Halfling Cinephile

Amaya welcomes fellow podcaster (and CNU Captain) Nick Delaney to discuss movie musicals and the use of autotune in film adaptations of musicals. Nick dishes on the highs and lows of being a content creator, Amaya has an incredibly late revelation (‘Wicked Part One’ fans beware of potential spoilers), the two discern what makes or breaks the quality of a movie musical, and Amaya makes sure the wor...

An official ‘Wicked’ film adaptation had been a tease for over ten years among fans of the Broadway show, and Jon M. Chu 's 2024 showstopper did not disappoint one bit. This episode, I talk with my good friend Marcus Sledge about their experience with ‘Wicked Part One’, as well as their limited knowledge of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) and its assorted derivations. Where I have been a fan of ‘Wicked’...

“ IIIII’LL drink to that. ” Whether you rock with musicals or you can't stand them, Apple TV's original musical comedy ' Schmigadoon!' (absolutely to be confused with ' Brigadoon ') is quite the hidden gem. A fan of musical theater myself, I find the humor of the series particularly smart, as it takes a deliberate and intelligent stab at the absurdity of musicals in all their performative nature....

“ I’m thirteen, deal with it! ” This one goes out to all you girls out there. ‘ Turning Red’ (2022), which ought to be called “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Adolescence,” has topped out as my favorite period piece. Led by an all-female creative team, this coming-of-age story gets in the weeds about growing up as a girl, and director Domee Shi’s bold visual style makes talking about uncomfortabl...

“ Dr. Mindy, can I be vulnerable in your car? ” Finally, a star-studded movie that isn't a waste of time OR a waste of money. Don’t Look Up (2021) is a big fat mirror of a political satire that was produced with sophistication and authenticity. Comedy genius Adam McKay let improvisation do its thing, while still maintaining a tasteful visual professionalism. The film’s release was incredibly relev...

“ Alright, let's get pregnant, shall we? ” Private Life (2018) is a movie that’s just as quaint as it is audacious. Writer-director Tamara Jenkins created an impressive work of fiction, and she repurposes exhausted cinematography tactics and editing techniques. Starring acting giants Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti, the story of Richard and Rachel’s journey through infertility holds your attention...

"I can't reaaad!" -Richard Kind, Everybody's in L.A. John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.  was a riot and I legitimately believe it went underappreciated. It was like the entire show ran on fumes, and that was every piece of its charm. Comedian John Mulaney and his creative team did their (incredibly apparent) absolute best to tame logistics and put on a live six-episode talk show. Everybody...

“Dimple, no dimple.” ¡Hola, hispanohablantes! Coco (2017) is a movie that seeps and overflows with emotion, and not for nothing. The various departments of this film’s production pooled their talents to create a magical world with a heart-wrenching story at its center. Mexican culture serves the story in every facet, from technical aspects like plot devices to performative aspects like the songs a...

“Oh my word, it’s the noble Phoenix!” Puss in Boots: The Last Wish really has got it all. Stakes perfectly round out Puss’ character arc, a phenomenal voice cast laid down an entertainment factor that, I gotta say, was just right, and functional animation gave the story a reason to be animated. Anyone looking to make a successful sequel, animated or otherwise, should take a page out of Puss in Boo...