Sitting Around Talking Movies

The temperatures (at least where we are) are plunging and Hollywood seems to be going along with this trend. First Bill Bregoli takes a look at "Arctic" which stars Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as a man stranded in the Arctic (where else?) and dealing with polar bears and freezing conditions. Bill also tells us about another Mads Mikkelson movie called "Polar" which is a completely different movie now on Netflix. Neil and Bill McCuddy take on the new season of "Crashing" and Neil talks about a new series called "I am the Night" starring Chris Pine. It's cold outside so snuggle up with us!

Unless you're living in a cave (lucky you! what's the rent like?) you know that the Oscar nominations were announced this week. What do you think? Does "Green Book" still stand a chance? And what about that race for Best Actress? Will Glenn Close finally get her statue? We let you know what we think. Plus Bill Bregoli (of course) talks about the new Netflix series "Sex Education" which stars Gillian Anderson and Asa Butterfield. Neil takes another look at "Black Monday" and a first look at the third season of "True Dectective." And Bill McCuddy takes on :Suspiria" which stars Tilda Swinton and is available on demand. There aren't a lot of new movies at the theaters right now but that doesn't stop us!

Hollywood has lots of movies and TV coming and it's deja vu all over again. In other words, prequels, sequels and remakes. For instance, Steven Spielberg is reamking "West Side Story." Really. Is it like re-making "Gone With the Wind" or is it something you'd like to see? And there's a prequel to "The Sopranos" on the way. It takes place during the Newark race riots. Plus, there's a "Perry Mason" limited series on the way. It's sort of "Perry Mason: The Early Years" and takes place in 1930's Los Angeles. Had enough? Well there is one new series we haven't seen before and it's "Black Monday." It's set in the go-go 1980s as the financial world faces a stock market crash and it stars Don Cheadle. And we talk about the recent Critics Choice Awards and how the awards race is going. Who's up, who's down and who doesn't stand a chance. We've got inside info from insiders and the latest showbiz parties!

It's awards season alright! You can tell by all the fancy dresses and awkward patter you saw and heard at the Golden Globes last Sunday. You didn't watch? Probably a good idea but luckily, we did, and we'll tell you all about in much less time than the show did. The HFPA is famous for being odd and making odd choices at the Globes and this year was certainly no exception. "Bohemian Rhapsody" for Best Picture (Drama)? Why did they snub Lady Gaga? And what was up with Christian Bale's accent? We'll tell you what we think and if any of it will have an effect on the Oscars. Plus we look at "The Kominsky Method" (which won best TV comedy) and "Bodyguard" (which won best actor in a TV drama). It's more than enough for one podcast but it's all in there. So listen in.

2018 is winding down and it's traditionally the time to take stock of the year and come up with 10 Best lists. And why not? It's been an interesting year for movies so we're looking back at some of the best. Oh and maybe a few of the worst. As for the best - you're seeing some of the same films on just about every list: "The Green Book," "Vice," "The Favourite" just to name a few. Do they make any of our lists? What about "Roma"? There are crowd pleasers galor - does popularity mean they're good films? What about films that only critics seem to like? Now it's time fo us to show our cards and let everyone know what we think. And you may be in for a few surprises. In fact, there are definitely a few surprises!

Your shopping is done, the errands are finished and now you can put a bow on the holiday season. That means it's time to go to the movies dammit! While you've been busy Hollywood has been prepping all sorts of movies to vie for your attention. We start with "Bumblebee." But while you may be thinking "not another Transformers movie" this one was not directed by Michael Bay but by Travis Knight who helmed the much lauded animated movie "Kubo and the Two Strings. And it's got a female lead played by Hailee Steinfeld. Then we look at "Aquaman." It's the latest DC comics based movie starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Patrick Wilson. DC movies have struggled until "Wonder Woman" came along. Is it as good as that? Then we take on "Vice." It stars Christian Bale as Vice President Dick Cheney and it's directed by Adam McKay who did "The Big Short." Plus there's "On the Basis of Sex" which stars Felicity Jones as a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It's not just a podcast - it's your cinematic stocking stuffer!

We're well into December now and that means it's time for The Very Important Movies. Or as we call 'em: Awards Bait. And one of the biggest is "Roma." It's the latest from ground-breaking director Alfonso Cuarón and it's making critics' Ten-Best lists like crazy. But is it actually any good? Let's just say we big to differ with some of our colleagues. Then there's "The Mule," directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Is it up to Clint's best? And for families there's "Mary Poppins Returns" with Emily Blunt stepping into the title role. Does it live up to the original you remeber so fondly? And finally Neil and Bill McCuddy have some opinions on the second season of "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Let's just say there's some kvetching involved. Take some time out from your shopping and listen in!  

So here we go. The stores are mobbed, the TV is showing commercials featuring cars with giant bows (where do you get them anyway?) and the movie theaters are full of movies. So we asked Mike Sargent along to help us sort them all out. First there's "Ben is Back" which marks the return (from her mansion no doubt) of Julia Roberts as well as Luca Hedges and is about a drug addicted son. We also talk about "Beautiful Boy" which is also about a drug addicted son. Are they the same movie? Then there's "If Beale Street Could Talk," it's a romance. And we get Mike's perspective on "Green Book" and "Widows." And if that's not enough, there's "Roma" which is getting all sorts of Oscar buzz. So listen on in and make sense of the multiplex.

You're stuffed to the gills now and thinking that you'd better move or you'll be stuck in the chair listening to strange family members for the rest of the weekend. So why not go to the movies? This week we've got a virtual feast, starting with a new take on "Robin Hood." It stars Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx. It's not your grandfather's Robin Hood. Then there's "Green Book" which is getting so much Oscar buzz that you're probably thinking you've gotten a case of tinitus. Is it worth all the praise? We've also got the heist movie "Widows" which stars Viola Davis. Then there's "The Favourite." It's a costume drama but with a twist. In fact, it's downright twisted. And we finish with "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs." It's from the Coen brothers and you don't even have to drive to your theater to see it. That's because it's on Netflix. Is that because it's not a movie theater type movie? We'll let you know.

It's our 150th episode and the Broadcast Film Critics Association (we're all dues-paying members) is giving out its documentary awards this weekend. So we called in Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood-Elsewhere.com to help us look at this year's bumper crop of documentaries - some of which were nominated by the BFCA and some of which weren't. They're all awesome and you may have heard of some of them including "RGB" about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and "Won't You Be My Neighbor" about Mr. Rogers. But there are plenty you maight not have heard of and definitely should. Docs about Elvis, Jane Fonda, Gary Shandling, young scientists and insane rock climbers. We tell you everything you need to know about them so listen in!

The big movies are coming fast and furious now. So we start wthis week with "Boy Erased" which stars Lucas Hedges, NIcole Kidman and Russell Crowe. It's based on a true story of a boy sent to a "gay conversion" facility in the 1990's. It's written and directed by Joel Edgerton and getting all sorts of buzz. Can a bunch of Aussies pull off this very American story? Listen in. Then we've got "Front Runner" which is also based on a true story. Hugh Jackman (what is it with Australians this week?) plays American presidential hopeful Gary Hart. Remember Gary Hart? Remember a boat called "Monkey Business"? Now you do. And then we take on Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" which stars Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley and Morgan Freeman. It's a fantasy alright. Is it another "Alice in Wonderland" or Disney's biggest bomb since "Solo." We'll let you know!

After "A Star is Born" you'd think Hollywood would cool it on movies about musicians but here comes the much awaited Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody." So we got a hold of special guest Grace Randolph to see what she thinks. The film was labled a "troubled production" because its original director was fired during filming. Nonetheless, two members of Queen were executive producers on the film. Willit rock your world? Give a listen. Then Bill Bregoli tells us about "London Fields" another "troubled production" and Bill McCuddy has "Pick of the Litter." It's a heartwarming documentary about service dogs. And Neil has our DVD releases of the week. As Queen would say - it's "a killer."  

It's the time of the year when kids demand candy and scary movies come out. This year there's a new "Halloween" movie featuring the return of original star Jamie Lee Curtis. John Carpenter is executive producer and it's got everything you look for in a scary movie. But is it? We've got guet Mike Sargent along to take a look at it. Plus there's a very different kind of movie for Melissa McCarthy coming out called "Can You Forgive Me" which is getting award buzz for Ms. McCarthy. Bill McCuddy tells us about a movie he saw at the New York Film Festival that he says will end up on a lot of critics' top ten lists. And Neil tells us about seeing Jimmy Kimmel do his show in Brooklyn. Nothing to be scared of here...c'mon in.

Here's a podcast that takes you (and us) on a real trip. We start with "A Star is Born." It's the blockbuster starring Bardley Cooper and Lady Gaga. It's about the 4th time this story has been told by Hollywood but what makes this one different? Can Lady Gaga act? Can Bradley Cooper direct? We'll tell you what we think. There's also "First Man" starring Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy ("The Crown") as his wife, Janet. It's directed by Damien Chazelle, who did "LaLa Land." Does it get off the ground or is it a failure to launch? And all of this happens while we're at the Hamptons International Film Festival. We talk to all sorts of interesting filmmakers about their very varied and interesting movies, all of which were impressive enough to be chosen for this prestigious film festival. Somehow they let us in too. So climb aboard, it's quite a ride!

Fall is here and there's a fresh harvest of new movies to talk about. This week we're joined by author Aaron Sigmond - he's also an editor and publisher, which is good because we could use some literary license. First up is "All About Nina" which stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as blisteringly provocative stand-up comedian whose career is taking off, but whose personal life is a near-complete disaster. Neil fell in love with it...and her. Then Bill Bregoli talks about "The Hate U Give" starring Amandla Steberg which is based on the popular YA novel. There's lots of buzz on this one and Bill B tells why. Bill McCuddy talks about an amazing documentary called "Free Solo." If you're afraid of heights be warned. And Aaron Sigmond lets us in on the world of celebrities and their watches. It's very much worth you time so give us a listen!