In this episode of Forgotten Films, Jed and Ray revisit Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian thriller Children of Men — a movie set in the distant future of… 2027.

Which, as it turns out, is next year.

Clive Owen stars as Theo, a disillusioned bureaucrat drifting through a collapsing Britain where no child has been born in nearly two decades. But when he’s pulled into a mission involving a young refugee carrying the first pregnancy anyone has seen in 18 years, Theo suddenly finds himself protecting the one thing humanity thought it had lost: hope.

We dig into the film’s incredible long takes, the unforgettable car ambush, the chaos of Bexhill, the eerie silence of a world without children, and the powerful moment when the sound of a newborn briefly stops a war.

We also talk about Michael Caine’s scene-stealing turn as Jasper, the film’s surprisingly great soundtrack, its political and social themes, its bleak vision of 2027, and the philosophical question at the heart of the movie: what happens to art, culture, and humanity when there’s no future left to preserve them for?

Ray considers Children of Men one of the best films of the 21st century.

Jed thinks it’s exceptionally well made… and may never want to watch it again.

So is Children of Men a forgotten masterpiece, or is there a reason people don’t revisit it very often?

Plus: Michael Caine impressions, questionable pronunciations, a Lone Star Beer break, and our rewind recommendations for what to watch next.

This episode contains full spoilers for Children of Men.

Forgotten Films is the podcast where we dust off the VHS boxes, crack open a cold one, and revisit movies time left behind to decide whether they’re forgotten… or forgotten for a reason.

In this episode of Forgotten Films, the hosts discuss the movie 'I Love You to Death' and delve into the true story behind the film. They analyze the characters, including Joey Boca, Rosalie Boca, and Nadja, and explore the ruthless plan to assassinate Joey. The failed assassination attempts and the unexpected turn of events add humor and intrigue to the plot, making for an entertaining and engaging discussion. The conversation delves into the unusual and darkly comedic plot of the film, highlighting the challenges in marketing and categorizing it. The ensemble cast and standout performances are discussed, along with behind-the-scenes insights and production challenges.

Takeaways

• Unlikely assassins
• Character actors steal the show Unusual and darkly comedic plot
• Ensemble cast with standout performances
• Unconventional and forgotten film
• Challenges in marketing and categorizing the film

Chapters

• 00:00 The Unexpected Turn of Events
• 31:45 The Unusual and Darkly Comedic Plot
• 36:23 The Ensemble Cast and Standout Performances
• 40:42 Behind the Scenes and Production Challenges

It’s all happening.

This week on Forgotten Films, Jed and Ray climb aboard the tour bus for Cameron Crowe’s heartfelt, hilarious, and endlessly quotable 2000 film Almost Famous.

Patrick Fugit stars as William Miller, a gifted 15-year-old music fan who lands the opportunity of a lifetime: joining the rising rock band Stillwater on tour and writing about them for Rolling Stone. Before long, William is surrounded by concerts, confessions, complicated relationships, and enough emotional baggage to require a second tour bus.

Jed and Ray discuss the film’s semi-autobiographical story, Cameron Crowe’s Oscar-winning screenplay, the unforgettable soundtrack, and the complicated triangle between William, Penny Lane, and Stillwater guitarist Russell Hammond. They also revisit the iconic “Tiny Dancer” bus scene, Russell’s drug-fueled declaration that he is a golden god, and the many ways the movie captures the moment when admiration turns into friendship—and friendship threatens to compromise the truth.

Behind the scenes, they explore the real musicians and experiences that inspired the story, Peter Frampton’s work training the fictional band, the actors who nearly played Russell and Penny Lane, and how Kate Hudson moved from a supporting role into the performance that helped define her career.

Plus, Jed and Ray choose their cast and crew MVPs, celebrate Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, and even Jimmy Fallon, recommend more movies about music and misfits, and finally decide whether Almost Famous has been forgotten—or forgotten for a reason.

Whether you love rock and roll, coming-of-age stories, Cameron Crowe movies, or simply great films with even better soundtracks, this is one tour worth taking.

Spoiler warning: Major plot points are discussed.

Please remember to be kind, rewind, comment, like, and subscribe. Then crack a cold one and watch a forgotten one.