Storybeater

Anthony and Andrew discuss the blockbuster rom-com Crazy Rich Asians and how it compares to the tropes of the genre. They also talk about favourite rom-coms and how the genre has changed over time, and where the future of the rom-com might lie. As always, Anthony and Andrew also talk about what they're writing and what they're reading!

Anthony & Andrew discuss the new Marvel movie Ant-Man & The Wasp and the second season of Luke Cage on Netflix, and break down the tropes, the villains, the ways the stories use power, and much more. They also discuss whether it's time to stop talking about Marvel all the time!  Plus, what they're writing, and what they're reading, including Yahtzee Croshaw's Jam, and Mackenzi Lee's A Gentleman's...

We're putting a team together. Andrew and Anthony discuss the story beats behind heist movies, with a focus on Ocean's 8 and the other movies in the Ocean's franchise, but also touching on heist movies as different as Topkapi and Lucky Logan. Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Anthony and Andrew look at the big "season finale" of Marvel Studios' ten year cinematic universe project, Avengers: Infinity War. Does it work as a movie? Does Thanos work as a villain? And what might be next for the MCU? Plus, what we're writing, and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew break down what works and what doesn't about the new Lost In Space TV show. Is Parker Posey the Dr Smith we need right now? They also discuss space-based sci-fi, and talk about what they're reading and writing.

The first season of Jessica Jones had a very clear story to tell about living with trauma, but did it leave anywhere for the second season to go? Anthony and Andrew dig in to the new storyline and ask all the big questions, like 'Can Jessica be happy?', 'What is Malcolm for?' and 'How famous is Trish meant to be anyway?'

Anthony and Andrew share their thoughts on the ten nominees for best screenplay in this year's Academy Awards, including The Big Sick, The Shape of Water, Lady Bird, Call Me By Your Name, and Logan. Then they share their thoughts on the latest hit Marvel movie, Black Panther. 00:10:17 Academy Awards 01:17:47 Black Panther

Anthony and Andrew offer their take on the writing and world-building of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, plus a look back at some of their favourite genre works of 2017 (and a couple of duds). 

Anthony and Andrew talk about monsters and the id of man, with a special focus on Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and the classic Universal monster movie The Wolf Man.

Anthony and Andrew talk about their favourite musicals, and how musicals approach story. 

Anthony and Andrew break down the highs and lows of Marvel's Defenders series on Netflix, bringing together the characters from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and also Iron Fist. It was a bold television experiment, but did it work?

Breaking down the heroes, villains, and world-building of the latest Spider-Man movie.

Anthony and Andrew offer their belated story-related thoughts on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and DC's Wonder Woman.

We recorded this podcast a quarter mile at a time. (And then uploaded it super late.)

Breaking down (almost) everything wrong with Netflix's Marvel's Iron Fist. Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

 Anthony and Andrew offer their thoughts on this year's Academy Award nominees for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, including La La Land, The Lobster, Manchester By The Sea, Arrival, Hidden Figures, Lion, and Moonlight. Plus, what they're reading and what they're writing!

Breaking down the strengths and flaws of Gareth Edwards' Rogue One.

Anthony and Andrew break down the story elements and the successes and failures of the new Doctor Strange movie, including its use of tropes, its treatment of women, and the question of how sympathetic its lead character is meant to be. Plus, what we're reading, and what we're writing!

Anthony Falcone and Andrew Wheeler break down the storytelling, heroes, villains, women, and cultural significance of Cheo Hodari Coker's Luke Cage show as best as they are able! Plus; what they're writing, and what they're reading!

Anthony and Andrew look at the strengths and problems of the latest version of The Magnificent Seven, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. How does it compare to previous versions, and to other "build the team" and "defend the castle" movies? Plus, in What We're Reading, Anthony talks about Raina Telgemeier's Ghosts, and Andrew talks about the podcast My Favorite Murder.

Anthony and Andrew tackle Suicide Squad, a movie that just begs to be rewritten, and check out the first six episodes of Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down on Netflix. Spoilers ahead!  Check us out at Fan Expo in Toronto, September 1-4.

 Andrew and Anthony talk about Paul Feig's 2016 reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. What worked, what didn't, and how did the weird controversy around the movie shape our appreciation for it? Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

 Anthony and Andrew go in-depth on the latest X-Men movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, and take a detour into another Biblical comics adaptation, AMC's Preacher. Plus, the latest look at what they're writing and what they're reading.

Anthony and Andrew discuss the secrets behind the success of Captain America: Civil War, including its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon and the establishment of new characters Black Panther and Spider-Man. Plus, inevitably, they compare Civil War to Batman v Superman. Also in this episode: TCAF, I Hate Fairyland, and Thomas King.