Mamo #241: How To Win Your Oscar Pool in 24 Simple Moves

In which we put our stakes in the ground and say we know who will win at next week's Oscars. Spoiler: it's The Artist. Or is it?

Mamo #240: The Phantom Mamo

The Phantom Menace came out in 1999 and our podcast started in 2005, so we never really got a chance to examine its seismic impact on the world of filmmaking - to say nothing of the world of Star Wars. With the film back in theatres (in threeeeee deeeeee!) we take the opportunity to put a pin in all things Lucas, and somehow manage to escape the entire procedure without once following the word "Jar" with a second instance of the word "Jar."

Mamo #239: Neesonomics

2012 is starting out surprisingly strong, isn't it? We look at the just-released Chronicle, and the notion of "found footage" movies in general, and then step back by a week and examine the reborn career of Liam Neeson, c/o The Grey.

Mamo #238: Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud

The Boys of Mamo return on Oscar Nomination Tuesday to talk about what the hell just happened, i.e. the same thing that happens every year.

Mamo #237: Who Owns What?

What do Yol, George Lucas, and the Stop Online Piracy Act have in common? They have this episode of Mamo, for one thing.

Mamo #236: In Real Life

With the announcement of changes to the eligibility requirements for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars, we pause for a moment to consider the health of the genre. Has a documentary ever changed the world?

Mamo #235: The Year Keeps Ending, And We Keep Ending With It

Part 2 of our 2011 wrap-up! We look at how the industry fared for the year - not enough money, too much 3-D, and a whole lotta superheroes. Which franchises were born? Which were renewed? Which [cough Green Lantern cough] are dead, dead, dead?

Mamo #234: Caplansky's with Kuplowsky

Happy new year! Mamo gathers on a crystal-clear January morning and looks back on the best and worst of 2011 with special guest star Peter Kuplowsky, from our favourite vantage point in the corner booth at Caplansky's Deli. Lists abound. What was your favourite film of the year?

Mamo #233: A Prisoner of Your Gibberish

As the year winds to a close we look at a chock-a-block week in popular culture, from Sherlock Holmes to BBC's Sherlock, from The Hobbit to Lord of the Rings, from Tintin to the next Tintin, and from Prometheus to Alien (in reverse). Pull up a chair and get some cream for your coffee.

Mamo #232: The Girl with the Mamo Tattoo

There is no such girl. But wouldn't it be lovely if there were? We look at David Fincher's mega-zeitgeisty adaptation of the biggest book in the world, before turning our gaze to the biggest screens in the world and their recent, thunderous triumph with a certain impossible mission.

Mamo #231: Bane Says What?

The Boys of Mamo head to the multiplexes to take in the first six minutes of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, and on the way, chit-chat about annual critics' lists, and Butt-Numb-A-Thon, and big burly men in masks with unintelligible voices. Sort of like us.

Mamo #230: Midnight Snack

Special guest star Colin Geddes, Midnight Madness programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival, whisks us away to a secret location to drink old-timey drinks and gab about his cinematic life and times in Toronto. With bonus guest: Our mysterious benefactor! Pull up a stool!

Mamo #229: Mugo Mamo Muppet Mo

Yanksgiving and Black Friday are squarely behind us, and the tripartite battle between November's family films (and Breaking Dawn) is done! Let's look at The Muppets, and Hugo, in an all-new podtacular Mamo.

Mamo #228: Much Ado, Take Two

Failure and calamity repeatedly confounded our efforts to record this show, but no longer! Mamo 228 is finally here, discussing (in no particular order) Joss Whedon, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Snow White, Snow White, The Hunger Games, Breaking Dawn, Norm Wilner’s readership, the Row Three commenters, the Internet in general, Happy Feet Two, The Muppets, Steve Whitmire, and Jim Henson’s soul. If we’re still alive when you’re listening to this, the show was a success.

Mamo #227: After After After Dark

Special guest star Adam Lopez, director and founder of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, joins us to call us out on various colours of carpets for our comments on Episode #225! A spirited conversation about running a genre film festival in the city of Toronto ensues...

Mamo #226: The Sky Is Falling

Mamo returns! We address the reaction to last week’s Toronto After Dark episode and do some stage-setting for the next episode to come, before diving into a conversation about Tower Heist, Skyfall, the new DCU, and the CGI future – as lead by Andy Serkis.

Mamo #225: After After Dark

Mamo checks in from the Toronto After Dark film festival 2011, with a good news / bad news analysis of this festival’s market chances in the city with the most film festivals anywhere in the world. Plus unexpected guest appearances from Kurt and John!

Mamo #224: Stuck in the Past

We roundtable on the latest fistfights in movie news, circa six days ago: the Avengers vs. the Dark Knight! UltraViolet vs. iCloud! Real Steel vs. the Remakes No One Wanted! It's a Mamo pot-pourri episode, displaced in time.

Mamo #223: TV Nova

Special guest star Adam Nayman, TV critic for MSN.ca, joins us on the podcast to talk all things boob tube in our annual television episode! We wander from the best of HBO and AMC to the most popular of oldschool network, with a stop in Community's seven non-intersecting timelines, as we survey the current state of the nation in TV Land.

Mamo #222: Winter is Coming

We're joined by Row Three Summer Box Office Contest winner Toro913, Miran Terzic, for a look ahead at the jam-packed Christmas box office season for 2011. Who thought up this twenty-car pileup?

Mamo #221: And Lord Knows, I'll Be Wrong Again

Welcome back to Mamo! With TIFF behind us, we close the 2011 Summer Box Office contest, and have a look at what went down at the domestic and international movieplexes in the summer of twenty-eleven. Superheroes! Pirates! Harry Potter! Talking monkeys! Plus, the Planet of the Apes!

Mamo #220: TIFFing the Dream

We close out the Toronto International Film Festival 2011 with talk of Mark Cousins' The Story of Film, and how our story of film has changed as 2011 TIFFgoers.

Mamo #219: In-fourth-li-TIFF

Less than 24 hours later, we're back at it with more coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival 2011. We talk some more about Take Shelter, along with Tyrannosaur, Habemus Papam, The Day, This Is Not A Film, and more!

Mamo #218: In-TIFF-licate

Our third podcast from the Toronto International Film Festival 2011 sees guest star Shelagh Rowan-Legg join us in line for Midnight Madness to talk Jeff Who Lives At Home, Warriors of the Rainbow, Take Shelter, Amy George, Sleeping Beauty, Wuthering Heights, Shame, Sleepless Night, Undefeated, Hysteria, and more! We're nearly at the end, folks...

Mamo #217: Mid-TIFF Mamo Madness

The first weekend of TIFF 2011 is over and Mamo endures - we talk Midnight Madness (God Bless America! You're Next! Livid!), Hick, Killer Joe, I Wish, Twixt, and more!

Mamo #216: Pound TIFF 2011

The Toronto International Film Festival 2011 has started, and Matt and Matt check in with their thoughts on the first two days. We are interrupted frequently because we're just so gosh-darn popular. Has the festival returned to its most sociable roots? Awesome!

Mamo #215: The New 52

We step away from TIFF 2011 for half an hour to discuss the health of the comic book industry, as DC steps up to relaunch its entire catalogue, and the health of Apple, as Steve Jobs steps down.

Mamo #214: Previewing TIFF 2011

The Toronto International Film Festival 2011 is roaring towards us, and Mssrs. Brown and Price are joined by Mr. Mike Cameron for a roundable discussion of this year's offerings. What's good? What's great? Let us (and the book) be your guide!

Mamo #213: Where Are You?

Special guest Daniel Cockburn joins the podcast to discuss You Are Here, his feature film debut, opening in Toronto on Friday August 19th at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. A spirited roundtable about the making and distribution of a low-budget indie ensues.

More information about You Are Here:

• TIFF Bell Lightbox showtimes
• Official web site
• Movie twitter
• Daniel Cockburn's twitter
  

Mamo #212: Ape Goes Up, Ryan Comes Down

When you're being outpaced by computer-generated monkeys, it might be time to retire. We analyze the extraordinary over-performance of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and the career-defying box office poison that walks around on two feet and calls itself Ryan Reynolds.

Mamo #211: Return of the Supermen

Three Matts and a Max team up Justice League-style for the latest Mamo! Special guest star Matthew Fabb, fresh from Comic Con, joins us to discuss all that happened there, and Other special guest star Max tosses in a "yay" every time he hears a superhero mentioned. Plus: what went wrong with Cowboys and Aliens?

Mamo #210: Man On Fire

Mamo returns from the infernal brink of Hades itself! We talk Captain America, Comic Con, and the first wave of TIFF announcements. Plus, at some point in this show, Matty Price might actually single-handedly solve the problem of theatrical distribution for all time. Listen for it.

Mamo #209: Harry Potter and the Deathly Mamo, Part Two

Continuing where we left off in November, Team Mamo reckons with Team Potter, as the latter take their final bow. A spirited discussion ensues: Did Deathly Hallows 2 leave its audience in the dark? (Spoiler warning!)

Mamo #208: Dark of the Mamo

Everyone loves a circus, but has Michael Bay finally gone too far? The boys who went on the record proclaiming their enjoyment of Transformers 2 return to contemplate the whims and quantifiable lack of whimsy of the Dark of the Moon.

Mamo #207: The Mamo Lantern

Here's the Green Lantern! And it's likely to become a season-defining miss for the folks at Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment. Plus: we have a split decision on the merits of the film, one Matt yes, one Matt no. Which was which? And what did our waiter have to say? It's Mamo verité, straight from the front lines.

Mamo #206: Attack the Super 8

J.J. Abrams, we need to talk. We know what's wrong with your movies. We know why they aren't all the way there yet. We believe you can get there, though - so have a listen, and let Mamo light the way.

Mamo #205: X-Mamo

The mutants who kicked off the comic book superhero genre are back, except they're younger, more devil-may-care, and one of them is played by James McAvoy. We see what's the what in the X-universe, talk 2-D vs. 3-D some more, and close our X-men contest. And if you haven't checked out The Great Debate yet, you should!

Mamo #204: Skadouchebag

The Hangover 2 kicks the crap out of the animated bear in the biggest Memorial Day weekend in history, and we're so surprised that we're nearly willing to proclaim the death of cinema itself. Plus: enter our contest to win X-Men swag! Details in the show!

For all contest entries please use the comment thread at Row Three. Entries posted to the blogspot site will NOT be eligible.

Mamo #203: On Stranger Bridesmaids

The Pirates of the Caribbean are back, and in piratey style they are going to try to lift a whole lot of your money out of the multiplex this weekend. Do they deserve it? Plus: Bridesmaids, Batman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lars Von Trier, and the role of Mamo in the realm of your listener feedback.

Mamo #202: Pod of Thunder

KRAKKADOOM! Thor is on the scene and Marvel has kicked off the summer in a (surprisingly?) successful fashion. What do the conquests of the God of Thunder mean for the mortals scurrying in his wake - the X-Men, Green Lantern, and Captain America?

Mamo #201: Fast Five Guys

The Fast and the Fiveiest! The Five and the Furimost! Five Guys Burgers and Furious! Giddy nonsense of this type can only be due to one thing: has summer come early? Plus a few words on Hot Docs and, inevitably, a few more words on Transformers 3.

Also, if you haven't entered yet, you have till May 5 to enter this year's summer box office contest. Please do so at this page at RowThree.com!

Mamo #200: Lord Knows, I've Been Wrong Before

The 200th episode of Mamo! We kick off the summer box office season with our look at what will - and won't - make money in the summer of 2011, including some picks for #1 from some very special guest stars. Plus: Thor! Cap! Green Lantern! Jack Sparrow! Harry Potter! Optimus Prime! The Smurfs! It's the biggest Mamo ever!

Special note: If you want to enter the Mamo Summer Box Office Contest, open from April 20 - May 5 2011, please visit this page at RowThree.com. Comments left on the blogspot site are NOT eligible for the contest.

Mamo #199: Across the Sea

The show about movies and popular culture takes a step back during a long drive home, and talks about nothing very much besides every thing that happens by. This is our little detour on the eve of the big 2-0-0.

Mamo #198: The Goods

We post-cap ActionFest 2011! Bellflower, A Lonely Place To Die, Largo Winch, Tomorrow When the War Began, Bangkok Knockout... it's all here! A big thanks to the good people of Asheville, and the asskickers of ActionFest, for an amazing weekend in the sun, and to all our new friends and listeners for a whole lot of good times.

Mamo #197: We Drove a Thousand Miles To Get Some Action

Live from ActionFest 2011! Matt and Matt talk about the roster down in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. Spoilers: there will be ass-kickery, gun violence, and Cheerwine.

Mamo #196: In Brightest Day, In Blackest New York State

Live from the road! Mamo comes to you from a small car speeding down the sleet-swept highways of New York State, as we wend our way southwards to the balmy climes (and fists) of ActionFest 2011. We discuss the new Green Lantern footage, and where to get a really good homemade root beer.

Mamo #195: You Suck (er Punch)

It's Sucker Punch vs. Superman, with Snyder in the middle, and once again, the Boys of Mamo weigh in with their thoughts on all things Man of Steel in light of the travesty of the Girls of Plastic. Plus, Hobo With A Shotgun, The Hobbit, Darren Aronofsky, the One Minute Film Festival, and a certain announcement regarding Mamo's 2011 road trip.

Mamo #194: To The Far Shore

Not always, but every once in a while the veil of despair lifts and the big connective tissue of the universe is revealed. We're not saying that happened in this episode, but we aren't saying it didn't happen. Is there a commonality that lets us understand why, precisely why some films are loved by critics and criminally ignored by the audience? Get the show and find out for yourselves, in the latest Magnum Mamo.

Mamo #193: The Oscar Speech

James Franco! Anne Hathaway! Kirk Douglas! Natalie Portman's unborn child! It was Oscar Night 2011, in which we "live"-podcasted throughout. If you weren't here to follow along, you can now download the entire evening's efforts in one easily-digestible, highly-caffeinated show. Thanks for listening!

Mamo #192: Oscar Camp

Live from Podcamp Toronto 2011! Matt (@mattmovies) and Matt (@tederick) host an informal free-for-all Mamo on the Oscars, and podcasting in general, in a very echoey room - guest-starring a few old friends and a few new friends. Let's call this experiment a success: ride the gain a little, and enjoy a crowd-sourced Mamo.

And please join us tomorrow night for our "live" Oscar show! In addition to our usual all-night podcast (available at mamocast.blogspot.com), we'll be participating in the CBC's online Oscar chat - check it out!

Mamo #191: Press & Industry

February being the dead month, the boys get together to see if a show can be created out of thin air and bullshit. Turns out that was no problem at all. Even though there aren't any movies (what, we're gonna spend 20 minutes on The Roommate?!?) we still find lots of grist between MGM's resurrection and teh superbowl ads. Whatever else this show was, it wasn't what we thought it was gonna be.

Mamo #190: The King's 127 Inception Story Grit Swan Fighter Kids Network with a Bone

The Oscar nominations are in, and so is Mamo! We second-guess and handicap the best dog track in town.

Mamo #189: We Want Slightly More Accurate B.S.

Catmamo! The cat is out of the bag; Hollywood's finest Cheshire grin has a brand new job; paging Ms. Kyle for life #4 of 9; further cat-related puns to follow. Anne Hathaway joins The Dark Knight Rises, and we spin some theories, quell some rumours, and set the record straight on The Nolan Franchise, Volume Three. Can I get a "meow?"

Mamo #188: The Green Mamo

The first big movie of 2011 is the long-in-development, big-in-hype, one-of-two-superhero-movies-with-"green"-in-the-title, Green Hornet. Hot off a preview screening at Yonge and Eglinton in Toronto, how did the boys from Mamo fare with the boys from Hornet? And who's the sidekick on this show, anyway?

Mamo #187: Auld Lang Mamo

Happy new Mamo! Matt and Matt ring in 2011 by taking a look back at everything that was moviewise in 2010, including the dragons, the dreams, the dancing, and the damned Coens.

Mamo #186: The Wizards of Tron

After six hundred years of buildup, Tron Legacy is finally here. Opening with a solid-but-not-awe-inspiring $44M weekend, what did the folks at Disney do right - and wrong - in resurrecting the Tronverse? Plus, how and why the Narnia franchise sucks for ever and ever!

Mamo#185: Untangled

Breakfast at our new Mamo HQ, the inimitable Caplansky’s Deli, just a 2 minute walk from the new digs of one half of us. What was on the table? Besides gargantuan amounts of smoked meatery, we have laurels for Disney, darts for the Academy, and a split decision on 127 Hours. Grab a cup of coffee and a heart rate monitor, and join us, won’t you?

Mamo #184: Harry Potter and the Deathly Mamo, Part One

Harry Potter 7 (of 8) is here to gobble up your November moviebucks, and it's a great experiment - part one of two, with no narrative closure to be found. Not since the heyday of Back to the Future II has a big studio left a franchise twisting in the proverbial wind like this... did they have better luck with it this time? Plus, Green Lantern, Cowboys & Aliens, and Amazon Studios!

And if you haven't already, don't forget to check out our Harry Potter debate over at The Substream! Vote Mamo!

Mamo #183: We Owe it to Ourselves

October brings forth the unlikely successes of both Jackass and Paranormal Activity. 3D is back, and so is a terrifying movie made with a camcorder and an air gun. And so is the rapacious love of short term profit in Hollywood. How will all this affect us, the buying public? Find out in the brand new mamo.

Mamo #182: War of the Supermen

Three Matts, no waiting! Our summer box office contest winner - and longtime listener - Matthew Fabb joins Matthew Brown and Matthew Price at the round table, for a freeform discussion of all things DC: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.

Mamo #181: We Bet it All on the Wrong A-Team

Even though TIFF is over, that's no reason for us to return to our humdrum workaday lives. For one thing, after taking off for 10 days to sit and watch movies, some of us are unemployed. For another, the annual summer box office championship has finally come to a close and we can truly call a winner. Shockingly, it's neither of us. Even more shockingly, it's the same person who won last year. The prize (A limited edition copy of Let The Right One In) is on its way to the winner now. Take a listen for all the details as well as our pithy excuses for why we were so dead wrong.

***SPOILER WARNING*** We give away the ending of Buried. Because we thought it sucked, and don't really care that much. Just sayin'

Mamo #180: For the Love of Bed

Here's our final (and unfortunately somewhat buzzy) podcast from the Toronto International Film Festival 2010, with special guest star Mad Hatter! Thanks for joining us.

Mamo #179: For the Love of Cold Korean Vengeance

I Saw The Devil, Detective Dee, You Are Here, Buried, and much much more as the Matts stop for yet another much-needed lunch on the TIFF 2010 trail!

Mamo #178: For the Love of Natalie Portman

The Black Swan, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The Trip, Vanishing on 7th Street, Tabloid... TIFF is starting to get good, folks. Join the Matts over lunch for the mid-Tuesday update.

Mamo #177: For the Love of Mid-Festival Rantings

Wanna hear a really short Mamo? We only had 16 minutes to talk between screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival, and we got interrupted by a lovey member of the festival staff at the midpoint, too. So what? Plenty to get through, and we are able to talk fast. Plus, special guest star Fingerless Hobie says "Hiyooo."

Mamo #176: For the Love of Midnight Madness

The Toronto International Film Festival is here! Matt and Matt sneak away from a pre-Midnight Madness party to talk about... Midnight Madness. And TIFF. And everything else. Join us for some eggs!

Mamo #175: Previewing TIFF 2010

The Toronto International Film Festival 2010 is just around the corner! Join Matt Brown and Matt Price, hosts of Mamo!, as we take a tour through Toronto's date with the movies. What's good? What's bad? What's up with the Lightbox? We'll be your guides to TIFF 2010...

Mamo #174: A Fat Lot Of Nothing

The underwhelming summer of 2010 trickles to a close with a triple-header weekend of medicrity: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Vs. The Expendables Vs. The Women (Who Eat Pray Love). Is it time for TIFF 2010 yet?

Mamo #173: A Fresh Pen to the Eye

Comic Con. Lately, the two greatest words in the geek dictionary. At panel after panel celebrities frenzy crowds with tales of that-which-is-yet-to-come. Even Angelina Jolie went there. And so did we, the brave boys of Mamo. Listen as we wax eloquent on Whedon, Marvel, and all things we look forward to in this latest mamo installment.

Mamo #172: The Dream Is Mamo

I had a dream that Matty Price and I got together over breakfast and talked about Christopher Nolan's Inception. And the dream was real.

Mamo #171: Twilight of the M. Night

Shyamalan fever has come roaring back, as audiences and critics alike are enthralled and delighted by his latest... Oh wait, it's not 1999. In 2010, The Last Airbender is also looking like the last go-round for America's master of the disappointing twist. He's getting his cultural ass kicked by a bunch of sparkly vampires! Some say this child of Pondicherry, India thinks white people are better than Asians when it comes to delivering the kung fu grip. He's downtrodden and beleaguered, and what better time for the Matts to jump in and make it all that much worse.

Mamo #170: Anniversamamo

Live from Chicago, Illinois! Land of Lincoln! Land of Ebert! Land of Mamo! Join us for our five-year anniversary show, where we'll discuss Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid, Jonah Hex(ed), and The A-Team, all from the fat satisfaction of a quintessentially Mamo American road trip.

Mamo #169: Mamo no Guillermo

Memorial Day weekend comes and goes like the rest of May, with an underwhelming thudding noise. Then, to cap it off there are major changes revealed for the most important fantasy adaptation in the history of filmed entertainment. So we thought we ought to do a show. Also, there’s some more LOST spoilerage near the end, so be forewarned.

Mamo #168: Lost Our Lost

In which the Matts depart from moviedom to mark the passing of the television series of the decade.

Mamo #167: Nottingwho?

THWACK! That is the sound of an arrow, not so much hitting its target as the next tree over. Robin Hood in theatres, and the reactions are varied. Tons of money overseas, not so much money here, and wasn't this thing called Nottingham once upon a time? Mamo investigates!

Mamo #166: The Iron Men

From a diner in Toronto at 3 in the morning, Matt and Matt join you to talk about Iron Man 2. Is that our breakfast order arriving in the middle of the show? Sure is! Sit in and enjoy a spur-of-the-Mamo discussion of Stark, Marvel, and where it's all going from here.

Mamo #165: Whedo what we wanna do

This'll teach us to read the papers. A Star Wars sitcom? Casting for Cap, a suit for GL, and more directors than we can shake our tiny fists at in rage! The boys are back to amuse themselves to death over the latest happenings in the world of fandom. Also a reminder to enter our bourgeoning box office bonanza by clicking here and letting us know how you think this summer comes out. We've officially added a bonus prize to the proceedings, but you'll have to listen until the end of this week's podcast to find out what it is.

Mamo #164: We Bet It All On The A-Team

The summer box office picks are here! Listen to the Matts do their regular sham job of trying to figure out which movies will win, which will tank, and which will win by blowing aircraft out of the air with a free-falling tank.

Mamo #163: Leave the Critics, Take the Canolli

Back again for the third time in a week, because we just stop information that wants to flow like sap on a warm spring day. R.I.P. professional critique day, as we take a hard look at Variety et al’s treatment of the medium we hold dear.

Mamo #162: The Hurt Oscar

The boys of Mamo sat through what must have been in the top-three worst Oscar telecasts of all time, and babbled incessantly throughout. Were you there? If not, we have conveniently stitched our ravings together into one mega-mini-Mamo. Hey, listeners: I see you.

Mamo #161: Mamo in Underland

It's 2 days to the Oscars, and our intrepid Mamo hosts consider the decaying nation of 3-D, the sideways evolution of TRON, and zombie career of Tim Burton: been dead for a while, still going. Plus, we prep for our annual semi-live Oscar podcast, coming at you this Sunday, March 7, via Twitter (@tederick and @mattmovies).

Mamo #160: Oscar nom nom nom

We eat the Oscars! While no one would be foolish enough to base their Oscar pool bet on our analysis of this year's nominations, we'll help you sift through the madness of Avatar vs. The Hurt Locker vs. 8 Films No One Will Remember Two Minutes From Now, 2010.

**Additionally, both Matts would like to apologize profusely to Marion Cotillard, upon whom they have significant, publicly-acknowledged crushes, and would be Facebook friends with if they could.

Mamo #159: The Hurt Avatar

The roll to total world domination continues, as Avatar takes some Golden Globes, some more records, and the increasing ire of some among the filmgoing community. We continue to handicap the world's first 2 billion dollar hit, and why it isn't the world's first 2 billion dollar hit.

Mamo #158: We Drink Your Milkshake

The end of the year, the decade, and oh, conventional filmmaking. The Matts are back to reset the conversation with the list of what we liked in the past 3653 days. As is it impossible to cover everything, here are some links to better round out the conversation: Matthew P's Best of 2009, His Best of the Decade, Matthew Brown's Best of 2009, and his Best of the Zeros. Enjoy, and have fun taking us to task in the comments.

Mamo #157: Baby Boy Blue

AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAAAAAAAAR!!

Mamo #156: Spicy Mustard

We finally come to you from the welcoming environs of my favorite Toronto restaurant, Caplansky's Deli in the heart of the Kensington Market district. Between delectable bites of smoky cured meats we take a second pass at the relative success of Twilight: New Moon, the relative failure of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the before release backlash (Frontlash?!?) directed at James Cameron and Avatar. Enjoy the latest Mamo, now with the spicy mustard.

Mamo #155: She said, he said

Pretend we didn't just do a show where we spent the first ten minutes slagging girl-centric crap like Twilight and New Moon and then proceeded to geek out about boy candy like Avatar, Thor, and the Star Trek DVD. Let's all pretend we didn't do that.

Mamo #154: Ich Bin Ein Mamo

Hi Mamo listeners, I am in Berlin right now. How, then, have I managed to record this Mamo? Magic and science, that's how, together at last! In this episode, in honour of my absence, we discuss the posthumous victories of Jackson, Polanski, and Ledger. Enjoy!

Mamo #153: We’d eat it up, we loved it so.

It wasn’t so much where the Wild Things were as what they were, a brilliant collection of vital imagery that verges on the miraculous. Matt and Matt take a look at all things feral in their latest coffee shop rumpus.

Mamo #152: Hollywood Fucked It Up

In which the summer of 2009 is put to rest, reputations are made and broken, and a hero (of guessing box office grosses) is at long last revealed. Plus, our belated interview with Zeb Pike, and his thoughts on 9.

Mamo #151: Zemamo no go

We wrap up on the Toronto Film fest, discuss the business end of a screening at the Elgin, and provide the highest quality in depth analysis ever given from a bench in the mall. Plus we parse the cock-up at Disney, and tease our upcoming interview with Zeb Pike, lighting compositor and part of the creative team at Starz that produced Shane Acker’s 9.

Mamo #150: Mamo Three To Go

More Mamo from the 7th day of the Toronto International Film Festival 2009! Too tired to further blurb, please have a listen.

Mamo #149: Mamo at the Show

LINK IS FIXED! Sorry for the sleep-deprivation-induced inconvenience.
Catch up with the Matts again, this time in line for The Disappearance of Alice Creed at the Toronto International Film Festival. We'll recap days 1, 2, 3, and twitter, which is not so much a day as a social force majeure. (We're @tederick and @mattmovies, by the way.)

Mini Mamo #148: Mamo on the Go!

Who says we're above posting our own outtakes and B-sides? What started as a test of a new on-the-fly Mamo recording technique (it's not exactly a scientific revolution, but it'll help) turned into a 3-minute introductory podcast for the Toronto International Film Festival 2009. Hey: enjoy that. Longer shows are coming.

Mamo #147: I think it was Octopussy

Before you do anything, feel free to pop over to blogTO.com to listen to Matt and Matt’s annual preview podcast for the Toronto International Film Festival!

In podcast #147, the Matts look at the Basterds, and be basterds a bit themselves. Plus, fanboy backlash: why every single person who gripes about the Avatar preview is embarrassing themselves.

moviesTO: TIFF 2009 preview podcast

You're staring down the barrel of a 400-page gun loaded with the best selection of movies that have been seen at the Toronto International Film Festival for a long, long time. What to do? Let guest(ish) hosts Matt Brown and Matt Price be your guides! We'll browse the program bible for things to see, things to desperately avoid, and things starring George Clooney.

This is our annual guest podcast for the fine folks at blogTO.com. Stay tuned to blogTO for further TIFF '09 coverage all through the festival.

Mamo #145: sportos, motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads

What do John Hughes (RIP), Star Trek's international box office, Roger Ebert's despair and the films of 2010 have to do with each other? Nothing, actually, but the Matt's are overdue for a rambling and shapeless discussion that serves no one and only confirms to all that this podcast of theirs has more navel gazing than the museum of Florida oranges. So here it is.

Mamo #144: Harry, Bruno, Ryan and Duke

Did Harry Potter leave money on the table by not highlighting the smoochies? Did Bruno give himself a reacharound and forget to tend to the rest of us? Did Ryan Reynolds land Green Lantern because he was good, or because he was just good enough? And what - I say, what - is with G.I.Joe? Mamo knows.

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

Tying together our 5 mini-Mamo "live" Oscar podcast segments! An absolutely baffling year with surprise after surprise after surprise, and also Martin Scorsese. That's showbiz.

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!