"Parenthood" (1989) with Ben Carpenter
Buckle up for a trip in the station wagon! This week, Tim Williams is joined by Ben Carpenter to look back at the brilliant, messy, and laugh-out-loud reality of Ron Howard’s 1989 comedy-drama classic, Parenthood.
We dive deep into the chaotic world of the Buckman family tree—from mid-life anxieties and toddler pressures to teenage rebellion. We talk about the genius behind Steve Martin’s frantic physical comedy, the incredible emotional depth brought by a young Joaquin (Leaf) Phoenix, an…
"Glory" (1989) with Laramy Wells
Step onto the battlefield for one of the most powerful and critically acclaimed films of the 1980s. This week on the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast, host Tim Williams is joined by guest co-host Laramy Wells to honor the 1989 cinematic masterpiece, Glory.
Together, they examine the harrowing and heroic true story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the very first African-American units to fight for the Union during the American Civil War. From the breathtaking cinematogra…
#145 - "Red Dawn" (1984) with Chris Adams
Jump in the back of Jed’s pick-up truck, count your remaining RPGs, and head to the mountains as Tim Williams and guest co-host, Chris Adams from "Retro Life 4 You" Podcast discuss “Red Dawn” from 1984 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback!
#143 - "Rocky III" (1982) with Chris Adams & JB Huffman
Step into the boxing ring, turn up Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and get ready for a knockout episode as Tim Williams and guest co-hosts Chris Adams and JB Huffman discuss “Rocky III” from 1982 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback!
#138 - "The Karate Kid Part III" (1989) with JB Huffman
In this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback podcast, hosts Tim Williams and JB Huffman dive into the nostalgic world of "The Karate Kid Part III". They explore the film's plot, character development, and the challenges faced during production. The conversation highlights the film's place within the franchise, its memorable scenes, and the overall impact it had on audiences. Despite its flaws, the hosts reflect on the film's rewatchability and its significance in the 8…
#136 - "Good Morning Vietnam" (1987) with Nicholas Pepin & Chad Sheppard
Based on the true story of rebellious DJ Adrian Cronauer in 1965 Saigon, "Good Morning Vietnam" became a breakout dramatic role for Robin Williams, earning him his first Oscar nod. Join Tim Williams, Nicholas Pepin, and Chad Sheppard as they discuss this iconic 80s movie.
#131 - "On Golden Pond" (1981) with Ben Carpenter & Bethany Wells
This Academy Award-winning 80s Flick is a captivating, emotionally charged drama that beautifully captures the complexities of love, aging, and family. Set in the tranquil, golden hues of a New England lake, the film brings together screen legends Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn in a final, unforgettable collaboration. Fonda portrays Norman Thayer, a witty but grumpy elderly man facing the challenges of growing older, while Hepburn shines as his vibrant and supportive wife, Ethel. When the…
#130 - "Hoosiers" (1986) with JB Huffman & Chris McMichen
In the '80s and '90s, emotional sports dramas hit their peak with films like The Natural, Field of Dreams, and Rudy. One standout from the '80s is Hoosiers (1986), which follows Norman Dale, a disgraced middle-aged coach given a second chance at redemption in the small town of Hickory, Indiana. Set in 1951, the film explores how the tight-knit community and its strong opinions about basketball strategy shape Dale's journey. Join Tim Williams and guest co-hosts JB Huffman …
#128 - "Say Anything..." (1989) with Bethany Wells
In 1989, Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything became an iconic 80s romance that captured the awkwardness and sweetness of young love. The story follows Lloyd Dobler, a charming high school grad unsure of his future but knows he wants Diane Court, the smart yet emotionally distant valedictorian. This isn’t your typical romance—Lloyd isn’t the usual leading man, and Diane isn’t the stereotypical love interest. Instead, the film subverts expectations to deliver a heartfelt, unconventional love story th…
#126 - "Escape From New York" (1981) with Nicholas Pepin
In the early ’70s, films like The Omega Man, Soylent Green, and THX-1138 painted a bleak future of chaos and government control. By 1981, the tone had shifted, with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Clash of the Titans offering escapism and classic good vs. evil battles. But then came this 80s flick, set in a dystopian 1997 where Manhattan is a prison island. The hero, a morally gray anti-hero on a mission to rescue the President, must navigate a world full of shady characters and allia…
#125 - "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985) with JB Huffman
In the mid-1980s, few films targeted young adults, and studios were still figuring out how to connect with the emerging Generation X. Enter St. Elmo's Fire—a quintessential 80s flick that featured a star-studded cast of rising talent: Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Mare Winningham, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Demi Moore. Centered around a group of recent Georgetown grads navigating the post-college world, the film perfectly captured the spirit of the Reagan era. It resonat…
BONUS - "Six Pack" (1982) with Chris Adams & Ben Carpenter
Rediscover a hidden gem of the 80s! While "Six Pack" (1982) may not be a blockbuster, it holds a special place in the cultural memory of many who grew up in that era. This forgotten flick, perhaps where some first learned about love, life, and the charm of Kenny Rogers, offers a unique blend of humor and drama.
Join us as we delve into the seemingly absurd, yet utterly charming, premise: a washed-up race car driver finds a second chance when he encounters a group of orphane…
#113 - "The Delta Force" (1986) with Gerry D & Chris Adams
Ever wondered what happens when real-life events inspire Hollywood action? Step into 1986, a time when high-octane, patriotic thrillers ruled the big screen. In this 80s action flick, we witness an elite military team led by none other than Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin, taking on a hijacking crisis with rocket-powered bravery and martial arts skill. Based loosely on actual events, this film blended explosive action with a tension-filled storyline that may not have broken box office records, b…
BONUS - "SpaceCamp" (1986) with Jeff Atkins, Ben Carpenter, and Nicolas Pepin
To the children of the ’80s, the only thing cooler than the idea of space camp is the idea behind this forgotten 80’s flick, in which Lea Thompson, Joaquin Phoenix, and their fellow teen team members must figure out how to land an actual space shuttle after a freak accident at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launches them into outer space. It could have been one of the biggest movies of 1986, but then tragedy happened. When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in January of 86, so did the film’…
#111 - "The Right Stuff" (1983) with Jeff Atkins, Ben Carpenter, and Darby Mirocha
Before writer-director Philip Kaufman brought Tom Wolfe's best-selling book to the big screen in 1983, astronauts in movies were often just alien hunters or asteroid chasers. But under Kaufman's direction, spaceflight became a deeply human endeavor, focusing on inner strength rather than external threats. This 80s flick, which runs for over three hours and features an unconventional structure, tells the story of test pilots like Chuck Yeager and Gordon Cooper as they break the soun…
#106 - "The Natural" (1984) with Nicholas Pepin (from "Pop Culture Roulette" Podcast) & Ben Carpenter
In the early 1980s, baseball films were scarce until Barry Levinson’s 1984 Oscar-nominated gem revitalized the genre, inspiring over 18 baseball-themed movies in the following decade. While initially seeming like a typical sports biopic, this film, "The Natural," unfolds into a profound American fable and crowd-pleasing tale. Following Roy Hobbs, a gifted player whose career is cut short, the story sees him resurface years later as an aging outfielder for the New York Knights. Arme…
#105 - "Footloose" (1984) with Bethany Wells and JB Huffman
In this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast, Tim Williams, along with guest co-hosts Bethany Wells and JB Huffman, dives into the 1984 dance classic "Footloose." Inspired by true events, the film takes us to a small Utah town where dancing is banned and the spirit of youth is barely a whisper. Enter Ren McCormack, a rebellious teen from Chicago, who moves to town and shakes things up by challenging this archaic law. As Ren fights for change, he wins over allies and ignites a…
BONUS - "The Verdict" (1982) with Laramy Wells from "Moving Panels" Podcast
In this special bonus episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast, Tim Williams teams up with guest co-host Laramy Wells from the "Moving Panels" Podcast to revisit the 1982 Oscar-nominated courtroom drama, “The Verdict.” The film stars Frank Galvin, a down-and-out lawyer in Boston who stumbles upon a chance for redemption with a medical malpractice case involving a comatose woman. As Galvin delves deeper, he uncovers a web of deceit and corruption within the legal system. Facing im…
#89 - "Dead Poets Society" (1989) with Laramy Wells from "Moving Panels" Podcast & Nicholas Pepin from"Pop Culture Roulette" Podcast
This 80’s flick explores the complex terrain of friendships, aspirations, and the struggle to find one's own identity outside of the classroom. The story takes place at an all-boys preparatory school in the 1950s, where tradition and conformity are the norm. Mr. Keating's unconventional teaching methods ignite a profound transformation in the lives of his students. By instilling a love for poetry, encouraging critical thinking, and inspiring them to seize the day, Keating inspires …
#82 - "Platoon" (1986) with JB Huffman from "Manly Movies" Podcast
Since its release this 80’s flick is still considered by many to be one of the best war movies ever made. The director — who himself was wounded twice while serving with the US Army in Vietnam — famously put his cast through a grueling "boot camp” to help immerse them in the world of their fictional characters. With an all-star cast and loads of visually striking practical effects, this Vietnam War epic won more awards than any other film during the 59th Academy Awards. So prepare for d…
#79 - "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) with Nicholas Pepin from "Pop Culture Roulette" Podcast
The 80s is often seen as the defining era of “the teen movie”. While “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” might have garnered all of the attention, it was this 80s flick that took the “teen movie” from raunchy sex-comedy to more serious themes of losing innocence, living with regret, and navigating independence at such a young age. Released to little fanfare, with many expecting it to fail, the film became a surprise hit, showing the value of the teenage market. So grab your r…
#75 - "An Officer and A Gentleman" (1982) with Ron West
Famed movie critic Roger Ebert said that this 80’s flick was the best movie about love that he’d seen in a long time. His original reviews states “Maybe that's because it's not about ‘love’ as a Hollywood concept, but about love as growth, as learning to accept other people for who and what they are. There's romance in this movie…but what makes the film so special is that the (romance) and everything else is presented within the context of its characters finding out who they a…
#74 - "Runaway Train" (1985) with J.B. Huffman from "Manly Movies" Podcast
If you’re a fan of eighties action movies, you should know The Cannon Group. Run by Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, in the eighties they cranked out a slew of low-budget action movies, most of which were hated by critics. Yet, every once in awhile they made a legitimately great movie that would even make the critics sit up and take notice. One such as this 80’s flick directed by Andrei Konchalovsky (who later made "Tango & Cash") and based on a script by Akira K…
#70 - "Annie" (1982) with Hanna Williams
Little Orphan Annie has been a part of American pop culture for nearly a century now—first as a comic strip which made its debut in the summer of 1924, then as a popular radio show in the 1930s, which spun off into a couple of film productions later in that decade and a hit Broadway musical in 1977. Though the musical version has been adapted to the big-screen a few times over the years, most recently in 2014, this 80’s flick version is by far the best known big-screen version. So leave the …