Strap on your goggles and hoist the sails, this week on Born to Watch, the crew dives into a post-apocalyptic puddle with their Waterworld (1995) Review, Kevin Costner’s legendary aquatic epic that soaked Universal Studios in ambition, cash, and controversy. Whitey, G Man, and Damo reunite to wade through the waves of cinematic history, revisiting a film as infamous for its behind-the-scenes chaos as it is for its soggy storytelling.

From the jump, the team questions Waterworld's place in pop culture infamy. Once touted as the most expensive movie ever made, this maritime Mad Max-on-water starred Costner at the peak of his fame, but was it his creative apex or the beginning of his soggy descent? The guys don’t pull punches, balancing deep dives into production lore with their trademark irreverent humour.

Whitey sets the tone by confronting the bloated ambition of the project: “Has any Hollywood star become so famous with a catalogue with so many peaks and troughs?” Cue a wide-ranging Costner retrospective, comparing the golden days of Field of Dreams and The Untouchables to the indulgent excesses of The Postman and yes, Waterworld. The verdict? Costner might’ve been drinking his own Kool-Aid, filtered through a urine distillation machine, of course.

G Man leads the crew through the absurd plot, where the Earth is drowned, the polar caps are melted, and dry land is a mythic memory. Costner plays the Mariner, a grim, gilled loner with webbed feet and a personality drier than the lost continent he’s searching for. The podcast doesn’t shy away from the film’s narrative flaws: characters with no backstory, Mad Max rip-offs, and a complete lack of chemistry between the leads, most notably between Costner and Jeannie Triplehorn, affectionately known as “Jeannie Triple Blurter” by the team.

Speaking of performances, Dennis Hopper’s turn as the Deacon is eviscerated with delight. Compared to his electric villain in Speed just a year prior, Hopper here is an oily cartoon, piloting a rust-bucket Exxon Valdez filled with chain-smoking goons. “It’s a bad Beyond Thunderdome,” declares Whitey, and the panel doesn’t disagree.

The gang revels in the film’s infamous production disasters: hurricanes, a constantly rewritten script, Costner’s massive creative control, and his falling out with director Kevin Reynolds. G Man reminds us of the legendary quote about Costner directing himself: “Now he gets to work with his favourite actor and his favourite director.” Ouch.

Despite the floundering script, there are moments that the Born to Watch crew appreciates. The practical effects, like the massive floating Atoll set and Costner’s tricked-out trimaran, get nods of approval, even if the action sequences are undercut by choppy editing and goofy stunts. And the team can’t help but laugh at the iconic “pee filtration scene,” the rope-assisted bungee jump climax, and the infamous underwater city reveal, which defies all logic and basic physics.

One of the episode’s standout sections is “Question Time,” where the trio tackles the film’s most baffling plot points: How does the Mariner’s boat outrun jet skis? How does dry land remain uninhabited? And why, oh why, would someone spend their life searching for paradise only to leave it five minutes after finding it?

The boys also pay tribute to the lesser-known cast and crew: a young Jack Black in a blink-and-miss-it role, Tina Majorino (aka the Enola of Napoleon Dynamite fame), and the brilliant yet misfiring score from James Newton Howard. “He dialled it in harder than Dennis Hopper did,” quips Damo.

By the end, the Born to Watch gang reaches a consensus: Waterworld is a cinematic curiosity, too ambitious to dismiss outright, too flawed to celebrate, and just insane enough to warrant a watch. Maybe once.

So whether you're a fan of ‘90s action epics or just here to marvel at cinematic misfires, this Waterworld deep dive is a splash of nostalgic chaos you won’t want to miss.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Join the conversation:

• Is Waterworld an underrated cult classic or a floating disaster?
• Would you survive in a world covered by the ocean?
• And seriously, how does that boat outrun jet skis?

#BornToWatch #Waterworld #KevinCostner #MoviePodcast #90sMovies #PostApocalyptic #DennisHopper #JeanneTripplehorn #CultClassic #MadMaxOnWater #MovieReview #PodcastLife

In this week’s Born to Watch, the lads swing for the fences with their deep dive Moneyball (2011) Review. Whitey, Dan on the Land, and Will “The Worky” take to the mound to dissect why this unconventional baseball flick, starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, continues to resonate over a decade later.

From the get-go, it’s clear this isn’t your typical sports movie review. The team kicks off with backyard renovations, foot fetish tangents, and a laugh-out-loud discussion on the bizarre world of Japanese vending machines, classic Born to Watch territory. But once they find their groove, it’s all baseball, banter, and brilliance.

Moneyball, based on the true story of Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane, gets the full pod treatment. The trio wax lyrical about Pitt’s understated performance, Hill’s against-type turn as the socially awkward numbers guy, and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s quietly simmering portrayal of sceptical coach Art Howe. Whitey makes the case for this being one of Pitt’s finest performances, yes, even better than his Oscar-winning turn in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Dan and Will aren’t far behind in their praise, though they’re quick to point out the poetic license the film takes with some of its real-life counterparts.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Born to Watch without the gang tackling the “overs and unders.” Will throws a curveball with a surprisingly low watch count, while Whitey admits he’s clocked in over 40 viewings. Dan, as always, brings the analytical fire, no surprise for a man who appreciates Michael Lewis’ storytelling DNA, also behind The Big Short.

The trio also tackles one of the episode’s core questions: Why are baseball movies so damn good? Is it the history? The romance? The slower pace that allows for actual acting? Whatever the formula, it works. From The Natural and Field of Dreams to Major League and Bull Durham, the guys rattle off their favourites with the kind of passion you only get from true movie lovers.

There’s also an appreciation for the film’s dry, cerebral tone. Unlike other sports flicks that rely on big plays and locker room speeches, Moneyball thrives on boardroom tension, Excel spreadsheets, and quiet moments of doubt. Yet somehow, it’s riveting. It’s a film about math, risk, and the emotional cost of change, and yet it’s as compelling as any game-winning homer.

Listeners are treated to the usual podcast hallmarks: mock trailers, roast reviews (with one critic thoroughly torn apart), and a beautifully read back-of-the-DVD synopsis that outshines the studio blurb. Whitey’s disdain for the critic who panned the movie is particularly entertaining, while Dan gives a thoughtful defence of Moneyball’s cinematic liberties.

The episode also veers into classic BTW chaos. There’s a spirited debate on the merits of Jack and Jill (spoiler: there are none), a nostalgic dive into The Inbetweeners as a sleeper hit of 2011, and an epic sidetrack into surfing journalism and Jonah Hill’s transformation from comedy darling to surf-culture punching bag. It’s podcast whiplash in the best possible way.

As always, the “Ordinary People” segment stands out, offering a nuanced examination of the film’s characters and the performances that bring them to life. The pod pays homage to Philip Seymour Hoffman, laments Jonah Hill’s real-life reputation despite his on-screen brilliance, and even finds time to praise an uncredited Spike Jonze cameo that nearly steals the film.

In the end, Moneyball gets the respect it deserves, a deeply human story wrapped in a sports movie shell. For the Born to Watch crew, it’s not just about baseball; it’s about challenging the system, betting on the misfits, and finding magic in the margins.

So whether you’re a sabermetrics savant or just love a good underdog story, this episode is a must-listen.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Join the conversation:

• Is Moneyball the smartest sports movie ever made?
• Could you build a winning team with just data?
• And is Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane his most underrated role?

#BornToWatch #Moneyball #BradPitt #JonahHill #BaseballMovies #Sabermetrics #SportsMovies #FilmPodcast #AaronSorkin #MichaelLewis #PhilipSeymourHoffman #UnderdogStory #MovieNight

Grab your cricket bat, raid the fridge for a cold one, and head to the Winchester, because this week, the Born to Watch crew are diving deep into one of the smartest and most beloved horror-comedies of all time with their Shaun of the Dead (2004) review.

With G-Man MIA (probably off playing Tekken in the shed), Matt and Sir Dimmy hold the fort to break down Edgar Wright’s 2004 cult classic that reanimated the zombie genre and redefined the zombie flick with a pint of bitter and a dash of British wit.

In this week’s episode, the lads explore how Shaun of the Dead walks the tightrope between gore and giggles, creating a film that works just as well as a slacker comedy as it does a horror satire. Damo admits to confusing it with The World’s End (don’t worry, he’s new here), while Matt reveals he’s seen the film nearly 20 times and could watch it on loop, especially with a packet of pork crackle and a Pepsi Max.

From the iconic walk to the shop (twice), to the Queen-backed zombie beatdown in the Winchester, the boys dissect every major scene with the kind of reverence usually reserved for Tarantino or Scorsese. They also dig into Simon Pegg’s breakout role as the titular Shaun, Nick Frost’s glorious (and infuriating) turn as Ed, and the supporting cast of Britcom legends including Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, and the ever-reliable Bill Nighy.

They ask all the important questions:

• Is Shaun actually a zombie at the start of the film, who awakens into humanity?
• Could a pub really be the best place to ride out the apocalypse?
• And how the hell did Shaun survive that crowd of flesh-eaters outside the Winchester?

Damo goes full philosopher, questioning the human condition in the age of smartphones (spoiler: we’re all zombies), while Matt wonders why anyone would throw priceless vinyl at the undead.

But it’s not all jokes and Queen sing-alongs, the episode also touches on the emotional beats of the film, like Shaun’s relationship with his mum and stepdad, the heartbreak of watching loved ones turn, and the surprisingly poignant ending that still manages to sneak in one last gag.

The boys also fire off rapid takes in “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” with highlights like:

• The perfect pacing and editing of the dual morning walk sequences
• The underappreciated brilliance of the bizarro “mirror crew” scene
• And Ed’s ability to be the most annoying – yet somehow still likeable – flatmate in cinema history

Throw in some choice reviews from critics (both good and hilariously bad), box office trivia, and the revelation that director Edgar Wright used just $4 million to craft a film that grossed over $30 million and launched a thousand pub-themed Halloween costumes, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a breakdown.

Oh, and yes, the team briefly wonders why cricket bats are now over $1,000, a real horror show.

So whether you’re a diehard fan of the Cornetto Trilogy or new to the undead scene, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Join the conversation:

• Is Shaun of the Dead the best zombie comedy ever made?
• Would you ride out the apocalypse in a pub?
• And what’s the best record to throw at a zombie?

#BornToWatch #ShaunoftheDead #EdgarWright #SimonPegg #ZombieComedy #BritishHumour #HorrorComedy #NickFrost #CornettoTrilogy #MoviePodcast