The First Run

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take one last ride around the park with ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’.  Is this a fitting send off or proof that this franchise should have remained extinct?  Then it’s on to discuss ‘Rise Roar Revolt’ or ‘RRR’, the Tollywood action film that was a smash hit in India and is taking the rest of the world by storm. Are we going to have another example...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Cronenberg’s return to gross, icky, body horror sex stuff with ‘Crimes Of The Future’.  After a run of critically acclaimed thrillers, a shift into smaller, odder films, Daddy Cronenberg is back, but does he still got it?  And it meaning Ewww and Ohhhh…  Then it’s another theatrical release, IFC Midnight and Shudder presents ‘Watche...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt break out the aviators and cue up the Kenny Loggins for the sequel to that Tom Cruise volleyball movie, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. 35+ years later, is the magic still there, or was the original such an artifact of its time that the past should have been left well enough alone.  Then it’s on to Taiwan for the extreme horror riff on The Crazies, ‘The Sadness...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt get into a philosophical discussion about Men.  Specifically Alex Garland’s latest, ‘Men’. #NotAllMen, but maybe #MostMen?  After the successes of ‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Annihilation’ (and the rumored ghost directing of ‘Dredd’), Garland returns with a horror film about toxic bro’s, bro. And so much more.  Too much more?  Then CageFest wrap...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Stephen King adaptation, scratch that, the latest adaptation remake. The film sparking our interest this time is ‘Firestarter’.  We’ve long been supporters of remaking bad films, and John Lester’s original is far from a classic.  So does ‘Firestarter’ light us up?  Then CageFest continues with ‘Vengeance: A Love Story’.&n...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest entry to the MCU and Sam Raimi’s directorial return to comic book movies, ‘Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness’. Do we have another event MCU film with the Fox characters (X-Men, Fantastic Four, etc.) make their big debuts? Plus Chris shares his thoughts on the latest AMC Feature Drink, ‘The Sorcerer’. Then, CageFest continues with...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the Finnish horror film, ‘Hatching’. A film that is at once unimaginable and at the same time deceptively simple.  Then Cage-Fest continues with Matt “Ripping His Shirt” and I discussing the Larry Charles helmed comedy, that’s right, the Borat director’s ‘Army Of One’ has Cage on a mission to bring in Osama Bin Laden, alive!  T...

This week on the First Run, Chris and Matt go on a raid with Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated Viking revenge Hamlet (but not really) homage ‘The Northman’. After finding success with ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse’, can Eggers’ streak of great films that begin with indefinite articles continue? Then we kick off our CageFest marathon with the meta action comedy, ‘Unbearable Weight of Massive Tale...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest (and lastest?) in the Fantastic Beasts series, ‘The Secrets Of Dumbledore’.  The Harry Potter expansion returns with Eddie Redmayne, who should have lost that Best Actor statue to Michael Keaton, Dan Fogler, Jude Law, and Mads Mikkleson taking over for Johnny Depp. Can the series redeem itself from its droll cash grab roots? ...

This week on the First Run, Chris and Matt catch up with yet another multiverse film in the Daniels’ ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’ with Michelle Yeoh. We also get into some Bay-hem with ‘Ambulance’, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Can there be too much Everything-Go-Boom?  There’s the discussion of the big physical media releases, featuring the Straight to DVD...

This week on a special 601st anniversary episode of The First Run, initially things looked pretty bleak for your intrepid hosts. Not only do Matt and Chris discuss the latest Marvel side piece, ‘Morbius’, Chris messed up and watched ‘The Bubble’, forgetting that we all agreed last week to watch ‘Fresh’.  So what did we do? We watched all three. Plus Chris debuts a new feature! So was the...

This week on a special 600th episode of The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the return of the romantic adventure genre featuring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in ‘The Lost City’.  A historical romance writer is kidnapped as she may know certain clues to a lost treasure.  Is it a genre primed for a comeback? And how is the chemistry between Bullock and Tatum? Then it’...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest from Ti West, ‘X’.  After the fantastic ‘House Of The Devil’, the underwhelming ‘The Innkeepers’, and the solid ‘The Sacrament’, West returns with his loving tribute to 70’s slashers.  The kids seem to love it, but is it scary?  Then the psychological super-hot sexy thriller featuring super sexy Ben Affleck...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Ryan Reynolds / Shaw Levy team up, ‘The Adam Project’.  After the success of ‘Free Guy’, the two return for a sci-fi actioner for Netflix featuring Reynolds’ unending, some say unbearable, charm, drama, romance, and thrills! But does it end the drought of the star’s lack luster Netflix produced content?  Then it...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Matt Reeves’ entry in the Batman movie franchise, ‘The Batman’. Robert Pattinson dons the cowl and begins a new era for the caped crusader.  But is it a good era?  Then it’s on to Sean Baker’s latest slice of underbelly Americana with ‘Red Rocket’.  Simon Rex won the Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards for...

This week on The First Run, the countdown to episode 600 begins! Chris and Matt discuss the horror-comedy ‘Studio 666’, featuring, and inspired by, the Foo Fighters. Yep.  Is it this generation’s ‘Spinal Tap’/Exorcist’ mash up somebody was looking for?  A complete disaster?  A cult classic in the making?  So much much.  Chris shares his thoughts on...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt venture out to parts unknown on their search for that ever-elusive cinematic treasure, the good video game adaptation with ‘Uncharted’.  Tom Holland steps into the role of Nathan Drake, the lead character from the acclaimed video game series.  Have we found the gold?  Then it’s on to scenic Texas by way of Bulgaria for the la...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Liam Neeson doing Liam Neeson things in ‘Blacklight’.  Has the shine on the King of January & February Cinema’s crown started to dull?  Then it’s on to the latest from Mr. Steven Soderbergh, it’s ‘Kimi’, featuring Zoë Kravitz in a Rear Window-esque thriller for the electronic assistant age. There’s the rejuvenating rundown...

This week on The First Run, Chris Scalzo and Matt ‘Razzlekhan’ Howell discuss the latest disaster epic from Roland Emmerich, ‘Moonfall’.  This time it’s up to Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, Samwell himself, John Bradley to save the world from the moon crashing into the Earth.  Oh, and there are some aliens and an AI gone mad. And a bunch of other stuff.  Then it’s on to Ridley Scott’s...

Lots of subtitles this time. This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest Pedro Almodóvar and Penelope Cruz team up, ‘Parallel Mothers’. Cruz plays a single mother trying to balance her career, life, and a terrible secret. Speaking of secrets, I was certain Matt “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” Howell was going to watch the Lawrence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin classic ‘Fled’ instead, but t...

This week on The First Run, does Matt finally quite the show after I make him watch a Japanese drama about a guy getting chauffeured around for 3 hours?  That’s right, it’s the highly regarding Best International Feature front runner from Japan, ‘Drive My Car’.  Heartache, grief, plays, and road trips!  Sounds like a blast.  Then Matt and Chris dip their toe...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the potential revitalization of one of the most popular horror franchises of the 90’s and aughts.  It’s Scream!  What’s with the re-using of original titles lately? TCM, Halloween, now Scream?  Weird.  So How have Sidney, Gale, and Dewey been?  What’s up in murder town, or as we also know it, Green...

It’s a week of Black & White films.  In fact, in honor of the films, we recorded this in black and white.  And mono. This may be the episode that breaks Matt. Because first up, It’s Joel Coen’s adaptation of the classic ‘The Tragedy Of Macbeth’.  Denzel Washington plays the titular Macbeth.  Can it’s streamlined production save it from Matt’s wrath?&nbsp...

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest from the director of Chris’ favorite film of the 21st Century, PTA returns with ‘Licorice Pizza’.  A coming-of-age story in early 70’s LA. A little slice of life film that’s received some heat in the online discourse regarding the purposeful age gap of our stars.  What’s up with that?  Then its on to the latest film...

This week on the last episode of 2021 of The First Run, Chris and Matt share their thoughts on The Matrix: Resurrections.  Lana Wachowski returns to the franchise that changed cinema with a new story to tell.  But a story perhaps somewhat influenced by a studio with perhaps a concern for a payday and not a new artistic endeavor.  Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss retu...