Middle of the Row

Another Netflix film, this time a Halloween entry (I know, I know, way late), and that is the film Vampires vs. The Bronx. We actually argue quite a bit over this one, as this is one of the most divisive episodes in a while. Zac’s on the Yay side, everyone else, not so much. Listen in to hear him defend the movie, while maybe also conceding that this isn’t the film his counterparts want it to be....

We discuss another Netflix movie, again. It fails to impress, again. Even if it does manage to not look like shit, again. The star studded adaptation of a young adult reimagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle series, brings great music, fancy backdrops and not a lot else. PG Fleabag Enola can’t pull us into her mystery, but that might have to do with the fact that she isn’t even that great at solving...

Yes, the podcast still exists! We don’t pack it in at 150, but we are going to change it up in a bit. This is the first of three episodes I have left in the bank before we pivot to a new format, with new episodes of this podcast dropping intermittently when there is something to discuss. For now, a Netflix new release for 2020, The Devil All The Time. The southern gothic drama is dripping with swe...

Hey all, our 150th episode! Thanks so much for listening, if you have, for as many episodes as you’ve listened too. We discussed our last flashback for 2020, thanks Covid, but it is a good one! And everyone liked it! Maybe some warming up here or there, but by the end of this thing, Banksy finds quite the story to tell. Mr. Brainwash is one of a kind and this film is extremely prescient even today...

***Spoilers for all of Nolan’s Filmography*** Grant and Zac talk Tenet. They definitely don’t figure out Tenet, but they certainly talk about it. Zac thinks it will be in the running for the next decade of movies, Grant is pretty sure it’s not even in Nolan's top tier. Still, they have a spirited debate and find plenty they agree on, even if they have diverting final takes on the film. Download. L...

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk,...

We flashback to 2000 for Christopher Guest’s Best In Show. Written with Eugene Levy, the improvised comedy was a breakout for the genre at the turn of the century and has been one of the major comedic influences of the last twenty years. The film has a great cast, lots of good boys, and more than a few amazing one liners we can’t help but repeat here. The film holds up quite well for Zac and Ben,...

A new release, again from Netflix, this time for the sci-fi superheroy thing, Project Power. The film stars Jamie Foxx, JGL and Dominique Fishback. The film is a mash-up of many sci-fi/comic book concepts, but never really blazes its own path. It’s a half-baked idea at every turn. The film has some moments, looks solid, sounds great, but never gets off the ground and running. We still have a lot o...

A new release this week, this time from Neon and writer/director Amy Seimetz, She Dies Tomorrow. This black comedy/thriller thing is one of my favorite films of the year (knocked from the top spot since we recorded), but the rest of the crew isn’t quite as one over. Yet we agree on most of the film’s strengths. I don’t know... It feels like Ben and Lauren wanted something the film wasn’t trying to...

Flashing back to 2000 for Disney Animation Studios entry, the much beloved The Emperor’s New Groove. I was a first timer to this one, and I can not join in on the praise, but the rest of the crew still adores this film. They commiserate about their favorite bits, love of Kronk and where this stands in the Disney Animated canon. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:02:00 Why The Emperor’s New Groove? Should...

A new release, this time from Amazon Studios, and that is the film Radioactive. The Marjane Satrapi film is an inventive biopic about the scientist Marie Curie, and while it won over Zac, the rest of the crew had a hard time finding its glow. Pike is good, Satrapi makes some flourishes, but most here weren’t won over. Still, we discuss lots of other biopics, what makes them good, and a few other r...

We flashback to 2010 for Denzel walking the earth in The Book of Eli. The genre mash up has plenty to stick up for, plenty to be disappointed in, and made us feel a broad range of feelings; or none. Everyone has a different take on this one, so it’s a good listen for a variety of takes from us four. Jon made the pick, guess why?, but I can confidently say this, we are the only podcast that will co...

We have another new release, this time thanks to Neon and Hulu, as they have released the Sundance favorite, Palm Springs, on the service. Palm Springs stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti and J.K. Simmons, stuck in a high concept romantic comedy. Don’t peak down if you want to avoid any minor spoilers, but we all agreed on this one! Not as emphatically across the board, but, a strong positive c...

We review another “new release” this week, and that is the 2016 original cast recording of Hamilton on Disney+. Ben said no to this, so I watch with two Hamilton virgins (for the most part) and we are all blown away! Surprising no one. It’s Hamilton, it’s great!, but we get into how the set and stage direction works to enhance the show, how seeing the close ups adds to the performances, and heap e...

Another Netflix new release, this time with Will Ferrell's entry to the platform, with Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. I wasn’t here for this one, but I would have probably thrown more negativity into this one! Still, Ben was the lowest on it, but only has praise to be parsed out after his initial thoughts, so maybe it is worth your time. I’m probably a curmudgeon. They praise the...

Another Netflix new release, Wasp Network, splits the pod down the middle. Jon and Zac enjoy the fast paced, if surface, docudrama, but Ben and Lauren were BORED. We all agree on the cast, disagree on the filmmaking, and we also learn where exactly Guantanamo Bay is! Next to Hidden Beach. A fun episode, with some solid back and forth on this one, from the often great Olivier Assayas. Download. Lis...

We flashback to 2000 for the awkward family comedy, Meet The Parents! A big hit back in the day, two whole sequels, Foker jokes. Jon picked this, and no one else can really get on his or the film’s wavelength. The film has some agreeable moments, but, as a whole, just doesn’t come together. Still, a solid talk, about a not so solid movie. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Meet The Parents?, Jus...

Another flashback, to 2010, to review the Norwegian import Trollhunter. This found footage genre bender has a lot of fun bits, some genuine funny moments and some surprisingly solid special effects. The film hits everyone a bit different around here, but we still manage to find plenty to appreciate across the board. Check it out! Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Trollhunter?, What Worked And D...

Flashing back again to 2010, this time for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World! The Edgar Wright classic has a lot of fans on this pod, and we talk a lot, and trade favs, and heap plenty of praise. It’s a lovefest, even if Jon tries to fight it. Also, everyone, but Lauren’s, audio kind of sucks this week, I don’t know what happened, we’ll do better! Anyways, if you are a fan, this is a fun listen! Downloa...

Our first ever game review on the podcast?, I think it might be, and you couldn’t ask for a much better game: The Last of Us: Part II. We (Lauren, Ben and I) all love the game, but we have a pretty fantastic discussion about what makes this game so special, while keeping realistic hype trains in check. That doesn’t mean we don’t praise it to high heaven, we do, but that’s because this is one of th...

A new release! The dumped to Netflix comedy, The Lovebirds. Everyone, besides Jon, couldn’t really get into it, but we find some areas to appreciate in the film. A laugh or two here, a solid performance there, but all and all it feels like a missed opportunity; especially with the talent involved. Oh well? Not a trainwreck, but it feels like a solid what could have been. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0...

We flashback to another 2000 Oscar film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This time, Zac is doing the picking and he loves this film a whole lot 20 years on. The rest of the crew isn’t as high, and found diminishing returns, but Zac stands up for the excellence and beauty of the picture. Jon tag teams a couple sections with him, who puts his wire-fu issues behind him, Lauren though... A good convo...

We are flashing back to 2010 to review, for some reason, The Switch. This Jason Bateman/Jennifer Aniston dramedy forces a couple of us to rethink our 2010-selves, while making us wonder how the hell we ever could have found Jason Bateman appealing in this film. Jon, who picked the film, remains unphased, while Ben and Zac call the child character an asshole; repeatedly. That’s the kind of episode...

We flashback to 2000 for Ben’s favorite movie, Gladiator. The Ridley Scott sword and sandals epic swept the movie world 20 years ago, but how does it stack up all these years later? Ben is, obviously, still on board, as is Lauren, but Jon and Zac are having diminishing returns. How much? Listen to find out! We do agree there is some greatness in here, regardless of the returns, and the movie is ic...

Another week of Covid-19, another flashback! This time, to 2010, to watch Never Let Me Go. I recently placed this high in my best movies of the last decade, and having rewatched a couple times in the past few months, it stands up as an underseen gem. We discussed the greatness of Carey Mulligan, sad feelings, world building, more sadness, compared it to Michael Bay’s The Island, and did I mention...