A very wise TV show theme song once taught us that people don’t move to the beat of just one drum, that what might be right for you, may not be right for some. There is certainly no denying that… Read More ›
Blu-ray
“Ordinary People” and Three-Dimensional Characters
I read or heard or was told a while back something that struck me. Essentially it’s that we see ourselves in shades of gray that we fail to recognize in others. We understand better than anyone else (even if not… Read More ›
The Beautiful Dream that is “Nightmare Alley”
I do not love everything that Guillermo del Toro touches. I’ll admit that. There is something in the way so many of his tales unfold that does not work for me. What I will tell though is this, he is… Read More ›
“The King’s Man” and How I’m the Problem
The third entry in the “Kingsman” franchise, “The King’s Man,” is now out on Blu-ray and digital. To say that I’m disappointed by it is both true and yet somehow misses the mark. Yes, what we have here is another example… Read More ›
Singing the Praises of “Encanto”
There is so much to love about “Encanto.” This is a film filled with great performances and tremendous songs. It is fun and funny. But, at its core, this is a movie that explores what it means to truly reveal… Read More ›
“The French Dispatch” and “Ron’s Gone Wrong” or, Ending when You’re done
On this, our final podcast episode of the year, we’re going to take a look at two different movies that were released to blu-ray and streaming this month: “The French Dispatch” and “Ron’s Gone Wrong.” One of these movies tells… Read More ›
What About Beatty?
A few weeks ago we talked about Tom Cruise and for good reason. After all, the man is Tom Cruise and a classic movie star. This week, therefore, we’re going to talk about someone slightly more classic (or, at least,… Read More ›
On “Vanilla Sky,” the Tom Cruise one Where…
We desperately tried with this week’s episode to not do the whole “Tom Cruise is the last great movie star” thing, and we kind of(?) accomplished that. I mean, we make an argument that he’s a great movie star, but… Read More ›
Fun-Size “Candyman” too Constricted by its Wrapper
There’s a general sense about “fun-size” candy bars that there is in fact very little that’s fun about them — they are, simply put, not terribly enjoyable. They offer the sense of what is there in a regular-sized bar, but… Read More ›
Rebecca Hall’s Performance Powers “The Night House”
We have, somehow, reached mid-October, and that means it’s time for horror movies (not that you can’t watch them any time). Out today on Blu-ray is “The Night House,” a mediocre haunted house film made quite good due to the… Read More ›
“The Forever Purge” is the Scariest Yet
There can be a sense of relief sometimes when one finishes watching a scary movie — the credits roll, the thing is over, and you can look out your window and remind yourself that the real world is just not… Read More ›
“Nashville” and “A Place in the Sun” and America
The movies “Nashville” and “A Place in the Sun” are both great. They both offer up not just engrossing stories, not just wonderful filmmaking, but important thoughts about the American Dream and the ways in which we can destroy it…. Read More ›
“Nomadland,” Academy Awards, and Taxes
This week we take a look at newly minted Academy Award winner, “Nomadland.” The film is out on Blu-ray this week and has a lot to say about capitalism. We, as you may have noted in the past, have a… Read More ›
“Raya” and the Best Viewing Option
This is going to be a conversation we keep having. There are just so many streaming options out there and it can be tough to know the right thing to do. This week we’re going to flip things slightly from… Read More ›
We Need to Talk About “News of the World”
Tom Hanks is a great actor and Paul Greengrass makes some incredible movies. The latest endeavor for the two men, “News of the World,” is now out on Blu-ray. The movie finds Hanks as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a man… Read More ›
Not Quite the Video Store
We are stepping away from our new release of the week/interview format here this week in favor of a discussion of streaming services. No, they’re not as good as a video store of old. They are organized badly and do… Read More ›
“Lady Sings the Blues” but does she Speak the Truth?
Facts are only one part of a story. Feelings are crucial as well. A set of facts only help so much, there has to be something there, some sense of emotional depth, to complement those facts. But what about the… Read More ›
Danny Kaye’s “The Court Jester” and Mel Gibson’s “Fatman”
As a youth, Josh avoided Danny Kaye movies. It felt like there was always one that was on TV or about to be on TV and he skipped them. As he now realizes, that was a terribly grievous error. “The… Read More ›
A Delightful Little “Roman Holiday”
There are incredibly great reasons to be angry at the world right now, and if you’ve heard our recent podcasts, you will be well aware that we have expressed frustration at any number of (deserving) things. This week though we’re… Read More ›
A “Ghost” of a Podcast
Next week, Paramount is releasing a new Blu-ray of “Ghost,” the 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. That provides us the perfect opportunity to take another look at the movie. I will admit to enjoying the… Read More ›