On Cinema at the Cinema Season 7 Episode 2: "Black Mass" and "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials"

Tim and Gregg review Black Mass and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.

Tim welcomes the viewers to the latest episode of Lucky Season 7, and introduces his guest, Gregg Turkington from the Victorville Film Archives. Gregg says he is still in the process of cataloging the “literally thousands” of movies in his new collection, using his signature VHS Coding System. He also provides an update on the third season of Decker, saying all 20 episodes have been written and the cast secured, and that it will take place in “the most exotic locale yet.”

Tim takes this opportunity to announce he has formed a band, called Dekkar. Gregg takes exception to the band's name, arguing that it will confuse fans of Decker, but Tim says it is a completely different spelling. Tim says their first EP recording will be made over the weekend, featuring the title track “Empty Bottle.”

Finally it comes time for the movies, starting with Black Mass which features Johnny Depp and Dakota (like the states) Johnson. Tim says it was a nice action movie, in the same vein as The Godfather (1972, 175 mins.) and Goodfellas (1990, 146 mins). Gregg says it sheds light on a “real problem in America,” namely gangsters. He criticizes the casting, however, opining that Johnny Depp's talents were wasted on a businessman character instead of a more fanciful one. He docks the film a bag of popcorn for this reason, bringing its total to four bags. But since he liked the movie so much, he restores the fifth bag.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is “emblematic” of the Maze Runner series, according to Tim. He praises the film for being “true to the characters,” and compares it to his experience running through corn fields as a child. Gregg says it has “been too long” since the last Maze Runner film, and takes Hollywood to task for that. He describes it as “scary” and doesn't recommend taking small children to it. He awards it highest marks, however.

Gregg's Popcorn Classics features a variation on the popular segment. He brings out a clear bag stuffed with VHS tapes, and has Tim close his eyes and pull out a tape at random. Tim digs deep and pulls out Our Song, a “temporary, teen movie, coming-of-age tale” according to Gregg, who admits he hasn't seen it.

Black Mass (2015, 123 mins.)
Tim:🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 + 🥤
Gregg: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015, 131 mins.)
Tim: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 + 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤
Gregg: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 + 1 whistle

• First mention of the band Dekkar, as well as their hit song “Empty Bottle.”
• After the lights dim, Gregg asks Tim whether he is going to a party hosted by a “Dr. Luther,” evidently unaware of the doctor's true identity.