Thank God For Movies

Special guest  Adonis Gonzalez  returns for an action-packed review of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings . No, this isn’t an arthouse remake of one of those Sonic movies, though the rings do look suspiciously familiar. This is the latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, their first Asian-led superhero flick, in fact. Later in the show, we also review Cinderella , a n...

You haven't heard from us in a few days, yes, but what can you do, we're on vacation! Making friends! Speaking of, here's our belated review of Vacation Friends , a new buddy comedy on Hulu starring Lil Rel Howery, John Cena, Meredith Hagner, and Yvonne Orji as a group of strangers who become friends while on vacation. Vacation friends! We also talk about the current state of wrestlers who become...

Special guest Adonis Gonzalez joins us to review Candyman , a horror legacy sequel to the iconic 1992 slasher. Directed and co-written by Nia DaCosta with Jordan Peele as producer and co-screenwriter, this new take on the urban legend stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo. We open the show with a brief review of He’s All That , the new Netfli...

Now available to stream on demand and in limited theaters,  Cryptozoo is an adult-animated dramedy from comic artist and animator Dash Shaw. One of our favorites from Sundance 2021, this zany, surrealist indie features the voice talents of Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie, Louisa Krause and Thomas Jay Ryan. This review is an excerpt from E...

Now in theaters and on HBO Max,  Reminiscence is a neo-noir, sci-fi thriller starring Hugh Jackman as a man who can use a machine to display and travel through the memories of others with the help of his partner, played by Thandiwe Newton. The cast also includes Rebecca Ferguson, Cliff Curtis, Marina de Tavira, and Daniel Wu. The film was directed and produced by Lisa Joy in her feature debut...

Now available on Netflix, Sweet Girl is an action thriller starring Jason Momoa and Isabel Merced as a father and daughter on the run from a political conspiracy catching up to their recent family tragedy. Will Ashton does want you to know that the movie takes place in some town in Pennsylvania, I forget which one. Anyway, this is the feature directorial debut of Brian Andrew Mendoza (Jason Momoa'...

Don’t forget to lock your doors. This week we take a trip to The Night House , and it’s quite an inviting horror film starring Rebecca Hall. Later in the show, we check out Sweet Girl , the new Netflix thriller starring Jason Momoa and Isabela Merced. Then Reminiscence on HBO Max and in theaters, a sci-fi dystopian noir starring Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson. Then finally Cryptozoo...

Now available on Apple TV+ and in select theaters,  CODA  is a coming-of-age dramedy starring Emilia Jones as the teenage daughter of deaf parents. The Sundance Grand Jury winner was written and directed by Sian Heder, and the cast includes Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo. This review is an excerpt from Episode #233 of the Cinemaholics Po...

Now available on Netflix,  Beckett is a new action thriller starring John David Washington as an American tourist in Greece who has to go on the run from the local police for reasons unknown. Directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino,  Beckett also stars Vicky Krieps, Boyd Holbrook, and Alicia Vikander. This review is an excerpt from Episode #233 of the Cinemaholics Podcast. Our intro music...

It’s gametime. We’re back this week to review Free Guy , a new action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a non-playable character in a video game who becomes self-aware. We also review the new Netflix political thriller Beckett , which stars John David Washington as an unwitting fugitive in Greece. And then CODA , the Sundance Grand Jury winner about the child of deaf adults, which is no...

Special guest  Kathia Wood s  joins the show this week for a bonus review of Respect , which stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in this musical biopic covering the highs and lows of the late Queen of Soul’s early career. The cast also includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate...

Now available on Netflix,  Vivo is a new animated musical from Sony Pictures Animation about a music-loving kinkajou (Lin-Manuel Miranda) who goes on a journey from Cuba to Florida. The film was directed and co-written by Kirk DeMicco ( The Croods ), along with Brandon Jeffords and Quiara Alegría Hudes. The voice cast includes Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González,...

Now available in limited theatrical release,  Annette is a new musical film from Leos Carax, director of  Holy Motors . It stars Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard as talented artists who grapple with the pressures of fame and parenthood. Featuring original music and a screenplay by Ron Mael and Russell Mael, also known as the music duo, Sparks. This review is an excerpt from Episode #232...

So, what, we’re reviewing some new Suicide Squad movie? Close. It’s The Suicide Squad , this time, a standalone sequel and/or soft reboot of 2016’s Suicide Squad , now directed by James Gunn. But this isn’t your stepdad’s PG-13 Marvel space jam. Nope, this is an R-rated action comedy featuring a massive ensemble cast, which includes the return of Margot Robbie as Harl...

Some people say this isn’t a “bolder” movie. But it does star the Rock. It’s hard to follow the dialogue. But at least it’s Blunt. No listener, you haven’t stumbled upon some pun-infested hell. No, you’ve found yourself on the Cinemaholics cruise with Jon and Will, as they review Jungle Cruise , the long-awaited adaptation of the Disney theme park ride sta...

Special guest Alisha Grauso joins our roundtable to discuss The Green Knight , a new A24 fantasy epic from director/screenwriter David Lowery ( A Ghost Story ). The film stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, who embarks on a dark, existential, anti-hero’s journey to his own doom. The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Barry Keo...

Special guest Kimber Myers joins the show this week to review M. Night Shyamalan’s latest mind-bending horror thriller, Old , which stars Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Eliza Scanlen, Thomasin McKenzie, Alex Wolff, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Embeth Davidtz, Emun Elliott, and Kathlee...

Yo, Joes, we know the G.I. Joe film franchise has been on leave since 2013, but the wait is finally over. Paramount just deployed Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins , a reboot prequel centered around everyone’s favorite silent ninja, played here by a not-silent Henry Golding. Directed by Robert Schwentke ( Red ) with a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos ( Charlie’s Angels ), this new origin s...

Sit down for a spell and enjoy a meal with us. That's right, we're doing a special bonus review of Pig , a new psychological drama from Neon starring Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, and Adam Arkin. Directed by Michael Sarnoski in his feature film debut, Pig is definitely not your average film, and we definitely have a lot to go full ham about with this one. Intro Music:  “Hunting" by Alexis G...

Special guests Matt Serafini and Chris Sheridan join us for a 2-on-2 matchup over Space Jam: A New Legacy , the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 millennial fave, Space Jam . LeBron James steps into Michael Jordan’s sneakers, but not everyone on the show agrees he can fly in this massive, Warner Bros. commercial that at times features the Looney Tunes. Show Notes: 00:00:00 – Shooting hoo...

We’re back for a bonus episode covering Gunpowder Milkshake , a new action thriller now streaming on Netflix. Borrowing inspiration from a whole slew of movies like John Wick , Drive , Kill Bill , and many more, the film stars Karen Gillan as a bare-knuckle assassin on the run. The cast also includes Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, Chloe Coleman, and Paul Giamatti....

Special guest Emily Tannenbaum joins us to review Black Widow , the long-awaited Marvel action spy film starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz. We open the show with early buzz for the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, then some quick catchup on other movies and shows we saw this week. Will briefly shares his thoughts on I Think You Should Leave Season 2 on Netflix, E...

Now available to stream on HBO Max,  No Sudden Move is a new crime thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, with a screenplay by Ed Solomon. The film boasts an impressive cast in this 50s setting, which includes Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Amy Seimetz, Brendan Fraser, Kieran Culkin, Noah Jupe, Craig Grant, Julia Fox, Frankie Shaw, Ray Liotta, and Bill Duke. This rev...

Directed by Questlove,  Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)  is a music documentary chronicling the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which highlighted some unforgettable, transcendent performances at the same time as Woodstock. The film is now playing in select theaters through Searchlight Pictures and is available to stream on Hulu. This review is an excerpt...

From A24,  Zola is a dark comedy based on a viral Twitter thread by Aziah "Zola" King. Directed and co-written by Janicza Bravo, the film stars Taylour Paige as Zola, a part-time stripper who gets roped into a wild, dangerous trip to Tampa with a new friend (Riley Keough) who may be up to no good. The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Nicholas Braun, and Ariel Stachel. This review is an exce...