The Movie Crew

Episode 280: The Crew’s doing lines of Spice while watching Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. It’s Lawrence of Arabia in Space, and it’s just as magical as the David Lean masterpiece. The world building is awe-inspiring and feels fresh. Which is even more impressive considering how often Frank Herbert’s novel has been cannibalized by sci-fi cinema. Everyone involved made something truly special that...

Episode 279: The Crew’s screaming “Evil dies tonight” while watching David Gordon Green’s, Halloween Kills. After 2018’s Halloween was a box-office smash and the fans embraced it; expectations were high for this sequel. And if all you want is Michael Myers killing everyone in Haddonfield, this may be your favorite installment. But the film’s thematic messaging is muddled, Laurie Strode has n...

Episode 278: Spoiler Warning!!! The Crew’s having martinis (shaken, not stirred) while watching Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time to Die. This is Daniel Craig’s last Bond film, after 5 movies and a 15 year tenure as the world famous character. Fukunaga is the first American director of the series, and he brings the excitement and emotion. Hans Zimmer score is perfect, the sets are perfect, and the cine...

Episode 277: Spoiler Warning!!! The Crew’s cheering on their favorite Lethal Protector while watching Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage. After the box-office success of the first film, a sequel was quickly green lit. Although, the director, cinematographer, and composer didn’t return for this follow up. Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris are added to the cast and they’re game to play in this...

Episode 276: The Crew’s eating chocolate and human brains while watching Ruben Fleischer’s Venom. After the poor reaction to Spider-Man 3, Venom gets to shine in his own movie. Although the film didn’t win any Oscars, comic fans seemed to embrace it regardless of Spider-Man’s involvement. The cast, led by a super committed Tom Hardy, are better than the material deserves. And Ludwig Göransso...

Episode 275: The Crew’s shoplifting everything in sight while watching Todd Stephens’ Swan Song. Udo Kier delivers a wonderful performance, maybe the best performance of the year, as an aging gay man recapturing his former self. The story is heartbreaking with some funny moments, and the costumes and locations work well. This film could be a perfect 10, if it wasn’t for the horrible amateuri...

Episode 274: The Crew’s downloading the blue shirt guy DLC while watching Shawn Levy’s Free Guy. The movie’s fun and fast paced, but also instantly forgettable. It’s Netflix fun! Ryan Reynolds is Ryan Reynolds, which is either good or bad, depending on your love of Reynolds. The Crew discusses… If you like our music intro, head over to Soundcloud and hear more amazing music from aquariusweap...

Episode 273: The Crew’s saying director Nia DaCosta’s name after watching her new film, Candyman. This is DaCosta’s debut horror film and she brings back Candyman to great effect; scarring a new generation of moviegoers. And like the original, this film has something to say… maybe too much to say for one film. The Crew discusses… If you like our music intro, head over to Soundcloud and hear...

Episode 272: The Crew’s feeding honey to a kidnapped baby while watching Bernard Rose’s Candyman. Tony Todd isn’t only the titular character but his presence is always felt, even when he isn’t on screen. His voice and eyes are enchanting, seductive, and creepy. It all works due to some great lighting, camerawork, performances, and a memorable score. It’s also one of the last good slasher fil...

Episode 271: The Crew’s playing poker and watching Richard Donner’s Maverick. It’s the best family western con-comedy film ever… and maybe the only one. All the performances are great; with the help of William Goldman’s brilliant script (move over Butch Cassidy). Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography is amazing; just look at the stagecoach sequence. The Crew discusses… If you like our music intro...

Episode 270: The Crew’s drinking beer and beating children while watching Richard Donner’s Radio Flyer. What happened here? There’s so much talent behind and in front of the camera, but no one can save this disjointed – Hallmark movie of the week – train wreck! And the script sold for 1.25 million dollars! And the original production was shutdown after filming for ten days; with...

Episode 269: The Crew’s watering their rub (condom) tree while watching Richard Donner’s wild Lethal Weapon 2. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are back in action from the first frame (the films starts mid-car chase). Joe Pesci is a welcomed addition to the cast…. ok, ok, ok, don’t eat the tuna at Subway. The first installment is a great action film, but this sequel is funny and entertaining with...

Episode 268: The Crew’s sharpening their daggers in preparation to murder the Antichrist, while watching Richard Donner’s The Omen. After decades of directing television and a few forgettable movies, Donner delivers his first box-office hit and a true horror classic. This film is one of the best satanic panic films of the 60’s and 70’s; the other two greats are Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorci...

Episode 267: The Crew’s time traveling to 1969 while watching Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black 3. This is the last of the MIB films starring the original cast. Adding a terrific Josh Brolin as a younger Agent K. The 3D and a 10 year gap between sequels helped made this the highest grossing entry in the franchise. Which was a good thing considering this film is the most expensive comedy ever m...

Episode 266: The Crew’s hanging with a fully suited Frank (the adorable pug) while watching Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black II. This film, while not as loved as the first, was still a successful blockbuster. All the technical things we loved about the first film are still working in this sequel. But the story and jokes are repeated to a lesser degree of success. And the villains are weaker....

Episode 265: The Crew’s wearing Ray-Bans while watching Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black. In the summer of 1997, Men in Black surprised everyone by out-grossing (domestic only) Spielberg’s The Lost World. And Will Smith went from being an actor in a hit movie (Independence Day) to a full-on movie star. Tommy Lee Jones and Smith are an odd pair, but their comedic timing is perfect. Rick Baker...

Episode 264: The Crew’s fighting a giant steampunk spider while watching Barry Sonnenfeld’s Wild Wild West. After ruling the Fourth of July box-office with Independence Day and Men in Black, Will Smith stumbles with this box-office bomb. The critics and audiences weren’t happy with the film. The story is bad, Smith and Kevin Kline lack their usual charisma, and all the blue screen composites...

Episode 263: The Crew’s trying out for the cheerleading squad while watching Peyton Reed’s Bring It On. This was one of several raunchy high school comedies released after the box office success of American Pie. And the film does have lots of PG-13 sex jokes, the filmmakers drop the f-word and the r-word. But the script tackles tough issues dealing with race and Cultural appropriation; makin...

Episode 262: The Crew’s waiting for the evil life on Earth to die while watching Lars von Trier’s Melancholia. All the performances are outstanding. And while the film’s cinematography and editing often look amateurish; both work well and create tension in the second half. Some of the Crew has problems with the film’s pace. If you like our music intro, head over to Soundcloud and hear...

Episode 261: The Crew’s killing the competition at a beauty pageant while watching Michael Patrick Jann’s Drop Dead Gorgeous. This satirical mockumentary is star studded, look out for Amy Adams in her first role. Kirsten Dunst and Allison Janney are the stand outs. Some of the jokes land perfectly and others miss the mark entirely. The Crew discusses. If you like our music intro, head over t...

Episode 260: The Crew’s brooding with sexy vampires while watching Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. The cast is filled with huge names, but then-unknown Kirsten Dunst steals the show. She’s creepy, sympathetic, and believable as an older woman forever trapped in a child’s body. The music, make-up/visual effects, and cinematography stand out. The Crew discusse...

Episode 259: The Crew’s discussing Mike Nichols’ fabulously funny, The Birdcage. The film is a take on the Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner story; this time a conservative couple meets a gay couple. This film makes fun of gay men, conservatives, and straight men; but it’s never mean spirited. The main characters are multidimensional and you can’t help but like them. Robin Williams and Nathan Lan...

Episode 258: The Crew’s watching Peter Chelson’s Hector and the Search for Happiness. This film was a box office bomb, grossing only $6 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. The cast will surprise you, and of course the performances are great. The cinematography is also amazing, but the film doesn’t deliver the feels. If you like our music intro, head over to Soundcloud and hear more am...

Episode 257: The Crew’s eating bacon while watching Chris Noonan’s Babe. This is the rare family film that’s also fun and enjoyable for the adults. The mix of real animals, animatronics, and CGI really bring the furry characters to life. And James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski deliver amazing performances as the main human cast. Baa Ram Ewe! If you like our music intro, head over to Soundclou...

Episode 256: The Crew’s playing baseball with Girls! That’s right, it’s Penny Marshall’s fictionalize story of the first pro women baseball league, A League of Their Own. After the success of Big, Tom Hanks and Penny Marshall return with a bigger budget, better cinematography, better music, and a fantastic cast. The film is almost a home run, but the Crew has some issues with the writing. If...