Feature Underground

In this special episode of Feature Underground, Hunter discusses why he doesn't give any credence to Oscar nominations or wins. How did he go from anticipating the Oscars every year to no longer watching? If he were charge, how would the Oscars look? Why is March such a dead month for interesting movies that Hunter must talk about the Oscars? #oscars #oscars2024 #academyawards Subscribe:  @Fea...

Dune: Part Two is latest film from acclaimed director, Denis Villeneuve, and the second film in a planned trilogy. It also happens to be the latest subject of Feature Underground. The film follows Paul, intergalactic royalty and all-around chosen one, as he stirs the pot in an ever-deepening conspiracy even he doesn't know the depths of. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Fergu...

Drive-Away Dolls is the first movie to be solely directed by Ethan Coen and the subject of this Feature Underground review from Hunter Lanier. The film follows two young women (Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan) on their long, strange trip to Tallahassee. Sex, violence, and a guy named Curlie who doesn't like to be called Curlie--that's a movie ticket with value. Hunter discusses...

The Zone of Interest, the latest from director, Jonathan Glazer, is the subject of this Feature Underground review from Hunter Lanier. The film is set in idyllic neighborhood of white picket fences and trimmed hedges, which is situated directly next door to Auschwitz. Living here are the concentration camp's officers and their families. As the residents of this neighborhood go about their dail...

American Fiction, the first film from Cord Jefferson, is the subject of this FU review from Hunter Lanier. Jeffrey Wright plays Monk, a novelist who's unsuccessful because his books aren't marketable enough. Frustrated with the culture trying to pigeonhole him as a "black author," Monk decides to lean into what they want him to be--purely for his own amusement--and his career exp...

May December, the latest movie from Todd Haynes, is the subject of this Feature Underground review from Hunter Lanier. The film follows Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), an actress who is going to play Gracie (Julianne Moore) in a film within the film. Gracie spent years in prison due to her relationship with a twelve-year-old boy. After being released from prison, Gracie goes on to marry the now-grown...

Napoleon, the latest from director, Ridley Scott, is the subject of this Feature Underground review. The film follows the titular Frenchman (Joaquin Phoenix) as he climbs the ranks from regular fella to nearly conquering the world. His famous better half, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), is there too. Hunter discusses the movie's "greatest hits syndrome," it being neither epic nor personal...

The Holdovers, the latest movie from Alexander Payne, is the subject of this Feature Underground non- spoiler review. A New England Scrooge of a schoolteacher is punished by being assigned to supervise boys with no home to go home to on Christmas break. One of the boys, to paraphrase Paul Simon, has brains but just don't use 'em. Social castaways from very different vessels, the two must s...

The Killer, the latest film from David Fincher, is the subject of this episode of Feature Underground. Michael Fassbender stars as an assassin of many names and outfits, none of them his own. His hitman abilities leave as much to be desired as his inner soliloquies. Hunter discusses his many problems with the movie, including its cinematography, poorly written and obnoxious voiceover, and lack of...

Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese's latest, is the subject of this episode of the Feature Underground. Hunter discusses the film's sophisticated characterizations, DiCaprio's acting secret weapon, and takes a moment to appreciate the fact that a master is alive and at the top of his game. Are you looking forward to the movie? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment...

Anatomy of a Murder is the subject of this week's episode of the Feature Underground. Directed by Otto Preminger, the film centers around a small-town lawyer (Jimmy Stewart) in a battle of wits with his big-city counterpart (George C. Scott). The pawns in this judicial chess match are played by Ben Gazzara and Lee Remick, who seem to be playing a game all their own. We discuss the movie's...

Loki Season 2 is the subject of this latest review from the Feature Underground. Deftly avoiding spoilers like the plague—not the most recent one, which he's had multiple times—Hunter delivers a good-faith monologue on the show's aesthetic, lack of interesting characters, and its overall conveyor belt quality. Mosey on over to that comment section and let us know what you think about Loki...

Our Criterion Channel review of the week belongs to Thief, Michael Mann's 1981 crime drama classic. The film stars James Caan as Frank, a lucrative thief who succeeds by keeping his circle small and his reach aligned with his grasp. As soon as he gets greedy--in his personal life as well as his professional--things take a turn for the worse. We discuss the movie's beautiful nightscapes, si...

Our Criterion Channel review of the week belongs to It Always Rains on Sunday. The film is a 1947 British film-noir classic in which a housewife's domestic misery is interrupted by the sudden reappearance of her ex-boyfriend, who just happens to have recently escaped from prison. We discuss the movie's film noir credentials—or lack thereof—its colorful (colourful?) cast of characters, and...