Dan and Tom decode the 1979 comedy spy movie THE IN-LAWS. This movie stars Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. Plus they compare it to the 2003 remake with the same name.

The 1979 version of THE IN-LAWS is a classic comedy spy movie. But, the 2003 version is not held in the same high regard. Why is that?

Take a listen to find out more about the 1979 version. Why does it work? And, what works and what doesn’t work in the 2003 remake.

Some of the details we examine include:

• An overview of the plot
• The casting
• The chemistry between the two lead actors and their characters
• In what other movies have we seen some similar scenes as we see in THE IN-LAWS?
• How do they mislead the viewer as to Vince’s role in the beginning of the movie?
• What does Michael Lembeck, who played Tommy, have in common with Albert Brooks, other than appearing in a version of THE IN-LAWS.
• The success and failures of the casting in the 2003 version – Tom and Dan disagree here
• What was better and what was worse in the 2003 version?
• And more ….

There is a lot to decode, so take a listen to enhance your viewing experience as new things are discovered – worth a watch? Take a listen! Are you in?

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Have you seen THE IN-LAWS? If so, what did you think of it? Were there any other movies you think influenced this one that we didn’t mention?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3EcaZD7

This is the movie where Cameron Diaz returns to acting after a 10-year hiatus. So, she’s now back in action. And like in her last movie, she’s teaming up with Jaimie Foxx.

So, without giving away the movie, we talkthrough what we thought worked and didn’t work.

Some of the details we examine include:

· What worked

· What didn’t work

· The marketing tagline

· The cast

· The soundtrack

· The chemistry between the two lead actors and their characters

· Some of the good lines of dialogue in the movie

· In what other movies have we seen some similar scenes to the ones we see in BACK IN ACTION?

· Areas of disagreement between Dan and Tom as to if we thought this was worth your time.

· And more ….

There is a lot to examine, so take a listen to enhance your viewing experience as you watch this new spy movie. Is it worth a watch? Are you in?

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Have you seen BACK IN ACTION? If so, what did you think of it? Do you agree with Dan or Tom?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4jn4nC2

Join Dan for our Spy Movie News January 14 2025 edition.

First, a mystery we’ve mentioned in the last couple of Spy Movie News briefings about the upcoming Christopher Nolan Project is resolved! Then we talk about some issues between EON Productions and Amazon, take a look at spy series that have been cancelled or renewed, some upcoming spy movies and series, and then wrap with a tip of the hat to some industry workers who have passed in the last month.

Some of the shows we discuss include:

• · “The Old Man”
• · “A Man on the Inside”
• · “The Day of the Jackal”
• · “Mr. And Mrs. Smith”
• · “Black Doves
• · "The Night Agent”
• · "The Agency”
• · “Citadel”
• · “The Recruit”
• · BLACK BAG
• · "The Secret World of James Bond”
• · And more …

Do any of these upcoming shows excite you? If so, let us know which ones. Also, if you have any thoughts about the format of Spy Movie News, we’d love to hear those thoughts.

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4gTtB9w

Dan and Tom give us their 2024 year in review for SpyMovieNavigator.com and their podcast Cracking the Code of Spy Movies.

They talk about some of the spy movies they decoded last year. In some cases, they give a synopsis of the movie. You may discover an episode that decoded a movie you are interested in, or didn’t know you were interested in until you heard this episode. Remember their goal is to provide you with information that will enhance your movie viewing experience.

Some of the items they discuss in the 2024 year in review include:

• · How many spy movies they decoded in 2024 and since they started
• · Who some of the people they interviewed are
• · Some of the spy movies of which Dan and Tom had differing opinions
• · The episodes they call out about specific movies a spy movie fan should see
• · What is a character spotlight, and which ones have they done
• · What Luciana Paluzzi told Dan and Tom about their interview after it was over
• · What old TV series they decoded
• · What’s new on the website
• · Events they attended
• · And much more ...

What did you think of this episode? Did you hear about any episodes you missed that you now want to listen to? Are there other spy movies you’d like us to decode?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3PvY1m5

Netflix released the series “A Man on the Inside” which was based on the Oscar Nominated Chilean documentary “The Mole Agent”. In this episode, Dan and Tom decode these two shows. In both of these shows a “spy” is on a mission in a retirement community.

Besides discussing the shows themselves, they also break down the similarities and differences between them.

In this episode we discuss:

• What was real in the documentary?
• What wasn’t?
• Who Sergio is in real life?
• How the documentary was filmed
• The spy gadgets used in both shows
• The role of the family in both shows
• The actors in “A Man on the Inside”
• Some of the emotional impact of the story
• How the cinematography differed
• And More …

Dan and Tom disagree about whether this is a spy story. Take a listen to find out why.

If you’ve seen either or both of these shows, what are your thoughts? Do you think this a spy story? Should Dan and Tom release similar decoding episodes? Which order did you watch them? Did you like the documentary or the series better?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4frZ8xP

Dan and Tom decode what makes James Bond the best MI6 Agent. We’ve heard M refer to James Bond as the best agent, but what are the reasons he is the best?

Is it his training? Loyalty? Survival skills? Or is it something else? Listen to find out! We cover it all, with examples from the James Bond movies where the attributes discussed are displayed!

From:

• James Bond’s combat proficiency
• His marksmanship
• Driving expertise
• Technical skills
• Survival skills
• Bond’s resourcefulness
• His loyalty and patriotism
• And much more …

We touch on some of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels as well. Find out what makes Bond best!

We gave you our list. Did we miss any? Are there any on our list that you disagree with? What’s your list?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3BlEQIA

Luciana Paluzzi joins Dan and Tom for a wide-ranging interview. This is an interview we've been working to arrange for a while, and we are honored Luciana spent this time with us. And we're happy to be able to share this discussion with you.

Luciana’s acting career spanned 3 decades. Although she appeared in multiple spy movies and TV shows, her performance as Fiona Volpe in THUNDERBALL – a stand-out James Bond villain - is her most famous role in the eyes of spy movie fans.

Die-hard Paluzzi fans will know that she retired from acting at the age of 41 when she married her husband, Michael Jay Solomon, Did you know that they have been married for 46 years?

What’s the original spelling of her last name? Why did she change it?
How has Barbara Broccoli been to her?

How many grandchildren does she have and what do they call her?

In this episode, we discuss:

• Her amazing career
• Much about her experience filming her role as Fiona Volpe
• The “good news” and “bad news” that Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman relayed to her after her audition for THUNDERBALL
• Some of the James Bond actors she acted with in other movies and TV series
• What actor from THUNDERBALL she liked working with
• Conversely, what actor from THUNDERBALL that she didn’t
• How she got her first acting role
• How important Terence Young was to her life, not just her career
• Her family
• And more ….

So, take a listen to this interview. Even if you thought you knew Luciana Paluzzi, you will learn something new in this interview. As she tells us: "I think you're analyzing this to obsession". That’s our goal, learn something new about this wonderful actor.

As always, let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/41nO9C4