Spoilerpiece Theatre

Somehow, saucy puppet shows and Clippy from MS Word are topics of discussion heading into this week's episode. Evan and Kris lead things off by talking about THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2, which neither of them is particularly enthused about or invested in. As people who aren't really into the series, they can admit that it's good for what it is, and that fans will probably enjoy it as a conclusion to the franchise. Then Dave and Kris talk TRUMBO, which Dave claims is a sequel to DUMBO. This HBO movie looks and feels like it belongs on TV. It's too long and fairly one note, although it does have some good things going on. Lastly, Evan spoilerpieces THE NIGHT BEFORE, a Christmas comedy starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anthony Mackie as childhood friends looking for one last epic holiday blowout. Its dramatic elements don't work and JGL isnt' believable as the group's loser, but it does make use of great comedians in small roles. Michael Shannon is its surprise MVP.

Dave has a gift for Evan and Kris that’s really more of a present for himself, although it does offer a great set up for this episode of 80s Piece…er…Spoilerpiece Theatre. First, Evan shares his thoughts about the dog shit holiday film LOVE THE COOPERS, which features Steve Martin as a canine narrator. Next up is Dave, to talk about BROOKLYN, a movie that’s beautifully acted and looks wonderful, but has several Irish names he can’t pronounce. However the episode’s main event is that all three of the guys have seen both COBRA and BEVERLY HILLS COP, two pictures that were made under very similar circumstances. In discussing COBRA Kris observes Marion Cobretti’s pornographic glee in dispatching bad guys, Dave sees how it rips off DIRTY HARRY, and Evan notices its odd product placement. They can all agree that BEVERLY HILLS COP knows exactly what kind of movie it is, has amazing improvisation, and features Eddie Murphy walking around, fuckin’ owning every place he goes.

This week Charlie Nash makes his second Spoilerpiece appearance to share his experiences at the Coolidge Corner Halloween Horror Movie Marathon and the New York Film Festival with Evan and Kris. At the 12-hour movie marathon, which he dubs “a cinephile’s wet dream,” Charlie saw horror films that stimulated his overactive imagination like HALLOWEEN, NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, THE CHANGLING, and THE HITCHER. Also, at the New York Film Festival he watched CAROL and SON OF SAUL, two important movies that he breaks down. Charlie and Kris then take on SPECTRE, the James Bond picture that Kris dubs "more of a postscript than an epilogue" to Daniel Craig's entries in the franchise. It’s overly long, self-congratulatory, and worst of all—it has a shitty theme song. Thankfully all three of the guys saw SPOTLIGHT, a tremendous film that chronicles the Boston Globe’s report that exposed sexual scandal in the Catholic Church. Not only is it a better Boston movie than BLACK MASS, but SPOTLIGHT is elegant, subtle, and gripping ba

Following a brief Eddy mix up, the guys review movies new to old. First up is Evan with BURNT, a Bradley Cooper film about disgraced chef who does not pee in soup. It’s a super predictable picture where there are gratuitous montages that focus on mundane things and everyone is waiting around for him to get better. Kris is next to discuss OUR BRAND IS CRISIS, a political film that’s reminiscent of PCU, but without George Clinton to bring everyone together. The director doesn’t belong and it’s so uneven, although when it’s cynical it does have points to make. Finally, Evan has seen Dave’s favorite movie, HIDING OUT, starring John Cryer, so the two of them give it the full spoilerpiece treatment. Dave can “quote the motherfucker backwards and forwards,” and Evan reveals his surprise about how part of it takes place in Boston, while pausing to analyze its 80s yuppie mentality.

The guys have something to say about BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II this week, but it’s not what you’d expect. Once they get that out of their system, Evan covers VICTORIA, which gets Dave speaking German and Franch, yes that’s right, Franch. After a brief tangent on ALIEN and confusion about who is in the movie 88 MINUTES, Evan talks about how VICTORIA takes a while to get going, becomes super tense, and then overstays its welcome. Then Dave jumps in to describe Idris Elba’s cockswagger in Cary Fukunaga’s BEASTS OF NO NATION, a good film also that overstays its welcome, on top of being heavy and horrifying. After that, Kris talks about THE LAST WITCH HUNTER’s magical dismemberment and why he loves Vin Diesel so much. Lastly, Dave stars in a new segment called Riedel’s Recaps, where he offers counterpoints to Kris and Evan’s previous reviews of STEVE JOBS and DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD.

Dede Crimmins sets a new record with her fourth appearance as a Spoilerpiece guest. Fresh off her trip to Fantastic Fest, she fills Evan and Kris in on her favorite films from the fest: THE LOBSTER, HIGH-RISE, GREEN ROOM, and SOUTHBOUND. Then the three of them talk about CRIMSON PEAK, which is beautiful, creepy, and fully-conceived. After that Dede shares her thoughts on GOOSEBUMPS, a movie for kids and big kids like Evan who read the books growing up. Next Kris tackles STEVE JOBS, which is directed by Danny Boyle, the first person to direct at the speed Aaron Sorkin writes. Finally, Evan and Kris close out the show with BRIDGE OF SPIES, a picture that’s tense, good-humored, and committed to its character.

Kris and Evan fly duo this week since Dave can’t make it, but at least he’s able to call in and share a strange dream he had. After Evan and Kris ponder its meaning, they dive into this week’s movies. Kris starts off by reviewing the documentary HE NAMED ME MALALA, which disappointingly patronizes its subject. Then Evan talks about the documentary DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD, a funny, fast-moving movie with great music that recounts the history National Lampoon Magazine. Finally, both of them discuss TWIXT, a bizarre film by Francis Ford Coppola that neither of them knew about until they watched it on Netflix. They quickly discovered why. It’s just a strange flick that baffles them for a million reasons. Tangents this week include Crean family holiday movies and actors who are difficult to work with.

Bob Chipman aka The Movie Bob fills in for Dave, who is unfortunately absent due to dental work this week. Bob reminisces with Evan and Kris about movies named after job titles before jumping into conversation about THE MARTIAN. All three of them saw it, and all three agree it’s a great film. Evan’s a bit disappointed by some aspects of the book that were cut, but Kris loves that it lets scientists be scientists and Bob hopes that it inspires a million kids to go to space camp. Then Bob and Evan discuss THE WALK, a film that features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a cartoonish Frenchman. Both thought they might hate it, so they were pleasantly surprised by how much they dug its playful nature. And last but not least, Evan briefly reviews Oren Moverman’s TIME OUT OF MIND, which makes a great statement about homelessness, even though nothing really happens in it.

Dave makes a historic Spoilerpiece proclamation! But first Evan and Kris tease their coverage of THE MARTIAN by telling Dave about the book. It’s a busy day on the show with lots of ground to cover. Kris starts off by sharing what fucking disaster Roland Emmerich’s STONEWALL is and how it insultingly makes up facts. Then Dave gives his first positive review of the week in describing Regina Case’s beautiful performance in THE SECOND MOTHER. Evan’s up next to spoilerpiece Dave and Kris into wanting to see Denis Villeneuve’s suspenseful film SICARIO. Dave jumps in after that with a (gasp) second positive review to describe the good mind fuckery of BLIND and finally, Evan talks about why he thinks De Niro’s performance in THE INTERN might be his best of the millennium.

Dave is back this week to offer his take on GRANDMA, which echoes Sean's sentiments about the film. Then he goes back to hating on Joe Swanberg for DIGGING FOR FIRE and derides Mumblecore movies in general, before Evan and Kris review the Johnny Depp Whitey Bulger film BLACK MASS. Kris thinks Depp’s performance is good despite his makeup and Evan agrees since he found several scenes chilling. Overall they spend a lot more time discussing better gangster movies like THE DEPARTED and GOODFELLAS, which should tell you something. Dave wraps everything up by talking about the documentary THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, which he says is a bit one-sided, but totally watchable and really well-done. Don’t forget to take our survey so you can give us your feedback on what you like and what to see more of in the show! Find it at www.surveymonkey.com/r/spoilerpiece.

Sean Burns joins Evan and Kris this week, vowing to up the episode’s profanity quotient since he’s filling for Dave. But Evan does a pretty good job of that himself, cursing out M. Night Shyamalan’s found footage horror film THE VISIT. Although Evan can’t stand the movie, Kris doesn’t actually hate everything about it and manages to sell Sean on seeing it. After they get through that slog, Sean talks about how entertaining Lily Tomlin is in GRANDMA and how crazy it was seeing her around Sundance with Jane Fonda. Then he wraps everything up with 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, the boring Christian film that stars Hayden Christensen with a creepy mustache and drawl. How boring is it? Sean needed three tries to get through it without falling asleep. Given its lack of excitement, it’s not surprising that the guys end up hitting a number of tangents instead of discussing the movie in depth.

This week, the guys develop a new expression after Dave shares how common his last name is in Indiana. Then he leads off with his take on Alex Gibney’s documentary STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE, which he alternatively dubs THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE. Then Kris discusses how THE TRANSPORTER: REFUELED has more memorable product placement than fight scenes before Dave dives into the Korean action film A HARD DAY. In the process of talking about it, he realizes that he probably should watch more Korean movies. Last, but not least, Evan closes things out by pondering the inexplicable age gap between the characters in A WALK IN THE WOODS and their real life counterparts. He also laments its total lack of conflict, while simultaneously celebrating Nick Nolte’s performance in it.

The guys open this week’s episode with a discussion on Deez Nuts’s candidacy for president. Then Kris and Evan rip into WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS, which they agree does NOT star Zac Efron as a young Robert Loggia. Their agitated commentary is enough to leave Dave “slack-jawed and open-mouthed.” After Kris expresses confusion over more celebrities (this time Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering), Dave takes over to share his thoughts on two fucking horrible movies. First up is TEN THOUSAND SAINTS, where the most interesting character dies 15 minutes in and Ethan Hawke plays almost the same character he did in BOYHOOD. Second is DIGGING FOR FIRE, one of the whitest movies Dave has ever seen. Joe Swanberg’s film is about dull white people with dull white people problems, and it’s so bad that it makes Dave’s soul die a little bit.

Movies like woah on this week’s Spoilerpiece. First, Evan teases the book about 80s films that he’s been working on with his friend Bryan Krull, prompting a deeper conversation on 80s movies. Then Dave shares his thoughts on THE TRIBE because he finally saw it. Evan’s up next to talk about how THE GIFT subverts expectations before Dave goads him into spoiling the movie’s big twist. After that, Evan and Kris discuss why they weren’t fans of AMERICAN ULTRA (hint: it’s about a stoner secret agent and plotted like a stoner wrote it). Dave follows up by quickly exploring why PEOPLE PLACES THINGS is so sluggish and by-the-numbers. And last, but not least, Kris reviews CALL ME LUCKY, a great documentary by Bobcat Goldthwait about Boston comedian and activist Barry Crimmins.

Dave is back again on this week’s Spoilerpiece (which makes two weeks in a row)! The fellas talk about silly t-shirts they wish they could own, including one in particular that Kris wanted as a kid. Then the guys take on a bumper crop of movies. Kris and Evan are up first with their thoughts on Guy Ritchie’s hyper-styled adaptation of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E, which has a great performance by Armie Hammer and one of the worst car chases Kris has ever seen. Dave delivers praise for PHOENIX, while wondering what the plural of the word is (phoenices?). Once he’s done talking up the film’s perfectly composed photography, interesting post-World War II story, and its Hitchcock-ian flavor, Evan and Kris round things out with STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. Both of them discuss why they love the movie (because fuck the po-lice) and how its casting is fantastic.

On this week’s episode Kris shares his plans to weaponize peeing babies with Dave and Evan, before Evan tears FANTASTIC FOUR a new one. The film is terrible in many ways, but Evan just can’t let go of one particularly obnoxious plot hole. After the three of them engage in some Tenacious D-inspired swearing, Dave talks about SHAUN THE SHEEP, a delightful movie that everyone should see. Kris then discusses how Meryl Streep’s Republican grocery store cashier safely rebels through rock music in the confusing RICKI AND THE FLASH. Somehow that leads to Dave and Evan singing about squirrels. Finally, Evan closes everything out with THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT, a picture that would work better as a documentary, rockumentary, or shockumentary than the flat, repetitive narrative that it is. For some reason all the roads lead back to urine and squirrels in this episode.

Boston podcast legend Steve Head from the Post-Movie Podcast and Diabolique Webcast almost gets stuck in cement on his way to join Evan and Kris for this week’s episode. After he and Evan swap SIMPSONS references, Steve shares some of his famous stories from working in the film industry. Then the three of them discuss MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION’s exciting set pieces, its fantastic female lead Rebecca Ferguson, record store names, why Tom Cruise probably works out like gerbil, and how the film series is just a chance for Cruise to show off. Kris spends some time talking about how Woody Allen’s latest film is “all over the fuckin’ place,” which somehow leads to tangents about Wikipedia and Paul Feig, before he wraps things up with a quick summary of Joshua Oppenheimer’s documentary THE LOOK OF SILENCE, a companion to his doc THE ACT OF KILLING.

This week Dave tells everyone more about why he loves HIDING OUT with John Cryer and poses an interesting theory about Jim Carrey before Kris shares that he was wearing flannel before it was cool. Evan kept his promise to see THE TRIBE so he can’t wait to share his thoughts about how fucked up its graphic scenes of violence and sex are. Then he tries to summarize the plot for PIXELS, while explaining how terrible it is to Dave and Kris. Thankfully Kris shifts momentum to discuss SOUTHPAW, which is about a boxer who isn’t a southpaw, but he does have his own entourage. Dave wraps up the episode by reviewing INFINITELY POLAR BEAR, a film he enjoyed where Mark Ruffalo plays the kind of bipolar father who tells rivers to go fuck themselves.

Fan favorite Dede Crimmins from All Things Horror and Cinematic Essential joins Evan and Kris in this week’s episode. The three of them reminisce about QUANTUM LEAP and UNSOLVED MYSTERIES before Dede discusses her upcoming trip to the Fantasia International Film Festival. Once Kris and Evan recover from the recover from hearing the number of movies she plans to see, they ask her about some her favorites from the festival. Among them are DEATHGASM, SUBURBAN GOTHIC, and ABSENTIA. First, they cover Amy Schumer’s comedy TRAINWRECK, which is formulaic but a consistently funny human experience. After they get a chance to discuss Judd Apatow’s shortcomings they move on to reviewing Marvel’s ANT-MAN, a heist flick that’s also a superhero movie. Kris thinks it has a breeziness that’s been desperately lacking in Marvel movies. Evan and Dede agree, while adding that Paul Rudd has evolved from just a pretty face into the total package as an actor.

This week Spoilerpiece turns 1 year old AND Dave is back! The guys talk about whether it’s okay for him to make "Your Mom Jokes" now that he is a dad. Then Dave jumps into STRANGERLAND, which he dubs “the cinematic equivalent to spit up.” He jokes about how acting skills don’t run in the Fiennes family and wonders how Nicole Kidman is still making movies considering she hasn’t had a good one since 2004’s BIRTH. Dave did see something good though: A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH RELFECTING ON EXISTENCE, which has a terrible title but a really interesting premise. Evan covers MINIONS, a film that stars characters who work better in small doses. Finally Kris wraps up the show by reviewing MR. HOLMES, where an elderly Sherlock Holmes has a housekeeper that’s definitely NOT Scottish and he flashes back without acid. Stick around after the closing music for an added bonus.