On the Count of Three – Best Last Day Ever
Jerrod Carmichael stars in and first-time directs ‘On the Count of Three,’ a dark, but wholesome indie also starring Christopher Abbot.
Tag: film
‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ is a fun, fleeting return to the Crawley estate
Directed by Simon Curtis and written by Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey: A New Era is a sequel to the 2019 film. You know the drill.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Horror or Horrible?
Is there a doctor in the multiverse? Sam Raimi is back in the director chair for Doctor Strange 2, the biggest MCU movie since the last one.
Liam Neeson, Martin Campbell, and Memory
Directed by Martin Campbell, ‘Memory’ stars Liam Neeson as an assassin for hire and Guy Pearce as the detective who’s after him.
Summer Movie Preview 2022 – with Dan Murrell!
From Doctor Strange and two Thors to Buzz Lightyear (sort of?) and dinosaurs, here’s our Summer Movie Preview for 2022!
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – Nicolas Cage against the Machine
Nicolas Cage stars as…himself! In ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.’ Tune in for our review with special guest Clint Worthington.
The Northman – Robert Eggers’ OG IP
In this special bonus episode of Cinemaholics, we discuss ‘The Northman,’ a new revenge blockbuster from auteur director Robert Eggers.
‘The Northman’ is the brutal, transportive blockbuster we need right now
Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, and Anya-Taylor Joy star in Robert Eggers’ ‘The Northman,’ a viking revenge epic with blood to spare.
RRR – Run Run Run to the Theater!
No really, we’re excited to talk about RRR, a buzzy new blockbuster that is too epic to fit the word epic on this week’s podcast!
Ambulance and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – Are They Up to Speed?
Two big-budget blockbusters, Ambulance and Sonic 2, sped into theaters this past weekend, but which one is the most endearingly chaotic?
The Bubble – Judd Apatow’s Pandemic Piece
Now on Netflix, Judd Apatow’s newest comedy, ‘The Bubble,’ features an A-list cast attempting to make a blockbuster during COVID.
Everything Everywhere All at Once – We’ve Got Googly Eyes
No time like the present to talk about Everything Everywhere All at Once, but also Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood!
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ goes boldly where so many blockbusters have gone before
Idris Elba as Knuckles? You gotta be echidning me.
This Year’s Oscars Hit Different – Also, The Lost City and 7 Days!
In addition to reviewing The Lost City, the latest from Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, we discuss the Oscars’ biggest, ahem, surprises.
Oscars 2022 – If We Picked the Winners!
Live from the internet, Jon Negroni and Will Ashton pick their Oscars winners for the 2022 Academy Awards, using the official nominations.
A Madea Homecoming – Death, Taxes, and Tyler Perry
Directed by Tyler Perry (again), Madea is back at it (again) on Netflix (again) and you better believe she’s mad about something (again).
X and Deep Water – This Movie Cucks
This week, we have a double feature review for ‘X,’ a new horror slasher from Ti West, and ‘Deep Water,’ an erotic thriller on Hulu.
Turning Red – Pixar’s Pandemic Panda Panic
The Batman – But also After Yang and Fresh!
Cinematic vengeance is ours on this week’s episode of the podcast, where we’re covering the latest from DC, plus two Sundance favorites!
‘Turning Red’ is pretty wild, even for Pixar
Pixar’s newest animated film, ‘Turning Red,’ is a beast when it comes to comedy. But will audiences appreciate its big, bold style?
Cyrano – Peter Dinklage’s Song of Solomon (Podcast)
Peter Dinklage stars as Cyrano in the musical adaptation of the classic play, also starring Haley Bennett and directed by Joe Wright.
‘The Batman’ returns to the basics with a vengeance, but not an identity
Robert Pattinson plays a newer, younger, and darker Batman in Matt Reeves’ reboot also starring Jeffrey Wright, Zoë Kravitz, and Paul Dano.
Dog – Channing Tatum’s Divorced Dad Era (Podcast)
Channing Tatum co-directed a movie? Now that’s a real gambit! Guest Charlie Ridgely is here to help us review Dog!
Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Who would go to brunch with Leatherface? (Podcast)
Jon and Will jump onto the Cinemaholics podcast to discuss the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, plus they slice into the overall franchise.
Uncharted – Cinemaholics Podcast
Three grown men talking about video games and movies? Not exactly uncharted territory, but we’re having fun.
Marry Me, I Want You Back – Cinemaholics Podcast
Two new romantic comedies. But which one is better? Join us as we review ‘Marry Me’ and ‘I Want You Back,’ now available on streaming.
‘Uncharted’ explores familiar territory, but Tom Holland is the real treasure
Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg join forces to seek out the greatest treasure of all. No, not friendship. A new blockbuster franchise.
Death on the Nile, Kimi – Cinemaholics Podcast
The real mystery behind Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Death on the Nile’ is whether or not we really disagree as much as it sounds in our review.
Moonfall, Drive My Car, The Fallout – Cinemaholics Podcast
In addition to our main review of ‘Moonfall,’ we discuss the Oscars 2022 nominations this week and a few new releases.
‘I Want You Back’ stands out in a crowd of modern rom-coms
Charlie Day and Jenny Slate star in ‘I Want You Back,’ a new romantic comedy set to begin streaming on Prime Video.
‘Death on the Nile’ (2022) is a page-turner, even when it’s clueless
Kenneth Branagh returns as Hercule Poirot in ‘Death in the Nile,’ the star-studded follow-up to 2017’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’
‘Jackass Forever’ – Podcast Review
Now playing in theaters, ‘Jackass Forever’ reunites your favorites jackasses for one last depraved, beautiful, stunt-filled adventure.
Cinemaholics Podcast – The Best (and the Rest) of Sundance 2022
Now that Sundance 2022 is over, what are the best films we saw during one of the year’s biggest (virtual) film festivals?
Sundance 2022 – ‘Nothing Compares’ sets the record straight on Sinead O’Connor’s legacy
Kathryn Ferguson’s new Sundance documentary, ‘Nothing Compares,’ sets out to prove Sinead O’Connor’s musical depth was there all along.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The House, The Worst Person in the World, The Pink Cloud
Does ‘The House’ always win? Tune in now to hear our thoughts on a trio of dark indie films hitting theaters and streaming.
Sundance 2022 – ‘Speak No Evil’ is a creepy reminder that being polite isn’t always right
Directed by Christian Tafdrup, Shudder’s ‘Speak No Evil’ might just make you rethink your vacation plans.
Sundance 2022 – ‘Fresh’ is a deliciously delirious meat-cute horror with just a dash of pulp
Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in this depraved, metaphorical horrror comedy, which literalizes the anxieties of modern dating.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Scream (2022), The Tender Bar
A new ‘Scream’ movie just hit theaters, and we’re catching up on Prime Video’s awards season contender, ‘The Tender Bar.’ Tune in now.
‘Scream’ (2022) is at its sharpest when pointing a knife at legacy sequels
We all screamed for more ‘Scream,’ and Hollywood was more than happy to answer the call for yet another meta-slasher-whodunnit.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Top 10 Movies of 2021
It’s time four our annual Top 10 Movies of the year episode, so sit back, relax, and get ready to love and hate all our picks.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The 355
In this special bonus episode of Cinemaholics, Ally Johnson (EIC of The Young Folks) joins us to review Simon Kinberg’s follow-up to ‘Dark Phoenix.’
‘The 355’ tries to be every kind of spy movie, except for a good one
Simon Kinberg’s sophomore feature film starring Jessica Chastain boasts an impressive cast and some decent action. But that’s about it.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The Tragedy of Macbeth, Sing 2, The Lost Daughter
Triple, double, reviews, and trouble…
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The Matrix Resurrections
Plug into our discussion of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (or ‘Matrix 4’), directed and co-written by Lana Wachowski.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Red Rocket
Are we down bad for Sean Baker’s latest A24 film? Well, for starters, it stars Simon Rex and isn’t in black and white.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Licorice Pizza
Tune in to hear our bonus discussion of Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest feature film recipe for success.
‘The Book of Boba Fett’ begins with a satisfying prologue, but it’s missing a few pages
Somehow, Boba Fett returned.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Being the Ricardos
Sorkin, we’re home! To review your latest movie, which follows the making of an episode of ‘I Love Lucy.’ Hijinks ensue, and we’re even joined by a special guest!
You can’t be told what the ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is, you have to see it for yourself
Lana Wachowski’s mind-bending return to the Matrix franchise is more than just deja vu. Usually.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro returns with a star-studded cast for this moody noir remake hitting awards season.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Spider-Man: No Way Home
The biggest movie of 2021 is here, and so are we! Sparks (and webs) fly, as special guest Matt Serafini swings in to help us review the third Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland.
‘The Lost Daughter’ is a crushing, honest drama about the cruelty of motherhood
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, based on the novel by Elena Ferrante, stars Olivia Colman as an aging mother reflecting on her darkest choices.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – West Side Story (2021)
We discuss the 1961 film, its remake, and a bunch of Puerto Rican stuff, because why not?
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ should be the worst Spider-Man movie ever made, yet it’s somehow one of the best
Tom Holland returns, along with a cast of familiar faces from all across the Spidey spectrum and beyond. And beyond. And beyond some more.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Don’t Look Up
Tune into our bonus episode of the Cinemaholics podcast, where we discuss the films of Adam McKay, including his newest one coming to Netflix later this month.
‘The King’s Man’ is a stuffy prequel with occasional glimpses of gleeful, historical hysteria
Matthew Vaughn returns to the Kingsman franchise after years of delays and false starts. Is his new take on the action spy franchise, now with Ralph Fiennes in the lead role, the fresh spin this series needed?
Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ stays in step with the original but knows when to improvise greatness
Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist, and more star in this dazzling remake of the classic 1961 musical.
‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ gets consumed by its massive, yet minimalist ambitions
Oh, Coen brother.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The Power of the Dog, Benedetta, C’mon C’mon
This week, we cover a trifecta of critically acclaimed movies, from Jane Campion’s awards-favored western to yet another black-and-white film in 2021. Also, nuns!
Guillermo del Toro’s vintage noir, ‘Nightmare Alley,’ is easier to read than it should be
Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, and many more star in this sweeping, grim-dark remake of the 1947 classic.
‘The Power of the Dog’ patiently unveils the next evolution of the western
Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee star in Jane Campion’s unconventional and unrelenting western adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Encanto, 8-Bit Christmas
Disney’s latest animated film sparks a big discussion for such a comparatively small movie.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – House of Gucci
Tune in now to hear our bonus podcast review of The Father, Son, and House of Gucci.
Sean Baker’s ‘Red Rocket’ tells a story about America that is both wonderful and horrifying
Simon Rex stars as a down-on-his-luck huckster who can’t seem to get over his nostalgic view of the past. Sound familiar?
‘House of Gucci’ is a cheap knockoff of better, more stylish crime dramas
Ridley Scott directs this supposedly captivating tale starring Adam Driver, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, and the courage of Jared Leto’s stylist.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Ghostbusters: Afterlife, King Richard, Tick Tick Boom!
Who you gonna call for an overwhelmingly positive review of Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters sequel? Eh, maybe someone else.
‘Tick Tick Boom’ Interview – Vanessa Hudgens and Joshua Henry
Our very own Will Ashton asks some biting questions about the next Netflix obsession.
‘Licorice Pizza’ is one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s riskiest, dreamiest concoctions yet
That’s right. PTA made a movie based in LA and the lead actors look like real people.
‘King Richard’ is a thoughtful crowd-pleaser, even if it doesn’t ace all its shots
Will Smith swings for Oscar gold as Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is a smart, low-key sci-fi adventure until it gets haunted by its own past
Nostalgia runs deep in this legacy sequel to the classic 1984 film.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – The Harder They Fall
That’s right, Idris Elba dresses up as a cowboy in two Netflix movies this year. But this one might be, um, fantastic?
‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is a big, dumb mess
Fans of the classic book series and beloved cartoon finally get the film adaptation this character doesn’t deserve.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Belfast
This week on the podcast, we’re not feeling all that great about the feel-good, black-and-white front-runner for this year’s top prize at the Oscars.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Eternals, Spencer, The Beta Test
This week, we’re talking about a new Marvel movie. Because we haven’t done that enough times in 2021!
‘Belfast’ is a joyful ode to the places we come from and the people who stay
Kenneth Branagh’s latest film is geared up for a Best Picture win at this year’s Oscars. But does it deserve all the awards-level hype?
‘Finch’ is cinematic proof that heartwarming sci-fi shouldn’t go extinct
Tom Hanks stars in probably the best ‘Fallout’ movie that isn’t actually connected to ‘Fallout.’
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Antlers
Special guest Isaac Feldberg joins the show for a deep dive review into Antlers, a new supernatural horror film from director Scott Cooper.
‘Spencer’ is more honest about Princess Diana when it’s not trying to be honest
Pablo Larraín and Kristen Stewart team up to make biopics thrilling again.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Last Night in Soho, Passing
This week on the show, the boys go back in time to review Edgar Wright’s latest, plus the upcoming Netflix film, ‘Passing.’
‘Last Night in Soho’ is a dreamy Edgar Wright film until it becomes a basic, horror nightmare
Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy star in this brilliant, but messy trip to the 60s and beyond.
Cinemaholics Podcast Review – Dune, The French Dispatch, Ron’s Gone Wrong
This week, we review Denis Villeneuve’s latest sci-fi epic. Plus we get into ‘The French Dispatch’ from Wes Anderson, and the animated family film ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong.’
‘Eternals’ is Marvel’s big-brained attempt to diversify a brand new universe
Chloé Zhao’s Marvel debut is big, bold, and thoroughly lacking.
‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’ gets most things mostly right
The debut family feature from Locksmith Animation doesn’t glitch as much as you might expect.
‘Dune’ is half a movie in more ways than one
Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and plenty more star in Villeneuve’s out-of-this-world adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel.
Cinemaholics Podcast #242 – Halloween Kills
This week on the podcast, we’re celebrating Halloween with yes, another Halloween movie. But also ‘The Last Duel’ and ‘The Velvet Underground.’
No matter who wins ‘The Last Duel,’ we lose
Ridley Scott’s medieval ‘Rashomon’ redux boasts an epic cast and a killer titular duel.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Muppets Haunted Mansion
Special guest Matt Serafini joins us ghoul kids for a death-defying discussion of not just Muppets Haunted Mansion, the new Disney+ special based on the classic Disneyland ride, but also the history and ongoing legacy of the Muppets and what we hope to see from Kermit and the gang over the next few years. And yes, this is the first time we’ve had a chance to talk about the Muppets on Cinemaholics!
Cinemaholics Podcast #241 – Titane
Get in the car, film nerds, we’re watching Titane, the latest mind-bending (and gear-grinding?) French feature from Julia Ducournau (Raw). Special guest Ema Sasic joins us to unpack all the twists, turns, and detours in this Palme d’Or winner, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year—with Ducournau being the first female filmmaker to win the award solo. The film, which is now available in limited release through Neon, stars Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier, and Laïs Salameh.
Cinemaholics Podcast #240 – Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Speaking of toxic relationships, have you watched the new Venom movie, Venom: Let There Be Carnage? Tom Hardy returns as the sweaty, parasitic antihero, this time contending with the blood-red Carnage, played by Woody Harrelson. We review this latest comic-book movie from Sony and try to understand why these movies are so popular. Later in the show, we discuss The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel movie for the hit prestige drama The Sopranos, starring Michael Gandolfini (son of the late James Gandolfini) as a teenage Tony Soprano, which is now in theaters and playing on HBO Max for a limited time.
Cinemaholics Podcast – No Time to Die
We can’t say this movie came out in no time. After 6 years of delays and false starts, Daniel Craig’s final mission as James Bond culminates in this nearly 3-hour 007 sequel directed and co-written by Cary Joji Fukunaga and also written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. This is a spoiler-free review of the movie, but at 00:54:30, we will give a fairly lengthy spoiler warning and begin talking about the ending of the movie and what we think might happen with the future of the Bond franchise.
Cinemaholics Podcast #239 – Dear Evan Hansen
This is definitely not a review we’re sealing with a kiss. On this week’s show, our main review is Dear Evan Hansen, a film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, starring Ben Platt, Amy Adams, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, and Julianne Moore. We also do some catchup reviews on festival indie I’m Your Man, a Netflix Melissa McCarthy dramedy called The Starling, and the third season of “Sex Education” on Netflix.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’ should have come out in 2012, not 2021
Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson’s Broadway stage musical, Dear Evan Hansen, already felt a few years past its due date in 2016. Ben Platt, who starred in the original run and returns for this new film adaptation, already felt a little too old for the role in 2016. Live theater does wonders to mask sappy, dated material with the illusive immersion of being there, in the moment and right in front of the actors. Dear Evan Hansen isn’t a Cats-level misfire, but it’s certainly not deserving of an encore.
Cinemaholics Podcast #238 – Cry Macho
Don’t worry, these are tears of joy. Why? In this packed episode of Cinnamonholics, we dish on TIFF 2021, catch up on The Card Counter and Blue Bayou, then review some movies. First, there’s Clint Eastwood’s new western, Cry Macho, starring himself, which just hit theaters and HBO Max. Then we get into The Eyes of Tammy Faye, starring Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, and Jon’s personal, childhood memories (just wait). Then we have a special surprise celebrity guest (Nicolas Cage?!) on the show to help us review his new movie Prisoners of the Ghostland.
Cinemaholics Podcast #237 – Malignant
Special guest Ryan Oliver joins us for a review of Malignant, a giallo-esque horror thriller from James Wan that just hit wide release and HBO Max. The movie is so scary, in fact, Ryan Oliver cusses one time! We also talk about Kate, the latest action movie on Netflix about revenge (another one!) this time starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson. We open the show with a brief check-in on the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and some brief thoughts for Petite Maman from Celine Sciamma and The Voyeurs on Amazon Prime Video.
Cinemaholics Podcast #236 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Special guest Adonis Gonzalez returns for an action-packed review of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. No, this isn’t an arthouse remake of one of those Sonic movies, though the rings do look suspiciously familiar. This is the latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, their first Asian-led superhero flick, in fact. Later in the show, we also review Cinderella, a new musical adaptation of the classic story directed by Kay Cannon and starring Camila Cabello, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Then we cover the new 9/11 awards-bait drama, Worth, a Sundance 2020 release that is now available to stream on Netflix, which stars Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Vacation Friends
You haven’t heard from us in a few days, yes, but what can you do, we’re on vacation! Making friends! Speaking of, here’s our belated review of Vacation Friends, a new buddy comedy on Hulu starring Lil Rel Howery, John Cena, Meredith Hagner, and Yvonne Orji as a group of strangers who become friends while on vacation. Vacation friends! We also talk about the current state of wrestlers who become actors, then the problem with streaming-only movies having little-to-no pop cultural impact, so we might’ve made some vacation enemies after this.
Cinemaholics Podcast #235 – Candyman
Special guest Adonis Gonzalez joins us to review Candyman, a horror legacy sequel to the iconic 1992 slasher. Directed and co-written by Nia DaCosta with Jordan Peele as producer and co-screenwriter, this new take on the urban legend stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo. We open the show with a brief review of He’s All That, the new Netflix teen rom-com based on the late 90s “classic,” She’s All That. And we finish the show with an announcement!
Cinemaholics Podcast #234 – The Night House
Save for a few fights, ‘Shang-Chi’ is one of Marvel’s messiest detours into new territories
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a film canon cluttered with familiar formulas and diminishing returns. So it’s genuinely exciting to see the newest MCU film, Shang-Chi, bucking expectations with viscerally engaging fight choreography and trope reversals of other origin stories (mainly Doctor Strange). But then it’s all the more disappointing to see Shang-Chi subsequently revert to some of the most glaring and gaudy Marvel missteps.
Cinemaholics Podcast #233 – Free Guy
It’s gametime. We’re back this week to review Free Guy, a new action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a non-playable character in a video game who becomes self-aware. We also review the new Netflix political thriller Beckett, which stars John David Washington as an unwitting fugitive in Greece. And then CODA, the Sundance Grand Jury winner about the child of deaf adults, which is now in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Respect
Special guest Kathia Woods joins the show this week for a bonus review of Respect, which stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in this musical biopic covering the highs and lows of the late Queen of Soul’s early career. The cast also includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. The film was directed by Leisl Tommy in her feature debut, with a screenplay by Tracey Scott Wilson.
Cinemaholics Podcast #232 – The Suicide Squad
So, what, we’re reviewing some new Suicide Squad movie? Close. It’s The Suicide Squad, this time, a standalone sequel and/or soft reboot of 2016’s Suicide Squad, now directed by James Gunn. But this isn’t your stepdad’s PG-13 Marvel space jam. Nope, this is an R-rated action comedy featuring a massive ensemble cast, which includes the return of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, but also new characters played by Idris Elba, John Cena, Daniela Melchior, David Dastmalchian, and the voice of Sylvester Stallone. Later in the show, we also review Leo Carax’s new arthouse musical Annette, which stars Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. Then Vivo, a Netflix animated musical from Sony starring Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Cinemaholics Podcast #231 – Jungle Cruise
Some people say this isn’t a “bolder” movie. But it does star the Rock. It’s hard to follow the dialogue. But at least it’s Blunt. No listener, you haven’t stumbled upon some pun-infested hell. No, you’ve found yourself on the Cinemaholics cruise with Jon and Will, as they review Jungle Cruise, the long-awaited adaptation of the Disney theme park ride starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Delayed twice since its original intended release in 2019, the movie is now available to watch in theaters and on Disney+ through Premiere Access.
Cinemaholics Podcast – The Green Knight
Special guest Alisha Grauso joins our roundtable to discuss The Green Knight, a new A24 fantasy epic from director/screenwriter David Lowery (A Ghost Story). The film stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, who embarks on a dark, existential, anti-hero’s journey to his own doom. The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Barry Keoghan, Kate Dickie, and Ralph Ineson. And it’s loosely based on the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
‘The Green Knight’ is a masterful deconstruction of both Arthurian legend and modern fantasy
It turns out there’s still plenty of creativity and emotional stakes to be mined from the furiously picked over lore of King Arthur and his roundtable. The Green Knight openly advertises itself as a loose adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an anonymously-written poem that has long been considered an uncomfortable sticking point for religious authors and perhaps filmmakers who aren’t all that interested in tackling the spiritual politics between Christianity and the pagan roots of British folklore. Thank god (or gods?) for David Lowery.
Cinemaholics Podcast #230 – Old
Cinemaholics Podcast – Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Yo, Joes, we know the G.I. Joe film franchise has been on leave since 2013, but the wait is finally over. Paramount just deployed Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, a reboot prequel centered around everyone’s favorite silent ninja, played here by a not-silent Henry Golding. Directed by Robert Schwentke (Red) with a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos (Charlie’s Angels), this new origin story resets the character with his own solo feature. The cast includes Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, Takehiro Hira, and Iko Uwais.
Cinemaholics Podcast #228 – Black Widow
Special guest Emily Tannenbaum joins us to review Black Widow, the long-awaited Marvel action spy film starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz. We open the show with early buzz for the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, then some quick catchup on other movies and shows we saw this week. Will briefly shares his thoughts on I Think You Should Leave Season 2 on Netflix, Emily teases the first several episodes of the Gossip Girl reboot on HBO Max, and Jon covers Fear Street Part 2: 1978 on Netflix, Till Death starring Megan Fox, and Monsters at Work on Disney+.
Cinemaholics Podcast #226 – F9: The Fast Saga
Fasten your seatbelts, and yes, “F” is for family. That’s right, we’re talking F9: The Fast Saga this week, which is the ninth film in Universal’s Fast & Furious franchise. Once again starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Charlize Theron, plus newcomer John Cena, F9 is now in theaters and running laps around the box office. Also in this week’s show, we talk about False Positive, a new horror movie starring Ilana Glazer that is currently haunting Hulu. And we finish out this long and winding episode with The Ice Road, a new Netflix action thriller starring Liam Neeson.
Cinemaholics Podcast #225 – Luca
Our heads are finally above water this week, because we’re reviewing Luca, a new Pixar movie about two young sea monsters who explore an Italian coastal town during an unforgettable summer. We also discuss The Sparks Brothers, Edgar Wright’s music documentary about “your favorite band’s favorite band.” Then we get into Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the action comedy sequel to the action comedy you probably didn’t see or remember. And we finish out the show with a breezy review of Summer of 85, a coming-of-age indie romance about two young men exploring their mortality and sexuality.
Cinemaholics Podcast #224 – In the Heights
Our sueñito this week is to review In the Heights, the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical from 2008, directed by Jon M. Chu with a screenplay from Quiara Alegría Hudes. Now in theaters and on HBO Max for a limited time, this massive spectacle of a Nuevo York musical stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smits, and many more. We kick off this week’s show with some mini reviews for George A. Romero’s lost film The Amusement Park and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. And we finish this extra-long show with reviews for Wish Dragon, Holler, Censor, and The Misfits.
Cinemaholics Podcast #223 – The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
No one made us review The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, the third entry in the main horror series of Conjuring films and eighth overall film in the “Conjuring Universe.” This time directed by Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona), the supernatural film once again stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranormal investigative duo tasked with solving a spooky conspiracy involving demonic possession, a murder trial, and even an evil cult. Also in this week’s show, we briefly discuss “Mare of Easttown” spoiler-free and review All Light, Everywhere, a new documentary from Theo Anthony about the abstract challenges of using body cameras to hold police officers accountable.
‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ conjures up an ambitious entry that just barely misses the mark
Do you remember the classic horror franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street? Remember the first film? An imaginative, ambient slasher with a strange but horrific premise? Remember when the third film, Dream Warriors, was announced? How bizarre it was to see the classic Krueger story transformed into a fantasy-horror-team-up film with a tone akin to that of a teen superhero movie? Because I don’t, I wasn’t born when those movies came out and I stopped my retro viewings after the second one. But I do imagine the feeling must have been pretty similar to how I felt walking out of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Cinemaholics Podcast #219 – Mainstream
Even if Cinemaholics isn’t your main stream, we hope you join us for our review of Mainstream, a new indie satire from IFC Films starring Andrew Garfield, Maya Hawke, Nat Wolff, and Jason Schwartzman. Also on the show, we’re covering a few mini reviews, including “Jupiter’s Legacy” on Netflix and David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut, The Water Man. And we finish things up with some discussion of the new Netflix drama Monster starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and coming-of-age 90s dramedy Pink Skies Ahead from first-time director Kelly Oxford.
Extra Milestone – A Place in the Sun (1951)
Our film anniversary this month belongs to the romantic drama Charlie Chaplin once called “the greatest movie ever made about America.” That’s right, we’re diving into A Place in the Sun, starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters, with supporting turns from Anne Revere and Raymond Burr. Directed by George Stevens and written by Harry Brown and Michael Wilson, this awards-heavy favorite among classic film lovers celebrates 70 years since premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951, and it was the second film adaptation of the 1925 novel An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser, which was also a place of the same name.
Cinemaholics Podcast #217 – Mortal Kombat
Get over here? More like get over it! Anyway, this week on the show we talk about Mortal Kombat, a reboot of the film franchise based on the series of video games that just hit HBO Max and is now playing in theaters. We also review Stowaway, a new sci-fi thriller on Netflix. And we finish the show with a review of Together Together, a quirky Sundance comedy that is now in limited release. And if you’re curious what we thought of the Oscars 2021 ceremony, we open the show with some of our brief thoughts.
Cinemaholics Podcast #213 – Nobody
Bob Odenkirk is an unlikely action hero in Nobody, a new thriller from Ilya Naishuller, the director of Hardcore Henry. We discuss the film and Odenkirk’s surprising turn in it as a seemingly mediocre guy who goes full John Wick when a mob of Russians begins to target him and his family. Afterward, we discuss Bad Trip on Netflix and The Courier, which recently hit theaters.
Cinemaholics Podcast #211 – Cherry
Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo star in Cherry, a new heavy drama on Apple TV+ from the Russo Brothers. We discuss the film and its interesting…perspectives on this week’s show, along with reviews for Yes Day, Kid90, and The Last Right. We open the show with a quick, super-serious crossover with Biff and Marty from Collision Movie Smackdown, in which they interview “Tom Holland.”
Cinemaholics Podcast #209 – Tom & Jerry
Unlike Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse, we actually speak in this week’s show, as we discuss the new live-action family comedy Tom & Jerry, which just hit HBO Max and puts the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters into New York City with a host of human characters you definitely won’t care about. We also review The United States vs. Billie Holiday on Hulu and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry on Apple TV+. Plus, we do a quick mini review of The Mauritanian and play some listener voicemails.
Cinemaholics Podcast #208 – I Care a Lot
If you care a lot about all the new releases this week, then you’ve come to the right place. This week we discuss the new Netflix dark comedy thriller I Care a Lot, which stars Rosamund Pike as a ruthless con artist (Con Girl?) who meets her match when crossing a gangster (Peter Dinklage) and his mother (Dianne Weist). We also review Minari, Flora & Ulysses, and a few other films that just hit theatrical and on demand. And toward the beginning of the show we discuss our preferred way of watching TV shows and play some listener voicemails.
Cinemaholics Podcast #207 – Judas and the Black Messiah
After a few weeks apart, the Cinemaholics trio is back together again! And our main review discussion this week is Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah, a buzzy awards-level movie on HBO Max starring Daniel Kaluuya as the iconic Black Panther Fred Hampton and Lakeith Stanfield as the “Judas” who betrayed him in late-60s Chicago. We also continue our discussion about movie trailers from last week and review To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.
Cinemaholics Podcast #206 – Malcolm and Marie
If you’ve ever overhead an argument between Jon and Will right here on Cinemaholics, you’re pretty much prepared for Malcolm and Marie, a new Netflix film directed and written by Sam Levinson. This enclosed black-and-white drama stars Zendaya and John David Washington, and critics are pretty split on this film about relationships and, well, critics. Also in the show, we play some listener voicemails about the state of movie trailers and review several other new films, which include A Glitch in the Matrix, Little Fish, and more.
Cinemaholics Podcast #205 – The Little Things
Special guest Kimber Myers joins Abby this week to talk about The Little Things, a neo-noir crime thriller on HBO Max starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, and Natalie Morales. They also discuss Palmer, which just came out on Apple TV+ and stars Justin Timberlake and Juno Temple.
Extra Milestone – City Lights (1931)
For our first official milestone of 2021, we’re discussing Charlie Chaplin’s classic silent film City Lights, which this month celebrates its 90th anniversary since release. This long-celebrated romantic comedy was of course written, directed, and produced by Chaplin, who also stars in it as his iconic character, the Tramp. Along for the ride is Virginia Cherrill as the blind girl who wins the Tramp’s heart, Florence Lee as her grandmother, Harry Myers as the drunken millionaire, and plenty more.
Extra Milestone – Brazil (1985), Edward Scissorhands (1990)
To officially conclude this year’s Extra Milestone lineup, Jon Negroni and Will Ashton of the Cinemaholics podcast joined forces with me one last time to discuss two distinct (and oddly holiday-centric) auteur-driven classics. We start our conversation by digging through the muck of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, a bureaucratic odyssey of madness often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. After that, we jump forward to Edward Scissorhands, an intensely personal story from Tim Burton that is both lighthearted and melancholy, and which has affected us all at one point or another.
Extra Milestone – Barry Lyndon (1975), Spartacus (1960), Ran (1985)
Welcome to (perhaps) the largest Extra Milestone yet! In an Anyway, That’s All I Got reunion for the ages, I’m joined by Anthony Battaglia, Guy Simons Jr., and Jason Read to discuss three of the biggest epics of the 21st century! First up is Barry Lyndon, the passion project of Stanley Kubrick released in 1975, and a film that’s quite well-loved among hardcore cinephiles. After that, we circle back to Spartacus, an earlier Kubrick film that is rarely discussed in the context of his filmography, and perhaps for just reason! Finally, we jump forward to another one of the great directors with Ran, Akira Kurosawa’s massive and operatic masterpiece from 1985, and which only one of us had seen!
Extra Milestone – Battleship Potemkin (1925), Harvey (1950), Clue (1985)
Emily Kubincanek makes her welcomed and triumphant return to Extra Milestone, and this week’s selections are among the most varied yet! We begin by celebrating the 95-year anniversary of Sergei Eisenstein’s magnum opus Battleship Potemkin, a film more fundamentally significant than almost any other when it comes to the art form of editing and propaganda storytelling. After that, we take a lighthearted and melancholy stroll into the world of Henry Koster’s Harvey, a rich and complex comedy featuring one of the best performances by the great James Stewart. Finally, we get to the bottom of Jonathan Lynn’s Clue, a cult-classic murder mystery that neither of us had seen before, and were delighted to discover was great!
Interview – Colman Domingo Talks ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ and Working with Chadwick Boseman
Colman Domingo stars alongside Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which hits Netflix on December 18 after its limited theatrical release. In addition to his acting work in films like If Beale Street Could Talk, Assassination Nation, Zola, and the upcoming Candyman, Domingo brings a wealth of experience as a writer, director, producer and actor on the stage, making him an obvious choice for Ma Rainey, which is based on the August Wilson play. I talked about the film with Domingo over Zoom, as well as his acting influences, his camaraderie with the late Chadwick Boseman, and what film lovers might get out of George C. Wolfe’s latest directorial effort.
Cinemaholics Podcast #198 – The Prom, I’m Your Woman, Let Them All Talk, Wolfwalkers, Wander Darkly, Songbird
The holiday season is upon us, so you know what that means! Time to celebrate the…prom? Well, OK, we’re really celebrating the annual big-budget December movie musical, which this year is Ryan Murphy’s The Prom, now streaming on Netflix and starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, and Keegan-Michael Key. We cover several other movies as well, which include Julia Hart’s new indie noir drama I’m Your Woman on Amazon Prime Video starring Rachel Brosnahan, Steven Soderbergh’s Let Them All Talk (also starring Meryl Streep) on HBO Max, the hand-drawn animated film Wolfwalkers on Apple TV+, the time-bending indie Wander Darkly starring Diego Luna and Sienna Miller, and Songbird, which stars KJ Apa and Sofia Carson.
Cinemaholics Podcast #197 – Mank, Sound of Metal, Black Bear, Godmothered
Cinemaholics is what you Mank of it. Which is why we’re reviewing David Fincher’s latest film, Mank, now streaming on Netflix and starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Charles Dance. Manks in advance for listening. We also review Sound of Metal starring Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke, Black Bear starring Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbot, and Godmothered starring Jillian Bell, Isla Fisher, and June Squibb.
David Fincher’s ‘Mank’ is an Artistically Gray Love Letter Addressed to No One in Particular
The films of David Fincher tend to obsess over the genius of severely tragic and damaged characters. So it’s no surprise that Mank, a period biopic now on Netflix about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, has been on Fincher’s cinematic to-do list for many years. His father, Jack Fincher, wrote the screenplay decades ago, but he passed before ever having a chance to see the film brought to the big screen. Now, arguably still at the peak of his filmmaking career, David Fincher returns to deliver this biting treatise on the making of Citizen Kane, without ever really exploring the classic film’s most fascinating details.
Extra Milestone – Toy Story (1995), Unbreakable (2000)
This week on Extra Milestone, I’m joined once more by my good friend Guy Simons Jr. to dissect a pair of (relatively) recent classics that have garnered acclaim over the years, and which have almost nothing whatsoever to do with each other! First up is Pixar’s groundbreaking debut feature Toy Story, the first-ever wholly computer animated movie that has gained a reputation as an indispensable landmark in special effects and storytelling. After that, we jump ahead to M. Night Shyamalan’s unconventional superhero story Unbreakable, a grounded deconstruction of the genre that arrived before cinema as a whole had become swept up in comic book storytelling, and which has amassed a sizable (and well-earned) cult following.
Extra Milestone – Raging Bull (1980), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Even in the midst of a year as hectic and unconventional as this one, Oscar season is still in full swing when it comes to this week’s selection of heavy hitters. Joining me once again for the first time in nearly three years is Maria Garcia, my former partner in crime from such shows as Now Conspiring and Part-Time Characters, and we’re discussing two films often hailed as being among the greatest of all time! We begin with Raging Bull, the morally complex sports biopic that saved Martin Scorsese’s life and has developed a widely varied legacy, and which one of us isn’t especially fond of! From there, we rewind the clock to visit Miloš Forman’s award season darling One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a wholly unique classic within film history that holds up wonderfully to this day.
Extra Milestone – All About Eve (1950), Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
To close out the month of October, we’re reviewing two of the best films of the 1950s, and also trying out a new format for the show! First up is my conversation with Rob Wilkinson on Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s All About Eve, an all-star drama with a record-breaking number of Oscar nominations, and which happens to be a fantastic exploration of the unforgiving theater world. After that, I chat with my Anyway, That’s All I Got cohost Anthony Battaglia about Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without A Cause, a landmark teen drama featuring an indelible posthumous performance by James Dean, and which is also fantastic!
Extra Milestone – Dances With Wolves (1990), The Magnificent Seven (1960), To Sleep With Anger (1990)
Adonis Gonzalez, my cohost on A Nice Place to Visit and Game Over, Man!, is back on the show to discuss a trio of movies that have nothing to do with each other…or do they? Tune in to hear our conversation on Kevin Costner’s Oscar-Winning epic Dances With Wolves, John Sturges’ iconic western remake The Magnificent Seven, and Charles Burnett’s engrossing family drama To Sleep With Anger!
‘Wolfwalkers’ Film Review – TIFF 2020
Fables are the fabric through which we weave our hopes, our morals from past failures, and our burning idealism into the consciousness of future generations. In the grand tradition of passing down stories and sharing grand memories to young and impressionable minds, Cartoon Saloon and Mélusine productions’ Wolfwalkers, the new animated movie from directors Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Ross Stewart, is a lovely and winningly sincere 2D tale of friendship, acceptance, and the rapid dangers of societal mistrust.
Game Over, Man! – Episode 4: Predator 2
Adonis and Sam are back after an unexpected hiatus to continue the Alien/Predator saga with Stephen Hopkins’ sequel to John McTiernan’s introduction to the Predator, Predator 2! It’s a film that has received a mixed reaction over time, and the two of us certainly have some words for this film. Tune in to the Cinemaholics Patreon to hear what we had to say!
Cinemaholics Podcast #193 – The Dark and the Wicked, The Queen’s Gambit, Let Him Go, Kindred, Come Play, Time
Election week is over, but that doesn’t mean we took a break from catching up on new movies. Our reviews this week include The Dark and the Wicked, a new horror film from Bryan Bertino that is now streaming on demand. We also discuss the new Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Marielle Heller. Plus, we cover Let Him Go starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, Kindred starring Tamara Lawrance and Fiona Shaw, Come Play starring Gillian Jacobs and Azhy Robertson, and finally Time, Garrett Bradley’s new Amazon Studios documentary that premiered at Sundance 2020.
Extra Milestone – The Elephant Man (1980), After Hours (1985), Close-Up (1990)
Will Ashton returns to Extra Milestone yet again to chart an unusual cinematic path across the 1980s and 1990s! We begin with an examination of David Lynch’s The Elephant Man, including our thoughts on the story’s emotional core, trivia on why the film is significant to the history of the academy, our impressions of David Lynch, and more! From there, we return to the films of Martin Scorsese with After Hours, an unusual and underseen comedic outing from the acclaimed director, and we close out the show by bringing the films of Abbas Kiarostami into focus with Close-Up, a hybrid documentary exploring the very nature and function of cinema.
Cinemaholics Podcast #192 – His House, The Craft: Legacy, Holidate, Over the Moon
In this house, we review the new Netflix horror film His House, the feature debut of writer/director Remi Weekes starring Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and Matt Smith. We also discuss the soft reboot/sequel The Craft: Legacy, which is now on VOD. There’s Holidate, an unexpectedly R-rated rom-com on Netflix that might win some hearts. And last, Glen Keane’s feature directorial debut, Over the Moon, an animated family film from the same studio that made last year’s Abominable.
Extra Milestone – Psycho (1960), Se7en (1995)
Guy Simons Jr. (of Anyway, That’s All I Got fame) joins me for the first time on Extra Milestone for a special Halloween episode devoted to two of the greatest serial killer movies of all time! Kicking off our conversation is Alfred Hitchcock’s game-changing masterpiece Psycho, including the unique and revolutionary distribution of the film, the ways in which it insidiously sets itself apart from every other movie, whether or not it should be considered a ‘slasher,’ and more! After that, we jump forward to David Fincher’s haunting detective thriller Se7en, a movie which one of us had somehow never seen until now! We also discuss the film’s somewhat troubled legacy, the ways in which it has infiltrated the internet consciousness, and even some valuable insight on whether or not it should be viewed as an optimistic film!
Cinemaholics Podcast #191 – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, On the Rocks, The Witches, Rebecca, Bad Hair
It time for very nice episode of Cinemaholics. First American movie is Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, great success. Rashida Jones and Bill Murray have weird marriage problem in On the Rocks, not nice. New streaming service HBO Max ruin day with The Witches, my wife Anne Hathaway make big impression. Rebecca on Netflix make no sense, but Lily James in it, high five. Bad Hair on Hulu scare all children, not appropriate for babies under 3, now official favorite movie of Cinemaholics Halloween.
Extra Milestone – Goodfellas (1990), Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Cinemaholics host Jon Negroni returns to Extra Milestone for a double feature of two of the greatest films of all time! We start by discussing Sidney Lumet’s 1975 crime thriller Dog Day Afternoon, a revolutionary and dynamic film that remains just as relevant 45 years later, if not even more so. From there, we move on to Martin Scorsese’s career-defining classic Goodfellas, which we believe may potentially hold the title as the greatest gangster film of them all, in addition to being expertly crafted in every way.
Game Over, Man! – Episode 3: Predator
We’ve met the Aliens, but the time has come at last to face the Predators. This week on Game Over, Man!, Sam and Adonis are taking their first departure from the Alien series to take a look back at John McTiernan’s sophomore feature Predator! If that weren’t enough, one of the hosts isn’t a fan of the movie, making this our first major disagreement! Tune in to the Cinemaholics Patreon to hear how James Cameron serendipitously influenced the design of the Predator, why the hosts are of two different minds, who they actually think would win if a Predator and a Xenomorph were to face off, and more!
Extra Milestone – Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Gold Rush (1925)
Emily Kubincanek returns to Extra Milestone at last, and in no small fashion! We’re diving headfirst into the most Classic of Cinema with two brilliant films that connect to the Silent Era! First up is Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, a dramatic comedy featuring Chaplin’s ‘Little Tramp’ that cemented many dramatic traditions while simultaneously telling a heartfelt and humorous story! From there, we jump forward to Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, which examines the world of showbusiness, the remnants of the Silent Era, and the widespread sacrifices found in Hollywood living through a melancholy lens steeped in Film Noir tradition.
Extra Milestone – Rashomon (1950), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The pairings keep getting stranger and stranger every week, and this week’s show is no exception! Special guest Ryan Oliver joins Sam and Jon to tackle two very different classics, starting with Akira Kurosawa’s massively influential 1950 arthouse classic Rashomon. We discuss everything from our differing experiences with the film, how multiple viewings have yielded different interpretations, and why the film has remained so meaningful even after 70 years. After that, we take a huge left turn toward Transylvania to examine the legacy and power of Jim Sharman’s 1975 genre-defining cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which one of us doesn’t like! It’s another collection of varied experiences complete with a litany of recommendations to go along with both films!
Game Over, Man! – Episode 2: Aliens
In our first Patron-Exclusive podcast, we’re continuing the Alien franchise with James Cameron’s Aliens, the pluralized sequel that shook the world! Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley in an Oscar-nominated role that pits her, a team of memorable space marines, and a young orphaned girl against an entire hive of deadly Xenomorphs, and it’s even better than the original! Tune in on the Cinemaholics Patreon to hear us discuss the brilliant character interactions, effective and efficiently-produced scares, and even the deeper implications on the potential of humanity!
Extra Milestone – Wanda (1970), Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Vagabond (1985)
To officially commence the Milestone month of August, Will Ashton and Andrew McMahon make their long-awaited returns to help break down a unique and unexpected triple feature, the likes of which the podcast world may have never seen before. We begin with an analysis of Barbara Loden’s Wanda, the first film to be written, directed, and led by a female filmmaker. We follow this up with a look back at Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, the iconic feature debut of Tim Burton. Finally, we dive into the work of the great Agnès Varda with an observational look at her acclaimed and influential film Vagabond.
Cinemaholics Podcast #187 – Enola Holmes, Kajillionaire, Secret Society of Second Born Royals
As always, we don’t have a clue what to review this week. But we’ll start with Enola Holmes, a new YA Netflix film starring Millie Bobby Brown as the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, played by Henry Cavill. We also discuss Miranda July’s latest indie favorite, Kajillionaire, which stars Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Richard Jenkins, and Debra Winger. Last, there’s a new Disney+ movie made with the Disney Channel called Secret Society of Second Born Royals and, um, yikes.
‘Apples’ Film Review – TIFF 2020
Apples, the feature directorial debut of Christos Nikou, isn’t a horror film, though it does grapple with something that’s terrifying to think about. In the midst of a nationwide pandemic, where people instantly and inexplicably suffer from acute cases of severe amnesia, Number 14842, a.k.a. Aris (Aris Servetalis), is the latest patient who winds up in the Disturbed Memory Department, a mental rehabilitation center for people who cannot remember their identities, their past, their loved ones, or where they live.
Extra Milestone – Come and See (1985), Back to the Future (1985)
Things are getting real heavy this week, because Adonis Gonzalez is here to talk about the two best movies of 1985, which happen to be radically different from one another! We start with a harrowing exploration of Elem Klimov’s Come and See, an anti-war film depicting the Nazi invasion of Belorussia through the eyes of a young boy. We discuss the history of the film’s reputation, the drama associated with the production, the way that it emerges as (potentially) the only War movie that actually matters, and why we find it so difficult to even recommend. After that, we were happy to cleanse our palate with a discussion on Robert Zemeckis’s iconic Sci-Fi Family Comedy Back to the Future, covering its deft narrative construction, effective antagonist, and curious soundtrack decisions, as well as a deserved commendation for the recently deceased Ron Cobb.
Cinemaholics Podcast – TIFF 2020 Recap
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival has just ended, but we’re just getting started covering and even rediscovering the best and worst of this virtual event. From awards favorites like Nomadland and One Night in Miami to noteworthy standouts like Wolfwalkers and City Hall, we discuss up to 33 films you’ll likely hear even more about as we move into the winter film season.
‘The Nest’ Proves that Real Life Can Be Just as Scary as a Horror Movie
Directed and written by Sean Durkin in his latest film since 2011, The Nest tells the story of Rory O’Hara, portrayed by Jude Law, who after a seemingly successful life of entrepreneurism in the States, moves back to London in the late 1980s so he can work for his old company. Along with his loving wife Allison (Carrie Coon) and their children Samantha and Ben (Oona Roche and Charlie Shotwell), the family moves into a luxurious, countryside house, and as this summary might hint, things begin to take a “twisted turn” once they arrive.
Game Over, Man! – Episode 1: Alien
Welcome to the very first episode of a new limited podcast series hosted by Sam Noland and Adonis Gonzalez! The two of them have decided to celebrate the spookiest time of year by reviewing every Alien and Predator movie, and they’re starting at the very beginning with none other than Ridley Scott’s landmark 1979 Sci-Fi Horror Classic Alien. Tune in to hear them discuss their experience and familiarity with the film, why it still easily lives up to the hype, behind-the-scenes information, and even a fun scenario on how they would introduce someone to the film for the first time! Give it a listen, and then be sure to sign up for the Cinemaholics Patreon, where the remainder of the episodes will be exclusively available.
Extra Milestone – The Night of the Hunter (1955), Airplane! (1980)
Sam Noland is back on Extra Milestone after a week’s respite to take on, along with friend and coworker Robert Wilkinson, two radically different classics. First up is Charles Laughton’s gothic thriller The Night of the Hunter, which stars Robert Mitchum as a psychopathic priest hunting down two children during the Great Depression. Next up on our itinerary is the landmark spoof comedy Airplane!, the laugh-a-minute lampooning of pop cinema celebrating 40 years of making the world howl with laughter.
Cinemaholics Podcast #185 – Unpregnant, The Social Dilemma, Cuties, #Alive, All In: The Fight For Democracy
The Cinemaholics are going on a road trip! Metaphorically, at least. Our first pit stop this week is an in-depth review of Unpregnant, a buddy road trip comedy streaming exclusively on HBO Max, and it stars Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira. Next, we travel all the way to the internet for The Social Dilemma, a new Netflix documentary about how social media is basically ruining society. Fun! After that, we head to France to discuss yet another Netflix film, Cuties, which has been caught in a maelstrom of controversy considering its sexual content. But that’s not all, we go on a detour out east for #Alive, a new South Korean zombie movie on (you guessed it) Netflix! Last, we head on home for an American documentary on Prime Video called All In: The Fight For Democracy, which is about voter suppression in these United States.
Extra Milestone – The Apartment (1960)
Hey there, buddy-boys and buddy-gals! This week, we might just have the key to your next favorite movie, The Apartment, which recently celebrated 60 years since its initial release. Widely considered to be one of Billy Wilder’s true masterpieces, this romantic dramedy stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred McMurray. We discuss the film’s impact on our own movie-going lives, play some of our favorite clips, and have a spirited debate about this either being a “Christmas movie” or a “New Year’s” movie.
Cinemaholics Podcast #184 – Mulan, I’m Thinking of Ending Things
In our first official episode with new Cinemaholics co-host Abby Olcese, we discuss the honor and honor that is to be found honorable in Mulan, the latest live-action Disney remake, which stars Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Gong Li, and Jet Li. Plus, we review Charlie Kaufman’s new mind-bending film I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which is now on Netflix and stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, and David Thewlis.
Extra Milestone – Jaws (1975), The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
This week’s Extra Milestone is so iconic that we may just need a bigger boat. Anthony Battaglia reunites with Sam to discuss two immensely significant blockbusters that have irreparably shaped the cinematic landscape. We start with a discussion on Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, including our differing experiences with the movie, our appreciation for the writing and acting, differences from Peter Benchley’s novel, a confession as to our shared fear of open water, and even an extremely hot take involving the infamous sequels! After we dry off from that conversation, we take an isolated look at Irvin Kershner’s The Empire Strikes Back and how it changed Star Wars (and sequels in general) forever, why it maintains its effectiveness after dozens of viewings, why we can never view the Dagobah sequence the same way again, whether or not it contains the best lightsaber battle ever, and the dichotomy between good and evil that was solidified in this film.
Disney Re-spins ‘Mulan’ into a Proto-Fantasy Epic, But is it a Film Worth Paying Extra For?
As a business model, Disney’s years-long effort to re-capitalize its most iconic animated films of yesteryear into big-budget, live-action (or live-action-esque in the case of last year’s The Lion King) reimaginings has been nothing short of a financial masterstroke, not too far below the juggernaut success of their Marvel and Star Wars acquisitions just a decade ago. In some ways, Mulan represents both the highs and lows of Disney’s trip down memory lane, from family favorites like The Jungle Book to more critically shrugged replicants like Beauty and the Beast. Either way, Mulan is sure to leave some audiences clamoring for more, while others might end up feeling somewhat cheated by what could’ve been.
Extra Milestone – The Shining (1980), Gremlins (1984), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
It’s all play and no work on this week’s Extra Milestone, because Jason Read has returned to the show to discuss a trio of very different movies. We begin with a detailed exploration of Stanley Kubrick’s Horror masterpiece The Shining, complete with reflections on why the terror of it is so effective, analyses of the movie’s themes and mysteries, a discussion of why method acting is a flawed and unnecessary process, and even a few personal stories that relate to the movie. Afterward, we take on Joe Dante’s Gremlins, stopping along the way to discuss its implementation of cinematic language, its historical significance, and all of the darkly comedic chaos that comes with it. Finally, we cap off the show with a fittingly sporadic look at Dante’s oft-overlooked sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which is one of the most entertaining movies either of us have ever seen, as well as being a knowing satire of culture stuffed with enough cameos and mania to last a lifetime.
‘Chemical Hearts’ Makes an Already Problematic Sub-genre Even Worse
Thanks to Disney’s Star Girl, I already know a movie like this — in which some poor young woman shows up from another town and sweeps a completely featureless guy off his feet — can still be made in 2020, but Chemical Hearts somehow takes this worn idea to another level.
Extra Milestone – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), The Blues Brothers (1980)
In what is certainly the most comedically inclined Extra Milestone yet, I am joined by my very close personal friend Tyler Chambers to discuss a pair of classics within the genre. We begin with a lengthy rundown of Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam’s 1975 cult favorite Monty Python and the Holy Grail, complete with behind-the-scenes stories, details we’ve noticed over the years, our personal experiences with the movie, analyses of the film’s comedic stylings, and revisits of our favorite sequences. Then we move on to John Landis’s 1980 musical road comedy The Blues Brothers. We discuss the film’s story structure, cast, presentation, and deadpan sense of humor, as well as how all of those things compare and contrast surprisingly well with Holy Grail. Afterward, we both give a recommendation to pair with each movie, some much more unexpected than others!
In ‘Sputnik,’ the Alien Horror Movie Reviews You
Personally, I believe the horror genre doesn’t get nearly enough credit these days. I’ve struggled to figure out just why that is. Perhaps it’s because of the over-saturation of the genre, the fact that there are quite literally hundreds of films to choose from, many of them admittedly not exactly something to write home about. Maybe it’s because even when horror was at its peak, when the big monsters like Dracula or Jason Voorhees spooked audiences during the Halloween season, horror was advertised as something of a niche genre; meant only for those who could truly appreciate the shock, schlock, and gore of a scary movie. Or maybe it’s because no on-screen jump scare could ever compare to the horrors of reality that many of us have to live through on a daily basis. Either way, the horror genre is pretty underappreciated and often times overlooked when awards season comes around.
Extra Milestone – La Dolce Vita (1960)
Jon Negroni makes his long-awaited return to Extra Milestone to investigate Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, one of his very favorite films. For 60 years, the film has gained a reputation of being one of the most insightful and layered journeys of World Cinema, and I had a wonderful time learning about its many rich cinematic attributes from Jon. Tune in to hear the two of us break down the film’s cinematography, the way it uses the city of Rome to help tell its story, the many exciting chapters that comprise the plot, and more!
Extra Milestone – Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Settle in, listeners, because Julia Teti is back for this week’s Extra Milestone, and it’s for an undertaking of very subtle, methodical proportions. Julia and I have decided to touch on the most famous work of the late, great Chantal Akerman with her three-hour 1975 art house classic Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. Celebrating 45 years this past May, the film has been revered by nearly all who have seen it, and continues to signify a wholly unique exploration of a day-to-day life seldom seen to this extent in cinema. With a legacy almost as impressive as its title and runtime, the two of us had plenty to say about this monolithic milestone that continues to have a tremendous impact today.
Cinemaholics Podcast #179 – She Dies Tomorrow, Black is King, Host, The Fight
The Cinemaholics gang is finally getting existential. Our featured review this week is She Dies Tomorrow, a new indie horror from Amy Seimetz. We also discuss Beyoncé’s Disney+ visual album Black is King, which sort of ties into last year’s The Lion King remake. Also, Host is a new horror film shot and produced during the pandemic, and it’s about a Zoom call that goes horribly wrong. Fun! And last is a new political documentary called The Fight, which is about recent ACLU cases fighting various human rights cases in the United States. We also talk briefly about “Umbrella Academy” Season 2, the future of Netflix sitcoms without “Friends” or “The Office,” and the latest release date news for Tenet.
Extra Milestone – Friday the 13th (1980), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Re-Animator (1985)
The summer is about to conclude with a creeping, atmospheric, gory bang, because Emily Kubincanek is back on The Extra Milestone to discuss a trio of Horror Classics! We start with a look at Sean S. Cunningham’s iconic slasher Friday the 13th, and how it sets itself apart from other such films, as well as the excitement of it all that still plays today. We continue with a discussion of James Whale’s sequel Bride of Frankenstein, including the similarities to Mary Shelley’s novel and how Universal crafted a new narrative around the characters. Finally, we dive into the hellish effects showcase that is the late Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator!
Cinemaholics Podcast #178 – The Rental, Yes God Yes, John Lewis: Good Trouble
Special guest Abby Olcese joins us for a review of the new horror thriller The Rental, Dave Franco’s directorial debut starring Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White. We also discuss Yes, God, Yes starring Natalia Dyer and the recent documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble.
Extra Milestone – All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Hold on to your helmets, listeners, because the illustrious Julia Teti is back on the Cinemaholics feed! And not a moment too soon, because the two of us are joined by the scintillating Will Ashton to make Extra Milestone history by tackling our second Best Picture Winner, our second 1930s Film, and our first War (and Anti-War) Film with Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front! Celebrating 90 years this past April, the film has built a deserved legacy of being one of the most effective condemnations of combat and warfare in cinema history, and the three of us have plenty to say to support that. The film’s storied production, its unique and controversial release, its eternal relevancy, and much more are discussed, and we even take the time to recommend some complimentary films! You’re not gonna want to miss this one.
Extra Milestone – The Passenger (1975), Peeping Tom (1960)
In what will likely go down as the nerdiest and most esoteric Extra Milestone yet, I am joined by my good friend and fellow hardcore cinephile Andrew McMahon to discuss a pair of significant, influential, and all-around great films. We begin with a lengthy discussion of Michelangelo Antonioni’s reflective 1975 thriller The Passenger, in addition to Antonioni’s career as a whole that we’re familiar with, followed by a look at Michael Powell’s career-ending 1960 horror film Peeping Tom. We get into a lot of exciting history and interconnectivity to the greater cinematic art form over the course of both conversations, and we hope it’s just as fun to listen to as it was to record.
Extra Milestone – The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975), How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Promises are being fulfilled left and right on this week’s Extra Milestone, in which the long-awaited debut of podcast veteran Adonis Gonzalez finally takes place! Adonis and I have a trio of dramatically contrasting movies to discuss, starting with a lengthy exploration of John Ford’s depression-era adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. We continue with a discussion of Ishirō Honda’s character-defining Kaijū film (as well as Godzilla’s Shōwa Era as a whole) with Terror of MechaGodzilla, and we conclude with a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Dreamworks’s How to Train Your Dragon. It was great to podcast with Adonis once more, and we hope to unite even more in the future. Enjoy!
Cinemaholics Podcast #175 – Hamilton
In this episode about Hamilton, the live-recording of the hit broadway musical starring the original cast (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, and many more) now streaming on Disney+, Jon raps.
Extra Milestone – Rebecca (1940), Le Trou (1960)
Special guest Emily Kubincanek joins us for a double milestone feature of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca, which just celebrated 80 years since its release, as well as Jacques Becker’s final film Le Trou (or The Hole), which recently had its 60th anniversary. As always, we lay out the context for what makes these films so memorable all these years later, plus there’s a little contention between the Cinemaholics on both films, so stay tuned to hear where we all land.
Cinemaholics Podcast #174 – Irresistible, My Spy, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Is Jon Stewart’s sophomore feature film irresistible? Is Dave Bautista our kind of spy? Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga? Find out on this week’s episode of Cinemaholics Z.
Jon Stewart’s ‘Irresistible’ is Inherently Flawed, but it Shouldn’t be Rejected
When it was announced that Jon Stewart would return with his sophomore feature film, since titled Irresistible, it made sense that folks assumed it would be the scathing satire that would criticize and bring damnation to the hotheaded personalities who take rotating chairs in the Big House. But Stewart’s new movie, his first directorial effort since 2014’s overlooked Rosewater, may not be what some folks expect. Indeed, this is not a takedown of the narcissistic, hypocritical right. Stewart isn’t here to put some right-leaning personalities into their place.
Cinemaholics Podcast #172 – Da 5 Bloods, Artemis Fowl, The King of Staten Island
Special guest Charlie Ridgely of Comicbook.com joins the show for a death-defying review of Spike Lee’s new joint Da 5 Bloods, which is now streaming on Netflix. We also answer a listener question, rant about Artemis Fowl (now on Disney+), and finish things out with a balanced discussion of Judd Apatow’s new dramedy The King of Staten Island starring Pete Davidson and Bill Burr, which just came out on VOD.
Cinemaholics Podcast – #ReleaseTheSnyderCut (Feat. Dan Murrell)
Special guests Dan Murrell and Sam Noland are here to chat about Zack Snyder’s recently announced director’s cut of Justice League, which came out in 2017 to mostly negative reviews (from us, included). We break down this big news, explain what it means for the movie industry, and speculate about what the cut might look and feel like and what other director’s cuts we’re hoping to see someday.
Cinemaholics Podcast #168 – Scoob!
Zoinks! Like, we’re finally reviewing Scoob! man! I’m Mathew Lillard, the real voice of Shaggy, and Jon and Will hired me to write this episode description for them. Those guys really know how to make a dude like me feel welcome. So like, special guests Matt Serafini and Chris Sheridan are totally here to help out, man! But I gotta be honest, why can’t we ever review, like, a Burger King or something? Anyway, you enjoy this review of Scoob! while I stay in the van and enjoy this chocolate pizza. What do you think, Frank—er, I mean Scoob? RUH-ROH RAGGY! What is it, Scoob? Wait, is that a…a…P-P-P-ODCAST JUMP THE SHARK MOMENT?! (running away sound effects)
Cinemaholics Podcast #167 – Valley Girl, Capone, Driveways, Spaceship Earth, Becoming, The Wrong Missy
Like, we’re totally traveling to the 80s, man! Will our review of Valley Girl starring Jessica Rothe be as bitchin’ as the original from 1983? As if! But we go even further back in time to discuss Josh Trank’s new biopic Capone starring Tom Hardy, and something smells with this movie, dude! Let’s slow down a bit and relax by the driveway in Driveways, which is a super chill indie drama, don’t have a cow! Forget the 80s, though, let’s go to the 90s in Spaceship Earth, a new Sundance documentary about some radical hippies who lived in a Biosphere back in 1991. Far out, man! On Netflix, we got Becoming, a new doc about Michelle Obama, so like hail to the former chief’s ex-ce-llent first lady. And last, Jon asks Will, “where your beef?!” with The Wrong Missy, a new Netflix comedy starring David Spade and Lauren Lapkus. Guess that one gagged Will with a spoon!
Cinemaholics Podcast #165 – Bad Education, The Willoughbys, True History of the Kelly Gang, Extraction, Normal People
Hey folks, Coach here. Ready to tell you all about our Bad Education review this week. Now on HBO. Ya gotta trust your teachers, but what if your superintendent was secretly Hugh Jackman? What if Allison Janney was his right hand? Don’t worry. I got my eye on both ’em. Anyway, we also got you folks covered on The Willoughbys, the new Netflix animated film. Time for a history lesson with True History of the Kelly Gang, which just hit VOD. Extraction is on Netflix too, and I gotta say, I love me an action flick with Chris Hemsworth. Finally, we get a little sappy and romantic, what’s new, with Normal People, which just dropped its first season on Hulu. If it’s anything like the season I got comin’ up in the fall, it’s a doozy. Anyway. Coach, OUT!
Cinemaholics Podcast #159 – The Hunt, Guns Akimbo, I Still Believe, Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Special guest Amanda the Jedi joins us all the way from YouTube to review a host of controversial new films most of us can’t see in theaters right now, including The Hunt starring Betty Gilpin, Guns Akimbo starring Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving, I Still Believe starring Britt Robertson and her boyfriend Archie (fine, KJ Apa), and Never Rarely Sometimes Always starring Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder.
Cinemaholics Podcast #158 – Onward, The Way Back, Emma., Spenser Confidential
Special guest Charlie Ridgely joins us for a cinematic quest from the fantastical suburbia of Pixar’s Onward to the Los Angeles basketball courts of The Way Back, and even further to the debutante affairs of Emma. Whatever your poison (Spenser Confidential, anyone?), the Cinemaholics have you covered this week.
Cinemaholics Podcast #155 – Sonic the Hedgehog, The Photograph, Downhill, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
Did audiences have a real need for speed this Valentine’s Day? Jon and Will review Sonic the Hedgehog, which premiered this weekend to huge success despite its release delay, alongside other new wide releases like The Photograph and Downhill, plus the new Netflix rom-com sequel, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.
Cinemaholics Podcast #149 – Top 10 Films of 2019
Special guest Sam Noland joins us for a countdown of our favorite films this year, as well as our general reflections on 2019. You’ll also hear voice recordings from Cinemaholics contributors all across the globe who picked vastly different films for their own lists, which all factor into our definitive Top 25 rankings, which you’ll hear at the end of the episode along with outliers and honorable mentions. This is our longest episode of Cinemaholics yet, but we hope you give the whole episode a listen as we deep dive into a wide variety of films that made this past year just a little better.
Cinemaholics Podcast #148 – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Uncut Gems, Little Women, Bombshell
We have a bad feeling about this episode. This week, Jon and Will return from their holiday break to catch up on the biggest December releases you may have already seen. From far away galaxy of The Rise of Skywalker to the even more alien city in Uncut Gems and Bombshell (New York), this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Extra Milestone – Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Time for an Extra Milestone of Biblical proportions. Sort of. This month, Jon and Sam explore Monty Python’s Life of Brian, which celebrates 40 years this past November.
Cinemaholics Podcast #145 – Knives Out, 1917, Noelle, Mickey and the Bear, 21 Bridges, Let it Snow, By the Grace of God
This week, every movie is a suspect. Jon and Will discuss the latest releases, including Rian Johnson’s modern whodunnit-murder-mystery ensemble, Knives Out, which stars way too many people to mention. We also talk Christmas movies on streaming, catch up on recent flicks we missed, and cover a few indies you might want to add to your ever-growing radar.
‘Waves’ Has A Lot To Say About Being A Parent. Especially If You Aren’t One.
Director Trey Edward Shults has a clear interest in the tools needed for families to survive whatever dangers may come their way. His sophomore film from 2017, It Comes at Night—also an A24 film—explored a heightened metaphor for the terrors parents inflict upon their children just as easily as they themselves fear it, and in Waves, Shults presents a far more grounded, but equally as harrowing tale about the fragility of success in modern America.
Cinemaholics Podcast #144 – Frozen 2, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Irishman, The Two Popes
The hot takes never bothered the Cinemaholics anyway. This week, Jon and Will review Frozen 2, the latest animated Disney film, along with the other big releases of the week. They also read your answers to the question of the week, catch up on what they’ve been watching, and discuss the Three Rivers Film Festival.
Cinemaholics Podcast #143 – Ford v Ferrari, Charlie’s Angels, Klaus, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
This week, Jon and Will enter the fast lane for an in-depth review of Ford v Ferrari, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. They kick things off with some mini reviews for The Irishman, Parasite, and Doctor Sleep. Plus some full reviews for Charlie’s Angels, Klaus, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Waves, Honey Boy
Special guest Brandon Katz joins us for a bonus episode of Cinemaholics. We dive into Waves, the new A24 drama starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, and Sterling K. Brown. After that, we review Honey Boy from Amazon Studios, which stars Shia LaBeouf as his own father in a semi-autobiographical drama about his life as a child actor coming of age.
Extra Milestone – Ed Wood (1994)
This is the episode we’ll be remembered for. This month on Extra Milestone, Jon, Sam, and Will discuss Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, which celebrates its 25th anniversary of release. We discuss how the film got made, its legacy over the years, and what we really think about it after all this time.
‘Harriet’ Wields A Powerful And Much-Needed Story. But It’s Missing Tubman’s True Humanity.
A biopic about American historical figure Harriet Tubman has been long overdue. You can’t go through American history without reading or hearing her name and yet filmmakers have steered away from her story until now. Finally, Kasi Lemmons brings the legendary abolitionist’s life to the big screen in her biopic Harriet, and while her story is one every American should know, the way the film tells it is not without fault.
Cinemaholics Podcast #138 – Gemini Man, Mister America, In the Tall Grass
This week, we’re seeing double. Jon and Will review Gemini Man, a new action-thriller-spy-clone film starring Will Smith from acclaimed writer and director Ang Lee. Known for its off-kilter shooting style and aggressively high frame rate, Gemini Man has critics and audiences torn, but where do the Cinemaholics stand? Also in the show, Will shares his thoughts on two other new films: Mister America and In the Tall Grass. And Jon briefly discusses his experience playing Borderlands 3 for Playstation 4.
‘Joker’ Isn’t Just Missing A Good Punchline, It’s Missing A Soul
Since his first appearance in 1940, the Joker as a comic book villain (and later TV/Film/Video Game villain) has been an ever-evolving enigma, much like his darkly heroic counterpart. So it makes perfect sense for the films to continuously reinvent a character like the Joker, who serves a litany of important functions as an antagonistic presence.
Cinemaholics Podcast #134 – Hustlers
This week’s show is entirely devoted to reviewing Hustlers, the new stripper-crime-craper starring Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and many others you’ll love to recognize. Our theme music this week is “Criminal” by Fiona Apple.
Cinemaholics Podcast #133 – It Chapter Two
Do Jon and Will float by on charm, too? Or…TWO?! This week on Cinemaholics, Jon and Will discuss It Chapter Two, the followup to the wildly successful 2017 horror film/Stephen King adaptation. They also talk about Where’d You Go Bernadette, Luce, The Nightingale, Dave Chapelle: Sticks & Stones, American Factory, and Brittany Runs a Marathon.
Cinemaholics Podcast #132 – Fall Movie Preview 2019
After recapping the summer movie season and discussing 2019’s best films thus far, Jon and Will dive into a full preview of what’s coming out this fall, including their most anticipated films, a few dark horses, and even some flicks they’ve already seen ahead of time.
Extra Milestone – Easy Rider (1969) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
It might be several weeks late, but July’s EXTRA MILESTONE is here! With Jon away on vacation, Will Ashton and Sam Noland decided to tackle not one, but two notable classics celebrating anniversaries. First up is Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider, the counterculture classic celebrating its 50th anniversary, followed by Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, the eternally relevant commentary on racial tensions celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Cinemaholics Podcast #129 – The Kitchen
If you can’t handle the heat, stay out of Julia and Kimber’s podcast about The Kitchen, a new female-led gangster movie starring Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, and Melissa McCarthy. That’s right, Julia Teti and Kimber Myers are guest hosting this episode of the show, which dives deep into the directorial debut of film writer Andrea Berloff (Straight Outta Compton).
Cinemaholics Podcast #127 – Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
Get ready to cruise down the sunset strip to WSJ radio (Will/Sam/Jon), because we’re reviewing Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, the latest film from director/writer Quentin Tarantino, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and a huge cast of surprise faces you’ll probably recognize. This is one of our most divisive conversations of the year, so you don’t want to miss it, ya dig?
Cinemaholics Podcast #125 – Crawl, Stuber, The Art of Self-Defense
We have a triple feature this week, as we dive into the new hurricane horror predator flick Crawl from director Alexandre Aja, the new R-rated buddy action comedy Stuber starring Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, and the dark indie comedy The Art of Self-Defense starring Jesse Eisenberg.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Midsommar
Jon, Will, and Julia escape the daylight and discuss Midsommar, the latest “horror” film from director/writer Ari Aster and A24. Yes, we’re doing another bonus review on an A24 movie. We start with a spoiler-free overview of our thoughts, then we dive into spoiler-filled deep dive of the film. Midsommar stars Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, and Vilhelm Blomgren.
Cinemaholics Podcast #124 – Spider-Man: Far From Home
Cinemaholics Podcast #122 – Toy Story 4
Special guest Charlie Ridgely (ComicBook.com) joins us for some playtime with Woody and the gang in Toy Story 4, the latest Toy Story film from Pixar. We discuss our thoughts and feelings on the overall series, plus we kick off the episode with some discussion about our favorite films of the year so far.
Cinemaholics Podcast #121 – Men in Black: International, The Dead Don’t Die, Changeland
Suit up. Jon and Will are back in black to discuss Men in Black: International, the fourth film in the franchise, now starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the memory-wiping, alien-saving agents. They also discuss the lackluster summer box office in 2019 and how this may affect theatrical releases in the future. And you’ll hear reviews for Jim Jarmusch’s “dry zombie comedy” The Dead Don’t Die and Seth Green’s directorial debut Changeland.
Cinemaholics Podcast #119 – Rocketman, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Ma, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Always Be My Maybe
We’re not the podcast you thought we were before. This week, Sam Noland joins Jon Negroni for a packed episode, covering all the wide releases of the week, plus some extra limited/streaming releases. Our theme music this week is “Amoreena,” performed by Taron Egerton on the Rocketman soundtrack.
Cinemaholics Podcast #117 – John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum
We’re ready to get in on the action of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the third installment of the ongoing Keanu Reeves hitman franchise from director Chad Stahelski and screenwriter Derek Kolstad. We kick off the show with Off-Topics and briefly catch up on some of the new films we saw this week and last week but don’t have time to fully review.
‘Detective Pikachu’ Review – Your Pokémon Movie Says a Lot About You
In Pokémon Detective Pikachu, the rules of Pokémon and perhaps video game movies in general are turned on their head to seemingly serve a single purpose: give the people what they want. But what do audiences really want in a new Pokémon movie? A stylish film noir? A diversely casted Zootopia narrative? Dozens of CG monsters to adore and collect? The Ryan Reynolds brand of comedy under a PG rating? Or perhaps simply a reminder that when many of you were young, Pokémon (in some fashion) was a big deal to you, and now it can be a big deal to your kids.
Cinemaholics Podcast #115 – Long Shot, Booksmart, Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, Tuca & Bertie, Knock Down the House
Special guest Abby Olcese joins us as we cast our ballots for Long Shot, a brand new political romantic comedy starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. But that’s not all! School is out but the party is just getting started. We’re doing an early review for the upcoming bad teen comedy Booksmart, the first film directed by Olivia Wilde. And later in the show, we discuss three new releases on Netflix: Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, Tuca & Bertie, and Knock Down the House.
Cinemaholics Podcast #114 – Avengers: Endgame
We’re assembling some surprise guests to review Avengers: Endgame, starting with a spoiler-free discussion of the blockbuster event that’s already breaking box office records. Afterward, all of our spoiler hesitations disappear with a snap, and we have special guests Alisha Grauso and Matt Donato on deck to help us process basically everything this saga by Marvel has been building up to for over a decade.
‘Avengers: Endgame’ Review – A Marvelous Era Comes to Possibly its Only Good Conclusion
The set up and payoff structure of the Marvel films beginning with Iron Man in 2008 may never be fully realized. These stories will continue on for as long as audiences continue to be fans of the material, so any definitive ending for a saga of episodic films requires a conclusion to at least one prominent idea, not necessarily an entire world of characters and their respective potential as branched franchises. This is why Avengers: Endgame is a film deftly committed to playing out the first and last revelation of such a film series. Tony Stark is Iron Man. And the Avengers are the Earth’s mightiest heroes. Everything else in Endgame is secondary, including its villain.
Cinemaholics Podcast #112 – Hellboy, Missing Link, High Life, Guava Island, Little, The Death of Dick Long, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Breakthrough
We’re traveling to hell and back this week with our review of Hellboy, a new R-rated adaptation of the monster-fighting comic book anti-hero, now starring David Harbour. We also catch up on the latest stop-motion animation family film from LAIKA, Missing Link, and cover plenty of other releases worth talking about, including High Life, Guava Island, Little, The Death of Dick Long, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and Breakthrough.
Cinemaholics Podcast #111 – Shazam, Pet Sematary, The Best of Enemies, Unicorn Store, Shrill, The Inventor
Special guest Ryan Oliver (The Playlist) joins us for a supersized review of Shazam, the latest superhero film from DC and Warner Bros. We also bury our feelings to discuss Pet Sematary, a new horror remake of the 80s Stephen King adaptation. Later in the show, we’re covering a wide variety of other releases, including The Best of Enemies, Shrill Season 1, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, and Unicorn Store.
‘Pet Sematary’ Review – When it Comes to this Remake, Dead is Better
The escapist horror of Stephen King is known and perhaps beloved for its eery “other” worlds and frightscapes mirroring our own reality, yet are not quite the same. Something is always off in the very best of King’s written stories and media adaptations, and in the same way, Pet Sematary (a remake of the schlocky 1989 horror hit) contains just about everything recognizable in a memorable, unshakeable King horror, but something here inevitably strikes as a bit twisted and wrong.
‘The Best of Enemies’ Review – Not the Best (Or Worst) of Civil Rights Dramas
Robin Bissell has produced, though not frequently, films of varying quality over the years, primarily under director Gary Ross. If you’ve watched Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games, or Free State of Jones, for instance, then you’ve had a chance to spot his name in the credits. And now, after two decades of bringing films to the big screen, Bissell has jumped into the director’s chair with his own screenplay for The Best of Enemies, a lukewarm debut for the veteran producer under the STX Films brand.
Cinemaholics Podcast #109 – Us
This week, we’re dedicating the majority of the show to reviewing the new horror film Us, the second feature by director Jordan Peele after his 2017 debut Get Out. We’ll be discussing the film entirely spoiler-free for the first half of this review, then after a fairly obvious spoiler warning, we’ll be digging deep into the secrets, meanings, and interpretations we had after our first watch. Plus, we kick off the episode with a brief review of Yardie, the first feature film directed by Idris Elba.
‘The Dirt’ Review – This Mötley Crüe Biopic Could Use a Kickstart to the Heart
In 2001, the four members of the 1980s rock band Mötley Crüe chronicled their drug and sex laden escapades in a tell-all book entitled The Dirt. It was far more about sex and drugs than it was rock ‘n’ roll; detailing stories of trashed hotel rooms, struggles with addiction, and personal pitfalls over the sake of living the rockstar life doled out in absolute chaos. The film incarnation is, unfortunately, much of the same. Netflix’s adaptation of the tumultuous, vile story of Mötley Crüe never finds the right tone and ultimately hits all the wrong notes.
Cinemaholics Podcast #107 – Captain Marvel, Leaving Neverland, Miracle Workers, The Aftermath, The Kid
Spring is in the air, and so is Captain Marvel. We’re flying higher, further, and faster in our review of the new Marvel superhero film starring Brie Larson, and joining us is special guest Kimber Myers of the LA Times. We also discuss Leaving Neverland, a new HBO documentary from Sundance about the sexual abuse allegations of Michael Jackson, as well as some other new releases like The Aftermath, The Kid, and one new TV series on TBS starring Steve Buscemi, Daniel Radcliffe and many others in Miracle Workers.
‘The Kid’ Review – The Old West Has Some New Storytelling Problems
At one point in The Kid, a new western directed by Vincent D’Onofrio, someone utters the tremendously bold statement, “It only matters the story they tell when you’re gone.” With all due respect to real-life outlaw “Billy the Kid,” you probably deserve the story this film decides to tell about you.
