Episodes
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We start with CHASING CHASING AMY (1:44), trans filmmaker Sav Rodgersâ documentary about his relationship with Kevin Smithâs CHASING AMY, and an exploration of Rodgersâ reverence for Kevin Smithâs at-the-time groundbreaking but now much-more-questioned-about-its-narrative-ideas lesbian-falls-for-a-straight-man rom-com. Over the course of six years, Rodgersâ feelings change as he transitions, and interviews Smith, queer filmmakers and critics, academics, his own fiancĂ©e Riley (whom we all love), and Joey Lauren Adams, CHASING AMYâs star, who has *very* different feelings about it than writer-director Smith. Itâs a fascinating watch. Next, thereâs CONCLAVE (25:31), director Edward Bergerâs film about a papal conclave, run by Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), choosing a new pontiff, and the political and religious machinations that go along with it. Dave had resisted seeing this, but finally relented. AndâŠdid he like it the way Evan and Megan do? Finally, thereâs NICKEL BOYS (45:41), director and co-writer RaMell Rossâ adaptation of Colson Whiteheadâs Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. We have differing opinions about it, in particular the style in which itâs filmed, but we all found things we like about it, Megan in particular. Over on Patreon, we talk about Clint Eastwoodâs final film (weâre told) as director, the courtroom drama JUROR NO. 2.
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This week Megan and Dave talk about director Luca Guadagninoâs QUEER (2:28), an adaptation of William S. Burroughs 1985 novel (with a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes). Starring Daniel Craig as William Lee (a Burroughs stand-in), this movie left both Megan and Dave a little bewildered, as there were things they liked (the shooting-up scene, the color palette), and things they didnât like (Drew Starkeyâs performance as Leeâs love interest). Then Evan joins in for FLOW (22:38) an excellent animated film featuring a very cat-like cat and other animals as they survive a catastrophic flood. Finally thereâs NIGHTBITCH (39:53). Amy Adams becomes a dog (though thereâs more to it than that) and Scoot McNairy becomes a dope (heâs played this part before). What did we think of writer-director Marielle Hellerâs adaptation of Rachel Yoderâs novel? Over on Patreon, we talk about the Christmas horror flick BETTER WATCH OUT.
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Episodes manquant?
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Evan is off this week (doubtless watching PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES), so Megan and Dave take on KNOW YOUR PLACE (2:19) and THE BLACK SEA (35:29) as a duo. And as with many weeks, the movies we choose are linked thematically (often accidentally). In this case, both films tackle characters with feelings of being outsiders. In KNOW YOUR PLACE, Robel (Joseph Smith) balances being a typical American teenager with the familial demands of being the child of Eritrean immigrants, and he navigates the emotional and physical fallout that comes with feeling stuck between two competing sets of demands. And in THE BLACK SEA, Khalid (co-director Derrick B. Harden) travels to Bulgaria from Brooklyn and finds himself completely out of place - until he discovers he makes the locals happy by opening a cafe that serves Matcha tea. (Itâs more dramatic - and comedic - than that, and we cover all the ins and outs in our conversation.) Over on Patreon, we watched ON DANGEROUS GROUND, a classic noir film from 1951, to celebrate Noirvember.
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This week, we start things off at Shiz University, as Megan saw WICKED (2:22), the film adaptation of the stage musical, which is an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire. Does Jon M. Chu's film hold up under scrutiny? And how are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda? Next, Dave joins Megan to talk about GLADIATOR II (6:18), Ridley Scott's sequel to Ridley Scott's (ha) GLADIATOR, starring Paul Mescal. Megan and Dave's opinions diverge, but they agree on one thing: Denzel Washington's performance is absolutely unreal (in the best way). Then Evan joins in for a lively discussion of Steve McQueen's BLITZ (28:01), starring Saoirse Ronan as a single mother who puts her son on a train to safety during the early days of the German Blitz campaign over England. But her son (Elliott Heffernan) has other ideas that lead to peril, again and again and again. There's a compelling racial element to the story, but otherwise all three of us had different views of the film's success or failure. Over on Patreon, we talk about the zany 1987 Japanese comedy A TAXING WOMAN.
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This week, we took a gander at two films in current release: Megan and Evan watched BLINK TWICE (2:32), ZoĂ« Kravitzâs directorial debut starring Naomi Ackie as a woman who goes to a private island with a tech-bro (Channing Tatum) and parties with his friends, but things aren't what they seem to be. We were divided on this thriller. Then Dave joined them for MY OLD ASS (24:35), which is NOT about an aged donkey. Itâs writer-director Megan Parkâs sweet and charming coming-of-age tale of Elliot (Maisy Stella), a woman preparing to leave her small town for college in the big city, taking some mushrooms and meeting her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). There's more to it than that, but here's the real question: Which Spoilerpiece members cried during this one? Place your bets! Over on Patreon, we talk about the 1946 noir classic GILDA, starring Rita Hayworth.
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This week Megan talks about the psychological horror thriller HERETIC (2:18), starring a possibly career-best Hugh Grant. Then Evan, Megan, and Dave discuss the Nick Frost-starring horror flick BLACK CAB (11:34), and the excellent SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (28:56), with Cillian Murphy as an empathetic man slowly uncovering the ugly secrets of a local convent. Over on Patreon, we talk about JOHN WICK in honor of its tenth anniversary.
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This week, Dave gets boomerific yapping about the new Robert Zemeckis film HERE (3:14), starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and a bunch of other actors who should have known better, as they tackle Zemeckisâ latest blundered technology cry-fest. Gah. Then Megan and Evan talk about HIGH TIDE (13:54), Marco Calvaniâs queer love story, set in Provincetown, Mass., between a heartbroken undocumented Brazilian immigrant and a man leaving the country in a week. Finally, Dave and Megan discuss MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS (34:36), which is a documentary about the storming of the Bastille. Weird that a documentary about the Bastille would be called MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS, right? (Just kidding, itâs a documentary about legendary film composer and jazz pianist John Williams. Dave has been sacked. - ed.) Over on Patreon, we loooooved the 1995 Denzel Washington-starring, Carl Franklin-directed DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS.
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This week we watched THE LINE (2:41), a drama (sometimes called a thriller, but eh) about a fraternity brother who gets mixed up in his fratâs shady pledge shenanigans. Does it result in someoneâs death? Does the Pope shit in the woods? Then we watched MAGPIE (27:12), an atmospheric thriller starring Daisy Ridley (from an idea she had) about a woman dealing with her absolutely reprehensible husband's emotional affair. But is he really having an emotional affair? Are things even what they seem? As Evan says, does it all add up? And over on Patreon, we watched CARRIE, the winner of our October poll.
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This week, Megan reviews SMILE 2 (2:06), Parker Finn's grisly sequel to his great horror film SMILE, about a pop star (Naomi Scott) contending with addiction recovery and a new tour amidst sinister occurrences. The sequel is much more nerve-wracking and gory! Then, we all (Dave, Evan, and Megan) talk about MADS (16:09), David Moreau's unique and intense French horror film about a trio of teens dealing with a potentially bad drug trip and gnarly bodily issues. Lastly, we discuss WOMAN OF THE HOUR (40:39), Anna Kendrick's sharp, tense, and compelling directorial debut about the true-crime story of an aspiring actress (Anna Kendrick also stars) in 1970s Los Angeles on the TV show "The Dating Game," where one of the bachelor contestants is a serial killer. And on our Patreon bonus episode, we dive into the 2024 horror film IMMACULATE, directed by Michael Mohan and starring Sydney Sweeney!
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This week Evan and Dave kick things off with THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN (3:07) (after Dave forgets to do his own intro at the top; whoops), a documentary about the haenyeo, a declining and aging community of women in Jeju, South Korea, who dive for seafood as a job - or, as Evan more accurately describes it, a calling - while dealing with climate change, over-fishing, and crucially, wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Then Megan joins Evan and Dave for THE OUTRUN (17:17), director Nora Fingscheidtâs adaptation of Amy Liptrotâs memoir (with a screenplay by Liptrot, the director, and Daisy Lewis). Saoirse Ronan stars as Nora, an alcoholic whose struggle to stay sober takes her from rehab, to an outpatient facility, to her family farm, to one of the most remote isles in Scotlandâs Orkney Islands. We were all fascinated by it, but how much did we all like it? Over on Patreon, we talk about the ROSEMARYâS BABY prequel APARTMENT 7A.
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Hey, gang! There were some delivery problems this week, so we only have one new movie on the docket: MONKEY MAN! (Just kidding. That's on Patreon. Patrons can listen to that episode here.) No, this week we cover the new Dust Bowl psychological drama/horror flick HOLD YOUR BREATH (2:22), starring Sarah Paulson as a woman living through the Dust Bowl (natch) and kind of losing her mind because of some maybe-it's-real-maybe-not-tee-hee specter called The Grey Man who lives in the dust. Sound like a concept ripe for horror? No? Ya ain't wrong! We're not going to lie: We didn't like this one and we go off the rails talking about it because why not? Also making an appearance this week: The Bikini Inspector! (We weren't kidding about going off the rails, or as the Monkey Man whould say, going bananas.) Enjoy! We did!
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With Megan on vacation this week, Evan and Dave take on WILL & HARPER (2:42), the documentary about the friendship between Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele post-Harper's transition. This funny and tender (and occasionally sad) documentary about long friendships (Ferrell and Steele met at "Saturday Night Live") and the ways they change is the anti-MEGALOLOPIS (22:56), writer-director Francis Ford Coppola's bizarro take on whatever-the-fuck-it-is, with each actor performing in a different movie, a production design from Hades, and a story - or many stories - that add up to absolutely fuck-all. (It's not entirely fair that Dave is doing the write-up this week, as he thought MEGALOPOLIS works in precisely zero ways, whereas Evan found a few things to like about it). In any event, take a listen before you watch. Spoilers in no way actually spoil something that has to be seen to be believed. Trust us. Over on Patreon, we talk about Hitchcock's THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.
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This week on the show Megan and Dave talk about REZ BALL (2:20), director Sydney Freedlandâs drama about a Navajo high school basketball team. After a series of tragedies forces the coach and players to rethink the way they play ball, they adopt a technique they dub ârez ball,â which includes fast play and getting the ball to the hoop as quickly as possible - preferably within seven seconds of possession. Then Evan, Megan and Dave talk about writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza Samudioâs IN THE SUMMERS (22:29), which follows two sisters from adolescence to adulthood as they navigate their loving but volatile father during yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. And over on Patreon, we talk about this monthâs poll winner, the 1987 comedy BABY BOOM, starring Diane Keaton.
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On this weekâs show, Megan and Dave watched SPEAK NO EVIL (2:29), writer-director James Watkinsâ remake of the Danish film from 2022. As with many non-American horror films remade for American audiences, the new SPEAK NO EVIL leaves the originalâs first two-thirds relatively unchanged and then kicks the last third in the ass, replacing it with a watered down ending that, while not entirely stupid, ainât exactly aces. (That being said, the Danish original is extreme. Take a listen to our reactions to it here.) So while we werenât enamored of this new version, we think leads Mackenzie Davis and James McAvoy (at 100 percent) do excellent work, and the changes do have a few good moments sprinkled in. (And Megan likes Aisling Franciosiâs performance, too.) Then we talk about SEEKING MAVIS BEACON, a documentary by director Jazmin Jones about her attempts, along with producer Olivia McKayla Ross, to find RenĂ©e L'Esperance, the Haitian (and original) model for the software program Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. We had varied reactions, with Dave being more forgiving (!!) than Megan and Evan, who feel the film is dragged down by its pacing and all the problems that can come with uneven editing. Over on Patreon, we watched another movie that has a big twist: PRIMAL FEAR with Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Edward Norton. It was a first-time watch for Evan, and we have fun talking about how the ending and wheether it holds up 28 years later.
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It's a big week! Tim Burton's long-awaited BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (2:08) finally arrives after its thirty-six-year gestation â Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara reprise their roles, and Jenna Ortega co-stars â and does it live up to the praise being heaped upon it? Megan lets you know! Next, we all saw HIS THREE DAUGHTERS (18:42), Azazel Jacobs' family drama about three sisters (Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne) grappling with their father's imminent demise. This flick is getting raves, but not from us. Finally, Megan and Dave watched MERCHANT IVORY (39:31), Stephen Soucy's documentary about the legendary director-producer team of James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, partners in filmmaking and life, and all the people who moved in and out of Merchant/Ivory family in front of the camera (Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant, for two) and behind it (in particular, novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala). We liked it, with reservations (some of them big). And over on Patreon, we Spoilerpiece a movie that needs a spoiler warning: The 1987 Kevin Costner thriller NO WAY OUT!
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Itâs a 50-50 week on Spoilerpiece, as one of the movies we watch is crap, and one is a joy from start to finish. First, the crap, because we didnât want to end on a sour note: Lee Danielsâ THE DELIVERANCE (2:12), a derivative dumpster fire of a possession story cribbed from better possession stories. What makes it so awful, though? Glad you asked! Every character but one in this movie is an asshole. Like, a serious asshole. Andra Dayâs Ebony? Asshole. Glenn Close as her mother, Alberta? Asshole. MoâNique as the worldâs meanest social worker? Total asshole. We at Spoilerpiece donât usually need to root for a character, but when youâre watching a movie and hope the demon wins, something is amiss. But then thereâs the salve: MOUNTAINS (26:10), director and co-writer Monica Sorelleâs drama about a Haitian immigrant demolition worker living in Miami (Atibon Nazaire), his wife (Sheila Anozier), and their very American son (Chris Renois). All the bad vibes from THE DELIVERANCE are instantly erased! Praise Jesus! (If you have the misfortune of seeing THE DELIVERANCE, youâll understand.) And over on Patreon, our August poll winner is NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, the non-Eon Bond film featuring Sean Conneryâs return as 007.
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This week, Evan talks about BETWEEN THE TEMPLES (2:14), Nathan Silver's Jewish comedy starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane about a man's grade-school music teacher who becomes his adult Bat Mitzvah student. Unfortunately, he wasn't a fan of the awkward humor. Then, we (Dave and Megan) review HELL HOLE (13:24), John Adams and Toby Poser's (aka the Adams family) horror film about a fracking crew encountering an 1800s soldier, who's still alive with a parasite inside him. We had mixed reviews: One of us liked it, one hated it. Finally, we all discuss SMOKING TIGERS (34:19), So Young Shelly Yo's moving, sensitive, and insightful coming-of-age drama about a Korean-American teen (Ji-young Yoo) as she navigates attending an elite college prep school amidst her parents' separation. We loved it. And on our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, we cover Jim Jarmusch's NIGHT ON EARTH, in honor of Gena Rowlands, who recently passed away and stars in one of the global anthology's segments.
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This week, Megan fills Evan and Dave in on CLOSE TO YOU (1:31), starring Elliot Page (who also co-wrote the story) in Dominic Savage's tender and emotional indie drama as Sam, who journeys home for his father's birthday, his first trip to his hometown since his transition. We follow that up with SKINCARE (9:18), Austin Peters's thriller starring Elizabeth Banks as Hope, an esthetician with a line of products about to hit the marketplace. Unfortunately, another esthetician opens a location directly across from her, and wouldnât you know? Someone steals Hopeâs identity and messes with her in a way that could tank her product launch. We wish we could say we loved it. (We didnât.) Finally, Megan and Dave talk about ALIEN: ROMULUS (32:23), the Fede Ălvarez-directed sci-fi horror interquel starring Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. It takes the ALIEN series in a different direction, sorta, if not for all the derivative plot conventions and it lifts from just about every other ALIEN film. It has its moments (and itâs better than Ridley Scottâs last two hack jobs), but itâs a mixed bag. Over on Patreon, we talk about the 1989 teen satire HEATHERS, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, in honor of co-star Shannen Doherty.
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Because of some truly bizarre audio difficulties this week, Megan was unable to join us. Which is a bummer! Because she had things to say about both movies on the docket. First, Dave talks about DUCHESS (2:35), directed by Neil Marshall and written by Marshall and its star, Charlotte Kirk. And how is it? Well, it's dog shit! Like most of Marshall's movies! Ho ho! Then Evan and Dave talk THE INSTIGATORS (14:41), a Boston crime comedy that goes out of its way to be very Boston-crimey and Boston-funny, but doesn't quite do either well! Just how much charisma do Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have to exude in order to sell this farce? More than they do! More than they do, gang. (At least we get some good scenes with Hong Chau.) And because we had audio difficulties, the Patreon bonus episode didn't turn out (clicking, clacking, and buzzing; it was weird). But we'll figure out what's wrong with it so this kind of thing doesn't happen again. And we're so sorry! But please know we're taking care of it. Thanks for understanding, everyone!
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Dave jokes that itâs Meganâs big week on Spoilerpiece: She saw all three movies on the docket! First, she fills Evan and Dave in on DOCTOR JEKYLL (2:27), Joe Stephenson's gothic horror film starring Eddie Izzard as Dr. Nina Jekyll (good) and Rachel Hyde (bad) in a contemporary update of Robert Louis Stevensonâs classic novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Then Megan talks about SING SING (14:14), Greg Kwedar's tender and incredibly moving drama starring Colman Domingo and based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison. Megan loved Colman Domingoâs and Paul Raciâs performances, and has heaps of praise for the movie. Finally, everyone saw PEAK SEASON (24:48) Steven Kantner and Henry Loevner's poignant comic drama about the bond a burned-out New Yorker (Claudia Restrepo) makes with her fishing guide (Derrick Joseph DeBlasis) on a trip to Wyoming. We all loved it. Over on Patreon, Evan and Dave talk about Robert Altmanâs 3 WOMEN, which stars Shelley Duvall, who left us in early July.
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