This powerful but very entertaining movie depicts the efforts of lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative to force a retrial of Walter “Johnny D” McMillian in 1990s Alabama. Michael B Jordan and Jamie Foxx lead a strong cast in t

Episode 83 Thoughts & Themes 3: Things We Think We Know

Dec 23rd, 2020 41m 26s

In this, the final episode of 2020, Martin flies solo as he embarks on T&T 3, looking at common misconceptions through the medium of lemmings and trying to approach some complex societal issues from a fresh perspective. With a review and listen

Episode 82: Gorillas in the Mist

Dec 6th, 2020 1h 43m

This week sees Martin joined by Sean Munger and Cody Climer from the Green Screen podcast as they join forces to examine this 1988 movie about primatologist Dian Fossey and her efforts to study and protect mountain gorillas in Rwanda. It’s a wi

Episode 81: Battle of the Sexes

Oct 10th, 2020 1h 28m

In 1973, former men’s tennis No1 Bobby Riggs challenged women’s champion Billy Jean King to a $100k exhibition match. Riggs, an unapologetic chauvinist, gambler and hustler was 55 years old but still confident he could beat the best of the curr

Episode 80: Midway

Sep 19th, 2020 2h 24m

This week sees the welcome return of Ray Harris Jr from the long-running History of WWII Podcast as we examine 2019’s Midway, derided by critics yet loved by audiences. Not for the first time, we side very much with the audience and find oursel

Episode 79: Thoughts & Themes 2 Race Through Time

Sep 7th, 2020 1h 1m

This week sees the second outing of the T&T supplementary. Join Martin as he examines the multiple issues involving the African American community in the US and how this has been depicted in a number of movies already covered by HbH including G

Episode 78: Sully: Miracle on the Hudson

Aug 6th, 2020 1h 40m

This week we are joined by Des Latham, regular guest host, this time in his capacity as the host of Plane Crash Diaries, Des being a keen aviator and student of aviation safety. We look at 2016’s Sully, detailing the incredible landing on the

Episode 77. Thoughts & Themes 1: Hidden Meanings

Jul 25th, 2020 43m 51s

Welcome to the first episode of Thoughts & Themes in which Martin will look for the themes and deeper meanings within Braveheart and Gladiator plus references to Kingdom of Heaven and 300. We look beyond the factual errors which all of the feat

Episode 76: The Highwaymen

Jul 18th, 2020 1h 22m

We dive into the 2018 Netflix movie starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the two ex-Texas Rangers who led the pursuit of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, seeking to bring to an end their murderous crime spree. The movie takes a very dif

Summer 2020 update and introductions

Jul 11th, 2020 14m 55s

News of the amended planned episodes plus a new addition to the HbH library; Thoughts and Themes will launch towards the end of July 2020, complete with a new variation of our theme music.

Episode 75: Young Guns

Jun 20th, 2020 1h 57m

This week sees Martin joined by Chris Wimmer, host of both Infamous America and Legends of the Old West podcast series’ who brings an expert eye to the examination of 1988’s Young Guns, the story of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War, sta

Episode 74: The Coal Miner’s Daughter

Jun 6th, 2020 1h 16m

This episode examines the 1980 movie The Coal Miner’s Daughter, telling the story of the early life and subsequent early career of Loretta Lynn, one of the matriarchs of Country music, from her tough Kentucky childhood to becoming a Country leg

Episode 73: Zulu Dawn

May 16th, 2020 2h 17m

Episode 73 Zulu Dawn. Sunday 17th May 2020. This week we focus on 1979’s Zulu Dawn, a much-underrated and little-known prequel to 1964’s Zulu, concentrating on Lord Chelmsford’s advance into Zulu territory and the disastrous battle of Isandhlwa

Episode 72: The People vs Larry Flynt

Apr 18th, 2020 1h 57m

Whatever people think about Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt, he fought a number of legal battles for the right to publish, battles which effectively became a universal fight for the right to free speech. This 1996 movie resonates today as

Episode 71 Denial

Mar 21st, 2020 1h 37m

Episode 71 Denial, 22nd March 2020. In our latest outing we examine 2016’s movie telling the story of Professor Deborah Lipstadt, an American historian and author who wrote a book about Holocaust deniers in which she named David Irving, a Briti

Episode 70.4 The Social Network Part 4

Mar 7th, 2020 41m 56s

Martin and Jules arrive at the conclusion of the movie, examine both its accuracy and entertainment but stress that despite the very high entertainment value, as far as provoking thought and discussion about wider topics, this movie is far grea

Episode 70.3 The Social Network Part 3

Feb 29th, 2020 44m 36s

Join Martin and guest-host Jules with the continuing story as the Winklevoss brothers turn up the heat on their efforts to stop Mark Zuckerberg developing his Facebook concept, still complaining that he had stolen their idea and we meet Sean Pa

Episode 70.2 The Social Network Part 2

Feb 22nd, 2020 50m 51s

This week sees us dive into the main body of the show for which we are joined by software engineer and HbH’s theme music composer Jules Cisek who has some fascinating insights into the world of IT and Silicone Valley, primed to hit us all with

Episode 70.1 The Social Network Part 1

Feb 15th, 2020 39m 24s

This week’s episode is 2010’s portrayal of the genesis of Facebook with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg played by Jesse Eisenberg. Directed by Fight Club’s David Fincher and written by the West Wing screen writer Aaron Sorkin the movie

Episode 69.2 Frost/Nixon Part 2

Feb 1st, 2020 50m 38s

Episode 69.2 Frost/Nixon Part 2. We rejoin the action as the interviews begin, the wily veteran politician determined to retain control of the narrative and to try and rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the American people. Frost’s research te

Episode 69.1 Frost/Nixon Part 1

Jan 25th, 2020 50m 47s

Episode 69.1 Frost/Nixon Part 1. Adapted from the play of the same name and starring the same two actors in the title roles, Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, this movie attempts to tell the story of a series of interviews between disgraced for

Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 2: Richard III (1955)

Jan 18th, 2020 1h 46m

Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 2: Richard III (1955). Laurence Olivier’s Richard III is renowned for portraying King Richard as a Machiavellian conspirator, reveling in his villainy and driven by personal ambition. To take as objecti

Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 1: Henry V (1989)

Jan 11th, 2020 1h 37m

Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 1: Henry V (1989). In this week’s part of the Shakespearean episode we examine Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 adaption of Henry V. Martin flies solo though his monologue is supplemented by multiple clips from t

Episode 67: The Insider Part 3 of 3

Dec 29th, 2019 35m 37s

Episode 67: The Insider Part 3 of 3. As we hurtle toward the end of another year and HbH’s third birthday, we conclude our look at The Insider, wrap up the reality and let you know what became of the various protagonists.

Episode 67: The Insider Part 2 of 3

Dec 22nd, 2019 39m 29s

Episode 67: The Insider Part 2 of 3. We continue our focus on this powerful movie about Jeffrey Wigand, tobacco industry whistleblower and, aware of the time of year, take the opportunity to wish all of you a happy HbH holiday season.