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: review
‘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.
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.
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.
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 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.
‘Halloween Kills’ makes the invincibility of Michael Myers the point
Director David Gordon Green, and Michael Myers, return for yet another slash-em-up night in Haddonfield.
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 #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.
‘Loki’ episode 2, “The Variant” explains the reasoning behind Loki’s new philosophy
The second episode of “Loki” has been out for some time now, and I’ve got to tell you, this is the hardest time I’ve had writing about one of these shows. Not because there isn’t anything to write about. Quite the contrary. After only two episodes, “Loki” has a lot of tricky, deep themes up its sleeve.
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.
‘Loki’ demonstrates the power of free will and the importance of self-reflection
Okay guys, I know it. You’re tired of hearing about how good Marvel is. After thirteen years of existence, the MCU has produced hit after hit, with only the occasional Thor: The Dark World to leave a mark.
‘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 #220 – Those Who Wish Me Dead
Be careful what you wish for. And that doesn’t just apply to our mini review of The Djinn from IFC Midnight. Nope, our main review this week is Those Who Wish Me Dead from Taylor Sheridan and starring Angelina Jolie, which just hit theaters and HBO Max. We also briefly discuss the “screen life” or “screen share” movie Profile, the latest Amy Adams Netflix movie The Woman in the Window, and a French sci-fi on Netflix called Oxygen, which stars Mélanie Laurent.
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ is a simple Neo-Western with wide open dreams
Angelina Jolie. The most household of household names. You won’t find anyone in the world who doesn’t know who Jolie is by name and name alone. Before we even get to her actual credentials — roles like Lara Croft in the original Tomb Raider movies, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, and Maleficent — she boasts accolades that include several Humanitarian awards and Oscars, and she even became a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She’s got a heavy business card, is what I’m getting at here. And it’s exactly that kind of star power and genuine, groundbreaking talent that serves not only as the shining light over Those Who Wish Me Dead from Warner Bros., but also the biggest obstacle standing in the way of an otherwise plain neo-western thriller.
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.
Cinemaholics Podcast – ‘Shadow and Bone’ Season 1 Review
Special guest Alisha Grauso joins the show for a bonus discussion of “Shadow and Bone,” a brand new dark fantasy series that just hit Netflix. We chat about how the show measures up to the first book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, plus how newcomers to the story might get instantly hooked on this intriguing and unique world filled with “magic” (or small science?) and swashbuckling thieving crews.
Cinemaholics Podcast #214 – Shiva Baby
Our main review this week is Shiva Baby, a new festival darling dark comedy written and directed by Emma Seligman in her feature film debut. In addition to discussing that film, along with Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy and Hulu’s WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn, we discuss the new trailer for Space Jam: A New Legacy and debate whether or not Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is good. Plus we go on a weird rant about streaming services as high school cliques.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Godzilla vs. Kong
It’s Jon vs. Will on this week’s bonus episode of Cinemaholics. Who will prevail? Hard to say. But they do their best to battle out their differing takes on not only Godzilla vs. Kong, but Legendary’s overall “MonsterVerse” to date. Their latest effort comes to us from director Adam Wingard and stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir.
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.
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ examines the complicated legacy of Sam Wilson
Cinemaholics Podcast – Invincible
Special guest Mekishana Pierre joins us today for a bonus review of “Invincible,” a new animated superhero show created by Robert Kirkman and adapted from his 2003 comic book series. We discuss our general, spoiler-three thoughts on the first three episodes of the series, which you can watch right now on Amazon Prime Video. And the show features a stellar voice cast: Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, and many more.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Don’t worry, this shouldn’t take four hours. Special guest Adonis Gonzalez joins us to review Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the epic “Snydercut” or director’s cut of the 2017 superteam movie dud, which has just premiered on HBO Max. We discuss the legacy of Zack Snyder’s filmography, his work on the DCEU (DC Extended Universe), and the potential future of DC superheroes on the big screen.
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.”
‘WandaVision’ Proves That Love in the MCU can Actually Mean Something
It’s been a week since the exciting conclusion to “WandaVision” graced our screens. The Disney+ original series captured the attention of new and old MCU fans alike with its first bizarre and eye-catching premiere on January 15, and not much has changed eight episodes later. Every episode was wrought with fan theories, speculation, and nail-biting anticipation for the next week. And now, it’s over. The sun has set on yet another chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and “WandaVision” certainly went out with a bang. The finale featured some of the best action sequences and most crushing emotional moments in the entire (limited) series. The stellar acting from the cast, including Elizabeth Olsen, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris and Paul Bettany, only helped catapult the positive reception of the finale, and it helped cement “WandaVision” as one of the must-watch shows of the year.
‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run’ Is bearably barnacles
The undersea adventures of SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom-dwelling fans have been going on since 1999, entertaining multiple generations and sparking that age-old debate about which era of the sea sponge’s escapades is the best. Well, it’s not much of a debate per se, it’s more like the original generation of viewers (now fully-grown adults) yelling at the younger generation, who don’t seem to be paying much attention because they’re too busy trying to watch “SpongeBob.”
Eddie Huang’s ‘Boogie’ drops the ball
It’s not often we get a memoirist’s perspective on film. There are plenty of instances where directors write autobiographies, certainly. And there are plenty of novelists who’ve made the leap into screenwriting and directing. But it’s pretty rare for an author known for his best-selling life story to make the jump behind-the-camera. Of course, Eddie Huang hasn’t lived an ordinary life. The Fresh Off the Boat writer is an attorney, producer, television host, food personality, chef, and restaurateur, complete with his own gua bao eatery in Lower Manhattan, which gives you a glimpse into his wide-ranging skill set. This is a guy who really knows how to expand his reach.
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 – Behind Her Eyes
Special guest Amanda the Jedi joins the show for a bonus review of “Behind Her Eyes,” a new psychological-thriller limited series from Netflix created by Steve Lightfoot and based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel of the same name. The story follows Louise, a single mother played by Simona Brown, who sparks a love affair with her new boss David, a psychiatrist played by Tom Bateman. She only later realizes however that he is already married to a woman named Adele, played by Eve Hewson. And before Louise knows it, she’s begun a secret friendship with the wife of the man she’s pining for.
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.
Robin Wright’s ‘Land’ is a Vacant Directorial Debut with a Few Notable Peaks
Throughout a nearly four-decade acting career, Robin Wright has capably channeled characters who carry a patient, dutiful sense of longing and/or silent dignity. Be it The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump, The Congress, or Netflix’s House of Cards, to name only a few notable movies and shows, Wright has often demonstrated a great talent for playing patient, mature women with complicated feelings and careful thinking.
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.
‘WandaVision’ Episode 3 Recap – Surprises In All Shapes And Sizes
We’re only a third of the way through “WandaVision,” but if this recent episode is any indication, we can expect an avalanche of strange occurrences and sudden twists to occur every single week. Episode 3 of “WandaVision,” aptly titled “Now in Color,” comes to Disney+ with another 40 minutes of laughs, love, and absolute madness. The show starts off how the second episode ended, in brand spanking new technicolor!
In ‘Promising Young Woman,’ Carey Mulligan and Emerald Fennell Stick it to the Man
Promising Young Woman is mad. Damn mad. And it damn well should be. The feature screenwriting and directorial debut of Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) is a consciously, thoughtfully thorny and confrontational revenge story, driven boldly by its star performance from Carey Mulligan. It tensely and intently examines the #MeToo era with a bold disregard for what anyone might think or say. Filled with simmering rage, and a film that’s often eager to examine the layers of hypocrisies through which a “boys will be boys” culture has been formed in institutions over the course of generations, this cinematic takedown is a vibrant effort to dispel “nice guys” and dismantle a society that often sides with men while disrupting women’s futures in the process.
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.
‘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.
The First Rule of ‘Chick Fight’ – Do Not Talk About ‘Chick Fight’
The success of 2011’s Bridesmaids proved female comedies featuring the kind of bawdy, scattalogical humor typically seen in male-led comedies could lead to box office gold. In its wake came a wave of Bechdel-test-passing, R-rated comedies of varying degrees of success, including the smash hit Girls Trip in 2017. Chick Fight feels like the product of Bridesmaids-effect. The women of Chick Fight don’t give a damn about being “ladylike.” They’re badasses! They’re sexual like Melissa McCarthy in that plane scene! The romance is a side plot! But the movie lacks what set Bridesmaids and Girls Trip apart: authenticity.
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.
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.
‘City Hall’ Film Review – TIFF 2020
I’m not exactly sure how to sell you on Frederick Wiseman’s City Hall. This sweeping, sprawling, four-and-a-half-hour documentary is a massive, city-wide examination of the inner workings of Boston’s government and public services. It’s an elaborate, expansive look at what makes a city the way it is, how its citizens and political leaders work hard to keep everything running, and the seemingly endless hurdles that poor and marginalized individuals often need to go through in order to make their voices heard. It’s a bulky, burgeoning enterprise of a documentary that’s as interested in watching town hall officials speak to the masses as it is watching the local garbagemen take out the trash on their regular circuits.
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.
‘I Am Greta’ Film Review – TIFF 2020
By now, you’re likely familiar with Greta Thunberg, a 17-year-old Swedish environmental activist who’s drummed up heaps of international press over her ongoing efforts to bring serious awareness to the increasing dangers of climate change, global warming, and the depletion of our global resources. It’s a problem impacting all of us, young and old. In fact, it’s the youth in particular who will need to live with the consequences of their elders if we don’t do something to prevent the aching calls of distress from our dying planet. It’s been noted several times by now that we’re currently at the brink of irreversible damage, and if something isn’t done imminently, we’ll suffer greatly from the extreme consequences of our inaction.
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.
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.
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.
‘Mr. Soul’ is a Documentary that Shouldn’t Be Ignored, Just Like the Man it’s Based on
If you search the name “Ellis Haizlip” in your preferred search engine of choice today, you won’t get a lot of results. There is no Wikipedia page, and his IMDB spotlight is slim, to say the least. Most of what you’ll get are stories and reviews about Mr. Soul, the documentary detailing the life and career of Haizlip and his time as the producer and host of “Soul!” from 1968 to 1973. A documentary, I might add, that most people wouldn’t even know to search the name of because much like the person it’s analyzing, it wasn’t massively advertised. Still, Mr. Soul is just as important to American life and TV as the man himself was.
Cinemaholics Podcast – Tenet
In this special bonus episode, guests Cory Woodroof and Charlie Ridgely join Will Ashton for an in-depth review of Tenet, the newest film from director Christopher Nolan.
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.
‘The Personal History Of David Copperfield’ is a Fun, but Flimsy, Dickens Adaptation
I’ll never claim to be a great source of knowledge when it comes to the works of Charles Dickens. My familiarity with his words derive through other sources, mainly various adaptations of varying faithfulness or stylistic-to-bombastic re-imaginings of his material that may or may not honor the “spirit” of his original scribbles. Therefore, I cannot tell you whether or not The Personal History of David Copperfield is a fitting adaptation, nor if it properly honors Dickens’ long-standing legacy and cultural relevance. But here’s what I can tell you.
Video Review – The Boys Season 2
Wait, video review? For a TV show? I thought this was a Cinema podcast! For all the holics out there! Well, dear listener, guess what. “The Boys” Season 2 is about to hit Amazon Prime Video, and I recorded a video review on our YouTube Channel. Youtube Channel?! That’s right, we have a YouTube Channel. Been a thing for a minute.
‘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.
‘Tesla’ is a Shockingly Tame Biopic with Sparks of Hope
Tesla stars Ethan Hawke as the titular inventor who navigates life in the 1800s, one of America’s most “brainstormy” times. Around him are a handful of equally inventive and enigmatic characters, such as Anne Morgan, portrayed by Eve Hewson, and George Westinghouse, portrayed by Jim Gaffigan. And of course, you can’t have a Tesla movie without his famous frenemy and rival in the electricity circuit, Thomas Edison; a role that is perfectly performed by Kyle MacLachlan in small doses. Edison isn’t in the film a whole lot, but he manages to steal the show in a manner accurate to how his real-life inspiration repeatedly stole Tesla’s thunder.
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.
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.
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 #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!
‘Trolls: World Tour’ Should Be Taken Extra Seriously, Please
Harmony is a utopia. But at what cost? The denizens of Trolls: World Tour, a sequel to the well-received DreamWorks Animation film from 2016, begin this self-examination in segregated exile. What is the world of Trolls if not a watermark of our own “United” States? Because these are trolls are a lot of things, but united is certainly not one of them.
Cinemaholics Podcast #162 – Bacurau, The Platform, McMillion$, Swallow, Coffee & Kareem
Special guest Sam Noland joins us for a weird review of the new weird western Bacurau, now available through some streaming platforms and maybe your local arthouse theater. The gang also discusses a new sci-fi horror flick called The Platform on Netflix, the HBO documentary mini-series McMillion$, yet another sci-fi horror flick called Swallow starring Haley Bennett, and stoner buddy comedy Coffee & Kareem on Netflix starring Ed Helms and Taraji P. Henson.
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 #156 – Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Special guests Julia Teti and Emily Kubincanek join Jon and Will for an in-depth review of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, one of the most universally acclaimed new films from the last year. Directed by Céline Sciamma, this sweeping romantic drama centers around an intense love affair between a young painter (Noémie Merlant) and the woman she is secretly painting a portrait of (Adèle Haenel).
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 – 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.
‘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.
Is ‘Judy’ A Loving Tribute To Judy Garland, Or Is It Merely Oscar Bait?
It’s no secret Hollywood loves Hollywood (see: La La Land’s 14 Oscar nominations). A biopic about a beloved star of the Hollywood Golden Age? Singing? My first thought upon viewing the Judy trailer was Oscar. Fodder. But Renée Zellweger’s performance as Judy Garland ultimately transcended my cynicism.
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 #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.
‘Toy Story 4’ Review – Pixar’s Premiere Franchise Gets A Second Goodbye
‘Dark Phoenix’ Review – The X-Men Franchise Ends As It Did The First Time, By Flaming Out Spectacularly.
19 years of X-Men films have led to one very awkward moment. A patchwork of sagas ranging from transcendent to bottom-dweller couldn’t have a picked a flatter vehicle for punctuating a complex legacy now in the hands of Disney upon the Disney-Fox merger. And to make matters more confused, we still have another one of these ancillary films, New Mutants, delayed to next spring for an unrelated and likely inconsequential misadventure. For now, Dark Phoenix effectively closes the book on a story that already has two, maybe three endings as it is.
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 – Game of Thrones Series Finale
Fellow Game of Thrones fanatics Kimber Myers and Julia Teti join us for a full-length discussion of the hit HBO series and its 8-season finale. We discuss what we liked and disliked, what surprised us, and how the legacy of Game of Thrones may shape pop culture for winters to come.
‘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 #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.
‘Slut in a Good Way’ Review – Sophie Lorain’s Raunchy Dramedy is Honest…In a Good Way
Slut in a Good Way is directed by French-Canadian actress Sophie Lorain and stars Marguerite Bouchard, Romane Denis, and Rose Adam as Charlotte, Mégane, and Aube respectively, a trio of teenage girls who are hired to work part-time at a toy store during the winter holidays. Over the course of the season, they each engage in various romantic and sexual exploits with their coworkers and are suddenly forced to reckon with the frustrations and uncertainties that arise when it comes to adult relationships.
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.
‘Dumbo’ Review – You’ll Believe an Elephant Can Fly, But Tim Burton Doesn’t Reach New Heights
If there’s one adjective I typically abhor when it comes to describing films, it’s “cute.” Cute, to my disgruntled ears, comes off as cheap, lazy, and non-descriptive. It’s a broad word that doesn’t really get to the meat of one’s feelings beyond the surface level. It’s a deflection term, often used to describe the exterior of a film while avoiding anything specific, intellectual, or meaningful. It’s an inoffensive word, certainly; there’s really no sense in getting mad about its overuse beyond my (admittedly) overbearingly high literary standards. But I still find it ceaselessly grating. What exactly does it mean to be “cute” anyway? It looks nice? A squeaky-clean disposition? Positive vibes? Good morals? It’s a placeholder word when others fail you.
‘Shazam!’ Review – Introducing a Hero as Funny as He is Super
Shazam! is probably the last film a lot of superhero movie fans expected from the expanded cinematic universe of DC stories, which have recently taken a turn for the colorful and fantastical with Aquaman, as well as the dynamic and righteous Wonder Woman. Unlike those entries into the ever-growing mythology of live-action gods and heroes, this new film from oft-horror director David F. Sandberg is a heartfelt family comedy with an authentically “teen” edge, boasting far more angst to chew on than its closest rival, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
‘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.
‘Five Feet Apart’ Review – Haley Lu Richardson Should Move Far, Far Away From This Weepy, Teen Romance
Though it is not based on a young adult novel, despite what my brain might tell me (Side note: it’s all the more confusing because they made a novelization and released it at the end of 2018), Five Feet Apart is centered around Stella Grant (Richardson), a bright, motivated teenager who cannot live her fullest life due to the limitations of her cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis.
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.
‘Captain Marvel’ Review – A Powerful Introduction Pushed Out of the Past
Keeping your emotions in check means maintaining a semblance of control. Don’t be hysterical, don’t lose your cool, don’t show your feelings or risk being called weak. This is what the titular Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson) is struggling with when we first meet her training on the planet Hala, far from the Earth we know in more ways than one.
‘Arctic’ Review – This Subzero Survival Thriller Is Ironically Heartwarming
‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ Review – Floats by on Charm, But Never Soars
‘Fighting With My Family’ Review – A Wrestling Comedy That Doesn’t Pull Punches
Cinemaholics Podcast #104 – Alita: Battle Angel, Happy Death Day 2U, Isn’t It Romantic
