The Nextlander Watchcast

168: Thief (1981)

For this week's Watchcast Alex is returning to his previous profession as a Mannhunter, as he takes the crew through one of his favorite Michael Mann flicks, 1981's Thief. Join us as we pick apart the taxonomy of crooks and goofs populating Chicago's early '80s underworld, and marvel at all the exquisite detail that went into this movie's look and vibe.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 168: Thief (1981)(00:00:27) - Intro.(00:04:09) - On Mann, his early days, and how this movie got made.(00:12:48) - Before we start talking about the movie, gotta talk about the soundtrack.(00:17:18) - The opening heist.(00:23:12) - What is this movie if not a showcase for profoundly Chicago-type guys?(00:31:46) - Break!(00:32:07) - We're back, and Frank wants his damn money(00:38:13) - Okla and Leo, from one father figure to an aspiring one.(00:51:36) - On the subject of these corrupt dirtbag cops.(00:55:20) - The original Michael Mann Diner Scene.(01:09:37) - The California job, and getting comfy in the suburbs.(01:13:29) - How many fingers am I holding up?(01:17:48) - Chaos in the adoption agency.(01:21:34) - Refusing to grease the wheels.(01:29:10) - Okla, we hardly knew ya, but now we have a baby, so it all evens out.(01:32:07) - Ditching those goofy cops.(01:40:01) - Finally, the big job.(01:52:05) - My money is in your pocket.(02:00:24) - Bye bye, Belush. Bye bye, old life.(02:09:41) - Going tactical in the Chicago suburbs.(02:15:39) - Final thoughts.(02:21:02) - Housekeeping for next week.(02:22:55) - Outro.

167: The Conversation (1974)

It's a new month and a new theme for the Watchcast, and this month Alex is foisting some of his all-time favorites on the rest of the cast, starting with Francis Ford Coppola's profoundly paranoid thriller, The Conversation! Join us as we uncover this deadly plot, marvel at Gene Hackman's performance, and swoon at just about the youngest Harrison Ford we ever did see.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 167: The Conversation (1974)(00:00:40) - Intro.(00:01:56) - Beginning our conversation about The Conversation.(00:20:04) - Cast chat.(00:27:59) - The terrific and bewildering opening recording sequence.(00:42:09) - Break!(00:42:32) - We're back, and it's time to peek into Harry's home life.(00:54:10) - Harry gets his recording.(00:59:08) - A brief interlude with Teri Garr.(01:03:44) - Lookit baby Harrison Ford!(01:08:48) - Alienating Stan, and the last piece of the audio puzzle.(01:13:48) - Spycon '74.(01:23:22) - Never party with surveillance guys, for several reasons.(01:36:23) - Chastity is the only security you can rely on.(01:46:06) - Meeting the Director.(01:50:37) - Bugging the hotel.(01:55:21) - You ain't gonna win this one, Harry.(02:04:35) - Final thoughts.(02:11:59) - Next week's movie: Michael Mann's Thief!(02:15:14) - Outro.

166: Masters of the Universe (1987)

The final film in our slate of toy commercials turned cinema is arguably the roughest watch yet. Specifically, we all argue that maybe Masters of the Universe with Dolph Lundgren and a rubber Skeletor COULD have maybe been something watchable, if only every single creative choice were different, and better. Then you might have something!CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 166: Masters of the Universe (1987)(00:00:16) - Intro.(00:02:51) - Where did we land on He-Man as kids?(00:14:10) - On the toys themselves, and the delightful weirdos who made them. And a bit on Filmation.(00:21:14) - How in the world did this movie happen?(00:43:37) - Somehow, there was almost a direct sequel to this.(00:48:55) - Break!(00:49:18) - We're back, and this is way too grand an entrance for what we're about to see.(00:59:52) - This man, this is not my kind of He-Man.(01:04:11) - Skeletor has won, but thankfully there's exactly one man who can save us: a weird little inventor guy.(01:13:30) - We can go anywhere in the universe, we end up in 1980s Southern California.(01:22:54) - These things just happen, you know?(01:30:59) - Skeletor breaks it down, and things start getting real dumb on Earth.(01:45:35) - Courteney's leg gets zapped, He-Man's a slave, and that cop is still running around.(01:47:31) - Warping to Eternia for one last battle.(01:58:26) - Saying a long goodbye.(02:01:50) - Who cares about timeline integrity when you can wish your parents back to life?(02:06:18) - Final thoughts. You can probably guess what they are.(02:15:03) - Housekeeping for next month's movies.(02:20:03) - Outro.

165: G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)

The process of tearing apart our consumerist childhoods is far from over, as the Watchcast crew digs this week into G.I. Joe: The Movie, another toy commercial in disguise that comes up with some of the most bonkers stuff this franchise ever saw, both for better and for worse.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 165: G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)(00:00:18) - Intro.(00:08:47) - A brief history of Government Issue Joe, and our personal fandoms.(00:26:37) - More on the tone of the show, and how that filtered into the movie.(00:30:56) - How this movie came to be, and why it never made it to theaters.(00:39:19) - Talking about our cast (and porno cartoons).(00:51:31) - Are the new grunts as good as the old timers?(00:56:51) - Break!(00:57:40) - We're back and we're already humming this musical number.(01:02:46) - People have had it with Cobra Commander.(01:12:15) - The B.E.T.--no, not that B.E.T.(01:17:16) - Stumbling into Cobra-la.(01:23:46) - Our cavalcade of new stars (toys).(01:40:30) - There's no way Cobra could break in here! And the lore dump to end all lore dumps.(01:57:05) - Falcon gets airdropped into unincorporated Slaughter territory.(02:02:35) - Roadblock and Cobra I Was Once a Commaaaaaannnder escape.(02:09:52) - A sneaking mission to Cobra Island, and it's time to send in the sandworms.(02:16:48) - He's gone into a coma!(02:24:34) - A big dumb battle to end this movie.(02:35:52) - Duke's okay! Somehow!(02:37:57) - Final thoughts.(02:46:46) - Housekeeping for next week's movie: Masters of the Universe!(02:51:31) - Outro.

164: Transformers: The Movie (1986)

The Watchcast is back for another year, and we're kicking off 2026 by laying waste to our plastic filled childhoods! The first entry in our trio of toy commercials disguised as films is one very near and dear to our youthful hearts in Transformers: The Movie, a film that simultaneously enthralled and traumatized an entire generation of budding robot enthusiasts, and tested the limits of how many popular characters you can kill off in the name of commerce.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 164: Transformers: The Movie (1986(00:00:25) - Intro.(00:05:57) - Let's talk about our own histories with Transformers fandom.(00:14:45) - On the trauma of Transformer murder.(00:20:49) - How did Transformers (generally) come into existence? And some other miscellaneous bits.(00:31:55) - Onto the movie, and who is responsible for all this.(00:38:14) - Killing off the old toy line.(00:44:54) - What a (bizarre) cast! And soundtrack!(01:00:19) - Break!(01:00:50) - We're back, and real quick, let's chat about the version we watched.(01:03:22) - Kicking off your kids movie with an entire planet being devoured.(01:10:46) - Leaping into the year 2005, and everybody's got moonbases now.(01:15:59) - Say goodbye to several Autobots.(01:19:48) - Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, and the rest!(01:29:00) - Optimus is here to save the--oh no.(01:35:47) - The scene that middle-aged nerds still describe to their therapists.(01:40:18) - Unicron, Galvatron, and various Cyclonuses.(01:51:43) - Eat it, Starscream.(01:54:09) - On Arcee, and how the party gets split.(02:00:12) - Are the Quintessons interesting? A debate.(02:08:33) - Are the Junkions interesting? No.(02:13:02) - Unicron goes ham, and Rodimus is born.(02:29:14) - Final thoughts.(02:40:31) - Teeing up for next week's movie: G.I. Joe: The Movie!(02:43:46) - Outro.