Screen Time: Episode 65 - Empire Records 21.06.26
Another whistle-stop tour through the worlds of film, television, streaming and gaming, with a soundtrack spotlight on the cult-classic Empire Records.
Celebrating one of the defining alternative-rock compilations of the 1990s, the show explored why the soundtrack remains such a beloved time capsule, before turning its attention to upcoming cinema releases including Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey and the blood-soaked horror sequel Evil Dead Burn.
The weekly chart rundown featured a mix of familiar franchises and rising newcomers, with Disclosure Day climbing to the number one spot ahead of indie horror sensation Obsession. Elsewhere, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael and the returning Scary Movie franchise all featured prominently. Movie news included fresh looks at Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Gregg Araki's provocative thriller I Want Your Sex and Netflix's intriguing sci-fi mystery The Last House.
On the review front, The Mandalorian and Grogu received a respectable three-star verdict. While praised for its visual effects, action sequences and the continuing appeal of Grogu himself, the film was criticised for feeling a little too familiar at a time when audiences may be experiencing a degree of Star Wars fatigue.
Meanwhile, Apple TV+'s gloriously chaotic thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed scored four stars thanks to Tatiana Maslany's magnetic performance, relentless pacing and a soundtrack that practically became a character in its own right.
The streaming and gaming worlds were equally busy. Listeners heard about Netflix cancellations, Apple's growing slate of original productions, the return of Enola Holmes and the final season of The Bear. In gaming, Hollywood and gaming culture collided as Samara Weaving and Obsession star Inde Navarrette discussed their gaming habits, while Halo fans were treated to news of a soundtrack vinyl release and bizarre stories involving almost-cast versions of Master Chief and Cortana.
The show wrapped up with a wonderfully odd film fact revealing that The Shawshank Redemption once attracted criticism, not for its prison violence. but for feeding a live maggot to a crow.
