The Way Back with Alex Ross Perry
Summary
Griffin, David, and guest Alex Ross Perry discuss Peter Weir’s 2010 film *The Way Back*, analyzing its cast, production challenges, and status as Weir’s final feature before retirement. The hosts debate the movie's quality, compare it to other "Way Back" titles, and explore how the film's reception contributed to Weir stepping away from Hollywood. They also touch on Jim Sturgis’s career trajectory and the broader context of directorial burnout.
Topics discussed
Intro: The Way Back, Happy Texas, and movie mishaps
Happy Texas: Sundance buy, production drama, and reviews
Peter Weir retrospective: Career highs, lows, and retirement
Oscar history: Walter Brennan, Sean Penn, and voting controversies
Sponsors: Alienware and TaskRabbit
The Way Back: Plot summary, casting, and script issues
The Way Back: Gulag setting, Ed Harris, and production challenges
Sponsors: Quince and Huel
The Way Back: Character dynamics, escape, and pacing
The Way Back: Ending, Yetis, and comparison to Cast Away
War movies: The Great Escape, Iwo Jima, and Vietnam films
Box office report: January 2010 rankings and flops
Outro: Gift bags, listener mail, and final rankings
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