looking flat and artificial. The Director’s Cut, however, captures that throwback atmosphere far more effectively. The differences extend well beyond the visuals. Entire scenes, characters, and story elements are altered, while the ending is changed so completely that the two versions almost feel like separate films. Butler prefers the more elaborate theatrical finale, while Field finds it somewhat tacked on, even though he enjoys several moments within it. The Mikes also discuss Gibson’s Porter, an unapologetically selfish and irredeemable criminal who never needs to reveal a secret heart of gold. That commitment to making the protagonist a genuinely bad person is rare, and it gives both versions of the film a distinctive personality. Even rarer is the final recommendation. Should you watch the Director’s Cut and enjoy it, Butler and Field believe the theatrical version is also worth seeking out. Neither cut completely replaces the other, making "Payback" a fascinating example of how editing, tone, and a radically different ending can transform the same production into two worthwhile movies. Are there any other adaptation of the Porter series that we don't know about? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema ️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 3:45 - Film Facts 16:00 - Film Discussion 27:28 - Reviews 33:44 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 38:18 - Why Is This Forgotten? 40:56 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #Payback #MelGibson #BrianHelgeland #BasedOnABook #DirectorsCut #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms #Crime #Thriller #90sMovies

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  Episode #13

  White Water Summer

  Jul 29, 202644 minS25

  This week on Forgotten Cinema, Forgotten Summer comes to an end with "White Water Summer", the 1987 wilderness adventure starring Kevin Bacon and Sean Astin. Unfortunately, neither Mike Butler nor Mike Field is particularly impressed. The film has the ingredients for an engaging survival story, but its characters repeatedly make frustrating decisions and the movie never fully develops its most interesting ideas. One of the biggest problems is Sean Astin’s narration, which was added two years after principal photography. Rather than adding clarity or emotional depth, these bookends make his character even less likable. Kevin Bacon’s camp leader could have been the film’s most compelling character. His demanding methods, unclear motivations, and increasingly dangerous behavior suggest a much more complicated person beneath the surface. Unfortunately, the movie does very little with him until its final ten or fifteen minutes, leaving most of that potential unexplored. Filled with questionable choices, underdeveloped characters, and an unnecessary narration that actively works against the film, "White Water Summer" brings Forgotten Summer to a disappointing, though certainly memorable, conclusion. What are some other forgotten outdoor teenage comedy/survival movies that we didn't mention this episode? Let us know in the comments! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema ️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com 0:00 - Introduction 3:41 - Film Facts 8:14 - Film Discussion 27:42 - Reviews 31:58 - Who Would You Recommend This To? 37:34 - Why Is This Forgotten? 41:24 - Plugs #ForgottenCinema #WhiteWaterSummer #SeanAstin #KevinBacon #Drama #Outdoors #TeenComedy #TeenMovies #80sMovies #ForgottenSummer #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms

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  Forgotten Cinema

  Autonomous | Now Showing

  Jul 26, 202614 minS25

  This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, the Mikes take a look at "Autonomous", a new vertical horror short from the creators of "ZombieCON Vol. 1", now streaming on Screamify. In this bonus episode, Mike Butler and Mike Field discuss how "Autonomous" uses the growing presence of self-driving cars, and the anxieties surrounding them, as the foundation for a compact monster story. They break down the film’s plot, characters, visual style, and how effectively it builds tension within such a short runtime. The Mikes also explore the vertical format itself and whether it works as a legitimate storytelling device rather than simply a way to watch content on a phone. For both of them, Screamify and the recent wave of vertical dramas feel surprisingly familiar, recalling the creative energy and experimentation of the web series scene from the late 2000s and early 2010s. Be sure to check out "Autonomous" on Screamify, as well as our interview with director Kyle Valle and Erin Áine, where we discuss the making of the short, the challenges of vertical filmmaking, and the opportunities this emerging format may offer independent creators. You can also head to Screamify.com to check out the short and everything Screamify has to offer. And don't forget to follow the creators @bigsquidfilms and of course @screamifyapp on the socials! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content! Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema ️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com #ForgottenCinema #Autonomous #ErinÁine #ErinAine #KyleValle #Screamify #Interview #Horror #VerticalDrama #ShortFilm #AI #ZombieCon #Thriller #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion

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