The HD Movie Podcast

Episode 133: We'll Be There For You #2 - Commandments

Episode 133 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell take yet another look at movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
Once again, we'll be there for you as it's the second episode of our Friends-related miniseries! Last week, your hosts kicked things off with Jennifer Aniston in The Object Of My Affection, now it's the turn of Courteney Cox. Lots of us know her as neat freak Monica Geller (later Geller-Bing) but in 1997 she also starred in the romantic comedy COMMANDMENTS, which features Aidan Quinn as a bloke who's had enough of his misfortune and decides to go up against God by breaking all ten of the...well, the title gives a fairly big hint.
It's a first watch for both Hayley and Darren and it's safe to say that the film was not entirely what they were expecting. They investigate the curious case of the narration in this tale, in addition to discussing some heavyweight production talent, a number of loose plot threads, a few passing nods to Biblical happenings and the big, overriding question of who this film could actually be aimed at. Plus their assessment of Courteney's performance, of course.
You know what would be a sin? Ignoring the music of Mitch Bain, that's what! Mitch writes and performs HDMP's various tunes and you can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"Coveting!"

Episode 132: We'll Be There For You #1 - The Object Of My Affection

Episode 132 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell may not be here to tell you life was gonna be this way but they are here to look at films of any genre, any year and any quality!
It's miniseries time again! Over the next six episodes, your hosts will be taking a look at something from the filmography of each of the main cast members from that little known sitcom Friends. You might have seen the odd episode. If you haven't, it doesn't matter.
First up is Rachel Green herself - aka Jennifer Aniston - in 1998's THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION! Jen plays a social worker who finds herself pregnant and decides to raise the child with her gay best friend, played by some guy called Paul Rudd. You might have seen him in other stuff. If you haven't, it doesn't matter.
As Hayley isn't exactly the biggest fan of the romcom genre, did this somewhat quirkier effort change her mind about this type of movie? Your hosts also talk about the lack of a genuine bad guy in the story, some unexpectedly messy plot developments and more focus on the supporting cast than usual. In addition, Darren is also on "Allison Janney Watch".
Another (Central) perk of the podcast is the music of Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear within. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
This podcast is not on a break...

Episode 131: The Babysitter

Episode 131 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell return from their Return To The Mandela Effect and head back to discussing movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
After mentioning it during last week's episode, your hosts decided to take a look at 1995's THE BABYSITTER, starring Alicia Silverstone as a, er, babysitter who turns out to be subject of many male fantasies. It's based on a well-regarded short story by Robert Coover, so does the movie do justice to its source material?
Hayley and Darren talk about the non-linear approach of the film, its focus on toxic masculinity and some very uncomfortable sequences. They also discuss how Alicia Silverstone came to star in a movie full of canny casting choices and how this offered something truly different in a sea of 90s straight to video erotic thrillers.
One guy we know who's a decent sort is Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Even the kid's a perv in this one...

Episode 130: Return To The Mandela Effect

Episode 130 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell would normally be here to cover a movie of any year, any genre and any quality but things are slightly different this week.
After a gap of fifty episodes, your hosts thought it was time to take another look at those weird collective memories of something that never happened - yes, it's time to RETURN TO THE MANDELA EFFECT!
Hayley and Darren are back with five more movie-related examples of the Mandela Effect (and maybe a couple of bonus ones along the way). Get ready for misremembered lines from Home Alone, non-existent facial trappings from a Bond movie, casting confusion from Fear, dead celebs who are very much alive and, of course, a catch-up with those latest Shazam goings-on.
Someone who definitely isn't a fake memory is the one and only Mitch Bain, whose tunes definitely exist on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Can you tell if it's your original Dad?

Episode 129: Spouse's Request #3 - Love At First Sight

Episode 129 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are back after their Easter break with another run of episodes covering movies from any year, from any genre and of any quality.
It's time for another Spouse's Request episode and it's the turn of Darren's long-suffering wife Alison to choose the movie, which is 2023's LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! It's a twist on the classic rom com, it stars Haley Lu Richardson and Oliver Jones and right now you can see it on Netflix.
It's a film which leans heavily on probability, so what's the probability that your hosts will like this one? They also talk a time-warping trans-Atlantic flight, the London transport system, a choice of narrator that seems clever but is mostly irritating and much, much more, including a chat about one of the drippiest soundtracks ever recorded. 
One person who would never turn up on a drippy soundtrack is Mitch Bain, whose robust tunes feature on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
"You didn't think that was the whole story, did you?"

Episode 128: The Beaster Bunny

Episode 128 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are here to bring you an Easter Special that's basically not all that special - they're talking about a movie, as they often do.
At some point, Darren is going to get his wish of covering Night Of The Lepus but for now, here's another killer rabbit movie in the shape of THE BEASTER BUNNY! Your hosts take a look at this 2014 comedy horror flick which spoofs monster movies and features a creature which is interesting in its design, to say the least.
Hayley and Darren talk about the inevitable nods to Jaws, some extremely unconvincing gore, some extremely gratuitous nudity and some extremely random jokes. There's also a sidebar on softcore pornography, genuine puzzlement when the budget for The Beaster Bunny is revealed and all of the chat boils down to the ultimate question: Is this the worst movie covered on the podcast so far?
On this religious weekend, it's only right that we worship at the Church of Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
How do you think the rabbit got so big?

Episode 127: Scary Movie

Episode 127 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Any movie, any year, any genre, any quality? Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are on it!
This week, your hosts head back a couple of decades to revisit a spoof horror that spawned its own franchise - it's 2000's SCARY MOVIE, in which the Wayans brothers lampoon Scream, which in itself was somewhat parodic and self-referential.
Settling down to enjoy a silly blast from the past, Hayley and Darren are instead confronted by the various phobias of this movie and a whole load of troublesome content. They had a lot to say (hence the runtime). They do try to accentuate the positives but they also can't ignore the mountain of negatives, and the character of Doofy is only the start... 
Something we can all enjoy without fear of controversy is the music of Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
WTF, Dave?

Episode 126: Promising Young Woman

*** WARNING: This episode contains discussion of topics which some people may find distressing ***
Episode 126 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell continue to cover movies of any year, any genre and any quality.
This episode, your hosts return to the work of writer/director Emerald Fennell. They had plenty to say about Saltburn, so it was inevitable that they would want to discuss Emerald's debut feature PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN! It's a revenge movie which takes a very different tack, but does it work?
Hayley and Darren talk savvy casting, soundtrack picks, aesthetic choices, *that* twist in the plot, a number of alternate endings which did not come to pass and much, much more. Darren also gets to mention "Ms. 45", which he attempts to do as often as possible in otherwise normal conversations.
Our angel of the podcast is Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear within. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Better than Saltburn? You decide!

Episode 125: Anastasia

Episode 125 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell are back once again to look through the world of movies. Which movies? Any year, any genre, any quality - it's all possible.
This week, your hosts are back in the world of animation as they discuss 1997's ANASTASIA, directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It's a "what if?" story which takes historical fact as its basis and then proceeds to spin a whole film's worth of fiction, performed by a cast of notable stars of the time.
As a Disney fan, how does Hayley think this film holds up to the 90s output of the House Of Mouse? As a horror fan, did Darren manage to reach the end of this without running screaming from the room? There's also talk of the musical numbers, the inevitable comedy sidekick, the go-to Don Bluth movies of different decades and the template for making your animated flick a box office hit. And much more, of course. This podcast doesn't want to sell you short.
Hayley and Darren love a good tune, none more so than those of Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Ra-Ra-Rasputin!

Episode 124: Leap Year

Episode 124 of The HD Movie Podcast is here! Hayley Alice Roberts and Darren Gaskell and their mantra of "any movie, any year, any quality" certainly gets a test this time out.
It's a Leap Year, and with an episode release date of 29th February, what better time would there be to cover LEAP YEAR, the 2010 romcom starring Amy Adams as a "stager" looking to surprise her boyfriend by travelling to Ireland with the intention of taking advantage of a tradition which allows her to propose on Leap Day. Will complications ensue with her grumpy driver Declan? Of course.
Your hosts discuss not only international incident-level Irish stereotyping but also some unexpected and equally unwelcome Welsh stereotyping, and that's just the start of this movie's list of offences. There's a very unfortunate outcome for a chicken, an odd grasp of geography, a weird anti-singleton stance and bizarre verbal assaults during dinner. All played for laughs. Unsurprisingly, Hayley and Darren had thoughts.
One HD Movie Podcast tradition we can all get behind is the music of Mitch Bain, who writes and performs the tunes you hear on the podcast. You can find him on social media: @whoelsebutmitch on Twitter, evertheoptimitch on Instagram.
You can follow and contact the Podcast on X and Instagram by searching for "HDMoviePodcast". We're happy to hear from you.
You can find the hosts on Twitter and Instagram too!
Hayley: @HayleyARoberts on Twitter, hayleyaliceroberts on Instagram
Darren: @darren_gaskell on Twitter, darren_gaskell on Instagram
Where did the cliffs come from?