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We Paid To See This

A light-hearted comedic movie podcast focusing on the week's new cinema releases. Darren Hayes and Anthony Armentano spend their hard earned (or borrowed) cash to see the latest film releases and tell you what they thought. Because they don't get in for free, their opinions are honest. Honestly! May contain funny bits (they're both Groundlings trained improvisers) and strange non sequiturs (Anthony has a degree in film and Darren has an Olympic medal in rambling). Maybe some naughty words too.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 27, 2017

Our end of year special where we discuss our lists of top 10 favorite movies released in 2017, as well as honorable mentions and a few stinkers.  From 'Ingrid Goes West' to 'The Justice League', From 'The Last Jedi' to 'I, Tonya' - we run the gamut of genres to select and discuss the films of 2017 that truly made an impact upon us, positive and negative. You might be surprised to find which movies made which lists!

Dec 19, 2017

CONTAINS SPOILERS! There’s been a disturbance in the force. A new Star Wars movie is always a seismic event but neither Darren or Anthony expected this one to stir up the ground shaking divide of intense reaction Rian Johnson’s ‘The Last Jedi’ has.  Unless you’ve been hiding under a (Dagobah) rock, you’re aware this installment, the 8th in the saga series, has challenged audiences and quite literally divided opinion. We both LOVED really liked and really didn’t like parts of this movie, and that’s OK.  In this episode, we discuss why. Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega,  Kelly Marie Tran, Benicio del Toro, Laura Dern, Domnhall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Ngô Thanh Vân and more.

Dec 12, 2017

This week, we get right down to business and butt heads over Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' (Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer), rave about the Tonya Harding biopic, 'I, Tonya' (Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney), then segue into a conversation about being constantly connected to everything in the age of the Internet. Michael Stuhlbarg continues to deliver the goods, and Darren fends off 'The Last Jedi' spoilers. We attend a Q&A from a movie we may have mentioned called, 'Call Me By Your Name'.

Dec 5, 2017

This episode is jam-packed with almost as much movie talk as sexual innuendo. Anthony sees Dee Rees' new Netflix film, 'Mudbound' (Jason Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blidge, Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund), and Darren sees another showing of 'Call Me By Your Name'. We also talk James Franco's 'The Disaster Artist' (Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Seth Rogen), and Darren sees 'Call Me By Your Name'. Plus Darren sees 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Call Me By Your Name'. We love our stuffed animals, get ready for 'The Last Jedi', and drink a whole lot of caffeine. We watch 'Call Me By Your Name'. AGAIN. Teddy Bears are the new peaches. 

Nov 28, 2017

We're back from our respective Thanksgivings, and after we're done musing about family and food, we get down to business. Reviews include Pixar's 'Coco' (Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez), 'Darkest Hour' (Gary Oldman, Ben Mendelsohn, Lily James), and Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of 'Call Me By Your Name' (Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg). 'Lady Bird' and 'In Bruges' are touched on, 'Frozen' gets shamed, and Darren's sultry tones read to you from a book. Snapple Facts return!

Nov 21, 2017

We recount drunken nights, Mario Batali's cannoli, and a new way to let people know you're interested. Movie reviews include Zack Snyder/partially Joss Whedon's 'Justice League' (Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller), Richard Linklater's 'Last Flag Flying' (Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne), and the Netflix documentary, 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond' (Jim Carrey, Andy Kaufman, Danny DeVito). Charles Manson's dead, but one of us eats ice cream cake with just his face, so consider the crazy-void filled. Public Service Announcement: Know which side of the shot glass you're drinking from.

Nov 14, 2017

Darren flies straight in from Mexico just in time for this week's round of reviews. Movies include Martin McDonagh's 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell), Kenneth Branagh's 'Murder on the Orient Express' (Judy Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe), and 'My Friend Dahmer' (Ross Lynch, Anne Heche, Vincent Kartheiser). We talk about the intimacy of borrowing cellphones, Darren fends off an aggressive wedding dancer, and Anthony has a series of complicated run-ins with a neighbor. We ponder Jeffery Dahmer's ideal menu.

Nov 7, 2017

Darren leaves for college, Anthony takes an uncomfortable shower, and we dive straight into two movies; Taika Waititi's hilariously epic 'Thor: Ragnarok' (Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo), and Greta Gerwig's second directorial feature, 'Lady Bird' (Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Lucas Hedges). Jeff Goldblum rockets through the Goldblum ceiling. Both of us get a little homesick. Plus, we finish our thoughts on the newest season of 'Stranger Things'.

Oct 31, 2017

As darkness falls across the land on this fair All Hallows' Eve, we fall directly into your ear pits. Reviews include the #1 movie in the country, the newest 'Saw' installment, 'Jigsaw' (Tobin Bell, Matt Passmore, Hannah Emily Anderson), and George Clooney's latest directorial effort, 'Suburbicon' (Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac). We scare you with our horrifying tales of blood pudding, and water bottles. Darren whoops it up at a Halloween party at the Jackson's house on the weekend, and Anthony really doesn't ruin 'Stranger Things', probably. We also chat about the new re-release of 'Little Shop of Horrors', and Vince Vaughn's new film, "Brawl in Cell Block 99". How do you achieve the desired consistency of your bowel movements?

Oct 24, 2017

It's a one movie kind of week! And that movie is Yorgos Lanthimos' follow up to 'The Lobster', 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' (Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan). We rave about Alicia Silverstone's performance, add a new entry to the list of Cinema's Most Uncomfortable Handjobs, and one of us reveals a never before heard secret. Darren pitches his idea for Hollywood's newest celebrity installation, and Anthony talks to his log at the new Double R Diner in Los Angeles. Finally, we give some love to Netflix's new comedy special, 'Patton Oswalt: Annihilation'.

Oct 17, 2017

Amidst a sea of emotion, we bring you the reviews of three movies: Noah Baumbach's frustratingly titled film, 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)' starring Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Dustin Hoffman, HBO's aptly titled Steven Spielberg documentary, 'Spielberg' (Brian De Palma, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas), and the just...simply titled horror/comedy, 'Happy Death Day' (Jessica Rothe, Ruby Modine, Israel Broussard). Baseball heartbreak, dolphin drama, and the world's longest pee take center stage.

Oct 10, 2017

We speak to you amidst the dropping of the 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' trailer, and its subsequent ticket sale frenzy. Still, we review two films, 'The Florida Project' (Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite), and Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic, 'Blade Runner 2049' (Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto). After a week of reflection, we talk about the passing of Tom Petty, and recommend Peter Bogdanavich's biopic, 'Running Down a Dream'; which can be found on Netflix. Anthony wants to be where the prostitutes and cops are, and Darren continues to fight disease.

Oct 3, 2017

One of us is sick, and the other one is working on it. Heal us with your ears! We review Harry Dean Stanton's posthumous film, 'Lucky' (David Lynch, Ron Livingston, John Carroll Lynch), Stephen Frears' Queen Victoria biopic, 'Victoria and Abdul' (Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Eddie Izzard), and Doug Liman's 'American Made' (Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright). Anthony escapes a mechanical arm, Darren won't rehearse just anywhere, and we talk Tom Petty.

Sep 26, 2017

This X-tended episode is jam packed with four phat films. Including, writer/director Mike White's latest, 'Brad's Status' (Ben Stiller, Austin Abrams, Michael Sheen), Lady Gaga's Netflix doc, 'Gaga: Five Foot Two' (directed by Chris Moukarbel), the Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs biopic, 'Battle of the Sexes' (Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Bill Pullman), and 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' (Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore). We hit some balls, suck up airtime, and try to please you. We talk the monster that is fame, and get in touch with ASMR.

Sep 19, 2017

This week in SPOILERS, we review 'Mother!'  No, not your mother, Darren Aronofsky's 'Mother!' (Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Harris). And yes we give a good chunk of the film away, so see the movie first, or play fast and loose with your SPOILER ALERT. We also see film essayist, and first time, feature filmmaker Kogonada's love letter to modern architecture, 'Columbus' (John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson, Parker Posey). Plus, Anthony completely blows a film recreation, and Darren expels all of his social energy. We talk Facebook unfriending, and say goodbye to Harry Dean Stanton. 

Sep 12, 2017

Darren review's the latest, increasingly popular adaptation of Stephen King's 'IT' (Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis), and Anthony tackles Lake Bell's new feature, 'I Do...Until I Don't' (Ed Helms, Paul Reiser, Mary Steenburgen, Amber Heard). We Bruce Springsteen-ify some adult contemporary hits, rave about Dolly Wells, gush over the studly Richard Dreyfuss and his Oscar winning role in Neil Simon's 'The Goodbye Girl' and talk about our own personal Pennywises. John Wayne Gacy wins. At the top of the show, 'Ingrid Goes West' gets a little more love and we take a look back at teen Jodie Foster's controversial thriller, 'The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane'. 

Sep 5, 2017

Hydrogen bombs fall, Los Angeles burns, and we talk about movies; including the Safdie brothers' indie crime thriller, 'Good Time' (Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi), Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's improv heavy 'Trip to Spain', and the 40th Anniversary release of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (Richard Dryefuss, Teri Garr, Francois Truffaut, Melinda Dillon). Standup looks good on Darren, Anthony gets uncomfortable to the point of paranoia, and we find out where dreams come from. David Lynch delivers the Twin Peaks finale, and we're all about it.

Aug 29, 2017

This week, we talk excess in the age of the Internet, add a little something special to a Lady Gaga classic, and graduate to becoming full fledged hypocrites. Like us please! We review the art comedies Ingrid Goes West (Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Wyatt Russell), and Dave Made a Maze (Nick Thune, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Adam Busch). SPOILER ALERT! We delve into the most recent Twin Peaks episode, and share our thoughts on the series as it starts to wrap up. Taylor Swift and Katy Perry's most recent music videos can get the heck out of here. Plus there's some Groundhog Day remembrance and Rick and Morty gushing. 

Aug 22, 2017

Darren dishes on his problematic Palm Springs getaway. Anthony gets mistaken for Jon Snow more than once, and we scat about scat. We review Steven Soderbergh's return to the big screen, 'Logan Lucky' (Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough, Daniel Craig), and the newest installment of 'The Conjuring' franchise, 'Annabelle: Creation' (Anthony LapPaglia, Miranda Otto, Talitha Eliana Bateman). We crush on Jack Antonoff, meet the best bartender in the Bay Area, and an old ghostly favorite briefly graces us with his presence. As Donald Trump continues to stare into the sun, we talk about bad purchases. Do you know who Rebecca Blunt is? We sure don't. Someone please tell us!

Aug 15, 2017

This week, our plans for a shortened show go haywire. We review the new Taylor Sheriden film, 'Wind River' (Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal, Gil Birmingham), and Al Gore's important, yet inconveniently titled documentary, 'An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power'. Darren prepares for his Palm Springs work-cation, Anthony has car trouble, and Katy Perry does how we do. We give you a peek behind the 'We Paid to See This' curtain, and describe the Lady Gaga show we haven't seen yet.

Aug 9, 2017

Trump's on Twitter, the world is ending, and we review the Stephen King adaption, 'The Dark Tower' (Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Jackie Earle Haley), plus the indie comedy, 'Landline' (Jenny Slate, Jay Duplass, Edie Falco, John Turturro). 'Twin Peaks', and 'Rick and Morty' are also discussed. Anthony has a urinary crisis. Darren turns the corner on Idris Elba. We call for the end of Twitter, unless you're tweeting us.

Aug 1, 2017

Anthony's flight gets delayed, Darren gets vaped on at the movies, and we give some of our crankiest reviews of all time; including, 'Atomic Blonde' (Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman), and 'Brigsby Bear' (Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Claire Danes). Kathryn Bigelow's 'Detroit' (John Boyega, John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie, Algee Smith) is also discussed. Darren also doles out some love to HBO's 'The Defiant Ones' and we cut all our hair off, live in the studio. Just kidding. I just wrote that to see if anyone reads episode descriptions. 

Jul 25, 2017

Anthony reviews Luc Besson's ambitious epic, 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' (Cara Delevingne, Dane DeHaan, Clive Owen, Rihanna), Darren falls in love during 'Lady Macbeth' (Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis), and we rave about Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' (Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Harry Styles). Both of us are in ongoing battles with our neighbors, and one of us might possibly be paranoid. Oh and by the way we're totally wrong about Luc Besson directing an Alien film.  Whoops. Netflix’s ‘To The Bone’ (Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves) is also discussed.

Jul 18, 2017

This week, we've got it all. We talk 'Twin Peaks', global warming, the state of politics, Ed Sheeran and the season 7 premiere of 'Game of Thrones', more thoughts on 'Baby Driver', horrifyingly gruesome facts about the praying mantis, and of course, Netflix's GLOW. We review Matthew Heinemann's Syrian journalist documentary, 'City of Ghosts', and Matt Reeves' 'War For the Planet of Apes' (Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Toby Kebbell, and Judy Greer). 

Jul 11, 2017

This week, we review David Lowery's latest film, 'A Ghost Story' (Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck), and reclaimed, Marvel juggernaut, 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., and Marisa Tomei). Anthony survives a blackout, Darren tries to sell the show to the folks at the local coffee shop, and we slowly poison ourselves with microwaved wax. We also dish briefly about the documentary, 'GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling', which you can watch now on Netflix.

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