Mamo #143: Public Enemas

The boys are back, beaten, bloodied, bruised but unbounded. Another kick at the can, anyone? This time out we’re trying to assess Michael Mann’s place in history, H-Pot’s place in time and take the snapshot that sci-fi fans were hoping for. All this, plus we still love TF2 like Mr. T loves hair clippers. Mamo, anyone?

Mamo #142: We Loved Transformers

The sheer ferocity of the critical reaction to Transformers 2 says a lot more about the motivations of the critics who have been laying in the weeds for this chance to strike, and a lot less about the actual relative quality of a movie which is, if dumb, significantly more successful than anyone's admitted so far. Let Mamo be the beacon of truth once again, as we deconstruct what is now guaranteed to be the biggest box office hit of the summer... while mourning the passing of a true icon. We're looking at the man in the mirror: we're asking him to change his ways.

SPOILER WARNING!

Mamo #141: Pick a Little, Twit a Little

After washing the taste of the late David Carradine out of our mouths, we proceed to a brief recap of how badly, and unexpectedly Land of the Lost stumbled out of the gate ($18 mil for the weekend?, Seriously?!?) but that devolves quickly into just what the term word-of-mouth really means any more. All that and a shout out to Zach Galifianakis, as the comedy mantle is passed on in the latest Mamo.

Mamo #140: Un-Memoriable

That wet, slurping sound you hear is the sound of the Memorial Day weekend sucking. Terminator Salvation and Night at the Museum 2 brought the yawn - what happens when none of the movies are good? And what does a disappointing May do for June?

Mamo #139: Prime Invective

Modern science has given the world many gifts, large and small. The heart-lung machine. The large Hadron collider. Liquid Prel. But who among us us could have predicted the latest miracle of modernity - namely that it is finally cool to like Star Trek again. The Matt's take a swipe at what could be the perfect summer film, its box office prospects, and why Hugh Jackman's only saving grace came courtesy of the calendar.

Mamo #138: Snikkity Snikt Berserker

The monster month of May has landed with a 3-clawed slice, but even as Wolverine's strong Friday falls to a middling Saturday and a weak Sunday, what can we augur about the tentpole-loaded weekends to come? And: does mutant healing factor extend to careers?

Mamo #137: Lost Weekend

Are you excited about Fighting, Obsessed and The Soloist? Because Ladies and Gentlemen, that is your official starting lineup for this coming weekend. The week-before-the-big-summer-boxoffice-kickoff (this time courtesy of Wolverine) has the distinction of giving audiences some pretty mediocre gumbo to choke down. The Matt's examine the phenomena of the worst release date on the entire calendar.

We also take the time to remind everyone to throw their picks for the box office crown into the www.rowthree.com Guess the Grosses contest by clicking the shark at the top of the page on the labonza and giving it your best shot. You have until Friday May 1, at 9pm edt to get in for bragging rights plus possibly something tangible as well.

Mamo #136: A Startling Sameness

As the Matts unveil their picks for the top 10 grossing films of 2009, a circumstance not seen in the history of Mamo unfolds. What's up with the hardest-to-pick summer since event movies began?

Mamo #135: No, nothing

A wild, rambling, free-wheelin’ show about nothing, where “nothing” means the Warner Archive, the Star Trek movie, Green Lantern, 3-D movies, and the future of cinema itself. It’s Mamo: the show about movies and popular culture, now available at RowThree.com.

Mamo #134: Home and Hearth

Mamo returns with a spirited discussion about the insidious influence home video continues to exert on movie and television production. New films are created, TV series are given proper endings, but at what cost? AT WHAT COST?!? Join the Matt's as they attempt to find out, in another provocative 30 minutes of mirth. It's Mamo.

Mamo #133: And the result was apathy

Mamo, the show about movies and popular culture, is now available at rowthree.com! If you're new to the podcast, welcome; if you're a returning listener, consider therapy. In today's episode, we'll be having our long-awaited look at the long-awaited Watchmen, and consequently mull whether our long-awaiting was worthwhile. And, we promise, nary a "who watches" pun will you find.

Mamo #132: It was a wonderful night for Oscar! Oscar Oscar! Who has won?

Join us for the combined efforts of our Oscar tomfoolery! Big thanks to everyone who joined us for our semi-live-blogging during the show; here are all six segments wedded into one mega-segment. This is far more exciting than the show itself. (Does anyone want to punch Robert Pattinson in the face?)

Mamo #131: Take two tabloids and call me in the morning

Where do the latest celebrity meltdowns intersect with the h'wood marketing machine? Find out in a free wheeling new Mamo.

Mamo #130: Let the Right One Win

The Oscar nominations have been announced (yawn), and as we (yawn) sort through the (yawn) various nods and winks, we (yawn) question the process, challenge (yawn) the outcome, and (yawn) settle in for a (yawn) long winter's (yawn).

**Special note: full credit for this episode's title goes to Matthew Price.

Mamo #129: A Top Ten and a Half

The Matt's discuss the year in review, and recap their favorite films. Skip to the comments section to see the lists written down.

Mamo #128: Liar Happyness

In which at least one of our hosts proves incapable of distinguishing between a Will Smith movie that opened this weekend and one that opened two years ago, and a Jim Carrey movie that opened this weekend and one that opened ten years ago. Oh! And Blu-Ray Dark Knight, and the greening of Weitz, and other things too.

Mamo #127: Happiness is a warm comedy

The box office provides the general grist for our mill this week in another edition of Mamo. Enjoy!

Mamo #126: Quantum of Mamo

James Bond Has Returned, spraying bullets and blood all over a thin holiday movie season. He's already breaking records overseas, but how will Daniel Craig's darker, grimier outing fare here in this winter of the damned?

Mamo #125: The Great Depression

Does the coming economic rollercoaster ride mean that life is a carnival for the avid moviegoer? Or are we destined to just get nauseous on too much popcorn and sugary treats? Mamo attempts to navigate the midway in our latest episode.

Mamo #124: A startling wrongness

Pantsed. Smoked. Taken to task and found wanting. That's me anyway (Matt Brown), with my 2008 summer box office picks. How did the other Matt do, and how did you do? We recap this crazy summer of Batmania in today's installment...

Mamo #123: It might get mighty

Our big TIFF round-up, what is the role of the festival in art, and some more of our picks and pans.

Mamo #122: It might get meaty

More film fest yada yada. Find out which film Matt thinks is gonna win the audience award!

Mamo #121: It might get noisy

Live on tape from the Toronto International Film Festival, it's show number one of our festival coverage.

moviesTO: Film Festival 101

Not a Mamo, but close enough! Join the Matts as they guest-host the blogTO movie podcast and talk about all things related to the Toronto International Film Festival. You can download the episode at blogto.com.

Mamo #120: Blood in the water

Everybody's got a move to make this week - Warner Bros. shuffled Harry Potter to take advantage of next summer's tentpole gap, and signaled their intent to change the way they develop comic book movies in light of Dark Knight's continuing success. Meanwhile, United Artists fell apart, Tropic did Pineapple business, and Kevin Smith is ridin' the wave. It's all in this week's Mamo.

Mamo #119: Mamo a Mamo

Back so soon? Well, when we have something more to say we damn well say it. Thank goodness we continue to be provided with life's rich tapestry, here's another installment. Enjoy.

Mamo #118: Batmamo!

Three whole years of Mamo's extraordinary amazingtude have brought us right back to the beginning: Christopher Nolan's done a Batman movie, and holy shafizzle, they don't come any better than this. It's an extra-long anniversamamo, and we are so glad to have you! (Join our Facebook page!) (Pleeeeeaaaase!)

Mamo #117: June's Done Busting Out All Over

After SATC came and went, it's been a little too quiet out there in summer movie land. Is june always like this, we seem to remember that there was more going on.

Mamo #116: Sex and the Single Guy

Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of women went to see Sex and the City and - there's no other way to describe it - geeked out. Do the girls need their Indy too? Is a core audience component being sorely underserved (again)? Does a movie have to be good if it already has great shoes?

Mamo #115: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Unwieldy Title That Robs the Movie of a Certain Elegance Required for this Kind of Thing to Work

It's hard not to just degenerate into a mass of fanboy complaining when one of our real heroes is at stake, but hey man, we don't even try. SPOILERS!

Mamo #114: Mamo GoGoGo!

Speed Racer didn't get out of the starting blocks, didn't win, didn't place, didn't even finish the race. Why?

Mamo #113: Iron Mamo.

Iron Man opened this weekend with a higher take than even the optimists have expected, and Marvel celebrated by unveiling their plans for the rest of "phase 2" of their movie-making career. What does this hold for the future of comic book movies? Let's find out. Or at least, speak as though we know things.

Mamo #112: Fight the Future

The Matt's weigh in with their big summer movie boffo b.o. predictorama, vying once again for the title of prognostication professional. As always, the eventual winner will be named Matt. But don't let that stop you, throw your own predictions into the comments below!

Mamo #111: The Doldrums, Part 2

In which, very notably, nothing is still going on! But our intrepid hosts are winsome and upbeat as they talk about all things Pixar, Clooney, and summer '08...

mamo #110: Call me Porn King Vogel

Our definition of a weekly show continues to evolve, as do the two of us. If only something about the movie business excited us.

Mamo #109: Requiem for a Jamomo

Having skipped our annual Oscar show, we recap the night nonetheless, with hits and misses, surprises and outrages, and absolutely no fashion commentary whatsoever (except for a tiny bit about Ben Affleck's shirt).

Mamo #108: Returning from our irregularly scheduled lives...

After another prolonged absence, we make yet more excuses and then get right down to Mamo.

Mamo #107: Light a candle

No other way to say it: losing Heath Ledger just sucks. We'll do our level best to commemorate, and then look at the Oscars and the comings and goings of 1-18-08.

Mamo #106: What if they gave an awards show, and nobody came?

The Golden Globes yawned their way out of a press conference last night, and we took the time to comment whilst the show was not going on.

Mamo #105: The one where we go too far

2007 is at a close, so it's time for a year-end wrap-up, as the Matts find themselves on opposite sides of a pair of top ten lists, as well as union rights, and a certain format war. Happy new year!

Mamo #104: For a Compass, it's got a lousy sense of direction.

Alvin. ALVIN! AAALLLLLLVIIINNNNNNN! Good lord it's quiet out there, but there's more than enough to discuss in recent failures to make a show out of.

Mamo #103: We were on strike

No we weren't. But life got in the way bigtime for most of November; now we're back to cover what we missed. Ridley! Beowulf! Compass! Sweeney! We missed ya.

Mamo #102: There is no more barrel, there is only gun

The writers strike looms large, and what will become of our delightful business that we call show? How long can hollywood exist without the written word?

Mamo 101: The TV Show, episode 3

As has become an annual tradition, the Mamo crew takes a break from the movies and looks at the idiot box for a roundtable recap of new and returning fall shows. And hey, nary a snide Grey's Anatomy comment in the bunch. This is progress!

Mamo #100: Black Tie Affair

Auspiciously, the Matt's have reached their milestone 100th episode of a little show called the Mamo! Break out some champagne and celebrate with us, as this day will be talked of in song and stories forevermore!

Mamo #99: Without a map

Inadvertently robbed of their plans to close the summer in this episode, our Mamo hosts instead must do what they do best: make it up as they go along.

Mamo #98: Back to life, back to reality.

TIFF gets the big send-off with our last show of coverage. We wrap up the last of our films, and give some overall impressions of this year's crop.

Mamo #97: The Door of Recollections

We're on the run once again, grabbing breakfast and going over films until the last possible second before we run off To another screening. More film fest, more Mamo. The wrap up show is still to come.

Mamo #96: Reacted

The boys are back after another rewarding 48 hours to give updates on everything that's happened to them since the last time. Many films are discussed, and coffee is most definitely consumed.

Mamo #95:Recovery

Resuming right where they left off from last night, the Matts eat a crappy breakfast together and dish the sitch on all that's fit to print. Flm Festival report, part deux.

Mamo #94: Juno, Interrupted

Our first fest report focuses on high school, but must be marked incomplete. This is what happens when you try to grab a mamo between screenings. The line went in early, and we cut it short. We'll be back tomorrow with the rest of this installment.

Mamo #93: Festivus Prevestivus

We're gettin ready to do it again! That's right, Matt & Matt cover the toronto international film fest for the third year running! Check out our hopes and dreams this time around. We'll be back all through the week to let you know how it goes down.

Mamo #92: A Dry White Season

In tonight's humid Mamo, our heroes consider "the dumping ground" - that infertile corridor between August 15 and October 1 when every single movie that Hollywood would rather forget gets abandoned to the disinterest of an exhausted and embittered public. Or something.

Mamo #91: Quality will out

Under cover of night the Matts assemble to discuss the impact of everything happening exactly the way they thought it would.

Mamo #90: ...D'oh?

The Simpsons movie is a scant four days away when our intrepid Mamokateers realize... that they know absolutely nothing about the plot. What cunning reversal of last week's show is this? Also: Bourne, Bob Zemeckis, and Book Seven.

Mamo #89: TMI

Five is in theatres, Seven is imminent, and so we send out a missive from the eye of the Harry Potter perfect storm. Is it even posssible for us to be surprised by anything anymore? The internet, production journals, AICN, and the everpresent SPOILER ALERT! culture say no. We have our own things to say.

Mamo #88: Philly Cheese Steak

Live from Philadelphia, the boys of Mamo slice the meat nice and thin, slap it on a bun, drizzle it in gooey melted cheese whiz, and then add the sauteed onions. Oh baby, enjoy that.

Mamo #87: Yippee Ki Yay, Monkey Suckers!

An expected downfall for Evan Almighty leads us to wonder why that particular sequel came so spectacularly off the rails, which leads to our expectation that Die Hard will be following suit in just a few days.

Mamo #86: The boys of summer

Mamo hard - with a vengeance! Now that we can see a bit more clearly, it's time to look at whether May's threquelpalooza was a good idea, or a horrific miscalculation. Also: whither Nancy Drew, the Madness of King Roth, and did we actually forget to mention this weekend's lead release altogether?

Mamo #85: Goin' down faster than the '95 Blue Jays

The slow death march of theatrical exhibition is chronicled once more, from the disappointing hangover of May's sequelitis to the ongoing attempts to woo us back with flash instead of substance.

Mamo #84: And that was without a single drop of rum

Pirates arrives, guns blazing - and at least one Matt is willing to call it his favourite thing ever. Sailing against stiff competition the numbers are still respectable out of the gate, but how long can it hold in the ever-deepening tidal wavefront of the summer of 2007? Wait: what's a tidal wavefront?

Mamo #83: This could go either way.

So far so good for the beleaguered summer blockbuster. Another weekend past, another record set. But this week we realize that the giants are going to be nestled in awfully tight, with 3 different films each occupying 4000+ movie screens. Just how many records can be set, just how big is the current marketplace? All this and more, in this week's Mamo.

Mamo #82: Amazing, Spectacular, Sensational

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout, down came the rain to the tune of a hundred and fifty-one goddamn million dollars. Yup, the spider's back, but in the face of stiff reviews and a lacklustre weekday performance, how long is he going to last? Also: doc soup and preview prevention. Mamo!

Mamo #81: Valenti relenties

Goodbye, Jack Valenti. Hello, high definition. Also, look out, because Spiderman will be here soon. Mamo spends the time.

Mamo #80: The Laughing Dictator

One thing we forgot to mention in any great detail in our Grindhouse show a couple of weeks ago was the involvement of the Weinsteins, now a Company in their own right, in this mini-fiasco of mismarketing. Well, let's correct that mistake!

Mamo #79: Block Bluster

Summer 2007 really is almost here, and it's our annual chance to make utter fools of ourselves, go way out on a limb and let everyone see just how bad we are at predicting the future.


Matt's Picks

1. Spider Man 3 ($350M)
2. Shrek the Third ($330M)
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End ($320M)
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ($280M)
5. Ratatouille ($185M)
6. Transformers ($160M)
7. Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer ($150M)
8. Ocean's 13 ($140M)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum ($130M)
10. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry ($125M)

Matt's Picks

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End ($375.1M)
2. Spider Man 3 ($375M)
3. Transformers ($320M)
4. Shrek the Third ($299M)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ($250M)
6. Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer ($189M)
7. The Bourne Ultimatum ($160M)
8. Rush Hour 3 ($150M)
9. Live Free or Die Hard ($140M)
10. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry ($139M)

Mamo #78: Grinding with the boys

Cinema fans should be in hog heaven this weekend with the release of the Rodriguez/Tarantino double-feature Grindhouse... so where the hell is everyone? Also, Will Smith, Courtney Solomon, and the one film Dakota Fanning can't get sold.

Mamo #77: Critical Mass

Fantasy worlds, anticipated films, and criticism junction. Next stop, Mamo.

Mamo #76: Watch for the Watchmen

Back so soon, Mamo? Oh yes. A $70 million opening weekend for 300 draws our hosts once again to the microphone, but it's hard to talk about naked Spartans without at least partially getting into insane vigilantes and fat middle aged men dressed up like owls. Oh wait...

Mamo #75: Explaining the unexplainable, whilst just a little drunk.

A post gustatorial Mamo finds us slightly tipsy and more than a little opinionated. It was touch and go, would we make it without a major verbal slip up? Listen, and see how we managed.

mamo #74e: The Road to the Oscars is a Long Road Indeed

And that's the show, folks. An absolutely baffling year with surprise after surprise after surprise, and also Martin Scorsese. That's showbiz.

mamo #74d: The Road to the Oscars is a Long Road Indeed

more more more oscarpalooza

Mamo #74c: The Road to the Oscars is a Long Road Indeed

And it keeps on going! Alan Arkin takes Supporting Actor, as at least one Matthew predicted! It's a wide open horse race now, kids.

mamo #74b: The Road to the Oscars is a Long Road Indeed

installment 2

Mamo #74a: The Road to the Oscars is a Long Road Indeed

It's our annual Oscar tradition of recording little Mamolets every half hour or so, and upload them to the web in the vain hope that someone will listen. Clip 1 is the one where we lay out our foolish, foolish picks in this unguessable Oscar year.

Mamo #73: The Bullshit

Our reluctant Mamo-kateers are dragged off their couches to comment on the first momentous box office surprise of 2007... the overwhelming and counter-common-sense weekend take for Ghost Rider. Honestly: what in a thousand flaming skulls is going on here???

Mamo #72: Adult Swimfan

Shows that write themselves are just about our favorite kind. Mooninites, Oscars, and Warner's superhero headaches in the latest and greatest Mamo of them all.

Mamo #71: The Jig Is Up

Mamo returns with startling revelations about film ratings, studio ledgers, and Eddie Murphy. Oh, and our own ill-advised tomfoolery! We shall never kid again.

Mamo #70: Unhappy Feet

Okay.... so Matt P. here, posting up our latest Mamo offering. YouTube, Cameron, Avatar, filmmaking democratization, and I can't possibly forget Happy Feet.

mamo #69: Of Penguins and Abortion

2006 is over, and yet we can't let it go without a fond farewell. Here's what kept us going lo, these past twelve months.

Mamo #68: Mamo doesn't know

If there's anything we've proven over the years, it's that we rarely know what we're talking about, and yet we can talk up a storm. A storm is thus summoned tonight that involves James Bond (again), Apocalypto, Charlotte's Web, Eragon and the future of non-Potter fantasy movies, Will Smith, John McClane, and Rocky.

mamo #67: It's beginning to look a lot like Jesus

The Nativity show we've been threatening to do for at least a week is finally upon us. Enjoy as we head into December and do our last non-year ending wrap up show! Also, we are both fully aware now that at least in the US, The Nativity did get a sensible rating. Listen, and you'll see what we mean.

Mamo #66: The Flick of Destiny

The One Minute Film Festival, Robert Altman, Michael "Kramer" Richards, Borat, James Bond, Happy Feet, and Tenacious D. What do all of these wide and varied things have in common? Only Mamo 66, the great bringer-togetherer.

Mamo #65: All this has is a guy being tortured and beat up and fighting with knives

Mamo, November Mamo. Yes, Bond is upon us, as is The Simpsons trailer, Happy Feet, and the questionable morality of Borat. Join us in a rambling free form discussion of all of this plus more as we round out our 65th installment of Mamo.

Mamo #64: Very nice, Borat

After the Borat Incident claimed our ability to see Sacha Baron Cohen's film in its entirety at the Toronto International Film Festival, the reputed comedy event of the century finally hits the big screens, and the big screens hit back with a phenomenal gross. Was YouTube responsible? Will Bruno pull a repeat? What the hell is going on anyway?

Mamo #63: Grizzled, Gritty, Glorious

Oscar hopefuls abound, and zounds it's time to take a peek at that venerable workhorse, the war picture. Since the box office onslaught of Saving Private Ryan, nobody seems to be able to hit the target for the greatest generation. Why not? Plus, Superman Returns some more, and our meals arrive with extra lemon. So gird yourself for a stirring shot of Mamo.

Mamo #62: Industrial Light & Mamo

They talk about "the magic of the movies"... but is it all just sleight of hand? Tonight's show is a round-robin card game between Georges Melies' advanced trickery, Harry Knowles' industrial light, and Christopher Nolan's prestige, with a healthy dollop of post-digital uncertainty thrown in for good measure. Abra kadabra!

Mamo #61: The Very Nearly Departed

Martin Scorsese has a hit movie, for the first time since the other George Bush was president, so we take the opportunity to examine the history and continued potential for Americas oldest living master filmmaker. Also, we recap our TV discussion from last week and answer our critics. Matt and Matt, back to the movies.

Mamo #60: The TV Show

Annually, we turn our laser wit to the small screen, this year being in no way an exception. Why are the new shows the way they are, and what can be done about it? All this and much more, It's TV through the eye of the Mamo.

mamo #59: All the Weinsteins love Mandy Lane

The Toronto International Film Festival is over, and now it's time to figure out what to go do with ourselves. Some Hollywood hotshots already have some ideas of their own, revolving around nubile teenagers, Viet Cong prisons, and Jennifer Lopez. What got sold and why? It's the TIFF '06 marketplace show!

mamo #58: Fest is the best

Our last installment from TIFF 2006 gives us a chance to survey one of the best, and surely most controversial films of the fest, Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain. Plus interlopers, French futuristic nihilism, and when is something a classic ahead of it's time.

mamo #57:Fest that sells sex

After 7 days and more than 30 movies each, we stop off to talk about everyone's favorite subject. Sex sells, so they say, but who's buying?

mamo #56:Fest without guests

Day 4 of the Toronto International Film Festival and we're back for more coverage and discussion of what it all might mean. Plenty of films in the last 2 days, and the only mix-up being that we missed Chris Bales, who's blogging the fest himself and who was waiting to join us. due to our own incompetence, he is not a part of mamo, but we're hoping he will be in future. Enjoy!

Mamo #55: Fest without rest

The first of four podcasts coning at you from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. Both Matt's are seeing 50 films, but we still have time left over to get together, have the coffee, and cast the pod. Enjoy, at least 3 more to come before it's all over.

mamo #54: Summer's in for school

If Snakes on a Plane is on the big screen, then clearly, summer's over. It's time to gaze back at our somewhat addle-headed picks for what was going to do what in the big, scary summer of 2006, and declare an UNDISPUTED CHAMPION. Or at least, a vaguely marginal victory.

For the record:

Matt's score:

	Points	Differential	Total
Mission Impossible 3	2	.49	0.975
Cars	10	.89	8.889
Superman Returns	8	.81	6.467
X3	9	.98	8.846
Pirates	6	.56	3.358
Da Vinci Code	8	.85	6.820
Poseidon	0	0	0
The Break-Up	7	.72	5.006
Over the Hedge	7	.96	6.738
Monster House	6	.52	3.138
Totals	63/100		50.237

Matt's score:

	Points	Differential	Total
Superman Returns	6	.55	3.326
Pirates	9	.81	7.276
Cars	9	.87	7.855
Over the Hedge	8	.56	4.509
The Break-Up	4	.54	2.145
Da Vinci Code	8	.96	7.706
Mission Impossible 3	8	.67	5.360
Poseidon	1	.36	0.364
Click	9	.90	8.100
X3	3	.64	1.923
Totals	65/100		48.564

mamo #53: News, and other happenings.

We're back after a short hiatus with a rambling examination of all that is August of 2006 at the movies. Some news about our favorite hero, some trends are emerging, and the careers of two of Hollywood's biggest directors, Michael Mann and Oliver Stone are on the line this month.

Mamo #52: By George I Think They've Got It.

Well, it only took us upwards of a year, but we finally spent last week's show being nothing but right. Join us, as we bask in our own glow and look ahead to Miami Vice, won't you?

Mamo #51: Lost weekend

What do you do when everything in theatres sucks? Download a Mamo of course, where we will continue our on-the-ground ruminations upon the summer of 2006: the three-way tie between Shyamalan, Monster House, and Kevin Smith; the unstoppable force that is Pirates; the stakes for Superman; and the degree to which at least one of the Matts really can't seem to pick a good box office number to save his life.

mamo #50: The Biggest

Our 50th show, and yet strangely reminiscent of all our other shows. Thanks to everyone for listening, and keeping us going. Here's to fifty more.

Mamo #49: Poor Superman

Is Mamo the kiss of death for quality, big-budget Hollywood spectacle? A year after Batman Begins' slow crawl to $200 million, and six months after King Kong's nut-busting domestic under-performance, the (relatively) tame opening weekend for Superman Returns can't help but make a fella wonder if every movie he loves the pants off of is going to end up being less than what the public desires. Or maybe it is all just a gigantic coincidence, involving pirates, spiders, and Meryl Streep.

mamo #48: Bryan Singer, You Magnificent Son of a Bitch

The wheel loops around and we come back to where we started, at the 24 hour breakfast joint, eating eggs and jazzed about superheroes.

Mamo #47: Riding around in cars with boys

Mamo hits the road and podcasts from Pittsburgh, Pensylvania on the way home from the Hi Mom! Film Festival. It seems like we've had a whole weekend of nothing but cars, but has Cars lost its way? It's a Mamo from the middle (?) of the U.S., and boy are we having fun!

Mamo #46: Pulse Check

With the biggest month of the year done, and several major releases looming, we take the time to see whether talk of the slump being over is really true, after all.

Mamo #45: Ex Three

Mamo returns! X3 sucks! The audiences came to play regardless, but did the summer's first major battle go down as expected? How loyal is a fanbase? And why have we been wasting our time indoors when there's all this nice patio weather to enjoy? It's back to where it all started with Mamo 45.

Mamo #44: It's Pus-Wheee-Dun, silly

Oh, dude. You put together one gigantically bad idea for a summer blockbuster, and Bam! look what happens. Who's getting fired for the colossal underwater blunder, Poseidon?

mamo #43: The Ick Factor

Very near the beginning of Mamo, we did a show about Tom Cruise and his undeniable box office presence, and more recently, at least one of us crowned him the king of the summer... only to watch that crown get royally smacked clean of his monkey-boy head by M:I 3's (relatively) weak grosses. What will become of Mr. Holmes?

mamo #42: Young People's Theatre

Sprockets, the International Film Festival for Children does everything it can to alleviate the presummer boredom with a veritable gaggle of great young people's films from around the world. Mamo, plus a special small guest, weigh in with our take on the future of filmgoing.

Mamo #41: Cruel Summer

The big hot summer is about to hit us in the face, so it's time to sit down and figure out who's gonna be the prize turkey. Or something. In tonight's fun-filled Mamo, Matt and Matt almost come to blows about their divergent picks for the summer's top ten.

And just to keep us honest, here are the picks, to be vetted at the end of the season:

Matt's picks:

1. Mission Impossible 3 ($275M)
2. Cars ($270M)
3. Superman Returns ($240M)
4. X3 ($230M)
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($225M)
6. The Da Vinci Code ($185M)
7. Poseidon ($180M)
8. The Break-up ($165M)
9. Over the Hedge ($160M)
10. Monster House ($130M)

Matt's picks:

1. Superman Returns ($350M)
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($325M)
3. Cars ($275M)
4. Over The Hedge ($275M)
5. The Break Up ($220M)
6. Da Vinci Code ($210M)
7. Mi:3 ($200M)
8. Poseidon ($165M)
9. Click ($150M)
10. X-Men ($150)

mamo #40: Cult Worshippers

Can a cult following be cynically manufactured? Just how manipulable are we, anyways? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you show us a singing, dancing cannibal do we not flock? Find out in a multi culti mamo.

mamo #39: I got another couple of Jakes for ya

Sequels! In no other arena does Hollywood walk such a razor-thin line between respectability and out-and-out huxterism. Huxterism #1: Basic Instinct #2. Who would wait fifteen years to pay Sharon Stone $14M to uncross her legs again? Huxterism #2: Ice Age 2. Will an audience really watch anything CGI, regardless of relevance, quality, or even common sense? It was a crappy weekend at the movies, all right, and Mamo is pissed....

mamo #38: This ain't no bank robbery!

How do we get from Spike Lee's new heist caper to the future of the political machine in North America? Follow us on one mighty mighty tangent in this latest installment of Mamo.

mamo #37: the Brothers grim

Tonight's podcast about movies and popular culture considers the brothers Wachowski: where they are, where they're going, and whether they're proof that the half-century-old "auteur theory" is as solid as it's ever been. With the summer season kicking off in a revolutionary movie that will inspire no revolutions (nor be released in summer at all, nor spring), it's time to find out whether there's a frickin' spoon or not.

Also: Mamo #37 gets posted on the 21st. How weird is that?

mamo #36: It's where we will spend the rest of our lives

Tonight we peer into the future, the future of the very cinema itself. Or at least as it concerns 2 of the most prolific and accomplished technicians around. Join us as we carry on the three dimensional kit and kaboodle. And we're photographed while doing it.

mamo #35: Oscar the couch

It was a wonderful night for Oscar... or an exceptionally boring one, depending on who you ask. The boys from Mamo took to the couch and posted their thoughts live to the internet every half hour or so... until disaster struck and we were forced to pull the whole kit and kaboodle back down to earth for far longer than either of us ever would have wanted. But the good news is: Mamo 35, the Oscar show, is back! This time its an omnibus edition, collecting all 7 installments of our hair-brained Oscar night scheme. Enjoy!

mamo #34: It's a black thing

After a two week hiatus, we're back to examine the phenomenon of Tyler Perry, and the general malaise with which the "black" movie is viewed in predominantly white Hollywood. Yup, as 2 caucasians from Canada, we're uniquely qualified. Listen, as we court disaster.

Mamo #33: I love you.

Accidentally recorded on Valentine's Day, so why not talk about love? Or its bastard antecedent, dating. It's all about The Date Movie tonight: does it still exist, what has it become, and how on earth did we get through an entire Mamo about The Date Movie without mentioning the forthcoming date movie, Date Movie? Truly, we are brainless. Enjoy!

Mamo #32: Pot Pourri Some Mo' Pourri

Keep out the winter blahs with another fine Mamo, in which our Super Bowl centric conversation ranges from the strange successes of that Camilla Belle chick, to the rather tame slate of "mission statement" movie ads at this year's show. And, of course, a much-needed retraction from the Matt who, erroneously as it turns out, proclaimed the Gospel on last week's show.

mamo #31: Oscar Nomination Recap Flap and Gab

What are the surprises, what are the of course they woulds, and what was everything in between. The Oscar noms were announced today, and we wade in head first with our take on the whole affair. It's another easy goin' get along Mamo.

Mamo #30: A Poem About Everything

How about a little Mamo pot pourri? Today we play fast and loose with the categories and just let the conversation ride... which can sometimes be the best way to do it. We visit the Oscars again, the shit-hot career of George Clooney, the less-shit-hot career of Terrence Malick, and have a look at just how much ground will be shaken if Disney really does buy Pixar this week. Check us out, its our thirtieth Mamo!

Mamo #29: Prelude to a race

The Golden Globes may be going on This Very Minute, but so what? What does the big kickoff to awards season have to do with us, joe average, sittin' at home drinking alcoholic beverages and listening to cool jazz, anyways. All this plus we start taking bets on the end of the movie world, in another brand new Mamo.

Mamo #28: The Star System

Since the beginning of time, man has yearned to destroy the sun. We shall do the next best thing! Examine the stars, and whether or not they actually make or break movies the way Hollywood thinks they do. Is Cruise worth his price? What about Carrey? Who's making more than they deserve, and who's making less? It's a Mamotacular mix-up, as always!

Mamo #27: Say Goodbye To Hollywood

We took a little extra time bringing it to you, what with being so exhausted by our marathon session the last time out (50% of us lost our voice that night), but we're back again with an all new year ending smash up derby Mamo. Close out 2005 in style, won't you?

Mamo #26: Mumbo Jumbo

You want a big Mamo? A really big Mamo? A huge, gigantic, Kong-sized six-month-anniversary we're-gonna-talk-till-we're-blue-in-the-face Jumbo Mamo?

You got it!

Tonight we celebrate our half-centennial on the world wide web by talking all things Kong: the movie, the monkey, the grosses, the hype, the criticism, the new, the old... and of course, just what kind of a man it takes to make a film this good, and make it look like fun.

Mamo #25: Redstone vs. God

It's Mamo #25, and our charter mission to track the intersections between movies and popular culture leads us from the increasing conglomeratization of Hollywood (most recently exemplified by the Paramount purchase of Dreamworks, which might not have been a studio in the first place) to the attempts to sell Narnia as the next Passion of the Christ. Will the Jesus-lion scare off the faithful? Either way, you can't say we don't go the distance with our topic range here on Mamo!

mamo #24: Critic Proof

Aeon Flux Sux. Or so says Paramount, which found it of paramount importance to keep the film away from the nasty razor toothed critical community until after the film had opened. Does this ever work? And more importantly, does criticism matter anymore. Matt and Matt turn it all inwards and still find time to let everyone know why they're so jazzed about Kong in this, Mamo! episode 24.

Mamo #23: Burst into song

Musicals used to dot Hollywood's landscape like so much green clover. Since Chicago, they've been making a wee bit of a comeback, but is it for real? Rent's weekend nosedive might say no, but there's no accounting for taste... or is there? Let's carve up a musical turkey for American Thanksgiving and see if it dances.

Mamo #22: it turns out a pig can make a lot of silk

So, help yourself to a heaping hoping helping of Harry Potter as we examine the uneasy relationship between a fan delighted and another one scorned. Also, we beg you to help us in our ongoing efforts by visiting our home page and clicking on the listener survey located at the top of the sidebar. All this plus a quick look at the marketingn of some upcoming releases make it our 22nd episode. Enjoy!

Mamo #21: Objects in Space

Meteor showers have nothing on a $13 million opening weekend - what can we say for the chances of Zathura's continued success, after a weak opening weekend, and Harry Potter looming on the horizon? Still, sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game...

Mamo #20: Animate This

Can an animated film make money just because it's an animated film? Are desperate daddies keeping the Pixar clones in business? Is this Pixar's golden age, Warner's silver age, or Disney's bronze age? Is 3-D better than 2-D, or do we have to wait for 4-D? Can I do this entire post and still have every sentence end with a question mark?

Yes?

Mamo #19: It's like being locked in a bathroom for 6 hours

This week the box office slump is on hold, temporarily, but we don't care because Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith comes out on the very popular home DVD format. Matthew Brown takes the opportunity to correct what he perceives as the show's fatal flaw, the absolute dearth of quality Star Wars discussion. We examine the phenomenon, the relative success of the prequels, and the closing of one of the major chapters in populist filmmaking. It's episode 19 of Mamo.

Mamo #18: Matthew and Matthew and the Temple of Doom and a baby.

The box office lays down for another week, but the one semi bright spot is Doom, the movie of the video game. We take the opportunity to hash out and examine why videogames and movies might play nicely together, but shouldn't get married and make babies. Get your marshmallows on your sticks and join us, won't you?

Mamo #17: The Horror

What's with all these horror movie remakes today? Why can't Cameron Crowe deliver a big-budget blockbuster? Why would an old woman intentionally interrupt two men who are clearly in the middle of recording something, just to satisfy her idle mental ramblings? These questions and many more will be at least partially answered in Mamo 17.

Mamo #16: The man behind the curtain is licensed and Bonded

The box office numbers are in, and it's.... nothing special. So we take the opportunity to riff on the future of the Bond franchise, such as it has become. Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan..... and Craig? What do we make of this?

Mamo #15: It's like a movie in your home

What? Failed television series become feature films now? Heck, maybe this "TV" thing is really gonna catch on.

This week we break the mold a bit and have a look at the fall TV season, what we're watching and what we're avoiding. And in the housekeeping chores, a quick glance at how the summer's box office tallied against our initial predictions... and of course, a bit more blather about Serenity. It's a chock-full rub-a-dub-dub mega-Mamo, just for you!

Mamo #14: A Certain Age

The end of the festival is the beginning of the fall fun-o-rama-rama, and Jodie Foster is back to kick it off with a rare blockbusting appearance. She's made the transition to middle age with style, grace, and most of all incredible success. The Matts try to puzzle through why what she does works, and whether other actresses can follow in her footsteps.

Mamo #13: Better Late than Mamo

Unlucky Mamo #13 arrives fairly late (it was recorded on September 18th) due to a plague of technical problems that might have been real or imagined... but it's here at last! Join the Matts as they wrap up the Toronto International Film Festival 2005 in an extra-long podcast (to make up for the extra-short ones prior) that talks about the best of the fest, the worst of the price wars, and everything in between.

Mamo #12: Mamo over sushi with brown rice

Checking in from the Toronto International Film Festival on day... what is today?

It's another Mamo live on the street (or in a sushi bar, whatever), where we look back at what's been good since our last installment, and what might be good before our next one.

Mamo #11: Mini Mamo a Gogo Burrito

It's a rough and ready Mamo as we grab a bite between screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and recap on the first 3 days of screenings. 6 hours of low-life drug traffickers, futuristic Cameroonian prostiitutes who kick major ass, and a look inside the new Terry Gilliam film are just a few of the highlights of this week's first Mamo.

Mamo #10: Always on the Run

We reunite for a brand spanking new regular ramble. Join us as we wend our wicked way through the delightful world of the Toronto International Film Festival, or Tiff as it's affectionately known. We'll let you know what we're looking forward to, and what we're dreading, as we gear up for a solid week of losing it at the movies.

Mamo Frameline #3: The Talent Agent's Office

It's our final guest-hosting gig on CKLN's Frameline, presented here in all its stereoscopic glory. This week, we look at the new documentary The Aristocrats, and once we've thoroughly exhausted that topic, we try to give you a 9-minute survivor's guide to the Toronto International Film Festival.

Our humble thanks to Daniel and Barbara for letting us crash their show. Don't forget to tune into Frameline for their return, this Friday at 2:00 EDT.

Mamo Frameline #2: How I Love My Shiny Disks

Our second guest-hosting episode of CKLN's Frameline has us chatting about our DVD collections, and what makes for a really good disk. And don't forget to tune us in on CKLN 88.1 FM in Toronto, today at 2:00 EDT, or visit the CKLN web site to stream the show.

Mamo #9: Revolution

It's classic Mamo, as the Matt's return to their old stomping grounds on The Danforth. We face the hard facts, that nothing is being released this week of any consequence, and then turn our attention to the real, underlying problem; namely, that movie theatres and other movie patrons are making it harder and harder to go out and have a good time. Is it over for the theatrical experience? Download us and find out for yourselves.

Also, for the 3rd week in a row we will be broadcasting at ckln.fm on Friday, August 19, 2pm EDT. Tune us in live at 88.1 fm in the T-Dot, or if you have no idea what a T-dot is, go to www.ckln.fm and stream it, baby! Or we'll just post it ourselves the following week. Whatever is easier for you.

Mamo Frameline #1: Daniel Typed "Blog"

Here's a special bonus installment of Mamo for you, a Mamo that isn't really a Mamo. It's our first guest-hosting gig on Frameline, a radio show regularly hosted by Daniel Cockburn and Barbara Goslawski, which airs in Toronto on Fridays at 2:00 EDT, on CKLN 88.1 FM. This episode aired on Friday, August 5th, 2005.

Tune in this Friday at 2:00 for the next episode, where we continue our guest-hosting plunder. If you're not in the Toronto area, you can stream the show live at the station's web site, CKLN.fm. And of course, check back next week for our regularly-scheduled Mamo.

A big thanks to Daniel and Barbara for giving us the opportunity. We hope you enjoy it!

Mamo #8: How you doin', Bill Murray?

We return from the countryside today for an urban installment, wherein the clouds of summer blockbusterdom finally lift, and a few smaller, more character-driven films peek through. The gem of the lot is Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers, starring Bill Murray, who seems to be going through a kind of career renaissance lately.

And a reminder: we will again be guest-hosting Frameline this Friday afternoon at 2:00 Eastern Daylight Time, on CKLN 88.1 FM in Toronto. You can stream the show live on the web at www.ckln.fm.

Mamo #7: The Non Fiction List

In lucky show number 7 we trade the constant thrum of the city for the more gentle strains of country life. As promised, we podcast from a country cottage by the shores of, if not a good lake, than at least a Great Lake. Taking a week away from the internet and our slavish devotion to the box office and its tyrannical reliance on numerical value we instead spend some time examining the rising phenomenon of the documentary.

In other Mamo! news; After only 6 good weeks, we have finally done what we set out to do: Used this podcast as a stepping stone to legitimate radio. We're stepping in starting this friday, to guest host a show on Toronto community radio at 88.1 fm, CKLN. August 5, 12 & 19 we are hosting Frameline, a movie centric half hour of real broadcastable goodness. Tune us in starting at 2pm, EDT. If you aren't in the immediate area, you can find the show online at www.ckln.fm/audio/ckln.m3u. It's streaming audio only, so if you miss it, it's gone. Unless we post it here. Which we might do. We'll see.

Mamo #6: Island Exile

You will believe a man can order lunch...

With an astonishingly low $12 million opening weekend gross, Michael Bay's The Island (budgeted at $120 million plus) is now set to go down in history as one of the biggest box office turkeys of all time. He's the worst filmmaker working in Hollywood today, so this disaster should seem perfectly justified, even if the movie itself is... not that bad? How much effect does marketing, word of mouth, and out-and-out hatred of a director have on a film's box office chances?

Join the Matts at one of the Danforth's fine Greek eating establishments, as we try to post-mortem the long-awaited downfall of Michael Bay. Additionally, this week's installment is the first time our equipment completely failed in mid-course, forcing us to go back and re-record about ten minutes of the show. The first person to tell us exactly where the split occurs will receive a fabulous MaMo No Prize!

Mamo #5: The Fabulist

This week we take on Tim Burton's career, and why he just can't stop annoying one of us. Also the historical perspective on Wedding Crashers, and what we're looking forward to between now and the end of the summer. It's Mamo! number 5, the show we thought would be the death of us.

Mamo #4: Four Things

It's one of the most surprising successes of the summer, the biggest critical turkey-shoot of 2005 so far, and the film that has nonetheless been (rightly or wrongly) credited with breaking the "Hollywood slump:" Fantastic Four.

This week we have a look at the troubled film and its unusual audience response; discuss the closing of the Marvel store of top-line comic titles; and ponder the imponderables about this whole slump business, anyway... while attempting to determine just how many times you can say "four" in a half-hour radio segment. It's a rolling four-by-four of foursome fantasia in Podcast #4's fourmidable Fantastic Four extravaganza (four).

Mamo #3: The Big Fat Meh

In just 5 short days we've managed to come up with a whole new show, proving something about our prolific nature, ar at least our commitment to you, the listener. How do we do it? Volume.

Also: Check out our very first podcast outtake! The power of editing makes it all possible.

MaMo #2: The Ballad of Serenity

A big thanks to everyone who checked out our first podcast - we're back for a second toss, this time with slightly higher production value and slightly lower caffeine levels.

Join the Matts this week as we discuss the career of Joss Whedon: horsemaster, raconteur, vampire with a soul. We'll give a few (spoiler-free) thoughts about his upcoming feature film debut, Serenity, and discuss Whedon's prospects on the Wonder Woman feature film, which he has just signed to write and direct. It's MaMo #2: The Ballad of Serenity...

MAMO! It's Batman.

Hey, it's our very first podcast. Join the Matts as they ramble on about movies and popular culture. This week, it's Batman, amongst other things.