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The second film in our pairing pedantically entitled "Uncomfortably Prescient Dystopian Science Fiction" moves ahead 40 years from the first. Directed by Mike Judge and written by Judge and Etan Cohen, 2006's "Idiocracy" looks at an army experiment in suspended animation that, thanks to its director being arrested, goes on much longer than expected! Test subjects Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson) and Rita (Maya Rudolph), two average people who were supposed to awaken a year after going to sleep, end up waking after 500 years into a world gone dumb, due to the fact that the uneducated have been procreating 100 times faster than their intelligent brethren! Joe awakens and meets his future lawyer, Frito (Dax Shepard) and a stoned doctor (Justin Long) before being arrested. In prison, Joe is given an IQ test, and is determined to be the smarted man in the world! Joe is taken to the White House where President Comacho (Terry Crews) makes him the Secretary of the Interior and gives him the job of fixing all of the nation's problems. After reuniting with Rita, Joe and Frito attempt to start repairing the world by figuring out why none of the nation's crops aren't growing! Also starring Patrick Fischler, Darlene Hunt, and Thomas Haden Church, the film from 2006 plays more like a future documentary than a comedy, especially when looked at in 2025! Plus, the trio reveal which Christopher Guest films will populate the next pairing on the podcast!

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One of the things that separates science fiction from any other genre is its ability to gaze into a crystal ball and attempt to predict what the future might be like if humanity continues on a certain path. This pairing is dedicated to science fiction films that looked into a darker future for humankind and, unfortunately, seem to have been uncomfortably prescient with their predictions, as evinced by the direction certain civilizations seem to be headed. First up, from the brilliant mind of author Ray Bradbury and the direction of acclaimed French director Francios Truffaut, is 1966's "Fahrenheit 451!" Set in an undetermined future, humanity has chosen to turn its back on the written word in favor of "equality for all." Newspapers have become pictograms, television is the primary form of learning (although it's completely controlled by the government), and firemen now have a different job: They locate and destroy (by burning) any books or other written materials found and confiscated by the authorities. The film follows Guy Montag (Oskar Werner). A fireman by profession, he is married to a drugged and brainwashed woman, Linda (Julie Christie) who is clearly unintelligent and passive. One day, on the way home from work, Montag meets Clarisse (also played by Julie Christie), who asks him if he has ever been tempted to read one of the books before he burns it, to see what the government is so afraid of. Thus begins Montag's awakening to the reality of his world and its mission. Also starring Cyril Cusack and Bee Duffell!

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Our tribute to Gene Hackman moves to 2001 and his only collaboration with writer/director Wes Anderson, in a part Anderson wrote specifically for Hackman. In 2001's "The Royal Tenenbaums, also written by Anderson and Owen Wilson, Hackman plays estranged family patriarch Royal Tenenbaum. He is many years separated from, but still married to, wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston), and is father to three children: Chas (Ben Stiller), Richie (Luke Wilson), and adopted daughter Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow). Childhood next-door neighbor and friend of the children, Eli Cash (Owen Wilson), and house manager Pagoda (Kumar Pallana) round out the initial cast. As the story moves ahead to the children's adulthood, we also meet Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray), Margot's husband, Etheline's accountant and fiance Henry Sherman (Danny Glover), and Chas's children Ari (Grant Rosenmeyer) and Uzi (Jonah Meyerson). Narrated by Alec Baldwin, the story chronicles the numerous dysfunctional relationships inherent in being a Tenenbaum, parent-to-child, friend-to-friend, and sibling-to-sibling, in Wes Anderson's inimical style. Plus, the trio reveal which two eerily prescient dystopian science fiction films make up their next, and rather unsettling, pairing!

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On February 18th, 2025, legendary actor Gene Hackman was found dead in his home. With a career few actors experience, Hackman was a two-time Oscar winner and was a part of over a hundred separate cinematic projects. This pairing is dedicated to the career of Gene Hackman, starting with 1986's Oscar-nominated basketball film "Hoosiers!" Directed by David Anspaugh and written by Angelo Pizzo, the film follows former college basketball coach Normal Dale (Hackman) who returns from a 12-year hiatus to take over as head basketball coach at Hickory High School in rural Indiana. Basketball is the other religion in the town of Hickory, and Dale begins with only five players, an absent superstar, and a reticent and hostile community. Slowly, over time, he earns the respect of his players, the trust of his fellow teacher Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey), rehabilitates the town drunk Shooter (Dennis Hopper), and converts the townies to his flavor of basketball. Based on the true story of the Milan Indians of Milan, Indiana and their 1954 state championship. Also starring Sheb Wolley, Chelcie Ross, and Michael Sassone.

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