Nerd Critic

Will this be the very LAST episode of Nerd Critic ever? (No.) In this episode, we talk ourselves out of covering the movie we planned to cover, and then decide to push pause until the theaters reopen. We're proud to have stubbornly (and stupidly) kept the show going for so long without the magic of the silver screen to sustain us, but it's time to take a break. And we'll be back as soon as Tenet h...

0:40 - Buddy Lindsey (CJ's big brother) introduces the movie 4:25 - Above the line 5:30 - The spoiler-free review (the challenge of spoilers in this movie) 10:10 - Spoilers ahead 16:00 - Jordan thinks he can fix this movie 22:00 - Structural problems 24:55 - Discussing the idea of empathy for self 38:30 - Coming up next week: 7500 on Amazon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss th...

  1:00 - CJ apologizes for his echoey recording, and Jordan apologizes for bad audio last week. Neither of them realize no one cares. 3:10 - The timing of this movie 4:40 - Above the line (and LOTS of early nerding out over the cast) 11:50 - A fantastic easter egg 12:40 - The spoiler-free overview 15:15 - Jordan burps, and doesn't edit it out 18:50 - The movie plays out like a really cool history...

2:50 - Does CJ's wife work too much? 4:30 - James Montague / Andrew Patterson, a first-time writer and director 8:00 - Spoiler-free review (you should go watch it!) 14:00 - Spoilers ahead! 17:20 - Jordan's favorite sequence, deconstructed 23:30 - Incredible pacing, especially considering the way it used and relied on audio 27:00 - How the story encourages close listening to characters who deserve...

Once again, we have a request from a loyal listener. We couldn't have been more excited to talk about this exceptionally entertaining and popular movie. It's actually a little embarrassing that we haven't covered it up to this point. Is this podcast called NERD Critic? Whatever.   0:55 - Rachel Reyes explains why she requested Star Trek 6:10 - The meta-data (above the line) 9:20 - Baby Thor! 9:50...

This is one of those movies that people tend to sleep on, which is unfortunate, because it is not only exceptionally well-crafted, it's also VERY entertaining. We're covering it because it's a Netflix original, and the theaters are still closed. So go stream this and then come listen to us talk about it. 1:00 - Jordan gags on his name 4:27 - Above the line 7:11 - Spoiler free review 11:05 - Spoile...

This is a great movie, and this was a really fun episode, but Jordan would like to make the following important note about the recording: Apologies for the low battery fire alarm beeping in the background of this WHOLE episode. I mean what was I supposed to do? Stop recording and go replace the batteries? Instead of just continuing forward and hoping that the mic wouldn't pick it up? Well I was wr...

The Lovebirds wastes its two best assets, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, by letting the entire burden of comedy rest on their shoulders. We were both looking forward to this movie a lot, and it turned out to be quite the disappointment. If you're interested, watch the first act, then shut it down and check out some of the other movies we talked about in this episode. 4:00 - Discussing the names abo...

Avengers: Infinity War - TWO YEARS LATER Remember that moment in Endgame where they killed Thanos and then there was a title card that was all like, "FIVE YEARS LATER," and we were all like "WHOAH." This episode is kind of like that, but way, way less epic. OK, for real, we started Nerd Critic just over two years ago, right around the time that Infinity War came out (and partly because of it), so...

Stargirl misses the point of itself While Julia Hart brought a lovely, grounded aesthetic to the cinematic language, the story, the writing, and much of the acting was quite a disappointment. But hey! We found plenty of things to talk and rant about (as always). Enjoy! 3:00 - Jordan talks about having read the book many years ago 6:50 - Above the line, and some enthusiasm for Julia Hart, and Starg...

We've been wanting to do this movie for so long. Was it worth the wait? Well, you'll have to listen to find out, won't you? We're so good at sales. Notes: 2:00 - On not being alone in front of a computer 4:26 - Above the line 8:10 - Spoiler free review 15:27 - Nerding out with spoilers! 24:40 - Leveling some criticism (stay in the balloon!) 44:00 - What are we talking about next week? Stargirl on...

Extraction and our 2nd Birthversary In this latest Netflix original movie, Chris Hemsworth is a sad god of thunder. While there were serious thematic issues to unpack (and condemn), it was, nonetheless, far better couch fair than we had any right to expect. Plus: a promo for another show! And: a Nerd Critic Birthversary treat! 02:00 - Your Brain on Facts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id13...

The Perks of After Life This is the last week or our experimental format, so we figured we'd earned some title gore. If you're still confused, read on! Oh, and for those of you who make it through the first few minutes of this episode, we'll just leave this right here: https://youtu.be/Juzy2YVQgw8 0:02:42 - Announcement! ...no more TV :( 0:06:00 - Talking about the Universal/AMC/Regal drama 0:11:4...

We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession. This is a public episode. If...

We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession. The Atlantic's review of Quib...

CJ'S FAVORITE MOVIE. And one of Jordan's favorite TV shows. Yes, it seems like he has a lot of those, but can you blame him? It's PEAK TV, people! Anyway, the point is that CJ only has ONE favorite movie, and it's a dang good one. Watch, listen, love. How's that for a tagline? Yeah okay we'll keep trying. 0:05:45 - New recommendations 0:10:02 - Succession Season 1 0:49:04 - Sing Street This is a p...

Our conversation about Clue leads us into a surprisingly painstaking exploration of modern comedies, and Atlanta reminds us, once again, of Donald Glover's unrelenting creative genius. It was a good week for streaming. Here's to another. 0:04:52 - Recommendations 0:11:35 - Clue 0:36:43 - Atlanta 1:14:00 - Wrapping Up Dixon Gaines article about Clue Dawes "5 miles away" This is a public episode. If...

If our show had always been about TV, we would have covered The Office long ago. In this time of loneliness and desperation, a great American sitcom (based on an obscure British sitcom) seems like the perfect medicine. PLUS! A crowd-pleasing streamable movie, and one of Jordan's favorite series on Netflix. 0:05:18 - New recommendations 0:13:48 - Fighting with My Family 0:30:00 - The End of the F**...

It turns out a person can't reasonably plow through 60 episodes of an hourlong drama in a week. This is a learning experience for all of us, OK? You can trust that this week, our streaming assignment for you will be much more manageable. In the meantime, enjoy our best efforts to cover what we saw. And please feel free to skip around using the following table of contents: 00:04:50 - New recommenda...

This week, we bring you a long-awaited conversation about a much-ballyhooed TV show. But wait! There's more! Due to the massive disruption in the world of movies and theaters, we are CHANGING THE FORMAT OF OUR SHOW. Until movie theaters reopen, Nerd Critic will now be your best binge-watching companion. Take a listen to this week's special episode to get all the juicy (but still sanitary) details....

This movie came out nine years ago, and boy does it hold us, especially considering certain current anxieties. We start this one off with a PSA about COVID-19, and then give the full Nerd Critic treatment to one of the best disaster movies ever made. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

Taika Waititi isn't the first filmmaker to find a way to explore the horrors of Nazi-Germany with the tools of comedy, but he does a fine job of it. And at the heart of the farce is a sincere and grounded story buoyed by pitch perfect performances across the board. We love this movie, and so should you. It's about time we talk about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w...

This is the horror movie we've been waiting for, never relying on jump scares or gore, and keeping us on the edge of our seats right up to an exquisitely satisfying conclusion. Even more, it cuts deep into the thematic marrow of domestic abuse and its consequences. See it. And then come join us for a conversation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...

Right along with Jordan, who often watches it as a joyful birthday tradition. If you've been hankering for a pure nerd-out episode, this one's for you. We also manage to dig into why this movie works so well despite its insistent lack of depth or narrative resonance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic...