On Cinema at the Cinema Season 8 Episode 6: "Hands of Stone" and "Mechanic: Resurrection"

Tales of boxing and Jason Statham hit the silver screen. Also, Gregg visits the birthplace of perhaps cinema's greatest achievement.

An open-shirted Tim welcomes the viewers, and shows off his new vape pod. He says he reconnected with Dr. San, who admitted he got the dosage wrong on the previous vaping system. According to Tim, this new system complements rather than replaces eating, and is infused with vitamins and “a slight psychoactive element” for creativity. Unfortunately, Axiom has not been around as much lately to provide his constant emotional support, but his sister has proven to be an- ahem- more than adequate substitute.

Gregg informs Tim that the landlord of the Victorville Film Archives facility has complained about Tim and Dekkar's noisy songwriting activities there. This rather incenses Tim, who feels Gregg is hampering his creativity and letting the landlord push him around. He offers to talk to the landlord himself; Gregg does not like the idea, but Tim insists. The two bicker about the issue for a bit before jumping into the movies.

Hands of Stone, a boxing movie, features Robert de Niro, who has never done a movie Gregg doesn't like. Tim gives the movie five bags, calling it one of his favorites of the year. Gregg says the film is essentially Raging Bull 2 but with a twist, as de Niro is now playing a trainer instead of a fighter. He further compares it to the film Rocky Balboa, in which Rocky becomes a trainer. He awards the film five bags and predicts it will take home Oscar gold. Tim does a Robert de Niro impression; Gregg isn't all that impressed.

Next up is Mechanic: Resurrection, starring Tim's favorite actor, Jason Stratham, and Tommy Lee Jones, his favorite actor too. Tim says the film is similar to Decker; Gregg disagrees, saying Jack Decker prevented assassinations and wasn't an assassin himself. Tim replies that Decker would in fact assassinate certain political figures. Gregg tries to nix the conversation immediately, not wanting the show to be shut down. He describes Mechanic's main character as an antihero, to Tim's apparent chagrin. They both award the film five bags. A particularly powerful series of vape hit freaks Tim out, exasperating Gregg.

For On Cinema On Location, Gregg visits the ranch house where Orson Welles wrote Citizen Kane (1941, 119 minutes), in Victorville. The camera cuts back to the theater to reveal Tim taking a series of deep vape hits in rapid succession. He then writhes in agony before hastily undoing his jeans; the camera mercifully cuts out before disaster strikes.

Hands of Stone (2016, 111 mins.)
Tim: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Gregg: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 + 🥊🥊; OSCAR PICK

Mechanic: Resurrection (2016, 98 mins.)
Tim: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Gregg: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

• This episode establishes the Victorville Film Archives as operating out of a storage facility.